Chapter 30: Forbidden Arts: Pastoral Care

When Aiwas closed the Secret Book of the Shepherd, the black book no longer gave off the warm and delicate touch of human skin.

It became quiet. It was as if everything before was just an illusion.

At this time, Aiwas finally understood why he had not seen this book in the original history.

Because, if someone could really open this secret book correctly, he would most likely destroy it directly.

——The knowledge recorded in it is too dangerous.

It solves a core problem of the Path of Transcendence - the Path of Transcendence cannot make others stronger outside of oneself.

The essence of the Path of Transcendence is to rebel against superiors, pursue transcendence, and seek higher. It is an extremely selfish path.

It is impossible to benefit others by relying solely on the power of the Path of Transcendence. This leads to the fact that although demon scholars often gather together, their power has never been integrated into a rope.

And the "Art of Shepherding" incorporates the characteristics of the Path of Devotion. Benefit others by sacrificing oneself.

Feeding the demons with one's own flesh and blood, and then granting the demonic power to mortals - this logic is in line with the principles of the Path of Devotion. Because in this logical chain, the devil is just a symbol. It's like making money and sharing it with the poor.

Similarly, humans are used as sacrifices to feed the devils, giving these phantoms the power to grow, without taking any kickbacks or asking for any return. This also conforms to the principle of dedication - the "altruism" of dedication is not limited to humans and the same race, and phantoms are of course "others".

When the devil wants to give back power for this offering, he still doesn't take a penny and gives it all to others. In this way, there is no "transaction", which also conforms to the principle of dedication.

This whole behavior is full of traces of ambition, and the unconcealed "desire to move forward" can be seen from the motivation - to become stronger at all costs. But it does have a kind of divine mercy, always adhering to the only principle of "helping others gain power to fulfill their wishes".

Everything the shepherd does is not a transaction, but a free charity.

But the shepherd finally got everything he wanted. A near-perpetual cycle was achieved.

"——This book must not be left behind."

A very clear idea appeared in Aiwas' mind.

If someone other than himself had read this book, they would probably regard the great beast of the "Lord of the Great Beast" as the herd of the shepherd.

Moreover, if this book was a book that was purely dedicated to the path of Taoism, it would not have become a "banned book" and been collected by the Supervisory Bureau.

Since it was taken away by the supervisors, it was enough to show that this book was not so clean.

Of course, if the Supervisory Bureau gave this book to Aiwas, it was legal for him to read it himself. As long as he did not pass on the knowledge above, the Supervisory Bureau would not trouble him, but turn a blind eye.

The problem was not here.

The real question was... where did the Supervisory Bureau get this book from?

This book is the original. As long as someone can open this book correctly, they can obtain the knowledge above and get the inheritance of the shepherd.

Does that mean that someone has become a "shepherd"?

If someone knows the existence of "Shepherd's Secret Continuum" and finds out that it was the Supervisory Bureau of Glass Island that took the book. That person may follow this trail and eventually find Aiwas.

This unknown enemy made Aiwas feel nervous.

He didn't know who the other party was - the inheritor of the "Shepherd" or another group of people who came to hunt down the "Shepherd". He didn't know when these people would come. He was not even sure whether this imaginary enemy really existed.

But just in case.

Aiwas needed to gain a stronger influence in Avalon. So that he could drive the Supervisory Bureau to reversely track the possible "Shepherd".

At the same time, Aiwas did master the "Shepherding" method...

After Aiwas finished reading this book, a new skill was quietly added to his priest profession and demonologist profession.

Now, Aiwas's complete panel has become like this:

Priest LV6: [Basic Prayer-2nd level (3%)], [Fire Sacrifice-1st level (5%)], [Illumination-1st level (15%)], [Blessing-1st level (0%)], [Shepherding (Flesh and Blood)-1st level (0%)]

Demonologist LV5: [Demonology-1st level (16%)], [Basic Ritual-1st level (5%)], [Demon Contract-2nd level (3%)], [Shepherding (Essence)-1st level (0%)]

The Path has been lit: Devotion-1st level; Transcendence-1st level

Mana Pool: 2/5 (Light), 4/5 (Dark), 11/15 (Fire)

Free Experience: 50

Path Characteristics-

Transcendence-Shadow Affinity LV1: You sign a life contract with the Shadow Fiend, and can use the shadow power of the first energy level at will.

Devotion-Flame Container Lv1: You take the blood of the candle, and your soul is expanded. Your maximum mana pool (fire) capacity increases by 14

Authority-Silver Scale: With this mark as a seal, the Silver Crown Dragon is watching you, and a certain oath you made cannot be violated. When you attack anyone who violates the oath, you gain +1 advantage (divinity)

--As the chosen successor and the perfect inheritor of "Shepherd", Aiwass has indeed inherited the complete "Shepherding" skills.

