Instantly, the four musicians sensed the rapidly rising aether waves on Charles's body . Student, Rhythm, Musician…he soon broke through the Barrier of Knowledge, Resonance, Disturbance… A spirit that was not his awakened in his eyes . The musicians felt a sense of danger and attacked at once!

A magnetic field appeared from the aether . They were tangent to each other and sparked with lightning . Beastly nature burst from thin air . It transformed into a six-eyed giant and roared .

Music theory crisscrossed . It sealed off the outside world with a disturbing nature . Air waves crashed, creating a vacuum . Formless poison rose up from thousands of bacteria strains . They formed spores and shot into all directions…

Time seemed to slow . The entire world slowed before the quickly operating consciousness . In the frozen world, Ye Qingxuan was still in Charles's body . He reached out . Jiu Xiao Huan Pei sounded . Thousands of strings shot out of thin air . They intersected, all playing different melodies . However, it was not disordered but in harmony .

Cold wind from the tundra instantly blew over . Winter was here!

In the cold wind, the four musicians instantly sank into a daze, about to fall asleep . However, in their daze, they saw a flag guiding the wind . Emerald will-o'-wisps snaked out of the cracks . Frozen tears rolled from their eyes . The withered Bodhi tree froze in the icy wind . Life elapsed rapidly and their hair turned white . A frozen flood swept out of nowhere . Crows that symbolized death flew from their fingertips… It was Winterreise!

The Philosopher's Stone transformed into the sub-originator, stirring huge tidal waves in the aether sea . Jiu Xiao Huan Pei rode the terrifying power that was born . It operated in the void and wove together under Ye Qingxuan's guidance . This was undoubtedly a twenty-three layered illusion!

The music theory grew out of nothing and shot out from Jiu Xiao Huan Pei . They instantly layered and dragged the four musicians in without warning . For the first time, Ye Qingxuan could experience the control Lola had towards illusions . It was as if a world of nothingness was created in his hands and turned into something .

For a second, he felt like a G.o.d .

But two seconds later, the first layer of Gute Nacht was torn apart . The four Distortion level musicians acted in unison . They communicated with each other and quickly found the flaws in the illusion .

Another layer fell apart! The crows that announced death were instantly destroyed and disappeared . Ye Qingxuan sighed . His abilities were still not enough .

The Disturbance level could disturb certain things and change them but it could not completely change something's nature like the Distortion level . Otherwise, he would be able to let out the last layer, Der Leiermann, to complete Winterreise . At that time, the twenty-four layers would die and regenerate by themselves . There was no possibility of being undone .

In addition, the spirit contained in Der Leierman was depressed by being unable to move forward one's entire life . Once inside this illusion, all musicians would be forced to the standard Musician level . Unless they had a secret weapon or technique targeted specifically at illusions, the victim would be stuck until his body deteriorated and his mind fused into the illusion .

Within a few seconds, fourteen of the twenty-three illusions were undone . If Ye Qingxuan still had no plans, the results would be bad . According to his Revelations sensing, these musicians contained three hidden yet sharp aether waves . They probably had some fatal weapon . If they were given the chance to take it out…

Ye Qingxuan had a headache . He quickly clenched his fists . In an instant, the fulcrums of the remaining nine layers ignited . They exploded along with the music theory, transforming into a huge sensory bomb, bursting in the minds of the four musicians .

The extreme force transformed along the Mind path . Containing the hidden hint for the formless river, it flooded into their minds . Like mercury, it exploded in the depths of their minds . It was a storm of emotions and a battle of feelings . Bitterness, ecstasy, depression, sadness… All emotions were forcefully stimulated . The musicians paled and went green . Their minds were in turmoil . Bits of memories flashed past their eyes as if someone had injected drugs in them .

Even so, they did not let their guards down or give Ye Qingxuan any opportunities . They could sense that Ye Qingxuan was still far away . They didn't know how he could cross such a large distance but he was not strong enough to threaten them .

