Chapter 129: Jealousy and Rivalry

Wu Tian cast his gaze around the room. To his surprise, the vast majority of the audience was completely intoxicated by the performance of "Lady Piao Miao." Even those who had been restless and impatient just moments ago were now spellbound. Wu Tian did not know much about music; while the melody played on the zither by Lady Piao Miao was indeed elegant and pleasant, it was hardly enough to drive people to such an obsessive state.

"No wonder this woman is held in such high regard. It turns out her music conceals a sophisticated illusion technique. Had it not been for the system's warning, even I would have fallen under her spell. Among this crowd are many experts, some even possessing the cultivation of a Martial King, yet they too have been bewitched by this woman. Her illusion technique is truly formidable!"

Thanks to the system's alert, Wu Tian remained the only one with a clear mind. Lady Piao Miao’s illusion caused no physical harm; it simply compelled listeners to become obsessed with her music.

"Heh heh..." beside him, Niu Wuji’s eyes were glazed, and drool was beginning to drip from his mouth.

Wu Tian was speechless. He tapped Niu Wuji on the shoulder and channeled a burst of true energy into his body. Niu Wuji snapped out of his trance and looked at Wu Tian, saying, "Boss, it... it was so beautiful! I felt as if I were soaring through the sky!"

"Yes, you were soaring so high that you started drooling."

"Uh... what happened? Why was I like that?" Niu Wuji wiped the corner of his mouth, staring at Wu Tian in disbelief.

"It’s Lady Piao Miao’s illusion. Look at the others," Wu Tian gestured toward the crowd.

Niu Wuji looked around and saw that most of the people were still deeply entranced, unable to pull themselves away, looking as if they were being controlled. "What the hell? Does that mean I was just like them?"

"What else do you think?"

Niu Wuji blushed and complained, "I never expected Lady Piao Miao to be this kind of person, using illusions to bewitch others. No wonder everyone is flocking to her; it turns out they’ve all been ensnared!"

"To be able to weave an illusion into something invisible—this woman is not simple. Let’s keep watching to see what she really wants," Wu Tian said, narrowing his eyes as he looked at the woman sitting behind the white veil.

Nevertheless, Lady Piao Miao did possess genuine talent. Setting aside the illusion, her mastery of music was profound; even an amateur like Wu Tian could appreciate the grace and beauty of the melody.

*Dong...* The sound of the zither faded, and the piece came to an end.

Only then did the entire audience regain their senses, their eyes burning with fervor. A thunderous round of applause erupted.

"That was damn good! How can there be such beautiful music in this world? Lady Piao Miao, play another song!"

"I would give my entire fortune just to have Lady Piao Miao perform for me alone!"

"Lady Piao Miao, come out and let us see your true face!"

After the crowd recovered, the hall was filled with clamor. Some begged for another song, others demanded to see her face; nearly everyone had gone wild for her.

"I am deeply grateful for the support of all you gentlemen. However, my energy is limited, and I cannot perform a private concert for everyone. Thus, I hope to find a kindred spirit for whom I may perform a private piece."

The woman behind the white veil spoke. Her voice was mellow and tinged with a seductive charm that tugged at the heartstrings, like a cat constantly teasing one’s nerves. Upon hearing such a bewitching voice, the image of a femme fatale naturally formed in the minds of the audience, and many were already boiling with anticipation.

"Respected guests, thank you all for your support. Lady Piao Miao does not refuse the request to meet, but she will only meet a kindred spirit. She asks that you show your sincerity." The beautiful woman from before walked back onto the stage and addressed the crowd.

"So that’s how it is! I offer ten thousand taels of silver to meet Lady Piao Miao!"

"Ten thousand? You look down on Lady Piao Miao! I offer one hundred thousand!"

"If you dare to show off with one hundred thousand, I offer two hundred thousand!"

"Three hundred thousand!"

Suddenly, the entire venue erupted into a bidding war. To get a glimpse of Lady Piao Miao, people were throwing money away without a second thought.

"I really want to see Lady Piao Miao too, but I don't have the money," Niu Wuji muttered, feeling frustrated and dejected.

"It just goes to show how wealthy the people in the Imperial City are—they don't care about tens or hundreds of thousands of silver. But we don't even know if she’s a beauty or a hag. If she turns out to be a monster, that money would be wasted," Wu Tian chuckled at the thought.

"I think she must be beautiful; otherwise, the Yan Hong Pavilion would just be shooting itself in the foot."

"Who knows?" Wu Tian shrugged. He was just here for the show anyway.

"Ten thousand taels of gold!" Suddenly, a loud, resonant voice cut through the noise. It came from a private balcony on the second floor, clearly belonging to a guest of high status.

The moment the price was called, the hall fell silent. Ten thousand taels of gold was equivalent to one million taels of silver. Though the people in the Imperial City were rich, it wasn't a sum everyone could throw away casually. Moreover, those in the second-floor balconies were people of status; competing against them would be unwise.

"Eleven thousand taels of gold!"

"Fifteen thousand!"

"Twenty thousand!"

Following the opening bid, other private balconies began to join in. At this point, the ordinary people below were no longer relevant.

"Xu Jianren, doesn't your Ten Thousand Swords Sect only pursue the Way of the Sword? Why are you interested in women now?" A mocking voice drifted from one of the private balconies.

"I'm bored and I want to look at a woman—what’s it to you? Does this concern your Iron Fist Sect?" The man in the other balcony retorted dismissively. No sooner had he finished speaking than a young man leaped up, leaving a blurred trail in the air as he landed on the platform in front of the white veil. "Lady Piao Miao wishes to find a kindred spirit. I believe this cannot be measured by money. We are all martial artists; whoever has the deepest cultivation deserves to see Lady Piao Miao. Don't you all agree?"

The crowd was stunned to see the young man fly onto the stage.

"Isn't that Xu Jianren, the son of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect leader? He’s here, too! Looks like we have no chance now!"

"Though the Ten Thousand Swords Sect doesn't compare to powers like the Imperial Clan, the Qi Tian Sect, or the Seven Star Academy, they are still a first-rate force in the Imperial City. We have no hope of meeting Lady Piao Miao today."

"Lady Piao Miao’s charm is truly extraordinary—even people from the Ten Thousand Swords Sect and the Iron Fist Sect want to see her face!"

Just as the crowd was whispering, a sturdy young man flew down from another balcony.

"Brother Xu’s words make sense. The kindred spirit Lady Piao Miao seeks must possess profound cultivation so that he has the strength to protect her! In that case, allow me to test Brother Xu’s skills!" The man who had flown down bowed toward Xu Jianren.