"Remarkable!
Truly remarkable!
The thirty-six obscure melodies Young Lord Yun Hong presented just now—even we wouldn't dare claim we could answer them all completely. Yet not only did you answer them all accurately, Young Lord, you even described all the fingering techniques, sound strings, and Spiritual Arts in such detail. It's truly remarkable!"
Qin Baili and the other Musical Arts seniors all nodded in amazement.
Gu Qingfeng didn't bother with modesty either. After taking a drink, he laughed heartily, "Just a few obscure melodies—how could they possibly stump me? I, Young Lord Chiyan, am a Dragon Among Men, versed in all the melodies under heaven."
These words were truly a bit too boastful—so much so that even Qin Baili and these Musical Arts seniors found it hard to stomach.
This kid was just too arrogant!
How dare he claim to know all the melodies under heaven?
"Oh?
Since Young Lord Chiyan says so, might I trouble you for some instruction?"
"Come on, come on!
Ask away!"
Too arrogant! Too insolent!
They had seen arrogant young people before, but never one as arrogant as the young man before them.
Qin Baili and the other seniors exchanged glances. One elder stepped forward and asked, "Might the Young Lord know the 'Moon Robe Cloud Silk' melody?"
"The 'Moon Robe Cloud Silk' melody..." Gu Qingfeng leaned sideways, propping his head on his arm as he sipped his wine. "It originates from the 'Great Moon Tale' of the ancient Cloud Leaf Lady. It requires six fingering techniques, seven sound strings, and twelve Spiritual Arts..."
"Might the Young Lord know the 'Zang Kong' melody?"
"The 'Zang Kong' melody...
Originates from the Buddhist monk Xuan Ku's 'Great Freedom Cloud-Empty Mantra'. It requires nine fingering techniques...
sixteen sound strings, and thirty-one Spiritual Arts..."
Qin Baili and several other seniors who specialized in Musical Arts took turns asking questions. The melodies they brought up were truly bizarre and varied—some from the ancient era, some from the primordial era, some from famous immortal Dao compositions, and even some from Buddhism...
Yet, incredibly, that Young Lord Chiyan actually...
actually managed to answer them all, without a single mistake. From fingering techniques and sound strings to the rhythm of the Spiritual Arts, his answers were as accurate and detailed as they could possibly be—even more detailed than what was written in the musical scores themselves.
No one in the hall asked any more questions. Qin Baili and the other seniors all stared wide-eyed at Gu Qingfeng, shocked, dumbfounded, their eyes filled with disbelief. They couldn't fathom how this young man, who looked to be barely over twenty, could have such profound knowledge of Musical Arts—knowledge so deep it truly seemed as if, just as he claimed, there wasn't a melody under heaven he didn't understand.
If anyone was more astonished, it was probably Ouyang Ye. No one in the hall could match the magnitude of the shock in her heart.
At this moment, she felt completely dazed, her thoughts in utter disarray, her mind a complete blank. She stared at Gu Qingfeng with a stunned, gaping expression.
Even though she had known Gu Qingfeng for less than a day and had no idea about his specific circumstances, judging from his failed Foundation Establishment, Ouyang Ye had guessed he might have been some kind of outstanding genius in the past.
Because she knew that if someone could attempt Foundation Establishment before the age of thirty, their innate talent, spiritual roots, and comprehension were absolutely top-tier among their peers. Moreover, this guy looked to be barely over twenty. Even though his Foundation Establishment had failed, one thing was undeniable: he must have been an outstanding genius once. Otherwise, he couldn't have attempted Foundation Establishment at such a young age.
But even if this guy had been a genius before, did he have to be this exaggerated?
Being able to answer Yun Hong's thirty-six obscure melodies was one thing, but now he could even answer accurately all the various melodies Qin Baili and these Musical Arts seniors had thrown at him.
Wasn't this just too unbelievable?
Even if this guy had started flipping through Musical Arts books from the womb, he couldn't have memorized this many melodies, could he?
How many compositions would he have had to study, how many books would he have had to read, to remember this many melodies?
And who would have nothing better to do than read so many Musical Arts books?
Didn't he need to cultivate?
