Therefore, Shi Long was quite excited about Lin Yang's offer to help him break through to the Grandmaster level. Although the chances were slim, what if it happened?
"That's right, he's a Grandmaster. It's not difficult at all. Over thousands of years, my Guangcheng Immortal Sect has accumulated countless secret manuals, and all sorts of secret techniques have emerged one after another. He's just a Grandmaster. As long as Daoist Shi is willing to follow the True Dragon in the future, it's not impossible for him to become a Great Grandmaster." Lin Yang looked indifferent, as if Grandmasters and Great Grandmasters were nothing more than chickens and dogs in his eyes.
Upon hearing this, Shi Long frowned. This was utterly outrageous! What was a Grandmaster? There were only three in the entire world. If they truly possessed such ability, why were Lin Yang and the others so weak right now?
After noticing that Shi Long seemed somewhat skeptical, Lin Yang said, "I know that Master Shi is a little skeptical. If I were Master Shi, I wouldn't believe it either."
"Alright, let me ask Master Shi a question. Master Shi, how many moves do you think the three of us could last against you if we joined forces?" Lin Yang asked seriously.
After carefully examining the three men, Shi Long said somewhat uncertainly, "Well, my three nephews are all rare young talents. Although their martial arts skills are not high, their foundation is extremely solid. Hmm, I estimate that even if I go all out, it will probably take me thirty moves to defeat them."
To be honest, these were all lies, at least that's what Shi Long thought. They were just two acquired cultivators and one who hadn't cultivated at all; if they really fought, who could withstand his full-force attack?
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Chapter Eight: A Horrifying Melody and a Refined Sound
Within the courtyard and training ground, although it was only a small courtyard where Shi Long lived, there was still a training ground. After all, although Shi Long himself lived in seclusion, he still frequently practiced martial arts.
On the training ground, Lin Yang stood ramrod straight, his left hand behind his back, wearing a turban on his head, and casually holding a book in his right hand. Beside him lay writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. It must be said, his very appearance was enough to win one's favor.
Beside Lin Yang sat Cai Yan. She sat upright to the side, with a table in front of her. On the table was a zither, the very one she always carried with her.
This zither is three feet six inches and six fen long, corresponding to 366 days. Its front is eight inches wide, corresponding to the eight most important of the twenty-four solar terms. Its back is four inches wide, corresponding to the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Its thickness is two inches, corresponding to the yin and yang principles.
The moment the harmonica was brought out, it astonished Shi Long. Although he was merely a martial artist, it didn't mean he was uneducated. How could an uneducated person decipher secret manuals and understand various coded messages? Therefore, despite not knowing the harmonica's origins, it was undoubtedly an extraordinary treasure.
This sudden realization brought Shi Long a sense of relief. He was now even more convinced of Lin Yang's words. Talented individuals like Lin Yang and his companions were definitely not something that ordinary sects or families could cultivate.
Standing before Shi Long was only Shi A. It's somewhat embarrassing to admit, though it was three against one, Lin Yang and Cai Yan were merely supporting him. The only one truly fighting Shi Long head-on was Shi A himself.
Looking at Shi A, who was fully armed, with his right hand on the hilt of his sword and a face full of fighting spirit, Shi Long smiled and said, "Since you are ready, then my nephew, please make the first move."
Looking at Shi A now, Shi Long couldn't help but think of himself back then. At this age, he wasn't even as good as Shi A. Time truly flies. Thinking about it, he unconsciously stroked his beard.
However, at that moment, Shi A made his move. Silently, the sword was drawn. The moment it appeared, a three-inch glint of light flashed from its blade. Then, in a flash, he was in front of Shi Long. The sharp sword light, even before it touched him, already shocked Shi Long.
Upon seeing this, Shi Long couldn't help but exclaim, "What a fine sword! What excellent swordsmanship!"
Then, Shi Long stretched out his right hand and gently flicked it. With the support of his innate true energy, the surrounding air seemed to solidify, making a sound as it transformed into a wall of air that crashed directly into Shi A.
However, at that moment, Cai Yan moved. She stretched out her slender hand, her delicate fingers gently resting on the strings, and with a soft tinkling sound, a melody filled the air. Listening closely, the sound seemed to resonate deep within Shi Long's heart.
In a daze, I recalled my youthful, reckless days. Then, I saw an exceptionally talented young man smiling at me, but why did he look so much like me?
Before Shi Long could continue thinking, a sudden, deadly sense of crisis washed over him. Opening his eyes, he saw that Shi A had already broken through the barrier of qi, and the sharp sword was less than three feet from his chest!
"How dare you!"
