Chapter 17: Lifting Tianshang Guqin’s Seal

This is really heavyweight. If this thing ends up in Lin Fan's hands, it will definitely be fully repaired in the future, no matter how it's done. As long as it can be repaired, it will be. The protagonist, after all, can even evade death by falling off a cliff.

"I mean, system, can't you just tell me all the information about every protagonist and their plot direction? Your functionality isn't very comprehensive," Qin Tian said, finding it troublesome to ask one by one.

[The system accepts the host's suggestion. After the host deals with Lin Fan, the system will update, and at that time, the host can know everything about the birth and future direction of protagonists, achieving omnipotence.]

[As the host deals with more protagonists, the system's functions will become more comprehensive and powerful.]

Qin Tian nodded in satisfaction, "That's more like it. Now Lin Fan has one more reason he must die."

Qin Tian casually inquired and found the location of the Tianbao Pavilion. Inside the grand hall of the pavilion were men and women dressed in splendid attire, all with extraordinary temperament, mostly people with a strong sense of literature and art.

Unlike the noisy streets outside, this place was like another world, filled with harps, flutes, pipas, and a variety of instruments, with incense burning, evoking an ancient charm.

From time to time, strains of music would drift through, making it a great place to cultivate one's sentiments and appreciate music. Just as Qin Tian was looking around, a woman approached him from behind.

"This gentleman seems to have an extraordinary temperament, presumably a person who appreciates art. May I ask if you wish to purchase a musical instrument? Our pavilion does not dare to claim much, but for musical instruments, we are recognized as the best in the Eastern Region. If needed, I can introduce them to you~"

The woman spoke and even threw a flirtatious glance at Qin Tian. The look seemed to say, "Possess me, violate me, quickly!" 

Qin Tian paid no attention to this woman who was lusting after him, and he walked straight towards the upper floor. As he walked, without turning his head, he said, "I heard that your Tianbao Pavilion has a rare guqin that has never been played before?"

"The young master is right. This peculiar guqin has been in our Tianbao Pavilion for a thousand years, but no one has been able to play it. The former pavilion master said that whoever could play this guqin could take it away. However, I doubt anyone can take it away." The woman explained as she followed Qin Tian.

'Probably Lin Fan will play this instrument, astonishing everyone. A typical storyline of showing off and obtaining treasures.' Qin Tian thought, but he was also curious about how Lin Fan could play this guqin. 

"Young master, why don't we go down to see other instruments? This guqin is too mysterious and not very suitable for the young master." The woman expressed in a tactful manner. If translated directly, it would be something like, "You are not worthy."

Qin Tian gave her an indifferent glance and said, "It's fine, take me to see it."

After saying that, he ignored the woman and, following her guidance, arrived at a secret room on the top floor of the Tianbao Pavilion. Pushing open the door, a cloud of dust filled the air. In the center of the secret room, there was a guqin covered in so much dust that it almost matched the thickness of the guqin itself.

Seeing this scene, the woman smiled helplessly and said, "Because this guqin is too peculiar, no one has played it for a thousand years, so it has been ignored for a long time."

Qin Tian's expression was indifferent. With a mere wave of his hand, all the dust and smoke dissipated, leaving only an old, paint-peeled guqin in the middle of the secret chamber, with two of its strings broken, looking utterly dilapidated.

'Is this really a weapon used by a Great Emperor?' Qin Tian found it hard to believe. He asked the system several times before he was convinced that this broken guqin was indeed a Great Emperor's treasured Tianshang Guqin.

Perhaps sensing Qin Tian's surprise and disappointment, the woman chuckled coquettishly, slowly closed the door of the secret chamber, walked up to Qin Tian, and said, "The guqin may be broken, but the person is alive and working, young master~ Since there's nobody else around, why don't we~~"

Qin Tian didn't bother to respond or glance at the woman. 

He approached the guqin. It was very old, with two strings broken and the paint almost completely peeled off, lacking any remarkable qualities. Even if it were discarded by the roadside, picking it up would only serve as firewood. 

Seeing Qin Tian ignoring her, the woman, apart from silently rolling her eyes, didn't say much and obediently followed behind Qin Tian.

Qin Tian lightly stroked the strings of the guqin, becoming more satisfied the longer he looked at it. This was the way it should be—shabby and inconspicuous, covered in dust in a corner where others couldn't see its value. Only the protagonist could recognize its extraordinary nature at a glance. Even Qin Tian, without the aid of the system, would have ignored it and left, not paying attention to the fact that it was actually a remnant treasure of a Great Emperor.

Qin Tian didn't sit down immediately. Instead, he extended a finger and applied some force, attempting to pluck the strings. As expected, there was no sound at all; the strings were as motionless as a wooden stick.

Observing this scene, the woman hurriedly approached, afraid of displeasing the young man in front of her. "Young master, you are not the first guest I've brought up here, but no one has been able to play it. So, don't be disheartened."

She spoke earnestly and with sincerity, "I've also checked this guqin. How about we go downstairs and try something else, young master?"

Qin Tian smiled at the corner of his mouth, as if he hadn't heard what the woman was saying and continued to place his hand on the guqin.

"System, how much Villain Points is needed to play it?" 

[Ding! To be able to play the Tianshang Guqin, you need to lift the seal. To lift the seal, you need 30,000 Villain Points.]

