Chapter 354: Mansion Entry Realm
Chapter 354: Mansion Entry Realm
Amidst the lively banquet, everyone was in high spirits, including Seventh Aunt, who loved a good celebration, and even Zhang Aogu, who seemed preoccupied with something on her mind, couldn't help but be infected by the joyous atmosphere, appearing to relax from her worries.
As a Phantom, she rarely interacted with others, and even when invited by neighbors or those she had helped, she would often sit alone at a separate table or have the meal delivered to her home. But now, sitting among the lively crowd, she blushed and raised her wine cup.
She solemnly toasted to Hu Ma and Seventh Aunt, expressing her gratitude for saving her life.
Hu Ma smiled and said, "Family matters are not for outsiders to discuss. Aogu is a respectable person. In the future, when you're free, come and visit the village more often. When you need help, we'll lend a hand to get by."
Seventh Aunt also chuckled, and the more she looked at Zhang Aogu, the more she liked her. Smiling, she said, "Such a pretty girl, take good care of her. Later, Seventh Aunt will find you a good match!"
It seemed that Seventh Aunt wasn't very good at small talk, and Zhang Aogu's face turned red. She raised her wine cup and drank two full cups...
...and then she passed out drunk.
Helpless, Hu Ma had to support her into the inner courtyard and settled her in the room where Wu He's sister had once slept. He took out a new set of bedding from the cabinet and laid it out for her before returning to the banquet.
The group surrounded Seventh Aunt, flattered her, offered her drinks, and lit her cigarettes, making her extremely happy. Even after getting tipsy, she formally accepted Li Wazi as her senior disciple in front of everyone.
Although it was just a drunken gesture, with a few head knocks and no incense burning, and without any proper ceremony, Li Wazi now had a title. In the future, when he needed help, he could officially invite Seventh Aunt over.
As the wine flowed and the night wore on, the guests gradually dispersed, and Hu Ma returned to his room. He listened carefully, hearing Zhang Aogu sleeping soundly, before returning to his own room and sitting on the bed to cultivate.
After a while, he took out several Blood Nourishment Pills and placed them on the table beside him. Leaning against the wall, he slowly entered a dreamlike state.
In a daze, he felt a sense of confusion and found himself at the Life Spirit Temple. But this time, he wasn't there to summon any reincarnates. Instead, he immediately turned his attention to the divine statue hidden in the darkness behind the incense table.
As he looked, his suspicions were confirmed, and his hands and feet trembled slightly.
Ever since he had revitalized his five viscera, the divine statue had undergone a significant transformation. The limbs and organs were filled with golden light, but the head and the seven orifices were shrouded in darkness. From a certain angle, it appeared like a headless statue.
However, upon closer inspection, he noticed that the statue's head was now filled with intricate golden lines, crisscrossing and intertwining, creating an abstract image with a mysterious aura.
The facial features and orifices were exceptionally clear, and it was hard to tell the difference between this statue and a fully revitalized one.
"Indeed..."
Hu Ma stared at the statue, momentarily overwhelmed by the excitement in his heart. He had already entered the Mansion Entry Realm in the Longevity Gate Dao?
No, not quite.
He fixed his gaze on the statue, silently judging in his heart that he had completed the Mansion Entry cultivation in the Longevity Gate Dao, but he still lacked the nourishment of blood nourishment.
Several hours ago, when he was slaying the Five Sins Demon, he had already felt a premonition. But he had been too busy to visit the Life Spirit Temple until now, when he finally confirmed his significant progress through the reflection of the Life Spirit Temple.
Previously, it would have taken a long time to gradually nourish and revitalize the brain. But now, it had become transparent.
The reason was simple. After opening the Exorcism Bureau, he had felt the chilling malevolent energy within it, constantly flowing through his body. It was as if his entire being had been washed, and if not for borrowing the Hu Family's heirloom, he might not have been able to withstand it.
This infusion of yin energy into the orifices and the penetration of the brain, viscera, and blood vessels was not a good thing. Ordinary people would likely fall seriously ill, or even lose their lives. Even as a Year-End Guardian, one's cultivation would be damaged and would take a long time to recover.
However, just as he was entering the Mansion Entry Realm in the Longevity Gate Dao, he unexpectedly received this divine blessing.
"Was it the same for Ji Tang back then?"
Hu Ma took a few deep breaths to calm his excited mind, and he couldn't help but think of Ji Tang, the leader of the Beggar Gang on the Southern Plain.
Ji Tang was like a half-teacher to him during his Mansion Entry in the Longevity Gate Dao. He had a similar experience when he was pursued by Wu Granny and narrowly escaped death, turning misfortune into a blessing and advancing his cultivation significantly, saving him at least half a year of hard work.
Hu Ma's current situation was similar, but he was luckier. The malevolent energy in the Exorcism Bureau was genuine and heavy, far surpassing that of Wu Granny.