With this shout, a surge of energy from his dantian emerged, transforming into waves of sound that directly attacked Shi A.
Then, Shi Long lightly touched the ground with his right foot, and as if he were weightless, he flew up in a flash, drifting directly backward. At the same time, he waved his left hand, and his large sleeve transformed into a sky-covering curtain, carrying immense force as it hurtled towards Shi A.
This attack shocked and enraged Shi Long, who held nothing back. As his true energy circulated, a thunderous roar erupted from his body, causing ripples to appear in the surrounding air.
Meanwhile, Shi Long devoted at least two-thirds of his attention to Cai Yan. He had initially wondered why three of them were fighting him alone, yet only Shi A was actually attacking. Now it seemed this was their method of fighting together.
Out of the corner of his eye, Shi Long noticed that Cai Yan had stopped playing the zither and was instead watching him and Shi A's battle with great interest.
It wasn't that Shi Long didn't want to listen, but after unintentionally falling into a trap earlier, he was now somewhat afraid. What if he continued listening and fell into some other conspiracy? Therefore, Shi Long simply shut down his hearing.
Seeing this, Lin Yang couldn't help but laugh. "Wenji's zither playing is indeed extraordinary. This 'Soul-Stopping' piece has an amazing effect, instantly crippling this person's hearing."
Although Cai Yan only played once, that one note was very significant. A true master of music can blend several, or even dozens, of different emotions into that single note.
Just like now, although it was only played once, it had at least a multi-faceted effect, including intimidation and manipulation. If it weren't for the fact that most experts in the Tang Dynasty world value mental cultivation, a peak-level innate cultivator from another world would have been defeated long ago.
“Hehe, Feipeng is joking. This Soul-Stopping Melody is just one of the most basic pieces of music in the Way of Music. The reason it has such a great effect is simply because this person has never been exposed to this way before. Therefore, he was completely unprepared and did not know how to defend himself! With the prepared against the unprepared, how could Wenji not win?” Cai Yan said with a light smile.
Hearing this, Lin Yang could only nod in agreement. Cai Yan's words were both right and wrong. Although the Requiem was a basic piece, it was a touchstone. Often, the more skilled the performer, the more emotion they conveyed in their playing, and the greater the emotional impact.
"Now it's up to Brother Lin. I wonder what brilliant plan Brother Lin has in store?" Cai Yan teased, looking at Lin Yang, whose literary energy had now been nearly fully accumulated.
To be honest, Cai Yan was quite curious about Lin Yang's future performance. Lin Yang's skill in the arts of feng shui and fortune had always been exceptional. The art of observing a person's aura was a remarkable skill even in the main world.
Those skilled in this art are invariably honored guests of powerful forces. Generally speaking, someone who can judge a person at a glance is either a fraud or a true master. And those masters are often old men nearing their end. How could they possibly be a scholar wielding a woodcutter's knife?
Upon hearing this, Lin Yang smiled slightly and said cheerfully, "Then Wenji, you'd better keep a close eye on things."
At the same time, Shi A let out a muffled groan, his aura surging. Then, without hesitation, he thrust his sword towards Shi Long's chest.
If this sword strike lands, given the conditions of this realm, Shi Long will undoubtedly die. Of course, if Shi Long's attack lands squarely, even with the protective armor, Shi A will likely be severely injured and on the verge of death.
This is what's called equipment superiority. Shi A had the precious armor Wang Yue had prepared for him, so even if he took that hit, it wouldn't be fatal. But for Shi Long, it was a completely different story.
Although Shi Long's attack was stronger, it was still inferior to Shi A's sword. This is why, in the original story, Ning Daoqi, despite being of a higher cultivation level, was completely unable to defeat Song Que.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! The sounds of clashing energy rang out incessantly. In a short moment, the two had reached the climax of their battle. At this point, Shi Long had stopped counting how many moves they had exchanged. Moreover, he was already feeling some regret.
If I hadn't been so arrogant back then, and had instead worn boxing gloves, would it have been easier to fight Shia again?
If I hadn't underestimated them and had been on high alert from the start, would I have been able to remain unaffected by the music?
In terms of true strength, Shi A was definitely no match for Shi Long. However, victory or defeat isn't really determined by strength. It's not uncommon for the stronger one to lose. This is especially true when it comes to duels between lower-level experts.
Otherwise, if victory or defeat were determined solely by the difference in strength, how could the two dragons in the original story have risen to power by challenging opponents of higher levels?
Gradually, Shi A fell into a disadvantageous position. His attacks became increasingly powerless. After all, even secret techniques that enhance strength have a time limit.