Once Chu Kuangren had spoken, that white-robed guqin master immediately felt intimidated.

  Li Changyin looked toward Chu Kuangren and said calmly, “Brother Chu, I think your comment is too unjust. We just wanted to admire Brother Murong’s guqin skills.”


  “Oh, even when he said he can’t, he must still oblige to your demands?”


  “We’re here at the guqin festival to share our guqin skills. If he doesn’t know how to, what is he even doing here?” the white-robed guqin master said.

  “We can eat or sleep wherever we want. What’s in it for you to control what we do? Even the host, Lady Yang, has not said a single word. What makes you think you’ve earned the right to call the shots here?”


  Chu Kuangren stared at the white-robed guqin master.

  In that instant, the white-robed guqin master felt as if he was glared at by an archaic wild beast. An inexplicable coldness shot through his bones.

  “Alright, alright. These fellows are my friends. On my behalf, I wish everyone can bury the hatchet, shall we?”


  Yang Xiyun interfered.

  With that, all of them stopped arguing, and this conflict finally came to a rest.

  Very soon, the festival was approaching its end too.

  Chu Kuangren’s visit here this time could only be described with one word — disappointment.

  Out of so many guqin cultivators here, besides Yang Xiyun and Li Changyin, the rest of them were mere lowly, incapable people.

  Even both Yang Xiyun and Li Changyin did not come close to matching his level.

  Nevertheless, Murong Xuan’s appearance was a pleasant surprise for him. The few of them gathered in a lounge and began to share their recent encounters.

  “Quick, spill the tea. How the hell did you get on with someone like Yang Xiyun?” Chu Kuangren’s eyes gleamed brightly. The gossip trait in him was ignited.

  Murong Xuan’s face blushed slightly when he heard that. “Sect Leader, Lady Yang and I are innocent.”


  “Innocent? Both of you kept stealing glances at each other in front of the public. How am I supposed to buy what you just said?”


  “Ahem. Is it really that obvious?”


  “Are you for real, kid? I can’t believe you have the audacity to ask that. Both of you almost had the words ‘in love’ written on top of your foreheads. You’re telling me that it’s not obvious?”


  “Actually, what happened was……”


  Chu Kuangren and Shang Qingxue listened intently.

  As it turned out, when Murong Xuan first entered the Emperor Road, he was teleported by the spatial energy into a forest.

  There were a lot of beasts inside the forest, and Murong Xuan could not find his way out even after several days. That was when he met Yang Xiyun, who happened to be there for her cultivation journey. When she was attacked by the beasts, Murong Xuan was the one who helped save her, after which they spent a significant amount of time together inside the forest……

  A flame sparked between the two of them during that period, and since Murong Xuan was still new to this place, he followed Yang Xiyun back to Melodious Void Sect.

  Their story continued until today when they met Chu Kuangren and Shang Qingxue.

  After he finished the story, Chu Kuangren was rather disappointed. “That’s all??”


  “Um, yes. What else were you expecting, Sect Leader?” Murong Xuan replied in annoyance.

  “D*mn you, kid. Fortune has really smiled upon you, for you to have met such an innocent girl. You’ve managed to win her heart with such a cliché act of a hero saving a damsel in distress.”


  Murong Xuan blushed.

  Chu Kuangren was just poking fun at him.

  Just then, some knocks were heard from the front door.

  Yang Xiyun walked in and smiled at them gently. “Brother Murong, why don’t we invite Sect Leader Chu and Sister Shang back to Melodious Void Sect?”


  Murong Xuan glanced at Chu Kuangren and Shang Qingxue.

  “If you don’t mind, we’ll tag along.” Chu Kuangren smiled back.

  “No worries.”


  Under Yang Xiyun’s invitation, Chu Kuangren and Shang Qingxue arrived at Melodious Void Sect.

  Melodious Void Sect Master welcomed Chu Kuangen and his companion in.

  The Melodious Void Sect Master was a middle-aged woman. She had a few faint crow’s feet at the edge of her eyebrows, giving her a somewhat mature charm.

  After being told that Chu Kuangren was Murong Xuan’s Sect Leader, her attitude seemed a little cold. She merely arranged for her people to allocate two empty rooms for them.

