Chapter 866: The Time Has Come, Heaven's Mandate Returns
Chapter 866: The Time Has Come, Heaven's Mandate Returns
In the mortal world, Hu Ma had merely slept for a while.
No matter how bizarre, magnificent, or earth-shattering the events in the Nether Palace were, it was all just a dream to him.
Dreams are usually personal matters, but when he encountered something mysterious and bizarre through this dream, it suddenly took on a much larger significance.
The decisions he made in this dream instantly created indescribable, earth-shattering waves that surged from the deepest and most distant places, reaching the mortal world and impacting countless unprepared people.
On Mount Dai Ai, the National Teacher watched Lao Suandan's disoriented state, silent and unmoving.
As the foremost practitioner of supernatural arts in the world, his hands were always steady, and his judgment was always accurate, but at this moment, his entire body trembled. He couldn't describe what he had witnessed, and it left him unable to comprehend yet profoundly moved.
In the Capital City, the descendants of the Hu family became the first to constantly make him feel a sense of defeat and frustration.
However, he had to admit that he had underestimated them. His pride, knowledge, and abilities, which he had always been proud of, suddenly seemed so insignificant and fragile.
After a long while, he stood up and approached Hu Ma's lifeless body, which now resembled a statue. He sighed softly, "I finally understand... I've taken the wrong path."
In his mind, he recalled the admiration he once felt for the reincarnates and his longing for the otherworldly civilization.
It was all true, but later, his pride was stirred, and he constantly sought to surpass or earn the respect and awe of those people. This was also true.
For someone like the National Teacher, achieving earth-shattering feats, surpassing others, or earning their respect through his knowledge and abilities, was a contradictory yet unified feeling.
But the events in the Capital City declared his complete defeat.
And now, on Mount Dai Ai, he witnessed an act that truly deserved the respect and even admiration of those people.
Could it be so simple? Some things didn't necessarily require the smartest person in the world to accomplish; the purest and most honest people could also achieve them.
Lao Suandan, lying on the ground, wailed and pounded the earth, his crying becoming irritating.
The National Teacher sighed, "Stop crying..."
"How can I not cry?"
Lao Suandan, who had previously shown respect to the world's foremost practitioner and the former grand master of the Daluo Fa Jiao, now pointed at him and cursed, "I cry for this world, I cry for the Hu family's final cry in this world, I cry for the Hu family who entered the Nether Palace before marrying, and I cry for my own foolishness..."
"Why, in the end, is the Hu family the one paying the price?"
"You people with great abilities, why do you only know how to place bets and not take on the heavy burden?"
"You cry well, and it's brilliant!"
The National Teacher, despite being pointed at and cursed, couldn't help but laugh. He suddenly clapped and shouted, "If the Hu family bloodline truly ends in the Nether Palace, then this world deserves such a cry. So, wait until he truly breathes his last breath before you cry again..."
Lao Suandan, after a moment of realization, abruptly stopped his crying.
Wiping his face, he asked, "I can stop crying, but what do you mean by that?"
The National Teacher turned away coldly and placed his hand on Hu Ma's shoulder, "Go and invite the Wang family over."
Lao Suandan opened his mouth slightly, wanting to ask something, but he swallowed his words and jumped up to run.
At that moment, the immortal Wang family, who had been waiting nearby, had already experienced a shock no less intense than that of the National Teacher and Lao Suandan.
Before this, the Wang family had encountered the most purple aura among all mortals, in order to create the immortal Bai Yu Jing, they had almost depleted nearly one-tenth of the energy between heaven and earth. But now, they witnessed an even greater sight.
They saw the rolling purple aura being reclaimed from the Nether Palace and returned to the mortal world.
After all, the Wang family was originally from a line of physicians, and they instinctively calculated the immense amount of yin virtue this required. The immortal Wang family was only awed by one thing: saving countless lives, surpassing their own abilities.
The Wang family could bring back the dead from twenty years ago, but if someone could save millions of lives, how could they possibly compare?
"National Teacher, this is..."
They approached the National Teacher, gazing at Hu Ma's lifeless body, devoid of any vital energy. "We've come to save him."
The National Teacher looked at Hu Ma's corpse, devoid of any life force, and said softly, "You can choose not to save him. That's your decision, Wang family."
"But I've conceded. If my fate is to achieve nothing in this life and not gain recognition from heaven and earth, then so be it. However, I must live up to my abilities. Now that I've acquired these skills, I must ensure they serve some purpose."
As he spoke, he reached into the nearby bushes and broke off a wooden stick. Using his finger as a knife, he carved it into three chopsticks and, with his back to the Wang family, slowly began to explain:
"When the Yellow Springs Eight Sceneries were divided, the Wang family received the Naihe Bridge.
"It's a pity that in order to prolong the world's life by twenty years, the Naihe Bridge was already severed by me. As a result, the Wang family's foundation is naturally shallower than the others, and we can only place our bets on the Immortal White Jade City."
