Chapter 31 Blood Embryo

"Blood embryo from the earth... what is this thing?"

Despite his extensive knowledge and exposure to the methods of the underworld, Ji Xiang was rendered speechless by the scene before him. He maintained his Shadow God state, attached to the darkness of the mountain forest, and stared intently at the bizarre spectacle.

The color of the vegetable leaves was also off, their roots a vivid blood red, which explained the presence of these things below. Whether it was cultivating humans into vegetables, or turning some spiritual herb into chunks of meat, the method was inconceivable, reaching a point of complete disregard for life and death, and contempt for yin and yang.

The King of Joseon's eyes widened, his weary expression replaced by elation.

"They didn't deceive me! It is true!"

"This reincarnation blood embryo... it already has a soul!"

"What that Celestial Venerable told me really exists. They have taken advantage of this long battle to bury countless seeds here! The Wa pirates killed our people, abducted hundreds of thousands to the east, stole our national fortune, stole our people, and even took the spirits of the dead to turn them into their own ghosts and gods!"

"I truly thank the Celestial Venerable for telling me this. But now there is no need to fear. These blood embryos will grow strong and become our new people."

The King of Joseon appeared completely deranged. He slashed his finger, letting a drop of blood fall to the ground. The blood embryo reached forward, licking up the blood-stained soil. Then, the blood child's face began to change, gradually becoming somewhat similar to the King of Joseon.

"With you, who are absolutely loyal to me, I will find an opportunity to kill all those ministers in the court, hehe... and then, you can drink their blood and become like them."

"I remember the Celestial Venerable saying that these things, whoever's blood they drink, they will become like that person. The more they drink, the more similar they become. If they drink the blood of scholars, they will be able to study; if they drink the blood of artisans, they will be able to craft; if they drink the blood of soldiers, they will be able to wield weapons; if they drink the blood of men, they will become men; if they drink the blood of women, they will become women."

"The underworld has sent me a large number of reincarnation blood embryos. They are absolutely loyal to me, and they will become my... new people. No betrayal, no scheming, such a relationship between ruler and minister, ruler and people, can achieve perfect harmony, all souls as one."

The King of Joseon dug out more blood embryos. After crawling out of the ground, they all stared at the King of Joseon, as if begging him for blood. The blood embryo that had previously drunk the King of Joseon's blood had already begun to grow taller, from the size of an infant to the size of a seven or eight-year-old child.

This blood child made unintelligible sounds, like the howls of a wild beast, yet also like the screams of a ghost. The other blood embryos, hearing the blood child's howl, began to clap their hands and bow to the child, then to the King of Joseon, to show their loyalty.

"Good, good, rise, all of you... I will need you soon."

"I must first replace several important officials in the court..."

The King of Joseon's ambition swelled, and he began to cackle madly again. Ji Xiang narrowed his eyes and, in his Shadow God form, approached the blood embryos.

Clap!

In an instant, the blood child suddenly turned its head and waved its hand towards where Ji Xiang was. Although it didn't hit Ji Xiang, it made Ji Xiang's eyes narrow.

Young children can see wandering souls and wild ghosts that adults cannot see, and even the manifestations of gods in the sky. Therefore, children are the most spiritually connected, because they have not been in the world for long, and the innate qi they are born with has not been contaminated by the mortal world. They can resonate with heaven and earth, which is why all cultivation must begin from childhood, when talent is at its peak.

He hadn't expected that this kind of blood child could also sense his presence as a Shadow God to a certain extent.

Ji Xiang couldn't help but look up at the dim sky.

A muffled thunder rumbled. The blood embryos seemed afraid of the thunder and began to return to the holes they had been dug from, except for the grown-up blood child, which did not return, but instead approached the King of Joseon, like an ignorant child tugging at its parents' clothes, appearing weak and pitiful.

"What does Heaven and Earth mean?"

"This kind of thing is a reversal of the natural laws of yin and yang, and a species born from the abandonment of the Heavenly Dao. But the sky only rumbles with thunder and does not strike with lightning, which means that the evil nature of this thing is not enough to enrage Heaven."

"And as a product of this reversal of yin and yang, such a monster child can actually vaguely sense me in my Shadow God form. Could it be that these children also have innate qi within their bodies, or do they possess some kind of ability inherited from their reincarnation in the underworld?"

Ji Xiang's killing intent gradually rose!

Heaven sends out thunder as a warning, but the absence of lightning indicates the absence of murderous intent, meaning that as long as this thing does not do evil, Heaven and Earth will tolerate its existence. But their appearance itself is an artificial product created by the underworld; they are born into the world with their own purpose.

These things have already set their sights on killing people and replacing them, so how could they not do evil!

Moreover, the Heaven and Earth of Joseon is not the Heaven and Earth of the Great Ming, and he has no restrictions here!

The moment Ji Xiang's killing intent arose, the blood child suddenly shuddered. It could sense Ji Xiang's "existence." It could understand that a "being" greater than itself was watching it!

And wanted to kill it!

The blood child's face suddenly turned fearful, appearing cowardly.

Ghosts and monsters are unknown and unpredictable to humans, and gods and demons are the same to ghosts and monsters!

Humans cannot see ghosts and monsters, and ghosts cannot see gods and demons. Gods and demons are to ghosts and monsters as ghosts and monsters are to humans—both are immeasurable and elusive existences.

"Die..."

Just as Ji Xiang was about to act, the blood child slowly knelt down in the direction of Ji Xiang and performed the three kneelings and nine prostrations.

This made Ji Xiang's raised hand pause.

Then he shifted his target.

A deafening thunderclap suddenly rang out between heaven and earth!

The King of Joseon's mind was struck a heavy blow, and he collapsed to the ground, stunned by the thunder. The blood embryos also poked half their small heads out of their respective holes, curious about what was happening.

Before the blood child's eyes.

A tall shadow rose from the ground, manifesting in its eyes.

"From today onwards, your master is not him, but me. If you are willing, then prostrate once more."

Ji Xiang said this to the blood child, and the latter actually performed the three kneelings and nine prostrations again without hesitation.

"Heaven gives birth to all things..."

"You have intelligence, know good and evil, understand right and wrong. Although I am a heavenly demon, I am not one to kill indiscriminately. Since you have pleaded for mercy, I will not act, but since the underworld sent you here to reincarnate, they must have their own purpose. Therefore, I will not let you go. You must stay by my side."