There are no ancestors at all; I made them all up.

Chapter 270 For Whom Does the Bell Toll?

"Crack!"

A tiny spark of electricity burst forth from Chen Qing without warning, flashing through the air in an instant.

The next instant, his body sank, as if he were being crushed by an invisible mountain. Even the magical artifact disc beneath his feet hummed and fell several feet!
Once he had regained his footing, a low, rumbling sound of wind and thunder emanated from his body, and a solemn aura spread out, causing Mang Shou Tuo, Ling Jue, and the others beside him to feel their breath catch in their throats!
Chen Qing frowned slightly, feeling as if his divine sense was a bowstring stretched to its limit, taut and about to break!
"call--"

He made a quick decision, calmed his mind, and severed the mysterious connection. The strange phenomena on his body subsided, and then his thoughts shifted.

“That lightning tribulation sword has been nurtured for 20,000 years, and its accumulated power is too vast and ferocious. Forcibly summoning it from a distance is like trying to pull a mountain with a spider’s silk. Not only will it be difficult to succeed, but it will also easily damage the foundation of one’s own divine sense.” Chen Qing realized in his heart, “It seems that I must go to the edge of the lightning tribulation swamp in person to successfully collect it and refine it a little so that I can use it as easily as my own arm.”

However, that brief sensation and pull was not entirely without its benefits.

He drew several strands of pure and powerful thunder energy back into his body. After circulating it slightly, it flowed into his limbs and bones like sweet rain, causing his blood and qi to surge and his aura to become even more powerful and refined than before.

Zheng Qingtian and Mang Shoutuo noticed almost simultaneously, and their gazes swept over, both revealing strange expressions.

Mang Shoutuo was secretly alarmed: "Young Master's talent is indeed terrifying. He has made further progress in breaking the formation while watching Zheng Qingtian just now! At this rate, he will probably condense the Golden Core soon! No, I must persuade him to return to the East Sea as soon as possible. Otherwise, once the Golden Core is formed, it will be as difficult as climbing to heaven to get him to inherit the Marquis's estate!" With this thought, his worries intensified, and he wished he could immediately pick up Chen Qing and turn back east.

Zheng Qingtian's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he laughed heartily, thinking that the Hidden Star Sect's secret technique was mysterious. At this moment, a communication talisman flew over, which he caught. He probed it with his divine sense, and his expression changed slightly. Then, he squeezed the talisman with his five fingers and said in a low voice, "Brother, I saw your aura surging just now. Have you made any progress?"

Chen Qing slowly exhaled a breath of stale air and nodded.

"Perfect timing! I've got some news that something big has happened at that Kuchan Temple. A rare treasure has been unlocked, and they've invited several monks and masters from other sects. They seem to be gathering to discuss something secret! It seems my brothers discovered their plot and tracked them down, which is why they were caught." Zheng Qingtian grinned as he spoke. "I imagine you won't be able to leave peacefully either. So come with me, smash up that bald monk's gate, rescue our brothers, and then have a good drink!"

Chen Qing looked up at the desolate and gloomy Kuchan Mountain in the distance, and a few ripples stirred in his heart. He actually had a bit of a premonition, so he nodded and said, "Brother Zheng, please!"

The group then said no more, harnessed their magical artifacts, transformed into streaks of light, and sped toward the Kuchan Temple.

Perhaps because the sword formation was broken, there were no more obstacles in the way ahead.

Chen Qing and his group soon arrived at Kuchan Mountain.

From afar, the entire mountain peak is shrouded in a halo of light, and the outline of the ancient temple can be faintly seen on its summit.

However, what caught Chen Qing's attention next was a huge bronze mirror hanging above the temple!
The bronze mirror was ancient and mottled, with lotus and cloud patterns engraved on its edges. Its surface was as clear as water, reflecting the temple and the mountains.

