CHAPTER 640: CHAPTER 639: NOT FOR SALE

No one in the Upper Realm Plane had ever tasted such passionate songs or played such unrestrained music. In all honesty, those adept on this Plane, focused on their own cultivation and taking their practice seriously, had never thought about developing technology or enjoying music.

The height of entertainment was indulging in pleasures of the flesh and listening to frivolous music, like the songs of the ’Eighteen Touches.’

Lin Hao’s performance, coupled with the power of the Ancient Zither of the Marquis of Wind and Fei Lian, unexpectedly gave a sense of Enlightenment!

The camp remained stirred for a long time, with the essence of the Great Dao pervading the air.

After a while, the cultivators opened their eyes in a sudden burst and rushed over towards Lin Hao.

"Who was it? Who was singing just now?"

The leaders of the various trading houses, all accomplished in their cultivation, could discern the sounds of cultivation within the music played by Lin Hao.

However, this sensation was not strong; it was elusive, like hearing something you just can’t grasp.

Several caravan captains ran over, hoping to experience the music once more.

They had never felt anything like this before and no one had ever thought that listening to music could aid in cultivation.

In the midst of the feast, everyone was dumbfounded before snapping back to reality.

At the sound from the camp, Shen Fei was the first to stand up.

Leading the way, and rushing the fastest, was his father, the second-in-command of Shen Family Commerce, Shen Lian.

"Father, it was this brother who was performing; we were merely entertaining ourselves after some drinks," Shen Fei glanced at Lin Hao and immediately introduced him to Shen Lian.

Shen Lian was startled, then took a few moments to appraise Lin Hao.

Still young in age, not high in cultivation, dressed like a Wandering Practitioner, he seemed, at best, to be at the Bronze Level.

But that music just now was truly extraordinary; as one listened, their Primordial Power would flow along with it.

Soon after, leaders from a few other partnered trading caravans arrived, and the scene quickly swelled.

Li Ge was flabbergasted, not advanced enough to understand; he only knew that Lin Hao’s performance was thrilling but had no idea it could assist cultivation. Seeing so many people approaching, he was tremendously shocked and couldn’t help but steal a glance at Lin Hao.

Could this kid actually possess some skill?

He couldn’t stand this!

Annie was his; how could he let some upstart Wandering Practitioner steal her away?

A Wandering Practitioner is just a Wandering Practitioner; if possible... a fierce light flashed through Li Ge’s eyes as he clenched his fists slightly.

But he quickly concealed it, pretending as if nothing had happened.

In his view, just a Wandering Practitioner at most a Bronze, maybe just better-looking; he had countless ways to dispose of him.

Yet when Shen Lian and his group approached and saw Lin Hao, they didn’t find anything particularly remarkable about him. However, when they laid eyes on the Ancient Zither in front of him, their eyes suddenly brightened.

All being in commerce, they had some knowledge about antiques.

This Ancient Zither was clearly extraordinary. Perhaps the profound and mysterious feelings they felt were not much to do with Lin Hao, but rather closely related to the zither, or even, they could say all thanks to the zither!

"I am Shen Lian, vice-chairman of Shen Family Commerce. Just now, your undying zither music enlightened me. May I know if you would allow Shen to have a look at that Ancient Zither?" Shen Lian stepped forward, quite politely, assuming that the Ancient Zither was Lin Hao’s.

Indeed, the zither was no ordinary instrument; it held many secrets, being the zither of the ancient Huaxia gods Marquis of Wind and Fei Lian. Unraveling these secrets could greatly aid Lin Hao in understanding the whereabouts of the ancient Huaxia gods.

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However, the zither was not Lin Hao’s.

Lin Hao looked at Suan Sansheng: "This zither belongs to this brother, I’m just borrowing it for a moment."

Shen Lian looked towards Suan Sansheng again, a flicker of doubt crossing his eyes.

He could not see through Suan Sansheng’s cultivation.

At the very least, he could tell that Lin Hao’s cultivation was at the Bronze Level, but Suan Sansheng’s cultivation was not perceivable even as he sat right here.

That could only mean Suan Sansheng’s cultivation was much higher than his own, that the other party had concealed his cultivation, and thus he could not see through it.

A true master.

Shen Lian took a deep breath and his expression became even more respectful.

Knowing that both Suan Sansheng and Lin Hao were Wandering Practitioners, he thought for a moment and then said, "Brother, I am quite fond of antique objects, and I am willing to pay a high price for this Ancient Zither. I wonder if you would be willing to sell it?"

No sooner had Shen Lian spoken that the faces of several team leaders from the trading caravans turned sour.

Everyone knew that this zither was definitely no ordinary zither; although it might not look like much, the sound it produced was beneficial to cultivation.

Such an auxiliary artifact of cultivation was a rarity, almost priceless and unobtainable on the open market.

With so many people here, who wouldn’t want to buy this Ancient Zither—how could they let Shen Lian beat them to it?

"This fellow martial artist, for this Ancient Zither, however much Shen Lian offers, I will bid one million more top-grade Primordial Stones! You must sell the zither to me."

The team leader from the Li Family Commerce was none other than the Chairman of the Li Family Commerce himself, Li Ge’s father, Li Tianyu.

He gave Shen Lian a look, his eyes challenging with a snort of pride most evident.

Here, the Li Family and Shen Family were the two most powerful Trading Houses, capable of outbidding others; there was little the rest could do.

Li Tianyu boldly declared he would match any offer Shen Lian made, making it clear he wanted the other families to back off.

The other trading teams’ captains also knew when to advance and when to retreat. With only one Ancient Zither available, now was not the time to fall out with either the Li Family or the Shen Family, so they stood aside to watch the excitement.

Shen Lian’s face turned ugly right then, his eyes angrily glaring at Li Tianyu.

"Li Tianyu, since when have you been so bold? You dare to outbid me by one million top-grade Primordial Stones no matter my offer? Does your Li Family really have that much clout?" Shen Lian sneered, his fists clenching slightly.

These trading houses, while often associating with each other and traveling together across the vast deserts, didn’t necessarily get along congenially – their overt and covert rivalries were inevitable, let alone over a priceless Ancient Zither like this!

Li Tianyu looked back at Shen Lian with a cold smirk, extremely disdainful, "Brother Shen, why don’t you try and see if our Li Family Commerce has deep enough pockets?"

"Try and I will; am I afraid of you?"

Shen Lian huffed angrily, then looked towards Suan Sansheng.

Before he could speak, Suan Sansheng was the one who opened his mouth: "I do not plan to sell this zither; before debating, you should have asked me first. I’m not selling the zither."

Suan Sansheng smiled faintly, and while doing so, put the Ancient Zither away.

Both Shen Lian and Li Tianyu were stunned, both their faces turning red.

People like them should not have made such an error, but the Ancient Zither was simply too tempting—after all, it represented unparalleled wealth!

The two men shot each other a fierce glance but did not erupt in anger. Instead, almost in unison, they turned to Suan Sansheng with apologetic smiles: "Since you’re not selling, we won’t bother you any further. We have other matters to attend to; please, carry on as you were."

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