Twilight Boundary-Chapter 788 - 778: The Law of Non-Gods

"To think I just advised you not to squander the Hu Family's legacy..."

The State Preceptor clearly did not wish to speak, sighing repeatedly and gazing at Hu Ma several times. Finally, when he spoke, he smiled bitterly.

"Who would have thought you actually ended up losing it all?"

At this moment, as he looked at Hu Ma, his earlier anger seemed to have dissipated, leaving only a sense of helplessness, as if he were truly a friend of the Hu Family's ancestors. "Do you know how much hardship, how much effort, and how many lucky breaks your Hu Family ancestors had to endure, starting from the position of a mere petty official, to achieve their current status during the great upheaval of the world?"

"Walking Ghost is the root of your Hu Family in this world. It is the ladder of your Hu Family. Why is it, among so many talented individuals and prestigious families, that no matter how one reckons, whether by heavenly decree or earthly measure, it always comes down to including the Hu Family, of which you are the sole remaining branch?"

"It's not because you are so important, but because all the Ghost Walkers in this world recognize this single character 'Hu.'"

"But you would so easily entrust it to others?"

In his gaze towards Hu Ma, there was only an indescribable helplessness and regret. "Are you not afraid that they will never return?" 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Facing the State Preceptor, Hu Ma only revealed a light-hearted smile and softly said, "State Preceptor, you are a pitiful man. You might not have a single friend in this world with whom you can truly open your heart."

"Naturally, I cannot expect you to understand that the root of the Hu Family was never in the Age Suppressing Book, but in always remembering where we came from."

Originally, he had many reasons to mock the State Preceptor, but upon hearing his words, he instead replied seriously, "Indeed, the Hu Family originated from petty officials. But no matter how high we climb, the Hu Family always remembers where we gained our Skills and knows for whom we should serve."

"Thus, what you offer is excellent, but our Hu Family does not want it."

This statement was very earnest, as it was spoken on behalf of Granny and the Hu Family.

I was born in the mountains, saw both the ugliness and kindness within, witnessed benevolence and suffering—what is the root? This is the root.

Listening to this earnest response, even the State Preceptor did not know how to refute Hu Ma, perhaps because he too knew that continuing further held no significance.

He suddenly let out a long sigh, wiped his face with his hand, and slowly stood up. Looking at Hu Ma, he spoke softly, "Even if you do not wish to become an Immortal, why must you push us to this extent?"

"It's not just I who wish to build the White Jade City, but other Surnames as well. Do you know what this represents?"

"It means that my return was the right decision."

Listening to this, Hu Ma laughed and said, "We're country folk; we don't understand your grand principles and ambitions. So, after you told me all those fine-sounding things, I wanted to see if you truly meant them. That's why I returned and saw for myself."

"It's always the same story; turns out the Ten Surnames are unreliable."

"If anything is to be truly accomplished, it will be by those mud-legged peasants outside the city!"

"It turns out you have already become just like those reincarnated evil spirits..."

The State Preceptor, having spoken to this point, had lost all interest in continuing. After a low sigh, his gaze gradually grew cold. "This dharma gathering, indeed, was lost before it even began."

"The scheme with your Hu Family ancestors twenty years ago was also a complete loss. However, young friend of the Hu Family, today's Twelve Ghost Altars still depend on you to be brought to Shangjing City!"

As he spoke, he raised his hand towards Hu Ma. In a blur, a white jade-like palm had already enveloped the space before him.

No matter how well-mannered or composed he was, it was apparent that he was truly enraged now.

When he struck, there was already a hint of crudeness in his actions.

Yet Hu Ma was even more reckless, raising his hand to swing his saber towards the State Preceptor, savage and with a rolling, murderous aura.

At his strike, the State Preceptor's palm eerily passed through the light of the blade, landing directly on Hu Ma's shoulder, seemingly non-existent in reality. The endless, murderous light of the blade, in front of the State Preceptor, was like nothing more than a gentle breeze.

An invisible weight pressed down on his body. It seemed, just as before, any trump cards or Magic Skills would be suppressed by the State Preceptor.

Yet unexpectedly, as Hu Ma swung his saber, his form trembled slightly. His saber sliced through empty air. But as his body swayed, the State Preceptor also missed his grab. Hu Ma, however, had gained something more; his body swayed, teetering on the brink of life and death, endlessly transforming.

Certain Skills are used against the living, others against the dead.

The Shousui man cultivates Skills in the realm between life and death, able to transform into a corpse or erupt with fierce vitality. It's just that in actual combat, this yin and yang transformation is not always timely.

But now, Hu Ma, having borrowed the Heaven and Earth Unmoving Seal from the Life Nourishing Zhou Family, had gained a deeper understanding of the Shousui Sect's Skills. This time, when he attacked, yin and yang were interlaced, already possessing some true essence of the living dead.

