"The Mountain and Sea Bell is of immense value and great power. If properly used, it truly deserves to be called a national treasure," Cheng Feng spoke slowly.

Du Yu's heart stirred. Elder Cheng had specifically called him back—could it be…

Apart from Cheng Feng, there were only three people in the tent!

Professor Hu, Master Qing, and himself, the little underling.

Cheng Feng continued, "Now, the Mountain and Sea Bell has sunk back into silence, ignoring the world. This is not a good sign."

His solitary arm pressed on the papers atop the table. "From the reports you've filed, the Bell has severed its longing, and our last hope has perished."

If such a Spiritual Artifact enters a state of self-destruction, that would be an immense loss for Great Xia."

Yang Qingqing suddenly turned her head, casting Du Yu a cool glance.

Du Yu knew this woman all too well.

He hurriedly composed himself, suppressing his excitement.

Seeing Du Yu subdued by his master—now sitting obediently, eyes to nose, nose to mouth—Cheng Feng rarely showed a brief smile.

He said, "Unless there is truly no other option, we must not use force."

The Mountain and Sea Bell is in poor condition and has lost the will to endure. We must avoid driving it to self-destruction."

On the other hand, the Mountain and Sea Bell is extremely powerful—it can even imprison Ancient Demon Saints. If we are not careful, we too may become prisoners."

Cheng Feng slowly sat down and pondered for a moment. "Xiaoyang."

"Mr. Cheng," Yang Qingqing stood up.

Cheng Feng: "You and your disciple have helped the Mountain and Sea Bell greatly."

And you're acquainted with Mountain Grass·Jia Rong and Sea Tree·Shatang. You two get ready and try approaching the Mountain and Sea Bell."

Hearing this, Du Yu also stood up.

Cheng Feng: "No one knows how the Mountain and Sea Bell will respond. Go, as soon as you can."

"Yes," Yang Qingqing replied softly, taking Du Yu and quickly leaving the tent.

As the tent flap fell, at his seat, Hu Yihua's face grew grave: "What if the Mountain and Sea Bell won't follow us humans?"

Every moment it exists independently in the world is a hidden danger."

Cheng Feng nodded silently, knowing Professor Hu's judgment was accurate.

The Mountain and Sea Bell's self-destruction, or trapping nearby beings—those could be set aside for now.

The real problem is: the Mountain and Sea Bell can open the Celestial Gate!

Which means it can release the Ancient Demon Saints inside, bringing disaster to the world!

This, above all, is the most terrifying and the outcome Great Xia's people could least accept.

Although, from the reports Yang Qingqing and Du Yu submitted, the mysterious Demon Beast in the clouds guards the Celestial Realm, and the Sea-devouring Dragon Turtle guards the sea.

For centuries, the two have done their duty, harboring no other intentions.

But… what if?

Night fell, and master and disciple came to the edge of the deep pit.

The pit had already collected quite a bit of water, enough to submerge a person's calves.

"Master Qing," Li Mengnan, Lin Shiwei, and the only female member of Team Two stood watch at the pit's edge, gazing from afar at the silent Ancient Bell.

Yang Qingqing, "What's the situation?"

"The Artifact Spirit has been missing all along. Not even the flute music moves it now," Lin Shiwei whispered.

"Mm." Yang Qingqing nodded faintly. Ever since the two of them had gone out and given the dagger to the Mountain and Sea Bell, it had fallen silent for a long time, then vanished together with the dagger.

Now, deep into the night, no one knew what mood the Bell Spirit was in.

Better, or worse?

"Master Qing, what are you two…?" Li Mengnan asked softly.

"We're going to see if we can contract it." Yang Qingqing stepped forward, descending gently.

Du Yu immediately followed, wading through knee-deep lake water, moving forward step by step.

Yang Qingqing had originally been gliding across the water untouched, but, for some reason, she suddenly dropped down beside Du Yu.

The hem of her long skirt floated on the water; in the moonlight, her immortal aura seemed even stronger.

She spoke softly, "Do you want it?"

Du Yu: "Huh?"

Yang Qingqing turned and glanced back, raising her eyebrows slightly, the meaning clear.

Du Yu opened his mouth, but in the end simply nodded. "Mm… mm."

Only then did Yang Qingqing turn forward again, and the two crossed the lake, quickly arriving before the Mountain and Sea Bell.

"Give it a try." She indicated the Bell Wall ahead.

Du Yu stared blankly at her. "Ah… me, I go first?"

Elder Cheng Feng's order had been for Yang Qingqing to bring her disciple to try, which clearly implied a primary and a secondary.

Yet his Immortal Master was just yielding the spot to him?

Yang Qingqing smiled at Du Yu, "Reach out your hand."

"Oh, oh." Du Yu tamped down his emotions and raised his right hand, pressing it against the Bell Wall.

