Lingyun and the Five Elements Sect's Struggle for the Samsara Soul Song

"Tribulation Transcendence—that's a dream still far beyond our reach. Sigh, enough about me. Let's discuss what to do with this infant instead." A flicker of worry passed through Jin Ming's heart as he hastily changed the subject.

"This is Qingyun Mountain's territory. What's there to discuss?" Green Cloud Master said immediately, though his expression was slightly unnatural.

"Tsk, tsk, Old Qing, it seems we've already left your Qingyun Mountain far behind. Are you trying to bluff your way into keeping this child for yourself?" Crimson Flame's tone was flippant, carrying a hint of mockery.

"Eh, is that so? It's actually quite a distance from Qingyun Mountain." Green Cloud Master's face flushed slightly.

"Let's stick to the old rule. Everyone relies on their own strength. Whoever wins gets the child." Yellow Millet glanced at Green Cloud Master, subtly helping him out of an awkward spot.

"Mm, agreed." The others nodded in assent, except for Green Cloud Master, who looked at Lingyun—still bowed low, earnestly amusing the infant—with a worried expression.

Lingyun didn't lift his head, yet seemed to "see" Green Cloud Master staring at him. He frowned slightly and said flatly, "Everyone, it seems you've forgotten about me. I've already adopted this child as my sworn son."

"And who might you be?" Jin Ming's face turned hostile. If he hadn't sensed a connection to Green Cloud Master, his temper would have driven him to act long ago.

"This is my Benefactor," Green Cloud Master interjected.

"Benefactor? He hasn't even reached the Golden Core Realm. How could he be your benefactor? Don't tell me you're trying to fool us." Yellow Millet's expression soured, and even the others, including Bing Xin, looked surprised.

"In the early years, my Benefactor..." Green Cloud Master's words were cut short by a cold snort.

"Hmph!" Lingyun's expression sharpened as he shot a glare at Green Cloud Master.

"Well, anyway, he is my Benefactor. There's no need for doubt." As if recalling something, Green Cloud Master quickly changed his tune.

"Though you found him first, it's a well-known truth that treasures of heaven and earth belong to those capable of wielding them." Jin Ming paused briefly, then continued, "But since you're Old Qing's Benefactor, we'll include you in this contest. Does anyone object?"

"Mm, no." Everyone except Green Cloud Master nodded in agreement, their expressions clearly showing they didn't take Lingyun—who hadn't even reached the Golden Core Realm—seriously.

"Hmph, it's been a while since I last fought, and now people dare to bully me. Fine, fine. Let me show you something then." Lingyun snorted coldly, his expression turning icy.

Yellow Millet's face shifted, and he snapped, "What arrogance! Your cultivation is low, but your temper sure is high."

"Enough talk. Let's begin." Jin Ming's face was so dark it seemed ready to drip.

"Good!" The others responded in unison.

The six of them, except Lingyun, quickly retreated into defensive stances, clearly wary of being ganged up on by the others in the center. Xiong Xiong, Huang Se, and Yuan Ming had already withdrawn far away, heads bowed in low conversation with a group of people who had appeared at some unknown time. They occasionally glanced at Green Cloud Master and the others, their expressions tense, likely fearing collateral damage from the fight.

"Hmph, you can't even be bothered to defend yourself, yet you still dare to compete." Yellow Millet looked at Lingyun, standing motionless in the center surrounded by the five, his eyes full of schadenfreude.

"Heh~" Lingyun showed complete indifference, continuing to play with the infant as if no one else were there, as though the contest had nothing to do with him.

"Wait a moment. You should have someone else hold the baby. Our fight might hurt him. Oh, and that fox too." Crimson Flame, feeling a pang of pity, looked at the swaddled infant and the white fox on Lingyun's shoulder and offered a kind reminder.

"You're a kind-hearted little one, not like these schemers. But there's no need. You won't have a chance to harm them, heh." Lingyun glanced at Crimson Flame, a trace of approval evident in his expression. He was brimming with confidence, possessing the mental fortitude to remain unshaken even as Mount Tai crumbled before him—a picture of serene composure.

"Since you're asking for death, don't blame us." Jin Ming's face grew even more sinister, his voice cold as ice.

