by Feng Yue
The earth rumbled, fire brewed, and the air condensed… Dozens of music scores shot out at once, sealing off everywhere the enemy could hide.
The clattering hooves arrived. The knights cast black shadows from above the horses. They raised their long swords and brought them down on the musician!
At that moment, the wind lifted the musician’s hood, revealing bone-white hair.
“Can’t you see my regret? I will make your life worth it…” he sang with his head down. “Greed and lust, death and dust, can you see my smile within?” Under the gales of wind, his long hair danced like electric silver. Beside him, the cane leaned on the wall suddenly erupted with blazing electricity. It flooded out!
Thunder and lightning cracked. Electric light moved like a cobra, leaving black scorch marks in its path. Like an angry whip, it tore apart all music scores! Surging forward, it jumped between the armor and long swords. The metal melted into red-hot liquid, the horses fell with screams, and the knights vaporized.
The countless wild lightning bolts seemed to weave into a vague yet awesome image—it was the god of thunder, Indrah! Everyone, including Colt, was shocked.
With the aether sea frozen, it was hard for anyone to resonate. Restricted like this, they could only rely on the free aether in the air. No one expected that someone could so easily complete such a vast music score and fight enemies that outnumbered him. He could even recreate a fallen saint’s spirit!
“This is definitely not the musician level…” A middle-aged priest stared at Ye Qingxuan. Studying his chest, he tried to find the heart of sound. However, no matter how he probed, the chest cavity was empty. There was no response or any resonance! It seemed to be an empty hole. There was no music theory or aether. All that existed in a shocking void that swallowed all noise…
Sensing his probing, something started brewing in the darkness. It was like the sapling of destruction, showing the tip of the iceberg. In an instant, the priest’s eyes filled with blood. The corners cracked, and tears of blood streamed down his white face.
He screamed, “Wha-what are you?!”
Behind the flying dust, the man kept his head lowered as he played the six-stringed instrument. His hoarse voice spread throughout.
“Lazarus, do you see the wildfire burning so richly? Do you see the hellhound, staring so intimidatingly? Are you panicking now? But Lazarus, how will you repay the debts?”
Under the low song, lightning burned and danced wildly. On the cane, the cracked gem shattered completely. In its place, the fallen Holy Spirit was reborn in the lightning. Unprecedented, it opened its eyes.
The world roared! As the land shook, the iron walls reflected the blinding electric light. The song transformed into a judgment from the underworld. It filled the air.
“Lazarus, the wildfire is burning,” he sang. “It is burning, fire shooting into the sky. The faraway stars will not be able to guide you… I will write my name with blood. Lazarus, wash blood with blood and write thy name! Wash blood with blood and create thy name!”
The instrument strings snapped. The weathered six-stringed instrument broke apart. Lightning poured from it.
The world was so dark.
Lightning solidified in his hands. With the apparition of Indrah, he aimed at his enemy, locking onto Colt. Pained by the lightning, Colt’s face reddened. All the blood seemed to collect on his face.
“Ye Qingxuan!” Roaring, he pulled out the anti-tune and sliced down at the music theory composed of countless lightning bolts.
Boom! The anti-tune sword shattered and melted in the air. Then the lightning passed through all the protection, crushing the defense. No matter if it was water, mud, shields, or legendary phantom beasts, they all became fragile bubbles before the lightning.
Everything broke apart! Instantly, dozens of musicians turned to dust. The lightning surged forward like a dragon. It swallowed Colt’s arm.
And then there was an angry roar in the air, “Presumptuous!”
The majestic bells rang one after another. With pure, saintly light, Will descended from the sky. The glorious Score of God’s Punishment sounded. It collided with the shackles of Faust. The Double Snake Time Meter shook; the red-hot needle trembled and sped up. It could not continue for much longer.
In an instant, six beams of light flew from the Sacred City. They carried immense power, slamming against Faust’s territory like falling stars. They still carried echoes of the bells of the Sacred City!
Every ring of the bell represented reinforcement of the Sacred City. Their power surpassed that of the Distortion level, moving close to the level of grandmasters. Under the attack of six grandmasters, a hole appeared in the frozen aether sea.
