People in the Imperial Music Bureau: The Storytelling Demon Child Nezha

"Grandfather!!" Shi Hao's roar shook the fan, causing ripples to spread across its surface.

The old man's carving knife fell to the ground with a clatter. He slowly turned his head, and a light gradually appeared in his cloudy eyes: Little... Hao...?

This shout sent a collective gasp through the brothel. Song Tingfeng, his eyes red-rimmed, slammed his fist on the table: "Damn that Qin clan!"

Chapter 117 The World Within the Fan: Everyone Scratched Their Heads in Anxiety

The scene within the fan spun wildly. Shi Hao erupted with lightning, and nine grotto-heavens exploded behind him. His newly formed supreme bone radiated divine light, and the four ancient characters "He Transforms at Will" filled the caverns!

Open it for me!

The lightning chains snapped inch by inch. The instant Shi Zhongtian fell, Shi Hao flashed to his side and caught his grandfather safely. The old man's withered hand stroked his grandson's face: "It really is... my little Hao."

"It's because your grandson is unfilial..." Shi Hao's voice choked with emotion as he transferred life essence to his palm, causing his grandfather to suffer.

Suddenly, a piercing alarm sounded outside the cave. Li Qiye lightly turned his folding fan, revealing a bronze warship hovering above the mine—the Qin Clan's powerful warriors had arrived!

Go! Shi Zhongtian struggled to push his grandson away, "Don't worry about me—"

Shi Hao smiled. He carefully hoisted his grandfather onto his back, securing him with a strap made of lightning: "Grandfather, do you remember? When I was little, you carried me up the mountain to watch the sunrise..."

Today... the young emperor looked up at the countless enemy figures outside the cave, his newly formed Dao bones bursting forth with divine light that pierced through heaven and earth, "Let your grandson carry you out to fight!"

Inside the Jiaofangsi (Imperial Music Bureau), Wei Yuan suddenly stood up, clasped his hands in a fist and said: "Please, sir, display your supernatural powers so that we may witness this entire battle!"

Li Qiye laughed heartily, and seven bronze lamps flew out from his sleeve, arranging them in the Big Dipper formation within the hall. Each lamp wick reflected the battle situation from a different angle:

The first lamp revealed that Shi Hao carried his grandfather out of the mine, and the Thunder Emperor's Treasure Technique shattered three warships.

The second lamp illuminated the Qin clan elder's Immortal Binding Rope, but Shi Zhongtian deflected it with his remaining spiritual power.

The third lamp illuminated the hole in Shi Hao's left shoulder, blood splattered on his grandfather's white hair...

The central lamp suddenly blazed brightly. Shi Hao bit his tongue, spitting a mouthful of blood onto the Supreme Bone. The four characters "Transform Freely" rose into the air, transforming into four illusory figures identical to Shi Hao!

This is... Yang Yan was so surprised that he knocked over his teacup.

He can transform into the Great Law of Freedom! Li Qiye clapped his hands in admiration. It is already rare to transform into the Three Pure Ones with one breath, but this young man can actually transform into four Dao bodies!

The four avatars, each wielding powerful techniques, charged in all directions, while the main body, carrying the grandfather, rapidly fled. Just as they were about to escape danger, a crack suddenly appeared in the sky—

You little beast! A gigantic hand, capable of blotting out the sky, emerged from the crack. Spare your life!

The true powerhouse of the Qin clan has arrived! Even before the giant hand arrived, its oppressive aura caused mountains and rivers to collapse.

The Qin clan is truly shameless! They didn't even notice Song Tingfeng crushing the teacup, and they still resort to ganging up on the seriously injured!

The first lamp suddenly burst forth with blinding lightning. Shi Hao swung his hand back, unleashing an arc of electricity that cleaved the pursuers and their boat in two. Wei Yuan's gaze narrowed slightly: The Thunder Emperor's Treasure Technique could actually be used like this?

"Sir!" Yang Yan suddenly pointed to the third lamp—in the scene, Shi Zhongtian's white hair was stained with blood, and he was using his remaining right hand to form a hand seal, a yellowish-brown light curtain temporarily blocking the pursuers.

