Lu Fan instantly understood that ordinary people lacked the power to wield the Purple Gold Bell. The person who gave the Purple Gold Bell to Duanmu Xiu was undoubtedly searching for someone capable of using it. This method was indeed quite clever.
The true power of the Purple Gold Bell was not to induce unconsciousness, but to generate flames and stir up sand and stones. When he inadvertently shook the Purple Gold Bell, its true owner, who had tampered with it, would be able to sense it and might come looking for him.
"Duanmu Xiu! I'll find you a master. Come back for revenge after you've learned well," Lu Fan said with a cold smile, suddenly speaking to Duanmu Xiu.
"What?"
"What?"
Not only Duanmu Xiu, but everyone else was stunned. Had Lu Fan gone mad?
...
Meanwhile, in the Western Heaven, far beyond the Nine Heavens, at the Luojia Cave of Mount Putuo, Cihang Daoist suddenly opened his eyes.
"Golden Mane Fierce Beast! Go to the mortal realm, find out who has your Purple Gold Bell, and bring them back," Cihang Daoist suddenly shouted.
Swoosh... A creature larger than a lion, but resembling a dog, shot out in a flash.
...
On Qingcheng Mountain, atop a peculiar peak, in the Laojun Pavilion, several people were seated in meditation. Yi Qing Zhenren, Hai Du Daozhang, Su Zhen Laoni, and the six patriarchs of the six great families. These nine individuals were cultivating, and they had reached a very critical juncture, preparing to break through to the Xiantian realm.
Of course, they had been preparing for this for nearly a year. Although the Shouyuan Pills from Lu Fan had increased their chances of breakthrough by twenty percent, they still felt uncertain. This was because a failed breakthrough would mean their lifespans were numbered. Even the oldest among them feared death; it was a common human failing.
"Fellow Daoists! I've come to see you."
Suddenly, a voice echoed. The nine people instantly opened their eyes, surprise and joy appearing on their faces. They rose almost simultaneously to greet the newcomers outside the main hall.
They saw three figures slowly approaching from the foot of the mountain: Lu Fan, Yuan Feng, and Duanmu Xiu.
"Little Brother Lu Fan! We never expected to see you again! We heard you successfully passed your tribulation," the elders said as they stepped forward.
"Haha! I've come to bring you a disciple. Duanmu Xiu, a descendant of the Duanmu family," Lu Fan said with a hearty laugh to the nine elders, all over a hundred years old.
"A descendant of the Duanmu family?"
The nine elders were immediately startled, unsure of Lu Fan's intentions.
"Yes! Her name is Duanmu Xiu! She is a cultivation genius with immense talent. Although she is not yet ten years old, she is already a Qi Realm expert. If you are willing to take her as a disciple, she will surely not disappoint you in the future," Lu Fan said.
"But... little brother, she is the descendant of that old fellow Duanmu. Duanmu died by your hand," Yi Qing Daoist said urgently.
"I know, of course. And she has been seeking revenge against me. However, that does not preclude her from taking a master. Furthermore, if you are willing to accept her, I can give each of you another pill to help you successfully overcome your tribulation," Lu Fan added suddenly.
"Really?"
"Really?"
The nine elders almost thought they had misheard. They had never encountered someone like this. Had Lu Fan's mind been affected by the lightning during his tribulation?
Lu Fan chuckled, took out nine pills, and handed them to the elders. Then, leaving Duanmu Xiu behind, he turned and departed with Yuan Feng.
"Benefactor! Why did you do that? She is your enemy," Yuan Feng asked, puzzled. During the war between the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin tribes, it was a war of annihilation; there was no room for revenge. As a result, very few descendants of the three tribes remained.
"It is no longer convenient for me to interfere in national affairs, but the nation needs a constant supply of powerful individuals. Duanmu Xiu only has a personal grudge against me, not against the nation. Perhaps in the future, she will serve the country. You might not understand this," Lu Fan said calmly.
"I understand!" Yuan Feng nodded.
The two left Laojun Pavilion but did not leave Qingcheng Mountain. Instead, they went to a not-so-small mountain peak in the distance. This peak was exceptionally precipitous and had no tourists. Upon reaching the summit, they discovered a peculiar stone house.
The house was not built from stones but was a space carved out from within a large rock. Inside, there was only a stone bed and a stone table. It seemed to have been there for a very long time, as thick dust covered the stone bed and table.
Lu Fan was puzzled. Could a celestial being have resided here?
Lu Fan cleaned the stone house, then took out the Purple Gold Bell and hung it on the roof of the stone house. After that, he returned to the stone bed and began to cultivate. Yuan Feng remained silent, sitting by the stone table with her eyes closed in meditation.
Whoosh... Bang... With a sound, the entire mountain peak trembled as if struck by a meteor. Lu Fan opened his eyes and looked outside, seeing a giant monstrous beast land on the peak, its bull-like eyes fixed on the Purple Gold Bell above the stone house.
The beast bore some resemblance to a lion and some to a dog. However, regardless of its appearance, anything that could appear at the summit of this mountain was no ordinary creature.
"Kid! Did you hang the Purple Gold Bell here?" the Golden Mane Fierce Beast suddenly looked at Lu Fan and asked.
"It's a talking dog after all!" Lu Fan said calmly, looking at the Golden Mane Fierce Beast with amusement.
"My name is Jin Mao Hou! Not a dog!" the Golden Mane Fierce Beast roared at Lu Fan, clearly angered.
"It's about the same. I used to have a golden retriever, but when it became disobedient, I boiled it for soup. By the way, are you here for this bell?" Lu Fan asked indifferently.
"Humph..." The enraged Golden Mane Fierce Beast bared its teeth and said again, "Kid! Remember me, my name is Jin Mao Hou. Even the Azure Dragon has to avoid me, the Golden Mane Fierce Beast! I am not a dog."
"Alright! You're quite formidable! It would be very imposing if you were my mount!" Lu Fan smiled, looking somewhat pleased.
"Roar... You have successfully angered me. My master told me to bring you back, but now... I can only drag you back. As for whether you'll be missing limbs, that depends on your luck." The Golden Mane Fierce Beast suddenly shook its neck, and the Purple Gold Bell on the roof of the stone house was suddenly hung around the beast's neck.
Roar... The Golden Mane Fierce Beast roared and lunged at Lu Fan. Suddenly, a golden light emanated from the Purple Gold Bell on its neck. The Golden Mane Fierce Beast suddenly felt as if it were struggling to breathe, as if exhausted.
"Heh heh! A dog is just a dog, a stupid dog with no brains! From now on, you'll be my mount!" Lu Fan laughed heartily.