Chapter 36: The Most Powerful Ghost-Killing Talisman

The sound of Gu Xu chanting the incantation echoed in Ma Qin's mind.

In this awkward atmosphere, Ma Qin struggled to maintain a composed expression, trying not to appear too embarrassed.

At the same time, he consented silently to Gu Xu's "calling of the gods" request.

In an instant, Ma Qin's True Qi surged toward Gu Xu like a mighty tide.

"It seems like my experiment was a success," Gu Xu thought with a sense of accomplishment. "From now on, when facing formidable enemies, I have another means to deal with them."

Without hesitation, he squatted down, picked up a twig from the ground, and focused on drawing the "Ghost-Killing Talisman" in the mud.

His movements were relaxed and skilled, flowing effortlessly like clouds and water.

The majestic True Qi from Ma Qin flowed into the runes, emitting a dazzling golden light.

As more and more intricate runes took shape on the ground, the Dream-Eating Mo beneath the peach tree fully awakened from its slumber.

Its eyes finally opened completely.

They were pitch-black, profound, like two bottomless abysses.

At this moment, these dim and lifeless eyes stared intently at Gu Xu—this seemingly fragile young boy who had seen through its secrets within the dream.

The Dream-Eating Mo had been defeated in battle by a powerful cultivator in the past, who had suppressed it under the peach tree, rendering it immobile.

In order to increase its own strength and break free from the seal as soon as possible, the Dream-Eating Mo used the grievances of the lost souls in this graveyard to create the beautiful yet terrifying nightmare known as "Peace Blossom Town."

As long as an outsider set foot in this graveyard, their souls would enter "Peace Blossom Town" and undergo a cycle of reincarnation, experiencing pain and despair. The suffering and despair they generated in this cycle would become the Dream-Eating Mo's favorite food, helping it accumulate the power to break the seal.

Of course, occasionally there were individuals like Gu Xu, who were clever enough to see through its deception within the nightmare.

For such individuals, it would choose to eliminate them directly in a simple and brutal manner.

A sharp light flashed in its eyes.

Its divine sense infiltrated Gu Xu's sea of consciousness.

Like a swift and elusive scout, it swiftly launched an attack.

Normally, most human cultivators would start cultivating their divine sense after advancing to the third realm, the "Naihe Bridge." Before that, their divine sense was usually weak. Therefore, most of the time, the Dream-Eating Mo could easily invade their consciousness with just a single divine sense, turning them into mindless zombies.

This move had been tried and tested by the Dream-Eating Mo many times.

However, at this moment, in the face of the Dream-Eating Mo's divine sense attack, Gu Xu remained calm and composed.

He had long realized that due to the suppression by the peach tree on the physical level, the Dream-Eating Mo couldn't harm him directly. It could only launch mental attacks against him.

Perhaps it was because he had lived two lives, or because of the talent of being a [Ill-Fated Genius] or maybe it was the strong mental fortitude developed under the shadow of death. Gu Xu's spiritual power was much stronger than cultivators of the same realm.

In addition, after the Painted Skin Ghost incident last month, Gu Xu inscribed thirty Purification Talismans in his sea of consciousness, which helped him to some extent in resisting mental control and intrusion.

While drawing the talisman, he had also been reciting the Purifying Body Incantation over and over again, attempting to build a strong mental barrier for himself.

Therefore, when the Dream-Eating Mo's divine sense entered Gu Xu's sea of consciousness, it thought it would effortlessly occupy a weakly defended empty city.

However, It never expected that what awaited it was a solid fortress!

This fortress not only had dozens of high walls but also had elite soldiers, strong bows, and powerful crossbows guarding crucial points.

It could be described as heavily guarded, and impervious to wind and rain.

The Dream-Eating Mo was stunned for a moment.

In that instant, it couldn't help but suspect that Gu Xu was not a young cultivator in the first realm, but rather a cunning old monster hiding his true cultivation level.

