Ringing the Bell for a Hundred Years, I Became the Sect’s Ancestor – Chapter 144

Chapter 144: Demonic Calamity

Celestial Being Xiao’s passing marked the end of an era for Divine Sword Sect.

Returning to Time Bell Pavilion, Li Qian felt a wave of emotions wash over him.

He truly understood the relentless nature of time.

One day, everyone he knew, everyone around him, would grow old.

Who in this world could truly escape the passage of time and achieve immortality?

He had considered visiting Celestial Being Xiao one last time as the Black Cloak, but what would be the point? It wouldn’t change anything.

It was better to let Celestial Being Xiao pass away peacefully.

A few days later.

Divine Sword Sect held a grand memorial service for Celestial Being Xiao.

Many martial arts factions from Taiwu Circuit sent representatives to pay their respects. Even the Taiwu Circuit Lord’s Residence sent a Celestial Being.

More than two years passed.

Li Qian’s cultivation had reached the 99th percentile of the late True Essence Realm.

The next step was the Martial Saint Realm.

Unfortunately, his Heartless Sword Intent was still at the Celestial Image Level.

His cultivation progress was stuck.

To reach the Martial Saint Realm, his Sword Intent needed to break through from the Celestial Image Level to the Myriad Images Level.

At his current rate, it would take at least eight more years.

However, he was not in a hurry.

As long as he continued his Bell Ringing Cultivation diligently, a breakthrough was only a matter of time.

Furthermore, in these two years, Divine Sword Sect had produced another Celestial Being, Cangyun Sword Envoy, one of the Five Sword Envoys.

It was said that this Sword Envoy’s breakthrough was also related to his cultivation during the Mao Hour every morning.

He eventually became a Celestial Being.

Thus, Divine Sword Sect had three Celestial Being level Supreme Elders.

The fact that Divine Sword Sect had produced Celestial Beings one after another in just a few years naturally attracted the attention of major factions within Taiwu Circuit.

In addition to Celestial Beings, the number of Innate Realm martial artists, Grandmasters, and Great Grandmasters in Divine Sword Sect had also increased explosively in recent years.

Not to mention the ordinary Inner Sect Disciples, whose overall cultivation level had risen by a notch. It was said that even Odd-Job Disciples who hadn’t entered the ranks were embarrassed to stay in the sect.

Divine Sword Sect, which had suffered heavy losses in the protracted war, had not only fully recovered its strength in just over a decade but had also made great progress.

Taiwu Circuit Lord’s Residence.

Inside a palace.

Circuit Lord Yu Song, dressed in a blue robe and wearing a jade crown, sat cross-legged.

“Have you found out?”

His voice was calm, but it contained an invisible majesty.

“Father, we haven’t found out the origins of the Heavenly Poison Cult yet. However, from all indications, they are planning to perform a Demonic Ritual.”

An elder with a black beard stood below, speaking respectfully.

“We must find the location of their Demonic Ritual in advance. We absolutely cannot let them succeed, otherwise the consequences will be unimaginable.”

Circuit Lord Yu Song said in a deep voice.

He knew the horrors of a Demonic Ritual. Once successful, it would mean endless trouble, corrupting the area and becoming impossible to clean up.

“Father, is the Yangwu Circuit really experiencing a Demonic Calamity?”

The black-bearded elder couldn’t help but ask.

“It’s eight or nine out of ten. It’s just that the news is being blocked. The lower-level factions don’t know about it yet, otherwise it will cause unnecessary panic.”

Circuit Lord Yu Song sighed.

A Demonic Calamity was not on the same level as Demonic Traces. It often involved terrifying existences at the Demon Saint level, descending their demonic bodies through Demonic Rituals.

After devouring a large number of human lives, these demonic bodies would fully form and become almost impossible to destroy, becoming the source of the Demonic Calamity.

“Father, there’s one more thing. Divine Sword Sect has produced two Celestial Beings in recent years. According to the information I’ve received, it seems that their mountain gate has undergone some kind of special change, which allows their people to achieve unexpected results when cultivating during a certain time period.”

The black-bearded elder added.

“Hmm, it should be a minor effect caused by the Mortal Realm’s ascension. There’s no need to pay attention to this matter.”

Circuit Lord Yu Song shook his head and said.

Celestial Beings might be considered top-level experts in the Mortal Realm, but outside, they were nothing.

Unless they reached the Celestial Image Level, they wouldn’t have any real status.

“Yes, Father.”

The black-bearded elder nodded.

Outside White Jade City.

More than a dozen knights dressed as martial artists galloped towards the city.

Pedestrians and merchant caravans they encountered along the way quickly moved aside.

Their attire clearly indicated that they were from Divine Sword Sect, a major martial arts faction.

“Junior Sister, I heard that your uncle has been staying at Time Bell Pavilion and never comes down the mountain. Is that true?”

The group of knights gradually slowed down and stopped at the city gate.

A handsome young man with a sword on his back, wearing a black shirt, suddenly asked.

“Why do you ask?”

The woman who spoke was dressed in a goose-yellow dress, with bright white teeth and a seemingly gentle face that seemed to have a hint of coldness.

