Volume 4: Hidden Battles – Chapter 200: The Celestial Melody Scripture

“Pah! Han Wendong, you wretched scoundrel! Our Tianyin Sect will never reconcile with your Hanchan Sect! If you have the guts, come at us! Even if we fight to the last man, we will never give up!” declared Master Qiao of Tianyin Sect fiercely.
“Old Lady Qiao, have you gone mad? Today isn’t the time for personal grudges between our Hanchan Sect and your Tianyin Sect. I’m here to carry out someone else’s orders…”
Before Han Wendong could finish speaking, a loud voice interrupted him, “Hanchan Sect leader, stop wasting time with them. It’s time to get down to business!”
Everyone’s gaze turned to the red-faced young man standing beside Han Wendong. He appeared to be around 26 years old, tall and muscular, with a reddish complexion, as if due to some peculiar internal cultivation.
“Who are you? May I ask your name?” Master Qiao asked in confusion. It was hard to believe that such a young man could lead such a group, not only interrupting others but also making even the usually domineering Han Wendong hold his breath in fear.
“I’m Zhou Jing, an obscure minor. I’m here on orders, so I apologize for any offense. If you don’t hand over Xue Feifei now, don’t blame me for being ruthless!” Zhou Jing said calmly.
His expression was calm, but his words were rhythmic and powerful, instantly overshadowing the beautiful melodies played by the disciples of Tianyin Sect.
Master Qiao was shocked inwardly. Though she knew the situation was dire, she still had one last hope: if they could hold out until Feifei completed her training and emerged, the crisis might be resolved. But she never expected there to be such a skilled person among them—one seemingly born with the ability to disrupt melodies.
And despite his youthful appearance and claim of being just a minor, even Han Wendong seemed to obey him. This showed his extraordinary prowess. With just a few words, he had silenced the melodies played by his own disciples—his skill was simply unimaginable.

It should be known that the piece “Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix,” played collectively by the members of the Tianyin Sect, is the culmination of the efforts of generations of their disciples. Its power lies in the ability to form an invisible musical defense network by combining everyone’s strength when facing enemies—retreating to consolidate defenses and slow down the rhythm, or advancing to launch attacks by accelerating the rhythm, with accents as sharp as knives and swords, inflicting harm invisibly. Especially in a standoff like the current one, “Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix” keeps one’s side in a state where they can strike or defend, advance or retreat as needed.

Sect Leader Qiao suppressed her shock and gently stroked a harp about fifty centimeters long in her hands. A few soft notes were instantly added to the melody of “Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix,” restoring the slightly disorganized music back to its normal course.

Zhou Jing watched her actions without interfering, merely nodding slightly and saying, “Sect Leader Qiao truly possesses profound skills. I’ve heard that throughout the history of your Tianyin Sect, only those with two high-quality Earth and Sky veins are qualified to take over as sect leader. Seeing you today, I confirm that you are indeed extraordinary. Given your skills, although you may not have reached the ultimate level of Earth and Sky constitution, you should at least have three such veins. Am I correct?”

Sect Leader Qiao’s heart stirred again. Who exactly was this man? Aside from her master, no one else knew her secret—only that she had two Earth and Sky veins…

“Whether I’m correct or not… I don’t know…” Sect Leader Qiao replied while trying to calm her emotions. But before she could finish speaking, Zhou Jing waved his hand, and his own figure soared into the air like a bird, moving at lightning speed. A cold glow appeared in his palm as he immediately attacked Sect Leader Qiao of the Tianyin Sect.

His subordinates, including Han Wendong from the Hanchan Sect, seemed to have received some kind of instruction and promptly attacked the disciples of the Tianyin Sect. Blades flashed, swords gleamed, and deadly weapons flew everywhere, leaving no chance for the disciples of the Tianyin Sect.

Although the two sides had been in a standoff earlier, the conversation had somewhat relaxed the disciples of the Tianyin Sect. Especially after Zhou Jing confidently declared that the sect leader had three Earth and Sky veins, everyone’s attention was drawn to this topic, and they unconsciously wanted to hear the sect leader’s explanation. In truth, the answer was unimportant—only yes or no—but curiosity is universal, and that was exactly what Zhou Jing wanted: their momentary distraction!

In fact, the entire process was under Zhou Jing’s calculation. He was extremely wary of the Tianyin Sect’s technique, “Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix,” so from the start, he pretended to be an insignificant figure. Relying on his deceptive appearance and age, along with his enhanced martial skills, he managed to use a unique musical technique from his sect to barely suppress “Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix,” giving the impression of being unfathomable and utterly dismissive of the Tianyin Sect. Then, he employed psychological tactics, taking advantage of the Sect’s distraction to launch a sudden attack.

