Silent Crown

by Feng Yue

  Boom! Ye Qingxuan was not utilizing the power of any external objects. He was merely using the music theory of the Staff of Fate to smash on Larbin’s Symphony of Predestination. It did not take long for the Symphony of Predestination to be broken down and dismantled.

  Larbin screamed in despair as his iron exterior began to break down inch by inch until an old and frail man was revealed underneath. Countless veins could be seen on the surface of his face while his eyes were close to popping out of their sockets. It took only a moment for Ye Qingxuan to annihilate his life as a musician completely. The collapse of the Symphony of Predestination meant that his life has also already been dismantled. If he was to be pushed off the cliff, he might still be in one piece on his way down but the impact of the fall would ultimately shatter him into pieces. He was screaming at the top of his lungs as his trembling hands reached for his chest. This was his last chance. He might still live if he could calm the music theory in his body, otherwise, he would perish in its chaos. At that moment, he saw a shadow over him.

  It was Ye Qingxuan.

  “Help…” His face contorted. He raised his head and looked at the shadow with hope in his gaze. “Help me!”

  643 Provisions

  “It’s too bad. I did give you a chance.”

  Ye Qingxuan sighed and pressed his hand against Larbin’s veiny forehead, “Don’t worry, I will pass on the core theories of the Steel Heart School for you.”

  After he finished speaking, Larbin gave a wretched cry.

  In less than half a minute he had already lost. The musicians who had rushed here did not even have time to intervene. They could only watch helplessly as Ye Qingxuan cruelly kept him alive, draining every bit of music out of him piece by piece before he expired.

  It was like his tendons were being peeled off his bones. He screamed as the pain dug deeper in, inch by inch. His blood became hotter and hotter, and his forehead swelled.

  Finally, Ye Qingxuan leisurely pulled the last little bit of music out of him, trapping it within the Staff of Fate. He let go of Larbin, who fell limply to the floor.

  Although some breath still passed through his lips, the spark was gone from his eyes.

  The Symphony of Predestination was the condensation of all of a musician’s lifeforce. Stripping the core music from their body was like taking away their soul. Hot blood had thoroughly destroyed his brain.

  Larbin was already dead, those faint breaths of his would not last long.

  Ye Qingxuan waved his hand and a wisp of moonlight transformed into a flame. It descended upon Larbin’s body, burning him to ashes.

  There was a trace of regret in everyone’s eyes, and a trace of relief.

  Ye Qingxuan had not left the dead man’s Symphony of Predestination in the Ultimate. Thus, he had not received the Ultimate’s blessing. Otherwise, he would have regained the level of Master, and would be difficult to deal with.

  Even so, of the few Masters who began to cautiously edge forward, there was not one who was willing to take the lead.

  After all, this was the Hand of God…

  Ye Qingxuan, the savior of the nation, the deputy ruler of the Anglo Kingdom, the Prince of Avalon, Captain of the Inquisition…even though he had fallen so far, there was no telling what tricks someone like him might still have up his sleeve.

  If they rushed in hastily they might end up like Larbin there.

  Far away, Raymond’s silhouette appeared at the end of the road, still bringing the old nun behind him. Upon seeing Ye Qingxuan’s condition, there was a flash of intention in his eyes, and he opened his mouth to speak.

  But he quickly closed it, not issuing any orders.

  He looked at Ye Qingxuan unwillingly, then turned around and carried the old nun away.

  There was no point in getting involved.

  There were already enough people who wanted Ye Qingxuan’s life.

  -

  -

  Merely twenty minutes later a beam of light screamed down from the sky.

  Flames rose amid the roar, and they transformed into a sinister old man. He stopped in front of Yuan Jing.

  “White hair, young…”

  He looked coldly at his stunned opponent and laughed strangely. “It looks like you are indeed Ye Qingxuan. There’s no excuse for the strong preying on the week, but there are those who want you dead, demon. This is your unlucky day!”

  The young man raised his eyebrows, seeming confused.

  Bang!

  A frightful wave swept out from his body, as the elements of a Scepter began to rise slowly.

  “I know you won’t believe this, but buddy, you’ve got the wrong guy.”

  The white-haired young man sighed and gripped the longsword at his waist. “But since you’ve challenged me, if I refuse to fight you and turn away my grandfather will surely throw me into a molten lake as punishment.”

  Upon hearing the sonorous echo of the sword being pulled from its scabbard, the Scepter was shocked. “Even though it feels a bit strange to cross swords with you for no reason, I’d still like to know your name before we fight.”

  “Yuan Jing,” said the young man with the sword, “‘Jing’ like in ‘Jing Ji’.”

  In that instant, the sword cried out “Jing Ji”.

  There was a ghostly ringing in the distant darkness, like footsteps echoing out in all directions. It was difficult to tell whether or not the sound was real, but it was clear and frightening all the same.

  The Sword of Jing Ji was unsheathed.

  Eldest Brother Yuan He’s sword “Wen Lin” had been drawn by Yuan Jing. It was no longer the sword of an upright and just man, but carried with it a bitter cold, majestic killing power, and a sound like a ringing bell.

