Chapter 78: Shock
A procession of carriages elegantly traversed the mountain road, coming to a graceful halt in front of the Li Family Estate.
"Master Li," several estate managers said in greeting.
They assisted a middle-aged man in luxurious robes out of the first carriage. The man, the master of the Li Family, wore a kind smile.
"Don't concern yourself with me now; let's focus on welcoming Miss Xue," Master Li replied and gestured toward the carriage behind him.
Under the expectant gaze of onlookers, embroidered curtains were drawn aside, revealing a face with a rosy complexion and a calm and composed expression.
"It's Miss Xue..."
The estate managers and servants of the Li family couldn't hide their excitement at the sight of this woman. Some of the younger ones even had a gleam in their eyes.
Xue Lingxue had been popular since her youth, gathering many admirers. The chance to see her in person was a rare and fortunate event, something they would boast about for years.
"Hello, everyone."
Despite exuding a slightly cold demeanor, the lady that descended from the carriage smiled politely and greeted the approaching crowd.
For the inner disciples of the South Melody Conservatory, adhering to basic etiquette towards supporters was an integral part of their training, leaving no room for error.
She wore a slim, sky-blue gown adorned with a jade belt around her waist, showcasing her tall and graceful figure. Her flawless skin, nearly transparent in sunlight, embodied the clarity of jade.
Her name resonated with the natural imagery it invoked—the falling of frost, and snow covering the land of Jiangnan.[1]
Among the disciples of her generation from the South Melody Conservatory, Xue Lingxue was hailed as the top instrumentalist. Her stunning beauty never failed to captivate onlookers, yet there was an air of distant reserve about her, casting a subtle chill that seemed to dim the surrounding sunlight.
Exiting the carriages that followed Xue Lingxue's were a group of young men and women, each dressed in distinctive attire. They stepped down one by one, some carrying instrument cases while others held luggage. These individuals were the outer disciples of the South Melody Conservatory, who had willingly chosen to act as attendants for the inner disciples. Their role included providing assistance to the inner disciples or performing supporting tasks. In return, if the inner disciples received any benefits, these attendants were entitled to a share as well.
It could be said that Xue Lingxue's team comprised these individuals.
After everyone stepped out of their carriages, Master Li warmly greeted, "Miss Xue and all the musicians from the South Melody Conservatory, let me guide you into the estate to settle down and rest. We will arrange a banquet for you later."
"Thank you for your hospitality, Master Li."
Xue Lingxue spared herself from engaging in such pleasantries. One of the musicians from the side stepped forward to greet Master Li, following behind him as he led the way.
A large group of people entered the estate in a grand procession.
"Our Li Family Estate is surrounded by mountains and waters, boasting beautiful scenery. Whether it is the timing, location, or people, everything is perfectly aligned. Miss Xue's decision to collaborate with our Li Family Estate this time is undoubtedly the right choice," Master Li said with a chuckle as he walked.
One of the musicians from the South Melody Conservatory inquired, "We heard that the Li Family Estate was haunted by some demon a couple of days ago. Has this issue been resolved? If it disturbs Sister Xue's rest, it wouldn't be good."
"Rest assured," Master Li replied, patting his chest. "What demon? It was just someone sent by our competitor to play tricks. It was just some despicable means. We requested esteemed cultivators from the Mount Shu Sect here, and the issue was resolved long ago. So, Miss Xue, please rest assured. We have also prepared some performances to welcome you. I, Li, guarantee with my life that there won't be any more demons."
As soon as he said this, a loud rumble came from not far away. As the rumble sounded, a massive shadow suddenly emerged. It was a huge turtle. Its black carapace was as tall as a towering building. The turtle's colossal size indicated that it had cultivated for a few hundred years.
Shockingly, this turtle had the audacity to reveal its true form in the territory of humans. This was a very rare occurrence.
At this moment, the demon qi permeated the air.
Xue Lingxue's brows furrowed, and she gently lifted her two fingers. The musicians beside her immediately spread out, subtly guarding her in the center. They were not just delicate artists; they were real cultivators who were skilled in music.
