Ringing the Bell for a Hundred Years, I Became the Sect’s Ancestor – Chapter 68

Chapter 68: Regret

“Strange, each map has a location, what is the connection between them?”

Li Qian carefully scrutinized the three pieced-together maps. Although a piece was missing, he could still make out the whole picture through his imagination.

Could it be that the four maps do not show the location of the hidden treasure, but rather a riddle within a riddle?

Only by collecting the things from the four locations would it be possible to further decipher the mystery?

“Wait, what’s this?”

As Li Qian ran his fingers over the cowhide map, he discovered a subtle unevenness.

He quickly investigated with his spiritual perception. On this seemingly flat and smooth cowhide map, some lines protruded, while others were recessed.

“Is this a map within a map?”

Li Qian tried to use his spiritual perception to separate the raised and recessed lines, constructing a picture in his mind.

“These uneven lines clearly involve two new maps.”

He looked surprised.

However, a part was missing.

Although he had memorized all the information on the map Old Song had given him, he didn’t know the raised and recessed pattern of the lines.

“This is a bit troublesome.”

Li Qian touched his nose.

Because he had already turned that map into crumbs.

He couldn’t possibly put that pile of crumbs back together, could he?

Moreover, after such a long time, it might have already decayed.

“Oh well, let’s go back and talk about it later.”

Li Qian sighed.

So, he picked up the half-demon’s body and returned the way he came.

Residential area of Sanhe Town.

Four corpses lay side by side.

Dead as can be.

Mysterious Monitoring Division Commander Chu Ping and Yan Song were not in a relaxed mood, but rather extremely heavy-hearted.

The strongest half-demon had escaped.

If it returned, no one present would likely survive.

“Senior Brother Yan, the flying eagle is ready.”

An Inner Sect Disciple rode up on horseback, a pigeon-sized black hawk perched majestically on his arm.

This black hawk was carefully bred by the Beast Tamers of Divine Sword Sect’s Exotic Beast Breeding Ground.

Yan Song nodded and, after inserting a written note into a small bamboo tube, was about to attach it to the black hawk’s leg.

Suddenly, a corpse fell from the sky, crashing heavily onto the ground, landing in line with the other four.

At the same time, a calm voice rang out in everyone’s ears.

“The leader of the bandits has been executed, this case can be closed.”

Yan Song and the others reacted, looking up at the night sky, they saw a figure swiftly fly past and disappear.

“It’s Senior Brother Li.”

Junior Sister Fan exclaimed, “He’s so amazing, he actually killed that half-demon!”

“Killed the half-demon?”

Yan Song and Chu Ping looked at the lying corpse. Thin, sickly, compared to the previous ugly, ferocious, terrifying, and massive physique, it was simply two extremes.

When they arrived, this person had already completed the half-demon transformation, and they had not seen the true face of the half-demon.

“This, is this really that half-demon?”

Yan Song muttered to himself.

He had some doubts. Could it be that the half-demon had escaped, so Senior Brother Li randomly found someone to replace it?

As Commander Chu Ping had said, only Grandmaster level experts could deal with half-demons, so how did Senior Brother Li kill such a powerful half-demon?

“Senior Brother Yan, do you still want to send the flying eagle message?”

The Inner Sect Disciple holding the flying eagle asked.

“Since Senior Brother Li has dealt with the leader of the bandits, there’s no need to send it.”

Yan Song took a deep breath and immediately said.

Even if the half-demon bandit leader hadn’t died, the responsibility wouldn’t be his.

Furthermore, the fact that the half-demon bandit leader chose to run away directly indicated fear and respect for Divine Sword Sect, perhaps it wouldn’t dare to come back and commit crimes again.

“Commander Chu, since Senior Brother Li has said so, this case can be closed.”

Yan Song looked at Chu Ping.

Chu Ping understood, nodded, and said, “Residence Master Yan is right.”

He didn’t want to investigate this matter further, the risk was too great.

He was just a small local Commander of the Mysterious Monitoring Division, why take such a big risk?

With these five corpses, plus the confirmation from Divine Sword Sect’s Innate Realm expert, the case could be closed.

