Tang Yinmeng looked at Xiao Xiao's appearance and said with a smile.
"Alright, little Xiao Xiao, let's stop with the theoretical stuff for now. Now, first summon your nine phoenix auspicious flute and let me take a look."
Hearing the instruction, Xiao Xiao obediently complied.
Buzz—!
Accompanied by a slight ripple of Spirit Power, Xiao Xiao slowly raised her right hand. Then, with a flash of light, the nine phoenix auspicious flute quietly appeared within her fair palm.
Tang Yinmeng's gaze fell upon the nine phoenix auspicious flute and she nodded, then turned and walked toward the depths of the War God Palace's main hall.
"Come, follow me."
Xiao Xiao quickly followed with the nine phoenix auspicious flute in hand, her large eyes filled with curiosity as she thought to herself.
"I wonder what kind of special training Teacher plans to take me to next?"
Soon, Tang Yinmeng led Xiao Xiao through a long, ancient-looking corridor and finally stopped before a heavy, dark-golden metal door.
As Tang Yinmeng pushed open the door, Xiao Xiao poked her small head in, looking into the room with curiosity.
Upon entering the room, Xiao Xiao couldn't help but be slightly stunned, observing her surroundings with some surprise.
She saw that in this spacious room, various musical instruments were arranged densely yet orderly!
There were guzheng, pipa, chime bells, yaoqin, jade flutes... it was practically like a massive exhibition hall for classical musical instruments!
However, as Xiao Xiao looked closer, these instruments seemed no different from the ordinary ones sold in common instrument shops; they appeared quite mundane.
But when Xiao Xiao calmed her mind and released her Mental Force to sense them carefully, she discovered there was more than meets the eye!
These seemingly ordinary instruments were actually all surrounded by faint, continuous ripples of Spirit Power!
Moreover, the Spirit Power frequency of each instrument was completely different!
"This... Teacher, what are these instruments?"
Xiao Xiao blinked in confusion and looked at Tang Yinmeng.
Looking at Xiao Xiao's puzzled little face, Tang Yinmeng smiled slightly.
Shua—!
A flash of light appeared in her right palm as she once again released her Spirit, the "Xun," which was shaped like a nut.
Holding the Xun, Tang Yinmeng explained to Xiao Xiao with a smile.
"Little Xiao Xiao, the first thing I'm going to help you do next is to truly 'feel' the Spirit characteristics of your nine phoenix auspicious flute!"
Tang Yinmeng's expression became serious as she said earnestly.
"Many people feel that Tool Spirits like ours, which are musical instruments, are nothing more than dead objects—tools used to release Spirit Abilities."
"But! You must remember! It is ultimately a part of your body and Soul as a Spirit Master! It is an existence closely tied to you, connected by Bloodline!"
Hearing this, Xiao Xiao couldn't help but swallow hard, tightening her grip on the nine phoenix auspicious flute in her hand with both nervousness and anticipation.
Tang Yinmeng pointed to the room full of instruments and continued.
"These instruments aren't just ordinary decorations; they are the life's work left behind by the Seniors of the War God Palace, and each one has a special, great purpose! Next, I am going to teach you a top-tier perception secret technique that our War God Palace specifically created for musical instrument-type Spirits—!"
"It is called the 'Heart Sound Resonance Technique'!"
"Heart Sound Resonance Technique?"
Xiao Xiao softly repeated the name.
"That's right."
Tang Yinmeng nodded and had Xiao Xiao sit cross-legged on a prayer mat in the center of the room, then began to patiently teach her how to use this secret technique.
"Clear your mind and discard all stray thoughts. In a moment, I will use my Spirit as a catalyst to stir the Spirit Power frequencies of all the instruments in this room."
"What you need to do is close your eyes, circulate the 'Heart Sound Resonance Technique' I just taught you, and use your Mental Force and nine phoenix auspicious flute as a medium to try and merge into this chaotic sea of sound! Find that resonance frequency that belongs only to you!"
"Yes! Teacher!"
Xiao Xiao nodded heavily and immediately closed her eyes, placing the nine phoenix auspicious flute across her knees. She began to clumsily circulate the 'Heart Sound Resonance Technique' according to the mnemonic Tang Yinmeng had taught her.
Seeing that Xiao Xiao had entered the state, Tang Yinmeng elegantly brought the Xun to her lips.
"Woo—!"
Accompanied by the deep, desolate sound of the Xun!
Boom—!!!
The entire room seemed to be instantly activated! Those hundreds of instruments, without anyone touching them, miraculously produced a violent resonance!
