Sacrificial Artifact System: From Bell-ringer to the Ancestral Patriarch of the Sect

Evening.

After ringing the bell, Li Qian and Elder Song sat at the table and began to have dinner.

"Elder Song, I have already cleared all eight meridians."

Halfway through the meal, Li Qian suddenly spoke.

"Hmm, to clear all eight meridians is indeed quite..."

Elder Song said.

Suddenly, he paused, "What did you just say? You've cleared all eight meridians?"

"Yes, Elder Song."

Li Qian nodded.

"How did it happen so quickly?"

Elder Song stared at Li Qian, quite astonished.

According to his judgment, it would take Li Qian at least more than a year to clear all eight meridians.

"I don't know, but in the past two months, my practice has been much more effective."

Li Qian scratched his head.

"How far have you progressed with your Sword Stabbing Fist?"

Elder Song suddenly asked.

Li Qian quickly stood up and performed a set of Sword Stabbing Fist in the room. This seemingly simple technique was like a sharp sword, containing an invisible edge that cut through the air, producing a faint whistling sound.

"Fist as sharp as a sword, with all its edge revealed... Your Sword Stabbing Fist has reached Great Success. No wonder you cleared all eight meridians so quickly."

Elder Song was extremely astonished after watching.

The Sword Stabbing Fist was only a basic fist technique, yet reaching Great Success in it, especially for a servant disciple with ordinary talent, required years of arduous practice.

Li Qian had managed to perfect the Sword Stabbing Fist to Great Success within just a few months, showing his exceptional comprehension.

"Li Qian, in your case, you shouldn't need to use the Qi conversion technique. You might very well be able to clear all twelve main meridians with your Great Success in Sword Stabbing Fist, allowing your Inner Breath to naturally transform into Inner Strength."

Elder Song thought for a moment and then said.

"Ah? Elder Song, isn't using the Qi conversion technique good?"

Li Qian asked curiously.

"Using the Qi conversion technique is a last resort. Although it can promote the transformation from Inner Breath to Inner Strength, it also harms the meridians. Many servant disciples, even if they become low-ranked martial artists, ultimately have limited achievements exactly because of the drawbacks of the Qi conversion technique."

Elder Song sighed, "In fact, what the Official Disciples practice in their Inner Strength training... involves clearing all twelve main meridians, allowing for a natural transformation into Inner Strength..."

Upon hearing this, Li Qian nodded in understanding.

He only had the Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian left uncleared.

"If you can clear all twelve meridians and cultivate Inner Strength, you'd be no different from an Official Disciple. Then, if you clear the Eight Extraordinary Meridians and cultivate Inner Qi, passing the triennial reexamination to become an Official Disciple shouldn't be difficult..."

Elder Song remarked.

There are two paths for a servant disciple to become an Official Disciple: one is through the combat rankings, consistently being number one for three consecutive years, which is incredibly difficult, primarily suitable for servant disciples strong in combat instinct.

The second path is through reexamination.

Every servant disciple has only one chance to reexamine.

The difficulty of that exceeds even the combat rankings.

Because the basic requirement for reexamination is to become a low-ranked martial artist within three years.

Normally, if a servant disciple becomes a low-ranked disciple in three years, it indicates strong talent and comprehension, and they wouldn't typically fail the entrance assessment.

There are also rare cases where someone fails unexpectedly or later gets a significant opportunity, thus advancing within three years.

Li Qian doesn't plan to participate in the reexamination.

Because he doesn't want to leave the bell tower.

The only trouble is, without becoming an Official Disciple, obtaining the Divine Sword Sect's martial skills and cultivation techniques will be extremely difficult.

Although servant disciples can exchange for them with contribution points, there are still restrictions. Some high-level martial skills and techniques are only accessible to Official Disciples or those of higher rank.

"It's a pity this bell can't be miniaturized and taken inside the body... Otherwise, I could have replaced this Chen Bell."

Li Qian thought to himself.

He believed that once the Chen Bell was upgraded high enough... it would definitely be possible.

...

Dong! Dong!

Chen time.

The bell sounded.

Two strikes in succession.

Li Qian stood on the Bell Platform, positioning himself to practice the Sword Stabbing Fist.

As he moved his feet, his fists stabbed like swords, revealing all their sharpness, the slight piercing scream cutting through the air, his Inner Breath boiling like in the meridians, flowing through until it slowly stopped at the Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian.

