Chapter 98: The Harpist's Duel
Under Qin Xuan's introduction, Jun Xiaoyao gained some understanding of the imperial city.
"By the way, is there a place in this imperial city where one can obtain source stones?" Jun Xiaoyao asked.
"Source stones?" Qin Xuan glanced at Jun Xiaoyao.
The implication was clear.
Would someone who could casually produce supreme divine sources still lack source stones?
"I meant celestial sources," Jun Xiaoyao clarified.
"Celesital sources?" Qin Xuan was slightly taken aback.
For someone of her level, supreme divine sources were already a rare opportunity.
As for celestial sources, she had never even considered them.
"Right, I remember now. In a few days, the Heavenly Qiong Tower will host a musical duel featuring the pride of the Xianwu Qin Sect, the Heavenly Qin Maiden."
"If someone can surpass the Heavenly Qin Maiden in the art of music, they will receive a reward of three hundred celestial sources," Qin Xuan suddenly said.
Jun Xiaoyao was somewhat surprised upon hearing this.
He was aware of the Xianwu Qin Sect, a renowned top-tier sect that practiced the way of music.
In the past, the leader of the Xianwu Qin Sect had subdued four Saint Kings with the sound of his qin, making the sect famous overnight.
The Heavenly Qin Maiden was also a well-known beauty, a top disciple of the Xianwu Qin Sect.
"Although the Xianwu Qin Sect is a top-tier sect, can they really offer three hundred celestial sources?" Jun Xiaoyao questioned.
"You may not know, but those celestial sources were gathered by the Heavenly Qin Maiden's admirers, such as the young master of the Wanbao Chamber of Commerce and the third prince of the Panwu Divine Dynasty, among others."
"Wait, you mean the third prince of the Panwu Divine Dynasty is an admirer of the Heavenly Qin Maiden?" Jun Xiaoyao's gaze flickered slightly.
"That's right. However, the Heavenly Qin Maiden is an ice-cold beauty with a proud personality. Even the third prince has been pursuing her without success," Qin Xuan explained.
This was not a big secret; many people were aware of it.
Jun Xiaoyao pondered, a plan gradually forming in his mind.
"My musical skills are rather ordinary, but I should be able to handle that musical duel."
"If everything goes as I envision, then Pan Wuling is secured." A smile crept onto Jun Xiaoyao's lips, confidence swelling within him.
Calculating against an immortal power was no simple task.
But for Jun Xiaoyao, it was not something insurmountable.
"Then Wu Mingyue will be the first piece on the chessboard, and the third prince of the Panwu Divine Dynasty will be the second piece," Jun Xiaoyao mused internally.
As time passed, the entire divine dynasty's imperial capital grew increasingly lively.
Every day, many young talents from top-tier sects arrived.
Before Wu Mingyue selected her husband and the champion marquis's duel, another event stirred a small commotion.
That was the musical duel hosted by the Heavenly Qin Maiden at the Heavenly Qiong Tower.
This Heavenly Qin Maiden was also a renowned beauty from the Wild Heaven Immortal Domain.
However, she was an ice-cold beauty, showing no interest in the pursuits of any young talents.
Only the art of music could pique her interest.
Yet, music was a rather niche field; how many young talents in the entire Wild Heaven Immortal Domain were proficient in it?
Because of this, no man had ever caught the Heavenly Qin Maiden's eye.
In fact, some even made a joke.
If a man could conquer the Heavenly Qin Maiden, he must be a god of music.
Of course, despite her aloof nature, suitors continued to flock to her like fish crossing a river.
The three hundred celestial sources for this musical duel were sponsored by the Heavenly Qin Maiden's admirers.
……
The Heavenly Qiong Tower was one of the most luxurious and extravagant buildings in the divine dynasty's imperial capital.
Just stepping into the Heavenly Qiong Tower required an entrance fee of ten low-grade divine sources.
It could be said that this was the most extravagant place, accessible only to disciples of top-tier sects, noble families of the divine dynasty, and the prodigies of immortal powers.
Today, on the top floor of the Heavenly Qiong Tower, flowers rained down, and auspicious light enveloped the area.
Many young talents gathered together.
Aside from the upcoming princess's selection banquet, this musical duel was the most grand event.
Among the scattered prodigies, many astonishing presences were the top talents from various factions.
In a VIP seat, a young man dressed in a luxurious crimson-gold robe sat gracefully.
He was handsome, exuding a calm demeanor, radiating the aura of someone in a position of power—he was the third prince of the Panwu Divine Dynasty.
At this moment, his gaze was filled with infatuation and longing as he looked at the high platform.
On the high platform, mist swirled.
A woman dressed in a bright red floral gown, with a cold and elegant appearance, sat gracefully.
Her skin was extremely fair, her beauty striking, with fingers as delicate as green onions and lips like vermilion.
A plain qin rested before her, and as she lightly brushed the strings, the sound flowed like water, attracting spirit birds to circle around the Heavenly Qiong Tower.
"This melody should only exist in the heavens; how rare it is to hear it in the mortal realm..." The third prince listened, entranced, praising endlessly.
The Heavenly Qin Maiden's allure was not just her beauty but also the innate grace that emanated from her very being.
"Listening to the fairy's tune washes away the dust of the world..." On another side, a handsome young man with an air of nobility also sighed.
He was the young master of the Wanbao Chamber of Commerce.
The Wanbao Chamber of Commerce was a well-known trading house in the Wild Heaven Immortal Domain, with substantial strength and dealings with many immortal sects.
A significant portion of the three hundred celestial sources for this musical duel came from the young master of the Wanbao Chamber of Commerce.
Of course, while they felt the pinch of offering such celestial sources, it was all to elicit a smile from the beauty.
However, making the Heavenly Qin Maiden smile was no easy feat.
Gaining her favor was even more challenging than ascending to the heavens.
At that moment, a golden phoenix appeared in the distance, pulling a palanquin toward the Heavenly Qiong Tower.
Upon seeing the phoenix, many prodigies on the top floor of the Heavenly Qiong Tower were astonished.
"That is... the phoenix of the Wanhuang Spirit Mountain. Could it be that a successor from Wanhuang Spirit Mountain has emerged?"
As everyone was filled with curiosity, the phoenix hovered in the air, and a graceful figure enveloped in red divine light stepped out of the palanquin.
Behind her were a pair of phoenix wings, her stunning beauty surrounded by divine light, making it hard to see her clearly.
It was Feng Qingling.
After she and Huang Xuan arrived in the divine dynasty's imperial capital, they heard about the musical duel.
Coincidentally, Feng Qingling was also skilled in music, and feeling competitive, she decided to attend the event alone.
The Heavenly Qin Maiden glanced at Feng Qingling but said nothing.
In terms of strength, she might not surpass this ancient royal descendant.
But in terms of musical skill, she believed she was not inferior to any prodigy from immortal powers.
As time passed, all the young talents gathered, and the musical duel was about to begin.
At that moment, a figure in white, exuding an otherworldly aura, stepped into the Heavenly Qiong Tower...