Peaceful Days

Shi Hao realized how far he lagged behind Jun Moxiao and launched himself into hellish training.

Jun Moxiao remembered that Heavenly Desolation, stored in the system, still held Kun Peng's remnant soul imprint. After being nourished with Soul-Congealing Liquid for so long, the female Kun Peng's remnant soul should have grown much stronger.

Jun Moxiao took out Heavenly Desolation and found that it had actually been fully repaired. He asked the system, "Meng Die, have you already repaired Heavenly Desolation?"

Meng Die replied, "Yes! This system also extracted Kun Peng's remnant soul and placed her in Soul-Congealing Liquid to nourish her. She should recover into a complete soul before long. This system also removed the Immortal Severing Curse from her remnant soul and put it in the inventory."

Jun Moxiao said, "Back then, Kun Peng was tortured to death by the Immortal Severing Curse. Let me see what sort of divine ability this curse is."

Jun Moxiao took out the Immortal Severing Curse. It was a sinister ball of green light, with chilling sounds rising from within, like the howls of evil ghosts.

Jun Moxiao decided to test the Immortal Severing Curse's power and drove it into his body.

The moment the curse entered his body, it darted about wildly, eroding his Dao laws. His entire body felt as though ants were biting and tearing at it, but to someone with Jun Moxiao's physique, that pain was child's play. Its destructive power could not compare to his own recovery ability, either. Sensing that he was in danger, the Creation Green Lotus released power of creation to nourish his flesh continuously, while the curse's power gradually declined.

Jun Moxiao felt that it was nothing special. Someone with a strong body and will could wear away such a curse through their own strength. He forced it out, packed it up, and placed it in the system inventory. He would use it against the people of the Immortal Palace later, letting them taste this vicious curse themselves.

Jun Moxiao burned himself briefly with red lotus karmic flame and immediately felt refreshed again. Remembering the divine artifact the system had given him, the Fuxi Zither, he decided to test its power.

He summoned the Fuxi Zither. Hmm! Its design is simple, ancient, and imposing. According to legend, Fuxi made it from jade and heavenly silk.

Hmm! Something's wrong! Didn't the Fuxi Zither only have five strings? Why does this one have twenty-one?

Jun Moxiao asked the system, "Meng Die! Why does the Fuxi Zither have twenty-one strings? Doesn't that make it a guzheng? Why is it still called the Fuxi Zither?"

The system replied, "Master! This is a replica of the Fuxi Zither, and an evolved version at that. Fuxi's ancient zither only had five strings, but the guzheng's ancestor was also the Fuxi Zither. This instrument fully reproduces its functions! The additional strings also allow it to play more tones."

Jun Moxiao said, "All right! Whatever you say. Let me play a few pieces."

Jun Moxiao used the Three Thousand Ancient-Style Melodies in the system. Those ancient compositions were stored in his mind as though transferred by Bluetooth. Besides, he had already been a grandmaster in music before.

Jun Moxiao positioned the Fuxi Zither and played the timeless masterpiece High Mountains and Flowing Water. Elegant, natural, soothing notes rang out, spreading for a hundred li around him! They opened the heart and uplifted the spirit, making listeners forget all their worries. Even the creatures in the Great Wilderness Forest grew quiet, listening to this heavenly music. Some little birds flew to Jun Moxiao and danced gracefully around him.

Willow Deity heard the music and immediately felt utterly relaxed in mind. Taking the Witch, who had been cultivating, Willow Deity headed toward the sound and discovered that the little fellow Jun Moxiao was playing.

The Witch was stunned. "Xiaoxiao was actually the one playing this beautiful piece? Sister, how many more secrets does he have?"

Willow Deity said, "I don't know either. He always brings surprises. Also, Feng Jiu, look at that ancient zither of his. It's even more extraordinary. Its aura is ancient and powerful, yet peaceful. If I'm not mistaken, it's another Quasi-Immortal Emperor Divine Weapon. I simply never imagined that this zither would possess such an ability."

At that moment, Jun Moxiao had entered a state of complete self-forgetfulness. With his eyes closed, he immersed himself in the music, oblivious to everything around him.

