Chapter 1560: Heavenly Demon Immortal

"No problem, but True Monarch Tianmo has a rather peculiar temperament, so Ancestors, please be mentally prepared." Wang Tianwen cautiously reminded them that True Monarch Tianmo was temperamental, and only True Monarch Haoyu truly got along with her.

True Monarch Tianmo, whose given name is Yuzhen and surname is Song, hailed from the Great Qin Dynasty. She was known for her reclusive nature, and True Monarch Haoyu was one of her very few friends.

Wang Changsheng nodded and instructed, "You simply need to introduce us; you don't have to concern yourself with anything else."

Wang Xin remained in the courtyard while Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan followed Wang Tianwen to a sprawling estate. At its entrance stood two azure stone lions, each taller than a person.

Wang Tianwen sent a sound transmission talisman. Shortly after, the courtyard gate swung open, and a melodious female voice echoed, "I, your humble junior, have long heard of the esteemed Green Lotus Immortals and have eagerly wished to make your acquaintance. Please enter, esteemed Daoists."

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan entered together, while Wang Tianwen remained outside. The courtyard gate then automatically closed.

As soon as they stepped into the courtyard, they heard a stirring and resonant zither melody. They followed the music, proceeding further inside.

They entered a courtyard adorned with numerous rare flowers and exotic plants. Before they had walked far, their surroundings abruptly transformed. They suddenly found themselves on a vast, boundless wasteland, where not a single blade of grass grew, the ground was covered in scattered stones, and fierce winds raged, kicking up countless specks of sand and loose rocks.

"A formation! No, an illusion!"

Wang Changsheng unleashed his full spiritual sense. A brilliant blue light erupted from his body, and the crackling sounds of bones echoed from within as his stature significantly increased. Simultaneously, the zither melody abruptly vanished.

His vision blurred, and he suddenly found himself in a secluded courtyard. At its center lay a lake, approximately an *mu* in size, with a circular stone pavilion in its middle. Inside the pavilion, a graceful young woman in a black dress sat playing an instrument. Before her was an ancient-looking black zither, its surface adorned with constantly flickering runes.

The young woman in the black dress possessed picturesque features, snow-white skin, and smooth black hair that cascaded casually over her shoulders. Her aura revealed her to be a Mid-Nascent Soul cultivator.

"I, your humble junior, have long been aware of the renowned Green Lotus Immortals and felt a slight urge to test my skills. There was no malice intended, and I hope Fellow Daoist Wang and Madam Wang will not take offense." Song Yuzhen smiled faintly, her voice melodious and enchanting.

"A sound cultivator? I, too, possess some understanding of zither arts. I would be honored to seek your guidance, Immortal Song, and humbly request you not to hold back your teachings." Wang Ruyan spoke politely, retrieving her Golden Lotus Zither. The Pure Dust Flute was her trump card, one she was reluctant to use lightly.

Song Yuzhen had given them a display of power, so it was only natural for them to reclaim their dignity. True dignity, after all, was earned, not bestowed.

"Very well, then allow this humble junior to witness the divine abilities of Immortal Tianqin." Song Yuzhen smiled enchantingly and accepted the challenge.

Wang Ruyan and Song Yuzhen began playing almost simultaneously. Wang Ruyan's zither melody was soothing, evoking the sensation of wandering through ancient jade palaces. In contrast, Song Yuzhen's music was rapid and fervent, making listeners feel as though they were on a battlefield where countless armies clashed.

Wang Changsheng's expression remained calm as his gaze fixed on the ancient black zither Song Yuzhen was playing, a look of interest appearing on his face.

"Heavenly Demon Wood! One of the ten great spiritual woods."

A term surfaced in his mind: Heavenly Demon Wood, one of the ten great spiritual woods, was known for its ability to disorient the mind. It was an excellent material for crafting musical artifacts, second only to the Six Roots of Purity Bamboo.

Wang Changsheng estimated that the ancient zither Song Yuzhen used was likely crafted from Heavenly Demon Wood approximately five thousand years old. This spiritual wood had stringent environmental requirements and could only be cultivated artificially; even a slight oversight could cause it to wither and die, making it incredibly challenging for it to grow for five millennia. It was indeed rare for Song Yuzhen to possess a five-thousand-year-old Heavenly Demon Wood, let alone use it to craft a zither artifact.

