Chapter 825: Examining the Sound Master

"What's wrong?"

Never having seen his old friend so furious, Vice Dean Ning was bewildered.

He had known Dean Jiang for no less than five hundred years and had never seen him angry about anything—even when he expelled a personal disciple for wrongdoing, his expression remained unchanged...

But now, disregarding his status, he was cursing loudly. What on earth was wrong?

"Splash!"

As the music ended, the cranes flying in the sky all landed on the ground, each raising its head and crying out as if they had done something and felt joyful.

"Dean, did you break through or not..."

Vice Dean Ning couldn't help but look over.

Sound magic, unlike the upper nine professions, required cultivation to break through first to reach a higher level, which was very straightforward and needed no deliberation.

The other's music had attracted so many cranes, clearly indicating an increase in realm, yet for some reason, he felt the artistic conception remained stagnant, leaving him somewhat puzzled.

"Break through my ass!"

Dean Jiang stood up, like a roaring lion, wishing he could tear the young man nearby to pieces.

"No breakthrough? Then why are these cranes..." Vice Dean Ning was also confused.

Without a breakthrough, only six cranes could fly in the sky—that was an unchanging theorem for sound masters. How could there be a scene of sixteen flying together?

"Why? He tamed my cranes..."

Jiang Qingqin was about to explode.

Hearing the other's confident words, he really thought he could break through, but who knew this guy, using some unknown method, had tamed his remaining ten cranes in the blink of an eye...

Tamed spirit beasts only obeyed their master's commands, so naturally they flew when told...

"So that's how it is..."

His vision went dark, and Vice Dean Ning nearly fainted.

The dean's 'seven cranes dancing' referred to a breakthrough in realm. What use was taming cranes?

If taming cranes and making them fly could represent a realm, I could make hundreds of cranes fly together...

"Dean Jiang, you said earlier that if seven cranes flew, you'd give me the Phoenix Marrow. Now sixteen are flying together... you're not thinking of backing out, are you!"

Not expecting that his hard work in making so many cranes fly at once would not only fail to satisfy the other but also anger him, Zhang Xuan frowned.

"Back out... back out my ass!"

Gnashing his teeth, Jiang Qingqin was going mad.

He had seen shameless people, but never one so shameless.

You're swapping concepts, aren't you?

I meant help me break through, but you... tamed the cranes...

You didn't accomplish it at all, and yet you ask me for the Phoenix Marrow...

"Vice Dean Ning, you be the judge. Didn't he just say that if seven cranes flew, he'd give me the Phoenix Marrow? Can a dean bully people like this?"

Not expecting a renowned master to curse, Zhang Xuan snorted.

"Well..."

Vice Dean Ning's mouth twitched.

Just now, his old friend had said, 'If you can make seven cranes dance to my music... I'll give you the Phoenix Marrow!'

Although he meant artistic conception, literally... the other's words were indeed correct!

Now not only seven, but sixteen cranes were flying. Could he still deny it?

"Master Zhang, Dean Jiang's 'seven cranes' refers to realm—it's a common term among sound masters. You tamed the cranes using beast taming methods, which is different from sound magic. You can't just use beast taming skills to come to the Sound Magic Academy... and exchange for things!"

After a moment's hesitation, Vice Dean Ning said.

Bullying people? You're the one bullying us.

He was talking about realm, and you tamed beasts... that's not how it works.

"Uh!"

Zhang Xuan scratched his head, finally understanding.

He had thought making the cranes fly was enough, no big deal, but now it seemed not so simple.

There was a misunderstanding in language. No wonder...

He knew it wouldn't be that easy!

"Realm breakthrough... why didn't you say so earlier? Fine... where is the Sound Magic Academy's library? Can I go in and take a look?"

After a moment's hesitation, Zhang Xuan said.

He could make not just seven cranes fly, but even a thousand, but making a six-star peak sound master break through in realm was beyond him.

He had to read books first.

"Library?"

Hearing him say this a second time, Vice Dean Ning was puzzled.

"Yes... I can see some of Dean Jiang's condition, but there are still things I can't figure out. If I consult some materials, maybe I'll have a flash of insight and know how to solve it!"

Zhang Xuan said.

The Heaven's Path Library could identify flaws, but without corresponding knowledge, it couldn't solve them.

Only by reading books and raising his own realm to the same level as the other, or even higher, could he easily resolve it.

But he couldn't say this directly, or he'd be thrown out as a madman, so he had to fudge it.

"This..."

Vice Dean Ning looked at the still-angry dean.

