Volume 5: Emerging Brilliance - Chapter 25: Gifting You a Demon Slave

Seeing that the general situation was settled, the hesitant Li Xiuyuan hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Holy Mother, please bestow this rebellious demonic slave upon me. I will surely discipline her strictly to uphold the moral code of the Jade Rabbit clan."

Zhou Dunru felt his heart skip a beat. He had been scheming his own clever plan just a moment ago, so why was this usually expressionless fellow so eager this time? To brazenly demand this demonic slave without avoiding suspicion—was he not afraid of what the other elders might think? Setting aside the relationship between this former Holy Saintess and the Holy Mother, just jumping out at this moment would inevitably invite suspicion.

What was he plotting? Zhou Dunru's mind raced rapidly.

To ingratiate himself with the Holy Beast? There was no need to rush for this moment, and even if he wanted to please the Holy Beast, she was merely a former Holy Saintess; the Holy Beast大人 would likely not care much.

Could it be...

Thinking of this, Zhou Dunru could no longer remain calm. Observing Li Xiuyuan's excited expression, his suspicions were further confirmed. He quickly stepped forward, stood shoulder to shoulder with Elder Li, cupped his fists, and said, "Holy Mother, my dwelling lacks demonic slaves. I humbly request that the Holy Mother bestow this demonic slave upon me." With that, he glanced sideways at Li Xiuyuan.

Sparks flew between the two allied elders, neither willing to yield.

Shui Ruyan had been prostrate on the ground the entire time, her body trembling continuously. To be demoted to a demonic slave—if one were lucky enough to meet a benevolent master, one would merely be reduced to a low-ranking clansman, doing miscellaneous chores and trying to please the master. But if luck was bad and one encountered people like those two elders... Thinking this, Shui Ruyan's heart sank into utter despair.

The number of demonic slaves who had died during the two elders' research experiments was countless, leaving not even a single soul or spirit intact. Shui Ruyan was actually considering whether she should commit suicide right then and there to avoid falling into the hands of those two men.

Watching the two elders, who had just been standing on the same side, fall into infighting, Boss Li stood there smiling faintly as he watched them. Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, he caught the Holy Mother signaling to him. He quickly composed his expression, straightened his face, and asked solemnly, "Everyone, could someone explain what a demonic slave is?"

You dead man, you finally realize such an obvious problem? Shui Ruyan thought resentfully as she lay on the ground.

The Holy Mother smiled slightly. "This question, someone will naturally explain to you later. As for the two elders wishing for me to bestow this demonic slave upon one of them, do any of you have any opinions?" When the Holy Mother reached the last sentence, she cast her gaze toward the other elders who were standing there like wooden pillars.

"Reporting to the Holy Mother," a sharp-eyed, wizened old man stepped forward, "the definition and reward of demonic slaves were originally meant to inspire everyone in the clan to contribute their abilities to our development; only through contribution can one receive rewards. The two elders have rendered monumental services in the past, dedicating countless amounts of energy and time to our clan over the millennia. In terms of merit, rewarding them with a demonic slave goes without saying."

Oh, what a smooth and round piece of flattery. Although Boss Li did not quite understand what these people were arguing about, the old man's shrewd gaze was unmistakably clear.

Sure enough, as soon as these words were spoken, both Elders Zhou and Li stroked their beards, adopting a noble air of having contributed to the clan, their expressions brimming with unconcealed triumph.

"Elder Zhou has researched many kinds of restorative medicines to increase cultivation for our clan, so he naturally requires a large number of demonic slaves and immortal herbs. Meanwhile, Elder Li's cultivation has surged by leaps and bounds in recent years; he has truly consumed quite a few potent elixirs." Elder Zhu swung left and punched right, playing Tai Chi even smoother than Li Chengzhu.

However, the expressions of the two elders were not so pleasant to look at. When Zhou Dunru conducted his research, he had indeed used the physical bodies and souls of many demonic slaves to enhance the spiritual essence of his medicines. Although everyone knew about this, there was no need to state it so blatantly! As for Li Xiuyuan, it was even worse—he had directly devoured his own demonic slaves to achieve his rapid breakthroughs in cultivation.

