Douluo: When the piano sounds, the hidden weapon returns to the factory

"Who goes there?!"

Feng Yao was still a hundred meters away from the Spirit Hall camp when four dark figures appeared like ghosts, surrounding him completely. A chilling killing intent condensed in the air, and sharp weapons gleamed coldly in the moonlight.

Faced with the sudden encirclement, Feng Yao remained calm. He held Fuxi steadily with one arm, and slowly raised his other hand, revealing a golden elder's token in his palm.

"This is."

The four Spirit Hall experts' gazes sharpened, and their expressions changed drastically when they saw the unique patterns on the token. They all knelt down on one knee.

"Your subordinate greets the Elder!"

The unified voices echoed in the night, the previous fierce aura instantly transforming into respect. The leading Soul Master bowed his head deeply, fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead—if he had acted even half a fraction faster, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

"stop!"

A clear, cold voice suddenly rang out, and three figures slowly emerged from the woods. In the moonlight, the one in the lead was a woman with a graceful figure. Her red lips were slightly pursed, and her pink eyes revealed a sharpness and scrutiny—it was Hu Liena, the leader of the Spirit Hall's Golden Generation.

"Who are you?" Her gaze fell on the token in Feng Yao's hand, her voice suddenly turning cold. "Why do you possess an elder's token from my Spirit Hall?"

Before the words were even finished, the four Soul Saints who had been kneeling on one knee suddenly stood up, their Soul Rings bursting forth, and their immense Soul Power instantly locked onto Feng Yao. Seven Soul Rings swirled around them, and the air seemed to freeze at that moment, spreading an aura of killing intent.

Feng Yao remained calm, but his gaze flickered slightly—the Hu Liena before him was no longer the girl who followed Xie Yue. Now, she was surrounded by a cold, murderous aura, clearly a transformation after her trials in the City of Slaughter.

Feng Yao's lips curled into a gentle smile: "Many years have passed, and Your Highness's charm is even greater than before."

Hu Liena frowned slightly, her gaze lingering on Feng Yao's face for a moment before settling on Fu Xi in his arms. In an instant, memories flooded back—the genius Soul Master who had won the championship in the Soul Master Competition.

"It's you?" Her red lips parted slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes. "How did you end up here?"

The man before her was tall and imposing, with a calm and reserved demeanor. His dark blue hair was completely different from the black-haired boy she remembered. If it weren't for that familiar martial spirit, she would hardly have been able to connect the two.

She raised her delicate hand slightly, making a subtle gesture. The four Soul Saints exchanged glances, and although they had doubts, they still respectfully withdrew their soul power and stepped aside—this Saintess's status in the Spirit Hall was no longer what it used to be.

Feng Yao smiled calmly, his fingertips lightly tracing the patterns on the Elder's Token: "What, am I, an honorary elder, not even qualified to participate in the Spirit Hall's operations?" His tone was relaxed, yet carried an undeniable air of authority. "This trip is at the personal invitation of His Holiness the Pope."

"The teacher invited you?" Hu Liena's pupils contracted slightly, and her red lips unconsciously tightened. This answer was clearly beyond her expectations.

Feng Yao shrugged, a faint smile playing on his lips: "Genuine, no doubt about it."

At this moment, Xie Yue and Yan stepped forward from the left and right, their soul power emanating from them. Xie Yue's narrow eyes flashed with a cold light, while Yan unabashedly released a scorching aura. They stared at Feng Yao warily, clearly filled with suspicion towards this suddenly appearing "honorary elder."

“Nana,” Xie Yue said in a low voice, “we haven’t received any notification.” His fingers were already on the hilt of the Moon Blade, ready to strike at any moment. The atmosphere in the entire camp instantly became tense.

"Insolence!" A fierce fighting spirit ignited in Yan's eyes, and scorching soul power surged around him. "How dare you impersonate His Holiness the Pope and deceive others? Boy, do you have a death wish?"

His fists clenched so tightly they cracked. The humiliation of being defeated by Feng Yao in front of everyone years ago was still a thorn in his side. Now that he had met his enemy, the pent-up resentment and anger were about to burst forth.

Hu Liena didn't verbally stop them, but simply took a half-step back without making a sound. She knew exactly what her teammate was thinking; this proud Flame Lord needed to prove himself in battle. Moreover, her peripheral vision caught the faint auras of the two Title Douluos, Chrysanthemum and Ghost, in the shadows of the camp. With these two Title Douluos present, the situation was entirely under control.

A playful smile appeared on her lips. Five years had passed. How much had that boy who had amazed everyone at the Soul Master Competition grown? She longed to witness it for herself.

Seeing this, Feng Yao's lips curled into a helpless smile: "It seems your progress over the years has given you enough confidence."

Before he finished speaking, seven dazzling halos suddenly rose from beneath his feet—yellow, yellow, purple, black, black, black, black! Each soul ring emitted a heart-palpitating energy fluctuation, especially the four profound ten-thousand-year soul rings, which were as awe-inspiring as an abyss.