  In Yuan Jing’s hands the sword emitted a faint light, stinging the old man’s eyes.

  “They Symphony of the Jing Ji Sword” began to change, with intermittent flashes of music spreading out from the sword, each one peerless in its majesty. They resonated with the old man’s Scepter, which began to disturb the elements.

  In front of that blade, the Scepter seemed like the moon reflected in a mirror, or a flower reflected in water, ethereal and illusory.

  The old man’s expression changed.

  “Wait…”

  “Too late.”

  Yuan Jing raised his sword without expression, and cocked an eyebrow, “I can’t control my brother’s sword. You shoddy imitation of a Scepter, how dare you act so brazen before it. This is your unlucky day demon!”

  As he repeated the old man’s words back to him, the careless and lazy young man stopped smiling, and became as cold as iron.

  The sword’s light reflected off the black abysses of his eyes.

  In the next instant, the Symphony of the Jing Ji Sword gave off a clear, piercing sound.

  The light from the sword seemed to cut through the dark sky, revealing the light behind it. The pure killing power of the sword was on full display.

  In a flash the light turned, piercing through layer after layer of defenses, skipping over the violent wind and blazing flames, and struck with deceptive weakness towards the Scepter’s elements.

  Music clashing together made a shrill noise, like a million birds taking off into the sky.

  -

  Ye Qingxuan heard yelling in the distance.

  He turned his head and a wave of aether burning as brightly as a meteor appeared, only to disappear in a flash.

  The Scepter was defeated. In an instant his elements were shattered and returned to their original forms. He was cast back to the level of a Master.

  Even Ye Qingxuan was shocked.

  It couldn’t be…

  “How could there be such a weak Scepter?” he whispered instinctively.

  “The accomplishments of man are insignificant, for they will seep away. They are like shadows, there but unreal.”

  The light, soft voice came from behind Ye Qingxuan. It had a woman’s softness. Shocked, Ye Qingxuan turned around and sa
w an indistinct figure standing in the shadows.

  She was carrying a pipa of white jade.

  Yaksa!

  The frail old woman seemed to be swallowed up by dark mud before Ye Qingxuan’s eyes. A black bestial form began to seep out of the pipa in her arms, enveloping her and becoming a part of her.

  Amid the curling black mist, two horns seemed to sprout from her head. Her face grew ugly, like that of a ferocious ghost. But in a flash the ghost was gone, and a slender and beautiful young woman walked out of the mist.

  “The eldest daughter of the Liu family, Liu Ran, greets you, Master Ye.”

  She faced him gently and gracefully, like soft music in the middle of the night. Ye Qingxuan’s scalp began to tingle. He was frightened of this woman who carried so much yin energy.

  But even so, as a fellow member of the Nine Families of the Dragon Bloodline, and due to the fact that she had not yet threatened him, Ye Qingxuan was still properly courteous. After all, when old friends meet they should help each other, even at the Ultimate.

  “What does that mean?” Ye Qingxuan asked.

  Although Liu Ran was speaking in the Eastern language, and he could understand her and make out the metaphor in her words, he still did not know what she was referring to.

  The accomplishments of man are insignificant, for they will seep away. They are like shadows, there but unreal.

  This was how the Eastern Masters had criticized music theory: striving to shape music to one’s will could not allow them to attain perfection. One would always fail, and even if they did succeed, their success would be nothing more than a shadow. Although it was there, it could not withstand any tests.

  Did she mean that the Scepter was just such a worthless thing?

  Upon hearing his question, Liu Ran could not help but grin. “It looks like Master Ye does not know about the Ultimate yet.”

  “I’d appreciate it if you would enlighten me.”

  After hearing about Liu Ran’s findings he was silent for a time.

  Complete victory for the winners, utter defeat for the losers…

  The kings would bear witness…

  Ye Qingxuan rubbed his forehead. “Was it the kings’ last wish that their descendants would slaughter each other? Something’s wrong…”

  “It’s not just that.”

  Liu Ran’s smile held profound implications. “I have a guess about this.”

  She did not go on, however. She had the manner of someone waiting to sell to the highest bidder as she waited for Ye Qingxuan to interrogate her. But he didn’t. Instead, he fell into silent reflection.

  After a brief period of silence, Ye Qingxuan returned from his reverie. “Provisions?”

  Liu Ran was dumbfounded. She could not help but sigh. Sometimes when talking to intelligent people they would guess your point as soon as you brought up a topic. It looked like she had underestimated the Master of the Ye family.

  He was worthy of being called the Master and founder of a new school of magic.

  “That is correct.” She nodded slightly.

  As soon as he had heard Liu Ran’s words, Ye Qingxuan knew that the trials in the ruins had a deeper meaning.

  If after possessing the Jiu Xiao Huan Pei, an instrument that was good at both observing wide areas and meticulous operation, using the analytical method, and receiving Liu Ran’s hint he still could not guess, then he would be truly foolish indeed.

  He could sense fierce struggles all around the huge, complex city. But after each battle a wave of aether would come out from the depths of the Ultimate.

  It was slowly transforming…

  The dead musicians melted into the city. The Symphony of Predestination itself was immersed in the Ultimate, acting as provisions for a nascent catastrophe.

