Sacrificial Artifact System: From Bell-ringer to the Ancestral Patriarch of the Sect-Chapter 7: Power Rankings

"Has the Chen Bell advanced from a Mortal Level Sacrificial Artifact to a Treasure Level Sacrificial Artifact?"

Li Qian's face revealed a trace of a smile.

However, the progress bar had increased from one hundred to one thousand.

Originally, it would have taken just over three months to upgrade, but now it would take almost two years and eight months.

Still acceptable.

Moreover, the Sword Stabbing Fist he practiced had unexpectedly reached Great Success.

It must be related to the advancement of the Chen Bell.

The sound of the Chen Bell was always able to enhance the effect of comprehending the Dao, and Sword Stabbing Fist was just the most basic fist technique after all, upgrading from minor success to Great Success was not surprising, was it?

Next, he closely examined the characteristics of the Treasured Chen Bell.

Immediately, his brows unfurled, and his eyes smiled.

This Chen Bell did not require him to strike it directly; he could use the Chen Bell Shadow in his mind to produce the sound, and the effect was just as valid.

The effect was much better than when it was a Mortal Artifact.

Additionally, the Treasured Chen Bell came with both defense and offense capabilities.

The method was simple.

Visit frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓ for the b𝘦st novel reading experience.

That is, the Chen Bell Shadow in his mind would absorb his mental strength and release an invisible sound wave of offensive nature, causing a psychological deterrence effect on enemies.

The effectiveness largely depended on the enemies' cultivation levels.

The defensive function would use the energy from his blood and Inner Breath, Inner Strength, or Inner Qi to form a protective qi barrier on the surface of his body, which could block both physical and energy attacks.

Before he became a Titled Martial Artist, the defensive and offensive features of the Magic Artifact Chen Bell granted him certain combat abilities.

Since the Sacrificial Artifact Chen Bell had been upgraded to Treasured quality, Li Qian greatly increased the frequency of his fist practice.

Because he did not need to strike the Chen Bell directly, he could utilize the Chen Bell Shadow in his mind to produce the sound for cultivation.

However, the closer he was to the Chen Bell's physical form, the better the effect.

If the distance was too great, the effect would diminish considerably.

Not just the cultivation effect, but also the Chen Bell's defense and attack functions were distance-dependent.

The closer to the Chen Bell, the stronger the defense and offense functions, which could draw upon the Chen Bell's own form for an amplified effect.

If one were far from the Chen Bell, they could only rely on their own mental and inner energy to activate the defense and attack functions.

"Practicing Sword Stabbing Fist near the Chen Bell, this Chen Bell can provide the energy needed for cultivation, which should be quite accurate."

After completing a set of punches, Li Qian calmed his surging Inner Breath.

If it was just once or twice it would be fine, but after practicing daily, he distinctly felt this change.

His daily food intake had increased, but no matter how much he ate, there was a limit, and he could not eat Exotic Beast Meat Jerky every day.

Now, as he was assailing the Ren Meridian, his energy consumption in each session of practicing the fist technique had significantly increased. Under normal circumstances, his medicinal meals could not maintain such a high frequency of practice.

Yet, he persisted and didn't experience any signs of overexerting his potential or bodily deficits.

Instead, he felt his physical fitness continually improving.

Particularly, his height had now reached 1.8 meters, a full twenty-some centimeters more than his height of less than 1.6 meters when he had first arrived.

The entire process took just over four months.

"The current rate of cultivation is much faster than what I had anticipated."

Li Qian showed a hint of a smile on his face.

The Chen Bell was able to feedback some energy while he practiced his punches, which could compensate for the inadequacies of his medicinal meals.

He was now somewhat looking forward to the scene where the Inner Breath automatically transforms into Inner Strength after the final meridian is thoroughly cleared.

He was now considering whether to tell Elder Song or not?

"I definitely cannot reveal that all twelve regular meridians have been opened; I will just say that I have opened eight meridians."

Li Qian finally made a decision.

