Bell Blood Resonance

Chapter 7: Bell and Blood Resonance

On the way back from the Sun Star, Taiyi didn't fly fast.

He meandered, as if taking a stroll. It wasn't that slow, he just wasn't rushing like he had been on the way there. As he flew, he pondered what he had seen, heard, and felt in the core of the Sun Star earlier. Those fragmented memories still clung to his mind, flickering back and forth—one moment, the scene of chaos breaking as the Sun Star was born; the next, his own—no, Eastern Emperor Taiyi's—screech as he hatched.

Strange.

Logically, as someone who had transmigrated, he shouldn't have any connection to these ancient beings of the Great Wilderness. Yet, when those memories surged, he actually felt... familiar? It was like looking at old photos from his own album, the edges yellowed, but comforting to see.

By the time he returned to the Sun Palace, the sky was bright.

He pushed open the door. The sleeping quarters were just as he left them, that charred hole still resting on his desk, staring at him like an eye. Taiyi walked over and touched the edge of the hole—the sensation was still hollow, as if whatever belonged there had been gouged out.

He stood for a moment, then walked to the bedside and sat down, crossing his legs.

Time for business.

He closed his eyes, his consciousness sinking into his body. The ball of chaotic True Sun Fire in his Dantian hovered quietly, its intertwined golden and red aura flowing slowly, looking much more pleasing than before. At the center of the fire, the fragment of the Sun Star Origin Mark shone like a small sun, emitting a soft yet resilient radiance.

The Chaos Bell floated nearby.

No, not floating—hovering. It hovered steadily, the three new sun patterns on its surface glowing faintly, flickering as if breathing. Taiyi stared at the bell for a while, a thought crossing his mind, and he tried to communicate with it.

No response.

The Chaos Bell remained as aloof as ever; it wouldn't pay attention unless struck.

Taiyi wasn't in a hurry. He slowly extended his divine sense, gently, like stroking a cat with a bad temper. The moment his divine sense touched the bell's surface, the bell body trembled slightly, emitting a very faint hum—not like resistance, but more like... confirmation?

He continued to probe.

This time, he was even more careful, his divine sense tracing the patterns on the bell, feeling the ancient and complex restrictions inch by inch. He had done this before, but back then, it always felt like there was a layer in between, like looking through frosted glass, blurry and indistinct. Today was different. Wherever his divine sense passed, the structure of the restrictions was clearly reflected in his mind—the path of every pattern, the function of every node, all crystal clear.

Was this the work of the Sun Star Origin Mark?

Or was the Chaos Bell itself willing to let him see?

Taiyi didn't know, nor did he care to delve deeper. He seized the opportunity, his divine sense like silk threads, delving into the bell's interior. The deeper he went, the more complex the restrictions became, layered upon layer, like an endless maze. He patiently unraveled them one by one, passed through them layer by layer.

After an unknown amount of time, his divine sense finally reached the innermost core of the bell.

There hovered a ball of chaotic light.

The light wasn't large, only about the size of a fist, but the aura it emitted was terrifyingly ancient—not the aura of the Great Wilderness, but an earlier, primordial aura from the time of chaos. As Taiyi's divine sense approached, the ball of light trembled violently, and then... it split.

No, it didn't split, it differentiated.

The chaotic light separated into two streams. One was pure, dense Yellow-Chaos energy, the origin of the Chaos Bell as an Innate Supreme Treasure. The other was a dark red, violent, malevolent energy, the residual will of a Chaos Demon God from the Blood Fiend.

The two energies were distinct, each occupying its own space, ignoring the other.

Seeing this, a thought suddenly appeared in Taiyi's mind—what if he could merge them?

Once the thought arose, it couldn't be suppressed.

He tried to activate his divine sense, carefully reaching out to the two balls of light. First, he touched the Yellow-Chaos energy, which was docile and dense, possessing an earth-like inclusiveness. Then he touched the malevolent energy. This touch was disastrous; the dark red ball of light exploded, transforming into countless fine threads that lunged at his divine sense, like hungry wolves upon meat.

Taiyi was startled and quickly retracted his divine sense.

But the threads were relentless, chasing after him. Just as they were about to entangle his divine sense, the Chaos Bell suddenly vibrated!

Clang—

The bell's chime exploded within his Dantian, not an outward roar, but an internal, clear resonance. On the bell's surface, the newly added sun patterns blazed blindingly, golden light surging like a tide towards the malevolent energy.

The dark red threads recoiled as if scalded.

