660 Just Be Yourself (2/2)

A common Rubik's cube had twenty-seven modules. Twenty-six of them were detachable and transferable. The only one that could not be changed was the core hub, which kept them revolving.

That was Ye Qingxuan's place in this system.

He was a part of this massive system, the cornerstone of the whole cycle, the only piece among countless pieces that did not change.

After spending so much time breaking through his mental barriers, he had finally answered the last of the seven musician questions.

From Abraham, he understood the School of Abstinence's ”rejection of self.” From Ye Lanzhou, he had mastered the School of Magic's ”Source of Dreams.” Over this long year he had learned the School of Heart's ”sense of self”. He had found the School of Revelation's ”unknown place” and experienced the School of Choir's ”place between life and death.” Through the School of Summoning's aetheric cycle he had indirectly learned their ”intangible body, tangible spirit.”

And finally, he had learned the School of Modifications'”Eternally Unchanging Things” from Schubert.

Finally, after a quick detour, the seven musician questions were completed. He had no more shortcomings, except that he still had no talent for creating music.

”It's time.” Ye Qingxuan suddenly felt something.

”Are you ready to do this right now?” asked Mable. ”If I were you, I'd hold off for a while. The music theory in these books you've inherited will certainly prove to be feasible, but in terms of actual application and performance there are still a lot of problems. It takes a while to polish a draft of a Symphony of Predestination into a finished product...”

Mable fell silent.

At least one year.

From draft to finished product, the modifications that must be made to a movement were even greater than those that must be made to turn a machine from a prototype into a production model. Sometimes, the finished product would be completely unrecognizable.

Some Masters could spend three, five, or even ten years on it in order to streamline the music theory and make sure the Symphony of Predestination was running smoothly.

The problems always had to be solved, and it was an all-or-nothing sort of thing.

If the problems could not be solved before it was completed, then they could only be solved in the process of forming the Symphony of Predestination. And if they could not be solved then...you were dead.

You'd be lucky if even your body was left.

”There's not much time. I'm too lazy to go and find the problem. Let it come to me.” Ye Qingxuan took one final glance at the music theory in the manuscript. ”...besides, I have experience fighting fires.”

Mable sighed. ”Well then, good luck.”

She took off her signet ring and gave it to Ye Qingxuan. ”If it doesn't really work, use this.”

It was a way out, just in case.

If it didn't work, he could discard all other music theory, and focus solely on the Chapter of the Golden Victory, using the Royal Musicians to create his Symphony of Predestination. There would be no shame in taking this way out. As far as Ye Qingxuan was concerned, as long as he could created his Symphony of Predestination, then he would be sure to be able to create a Scepter. At that time, Old Phil was in the Anglo Kingdom, a catastrophe in human form.

Mary might even entitle him as Protector of the Realm, making him a new Maxwell.

”I'll consider it.” Ye Qingxuan was just being polite. He had no intention of doing so.

He did not want to be a new Maxwell.

If he wanted, he had to chance to inherit the seal of moonlight and become a new Ye Lanzhou, or stay where he was and become a second Hermes, or even inherit the teacher's vestments and become a second Abraham...as long as he was willing, he could become the second somebody else.

But he was not willing to rely on the will of others, or to walk another's path.

He had suffered so much, and built his own career.

He wanted to become himself.

Ye Qingxuan wanted to become Ye Qingxuan.

He did not want anything other than that.