I Can Strengthen Infinitely-Chapter 83 - 76: Soul-Swaying Bell

Soul-Swaying Bell, a tool-based Exorcism Skill, is shaped like a golden bell tied with a red string.

According to the booklet, the Soul-Swaying Bell can inflict significant damage on vengeful spirits. Once shaken, the spirits reveal themselves, and it may even cause them to dissipate.

However, its production cost is considerable. To create a Soul-Swaying Bell, one needs eight taels of gold and a large piece of jade, not to mention other rare and valuable materials.

For some ordinary members of the Chang’an Seven Stars Bureau, the Soul-Swaying Bell might not be the best choice. Techniques like Black Dog Boxing Skill, Purple Qi Eyes, and the Song of Noble Spirit are more cost-effective.

But for Qin Yuesheng, tool-based Exorcism Skills suit his current needs better.

Because with tool-based Exorcism Skills, as long as you spend enough money to buy materials, you can produce them indefinitely.

What is more effective than one Soul-Swaying Bell?

That would be two Soul-Swaying Bells, five Soul-Swaying Bells, or even ten Soul-Swaying Bells.

"How long will it take for me to get the manufacturing method? Do you have one ready-made?" Qin Yuesheng asked.

"If you choose something else, sir, I would have to apply to the Chang’an Seven Stars Bureau headquarters for supplies. But the Soul-Swaying Bell, I happen to have in stock here."

Xu Chang walked into the pawnshop’s warehouse, where unbeknownst to anyone, an underground chamber was hidden, housing the true treasures of this Li Lai Pawnshop, reserved for exchange by the Seven Stars Bureau members.

Soon, Xu Chang came out from the warehouse holding a scroll.

"Sir, please take a look and see if there are any problems."

Qin Yuesheng took it, unrolled the scroll.

It began with a detailed description of the materials needed to make the Soul-Swaying Bell and their respective quantities. It also included various manufacturing techniques, procedural steps, and necessary production tools, all written in great detail. Qin Yuesheng reviewed it: "No problem."

"Sir, I need to remind you of one thing. Any blueprint exchanged from the Seven Stars Bureau must not be taught to outsiders or shared with others. If discovered, the consequences will be troublesome," Xu Chang warned.

"I understand that," Qin Yuesheng nodded. "How do I account for this blueprint? How much resentment must I deduct?"

"Sir, trading with this Ghost Embryo will suffice."

Qin Yuesheng unceremoniously placed the Soul-Swaying Bell blueprint in his pocket: "Alright, by the way, do you know about Bai Hao’s situation? I’ve heard he’s gone out to find his disciple. What is the current status, and why did Xu Jin secretly give me that note last night? Has anything happened in Cyan Yang City?"

Xu Chang replied, "I am not entirely sure about this matter. Yesterday, Master Bai Hao sent me a message saying that many foreign entities might have infiltrated Cyan Yang City with unclear objectives. He also wrote a note to remind you, sir, if you notice anything strange in the city, you might want to investigate a little."

"What is this foreign entity?"

"It’s something that remains undetermined whether it’s human or ghostly. According to numerous investigations by Seven Stars Bureau members, wherever these entities appear, mysterious occurrences will follow. It’s unclear whether they bring these occurrences with them or create them."

Hearing Xu Chang’s words, Qin Yuesheng’s mind immediately recalled the faceless coffin bearer Du Beilun mentioned, and the small boat Gao Peng from Baihe Village spoke of.

It was their appearance that led to white faces possessing Cyan Yang City’s citizens, causing havoc, and the water corpses in Suzhou Fishing Bay harming people.

Could these be the foreign entities?

Qin Yuesheng then relayed this information to Xu Chang, whose expression instantly turned serious.

"There’s no mistake; what you mentioned, sir, must be the foreign entities. It looks like they have already taken action." Xu Chang immediately said, "I must report this to Chang’an to deploy more personnel and investigate the true purpose of these entities’ arrival in Cyan Yang City."

