“No, no, there’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world. There must be a trick.”

Right now, Hu Ma was in his room, patiently flipping through the secret manual in his hand. The tiny characters seemed to leap into his eyes, as if possessing some mysterious and shocking power.

“Qi is the origin, techniques are secondary. All are created by the living and received by the dead. All possess resentment, life, balefulness, evil, demonic, death, sickness, plague, curse, and destruction. Scattered among the mountains and rivers, they give rise to demonic creatures; gathered in the human body, they manifest as strange abilities. All originate from a single Qi.”

“The human body is real, the soul is illusory. Consume Qi to refine the body, gradually exhibiting demonic traits, counteracting the origin. I have devised a method to consume Qi and replenish the soul, comprehending the heavens and earth, worshipping the rivers. Exquisite, commendable!”

Just these words alone seemed to open up a new world in his eyes, as if a flamboyant and intelligent person was standing before him, explaining and demonstrating the techniques in great detail, causing his heart to pound.

Normally, comprehending secret manuals required a calm and peaceful mind, but Hu Ma couldn’t calm down at all. He just kept thinking, “Impossible, impossible.”

“I am, after all, a transmigrator, a second-generation person. I can’t be fooled.”

“How can there be such a good thing in the world? Spending only ten taels of silver to exchange for such an entry-level secret manual?”

Gold and silver have a price, blood sacrifices have a price, even human lives have a price. Only this skill is priceless. Even if someone offered to give it to him for free, there would definitely be a hidden cost.

Just like Grandpa Sun, who believed he was enlightened and received an opportunity bestowed by an expert, but who knew if someone hadn't already been eyeing his vast wealth and salt and iron business?

Compared to him taking out half his fortune to exchange for this manual, that price was even higher.

Taking out half his fortune still left him with half his fortune.

But this method was directly encouraging him to rebel, and he might even lose his life.

So it was absolutely impossible. This manual was either fake or contained a trap.

But even as he thought this, he hurriedly flipped through the manual, only to become more and more confused. He had been in the manor for some time, understanding his own condition every day, and pondering how to cultivate after entering the manor.

The more he thought, the deeper he went, and he didn't know how many questions he had in his mind. Now, after looking at this manual, he felt that everything in the book was accurate.

Could it be that he was judging a gentleman's heart with a villain's mind, and this method was actually real?

But, where did this great philanthropist come from?

No, was the Yiqian Sect so rich and generous that they would pass on such a profound and precious manual with just a word?

It was only ten taels of silver!

Moreover, thinking carefully, his conversation with the sect leader didn't seem to involve agreeing to any conditions. Theoretically, he bought this method with half of his fortune, and he and the Yiqian Sect were clear of each other.

So, if he were to put this manual away now and continue to live his little life in the Red Lantern Society, what could the Yiqian Sect do to him?

The more he thought about it, the more outrageous it became. Various questions couldn't be resolved in his mind. Since transmigrating to this world, this was the first time he had been so confused. It felt like countless ants were crawling in his heart. He was just anxious, and he didn't even know who to discuss it with.

At the same time, it was already late at night. In the gradually calming Shima Town, teams of believers, wearing white raincoats, holding copper coins in both hands, and carrying white lanterns, slowly walked in the middle of the street, patrolling the area.

But amidst this silence, suddenly, two strong gusts of wind rushed from the other end of the street, startling everyone.

When they saw the two figures clearly, they hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed, but they were confused in their hearts, wondering where these two were going.

“Did that person stay at the inn in front?”

Rushing forward was the Yiqian Sect leader and Bai Shanzi (White Fan), one in front and the other behind, as if their tails were on fire.

“It’s there, the Tianzi-class room inside, the most spacious one…”

Bai Shanzi followed behind, secretly complaining, “But Senior Sister, we found the person, but what should we say?”

“Could we say that the Most Venerable Dharma King’s reward for him was taken by mistake?”

“The guests staying at the inn are all VIPs invited by Sun Tong, great benefactors. People from the Wanma Gang are all there. If we’re not careful and cause a big commotion, we’ll lose face. Now is the time to plan big things. If we reveal our hand…”

“What time is it, and you’re still thinking about this?”

The Senior Sister in front was hurried and afraid of being overheard by outsiders, so she lowered her voice. “That manual must be retrieved!”

“That was personally tied to the tree by Senior Brother. It helps us suppress the sect’s fortune. Senior Brother has profound Dharma power. He told me that my cultivation is shallow and my life is light. Coming to do such a big thing, I might lose my life if I’m not careful. Plus, he dotes on…”

“Bah, he coveted my body, so he begged for the relic of the Great Virtuous Teacher from Shishu. He said it was a good thing that could suppress fate and change luck…”

“I haven’t been willing to take it off for so many years. How could it be taken advantage of by outsiders?”

“It’s all your fault! You said your tricks were the best!”

