Twilight Boundary-Chapter 430 - 424 Join My Sect

BOOM!

The Demon Corpse arrived swiftly and departed just as quickly, like a muffled clap of thunder descending from the heavens—deafening, then suddenly vanishing. The malevolent aura scattered, polluting the Magical Treasure. It allowed no time for contemplation before the Demon Corpse had already escaped, taking the rampaging vindictive soul along with it.

Looking around again, all that was left was a mess strewn across the ground and the bewildered faces of the crowd.

"Gone... gone?"

Someone’s lips trembled, disbelief written all over their face. "Why would the Demon Corpse want to flee? It’s not even daytime."

Everyone knew this entity didn’t resemble a yin soul; it had some consciousness, could harm people at will, and could also feel fear.

This being harmed others based solely on instinct, devoid of the awareness to escape. And now, it wasn’t even daytime with sunlight burning it. How could it suddenly experience instinctual fear and have the thought of fleeing? Could this thing really be a Corpse Demon?

For a time, silence enveloped the surroundings, with countless gazes cast upon Hu Ma.

But Hu Ma couldn’t attend to it now. He had just swallowed and expelled some yin qi and felt his body swell, almost as if his Divine Soul was about to soar away.

With the absorption of qi, the weight of the Divine Soul increased, and his body couldn’t withstand it.

The method of Entering the Mansion was meant to be progressive. If one took too large a step, the fleshly body couldn’t contain the Divine Soul, ultimately causing it to fly away, leaving the person to die and become something akin to an Evil Ghost.

Fortunately, Hu Ma was also Entering the Mansion and Shousui, his body undergoing Death Transformation, thus avoiding rejection from the Divine Soul. Coupled with a solid physical foundation, he guided it slowly, coaxing the Divine Soul bit by bit back into his body and gradually reviving it, soothing it with all his might.

Even so, for quite some time, he dared not speak or breathe, lest the Divine Soul slip out through his Seven Apertures.

Once he adjusted to this state and no longer felt dizzy and faint, he exhaled softly. He opened his eyes to see countless strange glances aimed at him. Especially prominent was a tall figure in the crowd with a stern visage, who suddenly stepped forward.

He made no effort to conceal the suspicion in his eyes as he shouted, "Who exactly are you?"

This man was the Store Manager of the Wanma Gang. When others saw him begin to question, they faltered and halted. Yet, he waved his hand to stop them. Staring intently at Hu Ma, he advanced step by step and shouted in a deep voice,

"Before, you claimed only to have the skill of one Mansion Gate, yet now it seems you have also mastered the Qi Eating Skill to such a high degree. Then..."

"Where exactly did you learn this Qi Eating Skill from? Why did you previously conceal it from us and speak falsely?"

"..."

In an instant, his questions rendered others silent. Even Old Master Sun looked towards Hu Ma with a troubled expression, seemingly wanting to support him but finding no words that could help.

The Qi Eating Skill was a matter of utmost importance. Since this young manager had known of it beforehand, he surely had some lineage. Yet, he deliberately hid it and infiltrated the One Coin Sect. Combined with the nefarious Corpse Demon causing chaos that night, how could it not arouse suspicion?

If I say I learned it on the spot, would you believe it?

Facing this interrogation from the Store Manager of the Wanma Gang, Hu Ma let out a bitter chuckle. He had just calmed his Divine Soul and now found himself suddenly unsure of how to explain.

Dazed for a moment, his thoughts eventually cleared, and he let out a low sigh. He didn’t respond. Instead, he turned slowly to look at Immortal Miaoshan, the One Coin Sect Leader, bowing deeply and sighing,

"The immortal bestowed upon me such a powerful dharma method; why didn’t she give a forewarning, so I could be mentally prepared?"

"..."

"Huh?"

Everyone around was taken aback. They turned immediately to look at Immortal Miaoshan with varying degrees of astonishment. They speculated that this young manager, having been summoned post-feast by the immortal, might have been taught the Qi Eating Skill. Could it be that the method used just now...

...was truly merely the immortal’s teaching?

...Impossible, right?

The One Coin Sect was primarily seven parts deception and three parts genuine skill—where did this immortal acquire the ability to help someone achieve entry in just one night?

Amidst these suspicious gazes, Immortal Miaoshan herself showed signs of bewilderment. Hu Ma had recklessly charged before her to block the vindictive soul. Then, with a powerful exhalation and a palm strike, he repelled the Corpse Demon. These sequences of events left her deeply impacted as well.

Now, clearly, her heart was in disarray. Facing Hu Ma’s gaze, she seemed somewhat flustered. She remained silent for a while before suddenly waving her hand and saying, "No need to speak further of this."

"Come with me!"

"..."

"..."

These words unmistakably acknowledged what Hu Ma had just said, astonishing those around them. Within the span of a single two-hour period, the One Coin Sect Leader could assist someone with achieving entry—this immortal’s prowess was unfathomable...

"Ah, Sect Hierarch..."

