"Twelve bell tolls! A total of twelve bell tolls, how is this possible!"

Marquis Guangjun was dumbfounded.

"There are indeed twelve bell tolls!"

A Supreme Elder gasped.

One must know.

The more times the Spirit Heaven Bell tolls, the higher the talent and aptitude it represents.

All along, although everyone knew that the Spirit Heaven Bell could toll twelve times at most, no one believed it because it had never happened for so many years.

Geniuses like Wu Xingyun and Tuoba Ye only managed to toll it seven times. Even the extraordinarily talented Su Moran only tolled it nine times!

"These twelve bell tolls, could it be, that Ye Qingchen truly has talent bestowed by the heavens?"

A Supreme Elder murmured to himself.

Only now.

Did they understand the true meaning behind Su Moran’s previous remark about them being blind.

They had missed a true genius!

"What should we do next?" The Supreme Elder of Celestial Moon Peak’s expression was indecisive. She had intended to use this matter to challenge earlier, but who would have thought that the Spirit Heaven Bell would only toll after they left.

Hearing this, the expressions of the other few also turned unpleasant.

If this matter spread out, they would inevitably be ridiculed for being blind and having poor judgment.

"Completely seal off this matter, no one is allowed to spread it!" Marquis Guangjun took a deep breath and spoke slowly: "Even if Ye Qingchen has such a high aptitude, so what?"

"High aptitude does not mean everything!"

"We, the seven peaks, each have our own disciples. As long as we guide them, they can firmly suppress him. By then, who would know we misjudged? Who would know Ye Qingchen is a genius?"

Everyone exchanged glances at these words.

However.

No one spoke up.

Until a moment later, a Supreme Elder finally voiced out:

"Back then, we couldn’t even suppress Su Moran who tolled nine times. Can we now suppress Ye Qingchen who tolled it twelve times?"

This time.

No one said anything again.

Even Marquis Guangjun closed his mouth, his eyes filled with deep regret.

...

While everyone was astonished by the twelve bell tolls, Su Moran had already brought Ye Qingchen to Heaven-Shocking Peak.

Heaven-Shocking Peak.

Is an existence independent from the seven peaks, exclusively belonging to Su Moran. The entire Heaven-Shocking Peak is elegant and quiet, with the only building being a quaint three-story pagoda.

"Entering my Heaven-Shocking Peak, do you regret it?" Seeing Ye Qingchen observing his surroundings, Su Moran said expressionlessly, "Surely those old fellows have come to their senses by now. Twelve bell tolls, tch tch tch... I’m afraid their intestines are turning green with regret."

Su Moran half leaned against Loulan, her gaze distant, looking at the floating clouds in the sky, "In my Heaven-Shocking Peak, there isn’t as much profound heritage as the other seven peaks, nor are there many cultivation techniques. If you turn back now, they would undoubtedly scramble to take you as a True Disciple!"

The Spirit Heaven Bell is her father’s legacy.

Su Moran naturally knew the mystery within, and the twelve bell tolls indicated a rare, heaven-bestowed talent. She didn’t conceal the key from Ye Qingchen but informed him of everything, allowing him to choose freely.

Ye Qingchen stood on the pagoda, looking at the woman before him. Su Moran’s demeanor was graceful and unrestrained, yet there was a trace of sadness at the corners of her eyes that she couldn’t quite hide.

Ye Qingchen shook his head and said:

"If it weren’t for you, I might have already left the Taotian Palace! The reason I joined the Taotian Palace is still because there’s a Taotian Palace on the Barbaric Continent!"

"Since I agreed to join Heaven-Shocking Peak, I naturally won’t regret it!"

Ye Qingchen agreed without hesitation.

Thinking back.

When he participated in the major sects selection in Cyan Continent, he encountered a similar situation. Qin Wentian intervened and saved his sister’s life, which is why he joined the Taotian Palace without hesitation.

Today is the same, he certainly won’t regret it.

Upon hearing this, a rare trace of warmth appeared in Su Moran’s eyes. She deeply looked at Ye Qingchen and said, "Since that is the case, I won’t let you regret joining Heaven-Shocking Peak either!"

With a flick of her fingers, a Jade Pupil Scroll and a jade token flew to Ye Qingchen. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"What is this?" Ye Qingchen asked with slight confusion.

"This Jade Pupil Scroll records the martial arts techniques of our Taotian Palace, which only Inner Sect Disciples can cultivate, including those practiced by the Supreme Elders! However, the cultivation technique I have is slightly different from what others practice!" Su Moran said calmly.

Is it similar to the Ten Thousand Gods Sect’s ’Asura Demon Aspect’? Even Earth Immortals practice it?

Ye Qingchen hesitated slightly, and hearing the latter part of Su Moran’s words, he asked curiously: "What’s different?"

"The one I practice is the most original version, although it has immense power, it’s also quite challenging to master. Because of this reason, the Taotian Palace has long abandoned its use!"

"Of course! The choice is yours, whether or not to practice it is up to you!"

Su Moran paused, then continued:

"As for this jade token, holding it allows you to freely enter my Heaven-Shocking Peak."

"I understand!" Ye Qingchen nodded.

"Those seven old fools surely won’t resign to you joining my Heaven-Shocking Peak. I’m sure at this moment, they’ll shamelessly guide Wu Xingyun, Tuoba Ye, and others to ascend the Celestial Venerable List of Taotian Palace to suppress you."

Su Moran squinted her eyes, a fierce look flickering beneath her beautiful eyes: "You know what to do, right? Hit them hard for me!"

Ye Qingchen’s lips slightly moved:

"Alright!"

Su Moran heard this and a smile appeared on her face, but when her gaze swept over the Three-tailed Fox, she couldn’t help but narrow her eyes in shock and suspicion.

Because.

With her Earth Immortal cultivation, she couldn’t see through this Three-tailed Fox.

...

With the aptitude test over, due to the seven Supreme Elders working together to cover it up, the matter of Ye Qingchen tolling the bell twelve times did not spread. Instead, with the tacit approval of the seven Supreme Elders, the news that Ye Qingchen did not toll the bell even once was widely circulated.

Immediately, countless people were in uproar.

"What a joke, Ye Qingchen who was first in the selection didn’t toll the bell even once? Doesn’t that mean his aptitude is the worst?"

"Indeed, back then, the seven Supreme Elders almost drove him out of the Taotian Palace together!"

"Did they drive him out?"

"No! At the last moment, Elder Su from Heaven-Shocking Peak suddenly appeared and let him join Heaven-Shocking Peak!"

"Seems like this kid is merely a fraud! What qualifications does such a person have to join the Taotian Palace, let alone take first in the Taotian Palace selection? He must have cheated! When I see him, I will definitely teach this kid a harsh lesson!"

At this moment.

The initially awe-inspiring Ye Qingchen was suddenly brought down to the mundane by this incident, causing anger among many disciples of the Taotian Palace, many of whom were eager to give him a beating.

Of course.

Ye Qingchen was unaware of the incidents in the Taotian Palace, as he had already returned to Hidden Dragon Mountain, preparing to practice the cultivation technique from the Jade Pupil Scroll.