The Cool and Aloof Immortal Master Has Fallen to the Demonic Path (Transmigration) - Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Vessel Body. The term had been mentioned too many times, but Yi Hu still hadn’t figured out what it meant.

After being curious for a long time, she finally asked the question.

Hearing her ask, Zi Ying opened her eyes and stared at her with malicious intent, licking her lips: “A Vessel Body is a delicacy of the human world.”

The Karma Fire around her suddenly surged, spreading onto her spiritual consciousness.

Zi Ying cursed loudly: “Shen Yin is truly worthy of being your mother. I can’t even think about it.”

When Zi Ying stopped having wicked thoughts, the Karma Fire slowly returned to its original subtle state.

The Butterfly Demon looked at the scene before her in shock, slightly clicking her tongue: “No wonder Miss’s spiritual power is so weak, yet she can still walk around as a Vessel Body without incident. Your mother must be a formidable figure.”

The Butterfly Demon finished speaking, showing a hint of envy.

This made Yi Hu feel that she wasn’t completely unlucky after all. At least she had clung onto Shen Yin’s protection in time and hadn’t fallen into the hands of these people first.

Otherwise, the fate of this Butterfly Demon might be hers.

But she was mistaken. Shen Yin was not her mother.

This was all Zi Ying’s nonsense.

“No, the Immortal Master is not my mother.”

“If she’s not your mother, why is she so good to you?”

Zi Ying’s words sounded wrong. Could it be that in this world, only a mother would be kind and do good to someone? There are many kinds of benevolence, many kinds of love, and many kinds of selfless acts in the world. Emotions are always diverse and complex.

Shen Yin was a Lady Buddha, willing to save a small demon. Why was that impossible?

She had merely encountered Shen Yin’s compassionate heart at the right time.

But Zi Ying did not believe Shen Yin was a good person.

Although the Butterfly Demon didn’t fully understand, she still explained to her: “A Vessel Body is not much different from a spiritual medicine; they are both entities that can increase cultivation.”

Compared to her euphemism, Zi Ying was much more direct: “Spiritual medicines and the Ancient Spirit clan are treasures in themselves, but a Vessel Body is not. A Vessel Body is a person or demon with a special constitution like yours. Whether it’s a demon, a spiritual entity, or a cultivator, everyone hits a bottleneck and desires the good fortune of ascending in one leap. The best way is to consume spiritual medicines and elixirs. But even the most powerful cultivators need time to refine elixirs, and the body can only receive a limited amount of medicinal potency. For example, those cultivators in the Medicine Sect who grew up with spiritual medicines can continuously take elixirs and spiritual items due to their unique cultivation method, but the amount they can refine and use for themselves is limited. However, it’s different if they have a Vessel Body.”

“A Vessel Body is also a vessel. Their bones and blood originally don’t contain much spiritual energy, but if they are fed with spiritual medicines and elixirs, the spiritual essence of the elixirs quickly dissolves into their flesh, bones, and blood. However, the Vessel Body itself cannot absorb any of the medicinal effects or spiritual power. Conversely, for those who drink their blood and eat their flesh, the spiritual energy can be rapidly digested in their bodies. It’s simply a shortcut to ascension. Therefore, most who encounter a Vessel Body will feed them well with spiritual medicines and elixirs, and then slowly extract their flesh and blood to replenish their own spiritual energy. Vessel Bodies are rare and hard to find. Only spiritual entities are more sensitive to their constitution, able to detect a faint fragrance in their blood. Others must drink the blood to notice. Some lucky Vessel Bodies live their whole lives without ever realizing it—though that is rare. In the past, the Demon Sect captured countless spiritual entities to search for Vessel Bodies, preferring to kill an innocent person rather than let one go. That was a river of blood.”

Yi Hu understood the explanation.

A Vessel Body is different from spiritual medicine. Spiritual medicine is either swallowed whole or refined into elixirs, and then consumed and slowly absorbed to exert its maximum effect. A Vessel Body is different. They don’t need to be refined into an elixir, nor can they be swallowed whole. They only need to be locked up, fed with spiritual flowers and exotic grasses, and then their blood is drunk and their flesh is eaten to gain spiritual energy.

