Sacrificial Artifact System: From Bell-ringer to the Ancestral Patriarch of the Sect-Chapter 20 Sword Tomb

In the mountains, there is neither the cycle of home nor the passage of time.

Ever since he became an Official Disciple after pledging his apprenticeship, Li Qian's life of cultivation had once again turned tranquil.

It was as if the previous troubles had never existed at all.

Li Qian gradually let go of these matters.

He did not seek out Song Yingying either to ask why she revealed secrets.

After all, they had only met once, and except for Old Song's involvement, there wasn't much of a connection between the two.

She had her path, and he had his way.

Thump!

The clear and distant sound of the bell resonated through the mountains and woods, shattering the tranquility of the Divine Sword Sect.

It signalled the beginning of a new day.

However, Li Qian, after striking the Chen Bell, immediately took up his stance to practice the Heartless Sword Skill, channeling his abundant Inner Qi with Internal Cultivation Methods.

A stunning sharp aura permeated, slicing through the air, and as he practiced, streams of Sword Qi wove and shuttled around him, until finally, the Sword Qi alone was visible, and not the person.

Only the whistling sound of the sword echoed, reverberating above the bell tower.

After a long while, Li Qian suddenly sheathed his sword, yet the invisible momentum of the sword lingered on.

Calming the boiling Inner Qi within his body, he took a deep breath, his eyes shining with a bright sharpness and vitality.

Suddenly, he felt a movement in his heart and summoned the system interface to check the latest information.

Host: Li Qian.

Cultivation: Acquired (Fifth Layer 9/100).

Sacrificial Artifact: Chen Bell (Treasure 993/1000).

Martial Arts: Sword Stabbing Fist (Perfect), Heartless Sword Technique (Minor Achievement 23/100).

....

In seven days, the Chen Bell could be upgraded again.

He had now reached the Fifth Layer of the Acquired level.

At such a speed... it wasn't considered slow.

After all, in just half a year, he had progressed from the Second Layer to the Fifth Layer of the Acquired stage, advancing three minor layers.

Of course, this was all thanks to the assistance of the Qi Blood Pill and Nurture Spirit Pill, as well as the Exotic Beast Meat Jerky, with the sound of the bell also being indispensable.

Moreover, the Heartless Sword Technique had also reached Minor Achievement.

Even so... the progress of his cultivation, which only increased by one point every two days, and the Minor Achievement of the Heartless Sword Technique improved by only one point every three days.

"Once the Chen Bell is upgraded, the subsequent cultivation should be much easier."

Li Qian was greatly looking forward to it.

Time flies so fast.

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It had been over three years since he joined the Divine Sword Sect.

...

Afternoon.

Li Qian was working in the fields.

Suddenly, Chen Yong came running with two buckets of Night Fragrance.

"Brother Qian, I'm afraid I won't be able to bring you Night Fragrance anymore."

After pouring the two buckets of Night Fragrance into the pit, Chen Yong suddenly said.

"Oh, have you figured out your job transfer?"

Li Qian asked with a smile, unfazed.

"It's settled, I've been assigned to the Gengluo Room," said Chen Yong.

Compared to the Night Fragrance Room, working in the Gengluo Room was somewhat better, with the only issue being the irregular sleeping times.

Having been a servant disciple for three years, Chen Yong was no longer new and could switch to a slightly better job.

After all, each year the Divine Sword Sect would recruit a batch of new servant disciples.

"Brother Qian, this year's Combat Power Ranking is about to start, do you plan to participate?"

Chen Yong inquired again.

"Too much trouble, I won't participate,"

Li Qian shook his head.

He had not told Chen Yong about becoming an Official Disciple.

Come to think of it, Chen Yong was one of the few friends he had who he got along quite well within the Divine Sword Sect.

"I still plan to participate this year, and moreover, these past two years, quite a few old servant disciples have left, even Senior Brother Zhang Mingcan and Yi Zhong have departed, the strength rankings this year should be easier to climb."

Chen Yong said eagerly.

Over these past three-plus years, he has been incredibly diligent and believes his cultivation strength has improved significantly, and he is eager to make a name for himself on the strength rankings.

"Then I wish you fame on the strength rankings."

Li Qian said with a smile.

"I definitely will achieve it."

