“Are we, sacrifices?”

Hu Ma's words caused the surrounding reincarnators to fall silent for a moment. Everyone wore expressions of doubt and surprise, some clearly bewildered:

“Some say we are dogs of the Grand Duke, some say we are gods from the heavens, some say we are devils crawling out of hell, some say we are the Grand Duke ourselves, and now you say we are sacrifices…”

“So what exactly are we? Where did I come from? Where am I going? Who killed me? And who have I killed?”

“…”

The person next to him, a little frightened by his rambling, quickly said, “Stop with the memes.”

The previous man was on the verge of tears, “But I really can't figure it out. Just for a single sentence transmitted from that Natal Spirit Shrine, I traveled thousands of miles, fought with others, and now I have to face this kind of strange, ancient monster…”

“My wife is waiting for me at home, and my son is still practicing his punches. Wouldn't it be better for me to stay at home? Why did I have to get involved in this mess?”

“…”

Amidst this confusion and subtle panic, Hu Ma turned to look at them, solemnly saying, “What you said is all true, but it can also be said to be false, depending on your perspective.”

“According to the records of the Great Luo Dharma Sect, the Grand Duke has five calamities, but they are not five specific calamitous objects. Rather, they are five ominous signs that appear in this world when the Grand Duke descends.”

“The first is that demons and monsters plague the human world.”

“The second is that the netherworld brews three disasters.”

“The third is that hellish devils seize reincarnation.”

“The fourth is that soldiers and horses destroy fate like knives.”

“The fifth is that heaven and earth are like a net, and life is like a fish.”

“Now, of the five ominous signs, four have already descended.”

Hu Ma looked seriously at the reincarnators present, slowly saying, “The first ominous sign is the prevalence of evil. Since the Grand Duke was summoned by Dou Yi, the evil spirits and demons in this world have become more and more numerous, but at that time, the Mandate of Heaven was still present, suppressing these evils.”

“Some were appeased, some were worshiped, some were listed as household gods, wandering spirits, or given the title of Lord of the Prefecture, using evil to control evil. And various extraordinary individuals also took advantage of the situation, allowing this world to continue for a few more years.”

“But now that the Mandate of Heaven has long since declined, these evil spirits will naturally become more and more powerful, unrestrained, and even influenced by the Grand Duke, transforming into ferocious gods, wreaking havoc on one side.”

“The second ominous sign is that disasters are brewing deep within the netherworld, accumulating more and more, and the more disasters that are born, the more terrifying they become. The thirty-six Ghost Cave dwellers sacrificed seven lifetimes to slow down this process, but now, they are only lingering on their last breath.”

“The fourth ominous sign is that the world is in chaos, people devour each other, and the blessings of the world no longer exist, causing the Grand Duke to descend even faster.”

“…”

Hu Ma spoke to this point before turning back to the third ominous sign, slowly saying, “Hellish devils seizing reincarnation refers to the reincarnators.”

“According to the records of the Great Luo Dharma Sect, reincarnators are here to destroy the foundations of this world, destined to cause chaos in the human world, destroy the moral code, and harvest purple energy for the Grand Duke.”

“…”

Having said this, he sighed softly, saying, “People have fate, blessings, luck, lifespan, and karma, and this world also has them.”

“The five calamities are meant to destroy these five major foundations.”

“Human demons destroy the stability of the world, destroying the blessings of heaven and earth.”

“The disasters beneath the earth harvest the essence of heaven and earth, destroying the lifespan of heaven and earth.”

“Hellish devils disrupt the moral code, destroying the Mandate of Heaven.”

“Human soldiers and horses, in their confusion, kill each other, destroying the luck of heaven and earth, and finally…”

“The Grand Duke himself arrives, erasing the karma of this world, completely taking back what belongs to him, the sacrifices, and everything returns to nothingness.”

“…”

“This… what is all this?”

Hu Ma's answer was frank, but the reincarnators were clearly a little frightened. Some were quickly weighing things in their minds, silently calculating, trying to find problems in the logic.

Others looked at each other, waiting for someone clever to give them an answer.

Still others couldn't bear it any longer and anxiously said, “According to what you're saying, are we really here to bring disaster to the human world?”

“We don't accept that. Whether in our past lives or in this life, we have always been honest and good citizens. In the past twenty years, the worst thing I've done is drink in a brothel without paying, ah. It's the first generation of reincarnators who really look like devils from hell.”

“…”

“That's just how the Great Luo Dharma Sect recorded it; I don't quite believe it myself.”

Hu Ma exhaled and said to the crowd, “But undoubtedly, that Dongxuan National Preceptor believed these things and acted accordingly. He was right about one thing: this world is already riddled with holes, destroyed beyond recognition, so he only thought about escaping.”

