Chapter 3: Sound Blade (Part 1)_1

Spiritual magic is unlike other forms of magic. It begins by strengthening the caster's spiritual power, which is then unleashed through special means, affecting the opponent's spirit in a variety of ways. If elemental magic is used to destroy the opponent's body, then spirit power magic is for destroying their soul.

With the melodies of a zither, one refines their spiritual power and channels it through the music, producing various spiritual fluctuations to attack or assist — this is the profound essence of zither magic.

In the silent bamboo forest, the broad, deep, yet relaxed music constantly reverberated. Six-year-old Ye Yinzhu, when not cultivating Douqi, was learning the zither. His pure Qinxin prevented any stray thoughts while performing any task. He repeatedly played the "Green Water" zither song, his immersion in the music seemingly disconnecting him from the passage of time.

Immersed in the melody, various small animals began to gather in the bamboo forest. Although they only dared to watch from a distance, they were clearly entranced by Ye Yinzhu's music.

"Eh, who are you?" exclaimed Qin Shang, surprised upon returning to the bamboo house with food, when the melody suddenly stopped. Blinking open his eyes, Yinzhu curiously followed Qin Shang's gaze.

Unbeknownst to them, a small boy squatted, five meters away from Ye Yinzhu, staring blankly at him as he played. The boy looked about Yinzhu's age, although less handsome, his facial features reminded one of a hard shell. What was most surprising was his purple hair. Such hair color was incredibly rare among humans.

Upon hearing Qin Shang's voice, the little boy woke from his daze. A strong hostility filled his previously dull eyes as he glared at Qin Shang, fists clenched, lips pursed, but not saying a word.

Excited, Yinzhu rushed to Qin Shang's side, took the food, and beamed, "Grandpa Qin, look! My music has attracted a person." As he spoke, he took a fresh, peeled bamboo shoot from the container and offered it to the purple-haired boy, "Hello, have a bite."

The boy's gaze shifted from Qin Shang to Yinzhu whose face was glowing with childlike innocence. His slightly changed expression and clenched fists gradually loosened as he accepted the bamboo shoot and gave Yinzhu a nod before suddenly turning and running, disappearing into the bamboo forest in the blink of an eye.

Watching the boy's retreating figure, Qin Shang couldn't help but frown, "Could the Zhu Sect's concealment formation have failed? That boy seemed hostile towards me, but relaxed in the presence of Yinzhu. Could he have been attracted by Yinzhu's music? I'm only a mage, there's no way I could catch up if I chased after him, so I have to let the boy go."

Playing the zither during the day, cultivating Douqi in the evening with Qin Shang's music — this was the simple life of Ye Yinzhu. However, ever since the appearance of the purple-haired boy, a dash of colour had been added to his simple life.

Every morning, when Yinzhu began to play, the purple-haired boy would quietly appear and sit listening to the music. With a listener present, Yinzhu's zither practice didn't seem so lonely anymore.

Ever since the purple-haired boy first appeared, he never spoke a single word to anyone. When it was just Yin Zhu, he seemed at ease, but as soon as Qin Shang was present, or Yin Zhu's parents or grandpa came to see him, the purple-haired boy would immediately leave.

Ye Zhong once secretly followed the purple-haired boy in an attempt to find out where he came from, but discovered that the boy was living in the blue sky and sea, only less than two kilometers away from where Yin Zhu was forging Pure Qinxin. The boy appeared to be no different from a normal child. The bamboo shoots in the bamboo forest were his food. Gradually, the lonely and arrogant purple-haired boy gained everyone's acceptance. Since he was not going to talk to Yin Zhu, he naturally would not interfere with Yin Zhu's cultivation of Pure Qinxin. Hence, Qin Shang and Yin Zhu's family both accepted his existence. When Yin Zhu had free time, he would often talk to him, give him his clothes to wear, and the food sent by his parents to eat. The purple-haired boy just silently accepted everything, never uttering a word. But his gaze when looking at Yin Zhu had become much softer over time.

As spring gave way to autumn, and in the blink of an eye, a decade had passed. The handsome boy had grown into a handsome young man. Yin Zhu, who inherited his mother's beauty coupled with some of his father's resilience, was now a sixteen-year-old with a height of approximately one meter eighty, a well-proportioned figure, and always dressed in a white robe. With his long hair hanging down, he was indeed a handsome young man.

"Xiao Zi, Xiao Zi, where are you?" Ye Yinzhu, dressed in a white long robe, was walking ahead while yelling. His clear and melodious voice echoed in the bamboo forest, as elegant and swirling as the sound of a zither.

After calling for a while without a response, Yin Zhu couldn't help but stop, muttering to himself, "Where did Xiao Zi go? Why is he nowhere to be seen?" His eyes lit up, and a faint smile appeared on his face. "That's it," he said, sitting cross-legged on the ground. With a flicker of silver light on the middle finger of his left hand, suddenly, an ancient zither appeared in front of him, carved from paulownia wood, yellow in color, primordial in texture with a chestnut shell color lacquer, pattern of a snake's belly, and a clam emblem. Round Dragon Pond, oval Phoenix Marsh. The Dragon Pond collects sound with a slight rise. Goosefoot, and the tuning peg is made of red agate.

A look of fascination crept into his gentle and clear gaze when he looked at this ancient zither, "To play the "Yangguan Three Fold," you need this balanced Nine Heavens Ring Zither. I don't believe you won't show up."

As his eight fingers lightly plucked the strings, a soft and lingering melody immediately filled the air. This is a song representing farewell. As soon as the music started, Yin Zhu was instantaneously immersed in the atmosphere of the melody.

A dark red glow slowly revolved around his body, forming circles of sound waves that spread out. While the blue sky and sea had no large animals, at this moment, all of the birds and small animals hastened towards the direction of Yin Zhu. Soon, the sound of various animal cries continuously echoed around, and the area around Yin Zhu gradually became bustling with activity.

"Yangguan Three Fold" is named for a melody that is repeated three times; It is filled with reluctance to part ways with friends. The music was full of reluctance, and the past sixteen years of his life in the blue sky and sea kept flashing through Yin Zhu's mind. His eyes couldn't help revealing a touch of faint sadness that added a hint of melancholy to his elegant demeanor.

As the poignant "Yangguan Three Fold" drew to an end, he presses the strings with both his hands, dissipating the reverberations. With a touch of sadness, he said, "I'm sorry, my friends, I'm really leaving. But, I will definitely come back to see you all. I don't want to leave either, but both grandfathers say that I must go out and see the outside world. As the farewell song, consider this to be my goodbye to all of you."

A tall figure, which had appeared behind Yin Zhu without a sound, stiffened upon hearing his words. Instinctively, he raised his right hand and grabbed Yin Zhu's shoulder.