Chapter 665: Sealing the Four Seasons

Far away from Borrowed Mountain...

Lady Calico transformed into a cat and, along with the swallow, crouched motionless in the grass. Only their eyes quietly peeked out, watching the distant commotion. If not for the unusual sight of a cat and a swallow hiding together, they would seem like ordinary animals.

A dark mass of divine officials and heavenly generals descended to the mortal realm to besiege, unleashing a vast sky of heavenly fire. There was a giant hand, dazzling light and flames, deafening bell sounds, followed by a chilling wind. A single snowflake drifted down gently...

All of this was reflected in the eyes of the cat and the swallow. The alternating heat and cold made the cat shiver.

“Who is that?” Lady Calico asked the bird beside her.

“The Ancient God of the Heavenly Bell, also called the Heavenly Bell Emperor Lord. In the mortal realm, he is known as the Heavenly Bell Emperor,” the swallow turned its head and explained in detail. “One of the oldest surviving gods in the Heavenly Palace, masterful in divine combat.”

“Is he very powerful?”

“There are countless divine powers and spells in the world, all with mutual counters. The Ancient God of the Heavenly Bell is naturally formidable, but his greatest strength against the Master lies in the Four Seasons Bell,” the swallow said.

He added, “The Four Seasons Bell controls the cycle and rotation of the seasons. Mr. Song cultivates the Four Seasons Rotation Method, whose most subtle power is its endless applications based on the seasons. It’s very likely to be countered by this bell.”

“What can be done then?”

“Lady Calico, don’t worry too much,” the swallow said, though clearly anxious. “The Ancient God of the Heavenly Bell also has a Death Bell that counters living beings and mortal cultivators. Since the Master has gone to Bashu Dragon Pool to seek spiritual resonance for a response, he surely has a way to deal with the Four Seasons Bell as well.”

Just as the words fell, another bell toll sounded from afar.

“

Dong...

”

The bell’s sound was long and lingering, echoing endlessly. For a moment, heaven and earth knew.

Countless ghosts in the underworld were thrown into panic, many deep-mountain monsters inexplicably anxious. The gods above looked down toward the earth. Great demons, dark spirits, earth gods, Daoist practitioners, and martial cultivators all sensed it. Some held their horses, others stopped walking, while some climbed to high places, following the bell’s direction to gaze far away.

That place was too far to see.

But the cat and the swallow could see that along with the bell toll, a giant spectral ancient bell suddenly descended from the sky, instantly enveloping the entire Borrowed Mountain and the surrounding hundreds of li within its shadow.

The ancient bell pressed against the earth, as clouds and mist drifted from the heavens.

As the mist passed, everything ahead suddenly reverted to its original state.

The swirling snowflakes disappeared, the ancient god in the sky vanished, the Daoist on the mountain was gone, and even the Borrowed Mountain itself had vanished from the earth, leaving only an endless stretch of autumnal land, fertile fields spreading for hundreds of li, rich soil covering thousands of mu.

“Where did it all go?” Lady Calico immediately stood up, her eyes unblinking as she stared at the scene.

In a daze, the scene before her remained the same; then her vision blurred into a hazy mist. Before she could see clearly, it changed back again.

The divine officials and heavenly generals who had retreated far away were just as bewildered, standing on the clouds and continuously scanning their surroundings.

“It must be that the Ancient God of the Heavenly Bell used the Four Seasons Bell to shroud and conceal the land ahead, transforming it into his own magical domain,” the swallow said without blinking, eyes fixed on the distance.

“What does that mean?”

“Although the Ancient God of the Heavenly Bell is powerful, and the Four Seasons Bell is an extraordinary ancient treasure, capable of altering the seasons across several prefectures or even a whole country if unleashed, dispersed power is never as strong as concentrated power, especially against an opponent like Mr. Song,” the swallow explained, pausing briefly.

He added, “So he covered this one area, a hundred li across, where the cycle of the four seasons happens entirely within the tolling of the bell.”

“...”

The cat listened, stunned.

After a long pause with no response, the swallow glanced at her expression, hesitated, then quickly added, “This was also told to me in a dream from the ancestor recently.”

But the cat wasn’t worried about that.

She simply widened her eyes, then crouched down again, staring ahead and said, “When will we be strong enough to help the Daoist?”

