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

There was a little girl chattering with many questions, which made the escort mission much less dull.
Thus, they traveled for more than ten days and finally reached the destination.
Quite smoothly.
Though they encountered several small bands of marauders, Li Qian dismissed them easily.
Xuanzhou Yecheng.
Although it was nearly a thousand miles away from Divine Sword Sect, it still fell within the influence of Divine Sword Sect.
This place was famous for its metallurgy, with several large iron mines distributed around which were well-known in Chang Country. The local powers controlling these mines naturally had intricate connections with Divine Sword Sect.
Lin Family, once a well-known metallurgical family in Yecheng, specialized in forging weapons for Divine Sword Sect.
However, times changed, and the Lin Family had declined, barely maintaining a smelting workshop.
"Yun'er, it's chaotic outside now, why did you come back instead of staying in Lijian City?"
In the backyard of Lin Mansion, Lin Yun was talking to her father.
"Father, your daughter missed you... Besides, it's mother's death anniversary again."
Lin Yun said.
She typically returned once every two years.
In previous years, her husband accompanied her.
This time, her husband Yun Xi was tied up with missions and could not make it, so he posted an escort mission in the Inner Sect to escort her and her daughter back for a family visit.
"Yun'er, try to stay in Lijian City after we return. The rebellion of Moon Worship Sect in Southeast Eight States won't end soon... Also, I've decided to relocate the Lin Family to Fuyang."
Lin Wansheng said.
Lin Yun was pleasantly surprised, "Father, have you finally decided?"
"Alas, I can't defy aging, and your brother is not capable enough to keep the workshop running."
Lin Wansheng sighed.
Now with the rampant activities of Moon Worship Sect, Yecheng is quite unstable, and he worried about Lin Family being easily affected.
The only option was to sell the properties and relocate the family to Fuyang, perhaps with the support of his son-in-law, Lin Family could recover.
Moreover, Fuyang is closer to Divine Sword Sect.
It's the core territory of Divine Sword Sect, much more stable than other places.
...
Li Qian was staying temporarily at Lin Family, well looked after.
According to Lin Yun, they would stay for about two or three days before returning to Lijian City.
Three days passed just like that.
Lin Yun suddenly sought him.
"Mr. Li, on our return to Lijian City, there will be one more carriage and a few more people…"
"Madam Lin, my mission is to ensure safety for you and your daughter, but I can't guarantee safety for the others."
Li Qian stated.
Lin Yun understood Li Qian's stance and did not say much more.
She had known about Li Qian, the Inner Sect Disciple, through her husband, Yun Xi.
He had participated in the selection for True Inheritor.
His strength was certainly not weak.
Yet, she was puzzled why such a powerful candidate for True Inheritor would choose an escort mission?
The next day when they set off, indeed, there was an additional carriage that had one adult and two young members of the Lin Family on it.
Moreover, Lin Family had dispatched two house servants for the escort.
These two house servants were not even entry-level martial artists; they could only handle ordinary bandits, and if they encountered real martial artists, they were practically offering themselves up.
Li Qian did not care.
If real danger arose.
He would just need to protect Lin Yun and her daughter.
.....
Immortal Forest Town.
Because it was late, Li Qian and his group decided to stay overnight at an inn here.
They had spent a night here on their previous trip to Yecheng.
But this time was a bit different.
Torches were planted on both sides of the streets.
Many residents walking on the streets were also holding torches.
The whole Immortal Forest Town was as bright as daylight.
"Mom, why are there torches everywhere?"
The little girl asked curiously inside the carriage.
"It's probably the unique Torch Festival of Immortal Forest Town. Before it gets dark, they light torches to drive away the darkness... It continues until daylight the next day."
Lin Yun explained with a smile.
Suddenly, the route ahead was blocked.
A house servant went up to inquire, only to find out that there was a procession of Sacrificial Fire Mages coming through soon, and they had to wait for the mages to pass before they could proceed.
With no choice, the group had to stop and wait.
About fifteen minutes later, the front suddenly became lively.
A large number of people holding torches swarmed in, and at the center of the procession was a massive throne studded with many torches, upon which a red-haired old man wearing a big red mage robe sat.
The massive throne was carried by dozens of bare-chested, strong men.
In the front and rear of the procession, there were also some people wearing demon face masks, dancing strange steps, and occasionally spitting fire from their mouths.
The atmosphere of the entire scene was eerie and mysterious.
Many residents holding torches seemed to fall into hysterical madness, chanting a strange slogan in unison.
As the procession of Sacrificial Fire Mages passed by, Li Qian couldn't help but look at the red-haired old man, vaguely sensing a strong invisible aura emitting from him.
"Absolutely a martial artist, and... at a not low level."
