Chapter 174: The Tome of Sin!
She gently parted her thin lips, her expression still cold and proud, as if devoid of any emotion. With a graceful upward motion of her hand, a thick tome materialized in her palm.
Her other hand brushed over the blood-red cover.
Ripples of spatial energy spread out, and a figure abruptly appeared—it was Chiying, who had been waiting outside.
Forcibly relocated without warning, Chiying immediately became vigilant, gripping her blood-colored blade, ready to unleash her "Scarlet Shadow Flash" at any moment.
But the scene before her eyes overlapped perfectly with the images from her inherited memories. She quickly realized where she was—and when she spotted her teacher at her side, her expression turned anxious. She didn't even have time to wonder how she'd gotten here before she blurted out an explanation.
"Teacher, I—I didn't lie to you! As pure-blood demons, we truly can't return to the Source Blood Pool while still alive. I—"
The child was so flustered she seemed to be scratching at her own ears.
She didn't even care that being inside the Source Blood Pool could mean her death—her priority was to explain herself to Jiang Zhe.
The demon race may have cultivated through savage, bloody, primitive ways, but they weren't lacking in intelligence. They understood well what it meant to have a teacher.
Having glimpsed the wonders of the virtual universe, Chiying knew—just as Jiang Zhe had said before first entering the Source Blood Pool—this Abyssal World was far too small.
She wanted to see the world beyond.
So Chiying deeply cherished her time with Jiang Zhe, sincerely treating him as her master from the bottom of her heart.
"No need to explain, I already know. Look," Jiang Zhe said gently, smiling as he pointed to a strange phenomenon on Chiying's body.
Chiying looked down and only then noticed she was shrouded in a layer of faint blood-colored light. It was this seemingly insignificant "film" that was isolating her from the Source Blood Pool's pull.
She breathed a sigh of relief, then asked suspiciously, "Teacher, so right now...?"
"It's me," came a voice.
Chiying turned toward it and saw the Seraph. She quickly took three steps in two, hiding behind Jiang Zhe to shield her teacher.
The Seraph gave her a faint glance. "Experimental subject, you're quite lucky to have met a benefactor willing to help you break free from fate. Otherwise, death would have been your only way back to this place that birthed you."
"You plan to experiment on her as well?" the Seraph's cold gaze shifted back to Jiang Zhe, her tone almost teasing.
Trying to sow discord?
Jiang Zhe could sense Chiying's unnatural breathing—she was staring tensely at his back.
But Jiang Zhe didn't mind. He nodded slightly, not bothering to deny it.
"I want her to use her source blood to nurture a clone for me, to test the limits of a demon's potential."
"Then you don't actually need her now... The limits of the demon race—I already know them. Shall I help you extract the drop of source blood from her heart?"
"No need," Jiang Zhe said with a faint laugh. "She's my recognized disciple, not some expendable resource."
"Even if that drop of source blood is essential for you?"
Jiang Zhe chuckled. "First of all, there's no way to gather seventy-two drops of source blood anymore. And secondly, I don't necessarily have to create a demon clone."
"Oh? Who told you it couldn't be gathered?"
The Seraph raised her hand, brushing across the blood-colored cover of her tome. A bright projection unfolded before her.
Within the light, clusters of fist-sized blood floated, each containing intricate runic patterns—the eight-vein source blood.
Eight colors representing eight attributes. Thirty-six drops in total.
Jiang Zhe only needed a glance to realize it complemented his thirty-five drops perfectly, missing just one drop of golden source blood—clearly reserved for Chiying.
"Heh, put away your little tricks."
"Spirit of secret arts, you wouldn't want me to inform the human high command of your existence, would you? If they imprisoned you, how long do you think it would take to find a worthy inheritor among their mediocre talent pool for your master?"
"You really are unusual." The Seraph's expression didn't change, but she brushed the cover again, dismissing the projection.
But by then, seventeen clusters of source blood had already materialized and flown toward Chiying.
"Since you favor her, consider this a gift from me as her creator. I hope she makes full use of it."
Then, with another wave of her hand, Chiying and the seventeen drops of source blood were teleported out of the Source Blood Pool.
"Now, it's just us. Let's talk."
"My pleasure." Jiang Zhe inclined his head with a smile. "Why don't you start by telling me about the true limits of the demon race?"
"In the primordial universe, when born, they are naturally perfect genetic lifeforms. They would certainly satisfy you."
Jiang Zhe frowned. "Nine drops of source blood? Seventy-two drops?"
"Nine drops fused together, plus this—" the Seraph lifted her thick tome, easily over a hand's height—"and merged into one furnace. That creates a perfect genetic lifeform."
