Twilight's Threshold Chapter 751: The Righteous Path of New Year Protection - Novel Cool

Chapter 751: The Righteous Path of New Year Protection

Chapter 751: The Righteous Path of New Year Protection

"Zhou Zhi Ming, the Head of the Zhou Family?"

At this moment, Hu Ma had no choice but to sheathe his knife and focus his attention.

As soon as he saw the large head guarding outside the town, he had a good idea. This was the same man who, in Stone Horse Town, had led a group of little officials and terrified the entire Qian Jiao, making their hearts tremble with fear.

Even someone as skilled as him could only guard outside the town, so the person inside must be someone of importance.

Hu Ma slightly bowed, showing respect, but his tone was urgent, leaving no room for politeness, "Him? He's here to meet me?"

Even though he now had a better understanding of his own destiny and had been chased by the reincarnator several times, he still felt a bit indifferent towards the Ten Surnames.

"The State Preceptor said that you, my friend, have endured hardships these past years, experiencing what we have not, and carrying a burden we should have borne. Now, with the evil spirits seizing the bridge and the changes in heaven and earth, they have quietly raised their heads again, bringing disaster to the mortal realm once more."

Zhou Zhi Ming, the head of the Zhou family, smiled and said, "My friend, you carry a great cause and effect. This time, when you enter the capital, those evil spirits will surely know, and they will use all means to stop you, to harm you. For the public good and our personal sake, we must ensure your safety and escort you into the capital city..."

"What you are planning in the capital is your business. I am merely escorting the spirit back to its ancestral home."

Hu Ma listened to his words, but his expression remained cold. He replied indifferently, "Moreover, I don't have much of a relationship with the State Preceptor."

"Why would he be so kind?"

Hearing the impatience in Hu Ma's tone, Zhou Zhi Ming was not surprised.

He smiled and said, "If you don't have a close relationship with the State Preceptor, then what about your relationship with my Zhou family?"

This question was indeed strange.

Hu Ma glanced at Zhou Zhi Ming, knowing that he was one of the most powerful New Year Protection experts in the world, perhaps second to none. As a fellow practitioner of New Year Protection, Hu Ma could sense the immense pressure emanating from this seemingly gentle person, like a vast mountain or deep abyss.

Hu Ma smiled coldly and said, "Then it becomes even more interesting."

"Judging from your abilities, I'm afraid there is some grudge between you and the Zhou family."

"..."

The Grandmaster Dawaisheng and the Lifesaving Zhou family had their differences, and since Hu Ma followed the path of the Grandmaster, it was natural that he would also have issues with the Zhou family.

Moreover, he had personally fought against Zhou Zhi Ming's daughter.

"It's not a grudge, just a disagreement between different schools of thought."

Hu Ma had openly acknowledged his affiliation with the Grandmaster Dawaisheng's lineage, but to his surprise, Zhou Zhi Ming laughed.

Zhou Zhi Ming waved his hand and said, "When the doors are closed, the Grandmaster Dawaisheng and the Lifesaving Zhou family's techniques may compete for superiority, arguing over who is the true lineage of the New Year Protection sect. But when the doors are open to the outside world, we all walk the same path."

"In the end, we all seek to prolong our lives, and there is no distinction between us."

As he spoke, he lightly waved his robe, opening the door behind him. To Hu Ma's surprise, it revealed a clean and tidy courtyard, devoid of hanging corpses or splattered blood.

Zhou Zhi Ming had specifically chosen this courtyard upon arriving in town, and he invited Hu Ma to sit on a stone bench as if he were the host. His eyes were clear as he carefully examined Hu Ma from head to toe.

Zhou Zhi Ming sighed softly, "In our New Year Protection sect, our abilities lie within ourselves, so our path is more solid than others."

"According to the principles of New Year Protection, the journey from life to death, and then from death to life, involves removing the limbs, replacing the internal organs, and upon entering the mansion, nurturing the divine soul. Even the head and the mortal body can be exchanged."

"When it comes to crossing the bridge, the heavens and earth become mysterious. One only needs to refine a single thought, and when the time is right, one breath is all it takes to cross the bridge, and even this mortal body is no longer needed..."

"A single spark of spiritual light is all it takes, and one can roam freely, from the North Sea to the South, living a carefree life."

"Even if one wishes to return to the mortal realm, there are countless physical bodies to inhabit, and none can resist."

"..."

"Hmm?"

It was already surprising that Zhou Zhi Ming, the head of the Lifesaving Zhou family and one of the most powerful New Year Protection experts, would seek him out at such a critical time.

But instead of rushing to discuss other matters, he chose to explain the principles of New Year Protection to Hu Ma, which was even more peculiar.

For a moment, Hu Ma couldn't quite understand his intentions.

As a practitioner of New Year Protection, Hu Ma couldn't help but feel a sense of solemnity in his heart. The path of New Year Protection, from refining the body to nurturing the soul and eventually discarding the body, was indeed a clear and straightforward journey.

Upon entering the mansion, one gains the ability to possess others' bodies. After pushing open the three mansion doors, the divine soul becomes powerful, and one can even cultivate a spell form.

This ability to possess others' bodies is indeed a formidable skill.

However, after pushing open the three mansion doors, what Hu Ma experienced was quite different from what Zhou Zhi Ming had described.

According to Zhou Zhi Ming's explanation, wouldn't all New Year Protection practitioners become 'ghosts', free to roam as they please, not needing their physical bodies, and when they've had enough, they can simply possess someone else? In reality, New Year Protection practitioners feel that their abilities are tied to their own bodies, and even with this skill, few choose to possess others. Those who do must start from scratch, and even the most luxurious lives cannot compare to the comfort of their own familiar bodies.

