Twilight Boundary-Chapter 681 - 672: Ancestral Fire Altar

"What the hell, they really took her?"

Hu Ma listened to what Old Master Li from the Li Family said, his face unchanged, but his heart skipped a beat.

Before this, he had always been below, with inconvenient communications. He knew that the Reincarnator above, after receiving the message he delivered, would surely make life difficult for the Meng family.

Moreover, seeing so many people coming down to deliver messages to the Eldest Master Meng, he also knew they were indeed taking action. His subsequent success in dealing with Eldest Master Meng was related to their actions above.

But…

You kidnapped the Meng family's Elder Grandmother? What are you up to?

Sure, I also kidnapped the Meng family's Eldest Master, but I had a purpose!

Not only was he startled, but Sweet Potato beside him, her eyes darting about, was also clearly intrigued.

She probably realized that during the time she was being chased everywhere by the Impermanence Li Family, she had missed out on something incredible.

Looking back, I must see who is so fierce, feeling the need to kidnap the family's Lady…

Thinking this secretly, Hu Ma quickly adjusted his expression and exclaimed in surprise, "Oh my! Could it be the Meng family, one of the Ten Surnames?"

"My goodness! Who would dare be so bold?"

"That, I'm not sure about."

Old Master Li laughed, saying, "It's just that my Li Family has been stationed here by imperial decree for generations, not interacting much with the outside world. Although I can hear some news, it's still not very clear."

"To do such a bold and imaginative thing, the perpetrator mustn't be an ordinary person. The Meng family, after all, are top figures in the Path, revered by ghosts and feared by gods. They are no ordinary experts. I've heard that while their foundation is in the human world, their roots lie in the underworld."

"Such a disaster happening in the Yang Mansion must mean things are already in chaos in the underworld."

"Little friend of the Hu Family, you just came up from below. Did you hear anything?"

Facing Old Master Li's meaningful smile, Hu Ma smiled back and spoke frankly, "Indeed, I heard some things."

"Tongyin Meng colluded with evil spirits and destroyed the Noble Zhang Family's Dragon Cave, causing chaos in the world. They've already been taken down by Zhensui Hu. Unfortunately, though Zhensui Hu had the world in his heart and tried his best to stop it, he ultimately failed. This world, I'm afraid, won't be peaceful."

"Eh?"

His casual manner of speaking about such shocking matters left both Xiang and Sweet Potato momentarily stunned.

Xiang just looked at Hu Ma. It had been two years since they last met, and his demeanor was natural. Most martial artists in the jianghu were sharp and ostentatious in their youth but gradually learned to be more restrained, hiding their sharpness.

However, this Brother Hu had been mature and reliable from the time they first met, never missing a step. Now, after two years, his presence and aura were even more dazzling than before.

This wasn't a case of him regressing with age; rather, his abilities had greatly increased, his experience broadened, and his sharpness could no longer be concealed.

Sweet Potato thought more simply: Did I really miss out on some excitement?

"Oh?"

Old Master Li raised an eyebrow slightly upon hearing Hu Ma's words.

Even for someone of his status, this news could be considered truly shocking.

But as he looked at Hu Ma, he just smiled and slowly said, "So that's how it is. Sounds plausible." 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"In today's jianghu, tales of Noble Zhang's Dragon Cave destruction can be heard everywhere. It is indeed a time of great contention, and many capable people are secretly speculating that it's related to the Meng family. The Haishou Path deeply resents the Meng family, while jianghu heroes express immense gratitude."

Hu Ma smiled and said, "That's the view of martial artists. But what about you, sir?"

Old Master Li smiled, saying, "The Dongzi Li Family is not part of the jianghu, nor even considered part of the Path, so naturally, we don't understand these things."

"But I also think that if the Meng family did secretly harm Noble Zhang, they must have been well-prepared long ago. They wouldn't be so careless at such a crucial moment as to have their Lady taken. Now is the time when various clans and major families are rising and seizing opportunities…"

"...The Meng family is indeed in deep trouble; even Salt State is almost someone else's."

Hu Ma listened and nodded.

Coming up from below, he was most concerned about the current state of the world. In fact, if he had the chance, he would prefer to chat with the Ten Surnames to see their thoughts. However, given his current undisclosed identity, such an opportunity for deep discussion hadn't arisen.

But from the reaction of the Dongzi Li Family, he could infer a thing or two.

Mr. Longjing shot his arrow well, using the strength of the Meng Family's Ancestor. This matter couldn't be hidden within the Path.

No matter what the Meng family says, the Dragon Cave was destroyed, and it was their Ancestor who did it.

The jianghu isn't a court; what's done is done, and there's no room for argument.

As he thought about it, he felt the timing was right and looked at Old Master Li, slowly stating, "During my last visit, you mentioned that an Evil Ghost crawled out from the depths of the Ghost Cave, causing havoc in the human world."

"This time below, I did gain some insight. I saw Noble Zhang seizing the world's fortune for himself, and I saw Tongyin Meng selling out the world for his own selfish gain."

"This makes me increasingly confused. What heinous acts did these evil spirits commit?"