"You've always wanted me to rebuild the Naihe Bridge, but I haven't agreed. However, now..."
"..."
He paused for a moment, then spoke softly, "I want to rebuild this bridge, but not for the Wang family. It's for him, for the Hu family."
The Wang family members, who were summoned, had already guessed the National Teacher's intention, but their hearts still wavered with hesitation.
"Since I've seen him take two steps, I'll help him take the third."
The National Teacher, no longer paying attention to the Wang family's expressions, slowly began to speak, "So, I'd like to ask the Wang family to hand over the authority of the severed Naihe Bridge."
His words were light and calm, yet they carried a sense of courtesy. However, the Wang family members sensed a hint of murderous intent in the National Teacher's casual tone, and their hearts shuddered, daring not to say a word. They obediently cut their palms and let the blood drip onto the ground.
The National Teacher, holding three pairs of chopsticks, inserted one into the blood, placed another on Hu Ma's palm, and twisted the third pair, connecting them at one point.
It looked like a bridge.
"Hu Ma, you're decisive and pure-hearted."
He looked at Hu Ma's face, slowly placing the other end of the chopsticks on Hu Ma's body. His voice carried a hint of pride and a cold smile, "I may not be as good as you, but there's something I must say..."
"This isn't how things should be done!"
"Being ruthless isn't enough; you're still too young. Your actions always lack a bit of finesse. Today, I'll make up for it!"
"..."
As he spoke, he released his palms and formed a mudra in front of him, chanting a spell in a low voice, "The Yin and Yang are severed, the bridge between life and death."
"Since you've made your decision, is it fair for you to gamble your life with the Hall of Shadows at your current level?"
"I'll give you a boost, helping you reach the Non-Divine Realm first. Wouldn't that be better?"
"..."
Seeing the National Teacher's expression, as if facing a formidable foe, Wang Changsheng, the young master of the Wang family, spoke with a trembling voice, "Father, what is the National Teacher planning...?"
The Wang family's Zhushu, looking at the National Teacher's solemn expression, sighed softly and looked up at the vast Great Sorrow Mountain, where the purple aura had returned to the mortal realm. Yet, on the mountain, the purple aura still lingered.
Even the residual aura was a rare sight in the world, and the Zhushu seemed to have gone through countless struggles. Finally, he shook his head and said in a deep voice, "Start the furnace, refine the pill!"
The others were all taken aback and looked at him in surprise.
The Zhushu's face seemed to carry a bitter smile, but there was also determination, somewhat resembling the expression on Hu Ma's corpse, as he said, "The Exorcism Hu Clan, having accomplished such a feat, is truly worthy of being one of the Ten Clans..."
"The mortal calamity has begun, and the world is changing. Soon, the world's techniques will cease to exist."
"For twenty years, the Ten Clans have wanted to break free from their constraints, but they never expected that even their final skills would be lost. Yet, if they can't keep them, why not let go of the pain?"
"While the purple aura is still sufficient, let's showcase the Wang family's greatest skill one last time, leaving a final impression in this world..."
"Perhaps the Wang family has lost, been defeated, and may even become a laughingstock in the future."
"But as long as we use this skill to save someone in the end, it won't be in vain for us, the descendants of the Exorcism Hall. We won't regret dying here, leaving behind a name!"
"..."
"White family's sister, your Hu family is truly ruthless..."
In the Capital City, in front of the Hu family's ancestral hall, the elderly guardian of the hall had lit the last incense stick.
He stood upright, placing the incense in front of the hall, and as he looked up, he sighed softly. It seemed as if he had endless regrets, but suddenly, the voice of the Hu family's grandmother echoed in the wind, and she sighed lightly, "I married into the Hu family, and it's been worth it."
The guardian didn't know how to respond. Of course, it was a loss.
The entire Hu family had suffered a loss, but he immediately heard the grandmother's laughter, "It's worth it!"
"Our old man, the son I gave birth to, and even my grandson, who hasn't enjoyed a day of peace, are all outstanding."
"The entire clan is filled with heroic figures, and even I, as the grandmother, have gained face. How could it be a loss?"
"In the mountains, I waited for seventeen years, and when I finally saw my grandson wake up, able to speak and smile like others, and knowing how to show respect to me, I looked at my own flesh and blood, but I worried that he still had a muddled mind and couldn't understand many things I wanted to tell him."
"I only feared that I wouldn't have enough time to teach him, but now I see, old woman, what do I have to regret?"
"He is of the Hu family's blood, and he is my grandson. He didn't need teaching, and he grew into this fine young man. Whether it's the strength to shoulder the responsibilities of this place or the heart to entrust one's life to another..."
"Grandmother, I'm just happy looking at him. I never thought I'd have such a wonderful grandson..."
