Chapter 251: The Seven Shackles Official
Chapter 251: The Seven Shackles Official
"This is the biggest difference between a Ghost Walker and the Year-Guarding Book..."
Hearing Aunt Zhang's reminder, Hu Ma's mind suddenly became clear: "When a Ghost Walker sets up an altar, it's as if the altar becomes the center of the world, and they sit at the center of the altar. Within a certain radius, everything is their sacred ground."
"The Year-Guarding Book, on the other hand, completely omits this step, not even mentioning it."
"However, if we look at the fundamentals, it seems that the Ghost Walker's method makes more sense."
"..."
While his mind raced, he also followed her advice and sat down steadily. In the dark, cold night, no one knew what was out there, but he could feel its chilling and terrifying presence.
Aunt Zhang, who was standing beside him, had also set up the altar for Hu Ma, but she was not entirely at ease. She kept a close eye on him, ready to take over the altar if anything went wrong, to bear the pressure of the ritual herself.
This was what a master would typically do for a disciple during their first altar setup.
Although they did not have a formal master-disciple relationship, she treated Hu Ma as if he were her disciple, adhering to the standards of a master.
Of course, even though she was prepared, she noticed that Hu Ma, sitting steadily on the altar, remained calm and composed, not panicking even as he sensed something dangerous approaching. This made her slightly more impressed with him.
The young shopkeeper's constitution might not be suitable for setting up an altar, but his composure and presence were impressive.
Gradually, a cold wind began to blow, causing the oil lamp on the altar to flicker, casting alternating light and shadow, creating an eerie and mysterious atmosphere.
"It's coming..."
At this moment, Hu Ma focused his eyes and looked forward.
In the night, the thing full of death qi was invisible, but as it approached, the insect chirping ceased, and even the weeds withered.
However, as it neared the altar, especially when it entered the three-zhang-three radius of the altar, Hu Ma's eyes suddenly blurred, and with the light of the oil lamp, he saw the thing that was feeling its way toward the altar.
This was Hu Ma's first time setting up an altar, and the three-zhang-three radius was his sacred ground.
But if a more experienced Ghost Walker set up an altar, it could be nine-zhang-nine, or even several miles for the most skilled, with a sacred ground spanning tens of miles.
"Hmm?"
Hu Ma narrowed his eyes and saw the fat, terrifying ghost that had entered the altar's range. It was obese and grotesque, slowly extending a hand covered in black, sticky fluid toward the oil lamp on the altar.
Aunt Zhang, standing beside him, could not help but want to warn him.
But Hu Ma did not rush, nor did he attack the ghost immediately. Instead, he waited until it was close enough and then grabbed the red wooden sword beside him, muttered a low incantation, and suddenly pointed it forward.
"Hisss!"
With this gesture, the flame in the oil lamp suddenly grew intensely.
It was as if a cloud of fire had erupted, burning fiercely forward.
The sudden bright light illuminated the surrounding night, and in the firelight, they could see the fat, obese ghost that had reached the altar's front. It was immediately engulfed in flames, writhing and screaming as it rolled down the hill, gradually disappearing.
This initial victory surprised Hu Ma: "So powerful?"
Setting up the altar indeed made a difference. With the altar, a small effort could produce a tenfold effect. If he had not set up the altar, even with a full dose of Daoist power, he might not have achieved this level of power.
He glanced at Aunt Zhang, who was protecting him, to ask how he did.
But he saw that Aunt Zhang was also taken aback, and she whispered, "The young shopkeeper is a Year-Guardian, but now it seems he has the talent of a Ghost Walker."
"Is it that forceful?"
At the same time, in the forest, several people had taken advantage of the night to approach.
Among them was Old Lady Cui, who had just stepped out of a sedan chair. She still looked pale and bruised, and as she got out, she carried four black bone jars and placed them on the ground.
Beside her was a man on horseback, with a scar on his face and a short, plump build.
Another man had driven a cart, tall and thin, wearing a straw hat and leg bindings, with several bamboo baskets on the cart.
There was also an old man with a basket on his back, containing tools like files and saws, looking like a craftsman.
They saw the firelight on the hillside, and the small ghost Hu Ma had sent to scout had already been burned to ashes. They all showed signs of surprise.
The scar-faced man chuckled, "It's just a small Ghost Walker, but this altar has a certain aura that repels all evil. It looks like we'll have an interesting night ahead."
The cart driver said, "Let's test him first to see what he's made of."
Old Lady Cui added, "We should call the children back, so they don't get hurt in the upcoming battle."