“To this end, he didn't hesitate to make a deal with the things beneath the earth.”

“So, this Dharma Assembly that he organized was originally meant to refine the White Jade City, and its core has a method that is somewhat like a sacrifice within a sacrifice.”

“This world has always been in a grand sacrifice, and no one can escape. The method he used was to exchange sacrifices, severing the White Jade City from this world, thereby escaping the shadow of the Grand Duke…”

“You can understand it as, before a small country is about to be destroyed, the generals of the country actively hand over a portion of the territory to the enemy in exchange for their own independent status as lords, but this country will therefore accelerate its demise.”

“But to complete this sacrifice within a sacrifice, there are two key points: one is the Twelve Ghost Altars, which are meant to ensure that the White Jade City can be severed, and the other is the reincarnators.”

“The reason why the things beneath the earth were willing to agree to this sacrifice is that the reincarnators are the most important bargaining chip.”

“The Great Luo Dharma Sect's spells are extremely brilliant, but I think, in essence, they are nothing more than the word ‘exchange.’ All spells are achieved through equal exchange.”

“…”

“Using us as a bargaining chip? What would happen if we hadn't come to the capital at all?”

“Why are these things beneath the earth interested in us?”

At this moment, the reincarnators were in an uproar, discussing among themselves. Some believed, some questioned, while Miss White Wine reacted more quickly: “Do you have any evidence for what you're saying?”

“It's all recorded in the bamboo scrolls.”

Hu Ma looked at Miss White Wine and nodded slightly, saying, “I don't rule out the possibility that the National Preceptor deliberately left these bamboo scrolls behind to deceive us, but I don't think that's very likely, since these bamboo scrolls were for him to see himself.”

“In his original plan, he didn't intend for me to truly understand all of his plans, nor did he think he would lose.”

“Besides, there is already a very simple way to understand all of this.”

“…”

Upon hearing this, countless eyes turned to Hu Ma, and he met their gazes, slowly saying, “Tie Guanyin.” (Iron Goddess of Mercy - a type of tea)

“As long as we find her, all questions will be answered.”

“…”

“Tie Guanyin?”

A wave of tension immediately spread among the reincarnators. They had already expended a great deal of effort in searching for this person, and they had long since confirmed her importance based on various pieces of information.

Hu Ma slowly nodded and said to Miss White Wine, “Miss Red Wine has already gone to Old Yin Mountain to find her, right?”

“What was the result?”

“…”

Miss White Wine slowly shook her head, saying, “There's no news yet.”

“And the Capital Reincarnators… these people who have become strange, when they first contacted me, were also using Tie Guanyin's name. They said that Tie Guanyin had instructed them to arrange your assassination.”

“They even seemed to see the questions in my heart and gave me two choices: enter the Capital to continue assassinating you, or return to Old Yin Mountain to meet Tie Guanyin.”

“I chose to return to the Capital to personally investigate the strangeness of these events, but I didn't give up on Old Yin Mountain. I don't trust others, but I notified Red Wine to go.”

“She's from the Acrobatic Arts School and has a keen eye. If there were any problems, she would definitely be able to see them right away.”

“Unfortunately, until now, she hasn't sent any news back.”

“…”

Hu Ma nodded and slowly said, “If I'm not mistaken, it won't be that easy to find her, because…”

“It's not that Tie Guanyin doesn't want to come out; she's trapped in Old Yin Mountain by the Great Luo Dharma Sect.”

“…”

As soon as these words came out, everyone was shocked. Since the goal of finding Tie Guanyin was set, this was the first time they had heard someone say such a definite clue.

Hu Ma met their gazes and slowly continued, “I even suspect that the Capital Reincarnators were initially really trying to investigate some things, but they got too deeply involved and ultimately ended up in this kind of trouble.”

“And the trouble that Tie Guanyin is facing may be ten times, even a hundred times, worse than that of the Capital Reincarnators.”

“However, you don't need to worry.”

Having said this, he paused slightly and said, “I can help them and rescue Tie Guanyin.”

“Shua shua shua shua…”

In that instant, countless eyes turned to look at Hu Ma.

“The reason why Tie Guanyin has been trapped in Old Yin Mountain for twenty years and unable to meet with the reincarnators is that the Great Luo Dharma Sect used the power of the Twelve Ghost Altars to trap her there.”

Hu Ma slowly said, “And I am now the chief priest of the Great Luo Dharma Sect and the only one who can mobilize the Twelve Ghost Altars.”

