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

Chapter 16 Extreme Flow

Not long after, Oslo slowly woke up from his coma, and what came into his sight was Yufeng's face with a mischievous smile.

"Hey, you're awake~" Yufeng approached with a playful grin, but withdrew his head awkwardly under Oslo's cold gaze.

Oslo slowly stood up, his sharp gaze sweeping across the crowd before finally settling on Feng Yao. He was silent for a moment, then spoke in a low voice, "Can you tell me how you did it?"

The training grounds suddenly fell silent, everyone's attention focused on Feng Yao. The sunlight streamed down, casting a soft glow over the guqin in his arms.

Feng Yao gently stroked the strings of the zither with his fingertips and explained in a gentle voice, "The sound of the zither is invisible, but it can reach you in an instant. I used sound waves of a specific frequency and intensity to temporarily interfere with your brain's central nervous system." He paused, his eyes sweeping over the crowd, "And beast spirits like the Ghost Leopard have perception abilities far beyond those of ordinary people. The more acute their perception, the more external information they receive."

"So it's easier to be affected by the sound of the piano." Oslo took over the conversation, a hint of realization flashing in his eyes.

Feng Yao smiled and nodded. "That's right. Before the competition, I did some research on each of your abilities." He looked at Oslo with a hint of apology in his eyes. "That's why I chose you as my opponent."

There was silence.

Yu Tianheng's pupils narrowed slightly, and the Shi Mo and Shi Mo brothers exchanged bewilderment. Even the usually calm Qin Ming had a pensive expression. Everyone realized that this seemingly gentle zither player not only possessed astonishing strength, but also possessed extraordinary combat wisdom.

Dugu Yan's emerald eyes gleamed with pride, while Ye Lingling gently covered her parted lips. At this moment, no one dared to underestimate this zither player with only two rings.

Ye Lingling tilted her head slightly, her silver hair falling like a waterfall, and her lavender eyes flashed with doubt: "What is the central nervous system?" Her voice was as clear as a spring, but with a bit of curiosity for knowledge.

Feng Yao stroked the strings of the zither with his fingertips, pondered for a moment, and then asked in a gentle voice, "I wonder if Lingling has ever seen a puppet show?"

"Of course." Ye Lingling nodded slightly, and the tip of her ear, faintly visible among her silver hair, moved slightly.

A gentle smile graced Feng Yao's eyes, and he lightly plucked the strings with his fingertips, creating a faint tremor. "A soul master controls the body much like a puppeteer controls a puppet. The brain issues commands, and the body follows." His slender fingers drew a few lines in the air. "And the central nervous system is the 'thread' connecting thought and action. Just now, I used the sound of the zither to briefly disrupt the transmission of these 'threads'."

“Snap, snap, snap—”

Crisp applause suddenly erupted. Qin Ming, a look of approval on his face, slowly stepped forward. "Well said." He surveyed the group, his voice steady and powerful. "Today, the new students have taught you an important lesson—never underestimate any opponent." His gaze lingered on Yu Tianheng for a moment. "On the contrary, you must carefully understand the characteristics of each opponent. This is the true wisdom of a soul master in battle."

"Yes!"

Everyone in the Royal Fighting team responded in unison, their voices echoing throughout the training grounds. Everyone's gaze was filled with anticipation and curiosity.

Qin Ming nodded with satisfaction, then cast a gentle gaze at Feng Yao: "Student Feng, can you now let us see your daily training methods?" There was a sincere inquiry in his voice, without any teacher's airs.

Dugu Yan's emerald eyes sparkled with anticipation. Ye Lingling unconsciously leaned forward, and even Oslo, who had just awakened, opened his eyes wide. Everyone wanted to know what unique training method this zither player, who could instantly subdue a ghost leopard spirit master with just two rings, had.

Feng Yao smiled modestly: "I don't deserve it. In fact, my training is very simple." As he spoke, he sat down gracefully on the ground, his moon-white robe spread out on the ground of the training ground.