"Old Brothers, who will show them what it means to mess with us first?"
"..."
"Heh heh."
The cart driver sneered, "Us old brothers from the Southern Plain Road working together, the other side not only refuses to hand over their people and beg for mercy but even dares to set up an altar and challenge us. That's not something we see often. Should we first go over the rules before we make our move?"
"No need."
Old Lady Cui said, "Dead enemies, we must kill them all, not a single one can be spared."
"They know it too, so we can skip this trouble."
"..."
As she spoke, she first placed the four black bone altars she had brought on the ground, preparing herself before turning to the others.
She sighed softly, "Old Brothers, I suffered a great loss this time, and I’m relying on you to help me save face. When the time comes, don’t hold back."
"I understand the rules, I won’t let you help me for nothing..."
"..."
As she spoke, she pulled a wooden figure out of the sedan chair.
It looked strange, with many marks of cuts and nails, and some parts were burnt black.
For some reason, when this thing was taken out, it didn’t seem unusual at first glance, but a closer look made one’s hair stand on end.
She first looked at the carpenter, Old Li, and whispered, "Old Brother Li, haven’t you always wanted this treasure?"
"This time, I’ll lend it to you. Once the matter is settled, you don’t have to return it."
"..."
The carpenter, who was carrying a basket, was visibly startled when he saw it. His usually dull face couldn’t hide his excitement.
"Seven Shackles Official Wood, you really mean to give it to me?"
"..."
Old Lady Cui handed it over directly, "It belongs to your sect, I was just playing with it."
The carpenter took it, his hands trembling with joy, almost drooling.
Old Lady Cui then turned to the man with a scar on his face, "Old Brother, among them, there are two. One is a female Ghost Walker. Though I only saw her from a distance, I know she’s a yellow flower maiden and must have some power."
"The one in the coffin is even more formidable. If you want her, you can lock her in your underground cellar. I guarantee your Yin Yanging technique will improve significantly."
The scar-faced old man remained expressionless, but his eyes narrowed slightly.
Old Lady Cui then looked at the man who had driven the cart and carried a bamboo basket, and whispered, "Brother Wang, there’s no need to say more. With your great skills, you don’t even have a position as an elder in our gang, which is a real loss. If this matter is settled, I’ll recommend you for the position."
The man chuckled, "No need for such formalities, Old Mother, we’re all family."
As he spoke, he glanced around at the others and whispered, "How about I show my skills first and test their strength?"
Old Lady Cui said, "They’ve set up an altar, so it’s better to work together with Old Brother Li."
"Sure, sure!"
The carpenter and the cart driver both nodded.
First, the carpenter, holding his beloved wooden figure, took a few steps back and placed it under a tree. Then, after a moment’s hesitation, he picked it up again and quietly came out of the forest, circling around.
He had a cloth bag with him. At the northwest corner of the altar, he dug a hole and pulled out a bloody dead cat from the bag, burying it there.
Taking advantage of the night, he quietly circled around to the northeast corner of the altar, found a suitable crooked tree, and pulled out a half-dead rooster from the bag. He tied a rope around its neck and hung it on the tree.
The altar was backed by a hill, so he couldn’t go around it. He did his deeds at other positions.
He then returned, clapping his hands with a cold smile, "Done. The Ghost Walker chose a good place to set up the altar, thinking to challenge us head-on."
"But I’ve ruined the feng shui of the place he chose. Now, what was a good location has become a place of great misfortune!"
"Let’s see how they can perform their spells!"
"..."
"Brilliant!"
The others all clapped and praised, then looked at the cart driver and said with a smile, "Now it’s Brother Wang’s turn."
The cart driver had already climbed onto the cart, a look of satisfaction on his face. He looked at the bamboo baskets on the cart and sighed, "Good children, I’ve kept you hungry for so long. Today, finally, you’ll get a full meal."
As he spoke, he pushed the baskets, and inside, there was a hissing sound. To everyone’s shock, it was a bunch of white-bodied, black-striped snakes.
On that dark night, the sound of scales rubbing against each other was extremely chilling.
Even Old Lady Cui and the scar-faced man were a bit unnerved and stepped back a couple of paces.
But this man had already taken out a bamboo whistle and started to blow it.
The snakes that had crawled out of the baskets, as if receiving some command, emerged one by one from the tangled mass and slithered towards the hill.
After just a few steps, they were out of sight, but everyone knew that in the dark forest, countless venomous snakes that could kill with a single bite had been released.
(End of Chapter)
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