Under the glow of God’s Punishment, Will descended and shielded Colt. He brought his sword down on the wild lightning.
At the same time, the priests in the beam of light went into coherence. The forced the frozen aether sea apart, absorbing the immense power. Countless complex music theories were constructed, releasing a pure and ethereal hymn.
“Holy! Holy! Holy! The Holy King! Light fills the world! All praise belongs to the almighty lord!”
It was “Requiem – Holy.”
An unyielding barrier was constructed, protecting Colt. In an instant, the devastating lightning flooded onto it. Soil melted into red-hot liquid like sulfur.
Faced with the terrifying attack, the light around Will trembled. He stumbled back. Half of his armor had been vaporized. His holy sword was practically melted.
“Ye Qingxuan!” Will narrowed his eyes at the young man darkly. “You truly have gone crazy. Destroying a church, attacking the Witch Hammer, killing a Sacred City priest, committing such an atrocity before the city gates…” He raised a sword and coldly declared, “Death does not suffice!”
In the stillness, someone laughed.
Though protected by the territory of Holy, Colt still stepped back involuntarily because the white-haired man finally looked up.
Black rain seemed to fall from a nightmare, bone-chillingly eerie. Those eyes stared at Colt, seeming to reflect the dead. They stood in the underworld, looking into the world through those eyes, and smiled.
“Colt, are you ready?” the man asked, gripping his cane. “I’m here to kill you.”
Will’s expression changed. The red-hot Double Snake Time Meter in Ye Qingxuan’s open left hand started shaking. Light shot out of it, and it shattered! Along with it, the territory of Faust was destroyed as well. The music theories frozen in the aether sea erupted. The absolute silence instantly became absolute activity.
The aether sea was tossing!
Within this, an instrument string that passed through the material and aether world emerged. Controlling the frantic and absolutely destructive power, it forcefully reigned over the raging sea. The aether sea poured into the thunder and transformed into lightning.
Everyone formed a bizarre hallucination: everything in the world dissipated like a dream. All that remained was this bolt of lightning. The wild electricity surged from all directions, joining into a boundless sea. It filled the world, burning the sky and earth. It had become the physical incarnate of destruction. The temperament was upended; all rules were broken.
The complex music theory that had become lightning distorted reality and transformed into a tangible sea. And above that wild sea, a broken moon appeared, casting down silvery light.
It was the moon above the sea!
The moon in the mirror, the flower on the sea.
The electric sea raged, but the moonlight was serene. The two combined into one body with ineffable poetic beauty. It was so illusory yet so real.
Between the illusory and the real, amidst the cool moonlight and destructive lightning, Jiu Xiao Huan Pei developed into complex music theory. It transformed into the Heaven Ladder, connecting the axes. Guiding the immense power, controlling under the consciousness of the performer, and converging in…Ye Qingxuan’s hands!
Music notes clanged.
The sea of lightning pressed down, suffocating the musicians! The changes were like turning stars. The shockingly vast and beautiful music score unfolded in Ye Qingxuan’s hands. They overlapped, knotted, and formed layers of complex structures.
A holy city of white jade seemed to rise. It was an impeccable control and was shocking. The music theory broke free from the Resonance level and instantly surpassed Distortion. The aether and material world overlapped, transforming into a terrifying protection.
The overture ended, the fifth section of the large movement, the first chapter of the main section…It was followed by Call, Go, Practice, Meditation, Soul Return, Loot, Crown, Rainbow, Wind, Fury…until the sixteenth Light, seventeenth Fall, and eighteenth Sword… It was all completed in one breath. The melody did not show any decline until it reached the third measure of the tenth section. At that time, the blazing sun had disappeared. All that remained was a pure moon hanging in the sky.
As Ye Qingxuan raised his hands, cool moonlight fell. Everyone’s faces were stark white under it.
It was “Moonlight!”
“This is…impossible…” Gritting his teeth, Will felt the common knowledge and music theory break apart in his heart. He stared at the moon; his pupils dilated, and his eyes grew bloody. He had checked all of Ye Qingxuan’s files. He knew everything the youth could do! Not even the sub-originator could contain such large music theory!
