Chapter 1292: Disciple and Master

Snowflakes glistened, drifting between heaven and earth.

Dongbo Xueying and Yufeng Qingyin sat together, sipping wine while listening to the melodious zither music played by a beautiful woman not far away. The enchanting notes filled the garden, and Dongbo Xueying found himself thoroughly immersed in the performance.

When the music ceased, the female zither master paused and smiled at Dongbo Xueying and Yufeng Qingyin.

“May I ask for your thoughts, Lord Feixue and Third Young Lady?” the zither master inquired.

“Every time I listen to Sister Leng play, it feels like a dream—so incredibly beautiful,” Yufeng Qingyin praised, her eyes sparkling with admiration.

Dongbo Xueying, wearing a faint smile, had always appreciated music but never paid it much attention in his long years of cultivation. However, after his disciple Yufeng Qingyin strongly recommended the premier zither master of Junshan City, ‘Leng Xin,’ he had agreed to invite her to perform at his residence. Though Dongbo Xueying concealed his true strength, his displayed power had already surpassed that of the Bat Mountain Master, so the zither master naturally performed with utmost dedication.

At first, Dongbo Xueying had merely found her music stunning.

But after several performances at his residence, he gradually discerned a connection between her ‘zither melodies’ and his own ‘Illusory Realm Path of the Void.’ The Illusory Realm Path contained the ‘Illusion’ aspect, which could sometimes be enhanced through sound.

“Truly worthy of being Junshan City’s top zither master. Her mastery of music has reached an extraordinary level, and her ancestral divine bloodline further enhances her talent in this art. Though some of her sound techniques remain unrefined, the sheer freedom and spontaneity in her music are beyond my reach,” Dongbo Xueying mused.

His Illusory Realm Path had birthed two ultimate techniques—one to ensnare the enemy in illusions, the other to annihilate their soul. These techniques were derived from the ‘Gray Eyes’ and ‘Golden Eyes,’ yet he had struggled to perfectly merge them.

But the zither music had revealed his flaw.

“I always knew that the soul’s deepest desire is ‘freedom’—the essence of the Illusory Realm Path,” Dongbo Xueying reflected. “I once glimpsed the Thousand-Eyed Water Pearl and have since strived to recall and merge my two techniques, but I was too rigid in my approach. Freedom is the core of the soul—it should be the foundation of unifying my techniques.”

He sighed inwardly.

Such was the nature of cultivation.

Even if someone revealed the method, true understanding only came after enduring hardships.

With this realization, his avatars in the Heart Realm Continent and his home universe immediately entered seclusion to meditate. Dongbo Xueying had a premonition that, given enough time, he would successfully merge the two techniques of his Illusory Realm Path.

…

Because the zither music had inspired his cultivation, Dongbo Xueying frequently invited the zither master to perform.

“Lord Feixue, you haven’t shared your thoughts yet,” the zither master said, looking at him.

“Miss Leng’s music is unrestrained and free, resonating deeply with the heart,” Dongbo Xueying replied after a pause. “However, I suggest you study various sound-based cultivation methods. It may further enhance your art.”

He had hesitated to mention this earlier, fearing that deliberate study might diminish her innate spontaneity. But from a cultivation perspective, even temporary setbacks could lead to growth.

“Sound?” The zither master frowned. “Music is music, and sound is sound, are they not?”

“Ponder it. It will benefit you,” Dongbo Xueying said.

“Thank you for your guidance, Lord.” Though puzzled, she resolved to follow the advice of this ascended deity and seek out sound-based cultivation texts. She had previously relied solely on her bloodline’s natural musical talent.

Dongbo Xueying nodded.

Even as he conversed with his disciple and the zither master, his mind frequently wandered through the mysteries of the Dao. At his level, multitasking was as effortless as breathing.

“Those two predecessors created mid-level Divine Emperor techniques like ‘Heaven and Earth’ and ‘Boundless,’ yet I still struggle to perfect my ‘Hunyuan Body Refinement’ to that level,” Dongbo Xueying pondered. His current refinement technique was stable at the early Divine Emperor stage, and he had even devised several unstable variants that could briefly unleash mid-level Divine Emperor power.

“Still, cultivating in different civilizations has its benefits.” He now understood ‘Yuan’s’ intention.

The rules of the Heart Realm Continent and this world differed drastically. Adapting to these variations refined his Dao, making it more flawless.

Only a Dao that transcended all worlds could be eternal—worthy of breaking free and ascending as a Hunyuan lifeform.