Jiang Zhe immediately understood.
This had to be the Tome of Life, the demon race's treasury of secret techniques, much like the cosmic source depths he had visited when choosing his own supreme secret arts.
"Source blood is a key component of secret treasures. To conform to the universe's laws, we split it from its complete form into eight parts... Hmm? I don't need to explain certain terms to you, do I? Since you could discern my nature, you should understand. Besides, there are things I cannot explain to you—reasons you already know."
The Seraph raised a finger and pointed upward.
Jiang Zhe understood—she meant the restrictions of the primordial universe's source will.
But he found it curious.
He felt there was an information gap between them. What exactly had she assumed? How did she know that he knew what she knew?
Jiang Zhe remained silent.
The Seraph continued, "Rather than nurturing a clone, I'd prefer you to undergo blood replacement and soul refinement, to accept the secret inheritance as a true demon."
Just as he suspected—transforming the will was indeed a prerequisite for cultivating certain secret arts.
Blood replacement? Soul refinement? Truly become a demon?
It was well known: breaking through to True God meant returning to the origin—however your soul was shaped, so too would your body be after the breakthrough.
Did this secret art spirit actually possess the power to alter soul forms?
Jiang Zhe suppressed his shock and asked calmly, "Can you tell me about the secret art you represent? Only what you're allowed to share."
"It's a secret art involving the heart, will, soul, illusions... At its core, it draws out original sinful desires—whether from your enemies or yourself.
Against enemies, it attacks their will, distorting it to disrupt their combat state or outright enslave them.
On yourself, it's a method of enhancement, stirring deep desires and channeling that mental transformation into physical changes.
Techniques like Fervor, Dragon Lord, Plunder, Formless Union—these are all partial reflections of this art.
Most importantly, you do understand the difference between 'secret arts' and 'secret techniques,' don't you?"
Jiang Zhe wore a faint smile, unfazed by her probing. "Of course. Secret techniques are phased out as strength grows; secret arts are universally applicable at all stages."
"Exactly." The Seraph went on, "Methods of wielding the will can only be naturally grasped by the 'Supreme Beings.' As for us... it requires top-tier existences among those Supremes to even create such things."
Some terms—like Eternal True God, Chaos Overlord, God King—could only be thought, not spoken aloud. The Seraph chose to generalize them all as "Supreme Beings."
Having set the stage, she asked, "So? Have you decided? Shall we begin the blood replacement and soul refinement, taking the first step in this inheritance?"
As for clones?
Once you became a True God, there would be no clones.
And nearly all secret arts could only be cultivated starting at the True God or Void True God level.
Thus, the first step had to be performed on your true body.
Madness!
You want me to stop being human forever?
I've already signed contracts concerning Earth—how would I explain this to my race?
Besides, Jiang Zhe wanted his descendants to be human, not little demons.
"Is there truly no way to cultivate this secret art without transforming into a demon?"
Jiang Zhe felt strongly resistant, on the verge of abandoning the art altogether.
He was greedy by nature, but also had his principles—and the courage to give up even great opportunities.
"Of course there is. Secret arts aren't so inflexible." The Seraph shook her head.
"The demon race was painstakingly created by my master precisely to embody desire, making them naturally compatible with this secret art—thus easier to begin. But it only makes entry easier."
"Then there's no need for 'blood replacement.' I'm quite content with my current lifeform.
Skip that. What's next?
Normally a secret art spirit comes with a Guiding Secret Art. Should I start cultivating that?"
On the Origin Continent, top forces often prepared various safeguards to keep their prized secret arts from leaking if an inheritor was killed and mind-searched.
So they used "secret art treasures" to cast a wide net. These usually included "Guiding Secret Arts" to ensure the true legacy wouldn't leak.
Each such guiding art had unique requirements. Like Lieyuan Art, which could only be practiced at the Lord of Laws or True God level.
The Seraph replied, "Yes. The core is to cultivate the Guiding Secret Art. But not yet—your will needs to reach at least the level of a Lord of Laws, or Universe Master. Once you succeed, I'll dissipate, merging massive inheritance data directly into your consciousness."
"You're close, just one step away.
Before that, you must shape your will to lean more toward Original Sin.
It's necessary to boost your odds of success with the Guiding Secret Art.
Likewise, reshaping into a complete demon body would also help—but don't worry, that's optional, just a nice bonus for those lacking innate talent.
My master wasn't a demon either—he created the demon race specifically to pass on this art."
"The name of this secret art?" Jiang Zhe asked.
"The Tome of Sin!"
