34: Chapter 34 The Dream-Startling Flute Forces Awakening

Xia Shaoxin arrived before the main hall.

The Chiyan Sect had dozens of mountain peaks, and Xueyan Cliff was the one closest to the mountain gate.

Elders lived deep within the mountain peaks, so the main hall was used to receive important guests and discuss major matters of the Sect.

Usually, no major events disturbed the Elders, and Utility Disciples were not qualified to use the main hall, so it remained closed most of the time; however, the area around the main hall was the only path to go up or down the mountain.

Thus, Xia Shaoxin had become a small celebrity at Xueyan Cliff.

As the night breeze blew gently, patrolling Disciples glanced over and saw a person lying before the stone tablet; they all knew who it was and couldn't help but snicker.

"The world is foolish, thinking that just because they entered the Chiyan Sect, they will definitely be able to Cultivate."

"I heard he even spent a thousand taels of silver to jump the queue and become a Utility Disciple."

According to the Sect rules, one could not disturb any diligent Disciples sleeping in front of the stone tablet, so they walked past while giggling.

The gloomy night sky was suddenly filled with an atmosphere of joy.

Woo—

A melodious flute sound suddenly rang out.

The patrolling Disciples saw someone not far away in the woods wearing the attire of an Inner Sect Disciple and hurriedly greeted him: "Senior Brother Shao, are you doing late-night practice as well?"

The flute stopped, and Senior Brother Shao Junwei returned a smile: "I am testing my new Magical Artifact."

"What is the use of this object?"

"The Dream-Startling Flute; no matter how soundly you sleep, a single blow will wake you up."

"Haha, what is the use of that? Is it for pranks?"

The patrolling Disciples were even more amused.

"Most people at Xueyan Cliff have already fallen asleep. If you blow this, won't the whole mountain chase you down and scold you?"

Senior Brother Shao Junwei waved his hand: "I am not yet strong enough to wake everyone up. You guys go about your business."

The patrolling Disciples took their leave.

Senior Brother Shao Junwei picked up the flute and was just about to play when a voice came from behind: "You kid, what are you cooking up again? Who do you want to keep awake?"

"Senior Brother Liang, why are you here?"

"I finished my Cultivation down the mountain and decided to take a walk."

Senior Brother Liang Ruoran saw Xia Shaoxin lying under the stone tablet in the distance and laughed: "Is this the Utility Disciple you mentioned? I've heard that this person is quite persistent."

"Indeed, this person has a reckless streak, which is quite interesting."

"What are you planning to do now?"

"I made a small Magical Artifact called the Dream-Startling Flute, and I want to wake him up."

"Oh? The stone tablet was enchanted with a powerful Spell by a Senior immortal master to test the talent and Aptitude of the Chiyan Sect Disciples. His sleep is an effect of the Spell; can you actually dispel such a Spell effect?"

"What harm is there in trying?"

Senior Brother Liang Ruoran snorted: "Why do you spend all day researching these useless Magical Artifacts? It would be better to make something useful that you could exchange for some Spirit Stones."

Senior Brother Shao Junwei sighed: "To make Advanced Magical Artifacts, besides needing good Materials, one also needs a higher level of Cultivation. I have neither, so I can only make these."

Not wanting to be nagged by Senior Brother Liang Ruoran any longer, he picked up the flute, aimed it at Xia Shaoxin, closed his eyes, and used his Spiritual Qi to drive it, sending the flute sound far away.

Xia Shaoxin felt as if he had been whipped and suddenly sat up from the ground.

Seeing that the words on the stone tablet had disappeared, he was about to take out his token and wave it at the stone tablet when he suddenly heard a cheer from behind:

"Success! Congratulations to Senior Brother Shao for successfully crafting another useless Magical Artifact."

Turning his head, he saw two people standing in the woods outside the main hall. Looking closely, it was Senior Brother Shao Junwei and another Inner Sect Disciple, not knowing what they were talking about.

Knowing that everyone treated him as a joke now, he ignored them and once again applied his sincerity to the stone tablet. The text appeared again, and he stared at it with wide eyes as he read.

Senior Brother Shao Junwei and Senior Brother Liang Ruoran watched quietly from not far away until Xia Shaoxin hit the ground with a thud and fell asleep again.

Pfft, both of them laughed.

"It's working. Try again."

Senior Brother Shao Junwei proudly picked up the flute and played it again.

Soon, Xia Shaoxin's body twitched, and he sprang up from the ground again.

Feeling dizzy and nauseous in his abdomen, he got up and went to the bushes on the side to vomit.

Senior Brother Shao Junwei also turned around and vomited all over the ground.

"What is going on here?" Senior Brother Liang Ruoran was extremely surprised.

Senior Brother Shao Junwei stopped vomiting, picked up the bamboo flute, and said regretfully: "My Cultivation is insufficient. Using such a low-level Magical Artifact to contend with the power of the stone tablet was too arrogant."