The Fuxi Zither's artifact spirit also manifested as an old man with the bearing of an immortal sage. He floated quietly before Jun Moxiao, nodding repeatedly and muttering, "Good, good! Excellent! This lad's mastery of music is so profound! This piece is wonderful too. I like it."

Upon seeing the old man, Willow Deity hurriedly asked, "Are you this ancient zither's artifact spirit?"

The Fuxi Zither replied, "Shh! Let the lad finish playing. Listen quietly. This beautiful music can purify the hearts of all beings."

Willow Deity also sensed the wondrous qualities of the piece, looking at the little birds dancing around Jun Moxiao and the various fierce beasts quietly listening nearby.

After finishing High Mountains and Flowing Water, Jun Moxiao opened his eyes. Seeing everything around him, he asked in surprise, "What's going on here?"

The immortal-like old man said, "Well done, lad."

Jun Moxiao asked, "Are you the Fuxi Zither's artifact spirit?"

The old man replied, "Indeed! The Fuxi Zither can purify the hearts of all beings with beautiful music. It can also kill enemies and beguile minds with its notes. Explore it at your own pace!"

With that, the old man returned to the Fuxi Zither.

Willow Deity approached Jun Moxiao and said, "Xiaoxiao! I never imagined you'd obtained another supreme divine weapon."

The Witch teased, "You rich tycoon! How about giving this little lady a Quasi-Immortal Emperor Weapon?"

Jun Moxiao said, "Feng Jiu! I really can't give you this one. All my Quasi-Immortal Emperor Weapons are my lifebound divine artifacts. I can't give them away."

Willow Deity lightly tapped the Witch's forehead. "Feng Jiu, stop being mischievous! Didn't Xiaoxiao give you Supreme Weapon Armor? That's your Lifebound Divine Weapon too. Once you cultivate to the Immortal Emperor level, you can refine it into an Immortal Emperor weapon whenever you like."

Just then, Shi Hao ran over. Seeing the three of them, he asked in wonder, "Xiaoxiao! What just happened? That zither music actually helped me break through a minor realm."

Willow Deity replied, "It was the piece Xiaoxiao played on that ancient zither! Right, what piece was that? And what kind of zither is it?"

Jun Moxiao said, "This is my Quasi-Immortal Emperor Weapon, the Fuxi Zither. That piece was called High Mountains and Flowing Water."

Shi Hao's mouth fell wide open. He said excitedly, "Another Quasi-Immortal Emperor Weapon! Xiaoxiao, you can even play the zither. Is there anything you can't do?"

Little Pagoda, perched on Shi Hao's head, said, "How did Quasi-Immortal Emperor Weapons become wholesale goods in your hands? Are you really that extravagantly rich?"

Jun Moxiao said, "Right, Hao Tian, I think you should forge your own Lifebound Divine Weapon too. You as well, Feng Jiu. I happen to have plenty of immortal gold and divine materials. Sister Willow Deity can also forge a good Lifebound Divine Weapon."

Willow Deity replied, "I forged divine weapons in the past, but since you have so many divine materials, Xiaoxiao, I'll forge another."

Jun Moxiao brought out a large pile of chaos stone, vajra divine wood, stardust sand, and similar materials, then took out three chunks of immortal gold.

Little Pagoda grew excited atop Shi Hao's head. "You rich tycoon! Let's be friends!"

Jun Moxiao tossed Little Pagoda a chunk of immortal gold, then told Shi Hao, "Hao Tian, the sooner you forge a lifebound divine artifact, the better. It'll be your companion through a lifetime of battles."

Willow Deity said, "I plan to forge a sword and a zither. Hearing Xiaoxiao's music just now sparked my interest too."

At that moment, the Witch told Shi Hao, "Hao Tian! I suggest you forge a zither too. Fairy Yuechan has a flute artifact. When the time comes, you can subdue her with your zither music."

Jun Moxiao said, "Exactly, Hao Tian. I have the Three Thousand Musical Scores here. Just learn a few hundred pieces. Fairy Yuechan will definitely come looking for you again. Then you two can perform a zither-and-flute duet, and perhaps gain something unexpected. Hmm! It's settled."

Willow Deity said, "Xiaoxiao! You actually know so many pieces. Share some with us so Feng Jiu and I can learn too. The Fuxi Zither just said that music could kill enemies elegantly. I'd like to study this divine ability as well."

