https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-826-The-Cloudy-County-Gourd-Army/12920044/
Chapter 825: Five Balance Stones
Chapter 825: Five Balance Stones
"Balance Stones?"
Looking at the two balance stones placed before him, even Hu Ma found them intriguing.
"Those two majestic mountains were actually created from these things?"
The Illusionary Dao Sect's claim of nine fakes and one real seemed justified. These two mountains were the most genuine things Hu Ma had ever seen from the Illusionary Dao Sect. With their own and Second Pot Head's discerning eyes, they couldn't spot any flaws.
But to their surprise, after forcefully dismantling them, they turned out to be fake as well. Only by using these two balance stones could such mountains be formed, causing such a commotion.
The most crucial part was that Hu Ma also had one of these balance stones, currently placed in the Blood Food Mine.
However, he didn't know how to use it. In his eyes, the balance stone was just an ordinary stone that common people couldn't move.
These two balance stones varied in size; one was as large as a basketball, while the other was as small as an egg, even smaller than his own.
"Though the bubble is large, it has no weight, but the balance stone, though small, can weigh a thousand pounds."
Flower Carving Wine sighed and said, "This thing was created by the emperor who was skinned before the demise of Duyi. In theory, it can be used to weigh the entire world."
"If it can weigh the world, then it must have infinite weight."
"Therefore, many magical techniques and Dao Sects can be performed using this object, and its divine mystery can also suppress numerous heretical sects and troublesome techniques."
"Unfortunately, this balance stone was originally created as a set of five. Only when they are gathered together can they truly weigh the world. However, the other stones have long been lost, and it will take some effort to find them all."
"..."
"Five?"
Hu Ma nodded.
Initially, Iron Goddess told him that to perform the Heaven Worship Grand Ceremony, they needed to gather the five sacred objects that govern the world.
The Divine Seal, Balance Stones, Longevity Fruit, General's Order, and Emperor's Hide.
Now, with the Grain Guard Army as his sword, he was determined to forge the Divine Seal by defeating all the Grassroots Kings.
However, with his uprising, clues about the other sacred objects also emerged.
"The Ten Surnames inherited the Duyi legacy, and over the past twenty years, they have all become stronger. It's no surprise that the world's treasures are in their hands."
Currently, the most apparent objects are the Divine Seal, which he knows how to refine, and the Emperor's Hide, which was used as an account book and is now in the Stone Pavilion. The other objects still require careful attention.
Hu Ma, upon seeing the balance stone, suddenly realized the significance of the five sacred objects. Among them, the Divine Seal was the most challenging to obtain, requiring the defeat of all Grassroots Kings and the world's extraordinary individuals to earn the Heavenly Mandate. So, it was the object he valued the most.
But to perform the Heaven Worship Grand Ceremony, all five sacred objects were indispensable. The other sacred objects were also crucial, but unfortunately, he couldn't spare the time to search for them at the moment.
Thinking this, he placed the stone weights there, while Second Pot Head examined the two blackened objects with skepticism, doubting Flower Carving Wine's claims. He approached them for a closer inspection.
Hu Ma looked at Flower Carving Wine with respect and asked, "Are you planning to join the Grain Guard Army now?"
This time, with the acquisition of the two balance stones, they had achieved a great feat. If one were to analyze it, the mountains were moved by a deity invited by this man, and the Illusionary Dao Sect's techniques were also broken by him. These two balance stones were his spoils of war, yet he handed them over to Hu Ma.
Throughout the entire process, he only enjoyed a meal provided by the Grain Guard Army and a cup of tea brewed by Wu He.
...The tea was brewed by Wu He, and he merely borrowed it to offer to Flower Carving Wine.
Flower Carving Wine seemed like a genuine person. He had been taken advantage of by other reincarnates before.
But he had achieved such a significant feat and was willing to serve in the Grain Guard Army, which was both surprising and delightful.
"Yes."
Flower Carving Wine smiled and said, "It's not for seeking an official position. I'm going to the army to help them tend to the incense fire and reunite the incense fire of the world."
"Returning the deities to the people is a grand project and a significant event for the people of this world. You initiated this project, but after starting it, you left for the capital and competed for the Heavenly Mandate, causing endless trouble and leaving it to the demon of the Unchanging Li Family."
"Those people also have some understanding, but I don't think their level is that high. Now that the Grain Guard Army has left Bright State, the incense fire will also spread beyond Bright State. Someone needs to oversee the construction of temples and deity stands in various places."