After talking with Xu Chang for a while, Qin Yuesheng left Li Lai Pawnshop. As a member of the Seven Stars Bureau, Xu Chang would send someone to inform Qin Yuesheng of any new information.

In the presence of foreign entities and supernatural threats, all members of the Seven Stars Bureau must work together, taking the safety of the people as their responsibility.

Qin Yuesheng’s home was in Cyan Yang City. If these entities were indeed planning something big, the Qin family would certainly be affected, so Qin Yuesheng was determined to assist the Seven Stars Bureau in contributing his efforts.

Back at Qin Mansion, Qin Yuesheng transcribed the materials listed in the blueprint and let Cao Zhengchun procure them. Some materials were so rare that Qin Yuesheng doubted whether Cao Zhengchun could even find them.

With a piece of news from Bai Hao, Qin Yuesheng realized that Cyan Yang City wasn’t as peaceful as it seemed; undercurrents were surging.

To prevent his family from being threatened, Qin Yuesheng decided to prepare a Soul-Swaying Bell for Qin Feng and Duan Hongjin. He would also save one for Su Lanyin, his future wife; he wanted to treat her well, and since the Qin family was prosperous in Cyan Yang City, it wouldn’t hurt to have one for her as well.

"If this thing cannot be taught to others, does it mean I have to learn how to make it myself?" Qin Yuesheng muttered.

Fortunately, the super auxiliary tool had a breakdown function. Otherwise, who knew how long it would take Qin Yuesheng to fully learn to make a Soul-Swaying Bell. So, Qin Yuesheng directly decomposed the blueprint.

Acquired skill ’Hammer Mastery x1’

Acquired skill ’Temperature Control x1’

Acquired skill ’Quenching Master x1’

Acquired skill ’Precision Polishing x1’

Acquired skill ’Secondary Processing x1’

Acquired skill ’Pattern Carving x1’

...

Qin Yuesheng never imagined that decomposing a Soul-Swaying Bell blueprint would yield so many things.

The number was terrifyingly large. Carefully counting, there were as many as nineteen light clusters, all of them crafting abilities needed to make the Soul-Swaying Bell.

Qin Yuesheng crushed them one by one, and suddenly his mind was filled with new knowledge, providing him with deep insight and understanding of how to create a finished Soul-Swaying Bell.

At this moment, Qin Yuesheng could entirely rely on his skills to craft a Soul-Swaying Bell by himself.

The breakdown function was terrifyingly effective.

"The key to the Soul-Swaying Bell lies in the lightning-struck wood, dried under the scorching sun. When this wood is combined with gold and some other materials, it generates sound waves potent enough to terrify vengeful spirits."

Qin Yuesheng rubbed his chin: "Everything else is manageable; it’s just that this lightning-struck wood is hard to find."

Lightning-struck wood, as its name implies, is wood that has been struck by lightning.

Such wood retains a trace of electric energy, making it an excellent material to subdue supernatural threats.

Ordinary people can place a piece of lightning-struck wood at home to prevent minor spirits from visiting. Of course, with Qin Yuesheng’s luck, obtaining evil-suppressing iron and holy relics from monks would enhance the exorcism effect even further.

...

The night was dark and the wind high.

On the dirt path overgrown with wild grass, trees on both sides had branches and leaves growing very chaotically, swaying in the night breeze, casting eerie shadows on the ground.

A handsome scholar walked briskly along the path, his back straight, face fearless, entirely unaffected by the surrounding scenery.

On his back was a bamboo pack from which an arm-like iron rod extended, with a red candle firmly lodged at its end.

By the candlelight, the scholar tightly gripped a book of poetry, utterly focused, with an exceptionally concentrated expression.

"What bad luck, I’ve come all this way and haven’t seen a single place to rest. I don’t even know if I can reach Cyan Yang City by tomorrow if I continue walking like this," the scholar complained bitterly after some time, putting down the book in his hand.

