Chapter 23#
A Moment of Time#
“They should have found that little girl on Tiger Drum Mountain by now.”
Ten miles west of Yuntai Town, in a long-uninhabited farmhouse courtyard, an old Taoist pulled a roast chicken wrapped in oil paper from his robe. He opened it, tore off a leg, and spoke to another person in the yard while eating.
The other person was as thin as a monkey, sitting on a mostly collapsed courtyard wall, stretching his legs and yawning. He said, “We’ve already thought of a solution for them. Next, we just wait for them to bring out the bell.”
The old Taoist looked up, frowning with a troubled expression: “The problem is, once it’s out, how do we take it? There’s a high-level guide hiding near that group of low-level Gushan disciples!”
“Are you talking about him?”
A third voice came from the doorway, followed by a dull thud as something hit the ground.
A sturdy man threw a gray-robed Taoist he had been carrying on his shoulder onto the ground, smiling mockingly: “The one who came this time is just a kid in the initial stage of the Returning to Origin realm. Dealing with him couldn’t be easier.”
The “Skinny Monkey” leaped down, pinched the gray-robed Taoist’s chin, and looked him over. “Shouldn’t we kill him?”
The sturdy man shook his head: “Being able to serve as a guide means he has a certain status in Gushan. There’s no need to kill him and provoke Gushan for a single ritual vessel. The poison I gave him is enough to keep him asleep for half a month. By then, we’ll be long gone with the Unheard Bell, and no one will find us.”
“True. Disciples who come out from Gushan for training always suffer some losses, but killing a guide would invite big trouble.” The old Taoist eating the chicken leg nodded. “But let’s throw him further away; he’s an eyesore.”
The Skinny Monkey gave him a direct kick.
The gray-robed Taoist was kicked straight into a deserted pigsty, his face and body covered in mud and dust. Who else could it be but Senior Brother Bai, the leader of Xiao Man’s mission?
“Let’s go. We’ll wait for the prey at the town entrance,” the sturdy man said.
Tiger Drum Mountain.
Birds chirped, and the courtyard was filled with bright autumn sunlight. Occasional gusts of wind ruffled the tree shadows. Xiao Man and the other three stood together, facing Shi Tang.
Silence spread for a brief moment. Xiao Man and the others exchanged glances and said, “As you wish.” Since she held the Unheard Bell as leverage, they had to agree, however unwillingly.
Hearing this, Shi Tang smiled with her eyes crinkling and clapped her hands. “Then it’s a deal!”
Qu Hanxing got a headache just thinking about the possibility of dressing as a girl and painfully tapped his forehead with his folding fan. Wei Chuyun and Xiao Man looked at each other, and Wei Chuyun stepped forward, asking, “You said only you can touch the Unheard Bell. Can you prove it?”
“Huh?” Shi Tang was stumped, clearly having never thought about this.
She paced small steps in the courtyard and said in a low voice, “This is a saying passed down from our ancestors. Our family has kept this rule for generations; no one has dared to try.”
Then she stopped and looked at Xiao Man’s group. “If you want to try, I won’t stop you. It’s been sitting here for many years anyway, and aside from taking up space, it’s never served any purpose. But if the Unheard Bell breaks because of it, don’t blame me! You still have to do what you promised!”
At these words, both Qu Hanxing and Mo Juntian looked eager to try, but after looking at each other, neither dared to take the risk.
Just as they were about to shake their heads and refuse, Xiao Man spoke up: “Then let’s give it a try.”
“Brother Man?”
“Xiao Man?”
Qu Hanxing and the others looked over in surprise.
Xiao Man smiled, his tone not sounding like a joke: “Isn’t it very strange that no one but Miss Shi can touch it? Since it’s a magical artifact, it must have been created by someone. If no one can touch it, wouldn’t that mean the person who made it couldn’t hold it either?”
When he heard Shi Tang mention this last night, Xiao Man had been puzzled and thought about finding a way to test it. Moreover, they had to try eventually; otherwise, how would they take the Unheard Bell back? They couldn’t just have Shi Tang come along.
