Perhaps due to his past life of constant conflict and killing, Gu Qingfeng rarely enjoyed leisurely moments like today—sipping fine wine, listening to melodies, and watching the lively scene. From childhood to adulthood, he had never experienced such ease. In his youth, for the sake of cultivation, he offended many, living each day with his head on the line. Later, after ascending to the Celestial Realm, he practically fought his way through every step.
Now, having been stripped of everything by the Heavenly Dao and returned to his original form, this leisurely enjoyment of wine felt quite interesting, especially when he saw the doubtful gazes around him. It struck him as rather amusing, and he couldn't resist teasing them.
“I told you long ago, I’m a dragon among men, a master of Musical Arts. Did you think I, Young Lord Chiyan, was joking with you?
What do you say now?
Do you believe it now?
Hmm?
Hahahaha…” Perhaps feeling his words were too boastful, even Gu Qingfeng couldn't help laughing heartily after speaking. He poured himself more fine wine and sent a secret voice transmission: “Girl, how was that?
Did I let you down?
Now no one dares to doubt that I am Young Lord Chiyan, right?”
Beside him, Ouyang Ye stood frozen, as if she had lost her soul. Her delicate face was filled with shock and bewilderment, mixed with endless disbelief.
She was stunned, her thoughts utterly scrambled.
When Master Wenzhu stated that Gu Qingfeng was that Musical Arts prodigy, she was completely dumbfounded. Perhaps it was all too shocking, as she still couldn't organize her thoughts properly.
“Young Lord Chiyan, this old man has an impertinent request.”
Master Wenzhu clasped his hands sincerely. “Would the Young Lord be willing to play 'Drunken Chanting of the Blue Sea' for us…”
“Still want me to play?” Gu Qingfeng rubbed his chin, hesitating.
“Young Lord, you may not know, but in our Northwest Territory, few can play the Monarch’s compositions with true artistic conception. And those who can evoke the conception of 'Drunken Chanting of the Blue Sea' are even rarer. Many musicians present have long admired this piece's artistic conception. If the Young Lord would grace us with a performance, this old man would be eternally grateful.”
As Master Wenzhu finished speaking, other musicians in the hall also stepped forward, hoping Young Lord Chiyan would play 'Drunken Chanting of the Blue Sea'. They were all musicians who deeply admired the famous compositions left by Lord Chixiao, but few could truly capture the Monarch's artistic conception. Hearing that this Musical Arts prodigy before them possessed such skill, everyone wished to witness it. Even if they couldn't gain any insights, it would broaden their horizons. Most importantly, they could experience the artistic conception of 'Drunken Chanting of the Blue Sea'—a rare opportunity not easily bought with money.
“Big Brother…
Could you play it once more?
Please?”
The little blue-haired girl stood beside Gu Qingfeng, shaking his arm, lifting her small head, and pleading with wide eyes. “Big Brother, Jin’er also wants to hear you play 'Drunken Chanting of the Blue Sea' again. Please, just play it once.”
Gu Qingfeng had no resistance against seven- or eight-year-old girls, especially when faced with those pitifully large eyes. Unable to refuse, he gently pinched the little girl’s nose and smiled. “It’s just a piece of music. Today, Big Brother will let you hear it to your heart’s content.”
“Big Brother, you agreed?” The little girl was visibly excited.
“Just for calling me 'Big Brother,' I can’t refuse!” Gu Qingfeng tilted his head back and drained the wine from his flask, a playful smile curling his lips. “For the little girl’s sake, this Young Lord will show off one more time today.”
Hearing Young Lord Chiyan agree to play, all the musicians present were thrilled. Even Master Wenzhu couldn't hide his excited expression.
Gu Qingfeng took the guqin from the little girl’s hands, placed it on the table, and began to play.
Once again, it was 'Drunken Chanting of the Blue Sea.'
At this moment, clad in white robes, he stood tall and straight. His ten fingers danced wildly across the guqin—a divine, miraculous finger technique with ever-changing strings that dazzled the eyes, left people dumbstruck, and evoked endless admiration.
No one could understand or fathom how Young Lord Chiyan, at such a young age, possessed such profound mastery of Musical Arts. That miraculous finger technique, the ever-changing strings, each note imbued with profound mysteries—even those who had studied Musical Arts for centuries probably couldn't play so perfectly.
They didn't know.
Yes, no one knew.
No one had time to ponder this, for soon they were swept away by the mystical melody, as if their souls had left their bodies, dreaming back through millennia, returning to the distant Blue Sea, witnessing everything about Lord Chixiao’s seclusion there—yes, everything. They could even feel the ocean waves, the blue sky and white clouds, and simultaneously sense the various frustrations Lord Chixiao experienced during his seclusion by the Blue Sea…
It was a wondrous feeling, indescribable and elusive, as if they were personally there, experiencing it firsthand.
Everyone knew this was the artistic conception contained within the music.
As the piece ended, the hall fell into utter silence.
Everyone stared in stunned awe, overwhelmed…
Each person stood frozen as if they had lost their souls, or as if still trapped in a dream, bewildered.
