Chapter 431: The Predestined Art
Chapter 431: The Predestined Art
Could it be the same trick as Elder Sun's? Hu Ma couldn't help but think. Free things are often the most expensive. She said she would teach me this technique, and she did, but there's a hidden danger. As long as I want to learn, I have to join their sect...
...Not only do I have to join, but do they also want me to rebel against them?
As these thoughts flashed through his mind, Hu Ma became cautious. Facing Miao Shan Fairy's complex gaze, he maintained a polite demeanor, gently bowed, and said, "Thank you, Fairy, for your kindness."
"However, I already have a master, Zhou Er Ye from Old Yin Mountain. Without his permission, no matter how skilled others are, I cannot simply join their sect, right? Moreover, I came here sincerely to seek the technique. I followed the rules and offered half of my wealth..."
"It's absolutely true, that's indeed half of my wealth. If you don't believe me, you can go and verify it..."
"Since this technique was exchanged for half of my wealth, the karmic debt is also settled. It's not an exaggeration to say that the transaction is fair. Why has it suddenly become something else?"
"..."
As he spoke, he looked earnestly at the fairy, his face carrying a polite smile.
Although his words were polite, his questioning and evasive tone was evident. The fairy slightly furrowed her brows, her beautiful eyes staring at Hu Ma, and she said with a hint of anger, "Who are you accusing?"
"You, little manager, do you think I'm trying to trick you into joining our sect? Hmph, do you think I'm that easy to fool? Our sect has many talented disciples and gathers talents from all over the world. We have countless experts, like fish swimming across the river. We don't need someone like you."
"..."
"Huh?"
Hu Ma was taken aback. As a sect leader, why does she speak like a little girl?
But in an argument, it's best to avoid lowering the tone. He softened his tone and said in a low voice, "Fairy, please calm down. I'm just a small manager of the Red Lantern Society. I came here to learn skills, and I'm grateful for the sect leader's kindness."
"But I've already given half of my wealth, which shows my sincerity. If there are any other issues, please tell me. I'm willing to do anything, whether it's heaven or earth, fire or water. Just let me know what you need."
"I understand that techniques are not easily passed on. If necessary, I can offer the remaining half of my wealth..."
"..."
"Who wants your half of the wealth? It's only ten silver ingots!"
The fairy seemed to be getting annoyed as well. She coldly hummed and waved her flywhisk, looking at Hu Ma with a sidelong glance. "I'm truly trying to save your life. Don't be ungrateful."
"Now that your life is in danger, you're still here nitpicking. If you don't join the Non-Vegetarian Sect, do you really think you can master this technique?"
"..."
'She wants me to join the Non-Vegetarian Sect, not the One Coin Sect?'
Hu Ma's heart skipped a beat as he understood her meaning. But faced with this sudden choice, he also had doubts. Although the Non-Vegetarian Sect was closely related to the Reincarnates, it also carried an air of malevolence. It was fine to interact and test them, but it would be too much to join them on a whim.
Additionally, judging by her expression, the anxiety in her eyes didn't seem fake. Could there be a major issue with this technique? If there is a problem, why not tell me the truth and instead force me to join the Non-Vegetarian Sect? He began to ponder, unsure whether he should confront her directly and demand an explanation for the problem with this technique...
The sect leader's skills were indeed formidable, but at this moment, they were alone, and the two of them were standing close to each other. As a Shou Sui practitioner, dealing with a woman should be easy, whether it was to manipulate or crush her.
For a moment, both of them fell silent, each with their own concerns. Hu Ma remained quiet, while Miao Shan Fairy paced back and forth, seemingly anxious. She occasionally turned to look at Hu Ma, irritated that he wasn't responding and that she couldn't understand the situation before her.
They had hurried back, both with questions on their minds, but for some reason, they felt uneasy and couldn't bring themselves to speak.
After a long while, before they could organize their thoughts, they heard a commotion outside.
"Sect Leader, I have something to report!"
Someone rushed to the front courtyard and shouted.
Miao Shan Fairy's face flashed with impatience, but she lightly stamped her foot, opened the hall door, and walked out. Through the door crack, Hu Ma saw White Fan, accompanied by two grandmasters, standing outside.
"Sect Leader, this matter is a bit troublesome."
Outside, they said, "That Demon Corpse caused chaos in the town, and as a result, thirty-seven people died. Eleven of them were our sect members, and the other twenty-six were merchants from the Ten Thousand Horse Gang and townspeople. Now, everyone in the town is in a panic."
"I've ordered our disciples to wear magic armor and patrol with weapons. But from the previous encounter, that Wandering Corpse doesn't seem like a corpse or a ghost. Even our Magic Armor soldiers may not be able to restrain it!"