The clanging of the zither, the crisp chime of bells, the extremely melodious sounds of the pipa... countless distinct notes and Spirit Power ripples instantly wove into a violent sea of Spirit Power sound, submerging Xiao Xiao within it!
At the center of the sea of sound, Xiao Xiao felt as if her brain were being pricked by countless steel needles; the surrounding sounds were noisy and chaotic, and her head was buzzing!
During the first half hour, Xiao Xiao's brow was furrowed deeply into the shape of the character 'Chuan'.
She had no way at all to sense the so-called 'characteristics' of her Spirit from these extremely chaotic frequencies, and even maintaining the circulation of the 'Heart Sound Resonance Technique' proved difficult!
"No! I can't just give up like this!"
Xiao Xiao gritted her teeth stubbornly in her heart.
Enduring the nausea and dizziness, she constantly adjusted her breathing, tightly condensing her Mental Force into a sharp beam, desperately trying to communicate with the nine phoenix auspicious flute on her knees!
Time passed minute by minute.
Just as Xiao Xiao was nearing her mental limit and was drenched in sweat!
Suddenly!
Buzz—!
Under that mysterious and vast resonance of the sea of sound, Xiao Xiao's body suddenly shuddered!
She actually felt a faint yet strange ripple that was extremely connected to her Bloodline appear within the countless noisy frequencies of the outside world!
That ripple came precisely from the nine phoenix auspicious flute!
In that instant, Xiao Xiao seemed to "see" it! She saw her nine phoenix auspicious flute as if it had come "alive," as a faint yet noble and inviolable Phoenix aura flowed silently along the flute into the depths of her Soul!
"I... I felt it!"
Xiao Xiao suddenly opened her eyes, her beautiful large eyes filled with immense excitement!
Although this bit of insight into her Spirit characteristics was miniscule, perhaps even fleeting.
But! For Xiao Xiao, it was quite significant; she had never sensed her Spirit so clearly before!
At this moment, Xiao Xiao felt as if some special transformation had occurred within her in the dark, as if she had become a bit stronger overall!
But as for where exactly she had become stronger, she was somewhat uncertain and couldn't quite put it into words.
Seeing Xiao Xiao's excited look, Tang Yinmeng smiled and set down the Xun, and the chaotic sea of sound around them instantly returned to tranquility.
Tang Yinmeng smiled and said to Xiao Xiao.
"Well done, little Xiao Xiao."
Tang Yinmeng stepped forward and said earnestly.
"This kind of subtle mastery over Spirit characteristics might not seem to directly increase your Spirit Power Rank right now, but it will be quite helpful for a Spirit Master's future development in Realm and the cultivation of their Spirit."
Xiao Xiao nodded seriously.
Having tasted the sweetness of success, Xiao Xiao's vigorous curiosity was piqued once again.
She blinked, looked at the surrounding instruments, and couldn't help but ask.
"Teacher, since my musical instrument Spirit is guided through the 'Heart Sound Resonance Technique' to sense its Spirit characteristics... what about the other Spirits in the academy?"
"Hehe, those are naturally completely different!"
Tang Yinmeng patiently answered Xiao Xiao.
"For example, those with sword-type Spirits, the War God Palace will throw them directly into a Myriad Sword Tomb environment filled with fierce Sword Qi to comprehend the sword heart. For spear-type Spirits, they must find the Spear Soul among many spears; as for Beast Spirits, they gain insight through the Spirit Beast of their own Spirit."
"The characteristics of every Spirit are different, so the required guiding environments naturally vary greatly."
"However..."
"Although the environments and guiding tools are different, the methods for perceiving the Spirit Origin lead to the same destination."
Hearing Tang Yinmeng's explanation, Xiao Xiao came to a sudden realization.
While Xiao Xiao was still reflecting in her heart, Tang Yinmeng continued to speak with a smile.
"Alright, little Xiao Xiao, don't get happy too soon."
"Today's special training has only just begun!"
Tang Yinmeng pointed to the nine phoenix auspicious flute in Xiao Xiao's hand.
"Continue with the nine phoenix auspicious flute! Right now, you've only sensed a sliver of its characteristics. You are still quite a distance away from truly Awakening your own 'Spirit Domain'."
"Yes! Teacher!"
Hearing Tang Yinmeng's voice, Xiao Xiao quickly collected her thoughts. Indeed, she had only managed to feel it; she hadn't even triggered the characteristics or produced a Spirit Domain yet. She must not become complacent. Everyone else must be working hard within their chosen factions, and she had to become stronger too, to catch up with their footsteps!
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A/N:
I hope all of you are enjoying this story so far. I would appreciate some Power Stones if you can spare any. Leave a review if you like the story. Thank you.