Twilight Boundary-Chapter 722 - 713 Upper-class Fate

What is the bridge?

People on the Path, once their abilities reached a certain level, would become aware of the existence of this concept.

But unlike Entering the Mansion, which could be put on paper, the Age Suppressing Book also did not record the method of Ascending the Bridge.

Since Entering the Mansion, Hu Ma had asked around, first Miss Red Wine, then Er Guotou. Gradually, in his consciousness, he had developed some understanding of this concept of the bridge.

According to the Bridge, it was a process for a human to step into the non-human, also a process of "departure." This shore represented the human world. Being human meant one could not escape birth, aging, illness, death, calamities, fate, karma, and reincarnation.

But once on the Bridge, one stepped away from this shore, ascending to a higher place. There, one could avoid certain things and also look back to care for this human body.

Ascending the Bridge was a new method.

Originally, in this world, there was no talk of Ascending the Bridge. Those on the Path cultivated this skill, and once they reached Entering the Mansion, they were considered Great Grandmasters, their skills reaching the pinnacle.

Just like Hu Ma, who had already pushed open the three mansion gates, he had theoretically reached the limit of the Shousui Path. As a "human," this was as far as his abilities could be cultivated.

But the method of Ascending the Bridge was a step taken after these human abilities had reached their limits.

This step was already non-human. It was said that Master Tai Sui descended to the human world, bringing strange treasures that granted those on the Path the opportunity to take that step.

No wonder it's called a 'bridge'...

As these thoughts flashed through his mind, Hu Ma, borrowing Cui Magu's Magic body, looked at the illusory bridge behind her. He saw a phantom connecting the human world and the underworld, stretching into the depths of the unknown netherworld.

Theoretically, the bridge was just a path—a path beyond human abilities—with no substantial existence.

But in the underworld, everything was uncertain. When sensed within the mind, its shape could be perceived, indeed resembling a bridge.

It was after seeing this bridge that he knew Miss Red Wine was about to act.

She definitely wouldn't miss this opportunity.

She was someone who had ascended the Bridge early, so she understood it better. She had once said, "After Ascending the Bridge, people of the Ten Surnames will send envoys to greet you, congratulating your transcendence and honoring you as a distinguished guest!"

"But while they might call you a distinguished guest, it actually only means one thing: after Ascending the Bridge, you have only one path to choose—to willingly become a dog for the Ten Surnames!"

...

The world's ten main Paths each had methods of transcendence, equivalent to ten bridges. All ten bridges were controlled by the Ten Surnames. For twenty years, as the power of the Ten Surnames grew, so did their control over these bridges.

So, Ascending the Bridge had only three scenarios:

One was the Low-class Destiny. Upon Ascending the Bridge, one was greeted by the Ten Surnames, honored as a distinguished guest, and taught secrets not written on paper.

Of course, they claimed it was respect, and the Ten Surnames would indeed honor those who ascended the Bridge as distinguished guests. However, people on the Path understood that this couldn't change their fundamental fate of being servants.

Even after learning skills to the utmost and taking a step towards transcendence, ending up only to be used by the Ten Surnames—this was a tragic fate that Reincarnators naturally despised.

The second scenario was Middle-class Fate: cloaked in Purple Qi, avoiding the Ten Surnames' scrutiny while stepping onto the bridge.

In this situation, the Ten Surnames would sense that someone had ascended the Bridge but wouldn't know who, thus being unable to exert control over them. However, if the Ten Surnames had time to investigate thoroughly, it was only a matter of time before they might indeed find this person.

It also carried significant risks.

Beyond these, the Upper-class Fate involved striding onto the Bridge without restriction, experiencing transcendence, and seeking opportunities.

This was the method that people on the Path considered truly liberating.

Miss Red Wine had once possessed a Middle-class Fate. At that time, although she didn't have the Purple Tai Sui, she belonged to the trick door. Thus, she used the trick skill to hide from scrutiny and sneak onto the bridge. However, because of this, she had suffered greatly over the past few years.

So, when she realized the Purple Tai Sui could also allow Reincarnators to achieve a Middle-class Fate, although pleasantly surprised, she also conceived an unusual idea.

Since there was an opportunity, why not be bolder?

Purple Tai Sui could let Reincarnators ascend the Bridge, becoming stealthy people like herself.

But Reincarnators had been clandestine for too long. Why not seize this chance for everyone to strive for an Upper-class Fate?

To fight for an Upper-class Fate was not just to ascend the Bridge, but to seize the Bridge!

The Beggar Zhang family had lost their Dragon Cave, their dragon slain. Their bridge, though ownerless, was now damaged and of poor quality.

The Hu Family's ownerless bridge was hidden most deeply and held too many secrets and dangers.

Therefore, Hu Ma chose the Meng family's bridge for her and helped create an unprecedented opportunity!

This was certainly a grand ambition. Unexpectedly, it had actually come true...

...

"You... How could you do something like this...?"

