“Zhou Zhiming, the head of the Zhou family?”
At this moment, Hu Ma had no choice but to sheath his blade and look over intently.
As early as when he saw the big head guarding the outside of the town, he had already guessed that this person was none other than the Shou Sui (Night Watcher) Da Tang official who had once led a group of minor officials in Stone Horse Town, terrifying the Yi Qian Sect.
Even someone with his abilities could only guard outside the town, so it was not difficult to guess the identity of someone who had appeared inside the town.
He bowed slightly, but Hu Ma didn't have time for pleasantries. "Him? To receive me?"
Even though he now understood a bit about his own fate and had been hunted down by the Transcendent several times, he still didn't think much of the Ten Families.
"The National Preceptor said that you have suffered these past few years, experiencing things we haven't and bearing responsibilities we haven't. Now, with the evil spirits seizing the bridge and the world changing, they have quietly raised their heads and are once again causing harm in the mortal realm."
The Zhou family head said with a smile, "You carry great karma, little friend. Your entry into Shangjing will likely be known by those evil spirits, and they will use every means to stop you and harm you. Whether for public or private reasons, we must ensure your safety and bring you into Shangjing City..."
"What you're plotting in Shangjing is your business. I'm just escorting the spirit back to its ancestral home."
Hu Ma's expression didn't soften as he listened to him, and he said coldly, "Besides, I don't have any particular friendship with that National Preceptor."
"Why would I need his kindness?"
The Zhou family head didn't seem surprised to hear the displeasure in Hu Ma's words.
He smiled and said, "If you don't have much of a relationship with the National Preceptor, then how is your relationship with my Zhou family? How's that going?"
That was a strange question.
Hu Ma glanced at the Zhou family head, knowing that he was the most powerful Shou Sui in the world, perhaps without equal. As a Shou Sui himself, he could naturally feel the immense pressure, like a towering mountain and a deep abyss, emanating from this man who appeared so gentle and smiling.
He only smiled coldly and said, "That's even more interesting."
"Judging from my skills, I'm afraid I have a feud with the Zhou family, don't I?"
"..."
The former Dawei Shigung (Grand Master) was at odds with the Yangming Zhou family, and since he followed the Dawei Shigung lineage, he was naturally at odds with the Zhou family as well.
Moreover, he had fought their daughter before.
"Not a feud, just a dispute over methods."
Hu Ma had already frankly admitted his identity as a member of the Dawei Shigung lineage, but unexpectedly, the Zhou family head actually smiled.
He waved his hand and said, "Behind closed doors, the Dawei Shigung and the Zhou family's Yangming methods may compete for superiority, arguing over who is the true origin of the Shou Sui sect, but when the doors are opened to the outside world, they are walking the same path."
"In the end, it's all about risking one's life to survive, so there's no distinguishing between inside and outside."
As he spoke, he gently waved his robe, pushing open the door behind him. Behind the door was an unexpectedly clean little courtyard, with no human flesh hanging and no blood splattered.
It turned out that this person had already searched around the town and deliberately chosen this small courtyard, acting like the owner as he invited Hu Ma to sit down on a stone bench in the courtyard. His eyes were clear as he sized up Hu Ma, who had taken a seat.
He sighed softly and said, "Our Shou Sui sect relies on our own abilities, so our path is more solid than others."
"According to the norm, the Shou Sui's ascent involves going from life to death, then refining life from death. One can shed limbs and replace organs. Upon entering the Fu (Mansion) stage, one nourishes the divine soul, and even the head and skin can be replaced."
"And when one reaches the bridge, it is a vast and boundless realm where one refines only a single thought. Once the time is ripe, one can ascend the bridge in a single breath, without even needing this physical body..."
"A single spark of spiritual light is me. In the morning, I roam the Northern Sea, and in the evening, I rest in Cangwu. What freedom and ease?"
"And if one wants to return to the mortal realm, there are countless bodies in heaven and earth. Which one wouldn't be able to accommodate me?"
"..."
"Hm?"
That the Zhou family head, the head of the Yangming Zhou family, one of the most powerful Shou Sui in the world, would come to find him at this crucial time was surprising enough.
But for him to find him and not rush into other matters, but instead talk to him about the Way of the Shou Sui, was even stranger.
Hu Ma was momentarily at a loss as to his intentions.
As for what he said, as a Shou Sui, he couldn't help but feel a bit solemn. The Shou Sui's methods, starting with body refinement and continuing until soul nourishment and then body abandonment, were indeed a clear and well-defined path.
Upon becoming a Fu Shou Sui, one gains the ability to seize bodies. After that, one pushes open the three Fu doors, and the divine soul grows stronger, cultivating a Dharma Idol.
This ability to seize bodies actually becomes even greater.
But after pushing open the three Fu doors, it was very different from what he had described.
According to his description, wouldn't all Shou Sui become "ghosts," carefree and at ease, going wherever they wanted, not even needing their physical bodies, and then, when they were tired of playing, simply seize someone else's body?
But in fact, Shou Sui always felt that too many of their abilities were tied to their own bodies. Even if they had this ability, very few actually seized bodies. After seizing a body, they would have to re-cultivate all their unique skills. A golden nest or a silver nest was not as good as guarding their own doghouse.
No Shou Sui had ever tried the path he described. Even the Zhou family members and Bottle Master had never mentioned it.
