Nine Immortality Bells

Nine Immortality Bells . . .

Qin Wentian's gaze shifted towards the immortal-foundation expert who had captured his attention. However, he soon realized that the immortal-foundation expert was wholly absorbed in observing two young women at the neighboring table. It became evident that these two women shared a complex relationship—one appeared to be the mistress, while the other her obedient servant. Together, they pored over the pages of a book.

"The very first page of this book contains information about our target—Qin Wentian, the man who slew Jiang Kuang," the mistress whispered in a hushed tone, her words reaching Qin Wentian's ears. A shiver ran down his spine as he listened to her speak. His senses extended, and he beheld an image of himself on that very first page, depicted in striking detail.

This particular book, issued by the Cloud Tower of the Cloud Prefecture, had swiftly made its way to every city within the Jiangling Country. The character featured prominently on its opening page was none other than Qin Wentian himself.

"Why, Miss, are you interested in this?" inquired the female servant, her voice a soft murmur.

"I learned about this matter from my clan," the young woman responded. "Jiang Kuang had refused to release his sister, and it was only then that Qin Wentian sought to end him. Furthermore, he risked his life in the presence of numerous Jiang Clan experts, all in a desperate attempt to save his sister. He should not be among the targets in that bounty book."

The female servant hastily silenced her mistress, urging her to exercise caution. "Miss, the Jiangling King personally issued this decree," she cautioned. "Moreover, with so many influential figures from various major powers gathered here in the Driftsnow City, we must not speak so recklessly."

The immortal-foundation expert accompanying them chimed in. "Miss, decisions made by the king should not be taken lightly."

The young woman nodded, her expression a mixture of understanding and acquiescence.

"Miss, it's time for us to depart," the immortal-foundation expert declared as he led the young woman and her servant away from the inn.

Qin Wentian, eavesdropping on their conversation, felt a glimmer of hope. There were indeed those who believed in his cause. The young woman, seemingly connected to the Jiangling King's household, had likely encountered difficulties in voicing her support for him due to the power struggle between the Jiang Clan and the Jiangling King.

Taking a sip of his tea, Qin Wentian turned to the man sitting beside him. "Brother, can you tell me more about the origin of this bounty book?"

Seated next to him was a middle-aged man dressed in elegant blue attire, exuding an air of refinement. He chuckled upon hearing Qin Wentian's inquiry. "You're not familiar with the Cloud Towers?" he asked in disbelief. "In every city within the Cloud Prefecture, the Cloud Tower Sage Sect, a sacred institution, establishes and operates a Cloud Tower. These Cloud Towers serve as a means for the Cloud Tower Sage Sect to efficiently disseminate commands throughout the Cloud Prefecture. Additionally, each of the eighty-one countries within the Cloud Prefecture has Cloud Tower Sage Sect disciples stationed there. They maintain close relationships with the respective country's rulers, and if there are orders to be transmitted, the Cloud Towers serve as the most effective method of communication."

"The warrants for arrests, as you've mentioned, are all issued by the Cloud Towers. And for those individuals marked as wanted criminals, there are very few places where they can seek refuge if the Cloud Towers are on their trail," the middle-aged man explained, his voice tinged with wisdom. Qin Wentian acknowledged this insight with a nod. It was evident that the Cloud Tower Sage Sect held significant influence within the Cloud Prefecture to issue such widespread warrants. He couldn't help but wonder if this sect had ties to the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor.

"Thank you for sharing this information," Qin Wentian said with a friendly smile as he clasped his hands.

"It's no trouble at all. Almost everyone in the Driftsnow City is aware of this," the middle-aged man replied nonchalantly, returning to savoring his tea.

After spending some time at the inn, Qin Wentian took to the skies once more, soaring through the airspace of the Driftsnow City. This place was teeming with hidden experts; within a short period, he had already encountered hundreds of immortals, their radiant coronas of immortal light clearly marking them as immortal-foundation experts.