Bai Shanzi, however, knew the truth. Flustered upon seeing Immortal Miaoshan intending to take Hu Ma away alone, he hurried to speak, but Immortal Miaoshan waved him off, turning to say, "Altar Master Shang, please stay here."

"Investigate the origin of the Demon Corpse, arrange for the collection of the unfortunate souls harmed by it, then organize the patrols. Once everything here is settled, come find me!"

"Everyone else, the safety of the altar is paramount. Please attend to it diligently. I have matters to attend to and will return shortly!"

"..."

Bai Shanzi, bewildered and uncertain, understood the immortal was excluding him and could only swallow his words, accepting the command.

Immortal Miaoshan appeared slightly impatient. After addressing everyone, she took two steps forward, then turned to look at Hu Ma, signaling him to follow closely.

Those around watched with expressions of doubt and confusion, unable to comprehend the situation.

At this moment, it was the One Coin Sect Leader’s birthday celebration, with sect members gathered to offer their congratulations. The Lantern Festival was about to commence. Suddenly, the altar was attacked by the Demon Corpse, leading to numerous deaths and disorder, inciting panic among the sect members. The One Coin Sect Leader should have been calming them all down.

But why did it seem like she couldn’t be bothered, and that her conversation with the young manager took precedence?

Even Bai Shanzi couldn’t grasp what the Sect Hierarch intended. He could only agree to the task, watching as the Sect Hierarch and Hu Ma went off into the distance. He then promptly thanked those who had assisted and quickly organized the tally of casualties.

Walking ahead, Immortal Miaoshan glanced back at Hu Ma several times, seeming to have questions but restraining herself.

The two quickened their pace, speeding across half the town and once again arriving at the mansion with the spirit hall in the front courtyard.

This time upon entering, Hu Ma noticed that the tree in the second courtyard, originally hung with many items, now had considerably fewer objects. The vast majority were gone, leaving only a few seemingly important ones hanging from the main branches.

They appeared to be armor, a pair of official boots, and a seal the size of a fist, among others.

How could the items suddenly be fewer?

Hu Ma quickly pondered, Unless some of them were originally hung up by them?

Under normal circumstances, he would naturally seek an opportunity to ask, but now nobody could spare the attention. The immortal led the way straight into the hall they had previously entered. Upon Hu Ma entering, she immediately turned and closed the hall doors.

With only the two of them left inside, both knew they could finally speak. They suddenly turned to each other and simultaneously asked:

"What exactly is the dharma method you taught me?"

"What exactly is your origin?"

"..."

These two questions emerged almost concurrently, causing both of them to hesitate.

Their eyes met, neither concealing the suspicion in their hearts.

Hu Ma had already sensed something was distinctly amiss, suspecting this immortal might have intentionally given him this dharma method.

Why did it happen that this method emerged when he hadn’t even fully prepared himself or considered whether to engage in Cultivation? It had just suddenly, inexplicably initiated the process.

More importantly, recalling the transformation when enveloped by the yin qi, he couldn’t even ascertain whether it was a stroke of luck, a natural development that allowed him entry, or...

...like when Entering the Mansion, where he consumed the Black Tai Sui, did the Divine Soul decide independently?

If so, that would indeed be terrifying.

And Immortal Miaoshan, for her part, also regarded Hu Ma with obvious suspicion: This method, which shouldn’t work for others, he had somehow learned with ease, even reaching initiation. This filled her with indescribable astonishment; it seemed utterly implausible.

Both harboring mutual doubts, they stood silently in the hall, unable to voice a second question.

"The method you are practicing is the Great Mighty Sky General Seal."

Only after a long time did Immortal Miaoshan slowly speak. Her clear and delicate face was burdened with indescribable gravity. "This method is not a part of the One Coin Sect, nor should it have been given to you..."

"Not given to me? Then who was it meant for?"

Hearing her words, Hu Ma was filled with a strange curiosity, asking puzzlingly, "Wasn’t this method dropped from your big tree?"

"This method was meant for..."

Immortal Miaoshan instinctively started to speak, seemingly wishing to disclose something, yet stopped short. Looking at Hu Ma’s young and handsome face, her heart became inexplicably chaotic.

The developments were too swift, too bizarre, even for her to readily explain. Remaining silent for a lengthy period, she could only let out a soft sigh and say, "Perhaps it is all dictated by fate..."

Hu Ma narrowed his eyes. Here we go again, right? When I asked for the dharma method, you gave me that same spiel. Trying to fool me again now? That’s a different matter entirely...

Unexpectedly, Immortal Miaoshan was also perplexed. She thought deeply for a long time before suddenly sighing. "Little manager, this matter bears great karmic implications. You have a kind heart; I do not wish for you to lose your life in vain. Now, I just want to ask you one thing..."

"...Do you wish to live?"

"..."

"Hmm?"

Hu Ma immediately furrowed his brow, asking, "What do you mean by this?"

Immortal Miaoshan exhaled a soft sigh, saying, "If you wish to live, then you must formally join my sect and call me Master."

"Well then..."

Hu Ma’s eyes narrowed instantly. So it was like this—the same old trick, wasn’t it...