Chen Hong Zhu frowned slightly, finally giving the other person a proper look. “When?”

“When Immortal Miao Yan strums her pipa, the killing formation will activate.”

Chen Hong Zhu shook her head. “From what I know of my father, he would never personally act during my betrothal ceremony.”

She had just heard from her maid that Song Qian Ji was seated between Zi Ye Wen Shu and Li Ying.

Even if that person whose “name is taboo” never appeared again, there was still the Chess Ghost’s Purple Cloud Temple and the Calligraphy Saint’s Blue Cliff Academy. These two powerful backers hadn’t abandoned Song Qian Ji yet.

Bloodshed during an auspicious occasion would bring bad luck and harm the spiritual fortune, not to mention potentially injuring guests and causing disputes.

“Master True Void naturally wouldn’t,” Wei Zhan Yang said. “The pipa’s melody amplifies the Cloud Sea Formation’s power tenfold, catalyzing to disturb the mind. Immortal Miao Yan’s Sound of Heaven technique can silently disrupt one or several people without alarming other guests. After the banquet ends, when Song Qian Ji relaxes his vigilance and happily walks out of the mountain gate, suddenly facing sword glints and blade shadows on the road, yet finding himself unwilling to draw his sword—what can he do then?”

Chen Hong Zhu trembled slightly. “What can he do…”

She wore crimson lipstick and ceremonial attire. With the slightest movement, her golden crown jingled, and the jade pendants at her waist made clear, crisp sounds.

Wei Zhan Yang said in a low voice, “Listen, Immortal Miao Yan has brought out the ‘Phoenix Platform’ this time.”

The pipa’s mournful notes faintly transmitted from the main hall, each sound urging like tearing silk, shattering jade, and the clash of weapons on the battlefield.

“Indeed, it’s the Phoenix Platform.” Chen Hong Zhu’s form trembled more violently, like a withered butterfly in the wind.

Wei Zhan Yang couldn’t help but smile, but then heard the elaborately dressed young woman sigh: “That’s his business, it’s the battle he must fight.”

“You won’t save him?!” Wei Zhan Yang was shocked and urgently said, “I know you just want to save him. Don’t lose heart, just go. I’ll stay here and help you buy time, enough for you both to escape to Thousand Channels…”

Though it was a clear day, the great hall was deep and cold, always with places sunlight couldn’t reach, so lanterns remained lit.

Amidst the pipa music, the phoenix lanterns burned brightly, their flames leaping high.

The message was already clear enough. He thought Chen Hong Zhu would be grateful, overjoyed, and rush out immediately.

But Chen Hong Zhu only gazed at him silently, two flickering flames dancing in her pupils:

“There’s one thing I don’t understand, please enlighten me.”

“Please ask.” Wei Zhan Yang took a deep breath.

He had seen too many of these noble, spoiled young ladies.

Originally unconcerned, he now felt somewhat anxious.

“Why do you think there’s something between him and me?”

Wei Zhan Yang thought this was a rhetorical question.

He hesitated: “If not for him, why would you help Meng He Ze escape and release the outer disciples? If not for him, why did you go see him last night…”

Chen Hong Zhu: “If I said it wasn’t for him, but for the injustices in this world, would you believe me?”

She didn’t ask “Would you believe,” but “Would you all believe.”

“What injustice?” Wei Zhan Yang thought carefully, suddenly shaking his head with a light laugh.

“A few outer disciples died in the mines? Ah, Hong Zhu, this is unavoidable. Spirit stones don’t just jump out of the ground by themselves! The mine tunnels are narrow and treacherous; only teenagers under fifteen, not yet fully grown, can squeeze through. The air underground is thin, and only cultivators with protective spiritual energy can move about normally. With these two conditions combined, only those outer disciples from common backgrounds are most suitable. It’s their fault for not being content as mortals, foolishly aspiring to climb the immortal path and defy fate. Who can they blame? If they had gone home to farm, they would still toil all their lives, facing natural disasters and man-made calamities. If they don’t die in the mine tunnels, they’ll die in piles of yellow earth.”

Wei Zhan Yang concluded: “If there’s anyone to blame, it’s the different fates of those born at the same time. Better luck in the next life.”

“So that’s how you think.” Chen Hong Zhu said softly.

The ornately dressed young woman turned and walked to the window, looking outside.

A thin layer of snow covered the windowsill. Beyond the hall, the sea of clouds surged, five-colored light flowed overhead, the pipa played chaotically in her ears, and the distant sounds of guests celebrating could be heard.