"So, if he's such a good grandson, how can I bear to let him be bullied?"
"..."
After saying these words, the incense stick suddenly went out, and in that instant, a gust of yin wind blew from the ancestral hall, spreading throughout the world and flying towards all the pavilions.
Between heaven and earth, Bu Shi Niu Senior Brother, holding a green incense stick, was on his way to the Capital City. At this moment, he paused in his steps.
He listened to the sounds carried by the wind, slowly coming to a stop, and spoke softly, "The Hu Clan leader of Exorcism Hall, the Bu Shi Niu Master, has taken on the responsibility of protecting the people. As his disciples, we offer incense for him..."
As he spoke, he raised the green incense stick high above his head, "In reverence to the Master!"
Behind him, the disciples of the Bu Shi Niu Sect also stopped in their tracks, simultaneously lifting their incense sticks. From each incense stick, a wisp of green smoke rose, connecting and forming a vast net between heaven and earth.
Within this net, countless disciples of the Bu Shi Niu Sect stood, their backs to the towns and villages of the world. At this moment, all their voices converged as one, "In reverence to the Master!"
The disciples, who were originally offering incense to the deities, temporarily halted their steps. In this instant, offering incense to their own master was equivalent to offering incense to the divine!
"Ah..."
The incense smoke billowed and scattered in all directions, then gathered together again due to a single thought, swirling upwards.
Between heaven and earth, there were countless Pond Deities.
The Duyi Dynasty once attempted to unify all the deities under the name of 'Palace Deities', replacing the Pond Deities. However, this was inherently unreasonable.
The Emperor should not have the authority to command the Pond Deities.
The Pond Deities are manifestations of the people's hearts and minds, while the dynasty's Emperor is a product of concentrated power and will. They complement each other, but can never achieve perfect unity.
When they contradict, chaos ensues, and the world turns upside down.
When they align, the people's hearts become like dragons, overlooking the world.
Yet, despite their inability to reach unity, both are ever-changing, like two twisted, evolving curves. There is always a moment when they achieve a subtle harmony.
Like right now!
In theory, with the world under a new heaven, even the wills of the Pond Deities should disappear. But, for now, their will still exists.
The words of the Ancestral Hall in the Capital City spread throughout the human realm, allowing the Mountain Lord and the Pond Deities, new deities, and ancestral deities to hear. The Pond Deities do not favor one person but are moved by merit. At this moment, they felt the merit of the world.
Thus, in Old Yin Mountain, the Mountain Lord manifested one last time, appearing in his personal form.
He remained seated on the tree stump, his gaze falling upon Hu Ma in the Hall of Shadows, and he sighed softly.
"As it should be..."
"I knew from the start that he would be a good child..."
"Even when I first met him in the forest, and he seemed a bit mischievous, he was still a good child..."
"It's no wonder that when I spoke to him before, I always felt like he was teaching me how to do things. With this thought in my heart, what need is there for us, the intangible, to come and offer protection?"
"..."
In the forest, the original body of Liu'er Niang trembled and stretched out. It was the season for willow trees to sprout new buds, but this particular willow suddenly broke a few branches for no apparent reason. As the incense smoke curled through the mountains, these branches drifted away, their destination unknown...
...Offering it proactively!
...After all, if we don't offer it, they'll come and take it by force!
...
"Expending all our strength, to help him one last time?"
Red Wine Miss's heart skipped a beat when she heard Tie Guan Yin's words.
A glimmer of hope seemed to appear, but she couldn't help but feel anxious, and asked tensely, "How?"
"Just wait for the right moment!"
Tie Guan Yin's voice became solemn. The Twelve Ghost Pavilions located throughout the Capital City began to tremble as the Ancestral Hall's voice echoed throughout the world.
Little by little, they began to levitate, hovering about a foot above the ground. But the immense power they emitted reverberated through the city, sounding like rolling thunder. They could connect heaven and earth above and suppress the netherworld below.
"Individual abilities, no matter how great, cannot surpass this world, nor the people of this world..."
"But there will always be that one person who can capture the attention of everyone in this world."
"In this moment, what can the Hall of Shadows, or even the Earth Deity, do?"
"..."
At this instant, she was no longer just speaking to Red Wine Miss but addressing the reincarnates still in the human realm, "And when this moment arrives, it will be the time for our hopes to come true."
"Everyone, see how considerate your sister is?"
"I know not all of you have found your paths, so I've prepared this for you..."
"Twenty-four years ago, Lao Jun Mei gave the gift of his wisdom to a baby in this world. Twenty-four years later, this baby used his determination and kindness to return a precious gift to us reincarnates..."
"That gift is called... hope!"
"..."
She laughed, her voice echoing between the various spirit temples, "Friends, the time has come, and the mandate of heaven is fulfilled. It's time for our final curtain call!"
"May we open our eyes to a bright and sunny day!"
(End of Chapter)
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