Bai Shanzi was also troubled. “My tricks are definitely fine. Maybe the manual has been tied for too long and has loosened. The branches swayed and it accidentally fell…”

“Let’s not talk about these. If we go and the other party refuses to return it to us, what should we do?”

“Speak to him nicely, and if that doesn’t work, exchange it for something else. Just say that his karmic affinity is not enough.”

This Senior Sister rushed ahead, speaking anxiously. “If he gives it, then so be it. If he doesn’t give it, then leave him here!”

Speaking of this, she became anxious, and her tone became heavier. “If it really doesn’t work, summon the experts in the sect, seal off the town. Even if things are done a bit rudely, we must not allow him to leave with this thing!”

In the midst of hurried conversation, they saw the lanterns of the inn ahead, and their hearts immediately sank. With a flick of her hand, she had already pinched two talismans in her hand.

Even Bai Shanzi behind her was unwilling and took out a whistle from his chest, ready to call for help at any time.

At the same time, Hu Ma, who had been sitting and looking, standing and looking, and even holding it up to the candle for a long time, couldn’t figure out what was wrong with this manual, and for a moment, he became suspicious.

There was no doubt that this manual was real, at least he couldn’t find anything wrong with it, but he didn’t quite believe it was real. That’s where the problem lay.

Should he learn it or not?

It was really tangled.

For a moment, he had the intention of going back and asking the sect leader, to seek her guidance properly.

Of course, this time when he went back to ask for guidance, he would definitely have to put away the contempt in his heart and treat her as an expert.

Putting aside everything else, even if it was fake, being able to create this kind of fake, this skill was definitely not small.

In short, he had to admit that he was a snob!

But he had already picked up this manual, and just as he was about to go out, he gave up on this idea, and instead thought of that beautiful Daoist nun’s cold face and arrogant expression. That person had just chased him back, and now if he went back, it was estimated that she wouldn’t say anything.

He would just get a scornful look.

So…

He looked at the manual in his hand, and couldn’t help but become tangled, and for a moment, he didn’t know what to do.

Just then, the little Hong Tang (Red Begonia) at the door suddenly exclaimed and climbed to the window, looking outside.

Hu Ma also felt a chill in his heart, instantly sensed something, and got up to come to the door.

There was movement!

The edge of Shima Town, because it was just a wild town in the mountains, didn’t have city gates like the city, and at night, it closed its doors, not allowing people to enter or exit.

However, because there were many merchants in this town, and it was also a place where the Yiqian Sect lingered, naturally, it wouldn’t really be completely open, allowing people to enter and exit at will. Therefore, every night, there were often groups of believers who prayed for blessings and burned incense, divided into several teams, walking slowly around the town.

One was to patrol, and the second was to recite spells and pray for blessings, dispelling the mountain and wild evil spirits attracted by the town’s vitality, to avoid incidents.

But in one of these teams, when they came to the west end of the town, next to the stone horse, they formed a circle, squatted down, and silently lit incense and burned talismans, using the curling fragrance to dispel the surrounding evil spirits that approached, suddenly a gust of yin wind blew.

They all felt a chill all over their bodies, the cold wind piercing their bones, and some couldn’t help but sneeze.

“Strange, why is there a bloody smell?”

Someone couldn’t help but say, “Could it be that the ones who died in the town weren’t thrown into the forest but directly thrown here?”

Just as he was curiously turning his head to look around, he suddenly felt something was wrong. In the dark night behind him, there was actually a figure standing, not saying a word, emitting a strong bloody smell. They were startled and hurriedly stood up, shouting loudly:

“Who is it? Sneaking around there, come out and meet us!”

They tried hard to lift the white paper lantern, so that the light shone far away, and then they saw that the figure suddenly straightened its arms.

The strong bloody smell spread, and its toes dragged on the ground as it rushed straight towards them.

When it rushed into the range of the light, they saw a rotten face, and tattered talisman armor on its body. The fear in their hearts poured down from the top of their heads like cold spring water in an instant, and they hurriedly shouted, reminding the people around them to be careful.

Unfortunately, before the words could even be said, they only felt wet all over, and the blood in their bodies was directly emptied and flew towards that figure.

In an instant, a rolling bloody aura, accompanied by astonishing evil aura and murderous intent, spread throughout the west end of the town, even the lanterns and torches in the town seemed to be covered with a layer of bloody aura.

“Not good!”

This town was a gathering place for experts. Although it was only a momentary movement, it suddenly alarmed countless people, who jumped out of the windows and onto the eaves. Sun Tong and the others, who were staying with Hu Ma, were also the same.

When they came out, they saw the Yiqian Sect leader and Bai Shanzi rushing to the inn, and immediately nodded to them, shouting, “Fairy, there seems to be an evil thing appearing in the west end of the town. We will accompany you to take a look.”

End of Chapter