"You’re right, Dean Sheng has already inford ."
"You’ve recently taken secret dicine, and that stuff can’t be taken continuously. This ti, you can only rely on yourself." The Cannibal Buddha seed to discuss a trivial matter, "Are you confident?"
"I’ll do my best." Yang Xiao spoke truthfully; after all, no one wants to die when they’re healthy, and given a choice, who would want to return to that ghostly place.
The Cannibal Buddha silently looked at him. After a mont of silence, the next words completely shocked Yang Xiao:
"I have a way to spare you from the pain of nightmares. If you wish, I can give it to you as a gift."
"Avoid the nightmare this ti?" Yang Xiao was taken aback and asked hurriedly.
The Cannibal Buddha slowly shook his head and said in a deep voice, "Not just this ti, forever."
Upon hearing this, Yang Xiao’s breathing beca rapid. He never expected there would be a way to permanently avoid nightmares; this Esoteric Sect is truly remarkable.
If others made such claims, Yang Xiao would dismiss them as crazy. But given the Cannibal Buddha’s status, he had no reason to deceive him.
After the initial euphoria subsided, Yang Xiao soon cald down and hesitated a bit, "This thod must have side effects, right?"
"Shortened lifespan," the Cannibal Buddha said bluntly, "But I will give you the best conditions to minimize the side effects."
"How much?" This involved his future life, so Yang Xiao had to ask clearly.
"I don’t know. In the best-case scenario, you could live past 50."
This result was already beyond Yang Xiao’s expectations. Unlike ordinary envoys, he entered the Nightmare World at an abnormally high frequency.
Even if he lost so years, he wouldn’t have to live in fear of receiving the Ghost Script for the next two decades. He could live the life he desired.
The wealth he has accumulated is enough for him to live comfortably for a lifeti, which is a huge temptation for most envoys, and Yang Xiao was no exception.
Moreover, given the current rate at which the Ghost Script selects him, Yang Xiao himself doubted he could safely live to 50.
After careful consideration, Yang Xiao nodded, "I can accept this shortened lifespan. What else is needed of ?"
Unexpectedly, the Cannibal Buddha changed the subject and asked about the people who accompanied Yang Xiao, "Who among your friends is the closest to you?"
"Professor Cui or Sui Chengguo?" It was evident that the Cannibal Buddha had done so howork.
Upon hearing this, Yang Xiao suddenly felt a foreboding sense of unease, "Why are you asking this?"
"I need soone as material to craft a Yin Talisman for you. The closer they are to you, the better the talisman’s effect."
Yang Xiao felt a buzzing in his head, recalling Sheng Yanlin’s words from the previous night; it turns out it was ant for this.
"Professor Cui is a Spirit Tester; using him will yield a better talisman result. You don’t have to worry about not being able to explain this back ho."
"All your current activities are sealed off; no one knows your situation."
"I can make him disappear quietly and untraceably in this world, and nobody, not even your friends, would find out."
The Cannibal Buddha spoke with neither sadness nor joy, and there was no emotion on his face; it was as straightforward as discussing breakfast.
But this extre indifference to life made Yang Xiao shiver, "No, I won’t!"
"Then how about Sui Chengguo? He has no identity, and he’s a wanted criminal in your country; no one would care."
"He’s not an option either!" Yang Xiao stood up directly, showing his stance, "They’re all my friends—Professor Cui, Sui, including Tai Wenqin and Dean Sheng. Asking to survive by stepping over my brothers’ blood is worse than killing !"
The Cannibal Buddha raised his head, silently staring at Yang Xiao, his expression chilling.
The next second, Yang Xiao shivered, realizing he had lost his composure.
The Cannibal Buddha actually wanted to repay him for returning his daughter; he was sincerely considering his welfare. Crafting the Yin Talisman would entail risks and consu imnse resources, clearly a challenging task for the entire Esoteric Sect.
Faced with soone as insignificant as him, the fact that the Cannibal Buddha would go to such lengths would have others kneeling in gratitude. His current attitude seed sowhat ungrateful.
Yang Xiao’s deanor quickly softened, and he spoke courteously, "High Priest, I appreciate your good intention, and I respect you as Sutana’s father and my elder. But this matter... still... should be forgotten, everyone has their fate, and I..."
The Cannibal Buddha raised his hand slightly, and Yang Xiao sensibly sat down, oppressed by the presence of such a strong figure to the point of difficulty in breathing.
"If you’re not here, Sutana would be sad. It’s been many years since she cared so much for soone."
After a short silence, it was the Cannibal Buddha who spoke first, explaining that only very few are granted guardian spirits. He didn’t want Yang Xiao to die in the Nightmare World.
Yang Xiao felt moved, understanding the Cannibal Buddha was hinting at the Mirror Ghost. If he were to die, the Mirror Ghost intertwined with him would also disappear, a loss Sutana could never accept.
Yang Xiao didn’t understand why Sutana and the Mirror Ghost shared such a close bond, considering the Mirror Ghost had nothing over him.
Yang Xiao opened his mouth, trying to comfort the Cannibal Buddha and express that even for Sutana’s sake, he’d endeavor to survive.
Yet, wisely, he swallowed the words because they held ambiguity, risky if misconstrued.
With a bowed head, the Cannibal Buddha stroked the iron teapot on the table with his coarse hands, reminiscing.
Indeed, Yang Xiao had already guessed that Sutana’s Yin Talisman was crafted by the Cannibal Buddha, and its power was so formidable that even the Netherworld Realm uncle sustained injuries from it.
"The ghost you saw is Sutana’s mother, also my wife."
"She wasn’t part of the Esoteric Sect; our union was against clan rules. The consequence was stripping of my High Priest candidacy; I was your age at the ti."
"To my elders, her presence was a sar, and were she alive, once another line assud the High Priest role, our clan would face retribution, resulting in nurous casualties."
"The clan elders finally resolved to kill her, demanding my hand; otherwise, they would support another candidate."
"I executed her; Sutana was just a newborn, oblivious to anything beyond seeking her mother."
"I intended to take the mother and daughter away. Both of us were high-rank envoys; it wouldn’t be hard to find a place to hide and survive anonymously."
"But when I reached the agreed grotto, she was near death already, ravaged by backlash, with half her face... lted. Outside ca the sounds of pursuing elders."
"She wasn’t attacked; it was self-inflicted. She didn’t want to bear the burden of betrayal, nor did she wish for an unstable future for Sutana."
"As elders approached, she used her last bit of sanity, begging to kill her to secure Sutana’s future."
"She taught how to craft guardian spirits, fulfilling her final wish and last act for Sutana."
"Our Sutana."
"But when I reached the agreed grotto, she was near death already, ravaged by backlash, with half her face... lted. Outside ca the sounds of pursuing elders."
"She wasn’t attacked; it was self-inflicted. She didn’t want to bear the burden of betrayal, nor did she wish for an unstable future for Sutana."
"As elders approached, she used her last bit of sanity, begging to kill her to secure Sutana’s future."
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