Sacrificial Artifact System: From Bell-ringer to the Ancestral Patriarch

The corridor outside the Sword Grinding Cave is different from the inside; the cave is not dark but rather brightly lit.

Just like the daylight outside.

Therefore, one can see both sides of the cave wall clearly.

"Left side, the eighth mural."

Li Qian walked down.

Counting the murals at the same time.

These murals look simple and abstract as if they were carved by the sword qi of a strong sword cultivator, bearing the essence of graffiti.

Yet Li Qian had another feeling... the oppressive atmosphere in the entire Sword Grinding Cave seemed to originate from these murals, or rather, the sword marks on the murals.

"Does each of these murals represent a Sword Dao skill? I wonder what is special about the eighth mural, why did Master ascertain that it contains the Leakless Vajra Skill?"

Li Qian murmured to himself.

There is also a saying that the skills of the seven main peaks of the Divine Sword Sect originate from here.

He continued down along the left wall of the cave.

Every so often, there would be a mural left on the wall.

Finally, he arrived in front of the eighth mural.

"Is it this one?"

Li Qian paused.

This mural differed from the others; it was even more chaotic and the lines were more arbitrary.

Moreover... In the midst of the chaotic sword marks, there was an addition of a simple and abstract little figure.

"It can't be because of this little figure that Master and several generations before... came to the conclusion that this mural contained the Leakless Vajra Skill?"

Li Qian was immensely surprised.

At this thought, he immediately utilized his understanding of Heartless Sword Intent.

As the Sword Intent he emitted touched the mural, the sound of sword cries reverberated in his mind, and there were even strange illusions, as if the abstract little figure in the mural had started to move.

The actions performed by this little figure were exactly like the Heartless Sword Technique.

Indeed, the mural contained the mystery of the Heartless Sword Technique.

It could only be said that the creator of the mural was incredibly ingenious, skillfully hiding a profound swordsmanship within the mural.

"I am able to sense it because I have cultivated the Heartless Sword Intent, but how did the founding ancestor comprehend the Heartless Sword Technique from this mural?"

Li Qian pondered in his heart.

After sensing it several times, he suddenly felt dizzy and extremely fatigued.

He knew it was due to the excessive use of Heartless Sword Intent, leading to severe mental exhaustion.

Immediately, he connected with Sacrificial Artifact Chen Bell, and as the clear bell chime resonated in his mind, he felt his spirits lift, and his mind became incredibly clear.

All his attention focused on the little figure.

Suddenly, he didn't know whether it was an illusion or not.

The little figure, who had previously been demonstrating the Heartless Sword Technique, suddenly changed its motion, posing in a peculiar stance.

Subconsciously, like a marionette, Li Qian's body naturally assumed this stance.

At the same time, the Inner Qi within his body began to reverse.

Following the movements of the figure, Li Qian practiced a new set of movements, and as the Inner Qi reversed, it began to slowly dissipate.

Time passed, and Li Qian woke up as if from a dream, returning to his senses, feeling as though his head was about to burst, similar to not having rested for ten days and nights.

Looking at the mural on the cave wall again, he could no longer focus to connect with the sword dao mysteries contained within.

But after checking his own condition, he showed a surprised expression.

His Inner Qi had indeed decreased somewhat.

Instead, the vitality in his body had somehow become more abundant.

Suddenly, he had an idea and summoned the system interface to check the latest information.

Host: Li Qian.

Cultivation: Later Stage of Innate (Ninth Layer 99/100).

Sacrificial Artifact: Chen Bell (Power 451/10000).

Martial Skills: Sword Stabbing Fist (Perfect), Heartless Sword Technique (Perfect), Pure Sword Body (Beginner 1/100).

Martial Intent: Heartless Sword Intent (Illusory 31/100).

Secret Skill: Ten Thousand Transformation Sword Qi.

.....

"Pure Sword Body?"

Seeing the new martial skill name appear, Li Qian became incredibly excited.

This was a new martial skill he had comprehended from the mural.

Or one could say it is the Leakless Vajra Skill.

To cultivate the Pure Sword Body, one needs to nourish the physical body with the perfected Inner Qi one has cultivated, until the Pure Sword Body is achieved.

Once the Pure Sword Body is achieved, one can attain the Perfect Innate state.

"I wonder how long it will take?"

Li Qian thought to himself.

However, with the aid of the Chen Bell in his cultivation, it should be much easier.

At this moment, a figure wearing a mask walked over, "Junior brother, it's almost dark, you should leave now."

"Is it that late already?"

Li Qian turned around, quite surprised.

He then noticed that the light inside the cave had notably dimmed.

"It seems that the junior brother has gained insight from contemplating the mural."

The masked True Inheritor said with a light chuckle.

"Senior brother, has the competition for the sword seed been decided?"

Something suddenly occurred to Li Qian, prompting him to ask.

Since it was almost dark, it was clearly evening.

He remembered that when he entered the Sword Grinding Cave, it was morning. Unwittingly, he had spent a good five or six hours in front of the cave's mural.

He hadn't realized how the time had flown by.

"The result was decided at the third quarter of noon."

The True Inheritor said.

"May I ask which senior brother has won the spot as a True Inheritor?"

Li Qian asked again.

"It's Junior Brother Nangong Bei from Guiyi Peak."

The True Inheritor said.

Li Qian had not heard of him.

After all, he never paid attention to the affairs of the inner sect and rarely interacted with Inner Sect Disciples, so he was unaware of any notable figures within the inner sect.

"And how should I address senior brother?"

Li Qian asked once more.

"You may call me Senior Brother Fu."

The True Inheritor said.

"Li Qian has seen Senior Brother Fu."

Li Qian greeted him, then turned and walked out of the Sword Grinding Cave.

"This junior brother is quite interesting; having understood the Sword Intent, yet he does not compete for the sword seed or participate in the selection for True Inheritors, just to comprehend this mural?"

True Inheritor Fu Heng looked at the mural, feeling very curious.

As a True Inheritor, one could spend a long time in the Sword Grinding Cave to cultivate.

This mural, being somewhat special compared to the others, has been contemplated by him many times, yet to no avail.

....

The square outside the True Inheritor Hall was already empty of people.

The competition for True Inheritor had concluded.

Even if there were still some Inner Sect Disciples who had not come out from the Sword Grinding Cave, everyone's focus was now on the newly risen True Inheritor.

An old man with a flushed face and unkempt beard was still standing outside the Divine Sword Hall, like a statue.

At this moment, a figure emerged from the Divine Sword Hall, it turned out to be the portly Elder He.

"Old Zhou, why haven't you given up hope, the result for the True Inheritor is already out."

Portly Elder He said with a cheerful smile.

Because the newly appointed True Inheritor, Nangong Bei, was his direct disciple.

Only he knew how exceptional his disciple's root bone qualifications were.

Although his disciple hadn't comprehended Sword Intent for long, he was the youngest among the dozen or so participants in the Inner Sect selection... ah, no, that's wrong, the youngest was Old Zhou's disciple.

Therefore, he wasn't surprised that his disciple succeeded in claiming the spot for True Inheritor.

He originally thought that the disciple Old Zhou had carefully selected after spending half a lifetime must be incredibly talented.

Turns out, he was nothing special.

Zhou Buping just glanced at Elder He and gave a cold snort, without saying anything.

What does the mere title of True Inheritor amount to compared with the Perfect Innate?

....