Wind-Guiding Sound

The lotus platform flickered with golden light in her hand, dazzling her eyes.

With a thought, the golden light faded, and it turned into a green lotus magic tool.

This was a minor function built into the magic tool, allowing her to conceal the golden light and keep a low profile.

“The name Merit Lotus Platform is a bit too flashy. Let's change it to Green Wood Lotus Platform.”

As soon as she spoke, the words "Merit" at the base of the lotus platform were replaced by "Green Wood."

She stroked it affectionately. The lotus platform transformed into a green light, sank into her brow, and floated above her sea of consciousness.

Her tiny primordial spirit sat cross-legged in the center of the lotus platform. As the auras of the golden lotus and the soul-nourishing wood emanated, her thoughts grew even clearer.

The magic tool was naturally excellent; there was nothing that needed to be changed.

Once she had put away the magic tool, Yi Chu handed her another jade slip.

The jade slip contained forty-two minor wind-attribute spells, such as 《Dust-Brushing Wind》, 《Wind-Gathering Clothes-Folding》, 《Wind-Venting Purification》, 《Cold Wind》, and 《Wind-Gathering Screen》.

“To improve your understanding of wind, learning a large number of wind-attribute spells is essential. The jade slip contains minor spells that are convenient for daily life. Each spell utilizes a certain property of the wind. Although they don't possess much power, they can have clever uses if applied well. Once you have learned them all and mastered their principles, your comprehension of wind will naturally increase significantly.”

Gu Ningyun flipped through the jade slip and found the one she was most interested in, 《Wind-Guiding Fire-Stoking》. “Master, I want to learn this spell first.”

《Wind-Guiding Fire-Stoking》: Manipulate air currents to blow upon a hearth fire, controlling the intensity of the flames at will.

It saves time when lighting a fire and can block out thick smoke, preventing it from stinging the eyes.

If one wants to simmer with a gentle flame, slow down the airflow; if one wants to stir-fry with a fierce fire, urge a rapid gale.

Cough, cough... This spell was perfect for when she was grilling meat or cooking.

Yi Chu glanced at her, a hint of helplessness appearing in his eyes.

He raised his hand to form a hand seal, explaining as he began to teach her starting with this spell.

...

Cultivation knows no time; two years passed in the blink of an eye.

In a mountain ravine on Spirit-Attuning Peak, Gu Ningyun sat astride a tree branch, her fingertips forming hand seals.

The sound of the wind whistled through, the air currents fluctuating as they gradually pieced together a melodious tune.

The gentle breeze circulated, and the melodious music echoed ethereally through the ravine.

Drawn by the sound, several inner sect disciples of Spirit-Attuning Peak arrived, only to see a young girl of fourteen or fifteen sitting astride an old tree in the ravine.

Her fingertips shone with brilliant green light, and the gentle wind circled the valley as if it were alive, playing a resonant and pleasant melody.

The disciples were all astonished.

“What spell is this? How have I never seen it before?”

“Did the Peak Masters create another new wind-attribute spell?”

“This doesn't seem like a spell; it's a piece of music.”

“No, no, it's a wind-attribute spell. Looking at Junior Sister's hand seals, this should be the wind-attribute spell 《Wind-Guiding Sound》.”

“Are you sure this is 《Wind-Guiding Sound》? I once watched First Senior Brother practice this spell, and I had nightmares for two nights after returning.”

“I've heard it too. 《Wind-Guiding Sound》 is clearly a spiritual attack spell. How could such celestial music be 《Wind-Guiding Sound》?”

“It's a piece of music. As a loyal listener of Music Peak's First Senior Sister, I can guarantee that this is the music cultivator's piece, 《Clear Heart》.”

“Don't music cultivators' pieces require instruments to play? Surely you must have misheard.”

The green light at the girl's fingertips flickered, and the music in the ravine suddenly shifted, turning into the chirping and roaring of birds and beasts.

At times, a tiger's roar shattered stone, or a crane's cry pierced the clouds; at other times, cicadas buzzed from all directions, or wolves howled in long, drawn-out wails.