Qin Tian's mouth twitched. He had just successfully conquered Wu Bingchan, and the system rewarded him with 30,000 Villain Points. Now, he had to spend all of them at once. That was harsh!

However, this was, after all, a Great Emperor's artifact! It was worth it! 

"System, lift the seal."

[Ding! -30,000 Villain Points! Seal has been lifted.]

Clang, clang, dong! Three clear and crisp notes echoed.

The woman looked astonished. She never expected that this guqin, silent for a thousand years, would be played by this young man! Moreover, the three notes were ethereal and lively, with lingering echoes. They surpassed the tunes played by the court musicians.

A gleam flashed in Qin Tian's eyes. His fingertips rested on the strings, and a series of melodies continued, resonating throughout the entire Tianbao Pavilion. People downstairs were in awe.

"Why is this sound so enchanting? What kind of instrument is playing it?"

"The sound is coming from upstairs. I just saw a young man go up. Could it be that guqin that hasn't been played for a thousand years?"

"No, I need to go up and see. Such a melody!"

The crowd rushed upstairs, eager to see who this mysterious person was. When those young ladies and wives saw such a handsome young man, they screamed as if they were crazy fans seeing their idol.

At this moment, Qin Tian seemed to be the only one in the world, unable to hear the outside clamor. His mind was completely immersed in the melody.

Segments of melodies, sometimes soaring, sometimes lingering, combined to form a solemn and murderous guqin piece. The music carried a killing intent, as if a general commanding thousands of troops on the battlefield, with mountains of corpses and rivers of blood.

Hearing this, everyone was horrified. Some timid individuals had already weakened in the legs, collapsing to the ground, drenched in sweat, as if they were witnessing a battlefield of death and carnage right before their eyes!

Clang, clang, zheng! 

The melody suddenly changed, becoming crisp and resonant, rising and falling like a vast magical force. It transported everyone present to a real battlefield, where long spears stood like a forest, and a million-strong army surrounded them. The killing intent that could tear through the sky made breathing seem like a luxury.

The music gradually intensified. Not only within the Tianbao Pavilion but also in the surrounding dozen miles, people widened their eyes in horror and despair. The million-strong army was charging towards them in a tide that seemed unstoppable. Nowhere to hide, nowhere to retreat, they were left with only a path to death.

The music continued, and the killing intent spread further, radiating throughout the entire Canglan Imperial City. The guqin, now quietly undergoing changes, reconnected the two broken strings on its own, restored the lost lacquer, and became vibrant and colorful. What appeared before Qin Tian now was a plain, even simple guqin, unremarkable on its own. However, in Qin Tian's hands, it seemed to revive from a lifeless object, emitting a faint gloss with flowing colors.

The guqin music shook the heavens. Regardless of the direction in the Canglan Imperial City, all eyes turned towards the Tianbao Pavilion. They were all shocked and amazed.

Qin Tian's dancing fingers came to a stop. His gaze regained clarity, breaking free from that state. As the music ended, the whole place remained silent. Everyone seemed like they had lost their souls, their clothes drenched in sweat, as if they had truly experienced a battle with thousands of troops, each person with lingering fear and a sense of survival.

"I'll take this guqin."

Leaving behind these words, Qin Tian's figure disappeared in front of everyone. However, his performance caused a huge stir, prompting numerous old ancestors to come out and investigate, wanting to seize the guqin.

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining the protagonist's destined item, the Tianshang Guqin, the supreme imperial artifact. Villain Points +10,000]

[Ding! The protagonist loses the key item Tianshang Guqin. Destiny Value -1,000]

Qin Tian stood on a rooftop, looking at the exquisite and radiant guqin in his hands, which had now been unsealed. He raised an eyebrow and asked the system, "How much Destiny Value does Lin Fan have left? After taking advantage of him so much, there shouldn't be much left, right?"

[The protagonist Lin Fan's Destiny Value is about to run out, and it's already below 1000.]

"Humph, I hope he still has some luck and can find the Ancestral Dragon's opportunity ground." After speaking, Qin Tian took a step and disappeared on the spot.

…

Two days later, at Tianbao Pavilion's Auction.

At this moment, the gorgeously decorated auction hall of Tianbao Pavilion is already filled with people, all dressed in luxurious silk garments, extraordinary in temperament, with surging spiritual power. Most of them are in the Mysterious Pill Realm, representing some small and well-known sects or independent cultivators in the Eastern Region.

At this moment, at the entrance of the auction.

"Where did this beggar come from, daring to even dream of entering the Tianbao Pavilion Auction? Why don't you take a piss to take a look at yourself, are you worthy?"

"Exactly, a beggar should have the awareness of being a beggar, not daydreaming all the time. This is not a place where you belong."

The guards at the door were looking at the person in front of them with disdain and mockery. The person, wearing a tattered black robe and a mask, with a messy appearance, being called a beggar was not at all wrong. 

This person is Lin Fan. At this moment, Lin Fan is in a very bad mood. Not only did his attempt to show off fail, but he was also cheated out of a large sum of money. He looks at the guards at the entrance, and his spiritual power secretly starts to operate. It seems that if they say another word, he is ready to draw his greatsword.

"Get your supervisor out. I have a treasure here. If you delay things, it will be a huge loss for Tianbao Pavilion. Be smart and step aside quickly!"

"Haha, you think you can meet our supervisor just because you want?"

Lin Fan's eyes flash with a hint of hostility, ready to draw his sword.