Qin Xin naturally couldn't voice her thoughts directly. Instead, she looked Han Xuanji over, her tone unhurried:
"You two..."
Her voice was as clear as a zither's note, yet it carried a weight of seriousness:
"Before I play, there are a few things that must be said first.
I do not know either of you, nor do I have any intention of showing favoritism.
Since I have been entrusted to play today, I shall naturally do my duty.
But..."
She paused, her gaze dropping slightly to rest upon the zither strings:
"The music of heart refinement is no mere child's play. With my cultivation, if I exert my full strength, even an Eternal True Lord might not emerge unscathed. Both of you are Dragons and Phoenixes among men, each with your own influential backgrounds.
If my music leads to any unforeseen consequences, regardless of who comes to hold me accountable, the Qianmeng Pavilion will not bear any responsibility."
She looked up, her expression indifferent:
"Therefore, I ask you both to think twice before proceeding. If you wish to back out now, it is still not too late."
Her words were airtight, clearly stating her neutral stance while washing her hands of any potential fallout.
Having managed the path of music in Qianhun City for many years, Qin Xin was clearly well-versed in the ways of the world.
The struggles between Geniuses were always perilous, and the powers involved were a tangled mess; as a musician, she had no need to get caught up in it.
After all, one was an S-Rank Prodigy of the Hun Family, and the other, who dared to find trouble with Han Xuanji, likely had a significant background as well; neither side was someone a mere musician like her could afford to offend.
Should something truly go wrong, she didn't want to take the blame. Hun Qianling nodded repeatedly as she listened, turning her expectant gaze toward Han Xuanji, seemingly hoping he would take the opportunity to back down and cancel the duel.
However, before Han Xuanji could speak, Baili Qianchi stood up first.
"Lady Qin Xin, you worry too much!"
He laughed heartily, his voice booming like a great bell, causing the gauze curtains on the terrace to sway slightly.
"How can a true man go back on his word? Since this is a duel, we shall accept the wins and losses, and bear the consequences ourselves. How could we blame you afterward?
Like this—"
He flipped his right hand, and a pale golden rune floated up from his palm. An arcane aura flowed within the rune, and countless intricate dao-patterns could be seen interwoven inside.
"This is a Great Dao Covenant Talisman. Brother Han and I will swear an oath here: no matter the outcome of today's match, we both accept it voluntarily and will never hold Lady Qin Xin or the Qianmeng Pavilion responsible.
Those who violate this shall have their path to the Great Dao severed and be consumed by Heart Demons!"
As he spoke, he branded the rune with his own mark, then stared intently at Han Xuanji:
"Brother Han, what do you say?"
That gaze was so fervent it was almost aggressive, as if he feared Han Xuanji would be scared off by Qin Xin's words, letting the cooked duck fly away. He deliberately locked his gaze on Han Xuanji, giving Hun Qianling no chance to interject.
Seeing this display, Han Xuanji couldn't help but smile.
This fellow was truly confident to the point of being somewhat adorable.
"Since Brother Baili is so hospitable, I, Han, shall naturally oblige."
Han Xuanji's tone was flat. After checking the contract for any issues, he branded the rune with his own Great Dao mark.
The two marks shone together, and the rune immediately transformed into two streaks of light that vanished into their respective brows; the oath was sealed.
Han Xuanji said indifferently:
"But don't forget the stakes I mentioned earlier."
"Of course I won't!"
Baili Qianchi replied decisively, though he was sneering inwardly.
Lose? How could he lose?
He had trained alone on the Eternal Continent for countless years, battling desolate beasts and struggling against natural disasters. Having escaped death many times, his will had long since been tempered into something as hard as iron.
Han Xuanji was just a Genius coddled by the Hun Family; when had he ever experienced true hardship?
He was certain to win this match.
Seeing that things had reached this point, Qin Xin said no more. She turned and walked to the zither table in the center of the terrace, sitting down cross-legged.
An ancient zither lay across the table, its wood grain as natural as flowing water, its seven strings shimmering with a faint silver light.
She raised her hands, her ten fingers lightly pressing against the strings.
"In that case, let us begin."
The music began.
It was like a clear spring washing over jade, or a gentle breeze through the mountains.
The notes were neither hurried nor slow, flowing gently like a pair of soft hands lightly brushing against the listeners' ears.
This was a probe.
Qin Xin was indeed a Grandmaster of the path of music at the Peak of the Eternal True Lord realm; her control over the music had reached a Transcendent level.
She could precisely control the power of heart refinement to affect only Han Xuanji and Baili Qianchi, while the guests watching from outside the terrace could clearly perceive the dao-rhythm within the music without feeling any impact.
This effortless control drew a wave of hushed admiration from the surroundings.
"Lady Qin Xin's mastery of 'Sound Untainted by Dust' is truly superb!"
"As expected of the Pavilion Master's Personal Disciple. On a battlefield, she would be a blessing to her allies."
"Indeed, with the protection of her music, combat would be much easier."
On the battlefield, where various methods were unpredictable, this music could both resist attacks like illusions and influence reality; its utility was significant.
...
Han Xuanji's expression was calm as he sat as straight as a pine tree.
To him, the music entering his ears was nothing more than a gentle breeze on his face, unable to stir even a single ripple in his heart.
He even picked up the Spiritual Tea before him with interest and took a light sip.
Opposite him, Baili Qianchi was equally relaxed.
He leaned back in his chair with a bold posture, a playful smile on his lips, even having the spare energy to comment:
"Brother Han is quite composed. However, this is just Lady Qin Xin's appetizer; the flavor later won't be so pleasant.
If Brother Han cannot hold out, feel free to admit defeat; I won't laugh at you."
The mockery in his tone was blatant.
Han Xuanji set down his teacup and gave a faint smile:
"Brother Baili is very considerate. Since it's only at this level, why not ask Lady Qin Xin to add a bit more weight? Let's not have this match be too boring."
Baili Qianchi's smile stiffened slightly, then he snorted coldly:
"Indeed."
Han Xuanji ignored him, looking up at Qin Xin and giving a slight nod.
Qin Xin's brow furrowed slightly.
As a musician, she had seen too many Cultivators acting tough, talking big at first only to make fools of themselves once the music truly reached their hearts.
But this young man before her didn't look like he was forcing it.
His gaze was calm to the point of indifference; there was no tension from resisting the music, nor was there any feigned relaxation. He simply sat there, as if her music truly were nothing more than a harmless breeze.
Could it be that this youth truly was that confident?
For a moment, Qin Xin's curiosity was piqued. Qin Xin withdrew her gaze, her fingering suddenly changing.
The music's tempo shifted abruptly.
The previous gentle wind and drizzling rain instantly turned into Surging Waves and crashing billows, as if armored horses and iron spears were charging out from the strings.
Every note was like an invisible blade, precisely stabbing into the most vulnerable parts of the listeners' souls.
Fear, greed, regret, obsession—all the emotions Cultivators buried deep in their hearts were churned up by the music at this moment, turning into a colossal wave that crashed against the tranquility of their Spiritual Terrace.
Although the watching guests were not targeted by the music, they were still shaken by the oncoming dao-rhythm, their faces paling as they instinctively retreated several steps.
"This... this is 'Surging Waves' from the 'Nine Movements of Heart Refinement'!"
A knowledgeable Cultivator cried out in surprise:
"Even an Eternal True Lord would likely feel pressure hearing this; Lady Qin Xin is getting serious right from the start!"
"Can these two hold out?"
Everyone turned their gazes toward the center of the scene.