CHAPTER 349: CHAPTER 346: HU FAMILY TOKEN (THIRD UPDATE)

At the moment Hu Ma bowed three times, hundreds of miles away in Old Yin Mountain, within Juehu Village where vindictive souls wailed toward the moon, the Stone Box on the village’s stone platform, tightly bound by iron chains, suddenly buzzed and trembled violently. The yin souls and fierce ghosts in the village sensed this, cried out, and scattered, trying to escape. However, the four Gate Guardian Stones surrounding the village simultaneously emitted a faint glow, as if transforming into four generals in golden armor, gazing into the village and quelling all disturbances.

Meanwhile, in Green Stone Town, before Yellow Dog Village, Hu Ma felt a strange emotion rise within him after seeing Granny’s shadow dissipate. Even though the mountain lord had previously told him this method was feasible, he still felt a bit uneasy. Inheriting the Hu Family’s legacy was inevitable, but would it proceed as smoothly as he hoped? Reincarnators feared the Ten Families Sect, yet I dare to approach it. Isn’t this essentially a suicidal act?

However, after seeing Granny’s shadow, he suddenly felt he had been overthinking. It had been two full years since Granny rescued him and diligently cared for him. Perhaps I’m already feeling a bit distant?

I have to admit, I was genuinely moved by Granny’s efforts at first. But as time passed, I occasionally felt uneasy, seemingly not as familiar with Granny as with Little Hongtang, and even less so with my identity as part of the Hu Family. I decided to inherit the Hu Family’s legacy because I realized I couldn’t escape it, so why not take a proactive step forward? But as for feelings? Besides sharing the Hu surname, what feelings are there?

Yet this subtle emotion vanished the moment he saw Granny. When she heard he wanted to borrow the token and intended to kill the Five Evil Ghosts, Granny didn’t ask or doubt anything. In her eyes, there was only endless joy. She simply believed that someone from the Hu Family had grown up and was indeed starting to prepare to do something. Then perhaps I truly am a descendant of the Hu Family, just forgetting some things and recalling others?

Uttering a low sigh, Hu Ma gently lifted his head. He saw the wind before him suddenly become exceptionally fierce, carrying a majestic presence that almost knocked him over. But he knew the crucial moment had arrived. He merely stood up, firmly planting his feet, not even closing his eyes, just staring at the night ahead. The night deepened, like a dense tide. In the depths of this impenetrable tide, something unusual stirred; something was approaching.

THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!

In his ears, Hu Ma seemed to hear heavy vibrations, each one echoing like an earthquake. He strained to look ahead. As the sound drew nearer, he finally saw a faint golden glow in the tide of night. As the golden glow approached, it revealed two Golden Armored Warriors walking through the night. Their golden armor shimmered, sweeping away the eerie atmosphere of the gloomy night. Wandering ghosts couldn’t flee fast enough and dissipated into smoke. The vibrations were their footsteps. Each extended a hand, collectively carrying a black box. Step by step, they walked over and placed it heavily before Hu Ma.

So, it was indeed borrowed. Is this the Hu Family’s token?

Suppressing his excitement, Hu Ma slowly bowed, thanking the two Golden Armored Warriors. But they said nothing. After placing the box down, one held a halberd and the other an axe, standing on either side, guarding the Stone Box.

CLATTER!

The chains atop the Stone Box suddenly fell away. Hu Ma could feel the item within the box exuding a terrifyingly powerful presence—something that belonged to the Hu Family and should thus be his as well. Yet, standing before this Stone Box, I feel a gut-level urge to flee. Perhaps it’s the reincarnated part of me instinctively fearing what lies within, naturally wanting to avoid it. But isn’t this scene unavoidable from the start? If I don’t take this chance now to see if it’s ominous or fortuitous, should I really wait until I enter Juehu Village to formally retrieve this item and then take such a risk?

He clenched his jaw, his expression solemn, and slowly lifted the lid of the box, inch by inch.

WHOOSH!

An indescribably fierce wind blew in his face. It was not the chill wind accompanying an evil spirit’s appearance, nor the malevolent aura from the Five Evil Gods. Instead, it was a dignified and heavy presence that immediately commanded respect and seemed capable of instantly dispersing any sinister thoughts. Hu Ma’s eyesight had improved significantly, yet he still had to pause for a moment to clearly see the contents of the box.

It was a dark, immensely heavy copper mace. Etched upon it were Bi’an patterns of human faces and tiger claws, inlaid with a material resembling red copper, though this red copper seemed to shimmer as if alive. Round at the head and square at the body, it was divided into Nine Joints, measured one zhang and eight chi in length, and was as thick as a human arm. It lay quietly in the box, yet radiated a heavy aura.