The moment Chen Qing's gaze fell upon the mirror, the glassy Yin spirit in the Niwan Palace trembled violently, experiencing a strange resonance. Deep within the spirit's soul, the outer landscape of the half-fruit of the Dao that he had not yet activated also twitched!
Could this object be related to the path and fruition of the demon Buddha?
A thought struck him, and he immediately asked, "Brother Zheng, do you know the origin of this mirror?"

Zheng Qingtian, clearly prepared, said, “This is the most treasured artifact of Kuchan Temple, called the ‘Three Lives Reflecting Mirror.’ Kuchan Temple belongs to the Lotus Dharma Realm. This sect often engages in secretive activities and spreads its teachings in secrecy. There aren’t many temples like Kuchan Temple that openly display their teachings, so naturally they have a precious treasure to protect it! It is said that this mirror itself is a precious magic weapon and is connected to the mountain-protecting array here. It is extremely magical and can reflect past and present lives, and peek into the laws of cause and effect. It is not used casually and is usually hung above the temple like this…”

Before he could finish speaking, something unexpected happened!

The Three Lives Mirror, suspended high in the sky, suddenly trembled and slowly rotated. The mirror surface rippled like water, and a clear, cold light burst forth from it, like a celestial river falling down, shining directly towards the location of Chen Qing and the others!

"Not good!" Zheng Qingtian's expression changed drastically. "Why did this mirror suddenly turn towards us?!"

Despite his surprise, he didn't forget to form hand seals to protect himself, and the others also formed their own hand seals and released their magical artifacts to protect themselves!

Chen Qing was no exception. He no longer intended to hide his abilities and was about to unleash his Nascent Soul Outer Realm, but the light came too fast and disappeared in the blink of an eye!
Chen Qing's nascent soul had not yet manifested, but a trace of Dao fruit aura within it was forcibly drawn out!
at the same time.

Deep within the Kuchan Temple, in a quiet room filled with the fragrance of incense.

The sinister-looking man who had been watching the battle from the cliff had already returned to this place through a secret passage inside the temple.

He pushed open the door to the quiet room and went inside.

Inside the quiet room, there was a futon, and an old monk with a withered face, dressed in worn-out robes, sat upright in it.

Sensing the arrival of the newcomer, the old monk slowly opened his eyes, and a lotus flower seemed to bloom in his pupils.

“Master Jingyan,” the sinister man spoke, his voice tinged with displeasure, “Zheng Qingtian broke through the Blind Sword Locking Formation and escaped.” The old monk Jingyan remained calm, showing no surprise upon hearing this: “This humble monk already knows.”

"You know?" The sinister man frowned, his tone turning cold. "I don't care how many people your Kuchan Temple has lost, you must keep your promise to Jin Yuanzhao! Since the sword formation failed, I will use you to publicly expose Zheng Qingtian's shady background and seize his business. This Lieyun Gang must become a foundation for my Five Elements Army to penetrate the Central Continent!"

The old monk Jingyan raised his eyes, gave him a deep look, and said, "What do you seek, benefactor? Is it the foundation of the Five Elements Army, or your private property?"

The sinister-looking man, Jin Yuanzhao, sneered and stood with his hands behind his back: "Master Jingyan, why bother distinguishing things so clearly? What belongs to me is also the Five Elements Army, and the Five Elements Army will be mine sooner or later!"

"Amitabha Buddha." Jingyan murmured the Buddha's name softly. "Greed and anger, burning fiercely like a forest fire, will eventually backfire and consume oneself. My Lotus Dharma Realm emphasizes that the heart is undefiled like a lotus, and worldly ties will naturally dissolve..."

