Twilight Boundary-Chapter 436 - 430: The Last Message

Time was running out, and these were the only questions he could ask.

When Reincarnators usually met, they would typically exchange pleasantries, introduce themselves, and discuss their backgrounds and desires. Sometimes they would even gauge each other’s depth and consider if exchanging information or working together was worthwhile.

But now, there was no time for that. Hu Ma asked loudly, wanting to get as many answers as possible before the other’s Life Incense burned out.

What he could think of now, most important to a Reincarnator, were these few secrets. He didn’t even consider seeking answers to certain problems within himself.

His loud voice, however, reminded the Divine Statue. Now, this Divine Statue, or rather the Reincarnator codenamed Big Red Robe, seemed to be heavily struck by the current situation.

It was like waking up to discover that the wife for whom he had taken three stabs from ruffians had remarried, his son had become a delinquent, and his daughter was working in Heaven, thoroughly enjoying herself.

In his agitation, even the Life Incense burned faster than usual. Yet Hu Ma’s words suddenly made him realize the urgency of time. Despite the heavy blow, nothing could alter his fate now. He only had time left to impart the most useful information.

Within the chest of the Divine Statue, there was an intertwined sound of suppressed air, as if it was attempting to breathe and calm itself.

Of course, this was merely a habitual action. In its current state between life and death, it had no power to breathe. But it forced itself to remain calm, carefully thinking about Hu Ma’s questions, though its voice clearly trembled.

As it forced itself to calm, the first thing it said was, "Couldn’t you ask me a question that I could answer with simple words?"

Then came the second sentence, "Those damned bastards weighed the world with stone weights and are ready to sell it off..."

"And we Reincarnators, Reincarnators are Tai Sui’s inner demons. Only we can stop it..."

"That’s why the Hu Family’s Zhensui Mansion, having discovered this point, took the lead in the Stone Pavilion to devise a plan against us. But they don’t understand, if even we..."

"...Holy shit!"

"..."

It sensed its time was short and desperately wanted to leave its answers. But as it spoke, it suddenly cursed in shock. The abrupt change took even Hu Ma by surprise, leaving him momentarily unresponsive.

Instantly, he sensed that within the eyes of the Divine Statue, its last energy seemed to burn, bursting out with what was left of its cultivation: "Impudent!"

Its voice turned sharp and its demeanor fierce, making even Hu Ma feel as if his Divine Soul was trembling.

It was like the awe a wandering ghost would feel before a Guest’s might, where the slightest menacing look would scatter its soul.

But this Divine Statue was not merely shouting.

As it attempted to impart the most crucial message, and Hu Ma focused all his attention on listening, neither he nor Hu Ma noticed a snake-like neck emerging slowly from Hu Ma’s shoulder.

It also had a face like Hu Ma’s, but its appearance was indescribably sinister.

It seemed captivated by what it heard, or perhaps overly concerned, and had emerged from Hu Ma’s body, listening with great intent.

This bizarre scene startled not only the Divine Statue but also shocked Hu Ma when he caught a glimpse from the corner of his eye. "What the hell is that? Did it hear everything we were saying?"

As he panicked internally, the Divine Statue, in an outburst of rage, suddenly straightened up. Its enormous palm lifted with a thunderous boom, almost overwhelming as it aimed fiercely to smash down onto Hu Ma.

It had evidently determined that Hu Ma was also suspicious and had decided to slap him to death.

Facing its savage face, Hu Ma was stunned on the spot.

Confronted by this level of murderous intent, Hu Ma had no power to resist. However, his Divine Soul instinctively sensed the threat. Shadowy winds surged forth—a benefit from his earlier Qi Eating initiation—instinctively opposing the incoming palm.

Nevertheless, the difference between them was too vast. The residual power of this palm could disperse Hu Ma’s negligible shadowy wind. Yet, unexpectedly, the Divine Statue sensed this shadowy wind and hesitated for a moment in its attack.

SWISH!

The snake with Hu Ma’s features, upon hearing the Divine Statue’s roar, immediately whooshed and hid back inside Hu Ma’s body.

At present, Hu Ma existed in the state of a Divine Soul, his own awareness sensitive. But when it hid inside, he couldn’t figure out where it had gone.

Yet at this moment, as the Divine Statue brought its hand down, it changed its mind. It shifted from a slap to a grip, seizing Hu Ma’s arm. The next instant, Hu Ma felt his arm become scorching hot, as if encircled by a branding iron.

