Ringing the Bell for a Hundred Years, I Became the Sect’s Ancestor – Chapter 123

Chapter 123: Azure Dragon

Moonlight cascaded like water,

turning the placid lake surface into a hazy mirror.

An atmosphere of utter tranquility prevailed.

Splash, splash

The sound of water broke the silence, as a swift boat cut through the surface, moving at high speed.

Two robust figures, stripped to the waist, manned the oars, propelling the boat across the water with impressive speed.

“Brother, if we can catch that Azure Dragon this time, we’ll be rich.”

The fourteen or fifteen-year-old boy at the stern spoke in a hushed voice, brimming with excitement and anticipation.

“Don’t get your hopes up, whether we can catch it or not is still uncertain.”

The sturdy youth, around eighteen or nineteen years old, standing at the bow, responded.

Suddenly, the fishing boat gradually slowed to a stop.

“It should be around that area ahead. Based on the Azure Dragon’s habits, during this season, they usually have a territory and won’t stray too far.”

The youth at the bow pointed ahead as he spoke.

Then, both of them stopped rowing, allowing the boat to drift forward with its inertia.

After a short while, the boat came to a complete halt.

The two fell silent, meticulously preparing their fishing gear.

An unknown amount of time passed.

Suddenly, the sturdy youth yanked the fishing rod, feeling an immense force that nearly pulled him overboard.

He steadied himself against the gunwale, his feet seemingly rooted to the boat, his lower body unwavering as his muscles bulged with astonishing strength.

“Brother, did it take the bait?”

The boy, witnessing this scene, couldn’t help but exclaim in delight.

“I don’t know, but… it’s quite heavy. Judging by its ferocity, it should be that Azure Dragon.”

The sturdy youth expertly controlled the fishing rod, skillfully reeling in the line with a rhythmic motion, his heart overflowing with joy.

After a series of struggles, the creature beneath the water seemed to have exhausted its strength. The sturdy youth started to reel in the line. As a dark shadow was dragged out of the water, it violently thrashed and slapped the surface. Under the moonlight, its scales shimmered with a cold, blue light.

“It really is an Azure Dragon!”

The boy cried out in astonishment.

This snake-like fish was over a meter long, with a fierce appearance and beautiful, smooth, cold-blue scales.

“We’re rich, we’re rich!”

The sturdy youth could no longer contain his excitement.

This kind of Azure Dragon Fish was considered a delicacy in Pingze Lake. It was said to have exquisite meat, even considered a tonic for martial artists.

Catching such an Azure Dragon Fish would earn him enough money to allow his younger brother to participate in the Divine Sword Sect’s inner sect assessment.

But just as the two brothers were overjoyed, about to pull the Azure Dragon Fish onto the boat, suddenly the water beneath them stirred once more. A colossal black shadow sliced through the surface, charging towards the boat with tremendous force.

A deafening crash followed.

The entire boat was abruptly broken in half from the impact, sending splinters of wood flying.

Immediately after, a massive fish, over three zhang long and covered in dark green scales, leaped out of the water. Its sleek form resembled an enlarged version of the Azure Dragon Fish.

The two brothers, still afloat, were terrified by this monstrous sight, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.

They had never seen such a massive Azure Dragon Fish.

Had it become a demon?

Splash.

The two brothers, along with the shattered remains of their fishing boat, plunged into the water with no chance of escape.

Even so, the sturdy youth refused to let go of the fishing rod. Relying on his exceptional swimming skills, he clung tightly to the line connected to the Azure Dragon Fish.

Suddenly,

a colossal black shadow shot up from the depths, seizing the sturdy youth in its jaws.

A bloodcurdling scream pierced the air as the sturdy youth was bitten in half, his blood staining the water crimson.

“Brother!”

The boy vaguely witnessed this horrifying scene and cried out in anger and grief. Clutching a fishing spear, he desperately treaded water, swimming towards his brother’s remains.

“Run!”

The sturdy youth, his upper body still alive, looked towards his brother, uttering a faint whisper before succumbing to his injuries.

The colossal black shadow in the water released the youth’s remains, swiftly turning its attention to the boy.

On the deserted island,

despite his confusion, Li Qian didn’t dwell on the matter too much.

With the Time Bell, he was confident that his Heartless Sword Intent could break through to the Celestial Image Level.

Moreover, this breakthrough to the Celestial Being Realm had unexpectedly boosted his Heartless Sword Intent’s progress to 99, saving him over ten months of cultivation time. This was already a delightful surprise.

He glanced at the sky; it wasn’t too late.

This breakthrough had gone quite smoothly.

So, he soared into the air.

This time, flying consumed much less energy than his previous method.

Whoosh!

He flew towards the Divine Sword Sect.

Suddenly, he heard a cry of alarm coming from the water to his right. He flew over and saw a sinking, broken boat, a corpse bitten in half, a colossal monster over three zhang long, and a boy desperately swimming with a fishing spear in hand.

“Is that a mutated fish?”

Li Qian was astonished.

He had never seen a fish this large before.

Although such a size wasn’t unusual in the ocean,

this was Pingze Lake.

Moreover, this fish appeared to be the locally renowned Azure Dragon Fish.

He had even asked the Odd-Job Hall to procure an Azure Dragon Fish for him once.

Its taste was indeed excellent.

It even provided decent benefits for low-level martial artists’ cultivation.

However, an Azure Dragon Fish of this size could only exist after undergoing a mutation.