Although his progress in cultivation was not slow, having a technique for energy conversion during the process of Inner Breath transforming into Inner Strength would definitely yield a better effect.

All of a sudden, Li Qian, standing atop the bell tower, looked towards the hillside in the distance where a bare-chested robust figure was carrying a thick log and sprinting.

"This person really has a strong will, to have persisted for more than a month already."

Li Qian watched the figure, stroking his chin.

As for the person's name, Li Qian had no idea.

Over the past month, Li Qian could almost see this man carrying a thick crossbeam to exercise his physical strength every day.

At first, it was very difficult, but now it seems much easier.

"He must be a servant disciple too, just don't know which division he works for."

Li Qian thought to himself.

This person must be working so hard with the goal of becoming an official disciple of the Divine Sword Sect.

Exercising physical strength, enhancing bodily vigor... it does help in martial arts practice and is considered part of the Body Refinement Technique.

However, the Body Refining Technique is too arduous and painful, very few can persist. It requires day after day and year after year of intense training, regardless of weather or seasons.

Once one slacks off, all the previous efforts would be wasted.

Swoosh!

Li Qian leapt down from the bell tower and walked over to a large rock.

The man seemed tired and propped the crossbeam upright on the ground to rest, supporting himself with one hand.

"Brother, which division are you from?"

Li Qian greeted him.

Since coming to the bell tower, except for a few words with Old Song, he had no one else to talk to, and was frankly bored.

The robust young man took a glance at Li Qian and after a moment of silence, said in a muffled voice, "Night Fragrance Room."

Li Qian was taken aback.

His working conditions were even worse than his own.

Probably someone with no money to bribe his way to better assignments.

"My name is Li Qian, how may I address you, brother?"

Li Qian did not look down upon the other party for being a servant disciple from the Night Fragrance Room. The fact that he was working so hard indicated he was a person with ambitions.

"I'm Chen Yong."

The robust young man replied and then went silent.

Clearly, he had the temperament of a reticent person.

"Brother Chen Yong, isn't this training a bit too harsh on you? Besides, without the support of medicinal meals, it's easy to overtrain and break down."

Li Qian kindly reminded.

"It's not harsh."

The naive-faced young man shook his head, revealing a genuine smile from the heart.

Li Qian could tell that it was a smile that came from within. Perhaps, for the young man, just having the opportunity to practice at the Divine Sword Sect, even as a servant disciple, was already very satisfying.

After resting for a while, the robust young man, Chen Yong, greeted Li Qian and then lifted the crossbeam to continue running.

In the following days, Li Qian would talk and greet Chen Yong almost daily.

From the initial silence, Chen Yong gradually opened up, willing to talk a little more.

"There's a power ranking among the servant disciples. If one can maintain the position of annual number one for three consecutive years, they can be promoted to an official disciple out of turn."

Chen Yong shared an important piece of information.

Since Li Qian's arrival at the bell tower, he had never left the mountain nor had he interacted with other servant disciples, so he wasn't aware of the power ranking.

"Does that mean, Brother Chen Yong, you want to get on the power ranking?"

Li Qian asked.

"Not really, I just want to train more and hope to become a Mortal Level Martial Artist before leaving Divine Sword Sect, so I can help my family."

Chen Yong scratched his head and shook it as he spoke.

Li Qian was rendered speechless.

He had originally assumed Chen Yong was someone with grand ambitions, only to find out he just wanted to become a Mortal Level Martial Artist before leaving the Divine Sword Sect.

That was normal, though.

Perhaps this was the goal of the vast majority of servant disciples.

Becoming an official disciple of the Divine Sword Sect was incredibly difficult.

Just securing the top spot on the power ranking for three consecutive years was nearly an impossible path.

If it weren't for the system, which was like a Golden Finger for Li Qian to change his destiny, he probably would have taken the path of the power ranking.

But now he couldn't leave the Chen Bell, nor could he give up the position of being the Bell-ringer; he had to stay at the bell tower indefinitely.

....