https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-411-The-Three-Tiered-Mansion-Gate/12918719/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-413-Allocating-Funds-and-Supplies/12918721/
Chapter 412: I Am a Malevolent Spirit
Chapter 412: I Am a Malevolent Spirit
"I am the malevolent spirit..."
Ever since he reincarnated into this world, Hu Ma had heard similar statements countless times, and he would often silently mock them in his heart.
But it wasn't until now, after hearing Monkey Wine's straightforward words, that he suddenly realized that he, or perhaps the group of reincarnates, could indeed possess a mysterious and incomprehensible nature akin to malevolent spirits.
When he first noticed the anomaly in his divine soul, he felt a sense of unease. However, after Monkey Wine's reminder, this uneasiness gradually transformed. He regained his confidence and clarity of thought, and a plan began to take shape in his mind.
Taking a gentle breath, he focused his gaze on the life soul statue behind the incense burner.
This dilapidated spirit temple, which had gradually regained some of its former splendor as his cultivation increased, still retained its shabby foundation.
He and Monkey Wine, as typical reincarnates, were somewhat different. They directly possessed their life spirit temples, but his was dilapidated, as if he had been gradually awakening and restoring this life spirit temple.
This dilapidated life spirit temple, or rather, the divine soul of this body, might be able to conceal some secrets, hidden tricks, or methods of others. But what if he completely restored this temple?
The anomaly in the divine soul was indeed chilling to hear, but wasn't he already abnormal to begin with?
If that's how it was calculated, then there was nothing to worry about. It was just a matter of which of the two of them was more mysterious.
As he silently pondered, a plan began to form in his mind. When he first arrived, he was merely possessed by an evil spirit, and his divine soul couldn't even be retained. He relied on two iron hooks to anchor his divine soul to this body.
Later, with the nurturing of the Blood Heavenly Guardian, he gradually managed to stay in this body. Even opening the life spirit temple was made possible by the vitality that grew within him after consuming the Blood Heavenly Guardian.
After that, as he became a Year-End Guardian, he slowly transformed from death to life. His entire body underwent a complete metamorphosis, with new flesh and blood regenerating and rejuvenating. It was as if he had created a new person using the original dead body as a mold.
If it was said that this body belonged to his predecessor at the beginning, what about now?
No, it's not the same at all.
Every inch of this body was regenerated through his own willpower and cultivation, essentially a reshaped body that perfectly harmonized with his divine soul, allowing him to reach the stage of entering the mansion.
It was as if he had gradually gained control over this entire body, and now he had successfully achieved ninety percent of it, with only a few hidden aspects of the divine soul remaining.
But this was an inevitable path, and as long as he continued on it, any disharmony would eventually reveal itself before his eyes.
What was there to fear?
...
At this moment, outside, Little Red Tang squatted by the door, occasionally turning back to look at Hu Ma, whose expression was chilling, muscles slightly tensed, as if he was having a nightmare or gritting his teeth.
She immediately recalled the terrifying appearance of Hu Ma's divine soul half-emerging from his body, and her hair stood on end. She couldn't help but extend her small hand, exhaling onto it, ready to slap him with a palm at any sign of trouble.
This was what Grandma had specifically instructed her to do when Hu Ma's older brother had just died three days ago and was at his weakest. Little Red Tang had always remembered it.
It seemed like the time had come.
Little Red Tang looked at Hu Ma's face, and the moonlight shining through the window illuminated half of it, while the other half remained hidden in the darkness, making him appear somewhat frightening. So, she cautiously inched closer to Hu Ma.
Just as she was about to raise her small palm, Hu Ma suddenly opened his eyes and fixed his gaze on her face, asking, "What are you planning to do?"
Little Red Tang quickly hid her hand behind her back and tilted her head, examining Hu Ma: 'He seems normal now.'
Hu Ma didn't say much to Little Red Tang. Instead, he looked tired and slowly stood up, walking to the window. Gazing at the tranquil Blood Meat Mine under the moonlight, he said, "Little Red Tang, after so long, do you also miss Grandma a little?"
Little Red Tang was stunned for a moment, then her face lit up with joy, and she nodded vigorously. But after nodding, she realized that Hu Ma had his back to her and couldn't see her.
Just as she was about to speak, Hu Ma continued, "I also miss Grandma..."
After this reflection, a longing to see Grandma gradually grew within him. Indeed, there were too many perplexing mysteries about this body that caused people to be suspicious.
If it weren't for the anomaly during the mansion entry, he might have subconsciously avoided thinking about these things. But now that he had opened his mind, the more he thought, the more doubts he had.
Initially, he felt like he had a secret he was hiding from Grandma. But in reality, with such significant changes in himself, how could Grandma not have noticed?
Her trial before leaving, her probing of him, could it have been so easily dismissed just because of a single sentence he said?
Even the Hu family's token, which Grandma had entrusted to him without hesitation, the sinister and mysterious power within the Evil-Suppressing Office, and the authority to open the office—all of these had been granted to him so readily.
The people of this world feared reincarnates, and the Hu family had once suppressed the existence of reincarnates. They should have been the most knowledgeable about reincarnates, yet why were they so lenient with him?
