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Chapter 584: The Ghost Register
Chapter 584: The Ghost Register
"Don't panic yet. Focus on opening your manor gates. I'll let you know when the time is right."
Sweet Potato Burn was reassured, and after confirming when she would be available, Hu Ma left the Life Spirit Temple, impressed by her ambition.
His trip to Stone Horse Town had been a stroke of luck, as he managed to open two manor gates in quick succession, leaving Sweet Potato Burn far behind. But now, she was creating opportunities on her own, and he could see her catching up again.
As a senior, he knew he had to step up his game.
However, these were secondary concerns. After their conversation, Hu Ma became more confident in his plan, and as he pondered it further, his thoughts became clearer. This had been his intention from the start, but he couldn't fully explain it to the Mountain Lord.
In name, he was inviting talented individuals from all over the world under the Pacifying Evil Office to give the Propaganda Hu Clan the ability to counter the Meng Clan. But both the Mountain Lord and the Meng Family Elder Son saw the flaws in this approach.
In reality, his strength didn't lie in these mystic arts...
... but in the Reincarnates!
"This generation of Reincarnates has been in hiding for twenty years. It's time to give them a reason to enter this grand game."
This had been his plan from the start. Ever since obtaining information about the previous generation's Reincarnate, the Red Wine Miss, Monkey Wine, and Er Gu Tou, they had been searching for clues to find the hidden Reincarnates across the land.
It seemed that the first gathering of Reincarnates was about to take place, and as the messenger and initiator of this assembly, he had to set the stage for them.
The Reincarnates were never ones to sit idly by, but they had been scared into submission. If the world continued to change rapidly, they might not have time to react. So, he would use the Pacifying Evil Office as a platform to give them a chance.
The greatest evil in the world, when faced with the 'Immortal Maiden' nurtured by the Meng Clan, would make for an intriguing spectacle...
In fact, he still had the painting in his possession, and with his Four Pillar cultivation, he could theoretically attempt to contact other Reincarnates through the Life Spirit Temple depicted in the painting.
But the impact would be too great, and with the current situation not yet fully clear, it was better to wait and let his companions bring the other Reincarnates.
After careful consideration, he calmed himself, asked Little Red Tang to guard the door, and moved the stone box onto the table. He then touched the first copper ring of the Suppression of Malevolent Spirits Gold Cudgel inside the box, and as the ring vibrated, a sinister aura began to emanate from the room.
The flame in the oil lamp trembled, and everything around him transformed. The ordinary Eight Immortals Table before him changed in front of his eyes, revealing a stack of scrolls.
After taking over the Pacifying Evil Office and even ascending to the Grand Hall, he had naturally begun to uncover and grasp some of its secrets.
Among these secrets were the origins of the Pacifying Evil Office, as well as some unknown entities. The topmost scroll, the most urgent matter at hand, was the Ghost Register.
...
The Pacifying Evil Office had existed for a long time, governing the order of Yin and Yang and deciding the fate of mortals. The Ghost Register was a record of the ghosts and spirits in the world, created twenty years ago before the Office closed its doors.
It was called the Ghost Register, but the number of spirits was far more than a hundred. Many powerful and unsealed evil spirits from various places were listed in the register. Of course, twenty years had passed, and an update was necessary, but it was still useful.
For those who walked the Ghostway, the Ghost Register was a true treasure.
Knowing their origins, true identities, and names, one could use them as if they were talismans. When setting up a sacred altar and issuing an edict, these spirits would answer the call and offer sacrifices. The spirits in the register would not dare to disobey...
In theory, at least. Whether these spirits could truly gain such power depended on the Pacifying Evil Office.
Hu Ma had already begun this task.
The method was simple.
When the Starving Ghost Army entered Bright Province, he issued the Seven Slaying Orders under the Pacifying Evil Office, attracting countless spirits and mystics to assist. He returned the favor by taking on their debts and recording their merits.
Now that the Starving Ghost Army's threat was resolved, Hu Ma wanted to know—what about the spirits and mystics in Bright Province who didn't show up? Were they looking down on the Pacifying Evil Office?
...
After carefully reviewing the register, Hu Ma identified one name, sealed the stone box, and hid it under his bed. He then left the manor and walked towards the village, where Seventh Auntie and Zhang A Gu were waiting for his message.
Zhang A Gu, who had received Hu Ma's message during the day, had already prepared the altar, leaving only the oil lamp unlit. Seeing Hu Ma approach, she stood up, her expression filled with hesitation. "Manager..."
"Are you really going to do this?"
"..."
Hu Ma smiled and said, "That's the wish of the noble in the mountains. We're just here to carry out orders, so what's there to talk about?"
