Volume 1, Chapter 39: The Legendary Eastern Bell!

Little Black whimpered, feeling wronged. It hadn't meant to do that; it had simply eaten too much and was suffering from a bit of indigestion.

Uncle Fu stood to the side, his eyelid twitching. He could see clearly that it was no mere fart. It was the result of Little Black consuming the "leftovers" of the Progenitor; the energy had accumulated within its body, and having failed to contain it, a trace of the Chaos-Swallowing Beast’s primordial aura had leaked out. Even such a tiny wisp of that aura possessed enough power to instantly annihilate a great world. Fortunately, this was the Gu household. Every brick and every inch of soil in the small courtyard had been imbued with the Progenitor’s Dao essence, making it unimaginably sturdy; otherwise, it would have caused total destruction.

"Uncle Fu, this dog is getting more gluttonous and more unruly by the day," Gu Changsheng complained. "We need to find a way to keep it in check."

Uncle Fu understood perfectly and replied respectfully, "The Young Master is right. I shall go and fetch a 'little toy' for it to keep it quiet."

Uncle Fu turned and walked into the storehouse. A moment later, he emerged holding a seemingly ordinary bronze bell. He tied the bell around Little Black's neck.

*Cling.*

A crisp, clear sound echoed. The restless, chaotic aura on Little Black was instantly suppressed, turning it perfectly docile. It returned to being that harmless-looking mutt once more.

"That’s better," Gu Changsheng nodded with satisfaction.

Ye Qingxian and Ji Ruxue, however, saw the bronze bell and their pupils contracted sharply. From that bell, they felt a terrifying pressure that made their very souls tremble. It was a pressure that seemed to originate from the dawn of time, carrying a supreme power capable of suppressing the heavens and stabilizing the universe.

They recognized it. That bell was none other than the legendary Supreme Imperial Weapon of the Lord of the Heavenly Court from a bygone era—the Eastern Emperor Bell!

Now, it was being used as a dog collar. The Eastern Emperor Bell was tied around the neck of a common mutt named Little Black.

Ye Qingxian and Ji Ruxue felt as if their hearts were being gripped by an invisible hand, their very breathing becoming cautious. That was the Eastern Emperor Bell! It was a supreme artifact from mythology, said to have stabilized the fate of an entire era and commanded the gods of all heavens. Its name spanned the long river of history, a supreme weapon that countless Immortal Kings and Emperors dreamed of possessing.

Yet now, its only function seemed to be preventing a mutt from burping too loudly after a big meal and disturbing someone’s sleep. It was an indescribable sense of dissonance—absurd to the extreme, yet happening right before their eyes.

As they looked at the little black dog wagging its tail with the Eastern Emperor Bell hanging from its neck, looking utterly innocent, their expressions changed completely. This was no mere dog; it was the most noble creature in all the heavens and worlds, bar none.

Ji Ruxue recalled her own majesty as the Empress of Yaochi and the priceless treasures and grandeur she once commanded; she felt like a joke. The so-called power and treasures of her past had been redefined in this small courtyard.

What is luxury? It is using a branch of the World Tree as a fishing rod and threads of causality as fishing line to catch the Old Ones of the Chaos Sea. It is making a bowl of soup from the egg of an Undying Divine Phoenix, using the tender leaves of the World Tree—which contain the laws of life—as a garnish, and cooking rice with a primordial spring that can cleanse the soul.

And it is using the Eastern Emperor Bell, which suppresses the fate of an era, as a bell for a pet. This was no longer luxury; this was treating the "Dao" itself as a common household item.

Ji Ruxue and Ye Qingxian exchanged a look, seeing a mix of bitter self-mockery and resignation in each other's eyes. From the moment they stepped into this courtyard, everything they had once known was being continuously and thoroughly shattered, then reshaped. The process was painful, but the result allowed them to see a vast, boundless world they had never imagined.

Just then, Uncle Fu finished tidying the bowls and chopsticks, wiped his hands, and walked over to the reclining chair. Gu Changsheng was picking his teeth, looking bored out of his mind.

"Young Master, are you feeling a bit bored?" Uncle Fu asked softly.

"Yeah," Gu Changsheng sighed. "Life is no different from my previous one; I just changed where I’m lying down. No phone, no computer, not even a decent novel to read. I'm bored to tears."

Uncle Fu interpreted his mention of his "previous life" as the era before the Progenitor fell into slumber, assuming the Progenitor was merely reminiscing. Uncle Fu smiled, full of confidence.

"I recently heard that the heavens and worlds are holding a grand event called the 'Ten Thousand Worlds Heaven’s Pride Tournament.' It is said to gather the top young talents from every great world to compete for the title of 'The Greatest Talent of All Time.' It’s quite a lively scene; perhaps it could provide some entertainment for you."

"A talent tournament?" Gu Changsheng curled his lip, uninterested. "A bunch of kids fighting? What’s there to see? It’s just noisy and annoying." He hated trouble and noise more than anything. Watching a martial arts tournament sounded far worse than just taking a nap.

Uncle Fu seemed to have anticipated this response. He continued calmly, "I also feel that the fighting of those juniors is hardly worth your attention. However... I heard the prizes for this tournament are quite generous. The organizers have brought out many strange and rare items, including long-lost specialties and delicacies from ancient realms."

"Oh? Delicacies?" Gu Changsheng’s ears perked up. This word had successfully piqued his interest.

"Yes, Young Master," Uncle Fu nodded. "For instance, the legendary 'Dream Jellyfish' that grows on the edge of the 'Sea of Nothingness.' Its texture is like a cloud, melting upon the tongue, allowing one to taste the most wonderful memories. There is also the 'Soul-Fire Grilled Wings' only found in the 'Nine Nether Abyss,' and the 'Ten Thousand Star Vintage' brewed from the 'Core of Stars'..."

With every item Uncle Fu mentioned, Gu Changsheng’s Adam’s apple bobbed involuntarily. It sounded... slightly more sophisticated than "Mapo Tofu" or "Scrambled Eggs with Tomato."

"Ahem." Gu Changsheng cleared his throat, maintaining his dignity as a lazy slacker, and asked with feigned indifference, "So... where is this tournament being held? Is it far? If it’s too far and I have to walk, forget it. Too much trouble."

"Not far at all," Uncle Fu quickly added. "It’s in the backyard. Furthermore, the Gu family has a dedicated quota by tradition. If you wish to go, you can visit at any time."

"In the backyard?" Gu Changsheng paused. He stood up, walked to the back, and sure enough, the dry well that he used as a trash can was emitting faint ripples of space.

"Fine, whatever." Gu Changsheng hesitated, but in the end, his laziness won out over his appetite. "Still too much of a hassle. You go if you want, just bring me back something good to eat."

With that, he turned to head back to his reclining chair. Watching this, Uncle Fu thought to himself, "The Young Master still refuses to act easily; this is a test for us."

He immediately had an idea. He turned to Ye Qingxian and said, "Miss Ye, since the Young Master does not wish to move, why don't you represent him in this competition?"

Upon hearing this, Ye Qingxian froze, and then her heart began to beat uncontrollably. Her? Representing the Gu family? Representing this supreme existence to participate in the so-called Ten Thousand Worlds Heaven’s Pride Tournament?

This was not just an honor; it was a responsibility as heavy as a mountain. Her every action would represent the face of the Gu family.

"I... am I capable?" For the first time, she felt a lack of confidence in her invincible sword heart. She would be facing the top monsters from across the heavens and worlds.

"Of course you are." Uncle Fu’s tone was calm, yet carried an unquestionable power. "You only need to remember one thing."