Twilight Boundary-Chapter 764 - 755: Zhensui Hu Returns to the Capital

"So, when the Shousui Path is cultivated to its utmost level, it is called the Heaven and Earth Unmoving Seal?"

"Yes, that is our Yangming Zhou Family's great dharma method, and also the greatest skill in the Shousui Sect today."

"My father told me that this is the greatest skill in the Shousui Sect now, but unfortunately, more than half of it is passed down from the ancestors, and only men can cultivate it."

"He has always wanted to change it, to make it a skill that both men and women can inherit, but after all these years, it still hasn't happened..."

"Why must it be changed?"

"Because he only has me, his daughter, and he feels it's a great loss teaching it to others!"

"...Makes a lot of sense!"

"..."

As they gradually approached Shangjing, through his discussions with Fourth Miss Zhou, Hu Ma began to gain some understanding of this Shousui True Sect.

"There's a reason the name of the Yangming Zhou Family includes the words 'Life Nourishing'."

"The Shousui practitioners are not mere brutes; they seek a way of survival from the simplest dharma methods. Everyone has only one life, borrowing strength from heaven and earth to grow stronger, yet also being eroded and dissolved by the same heaven and earth."

"Human emotions are like knives, disasters, and calamities that take lives, and no one can escape them. But the Zhou Family has a life-nourishing method that doesn't change fate but allows one's own lifespan to reach its utmost potential."

"In good health, one can be free of all diseases. By understanding the Yin Yang Conquest Technique, one's Golden body becomes impermeable and the essence of life remains unbroken."

"And when this method is cultivated to its extreme, one becomes Unaffected by All Techniques."

"My father once went into seclusion for three whole months, not moving, eating, drinking, or sleeping. After three months, he emerged full of vigor, just as he was at the beginning of his seclusion. The key was that his lifespan was not reduced..."

"In other words, during those three months, he essentially jumped out of the lifespan determined by Yin and Yang, existing outside the world."

"..."

Hu Ma thoughtfully considered the reasoning in these words, and couldn't help but think of three words: living dead. When he first entered the Shousui Path, Shopkeeper Wu had mentioned that when one reached the extreme of the Shousui Path, it was the Living Dead Realm. At that time, he thought the term living dead referred to reaching the pinnacle of Ascension, where one's entire being could undergo Death Transformation. Now, thinking about it, could it be that the Living Dead Realm is even higher than this? Of course, Shopkeeper Wu probably heard it from elsewhere. His own cultivation level was far from reaching that height.

"My father's skill of an impermeable Golden body and being Unaffected by All Techniques is well-known among the Ten Surnames, and few in the Path dare to offend him. But he also said there is a problem with his dharma method, although he can't explain what this problem is. It's his stumbling block."

"Breaking through it means breaking away from the ultimate limit."

"But even with this one skill, one could call it the foundation of Shousui in the world."

"All of the Ten Surnames are called their own family masters, and they are also said to be the ancestors of all paths. This saying is reasonable. In the Path, it's said that all techniques return to the origin. This idea stems from two main points. First, the 'bridge' is in the hands of the Ten Surnames, and it subtly governs the entire Path. Second, each of the Ten Surnames possesses a unique trump card of this nature. While they can't truly be called the ancestors of all paths, these skills can be considered the 'mother forms' of the Ten Great Paths."

"The Mother Form of the Ten Paths?"

Hu Ma listened, thinking deeply, and lightly nodded, "The Ten Surnames are indeed unique..."

"...Almost as if they were deliberately pushed to the forefront."

"..."

"Master, up ahead is Shangjing City. We should arrive before sunset."

As he was thinking, the shout of Little Douguan sounded from outside the carriage.

Hu Ma lifted the curtain and looked ahead. All he saw was an ancient and desolate official road stretching straight forward, flanked by mountains that seemed to be shrouded in a gray aura.

Although the legendary ancient capital of Shangjing was not yet visible due to the distance, it felt as if there was a colossal entity cloaked in ominous ghost qi, waiting patiently at the end of this road. Shangjing, the center of the dynasty, the core of heaven and earth, the place where Douyi was annihilated, and also the place where the Ten Surnames rose to prominence. Since he began wandering the jianghu, Hu Ma had heard many legends about Shangjing. Even though Douyi was long gone, Shangjing seemed to hold a special place in the hearts of the court and the men dao yiren. Everyone knew that in this world, various grasshead kings were rising everywhere, but no matter how fierce they were on their own turf or how famous they became, it was of no use. In the end, it depended on who could fight their way to Shangjing and sit on the royal seat to become the True Dragon; all others were mere renegades. Although the Ten Surnames rose in Shangjing, due to various inexplicable reasons, most chose not to remain there. Even the most sinister Meng family found Shangjing too sinister and relocated their ancestral home to Salt State, leaving only their ancestral hall in Shangjing. The Hu Family was similar. Having split from the Qingyuan Hu Family, the Qingyuan branch was not included in their genealogy. In principle, the Hu Family now had two ancestral lands—one in Shangjing, and one in Old Yin Mountain. So, although this was his first time in Shangjing, in theory, it was like a homecoming journey.

"We've delayed long enough; let's pick up the pace!"

Feeling his emotions surge, Hu Ma urged, and the carriage's wheels began to turn faster.

Unexpectedly, after only traveling for a short time, the animals outside suddenly became restless and refused to advance, lifting their hooves and shaking their heads.

Even the driver and the attendants accompanying the carriage suddenly gasped in low voices, their tones trembling, "Could it be, we're encountering this kind of thing again?"

