Chapter 845: Music Duel Between Qin and Crane

After figuring out what had happened, Jiang Qingqin and Vice Principal Ning rolled their eyes in exasperation. "To take one test and shock all twelve cranes unconscious — you're probably the only one capable of that."

"The zither provided by the academy is too low-grade; it's typically only used for assessing apprentices or one-star Demonic Qin Masters. Beyond one-star, most people have their own zithers, and no one would use this kind of instrument. How about this: use mine and perform here. If six cranes dance, you won't need to go to the Demonic Music Pavilion; I'll help you apply for a six-star emblem!" Jiang Qingqin said, breathing a sigh of relief, knowing the cranes were merely unconscious and unharmed.

"Alright!" Zhang Xuan nodded.

Since the other party offered to help with the application, he decided not to bother going to the Demonic Music Pavilion. He took the zither, and with a light stroke of his fingers across the strings, a resonant sound like colliding pearls and jade immediately filled the air.

"What a fine zither!" His eyes gleamed as Zhang Xuan couldn't help but exclaim. The old antique he had used before was simply incomparable to this one.

He took a deep breath, immersed himself in the moment, and began to play gently.

"A one-star piece?" Hearing that he was still playing a one-star assessment piece, the two principals shook their heads and were about to speak when they saw the cranes in the courtyard, amid their calls, fly up one by one. Exactly six of them!

"A one-star piece can make six cranes fly?" The two principals were so shocked they nearly fainted. A one-star piece is the most basic form of demonic music, with limited power, much like an ordinary martial art technique — no matter how refined the moves, their overall power is restricted. Even they couldn't achieve much effect by playing such a piece, yet this person could make six cranes dance... Just a few hours ago, didn't he completely misunderstand the concepts of six-crane and seven-crane levels? And after reading books for just one night, he became like this... You must be cheating! No wonder he caused such a stir throughout the entire academy; his talent is simply terrifying!

"What if... he used a six-star piece?" Suppressing his shock, Vice Principal Ning couldn't help but ask. If he can achieve a six-star effect with a one-star piece, what kind of effect would he achieve with a six-star piece? Could he directly make seven cranes fly? Becoming a seven-star Demonic Qin Master? At this thought, their eyes lit up simultaneously.

When the piece ended, the two were so captivated that they no longer harbored any contempt. Jiang Qingqin flicked her wrist and took out a zither score.

"Teacher Zhang, this is a six-star piece, 'Spring Moon and Rising Tide.' You can try it!"

Zhang Xuan took the score, casually opened it, and read through it once. As expected of a six-star piece, it was indeed much more complex than the previous one and made it easier to convey the artistic conception he had grasped. If the previous piece could only display 30% of a six-star artistic conception, this one could display 100%; if used well, it could even reach 120% or 150%!

*Ding-dong! Ding-dong!*

After pondering for a moment with his eyes closed, his hand fell, and the zither music began. A faint sense of majesty spread out, like a flowing tide, filling the entire courtyard. Feeling the zither music, Jiang Qingqin and Vice Principal Ning felt as if they saw a bright moon slowly rising from the tide, accompanied by the spring night, illuminating the earth and bringing all things back to life. The music evoked an image of a spring river's tide merging with the sea, and a bright moon rising with the tide. Its shimmering light followed the waves for thousands of miles, illuminating every tower and pavilion.

*Chirp! Chirp!*

As the music grew increasingly ethereal, the cranes sensed the atmosphere and took flight. One, two, three... In the blink of an eye, six cranes flew out, circling the courtyard and chirping softly, as if lingering in the moonlit night and dancing with the tide.

Just as the two principals were also engrossed in the music, unable to extricate themselves, the ten cranes standing in the corner simultaneously let out calls, and one of them immediately flew up. However, before it could fly far, another crane suddenly leaped up and bit it. After biting the flying crane, causing it to fall to the ground, this crane spread its wings, attempting to soar, but still couldn't fly. Just like before, other cranes swarmed it. In the blink of an eye, the ten cranes were locked in a fierce, inseparable battle, unwilling to yield to each other. Feathers flew and blood splattered as the cranes, who had lived together day and night, now fought like sworn enemies, as if wishing to bite each other to death.

"This..." Her pupils constricted as Jiang Qingqin involuntarily trembled, her throat dry. "This is... the 'Zither-Crane Struggle,' something that only occurs when demonic music is mastered to its absolute peak?"

Demonic Qin Masters are graded by how many cranes they can make dance. If multiple cranes are present and all are compelled to dance, they will struggle for the limited spots. Normally, cranes are proud and won't join if a companion is already flying. However, this rule is broken when the Demonic Qin Master's comprehension of zither music reaches an inconceivable level. In other words, the artistic conception conveyed by the music is so profound that it makes them uncontrollably want to rush over and dance gracefully. But with limited spots, to compete, they resort to infighting.

*Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!*

After fighting for a long time and realizing none could win against the others, the ten cranes all rushed towards the six already flying in the air. Amidst a flurry of chaos and scattered feathers, seven ultimately emerged victorious, flapping their wings unsteadily as they flew. Although victorious, these seven were in a pathetic state; their feathers were almost completely plucked, revealing their raw, reddish flesh underneath. With their featherless wings flapping as they flew through the sky, they had lost all semblance of a crane's graceful and ethereal charm!

When the music ended, Zhang Xuan awoke from his special artistic trance. Looking up at the few "roasted chickens" flying in the sky, he was immediately startled. "When others play the zither, cranes fly. My roasted chickens... what's going on?"

While he was still bewildered, Jiang Qingqin and Vice Principal Ning rushed over, their eyes gleaming, each looking at him as if they had seen a monster.

"I... does this count as passing the six-star assessment?" Unable to bear their gazes, Zhang Xuan couldn't help but ask.

"If this doesn't count, then nothing will... Don't worry, I'll immediately apply for a seven-star emblem for you at headquarters!" Jiang Qingqin said.

"Seven-star?" Zhang Xuan was stunned.

"That's right, your comprehension of demonic music has absolutely reached seven-star..." Jiang Qingqin nodded. The occurrence of the 'Zither-Crane Struggle' indicates such profound strength that even some ordinary seven-star Demonic Qin Masters would likely fall far short.

"Many thanks!" Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up upon hearing that the other party was actually going to help him apply. With this, he would have five auxiliary professions. He would only need to pass one more assessment to challenge the six-star Master Teacher level and become one of them. Of course, his cultivation also needed to be improved first.

With his comprehension of demonic music reaching the seven-star level, guiding others would be much easier. His Eye of Insight pulsed, and after observing for a while, his expression immediately turned peculiar.

"What's wrong? Are you still unable to do it?" Seeing his expression, Principal Jiang looked over with a puzzled look. She had originally thought that with his comprehension of demonic music reaching such a level, guiding her to a breakthrough would be easy. Now, it seemed it might not be so simple. It was no wonder; if it were easy to break through, there wouldn't have been no progress for five hundred years.

"It's not that I can't, but rather..." Seeing her disappointment, Zhang Xuan explained, "You have already broken through, and your comprehension of demonic music... has also reached the seventh realm!"

"Broken through?" Principal Jiang was stunned. Even Vice Principal Ning was dumbfounded. *Is it true?* Yesterday, when playing the zither, she was still at the six-crane level. When did she break through?

"If I'm not mistaken, Principal Jiang, you likely have a detached state of mind, taking everything very lightly," Zhang Xuan said.

"Principal Jiang has profound self-cultivation; she can indeed remain calm even when a mountain collapses before her..." Vice Principal Ning nodded. This was what he admired most about his old friend: her ability to not let anything bother her.

"Demonic music is called 'demonic' for a reason. To truly enter that realm, one must experience many sufferings: birth, aging, sickness, death, separation from loved ones, enduring resentment, unfulfilled desires, and the inability to let go... Only these emotions can stir the inner heart, allowing one to go further and stand higher. You take everything too lightly; your state of mind has become like an ancient well. In such a state, how could you possibly break through?" Zhang Xuan said.

"This..." Jiang Qingqin paused. Five hundred years ago, after a certain incident, she had become much more detached. She had believed her state of mind to be transcendent, but now it seemed that was not the case at all.

"Being in the mortal world, one naturally has to deal with mortal affairs. To ignore, not inquire, or even not think about them... is not transcendence, but avoidance! If you've been avoiding, how could you possibly break through your realm and advance courageously?" Zhang Xuan continued.

"Indeed..." Her face turned pale, and Jiang Qingqin was speechless. The other party was right; ignoring the mortal world was not transcendence but avoidance!

"Many powerful cultivators, to break through their realms, delve deep into the mortal world and experience various emotions. Only then can they accumulate richly and burst forth. But you are precisely the opposite; you locked yourself in your courtyard, choosing to ignore all external matters... This is the reason why you haven't broken through in five hundred years!" Sighing, Zhang Xuan shook his head. "Yesterday, when I used beast taming methods to tame the cranes, your emotions fluctuated under irritation, and you naturally broke through your shackles. In other words... yesterday, you already broke through!"

Yesterday, he truly hadn't understood the difference between the six-crane and seven-crane levels and had simply thought that making seven cranes fly would suffice. Who knew... he had unintentionally caused the other party to have a breakthrough... It was a classic case of unintended success. If he hadn't witnessed it with his own eyes, even he would find it hard to believe.

After hearing the explanation, Jiang Qingqin stood rooted to the spot, closing her eyes as five hundred years of time flowed through her mind as if in an instant. A moment later, she stood up and bowed deeply to the ground, her eyes filled with determination and resolve.