Li Qiye stroked his beard and said, "Although Shi Zhongtian's cultivation has been crippled, his fighting instincts remain. Unfortunately..." Before he could finish speaking, the fourth lamp indicated that the light screen had cracked.

Suddenly, a terrifying scene appeared in the central lamp: the clouds tore apart, and a giant bronze hand wrapped in chains reached out, with nine blood-red vertical pupils opening in its palm!

It's the Qin Clan's most treasured artifact, the Nine-Eyed Dragon-Capturing Hand! Li Qiye abruptly closed his folding fan; this item requires nine Divine Fire Realm experts to activate together—

"Watch out behind you!" Nangong Qianrou suddenly shouted sharply. Only then did everyone realize that three Qin clan elders had quietly circled around to Shi Hao's flank from the fifth lamp.

As if sensing something, Shi Hao in the scene suddenly unleashed chaotic light from his newly formed Dao bone. Four illusory figures identical to him burst forth, each heading towards enemies in different directions.

He Transforms into the Great Art of Freedom! The teacup in Li Qiye's hand shattered with a crack. Four Dao bodies were already the limit of this technique, but...

Before he could finish speaking, the second lamp suddenly went out. All they saw was Shi Hao spitting out a mouthful of blood, and Shi Zhongtian, whom he was carrying, being pierced through the chest by golden light!

grandfather!

The roar made the pillars of the Jiaofangsi tremble slightly. Song Tingfeng suddenly stood up and saw that in the seventh lamp, Shi Hao was holding his grandfather as they fell into the river, the brow bone between his eyebrows visibly dimming.

Li Qiye quickly replaced the fan with a new one, and the fan surface showed the scene at the bottom of the river: Shi Hao transferred his last spiritual power to his grandfather, but he himself began to bleed from his seven orifices due to the backlash from his Dao bone.

"Damn it!" Yang Yan slammed his fist on the table. Those Qin clan scum...

It wasn't over yet. Li Qiye suddenly unfurled a new fan, and countless lightning patterns appeared on the river's surface. The small tower and the fur ball broke through the water, and half of the tower's crystalline spire separated from its body.

On the fan, Shi Hao grasped the spire and pressed it to his brow. Amidst a deafening roar, his dim Daoist bones perfectly merged with the spire, unleashing a light more dazzling than the sun!

0 ······Requesting flowers 0 ····

The original truth! Li Qiye's voice suddenly rose, using his body as a seed and transforming all things into a source!

Wei Yuan suddenly narrowed his eyes: That spire...

It's a remnant of the Immortal Ancient Era. Li Qiye stroked his beard meaningfully, but this has nothing to do with our Great Feng Dynasty; it's ultimately just a story in a book.

The final image freezes on the moment Shi Hao rises atop the waves. Behind him, within the four distorted caverns, four blurry figures can be vaguely seen forming hand seals. Under this oppressive force, the Qin clan pursuers retreat like a tide, and the Heaven-Illuminating Mirror cracks open with a fine line.

"Bravo!" The entire hall of night watchmen cheered in unison.

Li Qiye snapped the folding fan shut. The last wisp of divine light on the fan surface dissipated, and it returned to being an ordinary Xiangfei bamboo fan.

..... . ...

That concludes today's story of Shi Hao saving his ancestor. The old man stroked his white beard, flicked his sleeve, and seven bronze lamps flew back into his sleeve. To know what happens next—

"Sir, wait a minute!" Song Tingfeng jumped up from his seat in a panic. Had that old man Shi Zhongtian survived or not?

The music and dance hall erupted in commotion, with the night watchmen bombarding the audience with questions. Yang Yan even slammed his waist token on the table: "I'll give you three months' salary, and you'll finish this story now, sir!"

Li Qiye smiled but did not answer. Just as he was about to turn around, he suddenly heard the soft rustling of the beaded curtain of the private room. Princess Huaiqing, dressed in a moon-white palace gown, emerged gracefully, supported by her maid. The nine-phoenix hairpin with pearls in its hair remained perfectly still.

I was listening intently from next door, and I must thank Mr. Li for that. Your voice is clear and melodious, like shattered jade falling onto a plate. Would you do me the honor of joining me for dinner? I have some questions about that method of transcending worldly concerns.

