Chapter 11. Elder Senior Sister and Qin Xingxuan
Lin Xiang had not heard these young girls' discussions.
He kept looking through the books. The Zither Department Lecture Hall was very large, and even this one side had a good area set aside for a collection of books, each of which held a variety of musical knowledge and history.
Lin Xiang, of course, was not interested in music whatsoever. He searched and searched and finally found what he was looking for. It was a manual called the Sky Zither List.
Sky Zither List was an encyclopedia on ancient instruments of all sorts, that included origins, users, manufacturers, materials, and other arcane knowledge, all of which were described in minute detail. Of course, among these rare materials were also included Sky Worm Silk!
Lin Xiang was not surprised and began to read. Mostly to put up a show and partially to see if he could learn anything.
The 'Sky Zither List' introduced the Sky Worm Silk's properties and gathering methods. There was no available picture of the Sky Worm Silk, but Lin Xiang already knew that this was the same Sky Worm Silk required for his Inscriptions.
As Lin Xiang was innocently and earnestly reading, he did not realize at all that the number of female students in the Lecture Hall began to creep up.
The female students, on the other hand, did notice him in the corner by himself. In this group of heavenly beauties, the presence of a single man was truly plain as day.
Luckily, Lin Xiang had not looked around, as all of his heart's attention was focused on the book. Even though the female students thought it might be fake, they did not have any evidence that they could use to throw him out.
Originally, the lecture would have proceeded smoothly, but there existed the Zither Department's legendary Elder Senior Sister who retained an enormous prejudice against the entirety of men-kind.
In the social circles of aristocratic young masters, the Senior Elder Sister's name was like a thunderbolt that reverberated in their ears and caused their hearts to heat up with anger. That sign 'No Man or Dog shall enter' was an insult to all of them, and caused them to feel the pain of losing so many chances with ladies of such… appreciable goods! They cursed her to remain a spinster for the rest of her life!
After the Elder Senior Sister arrived, she instantly discovered Lin Xiang. Her willow eyebrows instantly wrinkled. She laid down her zither and arrived in front of him. She tapped her fingers three times on his desk and asked him, "How did you get in?"
When someone is angry there would be differences in the projection of that anger. With just a few words, or a slight change in body language, the story told and the effect created would be drastically different. For instance, this Elder Senior Sister had her slender eyebrows pointing straight up, her waist was rigid and unbend-able, and in addition to the knocks on the table, the intense and murderous gaze, and the chilling tone used, her killing intent was soaring to the heavens!
A young, simple-hearted male student who saw her would only be frightened out of his wits and cause a mess in his pants, timidly being unable to speak.
Lin Xiang was a bit taken aback as he looked over.
In fact, the infamous Elder Senior Sister was actually a beauty among beauties. She was around 20 years of age, and had a flawless oval face, stature that belonged to royalty, long and slender thighs and legs that climbed to the sky.
It was a pity that the Elder Senior Sister had never shown any interest in men, and was easily irritated, having a short temper. Any male who dared to gaze upon her majestic beauty would be sent a swift and decisive kick between their two legs.
Ling Xiang coughed and replied, "Why couldn't I come here?"
As soon as the Elder Senior Sister heard Lin Xiang's words, her heart instantly raged with flames of anger. This little rascal! She did not believe that he could possess a Pass Card and still did not know that the Zither Department had an unwritten agreement that all men could not enter!
At this moment, a sweet and gentle voice sounded out, "Sister Ling, what is happening?"
Lin Xiang looked towards that sweet sound and was pleasantly surprised.
The voice came from a girl wearing a simple white dress, with hair like flowing ink. She was simply an elegant immortal beauty with incomparable grace. She was none other than Marshal Qin Xiao's granddaughter, Qin Xingxuan!
'Thank god for the plot armor!' Lin Xiang praised the heavens that he didn't he didn't come in vain.
At the trade fair, Lin Xiang had seen Qin Xingxuan from afar. In every single parameter, from her number one family background, her 6th Grade Martial Talent, her peerless beauty and charm, her skill at Inscriptions and strength, all of this made even top tier talents feel inferior.