“Lord Feixue, come to my residence at once.” A transmission reached him.

“Hm?”

Dongbo Xueying, still holding his wine cup, paused. “City Lord Yufeng Junshan is summoning me?”

“Father?” Yufeng Qingyin also received the message, her expression shifting.

“Qingyin, has the City Lord called for you as well?” Dongbo Xueying asked, noting her reaction.

“Yes,” she confirmed.

“Then let us go together.” He turned to the zither master. “Miss Leng, we have matters to attend to. You may return for now.”

The zither master bowed and departed.

Dongbo Xueying and Yufeng Qingyin then made their way to the City Lord’s residence.

…

The City Lord’s estate, home to the Yufeng Clan, sprawled across vast grounds.

In the main hall, a gathering of powerful figures had assembled—members of the Yufeng Clan, as well as experts like the Bat Mountain Master, Jian Yin Shenjun, and Dongbo Xueying. Most were at least mid-level Divine Lords, making Yufeng Qingyin, with her weaker cultivation, a rare exception. Only her status as the City Lord’s daughter granted her entry.

“Brother Feixue, what do you think the City Lord wants, summoning nearly all the city’s experts like this?” The Bat Mountain Master approached, his triangular head unsightly but his demeanor friendly.

“Who knows?” Dongbo Xueying remained indifferent. His stay in Junshan City was merely for secluded cultivation.

“It’s been ages since Junshan City gathered so many experts. Something feels amiss.” The Bat Mountain Master wasn’t alone in his unease—many present shared his apprehension.

The abrupt summons, without explanation, fueled speculation.

“He’s here.”

“The City Lord has arrived.”

The hall fell silent as a gray-haired, weathered middle-aged man—Yufeng Junshan—entered through a side door, accompanied by Steward Tong.

Yufeng Junshan, who had revitalized the Yufeng Clan and ascended to the Divine Emperor realm, was a true overlord. Yet now, his expression was grave as he stood before his throne without sitting.

“I know you all wonder why I’ve summoned you so suddenly,” he declared.

The crowd looked up at him.

“A powerful enemy approaches Junshan City,” Yufeng Junshan announced. “They will arrive within half an hour.”

“What?”

“An enemy?”

“Half an hour?”

Panic erupted in the hall. The news was too sudden.

“City Lord, who is this enemy? Why attack Junshan City?” Voices clamored from below.

Yufeng Junshan frowned slightly and let out a cold hum. The hall quieted instantly.

“The enemy is formidable and bears an irreconcilable grudge against the Yufeng Clan,” he stated icily. “I know what you’re thinking—’This is the Yufeng Clan’s feud, not ours.’ Am I right?”

Many in the crowd paled.

“I, Yufeng Junshan, have treated you all well since taking control of Junshan City. Now, in this crisis, I ask for your aid.” Though he phrased it as a request, his tone brooked no refusal. Resistance was futile—the Yufeng Clan controlled the estate’s powerful formations.

With their strength and the formations, defiance was suicide.

“We will naturally do our utmost.”

“City Lord, we owe the Yufeng Clan much. We will not retreat.” Several experts quickly pledged loyalty. None were foolish enough to challenge the City Lord now.

“Good.” Yufeng Junshan nodded. “Rest assured, I will face the greatest threats myself, alongside my clan’s experts. With the formations bolstering you, the enemies you face will be manageable.”

The assembly had no choice but to trust him.

Dongbo Xueying listened silently.

A powerful enemy?

Forcing Yufeng Junshan to coerce the city’s experts suggested a dire threat.

Beside him, Yufeng Qingyin hesitated before transmitting privately, “Master, the enemy is overwhelmingly strong. The Yufeng Clan cannot withstand them. When the battle begins, stay back and find an opportunity to flee. Do not perish with us.” She and others had been strictly forbidden from leaking this information.

“Cannot withstand them?” Dongbo Xueying was startled. He turned to his disciple.

Yufeng Qingyin gave a slight nod, continuing, “Master, this is the Yufeng Clan’s calamity. Meeting you before this disaster was my fortune. But the danger is too great—do not involve yourself deeply. It’s futile. The enemy is far stronger than us.”

Her urgency and concern touched him.

So, she and the others were prepared to die? This foolish disciple…

Dongbo Xueying smiled at her and transmitted, “Worry not. Your master never acts without certainty.”

Yufeng Qingyin felt both relief and a faint pang of sadness—her master seemed indifferent to her fate.