Twilight Boundary-Chapter 677 - 668: The Injustice of Official Zhou

"A send-off for Senior Longjing..."

In the City of the Dead, within the Zhensui Mansion, Hu Ma gazed at the arrow soaring into the sky, his expression reverent as he bowed deeply.

He couldn't quite articulate the feeling in his heart. He had only just met this senior, and they shared little camaraderie.

Whether it was the mutual recognition between Reincarnators, admiration for such a cunning and resolute senior, or simply because this was the first expert in the world who had shown him the pinnacle of the ten great skills, it hardly mattered.

Hu Ma saw the seven arrows launched with that senior as the catalyst, feeling both a heaviness in his heart and a vicarious joy for the fulfillment of that person's wish. Especially with the seventh arrow, he had also seen the shadow that seemed to be struck in the outer heavens. His heart was a maelstrom of emotions; the other party was too enigmatic, seemingly beyond his comprehension, yet he had deeply etched that image into his memory.

Moreover, he understood that it wasn't just him; everyone in the world had seen this arrow. Among the countless experts within the Reincarnator ranks, someone would surely understand its significance.

As emotions welled up in his heart, at this moment, an unusual longing also surged within Hu Ma.

He was eager to tell other Reincarnators everything he had experienced and witnessed concerning Mr. Longjing, to let them know this senior...

...or rather, to ensure they knew *of* him.

This stirring in his heart kept him bowed in silence for a long time. Only when the shadow on the Divine Descent Platform vanished and the void above his head disappeared did he finally draw a deep breath, suppressing the sorrow within him.

When he looked up at Eldest Master Meng, his gaze was already glacial.

This formidable figure, one of the Ten Surnames, the Lord of the Tongyin Meng family, the most powerful negative spirit person in the world.

Now he was a pitiable sight, like a rat in a jar!

He himself was visibly still in a state of extreme shock. His ancestor had been struck by a mace and forced to retreat, and the seventh arrow shot by that evil spirit had shaken his very worldview.

As a yin soul, his resilience was inherently weaker than that of a living person. When he sensed the chilling gaze emanating from within the Zhensui Mansion, a horrifying dread washed over him.

Mad, they're all mad...

That Hu Family whelp has gone mad, and those evil spirits have gone mad too...

Do they even understand what they're provoking? How dare the Hu Family allow that evil spirit to commit such an act of profound disrespect?

...

These questions, of course, remained unasked. In fact, at this point, the questions swirling in his mind were too numerous to count. He couldn't even understand why the Hu Family dared to invite the Zhensui Mansion here, allowing those skeletons below to see it.

But he also knew he had to leave.

His cultivation was depleted, his ghost soldiers and generals were either dead or scattered, and most crucially, his ancestor had been severely wounded and could not be summoned back anytime soon. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

He was now utterly alone in this City of the Dead.

As a prominent figure, regardless of his own capabilities, being without attendants made him feel extremely insecure.

Almost instinctively, as the Zhensui Mansion's chilling gaze fell upon him, he became highly alert. He retreated rapidly, black, round-holed paper money scattering around him.

"Now that things have come to this, you still think you can leave?"

Within the Zhensui Mansion, Hu Ma looked up, gritted his teeth, and gave a cold smile.

Inviting the Zhensui Mansion to the City of the Dead was precisely for this Eldest Master Meng, for the Tongyin Meng family!

In the initial plans, investigating the hungry ghosts in Official Zhou was a preparatory measure, ensuring a pretext to act against the Meng family at a critical moment.

Of course, at first, he had only thought of using this pretext to explain inviting the Zhensui Mansion, allowing him to make a clean getaway. But seeing the current situation, the plan had changed. The ultimate goal was no longer a clean getaway for himself, but to capture this Lord of the Meng family!

There was no other way; Mr. Longjing's Seven Arrows had too great an impact.

Setting aside the seventh arrow, the first six alone guaranteed that after this day, the world would inevitably be plunged into chaos. The Ten Surnames, the grasshead kings, and experts from countless Paths would emerge to contend for destiny.

This was an opportunity for every great and powerful clan. Those clans that had made more thorough preparations would have the upper hand.

The Meng family was among the greatest of these powerful clans. But these benefits, brought to the people of the world by the Reincarnators, could be enjoyed by all—all except the Meng family.

Seizing this chance, Hu Ma intended to capture him and do everything possible to first cripple the Meng family!

Moreover, he would do it justifiably, using the crimes of Official Zhou to legitimately inflict heavy damage!

"The injustices of Official Zhou are yet to be redressed. Where do you think you're going?"

As his thoughts raced, Hu Ma had already picked up the Golden Armor Collection, shouting in a stern voice as he threw out the arrest order from the desk in the Zhensui Mansion.

CLANK! CLANK!

The Golden Armor within the Zhensui Mansion, without a word, set their iron chains clattering. Golden light flowed as they trod on ghostly clouds, sending chains rolling towards Eldest Master Meng.

But as the Golden Armor moved, the black, round-holed paper money from Eldest Master Meng scattered in all directions, instantly repelling the chains that touched him. The next moment, retreating, he clenched the Summoning Ghost Order.

Shadows flickered all around as ghostly clouds converged. The thirty-six Lords he had just summoned, apart from the few who had already fled, all pressed forward.

