The atmosphere palpably altered, and the guests’ expressions also changed. Puzzled and ruminative expressions crept into their eyes.
Some of the young descendants of noble clans couldn’t help but snicker at the embarrassing gift that Lin Xun presented.
A jade hairpin?
What is he doing?!
Chief Steward Peng didn’t add any description when he read out Lin Xun’s gift. It had no special name or origin, so it was likely not a rare inherited treasure.
That kind of thing is fine as a gift for a little girl, but it’s too shabby as a birthday gift for Her Majesty!
Fortunately, Lin Xun was at the central imperial palace, where many powerful and influential figures had gathered and the empress sat on the high throne, so the youngsters dared not to start trouble.
Otherwise, they likely would have ridiculed and laughed out loud given their personality and temper.
Lin Xun wasn’t stupid. He, of course, sensed the change in the atmosphere. But he didn’t care.
The jade hairpin indeed doesn’t have an impressive history, but it is handmade. Also, it has another use besides being worn as an accessory. I believe the empress won’t be disappointed.After reading out Lin Xun’s birthday gift, Chief Steward Peng put away the gift list, and his expression imperceptibly turned strange.
He thought Lin Xun’s jade hairpin was nothing but a hairpin.
As someone who had served the imperial family for years, he knew well about Lin Xun’s great grandfather Lin Daochen. He couldn’t help but sigh to himself. What kind of person was Duke Daochen? His power shook the world. Even if he is gone, he will always be remembered by the empire.
But now, the Lin Family has deteriorated to such an embarrassing state that even their direct descendant can’t offer a presentable birthday gift to the empress. This is really pitiful.
He snapped out of his thoughts, and no longer thought about it. The birthday gift list had been read out, and it was time for the birthday banquet to officially start.
However, before he made an announcement, the gentle and calm voice of the empress rang from the mist-shrouded throne.
“Reward him.”
Her one remark shook the audience like a clap of thunder.
Reward?
Reward who?
Whose birthday gift pleased Her Majesty so much that she made an exception to bestow a reward upon them at such a time?
Many people couldn’t help but speculate who from the list would receive such an honor.
The influential and powerful figures who were confident that their birthday gifts were the best were full of anticipation, expecting the reward to be bestowed upon them.
Even Chief Steward Peng was a little surprised. He had never expected such a situation and so hadn’t prepared a reward in advance.
He was about to ask the empress when a cloud of pale blue light hovered out from the throne.
Under watchful gazes, it landed on Lin Xun’s table.
How…
The audience was utterly dumbfounded. How is that possible?
Among the birthday gifts, Lin Xun’s jade hairpin is the most unpresentable. Why would Her Majesty make an exception to reward him?
Everyone’s gazes turned complicated.
They had thought that Lin Xun had presented a disgraceful birthday gift to the empress, but all of a sudden, a reward from the empress landed on him. Who would have imagined such a situation to happen?
Could it be that the jade hairpin wasn’t as simple as they had thought?
The voice of the empress again rang from the throne. “This jade hairpin is perfect for me. You indeed live up to the name of the rune grandmaster who invoked the cries of the nine dragons. There is a pill in that bottle to express my gratitude.”
Hiss!
Many people gasped sharply.
It wasn’t just a reward, Her Majesty also praised Lin Xun to show her gratitude. This rarely happens!
Some intelligent people instantly guessed that Lin Xun had made the jade hairpin himself from the fact that the empress had praised him for living up to the title of rune grandmaster.
That also explained why Chief Steward Peng didn’t describe the name and origin of the jade hairpin.
Lin Xun made the treasure himself. Since it was a gift for the empress, he wouldn’t go overboard and name the treasure!
After realizing that, many people looked at the youth with complicated gazes. They had to admit defeat.
However, they were very curious as to what sort of hairpin could win the favor of the empress.
Could the jade hairpin be more precious than the other remarkable birthday gifts?
Unfortunately for them, neither the empress nor Lin Xun explained the special characteristic of the jade hairpin.
This was because it was very simple. The jade hairpin would produce mysterious effects when used with the Sword of Apocalypse!
Simply speaking, the jade hairpin and the Sword of Apocalypse could coordinate with each other to produce even greater power.
The Sword of Apocalypse was a treasure belonging to the empress, so the jade hairpin from Lin Xun was an unexpected surprise for the empress.
As Lin Xun sensed the change in the gazes around him, he felt very grateful. The empress’ praise and reward had helped him retaliate against those who had looked down on him.
“Thank you for the reward!” Lin Xun stood up and bowed with the utmost respect.
