Chapter 135 — Strange Arts
The Sword Questions the Heavens · Page 6 of 6
In a moment the trembling Harmony Bell slowly calmed, that expanse of golden blaze gradually faded, and the temperature in the stone chamber returned to normal.
Everyone looked toward the shaman whom King Ming was supporting. Under that blow, blood seeped from all seven orifices of the shaman's face, and anyone could see that this old man had truly reached the verge of death, with only a trace of strength left in him.
In the dead silence, everyone looked at one another, struck dumb and unable to speak.
Until a gasping moan broke that deathlike stillness. The shaman slowly opened his eyes and勉强 straightened his body with effort.
King Ming was moved, and reached out to support him, but the shaman slowly shook his head. King Ming nodded silently, a trace of admiration passing through his eyes, and slowly withdrew his hand.
The shaman panted for a moment, raised his sleeve, and slowly wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. When he spoke, his voice was incredibly hoarse: "One of the young lady's remnant souls is indeed within this Harmony Bell."
No one made a sound.
The shaman drew a deep breath and said, "Only, this Harmony Bell is a rare treasure; the spiritual power it contains is itself like a sturdy formation. That is what has protected the young lady's soul, but for an outsider to draw it out, the Harmony Bell must be broken."
He had just said this when his body suddenly swayed, and from the mouth that had just wiped away blood seeped another mouthful of fresh blood. Ming Li rushed forward a few steps and took the old man into his arms; his lips moved, and at last he could not help saying, "Senior, you had better rest a while first."
The shaman glanced at the young man, smiled faintly, and suddenly lowered his voice: "Do not forget what you promised me that day in the Seven-Li Cave."
Ming Li started, then nodded: "Rest assured, Senior!"
The shaman let out a long breath, slowly pushed Ming Li away, and turned to King Ming and the others: "As things stand, to break the Harmony Bell's spiritual power without harming the young lady's soul, I can only set up the 'Soul-Summoning Guide' formation of the southern frontier's shamanic arts, and see whether I can draw the young lady's soul out from the bell. Cough, cough..."
A violent fit of coughing cut him off. The others exchanged silent looks; all could see that this old man's lamp was running dry, and to speak of setting up this "Soul-Summoning Guide" — who knew whether he could last that long.
King Ming gritted his teeth, stepped forward, and clasped his hands to the shaman: "Master, you have striven so for my daughter; my gratitude knows no bounds. You need not worry about anything else — simply set the formation with peace of mind. Whatever the outcome, the Ming King Sect will surely not disappoint you."
The shaman nodded slowly, comfort in his eyes. After panting a moment, he said in a low voice: "The Soul-Summoning Guide is a ghostly art; too many living people should not be present. I ask only that Young Master Ming Li and the Sect Master stay to help, and that the rest of you withdraw for now."
Ming Li and King Ming nodded at once, and the others, without waiting for further words, filed out one after another. Moments later, only the shaman, King Ming, and Ming Li remained in the ice-stone chamber.
The shaman's face was haggard, his body slowly trembling, and he could no longer stand; his body went limp and he slowly sat down on the ground.