Don’t blame Zhou Jing for going to such lengths—his orders were to capture them alive, not kill them. Even bringing back a disabled person was better than a dead one. Otherwise, with their strength, they would have already wiped out the Tianyin Sect completely.

Sect Leader Qiao never expected the enemy to be so cunning. Realizing she had fallen for that wretched boy’s scheme, and seeing her disciples getting injured one after another, she became extremely anxious. Faced with Zhou Jing’s attacks, she lost her usual composure and even used her harp as a weapon to fight back.

The Tianyin Sect’s main offensive method was musical attacks, and close combat was not their strength. Now, without the protection of the “Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix” formation, the enemy was able to get close, causing their entire defensive structure to collapse.

Those with weaker skills had already been defeated and became prisoners.

Fortunately, due to the order to capture them alive, the Tianyin Sect’s disciples, after the initial chaos, managed to form small groups to resist.

With a few “bangs,” Sect Leader Qiao spat blood from her mouth, stumbled back several steps, and lost her balance, collapsing to the ground.

“Sect Leader…”

“Master…”

Cries and sobs filled the air instantly. The Tianyin Sect’s disciples, who were still fighting, ignored formations and battles altogether and rushed to their leader’s side, some even breaking into tears.

Even Zhou Jing was stunned. He froze in place, feeling a sense of sorrow—so much so that he wanted to cry. But it wasn’t for that old woman; it was for having such a formidable opponent, and for all his efforts and calculations. If he had known they were so easily defeated, would he have gone through all that trouble?

Thinking of how their mighty leader, the one in the Iron Blood and Brocade robes, used to dominate everything—whether in direct confrontations or through schemes—always matching each other step for step. But now, look at this opponent; they’re far too weak. Ah, heavens…

No matter how Zhou Jing lamented over herself, the cries of the disciples from Tianyin Sect grew louder and more sorrowful. Even those from Hanchan Sect and the so-called “False Gods” who had been shouting for battle were at a loss!

“Sorry to interrupt, but could you please be serious? We’re still fighting here!” Zhou Jing, unable to bear it any longer, walked over to them and said helplessly.

“We’ll cry as we please. Do whatever you want to us!” one of the older disciples snapped back.

The other disciples from Tianyin Sect completely ignored Zhou Jing, continuing to weep bitterly. Qiao, the sect leader, was now utterly despondent—the gap in strength was simply too vast. Even if Feifei returned from seclusion, it probably wouldn’t make a difference. So she stopped trying to stop her disciples from resisting and resigned herself to fate. It seemed today would be the day Tianyin Sect perished.

Seeing this, Zhou Jing also realized they had been defeated. Yes, if they were willing to give up their lives, who cared about seriousness? She said nothing more, gestured to her subordinates behind her to split into two groups—one to clean up the mess here, the other to follow her to Tianyin Sect’s secret place to find that Snow Feifei, the “Heaven and Earth Body.”

Just then, a melodious flute sound came from a mountain cliff. The tone was rich and full, like celestial music echoing in everyone’s ears. Instantly, the entire valley seemed to fill with vitality, peace, and tranquility, immersing everyone in this wonderful realm.

“Feifei… it’s Feifei… She succeeded! She finally succeeded! By the ancestors of Tianyin Sect, with the grace of heaven, the 36th-generation disciple, Snow Feifei, has finally mastered the Heavenly Melody Scripture…” Qiao, the only one unaffected by the sound, murmured to herself, tears streaming down her cheeks as her excitement was evident.

Suddenly, the flute music changed, turning sharp and intense. The serene atmosphere abruptly turned into a chaotic battle scene, with each heavy note seeming to strike at everyone’s heart…

As the melody grew increasingly intense, a loud “boom” sounded, as if another massive bomb had been dropped in everyone’s hearts, shocking them deeply. At the same time, their minds, once immersed in the melody, became clear, and they instinctively turned to look in the direction of the sound.

A square hole about the size of a person appeared on the mountain cliff, and a figure dressed in white, with snowflakes clinging to her hands, stepped out gracefully. She seemed to emit a dazzling glow, her skin as pale as ice and snow, her figure as ethereal as that of a fairy. Combined with the surrounding scenery, she resembled a beautiful, hazy painting—full of ethereal charm and vastness, yet so stunning that one dared not look away…

Just as everyone was marveling at such a beautiful woman who seemed to exist only in dreams, suddenly a wild and domineering howl came from the foot of the mountain…

Faced with these successive unexpected events, everyone’s minds almost completely froze in shock!