Sacrificial Artifact System: From Bell-ringer to the Ancestral Patriarch of the Sect-Chapter 24 Enemy Attack

"It is indeed a task suitable for an Inner Sect Disciple, offering three hundred contribution points for a single mission. If I were still a servant disciple, it would have taken me three hundred months to accumulate that much."

Li Qian felt deeply moved.

This task required a minimum cultivation of Fifth Layer Postnatal. The difficulty could be considered moderate; the time frame was short, which suited him well.

There were other tasks that required a lower level of cultivation... but often they had long durations.

And some tasks offered higher contribution points without a lengthy duration, but required higher levels of cultivation.

Higher cultivation meant greater risks involved.

He didn't want to take those risks.

If it weren't for the requirement as an Inner Sect Disciple to participate in tasks, he really wouldn't want to take any risks at all.

"The starting point of the task is to escort a batch of goods from Lijian City, with the destination being Baibi City in Zhanghe County, three hundred kilometers away. The departure is in five days, with a gathering one day ahead..."

"Baibi City?"

As Li Qian saw the destination, his brow furrowed slightly. His former self came from the Li Family in Baibi City of Zhanghe County.

Since running away from home, he hadn't returned for over three years.

If it weren't for this mission, he would almost forget that this body still had a family.

"That's the past of the former self; it has nothing to do with me. In any case, after escorting to the destination, I'll head straight back."

He had no emotional attachment to the family of this body.

Even his former self detested that home and ran away.

After reading, Li Qian returned the pamphlet and left the Task Hall.

There were still a few days left, so there was no rush.

However, he still needed to make thorough preparations.

Even though the task was low risk, he couldn't be careless and had to give it his all.

A few days later.

Li Qian descended the mountain. After reporting at the gate of the Divine Sword Sect, he rode away on horseback.

This was his first time riding a horse.

In both his past and present life.

But... his former self could ride horses, so he had those memories.

Besides, now he was a Martial Artist of the Eighth Layer Postnatal; he felt a bit awkward at first but quickly got accustomed.

This was his first outing since joining the Divine Sword Sect over three years ago.

Lijian City was only about a dozen miles away from the Divine Sword Sect.

The city was not small in scale, with a population of over a hundred thousand, many of whom were related or connected to the Divine Sword Sect... It was said that a significant portion of the recruited servant and Official Disciples came from Lijian City.

After arriving in Lijian City, Li Qian had no intention of loitering and went directly to the meeting point for the mission.

Yongcheng Trading Company.

"You've arrived quite early, Young Hero Li?"

Manager Lin from the trading company was surprised.

"Early? Manager Lin, isn't it stated in the task guidelines to arrive at the gathering point a day in advance?"

Li Qian asked curiously.

"Actually, as long as you manage to arrive before departure, that's sufficient. I suspect the other Inner Sect Disciples taking on this task... will probably return tomorrow morning."

Manager Lin said with a smile.

He started to wonder if this was Young Hero Li's first mission.

But that didn't seem right, the task required a minimum of Fifth Layer Postnatal, so it wouldn't be the first mission for any Inner Sect Disciple.

"Oh, are there others?"

Li Qian asked out of curiosity.

"This time, our trading company's task requires five to eight escort warriors."

Manager Lin replied with a light laugh.

"Then I'll head back first and come again tomorrow morning."

Li Qian nodded and, leaving Manager Lin bewildered, rode away once more.

Delaying for a day means postponing the advancement of his Magic Artifact Chen Bell by a day.

Not to mention, it would also affect his cultivation practice.

The next day.

After striking the Chen Bell during the 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. interval, and practicing the Heartless Sword Technique twice, Li Qian felt refreshed as he arrived at the Yongcheng Trading Company in Lijian City.

He turned out to be the first one to arrive.

It wasn't until the hour of Si (9 a.m. to 11 a.m.) that the other Inner Sect Disciples who had accepted the task began to arrive one after another.

He was still too young.

If only he had known, he would have struck the Chen Bell as well before coming.

Why not practice the Heartless Sword Technique a few more times to improve his cultivation?

Including Li Qian, there were a total of eight Inner Sect Disciples.

Five males and two females.

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None of these Inner Sect Disciples had ever been seen by Li Qian.

