https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-806-The-Ten-Incense-Grand-Priest/12920004/
Chapter 805: The Human Skin Ledger
Chapter 805: The Human Skin Ledger
What did the Monkey Wine say to them that made these six clan leaders act so obediently and compliant?
Within a day, the Ten Surnames Ancestral Hall was divided, and the Zhou, Chen, Zhao, Sun, Zhu, and Li clans each sent their younger generations who had not yet crossed the bridge to retrieve their ancestral tablets from the hall.
This wasn't a show of force, but rather, these clans had already crossed the bridge and were no longer human, so they couldn't carry their ancestral tablets. They had to send their direct descendants who hadn't crossed the bridge to do so.
Not only these six clans, but even the Nobleman Zhang Family and the Immortal King Family sent people to retrieve their tablets.
As for the Meng Family, who had no descendants left, a paper figurine was used as a substitute to take their ancestral tablet out of the city.
The Ten Surnames Ancestral Hall, which had been guarding this world for twenty-three years, was suddenly dismantled, leaving only nine empty shells and the Hu Family's Ancestral Hall, where the ancestral tablet still remained.
An old man guarding the ancestral hall was sweeping the dust in front of the hall, slowly sighing, "They've all left, what about your Hu Family?"
Hu Ma looked at him and said, "You said last night that you had something to tell me?"
The old man guarding the ancestral hall nodded and leaned the broom against the wall. He bowed and came to the side of the small house where he usually lived.
He took out a pot of cold tea and invited Hu Ma to sit down, slowly saying, "Daoxuan is the smartest person I've ever met. His intelligence even surpasses that of his master and the Founding Master of the Dalaofa Religion. However, he is a bit too arrogant."
Hu Ma looked at him intently and suddenly asked, "Who are you?"
The Ten Surnames Ancestral Hall was the foundation of the Stone Pavilion Alliance and the greatest advantage of the Ten Surnames. Those who guarded the ancestral hall were certainly not ordinary.
Especially when this old man mentioned the Daoxuan Grand Master, his attitude revealed that he was not of low status.
"I'm just a person with the lightest fate."
The old man guarding the ancestral hall smiled bitterly and said, "People with light fate are easily forgotten, and their spells are difficult to affect. That's why they were chosen to guard the Ten Surnames Ancestral Hall."
"Of course, people with light fate also find it difficult to accomplish great things. No matter what they do, their impact on the world is always minimal, and they can't change anything."
"On the other hand, you have such a heavy fate that you were born to do great things. Even if you don't want to, you'll be pushed to the forefront."
"..."
Hu Ma looked at him quietly and suddenly asked, "It seems like you know a lot about the Grand Master and the Ten Surnames."
"After watching for over twenty years, it's hard not to know..."
The old man guarding the ancestral hall smiled bitterly and said, "The Ten Surnames can claim that they've done their best and extended the world's lifespan for twenty years."
"But look at what they've done—sealing reincarnation, slaying demons, sacrificing the three corpses, destroying the living bridge, and demolishing the ghost gate. They've turned the world into a mess with countless problems and smoke everywhere. But when someone wants to clean up the mess, where do they even start?"
Hu Ma stared at him intently and suddenly asked, "Since you know they've done so much, do you know where their confidence comes from?"
"Their confidence comes from their experience."
The old man guarding the ancestral hall said, "Twenty years ago, Daoxuan's vision and abilities were superior to theirs. So, whatever he said was the truth. He invited them to the Stone Pavilion, established the alliance, and divided the Duyi's heritage, securing their chance at immortality."
"For the Ten Surnames back then, there was no reason not to agree!"
"With the emperor gone, they divided the emperor's power among themselves, reaping the benefits without having to sit on the throne. Naturally, they didn't have to worry about being noticed by Tai Sui."
"So, although none of the Ten Surnames have actually sat on the emperor's throne, it's as if they've all been emperors for twenty-three years. Even though they don't have to worry about being seen by Tai Sui, sitting on the throne for even a day changes many things."
"This was the main reason Daoxuan was able to convince them, but now, after more than twenty years, many things have changed."
"..."
Hearing these words, Hu Ma wasn't surprised at all. "So, the Grand Master isn't actually the most powerful person in the world today?"
The old man guarding the ancestral hall shook his head slightly and suddenly laughed, saying, "Daoxuan has a wealth of skills, combining the divine and the human, and is proficient in various arts. Among the Ten Surnames, if he were to fight with the leaders of each sect, I doubt anyone would dare claim to be his match..."
"But the Ten Surnames haven't been idle either. On their respective bridges, they've seen many things."
"Speaking of skills, Daoxuan's abilities may not be inferior to anyone, but within the Ten Surnames, each sect has a unique skill that he can't suppress."
"For example, the Meng Family can serve their ancestor well and invite him to possess a body. When that happens, Daoxuan can't do anything, and he can only send the possessed ancestor off."
"As for the Age-Pressing Sect, they have the Unmoving Seal of Heaven and Earth, which, when used, makes their bodies invulnerable and immune to all spells. Daoxuan can only wait on the sidelines."
"The other sects have even deeper secrets."
"Daoxuan doesn't even know their true prototypes, so how dare he claim to overpower the Ten Surnames?"
