I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, So I’ll Max Out My Defense

Chapter 540: Chapter 541: Dining with the Sound of the Zither
Within the Linglong Pagoda, cultivators slightly squinted their eyes, their expressions incredibly relaxed. Such zither music could not be played by anyone other than a master of the art.

It was not an ordinary melody, but rather one infused with deep artistic conception. Just by listening once, one’s mental state and cultivation level would slightly progress. This was the terrifying aspect of the Path of Qin Music.

A single string could save a person, and the same string could also kill; everything happened in the intangible.

Upon the stage, Ling Xue’er fully merged with the ancient zither in her hands. The music flowed, transforming into a cold, ice-blue Phoenix that soared into the sky directly from her slender jade fingers.

Layers of light blue halos rained down, enveloping the entire first floor, cleansing the cultivators’ souls of their impurities,

“Clang! Clang!”

With the resonating zither music, the Phoenix cried out, spinning and frolicking in the air, appearing very joyous.

Li Xiaobai looked around; aside from himself, all the cultivators were closing their eyes, silently feeling the emotions conveyed by the Phoenix’s cries, attempting to comprehend something from it. Even a few cultivators who looked like they might be his own senior martial brothers and sisters were no exception.

Long Xue had a smile on her lips at this moment. Her state of mind was good today, and she had not played any dull, oppressive tunes.

Outsiders didn’t understand the music, but she knew very well that because of her monotonous life, and facing the same unchanging smiles and fervent gazes day after day, her own life had become tasteless, which was why her music was always filled with suppression.

Unfortunately, among these pretentious gentlemen seated here, not one could discern the truth. All were words of flattery, and over time, she too had become disappointed.

Unexpectedly, today she encountered oddities like Li Xiaobai, who shattered the dust-sealed state of her heart. She truly merged with her music and felt joy. This was a great opportunity!

It seemed that cultivators from overseas were more interesting, at the very least much more genuine.

Secretly opening one eye, she observed the scene below. Everyone was immersed in the music, carefully understanding it. She was satisfied, but when her gaze swept over Li Xiaobai, she was stunned.

This young man in front of her showed no sign of being moved by her zither music, continuously looking around. He behaved a bit oddly, repeatedly rubbing against the white-robed fatty next to him, clearly not interested in the music she played.

He even lacked the intention to comprehend it.

For a moment, a spark of irritation flared up in Long Xue’s heart. She had mastered this art well enough to be considered a scholar, yet now she had encountered a cultivator who was unmoved by her music, and a young one at that; it was inconceivable.

To know, in this world there were only two kinds of people who could stay unmoved by the art of music: one was someone with unfathomably high cultivation, who could no longer gain anything from her zither music and would only listen with pure appreciation.

The other was someone nearing the end of their life, who had experienced the vicissitudes of life, saw through the mundane world, lost the heart for fame and pursuit, and would only appreciate the music without attempting to comprehend the Grand Path.

This Li Xiaobai in front of her did not fit either category, to actually remain indifferent to her zither music without the slightest interest.

What was going on?

With this thought, Long Xue’s fingers danced, and the rhythmic melody of the music suddenly transformed. The ethereal Phoenix in the void instantly returned to its nest, flying back into the ancient zither.

“Dong dong dong!”

Sonorous bell tones lingered within the grand hall.

In the void, a little monk held a sutra in his hand, repeatedly striking a golden bell, mumbling words while his brows were slightly furrowed, as if he were facing some sort of conundrum.

Everyone was astonished, as Long Xue had always been known to play only one piece, stopping after giving just a subtle hint. Why would she start another immediately after one had not finished today?

Could this be an extra bonus segment?

“Just now, that was ‘Song of Qifeng’, right? This one should be ‘Flowers Before Buddha’.”

“Indeed, it seems that she is in a good mood today. This is an opportunity for us, and we must seize it!”

“Well said, the previous piece already completely soothed my mind. At this moment, I have entered the state of a Saint. From this piece, I am sure to comprehend some extraordinary cultivation techniques!”

The cultivators’ faces lit up with excitement, and they immediately closed their eyes to feel and comprehend with more focus.

The qin music of Long Xue could be said to interact with the essence of creation, and every second of listening was extremely beneficial. The opportunity to feel it so closely was rare, and if seized, it could serve as a huge leap forward for their own foundational strength.

Seeing everyone’s reaction, the corners of Long Xue’s lips involuntarily curved upwards. Indeed, her music was entrancing, and no cultivator could resist the benefits that her qin music brought.

However, when she turned her gaze to Li Xiaobai, she was taken aback once more.

At this moment, Li Xiaobai, unbeknownst to anyone, had somehow taken a banana from a nearby tray and was savoring it with a look of rapture on his face.

Was this… treating her qin music as accompaniment to his meal?

What exactly was the deal with this person?

The piece ‘Flowers Before Buddha’ was a score with great significance, surpassing the earlier ‘Song of Qifeng’, such that cultivators with sufficient aptitude could even comprehend their own cultivation techniques from it.

But Li Xiaobai seemed to not take it seriously at all. She didn’t believe that he had no comprehension; rather, she was more inclined to think that he simply looked down on such comprehension, which is why he used her qin music to accompany his food.

Feeling somewhat choked by annoyance, in a moment of urgency, she subtly changed her finger movements, and the music shifted once more, transforming from melodious charm to the robust sounds of battle.

Strands of a killing aura spread out, and the ears of everyone present were filled with the fierce clamor of swords and clashing arms.

The music resonated around the hall; the crowd felt as if they were on a battlefield with swords and shadows, corpses wrapped in horsehide, their Blood Qi roiling inside, and an overwhelming fierce Yang Energy spontaneously erupting, reaching up to the heavens.

“Is this the music of Confucian Path of killing, ‘Iron-clad Warriors’?”

“Why has the music changed again? I was just about to grasp some understanding.”

“I don’t know, perhaps the Immortal has her own reasons. First ‘Nesting of the Phoenix’, then ‘Flowers Before Buddha’, and now it has become ‘Iron-clad Warriors’ with its aura of slaughter. She casually masters the rhythms of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism!”

“That’s true. We have long heard that the Immortal has extensively studied the classics and can comment on any one of them, but it was unexpected to see her erudition to this extent!”

“Being able to witness this scene today is a blessing for us!”

“After all these years and several visits, this is the first time I have seen the Immortal in such a state. This arrangement of music is like a challenge to the heavens above, and it indeed is a blessing for us. Even if we comprehend nothing, just by earnestly experiencing it, we can reap great benefits!”

Watching Long Xue’s frenetic display of unity between the player and her qin on the high platform, shock flitted through the eyes of all the cultivators.

Today really was a sight to behold, this scene was something you couldn’t even buy with money on any ordinary day!