Eventually, Qin Wentian arrived at a bustling public square, where a massive ancient bell commanded everyone's attention. Standing at a towering height of 3,333 meters, the bell emanated a formidable aura. Its resonating chimes filled the air, while its dazzling light bathed the surroundings. The ground beneath it bore intricate runic inscriptions that exuded a profound and enigmatic energy.

Qin Wentian couldn't help but be amazed. This was the first time he had seen such a colossal divine weapon, even larger than the demon sword, and imbued with a majestic presence.

Numerous experts roamed around the ancient bell, attempting to comprehend its mysteries. They sought to connect with the bell using the intricate runic inscriptions, but thus far, none had succeeded.

A group of figures radiating immortal light hovered not far from the square. Among them were representatives from the Jiang Clan, the War Immortal Palace, and other major powers of the Driftsnow City, as well as those from various factions within the Jiangling Country. They all seemed deeply intrigued by the ancient bell.

"This ancient bell is truly extraordinary. To establish a true connection with it, one must link together the runic inscriptions and activate its power," Qin Wentian mused to himself. He stepped forward, choosing a random spot beneath the ancient bell, and raised his gaze to study it. The profundity exuded by the bell felt far beyond his current understanding.

A young man nearby noticed Qin Wentian's presence and, upon realizing his intention, regarded him with a look of disdain. He had a remarkable aura, his long hair cascading around his shoulders, and his eyes gleaming with a subtle golden sheen that held a penetrating intensity. When he turned his gaze toward Qin Wentian, an unmistakable pressure emanated from his eyes.

"You? Understand runic inscriptions?" the young man inquired, skepticism coloring his tone.

Qin Wentian met the young man's gaze, calmly responding, "To some extent, yes."

However, the young man's lips curled into an unpleasant, disdainful smile, as if he were mocking Qin Wentian for his audacious claims.

"The Dao of Runic Inscriptions is a profound and majestic path, containing the very truths and logic of the heavens and earth. If I'm not mistaken, your cultivation is merely at the third level of the Celestial Phenomenon Realm. How dare you claim to know even a little about runic inscriptions?" The young man from the Purple Flame Sect spoke with calm assurance. The Purple Flame Sect was a major power in the Jiangling Country, specializing in fire techniques and weapon forging. Their disciples were renowned for their expertise in these fields.

"His bragging is nothing special. In this crowd, how many know nothing about runic inscriptions, yet still boast with unwarranted confidence?" A young woman, aged around twenty-five or twenty-six, joined the young man's side. Her long eyelashes framed her sharp gaze, and her sharp-tongued remarks left an uncomfortable atmosphere in her wake. Though she was reasonably attractive, her abrasive tone detracted from her overall appeal.

"Haha, I suppose you two are from the Purple Flame Sect, correct? The nine colossal ancient bells here in Driftsnow City are said to hold incredible power, yet only a select few possess the skill to set them ringing. Your sect is renowned for its mastery of weapon forging, so today, I'm eager to witness how many of you can make this particular bell resonate and chime," jeered some members of the Nine Coldpeak Sect, another prominent faction in Driftsnow City.

Two Purple Flame Sect disciples turned their gaze towards the provokers and replied, "Are you disciples of the Nine Coldpeak Sect? You've only recently relocated to Driftsnow City in the past few years, so you should be well-acquainted with these ancient bells. Can any of you make them ring?"

"There's a spirit within these ancient bells, and their transformations are intricate, unfolding endlessly. There are no set rules to follow, so even if you are familiar with them, the outcome remains the same. What truly matters is one's proficiency in divine inscriptions," a Nine Coldpeak Sect disciple retorted impassively.

"I've longed to lay eyes on the Nine Immortality Bells. Today, I shall take this opportunity to study them closely," declared a group of figures descending from the sky. Surprisingly, they were experts from the Jiang Clan.

"Nine Immortality Bells, do not doubt the immortals," a voice echoed through the air. Surrounding the area, another group of experts joined the Jiang Clan representatives. These were none other than members of the Jiangling King Manor. One of them continued, "I'm certain you've all heard the legends surrounding the Nine Immortality Bells. Now that the immortal spirit has manifested, it is a truly rare opportunity that arises once in a millennium."