“Not giving me any favors, are you?” Shen Yuan chuckled lightly, placing the guqin down gently on his lap. He closed his eyes momentarily, breathing deeply, calming his heart, and clearing his thoughts.
Slowly, his mind entered a meditative state, fully immersing himself within the intricate notations etched clearly into his mind from the stele.
A few moments later, Shen Yuan opened his eyes decisively, his pupils shining brightly with his heightened senses.
“Let’s begin,” he whispered, gently placing his fingers upon the strings.
In the beginning, his fingers moved roughly, softly plucking the strings, producing slightly discordant sounds. But his expression remained calm and unbothered.
He continuously adjusted his Qi flow, rapidly comprehending each subtle nuance of the intricate technique.
Soon, with the help of his Supreme Grade Comprehension, he swiftly absorbed the profound truths hidden within each note.
Within mere moments, his fingers moved gracefully over the strings, playing the melody with increasing mastery. The discordant notes quickly transformed into harmonious, heart-stirring music.
As Shen Yuan continued playing, profound insights rapidly filled his consciousness. He soon understood that each note wasn’t simply sound; they were embodiments of Martial Music Intent, capable of influencing minds, hearts, and even the battlefield itself.
The song titled ‘Echoing Heartstrings’ was indeed extraordinary. It spoke of emotions, of compassion and cruelty, of peace and turmoil.
It resonated profoundly within Shen Yuan’s own Dao Heart, helping him to swiftly grasp the martial intent embedded deeply within each note.
His surroundings responded to his melody, the ancient hall gently vibrating with every carefully woven note, carrying the melody to every corner of the ruins.
Slowly, a gentle glowing aura began manifesting around Shen Yuan, perfectly harmonizing with his playing. It gradually intensified, brilliantly illuminating the darkened ruins.
Inside his Sea of Consciousness, Yue Lan softly murmured, genuinely impressed by his profound talent:
[This comprehension… truly unrivaled in the mortal world. I wonder how long you will take to master Guqin Intent.]
Shen Yuan paid her no heed, completely absorbed in mastering the melody. He smoothly wove the song, feeling his comprehension swiftly deepen as he absorbed the profound martial insights within the music.
He quickly realized that this song contained three distinct layers:
-First Layer: Gentle Resonance (calms the heart and mind, clears impurities)
-Second Layer: Emotional Tempest (disrupts enemy hearts, creating internal chaos)
-Third Layer: Heartstring Dominance (helps the surrounding cultivators to ignite their fighting spirit and gives them a buff)
Understanding this, Shen Yuan decisively increased his pace, rapidly comprehending and mastering the layers one by one.
In mere moments, he grasped the First Layer: Gentle Resonance, feeling his Dao Heart solidifying, even if slightly.
Not stopping there, he immediately pushed his comprehension further, swiftly understanding the intricacies of the Second Layer: Emotional Tempest, comprehending its use in battle to create chaos among his enemies.
Finally, his comprehension reached its pinnacle. He clearly perceived the profound mysteries of the final and most profound layer: Heartstring Dominance.
With bright eyes, Shen Yuan decisively played the final notes of the melody, his Qi surging powerfully through the guqin.
A brilliant light radiated from his instrument, filling the entire hall with blinding radiance.
At this moment, the stele trembled gently, resonating deeply with his performance, acknowledging his supreme comprehension and mastery of the technique.
A powerful voice echoed through the chamber, ancient and majestic, filled with admiration:
“Congratulations, young cultivator! You have successfully comprehended the profound Music Martial Technique—Echoing Heartstrings! You have earned the qualifications to receive my legacy. May you use this knowledge righteously.”
The stele’s light intensified briefly before gathering together and creating a musical rune in front of Shen Yuan before it flew directly into his Sea of Consciousness.
Shen Yuan didn’t try to dodge the rune as he felt no malice coming from it.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations Host! You have successfully received the legacy of ‘Melodious Sovereign Gu Ran,’ the Master of Harmony and Sound, a peak cultivator from ancient times.]
