Chapter 88: Return to Reality

Wu Xian looked through everything and felt somewhat disappointed.

Among these six talismans, none was the inscription method he most anticipated, and he had no intention of taking any of them into his next Fudi.

So he quickly made his choice.

Wu Xian did not want to attract Zi Gu’s favor; the Golden Light Spell was merely an ordinary attack talisman, not particularly rare, so these two talismans were discarded first.

The Xu Xingzhi Chase Technique was useful for survival.

But Wu Xian did not know what condition his next Fudi would be in; planning to flee before even entering was not his style.

As for the Hard Character Talisman…

The Ghost Wall effect was powerful—it could stall a foe too strong to defeat in a critical moment—but its reactivation condition was harsh, and Wu Xian had no idea what counted as sufficient accumulation of yin energy.

Remaining lifespan: 26 years

One minute of Steel and Iron Body could be used for survival or for desperation, and its reactivation condition was among the simplest: just rest well and replenish qi and blood.

“Could this be the effect of Daoxing?”

As for the Transmute Stone to Gold Technique, if usable against evil spirits, it would be a potent killing move; moreover, its effect was intriguing—even if wasted, it could leave something behind.

Wu Xian had once believed artifacts were most useful, but now he saw that the practicality of divine arts might not be lower than that of artifacts.

Now the reward had been claimed, and the statue had been worshipped.

He gave one final glance at his status on the Dao Certificate and noticed that after gaining Daoxing, two new entries had appeared.

Without further hesitation, Wu Xian took out the “Human Divine Art—Hard Qi Gong,” and if no favored artifact appeared next, he would enter his next Fudi with this divine art.

To truly function, the conditions were stringent.

Only one final matter remained to be resolved.

He carefully studied the descriptions of the three divine arts and first discarded Kui Hou.

Human Divine Art—Hard Qi Gong: Gather qi externally, skin hardens like iron, impervious to blade or axe, duration one minute; after dissipating, rest well and replenish qi and blood to reactivate.

After much thought, Wu Xian still fished out the Ghost-Head Great Knife from the mist.

The storage box had only one slot left; he had to give up one item.

Three wisps of mist hovered above the desk.

They were the Punishment Stick, the Ghost-Head Great Knife, and the Pure Dusting Brush.

Wu Xian had seen the Pure Dusting Brush before; no need to elaborate—he would not choose it this time.

The remaining two items both had powerful effects.

Finally, Wu Xian looked toward the Water Official Statue with anticipation; each worship of the Water Official was his most eagerly awaited moment.

This box seemed to have spatial properties—the massive Ghost-Head Great Knife had been effortlessly stuffed into a single small slot, yet looked utterly uncluttered.

The reason for choosing the remaining two talismans was simple.

Wu Xian hesitated.

Now this.

Then Wu Xian discarded Ghost Wall.

Holding the knife, Wu Xian felt the ghostly head on the hilt watching him stealthily, sending a chill through him; fortunately, the knife came with a scabbard—once sheathed, the uncanny sensation vanished.

“To those without Daoxing, divine arts are like talismans—used and gone. But to those with Daoxing, divine arts are like innate abilities; once conditions are met, they can be reactivated.”

The Kui Hou’s so-called “voice like thunder” had nothing to do with lightning—it merely harmed enemies through immense sound. The power might be great, but letting out a deafening roar inside a Fudi was suicidal, like lighting a torch and shouting loudly in a dark forest full of armed hunters.

The incense burner sat on the desk before his statue, perfect for testing whether items left outside the storage box would still be there upon entering Lihentian next time.

Of these five items, Hard Qi Gong best handled complex situations without drawing attention; no matter the condition of his next Fudi, Hard Qi Gong could always serve some purpose.

Five Dynasties Punishment Stick: An ancient punishment stick passed through five dynasties, two meters long, bearing countless cries of the condemned, terrifying to behold; can injure evil spirits; minor spirits struck are filled with fear; major spirits struck have a chance to enter a state of terror…

But for Wu Xian, both items had one unavoidable flaw: their bulk. Carrying either into a Fudi would make him an instant target.

Red and black vapors wrapped three books; Wu Xian had never seen these three divine arts before.

Compared to the two-meter-long stick, the great knife was more convenient.

The Thunder Summoning Talisman’s effect varied with weather—its power might differ drastically between sunny and rainy days, introducing too much uncertainty; but using lightning-based items might attract the favor of the Universal Transforming Lord, so Wu Xian kept the Thunder Summoning Talisman.

Wu Xian had truly nothing to do inside the Fudi.

What remained were the incense burner and the Transmute Stone to Gold Technique.

Blood-Painted Ghost-Head Knife: Executioner’s blade, used to behead over three hundred, radiating oppressive malevolence; can injure evil spirits; damage to the neck is doubled.

Daoxing: 1

Permanent Slot: 1—【Human Divine Art—Hard Qi Gong】

After a moment’s thought, Wu Xian placed the “Human Divine Art—Hard Qi Gong” into the Permanent Slot.

Wu Xian now possessed five items: Hard Qi Gong, Blood-Painted Ghost-Head Knife, Transmute Stone to Gold Technique, Thunder Summoning Talisman, and the remaining incense burner.

Perhaps some men with chronic ailments might need it, but Wu Xian felt he would never use it in his lifetime.

Wu Xian put the Transmute Stone to Gold Technique into the Storage Box; this divine art could be used in the real world—make a golden toilet, for instance—even if not sold, it would be pleasing to the eye.

He thought and reconsidered, agonized for a long while.

Then he placed the Blood-Painted Ghost-Head Knife and Thunder Summoning Talisman into the Spirit-Infused Storage Box.

The Thunder Summoning Talisman, a tiny slip of paper, seemed to fill the slot entirely; Wu Xian tried to put the incense burner in too, but no matter how he tried, it would not fit.

What remained at last was Hard Qi Gong.

Wu Xian read the descriptions of the three divine arts and realized these were different from previous ones—all three bore explicit conditions for reactivation.

Demon Divine Art—Kui Hou: A beast with one leg, shaped like an ox, dark body without horns, entering or exiting water brings wind and rain; its light shines like sun and moon, its voice roars like thunder; its name is Kui. Activate Kui Hou to roar like thunder, terrifying demons and spirits; three roars max, then replenish throat energy to reactivate.

Then Wu Xian turned to the Earth Official Emperor Statue.

The knife was just over one meter long, nearly twenty centimeters wide, its back thick, blade sharp, like a long iron slab; it felt heavy in hand, its surface coated in dark red lacquer, its hilt bearing a grotesque, living-looking ghostly head.

Ghost Divine Art—Ghost Wall: Define an area, obscure with clothing, surround like a wall, trapping victims in place, unable to escape; duration varies by circumstance; after first use, sufficient yin energy must accumulate to reactivate.

Blessing Slot: 3—【One Becomes Three】、【Three Becomes One】.

Yin Virtue: 760

Spirit Money: 10

He closed the Dao Certificate, tugged the dog’s tail, and returned to the warm little home of the real world.

(End of Chapter)