Twilight Boundary-Chapter 613 - 604 Reincarnators’ Eccentricities

"Is it... Burning Blade?"

Hu Ma was also startled by this person's sudden appearance in the battle, recognizing him as a slender man wearing an Evil Ghost mask. He knew him; this man was a member of the Anzhou Reincarnator Organization, the same one Miss Red Wine belonged to.

"Everyone, stop holding back..." With a single, successful strike, the man somersaulted out of the immediate fray. He flourished his large sleeves, shaking off the corpse energy clinging to him, and then shouted grimly, "Do you really think the Ten Surnames can spot us so easily?"

"I won't hide it from you. I was once summoned from a dream because my killing intent was too strong. I was taken to the underworld to be an executioner at the Bloodstain Pond. At the time, I was sure I'd be discovered, but when I got there, I realized... Heh, what do I amount to? Those summoned there were all extremely murderous individuals. I couldn't even make it into the top ten. There was one near me holding half a Beheading Blade, surrounded by servant ghosts. No matter who was before his blade, he'd cut them down with a single strike. Now, that's what I call a god of slaughter... That's when I understood: if you have the means, use them. Hiding and cowering will get you nowhere in life..."

"The Bloodstain Pond? Going there in a dream to be an executioner?"

This was the first time Hu Ma had heard such a story, and it piqued his interest.

"Good heavens! The Bloodstain Pond belongs to the Ten Surnames themselves. Does that mean you've swung your blade right in their faces?"

"Your Divine Soul was summoned? That means you were completely exposed to them, and the Ten Surnames didn't discover your true nature?"

It was clear that Burning Blade's dramatic entrance and his story had significantly stirred the other Reincarnators. Listening to their chatter, Hu Ma began to understand Burning Blade's motive for revealing himself. Reincarnators were inherently cautious, desperate not to be noticed by the Ten Surnames, which was why they dared not cross the Bridge. Even if they were on the Bridge, they hesitated to use their abilities, fearing detection. This Burning Blade, however, was a classic example of the opposite. He wasn't exceptionally powerful, but his murderous aura was so potent that the Bloodstain Pond had taken notice of him even before he could cross the Bridge, summoning him to be an executioner. This was tantamount to standing directly before the Ten Surnames, yet, remarkably, his identity hadn't been compromised.

What did this imply? That the Ten Surnames' insight wasn't as sharp as they imagined?

"I just want to tell you all," Burning Blade said grimly, "the world is descending into chaos, and miracle men are emerging one after another. Just because the Ten Surnames haven't shown themselves doesn't mean they understand everything that's happening. They're overwhelmed too! In this Chaotic World, how many people are there who refuse to listen to them, who refuse to be controlled by them?"

"We all possess abilities. But if we keep hiding like this, it won't be that we're unwilling to cross the Bridge, but that we... we'll no longer be qualified to cross it."

"If we can't even deal with this old geezer now, what's the point of discussing grand ambitions?"

"This whole gathering is pointless! We might as well each grab two Blood Food Pills, go back to our holes, and wait for death!"

The weight of his words settled heavily, silencing even this group of thrill-seeking Reincarnators.

BOOM!

At that very moment, a cataclysmic sound erupted from outside Yan Mansion, followed by the distinct chaos of neighing horses and shouting people, as if some major disturbance had broken out. Simultaneously, the overpowering stench of fresh blood permeated the air. The smell of new blood, mingled with an aura of terror, was strangely invigorating, almost as if it had thinned the dark storm clouds gathered over Guazhou City.

"What's that..."

The Reincarnators were instantly alarmed, all turning to look outside. Even Old Master Yan, who seemed utterly mad and bereft of his senses, appeared to perceive something and momentarily stilled.

"Good Lord..." one Reincarnator exclaimed, then lowered his voice, "Did you draw that thing outside here too, Burning Blade?" He continued, "Were you worried we'd be too scared of being seen to use our real powers, so you conjured this blood aura to shield us and let us fight without reservation?"

But the question seemed to stupefy Burning Blade. He stared blankly and shook his head. "No... that wasn't me..." He then muttered, "Such a heavy scent of blood... Is... is someone committing a massacre out there?"

In the chaos, it was impossible to immediately ascertain the truth. However, everyone distinctly sensed that roiling murderous aura. It was a difficult sensation to describe—the kind that only arose from the simultaneous death of hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people, accompanied by a chilling, eerie dread. Just moments before, Hu Ma, in his guise as a walking ghost of the Great sword catching sect, had unleashed a slaughter within Yan Mansion, an act that had already astounded these Reincarnators. To put it in perspective, the carnage outside was like Hu Ma's slaughter multiplied a hundred or even two hundred times.

Reincarnators feared being seen, but with such a massive cloud of blood obscuring everything, who could possibly spot them now?

