Twilight Boundary-Chapter 756 - 747: Replenishing Karma with Two Banners

His refusal to return was somewhat expected.

Three years ago, a turning point occurred. The plan we had nurtured for seventeen years finally began to advance, but deviations also started to emerge from that moment.

We cannot assume he will definitely support us merely because he is one of our own. Are there not plenty of demon people akin to those 'who don't eat beef'?

Those evil spirits descending from the sky have always possessed the ability to bewilder hearts and make people willing to sacrifice their lives.

Therefore, the method of bringing back the Hu Family's descendant is not crucial; ensuring he does not stray from the correct path is what truly matters.

...

In Shangjing, although the date for the ritual had not yet arrived, disciples of the Ten Families Sect began to arrive one after another upon hearing that the State Preceptor had appeared.

Leveraging the collective strength of the Ten Surnames, they had made preparations in advance.

The current State Preceptor had set up an incense table before the Old Palace Ruins. Five oil lamps were lit in front of him, with another four hidden behind. He sat cross-legged before the incense table, flanked by tall, blank banners.

Among the Lords of the Ten Surnames, five stood opposite the incense table, listening quietly as he spoke.

Behind them were various disciples of the families, along with some highly esteemed Hall Officers responsible for tasks like sword catching and Inquiry, positioned further to the sides.

As the acknowledged head of the Daluo Dharma Sect, considered the eleventh major family, National Master Dongxuan was an exceptionally mysterious figure, even to the newer generations of the Ten Surnames. Few had ever witnessed him take action.

Now, seeing him specially erect the incense table, everyone held their breath and watched intently. However, after hearing the message delivered by the Zhou Family, National Master Dongxuan seemed unsurprised and slowly closed his eyes.

Listening closely, it seemed as if he had stopped breathing, hovering precariously between life and death.

Most of those present had already 'crossed the bridge.' Although they dared not offend the State Preceptor, curiosity sparked a subtle thought within them. They were suddenly shocked to realize that while the State Preceptor sat cross-legged before them, he was simultaneously present in the underworld, his consciousness roaming boundlessly through heaven and earth.

Neither human, nor Ghost, nor God...

Amidst this, some began to communicate using secret transmission: "Look, what stage has the State Preceptor reached now?"

"The first three steps reveal fate, the next three reveal inherent nature, and a further three reveal the shackles of heaven and earth."

The one who answered sighed, "You and I are both trapped within these shackles, struggling against life's obstacles. But it seems the State Preceptor may have already transcended them."

"Become an immortal?"

"No. If he had become an immortal, why would he return to find us?"

"Perhaps it is merely the realm of being immortal yet not truly immortal. Success lies here, destruction lies here, and ultimate emptiness also lies here."

...

WHOOSH...

In the oppressive silence, an unknown gust of wind suddenly swept past, extinguishing four of the five oil lamps before the State Preceptor. Even the flame of the last lamp dwindled to the size of a bean, instantly drawing everyone's attention.

"It is time."

The State Preceptor before the incense table opened his eyes. He picked up a brush, dipped it in vermillion ink, and swiftly began to write on the banners flanking him.

He wrote with great speed, his calligraphy like dragons soaring and phoenixes dancing, each character imbued with a sense of profound mystery.

"What is this..."

"The Hu Family's path has gone astray. That is why the State Preceptor set up the Magic Altar before the full gathering of the Ten Surnames."

"To pull the Hu Family's young descendant back from his errant course..."

...

"Precisely."

The ones speaking were the Lord of the Zhu Family and the Lord of the Li Family. They conversed in voices too low for others to hear, yet, surprisingly, the State Preceptor, who was writing rapidly, responded to their words.

Continuing to write, he said, "This was agreed upon with the Hu Family before the Soul Sewing. His reincarnation, Corpse Guardian Soul, and Karma Soul have all been inscribed with what we require."

"Do not envy the Hu Family for uniquely obtaining the Zhensui Mansion, with their prospects for Immortal Ascension ranked foremost among the Ten Surnames."

"This is because the Hu Family indeed paid a price that others were unwilling to bear."

"However, looking at that Hu Family child now, he is far from the originally intended form. The elements left in his Corpse Guardian Soul are incomplete, his Living Soul has become a blank slate, and while his Karma Soul carries the most significant inscriptions, the most crucial stroke is inexplicably missing."

"Only by adding this missing piece for him now can he possibly become the true Lord of the Zhen Sui Hu Family among the Ten Surnames."

...

As he finished speaking, he also completed the final stroke. Then, he tossed the brush aside, picked up a candlestick, and set the banners ablaze.

WHOOSH! Two columns of fire instantly surged upwards, incinerating the banners completely, leaving only a wisp of pale smoke drifting away.

The State Preceptor clapped his hands, gazed at the dissipating smoke, and sighed, "Regrettably, I have no other recourse but to send a message to the Heavenly Duke to add this final stroke."

Send a message to the Heavenly Duke?

Hearing his unfathomable words, a chill crept into everyone's heart.

However, at the rear of the group, Zhao Sanyi and Chen Abao, who barely qualified to stand there and listen, both saw their expressions change drastically.

In hushed tones, one of them murmured, "Karma is inherent to an individual. If his Karma Soul is altered, will he still be himself?"

...

...

Meanwhile, in the heart of the battle, Fourth Miss Zhou knew nothing of this. She protected Hu Ma, swinging her dual hammers, preventing the surrounding troops from daring to approach. Even volleys of arrows and powerful crossbow bolts could not get near.

