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

Chapter 25 Communication
Qin Ming's gaze slowly swept over the Shrek Seven Devils, a flicker of amazement in his eyes. Although he had won this battle, he knew in his heart that in terms of age and talent, the potential of these children before him was even greater than that of his own students.

"They're all geniuses like Xiaofeng," he sighed inwardly, a gratified smile crossing his face. The Imperial Dou instructor felt genuinely proud to see his alma mater nurture so many talented individuals.

"Okay," Flanders put his arm around Qin Ming's shoulders with a smile, "this is not the place to reminisce about the past. Let's go to the hotel where we are staying and chat slowly." He winked at Yu Xiaogang and his nephew, and tactfully led everyone away, leaving this space for the reunited couple.

The next day, at dawn, Feng Yao finished a night of meditation and arrived at the hotel restaurant feeling refreshed. He chose a seat by the window and ordered a pot of tea and some exquisite snacks.

"Good morning, both of you."

The Shi brothers, who had already started eating, put down their bowls and chopsticks and smiled their signature honest smiles when they saw Feng Yao coming.

After a while, the members of the Royal Fighting Team appeared one after another:

Yufeng had two dark circles under his eyes and greeted weakly, "Good morning." It was obvious that he had gone on a date with some noble daughter last night.

Oslo nodded grimly to everyone and ordered breakfast.

Just as everyone was having dinner, Dugu Yan came over with Ye Lingling on her arm. Feng Yao raised his eyes and smiled softly: "Sister Yan, Sister Lingling, good morning."

"Strange," Yufeng looked around, "Why haven't Teacher Qin and the captain come yet?" "Logically, today should be the day they set off to return to the academy.

As they were talking, Qin Ming and Yu Tianheng entered the restaurant. He clapped his hands lightly, and the crisp applause immediately attracted everyone's attention.

"Good morning." Qin Ming's eyes swept gently over everyone present, finally landing on Feng Yao. "There's something I'd like to hear everyone's opinions on."

The members of the Royal Fight team looked at each other, confusion written all over their faces.

"I plan to arrange for you to have a week-long exchange and study with Shrek Academy." Qin Ming paused, carefully observing the changes in the team members' expressions.

"I agree." Yu Tianheng was the first to express his opinion.

Yufeng, Osro, and the Shi brothers remained silent—as children of the Heaven Dou nobility, they were accustomed to following the orders of their teachers. However, Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan were different: their unique status as the sole heir of the Nine-Hearted Begonia lineage, coupled with the presence of the Titled Douluo Dugu Bo, meant that few dared to provoke them in the Heaven Dou Empire.

"Teacher Qin, is this necessary?" Dugu Yan frowned slightly. She was quite unhappy with Shrek's unwillingness to lose performance yesterday.

Qin Ming looked at Feng Yao with a hint of embarrassment. Feng Yao glanced at Qin Ming and Yu Tianheng thoughtfully, then remembered Dugu Bo's previous instructions and chuckled, "I don't have any objections."

Dugu Yan looked at Feng Yao in surprise, then nodded after a moment's hesitation, "For the sake of Teacher Qin and Xiao Feng, I agree."

Qin Ming looked at Feng Yao with gratitude, feeling relieved. "Okay, we'll set off after breakfast."

In the morning light, Qin Ming led the Royal Fighting Team toward the outskirts of Soto City. Feng Yao and Dugu Yan walked side by side in the team. The latter lowered her voice and asked, "Xiao Feng, you are clearly anxious to return to practice, why did you agree to this?"

Feng Yao raised his lips slightly: "What if, this time, it was Teacher Qin who came to guide them as a senior? Would Sister Yan feel better?"

"Just for this?" Dugu Yan curled her lips, her eyes full of disdain, "Do they deserve it?"

Feng Yao chuckled and shook his head. "When you are in a position, you should do your job." He looked at Qin Ming's back with a far-reaching gaze. "It's always right to do your duty as a student."

Dugu Yan narrowed her emerald eyes slightly and looked at Feng Yao suspiciously: "No, you must be hiding something from me." She moved closer and lowered her voice: "Tell me the truth, what are you planning?"

Feng Yao smiled without saying anything, and just gently plucked the strings of the zither: "Since we are here to exchange and learn, we must at least bring back some gains."

"What can you learn from those people?" Dugu Yan snorted disdainfully. "It would be better if grandpa taught you a few more practical skills."

"It will only take about seven days." Feng Yao smiled meaningfully. "How much you can understand depends on your luck."

Seeing Feng Yao unwilling to talk more, Dugu Yan rolled her eyes at him, but she also let go of her prejudice. As Feng Yao said, it was only seven days, so she just wanted to give Teacher Qin some face.