"If it suddenly rushes into the town again, who knows how many more lives will be lost. Now that the news has spread, many townspeople are packing their belongings, planning to flee at dawn."
"..."
"Leave?"
The leader of the One Coin Sect, Miao Shan Fairy, was clearly annoyed. She spoke in a low voice, "I summoned them here in the name of celebrating my birthday, only for the Lantern Festival Blessing Ceremony three days later. Now that they've run off, what will happen to the ceremony?"
"After preparing for so long, are we going to cancel it?"
"..."
Bai Shanzhi bitterly smiled, "The consequences are indeed severe, but the key is that the Wandering Corpse is truly bizarre. We can't control it, nor can we guard against it..."
"Now, even those we invited are silent, clearly having second thoughts..."
"..."
"I'll go take a look!"
The leader of the One Coin Sect could only stomp her feet in frustration. As she turned to leave, she suddenly remembered something and asked Bai Shanzhi and the others to go ahead while she returned to the room. She pushed open the door and said to Hu Ma, "Little Manager, no more chatter."
As she spoke, she unbuttoned her outer robe and took it off.
Hu Ma was startled and took a step back, on guard. He watched as she put on the Daoist robe hanging nearby, buttoning it up while saying, "I know you're up to something, with your eyes darting around. But there's no need to be so complicated."
"I'm only pointing you in the right direction because I see you're young and kind-hearted. But you're being overly suspicious. It's all about fate."
"I won't force you to become my disciple, but I'm giving you a way out. Whether you can grasp it or not is up to you."
"..."
As she spoke, she frowned, as if making a difficult decision. She walked straight to the side room and emerged with a black box.
After rummaging inside for a while, she took out a scroll and hung it up in the hall. She said to Hu Ma, "I have important matters to attend to. You stay here and carefully observe this painting. If you can understand its secrets and enter the Ghost Cave, or even make it to the Divine Altar, there might still be a glimmer of hope."
"If you can't figure it out or don't want to look, then you're free to leave. But this Divine Art must remain in the One Coin Sect and cannot be taken away."
"..."
She took a deep look at Hu Ma and said no more. She picked up her sword and left, even locking the door from the outside.
"?"
Hu Ma was filled with curiosity. Why was she locking the door from the outside? Was she trying to keep someone out? I'm a Shou Sui person, how can a broken lock keep me out?
However, her words still carried an implicit threat, and her expression seemed genuine. Could it be that something truly unusual had happened, different from what he had imagined?
As he wanted to ask her something, she had already left through the second door. He turned to look at the painting she had hung up, which was a simple ink painting. It depicted a person's back, bowing before a mountain.
...
...
"Leader..."
While Hu Ma was filled with uncertainty, Miao Shan Fairy stepped out, and Bai Shanzhi and the two Dharmarajas were waiting there. They immediately approached her, and Bai Shanzhi, with a hesitant expression, glanced into the hall.
"As for that person..."
"Even I can't understand it..."
Miao Shan Fairy waved her hand and sighed softly, "He shouldn't have obtained this technique, nor should he have entered the gate. None of this makes sense..."
"Then it's simple."
As Bai Shanzhi spoke, he waved his fan, but Miao Shan Fairy's face flashed with annoyance. She shook her head, "If he only took the technique, we could retrieve it."
"But since he's entered the gate, it's different."
"Senior Brother said that this technique isn't meant for ordinary people. Regardless of his background or whether he's hiding something from us, once he comes into contact with this technique, he can't escape the fate it brings. Those with a light fate will be crushed by it, even if we ignore him."
"Unless he joins our Non-Vegetarian Sect and asks Senior Brothers to help him, there's a chance."
"But if he doesn't agree, we can only watch his fate unfold..."
"..."
Bai Shanzhi's face was filled with surprise as he listened to these rules, which even he was unaware of. He was a member of the One Coin Sect but not part of the Non-Vegetarian Sect. He also knew that the Non-Vegetarian Sect was highly mysterious, and it wasn't easy to join. For a moment, he was filled with doubts. After a pause, he spoke in a low voice, "Then why has this technique been tied to the tree all this time?"
"Don't ask."
Miao Shan Fairy glanced at him and coldly warned. Bai Shanzhi quickly closed his mouth, but Miao Shan Fairy's heart grew even heavier. Her senior brother's instructions from years ago came to mind:
"This technique is prepared for a destined person. Whoever can cultivate it will become the master of the Non-Vegetarian Sect..."
"How could an ordinary person possibly bear its weight?"
"So many senior brothers have tried. Entering is easy, and some even gained incredible abilities, but not one escaped being crushed by the fate it brings..."
(End of Chapter)
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