Chapter 007
Chapter 7: Clear Source Bell
After washing her face, Shi Zi Chu stood and said, “I’m going to find a demonic beast to practice.”
Yan Zhou Bai nodded gently, quietly following behind her.
When Shi Zi Chu found a demonic beast and began to fight, Yan Zhou Bai hid his aura and stood to the side, silently watching.
After observing for a while, Yan Zhou Bai couldn’t help but knit his brows.
Shi Zi Chu had poor control of her spiritual power. Her moves were awkward and disconnected. If judged strictly, it could be said she had no real technique at all.
Yet she was still the personal disciple of Venerable Xing Lan, her cultivation had even reached the late stage of Foundation Establishment. By now, basic moves should be second nature. Why was she struggling so much?
Shi Zi Chu, already irritated after grappling with the demonic beast for some time, lost her patience. She clenched her five fingers tightly, causing the beast to explode instantly, blood and flesh splattering everywhere.
Under daylight, those aqua-blue silk threads were even clearer. Yan Zhou Bai’s brows tightened, and he began softly, “Daoist Shi…”
This move truly didn’t seem like one from a righteous sect, yet calling it demonic arts wouldn’t be accurate either.
Shi Zi Chu cast a dust-dispelling spell on herself before turning around. Her clear, peach-blossom eyes showed a hint of unease as she softly asked, “Am I really terrible?”
Yan Zhou Bai hesitated, swallowing his original words, then reassured gently, “Not terrible. It’s just that Daoist Shi needs to practice more to master the basics.”
“My junior sisters and brothers are diligent in their practice. I can’t find time to ask Master, so I had to figure it out on my own,” Shi Zi Chu said, gently touching her nose, embarrassment coloring her voice, “I’ve made Daoist Yan laugh.”
[No wonder.]
Yan Zhou Bai comforted her kindly, “There’s nothing shameful in that. I was once at your stage too. If Daoist Shi doesn’t mind, perhaps I could offer you some guidance.”
Truthfully, Yan Zhou Bai’s own path in cultivation had always been smooth, never facing such difficulties.
Shi Zi Chu’s eyes brightened with surprise, quickly turning into delight as she said eagerly, “I couldn’t ask for anything more!”
With Yan Zhou Bai’s guidance, Shi Zi Chu’s progress over the following days was astonishingly swift.
One month later.
Shi Zi Chu had gained abundant practical experience, and her cultivation advanced from mid-Core Formation to its late stage.
Yan Zhou Bai, observing Shi Zi Chu’s remarkable progress, felt an unexpected sense of accomplishment rising warmly in his chest.
This feeling was even more satisfying than his own breakthroughs.
“These low-level demonic beasts at the outskirts aren’t helpful for your training anymore,” Yan Zhou Bai said slowly, sitting in front of the campfire and looking at the spirited young woman. “Perhaps you might consider going into the middle zone?”
Shi Zi Chu began pondering his suggestion.
“Roar—!”
Suddenly, a demonic beast nearing Nascent Soul stage let out a thunderous roar, causing Shi Zi Chu to shiver slightly.
Chaotic footsteps and labored breathing approached rapidly, growing louder and closer.
Yan Zhou Bai rose swiftly, drawing out Radiant Snowblade and shielding Shi Zi Chu behind him.
“Young Sect Master Yan!” Pei Qing You hadn’t expected to encounter Yan Zhou Bai here. His voice was desperate as he pleaded urgently, “Please help us, Young Sect Master Yan!”
Chu Zhi Rou was missing from Pei Qing You’s group.
Fang Wei An and several disciples of the Jade Void Sect were also nowhere to be seen.
Shi Zi Chu’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Chu Zhi Rou had been forced to separate from her senior brothers due to danger and had hidden in that cave.
With Xu Zhou Ye and others still self-reflecting at Penitence Cliff, had the senior brothers been replaced by Pei Qing You and his group?
Moreover, could this be that very moment of danger?
Shi Zi Chu contacted the female villain system within the spatial storage ring, ordering, “Little dog, show me the plot.”
Bound by a soul contract, the system could only obey. It transmitted the relevant segment directly into Shi Zi Chu’s mind.
By the time Shi Zi Chu finished reviewing the storyline, Pei Qing You’s group had already reached them.
