Twilight's Threshold Chapter 505: The Shortcut to Returning Home - Novel Cool

Chapter 505: The Shortcut to Returning Home

Chapter 505: The Shortcut to Returning Home

In his dream, Hu Ma encountered the white banner, the old abacus, and the saying 'The Upright Official Cannot Arbitrate Family Matters'. He also received a message from the Mountain Lord about an unexpected visitor.

By now, Hu Ma had no choice but to understand the situation.

Earlier, in Stone Horse Town, he had encountered the Year-Guardian Grand Magistrate and the second son of the Meng family, from whom he had learned some crucial information.

First, the second son of the Meng family had little regard for the petty squabbles of the One Coin Sect. They were originally planning to build a Ghost General Platform to keep watch over their own affairs. Moreover, in their conversation, they mentioned another important matter.

The Meng family was preparing to go to Mingzhou to find him, and they even mentioned that there might be more people with the surname Hu.

Now, with his urgency to break through the Three Pillar Proficiency and retrieve the Hu family relic, it was possible that this was a pressing matter.

Although he had not yet fully recovered and completed the Four Pillar Proficiency, he thought that staying in the mine and enduring the hardship would not yield enough Blood Food. Therefore, he decided to seize this opportunity to return to Mingzhou first and handle some urgent matters.

"Brother Ma is going back?"

Upon hearing Hu Ma's words, Zhou Datong and the others became excited: "Then we'll go back with you!"

"It's almost time to return to the stronghold for the New Year celebration..."

"..."

"?"

Hu Ma was taken aback: "It's only late September..."

Zhou Datong and the others gathered around, saying, "It's just a few months away from the New Year, and we don't have anything to do here at the mine anyway."

Their reasoning made sense; indeed, there was nothing going on at the mine. The Blood Food mine operation usually involved working for three to five months and then living off the profits for an entire year. Furthermore, the mine was currently barren, and it would only become prosperous again next year.

"Fine, do as you wish."

After some thought, Hu Ma said, "But my matter is urgent. I'll set off tomorrow, and you can settle the mine's affairs before heading back."

After giving his instructions, he went back to check on U Ya. The girl had been unconscious, her consciousness invaded by the Black Celestial. Hu Ma had no choice but to wait, but after discussing with Sweet Potato Burn and the Old Abacus, he had a plan.

Now that he had broken through the Fourth Pillar Proficiency and entered the Mansion Level of the Year-Guardian Sect, he gradually found a way to help her. He had originally planned to wait until he fully recovered before taking action.

However, since he had to return to Mingzhou and didn't know how long it would take, he decided to check on her first. His idea was to use the Hu family's exorcism spell, combined with the Dharmakaya of the Great Heavenly General Seal, to suppress her divine soul and eliminate the Black Celestial's consciousness.

As he was not an expert in this field, he proceeded with caution, taking small steps and knowing it would take time to see results. After making the arrangements, he asked the Old Abacus to keep an eye on U Ya while he went to Mingzhou to handle his business.

The Old Abacus was most afraid of Hu Ma asking about "that friend," but he readily agreed to other requests.

Especially when Hu Ma promised to bring back some Blood Nourishing Pills, the Old Abacus vowed to worship U Ya as an Ancestor Master.

Taking advantage of the night, Hu Ma performed his magic and settled the mine's affairs. After falling asleep, he entered the Vital Spirit Temple and approached the incense burner. He called out three times before Sweet Potato Burn's voice suddenly rang out: "Senior, I'm here..."

"I was just busy..."

"..."

'What are you busy with in the middle of the night?'

Hu Ma found it strange, as reincarnators could usually be called at night. After all, there wasn't much of a nightlife in this world.

The reason he couldn't reach Second Pot Head sometimes was because the old man liked to drink and carouse. As for Sweet Potato Burn...

"I don't have anything urgent, just wanted to tell you that the big job we talked about earlier is now within reach."

Hu Ma took a moment to gather his thoughts: "If you're not busy, we'll head back to Mingzhou tomorrow and look for some big business opportunities."

"Going back?"

Sweet Potato Burn was surprised: "We haven't even finished the job here, and we're already returning?"

Hu Ma sighed helplessly: "This job is already done. You arrived late and missed it. The next job is in Mingzhou, and I'm considering that you're not good at traveling fast, so I came to inform you..."

"Senior, you're too kind to me..."

Sweet Potato Burn's voice sounded touched: "They never want to take me with them..."

"Only you are concerned that I might run slowly and miss out..."

"..."

Hu Ma felt a twinge of sadness at these words. Just as he was about to comfort her, she spoke: "But please rest assured, I've learned my lesson."

"I'm currently seeking guidance from a Nu Ling Sect master in the mountains. We were just discussing it, and once I learn his skills, I won't have to worry about falling behind. When are we leaving tomorrow?"

"..."

"Seeking guidance?"

