Eighteen women, their robes fluttering and ethereal like immortals, looking pleasing to the eye. Their slender fingers felt like dancing on an ancient zither, and the melodious music cleansed the soul.
The beautiful scenery before you is like a painting, the beauties like fairies, the sound of the zither like large and small pearls falling onto a jade plate. Standing here, it feels as if you are undergoing a kind of spiritual cleansing, far from worldly troubles, forgetting all worries, and instantly emptying your mind—a truly wonderful pleasure.
In front of the square, the crowd was already surging, with countless figures gathered. At the very front were seats. Long Chen saw many powerful figures dressed in splendid robes, with vermilion bird patterns embroidered on their sleeves. Long Chen had seen such patterns on the eldest prince Zhu Yunwen and knew they were symbols of royal status.
Beside those royal disciples were a group of men and women dressed in scholarly robes, all very young, not cultivators. Sitting with the royal family members, their lines were clear, as if keeping their own waters apart.
Except for the thousands of seats in front, the rest could only stand at a distance and enjoy the music. There were hundreds of thousands of people present, but not a single one made a sound; everyone quietly listened to the beautiful zither music.
Long Chen stood among the crowd. Given his height, he wasn't particularly noticeable, but the broadsword he carried on his back was especially eye-catching.
However, the scholars all looked at Long Chen with disgust, as if his attire made them quite uncomfortable, but they said nothing.
Long Chen enjoyed the performance while observing the royal disciples ahead, noticing that among them were both men and women. The eldest prince was not among them, and the figure he had been hoping for did not appear.
Long Chen saw several powerful figures whose auras were obscure, as if lurking among primordial beasts. He sighed inwardly, thinking that the Vermilion Bird Empire truly is full of hidden talents and masters.
But what puzzled Long Chen was that Liao Yuhuang was already a master, and today he was performing a piece together with so many people. It seemed they were all her fellow disciples, meaning they all came from the Qin Sect, one of the Four Ancient Sects.
Suddenly, amid the sound of the zither, a melodious flute sounded. A woman in yellow stepped forward, and the moment the flute played, the entire piece was instantly stirred, its melody rising to the sky.
When the flute's melody reaches its peak, it abruptly stops. The sound of the qin and flute fades, but the echoes between heaven and earth never cease. It feels as if the soul is sent to the clouds, swirling and lingering for a long time.
After a long while, someone finally started clapping, and then everyone applauded. The applause thundered like thunder, and everyone's eyes were filled with excitement—clearly, they had never heard such a wonderful and powerful piece before.
Especially the final high note, which seemed to lift you up into the sky, with a sense of impact and explosive impact that left a lasting impression, as if you were witnessing a world never seen before.
Whether cultivators or ordinary people, it resonated with everyone, and everyone present applauded enthusiastically.
The woman in yellow and other women playing the zither on the stage all stood up and bowed to the audience. As Liao Yuhuang's gaze swept across the crowd, his eyes suddenly lit up—he immediately spotted Long Chen in the crowd.
Long Chen nodded to Liao Yuhuang. Although they hadn't interacted much, at the Jiuzhou Conference, Liao Yuhuang had once helped Long Chen, and Long Chen had always remembered that kindness.
Liao Yuhuang suddenly whispered a few words to the woman on stage. The woman in yellow looked at Long Chen with some surprise, then nodded.
Only then did Liao Yuhuang gently lift her long skirt and dash down from the side of the stage, heading straight for Long Chen. Her actions instantly drew everyone's attention, leaving them confused and unsure of what she was about to do.
The woman in yellow and the other women also looked at Long Chen, as if waiting for something. For a moment, everyone turned to Long Chen, only to find that no one knew this man in black.
"Fairy Yuhuang, long time no see, your charm remains unchanged. Ledao has made further progress—truly a joy and congratulations." When Liao Yuhuang arrived, Long Chen bowed first and spoke.
"Brother Long, you're too kind. It's been years since we parted. Your blood and vitality are vast and powerful. The path of martial arts advances by leaps and bounds—that's truly something to celebrate." Liao Yuhuang returned the salute, a smile on her face, as if seeing Long Chen made her very happy.
"Brother Rulong Buqi, please sit in the front row." Liao Yu waved his jade-like hand diagonally, making a gesture of invitation.
Liao Yuhuang's actions shocked countless people. The disciples of the Qin Sect were all fairies untouched by worldly affairs, symbols of purity that could not be violated. They were noble and pure, yet kept their distance from others.
People could enjoy the music of the Qin Sect disciples, but few present could speak with them. Even those seated in the front row, with their special status, dared not speak rashly, fearing they might disturb the beauty.
Now Liao Yuhuang had so warmly invited Long Chen to sit in the front row, which surprised many and also sparked jealousy. Many whispered to themselves, speculating about Long Chen's background.
"No need, right? I'm just running errands nearby and was drawn to your beautiful music. Just come listen to it, you'll be leaving soon. Fairy Yuhuang, you don't need to greet me." Seeing so many people staring at him, Long Chen suddenly felt a bit uncomfortable. He definitely didn't want to show off here.
Especially those scholars over there, each looking at him with very unfriendly eyes. Long Chen was afraid that if he lost his temper soon, he might slap a whole group to death.
"Brother Long, are you unwilling to honor me with your guidance?" Last time at the Jiuzhou Conference, Yu Huang didn't have the chance to seek your guidance. This time, he absolutely cannot miss another opportunity. After saying this, to everyone's shock, Liao Yuhuang actually grabbed Long Chen's large hand, giving him no chance to refuse, and simply pulled him toward the stage.
Long Chen immediately felt awkward. This gesture was clearly too intimate, but Liao Yuhuang's eyes were innocent and without much emotion. This gesture was simply to keep him around, without any romantic feelings involved.
Being pulled by Liao Yuhuang, Long Chen felt embarrassed to shake her off, as that would seem too rude and rude.
With no other choice, Long Chen had no choice but to grit his teeth and step up to the front of the stage. Only when he arrived did he find that all the seats were full, with no room for Long Chen to sit at all.
Those scholars all wore arrogant expressions, coldly staring at Long Chen without any intention of giving up their seats.
"Bro, if you don't mind, how about we squeeze in together?" Just as Liao Yuhuang was about to speak, a young man in the third row warmly beckoned to Long Chen.
He was a man who looked to be in his early twenties, handsome but a bit innocent, like a clever big boy.
However, this big boy was a terrifying supreme-level powerhouse, exuding an extremely powerful aura. Yet this person gave off an impression of innocence and harmlessness.
"Thank you very much."
Long Chen clasped his fists and quickly sat down next to the man, sharing a seat with him. Originally, Liao Yuhuang wanted Long Chen to sit in the front row out of respect for him, but Long Chen didn't give her a chance to refuse and sat down directly.
"Your name is Long Chen, right?"
Suddenly, a woman in the front row turned her head to look at Long Chen and said coldly, her voice filled with strong hostility.