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

"Annihilation tasks are too perilous; safer to be prudent and wait."
Li Qian recalled his master Zhou Buping advising him not to choose annihilation tasks due to their great risks.
If there is no other choice, then skipping the inner sect task might even be preferable.
After all, he didn't rely on the cultivation resources distributed by the sect.
Relying on ringing the Chen Bell allowed him to steadily increase his strength and even achieve immortality; why take such huge risks?
Thus, he walked towards the exit of the Task Hall.
A young Inner Sect Disciple watched Li Qian's retreating figure and stroked his chin, "This junior brother seems familiar, where have I seen him before?"
But he couldn't remember at the moment.
Just then, someone approached from the side and called out to Li Qian, "Junior Brother Li?"
"Ah, it's Senior Brother Pang."
Li Qian turned around and immediately recognized the very conspicuous bald head.
During the selection for True Inheritor, this chatterbox was constantly talking.
And his shiny bald head left a particularly strong impression.
"It seems Junior Brother Li still remembers me."
The bald Pang Bai said happily.
"Senior Brother Pang Bai of Martial Peak?"
Seeing this, the young Inner Sect Disciple was shocked.
Pang Bai was a notable figure within the Inner Sect, having joined the True Inheritor selection although he failed, his Innate potential promised a future as an elder with no doubts.
Compared to him, there was a world of difference with this ordinary Inner Sect Disciple.
Such a revered Senior Brother Pang was actually chatting with that junior brother, what was going on?
Wait a minute...True Inheritor selection?
A flash of enlightenment occurred in his mind, and he suddenly remembered.
No doubt...this junior brother calling himself Elder Brother must be one of the nineteen participants in the True Inheritor selection.
But since Li Qian hardly ever mingled in the Inner Sect, nobody recognized him.
Even after the selection, the majority of the Inner Sect Disciples still didn't know the origins of Li Qian.
"A true seed of the successor, and he actually... called me Elder Brother?"
The young Inner Sect Disciple felt a rush of excitement.
It was a feeling of respect he had never experienced before.
....
"Junior Brother Li, are you planning to take on a task?"
Senior Brother Pang Bai asked.
"Yes."
Li Qian nodded.
"These annihilation tasks are too mundane; you surely wouldn't be interested. How about teaming up with us for a bigger score?"
Pang Bai laughed slyly.
"Um..."
Li Qian, who didn't even want to do an annihilation task, how could he possibly undertake a bigger one?
"Junior Brother Li, for this task, I've already called a few people; two of them also joined the True Inheritor selection. If you and I joined, that would make four...the chances of success would be very high."
Pang Bai began to persuade.
Although he didn't know the specifics of Li Qian's abilities, to qualify for the True Inheritor selection certainly meant being exceptional among the Inner Sect Disciples, so his strength must be considerable.
"I can't compare with Senior Brother Pang. How could I handle such high-risk tasks?"
Li Qian directly refused.
"That's really a pity."
Pang Bai did not insist.
They were not familiar with each other, and he was merely trying his luck.
Just then, an empty spot on the task wall suddenly flipped revealing a new task.
It was an escort mission.
The appearance of this escort task caused many waiting Inner Sect Disciples to boil over, rushing forward to snatch it.
This kind of competition for tasks had been ongoing in the Task Hall for a while.
Every time a non-annihilation task appeared, it would immediately be snatched up.
Just as many Inner Sect Disciples surged forward, suddenly a figure flashed; the card on the task wall had disappeared.
"Where's the task?"
"Damn, who snatched it?"
"Such speed, isn't that too fast?
"Dammit, that was my task."
.....
While many Inner Sect Disciples were dumbfounded, Li Qian was already holding a task token, walking towards another window.
Pang Bai, witnessing this scene, was also a bit stunned.
Junior Brother Li Qian actually competes with ordinary Inner Sect Disciples for non-extermination tasks.