The two elders, who had been smug just a moment ago, now turned ashen-faced, glaring with deep hostility at the old man.

"However, both elders want this demonic slave, but there is only one demonic slave. That makes things rather difficult." Elder Zhu smiled slightly, turned to look at Li Chengzhu, and said, "I see this Immortal Friend is of heroic bearing with a radiant glabella—truly a sign of great fortune and prosperity. As the saying goes, guests coming from afar should be welcomed warmly; our Jade Rabbit clan has no other way to entertain guests, so let us present this demonic slave to this Immortal Friend. Holy Mother, what do you think of this proposal?"

Boss Li curled his lip. This old man was playing the divine swindler right up to his doorstep.

The Holy Mother smiled slightly; these words hit right at her desires. Before anyone else could react, she nodded quickly and said, "En, Elder Zhu's words make sense. Guests coming from afar should be treated as honored guests, so let this demonic slave be bestowed upon this Immortal Friend. As for the other Immortal Friend, our Jade Rabbit clan has other gifts in store."

"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare," Immortal Yuanmu said with a reserved cupped-fist salute.

"Eh?" Boss Li was slightly stunned. How did things turn into giving him a demonic slave just like that? And no one had even told him what on earth a demonic slave was yet!

Grandmother Holy Mother made a slight hand gesture, signaling Li Chengzhu not to question it. She smiled kindly at him, then turned her gaze to Shui Ruyan, who was prostrate on the ground. "Shui Ruyan, you are now being given to Immortal Li as a slave to serve him day and night. Whatever he desires shall be what you desire, and you must not disobey. Do you understand?"

"This disciple understands," Shui Ruyan replied softly.

"Wait—" Upon hearing these words, Boss Li finally realized what the Holy Mother was plotting. Before he could shout out his objection, he was interrupted by the Holy Mother.

"Audacious!" the Holy Mother barked angrily, slamming her aged, withered hand onto the armrest. "I ask you once more, do you understand?"

Shui Ruyan's body trembled, and she hurriedly called out, "Demonic slave Shui Ruyan understands."

"En, as long as you understand." The Holy Mother turned and smiled gently at Li Chengzhu. "From now on, she is your demonic slave. You can order her to do whatever you wish—any request at all, oh."

Boss Li looked at the wrinkles on the Holy Mother's raised eyebrows and felt a chill in his heart. Were the people of the Jade Rabbit clan good or bad, after all?

"Uh..." Boss Li fumbled for words for a long time without knowing what to say. To be honest, being gifted a beauty by the Jade Rabbit clan was truly a pie falling from the sky. But looking at Shui Ruyan's reluctant and fragile demeanor, his heart still felt uncomfortably congested.

Boss Li realized he could be quite a hypocrite sometimes.

"Shui Ruyan, come here." The Holy Mother beckoned kindly to Shui Ruyan, an indescribable desolation in her expression.

"Yes," Shui Ruyan acknowledged. She climbed up from the ground, tears streaming down her face like pearls. As she walked past Li Chengzhu, she cast a fierce, alluring glare at him, making Boss Li feel rather embarrassed.

"Immortal Friend Li, please come over as well."

"Me?" Li Chengzhu was slightly stunned, then nodded, stood up, and walked forward to stand side by side with Shui Ruyan. Stealing a glance at the beauty beside him, Boss Li actually felt a stirring, restless excitement in his heart. Damn it, this little girl's chest still looked quite well-shaped from the side. Although not as big as Xiaoying's, it was like a tender bamboo shoot—wondering what it felt like underneath? Recalling the Holy Mother's highly suggestive words just now, Boss Li felt his face flush with heat.

