Broken Copper Bell ~ Ash

When the late spring wind carried the fragrance of gardenia and spread over the bluestone road, Lin Zhan was squatting under the eaves of Tingyuxuan, feeding dried fish to the snow-white cat. The cat was picked up by Su Yan, the young master of the Su family, and his name was "Snowball". He was very humane and only stuck to the six of them. Under the wisteria stand not far away, Jiang Yubai was slowly flipping through a thread-bound book. The sunlight filtered through the layers of purple flowers, casting tiny shadows on his ivory white cuffs. On the swing next to him, Ruan Qingzhi was being pushed by Su Yan. His silver bell-like laughter shattered the silence of the entire building. Even the string of copper bells engraved with runes under the corridor swayed gently, making a tinkling sound - that copper bell was not a mortal thing. It is a clan artifact made by the ancestors of the three clans who cast it with the feathers of black birds and carved runes with the blood of the heroes who protect the clan. Since the day the six Lin Zhans were born and hung in the corridor, the runes have been connected to the blood of the six people, and they have protected the luck of the three clans day and night. The six of them grew up together in this Guixu Manor, which is surrounded by mountains and rivers. Jiang Yubai, Su Yan, and Ruan Qingzhi are the heirs of the three famous Jiang, Su, and Ruan families in Jiangcheng. They were born with a touch of aura given by runes. Lin Zhan, Shen Ci, and Wen He are children fostered in the manor by their families. Their origins are a mystery. All we know is that they have been inseparable from the three young masters and ladies since they can remember, and their aura is stronger than the direct descendants of the three clans. The elders of the three tribes treated them very well, and they were never in short supply of fine clothing and food, but they were never allowed to step out of the manor, and outsiders were never allowed to mention their existence. Eighteen years of time, like a slowly flowing river, washed their bond deeper and deeper. They once buried wooden signs with wishes written on them in the peach forest, and the runes shimmered faintly on the wooden signs; they once counted the stars on the roof in summer night and said that they would be lifelong friends, and the copper bells rang softly under the moon; Lin Zhan always thought that such days would be endless, until that drizzling afternoon. He went to the Sutra Pavilion for Jiang Yubai to retrieve the jade pendant that had fallen there. As soon as he walked outside the Moon Gate, he heard muffled conversations coming from inside. The person speaking was Jiang Xuan, the old man of the Jiang family, with a solemn tone in his voice that he had never heard before. "Yu Bai, there are only three days until their eighteenth birthday. According to the ancestral teachings of the three tribes, they must leave here, and... They cannot take any memory of you with them." Lin Zhan's footsteps suddenly stopped, and the jade pendant on his fingertips was cold and bone-chilling - the jade pendant was engraved with peach blossom runes that had the same origin as the copper bell. "Grandpa," Jiang Yubai's voice had an imperceptible tremor, "We have grown up together for eighteen years and have become brothers and sisters. Why do we have to do this? The ancestral precepts only say 'break the contract at the age of eighteen to protect the fate of the three clans', but it never said that we would erase their memories!" "What do you know!" Jiang Xuan's voice suddenly rose, with a hint of ruthlessness, "Those three children are the 'fate guides' that the three tribes exchanged for a hundred years of luck! Their birth dates are in line with the copper bell runes and the ancestral hall. For eighteen years, they have been But once they are eighteen years old, the bloodline awakens and the power of the runes backfires - if they keep their memories with you, their obsession will become entangled with the copper bells, and at least the fate of the three clans will collapse, or at worst... The copper bells will collapse, and there will be no recovery!" Lin Zhan's heart sank a little bit. He finally understood that the three of them were not fostered, but were spiritual weapon containers chosen by the three tribes. Eighteen years of care was just to make them stay in the manor willingly and nourish the protective power of the copper bell. What made him even more chilled was the conversation that followed. "Are you ready to remove the memory?" Jiang Xuan asked. "Yes." Butler Fu Bo's respectful voice sounded, "According to the ancestral method, use an agarwood paperweight - the paperweight is soaked in the holy water of the ancestral hall and engraved with the Wangchuan rune. Hit the Mingmen point on the back of their necks hard. If the force is controlled properly, it can not only erase the memory of the manor and the young masters and ladies, but also temporarily suppress the bloodline runes in their bodies and cut off the connection