Thus, even though the State Preceptor had many dharma methods, Hu Ma could now use his shifting form to evade many of them, seemingly capable of engaging the State Preceptor in direct combat for several rounds.

"Your talents are indeed remarkable. In peaceful times, you would likely be worthy to enter my Daluo Dharma Sect and inherit its teachings..."

The State Preceptor, aware of the change in Hu Ma's Skills and, after a moment's thought, understanding its source, praised him genuinely, "Such Skills, even without reaching Shangqiao, mean you wouldn't necessarily lose to a Non-human..."

"But it is still not enough."

As he spoke, his forms appeared at Hu Ma's front, back, and sides simultaneously, each pinching a spell.

With an overwhelming, omnipresent incantation resounding, talismans began to fly around Hu Ma.

Hu Ma waved his blade, attempting to fend off the talismans, but his expression quickly changed. This time, upon waking, he had prepared extensively, even guarding against the incense burner that had just suppressed him. He didn't want to make the same mistake twice.

Unexpectedly, the State Preceptor had no intention of using the incense burner again. Instead, he tossed several talisman papers that seemed feather-light, easily dispersed by the wind from the blade. But upon contact, Hu Ma immediately sensed something was wrong and instinctively tried to dash beyond the reach of the talisman papers.

But it was too late. The first talisman paper landed, pinning down the Punishment Officer's Great Saber.

The second pinned down his left shoulder.

The third had already pinned down his right shoulder as well.

His legs trembled as if they were about to buckle; his body was no longer under his control and was on the verge of collapsing.

These talisman papers possessed seemingly infinite weight, each one as heavy as a mountain.

It turned out the State Preceptor didn't necessarily need the incense burner to suppress him; merely pulling out a talisman paper had the same effect.

"You've done many things that were beyond my expectations and indeed troubled me quite a lot..."

The State Preceptor's voice remained calm and indifferent. "But as I said, since you were unwilling, you should not have returned to Shangjing City."

"The Twelve Ghost Altars must still fall to you."

"It's just unfortunate that I never initially intended to use this Method to deal with you..."

As he spoke, his hand, hard and flawless as white jade, lightly touched Hu Ma's chest. Then, with a gentle push forward, it penetrated Hu Ma's body. Hu Ma's physique as a Shousui man, akin to steel and iron, offered no resistance.

More crucially, Hu Ma felt no pain, only a cold, icy aura flooding in from his chest, wreaking havoc within and threatening to expel his Divine Soul.

Possession?

Hu Ma was slightly startled, vaguely understanding the State Preceptor's intention. Could he intend to seize my body and then use it to summon the Twelve Ghost Altars?

His cultivation surged within him. When encountering possession, one's life energy would naturally rise to block the invading force.

Yet, in response to Hu Ma's internal reaction, the State Preceptor advanced further, seeming to transform into a vast expanse that enveloped Hu Ma. Even the Life Incense appeared unable to block this eerie yin qi invasion.

"So, you were still wrong."

"You have no idea how distant the Non-God Realm is from you, nor do you have the qualifications to duel with me..."

The State Preceptor's figure became blurred, and even his voice seemed to turn ethereal, drifting into Hu Ma's ears.

But at that very moment, Hu Ma suddenly gritted his teeth, glaring at him coldly. "Is that so?"

As he shouted with all his might, he fiercely stomped heavily on the ground.

He looked as if he were desperately trying to break free, but failing.

Even so, he mustered all his strength, barely managing to bring his hands together in front of his body to form a seal.

At this point, the State Preceptor couldn't be bothered to see what Hu Ma was doing, certain that he had no chance to use another Heaven and Earth Unmoving Seal. However, he didn't expect that after Hu Ma formed this seal, his expression would turn fierce as he said coldly, "Do you know who hates you the most?"

"The Hu Family walks a different path from yours. Even if we oppose you, we tricked you first, so it's not hate."

"But those who trusted you completely, only to be driven to Juehu by you..."

"...it is the Mengs!"

Saying this, while clenching the seal, he again lifted his foot and stomped heavily on the ground.

The first stomp was incredibly strenuous, the second evidently more effortless.

Then came the third, and the fourth, as if the talisman papers weighing him down had lost their effect.

At the same time, Hu Ma gritted his teeth, rapidly chanting,

"Nine Netherworld arising from Daluo Heaven, Salt State's Meng Qing, the Supreme Immortal, connected by bloodline to honor the ancestors, we Meng stand above the human world."

"Hu Ma, a commoner of the jianghu, humbly invites the revered ancestral sages of the Salt State's Tongyin Meng Family to possess me!"

"What?"

The State Preceptor, who had resorted to this possession Method only as a last resort, never anticipated such a counter. The yin qi that had invaded Hu Ma's body was instantly repelled, and his face changed drastically, clearly showing shock and alarm.