I Have A Dual World Seal-Chapter 812: Starfire Curse

Half a month later, at the Peach Blossom Plain, on the Decade Rest Day, the weather was clear, with white clouds hiding the sun and a gentle breeze blowing.

Yi Xiaoqian brought Ning Zhiqui, Liu Qingyan invited Li Hanyu and Zhu Yushan, Wang Xiaowan brought Old Master Wang, and Elder Liu's family also came together, making the Taohua Village bustling with noise and excitement.

Shen Ying used a spell to set up a stage, and with a wave of her hand, the stage transformed into a garden filled with the fragrance of flowers, butterflies fluttering around, as a young girl in colorful attire gracefully appeared and began to dance.

Hu Cai Niang — playing — Yang Yuhuan

Shen Ying — playing — Emperor Ming of Tang

Bi Xinyu — playing — Gao Lishi

Lin Jing'Er — playing — Li Bai

Bai Ting'Er — playing — Li Guinian

Tao Rui — playing — An Lushan

Tao Zhen — playing — Guo Ziyi

Hua Yixing — playing — Yang Guozhong

...

This time, Liu Qingyan did not take the stage, but sat with Lu Zheng watching from the audience.

Under the illusion technique, the stage transformed from the Yang Family Mansion into a luxurious palace, then into picturesque landscapes, and from there to a military tent and a battlefield of many battles.

Each scene unfolded, based on Bai Juyi's "The Song of Everlasting Sorrow" as its framework, with the plot of "Changsheng Hall" as its turning point, depicting Yang Yuhuai's talents and growth, his meeting and falling in love with Emperor Ming of Tang, the happy days in the palace, the turmoil of rebellion, his death at Mawei, and finally the emperor's orders to search heaven and earth for Yang Yuhuai, leading to their reunion in a dream and another chance at love.

Like "Liang and Zhu", the ending of "The Song of Everlasting Sorrow" did not provide a definite resolution but ended with the expectations of the two, leaving unclear whether they could only meet once or if they had a future together.

At the drama's end, Hu Cai Niang and Shen Ying parted with a kiss, Shen Ying descended from the clouds, while Hu Cai Niang had to fly to the heavens, as they reluctantly bid farewell, each reaching out, disappearing within layers of clouds, followed by the gentle voice of Tao Qing singing "The Song of Everlasting Sorrow", culminating with the line "Though heaven and earth last forever, there is an end to this sorrow", ending the piece.

With the song ended, the audience below couldn't help but feel a sense of loss, until the stage lights shone again and the actors came out for a bow.

"Clap clap clap!" The applause was thunderous.

"Brother Lu, what a talent!" Zhu Yushan nodded and sighed, "This rendition of 'The Song of Everlasting Sorrow' is not in the least inferior to 'Liang and Zhu'."

Old Master Wang sighed, "I've listened to a lifetime of stories and watched countless plays, and never have I seen such a fine drama. I assert that if this play were to be published as a book, it would surely be a sensation in Great Jing."

Ning Zhiqui held Yi Xiaoqian's hand, and they exchanged a smile. They, one a mortal scholar and the other a little ghost girl, resembled the Emperor Ming of Tang and Yang Guifei, though they hadn't experienced the same splendor and fall, their plain, simple happiness seemed even more fulfilling.

Si Lingxi watched from start to finish, especially captivated by the climax with the "Feathered Robe Dance" and the finale of the "Winged Love Song", both composed by her personally. She was immensely satisfied with how the music, illusion, and performance combined to create an unprecedented audio-visual experience she had never enjoyed before.

Sipping a bit of tea, cracking a melon seed, she nodded in contentment, "Not bad."

...

The "Song of Everlasting Sorrow" lasted from morning until 1 p.m., and Xiaocui had long prepared a sumptuous meal. Everyone gathered for a feast, filled with laughter and joy.

After lunch and a rest, they entertained themselves.

"Brother Lu, my chess skills have improved recently. How about a match?" Zhu Yushan excitedly proposed.

Lu Zheng nodded, "Sure, why not ask Brother Ning to join us?"

Ning Zhiqui shook his head with a smile, "My chess skills are not that great, I'll just watch."

Hearing the conversation, Si Lingxi's gaze shifted towards Zhu Yushan, her expression full of doubt and curiosity.

Was he joking? She knew all too well how skilled Lu Zheng was at chess, and yet this Zhu Yushan, knowing this, still dared to challenge him?

Are young people nowadays all so formidable?