"There's also a counterpart—a secret art spirit appearing as a demon called The Book of Virtue. But I don't know where it is. Perhaps it's already inherited, perhaps lost to another plane in the Sea of Universes..."
Original Sin? Virtue?
Jiang Zhe rubbed his brow, showing slight distaste. "So you're incomplete? Only half the inheritance?"
"No. I'm whole. We're two sides of the same coin.
When you master The Tome of Sin to its peak, you can reverse-derive The Book of Virtue.
And vice versa.
It's one secret art, starting from different entry points. With both spirits, the paths ultimately converge."
This answer pleased Jiang Zhe. If it were an incomplete inheritance, it would be like chocolate flavored with dung—utterly repulsive.
Moreover, this was a secret art of will and soul. Anyone who knew the stories of the Origin or Core Continents—past or future—understood just how precious such arts were.
The soul path, its potential was limitless!
Remembering the Seraph's earlier words, Jiang Zhe couldn't help but ask, "My will—at this level, it's still not enough?"
"Not enough!" The Seraph's eyes burned with fervor. "My master said: there is no limit to affinity with Original Sin. Even he fell far short."
"My master once calculated: if there truly was an ultimate extreme, then upon reaching it, so long as any being in the world still held the slightest sinful desire, he could resurrect—his soul undying. A single thought would let him borrow that desire to emerge from their mind, recondense his body, and regain his power."
Jiang Zhe: (ー`ー)
Holy crap! Do you hear yourself?
That sounded just like the ultimate realm of soul cultivation!
Also—was it because of this special space, or did the primordial universe's will actually allow them to describe such a state?
Never mind, it didn't matter.
What mattered was—just how terrifying was that master of this secret art?
Obviously, he never reached that peak in the end—since in the future, the first to succeed was Dongbo Xueying.
Even so, The Tome of Sin was a top-tier inheritance Jiang Zhe couldn't ignore.
"How should I shape my will to grow closer to Original Sin? Keep eating duke hearts?"
"Demon hearts are diluted. They won't do much for you anymore. You need the real thing—source blood. Consume that directly from now on."
Jiang Zhe clicked his tongue inwardly. What extravagance.
From the earlier gift, it was clear: there were far more than seventy-two drops of source blood in the Abyss. Those were just bait—the true treasures all lay within the Demon Life Codex.
Just like how Babata used the Muya Crystal to lure Luo Feng.
That thick, blood-covered tome was the actual "secret art treasure."
Even Chaos Overlords couldn't destroy it. The being who made it—a master of secret arts—had to be at the God King level.
A God King's inheritance!
Jiang Zhe suppressed his surging thoughts and said calmly, "This secret art is remarkable. But I'll need more time before I can appreciate its true wonders. For now, I want to create a demon clone."
"Use a drop of source blood to birth a demon of one of the eight veins. Then have it fuse with the other seven drops. Finally integrate the Tome of Life, and you'll have a perfect genetic lifeform."
Jiang Zhe's expression changed. "I want to directly create a perfect genetic clone."
"Oh? Your clone technique... is quite advanced." The Seraph gave him a peculiar look, then reminded him, "Be careful not to be suppressed by the primordial universe's will. We wouldn't want to become its private collection."
"Just use this tome as the medium to birth your clone—it'll meet your requirements."
With that, the Seraph scattered into points of starlight, merging into the Tome of Life.
The tome flew toward Jiang Zhe.
At the same time, the surrounding space began to reject him.
Before being ejected from the Source Blood Pool, Jiang Zhe grabbed the tome and hugged it tightly to his chest.
Appearing back in the Eighth Abyss, he exchanged a quick word with Chiying before retreating into the inner space of his Primal Umbrella.
Inside the Primal Umbrella, he was safest.
Even if the entire Abyss collapsed, it wouldn't harm the umbrella. And if anything went wrong, he could have his teacher, the Lord of Darkness, come rescue him.
…
In the umbrella's void.
Jiang Zhe sat cross-legged, the tome and a blood-red scimitar laid out before him.
His face was pale, muscles twitching in agony—he was clearly enduring excruciating pain.
This was the third time he'd carved into his soul.
The pain was the same as before, like having his tendons ripped out and skin peeled away, persistent and violently tugging.
At last.
Jiang Zhe opened his eyes. They were as pure and spotless as a newborn's.
"Out!"
A blood-colored light sphere flew from between his brows, plunging into the thick tome, causing it to flare with crimson brilliance.
The fusion of Wrath and Demon—the new tome seemed to become the vilest, filthiest thing in existence. Just one glance could make hearts stir with uncontrollable...
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