The bell only rang three times.
"Only three rings!"
On the flying ship, the captain had long changed into the official uniform of Sword Holder. He stood majestically in front and spoke proudly.
He placed his hands behind his back and looked smug. However, there was still a hint of guilt and nervousness hidden in the depths of his eyes.
Xu Qing was also asked to change into the official uniform of the Sword Holder. However, he didn't care about the bell at that moment. Instead, he sized up his robe.
The official uniform of the Sword Holder was different from a Daoist robe. The collar was longer until it reached right below the ear. It had wide sleeves that hung down slightly. It was white with red flames as patterns.
These patterns were hidden and weren't obvious. Only under the sunlight did they faintly fill half of the official uniform. The sleeves and the collar of the upper body formed a sea of burning fire.
As the wind blew, the dress swayed like fire and burned fiercely.
There was also a cape on the back that was tied to the collar by a red ribbon. It fluttered behind, creating a gust of wind.
Although the official uniform looked like it was mainly made of plain material, it actually contained intense fire. Overall, it looked elegant but at the same time, it didn't lack a valiant aura. When it was worn by Xu Qing, the female disciples in the flying ship had a strange glint in their eyes as they frequently glanced at him.
Yanyan's eyes narrowed into crescent moons as she stood beside Xu Qing. She puffed out her small chest and looked proud.
"What do you mean by only three rings? The bell doesn't even ring when this old man returns. Erniu, your skin is itching again, right?" When Xu Qing was checking his dress, the voice of the ancestor, Xue Lianzi, rang out calmly.
The captain's body trembled and he turned his head with a fawning expression. His temperament was completely gone at this moment as he quickly ran to Xue Lianzi's side.
"Disciple greets the ancestor."
Xue Lianzi snorted and walked to Xu Qing's side. His eyes were filled with admiration.
Xu Qing's expression was respectful as he bowed.
"Don't listen to your Eldest Senior Brother's nonsense. Ah Qing, according to the etiquette of the human race, the ringing of the bell represents different meanings. You don't have to pay too much attention to this. You only need to know that the sect's bell will ring at most 21 times."
"Why?" The captain asked curiously.
Xue Lianzi ignored him and looked at Xu Qing amiably.
"Ah Qing, after you return to the sect, you can rest for three months. You'll be on a long trip after three months. At that time, I'll give you a treasure."
With that, before the captain could speak, Xue Lianzi turned his head and glared at him as he reprimanded.
"You're not young anymore. Learn from your junior brother. Don't fool around all day. It's fine if you're in the sect, but when you go to Fenghai County, I'm afraid that your seal will be broken by some people. At that time, even if they can't kill you, you'll kill yourself."
"Ancestor, let's not talk about Fenghai County first. I don't even know how I'll survive the next calamity…" The captain sighed and looked at the ancestor eagerly.
The ancestor snorted and was about to speak. However, at this moment, as the flying ship approached the Eight Sects Alliance, figures flew out of the Alliance and headed straight for the ship.
Not only did the Seven Blood Eyes' people come, but people from all other sects also came. After all, there were disciples from their sects who had returned.
Although they didn't become a Sword Holder, they had experienced the trial and broadened their horizons. It was also an extraordinary trip.
However, other than the Seven Blood Eyes' welcoming group being led by Old Master Seventh, the other sects all sent elders.
However, the scene was still grand. Amidst the countless congratulations, there was also a grand ceremony specially held for Xu Qing and the captain in the Seven Blood Eyes. Very soon, the group of people returned to the Seven Blood Eyes in a majestic manner under the lingering sound of the bell chimes.
The moment they returned, more than half of the Seven Blood Eyes' disciples were already present. They bowed to the sky in unison.
Under the envious gazes of countless disciples, the captain looked proud. He heaved a sigh of relief when he noticed that Purple Mystic Fairy didn't appear.
At the same time, the Alliance Leader appeared. He had a seemingly gentle smile on his face as he issued a decree.
"Give Xu Qing and Chen Erniu the status of Dao Children of the Eight Sects Alliance!"
