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

Li Qian looked at the kneeling housekeeper Xu and glanced at the distant Hall Master Xu.

This Hall Master Xu was a tactful person and did not come over.

"Speak, what is it?"

Li Qian said.

"Young master... the master says, if you have time, you can come back and visit."

Housekeeper Xu hurriedly said.

"I see, what else?"

Li Qian remained composed and spoke calmly.

"Young master, this is something the master asked me to bring to you."

Housekeeper Xu hurriedly took out a small wooden box from his bundle, sealed with a lacquered seal.

"I'll keep the item; you can go back."

Li Qian took the small wooden box.

"Yes, young master."

Housekeeper Xu hurriedly said.

Being able to see the young master this time was already an exceptional surprise for him.

It meant that the young master did not truly want to sever all ties with the family.

After Housekeeper Xu left, Li Qian returned to the room and stored away the wooden box without even opening it.

The contents of the wooden box were merely cash notes.

He didn't need them at present.

The reason he met with Housekeeper Xu was that he had come to understand something.

Since he had used the identity of his predecessor, it was inevitable that he faced all the karma that came with it.

As for the family of his predecessor, let it be.

...

Several days later.

Just after Li Qian finished his cultivation, Chen Yong rushed excitedly to the Bell Platform.

"Brother Qian, I have opened my Governing Vessel and cultivated Inner Qi."

He said excitedly.

"Hmm, not bad."

Li Qian was not surprised.

He had seen that Chen Yong was at a critical point in his cultivation, which was why he gave him the Qi Blood Pill.

After all, Chen Yong's Sword Stabbing Fist was already at Great Success.

But to progress further and reach Perfection... was too difficult, nearly impossible.

Many servant disciples could eventually cultivate Sword Stabbing Fist to Great Success.

But to reach Perfection... almost none.

Master Zhou Buping had guarded Yanmen Valley for decades before finally encountering Li Qian.

Though it is very difficult to achieve Great Success in Sword Stabbing Fist, as long as one has enough effort, perseverance, and decent comprehension, there is still hope.

But Perfection... that is not something that can be achieved merely by diligence.

It requires extremely high comprehension.

Then, Li Qian gave Chen Yong guidance on his cultivation after achieving recognition.

Since there were no Internal Cultivation Methods available, Chen Yong could only continue practicing Sword Stabbing Fist, and his subsequent advancement in Inner Qi would be very slow.

Li Qian, without Master Zhou Buping's permission, could not possibly teach Chen Yong Inner Strength secretly.

Moreover, it is strictly forbidden in the Divine Sword Sect to privately pass on Internal Cultivation Methods.

Especially to non-official disciples.

For Chen Yong to obtain Internal Cultivation Methods, there is only one way, which is to become an Inner Sect Disciple.

...

Several days later, the Chores Hall hosted the Combat Power Ranking.

Chen Yong, like a dark horse, emerged out of nowhere and performed exceptionally well on the combat power list.

In the previous ranking, he was merely at the bottom.

But this time... he displayed astonishing strength, defeating one formidable opponent after another, ultimately reaching the top position on the Combat Power Ranking, shocking all the over ten thousand servant disciples of the Chores Hall.

"This Chen Yong, really lucky."

The Hall Master Xu of the Chores Hall sighed after seeing the dark horse's performance.

He had seen this servant disciple at the Chen Bell Platform some time ago, having a close relationship with Senior Brother Li from the inner disciples.

Having the backing of such a significant figure, it's very likely that Chen Yong would secure the first place in the combat power list for the next two years.

After all, with the support of a not-so-ordinary background inner disciple behind him, just this point alone is enough to outclass all other servant disciples.

"Old Xu, what's the background of this Chen Yong? He seemed pretty average before, right?"

Another Vice Hall Master curiously asked.

"It's related to the one above."

Hall Master Xu looked in the direction of the Chen Bell Platform and whispered with a chuckle.

The Vice Hall Master felt a chill in his heart and naturally knew who Old Xu was referring to.

...

As soon as the Combat Power Ranking ended, Chen Yong hurriedly went up the mountain.

"First place?"

Li Qian saw that Chen Yong was so excited that he was stuttering and couldn't speak.

"Uh... Qian brother, how did you know?"