They were only pa.s.sively accepting the attacks now because they were getting ready . Ye Qingxuan was using his now . When this wave was over, he would have nothing left . He'd just be a sitting duck!

But just as they struggled to push down the unrest in their minds and music theories, they felt something serene rise from the broken fulcrums .

It was moonlight .

A white rim of cold yet arrogant moon rose from the broken illusion . It seemed so real . The white moon hung in the sky . Under the light, coldness seeped into every one of their pores, making them feel extreme danger and fear .

Then the moon shattered .

What replaced it was a sharp glint of metal . It was the Sword! Countless music notes flowed rapidly on the ice-cold sword of moonlight . They wove into a complex music score—detailed and beautiful . It was like an artistic masterpiece but with mind-numbing animosity .

What was this?! The four musicians gaped and all swore in their minds . No matter what it was, it would be bad to get hit by it!

They made a decision at the same time . Music theory erupted as they all used different methods to stop the sword from falling . They let out their hidden weapon! No matter what kind of music score, all would lose effectiveness once out of control . If they could kill Charles before the sword fell, then the sword would become nothing!

But in that moment, Ye Qingxuan smiled and closed his eyes . He seemed to be waiting for death to come . But also as if he had…fallen asleep .

He entered Dreamland!

Without a sound, something emerged from his body . It spread in all directions and enveloped the entire alley . All music notes in its path disappeared . The music theories broke down and even the music scores fell apart . It was as if a portion of the aether had disappeared and could no longer respond . The aether had fallen asleep with him .

In the Dreamland, Ye Qingxuan felt as if he had fallen asleep but was awake at the same time . Everything in his dream was identical to reality . Through the dreamscape, he observed the world . Letting his mind loose, his consciousness transformed into a flood . It pulled at the endless supply of aether into slumber with him! Everything was swallowed by silence . The sword of moonlight dissipated . But so did the s.h.i.+elds of the four musicians .

As if they had put all their strength into the void, the music scores that contained their power all disappeared . They fell from the peak to the abyss . The sudden attack and terrifying emptiness paled them and they spat out blood . In their hands, the instruments that had accompanied them for decades turned into dead objects . The music notes on them extinguished rapidly and the music theory crumbled . The alchemy imprinted on was wiped away .

The spirits that were created by playing countless music scores disappeared with wails . The sh.e.l.l was still there but the spirit was long gone . Four priceless and rare musicians were completely destroyed! However, they had no time to mourn . In their fear, a bigger sense of danger arose . Even more terrifying was that they had activated the three secret weapons just then!

Ye Qingxuan's grasp on time was beyond their imagination . These three alchemy equipment had been bought by chance and fate . They had just been filled with immense aether but before they could act, they were thrown into an aether vacuum .

In the silence, even breathing was deafening . The equipment could not be saved either and were finally revealed under their gray clothing . It was a palm-sized figurine with a sword, a vial of beast ashes, and a strange key . They radiated like the sun even as cracks began appearing .

Originally, their music theory had formed a system that blocked the outside world . But in the silence, the system was unraveling . The power sealed within…was completely out of control .

In an instant, they became active and flowed out . The equilibrium of the four realms was upended . The once harmonious theories of the seven schools clashed with extreme heat and light .

The four musicians paled . They tossed the weapons without thinking and ran . Sadly, it was too late . A boom erupted in the silence . It should have been deafening but it was like m.u.f.fled thunder that faded quickly . The three secret weapons broke completely . The strength within exploded just like how Ye Qingxuan had once thrown out the Double Snake Time Meter to self-destruct .

The terrifying yet dazzling light flashed . Under the silent dream, the explosion that should have obliterated the entire alley was restrained to a small area . This made the destruction worse .

In a second, the earth split apart . Bricks and dust flew . Silently, three b.l.o.o.d.y figures flew out, dropping in different places . Other than the Summoning musician who thought himself above relying on secret weapons, they were all gravely wounded . After entering the Resonance level, the musician's body would evolve under the music theory and aether, becoming less human . Otherwise, they would have evaporated instantly .