Seeing everyone's alarm, Hu Ma furrowed his brow and looked outside, only to see that ahead on this ancient road, a fierce wind had blown away the yellow sands, revealing a chilling military formation. Unexpectedly, it was countless troops, dressed in black, arranged in a solemn array across the road, their murderous aura seemingly halting even the wind blowing towards them.

Previously encountering that Grain Searching Team led to quite the danger. Now seeing an army blocking the road, it was natural for everyone to be afraid.

"It looks like the City Guard..."

From behind, Calculation hurriedly rode his donkey to catch up, addressing Hu Ma, "This was the former personal guard of Douyi. After Douyi's defeat, the name of the Dou Clan stands only in history, but this City Guard was jointly maintained by the Ten Surnames, not participating in various battles, only guarding Shangjing. Now, why have they come a hundred miles outside Shangjing City?"

"This is different from Pan Mountain King; don't provoke them lightly!"

Hu Ma said, "I'm only escorting the spirit back to Shangjing in good faith, who would I provoke?"

"Since you're escorting the spirit, follow the escorting rules; don't detour, just go straight through!"

"..."

As he spoke, lightly focusing his mind, the aura of the nine columns of Tao spread out, safeguarding himself and his group, including the animals.

This was a natural skill manifested due to his increased cultivation, unnoticed by others but giving a vague sense of increased courage.

Seeing Hu Ma's determined demeanor, they calmed down and urged their horses, slowly approaching.

Shangjing was the foundation of the Ten Surnames, and this City Guard, needless to say, was naturally under their command as well.

Now, knowing that the Ten Surnames anticipated his arrival in Shangjing, they had mobilized such a force; what could be their intention?

As Hu Ma pondered this, the carriage advanced and gradually drew closer to the other army. Before long, he could clearly see that great army across from them, and the "City Guard" banner held high among them.

An intertwining of auras was about to clash when suddenly a beating of drums sounded from the army, followed by the blaring of the Cow Horn Horn.

The troops blocking the road unexpectedly withdrew to the sides of the road, dismounting and half-kneeling by the roadside.

"Shangjing City Guard, welcomes the return of Great General Zhensui!"

"..."

Hearing this loud proclamation, not only did the drivers and attendants but even Immortal Miaoshan and Fourth Miss Zhou inside the carriage were taken aback.

For one, they had never witnessed such a welcoming force of troops, and secondly, they found the title strange.

Hu Ma remained inside the carriage, not getting down, and since he did not give any orders, the carriage slowly passed through the great army. As they each held suspicions in their hearts, they suddenly saw two figures approaching through the dusty haze behind the troops.

Upon closer inspection, they turned out to be familiar faces: Zhao Sanyi from the Divine Hand Zhao Family and Chen Abao from the Black Magic Chen Family.

These two approached from either side of the road. Upon reaching the front, they said nothing but walked alongside the carriage, leading them directly forward.

The troops followed closely behind, the sound of iron armor clashing resonating as units rose, raised the ceremony tents, and grandly followed.

After traveling less than twenty more miles, two more individuals came to welcome them.

One wore a gleaming white robe, while the other wore brightly colored clothing resembling witch clothes. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Like before, they came from both sides of the carriage, bowed lightly to Hu Ma inside the carriage, and then flanked him on either side.

Moving forward again, another pair came side-by-side; one wore black clothing, the other red.

"The disciples of the Ten Surnames, coming a hundred miles out of the city to welcome..."

Following the procession behind the carriage, Calculation glanced at this formation, feeling slightly afraid, "If people don't observe propriety, it's considered disrespectful, but the other party's excessive reverence is also intimidating..."

"..."

Hu Ma understood as well that those now coming out a hundred miles to greet him were indeed the various disciples from the Ten Families Sect. The Divine Hand Zhao Family, the Black Magic Chen Family, the Undying Wang Family, the Mountain-viewing Zhu Family, the Benefit Sun Family, the Shousui Zhou Family, the Noble Zhang Family, and the Impermanence Li Family—two by two. Four pairs arrived one after another. However, the representative from the Noble Zhang Family wore tattered clothes, lacking any sense of nobility. When the last pair from the Impermanence Li Family and Shousui Zhou Family arrived, they also carried a paper man in their hands... ...This represented the Tongyin Meng Family?

He had some understanding of this, and followed them forward. Before long, they finally arrived in front of an ancient city. Looking up, he saw the towering city walls, giving the impression of blocking out the sky and sun.

However, this legendary ancient capital of Shangjing lacked any grand and sacred aura, instead giving a vague sense of drifting ghost qi.

Eerily, it seemed as though they had arrived in some underworld ghost city, where humans and ghosts mingled.

In front of the current city gates, it was even more bustling. There was an incense table, a ceremony tent, and a high platform set up early, with green banners fluttering on both sides.

The Daluo Dharma Sect Leader and National Master Dongxuan stood before the platform, while both sides revealed a myriad of figures, each a big figure from the Ten Families Sect.

As the carriage approached, he waved the horsetail whisk in his hand and stepped forward slowly, sighing lightly, "For twenty years, you have endured humiliation and shouldered heavy burdens. Heaven, Earth, and all living people ought to recognize such profound kindness."

"The Zhen Sui Hu Family lineage has returned safely to the capital. This shows that the heavens protect those who have merit..."

"..."

Saying this, he bowed deeply, rose slowly, and came to the front of the carriage, declaring loudly, "In gratitude for the burden borne by the Hu Family these twenty years, I personally guide your horse into Shangjing!"