The courtyard breeze stirred, and the zither's notes lingered beneath the eaves. Ruan Yushu played every score she had learned, one after another: from the Soul-Rending Melody to the Eight Dragon Sounds, from the Guanghan Curse to the Twelve Divine Sounds of Langhuan, from the Heaven Splitting Earth Shifting Melody to the Dragon Tortoise Longevity Score. At first they cycled one after another; then they tangled into disarray, as if striving to merge and compose a wholly new piece.
Decades ago, a Human Immortal breaking through a bottleneck was a major event capable of changing the balance of the world. Now, it barely mattered. Apart from the Ruan Family, who would spare even a sliver of attention for the place where Ruan Yushu secluded herself?
The zither notes flowed like water, tinkling without end, ever echoing through the courtyard.
Somewhere in Jiangdong, at an Aristocratic Clan surnamed Sun.
A sturdy little boy with a tiger's head and a brain to match wore a close-fitting martial outfit and tempered himself on the training ground. He didn't cultivate martial arts too strenuously, lest he affect his still-developing body.
After a round of punches and kicks, he gathered his breath and left the training ground. Taking the hot towel from the Book Boy, he wiped the sweat from his face while watching the other disciples and servants practice with interest.
They all practiced much the same thing: either the Starlight Great Law, or a combination of the Starlight Great Law and the family's inherited techniques. Of course, even with the little boy's limited knowledge and experience, he could tell that the so-called combination was probably just self-deception.
"Young master, why watch them practice? You have a true divine skill, one countless times better than the Starlight Great Law!" the Book Boy muttered.