"With the current pace, it should take a maximum of twenty days to clear the Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian."

Li Qian rejoiced inwardly.

After finishing his practice, he returned to the room and found Elder Song packing a bundle.

"Elder Song, are you going out?"

Li Qian was slightly surprised.

"Yes, I'm going out for a bit. During this time, you must not neglect ringing the bell."

Elder Song nodded and said, "If I can't make it back in time, you'll have to go to the Chores Hall to collect your monthly salary and supplies."

He also explained a few other matters.

Li Qian listened attentively.

After Master Song went down the mountain, only Li Qian was left in the Bell Platform.

He became even more bored.

There was no one to talk to.

He could only wait for Chen Yong to come train with the carrying pole to have a chance to talk.

"Strange, why hasn't Chen Yong come to train today?"

Li Qian stood on the Bell Platform, looking down at the hillside where there was not a single person.

So boring.

Thus, he could only continue practicing his punches.

For several days in a row, Li Qian did not see Chen Yong.

"It seems that Chen Yong must have given up."

Li Qian sighed.

More than ten days passed like this, and Master Song still did not return.

"Could it be that Master Song won't come back?"

A thought suddenly flashed through Li Qian's mind.

But he felt that it couldn't be so; Master Song had no family or children... Where else could he go if not back to the Divine Sword Sect?

Days passed, and finally, Li Qian saw Chen Yong's figure carrying the pole again.

"Brother Chen Yong, haven't seen you for quite a while?"

Li Qian squatted on the hillside, smiling and greeting.

Chen Yong put down the pole and scratched his head, embarrassed, "I was participating in the combat ranking lately and got injured by someone."

"You, a new servant disciple, participated in the combat ranking?"

Li Qian exclaimed in surprise.

"I just wanted to experience it. Alas, those seniors are really powerful. I couldn't withstand a single move. Fortunately, Senior Brother Wei showed mercy, or else I would have had to stay in bed for several more days."

Chen Yong explained.

"Who ranked first in the combat ranking this time?"

Li Qian asked curiously.

"Brother Qian, didn't you go see the combat ranking?"

Chen Yong asked curiously.

"No."

Li Qian shook his head.

He had not left the mountain.

"It was Senior Brother Zhang Mingcan. He is so powerful, having already become a primary level martial artist, and was also the top of the previous combat ranking. If he maintains being first next year, he will definitely become an Official Disciple."

Chen Yong expressed a bit of envy on his face.

After chatting for a while, Chen Yong picked up the pole and continued training.

Li Qian also returned to the Bell Platform and resumed his training.

Early morning.

After Li Qian struck the Chen Bell, he began practicing his boxing technique.

This time, something was different.

As the Inner Breath flowed into the Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian, the momentum was not blocked but instead grew stronger.

Accompanied by a jolt through his body, the location of the Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian felt electrified, suddenly with a raging surge of Inner Breath breaking through.

The Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian was unblocked.

In that instant, he felt as if the Inner Breath in his body had formed a complete circulating entity.

The circulation of Inner Breath was getting faster.

Without needing him to practice Sword Stabbing Fist, it automatically began to circulate.

As if an invisible force was controlling and pushing it.

Such swelling.

As the Inner Breath circled rapidly through the meridians, it brought about a strong sense of pressure.

Suddenly... as the Inner Breath sped, it seemed to break some kind of limit, and its nature began to undergo a strange transformation.

At the same time, he felt the throbbing pain in the meridians reaching its peak.

He could no longer hold back, and swung out a punch, smashing it fiercely onto a stone stele.

Bang!

The whole stele slightly trembled, lime sprinkled down, and a fist imprint appeared on it.

On his fist, there was not even a single injury.

However, after this punch, he felt the swelling pain within his body gradually disappear.

The Inner Breath, no, at this moment it should be called Inner Strength, also consumed a lot during that punch.

"So this is Inner Strength? Indeed powerful, not only can it leave a fist imprint on a stone stele but it can also protect my fist from getting hurt."

Li Qian was tremendously shocked inside.

And this was just Inner Strength.

Not even considered a primary level martial artist, just a Martial Apprentice.

If one was to cultivate Inner Qi and become a primary level martial artist, how strong would that be?

.....