with the copper bell. It's just..." Fu Bo paused, his voice was very low, with a hint of helpless admonishment, and a specious threat lingered between the lines: "Master Jiang is a perceptive person. I have followed the master for decades and have seen too many consequences of disobeying the ancestral precepts. This method must be carried out when they are unprepared. If the master hesitates, Although I dare not disobey you, the bell-watching elders in the ancestral hall will not tolerate any changes. You should know that once the copper bell rune is disturbed, the demons of the Dark Crow Alliance will follow the traces of spiritual power. When the time comes, not only these three children, but the entire Jiangcheng will suffer. " These words were like an ice thorn, piercing into Jiang Yubai's heart. He knew about the "Dark Crow Alliance" that Uncle Fu was talking about - it was a group of monster organizations that made a living by sucking blood spiritual energy. They were sealed by the ancestors of the three tribes eighteen years ago with the power of the copper bell rune. Now the seal has been loosened and they are looking at them with eager eyes. Jiang Xuan closed his eyes and said in a deep voice: "Tomorrow, let Yu Bai lead Lin Zhan to the peach grove, Su Yan lead Shen to resign to the Huxin Pavilion, and Qing Zhi lead Wen He to the wisteria flower stand. The three places are all places where they often go, and they are the most relaxed. After taking action, they will be sent out of Jiangcheng, and they will never see each other again in this life." "You three will be the executors." The voice of Ruan, the old lady of the Ruan family, took over, "Only by cutting off this bond with your own hands can you completely stop thinking about it, and also prevent the protective power of the copper bell from being affected at all." "What if we refuse?" Ruan Qingzhi's voice was filled with tears, "Wen He is my best sister, how could I... How could I do anything to her?" "You have no choice but to agree!" Ruan's voice suddenly became stern, "If you are unwilling, let the elders do it. At that time, if the strength is not controlled well, it will not only destroy their bloodline, but also attract the monsters of the Dark Crow Alliance - don't forget, on your shoulders, you carry the rise and fall of the three clans!" The rain in the yard is getting heavier and heavier. Lin Zhan stood outside the Moon Gate, feeling cold all over, as if he had been thrown into an ice cellar. He wanted to rush in, to question the elders who were usually kind to them, to tell Shen Ci and Wen He, to hold their hands and escape together from this seemingly warm but actually cold cage. But he can't. His steps felt like lead, and he couldn't move. He knew that with the strength of the three of them, there was no way they could resist the restraints of the copper bell runes, let alone the monsters of the Crow Alliance. He also knew that if he broke in now, it would only make things worse - if the elders forcibly suppressed their bloodline, the three of them would not even have a chance to leave the manor alive. He could only cover his mouth tightly to prevent himself from making a sound, letting the cold rain wet his hair and clothes, and letting those cruel words cut his heart with blood like sharp knives. The three days passed by in a blink of an eye, like pressing the fast forward button. The air in the manor was so oppressive that it made people breathless. Jiang Yubai followed Lin Zhan almost every step of the way, blocking the falling peach petals for him and warming a pot of green plum wine for him, but he couldn't hide the pain in his eyes - the peach blossom jade pendant on his fingertips was faintly hot, and the runes were quietly flowing. Su Yan no longer had a playful smile, but always pulled Shen Ci to fish for lotus pods at the pavilion in the middle of the lake. Her fingers were clenched until they turned white, and the ink jade lotus pod runes on her wrists were trembling slightly. Ruan Qingzhi even avoided Wen He, but couldn't help but look at her secretly. Every time she met Wen He's clear eyes, she hurriedly turned her head away, her eyes red - the sachet in her arms was filled with the faint light of runes in the fragrance of gardenias. Lin Zhan saw this and felt pain in his heart. He knew their suffering, but he couldn't even say a word of comfort. Shen Ci and Wen He were still laughing and joking heartlessly. Wen He also held Ruan Qingzhi's hand and said that they would pick gardenias and make a garland together on their birthday. Shen Ci patted Su Yan on the shoulder and said that when they left the manor, they would go to the desert and drink strong liquor. Lin Zhan looked at their innocent smiling faces and his heart was as sharp as a knife. How much he wants to tell them, don't be stupid. After leaving, not only will you forget everything, but the blood runes in your body will be temporarily sealed. But he can't. He could only force a smile, accompany them through every corner of the manor, accompany them to recall the warm past, and