Jun Moxiao said, "Then you'll have to carefully explore how to kill enemies through music. The Fuxi Zither's notes contain all sorts of Great Dao divine abilities and laws. You can even lay killing formations within the music. That takes serious study. This divine ability isn't simple-in fact, it's extremely profound."

The moment Shi Hao heard about this divine ability, his enthusiasm surged. "I have to master that! Once I succeed, I won't even need to lift a hand to kill enemies."

Jun Moxiao said, "Then let me show you what a divine ability that kills through music feels like."

Jun Moxiao told the Fuxi Zither, "Fuxi Zither, please keep the power under control. I'll play Ambush from Ten Sides."

A voice came from the Fuxi Zither. "Don't worry! I'll keep its power at the Array Formation Realm."

Jun Moxiao gave it some thought and decided to incorporate various fierce beast treasure techniques, sword arts, divine abilities, and more into the music of Ambush from Ten Sides.

After a moment's contemplation, Jun Moxiao began playing Ambush from Ten Sides. Instantly, notes containing all manner of treasure techniques, divine abilities, the power of laws, and sword qi swept toward the three of them.

Amid music brimming with boundless killing intent, Shi Hao and the Witch hurriedly unleashed various treasure techniques to fight back. Willow Deity quietly sensed the laws and killing intent within it, since attacks of this level could not cause any harm.

Shi Hao cried out, "What's going on? Why do I feel like my strength has dropped by about thirty percent?"

The Witch said, "Mine too."

Willow Deity replied, "It's probably suppression from that Quasi-Immortal Emperor Weapon, the Fuxi Zither. This divine weapon is too powerful."

After finishing Ambush from Ten Sides, Jun Moxiao asked the three of them, "Well? How was its power? I just asked Senior Fuxi Zither to limit it to the Array Formation Realm."

Shi Hao exclaimed, "It was incredible! My strength was suppressed by thirty percent."

Jun Moxiao explained, "That's the Fuxi Zither's Immortal Music Domain ability. It's called Wild Geese Landing on Flat Sand. Under the Immortal Music Domain's suppression, enemies lose thirty percent of their strength. The domain can distinguish friend from foe and is entirely under my control. Its range expands as I grow stronger."

Willow Deity said, "As expected of a Quasi-Immortal Emperor Weapon! On the battlefield, it can suppress the enemy's strength while leaving your own forces unaffected. It's a devastating weapon for group battles!"

Shi Hao said, "I want to forge a divine weapon like that too."

Jun Moxiao replied, "Then you'll have to study it carefully afterward. It'll probably be quite a headache. Right, I also have some enlightenment tea leaves here. They'll help you forge divine weapons and comprehend divine abilities. Since you're going to make zithers, I'll pass on some musical scores too."

Shi Hao said, "When I go to the Upper Realm, I have to get some enlightenment tea leaves, no matter what."

Willow Deity replied, "You'll need at least Supreme Realm strength to have any chance of obtaining them. Work hard!"

Shi Hao's next tasks were forging his Lifebound Divine Weapons and improving his cultivation. He decided to forge an ancient zither and a sword.

Jun Moxiao passed a thousand musical scores to the three of them. Willow Deity put away the various divine materials and took the Witch back to the divine kingdom to research how to forge their weapons.

Jun Moxiao also planned to forge a lifebound divine sword, naming it the Nameless Sword. He recalled an awesome line from a novel: Though the sword has no name, its wielder does.

He also forged a flute divine weapon for his spirit body. His primary body could play the Fuxi Zither while his spirit body played the flute! Together, they could perform Swordsman's Song from the television drama and the Song of the Azure Sea's Rising Tide. Every time he had heard these pieces in his previous life, they had set his blood boiling.

Jun Moxiao planned to recreate Dugu Qiubai's Nine Swords of Dugu from the novel, then incorporate various divine abilities and laws into its sword moves. With those radical modifications, the Nine Swords of Dugu would become a powerful cultivation sword art. He intended to modify it until it reached the level of the Pacifying Chaos Art and the Grass-Character Sword Art.

He got straight to work, having the system produce the Nine Swords of Dugu. This sword art advanced without retreat, every move an attack. The best defense was offense. Most importantly, wielding it looked incredibly cool. Power aside, looking cool was enough.

