The sky was still dark when Liu Qingyan arrived at Lingyun House.
She took a window seat on the third floor and began to slowly sip her tea as she peered outside.
The streets were peaceful and quiet in the morning. The morning mist drifted in the alleyways as the hanging chrysanthemums on the sides of the streets swayed gently in the breeze.
Liu Qingyan had recently been in secluded cultivation to write a new melody because she had been invited to do a performance at the royal palace for the empress’ 300th birthday.
The melody had been completed yesterday but it did not have any lyrics. Hence, she had come to Lingyun House early in the morning to meet a lyrical grandmaster for help.
It was not long before an elder in old-fashioned clothes hurried up the stairs. When he saw Liu Qingyan already waiting, he could not help but smile bitterly and sigh.
The elder’s hair was messy, his eyes were blood-shot, and fatigue was clearly visible between his brows, making him look rather haggard.
He was called Su Sanshi and was a lyrical grandmaster who had written many famous and popular songs. He had remarkable literary talent, was highly praised by the people, and was respectfully called Master Su.
“Sigh, I’m ashamed that I failed to write a single verse the entire night. I have disappointed Miss Qingyang.”
Master Su sighed.Liu Qingyan invited him to sit down and gently said, “Sir, you should not blame yourself. I am the one who was too anxious.”
Master Su shook his head. “No, I kept trying to force things but ended up being hindered by frustration. As the saying goes, inspiration and talent are needed to create a masterpiece. I failed to find inspiration because I was too hasty.”
Liu Qingyan also felt powerless, but she maintained a kind smile as she tried to console Master Su.
“I have to admit that Miss Qingyan’s new melody truly displays your unique ideology and creativity that surpasses the boundaries of time. The melody is filled with passion and fills the heart with meaning. It is a true masterpiece that can rival Steel-Blood King Ning Bugui’s ‘River of Crimson’.”
Master Su's voice was filled with emotion as he said, “Hence why I believe that ordinary lyrics are unworthy of this masterpiece.”
“Sir, you flatter me too much.”
Liu Qingyan displayed a modest smile.
The two conversed for a long time. In the end, they agreed to meet again after Master Su wrote new lyrics.
Just as Liu Qingyan was planning to leave, a commotion was suddenly heard from the first floor.
“Golden light soaring in the heavens! Nine draconic cries! From today, the Forbidden City has gained another young rune grandmaster who is even more amazing than Feng Qingyou! He’s the master of Mind Cleansing Peak, Lin Xun!”
“Lin Xun truly defies all logic. I still can't fathom how he became a rune grandmaster at such a young age.”
“He’s not just any rune grandmaster. The broadcast screen just reported that Lin Xun took a test at the Rune Master Association Headquarters yesterday. His overly perfect result was what caused the legendary nine draconic cries that shook the entire city!”
“God damn, is that true?”
“Have you been living under a rock? Everyone has been talking about it like crazy!”
“Quick, let’s go to the broadcast screen and have a look!”
Various voices rose one after another, breaking the peace of the morning and creating a noisy atmosphere.
Liu Qingyan was stunned.
Lin Xun? Rune grandmaster? Nine draconic cries?
A certain handsome figure surfaced in her mind. His eyes were clear and deep, and he always wore a friendly and innocent smile.
Could it be him?
Before Liu Qingyan could return to her senses, another commotion erupted from the street.
The pedestrians had astonished, curious, and excited expressions as they discussed the matter of Lin Xun becoming a rune grandmaster.
Golden light in the sky, nine draconic cries, breaking a record, creating a legend…all kinds of crazy things were talked about.
Some even brought up how Chu Donghai had humiliated himself and fainted.
The Rune Master Association HQ, Divine Workshop, and Qinglu Academy fighting over Lin Xun also drew much envy and was one of the more popular topics.
Liu Qingyan dazedly listened to the various conversations.
She had been in seclusion for the past few days and was naturally unaware that the young man who had once helped her repair her ocarina in Haze City had become so famous in the Forbidden City!
Liu Qingyan could not help but question whether this was the same Lin Xun she knew.
Is it really him?
Liu Qingyan could not decide.
Pah!
A loud noise suddenly awakened Liu Qingyan from her thoughts.
Opposite her, Master Su became incredibly excited all of a sudden and slapped the table with gleaming eyes.
“Such a youngster is the pride of the empire! I have found the inspiration to write a new song for Miss Qingyan!”
He quickly dipped his finger into the tea and ignored everything else as he began writing on the table.
Liu Qingyan could not help but rejoice. She never imagined that Master Su would suddenly be struck by inspiration, and it was honestly an unexpected but happy surprise.
She looked over and watched the words begin to flow from Master Su’s fingertips!
The red sun rises, shining its glorious rays.
The river flows, pouring into the ocean.
The hidden dragon soars across the abyss, brandishing its claws.
The tiger’s roar echoes in the valley, frightening a hundred beasts.
