Chapter 493: The Triad Celestial Scriptures
Chapter 493: The Triad Celestial Scriptures
As Hu Ma took the seal, he was filled with curiosity about this object, but under the other party's watchful gaze, he refrained from showing any signs of frivolity.
He carefully examined it as he tucked it into his sleeve, and a look of surprise flashed across his face. The seal was a square foot in size, clearly an old item, seemingly carved from inferior jade with faint blood patterns floating within, yet the surface was surprisingly blank.
How could an old seal be blank?
Hu Ma was filled with curiosity, but he didn't rush to ask questions. The No Beef Sect also exuded an air of mystery, and he had already asked too many questions, so he held back.
Dealing with these demons was like dating; it required a delicate balance of attitude and emotion.
So, he merely pondered in his mind, first leading the Senior Brother and Miao Shan Fairy into the hall and seating them in the Grand Scholar's Chair.
The Senior Brother, who looked like an old farmer, sat at the lower seat, and Miao Shan Fairy, who had intended to sit as well, stood up after a glance from the Senior Brother. She awkwardly left to fetch tea for the two of them.
Hu Ma looked around the main residence of the sect's headquarters and noticed it was rather empty. The night before, he had seen numerous No Beef Sect disciples, far more than the mere two or three he saw now. He didn't hide his curiosity and asked the Senior Brother:
"Where are the others?"
"..."
"I sent them away yesterday."
The Senior Brother explained, "Logically, they should come and pay their respects to the Sect Leader, but I also told them to prioritize the bigger picture."
"This Lantern Blessing Festival has caused quite a stir, and we don't know what kind of chaos it might trigger in various places. They need to return to their respective areas to handle their affairs, either seizing opportunities or preventing others from attacking..."
"Hehe, it's good that the Sect Leader knows this. No matter their abilities, every No Beef Sect disciple represents a cause in their region..."
"..."
After a pause, he looked at Hu Ma sincerely and said, "There was an urgent matter, so I quickly summoned the nearby disciples to come and meet the Sect Leader."
"But the No Beef Sect has an important mission, and the Sect Leader is the most crucial part of it. So, we are different from others. Normally, only the eight Sect Masters and the inner disciples have the qualification to meet the Sect Leader..."
"..."
"There's still this rule?"
Hu Ma was taken aback at first, but then he quickly understood. Shouldn't they be more careful? After all, these people were constantly plotting rebellion!
Although he hadn't interacted much with the No Beef Sect disciples, he could tell that they weren't a group of pious believers.
If something went wrong, they might even betray the Sect Leader.
With no moral boundaries and a single-minded focus on rebellion, the rest of the world might have differing opinions about the No Beef Sect, but one thing was certain: the word "demons" accurately described them.
"Are they busy with their affairs in various regions?"
As they chatted, Hu Ma didn't hide his curiosity and smiled, saying, "With the One Coin Sect's favorable situation, why aren't they staying here?"
"With the abilities of the No Beef Sect disciples, if they were all gathered in one place, they could do more than just hide in the mountains and rebel. They might even be able to directly attack and plunder cities!"
"..."
The previous night, despite being their first meeting, Hu Ma had gained an understanding of the No Beef Sect disciples' capabilities. They had forced the Year-Guarding Hall Official to stay out of Stone Horse Town, clearly demonstrating their formidable skills.
Of course, if he were to compare the commotion from the night before, Meng Jia Er Gongzi would be the more challenging opponent. But Hu Ma was also aware that the Meng Clan, or the Ten Surnames, couldn't be reasoned with. Their abilities were deeply intertwined with their family.
However, the Ten Surnames were still a minority in the world, and they preferred to stay behind the scenes. The true masters of the martial world were the extraordinary individuals from various sects.
"For the No Beef Sect, the success of the Lantern Blessing Festival in Stone Horse Town marks the completion of their mission."
The Senior Brother smiled and replied earnestly, "As for the outcome and impact of this event, it doesn't concern the No Beef Sect much."
"Strictly speaking, the No Beef Sect only hopes that the One Coin Sect can rise, but whether they can seize the world is not their concern, especially since..."
He smiled and said, "The chances of success are slim."
"After all, the One Coin Sect is like a scavenger, taking advantage of others' opportunities. Now that the Lantern Blessing Festival is over, the opportunity has been seized, but they can't swallow it all at once. Moreover, the Emperor's fate in the Stone Horse Town area hasn't been found yet."
"The No Beef Sect disciples' focus is on the seventy-two paths across the realm, secretly laying the groundwork and seizing opportunities. The One Coin Sect has taken the initiative, but in terms of foundation, they are still relatively small..."
"..."
"..."
"He's being honest and hasn't hidden anything about the No Beef Sect from me..."
Listening to his words, Hu Ma nodded slightly. What he had just heard were actually the secrets of the No Beef Sect, but he spoke candidly without any hesitation.
Hu Ma understood his words and didn't intend to ask further questions.
In fact, as soon as he arrived in Stone Horse Town, he had already sensed their dilemma. With the world in chaos and rebellions erupting everywhere, even the aristocratic families were investing in various places. It seemed like the One Coin Sect had seized a favorable opportunity.