This is the Hu Family’s token?

Hu Ma didn’t scrutinize the large black mace for long. His earlier doubts vanished upon seeing the copper mace. Instead, he felt an overwhelming sense of pressure and a strong sense of kinship. It seemed as if something in his blood resonated with the copper mace; he even felt his body yearning to pick it up.

Exhaling deeply, Hu Ma reached inside, grasped the handle, and slowly tried to lift it.

It wouldn’t budge.

The mace looked immensely heavy, but when he tried to lift it, it felt even weightier. With his current strength, Hu Ma couldn’t lift it, not even make it move.

At that moment, Hu Ma raised an eyebrow. He suddenly let out a low growl and unleashed all his Three Column Tao cultivation. His body, tempered by the Shousui man’s dharma methods, erupted with all its strength. Now, even Hu Ma himself didn’t know how much force he had exerted. He rarely needed to use his full strength for anything. But now, facing this copper mace, he had to use every ounce of his power to finally grip the handle and gradually, inch by inch, lift it.

Little by little, he moved it out of the black box.

However, he could only barely extract it. Lifting it higher was utterly impossible. After pulling the copper mace from the Stone Box, even with his Shousui man’s strength, he couldn’t maintain his grip. Suddenly, his hand slipped, and the copper mace plummeted straight to the ground.

BOOM!

In that instant, it felt as if the entire Mingzhou Prefecture trembled. It wasn’t a physical tremor, but rather as if his Divine Soul had been violently agitated, making him dizzy. Even Little Hongtang, watching from afar, suddenly fell on her rear, rubbing her nose as she stared dumbstruck at the copper mace.

The moment the mace hit the ground, it embedded itself upright. Its Nine-Section Mace body collided and vibrated sequentially, creating a sound like the roar of some ferocious beast. A stern aura instantly spread out in all directions. In that moment, all the howling cries of ghosts and the swirling resentful energy were completely dispersed by this overwhelming presence.

In Yellow Dog Village, the little ghosts that had been brought over by the Five Evil Fierce Ghosts and later disturbed by the people in soap clothes, causing them to flee into various corners, were now all slammed to the ground. They were pressed into flat patties and then gradually vanished.

At the same time, at Aunt Zhang’s altar, she watched helplessly as the straw man caught fire. There was nothing she could do; the cultivation of the Five Evil Ghosts was too profound for her to successfully summon or compel them. If not for their current cautiousness, she feared she would have already been consumed by their malevolent aura and died from the backlash.

Just as she was about to collapse, Seventh Aunt, who had been watching with a smile, suddenly looked worried and called out, "Big girl, you’re almost there! Just a little more effort, come on!"

Seventh Aunt had no idea what was truly happening; she just saw Aunt Zhang seemed to be running out of strength and wanted to encourage her.

However, this shout truly steeled Aunt Zhang’s resolve. The memories of her mother being killed ten years ago, the decade of living in constant fear, and the bitterness of all the beatings and curses she had endured surged into her heart. At this point, she no longer feared the backlash. Even if there is a backlash, the Evil Ghost has to come over here first for it to affect me. And that would mean it has entered my altar!

With a loud shout, the black bone she was holding in her hand shattered. Her voice echoed within the altar, "Evil Ghost, get into my altar and speak!"

WHOOSH!

In that very instant, the oil lamp before Aunt Zhang, which had been on the verge of extinguishing, suddenly flared violently, burning brightly and illuminating the entire area. Fierce winds howled in from all directions, and amidst them, faint, solemn, and majestic voices seemed to emerge.

The night air became incredibly heavy, so oppressive it felt as if it could conjure illusions. A towering, majestic, and awe-inspiring presence slowly materialized behind Aunt Zhang’s altar. Because she was the one performing the ritual of setting up the altar, she didn’t need to turn around to sense the changes occurring behind her. She perceived it clearly: the form of a grand and lofty hall, with high roof ridges and a massive, ancient, black main door. In front of the door stood two powerful and fierce Gate Guardian Beasts, their eyes seeming to emit a vicious, cold light.

The next moment, this long-sealed black main door began to slowly, heavily, creak open, revealing just a sliver of what lay beyond. From within, a sound that was both real and illusory, yet utterly soul-shaking, could be faintly heard:

"Zhensui Mansion opens! Punish fiends and slay evil!"

...

The next moment, a dark black Token was abruptly thrown out from the slightly ajar door.

Aunt Zhang stood frozen on the spot, an inexpressible excitement surging through her. Only one phrase echoed repeatedly in her mind: Zhensui Mansion... it opened?