Chapter Forty-Four: The Hidden Treasure (Part One)

When I awoke, the afternoon sun was already streaming in. Beside me sat Xi Yue, clad in her white robes, quietly watching me from behind the curtain, her expression calm.

As she saw me awaken, a gentle smile appeared on her face.

"You're awake?"

Her voice was soft, and in my ears, it was as tender as spring, utterly different from the icy demeanor she once possessed.

"Xi Yue, are you alright?"

I asked in haste, knowing her body had not fully recovered. Moreover, Xi Yue's true nature was that of a lunar corpse; though she was a unique ancient corpse, all her powers needed replenishing through the essence of moonlight.

Xi Yue shook her head with a smile. It was the first time she had smiled at me—so beautiful that I was nearly lost in its perfection.

"Don't be so foolish again. You bear a great mission. Promise me you'll take better care of yourself."

As she spoke, she placed her cool, jade-like hand on my forehead. Feeling that gentle chill, I drifted back into sleep.

That rest was deep and peaceful, and when I woke again, night had fallen. A radiant moon hung in the sky. Xi Yue stood by the window, bathed in silvery light, enveloped in moonbeams.

I sat up slowly. She appeared like a fairy born of moonlight, ethereal and stunning.

I did not disturb her. Whenever Xi Yue immersed herself in moonlight, she was absorbing its essence to cultivate her powers. My head still felt dizzy as I rose, the loss of blood clearly having taken its toll.

As I smiled wryly, Tu's voice resounded in my mind.

"Master, you're awake."

I said nothing, my stomach rumbling. I needed to find something to eat.

"Master, you were so formidable last night. The Lady was deeply moved by you. By the way, I've been researching since last night and finally deciphered the information carried within the Buddhist light inside the Red-Clad Ghost's body. It turns out there's a hidden treasure vault beneath that dormitory; long ago, it was the site of an ancient temple."

I listened to Tu as I poured boiling water.

---

"I think the Extreme Yin Soul must know something. Why don't you ask her again? Now, the Extreme Yin Soul has mostly merged with the Buddhist light, meaning she no longer has the chance for reincarnation and is destined to be refined by this Buddhist light into a sentient spirit."

The more I listened, the more mysterious it seemed. I asked quietly, "Tu, can you explain in detail?"

"Master, it means that this Buddhist light is tied to the ghost woman. If she were alive, she would walk the path between yin and yang, but since she died, she’ll become a sentient treasure. Yet, I do not know the true origin of this Buddhist light—it’s certainly not the soul of an ordinary Buddha after passing."

"If it's a treasure, you should devour it, so you can grow stronger," I said, taking a big bite of instant noodles.

"Master, I don't want the Buddhist light piercing through me! Perhaps you should refine it and embed it in the Sword of All Living Beings. Then the sword will awaken, giving you a powerful weapon."

I agreed. After finishing my noodles, I would refine the Buddhist light and ask Nie Xiaoke about its origins.

After eating, I went to the second-floor living room, sitting cross-legged in the center. Xi Yue was still in the bedroom, absorbing moonlight essence. I gradually entered the diagram of Tu's Blood Array.

Tu sat on my shoulder, pointing to a path ahead. "Master, after devouring the Yin-Gathering Umbrella and the Banner of Ten Thousand Souls, my soul has recovered a lot. This place is now ours. Once I grow stronger, I'll seize control of the entire Blood Array and devour all its monsters and ghosts."

I nodded. After a few steps, I saw Nie Xiaoke, now dressed in yellow, bound tightly by layers of black vines.

With a wave of Tu's hand, Nie Xiaoke was freed.

"Where is this? What do you want?"

It was clear Nie Xiaoke lacked any combat experience. She must have spent her years obediently in the dormitory, shielded by the Buddhist light—ordinary ghosts and exorcists could not harm her.

"Don't misunderstand, Nie Xiaoke. I don't want to hurt you. You saw it yourself—the Forget-Me-Not Master wanted to use you. For years, he plotted to create paired exorcists. I suspect he orchestrated your defilement by Li Hongbo and even your suicide."

"This..."

"It's simple. You have an ancient Buddhist light within you. If you merge with it, you'll understand everything."

I had no desire for lengthy conversation. If she refused to merge, I would use the Soul Destroying Art to scatter her soul and then refine the Buddhist light with my blood.

This method was cruel, but mercy was futile when dealing with ghosts.

---

Seeing my resolve, Nie Xiaoke fell silent, slowly closing her eyes. Her brow glimmered, and in the next moment, golden light surged from her body, illuminating the entire space where Tu and I stood. Nearby wandering spirits were instantly obliterated with a hiss.

Minutes passed. Nie Xiaoke slowly opened her eyes, her clothing unchanged, but she sighed deeply. "You're right. Perhaps I was ensnared by the Forget-Me-Not Master from the start. It was a tribulation written in my fate, but I was trapped before it even arrived."

"What will you do now?"

I made no mention of the refinement.

Nie Xiaoke shook her head. She now understood all her karma, for Tu had fully opened the ghost path during the refinement, enabling her to merge with the Buddhist light and see her past lives.

"Why not stay with me? With your fusion to the Buddhist light, you're half-ghost, half-treasure. If you wish to become the spirit of my Sword of All Living Beings, I promise you'll be treated well."

I had no benefit to offer, only words of reassurance.

"I am willing. If not for your intervention, I would be beyond salvation. I pledge myself as the sword spirit, never to stray."

Nie Xiaoke stepped toward me.

Truth be told, she was originally a beauty, but now, she had become a sword spirit.

I nodded, peeled the bandage from my finger, and bit gently. A drop of blood fell onto Nie Xiaoke's brow.

It instantly became a red beauty mark, solidifying between her brows. Her yellow attire transformed into pure white, ancient and elegant, as if she had stepped out of a classical painting.

"Thank you, young master!"

I felt a surge of joy—Nie Xiaoke had indeed awakened many memories.