Ringing the Bell for a Hundred Years, I Became the Sect’s Ancestor – Chapter 40

Chapter 40: Injured and Retired

A major martial arts sect like Divine Sword Sect definitely also had secret techniques similar to the Blood Burning Technique, and they might even be more advanced. The problem was that he couldn’t learn them for the time being.

These secret techniques all required a large number of contribution points to exchange.

He had once asked Master Zhou Buping, hoping to be taught such a secret technique.

Zhou Buping told him not to think about these for the time being because to cultivate the Flawless Physical Body, he absolutely could not practice forbidden techniques that stimulated the body’s potential.

Once he used forbidden techniques and suffered from aftereffects, he would never be able to achieve Perfect Innate.

Li Qian couldn’t tell Zhou Buping that he had the Time Bell’s help and wasn’t afraid of the aftereffects brought by forbidden techniques.

Anyway, he was bored now, and if he could improve the Blood Burning Technique, it would also be beneficial to his martial arts cultivation.

Time flew by like an arrow.

In the blink of an eye, another half a year had passed.

The difficulty of improving the Blood Burning Technique was much greater than he had imagined.

He had already suffered physical damage countless times.

Fortunately, he was very cautious and careful, and it did not affect his cultivation of the Immaculate Sword Body and his comprehension of sword intent.

All of this was due to the Time Bell’s magical effect.

It was already winter.

Li Qian stood on the Time Bell Pavilion, looking out at the vast expanse of white. Small snowflakes were still fluttering from the sky.

Suddenly, he saw a figure rapidly approaching up the hillside.

The speed was extremely fast, displaying advanced light body skill.

It was definitely not Chen Yong.

Li Qian was a little surprised.

“Excuse me, is this Junior Brother Li? I am Lei Zhao, an inner sect disciple from Divine Sword Hall. I have been ordered by the Sect Master to invite you to Divine Sword Hall.”

A man who looked to be about thirty years old arrived at the foot of the bell tower and cupped his hands towards Li Qian.

Whoosh!

Li Qian jumped down from the bell tower and arrived in front of this Lei Zhao, “Senior Brother Lei, may I ask what the Sect Master wants with me?”

He was very curious. He was just a small, transparent figure in Divine Sword Sect and didn’t interact much with the inner sect disciples. The Sect Master was busy with official duties, so why would he seek him out?

“Junior Brother Li, I’m truly sorry, but I don’t know.”

Lei Zhao shook his head and said.

Divine Sword Hall.

It was located on Divine Sword Peak. Although it was not one of the Seven Main Peaks, it was the place where the Sect Master handled daily affairs and cultivated.

In Divine Sword Sect’s organizational structure, the Sect Master was not the one with the greatest authority. He was mainly responsible for the administrative management of the sect.

Once it involved major sect matters, the Sect Master, the Seven Peak Masters, and many elders with real authority would gather together to discuss and make decisions.

Upon entering Divine Sword Hall, Li Qian unexpectedly saw Master Zhou Buping.

However, Zhou Buping’s condition looked very bad.

His hair was gray, and his face was bloodless.

It was as if he had aged twenty years.

“Master.”

Li Qian hurriedly walked over, “What happened to you?”

“I’m fine.”

Zhou Buping waved his hand, but as he spoke, he started coughing, and even his breathing was heavy.

“Li Qian, your master was seriously injured during the rebellion suppression.”

Sect Master Feng Shaoyu sighed and said.

In fact, most of the elder-level experts sent by Divine Sword Sect to suppress the rebellion had been ambushed and suffered serious injuries. One of them even died on the spot.

“Sect Master, can my master fully recover?”

Li Qian hurriedly asked.

“It’s difficult. Elder Zhou’s Qi Sea was injured. Even if his physical injuries can heal, his cultivation will probably decline significantly. Most importantly, his martial intent was damaged. This kind of mental injury can only be slowly healed.”

