Chapter 55: Playing “White Fox” Again

Lin Chen arrived at the center of the performance stage and slowly sat down.

Her fingertips glided gently across the strings, and crisp notes blossomed quietly like dew in the morning light.

The initial melody was like the morning mist, fresh and secretive, concealing an indescribable loneliness and depth.

As the tune progressed, the timbre became increasingly poignant, like a thousand-year-old white fox wandering alone under the moon, keeping silent watch in the cold wind.

The zither music echoed melodiously, seemingly carrying an indescribable power that pierced through the tranquility of Tianyin Square.

Gradually, this beautiful melody drifted out from the Tianyin performance stage, attracting the Disciples outside.

One by one, the Disciples were moved by the music and filed into Tianyin Square, taking their seats in silence.

The seats that were originally empty were now gradually filling up.

As the tune deepened, Lin Chen's singing voice rose melodiously, like a sound from the heavens: "I am a fox that has cultivated for a thousand years, a thousand years of cultivation, a thousand years of loneliness.

When the night is deep and quiet, does anyone hear me weeping?

In the fading lamp light, does anyone see me dancing?

I am a fox that has waited for a thousand years, a thousand years of waiting, a thousand years of loneliness.

In the rolling Mortal World, who has planted the Gu of love?

In the vast sea of people, who has drunk the poison of love?

When I loved you, you were penniless, studying hard by the cold window.

When I left you, you had passed the imperial examinations and were in the bridal chamber.

Can I dance one more dance for you?

I am the white fox you set free thousands of years ago.

Look at my sleeves fluttering, my sleeves fluttering.

In the next life, I will still be your fox."

Lin Chen's final note fell slowly, the zither music dissipated like smoke, and Tianyin Square fell into silence.

Everyone's gaze remained fixed on Lin Chen, as if they had not yet emerged from the sorrow of that thousand-year-old white fox.

The air was filled with an indescribable sense of melancholy and resonance.

When Lin Chen's singing reached the final line— "In the next life, I will still be your fox"—it felt as if everyone present felt a tremor in their hearts.

"This last line… it's simply heartbreaking," a female Disciple said softly, her eyes already filled with tears.

" 'In the next life, I will still be your fox'—it's truly too poignant," another Disciple said, looking up slightly, their eyes flickering with deep emotion for this story.

Princess Hu Qinlan stood where she was, her gaze fixed ahead, muttering to herself: " 'In the next life, I will still be your fox'—I understand now, this is what I want to pursue!"

Her voice carried a trace of sudden enlightenment, as if she had grasped some profound truth in an instant.

Suddenly, a pale green light burst forth from her body.

The light spread outwards like ripples, and the entire Tianyin Square was instantly dyed a fresh shade of emerald green.

The Disciples were all astonished, each wearing an expression of disbelief.

"Senior Sister Princess Hu Qinlan has entered the Dao!" a Disciple whispered, their voice full of shock.

"She actually comprehended the 'Dao of Sacrificial Protection'…" another person stared intently at Princess Hu Qinlan, their eyes filled with awe.

Princess Hu Qinlan's figure slowly floated upward, her sleeves dancing with the wind, like a light leaf drifting in a gentle breeze.

The light on her body grew brighter and brighter, the pale green radiance merging perfectly with her temperament, as if she were a part of the lake water—pure, protective, and endless.

Princess Hu Qinlan was about to draw the Great Dao into her body.

This was a Realm that cultivators dreamed of, and what Princess Hu Qinlan had comprehended was the extremely rare Dao of Sacrificial Protection.

Just at this moment, outside Tianyin Square, the sky suddenly became incredibly dark.

Thick clouds gathered overhead, lightning flashed, and thunder roared.

"This is… a Heavenly Tribulation!?" someone exclaimed, their face full of disbelief.

"Princess Hu Qinlan's Breakthrough has actually triggered a Heavenly Tribulation!" an Elder rushed over in shock, their gaze heavy.

The Elders arrived at Tianyin Square one after another, their expressions extremely grave.

The phenomenon before them exceeded their expectations; with the Heavenly Tribulation descending, it was clear that Princess Hu Qinlan's Breakthrough could not be underestimated.

Meanwhile, she remained suspended in the air, her figure becoming more and more divine along with that green radiance.

Lin Fan's voice suddenly rang in Lin Chen's ear, filled with urgency: "Lin Chen, hurry and continue playing! Use your zither music to help her stabilize her mind, otherwise she will never be able to withstand the Heavenly Tribulation!"