“Just curious. This time it’s your grandfather’s 70th birthday. I wonder if we’ll get to see this Martial Uncle?”

The handsome young man laughed.

“Don’t pry into things you shouldn’t.”

The woman, Li Yuwei, snorted coldly.

She rarely went to Time Bell Pavilion.

Mainly because her uncle gave her a very cold feeling, making it difficult for her to get close to him.

Like this time, she had gone to Time Bell Pavilion as usual.

Her uncle only told her to bring some things back.

◈◈◈

The handsome young man smiled awkwardly, causing the other disciples to laugh.

They were all fellow disciples from Purple Lightning Peak who had a good relationship with Li Yuwei. They had come along to celebrate her grandfather’s birthday and to support her.

“Why is only one city gate open?”

Li Yuwei looked at the closed city gate on one side and the open gate on the other. Because there were so many people entering and leaving, the entry was slow.

Although White Jade City was not a county city, its geographical location made it a hub for many merchant caravans.

“Miss Li, this city gate is old and in disrepair. It’s currently under renovation. Let me clear a path for you.”

The old soldier at the city gate recognized Miss Li at a glance.

The Li Family had developed rapidly in recent years and had become a prominent family in White Jade City.

This Miss Li had even become an Inner Sect Disciple of Divine Sword Sect.

It was said that the Li Family had another member in Divine Sword Sect, a Grandmaster whose status was comparable to that of an Elder.

Anyway, the rumors were quite exaggerated, making the Li Family well-connected in official circles, commerce, and even the martial arts world.

So, under the old soldier’s shouts, the originally crowded city gate was gradually cleared, and Li Yuwei and her group entered on horseback.

On the city wall, two people were watching Li Yuwei and her group of more than ten people ride away.

“These people from Divine Sword Sect won’t affect our plans, will they?”

One of them, an elder with a horse face, said in a deep voice.

“Branch Master, these Divine Sword Sect disciples should be here to celebrate the 70th birthday of that Li Donglin from the Li Family. They won’t have any impact.”

The other person said.

“Hmm, complete the arrangements as soon as possible. We don’t have much time left. The Taiwu Circuit Lord’s Residence has been tracking us. If they focus their attention here too quickly, it will be troublesome. I don’t want to die here.”

The horse-faced elder nodded.

“Don’t worry, Branch Master. We’ll be done soon. We’ll definitely be able to retreat in time.”

The other person said, “Branch Master, which city is it this time?”

“Hmph, is that something you can ask?”

The horse-faced elder snorted coldly, “To tell you the truth, even I don’t know. This is a top secret within the cult, and it will only be revealed at the last moment.”

Their arrangements in White Jade City were just one of many decoys to divert the Taiwu Circuit Lord’s Residence’s investigation.

“Yes, yes, yes.”

The other person didn’t dare to ask any more questions.

“Hehe, just wait. As long as we succeed, our good days will come.”

The horse-faced elder revealed a sickly smile.

Above Divine Sword Sect.

A black shadow circled in the air.

It was Little Black.

Li Qian stood on the eagle’s back, examining the mountains and rivers of Divine Sword Sect.

He had a plan recently to set up the Divine Roaming Armor Mother-Child Formation he had brought back from Mangniu County City within Divine Sword Sect.

He was currently surveying the terrain of Divine Sword Sect to design the best layout for the formation.

The same formation would have very different effects when set up in different places. This was a great test of a Formation Master’s skill.

If it weren’t for the fact that his formation skills had improved rapidly after the Time Bell had upgraded in recent years, reaching 70% of Minor Completion,

he wouldn’t have dared to set up such a large-scale Sixth Foundation Formation.

And it was a double formation, with both a mother and child component.

Of course, having the ready-made formation disk and stakes was also a major reason.

Without these two, he would have been even less confident.

The difficulty of making the formation disk and stakes was not ordinary.

It took Li Qian most of the day to map out the Divine Sword Sect area.

“Little Black, you can go down now.”

Li Qian patted Little Black’s back.

Little Black let out a cry and swooped down. After circling once, it landed steadily on the Divine Sword Hall Plaza.

Compared to a few years ago, Little Black had grown even larger.

Carrying Li Qian in flight was a piece of cake.

Even circling in the air for half a day didn’t put much strain on Little Black.

Below, Sect Master Feng Shaoyu and Celestial Being Qingsong Elder had been waiting.

The reason Qingsong Elder was present was mainly because he was worried that Li Qian might fall from the eagle’s back.

He could take action at any time.

Sect Master Feng Shaoyu asked, “Li Qian, how did it go?”

Li Qian said, “Sect Master, I’ve basically finished surveying. Whether I can set it up or not, I’ll have to design it carefully.”

In fact, he wasn’t completely confident. There were probably very few people in the entire Great Chang Empire who could set up such a high-level formation.

“Hmm, if you need to start work, come to me directly. I can give you the greatest support in terms of manpower and resources.”

Sect Master Feng Shaoyu said.

If a grand formation could really be set up within Divine Sword Sect, it would be very beneficial to the sect.

A grand formation that enveloped the mountain gate could greatly improve security.

How many martial arts factions in the Great Chang Empire had a grand formation for protection?

Probably very few.

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