Twilight Boundary-Chapter 648 - 639: Reincarnated as an Immortal

Comparing this to what he knew before, some matters that had been buried for twenty years seemed to be gradually unveiling themselves before his eyes.

So, twenty years ago, it wasn't just Reincarnators who flayed the Emperor's skin—the State Preceptor was also involved?

"More than just the State Preceptor?"

Observing the surprise on Hu Ma's face, Elder Longjing chuckled lightly. "Even the Ten Surnames were persuaded by the State Preceptor to stand idly by, watching as we severed the Yi Dynasty's fortune."

"We had thought they agreed because they, too, wished to prevent the Dou Royal Family of the Yi Dynasty's grand plan of Sacrifice to Heaven, believing they had seen through that lie. It was only later that we realized this wasn't the case. No matter how clever the State Preceptor was, or that the Ten Surnames also originated from obscurity, they weren't trying to stop the Sacrifice to Heaven. They merely wanted to become the masters of the sacrifice…"

"But it's laughable. They couldn't wait to move against us, as if they were afraid we would steal their opportunity…"

"But achieving immortality… heh heh, achieving immortality. If a Reincarnator wished to become an Immortal, why go to such trouble?"

...

"The Ten Surnames…"

Hu Ma, hearing this from the perspective of his Zhen Sui Hu Family, couldn't help but feel a wave of shock, an indefinable fear stirring in his heart.

Even now, he still remembered the thing he saw in Juehu Village and the appearance of Old Master Yan.

Especially memorable was the Meng family's Old Master, who had nearly destroyed him with just a glance.

But was that an Immortal?

Moreover, Hu Ma remembered that when he had asked Old Calculation about it, Old Calculation had once disdainfully said that pursuing immortality was unreliable, calling it the so-called 'greatest freedom in the realm.'

That old face showed the utmost disdain for this so-called immortality.

But he supposedly belonged to the State Preceptor's lineage; why were his views so different?

His mind filled with countless questions, he looked up at Mr. Longjing and asked in a low voice, "What exactly is immortality?"

As they conversed, Mr. Longjing casually dealt with many remnants hidden within these ruins. Those who survived his nightmare were truly formidable, yet under his nightmare, they died silently, without resistance, not even causing a ripple.

Though Elder Longjing seemingly lacked cultivation in the eyes of those in the Path, he moved through the ruins like a sovereign.

However, when Hu Ma asked what immortality was, Longjing, who had just performed such feats, fell silent.

After a long while, he slowly gave Hu Ma an answer: "Omnipotence."

Hu Ma was momentarily stunned, pondering the meaning of 'omnipotence.'

Realizing the deep confusion in his eyes, Elder Longjing sighed softly. "I wish I could give you a precise answer, but this isn't my expertise. Perhaps Tieguanyin will tell you the true answer. She is an explorer of the secret of Returning, while I only know that this 'Immortality' is extremely difficult and contains the most terrifying things."

Hearing this, Hu Ma also sighed softly. "I've met Elder Big Red Robe, and I've also been looking for Tieguanyin."

"But many of us have tried, yet we haven't found any trace of her."

...

"If you cannot find her, then perhaps she is also in the process of verifying certain things and doesn't wish to be found."

Mr. Longjing sighed. "But for me, the only answer I can give is that so-called immortality is just a delusion. It's impossible to achieve it as the Dou Royal Family, the Ten Surnames, and the Daluo Dharma Sect once imagined—by performing the Sacrifice to Heaven to become Immortals. Their pursuit of immortality, in our view, is just a joke, a lie to deceive fools."

"On this point, we have more right to speak than anyone!"

...

"What?"

Hu Ma was somewhat surprised and quickly looked up. "Why do you say that?"

"Because we are closer to the level of Immortals than anyone else. Or rather, we *are* Immortals."

Elder Longjing was silent for a long moment, looking earnestly at Hu Ma. He then said softly, "But when we look deeper, there is only darkness."

Hu Ma was startled by his words and was rapidly trying to comprehend them.

By now, they had traversed the ruins. Ahead, amidst a pile of collapsed rubble, a dark figure stood guard before a large black cauldron. Beneath the cauldron, countless vindictive souls struggled, their soul essence drifting upwards like black smoke from burning logs. In front of the cauldron, some grim figures shouted in terror:

"Mr. Tie, the Noble Zhang Family has treated you well! How dare you betray us and harm the disciples of our Meng family?"

...

"Don't even think about it."

Elder Longjing paused and sighed softly. "Once you make contact with the Purple Tai Sui, you'll understand these things."

"First, eliminate these people and bring that cauldron here!"

...

"The cauldron?" 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Hu Ma reacted slightly. He looked up and suddenly felt an extremely familiar aura emanating from the cauldron.