accompany them to wait for the cruel ending. On the eve of my birthday, midnight is approaching. Jiang Yubai held Lin Zhan's hand and walked towards Taolin step by step. The moonlight is like water, shining on the peach trees, casting mottled shadows. Lin Zhan looked at the young man beside him. His side face looked extremely pale in the moonlight, and his fingertips were cold and trembling slightly - the peach blossom jade pendant was surprisingly hot. "Azhan," Jiang Yubai's voice was hoarse, "do you remember? When you were a child, you fell down here and cried and asked me to compensate you for a peach. I climbed a very high tree and picked the biggest one for you, but I fell down and broke my knee. That day, the bell rang all night. Grandpa said that it was our ancestors who were protecting us." Lin Zhan's nose felt sore, he held back tears and nodded: "Remember. You also said that you will pick all my peaches from now on." Jiang Yubai's steps suddenly stopped. He turned around and looked at Lin Zhan, the pain in his eyes almost overflowing. In his hand, he held the agarwood paperweight tightly - the paperweight had been soaked in holy water and had a faint scent of sandalwood. The Wangchuan rune engraved on it shone strangely in the moonlight, faintly clashing with the peach blossom rune on his fingertips. Lin Zhan looked at the paperweight and smiled slowly. He knew that the time had come. He remembered that when he was a child, Jiang Yubai fought with the bad boy from the manor next door in order to protect him. He was beaten black and blue, but he still smiled and said to him, "Don't be afraid, I'm here." At night, he was undressed and his eyes were full of bloodshot eyes. At that time, the jade pendant was hot and the runes were flowing on his chest; he thought of countless days and nights when they read together in the study, watched the stars on the roof together, and built snowmen in the snow together. During those times, the jingling of the bells never stopped. Those memories, like warm pictures, slowly spread out in his mind, and even the runes sleeping in his blood began to tremble slightly. It turns out that some memories, even if they are broken into pieces, will be engraved in the blood and symbiotic with the runes. "Yu Bai," Lin Zhan spoke softly, his voice was too calm to be true, "just do it. I don't blame you." Jiang Yubai's body shook violently. He looked into Lin Zhan's clear eyes. There was no resentment or anger in those eyes, only a touch of relief. He knew that Lin Zhan heard everything. He knew that Lin Zhan was coming to his rescue. His hands were clutching the paperweight so tightly that his knuckles turned white. The edges of the paperweight made his palms hurt, but he felt that the pain was far less than one ten thousandth of the pain in his heart. How could he do it? The person in front of him is his brother who has been with him day and night for eighteen years, a bond recognized by his bloodline and runes. But he had to take action. On his shoulders, he carries the rise and fall of the Jiang family, the protective power of the copper bell, and the safety of the entire Jiang City. "Azhan..." Jiang Yubai's voice was choked and almost out of tune. At this moment, there was a sudden sound of footsteps outside the peach forest. Uncle Fu walked slowly, his figure stretched out in the moonlight. His tone was still the same leisurely tone, but there was a chill hidden in every word: "Master Jiang, the time has come. I know you are soft-hearted, but Elder Shouling has set up a barrier in the dark. . If you can't bear it, they will take action themselves. At that time, they will not only erase Master Lin Zhan's memory, but also completely seal his bloodline runes - without the runes to protect him, once the Dark Crow Alliance monsters find him, he will not survive for three days." Lin Zhan's heart suddenly clenched. He knew that Fu Bo's words were by no means alarmist. The elders who guard the bell have always done whatever they can to protect the bell. "Yu Bai, hurry up!" Lin Zhan's voice was filled with urgency, "Do it!" Jiang Yubai closed his eyes, and two lines of clear tears fell from the corners of his eyes. He raised his wrist suddenly, and the agarwood paperweight fell hard towards the back of Lin Zhan's neck with heavy force. "Bang——" a muffled sound. Lin Zhan's body fell softly. The second before he lost consciousness, he saw Uncle Fu nodding with satisfaction, and saw Jiang Yubai squatting down suddenly and holding him tightly in his arms. Hot tears dripped down his face with scorching warmth. The peach blossom jade pendant on his chest suddenly burst out with a burst of red light, penetrating into the depths of his blood. He also heard Jiang Yubai saying over and over again in his ear in a voice that was almost choked: "Azhan, I'm sorry. Wait for me. I will definitely find you." His consciousness fell completely into darkness. At the same time, the same muffled sound rang out from the pavilion in the center of the lake and the wisteria flower stand. When Shen Ci fell into Su Yan's arms, he