https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-719-Life-s-Destiny-and-Prosperity/12919903/
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Chapter 720: The Bridge of Collective Worship
Chapter 720: The Bridge of Collective Worship
"Shou Ming Yu Tian, Ji Shou Yong Chang."
These eight words, originating from a past life, carry a profound weight in this world.
Ever since they first appeared on the wordless treasure seal, Hu Ma had been pondering the reason behind Lao Jun Mei leaving such a treasure. Why did the first four characters appear on the seal after he slew the Yan family's elder?
And where were the remaining four characters?
What intrigued Hu Ma even more was that the wordless treasure seal was left by Lao Jun Mei, and the rebellious Beef Abstainer Demons, who were also followers of Lao Jun Mei.
The seal bore the eight characters representing the legitimate heavenly mandate, yet the Beef Abstainer Demons adhered to the sixteen-character maxim, "Heaven is dead, Yellow Heaven shall rise, Year of the Rat, all is auspicious."
Upon closer reflection, it was indeed intriguing.
However, for Hu Ma at this moment, the most crucial task was to understand the meaning behind the characters on the seal. The first half, "Shou Ming Yu Tian," consisted of four characters, but the key lay in the words "Ming" and "Tian."
He pondered that he already possessed these two characters, hence the appearance of the first half on the seal. As for the latter half, it might only manifest once he attained "Shou" and "Chang."
Was it that Lao Jun Mei had already possessed these characters, but Hu Ma's cultivation was insufficient to perceive them? Or did they not exist, and he needed to seek them himself?
He sighed inwardly.
This matter was not easily comprehensible; otherwise, he wouldn't have waited until now.
The foundation for crossing the bridge had been laid when he achieved mastery in the New Year Guarding Technique in the City of the Unrighteous Dead. However, crossing the bridge was a critical step in transforming from a human to a "non-human," involving numerous complexities. His mind was in turmoil, so he dared not take this step hastily, opting to observe more.
Of course, doubts remained, but the function of these two characters was evident.
The character "Ming" allowed him to stand firmly in the human realm, making it impossible for those on the bridge to pull him onto it. Meanwhile, the character "Tian" could suppress the Purple Heavenly Stem, rendering Hu Ma exceptionally unique.
He didn't need to cross the bridge, but he feared the methods related to fate and the Purple Heavenly Stem. Within these two realms, anyone who encountered him would suffer a significant loss.
"You... you..."
Hu Ma understood his own capabilities, but Cui Ma Gu could not. At this moment, her heart was filled with utmost panic.
How could the legendary Ghost Walker Great Executioner suddenly transform into that person? Why would the esteemed Hu Family Young Master disguise himself as his own swordmaster?
If he were the swordmaster, then who was the person who fought and defeated the Elder in the City of the Unrighteous Dead?
Her heart was in turmoil, but she couldn't afford to dwell on it. Everything might be false, but one's fate was not. Having confirmed Hu Ma's identity, her mind was in disarray.
She employed the skill of crossing the bridge but failed to pull Hu Ma onto it. She even resorted to using the Purple Qi Soul Refining technique, yet her most prized ability, the world's rarest Purple Qi, was scattered before she could even discern her opponent's move.
At this moment, she was in complete disarray, losing the courage to act in front of Hu Ma. In despair, she retreated slightly, and the hemp robe on her body tore with a rustling sound.
Her cold face revealed a ruthless and resolute expression, ready to face death.
Rustling...
Fearing that Hu Ma would approach, she untied her hemp robe, and the threads fluttered in the air like burning paper money, exuding an eerie and sinister aura.
Beneath the robe, her body suddenly multiplied, some moving left, some right, some forward, and some backward. What was once a solid physical form now seemed like light, fluttering shadows.
Each shadow was pale and dim, resembling a corpse, appearing in various corners within a thirty-zhang radius. Some were on trees, some on the ground, some in front, and some behind.
This was her unique skill, the Twenty-Three Shadows.
Originally, she had one true body, a living person weighing eighty-seven catties and three taels. But now, she divided herself into twenty-three shadows, each incredibly light and ghostly, straddling the line between human and ghost.
When divided, they became ghosts; when united, they formed a human.
Currently, three of the twenty-three shadows had already been sent out: one on Zhou Tingxiao's back, one on Zhao San Yi's back, and one on Chen A Bao's back.
The remaining twenty shadows moved backward, with one lying on the ground and the other nineteen crawling onto Hu Ma's back.
With one shadow on the opponent's back, they could unknowingly carry the burden, becoming heavier and their cultivation weaker, and their minds influenced to act according to her wishes.
This was one of the most advanced techniques within the Spirit Foe Sect, second only to the Meng Family's worship of their ancestors.
Initially, in this world, aside from the Ten Surnames Founding Families, no one was worthy of her using this skill. However, she showed no arrogance, always prepared for her existence to be extinguished, resolute in following orders.
"I've come to atone for the Meng Family Young Master's crimes..."
As her nineteen shadows attached to Hu Ma's back, she felt a sense of relief. Slowly, she spoke, and the several pale women on Hu Ma's back simultaneously whispered in his ear, "Accept that calamity, and both families can survive."
