Two days later, Chu Kuangren had already gone through the Eight Celestial Demonic Chords once.
After progressing to a Sage and the huge amounts of purple haze had altered his soul, his cognizance had improved by leaps and bounds. Coupling that with his Meditational Clarity Trait, he now had a whole new understanding of this Emperor Technique after going through it once. As such, his level in guqin Dao had improved by another tier.
"It"s about time I go check out if there are any impressive guqin cultivators in Seven Chord City."
Chu Kuangren mumbled.
He had already tasked this job to Shang Qingxue, requesting her to collect some intel.
Hence, she should have some conclusive evidence by now.
When he summoned Shang Qingxue back, she had indeed gathered quite a lot of information.
"Li Changyin, a sky-pride amongst the younger generation of Phantasmic Melodious Sect. He is skilled at playing the guqin, the flute, and various other musical instruments. He was once regarded as a peerless genius that is only seen every once in a million years…"
"Ji Xiaoyao, Ji clan"s finest sky-pride. He is most skilled in guqin Dao, especially in the Ji clan"s famous song, the Limitless Song…"
"Yang Xiyun, Melodious Void Sect"s dame. She is skilled in guqin Dao as well. She has already attained the Seven-Step Great Sage Realm in her cultivation. She is powerful enough to cross realms and challenge Sage Rulers…"
s
Chu Kuangren"s lips curled up as he read the various information that Shang Qingxue had collected. "You"ve done well."
"Oh, right. Sect Leader, I"ve just received news that Melodious Void Sect"s Yang Xiyun is planning to organize a guqin festival at Cloudveil Pavilion before the Infinite Guqin Banquet commences. There will be a huge amount of guqin cultivators gathering there. Why don"t we attend it?" Shang Qingxue said excitedly.
"Sounds like a good idea." Chu Kuangren gently nodded.
…
Cloudveil Pavilion.
It was the biggest, and most high-cla.s.s inn in the entire Seven Chord City. This place was often the venue for a guqin master who intended to hold guqin festivals.
On this night, many cultivators skilled in musical Dao were gathered in Cloudveil Pavilion.
Chu Kuangren and Shang Qingxue, too, were amongst the visitors.
However, they were stopped just as they wanted to enter the place.
"My two guests, apologies. The Cloudveil Pavilion has already been booked by Lady Yang. If you want to go inside, you must present your invitation card."
One of the inn"s workers, who was stationed outside to welcome the cultivators, told them apologetically.
Upon hearing this, Chu Kuangren could not help but fix a stare at Shang Qingxue, as if saying, "You didn"t say we needed an invitation."
Shang Qingxue put her palms together in a prayer sign and quickly apologized, "I"m really sorry, Sect Leader. It"s my mistake."
"What do we do now?"
Chu Kuangren stroked his chin, then stared toward the brightly lit Cloudveil Pavilion with a mischievous look.
Were they going to break in?
This did not seem appropriate.
Just when Chu Kuangren was trying to figure things out, two figures slowly walked toward them from a near distance.
It was a male and a female.
Among those two, the female cultivator was especially shocked when she saw the outline of Chu Kuangren"s figure from the back.
"This figure and this energy… Could it be…"
The female cultivator looked stunned. It was as if she had recalled something.
That handsome young man beside her noticed Chu Kuangren"s figure too, and his eyebrow raised slightly.
"Yaorao, do you know that guy?"
The young man inquired.
That female cultivator was the sky-pride who had made quite a name for herself on Firmament Star lately and wanted to challenge Chu Kuangren, Feng Yaorao.
"I"m not sure if he"s who I think he is…" Feng Yaorao walked up to him with antic.i.p.ation.
At this moment, Chu Kuangren was still figuring out how best to get themselves into Cloudveil Pavilion. When looking at the cultivators who pa.s.sed by him, a menacing look glinted in his eyes.
Why not steal two invitation cards?
"Brother Chu?"
Just then, Feng Yaorao"s voice rang out from behind him.