Just as the colossal Azure Dragon Fish was about to attack the boy, Li Qian extended his hand. A powerful surge of True Qi swept out, causing the water to churn violently. A massive wave engulfed the giant Azure Dragon Fish, lifting it into the air.

This terrifying scene left the boy wide-eyed in shock.

He had thought he was about to be devoured by the monstrous fish.

◈◈◈

Suddenly, he looked towards the sky, where a figure hovered.

“Im, Immortal.”

The boy’s voice trembled.

Looking at the boy, Li Qian realized that although he was a good swimmer, with the boat sinking, there was no way he could swim back to shore.

Li Qian couldn’t bear to see him perish in the lake.

With a wave of his hand, he tore off a large section of wooden planks from the sinking half of the wrecked boat, sending them floating towards the boy.

The boy quickly grabbed onto the planks, climbed aboard, and paddled towards his brother’s floating corpse.

Li Qian quietly observed the scene.

Only half of the boy’s brother’s body remained.

The other half had sunk to the bottom.

As the boy reached his brother’s remains, he felt a tug. The corpse’s hand was still tightly gripping the thin fishing line attached to the fishing rod, and the end of the line was still hooked to the Azure Dragon Fish.

The Azure Dragon Fish was exhausted. Although it struggled, it couldn’t break free.

Seeing the boy holding onto the corpse, Li Qian waved his hand, sending a surge of True Qi to propel the makeshift raft towards the shore.

Half an hour later, the boy crawled onto the bank, dragging his brother’s remains and the still-thrashing Azure Dragon Fish ashore.

“Thank you, Immortal, for saving my life.”

The boy prostrated himself on the ground.

If it weren’t for the Immortal’s intervention, he would have undoubtedly become fish food.

“Young man, have you practiced Sword-Piercing Fist?”

Li Qian inquired.

He could see traces of Sword-Piercing Fist in the boy’s every movement.

Moreover, the boy’s mastery of the technique was impressive, likely reaching Major Completion. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have integrated the movements of Sword-Piercing Fist into his daily life.

“Immortal, I have practiced it. My father taught me. He was an Odd-Job Disciple at the Divine Sword Sect for three years.”

The boy quickly replied.

“Then why haven’t you participated in the Divine Sword Sect’s entrance assessment?”

Li Qian asked.

This boy’s Sword-Piercing Fist was quite good, and after sensing his Root Bone, Li Qian determined it wasn’t bad either. If he participated in the inner sect assessment, becoming an Inner Sect Disciple wouldn’t be a problem.

“Immortal, I don’t have the money to participate in the Divine Sword Sect’s entrance assessment.”

The boy scratched his head and said.

“No money? How is that possible? The Divine Sword Sect’s entrance assessment is free to participate in.”

Li Qian was taken aback.

“Immortal, in our area, to participate in the Divine Sword Sect’s entrance assessment, you have to pay fifty taels of silver to the sect’s recruiters to qualify.”

The boy explained with a puzzled expression.

To participate in the Divine Sword Sect’s entrance assessment, his brother had exhausted their savings and even borrowed money to gather fifty taels of silver.

In the end, he didn’t even qualify as an Odd-Job Disciple.

Fifty taels of silver went down the drain.

Li Qian frowned. He hadn’t expected the Divine Sword Sect’s recruiters to exploit the entrance assessment as an opportunity to make money.

Poor people had no chance of participating in the Divine Sword Sect’s entrance assessment.

Even for those with money, if they failed, it would be like throwing fifty taels of silver away.

How many ordinary families could afford such a risk?

“Don’t worry, you’ll have the opportunity to participate in the Divine Sword Sect’s entrance assessment.”

Li Qian said, “Show me your Sword-Piercing Fist.”

To achieve such proficiency in Sword-Piercing Fist without guidance was commendable.

He couldn’t bear to see a potential martial arts talent be wasted.

“Yes, Immortal.”

The boy immediately agreed.

He assumed a stance and began to demonstrate Sword-Piercing Fist.

After the boy finished the set of movements, Li Qian confirmed that he had indeed mastered Sword-Piercing Fist to Major Completion.

However, there were some flaws, clearly stemming from his father’s own misunderstanding of the technique when he taught it.

Even so, to reach Major Completion under such circumstances demonstrated exceptional comprehension.

Li Qian offered some guidance, correcting the flaws in the boy’s technique.

“No wonder I always felt something was off. So that’s how it is.”

The boy was overjoyed.

He practiced the technique again, feeling much more at ease.

“Alright, go back and bury your brother. Remember to practice Sword-Piercing Fist diligently, and when the Divine Sword Sect’s entrance assessment begins, go and participate.”

Li Qian instructed.

“Immortal, I will.”

The boy nodded, his face filled with determination.

If his brother hadn’t risked his life fishing for the Azure Dragon at night to raise money for his entrance assessment, he wouldn’t have met such a tragic end at the jaws of the monster.

Whether it was to fulfill his promise to the Immortal or to honor his brother’s wish, he was determined to participate in the Divine Sword Sect’s entrance assessment.

Li Qian nodded and soared into the air.

“Immortal, your Azure Dragon Fish.”

The boy called out.

“Keep it.”

Li Qian’s voice echoed from above as he vanished with the massive Azure Dragon monster in tow.

The boy looked at his brother’s remains, then at the still-struggling Azure Dragon Fish, his heart filled with grief.

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