But in the Liberation Temple’s monastic harem, Xinzi was master, elder, father, brother, mother, husband, lover, all at the same time. Unless he found a woman skilled enough to shoulder some of the burden, he and only he could balance the parties and ensure that various emotions and desires didn’t conflict with the big picture.
’I suppose that I don’t have to worry about Qiu Meng loyalties anymore. But that is not necessarily the end of the issue. Though she has turned into a Blood Spirit, at the root, Tusha is a demoness of the Asura noble clan—born and bred in the Infernal Paradise. Her emotions and desires are stronger than the average person’s, and the things she can do to make sure she doesn’t fall behind are not what a stainless angel such as Zi Feng can compete with. If I allow the wrong seeds to germinate, who knows what it will lead us to.’ Xinzi loved the variety of emotions and desires, the conflicting personas that his monastic harem could offer.
However, never would he allow these personas to become brakes to his dream world of eternal bliss. His face betrayed nothing, yet various ideas flashed through his mind.
”Xue Yuanshao, you will lead the 100 Corpse Demons to become the backbone of the Bloodstone Cult, and the right-hand man of the Bloodstone Patriarch. This cult will become a dominant force of the Eastern Continent’s black market, and on the surface oppose my Liberation Temple.
Unless I give you express orders, or the Bloodstone Cult is under attack, you only have two tasks: produce arrays and pills. Here’s the list of pills and arrays I want you to produce. They include the Elastic Dantian Pills, and most will be shipped to the Liberation Temple’s new headquarters through teleportation formations,” Xinzi said and snapped his fingers, summoning a jade slip that flew into Xue Yuanshao’s hands.
Xue Yuanshao might not be a transcendent formation talent, but as all preeminent alchemists, he had to power high-level pill refinement with various arrays, and therefore trained himself into a skilled Formation Master. With a False-Devil body and peak-stage Demon Creed cultivation to rely on, the old Xue was more than capable of handling the job.
”Master, since you can now control and alter demonic energy signature, would it not be wise to keep at least one of the Corpse Demons with you at all times? You could also use your Five Elements Transmutative Technique to alter their appearance so they no longer look like Corpse Demons. If push comes to shove, this would spare you the waste of a Diabolic Shard.” Before Xue Yuanshao could voice his opinion, Tusha chimed in, eager to rob Xinzi’s attention.
”That isn’t a bad idea. Energy-wise, appearance changes don’t cost much, anyway. Fine, beautiful, we will do as you say.” This was a handout, an opportunity set up by Xinzi for Tusha to build her own momentum.
The nun had issues. Despite Xinzi having given her the permission to just call him Abbot, one moment she’d call him master, the next, she’d go back to Abbot, and right afterward, go for the Tusha-made Master-Abbot. These three shifting titles revealed the Infernal Nun’s insecurities, proof that she didn’t know where she belonged in the Liberation Temple.
Needless to say, Xinzi would do away with these insecurities—little by little.
If Xue Yuanshao sensed the tension, his shriveled face didn’t show squat. In silence, the old Xue bowed, welcoming the task.
”Oh, by the way, these are your nephews. Well, they haven’t selected a gender yet, so I have to take the patriarchal route and call them nephews by default,” Xinzi said, pointing at the six fox cubs with his right index.
”Woof, woof!” Taking the move as their cue, the Mini Overlords flew towards daddy dearest, comfortably sitting on his large feathered wings—three on the left wing, three on the right.
”Wait, what?” Unprepared, Xue Yuanshao gawked at Xinzi. Tusha too hadn’t seen this coming, and as if to tease them further, the Mini Overlords shifted to their curly-haired baby cherub form, clapping with pursed lips, before shifting back to tail-wagging fox cubs.
In their faces, Xue Yuanshao and Tusha not only recognized some of Xinzi’s traits, but also faint facial features of Xue Jingzhao.
”Yes, she became my…how to put it…transactional baby mama. I helped her become a fourth-tribulation Human Immortal, and as the master of the Demon Slaying Hall, she’s by default an important pawn in my plans for the Eastern Continent.
I have no feelings for the broad, and my babies don’t like her either. But, she is their mom, and will probably be the mom of more Mini Overlords to come. That being the case, only I can kill her. Understood?” Xinzi didn’t keep his voice down, and hearing this, the nearby 100 Demon Slayers felt as if the ground had vanished from their feet, and their souls left their bodies.
”The Hall Master…gave birth to a demon’s children?!” Flummoxed, they stared with trembling eyes, their jaws hanging so low that they almost kissed the ground.
As if waiting for this opportunity, the 99 Heart Enslavement Gus flew into the slayers’ mouths, only leaving a random slayer, who had no gu to receive. The Gus didn’t need to wait for the slayers to open their mouth, but Xin Zhong thought that this would be more entertaining to Xinzi, enabling him to earn merit points.
He wasn’t incorrect. And though he didn’t glance at the slayers, he nodded in approval, satisfied by Xin Zhong’s performance.
”My master is a God, not a demon. And today, you too become his servants,” Xin Zhong said, waiting for the 99 Gus to lay their eggs, before selecting one for the uncorrupted slayer.
’Jingzhao? Why Jingzhao? That self-serving and egotistical slut isn’t worthy!’ Tusha thought, but would never say that out loud.
”My offspring’s potential is too high. Without extra preparation, only an Immortal can safely give birth to them. Don’t worry, Tusha dearest. If you’re that eager, you’re next in line,” Xinzi said, and startled by his candor, Tusha blushed and lowered her head.
”Abbot, if you need my…hum…monastic services, I will never hesitate to devote myself and polish…your scepter of enlightenment.” Tusha cleared her throat, avoiding all eye contact. Even Xinzi hadn’t seen this one coming, and alongside Xue Yuanshao, blinked at Tusha.
Zi Feng, however, failed to make sense of the metaphor—probably for the best.
”Wow, what have I done to you? You’re learning at an alarming speed. Impressive,” Xinzi said, and snapped his fingers, condensing a golden medal that flew towards Tusha. Still not daring to look Xinzi in the eyes, Tusha took the medal, proudly putting it on her neck.