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Chapter 526: Zhen Sui Hu Clan
Chapter 526: Zhen Sui Hu Clan
The ritual altar was in ruins, and the entire village was in a state of utter devastation, almost leveled to the ground. Despite the massive commotion, Hu Ma couldn't escape the shock and remained frozen, momentarily unable to move. His mind was filled with the image of that being and its words.
"From the same place, remnants of civilization..." These were strange and cryptic words. The most crucial part was that, despite the different contexts and meanings, they seemed to mysteriously resonate with the words he had heard from the Great Red Robe, creating an enigmatic connection.
Before that being vanished from this world, it struggled to 'see' him and spoke of 'forgetting the root, breaking the covenant' and 'eternal punishment'. These words, when pondered, left a heavy feeling of oppression in his heart.
He had come to retrieve the Hu Family relics, and the calamity in the extinct village had already subsided, but Hu Ma stood frozen in place, unable to move for a long time.
Until a voice sighed softly, "So, it's finally done?"
Hu Ma was startled by the voice and quickly turned around. He felt a gentle breeze of incense candles caressing his face, as if dispelling the coldness within his heart. The warm wind gently stung his eyes, and he saw only a stump of an old tree.
On top of the stump, the Mountain Lord stood, his robe flowing in the wind, silently observing Hu Ma.
The village was in ruins, filled with wandering spirits, all of which caught the Mountain Lord's attention, evoking a sigh of emotion.
"Senior..." Hu Ma realized and quickly turned to pay his respects, feeling a sense of unease.
He didn't know when the Mountain Lord had arrived or if he had heard the words of that being, which might have raised suspicions about his identity. However, upon further thought, he felt slightly relieved.
Originally, the Mountain Lord couldn't enter due to the collapsed Four Directions Sealing Stones and the broken ritual altar. It was only after the collapse of the sealing stones that the being was crushed under immense weight and dragged to some unknown place.
"I've been watching the situation from the mountain until I saw the malevolent spirits dissipate before coming to take a look."
The Mountain Lord noticed Hu Ma's unusual expression and, feeling slightly surprised, spoke softly, "What's wrong? You look rather flustered."
"Who wouldn't be flustered?" Hu Ma steadied himself, quickly adjusting his emotions, and intentionally revealed his inner anxiety. He lowered his voice and said to the Mountain Lord, "Just now, what was that thing in the village?"
He wasn't sure if the Mountain Lord knew about the extinct village, where, besides the village filled with vengeful spirits and the Hu Family relics, there was also this mysterious being. But if the Mountain Lord knew, he would surely have more information.
As expected, when the Mountain Lord heard Hu Ma's question, he seemed to understand his current state of confusion. He looked at Hu Ma quietly, paused for a moment, and then slowly spoke, "Great Immortal."
When he said these words, his voice carried a hint of mystery and complexity, whispering, "Neither god, ghost, demon, nor monster, nor spirit. It is said that it originally dwelled high in the heavens, free and unbound. Yet, it descended to the mortal realm, something beyond the understanding and imagination of ordinary people."
"Even we don't know how to address it, so we can only call it: Great Immortal."
"..."
No matter how the Mountain Lord answered, Hu Ma wouldn't have been so surprised. However, this title left him feeling utterly bewildered, "Even that eerie and terrifying thing can be called a Great Immortal?"
As he spoke, he looked around.
The eerie and resentful atmosphere in the extinct village had dissipated, but countless wandering spirits remained. They drifted through the village ruins, their mournful cries carried by the wind, occasionally reaching Hu Ma's ears.
However, the wailing had transformed from the previous heart-wrenching howls to sobbing, filled with sorrow.
Some stood aimlessly, lost and helpless, by Hu Ma's side, seemingly unsure of where to go. There was also a woman holding her child, wailing in grief, as if she couldn't bear to part with him.
The Divine Light Exorcism Spell had dispelled their resentment and awakened their consciousness. Unlike other wandering spirits, their three souls remained intact. When enveloped by resentment, they were more ferocious than other ghosts, and after the resentment dissipated, they became even more sentient.
This meant they were even more terrified and helpless.
They didn't know where to go, as Old Yin Mountain had no ghost caverns, nor was there anyone like Fragrant Maiden who could guide them. They knew this was no longer their world, but they had no idea where to go...
This was the true nature of the extinct village. In life, it was an ordinary village, and in death, it was filled with helpless wandering spirits.
But just now, when that being was still present, the village was teeming with malevolent spirits, so much so that calling them 'ghost kings' would not be an exaggeration. They were so powerful that even the Netherworld might not be able to contain them.
The ability to transform ordinary wandering spirits into such terrifying beings showcased the being's power. Yet, the Mountain Lord referred to it as a 'Great Immortal'?
"Is that strange?" The Mountain Lord also sighed lightly, waving his sleeves, and a gentle incense fragrance filled the air, comforting the sorrowful and desolate wandering spirits, causing their cries to weaken.
Then, he sighed softly, "That being is beyond our understanding.
"And Immortals, they are also incomprehensible beings."