"Besides, among the various mystic practitioners, ghost walkers suffer the most. They seek a living for the common folk and peace for the restless souls and spirits. Now that the Pacifying Evil Office has emerged, if we don't think more for them, wouldn't it be a wasted effort?"
"..."
Zhang A Gu gave Hu Ma a deep look. Every time this young manager spoke, it struck a chord with her, so she didn't waste any more words. She lit the oil lamp and began the ritual.
Hu Ma handed over the list he had prepared, and Zhang A Gu began to recite the Pacifying Evil Office's decree over the altar. She then read out the names on the list, and a yin wind stirred:
"Heaven Spirit, Earth Spirit, Human Spirit, Divine Incarnation. I perform the rites upon this altar, inviting the celestial beings to grace this place."
"Pacifying Demons Inquirer Zhang A Gu, by the decree of the Pacifying Evil Office, specially invites the Nierewa Green-headed Purple-scaled General to our altar to enjoy the offerings and receive the incense offering..."
"..."
After completing the incantation, she burned the list over the oil lamp. The yin wind, which had been circling inside the altar, suddenly blew outward, and in the dim light, one could see the two straw men inside the altar seemed to move, transforming into black-robed figures and disappearing into the night.
Now that Zhang A Gu had an official position in the Pacifying Evil Office, she could command the black-robed figures when performing rituals. However, since she wasn't Hu Ma and her magical power wasn't deep enough, she couldn't yet control the Golden Armor Warriors.
Of course, the purpose of this ritual was to seek answers, not capture, and the black-robed figures were sufficient.
After the incantation, everyone waited by the altar. Zhang A Gu sat upright with a solemn expression, while Hu Ma stood by, hands behind his back, quietly awaiting any signs. Meanwhile, Zhou Datong and the others outside the altar dared not even breathe.
Three incense sticks were burned before the altar, and chicken, fish, and pig's head were offered as the Three Sacrifices, a highly respectful offering. With the Pacifying Evil Office's name invoked, it was possible that even the Mountain Lord of Old Yin Mountain had been summoned.
But after waiting for a while, there was no response from the altar.
Zhang A Gu's eyebrows furrowed, and she patiently recited the incantation again, but still, there was no movement.
When she couldn't bear it any longer and recited the incantation for the third time, everyone had grown anxious from the wait. Suddenly, a gust of yin wind blew outside the altar, causing the candles to flicker wildly. Those present felt a chill, their vision blurred, and they even heard a cold laugh in their ears.
"Ah..."
Zhang A Gu on the altar suddenly exclaimed, and everyone rubbed their eyes to see that the two straw men on the altar had suddenly fallen to the ground, their straws spilling out and scattering.
The oil lamp in front of Zhang A Gu was almost blown out by the wind, but it was protected by the altar's magical power and slowly reignited, though it was a close call.
As for the three incense sticks, they were in disarray, with two long and one short, and the longer one pointed directly at Zhang A Gu's face like an arrow.
"Manager Little Brother, this..."
Zhang A Gu turned to look at Hu Ma, her tone anxious. For a ghost walker, there was no worse altar than this, indicating that the entity she wanted to invite not only refused to come but was also angry, even showing murderous intent towards the ritual performer.
"Good, very good."
Hu Ma, standing by the altar, watched coldly and humphed, "Earlier, the Pacifying Evil Office issued a decree that all spirits and monsters in Mingzhou must obey. As someone listed in the register, it refuses to comply."
"Now, we've politely invited it to the altar to talk, but it not only doesn't come but also gets angry and guts our altar's offerings."
"It truly doesn't respect the Pacifying Evil Office."
"..."
"Then..."
Zhang A Gu hesitated and glanced at Seventh Auntie, who was sitting in the corner looking dazed. Although she didn't quite understand why their mystic practice needed a ghost to mediate, the situation seemed to call for her intervention.
"No need," Hu Ma shook his head. "If it were another time, we could go and ask politely, but since it doesn't respect the Pacifying Evil Office, what's the point of talking?"
"Datong!"
"..."
His shout startled Zhou Datong, who quickly reacted and handed over the mask brought from the Scarlet Lantern Society and the Punishment Official Saber.
Hu Ma donned the mask and tucked the saber under his arm, coldly saying, "A Gu, prepare a basin to catch its head."
With that, he strode into the night, his killing intent rising with each step. The Measure Heaven Boots appeared beneath his feet, and in an instant, he covered a hundred li and arrived at a deep mountain. Ahead, a mansion was brightly lit, seemingly nestled in the wilderness.
Inside, music played as an old man with a white beard celebrated his birthday, surrounded by women.
Hu Ma's eyes narrowed, and the Punishment Official Saber unsheathed. Without a word of courtesy, he charged into the mansion.
"If you won't eat the Three Sacrifices, then have a taste of my blade!"
(End of Chapter)
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