Chen Yong said with a determined face.

He didn't want to leave Divine Sword Sect in a disheartened state like Zhang Mingcan and Yi Zhong.

In fact, he was very puzzled; Yi Zhong, after winning first place on the strength rankings, still had the hope of becoming an Official Disciple, why did he suddenly leave Divine Sword Sect?

As for Zhang Mingcan, it was quite normal; two consecutive years at the top of the strength rankings, only to lose out in the third year... essentially leaving no hope.

The peak period of a person is limited, rather than wasting three years in Divine Sword Sect, it's better to go down the mountain and struggle in the secular world.

Such is the sorrow of servant disciples.

Evening.

Li Qian came to the wooden house in the valley.

He does not come back every day now.

It generally happens once every three to five days.

"Do you remember the Sword Tomb I mentioned to you last time?"

Zhou Buping said.

"Disciple remembers, only True Inheritors have the qualifications to enter, and each True Inheritor has only one chance in their lifetime to enter. There, one can comprehend the Sword Intent imprints left by the ancestors of Divine Sword Sect, and there's also a chance to be recognized as the master of a Divine Sword."

Li Qian nodded as he spoke.

"Originally, only True Inheritors have the qualifications to enter... this time, the higher-ups within the sect have decided to relax the requirements, allowing Official Disciples who have never entered before... also to have the opportunity to enter once."

Zhou Buping said, "Of course, only for this time."

"Master, do you plan to let me enter the Sword Tomb this time?"

Li Qian asked.

"Normally, the deeper the comprehension of Sword Dao, the better. When comprehending the ancestral Sword Intent imprints, you won't be deeply mired in them."

Zhou Buping said, "After all, the path of the predecessors is not necessarily the most suitable for oneself. Combining the path of the predecessors with your own understanding and carving out your own path is best, so make your own decision on how to choose."

Li Qian understood his master's intent.

This year was special, allowing even Official Disciples to enter the Sword Tomb.

If this opportunity is missed, one must become a True Inheritor to be qualified to enter in the future.

Unless one is absolutely confident that they can become a True Inheritor in the future... choosing to enter this time would be the wisest decision.

"Master, if I comprehend Sword Intent... is there no need to enter the Sword Tomb?"

Li Qian asked.

"Hahaha... of course, there's a need. Comprehending Sword Intent is merely the beginning of walking the path of one's own martial way. Only by enduring hardships and experiencing various Sword Intents and martial intents... can one reach further and higher heights. Moreover... the Sword Tomb has much more than just the ancestral Sword Intent; there are also powerful swords. For us, Sword Cultivators, a powerful sword is also of utmost importance."

Zhou Buping laughed heartily.

"Master, I've once read a book that recorded a powerful Swordsman. He said that the first sword he used was a shining, sharp sword, fierce and mighty, invincible, used before his adult years to compete with heroes. The second was a flexible sword, used before the age of thirty, which accidentally injured a righteous ally, regretted it, and thus abandoned. The third was a Mystical Iron Heavy Sword, a heavy sword without a sharp edge, ingenious and skillful, relied upon to dominate the world before the age of forty. The fourth was a decayed wooden sword, after the age of forty, not hindered by objects, plants, wood, bamboo, stones, all could be swords. I wonder if this is true?"

Li Qian spoke.

This was actually mentioned in a wuxia novel from his previous life.

He raised this question now as he wanted to know if at the profound levels of Sword Dao in this world, everything could indeed be used as a sword?

"Unhindered by objects, plants, wood, bamboo, stones, all could be swords... Such Sword Dao is indeed mystical. I have heard of it but never seen it."

Zhou Buping shook his head as he spoke.

However, Li Qian understood.

At a sufficiently high Cultivation Realm, whether one has a sword or not is not important.

But in the present, a powerful sword is definitely the preferred choice.

"Master, I will still wait until I have the chance to become a True Inheritor in the future, then enter the Sword Tomb."

Li Qian said.

His Heartless Sword Technique has only reached minor achievement, far from comprehending Sword Intent.

Entering the Sword Tomb now, the gains would probably not be considerable.

"You think so, that's good."

Zhou Buping showed a satisfied expression.

He did not wish for Li Qian to enter the Sword Tomb so soon.

....