Chapter 499: Debt is Not a Concern
Chapter 499: Debt is Not a Concern
"Are you that bold?"
Hu Ma noticed that Old Accountant was slightly startled, but he merely narrowed his eyes, showing no agreement. Instead, he thought to himself, "This is exactly how it should be. I even think this method lacks some refinement..."
Since the other party had planted something in his Divine Soul, and he could suppress it with the Great Heavenly General Seal, why wouldn't he seize this rare opportunity to refine it? When would he get another chance like this?
If this plan succeeded, there would be several benefits.
Firstly, it would help him break through the Three Pillar Cultivation, making many things easier in the future. Secondly, since it was originally the other party's possession, having it in his hands meant he had leverage over them. In future conflicts, it would bring unexpected advantages, as if he had a sword specifically designed to cut down his opponent.
This idea came to him after consulting with the Senior Brother of the No Beef Sect. However, due to identity concerns, he couldn't discuss it in detail with the Senior Brother, as that would be equivalent to revealing his identity.
On the other hand, with Old Accountant, he could speak more openly and seek a reliable solution.
There were many people in the world who had broken through the Three Pillar Cultivation, each with their unique methods. What he sought now was the most suitable approach for himself.
"It's not that..."
Old Accountant was surprised but couldn't help but follow this line of thought. His expression grew increasingly grim as he said, "I don't even know if this method will work, but the key issue is, it's difficult..."
"Isn't that obvious?"
Hu Ma glanced at his blade and said, "If it weren't difficult, I wouldn't have come here... I came to seek advice for my friend."
"It's not that difficult..."
Old Accountant straightened his attitude and said, "You're underestimating their capabilities..."
"Don't you think about why your friend's elders at home would rather sacrifice their blessings and return to guard the place instead of solving this problem for him?"
"The techniques and esoteric methods of this world are diverse, and not all are as simple as you Year-End Guardians slashing people with your blades..."
"Divine Soul injuries are irreversible."
"When they planted that thing in your Divine Soul, they considered this. If those elders wanted to save your friend, they would have to risk damaging his Divine Soul. In that case, your friend might survive, but he wouldn't be able to learn those skills."
"Or, he could reduce his destiny, but then, you... Could your friend still inherit the family business?"
"Of course, even if we take a step back, no one wants to provoke that filthy thing. I, as an old man, have already been considerate enough to tell you this much. If I say more, I might get entangled in some cause and effect..."
"..."
"Is it that complicated?"
Old Accountant's words made Hu Ma's expression turn solemn, as if a cold stone had settled in his heart.
Earlier, when his Divine Soul's ability was not yet complete, he had sensed the presence of that thing but couldn't hold it. He had been worried about it ever since. Later, when he cultivated the Dharmakaya and could suppress it, he thought of using borrowed power. He had been full of anticipation.
But now, upon hearing this, he realized there could be such complications? He didn't have a deep understanding of the intricacies within the Divine Soul, so he could only listen silently. After a long while, he spoke softly, "The more complicated it is, the fewer choices my friend has. Some things are unavoidable."
"He can't choose a method that harms his Divine Soul or reduces his destiny to solve this problem. He has important matters to attend to. Elder Brother, please give him some advice!"
"..."
"Ah?"
Hearing Hu Ma's earnest words, Old Accountant's face showed obvious distress. He hesitated, "I'm just an old servant, in charge of accounting. Of course, I'm quite knowledgeable about Blood Food. For example, I can tell the quality of Blood Food just by tasting a bit..."
"That's not possible, is it?"
Hu Ma smiled and said, "I remember you know a lot, Elder Brother."
"Back then in Red Gate Town, during the battle between the Red Lantern and the Blue Robe, I was bought by paper money, and you helped me, didn't you?"
"You said my destiny was missing a piece, and you used high-quality dog skin plaster to patch it up for me..."
"And you took twenty Blood Nourishing Pills from me. Don't you remember?"
"..."
"Ah?"
Upon hearing this, Old Accountant couldn't help but open his mouth wide in surprise. "Twenty? That many?"
"More than that," Hu Ma said. "Blood Nourishing Pills are precious. Once given, I have to calculate the interest. I'm an honest man, and I don't cheat people, but others can't cheat me either."
"For example, if someone owes me a hundred Blood Nourishing Pills from the start, I'll keep track using the nine out, thirteen back method. I won't rush to collect, but instead, let the interest accumulate. It's a profitable deal, isn't it?"
"And when I decide to collect..."
"..."
At this point, Hu Ma paused and took out the blade from his bundle, thrusting it into the table.
"Hiss!"
The thick hardwood table in the Blood Food mine was instantly pierced, creaking under the pressure, and the blade emitted an eerie ringing sound.
Hu Ma looked at Old Accountant and smiled amicably, "What if he doesn't pay up?"