was still holding a freshly picked lotus pod in his hand. The ink jade lotus pod rune on his wrist flashed red and disappeared into his blood. He looked at Su Yan's red eyes with a smile on his lips, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he couldn't make a sound. When Wen He fell into Ruan Qingzhi's arms, she still held the gardenia wreath in her hand, and the sachet runes around her neck suddenly glowed red and blended into her blood. She looked at Ruan Qingzhi's tearful face and gently raised her hand to wipe away her tears, but her fingertips fell down feebly. The elders of the three clans stood in front of the window of the Sutra Pavilion, looking at the peach grove, the lake pavilion, and the wisteria flower stand in three directions, with a fierce smile flashing in their eyes. They didn't know that the string of copper bells engraved with runes in the corridor suddenly made a sharp cracking sound after three muffled sounds - the copper bells cracked a gap, and the runes inside actually erupted into a huge red light. The red light snaked down the corridor pillars, quietly seeping into the depths of the ancestral hall, echoing the runes in the bloodline of Lin Zhan and the others, and even triggered the Dark Crow Alliance monster that was sealed eighteen years ago - the seal was loosened. Uncle Fu followed the instructions and sent Lin Zhan, Shen Ci and Wen He into three carriages and sent them in different directions. Before leaving, Jiang Yubai took advantage of Uncle Fu's turn to secretly stuff a peach blossom jade pendant with the word "" engraved on it into Lin Zhan's lapel - this jade pendant was worn by him when he was born. It has the same origin as the runes in Lin Zhan's bloodline, and is the key to awakening his bloodline in the future. Su Yan tied a Su family's ink jade lotus pod on Shen Ci's wrist. The ink jade rune was connected to Shen Ci's blood. Ruan Qingzhi even hung the gardenia sachet he wore close to his body around Wen He's neck. The runes in the sachet were an opportunity for Wen He's bloodline to awaken. They don't know that these three tokens are not only an opportunity for reunion, but also the "spiritual key" of the bloodline runes. The red light in the cracks of the copper bell has already dyed these three tokens with the aura of the heroic spirits who protect the clan, making their bond never to be severed; allowing their bloodline to be completely awakened on the day of reunion. When Lin Zhan woke up, he was lying in a dilapidated temple in a small southern town. The peach blossom jade pendant on his chest was the only warmth. He forgot his name and everything in the past. He only felt empty in his heart, as if he had lost something vital. He made a living by moving bricks, washing dishes, and setting up a street vendor. After two years of saving money, he opened a small bookstore in the old street. The moment he was named "Ting Yuxuan", his fingertips trembled inexplicably, the jade pendant on his chest felt slightly hot, and the runes in his blood were quietly awakening. In the third month after the bookstore opened, a letter from Jiangcheng was blown to his window sill by the wind. The handwriting on the letter was scrawled, with only one sentence written: The copper bell is broken, the evil spirit arises, and the three tribes are in danger. Lin Zhan couldn't understand, but he felt a sudden pain in his heart. The jade pendant was so hot that it seemed like it was about to fall out of his clothes. At this time, Guixu Manor was already a purgatory on earth. The so-called "luck backlash" is just a cover. The real disaster comes from the Dark Crow Alliance, which has been dormant for eighteen years. The group of monsters that feed on blood and spiritual energy broke through the seal by taking advantage of the broken bells and loose runes. The monsters of the Dark Crow Alliance have strange shapes and can turn into black mist to hurt people. They specialize in targeting the children of the three tribes with strong blood and aura. The Jiang family's cargo ship was bombed on the river, and dozens of people died in the belly of the fish. The runes on the ship were eaten away by monsters; the Su family's shop was burned down overnight, and the fire lit up half of the river city. The monsters laughed ferociously in the fire, sucking in the scattered spiritual energy; the Ruan family's house was set on fire, and the treasured ancient rune books were burned. The children of the three tribes suffered heavy casualties, and the survivors fled in all directions. Jiang Xuan was so angry that he couldn't afford to fall ill. He lay on the bed in the Sutra Pavilion, coughing up blood all day long, holding half a fragment of a copper bell tightly in his hand; Su Zhen drank all day long, hugging the broken ink jade lotus pod, crying bitterly, cursing himself for being incompetent; Ruan's hair was all white, guarding the memorial tablet in the ancestral hall, muttering to himself, praying for the protection of his ancestors. Jiang Yubai, Su Yan, and Ruan Qingzhi fell from the clouds into the