Outside the Xia Residence.

Li Qian quickly arrived in front of a group of fast horses.

“Your Excellency.”

A member of the Mysterious Monitoring Division was guarding these horses. Seeing Li Qian approaching, he quickly saluted.

Li Qian just nodded, then untied the reins, mounted a fast horse, squeezed his legs against the horse’s belly, and the horse galloped away. As the sound of hooves faded, he quickly disappeared into the night.

Two days later.

◈◈◈

Returning to Divine Sword Sect and handing in the mission, Li Qian felt an inexplicable sense of relief.

It was good to be back in the sect.

Unlike the outside world, it was too dangerous out there.

He had encountered a half-demon on just a random mission.

Fortunately, he was strong, if it were an ordinary Innate Realm expert, they would probably be dead already.

“Senior Brother Li.”

Liu Ming saw Li Qian return and quickly saluted.

Li Qian nodded and walked towards the back of the bell tower.

When he arrived under the tree where he had buried the treasure map…

…the area was already overgrown with vegetation, no trace could be seen.

He gently waved his hand, sword qi surged, and the soil flew up.

A moment later…

…Li Qian looked at the pile of rotten crumbs and black mud, speechless for a long time.

He was a little annoyed that he had crushed, scraped, and buried the treasure map.

It was all because he was too cautious and timid at the time.

There was no helping it, it was due to his strength.

At the time, he wasn’t even a Ranked Martial Artist, how could he dare to keep a treasure map that could easily bring trouble?

“It seems that there’s only one way to restore the map, and that’s through trial and error.”

Li Qian muttered to himself.

After all, he remembered all the details of the map.

But the lines on the map were fine and numerous. He had to combine and construct the picture one by one, the complexity was unimaginable.

“Just treat this puzzle as entertainment for when I’m bored.”

Li Qian shook his head.

If he didn’t have the Sacrificial Instrument System, he might have placed all his hopes of increasing his strength on the treasure map, and would have tried to piece it together at all costs.

But now there was no need for that.

It would be best if he could restore the map, but it wouldn’t be a big deal if he couldn’t.

After reburying it, Li Qian returned to the bell tower, just in time to see his master Zhou Buping returning from the mountain with his hands behind his back.

“You’re back so soon?”

Zhou Buping was a little surprised to see Li Qian.

“Master, the mission went quite smoothly this time.”

Li Qian said.

Although there were some twists and turns, the efficiency of completing the mission this time was extremely high.

He hadn’t wasted any time at all.

“Then you should be more careful when you go out on missions in the future. Recently, two Inner Sect Disciples with Innate Realm cultivation died while on missions.”

Zhou Buping sighed, “Alas, I heard they encountered a half-demon.”

“A half-demon again?”

Li Qian was stunned.

“What did you say?”

Zhou Buping stopped and looked at Li Qian.

“Master, I also encountered a half-demon on this mission.”

Li Qian said.

Many people had witnessed the half-demon incident, and the sect would definitely find out about it later.

“What? You encountered a half-demon? Then you…”

Zhou Buping was shocked because he knew how powerful half-demons were.

“Master, my sword intent has reached the Illusory Image Level, and my cultivation has also made some breakthroughs, so I was lucky enough to kill that half-demon.”

Li Qian said.

He felt it was necessary to reveal some of his strength to his master, so that it would make sense that he could kill a half-demon.

Zhou Buping was relieved and immediately became happy, “Good, good, good, Master was right about you, you have amazing comprehension, in just a few short years, your sword intent has already broken through to the Illusory Image Level.”

As for Li Qian’s cultivation making a breakthrough in just one year, he wasn’t surprised.

Li Qian was a Perfect Innate, after entering the Innate Realm, with sufficient cultivation resources, his cultivation speed would naturally be very fast.

On the contrary, it was extremely astonishing that his sword intent went from the Illusory Image Level to the Illusion Level in just over six years.

He himself considered his comprehension to be quite good, but it still took him a full fifteen years to achieve the breakthrough.

Which of the Grandmasters and Great Grandmasters in Divine Sword Sect hadn’t spent more than ten years on it?