"Even in the simplest spells, the situation has become so delicate. What more can be said about the others?"
"..."
At this point, he sighed and said, "Daoxuan thought he had it all figured out twenty years ago."
"Only now does he realize that not only was he tricked by the Hu Family twenty years ago, but even the people he thought were under his control had their own ideas twenty years later..."
"No matter how great his skills are, can he go to the Ten Surnames' doors and create a scene like a nagging wife?"
"We can only leave, and accept our fate."
"But those with true ambition are the Ten Surnames..."
"..."
At this point, he paused briefly, his gaze fixed on Hu Ma, and said, "Dong Xuan only wanted to attain immortality. When facing the Celestial Year God, the only way he could think of to win was to win this battle, which was more important than attaining immortality itself."
"But some people truly desire immortality."
"They didn't interfere this time for two reasons. First, Jade City was not what they had in mind, and second, they had seen something from their respective bridges, which gave them even greater ambition."
"Compared to being restrained by obstacles and having to obey Dong Xuan, they wanted to break through these obstacles and enter the realm of returning home, achieving true freedom."
"..."
"Is this what you wanted to tell me?"
He tilted his head slightly, looking at the elderly man guarding the ancestral hall, his eyes filled with a clear sense of inquiry.
The Ancestral Hall Elder also looked at him and said softly, "I'm just reminding you that compared to the ability to carry something, the Ten Surnames' skill in avoiding trouble is the greatest."
"From the day the Stone Pavilion Alliance was formed, it became the greatest trouble in this world."
"Although the Stone Pavilion Alliance has now become a joke, the things that make the Ten Surnames wary of each other, once they leave a trace, are not so easily erased..."
"..."
As Hu Ma listened to these words, he became solemn: "What was left in the Stone Pavilion?"
"The Human Skin Ledger."
The Ancestral Hall Elder didn't hesitate and revealed everything: "The rules written on the human skin peeled from the emperor's body are the foundation of the Stone Pavilion Alliance."
"The emperor's skin?"
Hu Ma was slightly startled, then felt incredulous: "Isn't that skin in the Meng family's possession?"
It was not only in the Meng family's possession, but it had even been torn apart by him, and from the texture at the time... it was indeed from the royal family.
"If the Meng family doesn't truly believe it, how would they be willing to become Ghost Walkers and carry that unlucky thing from the depths of the Netherworld, which could lead to their family's extinction?"
The Ancestral Hall Elder gave a cold smile and said, "That skin is indeed from the royal family, but it belongs to the Crown Prince. It was personally peeled off by the State Preceptor and several others and given to the Meng family."
"The real emperor's skin has always been hidden in the Stone Pavilion."
"After all, for the Celestial Year God, it could be said that it's his account book..."
Hu Ma's expression became slightly more serious. This was something the State Preceptor had never mentioned, and the other six surnames had also unanimously remained silent about it. For a moment, he didn't know what it was for, but he couldn't help but be concerned.
"Just remember it, no need to worry too much. After all, your Hu family's ancestors knew about the existence of that skin but still chose this path."
After the reminder from the Ancestral Hall Elder, he sighed lightly, waved his hand, and said, "Since this path has been chosen, then do what needs to be done. There's no need to rush to move the Hu family's incense offerings. I'll be here to watch over them."
"Focus on what you should be doing. I also want to see the path your Hu family has gambled on, in place of those who have passed away."
"..."
Upon hearing this, Hu Ma realized and turned to look. The sky was already nearing dusk, and the entire city was deathly silent. No one knew when it started, but suddenly, in this overly bustling and lively Imperial Capital, various hardships and pains began to emerge.
People walking on the road suddenly had their flesh and blood slowly peeling away, and those who were originally robust suddenly fell to the ground, their cries of pain filling the air.
A thick mist rose from the Imperial Capital, shrouding it in a faint purple aura.
The former Imperial Capital, despite its various malevolent occurrences, had achieved a subtle balance. But now, with the incense offerings of the Ten Surnames leaving the capital, the purple aura within the city began to disperse uncontrollably.
As the purple aura dispersed, the Imperial Capital, which was supported by this aura, seemed to have its beautiful facade peeled away, revealing a skeletal appearance.
Even in the Wang family's pharmacy, the door sealing the flesh-blood furnace suddenly shattered, and blood-red tentacles emerged, like the ghosts of the Nine Underworlds, searching for something in the mortal realm.
The city's residents also became expressionless at this moment, their bodies appearing taller, and their feet rising uncontrollably.
They only needed to touch the ground with their toes, floating as if in a trance, and walking indifferently through the streets.
At this moment, the street-clearing drum suddenly sounded.
A few beats, as if imbued with a mysterious magic, returned the city to an eerie calm.
Hu Ma stood up, left the ancestral hall, and turned to see the elderly man already holding a broom, sweeping slowly. Gradually, a hazy blue mist rose, enveloping the small ancestral hall within.
The demonic fog, layer upon layer, was suffocating.
Hu Ma sighed deeply, took a step forward, and walked down the mountain. The reincarnates were already waiting for him; everything was ready. It was time for the religious rite to begin!
(End of Chapter)
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