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Chapter 55: Chapter 55 Sword Master
The Chores Hall was highly efficient.
After the hour of Shen had passed, they had already sent several servant disciples to the bottom of the bell tower.
"Senior Brother Li."
Head Xu quickly greeted with respect: "Here are five servant disciples, all of whom joined the sect last year... and they all come from modest families with honest and upright characters."
Behind him stood five young boys.
All with their heads lowered, extremely nervous.
"Lift your heads and let Senior Brother Li take a good look."
Head Xu hurriedly spoke to the five boys behind him.
The five boys quickly lifted their heads, some so nervous they could hardly stand still.
"Let’s go with him."
Li Qian glanced over and pointed to one of the dark and thin boys, who seemed more pleasing to the eye.
"Liu Ming, you will stay at the Chen Bell Platform and listen closely to Senior Brother Li’s instructions."
Head Xu said to the dark and thin boy.
Then he bowed to Li Qian, "Senior Brother Li, I will take my leave now."
"Go ahead."
Li Qian nodded.
Thus, Head Xu took the other four new servant disciples down the mountain.
Leaving the dark and thin boy standing there, at a loss for what to do.
"Liu Ming, is it?"
Li Qian began to speak.
"Senior Brother... Li..."
The dark and thin boy, Liu Ming, stammered.
"You don’t need to be nervous. From now on, your job is to strike the bell on time when I’m not around... If I’m here, you don’t need to worry about striking the bell, just take care of cleaning the bell tower and preparing three meals a day."
Li Qian explained.
Liu Ming listened attentively.
But he was still somewhat confused in his heart. Wasn’t striking the bell supposed to be work for a servant disciple like him?
Why was it that he could only strike the bell when Senior Brother Li was not around?
Although puzzled, he did not ask.
His main goal was to be obedient, to do whatever Senior Brother Li said.
Next, Li Qian took Liu Ming into the bell tower to begin teaching him the number of times to strike the bell, the techniques, how to adjust the hourglass, and about some special festivals.
"From now on, you will also be responsible for adjusting the hourglass each day."
Li Qian added another instruction.
"Yes, Senior Brother Li."
Liu Ming quickly nodded in agreement.
When the hour of You arrived, Li Qian let Liu Ming simply observe.
Li Qian assumed the proper stance, gripped the striking rod with both hands, and with a gentle exertion of force, pushed the striking rod firmly against the Chen Bell.
A clear and distant bell sound rang out, resounding through the heavens.
"Dong dong dong dong..."
It echoed seven times, with the sound lingering on.
Liu Ming watched intently, not daring to miss any details.
"Alright, go and reset that hourglass."
Li Qian released the striking rod and told Liu Ming.
Liu Ming hurried over to tinker with it.
Li Qian, on the other hand, took out a precious sword and began practicing swordsmanship.
When Liu Ming had finished, he was captured by the swordsmanship Li Qian was practicing.
The whole set of swordsmanship was not aesthetically pleasing to the eye, but he could feel the hairs on his body stand on end as if the air were full of countless invisible needles, causing a tingling sensation on his skin.
So impressive.
That was his first impression.
Even though he couldn’t understand any of it.
After the practice session ended, Li Qian, seeing that Liu Ming was still watching, said, "Go and make dinner."
"Yes, Senior Brother Li."
Liu Ming obeyed and was about to descend from the bell tower.
"Wait a minute, I will teach you how to do it."
Li Qian stopped him.
"I come from a rural family, Senior Brother Li, I have been cooking and doing household chores since I was a child..."
Liu Ming quickly explained.
"Knowing how to cook is good."
Li Qian nodded, then began to explain that besides preparing medicinal meals and rice porridge for the three daily meals, he also had to cook a few ordinary dishes.
Liu Ming took in all the instructions and got busy in the bell tower kitchen.
The youth was quite adept with his hands and feet, indeed a good hand at household chores.
After the meal was prepared, his master, Zhou Buping, also arrived.
He was quite pleased to see that Li Qian had recruited a servant disciple.