He gently placed the "Fuxi" guqin on his knees, his slender fingers hovering over the strings. As the first note sounded, the air in the entire training ground seemed to be still.

"This is..." Qin Ming's pupils narrowed slightly. He keenly noticed that every note of Feng Yao was precisely controlled at a specific frequency. As the strings vibrated, subtle ripples of soul power rippled through the air.

As the melodious sound of the zither echoed through the training grounds, an astonishing scene unfolded—a pale blue halo gradually emerged around Feng Yao, flowing like ripples. This halo wasn't simply a radiance of soul power, but rather contained a mysterious rhythm that flickered and shimmered with the rhythm of the zither's music.

"A training method that perfectly blends qin skill with soul power control." Qin Ming's eyes blazed, and he couldn't help but whisper in admiration. As a Soul Emperor, he immediately recognized the subtlety of this training method.

Dugu Yan quietly watched Feng Yao, immersed in the music, a complex expression flashing in her emerald eyes. "Even Teacher Qin can only see the surface," she sighed inwardly.

This seemingly simple practice of playing the zither actually contained a profound secret that even shocked Poison Douluo. Dugu Bo had personally commented that Feng Yao's method of tempering the body through zither music was truly groundbreaking.

Yet, even a formidable figure like Dugu Bo could not fully grasp the profound mysteries within. Feng Yao's cultivation was far more than what met the eye—he perfectly integrated the rhythms of his zither skills, the characteristics of his martial soul, the refinement of his body, and the control of his soul power. These four elements complemented each other, forming a unique cultivation system. With each vibration of a note, Feng Yao tempered his martial soul with his soul power, implicitly aligning with the five-tone correspondences to internal organs; the ebb and flow of each melody corresponded to the trajectory of his soul power.

The zither's music intensified, and the blue aura surrounding Feng Yao also accelerated. Everyone was surprised to discover that the "Fuxi" guqin in his arms had begun to resonate faintly on its own. The ancient patterns on the guqin seemed to be infused with life, shimmering with a mysterious light in the sunlight.

This is a cultivation method that belongs only to Feng Yao. Even if he teaches it to others with all his heart, it is difficult for anyone else in the world to fully master it. The reason for this is that the entry requirements of this cultivation system are too harsh:
First, a martial soul must be a musical instrument. This type of spirit is plentiful across the entire spirit master world. However, one must also possess profound attainments in the art of music—remember, in this world, children awaken their martial souls at the age of six. To achieve Feng Yao's mastery of the zither, one must either possess the memories of two lifetimes, as Feng Yao does, or immerse oneself in music for decades, as Tang Yuehua has.

However, the reality was even more cruel: those with superior innate spirit power would naturally have a path to greatness, so why would they bother with such painstaking research? And those with less innate spirit power, how could they possibly, like Tang Yuehua, dedicate decades to mastering this art? Furthermore, in this world of strictly hierarchical spirit masters, the study of music has always been the exclusive preserve of the nobility; common spirit masters struggled to even acquire the qualifications to touch an instrument.

The melody of Feng Yao's zither echoed across the training grounds, each note seemingly in tune with the fundamental principles of heaven and earth. The members of the Royal Fighting Team listened with rapt attention, unaware of the countless unique opportunities and conditions hidden behind this seemingly elegant training method.

The song ended, the lingering sound lingering. Feng Yao's slender fingers gently pressed the vibrating strings, and he looked up at Qin Ming with a gentle smile on his face. "Teacher Qin, this is how I usually practice."

Qin Ming stared at the young man in front of him in a daze. After a long while, he shook his head and smiled bitterly. "Mr. Feng's training method is indeed unique." He stroked his chin, his eyes flashing with amazement. "Even with my knowledge, I can't offer any better suggestions. However," he changed the subject, his eyes becoming serious, "I have an important question."

"Please speak." Feng Yao's fingertips gently stroked the strings, leaving a lingering clear sound.