Sect Master Feng Shaoyu shook his head and said.

Li Qian’s heart sank.

If there was one person he cared about most in this world, it was naturally Master Zhou Buping.

“I’m already old, and my cultivation realm doesn’t matter anymore. I can just retire and properly recuperate, enjoying my old age.”

Zhou Buping was much more optimistic.

◈◈◈

Compared to Elder Song from Unity Peak who had died, he was already very lucky to be alive.

Of course, he was able to survive such a dangerous and dire situation entirely because of the strong belief that supported him. He wanted to personally witness his disciple achieve Perfect Innate.

“Master, come to the Time Bell Pavilion. That way, this disciple can take care of you.”

Li Qian said.

Moreover, he was thinking about whether he could use the sound of the Time Bell to treat Zhou Buping’s injuries.

After the Time Bell reached the Law Instrument level, its magical effect of repairing the body was not limited to him, the Sacrificial Master.

If Zhou Buping lived in the bell tower for a long time and bathed in the sound of the Time Bell at close range, there would definitely be some benefits.

“No, I plan to live in Sword’s Edge City. You can visit me more often.”

Zhou Buping waved his hand and said.

“Master, taking care of you is this disciple’s duty. Even if you want to live in Sword’s Edge City in the future, you should wait until your injuries are healed.”

Li Qian said.

He knew that his master’s injuries were very serious. Although Divine Sword Sect would definitely treat his master, judging from the Sect Master’s tone, it was not optimistic that his master’s injuries would fully heal.

Recuperating at the Time Bell Pavilion would definitely be more beneficial to his master’s recovery.

“Elder Zhou, I also think Li Qian is right. Having a direct disciple take care of you is much more attentive than any odd-job disciple.”

Sect Master Feng Shaoyu also persuaded.

He knew that Zhou Buping had no wife, children, or relatives, and had spent his entire life searching for a disciple in his heart to inherit the so-called Heartless Sword Manual.

In the eyes of other fellow disciples, he appeared solitary and difficult to get along with.

After a moment of silence, Zhou Buping finally nodded in agreement.

“Sect Master, there is one thing. I want to use my contribution points to apply for Li Qian to be exempt from inner sect missions for the next few years, before he breaks through to the Innate realm.”

Zhou Buping suddenly said.

As the Moon Worship Cult rebellion spread wider and wider, the danger of future inner sect missions would also increase.

He was worried that Li Qian would encounter unpredictable dangers while participating in inner sect missions.

If he was seriously injured, it would definitely affect his cultivation of the Immaculate Sword Body.

If it had been before he was injured, he wouldn’t have dared to make this request.

If this matter spread, it would have a very serious negative impact.

After all, if he could do this, wouldn’t other peak masters and elders also be able to do the same? Who didn’t have disciples or followers they valued?

“Uh? Elder Zhou, why is this? Inner sect disciples participate in missions to gain experience.”

Sect Master Feng Shaoyu was very surprised.

Moreover, he knew that once this precedent was set, it might have serious negative consequences.

He didn’t believe Zhou Buping didn’t know this.

“Sect Master, I naturally have my reasons.”

Zhou Buping didn’t explain.

Before Li Qian achieved Perfect Innate, this matter absolutely could not be leaked.

Even if Li Qian achieved Perfect Innate, it was best not to expose it.

After all, Perfect Innate was a double-edged sword.

It might bring great prestige, but it would also make him a target.

A tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind.

He didn’t want his disciple to be cut down in his prime.

“Alright, I can grant him special permission to be exempt from inner sect missions for the next few years, but… the time cannot be too long, at most five years.”

Seeing this, Sect Master Feng Shaoyu didn’t ask any further questions.

As an inner sect disciple, not participating in inner sect missions was actually against the sect rules.

However, Zhou Buping was an elder who had made great contributions and was seriously injured. Whether he could recover was still unknown. It was understandable that he only had one direct disciple.