  “Sect Leader, the Melodious Void Sect Master may not have said it explicitly, but it feels like she doesn’t enjoy our company here.” Shang Qingxue remarked.

  “I think her problem is not with us, but with Murong Xuan. Just think about it. She has painstakingly brought up a disciple like Yang Xiyun, only for her to be drawn away by some random outsider. Do you think she would be fine with that?” Chu Kuangren smiled in response.

  “Is that really the case?”


  “I do hope that I’m right. Otherwise, Murong Xuan could really be in deep trouble.”


  Time passed by in a flash. Soon, it was already time for the Infinity Guqin Banquet to begin.

  The Infinity Guqin Banquet was held at a spacious square in the middle of Seven Chord City.

  On this day, the scene at the square was buzzing, with countless guqin cultivators looking forward to the event.

  Everybody was waiting for the Emperor Weapon to show itself.

  These people were mostly guqin cultivators.

  Among the crowd were Li Changyin, Yang Xiyun, Ji Xiaoyao, and a few young outstanding talents of Seven Chord City.

  Suddenly, three figures dashed in from a distance away, landing at the very middle of the square.

  “It’s the three presidents of the Seven Chord Guqin Association.”


  “Melodious Void Sect Master, Phantasmic Melody Sect Master, and Ji Clan Leader. These three are not only the household names of the musical world but also renowned top-notch elites on Emperor Road. I think only they are qualified to host this Infinity Guqin Banquet.”


  “After all, the Emperor Weapon will select its owner today. Surely there must be a few powerhouses as hosts here.”


  All the guqin cultivators were engaged in their own discussions.

  Meanwhile, the three presidents swept their gazes over every single person in the crowd.

  They wanted to see if there were any guqin elites there that were worth noting.

  “Guqin Sage Beihai is here too.”


  “Not just him, but Master Daoist Liuli, who has been living in isolation in the Lapis Lazuli Mountain for so many years is also here.”


  Just then, a sword ray swooped down from the sky above.

  The sword ray landed at the square, and a gush of sword qi swept across the whole area like a hurricane. A handsome young man was seen slowly stepping through the air, toward the square.

  This man arrived in front of the sword ray and pulled out his longsword. Strapped behind his back was a black guqin.

  “Such appearance, this must be Sword Tribe’s sky pride, Jian Changfeng, who is regarded as a master of both sword and guqin.”


  “I didn’t expect even the Sword Tribe people would join in the Infinity Guqin Banquet.”


  “I think almost all cultivators who are skilled in guqin Dao are here.”


  Jian Changfeng was one of the top sky-prides among Emperor Road’s younger generation, and his power was weaker than only outlawed sky-prides.

  Rumor had it he was so strong that he could hold a steady ground even when battling a Boundary Emperor.

  After Jian Changfeng arrived, many other sky-prides who were experts at guqin Dao appeared as well.

  Each one of them was a big name themselves. Seeing these people, the normal guqin cultivators begin to feel double the pressure.

  With their skill level, hoping to gain the Emperor Weapon from these people would be like building castles in the air.

  “Forget it. I don’t have any high hopes of succeeding here anyway. I’ll just take it as an experience.”


  Some of the guqin cultivators started consoling themselves.

  When Ji Clan Leader, one of the three honorable presidents, saw that the crowd was complete, he stroked his goatee and announced, “Lo and behold, the Emperor Weapon!”


  After that, dark ominous clouds of grotesque shapes amassed atop the sky.

  Amongst the clouds, a flash of azure blue lightning dazzled frenziedly, emitting an incredibly powerful domineering aura.

  Immediately following that, a bolt of lightning struck down!

  After the lightning rays dissipated, what met the crowd’s eyes was an entirely azure, almost crystal-like, resplendent guqin!

  This guqin was the Emperor Weapon that so many cultivators yearned for!

  “This guqin is called…… Springtime Lightning!!”


  #

  Chapter 521: The Emperor Weapon Springtime Lightning, The Guqin Demon And Art Ghoul, No One Formidable In Guqin Throughout This Generation

  A jolt of lightning suddenly struck down from the sky and turned into a blue guqin that had a crystal-like surface.

  There were seven strings on it, which radiated brilliantly. It looked extraordinary.

  “This guqin is known as the…… Springtime Lightning!”