Meanwhile, Master Li was momentarily speechless. He instinctively touched his neck, displaying a trace of worry.
Just as the sudden appearance of the giant turtle shocked everyone, another powerful aura surged from another direction.
First, the giant turtle raised its head towards the sky, its mouth filled with black light, seemingly about to unleash a dreadful attack. However, immediately afterward, a magnificent sword qi flew up to the sky. Accompanied by the swirling frost dragon and fiery dragon on both sides, the power of the sword was incredibly formidable.
"This..."
"Is it a great battle between a cultivator and a demon?"
"It is very rare to see such a battle in ordinary circumstances. I didn't expect this to happen as soon as we arrived at this estate..."
"Such powerful sword qi..."
As the disciples from the South Melody Conservatory engaged in hushed discussions, Master Li's expression changed rapidly, alternating between fear and embarrassment.
Swiftly, he beckoned to Cui, his manager, and inquired, "Old Cui? What's happening? Weren't the demons supposed to be dealt with already?"
"Indeed, the previous issue was resolved, but this seems to be something new," Manager Cui replied with a confused expression.
"This is quite a show..." Master Li muttered resentfully.
They weren't rushing to escape for two reasons. First, powerful members of the sect in the ranking of Divine Nine and Terrestrial Ten were nearby. Second, they quickly figured out what was happening on the other side.
Although the giant turtle appeared fearsome, the sword qi from the other side dismantled it like a fragile object, almost instantaneously piercing through its shell and destroying it from the outside in.
Everyone observed from afar how the turtle head was refined by the ice and fire.
Those who witnessed couldn't help but feel shocked. "This..."
"That's a Talismanic Sword Seal from the Mount Shu Sect," Xue Lingxue remarked with indifference. "Although it's a basic Dual Talismanic Sword of Ice and Fire, the cultivator displayed remarkably potent foundational qi. The intensity of this attack suggests a cultivator at the peak of the fifth realm or even someone from the sixth realm. Which senior from the Mount Shu Sect has graced us with their presence here?"
As she posed the question, she subtly turned her head toward Master Li and Manager Cui, as if seeking information.
After all, it was strange that a senior from Mount Shu of that level would appear in a small place like the Li Family Estate, so Xue Lingxue was curious.
Master Li was confused as well and turned to look at Manager Cui as well.
"It's not a senior..." Manager Cui explained, "There are two cultivators from the Mount Shu Sect, but they're rather young. One goes by Chu Liang, and the other is Lin Bei. They shouldn't be considered Miss Xue's seniors."
"Young disciples?" Xue Lingxue displayed a slightly surprised expression. She redirected her gaze to the lingering sword qi in the sky and mused, "I wonder who it is..."
Young cultivators, especially those core members, from sects in the Divine Nine and Terrestrial Ten were acquainted with one another. Despite the South Melody Conservatory being a unique existence, its disciples also kept a keen eye on their counterparts from other sects.
In this particular generation of disciples from the Mount Shu Sect, figures like Xu Ziyang and Jiang Yuebai were well-known. However, even these two were only at the Fourth Realm of cultivation, making it unlikely for them to exhibit such formidable sword qi.
Could it be another terrifying young genius? This would be significant news.
While a prodigious figure might not immediately alter the dynamics of the cultivation world, the potential influence they could exert in the future was undeniable. Thus, from a young age, these individuals garnered attention.
Then Xue Lingxue, still lost in her thoughts as she grappled with her feelings of surprise and doubt, overheard Manager Cui saying, "The person battling the demon is likely Young Hero Chu. Young Hero Lin got wind of your arrival and insisted on joining the welcoming party to meet you early... He's the one at the back with thick eyebrows and big eyes."
1. Just another play on words with the name. The first phrase (frost fell) starts with Ling and the second phrase (snow covering the land of Jiangnan) starts with Xue. ☜
This chapter is updat𝓮d by fre(e)webnov(l).com