Dharma Tool

A new day had dawned.

Li Gan rose as usual, but a flicker of anticipation stirred within him.

Today was different.

The Chenzhong Bell was about to level up.

After washing up, Li Gan arrived early at Chenzhong Terrace.

The sky was barely light.

It was very quiet.

The faint sound of sand falling through the hourglass was crystal clear in Li Gan's ears.

Suddenly, Li Gan grabbed the Striking Pole, braced his waist and back, and with both hands swung and struck in one motion. A clear, resonant bell sound shattered the stillness of the surrounding mountains.

In that instant, the entire Chenzhong Bell erupted with a brilliant light, as if enveloping him entirely.

Li Gan felt as though he were bathing in an endless ocean of bell sounds.

The Internal Qi within him seemed to receive some invisible blessing, and his body involuntarily began to practice the Heartless Sword Art.

Yes, it was that passive.

As if being controlled by an invisible force.

Yet he was incredibly clear-headed, able to perceive every subtle change in his body.

It was extremely wondrous.

"I never thought the mental technique I usually run had some deviations. At this point, I need to pause a beat longer, and here, I need to accelerate. The effect is so obvious."

"This movement requires this exact flow of qi. No wonder it always felt a bit off before, even Master couldn't find the reason. No wonder Master said that any martial art, when practiced differently, will produce different problems—there's never a perfect fit."

He didn't know how long passed. Li Gan's spiritual consciousness was completely immersed in the cultivation being guided by that invisible force.

He was thoroughly enjoying it.

Because he saw all the flaws he had left behind, so many problems and doubts, all being resolved in this moment.

When the bell sound finally faded completely.

Li Gan, as if his Primordial Spirit had returned to its dwelling, fully regained control of his body.

He sensed the changes within him, and his heart was deeply shaken.

His Internal Qi was far more abundant than before.

Moreover, when the Internal Qi circulated, it formed a more perfect Grand Heavenly Cycle.

This meant the Heartless Sword Art had achieved near-perfect compatibility with him.

Suddenly, his mind stirred. He quickly summoned the System Interface to check the latest information.

Host: Li Gan. Cultivation Base: Postnatal Realm (Seventh Layer 11/100). Sacrificial Vessel: Chenzhong Bell (Dharma 0/10000). Martial Arts: Sword Piercing Fist (Perfection), Heartless Sword Art (Great Accomplishment 19/100).

His cultivation base had actually risen by two minor levels, reaching the Postnatal Realm Seventh Layer, with progress at eleven.

As for the Heartless Sword Art, it had also advanced by leaps and bounds, entering the realm of Great Accomplishment.

All of this was caused by the Chenzhong Bell's upgrade.

The upgraded Chenzhong Bell had become a Dharma Tool.

As a Dharma Tool, the Chenzhong Bell's original functions were greatly enhanced. Its defensive and offensive capabilities were naturally much stronger, and it also gained the ability to conceal one's aura.

Furthermore, the Dharma Tool Chenzhong Bell possessed another function—self-repair.

Even if the Chenzhong Bell suffered damage, it could recover.

The most peculiar thing was that the Dharma Tool Chenzhong Bell's self-repair power could also be applied to Li Gan, its Sacrificial Master.

This self-repair was not without limits. Once the Dharma Tool Chenzhong Bell's self-repair power was consumed, it couldn't be used again for a short time, and could only be slowly accumulated.

Even so, it was an incredible ability.

Even if Li Gan suffered a severe, incurable injury, the Chenzhong Bell's self-repair power could still restore him.

Although it was said that as long as the Chenzhong Bell was intact, the Sacrificial Master would not die.

He was, in a way, effectively immortal.

That was only under the condition of not suffering a fatal blow. In reality, under external lethal force, he could still die.

With the Chenzhong Bell's self-repair power, his survivability was greatly enhanced.

"For the Chenzhong Bell to level up again, it needs ten thousand days—that's over twenty-seven years."

Li Gan sighed inwardly. From now on, the time required for the Chenzhong Bell to level up would only grow longer.

Over twenty years—that was no ordinary length of time.

After all, he was only eighteen now.

It had been just over three years since he entered the Divine Sword Sect.

"I wonder how much the upgrade of the Chen Bell will affect my cultivation?"

Li Gan's eyes flickered.

He also felt a bit regretful. Even after the Chen Bell upgraded to a Dharma Tool, it still couldn't shrink. Otherwise, he could have swapped it out.