While genuine joy welled up in Hu Ma's heart and he looked towards the Bridge using Cui Magu's Magic body, Cui Magu's own perception was undoubtedly sharper.

Though her back was to the bridge, she saw more clearly than Hu Ma. She perceived hazy shadows on the bridge—these were the Guests on the Bridge, esteemed by Tongyin Meng over the years, now preparing to perform one final act for the Meng family.

Their task: to formally bow to the Hu Family, thereby obliterating their fortune and altering their destiny.

This move was originally Young Master Meng's desperate gamble for survival, staking the Meng family's last card.

This move had minimal chances of success, more likely resulting in mutual destruction.

But she never imagined this move would become a joke.

She saw that just as those Guests on the Bridge raised their incense, preparing to bow to Hu Ma, a furtive shadow suddenly peeked out from the bridge. It took a careful look around, then burst into loud laughter, leaped out, and began to run wildly.

The shadows on the bridge were dumbfounded.

They couldn't understand how, in this critical moment for the Meng family, a high-ranking Negative Spirit Path expert had appeared on the bridge.

Normally, the Meng family maintained stringent control over the affairs of the world; such an unexpected individual should not have appeared.

However, this person's appearance blocked them, preventing their bow. Just as they were urgently ordering the figure to move aside, he unexpectedly charged directly at them and kicked one over.

Then, raising his hands high, he shouted loudly, "Brothers, it's true! There's not even a gatekeeper on this Meng family's bridge..."

"Come on, rush with me!"

...

In the next moment, a scene unfolded that was mad beyond comprehension and bizarre to the point of despair: countless shadows appeared on the bridge.

Those able to ascend the Bridge were undoubtedly exceptional individuals who had cultivated their mortal abilities to the utmost and possessed the will for transcendence.

Even after decades of meticulous cultivation, one might not see even a single such person emerge.

But now, they were appearing in droves?

RUMBLE!

They were like madmen—or rather, locusts—swarming onto the bridge and occupying every advantageous position. Each one was wreathed in Purple Qi, their faces obscured, resembling masked intruders barging into someone's home.

Bandits, they were simply bandits!

But try as she might, Cui Magu could not understand why such a frenzied scene was unfolding.

PTHOO!

At this very moment, numerous high-ranking Negative Spirit Path experts across the land, many of whom were gathered near Salt State, spat blood.

One such expert sat alone in a dilapidated, overgrown estate. Before him was a bridge crafted from paper. He stood lightly upon this paper bridge, eyes closed, holding a bundle of incense.

His disciples encircled him, watching nervously, all aware of their Master's recent instructions. He had said he would do one last thing for the Meng family, and after it was done, their Path would be open, and they would be free and unrestrained from then on...

But no one expected that halfway through the ritual, the paper bridge beneath his feet would suddenly burst into flames.

The Master tumbled from the paper bridge, dazed. The moment he opened his eyes, he shouted immediately,

"Ghost! Ghost!"

...

"Damn!"

The reaction was quicker in the Meng Family Ancestral Mansion. There, Eldest Young Master Meng Siliang had shut the hall door, leaving himself alone to sit quietly in the spacious yet dark room.

He could hear voices calling his name from outside the paper-covered windows. When he occasionally opened his eyes, he would see faces pressed against the panes, staring persistently into the hall.

These were the shadows of calamity, anxious to collect their debts and drag him away.

The nail embedded in his forehead anchored him to the human world, for now preventing the entities outside the window from luring him away.

But he was burning with anxiety, wondering if Aunt Cui had reached Old Yin Mountain and if she had begun that critical task.

However, while he could use the nail to anchor himself in the human world, the others living with him in the Meng Mansion were not so fortunate.

Listening to the incessant calls from beyond the windows and seeing the eager shadows waiting outside, someone in the house, after suppressing their sobs for a long time, finally cried out, their voice breaking,

"Stop urging, stop urging, I'll go with you..."

...

With that cry, a bolt of white silk was retrieved from under the bed and slowly draped over a ceiling beam.

"Damn you, Meng Siliang! This is all your fault, all the disaster you've brought upon us...!"

Another person could no longer bear it and rushed out of their room, intending to find Meng Siliang and fight him to the death.

But upon rushing out, they were immediately surrounded by countless shadows, lifted from the ground, and found themselves floating rapidly out of the mansion.

By the time they realized what was happening and looked back, they saw their own body kneeling silently in the courtyard, lifeless.

Meng Siliang covered his ears, shutting out the calls from outside and the occasional cries and roars from within the courtyard. He gritted his teeth, convinced, I won't die! Even if everyone else perishes, I absolutely will not die...

The Meng family bloodline must have one survivor! They... they wouldn't dare let me die...

...

But all these convictions shattered with a thunderous roar in his mind as a particular image flashed before his eyes, and his thoughts dissipated.

Only endless despair flooded his heart. His voice turned hoarse and distorted as he screamed, "That... that is our Meng family's bridge!"