Li Qian muttered to himself.
Not only that, those wearing ghost face masks...they all seem to have cultivation.
This is a bit outrageous.
So many martial artists appeared in a town.
It was just the Torch Festival.
Thinking of this, Li Qian scanned his surroundings.
Due to torches everywhere, the lighting was good, and he was on horseback, overlooking everything from a high position.
Suddenly, he spotted someone among the crowd.
This person was not holding a torch.
His body also emitted an invisible aura, as vigorous as a blazing flame in Li Qian's senses.
Since the Chen Bell had been upgraded to a Magic Artifact, Li Qian could not only use it to disguise his own aura, but also became very sensitive to the outside world.
"Another strong martial artist?"
A thought crossed Li Qian's mind.
Then he identified several more martial artists in the crowd, seemingly none with weak cultivation.
Although he didn't understand the situation, why a Torch Festival in Immortal Forest Town would gather so many martial artists...all indications implied that this was definitely not simple.
Suddenly, Li Qian sensed a gaze upon himself.
The two exchanged looks.
Li Qian was surprised.
Because he had seen this woman before, she was one of the nineteen participating in the True Inheritor selection.
As for her name, he didn't know.
He had actually not noticed her just moments ago.
Clearly, the other party was also skilled in Concealing Breath, which is why he had overlooked her.
"Elite Inner Sect Disciples of the Divine Sword Sect, how could they appear here? Could it be that the others are also Inner Sect Disciples of the Divine Sword Sect?"
A chill ran through Li Qian's mind, fearing that Immortal Forest Town had become a place of strife.
Thinking this, he went over to the carriage, and spoke to Lin Yun inside, "Madam Lin, it is not advisable to stay in Immortal Forest Town tonight, we must leave immediately."
"Master Li, then we'll follow your arrangements."
Lin Yun didn't know what had happened, but since Li Qian suddenly said so, there must be a reason.
After the procession of the Sacrificial Fire Mage had passed and the roadblock was lifted.
Under Li Qian's direction, the two carriages did not go to the inn but continued along the road leading out of the town.
As they got further from the town, the noise gradually faded, and Li Qian's tension slowly eased.
Although traveling on a rural road at night also carried certain risks.
But staying in Immortal Forest Town would certainly be a lot safer.
...
In Immortal Forest Town.
On the second floor of a roadside building, two figures leaned on the railing, watching the distant Sacrificial Fire Mage procession.
"This Moon Worship Sect really permeates everywhere, even infiltrating the local Sacrificial Fire Temple. If we can't extinguish the source, I fear it could brew a disaster similar to that in the Southeast Eight States," said a white-clothed young man with a worried expression.
"Why think so much, just complete our task. For such big matters, let the sect's higher-ups handle it," said the man in black with a bald head standing next to him.
It was Pang Bai.
At that moment, a lady in blue hurried over.
"Junior Sister Yuan, you've observed closely, how is the cultivation of that Sacrificial Fire Mage?" Pang Bai asked.
He and Chu Yuan could not get too close to that Sacrificial Fire Mage due to the nature of their Cultivation Techniques, as they could easily startle the quarry.
Yuan Mingzhu, as a Direct Disciple of the Peak Master of Jade Screen Peak, practiced the Jade Screen Peak's Bright Jade Vanishing Technique, inherently having the effect of Concealing Breath.
"Pang Bai, guess who I saw?"
Yuan Mingzhu didn't answer Pang Bai's question but said instead.
"Who?"
Pang Bai asked.
"Li Qian, the disciple of Master Zhou. Didn't you try to recruit him last time?" Yuan Mingzhu stated.
"Li Qian? What is he doing here?"
Pang Bai was surprised.
Wasn't Li Qian on an escort mission?
"I think he is still on the escort mission, but when he saw me, he seemed to recognize me, and then he took his people and ran towards the outskirts of the town," Yuan Mingzhu said.
"Forget him, a coward... dealing with the people of the Sacrificial Fire Temple is more important."
Pang Bai dismissed with a wave of his hand.
"Pang Bai, although he is a bit cowardly, he's not weak after all. Why not pull him in? With him, surrounding and taking down the Sacrificial Fire Temple would be easier," interjected the white-clothed young man Chu Yuan.
"The three of us working together, are you worried we can't kill that old guy... Adding one more person means one less share of merit points. Besides...aren't you afraid he'll hold us back..."
Pang Bai's impression of Li Qian had deteriorated after the incident at the Task Hall.
White-clothed young man Chu Yuan shrugged his shoulders and said no more.
Yuan Mingzhu didn't speak any further either.
After all, her impression of Li Qian wasn't great either; a person who dared not accept even a purge mission didn't deserve to be their companion.
...