“Young Brother Jiang.”

Within the Hall of Righteous Sound, Fan Qingqing spoke with a smile, “Your name echoes far and wide across the Near Sea Isles. They say you are the foremost talent of the younger generation in Qi!”

“Such praise is excessive. Qi is brimming with outstanding individuals; how could I possibly deserve it?”

Jiang Wang responded politely, but his mind was a whirlwind of inspiration, colliding, intertwining, and evolving.

That faint spark of enlightenment was rapidly taking shape.

What is righteous sound?

What is the tide’s roar?

How can the wonders of the Eight Tones converge? How does the Flamebird cry out?

“I say you deserve it! Others may not know the terror of that Eight-Armed Sea Beast, but the Five Immortals Sect and the Raging Whale Gang are so close, how could we not? Even Li Daorong, wielding the Mother Flag, would have had to exert himself. I don’t know what possessed him to challenge you.”

Fan Qingqing chatted idly, taking the opportunity to subtly stab at Li Daorong, a thorn in her side: “But the Raging Whale Gang has always been arrogant; they are bound to be presumptuous.”

“Oh, really?” Jiang Wang replied casually.

Fan Qingqing glanced at him, then probed further, “Speaking of which, we still don’t know the lineage of Young Brother Jiang. The news that reaches the sea from Linzi is fragmented and incoherent; there are all sorts of rumors. I heard… are you a beloved disciple of Lord Fierce Butcher?”

“How could I be so fortunate?” Jiang Wang smiled, continuing to parry, “I have only received some guidance.”

“No wonder Young Brother Jiang is so formidable!” Fan Qingqing continued her flattery: “Lord Fierce Butcher is almost universally acknowledged as the foremost God Emergence expert in the Eastern Region; many believe he is destined to become a True Immortal.”

“Oh? Indeed, his Eminence is powerful.” Jiang Wang continued to deflect.

“His guidance of Young Brother Jiang is ample proof of your talent. Perhaps you will become another Fierce Butcher in the future!”

“I dare not, I dare not.”

Jiang Wang’s perfunctory replies were so blatant that even Fan Qingqing, skilled as she was in conversation, found it hard to continue. “Young Brother Jiang seems weary, lacking the inclination to talk? Or is it that our Five Immortals Sect has not provided adequate hospitality?”

“No…”

Jiang Wang simply closed his eyes in his seat: “This tide’s roar… I find it enjoyable!”

He ceased the pointless exchanges, ignoring her.

The dancing spark of inspiration completed the entire picture at that moment. All emotions converged, turning into a sigh within his heart.

A sigh of satisfaction.

Within his heart.

The Flamebird arose, chirping and chattering.

The Flamebird’s cry encompasses eight variations, representing the Eight Tones.

The Eight Tones converged, like trickling streams gathering together, natural and complete, collectively playing the roar of the tide.

The righteous sound of the roaring sea.

This sound originated from the Overturning Sea Calamity, and from the Hall of Righteous Sound.

The Eight Tones resonated with the tide, the Flamebird incinerating the sea.

The tide was a tide of sound, the sea a sea of fire.

The Flamebird urged the Eight Tones, and the Eight Tones birthed the tide together.

Jiang Wang opened his eyes. A Superior Grade First Class Dao Art, Eight Tones Burning the Sea, was complete.

Though it had only evolved in his mind, it was truly successful. It was simply unnecessary to display it before the Five Immortals Sect, or before Fan Qingqing.

The threshold for a Superior Grade First Class Dao Art was at the Outer Building realm. But because it was a self-created Dao Art, penetrating to the very root, he could use it even across cultivation levels.

Jiang Wang didn’t hesitate, immediately engraving this Dao Art within his Second Inner Mansion. A Dao Art of his own creation required no consideration of proficiency. How could anyone, no matter how much they practiced or familiarized themselves, compare to the clarity of the creator?

At this moment, besides his Divine Abilities and Immortal Arts, he finally possessed a Dao Art technique at the Outer Building realm level.

None of the Five Immortals Sect’s five great halls could have provided such benefit.

It was precisely the Hall of Righteous Sound, precisely the righteous sound of the tide, precisely the fact that Jiang Wang had endured the Overturning Sea Calamity, precisely Jiang Wang’s possession of the Eight Tones Flamebird, such a unique Dao Art that blended sound and assassination, that had sparked that moment of inspiration.