"This Junior Brother, you seem unfamiliar. Won't you introduce yourself?"

The speaker was a white-clothed woman wearing a silver half-mask on her face. Judging by the shape of her face, she had a classic melon-seed face, and her physique was also very enticing.

Carrying a long sword on her back with a ponytail tied, she exuded a valiant and refreshing charm.

"I am Li Qian. I have seen you, Senior Sisters and Senior Brothers..."

Li Qian greeted with a clasped fist.

"Which peak do you belong to?"

Another person inquired.

"I am just an ordinary Inner Sect Disciple."

Li Qian responded.

"Hehe, one wouldn't dare to take this mission without a bit of true ability,"

That person chuckled with a sneer.

A cultivation level above the Fifth Layer of the Houtian realm would have deterred many Inner Sect Disciples from advancing further.

For many Inner Sect Disciples, reaching the fifth or sixth layer of the Houtian realm was practically their limit.

Only a portion of genius disciples could reach beyond the seventh layer of the Houtian realm... Those types could at least become disciples under ordinary elders of the seven major peaks.

Those even more outstanding could become Direct Disciples of a powerful elder or Peak Master, and thus eligible to vie for the position of True Inheritor.

Generally speaking, the influential elders, Peak Masters, and even the Sect Leader of the Divine Sword Sect... all originated from among the True Inheritors.

"May I know Junior Brother Li's level of cultivation?"

The white-clothed woman asked, "Junior Brother Li, there is no need to be concerned. We are just getting to know each other better, so we can better assign responsibilities during the mission. My name is Ji Su, with a cultivation level of the Seventh Layer of the Houtian realm."

"Senior Sister Ji, I am at the Sixth Layer of the Houtian,"

Li Qian said.

He certainly could not reveal his true capabilities.

Then, the others took turns revealing their levels of cultivation, with most of them around the fifth or sixth layer of the Houtian realm. Ji Su, however, was openly known to have the highest cultivation level amongst them.

Until noon, the caravan finally set off.

Li Qian discovered a problem. This caravan didn't have any specialized Martial Artist guards; aside from the Manager who was in charge of transportation, the rest were all Coachmen and helpers.

Only through conversations with others did he learn that Yongcheng Trading Company was established by an elder of the Divine Sword Sect and cooperated with the Inner Sect, posting escort tasks whenever manpower was needed to transport goods.

This arrangement meant that Yongcheng Trading Company didn't need to hire and train Martial Artist guards long term, saving a significant amount of money.

Although hiring Inner Sect Disciples from the Divine Sword Sect didn't come cheap, it was still considered more cost-effective in comparison.

Five days went by in a blink of an eye.

The caravan entered the territory of Zhanghe County.

They were less than a hundred miles away from Baibi City, and at the current pace, one day was more than enough.

Along the way, they did not encounter any trouble.

Since the caravan hired Inner Sect Disciples from the Divine Sword Sect, in addition to the flags of Yongcheng Trading Company, they also flew the flags of the Divine Sword Sect.

This in itself represented a form of deterrence.

The influence of the Divine Sword Sect was immense, dominating three provinces and twelve counties.

Ordinary brigands would not dare to target the caravan.

As night fell...

The caravan stopped for a rest in a small town.

They would probably reach Baibi City by tomorrow afternoon.

As usual, Li Qian and the other seven guarded the merchandise and slept in their clothes, with one person on guard duty at all times.

Tonight was no exception.

As for the other Coachmen and helpers, they all went off to rest.

Listening to the sounds of the night watch outside, Li Qian, who was on duty, knew it was now the third watch.

He was still quite alert.

Whenever drowsiness assailed him, he would strike the image of the Chen Bell from within his mind, producing a bell sound that would invigorate his spirit considerably.

The farther away the effect of this bell sound was from the physical Chen Bell of the Divine Sword Sect, the weaker it became.

Once it reached a certain distance, it would stay fixed at a certain level of effectiveness.

Suddenly, Li Qian faintly heard some noises approaching rapidly from afar.

Quick as a flash, he opened his eyes.

Not like a wildcat or such...

And at that very moment, with a chilling sense of alarm flooding his heart, he moved his body and rolled over abruptly.

Pfft!

A cold glimmer shot into where he had just been sitting in meditation.

It was a crossbow bolt.

...