Volume 4: Hidden Battles – Chapter 97: The Flute’s Song of Jade Solidification

With a roar, Long Yin interrupted Xue Feifei’s playing. She looked up and was stunned to see Chu Tianyu suspended in midair, his entire body brimming with energy. On his muscular chest, a dark dragon appeared vividly, its claws extending from behind to Chu Tianyu’s right hand, forming an imaginary sword that burned like black flames, soaring toward the sky with immense momentum…

Chu Tianyu was equally astonished by this transformation. Instinctively, he guided the sword with his will, instantly unleashing the exquisite Qiji Sword Technique. Even under the effect of the Black Flame Sword, with gusts of wind and scorching heat, Xue Feifei, who had absorbed the energy of the Green Dragon, could sense it. She was so intimidated that she stepped back several times before managing to steady herself.

Watching Chu Tianyu’s muscles surge with energy, his movements either graceful and fluid or sudden and forceful, the sword’s light flickered constantly, appearing in various directions like a phantom. Finally, with a roar, Chu Tianyu held the sword in both hands, swung it downward like a blade, tilted his head sharply, and raised his long black hair as he delivered the final strike—a downward cut through the void. An overwhelming sense of combativeness filled the entire valley! A deep scar was left on the platform in the center, from which white cold vapor billowed…

It was now Xue Feifei’s turn to show utter fascination! Such exquisite moves, movements as fluid as those of a dragon, bulging muscles, surging energy, and that utterly domineering final strike—performed so perfectly, how could it not captivate, move, and inspire love in her?

After delivering the final strike, Chu Tianyu felt his boundless passion pour out along with it—such exhilaration and satisfaction! It turned out the black dragon had never left; it had only grown stronger, remaining within his body, existing in a different form. It seemed the black dragon had found its “spring” and would keep it forever. By absorbing the energy of the Green Dragon, it merged with it, restoring its lost body and fully integrating into Chu Tianyu’s body to reach a supreme state.

Filled with excitement, Chu Tianyu saw that Xue Feifei had stopped playing and was standing not far away, watching him. He descended in a graceful arc before her, eager to share his joy. But when he met her pure, innocent gaze, he was momentarily at a loss for words and froze in place.

Xue Feifei watched Chu Tianyu’s graceful figure as he moved by, along with the masculine aura that washed over her, causing her heart to flutter and her emotions to surge. Overwhelmed with love, she and Chu Tianyu stood there, stunned. After a long while, it seemed they both came back to their senses at the same time. Chu Tianyu pretended to look casually at a rock in the upper left corner, as if it contained some treasure; while Xue Feifei, being a girl, remembered her earlier feelings and felt extremely ashamed. Her cheeks turned red as she quickly lowered her head, fiddling with the green leaf in her hand.

“Oh, this, this… Hey, do you know? The Black Dragon hasn’t disappeared—it’s just… well…” Chu Tianyu tried to break the silence. But as he spoke, he noticed Xue Feifei’s skin as smooth as cream, her dimples faintly visible, her cherry-red lips like fire, and her slender, exquisitely beautiful figure. Her delicate waist, set against her green “dress,” made her look even more fresh and pure, leaving Chu Tianyu increasingly speechless and his breathing heavier…

Xue Feifei seemed to sense Chu Tianyu’s unusual state and raised her head to look at him. Chu Tianyu, as if guilty, quickly turned his head aside, observing her out of the corner of his eye.

“Ah!” Xue Feifei let out a gasp. Thinking something terrible had happened, Chu Tianyu quickly turned around and saw her pointing at his bare upper body in shock, clearly unable to believe what she saw.

“Your skin is so good! How do you maintain it? What skincare routine do you use?” Xue Feifei blurted out without thinking, leaving Chu Tianyu utterly stunned!

“Ah!” Before Chu Tianyu could react, Xue Feifei gasped again, as if remembering something. She quickly covered her lips with her delicate hand before shyly bending down with a smile. “I’m sorry, I got excited and forgot we’re in a valley. But to be honest, your skin is really great!”

Chu Tianyu was sweating—she had scared him half to death. But he understood Xue Feifei’s reaction well; he had experienced girls’ love for beauty when he was with Ouyang Ziyi and Li Rou! It was a timeless topic for all girls, regardless of age…

Seizing the opportunity, Chu Tianyu quickly explained the reason for his skin’s condition and also explained that the Black Dragon hadn’t disappeared but had transformed, becoming part of every corner of his body.

“What about your Mo Yan Sword?” Xue Feifei asked.

“Mo Yan Sword? What Mo Yan Sword?” Chu Tianyu asked in confusion.

