Town Office.

At this moment, Ah Wei and his cousin were trying to saw off the magical artifact gem from the dried corpse. They had been struggling for a long time but still couldn't get it off.

Qiusheng and Xiao Yu arrived at the town office, surprised by its size.

After some searching, they still hadn't found Ah Wei or the dried corpse.

Uncle Nine had already arrived with a large group of clan elders and others.

"Ah Wei, everyone's here now. Quickly bring the thing out and burn it."

The clan elder, highly respected, made the security team members dare not hide anything and directly found the room where Ah Wei was.

Inside the room, seeing the situation, Ah Wei was still reluctant to part with the gem and chose to hide the corpse.

Then he used a similar statue, wrapped it in cloth, to replace the dried corpse.

"Here it is, here it is."

After a moment, Ah Wei brought the wrapped statue outside, preparing to burn it under everyone's watchful eyes.

Uncle Nine noticed something was off and wanted to step forward to check.

Ah Wei hurriedly held him back, secretly signaling the security team members to light the fire. The woodpile was ignited, and the statue turned to ashes in the blazing fire.

After a while, the fire burned out, and the flames gradually extinguished.

Seeing that the dried corpse had been burned to ashes, everyone's worries dissipated, and they gradually left.

Uncle Nine gave Ah Wei a deep look, then instructed Xiao Yu and Qiusheng;

"You two keep an eye on Ah Wei."

"But the dried corpse has already been burned, why keep an eye on him?"

Qiusheng was puzzled by his master's instructions.

"Just go and keep a good watch."

Uncle Nine glared at Qiusheng, cutting off his questions.

...

Xiao Yu and Qiusheng sneaked back into the town office, entering the room Ah Wei had come out from.

Unexpectedly, they saw Ah Wei's cousin diligently sawing the gem off the magical artifact on the dried corpse.

She had successfully sawed off the gem and was admiring it at the table.

"Junior brother, so the corpse is still here, no wonder Master told us to keep an eye on it."

"Ah Wei and his cousin were after that gem, huh? How does Ah Wei have so many cousins?"

Qiusheng whispered to Xiao Yu.

"Not good, the vampire is about to come back to life."

Xiao Yu suddenly warned. Being familiar with the plot, he had been observing the vampire's movements. At this moment, he saw the vampire in the corner move and pull out the crucifix artifact from its body.

The vampire was slowly approaching Ah Wei's cousin.

"Senior brother, let's go, we can't let it harm anyone."

Xiao Yu called Qiusheng, and the two quickly rushed into the room to attack the vampire.

"Ah, what are you doing?"

Ah Wei's cousin was startled by the sudden intrusion of the two.

"Ah, a ghost, it's alive."

But when she saw the vampire, she screamed in panic.

However, no one paid attention to her. Xiao Yu and Qiusheng were already engaged in a fierce battle with the vampire.

During the fight, Xiao Yu used the Evil Slaying Talisman to attack, but it wasn't very effective, so he had to use the Blazing Fire Talisman to burn the vampire, which worked quite well.

Especially when Xiao Yu used his newly developed Explosive Fire Talisman, the flames exploded violently, severely injuring the vampire.

Seeing the serious threat from Xiao Yu's attack, the vampire suddenly changed its combat strategy and turned to attack Ah Wei's cousin.

"Ah, ah, ah."

Ah Wei's cousin was so frightened that she ran around screaming.

Xiao Yu and Qiusheng hurried to her rescue.

Seeing this, the vampire grabbed Ah Wei's cousin and threw her at Xiao Yu and Qiusheng, then turned and ran.

"Not good, the vampire is trying to escape."

"Senior brother, you catch her, I'll go after it."

Xiao Yu realized the vampire's intention and quickly devised a countermeasure.

Qiusheng went to catch the flying Ah Wei's cousin.

Xiao Yu chased after the vampire, initially able to see its silhouette, but then it disappeared after a few turns.

After a fruitless search, Xiao Yu could only return to reunite with Qiusheng.

In the room, Ah Wei and a large group of security team members were present.

"Junior brother, are you okay? Where's the vampire?"

Qiusheng hurriedly asked about the situation.

"I couldn't catch up, lost track of it."

"You guys be careful, vampires are very intelligent and hold grudges, it will come for you."

Xiao Yu shook his head, then looked at Ah Wei and his cousin, reminding them.

"Ah, what should we do, cousin, think of something, you must protect me, and I'll agree to marry you."

Ah Wei's cousin looked terrified, yet still didn't forget to make promises to Ah Wei.

"Ahem, Brother Xiao, I heard back in Ren Family Town that you have protective magical artifacts, could you give me some?"

Ah Wei looked at Xiao Yu with a sheepish grin, hoping to get a protective artifact.

He was also very scared, having encountered such things in Ren Family Town before, which had scared him away, and he was then sent to the backward Huang Family Town.

