Chapter 24: Spirit Artifacts

The library contained a vast collection of books written in several different scripts. Mo Yu found some he could decipher, most of which were personal journals and secret chronicles of medieval nobility. Among them, he discovered numerous records regarding monster hunters.

Just as Mo Yu was engrossed in his reading, a voice sounded from behind him.

"You shouldn't be here."

It was Elise.

She was clutching a thick, leather-bound book to her chest, a pair of gold-rimmed spectacles perched on her petite nose. She wore a simple, pale-colored gown that, even in the dim light, allowed one to catch glimpses of her slender and delicate silhouette.

Mo Yu turned and bowed, saying, "Good day, My Lady. I was simply hoping to find some information on monster hunters. As the saying goes, 'know yourself and know your enemy, and you will win every battle.' Only by understanding them can I better deal with them."

To Mo Yu’s sophistry, Elise gave a slight nod of acknowledgment. She extended a fair arm, pointing toward a row of books on a higher shelf. "They are all over there. The ones with red covers and the three-ring emblem—see for yourself."

Mo Yu smiled and nodded, knowing he had gained partial access to the library. At the very least, he could now come in and read openly.

Elise walked to a central table, sat down, opened her leather-bound book, and took out a quill to begin writing. Mo Yu did not disturb her; instead, he went to the section containing the books on monster hunters and began to browse. Most of the text was unintelligible to him. He pulled out a book whose title he could read: *The Guardian Who Expels the Night*.

The title sounded like a novel, but upon flipping through it, he discovered it was a personal account written by a large farm owner, detailing how, with the help of a monster hunter, he had driven away an evil entity that had invaded his farm. Mo Yu closed the book and let his gaze drift across the shelves. He realized most of the books were like this—more like anecdotal records than useful information.

He returned the book to its place and continued searching. Finally, on the bottom shelf, he found a book that appeared truly useful: *Research Records on the Origins of Monster Hunter Magic*.

The author was not human, a fact the writer had explicitly noted on the cover, identifying themselves only as one of the "Eight Sages." The specific race or type of monster they belonged to was not mentioned. Mo Yu sat on the steps and began to read it right there.

The author was clearly powerful, having captured many monster hunters and subjected them to deep dissection and various research tests, attempting to crack the secret of how their bodies stored magic. The records were meticulous, involving complex theories and research that made the book quite difficult to read, yet Mo Yu found it fascinating. With the aid of his scientific research skills, he was able to quickly understand and memorize the content.

A faint sound of footsteps came from the entrance. Mo Yu looked up and saw a maid carrying an exquisite tray with a teapot and a teacup. Vampires do not drink tea.

It was Type O blood.

Upon spotting Mo Yu, the maid’s expression flickered with surprise, but she quickly masked it. Without a word, she carried the tray to Elise, set it down, and stood quietly behind her.

The library was silent.

I do not know how much time had passed, but as Mo Yu was deeply engrossed in his reading, Elise’s voice sounded right beside his ear—so close he could feel the cold draft of her breath against his skin: "Do you want to be a monster hunter?"

Mo Yu turned his head. Elise was crouching beside him, tilting her head to look at the book in his hands. They were so close they were nearly touching.

Mo Yu replied, "I am very interested in their cultivation methods."

"You are an Awakened; you should focus on developing your own abilities. Human, your lifespan and energy are finite; you must specialize in your own path," Elise warned.

Mo Yu smiled. "Just out of curiosity. Are there any books here on magic cultivation?"

Elise shook her head. "No. Magic cultivation is a human method; non-humans cannot practice it. Such knowledge is not spread lightly. Many monster hunter families have already died out, and with them, their magic cultivation methods have been lost."

No wonder the lineage had been severed.

Mo Yu flipped through the book in his hand and pointed to a page, asking, "What about spiritual weapons?"

The page depicted various weapons: blades, spears, swords, and halberds. When a monster hunter begins their cultivation, they infuse a weapon with their own magical energy, transforming it into a "Life-Bonded Spiritual Weapon" that grows alongside the hunter.

"I recall there are quite a few in the storehouse," Elise said. She stood up and added, "Follow me."

Mo Yu closed the book, replaced it, and followed Elise closely. Whether it was his imagination or not, since yesterday, Elise's attitude toward him had shifted subtly, becoming softer and more intimate. Was it because of the conversion ritual? Mo Yu subconsciously touched his pendant.

The maid followed them silently. After descending and navigating several corridors, they arrived before a locked iron gate. The maid stepped forward, produced a key from somewhere, and opened the door. The hinges groaned with a harsh, grating sound.

"This place hasn't been opened for a long time," Elise remarked.

"Indeed, My Lady," the maid said, bowing her head. "The last battle against a monster hunter was nineteen years ago." She explained to Mo Yu, "This is the storage room for our war trophies."

"What happened nineteen years ago?" Mo Yu asked.

"Nothing in particular," the maid replied. "My Lady had grown up and become more cautious. Since then, no monster hunter has been able to track us."

The maid entered the storehouse first and lit the candles. The light flared up from all corners, illuminating the dark room.

There were numerous iron racks, each displaying various items—mostly weapons and armor, along with some books, pendants, and other trinkets. Elise walked inside, looked around as if reminiscing, and finally turned to Mo Yu.

"Take whatever you like. The Blood Clan cannot use these weapons. Just remember to wipe away the family crests so you don't attract any trouble."

"I thank you for your grace, My Lady." Mo Yu placed one hand over his chest and bowed. Then, he saw a small, fair hand extended, back facing upward. He looked up, confused, met Elise's gaze, and instantly understood.

A hand-kissing gesture.

*Wasn't she wary of me? Why is she offering herself up?*

Mo Yu took her fair hand and gave it a playful squeeze. It was ice-cold, lacking the warmth of a human, yet it was soft and supple. Elise did not react to his impertinence.

*My 'pervert' persona has failed,* he thought.

Mo Yu felt that this might lead to unnecessary trouble, so he lightly brushed his lips against the back of her hand. Setting aside her identity as a vampire, the girl was, in truth, an absolute beauty.

Elise gave a slight nod and turned to leave, the maid following closely behind.

Mo Yu was left alone in the storehouse, free to examine the spoils. These were no ordinary items. As he reached out and touched a longsword, a strange sensation flooded his fingertips the moment they made contact.

Something was flowing through the blade. This was the magic energy described in the books.

He picked up the longsword and swung it. Although he lacked magic and could not unleash the full power of these weapons, relying on sheer brute force alone made them highly effective. Weapons imbued with magic dealt bonus damage to monsters—much like his "Repentance," though perhaps not quite as devastating.

*I must find a way to obtain a magic cultivation method,* he thought.

The feeling of standing before a mountain of treasure but being unable to use it was frustrating. Besides, he needed to find a way to elevate his life level, as there was a limit to how much he could improve through stat points.