Hu Ma was taken aback by this sudden statement: "What are you seeking guidance for in the middle of the night?"

"Ghost-Carrying Chair..."

Sweet Potato Burn explained: "Since I missed out on this job, I've been reflecting on my shortcomings. I need to face my weaknesses and find the right remedy to improve. These past few days, Senior, you haven't called for me, so I took the initiative to find out how to travel faster.

"I asked around, and many said that the ghost-carrying chair skill of the Nu Ling Sect is easy to learn and effective."

"..."

Hu Ma was surprised by her determination, "So someone is willing to teach you?"

You may want to learn, but the skills are considered supernatural in the Mystic Path, and even if you politely ask, they might not pay you any mind...

"They're not willing to teach me yet..."

Sweet Potato Burn said, "But I've already tied him up, and after cutting him a few more times, they should be willing to teach me..."

"..."

Hu Ma suddenly understood, hesitated, but eventually sighed and said, "Alright then!"

"There's no need to rush. We'll set off tomorrow night. We don't need to meet up; just stay on the same path, and we'll sense each other's presence nearby."

"..."

After agreeing on a departure time with her, Hu Ma left the Vital Spirit Temple, feeling a sense of admiration for Sweet Potato Burn's hard work and willingness to face her shortcomings.

He pondered for a moment and recalled the ghost-carrying chair skill she mentioned.

This skill seemed to originate from Nu Ling Sect, but Phantom Walkers could also learn it, and even Corpse Soul Sect and performers had acquired it.

In theory, if Little Red Tang had two people, one in front and one behind, carrying a sedan chair, the effect would be the same.

However, this was the simplest method, and it had many flaws. He felt there might be better alternatives.

His thoughts turned to his recent gains in Stone Horse Town.

That night, he slept restlessly, and the next day, he prepared a basket full of Green Food from the mine. After a satisfying meal, he packed his belongings. This time, he didn't bring a horse or any large luggage. Instead, he tied the Executioner's Great Saber to his back.

When night fell, he arrived outside the Blood Food Mine, took a side path, and descended to the main road. In the moonlight, a long Imperial Highway stretched into the distance.

He waited for a while, judging the timing, and then stood in the middle of the road. He breathed slowly, focused his eyes, and began to cultivate his Two Pillar Proficiency, barely managing to manifest his Dharmakaya.

With his cultivation still incomplete, the Dharmakaya was not fully formed, but it had a semblance of its intended shape. Unlike when his cultivation was at its peak, it lacked the same sense of reality and completeness, and only his divine soul faintly appeared.

He then turned his gaze towards Stone Horse Town, holding the Blank Seal in his arms, and he faintly sensed that the distance between them had been crossed. In his divine soul, he could vaguely perceive the ancient elm tree and the objects on it.

The Blank Seal had been taken by him, but the Rusty Armor and Heaven-Measuring Boots remained on the tree.

Now that the One Coin Sect was on the right track, the items tied to the tree were sometimes still used.

Taking a deep breath, Hu Ma focused his attention on the boots. Then, he gently stamped his foot.

"Hiss!"

An invisible connection formed, and one of the boots fell from the tree, landing silently and disappearing. A phantom of the boot appeared on Hu Ma's foot, enveloped in a shadowy haze, making it hard to discern.

He stamped his other foot, and the other boot fell, wrapping around his other foot in the same manner.

Hu Ma had used this technique once before against the Meng Family's second son, but he hadn't thought much of it at the time. Now, he was trying to familiarize himself with this skill. With both boots on, he took a step forward.

On the wide Imperial Highway, covered in dust and devoid of people, he strode forward with only a third of his strength, yet his steps became smoother with each stride. The surrounding scenery began to recede rapidly, and the howling wind in his ears grew more intense.

"Indeed, this Rusty Armor and Heaven-Measuring Boots are ready-made supernatural skills..."

He silently acknowledged that this trip had been worthwhile.

By taking the Mansion Level shortcut, he had gained the skills that others might take ten, twenty, or even thirty years of Year-Guardian Sect cultivation to achieve. Most importantly, he had cultivated the Great Heavenly General Seal, and on top of that, he had acquired two ready-made skills.

In the Year-Guardian Sect, he had now opened two Mansion Gates and possessed two manifestation skills.

Taking advantage of the empty night, he strode forward. Soon, he heard a bell-like laughter, and a chilling Yin Qi emerged from a side path, intersecting with the Imperial Highway.

Upon closer inspection, it was Sweet Potato Burn, dressed like a young landowner's wife, squatting on a wooden sedan chair. She seemed to be enveloped in a black haze, swiftly floating forward.

Beneath the chair, seven or eight bruised and swollen ghosts frantically moved their legs. Sweet Potato Burn turned her head in the chair and saw Hu Ma, and excitedly called out, "Hurry up, Senior!"

"You're too slow!"

(End of Chapter)

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