"Should we let him go to the library?"

He transmitted a message.

"If reading books could solve my problem, why would I be stuck for five hundred years?" Jiang Qingqin didn't believe it at all.

"Then I'll refuse him..."

Vice Dean Ning said.

"Wait... Letting him go to the library is no big deal! How about this... tell him he can go, but if he still can't make me break through, the matter of the Phoenix Marrow is off!"

Jiang Qingqin said. "Also... just read, no causing trouble inside, and no damaging anything!"

The library's books were meant to be read; reading or not wasn't a big deal.

As long as he didn't cause trouble.

He was also a bit wary of this guy who always wanted to challenge and test things.

"Alright!" Vice Dean Ning nodded and conveyed the message to Zhang Xuan.

"Don't worry, I won't cause trouble..." Hearing he could read books, Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief.

"The library is in the back. I'll take you there."

Seeing him agree, Vice Dean Ning led the way.

Knowing reading would take a while, Zhang Xuan told Sun Qiang to return to his residence first, then followed the vice dean.

The Sound Magic Academy's library was much smaller than those of the Alchemist and Physician Academies, comparable only to the Startling Swan Academy's. With the vice dean leading, he could enter without needing credits.

"Thank you, Vice Dean..."

Entering and seeing the dense rows of books, Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up.

"Read here. If you need anything, you can have someone tell me."

Knowing there was nothing to do while reading, Vice Dean Ning took his leave.

Acknowledging, Zhang Xuan paid no further attention, his eyes sweeping over the bookshelves.

With the ability to record by reading, he no longer needed to flip through books laboriously. He focused his mind, letting his eyes glide over each book.

Countless books from the Sound Magic Academy flowed into his mind.

Like the Startling Swan Academy's library, this one rarely had students visiting, so Zhang Xuan was happy to be undisturbed, not causing a stir.

One book, two... a hundred, two hundred... a thousand, two thousand...

After a few hours, he had read most of the millions of books in the library.

His understanding of sound magic deepened, and in his mind, Heaven's Path manuals from one to six stars formed.

"Learn!"

Seeing the library still empty, he didn't bother moving. He found a spacious spot, sat cross-legged, immersed his mind, and began learning from the first star.

Three hours later, he exhaled a mouthful of turbid air.

Now, his comprehension of sound magic had reached six stars, even surpassing Dean Jiang Qingqin.

"Since I've reached six-star sound master, I might as well... take the exam!"

Having reached this level, naturally he should take the exam.

To become a six-star master teacher, one needed to master six auxiliary professions, all at six-star level.

He now had four: artificer, physician, alchemist, and startler. He needed two more.

Since he had learned sound magic and had the opportunity, he might as well take the exam now.

He walked out of the library, looked around, and headed straight for the Sound Pavilion where sound master exams were held.

Unlike the Physician Tower, the Sound Pavilion was a circular venue, like a rooftop in his previous life. Those taking the sound master exam sat in the center, playing music. The echoes from the walls would surge into the sky, attracting the academy's caged cranes to circle.

Then, the number of cranes determined the grade.

Arriving at the outer room of the circle, he saw a young man from the Sound Magic Academy dozing at a desk.

Probably a work-study student responsible for the Sound Pavilion exams.

"Senior, I'd like to take the sound master exam."

Approaching, Zhang Xuan cupped his fists.

"Sound master exam?"

Rubbing his eyes, the young man glanced at him. "What star?"

"I've never taken it before. I'll start from one star..." Zhang Xuan said.

"Starting from one star? Alright, here's the score for the one-star exam. You must choose a piece from it. Go in, and if any cranes come, the Sound Pavilion will automatically determine if you pass."

The young man took a score from the room.

For the sound master exam, there were specific pieces. If you could play one at the one-star level, you passed.

"Alright!" Having read many books and knowing the rules, Zhang Xuan didn't say much. He scratched his head. "Um... I don't have a zither. Can I borrow one?"

"No zither? Then why are you here to take the exam..."

The young man's eyes widened.

For a sound master, the zither was like chopsticks for eating or a pen for writing. If you didn't even have that, you wanted to take the exam... what a joke!

Learning the zither without even having one, and wanting to take a grade exam—this joke isn't funny!

"Well... I remember that if someone taking the sound master exam doesn't have a suitable zither, the Sound Magic Academy can temporarily lend one..."

Zhang Xuan said.

Having read so many books, he knew the academy's rules well.

If the examinee had no zither, the academy could lend one; it didn't violate the rules.