And it is undeniable...

This taboo skill is indeed very useful to Aiwass.

Because when it was mentioned in "The Shepherd's Tantra" that "flesh and blood are used to grow the phantom demons", Aiwass realized that he had made a major omission -

In the game, the way for the Sin Scholar and the Lord of the Great Beasts to improve the level of the "Great Beast" is to take them to repeatedly brush phantoms with the same attribute. You only need to line up a BOSS with a monster with specified attributes, and you can immediately challenge and defeat the opponent. Let the big beast grow by devouring the opponent's remains.

But this doesn't work very well in real life.

Because it does not have a "dungeon finder" to randomly arrange copies, the Phantom Demon is not like the BOSS in the dungeon that can be refreshed infinitely. Then he can only raise the level of the phantom by feeding rare materials with corresponding attributes - this requires a huge cost, and collecting materials also requires time and energy.

But if he has the skill of shepherding (flesh and blood), he can use himself as food and sacrifice to the phantom demon.

Aiwass's oath is "I will not use the lives and corpses of my own race as my ritual materials and sacrifices." Of course, he himself does not fall into this category.

After all, "self-sacrifice" is a regular skill of the demonologist. It will not result in the inability to advance to the level of Sin Scholar.

Although the "shepherd" has become skinny and covered in scars because of this kind of flesh-and-blood shepherding.

But Aiwass has the most orthodox priest heritage. The "fire sacrificial" method among the four sacred skills carefully selected and prepared by the church over thousands of years can allow Aiwass to quickly recover his lost life and heal his physical wounds.

——There is no need to use others as sacrifices.

Just let the big beasts slowly eat my own flesh and blood.

It's just that he can't achieve this eternal cycle of spirit and flesh, using all peoples as grass.

He can grant the power of the phantom to others, and he can also feed the phantom with his own flesh and blood. But he cannot feed the humans he shepherds to the phantom demons - because this involves the sacrifice of his own race, which will pollute his soul.

Aiwass finally understood at this moment why the black book reacted when it got close to Yulia.

Because it sensed the phantom in Yulia's body that had been suppressed and malnourished for a long time.

The original scripture itself also has a weak spirituality.

Hatching phantom eggs is the easiest way to obtain weak juvenile phantoms.

In the illusion of the black book, Aiwass saw with his own eyes that the "shepherd" who had reached the middle stage of development obtained a large number of juvenile phantoms through this method:

Those children who were phantom eggs were collected from all over the world by his legions. After long-term feeding with the decoction made from his blood, the phantom demon in their bodies will grow rapidly, and eventually the "eggs" will crack, hatching the phantom demon out.

"...Anyway, let's destroy the book first."

Aiwass said to himself.

Regardless of whether his adoptive father will become the final BOSS, this book cannot let him see it. It would be even more troublesome if Big Brother or Yulia saw it. Anyway, the knowledge inside has penetrated into Aiwass's brain, and he can't forget it even if he wants to.

From the moment he got the book, no matter whether he used it or not, those in the know would suspect that he had.

Then there is nothing to be reserved about. Not only must it be used, but it must be used vigorously!

It just so happens that now is the opportunity to try the soothing effect of "pastoral care" on phantom demons...

Thinking this, Aiwass stood up from his wheelchair.

The moment his feet hit the ground. His spirituality formed a stable circuit with the earth, and the shadow demon sleeping in Aiwass's shadow was immediately awakened.

The shadow under him was like ink blurred on paper, spreading out instantly.

【My master……】

A thick and echoing voice sounded from Aiwass's head, filled with a sense of danger.

【What are you calling me for...? 】

"Destroy it."

Aivas whispered, throwing the Shepherd's Tantra into the bubbling shadows.

But it was not dissolved.

Shadow Demon showed obvious dissatisfaction.

[Oh, you can’t always treat me like a trash can, Master. Not everything can be thrown into my body... What I crave is fresh flesh and blood, a sacred soul,...]

Just when Shadow Demon showed his dissatisfaction, Aiwass pulled out his sterling silver dagger on the table.

It was a ceremonial knife used to carve ceremonial formations. Too sharp but not tough enough.

Aiwass anointed the ceremonial knife with essential oils infused with cinnamon and rosemary. He injected a little light attribute mana and dark attribute mana into the two essential oils respectively.

Then he placed it over the candlelight and passed it gently. A deep and dim light emerged from the ceremonial knife.