"I do have some, but..."

Xiao Yu gave Ah Wei a "you know what I mean" look.

"Ahem, I wonder how much it costs."

Ah Wei immediately understood and inquired about the price from Xiao Yu.

Xiao Yu held up three fingers.

"Thirty silver dollars? No problem."

Ah Wei pretended to be clueless and prepared to pay.

Xiao Yu just quietly watched Ah Wei without speaking.

"Oh, I got it wrong, three hundred silver dollars, no problem, no problem, I'll take two jade tokens."

Even though Ah Wei was unwilling, he could only accept the price, as his life was more important now.

Thinking of his small fortune accumulated over years of skimming and saving, now gone in an instant, his heart bled.

Moreover, he had to pay for his cousin, but as long as he secured her, he could inherit her family property, making this investment worthwhile.

"Wow, junior brother, are these jade tokens really worth that much?"

Qiusheng was surprised, thinking to himself that he also had a jade token given by his junior brother, maybe he should find a chance to sell it, as it was worth three hundred silver dollars, making him a rich man too.

"Well, the cost isn't low."

"Senior brother, don't even think about selling your jade token, it can save your life in critical moments."

Xiao Yu brushed it off, but seeing Qiusheng's expression, he immediately knew what he was planning.

"Hehe, nothing of the sort."

Qiusheng waved his hands nervously.

At this moment, Ah Wei returned with the money.

Money in hand, Xiao Yu handed over the goods.

Ah Wei's cousin saw this and acted coquettishly to get one from Ah Wei.

Unable to resist, Ah Wei immediately gave her a jade token to wear.

"Ah Wei, the vampire is now lurking in the town, who knows when it will come out to harm people, you need to notify the townspeople to take precautions."

Ah Wei's security team was responsible for the safety of the townspeople, and Xiao Yu reminded them to take preventive measures.

"I have my arrangements."

Ah Wei displayed the demeanor of a security team leader.

Seeing this, Xiao Yu and Qiusheng left the town office.

The two returned to their residence, found Uncle Nine, and explained the situation and the vampire's condition.

"Uncle, the vampire has just revived and is still very weak, it's not difficult to deal with.

But because it's weak, it will definitely come out to suck blood and harm people to regain its strength, tonight will likely be restless."

Xiao Yu sighed, knowing that when monsters and demons wreak havoc, innocent people suffer.

He remembered when he first crossed over, knowing this was a world where spirits and monsters coexisted, and realized that ordinary people couldn't resist under the monsters' tyranny.

So he found a way to cling to Taoist Priest Simu, learning skills to ensure his own safety.

"You understand vampires, tell us their weaknesses so the townspeople can take precautions."

Uncle Nine was also worried and could only ask Xiao Yu, who understood vampires, for advice.

"Vampires fear sunlight, which can turn them to ash, they hate garlic, and silver can harm them, their life source is the heart.

As for crucifixes and holy water, they are refined with the power of faith by Western churches."

"The methods we can use are sunlight, fire, fire talismans, thunder talismans. Vampires aren't as tough as zombies, so we can use magical artifacts to attack them violently, cut off their heads, or pierce their hearts."

Xiao Yu explained the vampire's weaknesses and the methods to counter them.

"Alright, there's no other way, we can only tell the townspeople about garlic and fire to take precautions."

Uncle Nine nodded and then went out to discuss with the clan elder.

After learning about it, the clan elder gathered the townspeople and also questioned Ah Wei and his cousin to confirm the truth.

The townspeople verbally attacked Ah Wei and his cousin on the spot.

Then they arranged for garlic, fire oil, and torches to be distributed to each household.

...

At night,

Every household in the town was brightly lit, surrounded by garlic, and some timid people were even covered in garlic.

The clan elder organized the townspeople into patrol teams, and the security team patrolled throughout the night.

Uncle Nine, Xiao Yu, and Qiusheng split up and patrolled the town with the patrol teams.

The patrol teams stayed awake all night, finally welcoming the sunrise, with the sunlight on their faces bringing a sense of security.

The clan elder instructed a check of the town's situation, and there was indeed a problem, as a townsman had been harmed.

It turned out this person didn't believe in the supernatural, ignored the town's notice, and threw the distributed garlic and torches into the corner of his yard.

Uncle Nine arranged for the body to be burned and then discussed finding the vampire during the day to reduce townspeople casualties.

After discussing, they distributed search tasks.

Uncle Nine searched the church and happened to encounter Ah Wei's search team, leading to a dramatic scene with the plump nun.

After some understanding, Uncle Nine learned that the vampire was related to this place.

The previous two priests had fought a vampire, one had committed suicide in the church's secret room, and the other had been corrupted into the current vampire.

Uncle Nine returned to the town, and Xiao Yu and Qiusheng also returned, so Uncle Nine recounted his experiences at the church.