The two zither melodies intertwined, one moment evoking a stroll through jade palaces, the next transporting them to a battlefield of clashing armies. A Core Formation cultivator present would surely become disoriented, perhaps even dancing wildly to their death.

From the calm lake surface, a wall of water over ten *zhang* high rose, standing suspended in mid-air as the lake water flowed upwards. The plants in the courtyard were uprooted, fierce winds raged, and Wang Changsheng's hair fluttered wildly in the breeze. A few beads of fragrant sweat appeared on Song Yuzhen's forehead, yet Wang Ruyan's expression remained serene.

Wang Changsheng frowned, casting his gaze towards a small courtyard on the left.

Song Yuzhen abruptly ceased playing, and Wang Ruyan followed suit. The lake water cascaded back into the lake, creating splashes over ten *zhang* high, yet not a single drop landed on Song Yuzhen.

"Immortal Tianqin's zither skills are truly superb; this humble junior is impressed. May I inquire about the purpose of your visit, esteemed Daoists?" Song Yuzhen's tone was distant, as if she wished to dismiss Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan.

Wang Tianwen had forewarned Wang Changsheng, but he paid it no mind, politely inquiring, "We understand that True Monarch Haoyu is a friend of Immortal Song. Would Immortal Song be able to assist us with an introduction? My wife and I have long admired True Monarch Haoyu's esteemed reputation and wish to make his acquaintance."

"He has not yet arrived at Chongyang Mountain. Should he appear, I will send someone to inform you. If there's nothing further, please depart! I wish to continue playing."

Witnessing this, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan saw no reason to linger and turned to depart.

After taking a couple of steps, Wang Changsheng abruptly paused, his gaze once again drawn to the courtyard on his left. Song Yuzhen appeared oblivious, concentrating solely on her playing as the zither melody grew more melodious.

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan quickened their pace and exited. The courtyard gate automatically closed behind them.

Back at Wang Tianwen's residence, Wang Changsheng turned to him and remarked, "This True Monarch Tianmo truly has a peculiar temper. Tianwen, you mentioned earlier that she is reclusive and solitary; she certainly can't have many friends, can she?"

During Wang Ruyan and Song Yuzhen's sparring, he detected the auras of two other Nascent Soul cultivators, one of whom possessed an aura no weaker than Song Yuzhen's. It was precisely when he detected these two Nascent Soul cultivators that Song Yuzhen abruptly stopped sparring, a detail he found quite peculiar. Those two Nascent Soul cultivators must surely share a close relationship with her.

"I'm not entirely clear on that," Wang Tianwen shook his head, explaining that he was frequently assigned to external duties and thus knew little about True Monarch Tianmo. "She was formerly an enforcement elder of the Heavenly Demon Sect in the Great Qin Dynasty and only pledged allegiance to the Great Yan Dynasty less than a century ago. I haven't personally met her, and she rarely makes appearances. Aside from her friendship with True Monarch Haoyu, I have little knowledge of her other affairs."

"I understand. You may go and rest now." Wang Tianwen acknowledged, bowed, and withdrew.

In a certain estate, True Monarch Tianmo ceased playing. Beside her stood a burly young man in black robes and a graceful, somewhat plump young woman in a silver dress. The black-robed young man had a stern countenance and exuded a faint, oppressive aura, clearly not a person to be trifled with. His aura was significantly more powerful than Song Yuzhen's, revealing him to be a Late-Nascent Soul cultivator.

"What were you doing? You almost got discovered by True Monarch Taihao." Song Yuzhen said with a frown, her expression showing displeasure.

"Our set of Heavenly Demon Spirit Concealment Arts is incredibly profound, yet True Monarch Taihao managed to detect our presence," the silver-dressed young woman said thoughtfully. "It appears his spiritual sense has reached the Grand Completion of the Nascent Soul stage; otherwise, it would have been impossible for him to find us." She produced a palm-sized black jade plate and, with a silver jade pen, wrote a small line of text: "True Monarch Taihao's spiritual sense is exceptional; his Mid-Nascent Soul spiritual sense is comparable to that of a Grand Completion Nascent Soul cultivator."