Twilight Boundary-Chapter 432 - 426: Password to Clear the Level
"The Beef Avoidance Sect is the legacy of the Great Master Daliang, leaving behind descendants who naturally have some curiosity and affinity toward the Reincarnators."
Left standing there, Hu Ma also felt strange, and silently pondered, But one cannot deny that to the natives of this world, they are actually a group deeply entwined with evil spirits, and are the most bizarre anomalies. Their words and actions exude a certain evil air, and after much contact, mishaps are inevitable. Should I stay to see more, or just leave? I am a Shousui man; if I truly wish to leave, unless Old Master Sun and Altar Master Tang keep a close watch on me, they cannot stop me.
...
Having made up his mind, he was not in a rush and merely pondered silently, It seems this is her residence and also their Magic Altar of the One Coin Sect. Are they not afraid I might take something and flee? Moreover, allowing me to view this painting was even more inexplicable. If I choose not to look, what then? Unless she was sure that the hidden danger within this Cultivation Technique was significant enough that I couldn’t extract myself? However, I had just entered the realm of this Cultivation Technique, and my cultivation was shallow, only having nourished the Divine Soul with a breath of yin qi. Even if I were to stop, it wouldn’t affect me; the hidden dangers couldn’t yet threaten me... Besides, even if I cannot part with this Cultivation Technique, I just need to return the scroll to her and secretly memorize this dharma method. Once I leave, I’ll find a trusted expert among the Reincarnators to help analyze it. How hard could it be to uncover the hidden dangers buried within this Cultivation Technique? She cannot seriously be so confident that outsiders wouldn’t see through traps she’s set?
As for this painting...
Hu Ma focused his mind, taking a glance, aware that many evil skills could be concealed within paintings, catching people off guard. He was prepared to divert his eyes at any moment and just gave it a quick glance. As a Shousui man, his eyesight was keen and quickly absorbed the brushstrokes of the painting. He saw it was merely an elderly back worshipping a mountain. The mountain appeared very high, but since the perspective was from behind the old man, the silhouette took up a large portion of the painting, hiding most of its content.
This woman wants me to look inside the Ghost Cave, but where is the Ghost Cave on this painting?
...
The content on the painting was not very peculiar, but a line of fine, small text beside it caught Hu Ma’s attention:
"Slay a fierce tiger, subdue a Jiao."
"Pass through the Three Ghost Gates and ascend the twelve Bone-shedding Stairs."
"Comprehend the nature of destiny to grasp the true meaning, only then can one reach the Divine Gate Platform of creation."
"Anyone with this karma, their True Spirit enters the painting, worships the Divine Map. If their fate is excellent, they may be listed as disciples of the Beef Avoidance Sect!"
...
Oh boy...
Hu Ma realized that this painting was actually a test?
He couldn’t quite understand; despite refusing apprenticeship, why did this woman still present this painting? But thinking about the origin of the Beef Avoidance Sect, he grew curious in his heart—they could learn more about the Great Virtuous Master this way, right?
Thus, though alert, he was in no hurry to leave. He wanted to see if he could gather more information, but the more he examined the painting, the more confused he became.
She mentioned there was a cave, there was a Divine Platform, but where were they? The painting seemingly showed nothing...
Yet, as Hu Ma thought, he suddenly noticed the painting’s content becoming somewhat blurry, as if one’s vision slightly defocused. Some hidden elements in the painting became unclear when scrutinized, but when his eyes were unfocused, a peculiar transformation occurred.
Because he observed the painting with his peripheral vision to avoid a trap, it seemed as though the elder in the painting began to move.
And then...
...he shifted to one side, suddenly revealing more of the painting’s content. What was initially a back worshipping a mountain, now the figure bowed aside, revealing a dark portal. From the lower end of the scroll, a winding path snaked upward, directly leading to the cave.
It can do that?
Hu Ma became immediately curious, but his caution remained. He squinted, carefully examining the newly revealed content in the painting.
Now, inside the room, he was alone. The sky outside grew dim—it was just before dawn, the world around was pitch black and silent. The room was dimly lit by two oil lamps on either side, with the door shut. The lanterns hung by the trees outside couldn’t illuminate it further, creating an enclosed world.
It was merely a painting, but upon closer inspection, it appeared different, seeming to have a world within, extremely profound. Inside, there was an inexplicable pull, seemingly inviting people to enter the painting.
Hu Ma quickly realized, It’s not an illusion; entering the painting is actually possible. It’s not a physical entry; rather, it’s the Divine Soul drifting into the painting.
When he entered the mansion as a Shousui man, his Divine Soul had already been washed with yin qi, granting him the ability to leave the shell. This was similar to when the Five Evil Gods caused trouble in Mingzhou, and the mountain lord took his Divine Soul for a night tour of the Old Yin Mountain. Only that time, his Divine Soul was summoned by the mountain lord and protected, enabling a journey across the eight hundred miles of the Old Yin Mountain in one day. Now he had the ability to leave the shell independently.
Still, he hadn’t yet practiced it.
