Ringing the Bell for a Hundred Years, I Became the Sect’s Ancestor – Chapter 24

Chapter 24: Enemy Attack

“As expected of an Inner Sect Disciple’s mission, a single one is worth three hundred Contribution Points. Back when I was an Odd-Job Disciple, it would have taken me three hundred months to accumulate that much.”

Li Qian felt a myriad of emotions.

This mission required a cultivation level above Postnatal Level Five, so the difficulty was moderate. The time frame was also short, making it quite suitable for him.

There were also some missions that required a lower cultivation level but had a much longer time frame.

There were also some with higher Contribution Points and a shorter time frame, but they required a higher cultivation level.

A higher cultivation level meant greater risks.

He didn’t want to take risks.

If it weren’t for the fact that, as an Inner Sect Disciple, he had to participate in missions, he really wouldn’t want to take any risks.

“The mission starts from Sword’s Edge City, escorting a batch of goods to White Jade City in Zhanghe County, three hundred kilometers away. Departure time is five days later, with assembly one day prior.”

“White Jade City?”

Li Qian frowned slightly after seeing the destination. The original owner of his body was from the Li Family of White Jade City in Zhanghe County.

He hadn’t been back in over three years since running away from home.

If it weren’t for this mission, he would have almost forgotten that this body still had a family.

“This is a matter of the original owner’s past, it has nothing to do with me. Anyway, after escorting the goods to the destination, I’ll come back directly.”

He had no feelings for this body’s family.

Even the original owner loathed that home, which was why he ran away.

After reading it, Li Qian returned the booklet and left the Mission Hall.

There were still a few days left, so there was no rush.

However, he still needed to make good preparations.

Even if this mission was low risk, he couldn’t be careless. He had to give it his all.

A few days later.

Li Qian descended the mountain and, after reporting at the Divine Sword Sect’s mountain gate checkpoint, rode away on horseback.

This was his first time riding a horse.

Both in his past and present life.

However, the original owner of his body knew how to ride, so he had memories of it.

Moreover, he was now a Postnatal Level Eight Martial Artist. Although a little rusty at first, he quickly adapted.

This was his first time leaving the Divine Sword Sect in over three years.

Sword’s Edge City was also about a dozen miles away from the Divine Sword Sect.

This city was quite large, with a population of over a hundred thousand, most of whom were related to the Divine Sword Sect in some way. It was said that a large portion of the Odd-Job and Formal Disciples were from Sword’s Edge City.

After entering Sword’s Edge City, Li Qian didn’t have the mood to wander around and went straight to the mission assembly point.

Yongcheng Trading Company.

“Young Hero Li, you’re here quite early?”

Manager Lin of the trading company, who was in charge of reception, said in surprise.

“Early? Manager Lin, doesn’t the mission say to arrive at the assembly point one day in advance?”

Li Qian asked curiously.

“Actually, as long as you arrive before departure, it’s fine. I estimate that the other Inner Sect Disciples who took the mission should be back tomorrow morning.”

Manager Lin said with a smile.

He was a little doubtful, could this Young Hero Li be doing a mission for the first time?

But that didn’t seem right. This mission required a cultivation level above Postnatal Level Five. Inner Sect Disciples on their first mission wouldn’t take this task.

“Oh, there are others?”

Li Qian asked curiously.

“The mission our trading company issued this time requires five to eight escorting Martial Artists.”

Manager Lin chuckled.

“Then I’ll go back and come back tomorrow morning.”

Li Qian nodded and, leaving Manager Lin dumbfounded, rode away again.

Delaying bell ringing for a day would postpone the upgrade of the Law Instrument Time Bell by a day.

Moreover, it would also affect his cultivation.

The next day.

Li Qian finished ringing the bell for the Mao Hour, practiced the Heartless Sword Manual twice, and then arrived at Yongcheng Trading Company in Sword’s Edge City feeling refreshed.

He was, surprisingly, still the first to arrive.

It wasn’t until the Si Hour that the other Inner Sect Disciples who had taken the mission arrived one after another.

He was still too young.

He should have known to ring the Chen Bell before coming.

Wouldn’t practicing the Heartless Sword Manual a few more times improve his cultivation even further?

Including Li Qian, there were a total of eight Inner Sect Disciples.