Or perhaps Tonglin County is a place of great talents, having produced people like Lu Zheng, Shen Ying, and Liu Qingyan, and now having even the Saintess of the Primordial Saint Sect humbled here, so it wouldn't be all that surprising to add a chess prodigy to the mix.

Then Tao Hui brought out the chessboard, distributed the pieces, and Lu Zheng and Zhu Yushan sat down, taking turns placing their pieces.

A moment later…

Si Lingxi: ???

Shen Ying happened to pass by, noticing the doubts in Si Lingxi's eyes, and couldn't help but chuckle and transmit her voice, "Lu Lang mostly wins by a small margin when he plays chess."

Si Lingxi shook her head, speechless, "Boring."

Just imagine, witnessing Nie Weiping locked in a tough match against a Go novice, and you'd get a sense of how Si Lingxi felt at this moment.

"Ting'Er felt that during the performance of the 'Feathered Robe Dance', there were two parts where the mental realm seemed off. Could the Palace Master please give some further guidance?" Shen Ying said with a smile.

Si Lingxi, already tired of watching the "fierce battle" between Lu Zheng and Zhu Yushan, got up and walked away, "Bai Ting'Er has potential but has spread herself too thin; she hasn't mastered one instrument. She's still young. Let her choose one and practice it more, to understand the spiritual essence of its sound. Through music, attain divine communication, then venture into other instruments, gaining knowledge by analogy."

Shen Ying nodded repeatedly and then left with Si Lingxi.

...

Lu Zheng and Zhu Yushan chatted as they played, with Ning Zhiqui occasionally chiming in.

"It's almost time for the state exam again." Ning Zhiqui said earnestly, "Brother Zhu, you mustn't be late this time."

Zhu Yushan paused, then said helplessly, "It's not up to me!"

Lu Zheng couldn't help but smile, placing a piece, "Actually, Brother Zhu, although you never make it on time for the exam, you always gain something each time. Who's to say what's better or worse?"

Zhu Yushan shook his head with a wry smile.

Ning Zhiqui blinked and said, "Since that's the case, why not lodge at an inn near the State Mansion Academy in advance, Brother Zhu?"

Zhu Yushan, "..."

Lu Zheng, "..."

The scene suddenly quietened, and Ning Zhiqui immediately felt the awkward atmosphere, asking, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, it's just I always thought I could make it on time, so I never considered it," Zhu Yushan sighed, placing a piece.

"Alright, this year I'll go early!"

Zhu Yushan vowed, "If even this doesn't work this year, then I'm truly not fated to take the imperial exam, and I won't bother in the future!"

...

Before long, Lu Zheng "barely won by a small margin" against Zhu Yushan, and then saw Shen Ying bring out her painting of "The Song of Everlasting Sorrow" for everyone to admire.

"'Liang and Zhu', 'A Chinese Ghost Story', 'The Song of Everlasting Sorrow'..." Old Master Wang stroked his beard and smiled, "I am already looking forward to Young Master Lu's next story. Please don't keep me waiting too long, Young Master Lu!"

"Yes, indeed!" Everyone nodded in agreement, their eyes filled with anticipation as they looked at Lu Zheng.

Lu Zheng: 눈_눈|||

No wonder Old Master Wang is the only mortal among the crowd, with such insight, one wouldn't get far in cultivation!

Lu Zheng laughed it off and made his exit.

But just then, as Si Lingxi, who was listening to Bai Ting'Er's music from a distance, opened her phoenix-like eyes, pointed her finger, and a golden light flashed over, entering Lu Zheng's forehead.

Lu Zheng did not resist, allowing the golden light to enter his Sea of Consciousness, transforming into a text of several thousand words.

"Starfire Curse"

It is a technique to condense fire into stars that explode upon touch. At its height, it appears as a faint starfire, but its true power is no less than the Qingwei Sect's Taiyi Five Thunder Curse.

It's an easy-to-learn but hard-to-master technique of fire manipulation, with amplified power if combined with exotic flames.

"Thank you, Palace Master!" Lu Zheng's eyes lit up, bowing in gratitude.

"This is what you deserve. 'The Song of Everlasting Sorrow' is a masterpiece," Si Lingxi nodded and smiled, "Compared to it, the 'Starfire Curse' is just an ordinary fire attack technique, nothing remarkable."

Lu Zheng, "..."

Si Lingxi was definitely doing it on purpose, but it was indeed irresistible!

Lu Zheng was already contemplating whether his next story should be "The Western Wing" or "Peony Pavilion", or maybe "Dong Yong and the Seven Immortal Maidens" and "Niu Lang and Zhi Nu"?

Could he play his trump card so easily!?