# Chapter 151: Calming the Heart
Meng Qing's figure drifted down gracefully, landing beside Lin Feng as if nothing had happened, still as holy and noble as ever.
The crowd took a deep breath, their hearts somewhat unsettled. If they hadn't witnessed it with their own eyes, they simply couldn't believe that this graceful figure before them was the same powerful being who had frozen heaven and earth in anger just moments ago, forcing the blue-robed middle-aged man to flee severely injured.
How laughable that the blue-robed middle-aged man had tried to ambush Lin Feng, only to provoke this holy woman, nearly having his heart frozen, escaping in disgrace.
"Are you alright?" Meng Qing glanced at Lin Feng, her voice still so indifferent that Lin Feng could only smile bitterly. Hoping to hear a gentle tone of concern from Meng Qing was nearly impossible. Even when speaking words of care, her tone remained so stiff and aloof.
"I'm fine. Just a scratch." Lin Feng smiled at Meng Qing and shook his head dismissively.
The blue-robed middle-aged man's methods were indeed ruthless. Even as he fled, he had nearly killed Lin Feng. Fortunately, Lin Feng's reactions were quick and his speed sufficient, so he only suffered minor injuries.
"Although my strength is decent among my peers now, compared to the Mysterious Martial Realm, the gap is still too great."
Lin Feng said to himself inwardly, his desire for strength growing stronger and stronger.
Meng Qing glanced at the bloodstains on Lin Feng's body, nodded slightly, said nothing more, and simply retreated behind Lin Feng.
"Let's go back." Lin Feng said, then turned to Vice Dean Long: "Vice Dean, I'll take my leave now."
"Alright."
Vice Dean Long smiled at Lin Feng. His heart was also amazed by Meng Qing's strength.
This mysterious woman was strong, very strong.
He felt that the terrifying power she had just displayed was not yet her true strength.
Lin Feng swept his gaze across the crowd, his eyes sharp and cold, and said: "Remember what I said just now. If anyone provokes me again in the future, don't blame me, Lin Feng, for being rude."
Leaving behind these cold words, Lin Feng lifted his steps and headed toward the ancient castle.
The crowd's eyes narrowed. Some suddenly thought of the Black Demon. That day, the Black Demon had come aggressively to interrogate Lin Feng, but had encountered Wen Aoxue and couldn't make a move against him.
But what surprised many was that Lin Feng had boasted that even without Wen Aoxue, the Black Demon couldn't do anything to him. Before, people thought Lin Feng was exaggerating, but now no one doubted his words. With Meng Qing by Lin Feng's side, even a Mysterious Martial Realm expert had been forced to retreat in defeat, let alone the Black Demon. If the Black Demon truly sought trouble with Lin Feng, it wouldn't be Lin Feng who suffered.
People also recalled the duel between Lin Feng and the Black Demon, and their anticipation grew stronger. Lin Feng's performance today was enough to make them see him in a new light.
Although Meng Qing's brilliance had been too dazzling today, Lin Feng's name was also firmly remembered by the crowd.
The Black Demon's strength, Lin Feng's potential; the Black Demon's background, Meng Qing's power; what kind of sparks would their confrontation produce?
Lin Feng naturally didn't know what the crowd was thinking. Walking along the path to the ancient castle, he intended to go to the cultivation tower, but at that moment, a sound drifted into his ears, causing his steps to pause slightly.
"Zither!" Lin Feng's expression froze. The sound drifting into his ears was unmistakably the sound of a zither.
"Him?"
Lin Feng recalled that day when he first entered the Heavenly One Academy and underwent the General Star System's trial. There was a teacher playing zither music whom Lin Feng greatly admired. When Lin Feng asked him to retest him, the teacher, despite being a faculty member, showed no arrogance and agreed readily, displaying a broad-mindedness.
Now, the zither sound drifting into his ears was similar to the melody that teacher had played that day, so Lin Feng immediately thought of him.
"What's wrong?"
Seeing Lin Feng stop, Meng Qing showed a hint of confusion and asked Lin Feng.
"Meng Qing, listen." Lin Feng said softly, but Meng Qing frowned slightly, showing a puzzled expression: "Listen to what?"
"The zither." Lin Feng said.