"This person is really a timid one, not daring to accept even an extermination task. Such a martial artist, no matter how high his cultivation is, is inadequate..."
Pang Bai shook his head.
He had concluded that Li Qian was not someone worth associating deeply with.
Fortunately, Li Qian did not agree to join, otherwise their task squad would likely be sabotaged.
The biggest fear of forming a team is having members who do not contribute effectively.
Li Qian didn't care what others thought, after taking the Task Token, he left the Task Hall feeling delighted.
The task was relatively simple.
Three days later, he was to escort a mother and daughter back to their hometown in Lijian City.
Because the area was rampant with activity from the Moon Worship Sect, they hired an Inner Sect Disciple from the Divine Sword Sect for the escort.
The requirement was for someone with at least the Fifth Layer of the Innate stage.
With his Ninth Layer Innate cultivation, the risk should be relatively minor.
After all, the ones being escorted did not hold any special status.
However, the fact that they could afford to hire an Inner Sect Disciple with over Fifth Layer of Innate stage, offering 500 contribution points, suggested some connection with a mid-to-high level insider of the Divine Sword Sect.
....
Three days passed in a blink of an eye.
After striking the Chen Bell, Li Qian descended the mountain.
Having stayed on the mountain for a long time, it was quite nice to go out, take a walk, and clear his mind.
It allowed him to explore the cultural essence of this world.
Therefore, the annual mission, without considering the risks, was something he actually enjoyed.
Following the address, Li Qian arrived at Biyun Town to the north of Lijian City.
Delicate houses surrounded a lake, offering a picturesque scenery.
Yun Mansion.
Li Qian stood outside a residence, with a tall gateway and a large courtyard; owning such a mansion in Lijian City was no small feat.
"I heard there is an elder surnamed Yun at Purple Lightning Peak... I wonder if there is any connection with this Yun Mansion?"
Li Qian thought to himself.
Just as he reached the entrance of Yun Mansion, a servant came out to greet him, "May I ask if you are Junior Master Li Qian from Divine Sword Sect?"
"Yes."
Li Qian nodded.
"Junior Master Li, please follow me."
The servant quickly said respectfully.
Upon entering Yun Mansion, the interior was elegantly arranged with artificial mountains, flowing water, and plants... Li Qian soon met the owner of Yun Mansion, a woman in her twenties, accompanied by a seven or eight-year-old girl.
"My name is Lin Yun, and for the next few days, I will need Junior Master Li to escort my daughter and me."
The young woman bowed slightly as she spoke.
"Mrs. Lin, rest assured, as long as I have accepted the task, it is my duty."
Li Qian said.
Yun Mansion was ready.
Once Lin Yun and her daughter boarded the carriage, they set off immediately.
A coachman and a maid followed them.
Li Qian observed for a while; Mrs. Lin seemed to have practiced martial arts, appearing fragile yet with a strong aura, possibly recognized as skilled.
The coachman clearly had martial arts training too.
Only the maid seemed to be an ordinary person.
After leaving Lijian City, thanks to the wide and smooth road, they traveled quite fast.
"Big brother... what is your cultivation level?"
The curtain lifted, revealing a young curious face looking at Li Qian, who asked.
"Xiao Wen, do not casually ask others about their privacy..."
Mrs. Lin's voice came from inside the carriage.
The little girl stuck out her tongue and then asked, "Big brother, my dad is also an Inner Sect Disciple of the Divine Sword Sect, do you know my dad?"
"I actually don't know him, what's your dad's name?"
Li Qian couldn't help but ask with a smile.
This lovely little girl was not shy at all, instead a bit chatty.
"My dad's name is Yun Xi, he is very powerful..."
The little girl squinted her eyes into crescents, a plump baby face brimming with pride.
Yun Xi?
Li Qian had never heard of him.
He rarely interacted with Inner Sect Disciples.
Even during the previous True Inheritor selection with a dozen people, he couldn't even remember all their names.