Chapter 1223: The Meeting of Two Qin Instruments, A Test

While intense pre-competition martial demonstrations were taking place near the main hall of Jinxiu Heishan, Kai Xin, as the leader of her sect, appeared before a picturesque valley cottage, accompanied by Wind Chime and a cold-faced woman. Behind them stood Qian Mian Ren Hu, a loyal and honest-looking old servant, with his hands lowered in reverence.

To the left of the cottage was a vegetable garden enclosed by thin bamboo poles and vines. An old man with a hunched back and white hair was bending over, watering lush green cabbages. His simple expression and focused gaze made him seem like an ordinary villager living in a utopian world. Yet Wind Chime, who had been warned in advance by Kai Xin, did not dare underestimate this old man…

“Is this old man the sect leader of the Qin Clan?”
Thinking of his true identity as a master of the Heavenly Dao, and even more so as the sect leader whose strength surpassed that of the Six-Fingered Qin Demon, Wind Chime became extremely nervous. She carefully chose her words, fearing that he might overhear and be offended.

“Mm.”
“I’ve already told you his identity. As for whether you can gain his recognition and inherit his teachings, it depends on your own fate.”
Wind Chime gave Kai Xin a reassuring look before sitting down not far from the cottage. She took out an elegant and simple box from her Qi Kun bag.

Although Kai Xin had a past connection with the sect leader, she did not approach him immediately. Instead, she stepped back with Xu Yao to give Wind Chime space to act. Since the sect leader was a master of the Heavenly Dao, ordinary methods would not work to trigger his narrative task. All hope rested on Wind Chime’s superb skill in playing the qin and the extraordinary charm of her Nine Yin Life-Ending Pulse!

Wind Chime clearly understood this was a crucial test. She focused her mind, sat down solemnly, and placed the sword box on her knees.

With a soft click, she opened the box, revealing the dark and imposing Tian Mo Qin inside. The moment the box was lifted, Kai Xin moved slightly, sensing a strong and restrained aura emanating from within!

Extremely strong!
“This Wind Chime must have practiced hard these days…” Kai Xin quickly realized that Wind Chime had made significant progress since a month ago—likely driven by the challenges from the Wild Wolf Organization, she had trained even harder and more diligently for a whole month. Thinking of this, Kai Xin felt relieved…

With such firm determination, even if she failed this time and did not gain the sect leader’s recognition, she would still have the potential to soar to greatness and become an unparalleled warrior in the Central Plains.

“You have high hopes for her.”

Xu Yao, who had hardly spoken throughout the journey, finally opened her mouth, but her tone was flat, as if discussing matters unrelated to herself.
Kai Xin naturally didn’t think she was being jealous.
After going through various events, the two understood each other’s glances and actions perfectly; Xu Yao surely couldn’t miss his true intentions.
She nodded immediately and replied, “After waking up, I learned about the Nine Yin Severed Vessels. The suffering over the past year is beyond what ordinary people can endure. Feng Ling has perseverance, good luck, and knows how to cherish what she has—those are rare qualities.”
“Feng Ling is indeed remarkable. With the Nine Yin Severed Vessels, her cultivation speed is fast, and various techniques benefit from its advantages. But one wrong step can lead to a deep abyss, and it’s hard for ordinary people to bear such responsibility.”
“That’s why Feng Ling can only serve as an elder under the Jinxiu Heshan Sect, not as its vice leader…”
“Actually, even without Feng Ling, you still have many friends you can rely on. You don’t necessarily need my help.”
Xu Yao’s tone remained calm.
Since recovering, persuaded by Kai Xin and the nurse, Xu Yao bought a new virtual helmet and re-entered the martial world. In just a month, she reached the Liberation Realm.
Now, Xu Yao served as an ordinary sect leader under Jinxiu Heshan!
But both Xu Yao and Kai Xin knew well…
Xu Yao entered the martial world not for fun, but because Jinxiu Heshan was growing too large, and Kai Xin alone could hardly manage everything. That’s why she decided to bring in someone she trusted most to help take on some of the responsibilities.
“Jinxiu Heshan is too big—there’s simply not enough staff. I need you!”
Kai Xin turned to look at Xu Yao seriously.
“Jinxiu Heshan has many talented people…”
“They all have their own tasks.”
After a pause, Kai Xin’s tone softened:

“I know what you’re trying to say. There are indeed many famous people in Jinxiu Heshan—four vice leaders. One is the current greatest swordsman under heaven, and another is an emperor. Unfortunately, he’s so obsessed with swordsmanship that he can’t help me with the sect, which is why I sent him away from the Central Plains to form the Imperial Guard to attack the Wild Wolves Organization… Ji Feng, the wise hero, achieved great feats when the Wild Wolves came to the Central Plains. Now he’s among the top ten on the list of famous people. He’s indeed helped me a lot, but he’s so busy with daily affairs that he doesn’t even have time to train… As for Bai Xiaosheng, the vice leader, there’s no need to say more. It’s already a great honor for him to hold the title of vice leader in Jinxiu Heshan. I have no reason to make him work for me, nor can I afford someone of such high status… The last one is even more absurd…”
“…”
Hearing this, Xu Yao couldn’t help but smirk slightly, but she forced herself to hold back.
“What about Feng Wu Caiyi? And your three best friends? While you were unconscious, they did their utmost to avenge you against the First Rank Hall and the Blood Alliance. With their help, what’s there for you to worry about?”
When Xu Yao mentioned the Three Lonely Wolves, Kai Xin took a deep breath happily and smiled. “Did you think I hadn’t mentioned them?”
“Those three said they incited the brothers from Nanhua University, causing those brothers to sacrifice so much for me. Now they just want to bring all those brothers over here. I agreed and assigned them a resource area near Bao Kang City to manage, so they can help everyone recover.” He paused and continued, “The Three Wolves said that now that I’m famous, they also want to reach the Wuwei realm and master extraordinary martial arts. They’ve all gone into seclusion to train. How can I not fulfill their little wish by pulling them out to work for me?”
Kai Xin’s tone was somewhat bitter and helpless.
In fact, he knew full well that these brothers were in such a position because their strength wasn’t enough to control Jinxiu Heshan. Promoting them to such high positions wasn’t a good thing.
“…”
Xu Yao fell silent immediately.
“Of course, Yu Chazhe and Feng Wu Caiyi are also in charge of some affairs in Jinxiu Heshan. But they’ve refused to become vice leaders under various excuses. As for the fourth vice leader, I simply can’t find a suitable candidate.”
“If they’re not suitable, does that mean I am?”
“Of course you are!”
“I don’t believe anyone in Jinxiu Heshan would dare to show even the slightest disrespect to the wife of the sect leader.” At these words, Kai Xin laughed.
Xu Yao rolled her eyes at him, acting as if she hadn’t heard.
At that moment, a strand of zither music played from ahead!
…

“……”
The moment the music started, the white-haired old man tending to the lush Chinese cabbages in the garden paused slightly, as if something had caught his attention. A glint flashed in his eyes, and his ears perked up.
Though the old man’s movements were minimal, and he quickly returned to tending the cabbages as usual, for Happy, whose senses were exceptionally sharp, these slight physical changes were enough to say everything.
Happy said nothing more, turning his gaze back to Wind Chime while silently observing the Master of the Qin Sect’s reaction…
He couldn’t believe that an elderly man in his sixties, one without any successors, would show no interest in such a uniquely insightful and profound technique like the Nine Yin Absolute Veins.
“I wonder if the legacy of the Six-Fingered Qin Demon will conflict with that of the Master of the Qin Sect…”
The only concern Happy had now was the potential conflict between their legacies.
Wind Chime was well aware of this as well, but upon thinking of the Master of the Qin Sect’s effortless and graceful musical skills as described by Happy, she couldn’t help but come and take a look.
Smile in the Mortal World!
That was the piece Wind Chime played.
With its passionate melody, filled with the chivalrous spirit of heroes and the tenderness of lovers, combined with Wind Chime’s pure and elegant appearance in her white clothes, the entire valley seemed to lift itself to greater heights.
After listening for a while, the Master of the Qin Sect continued tending to his cabbages, acting as if he understood nothing about music…
When the piece ended, the Master showed no reaction.
Wind Chime wasn’t discouraged. Frowning slightly, at the moment the last note was about to fade, she hooked her little finger, and a soul-shaking sound pierced the air.
Whoosh!!!
The trees and plants in the valley trembled violently.
“…What’s Wind Chime doing?” Xu Yao was shocked upon sensing the change in Wind Chime’s aura and the melody.
Happy frowned slightly and explained in a low voice, “Earlier, Wind Chime wanted to move the Master with her musical skills, to let him see her talent, but it clearly didn’t work…”
More and more passionate notes filled the air, forming a sharp, aggressive rhythm—storm clouds gathering!
Xu Yao’s face turned pale. “Then what’s she doing now?”
Because now, it seemed to her that Wind Chime was about to use forceful tactics to test and provoke the Master of the Qin Sect…
After all, the other party was a master of the Heavenly Dao!!
No sooner had she spoken than Xu Yao saw the Master of the Qin Sect in the garden straighten up from his hunched posture, an awe-inspiring aura surging around him.
The sky and earth seemed to change!
The sky above the small valley was instantly enveloped by an overwhelming force. The once seemingly frail white-haired old man now appeared like an inviolable, majestic deity.

With slightly narrowed eyes, it exuded an aura of supreme authority as if looking down upon the world from above!! All things in heaven and earth trembled in fear. Even Happy was affected. However… Happy, being an experienced fighter, remained calm. She instinctively activated her true vital energy field to envelop herself and Xu Yao, using her will to resist, and quickly returned to normal. Standing behind Happy, Xu Yao felt the pressure on her shoulders vanish in an instant, as if the threat from that heavenly expert was suddenly pushed far away. She felt greatly at ease.