101: A heart-breaking song, where can I find a soulmate in this world?

As Third Prince Qin Wushuang of the Qin Family announced the rules, this grand event, dubbed the "Heavenly Pride Zither Gathering," officially began.

Several reclusive Prodigies, confident in their Mental Energy attainments, were the first to take the stage. They each displayed their unique skills; some produced zither sounds like sharp swords, causing a stinging sensation in the audience's minds; others created zither sounds like water, seemingly gentle but containing hidden needles, subtly drawing people into illusions.

However, despite their extraordinary skills, they were unable to elicit a strong resonance from the ancient zither 'heaven's inquiry' suspended above the high platform. The ancient divine zither merely emitted one or two faint halos occasionally before lapsing back into silence, as if an elder who had witnessed countless changes over time held no interest in the somewhat immature "showboating" of these juniors.

Finally, under the slightly disappointed gazes of the crowd, one of the protagonists of the night, Third Prince Qin Wushuang of the Qin Family, slowly ascended the stage.

He did not bring his own instrument but instead walked directly to the ancient zither 'heaven's inquiry' and sat down cross-legged.

He flashed a confident and challenging smile at the audience, especially in Lin Tian's direction, then placed both hands on the zither strings.

Zheng——!

The zither music began.

Completely different from the Prodigies before him, Qin Wushuang immediately displayed a terrifying strength far surpassing others, truly belonging to a top-tier Mental Energy Genius!

His fingerwork was like lightning, swift as a startled swan, and solid sound waves surged madly from his fingertips! These sound waves were no longer invisible but transformed into visible golden Dragon shadows, filled with imperial dominance!

One!

Ten!

A hundred!

In an instant, hundreds of golden giant Dragons, constructed from Mental Energy, roared and coiled in the sky above the entire "Inviting Moon Platform." The vast and majestic Mental Energy storm, filled with the Divine Might of an emperor, caused all Martial Artists below A-Class to feel their hearts sway, almost wanting to bow down in submission!

And the ancient zither 'heaven's inquiry', under the influence of this powerful imperial aura from the same source, emitted an unprecedented brilliant light! The ancient runes on the zither body, silent for thousands of years, lit up one by one, emitting a buzzing sound like a Dragon's roar, as if offering the most fervent applause to this junior of noble Bloodline!

When the song ended, the Dragon shadows dispersed, and the hall erupted in cheers!

"As expected of Your Highness, the Third Prince! This 'Hundred Dragons Bowing to the Phoenix' piece has truly inherited the essence of the Qin Family's Mental Energy secret technique!"

"Too powerful! This Mental Energy pressure alone would probably make even ordinary S-Class Experts take notice!"

"It seems the ownership of the ancient zither 'heaven's inquiry' tonight is no longer in doubt!"

Listening to the waves of praise from the audience, Qin Wushuang stood up, full of pride and satisfaction. He reveled in the feeling of being the center of attention and the pleasure of trampling all competitors underfoot. His gaze once again turned to Lin Tian, his eyes openly filled with provocation and display.

Just as everyone thought he would undoubtedly claim the top prize and become the biggest winner of the night...

Lin Tian slowly rose from his seat.

He walked, step by step, onto the high platform that was the focus of all eyes.

The clamor of the entire venue instantly ceased. Everyone's gaze converged on him.

However, to everyone's surprise, he did not walk towards the radiant ancient zither 'heaven's inquiry'.

He simply walked to the center of the high platform, took out the phoenix perch zither from his storage space—the one that had made a fleeting appearance at the Divine Sound Pavilion—and casually placed it on the jade table in front of him.

He spoke faintly to the audience below.

"I shall make a humble display."

Then, he sat cross-legged, his slender fingers casually resting on the zither strings.

There was no earth-shattering opening move, no flashy, showy fingerwork.

He simply, gently, plucked the first string.

Ding——

A zither sound, exquisitely clear, as if not belonging to this mortal world, rang out.

In that instant, heaven and earth seemed to change color for it.

If Qin Wushuang's zither music was a "skill" filled with imperial dominance, a Mental Energy storm, a hundred Dragons roaring, the ultimate glory of the human world...

