Chapter 15: The Bell of Doctrine

The Lava Immortal Palace gradually ascended, its golden pillars and red bricks exuding an awe-inspiring majesty that delivered a tremendous visual shock. The blinding flames illuminated the entire palace, making it resemble the dwelling place of the gods. All of Fire Persimmon Mountain quaked, unleashing terrifying rumbling sounds. The earth's force surged, magma boiled, and erupted upward, reaching several yards high!

Cultivators scattered in every direction, insignificant as ants before the might of heaven and earth. The current Lord of Fire Persimmon Immortal City appeared, his face solemn. He activated the grand formation at the volcano’s crater, pouring in his Nascent Soul-level spiritual power with all his might. Countless blue-green lights gathered in midair, forming a net-shaped array that covered the colossal magma pillar about to burst forth from the crater.

The two forces collided, locked in fierce stalemate. The earth trembled, mountains shook! All of Fire Persimmon Immortal City was awakened; countless people rushed out of their homes, gazing in terror at collapsed or tottering buildings. Black smoke from the volcanic eruption billowed upward, as if a demonic disaster descended to devour all life and the heavens!

The black smoke surged, yet the blue-green radiance persisted. The mountain-protecting array remained steadfast, averting a human calamity. The tremors gradually subsided until they vanished entirely. The Lava Immortal Palace stood in the volcano’s mouth, like a giant lying prone. Its crown was shrouded in endless black smoke, swirling vigorously, while its feet rested upon boiling magma, never ceasing.

The palace’s golden pillars and red bricks supported tall towers, grand halls, and intricate side chambers, embodying the fury of fire, the strength of metal, and the solidity of earth. Countless gazes—some astonished, some curious, some greedy—were irresistibly drawn to the Lava Immortal Palace.

But in the next moment, the city lord, face ashen, slowly descended from the sky. With a sweep of his sleeve, the grand array activated, and shifting light and shadow concealed the palace’s form from sight. The cultivators at the crater suffered heavy casualties; those exploring within the volcano had perished without a trace.

Zheng Double-hook led the remnants of the Ning clan, riding a cloud to the city lord’s presence. “Lord City Master,” he reported, communicating swiftly through divine sense.

Understanding the situation, the city lord’s face grew grave, his gaze sharp as blades. “Investigate! Investigate thoroughly! That shadow demon cultivator must pay with his life!”

He swept his eyes over the surviving Ning clan members. “These people, too—any cultivator who survived, detain them all and interrogate them strictly!”

“Gather every clue about the shadow demon cultivator. If any are found to be his accomplices, punish them without mercy!”

The city lord was the only Nascent Soul cultivator in Fire Persimmon Immortal City, and his mood was foul. During his tenure, the Lava Immortal Palace had been discovered. He had not reported it, choosing instead to conceal it, intending to keep it within his faction, secretly develop it, and ultimately claim the palace as his own.

But reality had other plans. The Zhou and Zheng families had successively uncovered the secret. The city lord was forced to compromise, secretly forming a pact with them. This year, the Ning family also learned of the secret.

The Ning family boasted a Golden Core cultivator and was one of the city’s major clans; the city lord was prepared to accept them. The four strongest forces in the city would jointly compete for and develop the Lava Immortal Palace, keeping outsiders at bay—a situation the city lord had painstakingly orchestrated to assert his own ambitions.

Now, however, this arrangement was on the verge of collapse!

“Shadow demon cultivator, damn that shadow demon cultivator!” The city lord’s hatred surged like a tide at the thought of the culprit.

“What should I do?” He forced down his rage and pondered his next move. He was merely an official dispatched by the Southern Bean Kingdom, not omnipotent.

“Damn it! If news reaches the capital, it’ll be out of my hands!” Though he was a high-ranking official of the Southern Bean Kingdom, compared to the nation itself, even as a Nascent Soul cultivator, he was fragile.

“Sigh... I’ll hide it as long as I can.” “Fortunately, the Lava Immortal Palace hasn’t fully emerged and remains in the crater. If I repair the array, use billowing clouds to shield it, and issue strict prohibitions, then—”

Dong, dong, dong!

A series of chimes suddenly rang from the depths of the volcano. The ringing echoed through heaven and earth.

Everyone who heard the chimes found a cultivation method gradually manifesting in their minds.

