Chapter 89 (2/2)

Yu Wenmu beamed with a radiant smile. He strided out a broad step and placed his hands on her shoulders. “Shangyan, we will get married once the Immortals League Competition is over. How can you still address me in these formal terms?”

“Shangyan dare not dispense with her etiquette.” Luo Shangyan said lightly. When she had finished, she cast a gaze on Xiao Chen from the corners of her eyes.

Xiao Chen too gazed at her without a word. So this was what she was unwilling to speak about. He could sense that she was very unwilling. Yet in this Violet Manor, no one could dictate his own destiny.

Liu Yunzheng saw the odd look in his eyes. It was really disrespectful for him to stare at Luo Shangyan, so he coughed lightly and said, “Han Chen.”

Xiao Chen recovered with a start. Yu Wenmu helped Luo Shangyan up and supported her as they walked to his front, smiling. “I have heard that this Young Master Han could play the divine zither. We have come to see him play.”

Liu Yunzheng immediately took out the Fuxi Zither strings, and it materialized into an illusionary Jade Zither. Only the C major string was physically tangible. The other six strings and the body of the zither were translucent.

Xiao Chen took over the Jade Zither and walked wordlessly to the doorway of the hall. Many disciples had gathered outside by the sides of the square. They were here because they wanted to know if the rumor that he could play the divine zither was true.

Liu Fenghuang was chuckling by the side. “Junior Brother Han, way to go!”

Xiao Chen pretended not to hear her. He held the Jade Zither horizontally and gathered his qi to his abdomen’s elixir field. With his right fingers, he plucked forcefully at the C Major string. The string arced mightily under his pluck. The disciples all gasped in surprise and started streaming toward his sides.

The body of the zither suddenly turned and glittered with scintillating light, almost as if dragons and phoenixes were flitting overhead. It seemed that an ancient bloodline had been invoked. Even the other six zither strings had turned solid and tangible. Liu Yunzheng’s heart could not help but skip a beat.

Gradually, the zither body became brighter and brighter. Its white rays awed even the rising sun. Xiao Chen now resembled a heavenly deity whom no one could fix a gaze upon.

Then, an extremely strong force spread out, shaking the entire Teal Jade Mountain. Its horrific power could not only be felt by these disciples at the mountain, but even by certain elders who were in seclusion at the mountaintop. Even these elders opened their eyes.

This was nearing the power of the Nascent Soul Realm. Liu Yunzheng cried out to himself that something was wrong. Once this string had been pluck, its lapsed power would destroy the entire Teal Jade Sect. He wanted to speak to forestall the act but it was already too late.

With a resounding strumming sound, Xiao Chen suddenly released the zither string at a colorful cloud in the horizon. The heavens and earth suddenly took on a dim complexion. A powerful, earth-shattering force hurtled up toward the sky, almost tearing up all the space around it. Every disciple in the square covered his ears in great pain. Resounding with thunderous booms, the entire Teal Jade Mountain was shaking violently. Countless roof tiles fell, and many buildings in disrespair collapsed.

The surging thunders boomed farther and farther away, the aftermath of their terrible force causing repercussions in their hearts. It was fortunate that Xiao Chen aimed the zither string at the sky. Had he aimed it at the mountain gate square, the consequences would be dire.

Yet the sky, once streaked with colorful clouds, was now entirely clear. At this moment, not a single cloud could be seen over ten thousand kilometers. The cloud layers had all been shattered. Everyone was stunned. Even the kirin lay prostrate on the ground, its body trembling.

After a long while, scanty applause started to ring out in the hall. Yu Wenmu had left the hall. Liu Yunzheng seemed to wake from a dream, gazing at the inconceivable Xiao Chen at the doorway.

“I did not imagine that Young Master Han possesses such divine prowess. It is a true blessing for our country.”

Xiao Chen answered, “You flatter me, sir.”

Yu Wenmu smiled faintly and turned to speak to Liu Yunzheng. “We will have Young Master Han attend the coming Immortals League Competition. A positive outcome is imminent.”

Xiao Chen’s plucking of the zither string had made Liu Yunzheng tremble a little, even now. He cupped his fists lightly. “That goes without saying.”

Yu Wenmu did not seem to take the matter to heart. He raised his head slightly and walked toward Luo Shangyan. Twisting his fingers with his illusionary prowess, a small brocade box appeared in his palm. He opened it gently and soon a light scent permeated the place. In it was a snowy white pill enwrapped in a faint white halo. Immortal qi seemed to linger around it.

“This Core-forming Pill was painstakingly refined by my master. It can help you break into the Foundation Building Realm.”

The disciples who had not recovered from the previous incident now all completely awakened. The pill had been concocted by Perfected Immortal Liku from the Nanzhan Subcontinent. This was the reason why it was so extraordinary. Even in Violet Manor, such Core-forming Pills were rare. Furthermore, this pill was of the highest pedigree. It might seemed extravagant for someone to use it to break into the Foundation Building Realm. Many disciples standing outside were already drooling.

Luo Shangyan gave the box a gentle push and rejected it. “It is such a precious gift. I do not dare accept it.”

Liu Yunzheng looked at her first, and then at Xiao Chen. He found their expressions rather peculiar. Smiling, he said, “Miss Luo, you will soon be married to His Highness. You’d better not reject his kind intentions.”

No one noticed the trace of animosity flashing across Xiao Chen’s eyes.