CHAPTER 354: CHAPTER 351: ENTERING THE MANSION REALM

After a round of feasting, everyone was in high spirits. Not to mention Seventh Aunt, who loved a lively atmosphere the most, even Aunt Zhang, who usually had a troubled mind, seemed to be lifted by the mood and relaxed from her worries.

As a Ghost Walker, she rarely interacted with others; even when invited by villagers or those she had helped, she often sat alone at a table or had the food delivered to her home. This experience of sitting at a lively table was rare for her, but her face flushed as she lifted her glass.

She solemnly toasted Hu Ma and Seventh Aunt, thanking them for saving her life.

Hu Ma laughed and said, "We’re family, no need for formalities. Aunt Zhang is a respectable person. Feel free to visit the Manor when you have time, and when trouble arises, lending a hand is essential to getting through."

Seventh Aunt grinned, growing more fond of Aunt Zhang the more she looked at her, and said, "This girl is so pretty and well-natured. I’ll find a matchmaker for you next time!"

It was clear that Seventh Aunt wasn’t very adept at conversations, leaving Aunt Zhang flushed. She raised her glass and drank two full cups... and then passed out drunk.

With no other choice, Hu Ma helped her into the inner courtyard, into the room where Sister Wu He had once stayed, pulled out new bedding from the cupboard for her, and then returned to the table to drink.

Everyone gathered around Seventh Aunt, cheering and toasting, lighting cigarettes, and flattering her, making Seventh Aunt extremely happy. In her drunken state, she announced in front of everyone, accepting Li as her first Disciple.

Although it was just drunken bravado, with only a few kowtows and no incense burned or any formal ceremony, Li’s status was at least established. In the future, when something happened, he could rightfully invite Seventh Aunt over.

The party dispersed as people enjoyed the drinks and the merriment. Hu Ma returned to his room, listened intently, and found Aunt Zhang sleeping soundly. He then went back to his own room, sat on the bed, and slowly started practicing.

A moment later, he took out a few Blood Food Pills, placing them on the table beside him, leaned against the wall, and slowly entered the dreamscape.

Feeling dazed, he found himself in the Lifebound Spirit Temple. But this time, he wasn’t calling upon any Reincarnator; upon entering the Lifebound Spirit Temple, he immediately turned nervously towards the area behind the incense table, looking at the Divine Statue hidden in the darkness.

As expected, he felt a slight tremor in his limbs upon seeing it.

Back when he was refining life into his Five Organs, the Divine Statue was already quite different; its limbs and viscera were filled with golden light. But the Seven Apertures of the Head appeared completely dark, hidden behind the incense table, making it seem like a headless Divine Statue at a glance.

Yet now, upon closer inspection, the head of the Divine Statue was already filled with intricate golden threads, intertwined and indistinct, resembling an abstract painting imbued with mysterious meaning.

The facial features and Seven Apertures were so clear they seemed indistinguishable from those completely refined with life.

Indeed...

Hu Ma looked at the Divine Statue, struggling for a moment to contain his excitement. Am I already considered to have Entered the Mansion on the Shousui Path?

No, not quite.

He stared at the Divine Statue, quietly assessing in his mind. I can only say that I’ve completed the Shousui Path’s Entering the Mansion cultivation, but I still lack the nourishment of Blood Food.

As early as a few two-hour periods ago, while slaying the five evil spirits, he had sensed this. However, he had been too busy to visit the Lifebound Spirit Temple to check. It was only now, by observing through the Lifebound Divine Statue, that he confirmed his significant progress in cultivation.

The Head, which previously required a great deal of time to gradually nourish and refine life into, was now completely clear.

The reason was simple. When he opened the Zhensui Mansion, he felt the chilling hostility within it, rolling through him, washing over his entire being. If not for the Hu Family’s keepsake, he feared he wouldn’t have endured it.

This infusion of yin qi into the apertures, penetrating the brain, organs, and blood vessels, wasn’t inherently a good thing. An ordinary person subjected to it would have fallen grievously ill or even died. Even as a Shousui man, his cultivation would have been damaged, taking a long time to recover.

But it just so happened to occur as he was about to Enter the Mansion on the Shousui Path, unexpectedly granting him a miraculous benefit.

Was Ji Tang back then in a similar situation?

Hu Ma took a few deep breaths to steady his excited heart, his thoughts inevitably turning to Ji Tang, the Beggar Gang’s Head on Pingnan Road.

This person could be considered a semi-Master to him regarding Entering the Mansion on the Shousui Path; Ji Tang had a similar experience. Pursued by Grandma Wu, he had narrowly escaped death, ultimately turning misfortune into a blessing. His cultivation had advanced significantly, saving him at least half a year of painstaking effort.

His current circumstances were similar, though he was luckier. After all, the dignified and immensely heavy hostility within the Zhensui Mansion far surpassed anything Grandma Wu could compare to.

While Grandma Wu had inadvertently blown yin qi through Ji Tang’s apertures during the chase, he, on the other hand, had received a solid infusion of hostility—an anointing of sorts. His mind and Divine Soul were instantly cleansed and became exceptionally clear as a result.

