Ringing the Bell for a Hundred Years, I Became the Sect’s Ancestor – Chapter 69

Chapter 69: Prince Luo’s Residence

“Master, what’s the matter with half-demons? Do they have any connection with demons?”

Li Qian asked the doubts in his heart.

“Half-demons… They haven’t actually appeared for a long time. The most recent record in history goes back to the Taiping Cult uprising at the end of the previous Great Yan Dynasty. Half-demons participated in it. When the Chang Dynasty was established and the Taiping Cult was completely wiped out, the half-demons disappeared.”

Zhou Buping said in a deep voice: “Throughout the dynasties, whenever half-demons have caused harm, it has always been accompanied by the arrival of troubled times. It seems that the previous Moon Worship Cult rebellion was far from simple.”

“Taiping Cult?”

Li Qian was surprised.

He had read some books about the geography and history of the Chang Country.

The Taiping County he had been to before was the origin of the Taiping Cult rebellion.

Could it be that the half-demons that appeared this time were related to the extinct Taiping Cult?

“There are actually two theories about half-demons. One is that they actively absorb the energy of demon stones, causing their own bodies to mutate, but they use special methods to control the degree of mutation, so they can maintain the normal form of humans. The second is the descendants of demons and humans combined. Although they are both human, they have the blood of demons lurking in their bodies, which can be unearthed using the energy of demon stones.”

Zhou Buping continued: “No matter which one it is, for us humans, they are all heterogeneous, and are not tolerated by humans. Therefore, the matter of you using demon stones to cultivate the Immaculate Sword Body must not be exposed, lest you be mistaken for a half-demon.”

Li Qian nodded, “Master, I understand.”

“Alas, it’s a pity you didn’t break through earlier. Otherwise, you should have been the one to go to Jade Capital with Grand Martial Uncle.”

Zhou Buping sighed.

“Master, it’s just attending the Grand Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet. There’s nothing to regret. This disciple doesn’t like this kind of excitement.”

Li Qian said.

“Going to Jade Capital is not just about attending the Grand Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet. Not long ago, Jade Capital sent a message via flying eagle. Disciple Chang Xiaoyao of Dripping Water Peak Master has already entered the Imperial Martial Arts Academy for further studies.”

Zhou Buping shook his head and said: “How good it would be if this opportunity was yours. The cultivation conditions of the Imperial Martial Arts Academy are many times better than our Divine Sword Sect. It truly gathers the top cultivation resources of Great Chang.”

“Enter the Imperial Martial Arts Academy?”

Li Qian was extremely surprised.

At the same time, he secretly rejoiced that he hadn’t gone. Otherwise, if he had to enter some Imperial Martial Arts Academy, he wouldn’t be able to ring the Time Bell.

“Master, you can’t force everything.”

Seeing his master’s regretful look, Li Qian immediately said: “Even if I don’t enter the Imperial Martial Arts Academy, this disciple is confident that he will not be worse than others.”

“Haha, you’re right. It seems that Master is being too attached.”

Seeing Li Qian’s calm attitude, Zhou Buping immediately said with a smile.

“Master, how is your cultivation and Sword Intent recovery going?”

Li Qian changed the subject and asked.

“It’s… It’s a little better, but… I’m afraid it’s impossible to fully recover.”

Zhou Buping shook his head.

He had been mentally prepared for this situation.

In fact, he was more concerned about the progress of Li Qian’s cultivation and Sword Intent improvement.

“It seems that the bell sound of the Law Instrument level Time Bell has a very limited recovery effect on others.”

Li Qian thought to himself.

Unless the Time Bell upgrades to a higher level.

But it would take almost twenty years to upgrade.

It was unknown what would happen to his master in twenty years.

Although Grandmasters of the Innate True Elixir Realm could live to be over a hundred, close to two hundred years old, that was for Grandmasters who were in particularly good health.

As for a Grandmaster like his master who had suffered serious injuries, whose cultivation had regressed, and whose Sword Intent had been damaged, how many years he could live was completely unknown.

Dong, dong.

Two clear bell sounds came from the Time Bell Pavilion.

In the distance, the red sun had already jumped out of the horizon, breaking through the morning mist, its rays shining brightly.

Holding Sword Eighteen, Li Qian began to cultivate the Heartless Sword Manual. Invisible Heaven and Earth Yuan Qi gathered and drilled into his body, gradually being refined, merging with his Qi and blood and spirit, transforming into wisps of Innate True Qi.

After a Great Heavenly Cycle, he stopped and turned to cultivate the Immaculate Holy Body.

