The Sound of the Heavenly King Bell

Gu Yuanqing returned to the Courtyard and continued to refine his Cultivation Method. Hearing the sound, he used his Mountain-Contemplation Method to look outside and said calmly, "Your sect Sect Master is preparing to stay in the Mountain for a while, so Fellow Daoist Friend need not wait outside any longer."

The voice rang directly in Kuang Tongyi's ears. His heart tightened, and he guessed what was going on. He gritted his teeth and said, "Daoist Friend, could you please have the Sect Master come out and speak?"

Gu Yuanqing snorted lightly, raised his hand and waved it. The power of North Spring Mountain, using the Heavenly Fishing Method, broke through space and attacked Kuang Tongyi.

Kuang Tongyi ignited his Dao Fire and swung his palm to meet the attack, but his True Essence and Divine Intent were suppressed in an instant. When the force hit him, he groaned and flew backward like a shrimp for dozens of feet, crashing into tree roots and trees before rolling to the ground, blood already hanging from the corner of his mouth.

Just then, Gu Yuanqing's voice rang in his ears. "I once said that if your Lingxu Sect comes again, I will show no mercy. You seem to have forgotten, so let me teach you a lesson. Get lost, or the next blow won't be this powerful!"

Kuang Tongyi was somewhat shocked. Just a few months ago, he could fight Gu Yuanqing, but now he couldn't even withstand a single palm strike. He was like an ant in front of him.

"Daoist Friend, I..." He stood up, wanting to speak, but another palm struck. His expression changed drastically, and he once again channeled his Dao Fire to fight back, but he was immediately suppressed just like before. With a loud bang, his body flew backward and crashed into the rocks, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

His face was slightly pale. After getting up, he dared not speak again. He glanced at North Spring Mountain and turned away.

Gu Yuanqing indifferently withdrew his gaze. After several such encounters, he grew increasingly disliked the Lingxu Sect.

They beat up the younger one, then the older one comes along; it never ends.

In the Demon Realm, he had many things to consider, but in the Floating World, he didn't have so many things to worry about.

As for the relationship between Kuang Tongyi and him, it was considered repaid when he gave up the chance to seize the Sky Burning Tower, and now they have nothing to do with each other.

Li Shi'an and Ji Dai witnessed this series of events and were shocked that Kuang Tongyi couldn't even withstand a single move. They knew they were no match for Kuang Tongyi, which meant that they would be in the same situation.

Since becoming Dao Fire Realm Cultivator, I thought I was among the pinnacle of this world, but today I realize how weak I truly am.

"From this moment on, the world has completely changed!" Li Shi'an murmured.

The sky used to belong to the Lingxu Sect, but now it belongs to Gu Yuanqing.

This illegitimate son of the Prince's Manor family, who was only Origin Scholar two years ago, was said to have been too afraid to even leave the mountain when Zuo Qiu came to test him a few months ago.

Today, even the Peak Cultivator in this world cannot withstand a single move from him.

The Lingxu Sect Ancestor, who had suppressed this realm for hundreds of years, and the unknown senior of the Lingxu Sect who arrived this morning, all perished on this North Spring Mountain.

The two looked up at the mountain, Great Mountain was shrouded in Cloudmist and mist, making it difficult to see clearly, but it seemed to appear even more majestic.

"Yes, I really want to go up and take a look."

Ji Dai said softly, he even regretted not having gone into the mountains with Li Shi'an to see the true face of this Young Master Gu.

Suddenly, he chuckled and said, "Brother Li, as the saying goes, 'When one attains enlightenment, even his chickens and dogs ascend to heaven.' I've heard there's a deaf-mute old woman in these Mountain. Don't tell me that many years from now, the two of us won't even be a match for her?"

Li Shi'an was stunned for a moment and didn't speak. He thought of Gu Yuanqing's invitation that he could go up the mountain at any time, and he really wanted to go up and take a look, but given the current situation, it wasn't appropriate.

Putting aside the fact that Gu Yuanqing claims to be closing the Mountain Sealing for cultivation, given the entanglement between the Lingxu Sect and Gu Yuanqing, if he goes up the mountain and then comes down again, he might get caught up in the conflict and find himself in a difficult position.