"Although it will be a tedious and exhausting task, it will be of great use when we open the Longevity Palace and seek the Longevity Fruit, one of the five sacred objects. We must not neglect this matter."
"..."
Hu Ma felt ashamed as he listened. Whether it was returning the deities to the people or leading and teaching the Unchanging Li Family, these were all his responsibilities.
But I really didn't have the time...
After listening to Flower Carving Wine's words and seeing his initiative, he could only sigh and sincerely say, "Then I wish you the best, brother."
"In the future, when you speak to us, there's no need to be so distant."
Flower Carving Wine seemed to sense the formality in Hu Ma's words. Looking into his eyes, he smiled and said, "You've recognized your identity and know where we're from, so you're being cautious in your attitude towards us."
"But in my opinion, you don't need to take those words about help summoned from beyond the heavens to heart. The previous generation of Reincarnates were all astonishingly talented and exceptional, and they did have a proud air of being above the mortal world."
"But our generation is different."
"These twenty years, whether you call it waiting for the right moment or being forced into it, we've been hiding for so long that it's a bad thing for us. But I think just the opposite—it's precisely because of these twenty years of cautious seclusion that we've come to understand this world better."
"I'm a Temple Guardian Spirit, and I usually only serve at a small temple in the mountains, tending to the Incense Fire and interpreting omens for people."
"After a while, I don't feel like an outsider. I'm just one of the locals who had a big dream."
"I'm originally from here, so how can I hide from the disasters of this world? When it's my time, I'll naturally take action."
"..."
His words indeed gave Hu Ma a new understanding of the Reincarnates as a group. He nodded silently, took note of it, and saw Flower Carving Wine off.
Then he turned to Wu He, who was standing beside him, and said, "Sister, are you planning to return to the Zhao Family or go back to Qing Shi Town first?"
Theoretically, Wu He was a member of the Zhao Family, but she had only delivered a message. Whether it was the destruction of the two mountains or the stone weights brought by Flower Carving Wine, she didn't seem to care.
When she saw Hu Ma and Flower Carving Wine talking, she had tactfully walked a few steps away to give them some privacy.
Now that Hu Ma was asking her, she smiled slightly and said, "No, I followed my father around the world since I was young, so Qing Shi Town isn't really my hometown. Seeing Brother Hu now is enough to make me content."
"But my task isn't finished yet; I need to deliver another message to Brother Hu."
"..."
"There's more?"
Hu Ma was surprised. What was that Zhao Family kid up to? Was he using his old acquaintance as a messenger?
"Actually, the young master of the Zhao Family also said before I came that he thought these two mountains might not be a problem for Brother Hu. So, he divided the message into two parts."
Sister Wu He seemed happy for Hu Ma as well, and she smiled, "He said that after Brother Hu sees these two mountains, if you give him some face, he'll give up Teng Prefecture first and go to Quzhou to deal with that fierce monster."
"If you don't give him face and break his spell, then take these two stone weights and go to Quzhou."
"?"
This time, Hu Ma understood, "Is that kid holding a grudge against someone? Does he want me to go and fight him first?"
"If the Illusionary Dao Sect is in such a hurry, they're welcome to come and have a spell duel with me first."
"It's not that."
Cheng He pursed her lips and smiled, "The young master of the Zhao Family said that Brother Hu, you would definitely understand the importance of these two stone weights, but he also sees that although they are powerful, they won't be of much use if they aren't complete."
"And he just happens to know where the rest of the stone weights are."
"..."
"What?"
Hu Ma was a bit surprised to hear this.
Before he could even open his mouth, he saw Er Guo Tou, who had been writing and drawing next to the two stone weights the whole time, becoming more and more engrossed in his study. Er Guo Tou exclaimed with delight, "Where?"
Both Hu Ma and Wu He instinctively looked at him, and they saw that after studying for so long, Er Guo Tou's expression was already excited, "This thing is of great use in our Wandering Ghost Ritual..."
"Solid!"
"I like solid things like this."
"What we fear most when we perform the Wandering Ghost Ritual is that the altar is too fragile. Like that time in Shangjing, the State Tutor lifted his foot and kicked my altar to pieces, and he just walked away."
"But if I use this to set my altar, that old man could kick until his foot swells up, and he still wouldn't be able to break it..."
"..."
Er Guo Tou became more and more excited as he spoke, grabbing Hu Ma's arm, "Brother, are you sure that young master of the Zhao Family isn't one of us? How could he be so generous to give us such a good thing?"
Then he turned to Wu He, "Quick, quick, tell us, and Uncle will reward you with a few pounds of blood food later!"