...

Just as the Dream-Eating Mo hesitated, Gu Xu finally completed the "Supreme Northern Pole Demon-Slaying Ghost-Killing Talisman" with the assistance of Ma Qin's True Qi.

He stood up and gracefully smiled at the bewildered Dream-Eating Mo, saying, "Thank you for letting me experience a wonderful dream. But now, the dream has gone on long enough."

With that, he began softly reciting the familiar "Exorcism Incantation":

"Five stars shining, illuminating the profound darkness. Thousands of gods and saints, protect my true spirit...,"

Radiance descended.

It was like a blazing flame or a dazzling ray of sunlight.

The Dream-Eating Mo, the peach tree, the tombstones, and the scattered bones were all enveloped in a brilliant golden light.

The gloomy atmosphere was completely dispelled, and the dim hillside instantly became bright and clear.

The light lingered amidst the pale mist, painting a rainbow of seven colors.

This was the most powerful "Ghost-Killing Talisman" that Gu Xu had ever drawn in his life.

Ma Qin sat slumped on the ground, staring in awe at this miraculous scene.

At this moment, he appeared pale, his body weak and powerless—because Gu Xu had just depleted all of his True Qi with the "calling of the gods" incantation, leaving nothing behind.

The Dream-Eating Mo narrowed its eyes once again.

If Gu Xu's formidable spiritual realm had caught it by surprise, then the dazzling radiance of the "Ghost-Killing Talisman" was enough to make it feel threatened by death.

It let out a deafening roar.

The hidden psychic impact within its roar spread rapidly like ripples on a calm lake, expanding in all directions.

Ma Qin's vision went black, and he fainted.

Gu Xu remained as calm as ever.

However, deep in his sea of consciousness, the nine "Purifying Talismans" instantly shattered.

The incantation was completed.

Blazing flames engulfed everything.

Before the Dream-Eating Mo could let out a second roar, it was incinerated into ashes by the intense fire.

Instantly, tranquillity returned to the world.

Only the peach tree stood tall and proud in its original place.

The blossoms clustered together, radiant and beautiful.

...

After an unknown period of time, Ma Qin finally regained consciousness from his daze.

As he struggled to get up from the ground, he saw Gu Xu standing in front of a damaged tombstone, deeply engrossed in reading the inscriptions.

"Brother Gu, uh... what about the Dream-Eating Mo?" Ma Qin asked.

"It's dead," Gu Xu pointed to the pile of ashes on the ground.

"Then what are you looking at?"

"I'm reading the inscriptions," Gu Xu answered calmly. "The people buried in this graveyard mostly passed away fifty years ago. Their hometown was originally a beautiful town in the south called Qingxi. However, due to a sudden outbreak of war fifty years ago, the town was destroyed, and countless residents died or were injured, with few survivors."

Hearing this, Ma Qin recalled Gu Xu's previous introduction to Peace Blossom Town: the residents of Peace Blossom Town dressed more similarly to the styles of fifty years ago.

"What's the connection between this Qingxi town and Peace Blossom Town?" Ma Qin voiced his doubts.

"The attachment of the Qingxi residents to their homeland, as well as their restless spirits, became the material that the Dream-Eating Mo used to weave the nightmare of Peace Blossom Town."

"That's too cruel for them."

"Yes," Gu Xu nodded. "But after the Dream-Eating Mo's death, they will find release."

At this point, Gu Xu fell into silence for a few seconds, then silently recited the "Mantra for the Dead":

"Supreme heavenly decree, transcend the lonely souls, all ghosts and spirits, may they be blessed in the cycle of life..."

Although this place was only an illusory realm within the "The Reminiscence Teapot" and not the actual site of Qingxi, and it was unknown whether the deceased residents of Qingxi could hear this mantra, Gu Xu wished for one thing.

May the departed rest in peace.

May the people of Qingxi not suffer the pain of a shattered homeland in their next life.