ApacheeKidd

Honestly, I feel like the general is in cahoots with the scarlet leaf sect. Throwing bodies at them to be sacrificed for whatever ritual they are doing, which it seems is likely that ritual is what's triggering the guardian statue to bleed. That and it would likely also imply they are also aware of whatever was left there related to the untethered sage, on some level at least. this ritual is what they are trying to use to force their way in, and circles back around to the general being in cahoots, sending stronger essence sacrifices to them to help break into what they obviously know is a high level cultivator inheritance at the very least.

....Dun-DUN-dUn-dun....

Well looks like the spirits in the bowl brought some benefits to the table with the mind gate at least. That gives some more kudos to the bowl having been useful lol

while I can see the benefits of the bowl, it currently feels a bit lackluster. However I feel that this will feed into my idea that he will fulfill the zodiac generals promise to the zodiac spirits. and if it happens to be that requires founding an entire sect to do it, well he's already established a foundation for it with the bandits and the lost technique manual he recovered there. this development just goes even further towards that development.

I wonder what boons he would get, if the completed Scripture was never passed on and he helped keep that promise, that and or if he figures out a way to clense the corruption of the zodiac Spirits. What boons or allies would that grant him ?

dear lord, you're an evil author. this whole chapter feels like an extended cliffhanger lol

with the flute I feel like he can accomplish something like The Plant Demon, creating illusions to work with his Stone doubles and poison arts to create a hallucinatory death trap.

Well, after this interlude, I'm half hoping he gets some level of the zodiac Spiritz as aspects he can channel directly as body enhancement once the bowl activates. I'm assuming and hopeful it happens when he goes to open his mind gate.

feels like we're building up to the BBG and their army of evil cults and sects that follow them lol.

there best be something good in that bowl when he finally gets to see it next. a pill or powerful elixir or something good. otherwise it's like the bad friend who's always borrowing money, and never pays you back.