The Li Family ancestors had a close relationship with the Lingxu Sect Ancestor. If they truly saw these two imprisoned by Gu Yuanqing, would they plead for their lives?

He knew he didn't have the nerve to plead for mercy!

If I don't plead for leniency, how can I get past this mental hurdle?

Rather than doing that, it's better to stay out of it.

He wondered what Gu Yuanqing would do if he knew that Gu Yuanqing had a son in the Imperial Palace. He didn't know what the emperor was thinking and hadn't made a decision yet. This was a family matter, and even as his grandfather, it wasn't appropriate for him to interfere.

In fact, he had guessed why the emperor was so hesitant. If Gu Yuanqing found out that his son was in the Imperial Palace, he might make him change his surname back to Gu. Then, if the Li Family wanted the Imperial Throne again, what would they do?

How can we explain to our Li Family that centuries-old dynasties have changed hands so drastically?

The higher Gu Yuanqing's cultivation level, the more cautious we need to be about this matter!

noon.

Gu Yuanqing asked Aunt Feng to prepare food for both of them and send it to Xing Fei and Lu Jianqiu.

After the meal, the two visited Gu Yuanqing's courtyard again, but after only sitting for a short while, they dared not disturb him any further and got up to leave.

Zhang Xuanlin and Ji Qingyun did not want to meet Gu Yuanqing, and Gu Yuanqing was happy with that, at least for the time being, he did not need these two.

Gu Yuanqing was so engrossed in deducing the Cultivation Method that he spent the entire day in the Courtyard.

As he continued to practice in the Spirit Stone Trials, his mental cultivation techniques became more and more perfect, yet many inspirations still frequently surfaced.

In the evening, the Iron Eater Ancestor Xiong Ba and the Great Gong Venerable Meng San rode on clouds back to Bamboo Mountain.

In the afternoon, Xiong Ba had a great time collecting rent and reaped a rich harvest. Several Demon Race who claimed they couldn't pay their rent tried every means to gather around him as soon as they saw him arrive.

Feeling confident about his performance that day, he spent the entire time sharing his experience with the Great Gong Venerable.

The Great Gong Venerable was confused, as it was completely different from what it had learned before. However, it dared not contradict the ancestor and could only listen.

As Xiong Ba walked back, he became less and less talkative, and as he approached Bamboo Mountain, he even began to feel uneasy.

You see, the boss has always forbidden it from getting involved in rent collection, saying it's too stupid and stubborn, doesn't know its own strength when it gets going, and that its cultivation has ruined its brain.

But then I thought about what I'd gained today, how I'd even settled the Land Rent with the Human Race kid, and how I'd brought back such delicious bamboo. Surely the boss couldn't scold me anymore, could he? Besides, when it comes to being stupid, is that silly bear Meng San any smarter than me?

It descended from the clouds and landed on the Bamboo Mountain.

After passing through the Mountain Protecting Great Formation, the gate patrolman was a strong, Iron Eater Beast wielding a long spear and covered in armor.

The beast grinned, revealing its gleaming white teeth, upon seeing Xiong Ba.

"The old master is back! Did collecting rent go smoothly today?"

"Of course!" Xiong Ba stood up, his short hands behind his back.

The old clan chief said that you should go see it immediately upon your return.

Xiong Ba's expression changed slightly, and he no longer sat up straight.

As it traveled upwards, it occasionally greeted the pandas, both large and small, who were happily digging for and eating bamboo shoots along the way.

As it neared the summit, it saw a large, old bear standing there.

Xiong Ba immediately forced a smile, "Boss, I heard you were looking for me?"

"Come here."

The old clan chief waved his hand.

Xiong Ba stepped forward.

Suddenly, the old patriarch swung his bear paw out, the sharp claws tearing cracks in the air.

Xiong Ba couldn't dodge in time and was struck in the chest by the palm. In an instant, a force emanated from its back, and it rushed out of the Bamboo Mountain, crashing into the Mountain Protecting Great Formation.

The Mountain Protecting Great Formation shook, transforming from formless and colorless into a tangible form, like a dome enveloping the entire Great Mountain.

The shaking of the Grand Formation caused the entire Bamboo Mountain to tremble twice.

