March days were as thick with spring as wine.


    The sunshine was cheerful and peach and plum trees fragrant in Tianxiang Immortal City, which bustled with unusual excitement today.


    The four great talents from All-World Academy had finally arrived in Tianxiang Immortal City.


    Most of the shops in the city announced a three-day closure.


    At this moment, the immense central za of the city was overcrowded.


    Cultivators had taken time off from their arduous cultivation or their jobs to witness the elegance of the four great talents from All-World Academy.


    Yu Qingtan and Xiang Ru had also arrived early at the za to secure a spot near the front.


    Even though they were wearing veils, Yu Qingtan in her crimson "Cloud Brush Flower Sleep" robes and Xiang Ru in her peach pink "Cloud Brush Spring Dawn" robes still attracted the attention of many cultivators around them.


    Some recognized her because Yu Qingtan had yed the zither in Raoliang Tea House wearing this attire.


    "That''s the young Qing Tandy from Raoliang Tea House, isn''t she like a painting?"


    "Indeed, indeed, one look at her gives a sense of someone who can be admired from afar but not profaned."


    "That''s right, Qing Tandy is my goddess; whoever dares to bully her, I will risk my life fighting with them."


    "Qing Tandy''s zither skills are unparalleled, I wonder if she''ll take the stage topete in zither art with young master Shi Kuang this time?"


    "She definitely will, I''m looking forward to it so much!"


    "Hmph, although Qing Tandy does indeed have extraordinary zither skills, she is still young after all. If we''re talking about the best young zither yer in Tianxiang Immortal City, that would be my Tianxiang Pavilion''s Yi Zhendy."


    "Clearly, it is Miss Xie from the Xies whose zither skills are unmatched, a single performance of ''Crane Guidance'' shakes all of Tianxiang."


    "Hmph, isn''t my Qing Tan''s ''Love of Butterfly Lovers'' and ''High Mountain and Running River'' even more delightful to listen to, and that''s two against one!"


    ...


    In the midst of these discussions, four young men dressed in moon-white robes descended from the sky on their swords,nding on the grand tform in the middle of the za.


    The robes of the four were each embroidered with plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum.


    "Shi Kuang, Zhou Lan, Zhong Yao, and Jing Hao of All-World Academy pay respects to all fellow daoists of Tianxiang Immortal City!"


    The four introduced themselves and paid their respects, then Zhou Lan, Zhong Yao, and Jing Hao took seats in chairs on one side.


    Shi Kuang continued, "We are deeply grateful for the invitation from the City Lord of Snowy Crystal, and for the warm support of the daoists of the city. We havee here to engage in the exchange of knowledge and make friends, hoping we can all gain something."


    Shi Kuang had a fair and refreshing appearance and spoke gently and elegantly, embodying the very image of a modest gentleman.


    Zhou Lan''s eyes were sleepy and his face still held a trace of baby fat, making him look as if he stayed upte often.


    Zhong Yao''s face was stern, with sharp brows and bright eyes, giving off a sense of imposing authority without anger.


    Jing Hao kept a smile, with dimples on his cheeks and clear eyes, all in all giving off the impression of a sunny, cheerful boy.


    All four were over five foot four inches tall, their long ck hair simply tied up, embodying the handsome young men that Qing Tan from her previous life would have envied.


    The cries and cheers of the female cultivators had already begun to fill the air.


    "Kuang Kuang, I love you, ahhh~"


    "Lazy treasure,e give your sister a hug~"


    "Look, Brother Yao red at me, I''m so happy, re at me again please!"


    "Brother Hao, I want to have your babies~"


    ...


    Shi Kuang gestured with his hands to silence them, and the crowd immediately quieted down.


    "Kuang has a little skill in ying the zither, does any fellow daoist wish toe up and exchange notes with Kuang?"


    Shi Kuang asked.


    "Sister Qing Tan, they''re all so handsome, but I like Shi Kuang the most. You should go up and spar with him a bit!"


    Xiang Ru, with stars in her eyes, whispered to Qing Tan.


    "No rush."


    Yu Qingtan shook her head slightly.


    Experts usually appearst, and for today''s event, she had made quite a lot of preparations.


    Although the two of them spoke in low voices, the four at thete Foundation Establishment Stage on stage could naturally hear them.


    They had also noticed the two whose dresses were especially beautiful early on.


    "Brother Zhong, these twodies are truly beautiful, and it sounds like the elder one has decent zither skills. How about we try to set up a match with Master Shi Kuang for her?" Jing Hao transmitted his voice to Zhong Yao.


