Chu Ning activated his true qi without revealing anything. A faint ripple surfaced from the bell and subtly resonated with the Chaos Divine Order within him for a fleeting instant. Though extremely brief, it was crystal clear.
A storm of turmoil surged through his heart.
"More importantly, it can protect the divine soul." Li Jing'an continued, "If someone probes you with divine sense or casts a soul-seizing technique, this bell will automatically resist and protect your sea of consciousness."
Chu Ning's heart trembled slightly at his words.
Protect the divine soul?
This was an extraordinarily precious treasure.
Especially for a martial artist like him, who had yet to fully mature, encountering an enemy skilled in mental attacks would often leave him defenseless.
"I'll give it to you today." Li Jing'an waved his hand, his tone so casual that it was as if he were giving away an ordinary object.
Chu Ning looked at the Void Spirit Bell in his hand, but his heart was far from at ease.
He narrowed his eyes slightly and secretly speculated:
Li Jing'an has been hiding his cultivation all along. He must have relied on this Void Spirit Bell to conceal his true strength.
But now he's giving it to me without hesitation. Could he have another motive?
But then he thought about it. This was, after all, an enormous boon, and he had no reason to refuse.
With that thought, Chu Ning raised his head and said frankly, "Old Li, then I won't stand on ceremony."
"Heh, you little brat. At least you're not putting on airs." Li Jing'an chuckled.
Chu Ning held the Void Spirit Bell in his palm, closed his eyes, and slowly circulated his true qi, trying to communicate with it.
In an instant, a strange ripple spread from within the bell. He could clearly feel his aura being wrapped in an invisible force, as if his entire body had merged with heaven and earth, becoming ethereal and indistinct.
"This thing... really is mysterious."
Chu Ning marveled inwardly.
However, just as he was sensing the Void Spirit Bell's peculiar nature, he suddenly realized something strange.
He was holding the bell now. By all rights, after Li Jing'an had given it to him, the bell should no longer be able to conceal Li Jing'an's cultivation fluctuations.
Yet Chu Ning still could not sense Li Jing'an's cultivation.
It was as if...
He had no cultivation at all.
Chu Ning froze, then abruptly raised his head to look at Li Jing'an, his eyes filled with confusion.
Li Jing'an noticed Chu Ning's gaze. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly, revealing a meaningful smile.
"What is it, boy? Why are you staring at me?"
Chu Ning frowned. "You already gave me your Void Spirit Bell. Why still can't I sense your cultivation fluctuations?"
Li Jing'an laughed heartily. A trace of smugness colored his expression. Instead of answering immediately, he slowly raised his hand, clenched his fist, and felt the changes within himself.
"Actually, I sensed a trace of resonance from the 'Chaos Origin Qi Refining Method' the moment you entered the door."
Chu Ning was startled, and his heart stirred slightly.
"Though the 'Chaos Origin Qi Refining Method' is simple, its mysteries are endless. Once a practitioner's divine soul reaches the Return to Origin Realm, cultivation methods can resonate with one another. That resonance caused my qi and blood to stir faintly, and the astral qi that had originally stagnated actually loosened a little."
Li Jing'an's gaze was deep, as if recalling the past. "At that time, I knew there might finally be a chance for the bottleneck I had been stuck at for years to loosen. But that alone was far from enough to truly let me break through."
He shook his finger. A faint bite mark still remained on it.
"After your Little White Fox bit me just now, I faintly felt my qi and blood roiling within me. The obstacles that had accumulated over the years actually loosened even further."
He paused, and the smile at the corners of his mouth deepened. "And what ultimately pushed me through was that strike of your Thunderous Force."
Chu Ning's Thunderous Force was domineering and ferocious, containing a unique power of vibration that completely awakened Li Jing'an's vital energy.
Li Jing'an slowly extended his hand and lightly curled his five fingers. The aura around him subtly changed.
"I had been stuck at the high sixth rank for a long time, unable to break through. But under the impact of your Thunderous Force, the astral qi within me finally flowed unobstructed, and I broke through to the fifth-rank realm."
Chu Ning was instantly stunned by his words.
A martial artist's breakthrough often required prolonged accumulation and the right opportunity.
The sixth and fifth ranks were an enormous watershed.
Li Jing'an had actually broken through in an instant because of the resonance between their cultivation methods, a bite from Little White Fox, and the stimulation of his Thunderous Force?
"What is this supposed to be?" Chu Ning asked with a complicated expression. "A resonance between cultivation methods, a bite from a demon beast, and my Thunderous Force—and you just broke through like that?"
Li Jing'an laughed heartily and patted Chu Ning on the shoulder. "You don't understand. This is called destiny's opportunity."
"Once a martial artist reaches the fifth rank, he can conceal his aura on his own and has officially entered the ranks of the strong."
A sharp glint flashed through his eyes.
Chu Ning stared at Li Jing'an in shock, his heart trembling violently.
As the inspector of the First Grade Pavilion, Li Jing'an's strength had already far surpassed that of ordinary sixth-rank martial artists. Now that he had broken through to the fifth rank, his power was likely even more unfathomable.
After pondering for a moment, he smiled and said, "Looks like my Thunderous Force was a considerable help to you."
Li Jing'an chuckled. "Then count it as owing me a favor."
"As for why you could not sense my cultivation even without the Void Spirit Bell's concealment, that's because beneath the fifth rank, all are but ordinary mortals."
"But above the fifth rank, one becomes a true cultivator."
Chu Ning pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded.
The fifth rank meant stepping into the realm of true powerhouses.
And Li Jing'an had finally crossed that threshold.
Looking at Li Jing'an before him, Chu Ning suddenly realized something.
Although he had grown rapidly, there was still a considerable gap between him and true powerhouses.
"Looks like I have to raise my strength as quickly as possible too."
Chu Ning clenched his fists, his gaze resolute.
Li Jing'an reined in his smile and said solemnly, "Wang Li is dead. The Wang family will probably search far and wide for the murderer. The Void Spirit Bell should help you survive this calamity."
He paused, his gaze turning deep. "The Wang family's ancestor is no easy character to deal with. Don't think killing Wang Li will let you rest easy forever. From now on, you must be even more careful."
"I hear the Wang family has a secret deal with the Blood Refining Hall. The Wang family's ancestor is nearing the end of his lifespan, and the Longevity Pill has become his final hope. He is willing to pay any price to seek cooperation with the Blood Refining Hall, even secretly providing living people for pill refinement."
Chu Ning's heart jolted, and a chill flashed through his eyes.
The Blood Refining Hall extracted the qi and blood of living people, its methods cruel to the extreme. The Wang family actually dared to collude with them?
Li Jing'an slowly said, "The Wang family's ancestor, Wang Lin, is said to have lived for nearly two centuries. He should have already passed into dust, but through a special secret art, he has extended his lifespan time and again. If he had not reached the point of his lamp burning dry, he would never have gone this mad."
"He has less than a year left to live."
Chu Ning drew a deep breath and solemnly cupped his fists. "Thank you."
Li Jing'an waved his hand and chuckled. "There's no need to thank me. The most important thing is for you to live well."
Chu Ning nodded, hugged Little White Fox tightly against his chest, and turned to walk away at an unhurried pace.
The night was deep, the stars glimmering here and there, and his figure gradually vanished into the streets and alleys.
Li Jing'an remained where he was, his gaze profound as he watched Chu Ning's departing back and let out a soft sigh. "I hope you can hold out until then..."
Before you continue