“Yes, the sword you conjured was pitch black like ink, yet it also resembled a burning flame…” Xue Feifei explained playfully.
“Mo Yan… Mo Yan… What a great name! Haha, I was exactly worried about not knowing how to call it!” Chu Tianyu said happily.
“Could you summon it and show it to me?” Xue Feifei asked shyly.
“No problem! Mo Yan, come out!”
No response…
“Mo Yan, come out… Mo Yan, come out…” Chu Tianyu tried for the twenty-first time from the air.
Still no response…
Chu Tianyu had to face this fact awkwardly in front of Xue Feifei. No matter what tricks or skills he used, he couldn’t recreate what had just happened. Even Xue Feifei was worried for him!
Finally, Chu Tianyu gave up on all attempts and calmed down to think carefully about what had happened. Suddenly, he slapped his forehead and exclaimed to Xue Feifei, “Oh, how could I forget? The reason must be your ‘Sound of Heaven and Earth’! That’s right! Just by listening to your playing, I entered a state of mind attuned to my will, which allowed me to summon the power of the black dragon through the interaction of energy currents! And I successfully conjured the Mo Yan Sword in my right hand!”
Xue Feifei was shocked and immediately raised the leaf, asking, “Is it really because of using it to play?”
Chu Tianyu nodded and casually asked, “By the way, don’t you have the Green Flute?”
Xue Feifei’s expression darkened, her eyes reddening as she said sadly, “After being captured by that black dragon, my ‘Green Chime’ was destroyed into powder…”
Chu Tianyu didn’t expect such a reaction from a casual question. Seeing her tearful eyes, he felt deep pity. Her current appearance made it impossible for him to relate her to his memories of her in Hong Kong—neither her proud, mysterious, and luxurious demeanor on the plane nor her noble, radiant presence on stage could compare to this pure, natural, and emotionally rich beauty.
Chu Tianyu quickly racked his brain, going through all the treasures he had gathered along the way and the weapons from the Xuanji Sect, but he couldn’t recall anything related to music!
“Look at me… Let’s not talk about this; it ruins my mood… By the way, what exactly is going on with your black dragon? Do I have to reach that state of mind attuned to my will every time?” Seeing that Chu Tianyu wanted to comfort her but didn’t know how, Xue Feifei quickly changed the subject.

“Well, I think it’s more or less like that…” Chu Tianyu hadn’t finished speaking when he felt a sudden surge of extreme cold, with a piercing chill blowing straight at him. If Chu Tianyu could feel it, then how much more so could Xue Feifei? Facing it head-on, her face turned instantly snow-white, her rosy lips turned purple, and she began to tremble violently. Seeing this, Chu Tianyu was shocked and quickly pulled Xue Feifei into his arms. Eighty percent of his Purple Void True Qi surged forth, enveloping her. An unexpected change occurred, but at that moment, Chu Tianyu was thinking of another question: “If I just hold her hand or get closer, I can definitely help her stay warm. Why do I have to hold her in my arms? Could it be… could it really be that I’m a bit wicked?” “Ah, look!!!” Xue Feifei exclaimed in Chu Tianyu’s arms. He quickly dismissed his thoughts and turned to look in the direction she was pointing. In the middle of that sunless depression—the gap created by his sword strike—cold air kept pouring out. Even in an already freezing environment covered in ice and snow, visible white mist indicated a significant drop in temperature… “What’s going on?” Xue Feifei asked, resting comfortably in Chu Tianyu’s arms. Now, she seemed like a delicate girl relying on a man, just as she used to be. Having spent three years with his second master, traveling through famous mountains and rivers, Chu Tianyu had seen many strange things. Moreover, the mysticism of the Cloud Gate sect had been passed down for thousands of years, with detailed records and methods for dealing with various supernatural phenomena. So he wasn’t panicked. He first comforted Xue Feifei a bit, then didn’t rush forward to investigate. Instead, he observed the surrounding terrain while thinking. This place must have been chosen by that evil dragon. Its predecessor was a jiao, and together with that green jiao, they must have chosen a cold, damp place favored by jiaos. This valley never saw sunlight, with ice and snow accumulating over time, likely forming layers of ice that could last for thousands of years. It was reasonable to infer that the black dragon chose this place to harness such power. As for that depressed area they chose—there was no need to doubt it; it must be the eye of that cold energy vein. Now that it had been split by his accidental sword strike, the cold air rising explained everything!

Moreover, the dense plants surrounding them and the hot springs not far away indirectly supported his hypothesis. Even without referring to metaphysics, ordinary principles of feng shui emphasize the balance of yin and yang. There must be a source of intense heat beneath those hot springs to explain such a unique phenomenon in the valley. As he pondered, Chu Tianyu held Xue Feifei close. She explained gently and warmly. Xue Feifei occasionally asked a few questions, and the two of them resembled lovers enjoying the scenery and talking affectionately in the icy landscape.

Chu Tianyu also hadn’t mentioned one thing: such a place of extreme yin and yang was bound to be rich in treasures. It was time to start searching for them, but he felt an indescribable natural desire to stay in that position with Xue Feifei as long as possible—however long that might be. Xue Feifei, too, was filled with warmth. Hugging against Chu Tianyu’s broad, strong chest, she felt warmth, comfort, and attachment, making it hard for her to pull away. Moreover, the sense of intimacy growing within her seemed to carry feelings of longing and affection that stretched back thousands of years…

The cold grew increasingly intense. The plants around them were mostly frozen before they could wither, turning into crystal-clear ice sculptures. Chu Tianyu knew that the yin energy was surging upward due to the rupture in the cold energy veins, and it seemed to be nearing its limit, revealing the core of extreme yin. Reluctantly, he pushed Xue Feifei behind him and signaled her to stay close. Xue Feifei realized something was wrong and was afraid Chu Tianyu might get distracted and suffer harm. She quickly nodded, said nothing more, and obediently followed closely behind him.