quagmire overnight. They put away their former dignity, picked up the rune swords left by their ancestors, and led the remaining tribesmen to resist the pursuit of the Dark Crow Alliance. The rune spiritual weapons on their bodies were the only weapons that could fight against monsters, but without the blood blessing of Lin Zhan and the others, the power of the spiritual weapons was only 30%. Uncle Fu was guarding the door of the manor. His legs were broken by the monsters of the Dark Crow Alliance, but he defended the door of the ancestral hall and shouted at the three teenagers: "Young masters, hold on! Those three children... They are not fate guides, they are the blood spiritual masters of the three tribes! In their blood, the core runes of the copper bell are hidden! Only when they return can the copper bell be recast and the monsters sealed!" The Crow Alliance's pursuit is getting tighter and tighter, and they can only hide in the secret passages of the manor and rely on the rune barriers left by their ancestors to survive. Jiang Yubai rubbed another peach blossom jade pendant in his hand, looking at the south every night, his eyes filled with obsession - he could feel that the jade pendant was attracted to another jade pendant of the same origin from a distance; Su Yan held the same ink jade lotus pod, the thin calluses on his fingertips After rubbing against the rune lines, I remembered the solitary smoke in the desert that Shen Ci had said, and the jade pendant trembled more and more intensely. Ruan Qingzhi held the empty sachet and smelled the remaining gardenia fragrance. Her dream was full of Wen He's smiling face, and the runes on the sachet flickered gently in the moonlight. They didn't know that the three people in a foreign country were following the guidance of the tokens and getting closer to each other step by step. The runes in their blood were about to awaken under the stimulation of demonic energy. A strange guest came to Lin Zhan's Tingyuxuan. The man was wearing coarse clothes and had a black jade lotus pod tied around his wrist. The runes on the jade were vaguely consistent with the runes on the jade pendant on his chest. "Shopkeeper, do you have any of Jiang Cheng's books?" The guest asked, his voice hoarse, but his eyes held a stubborn look. Lin Zhan's heart skipped a beat, feeling that this person was very familiar. He turned around and went to the bookshelf to find a book. His foot slipped and he was about to fall to the ground. The man stretched out his hand to support him with a steady hand. The moment their palms touched, the two jade pendants erupted with red light at the same time. A familiar stinging sensation came from the back of Lin Zhan's neck, and a vague figure flashed in his mind - in the peach forest, a young man smiled and stretched out his hand towards him, and the runes in his blood began to tremble crazily. "Thank you." Lin Zhan stood firm, handed over the book, and his eyes fell on the ink jade. The jade pendant on his chest was surprisingly hot. The guest calls himself A Ci, a traveler who travels all over the country. He said that he always dreamed of a peach forest, dreamed of a young man named A Zhan, and the jingling of copper bells in the dream; Lin Zhan's eyes felt inexplicably hot as he listened, and said that he always dreamed of a swing frame, dreamed of a young man who loved to nibble on lotus pods, and the runes in the dream were flowing under the moonlight. The two hit it off and often sat under the gardenia tree in the bookstore, chatting about those inexplicable dreams. A Ci helped Lin Zhan organize the bookshelf, and Lin Zhan made A Ci a pot of hot tea. They had a tacit understanding as if they had known each other for many years. The two jade pendants always glowed at the same time in the moonlight, and the runes in the blood were quietly resonating. Until one evening, a flower seller passed by the bookstore, and a faint fragrance wafted from the gardenia sachet around her neck. Lin Zhan and A Ci were stunned at the same time - there was actually the aura of runes in the aroma. The girl's name is Ahe and she opens a flower shop called "Gardenia". She said that she always dreamed of a wisteria stand and two girls with smiles as bright as flowers. The sachet in the dream was shining with red light. Lin Zhan looked at the sachet around her neck, and Aci looked at the gardenia wreath in her hand. The three of them looked at each other and smiled, with blank intimacy in their eyes. They became best friends, looking after shops together, planting flowers together, and chatting about those fragmented and ungraspable dreams together. Lin Zhan's peach blossom jade pendant, Aci's ink jade lotus pod, and Ahe's gardenia sachet often glowed red under the moonlight. The three red lights intertwined to form a complete copper bell rune - but they never noticed it. On this day, three customers came to the store. The young man at the head was wearing a green shirt, holding a peach blossom jade pendant in his hand, with red runes flashing; the young man next to him had unruly