Didn't he need to meditate?
Didn't he need to practice breathing exercises?
The way this guy had answered just now, with such detail rivaling the scores themselves—this wasn't just 'understanding'; it was practically...
practically a living encyclopedia of Musical Arts and musical skill!
Had this guy spent all his time over the past twenty-plus years flipping through Musical Arts books?
This was just too preposterous!
"Young Lord Chiyan is truly a man of great talent. I, Qin Baili, am deeply impressed!"
"This old man has never before encountered someone so proficient in Musical Arts. It has truly broadened my horizons..."
"Indeed!
This young man's understanding of Musical Arts...
is truly breathtaking to behold!"
"I've lived for a hundred years, devoted my life to studying Musical Arts, and always thought I had a decent grasp of it. Only today did I realize I was a frog at the bottom of a well."
Qin Baili and the other Musical Arts seniors couldn't stop exclaiming in admiration.
As for the act of showing off, this wasn't Gu Qingfeng's first time. When he was young, he used to show off frequently and had indeed hooked quite a few young girls. But after ascending to the Heavenly Realm, he rarely showed off anymore. Now, after so many years, showing off again gave Gu Qingfeng a profound sense of nostalgia, as if he had returned to his youth. The only difference was that back then he only showed off in front of young girls, whereas now he was showing off in front of a bunch of old men. It felt rather amusing.
Beside him, Ouyang Ye forcibly suppressed the myriad shocks and doubts in her heart and sent a secret transmission: Hey!
Gu Qingfeng, you...
how do you know so much about Musical Arts?
Gu Qingfeng raised his wine cup, glanced at her, and transmitted back: Didn't I just tell you? There isn't a melody under heaven that I don't understand. Well?
Now no one doubts I'm Young Lord Chiyan, right?
Haven't let you lose face, have I?
Ouyang Ye's little head nodded vigorously, her heart filled with immense excitement. Especially when she saw the ugly expressions on the faces of Ye Hui and Yun Hong opposite her, the little girl practically wanted to burst into song. She was just so happy.
Ever since she had inadvertently fabricated the existence of a Dragon Among Men, Young Lord Chiyan, Ouyang Ye had been constantly troubled. Especially since this matter had been deliberately spread by Ye Hui and Yun Hong, forcing her to continue maintaining this unreliable lie. Coupled with Ye Hui's frequent mockery and skepticism, Ouyang Ye had suffered greatly over the past year.
But today, she could finally hold her head high for once. Overjoyed, she planted a kiss on Gu Qingfeng's cheek, then linked arms with him, looking at Ye Hui and Yun Hong with a smug smile. "Well?
Senior Sister Ye Hui, weren't you the one who never believed in Young Lord Chiyan's existence?
Weren't you the one who always thought I made him up?
Hehe...
And now?"
"And you, Senior Brother Yun Hong, please don't keep flaunting your Musical Arts knowledge in front of me from now on. Let me tell you something—don't think I don't know where you got those thirty-six obscure melodies. You've been showing them off everywhere, sometimes even using them to mock some seniors. I couldn't be bothered to call you out on it before. But today, you actually had the nerve to show off these obscure melodies in front of Young Lord Chiyan. Hmph!
Well?
I told you long ago that Young Lord Chiyan's Musical Arts attainments are extremely high..."
"You!"
The expressions on the faces of Ye Hui and Yun Hong, sitting opposite, couldn't have been uglier. They had originally planned to use this opportunity to publicly expose this fake Young Lord Chiyan, making Ouyang Ye lose all face. That way, the jealousy and resentment in Ye Hui's heart could be vented, and Yun Hong could also get back at her for the embarrassment of his previous rejection when he pursued her.
But of all the things they had imagined, they never expected that this seemingly listless guy before them would have such profound knowledge of Musical Arts. Not only had they failed to make Ouyang Ye lose face, but the guy she brought had actually stolen their spotlight.
Could he really be Young Lord Chiyan?
They didn't know.
Perhaps they hadn't believed it before, but after witnessing this guy's Musical Arts talent with their own eyes just now, they weren't so sure anymore.
Yun Hong wasn't convinced.
