Ringing the Bell for a Hundred Years, I Became the Sect’s Ancestor – Chapter 30

Chapter 30: Sword Grinding Cave

White Jade City, Li Residence.

In the backyard.

“Madam.”

Housekeeper Xu of the Li Residence bowed respectfully.

He didn’t know why Madam had suddenly summoned him.

Madam Ren Rong dismissed the maidservants around her and stared at Housekeeper Xu.

Housekeeper Xu felt uncomfortable under her gaze and bowed even lower.

Compared to Master, Madam was much harder to serve.

“Housekeeper Xu, tell me honestly, how much gold did you send to Eldest Young Master when you went to Divine Sword Sect last time?”

Madam Ren Rong asked in a deep voice.

Master Li Donglin had gone to the provincial capital, leaving her in charge of the vast Li Residence.

She had secretly checked the accounts and discovered a large expenditure some time ago.

“Madam, this…”

Housekeeper Xu felt his scalp tingle because Master had told him not to reveal it.

“Is there something you can’t say?”

Madam Ren Rong asked in a deep voice.

“Six thousand taels.”

Unable to withstand the pressure, Housekeeper Xu had to confess.

If he offended Madam, his position as housekeeper would be over.

He had a deep understanding of Madam’s formidable nature.

“Six thousand taels? Humph, so they’re not planning to live frugally anymore?”

Madam Ren Rong’s expression changed drastically.

That Li Qian had entered Divine Sword Sect for cultivation, who knew how much more investment would be needed in the future?

It was likely that the Li Residence’s wealth would be drained.

“Li Donglin, you are truly biased.”

Ren Rong gnashed her teeth in hatred.

She didn’t believe that Li Donglin had only recently learned about Li Qian becoming a Divine Sword Sect disciple. It was likely that Li Donglin had deliberately sent Li Qian to Divine Sword Sect.

Otherwise, how could a good-for-nothing who had run away from home for more than three years silently become a formal disciple of Divine Sword Sect?

If Li Donglin was determined to fully support Li Qian’s martial arts training, he could completely empty the Li Family’s coffers.

By the time her son, Li Kun, passed the imperial examinations and needed funds for his career, there might be no money left.

Wouldn’t all her years of scheming be in vain?

Once Li Qian achieved something, he would surely surpass her son. Given Li Qian’s hatred for her, he would definitely seek revenge, possibly even taking it out on her son.

Housekeeper Xu lowered his head, pretending not to have heard anything.

In the vast Li Residence, perhaps no one except Master was unaware of Madam’s intentions.

After noon.

After finishing his cultivation, Li Qian was about to prepare lunch.

Suddenly, a figure walked into the bell tower.

Li Qian saw that it was actually his Master, Zhou Buping.

“Master, why are you here?”

He was quite surprised.

This was the first time Master Zhou Buping had come to the bell tower.

“I came to see how you’re living on the mountain.”

Zhou Buping said with a gentle smile.

He had watched from beginning to end as Li Qian cultivated the Heartless Sword Manual after ringing the bell.

“Master, I’m living quite well.”

Li Qian said.

Then he brought a stool over for Zhou Buping to sit down.

“Indeed, it’s quite good. Martial arts cultivation is inherently a tedious process. Your ability to endure solitude, even to enjoy the peace it brings, shows that you have found a martial arts path of your own.”

Zhou Buping said with a gentle smile.

Observe their martial arts practice, understand their heart.

◈◈◈

He had gained a deeper understanding of this disciple he had taken on halfway through.

This was the disciple he had been searching for for decades.

His decades of guarding Wild Goose Gate Valley, the fact that odd-job disciples had to pass his assessment to join the inner sect, actually had only one purpose ━ to choose a disciple.

After sitting down, Zhou Buping continued, “I came here for another matter. At the beginning of next month, the sect will hold a True Disciple selection. There’s only one spot. You’ve not only grasped the secrets of the manual but also entered the realm of sword intent, so I’ve already registered you. I also believe that you have a high chance of obtaining this True Disciple position. However, I don’t want you to compete for it.”