At the limit of her vision, mountains wore silver cloaks, ten thousand peaks draped in white.

Rivers lay silent.

In this scene of prosperous peace and luxurious joy, the cold, heartless words spoken by the person beside her seemed somehow forgivable.

Because she had only two paths before her.

One was to bear the shame of leaving with Song Qian Ji, abandoning her sect for distant Thousand Channels.

The other was to stay, complete the betrothal ceremony and foil Wei Zhan Yang’s scheme.

The latter was wiser.

The pipa melody entered a passionate phase, like ten thousand horses falling silent.

Wei Zhan Yang felt slightly impatient inside, but put on a worried expression:

“Hong Zhu, after today, you’ll never see him again. Can you accept that?”

“Can I accept that?” Chen Hong Zhu murmured, seeming confused.

Above the Cloud Sea Formation, a five-petaled flower shadow rotated like a giant hand covering the sky, enveloping every blade of grass and tree in Hua Wei Sect.

What good was unwillingness?!

Intense emotions burned like fierce flames, leaving only ashes behind.

As her words fell, a sudden wind rose.

The north wind was cold, but what blew past her temples wasn’t snow, but flying flower petals.

Chen Hong Zhu was stunned, raising her hand to pluck the unexpected fallen flowers.

A branch of peach blossoms had bloomed by the window.

The peach tree visibly sprouted new buds and bloomed with astonishing speed.

Almost simultaneously, peach, pear, apricot, cherry, and plum blossoms—all the flowers in the courtyard bloomed.

At the edge of her vision, trees flowered one after another, petals spreading in waves.

Flowers blanketed the thousand mountains.

The spring scenery of the mountains surged forward like a tidal wave, overwhelming the tumbling clouds, breaking free from the formation’s constraints, and rushing straight into her field of vision.

Chen Hong Zhu seemed struck by a huge wave, swept into the sea of flowers, and carried along with the current, unable to utter a word.

Thousands of trees, millions of trees, buds competing to open.

“The good times in a person’s life are always limited. In my youth, I got whatever wind or rain I wanted, already taking all the good fortune. Like spring passing and winter arriving, in this vast snowy landscape, red flowers can no longer bloom.”

“Whether flowers wish to bloom or not, one must at least try,” that person had said with a smile.

Wei Zhan Yang also saw the hundred flowers.

He only thought that the Hua Wei Sect’s Cloud Sea Formation unexpectedly could defy the seasons and revive withered wood—something he had never heard of before.

Unfortunately, all of True Void’s efforts were ultimately in vain.

Chen Hong Zhu suddenly turned around, her pearls, jade, and gold threads making crisp sounds.

She looked directly into Wei Zhan Yang’s eyes:

“I can’t accept it. Dao Friend He said that everyone can only walk their path.”

Wei Zhan Yang was overjoyed: “That’s right! Quickly, come with me—”

Before he could finish, his voice disappeared.

Intense pain struck him, rendering him speechless.

Looking down, he saw a sharp sword piercing through his abdomen.

Wei Zhan Yang’s lips were frozen in an upward curve, his eyes revealing unbelievable shock.

The two expressions mixed on the same face were quite comical.

Had Chen Hong Zhu gone mad?

Chen Hong Zhu calmly withdrew the sword, fresh blood gushing forth, splashing onto her beautifully made-up face.

This was True Void’s sword from his youth, reforged for his daughter’s betrothal, named “Hundred Flower Kill.”

It was one of her dowry items. After my flower blooms, a hundred flowers kill.

Today was her betrothal ceremony.

Wei Zhan Yang was completely unprepared, too shocked.

For a moment, his mouth hung open, only able to make vague, muddy sounds, as if someone were firmly gripping his throat.

“You know I prefer using whips, but whips are only for intimidation. A killing sword shouldn’t be shown lightly.” Chen Hong Zhu’s sword tip dripped with blood as she said softly, “Go now, run for your life.”

After a moment of silence, a shrill scream broke through the great hall.

…

The original “Wind and Snow Battle Formation” melody was intense, tragic, and majestic—not suitable for a celebration banquet.

After Miao Yan’s adaptation, the pipa melody now had a lighter rhythm, uplifting rather than sorrowful, like beasts paying homage or armies returning in triumph.

Everyone in the hall let their thoughts be guided by the music, soaring to the nine heavens, wandering through the sea of clouds.

He Qing Qing had learned from experience, so she wasn’t deeply affected. From across half the hall, past Miao Yan’s silhouette, she observed Song Qian Ji’s expression.

