Ringing the Bell for a Hundred Years, I Became the Sect’s Ancestor – Chapter 43

Chapter 43: Sword Intent Breakthrough

Li Qian looked at Housekeeper Xu kneeling before him, then glanced at Deputy Hall Master Xu in the distance.

This Deputy Hall Master Xu was a man who knew how to read the room; he didn’t approach.

“Speak, what is it?”

Li Qian said.

“Young Master, Master said that if you have time, you can go back and visit.”

Housekeeper Xu hurriedly said.

“I understand. Anything else?”

Li Qian’s expression remained unchanged as he spoke calmly.

“Young Master, this is something Master asked me to bring to you.”

Housekeeper Xu hastily took out a small wooden box from his package, sealed with a lacquer seal.

“I’ll keep the item. You can go back.”

Li Qian took the small wooden box.

“Yes, Young Master.”

Housekeeper Xu hurriedly replied.

He was already pleasantly surprised to be able to see the Young Master this time.

It meant that the Young Master didn’t truly intend to completely sever ties with his family.

After Housekeeper Xu left, Li Qian returned to his room. He put the wooden box away without even opening it.

It was probably just gold notes inside.

He had no use for them now.

The reason he met with Housekeeper Xu was that he had come to a realization.

Since he had taken over the original body’s identity, he inevitably had to bear all the karmic relationships that came with it.

It was best to let things run their course with the original body’s family.

A few days later.

Li Qian had just finished his cultivation when Chen Yong excitedly ran to the Bell Tower.

“Brother Qian, I’ve opened my Ren Meridian and cultivated Internal Qi!”

He said excitedly.

“Mm, not bad.”

Li Qian wasn’t surprised.

He had noticed that Chen Yong’s cultivation had reached a critical point, which was why he had given him the Qi and Blood Pill.

After all, Chen Yong had already mastered the Sword-Piercing Fist.

However, it was too difficult, almost impossible, to take it a step further and cultivate it to perfection.

Many Odd-Job Disciples who eventually entered the ranks of martial artists were often able to cultivate the Sword-Piercing Fist to mastery.

But very few could ultimately achieve perfection.

Master Zhou Buping had guarded Wild Goose Gate Valley for decades before finally encountering Li Qian.

Cultivating the Sword-Piercing Fist to mastery was difficult, but as long as one was diligent, persistent, and had decent comprehension, there was still hope.

But perfection was not something that could be achieved through hard work and diligence alone.

One had to possess exceptionally high comprehension.

Then, Li Qian further guided Chen Yong in his cultivation after entering the ranks of martial artists.

Without an Internal Skill Manual, Chen Yong could only continue practicing the Sword-Piercing Fist, and his subsequent Internal Qi improvement would be very slow.

Without Master Zhou Buping’s permission, Li Qian couldn’t privately teach Chen Yong Internal Skills.

Moreover, privately transmitting Internal Skill Manuals was strictly forbidden within the Divine Sword Sect.

Especially to non-Formal Disciples.

There was only one way for Chen Yong to obtain an Internal Skill Manual: become an Inner Sect Disciple.

A few days later, the Odd-Job Hall held the Combat Power Rankings.

Chen Yong emerged as a dark horse, displaying exceptional performance in the Combat Power Rankings.

In the previous Combat Power Rankings, he had barely made the cut.

But this time, he demonstrated astonishing strength, defeating one strong opponent after another, ultimately claiming the top spot in the Combat Power Rankings, shocking the over ten thousand Odd-Job Disciples in the entire Odd-Job Hall.

“This Chen Yong, he’s truly lucky.”

Deputy Hall Master Xu of the Odd-Job Hall sighed with emotion after witnessing Chen Yong’s dark horse performance.

He had seen this Odd-Job Disciple at the Time Bell Pavilion some time ago, and he had a close relationship with that Inner Sect Disciple, Senior Brother Li.

Having latched onto such a thick thigh, Chen Yong had a high probability of securing the top spot in the Combat Power Rankings for the next two years.

After all, Chen Yong had an Inner Sect Disciple with an extraordinary background backing him. This alone was enough to crush all other Odd-Job Disciples.

“Old Xu, what’s the background of this Chen Yong? His performance seemed quite average before, right?”

Another Deputy Hall Master asked curiously.

“He’s connected to the one up there.”

Deputy Hall Master Xu looked towards the Time Bell Pavilion and said in a low voice with a chuckle.

The other Deputy Hall Master’s heart skipped a beat. He naturally knew who Old Xu was referring to.

As soon as the Combat Power Rankings ended, Chen Yong rushed up the mountain.