In his mind, even if the person before him really was Young Lord Chiyan, he definitely wasn't a Musical Arts master, much less a Dragon Among Men.
"Knowing a few melodies is nothing remarkable."
Yun Hong threw back his head and drained his cup of wine, his expression displeased. "It's nothing more than having read a few more Musical Arts books. Anyone who's read some Musical Arts books could recite these melodies. But reciting is one thing; being able to play them is another matter entirely."
Hearing this, Ouyang Ye was delighted. "Senior Qin said earlier that for those of us who comprehend Musical Arts, knowing thousands of melodies is also a way to elevate our own Musical Arts attainments."
She paused, then added with a smile, "And you say just reading a few Musical Arts books is enough to know them?
Senior Brother Yun Hong, you really dare to say that...
The melodies Senior Qin mentioned just now involved the ancient and primordial eras, and some even came from famous immortal and demonic compositions. Is that something you can learn from reading a few Musical Arts books?"
"Hmph!" Yun Hong snorted coldly, his tone haughty. "Young Lord Chiyan, reciting some theoretical knowledge about melodies isn't a real skill. Being able to play them is what counts as true ability. Do you dare compete with me?"
"We're still competing?"
Gu Qingfeng rubbed his chin, pondering. He had already shown off once just now; did he really need to do it again?
Showing off once for fun was fine, but if he kept doing it, what would that make him?
When he looked at Ouyang Ye, the little girl quickly said, "Compete what? There's nothing worth competing over."
"I think he just doesn't dare, right?"
Ye Hui also mocked, "Let's not even discuss whether he's the real Young Lord Chiyan. Even if he is, he's all talk and no real skill."
"What a joke...
Young Lord Chiyan is familiar with all the melodies under heaven. Do you think his Musical Arts attainments could be lacking?"
Ouyang Ye was also a sharp-tongued little thing. When it came to verbal sparring, she absolutely wouldn't yield an inch if she had the upper hand. As for how high Gu Qingfeng's Musical Arts attainments actually were, or whether he could play any melodies, Ouyang Ye didn't know. But one thing was certain: even if this guy's Musical Arts attainments were truly high, he couldn't play any melodies. Because his Foundation Establishment had failed, he had no spiritual power within his body and couldn't execute any Spiritual Arts at all. Even if he played a melody, it would just be empty strumming, devoid of any profound mystery.
"If that's the case, then why doesn't he dare compete with me in skill?"
Yun Hong had lost a great deal of face just now and felt he had to regain some ground somehow.
"Why?
I might as well tell you. Young Lord Chiyan has encountered some issues in his cultivation and temporarily can't use spiritual power."
"Encountered issues in his cultivation?
Hehehe!" Ye Hui sneered. "What a convenient excuse!"
"Haven't you all noticed that you can't sense any spiritual power aura on Young Lord Chiyan?"
After Ouyang Ye said this, everyone around them released their spiritual senses to probe. Sure enough, they couldn't sense any spiritual power aura on Young Lord Chiyan. It seemed Ouyang Ye was right; Young Lord Chiyan must have really encountered issues in his cultivation and temporarily couldn't use spiritual power. Since he couldn't use spiritual power, everyone present knew he couldn't bring out the profound mysteries of any melody he played.
"If you want to compete, wait until Young Lord Chiyan has recuperated in a while. A single performance from him will scare you to death!"
Ouyang Ye didn't want to keephaggling endlessly like this. While she still had the upper hand, it was better to leave quickly. Linking arms with Gu Qingfeng, she pulled him to leave.
"Junior Sister Ouyang, what?
You're leaving?
Are you afraid we'll expose your lie?"
"Tch."
Ouyang Ye rolled her eyes. "This young lady just doesn't want to sit with you annoying people anymore."
"You!"
Ye Hui was furious. She stood up, glaring viciously, her teeth gritted. "Ouyang Ye, don't get too cocky!"
"What if I am cocky...
I'm cocky and I'm laughing, cocky and I'm laughing...
Hahahahaha!"
Ouyang Ye laughed triumphantly, her laughter utterly maniacal!
[Author's Note: The last couple of days had fewer updates, but today there are two consecutive chapters!
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