Chapter 30: Forbidden Arts: Pastoral Care
When Aiwass closed the "Shepherd's Secret Sutra", the black book no longer gave him the warm and delicate touch of human skin.
It became quiet. It was as if everything before was just an illusion.
At this time, Aiwass 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 on it is too dangerous.
It solves a core problem of the Path of Transcendence - the Path of Transcendence cannot make others other than oneself stronger.
The essence of the path of transcendence is to rebel against superiors, to pursue transcendence, and to seek higher things. It is an extremely selfish path.
The power of transcending the Tao alone cannot benefit others. This is why, although demon scholars often gather together, their power has never been unified.
The art of pastoral care incorporates the characteristics of the path of devotion, allowing others to benefit through self-sacrifice.
Feeding the demon with one's own flesh and blood, and then granting the demon's power to mortals—this logic is consistent with the principles of the path of devotion. Because in this logical chain, the demon is just a symbol. It's like making money yourself and then sharing it with the poor.
Similarly, offering humans as sacrifices to the demons, empowering them to grow, without taking any kickbacks or asking for anything in return, also aligns with the principles of the Path of Devotion—the "altruism" of the Path of Devotion isn't limited to humans or fellow humans; demons are also considered "others."
When the demon responds to this offering with power, it still does not take a single cent, but gives it all to the other person. This way, no "transaction" is formed, which also conforms to the principle of the path of devotion.
This entire act is filled with traces of demonic ambition, and its motive reveals an undisguised desire for advancement—to become stronger at any cost. Yet, it also possesses a divine compassion, always upholding the sole principle of "helping others gain strength to fulfill their wishes."
Everything a pastor does is not a transaction, but a free charity.
But the shepherd eventually got everything he wanted, creating a near-perpetual cycle.
"—this book must not be left behind."
A very clear thought emerged in Aiwas's mind.
If anyone other than himself reads this book, they would probably regard the great beasts of the "Lord of the Beasts" as the herds of the shepherd.
Moreover, if this book was a classic purely dedicated to the path of Taoism, then it would never have become a "banned book" and been collected by the Supervisory Bureau.
The fact that it was taken away by the inspectors is enough to prove that the book is not that clean.
Of course, since the Supervisory Bureau had given the book to Aiwass, it was legal for him to read it himself. As long as he didn't pass on the knowledge in it, the Supervisory Bureau wouldn't bother him and would turn a blind eye.
That's not the problem.
The real question is... where did the Inspectorate get this book?
This book is the original text. Anyone who can correctly open it can obtain the knowledge contained within and receive the shepherd's legacy.
Does that mean that someone has already become a “pastor”?
If someone knew of the existence of the Shepherd's Secret Sutra and discovered that it was the Glass Island Supervisory Bureau that took the book away, that person might be able to follow this trail and eventually find Aiwass.
This unknown enemy made Aiwas feel nervous.
He didn't know who the other party was—the successor of the "Shepherd," or another group hunting the "Shepherd." He didn't know when these people would arrive. He wasn't even sure if this imaginary enemy actually existed.
But just in case.
Aiwass needed to gain greater influence in Avalon so that he could drive the Supervisory Bureau to track down the possible "Shepherd".
At the same time, Aiwass did master the "pastoral" method...
After Aiwas finished reading this book, a new skill was quietly added to his priest and demonologist professions.
Now, Aiwass's complete panel looks like this:
Priest LV6: [Basic Prayer - Level 2 (3%)], [Fire Worship - Level 1 (5%)], [Illumination - Level 1 (15%)], [Blessing - Level 1 (0%)], [Shepherding (Flesh and Blood) - Level 1 (0%)]
Demonologist LV5: [Demonology - Level 1 (16%)], [Basic Ritual - Level 1 (5%)], [Demon Contract - Level 2 (3%)], [Shepherding (Essence) - Level 1 (0%)]
The Path Illuminated: Dedication - Level 1; Transcendence - Level 1
Mana Pool: 2/5 (Light), 4/5 (Dark), 11/15 (Fire)
Free XP: 50
Road characteristics——
Transcendence - Shadow Affinity LV1: You sign a life contract with the Shadow Fiend, and can use the first level of shadow power at will.
Consecration - Flame Vessel Lv1: You take the blood of the candle, and your soul is expanded. Your mana pool (fire) maximum capacity increases by 14
Authority - Silver Scale: With this mark as a seal, the Silver Crown Dragon is watching you. You have made a vow that cannot be broken. When you attack anyone who breaks the vow, you gain +1 advantage (divinity).