  This was the final link.

  This true natural disaster was drawing in the accumulated music from the countless battles as it emerged. Thus, whoever proved the victor would receive its blessing and become stronger.

  And in this process, the Ultimate would be gradually influenced by humans.

  After fusing with the music of countless musicians and the Masters’ Symphonies of Predestination, the Ultimate would truly enter the real world, having already been branded by humanity’s stamp.

  644 Stone Plate

  Regardless of whether the abomination born from it belonged to the category of the four living creatures, the Three Pillar God, the Three Wise Men, or the eight phenomena, it was in itself inseparable from human beings already.

  As long as it was integrated into the Holy Cauldron, it would be able to re-expand mankind’s systems of music theory. Then, human beings would occupy a vital part of the Originator.

  In contrast, such fierce and tragic competition… was merely a negligible price to be paid.

  Before their deaths, the various kings of the earliest generation had already made the arrangements for what would take place thousands of years after their time. Although it occurred three epochs ahead of schedule, it did not prevent the entire plan from launching smoothly.

  “It’s just that, don’t you feel that it’s too cruel to sacrifice so many people in exchange for power?” Ye Qingxuan sighed softly.

  Liu Ran’s smile was one of mockery. “Back then, to infect the Holy Cauldron, humans offered up the blood of tens of thousands of people as sacrifices. The bones of the people who had died for this purpose lay everywhere… The situation now is much more humane than that back then.

  “At least, they are all voluntary victims, aren’t they?

  “Plus, at least plenty of scepter musicians will be born through this trial, I’m afraid…

  “Although it is not the proper path after all, and their achievements will be limited in comparison, they won’t necessarily be unable to completely claim the power they have received as their own, as long as they undertake decades of deep practice.

  “By then, the phenomenon of knock-off scepter musicians like the one just now won’t be seen anymore.”

  The scepter musician that had been Yuan Jing’s opponent had probably been stuck in the Level of Master for decades originally. Once he received external strengthening, he broke through the bottleneck by himself and advanced to the Level of Scepter.

  But even in the East, no wacko would dare to provoke a direct descendant of House Yuan after having just advanced to the Level of Scepter… After all, the sword techniques passed down through generations in House Yuan were purely directed at the core of one’s music theory.

  Even a scepter musician who had been stabbed with a sword could hardly escape the tragic ending of his elements demising. If a master was stabbed, his Symphony of Predestination would suffer immense damage. As for official musicians of Level Three, a strike of the sword would be enough to shatter their sound of heart, and they would be as dead as a doornail on the spot.

  The phrase ‘mastering the art of killing in music theory’ was not coined in vain.

  It was a lesson written in blood by God knew how many musicians over the years.

  After listening to her words, Ye Qingxuan nodded. “So, you guys are also here to take advantage of the situation?”

  Liu Ran smiled slightly, shook her head, and simply strummed the biwa made of white jade in her hand casually, producing crisp notes.

  Ye Qingxuan realized that he had asked a dumb question.

  Even if the core successors of the nine families of the Dragon Bloodline were to simply spend their days idling around waiting for death, with the legacies of their respective families, just like the biwa of white jade in Liu Ran’s arms, they would at the very least be able to advance to the Level of Scepter.

  Such was another benefit of being in a small circle.

  Instead of following the crowd and adhering to the rules other had set, one might as well set the rules on one’s own.

  The music theory of the Chapter of the Golden Victory was the core legacy of the Royal Musicians of Anglo. The musicians were subjected to the limitations i
mposed by the royal family, yet their greatness was also brought about by the royal family. Mabel was a typical example among them.

  The nine families of the Dragon Bloodline used their blood as a medium for their legacies of music theory, and the music theory was passed down from generation to generation. Except for the very unlucky Ye Qingxuan, whose dad went missing and whose relatives had all been cleanly wiped out, who else within the nine families hadn’t been enjoying a smooth-sailing life all the way?

  The instrument of legacy of House Liu was the Yaksa — It could be said that since Liu Ran was allowed to carry it on her, the die had been cast for her to be the next head of household.

  Musicians of House Liu of the past generations reared ghostly beasts with their consciousness. After their deaths, their Symphonies of Predestination and all their consciousness would also be completely turned into food and resources for the ghosts.

  Meanwhile, the Yaksa was undoubted the place of residence for the countless ghosts over the centuries.

  As long as one obtained the recognition of the Yaksa, countless resources in terms of ghosts and bestiality would constantly nurture one’s music theory, and one would be able to advance at a pace so rapid that it would seem as if one was traveling on an airship.

  Liu Ran, who was standing in front of Ye Qingxuan, was a standard Deva. She began her formative education as a child at eight years old, started learning music theory at ten, and spent eight years to achieve the Level of Master. The final step of becoming a scepter musician was already in sight for her, so why would she have to rely on external aid?

  Provided that she took the initiative to work sufficiently hard, it was not impossible for her to advance as one of the Six Royals in the future.

  Even if one was to think about it with one’s heel instead of brain, one would know that Liu Ran had absolutely zero regard for knock-off scepter musicians like the ones the Ultimate had created.