eyebrows, holding an ink jade lotus pod, with runes trembling; and finally there was a beautiful girl, holding an empty sachet in her arms, with runes overflowing with aura. The moment the young man in green shirt saw Lin Zhan, he stopped and the jade pendant in his hand fell to the ground with a crisp sound. When Lin Zhan heard the voice, the stinging pain on the back of his neck came again. The runes in his blood seemed to be breaking through the shackles - a name swirled on the tip of his tongue: Yu Bai. A Ci looked at the young man with unruly features, his eyes slowly turned red, something seemed to be blocked in his throat, and the runes in his blood were beating wildly - A Yan. Ah He looked at the pretty girl, tears suddenly fell down, and a clear name came to his mind, and the sachet around his neck glowed red - Qing Zhi. Six young men looked at each other, obviously meeting for the first time, but it felt like they were reunited after a long separation. They didn't recognize each other immediately, they just sat under the gardenia tree and talked about their experiences. Jiang Yubai said that he was looking for a young man named A Zhan, and the red light of the jade pendant in his hand became more and more intense; Su Yan said that he was looking for a young man named A Ci, and the runes of the ink jade lotus pod almost came to life; Ruan Qingzhi said that he was looking for a girl named A He, and the spiritual energy of the empty sachet lingered. Lin Zhan listened, rubbing the jade pendant with his fingertips, and the emptiness in his heart was filled little by little; Aci looked at Su Yan, thinking of the lotus pods in the dream, and the corners of his mouth slowly raised; Ahe looked at Ruan Qingzhi, thinking of the wisteria flower stand in the dream, and the tears fell more and more fiercely. The real turning point happened on a rainy night. The monsters from the Dark Crow Alliance followed the traces of the blood aura and came after them. Black fog enveloped the entire old street, and the monster's hideous laughter echoed in the rainy night. They smelled the rune aura in the blood of Lin Zhan and the others, and rushed towards Ting Yuxuan crazily. "We have found the bloodline spirit masters! Drain their spiritual energy, and we can dominate Jiangcheng!" The monster's roar was extremely harsh. Fires shot into the sky, and black mist billowed. With quick eyes and quick hands, Jiang Yu pulled Lin Zhan behind him. The long rune sword was unsheathed, and with a flash of red light, it split a ray of black mist. Su Yan protected A Ci, and the ink jade lotus leaf came out of his hand and turned into a lotus shield, blocking the monster's sharp claws. Ruan Qingzhi protected Ah He, and countless gardenia petals flew out from the empty sachet. The runes on the petals burned the monster's body. In the chaos, a burning wooden board hit Lin Zhan. The back of his neck was scratched by the debris, and blood dripped on the peach blossom jade pendant. Boom! Three red lights burst out at the same time. The jade pendant on Lin Zhan's chest turned into a peach blossom talisman and disappeared between his eyebrows; the ink jade on Aci's wrist turned into a lotus pod talisman and was embedded in his palm; the sachet around Ahe's neck turned into a gardenia talisman and was attached to her forehead. The runes in the bloodline have completely awakened! In Lin Zhan's mind, the moonlight of the peach grove, the coldness of the agarwood, Jiang Yubai's tears, and the tinkling of copper bells all came to mind instantly; in Aci's memory, the lotus pods in the pavilion in the middle of the lake and Su Yan's smile came to mind. The face, the pursuit of monsters, and the flow of runes emerged clearly; in Ahe's mind, the laughter of the wisteria flower stand, Ruan Qingzhi's tears, the appearance of the gardenia garland, and the surge of spiritual energy flashed one by one. "Yu Bai!" Lin Zhan roared, the peach blossom talisman between his eyebrows glowing red, and he raised his hand to split a huge black mist. "A Yan!" A Ci's eyes turned red, and the lotus talisman in his palm turned into countless lotus thorns, piercing the monster's body. "Qing Gardenia!" Ah He wiped away his tears, and countless petals flew out from the gardenia talisman on his forehead. The petals were like knives, cutting through the black fog in the sky. The six teenagers finally recognized each other. The awakened bloodline runes engraved their tacit understanding deep into their souls. They stood back to back, and the power of the runes intertwined to form a barrier, blocking the Dark Crow Alliance's monsters from outside. This battle was fought in darkness. It wasn't until the white fish belly appeared in the east, and the black mist of the monster gradually dissipated. After repelling the monsters, the token talismans of the six people floated in the air, forming a complete copper bell rune. The runes glowed red and were directly connected to the ground of Jiangcheng Guixu Manor - they saw the fragments of the copper bell in the ancestral hall, saw Jiang Xuan on the hospital