  The Emperor Weapon, Springtime Lightning!

  Following the Ji Clan Leader’s announcement, the coveting gazes of every guqin cultivator landed onto that guqin with desire burning in their eyes.

  “So this is the Emperor Weapon. It’s truly remarkable.”


  “Rumor has it that when this guqin emerged, dark clouds shadowed the sky and cackles of lightning incessantly for three days straight. Is this how it got the name, Springtime Lightning?”


  “Springtime Lightning. Lightning that strikes down during the spring season is usually majestic and can also serve to symbolize the birth of all things.”


  The guqin cultivators stared at the Springtime Lightning. They wanted so badly to go ahead and touch it.

  However, because the three presidents of the Seven Chord Guqin Association were there, no one dared to make a move like that.

  “Now that the Emperor Weapon has appeared, it is the time for all of you to display your skills and win the Emperor Weapon’s acknowledgment. Please, go ahead.”


  The Phantasmic Melody Sect Master said.

  The three presidents of the association had already attempted this before, but none of them had gotten this Emperor Weapon’s acknowledgment.

  They even started a fight over the ownership of this Emperor Weapon. That was why the Great Guqin Banquet was organized. It was to allow the Emperor Weapon, Springtime Lightning to choose a master on its own.

  “Seeing that we need to gain the acknowledgment of a Guqin Dao Emperor Weapon, I suppose we’ll need to display a level of guqin cultivation that is on par with it. I shall have a go then.”


  A white-robed guqin master stepped out and took out a guqin. With his fingers plucking on the guqin, he sped through a few melodies, hoping to gain the acknowledgment of the Emperor Weapon.

  However, no matter how many songs he played, the Emperor Weapon Springtime Lightning had no reaction at all.

  Not wishing to give up, the white-robed guqin master’s fingers continued plucking and playing the guqin frantically until his fingers were cut. Even so, he was oblivious to it, and he looked increasingly like a madman the more he played.

  A Guqin Dao Emperor Weapon was just too rare, making it a priceless treasure to any cultivators specializing in guqin Dao.

  With a treasure like that right before the white-robed guqin master’s eyes, how could he possibly give up the chance to obtain it?

  “That level of guqin cultivation you have is never going to be enough.”


  At this moment, Jian Changfeng of the Sword Tribe commented. He raised his hand and unleashed a great burst of spiritual power, immediately sending that white-robed guqin master flying.

  When the white-robed guqin master tried to get up and fight back after crashing on the ground, he felt a chilling sword intent lock on to him. It felt as if a cold bucket of water had been poured all over him, causing him to return to his senses. He no longer dared to make any move as he looked at Jian Changfeng of the Sword Tribe.

  Then, he glanced at the Springtime Lightning, knowing that Emperor Weapon and he were not meant to be.

  Jian Changfang ignored the white-robed guqin master and looked at the Springtime Lightning in front of him. He said, “This Emperor Weapon has appeared for me.”


  Following that, he took out the black guqin he had on his back, placed it on his lap, and started to play it.

  Known to be a master in both the art of guqin music and swordsmanship, his guqin music was filled with a razor-sharp aura, like his sword.

  Waves of guqin music reverberated with sounds of metal clanging.

  It was as if there were thousands of infantry and horses clashing and charging before everyone.

  “What splendid guqin music! Such refined skill!”


  Some of the guqin masters could not help but praise.

  Everyone looked towards the Emperor Weapon Springtime Lightning. All they saw was a light tremble, but there was no movement from it after that.

  Jina Changfeng frowned slightly, not expecting that the Emperor Weapon would not acknowledge him despite all he did.

  “This is undoubtedly an Emperor Weapon. However, you must be mine today!”


  Jian Changfeng snorted coldly and immediately plucked his fingers on the strings, raising his guqin music Daoist Rhyme to a higher level.

  “Let us all give it a go, then.”


  “If we go at it one by one, who knows when our turn will arrive.”


  “If we want to get the Emperor Weapon’s acknowledgment, we must do our best with our abilities!”


  The crowd of guqin cultivators could not wait any longer as everyone took out their guqins and started playing.

  Other guqin cultivators like Li Changyin, Yang Xiyun, and Ji Xiaoyao did the same as well.

