Merging with Demon Spirits

Sha Mi looked around, its golden pupils exuding a repressed and violent emotion, as though it was a powder keg ready to explode at any moment. Yet, amidst the agitation, there seemed to be a hint of dread hidden deep in its eyes.

Evidently, it felt threatened by the Spirit Celestial King.

Over the years, though it had lost its freedom and was sealed within the Spirit Medium, it recognized the man before it, having crossed paths once.

Although the appearance of the other had changed drastically, even completely altered, the aura remained very familiar.

To a Demon Beast, aura is far more accurate than appearance.

A person’s life aura seldom undergoes significant changes.

"That little brat from before, it seems you are the so-called Spirit Celestial King?"

Sha Mi’s voice was somewhat sharp, ostensibly inquiring, yet the tone was assured.

Presumably, it was forty years ago when they met once, and then its Host was not Hong Yi.

And the Spirit Celestial King before it was still a skinny and frail youth.

Just a pathetic and humble Blood Slave.

There were three Blood Slaves like him if remembered correctly.

The so-called Blood Slave is actually a Spirit Medium candidate.

To ensure the success of the sealing ritual, there are several such candidates.

Once Spirit Medium candidates fail in competition, they become Blood Slaves. Compared to slaves, they exist to provide blood for sealing Demon Beasts, more wretched.

As to how a Blood Slave transforms into a Spirit Medium, it is not clear.

"Yes, forty years have passed, you haven’t changed, but I have grown old," the Spirit Celestial King sighed at Sha Mi, as if old friends meeting after many years.

"How does a Blood Slave become a Spirit Medium?"

Sha Mi asked while sensing the Spirit Celestial King’s aura.

"All the Blood Slaves and candidates died, so I naturally became the sole choice."

The Spirit Celestial King smiled as he spoke.

Sha Mi’s pupils contracted slightly, as this answer clearly caught it off guard.

It wasn’t shocked by the other’s viciousness. As a Celestial Chart Demon Beast, it had seen all kinds of ruthless people. Killing a few individuals was nothing.

It was astonished by how the other managed to achieve this step.

That poor wretch, so weak, not even a Martial Artist, with barely any flesh, how was he able to accomplish this?

The difficulty in this is far greater than that of becoming a Spirit Medium by tenfold or more.

"Was it you who let the Spirit Medium join the Pure Land?"

Sha Mi asked, eyes fixed intently on the Spirit Celestial King: "Did she become your Apostle?"

"Hong Yi indeed became my Apostle, but it wasn’t I who let her join the Pure Land,"

The Spirit Celestial King said, glancing at Qi Jin, whose hands were pressed to the ground under Sha Mi’s frenzy aura. Veins surfaced beneath the skin, and his body shook uncontrollably.

While the slanted-eyed youth was only half-kneeling on the ground, performing much better compared to Qi Jin.

"Damn it!"

Qi Jin struggled trying to stand up, powerless, even raising his head was a luxury.

At this moment, he felt humiliated, but also deeply yearning.

This was the power akin to his father’s.

If he could possess it, he could become an Apostle, even a Celestial King, never again looked down upon.

"If I could possess such power, I must acquire this strength!" Qi Jin clenched his fist, silently vowed in his heart.

"Stupid fool."

Having gotten the answer, Sha Mi lowered its head, shifted its gaze to the girl at its chest, voice was sharp, filled with sarcasm and murder intent.

If possible, it truly wished to kill its own Host.

Kill this fool.

Originally thought the Spirit Medium was captured by Spirit Celestial King, but never expected her to come voluntarily.

A Spirit Medium could have gone anywhere, but chose to join the Pure Land, really believed this place was a "Pure Land?"

Even after joining, why choose to become the Spirit Celestial King’s Apostle, thinking that as fellow Spirit Mediums, this guy would become close to you? Protect you?

The power of Sha Mi’s lineage is highly alluring to any Emperor, even more so for the Spirit Celestial King who is also a Spirit Medium.

Even though such strength cannot be absorbed and utilized by an average Emperor, controlling a Spirit Medium is equivalent to controlling a Celestial Chart Demon Beast. Such a puppet, who wouldn’t be interested?

"Fool, truly damned stupid fool."

Sha Mi was somewhat exasperated, cursing and ranting, looking at Hong Yi with eyes brimming with icy murder intent.

"Haven’t seen you for so long, you’re still as irritable and short-tempered as before."

The Spirit Celestial King said with a smile, and as soon as the words fell, the air vibrated slightly, and a wild sand whip lashed toward him, only to be blocked by a blue curtain like rain fog. The sand made a sizzling sound as it encountered the blue curtain, continuously eroding and disappearing.

Under Sha Mi’s malevolent gaze, the Spirit Celestial King smiled and said, "You don’t need to harbor such hostility toward me. The seal within my body is Yin Patrol, which is Water Attribute. Although your power is strong, it doesn’t mean much to me."