"With the Twelve Tribes of Disaster under control, the Hu and Meng feud can be resolved..."
"With the Twelve Tribes of Disaster under control, both you and I have a chance to ascend to immortality..."
"..."
At this moment, Hu Ma, with the Dharmakaya of the Great General Tian Gong still present, looked extremely eerie. His tall and imposing figure resembled a fierce Xiong Shen, and hanging on his body were over a dozen pale figures, all chattering incessantly by his ear.
"Is this the ultimate skill of the Spirit Foe Great Swordmaster?"
Hu Ma could also feel a chill down his spine, and his body felt heavy. Even his thoughts seemed to waver from time to time.
He didn't respond or move; he merely glanced indifferently at the shadow before him, which had become extremely faint, and said softly, "If you had used it earlier, I would have respected you more."
"..."
"Still unwilling to accept the disaster?"
Cui Ma Gu listened to Hu Ma's words, and a hint of despair flashed across her face. Behind her, the shadow of a bridge gradually appeared.
This was the first time Hu Ma had seen so clearly the bridge that was the target of everyone in the Negative Spirit Sect. He saw that in the hazy distance, on a bridge leading directly to the depths of the Netherworld, faint shadows could be vaguely discerned.
Each person held a pillar of incense high, ready to bow down to the bridge at any moment.
Even the esteemed Spirit Foe Great Swordmaster, who had unleashed her ultimate skill, was not truly prepared to deal with the "Hu Family Young Master." She was merely a decoy.
Borrowing the last of the Negative Spirit Sect's foundation, she bowed together with them, reducing blessings and shortening lifespans, causing both humans and gods to decline.
The people on the bridge were no longer human, with mysterious fates and transcendent identities. If they bowed to a mortal, there was a chance that the person's predetermined fate, blessings, and lifespan would be destroyed. What if the entire Negative Spirit Sect, all of them, crossed the bridge?
More importantly, even if she had a way to survive, the subsequent events would no longer be within her control. At present, the Twelve Calamities were blocked outside the mountain but had not yet returned to their lair.
The Mountain Lord, along with the Water Spirits of Old Yin Mountain, could hold them off, which was his blessing. But if they were bowed to by those on the bridge, then the Twelve Tribes of Disaster might have a chance to bypass Old Yin Mountain and instantly descend upon him.
This was the most ruthless and decisive move, and it was the final bite of the Meng Family Young Master.
Of course, Cui Ma Gu wouldn't survive either. She was staking her life to ensure that the Hu Family Young Master would fall for this move.
But at this moment, with her face full of determination and disregard for her life, Cui Ma Gu didn't believe that the Hu Family Young Master had the ability to withstand this move head-on. Strangely, she didn't see any panic on his face.
Instead, he even smiled.
The Dharmakaya was tall and imposing, mysterious and fierce. Looking down at her, he spoke with surprising gentleness, "The bridge?"
"Your Meng Family, do you still have a bridge?"
"..."
Cui Ma Gu was stunned for a moment, and her face suddenly changed. She realized something uncontrollable and terrifying—the Twenty-Three Shadows turned around simultaneously and looked towards the ethereal bridge.
...
...
At this very moment, the Ghost Walkers, having received the Meng Family's order, were engaged in a fierce battle with the Spirit Foe Sect.
To those within the sect, this was a bitter battle between the Ghost Walkers and the Spirit Foe Sect, two sects that looked down upon each other. But to the outsiders, it was a chaotic mess of commoners praying for blessings while bullies stirred up trouble.
Such a chaotic battle naturally had no suspense. All around, countless people were fighting.
The only issue was that the Ghost Walkers fought with anger, while the Spirit Foe Sect members mostly acted under orders.
As one side weakened, the Spirit Foe Sect's momentum gradually diminished.
Meanwhile, in various prefectures, the roaming divine generals who went to cause trouble at the Blessing Assembly encountered tough opponents. The Beef Abstainer Demons were all experienced in the rivers and lakes. If they knew each other, they could negotiate, but if they didn't, they fought fiercely without hesitation.
As the two sides fought, making it difficult to determine a clear winner, outside Old Yin Mountain, the One Hundred and Eight Golden Armors blocked the Governor who wanted to enter the mountain.
A golden light clashed with the group of white lanterns, creating a terrifying gale of killing intent around Old Yin Mountain. Even the Mountain Lord, who was being worshipped, was tempted several times. However, since it belonged to the Hu Family, he couldn't interfere.
But just as he was still hesitating, at the place of the mountain sacrifice, a ghost with a small braided goat horn on her head was struggling to climb onto the incense altar amidst the worship of countless people, panting heavily.
"Ne!"
She sat on the incense altar, took something out of the basket hanging from her arm, and said, "This is from Brother Hu Ma."
"He said it's just a loan, and you need to return it after using it."
"..."
The Mountain Lord looked down, and his eyebrows trembled slightly.
He recognized the object; it was one of the three Golden Armor Collections from the Evil Suppression Bureau.
The holder of the Golden Armor Collection could command the Golden Armor Warriors.
How bold was this Hu Family child, daring to lend this item to him?
(End of Chapter)
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