"Unfortunately, the principle is clear, the path is straight, but it's always impossible to walk."
The Zhou family head, Zhou Zhiming, smiled at Hu Ma and said, "In the end, Shou Sui have also embarked on the path of transcendence, cultivating Dharma Idols, transcending the mortal world, and looking down upon humanity."
"But Shou Sui are not as good as other sects. The body is too heavy, and they walk slowly on the bridge, not as light and quick as other sects."
"This is also why the Zhou family can produce so many fierce generals who excel before entering the Fu stage, but they are very cautious when it comes to contending for the world."
"..."
Hu Ma knew about this. The Yangming Zhou family was not only the origin of the Shou Sui sect.
In fact, they could even be revered as ancestors by various grassroots kings.
Any member of the sect who was pulled out was a fierce general who could dominate the battlefield. When they opened up formations and engaged in slaughter, their advantage was much greater than that of other sects.
At this time when grassroots kings were rising and vying for the world, it was precisely the time for the Shou Sui sect to make a name for themselves and achieve great merit.
But now, in reality, one found that behind every grassroots king, there were shadows of aristocratic families, but the Zhou family was not very involved; in fact, they appeared very low-key.
But why was he telling him all this?
"The Yangming Zhou family is the origin of the Shou Sui sect, and no one dares to say that the true method of the Shou Sui is not with the Zhou family."
The Zhou family head saw that Hu Ma, although not speaking, was clearly listening to his words, and he smiled and continued, "But I can say that this statement is not necessarily accurate."
"Hm?"
Hu Ma was genuinely surprised this time.
The person before him was the dignified head of one of the Ten Families, the Zhou family's patriarch, and also the most powerful Shou Sui in the world, perhaps without equal, yet he had suddenly said such a thing?
"Those families who walk quickly on the bridge have encountered roadblocks and cannot pass. They are struggling and enduring, so they have been eagerly awaiting the Stone Pavilion Alliance, hoping to find a way to break through the roadblocks."
Zhou Zhiming sighed softly and said, "The Zhou family is actually the same. The path of transcendence is extremely difficult, so sometimes I can't help but wonder if there really are other paths in the Shou Sui sect that are more stable."
"Like, the Dawei Shigung?"
The dignified Yangming Zhou family actually admired the Dawei Shigung's method so much?
Shouldn't they be at each other's throats, trying to belittle each other?
"Sigh..."
Zhou Zhiming observed Hu Ma's expression and sighed, "Actually, I'm starting to regret that the Zhou family was too domineering in the past."
"If we hadn't been so eager to compete with that Great Virtuous Teacher for the orthodoxy of the Shou Sui sect, but instead sat down and discussed it, perhaps the roadblocks of the Shou Sui sect would have been broken long ago."
"I know that Great Virtuous Teacher better than anyone else in the world. The Dawei Shigung's method must have something unique. Unfortunately, I don't know if that person had comprehended it back then. But now, you are the only inheritor of the Dawei Shigung's method. If you could enter the Zhou family's door..."
"..."
Hu Ma met his slightly flickering gaze and suddenly understood that this old fox was also coveting his Dawei Tiangong (Heavenly Duke) General's method?
He shook his head and said, "I can't give it to you."
Then he smiled and said, "However, Senior is the head of the family, why not take the lead and give me the Zhou family's methods?"
The Zhou family head fell silent and looked at Hu Ma. Hu Ma also looked at him frankly.
"So greedy..."
Zhou Zhiming sighed and said, "As expected of someone from our Ten Families."
As he spoke, he directly skipped this topic and said softly, "The National Preceptor has already told us about your experiences. Honestly, it's really beyond our expectations. We knew that the Hu family was ruthless, but we didn't expect them to be so ruthless as to use their only bloodline to their advantage."
"Your experiences are bizarre and mysterious. Not to mention the disciples of the Ten Families, even I find it difficult to imagine..."
"As for now, I'm actually only concerned about one question."
"Who... are you right now?"
"..."
Hu Ma's eyes flickered slightly, and he looked at him seriously and said, "What difference does it make?"
Zhou Zhiming slowly said, "Before the path of Transcendent was cut off, there used to be a saying of second lives. Humans have three ghosts, one soul returns, one soul guards the corpse, and one soul is called karma. When one's life comes to an end and the seven spirits scatter, one is reborn as a human. Karma has already broken away from the guarding corpse, so there is no memory at all."
"But there are also some people who, by chance, encounter their past life's soul, or are not completely separated, and know all sorts of things about their previous life..."
"Such people are called second lives."
"Tell me, would such a person recognize their current life, or their previous life?"
"..."
Hu Ma listened to his words, his heart stirred slightly, and he smiled and said, "You're very concerned about this question?"
"Not just me, we are all very concerned."
Zhou Zhiming looked at Hu Ma quietly and said, "This involves how we should treat you. If you are just a Hu family descendant and also the head of the Zhen Sui Fu (Demon Suppression Office), I should treat you with respect. Putting aside our generations, I should even treat you with the respect of a peer."
"If those evil spirits refuse to accept this loss and come to find you, I should also fully assist you and welcome you back to Shangjing. This is our duty as one of the Ten Families."
Speaking to this point, he paused for a moment and suddenly said, "Even your marriage with my daughter, Yingying, I can agree to."
"The Ascension Plan..."
"Your ranking is even ahead of mine..."
Hu Die Lan
Chapter 1 The Beginning