Earlier, when Eldest Master Meng had ordered these Lords to capture Hu Ma within the Zhensui Mansion, they hadn't dared. But now that he had issued an Imperial Decree for them to block the path, they found their courage. Though they still dared not attack, they clearly obstructed the way.

"And you still claim these noble Lords haven't become house slaves to the Meng family?"

Seeing this, Hu Ma became furious.

He raised the Demon Suppression Golden Mace in his hand, his voice a sharp, deep command, "Those who steal from the heavens cannot escape! Do you intend to compound your crimes?"

Confronted by the Demon Suppression Golden Mace, those Lords, along with the ghost soldiers and generals under their command, shrank back further. Instantly, several fled, yet over a dozen still stood steadfast before the Golden Armor of the Zhensui Mansion.

Although Hu Ma wielded the Demon Suppression Golden Mace, in this urgent situation, he couldn't just strike them. The Demon Suppression Golden Mace was a Heavy Weapon; it could never be used to cut and slash indiscriminately like the Punishment Officer's Great Saber. Every strike had profound consequences and needed to be recorded.

Yet these Lords dared to risk their golden bodies being shattered by the Demon Suppression Golden Mace just to help Eldest Master Meng escape, which genuinely surprised him.

This only showed that the Meng family's foundation was deeper than he currently perceived.

"Brother Er Guotou, quickly..."

As this thought flashed through his mind, he quickly turned his head, intending to ask Er Guotou to intervene and stop Eldest Master Meng.

If they could delay the opponent even for a moment, it would be enough to drag him into the Zhensui Mansion.

But to his surprise, when he turned, Er Guotou, who had been right beside him moments ago, was gone without a trace.

What? When did he leave? Why didn't he say a word?

"That Hu Family puppy is so insane, letting the evil spirit escape while focusing only on me..."

At the same moment, Eldest Master Meng had already cast a sinister glance at the stone platform. Seeing only one person remaining, he knew the evil spirit had fled. He couldn't be bothered with that now. He darted behind the Lords and plunged into the underworld.

His Purple Qi rapidly dissipated, his soul becoming light and ethereal. Amidst a blur of overlapping shadows, he quickly vanished into the misty ghost qi of the underworld.

But as long as I can get out, I'll spread word of the Hu Family's conspiracy throughout the world, unite with the other eight Surnames, and then, will I still fear being unable to take down your Zhensui Mansion?

Thinking this, a surge of audacity rose within him.

So what if my cultivation is nearly depleted? The idea of the Hu Family capturing me is a joke.

As the Lord of the Meng family, he knew walking ghosts all too well. He also knew the Zhensui Mansion intimately. Without his specific birth date, time of birth, and real name, they couldn't forcibly capture him.

Furthermore, having dispersed his immortal qi, his yin soul grew lighter. In the underworld, he was like a fish returned to the sea; who could find him?

As he thought this, the Purple Qi swirled around him, and his shadow grew fainter. With the chanting of spells, swarms of yin souls and wild ghosts flew out, densely concealing him completely.

He then reached the edge of the City of the Dead. Exiting from above the city would have been easy, but he worried it would be too conspicuous and he'd be caught by the Golden Armor. So, he opened his Dharma Eye, scanned the ground, and spotted an extremely well-hidden hole.

He didn't know how it had formed, but now was no time for pride. Fearing capture if he exited directly from above the city, he slipped into the hole and out.

PHEW...

Once out of the City of the Dead, he felt a vast sense of freedom, as if all his troubles were over.

However, unexpectedly, ghostly winds began to swirl outside the City of the Dead. The sudden sound of drums and gongs erupted. Ghost Flags unfurled amidst shouts, and ranks of Ghost Kings, leading hundreds of little ghosts, surged forward in mighty waves.

Excellent...

Eldest Master Meng initially felt a flicker of joy. Ordinarily, he wouldn't deign to give these minor Ghost Kings a second glance, but now, worried about the Golden Armor chasing him, they were perfect cover.

"Quick!"

But before he could cast a spell, he suddenly heard a sweet, ringing voice call out, "If you run any slower this time, there won't even be a sip of soup left!"

"Little ones, charge for Grandma!"

"..."

Eldest Master Meng was suddenly stunned. "Eh?" That voice... why did it sound so familiar?

The next moment, he unexpectedly came face-to-face with a little girl frantically paddling a wooden basin, gleefully following behind the Ghost Kings.

The girl in the wooden basin also looked up at Eldest Master Meng. "Huh?" Suddenly, her face lit up with delighted surprise. She planted her hands on her hips and stood up. "Old scoundrel! You were the one calling me a villain just now, weren't you? Don't think I don't recognize you!"

"Quick, quick, get him, get him!"

As she shouted, her slender, jade-like hands produced a yellow, gem-like object. With a puff of breath towards Eldest Master Meng's face, the shadow of an ox suddenly emerged from it. The ox shadow promptly headbutted Eldest Master Meng, who had just crawled out of the hole, sending him tumbling.

The next moment, a Ghost General, covered in an ominous aura and impaled with steel spikes, appeared beside her. It pinned Eldest Master Meng with one foot and wrapped him in chains.

This Ghost General was none other than a former subordinate of the Heavenly Destiny General, a native of Official Zhou, one of the hungry ghosts.