Xia Shaoxin looked up at the sky and then around, feeling as if not much time had passed.

He wiped his mouth, walked up to Senior Brother Shao Junwei, and asked in confusion: "Did you wake me from my sleep?"

Senior Brother Liang Ruoran said: "That's right. Take a look at Senior Brother Shao's Magical Artifact."

Xia Shaoxin hurriedly cupped his hands in a salute: "Thank you, Senior Brother Shao, for your help."

Only then did Senior Brother Shao Junwei notice that the bamboo flute had cracked. He sighed, threw it on the ground, and said to Senior Brother Liang Ruoran: "Let's go, the experiment was not a success."

Without even looking at Xia Shaoxin, he turned to leave.

Xia Shaoxin hurriedly said: "Senior Brother Shao, could you make another Magical Artifact that can resist the power of the stone tablet?"

Before Senior Brother Shao Junwei could answer, Senior Brother Liang Ruoran laughed with a "tch": "You want to take a shortcut? Senior Brother Shao was just testing his Magical Artifact and woke you up twice for free; you should be happy about that."

He had a disdainful expression.

Xia Shaoxin raised his eyebrows and said coldly: "So, Senior Brother Shao was not helping me, but just using me for an experiment. In that case, there is no need to thank you."

Senior Brother Shao Junwei said coldly: "I admire your courage and persistence, but all your actions are in vain. Your ability to sense Spiritual Qi is extremely low, or even non-existent; why bother?"

"That is my business. Since that is the case, please feel free to leave. Do not use me for experiments again, and do not disturb me."

Xia Shaoxin bowed slightly, turned around, and walked back to the stone tablet.

Senior Brother Liang Ruoran's eyes widened: "This guy actually has quite a temper!"

Usually, Utility Disciples were respectful and cautious when they saw him, but this person was actually so rude.

Senior Brother Shao Junwei said helplessly: "This person has lived in the Poisonous Insect mountain area since he was a child and has to face life and death every year; he is indeed more stubborn than ordinary people."

Senior Brother Liang Ruoran asked in surprise: "He is someone who lived in the Poisonous Insect mountain area? In other words, he has been eroded by the poisonous miasma? Then what is the point of Cultivating!"

Xia Shaoxin closed his eyes and meditated, turning a deaf ear to them, treating it as the buzzing of mosquitoes.

He first steadied his mind, preparing to read the Yangyan Circulation Technique again.

The five words "Yangyan Circulation Technique" were not mentioned by the Chiyan Sect Disciples, who instead used "Introductory Cultivation Method" as a substitute.

He refused to accept this; he had already learned half of it and would absolutely not give up halfway.

"Aren't you well-versed in the Dao of Medicinal Pills? Is there any medicine that can resist the suppression of the wordless stone tablet?" Senior Brother Shao Junwei suddenly asked.

"Hmm, let me think." Senior Brother Liang Ruoran pondered for a moment, "There is indeed a recipe; fighting poison with poison seems like it might work."

Xia Shaoxin did not want to be disturbed, but the words "medicine" poured into his ears, and he really couldn't remain calm.

He opened his eyes, came back to the woods, and bowed deeply to Senior Brother Liang Ruoran.

This was a great courtesy, and Senior Brother Liang Ruoran did not dare to be too impolite, so he cupped his hands in return.

"I am the Utility Disciple Xia Shaoxin. May I ask how to address you, Senior Brother?"

"My name is Liang Ruoran."

"You said there is medicine?"

"Yes, but you probably can't afford it."

"Can you tell me about it?"

Senior Brother Liang Ruoran looked him up and down and sighed: "You really refuse to turn back until you hit the southern wall!"

Xia Shaoxin said in a deep voice: "If there is medicine, you can name a price, and I will buy it."

"The main ingredients are several types of Poisonous Insects, but those types of Poisonous Insects are used to refine Medicinal Pills. Who would go and make this kind of useless medicine?"

"Could it be that other Disciples, who cannot learn the Cultivation Technique on the stone tablet, wouldn't think of taking this kind of medicine?"

"What if you learn the Cultivation Technique? Can you continue to Cultivate after learning it through such means? You are not young anymore, right? You won't be able to practice Qi by the age of twenty-five. Wouldn't that be a waste of both time and money?"

Xia Shaoxin's voice trembled slightly: "Senior Brother Liang, can you sell it? I will really pay with silver!"

Senior Brother Liang Ruoran shook his head: "First, the Poisonous Insects are precious and hard to buy. Second, I cannot use my talent in the Dao of Medicinal Pills on such useless, minor medicine. Third, do you think I look like someone who is short of silver?"

"Can you teach me? I'll make it myself." Xia Shaoxin requested sincerely.

Senior Brother Liang Ruoran couldn't help but laugh:

It's getting more and more absurd; you, a mere Utility Disciple, can actually make medicine yourself?