Chapter 686: A Fine Moment
On the night of the Divine Palace, a bright, round moon hung high in the void, illuminating the palace.
Treading upon the rolling clouds, it seemed to carry a hint of desolate beauty.
"The moon here is so beautiful." Above the rolling clouds, several figures stood, looking up at the moonlight suspended in the sky.
"A wondrous world," Lin Feng murmured softly. This was clearly another space, yet the moonlight remained so beautiful and real.
"I wonder if the moon in my homeland is as full as this one." The voice carried a hint of distant melancholy. Homeland—familiar yet unfamiliar memories. That blue planet—who knew if it shared the same sky as the place he now stood upon?
"The moon back home must be more beautiful than this." Xiao Ya beside him chuckled softly. Lin Feng nodded vaguely. Homeland had become blurred in his mind. Now, he was merely a martial cultivator of the Nine Heavens Continent.
"The moonlight is beautiful, yet it lacks a melody of zither music." A low, lingering voice drifted over. Lin Feng turned his gaze and smiled faintly at Tang Youyou as she approached. "You are also a sentimental person?"
"Though the path of martial arts requires a resolute and persistent heart, being completely devoid of emotion would be far too dull." Tang Youyou smiled as well. "Don't you think this beautiful moonlight scene is missing something?"
Lin Feng smiled, then flicked his sleeves, sat cross-legged, and with a flash of light, an ancient zither appeared on his lap, startling Tang Youyou.
Lin Feng—did he also know the zither?
Xiao Ya was equally stunned by Lin Feng's action, then giggled softly. She lay down beside Lin Feng, looking up at the full moon. She wondered how her grandfather was doing now. He had entrusted her to Lin Feng, and she knew without being told what he had gone to do—he had gone for revenge!
Her brother's vengeance had always weighed on her grandfather's heart. It was only because of her that he had traveled far from home. The enemy's power was too great. Only after meeting Lin Feng had her grandfather left alone, entrusting her to Lin Feng with peace of mind.
"Dang..." A single note leaped forth, and a strand of zither music sounded. The melody drifted like curling smoke, melancholy and sorrowful, carrying the loneliness of an empty valley. It was as if someone was drinking alone with a beloved or a friend under the moon, discussing heaven and earth, martial arts and the Dao, freely enjoying fine wine and the beautiful moonlight scenery.
Tang Youyou gradually sank into the rhythm of the zither music. Unconsciously, she too sat down, casually and without any restraint, gazing at the slightly desolate back before her, listening to the beautiful yet melancholy, lingering tune.
With a flash of light, several jugs of fine wine appeared before Tang Youyou. Uncorking them, she began to drink freely. In just a few moments, a flush of crimson spread across her face, complementing her noble and stunning features, making her exceptionally enchanting.
Moonlight, zither music, fine wine, a beautiful woman—this was a complete picture, a scene without any missing elements. Perhaps if Tang Youyou saw herself at this moment, she too would marvel at the beauty of the scene, no longer incomplete. But at this moment, she herself had become part of the painting.
The melody shifted from low to high, from high back to low, until it faded into lingering notes that echoed through the void.
Xiao Ya had her eyes closed, seemingly asleep. Tang Youyou continued to drink, still not having emerged from the scene.
In the distance, from two different directions, two graceful figures stared blankly at Lin Feng's back. Qing Chan eventually smiled faintly. She liked the clear, pure look in Lin Feng's eyes. She admired his formidable martial cultivation. She was impressed by his zither skills—a talented man, not only in martial arts.
Qing Mengxin was also watching Lin Feng, leaning against a stone pillar, a charming smile on her enchanting face. This little fellow—he was not a perfect man. He had his own personality. On the stage, he was wild and unrestrained. In life, he seemed sentimental.
"Perhaps you are not as perfect as Jun Moxi, but precisely because you are not perfect, you can capture a woman's heart more than he can."
