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Chapter 5074 Dragon Cow Zither Possession
Long Chen followed the source of the sound to a stage set between the statues of Lord Brahma and Fallen Daynight. This stage, originally empty, now featured a woman in an imperial dress walking onto it, accompanied by the beautiful sound of a zither.
“Liao Yuhuang!”
Long Chen hadn’t expected to encounter another acquaintance here. It was the Zither Sect’s Liao Yuhuang. She appeared to have matured significantly since their last meeting.
The Zither Sect’s cultivation focused on cultivating the heart, which required experiencing the world. They sought the intersection of the Music Dao and the Heavenly Daos, using music as a medium to peer into the heavens.
Just from Liao Yuhuang’s air alone, it was obvious that her realm had advanced considerably since the last time they met. Her rate of growth was astonishing.
The zither music resounded throughout the plaza, incredibly beautiful and instantly drawing everyone’s attention. People started to walk closer to the stage, and Long Chen was no exception. He immediately dragged Bai Yingxue to the best spot to enjoy the music.
Liao Yuhuang’s fingers gently danced across her zither, and her music permeated people’s hearts, making them feel as if they were soaking in a pure mountain river, cleansed of all impurities.
Long Chen loved zither music because it made him think of a certain person. She was a noble woman who wore violet robes. For him, she abandoned her original beliefs and stained her pure body with blood, facing life and death together with him.
The noble woman was Zi Yan. After arriving in the immortal world, Zi Yan had even saved Long Chen once, though it was only for a fleeting moment. Back then, he couldn’t see her clearly, yet he could feel that her familiar aura was tainted by devil qi.
Zi Yan, where are you? How am I supposed to rest easy if I can’t find you?
Long Chen’s eyes grew misty as he watched Liao Yuhuang’s fingers glide over the zither. He was lost in memories. Despite the short time he had spent with Zi Yan, the bond between them had never waned.
The graceful way Zi Yan’s fingers glided over her zither had long since been branded into his soul. It was an image that wouldn’t fade no matter how much time passed; it would only grow clearer.
After their parting last time, Long Chen had received no word from Zi Yan. With the vastness of the nine heavens and no clues to guide him, how could he possibly search for her? Each time he thought about it, his emotions threatened to overwhelm him.
At some point, the zither music stopped, but Long Chen didn’t even notice. It was only when Bai Yingxue shook his hand that he snapped back to reality. Unbeknownst to him, tear stains had marked his cheeks, and he quickly wiped them away in embarrassment.
“Friend of the dragon race, I apologize for my rudeness, but may I ask why you are crying?” Liao Yuhuang inquired. Long Chen’s face was covered by golden runes, obscuring his identity, and his aura had transformed, making him unrecognizable.
Yet, for some reason, she found his eyes somewhat familiar. Furthermore, as she played, she sensed the swell of emotions within him—warmth that resonated deeply and nearly caused her to falter in her performance.
Looking around, Liao Yuhuang noticed that a large crowd had gathered, but even among them, Long Chen stood out to her.
The zither reflected the Dao, the Dao reflected the heart, and the heart reflected emotions. Zither music could evoke the purest feelings within a person. It was no surprise that countless listeners were moved by Liao Yuhuang’s performance. However, Long Chen seemed different.
As Liao Yuhuang prepared to leave after finishing her song, she found herself compelled to ask Long Chen a question. In truth, she had asked him before, but his mind had been consumed with thoughts of Zi Yan, so he hadn’t answered.
With Bai Dale’s voice, Long Chen sighed, “Your immense skill that uses the zither to peer into the mysteries of the heavens reminds me of my lover. We’ve been apart for years now, and I have no news or lead to look for her. It feels like searching for a needle in the ocean—there’s nowhere for me to look. Your music brought forth those emotions. I’m sorry for embarrassing myself.”
Liao Yuhuang asked, “Was she also skilled in the Music Dao?”
Long Chen replied, “Yes. We met at a gathering to discuss the Music Dao.”
Long Chen reminisced about when he first met Zi Yan with Mo Nian. Remembering how he had blurted out a stream of nonsense in response to her questions, he was overwhelmed by a wave of emotions again.
“So you are also a master of the Music Dao?” Liao Yuhuang asked, pleasantly surprised.
Shaking his head, Long Chen said, “No, no, I’m no master. I just enjoy it.”
“You are too courteous. If you weren’t a master of the Music Dao, how could such a woman become your lover? I’ve heard tales of a dragon race with great talent in the Music Dao, but I’ve never had the fortune to meet them. I don’t even know which dragon race it is,” said Liao Yuhuang, a hint of sadness in her voice.
With a smile, Long Chen remarked, “With your remarkable talent in music and your transcendent realm, how could your fortune be lacking? In truth, that race has always been by your side.”
“By my side? What are you talking about?” Liao Yuhuang was startled.
“This zither is something you obtained recently, isn’t it?” Long Chen asked.
Hearing this, Liao Yuhuang was even more baffled. “Yes.”
“Look at the head. Is there an image of a horn on it?” inquired Long Chen.
Liao Yuhuang’s shock deepened. She naturally knew that there was a cow horn image on it. It was a treasure she had recently obtained, and that horn would only manifest when her heart merged with the zither. Furthermore, only she was capable of seeing it.
She stared at Long Chen in disbelief, while Bai Yingxue was equally astonished, not expecting Long Chen to know about these things.
Long Chen explained, “Because you have not yet received its full recognition, its two horns refuse to manifest, preventing you from seeing its head or body. This is the dragon race’s dragon cow, a uniquely classified creature that is not quite a dragon. The front half resembles a cow, while the back half is dragon-like. They possess dragon blood power but lack a desire to kill. They are peaceful, gentle beings who love music and listen to the melodies of all things. After they die, their soul essence does not dissipate; instead, it resides within a spirit zither. It’s clear you’ve obtained an absolute treasure. This will enhance your understanding of the Music Dao, but there’s one crucial thing you must remember.”
Liao Yuhuang said, “This junior is listening attentively.”
Long Chen solemnly continued, “You cannot use this zither for any acts of killing, or it will abandon you immediately. Furthermore, you will be shunned by the dragon cow for the rest of your life, and you will never encounter another dragon cow zither again.”
“What a bunch of rubbish,” a cold sneer interrupted.