“Take a seat.”
Lin Xun sat down again, his eyes drawn to the reward glistening on the table. It was a little exquisite-looking jade bottle around the thickness of a thumb. The mouth of the bottle was sealed with a mysterious and peculiar rune pattern.
The aura emanating from the secret rune alone indicated that the pill inside wasn’t ordinary!
Not only Lin Xun, but even the other people present also knew that the pill was no ordinary pill.
Many people were very envious of Lin Xun. He is so damn lucky! He exchanged a jade hairpin for an aeth pill from Her Majesty!
Some people eagerly awaited to see the type of aeth pill inside the bottle. But to their disappointment, Lin Xun just put away the bottle.
After the little incident, Chief Steward Peng announced the start of the birthday banquet.
Immediately, a group of brightly-dressed male and female musicians marched into the central imperial palace, carrying various instruments such as the pipa, bamboo flute, chime stones, and zither.
Liu Qingyan led the group of musicians.
She looked different from usual. Her makeup had changed, and she looked very capable and experienced with her long black hair tied up in a bun and dressed in the empire’s martial attire.
“I am Liu Qingyan. I and all musicians pay respect to Your Majesty. I am untalented, but I would like to present a song to wish Your Majesty to live as long as heaven and earth!”
Liu Qingyan and the musicians bowed respectfully.
“Rise, I heard that you are the leading figure among all the art cultivators in the empire. I wonder what is the name of the song you will present,” the empress asked gently.
“Your Majesty will know when you hear it.”
Liu Qingyan smiled.
“Okay, let’s get started.”
Suddenly, an open space appeared in the center of the hall, and Liu Qingyan stood in the center facing the throne at the end of the hall with the group of musicians behind her.
At that moment, her face was very calm. Her delicately beautiful face assumed a solemn expression, and she looked heroic in the neat martial uniform.
Everyone was full of anticipation. Many young masters’ eyes gleamed in admiration. They were very excited that they were fortunate enough to hear Liu Qingyan sing.
It was also Lin Xun’s first time to hear Liu Qingyan sing. There was also a curious glow of excitement on his face.
How did the famous art cultivator, a young maiden admired by countless youngsters, achieve such fame?
It would be clear in a moment!
Clang! Clang! Clang!
A loud and passionate solo pipa melody reverberated throughout the hall like a powerful army. It was filled with a mighty and majestic force like the roaring ocean.
For a moment, everyone fell into a trance. They felt like they were on a battlefield and saw countless men from the empire fighting for their families and land.
Everywhere were battles. Everywhere were clouds of smoke and dust. Everywhere were mountains of corpses and pools of blood.
Immediately, the boom of the zither, bamboo flutes, and drums pulsated in the air and merged with the melody of the song, making the whole piece of music even more complete, exciting and rhythmical.
It was as though an endless stream of heroic men was appearing on the bloody battlefield. They showed not a hint of fear regardless of how vicious and fierce the enemies were.
The music wasn’t sad or tragic, but it set everyone’s blood rushing around their bodies. Their emotions seemed to be constantly fermenting and accumulating like a volcano on the verge of erupting.
The powerful and influential people recalled their glorious years, reminisced their heroic battles on the battlefield, and remembered their comrades.
The young people were all full of pride, wishing they could face the enemies on the battlefield and wishing they could shed blood in combat!
Even Lin Xun felt goosebumps all over his body. The musical composition was too invigorating, too exciting, and too majestic. It was hard to not be emotionally moved.
When the music reached its climax, and everyone’s emotions were almost at their peak, Liu Qingyan slightly opened her mouth and her beautiful voice rang out from the center of the hall.
“The red sun rises, casting its great light to every corner.”
Her voice, clear and bright, possessed a power capable of reaching one’s soul. As her voice reverberated, the music that had reached its climax surged even higher!
She only said a few words, but it gave the music a gush of new power.
Everyone felt their scalps numb. The emotions bubbling in their hearts felt like they had ignited and exploded in their chest, drowning their entire body. They felt immersed and unable to free themselves.
That was the power of music!
Art cultivators cultivated the great Dao of sound, and Liu Qingyan, a top art cultivator, had already reached an extraordinary saint-level in terms of her understanding and control of sound.
The lyrics, the emotions, the singing…were in perfect harmony. It was as though the sound of Dao was echoing throughout the hall and shaking everyone’s minds!
Even those with profound cultivation bases and who had long tempered their minds to a rock-like state couldn’t help but feel emotionally moved. Their eyes were shining with a gleaming radiance.