Grandma was the one who trusted him the most, seeing the guilt in his eyes. Despite the numerous suspicious aspects about himself, and the fact that reincarnates were the greatest malevolent spirits in this world, why did Grandma trust him so deeply?
It was indeed time to figure things out.
As for now...
He heaved a long sigh, and with a stir of his spirit, he could feel the drastic changes in his body, giving him an entirely different sensation.
If one had to describe it, it would be that his previous self was a dead body, stitched together by the power of the Blood God. Only with the Divine Soul could he maintain a semblance of life in this body, but now, he had finally and truly become a living person.
Before, he couldn't survive a moment without the Blood God, but now, even without it, he wouldn't die again.
He had completed the transformation from death to life and had become a living being.
Having reached this stage, he was qualified to seek the Hu Clan's heirloom, but precisely because of this, he needed to act quickly. At the very least, he had to figure out the issue with his abnormal Divine Soul...
So, according to what Monkey Wine had said, should he further study some skills related to the Divine Soul? After entering the Mansion, the Divine Soul, having died once, would have several distinct differences. The most noticeable ones were the complete refinement of the Seven Orifices.
At this stage, there were already many corresponding divine abilities and signature skills to cultivate.
Hu Ma also knew some of these, having learned them from the Divine Soul of Ji Tang, the leader of the Beggar Gang. There was the White Glow Needle Eye, which allowed one to focus both eyes and transform them into needles, pinning people at their joint acupoints and rendering them immobile.
There was also the Snort, which could shake one's soul.
These signature skills could often be cultivated during the preparation stage for entering the Mansion, but one had to wait until after entering the Mansion, with all Seven Orifices refined, to wield them at will. So, they were considered skills that one would only possess after entering the Mansion.
However, the truly exclusive skills that only those who had entered the Mansion could access were related to the brain and the Divine Soul.
The peculiarity of the brain lay in the fact that the Divine Soul could briefly leave the orifices and return, still allowing one to function as a living person. Unlike ordinary people, whose souls would perish upon leaving the body, never to be saved even by gods.
As for the path of the Divine Soul, it was even more complex. Humans had three souls and seven spirits, each with its unique characteristics.
Even though he had entered the door and theoretically experienced the process of rebirth for his Divine Soul, he had only slightly trained it. In terms of truly understanding the Divine Soul, he might not have even scratched the surface, which was, of course, determined by the characteristics of the Year-End Guardian's School of Skill.
When it came to understanding the Divine Soul, perhaps even those from the Soul Punishment Sect, who hadn't entered the Mansion, had studied it more deeply than him.
"Monkey Wine mentioned that after entering the Mansion, one could open the Mansion Gate. Now that I've entered, I've already opened one layer of the Mansion Gate. So, how do I open the second and third layers?"
He silently pondered in his heart: "If it's truly as Monkey Wine said, and opening the Mansion Gate strengthens the Divine Soul, then using the Life Soul Statue to observe, any secrets hidden within the Divine Soul should be clearly revealed..."
"Does that mean that by learning the corresponding method of entering the Mansion as a Year-End Guardian, I can gradually force out the contents of the Divine Soul?"
"..."
As he continued to ponder, his thoughts gradually became clearer. He had indeed entered the Mansion, but he didn't feel the slightest bit of relief or the confidence to take a break. Instead, he felt even more pressure, and it was clear to him that since he had entered the Mansion, he should still find a way to learn the skills of the Year-End Guardian.
Whether it was the refinement of the Seven Orifices or the cultivation of the Half-Live Half-Dead Realm for the entire body, he needed to study the corresponding cultivation methods.
To meet Grandma, he needed more confidence and prepare to deal with the Ten Surnames. However, even the Evil-Suppressing Office couldn't provide him with a sufficient sense of security when facing that level of power.
Moreover, his own unease stemmed from the Evil-Suppressing Office, so the only thing he could truly believe in was the skills of the Year-End Guardian, which he had cultivated himself and would remain with him.
Only with these skills would he have the confidence to converse with those powerful figures.
The goal was clear, but where could he find these skills? The signature skills for ascending were guarded like treasures, requiring proper tutelage for entry, and the cultivation methods after entering the Mansion were likely kept as closely guarded secrets.
From Ji Tang, the leader of the Beggar Gang, he had obtained the method to enter the Mansion and two signature skills for refining the Seven Orifices. However, he had no idea about how to cultivate after entering the Mansion...
Could it be that he needed to find a new master?
PS Book Recommendation: _Rebirth: I'm Not a Bad Guy This Time_
Synopsis: In his previous life, Lu Xuan was a doormat for his childhood sweetheart, who then married into wealth.
No matter how hard he struggled, he couldn't compare to those with influential fathers!
Reborn at eighteen, he becomes a powerful version of himself with one thought: to start a business and achieve financial freedom!
With a twist of fate, he surpasses his peers!
While others rely on their fathers, your smart girlfriend has already started calling you 'Daddy'!
(Word count included, book recommendations are free)
(End of Chapter)
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