An Inner Sect Disciple actually doing the menial task of ringing the bell seemed quite absurd. Even if ringing the bell truly does help with cultivation, you can’t just tie yourself to the Chen Bell Platform, can you?
"Liu Ming, serve yourself a bowl of porridge as well."
Li Qian said.
"Ah...I....."
Liu Ming was stunned.
He could eat? 𝒏𝙤𝙫𝒑𝙪𝙗.𝙘𝒐𝙢
Working as a servant at the Hundred Herbs Garden, the first task was to memorize the knowledge of various herbs.
The medicinal herbs used in this batch of medicinal porridge were indeed high-grade items.
Most importantly, there was Exotic Beast Meat Jerky.
This thing... he had only heard of it, supposedly only Inner Sect Disciples could get a taste.
"What’s the matter? Not hungry?"
Li Qian asked.
Liu Ming had been hungry for a while now, scratching his head with a smile, he then picked up a bowl and ladled a small portion for himself.
But even this small portion almost brought tears to his eyes.
Inside, there were several chopped pieces of Exotic Beast Meat Jerky.
No wonder servant disciples fought tooth and nail, spending money and pulling connections just to come to the Chen Bell Platform.
On his very first day, he was able to partake in such a fine meal of medicinal porridge.
Is this the opportunity that servant disciples often mention?
...
The next morning.
After ringing the bell, Li Qian left the Chen Bell Platform with his master, Zhou Buping, heading towards the Inner Sect.
Before leaving, he instructed Liu Ming that in his absence, he was to carry out the following bell-ringing duties.
He didn’t give as many detailed instructions or warnings as Old Song did initially, fearful of any mishaps.
Back then, Old Song was also a servant disciple, and if there were problems with the bell-ringing schedule, once discovered, the Chores Hall might hold someone accountable, that’s why one would tread on thin ice.
But would the Chores Hall dare now?
This was the confidence brought about by one’s status and strength.
Inner Sect.
Outside the Divine Sword Hall.
Already more than twenty people had gathered.
Li Qian also saw some not-quite-familiar faces.
All were Core Disciples who had participated in the True Inheritor selection several years ago.
They didn’t enter the Sword Tomb during the last opening... for a simple reason.
Once they had entered the Sword Tomb earlier, they would not be eligible for the True Inheritor selection.
Initially, Zhou Buping did not want Li Qian to enter the Sword Tomb early, so that later during the True Inheritor selection, Li Qian would have the chance to enter the Sword Grinding Cave and comprehend the murals within.
The elders and Peak Masters from various peaks had already entered the Divine Sword Hall.
Master Zhou Buping went in as well.
"Junior Brother Li, long time no see."
Pang Bai greeted with a smile, wearing black clothes and a bald head, quite distinctive.
"Senior Brother Pang."
Li Qian also nodded in response.
He could sense that Pang Bai and the others who participated in the first True Inheritor selection had all stepped into the Innate Realm.
Only those participating in this True Inheritor selection remained in the Postnatal Realm.
However... they had at least comprehended a Secret Skill or even Sword Intent and would break through to the Innate Realm in a few years.
Others just glanced at Li Qian without greeting him.
Li Qian had almost no reputation in the Inner Sect, perhaps curious about the past True Inheritor selection... but after a few more years, he had long been forgotten.
What’s more, within the Inner Sect, every year new talented individuals emerge and rise to become new hotshot figures.
After a while.
The elders and Peak Masters from the Divine Sword Hall began to come out.
However, what drew the most attention was a person wearing a black iron mask and carrying a sword.
"I am the Sword Master guarding the Sword Tomb; follow me."
The sword carrier with the black iron mask spoke in a hoarse voice, turning to walk to the right side of the Divine Sword Hall.
To the left of the Divine Sword Hall was the True Inheritor Hall, built against the cliff face.
To the right, however, was a deep abyss shrouded in white mist.
As everyone followed the masked sword carrier to the edge of the cliff, they suddenly could see a stone stele erected at the edge.
The inscription read – Sword Tomb Sacred Site, no living person shall approach.
.....