But ironically, the One Coin Sect was established by the Unyielding Ox Sect, which inherently put them at a disadvantage from the start, unlike those rebels secretly backed by the aristocratic families. They wouldn't have attracted the attention of the Year-Guarding Hall Official right from the beginning.
The phrase 'scooping food from others' mouths' aptly describes their situation.
However, due to a stroke of luck, the One Coin Sect gained immense fame after a successful Lantern Blessing Festival, and their reputation is likely to spread across hundreds of miles. If they were to take action now, they would undoubtedly receive a hundred responses for every call.
But what about after that? At least, based on Hu Ma's current understanding and experience, he couldn't predict the fate of the One Coin Sect. The wealthy and talented members of the Unyielding Ox Sect weren't fools, and they wouldn't dare to go all-in here. Instead, the most crucial move would be to take advantage of this momentum and plant more chess pieces.
Hu Ma was a reincarnator with the knowledge of his previous life, but the Unyielding Ox Sect had been professionals in rebellion for twenty years, no less skilled than him. Therefore, although Hu Ma had some thoughts, he didn't plan to discuss them in depth. Instead, he paused and went straight to the critical point.
"I came here seeking the Dharma, but unexpectedly, I developed a deep connection with the Unyielding Ox Sect. However, given the gravity of the situation, no one would dare to risk their lives and fortunes so easily. So, if you don't mind, I have a few questions to ask."
"..."
The old farmer, or the Senior Brother in the eyes of the Unyielding Ox Sect members, didn't show any surprise upon hearing Hu Ma's words. He smiled and said, "Please ask, Sect Leader, and I will answer as best I can."
"Good."
Hu Ma exhaled slowly, looked at him seriously, and asked, "How much do you know about the previous Sect Leader?"
"He was my master. I used to be his servant."
The old farmer met Hu Ma's gaze and said directly, "Although I am seven years older than him, I have always followed him and considered him my teacher. This skill and knowledge were all taught to me by him."
"Until twenty years ago, on the eve of the grand ritual in the capital, he asked me to take the disciples and leave. Before that, I had always served by his side."
"..."
"You left with the disciples?"
Hu Ma was slightly surprised. The grand ritual had been a significant event with severe consequences. Was it all the doing of the Great Scholar?
"Then..."
As he listened, he immediately asked, "Didn't he say anything to you when he asked you to leave?"
"Perhaps, he did say something..."
The old farmer, meeting Hu Ma's gaze, slowly replied, "He told me it was too early, and yet too late..."
Hu Ma furrowed his brows. The old farmer knew what he was wondering and explained, "The teacher said it was too early because there wasn't enough time for all the preparations, and too late because he was born a human but only realized his life's responsibility at that moment."
"So, he asked me to take all the disciples and hide, but also to be prepared. He assured us that he would return and, from then on, lead us to save the world."
"..."
"Wow..."
Listening to this, Hu Ma's heart sank. The previous reincarnator was indeed domineering, always talking about saving the world.
Shaking his head slightly, Hu Ma asked, "Then, how did you confirm that it was him who returned? Or why did you immediately recognize me as your Sect Leader?"
"It's all because of the Ghost Cave Crypt."
The Senior Brother spoke honestly, and as he said this, he even looked up at Hu Ma. "The previous Sect Leader left us a final instruction: to wait for someone who could pass the Three Gates and Twelve Stages. Over the past twenty years, many disciples have attempted to challenge this formation, but regardless of their abilities or character, they all failed before reaching the Three Gates and Twelve Stages."
"Eventually, we gave up and treated this path as a treasure for tempering our minds and cultivating. But then, you, Sect Leader, appeared."
"..."
Hu Ma had some questions, but he seemed to anticipate them. He slightly raised his hand and said softly, "I know what you're thinking. The Unyielding Ox Sect wouldn't easily trust someone after waiting for twenty years."
"The reason is quite simple."
He looked straight into Hu Ma's eyes and said in a low voice, "The one who passes the Three Gates and Twelve Stages becomes the Sect Leader, not just because of the legend that passing the trial grants the fate of a Sect Leader, and not even because of the Great Heavenly General Seal..."
"...but because, according to the legend, the one who passes the Three Gates and Twelve Stages and enters the Ghost Cave Crypt will receive the Triad Celestial Scriptures left by the previous Sect Leader."
"..."
"Triad Celestial Scriptures?"
Hearing this name, Hu Ma was taken aback and looked at him curiously.
"Yes."
The Senior Brother also looked at Hu Ma, seeming a bit nervous. He lowered his voice and slowly said, "One is the Scroll of the Veiled Path, one is the Scroll of Heavenly Insight, and one is the Scroll of Summoning Divine Warriors, descending upon the mortal realm..."
"With these three Celestial Scriptures, not only the Ten Surnames but the entire world would be within our grasp. So, ever since I arrived here, I've been wanting to ask: Have you obtained the Triad Celestial Scriptures?"
(End of Chapter)
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