---

Chapter 60: No Place to Seek Beyond the Horizon, Only the Sighs of the Mundane

Vilyric casually swept her gaze around the crowd, but she did not spot Murong Yun or Ling Feng Bai’er.

However, given the grandeur of this signature event, they had likely heard the news and were either on their way or had already arrived, just dispersed in other corners. It was just that the Priestess, with her relatively petite figure, had poor visibility in such a packed setting.

There was no need to rush to find them; it was better to see what this Music Fairy Flower Party was all about first.

After waiting for about ten minutes, the flow of people around her gradually reached saturation, and Vilyric estimated there were nearly a thousand people. It seemed to be the collective total of most passengers on the ship.

Just as Vilyric was calculating the numbers, a delicate melody began to waft up from the front.

The curtain covering the main stage slowly parted, revealing a girl clad in pink gauze seated elegantly on the platform, her fingers dancing lightly like tender shoots, plucking the strings of a graceful instrument resting across her lap. The charming, ringing sound, like clear springs, was coming from her.

“A thousand sails come but nowhere to seek; a single elegant sound is but the Music Fairy ~”

Singing what seemed to be a customary opening poem, the girl in pink lifted her head, smiling and greeting the audience below.

“Good evening, thank you for boarding the Music Fairy tonight to participate in our music flower party. I am Mengrui.”

“It’s the young lady Mengrui!”

“I didn’t expect young lady Mengrui to personally play the zither today; it’s truly an honor!”

As soon as she appeared, the crowd immediately erupted into waves of cheers and responses, as if Mengrui, the girl in gauze, was tremendously popular and one of the top figures aboard the Music Fairy.

In fact, she truly was.

Mengrui was the owner of the Music Fairy.

Murong Yun had already introduced her identity back when they boarded the ship.

Although this ship owner rarely showed herself outside, it was said that she had looked the same since the Music Fairy first appeared over a decade ago—time hadn’t etched a mark on her at all. Her true identity was naturally intriguing.

This mysterious ship owner was also distinctly different from the usual citizens of the Western Spirit Nation. Apart from her graceful, alluring figure and breathtaking beauty, she had a mane of pure, radiant white hair akin to a Tianshan snow lotus, unlike the frail locks of the elderly—her hair was lush with life and vitality.

At this moment, seated on the spotlighted stage, playing the zither, she exuded an ethereal, immaculate aura like that of a celestial being.

Hearing the crowd cheer, Mengrui seemed accustomed to such occasions, maintaining a gentle yet elegant smile as she waved her hand lightly.

“The night is short, and Mengrui isn’t very talented; I wish to offer you all a solo performance, please listen quietly.”

As the girl’s melodious voice rang out, a flurry of pink petals drifted gently from the sky, creating a dreamlike atmosphere, and the scene fell silent. She lowered her head, her long, white fingers once again plucking the strings of the zither as she sang.

“Ancient rivers and mountains ~ The sacred path leads ~ Not as good as singing a tune ~”

“A celestial melody begins ~ Dreaming back to a thousand years lost in crystal ~”

“A charming smile akin to floral clusters, you are like the warm wind of spring ~”

“Traveling on the river ~ Traveling on the river ~ The fleeting years lose that moment ~ Countless blossoms… who bloom for? ~”

“You and I meet in the mundane, parting in the heavens ~”

“Sighing, upon looking back… it is already a thousand years away.”

The melodious zither harmonized with the girl’s singing, transforming into celestial music that wafted upwards on the ancient boat.

“This song…”

“This piece is titled ‘Sighs of the Mundane,’ reportedly an original composition by young lady Mengrui. What do you think, elder Vilyric?”

A nearly muted male voice broke in, it was Murong Yun, who had somehow appeared beside Vilyric, both watching the gauze-clad girl on stage with smiles.

“An original… huh.”

Such a piece is certainly not something just anyone could create.

Though only some bits were present, it already bore the imprint of a power called 【Law】.

Vilyric tilted her head to glance at the man in white, a somewhat mischievous smile appearing.

“Speaking of which, you seem to hold this performance in high regard. Usually so serious, turns out you actually enjoy this style of show? It wouldn’t happen to be that we chose this ship… because of personal preferences, right? ~”

“Ahem…”

Like he had swallowed water, Murong Yun made a slightly awkward sound, desperately trying to defend himself.

