In the grand hall, at the center of the dance floor, Xiang Zhirou sat cross-legged, a Guqin (Chinese zither) placed before her. Her gaze, no longer humble, now burned with a piercing intensity as she looked toward the disciples of the Taiqing Immortal Sect with overwhelming pride.
"Taiqing Immortal Sect masters, are you ready? Here I come!" Xiang Zhirou said with a charming smile.
'Ding!'
The strings of the Guqin were plucked, and instantly, a surge of soul power spread through the hall along with the sound of the music, crashing into the minds of everyone present with a resounding bang.
"Impressive!" Xiao Yu's expression tightened as she gasped in surprise.
The sound of the Guqin resonated through the hall, causing many of the Taiqing Immortal Sect disciples to feel a dull ringing in their heads, their faces blank with a dazed expression, as if they were being pulled into a dreamlike illusion.
'Ding, ding, ding, ding...'
The speed of Xiang Zhirou's playing increased, each note unleashing a new wave of soul power that struck at the very souls of the disciples.
"Calm your mind, circulate your soul power, protect your spirit!" Ye Sanshui's face changed as he shouted.
He had realized that Xiang Zhirou's soul power was on par with his own. However, she was a master of the Qin Dao, and music could amplify soul power immensely!
At this moment, everyone felt a sense of impending danger. No one had expected the daughter of the Crow Deity Marquis to wield such formidable soul power and be so skilled in the Qin Dao. The only calm person in the room was Xiao Nanfeng.
Xiao Nanfeng practiced the Tai Shang Yin Shen Scriptures. His soul power was already highly refined, and after six months of intensive study and with the help of his master and Xiao Yu's Qin Dao skills, his soul power had reached the Star Lake Realm. In the Star Lake, soul power surged with immense strength—there was no way that Xiang Zhirou's soul power could affect him. Even with the amplification of the music, it was nowhere near enough to challenge him!
As he circulated his soul power to his eyes, he instantly saw what no one else could see.
When Xiang Zhirou's fingers moved across the strings, the soul power was wrapped in the music and quickly surged toward the disciples. To the others, the sound waves were invisible, but Xiao Nanfeng could clearly see dark, translucent serpents materializing from the strings, their form twisting in the air.
These serpents radiated a dark, seductive glow. Each was several meters long, and they lashed out at the disciples of the Taiqing Immortal Sect, quickly wrapping around them. These soul-powered snakes seemed to aim for the disciples' minds, intending to drag them into an illusion.
"Ah? Beautiful lady, you're so lovely. Let me hold you… Ah, this feels so good, I want to kiss you!" The voice of Ye Dafu suddenly rang out.
There, Ye Dafu stood with a vacant look in his eyes, a wicked grin on his face as he ripped at his clothes and pouted toward the air, clearly under the influence of the illusion.
"Ye Dafu! Wake up! This is the Soul Refining Technique of the ancient Wu Emperor—don't fall for it!" Ye Sanshui's face changed in alarm.
But Xiang Zhirou only gave a dismissive smirk. This was only the beginning. It wasn't just Ye Dafu who had fallen victim; many of the disciples of the Taiqing Immortal Sect were similarly entranced, their expressions dazed as they muttered nonsensically.
Ye Sanshui could no longer attempt to wake Ye Dafu. He could feel the black serpents tightening around him, and his own soul was on the brink of succumbing to the pressure. But due to his pride, he couldn't attack Xiang Zhirou—if he did, it would mean admitting defeat. He was a Mortal-Breaking Realm cultivator, having spent years refining his soul power. How could he, a seasoned warrior, be overpowered by such a mere girl? His forehead was drenched in cold sweat, his anxiety mounting.
"Only one person playing the Guqin? How boring. Let me join you in a duet!" Xiao Yu, noticing the danger, moved to the earlier performance area, grabbed another ancient Guqin, and returned to Xiao Nanfeng's side. She was determined not to let him fall victim to the illusion, even if it meant competing in the music duel.
'Ding!'
With a quick strum, Xiao Yu sent her soul power surging through the strings, and in an instant, a blue soul power phoenix shot forth.
'Chi!'
The phoenix flapped its wings, rushing toward the dark serpents surrounding the disciples.
