Exorcist's Self-Cultivation

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"Before I have seen the Evil Spirit, I cannot give you an accurate judgment. Please tell me about the invisible person."

"Alright... then I'll continue," said Avery.

"This is how it is: besides myself, there were a total of thirty people at Goliath Winery, including servants and the old butler who watched me grow up."

"When I saw those scratches on the balcony, I thought they might be related to the Evil Spirit, so I was really worried that someone might be in danger."

"Therefore, I called everyone together, but then I found that there was one extra person in the winery."

"I counted over and over, but no matter what, there were thirty-one people."

"I remember everyone very clearly, but I just couldn't find the thirty-first person."

...

After listening to Victor's story, Du Wei fell into a moment of contemplation, entering a state of Spirit Vision.

Looking around, there was nothing abnormal inside the entire winery.

Including the Victor beside him, this thirty-one-year-old mature woman seemed very normal aside from being intellectual; her mind was clear, and her speech coherent. She didn't appear to be troubled at all.

The servant he had just met at the entrance appeared the same.

It seemed that everything at the winery was as normal as it could be.

But if what Victor said was true, then this so-called normalcy might just be duckweed on the surface of calm water. Once disturbed, it could reveal a horror so suffocating that it took one's breath away.

The people he had been with day and night were only thirty in number, yet a thirty-first could be counted, without being able to discern who the extra person was.

Considering the current state of Ms. Victor, it seemed that the extra person, or the Evil Spirit, had not yet taken any action.

At this time, the two arrived at the main hall, where a party was in progress.

The lighting in the hall was soft.

The faint aroma of wine tantalized the nostrils, involuntarily relaxing the mind.

Du Wei glanced over the hall, where many elegantly dressed socialites were conversing, but they kept their voices to a low hum, so he couldn't make out what they were talking about.

They also noticed Du Wei and Victor, pausing with a curious glance before nodding their heads in acknowledgement, without saying much.

The gathering was initiated by Victor, and the guests were there merely to partake, with conversations mainly focused on maintaining relationships and business interests.

Victor politely offered to Du Wei, "Do you need me to introduce you to anyone?"

"No need," Du Wei replied indifferently. "I'm here solely for the investigation, to resolve the incident with the Evil Spirit."

In fact, he had no desire to interact with those people.

Even though making acquaintances with high society could benefit one's social development, for Du Wei, it held no significance at all.

The experiences and tasks he was involved with were beyond the reach of ordinary people.

Moreover, differences in social hierarchy made it difficult to find common ground for conversation.

That is the so-called chasm.

As for Avery... she was unique.

Victor smiled and then said, "Shall I take you to the second floor to see the scratches now?"

Du Wei nodded, "Of course."

As he finished speaking, he entered the state of Spirit Vision.

For some reason, after entering the main hall of the house, he began to feel a vague sense of oppression, as if something had become aware of his presence because of his arrival.

It could be the Evil Spirit, but strangely enough, Du Wei did not feel any malice.

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Just as Viktor had mentioned before, her ancestors had come into possession of an object that could ensure the safety of the winery.

So, while Du Wei and Viktor were going upstairs, Du Wei began to ask, "Could you tell me more about that object your family acquired?"

Viktor, walking ahead on the right, didn't turn back, "I'm sorry, Mr. Du Wei, but I'm not clear about that object either. I was very young when I saw some related records in notes left by my ancestors."

"The notes? May I take a look at them? If it's inconvenient, you could just tell me about them."

With an apologetic tone, Viktor said, "Those notes mysteriously disappeared many years ago, and I have not been able to find them to this date. However, we do have some related oil paintings in my room. I can show them to you."

Du Wei nodded, "Alright."

As they talked, the two of them reached the second floor.

It was at this moment, a woman wearing a beige dress, exuding an exceptional aura, with both figure and appearance that left no room for criticism, walked into the hall.

It was Alex…

In an instant, all the people in the hall, regardless of gender, turned their attentive gazes towards her, their faces breaking into welcoming smiles.

Alex, however, merely nodded slightly as a greeting.

Had it not been for Alex's family having past collaborations with the Goliath Viktor family, with her status and position, she may very well not have considered attending this gathering.

But just then, Alex raised her head and suddenly saw a familiar silhouette going up to the second floor with Viktor.

Her mood soured in an instant!

"Why is he here?! Could it be that..."

...

On the second floor, in Viktor's room.

Contrary to expectations, the room was large and filled with numerous artworks, with oil paintings and some sculptures hanging on the walls.

What caught the eye was a large storage rack right after the entrance, with each compartment housing a bottle of aged wine.

The bed and furniture appeared to be further in, closer to the balcony.

Viktor led Du Wei inside and eventually stopped in front of the oil paintings.

She pointed to one of the paintings and said to Du Wei, "Please take a look. I hope it can be of help to you."

Du Wei hummed a response without speaking and stared intently at it.

The painting had a dark style, with a forest in the background, and a man in a tailcoat who looked decidedly out of place. He was holding a bunch of red flowers, stretching them upwards.

At his feet lay an opened box.

Surrounding him was also a snarling wolf...

Du Wei wasn't knowledgeable about paintings, but the painting gave him an oddly mismatched feeling, no matter how he looked at it.

Therefore, he asked, "Is the man in this painting an experience of your ancestors?"

Viktor nodded, "Yes, he is my great-grandfather, Howard Victor. Our family was not originally from New York. He traveled through what was then Esselgreen, the Siari Forest, to settle in New York and established the Goliath Winery here."

Du Wei pondered, "So, according to your family's records, the earliest similar events they encountered started with your great-grandfather?"

Viktor frowned, "Not exactly. Such events began happening in my grandfather's generation. As for that object, it was obtained by my great-grandfather."

Du Wei nodded slowly, mentally noting this information.

Suddenly, his pupils constricted, and he swiftly turned his gaze towards the balcony. Stay updated through empire

Under the Spirit Vision, a man in a tailcoat, his face unclear, stood at the balcony...