Chapter 140: The War Song Blockade

If the identity of the Demon Lord were to be exposed, it would undoubtedly bring a cascade of trouble. At that point, countless enemies would surely come knocking at the door. At the mere thought of such a multitude of foes, Xinjing couldn't help but twitch her mouth in apprehension. Even if the Nine Great Demon Guards were all present, she feared they would be powerless to protect her.

At this moment, Ruofeng had also ceased playing her zither, her face filled with shock. Just a moment ago, she had sensed a formidable power, as if she were confronting the adversary alongside the very order of the world itself. Yet, no matter how hard they tried, they were unable to resist; the opponent was simply too powerful. She could not fathom the true realm of those immortals, but it was clear they were immensely formidable.

Zhu Xiaoyuan, however, appeared somewhat surprised. He had witnessed his share of harsh weather—storms, earthquakes, mudslides—but today’s phenomenon was a first for him. It was truly peculiar. Seeing the disciples around him still wearing expressions of fear, he couldn't help but smile. Though the weather was strange, it was hardly a reason to be afraid. With that thought, he reached out and retrieved a musical score, handing it to Ruofeng.

"Take this, Ruofeng. Look at this piece. Play it and lift the spirits of your junior brothers and sisters!"

Ruofeng took the score from Zhu Xiaoyuan. The moment her eyes scanned it, they filled with astonishment. "My heavens, this piece is truly breathtaking! Every note is imbued with killing intent; each one is a lethal weapon!"

Ruofeng turned to look at Zhu Xiaoyuan. What did her master mean by giving her this score? Was he asking her to compete against those ten Profound Immortals, or perhaps to use this melody to slay them?

Zhu Xiaoyuan looked at her with a gentle smile, assuming she was hesitant because the piece seemed too difficult. "Although it is a challenging piece, the beginning is quite simple. Why don't you start with the opening passages? Your style has always been gentle and relaxed, but there is more to zither music than that—there is also the bold, heroic, and unyielding style..."

Ruofeng nodded. She took a deep breath, completely quieting her heart, and carefully studied the score.

Then, she placed her hands once more upon the Kongjue Zither. The music rang out immediately. But this time, it was no longer the sound of spring breezes or peaceful joy; it was the crisp clashing of weapons, the cries and sorrowful roars of countless warriors. A vast, overwhelming murderous aura seemed to permeate the melody, sweeping past everyone present.

Instantly, the fear that had gripped the hearts of Zhu Xiaoyuan’s disciples vanished. Not only that, but they were filled with an inexplicable sense of confidence—a groundless, yet absolute fearlessness that made them feel they could forge ahead against anything.

Ruofeng’s hands moved across the Kongjue Zither, the second and third notes flowing forth. A piece emerged from her fingers—a war anthem. The foundation of this music was slaughter; every note played was a sharp longsword, poised to pierce the throats of the enemy. The notes echoed across the entire Heaven Martial Realm.

"Boom!"

The notes, undaunted, surged directly into the sky to challenge the hurricane. They leaped forth like swords, shattering the pressure that had blanketed the four corners of the world. With them came an immense wave of immortal energy, enveloping the entire sky. The hurricane, which had threatened to destroy the Heaven Martial Realm, vanished without leaving a trace.

High above the realm, the ten Profound Immortals, who had been lording over the world, could not help but gasp. What was this?

"What was that just now? Why did those notes make me feel a sense of dread?"

"It is truly formidable. To make Profound Immortals tremble—that demon cultivator is clearly no simple entity!"

The group spoke in succession. The Profound Immortal who had initiated the attack looked grim. He stepped forward and roared, "Who dares to obstruct me? Die!"

With his shout came a surge of potent spiritual energy, vast enough to swallow the world. It opened its gaping maw, attempting to consume every lingering note of the music.

However, this lasted only for a moment. Ruofeng’s hands did not stop, and neither did the music. The war anthem surged into the sky with the force of thunder. It slew gods and demons alike; it was blade, spear, sword, and halberd all at once, driving straight toward the Profound Immortals.

The lead attacker felt a sharp pain in his mind, and his spiritual energy dissipated. He could not control himself and staggered backward, step after step. A trace of blood leaked from the corner of his mouth. He was utterly stunned—how could a mere war melody inflict such injury upon him?

"Impossible!" The others could hardly believe it. How could such an existence dwell within the Heaven Martial Realm? A mere piece of music had caused such heavy damage to a Profound Immortal!

"Everyone, be cautious! Attack together!"

At their command, it took three of the ten Profound Immortals working in tandem to suppress the notes. They formed seals in mid-air, attempting to trap the melody with an immortal seal. Suddenly, the once-unstoppable notes were left drifting in the void, unable to move.

In the courtyard, Ruofeng’s hands danced across the Kongjue Zither. The notes continued to leap out, but her brows were tightly knit. Playing felt as though her meridians were obstructed, preventing the flow of power.

Zhu Xiaoyuan, who had been keeping time in his heart, noticed the obstruction. He frowned, reached out, and tapped his fingers lightly against the stone table. Just as before, when Ruofeng had been lost, it was the rhythm of his tapping that had brought her clarity. Now, the struggling Ruofeng felt a powerful surge of energy rising behind her, pushing her forward—like a pair of strong hands reaching into the mire to pull her to safety.