Aiwass stretched out his right hand and took a deep breath.

Then he squeezed it tightly until the blade cut through the flesh and stuck into the bone.

"Then take it, my blood, my bones, my flesh..."

He endured the severe pain and silently recited in his heart:

[Eat in silence, my lamb...]

【I am the Holy Communion, this is mercy】

The mana pool in Aiwass body suddenly loosened - his remaining three-color mana was randomly injected into the blood, and it leaked out quickly like a bathtub with the stopper removed.

He imagined that what was flowing out of his wound was not red blood, but golden honey and white milk. He lowered his eyes and looked at Shadow Demon with compassion and pity.

Aiwass tried hard to keep no fear, greed, pain and hatred in his heart, only pure kindness and love.

It was as if the person in front of him was not a cunning and deadly demon, but a child begging for food on the roadside who was about to starve to death.

It is a pure, equal, and noble gift.

—There is a holy quality to voluntary sacrifice. Just like Aiwass can summon a superior demon when used as a sacrifice.

And now, the blood he voluntarily donated with correct rituals has become an extremely sweet and delicious sacrificial offering that can make the phantom demon addicted——

Shadow Demon, who was still complaining, immediately fell silent.

It rose up from the ground like crazy, like dozens of intertwined snakes, gently wrapped around Aiwass's right hand, greedily licking every drop of blood, along with the fingers and the back of the hand. lick.

Until the mana pool in Aiwass body was completely exhausted, and no more mana could flow out. The "pastoral" ceremony also ended immediately.

Aiwass pulled away the ceremonial knife, and the wound scarred on its own.

Even though the hot blood had disappeared, Shadow Demon was still licking Aiwass's right hand intently. It's like a puppy still licking the owner's palm after eating the food in the owner's hand.

"...It seems you like it very much."

Aiwass looked pale, but the corners of his mouth were slightly raised.

His voice was weak—half from the blood loss, half from the pain.

During the ceremony, he could not frown or show disgust or fear because of this pain. Otherwise the pastoral ritual will fail.

But that's it for now.

The deep scars on his bones indeed caused him great pain. But fortunately, he endured it forcefully, so that the ceremony did not fail.

【……Yes Master】

Shadow Demon's attitude suddenly changed and he suddenly became well-behaved.

【I love so much】

The tone of voice became visibly flattering, no longer muddy and dangerous animalistic, but became like a hoarse and deep female voice.

Shadow demons are amorphous, with no physical body and no gender.

This is just an expression of its ingratiation and submission to Aiwass - according to its own understanding of the clumsy way.

"Then go back first," Aiwass said calmly, "Do you still remember what I asked you to do?"

[Of course, my distinguished master...]

Shadow Demon responded without hesitation.

It turned into a black and vigorous hound, leaped high and crashed into the tantra book Aiwass threw on the ground.

But it was ejected——

When the black book was hit by the shadow demon, it suddenly burst into scorching fire. Like a hammer hitting an anvil.

An impact only caused the black book to be torn, but it was not immediately corroded.

But the Shadow Demon, as if he had been provoked and lost face, immediately transformed into a more ferocious and huge wild wolf, and crashed into the "Shepherd Tantra" again.

This time it was finally unable to resist - the corrosive shadow continued to pour into the page, and it dried up, decayed, blackened, shrank, and twisted at a speed visible to the naked eye. Eventually it turned into dust and disappeared without a trace.

The Shadow Demon sank into Aiwass's shadow again and disappeared without a trace.

Aiwass had no time to carefully wipe the remaining blood on the ceremonial knife, so he could only put the silver dagger back into its sheath. This would undoubtedly destroy the ceremonial knife, but he didn't care anymore.

After the ceremony ended, he felt increasingly tired and dizzy.

His fingers were shaking crazily due to the severe pain and blood loss, and the completely exhausted mana made his brain swell. Everything in front of me is shrinking and expanding, like I am about to break up after drinking too much wine, or like I am unable to raise my eyelids in a high-level mathematics class and feel drowsy...

——Next time, at least a little mana must be saved to use the fire sacrifice method. To be so weak after completely depleting mana...

Well, this is a very important experience. It’s better to learn it in a safe place than to know it in a crisis...

The last incomplete thought appeared in Aiwass's mind. He stumbled toward the bed.

He didn't even have time to take off his clothes and cover himself with a quilt before he passed out directly on his bed.

The cat is about to fall into a coma. The power was out all day until six o'clock in the evening. I finished writing at 4:30...I will correct the typos when I wake up. If you see the typos, you can leave a message first~!

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