The hall fell silent instantly. Wei Yuan was the first to rise and bow, and the night watchmen, as if waking from a dream, knelt down in unison.

Li Qiye snapped the folding fan shut. The last wisp of divine light on the fan surface dissipated, and it returned to being an ordinary Xiangfei bamboo fan.

That concludes today's story of Shi Hao saving his ancestor. The old man stroked his white beard, flicked his sleeve, and seven bronze lamps flew back into his sleeve. To know what happens next—

"Sir, wait a minute!" Song Tingfeng jumped up from his seat in a panic. Had that old man Shi Zhongtian survived or not?

The music and dance hall immediately erupted in commotion, with the night watchmen bombarding the audience with questions.

Chapter 118 Huaiqing's Good Intentions, Li Qiye Hesitates

Yang Yan even slammed his waist token on the table: "I'll give you three months' salary, sir, just finish this part now!"

Li Qiye smiled but did not answer. Just as he was about to turn around, he suddenly heard the soft rustling of the beaded curtain of the private room. Princess Huaiqing, dressed in a moon-white palace gown, emerged gracefully, supported by her maid. The nine-phoenix hairpin with pearls in its hair remained perfectly still.

I was listening intently from next door, and I must thank Mr. Li for that. Your voice is clear and melodious, like shattered jade falling onto a plate. Would you do me the honor of joining me for dinner? I have some questions about that method of transcending worldly concerns.

The hall fell silent instantly. Wei Yuan was the first to rise and bow, and the night watchmen, as if waking from a dream, knelt down in unison.

...

In the private room on the top floor of Zuixianlou, the night breeze stirred the crimson gauze curtains. As Huaiqing poured tea, the jade bracelet on his wrist clinked against the Ru kiln teacup, producing a clear and melodious sound.

The storyteller's skill was even more lifelike than the astronomical illusions of the Imperial Observatory. Princess "August 13" pushed her teacup away, her eyes catching a glimpse of faint bloodstains on the old man's sleeve, but she wondered whether the story of Shi Hao was fabricated or...

It's just a folk tale. Li Qiye smiled and took out a new folding fan. This time, the fan surface was painted with an ordinary landscape, the ink not even completely dry, just like the braised yellow croaker in vinegar at Zuixianlou Restaurant—he suddenly tapped the porcelain plate lightly with the tip of the fan, making it look lifelike, ultimately a dish.

Huaiqing nodded slightly, her gaze still fixed on Li Qiye, and said softly, "Even if it's just a folk tale, the amazing skills and heroic spirit within are captivating. Since you are so knowledgeable, sir, you must know many such wonderful stories." She paused, her fair fingers lightly tracing the rim of her teacup, "Although I have now ascended the throne, I face many complicated matters of court every day, and I long to find a moment of transcendence and novelty from you, sir."

Li Qiye took a sip of tea and smiled, "Your Highness flatters me. These are just anecdotes I gathered in my spare time." His gaze swept across the brightly lit streets of the capital outside the window, as if he were recalling something. "The stories of this world are a mix of truth and falsehood, and who can truly say for sure? Just like the prosperity of this capital, it seems stable, but in reality, things are constantly changing, and tomorrow might be a completely different scene."

Huaiqing sensed a deeper meaning in his words and her heart skipped a beat. She was about to ask further when she noticed the bloodstain on Li Qiye's sleeve seemed to have spread further. She frowned and asked with concern, "Sir, the bloodstain on your sleeve...are you injured?"

Li Qiye subconsciously pulled his sleeves in a little deeper, but his expression remained calm: "They're just minor injuries, nothing to worry about."

Huaiqing, however, persisted. She stood up, walked to Li Qiye's side, and gently tugged at his sleeve: "Sir, please don't hide anything. Let me take a look. If the injury is serious, I will summon the imperial physician immediately." Her tone carried an undeniable authority, yet also revealed a hint of worry.

Helpless, Li Qiye loosened his sleeve slightly, revealing a shallow wound. Although it had stopped bleeding, the surrounding skin was still somewhat red and swollen. Upon seeing this, Huaiqing frowned even more deeply: "This wound may not look deep, but it still needs to be treated carefully. Why are you so careless with yourself, sir?" Her voice carried a hint of reproach.

