Exorcist's Self-Cultivation

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This string of telephone numbers.

Although unfamiliar, Du Wei glanced at it and recalled what it was all about.

The first time he used the Joker Card to enter the dream and faced the Demon Nun, Ryan had called him.

It was after that.

That the contact between Du Wei and Ryan was resumed.

Although they could only communicate through phone calls in their dreams.

And this string of numbers had remained in Du Wei's phone call history ever since.

Only.

He had tried dialing it in the real world.

But what seemed to answer the phone was an Evil Spirit.

That was a long time ago.

At that time, Du Wei was in great need of Evil Spirits, or rather, minions.

He had even told the other end of the line his home address, yet until his psychological counseling clinic was destroyed and he moved houses, that suspected Evil Spirit existence had not sought him out.

Latter on, as more and more reliable Evil Spirits appeared around Du Wei, he gradually forgot about that existence.

But now, that phone number was ringing again.

Moreover, the other side was the one who had initiated the call.

Brand, walking amidst the ruins, also heard the ringing of the cell phone. He turned his head and asked, "Your Excellency the Duke, your mobile phone seems to be ringing..."

Seeing Du Wei holding the phone without saying a word.

Brand couldn't help but feel very puzzled. He said again, "Rest assured, I won't eavesdrop on your conversation with your friend. I can ensure that."

As he said that, he pointed to his own ear.

Immediately, the sounds around him fell into silence.

As if all noises were avoiding them.

After thinking for a moment, Du Wei pressed the answer button.

On the other end of the phone.

A strange noise immediately began.

It seemed like someone was breathing heavily, "Huff, huff... huff, huff... "

This scene felt familiar.

With a cold tone, Du Wei said, "What do you want?"

The other end of the phone chuckled darkly, "Heh, heh, heh... heh, heh..."

The person on the line was chuckling ominously, as if squeezing the sound through clenched teeth.

And it felt oppressively stifling, causing an instinctive discomfort to anyone listening.

With a cold voice, Du Wei said, "This is the first time you've taken the initiative to call me. Do you want to kill me?"

The other person continued to gasp for air.

With a frown, Du Wei said, "I'm currently at the ruins of Hill Psychiatric Hospital. If you want to kill me, you'd better come now, because I'm going to leave soon."

To be honest.

An Evil Spirit, once they lock onto a target, can appear regardless of space and distance.

Meaning they could really follow the phone signal and show up.

Just like the shadow entity that killed the Veda Sect Cultists.

However.

The voice on the other end of the phone was very strange, as if suppressing something, chaotic, and a sharp, piercing buzzing noise started, as if the signal was being interfered with.

Seeing this, Du Wei had no choice but to prepare to hang up.

If the other party came, he would simply take care of them or lock them in the door inside the shadow entity, either to sacrifice to the Golden Scales or to utilize their ability.

Or treat them as one-time-use items, he could find a place for them.

But since there seemed to be no intention of coming over.

He didn't want to waste any more time.

However, just at that moment.

A voice came through the phone that made even Du Wei take notice.

It was a man's voice.

Deep, yet with a timbre that was exactly like Ryan's.

But the tone wasn't as arrogant or absurd.

The person said, "What a coincidence, I am also at Hill Psychiatric Hospital. I've been waiting for you for a long time, Director Duwei. The person with you is Brand from the Vanity Sect, right? If you want to kill me, then come on... "

Beep...

The dial tone of a disconnected call.

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Du Wei gripped his cellphone tighter.

His entire demeanor became even more chilling.

The shadow behind him was restless, as if sensing its master's mood.

The Envelope in his pocket was also trembling.

"So it was you..."

Du Wei's voice was very cold. He stuffed the cellphone into his pocket, and when his hand came out again, he was caressing the mask on his face.

Yes.

He was in a very bad mood now.

He had always believed that Ryan Hamel was dead, and the only one alive was his utterly loyal subordinate, Ryan, who had suffered and struggled in the Dusk Bell Church.

In this world.

Strictly speaking, the only person to whom Du Wei was indebted was Ryan.

His attitude towards Ryan was different from that towards anyone else.

But now, Du Wei had heard the voice of Ryan Hamel.

This made him feel terrible.

Because that meant Ryan might just be a tool, and once Ryan Hamel was resurrected, Ryan's consciousness would be completely erased.

There would be no more calls in dreams with him,

no more Baron Ryan clamoring every day for a promotion and pay raise.

Du Wei could not accept this.

Moreover, this scene was strikingly similar to what had happened with Alex...

He told himself this.

"I need to stay calm, things haven't gone that far, it's just a phone call."

"I need to confirm whether it is Ryan Hamel and whether its relationship with Ryan is really what I imagine."

"If not, then I'll consider other options. If it is, then I'll eliminate it."

"I can't tolerate Ryan having suffered so much in the Dusk Bell Church for me, only for it to have been all for someone else's benefit in the end."

Having made his decision,

Du Wei walked with determined steps towards Brand.

The silence around the latter immediately dissipated.

"Your Excellency the Duke, have you concluded your business?"

Du Wei said coldly, "Yes, now let's go to the cemetery and drag it out."

Brand said respectfully, "As you wish, Your Excellency."

Although he didn't know what had happened,

he could feel the abrupt change in attitude in the man before him.

This brought pressure to his mind.

On the back of Du Wei's hand, the pattern of the hands was flickering, now hands, now Golden Scales, but no matter how it changed, the pattern of the mask was always blurry.

Up to now, Du Wei, the Evil Spirit, still hadn't finished assimilating the Demon God.

But he could feel that the day was fast approaching.

...

Outside the ruins of Hill Psychiatric Hospital.

After a long while,

a man in a long robe and wearing a mask slowly approached.

It was Gascogne.

He lifted his head to look inside: "So this is the place? Brand, you really went above and beyond for him. Wasting over twenty years of your lifespan just to help him pinpoint the location of the mask."

"That's truly pitiful."

"But no matter, now that I have arrived, I will make you fully aware. I want you to know that this is no longer his era."

"He is nothing but a poor soul eliminated by time."

"We are the ones who will take control of this era."

As he said this, Gascogne walked over.

But the moment his foot stepped into the bounds of the Hill Psychiatric Hospital ruins, his body suddenly jolted.

An eerie piano tune began to play, ding ding ding.

"A piano piece..."

"Ryan Hamel?"

"No... You're dead, it definitely can't be you, who is it? Who is playing his composition, and that particular piece..."