“Master, why is that?”

Li Qian was quite surprised.

He was told to participate in the True Disciple selection but not to compete for the position.

“The True Disciple position is good, but you have a better choice.”

Zhou Buping shook his head and said, “Didn’t I tell you about Perfect Innate before?”

Li Qian nodded.

“To achieve Perfect Innate, besides mastering internal energy and comprehending martial intent, one also needs a Flawless Physical Body. To cultivate a Flawless Physical Body, you must have the Flawless Vajra Method. The Heartless Sword Manual you’re cultivating was originally comprehended by your Ancestor from a mural in the Sword Grinding Cave, the place for the True Disciple selection. However, your Ancestor once said that the Heartless Sword Manual he comprehended was incomplete, still lacking something, and that was the Flawless Vajra Method.”

Zhou Buping began to explain.

“Master, are you saying you want me to find that mural in the Sword Grinding Cave, comprehend the Flawless Vajra Method within it, and perfect the Heartless Sword Manual?”

Li Qian said.

“Yes, as long as you can comprehend the Flawless Vajra Method of the Heartless Sword Manual, a mere True Disciple position is nothing.”

Zhou Buping nodded and said.

“What if I can’t comprehend it?”

Li Qian asked.

“If even you can’t comprehend it, I’m afraid the Heartless Sword Manual will never be perfected.”

Zhou Buping sighed, “To perfect the Heartless Sword Manual, our lineage… starting from your Ancestor, has persisted for six generations! Without achieving Perfect Innate, our future potential is limited.”

“Master, doesn’t Divine Sword Sect have the Flawless Vajra Method?”

Li Qian asked in confusion.

“Disciple, what do you think the Flawless Vajra Method is? Perfect Innate is not so easily achieved. Since the founding of our Divine Sword Sect, it’s said that only the founding Ancestor achieved it, and that’s just hearsay. So, our Divine Sword Sect doesn’t have any Flawless Vajra Method.”

Zhou Buping said with a gentle smile.

“Then the mural in the Sword Grinding Cave, wasn’t it left by our Divine Sword Sect’s predecessors?”

Li Qian asked curiously.

“Of course not. The founding Ancestor discovered it while traveling, and that’s why he established Divine Sword Sect here. As for who left the Sword Grinding Cave, that’s unknown.”

Zhou Buping shook his head and said.

“Master, what exactly is this True Disciple selection about?”

Li Qian asked again.

“This involves our Divine Sword Sect’s Sword Seed inheritance. There are a total of twelve Sword Seed inheritances, which are the fixed twelve True Disciples. They actually correspond to our Divine Sword Sect’s Seven Main Peaks and the Five Directions Sword Envoys.”

Zhou Buping explained.

“Seven Main Peaks, I understand that, but what are the Five Directions Sword Envoys?”

Li Qian was quite surprised because he had never even heard of the Five Directions Sword Envoys.

“That’s unique to our Divine Sword Sect. You’ll naturally learn about it later when you reach a higher level.”

Zhou Buping smiled but didn’t elaborate directly.

“Master, if I can’t become a True Disciple, doesn’t that mean I can’t enter the Sword Tomb?”

Li Qian remembered another matter.

“Don’t worry about that. When you really want to enter, I have a way to get you in.”

Zhou Buping said.

Li Qian was relieved to hear that.

According to the rules, only True Disciples could enter the Sword Tomb. Last time, the sect allowed all formal disciples to enter once.

This meant that the rule wasn’t set in stone and could be broken in critical situations.

Compared to the True Disciple position, he found Perfect Innate more appealing.

“I wonder if I can comprehend the Flawless Vajra Method of the Heartless Sword Manual from the mural in the Sword Grinding Cave by borrowing the sound of the Time Bell?”

He felt a faint sense of anticipation in his heart.