Sacrificial Artifact System: From Bell-ringer to the Ancestral Patriarch of the Sect-Chapter 17 Becoming a Disciple

"Senior Brother Yi, I don't understand what you mean."

Li Qian shook his head.

Yi Zhong didn't expect Li Qian to be so unyielding, and his face suddenly turned cold, "Junior Brother Li, you are just a servant disciple, there are certain things you cannot monopolize... Let me clarify something... The item left by Elder Song has caught the eye of a major figure in the Inner Sect."

"Senior Brother Yi, to be honest, I'm still confused about these opportunities you mentioned. After all, I have only been in the Bell Tower for a little over two years, and Elder Song has been gone for so long... Do I really have such a close relationship with him? Why would he entrust me, a stranger, with such an opportunity..."

Li Qian sighed.

"Why did you previously claim Chu Yingying was your cousin? Why hide this?"

Yi Zhong said coldly.

"Senior Brother Yi, you and I are both servant disciples, not in a superior-subordinate relationship, I don't need to explain these things to you."

Li Qian said sternly.

Even if Song Yingying spoke out, he wouldn't admit it anyway.

"Junior Brother Li, consider this carefully."

Yi Zhong, seeing Li Qian remain stubborn, snorted coldly and turned to leave.

"Elder Song, you are really putting me on the spot."

Li Qian, watching Yi Zhong's departing figure, felt quite heavy-hearted.

Because the issue with the treasure map is far from over.

He would rather not want any treasure map because, with the Sacrificial Artifact System, he could rise to prominence without much risk.

But now, a treasure map puts him in a dangerous position.

It is precisely because he is in Divine Sword Sect and serves as the Bell-ringer... The people behind Yi Zhong should not dare to deal with him recklessly yet.

But as time passes, who knows what might happen?

"Does Yi Zhong mentioning a major figure from the Inner Sect scare me, or is it for real?"

He pondered.

The Chores Hall and Inner Sect are not the same thing.

Those in the Inner Sect must be Official Disciples, or higher ranks like True Inheritor, Elder, Peak Master...

To the current Li Qian, these are levels he cannot access at all.

Though he has reached the Martial Artist Level, the First Layer of Post-Heaven, in the Inner Sect, he is merely the lowest level Official Disciple.

"This can't go on, if there really are people from the Inner Sect involved, things will only get more troublesome."

Li Qian took a deep breath, feeling a strong sense of urgency.

All he wanted was to quietly be the Bell-ringer.

Why must troubles always find him?

"It seems I have no choice."

Li Qian finally made a decision.

He knew that with his status as a servant disciple, even with the First Layer of Post-heaven cultivation, he could not defend himself.

Status is insufficient.

Not to mention the Inner Sect Disciples, even the high ranks of Chores Hall could order him around.

Immediately, Li Qian returned to his room, packed up, and left the mountain.

He didn't head to the Chores Hall, but instead went to the valley behind it.

Amidst the valley stood a solitary wooden hut.

Behind the hut, there was a waterfall.

Now, in the dry season, the mountain runoff was minimal, but during the wet season, the waterfall would be magnificent.

From atop the Bell Tower, he could just make out this waterfall.

On the wooden chair outside the hut, a bearded old man lay slumped, his face flushed and smelling of alcohol, clearly drunk.

"Elder."

Li Qian called out.

New novel 𝓬hapters are published on freёwebnoѵel.com.

"Uh uh..."

The old man scratched his nose, then shifted to a more comfortable position.

"Elder."

Li Qian called out again.

"Eh... I'm not deaf, I heard you. What is it?"

The old man, with his face still half-closed, muttered.

"I wish to retest."

Li Qian spoke respectfully.

Yes, he planned to retake the sect's examination, to become an Official Disciple.

But wouldn't becoming an Official Disciple make it inconvenient to stay at the Bell Tower?

Originally, that was his thought.

But the current situation forced him to rethink.

"Retest?"

The old man finally opened his eyes, sizing up Li Qian up and down, "Indeed, you've reached the needed level."

