Twilight Boundary-Chapter 730 - 721: Great Luo Magic Conference

"You guided me to the entrance?"

From Calculation’s words, it was indeed possible to hear how valuable that so-called "Main Sacrificial" status was.

But now, Hu Ma listened and only sneered inwardly. "How do you guide me?"

"Simple, simple."

Calculation saw that Hu Ma was calm on the surface but inwardly furious, fearing he would become a punching bag. Inwardly cursing the ancestral master for being unreliable and not managing his disciples well, he forced a smile onto his face and said, "After all, I don’t understand complicated matters. I don’t even know what you great personages think about all day, and I certainly don’t have the courage to get involved."

"This so-called guiding, we’re really just passing on a message!"

"Didn’t you just go down there?"

Anxious to change the subject, he craned his neck towards the Ancestral Hall, his voice growing tense. "Those legendary Twelve Ghost Altars, are they really down there?"

Hu Ma nodded. Thinking of what he had just seen, he nodded again and said, "They should be. I was a bit busy earlier and didn’t get a close look. If you’re interested, shall we go take a look together?"

"How could I possibly dare to go..."

Hearing this, Calculation’s expression changed. He hurriedly stepped back, waving his hands. "That thing... how could someone as insignificant and ill-fated as myself get close to it?"

"I was only able to enter this village thanks to our friendship over these past few years."

He lowered his voice, as if afraid someone might overhear. "Don’t take this lightly. The Twelve Ghost Altars are truly extraordinary. Fewer people know of them these days, but don’t forget, back when the ancestral altar was destroyed by those evil spirits..."

"When those people destroyed it, the world fell into chaos! It was these Twelve Ghost Altars that replaced the ancestral altar and suppressed the fortune of the world for a full one hundred and fifty years!"

"That’s one hundred and fifty years of worship from all the people of the world, one hundred and fifty years of incense offerings."

"The significance they hold is beyond our imagination."

As he spoke, he glanced towards the Ancestral Hall, sighed with deep emotion, then took another step back, saying cautiously, "Perhaps only the Main Sacrificial of this world can borrow spiritual power from such things?"

"Sigh, this great calamity of ours began with sacrificial ceremonies and must end with them. Honestly, right now, I can’t see how any of this will be resolved. But since Master chose you as the Main Sacrificial and even entrusted the Twelve Ghost Altars to you, he must have his reasons!"

"Heh..."

Hu Ma glanced inside the Ancestral Hall and sneered inwardly, The truth of these claims is still unknown, yet this ’great gift’ is offered so readily!

Hu Ma realized that Calculation didn’t actually know much. Even his so-called "guiding" was merely because the State Preceptor, knowing Hu Ma wouldn’t trust him outright, had found a more familiar person to relay messages.

Hu Ma didn’t say much more. He casually asked Calculation a few more questions, then steeled himself and entered the Ancestral Hall once more.

This time, with caution and a spirit of inquiry, he was more thorough than before. However, after a careful look, he still found nothing unusual about those twelve jars.

They looked like ordinary jars, merely adorned with some ancient, timeworn patterns. He tried to touch them and confirmed that each weighed over ten thousand jin; his Shousui abilities couldn’t budge them even slightly.

Lightly tapping them, they felt like solid gold or iron, impenetrable. Since his mind was elsewhere, he decided to leave for now.

His coming and going, however, struck even greater fear into Calculation. Didn’t I just see our Master emerge from inside, carefully holding the candle left by the ancestral master?

Yet this little shopkeeper walks in and out as if it were his own home!

Thus, his awe for Hu Ma deepened, and he even seriously considered whether to repay the Blood Food he owed Hu Ma.

However, after looking at the Twelve Ghost Altars again, Hu Ma had only one thought: to quickly understand these matters.

Though anxious, he remained cautious, unwilling to unknowingly fall into someone else’s trap. Therefore, he wouldn’t rashly summon any strange entities or cultivate new skills, and he maintained a wary, investigative stance with Calculation.

Upon returning, he picked up Mr. Hu Shan’s remains and, together with Calculation, headed back to Dayang Village.

During the journey, his suppressed thoughts began to surface, and he silently made a decision: It’s time to make a trip to Shangjing.

The Ten Surnames only desired to achieve immortality, yet the State Preceptor claimed that becoming immortal was just a facade, making everything uncertain.

But Hu Ma understood there was someone who could provide a definite answer.

Granny!

She had personally experienced these events back then and was the only person in his memory who was truly reliable and steadfast.

Only she could resolve his doubts.

Moreover, putting these matters aside, he had already eliminated the Meng family and exacted his revenge; it was also time to pay respects to Granny.

He hadn’t gone before because once he reached the ancestral hall, the Meng family would certainly become aware, and the other Ten Surnames would also notice, inviting unnecessary trouble. But now, by reason and sentiment, publicly and privately, it was time to offer that stick of incense.

With this thought, his resolve firmed. He decided to set off immediately, and his steps became much lighter.

When he first arrived, it felt as if in a daze, he had taken only a few steps to reach Fox Coffin Village. Now, on his return, even using the power of the Heaven Measuring Boots, it took a full two-hour period to get back to Dayang Village.