Soon, they arrived at Shrek Academy, hidden in the village. Sensing their arrival, Flender and Yu Xiaogang were already waiting at the gate with all the students except Tang San.

"Dean." Qin Ming bowed respectfully.

"No need to be so polite." Flanders forced a smile onto his stubby face, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly. For this reception, he had gritted his teeth and spent a considerable amount of gold soul coins from his personal stash. While it wasn't anywhere near as lavish as the Tiandou Royal Academy, it was at least enough to maintain some basic appearances.

Dai Mubai took the initiative to extend his hand to Yu Tianheng, his eyes filled with sincere admiration. Yu Tianheng readily shook it, and the two smiled at each other, with a sense of mutual admiration.

Feng Yao bowed slightly to Zhu Zhuqing: "Miss Zhuqing, nice to meet you again." Zhu Zhuqing still had a cold expression and just replied briefly with "Welcome". Feng Yao did not take it as an offense and still maintained a gentle smile.

When Feng Yao turned to Xiao Wu, she had already been glaring at him for a long time. "Sister Xiao Wu, long time no see," he apologized. "I'm sorry for offending you on the fighting stage yesterday."

Xiao Wu snorted coldly and turned away. Dugu Yan's eyebrows shot up, ready to explode, but Ye Lingling gently held her back. In contrast, Dugu Yan found the icy Zhu Zhuqing much more pleasing to the eye. She extended her hand to Zhu Zhuqing, who, with a flicker of surprise in her cat-like eyes, shook hands politely.

On the other side, Ning Rongrong gracefully extended her hand to Ye Lingling: "I've long heard of the Nine-Hearted Begonia's great name." Ye Lingling was also quite surprised: "I didn't expect Miss Ning to be here. I've heard of your great name for a long time."

Ning Rongrong's eyes flashed with an unnatural look when she heard this - the "glorious deeds" she left behind in the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect and Tiandou City were really not something to be proud of.

After a brief greeting, Flanders clapped his hands and said, "Since we are here to exchange ideas and learn from each other, I hope we can learn from each other's strengths and weaknesses." He turned and led the way, "Follow me."

Everyone followed him to the so-called "playground", which was actually just a piece of yellow land cleared by the village, with simple wooden stakes and stone locks scattered around. Compared with the training ground of Tiandou Royal Academy, it was a world of difference.

At this time, Yu Xiaogang turned to Qin Ming and said in a deep voice: "Teacher Qin, since we are here for exchange and learning, why not focus on practical training?"

Qin Ming nodded slightly. "That's exactly what I meant. At Tiandou Royal Academy, actual combat is a daily compulsory course." He paused and added, "Of course, Xiaofeng's situation is slightly different." Yu Xiaogang raised his eyebrows, looking surprised. "Student Feng doesn't participate in actual combat training in Tiandou?"

Qin Ming looked at Feng Yao helplessly and said with a wry smile, "I'm afraid Xiaofeng is the only student in our academy who doesn't need a teacher to guide him - because there is no one who can guide his cultivation method."

These words made everyone in Shrek turn their gazes towards Feng Yao, their eyes full of surprise.

"You should explain it yourself." Qin Ming gestured to Feng Yao.

Feng Yao gently stroked the strings of his zither, saying in a gentle voice, "All my abilities stem from improving my zither skills. Daily meditation on the zither is the best form of training. As for actual combat..." A clear sound flowed from his fingertips, "Too much desire for victory and resentment will only disturb the heart of the zither."

Flender's sharp eyes flashed, and he said thoughtfully: "No wonder. You don't even need to light up your spirit ring when you use your ability. If I'm not mistaken, you should be taking an extreme development path similar to the four extreme clans?"

Feng Yao bowed respectfully and said, "Dean Flanders has a keen eye."

"So..." Yu Xiaogang's pupils shrank slightly, and his voice trembled slightly with shock. "All of your abilities are self-created soul skills?"

Feng Yao smiled and nodded, his fingertips gently stroking the strings of the zither: "That's right." He looked at Yu Xiaogang with a profound gaze and added meaningfully: "Speaking of which, this is also thanks to the master's communication and inspiration back then."

"What?!" Flanders' eyes widened upon hearing this, his face full of disbelief.

"Xiao Wu, Tang San, and I all graduated from Notting College." Feng Yao's fingertips gently plucked the strings of the zither, and he spoke softly, "I had a conversation with the master back then, and he said that no matter what kind of martial spirit, in order to unleash its power, it must be supported by strong soul power. The foundation lies in the soul power foundation."

He raised his eyes and smiled faintly: "So all my spirit rings are chosen for pure spirit power amplification."

Flanders was startled when he heard this, then suddenly realized what was going on. Yu Tianheng couldn't hide the smug look on his face.