"Enough!" Jin Yuanzhao interrupted impatiently. "Stop with your nonsense! Your Three Lives Mirror has already confirmed that I am the reincarnation of a true Buddha, and you're determined to lead me to your faith, right? Fine! But my worldly ties are not yet severed, and my worldly wishes are not yet fulfilled. How can I peacefully enter your Buddhist order? Don't you keep saying that a 'great calamity is coming' and 'the world is about to perish,' and that without the protection of a true Buddha, your foundation in the Central Continent will be destroyed? Then help me fulfill my long-cherished wish and make me willingly submit! When Zheng Qingtian arrives later, you will gather all the guests in the temple today and publicly reveal his true identity..."

The old monk Jingyan remained silent for a moment, then slowly said, "I will do my best to fulfill your request, but the path to Buddhahood is unpredictable, and sometimes the way back may not be as you expect."

Upon hearing this, Jin Yuanzhao laughed smugly: "My fate is in my own hands, why should it be in the hands of heaven? Don't harbor any other thoughts. Didn't you say that in the past five hundred years, your Lotus Dharma Realm has exhausted all its efforts and only found two reincarnations of true Buddhas? One of them was already snapped up by the Great Wheel Temple. Now, your only hope is me! Do you really expect to find a third one out of thin air at this point..."

He hadn't finished speaking...

"Om!!"

The entire Kuchan Mountain suddenly trembled violently!
The beams and pillars of the meditation room creaked, and the scriptures on the table rustled!
Immediately afterwards, countless chanting sounds arose from the void, initially faint, then becoming vast, like thousands of monks chanting sutras at the same time, or like the sighs and chants of the ancient Buddha that transcended time and space!

"This is?!"

For the first time, a violent tremor appeared on the usually calm and composed face of the old monk Jingyan. He suddenly stood up, his cloudy eyes flashing with a sharp light, and looked out the window!

Above the temple, the Three Lives Mirror shone brightly. Where the mirror light gathered, the void seemed to melt, and a silent, icy sun, releasing rays of light, slowly rose from where the mirror light shone!

The light shone brightly, making the entire Kuchan Mountain seem to blend in with it!
"What's going on?" Jin Yuanzhao also looked outside, feeling very uneasy. He looked up at the sky and saw that the same sun was still hanging there. "Two suns?"

Two suns in the sky!

"Thump—Buzz—"

The next moment, the ancient bronze bell deep inside the Kuchan Temple rang by itself without anyone striking it!
The bell tolls loudly, the first sound like a lion's roar, shattering confusion; the second like a dragon's cry, cleansing the heart of worldly cares; the third like thunder, startling the drowsy mind!
Every sound carries the essence of Zen, echoing throughout the entire Kuchan Mountain.

"Shuashuashua——"

Throughout the temple, the doors of the various Buddhist halls and meditation courtyards were wide open, and figures darted out.

The monks of the temple, as well as guests from all walks of life who had been invited to witness the ceremony or had come after hearing about the extraordinary treasure, all looked up at the sky with expressions of astonishment.

"Buzzing—"

Immediately afterwards, all the golden Buddha and Bodhisattva statues enshrined in the temple began to emit a warm, gentle light!
The light shimmered, and Sanskrit characters appeared and disappeared.

"Buddha's light shines everywhere! The temple bell tolls on its own! Is this... a manifestation of the Buddha?"

"Could it be that a high-ranking monk in the temple had an epiphany, triggering the blessings of the Buddhist teachings left by generations of monks?"

The crowd discussed amongst themselves, feeling bewildered, yet involuntarily awestruck by the solemn and magnificent scene, and filled with awe.

In a corner of the crowd, Murong Zhiqing and her master had somehow appeared beneath the eaves of the palace.

His master's eyes flashed with a sharp light as he looked at the great sun that radiated the light of annihilation, and he showed a look of shock!
"The Three Lives Mirror is a rare treasure of Buddhism, capable of revealing cause and effect and illuminating the origin! This extraordinary phenomenon seems to have revealed the body of a Buddha incarnate, and the high status and heavy karma of this person in their previous life have resonated with the accumulated incense and Buddhist power of the entire temple! Who is it?"

(End of this chapter)