How could a man’s mind and will control such a terrifying score that could disturb reality, distort material nature, and perform a natural phenomenon?
Even destroying the Double Snake Time Meter and Indrah’s Eye to absorb the strength within… How could someone who was barely even an official musician maintain such terrifying power?!
The next moment, Ye Qingxuan lowered his finger. With the help of the Philosopher’s Stone, Jiu Xiao Huan Pei finished the last note. Moonlight shone on the ground, swallowing everything. Countless odd figures appeared.
Perhaps it was the meteorite attacking the moon, or the white rainbow piercing the sun, or the eagle assassinating the emperor… In the end, everything returned to the pure white moon.
There was a sword on the ground, and it was moonlight.
The bells rang, and Will roared. The light around the six grandmasters swelled. Under their coherence, they pushed the Score of God’s Punishment, creating the illusion of the Holy Spirit of punishment. The bells continued ringing.
Will raised his sword. With the vast power, he swung at the moonlight!
The pure white light and the music of punishment collided silently.
It disappeared.
As if it was a hallucination, as if nothing had happened, everything was still the same. But the fire of God’s Punishment had disappeared.
Gripping his cane, Ye Qingxuan walked forward step by step. As if he had used up all his energy, his steps were slow and seemed difficult. But he walked past Grandmaster Will, who had a raised sword and menacing face.
Crack. Everyone screamed. Will’s blade shattered and scattered like metal sand. As the hot wind blew, Will turned to dust and disappeared. Face stark white, Colt stumbled back.
From the other side of the Holy territory, the countless grandmasters beside him gave him some sense of security. He managed to squeeze out a taunting smile to protect his dignity. He opened his mouth to speak.
But then Ye Qingxuan looked up. Seeing Colt’s stiff smile, he raised a hand and knocked the barrier that was known as ultimate protection. “The Sacred City isn’t as powerful as you thought,” he said quietly. “You were happy too soon.”
Something shattered quietly. The holy singing cut off. It was as if countless pieces of glass cracked, shattered, melted, and disappeared under the hot sun. In the territory, five grandmasters who still maintained their original poses shook and turned to dust like Will.
In the dust, Colt’s stiff smile shattered. His features twitching, he stumbled back. “I…” Expressions battling, his mouth dropped open. “I…you…no…Ye-Ye Qingxuan…it can still be salvaged! Yes, it can still be salvaged! Don’t be brash. I can—”
All that replied to him was a sword.
Ye Qingxuan tossed out a half-melted but cooled sword. It stabbed into the ground before Colt.
“Come, Colt. Haven’t you always been waiting for this moment?” Ye Qingxuan said indifferently, “I’ll give you the chance for a fair fight. If you’re a man, pick up the sword. You can do anything. Just stop talking.”
In the silence, Colt froze.
406 Pray
In the silence, Colt froze. He stared at the sword before him, shaken. His lips trembled but he could not speak. But aggressive flames soon burned in his unstable eyes. Gritting his teeth, he grasped the hilt and pulled the sword out. Very few people knew that, other than music theory, he was also the unbeatable fighter at the Rock Institute. Even dark musicians had been dealt with by him.
“You’ll regret this, Ye Qingxuan.” His eyes were red. “You will!”
Ye Qingxuan looked at him without speaking. He allowed Colt to bend over and aim the blade at his throat with sharp murderous intent. But then Colt’s expression changed. His body trembled and the blade fell to the ground. All his strength had been sapped and he could not move! Colt gaped at Ye Qingxuan in confusion until he discovered the hint on the sword. It finally dawned on him and he roared hysterically, “Ye Qingxuan!”
“I was just playing with you but you took it seriously.” Shaking his head, Ye Qingxuan walked up and yanked his hair up. Colt wanted to crawl back in despair but he was dragged toward the city gates.
One step, another step. It felt like he was being dragged toward hell.
He went crazy, using all his might to scratch at the ground. He left behind bloody gauges and his nails broke but he was still dragged into the gates.
Then Ye Qingxuan finally stopped and let go.
