Chapter 162 The Thousand-Year Luo Shen Doll

Chapter 162: The Thousand-Year Luo Shen Puppet

Yu Wan was utterly astonished, "Qike, what's wrong with you?"

Lin Qike trembled as he wiped the fine sweat constantly beading on his forehead, scrutinizing the Universal Talisman back and forth.

"Precious... it's truly too precious.

This is the most orthodox Universal Talisman from the Celestial Master tradition. The uncanny pattern of these symbols can only be completed in one stroke, drawn flawlessly in one go, paired with the most intricate and lengthy incantations.

Legend has it that the Universal Talisman can summon the protection of all heavenly deities, warding off evil spirits!

It can drive away countless evil spirits from this world!"

Wu Yue, "...Lin, isn’t that a little over the top?"

Lin Qike shook his head, "No! Not at all! Miss Wu Yue, you don’t realize how unbelievably rare and valuable this talisman you’ve drawn truly is!"

Wu Yue, "..." His gushing only made her cringe harder.

Yu Wan noticed Wu Yue’s stiff expression and took the Universal Talisman from Lin Qike’s hands.

Lin Qike hurriedly said, "Hey, be careful, go slow."

Yu Wan placed the Universal Talisman into an exquisitely crafted cloth pouch and handed it back to Wu Yue. "Miss Wu Yue, I won’t be polite with you.

Formality would just feel cold—I’ll gladly accept all the other gifts you’ve brought. But this Universal Talisman is something I absolutely cannot take."

Lin Qike watched as Yu Wan returned the Universal Talisman to Wu Yue, his heart aching painfully. Tears of blood streamed down his face as he gazed mournfully from the side.

Yu Wan glared at him, "Get a grip!"

Lin Qike sniffled and sulked quietly.

Yu Wan shoved the pouch at Wu Yue. After accepting it, Wu Yue took the Universal Talisman out and placed it back into Yu Wan’s palm, studying the pouch curiously.

"Sister Yu Wan, what’s this design on it?"

Yu Wan tried to return it again, but Wu Yue deftly dodged her hand smoothly.

Yu Wan, "It’s a deer. 'In the forest’s depths, a deer appears'—a white deer hidden among the trees, turned into a flower-crowned spirit."

Wu Yue beamed, "Then I’ll trade the Universal Talisman for this deer."

Her gaze lingered on the white deer covered in soft fur, sporting graceful antlers, and flowers blooming atop them, like something out of a dream.

Her fingers itched to touch, gently stroking the deer’s lively eyes and the blossoms on its antlers.

Yu Wan, "This pouch is nothing compared to your Universal Talisman? If you like it, I’ll whip up ten more for you."

Wu Yue shook her head, "I just want this one."

Lin Qike butted in eagerly, "Exactly, Miss Wu Yue wants this one.

Hey, Yu Wan, give me the Universal Talisman. I’ll place it before the Bodhisattva, keep it incense-blessed for three days, and then you can wear it—it’ll work even stronger."

Lin Qike moved swiftly, scampering off excitedly with the Universal Talisman to light the incense.

Yu Wan looked at Wu Yue and suddenly said:

"Luo Shen once praised this sachet too, saying it was very beautiful."

Wu Yue was puzzled, "Luo Shen?"

Yu Wan nodded, "Yes, the Luo Shen summoned from your Spirit Summoning Talisman. When she said it, her expression seemed to be reminiscing about an old friend.

Moreover, when she was first summoned, Luo Shen was overjoyed. She even said:

*"I’ve waited 15 long years for you. At last, you’ve come to bring me home."*

But when she saw us, her expression suddenly changed."

Wu Yue’s heart skipped a beat, "Changed?"

Yu Wan nodded, "She became unusually silent. After that, aside from praising my sachet, she didn’t utter another word until she disappeared.

But she clearly seemed unhappy. Originally, she only needed to eliminate a few ghosts, but Luo Shen obliterated them completely, dispersing their souls."

Lin Qike had just finished presenting the Universal Talisman and turned around to find Wu Yue and Yu Wan both fallen silent.