"How old are you?"

He suddenly asked.

"Seventeen years old."

"Been a servant disciple for how many years?"

"Two years, two months, and eleven days."

"Have you practiced martial arts before joining the sect?"

"No, I have not."

"What martial arts are you currently practicing?"

"Sword Stabbing Fist."

"Sword Stabbing Fist?"

The old man suddenly sat up, looking at Li Qian, "This is a basic fist technique. It's exceptionally difficult to reach a level of mastery with this technique alone... At least in the history of Divine Sword Sect, very few have managed... Moreover, achieving this in more than two years' time is impossible."

"Perform a set of Sword Stabbing Fist for the old man to see."

He said after pondering for a moment.

"Yes, elder."

Li Qian immediately assumed the pose, his Inner Qi circulated within his body, driving his fist movements, and an invisible sharp aura emanated.

The elder's originally slightly murky eyes burst with brilliance, "Fist movement?"

"Alright, you need not practice any further."

He said.

"Tsk tsk, to be able to master the most basic fist technique to the Perfect Realm and to comprehend the essence of fist movements, such comprehension is extraordinary. It seems the initial entrance test missed you out."

The elder said in admiration.

He now had no doubt that Li Qian, in a little over two years, could achieve a breakthrough with a basic fist technique.

To master a basic fist technique to the Perfect Realm was a miracle in itself.

"Young man, do you want to take me as your master?"

Suddenly, the elder asked.

Talented individuals with good root bone qualifications are not rare in Divine Sword Sect.

But such high levels of comprehension... those are extremely rare.

In martial arts cultivation, as one reaches higher realms, the mere root bone qualifications become secondary, what truly matters is comprehension.

Li Qian's ability to master a basic fist technique to the Perfect indicates his high level of comprehension, which intrigued him.

"Young man, I still do not know your respected senior's name?"

Li Qian asked respectfully.

"I am simply a gatekeeper of Divine Sword Sect, however, if you take me as your master, you will naturally enjoy the same benefits as other Official Disciples."

The elder said with a smile.

"Disciple Li Qian pays respects to Master."

Li Qian kneeled down without a moment's hesitation.

All he wanted was the status of an Official Disciple; whom he took as a master was irrelevant.

As far as he understood, becoming an Official Disciple did not necessarily mean qualification to take a master.

Most disciples with ordinary qualifications were merely registered under some elder Peak Master.

Only those genuine talents were taken as Direct Disciples by the elder Peak Masters.

This gatekeeper elder... although his status in Divine Sword Sect was not clear, his offer to take Li Qian as his disciple indicated he had the authority to do so.

That point alone was sufficient.

Having a master or not meant a world of difference.

It was like having a backing.

"Good, from now on you are my direct disciple, Zhou Buping."

The elder nodded and said, "My disciple, where were you working before?"

"I was serving as a bell-ringer in the bell tower, Master."

Li Qian replied.

"Then from now on, you'll live here with your master. For the bell tower, have someone else from the Chores Hall take over."

The elder said.

"Master, I would like to continue my cultivation at the bell tower."

Li Qian stated.

"Oh? Why is that?"

Elder Zhou Buping asked.

"Master, the bell tower is very quiet, and... I have adjusted to the life of cultivating through bell ringing."

Li Qian quickly explained.

"Hmm, morning and evening bells, a profound reminder, it purifies the heart. Being alone, enduring the loneliness to practice for over two years and mastering Sword Stabbing Fist to the Perfect Realm, continuing your cultivation at the bell tower indeed brings great benefits."

Elder Zhou Buping nodded and spoke, "However, as an Official Disciple, you should not be held back by menial tasks. Alright, you can stay at the bell tower to cultivate, but if ringing the bell hinders your cultivation, ask the Chores Hall to assign another servant disciple."

"Thank you, Master."

Li Qian quickly said.

He definitely did not want the Chores Hall to send someone else to the bell tower.

After all, he had already regarded the bell tower as his territory.

Chen Bell, his Sacrificial Artifact, he would not allow anyone else to meddle with it.

....