Dao Ruleless Bell!
The name immediately made Lin Xun think of the Dao Immeasurable Bottle.
Then, he thought of the bronze bell sitting on the table at the top of the dao altar.
One was a ruleless bell.
The other was an immeasurable bottle.
They were both named with the word Dao, so could there be a link between the two?
“Back then, the saints made the correct decision. They guessed that this day would come, that the great age would descend. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have gone to such effort to craft the great Dao Ruleless Bell and leave it here…” the old rogue murmured, his expression melancholic.
He wasn’t putting on an act this time; instead, memories from old were flooding back to him.
Lin Xun couldn’t help asking, “That treasure—is it what you call the fruit of the painstaking labor of all sentient beings?”
They were still moving forward on the branch, reaching the depths of the clouds, but the road ahead was still unclear and uncertain, and they had yet to reach the exit that led to the outside world.
“Correct.” The old rogue nodded. “The bell you saw on the dao altar was precisely the Dao Ruleless Bell, which was crafted from the painstaking efforts of many saints. The ring of the bell represents the gathering of power of all sentient beings, which can change the universe, force ghosts and demons to retreat and exhibit other mysterious effects. Whoever holds it can control the lives of all sentient beings!”
“What a pity...” Lin Xun sighed. If he wasn’t in such a poor state, then he would have never missed out on the great fortune.
“Pity? Kid you already benefited greatly!” The old rogue looked at him with a look of contempt. “The Dao Ruleless Bell represents the power of sentient beings. When the Saints successfully crafted it, they suffered a heavenly punishment because it violated a taboo. Even if you had gotten your hands on their treasure, you won’t be able to use it.”
“Why is that?”
“It lacks the power of the sentient beings.” The old rogue answered casually, “The power of all beings is related to the wishpower of all beings. Only the great sages who have succeeded in the Saint Path Ritual can gather that power. Now you should understand why the younger generation can’t control this treasure!”
The wishpower of all beings…the Saint Path Ritual…
Lin Xun trembled inwardly. Rumor had it that when Saints imparted the dao upon the world and educated all sentient beings, they would naturally gain the worship of sentient beings and that would condense to form a mysterious power called wishpower!
This was similar to the solemn atmosphere in the temples of the secular world, where the common people burned incense and worshiped the statues of gods.
That kind of atmosphere was a kind of wishpower.
The so-called wishpower of cultivators was different—it referred to the grand vision of cultivation. Every true Saint would set their own noble ambition.
For this reason, some Saints chose to enter the secular world, educate sentient beings, promote their ambitions, and gain the worship and approval of all beings. Then, they would receive a steady stream of wishpower from all sentient beings.
Similarly, some Saints chose to be reborn in the world and confirm their vision with the myriad daos of all heavens. When they opened up a new path of cultivation or discovered a new way of the dao, they also could obtain wishpower.
That kind of wishpower was also called the great dao wishpower.
Whether a Saint chose to enter the world or be reborn into the world, the Saint Path was destined to be inseparable from wishpower.
Lin Xun still remembered that the mysterious golden cicada made an earthshaking wish in the mulberry forest in the Blood Kill Battlefield.
“May one day, all spirits in the world ascend to become Saints!”
It was a grand and noble ambition and vision.
But Lin Xun never thought that the Dao Ruleless Bell would be so mysterious that it required the power of all sentient beings to control.
“So unexpected.”
“So kid, stop pretending. Compared with the Dao Ruleless Bell, the Dao Immeasurable Bottle you have is the true treasure.” The old rogue’s voice was tinged with envy. “That’s a treasure also crafted by all beings. It's just unfortunate that you are too weak now to bring out its full power. Years ago, a Saint of Cangwu Mountain wielded that bottle and single-handedly killed five Saints! His power could be regarded as supernatural!”
Lin Xun’s expression twisted strangely. “The bottle is a special reward I got in the Realms of Limits, so how do you know about it?”
The old rogue mumbled ambiguously, “Are you kidding me? Is there anything about Cangwu Mountain that I don’t know about?” Then, he quickly changed the topic. “The exit is here, quickly stop.”
Lin Xun glanced around at the vast world of clouds and mist. He saw nothing that vaguely resembled an exit.
“Let me out, I will open up a passage for you,“ yelled the old rogue.
“Tell me first, who are you?” Lin Xun asked, narrowing his dark eyes.
”Ah? Me?” The old rogue looked perplexed. “Didn’t I already say who I am? I am a Nine Orifice Treasure Ginseng born from the blessings of heaven and earth…”
Lin Xun interrupted, “At this point, do you think you can trick me? On the entire Cangwu Mountain, you are the only old fellow with such intelligence and wisdom. Do you think this is normal?