Only Yu Xiaogang unconsciously clenched his hands behind his back. He was the only one who understood the deep meaning of Feng Yao's words.

"In that case." Yu Xiaogang forced a smile, his voice a little dry, "I wonder if Mr. Feng could demonstrate his usual practice method?"

"With great pleasure." Feng Yao gracefully took out the Fuxi Qin, gently stroked the strings with his fingertips, and said with a smile, "How about playing a piece of 'Yangchun Baixue', the master's favorite piece back then?"

Upon hearing this, Yu Tianheng looked at Yu Xiaogang with even greater respect. The master's face twitched slightly, but under his nephew's eager gaze, he could only force a stiff smile and nod in agreement.

"Then I'm sorry to show you my poor performance." Feng Yao smiled modestly and sat down gracefully on the ground, his moon-white robe spread out on the ground.

Feng Yao 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 quiet.

When the first note sounded, the entire training ground fell silent. Yu Xiaogang frowned—he refused to believe this was Feng Yao's method of cultivation. Only masters like Flender and Qin Ming could perceive it. Each note was precisely controlled to a specific frequency. As the strings vibrated, subtle ripples of soul power spread through the air.

As the melodious sound of the zither resonated in everyone's ears, 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 rise and fall of the zither's music.

"Wonderful." Flanders couldn't help but marvel at Feng Yao's extremely strong spirit power control ability. He sent a message to Yu Xiaogang beside him, "Why don't you bring this kid to Shrek as well? With his superb piano skills, he's almost an all-round spirit master."

The corner of Yu Xiaogang's mouth twitched. He really wanted to tell Flender that Feng Yao's innate soul power was only level four back then. He was not optimistic about Feng Yao's future, but valued Feng Yao's ability to assist in cultivation. He even wanted Feng Yao to focus on developing in this direction.

At this moment, Yu Xiaogang stared at Feng Yao who was playing the piano, with indescribable complex emotions surging in his eyes - shock, regret, unwillingness, and a hint of jealousy that was difficult to conceal.

He saw clearly that this young man, who he once judged to be "mediocre in talent", not only changed his own destiny in his own way, but also developed a comprehensive combat system with amazing talent - assistance, control, and strong attack, which were perfectly integrated into the seemingly simple piano sound.

At this moment, Yu Xiaogang couldn't help but compare his disciple Tang San with Feng Yao in his heart, and a storm of emotions surged in his heart. At this moment, he had to admit that apart from the advantage of twin martial spirits, Tang San's understanding of the essence of martial spirits was far behind Feng Yao.

Every note of Yangchun Baixue silently confirmed Feng Yao's words on the fighting stage: excessive focus on external techniques is ultimately inferior to cultivating the essence of the martial soul. This realization left Yu Xiaogang with a lump in his throat, but he had to secretly agree.

The music faded, leaving behind a lingering melody. Silence reigned supreme. With the exception of Qin Ming and Flender, two teachers with profound spirit power and extensive knowledge, everyone at Shrek had strange expressions on their faces, their eyes filled with disbelief.

"Is this really cultivation?" The same question swirled in everyone's mind. But when their eyes fell on the figure with the pale blue halo still lingering, they had to admit: to be able to fuse the zither art and soul power to such a level, the strength was undeniable.

Yu Xiaogang looked at Feng Yao deeply and said to everyone, "Since Feng's training method is rather special, there is no need for actual combat training."

Just as Yu Xiaogang was about to lead everyone to group training, Feng Yao's voice slowly came over, "Master, I deeply apologize for what happened to Tang last night. If Tang wants to hear some highbrow music, I will perform a piece of it as an apology after I recover."

Yu Xiaogang's eyes flashed. Feng Yao's gentle face, as gentle as jade, was particularly pleasing to him. A hint of joy could not help but appear on his stiff face. In his opinion, Feng Yao was planning to use his own abilities to compensate his own disciples.

Yu Xiaogang suppressed his joy and nodded calmly, "I'll let him come when he recovers."

Feng Yao nodded slightly, turned around and found a secluded corner to continue practicing.

Ma Hongjun scratched his head and leaned over to Xiao Wu: "What's so special about this song? It's not even as good as the girls in the brothels singing it."

Xiao Wu kicked him in anger and said, "What do you know? Back in Notting City, he could earn hundreds of gold soul coins a day just by relying on this skill. Those noble lords were so envious of him!"

"Hundreds a day?" Oscar's eyes lit up. His sausage only sold for five copper soul coins.

After hearing Ma Hongjun's words and seeing Oscar's money-obsessed look, everyone in Huangdou couldn't help but look disgusted.

At this moment, Zhu Zhuqing, Dai Mubai, and Ning Rongrong all looked embarrassed, and they all thought in their hearts, "How embarrassing." They subconsciously moved away silently.

(End of this chapter)