This was something that should be done. After all, they had become Sword Holders. Moreover, this time, the Eight Sects Alliance was also receiving a lot of attention. Among the three Sword Holders, the Eight Sects Alliance occupied two seats.
Such a thing had never happened before. In the past, there would at most be one seat.
Hence, the bestowment of the Dao Child title was necessary.
This was the way of the world. It was to show the Seven Blood Eyes, the Sword Holding Court, and the future Sword Holders of all the sects.
It had nothing to do with his stand or thoughts. As the Alliance Leader, not many people could see through his thoughts. However, he had always been calm.
Hence, after the identity of the Dao Children was announced, the Seven Blood Eyes' celebration banquet became even more lively. Some disciples from the other sects also sent congratulatory gifts over. The banquet lasted for an entire day.
On this day, the captain was socializing with everyone. He was at ease and occasionally bragged.
"Let me tell you guys. In the Absolute Beginning Separation City, Ah Qing and my heart inquisition light are unprecedented. The two of us together exceed 100,000 feet!"
Xu Qing heard it from afar and didn't care. At that moment, Huang Yan was sitting in front of him with a rueful expression.
"Xu Qing, in the blink of an eye, a few years have passed. You're now a Sword Holder."
"Sigh, I'm still not used to the Yinghuang Province. I've already persuaded Senior Sister. We plan to leave the Yinghuang Province. It just so happens that it is going to be Senior Sister's turn to be on duty. See you in the Nanhuang Continent in the future."
Previously, Xu Qing had heard Huang Yan say many times that he didn't like the Yinghuang Province. Now that he heard this, he couldn't force him to stay. He nodded and told Huang Yan about the Three Spirits Suppression Mountain.
Huang Yan seemed to be a little interested in this.
Time slowly passed and dusk gradually arrived. The banquet was also about to end. Xu Qing planned to make a trip to the back mountain to pay his respects to Lord Sixth.
However, just as the banquet was about to end and he was about to leave, something happened.
In the sky, a purple light flickered, changing the color of the sunset. When Xu Qing lifted his head and looked over, the captain, who was bragging to Zhang San in the distance, suddenly had a change in expression.
At the next moment, the purple light that filled the sky gathered together, forming the figure of a woman.
That delicate skin, graceful figure, face that was as beautiful as a fairy, elegant temperament, and terrifying cultivation base. After they were pieced together, they transformed into a peerless beauty who seemed to have walked out of a painting.
She was Purple Mystic Fairy.
She didn't arrive during the banquet but waited for it to end before appearing. This detail represented respect.
As for her appearance, Xu Qing instinctively felt a little uneasy. When he thought of the letter he had received, he felt waves in his mood. At that moment, he only wanted to leave this place as soon as possible. Hence, he quietly retreated.
The captain was even more anxious. Almost at the instant he saw the purple light, his body swayed and he instantly fled.
However, he didn't know that Old Master Seventh had been staring at him from the start.
Almost at the instant the captain fled, Old Master Seventh lifted his right hand and grabbed at the air. Amidst the sorrowful cries, the captain's figure was pulled out by Old Master Seventh.
When he appeared in Old Master Seventh's hand, the captain's limbs were still waving, looking like he wanted to struggle, but it was useless. In the end, he could only look at Old Master Seventh pitifully.
"Master…"
Old Master Seventh didn't look at his eldest disciple. Instead, he looked at Purple Mystic Fairy with a smile.
"Fellow Daoist Zi Xuan, this rascal of mine has caused you trouble. I don't think there's any problem with the punishment you proposed for him last time."
As Old Master Seventh spoke, he threw Chen Erniu into the air. After he landed in front of Purple Mystic Fairy, Chen Erniu let out a shrill cry.
His limbs were bound and he couldn't move, but his neck was fine. He quickly lowered his head and saw Xu Qing, who had quietly retreated into the crowd and had already fled to the distance.