She had exerted all her strength to protect him thoroughly, yet gradually, she felt something was amiss. The wind around her had turned peculiar, and the flickering shadows moved unnaturally.

Even the soldiers relentlessly charging past her, seeking an opportunity to strike, exuded an indescribable stench of decay, as if they were corpses dragged back from hell, mingling with the living and sapping her stamina.

She had employed all her skills, weaving around Hu Ma to maintain a protective circle roughly ten yards in diameter, preventing anyone from entering. Yet, she still sensed that something was terribly wrong.

A sudden glance from the corner of her eye fell upon Hu Ma beside her. His eyes were tightly shut, but his body, she realized with a start, had begun to gradually wither at some unknown point.

As a Shousui, Fourth Miss Zhou possessed keen senses and was instantly alarmed.

Hu Ma was indeed breathless, but she had previously witnessed him awaken, seemingly returned from death itself.

For a Shousui, one who traversed the realms of yin and yang, such occurrences were not entirely novel. Furthermore, Hu Ma often consulted in hushed tones with Calculation, so she naturally understood that he was likely practicing some potent dharma method. This time, she assumed, was no different.

After all, to ordinary eyes, a body riddled with arrows like a porcupine would surely signify death. But to a Shousui, such a state, though gruesome, was not necessarily fatal or unacceptable.

However, now sensing Hu Ma's body withering and his final breath on the verge of dissipating, she truly panicked.

Something's gone wrong!

Far off, Calculation, Immortal Miaoshan, and the others lacked the ability to contend with the soldiers and could not get closer.

Yet, they had been watching Hu Ma intently. Though the distance was considerable and the night was dark, making it hard to see clearly, Calculation had his own methods. He had been observing Hu Ma's qi continuously. Suddenly sensing a change, he cried out in alarm, "Someone has used a dharma method! The little shopkeeper's body is decaying!"

Immortal Miaoshan, startled, asked, "Then what should we do?"

"What else can be done? As his body decays, that last breath will be forced out, and then he will truly die!"

Calculation was sweating profusely, his voice laced with anxiety, "This boy entered the Intermediate Yin so smoothly, it was as if he were merely returning home. But this time… this time is genuinely different!"

"Previously, those people were trying to take something from him. This time, however, they intend to kill him outright! Even if this technique of snatching life from heaven and earth isn't true death, that vital breath *must* remain within his body for it to work!"

Immortal Miaoshan cut in impatiently, "Who asked for an explanation?"

"I'm asking what we should *do*!"

...

"Transfer human qi!"

Calculation said frantically, "Quick, before that breath completely escapes! Transfer a mouthful of human qi to him, and he will awaken…"

"…But if we do that, this life-snatching dharma method of his will fail completely."

"Still, there's no other choice. Once that breath is forced from his body, he will truly die."

...

"Huh?"

Immortal Miaoshan finally understood. She recalled Hu Ma's prior instructions not to interfere, and she had intended to follow them.

Even when she saw Hu Ma riddled with arrows like a porcupine, she had merely assumed he was undergoing some form of cultivation. After all, with the Sect Hierarch's extraordinary abilities, dying and reviving wasn't particularly unusual. It was only now, upon hearing Calculation's grave explanation, that she truly began to worry.

In other words, if I don't help now, the Sect Hierarch might actually die?

Remembering the gravity of the Sect Hierarch's earlier instructions, she felt deeply conflicted. She had always considered herself a simple person, one who disliked taking initiative without orders. If she were to intervene recklessly now, couldn't her good intentions inadvertently cause complications, perhaps even hindering the Sect Hierarch's cultivation of this dharma method?

Just as everyone hesitated, undecided, Little Douguan poked his head out from behind Immortal Miaoshan. The oppressive aura of slaughter on the battlefield was too intense for a mere little ghost like him to bear, so he had been hiding.

However, he had been listening intently to Calculation's words and keenly observing the unfolding situation on the battlefield. The shadowy figures lurking behind the enemy soldiers, in particular, filled him with dread.

"Aunt, it's your turn to act!"

He suddenly urged Immortal Miaoshan, "If the Master has truly reached such a critical juncture, only you can save him…!"

Immortal Miaoshan stammered, flustered, "But… everyone knows I don't possess any great skills…"

Little Douguan insisted anxiously, "But you possess great fortune…!"

Immortal Miaoshan was stunned for a moment. Then, a realization struck her. As a member of the Theft Disaster Sect, she had primarily learned two things: how to invoke theft disasters, and how to bestow blessings.

At that very moment, amidst the surrounding panic, Little Hongtang abruptly sensed something. She jerked her small head upwards, her gaze fixed on the night sky above the battlefield, as if she could see two spectral banners drifting slowly towards them.

"Brother Huma is becoming… unlike Brother Huma!"

Calculation and the others, failing to comprehend her words, turned to stare blankly at the little ghost. But Little Hongtang suddenly bolted, dashing forward.

The baleful slaughter qi of the battle formation was so intense that Little Douguan would have been sent tumbling if he had dared to even peek out.

Yet, Little Hongtang sprinted forward, weaving through the soldiers as if unimpeded by the oppressive aura. In an instant, she reached Hu Ma's side. Pointing at him, she yelled urgently to the panicked Fourth Miss Zhou:

"Quick, kiss him!"