Chapter 93 A Zither Competition (1/2)

Liu Yunzheng frowned deeply and thought to himself that Ye Wuhen was such accomplished cultivator, it was impossible he could not play such an ordinary zither. What was Han Chen up to? Liu Fenghuang knew all about the uniqueness of the zither. She placed her lips close to her father's ears with a grin. ”Don't worry, Dad. We are in for a great show.”

Liu Yunzheng was still rather puzzled, staring closely at Ye Wuhen. He saw Ye Wuhen placed the zither horizontally about his chest. His fingertips pluck at the A Major string but no sound emerged.

Everyone gasped in surprise. Was it really like what the Teal Jade Sect lad had said? That no one else could play this zither? Ye Wuhen's face color changed. He gave the E Major string another pluck, but still no sound emitted.

Xiao Chen smiled lightly. ”Well? Does Senior Brother Ye believe my words now?”

Zhang Qinglian's face looked horribly grim. Yu Wenji looked at Xiao Chen meaningfully, nodding all the time. Ye Wuhen gave a cold snort and pulled the C Major string upward forcefully. Suddenly, there was a horrendous shriek. He had flung the zither away.

Xiao Chen's figure shifted and he caught hold of the Jade Zither. He smiled. ”I've told you that you must not play this zither wilfully, or you will get hurt. Why doesn't Senior Brother Ye trust my words?”

Ye Wuhen's facial color was terrible. He mobilized his True Energy hurriedly and a dull purplish stream of blood darted out from his fingertip. Liu Yunzheng found it inconceivable. He wondered why this zither of Han Chen was so peculiar. Even if not every one could play the divine Archean zither, that zither at least would not injure its player.

The company, too, found it hard to believe. Ye Wuhen had reached the Core Forming Realm, yet he was injured by a Jade Zither string!

Ye Wuhen endured the intense pain boring into his heart and asked in a deep voice, ”What is the name of your zither?”

Xiao Chen wiped the smile from his face. ”Listen hard. This zither is called the Nine-heaven Jade Pendant. It was crafted by a senior zither maker a century ago in exchange for his life.”

”The Nine-heaven Jade Pendant! Well, well! I'm sure Junior Brother has marvelous, exceptional playing abilities. I am incompetent, but I would like to exchange pointers with you!”

”Fine! That's exactly what I intend too. Please spare me later with your fingers, Senior Brother Ye!”

Although Xiao Chen did not really regard himself as a Teal Jade Sect disciple, the members of the sect all treated him well in the past month. When the Penglai Islanders derided Liu Yunzheng, he took the opportunity to give vent to their anger.

Liu Yunzheng's face color changed. ”No, Han Chen! Come back!” He thought that Ye Wuhen's cultivation surpassed Xiao Chen's too much. Revenge was imminent given the man's intense resentment.

Xiao Chen answered, ”Master, you don't have to worry for me.” Liu Yunzheng stood up. ”Come back! This is an order! Are you going to defy your Master?”

At this moment, Yu Wenji stepped down. ”You don't have to worry, Sect Leader Liu. It's just a contest between sect members. I'm sure they will know when to stop.” Liu Yunzheng continued, ”But...”

Yu Wenji stretched out his hand and smiled. ”They won't overdo it and will know when to stop. Rest assure, Sect Leader Liu.”

Right now, he wanted more than anyone else to know Xiao Chen's true strength. After all, the Qing State had gathered many Heaven List cultivators, according to rumors. If Xiao Chen could play the divine zither, he could well be their side's final trump card.

Liu Yunzheng sighed and glanced at Xiao Chen. In the end, he did not say what he had intended. He knew very well Xiao Chen was fighting for him, to vent his anger. He was not afraid of offending the Penglai Islanders. After all, he had offended them greatly over the matter of the alliance years ago. He was afraid they would take the opportunity to get rid of Xiao Chen.

Liu Fenghuang no longer grinned as before. Her brows started to knot themselves into a deep frown. She came before Xiao Chen and whispered, ”If he tries to injure you, shout loudly for my father to intervene.”

Xiao Chen smiled lightly. ”Don't worry, Senior Sister Liu. He cannot hurt me with his zither skills alone.”

The company all left for the square outside the hall. They seemed to be watching a show more exciting than even the Immortals League Competition. Xiao Chen and Ye Wuhen sat motionless in the center of the square, 15 meters away from each other. Ye Wuhen spoke. ”After you, Junior Brother.”

Xiao Chen smiled gently. ”Since it was you who first extended the invitation to compete, you'd better go first.”

Ye Wuhen spoke no more. He pushed his hands outward. Waves of zither melodies started to drift across to the other side, at times rousing, at times low and muffled. The rousing notes sounded like lofty mountains reaching into the clouds. The low, muffled notes sounded like flowing streams, relentless and continuous.

Layers of sound waves rose and fell incessantly. Xiao Chen sat on the ground, his eyes slightly shut. His left hand pressed down on the strings but his right hand froze. Suddenly, the middle finger of his right hand plucked a string, emitting a distinct note, like a falling leaf drifting onto a stream.

Although Ye Wuhen's tunes were tight and dense, Xiao Chen's single note could be heard so distinctly by everyone.

Ye Wuhen suddenly raised his head. A strange glimmer flashed across his eyes. Suddenly, the zither notes started to change, going up to the A Major. There were seven or eight high-pitch notes, almost hitting C sharp Major.

The keys of a zither were C Major, D Major, E Major, G Major and A Major. Even higher were the C sharp Major and A sharp Major.

The zither notes suddenly began to soar, like a stream surging with phenomenal waves, morphing into a swelling ocean. Yet Xiao Chen continued to close his eyes, concentrating. Now and then, he would pluck a string. The note would travel and seep through the opposition's gap, like a dried leaf drifting to the ocean. The mounting waves kept surging on but could not sink the leaf, only bobbing it up and down.