The most crucial part was that within this arm, something was clearly rushing back and forth, seemingly eager to escape.

"Great Mighty Sky General Seal?"

The Divine Statue withdrew its hand, but a large black handprint already marked Hu Ma’s arm. The Divine Statue’s face showed incomparable terror. Staring intently at him, its eyes filled with astonishment and surprise, its voice trembled slightly as it asked,

"Aren’t you supposed to be dead?"

"Dead?"

Dead? Hu Ma was startled. Could it be that it saw through me, that I was resurrected from the dead?

But immediately, seeing Hu Ma’s look of surprise, the Divine Statue shifted its words. It said in a deep voice, "I understand now. You’ve truly solved that problem. Then there’s still a chance..."

Before Hu Ma could react, the statue had already moved closer. It said in a deep voice, "Someone has tampered with your Divine Soul. I have sealed it in your arm. It heard our dialogue; you must ensure it cannot escape..."

"The crux of the Heavenly General Seal is its strong backlash, which requires an official position to suppress. Without one, you must find objects that can increase the weight of your fate to master it..."

The previous two sentences were so abrupt, touching upon the Cultivation Technique, that Hu Ma didn’t quite know how to respond, his heart merely pounding.

"Go awaken the Stone Horse and retrieve what we left in the ’not eating beef.’ Summon all Reincarnators in the name of the Great Virtuous Master. Ensure that one of our own ascends the throne. Perhaps then there will still be a sliver of hope..."

"I know you still have questions, but go seek Tieguanyin..."

"She is the last one guarding our secrets. You can ask her about all our past secret plans..."

"If, if..."

"..."

And this Divine Statue, after that angry outburst, was clearly exhausted. The Life Incense was almost gone, leaving only a wisp of smoke rising and curling around its face as it used all its remaining strength for its final words:

"If those guys don’t listen to you, tell them..."

"Don’t fuck around anymore! Our old home has already been robbed!..."

"..."

"..."

With a RUMBLE, the smoke cleared. The giant Divine Statue’s extended arm dropped, too weak to retract.

Its body shifted from a seated, bowing posture to a half-prone state.

With the last wisp of smoke dissipating, the Lifebound Spirit Temple became eerily silent, only dust gently falling. Hu Ma stood dazed, not understanding why the statue’s expression had changed so drastically at the end.

He couldn’t even grasp why the statue had claimed to be dead, or for whom those last two sentences were intended. He only felt that after speaking them, its expression seemed to shift subtly as it entrusted some secrets to him.

The more he thought in that direction, the stranger it felt. The burning sensation in his left arm persisted, as if something was crawling around inside.

Looking down, he saw a vague face seeming to press out from beneath his skin. It looked anxious and fearful, as if desperately trying to escape his body.

The black marking held it in check. Sensing Hu Ma’s gaze, it suddenly retreated and disappeared, though Hu Ma knew it was still in his left arm.

Perhaps this was the bane the Meng family had hidden within me?

But Hu Ma couldn’t focus on that now, his mind filled with the last messages left by the one codenamed Big Red Robe:

"Summon all Reincarnators?"

"Find Tieguanyin... is this also a Reincarnator’s code name?"

"And that last part... ’Our old home has already been robbed.’ What kind of strange talk is this?..."

He stood quietly in the ruined Lifebound Spirit Temple, feeling utterly overwhelmed. His mind seemed stuffed with information.

While still in confusion, he suddenly felt a chill on his head. He shivered with shock and opened his eyes to find himself sitting before the painting.

It was as if the Lifebound Spirit Temple, the dialogues, were all a dream. He had suddenly awakened from this dream because he was drenched. Little Hongtang stood a short distance away, holding a basin and cautiously watching him.

"You..."

Hu Ma stuttered. Wiping the water from his face, he asked, "Why did you pour water on me?"

"Uh..." 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Little Hongtang pointed at Hu Ma’s left arm and said dumbfoundedly, "It was on fire..."

"Hmm?"

Hu Ma turned. He saw that the sleeve on his left arm was already burnt off. A large, handprint-like mark was visibly seared into his skin, exactly where the Divine Statue had gripped him earlier.

The impact on his Divine Soul had affected his physical body, even burning his clothes?

Hu Ma exhaled deeply. He couldn’t blame Little Hongtang; she had seen him on fire and poured water to extinguish it, which was quite logical.