Chen Yong asked.

"You were pointed out by my master and me.... If you can't even take the top spot in the combat power ranking, then you'd be too useless."

Li Qian said with a light chuckle.

He was quite clear about the situation in the Chores Hall.

Few had a background, most were just poor chaps, or those with some money and connections that couldn't quite reach a big sect like Divine Sword Sect.

Those with really big backgrounds wouldn't come to be servant disciples.

Chen Yong scratched his head.

He wasn't stupid.

To receive guidance from Li Qian and the old master was extremely fortunate for him.

Moreover, he had freeloaded countless medicinal porridge meals here.

"Work hard on your cultivation, and strive to maintain the top rank in the combat power ranking for three consecutive years."

Li Qian said.

Chen Yong nodded, feeling motivated inside.

...

Time passes quickly when cultivating in the mountains.

The scorching summer.

The bell tower was extremely stuffy.

Mainly because the bell tower faced the west.

With Li Qian's current cultivation realm, plus the benefits of the Pure Sword Body, he was essentially impervious to the heat and cold.

5 a.m. to 7 a.m.

It was still dark.

Due to the lack of wind, the air was still filled with a sense of heat.

Dong~

With a clear bell sound, the tranquility of the Divine Sword Sect was broken.

Li Qian released the striking rod, positioned himself, and began practicing the Pure Sword Body.

With the Inner Qi reversing and melting into rolling Qi Blood, merging into his body, it strengthened his physical body over and over.

After a round of practicing the Pure Sword Body, Li Qian took a long breath out, feeling extremely comfortable with the refining practice.

He could feel every cell in his body rejoicing.

Then, Li Qian started practicing the Heartless Sword Skill, using it to comprehend the Sword Intent.

While practicing...

Suddenly, Li Qian felt a spirit consciousness epiphany where he had an out-of-body sensation, clearly sensing the space in all directions around his body, even including himself.

In just an instant, a strong sense of weightlessness suddenly came, followed by the disappearance of the out-of-body sensation.

But when he closed his eyes, he sensed next to the Chen Bell Shadow in his mind, an odd sword shadow appeared.

This sword shadow circled around the Chen Bell Shadow.

When his thoughts connected to this sword shadow, with a bang, his consciousness seemed to break through a barrier, breaking free from constraints, and spread out, sensing the surroundings.

"Is this a formed Sword Intent?"

Li Qian murmured to himself.

As he knew, once Sword Intent is formed, it undergoes a qualitative change, possessing the ability to cause spiritual level harm.

Illusion Realm Martial Intent...only has a disturbing deterrent effect.

Suddenly, he moved his thoughts, the Chen Bell Sound rang, and the sword shadow slightly trembled, bursting into an astonishing radiance.

In an instant, an impressive Sword Intent released from Li Qian's forehead.

This impressive Sword Intent even drew in the Heaven and Earth Essence Qi.

A tangible Sword Qi condensed in front of him, gathering without dispersing, just floating in front of his eyes.

"Surprising that the Illusion Realm level Sword Intent already possesses an actual attack effect."

Li Qian clicked his tongue in wonder.

Although the power of this Sword Qi was not particularly strong, far less than an attack using Inner Qi, the real power of the Sword Intent was in its inherent spiritual level attacks.

"If Sword Intent is integrated into swordsmanship, it will create a dual strike effect."

Li Qian thought to himself.

He immediately summoned the system-level interface to check the latest information.

Host: Li Qian.

Cultivation: Innate (Ninth Layer 99/100).

Sacrificial Artifact: Chen Bell (Power 1403/10000).

Martial arts: Sword Stabbing Fist (Perfect), Heartless Sword Technique (Perfect), Pure Sword Body (Great Success 42/100).

Martial Intent: Heartless Sword Intent (Illusion 1/100).

Secret Skills: Ten Thousand Transformation Sword Qi, Blood Burning Technique.

...

Indeed, the Heartless Sword Intent had entered the level of Illusion.

As seen, the comprehension of Sword Intent doesn't relate much to cultivation.

If anyone knew that Li Qian was not yet Innate and had already elevated his Sword Intent to the level of Illusion, they would be immensely shocked.

And all of this was because of the Sacrificial Artifact Chen Bell.

...