Chapter 46 Chaos Bell

On the day of the grand master-recruiting ceremony, the sea of clouds ten miles outside the mountain gate of the Profound Heaven Sect surged, spontaneously condensing into a seven-colored rainbow bridge spanning across the firmament.

At the head of the bridge, tens of thousands of cultivators stood shoulder to shoulder, burning incense and waiting since the early hours of dawn.

Among them were young children with their hair tied in tufts, family patriarchs with graying temples, and even wandering rogue cultivators of the Void Refinement realm mixed within the crowd, all solely to witness this momentous event with their own eyes.

"Look quickly! That mountain gate is actually carved from ten-thousand-year-old warm jade!" An exclamation suddenly erupted from the crowd.

Everyone followed the sound and looked up, only to see the three-zhang-high mountain gate entirely pearly white, shimmering with a moonlight-like luster under the refraction of sunlight.

The three large purple-gold characters reading "Profound Heaven Sect" were entwined with flowing light, exuding an overwhelming aura.

A gray-haired family patriarch narrowed his eyes, stroked his beard, and spoke loudly: "To forge a mountain gate with ten-thousand-year-old warm jade—such extravagance, I'm afraid even those great sects with thousands of years of heritage might not possess it! The foundation of the Profound Heaven Sect is far more profound than rumors suggest!"

Even more astonishing was the auspicious spiritual vein phenomenon behind the mountain gate.

Visible pale cyan spiritual Qi coiled like swimming dragons, and wherever it passed, withered trees revived in spring, stubborn rocks sprouted moss, and even the weeds along the mountain path transformed into first-grade spiritual herbs.

A young monk who had just entered the Dao took a greedy, deep breath and directly broke through the bottleneck of the first layer of Qi Refining. He was so startled that he kowtowed repeatedly, shouting with irrepressible joy: "I've broken through! I've really broken through! This spiritual Qi is simply too dense; being able to enter the Profound Heaven Sect is truly supreme fortune!"

At this moment, Ye Chentian on the high platform shifted his gaze slightly.

"System, spend sect points to exchange for the Chaos Bell and the Nine-Turn Heart-Dao Tower."

[Understood, Host.]

[Ding-dong, spent ten thousand sect points to exchange for the Chaos Bell.]

Chaos Bell: An ancient divine artifact with creation runes engraved upon its bell body, capable of reflecting a cultivator's innate bones. The number of bell rings corresponds to seven tiers of talent, with ten rings as the limit. The greater the number of rings, the more defying the natural aptitude. The bell tolls can suppress evil spirits and purge inner demons.

[Ding-dong, spent ten thousand sect points to exchange for the Nine-Turn Heart-Dao Tower.]

Nine-Turn Heart-Dao Tower: Comprising ninety-nine floors in total, each floor contains different state-of-mind illusions. The first floor tests composure, the second verifies greed, the third tries fear... Those who reach the summit can cause their heart-dao to resonate with the Great Dao, substantially enhancing willpower and the purity of their heart-dao.

[Ding-dong, remaining points: eighty thousand.]

Looking down at the tens of thousands of cultivators below, he spoke in a resonant voice: "Recruiting disciples is the foundation of establishing a sect. We must use divine objects to discern talent and temper character before we can obtain pillars of talent!"

With that, Ye Chentian summoned the Chaos Bell.

"That is... the Chaos Bell!" An elder from an ancient scholarly clan cried out involuntarily, pointing at the bell body with a face full of shock.

"Rumor has it that this object is an ancient divine artifact capable of measuring talent and discerning innate bones! Sect Master Ye is actually able to possess such a supreme treasure; it seems the rise of the Profound Heaven Sect is destined by the heavens!"

Standing upon the high platform and looking down at the tens of thousands of cultivators below, Ye Chentian spoke with a powerful aura: "Today, this sect opens its mountain gates to recruit disciples, and we shall determine our destiny with this Chaos Bell!"

He raised his hand and lightly stroked the bell body. Chaos-colored patterns abruptly lit up, reflecting the churning spiritual light around them. "With this bell here, we can screen out true geniuses!"