The Holy Mother looked at Li Chengzhu and said kindly, "Relax, do not resist." Then, looking at Shui Ruyan standing before her, she reached out and took her delicate hand, letting out a bitter laugh, "Child, I've wronged you."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the hall caught the underlying meaning: the Holy Mother's heart clearly favored this former Holy Saintess. Elders Zhou and Li recalled their actions from moments before and wished they could find a hole to crawl into.

Shui Ruyan wept like pear blossoms in the rain, shaking her head slightly, biting her lip firmly without uttering a single sob.

"Sigh." The Holy Mother let out a soft sigh, released Shui Ruyan's delicate hand, and gave a low shout: "Contract of the Demonic Slave!" Immediately, her hands moved in continuous transformation as wisps of thread-like substance were drawn out from Shui Ruyan's body. Standing nearby, Li Chengzhu watched Shui Ruyan's painful expression and felt those threads carrying life energy, causing his heart to shudder inexplicably.

Before long, a large clump of those thread-like substances gathered in the Holy Mother's palm, constantly shifting shapes as if struggling frantically to break free from her control. At the same time, Shui Ruyan's body trembled even more violently. After a long while, the mass finally stabilized. Li Chengzhu looked closely and saw that the mass had actually transformed into a miniature human figure—looking at its appearance, it was unmistakably a scaled-down version of Shui Ruyan.

"This is..." Li Chengzhu had never seen such spellcraft; the world of demonic spirits was truly bizarre.

"The Contract of the Demonic Slave," the Holy Mother smiled bitterly, then looked at Li Chengzhu and said softly, "Treat her well." With a casual flick of her hand, she tossed the miniature Shui Ruyan forward.

Before Li Chengzhu could react, he heard the Holy Mother's stern shout: "Do not resist!" That voice carried an indescribable majesty that made Li Chengzhu instinctively pause. In that instant, the entity darted directly into his body while a surge of energy poured in, flowing with the spiritual qi gradually down into his Dantian, slowly settling right beside his Nascent Soul.

Li Chengzhu hurriedly immersed his consciousness, projecting his divine sense into the Nascent Soul. Beside the blazing, daylight-bright Nascent Soul stood a tiny figure, still trembling uncontrollably. Li Chengzhu couldn't help but reach out with his small spiritual hand to gently stroke the tiny form. The miniature Shui Ruyan shuddered violently with a delicate tremor, startling him into quickly withdrawing his hand.

Opening his eyes, he looked perplexedly at the Holy Mother before him: "What is this?"

That split-second contact made Li Chengzhu understand: this miniature Shui Ruyan survived by depending on his Nascent Soul. In a sense, if his Nascent Soul were destroyed, the miniature Shui Ruyan would also cease to exist, and Li Chengzhu could even control the life and death of that tiny being.

"Do you know now?" The Holy Mother looked at Shui Ruyan. The girl's face was flushed red, and the Holy Mother couldn't help but inwardly scold Li Chengzhu: This brat, although he doesn't look like a good egg, there's no need to rush into action so quickly! Didn't he see that she, an old woman, was still right here in the room?

"En," Li Chengzhu nodded, casting a glance at Shui Ruyan, only to meet her gaze of bashfulness mixed with annoyance. That previous sensation was akin to a spiritual communion of Nascent Souls, and no doubt this girl had already experienced it.

"Ruyan, you may take these two Immortal Friends down. Find two good guest rooms. As for Immortal Li's question, you can explain it to him." The Holy Mother waved her hand, an expression of indescribable exhaustion washing over her. "You are no longer a member of our Jade Rabbit clan; you are merely Immortal Li's demonic slave. From now on, you must obey his commands in all things. Do you understand?"

"Yes," Shui Ruyan nodded softly.

Damn it, what mystery is this old grandmother playing at now? Li Chengzhu had many doubts in his heart, but looking at this dark contest today, it seemed he had won.

Turning to look at the two elders Zhou and Li, their complexions smelled as foul as if they had chewed on excreting waste.

Haha, serving you right to suffer! Li Chengzhu triumphantly raised an eyebrow at the two elders and swaggered away gracefully.