uesday, July 8, Year 652. Western Shores of the Planet Tvamvos.
At the Grand Palace of the Eternal Note Sect, the day began as it always did. The sect's gardens shimmered with a unique radiance; students strolled joyfully with their spirit pets, and palace guards rotated shifts with well-rehearsed discipline. The sky was clear, the sun was shining, and the air was calm. For a sect known for its serenity, it was a classic, tranquil morning.
As the sun rose to greet the day, a thirteen-year-old boy opened his eyes to a new morning. But today... it felt different. The sparkle in his sky-blue eyes whispered that something had changed.
"Ahh, that was a great sleep—especially the part with Violet. Hehe… Can't think of a better way to start the day," Alex murmured to himself as he slowly got up and walked toward the wardrobe room at the end of the third-floor hallway.
"Hey, Emely, what do you have for me today?" he called out.
"Damn it, I nearly pissed myself! That damn robot always ruins my mood," Emely grumbled under her breath. Then, forcing a smile into her voice, she replied, "Young master, I've prepared your usual green outfit and a lovely red thong. If you need help dressing, I can request assistance from one of the palace eunuchs."
Emily knew, Alex could read lips Mornings were her time to vent her frustrations. To an outsider, it might look like she hated him—but the truth was quite the opposite. In fact, Alex was the only person in the Grand Palace with whom she felt comfortable being her true self.
"Thanks, Emely. Thanks to you, I'll be dazzling once again today. Could you also add a pair of soft-soled shoes? My toes are killing me."
Of course, the aching toes were a lie. The healers at the Do Tower could fix that with a single movement or a melodic hum. The shoes were simply a precaution—for the task the system had given him. After all, he didn't enjoy kicking people in the balls.
"If you'd like, I can request the Lady's permission to contact the Do Tower," Emely offered.
"No need. The soft soles will do just fine."
With a weary sigh, Emely nodded and snapped her fingers. Scissors and pieces of leather began to swirl around her, and in mere seconds, the materials transformed into the shoes Alex had described. The finished pair dropped neatly into her hands.
"I hope they meet your expectations, young master."
"They certainly do. Thank you, Emely. Every time I see you work, I can't help but admire you."
Emely took pride in her skills. She was a tailor—a type of cultivator in her own right. Like many other crafting paths, tailoring required a unique kind of "non-elemental" energy to manipulate natural materials without triggering their innate reactions. It was one of the most challenging and skill-intensive disciplines.
"See you soon, young master," she said as Alex nodded and walked back toward his room.
As Alex brushed his red hair to cover where his ears should have been, he thought about his plans for the day. He'd worn his hair shoulder-length since childhood, with bangs cut just above his eyebrows. It wasn't a fashion statement—he simply didn't want anyone to see the smooth, earless sides of his head.
"Damn it. Master Musician… that rank's reserved for the tower heads. If I'm going to kick their balls, I'll need a really solid plan. First, I have to decide which ones to go after. Re, Fa, and Sol seem like the best bets. Mostly because they're the only ones I know. Yeah... I'll start with Fa Tower's Master William. Hehe, looks like I have a plan."
Within the sect, there were seven towers named after musical notes: Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, and Ti. After forming their Music Hearts, students were chosen by tower masters during the annual tournaments and trained with great care.
Master William Franc of Fa Tower was 182 years old, a pillar of the sect, and an advanced Master Musician.
But Alex hadn't chosen him for his fame. The real reason was simple: the girl he admired—Violet—was William's only disciple. Violet always smiled, carried herself with grace, and to Alex, she was a light that drove away the darkness. Around her, he felt braver.
As Alex finalized his plan in his mind, he decided it was time to get started.
One Hour Later
Standing before the teleportation circle in the sect gardens, Alex—his red hair brushing his shoulders and his blue eyes gleaming—was arguing with a guard.
"Hey Joseph, can you set the circle to Fa Tower? My father has a message for Master William."
Joseph didn't bother replying. The silent guard adjusted the settings, shifting the circle's glow from red to blue, then motioned for Alex to proceed.
"Damn that guy. It wouldn't kill him to just say hello. No wonder they call him Stone-Face Joseph." Alex stepped into the circle and vanished—only to reappear moments later in the heart of Fa Tower.
"What's that deaf kid doing here?"
"Haha! I can't believe that freak actually stepped into a real tower."
"Useless cripple."
Ignoring the whispered insults, Alex walked confidently toward the Elders' Hall.
When he reached the door, he adjusted his speech device to Level 4, turning it into a makeshift megaphone.
"HEY MASTER WILLIAM! I HAVE A MESSAGE FROM MY FATHER!" he shouted in a robotic echo.
"Damn it, Alex! What the hell was that?! That robotic screech nearly shattered my ears!"
William suddenly appeared behind him, placing a hand on Alex's shoulder and turning him so he could read his lips. Violet had taught him how.
Alex clasped his hands together and bowed deeply. "Sir, I've come to deliver a message from my father. Please allow me to speak."
"Huh? Well then, let's hear it."
With determined eyes and a proud expression, Alex said, "Sir, with my father's blessing, I've officially begun walking the path of a musician."
"Hahaha, are you serious, Alex? Truly, may the heavens bless you and your family. Tell me—what method are you using?"
Alex replied with sincerity, "My father found it in an ancient ruin—in the tomb of a master who once walked the Dao of Music. The technique doesn't require hearing at all. It's like it was made just for me."
William's expression turned serious at the mention of a Dao-walking master. "If you're telling the truth... then proceed," he said, gesturing for Alex to continue.
Alex looked at William and grinned internally: My father arranged for me to marry Violet from the moment I was born. Watching you try to hide your jealousy is hilarious.
In truth, the sect leader had arranged the marriage long before Alex was born. He didn't want his son bringing home an outsider, and hoped to produce a grandchild with perfect voice compatibility. Violet was the ideal match. And Alex had no objections—how could he resent the only person who'd smiled at him during the quietest, loneliest days of his childhood?
"Master, the technique is called Rhythm of the Exploding Balls. It has three stages: Bell of the Blazing Spheres, Twin Thunder Orbs, and Infinite Divine Testicle Symphony."
William's eyes nearly popped out of his head. As ridiculous as the name sounded, such things weren't unheard of in the world of musical cultivation. One of his old friends, Asna, had reached Master Musician level with a technique called The Sound of the Fart.
Still, as William stared into Alex's resolute eyes, a chill ran down his spine.
"Ahem… I'm happy for you, Alex. But why did you have to scream at me with that awful megaphone?"
"Master, the technique's effectiveness depends on the quality of the testicles I kick. The more developed the target's cultivation, the greater my own growth. So I humbly request your permission… to kick yours."
Alex stared into William's eyes like it was a matter of life and death. William finally let out a long, hard sigh.
"I'm sorry, Alex… but I don't think I can allow that."
"Please, Master! I truly need your help. Everyone else already agreed—except you, Re, and Sol. Even my father said he'd owe you a favor if you helped!"
Yes, Alex's entire plan was a lie. With no cultivation and only a mortal's body, this was the only path he could follow.
"A favor? From the sect leader himself? Hehe…"
When William's face twisted into a crazed grin, Alex regretted everything—but it was too late to back down. All he could do now was hope his father would go easy on him during the punishment.
"Yes, Master. My father specifically told me to say that."
"Hahaha! Little Alex, don't worry. We old men would be happy to help—how much could a mortal's kick really hurt? Just wait here. I'll go gather the other tower masters."
As William ascended into the sky to summon the others, Alex beamed brightly.
"One day, I'll be just like that," he whispered, then walked toward the manor's guest room to wait.