"Many thanks, Teacher Zhang, for enlightening me. From today onwards, in the path of demonic music, you are my teacher!"

"This... how can this be..." He hadn't expected this dignified principal to suddenly seek him as a teacher. Zhang Xuan was stunned for a moment and quickly waved his hand.

"Regardless of age, the more capable is the teacher! In the path of demonic music, although I have been immersed for a long time, I am far from understanding it as thoroughly as Teacher Zhang... Today, listening to your words has resolved my five hundred years of confusion. If you don't agree, I will remain in this deep bow!" Jiang Qingqin cupped her fists.

"This... very well then!" Seeing that the other party was sincere and her demeanor firm, Zhang Xuan nodded. The moment he agreed, the library deep in his mind gently shook, and a golden book reappeared. He didn't have time to examine it closely now, so he helped Principal Jiang up.

"Teacher, I will now cut down this phoenix wutong tree and extract the pith. As for the trunk, your student will make a zither for you!" Principal Jiang said.

Since they were now master and disciple, obtaining the phoenix wutong pith would be straightforward.

"Thank you for your trouble..." Zhang Xuan nodded.

They chatted for a while longer, during which Zhang Xuan offered some pointers on demonic music techniques that greatly benefited both of them. After chatting for almost an hour, Zhang Xuan finally took the freshly extracted phoenix wutong pith and bid them farewell.

As he left Jiang Qingqin's courtyard, he remembered something and his expression changed. "Oh no... I was so busy with the Demonic Qin Master assessment that I forgot... my date!"

Reading, studying, assessing as a Demonic Qin Master... After all that commotion, a night had passed, and the sky was already bright. Yesterday, Luo Ruoxi had said she would come find him in the evening; clearly, he had missed the appointed time.

He hurriedly returned to his residence, where Sun Qiang came to meet him. "Young Master, Miss Luo came looking for you last night. When she learned you weren't here, she left..."

Zhang Xuan asked, "Did she say anything?"

"She didn't say anything..." Sun Qiang shook his head.

"Didn't say anything?" Zhang Xuan scratched his head. She said she would look for him in the evening, but ended up saying nothing. What did this girl want?

"I'll go check!"

He returned to the academy, found Luo Ruoxi's residence, asked around, and learned she wasn't there. He could only helplessly return to his own residence. Although a bit frustrated, he knew that since she had something to discuss and they hadn't met yesterday, she would definitely come again. There was no point in fretting!

He had obtained the phoenix wutong pith, but the Continuation Grass hadn't arrived yet, so the Continuation Pill certainly couldn't be refined for now. With the nourishment of the Earth Vein Spirit Liquid, Wei Ruyan's body, even if difficult to fully recover, would still be able to prevent deterioration. Furthermore, the Ten-Leaf Flower needed some time to nourish the soul, so there was no immediate rush.

With everything done, Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief. His mind stirred, and he remembered a certain individual... the Purple Sun Beast! He had captured this fellow on Lei Yuan Peak and hadn't had a chance to interrogate it until now. With some free time, he could conveniently inquire about the Foreign Kindred's situation.

"This is the city center and close to the academy; I must first set up an aura-concealing formation. Otherwise, if this fellow goes berserk and releases Foreign Kindred puppets, it will surely be discovered by others!"

This residence was very spacious, and he could release the Purple Sun Beast anywhere. However, this wasn't a mountain range; once Foreign Kindred puppets were released, the surroundings would need to be shielded beforehand. Otherwise, being so close to the Master Teacher Academy, if the Saint Realm experts inside discovered the puppets, he wouldn't be able to explain himself.

He was currently a four-star Formation Master and had read about many four-star formations. After thinking for a while, a suitable one appeared in his mind.

"The Aura Sealing Formation it is!"

The Aura Sealing Formation could isolate all auras. Unless Saint Realm experts actively probed, it would be difficult for them to discover anything. Although it was only a peak-grade four formation, it was the best one he had mastered and could set up for concealing auras. The Illusory Trace Maze Formation he had previously set up, though five-star, couldn't conceal auras or even sounds, making its effect inferior to this one.

"Begin!"

He revolved the diagram of the Aura Sealing Formation in his mind, perfectly integrating it with the courtyard before him. Only then did his mind stir, and hundreds of formation flags appeared in his palm, flying straight down around him.

*Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!*

The flags fluttered in the wind, simultaneously landing in their corresponding positions, and the formation hummed and rumbled into activation. A Hundred Flags to Stabilize the Void!

"Done..." After setting up the formation, Zhang Xuan chuckled softly. He flicked his wrist, taking out the Myriad Ant Beehive, and with a shake of his palm, a colossal ape-like Saint Beast landed on the ground.

The Purple Sun Beast, trapped for almost a week, finally saw the light of day again.