"You..."
Old Accountant was startled, his eyes widening as he stared at the table and the blade. After a long silence, he chuckled awkwardly, "Let's talk about your friend. Why bring up past matters?"
"You're the Junior Overseer of the Red Lantern Society, right...?"
Hu Ma said, "Junior Overseer, you're not yet the manager. Do you know how difficult it is to save up a hundred Blood Nourishing Pills?"
Old Abacus choked, "Well... I should help you, right?"
"As for your friend now..."
His expression turned slightly bitter, and he said, "It's not that I'm unwilling to give advice, but this matter is not only extremely difficult, just talking about it will deplete one's virtue..."
As Hu Ma listened, his face already showed signs of impatience. Old Abacus slowed down his speech, stuttering,
"Well, well..."
"Living Stake!"
"..."
Hu Ma's heart stirred slightly, pressing further, "Can this method help my friend?"
"More than that..."
Old Abacus stammered, "Putting something into your friend's Divine Soul and sealing it as a Living Stake, not only can eliminate this calamity, but it also provides an opportunity for you to cultivate the fourth pillar of incense. It's convenient and gives you leverage over the other party, allowing you to turn the tables on them..."
"Then what are we waiting for?"
Upon hearing this news, Hu Ma was overjoyed, "Then my friend will make a huge profit, won't he?"
"It's a huge profit indeed..."
Old Abacus looked at Hu Ma awkwardly, "But the one performing the technique will suffer a great misfortune..."
"This Living Stake is inherently an evil technique. Moreover, it involves such impure things. The person helping you will likely have to repay tenfold in virtue..."
"..."
As Hu Ma listened, his heart stirred, and he stared at Old Abacus with widened eyes, "How can that be?"
"There's no other way. That impure thing is so powerful..."
Old Abacus grimaced, "If I must say, you can understand it this way: a robber comes to take your possessions, and they have a powerful backer, unafraid of you reporting to the officials. But if you kill them, you've committed a sin, and the officials will come to behead you."
"You're not afraid, you can hide, it's like being killed by someone, but the crucial point is that the person helping you will bear the consequences of the sin..."
"Where do you plan to find such a person?"
"..."
For a moment, Hu Ma was stumped. For the time being, he couldn't say anything else, and after a long silence, he had to temporarily let Old Abacus off the hook. He quietly ate his food.
Old Abacus was clearly startled and sighed softly, then quietly retreated, not daring to disturb Hu Ma at that moment.
After Hu Ma finished eating, he showed no expression on his face. He casually asked about recent events at the mine, including Zhou Datong, and then went to check on Wu Ya, who was still in a deep sleep with an incomplete Divine Soul. He then quietly returned.
In the evening, after practicing his skills, he quickly fell asleep, quietly waiting. As expected, at the third watch of the hour of the Vital Spirit Temple, the voice of Sweet Potato Burn, excited and expectant, sounded, "Senior, senior..."
"I'm here. What's the matter?"
"..."
"I dare not say I have anything to offer, but I'm quite familiar with the person from Bright Province, and there are plenty of opportunities."
Hu Ma sighed softly, his mind already prepared, "This time I asked you here because I have something urgent to discuss. You're from the Corpse Soul Sect. Have you ever heard of a sinister technique called the Living Stake?"
"Living Stake?"
Upon hearing this, Sweet Potato Burn was taken aback, "My master mentioned it. It's a technique that greatly diminishes virtue!"
"If performed poorly, it costs your life. If performed well, you'll owe a huge debt of sin..."
"To put it this way, according to my master's words, performing this technique once, even if successful, is like killing ten innocent people in broad daylight..."
"..."
"It's like killing a great virtuous person."
"Moreover, in the Corpse Soul Sect, we have a way to avoid sin, but the backlash of this technique is unavoidable. Every sin is recorded in the Cause and Effect Soul, and if not repaid in life, it will be calculated in the afterlife..."
"..."
"Exactly..."
As Hu Ma listened to Sweet Potato Burn's explanation, he sighed softly, secretly feeling even more worried.
The lineage of Sweet Potato Burn was already sinister, with techniques like Yellow Official Paper and Paper Money Buying Life, all harmful. If even she found a technique extremely sinister, how sinister could it be? How could he ask her for help?
"But..."
Struggling internally, he slowly said, "I do have a big task here."
"But the preliminary preparation requires this technique. It's a significant investment. If you know someone..."
"..."
"Ah, then find me..."
Upon hearing this, Sweet Potato Burn became excited, "Senior, senior, for this big task, you must not leave me behind again!"
"?"
Hu Ma was surprised, "You're not afraid of the sin from performing this technique..."
"Yes..."
Sweet Potato Burn said, "But I already owe a lot of sin. In the Netherworld, I owe several billion. What's a few more?"
(End of Chapter)
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