The tide had turned .

Instantly, the four musicians sensed the rapidly rising aether waves on Charles's body . Student, Rhythm, Musician…he soon broke through the Barrier of Knowledge, Resonance, Disturbance… A spirit that was not his awakened in his eyes . The musicians felt a sense of danger and attacked at once! .

A magnetic field appeared from the aether . They were tangent to each other and sparked with lightning . Beastly nature burst from thin air . It transformed into a six-eyed giant and roared

Music theory crisscrossed . It sealed off the outside world with a disturbing nature . Air waves crashed, creating a vacuum . Formless poison rose up from thousands of bacteria strains . They formed spores and shot into all directions… .

Time seemed to slow . The entire world slowed before the quickly operating consciousness . In the frozen world, Ye Qingxuan was still in Charles's body . He reached out . Jiu Xiao Huan Pei sounded . Thousands of strings shot out of thin air . They intersected, all playing different melodies . However, it was not disordered but in harmony

Cold wind from the tundra instantly blew over . Winter was here! .

In the cold wind, the four musicians instantly sank into a daze, about to fall asleep . However, in their daze, they saw a flag guiding the wind . Emerald will-o'-wisps snaked out of the cracks . Frozen tears rolled from their eyes . The withered Bodhi tree froze in the icy wind . Life elapsed rapidly and their hair turned white . A frozen flood swept out of nowhere . Crows that symbolized death flew from their fingertips… It was Winterreise! .

The Philosopher's Stone transformed into the sub-originator, stirring huge tidal waves in the aether sea . Jiu Xiao Huan Pei rode the terrifying power that was born . It operated in the void and wove together under Ye Qingxuan's guidance . This was undoubtedly a twenty-three layered illusion! .

The music theory grew out of nothing and shot out from Jiu Xiao Huan Pei . They instantly layered and dragged the four musicians in without warning . For the first time, Ye Qingxuan could experience the control Lola had towards illusions . It was as if a world of nothingness was created in his hands and turned into something

For a second, he felt like a G.o.d

But two seconds later, the first layer of Gute Nacht was torn apart . The four Distortion level musicians acted in unison . They communicated with each other and quickly found the flaws in the illusion

Another layer fell apart! The crows that announced death were instantly destroyed and disappeared . Ye Qingxuan sighed . His abilities were still not enough

The Disturbance level could disturb certain things and change them but it could not completely change something's nature like the Distortion level . Otherwise, he would be able to let out the last layer, Der Leiermann, to complete Winterreise . At that time, the twenty-four layers would die and regenerate by themselves . There was no possibility of being undone

In addition, the spirit contained in Der Leierman was depressed by being unable to move forward one's entire life . Once inside this illusion, all musicians would be forced to the standard Musician level . Unless they had a secret weapon or technique targeted specifically at illusions, the victim would be stuck until his body deteriorated and his mind fused into the illusion

Within a few seconds, fourteen of the twenty-three illusions were undone . If Ye Qingxuan still had no plans, the results would be bad . According to his Revelations sensing, these musicians contained three hidden yet sharp aether waves . They probably had some fatal weapon . If they were given the chance to take it out… .

Ye Qingxuan had a headache . He quickly clenched his fists . In an instant, the fulcrums of the remaining nine layers ignited . They exploded along with the music theory, transforming into a huge sensory bomb, bursting in the minds of the four musicians

The extreme force transformed along the Mind path . Containing the hidden hint for the formless river, it flooded into their minds . Like mercury, it exploded in the depths of their minds . It was a storm of emotions and a battle of feelings . Bitterness, ecstasy, depression, sadness… All emotions were forcefully stimulated . The musicians paled and went green . Their minds were in turmoil . Bits of memories flashed past their eyes as if someone had injected drugs in them

Even so, they did not let their guards down or give Ye Qingxuan any opportunities . They could sense that Ye Qingxuan was still far away . They didn't know how he could cross such a large distance but he was not strong enough to threaten them

They were only pa.s.sively accepting the attacks now because they were getting ready . Ye Qingxuan was using his now . When this wave was over, he would have nothing left . He'd just be a sitting duck! .