"A seven-ring Soul Saint?!" Hu Liena and Xie Yue gasped simultaneously. As members of the Spirit Hall's Golden Generation, they had only recently broken through the level sixty threshold with great difficulty, while this young man, even younger than them, was already a whole major realm ahead!

A suffocating pressure filled the air. Feng Yao's mere release of his spirit rings caused the three prodigies to feel a weight on their shoulders. A hint of horror flashed in Hu Liena's beautiful eyes as she thought to herself, "He's broken the usual age limit starting from the third spirit ring. Is it because of those spirit rings?" She keenly noticed that the aura emanating from these spirit rings was far stronger than that of spirit masters of the same level.

Yan's face instantly turned ugly, and his clenched fists unconsciously loosened a little.

"No need to waste time." Feng Yao lightly stroked the strings, and a clear, melodious sound echoed in the night.

In an instant, the world became quiet.

Hu Liena's pupils contracted sharply as she was horrified to discover that she couldn't even move a single finger. Falling leaves froze in mid-air, the chirping of insects and birds ceased abruptly, and even the sound of her own heartbeat vanished—the whole world seemed to have been put on pause.

"This is... a domain?!" she cried out in her heart, but no sound came out. Even more terrifying, the soul power within her body was like a frozen river, unresponsive no matter how she tried to activate it. She desperately tried to unleash her Killing God Domain, only to find in despair that even the power of her domain was completely suppressed.

Fear surged through her like a tidal wave, and the pupils in her foxy eyes contracted violently and uncontrollably. She had never felt such terrifying pressure before—it was beyond her comprehension of the realm.

Feng Yao, carrying Fu Xi in his arms, slowly walked past the three. As his robes fluttered, the three could only watch helplessly as his figure receded into the distance, utterly powerless to resist. In this absolute silence, only the fear that frantically grew deep within their hearts silently testified to the vast difference in their abilities.

"That's enough, kid. Enough is enough."

A chilling voice suddenly resounded in Feng Yao's mind, like ice from the depths of the underworld. Before the voice had even finished, a cloud of black mist had already condensed and taken shape in front of Feng Yao, transforming into the signature sinister figure of Ghost Douluo.

Feng Yao smiled knowingly, and his slender fingers gently plucked the strings. In an instant, the frozen spacetime shattered like a mirror, and the still world regained its vitality. Hu Liena and the other two breathed a sigh of relief, staggering back several steps, panting heavily, their foreheads covered in cold sweat.

"Greetings, Senior Ghost Douluo." Feng Yao gracefully placed his hand on his chest and bowed, his demeanor composed and unhurried. "No need for formalities." Ghost Douluo gave a rare slight nod, his tone carrying a hint of caution. Having served the Pope for many years, he knew better than anyone the terrifying power hidden behind this young man.

This scene sent shockwaves through the hearts of the three members of the Golden Generation, who were still catching their breath. Just who was this Feng Yao to receive such treatment from a titled Douluo? Hu Liena's gaze towards Feng Yao deepened with even more awe.

Feng Yao nodded slightly, his gentle voice carrying just the right amount of respect: "Where is His Holiness the Pope at this moment?"

A ghostly black robe trembled slightly, and a hoarse voice slowly rang out: "The Papal Palace is swamped with state affairs; His Majesty will arrive soon." He paused, his sinister gaze sweeping across the distant Star Dou Great Forest. "His Majesty has ordered that if you come, you will join us. Our target this time is that elusive survivor from the Soul Master Competition."

"This junior understands." Feng Yao said with a faint smile, his demeanor humble yet composed. "I will follow your arrangements, senior."

Ghostly figure secretly breathed a sigh of relief, his black robes fluttering even without wind. "Follow me. The camp is just ahead. Before His Majesty arrives, we only need to pinpoint the target's location." He gave Feng Yao a meaningful look. "Remember, do not alert them."

Feng Yao's lips curled slightly as his fingertips lightly caressed the strings of his zither: "If you trust me, senior, I do have a way to find the target without alerting them in the slightest."

Beneath the ghostly black robe, his brow furrowed slightly: "Xiao Feng, according to the intelligence report, the fugitive is still guarded by two 100,000-year-old soul beasts. This matter is no small thing."

“Senior, please allow me to try.” Feng Yao’s slender fingers lightly touched the strings of his zither. “My music can travel a hundred miles, and it reflects back upon encountering anything. Within my domain, no sound pattern can escape detection.” A glint of light flashed in his eyes. “To soul beasts, this sound is nothing more than the sound of the wind passing by; they will not suspect a thing.”

A ghostly light flickered in his eyes. After a moment's contemplation, he nodded: "Good! If this method works, I can report back to His Majesty as soon as possible."

Feng Yao smiled knowingly, and his soul power surged suddenly. The Fuxi Qin floated in the air, its seven strings moving automatically without wind. His ten fingers, like butterflies flitting among flowers, gently plucked the strings—"Zheng!"

A thunderous melody erupted, and visible ripples of sound spread rapidly from the center of the wind. Hu Liena and the others felt a jolt in their eardrums, but before they could listen closely, the melody had already transformed into countless tiny ripples, silently disappearing into the vast forest.