"Could the troubles they caused be greater than those by Noble Zhang and Tongyin Meng?"

"Huh?"

Upon hearing this, both Sweet Potato and Xiang were understandably surprised and looked up at Hu Ma.

Hu Ma smiled, saying, "Of course, I also heard you mention, sir, the great disrespect these Evil Ghosts showed Emperor Yi."

"But it seems they were already considered evil spirits even before that, right?"

Old Master Li chuckled softly. He didn't seem surprised by Hu Ma's question. Instead, he nodded slightly but wasn't in a hurry to answer, only nodding at Xiang. Xiang took the hint and said to Sweet Potato, "Miss Lu, let me take you to change clothes!"

"Alright..."

Sweet Potato actually wanted to hear more but knew their host was attending to important matters. She quickly wiped her mouth, stood up, and looked Xiang over. "Miss, let me wear yours later. We have similar waists. Just find me some larger-sized *underwear*…"

Xiang's face turned a deep red at her words, and she quickly led her out of the cave.

Old Master Li waited until they had left before turning to Hu Ma, smiling. "Little friend, in what capacity do you ask me this question?"

Meeting his gaze, Hu Ma also smiled, stood up, and gave a courteous bow, saying, "I beg for your pardon, sir. In fact, a few years back, I also, by karma, received the Dharma Eye of an expert; otherwise, I wouldn't have made such progress now."

The Li Family Head waved his hand, smiling. "Not surprising. Though the matter happened in Mingzhou, I've also heard that the Zhensui Mansion's Great Sword Catching Sect is an affair of the Shousui man. Back then, I even said to the girl, could it be our family's esteemed guest?"

Hu Ma showed surprise, smiling. "Just from that news, because I was in Mingzhou, you could connect it to me?"

"Not entirely."

Old Master Li laughed. "It's just that my Dongzi Li Family has been guiding spirits here for generations. Seeing countless yin souls coming and going, we've naturally gained some discernment."

"In this world, I've seen countless people: the suffering and the fortunate, the rich and the poor, those who live long lives and those who die young. I've seen farmers in the fields, merchants in their establishments, and experts in the Path. One can judge the weight of a person's yin soul at a glance."

"The first time I met you, little friend, I could see that your fate wasn't ordinary, perhaps even heavier than my Yu'er's. No matter your origin, your future certainly wouldn't be that of a common figure…"

Really now? Hu Ma couldn't help but acknowledge that each path had its own skills; their kind of discernment was impossible to hide.

But times had changed, and he no longer awkwardly concealed things. He just smiled. "I don't know if it's a blessing or a curse, but being in the jianghu, circumstances are often beyond one's control. When benefactors are willing to help, of course, I have to press on."

"It's just a pity that the sect I joined, while good to me, also has its difficulties. Following them, I can't expect to rise to prominence and become a great master."

"Understood."

Old Master Li smiled, nodding. "The threshold of the Hu Family is low, which is how they attract talents from all over the world to enter and be utilized."

"In this regard, I admire them. I suppose if the people in the Hu Family weren't so ruthless, how could they take on this burden for the world?"

"Hmm?"

Old Master Li's openness took Hu Ma by surprise, and his heart couldn't help but stir. Taking on the burden for the world?

"Indeed."

Old Master Li sighed softly, saying, "In fact, it's no exaggeration to say they are atoning for us who guard the caves."

Hu Ma raised an eyebrow. "Because of those evil spirits?"

"Not just that."

Old Master Li looked candidly into Hu Ma's eyes. "I once spoke to you about the sins and karma of the Dongzi Li Family."

"That great ritual in Shangjing that changed the fates of thirty-six families happened 170 years ago. By then, it had been over sixty years since the Duyi Royal Family took over the Zhang family's domain."

"Yet even after sixty years, the world remained fragmented, and disasters continued unabated. Due to so many deaths, the underworld was full. The human world became overrun with evil spirits, and the balance of yin and yang was disrupted. Strange flesh grew inexplicably, giving rise to mountains teeming with spirits, demons, and more evil spirits."

"Emperor Duyi was deeply troubled by this. Forced by the circumstances, he invited Magical Master Shangxuan of the Daluo Dharma Sect to Shangjing, appointed him State Preceptor, and had him conduct a grand ritual in the Capital City, hoping for peace in the world."

"Unfortunately, the disaster began with that grand ritual…"

Hu Ma listened, his heart already stirring. He recalled Old Master Li mentioning: "From that point on, Evil Ghosts crawled into the human world? Your ancestors from the thirty-six families bore the karma and began guarding the thirty-six Ghost Caves?"

"Not only that…"

Old Master Li slowly said, "The most serious problem with that grand ritual was that the ancestral altar, which had enjoyed generations of incense, was destroyed."

"Ancestral altar?"

Hearing this term, Hu Ma felt a mysterious stir within him.

"Indeed." Old Master Li sighed deeply and glanced at Hu Ma, whispering, "Do you know why in ancient places throughout this world there is a tradition of worshiping at fire altars?"

"It is because there indeed was once a fire altar in this world, one that protected the fortune of the realm and suppressed all evil spirits and monsters."