A disciple clapped and jumped up. “It really is 《Wind-Guiding Sound》! When First Senior Brother practiced it, besides the initial spiritual attack, he could also control the wind to make the sounds of a hundred beasts.”

“How is that possible? The tune before was clearly 《Clear Heart》.”

That disciple looked up and asked the girl on the tree in the distance, “Little Junior Sister, what spell is this?”

Gu Ningyun stopped forming seals, hugged the tree trunk, and looked to the side, instantly startled.

All of her attention had been focused on practicing the spell just now. Although the divine sense she had left on guard had detected people nearby, she had simply assumed they were passing by.

Who would have thought that so many people would gather in this remote ravine?

She hugged the tree trunk a bit tighter. “To answer Senior Sister, this is indeed the wind-attribute spell, 《Wind-Guiding Sound》.”

Murmurs of surprise and doubt immediately rose from the crowd.

One voice was particularly loud, blasting right into Gu Ningyun's ears, “What?! Isn't 《Wind-Guiding Sound》 a spiritual attack?”

“How can this be?”

Gu Ningyun rubbed her ears, also stunned. “《Wind-Guiding Sound》 is just a minor wind-attribute spell. It captures the sound of the wind in the mountains and breaks down the rhythm of the air currents. Without needing any instruments, one can use the surrounding breeze to play music and songs. Besides that, it can also transform the sound of the wind into the cries of birds and beasts, mimicking a hundred different animals.

What I played with the wind just now was indeed 《Clear Heart》. It's just that a music cultivator's composition is ultimately different from ordinary music; it cannot be separated from instruments and the corresponding methods of channeling spirit energy. Although I played 《Clear Heart》 with the wind just now, I only produced its melody. I couldn't bring out its supportive effects. In the end, this is just a pleasant-sounding minor wind-attribute spell.”

As soon as she said this, the crowd fell silent for a moment before erupting into chatter again.

“I told you it was 《Clear Heart》!”

“Then why is First Senior Brother's version a spiritual attack?”

“Is there a possibility that First Senior Brother isn't a music cultivator... and the spiritual damage you suffered and the nightmares you had were simply because the music he played with the breeze was too terrible to listen to?”

“Ah, this...”

Gu Ningyun lowered her body to lie flat on the branch, straining her ears. “First Senior Brother actually had such an embarrassing moment?”

“Oh, First Senior Brother has tons of embarrassing stories! Little Junior Sister, come on down, and this senior sister will tell you all about them.”

Before she could respond, Gu Ningyun felt her clothes tighten.

In the next moment, she was lifted by the collar and whisked away from the ravine.

She tugged at her collar. “Ah, First Senior Brother?”

Discussions echoed from the ravine behind them.

“What was that white shadow just now?”

“It looked like First Senior Brother.”

“Hiss, let's go, let's go! If First Senior Brother finds out we were sharing his embarrassing stories with Little Junior Sister, what if he gets angry and assigns us chores?”

The voices in the ravine quickly faded away.

“Little Junior Sister, your senior brother treats you so well. How could you gossip about me?”

First Senior Brother held her by the back of her collar, looking utterly heartbroken. “Think back to when Shu Ziming and I escorted the five of you on your training expedition. That Shu Ziming wanted to use a recording stone to capture you being bald, but I stopped him with force. Now that I'm the subject of discussion, you behave like this instead. It makes me so sad.”

“First Senior Brother, you actually defended me like that!” This was the first time Gu Ningyun had ever heard of this.

“Of course. We on Spirit-Attuning Peak are the most protective of our own. Junior Sister, as progeny disciples of Spirit-Attuning Peak and as fellow disciples, we should protect each other. If anyone speaks ill of us on the Spirit-Attuning Jade Token, we ban them. If either of us gets bullied, the other must go and settle the score for them. Of course, since your cultivation is low and you can't beat them in a fight, you don't have to face them head-on; just outsmart them. This is the code of conduct for us Spirit-Attuning Peak disciples. Have you committed it to heart, Junior Sister?”