Without a place to rest, he’d have to stay in the wild countryside, which was unacceptable to the scholar.

He’d rather walk until dawn than sit casually on a patch of muddy ground and get his clothes dirty.

About two or three miles later, a house with lights shining finally appeared on the distant road.

The young man’s fatigued body and mind were instantly invigorated, and he hurriedly quickened his pace towards it.

Upon getting closer, the young man realized that this place was a long-abandoned temple, with numerous cracks all over its walls, and an aura of decay greeted him.

The signboard on the temple gate was so seriously faded that the large characters on it were completely unreadable.

"Is there anyone here?" Looking at the light emanating from the temple, the young man asked, standing at the entrance.

Receiving no response, he gathered his courage and walked inside.

Upon entering the grand hall, he saw three white candles flickering under a Buddha statute that had lost its head.

A woman wearing a white gauze dress was lying beneath the Buddha platform, seemingly asleep.

The woman’s figure was well-proportioned, her skin fair and beautiful. Her bare feet, under the candlelight, appeared flawless, comparable to a craftsman-carved jade.

Perhaps having heard footsteps from outside, the woman slowly opened her eyes. Her jet-black hair hung loose without a tie, cascading down, and as she propped her upper body up with her arms and sat up, her elegance became even more apparent, pure and lovely.

"Sir, are you here to rest?"

"I am." The scholar walked into the hall and found a clean spot not far from the light to sit, then took out the book from his pack and began reading again.

"Are you heading to the capital to gain academic achievements?"

The woman sat up, her bare feet swaying beneath the Buddha platform, with the white gauze lightly fluttering, her long charming figure indeed very distracting.

The scholar was but human; he couldn’t help but feel affected by this, but his heart held reading above all else; pursuing academic achievements, making the honor roll, and returning home in glory were the proper paths for a scholar. He quickly turned away, facing his back toward the woman, and continued to nod and sway his head in study.

The woman saw this scene and couldn’t help but let out a soft, gentle laugh, sounding particularly light and ethereal.

"Sir, do I look too frightening?"

"No, miss, you’re as beautiful as a fairy."

"Then am I thick-wasted, calves fat, surrounded by a stench?"

"No, miss, you’re very good."

"Then why are you unwilling to look at me?"

"I... I have to read, why should I look at you?"

The woman jumped down from the Buddha platform and walked straight towards the scholar; when close, she showed no regard for gender propriety, directly kneeled beside him, tilted her head, and teasingly laughed sweetly, "Sir, what’s your name?"

"My name is Qin Hai." The scholar, staring intently at the book, responded with a slightly tremulous voice, seemingly somewhat nervous.

"My name is Ning Chu; you can call me Xiaochu."

"No, no." Qin Hai immediately shook his head as if it were a rattle: "I have to read. Please don’t talk to me anymore."

Suddenly, Ning Chu grabbed Qin Hai’s face with both hands, turning his whole face to meet her eyes.

In the deep night, the wild countryside.

Lonely boy and girl, eyes meeting.

This scene was even more ambiguous.

A strange atmosphere suddenly permeated.

"Sir..."

Ning Chu wistfully whispered, her eyes faintly glowing with a hint of purple.

Qin Hai’s gaze initially seemed quite clear, but after one or two blinks, he began feeling dazed, his whole expression appearing sleepy.

"Sir, ten years of study just to achieve academic success must be hard; why not have a grand dream with me here..."

"Uh..." Qin Hai’s expression turned blank as he murmured something unknown, slowly letting go, and the book he was tightly holding suddenly fell to the ground.

"Alright..." After thinking for quite a while, he finally responded.

Suddenly, everything in front of him changed in the blink of an eye.

A sea of red.

On the beam, red brocade silk.

On the wall, large red wedding characters.

On the Buddha platform, hundreds of red candles.

On the ground, a big red quilt bed.

And before him, a beautiful bride adorned with a phoenix crown and embroidered cape, gentle and lovely.