Published at 19th of August 2026 6:21 am

Chapter 4464: The Final Step

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Lu Yin was happy that he had made a point to study music, and he had been very confident because Withered Requiems music sounded terrible. It was not proper music at all, merely a release of emotion. Lu Yin believed that the music developed by human civilization could easily surpass the skeletons.

But Lu Yin was only one person, and even if Fishbone and Zhou were just filling in the numbers, they should at least not drag him down.

But now, no matter how he looked at it, they were dragging him down. It was no wonder why Fishbone had not been able to form a band for so many years. Lu Yin was starting to regret bringing it along. Should he just kick it out?

But Zhou was even worse than Fishbone. Lu Yin had Possessed Zhou before, but he had not seen all of their memories, just a small portion.

Brother, come on, lets play! Lets become the brightest band in this Joy City, Fishbone said excitedly.

Zhou grew invigorated. We will definitely win! Lets fight side by side.

Lu Yin was speechless.

In any case, he would first see the abilities of the band that guarded the castle.

Over the years, he had Possessed many skeletons, but compared to all the skeletons in Joy City, that number was just a drop in the ocean. Some of those creatures might have attempted to enter the castle, but he had not seen those memories. Each time, he had only searched for memories with a specific purpose.

The waterways spread in all directions. Following them, Fishbone led Lu Yin and Zhou to the entranceway of the castle. Aside from entering through the sewers, this was the closest that Lu Yin had ever been to the castle.

When they arrived, a band was attempting to enter the castle.

The four skeletons that formed that band were all bizarre-looking, completely unrecognizable as creatures.

Not only that, but their performance was also unbearable to listen to. What astonished Lu Yin was that the unbearable noise was actually praised, and the band was allowed entry.

Immediately, Lu Yins confidence returned. If even a performance like that could get in, what more was there to say?

He immediately chose a piece and told Fishbone and Zhou to strike at certain points and coordinate, as he would take the lead.

Were challenging it just like that? But doesnt our band only have three members? Fishbone said.

Lu Yin looked at Zhou. They understood and casually grabbed a skeleton to join them.

The skeleton cooperated readily. Zhou was too terrifying.

With that, the band was formed. Lu Yin gave the three a brief training and then stepped forward to issue a challenge. Fishbone offered some feedback, saying that their song was too poor, but Lu Yin ignored it. How does this guy have the nerve to criticize the song?

What is your bands name?

Lu Yin and the others looked at each other.

Call it Fishbone Band. Sounds powerful!

It should be the Revolution Planet Band.

Lu Yin stepped forward. We are called Dream Band.

Fishbone and Zhou both let out exclamations. What a great name!

Very soon, they began playing, and thenthey were eliminated.

Impossible.

Lu Yin stared at the gatekeeping band at the castle. Youre saying that we failed?

The guards were contemptuous. You call that music? Youre insulting Lord Withered Requiem.

That band right before us was let in, but we actually failed? Lu Yin could hardly believe his ears.

Fishbone hurried forward. I told you that it wouldnt work, brother. Your musical talent is too poor. You should go back and practice.

Zhou patted Lu Yins shoulder. Its fine. Keep working hard. Success isnt so easy.

This was not about success or failure; Lu Yin simply could not believe it. Play something.

The four members of the gatekeeping band glanced at each other and then began playing proudly.

Just as Lu Yin had expected, it was terrible.

However, Fishbone wagged its tail, as if thoroughly enjoying it, and Zhou also praised the band. A sound from beyond the heavens!

The skeleton that they had dragged into their band briefly shook its head and then ran off, knowing that the makeshift band was unreliable.

Lu Yin felt his worldview being overturned. This works? Why is everyone enjoying it so much?

Right. He then remembered how, every time he Possessed a skeleton, the creature had always longed for and accepted Withered Requiems music, never feeling disgust. It was completely different from what Lu Yin himself felt from the sound.

Why was it like this? Something felt off.

Lu Yin silently left and sat by the river, staring across it. In the distance, Fishbone wanted to say something, but Zhou stopped it. Forget it. Leave him alone for a while. Hes taken quite a blow.

Fishbone sympathetically said, Over the years, Ive invited so many to join a band, though none had as poor a musical talent as our brother here. What a pity but I wont give up! He can still be saved. As long as he works hard and improves, hell definitely progress in music.

Zhou nodded.

Lu Yin sat by the river, watching the rippling water. He felt like he had thought of a possibility, but it had slipped away before he could grasp it.

He closed his eyes and quietly pondered the situation. He recalled the feelings that the skeletons had experienced regarding music when he Possessed them. He had never deliberately paid attention to this detail before. According to his understanding, music was nothing more than Withered Requiems hobby; there was no need to focus on it. Just casually learning how to play should be enough to enter the castle.

It was at this moment that he realized how difficult it was. It was extremely difficult because the music that he knew was completely different from the music appreciated in Joy City.