But they didn't give up, darting and weaving within the bell, trying to find an opening to escape. The Yellow-Chaos energy also moved then, spreading out unhurriedly, like an boundless net, gradually enveloping and compressing the malevolent energy.

Watching this scene, Taiyi suddenly understood.

The Chaos Bell was... refining the lingering will of the Blood Fiend?

No, not refining, but taming.

It was forcibly incorporating that violent, chaotic Chaos Demon God's will into its own system, making it a part of the bell's restrictions. This method was extremely overbearing, yet it felt perfectly natural—I swallowed you, so you are mine, whether you like it or not.

Taiyi was happy to watch the show.

He simply hovered there, watching the Yellow-Chaos energy and the True Sun Fire work together, forcing the malevolent energy to retreat steadily. The dark red ball of light shrank smaller and smaller, from the size of a fist to a walnut, then to a peanut. Finally, it completely gave up its resistance, transforming into a thin, dark red thread that obediently merged into the bell's patterns.

That thread followed the path of the sun patterns. Wherever it passed, the edges of the golden patterns gained a dark red halo. The originally radiant and majestic sun patterns now possessed a hint of ferocious malevolence, looking... even more dangerous.

The Chaos Bell vibrated again.

This time, the resonance was different—more profound, heavier, carrying an indescribable ferocity. The light on the bell's surface receded, returning to its ancient yellow-brown hue, but Taiyi could feel that the bell was different now.

It had "come alive."

Before, it was powerful, but it always felt like an inanimate object; it only rang when struck. Now, it was different. There was a vibrant life force within the bell, like a heart beating, steadily and powerfully, with each pulse.

Taiyi tried to touch the bell with his divine sense.

The bell hummed softly, as if responding.

He touched it again.

This time, the bell's chime was clearer, and with a hint of... affection? Like a pet dog seeing its owner, wagging its tail enthusiastically.

Done.

Taiyi's heart relaxed, and he withdrew his divine sense from his dantian, opening his eyes.

The sleeping quarters were the same as always. The daylight outside streamed through the window lattice, casting dappled shadows on the floor. He looked down at his hands—nothing had changed, but he knew he was different now.

The Chaos Bell had truly recognized him as its master.

Not as the Eastern Emperor Taiyi, but as himself.

With a thought, the phantom image of the Chaos Bell appeared beside him, palm-sized, hovering silently. The bell body was ancient, but upon closer inspection, the edges of its patterns faintly pulsed with a dark red, like blood flowing in veins.

"Shrink," Taiyi commanded.

The Chaos Bell vibrated gently, shrinking to the size of a walnut.

"Enlarge."

The bell body expanded, growing to about ten feet in an instant, almost touching the ceiling of the sleeping quarters. The sun patterns on the bell were clearly visible, each one looking as if it were burning.

Taiyi smiled.

It wasn't a smile of forced arrogance, but a genuine, heartfelt smile. This feeling... was good.

He retracted the Chaos Bell and closed his eyes again, preparing to continue his recovery. But as soon as he settled his mind, he felt movement in his dantian.

It was that strand of Chaos True Sun Fire.

It circled the Chaos Bell, faster and faster, like an excited bird. As it circled, the True Sun Fire suddenly split off a strand, as fine as a hair, drifting towards the Chaos Bell. The bell body offered no resistance, allowing the strand of True Sun Fire to seep into it, following the patterns.

Where the True Sun Fire passed, the sun patterns on the bell flared brightly.

Not the gentle light from before, but a fierce, burning light. The entire bell seemed to ignite, a thin layer of golden-red flame rising from its surface. The flame wasn't hot; instead, it exuded a gentle warmth, but Taiyi could feel it—the fire's power had increased by more than a notch.

Bell and fire were resonating.

Taiyi watched silently, not interfering. He could feel the Chaos Bell and the Chaos True Sun Fire adapting to each other, strengthening each other. The bell borrowed the fire's might, and the fire borrowed the bell's foundation. They complemented each other, like a pair of old partners who had worked together for years.

The resonance lasted for about the time it takes an incense stick to burn.

The flames gradually receded, and the bell returned to its original state. But Taiyi knew it was different—within the bell, deep within those sun patterns, now lay a spark of Chaos True Sun Fire. He could ignite it at any time if he wished.

He opened his eyes and raised his right hand.

With a slight thought, a wisp of flame rose from his palm. It was golden-red, the dark red at its core more distinct than before, like ink dropped into clear water, spreading out in wisps. He stared at the flame for a moment, then flicked his finger.

