Connected by Essence Blood

Early morning half a month later, eleven bells were arranged neatly inside the hall of Sovereign Peak.

Prior to this, he had requested a drop of essence blood from everyone, even asking Suisui once more for a small wisp of soul fire.

He divided each drop of essence blood into eleven equal portions, suspending them above the golden bells.

"Are you ready?" Feng Qingping asked solemnly.

"Mhm." Jiang Yifan took a deep breath, and the others held theirs in anticipation.

He condensed a surge of spiritual energy at his fingertips and cast a series of complex hand seals, coordinating with Feng Qingping to carve intricate array patterns inside each bell.

Feng Yi stood to the side, using his spiritual energy to guide the process, ensuring that the essence blood and soul fire of all eleven individuals fused perfectly.

The air in the hall felt as if it had frozen as the eleven golden bells vibrated slightly under the surging spiritual energy.

Fine beads of sweat broke out on Jiang Yifan's forehead, and even Feng Qingping's expression grew heavy.

"Condense!" Jiang Yifan suddenly barked.

The suspended essence blood and soul fire fell simultaneously. The moment they touched the bells, all eleven golden bells erupted with a dazzling golden radiance.

Suisui's soul fire suddenly flared, transforming into thin threads that connected everyone. Li Nanzhu felt a warmth in her heart, as if ten invisible threads were now tied to her divine soul.

Most miraculous was Feng Yi's golden bell—on its sapphire-blue body, the fusion of essence blood and soul fire had turned into a star-vortex pattern, forming a subtle resonance with the other bells.

"It’s done." Jiang Yifan let out a long breath, his face as pale as paper.

Duan Xianxing was about to cheer when Zhu Yinxi suddenly pressed a hand on his shoulder. "Don't rush."

The floating golden bells began to move on their own, eventually arranging themselves into the formation of the Great Zhou stars. The main bell was Feng Yi's, with the other ten surrounding it to form a miniature star chart.

Suisui curiously touched the bone bell representing itself, and all the bells immediately let out a light ding.

Immediately after, a pattern of swirling ice mist appeared on the surface of the bells.

"This is..." Feng Weilan showed a rare look of surprise.

"The Zhou Tian Star Array." Feng Yi lightly stroked the main bell. "An unexpected surprise indeed."

He looked toward Feng Qingping. "It seems you've had another breakthrough in the Dao of arrays?"

Feng Qingping nodded with a smile. "I took a bold risk with a trial; I didn't expect it to actually draw in stellar power." She then looked at Li Nanzhu. "I actually got the inspiration from Little Junior Sister’s talismans."

Li Nanzhu's small face flushed at the words. She hadn't expected she could actually be of help.

Zhu Yinxi was lost in thought. "This way, even if we're thousands of miles apart, we can sense each other's locations through stellar power."

"This is way better than communication jade slips!" Duan Xianxing excitedly picked up the purple bell that belonged to him, letting out another cry of surprise. "There are even patterns representing us on them!"

He held it up in front of everyone. "Mine has 'Wait a Moment' on it!"

Seeing this, the others also quickly inspected their own bells. Sure enough, they all found symbols unique to themselves.

Jiang Yifan’s had a refinery furnace, Feng Qingping’s was her life-bound array disk, Feng Weilan’s was a blade, and Li Nanzhu’s was the Wanxiang Brush.

"Master carved them all personally," Jiang Yifan said as if in passing.

"Master, you're amazing!" Duan Xianxing’s eyes literally sparkled with stars. "I didn't think Master would be involved too!"

Feng Yi turned away and gave a light cough. "Enough, enough. It's just a small matter. Let Yifan finish speaking."

"If you run into danger," Jiang Yifan said with a smile, "shake it thrice, and the other bells will heat up to give a warning."

Hearing this, everyone began to test it out.

Sure enough, when Li Nanzhu shook her bell thrice in rapid succession, all the bells became scalding hot. Even the one in Feng Yi's hand glowed with a warning red light.

"Incredible!" Duan Xianxing slapped Jiang Yifan on the shoulder. "Fourth Senior Brother, you’ve done a great job this time!"

"This is more than just a communication tool," Zhu Yinxi praised, which was a rare occurrence. "It’s practically the prototype of a life-bound soul tool."

Jiang Yifan, however, frowned. "But there’s a catch—being connected by essence blood means..."

"It means if one person is gravely injured, everyone else will feel it," Feng Yi said meaningfully. "Similarly, if someone falls..."

The hall suddenly grew quiet.

Suisui's soul fire swayed gently, brushing against everyone's shoulders one by one as if to offer comfort.

"Even better," Duan Xianxing suddenly broke the silence. "This way, no one can try to hide their injuries anymore without saying a word!"

The others couldn't help but smile at his words.

Li Nanzhu rubbed the patterns on the golden bell, suddenly feeling as if this small bell weighed a thousand pounds—it carried more than just essence blood and soul fire; it was a vow for all eleven of them to live and die together.

Feng Qingping smiled and changed the subject. "But it’s more convenient this way, isn't it? These bells might be very useful when the Sect Competition starts..."

"Sect... Competition?" Feng Yi repeated softly.

The group suddenly went silent.

Their eyes began to exchange glances frantically.

'You didn't tell Master?'

'No, I thought you did.'

'I thought you all already told him!'

'...'

"Ahem." Finally, the others pushed Jiang Yifan forward, leaving him to face Feng Yi's gaze alone.

"Um, Master." For the first time, Jiang Yifan felt his scalp tingle with nerves, the pressure feeling even greater than when he faced his father. "We want to participate in the Sect Competition two months from now."

Feng Yi didn't speak, simply looking at his disciples with a flat expression.

Seeing Feng Yi not responding, Duan Xianxing couldn't help but step out as well. "Master, please let us go! We're all disciples of the Eight Sects; I want to participate too!"

"Master," Feng Qingping also spoke up. "Our Five Elements Dao Sect shouldn't remain obscure like this. We can bring fame back to our name in the cultivation world!"

Feng Weilan didn't speak, but he silently took a step forward, standing beside Feng Qingping for a rare moment.

"Master..." Li Nanzhu bit her lip. "We..."

"Sigh."

Before she could finish, she was interrupted by Feng Yi's sigh. He looked at the disciples before him with a complex gaze, his thoughts complicated.

"When did I ever say I wouldn't let you go?"

"So you mean you agree, Master?" Duan Xianxing immediately looked up and asked.

"If you make any decisions in the future, remember to inform your master first." Feng Yi rubbed his temples helplessly. These little brats were getting so bold that they didn't even tell him, their master, about their decisions. It really made him lose face.

"Great!" Duan Xianxing cheered, immediately grabbing Suisui and spinning in a circle.

Li Nanzhu and the other three also breathed a sigh of relief.

"Alright, since you're going to participate in the Sect Competition, prepare early. When the time comes, I..." Feng Yi paused before continuing, "...will go with you as well."

Their eyes lit up instantly.

This was their master! The Feng Yi who could overpower Ling Xiao Immortal Venerable!

He was actually going to go with them!

This way, no matter what happened, someone would have their backs!

Feng Yi seemed to notice the gazes of his disciples. Feeling a bit awkward, he quickly turned and vanished from their sight.

"Little Junior Sister." Duan Xianxing turned to Li Nanzhu. "I'll bet you three low-grade spirit stones that Master is definitely embarrassed!"

"...Can you raise the stakes next time?"