"Lending is possible... but the academy's zithers are low-grade and mostly antiques that haven't been used for years. They'll break with a little force. Using one for the exam will easily affect your results... Are you sure?"

The young man looked at him doubtfully.

The academy's zithers, like public weapons, were uniformly made with no technical skill. Plus, they were old and unused, barely functional. Using one would greatly reduce the chance of passing.

That's why many were unwilling to use them.

"I'm sure." Zhang Xuan nodded.

Buying a zither now would take too long, and he'd need to adapt to it, which was troublesome. Since he rarely used one anyway, it was better to use the academy's public one to avoid hassle.

"Fine!"

Seeing someone who wasn't afraid of death, the young man raised an eyebrow, went deeper into the room, and after a while brought out a very ordinary guqin and a few strings.

"Use it carefully. These are spare strings; replace them if they break... You have one hour. If you don't attract a single crane within that hour, you've failed and can leave."

The young man said flatly.

He didn't think much of this guy.

Who studies sound magic without even a zither?

Without a zither, his skill must be poor. Every year, there were people like this trying to ride on the academy's reputation.

"Yes." Taking the guqin and paying the exam fee, Zhang Xuan walked into the Sound Pavilion.

The Sound Pavilion exam used cranes to determine grades, with few formations. Since few people took the exam, it didn't require credits, only some spirit stones.

Walking along the passage, the walls were thick and layered, engraved with special patterns. Music striking them would be reflected, forming a great resonance.

This sound could only be heard by cranes, making them dance.

The entire Sound Pavilion was empty, which suited Zhang Xuan. He soon reached the central platform, flipped his wrist, and placed the guqin on the stand.

His fingers touched the score, and the exam piece entered his mind.

"A very simple piece..."

He smiled lightly.

Having learned six-star Heaven's Path sound magic, his skill now surpassed even Dean Jiang's. The one-star exam piece was trivial for him.

"Let's try the guqin..."

He placed his fingers on the strings and gently brushed, producing a clear sound like spring water striking rocks.

This academy-issued guqin, though poor in quality, was still usable.

"Let's begin!"

Since it was an exam, Zhang Xuan had nothing to worry about. He calmed his mind, gently plucked the strings, and the music from the score flowed out.

...

Sound Magic Academy, Dean's Residence.

"He's reading... no trouble, right?"

Seeing his old friend enter the courtyard, Jiang Qingqin couldn't help asking.

"No..." Vice Dean Ning shook his head.

To be honest, he had been worried earlier. After leaving the library, he hadn't gone far, observing for several hours. Seeing no trouble, he relaxed.

"Good..." Jiang Qingqin breathed a sigh of relief.

"But..." Frowning, Vice Dean Ning hesitated.

"What?" Jiang Qingqin quickly looked over.

To be honest, this guy's reputation was too notorious; even he was getting jumpy.

"He... after reading this morning, he went to the Sound Pavilion. If I'm not mistaken, he's taking the sound master exam."

Vice Dean Ning said.

Jiang Qingqin's face twitched. "Doesn't he know nothing? What sound master exam?"

"I'm not sure either... Afraid he'd cause trouble, I quietly followed and hid outside to watch. I found that... the fifteen cranes used for exams had all flown in one by one and hadn't come out!"

Frowning, Vice Dean Ning recounted what he saw.

The Sound Pavilion also kept some cranes for sound master exams, fifteen in total.

"All flew in? Even if he's taking the six-star sound master exam, six would be enough. Why did all fifteen fly in?" Jiang Qingqin was puzzled.

For a six-star exam, only six cranes were needed. All fifteen flying in... it sounded unreliable.

"I don't know what's going on either, so I came to discuss with you..." Vice Dean Ning nodded.

"Discuss? What's there to discuss? Let's go see quickly. That guy didn't kill all the cranes and roast them, did he..."

Recalling the young man's previous strange deeds, Jiang Qingqin's face darkened. He couldn't hold back and stood up, about to go with his old friend, when he heard the courtyard door creak open and a head poked in.

"Um... Dean Jiang, I want to take the sound master exam, but... there aren't enough cranes. Can you lend me a few?"

Zhang Xuan's embarrassed voice sounded.

"Lend a few?"

Jiang Qingqin staggered, and Vice Dean Ning's eyes widened.

Not enough cranes...

That was fifteen in total. The Sound Magic Academy had used them for exams for years, and they were always enough. How could they be insufficient for you?

You... what exactly did you do?

The two deans were so frustrated they could cry.