Though others couldn't see the form of the soul power, Xiao Nanfeng could see it clearly: as the phoenix emerged, it tore through the serpents, scattering them to pieces. After rescuing the disciples, it charged directly at Xiang Zhirou.
Xiang Zhirou looked at Xiao Yu in shock, clearly not expecting such a powerful Qin Dao from her.
'Ding, ding, ding...'
The two women's music clashed in the air. The phoenix battled the serpents as their power collided. In the blink of an eye, Xiao Yu had blocked most of Xiang Zhirou's soul power attack. The disciples of the Taiqing Immortal Sect began to wake up, their faces grim as they watched the fierce music duel between the two women.
Having regained his composure, Ye Sanshui wiped the sweat from his forehead and took several deep breaths. He looked at Xiang Zhirou with disbelief.
He had originally thought the young girl was simply arrogant and ignorant of her limits. But to his astonishment, her soul power was tremendous, and her mastery of the Qin Dao was fearsome. The music amplified her soul power, and it had already posed a threat to him. Fortunately, Xiao Yu had intervened; otherwise, today would have been a disgrace.
"This young lady… what is your name?" Xiang Zhirou casually asked, continuing to play her Guqin while eyeing Xiao Yu.
"Ask me after you win!" Xiao Yu retorted, showing no respect.
'Ding, ding, ding!' The music quickened once more.
Xiang Zhirou had abandoned attacking the others, focusing solely on Xiao Yu. Countless dark serpents merged into one enormous serpent, over thirty meters long. With a horrifying roar, the black serpent lunged toward Xiao Yu.
Xiao Yu's strumming became increasingly rapid. At this moment, the pressure was mounting on her. Her phoenix, in terms of size, was no longer a match for the enormous black serpent that was closing in on her.
'Roar!' The black serpent howled, seemingly carrying a monstrous soundwave that overwhelmed everything in its path.
'Chi!' The phoenix screeched, revealing its divine, mythical strength.
In the Qin Dao, Xiao Yu was a bit stronger than Xiang Zhirou, but in terms of soul power, she couldn't match her opponent. Xiang Zhirou relentlessly pressed forward, her serpents pushing her back.
Xiao Yu's face grew pale as she strained to keep up, clearly overexerting herself.
Ye Sanshui and the other disciples could see Xiao Yu's predicament, but none dared to interfere, afraid of distracting her and causing a fatal backlash. They were growing increasingly anxious, realizing this entire banquet was orchestrated to target them.
'Screech!'
A tragic cry from the phoenix rang through the air, and the once-dying creature, surrounded by black serpents, struggled in its death throes.
This was not merely a battle between phoenix and serpent—it was a duel between Xiao Yu and Xiang Zhirou. If the phoenix perished, Xiao Yu's soul would be devoured by the serpents.
"This young lady… it seems I will win, after all. The Soul Refining Technique of the Taiqing Immortal Sect isn't all it's cracked up to be!" Xiang Zhirou smirked arrogantly.
With one final scream, the phoenix's last breath seemed to signal its defeat, and Xiao Yu's face grew even paler, on the verge of collapse.
But at that moment, a fiery palm pressed onto Xiao Yu's shoulder.
Nanfeng?
Xiao Yu was anxious and wanted to call out to Nanfeng to dodge away, because once she was revolted, the zither sound with the black snake shaped soul power would wash over her surroundings, not only her, but even Nanfeng would suffer, he is only acquired Realm, how can he stand it?
"Don't worry, I'll help you!" Xiao Nanfeng whispered in Xiao Yu's ear.
Xiao Yu was in a state of agitation, when Xiao Nanfeng's palm that was attached to her shoulder, a surging and vast soul power then surged into her body. This soul power was so vast that it instantly made up for all of her soul power loss, and even filled up to the point that her Celestial Spring was about to roam out, a surging soul power for her to drive, instantly leaving Xiao Yu at a loss for words.
Xiao Yu was astonished, but, being replenished by this massive soul power, she instantly introduced it to the strings of her zither, spurting it out along with the sound of the zither.
The massive amount of soul power instantly surged into that phoenix, and it was seen that the originally dying phoenix was suddenly wrapped in countless blue flames all over its body, and with a boom, the phoenix was reborn in nirvana, and the sky-rocketing fire erupted out.