Shi Tang only cared about her own conditions and immediately agreed. She led them to the pavilion from the previous night and pushed open the long windows one by one.
The Unheard Bell was still in the same position as yesterday. An autumn leaf had fallen beside it, but no one swept it away.
It was the first time Qu Hanxing and the others had seen the real Unheard Bell. They observed it curiously and whispered to each other.
Shi Tang didn’t rush them. After a long time, she said, “You are all cultivators. Have you seen anything?”
“…This magical artifact is too ordinary.” Qu Hanxing shook his head. “So ordinary that no one can see anything special about it.”
“In this world, those at the extremes are always extraordinary.” Xiao Man stared intently at the Unheard Bell and took a step forward. “I’ll try.”
He leaped down and landed in the courtyard.
The Unheard Bell showed no change, remaining quiet and still.
Xiao Man cautiously walked toward it.
One step, two steps, three steps… Just as he was only half a foot away from the Unheard Bell, a sudden change occurred!
Magical artifacts are called such because they can gather and absorb spiritual energy.
Having spiritual energy means generating spiritual pressure. At this moment, Xiao Man and the Unheard Bell were only inches apart. The spiritual pressure around the bell suddenly intensified, pressing inward violently!
“Stop!”
“Don’t go any further!”
“The spiritual energy fluctuations on that bell are chaotic! If you get any closer, it might disintegrate on its own!”
The three on the pavilion shouted.
Xiao Man flew backward.
With this retreat, the spiritual energy on the Unheard Bell stopped fluctuating, and the boisterous wind in the courtyard ceased along with it.
Xiao Man frowned, turned to look at Shi Tang, and asked, “Then what about you?”
Shi Tang answered with action. She ran down from the pavilion, entered the small courtyard, and picked up the Unheard Bell from the low table.
The spiritual pressure around the artifact was extremely stable, as if Shi Tang didn’t exist; it wasn’t affected in the slightest.
There was no time for amazement. Everyone came to the small courtyard and stood far away from the Unheard Bell, either frowning or deep in thought.
“What do we do now? How are we going to take it back?” Qu Hanxing spread his hands helplessly.
“Is putting it in a box okay?” Mo Juntian took out a wooden box.
Xiao Man had Shi Tang put the Unheard Bell into the wooden box and tried again.
—The wooden box was instantly torn apart by the spiritual pressure. As the strong wind blew, dust filled the air.
He quickly backed away.
Wei Chuyun stared intensely at the bell, seemingly talking to himself: “Is there a magical artifact that can store it?”
“How about a Qiankun Ring? Isn’t it like a ‘deserted place’ inside?” Qu Hanxing had an idea. “Miss Shi can help us put it in a Qiankun Ring, and we’ll take it back to Gushan!”
Mo Juntian crossed his arms: “How will we get it out then?”
Qu Hanxing looked at the sky: “…That’s a problem.”
Birds flew overhead. As Qu Hanxing watched them, a spark of inspiration hit him: “If humans can’t, what about birds? Or cats? Or rabbits?”
Shi Tang shook her head: “There’s a formation here; birds and beasts can’t get in.”
“Then I’ll go catch one.”
Qu Hanxing acted immediately and caught a wild rabbit from outside, controlling it with a technique to approach the Unheard Bell.
Unfortunately, the result was not as desired.
He muttered that they might as well have roasted rabbit for lunch, then thought of another method. He looked at Shi Tang: “Why don’t you come back to Gushan with us after you finish dancing?”
“I don’t really want to go to such a far-off place.” Shi Tang’s lips twitched.
“I’m afraid this is part of the mission. Having Miss Shi help us would result in a points deduction,” Mo Juntian sighed.
Ultimately, wasn’t this training mission a form of selection? Baihua Peak and other peaks had all sent people; the mission was monitored from beginning to end. It was clear who did well and who didn’t. Any shortcomings would directly affect the upcoming Sword Trial Assembly.
No one spoke in the small courtyard for a while. Xiao Man slowly lowered his eyelids, took off the bodhi bracelet from his wrist, and fiddled with it aimlessly.
Fuzhu was hidden in one of the beads. Xiao Man felt it slip out and crawl into his sleeve.
