Sign-in, Chaos Bell!

He looked Yan Ning up and down, a flicker of amazement in his eyes. "It's been a while, and your strength seems to have improved quite a bit."

Yan Ning shrugged noncommittally. "It's alright, barely enough to protect myself."

Demon Wheel King's smile faded as he turned serious. "The Star Tower isn't like Flame Sacrifice Continent. It's a mixed bag here—Sealed Kings are as common as hairs on a head, and there are even Sealed King Invincibles stationed inside."

He paused, then proposed, "Want to move together? We can watch each other's backs."

Yan Ning's brow furrowed slightly as he quickly weighed the pros and cons in his mind.

There were benefits to teaming up. Demon Wheel King was no slouch—a High King Peak—and the two of them working together would indeed be safer. He was also more familiar with the Star Tower's interior, able to steer clear of dangerous zones. But the drawbacks were obvious too.

First, he was used to acting alone. And with the Check-in System in play, he still needed to hunt. Having someone tagging along would be inconvenient no matter how he looked at it.

After a moment's thought, Yan Ning shook his head and declined. "Thanks for the offer, but I prefer going solo."

Demon Wheel King seemed to have expected this and didn't press. "Alright, then take care."

He handed Yan Ning a purple crystal. "This is a detailed map of the Star Tower's first three floors. I've marked a few danger zones where Sealed Kings gather."

Yan Ning took the crystal and said sincerely, "Thanks."

"Come back alive for a drink!"

Demon Wheel King waved his hand, turned, and shot off as a streak of light toward another entrance.

Watching his retreating figure, Yan Ning gripped the crystal tight, a glint of excitement flashing in his eyes.

Star Tower, let me see what you've got.

One step, and he entered the Star Tower.

The moment his foot crossed the threshold—

"Ding, congratulations, host. Special location check-in triggered."

"Ding, check-in successful. Congratulations, host, on obtaining the Companion Treasure, Chaos Bell!"

"Ding, the Chaos Bell's current usable rank is Supreme Treasure. It will rise with the host's rank."

"Note: The Chaos Bell is akin to a Companion Supreme Treasure. A treasure has a spirit; it is usable only by the host. If lost, it will autonomously return to its master."

Hum.

The system's words had barely faded when Yan Ning suddenly felt a tremor in his sea of consciousness.

"Dong..."

An ancient, distant bell toll rang deep within his soul, as if crossing endless time and space, echoing from the dawn of chaos itself.

In Yan Ning's sea of consciousness, a bell of pure chaos slowly took shape.

Its surface flowed with countless profound secret patterns, each line seeming to record the birth and destruction of universes.

Around the bell's body swirled faint chaotic currents, now forming stars, now black holes, evolving infinite mysteries.

The Chaos Bell!

"This is..."

Yan Ning's mind shook violently. He could clearly feel the Chaos Bell linked to his soul, as if it were a part of his own body.

Even more astonishing was the aura this ancient bell exuded—far stronger than any treasure he had ever seen!

He had a feeling that even the Star Tower itself couldn't compare to this Chaos Bell!

"A Supreme Treasure!"

Yan Ning sucked in a sharp breath.

After all, even most Universe Venerables only had ordinary treasures. Peak treasures were already coveted by Universe Overlords and even Universe Masters!

As for Supreme Treasures—needless to say, they were the strongest in the universe!

And this Chaos Bell was also a growth-type treasure.

No, to be precise, it was he who limited the Chaos Bell!

The Chaos Bell came from the Primordial World, a top-tier Innate Supreme Treasure.

How could it possibly be limited to the power of a mere Supreme Treasure? That kind of trash had no comparison with the Chaos Bell.

The Chaos Bell was the supreme Creation Saint Artifact of the Primordial World, known as one of the three great Innate Supreme Treasures, possessing immensely powerful abilities.

It held the might to suppress the Hongmeng World, the power to twist the time and space of all heavens, the function to evolve the mysteries of the Heavenly Dao, and the ability to refine earth, water, fire, and wind!

In the Primordial World.

The Chaos Bell's abilities were especially prominent in battle—it could freeze time, suppress space, and rebound any attack from treasures or divine weapons.

These abilities gave its wielder an absolute advantage in combat, making them an invincible existence from birth.

As the saying goes: If I tread on the Taiji Diagram, wear the Chaos Bell on my head, and wield the Pangu Banner in my hand, I'd dare to walk sideways through the entire Primordial World.

"System, you've really given me a huge surprise this time!"

Yan Ning's mind stirred, and the Chaos Bell silently materialized in his palm, no larger than a fist, yet radiating a pulse that made one's heart tremble.

He gave it a gentle shake.

Whoosh!

A silent ripple spread outward, instantly freezing the surrounding space—even the dust motes hung motionless in the air!

"What terrifying suppressive power!"

A sharp gleam burst from Yan Ning's eyes.

He hadn't even activated it; just an ordinary shake produced this level of might!!

He'd envied the future Luo Feng for having the Star Tower.

But now? Envy my ass!

No matter how strong the Star Tower was, could it compare to my Chaos Bell?

Most importantly, this thing was innately bound to its master—others couldn't use it even if they got their hands on it, and if lost, it would return on its own.

Absolutely perfect.

Yan Ning carefully sensed the Chaos Bell, a wondrous connection flowing between him and this supreme treasure.

It wasn't a simple master-artifact bond, but something deeper—a resonance almost like blood kinship.

He could clearly see...

At the core of the Chaos Bell, a hazy radiance of spirit pulsed, pure and vast like a newborn star.

"So this is... the Artifact Spirit?"

Yan Ning tentatively touched that glow with his consciousness.

Hum...

The Chaos Bell trembled lightly, sending back a warm energy filled with affection and joy, like an infant meeting its closest kin.

Though unable to communicate in words, Yan Ning could understand every one of its emotions.

Yan Ning marveled inwardly.

The spirit of this Chaos Bell far surpassed ordinary treasures. If not for the rules limiting it from speech, it could probably converse with him directly!

He'd never read in any novel that the Chaos Bell possessed such a level of spirit.

Could it be because the Heavenly Dao of the Primordial World was too strong, suppressing everything to the max?

Now, in this Devouring Starry Sky world, without that suppression, its spirit had instead grown stronger.

Or was it the system's doing?

Yan Ning had no way to guess.

But he knew one thing—from now on, he was invincible!

Even if a Universe Venerable came, with the Chaos Bell over his head, he'd absolutely be able to escape.

Dwelling no further, he willed the Chaos Bell into his brow.

With the Bell's protection, soul-type secret arts were nothing to fear.

Since that was the case, he had nothing to be afraid of.

Time to start cutting loose!

The Star Tower, nine levels, was like a super skyscraper, and right now he felt as if he were inside one of its rooms.

Of course, "room" wasn't quite the right word.

It was more accurate to call it a Forbidden Space.

Each Forbidden Space connected to others.

And each of these spaces was constantly shifting.

Once inside, retracing your steps back was impossible.

But getting out was simple—just use Divine Kingdom Teleportation.

Within this space, movement was restricted.

Teleportation couldn't exceed the bounds of this space.

Detectors and the like were also limited.

He flew forward for a while.

Suddenly!

Boom!!

The ground shook violently!

He stopped immediately.

Frowning, he looked down—then his expression shifted, and he shot upward without hesitation.