After finishing his practice, Li Qian descended from the bell tower, returned to his room, and walked to the two maps, one large and one small, hanging on the wall.

These two maps, one was a map of Great Chang.

The other was a map of Taiping County.

He had asked Hall Master Xu of the Odd-Job Hall to find them.

They were very detailed.

Especially the map of Taiping County, which was very precise.

Combining all kinds of information, Li Qian estimated that the places recorded on the four treasure maps were likely within Taiping County.

◈◈◈

After staring at the two maps for a long time, Li Qian only felt his eyes sore and his head a little painful. This was due to excessive mental exhaustion.

He seemed to be just looking at the map, but in fact, he had been comparing and piecing together the four treasure maps in his mind.

There was no other way. The treasure map Old Song had given him had been completely destroyed, so he could only choose this brain-consuming and time-consuming stupid method.

“It’s too difficult.”

Li Qian rubbed his brows, sighed, and walked out of the bell tower.

In the open space outside, Liu Ming was practicing the Sword-Piercing Fist one move at a time.

Li Qian only glanced at it and knew the progress of this person’s fist technique.

It was only at the Mastery level.

Only four or five of the Twelve Regular Meridians had been opened.

And this was with the daily consumption of medicinal meat porridge.

It could only be said that his aptitude and comprehension were too ordinary, not even comparable to Chen Yong.

At this moment, Liu Ming’s fist technique posture suddenly stiffened, and he stopped, clutching his chest, his face showing pain, and beads of sweat the size of beans popped out on his forehead.

Li Qian took a step and appeared in front of Liu Ming, his fingers tapping several acupoints on Liu Ming’s body in quick succession.

Poof!

Liu Ming immediately spat out a mouthful of blood, and suddenly felt much more relaxed.

“Don’t you understand the principle of ‘haste makes waste’?”

Li Qian said in a deep voice.

Liu Ming’s face showed shame, and he didn’t dare to speak.

“From now on, reduce the amount of food you eat at each meal. It’s best to starve for two days first.”

Li Qian said.

He hadn’t paid any attention to Liu Ming’s diet and cultivation before.

After all, he had summoned Liu Ming up the mountain just to ring the bell when he wasn’t there.

He had just used Spiritual Perception to detect the situation inside Liu Ming’s body. It was obvious that he had eaten too much medicinal meat porridge, which was too nourishing, causing too much medicinal power to accumulate in his body.

Liu Ming’s fist technique was only at the Mastery level. Although he practiced diligently every day, due to the limitations of his spirit, he couldn’t digest the medicinal power at all.

Over time, the accumulated medicinal power blocked his meridians, resulting in backlash.

Just now was only the beginning. If this continued, his meridians would be damaged, and he might become a cripple.

Therefore, Li Qian used Innate True Essence to make Liu Ming vent some of the medicinal power by vomiting blood.

“Yes, Senior Brother Li.”

Liu Ming said with his head lowered.

In fact, when he was practicing his fist technique earlier, he had already noticed some abnormalities in his body, but he hadn’t thought about it that much.

The situation just now made him realize the seriousness of it, and he was afraid in his heart.

Guest Reception Hall.

This was the place where Divine Sword Sect received distinguished guests.

“Elder Xiang, in recent times, the half-demons, who have disappeared for hundreds of years, have shown signs of resurgence. I believe your esteemed sect has also noticed this. Based on this situation, Prince Luo, as the feudal lord in charge of Taixing Circuit, will convene a Demon Extermination Assembly. This is an invitation. Please be sure to attend.”

A man in brocade sat on a chair, took a sip of tea, and suddenly took out a gilded invitation from his sleeve. There was a very special dark gold pattern on it.

It represented the symbol of Prince Luo’s Residence.

“Mister Liu, I will give the invitation to the Sect Master.”

The speaker was an elegant black-bearded elder, Elder Xiang Xin, who was in charge of the Guest Reception Hall.

Although the Guest Reception Hall seemed to be just a place to entertain distinguished guests, it actually also had the responsibility of communicating with other forces, which was very important.

Therefore, Elder Xiang Xin, who served as the head of the Guest Reception Hall, was a true elder with real authority in Divine Sword Sect.

Elder Xiang Xin did not say anything like “we will definitely attend.”

He was only the elder of the Guest Reception Hall and had no right to decide.

Moreover, this matter involved Prince Luo’s Residence, a powerful feudal lord force that could rank among the top five in Great Chang, so it was even more of a big deal.