Although Lin Xiang believed that thanks to the Magic Cube, his novel knowledge and his own unceasing efforts he was destined for greatness, he still felt a lag in his breath when he suddenly faced Qin Xingxuan.
For the last fifteen years he was busy with growing up and was completely devoted to his path of martial arts, only interacting with Lan Yunyue who had left him in the end. It caused him to feel a little awkward when suddenly faced with a beauty like Qin Xingxuan.
Lin Xiang was taken aback by seeing Qin Xingxuan appear, but his astonishment was seen by everyone, and especially the Elder Senior Sister!
Humph! This was his true sexual deviant nature emerging at last!
"The toad thinks he can eat swan meat!" The Elder Senior Sister's heart burned as she criticized him out loud.
The truth was that this woman's thoughts were complex at this moment - although the Elder Senior Sister thought him a repugnant man, because Lin Xiang did not respond after seeing Qin Xingxuan, she did not get the general feeling that he was some sort of pervert. This didn't sit well with her. After all, all men were perverted!
Elder Sister said to Qin Xingxuan, "This deviant little child snuck in to harass us women. I am questioning him. You, where is your pass card?"
The following few words were to Lin Xiang, who only sighed. He replied, "I only came here to look up some reference books. Please don't accuse me of things like this without proof."
He totally did not come here to bump into Qin Xingxuan.
"Looking at reference books? All you did was look at that 'Sky Zither List'. Are you thinking that you are going to make a zither or something?" Elder Sister questioned.
Lin Xiang casually replied, "I just wanted to understand some things."
Because Lin Xaing was so vague, it allowed the Elder Sister's imagination to wander. She said, "Hmph! These shameless lecherous men have always said that they wanted to understand music, and used this as an excuse to take advantage! Such acts are really disgusting. So you have interest in zithers hmm? Good, then I ask you, how many notes does a zither have, and what are they? What kind of zither material suits the treble notes, what kind of material suits the bass notes? If you can tell me and satisfy me with your answers, then I'll believe you have an interest in music and you want to study the zither."
Lin Xiang chuckled and asked, "Who told you that I want to study the zither? I study Inscriptions and I wanted to look up information on certain materials."
The Elder Senior Sister laughed out loud and said, "Haha! Study inscriptions? It's true that I do not personally understand Inscriptions at all, but unfortunately for you, you are out of luck! At my side is the greatest inscription talent in the entire Sky Fortune Kingdom, and even in several countries around! You say that you study inscriptions? This Big Sis will expose you right here!"
She turned to Qin Xingxuan, continuing, "I don't understand inscription techniques, so you test him!"
Qin Xingxuan gently raised her eyebrows. This unknown fifteen-year-old boy studies Inscriptions? He was looking up information on materials in the Sky Zither List? What kind of Inscription materials could be in this kind of book?
Qin Xingxuan neither believed Lin Xiang or thought that he was lying. That's because just in primary materials there are recorded over 13,600 kinds. As for including the more advanced materials, because of their secrecy, it is hard to state the number. Even these 13,600 basic materials are enough for an inscription master to learn for years to discover their effects, usages, mix ratios, structures, and other such things.
Naturally, she could not know all of these materials and could not question him about it.
However, whether Lin Xiang lied or not, was there a need to expose him and embarrass him if that was the case?
With this thought, Qin Xingxuan turned to the Elder Sister and said, "Sister Ling, please let this be considered as finished."
The Elder Senior Sister replied, "Xingxuan, you are too kindhearted! You do not know how we were initially harassed by these scum, and our struggles to stop them! If we are tenderhearted and merciful, then there will be no end to their pestering!"
Qin Xingxuan sighed. She didn't have anything she could further do except ask Lin Xiang a few simple questions. It would be fine if he could at least answer one! She asked, "This fellow student, do you know who established the Sky Fortune Kingdom's inscription technique?"
She asked the most general question possible.
As for this question, Lin Xiang couldn't answer. Who the hell knew which old man established the Sky Fortune Kingdom's inscription technique? And who even cared?
The memory from the Divine Realm would not have such knowledge, and even the manual 'Introduction to Inscription Techniques' only spoke of the rudimentary knowledge, and did not expand on the history or the Sky Fortune Kingdom's inscription technique history.
