385: Chapter 161 Discussing the Dao Needn’t Be Too Serious_3 385: Chapter 161 Discussing the Dao Needn’t Be Too Serious_3 So, it might be that a certain expert from Thousand Caves Door has recently decided to hibernate, which is why they relinquished their position and had it taken over by one of the Elders, who was then replaced by the former Cave Master of Sunset Clouds Cave.”
Cao Zhen nodded slightly, his thoughts involuntarily turning to Lv Chaoqiong.
Back when she wanted him to become the master of Hidden Dragon Observatory, it wasn’t just because she thought he was better suited for the position; it seemed likely she was also preparing for the approaching Qiankun small epoch.
Together, the group made their way toward the distant parts of Thousand Caves Door and gradually arrived at a gorge.
Outside the gorge, a huge stele could be seen — carved upon it were the three large characters for “Sunset Clouds Cave”.
Looking at the stele, Cao Zhen was somewhat surprised; it seemed that the other Caves were built upon mountains, yet Sunset Clouds Cave was within a gorge — could it really be built underground?
Moreover, there weren’t any disciples guarding the entrance to Sunset Clouds Cave.
If there were few people, then setting up a couple of artificial humans, Mechanism Warriors or something similar, should suffice.
As he pondered this, he followed Elder Huan Kong into the gorge.
Upon entering the gorge, they saw a stream flowing gently past, originating from a lake whose waters joined with the distant sky, seemingly endless.
On the mountainside beside them, a vast waterfall cascaded into the lake.
After walking a few steps more, Cao Zhen noticed a young woman in a light purple dress dipping her fair, delicate feet into the lake and gently swaying them to and fro.
Hearing the commotion, she turned her head, revealing a lovely visage, her willowy eyebrows knitting slightly as she asked in a soft voice, “What is this…?”
Her voice was melodious and crisp, like the light warble of an oriole.
Elder Huan Kong gestured toward Cao Zhen and introduced him, “This is Peak Master Cao from Hundred Peaks Sect, of Four Treasures Peak, who has come to our Thousand Caves Door to exchange ideas.
Peak Master Cao is extremely skilled in the art of musical rhythm…”
As Elder Huan Kong said this, he glanced at the surrounding Cave Masters of Rhythmic Cave without continuing, though the implication was quite clear.
He was giving the Cave Masters of Rhythmic Cave some semblance of respect.
The young woman glanced at the Cave Masters of Rhythmic Cave, who were hanging their heads in shame, and she quickly understood that they had all been defeated, which was why Elder Huan Kong had sought her out. This text is hosted at novelFɪre.net
“So, Elder Huan Kong, you wish for me to exchange ideas with this Dao Companion?” the young woman asked as she stood up.
She seemed to step on the grass, but not quite—her feet appearing to float just above the blades of wild grass.
Cao Zhen was slightly taken aback.
So this girl was the something-something Master of Sunset Clouds Cave?
It wasn’t strange for a girl to look like a Cave Master.
After all, in the world of Immortal Cultivation, one couldn’t simply rely on appearance to guess another’s age.
Looking as young as a girl, someone could very well be hundreds of years old, or in some cases, due to practicing special cultivation techniques, they might appear youthful even after thousands of years.
Yet, the way this Master Liao Cave spoke and behaved gave him the impression that she truly wasn’t very old.
Elder Huan Kong nodded slightly and said, “Please go ahead, Master Liao Cave.”
Master Liao Cave gave a slight nod and, looking at Cao Zhen, said after a moment’s contemplation, “Here in Thousand Caves Door, there are many more of our disciples, so if both of us were to perform separately and let everyone judge, it would hardly seem fair.”
Pointing at the lake before her, she continued, “Here, there are a hundred whistling ducks.
These ducks are particularly fond of musical rhythm; they move according to the rhythm and take flight in its wake.
Peak Master Cao, if we both play music in turns, whosoever can make more ducks move to the rhythm and do so more distinctly, shall be deemed the victor, how about that?”
Upon hearing this suggestion, many disciples around them expressed their admiration.
“What a good idea, to think of letting the whistling ducks judge!”
“People have their biases, so having them judge is not fair, but these whistling ducks are absolutely impartial.”
“Master Liao Cave could think of such a unique way to compare arts!”
“This way, we get to hear Master Liao Cave’s music and spare her Immortal Melodies from being disrupted by others.”
Cao Zhen was speechless; it was just a regular way of exchanging ideas, and they could hype it up so much?
Are you sure your Cave Masters won’t beat you for praising other Caves ?
The way I discussed with your Cave Masters before wasn’t good or fair?
This is just blatant flattery.
A bunch of sycophants!
He took another look at the so-called whistling ducks in the lake and said, “So, wild ducks are to be the judges, huh?
Alright, I have no problem with that.”
At his words, many people around him furrowed their brows.
Cao Zhen immediately didn’t understand and asked the people, “Are ducks not wild ducks?
Oh, they’re called whistling ducks, so I should say whistling ducks, right?”
Having said that, he ignored the sycophants and turned back to face Master Liao Cave to ask, “Master Liao Cave, who should play first?”
Master Liao Cave stepped back slightly and said, “Please proceed first, Peak Master Cao.”
With a slight nod, Cao Zhen took out the musical instrument called a “Zhu” that he had received from Immortal Melody Hall.
Upon seeing Cao Zhen’s instrument, Master Liao Cave was slightly taken aback.
A Zhu looked like a zither with thirteen strings over bridges.
To play it, one would press one end of the strings with the left hand and strike the strings with a bamboo ruler in the right hand to produce sound.
Although she was not the Cave Master of Rhythmic Cave, she was well-versed in various musical instruments.
Yet, within the entire Thousand Caves Door, no one seemed to use a Zhu.