The city lord’s heart was shaken, his expression turning ugly as he blurted out, “The Transmission Bell?!”

Night had deepened.

All of Fire Persimmon Immortal City was still in chaos. Countless homes had collapsed; the citizens discussed fervently, most gazing up at the mountaintop.

The city lord’s clash with the palace had been dramatic enough to make everyone realize—something momentous had happened atop the mountain!

Just then, a profound and vast bell echoed forth!

Dong, dong, dong...

The bell resounded, its sound piercing through clouds. It shook the city’s outer walls, reverberating through countless alleys. It covered lofty courtyards and spread through humble dwellings. It stirred every breath of air, enveloping the entire city.

It precisely penetrated the heart of every sentient being, vibrating their spirit!

Countless people cried out in alarm, but the next moment, they were drawn to the cultivation method forming in their minds.

City Lord’s Mansion.

A burly youth lay sprawled on the floor, fast asleep, startled awake by the bell. He opened his large eyes abruptly.

“Whoa!” he cried, propping himself up and rising swiftly, creating a gust of wind.

“An enemy?!” The burly youth’s face was full of vigilance.

Just then, the city lord sent a transmission: “Meng Chong, my grandson, quickly comprehend it—this is the Transmission Bell, crucial for competing for the Lava Immortal Palace!”

“Transmission Bell?” Meng Chong, the burly youth, received the message, immediately stood still, his posture upright as a spear, eyes unfocused but fixed ahead, desperately memorizing and comprehending the cultivation method manifesting in his mind.

Zhou Family.

Young cultivators Zhou Ze-shen and Zhou Zhu were jointly studying a mechanical diagram. One was short, one tall; one frail, one robust. In an instant, their expressions and movements froze.

After several breaths, Zhou Ze-shen looked shocked. “Quick, quick! This seems to be the Transmission Bell. The chimes contain a cultivation method! Comprehend it swiftly.”

Zhou Zhu, usually silent and reliant on Zhou Ze-shen’s guidance, immediately sat cross-legged and closed his eyes.

Zheng Family.

Zheng Jian was meticulously checking family ledgers. This young cultivator wore a headband with a gem fashioned like a pupil at its center. The steward before him was pale and sweating profusely.

Zheng Jian suddenly snorted, tossing the ledger to the ground and growling, “Your falsified accounts—do you think you can fool me?”

The steward trembled and collapsed.

At that moment, the bell sounded. Zheng Jian’s face changed dramatically after a few chimes, dismissing the steward. “I won’t question you for now—get out!”

Ning Family.

The clan’s acknowledged genius, Ning Xiaohui, had exhausted herself making talismans during the day. Even as the chimes spread, her brows remained furrowed, sunk in sleep, not awakening.

Ning Ji was cultivating, shaken out of his state by the bell, his face full of suspicion. “What is this?”

Volcano Crater.

Zheng Double-hook still rode his cloud. On it, Ning family cultivators toppled this way and that. Not just them—most other cultivators lay or sat where they were.

“Opportunity—this is opportunity!” The cultivators were ecstatic, all desperately memorizing.

Ning Chen sat cross-legged, eyes tightly shut, brow deeply furrowed, giving his all.

Ning Yong clutched his head desperately. “Ah, ah, ah, remember it—my brain, it all depends on you, remember it!”

Ning Zhu was filled with both surprise and joy. “I did it! I’ve met the selection standard for the Lava Immortal Palace.”

“But the selection method has changed—it’s directly transmitting a Qi Refining stage technique.”

This was something Ning Zhu had not expected.

Like the other cultivators, Ning Zhu stood quietly, carefully listening to the bell.

The chimes gradually transformed into a cultivation method—“Five Elements Qi Regulation Technique”!

“With this method, I can finally break free from the Ning family’s ‘Snowfield Talisman Canon’.”

In that moment, relief, excitement, and a sense of achievement—born of long planning, personal risk, and a result beyond imagination—all surged in the youth’s heart.

As it was—

Mechanical fire monkeys leap through molten lava,
Iron-clad armor shatters the dawn’s frost.
Buddhas and demons hide deep within the mind’s device,
The immortal palace shakes, revealing the morning light.
The Dao bell booms, transmitting new law,
Five Elements Qi Regulation, nature’s kin.
Cultivate to the endless root and end,
Break seals and locks, walk free again!