Wu He's face turned slightly red, and she lowered her head, slowly saying, "The young master of the Zhao Family said that he knows the location of at least two stone weights. One is in the Unchanging Li Family, used as a well cover stone, and the other is in the hands of the Blessed King of Quzhou."
"So, he invited you to attack Quzhou first, which benefits everyone. If those two stone weights can be obtained, give them all to Brother Hu as a gift."
"Of course, even if we get these two, we'd still be missing one."
"But he promised that if you agree, he will use the Illusionary Dao Sect's informants to help you find clues to the fifth stone weight."
"..."
Upon hearing this, Hu Ma became somewhat excited. The fifth stone weight is right there in my Blood Food Mine, and the workers usually use it to dry clothes...
Now, it seems that I have to gather this stone weight, one of the five treasures, before even refining the Heavensward Sealing Seal. Zhao's young master intends to eliminate the Blessed King of Quzhou, but his reasons are unclear.
However, I must go!
The only issue is that the Grain Guard Army has just left Ming State and is still settling in the Eastern Mountain Region. They haven't even caught their breath, and now they're expected to face the massive Quzhou and its Blessed King. Is this a bit...
...
...
At the same time that Hu Ma unexpectedly learned about the stone weights, leaving him stunned, the Grain Guard Army was also undergoing tremendous changes.
In just a short time, the reputation of the Grain Guard Army had spread far and wide.
In times of chaos, people's lives are as fragile as grass, like fish on a chopping board, and sometimes, it's as if they're forced to sit at a giant gambling table, compelled to place bets.
If you win, your descendants will enjoy wealth and honor; if you lose, your entire family will suffer.
Since we must bet, and we're wagering on a certain Grassroots King, then the reputation of these Grassroots Kings becomes paramount.
The decree of King Yang Gong of Ming State forced two mountains to relocate overnight, becoming a sensational tale.
In just a short time, countless people were drawn to join, including bandits with their troops, those with nowhere else to turn, and struggling scholars seeking fortune. Even the noble families from various regions started sending people to make contact.
The shortage of people and officials due to the expansion of territory was temporarily alleviated by this event.
This growth in strength was entirely unexpected and even more beneficial than capturing Lake State. At this moment, the Bright King has already formed alliances with Gown State, Melon State, Guan Prefecture, Lake State, and Teng Prefecture, establishing a strong foundation in the surrounding regions.
What was once a minor power in Ming State has now become like fish returning to the sea, with the Dragon Gate in sight.
However, just as the situation seemed to stabilize, King Yang Gong of Ming State received two alliance treaties, one from U State and the other from Quzhou.
The letter from the Blessed King of Quzhou stated that the Grain Guard Army had a significant reputation and seemed capable. As his tenth concubine's birthday approached, he requested a grand gift and asked for the Bright King's presence at the celebration. He promised to assist if the Bright King would listen to his advice in the future.
The Chaos King of U State praised the bravery of the Grain Guard Army and the wisdom of the Bright King. He acknowledged the turbulent times, the suffering of the people, and their struggle to find food. He proposed a trade agreement with Ming State, offering salt and iron tools in exchange for grain, but insisted that the Bright King personally come to discuss the details.
"Isn't this nonsense?"
Iron Mouth read the two letters and slammed the table, "U State is in the south, and Quzhou is in the north, separated by the entire Eastern Mountain Region. How can they both want to form an alliance at the same time, and both require the Bright King's personal presence?"
"Even if the Bright King can't personally venture into dangerous territories, there's no way he can be in two places at once. I suspect that both sides have ill intentions and are looking for trouble."
"The problem is that these two have no connection whatsoever, yet they both want to cause trouble for our Grain Guard Army."
Someone nearby also understood the situation, "In theory, our Grain Guard Army has just captured Lake State, subdued Teng Prefecture, and gained many new recruits. It's time to bestow titles and ranks and manage our territory. But they don't seem to want to let us have any peace."
As everyone discussed, King Yang Gong spoke up, "Then let's fight."
He put down the scroll in his hand, which contained intelligence from various scouts about the surrounding Grassroots Kings. What he had just read was about Quzhou.
His expression turned grim, "How dare he call himself a king? He's a murderer who slaughters cities, fuses corpses to create armor, and under the guise of forming an alliance, he wants all the kings to kneel before him..."
"Ever since we left Ming State, I've known there would be no easy days. Since they're the ones starting trouble, let's just attack directly."
(End of Chapter)
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