Chapter 13

Chapter 13: Ghost of the Building, Part Three

Yang energy is the privilege of the living.

Its destructive power against the ghosts of the underworld, and all yin creatures, is incalculable, with far-reaching effects.

The cycle of yin and yang, their interdependent and opposing nature, is one of the fundamental truths of the universe.

For nearly a hundred years, ghost hunters have been refining the multiple uses of yang energy, providing greater convenience for the balance between yin and yang.

However—

Most people’s yang energy is quite ordinary—neither too much nor too little, just enough to illuminate the path of the living for a few decades. On the other hand, yin energy is endless, born from the earth, dispersed in the air, and lingering in the vast spaces above and below ground.

While many people have strong yang energy, few reach the level of Ming Yue—such a person might be a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence.

On this level, Zhai Dan felt a twinge in her heart as she held the Fire Talisman in her hand.

One must endure endless misfortune and hardships to gain the brilliance of yang energy, and be fortunate enough to develop both the “Yin-Yang Eye” and an exceptionally strong yang constitution.

Behind her, Ming Yue crushed a small piece of cinnabar, grinding it smoothly and obediently waiting for her senior to call for the talisman.

Zhai Dan: "..."

Zhai Dan thought to herself, this junior Ming Yue is like a 100,000-watt yang energy lightbulb—one touch and she’ll explode.

The lingering power of the Fire Talisman still hung in the air, and if left unchecked, the small amount of yin energy gathered by this building’s ghost might be completely burned away. Zhai Dan thought about Wang Yangming’s words, then motioned for Ming Yue with a nod.

“Junior, come make three Yin Gathering Talismans.”

“Sure!” Ming Yue replied energetically.

At the same time, Zhou Jingren gave the same instructions to Bai Linlang.

Ming Yue and Bai Linlang almost simultaneously picked up their brushes.

Without a doubt, Ming Yue’s speed was much faster—

The Yin Gathering Talisman was much easier to draw compared to the Fire Talisman. In the blink of an eye, Ming Yue handed her senior two talismans. Zhai Dan looked at Zhou Jingren with pride, then raised the talismans into the air.The talisman paper was lifted by the yin wind, fluttering upwards.

Behind them, the first-year students, with keen ears, tiptoed and craned their necks, all trying to catch a glimpse of Ming Yue’s Yin Gathering Talisman.

Yan Jun stood at the back of the crowd, trying to maintain order, but he had a bad feeling.

The class leader clearly remembered the bite marks on Ming Yue's arm.

A person who could use their own blood to strangle a hanging ghost from the academy probably didn’t have enough yin energy to fill a spoon.

What kind of Yin Talisman could she possibly draw?

As expected—

In the howling wind, the yellow paper was ignited by the flames. With a hiss, the talisman emitted gray smoke and weakly enveloped the flames. In less than two seconds, it was completely burned away, as if a fart had been let into the fire, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

Ming Yue: "..."

Zhai Dan: "..."

Zhou Jingren: "Hahahahahaha!"

Zhai Dan: "...Get lost!"

Bai Linlang also looked at Ming Yue in surprise.

Zhou Jingren’s laughter held no deep meaning; he was simply teasing an old classmate: “Dan-jie, I won’t ask why your Yin Gathering Talisman stuck to the sky instead of the ground, but let’s talk about the talisman paper—did you just fart into the wind? Hahahaha.”

This remark successfully made a group of junior students behind them burst into laughter.

Ming Yue’s face turned bright red.

Zhai Dan also looked displeased.

Wang Yangming, who was in front drawing the prototype of the building’s ghost, preparing to record it in the academy’s history, turned around when he heard the commotion behind him. He coldly reprimanded, “Silence! Do you remember the exam rules?!”After saying that, Wang Yangming turned to look at Zhai Dan: "Zhai Dan, go back and study the detailed effects and methods of the Yin Gathering Talisman."

"Let Ming Yue try the Yin Talisman learned in the first year."

"After that, record the effectiveness of each Yin Talisman. I want to see your analysis report in half a month."

Zhai Dan: "..."

The person sat in the formation, and the pot fell from the sky.

Ming Yue quickly raised her hand, trying to take the blame: "Teacher, does this kind of thing deduct points?"

Wang Yangming did not respond, his tone cold as he said: "Is speaking allowed in the exam room? Maintain proper attitude. If the talisman doesn’t work, you’ll be firmly given a low score."

Ming Yue: "..." The plan to take the blame failed.

Ming Yue gave an awkward smile. "Thank you, teacher."

She glanced apologetically at Zhai Dan, deciding to treat her to a meal later.

The five students in the front row stepped forward, starting to draw the talismans.

Bai Linlang’s Yin Talisman worked very well, and Zhou Jingren slapped it onto the ground. He explained:

"Don’t think that when dealing with building ghosts and cutting Yin souls, you should only use Yang Talismans and ignore Yin Talismans."