However, compared to the Ancient Spirit clan, a Vessel Body pales in comparison. The Ancient Spirit clan is the same source as the Buddhist Lotus; their entire being is a treasure. They don’t need to be supplemented and fed with spiritual flowers and exotic grasses. They naturally possess powerful healing abilities. Their bones and blood are all first-rate treasures. Furthermore, the Ancient Spirit clan is an excellent cultivation vessel (furnace). If a member of the Ancient Spirit clan agrees to dual-cultivation, the cultivation of their partner is bound to surge wildly. However, this is different from direct consumption; dual-cultivation requires the host’s consent.

Moreover, the Ancient Spirit clan has a major restriction. The Ancient Spirit Twin-Born Flower is also called the Yin-Yang Flower. The Holy Spirit Flower symbolizes righteousness, and the Cultivation Spirit Flower symbolizes evil. Anyone with evil in their heart who touches the Holy Spirit Flower will inevitably suffer a backlash. Similarly, anyone without evil in their heart who touches the Cultivation Spirit Flower will also be devoured.

Although a Vessel Body is not as effective as the Ancient Spirit clan and does not possess their treasured bloodline, they are an excellent tool for cheating and being lazy, and they don’t have many restrictions. Even dual-cultivation doesn’t require the host’s consent—though dual-cultivation with a Vessel Body doesn’t seem to have any miraculous effect either.

No wonder Shen Yin said that she couldn’t retain external spiritual energy. It turned out that the spiritual energy absorbed from the spiritual fruit had all run into her bones and flesh. The spiritual energy she absorbed from other objects could only benefit others.

However, the Daoist said that after getting Feng Lingyuan, he would completely consume the Butterfly Demon. Could it be that he thought he had the ability to make Feng Lingyuan willingly dual-cultivate with him? Or did he think he himself was a person without evil in his heart? Where did he get such confidence?

Not to mention that he couldn’t defeat Feng Lingyuan; even if he could, Feng Lingyuan wasn’t someone who would yield easily.

Or did he want the Cultivation Spirit Flower that was Feng Lingyuan’s companion? But how would he know that Feng Lingyuan’s companion Cultivation Spirit Flower had died long ago, and the one sustaining her life now was fake?

She now understood what a Vessel Body was, but some things seemed strange. Yi Hu couldn’t help but ask Zi Ying: “Since a Vessel Body needs spiritual medicine to have more spiritual energy, why did you want to eat me the first time you saw me?”

When she first met Zi Ying, she hadn’t consumed any spiritual fruit or medicine, nor had she begun cultivating. Her body only contained a wisp of Shen Yin’s spiritual essence, which was definitely not enough to nourish a spiritual entity.

“Swallowing it whole would have some effect, more or less. You were brought back by Shen Yin. If I didn’t act then, I might never have another chance later. Besides, what’s wrong with causing harm to her essential spiritual source?” Zi Ying said casually. Yi Hu recalled the pain of her bones nearly being crushed that day and still felt a lingering fear.

She realized that Zi Ying’s claim about swallowing her to break the restraint was all nonsense.

Zi Ying’s ultimate goal was to make Shen Yin suffer.

The half-divine weapon brought back by Mo Tianji hated Shen Yin just as much as he did. Shen Yin was such a kind person, yet none of them were grateful.

Zi Ying knew that Yi Hu was probably again feeling indignation for Shen Yin. She didn’t care. She looked at the Butterfly Demon: “Furthermore, once a Vessel Body is discovered, they almost always die quickly. Few are willing to live on. I am just a spiritual entity, and a spiritual entity with a master. Where would I get spiritual flowers and exotic grasses to feed you? Of course, swallowing it whole is faster.”

“Why?”

Zi Ying gave Yi Hu a look of disdain: “If it were you who was locked up, having your blood extracted and flesh cut out every day, how long would you be willing to live?”

Yi Hu recalled the Daoist’s actions just now and felt a chill.

She couldn’t compare to the Butterfly Demon’s tenacity. If it were her, she probably couldn’t endure for even a few days.