“Elder Vilyric, you’ve misunderstood. I do admire young lady Mengrui’s talent, and indeed, I meant to let everyone experience the 【Music Fairy Flower Party】 performance through this opportunity, but the choice of the Music Fairy was genuinely based on a suitable angle to consider.”

“I’ve traveled the Kaiyuan River many times; honestly, in terms of comfort, safety, and efficiency, other ships can hardly compare to the 【Music Fairy】. Since we fortuitously encountered it…”

“Alright, alright, I get it already ~”

The black-haired girl stood on her toes to pat his shoulder, showing a ‘no need to elaborate further’ expression, and quickly compared her little fist, which seemed utterly unthreatening.

“Also, I’ll emphasize one last time, do — not — call — me — elder — Vilyric! Understood?!”

“Uh… I’ll remember, Vilyric… Miss.”

“What even is that random title…?”

Shaking her head in exasperation, Vilyric was too lazy to continue the annoying corrections, and she and Murong Yun quietly resumed their enjoyment of the ongoing zither solo on stage.

Soon, as the song concluded, Mengrui stopped playing, slightly bowing her head to the audience, and the surrounding area erupted in enthusiastic and clamoring applause.

“Bravo! Young lady Mengrui’s zither skills are advancing!”

“This piece, ‘Sighs of the Mundane,’ is simply exhilarating. It sends chills all over, with both joy and sorrow—wonderful, truly wonderful!”

It was indeed impressive.

Even Vilyric couldn’t help but acknowledge that Mengrui’s zither skills were extraordinary, even if she had little study of musical instruments, she could still tell.

To call someone a 【Great Master】 was no problem at all.

But…

To be called a 【Music Fairy】 was still a bit lacking.

Her skills had reached a peak, yet still lacked a deeper, more profound element… an insight from the heart, a soul immersed within the experience. She did not truly understand the essence of ‘Sighs of the Mundane’, hence could only extract the fractional laws contained within the music.

She was just a step away, yet that step spanned an immense distance.

This zither piece was absolutely not created by Mengrui; she was merely a learner and inheritor.

And such thoughts were clearly not only in Vilyric’s mind. Casting her gaze around, she quickly noticed a few other passengers who likely were also first-timers aboard the Music Fairy. Especially those dressed elegantly, with noble airs, who revealed looks of disdain.

These genuine big shots, or those like Vilyric who traveled extensively and had rich experiences, obviously had a broader vision than ordinary folks, and couldn’t just be brushed aside casually.

The character 【Fairy】, regardless of its prefix, was a symbol of utmost honor in the Ancient Spirit Realm. Only those transcending all mundanity, the one true saint could correspond. If one carelessly claimed to be a fairy without corresponding abilities, they would certainly suffer backlash.

Just as the Priestess was pondering these thoughts, the girl in pink gauze, Mengrui, smiled and gradually stood up.

“I hope you’ll pardon my clumsiness; this song ‘Sighs of the Mundane’ seeks to find a soulmate across the horizon. Next, please join me in the mundane for a chat… begin!”

“Whoosh~~~~”

As if suddenly draped in a misty pink veil, the petals that had fluttered down with Mengrui’s performance began to swirl and rise, transforming into a wave of fragrance and an almost imperceptible haze!

“Buzz!!!!!!!”

The surroundings that should have been confined within the cabin of the ship abruptly transformed into a tranquil valley scene in the blink of an eye.

Melodies echoed back from within the valley.

“Huh?”

Raising her brows, Vilyric glanced around.

No doubt, this was an illusion.

As someone with far more intuitive perception—sp of the Divine race, the Priestess easily discerned the true essence of the scene before her.

Though it seemed she was alone in this serene valley, in reality, Vilyric’s actual position had not changed; she still remained inside the cabin of the Music Fairy, and even Murong Yun was still standing beside her, unmoved.

But it was not entirely a mere illusion.

Stepping on the soft grass, the black-haired girl attempted to move a few steps.

The feedback via her divine sense indicated her actual position remained unchanged, thus this felt more like a kind of spiritual and conscious space of virtual dimension, akin to the void that Ya Zi conjured during her battle with Vilyric.

To put it plainly, it was like daydreaming.

Now, it made sense…

The true Music Fairy was indeed here.