Sacrificial Artifact System: From Bell-ringer to the Ancestral Patriarch

Li Qian and his master Zhou Buping came to the square outside of Divine Sword Hall.

So many people.

This was his first time seeing such a large gathering of Inner Sect Disciples.

Anyone here must be at least an Official Disciple.

From this massive crowd of thousands, one could see the strength of the Divine Sword Sect.

It was, after all, the prominent martial arts sect that intimidated three provinces and twelve counties.

Every year, the number of servant disciples they admitted was quite significant; Li Qian recalled in his session about two to three thousand joined.

With the immense scale of the Divine Sword Sect, these thousands of Inner Sect Disciples, elders, True Inheritors, Peak Masters, and so on, were all full-time Martial Arts Cultivators. Everything including food, clothing, shelter, and travel required the service of servant disciples.

Li Qian estimated that the entire Divine Sword Sect had no less than ten thousand servant disciples.

"Follow me."

Zhou Buping led Li Qian toward the front of the Divine Sword Hall.

"Old Ghost Zhou, is this your disciple? Quite young though."

A fat elder scrutinized Li Qian up and down.

The other elders and Peak Masters from Divine Sword Sect were also very curious, considering Zhou Buping's notoriously unconventional standards.

To perfect the Sword Stabbing Fist.

Which Inner Sect Disciple would do that?

Once Official Disciples joined the Inner Sect, they would directly cultivate Internal Cultivation Methods, without training in basic techniques like Sword Stabbing Fist.

Let alone mastering it.

Martial Arts Cultivation is inherently a race against time.

Missing a critical period usually makes it hard to overcome the subsequent bottlenecks.

Zhou Buping stayed in Yanmen Valley, hoping to find a gem among the servant disciples.

Was he successful?

Nevertheless, no one doubted Li Qian's qualifications to participate in the True Inheritance selection.

Zhou Buping was a senior elder of the Divine Sword Sect; he surely wouldn't fabricate credentials.

Besides... that was impossible.

Without a certain level of cultivation and Sword Dao, one didn't even qualify to enter the Sword Grinding Cave; forced entry would only result in backlash from the pervasive energy inside.

When Li Qian stood among those dozen candidates of Inner Sect Disciples participating in the True Inheritor selection, he immediately attracted many people's attention.

Firstly, those dozen Inner Sect Disciples, who were already prominent figures within the Inner Sect, renowned and exceptional.

Yet, Li Qian was completely unknown.

Even unrecognizable.

"Why does this Junior Brother seem so unfamiliar?"

A young man in black clothes, his smooth head shiny, curiously stared at Li Qian.

"Senior Brother, your halo is too dazzling, naturally, you couldn't notice a Junior Brother like me."

Li Qian said.

"Junior Brother, you have a way with words. My name is Pang Bai; I'm from Martial Peak."

"Li Qian."

Li Qian said.

The other disciples just glanced at Li Qian and said nothing.

However, the bald black-clothed young man, Pang Bai, was rather talkative.

Among the crowd below, a few Inner Sect Disciples who had previously escorted with Li Qian recognized him.

"Look, isn't that Junior Brother Li?"

"It really seems to be Junior Brother Li, why is he up there?"

Wang Xiangyu's eyes widened.

"It seems we have underestimated this Junior Brother Li."

Liu Hui sighed.

"Junior Brother Li… how come I've never heard of him within the Inner Sect?"

Ji Su from Jade Screen Peak was full of doubts.

To qualify for the True Inheritor selection, one must surely be a notable person within the Inner Sect, so how could he remain unheard of?

...

"Since everyone is here, let's begin."

The Divine Sword Sect Master spoke.

With a slight tremor, the large gate of a building next to the Divine Sword Hall slowly opened.

That was the True Inheritor Hall.

The entire True Inheritor Hall was built against a steep cliff.

"There are instructions for inheritance within the True Inheritor Hall, all of you enter."