"The Chaos Bell rings up to nine times as the maximum, with each ring representing a separate realm of heaven."

"One ring: Mortal aptitude, capable of reaching the Foundation Establishment realm;"

"Two rings: Spirit aptitude, capable of reaching the Golden Core realm;"

"Three rings: Profound aptitude, the Nascent Soul realm is within sight;"

"Four rings: Earth aptitude, the Void Refinement realm is not difficult;"

"Five rings: Heaven aptitude, the Integration realm is within reach;"

"Six rings: King aptitude, the Deity Transformation realm can be scaled;"

"Seven rings: Saint aptitude, the Mahayana realm is close at hand;"

"Eight rings: Dao aptitude, the Tribulation Passing realm is a breeze;"

"Nine rings: Immortal aptitude, the immortal throne can be attained in the future!"

"Today's disciple recruitment shall rely solely on the bell tolls to determine who stays and who leaves—"

"Anyone whose bell tolls fewer than six times shall not enter the sect. Only those whose bell rings six times or more are qualified to enter the outer gate of the Profound Heaven Sect!"

"What? Six rings or more just to enter the outer gate? This standard is far too harsh!" A cultivator from a minor family cried out in shock, the disciples behind him all turning pale. "The highest cultivation in our clan is only the Void Refinement realm; under this rule, we won't even be able to get through the door!"

Throughout their entire clan, there was likely not a single person capable of sounding the bell six times.

"The Profound Heaven Sect intends to sweep up all the geniuses under heaven in one go!"

"The aptitude corresponding to six rings means at least the Deity Transformation realm is expected; disciples of this caliber would be core members in any faction, yet they are only granted outer gate qualifications..."

"Sect Master Ye is seeking to select true dragons! Ordinary sects recruit three thousand disciples and consider themselves fortunate if even one has six-ring aptitude, yet he sets this as the baseline... People like us probably don't even have the qualification to look up to them!"

The rogue cultivators nearby discussed animatedly among themselves, disbelief lacing their voices: "This isn't recruiting disciples; this is blatantly picking immortal seedlings!"

"The testing shall now begin." Ye Chentian announced the official commencement of disciple recruitment.

The Chaos Bell hung below the high platform, its body swirling with chaos-colored creation runes.

As spiritual Qi from Ye Chentian's fingertips was channeled into it, the bell body trembled slightly, and a clear, soul-cleansing chime diffused outward, instantly quieting the restless crowd.

"The test begins. All those of eligible age, step forward in turn."

Ye Chentian's voice was calm yet carried an unquestionable majesty as his gaze swept across the tens of thousands of cultivators below, slowly instructing, "Place your palm upon the bell body and center your mind."

A commotion immediately stirred within the crowd. A young boy dressed in coarse hempen clothes clenched his fists and, pushed forward timidly by his father, stepped out.

His name was Wang Xiaohu, hailing from a peasant family in a remote border town. Half a month ago, he had accidentally sensed spiritual Qi entering his body and had been directed by a passing cultivator to try his luck here.

"Can this kid do it? He looks sallow and thin; I'm afraid he won't even be able to ring the bell."

"What geniuses could come from a border region? If he manages three rings, it would be a blessing accumulated by his ancestors."

Amidst the discussions, Wang Xiaohu tremblingly pressed his palm against the Chaos Bell.

His palms were slick with nervous sweat, and he repeated incessantly in his mind: Can I do it? Dad said this is my only chance...

In an instant, the bell body lit up with a faint white light, and a muffled chime rang out—"Dong!"

Immediately following that, a second sluggish chime trailed in, after which there was no further movement.

"Two rings..."

Wang Xiaohu's father turned pale, pulling his son down to kneel and beg for mercy, but was stopped by a wave of Ye Chentian's hand.

"Mortal aptitude, capable of reaching Foundation Establishment. Though you do not enter my Profound Heaven Sect, you are still material for immortal cultivation. Take your leave."

Though disappointed, Wang Xiaohu felt a sense of relief. He bowed deeply toward the high platform, thinking to himself: At least I know I can cultivate!

He turned and melted back into the crowd.