The eagle tests its wings, scattering wind and dust.
The budding flower is the most magnificent and radiant!
Wearing the blue sky on our heads and touching the yellow earth with our feet.
Our history is rich and deep, the world is our oyster.
Our futures are as limitless as the ocean and the time we have is still long and far.
Our young empire is beautiful and is as eternal as the heavens!
Our young empire is majestic and has no borders like the land!
Liu Qingyan could not help but recite the words out loud. They felt like wind and thunder and shook the depths of her soul. The lyrics seemed to be filled with a faint yet majestic spirit and burned with a noble, fiery passion that satiated the heart. Merely reading it made one feel a surge of excitement and unspeakable shock.
“Great lyrics!”
Liu Qingyan praised out loud, feeling overjoyed. These new lyrics paired perfectly with the melody she had composed.
"Hahaha, I would not have been inspired to write it if I didn't hear all that talk about Lin Xun."
Master Su also laughed heartily. All of his tiredness seemed to have been swept away.
I didn't expect that he would somehow end up helping me…
A strange smile rose from the corners of Liu Qingyan's lips.
After leaving Lingyun House, Liu Qingyan did not rush back to her accommodations and instead took a stroll in the streets inside her carriage.
No matter where she went, nearly everyone was talking about Lin Xun!
It was as if his name had placed the entire city under a spell.
Liu Qingyan was subsequently able to piece together Lin Xun's experiences in the Forbidden City from the various conversations about him.
For example, she learned about Lin Xun's title as the weakest noble clan leader. She found out about how he had beaten up disciples from the Song and Hua high clans…
The duel with Hua Wuyou…
Lin Xun’s current circumstances…
All of these events were being investigated and discussed by people.
Liu Qingyan could not help but sigh. Although some time had passed since they last met, she had to now view him in a completely different light!
Lin Xun was no longer the same. He had already risen to power and fame at an inconceivable speed!
Towards the end, Liu Qingyan could not help but recall a few verses of Master Su’s new lyrics.
The hidden dragon soars across the abyss, brandishing its claws.
The tiger’s roar echoes in the valley, frightening a hundred beasts.
The eagle tests its wings, scattering wind and dust.
Wasn’t this referring to Lin Xun?
……
The Forbidden City was abuzz with excitement today. It could be said that the news about Lin Xun had spread like a pandemic.
Every street, inn, guest house, tea shop… was all filled with discussion about Lin Xun as if everyone felt it would be shameful if they didn’t mention him.
The most outrageous part was when the broadcast station invited a senior rune grandmaster to give a lengthy analysis of the nine draconic cries Lin Xun caused. It drew numerous listeners and created quite a sensation in itself.
Stone Cauldron Alms.
When Shi Yu heard the news, his first reaction was to curse, “What the hell!”
All sorts of emotions churned in his heart. Lin Xun keeps surprising me.
In fact, he was now certain that the aeth-treasure-tier Azure Cloud Copper Truncheons from Lin Xun were actually personally crafted by him!
“Damn, this bastard is becoming more and more outrageous. It will be difficult to surpass him in the future…”
Shi Yu smiled bitterly.
It was not long before he fell into deep thought. Lin Xun was not even sixteen yet, but he had already obtained a perfect score on the Dragon Gate Nine Tablets exam. He was no ordinary rune grandmaster, but an existence who had broken all past records and created a miracle!
Being such an unrivaled and unique young rune grandmaster would definitely bring endless fame and glory to Lin Xun. Likewise, it would also draw much attention to him and even allow him to gain support from various factions.
Regretfully, Shi Yu knew that besides money, Stone Cauldron Alms could not compare to powerful factions like the Rune Master Association HQ, Divine Workshop, and Qinglu Academy.
In other words, Stone Cauldron Alms was too small for Lin Xun.
Otherwise, Shi Yu would have done everything he could, resorting to even cheating and lying, to pull Lin Xun into his camp.
“I wonder which faction he will choose…”
Shi Yu pondered.
Before he could think about the answer, several groups of guests arrived in rapid succession.
It turned out to be representatives from the Rune Master Association HQ, Divine Workshop, Qinglu Academy, and other powerful factions.
Their goals were astonishingly similar. They hoped that Shi Yu could help convince Lin Xun to join their factions. If Shi Yu succeeded, they would definitely give him a reward he would be satisfied with.
It was because Mind Cleansing Peak was currently refusing all visitors, leaving them no chance to contact Lin Xun. Hence, they could only approach Lin Xun’s friend, Shi Yu, instead in hopes that they could work something out.
This made Shi Yu’s feelings turn increasingly complicated. In the past, Third Young Master Shi was a person others would try to pull strings to meet but now, he had become one of those strings instead!
In the end, Shi Yu rejected all of them. It was not because he felt it was beneath him. Instead, he understood that such matters concerned Lin Xun’s future and were not something he should interfere in.