At this, Old Master Yan, after a brief daze, seemed to be stimulated by the scent of blood. Roaring wildly, he suddenly tried to rush out of Yan Mansion. Even the arm that had been severed from him abruptly merged into the dark clouds overhead. Black, viscous fluid began to ooze from the stump of his shoulder, and from within a squirming mass of rotting flesh, a new arm began to weave itself together, visibly growing.

Seeing this, Hu Ma and Burning Blade, along with two others wearing pig-faced and dog-faced masks, lunged forward in unison. All four grabbed the iron chains, forcibly dragging Old Master Yan back.

He absolutely could not be allowed to reach the front courtyard; who knew how many ordinary people were there? If this creature targeted them, they would all be doomed.

"Everyone, no more hiding!" someone shouted, observing the escalating situation. He took a deep breath and said, "We've stayed in this Yan Mansion long enough..."

"For people of our status, this is already an immense risk..."

"Stop holding back your treasures! Bring them out!"

As he spoke, one man produced a fan, black on one side and white on the other. With a powerful wave, a fierce gust of wind erupted, stripping wisps of imperial aura from Old Master Yan's body. Though the process was slow and the effect minimal, it was undeniably working.

"Sigh, I only have two Blood Food Pills. Using this fan once will cost me three pounds of materials to replenish..."

The surrounding Reincarnators, some hesitant, others pained by the cost, could no longer hold back and all pitched in. To Hu Ma's astonishment, an unexpected scene unfolded. Some produced steel nails, others eerie green skulls, and still others unfurled banners adorned with the bones of various beasts. One held a scroll, another something resembling a roof tile from a grave. Even Dian Shen Fuling brandished a Bone Umbrella intricately inlaid with golden patterns. Like moles, they scattered in all directions, their expressions strange and their eyes cold as they began chanting.

"Immortals? What nonsense!" one of them spat. "This old dog forcibly extended his life using some unknown means, and in doing so, he provoked something even he can't handle..."

"Look at those dark clouds overhead! That burden should have been his alone to bear. But because he lived to the age of an Emperor, he couldn't contain it all, so it overflowed..."

"With that cloud empowering him, this old bastard is unkillable!"

"In that case, let's first sever his link to that power! Then, we'll deal with him using Zombie-slaying Methods: drain all his blood, and then grind his corpse... to use as a medicine guide!"

They acted immediately. Clearly spurred by Burning Blade's words and further emboldened by the massive cloud of blood obscuring everyone, they cast aside all restraint. Amidst fierce shouts, various Magical Treasures were unleashed.

Dian Shen Fuling leaped into the air, his Bone Umbrella snapping open. With a flick of his wrist, he sent it spinning upwards, where it hovered above Old Master Yan's head, forcibly cutting off his connection to the dark cloud. Old Master Yan, instinctively furious, tried to surge upwards, but another Reincarnator darted around him, scattering steel nails that rapidly embedded themselves in the iron chains. Old Master Yan himself exuded an aura that could lighten all things in heaven and earth, yet he himself was firmly pinned to the ground.

Then, the others swarmed forward. One raised a soul-summoning banner, calling forth the Yan Family Ancestors to kowtow before Old Master Yan. Others unwound their sashes, binding Old Master Yan tightly like a zongzi. Someone even approached with a large file, preparing to trim Old Master Yan's toenails...

"What the hell..." Hu Ma felt somewhat dizzy.

He'd been in this world for a considerable time, held a high status, and witnessed numerous treasures. Yet, all the marvels he'd seen over the years couldn't compare to the sheer number and variety of items these people produced in this single moment... Have these people plundered treasures from every Path in the world?

"Heh heh, it really is like this..." Burning Blade, after a moment of stunned silence, whispered to Hu Ma, "Miss Red Wine guessed long ago. This bunch has plenty of good things, but they wouldn't show them unless forced..."

Hu Ma's mind raced as understanding finally dawned. Indeed, few Reincarnators dared to cross the Bridge; the general situation constrained them. However, this didn't mean their abilities were lacking. It was precisely because they didn't dare cross the Bridge easily, coupled with an inherent lack of security, that Reincarnators often developed a habit of treasure hunting. Er Guotou, for instance, had spent the first half of his life taking his biggest risk by venturing into Old Yin Mountain to acquire a treasure from Fox Coffin Village. Other Reincarnators were much the same in character. Each seemed to possess a hoarder-like passion for accumulating valuable artifacts. With enough treasures, they could enhance their own abilities for self-preservation without making themselves conspicuous on the Bridge. This was the path that best suited the needs of Reincarnators... Just moments ago, watching this group struggle against the ferocious Old Master Yan, their abilities seemingly insufficient, he had felt a pang of disappointment. He had thought that even united, they were far from achieving the Reincarnators' true objectives. Only now did he realize his understanding of Reincarnators was still too shallow. Someone experienced like Miss Red Wine, however, knew exactly where the crucial point lay...

Still, who could be causing that massacre outside? Whoever it was, they were inadvertently providing a huge help! But feeling this soul-shattering commotion... could it be that while they were here battling Old Master Yan, that person outside had already begun to slaughter the entire city?