——As the chosen successor and the perfect inheritor of the "pastoral" skill, Aiwass has indeed inherited the complete "pastoral" skills.
And it is undeniable that...
This forbidden skill is indeed very useful to Aiwass.
Because when the Shepherd's Tantra mentioned "using flesh and blood to make the phantom grow", Aiwass realized that he had made a major omission before -
In the game, the way for Great Sin Scholars and Great Beast Lords to level up their Great Beasts is to repeatedly take them on Phantoms of the same attribute. Simply queue up for a dungeon with a Phantom of a specific attribute, and you can immediately challenge and defeat it. The Great Beast grows by consuming the enemy's remains.
But this doesn't work well in real life.
Because he didn't have a "dungeon finder" to randomly sort through dungeons, and his phantoms couldn't spawn infinitely like the bosses in dungeons, he could only raise his phantoms by feeding them rare materials with corresponding attributes—a huge expense, and collecting materials took time and effort.
But if he has the skill of shepherding (flesh and blood), he can sacrifice himself as food to the phantom demon.
Aiwas's oath was "not to use the lives and corpses of my own people as materials and sacrifices for my rituals", and he himself certainly did not fall into this category.
After all, "Self-Immolation" is a standard skill for Demonologists, and it won't prevent them from advancing to Sinner Scholar.
Although the "pastor" has become skinny and covered with scars because of this kind of flesh and blood shepherding.
But Aiwass had the most orthodox priestly heritage. The "Fire Sacrifice" method, one of the four sacred skills carefully selected and prepared by the church over thousands of years, could allow Aiwass to quickly recover lost life and heal his physical injuries.
——There is no need to use others as sacrifices.
All I have to do is let the big beasts slowly eat my own flesh and blood.
However, he was unable to achieve this eternal cycle of soul and flesh, with all people as grass.
He can grant the power of the phantom demon to others, and can also feed the phantom demon with his own flesh and blood. However, he cannot feed the humans he shepherds to the phantom demon in return - because this involves sacrificing his own people, which will pollute his own soul.
At this moment, Aiwas finally understood why the black book reacted after approaching Yulia.
Because it sensed the malnourished phantom demon in Yulia's body that had been suppressed for a long time.
The original text itself also has a faint spirituality.
Hatching phantom demon eggs is the simplest way to obtain weak infant phantom demons.
In the vision of the black book, Aiwas saw with his own eyes that the "Shepherd" who had reached the middle stage of development had obtained a large number of juvenile phantom demons through this method:
Those children who were the eggs of the phantom demon were collected from all over the world by his legions. After being fed a decoction made from his blood for a long time, the phantom demon in their bodies would grow rapidly, eventually causing the "egg" to crack and hatching the phantom demon.
"...Anyway, let's destroy the book first."
Aiwass muttered to himself.
Regardless of whether his adoptive father would become the final boss, he couldn't see this book. It would be even more troublesome if his elder brother or Yulia saw it. Anyway, the knowledge in it had already been ingrained into Aiwass's brain, and he couldn't forget it even if he wanted to.
From the moment he got the book, people in the know would suspect that he had used it, whether he used it or not.
Then there's nothing to be shy about. Not only should we use it, but we should use it vigorously!
It just so happens that now is the chance to try out the soothing effect of the "Shepherding" technique on the phantom demon...
Thinking of this, Aiwass stood up from his wheelchair.
The moment his feet touched the ground, his spirit formed a stable circuit with the earth, and the shadow demon sleeping in Aiwass's shadow was immediately awakened.
The shadow beneath him spread out in an instant like ink spreading on paper.
My Master...
A sticky and echoing voice rang out in Aiwas's mind, full of a sense of danger.
【What did you summon me for?】
"Destroy it."
Aiwass whispered, throwing the Shepherd Tantra into the bubbling shadows.
But it was not dissolved.
The Shadow Fiend showed obvious dissatisfaction.
[Oh, you can't always treat me like a trash can, Master. Not everything can be thrown into my body... I crave fresh flesh and blood, a sacred soul, and...]
Just as Shadow Demon expressed his dissatisfaction, Aiwass pulled out his own pure silver dagger from the table.
It was a ceremonial knife used to carve ritual formations. It was sharp but lacked toughness.
Aiwass anointed the ritual knife with cinnamon and rosemary essential oils, infusing each with a bit of light and dark magic.
Then he placed it over the candle flame and gently passed it over it. A deep and dim light emerged from the ritual knife.
Aiwass stretched out his right hand and took a deep breath.