Logically, music was not a language and did not require translation. Everyone should hear it the same way. So why was there such a huge difference?

He considered those that he had Possessed one by one. He sat by the river for months, remembering the feelings of each skeleton. This was something that he had previously overlooked.

Each time he Possessed a skeleton, Withered Requiems music had thundered through Joy City. Every time, the skeletons had enjoyed it, while Lu Yin alone had felt annoyed.

If there was a world of music, then to them, Withered Requiem stood at its very end. All of the skeletons wanted to run in that direction. What were they seeking? Why did they long to run there? Was it because of the power of Stillness? Was it because Withered Requiem had given them Bone Script?

No, music was the language of the spiritual world.

Splash.

Fishbone jumped up, splashing water onto Lu Yins face. Brother, cheer up! You can do it! I can tell.

Lu Yin looked at Fishbone. What do you think of my piece?

Fishbone hesitated.

Be frank.

Trash.

Why?

What do you mean why?

Why do you think its bad?

Does there need to be a reason for something to be bad?

If theres no reason, then why is it bad?

Brother, dont be unwilling to accept the truth. Bad is just bad. But youll get better. Ill help you.

Lu Yin protested, There must be a reason. Is it unpleasant? Disgusting? Or somethin else?

Disgusting, Zhou said as they walked over and sat down.

Fishbone hopped twice. Yes, disgust. Extreme disgust.

Why? Lu Yin was puzzled.

Fishbone ran off. Why did this brother have so many questions? Did disgust need a reason? Clearly, he was still not convinced.

Zhou replied, Theres no reason. Its just disgust, an instinctive disgust.

What about the piece that got the band before us into the castle?

Very comfortable, very pleasing.

Lu Yin let out a breath. Let me think.

Zhou did not disturb him further. Fishbone returned, but then it decided to compose a better piece while waiting. As for Lu Yin, Fishbone planned to let him just keep rhythm and not drag the band down.

Soon, Fishbone slapped its tail against the water, and Zhou occasionally struck their broken bones. There was no structure or rhythm. Lu Yin felt uncomfortable listening, but the two enjoyed it.

Thunder echoed through the sky. Withered Requiem stood atop the castle, singing and dancing wildly, drawing cheers from countless skeletons. The entire world was filled with fervor; even the water boiled and the air trembled.

Days passed. Lu Yin closed his eyes and quietly listened to the music. From his initial indifference to discomfort, to now decades had passed.

Over the course of those decades, Fishbone and Zhou never disturbed him, leaving him to sit by the river alone. Lu Yin could hear them talking. They thought that he was an obstacle to their success and planned to first finish composing before letting him join, just like before when he had told them to follow his lead.

He had dragged the entire team down. From the very beginning, he had been wrong. He had imposed his own understanding onto this world, but this world had its own comprehension of music. Whether it came from the civilization itself or something else, he did not know. All he knew was that what he found deeply unpleasant was precisely the rhythm of this world.

To the creatures of this world, Withered Requiems music was truly heavenly.

For decades, Lu Yin listened, trying to grasp the rhythm of the worlds music. Finally, he caught something: the sound of this music emptied the self.

Humans possessed complex emotions, and human-based music stemmed from those emotions. Music could make people feel sorrow or joy, but in Joy City, it was the opposite. The music in this place emptied ones emotion, seeking the self, like those beings that had shed their flesh and transformed into beings of bone.

Their very form had changed. Stripped of flesh and concealment, their spiritual world had also shed all covers. They instead pursued the most instinctive rhythm. The more instinctive, the more harmonious with the world.

The performances were both music and also Withered Requiems means of stripping away the worlds essence.

When Lu Yin realized this, his mental state surged upward. He knew that he had grasped the key, and he also understood why his progress had been slow.

Observing people and things to cultivate his mind was correct, but the path required turning. He needed to see not just the external, but also himself, the internal. The difference in ones inner and outer aspects at Manifest City had actually always been a way to see this, but he simply had not been able to understand it.

What he had believed to be an understanding of his mental state had merely been an understanding of the external one. His most obvious realization of self had come from Chu Songyuns discipleship ceremony, which had allowed Lu Yin to transform from an ant to a bird when entering Manifest City. But even after so many years, he was still unable to become a human because he had never truly seen himself.

Men at their birth are naturally good. He had never understood that phrase.

Every person was born with nothing, but as time passed, layer upon layer would be added, wrapping their sense of self ever tighter until even the person themselves could not unravel it.

Lu Yin stood up, raising his arms as if to embrace the world.

He knew what he needed to do. He would continually undo those layers binding him to release his most instinctive self. He would use his own language to converse with the world.

This would be the final step in building the wall in his heart.

1. Men at their birth are naturally good is the opening line of the Three Character Classic , a traditional Chinese primer. The phrase reflects the Confucian belief that human nature is inherently good at birth.

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