Exorcist's Self-Cultivation

Chapter 351: 348, Reciting Its True Name in Dreams (Third Update, Asking for Monthly Passes)

The flames burned hot.

The temperature was dry.

It was now 10 o’clock in the evening.

The weather in New York had turned slightly overcast, the moon and stars that had just been visible when looking up were now obscured by clouds.

At the entrance to the psychological counseling clinic.

Du Wei opened the Melting Furnace and calmly looked at the pool of melted gold liquid.

To the naked eye, everything seemed normal.

But with Spirit Vision, Du Wei saw a sequence of letters emerge—valak.

“Is this really your true name?”

Du Wei silently asked himself, seeking an answer.

Then he said, “Based on the conclusions drawn up to now, it seems to be…”

He had always wanted to verify this, but as the moment approached, he began to want to deny it.

He couldn’t clarify the issue of the demons’ true names.

Thus, instinctively, he wanted to give a negative answer, allowing himself to discard a plan and choose the scheme of a dream within a dream.

Making choices was difficult.

But when forced into a corner with few options available, one could walk more steadily.

Clack…

The triple-insulated cover of the Melting Furnace was firmly closed.

Under Spirit Vision, the mist-shaped faces of two children, wrapped around him with malice, emitting screams and threats that only he could hear.

They tried to make Du Wei afraid.

“This is meaningless,”

Du Wei said coldly, directly taking out a mask from his coat and putting it on his face.

The next second.

The Dagger eerily appeared within the mist, and with a light slash, the two ghosts completely dissipated, with the mist returning to the Melting Furnace.

This so-called gold was itself a cursed object and also a jailer.

It played a dual role.

When Du Wei saw those complete letters, he could feel the curse on him become extremely active.

Consequently, Du Wei’s vision was somewhat affected.

Double vision… Hallucinations.

Menacing shadows like caterpillars floated uncertainly before his eyes.

“It’s like I have floaters.”

Du Wei revealed a mocking smile and walked resolutely toward the interior of the house.

Behind him, the Melting Furnace no longer changed, only the lingering heat remained, reminding of what had just happened.

…

Inside the house.

The atmosphere also became very oppressive.

The Antique Clock hung on the wall, its hands moving faster than usual.

Annabelle was motionless in the display cabinet, as if dead, but it trembled imperceptibly when Du Wei’s gaze fell on it.

His gaze returned to the Antique Clock.

Du Wei, too lazy to take off his mask, stood before it and calmly said, “When I encountered that piano, you exhibited a strong reaction.”

“But when I acquired the two golden bottles, you showed no fluctuation.”

“Sometimes I suspect you might have an independent will.”

“Yet at other times, I feel this defies logic.”

“I can’t mark you, is it because your master is not me?”

“Do you want me to do something because you plan to use me for your purpose?”

“Freddy gave me inspiration.”

“I think you are alive…”

There was no response, and the Antique Clock remained unchanged.

Du Wei didn’t care and just watched it, his gaze becoming steadier.

“I originally thought that the mask was your replica, but after the experiences I’ve had, I began to doubt that.”

“The paintings, the golden bottles, the Golden Brooch, these three items are of one kind, while you and the mask belong to another.”

“I’ve had contact with people from the Vanity Sect, and they told me that a long time ago, someone made replicas based on their masks, the same two that I’ve acquired.”

“Whether you are a replica or the original clock, I really want to know if the person who made the masks had any relation to you.”@@novelbin@@

“You first appeared in the 18th century, were the person who made you and the person who made the masks the same individual?”

At this point.

Du Wei took out the Joker Card from his pocket, sandwiched it between his hands, and held it up before his eyes, “Let’s just treat you as if you were alive, no matter whether you want to use me for something, or you have some goal to accomplish. Once I’ve dealt with the curse, I will use every means to confront you.”

From the beginning to now.

The Antique Clock and the shadow were witnesses to Du Wei’s growth; if they possessed their own will, they couldn’t be unaware of what this signified.

Since Du Wei dared to utter such words, he must have had the confidence and ability to carry them out.

It wasn’t just empty talk…

Instead, he really intended to destroy the Antique Clock, at any cost.

He was gambling… betting that the Antique Clock would respond to him.

But just like someone talking to themselves, the Antique Clock didn’t reveal any useful information from beginning to end.

However, based on all of its behaviors, it did indeed seem to possess some form of will.

It even might have had an extremely deep connection with Du Wei.

With a deep breath, Du Wei made a wish to the Joker Card, “Once I close my eyes, I will start to dream, and I will retain the rights of a dreamer until I resolve the nun, after which this right will completely disappear.”

“And the fulfillment of this wish will be predicated on one condition, that I die within the dream.”

His voice was calm, and the expression in his eyes became incredibly dim.

Then, Du Wei closed his eyes.

…

Everyone dreams.

And everyone is the master of their dreams.

Everything in a dream serves the master.

In dreams, the world revolves around oneself.

You are the protagonist of the world.

…

It felt like a century had passed.

Yet it seemed like only an instant.

Slowly, Du Wei opened his eyes, his vacant gaze quickly regaining calmness.

The lights were dim.

This was his home…

As for the time…

He looked up at the position of the Antique Clock, and the hands seemed to have gone back to their rightful place, pointing to 10:31.

“This isn’t the real one.”

Du Wei shook his head, turned around, and walked to the door, pushing it open with one hand.

Outside was overcast, still deep into the night.

“Is this the dream I’m having? It looks no different from reality, as if it’s deliberately constructed.”

Du Wei suddenly laughed, touching the mask on his face.

“But why does the shadow even exist?”

“I’m dreaming, not entering my dream; my things shouldn’t be able to come with me.”

“So, all of this is my dream.”

His voice sounded different from before, a bit hoarse, even carrying a sort of emotion that seemed to have faded imperceptibly from him, only imitable.

“How interesting…”

Du Wei shook his head and extended his right hand, entering the Evil Spirit Transformation, before he coldly said, “Valak!”

He wanted to verify the theory of a demon’s true name inside the dream.

This was the most “safe” place; if it worked, the curse would be broken, and if it didn’t, things wouldn’t escalate to a grave degree.

After all, “he” was originally planning to die in the dream.

Suddenly…

After Du Wei’s words fell, the entire Dream World suddenly changed.

The dark clouds in the night sky collapsed downward, forming a hideous face.

It was the nun…

According to the information Du Wei had previously gathered, it wasn’t yet to the point of becoming a Demon Spirit, and it would take another week’s time.

But as soon as Du Wei recited that phrase, he suddenly felt that the nun had become wrong.

It became exceedingly terrifying.

And it directly targeted him.

To say that might not be entirely accurate—after all, Du Wei was already its target.

But in actuality, he had been marked.

To give an analogy, before reciting the true name, the nun had been watching Du Wei but not overtly; it was like wearing dark glasses, only seeing Du Wei’s outline, knowing of his existence.

But when Du Wei recited its true name, it took off the glasses and clearly saw all of Du Wei.

Reciting the true name was akin to exposing oneself entirely.

Du Wei, realizing this, said, “No wonder, someone would try to erase the letters on those items; it’s a trap, a trap filled with absolute malice.”