Desolate Devouring Art

Chapter 551 - Contest In Music

Many people in Serene Sea City knew about this chess puzzle. Upon hearing that they would use this puzzle for the contest, scholars by the lakeside quickly took out a chessboard, trying to find a solution.

After all, they could board the ship if they could find a solution to this chess puzzle. However, news soon spread that Liu Wuxie had used five different methods to defeat Fan Yongfu, and he was playing as the red pieces.

The crowd became silent when the news spread out.

"Five different methods!" A self-proclaimed genius in chess threw his chessboard into the Mooncave Lake and swore never to touch chess again.

Liu Wuxie's five methods soon spread across Mooncave Lake, not to mention the last method, which only used three moves, which was unheard of.

The stars became dim, and the moon had shifted to the west.

"Lady Murong, the last challenge should be music, right?" Many people asked Murong Yi.

In Serene Sea City, four great scholars were revered: Hua Chenye for his poetry, Qiu Baihao for his painting, Lu Ming for his chess, and Murong Yi for her mastery of music. Each excelled in their respective arts, standing at the pinnacle of their craft with unmatched skills.

Murong Yi rose gracefully, and her gaze lifted as a gentle breeze stirred across the lake, causing her veil to flutter momentarily. The brief glimpse of her face left many onlookers dazed, captivated by her ethereal beauty.

Even Liu Wuxie felt his heart tighten when he saw Murong Yi's appearance.

How could there be such beauty in the world? Liu Wuxie thought.

Only Xu Lingxue could rival Murong Yi's beauty. Chen Ruoyan was beautiful, but she lacked an ethereal demeanor.

On the contrary, Xu Lingxue and Murong Yi looked like fairies who had descended to the mortal realm.

Chen Ruoyan and Jian Xing'er cultivated that graceful demeanor as their cultivation advanced, acquiring it through growth and effort. However, Xu Lingxue and Murong Yi were born with it, naturally exuding an air of elegance that needed no development. While Chen Ruoyan and Jian Xing'er had to be nurtured into their refinement, Xu Lingxue and Murong Yi carried it effortlessly from the start.

Everyone on the boat was stunned and couldn't describe their feelings.

"She's too beautiful!" Many people were dazed and lost their composure, and they were still immersed in that fleeting moment.

Even Murong Yi didn't expect a breeze to lift her veil. When she looked at the crowd, she noticed that only a few people could maintain their composure, but one person left her shocked. This was because there wasn't any ripple in his eyes, and he was terrifyingly calm even after seeing her face.

Even Hua Chenye and Qiu Baihao were momentarily captivated by Murong Yi's breathtaking beauty, but Liu Wuxie remained composed and unaffected. This caused Murong Yi to pout subtly, disappointed that her allure seemed to have no effect on him.

"I can die without regret after seeing Lady Murong's face!" someone exclaimed as many attendees sat down, no longer in the mood for poetry. They were completely mesmerized by her beauty, unable to tear themselves away from the thought of her.

"As expected of a peerless beauty. She lives up to her reputation," someone said. Even the sight of her side profile had left them entranced, and who knew what would happen if she removed her veil.

"The final contest is, indeed, a contest in music. There aren't any restrictions, and you can all feel free to use any instrument you like," Murong Yi nodded gently. Of the four traditional arts, only music was left for the last.

Very few people understood music, and everyone looked at each other, with many deciding to give up. They were already satisfied they could see Murong Yi's face, even if it was just a side profile.

Many people naturally turned their attention to the Azure Crimson Gate. They had lost three rounds, and Fan Yongfu even had his cultivation crippled. What happened today was nothing short of a disaster for the Azure Crimson Gate.

There's only one last chance left, and they would be too ashamed to return to the Azure Crimson Gate if they couldn't turn the tables around.

Qiu Baihao hadn't researched much in music, and he definitely wouldn't compete in this round. As for Yin Jingwu, he could only be considered half-baked when it came to music.

The Azure Crimson Gate fell into a brief silence as they discussed how to make a comeback and humiliate Liu Wuxie.

"Zhou Liang, only your music skills are the best among us. We can only rely on you in this final round," Yin Jingwu said, walking up to a young disciple and addressing him by his name.

"I'll do my best!" Zhou Liang said. He could only steel himself. While his music skills weren't top-tier, they couldn't be underestimated either. He might not be able to compete with Murong Yi, but he was better than ninety-nine percent of the people present.

"Let me start then!" The Sky Rift Valley's Fu Hong stepped out and took out an ancient zither from his interspatial ring.

Everyone's gaze fell on him after seeing him taking the initiative. While Fu Hong wasn't one of the four great scholars in Serene Sea City, his music skills had surpassed most of his peers.

The chatter on the boat gradually subsided, and crisp music came out from the zither, spreading across the lake.

This song was called Picking Chrysanthemums, a popular song often heard in teahouses and taverns.

The music had a lively rhythm that injected a hint of life into the boat. Clearly, Fu Hong did this on purpose to lighten the mood and not compete for first place.

Each musical note was like a young lady picking chrysanthemums and dancing joyfully along the mountain path.

At times, the music was high and spirited, drawing everyone into the tune with their negative emotions fading away. When the song ended, applause erupted from the surroundings, and they were all for Fu Hong's performance.

This song was well played, and it had reached the level of a master. Several others followed and played a song. Although not every song was breathtaking, it was at least well-played.