"The zither?" Meng Qing's eyes flickered, and she shook her head: "I don't hear anything."
"Hmm?" Lin Feng's eyes froze. Not hearing anything? With Lin Feng's current strength, he couldn't be hallucinating. There was definitely zither sound drifting into his ears, absolutely certain.
And Meng Qing's strength was far greater than Lin Feng's. She couldn't be mistaken either. There was definitely no zither sound.
The only explanation was that the zither was deliberately played for Lin Feng alone, so only Lin Feng could hear it.
"Meng Qing, go back first. I'll be out for a moment."
After figuring this out, Lin Feng said to Meng Qing, but she shook her head without any hesitation: "I'll go with you."
Hearing Meng Qing's words, Lin Feng was momentarily stunned, then nodded slightly: "Then come with me."
With that, Lin Feng stepped forward, following the zither sound that continuously drifted into his ears, walking slowly.
After some time, the zither sound gradually became clearer, melodious, and calming.
By now, Lin Feng had arrived at an elegant courtyard, with pavilions, small bridges over flowing water, and verdant ancient trees.
Following the path through the ancient trees, a beautiful scene came into Lin Feng's view.
Ahead was a peach grove, with pink peach blossoms dancing in the air, moving with the wind, and a fragrant scent constantly drifting into his nose, intoxicating.
"What a beautiful place. I didn't expect such scenery within the Heavenly One Academy." Lin Feng exclaimed. In his impression, the Heavenly One Academy was ancient, majestic, and grand, but this place was completely different from the outside.
If the outside buildings were magnificent and stirred one's desire to grow stronger, then this scenery made one want to sit on the ground, stroll leisurely through the peach grove, watch the flowers bloom and fall, and savor the gentle flow of time.
"So beautiful." Meng Qing behind Lin Feng couldn't help but exclaim, a hint of unusual radiance appearing in her beautiful eyes.
Walking through the peach grove, after some time, an elegant pavilion came into Lin Feng and Meng Qing's view. Inside the pavilion was a stone table and chairs.
There, a figure sat, hands flowing like water, plucking the strings of an ancient zither. Even when Lin Feng and Meng Qing arrived before him, he remained so focused, as if when he played, nothing in the world was connected to him. Only the zither was his world.
This person was the teacher who had tested the General Star System crowd on that day of enrollment.
Lin Feng glanced at Meng Qing, who shook her head slightly, causing Lin Feng's eyes to freeze.
He naturally understood what Meng Qing meant. Even when they were right beside him, she still couldn't hear the zither sound. This undoubtedly proved what Lin Feng had thought: the zither melody was deliberately played for him.
"What terrifying control."
Lin Feng marveled inwardly. Being able to make the zither sound travel so far, enter his ears, and lead him here, yet not let a single note leak out—such ability was truly terrifying.
"Martial arts, cultivating martial arts, is also cultivating the heart. When the state of mind is reached, martial arts are achieved, and the improvement of realms comes naturally."
An ethereal voice came from the playing teacher's mouth, drifting into Lin Feng and Meng Qing's ears, causing Lin Feng's expression to freeze, a hint of confusion appearing in his eyes.
Cultivating martial arts, cultivating the heart. When the state of mind is reached, martial arts are achieved.
"The benevolent cultivate a benevolent heart; the slaughterers cultivate a heart of slaughter. These two extremes produce the highest talent and the fastest improvement in martial arts. However, can the benevolent truly avoid slaughter? And who can say that those who slaughter have not a trace of kindness in their hearts? It all comes down to the state of mind."
"Your killing intent is too strong now, but your true nature is not that of a slaughterer. Even if slaughter can improve your strength quickly in a short time, because you haven't held fast to your true heart, your state of mind hasn't been reached. This will hinder your future improvement."
One voice after another continuously entered Lin Feng's ears, blending with the peaceful zither melody, calming Lin Feng's heart, as if the world had suddenly become much quieter.
The killing intent is too heavy, but it's not my true nature. That means my actions contradict my true heart, which will hinder my achievements.
Lin Feng understood the other's meaning, a thoughtful light appearing in his eyes.
"You need to calm your heart."
Another voice entered his ears, causing Lin Feng's heart to tremble as well.