Zhu Yinxi also felt that his little sister's words made a lot of sense.
So, could she actually understand his music?
Zhu Yinxi's eyes lit up. It seemed this little sister was even more interesting than he had imagined.
However, he still maintained his aloof persona on the surface. After all, his first impression on her hadn't been great, and he hoped to salvage his image a little.
Li Nanzhu, however, was thinking that her Second Senior Brother might have a split personality.
Although their thoughts were on completely different wavelengths, the two of them were somehow, eerily, able to keep the conversation going.
Zhu Yinxi was also well aware that his flute playing wasn't exactly pleasant to the ears, so he didn't force Li Nanzhu to listen to him play.
He had only played for her initially because he wanted to see if he could find a soulmate.
He had always firmly believed he was that legendary Boya, just that he hadn't found his own Zhong Ziqi yet.
"Second Senior Brother, have you ever wondered why your tunes are so strange? Have you talked to Master about it? Could it be a problem with your cultivation method?"
Zhu Yinxi looked down slightly at Li Nanzhu, his fingertip gently tapping his flute. It took a long while before he answered.
"Master said that as long as I play it a hundred thousand times, I will truly understand the technique and find my own Dao."
Li Nanzhu: "..."
She took back what she said.
She truly suspected that Zhu Yinxi had been swindled by Feng Yi.
A technique that required a hundred thousand repetitions to understand? You could fully master even a common technique after practicing it a hundred thousand times!
She sighed, wondering how many times Zhu Yinxi had practiced already. Just as the thought crossed her mind, he spoke up.
"I have already practiced eighty thousand times. I will reach a hundred thousand very soon. By then, I will fully understand my Dao. When that time comes, I will make everyone listen to my performance. I, Zhu Yinxi, will definitely become the strongest music cultivator in the cultivation world."
'Don't say such hot-blooded words with such an aloof expression!'
As he spoke, he turned toward Li Nanzhu.
"Little Sister, what do you think?"
"Cough, I naturally have faith in Second Senior Brother's strength."
Li Nanzhu wasn't lying about this. In the later stages of the story, Zhu Yinxi did indeed use his transcendent flute music to easily drag people into illusions, where they would often die amidst the beautiful music.
She just didn't know how long it would be until those later stages. He probably really did practice a hundred thousand times. Li Nanzhu's gaze swept over Zhu Yinxi's fingers, where she could faintly see the thin calluses left by years of practice.
The two chatted for a few more moments before Zhu Yinxi remembered something and spoke up.
"Little Sister, Master told me to tell you that after you break through to level seven of Qi Condensation, do not be in a hurry to take the jade marrow pill. It is best to first consolidate your cultivation."
Li Nanzhu naturally nodded in agreement. However, normally consolidating cultivation meant either continuing to compress the qi in one's dantian or going out for experience. She didn't want to go back into secluded cultivation just yet, so should she ask her Second Senior Brother to accompany her out?
As if seeing through Li Nanzhu's thoughts, Zhu Yinxi hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"How about... we go directly to the forbidden area?"
?
Li Nanzhu realized she couldn't use normal logic to judge any of her senior brothers or sisters.
Her Second Senior Brother looked aloof and steady, but she hadn't expected him to be an adventurous fellow—one who didn't seem to care much for the rules.
Was a forbidden area really something you could just enter so casually? Moreover, she had been at the Five Elements Dao Sect for so long and had never heard of a forbidden area! Even her First Senior Brother hadn't mentioned it to her.
"There were several times when Master got annoyed by the noise and would throw me into the forbidden area. It doesn't disturb the outside world there. It's very quiet and suitable for quiet cultivation."
"Then, Second Senior Brother, didn't you encounter any danger?"
"I did. For instance, being unable to use spiritual power, strange vines, and all sorts of weird dark shadows. But as soon as I played the flute, they all ran away."
For a moment, Li Nanzhu couldn't tell whether the forbidden area was more dangerous or if her Second Senior Brother's flute playing was the real threat.
His ability to make things in a forbidden area run away was a testament to his power.
"Then how did you finally get out?"
"I just walked out."
Li Nanzhu didn't consider herself a person of few words, but her Second Senior Brother's answer suddenly left her speechless.
Coming and going just like that—did the forbidden area have no pride?
But considering the state of the Five Elements Dao Sect, it really didn't have much pride to maintain.
Regarding the point about being unable to use spiritual power, Li Nanzhu had some thoughts. Perhaps she could use that inability to practice her mental power.
"Then let's go now!"
Zhu Yinxi was taken replace; he hadn't expected his little sister to agree so readily. Did this mean she truly trusted him and believed he could protect her?
At this thought, a look of determination appeared on Zhu Yinxi's face.
"Don't worry, Little Sister. I will protect you."
Li Nanzhu: "?"
What kind of things was this Second Senior Brother of hers imagining now? Did he really have a split personality?
Li Nanzhu suddenly felt that she should perhaps show more care for this Second Senior Brother. Just look at what his cultivation method had done to him.
The gaze of both characters became very soft, though both felt it was because the other understood them.
Sometimes, overthinking could be especially fatal.
However, judging by the current result, there didn't seem to be any problem.
...
Li Nanzhu hadn't expected the forbidden area to be right behind Sovereign Peak.
No wonder her First Senior Brother hadn't mentioned it; to go to the forbidden area, one would inevitably have to pass by Feng Yi. If Feng Yi didn't allow it, no one could enter, so there was no need to worry about her wandering in by mistake.
Thinking this, Li Nanzhu relaxed quite a bit. Even if there were danger, Feng Yi wouldn't just leave them be.
When the two stood before the so-called "forbidden area," Li Nanzhu was dumbfounded.
This wasn't some dark and terrifying forbidden area; it was clearly a paradise with rich spiritual energy!
The lush green plants were full of life, and in the distance, she could even see a lake shrouded in spiritual mist.
"Second Senior Brother, are you sure this is the place?"
Zhu Yinxi nodded. "Once you go in, you won't be able to use spiritual power."
Li Nanzhu didn't hesitate and stepped right in. Only after truly entering the forbidden area did she understand what Zhu Yinxi meant.
It was because the spiritual energy here was terrifyingly dense.
With just a slight attempt to circulate her technique, the surrounding spiritual energy would rush frantically into her meridians. No wonder they said you couldn't use spiritual power—doing so would be like playing with your life! This was likely why Mu Wenyan hadn't told her about this place yet.
It wasn't that he was selfish; it was just that her current cultivation was indeed too low for this place. However, Mu Wenyan probably never expected that Zhu Yinxi would bring her here ahead of time.
"Cultivating here would indeed train one's control over spiritual power..."
Li Nanzhu muttered to herself when she suddenly had a flash of inspiration—wasn't this the perfect place to practice talisman crafting?
Tier 2 talismans required finer control over spiritual power; practicing here couldn't be more appropriate.
Zhu Yinxi looked at his little sister's suddenly bright eyes, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly without him realizing it. It seemed bringing her here had been the right choice; she truly understood the benefits of this place.
"Don't go too deep," he reminded her softly. "The further in you go, the greater the spiritual energy pressure."
Li Nanzhu nodded, already impatient to try talisman crafting.
She directly pulled out talisman paper and talisman ink from her storage bag, then suddenly thought of something. She turned and asked, "Second Senior Brother, do you want to cultivate together?"
Zhu Yinxi froze. No one had ever invited him to cultivate together before.
He gripped the jade flute in his hand; the cold body of the flute seemed to warm up slightly.
"Okay."
He responded softly, his voice carrying a trace of joy that was hard to detect.
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