Chu Tianyu unleashed his full strength to break through the cold air and moved forward slowly. When he reached the crack, his energy had reached its peak, yet he still felt waves of cold. Xue Feifei behind him was in no better condition, her teeth chattering from the cold. Under Chu Tianyu’s protective aura, she also exerted all her strength to resist. Suddenly, an invisible ripple came from the crack, as if drawn by Chu Tianyu’s powerful energy, producing a resonant sound. Hearing this, Xue Feifei was surprised. She quickly wrote the words “The Sound of Heaven and Earth” on Chu Tianyu’s back with her delicate hand, adding “Be careful” as well. Through their telepathic connection, Chu Tianyu felt warmth and became more vigilant. His Purple Void Dragon energy surged again, and he maintained a state of clear and peaceful mind.

Fortunately, Xue Feifei warned him. The tremor was growing louder and closer; if he wasn’t careful, he would surely be trapped in the illusion of the melody. Although Chu Tianyu managed to ward off the power of this tremor, as the cold continued to rise, a thick ice pillar had already formed high up in the crack, emitting waves of icy cold. Chu Tianyu also began to feel increasingly strained. His legs stiffened, and the extreme cold seeped into his body.

Alarmed, Chu Tianyu tried to retreat but found his legs completely immobile. His upper body also started to stiffen. Just as he turned to check on Xue Feifei, he suddenly sensed a familiar and comforting presence coming from her hands pressed against his back… The aura wasn’t strong, but it was like sipping a refreshing cup of tea—warm and soothing all over!

The Ink Dragon pattern on Chu Tianyu’s chest reappeared, and under the guidance of Xue Feifei’s energy, his body once again unleashed that familiar and powerful force. With no hesitation, he focused his mind, and instantly, a sword resembling blazing ink flames appeared in his right hand! Without delay, the sword carried a scorching heat that seemed capable of burning everything, along with a powerful sound as it pierced through the air, charging straight at the ice pillar!

With loud crashes, the ice broke and the pillar collapsed. A “white thread” shot out instantly, emitting intense cold light as it soared into the sky… Chu Tianyu wouldn’t let it escape. Even if he wanted to, his Ink Flame Sword wouldn’t allow it! Following the sword’s momentum, Chu Tianyu transformed into a shadowy figure and managed to intercept that core of coldness mid-air.

By the time Chu Tianyu returned to Xue Feifei’s side, it seemed like just a blink of an eye. Before Xue Feifei could feel the cold invade again, she was already back within Chu Tianyu’s warm protective aura. The Ink Flame Sword in his hand also emitted a brilliant sword glow, containing a dazzling white light!

The surrounding cold vanished instantly. Aside from still being slightly cold, Xue Feifei could now withstand it with her own Green Dragon energy. She turned to Chu Tianyu and curiously looked at the white light trapped by the sword, asking, “Is this the extremely cold core ice you mentioned?”

“Yes. Though I’ve never seen it, based on some descriptions from my sect, this must be it!” Chu Tianyu replied.

“What do you plan to do with it?” Xue Feifei asked, her eyes blinking rapidly.
“I’ve heard from my master that it’s also a kind of essence gathered from heaven and earth. To some extent, it can be considered one of the origins of life, capable of transforming into all things! Moreover, to obtain and preserve it, another essence from heaven and earth is needed to contain it! But not to mention having both, even just one of them is extremely rare!” Chu Tianyu replied.
“Oh, hehe, so your Mo Yan Sword can precisely control and subdue it, meaning you can get both!” Xue Feifei said happily.
Chu Tianyu let out a “hehe…”, his joy evident without words.
“What should we do next?”
“My master didn’t say much about this. Perhaps we can use some tool to take it away from its origin place, and then, before it hardens, forge it into a tool or weapon, like a sword…”
Before he could finish speaking, driven by his thoughts, the white light suddenly lost its brightness under the pressure of the Mo Yan Sword’s energy, revealing its original form as a viscous liquid, which gradually took the shape of a jade sword!
“It actually works this way! Luck really does bring surprises—just thinking about it, gold seems to fall from the sky!” Chu Tianyu exclaimed secretly in delight.
“It really turned into a sword!” Xue Feifei clapped her hands in surprise.
Hearing this, Chu Tianyu’s heart stirred, and thinking of Xue Feifei, he quickly asked, “What’s the structure of a flute?” As he spoke, the shape of the sword vanished instantly, and slowly, a short stick about the length of a flute formed.
“You… you want to turn it into a flute?” Xue Feifei asked, trembling with excitement.