Such an out-of-body experience was exceptionally dangerous. Suppose the Divine Soul entered the painting, and within it was something sinister preventing his return; how would he then find his way back?
Though cautious, he now understood the magic of this painting: as long as he didn’t enter with his Divine Soul, there was no harm. This understanding made him slightly bolder, and he began examining the mystical objects within the painting one by one. Gradually, every blade of grass and every tree within it came into his view. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖
Even though the elder had already stepped aside, the content of the painting remained simple. Barely visible were a fierce tiger, a Jiao, three gates poised on the path, and ten crooked, sinister steps leading straight to the cavern at its end.
Simply looking at the painting still did not reveal anything particularly special.
But as his gaze swept from top to bottom and then back to the sidestepped elder’s silhouette, Hu Ma was suddenly startled, his expression becoming somewhat peculiar.
...
...
「At the same time」
Immortal Miaoshan, along with Bai Shanzi and two Magic Kings, had left the residence and arrived at the inn where Old Master Sun previously hosted a banquet. Though it was nearly dawn, the place was already crowded, and people’s faces were filled with anxiety.
Beside them lay corpses, not yet coffined. Many were mere fragments, piled together, creating an ominous and oppressive sight.
When the crowd saw Immortal Miaoshan approaching, their spirits lifted slightly, and they surged forward, each eager to speak yet unsure where to begin. But first, Calculation emerged from the crowd with a smile, bowing to Immortal Miaoshan.
"Greetings to the Sect Hierarch! Where is our little manager?"
"Sect Hierarch, for your esteemed attention, a Corpse Demon was causing havoc in this town, and our little manager just played a significant role in dealing with it. Everyone here wants to thank him properly!"
"If he comes and everyone sees him, we can all rest assured, right?"
...
Immortal Miaoshan was startled for a moment, then glared at Calculation. She was currently irritable and the last thing she wanted was any mention of Hu Ma, yet this old fox had brought him up immediately.
Crucially, she noticed the surrounding people also looking at her. It seemed the news about the little manager driving off the Demon Corpse had already spread; even Old Master Sun and Altar Master Tang were concerned about his whereabouts.
I never intended to harm him, what’s everyone so worried about?
Immortal Miaoshan huffed coldly to herself, then said, "I gave him an opportunity for great fortune, but whether he can seize it depends on his abilities!"
But inwardly, she also faintly worried about potential troubles. That painting leads directly to the Ghost Cave. It’s part of the initiation trial for our Beef Avoidance Sect Disciples—a tricky trial reserved for those whose reliability is uncertain... Letting him see it was the only way. Every Beef Avoidance Sect Disciple attempting to cultivate the Great Mighty Sky General Seal, if they feel overwhelmed halfway through and disaster looms, enters this painting to cleanse their powers. Though they drop a realm, at least their life is preserved. That little manager refuses to join our Beef Avoidance Sect. Eventually, that Cultivation Technique will kill him. Allowing him into the painting, although damaging his cultivation, would at least save his life. But this way, explaining it later will also be troublesome. Others might even think our One Coin Sect intentionally harmed him... Damn it, it would have been better not to remind him, just let him perish silently.
...
The more she thought about it, the more difficult it became. Initially, the solution had seemed simple—seize the dharma method, even kill him if he resisted. But now, firstly, the little manager had just helped deal with the Demon Corpse; killing him after that would weigh on her conscience. Secondly... she no longer really wanted to kill him. Of course, if he remained stubborn, refused to view the painting, and simply left, that would actually be an excellent thing for her, saving her a lot of trouble... But the situation had grown complicated, and could only be resolved one step at a time.
Deep inside Immortal Miaoshan, a thought nevertheless flickered: He was able to learn the Great Mighty Sky General Seal, which is indeed karma. If he could also truly comprehend this painting, wouldn’t that make him a person destined by fate? ...Unfortunately, that’s impossible.
...
...
「Meanwhile」
In the hall of the residence, Hu Ma had already suspected that this painting, originating from the Beef Avoidance Sect, might be related to the Reincarnators. However, upon spotting a certain object in a corner of the painting, his conjecture solidified.
It was a slip of paper that drifted from the elder in the painting after he stepped aside. It bore the words: "This is one of the thirty-six caves left from the great ritual of Shangjing, directly connecting to the Netherworld, mystical indeed."
"I refined this map into a treasure, leaving a secret path, divided into seven. Those entering must prove their courage and strength, traversing the Three Passes and Twelve Tribulations to glimpse the True Spirit."
"Destined ones will see, proceeding with the passphrase..."
...
Passphrase?
Hu Ma was slightly stirred. He wasn’t interested in the painting’s trial itself, but if there was a ready-made solution, he wouldn’t mind. Eagerly, he examined the strange lines on the slip of paper. They were appended below, twisting and turning, and at a glance, vaguely resembled English characters.
Damn!
Hu Ma’s heart skipped a beat. If another Reincarnator had used English to leave a message, it would certainly be secure... but I’m not very fluent!
Yet, as he worried and scrutinized them again, he suddenly relaxed.
It wasn’t English; it was Pinyin...