"That's fine. Let's go back to camp and wait for news." Feng Yao had a faint smile on his lips, and the power of his domain was still flowing around him.

The ghostly figure in black robes stirred slightly, and said in a deep voice, "Won't leaving now affect the results of our reconnaissance?"

"Rest assured, senior." Feng Yao lightly tapped the void with his fingertip, and invisible sound waves rippled within his domain. "The sound waves spread like water ripples; the camp is at a suitable distance, just within our perception range."

The ghost nodded slightly, its black robes fluttering even without wind: "Then let's set off." With that, it took the lead and strode ahead.

Feng Yao followed calmly, his robes fluttering, his domain power following him like a shadow. Behind him, Hu Liena and the other two exchanged glances, all seeing undisguised shock in each other's eyes. How long ago was it that the boy who first showed his talent in the Soul Master Competition had now reached a height they could only look up to. Yan unconsciously clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white; Xie Yue gazed at that back with complex emotions; while Hu Liena bit her lip, her eyes gleaming with an indescribable light.

Feng Yao followed Gui Mei and his group into the Spirit Hall camp, where they were greeted by Yue Guan leaning against an ancient tree, eyes closed in meditation. Sensing their return, Yue Guan slowly opened his eerie eyes, his gaze lingering on Feng Yao for a moment before he raised an eyebrow at Gui Mei: "Old Ghost, what's this...?"

"Senior, it's been a long time." Feng Yao stepped forward and gave an elegant bow.

The ghostly figure succinctly uttered a few words: "That kid who plays the piano."

Upon hearing this, Yue Guan's eyes lit up. He circled Feng Yao, clicking his tongue in amazement, "You've really transformed in the years I haven't seen you." He gestured with his hands, "Not only have you grown taller, but your demeanor has also..."

Feng Yao smiled slightly and explained, "When I was in my growth period, I absorbed a transcendent spirit ring, so my physique was inevitably affected by the spirit ring's characteristics." As he spoke, he lightly stroked the Fuxi Qin floating beside him with his fingertips, and the strings emitted a clear and melodious resonance, as if the seven spirit rings were confirming his statement.

"A Soul Saint?" Yue Guan nodded in surprise, his gaze lingering on Feng Yao's four jet-black ten-thousand-year soul rings for a moment, a hint of understanding flashing in his eyes.

"Old Ghost should have already explained it to you, right? His Holiness the Pope will be arriving soon." Yue Guan gently stroked the rare and precious Chrysanthemum in his hand, his gaze fixed intently on Feng Yao.

Feng Yao was about to respond when his ears twitched slightly, and a glint of light flashed in his eyes: "Found it."

"Found it?" The ghostly figure in black robes trembled, his hoarse voice tinged with urgency. "Where is it?"

Yue Guan frowned in confusion: "What's going on?"

Hu Liena, who was standing nearby, quickly whispered a brief explanation of Feng Yao's detection abilities.

Feng Yao closed his eyes and concentrated, lightly pointing southeast: "About a hundred miles from here, there's a lake. A colossal creature sits on its shore, and another powerful soul beast lurks in the lake. And on the lakeshore—" He paused, "...a wooden house."

"Titan Ape and Azure Bull Python!" Yue Guan exclaimed excitedly, the chrysanthemum in his hand suddenly blooming. "It's definitely that one that slipped through the net!"

The ghostly black robes billowed without wind as he made a decisive move: "I'll go confirm. Yue Guan, you stay here with them and await orders." His sinister gaze swept over the crowd. "If the intelligence is accurate, I will return to the palace immediately to deliver the message." Before he finished speaking, he had already transformed into a cloud of black mist and vanished into the night.

Yue Guan twirled the Qirong Tongtian Chrysanthemum in his hand, his sharp gaze sweeping over everyone present: "Did everyone hear me clearly? From now on—" His voice suddenly turned deep, and the pressure of a Title Douluo instantly enveloped the entire area, "No one is allowed to leave the camp even a single step without authorization."

Hu Liena and the other two immediately knelt on one knee: "We obey the elder's command!"

Yue Guan nodded slightly in satisfaction, then turned to Feng Yao with a more friendly tone: "Little Feng, you may wait here for His Holiness the Pope's arrival. If you find it boring..." He glanced meaningfully at the Golden Generation, "you young people might as well exchange ideas and skills."

"Oh?" Feng Yao raised an eyebrow and looked at Hu Liena and the other two with a smile.

Yan and Xie Yue unconsciously averted their gaze, unable to meet his eyes. Only Hu Liena met Feng Yao's gaze without flinching, a complex emotion flickering in her foxy eyes. In a daze, she seemed to see again the figure from the City of Slaughter who haunted her dreams.

"I wonder if Tang Yin were here, could he possibly compete with him?" This thought flashed through Hu Liena's mind, and a trace of melancholy appeared on her delicate face. She subconsciously touched her heart, where a feeling that could never be spoken was hidden. As the night breeze blew, a few strands of golden hair brushed against her slightly flushed cheeks, adding to her captivating melancholy.

(End of this chapter)