The sound of the bell and drum from the stone wall brought an unprecedented shock to Canghai Sect. Just when they thought the ringing had come to an end, another bell toll echoed out.

When the seventh bell toll reverberated, the entire Canghai Sect fell into silence, with only the sacred sound lingering endlessly. The crowd of Canghai Sect felt a strange sensation, as if only the heart-shaking bell and drum sound remained in the world. The sound enveloped the entire sect, like the momentum of heaven and earth itself.

Nangong Shang stood with his hands behind his back, gazing toward Tianqian Cliff, his robes swaying in the breeze. Around him, Xie Canglan, Xie Yun, the disciples of Canghai Sect, even Chu Tianpeng and Li Xin, all looked in the same direction. It gave an almost dreamlike feeling, as if they were worshiping something sacred.

On Tianqian Cliff, within the solitary stone cave, an elderly man in a black robe stood, looking up, his expression a mixture of reverence and solemnity. This elder guarded Tianqian Cliff, and very few in Canghai Sect even knew of his existence. Yet, even Sect Master Nangong Shang would respectfully address him as Elder Kong if they met.

Elder Kong had seen that Li Xiaoyao only had a cultivation level of Qi Martial Stage Eight, and his martial spirit seemed weak. Thus, he had allowed Li Xiaoyao to enter the most difficult trial, the bell and drum stone wall, hoping that Li Xiaoyao would give up after encountering the challenge. However, Elder Kong had never imagined that with such weak cultivation, Li Xiaoyao would ring the bell and drum.

What shocked Elder Kong even more was that the tolls kept coming, each one long and distant, enveloping the entire Canghai Sect. At this point, the seventh bell toll had rung.

In the thousand-year history of Canghai Sect, no one had ever achieved such a feat.

Stepping forward, Elder Kong began ascending the path leading to the bell and drum stone wall. Step by step, he climbed the passage, his solemn expression waiting for the eighth bell toll to sound.

Meanwhile, on the stone wall, sword energy still surged, but it was no longer wild and uncontrolled. Now, the sword energy moved in accordance with Li Xiaoyao's longsword. Wherever the sword pointed, the energy followed.

"Momentum, the force of the sword, will obliterate all," Li Xiaoyao's face showed a faint smile. The eight-sided bell and drum were incredibly mysterious. It seemed that only by breaking its force—by using an overwhelming power greater than the force pushing back—could the bell be struck. Just like now, Li Xiaoyao used the momentum of his sword to overpower the force pushing back, thus ringing the bell.

"Now that I've rung the seventh bell, with this final one, all eight will chime together. I should have perfectly passed the trial of the Bell and Drum Stone Wall." Li Xiaoyao thought to himself, still believing that this was the easiest trial on Tianqian Cliff.

His long sword moved, and the murderous sword aura fused into one, cold light flashing on the blade. "Resonate!" With a shout, the sword aura transformed into a brilliant streak of light, crashing toward the final bell. Clang! The eighth bell rang across the skies of Canghai Sect, its echo lingering. Li Xiaoyao's martial spirit vanished, and he collapsed onto the ground, exhausted.

"This should be enough to get the elixir to heal Han Kui's injuries." Despite being drained of all his strength, a radiant smile appeared on Li Xiaoyao's face. A rumbling sound echoed as the stone wall opened, and out walked the black-robed elder. Seeing the elder, Li Xiaoyao quickly got up and asked, "Senior, have I passed the trial? Can I get the elixir I need?"

Elder Kong was momentarily stunned by Li Xiaoyao's pure smile. A rare emotion stirred in his heart—perhaps Li Xiaoyao didn't even realize the significance of his accomplishment. He wasn't seeking ancient glory, but simply wanted an elixir to heal his friend. "Of course," Elder Kong nodded, retrieving a bottle of elixirs and tossing it to Li Xiaoyao. "There are some healing elixirs inside. One will be enough to heal your friend's injury. As for the others, keep them for yourself. You might find them useful in the future." "Thank you, Senior." Li Xiaoyao was a bit surprised. From what Elder Kong had said, just one elixir could heal Han Kui's injury, showing its value. Yet, the elder had given him an entire bottle. Li Xiaoyao didn't doubt the elder's words—someone of his status and strength didn't need to deceive him.

"This is what you deserve for passing the trial. But remember, don't mention this trial of the Bell and Drum Stone Wall to anyone." Elder Kong warned. Li Xiaoyao, a Qi Martial Stage Eight cultivator, had rung all eight bells, breaking the history of Canghai Sect. His talent was undeniable, and Elder Kong didn't want him to attract unwanted attention.

In the Snow Moon Kingdom, it was not uncommon for various sects to secretly hunt down and kill talented disciples from other sects who had not yet fully grown. Today, Li Xiaoyao had rung the bell signaling the rise of Canghai Sect, which might make him a target for some of these sects wanting to eliminate him.

"Alright." Li Xiaoyao, though unclear on the black-robed elder's intentions in asking him to keep things quiet, nodded in agreement.

The black-robed elder raised his head and called out toward the distance, "Old man Bei, you can take him back."

Li Xiaoyao was stunned. This place was a sheer cliff, and all he could see was mountain ridges. Clearly, the black-robed elder wasn't talking to thin air.

"Alright, old ghost, you can go back." A voice echoed from the cliffs, and Li Xiaoyao looked up to see a black dot leaping through the air. The figure had enormous wings—white, ethereal wings—revealing themselves as the wings of a crane.

"Martial experts can cross the skies and travel through the air. I never expected to see such a strong figure here at Yunhai Sect." Li Xiaoyao felt a surge of admiration, but soon a gust of wind nearly knocked him off his feet.

Dust and stones were swept up as the crane descended onto the cliff. Li Xiaoyao's eyes narrowed slightly—it was him! The figure was someone Li Xiaoyao recognized, none other than the guardian elder of the Sun and Moon Pavilion. However, the elder no longer looked worn-out and lazy; instead, his eyes shone brightly, exuding an aura of immense power and authority.

"A guardian of the Sun and Moon Pavilion truly isn't ordinary." Li Xiaoyao's earlier guess was now firmly confirmed.

"Kid, let me introduce you," the elder said with a cheerful tone. "This old ghost here is one of Canghai Sect's guardians. You can call him Elder Kong. As for me, I'm also a guardian of the sect. You can call me Elder Bei."

The elder's mood seemed particularly good. As sect guardians, their status within the sect was extraordinary. Even the sect master treated them with the utmost respect. Their loyalty to the sect far surpassed that of others, and in their hearts, nothing mattered more than the sect. Since Li Xiaoyao had rung all eight bells, Elder Bei couldn't help but feel elated.

"Elder Bei, Elder Kong." Li Xiaoyao smiled at the two. These two sect guardians were undoubtedly among the top figures in the sect.

Elder Kong nodded silently and then turned, walking back toward the stone wall. Moments later, the stone wall opened, and Elder Kong disappeared into the darkness.

"That old ghost spends his days hiding in that hole. He rarely speaks a word for days on end—cold and distant is just his way." Elder Bei shook his head, grabbing Li Xiaoyao. "Come, let's go."

The shadow of the crane's martial spirit appeared again, sweeping through the air. Li Xiaoyao felt his body lift off the ground. Looking down at the void beneath his feet, he felt as if he were in a dream. In his previous life, who could have imagined soaring through the skies without the aid of a flying device?

Yet, on the Nine Heavens Continent, the strength of martial experts allowed them to defy the heavens and earth.