Master Wenzhu had rarely engaged in conflicts with others in his life, let alone with a junior.
However, this Wei Jiaojiao was simply too arrogant and overbearing. Her insolence was one thing, but especially after she had just attempted to kill Ouyang Ye, Master Wenzhu decided to seize this opportunity to teach her a lesson. If he could make Wei Jiaojiao leave, it would be a good thing for everyone in the Four Great Regions.
"You reckless old fool! What are you, to dare dream of driving this Young Lady out of the Four Great Regions?"
Wei Jiaojiao was spoiled, domineering, and exceptionally arrogant. Relying on the backing of the Leiyun Branch, she didn't even put the leaders of the major sects in her eyes, so how could she possibly regard Master Wenzhu—a senior with only some accomplishments in the Musical Arts—with any respect? If not for this being the Dao Lecture Assembly, and if not for Ma Zhengtian having just warned her not to act here, Wei Jiaojiao would have killed Master Wenzhu without hesitation.
"Young Lady Wei, since this is a wager, both sides naturally must place a bet. This old man has staked his own life. I don't need Young Lady Wei's life either—I merely ask that Young Lady Wei leave the Four Great Regions. Could it be that Young Lady Wei doesn't even dare to agree to this?"
After Master Wenzhu finished speaking, Ouyang Ye also shouted, "Wei Jiaojiao, don't you refuse to believe that Gu Qingfeng modified Sister Su Hua's Little Blue Flower Language? Now Master Wenzhu is going to play it for you. What, are you afraid of losing? Don't dare to accept?"
"A bunch of charlatans trying to mystify things! Would this Young Lady be afraid of you?"
Wei Jiaojiao, furious and exasperated, pointed angrily and said, "Old thing, play it for this Young Lady right now! If you can't play it, this Young Lady will skin you alive on the spot!"
To the side, whether it was Lan Feier and Shui Yunruo's group, Ma Zhengtian and Wang He's group, or the surrounding spectators, everyone was both astonished and incredulous at the scene unfolding before them.
In their minds, the idea that that so-called Gu Qingfeng could have modified the Little Blue Flower Language to be more profound and perfect was utterly impossible. Yet, if it were truly impossible, how could Master Wenzhu possibly stake his own life just to quarrel with Wei Jiaojiao?
They didn't know. No one understood what was really going on.
Lan Feier was worried that Master Wenzhu wouldn't be able to play it, and the situation would become irreparable. She wanted to dissuade him, as this matter had started because of her. But whenever she opened her mouth to speak, Master Wenzhu would always nod at her, signaling for her not to worry.
But... how could she not worry?
Everyone knew Master Wenzhu was attempting something nearly impossible—it was as if he claimed he could achieve immortality on the spot. Was that possible? Obviously not. Yet, Master Wenzhu appeared utterly confident and was determined to demonstrate it for all to see.
When Master Wenzhu finished tuning the zither strings and began to play, Lan Feier closed her eyes. In that moment, even her breathing stopped, her heart seemed to freeze, and she couldn't bear to watch. It was like witnessing someone about to leap off a cliff.
The sound of the zither rose, drifting slowly, its exquisite melody gradually entering the ears. It was like the beautiful sounds of nature itself—a gentle breeze brushing past, flowers and grass rustling softly. It was also like winter giving way to spring, with birds singing and flowers blooming, blossoms unfurling.
Every single person present knew that what Master Wenzhu was playing was the Little Blue Flower Language, composed by Fairy Su Hua.
Yet, upon careful listening, there were slight differences. It seemed... more profound.
Many could hear this, especially talents like Lan Feier and Ma Zhengtian—the Little Hidden Dragons and Little Phoenix Hairpins—whose attainments in musical theory were very profound and who had also studied the Little Blue Flower Language. Listening carefully now, the Little Blue Flower Language played by Master Wenzhu truly did seem more profound than the one composed by the Fairy.
Hmm? How could this be?
Lan Feier's heart was filled with doubt and surprise. Unable to help herself, she opened her eyes and looked over. What she saw then completely stunned her.
She had studied this Little Blue Flower Language and clearly knew that the piece was composed of over seventy musical phrases. She also knew very well that the techniques, spirit incantations, and spiritual consciousness contained within each phrase were not only perfectly fused but also flawless. This was why she had always admired Su Hua.
However, watching Master Wenzhu play the Little Blue Flower Language now, Lan Feier could hardly believe her eyes.
She discovered that the structure of the Little Blue Flower Language played by Master Wenzhu hadn't changed, nor had the musical phrases, not even the rhythm. But the techniques, spirit incantations, and spiritual consciousness contained within each phrase had all changed. Various techniques, spirit incantations, and spiritual consciousness were interwoven in different combinations.
Moreover, they had become seemingly chaotic and disorderly, as if several completely unrelated things had been haphazardly pieced together. Yet, paradoxically, the piecing together was remarkably neat and orderly.
It truly was so. Lan Feier couldn't believe it, but when she tried to deduce it in her mind, it really was neat and orderly, without any discomfort. What shocked her even more was that not only was it orderly, it was also genuinely simpler, more perfect, and more profound than the version composed by the Fairy.
How was this possible!
The shock in Lan Feier's heart was beyond words. She stood there dumbfounded, eyes wide. She wasn't the only one. Within the venue, Shui Yunruo, Huo Wuchenyue, Ma Zhengtian, Wang He, Huo Dong, Tu Gao, and others, as well as the leaders of the various major powers present, were all equally stunned, as if witnessing something unbelievable.
The piece came to an end.
The originally noisy venue had long since fallen into profound silence.
Whether they were Little Hidden Dragons, Little Phoenix Hairpins, or Great Hidden Dragons and Great Phoenix Hairpins, everyone was looking at Master Wenzhu with astonished, awe-struck eyes.
Just moments ago, no one had believed Master Wenzhu could play it, let alone that Gu Qingfeng, that fraud, could have modified the Little Blue Flower Language to be more profound and perfect.
After Master Wenzhu played the modified Little Blue Flower Language, everyone still couldn't believe it. Yes, they *couldn't* believe it—not that they didn't believe, but that they *dared* not believe. Because they simply couldn't accept such an inconceivable fact. It was like witnessing Master Wenzhu achieving immortality on the spot, and the one who enabled his immortality was a fraud known to all.
How could anyone believe or accept this?
"This old man merely observed on the spot and memorized the score modified by Young Lord Chiyan. Although I've contemplated it for several days since returning, I am still merely copying the form without capturing the essence and profound mystery of the modifications."
Master Wenzhu stood up, stroking the beard on his chin as he recalled the scene at Yunxia Sect that day. "At that time, Young Lord Chiyan was drinking wine. He just glanced casually at the score a couple of times and then modified the Little Blue Flower Language beyond recognition. He modified all over seventy musical phrases, and the modifications seemed chaotic and disorderly. Yet, it was precisely these seemingly chaotic modifications that made the Little Blue Flower Language more profound and perfect, its artistic conception reaching a deeper level."
Master Wenzhu's words made the crowd, already deeply shocked, feel even more incredulous.
What was he saying? That Gu Qingfeng, while drinking wine, had just glanced casually a couple of times and modified the Little Blue Flower Language?
This was too... too outrageous, wasn't it?
"Young Lord Chiyan's attainments in the Musical Arts have likely long since reached a transcendent level, truly admirable!"