Jun Moxiao felt that if a martial genius like Dugu Qiubai were placed in Perfect World, he could surely cultivate to the level of an Immortal King Giant, entering the Dao through the sword.

After several months of exploration, Jun Moxiao finally completed the cultivation version of the Nine Swords of Dugu. It had nine major forms and 360 variations. He incorporated the treasure techniques and divine abilities of the Ten Fiends and various high-level fierce beasts into every sword move, along with the Six Paths of Reincarnation Treasure Technique, the laws of time, and the yin-yang laws of the Two Principles Heavenly Art. He even integrated dozens of formations into its moves.

Jun Moxiao executed it with the Nameless Sword he had forged. In an instant, sword shadows filled the sky. Various fierce beast imprints flew from the sword moves, along with killing formations formed by those moves and more. Its destructive power was terrifying.

Jun Moxiao reckoned that the sword art's grade was quite high. He went beneath the willow tree and told Willow Deity, "Sister Willow Deity, I've put together a powerful sword art. Could you see what grade it is?"

Willow Deity grew interested. "Oh! You've obtained a sword art? Show me."

Jun Moxiao said, "It's very powerful. Let's test it somewhere farther away."

The two went to a distant location. Filled with anticipation, Willow Deity said, "Xiaoxiao, show me."

Jun Moxiao unleashed the cultivation version of the Nine Swords of Dugu. Willow Deity watched the sword shadows filling the sky, containing various fierce beast treasure techniques, time laws, yin-yang laws, and all kinds of killing formations. The sword art carried an unstoppable, forward-charging momentum, as though there were no path of retreat.

Willow Deity exclaimed, "This sword art is at least on the level of the Pacifying Chaos Art. It might even be higher."

Jun Moxiao stopped and asked, "Sister, is it really that powerful?"

Willow Deity replied, "It is! Its moves contain all sorts of laws, divine abilities, and killing formations! The swordplay is fluid and graceful, with endless mysteries. Most importantly, this sword art is entirely offensive. Once unleashed, it charges relentlessly forward. That momentum is astonishing. Does it have a name?"

Jun Moxiao said, "This sword art was originally called the Nine Swords of Dugu. It was created by an unparalleled genius named Dugu Qiubai. Throughout his life, he sought a single defeat but never found one, so he named himself 'Seeking Defeat.' He entered the Dao through the sword and ultimately reached the realm where, with no sword in his hand, all things could serve as his sword."

Willow Deity said, "Such a person was truly a genius! Was he from your previous world?"

Jun Moxiao replied, "Not my world. He existed in legends, but his sword art was passed down. I incorporated various fierce beast treasure techniques, divine abilities, and killing formations into it. Its power seems decent. I'll pass it on to you, Sister! See if there's anything else that can be improved."

Willow Deity received the cultivation version of the Nine Swords of Dugu and marveled, "Very powerful! Excellent indeed. If those great sects found out about it, their eyes would turn red with envy."

Suddenly remembering something, Willow Deity told Jun Moxiao, "Many beings from the Outer Regions have come to the Fire Kingdom. You can go take a look and meet cultivators from other outer regions."

Jun Moxiao asked, "Will you come too, Sister?"

Willow Deity chuckled. "I won't go. I still need to study the various divine abilities you gave me and strive to recover my peak strength sooner."

Jun Moxiao remembered the Pan Peaches the system had given him, which ripened after nine thousand years. He immediately took one out for Willow Deity and explained, "Sister Willow Deity, this is an immortal fruit I obtained, a Pan Peach. If you eat it, you should be able to recover to the True Immortal realm."

Willow Deity accepted the Pan Peach and sensed Dao laws more powerful than those in the previous Ginseng Fruit. Astonished, Willow Deity said, "Xiaoxiao! You actually obtained an immortal fruit like this. It contains stronger, complete Great Dao laws. After absorbing it, I should be able to recover to the True Immortal realm. You're giving me such a precious treasure? Don't you need it yourself?"

Jun Moxiao replied, "As long as it helps you, Sister Willow Deity. I still have a few."

Willow Deity said, "You truly have so many supreme treasures. Then I won't stand on ceremony. I'll go back and refine it first. Go find Shi Hao!"