"Rise!" Jin Ming bellowed, and a two-foot short sword emerged from his body, hovering above his head. The sword was narrow, with a thick blade, yet incredibly sharp, especially at the tip. More like a spike than a sword, it was exceptionally pointed. Sword light seeped from the tip, adding to its sharpness. Without a doubt, this blade could pierce metal and stone with ease.

"Golden Edge Sword Stab—Sect Master Jin Ming's signature weapon. Looks like he's truly enraged. He rarely draws his weapon in ordinary fights," muttered someone in Huang Se's crowd.

"That man is asking for death. He hasn't even reached the Golden Core Realm, yet he dares to contend with five sect masters. If that's not suicide, what is?" added a grim-faced man.

"Exactly. If he doesn't want to live, he doesn't have to charge straight to the gates of hell," the crowd chimed in.

"Sigh, Sect Master Jin is no merciful man. He cultivates the Refined Gold Killing Art. His killing intent is always surging; killing a man is like crushing an ant. That fellow in the middle is in for a rough time," said one person, his tone laced with schadenfreude despite his feigned concern.

"Maybe... maybe he really has some skill," a young cultivator said weakly, though even he didn't seem convinced by his own words.

"Heh, hasn't even reached the Golden Core Realm, and you call that real skill?" The first speaker was clearly annoyed that his "authority" had been challenged.

"Look, Crimson Flame Valley Lord has summoned his Crimson Flame Sword too!" exclaimed a cultivator as a thick, crimson blade emerged from Crimson Flame Valley Lord's body.

"Today is truly worth it. Yellow Millet Tower Lord has also drawn his weapon—the Mystic Earth Sword. Its Mystic Earth energy envelops the blade, heavy and solid. Truly lives up to its reputation."

"Tsk, tsk, Ice Fairy's Ice String Sword is wrapped in chilling energy, its thin edge like ice. A perfect match for the Ice Fairy. If only I could join Ice River Palace and win her favor, how wonderful would that be? But how can I earn the Ice Fairy's affection?" A handsome young man drifted off into fantasy—let's decisively ignore his daydreaming.

"What, Old Qing, you want to spar with us empty-handed?" Yellow Millet noticed Green Cloud Master hadn't drawn his weapon and couldn't help but remark.

"Sigh, forget it, forget it. Benefactor, forgive my rudeness. Rise, Azure Spirit Sword!" With Green Cloud Master's shout, a long sword radiating dense Wood Spirit Energy hovered above his head.

"Benefactor, everyone, please!" Green Cloud Master called out.

"Please!" The other sect masters shouted in unison.

In an instant, all kinds of energy surged through the air. The fight was about to begin. The onlookers stopped their chatter, holding their breath as they focused intently on the impending battle.

"Heh." Lingyun smiled faintly, unhurried. With a single hand, he sent the swaddled infant floating beside him. Then, he slowly drew the Jade Flute from his waist and began to play, as if no one else were there.

The flute's sound began clear and melodious, gentle as cool moonlight, thin as drifting smoke, brushing over a spring pond without leaving a trace. Then, the melody shifted, becoming desolate and distant, winding and twisting.

At first, Green Cloud Master and the others paid it little mind. But soon, they sensed something wrong—the spiritual energy within them began to churn and surge uncontrollably, and the effect was clearly intensifying. Alarmed, they quickly sat cross-legged, steadying their breath and regulating the energy inside them. The weapons hovering above their heads wobbled precariously, no longer under their control, let alone capable of attacking Lingyun.

The flute continued, now like mountains shrouded in mist, rising and falling fiercely, carrying a faint undertone of clashing weapons and war.

Looking at Green Cloud Master and the others, their faces shifted from uncertainty to growing terror, sweat beading on their foreheads. They strained to muster all their spiritual energy to resist the flute's sound, but it was like a tiny boat on a vast ocean facing crashing waves, wave after wave. The turbulent sea could swallow the boat at any moment.

The fear on their faces deepened as they stared at Lingyun, "surrounded" in the center, as if they were looking at the most terrifying monster.

"Quick... circulate your energy... seal your ears!" Crimson Flame's speech became halting. As for the others, their faces flushed red, unable to speak at all. It seemed Crimson Flame's earlier kind reminder to Lingyun had earned him slightly less "attention," making him a bit more at ease.

Hearing Crimson Flame's words, Jin Ming and the others suddenly realized their mistake, regretting it bitterly and silently cursing themselves. Sect masters, yet so foolish. Just block the ears, and the flute sound can't be heard—that was the thought in their minds.