“According to my promise, I’ve allowed you back into the Sacred City.” Ye Qingxuan looked down and said gently, “So now, what happens next will have nothing to do with promises.” He took a long and narrow silver nail from his back. It glinted with dazzling light, piercing Colt’s eyes. Reaching out, he pulled Colt’s wrist up and made a practice move. In his daze, Colt finally realized what he wanted to do.
He roared, “Ye Qingxuan, don’t you dare!”
His roars turned to pained cries. The silver nail went through his palm, nailing him to the city gate. He screamed and struggled to no avail. The pain in his bone marrow made his writhe but also stimulated his mind.
Painfully, he said, “Ye Qingxuan, you won! I surrender. Stop now, please.” He tossed away all his dignity. Ignoring the shocked gazes from the onlookers, he practically knelt before Ye Qingxuan.
“What can you get from killing me? Think about it, Ye Qingxuan! You don’t have to suffer such consequences because of someone as lowly as me, right? You have more meaningful things to do! You’ve already proved your abilities, right? I…I can transfer the Pope’s blessing to you! You can travel smoothly on the road to the Scepter level!”
Ye Qingxuan paused and stared down at him.
Seeing that he had reacted, Colt’s eyes lit up in joy. “The Lighthouse! There’s the Lighthouse too! I can give you the authority! It has all the deep music theory and secrets of the Secret Keepers! Think about it, all the wisdom of the musicians! The treasure so many people dream of! Don’t you want to know?” He moved forward on his knees without caring about his tearing palm. He lowered his head to kiss Ye Qingxuan’s boots and looked up pleadingly.
“And the way to enter the all-knowing state and even the secrets to creating a legend and becoming a scepter! These can all be yours, Ye Qingxuan, as long as you agree!”
Ye Qingxuan looked at him coldly as if Colt was an awkward clown and the funny play could not make him laugh.
Seeing his indifference, Colt’s heart sank. Voice trembling, he begged, “Stop, Ye Qingxuan! I’m begging you, alright? If you stop now, no one will do anything! Haven’t you d
one enough for that random girl? If you stop now, all the praises are yours and I, the lowly one, will live forever in the shadows so you seem glorious in comparison.
“I can swear on the Originator that I’ll be loyal to you for life. Aren’t you an Abstinence musician? We can sign a contract! I still have the secret judgement trials from when the Ministry of Science was still the Inquisition! And—ah!!” His other hand was lifted and nailed to the gate.
Expression twisting in pain, Colt was like a fish dropped in a pan of salt. He cried and yelled, “Are you crazy? Ye Qingxuan, weren’t you raised in a church?! God loves! You’re a good person. Why must you be so stubbornly hateful? Everything I said is true. I didn’t lie at all—”
“I know.” Ye Qingxuan looked down and cut him off. “I know that you’re telling the truth but this has nothing to do with the fact that you’re going to die.”
Colt froze.
Ye Qingxuan reached out and grabbed him up by the hair. Ignoring the pained cry when Colt’s wound ripped, Ye Qingxuan lifted him to eye level.
“I should thank you, Mr. Colt,” he uttered, staring into Colt’s eyes. “You helped me realize my weakness, my helplessness, and my naivety. You did it better than anyone—flawlessly. Therefore…you must die.”
There seemed to be torrential rain inside those black eyes, reflecting the scenes of Hell. Colt gaped and shuddered in fear, his lips trembling. In his daze, he saw his final resting place—the path to Hell.
He laughed hysterically, twisting his face.
“Then enjoy the products of your revenge,” he murmured in Ye Qingxuan’s ears as he cackled. “But sadly, no matter what you do, that girl’s already dead. She won’t ever come back…hahaha! I should’ve known that you and her are both b*stards, oddities, freaks, never able to be understood. Just have fun being crazy, you poor thing!” He opened his mouth and tried to spit out bloody saliva but he could not. The saliva hung from his lips disgustingly.
“So ugly, Colt. You’re so ugly.”
Ye Qingxuan’s expression was still indifferent as if he had heard nothing. Pulling out a handkerchief, he wiped the bloody spit away. The action was gentle but Colt cried out in fear as if something scary was touching him.