The path Zhou Zhi Ming described was one that no New Year Protection practitioner had ever attempted, not even the Zhou family or Master Ping had mentioned it.

"It's a pity that the principles are clear and the path is straightforward, but we always seem to fall short."

"The Head of the Zhou Family, Zhou Zhi Ming, smiled at Hu Ma and said, 'The New Year Protection Door practitioners ultimately embark on the path of liberation, cultivating the Spell Form, transcending the mortal realm, and looking down upon the human world.'"

"But the New Year Protection Door is still inferior to other sects. Their bodies are too heavy, making them slow on the bridge, unlike the other sects that are lighter and faster."

"This is why the Zhou Family can produce many formidable generals, dominating before entering the Mansion, but they are cautious when it comes to vying for control over the world."

"..."

Hu Ma was aware of this fact—the Lifesaving Zhou Family wasn't solely the New Year Protection Door's main branch.

In fact, they were revered as ancestors by the grassroots warlords.

Any member of the sect, if brought out, would be a formidable general on the battlefield, and their advantage in army formations far surpassed that of other sects.

During the era of these warlords' rise and struggle for dominance, it was also the time for the New Year Protection Door to make a name for itself and showcase its prowess.

However, upon closer inspection, it was evident that behind each warlord stood the shadows of aristocratic clans, except for the Zhou Family, who maintained a low profile.

But why was he telling Hu Ma all this?

"The Lifesaving Zhou Family is indeed the main branch of the New Year Protection Door, and no one dares to claim that the New Year Protection Door's orthodoxy doesn't lie with the Zhou Family."

The Head of the Zhou Family, seeing that Hu Ma wasn't speaking but clearly listening to his words, smiled and said, "But I can say that this statement may not necessarily be accurate."

"Hmm?"

Hu Ma was genuinely surprised.

The person before him was the Head of the Ten Surnames, the Zhou Family Patriarch, and the most powerful New Year Protection Door practitioner in the world, yet he uttered such a statement?

"Those who walk the bridge swiftly encounter roadblocks, unable to pass, and thus they yearn for the arrival of the Stone Pavilion Alliance, hoping to find a way to overcome these obstacles."

Zhou Zhi Ming sighed softly and said, "The Zhou Family is no different. The path of liberation is extremely challenging, so sometimes I can't help but wonder if there might be another way within the New Year Protection Door, a path that is more stable."

"For instance, the Grandmaster Dawaisheng?"

The Lifesaving Zhou Family actually revered the Grandmaster Dawaisheng's teachings? Shouldn't they be rivals, disparaging each other's teachings?

"Sigh..."

Zhou Zhi Ming observed Hu Ma's expression and sighed, "In fact, I now regret that the Zhou Family was too domineering in the past."

"If we hadn't been so eager to compete with that Great Sage Teacher for the orthodoxy of the New Year Protection Door, but instead sat down for a discussion, perhaps the roadblocks of this sect would have been overcome long ago."

"I, more than anyone, understand that Great Sage Teacher. The teachings of the Grandmaster Dawaisheng must have profound insights. It's just a pity that I don't know if he had comprehended it back then. Now, you, as the sole successor of the Great Thunder General's teachings, if you were to join the Zhou Family..."

"..."

Hu Ma met his gaze, which flickered slightly, and suddenly understood that this old man was hinting at obtaining the Great Thunder General's teachings.

Hu Ma shook his head and said, "I can't give it to you."

Smiling, he said, "But since you're the Head of the Family, why not make the decision to give the Zhou Family's teachings to me?"

The Head of the Zhou Family fell silent, gazing at Hu Ma, who returned his stare calmly.

"You're truly greedy..."

Zhou Zhi Ming sighed and said, "Indeed, you are a member of the Ten Surnames."

Changing the subject, he whispered, "The State Preceptor has already informed us about your experiences. To be honest, it's beyond what we expected. We knew that the Hu Family is ruthless, but we never imagined you would go to such lengths with your sole bloodline."

"Your experiences are so mysterious that even I, as an elder, find it hard to imagine..."

"As for now, I'm only concerned about one question."

"Who...are you at this moment?"

"..."

Hu Ma's eyes flickered as he looked at Zhou Zhi Ming seriously and said, "What difference does it make?"

Zhou Zhi Ming slowly said, "Before the reincarnation path was severed, there was the concept of the Second Incarnation. People have three souls and seven spirits. One soul returns, one guards the body, and one determines cause and effect. When the first life ends and the seven spirits disperse, the person reincarnates. As they are free from the cause and effect of guarding the body, they have no memories."

"However, some people, due to a twist of fate, encounter their previous life's soul, or they are unable to fully separate, and thus they become aware of their past life's experiences..."

"Such people are called those of the Second Incarnation."

"You ask, would such a person recognize their current life or their past life?"

"..."

Hu Ma's heart stirred as he listened to Zhou Zhi Ming's words, and he smiled, "You're very concerned about this?"

"Not just me, but everyone is."

Zhou Zhi Ming looked at Hu Ma calmly and said, "This concerns how we should treat you. If you're merely a descendant of the Hu Family and also the head of the Evil Suppression Bureau, I should treat you with reason, setting aside our seniority. I should even perform the ritual of equals with you."

"When those malevolent spirits come to seek revenge, I should assist you with all my strength and welcome you back to the capital. This is our duty as members of the Ten Surnames."

At this point, he paused and suddenly said, "Even the marriage alliance between you and my daughter, Yingying, I can agree to."

"The plan for ascension to immortality..."

"Your ranking is even higher than mine..."

(End of Chapter)

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