"Vampires retain their memories from life, so there's a high chance it will return to the church, and there are quite a few nuns there, what do you think, Uncle?"

Xiao Yu knew the church was the final battleground and suggested waiting for the vampire there.

"Alright, we'll wait for it at the church."

The three immediately set off and hid near the church.

Late at night, a figure suddenly flew in and landed on the church roof's cross.

"Uncle, it's here."

"Xiao Yu, Qiusheng, be careful. Let's go."

Uncle Nine and the three of them immediately charged out.

However, the vampire entered the church at this time, and the three followed inside.

Their commotion alerted the vampire, which roared and charged at them.

Uncle Nine and the others immediately engaged in battle with the vampire.

The noise of the fight woke the nuns in the church, who came out to see.

"Devil, the devil is here."

The plump nun, seeing the vampire, screamed in panic.

Uncle Nine saw the nuns adding to the chaos and loudly reminded them to hide.

"Quickly, find a place to hide."

Without saying it, it would have been fine, but once said, the vampire suddenly lunged at the nuns.

The nuns immediately panicked.

Seeing a nun about to be harmed, Xiao Yu quickly kicked her away and stabbed at the vampire with his sword. The magical sword emitted spiritual power, and when it collided with the vampire, black smoke and sparks erupted, sending the vampire flying.

Uncle Nine and Qiusheng hurriedly moved forward, coordinating with Xiao Yu to surround the vampire.

"Quickly run."

Uncle Nine reminded the nuns still in the main hall, unsure of what to do.

Upon hearing this, the nuns scattered in a panic.

"Uncle, use the talismans."

Xiao Yu activated the Blazing Fire Talisman, hitting the vampire, instantly engulfing it in flames.

The vampire let out a piercing scream, its body suddenly erupting with black energy, extinguishing the flames.

Uncle Nine's Heavenly Thunder Talisman was already activated, striking the vampire with a bolt of lightning.

It can be hard to make great work when its stolen from "pawread dot com".

The vampire screamed repeatedly.

"Uncle, let's go for another round."

Xiao Yu urged to eliminate the vampire in one go.

Immediately, lightning and blazing fire struck again, severely injuring the vampire, which tried to escape, charging towards Qiusheng.

"Senior brother, the magical sword, the heart."

Xiao Yu loudly reminded, not caring if the foreign vampire understood Chinese.

With the reminder, Qiusheng thrust his sword at the charging vampire.

The vampire, severely injured and exhausted, was pierced through the chest by Qiusheng's sword.

Xiao Yu and Uncle Nine arrived, one sword piercing through the heart, the other cutting off the head.

Xiao Yu teased Qiusheng, "Senior brother, well done, you deserve the first credit, this battle will be enough for you and Senior Brother Wencai to brag about for years, haha."

"Not at all, not at all, it's all thanks to Master and Junior Brother for severely injuring it."

Qiusheng held his head high, also slightly proud.

"Have you two finished talking? If so, move the body out and burn it."

Uncle Nine glanced at the foreign vampire, then instructed the two boasting men.

He then went to check if any of the nuns were injured.

"The vampire has been eliminated, you can come out now."

Uncle Nine called out to the hiding nuns.

"The devil has been eliminated, thank the Lord, thank the Lord for eliminating the devil."

The plump nun led a group of nuns out, seeing the vampire's separated body, they breathed a sigh of relief, then thanked and prayed to the large cross inside the church.

"What? We were the ones who eliminated it, I didn't see your Lord."

Qiusheng was immediately displeased upon hearing the nun's words.

Uncle Nine was equally displeased, but didn't say anything.

"Yes, you must be the Lord's messengers sent to eliminate the devil."

The plump nun forcefully explained, bowing to thank Uncle Nine and the others.

However, this gratitude left Uncle Nine and the others very displeased.

After burning the body, Uncle Nine turned and left, with Xiao Yu and Qiusheng following.

...

The next day.

Uncle Nine told the clan elder about last night's events.

"The evil has been eliminated, Huang Family Town is safe, we are going to leave."

Uncle Nine prepared to leave Huang Family Town.

"Ahem, thank you, Uncle Nine, and Uncle Nine's two talented disciples."

"Uncle Nine, don't rush, we haven't properly thanked you yet. How about this, we'll host a banquet tonight to thank you, and you can leave tomorrow."

The clan elder tried hard to keep them, not feeling assured, wanting to see if things were really safe after tonight.

With no other choice, Uncle Nine and the others stayed another day.

The clan elder confirmed there was indeed no problem, offered a reward, and hosted a banquet to bid farewell to Uncle Nine and the others.

Uncle Nine and the others set off on their journey home, after a long and dusty journey, finally returning to Ren Family Town.

Back at the mortuary, Qiusheng started bragging to Wencai, "Wencai, you wouldn't believe it, at that time I..."