Lin Chen reacted immediately, not daring to delay.

She quickly took out her ancient zither, her hands touching the strings once more.

As soon as her fingertips touched them, the zither music poured out like flowing water.

Lin Chen's zither music was like a torrent, unstoppable, filling the space between Heaven and Earth, as if it were contending against the Heavenly Tribulation.

As she played, the tune became increasingly poignant—that feeling of knowing one would gain nothing, yet still choosing to do it—echoing Princess Hu Qinlan's determination for sacrificial protection.

The zither music was infused with the power of sacrifice and protection, driving the flow of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, causing the pressure of the Heavenly Tribulation to ease slightly.

Princess Hu Qinlan closed her eyes, seemingly feeling the power within the zither music with her heart.

As the music played, her aura gradually became steady, and the Spiritual Qi within her body circulated smoothly.

The lightning of the Heavenly Tribulation rolled and churned above her head, yet it never fell, as if blocked by the zither music.

The entire world seemed to have come to a standstill because of this zither music, and everyone's heart was in their throat.

At this moment, Lin Chen's zither music decided Princess Hu Qinlan's fate!

Princess Hu Qinlan was suspended in mid-air, and her originally closed eyes slowly opened.

A calm smile appeared on her face, and her whole being seemed to merge with Heaven and Earth, devoid of any fear.

The pale green light became increasingly brilliant with Lin Chen's zither music, enveloping her body like a protective mist, isolating her from the external Heavenly Tribulation.

"To think that Princess Hu Qinlan could still maintain such mental stability under these circumstances, this is truly…" the Xingyin Palace Elder, Star Song Queen, could not help but exclaim.

"It is not just her talent, but also Lin Chen's zither music; her performance has already broken through the boundaries of mortal sounds, truly able to resonate with Heaven and Earth!" the Yueyin Palace Elder, Fairy Youyue, remarked with emotion, her eyes full of admiration.

Suddenly, a peal of thunder came from the horizon, and a massive bolt of lightning struck down fiercely, heading straight for Princess Hu Qinlan.

Everyone was startled; the power of the Lightning Tribulation was far greater than they had imagined!

Just as the lightning was about to strike, Lin Chen's zither music shifted abruptly.

With a clang, sound waves erupted like a tangible force, rushing straight toward the lightning like an invisible barrier.

The lightning and the zither music collided, and the entire world seemed to fall silent for an instant.

Time stood still, everyone held their breath, their gazes fixed tightly on Princess Hu Qinlan.

At the moment of collision, the lightning was actually shattered by the zither music!

Fragments of lightning dissipated in the air, and the pressure of the Heavenly Tribulation appeared to weaken slightly at this moment.

Princess Hu Qinlan felt Lin Chen's zither music transform into endless power as it entered her body, her heart filled with gratitude and determination.

Her aura became increasingly stable, and the light on her body grew more dazzling, like a newborn bright moon, illuminating the entire Tianyin Square.

Just as everyone had let out a sigh of relief, the thunderclouds in the sky that had originally dissipated gathered once more, rapidly turning from one cluster into two.

Then, more dark clouds gathered together at an astonishing speed.

The pitch-black thunderclouds rolled, lightning flashed, as if they contained the power to destroy everything.

This time, the center of the Lightning Tribulation was no longer just Princess Hu Qinlan; it had directly locked onto Lin Chen.

The aura of the thunder seemed to have marked her, and there was no way to avoid it.

The power of the Lightning Tribulation became increasingly ferocious, the pressure weighing on everyone's hearts like a heavy mountain.

The Elders' expressions became extremely grave.

Several Elders with deep cultivation even secretly prepared to intervene and assist, but they knew that if they interfered with the Heavenly Tribulation, they would suffer a Heavenly Retribution corresponding to their own cultivation, with unimaginable consequences.

The Heavenly Dao is merciless; if they forcefully intervened, not only would it be difficult to help Lin Chen and Princess Hu Qinlan, but they might also fall into a perilous situation themselves.

"If Princess Hu Qinlan cannot withstand it, at most she will fail to enter the Dao and her cultivation will be temporarily hindered…" the Shuiyin Palace Elder, Zither Heart Bibo, said in a low voice, filled with worry, "but if Lin Chen fails, she will face the complete severance of her path to the Dao, and may even lose her life!"