Upon hearing this, the swallow fell silent.

***

Under the cover of the Heavenly Bell, the mountains and rivers remained unchanged.

The two sides in the battle still faced each other: one atop the dome, coldly looking down on the world, the other standing calmly on the mountain, ready for anything.

𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

The Four Seasons Bell did more than just govern the turning of the seasons. It also affected the spiritual resonances tied to them, influencing not only the harmony between heaven and earth, but also the Daoist’s own seasonal spiritual energy. Once it left his body and appeared in the world, it too was influenced by the Four Seasons Bell.

“You cultivate the Four Seasons Rotation Method, which is indeed infinitely versatile and difficult to counter in the hands of a master. But here, your magic is useless. The seasonal spiritual power you painstakingly cultivated your whole life has lost all its subtle uses. What will you do then?”

The Ancient God of the Heavenly Bell did not rush to attack. Instead, calm and unhurried, he spread his hands once more.

In his palm appeared another ancient bell.

The bell was small, like a copper tinkling bell, densely covered in ancient characters and mysterious patterns of the Great Dao, suffused with deathly energy.

The ancient god casually tossed it up; it transformed into a bell as tall as a person, hovering beside him.

“

Dong...

”

Another long, resonant bell toll sounded.

But this bell only echoed within this small realm, and the hundred-li radius around Borrowed Mountain, shrouded by the Four Seasons Bell.

This little world was already deep in the grip of winter, life dormant and repressed, frost and snow urging decay. Now, with the bell’s toll, a wave of deathly energy swept across, draining the vitality of all things.

The death energy fell like sound waves to the ground, gathering around the Daoist from all sides as if it had substance.

“

Whoosh...

”

The grass and trees immediately withered and yellowed; the yellowed plants and stubble turned black in an instant, collapsing softly onto the earth. In just a moment, they became rotten, patch by patch, blown apart by the wind, tracing the path and marks of the death energy’s sweep.

Until the death energy reached the summit of Borrowed Mountain.

The whole mountain was withered and decayed; even the sky turned oppressive and gloomy, resembling the underworld itself.

The death energy even swept to the Daoist’s feet, touching his bamboo staff. That staff, usually jade-green in appearance, began from below to yellow, sprouting black spots and showing signs of rot.

But suddenly, a streak of azure light appeared atop the mountain.

“

Swish

!” The blue light illuminated the land, dispelling the dark gloom.

“

Whoosh...

”

A wave of blue energy radiated from the summit of Borrowed Mountain.

This blue light and energy were so pure and wonderful that not only did they dispel the oppressive gloom, but wherever they drifted, the withered, decayed earth regained vitality. Grass and trees that were not yet fully dead instantly stood upright again, sprouting fresh shoots in the dimness. Where plants had fully withered and been blown away, new tender shoots broke through the earth, growing into new vegetation more vibrant than before.

A faint dragon’s roar could be heard.

Under this protection, the death energy, like the darkness, was easily dispersed. The bamboo staff also turned green again, vibrant and lovely.

“Hm?” The ancient god above the dome made a slight sound of surprise, though overall remained calm.

“

Dong...

”

Another bell toll rang, deafening in its intensity. The death energy surged even more fiercely. The blue light atop the mountain radiated even greater waves of vigor.

One side was heavy with death energy, the other teeming with life. Wherever they touched, they vanished without a trace.

“Looks like you came somewhat prepared...”

The ancient deity still showed no expression, coldly gazing down below. He merely retracted the Death Bell and said calmly, “The Four Seasons Rotation Method is difficult to cultivate. Without its many subtle uses, it wouldn’t be any better than ordinary spiritual arts. Here in this realm, the four seasons are in my control. Even if I don’t use the Death Bell, you have no strength left to resist.”

Though he said this, he still refused to descend lightly to the mortal realm to contend with the Daoist. Instead, he swept his long sleeves.

“

Dong...

”

The Four Seasons Bell suddenly tolled, shaking heaven and earth. Winter gave way to spring; all things revived.

“

Dong...

”

Spring passed into summer; growth flourished brilliantly.

“

Dong...

”

Summer yielded to autumn; ripeness and decline followed.

“

Dong...

”

Winter returned; vitality retreated and concealed itself.

