Twilight Boundary-Chapter 716 - 707: Negative Spirit Walking Ghost

Vast and imposing, the sky was heavily overcast with dense clouds.

As the four great hall officers of the Negative Spirit Sect walked out of the Meng Family Ancestral Mansion, the Swift Reporting Gods also went in all directions, spreading the Meng family's Imperial Decree.

Among the Ten Paths and the Ten Families, the quickest at spreading news were the Hu Family and the Meng Family.

The Hu Family was quick to spread news because they had Magic Altars; all established Magic Altars were connected through the Zhensui Mansion, using their respective altar lamps to relay messages. The Meng family, on the other hand, was quick thanks to their Ears Reporting God that traversed yin and yang, accompanying their elusive Swift Reporting God.

When the Meng family's decrees spread, people gathered the townsfolk wherever Ghost Walkers resided throughout the land. They set up altars and worshiped the mountains, simply because it was a command from their own family.

This time, something felt different compared to previous Sacrificial Mountain rituals. The incense smoke drifted away, yet it did not benefit the wild ghosts in the vicinity. The invisible rumblings and divine light naturally stirred a unique sense of awe within the altar raisers.

In their hearts, they were somewhat amazed: Previously, due to the Hundred Ghosts Return to the Altar, the Ghost Walkers' abilities had already increased significantly. Could it be that this time, they'll increase again?

Hu Ma knew they would have such thoughts when setting up the altar. Whether the Ghost Walkers paid respect to gods or ghosts, there would naturally be a distinction upon the altar.

Though those with lesser abilities among the Ghost Walkers might not see it clearly, they would definitely sense it.

This subtle feeling naturally made walking ghosts everywhere work even harder. With their Sacrificial Mountain rituals and customs, many passersby were drawn in, able to feel the pervasive blessing and the aura of dispelling evil and granting fortune.

Originally, it was difficult for the countryside folk to truly gather at an appointed time for incense-burning, but seeing others' sincere joy, they would gradually come over.

Thus, the number of participants in worship naturally increased, and the incense grew ever thicker.

Yet, even before the Meng family issued their decree, the various sacrificial ceremonies and Blessing Meetings across the land had already annoyed certain people in many places.

Many places had Blood Food Gangs, and these Blood Food Gangs mostly belonged to the Negative Spirit Sect. They and the countryside walking ghosts had long been mutually disdainful.

Ghost Walkers and Negative Spirits were originally among the most numerous groups in this world. The countryside walking ghosts and various jianghu forces that worshipped ghosts, similar to the Green-Clothed Evil Ghost and the Red Lantern Lady—one group among the populace, the other in the jianghu—were the two most prominent groups aside from the nation's nobles.

And these ghost-worshipping forces, often commanded by Negative Spirit Hall Officers to act as they saw fit, even had countless members who acquired the Incense Order from the Meng family, transforming into case gods overnight.

High and mighty, they had always looked down on those mud-legged peasants. Now, seeing incense being burned here and there, rising in plumes everywhere, they grew displeased.

Within these ghost-worshipping Blood Food Gangs, the Evil Ghosts they supported, though mostly lacking Incense Orders and unable to rightfully enjoy the people's incense, would still get upset if someone burned incense offerings on their turf.

In their fiercest moments, if the folk on their turf wanted to burn incense for their ancestors, they first had to place the Evil Ghosts' tablets before those of their own ancestors. The incense would be used by the ghosts first; only any leftover would go to the ancestors.

Of course, it's unknown if the Red Lantern Lady, who also came from such a background, had done such things in the past.

After all, it was well known the Lady had reformed.

People sought her for children, and she was remarkably effective!

Because of this ingrained discontent, many already could not tolerate these sacrificial ceremonies. Yet, due to the present chaos in the world, there was a prevailing sense that it was better to avoid unnecessary trouble, leading to temporary forbearance.

But when the Swift Reporting Gods of the Negative Spirit Path arrived, bringing the words of the various small hall officers, the situation suddenly changed.

"How audacious!"

"Do these mud-legged fools dare to steal incense and gain fame?"

"Then we fight!"

"Even without the Hall Officer's letter, we couldn't stand it, let alone now that we have an order from the Meng family's nobles!"

"Burn their incense tables, smash their altars, kill a few mud-legged fools, and see if they still dare to commit such demonic sacrilege!"

...

Thus, as Ghost Walkers set up incense tables, leading the folk in prayers and worship, a fierce gale rolled in. The three incense sticks burning on the altar suddenly took on a ferocious and eerie appearance.

The walking ghost atop the altar was startled. When they looked up, they saw the townsfolk, who moments before were fervently praying below, suddenly collapse to the ground, convulsing and foaming at the mouth.

The remaining townsfolk were all shocked, jumping up and shouting, "Evil spirits are attacking people!"

At a Blessing Meeting held in the city, which attracted thousands vying to worship, two tallow candles as thick as a man's arm suddenly flared high. From within the flames, the laughter of an Evil Ghost was heard.

This startled the townspeople. They quickly looked up and saw burly Blood Food Gang marauders rushing through the crowd, shouting, "By order of the Old Master, if you hold a Blessing Meeting or perform a Sacrificial Mountain ritual, you must first let our Old Master receive the incense!"

"Change the offerings! These three types of sacrificial animals are not accepted. Quickly offer three pairs of child children!"