“A mysterious bell rang at the first test of the Dao Lantern Festival, announcing the end of the test. This bell should be from the Dao Ruleless Bell you mentioned.
“When we reached the dao altar, another mysterious voice echoed throughout the world, announcing the list of experts eliminated and who had lost the qualification to compete for good fortune.”
A strange glint flashed within Lin Xun’s black eyes. “When the Longevity Palace was about to kill me, the mysterious voice rang again and forced the Longevity Palace to retreat.
“Later, the mysterious voice announced that Xia Zhi had clashed with the so-called great dao, and that she wasn’t allowed to participate in the competition for the number one fortune.”
Lin Xun asked, “Do you think this is normal?”
“But what does this have to do with me?” The old rogue looked baffled. “You have suppressed me inside this pagoda all this time. I don’t even know what you are talking about.”
A ruminative look crept into Lin Xun’s eyes. “If you admitted it, then I would suspect that you are lying, but since you denied everything, I am more and more convinced that there is something fishy.”
He then said, “Didn’t you say that there is nothing on Cangwu Mountain that you don’t know about? But why can’t you explain about the mysterious bell and the mysterious voice, and just dismiss it?”
“You are overthinking. It’s not good to be suspicious of everything.” The old rogue looked wronged.
“Is that right?” Lin Xun stared suspiciously at the old fellow.
The old rogue let out a long, deep sigh. “Since you have seen through everything then I will not hide it from you anymore. I believe it is time to reveal my true identity...”
He raised his head, donning a superior look as he said leisurely. “Endless years have passed by, and everything has changed. I thought that I could have fun and live the rest of my life, not expecting to run into a sharp-eyed young man like you in this world.
“Fine, to tell you the truth, I am the master of Cangwu Mountain. In ancient times, I was known as the master of all Saints by the world, and was admired and respected by all beings...”
The corners of Lin Xun’s lips twitched uncontrollably, and he felt an impulse to resort to violence. A rogue-like king-grade herb acts high and mighty and is now admitting in a melancholic voice that he is the master of Cangwu Mountain and that he had the title of master of all saints.
Bai Fengliu might be shameless, Toady might be arrogant, but they can’t be compared to this old rogue at all!
Lin Xun had never met someone like him. Not only did he boast, but he also dared to call himself the master of all saints!
“Hey kid, why are you giving me that look? In ancient times, even a Saint had to respectfully bow to me, but you are so rude and disrespectful...” the old rogue whined, shooting a dissatisfied look at Lin Xun.
Is he the king of all saints?
Lin Xun couldn’t take it anymore. He released the dishonest old rogue because he knew that he could never find out anything valuable or useful from him unless he willingly told him so.
The old rogue wept tears of joy being able to see light again. Then, his eyes glowed with fanaticism when he laid eyes on Xia Zhi.
“Lin Xun, can this herb be eaten?“ Xia Zhi’s sweet voice was mixed with a trace of curiosity like she was staring at food.
The old rogue shuddered, his roots swaying with him. “No, no, you will get a stomachache, and even diarrhea if you do...”
The more he talked, the worse it was. Lin Xun couldn’t stand listening and snapped, “Stop talking nonsense and quickly open up the passage.”
Buzz!
The old rogue was eager to do so. Without any visible movements from him, a violent wave rippled the white clouds and mist, and the space undulated like a tide before a portal-like door took shape in the nothingness.
Lin Xun stared blankly at the amazing scene. This old fellow didn’t lie to me…
Xia Zhi and Bai Lingxi were also a little surprised that the dishonest king-grade herb would possess such remarkable abilities.
“Boy, I have to remind you that although this passage can send you to the Land of Complete because you fought and killed so many, people must have locked on your aura and so you will inevitably face some trouble when you go out.” the old rogue reminded him in a serious tone of voice.
Lin Xun felt a little uncomfortable to see him suddenly become so kind.
“Then let me ask you one last question—What was the name of the sect that occupied Cangwu Mountain back then?” asked Lin Xun.
The old rogue shook his head. “That’s way in the past, why bring it up now? If you really want to know, then you can find out when you go to the Kunlun Dominion in the future.”
Then, with a wide sweep of his root, he sent Lin Xun and the others into the portal of nothingness like the sleeve of the universe containing the power of space.
During this process, Lin Xun and the others didn’t even have the time to react, let alone resist!
I’ve been fooled! That old fellow can’t be just an ordinary king-grade herb!
This was Lin Xun’s only thought in his mind before he left.
“Thank heavens, I finally sent the kid away, but why did that pagoda fall into his hands? Could it be that he once entered Fangchun Mountain...
“I don’t know whether it is a blessing or a curse that he has the Dao Measureless Bottle...”
The king-grade herb that Lin Xun regarded as a dishonest old rogue looked a little pensive and his aura changed.
It became as vast as the void and as majestic as the sea.
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