It was a soul body with no physical form, but its movement created subtle spiritual energy fluctuations.
…Spiritual energy fluctuations.
Spiritual energy fluctuations?
Xiao Man lifted his eyelids, his dark eyes fixed on the Unheard Bell in Shi Tang’s hand. “I’ll try again.”
The Unheard Bell was truly a strange artifact. Wind could approach it, rain could approach it, a fallen leaf could approach it, but humans and beasts could not.
Was it because humans and beasts ate grains and had thoughts and intentions, making them not pure or clean enough?
Thinking this, Xiao Man flicked a bit of spiritual energy toward the Unheard Bell.
Clang—
A sound spread from the bell, slowly and gently rippling through the courtyard and into the mountain forest. The sound was clear, crisp, and melodious.
The Unheard Bell itself showed no sign of breaking.
The test was a success.
Xiao Man breathed a sigh of relief. His five fingers spread open, making a gesture as if grasping and then releasing.
The wind in the courtyard became wild again, rustling his robes. The spiritual energy scattered in the mountains gathered into a ball of light in Xiao Man’s palm from all directions, shining brilliantly and dazzlingly.
He had Shi Tang put down the Unheard Bell and stand far away. Carrying the ball of spiritual energy in his palm, he stepped forward and stopped at a safe distance.
The spiritual energy grew until it was twice the size of the Unheard Bell. Xiao Man made a “covering” motion.
The Unheard Bell was shrouded by the ball of spiritual energy. Xiao Man took another step forward and reached out.
Everyone held their breath, their eyes fixed on that spot.
For an instant, nothing changed beneath the ball of light.
In a split second, the Unheard Bell stood on the low table, still and silent as before.
For a moment of time, as the wind blew and leaves rustled, Xiao Man picked up the Unheard Bell through that ball of spiritual light and shook it gently.
Clang, clang, clang.
The Unheard Bell was no longer the bell that sat in a deserted place with no one to ring it. Its clear sound followed the wind, rippling over the fields and hills.
“The big problem is solved!” Qu Hanxing said loudly, plopping down on the ground and flicking open his fan to cool his face.
Shi Tang let out a sigh of relief, patted her chest, and said, “Since it’s solved, I should still keep it. After I dance at the festival, I’ll give it to you!”
“Mutual assistance, that’s how it should be,” Qu Hanxing nodded.
The others had no objections either.
“We still need something to seal it, otherwise the spiritual energy will dissipate,” Wei Chuyun said seriously, looking at the Unheard Bell in Xiao Man’s hand.
“I’ve thought of that,” Xiao Man said softly.
Xiao Man put the Unheard Bell back on the table and took a jade box from his Qiankun Ring.
The function of this jade box was the same as the wooden box Yan Wushu had given him for the soul grass. When the lid was closed, whether it was spiritual energy, soul power, or anything else, it would be sealed inside.
Naturally, this was also given by Yan Wushu.
He tried his best not to dwell on these memories, placed the bell wrapped in spiritual energy into the box, and then took out the Qiankun Ring that Rong Yuan had helped him collect when he first arrived at Baihua Peak. He put the jade box inside and handed it to Shi Tang.
“This will make it easier for you to carry,” Xiao Man said.
“Alright, let’s meet at the town entrance!” Shi Tang smiled with crinkled eyes.
“Huh?” Xiao Man expressed confusion at her suggestion.
Shi Tang lowered her voice: “It means you guys go first, and I’ll sneak out!”
At these words, Xiao Man couldn’t help but speculate about Shi Tang’s purpose, but he didn’t refuse. He pulled up Qu Hanxing from the ground, and Shi Tang saw them out.
On the way down the mountain, they began to discuss who would dress as a girl to accompany Shi Tang to Wuxiu Hui. Since Xiao Man was already one of the candidates, he didn’t participate and let the others “defer” to one another.
There was a teahouse at the entrance of Yuntai Town. Xiao Man and Shi Tang had agreed to meet there. When they arrived, they ordered three bowls of tea and one bowl of plain water, yet the “battle of deference” was still ongoing.