This cycle of the four seasons affected not only the land and sky but also the Daoist within it, each seasonal rotation caused the flourishing and withering of all plants and aged the Daoist by a year.

Yet the Daoist remained unhurried, standing calmly atop the mountain, tapping the summit with his bamboo staff. A spiritual light spread out, encompassing the entire mountain.

“Rumble rumble...”

The whole mountain suddenly trembled. Then came a thunderous crash, like an earthquake or mountain collapse.

A layer of sealing was broken.

Suddenly, across the vast land covered by the Four Seasons Bell, and even beyond its reach, on the sprawling grain fields, spiritual lights of different colors emerged from the earth in all directions. Centered on Borrowed Mountain beneath him, they formed a complex and mysterious grand formation.

The four seasons’ spiritual resonance and heavenly timing changes all converged here.

“

Dong...

” The Four Seasons Bell tolled again.

But this time, the seasons of heaven and earth did not shift.

“Hm?” The ancient deity frowned again, more surprised than before. “What is this thing?”

“You are right, but not entirely,” Song You replied calmly and sincerely. “With the Four Seasons Bell aiding you, the seasonal spiritual resonance here is indeed no longer under my control, but from my perspective, it’s not necessarily under yours either.”

“You set up a grand formation here beforehand?”

“Not exactly. Many years ago, I traveled through Hezhou to eliminate demons. Here lived a demon king, the embodiment of the earth’s marsh spiritual resonance. Though lacking the power of ancient immortals, it was deeply connected to the local network of waters for hundreds of li. It was hard to exterminate, harder to seal. So I arranged a Yin-Yang Four Seasons Formation here to seal it. In the formation, yin and yang do not turn, and the seasons remain unchanged. Today, it just happens to be useful to counter your Four Seasons Bell.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, a voice came from below. “Demonic Daoist Song You! I thought you were truly sealed and would die here! Who would have expected you to see the daylight again so soon!”

As the voice rang out, the entire mountain trembled. It was as if the person below would overturn the mountain itself.

The Daoist atop the mountain and the ancient god under the dome both withdrew their gazes, lowered their heads, and followed the sound down to the mountain’s base.

“You’re purging the Heavenly Palace? So you've finally fallen this low?”

Water flowed out from the foot of the mountain, faintly gathering into a humanoid shape that looked up at the sky.

Originally, this Yin-Yang Four Seasons Formation was used to suppress the Snowy Plains Demon King, preventing him from escaping or absorbing spiritual energy. He would either slowly wither away or wait many years until successors with the means to kill him arrived. But now that the formation was being used to resist the seasonal rotation power of the ancient god’s Four Seasons Bell, it naturally could no longer imprison him.

The newly emerged Snowy Plains Demon King had evidently learned the situation from the conversation between Song You and the ancient god, and was inexplicably excited.

“Heavenly Palace ancient god, first help me completely break this seal and escape. Then you and I join forces to kill this Daoist here. What do you say?”

“...” The Daoist remained expressionless, standing motionless.

The ancient god of the Four Seasons Bell, his beard and hair all white, also wore a cold indifference. Facing the great demon king emerging below, he merely waved his hand and...

“

Boom

!”

A flash of white light blasted forth.

The water-avatar just formed by the Snowy Plains Demon King instantly shattered back into mist under that blow.

“Abomination...” His speech was utterly devoid of emotion, yet dripping with the ancient god’s deep disdain and scorn for this Snowy Plains Demon King.

A genuine ancient powerhouse, a god of the Heavenly Palace, a great emperor... how could he stoop to consort with such a being?

The ancient god then turned his gaze back to the Daoist below.

With a flick of his sleeve...

“

Dong...

”

The ancient bell tolled again, this time more thunderous and piercing than before. The spiritual energy and spiritual resonance almost took on substance, stirring a violent wind across heaven and earth.

The formation on the ground likewise flared brightly, covering three hundred li.

One side commanded the seasons to follow its orders, rotating them at will; the other side imprisoned the seasons and sealed yin and yang. Two completely opposing forces clashed across heaven and earth.

Though both were profound cosmic mysteries, their immense power made their struggle tangible. Violent winds ravaged the land, spiritual light shattered like fire, the seasons grew chaotic, everywhere displaying the divine anomalies born from their conflict.