Such was the meaning of fortuitous coincidence.

But flashes of inspiration could only be grasped by those who were prepared.

Fan Qingqing was somewhat stunned at the side. How, in the blink of an eye, had this young man seemed different? His eyes seemed brighter, his aura more invigorated.

Was this the mark of a prodigy?

Did becoming stronger only require blinking?

“Elder Fan.” Jiang Wang, in high spirits, asked proactively, “I wonder if there is any possibility of imparting the construction method of this Hall of Righteous Sound? I greatly enjoy listening to the righteous sound and would like to build one in Linzi as well!”

“We met as if old friends. Originally, I, your elder sister, should not refuse Young Brother Jiang’s request.” Fan Qingqing sighed, feigning difficulty: “But this involves our sect’s secrets and truly cannot be passed on.”

Whether she was genuinely troubled, or had sensed that Jiang Wang had obtained some benefit within the hall and was trying to drive up the price, was unknown.

An item useful to the cultivation of a Great Qi prodigy must be valuable! How much could she extract from the Qi court with it?

Just thinking about it was tempting.

But Jiang Wang immediately said: “Then forget about it. A gentleman does not seize what others cherish.”

Eight Tones Burning the Sea was complete; he didn’t actually need the Hall of Righteous Sound anymore. His inquiry was purely for enjoyment. He truly enjoyed the sensation of listening to the righteous sound; it was entirely different from ordinary listening.

However, he could not offer much of a price for mere enjoyment. After all, he was from a poor background, unlike wealthy young masters such as Yan Fu, who had been born with jade in their mouths, seeking only to please themselves and not caring about the cost.

“Well…”

Fan Qingqing, as an elder of the Five Immortals Sect, had lived for forty-two years and had seen all sorts of people. This was the first time she had encountered such a “prodigy”.

Didn’t all prodigies treat money like dirt? Didn’t all prodigies seek only enjoyment and not value? Didn’t all spend a thousand gold pieces for a smile?

Why was this Jiang Wang retreating at the slightest setback?

You should be showering me with Dao Yuan Stones!

Or cultivation methods and secret arts!

She cleared her throat awkwardly: “Actually, this matter isn’t entirely non-negotiable…”

At that moment, an aged voice clearly entered the Hall of Righteous Sound.

Interrupting Fan Qingqing’s selling plan.

“I heard a distinguished guest from Linzi has come to the sea. This old woman has come to see!”

The voice within the Hall of Righteous Sound echoed with its original tone, revealing the powerful aura of its owner.

A name immediately surfaced in Jiang Wang’s mind: Granny Jade Pearl!

He hadn’t gone to the Hall of Supreme Form, but she had proactively come to the Hall of Righteous Sound.

Hadn’t she been in the Hall of Supreme Form, in a conversation with the Five Immortals Sect Leader?

Was Granny Jade Pearl’s control over the Five Immortals Sect so deep, or…?

Jiang Wang looked at Fan Qingqing, a half-smile on his face.

For some reason, Fan Qingqing felt uncomfortable under that gaze, as if her hidden secrets had been seen through.

This was a difficult character. One must not underestimate him because of his age. He wasn’t merely a prodigy with terrifying talent and astonishing combat strength.

She secretly steeled herself, rising to her feet and hurrying towards the hall entrance, respectfully greeting, “Why has Granny taken the trouble to come here?”

From the hall entrance, an old woman with a round face covered in wrinkles walked in.

Her attire was very simple, like an ordinary old woman that could be seen anywhere in a small village. Only the dragon-headed cane she leaned on, and her slow, steady steps, carried an inexplicable sense of urgency.

Behind her was another elderly woman with a mix of black and white hair, wearing a purple cloud-sea robe. She should be the Five Immortals Sect Leader.

Judging by her cautious steps, her presence in the Hall of Righteous Sound was not her own idea.

Five Immortals Sect Elder Fan Qingqing attended to her solicitously, as if afraid Granny Jade Pearl would misunderstand. Jiang Wang also politely stood up.

But Granny Jade Pearl waved her hand as soon as she entered the hall: “You may attend to other matters. Allow this old woman to chat idly with this young man from Linzi.”

She was actually driving out the Five Immortals Sect’s higher-ups within their own hall.