Wu Granny had only accidentally blown yin energy into Ji Tang's orifices while chasing him. In contrast, Hu Ma had received a full infusion of malevolent energy, cleansing his mind and spirit in an instant.
It was as if a channel had been carved out on his cultivation path, waiting for the living water to flow in, allowing him to reverse life and death, enter the Mansion, and achieve great power.
And this living water, is none other than the Blood Nourishment Pills.
"Huff!"
Upon realizing this, Hu Ma immediately retreated, swallowed the two Blood Nourishment Pills he held, and returned to the Life Spirit Temple. He hurriedly examined the statue.
He noticed that with the nourishment of the two pills, the faint golden light entwined around the head of the statue behind the incense table seemed to grow stronger, gradually intensifying.
However, the brain, with its intricate network of meridians, required much more nourishment than the two pills could provide.
"Hmm?"
Hu Ma was surprised and pondered for a while before letting out a wry smile, "A blessing in disguise?"
After being cleansed by the Yin Qi of the Exorcism Bureau, his cultivation progress had indeed improved, even reaching its peak, saving him a year and a half of arduous practice.
But now, he needed even more Blood Nourishment Pills...
In fact, the supply of Blood Nourishment Pills from the Li family in the cave was initially sufficient for him to complete his Mansion Entry Realm cultivation, with some left over.
Afterward, Hu Ma even speculated that the Li family in the cave might have exceptional foresight, knowing exactly how much blood food he needed for his Mansion Entry Realm. They intentionally gave him extra, with an additional three portions as a token of gratitude.
But now, with this unexpected change, his demand for Blood Nourishment Pills had more than doubled.
What the Li family provided might not be enough.
"That's not right..."
As he thought about this, Hu Ma's heart stirred again, and he fixed his gaze on his Life Spirit statue once more.
This experience wasn't a blessing in disguise; it was more like an unexpected and rare benefit.
The Longevity Gate Dao cultivation technique he had learned from Wu Zhanggui was indeed a legitimate method, but it lacked refinement.
From refining the limbs and organs to refining the brain and nourishing the seven orifices, it was a systematic process, but there were still many oversights. Simply put, it was a matter of first death and then rebirth, using secret techniques to revive the body, but there were inevitably some areas that were overlooked, leaving vulnerabilities even in an unbreakable body.
However, after being cleansed by the Yin Qi of the Exorcism Bureau, even these minor details were addressed.
The sudden increase in the required Blood Nourishment Pills was due to the need to nourish the brain and spirit, as well as to address these minor details.
"It's as if I've reached a bottleneck, and a master has suddenly opened up my Eight Extraordinary Vessels..."
Hu Ma sighed, realizing that the benefit he had gained was significant. He couldn't help but wonder if it was the sinister Yin Qi of the Exorcism Bureau that had unintentionally helped him upgrade his Longevity Gate Dao cultivation, or...
...was it intentional?
As this thought crossed his mind, he couldn't help but shift his focus to pondering the nature of the Exorcism Bureau.
The Exorcism Bureau...
Not only did it suppress evil spirits within a hundred li radius upon its appearance, but it could even capture and execute the Dignitaries who had retreated into the temple and transformed into countless forms, parading them through the streets.
If this formidable power were real, wouldn't it mean that once he obtained the Hu Clan's family heirloom, he could kill anyone he wanted with impunity?
Moreover, he had received a warning from Second Pot Head, treating the Hu Clan's business as a mysterious entity akin to an old fire pit. But now, witnessing the various arrangements and chilling aura within the Exorcism Bureau, he couldn't help but realize:
The Exorcism Bureau, while seemingly a part of the Martial World, seemed more like an official establishment.
What was the Hu Clan's position among the Ten Clans, and what did the Exorcism Bureau signify in this world?
"Huff..."
These questions were heavy on his mind, making him feel a sense of weight.
Hu Ma didn't dare to hope for a complete understanding, but no matter what, he had come into contact with the Hu Clan's family heirloom and hadn't encountered any strange occurrences due to his status as a reincarnate. His greatest concern had been alleviated.
Now, he could plan this important matter with peace of mind, striving to obtain the family heirloom for himself as soon as possible...
After all, with sufficient Blood Nourishment Pills, he could enter the mansion without worry. And once he did, he should be able to carry this burden, right?
The sudden thought of this question made him feel a bit pressured, but after a deep breath, he resolved to take one step at a time in this direction. After all, the reincarnates were now following his lead, weren't they?
It was crucial to remain steadfast during critical moments!
Just as he was lost in thought, gazing at the Life Spirit statue behind the incense table, a voice with a hint of probing broke the silence in the quiet Life Spirit Temple: "Old Bai Gan Brother, can you hear my call?"
"Old Bai Gan Brother, can you hear Second Pot Head's call?"
"..."
Hu Ma was startled by the voice, exhaled slowly, and smiled, "Second Pot Head Brother, I can hear you, but when did you become so cautious?"
(End of Chapter)
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