bed, saw the lair of the Dark Crow Alliance monsters, and saw the heroic spirits of their parents whispering in the runes. The truth of eighteen years ago finally came to light. Lin Zhan, Shen Ci, and Wen He's parents are the top rune guardians of the three tribes. Eighteen years ago, the demons of the Dark Crow Alliance slaughtered Jiangcheng with blood. It was their parents who used their own blood as a guide to merge with the copper bells and create a sealing barrier to protect the ancestral halls of the three clans. Before they died, they entrusted their three children to the elders of the three clans, leaving their last words: "When the children grow up, send them away to avoid the sharp edges of the monsters. When the bloodline awakens, the token will lead them back, recast the bell, seal the monsters, and complete our unfinished business." The so-called "fate guide" is just a lie made up by the elders of the three tribes to protect them. They were afraid that the monsters from the Crow Alliance would hunt down the three children, so they used their ancestral teachings as a cover to send them away, temporarily sealing their bloodline and allowing them to grow up safely. And Uncle Fu's threat was to force Jiang Yubai and the others to take action - only if they cut off the bonds with their own hands would the monsters not doubt the identity of the three children. The shattering of the copper bell is a sign of the loosening of the seal and an opportunity for the awakening of the bloodline. The red light is the heroic spirit of their parents, guiding them home. "It turns out... They never thought of harming us." Lin Zhan looked at the peach blossom talisman between his eyebrows and shed tears. "Grandpa and the others... Are protecting us in their own way." Jiang Yubai choked, and the jade pendant in his hand was attracted to Lin Zhan's talisman from a distance. Six young men rushed back to Jiangcheng overnight. They knew that the mission of recasting the bell and sealing the monsters had fallen on their shoulders. At this time, Guixu Manor was in a mess. The demons of the Crow Alliance surrounded the manor. The leader of the alliance, Mo Yan, is an old demon who has lived for a hundred years. He is suspended in mid-air, shrouded in black mist, holding half a fragment of a copper bell in his hand, grinning ferociously. "Hand over the bloodline spirit master, and I will spare the lives of all three of you!" Mo Yan's voice, filled with demonic aura, shook the manor. In the ancestral hall, most of the members of the three tribes suffered heavy casualties, but they still guarded the fragments of the bronze bell and refused to give in. Jiang Xuan was lying on the hospital bed, looking at the black fog outside the window, his eyes full of despair. At this moment, a red light broke through the sky. Six teenagers, following the light of runes, landed on the bluestone road of the manor. The peach blossom talisman between Lin Zhan's eyebrows, the lotus pod talisman in Shen Ci's palm, the gardenia talisman on Wen He's forehead, the peach blossom jade pendant in Jiang Yubai's hand, the ink jade lotus pod in Su Yan's hand, and the gardenia sachet in Ruan Qingzhi's hand. The power of the six runes intertwined into a network of light, protecting the entire manor. "The Bloodline Spirit Master is back!" Uncle Fu leaned on crutches, tears filling his eyes. When Mo Yan saw Lin Zhan and the others, a greedy light flashed in his eyes: "Okay! Okay! Okay! The three bloodline spirit masters can be used to sacrifice the copper bells and help me break through the seal!" He raised his hand and waved, and countless black mist turned into sharp claws and rushed towards the six people. "Set up the formation!" Lin Zhan ordered. The six people quickly stood in a formation with copper bell runes. Lin Zhan, Shen Ci, and Wen He stood at the center of the formation, with the power of blood runes pouring out continuously; Jiang Yubai, Su Yan, and Ruan Qingzhi stood at the corner of the formation, with their runic weapons activating with all their strength. The peach blossom talisman turned into peach blossoms all over the sky, the lotus pod talisman turned into the boundless lotus sea, and the gardenia talisman turned into the fragrance of flowers everywhere. The three intertwined to form a huge rune barrier, blocking all the black mist claws. When Mo Yan saw this, he shouted angrily and turned into a huge black mist, rushing towards the formation eye. His sharp claws, carrying a demonic aura that corrodes everything, reached directly between Lin Zhan's eyebrows. "Azhan, be careful!" Jiang Yubai roared, and the peach blossom jade pendant came out of his hand, turning into a shield and blocking Lin Zhan. "Bang!" The jade pendant collided with the sharp claws, making a loud noise. The runes on the jade pendant were a bit dim. Lin Zhan looked at Jiang Yubai's pale face, and the peach blossom talisman between his eyebrows glowed even brighter: "Yu Bai, I'm fine!" He raised his hand and waved, and the peach blossoms in the sky turned into a long sword. The runes