"Plants grow from the earth and need much more Yin energy than Yang energy. If Ming Yue doesn’t control her fire talisman properly—after she burns everything, this land of Tian Jingxuan’s several hundred acres will all wither."

Bai Shi Chang: "..."

Bai Shi Chang really wanted to write it down in a notebook, but unfortunately, that’s difficult to do during an exam.

Zhou Jingren clapped his hands: "Come on, junior, three Yin Gathering Talismans, use large cinnabar."

Bai Linlang quickly nodded.

Twenty minutes later—The first batch of five students, except for Bai Linlang, who was still struggling with Ming Yue, the other three were all quickly forced off the stage due to the requirement of drawing over a dozen talismans in a row.

The first desk was forced out by the Silence Curse.

The second desk was defeated by the Fire Talismans.

The fourth desk was knocked out by the Quieting Mind Spell.

Then, the second batch of five students came up, but their performance was not as good as the first batch. After five rounds of chanting talismans, all of them were eliminated.

Ming Yue and Bai Linlang each occupied a desk, writing furiously.

The two seemed to radiate brilliance, the most dazzling figures in the crowd.

The wind howled, and the third batch of five students followed.

Twenty minutes later, except for Jun Weiran, the other four students all encountered difficulties with drawing talismans and sadly left the stage. Jin Yuanbao, with an angry expression, shouted to his roommate: "Jun Ge, come on!"

Jun Weiran coldly gave him an "OK" gesture.

Ming Yue, seated at the next table, couldn't help but steal a glance at him, her heart racing like a deer.

At this point, the scoreboard next to Ming Yue had already flipped to 27, and Bai Linlang was at 19.

Jun Weiran glanced at the two students, then smiled slightly. Before the corresponding graduate student could speak, he had already picked up his pen and drawn a Silence Curse, handing it to his senior.

Graduate student: "..."

The graduate student twitched at the corner of his eye. "Junior’s hand speed is really fast."

Jun Weiran nodded. "The Silence Curse is convenient for clearing one's mouth and mind, allowing one to recite and draw talismans to the next level."

"It’s nothing. Senior, you're too kind."

This move was truly a high standard, outstanding in effect. Unlike Ming Yue's super-fast hand speed, it attracted the attention of the entire room with a more strategic approach.

Senior: ... Who was being polite?Jun Weiran stood tall, his demeanor and voice very cold. The way he spoke drew quite a few "tut-tut" sounds from the aunties outside the shield:

"That young man is really handsome."

"Yeah, isn't he the kind of cool guy that all the young girls like these days?"

"Wow, how did he manage to get into Jin University? He’s good-looking and full of spirit!"

Ming Yue listened to Jun Weiran’s speech and felt her ears itch. Just as she was about to rub her earlobe, her arm was bumped. Bai Shizhang shot her a warning glance, her left cheek saying "Don’t act up" and her right cheek saying "Stop it", clearly worried that Ming Yue's wandering thoughts would delay the exam.

Ming Yue: "..."

Boom.

Her heart fluttered.

Ming Yue returned a playful kiss and mouthed, "Shizhang, you love me the most."

Bai Linlang: "..."

Bai Linlang didn’t want to talk to the idiot and threw a piece of vermilion powder at her, as if trying to hit her.

The graduate student in charge of Jun Weiran proudly showed off the talisman paper in his hand, "The Silence Curse."

"It's one of the Eight Great Curses."

Other graduate students: "..."

A perfectly good demon-hunting operation had been turned into a beauty pageant by this group of idiots.

Zhou Jingren let out a loud, mocking laugh.

Zhai Dan made a face.

The two of them simultaneously told the younger students behind them, "Junior, come on, let's see the Silence Curse." Show them what’s up!

Ming Yue: "Alright, coming right up!" She rolled up her sleeves and began to draw, looking like a chef preparing to serve a dish.Bai Linlang: "..."

Bai Linlang began to sweat on her forehead.

The Silence Curse wasn't just a small leap above the basic curriculum; it was a whole leap of tens of thousands of miles! The spellbook was issued once every four years, and the first-year students hadn't even finished one-tenth of it. How quickly had Jun Weiran learned it? Bai Linlang broke out in cold sweat, her heart filled with frustration.

Beside her, Ming Yue completed another one in a single stroke.

Another stroke, Bai Linlang almost didn't want to look anymore. The frustration was pushing her to the verge of tears. Her hand trembled with the brush, the blood-red vermilion powder spreading into a messy blur—

I... I really didn't memorize the Silence Curse.

Bai Linlang thought coldly to herself, tears welling up in her eyes.

She didn't want to lose to Ming Yue. She didn’t want to lose to this Ming Yue, who had been goofing off all semester.

"Boo-goo, boo-goo."

Ming Yue quietly imitated a cuckoo bird’s call, then showed Bai Linlang her completed Silence Curse.

"..." Bai Linlang glared at her with reddened eyes.

Ming Yue blinked hard, her expression comical, her face clearly saying: Hurry up and copy it, hurry up and copy it.