Yan Zhou Bai briefly instructed Shi Zi Chu before charging forward with his sword drawn.
When Pei Qing You saw Shi Zi Chu standing there, disgust flashed across his eyes, and he deliberately kept his distance.
Shi Zi Chu finished absorbing the plot details.
The force of destiny truly was powerful. She had only just gotten the spatial storage ring when Chu Zhi Rou appeared that very evening.
[The heroine has the protagonist’s halo. What belongs to her will eventually return to her! You, a vicious supporting female character, should abandon your fantasies of changing fate!]
Even now, the system couldn’t resist taunting Shi Zi Chu, despite being helplessly bound.
Shi Zi Chu casually exerted her will, causing the female villain system to scream miserably within the spatial storage ring.
The delightful cries of the system lifted Shi Zi Chu’s brows pleasantly.
She now had the Huan Chu Bell, and the spatial storage ring had become her soul-contracted artifact.
Even if Chu Zhi Rou followed the storyline down the mountain, she would surely return empty-handed!
Thinking of the spatial storage ring, Shi Zi Chu found herself puzzled by a few questions.
Decisively, she reached out to Xue Gu, asking, “Xue Gu, why could I form a soul contract with you?”
Chu Zhi Rou couldn’t possibly have failed to soul-contract this spatial storage ring.
A soul contract was engraved in one’s soul, making the artifact permanently bound unless its master’s soul vanished completely.
Either everything reset with rebirth, or Chu Zhi Rou never soul-contracted it in the first place.
Shi Zi Chu’s instincts told her both possibilities could be true.
“Because Master possesses the Clear Source Bell,” Xue Gu’s voice was sweet and soft, answering honestly. “The precondition to forming a soul contract with me is first contracting with the Clear Source Bell.”
Clear Source Bell?
She only had Huan Chu—could the Huan Chu Bell actually be the Clear Source Bell?
Sensing her shock, Xue Gu explained gently, “The artifact in Master’s spiritual sense sea is precisely the Clear Source Bell.”
Shi Zi Chu’s mind froze briefly.
Ignoring the difference in names for now, the Huan Chu Bell was not just Xing Lan’s soul-contracted artifact—it was his innate companion artifact!
In the current world, apart from Xing Lan, only Shi Zi Chu herself knew of its existence.
Moreover, there was only one possible way for anyone else to acquire the Huan Chu Bell!
If forming a soul contract with the spatial storage ring had such a condition…
Could this mean the spatial storage ring was never meant for Chu Zhi Rou but rather prepared specifically for Xing Lan?
Shi Zi Chu’s eyes narrowed slightly, her peach-blossom gaze darkening thoughtfully.
Things were becoming more interesting.
At that moment, Yan Zhou Bai finished off the demonic beast and approached, handing Shi Zi Chu a storage pouch. “You don’t seem to have any suitable weapons. The bones and fur from this demonic beast can be used for artifact forging.”
Shi Zi Chu declined gently, her voice mild, “Such precious materials would be wasted on me. Daoist Yan would benefit more by refining your Radiant Snowblade instead.”
Yan Zhou Bai gave her no chance to refuse, simply tossing the pouch to her before heading over to Pei Qing You’s group.
Shi Zi Chu caught the storage pouch and walked forward a couple of steps, observing Pei Qing You and his companions.
“A demonic beast at early Nascent Soul stage usually only appears near the inner reaches of Celestial Grace Mountain Range’s middle zone,” Yan Zhou Bai said calmly yet with undeniable authority. “Young Sect Master Pei is merely at late Golden Core stage. How exactly did you provoke this demonic beast?”
Yan Zhou Bai’s question implied Pei Qing You had recklessly endangered himself.
Though displeased by Yan Zhou Bai’s bluntness, Pei Qing You couldn’t openly retort after being rescued. He quickly responded, “I’ll explain everything clearly later. Please, Young Sect Master Yan, you must save Rou Rou first!”
[Chu Zhi Rou?]
Before Yan Zhou Bai could fully grasp the situation, Pei Qing You anxiously explained, “To keep us safe, Rou Rou lured away a demonic beast at the early Golden Core stage alone!”
Shi Zi Chu, hearing this, found Chu Zhi Rou’s decision rather hard to comment upon.