  At that moment, the entire square was filled with countless melodies of guqin music reverberating, and the sky was emanating with various Daoist Rhymes.

  Thousands of guqin music sounded as thousands of guqin strings were plucked.

  Every guqin cultivator was unleashing their style of guqin music Daoist Rhyme, attempting to gain a reaction from the Emperor Weapon.

  Several surges of guqin music stood out amongst the sea of music.

  Besides Jian Changfeng’s guqin music, the sky-prides from the Seven Chord City like Li Changyin stood out a little more.

  Among them, Li Changyin’s guqin music sounded slightly hallucinatory, as if it was the ethereal clouds that were high up in the sky.

  Yang Xiyin of the Melodious Void Sect was remarkable as well. Compared to the sentimental melody she played at the Cloudveil Pavilion a few days ago, the song she played today was wonderful. Her music was profound and boundless, like a never-ending landscape that was slowly unfolding itself.

  On the other hand, Ji Xiaoyao’s guqin music was extremely firm and powerful despite her petite figure. It felt as if she had used all her strength to play every single note, which unleashed a majestic presence. This was the famed song that had been passed down through generations in the Ji clan, the Limitless Song.

  The guqin music from these few people overpowered most of the guqin cultivators’ guqin music.

  This even made some of the guqin masters mess up their tempo, and they did not know how to continue playing after that.

  No matter how the guqin cultivators tried, their music did not resonate with the Emperor Weapon, let alone get it to acknowledge them as its master.

  “D*mn it. It really is difficult to obtain the Emperor Weapon’s acknowledgment.”


  “We have already done our best to play the best songs we could in our arsenal, yet it was to no avail?”


  Just when everyone was almost exhausted in their attempts to gain the Emperor Weapon acknowledgment, a burst of laughter suddenly rang from amidst the clouds.

  “Haha……”


  That exhilarating laughter contained an extremely strong spiritual power as echoed in the clouds.

  The guqin music that filled the whole square was instantly suppressed by that laughter!

  “It seems that there’s no formidable guqin Dao cultivator in this generation. I can’t believe no one can obtain the Emperor Weapon’s acknowledgment.”


  Two people stepped down from the clouds.

  It was two elderly men.

  One of them had a guqin on his back, while the other had a large drawing brush on his back. They were both emanating a surge of powerful Boundary Emperor’s Aura.

  The Guqin Association’s three presidents were shocked to see the two people.

  “It’s them! The Guqin Demon and Art Ghoul!”


  “Why are those two here?”


  Guqin Demon and Art Ghoul were legendary names in the Emperor Road.

  Among those two, one chose their path of Dao through the guqin, while the other delved within the Dao through art. Both of them were top-notched beings in the Boundary Emperor realm.

  However, those two did not have a good reputation in the Emperor Road.

  Guqin Demon liked to collect famous guqins. Whenever he had his eyes on a well-known guqin, he must definitely obtain it for himself, regardless of whether the guqin had an owner or not.

  Art Ghoul was more or less the same, with the only difference being that he liked collecting famous paintings and art all over the world to remake copies instead. After copying, he would always destroy the original and intentionally spread his copies throughout the world. Due to his superb drawing skills, only a few could see through its authenticity.

  He relished the feeling of toying with artists and painters all over the world.

  Nevertheless, if anyone managed to see through his fakery, he would immediately seek them out and kill them.

  That was why no one dared to point out that Art Ghoul’s painting was a copy even if it could recognize its forgery.

  This gave both Guqin Demon and Art Ghoul a bad reputation in the Emperor Road. One could say that their reputation was infamous instead.

  Even so, no one could do anything about it because they were both incredibly powerful.

  Later, the two of them seemed to have gone into hiding, and they had not appeared in the past thousand years.

  It was the appearance of the Emperor Weapon Springtime Lightning that attracted both of their appearances again.

  “It seems that this generation really has no one formidable in guqin Dao. Since no one can obtain this Emperor Weapon’s acknowledgment, then I shall help myself to it then.”


  The one that spoke was the Guqin Demon.

  His black hair swayed in the air as he took out a black guqin that emanated a creepy and gloomy aura.

  That was the Guqin Demon’s most treasured item in his collection, the Yin Demon Guqin.

  #