But just as they struggled to push down the unrest in their minds and music theories, they felt something serene rise from the broken fulcrums

It was moonlight

A white rim of cold yet arrogant moon rose from the broken illusion . It seemed so real . The white moon hung in the sky . Under the light, coldness seeped into every one of their pores, making them feel extreme danger and fear

Then the moon shattered

What replaced it was a sharp glint of metal . It was the Sword! Countless music notes flowed rapidly on the ice-cold sword of moonlight . They wove into a complex music score—detailed and beautiful . It was like an artistic masterpiece but with mind-numbing animosity

What was this?! The four musicians gaped and all swore in their minds . No matter what it was, it would be bad to get hit by it! .

They made a decision at the same time . Music theory erupted as they all used different methods to stop the sword from falling . They let out their hidden weapon! No matter what kind of music score, all would lose effectiveness once out of control . If they could kill Charles before the sword fell, then the sword would become nothing! .

But in that moment, Ye Qingxuan smiled and closed his eyes . He seemed to be waiting for death to come . But also as if he had…fallen asleep

He entered Dreamland! .

Without a sound, something emerged from his body . It spread in all directions and enveloped the entire alley . All music notes in its path disappeared . The music theories broke down and even the music scores fell apart . It was as if a portion of the aether had disappeared and could no longer respond . The aether had fallen asleep with him

In the Dreamland, Ye Qingxuan felt as if he had fallen asleep but was awake at the same time . Everything in his dream was identical to reality . Through the dreamscape, he observed the world . Letting his mind loose, his consciousness transformed into a flood . It pulled at the endless supply of aether into slumber with him! Everything was swallowed by silence . The sword of moonlight dissipated . But so did the s.h.i.+elds of the four musicians

As if they had put all their strength into the void, the music scores that contained their power all disappeared . They fell from the peak to the abyss . The sudden attack and terrifying emptiness paled them and they spat out blood . In their hands, the instruments that had accompanied them for decades turned into dead objects . The music notes on them extinguished rapidly and the music theory crumbled . The alchemy imprinted on was wiped away

The spirits that were created by playing countless music scores disappeared with wails . The sh.e.l.l was still there but the spirit was long gone . Four priceless and rare musicians were completely destroyed! However, they had no time to mourn . In their fear, a bigger sense of danger arose . Even more terrifying was that they had activated the three secret weapons just then! .

Ye Qingxuan's grasp on time was beyond their imagination . These three alchemy equipment had been bought by chance and fate . They had just been filled with immense aether but before they could act, they were thrown into an aether vacuum

In the silence, even breathing was deafening . The equipment could not be saved either and were finally revealed under their gray clothing . It was a palm-sized figurine with a sword, a vial of beast ashes, and a strange key . They radiated like the sun even as cracks began appearing

Originally, their music theory had formed a system that blocked the outside world . But in the silence, the system was unraveling . The power sealed within…was completely out of control

In an instant, they became active and flowed out . The equilibrium of the four realms was upended . The once harmonious theories of the seven schools clashed with extreme heat and light

The four musicians paled . They tossed the weapons without thinking and ran . Sadly, it was too late . A boom erupted in the silence . It should have been deafening but it was like m.u.f.fled thunder that faded quickly . The three secret weapons broke completely . The strength within exploded just like how Ye Qingxuan had once thrown out the Double Snake Time Meter to self-destruct

The terrifying yet dazzling light flashed . Under the silent dream, the explosion that should have obliterated the entire alley was restrained to a small area . This made the destruction worse

In a second, the earth split apart . Bricks and dust flew . Silently, three b.l.o.o.d.y figures flew out, dropping in different places . Other than the Summoning musician who thought himself above relying on secret weapons, they were all gravely wounded . After entering the Resonance level, the musician's body would evolve under the music theory and aether, becoming less human . Otherwise, they would have evaporated instantly

The tide had turned .