Chu Kuangren turned around, only to see Feng Yaorao. A look of surprise flashed in his eyes. "Are you that F-Feng… Sister Feng?"
He did have a little impression of Feng Yaorao.
/strong>
However, he had forgotten her exact name. He had thought for a while but still failed to recall her name, so he could only greet her as "Sister".
Feng Yaorao pouted when she heard that. She stared at him, upset. "You really are Brother Chu. I"ve been constantly thinking of you, Brother Chu, but I didn"t think you"d forget my name. I"m really saddened by this."
Beside her, the handsome young man"s face stiffened for a moment.
A man that Feng Yaorao had been constantly thinking of?!
The young man stared at Chu Kuangren with hostility, but he retracted it after a short while.
Nonetheless, Shang Qingxue had managed to catch sight of it, and she looked at that young man sympathetically.
Sigh, I hope this guy would be wise not to provoke the Sect Leader.
Otherwise, it was going to be every man for himself.
"Heh, I didn"t expect to see you here, Sister Feng. It"s fate, isn"t it?" Chu Kuangren coughed twice, trying to mask his awkwardness.
"My name is Feng Yaorao. I hope Brother Chu will remember it this time. Right, are you both here to attend Lady Yang"s banquet too?"
Feng Yaorao said.
"Yes, but unfortunately, we don"t have an invitation card," Chu Kuangren said helplessly.
"I see. I have one here that I don"t mind giving it to Brother Chu," Feng Yaorao said as she took out her invitation card.
Beside her, that handsome young man suddenly spoke, "Yaorao, no need for that trouble. I"m good friends with Sister Yang. Your two friends can just come in with us."
"If they are your guests, Daoist Li, I wouldn"t have any problem with letting them in."
The inn"s worker immediately responded with a flattering smile.
He clearly knew who this young man was and recognized the latter"s higher status.
Chu Kuangren activated his Eye of Revelation and glanced at that young man.
"Li Changyin, Phantasmic Melody Sect"s Daoist…"
"So, it"s him." Reality dawned on Chu Kuangren.
Li Changyin was crowned as the once-in-a-lifetime genius in Phantasmic Melody Sect. Hence, he was very reputable in Seven Chord City.
With Li Changyin"s aid, Chu Kuangren and Shang Qingxue got into Cloudveil Pavilion.
…
"Lady Yang holding a guqin festival is a truly rare occasion."
"That"s right. I can"t possibly miss this grand event."
"I"m sure the people here today have not only come to listen to Lady Yang"s melodious tune, but also to admire her good looks."
"Ha! In all honesty, that is my intention."
The crowd was buzzing inside Cloudveil Pavilion as many musical cultivators had gathered here.
When Chu Kuangren"s group entered the scene, quite a number of cultivators glanced over. However, since no one could see Chu Kuangren"s face clearly because of the spiritual veil, everyone diverted their attention to Li Changyin beside him.
"Hey, Daoist Li is here."
"Daoist Li, long time no see."
"Daoist Li"s presence has really made the guqin banquet today more interesting. Come, please have a seat."
Everyone was very respectful and admirable towards the handsome Li Changyin, and many of them flattered him with compliments.
Some female guqin masters even threw wistful glances at Li Changyin.
For once, Chu Kuangren was a foil to someone else"s grace.
This was a whole new experience for him, and he found it fascinating.
He used to be the center of attraction wherever he went. Hence, now that he was cast aside, he felt a little weird.
It even made him a little sentimental.
So this was how it felt to be left out.
s
Beside him, Li Changyin appeared to be enjoying the limelight. He smiled gently and said, "Come, everyone, let me introduce you to my friend, Feng Yaorao. Sister Feng, as for these two beside you… Right, why don"t you both take down your spiritual veils and let everybody get to know you?"
Along with Li Changyin"s words, the crowd then turned to look at Chu Kuangren and his companion.
It came off quite disrespectful to the crowd that they were concealing their looks in a public event.
"Apologies. I should have known better."
Chu Kuangren smiled faintly before removing the spiritual veil on his face.