"Otherwise, disaster will strike everyone, and even your lives will be forfeit at this Blessing Meeting!"

...

...

Such events were countless.

Beyond that, the Prefecture Mansions across the land also experienced disturbances.

In countless places, though the weather had been clear and the sun high just a moment before, an Incense Burner walked out from the Lord Temples—the most solemn and reverent places in each Prefecture Mansion.

Holding a large lantern, with a solemn expression, they hung it in front of the temple and lit it in broad daylight.

Once the lantern was lit in daylight, the day suddenly turned dark.

Swirling gales swept up yellow sand and paper money, and the streets turned dim and chaotic. Within the winds, shadowy figures in ceremonial processions could faintly be seen advancing, crossing through the streets. Those with weak fire qi could even hear the sounds of music and calls clearing the way in the wind.

The elderly, frightened, hurriedly pulled their children indoors, shutting the doors tightly. "The Lord is traveling! But the Lord usually travels at night. Why is he traveling in broad daylight now, I wonder?"

...

...

Yet, some people from certain Paths understood. The various Lords were originally members of the Douyi Royal Family, urgently decreed to replace the True Gods and suppress evil spirits.

However, relying solely on Douyi's 240 years of fortune and influence was not enough to genuinely enshrine these Lords as True Gods. Thus, they were Yin Gods, not meant to be seen by the sun. If they were to travel in daylight, a lantern had to be lit before them.

When the Lord lit a lantern, even broad daylight would turn into night.

One by one, tremendous white lanterns floated out from each Prefecture Mansion. Wherever the lanterns reached, the world turned dark. When all thirty-six white lanterns floated before Old Yin Mountain, the strangest celestial phenomenon in twenty years appeared.

Presently at Old Yin Mountain, it was broad daylight, with the blazing sun high, divine light shining, and auspicious clouds gathering and scattering.

Yet outside Old Yin Mountain, patches of darkness welled up, gradually converging with the thirty-six lanterns.

Behind each giant white lantern was a tall, sinister shadow, pressing up to the mountain's edge.

...

...

"Lighting lamps in daylight, ghostly umbrellas obscuring the sky!"

Amidst the sudden chaos everywhere and the eerie atmosphere that unnerved people, the Lords of the Zhao, Zhou, Chen, and Wang families, who had earlier left the Meng Family Ancestral Mansion, wore expressions of indescribable complexity. "The twenty-year rules are all disrupted."

"The Meng family, alas, the Meng family! With unstable foundations yet grand ambitions, we knew long ago they would cause such trouble one day."

...

Though they had left the Meng family, they didn't disperse. As old friends who hadn't seen each other for years, they met beside a pond. The winter wind blew cold and dreary; the pond offered a bleak sight. The Wang Family Lord lightly tapped the balustrade.

Suddenly, the withered lotus stalks in the pond revived, blooming to fill its surface. The Zhao Family Lord then borrowed a sheet of yellow paper from the Chen Family Lord, folded it into a small boat, and tossed it into the pond. It expanded in the wind, becoming a black-painted boat.

The group boarded the boat. The Chen Family Lord borrowed food and wine from a water ghost in the pond, along with cups and implements. The Zhou Family Lord blew a breath, dispersing the leaden clouds above. Then, they all sat down to drink and talk at length.

"That child of the Meng family has gone mad," the Zhao Family Lord, though appearing old, was still dressed rather flamboyantly, sighed. "He shouldn't have invited this disaster, but he did. Now he can't clean up the mess, yet he desperately made the person of Reason come to see us. What's the use?"

The pale-faced, beardless, and elegant Wang Family Lord added, "The Meng family never intended to invite disaster; they were just trying to scare people."

"Unexpectedly, their act of playing the fool backfired when they encountered the Hu Family, who turned the pretense into reality."

...

Old Master Zhou beside them deliberately feigned surprise, "Brother Wang, do you really believe that foolish young master of the Meng family? Do you truly think the Hu Family invited the disaster?"

"It's obvious, isn't it? Don't tell me none of you can see it," the Wang Family Lord said blandly. "The Meng family never had a twelfth disciple to invite disaster, so where did a twelve-pronged disaster come from?"

"Moreover, even the affair of the City of the Dead—how did it transform from an incident involving the Demon Detection Mirror into a prelude to the Hu-Meng struggle? And how did that evil spirit manage to destroy Noble Zhang with the Seven Arrows under everyone's watchful eyes?"

"Have none of you considered this?"

"And now, he's even brought out those old stumbling blocks from the pond. Does he not know what the Hu Family's ancestors did? Is he determined to shoot himself in the foot?"

...

Everyone present understood the implication in his words. They were momentarily surprised, vaguely considering it, yet finding it deeply improbable.

"Ultimately, the greater good must be considered." In the silence, someone sighed, "The Stone Pavilion Alliance is near. Although Noble Zhang has lost his foundation, the Zhang family's bloodline is not hard to find. I've already invited a few to be guests at my home. Could the Meng family's bloodline really be allowed to end just like that?"

"Impossible. One must be preserved—one for the sake of the Stone Pavilion, and one to keep an eye on their old ancestor."

Someone else sighed, saying, "Those two families... one is a stubborn breed, the other a madman. When their fight escalates, we'll inevitably have to step in and mediate again."

Now, I don't understand, what exactly did the State Preceptor see in the Hu Family? Why has he always been so indulgent towards them?