While in Hollywood, I used Taoist magic to quell American terrorism.

Cao Kun leaned back in his chair, not immediately agreeing.

Valak.

This thing is a level above the Red-Faced Demon.

Although he is now a seventh-rank Grand Celestial Master, he cannot be careless when facing a demonic projection of this level.

Cao Kun leaned back in his chair, his fingers ceasing their tapping.

Valak.

Cao Kun silently recited the name in his mind, his gaze sweeping over the couple.

"Ed, Rowling, you're experts. You should know just how powerful what you've encountered really is."

Ed nodded with a grim expression.

"This is no ordinary vengeful spirit; its power far exceeds our imagination. That's precisely why we've come to find you."

Cao Kun picked up the teacup, but didn't drink from it, and put it back.

"I'm sorry, I can't take this order."

Ed panicked: "Master Cao, we can negotiate the price! Although we don't have much savings, we can sell our property to survive..."

"This isn't about money," Cao Kun waved his hand, interrupting him.

The Ram Cult, Valak, the Demon King of Hell. The waters behind this are too deep, and the karmic consequences involved are too great.

Although he was already a ninth-rank Grand Celestial Master, he was only one step away from reaching an even higher realm.

But facing the legendary demon god still involves great risks.

There's no need to gamble your own life for someone else's.

but……

The red-faced devil from "Annabelle" and "Lurking" have already appeared.

Will Vallak really let him off this time?

Cao Kun turned his gaze to Luo Lin.

Sure enough, he noticed that Rolin's face had darkened.

Her pale eyes were fixed on Cao Kun.

Cao Kun asked, "Did you see anything else?"

"Yes, Master Cao."

Rowling's voice was somewhat ethereal, as if it came from a very distant place:

"Master Cao, I saw you too."

Cao Kun paused, his eyes narrowing slightly: "What did you say?"

"In that prophecy, on that rainy night."

Rowling's body began to tremble, her hands gripping the hem of her skirt tightly, her knuckles turning white.

"I not only saw Ed being pierced through the chest by a dead tree branch..."

I also saw you.

Cao Kun turned around, his gaze sharp as a knife, piercing straight at Rowling.

"What did you see?"

Rowling took a deep breath, seemingly recalling the suffocating scene.

"You stand on the ruins, covered in blood."

The nun... she's standing behind you, holding a black spear.

It pierced your heart and nailed you to the cross.

It's laughing...it's saying...

Rowling paused, her voice trembling with tears:

"It said, 'You can't escape either; this is the will of the ram.'"

"ram."

Cao Kun repeated the word, his face instantly darkening.

A chilling killing intent erupted from him.

The temperature inside the store plummeted, and Fleischer couldn't help but shiver, looking at Cao Kun in horror.

He knew that he had long been targeted by the Gongyang Cult.

It started when he eliminated Annabelle.

It's likely that Valak's main purpose in coming here this time wasn't to target Ed and his wife.

Its primary target is, very likely, him.

If he doesn't respond, that thing will come after him after killing Ed and his wife.

Moreover, it certainly won't be done in the open.

Instead, deliver a fatal blow when he is at his weakest and least prepared.

Since we can't avoid it, we might as well strike first.

"very good."

Cao Kun stood up, his aura as sharp as a sword drawn from its sheath.

"Since it wants to play, I'll play along to the end."

He looked at the trembling Warrens, his voice steady and powerful:

"I'll take this job."

"I understand your situation."

Looking at the awkward couple, Cao Kun said, "The total fee for this transaction is $50."

I'll pay 10 in advance, and settle the rest after everything is done.

If the application fails, the prepayment is refundable.

For Cao Kun now, this amount of money is nothing special.

But for the Warrens, it's not the same as for Cao Kun.

Although they also frequently perform exorcisms, their fees are much lower than Cao Kun's.

Of course, compared to ordinary people, they can easily be classified as wealthy.

$50 is a difficult sum for them, but not enough to be a fatal blow.

"Thank you, thank you for your understanding, Master Cao."

Ed breathed a sigh of relief and, without any hesitation, immediately wrote a check for $10.

Cao Kun put away the checks, stood up, and instructed Fleischer, who was wiping the counter, "Keep an eye on the store. Call me if anything happens."

"Yes, boss," Flecia replied obediently.

Cao Kun drove his Cadillac Escalade, following behind the Warrens' old Volvo, heading north.

A few hours later, the car stopped in front of a white detached villa.

"Master Cao, please come in."

Ed pushed open the door, and a golden retriever came running over wagging its tail.

Immediately afterwards, a little girl of about ten years old peeked out from the stairs.

"Dad, Mom, you're back?"

The girl had blonde hair, was cute and adorable, and was holding a rag doll in her hands.

"Judy, come down quickly."

Rowling waved and smiled gently. "This is Master Cao, a special advisor invited by my parents."

Judy ran downstairs and curiously looked at Cao Kun.

Cao Kun looked at the little girl, a hint of affection flashing in his eyes.

He could sense that the child had inherited Rowling's spirituality, albeit faintly, which was rare among ordinary people.

This also means that she is more likely to attract dirty things.

Cao Kun flipped his wrist, and a talisman folded into a triangle appeared at his fingertips.

"Nice to meet you, here's a small gift for you."

Cao Kun handed the talisman to Judy: "Find a red string to hang around your neck, make sure it's waterproof, and don't take it off when you shower."

Ed and Rowling were both experts and knew that Cao Kun's talismans were no ordinary items.

"This... Master Cao, this is too precious." Ed hesitated.

Cao Kun waved his hand: "It's for the child, keep it."

Judy glanced at her parents, and seeing them nod, she happily accepted the gift: "Thank you, Uncle Cao."

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Ed led Cao Kun to the basement.

A sign reading "Danger, Do Not Enter" hangs on a heavy wooden door.

Ed took out his key and solemnly unlocked the door.

"This is our collection room."

The moment the door was pushed open, a mixed, cold, and chaotic atmosphere rushed out.

Despite the suppressive smell of holy water, Cao Kun still frowned slightly.

The room was filled with all sorts of items.

Samurai armor, a broken mirror, an old piano...

Each item was shrouded in varying degrees of black mist.

"What a powder keg."

Cao Kun walked into the room, his gaze sweeping over the shelves.

"You have piled up so many evil things together, and the priest's weekly blessings alone cannot suppress them."

Ed explained, "These are items that are possessed by evil spirits or curses. We brought them back to prevent them from harming people outside."

Cao Kun walked to an empty glass cabinet where Annabelle should have been placed.

"The idea is good, but you lack the ability."

Cao Kun bluntly said, "You rely on that pile of sacred artifacts, while Rowling relies on her spiritual vision."

If everything in this house were to erupt in chaos, the two of you, along with the child upstairs, wouldn't survive ten minutes.