"Ming~"
Phoenix Dance in the Sky, sound whistling heaven and earth, a huge sound wave, instantly exploded a pile of porcelain tableware around crumbled out countless broken lines. Many people even suffered damage to their eardrums and desperately covered their ears.
"I, I saw a blue phoenix?" Ye Dafu exclaimed not far away.
This time, the phoenix bathed in fire and erupted with monstrous soul power might, which was already more than just what Xiao Nanfeng could see, it actually condensed into reality, making everyone as if they were seeing a huge phoenix in Phoenix Dance in the Sky.
"What?" Xiang Zhirou exclaimed.
The huge black snake that was wrapped around the phoenix was instantly crushed by the phoenix spreading its wings, and the terrifying phoenix flames instantly burned all the broken bodies of the black snake.
Originally sitting on the sidelines of the second son Xiang Wei watched his sister power over the crowd, but also cozy drinking wine, Xiang Zhirou battle instantly reversed, his face changed dramatically, "Little sister be careful!"
"Boom!"
All the strings under Xiang Zhirou's fingers instantly broke and exploded, blowing her hands bloody. But at this moment, she didn't care about the injuries to her flesh, the trauma to her soul consciousness was even more horrifying, and it was seen that her face instantly paled, the arrogant demeanor in her eyes instantly collapsed, and a mouthful of fresh blood was ejected with a poof, and the whole person went limp and fainted.
"Little sister!" Xiang Wei instantly pounced on Xiang Zhirou, hugging him with an exclaimed face.
Outside the temple, a group of black-armored generals even all grabbed onto the hilt of their swords and waited for the call from the person in the temple.
That Phoenix Nirvana, after crushing the black snake, once again flew back to Xiao Yu, merged into Xiao Yu's brow, and disappeared.
"Winning, Senior Sister Xiao Yu has won! That's awesome!" A group of Taiqing Immortal Sect disciples congratulated each other.
Xiao Yu, however, let out a long breath and turned her head to look at Xiao Nanfeng, her eyes filled with incredulity. Just now, it was Nanfeng who had given her huge soul power support? How was this possible? Didn't he have no soul power?
Xiao Nanfeng smiled faintly at Xiao Yu, causing Xiao Yu to instantly feel much more at ease.
Xiao Yu had countless doubts in his heart, even though his heart was as curious as a cat scratching, but, he still held back from asking at this moment.
At this moment, Xiang Kun and Ye Sanshui all looked towards Xiao Nanfeng.
Their soul power was stronger than an ordinary INNATE REALM, so they naturally saw the menace just now, and even more so, they could see clearly that it was Xiao Nanfeng who had given Xiao Yu a boost.
"Senior Nanfeng, you ..." Ye Sanshui looked at Xiao Nanfeng in shock.
How could Ye Sanshui possibly think that this senior brother who was vying for his right to lead the team was actually deeply hidden and actually had such soul power?
"Thanks to senior brother's concern, I'm unharmed." Xiao Nanfeng laughed.
"Third Uncle, what does this have to do with Nanfeng?" Ye Dafu said blankly.
Obviously, many innate realmTaiqing Immortal Sect disciples were not able to understand the ferocity of the qin dao duel just now, much less the fact that it was Xiao Nanfeng who helped Xiao Yu in order to save the day.
Xiang Kun looked at his little sister who was unconscious not far away, and said with a stiff smile, "Let all the Immortal Masters laugh at me, my little sister does not know the heights of heaven and the depths of the earth, and today, I finally let her know what is beyond the mountains, and there are people beyond the people!"
After experiencing the qin dao duel just now, who would give Xiang Kun a good face again? At this moment, the crowd had their faces slated.
"Senior Brother Ye, everyone has almost eaten, why don't we go back and rest first?" Xiao Nanfeng opened his mouth.
Ye Sanshui didn't want to stay here either and was about to nod his head.
"You can't leave!" A broken cry rang out.
However, it was Xiang Wei, who was holding Xiang Zhirou on the dance floor of the grand hall, who looked at Xiao Nanfeng with cold eyes, and he had a face that was eager to protect his sister and annoyed.