Five men and two women.

Li Qian had never met any of these Inner Sect Disciples before.

“This Junior Brother looks unfamiliar. Why don’t you introduce yourself?”

◈◈◈

The speaker was a woman in white, wearing a silver half-mask. Judging from her facial contours, she had a standard oval face and a very attractive figure.

She carried a long sword on her back and had her hair tied in a ponytail, giving off a heroic aura.

“I am Li Qian, greetings to all Senior Sisters and Senior Brothers.”

Li Qian said, cupping his hands.

“Which peak are you from?”

Another person asked.

“I’m just an ordinary Inner Sect Disciple.”

Li Qian said.

“Haha, to dare to take this mission, you must have some strength.”

The person chuckled.

A cultivation level above Postnatal Level Five was enough to deter many Inner Sect Disciples.

For many Inner Sect Disciples, Postnatal Level Five or Six was basically their limit.

Only a portion of talented disciples could reach Postnatal Level Seven or above, and at the very least, they could become disciples of ordinary elders on the Seven Main Peaks.

Those who were even more outstanding could become direct disciples of elders with real authority or even peak masters, and thus have the qualifications to compete for the status of True Disciple.

Generally speaking, the elders with real authority, peak masters, and even the Sect Master of the Divine Sword Sect were all from the ranks of True Disciples.

“I wonder, what is Junior Brother Li’s cultivation level?”

The woman in white asked, “Junior Brother Li, don’t misunderstand. We just want to get to know each other better, so that we can better allocate responsibilities during the mission. My name is Ji Su, Postnatal Level Seven cultivation.”

“Senior Sister Ji, I am Postnatal Level Six.”

Li Qian said.

He definitely wouldn’t reveal his true strength.

Then, the others also revealed their cultivation levels, most of them around Postnatal Level Five or Six. Ji Su was actually the highest in terms of apparent cultivation level.

It wasn’t until noon that the caravan set off.

Li Qian discovered a problem: the caravan itself didn’t have any dedicated guard Martial Artists. Apart from the manager leading the team responsible for transporting the goods, the rest were coachmen and clerks.

He learned from others that Yongcheng Trading Company was established by an elder of the Divine Sword Sect and collaborated with the Inner Sect. Whenever they needed people to transport goods, they would issue escort missions within the Inner Sect.

The advantage of this was that Yongcheng Trading Company didn’t need to hire and train guard Martial Artists long-term, saving a significant amount of expenses.

Although hiring Inner Sect Disciples from the Divine Sword Sect wasn’t cheap, it was still much more cost-effective in comparison.

Five days passed in a blink of an eye.

The caravan entered Zhanghe County.

They were less than a hundred miles away from White Jade City, and at their current speed, they would arrive within a day.

Along the way, they hadn’t encountered any trouble.

Since the caravan had hired Inner Sect Disciples from the Divine Sword Sect, in addition to the Yongcheng Trading Company’s banners, they also flew a banner of the Divine Sword Sect.

This in itself represented a deterrent.

The Divine Sword Sect’s influence was vast, its prestige shaking the Three Provinces and Twelve Counties.

Ordinary bandits wouldn’t dare to target the caravan.

Night fell.

The caravan stopped for the night in a small town.

They would probably arrive in White Jade City by tomorrow afternoon.

As usual, the eight of them, including Li Qian, guarded the goods, sleeping in their clothes, with one person on watch at a time.

Tonight was no exception.

As for the other coachmen and clerks, they all went to rest.

Listening to the night watchmen’s drums outside, Li Qian, who was on watch, knew it was already a quarter past the Chou Hour.

He was still quite alert.

Whenever drowsiness hit, he would ring the shadow of the Time Bell in his mind, producing a bell sound that would invigorate him.

The farther away he was from the actual Time Bell within the Divine Sword Sect, the weaker the effect of the bell sound would be.

After a certain distance, the effect would remain constant.

Suddenly, Li Qian faintly heard some movement, approaching from afar.

It was moving very fast.

He abruptly opened his eyes.

It didn’t sound like a wild cat or anything like that.

At that moment, a chill ran down his spine. He moved his body and suddenly rolled to the side.

Thud!

A cold glint struck the spot where he had been sitting in meditation.

It was a crossbow bolt.