The Divine Sword Sect eyed the nineteen Inner Sect Disciples participating in the True Inheritor selection.

Soon, including Li Qian, the nineteen Inner Sect Disciples arrived in front of the True Inheritor Hall and then entered.

Inside the True Inheritor Hall, the space was not small, with ten silhouettes standing.

Each person emitted a strong aura.

Wearing various masks.

This is the inheritance of the Divine Sword Sect.

There are ten inheritors in total.

Originally there were twelve.

However, two inheritors, due to the time limit being reached, had turned into elders.

The status of inheritor is not perpetual; once reaching a certain age, one automatically loses the status of an inheritor.

This is to make room for those who come after.

If during the tenure as an inheritor, a Peak Master or even the Sect Leader steps down... it would be the most senior inheritor who takes over.

Thus, the power transitions within the higher ranks of the Divine Sword Sect are often quite smooth and successful.

"Junior brothers, before entering the Sword Grinding Cave, I have a few reminders. If you cannot withstand it, make sure to exit in time and do not force yourselves. When contending for the sword seed, it is strictly forbidden to lethally attack your fellow disciples, otherwise you will be disqualified from the True Inheritor Selection and will also face disciplinary action as per the sect rules. Additionally, the Sword Grinding Cave also contains some murals with mysteries. Even if you fail to obtain the sword seed, you all can try to discern suitable murals to comprehend. Perhaps unexpected gains may be acquired. Of course, there is a time limit; you must leave the Sword Grinding Cave before night falls, and lastly, damaging the murals is prohibited, otherwise, we inheritors have the right to execute the offender inside the Sword Grinding Cave."

The leading inheritor wearing a mask said.

The conditions within the Sword Grinding Cave are naturally known to all present Inner Sect Disciples.

Some Inner Sect Disciples who believe themselves without a chance to vie for an inheritor spot, actually also consider comprehending the cave murals.

The ten inheritors led the numerous Inner Sect Disciples through a door. Inside was a deep corridor, the ceiling embedded with Luminous Pearls, making the corridor dimly lit.

At the end of the corridor was a wide stone door.

Carved above the stone door were the three mottled characters of "Sword Grinding Cave," indicating its many years.

"This is the Sword Grinding Cave, go in."

The leading inheritor declared.

Hence, the nineteen entered one by one.

Upon stepping into the Sword Grinding Cave, they all felt an invisible oppressive force pervading the entire cave.

"Is this Sword Intent?"

Li Qian only felt as if a stone was pressing on his chest.

Following that, his own Heartless Sword Intent started to stir, as if it was attracted by something.

He couldn't help but look towards the depths of the Sword Grinding Cave.

That strange attracting force seemed to originate from inside.

This sensation was peculiar.

"Could it be the sword seed that master talked about?"

Li Qian thought silently.

According to Zhou Buping, the sword seed is extremely peculiar; it was obtained by the founding ancestor of the Divine Sword Sect from the Sword Grinding Cave.... a total of twelve seeds, reportedly allowing Sword Dao Practitioners carrying them to utilize the Sword Grinding Cave for cultivation, greatly promoting the comprehension of Sword Intent, it's said to advance a thousand miles in a day.

Especially for those who haven't comprehended Sword Intent.. utilizing the sword seed, they could easily grasp Sword Intent using their own acquired Secret Skill as the core.

This seemed to have a similar effect to the Chen Bell's chimes.

For Li Qian, neither the sword seed nor the effect of the Sword Grinding Cave held much attraction.

Besides, becoming a true inheritor meant residing in the True Inheritor Hall, cultivating year in and year out in the Sword Grinding Cave.

He would no longer be able to ring the Sacrificial Artifact.

The other eighteen Inner Sect Disciples almost simultaneously felt that invisible drawing force and immediately, despite the omnipresent oppressive feeling in the Sword Grinding Cave, rushed towards the depths.

Li Qian did not follow but instead, looked at the cave walls on both sides.

Seeking the mural mentioned by his master, Zhou Buping.

....