The young Iron Eater Beast was so frightened that it threw down the bamboo shoot in its hand and tried to hide.

The older ones merely glanced up and continued eating; the more they ate, the faster their cultivation would increase.

Xiong Ba Mao's face was almost bulging out. After a moment, he coughed twice and said, "Boss's strength has increased again, but you'd better not fight too much. After all, you're getting old."

"What, you think you can beat me?" The old clan chief's ears perked up.

"No, no, how could I possibly be your match?"

The old clan chief sneered, "Listen to me carefully: you're not allowed to interfere in rent collection matters from now on, or I'll lock you up in the Bear Prison and not let you eat for a year."

Xiong Ba tucked his ears in, immediately losing his mood. "I know."

"Alright, tell me, what did you find today?"

Xiong Ba rubbed his stomach and recounted what had happened, concluding, "That mountain was indeed strange. I originally intended to go in and take a look, but the mere thought made me uneasy. However, the Human Race's bamboo was quite delicious, and I sensed that he harbored no ill will towards my Iron-Eating Tribe. Not wanting to cause any trouble, I simply agreed. That Human Race must have thought he got a great deal."

The old clan chief snorted coldly, "You're not completely stupid. Bring out that bamboo and let me try it."

Xiong Ba took one out from his storage.

The old clan chief roared, "Take more!"

Xiong Ba reluctantly took out a few more.

The old patriarch ate a large meal, his eyes almost closed, and after a moment, he looked at Xiong Ba with lingering satisfaction.

Xiong Ba immediately retreated a considerable distance, saying warily, "I only have fifty jin. This is a gift to me, not rent from the clan."

The old patriarch gave a light snort before saying, "Although this bamboo is not of high grade, it contains Dao Resonance, and its value is no less than that of high-grade Demonic Bamboo. If you eat it for a long time, you may be able to comprehend the Dao Resonance within it, so it's not a loss. Anyway, our clan's territory is very large, only a thousand miles, so it doesn't matter. You were smart enough this time not to be fooled."

Xiong Ba immediately straightened up and grinned, "Of course!"

"By the way, what's the name of that Human Race?"

"Oh? I forgot to ask."

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking.

Xing Fei and Lu Jianqiu arrived at the courtyard, not daring to utter a sound, and waited quietly.

Gu Yuanqing knew the two had come to say goodbye, so he didn't keep them waiting long. After the Demon Realm, the Demon Realm was much safer during the day than at night. At night, perhaps due to the influence of the Blood Moon, the ferocious beasts and Demon Beast in the Mountain were much more ferocious, and all sorts of fighting were quite normal. On the contrary, during the day, the entire Great Mountain seemed much quieter.

Come in!

Gu Yuanqing stood in the courtyard, and with a thought, the courtyard gate opened.

Xing Fei and Lu Jianqiu entered the courtyard, clasped their hands in greeting, and bowed, saying, "Seniors, we've come to take our leave."

"Then I wish you both a safe journey. By the way, take this map and take a look; it might be useful."

Gu Yuanqing handed over a piece of paper.

Xing Fei took the map with both hands. He saw a line drawn on it, with markings on both sides indicating the presence of Demon Beast in the Mountain. He was delighted; this map was far more detailed than the one he already had. With this, their chances of reaching Lanting City were greatly increased.

Moreover, it is obvious that the brushwork in this painting is very fresh, clearly indicating that it was painted specifically for the two of them.

The two exchanged a glance, then knelt down. "Thank you so much, senior. We can only repay this great kindness in the future."

A surge of energy helped the two up, and Gu Yuanqing smiled and said, "No need for formalities, we are all Human Race."

Just as the two were about to speak, they suddenly heard a melodious bell ringing. Upon hearing it, they felt their Qi and Blood flow faster. Then, one bell ring after another rang out, continuing for nine rings before stopping.

Gu Yuanqing looked in the direction the sound came from and asked in confusion, "This is...?"

Xing Fei and Lu Jianqiu turned around in shock.

"The sound of the Heavenly King Bell in the Celestial Person Sacred Hall Heavenly King, nine times! This is a summons! The Human Race is about to wage war again!" Xing Fei muttered to himself.