430 Frustration Increases (2/2)

Putting down his liquor, he placed his hands on the instrument. He deciphered the complex music theory in his heart, but his mind was still drunk. He had no clue what he was doing.

In the beginning, he stumbled over the notes. Things became smoother in the middle until finally, a clear sound spread. Under Jiu Xiao Huan Pei's control, the music theory seemed to come to life. It came out of the aether and transformed into a blurry apparition that flowed under the moonlight. Finally, the blurry bird perched on the instrument and fused into Heaven Ladder. It trembled and extended. The countless music theories shook and a new melody was created.

”I learned it just like that?” Ye Qingxuan was stunned. A little unsure, he opened another bottle to calm himself down. After resting a bit, he flipped to another score.

”The fallen leaves come and go. The perched crows startle…” It was 'Autumn Wind.'

The instrument sounds once again. Under the gloomy melody, silhouettes of crows startle inside the thin moonlight. They pace under the light. An autumn scene appeared.

Reminiscing, oh the long memory; short nostalgia, oh the endless pain…

This was 'Autumn Wind.'

He learned it so quickly! Ye Qingxuan gulped down more liquor in shock. ”It seems pretty easy?”

Again!

'South Wind Blows.'

In an instant, a spring breeze blew from the soil. Vitality resounded within the melody and spread. The music seemed to transform into the south wind and blow in all directions.

Thus, everything began growing. Heaven Ladder extended again. It rose happily, taking in the scattered music theory continuously. It was taking shape instantly.

”This works?” Ye Qingxuan scratched his head and flipped the page. Continue!

'Ji Yue Yin,''Qing Ye Yin,''Feng Lei Yin'…

The room had become a mess. Everything seemed to have left the material world. Under the music, everything was blurry and inside the melody. At times, a sun would rise and everything would renew; sometimes, it would be an endless night with the moon in the sky and a cool breeze blowing; other times, wind and thunder raged furiously… The Heaven Ladder continued growing.

Within the melody, a faint rhythm emerged. It was like a pulsing heart.

Ye Qingxuan continued.

'Listening to the Spring on the Stone,''God's Words,''Man and Stork'!

The singing of a bubbling creek came from all directions, transforming into a flood and thundering river. It flowed over the stone and things were reborn. It became solemn and grave, old and crude. As if meeting with a god, it was ancient yet vigorous. Finally, it turned and there seemed to be an old man with a sword and white storks dancing. The man and stork emerged within Jiu Xiao Huan Pei and joined the Heaven Ladder.

It trembled. Countless music theories broke apart at once then rejoined under an invisible power. Finally, the vast music theory of Philosopher's Stone was enveloped as well, becoming one. The majestic vitality spread from his limbs. All his wounds healed instantly. Fresh blood began flowing through him like a flood. There seemed to be a river inside his body.

Under the rumbling of the flood, a heavy and low heartbeat sounded. A whirlpool appeared in the aether sea. Countless aether was sucked in by the msic. Silver rays of light flowed into the instrument strings and collected within his body. They operated with the complex music theory. Under the guidance of the aether, the vast music score finally started turning and showed its true nature.

Ye Qingxuan realized that he was unstoppable. Finishing the bottle, he started flipping through all the pages.

”Moon of Mount Guan,''Dragon Roar in the Sea,''Changmen Complaint,''Huo Lin Cao,''Wind and Cloud'…

The instrument sounded once again. Sparse notes scattered. The bright moon illuminated Mount Guan and wind raged. Sea tides crashed and the dragon roared without end. The moon hung in the night, illuminating those inside Changmen.

Ye Qingxuan was lost in his own world. His eyes scanned the music scores and he strummed Jiu Xiao Huan Pei. Aether rose in waves and spread out. Finally, the melody spilled like mercury into all directions.

The crisscrossed strings covered the entire embassy, extending with the scattering moonlight. Within the light and melody, a faint heartbeat sounded. Under the unclear rhythm, the entire embassy became wispy. Countless apparitions rose under the moonlight. It was as if everything had become removed from reality and entered a hallucination. Moonlight shone down. The line between illusion and reality blurred.

Everything in his dream was before his eyes now.

In the end, all the scenes were woven into a vast and beautiful dream by the melody. Reversed dreams appeared, a moon hung in the sky, the sun shone radiantly, rivers flowed, the land stretched to the horizon, dragons roared…

”So annoying!” Bai Xi was startled awake from her dream. She tossed her pillow in anger. ”Who the f*ck is playing music at midnight?!”

Furious, she climbed out of bed but discovered that her room had somehow changed. The western-styled furniture had become somber eastern decorations. White curtains fell from the large room. Two lines of firelight illuminated the room. The pearls on the walls reflected with the light, creating an elegant and luxurious scene.

Stunned, her eyes quickly turned cold. She clenched a fist. Faraway bells rang under her fingertips. Zhaodang flashed past and destroyed the realistic dreamscape. Everything blurred and broke.

She put on a jacket and slippers and walked out. She was annoyed. Her mood was already bad from dreaming of all that. Seeing it when she woke up really pissed her off.

Cracking her knuckles, she was ready to find that annoying guy and have a good 'talk.' But when she pushed open the door and followed the music, she found Maxwell and Abraham sitting in the hallway and smoking.

”Principal?” She frowned and said without hesitation, ”What are you all planning now?”

”What can I do?” Maxwell smoked and said lightly, ”It's your messed up cousin. The day he got released, he became a marquess, signed an agreement with the Silent Authority, drank all my wine, and leveled up.

”His heart of sound resonated with the aether sea. Disturbing reality, he saw into the dreamscape.” Maxwell stared at the large moon outside the window and murmured, ”He's at the Disturbance level now.”