It was as if channels had been perfectly laid out on his cultivation path, just waiting for ’living water’ to be channeled in. Then, he could completely reverse life and death, achieve Ascension, Enter the Mansion, and attain great mastery.

And this ’living water’ was Blood Food.

HOO!

Upon realizing this, Hu Ma immediately withdrew from the dreamscape, swallowed the two Blood Food Pills he held, and returned to the Lifebound Spirit Temple, eagerly gazing at it once more.

He then discovered that, nourished by the two Blood Food Pills, the delicate golden light intertwining at the head area of the Lifebound Divine Statue behind the incense table seemed to be thriving, the threads of gold growing more vibrant.

Yet, the head-brain area was densely packed—how many meridians could there possibly be? These two Blood Food Pills only nourished a tiny fraction?

Huh?

Hu Ma was quite surprised. After pondering for a long moment, he gave a rueful smile. Are fortune and misfortune truly intertwined?

Being washed by the Zhensui Mansion’s yin qi had indeed advanced his cultivation progress swiftly, even bringing it to a state of fullness, saving him a whole year and a half’s worth of hard work.

But now I need much more Blood Food...

Actually, the Blood Food given by the Dongzi Li Family earlier was sufficient for me to complete the Entering the Mansion cultivation, with even some to spare.

He even speculated afterward. The Dongzi Li Family, with their unique insight, likely knew exactly how much Blood Food I needed for Entering the Mansion. That’s why they specifically gave me that amount, plus an extra thirty percent as a token of gratitude.

But now, with this change, my need for Blood Food has actually more than doubled.

What the Dongzi Li Family provided might not be enough anymore.

No, that’s not right...

As he thought this, Hu Ma’s heart stirred slightly; once more, he focused his gaze on his Lifebound Divine Statue.

This experience isn’t a case of fortune and misfortune being intertwined; rather, it seems like another rare benefit.

The Shousui Path abilities I cultivated earlier, the Magic I obtained from Shopkeeper Wu, were indeed orthodox but not particularly refined.

Refining the limbs, refining the Four Internal Organs, then refining the Head and nurturing the Seven Apertures—it was all done step by step, but there were many omissions. To put it simply, they were all ’killed’ first, then brought to life using a Secret Technique. However, some minute areas were inevitably overlooked, like leaving a flaw in an otherwise invulnerable diamond body.

But now, with the Zhensui Mansion’s yin qi washing through my body, those minute deficiencies have been filled one by one.

The reason I suddenly need so much more Blood Food is, firstly, for the Head and Divine Soul, and secondly, these minute areas also need to be supplemented one by one.

This is like reaching a bottleneck and having an expert instantly clear all my Eight Extraordinary Meridians for me...

Hu Ma sighed, confirming that the benefit he’d received was significant. He couldn’t help but wonder: Was it the Zhensui Mansion’s deadly yin qi that had unintentionally helped me achieve a comprehensive upgrade on the Shousui Path, or...

...was it intentional?

And as this thought crossed his mind, it inevitably drew him towards pondering the mystery of the Zhensui Mansion itself...

Zhensui Mansion, Zhensui Mansion...

Not only did its appearance suppress all evil spirits within a radius of a hundred li, but it could even directly capture and execute Guests who had hidden back in their temples and taken myriad forms, even parading them publicly...

If it truly possessed such immense power, wouldn’t it mean that once I genuinely obtain the Hu Family’s keepsake, I could kill whomever I wished and flaunt its power directly?

Moreover, after Er Guotou’s reminder, I had assumed the Hu Family’s legacy was a mysterious entity like the old fire pit. But now, seeing the various arrangements and the formidable, imposing aura within the Zhensui Mansion, I can’t help but realize: The Zhensui Mansion is supposed to be something from the Paths, but looking at it, why does it seem so... official, like something governmental? What is the Hu Family’s actual position among the Ten Surnames? And what does the Zhensui Mansion signify for this world?

HOO...

Just contemplating these issues made him feel a weight pressing down.

Hu Ma didn’t dare hope to fully understand these mysteries. But in any case, his contact with the Hu Family’s keepsake hadn’t caused any peculiar mishaps due to his identity as a Reincarnator, dispelling his greatest doubts.

Now, I can focus on planning this major undertaking and strive to truly get this keepsake into my own hands as soon as possible...

Anyway, as I am now, I just need to obtain enough Blood Food to safely Enter the Mansion. And once I’ve Entered the Mansion, I should be capable of shouldering this item, right?

Suddenly pondering this concern, he felt a touch of pressure. Yet after exhaling slowly, he firmed up his resolve to proceed step by step in this direction. After all, the Reincarnators are already in this with me, aren’t they?

At critical moments, one must be resolute!

Then, as he contemplated these issues while gazing at the Lifebound Divine Statue behind the incense table, a probing voice suddenly echoed through the utter silence of the Lifebound Spirit Temple, "Old White Brother, can you hear my call?"

"Old White Big Brother, Er Guotou calling, can you hear?"

"..."

The voice startled Hu Ma awake. With a gentle sigh, he smiled and said, "Brother Er Guotou, I can hear you. But since when were you so cautious?"