644 Stone Plate (1/2)

Regardless of whether the abomination born from it belonged to the category of the four living creatures, the Three Pillar God, the Three Wise Men, or the eight phenomena, it was in itself inseparable from human beings already.

As long as it was integrated into the Holy Cauldron, it would be able to re-expand mankind's systems of music theory. Then, human beings would occupy a vital part of the Originator.

In contrast, such fierce and tragic competition... was merely a negligible price to be paid.

Before their deaths, the various kings of the earliest generation had already made the arrangements for what would take place thousands of years after their time. Although it occurred three epochs ahead of schedule, it did not prevent the entire plan from launching smoothly.

”It's just that, don't you feel that it's too cruel to sacrifice so many people in exchange for power?” Ye Qingxuan sighed softly.

Liu Ran's smile was one of mockery. ”Back then, to infect the Holy Cauldron, humans offered up the blood of tens of thousands of people as sacrifices. The bones of the people who had died for this purpose lay everywhere... The situation now is much more humane than that back then.

”At least, they are all voluntary victims, aren't they?

”Plus, at least plenty of scepter musicians will be born through this trial, I'm afraid...

”Although it is not the proper path after all, and their achievements will be limited in comparison, they won't necessarily be unable to completely claim the power they have received as their own, as long as they undertake decades of deep practice.

”By then, the phenomenon of knock-off scepter musicians like the one just now won't be seen anymore.”

The scepter musician that had been Yuan Jing's opponent had probably been stuck in the Level of Master for decades originally. Once he received external strengthening, he broke through the bottleneck by himself and advanced to the Level of Scepter.

But even in the East, no wacko would dare to provoke a direct descendant of House Yuan after having just advanced to the Level of Scepter... After all, the sword techniques passed down through generations in House Yuan were purely directed at the core of one's music theory.

Even a scepter musician who had been stabbed with a sword could hardly escape the tragic ending of his elements demising. If a master was stabbed, his Symphony of Predestination would suffer immense damage. As for official musicians of Level Three, a strike of the sword would be enough to shatter their sound of heart, and they would be as dead as a doornail on the spot.

The phrase 'mastering the art of killing in music theory' was not coined in vain.

It was a lesson written in blood by God knew how many musicians over the years.

After listening to her words, Ye Qingxuan nodded. ”So, you guys are also here to take advantage of the situation?”

Liu Ran smiled slightly, shook her head, and simply strummed the biwa made of white jade in her hand casually, producing crisp notes.

Ye Qingxuan realized that he had asked a dumb question.

Even if the core successors of the nine families of the Dragon Bloodline were to simply spend their days idling around waiting for death, with the legacies of their respective families, just like the biwa of white jade in Liu Ran's arms, they would at the very least be able to advance to the Level of Scepter.

Such was another benefit of being in a small circle.

Instead of following the crowd and adhering to the rules other had set, one might as well set the rules on one's own.

The music theory of the Chapter of the Golden Victory was the core legacy of the Royal Musicians of Anglo. The musicians were subjected to the limitations imposed by the royal family, yet their greatness was also brought about by the royal family. Mabel was a typical example among them.

The nine families of the Dragon Bloodline used their blood as a medium for their legacies of music theory, and the music theory was passed down from generation to generation. Except for the very unlucky Ye Qingxuan, whose dad went missing and whose relatives had all been cleanly wiped out, who else within the nine families hadn't been enjoying a smooth-sailing life all the way?

The instrument of legacy of House Liu was the Yaksa — It could be said that since Liu Ran was allowed to carry it on her, the die had been cast for her to be the next head of household.

Musicians of House Liu of the past generations reared ghostly beasts with their consciousness. After their deaths, their Symphonies of Predestination and all their consciousness would also be completely turned into food and resources for the ghosts.

Meanwhile, the Yaksa was undoubted the place of residence for the countless ghosts over the centuries.

As long as one obtained the recognition of the Yaksa, countless resources in terms of ghosts and bestiality would constantly nurture one's music theory, and one would be able to advance at a pace so rapid that it would seem as if one was traveling on an airship.

Liu Ran, who was standing in front of Ye Qingxuan, was a standard Deva. She began her formative education as a child at eight years old, started learning music theory at ten, and spent eight years to achieve the Level of Master. The final step of becoming a scepter musician was already in sight for her, so why would she have to rely on external aid?

Provided that she took the initiative to work sufficiently hard, it was not impossible for her to advance as one of the Six Royals in the future.

Even if one was to think about it with one's heel instead of brain, one would know that Liu Ran had absolutely zero regard for knock-off scepter musicians like the ones the Ultimate had created.

It was a pity that Ye Qingxuan was facing immense pressure at the moment.

In the goddamn place, he was still a musician of the Level of Distortion.

He couldn't even be considered as prey. At most, he was only a snack that some other musician who had looked on until the end could conveniently snatch and swallow in a gulp without even belching.

”What about you, Master Ye?” Liu Ran looked at him, half-smiling. ”With your attainments in music theory, you need not worry about the problem faced by those knock-off scepter musicians actually. It isn't difficult to advance straight to the Level of Scepter here, is it?”

Ye Qingxuan shook his head. ”In any case, I can reclaim what belongs to me rightfully after leaving this place, no?”

Liu Ran asked, ”Are you going to give up the power that is at your fingertips?”

”No, I merely dislike following the rules set by a bunch of old *ssholes centuries ago.” Ye Qingxuan shook his head, not in the slightest bit moved. ”The items obtained in exchange for corpses will probably have a rotten stench on them, no?”

Liu Ran pursed her lips and smiled.

The rumble from the distance ended.

She gracefully bowed. ”Then, allow me to take my leave. Please take good care of yourself, Master Ye, and if you have some time to spare in the future, you may want to return to Aurora for a trip. I'm sure that you will find unexpected gains.”

”Rest assured, I will definitely go there.” Ye Qingxuan waved goodbye and heard her voice from behind him.

”Do pay attention to the stone plate.”

Stone plate?

What stone plate?

Ye Qingxuan was momentarily surprised and turned back, but only saw the figure of Liu Ran gradually dissolving into the darkness of bestiality, as if she had evaporated under the sunlight and left no trace behind.

Ye Qingxuan scratched the back of his head and felt a mild headache.

Pay attention to the stone plate?

What is that?

He had really had enough with people like her who enjoyed putting on a mysterious air and liked to give conversational blue balls. Despite having left, she just had to leave her words hanging like a hook, keeping him hanging in midair, unable to go up or down. It was just like a storyline that a lame author had specially arranged to keep things mysterious.

He soon knew what the stone plate was...