Qing Mengxin murmured softly, glancing at Qing Chan not far from her and Tang Youyou sitting on the ground. A woman's heartstrings were always more easily stirred.
Lin Feng put away the ancient zither and glanced at Xiao Ya, who was sleeping soundly beside him. A warm look appeared in his eyes.
Turning back, he looked at Tang Youyou again. At that moment, she was drinking, her pretty face flushed, radiating an intoxicating charm.
Just as she looked up, Tang Youyou seemed to meet Lin Feng's gaze. Her pretty face instantly flushed even redder. She lowered her head slightly, put away the wine jug, and when she raised her head again a moment later, she had already returned to normal. She smiled lightly and said, "I didn't expect your zither playing to be so good."
"Taught by a teacher," Lin Feng replied with a smile. In the past, he had practiced the zither with Yan Yu Pingsheng, achieving some skill in the art.
Tang Youyou smiled, then fell silent, not knowing what to say.
"I'll go back and rest first." Standing up, Tang Youyou turned and left. By then, Qing Chan and Qing Mengxin had already departed as well.
Lin Feng shook his head with a smile, then carefully picked up Xiao Ya and headed toward the arranged lodging.
...
Early morning, a cool breeze swept through every corner of the Divine Palace. In front of the main hall from the previous day, Lin Feng and the others had already arrived early.
Today was the day to listen to the Venerable One's teachings on the Dao. How could they not arrive early? Among them, many figures were visibly excited, their eyes constantly shining with eager light.
Now, though they were at the high levels of the Mysterious Martial Realm, crossing into the Heavenly Martial Realm required a leap. The Heavenly Martial Realm was a symbol of power.
And the Venerable One—a terrifying existence revered by all, capable of transforming all blood within the body into bloodline power to be passed down to descendants—was about to impart teachings on the Dao to them.
Bei Ming arrived and saw that everyone was already gathered. A satisfied smile appeared on his face. Those who had stood on the stage of the Snow Domain Grand Competition and become geniuses of the Snow Domain—their dedication to the path of martial arts was beyond doubt. They all had desires, a longing to become strong.
"Everyone, follow me."
Bei Ming said to the crowd, then took a step forward and headed into the distance.
The crowd lifted their feet and followed Bei Ming's pace, weaving through the Divine Palace.
After some time, they arrived at a simple, unremarkable, and ancient hall. In front of this simple hall was a small door. Through the small door, one could see an old man sitting cross-legged on a round wooden chair, his eyes tightly shut, as if in a state of deep meditation.
Outside the hall, the crowd stepped cautiously. Even Bei Ming, the Palace Lord of the Northern Divine Palace, moved with light, careful steps.
"Venerable One." Bei Ming slightly bowed to the figure in the courtyard before the hall and called out.
"Come in."
A voice came, seemingly ringing directly in the hearts of the crowd, causing everyone's heart to tremble.
The Venerable One—that plain figure sitting in the courtyard before the hall—was this the formidable Venerable One?
Treading with light steps, the group slowly entered the courtyard. Seats had already been prepared inside, but they all stood quietly before the seats, no one sitting down.
Lin Feng walked to the central seat and looked at the plain old man before him. Understanding dawned in his heart.
"It's him!" Lin Feng thought to himself. It was that blurry shadow. In the boundary realm, the sudden infusion of knowledge had allowed his cultivation to soar. At that time, he had only seen a vague shadow, unable to discern the other's face. But now, seeing the old man before him, he felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity. This made him realize that the old man who had helped him was the powerful Venerable One before him.
"Everyone, sit." Another voice came. The Venerable One's eyes remained closed, and his lips did not move, but the voice indeed rang directly in their minds and hearts, as if possessing a magical power that made their hearts resonate with that strand of sound.
With a sense of reverence, the crowd slowly sat down, yet they seemed somewhat uneasy. Before them was a Venerable One—a formidable existence at the Venerable Martial Realm, capable of splitting mountains with a wave of the hand and severing rivers and lakes. At this moment, the Venerable One was right before them.
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