Chapter 240 — The Universe Lock
The Sword Questions the Heavens · Page 4 of 5
Ming Li nodded silently and held the Universe Reincarnation Plate in his hands, bringing it close to Bi Li. The soft white light flowed, yet there was not the slightest disturbance. Holding onto a侥幸 hope, Ming Li channeled his true essence into the jade plate, but the Universe Reincarnation Plate was like a deep ocean; the true essence poured in like a clay ox into the sea, and there was no further sound. Nor did any change occur upon the jade plate.
Ming Li was disheartened but hardly surprised. In truth, on the road back to Mount Huqi, he had already tried countless methods to test this jade plate, including this method of channeling true essence, and all had ended in failure. Master Pude of the Fanyin Temple had studied this strange treasure for decades and gained nothing; any method Ming Li could think of in these few days, Master Pude had likely tried a hundred times over.
In his heart, Ming Li understood all this well enough; but he could not let go of that tiny hope of saving Bi Li, and so he could only strive desperately, praying that Heaven might take pity and a miracle appear. Yet in the end, all ended in failure.
Ming Li bowed his head woodenly and sat there blankly. A look of disappointment flickered across the Nether King's face as well, but he did not reproach him, nor did he reach out himself to take the strange jade plate and examine it. Though the two had been on poor terms of late, the Nether King well knew in his heart how Ming Li felt about Bi Li; if there were even the slightest hope, Ming Li would never abandon it—and this time, plainly, every method had been tried.
He gave a long sigh, his face seeming to age a little more. He shook his head silently and was about to turn away when his body suddenly paused, as though he had thought of something. He whirled around and said urgently to Ming Li, "Try placing the Union Bell together with that jade plate!"
Ming Li started, then understood. A trace of tension flickered across his face. He drew close to Bi Li and gently pried open the hands crossed upon her chest; at his touch, her skin, though still smooth and full, was chillingly cold. Ming Li's heart ached; he dared not think further, and carefully drew out the Union Bell clutched in Bi Li's hand.
The golden Union Bell gave a clear, crisp sound as it was gently shaken, a faint radiance flashing past like the eyes of a beautiful lover gazing upon him.
Ming Li held the Universe Reincarnation Plate in one hand and the Union Bell in the other, and gently lowered the bell toward the plate. Within the Universe Reincarnation Plate, those strange little jade pieces still slid silently of their own accord—mountains and rivers, the wheeling stars, all faintly contained within.
Under the gaze of both Ming Li and the Nether King, the Union Bell gradually came above the Universe Reincarnation Plate. When a foot of distance still remained, Ming Li suddenly seemed to sense something; his brows knit, and a flicker of astonishment passed through his eyes. The Nether King perceived it at once and stared at him. "What is it?"
Ming Li said nothing. He only drew a deep breath, and then, when the Hehuan Bell was still a foot above the jade plate, he suddenly let his fingers open.
The Ghost King started.
There, within the soft white radiance that poured from the Universe Reincarnation Plate, the Hehuan Bell astonishingly did not fall. It seemed to be buoyed up by some invisible force, rising and sinking slowly within the white glow, and after a moment the melodious sound of the bell rang out.
Joy and astonishment sprang onto the faces of both Ming Li and the Ghost King at once.