Bai Linlang: "..."

The anger that had just flared up was instantly extinguished by Ming Yue's cold prank. Bai Linlang was both helpless and amused, tears flowing from her eyes.

Damn it.

I’m not copying yours.

Bai Shizhang, cold and aloof, thought to herself like a little tsundere. Sniffling, she reported to Zhou Jingren that she couldn't write the spell, then nonchalantly pushed the desk aside and exited the scene.

Ming Yue: "..."Zhou Jingren: "..."

Zhou Jingren tugged at his hair: "Junior! Junior, come back! Or should I change the talisman paper—ow!" Before he could finish, a chunk of vermilion powder was slammed onto his head by Zhai Dan: "Shut up, haven't you already messed with the junior enough?"

Zhou Jingren held his head, wailing, "Zhai Dan, how can you say that to me!"

The third batch of five people quickly went up and came down again. Ming Yue and Bai Linlang were still on the field, each showing their own skills.

The air was filled with low-level talismans, and the yin energy storm within the talisman cage stirred restlessly. Wang Yangming didn't intervene, allowing the first-year students to draw some low-level spells. Nearby, there were plenty of drawings of building ghosts on the sketchbooks.

The final batch of students stepped onto the stage. Yan Jun, as class monitor, maintained order and joined this group.

Ming Yue waved at him cheerfully.

Yan Jun smiled, and, to Ming Yue's surprise, walked to the desk beside her and began drawing talismans.

Zhou Jingren had rotated several students in and out, and Zhai Dan had firmly anchored Ming Yue in her seat, making Zhou Jingren too lazy to mock her.

When Yan Jun came up, Zhou Jingren suddenly perked up: "Oh, the 18th-grade class monitor has arrived."

Yan Jun bowed his head respectfully: "Hello, Senior Jingren, sorry to trouble you."

Zhou Jingren waved his hand: "No need to be polite, first draw a Silence Curse."

Yan Jun: "..."

Yan Jun was amused by the senior’s casual tone as if the Silence Curse was just something found on the street. He didn't say anything, ground the vermilion powder, and swiftly began drawing the talisman. His speed was so fast that Zhou Jingren got a taste of the shock Zhai Dan had felt an hour ago.

On the left was Yan Jun, on the right was Ming Yue.

Both of them bent over at the same time, heads down, pens in hand.

Zhou Jingren felt like he couldn’t even see their wrist movements anymore!

Zhou Jingren: "..."

A pair of human-shaped printers.Jingkou Divine Curse was delivered, and Yan Jun bowed to express his gratitude to the senior. Without waiting for Zhou Jingren’s instructions, he lowered his head and began drawing—Zhou Jingren’s gaze fixed on him, and he realized that Yan Jun was drawing exactly the Qi Storage Talisman he had just been thinking about!

Zhou Jingren stroked his chin: "Junior, you... are you a worm in my stomach?"

Yan Jun lowered his head and replied: "Senior, you're teasing me."

"I’m an 18th-grade student from the Information Department. I specialize in information analysis and strategy development, and that’s my duty."

Zhou Jingren: "..."

Zhou Jingren, who was also an Information Department student, had nothing to say in response.

Indeed, the duty of the Information Department is to do this, but—damn, I’m twenty-three, and you’re only eighteen/nineteen, okay?

Why do I have to face the brutal wisdom of youth head-on!

Old man Zhou Jingren thought irritably.

The intense and nerve-wracking talisman written exam lasted for two hours and was called to a stop by Professor Wang exactly on time.

Ming Yue became famous in one battle. The first batch went up, and the last batch came down, her reputation now topping all three departments!

Her skills were considered the champion of the first year!

They were told that the results would be delayed. The first-year students were hurriedly rushed like chicks onto the subway, and they weren’t allowed to see how the ominous building ghosts should actually be dealt with. Only when the little ones left did Professor Wang push up his glasses and say to a few graduate students:

"Alright, let’s get to work."

That evening, Zhou Jingren, Zhai Dan, and the others, feeling sore and tired, returned to school and couldn’t wait to share their experiences with fellow graduate students.

[@Zhou Jingren: My dear ones, people always say that Jin University undergraduates are amazing, and I didn’t believe it before.]

[@Zhai Dan: Although I don’t want to admit it, I—second that.]

[@Zhai Dan: The junior juniors are so charming!][@Zhou Jingren: It’s really good!]

After a while, messages started popping up in the Graduate Students’ group:

[@Yuan Ye: You two are mixing things up, what did our Jin University undergrad babes do to deserve this?]

[@Xi Cheng’en: Sister Dan, Brother Da Ren, you two are so salty, haha, don’t bully our little undergrad babies!]

Zhou Jingren expressed strong protest:

[@Zhou Jingren: Who’s bullying them?]

[@Zhou Jingren: Come on, let me tell you about this afternoon’s 18th-grade talisman written exam.]

[@Zhai Dan: Guaranteed to be explosive.]