Looking at Huaiqing's concerned expression, Li Qiye felt a strange warmth welling up in his heart and said softly, "Princess, there's no need to worry. I just accidentally bumped into something on the way."

Huaiqing turned back to his seat, took out a delicate white jade bottle from his sleeve, poured out a pill that emitted a faint fragrance, and handed it to Li Qiye: "This is a secret medicine made in the palace. It is extremely effective. Please take it, sir."

Li Qiye took the pill, looked at Huaiqing's earnest eyes, hesitated for a moment, and then swallowed it. The pill melted instantly in his mouth, and a warm current spread throughout his body, making the wound seem less painful. He looked up at Huaiqing and said sincerely, "Thank you, Princess."

Huaiqing sat down again, looking at Li Qiye with gentle eyes: "Sir, you have brought such a wonderful story to our Great Feng, so I am naturally concerned about your safety. Moreover, your talent is like a beacon in the dark for me, and I truly do not wish for anything to happen to you." Her cheeks flushed slightly, as if she realized that her words had been too direct in expressing her feelings.

Li Qiye naturally sensed the emotions in Huaiqing's words. He lowered his eyes slightly, a ripple stirring in his heart.

Then, Li Qiye stood up, bowed to Huaiqing, and said, "Princess, take your leave."

With that, he turned and strode out of the private room. Huaiqing watched his departing figure, her gaze lingering for a long time, until he disappeared around the corner of the stairs, at which point she let out a soft sigh.

The next day, the Jiaofangsi (Imperial Music Bureau) was bustling with activity again. The night watchmen had gathered early, eagerly anticipating Li Qiye's next storytelling session...

Li Qiye appeared on time, still holding the Xiangfei bamboo fan in his hand. He walked up to the platform and nodded slightly to the crowd.

Song Tingfeng, his face full of urgency, asked loudly, "Sir, what happened to that old man Shi Zhongtian yesterday? You can't keep us in suspense any longer!" Everyone chimed in, urging him on.

Li Qiye smiled slightly and gently waved his folding fan. "Please be patient, everyone, and let me tell you the story slowly. It was after Shi Hao led Shi Zhongtian to escape the Qin Clan's pursuit that day..."

At this moment, Yang Yan squeezed out from the crowd with a fawning smile on his face.

"Sir, please have mercy and stop keeping us in suspense. I've staked three months' salary on this, hoping to hear the whole story."

As he spoke, he stared longingly at Li Qiye, as if Li Qiye were a god who held the power of life and death.

Li Qiye looked around and saw that everyone was staring at him expectantly before clearing his throat and speaking slowly.

"On that day, Shi Hao carried the severely injured Shi Zhongtian into the river. The river was swift, but it could not wash away the obsession in his heart. At the bottom of the river, Shi Hao used his last bit of spiritual power to protect his grandfather's heart meridian, but he himself was bleeding from all seven orifices due to the backlash of his Dao Bone, and his life was in danger." His voice was deep and infectious, and everyone listened without daring to breathe, as if they were there.

"At this critical moment, Little Tower and Maoqiu arrived just in time with half of the tower's spire, a remnant from the Immortal Ancient Era. Shi Hao grabbed the spire and pressed it to his brow. In an instant, the world changed color, and the dim Dao bone merged with the spire, bursting forth with a light more dazzling than the sun. This light not only dispelled the darkness at the bottom of the river but also contained a mysterious and powerful force." Li Qiye's voice grew increasingly impassioned, and he stirred everyone's emotions to their peak.

"Nourished by this light, Grandpa Shi Zhongtian's injuries miraculously began to heal. Shi Hao sensed his grandfather's life force returning and was filled with relief, but he also fell into a coma due to overexertion. After an unknown amount of time, when Shi Hao slowly awoke, he found himself in a secluded valley. The valley was tranquil and peaceful, filled with spiritual energy, and Shi Zhongtian was sitting beside him, looking at him with loving eyes." At this point, Li Qiye paused, observing the reactions of the crowd.