Lin Xiang sighed and replied, "I didn't study such useless things. What's the use of knowing it even?"
Upon hearing Lin Xiang's reply, the Elder Senior Sister laughed out loud. "Ha, ha! Laughable. Such arrogance to dare disrespect the seniors who laid down the foundation to all knowledge of Sky Fortune Kingdom's Inscription techniques! It's thanks to them that our Sky Fortune City even has Inscription techniques that people can study. Even I know that you have nothing to say and you're only trying to avoid the question!"
Lin Xiang smiled in amusement. In relation to her last statement, the Elder Senior Sister wasn't wrong.
Seeing Lin Xiang's casual attitude, the Senior Sister grew frustrated.
As for Qin Xingxuan, after this interaction she believed that Lin Xiang should be lying. The knowledge of who established the Sky Fortune Kingdom's inscription techniques was basic knowledge for anyone who studied Inscriptions.
If Lin Xiang didn't know the answer, why couldn't he make a less disrespectful lie or simply admit the truth? What was the meaning of adding fuel to the fire?
Therefore, next she asked a not so simple question, as she wanted to end this insignificant interrogation. After all, she came here to study the zither and she was currently missing the lecture. Although Qin Xingxuan's weapon was a sword, that didn't stop her from playing an instrument as well.
Qin Xingxuan asked, "Then this student, do you know the 'shock' inscription line and the unique pattern and characteristics of it?"
The inscription techniques contained 3600 foundation lines and 4900 foundation symbols. This myriad of lines and symbols could then be combined into a variety of permutations to trace and engrave the ever-changing inscription technique.
The 'shock' symbol was only a single one of the 3600 kinds of foundation lines.
Lin Xiang naturally knew the 'shock' foundation line. In fact, he knew that the foundation lines were not limited to 3600, but there were actually 6000 different types. It was almost double the foundation lines that the inscription masters of the Sky Spill Continent possessed.
He only hoped that the 'Shock' pattern he knew would be the same that Qin Xingxuan knew.
Lin Xiang stretched out his right hand and the true essence gathered on his fingertips. With his hand he drew a series of brilliant lines in the air. They glowed with a silent and gorgeous light and finally coalesced into a complex diagram that shone in front of Qin Xingxuan and the blankly staring Elder Senior Sister.
Lin Xiang had been practicing these inscriptions every day. The results of this were in two words: quite amazing.
Lin Xiang said, "This is the 'Shock' pattern that I know."
Qin Xingxuan stared dumbfounded, and the Elder Senior Sister looked at her and noticed her expression.
The Senior Sister was instantly able to determine that this young hooligan was not just doodling with his fingertips, but had drawn the 'Shock' line and there was no mistake about it! Sh*t! This young hick pervert actually unexpectedly understood inscription techniques?! Wasn't this just too preposterous?!
In Qin Xingxuan's heart she was truly surprised and was trying to not reveal her complex emotions.
There were 3600 foundation lines and it was absurdly difficult for an amateur to remember them completely. It wasn't too strange to say that Lin Xiang learned this one foundation line in particular, but what startled her was the 'shock' symbol he drew was completely correct; the energy was placed in the right spots and it was simply astounding. This could only be the result of painstaking effort during practice!
With a bit of depression in her heart, Qin Xingxuan murmured, "It is…"
Lin Xiang explained, "The purpose of the 'Shock' pattern is mostly to kill, and it's usually placed on weapons. When a martial artist uses a weapon he will pour his true essence into the weapon and use the weapon energy to send out attacks, but the effectiveness is limited. But if the 'shock' line is placed on the weapon, then when a martial artist pours his true essence into the weapon, it will flow through the 'shock' pattern and create a high speed vibration which would in turn increase the penetrating power, effectively increasing the sharpness of the weapon…"
Lin Xiang easily explained the 'shock' pattern as Qin Xingxuan had expected. If he was able to draw the 'shock' pattern with such skill, then he of course had to know the principles behind it. It would only be strange if he did not.
Qin Xingxuan's competitive spirit was aroused and she asked, "Then, this fellow student, do you also know the 'flag' symbol drawing technique and principle behind it?"