Here's the problem!

What should I say?

Du Yu hesitated a moment, then asked, "Mountain and Sea Bell, are you there?"

Yang Qingqing: "…"

Du Yu thought for a moment and continued, "Sorry, the Yan Clan people didn't make it to this age. Don't be too sad—they were, in the end, just ordinary people."

When we searched their homeland, I could see they'd struggled hard just to survive."

Jia Rong Grass said the same thing."

In the moonlight, amidst the lake, the Ancient Bell was utterly silent.

"The dead are gone, but the Human Race remains. They weren't your last tribe; Mr. Yan Jiang's people still number in the tens of thousands."

We all still live on this land of Great Xia. The Beast Race hasn't wiped us out."

Du Yu spoke softly—soothing the Mountain and Sea Bell, trying to awaken its lifeless heart.

"When we were in the Sea Realm, we told the Shatang Tree about the outside world. It too once thought it was time to let go, that it had no reason to exist anymore."

But that's not the case. Right now in Great Xia, the Twin Tree Civilization is facing invasion by the Bottomless Pit Civilization…"

Du Yu went on and on, painstakingly earnest.

No idea how long he'd tried. Du Yu's mouth was parched, yet the Ancient Bell remained completely unresponsive.

"Bzz… bzz…"

In the silence, a faint vibration arose.

Du Yu: "…"

Damn it!

I thought the Ancient Bell was finally responding!

Turned out it was the phone buzzing in my pocket?

With Yang Qingqing watching, Du Yu pulled out his phone, only to see the incoming call was from Lin Shiwei?

Du Yu was stunned, and turned to look into the distance behind him.

At the brightly lit rim of the pit, Lin Shiwei held her phone to her ear, stubbornly trying to connect the call.

Du Yu hesitated a moment, and still picked up: "Shiwei?"

"You should be more forceful."

Du Yu: "Huh?"

Yang Qingqing suddenly spoke, "Put it on speaker."

Without hesitation, Du Yu tapped the speaker button.

Lin Shiwei: "I know you deeply respect all living things. But sometimes, the nature of a Spirit is different—it needs a push from you."

At this, Yang Qingqing was a bit surprised.

She hadn't known that, during their mission in the Mountain Realm, Lin Shiwei outside had wanted to pin the Mountain and Sea Bell against the Bell Wall and give it a beating…

Lin Shiwei continued, "You and Master Qing risked your lives in the Mountain and Sea Realm to help the Bell search for Yan Clan descendants."

You brought news back to the Bell. It owes you."

You shouldn't have had to endure so much trouble; everything was because of the Mountain and Sea Bell…"

Yang Qingqing suddenly spoke, "Softer, please."

Compared to the girl, Yang Qingqing knew better that the Mountain and Sea Bell was a time bomb—it was best not to provoke it too much.

Lin Shiwei paused, her voice tinged with stubbornness: "Mountain Grass Jia Rong and Sea Tree Shatang—these Guardian Gods of the Mountain and Sea Realm—both acknowledged you!"

The Mountain and Sea Bell is just a transmitter…there's no reason for it to reject you!"

You are worthy of its trust."

Du Yu looked up at Yang Qingqing. The two exchanged glances.

Little Shiwei's got a bit of a temper?

After all, with Master Qing right beside her, she'd never dared to be so bold before.

Indeed, that was true.

When it came to this "so tight-lipped you can't get a fart out" Mountain and Sea Bell Spirit, Lin Shiwei was furious!

The Mountain and Sea Realm was perilous in the extreme; if master and disciple couldn't explain things to the Mountain God or Sea God, what then?

What if the two of them had run into Ancient Demon Beasts from either realm?

The Mountain and Sea Bell, for its own whim, nearly got Master and Du Yu killed in there!

Lin Shiwei: "Push it, be assertive!"

The Mountain and Sea Grass and Tree both acknowledged you, and you brought news to Zhong Ling. You deserve this!"

"Dong!"

A bell peal rang out, echoing through the night sky.

Du Yu's heart trembled with the sound!

On the lake, ripples spread, sending the Immortal Master's skirt fluttering.

Du Yu stood there, mouth agape. He'd heard the Bell's "buzzing" sound, but never its pure, resonant ring!

His hand, pressed to the Bell Wall, instinctively pulled away. Yet from his fingertip, a thread of the Contract unraveled?

Yang Qingqing's eyes shone bright; her heart, like the water underfoot, rippled with joy.

Disciple, we are finally about to call the Mountain and Sea Bell our own.

Because she had been through the Mountain and Sea Realm, she knew better than anyone the true power of this Spiritual Artifact!

Du Yu's heart pounded with excitement. No longer hesitating, he led the thread to the left of his chest.

Let the thread become contract—Lord of Mountains and Seas!

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