"This being is said to be a pure entity, devoid of consciousness and awareness. Yet, it is rumored to possess the power to bestow longevity and freedom. Some even claim that this being is a type of Year God, but it is the essence of the Year God. Consuming just a single pill can grant one the ability to ascend to immortality."
"However, your grandmother told me that this being, despite its apparent purity, is ominous. Although it lacks consciousness and awareness, touching it drives one insane, and encountering it breeds resentment. That's why, when this village encountered trouble, your grandmother never allowed me to interfere. Afterward, she instructed me to keep an eye on things but not to enter the village."
"..."
"It's best not to..."
As Hu Ma listened to the Mountain Lord's words, a chill ran down his spine. That thing was truly terrifying. Having absorbed the resentment of the entire village of vengeful ghosts, it was already this formidable. If it were to encounter the Mountain Lord, who knows what would happen?
Moreover, the Mountain Lord mentioned that this being lacked consciousness and awareness, but Hu Ma distinctly remembered hearing it speak to him when it had become pure...
"I... I really don't know how to describe that thing..."
Hu Ma sensed a hint of curiosity in the Mountain Lord's tone. Hu Ma had seen the being, yet didn't know what it was. He, on the other hand, had only heard about it but never seen it. Even his urgency to come here might have been driven by a desire to catch a glimpse of it.
Hu Ma took a deep breath and said, "I just feel that thing is incredibly powerful. If it were to escape, I dare not imagine what the outside world would become..."
He could hear the commotion outside the village, along with faint calls for help. It was likely the Second Master and his men searching for them. Although the area had been cleared, Hu Ma's heart couldn't help but race with worry.
Sensing Hu Ma's concern, the Mountain Lord gently lifted his sleeve, and a faint mist rose from the village, muffling even the voices of the Second Master's group. Then, he sighed softly and said, "Escape?"
"It escaped long ago, didn't it?"
"..."
Hu Ma's heart skipped a beat at these words, but he quickly understood. "You mean... the Mysterious Clan Ancestor Shang of the Meng family?"
The Mountain Lord's features were blurred, but his gaze was sharp as he looked at Hu Ma. "You have indeed seen it. It seems your grandmother underestimated you. You don't need her protection; you've encountered something even more formidable and survived."
"It's him..."
Hu Ma recalled the item that the Second Son of the Meng family had obtained through kowtowing, and his heart trembled. "The Mysterious Clan Ancestor Shang of the Meng family is indeed very similar to that thing..."
"Or rather, they are essentially the same."
"..."
"It seems your grandmother's concerns were not unfounded..."
The Mountain Lord heaved a soft sigh and said, "The Mysterious Clan Ancestor Shang of the Meng family is the most sinister, evil, and impure being. Even we dare not look directly at it."
"The most crucial point is that the Meng family has been worshipping him for years, yet no one knows his origins or details. I had my suspicions, and I asked your grandmother about it, but she refused to tell me. She only said that knowing this matter would bring disaster, not fortune."
"I've always been optimistic and accepting of fate, so if she didn't want to tell me, I didn't press the issue. But sometimes, I couldn't help but be curious. Now that I've learned the truth from you, I understand why the Meng family has been doing this all along..."
"..."
"The Meng family..."
Upon hearing that this being had already escaped and was the Mysterious Clan Ancestor Shang of the Meng family, worshipped for so many years, Hu Ma's heart raced with worry. Now, his curiosity was further piqued.
If such a terrifying entity had escaped and was unrestrained, what would it do?
"To rebuild the Netherworld."
The Mountain Lord sensed Hu Ma's curiosity and sighed softly, then spoke directly, "The Meng family's desire to rebuild the Netherworld has been obvious for a long time. They have been sealing gods across the land and paying homage to various Prefectural Lords, all for this one purpose."
"Fortunately, the world is currently in disarray, awaiting a new ruler. The Netherworld is also in ruins, with only local Netherworld Mansions barely maintaining order. The Meng family has the ambition but lacks the strength to rebuild the Netherworld. They can only wait for the emergence of a new emperor."
"Once that time comes, with just one decree from the new emperor, the entire world, including the Netherworld Lords of the Eighty-One Mountains, will join forces to rebuild the Netherworld. At that time..."
The Mountain Lord spoke calmly, but Hu Ma's heart was in turmoil. If the Netherworld were to be rebuilt, would the Mysterious Clan Ancestor Shang of the Meng family become the ruler of the entire Netherworld?
If such a bizarre and terrifying being became the master of the Netherworld, what would happen then?
Noticing Hu Ma's slightly changed expression, the Mountain Lord sighed softly, "Now, you know almost as much as I do. It seems you understand the importance of retrieving your Hu family's relic..."
"After all, there are many capable people in this world, but who among them can rival the Mysterious Clan Ancestor Shang of the Meng family?"
"..."
As Hu Ma listened, he shuddered slightly and turned to look at a particular spot.
It was the center of the ruined Abandoned Village, now a wasteland of collapsed houses, shattered walls, and broken roofs. Yet, amidst the devastation, only the millstone remained intact, with a stone chest securely placed on top, bound by countless iron chains.
"Indeed, if we are to deal with the Malevolent Spirit of the Meng family, we must rely on the Ghost Summoning techniques of the Hu family..."
(End of Chapter)
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