But a Vessel Body clearly provides more spiritual energy the longer they are kept and nurtured.

She was even more puzzled: “Why must they cut the flesh? If they only extract a tiny bit of blood, and only drink a little each month, the Vessel Body wouldn’t be unwilling to live, right?”

“You certainly have ideas, but human nature is greedy. If you were guarding a mountain of gold, would you only use one copper coin a day?”

Zi Ying’s words made perfect sense. Wasn’t that Daoist the best example?

But she had absolutely no interest in the Vessel Body, even finding the fresh blood repulsive. Is it because she is also a Vessel Body?

After finishing her conversation with Yi Hu, Zi Ying looked back at the Butterfly Demon.

“You are a demon, and you have such high cultivation. You should be different from a mortal Vessel Body. You should have the ability to protect yourself. You should also be able to sense that there is something wrong with your bloodline. Even if you didn’t realize you were a Vessel Body, you should have been vigilant. Didn’t you know about the human cultivator in the manor?”

The Butterfly Demon paused, falling into distant memories.

Her variegated eyes were filled with desolation and sorrow.

“I was originally hiding and cultivating deep in the mountains. Then, an accident occurred.”

An accident. What kind of accident could have led her to such a place, to such a predicament, being forced to have her blood drunk and her flesh consumed by that Daoist?

Yet, despite such suffering, she was still enduring. What was sustaining her will to live?

The price of living like this was far too painful.

Yi Hu felt pity and looked at Zi Ying: “Why don’t we save her and help her escape?”

Before Zi Ying could refuse, the Butterfly Demon gently shook her head: “If I disappear, my little sister will die.”

Who is this “little sister”? Is she also a Butterfly Demon?

Since she brought her up now, it must be for the sake of the “little sister” she mentioned that she was enduring this suffering.

“Even as prey, there is always a reason one must live.” Zi Ying repeated this sentence, seemingly recalling some distant memories. Her gaze was unfocused, gradually showing annoyance.

Suddenly, her form wavered and she turned into a long whip that landed on Yi Hu’s shoulder. Fine Karma Fire still surrounded the whip’s body, but the fire did not harm Yi Hu in the slightest upon contact.

Yi Hu reached out to touch it, able to bypass the Karma Fire and feel the whip’s body.

Zi Ying’s voice sounded again: “That old thief Shen Yin is truly good to you!”

She was still calling Shen Yin an “old thief.” Shen Yin was aloof and beautiful, looking like a high and mighty Immortal Lord, completely incongruous with the word “thief.” Yi Hu disliked Zi Ying referring to Shen Yin in this way.

“You are not allowed to insult the Immortal Master.”

“She doesn’t care about me, so why are you so concerned?”

“What you said is wrong. The Immortal Master’s lack of concern is her magnanimity. I am concerned because I am petty. I will be concerned.”

“Being petty is not a good word.” But it’s much better than ‘old thief’. Yi Hu was about to argue with Zi Ying further when she heard another sound in the confined space. She gripped the jade token tighter and tighter.

It couldn’t be that Daoist coming back, could it?

Yi Hu tapped the whip’s body: “Come out! Didn’t the Immortal Master tell you to protect me?”

“Where did that fierce defense of Shen Yin go just now? It’s that spider. You won’t die.”

That Spider Demon?

Why wouldn’t she die? That Spider Demon wasn’t necessarily any gentler than the Daoist; she was also a ruthless individual.

However, when the Butterfly Demon heard that the Spider Demon was coming, her variegated pupils constricted for a moment: “Miss, please don’t say you are a Vessel Body later. I’m afraid my little sister might act impulsively.”

Her “little sister” is that Spider Demon?

A butterfly’s sister is a spider? Is there anything more outrageous than this?

Is she crazy, or are they crazy?

Shouldn’t spiders and butterflies be mortal enemies?

Moreover, reminding her now was useless. That Spider Demon already knew she was a Vessel Body just moments ago.

She was now stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Yi Hu anxiously circulated her spiritual energy, only hoping to transform into a mayfly and hide again.

Yet, the more anxious she became, the more her spiritual energy surged chaotically within her body, completely disobeying her command.

Now she was really finished!