"Junior Brother, save me. Quickly put in a good word with Purple Mystic Fairy or accompany me…"
Xu Qing was enraged. He thought to himself, 'Chen Erniu, you didn't forget to drag me along.' At that moment, he instinctively wanted to speed up and retreat, but it was still too late.
After the captain's voice rang out, Purple Mystic Fairy lowered her charming head and looked in Xu Qing's direction with a spurious smile.
"Kid, come with me. I have something to tell you."
Xu Qing's heart skipped a beat as he recalled the letter again. His mind was in a mess as he pondered over how to refuse.
When the captain heard this, his eyes lit up. Just as he was about to speak, Purple Mystic Fairy waved her hand and sealed his mouth, making him unable to speak.
He could only blink crazily at Xu Qing continuously.
Xu Qing ignored him and was about to speak when Old Master Seventh coughed.
"Fourth, you should go."
Xu Qing quietly glanced at his master, but Old Master Seventh pretended not to see him.
Hence, at the next moment, as Purple Mystic Fairy chuckled, Xu Qing involuntarily flew up and landed beside her.
As soon as he got close, a familiar fragrance assaulted his senses. There was also a voice that was as wonderful as trickling spring water that reverberated in his ears.
"Kid, did you receive my letter?"
Xu Qing hurriedly shook his head.
Purple Mystic Fairy chuckled and flicked her sleeve. When Xu Qing shook his head, she disappeared from the world with him and the captain.
When they appeared, they were already in the Mystic Nether Sect's Demon Snake Secret Realm.
What entered Xu Qing's vision was a huge snake bone that meandered like a mountain range.
There was only one person on the snake bone.
This person was Wu Jianwu.
He held a large brush in his hand and a seal was pasted on his mouth. He was currently washing the snake bones with dazed eyes.
After noticing Xu Qing and the other two in the air, Wu Jianwu's eyes immediately lit up.
The captain also saw all of this and wailed in his mind.
"Chen Erniu, you stole the snake fang. If it was anyone else, I would definitely skin them alive. However, your master interceded on this matter. Also, on account of your junior brother, I won't argue with you."
"If you wanted to use the fang, you could have asked to borrow it. Why would you steal it? Forget it, I can lend you the fang, but I'll punish you to clean the demon snake's bones here for three months. You have to clean them all in three months."
"Go on."
Purple Mystic Fairy calmly spoke. With a wave of her hand, the captain's body landed on the snake bone and beside Wu Jianwu.
Wu Jianwu's face was filled with pride and there was even more excitement in his eyes. He quickly handed the captain a large brush and pointed into the distance.
One could see that half of the snake bones here had actually been washed and cleaned, but there was still more than half left. It seemed that Wu Jianwu had deliberately not cleaned them and had been waiting.
Now that he had obtained a partner, the direction of his finger seemed to be telling the captain that he had kept the other half for a long time.
The captain sighed but also secretly heaved a sigh of relief. This punishment was simply like scratching an itch. It couldn't be any lighter.
"Looks like the letter I wrote is effective. I have to write more in the future!"
The captain blinked and put on an aggrieved expression. He lowered his head and cleaned the snake bones. However, as he cleaned, his expression changed. This was because the snake bones here were special and extremely difficult to wash, even when he circulated his cultivation base.
Looking at the snake bones that were like a mountain range, the captain's expression gradually became bitter.
Xu Qing looked at all of this and felt refreshed.
After throwing Chen Erniu down, Purple Mystic Fairy took a step forward with Xu Qing and appeared at the highest point of this secret realm, the skull of the demon snake that stuck its head out as though it wanted to roar at the sky.
She sat down and turned her head to look at Xu Qing with a smile.
"Sit down."
Xu Qing braced himself and sat down. From here, he could see the captain working below even more clearly. He was naturally more refreshed. However, being stared at by Zi Xuan like this, his nervousness grew increasingly intense.
This was especially so when Purple Mystic Fairy spoke softly.
"Kid, among the three things you promised me in the letter you wrote to me, you can begin with the first promise now."
Xu Qing's mind was in a mess and a blank expression appeared on his face.