Ordinary songs could not stand out after Murong Yi's performance earlier. It was like having a perfect score placed before you, and surpassing it was incredibly difficult.

Murong Yi's skills in music were nearing perfection in everyone's eyes.

After waiting for some time, Murong Yi asked, "Is there anyone else who would like to perform?"

No one stepped out. If no one stepped forward, everyone present would have to grade all the songs played to determine the winner.

"Hold on!" Zhou Liang spoke out and turned to look at Liu Wuxie. What was meant to happen would eventually happen, and the excitement was reignited because everyone knew the Azure Crimson Gate wouldn't let this matter rest so easily. After all, this was their last chance, so how could they let it go?

"Liu Wuxie, I want to compete with you in music!" Zhou Liang's voice was deep as he challenged Liu Wuxie.

"You're not qualified!" Liu Wuxie replied uninterestedly because he just wanted to return and rest. He had listened to everyone's performance earlier, and he figured Zhou Liang's skills were only slightly better than Fu Hong's.

The Azure Crimson Gate disciples were infuriated to hear Liu Wuxie saying that Zhou Liang wasn't qualified to challenge him. They all felt that Liu Wuxie was too arrogant.

"I think you're just afraid!" Zhou Liang sneered, believing that Liu Wuxie was backing out of fear because he wasn't proficient in music.

"Junior Brother Zhou is right. He must be afraid!" The fellow disciples echoed along to ridicule Liu Wuxie.

However, Liu Wuxie disregarded the surrounding discussion because such mockery couldn't affect him.

"I knew it! There's no such thing as a jack-of-all-trades in the world. Music must be his weak spot!" Many people commented, convinced that Liu Wuxie wasn't proficient in music for refusing the challenge. Little did they know that Liu Wuxie's attainment in music was first among the ten Immortal Emperors in his previous life.

"Liu Wuxie, kneel and kowtow to us if you don't dare to compete!" More taunts came, and they grew louder. The Azure Crimson Gate disciples felt this was the perfect opportunity to humiliate Liu Wuxie.

Murong Yi looked worried because mastering music required time, while Liu Wuxie had already impressed her with poetry, painting, and chess. Thus, no one, not even Murong Yi, was optimistic about Liu Wuxie's musical skills.

Ugly faces bared their fangs at Liu Wuxie with their saliva flying around, looking as though they wanted to devour him whole.

"Liu Wuxie, get lost! Serene Sea City isn't a place for you!" Yin Jingwu laughed because he finally found a reason to humiliate Liu Wuxie.

Liu Wuxie suddenly raised his head and looked at Yin Jingwu coldly. From the start, this person had jumped around like a monkey, constantly trying to provoke him.

"Very well, I agree with your bet. If he can beat me, I will cripple myself. But if I happen to win, Yin Jingwu must cripple his cultivation and never show his face before me ever again," Liu Wuxie agreed to Zhou Liang's challenge. But if Zhou Liang lost, Yin Jingwu would have to cripple his cultivation.

Yin Jingwu's laughter stopped abruptly as though someone had choked him by his neck, and he couldn't make a sound. No one expected Liu Wuxie to propose such a condition to have Yin Jingwu's cultivation crippled.

Everyone quickly came to their senses because Yin Jingwu had been the one provoking Liu Wuxie right from the start, and he had even resorted to using his fellow martial brothers to get rid of Liu Wuxie.

Zhou Liang didn't mind Liu Wuxie's condition because he wouldn't suffer one bit even if he lost. After all, it was Yin Jingwu who had to cripple his cultivation if he lost, and it was even better if he won.

It was Yin Jingwu's turn to make the decision, and everyone wondered if he would agree. After all, he was the one who had mocked Liu Wuxie for not daring to accept the challenge earlier.

The conditions had been laid on the table now, and it was questionable whether Yin Jingwu had the guts to accept the challenge.

"Senior Brother Yin, don't worry about it. He must be trying to pressure us on purpose to make us give up!" Several Azure Crimson Gate disciples stepped out to encourage Yin Jingwu. They felt that Liu Wuxie had deliberately proposed those terms to make them give up challenging him.

"That's right! That must be the case!" Zhou Liang shared the same thoughts and hoped Yin Jingwu would agree to the bet. After all, he would become the Azure Crimson Gate's hero if he won, and his position would skyrocket in the sect.

Even Qiu Baihao had lost to Liu Wuxie, and his status might surpass the former if he were to beat Liu Wuxie.

With so many people egging him on, Yin Jingwu fell into a dilemma because he would be seen as a coward if he refused.

Everyone present was a prodigy of the three major sects, and Yin Jingwu would have no face to meet others if he had the title of a coward.

After all, everyone still remembered how Yin Jingwu had pressured Qiu Baihao into challenging Liu Wuxie, only to shrink back when it was his turn to face him. Fan Yongfu had even sacrificed his cultivation in a desperate attempt to salvage the Azure Crimson Gate's reputation, so what right did Yin Jingwu have to refuse now?

"Fine, I accept!" Yin Jingwu gritted his teeth and agreed with Liu Wuxie's terms. He would have to cripple his cultivation if Liu Wuxie won, but if Zhou Liang won, he would have the opportunity to cripple Liu Wuxie's cultivation personally.

"Sign it!" Liu Wuxie produced a Life-and-Death Pledge for Yin Jingwu to sign. Once signed, the Life-and-Death Curse would be planted in their soul seas.