Everyone's expressions became somewhat solemn. Even Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor) hesitated for a moment, but he only sighed slowly and didn't say anything at this time.

It was the reincarnators' habit at work. In this group, information was always valuable, and the information that Hu Ma had about Tie Guanyin was simply immeasurable, yet he directly told the reincarnators, which was quite generous.

“There are still many reincarnators who suspect you.”

At this time, someone spoke, it was code-named Huadiao Wine (a type of Chinese liquor): “You also said that according to the records of the Great Luo Dharma Sect, we should be on the Grand Duke's side, harvesting purple energy.”

“But this generation of reincarnators hasn't done anything. We've honestly hidden for twenty years, and that's because we lost contact with the first generation of reincarnators. If you bring Tie Guanyin out, she might lead us onto the right path…”

As he spoke, his eyes flickered, saying, “As a person of this world, wouldn't you be at a loss?”

“I believe in Lao Jun Mei (a type of tea), and I also believe in Da Hong Pao (a type of tea). I even had the good fortune to work with Master Longjing (a type of tea) to kill the esteemed Zhang Gui.”

Hu Ma slowly said, “Those three all aimed to defy the Mandate of Heaven and slay the Grand Duke, so naturally, I also believe in Tie Guanyin's position. Rescuing her is a matter of course, and it doesn't even count as something I'm doing for you.”

“Besides…”

After seriously stating the above, Hu Ma sighed again, saying, “The distrust between the Ten Surnames and this world, the Great Luo Dharma Sect and the reincarnators, has been too long.”

“I'm not as good as them at playing tricks, so I choose to help you at this time. If she brings bad news, and you really become Grand Duke harvesters, then I will only choose to fight against you.”

“…”

This was the first time he had formally spoken to the reincarnators as a native of this world, and the feeling was quite strange.

And these reincarnators also felt strange in their hearts.

“So, that National Preceptor was a person who was willing to admit defeat. After realizing his failure, he immediately left and left these clues to me, but he also left me with a mess.”

Hu Ma spoke to this point and took a low breath, saying, “But some things can't be changed. He wanted to summon the Twelve Ghost Altars to hold this Dharma Assembly, sacrifice the reincarnators, and refine the White Jade City. Now that he has lost, I still have to hold this Dharma Assembly.”

“Once these things beneath the earth really come out, it would be like the living Old Ancestor Meng arriving in the human world. Who can deal with that? So I must summon the Twelve Ghost Altars to suppress him.”

Speaking to this point, a hint of complexity and helplessness flashed across his face: “The funny thing is that I just escaped the control of the Great Luo Dharma Sect, and now I have to shoulder this responsibility. They left so cleanly, as if my Hu family was born to bear these things…”

“…”

After only a slight sigh, he turned his gaze to the others and smiled, saying, “Of course, we'll do what we need to do. It's just that the National Preceptor had the assistance of the Ten Surnames, but I need to ask you to lend a hand.”

“And the reward for successfully holding this Dharma Assembly is the liberation of Tie Guanyin. Do you think this deal is feasible?”

“…”

These words seemed simple, but everyone's hearts were heavy.

The reincarnators had come to the capital to stop the Great Luo Dharma Sect's Dharma Assembly.

The initial message released by the Ten Surnames was that this Dharma Assembly might bring fatal blows to the reincarnators, but now, the reincarnators had to personally promote this Dharma Assembly?

Just as the crowd was silent, they suddenly heard someone chuckle. Everyone turned to look and saw a woman wearing rough cloth clothes. She had a delicate and lovely appearance, but she smelled a bit, and the people next to her were keeping their distance.

While others were hesitating, her face was clearly excited, and she happily said, “Originally, it was a Dharma Assembly to suppress evil spirits, but it has suddenly become a grand Dharma Assembly held by evil spirits. Isn't that fun?”

“You're still hesitating?”

“…”

“Eh?”

Everyone had just listened to Hu Ma say so much and only ended up weighing things in their minds, but for some reason, they were moved by what Sweet Potato Liquor (a type of Chinese liquor) said.

“That's right, whether it's for Tie Guanyin or to solve the hidden dangers beneath the earth, we have no reason to refuse.”

Miss White Wine also sighed softly at this time, raised her head to look at the crowd, and said, “Besides, since we have already crossed the bridge and entered the capital and are no longer preparing to lie low, then it's time for us to officially make an appearance.”

“Isn't this Capital Grand Dharma Assembly a good opportunity for us?”

“…”

Erguotou finally spoke slowly at this time: “Reincarnators believe in favors, and they use favors as currency. Favors are mutual. The descendants of the Hu family can believe in us, so why can't we believe in the descendants of the Hu family?”

(End of chapter)