Ringing the Bell for a Hundred Years, I Became the Sect’s Ancestor – Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Ringing the Bell

“It must be different. We are just odd-job disciples, and they are formal disciples. Their treatment and conditions are much better. Formal disciples themselves have higher aptitude than us. It is said that formal disciples, on average, can sense Qi within a month, and those top geniuses can do it within a few days. In this martial arts cultivation, without talent, hard work alone is useless. Maybe they work harder than you and have ample cultivation resources.”

Old Song said with a smile, “As odd-job disciples, we must be content and not be unrealistic. We should only pursue what is within our capabilities.”

“Old Song, I’ll remember that.”

Li Qian quickly replied.

Old Song, a veteran odd-job disciple, had seen and heard a lot, and his words were insightful.

Old Song smiled. This Li Qian was performing well now, but people could change, especially these young people who were ambitious and always wanted to climb up and become formal disciples, but they didn’t know the hardships involved and how many people had fallen on this path.

He had seen far too many.

Li Qian was not the first odd-job disciple to come to this Time Bell Pavilion.

It was a pity that they couldn’t endure this lonely, arduous, boring, and hopeless job with no prospects and no benefits, so they all found connections and transferred away.

Now it remained to be seen how long Li Qian could last.

“Li Qian, you have learned a lot from me these two days. Tomorrow’s Mao Bell ringing will be left to you.”

Old Song’s tone suddenly became serious.

The job of a bell ringer, although not heavy work, required full attention. Every hour, the bell had to be rung once, neither early nor late.

If the bell ringing missed the hour and was discovered by the Divine Sword Sect’s supervisors, there would be punishment.

Old Song had become a bell ringer at the age of thirteen and had been ringing the bell for sixty-four years. Whether it was scorching summer, freezing winter, thunderstorms, or storms, he had never made a single mistake.

Li Qian was awakened by a voice while he was sleeping soundly.

He jolted awake and sat up.

“Old, Old Song.”

He remembered that he had to ring the bell today.

Because there was no alarm clock, he had slept too deeply and didn’t know what time it was.

“To be a bell ringer, you must first learn to manage your sleeping time, to be able to sleep and wake up on time.”

Old Song said, “Of course, you have just become a bell ringer, so you must be unaccustomed. In the next period of time, you must make your sleeping time regular.”

“Old Song, I understand.”

Li Qian hurriedly got out of bed and dressed.

It was still dark outside.

At this time, the weather was a bit chilly.

It was almost late autumn.

The first thing Li Qian did after getting out of bed was to look at the hourglass to determine the time.

Old Song had called him. It was the fifth quarter of the Yin Hour, which was about 4:10 AM.

There were more than forty minutes left before the Mao Bell ringing.

After washing up, he went to the bell tower.

Old Song was already up there.

He stood tall and straight, even though his face was old, his back was still straight.

Li Qian wondered what level of martial arts cultivation Old Song had reached.

As far as he knew, martial arts were divided into nine grades.

Cultivating Internal Qi made one a First-Grade Martial Artist.

Although it was only a First-Grade Martial Artist, for odd-job disciples, it was likely the ultimate goal.

Because from sensing Qi to cultivating Internal Qi, there were still several hurdles to overcome.

Li Qian started to work.

Because he had to check the hourglass.

There was an hourglass downstairs, and there was also an hourglass on this bell tower.

After confirming that there was no problem with the hourglass, Li Qian waited.

He felt a strange sense of nervousness in his heart.

This was his first time ringing the bell.

When it was the seventh quarter of the Yin Hour, Old Song, who had been motionless, finally turned around and said to Li Qian, “Get ready.”

Li Qian nodded.

He stood at the position of the striker.

Because the Time Bell was very large, the striker was not small either, almost ten feet long and thicker than a human thigh.

He didn’t know what kind of wood it was made of, but it looked extremely hard and heavy.

There were marks on the Time Bell where it had been struck.

But there was no obvious wear and tear on the striker.

He got into position, lowered his waist, adjusted his breathing rhythm, held the thick striker with both hands, and slowly pushed it.

He was just adjusting and familiarizing himself with it.

“When adjusting, keep your eyes on the hourglass so that you can accurately grasp the time for ringing the bell.”

◈◈◈

Old Song reminded him.

Li Qian nodded.

He also focused his gaze on the hourglass not far away. He could see that the fine sand in the hourglass was getting less and less.

It should run out in a few minutes.

Once it ran out, it meant that the Mao Hour had arrived.

Time passed second by second.

Li Qian could even hear his own heartbeat.

Suddenly, there was only a trace of fine sand left in the hourglass.

“Ring!”

Old Song shouted.

Li Qian suddenly swung his arms and pushed the striker back. After a few swings, the striker’s swing was large enough. With all his strength, the striker slammed into the Time Bell at the fastest speed.

Along with a deep bell sound, it spread to all the peaks of the Divine Sword Sect.

The last trace of fine sand in the hourglass also fell to the bottom.

The timing was perfect.

The Mao Hour had arrived.

At the same time, a mechanical voice sounded in Li Qian’s mind.

“Ding, the Sacrificial Instrument System is activated, binding to the host.”

Li Qian, startled, lost his balance. Coupled with the fact that his hands were still grasping the striker, his body was actually carried by the force of the striker’s swing and he involuntarily fell backward.

Fortunately, Old Song reacted quickly, supporting the striker with one hand and grabbing Li Qian’s collar with the other.

If Li Qian fell, the striker, with its huge swing, might hit the Time Bell a second time.

If it hit a second time, it would be considered an accident.

“Li Qian, what’s wrong with you? You almost caused a big problem the first time you rang the bell.”

Old Song said in a deep voice, looking at Li Qian, who was still in a daze.

“Old Song, I…”

Li Qian couldn’t possibly say that a strange voice had suddenly appeared in his mind, startling him.

“Pay attention next time.”

Old Song didn’t say much more.

“Yes, Old Song.”

Li Qian nodded quickly.

“Alright, hurry up and get ready for the Chen Hour bell ringing.”

Old Song waved his hand.

Li Qian hurriedly got busy.

After he was done, Old Song checked it again and found no problems.

“Next, you need to gradually adapt to this kind of life. You can’t relax for a moment, but don’t be too nervous either.”

Old Song instructed.

“Old Song, I will.”

Li Qian listened attentively.

When Old Song went to make breakfast, Li Qian stood beside the Time Bell, recalling the voice that had appeared in his mind.

Suddenly, it was as if an illusion appeared before his eyes, and the things he saw gradually blurred.

He couldn’t help but panic and hurriedly tried to rub his eyes, but the next moment, his blurred vision became clear again.

But a small light screen appeared in front of his vision.

There was some text information on this small light screen.

Host: Li Qian.

Cultivation Level: None.

Sacrificial Instrument: Time Bell （Mortal 1/100）.

Martial Arts: None.

Characteristics: As long as the Time Bell is not broken, the Sacrificial Master will live forever; Ring the bell once a day to refine the Protective Dao Bell; The bell sound can grant enlightenment, cleanse the body, and cultivate Qi.