He saw that the large cauldron was encircled by numerous people.

Each of them had an iron chain fastened to their feet, shackling them to the cauldron and limiting their range of movement. It seemed this was precisely why they had survived the earlier nightmare. From the mouth of the enormous cauldron, which was a full three zhang in diameter, Purple Qi billowed upwards, even forming what looked like an immortal cloud above it, resembling an immortal lotus rising from mud.

Is the Purple Tai Sui inside the cauldron?

Damn, with such a large cauldron, how much could be in there?

"Why are there so few people?"

One of the men by the cauldron, holding a blackened weapon that resembled a fire poker, pointed it at them.

Elder Longjing frowned slightly, slowly clasping his hands behind his back. "Does the Meng family look down on me so much that they only left this handful of people to guard against me?"

"You…"

The man by the cauldron trembled, shouting fiercely, "Don't be so arrogant!"

"If Eldest Master Meng and the Zhang family's Third Master hadn't rushed out of the city to deal with that scoundrel, how could you possibly cause trouble here?"

"You… surrender quickly! Third Uncle Zhang of the Zhang family will likely be free soon to return and deal with you!"

...

"Oh? A scoundrel?"

Elder Longjing seemed somewhat surprised and chuckled. "He actually had the presence of mind to run off and deal with other matters?"

"He really did?"

Hu Ma was also stunned. When he infiltrated with Chen Abao, she had learned from a Meng family disciple that a group had rushed out because some scoundrel was causing trouble, which was why this place was relatively unguarded. But after meeting Elder Longjing and learning it was all a setup, he had assumed that was just a rumor spread to lure them in…

Now it seems it was true. This place really is short-handed?

"So you really came down by yourself?"

Elder Longjing was quite curious and glanced at Hu Ma.

"Yes…"

Hu Ma hesitated for a moment. Brother Er Guotou is probably waiting for me outside.

But he definitely wouldn't. He's not the type to stir up trouble easily. At most, he's just waiting earnestly for my signal.

"Forget it. Don't bother asking. Just kill them!"

Elder Longjing shook his head, no longer concerned. He turned to Hu Ma and said, "Get the Purple Tai Sui first. We'll talk about other things later."

"I'm quite busy myself. I need to quickly explain the matter of the Purple Tai Sui to you all, and that will count as me leaving something behind for you."

...

"Hmm?"

Seeing Longjing with his hands clasped behind his back, looking completely uninvolved, Hu Ma glanced towards the large cauldron. He could feel the imposing aura pressing towards his face. His gaze swept over the figures surrounding the cauldron; they looked terrified, yet their vital energies were profound. He whispered, "Elder, those guarding the cauldron seem quite skilled!"

"Of course."

Elder Longjing said, "The ones with lesser abilities were already killed by my nightmare."

"Those dispatched to watch over the Purple Tai Sui must at least have a solid foundation and possess the Bridge Crossing Opportunity. Moreover, these people, though they look miserable being locked here to guard the Purple Tai Sui, have actually stumbled upon a great fortune. Not many outside the Ten Surnames get to come into contact with the Purple Tai Sui. Each of these individuals should be no weaker than someone who has crossed the Bridge."

...

Glancing at Hu Ma as he spoke, he added, "Don't tell me you can't even handle someone who has crossed the Bridge."

"Otherwise, how did you dare to come in here to kill me?"

...

"I…"

This remark made Hu Ma feel awkward. "This was really just a coincidence…"

"Just go ahead and act."

Elder Longjing couldn't be bothered to ask more, but the slight disappointment in his eyes was impossible to hide. "Although you've only achieved Entering the Mansion…"

"But I think you should be capable enough of clearing out these cauldron-tenders, right?"

...

Listening to his uncertain tone, and the disdain he was clearly trying to hide despite his feigned doubts, Hu Ma felt a wave of helplessness. This is so frustrating…

He's even worse than Big Red Robe…

Big Red Robe at least voiced his dissatisfaction with this generation of Reincarnators directly back then…

"Rest assured, Elder!"

Although there were many difficult things he could have said, since he had agreed, he had to help.

Hu Ma took a deep breath and stepped forward, already strategizing.

His two main trump cards, the Reincarnator's Red Talisman and the Demon Suppression Golden Mace, were both unusable. Now he could only rely on his own abilities. Although he hadn't crossed the Bridge, he had opened three Mansion Gates. And these fellows, even though they were infused with immortal qi and looked formidable, it wasn't as if he hadn't killed people touched by immortal qi before!

He had to make a stand now, show Elder Longjing the capabilities of this generation of Reincarnators!

As this thought crossed his mind, Hu Ma silently began to gather his energy, but then he suddenly realized:

Damn it!

Why do I feel like a kid whose homework is being checked by an adult? In terms of our past life ages, we should be about the same!