Then Lin Tian's zither music was pure "Dao," transcending all "skills."

That zither music was the first ray of morning sun, piercing the darkness, bringing new life.

That zither music was the first spring thunderclap, awakening all things, bringing vitality.

That zither music was the first cool breeze of a summer night, dispelling the heat, bringing tranquility.

That zither music was the first fallen leaf of autumn, coloring the world, bringing Reincarnation.

There was no hint of aggression in his zither music, not a trace of Mental Energy pressure. But the creative Dao rhyme (Dao rhyme) contained within it, originating from the Pangu Body, and the purifying power fused with the Heart of God, transformed into an ineffable, supreme Law that instantly enveloped the entire venue!

Qin Wushuang's face, flushed with victory, instantly turned pale! He felt that his proud, incomparably dominant Mental Energy was as minuscule as a speck of dust before Lin Tian's zither music, which resembled the Great Dao of heaven and earth, easily... soothed, purified, and even... assimilated! His proud Dao Heart couldn't even muster a thought of resistance before this mighty Divine Might!

And the ancient zither 'heaven's inquiry', which had been radiating light and echoing Qin Wushuang, instantly retracted all its radiance upon hearing that zither sound. It was like a subject who had met a true emperor, or a wanderer who had drifted for ten thousand years, finally hearing the call from its homeland.

It let out a buzzing sound like a Phoenix's cry, filled with endless grievance and ecstasy!

Zheng——!

It actually broke free from the Restriction on the high platform on its own, transforming into a streak of light, ignoring the dumbfounded Qin Wushuang, and flew directly in front of Lin Tian, circling and buzzing around him, as if offering its most supreme and humble submission to its new master!

...The entire venue was silent.

Everyone was as if petrified, staring blankly at the scene before them that had overturned their understanding.

The song unfinished, the divine zither... defected?!

Lin Tian slowly withdrew his fingers, and the zither music abruptly ceased.

He had won the final victory of this "cultural duel" and also won the S-Class supreme treasure that everyone coveted—the ancient zither 'heaven's inquiry'.

However, amidst the gazes of shock, jealousy, and disbelief from the entire venue, he didn't even spare a glance at the ancient divine zither that had voluntarily recognized him as its master.

His gaze calmly fell upon the mysterious Heavenly Zither Woman below the stage, who had been quietly listening the entire time, her face veiled.

He could feel that among everyone present, only she, in that instant, had a hint of true "resonance" with his zither music. It was a resonance stemming from the depths of the Soul, a shared understanding of the "Dao."

He smiled.

With a wave of his hand, the ancient zither 'heaven's inquiry', an item that would drive any S-Class Expert mad, transformed into a streak of light and landed precisely in front of the Heavenly Zither Woman, silently suspended there.

He spoke faintly, in a tone of "a true friend found in high mountains and flowing water," as if dealing with a trivial matter:

"This zither belongs to a true friend."

——!

The entire venue once again fell into a deathly silence.

The mysterious Heavenly Zither Woman trembled violently, her beautiful eyes, like autumn water, hidden beneath the veil, filled with unprecedented, intense shock and brilliance.

On the other side, Third Prince Qin Wushuang of the Qin Family, witnessing this scene, felt as if he had been struck by lightning!

His coveted treasure was snatched away by Lin Tian in an overwhelming manner!

The Heavenly Zither Woman, whom he had admired for a long time and regarded as his exclusive possession, was "gifted a treasure to show goodwill" by Lin Tian in a magnanimous way he hadn't even dared to imagine!

The hatred of having his treasure stolen! The humiliation of having his beloved taken!

A double, extreme humiliation, like two erupting volcanoes, instantly overwhelmed all his reason and pretense!

His gentle, jade-like face, at this moment, turned from ashen to distorted. In his eyes, once filled with confidence and composure, now burned black flames from Hell, enough to incinerate everything to ashes!

His jealousy and killing intent towards Lin Tian, at this moment, reached an unprecedented peak!

He quietly turned around and, facing an old man with a ghostly aura who had been guarding him in the shadows, issued a secret command in a chillingly cold voice that only the two of them could hear.

"Activate... 'Heaven's' plan."