Chapter 119 Shi Hao bids farewell to his grandfather and encounters Yun Xi by chance

Li Qiye's folding fan suddenly burst into crimson flames, and the scene of Shi Hao waking up was reflected on the fan surface.

Shi Zhongtian's white hair had turned jet black, and he was sitting cross-legged under a strange tree that was flowing with lava, with nine phoenix-shaped crystals entwined around its roots.

The Nirvana Tree! The jade pendant at Wei Yuan's waist suddenly floated to the surface on its own. Could this be...?

The innate spiritual root of the volcano in the Fire State. Li Qiye lightly flicked the tip of his fan, and in the scene, Shi Hao dug out a crimson bone fragment engraved with ancient scriptures from the lava at the tree roots. Shi Zhongtian discovered the fragment of the "True Phoenix Nirvana Scripture" from the Immortal Ancient Era at this place.

The scene within the fan suddenly changed. Shi Hao pressed the bone fragment against his grandfather's brow. Nine fiery phoenixes flew out from the bone fragment, transforming into chains that pierced through Shi Zhongtian's limbs and bones. Yang Yan abruptly gripped the hilt of his sword: "These chains... they seem to..."

"True Phoenix Tribulation Chains." Li Qiye's voice suddenly deepened. Each chain represented a Nirvana Tribulation, requiring the old man to undergo nine years of seclusion deep within the volcano. The scene shifted to the Earth's core molten lake, where Shi Zhongtian floated in the lava, with 07 crimson divine rings appearing behind him.

Song Tingfeng was so anxious that he scratched his head and cheeks: Where is that kid Shi Hao?

The folding fan unfolds a new scene, revealing Shi Hao's silhouette as he stands atop a mountain, gazing up at the starry sky.

Behind him, four grotto-heavens twisted and deformed, each containing a blurry figure: the first figure held a Thunder Pool, the second had a Chaos Green Lotus on its head, the third rode a Kunpeng, and the last one was actually evolving the Grass Character Sword Technique!

He transforms freely... Princess Huaiqing's nine-phoenix hairpin suddenly moves without wind, the four Dao bodies cultivate different methods.

Li Qiye suddenly threw his folding fan into the air, and the fan ribs transformed into seven stars arranged in an array.

In the starlight, the scene of Shi Hao bowing to the volcano appeared. Suddenly, Shi Zhongtian in the lava opened his eyes, and a beam of red light shot out from between his eyebrows and entered his grandson's forehead.

Phoenix Mark!

Nangong Qianrou exclaimed in surprise. Flame patterns appeared on Shi Hao's forehead, and tiny fire phoenixes spewed from every pore of his body.

The fan image finally freezes on the scene of Shi Hao stepping into the air, leaving burning footprints in the void with each step.

In the distance, the ancient boundary marker with the words "Fire State" can be faintly seen through the clouds, and countless white bones are piled up beneath it.

Ancestral homeland of the Qin people...

Li Qiye caught the falling folding fan, and suddenly the phantom images of three thousand great states appeared on the fan surface.

"Fire State is just the beginning; the real battle of geniuses from the upper realms is only now slowly beginning."

The night watchmen were still reeling from the shock they had just experienced and couldn't quite process it.

Princess Huaiqing frowned slightly and asked softly, "Sir, what kind of grand event is this Upper Realm Genius Battle? And what is its connection with Shi Hao?" Her voice was gentle, yet it carried an undeniable sense of inquiry.

Li Qiye narrowed his eyes slightly and slowly said, "Princess, you may not know this, but every region in these three thousand states is full of hidden talents and geniuses."

Every century, the younger generation from numerous continents gathers for a breathtaking battle of geniuses. This is to vie for the qualification to enter the 'Ancient Land of Immortal Remnants'.

"The Immortal Relic Ancient Land?" Yang Yan couldn't help but interject. "Where is that? It sounds incredibly mysterious."

Li Qiye's gaze swept over everyone, his expression solemn: "The Immortal Remnant Ancient Land is said to be the place where ancient immortals fell. It contains endless opportunities and treasures, and there are also immortal techniques that can make people ascend to heaven in one step."

Every genius who enters has the potential to soar to great heights and rewrite their own and even their family's destiny.