For the next twenty-plus years, he would have to remain in the Bell Tower.

Over the following few days, he verified the impact of the Dharma Tool Chen Bell on his cultivation one by one.

Relying on the daily Bell Sound for training, his daily cultivation progress returned to about one point.

This speed was terrifying.

Before the upgrade, at the Fifth Layer of Postnatal Realm, he could only increase his progress by one point after two days of training.

Now, at the Postnatal Realm Seventh Layer, cultivation was much harder, yet he could still gain one point per day. This meant the auxiliary effect brought by the Bell Sound was extremely remarkable.

After all, the Medicinal Pills he was using now hadn't changed at all.

The faster the progress, the more blood, qi, and spirit it would inevitably consume.

With the Medicinal Pills unchanged, the only possible source was the Bell Sound.

"From the looks of it, this Chen Bell can absorb unknown energy and transmit it into my body through the Bell Sound, providing blood and qi energy for my cultivation while replenishing my expended spirit."

Li Gan thought to himself.

This meant his reliance on Medicinal Pill resources wouldn't be too great.

After all, taking too many Medicinal Pills would accumulate pill toxins in the body, affecting future cultivation.

Even the highest quality Medicinal Pills were no exception.

That was why the Medicinal Pills Zhou Buping provided him each month were limited in number.

It wasn't that Zhou Buping couldn't afford to give more, but that he worried Li Gan wouldn't resist the short-term benefits of taking Medicinal Pills for cultivation, leading to excessive consumption that would harm his future martial path.

As for the Heartless Sword Art, at Great Accomplishment, it could increase progress by about one point every two days.

He was somewhat looking forward to comprehending Sword Intent after the Heartless Sword Art reached perfection.

A little over a month later.

Afternoon.

A misty rain fell.

Ever since the rainy season began, it had been overcast and drizzling continuously.

Li Gan was picking vegetables in the rain, preparing to cook dinner for himself.

A faint film of qi covered the surface of his body.

He had constructed this using the defensive properties of the Dharma Tool Chen Bell, built from Internal Qi. With his flexible control, the consumption was very low, yet it could block the rain.

Even going out during this rainy season wouldn't soak his clothes or hair.

Just as he was carrying a bamboo basket full of vegetables back to the Bell Tower, he saw someone standing outside, holding an umbrella.

From the back, it seemed to be a woman.

At that moment, the person heard the noise and turned around.

It was actually Song Yingying.

It had been over two years since they last met. Song Yingying no longer had her initial immaturity, but she looked haggard, as if weathered by time.

"Cousin."

Song Yingying spoke.

"Why are you here?"

Li Gan was very surprised.

It had been so long since they last contacted each other that he had almost forgotten about her.

"Did you become an Official Disciple?"

Song Yingying asked.

"Mm."

Li Gan nodded, then entered the Bell Tower.

Song Yingying followed him in, folding and setting down her umbrella.

However, her clothes and hair were still stained with rainwater.

"What do you need from me?"

Li Gan put down the bamboo basket and asked.

"I work in the Laundry Room now."

Song Yingying did not answer directly. Instead, she began to speak of her own circumstances.

"Aren't you at the Hundred Herb Garden?" Li Gan asked in surprise.

"I offended someone. I was demoted to the Laundry Room." Song Yingying gave a bitter smile.

"What happened?" Li Gan looked at Song Yingying. No wonder she appeared so haggard—it was clear at a glance that she was having a very hard time.

"Cousin, I shouldn't have come to you, but I really have no other choice. Back then, I misjudged people. I was too naive and let something slip. That's how I brought this trouble upon myself." Song Yingying's expression darkened as she spoke.

She deeply regretted it now.

If only she had kept in touch with Li Gan back then, once he became an Official Disciple, he would surely have helped her out of consideration for Grandfather's sake.

But there was no medicine for regret in this world.

If it weren't for the fact that she truly couldn't bear it any longer, she wouldn't have had the face to come find Li Gan.

Li Gan knew exactly what Song Yingying was referring to.

Although the person behind that Yi Zhong couldn't do anything to him now that he was an Official Disciple, making life difficult for Song Yingying was effortless.

But the thing was, Song Yingying most likely had no knowledge of the Treasure Map's existence.

After all, the Treasure Map carried too much risk.

One more person knowing meant one more share of danger.

Elder Song understood this best in his heart.

Perhaps in Elder Song's mind, after Li Gan used the Treasure Map to obtain that opportunity, he would, out of respect for him, give Song Yingying a helping hand.