They quickly changed their hand seals, clearly gathering spiritual energy to seal off their hearing.

Lingyun smiled faintly and continued playing. The flute's tone grew sharper, more resounding. Gradually, the sound surged high and fierce, twisting upward like towering cliffs and crashing waves, majestic and unending.

"Ah, ptoo..." Jin Ming was the first to buckle, blood spraying from his mouth, a crimson mist staining the sky as his spirit withered. Earlier, he had made no effort to hide his killing intent toward Lingyun, so naturally Lingyun showed him a bit more "attention."

Clearly, the "brilliant plan" of sealing their ears hadn't worked as expected.

Looking at the others, they weren't faring much better than Jin Ming, all teetering on the edge of collapse at any moment.

Lingyun did not stop. The flute's tone shifted again, cascading like a torrent. A faint, subtle melancholy spread. Gradually, a sense of vicissitude grew heavier—desolate as water, mournful as ice, heartache carved into the bone.

"Ptoo..." Huang Liang was the second to give way, blood spurting like a mist. His bronze-colored face began to pale to a waxy yellow, his eyes scattered and dull, drifting unsteadily—a sign of severe damage to his mind and spirit.

"Ptoo, ptoo..." Chi Yan and Bing Xin succumbed at the same time. Chi Yan's red robes were soaked in a patch. Bing Xin's snow-white dress was also dotted with blood, like blossoms of infinite delicate red. They exchanged a glance, then both looked at Lingyun, sighed softly, and their expressions dimmed.

"Ptoo..." Green Cloud Master was not much stronger. Before long, he too spat blood into the sky. A sharp glint flashed through his eyes, then sank deeper into concealment.

Lingyun pressed the flute and raised it, letting out a long howl to the heavens. His expression was like madness, like ecstasy, seeming both sorrowful and grieving. Two streaks of blood-red ran from the corners of his eyes, trails of bloody tears—what a desolate sight!

After a moment, Lingyun lowered the flute and let out a long, lingering sigh:

"Alas, life is but a dream, white clouds shifting into grey dogs. Why speak of right and wrong, grudges and grievances? In the end, it's no more than the moon and sun passing in silence, water flowing without a trace. Loved ones are gone—even if blood debts are repaid, they can never return. What we have lost is lost forever, leaving only a few regrets, a few wistful sighs."

"Zhi zhi..." The white fox looked at Lingyun like this, deep reluctance in her eyes. Her tail gently brushed Lingyun's face, wiping away those two streaks of bloody tears, faint traces of blood staining her snow-white fur.

"Mei'er, I know. No need to comfort me. It's just a momentary surge of emotion, don't worry." Lingyun's eyes were tender as water. He paused briefly, then added, "We're together now—what else is there to be unhappy about, hehe."

"Zhi zhi." The white fox was still worried.

"Hehe, it's just that playing the Samsara Soul Song drains a bit of the mind and spirit." Lingyun smiled faintly. Only then did the white fox's expression ease slightly, looking at Lingyun with thick tenderness.

"Thank you, Senior, for showing mercy. We were presumptuous earlier, and we beg you, in your magnanimity, not to hold it against us juniors." At this point, Huang Liang, Jin Ming, and the others had taken healing pills. After a moment of breath regulation, they temporarily stabilized their injuries, bowed deeply to Lingyun, and begged for forgiveness.

"Enough, enough. All of you, leave. This infant is my adopted son now. Don't set your sights on him anymore." Lingyun's tone was endlessly desolate. He waved his hand slightly, a hint of impatience in his expression.

Jin Ming, Huang Liang, and the others let out bitter laughs. Their cultivation wasn't as high as his—what could they do? They couldn't win in a fight, and not being killed was already an act of mercy. Could they dare to resent his disdain? Shaking their heads, they clasped their fists to each other and dispersed.

"Benefactor, I won't disturb the joy of your father-son reunion. I take my leave." Green Cloud Master gave a slight bow, then led Huang Se and the others away as well.

"Child, let's go too. Mei'er, let's go." After everyone had left, Lingyun teased the baby, glanced at the white fox on his shoulder, summoned his long flute, and drifted away.

The "Heaven and Earth Divine Object Incident" at Qingyun Mountain finally came to a close. The commotion faded as the crowd scattered.