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

The doors to the True Inheritor Hall were always open.

Suddenly, a figure emerged from within.

Zhou Buping instinctively looked over, but the person who came out was not Li Qian; it was another Inner Sect Disciple participating in the True Inheritor selection, causing a bit of disappointment.

"The eighteenth one... The last one is Li Qian."

He thought to himself.

A lifetime's expectations were all entrusted to Li Qian.

If Li Qian also failed... then one could only hope for the next generation.

He remembered how many decades ago, when he had failed at comprehending the ancient painting during his own True Inheritor selection, his master's look of disappointment.

Hence, he swore in his heart to fulfill the last wishes of his master and the predecessors, guarding Yanmen Valley for decades.

After waiting a while longer, Li Qian's figure slowly walked out of the True Inheritor Hall.

He seemed very tired.

"Master."

As Li Qian approached, just about to speak.

"Don't talk, let's return to Yanmen Valley."

Zhou Buping shook his head.

Li Qian, seeing Zhou Buping's calm demeanor, scratched his head, admiring his master's mental fortitude.

Thus, the master and disciple left the Divine Sword Hall Square and returned to the cabin in Yanmen Valley.

Inside the cabin, it was very simple.

A shrine.

With several Spiritual Tablets displayed.

All from several predecessors of the Heartless Sword lineage.

This generation had reached the seventh with Li Qian.

After Zhou Buping burnt the incense and paid his respects, he took a deep breath and finally said to Li Qian: "Alright, you can speak now. No matter the result, your master can handle it."

Li Qian was taken aback, it seemed his master wasn't as composed as he appeared.

"Master..."

He lowered his head, his voice was somber, "I...."

"It's alright, if it were so easy... your ancestral grandmaster with his insight and talent should have also comprehended it long ago."

Zhou Bupa sighed, instead offering comfort.

Even with Li Qian's high level of comprehension, could it be that their ancestral grandmaster's conjecture was mistaken, and the ancient painting did not contain the mysteries of the Leakless Vajra Skill?

"Master, actually, I have already comprehended the Leakless Vajra Skill from the painting."

Li Qian said.

Zhou Buping was stunned; staring fixedly at Li Qian, "What did you just say? Say it again."

"Master, I have comprehended the Leakless Vajra Skill from the painting."

Li Qian repeated.

"Comprehended?"

Zhou Buping stood frozen, feeling as if in a dream.

"You rascal, dare to jest with your master. Tell me, how did you comprehend it?"

He finally came to his senses, his eyes shining.

"Disciple communicated with the painting through the Heartless Sword Intent, and a strange Illusion of a person practicing appeared... It started with just the secrets of the Heartless Sword Technique, but then... it changed, evolving into a set of entirely new movements, called the Pure Sword Body, reversing Inner Qi to nourish the Physical Body."

Li Qian explained.

"Pure Sword Body, reversing Inner Qi to nourish the Physical Body... indeed it is the Leakless Vajra Skill, to think it actually exists..."

Zhou Buping murmured to himself after listening.

"Master, I will now demonstrate the key aspects of the Pure Sword Body cultivation technique."

Li Qian said.

"No need."

Zhou Buping waved his hand, "It's of no use for your master to learn, however, you can compile it into a book, so it can serve as the inherited Cultivation Technique of our lineage in the future."

"Alright, master."

Li Qian nodded his head.

This cultivation of the Pure Sword Body, it needs to be practiced before reaching the Innate, after the perfection of the post-natal Inner Qi... Master is an Innate-level Martial Artist, indeed, there's no way for him to practice it.

"In the past, our lineage's grandmaster had two wishes. One was to comprehend the Leakless Vajra Skill from the painting to perfect the Heartless Sword Technique, and the second was to use the Heartless Sword Technique as the fundamental cultivation method to establish a new main peak within the Divine Sword Sect, and by doing so, carry forward our lineage."

Zhou Bupa spoke softly, "Disciple, this second wish of mine can only be realized by you."

"Master, is it possible to establish a new main peak?"

Li Qian was quite surprised, "Aren't the seven grand peaks of our Divine Sword Sect set in stone?"

"Who said they are fixed... It's just that establishing a new main peak is extremely difficult. The one who initiates it must reach a certain level in their cultivation realm to be eligible."

Zhou Buping shook his head as he spoke.

"Master, what level of cultivation?"

Li Qian asked curiously.

"Haha, don't worry about it for now. You should focus on perfecting your Perfect Body first. Once you achieve the Perfect Innate state, establishing a new main peak will be as easy as flipping your hand."

Zhou Buping was in a very jovial mood.

He then took a wine jar out from a cabinet nearby.

"Come, have a few drinks with your master to celebrate properly."

He removed the seal and poured the wine into two big bowls.

The rich aroma of the liquor diffused into the air.

Li Qian immediately swallowed his saliva.

He had tasted Zhou Buping's treasured wine once before, and the memory of its flavor lingered.

He did not expect it, but his master was being quite generous this time.

...

Li Qian returned to Chen Bell Platform in a drunken state.

The wine was delicious.

But, it easily led one to drunkenness.

Even with Li Qian's cultivation, he could not withstand it.

He collapsed onto his bed and fell into a deep sleep.

When he woke up the next day, Li Qian realized that dawn had already broken.

He smacked his forehead; he had missed the 5 a.m. to 7 a.m bell ringing.

Drinking really causes trouble.

But it does not matter. As an Official Disciple, the Chores Hall no longer governs him.

After washing and eating some Exotic Beast Meat Jerky, Li Qian got busy, checking and adjusting all the hourglasses.

When it was time, he struck the bell immediately.

It rang twice.

The bell sound was clear and resonant, carrying far into the distance.

Amidst the lingering bell tones, Li Qian assumed the stance to start practicing the Pure Sword Body.

Circulating Inner Qi in reverse can exert certain pressure on the meridians.

Thus, a sensation of soreness and swelling in the meridians is experienced during practice.

This side effect was trivial.

After one cycle, the progress of the Pure Sword Body advanced slightly.

From this, one can tell the difficulty of cultivating the Pure Sword Body is likely much greater than the Heartless Sword Technique.

When he first practiced the Heartless Sword Technique, a full Grand Circulation also resulted in a slight improvement, but back then, the Chen Bell was just a treasured artifact.

Next, Li Qian only managed to practice the Pure Sword Body three times before he could not go on.

His meridians couldn't hold up.

Circulating Inner Qi in reverse was not that simple.

Fortunately, the bell sound had the effect of cleansing the body, ensuring that even if the meridians were slightly damaged, they could gradually recover under its influence, without leaving any hidden problems.

In the afternoon, after Li Qian had struck the bell, he practiced the Heartless Sword Technique once more to gain insight into Sword Intent.

Surprisingly, Zhou Buping once again visited the Chen Bell Platform.

"This Yuan Pulse Elixir helps to nurture meridians... Your practice of the Pure Sword Body requires reversing Inner Qi, which will certainly harm the meridians. Taking this elixir can provide some relief... However, it is an elixir after all; it can't completely eliminate the side effects. When you practice the Pure Sword Body, just go with what you can handle and don't rush for speed. As long as you perfect the Pure Sword Body, you'll undergo a metamorphosis, breaking the usual age constraints. It won't matter if you're a few years late in advancing to Innate."

Zhou Buping handed over two bottles of elixirs to Li Qian.

"Master, I understand."

Li Qian nodded.

He wasn't concerned about the problem of age.

As long as the Chen Bell was intact, he could live forever and maintain the pinnacle of vitality.

...