on the sword flashed, carrying the power of his parents' heroic spirits, and pierced Mo Yan's heart. Shen Ci's lotus thorn, Wen He's petal knife, Su Yan's rune sword, and Ruan Qingzhi's gardenia aura all attacked Mo Yan at the same time. A bloody battle began. Mo Yan's demonic aura is getting stronger and stronger. He continued to absorb the spiritual energy around him, and his body grew bigger and bigger. But the power of the runes in the six-man formation was slowly being consumed. "If this continues, we won't be able to hold on!" Ruan Qingzhi's voice sounded a little tired. Lin Zhan looked at the fragments of the copper bell in the air, and suddenly remembered the whispers of his parents' heroic spirits: "To recast a copper bell, you need to use blood as a guide and heroic spirits as a mediator." He turned to look at the five people, a trace of determination flashed in his eyes: "I have a way! But I need your help!" "Azhan, tell me!" Jiang Yubai did not hesitate. "Our bloodline is the core of the copper bell. Our heroic spirits are the soul of the copper bell." Lin Zhan took a deep breath, "I want to merge the blood runes of the six of us into the copper bell fragments and recast the copper bell!" "No!" Jiang Xuan struggled to get up from the hospital bed, " This will exhaust the power of your blood, and you will..." "Grandpa, this is our mission." Lin Zhan interrupted him, his eyes firm, "My parents sealed the monster with their lives, and we cannot let their sacrifice be in vain." The five people looked at Lin Zhan and nodded. Their eyes were equally determined. The six people walked to the fragment of the copper bell and stood in a circle holding hands. "Use my blood to cast my copper bell!" Lin Zhan roared, and the peach blossom talisman between his eyebrows turned into a red light and disappeared into the fragments of the copper bell. "Use my blood to cast my copper bell!" Shen Ci, Wen He, Jiang Yubai, Su Yan, and Ruan Qingzhi roared at the same time, and the power of the blood runes poured into the fragments. The fragments of the copper bell began to tremble violently. The red light became stronger and stronger, and the fragments slowly merged. The heroic spirits of their parents emerged in the red light. They looked at the six people with smiles, their eyes full of relief. "Dang——" A clear clang sounded through the sky. The copper bell was recast successfully! After recasting, the copper bell is more dazzling than before. The runes shone with golden light, and the aura of the black bird's feathers, the power of the heroic spirits who protected the clan, and the bonds of the blood runes were all integrated into it. As soon as the copper bell rang, the demonic energy dissipated. Mo Nightmare looked at the copper bell in the air, his eyes full of fear: "No! Impossible! How can you recast the copper bell!" The light of the copper bell turned into a huge beam of light, piercing Mo Nightmare's heart. "Ah——" Mo Yan let out a shrill scream, and his body slowly dissipated in the beam of light. The monsters of the Dark Crow Alliance lost their leader and were instantly defeated. Wherever the light of the copper bell swept, the black mist dissipated. This bloody battle is finally over. The sun pierced the clouds and sprinkled on the land of Guixu Manor. The copper bells hung in the corridor, tinkling, and the golden runes protected the entire Jiangcheng. Jiang Xuan's illness gradually improved; Su Zhen regained his strength and began to rebuild the shop; Ruan's face showed a smile. The people of the three tribes cheered and hugged each other to celebrate the victory. Lin Zhan squatted under the eaves of Tingyuxuan and fed Xueqiu dried fish. Snowball is old, but he is still humane and only sticks to the six of them. The peach blossom talisman between the eyebrows shone faintly with golden light. Jiang Yubai sat under the wisteria flower stand, flipping through a thread-bound book. The sun shines through the purple flowers, casting tiny shadows on his sleeves. The peach blossom jade pendant in his hand harmonizes with the copper bell runes from a distance. Su Yan pushed Ruan Qingzhi's swing, and her silver bell-like laughter broke the silence in the courtyard. Shen Ci and Wen He were sitting in the peach grove, holding lotus pods and gardenia garlands in their hands, smiling with crooked eyebrows. The copper bell in the corridor swayed gently, and the runes shone golden in the sunlight. That string of copper bells was broken once, but it was stronger than ever. Just like their bond, they have been separated by mountains and seas, and have gone through the test of life and death. In the end, they will never be separated year after year. And the heroic spirits in the copper bells whisper the oath of protection until eternity. Intention: Friendship is deep in the bones, and fate is inseparable. Even if the memories are broken and mountains and seas separate us, the young people will stick to each other. They will cast a bell with their blood, protect the common people with sincerity, keep the bond forever, and protect Chang'an.