Qin Ming looked Feng Yao straight in the eye. "How do you define yourself? This determines your position within the team." He paused. "Judging from the characteristics of your martial spirit, I'm guessing it's a control type?" Feng Yao chuckled, his smile filled with surprising confidence. "Teacher Qin, I can handle any position."

At these words, not only did Dugu Yan's emerald eyes suddenly widen, but even the usually calm Ye Lingling couldn't help but cover her lips lightly. Suddenly, a sound of gasps echoed throughout the training ground.

"Mr. Feng, this..." Qin Ming frowned slightly, "You are not kidding, are you?"

Feng Yao calmly plucked the strings, emitting a meaningful tremolo. "Teacher Qin, I'm pursuing the Extreme Flow development path." He raised his hand, and two bright yellow spirit rings gleamed in the sunlight. "Each of my spirit rings has the same skill: spirit power amplification."

This sentence resonated like a thunderclap in Qin Ming's mind. All doubts were suddenly cleared up at this moment—with Feng Yao's superb control of soul power, combined with his Extreme Flow training method, he could indeed position himself at will. This seemingly gentle young man had unexpectedly integrated his understanding of zither art and the ways of a soul master to such a level!

Qin Ming's eyes unconsciously fell on the "Fuxi" in Feng Yao's arms. The ancient body of the instrument seemed to contain infinite possibilities. He finally understood why the Education Commissioner attached such importance to this young man.

Qin Ming's expression suddenly hardened, a hint of solemnity between his brows. He looked around at the people in the Royal Fight and said in a deep voice, "This matter is for you to know only, and do not spread it to anyone else." Although his voice was soft, it carried an unquestionable majesty.

"Yes!" everyone answered in unison, with a glint of enlightenment in their eyes.

Qin Ming then turned to Feng Yao, a gentle smile returning to his serious face. "Mr. Feng, from now on, just call yourself the Control Department." He added meaningfully, "That's more in line with common sense."

Feng Yao bowed gracefully, his fingertips brushing the strings casually: "I will follow Teacher Qin's instructions." The sound of the piano trembled lightly, with a sense of tacit understanding.

"Okay, let's start training now." Qin Ming clapped his hands and glanced at everyone in Huang Dou. "Student Feng, please do as you please." After that, he led the team to the other end of the training ground.

To avoid disrupting the Royal Fighting Team's daily training, Feng Yao deliberately sought a secluded corner on the edge of the training ground. Sunlight filtered through the trees, casting a soft glow over him and "Fuxi." The sound of the zither flowed like a clear spring, blending with the distant sounds of training, yet strangely, neither interfered.

As the setting sun painted the sky a vibrant orange, Feng Yao finished his last note, his fingertips gently pressing the strings to silence the lingering sound. He slowly opened his eyes, only to find Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling already standing quietly beside him. Dugu Yan folded her arms, her emerald hair fluttering in the evening breeze; Ye Lingling stood quietly beside him, her silver hair cascading like a waterfall, gleaming warmly in the setting sun.

"Oh, my dear brother, you are finally done." Dugu Yan sighed exaggeratedly, but her green eyes were full of smiles.

Feng Yao carefully picked up the "Fuxi", the flowing lines on the qin body faintly visible in the twilight: "Sister Yan, Sister Lingling, you don't have to wait for me."

"That's not what I'm waiting for." Dugu Yan winked mischievously, her emerald hair swaying slightly as she tilted her head. She nudged Ye Lingling beside her with her elbow and deliberately drew out her words, "Someone wants to learn piano from you."

Upon hearing this, Ye Lingling's fair face flushed instantly, even the tips of her ears, barely visible through her silver hair, were translucent. She twisted her slender fingers nervously, her lavender eyes flickering with shyness. "Yanyan! What... what nonsense are you talking about?" her voice trailed off until it was barely audible.