Song Qian Ji kept his head down, occasionally hiding behind his borrowed ceremonial sleeves to secretly eat some crab roe.

It seemed as if this melody had nothing to do with him.

“Is Miao Yan trying to reveal who composed the melody?” thought He Qing Qing.

After a moment’s consideration, she summoned “Green Ripple Platform” across her knees but remained still.

“Zheng!” Miao Yan’s delicate hand plucked lightly.

At the end of the first section, the Phoenix Platform’s spiritual pressure surged. The pipa’s surface trembled slightly, and a golden phoenix illusion rushed out, encircling the beauty as it danced.

In an instant, the hall was filled with golden light, and the music seemed to contain the phoenix’s clear cry.

Miao Yan swept the strings, and the phoenix turned gracefully, flying toward the Hua Wei Sect members.

True Void smiled, lightly shaking the white whisk in his hand, scattering ten thousand streaks of silver light that interwove with the golden glow.

As the phoenix’s tail feathers brushed past their faces, the Hua Wei Sect members’ spirits were greatly invigorated.

Wherever it passed, cultivators throughout the hall couldn’t help but feel surging emotions, their spirits becoming vibrant, expelling turbid energy and smoothing their spiritual circulation.

For a time, each displayed their magical powers, offering various spiritual tools to accompany the melody.

The Heaven-Connecting Hall was bathed in fragrant wind and flowery rain, ten thousand rays of glorious light.

Cultivators who had attended the Imperial Court Meeting privately thought:

“The same melody played by Immortal Miao Yan is indeed more exquisite than when Immortal Qing Qing played it that night by Blue Stone Pond.”

“Immortal Qing Qing may hold the title of Head Senior Sister, but Immortal Miao Yan is truly the foremost talent of the Celestial Sound Sect.”

The phoenix soared to where Purple Cloud Temple sat.

Li Ying smiled charmingly, summoning a small flower-adorned brush, making light strokes in the air, sending inkblot peach blossoms flying out to dance with the phoenix.

The Purple Cloud Temple disciples couldn’t help but cheer.

Li Ying’s seat was right next to Song Qian Ji.

The pipa strings quickened urgently, and the flying phoenix extended its neck with a long cry, each feather streaming golden light.

The Thousand Channels disciples from the outer halls had never seen such a spectacle, and couldn’t help but widen their eyes, their mouths slightly agape.

Miao Yan turned her head slightly, fixing her gaze on Song Qian Ji’s face, curious to see his reaction.

Her fingers continued plucking strings without pause, the music growing increasingly urgent, like war drums pressing forward.

The Thousand Channels group’s minds wavered, displaying dazed smiles.

Lin Fei Yuan transmitted a warning: “Sound of Heaven technique! Beware of trickery!”

But Ji Chen and Meng He Ze had already entered an illusory state, seeing at times attentive colored sleeves and dancing beauties, at times radiant clouds covering the sky, and immortals ascending in broad daylight.

Lin Fei Yuan couldn’t break through the illusion; when she momentarily lost focus, she also saw mountains of gold and silver, fine silks and satins. She bit her tongue hard.

He Qing Qing sensed something wrong, her expression changing slightly as she prepared to activate “Green Ripple Platform.”

Suddenly, Song Qian Ji tilted his head back and opened his lips.

A long, sharp howl erupted, straight toward the clouds.

It overpowered the phoenix’s cry and suppressed the pipa’s sound.

The Thousand Channels Prefecture crowd immediately cleared their minds.

Miao Yan’s music faltered, her face turning slightly pale.

Song Qian Ji was heard singing: “See the fleeting clouds of the human world, emptiness is still emptiness—”

He held jade chopsticks, loudly beating time as he sang:

“A thousand gold pieces easily scatter, and awakening from a dream is still a dream!”

The illusions completely dissipated.

Meng He Ze and Ji Chen exchanged glances, their bodies covered in cold sweat.

Song Qian Ji continued singing:

“Laugh at this life, drunk and lying in the mortal world, when will love and hatred end…”

Miao Yan let out a stifled groan, and the phoenix illusion collapsed!

The pipa music stopped abruptly.

All eyes fell on Song Qian Ji.

Meng He Ze suddenly had a revelation. He dipped his index finger into the remaining crab roe on his plate, frowned after tasting it twice, and his expression changed:

“Who gave Senior Brother a drunken crab?!”

“What’s wrong with drunken crab… Oh no, drunken crab contains alcohol!” Ji Chen exclaimed, still recovering from the shock.