“First place?”

Li Qian watched as Chen Yong, too excited to speak, stuttered.

“Uh… Brother Qian, how did you know?”

◈◈◈

Chen Yong asked.

“You were trained by me and my Master. If you couldn’t even secure the top spot in the Combat Power Rankings, then you’d be too much of a waste.”

Li Qian said with a light laugh.

He was well aware of the situation in the Odd-Job Hall.

Few had any background; most were poor souls, or those with a bit of money and connections, but not enough to join a major sect like the Divine Sword Sect.

Those with truly powerful backgrounds wouldn’t become Odd-Job Disciples.

Chen Yong scratched his head.

He wasn’t stupid.

He knew how fortunate he was to receive guidance from Li Qian and the old man.

Moreover, he had freeloaded countless bowls of Medicinal Meat Porridge here.

“Work hard on your cultivation and strive to maintain the top spot in the Combat Power Rankings for three consecutive years.”

Li Qian said.

Chen Yong nodded, his heart filled with motivation.

Time flew by quickly while cultivating on the mountain.

The scorching summer arrived.

The Bell Tower was stiflingly hot.

It was mainly because the Bell Tower faced the west and was exposed to the afternoon sun.

With Li Qian’s current cultivation realm and the Immaculate Sword Body, he was basically impervious to heat and cold.

Mao Hour.

The sky was still dark.

As there was no wind at all, a sense of heat still lingered in the air.

Dong~

A clear bell chime broke the tranquility of the Divine Sword Sect.

Li Qian released the striker, assumed his stance, and began cultivating the Immaculate Sword Body.

As his Internal Qi flowed in reverse, melting and transforming into surging Qi and Blood, it integrated into his body, strengthening his physique over and over again.

After completing a cycle of the Immaculate Sword Body, Li Qian let out a long breath. This feeling of body refinement was truly exhilarating.

He could feel every cell in his body rejoicing and leaping.

Then, Li Qian began practicing the Heartless Sword Technique, using it to comprehend Sword Intent.

As he practiced, suddenly, Li Qian’s spirit and consciousness felt as if they were leaving his body. He could clearly sense the surrounding space in all directions, even including himself.

In just an instant, an intense feeling of weightlessness descended upon him, and the out-of-body sensation at the spiritual level vanished.

But when he closed his eyes, he sensed that beside the shadow of the Time Bell in the depths of his mind, a strange sword shadow had appeared.

This sword shadow circled around the shadow of the Time Bell.

When his thoughts connected with this sword shadow, with a boom, his consciousness seemed to break through a barrier, shaking off restraints and spreading out, sensing the surroundings.

“Is this a formed Sword Intent?”

Li Qian muttered to himself.

As far as he knew, once Sword Intent took shape, it would undergo a qualitative change, possessing the ability to inflict damage on a spiritual level.

Martial Intent at the Illusory Image Realm only had the effect of interference and deterrence.

Suddenly, with a thought, the sound of the Time Bell rang out, and the sword shadow vibrated slightly, emitting a startling radiance.

In that instant, a formidable Sword Intent emanated from Li Qian’s brow.

This astonishing Sword Intent actually stirred the Heaven and Earth Yuan Qi.

A tangible sword Qi condensed before him, gathering but not dispersing, hovering right before his eyes.

“I didn’t expect Sword Intent at the Illusory Image level to already possess a substantial attack effect.”

Li Qian marveled.

Although the power of this sword Qi wasn’t particularly strong, far inferior to the attack power of using Internal Qi, the true might of Sword Intent lay in its inherent spiritual attack.

“If I integrate Sword Intent into my sword techniques, it can create a dual-strike effect.”

Li Qian thought to himself.

Immediately, he summoned the system interface to check the latest information.

Host: Li Qian.

Cultivation: Postnatal Ninth Level （99/100）.

Sacrificial Instrument: Time Bell （Law 1403/10000）.

Martial Arts: Sword-Piercing Fist （Perfection）, Heartless Sword Manual （Perfection）, Immaculate Sword Body （Mastery 42/100）.

Martial Intent: Heartless Sword Intent （Illusory Image 1/100）.

Secret Techniques: Myriad Transforming Sword Qi, Blood Burning Technique.

As expected, his Heartless Sword Intent had stepped into the Illusory Image level.

This showed that the comprehension of Sword Intent wasn’t directly related to cultivation level.

If anyone knew that Li Qian had already raised his Sword Intent to the Illusory Image level before becoming Innate, they would be utterly astounded.

And all of this was thanks to the Sacrificial Instrument, the Time Bell.