My Core is the Boss

After all, this was the first time Qi Yuan had ever seen a deep-fried whole sheep. Didn't people usually roast whole lambs?

Instead of getting angry, Old Yang asked calmly, "Hehe, and how much is our honored guest willing to pay?"

Qi Yuan reached into his robes and awkwardly pulled out his silver. "Oh dear, I don't have enough silver, only a little over ten taels. I can't afford your nephew. Uh, how about you sell me five kilograms instead? I want the parts with lots of blood."

He felt his intelligence growing by the moment. With his remarkable emotional intelligence, he had achieved a win-win outcome.

The first win was satisfying his moral conscience and putting the goodness of human nature into practice. He became a testament that there were still good people in this world. The second was Yang Fan's demonic blood essence. If he succeeded in buying him, none of the blood would go to waste. It was a true double win.

The corners of Old Yang's mouth twitched. At last, he glanced meaningfully at Little Bride behind Qi Yuan. "Once he is fried, we will share him with the guests."

Qi Yuan quickly reminded them, "When you fry him, be careful not to cook all the blood dry!"

The hope in Yang Fan’s eyes turned to venom as he glared at Qi Yuan, as if wanting to devour him.

Qi Yuan could not help but sigh. "So this is the farmer and the snake. I tried so hard to save him, and yet he resents me instead. Repaying kindness with hatred. I finally understand the meaning of that old saying!"

Indeed, truth was hidden everywhere in life. Without even realizing it, Qi Yuan had another moment of enlightenment.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Yang Fan was thrown into the oil cauldron and deep-fried. His agonized screams echoed through the sinister mansion. Once the frying was done, a thick and rank stench filled the hall.

The expressions of all the demons grew solemn, mixed with awe.

Then, with a gust of demonic wind, a burly old man appeared in the center of the hall. Leaning on a bone-white cane, he had short snow-white hair that stood upright like broken spikes. He radiated a powerful aura, his eyes blazing with intensity.

Old Yang's expression immediately turned respectful. "Greetings, Elder Huang!"

The rest of the demons rose as well. "Greetings, Elder Huang!"

The newcomer was none other than Elder Huang, a peak Qi Blood realm demon and the nominal leader of this stronghold.

"Is everyone here?" Elder Huang swept his gaze over everyone. His eyes were oppressive, like poisonous needles brushing across their skin. "Enough nonsense. Let me explain the Demon Ascension Conference!"

His voice was rough and boorish, utterly unlike the refined manner of his younger brother, Fourth Master Huang.

The demons all tensed up, eager to know what exactly concerned the future of every demon in Yunyan County.

"Half a month ago, Elder Kun encountered a demon in the sea. It had three legs, three eyes, and two fins. Not only was its appearance bizarre, but it also showed no intelligence whatsoever. So, Elder Kun brought it back to Yunyan County and had us investigate its identity. After consulting ancient records, we discovered that it was, in fact, a Spirit Blood Child!"

"What?!"

"It's actually a Spirit Blood Child!"

"A mindless Spirit Blood Child?!"

The demons’ breathing grew ragged as their eyes turned feverish.

"Doesn't that mean if we control it, we may one day become a Demon Spirit?"

"A Demon Spirit! In ancient times, such a being could rule as a great demon and establish a demon court!"

Among demonkind, their cultivation ranks were Qi Blood, Jade Blood, Demon Hero, Demon Spirit, and Demon King. A Spirit Blood Child referred to a demon bearing the bloodline of a Demon Spirit. It had no bottlenecks whatsoever, meaning one could go straight to the Demon Spirit realm. Such a great demon was equivalent to a human Martial Spirit realm cultivator.

In the cultivation world, it would correspond to the Nascent Soul realm. Toppling a kingdom and stirring storms would be effortless. Most importantly, this Spirit Blood Child had no intelligence and could be manipulated as they pleased. How could the demons not be excited?

Still, some remained cautious.

"Why would Elder Kun share such a precious thing with us?"

"If I obtained something so priceless, I certainly wouldn't share it with other demons."

Elder Huang's expression remained unchanged. "The situation of this Spirit Blood Child is rather special. If it is to grow, it requires nourishment through your essence blood. Hence, after some discussion, we decided to invite all of you to help raise it.

"Once it matures, it will be under our control. Heh, once it reaches the Demon Spirit realm, forget Yunyan County, even Fenglei Prefecture and the Tianke Empire will be ours!"

His words were highly inciting. Many demons were tempted, though some still remained wary.

"If we feed it, who guarantees that we will gain control over it?" asked the two-hundred-year-old elder.

After all, what if Elder Kun was merely treating them as laborers, keeping the child for himself once it matured?

"Rest assured. When feeding it, all of you may form a Heart-Link Curse with the Spirit Blood Child."

All the demons were visibly moved. The Heart-Link Curse was well known to all demons. Once bound by it, their blood essence would be more effective for the child, while the child would treat them as kin and protect them.

"Is Elder Kun really that generous?"

"I am definitely tempted."

Seeing everyone swayed, Elder Huang asked confidently, scanning the room, "Does anyone object?"

No one spoke, albeit some were still thinking.

Finally, Qi Yuan said, "I object!"

Elder Huang's sharp gaze landed on Qi Yuan, threatening and probing, as if trying to see through him. "Oh?"

However, since he had never met Qi Er, he failed to recognize him.

Qi Yuan explained, "I think this is far too unfair to all the demons here. Isn’t drawing blood every so often bad for your health? Despite lacking supplements, you have to draw blood every day. Ouch! Even I can feel the pain!

"That's the demon essence blood, you know! To just draw it all out for the Spirit Blood Child. What a waste, what a waste, it pains me deeply."

The Rooster Demon's expression turned strange. The demons in the room all felt something odd. For some reason, they were even a little touched.

Look, even this human cares about our health!

He was truly a good person.

Elder Huang's voice turned cold and domineering. "Hmph! You have no idea what that Spirit Blood Child means to us!"

"Don't be angry. It's bad for your health. What if your blood pressure and blood sugar rise?" Qi Yuan's clever brain spun into action again. "Actually, I have a perfect solution."

"Oh? Then do tell?"

The demons stared at him curiously. They did not want to donate blood either. It really was bad for the body.

"My solution is very simple. Don't give your blood to the Spirit Blood Child. Give it to me instead. I'll take you all to the hospital every day for glucose drips. That's good for your health, right?"

Qi Yuan had no idea whether glucose drips could replenish essence blood, but fooling this bunch of uncultured demons should not be a problem.

His words left every demon in the hall stunned. So, you want our blood?

"Are you playing with us?"

Elder Huang exploded with rage, surging with murderous intent. "You are courting death!"

Qi Yuan quickly waved his hands, saying excitedly, "Like I said, don’t get angry, it’s bad for you. Everything I said is absolutely true. I'm not lying. You see, I have a special constitution that allows me to become a Spirit Blood Child if I eat it.

"I'll become the new Spirit Blood Child. Then all you need to do is donate blood to me. I'll hang a bottle of glucose for each of you every day. That's ten dollars a bottle! Ten whole dollars!"

For the sake of this world, he had truly sacrificed far, far too much.