Xiao Yu couldn't be bothered with them and went back to his room to rest.

After this battle, Xiao Yu clearly felt that breaking through to the Second Realm made him several times stronger than before.

No wonder the ancient saying goes, the First Realm is called Foundation Establishment, and the Second Realm, Qi Refining, is the real start of cultivation.

After resting for a few days, Xiao Yu went to the Ren residence to see Ren Tingting and retrieve the materials collected by Ren Fa to continue his artifact refining endeavors.

"Xiao Yu, you're back, was it hard working with Uncle Nine?"

Ren Tingting happened to see Xiao Yu entering from outside, and they went to the living room to chat.

"Not hard, just helping Master with some tasks."

Xiao Yu didn't want to talk about the monsters and demons, so he casually brushed it off.

"By the way, what have you been busy with lately?"

Xiao Yu asked about Ren Tingting's recent activities.

"Me? Dad has been taking me to handle accounts, including the accounts for the magical artifacts you and my dad sold, I've been managing them."

Ren Tingting said proudly.

"Didn't expect Tingting to be so capable, you'll definitely become a big boss in the future."

Seeing Ren Tingting's proud expression, Xiao Yu immediately praised her.

"Of course, I'll take care of you in the future." Ren Tingting said playfully.

Hearing this, Xiao Yu was taken aback and looked at Ren Tingting carefully.

"What's wrong?" Ren Tingting asked, puzzled by Xiao Yu's silence.

"Nothing, do you know about parallel universes?"

"Parallel universes, what's that?"

Ren Tingting looked confused, having never heard of it.

"Oh, it's a theory proposed by a foreign scientist I read about."

"Oh, what's the theory about?" Ren Tingting's interest piqued, as she studied foreign knowledge in the provincial capital.

"It says that when you're speaking, somewhere in the world someone else is saying the same thing, and some people can sense this connection in the unseen.

Have you ever experienced going to a strange place yet feeling a sense of déjà vu, as if you've been there before, or some events happening that seem familiar?"

As Xiao Yu explained, he carefully observed Ren Tingting's expression and sensed her heart rate.

"That's amazing, listening to you, I do recall having such feelings, but it's vague, like it's there, yet not. What's going on?"

Ren Tingting pondered after hearing it, then shook her head, feeling puzzled.

"Haha, it's just a psychological effect. Suppose a loyal and honest servant suddenly steals something, what would you think?"

Xiao Yu shifted the topic from parallel universes, having detected no anomalies in Ren Tingting, dismissing his unrealistic suspicions.

"I'd think that since they're loyal and honest, it wouldn't be betrayal or greed, maybe they encountered some difficulty."

Ren Tingting shared her thoughts.

"Not bad. Before hearing about these things, you wouldn't have had any thoughts, nor a deep impression of the servant.

After hearing about the servant stealing, you'd be influenced by the information of loyalty and honesty.

Your thoughts would extend, wondering if they encountered difficulties that led to stealing, even speculating on what difficulties they faced.

This is when you receive information, your thoughts extend and fill in the event from beginning to end, forming a story based on more information you receive.

If someone outside the residence hears it, their thoughts would differ, thinking it's greed, as they don't know or even recognize the servant.

So they wouldn't include the information of loyalty and honesty in their thoughts.

If a thief hears it, they'd think about how to steal from the Ren residence, not caring about the servant's situation.

Different people receive different information, forming different stories.

When I mentioned this theory, you began questioning vague memories, extending thoughts to rationalize them."

Xiao Yu spoke, unknowingly becoming engrossed, gaining a slight insight into the Way of the Soul, which he had been pondering but couldn't grasp.

"Haha, that was quite insightful."

Ren Fa had arrived unnoticed, listening with interest to their conversation.

"Dad, when did you get here?"

Ren Tingting hadn't noticed at all.

"I've been here for a while, listening to your interesting conversation, so I didn't interrupt."

Master Ren responded with a smile.

"Uncle, we were just chatting casually."

Xiao Yu was merely testing his hypothesis, speaking off the cuff.

"What you said isn't wrong, human nature, the human heart, is unpredictable and indescribable."

Ren Fa shared his own life insights.

"Different people form different stories, creating a diverse world of people from all walks of life, from high officials to commoners, forming this colorful world."

Xiao Yu felt he gained much from this conversation, realizing that to understand the soul, one must immerse in the world, experiencing life's various states.

He suddenly recalled a novel where one must experience the world to achieve Divine Transformation, sparking various thoughts to form the Primordial Spirit.

"Nephew, stay for dinner later."

Ren Fa invited, turning to make arrangements.

After dining together and discussing business with Ren Fa, Xiao Yu bid farewell and left the Ren residence.

Xiao Yu took the materials collected by Master Ren and returned to Uncle Nine's house to continue his artifact refining endeavors.