She had abandoned the relatively simple foundation lines and raised the stakes to some of the more complex foundation symbols.
However, this naturally could not confuse Lin Xiang. In fact, his understanding of foundation symbols was far more deep and profound than anything that could be offered in the Sky Spill Continent.
He calmly drew the 'flag' symbol in the air. Although the foundation symbols were somewhat complex, Lin Xiang's finger did not have the slightest pause, and in the blink of an eye the complex inscription symbol sparkled in the air.
Now, even Qin Xingxuan was completely awed. The foundation symbol was far more complex with double the lines and even more so difficult to trace the energy in the symbol, but Lin Xiang had done so with ease. This had already far surpassed her!
My god, this was a genius! Unexpectedly this young man turned out to be a genius among geniuses in Inscription talent!
But who did he study with to learn this godly engraving Inscription technique?
His appearance indicated he was likely only from an ordinary family. Was it possible that he was apprenticed to some ancient sage or extraordinary hermit who liked to live in the remote and secluded mountains? After all, Lin Xiang mentioned that he never bothered about learning who created the Inscription Techniques in the Sky Fortune Kingdom and looked down on it.
Qin Xingxuan found that Lin Xiang was filled with riddles, and she continued to test him. The more they exchanged the more she was surprised! This Lin Xiang was not like he seemed! There were 3600 lines and 4900 symbols which added to more than 8000 different kinds, and he casually listed them, as if he were familiar with each one!
Compared to Qin Xingxuan's surprise, the Elder Senior Sister was already floored by their conversation and remained confused on the sidelines as the two Inscriptionists spoke to each other in what seemed to be a different and completely heavenly language; she could only look on at Xingxuan who showed increasing amazement and admiration.
The Elder Senior Sister understood Qin Xingxuan very well. Although Qin Xingxuan usually treats everyone with good manners and effortless grace, the truth was that her natural 6th Grade Martial Talent and her immense strength had doomed her heart with the soul of arrogance. Before now, Qin Xingxuan had never given anyone of the same generation such a high appraisal.
Finally, the Elder Senior Sister became numb. She only understood one thing; today it would be impossible to confiscate this boy's Pass Card!
Shit! To think she would make such a big mistake! To think that this random hick could actually be some sort of Inscription talent!
This Elder Senior Sister was really going to go mad!
Gradually, Qin Xingxuan's expression grew increasingly respectful, her tone when the exchange started became progressively humble. She found that by conversing with Lin Xiang her knowledge of symbols and energy structures insights had a broadened outlook due to his unique understanding and in-depth knowledge. It was a great and rewarding feeling.
Qin Xingxuan was able to confirm her suspicions that Lin Xiang was a rare talent that could only emerge once a century. But behind him was an even greater mystery! This shadow master who taught him could only be an Inscription Master of absolute knowledge and authority! Even if compared with her own teacher, it was like comparing a candle to the raging sun!
Exactly what kind of origin did this youth have?
Qin Xingxuan had great interest in Lin Xiang, not to mention the exchanges they had in which she just profited, but Lin Xiang himself, and the mystery teacher behind him had extraordinary significance to the Qin Family!
With that thought, Qin Xingxuan said, "Fellow student, it's about time to begin zither lessons, so I'll have to excuse myself. It was very wonderful talking to you today. If possible, perhaps after the zither lecture ends, then Xingxuan would like to ask you to go to the Great Clarity Pavilion for a quick meal, and… explore… the principles of Inscription techniques together. Is this agreeable with the fellow student?"
Qin Xingxuan's sweet and dulcet voice was very persuasive, and coupled with her sincere expression and heavenly appearance; it was hard for any male to refuse.
Not only was Qin Xingxuan's background impressive and she herself beautiful, she was also rare in that she treated others well and did not have any airs of superiority. In front of such a girl it was impossible to have any hint of malice.
"I won't stay for the lecture, but you can find me in the Grand Clarity Pavilion later. That's where I'm staying," Lin Xiang said and lightly smiled.
He wanted to sell his Inscription Symbols and get some True Essence Stones as soon as possible, so he didn't mind accepting Qin Xingxuan's invitation.