Chapter 74: Chapter 74 Soul-Shaking Bell
The palm-sized copper bell was significantly weighty, tipping the scales at over two pounds.
The bell’s surface was dull and lightless, presenting a thick texture with densely packed True Seal Talisman Script engraved upon it.
There was a clapper inside, which chimed with a gentle shake.
The handle of the bell was shaped like a flood python, which was quite unique.
Wang Chen held the bell in his hand and brought up the Immortal Cultivation panel to check on it.
The equipment slot showed no signs of acknowledgment.
Such results were within his expectations, given that even the Autumn Water Sword, which was suspected to be a top-tier artifact of the first order, didn’t make an appearance on the list.
The copper bell was probably the same.
Wang Chen was not greedy, after all, tonight’s haul had already been very substantial.
One must understand contentment.
He tried to inject a sliver of mana into the copper bell.
Unexpectedly, a force burst out from within the bell, forcibly repelling Wang Chen’s mana.
He almost failed to maintain his hold on it!
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Clearly, this magic artifact had been refined by its former owner, and it could automatically counterattack “invaders.”
But this issue was easy to resolve.
Unless the artifact’s original master’s cultivation level was much higher than Wang Chen’s and had set a powerful seal within, it would just take some grueling effort.
The method for refining magic artifacts was part of basic cultivation knowledge, which Wang Chen also possessed.
He injected mana over and over, gradually eroding the prohibitions inside the copper bell, branding it with his own aura.
The former master’s seal within the artifact was like rootless water, lacking in strength and vigor.
How could it withstand such erosion?
Wang Chen spent merely two hours, and he had completely eradicated the seal inside.
The Soul-Shaking Bell declared a new owner!
Simultaneously, Wang Chen received a piece of information.
The magic artifact’s name was the Soul-Shaking Bell, and once activated, it could stun the souls of enemies, causing a dizziness effect!
This brief information was evidently sealed inside by the Artifact Refiner, and besides this, there were no methods to control it included.
Wang Chen tried to inject mana into the bell again and then shook it forcefully.
Ding ling ling~
The crisp and pleasant sound of the bell instantly spread out in all directions.
And then it stopped.
Is that it?
Just as Wang Chen was puzzled, he suddenly heard a muffled thud from the room next door.
It sounded like a heavy object had hit the floor!
Not good!
Wang Chen inwardly cursed and immediately put away the Soul-Shaking Bell, rushing to the room where Wei Lian was staying to check.
He saw the girl lying face down in front of the bed in a rather ungraceful position, her eyes closed, already passed out.
Wang Chen quickly picked her up and placed her on the bed.
“Wei Lian, Wei Lian?”
He pushed her a few times, but Wei Lian showed no response!
In a moment of urgency, he formed a spell with his hands and cast the Cloud Rain Jue toward the unconscious girl.
The water vapor from the secret chamber below quickly congregated, transforming into droplets that fell on Wei Lian’s face.
Stimulated by the cold water, the girl let out a soft groan and regained consciousness.
When she opened her eyes and saw Wang Chen standing by the bed, her body instinctively shrank inward.
A blush spread across her pretty face.
“I’m sorry.”
Wang Chen said apologetically, “I was refining a magic artifact and didn’t realize I had hurt you. Are you okay?”
He truly had been careless, mainly because of his lack of experience with using magic artifacts.
Otherwise, he would not have made such a mistake.
“I’m fine.”
Wei Lian wiped her face and said in a low voice, “Just a bit dizzy, nothing serious, I should be fine after resting a while.”
Wang Chen was embarrassed.
After some thought, he pulled out the Basic Talismanic Script Deciphering from his Storage Bag and placed it beside Wei Lian’s bed, “This book is for you; it’s good to read when you’re bored.”
The contents of Basic Talismanic Script Deciphering were already fully memorized by Wang Chen and were of no use to him now.
Previously, Wang Chen noticed that Wei Lian seemed quite interested in talismans, so he gave her the book.
It was his way of expressing his apology.
Wei Lian was taken aback.
Just as she was about to refuse, Wang Chen had already turned around and left, “You take good care of yourself.”
The young girl pursed her lips.
A moment later, she picked up the thick “Basic Talismanic Script Deciphering.”
Cradling it in her arms, she appeared lost in thought.
…
Daylight had broken.
Wang Chen reopened the tunnel and went back up to the surface with Wei Lian.
The weather had cleared up.
But the courtyard was covered with a thick layer of snow, which was knee-deep with every step.
Wang Chen took a shovel to clear the snow, and at the same time cleaned up some of the window shards scattered on the ground.
The windows and doors had been damaged after last night’s fierce battle.
He would have to find time to place a new order in town.
“Brother Wang Chen!”
While he was busy, a loud knock on the door suddenly came from outside, “Are you at home?”
Wang Chen looked back at the room and then went to open the courtyard door.
He swiftly stepped outside.
Wei Lian, a Loose Cultivator from the Outer Domain, couldn’t be seen living at his house, as it would easily attract trouble.
Standing at the door was a boy about fourteen or fifteen years old.
Wang Chen blocked the doorway and asked with a smile, “Qi, what do you need to find me for?”
The boy was Old Master Sun’s great-grandson.
Being the seventh in the pecking order among his peers, everyone called him Qi.
Wang Chen, who often visited Old Master Sun to seek advice, was also acquainted with him.
Qi rubbed his hands together and said, “Great-grandfather asked me to tell everyone that there have been outsiders in town lately asking around for information, inquiring about a pair of Valley Guests siblings.”
“Great-grandfather wants everyone to stay vigilant, especially with the end of the year approaching—prevent fires, thefts, and Evil Wraiths!”
Outsiders?
Wang Chen knew the outsiders referred to Loose Cultivators from the Outer Domain. He nodded without a hint of surprise, “Understood.”
“Then I’ll be going.”
Qi ran off, “I still need to visit other houses!”
Watching the young boy’s retreating figure, Wang Chen couldn’t help but frown slightly.
In fact, after dealing with the three burglars, Wang Chen had been pondering.
Could he have a disaster-attracting constitution, otherwise why would thieves repeatedly break into his home with malicious intent?
And each incident was more dangerous than the last!
Now hearing the message from Qi, he realized that last night’s group may not have been after him at all.
Valley Guests siblings?
It couldn’t be Wei Xiong and Wei Lian, could it?
Thinking of Wei Xiong, who had gone missing without any word, Wang Chen felt he needed to be even more on guard.
But he kept this matter to himself and did not mention a word to Wei Lian.
Because there was no need.
Whether the enemy was attracted by the siblings or not,
since he had promised Wei Xiong that he would look after Wei Lian, Wang Chen wouldn’t easily break his promise.
Moreover, he had made a tidy sum from it.
In the following days, Wang Chen didn’t leave the house, not even to go to Lianyun City.
Come nightfall, he would hide in the underground tunnel, on high alert.
He was prepared for combat at any moment.
But it remained peaceful, with no more thieves or Loose Cultivators actively seeking their doom at his doorstep.
This brought Wang Chen relief, but also a touch of regret.
Several days passed in this way.
Just as Wang Chen was starting to wonder if something had happened to Wei Xiong, and if he would never return,
a weathered-faced, bearded man appeared at his doorstep!
———–
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