Feng Yao chuckled knowingly, his slender fingers lightly plucking the strings, bringing out a gentle tremolo. "It's my honor to be favored by Sister Lingling." His gentle gaze fell on Ye Lingling. "If you have any questions about music, you can always communicate with me."

Seeing Ye Lingling's embarrassed and anxious expression, Dugu Yan finally couldn't help but laugh out loud. Her emerald eyes were filled with doting: "Okay, okay, I won't tease you anymore." She turned and waved to Feng Yao, "Xiaofeng, let's go. After dinner, I'll take you to see the mimicry training ground of Tiandou Royal Academy."

Soon, after dinner, the bright moonlight had quietly climbed up the branches. Dugu Yan led Feng Yao through the quiet paths of the academy, her emerald hair fluttering gently in the night breeze.

"The Tiandou Royal Academy's simulated training ground is a place even the Spirit Hall would envy." Dugu Yan's voice was tinged with pride. She pointed to a uniquely shaped circular building in the distance. In the moonlight, the soul-guiding patterns on its surface glowed a faint blue.

As he approached, Feng Yao realized that the building was far more magnificent than he had imagined. The ten-meter-high dome was inlaid with countless crystals, which shimmered like stars in the night.

"Is this soul guidance technology?" Feng Yao thought to himself
At the entrance, two guards in silver-white uniforms greeted Dugu Yan and Feng Yao respectfully. After checking their student IDs, the heavy metal door slid silently open. Dugu Yan smiled and said, "Free access is a privilege reserved for core members of the team. From now on, just show your student ID."

The moment Feng Yao entered the simulated training ground, the "Fuxi" guqin in his arms suddenly emitted a clear, vibrato of its own accord. The strings moved without a single breath of wind, sending ripples of echoing sound through the silent space. This strange resonance seemed to echo the rich, almost materialized celestial energy within the training ground.

Before him lay a long corridor, lined on both sides with countless doors of various shapes. Each door was engraved with a different soul-guiding pattern, gleaming mysteriously under the dim blue light.

Dugu Yan leaned against the wall, her emerald hair shimmering in the light. "Just pick any room to meditate in." She looked at Feng Yao's surprised expression and couldn't help but chuckle. "Why? Think it's too easy?"

"It's indeed a bit unexpected." Feng Yao stroked the still slightly vibrating strings of "Fuxi", with a hint of doubt in his eyes.

"You'll understand once you start meditating." Dugu Yan blinked mysteriously. "Grandpa once said this place was built with money." She pointed to the floor beneath her feet. "Every inch of it is buried with priceless rare crystals, and the walls are embedded with rare metals that generate special energy fields."

Feng Yao's fingertips lightly touched the wall, and a wave of pure energy immediately spread along his fingertips. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, and he thought to himself, "A training ground built directly from natural treasures? Such a masterpiece..."

The touch from his fingertips instantly made him understand the mystery of this place—the entire wall was made of a special ore that could store soul power, and each piece was priceless. This was no soul guidance technology at all, but a sacred place for cultivation built from countless rare materials.

"If those soul masters from the Sun Moon Continent saw this," Feng Yao couldn't help but smile bitterly in his heart, "they would probably be so angry that they would vomit blood."

Dugu Yan's voice chimed in at the perfect moment: "When you enter a meditative state, the characteristics of your martial spirit will cause changes in the surrounding energy field." Her slender fingers traced a graceful arc in the air. "To put it bluntly, martial spirits are also 'picky'. Only in the most suitable environment can you achieve the effects of deep meditation. However, in this environment, the density of various energies far exceeds that outside, making it very easy to enter deep meditation. Due to the difference in energy density, even if you were lucky enough to enter a deep meditation state outside, the effect would certainly be far less than here."

Feng Yao nodded thoughtfully. This theory was new to him, but upon closer examination, it made sense. Just like his zither, which was vibrating slightly at the moment as it sensed the rich energy fluctuations, as if it couldn't wait to begin practicing.

(End of this chapter)