Legacy Received:
-Echoing Heartstrings (Peak Heaven Grade Music Martial Technique)
-Heavenly Resonance Scripture (Peak Heaven Grade Cultivation Art focused on refining Qi using sound and rhythm. Exceptionally compatible with any elemental Qi, enhances soul clarity and stabilizes foundation.)
-Harmonic Resonance Guqin (King Grade Treasure, capable of amplifying music martial techniques significantly. When used to execute Echoing Heartstrings, its power and effectiveness increase several-fold.)
-Harmonic Dao Symphony (Sovereign Grade Cultivation Technique, a supreme cultivation method created by Gu Ran himself.)
-Resonant Blade Aria (King Grade Music Martial Technique, offensive)
-Soul-Tuned Barrier (King Grade Music Martial Technique, defensive)
-Chorus of Echoed Steps (King Grade Music Martial Technique, defensive)
-Symphony of the Warheart (Emperor Grade Music Martial Technique, support/buff)
-Deathless Lament (Emperor Grade Music Martial Technique, Domain/Debuff)
-Skyfall Rhapsody (Emperor Grade Music Martial Technique, Offensive)
-Dao Requiem: Nirvana Finale (Sovereign Grade Music Martial Technique, Absolute Domain)
Shen Yuan’s eyes widened seeing the many skills he had received. The most he was expecting was a King Grade Martial Technique and the King Grade Guqin. But this clearly exceeded his wildest expectations.
He exhaled a long breath, feeling the weight of the legacy inside his Sea of Consciousness. The magnitude of this legacy and the absence of any other condition to receive it filled his heart with genuine respect for this ancient cultivator.
Standing up, Shen Yuan deeply bowed before the stele, his voice sincere and respectful.
“Junior Shen Yuan thanks Senior Melodious Sovereign Gu Ran for bestowing your invaluable legacy upon me. Rest assured, I shall honor your legacy and use it righteously.”
After paying respects, Shen Yuan straightened himself, gently waving his hand. The Mortal Grade guqin before him vanished, and instantly, a magnificent instrument appeared within his grasp, radiating a subtle yet extraordinary aura.
He carefully admired the beautiful King Grade Guqin—its surface crafted from lustrous azure wood inscribed with intricate, harmonious runes gently pulsating with spiritual light. Shen Yuan raised an eyebrow noticing that it was damaged in many places, and its grade had degraded to King Grade due to that.
“Did Senior Gu Ran already anticipate it? That his Guqin would deteriorate to this level?” Shen Yuan thought with admiration before storing the Guqin in his spatial ring.
As soon as his body relaxed, exhaustion hit him like a brick. Shen Yuan decisively chose to sit cross-legged before the stele, calming his breathing and sinking into meditation.
He activated his Primordial Vessel Cultivation Art and began absorbing the surrounding Qi to fill his dantians. After checking inside his body, he saw minor injuries throughout his meridians and Qi paths.
He utilized his Radiant Intent together with Radiant Lotus Cultivation Art to heal his body.
Within minutes, he felt profoundly relaxed, his previously exhausted body rapidly healing and recovering. The residual Qi injuries from his intense battle with the Blood Demon Sect disciples swiftly healed due to his high comprehension of Radiant Intent.
In his Sea of Consciousness, Yue Lan’s voice resonated softly, gently teasing:
[Quite a fortunate encounter, Yuan’er. Not only did you master a brand-new martial technique, but you also obtained a compatible cultivation technique. Luck truly favors you.]
Shen Yuan smiled faintly, eyes remaining closed as he calmly responded inwardly.
“Mere luck wouldn’t have allowed anyone else other than me to gain this opportunity. I don’t think there is any Music Path Sect in the Aurora Zone. There might be a few Music Path disciples here and there who got some minor legacy, but that’s the extent of it.” He shared his thoughts.