For many, it was their first time hearing the artistic conception of 'Drunken Chanting of the Blue Sea.' After listening, they couldn't help but marvel. The conception within the music held a thousand layers of profundity, ten thousand layers of wonder—each piece a cycle of reincarnation. Only the Monarch’s compositions could give people this feeling of one piece, one cycle of reincarnation.
Beyond marveling at Lord Chixiao, what astonished everyone even more was that Young Lord Chiyan, sitting in the corner, legs crossed, sipping wine, speaking and acting like a spoiled scion…
This person actually…
actually played 'Drunken Chanting of the Blue Sea' with artistic conception through mere empty playing, without using any Spiritual Art…
It was truly inconceivable!
It truly broadened their horizons. Had they not seen it with their own eyes, no one would have believed it was real.
This was 'Drunken Chanting of the Blue Sea'! Even a Musical Arts titan like Master Wenzhu couldn't evoke its artistic conception! Yet now, this seemingly frivolous fellow had played it with conception through empty playing!
This was simply…
simply too unbelievable!
“Might I ask where Young Lord Chiyan resides?”
Suddenly, a middle-aged fat man spoke up.
“What’s the matter?” Gu Qingfeng glanced at the man with a playful smile. “Do you have some thoughts?”
“Young Lord Chiyan misunderstands. I am the master of Fenghua Manor. If the Young Lord would be willing to perform at my manor, I am prepared to offer fifty thousand… no! Eighty thousand spirit stones!”
“I am the steward of Liuye Manor. If the Young Lord comes to our Liuye Manor, I offer one hundred thousand!”
“I offer one hundred twenty thousand!”
“I offer one hundred fifty thousand!”
“I offer two hundred thousand!”
Listening to the manor masters’ bids, the young musicians present were filled with envy, jealousy, and resentment—especially Yun Hong and Ye Hui, whose faces were now ashen. They had originally intended to expose this fake Young Lord Chiyan and humiliate Ouyang Ye, but never imagined…
This Young Lord Chiyan was genuine.
If they had previously doubted whether Young Lord Chiyan was merely a fabricated Dao Partner by Ouyang Ye, at this moment, they harbored no more doubts. They were musicians and clearly understood what it meant for someone to evoke the artistic conception of 'Drunken Chanting of the Blue Sea' through empty playing. As Master Wenzhu had said, he truly deserved to be called a dragon among men in the world of Musical Arts.
Hearing the manor masters’ bids, their hearts churned with mixed feelings, especially Ye Hui. Her eyes seemed about to spit fire as she glared fiercely at Ouyang Ye. Her vanity was strong; Ouyang Ye’s family background, aptitude, and talent were all superior to hers. She thought pairing with Yun Hong would finally allow her to surpass Ouyang Ye, but never expected Ouyang Ye had actually found a Musical Arts prodigy as her Dao Partner.
The hall was in a frenzy. One manor master after another raised bids, pushing the price close to four hundred thousand. Not only manors made offers; some factions, hoping to recruit Gu Qingfeng, even offered positions as 'Elders.' Some sects also invited him to become a 'Guest Elder.'
There was no helping it. In this world, the Monarch’s compositions were a brand. If one could evoke their artistic conception, they became a living, breathing money tree. No force would pass up the chance to recruit such a Musical Arts prodigy.
Faced with this, Gu Qingfeng couldn't help but laugh heartily. With a wave of his hand, he said, “I say, everyone, do I look like someone short on money? Enough, go about your business. The sky is getting dark, and this Young Lord has things to do. Farewell, everyone.”
“Big Brother, are you leaving?”
The little girl was reluctant, holding Gu Qingfeng’s hand, unwilling to let him go.
Gu Qingfeng pinched her nose gently and smiled. “Big Brother has things to attend to.”
“Then can I see Big Brother again in the future?”
“Of course.”
“Where can Jin’er find Big Brother?”
“Hmm…
This…” Gu Qingfeng pondered. He had just awakened and hadn’t made any plans yet, thinking he'd first visit the Yunxia Sect to see that old man Huode, then decide. Seeing the little girl’s disappointed expression, Gu Qingfeng smiled. “Then tell Big Brother where you live. I’ll come visit you when I have time.”
“Big Brother, Jin’er lives at Yunyi Manor with Grandpa. Will you really come see Jin’er?”
“Of course.”
“Then Jin’er will wait for Big Brother.”
Gu Qingfeng had always had no resistance against little girls. Since childhood, even after centuries of cultivation, it remained so. He patted the little girl’s head, comforted her a few words, bid farewell to Master Wenzhu, and prepared to leave.
Only…
It seemed Ouyang Ye was still standing there dumbly, her small mouth slightly agape, her beautiful eyes gazing at him with a strange, complex expression.
“Let’s go, girl. What are you still standing there for?”
“Go?”
Clearly, Ouyang Ye’s thoughts were still muddled, seemingly unable to comprehend the meaning of 'go.'
“The showing off is done, the spectacle seen, we’ve eaten and drunk our fill. What else is there to do?”
“Oh…” Like a puppet, Ouyang Ye nodded and followed Gu Qingfeng as he left.