Bell Ringing

Bell Ringing

"It was definitely different. We were only Menial Disciples, while they were Official Disciples. Their treatment and conditions were far better. Official Disciples themselves had greater aptitude than us. I heard that, on average, an Official Disciple could find Qi Sensation within a month. If they were top-tier geniuses, they could do it in just a few days. In martial arts cultivation, without talent, hard work alone was of little use. For all you knew, they worked harder than you did and had ample cultivation resources besides."

Elder Song said with a chuckle, "As Menial Disciples, we must know contentment. Do not aim too high; only pursue what lies within your abilities."

"Elder Song, I'll remember that."

Li Gan hurriedly replied.

Old Menial Disciples like Elder Song had vast experience and knowledge. His words struck straight to the heart of the matter.

Elder Song smiled. Li Gan was behaving well enough now, but people changed—especially youngsters like him, brimming with ambition and always wanting to climb higher to become Official Disciples, without knowing the perils involved or how many had fallen upon that path.

He had seen far too many of them.

Li Gan was not the first Menial Disciple to come to Chenzhong Terrace.

Unfortunately, none could endure this lonely, bitter, tedious job with no prospects and no benefits. In the end, they all pulled strings to transfer elsewhere.

Now, it only remained to be seen how long Li Gan could hold out.

"Li Gan, you've learned quite a bit from this old man these past two days. Tomorrow's Mao Bell will be entrusted to you."

Elder Song's tone suddenly turned stern.

Though being a Bell Ringer was not heavy labor, one could not lose focus. The bell had to be struck once every two hours—neither early nor late.

If one missed the proper time to ring the bell and the Divine Sword Sect's inspectors discovered it, punishment would follow.

Elder Song had become a Bell Ringer in his teens. He had struck the bell for a full sixty-four years, never once making a mistake, whether in scorching summer, freezing winter, thunderstorms, or raging gales.

Li Gan was sleeping soundly and hazily when a voice called him awake.

He jolted upright and sprang from the bed.

"E-Elder Song."

He remembered that he was supposed to ring the bell today.

Without an alarm clock, he had slept too deeply and had no idea what time it was.

"To become a Bell Ringer, the first thing you must learn is how to manage your sleeping schedule: sleep on time, wake on time."

Elder Song said, "Of course, you have only just become a Bell Ringer, so you certainly won't be used to it yet. For some time to come, you must make your sleep schedule regular."

"Elder Song, I understand."

Li Gan hurriedly got up and dressed.

Outside, it was still pitch-black.

The weather carried a faint chill at this hour.

Late autumn was approaching.

The first thing Li Gan did after getting up was check the Hourglass to determine the time.

Together with Elder Song calling him, it was now the fifth quarter of Yin Hour—around four ten in the morning.

There were still more than forty minutes before the Mao Bell was to be struck.

After washing up, he went to the Bell Tower.

Elder Song was already there.

He stood like a pine. Though his face was aged, his back remained ramrod straight.

What level had Elder Song's martial arts Cultivation Base reached?

From what Li Gan currently knew, martial arts were divided into nine ranks.

Cultivating Internal Qi made one a first-rank martial artist.

Though it was only first rank, for Menial Disciples, it was likely the ultimate goal.

After all, from developing Qi Sensation to cultivating Internal Qi, there were still several hurdles to cross.

Li Gan began bustling about.

He needed to inspect the Hourglass.

There was an Hourglass below the Bell Tower and another one up in the tower.

After confirming that there was nothing wrong with the Hourglass, Li Gan waited.

For some reason, a faint trace of nervousness rose within him.

This was his first time ringing the bell.

When the seventh quarter of Yin Hour arrived, Elder Song, who had stood motionless all along, finally turned around and looked at Li Gan. "You may prepare now."

Li Gan nodded.

He took his position by the Striking Pole.

Because the Chen Bell was so large, the Striking Pole was no small thing either. It was roughly a zhang long and thicker than a man's thigh.

Who knew what kind of wood it had been made from? One look was enough to tell that it was incomparably hard and heavy.

The spot on the Chen Bell where it was struck bore visible marks.

Yet the Striking Pole itself showed no obvious wear.

He assumed his stance, lowered his waist into a horse stance, adjusted his breathing rhythm, placed both hands on the thick Striking Pole, and slowly pushed it.

For now, he was merely adjusting and getting familiar with it.

"While adjusting, never take your eyes off the Hourglass. Only then can you accurately grasp the time to ring the bell."

Elder Song reminded him.

Li Gan nodded.

He fixed his gaze on the Hourglass not far away and watched as the fine sand within steadily dwindled.

It should run out in only a few minutes.

Once it ran out, it meant Mao Hour had arrived.

Second by second, time passed.

Li Gan could hear his own heartbeat.

Suddenly, only a thread of fine sand remained in the Hourglass.

"Strike!"

Elder Song shouted.

Li Gan abruptly swung his arms and pushed the Striking Pole backward. After several swings, its arc became broad enough. Then, using all the strength in his body, he sent the Striking Pole crashing at top speed into the Chen Bell.

A deep, muffled Bell Sound rang out, spreading toward every peak of the Divine Sword Sect.

The final thread of sand in the Hourglass fell into the lower chamber.

The timing was perfect.

Mao Hour had arrived.

At the same time, a mechanical voice sounded in Li Gan's mind.

"Ding. Sacrificial Artifact System activated. Binding host."

Startled out of his wits, Li Gan lost his footing. With both hands still gripping the Striking Pole, his body was dragged by the tremendous force of its swing, and he involuntarily fell backward.

Fortunately, Elder Song reacted quickly. One hand steadied the Striking Pole while the other grabbed Li Gan by the collar.

It was one thing for Li Gan to fall, but with the Striking Pole swinging so widely, it might very well strike the Chen Bell a second time.

If it rang a second time, that would count as an accident.

"Li Gan, what happened to you? Your first time ringing the bell, and you nearly caused a major problem."

Seeing Li Gan's still bewildered face, Elder Song spoke in a low voice.

"Elder Song, I..."

Li Gan could not possibly say that a strange voice had suddenly appeared in his mind and scared him senseless.

"Be more careful next time."

Elder Song did not say anything further.

"Yes, Elder Song."

Li Gan nodded hurriedly.

"Alright, hurry and prepare for the Chen Hour bell."

Elder Song waved a hand.

Li Gan immediately got busy.

Once he had finished, Elder Song inspected everything as well and found no problems.

"From now on, you must gradually adapt to this kind of life. You cannot relax in the slightest, but neither should you be too nervous."

Elder Song instructed.

"Elder Song, I will."

Li Gan listened earnestly.

After Elder Song went to prepare breakfast, Li Gan stood beside the Chen Bell and recalled the voice that had appeared in his mind.

Suddenly, it was as if an illusion had appeared before his eyes. Everything in his vision gradually blurred.

Panic rose in his heart, and he hurriedly tried to rub his eyes. But in the next moment, his blurred vision became clear again.

A small screen of light had appeared directly before his eyes.

Several lines of text appeared on the small screen.

Host: Li Gan.

Cultivation Base: None.

Sacrificial Tool: Chen Bell (Mortal 1/100).

Martial Arts: None.

Traits: The Chen Bell shall not break, and the Sacrificial Master shall live forever; strike it once daily to refine the Dao-Guardian Bell; the Bell Sound can bring enlightenment, cleanse the body, and refine Qi.