He asked, puzzled, "What’s wrong?"

Wu Yue beamed, "Nothing, let’s eat!"

After the meal at Lin Qike’s home, Yu Wan brought out an exquisite, breathtaking doll from inside.

It had intricately crafted hair accessories, a graceful and ethereal long dress, and a strikingly beautiful face—crafted with uncanny realism.

Yu Wan handed the doll to Wu Yue, "Miss Wu Yue, since laying eyes on Luo Shen, I couldn’t forget her awe-inspiring presence.

After returning, I toiled day and night to make this, and miraculously, the doll was completed just yesterday.

Seeing how much you liked the sachet I made earlier, I wanted to gift this Luo Shen doll to you.

Qike mentioned that this was the first Spirit Summoning Talisman you successfully drew.

The mystic arts thrive on the inexplicable.

I think summoning Luo Shen with your first talisman must signify some hidden profundity."

Wu Yue couldn’t look away from the doll. She felt as though she had seen this face before.

But the memory was too faint, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t reconstruct the fragments into a complete picture.

This time, Wu Yue didn’t decline.

She took the lifelike Luo Shen doll from Yu Wan’s hands and said earnestly, "Thank you, Sister Yu Wan."

Yu Wan smiled gently, "No need to thank me. Even a doll would want to stay by the side of someone who truly cherishes her."

After leaving Lin Qike’s home, Wu Yue’s urge to go shopping had waned.

If what Yu Wan said was true—that summoning Luo Shen held some hidden significance—

then just who was the one Luo Shen had waited fifteen years for?

Could it have been… Mother?

If she were to draw another Spirit Summoning Talisman now, could she make Luo Shen appear again?

Just as she was about to head back to the shuttle docking area, she suddenly heard,

"Hey, isn’t that Yue Yue?"

"Yue Yue!"

Wu Yue turned around in surprise, never expecting to see the core members of Desert Rose—Wu Xiuli, A Ni, Xiya, and Xiao Huai—all gathered here.

Wu Yue, "Xiuli-jie, are you here on business?"

A Ni nodded solemnly, "Yes, we’re here for serious business."

Wu Yue, "Oh, okay. Then I’ll let you get to it."

Wu Xiuli stepped forward, her tall frame pulling Wu Yue into a firm embrace. "How could we do this without you?"

Wu Yue was puzzled, "Huh? Wouldn’t that be inconvenient?"

After all, she was a member of Blaze, she reminded herself.

The Desert Rose members exchanged glances, grinning mysteriously.

Ushered along by the group, Wu Yue was led forward until the surroundings grew increasingly gaudy and overwhelming—storefronts decked in dazzling decorations, music blaring from the streets, neon lights overhead flashing red, green, and purple.

Wu Yue’s eye twitched.

"So... your 'big deal' is day drinking?"

Wu Xiuli wagged a finger, "As if we’d *just* drink during the day."

Wu Yue sighed in relief—until she heard,

Wu Xiuli announced triumphantly, "We’re drinking straight through from day to night until dawn!"

Desert Rose cheered, "Hell yeah!"

Wu Yue silently ducked her head, pivoted on her toes, and began sneaking away. "I, uh, have something to do. I’ll head out first."

Her elbow suddenly slipped as Wu Xiuli, noticing her escape, instantly darkened her expression, her aura turning deadly.

She immediately ordered, "Don’t let her escape!"

"Yes!!"

In an instant, Wu Yue was trapped in a human barricade of Desert Rose members. Nearby Purple Guards snapped to attention.

Wu Xiuli smirked, with a devilish grin,

"Wu Yue, you wouldn’t want to get arrested by the Purple Guard for starting a fight the moment you enter the city, would you?"

Wu Yue deadpanned at Wu Xiuli.

Wu Xiuli flinched for a second before straightening her back.

"Don’t worry! It’s just a wholesome hangout—no male escorts!"

Wu Yue sighed in defeat and nodded.

"Ugh, fine."

Desert Rose cheered,

"Woo! Drinks on Xiuli!"