Calculation, however, surprised Hu Ma. Tightly clutching his small banner, he actually managed to keep up, though he was so exhausted his tongue was lolling out.

"How can someone just disappear while we’re drinking?"

By the time they returned to Dayang Village, it was late at night. The guests had long since dispersed. The food-protection general Yang Gong and Grand Steward Xu Wensheng had already left under the cover of night. Only a few remained, either because their journeys were long or because they lacked the abilities to travel safely at night and feared encountering something untoward.

Interestingly, Zhao Sanyi and Chen Abao were still waiting at the village entrance. Upon seeing Hu Ma, they hurried over to greet him, their expressions surprised.

Their own skills were already exceptional, yet they had been completely unaware of Hu Ma conversing with the State Preceptor and then leaving.

At this point, they realized something was amiss and had questioning looks in their eyes.

However, they didn’t let their thoughts wander too far, merely assuming Hu Ma had some urgent matter and had used a dharma method to depart quietly.

"I had to step out temporarily to handle something."

Hu Ma, his heart heavy, had no mind to concoct an explanation. Zhao Sanyi, who understood propriety well, didn’t press further. He simply clasped his fists and said, "This trip into the mountains was indeed somewhat against the rules."

"Fortunately, you were tolerant, not only refraining from blaming us but also showing us great kindness regarding Aunt Meng. We in the jianghu settle matters according to jianghu rules. What we promised your young master, we will fulfill."

"Now that the wine has been drunk and the village elders paid respects to, we must also take our leave."

Hu Ma, though not planning to ask them to stay, was still a bit surprised. "Leaving so late at night?"

"An elder from home sent a little ghost with an urgent message."

Zhao Sanyi thought for a moment and, deciding there was no need to hide it from Hu Ma, lowered his voice. "Something major has happened in the underworld. Evil spirits are on Shangqiao, and the impact is likely no longer confined to just this one state or prefecture."

"Besides, with the Hu and Meng Families causing such a huge disturbance, our family elders can’t sit still any longer..."

"However, because of this, a very important figure has been alerted. The Daluo Dharma Sect—brother, have you heard of it?"

Hu Ma frowned and nodded.

"The Sect Hierarch of the Daluo Dharma Sect, who is also the Duyi National Master, has appeared. He intends to hold a dharma assembly in Shangjing."

"I think they might be planning to confront those evil spirits."

"We must hurry there overnight to rendezvous with our family elders. I believe your young master will also make an appearance soon."

"Perhaps we’ll meet again quickly at the Shangjing dharma assembly. At that time, I will personally repay your young master the Thousand Jin Purple Tai Sui!"

Hu Ma thought of the elusive State Preceptor, an indescribable aversion welling up inside him. On one hand, he sought me in the mountains, and on the other, he plans to join forces with the other Ten Surnames for some dharma assembly? He slowly nodded.

After seeing them off, he entered the village. Second Master was also still awake, waiting for Hu Ma. Beside him stood Fourth Miss Zhou, sipping tea from a coarse porcelain bowl. This startled Hu Ma slightly; he hadn’t expected her to still be there after Zhao and Chen had left.

But he was in no mood to ask. He simply carried the skeleton and approached the house. Second Master came out to greet him and, seeing the bundle, asked with a slight shock, "This is?"

"My father."

Hu Ma let out a breath and said calmly, "He indeed died shielding someone from disaster. I found his remains and wish to lay him to rest."

"Ah?"

Second Master, hearing this, froze on the spot. After a long moment, he hurriedly came forward to help.

At the very moment Hu Ma returned to the village, incense smoke wafted throughout the entirety of Old Yin Mountain, which had just undergone the mountain sacrificial ceremony. The deep, ancient forest, previously filled with lurking shadows and pervasive evil spirits, now seemed utterly transformed.

Yet, a few places remained profoundly deep and quiet, their true nature hidden from view. Not far from Dayang Village, atop a low hill, beneath a large locust tree, someone quietly gazed in a particular direction.

It was the State Preceptor, departing from Old Yin Mountain. He walked slowly, eyes narrowed, large sleeves fluttering lightly, as if awaiting something.

And beneath that large locust tree, a woman in green clothes, her expression cold, along with the two shadows behind her, silently watched his retreating figure.

A hint of discord seemed to ripple through the incense-laden wind of Old Yin Mountain.

Ultimately, however, both sides appeared to exercise restraint, and no confrontation occurred. National Master Dongxuan slowly departed from Old Yin Mountain, his figure disappearing from sight. The shadows beneath the locust tree then gradually shifted their gaze from beyond the mountain towards Dayang Village within Old Yin Mountain.

The woman in green spoke softly, "Those fellows have finally embarked on the correct path. The Daluo Dharma Sect can no longer remain idle and is finally preparing to make its move..."

One of the shadows beside her flickered slightly and asked hesitantly, "Then, what about us..."

"Then we, too, should reclaim Lao Junmei’s fate." 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

The woman in green stated faintly, "Twenty years ago, we failed to prevent his appearance. Now, twenty years later, it will simply require a bit more effort."

"Something belonging to a Reincarnator naturally cannot be allowed to remain in the hands of outsiders."