Looked Down On by Fish

When Hong Ze casually said that the lotus in the pond was an ordinary white lotus, Yun Xiao could hardly believe her ears.

She had clearly sensed dense Innate Spiritual Energy from that white lotus, along with Great Dao Essence flowing over it.

In other words, this white lotus was very likely an Innate Spiritual Root. As for whether it would someday produce a lotus platform of any rank, that remained unknown.

Qiong Xiao had naturally sensed it as well and was about to speak up to correct Hong Ze and let him know how extraordinary the white lotus was.

However, Yun Xiao stopped her with a look and used Secret Language Transmission to say,

"Do not speak carelessly. Do you really think Eldest Senior Brother might not know?"

Yun Xiao's words woke Qiong Xiao as if from a dream, and she recalled the experiences her elder brother and Third Sister had described.

In their impression, Hong Ze was an existence so low-key that no one could be more low-key than him.

Thus, Qiong Xiao stopped paying attention to the white lotus and obediently stood behind Yun Xiao.

Yun Xiao directly asked, "Eldest Senior Brother, may I learn to play the zither from you?"

Hearing that Yun Xiao wished to learn the zither, Hong Ze did not hesitate in the slightest and immediately nodded in agreement.

"If Junior Sister Yun Xiao enjoys such things, then as your senior brother, I naturally will not refuse."

After saying that, he gestured for Yun Xiao to sit before the ancient zither.

He then began teaching Yun Xiao how to play it hand in hand. However, the process was rather blush-inducing. One might even suspect that Hong Ze was taking the opportunity to cop a feel.

After all, Yun Xiao sat upright before the ancient zither, while Hong Ze stood behind her, half-embracing her.

And since he was teaching her hand in hand, it was inevitable that their hands would make necessary contact.

A faint flush appeared on Yun Xiao's face, and she subconsciously looked up at Hong Ze.

Seeing his solemn expression as he explained the essentials of playing the zither to her, Yun Xiao finally dismissed her stray thoughts.

Gradually, she became engrossed in Hong Ze's explanations, and her hands unconsciously began plucking the strings.

However, Qiong Xiao at the side had no idea what was going on. Her mouth was open wide enough to fit an entire goose egg.

What is this? Eldest Senior Brother is being far too frivolous, openly taking advantage of Eldest Sister.

At the same time, Qiong Xiao prepared to step forward and help Yun Xiao ease this awkward situation.

But when Qiong Xiao saw the expression on Yun Xiao's face, she immediately abandoned that idea.

At that moment, Yun Xiao was staring intently at the ancient zither before her.

Under Hong Ze's guidance, her hands continuously plucked the strings before her.

Strains of less-than-melodious zither music continuously flowed from Yun Xiao's hands, instantly spreading throughout the little courtyard where Hong Ze lived.

What is going on? Why has Master's zither-playing suddenly become so terrible? If someone tried to meditate on this, wouldn't they suffer qi deviation?

It probably is not Master playing. Do not forget that our Master is the Great Dao Music Saint. Even if he casually plucks the strings, it would surely be the sound of the Great Dao.

Yun Xiao did not know that the music she played had already been met with disdain from those hens.

Even the koi that had just been judging Yun Xiao and Qiong Xiao with prying remarks flicked their tails and dove to the bottom of the pond.

Qiong Xiao helplessly curled her lips, thinking that her eldest sister's skills truly were not very good.

Hong Ze alone did not think so. Instead, he nodded in satisfaction and occasionally pointed out mistakes in Yun Xiao's playing.

Thus, Hong Ze taught Yun Xiao for an entire year, and from beginning to end, he taught her hand in hand.

Yun Xiao benefited greatly from this. The music she now played was utterly different from before.

Although she still could not compare to Hong Ze, at the very least, she would no longer be scorned by those hens and koi.

At that moment, Hong Ze slowly lifted his hands away. Yun Xiao, however, did not notice and continued plucking the strings on her own.

Gradually, Yun Xiao closed her eyes slightly and entered a state where she forgot both herself and the world.

At that moment, within Yun Xiao's consciousness, there was only herself and the ancient zither before her. Her hands moved across the strings as smoothly as drifting clouds and flowing water.

At the same time, Yun Xiao clearly felt as if something inside her body had shattered, and her cultivation instantly began rising without stop.

Yun Xiao, who had originally been at the Late Stage Taiyi Golden Immortal, directly reached the Peak Stage Taiyi Golden Immortal Realm. She was on the verge of attaining the Grand Luo Dao Fruit.

Moreover, within Yun Xiao's sea of consciousness, a strand of Law Power slowly began to condense. It was the Grace Law.

A vast and mighty aura suddenly emerged from Yun Xiao's body, immediately startling Qiong Xiao, who was feeding the fish nearby.

Qiong Xiao did not understand music and felt nothing at all toward the zither piece Yun Xiao played.

Therefore, throughout this past year, Qiong Xiao had been teasing the koi in the pond and having a thoroughly enjoyable time.

Now that she suddenly sensed the changes in Yun Xiao, she hurriedly rose and came before her.

Seeing Yun Xiao's eyes slightly closed while her hands continued plucking the strings in an orderly rhythm, Qiong Xiao could not help secretly rejoicing for her eldest sister.

Hong Ze, on the other hand, merely sighed helplessly.

"I thought she had learned almost enough. Who would have thought this girl would fall asleep while learning?"

Qiong Xiao nearly had her jaw drop at Hong Ze's words. Eldest Senior Brother actually called enlightenment falling asleep. There is probably no second person like him in this world.

She immediately said to Hong Ze, "Eldest Senior Brother, the koi in your pond look quite nice. Could you give me one to raise on Three Immortal Island?"

Hearing Qiong Xiao ask him for a koi, Hong Ze nodded without the slightest hesitation.

"How could one be enough? If you want to raise them, you should raise at least two or three. Just catch whichever ones you like."

After saying that, he turned and walked toward his Thatched Cottage, not caring in the slightest whether the koi were willing.

When the koi heard that Hong Ze had actually agreed to give them away as gifts to Qiong Xiao,

they were terrified and immediately flicked their beautiful tails before hiding behind the white lotus.

This left Qiong Xiao quite dejected. We were having so much fun just now. Why did they all run away in the blink of an eye?

She immediately gathered magical power into her right hand and grabbed toward the koi beneath the white lotus.

Seeing the massive hand condense in the air, one of the koi disdainfully shook its head.

It then leaped directly from the water and spat out a water arrow.

That seemingly ordinary water arrow directly shattered Qiong Xiao's hand of spiritual energy.

At the same time, the koi's voice appeared in Qiong Xiao's mind.

"Just you? What qualifications do you have to raise us? Come take us away when you become a Quasi-Saint."

Qiong Xiao froze on the spot, hardly daring to believe her ears. Her eyes were fixed firmly on the koi that had just leaped from the water.

"What are you looking at? I am talking about you. A mere Golden Immortal wants to raise us Great Luo Golden Immortals? I truly do not know who gave you such nerve."