The flame flew out and landed on an unused vase in the corner.

This time, it didn't "erase" the vase directly as it had before.

The flame burned quietly, golden flames enveloping the vase. The vase turned red at a visible rate, softened, and finally melted into a pool of flowing liquid glass. The liquid churned in the flame, purifying, and then reformed—not as a vase, but as a three-inch dagger, entirely crimson, its blade glinting with a dark golden light.

Taiyi beckoned, and the dagger flew back into his palm.

It was warm to the touch, with a moderate weight. He could feel the pure Chaos True Sun Fire flowing within the dagger's body. With a casual wave, the blade cut through the air, leaving a faint golden afterimage that lingered for a long time.

"This is..." He paused.

[Chaos True Sun Fire and Chaos Bell resonance has derived an auxiliary ability: Shaping]

The System's notification chimed in at the opportune moment.

"Shaping?"

[Melting and reshaping matter with True Fire, and imbuing it with partial True Fire characteristics. Current shaping limit: Houtian Spirit Treasure level]

Taiyi held the dagger, and a thought suddenly popped into his mind—this ability was quite interesting.

He walked to the desk and looked at the scorched hole. The edges of the hole were the same as before, hollow. He reached out, palm facing the hole, and activated the Chaos True Sun Fire.

Golden flames surged out, enveloping the entire area of the hole.

This time, he didn't let the flames destroy; instead, he controlled them, repairing it bit by bit. The flames acted like the most skillful craftsman, pulling and reshaping the melted jade around it, filling the void. The process was slow, Taiyi was fully focused, and fine sweat beaded on his forehead.

About half an hour later, the flames receded.

The desk was restored—no, not restored. The repaired area bore a faint golden pattern, like a scar, but the pattern itself was part of the jade, seamlessly integrated.

Taiyi reached out and touched it.

The texture was smooth and warm, no longer hollow.

He stared at the pattern for a moment, then suddenly smiled. This ability could not only shape but also repair—repairing things damaged by the Chaos True Sun Fire.

As he was thinking, a knock came from the door.

"Your Majesty."

It was Fei Lian's voice.

Taiyi put away the dagger and straightened his robes. "Come in."

The door opened, and Fei Lian entered, holding a new jade slip. After entering, he first glanced at the desk—his eyes paused when he saw the repaired hole, but he didn't ask further.

"Lord Bai Ze asked me to deliver this," Fei Lian said, handing over the jade slip. "The specific arrangements for the third lecture at Zixiao Palace, and... the list of attendees."

Taiyi took the jade slip and unfolded it.

The front pages contained the time, location, and precautions for the lecture, written densely over several pages. Flipping to the end, he found the list of attendees. Di Jun, himself, Fuxi, Nuwa—that had been decided long ago. Following them was a string of names, all important officials of the Heavenly Court: Bai Ze, Kunpeng, Ji Meng, Ying Zhao...

"So many people?" Taiyi raised an eyebrow.

"Lord Bai Ze said this sermon is extraordinary," Fei Lian replied, eyes downcast. "The Dao Ancestor will speak of the Quasi-Saint path and might even bestow Saint positions. The Heavenly Court cannot lose face; everyone who should go must go."

Taiyi nodded and closed the jade slip.

"I understand," he said. "Go prepare. We depart in three days."

"Yes."

Fei Lian bowed and retreated.

The door closed again, and silence returned to the sleeping quarters. Taiyi walked to the window, gazing at the sea of clouds outside. The clouds churned, and in the distance, the silhouette of the Sun Star could be seen—the star he had just visited, now radiating endless light and heat.

The third sermon in Zixiao Palace.

The Dao Ancestor, the Quasi-Saint path, Saint positions.

And... a task issued by the System: Sign in at Zixiao Palace, flip the meditation cushion.

Taiyi rubbed his brow.

These days were getting more and more exciting.

He turned back to his couch and sat down cross-legged again. The resonance between the Chaos Bell and the Chaos True Sun Fire had just finished; he still needed to consolidate it. Before closing his eyes, he glanced at the faint golden pattern on his desk.

It had been repaired, but the trace remained.

Just like him—the shell was Eastern Emperor Taiyi's, but the core was Lin Yuan's. No matter how he acted or pretended, the trace was always there, indelible.

However...

If it couldn't be erased, then so be it.

He closed his eyes, a smile curving his lips.

Having some traces made things more real.