    "Not interested!" Zhong Yao replied without a hint of emotion.


    "Brother Zhong, you''re really no fun."


    At that moment, a young man dressed in ck leaped onto the high tform.


    "Di Qin of Tianxiang Immortal City hase to meet Master Shi Kuang. I''ve long admired the master''s great reputation. Allow me to start things off and y a duet with the master."


    "Master Di, please, may I ask which piece you excel in?"


    "High Mountain."


    Thus, the two sat opposite each other and took out their zithers.


    They exchanged a nce and then began to pluck the strings simultaneously.


    The sound of the zither wafted across the square.


    As the saying goes,ymen watch the excitement while experts observe the technique.


    The zither melody had barely started when Yu Qingtan picked up on Master Shi Kuang''s well-timed and delicately bnced strikes, revealing a high level of Zither Art expertise, whereas Di Qin struck one note too hard, slightly marring the performance.


    After the piece concluded, Di Qin also felt the gap between himself and Shi Kuang.


    He bowed with his hands sped: "Master Shi Kuang''s zither art is superb. I''ve gained much from this exchange. Thank you!"


    Shi Kuang returned the bow with sped hands.


    Di Qin stepped down, and several others went up in session topete with Shi Kuang on the zither, though they were all merely there to show their faces and learn.


    Shi Kuang maintained a humble and polite demeanor throughout, graceful and elegant.


    Zhou Lan and the three along with the people in the square were also listening with great enjoyment, not showing the slightest impatience.


    At this point, a woman in red with red silk under her feet floated onto the stage.


    "Greetings to Master Shi Kuang. I am Yi Zhen from Tianxiang Pavilion. I have long admired the master''s reputation, and I am honored to y the zither with the master on the same tform today."


    Before Shi Kuang could reply, a figure in a white dress stepped onto the tform, using the Treading Air Step in three strides.


    "How could I let sister Yi monopolize such an elegant event? Xie Yun of the Xie family from Tianxiang Immortal City hase to meet Master Shi Kuang. I wish to join sister Yi in a friendly exchange with the master, if that''s eptable."


    Thisdy was Xie Yun, the eldest daughter of the Golden Core family of the Xies in Tianxiang Immortal City, who had used the family''s inherited Spell of Treading Air Step to ascend the stage.


    "With the twodies showing such refined interest, how could I refuse?" Shi Kuang said.


    Just then, another voice chimed in.


    "I heard that Tianxiang Immortal City has a promising new star in the Sound Path, who also happens to be a leading fashion icon and a great beauty—the zither musician Qing Tan from Raoliang Tea House. Why not join them on stage? The three beauties challenging Master Shi Kuang would surely make for a memorable tale."


    It was the sunny and cheerful big boy Jing Hao who said this with augh.


    Upon hearing this, everyone turned their attention to where Yu Qingtan was.


    Yu Qingtan was somewhat annoyed that Jing Hao had disrupted her n, but it wasn''t a major issue.


    With no hint of stage fright, she gracefully moved her steps and walked up the high tform via the side stairs.


    Though she made her entrance in a different manner than Yi Zhen and Xie Yun, her outfit called "Clouds Brushing the Blooming Flowers" overshadowed the other two in terms of fashion.


    "Since Master Jing proposes it, Qing Tan has no objection. Qing Tan of Raoliang Tea House hase to meet Master Shi Kuang, Senior Yi, and Senior Xie."


    Yu Qingtan said, knowing that Yi Zhen and Xie Yun were also cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Stage.


    As for this so-called new Sound Path prodigy from Tianxiang Immortal City, both Yi Zhen and Xie Yun had heard of her, but they weren''t particrly concerned. After all, how skilled could a Qi Practitioner be in the Sound Path?


    "Your attire is indeed exquisitely beautiful. Xie too is delighted by the sight of it and feels you deserve the title of fashion icon. Being the creator of the pieces ''Love of Butterfly Lovers'' and ''High Mountain Flowing Water,'' you certainly have stunning talent. However, zither art requires extensive refinement, so I hope you live up to the name of a Sound Path prodigy, Miss Qing Tan," Xie Yun said with a smile to Yu Qingtan,vishing praise before expressing skepticism, clearly with the intention of putting her down.


    Although Yi Zhen also came from Tianxiang Valley, she harbored simr thoughts and even doubted whether those two new pieces were genuinelyposed by Yu Qingtan herself.


    Naturally, she didn''t speak up for Yu Qingtan.