Sha Mi did not respond, nor did the hostility fade, clearly not believing what the other had said.

At first, a weak and humble Blood Slave could transform into a Spirit Medium, even becoming an Emperor among the Pure Land Twelve Celestial Kings in just forty years, how could it be a simple feat?

There must be some special means involved.

Sha Mi knew too that he couldn’t do anything to the Spirit Celestial King, so he could only fume impotently, transforming into a stream of sand and disappearing into Hong Yi’s body.

As the last grain of sand vanished, Hong Yi slowly opened her eyes, initially dazed, then turning slightly scared.

At this moment, the air still lingered with the aura of Sha Mi, so she knew what happened.

Without any guard and without her consent, the Spirit Celestial King had forcibly put her to sleep to summon Sha Mi.

This method and domination filled Hong Yi with dread.

Initially thinking coming to the Pure Land was a wise choice, she now began to regret it a bit.

"Do you want to participate in the Apostle’s premiere?"

The Spirit Celestial King asked.

He didn’t care about the fear in Hong Yi’s eyes and had no intention to explain.

Once Hong Yi came to the Pure Land, everything was out of her hands; the previous preferential treatment seemed to be gone too.

"No, I won’t."

Hong Yi shook her head.

On the way here, Qi Jin had already informed her what the Apostle’s premiere meant, along with its difficulty and mortality rate. She had no intention of participating.

"Alright."

The Spirit Celestial King responded and then said to the man in green beside him, "Qing Xuan, take her to familiarize herself with the situation here, and some rules."

"Yes."

Qing Xuan replied, then walked out of the hall, with Hong Yi quickly following behind him.

This Qing Xuan was clearly not easy to approach, looking sinister, more like a viper than Yu Qiao, but compared to the powerful and capricious Spirit Celestial King, he was somewhat safer.

Qing Xuan wasn’t warm to Hong Yi, seemingly just going through the motions with the introduction.

"My name is Qing Xuan, an Apostle of the Spirit Celestial King, Middle Rank Spirit King, specializing in Water Series attacks. Introducing this mainly because we will be doing tasks together in the future."

"There are thirteen halls in the Divine Temple where we are. The one in the center is the Conference Hall, where the Celestial Kings usually hold meetings. The other twelve halls belong to the Twelve Celestial Kings, their private domains. If you don’t have a task, do not lightly tread into other halls; if you get killed, the Spirit Celestial King can’t say anything."

"Among the Twelve Celestial Kings, the Spirit Celestial King has the best relationship with the Alien Celestial King, followed by the Wind Celestial King. However, he has a grudge with the Celestial King Hai and the Immortal Celestial King. Be especially careful with their apostles."

"According to the rules, the Celestial Kings won’t attack apostles, provided you don’t provoke them."

"If there’s no task, we can move freely, cultivate ourselves. Suspended City has professional training facilities. I’ll take you to see them later."

.....

Qing Xuan introduced coldly, while Hong Yi listened silently. She could feel his aversion toward her but didn’t know the reason.

Yet, Hong Yi didn’t mind.

Strangers, so let them be hostile if they want.

She wasn’t without acquaintances in the Pure Land.

Hong Yi was eagerly looking forward to Lin Feng’s arrival, eager to see his reaction when he saw her.

It would definitely be very interesting.

Thinking of this, Hong Yi couldn’t help but smile slightly.

Qing Xuan frowned, not knowing why Hong Yi was smiling?

"I know you’re a member of the Avengers Alliance, but when Lin Feng arrives, it’s best not to get involved with him."

Qing Xuan seriously advised.

"Why?" Hong Yi was a bit displeased, asking directly.

"Why?"

Qing Xuan sneered and said, "In two years, he’s killed five apostles, and that’s just the confirmed number, perhaps more. Two apostles of the Wind Celestial King were killed by him. So why? Many want to kill him, and many are interested in him, including some Celestial Kings. If you get involved with him, consider the consequences yourself."

"So what? Those people wanted to kill Brother Feng, only to be killed by Brother Feng."

Hong Yi retorted, displaying an unusually strong attitude for her normally obedient, even somewhat solitary self.

Qing Xuan was a bit surprised; although somewhat repulsed by her, they were both apostles of the Spirit Celestial King, companions in future tasks. He still patiently advised, "Lin Feng is arrogant, but he has the capital to be so. You currently don’t have that strength. When people die, they truly die. Some apostles are very powerful and very arrogant, not giving much face to the Spirit Celestial King."

Hong Yi didn’t argue, but internally she secretly resolved to support Lin Feng.

The only pity was that she wasn’t an apostle of the Celestial King Hai; if she were, it would be great, thus allowing her to take tasks with Lin Feng, ensuring safety too.