Then he squeezed it tightly until the blade cut through the sinew and bit into the bone.
"Then take it, my blood, my bones, my flesh..."
He endured the severe pain and silently said in his heart:
Eat in silence, my lamb...
I am the Eucharist, this is mercy
The pool of mana in Aiwas' body suddenly loosened - his little remaining three-color mana was randomly injected into the blood, and it leaked out rapidly and uncontrollably like a bathtub with the cork removed.
He imagined that what flowed from his wounds was not red blood, but golden honey and white milk. He lowered his eyes, and the look he gave the Shadow Demon became compassionate and pitiful.
Aiwass tried hard to keep his heart free of fear, greed, pain and hatred, leaving only pure kindness and love.
It was as if the person in front of him was not a cunning and deadly demon, but a starving beggar on the roadside.
It is a pure, equal, and supreme gift.
——Voluntary sacrifice has a kind of sacredness, just as Aiwass can summon higher demons when used as a sacrifice.
And now, the blood he voluntarily donated with the correct ritual has become an extremely sweet and delicious offering that is enough to make the phantom demon addicted—
The Shadow Demon, who was originally full of complaints, immediately shut up.
It rose from the ground like crazy, and like dozens of snakes entwined together, it gently wrapped around Aiwas's right hand, greedily licking every drop of blood, including the gaps between his fingers and the back of his hand.
Until the mana pool in Aiwass' body was completely exhausted and no more mana could flow out, the "shepherding" ceremony ended.
Aiwass pulled out the ritual knife, and the wound healed on its own.
Even though the scorching blood had disappeared, the Shadow Fiend still licked Aiwass's right hand intently, just like a puppy licking its owner's palm after eating the food in his hand.
"...It seems you like it very much."
Aiwass's face was pale, but the corners of his mouth were slightly raised.
His voice was weak—partly from blood loss, partly from the pain.
During the ceremony, he cannot frown because of this pain, or show disgust and fear, otherwise the pastoral ceremony will fail.
But it works now.
The deep scars that could be seen to the bone did indeed bring him extreme pain, but fortunately he endured it, so the ritual did not fail.
[…Yes, Master]
The Shadow Demon's attitude suddenly changed and he became obedient.
【I love so much】
The tone of voice became visibly flattering, no longer turbid and dangerous animalistic, but became like a hoarse and low female voice.
The Shadow Fiend is amorphous, with no physical body and no gender.
This was just its way of showing its flattery and submission to Aiwass - in its own clumsy way.
"Then go back first," Aiwass said calmly, "Do you remember what I asked you to do?"
[Of course, my noble master...]
Shadow Demon responded without hesitation.
It transformed into a black, agile hound, leaped high, and slammed headfirst into the secret book that Aiwass had thrown to the ground.
But it was ejected——
When the shadow demon struck the black book, it suddenly burst into a searing flame, like a hammer hitting an anvil.
The impact only caused the black book to be torn, but it was not corroded immediately.
However, the Shadow Demon seemed to be provoked and humiliated, and immediately transformed into an even more ferocious and huge wolf, and rushed towards the "Shepherd's Secret Sutra" again.
This time, it was finally powerless to resist. Corrosive shadows continued to pour into the pages, and it dried up, decayed, blackened, shrunk, and twisted at a speed visible to the naked eye. Finally, it turned into dust and disappeared without a trace.
The Shadow Demon sank into Aiwas's shadow again and disappeared without a trace.
Aiwass didn't have time to carefully wipe the blood stains on the ceremonial knife, so he could only put the silver dagger back into the sheath. This would undoubtedly destroy the ceremonial knife, but he didn't care about that anymore.
When the ceremony ended, he felt increasingly tired and dizzy.
His fingers trembled wildly from the pain and blood loss, and his completely depleted mana caused his brain to swell. Everything before him was constantly shrinking and expanding, like a drunken blackout, or like being unable to lift his eyelids and drowsy in advanced math class...
—Next time, I need to save at least a little mana for the Fire Sacrifice. Completely depleting my mana makes me so weak...
Very good, this is a very important experience. It is better to learn it in a safe place than to learn it in a crisis...
A final, fragmented thought came to Aiwass's mind. He staggered and fell back onto the bed.
He didn't even have time to take off his clothes or cover himself with a blanket before he fainted in his bed.
The cat is about to fall into a coma. There was a power outage all day until six in the evening. I finished writing at half past four... I will correct the typos after I wake up. If you see typos, please leave a message first~!
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(End of this chapter)
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