Chapter 44: Choosing a Spell

On the clear morning of the following day, Chu Fengge's attendant, Xu San, arrived at Gu Xu's residence with a thick book in hand.

Gu Xu ushered Xu San into the main house of the four-sided courtyard and instructed the young boy painted on the mural to pour him a cup of hot tea.

"Master Gu, this is a directory of all mid-grade martial arts and magic spells from the treasury of the Exorcism Bureau's headquarters in the capital," Xu San said, pointing to the thick book in his hand. "You may choose whatever you like, and it will be delivered to you promptly from the capital."

Ever since Gu Xu donned the 'Seven Luminaries Robe' and the black gauze hat, Xu San's attitude towards him had undeniably undergone a significant shift.

Previously, both were clerks; Xu San, due to his role as the examiner's aide, would freely direct the younger Gu Xu.

Now, however, not only has Gu Xu become an eighth-grade official, but he has also garnered significant attention from the Bureau's chief. This meant that barring any unforeseen circumstances, the future of this seventeen-year-old boy was surely promising.

For this reason, Xu San now took great care to remain respectful in both his words and manners while interacting with Gu Xu.

He even pointed to the painted boy serving tea and complimented, "Master Gu, your talent in talisman script is truly extraordinary! I never imagined that one day I would witness the almost-lost spell of 'Bringing Spirits to Life' in your hands!"

'Bringing Spirits to Life' was an obscure art of talisman dao. According to legend, an artist once painted four dragons on a wall, leaving their eyes undotted. He claimed that if he were to dot the eyes, the dragons would fly away. The sceptics among the onlookers insisted on him adding the eyes. So, the artist drew complex runes where the dragons' eyes were. In a flash, amid flashes of lightning and thunder, the dragons ascended to the sky and vanished without a trace. This was the origin of 'Bringing Spirits to Life'.

Hearing Xu San's words, Gu Xu modestly replied, "It's merely a trivial skill, not worth mentioning. Besides, to tell you the truth, this painted boy isn't exactly bright."

"Not bright?"

"Two months ago, I scolded him, calling him a 'fool'," Gu Xu explained with a smile. "Since then, he has taken the word 'fool' to be his name."

"Indeed, he is a fool," Xu San conceded with a laugh he couldn't suppress.

Afterwards, Gu Xu flipped open the thick book and began to search for the magic spell he desired.

Thanks to his [Eidetic Memory] talent, Gu Xu read incredibly fast. Just a quick glance was enough for him to remember an entire page of content.

To Xu San, Gu Xu was flipping through the book at lightning speed. In less than five minutes, he had gone through the thick book from start to finish.

"Is he really able to absorb the content by flipping through it this quickly?" Xu San was visibly confused.

He felt that Gu Xu might just be pretending to understand.

"Master Gu, if there's anything you don't understand, I could explain it to you," Xu San said politely. "Having once been a guard at the Exorcism Bureau's headquarters treasury, I might be able to recommend some excellent spells."

However, Gu Xu suddenly spoke, "I've made my choice."

Already? Was he just blindly picking?

Gu Xu's words took Xu San by surprise.

"Master Gu, what have you chosen?"

"The mid-grade mental magic spell, 'Solar Eclipse' " Gu Xu answered calmly.

Despite the thick directory listing hundreds of varied martial arts and magic spells, choosing one was not a challenging task for Gu Xu.

He first ruled out close-quarter combat skills such as saber, sword, and fist techniques. Simply put, given his fragile physique, if he were forced into close combat with an enemy, his demise wouldn't be far off.

Next, he ruled out talisman dao techniques. The majority of the techniques listed in the book did not have effects as straightforward or potent as the improved 'Ghost-Killing' talisman.

Subsequently, he ruled out curse-based magic spells. These types of spells required lengthy incantations and didn't have immediate or rapid effects, which didn't align with his need for a spell that could help him escape a crisis quickly.

Ultimately, after careful consideration, he decided on a mental magic spell.

Previously, in the "Reminiscence Teapot" illusion, the mental attacks from the Dream-Eating Mo had left a deep impression on Gu Xu.

This type of magic did not require incantation or accumulation of power. With just a single thought, it could be activated instantly, being swift and unavoidable, leaving the enemy with no time to react.

Under such a sudden attack, had Gu Xu not possessed a soul far stronger than the ordinary and meticulously imprinted thirty "Purification Talisman" into his own sea of consciousness beforehand, he would've already been dominated by the Dream-Eating Mo and reduced to a walking corpse.

The purpose of the 'Solar Eclipse' spell was highly similar to the mental attack of the Dream-Eating Mo.

If one were to compare every individual's or ghost's soul to a blazing sun, 'Solar Eclipse' would act like the heavenly dog devouring the sun, extinguishing that sun in an instant.

...

Once again, Gu Xu's decision left Xu San in a state of astounded surprise.

"Sir Gu, are you sure about choosing this particular spell?" Xu San squinted slightly, his voice imbued with a sceptical tone. 

"Perhaps you do not understand, mental-based spells require an extraordinarily high level of mental strength, and they're not easily mastered. Typically, only practitioners above the third realm can cultivate them."

Gu Xu had anticipated Xu San's scepticism.

He didn't bother to argue, instead stating a fact in a relaxed tone: 

"During the 'Reminiscences Teapot' illusionary test, the mental attack of the dream-eating Mo had almost no effect on me."

Xu San fell silent at once.

In this moment, he felt deeply, once again, that Sir Gu, who managed to ruin the Heavenly Origin Stone with his exploits, was not someone to be judged by common standards—

In the first realm, he had already masterfully wielded the obscure and complex art of talisman inscriptions. It seemed that the mental spell, difficult for ordinary people to grasp, wouldn't pose much challenge for him either.

Xu San remained silent for a good while before he spoke in a slow, deliberate voice, "Since Master Gu has made his decision, the headquarters of the Exorcism Bureau in the capital city will deliver the 'Solar Eclipse' spell to you within three days."

"Then I'll be in your debt, Brother Xu."

"Moreover, Master Gu," Xu San continued, "this afternoon, I'll be accompanying Master Chu's team on the journey back to the capital. We'll likely not see each other until next year."

Gu Xu perceived the implications behind his words—

Next year, if he successfully completes the "probation period" and earns the approval of the Exorcism Bureau's high-ranking officials, he could travel to the capital and officially become a member of the Shenji Camp.

Naturally, that would also mean a chance to meet Xu San again.

His words could be interpreted as a blessing for Gu Xu.

So, Gu Xu chuckled, standing up to respond, "Safe travels, Brother Xu. Until we meet again next year."