Xiao Man sat down to drink water, listening to Qu Hanxing flick open his fan and sincerely list three hundred reasons why he wouldn’t make a good girl.
After listening, Wei Chuyun calmly sipped his tea: “With the talismans, even if you don’t change your appearance, the girls at Wuxiu Hui won’t be able to see through you.”
“Then why don’t you go?” Qu Hanxing retorted.
Wei Chuyun: “…”
Qu Hanxing pointed at Xiao Man again: “Look at Brother Man, how calmly he accepts it!”
Now it was Xiao Man’s turn: “…”
Seeing that he was about to be dragged into the argument, Xiao Man put down his bowl and was about to say something when he suddenly felt a sense of foreboding.
A moment later, the premonition came true. A fierce burst of energy surged from the west, aggressive and aimed directly at them!
Xiao Man reached back for his sword. Fuzhu the deer was even faster, leaping from his sleeve and transforming into its original form upon landing. It raised its front hooves and stomped hard on the ground.
But it only barely managed to block that burst of energy.
Ah Tu was shaken back several steps, its expression showing pain. Its four legs trembled, and it craned its neck to roar in anger.
A flash of light appeared on the artifact around its neck. In the next instant, the opponent struck again with a powerful move!
Xiao Man swiftly threw out his Buddhist beads to pull Ah Tu back. Wei Chuyun cast a talisman to buy time, and the four quickly dodged to the side.
Boom—
The talisman collided with the opponent’s powerful palm energy, shattering the blue stone walls of the street and sending rocks flying.
When the dust settled, they finally saw their opponent.
It was an old Taoist holding a chicken leg in one hand, his body covered in stains and grease.
Xiao Man frowned.
Ah Tu’s cultivation had been suppressed by the artifact Yan Wushu gave it; it was now at the late stage of the Guarding One realm. If even it couldn’t withstand the newcomer, it could only mean—
“Returning to Origin realm?” Xiao Man asked.
“It’s three Returning to Origin realms,” a sturdy man appeared at the diagonal corner, carrying an iron hammer on his shoulder, correcting Xiao Man.
At the same time, another person, thin as a monkey, appeared on top of the gatehouse. He swung his dangling legs and said with a smile, “So you all should just surrender.”
Xiao Man and the others were all in the Embracing Void realm. Even if Wei Chuyun had shown signs of breaking through recently, ultimately, without a breakthrough, he was still in the Embracing Void realm.
Between the Returning to Origin realm and the Embracing Void realm lay the Guarding One realm—a difference of two full major realms. No wonder they hadn’t sensed anything earlier.
Facing people like this…
Xiao Man didn’t show any emotion and replaced the sword in his hand with a bow. The longbow was silvery-white as frost, with a faint ethereal glow.
The Skinny Monkey on the gatehouse smiled at the sight: “That’s a pretty weapon. Its grade seems quite high. It’s mine!” After speaking, he leaped down, pulled out a saber, and slashed toward Xiao Man.
This strike was extremely fierce. Under the overwhelming saber energy, the entire street trembled.
The Buddhist beads on his wrist vibrated. Fuzhu was unwilling and tried its best to break through its confinement. Qu Hanxing threw out hidden weapons, his eyes red. Wei Chuyun and Mo Juntian each made their moves, but—
All were neutralized by a single move from the old Taoist in the distance.
Xiao Man stood still.
He pondered with a dark gaze.
A moment later, he looked up.
A wisp of True Fire flickered in his palm.
The saber blade drew near.
At that moment, a burst of sword energy emerged from the east, slicing through the sky and falling majestically!
This sword energy came suddenly and arrogantly, carrying a chilling coldness that made one feel as if they were on a frozen snowfield.
The Skinny Monkey was blown away in mid-air, crashing heavily into the gatehouse before bouncing off and falling to the ground. Dust rose everywhere. Many of his bones were broken, but he was not dead.
A person stood in front of Xiao Man, his slender, well-defined hand reaching out to press down the fire in Xiao Man’s palm.
He then turned his head, smiled at the person on the ground, and asked, “What did you say was yours?”