Inside the pavilion.
When Gu Qingfeng heard that Qing Xi was going to play 'The Monarch's Youthful Journey', he was not only surprised but also quite expectant.
In his view, this piece of his, 'The Monarch's Youthful Journey', wasn't particularly sophisticated in terms of musical technique, melody, or anything else, nor did it contain any profound mysteries. It was purely a composition to reminisce and commemorate the winding years of his youth. Precisely because of this, others found it difficult to play. After all, it was his own youth; others hadn't experienced it, so how could they possibly bring out the so-called artistic conception and profound mysteries?
If there really was someone who could play out the profound artistic conception of this 'Monarch's Youthful Journey', Gu Qingfeng would be the first to stand up and bow in admiration.
He had originally wanted to hear whether Young Lady Qingxi could truly play it out.
Unfortunately, this young lady politely declined and only played a piece by Su Hua, 'Little Blue Flower Language'.
To tell the truth, she played it quite well, truly capturing its essence.
Whether in terms of the proficiency of her technique, the guidance of her spirit, the application of spiritual power, or even the level of the melody, Qing Xi was near perfect, with nothing to criticize. At least in Gu Qingfeng's eyes, it was close to perfection, flawless.
What Gu Qingfeng admired even more was that this 'Little Blue Flower Language' composed by Su Hua, while seemingly simple, encompassed everything. It was the so-called 'easy to start, hard to master'. It wasn't difficult to play out the 108 profound mysteries of the flower language within the piece; what was difficult was to thoroughly integrate these 108 profound mysteries, thereby entering the artistic conception of the flower language.
At this very moment, as Qing Xi played 'Little Blue Flower Language', the five-colored flowers in the garden seemed moved, about to bud and bloom. Even butterflies were attracted by the zither's music, dancing gracefully around Qing Xi...
Clearly.
Qing Xi had already played this 'Little Blue Flower Language' into its artistic conception, and what's more, it was the artistic conception of birds singing and flowers blooming.
Truly rare.
Even more precious was that Qing Xi didn't look very old, at most in her early twenties. Not only had her cultivation reached the Perfected Nascent Soul stage, but her attainment in the Musical Arts was also so remarkable. She was truly extraordinary. Perhaps she couldn't be called a true heaven-defying genius, but she was absolutely an outstanding talent.
As the piece ended.
The crowd seemed still immersed in the artistic conception of 'Little Blue Flower Language', unable to extricate themselves. It was only after a long while that they came to their senses, and enthusiastic applause instantly erupted.
"Young Lady Qingxi is truly a musical prodigy. It's truly an eye-opener!"
"Indeed! Although I've heard many masters play 'Little Blue Flower Language' before, I've never felt like today, as if falling into a world of flowers. It's truly exquisite!"
After the piece, everyone began to offer their compliments.
Someone also inquired, "Young Lady Qingxi, was the 'Little Blue Flower Language' you just played the revised version by Immortal Su Hua?"
"Yes."
"I heard this revised version of 'Little Blue Flower Language' was actually revised by Young Lord Chiyan for Immortal Su Hua. Young Lady Qingxi, is that true?"
Qing Xi nodded in response. "Whether this revised version of 'Little Blue Flower Language' was truly revised by Young Lord Chiyan, I do not know. However, the revised version is indeed more perfect, more profound, and its artistic conception more beautiful than the previous one."
"So, does that mean Young Lord Chiyan's attainment in the Musical Arts is truly peerless under heaven? Even Immortal Su Hua sighed in admiration?"
"The rumors say so, but I wasn't present at the time, so I cannot confirm whether it's true or not."
"Ah! Young Lady Qingxi, is that Young Lord Chiyan by the side of Heir Apparent Handong of Yaoyue Palace the real one? Can someone who turned to ashes truly die and come back to life?"
Regarding the recent news about Young Lord Chiyan dying and coming back to life, Qing Xi had also heard. From her personal perspective, she did not believe that someone who had turned to ashes could die and come back to life. The reason was simple: she felt such a thing completely violated the laws of life and was impossible, just like a withered flower could never bloom again.
At the same time, like many others, she felt conflicted. After all, he was the successor of Lord Chixiao, and Lord Chixiao himself was someone unbound by any laws, repeatedly creating miracles. Who could say for sure that his successor couldn't, like him, turn to ashes and still die and come back to life?
"I heard Young Lady Qingxi has also been looking for Young Lord Chiyan these past days."
Qing Xi had indeed looked for Young Lord Chiyan, her purpose being to ascertain the truth.
She was someone who loved the Musical Arts, especially the Monarch's pieces. Hearing that Young Lord Chiyan not only had peerless attainment in the Musical Arts but had once played the artistic conception of 'Drunken Chant of the Azure Sea' on an empty zither made Qing Xi find it hard to believe. She very much wanted to see if this person was truly as peerless in music as the rumors said.
That was just one reason.
Besides wanting to know the truth about Young Lord Chiyan, she wanted even more to know if Young Lord Chiyan was truly the successor of Lord Chixiao.
This was very important to her.
To be precise, it was very important to her grandmaster, Daozun Withered Wood.
It was just a pity that with the five-colored flowers about to bloom, she really couldn't get away. Otherwise, she would have very much liked to meet that Young Lord Chiyan.
"Young Lady Qingxi, we all know that Wuse Mountain has deep ties with Lord Chixiao from the past. Daozun Withered Wood was not only a close friend of the Monarch despite their age difference but was also severely injured for the Monarch back then. The Monarch also avenged Daozun Withered Wood by using the piece 'Wind Rises Over Great Green Mountain' to slaughter all the sects on Great Green Mountain."
"We all know you're looking for Young Lord Chiyan, firstly to confirm the truth of his identity, and secondly to know if Young Lord Chiyan is truly the Monarch's successor. However, I advise you to be very cautious! Even if that Young Lord Chiyan is real, he might not necessarily be the true successor of the Monarch."
"Indeed! These days, there are countless frauds impersonating the Monarch. You must not believe them easily."
"Don't forget the incident with Gu Tiansheng fifty years ago! You must not repeat that mistake!"
Hearing someone mention the incident with Gu Tiansheng fifty years ago, a trace of helplessness and anger flashed through Qing Xi's beautiful eyes.
Because fifty years ago, there was a man named Gu Tiansheng who claimed to be a descendant of the Monarch. That man was similarly mysterious and bizarre, not only possessing innate, exceptional fortune but also holding the Monarch's token, deceiving many people in the Great Northwest. Back then, all the Chizi Head branches in the Great Northwest believed him, and even Lord Blackwater, who presided over the Great Northwest, was fooled.
Back then, those large and small sects, in order to curry favor with this descendant of the Monarch, offered many rare treasures. Some even offered their sect's guardian treasures, and even contributed their sect's spiritual vein hearts.
Not all were offered voluntarily; that Gu Tiansheng demanded them.
No one dared not to give.
After all, he was a descendant of the Monarch. Who would dare provoke him? Who would dare not give?
The result was predictable. Some said that when Gu Tiansheng left fifty years ago, he had swindled away almost half of the Great Northwest's rare treasures.
Back then, Wuse Mountain was also one of the victims.
And the losses were extremely severe. Of the nine treasures left by the Five-Colored Ancestor, six were swindled away.
What made her even more furious was that swindling away so many treasures was one thing, but he also nearly tricked Daozun Withered Wood into dying of depression.