Crisp jingling bell sounds, ringing ding-ling-ling.
The sound was not loud. Yet it seemed to possess an invisible magic.
The sound floated far and wide, crossing mountains, rivers, lakes, seas, forests, and plateaus.
Just like that, it spread.
Until it reached the distant Kunlun Mountain.
———
On the other side.
Daxia, Kunlun Mountain.
This was a valley shrouded in mist, wrapped in mountains and forests, inaccessible to ordinary people. Only cultivators could enter using special methods.
Inside the valley, it was like a paradise on earth.
Aside from eight massive stone pillars surrounding the valley, there were lush green lawns, spiritual herbs and immortal flowers covering the mountains and plains, and more than a hundred pools, large and small.
Calling them pools, they were more like hot springs, or rather, celestial pools.
The water in the pools steamed with curling mist, bubbling up. Ordinary people simply standing here, breathing in this mist, or bathing in the pools, could extend their lifespan and dispel a hundred diseases.
At this moment, in this place known in legends as the "Valley of Hell", apart from armed guards standing watch, a large number of cultivators had gathered.
They were individuals authorized by the 749 Bureau to come and cultivate in the "Valley of Hell." Not a single person, upon arriving, chose to go rest in the nearby houses.
One by one, they eagerly entered the celestial pools. Because, they had all been informed beforehand that the celestial pools were the miracle of the "Valley of Hell."
Any talented or extraordinary individual, as long as they entered the celestial pools, could absorb the essence of heaven and earth in the water, allowing their strength to undergo a qualitative leap.
People always say the path of cultivation is long and arduous, and one can only advance step by step.
But for the celestial pools, this was an external shortcut in cultivation.
...
"Old Ou, Lin Jianxuan has reached the Yellow Robe level. He's applying to enter a larger celestial pool."
A guard in the valley ran over to an elderly middle-aged man. The middle-aged man, respectfully addressed as Old Ou, brightened upon hearing this and said, "Oh? Lin Jianxuan has already reached the Yellow Robe level? Not bad, not bad. He's indeed a promising talent. Take him to Pool No. 2. That one suits him now."
Although he appeared middle-aged, his mannerisms were those of an elderly man, exuding an aged presence. Even his form of address was a respectful title for an elder: Old Ou.
Yet no one found it strange.
Because everyone in the valley knew, the middle-aged man before them, Old Ou, was actually over 130 years old. He deserved to be called an elder.
It was all thanks to his frequent drinking of the Valley of Hell's pool water.
Now, he was the guardian of the valley, appointed by the 749 Bureau.
"Old Ou, Lin Jianxuan is applying for Pool No. 1."
"Let him go to Pool No. 2 first. Headquarters sent orders this morning—soon, batches of people will be sent in to strengthen their cultivation, so the pool allocations will become tight."
Old Ou stood with his hands behind his back and said, "The bathing time in Pool No. 1 needs to be shortened, otherwise, there won't be enough for everyone. Let him go to Pool No. 2 for now, and in a few days, he can enter Pool No. 1."
"Understood." The guard saluted, then turned to carry out the orders.
After the guard left, another elder beside Old Ou said, "Looks like things outside aren't looking good. I didn't expect the Bureau to open up more spots and send so many people here. I wonder if the valley can handle it."
He was a warden, sent here this morning by the Bureau to cultivate, hoping to advance his strength as soon as possible.
Old Ou was just about to respond when, suddenly, a bell sound, ethereal and transcendent, echoed through the air.
Not only Old Ou and the elder, everyone in the valley heard it. Instinctively, they looked around.
"You heard that?" The elder asked in shock.
"I heard it." Old Ou frowned, touching his ear. "It sounds like a bell..."
He was astonished, the bell sound felt as if it came from right beside his ear. Yet there was no bell anywhere around.
And it seemed he wasn't the only one who heard it. He noticed—everyone around him was glancing about, clearly having heard it too.
Just as Old Ou was feeling bewildered,
Boom!
The ground shook violently.
Birds resting in the forest took off in fright, scattering in all directions. The bubbling pool water rippled, spilling out of the celestial pools.
"What's happening?"
"An earthquake?"
Everyone in the valley was alarmed. Yet, despite the intense shaking, the ethereal bell sound remained just as clear, seemingly unaffected by the earthquake.
Such an anomaly, even without thinking too hard, they knew—this was not an ordinary earthquake.
"It's the stone pillars!"
The one who spoke was Lin Jianxuan. He exclaimed in shock, pointing at one of the massive stone pillars.
At that moment, everyone, including Old Ou, turned their gaze toward the eight towering stone pillars in the valley.
Their expressions changed dramatically. Lin Jianxuan was right.
The cause of the valley's tremors, was not an earthquake, but the eight stone pillars shaking.
And with every ring of the bell, the pillars vibrated in sync with its frequency.
"Old Ou, what's happening?" The elder asked.
Old Ou was completely dumbfounded. "I don't know either. I've been here for sixty years, and this is the first time I've seen something like this..."
Just as he spoke, suddenly, cries of shock rang out.
"So hot! Why is the celestial pool's temperature rising?"
"Look at the pool water!"
The mutation continued. Not only the tremors, even the celestial pools were undergoing sudden transformations.
The water boiled. The once-clear water now seeped with mysterious substances, staining it in different colors—red, green, blue...
Looking around, over a hundred pools shimmered in dazzling hues, breathtakingly beautiful.
Yet, no one admired the sight. They were too stunned.
Instead of appreciating the beauty, they hurriedly rushed out of the pools, fearing that the anomaly would affect them.
"Old Ou..." They all gathered around Old Ou, seeking answers.
"Don't ask me, I don't know either." Old Ou spoke first.
At this moment, his brows furrowed deeply, his gaze shifting between the eight stone pillars and the various celestial pools.
He said directly, "Did anyone just touch the stone pillars? Or do anything to the celestial pools? Tell me everything. This change is caused by the stone pillars, and these pillars have existed since I first discovered this valley."
"According to inscriptions carved on other stone tablets and wood carvings in the valley—these pillars were left behind by the cultivator who created this place."
"If they're reacting like this now—someone must have triggered something."
Yet, after questioning everyone, no one had touched the pillars. And they had cultivated in the pools as usual, not daring to act recklessly.
The tremors came fast, and left just as quickly. A few minutes later, as the bell sound ceased, the pillars also stopped shaking.
At this moment, looking at the valley again, the stone pillars now floated in midair, radiating ethereal light, while the pool waters emitted multicolored glows.
The entire valley now appeared even more divine. If before it was an earthly paradise, now, it was a celestial realm of the gods.
"I'll test it." Old Ou approached Pool No. 1.
This pool now glowed golden, its spiritual energy so dense it was almost tangible. Just from its appearance, it seemed like a change for the better.
But without testing it firsthand, no one dared to conclude anything.
After careful consideration, Old Ou decided to enter Pool No. 1 himself to test the situation.
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