When Ivas closed the Shepherd's Tantra, the black book no longer had the warmth and delicate touch of human skin.

It became quiet. It's as if everything before was just an illusion.

At this time, Ivas finally understood why he had not seen this book in his original history.

Because, if someone could really open this secret book correctly, then he would most likely destroy it directly.

- The knowledge it contains is too dangerous.

It solves one of the core problems of transcending the path – transcending the path does not make others stronger than oneself.

The essence of transcending the path is to commit a sin, to seek transcendence, to seek a higher path, and it is an extremely selfish path.

It is impossible for others to benefit by relying solely on the power of transcending the path. As a result, although the demonic scholars often gather together, their power never melts into a single rope.

The "art of shepherding" incorporates the characteristics of the path of dedication. Profit others by sacrificing oneself.

Feeding demons with their own flesh and blood, and then granting demonic power to mortals—this logic is in line with the principles of the path of consecration. Because in this logical chain, the demon is only a symbol. It's like making money yourself and sharing it with the poor.

In the same way, using humans as sacrifices to give to demons, giving these demons the power to grow, without taking a little kickback and asking for anything in return. This is also in line with the criterion of the path of dedication - the "altruism" of the way of dedication is not limited to human beings and the same race, and illusions certainly belong to the "other".

And when the demon wants to give back the power for this offering, he still gives it to others without taking a penny. In this way, there is no "transaction", which is also in line with the criteria of the path of dedication.

This whole act is full of demonic traces of ambition, and the undisguised "upward desire" can be seen from the motive - to become stronger at all costs. But it is indeed a kind of divine compassion, always adhering to the only principle of "helping others to gain strength to fulfill their wishes".

Everything a pastor does is not a transaction, but a gratuitous handout.

But in the end, the pastor got everything he wanted. A near-perpetual cycle has been achieved.

"—this book must not be left behind."

A very clear thought appeared in Aihuas's mind.

If anyone other than yourself had read this book, I am afraid that the great beast of the "Lord of the Great Beasts" would be regarded as a herd of shepherds.

Moreover, if the book had been a purely dedicated tome, it would not have been a "banned book" and therefore in the collection of the Inspectorate.

The fact that it was able to be taken away by the inspectors is enough to show that the book is not so clean.

Of course, in the case where the Inspectorate gave the book to Ewass, it was legal for him to flip through the book himself. As long as he doesn't pass on the above knowledge, the Inspectorate will not trouble him, but turn a blind eye.

The problem is not here.

The real question is...... Where did the Inspectorate get this book?

This book is the original canon. As long as someone can open this book correctly, they will be able to obtain the above knowledge and receive the pastor's inheritance.

Does that mean that someone has become a "shepherd"?

Suppose someone knew about the existence of the Pastoral Tantra and found out that it was eventually the Inspectorate of Glass Island who took the book. It is possible that the man will follow the trail and eventually find Ivus.

This unknown enemy made Ivus's heart tighten.

He didn't know who the other party was—whether it was the inheritor of the Shepherd, or the other group of people who had come after the Shepherd, and he didn't know when they would come. It's not even certain if this imaginary enemy really exists.

But just in case.

Ivas needs to gain a stronger influence in Avalon. He was able to drive the Inspectorate to track down the possible "shepherd" in reverse.

At the same time, Eivas did master the method of "shepherding......

After Ivus finished reading this book, a new skill had been quietly added to his profession as a priest and as a demon scholar.

Now, the complete panel of Ivas looks like this:

Priest LV6: [Basic Prayer -2 (3%)], [Ritual Fire -1 (5%)], [Lighting -1 (15%)], [Blessing -1 (0%)], [Shepherding (Flesh) -1 (0%)]

Demon Scholar LV5: [Demon Knowledge -1 (16%)], [Basic Ritual -1 (5%)], [Demon Contract -2 (3%)], [Shepherd (Essence) -1 (0%)]

The path has been lit: Devotion - Level 1; Beyond - the first layer

Mana Pool: 2/5 (Light), 4/5 (Dark), 11/15 (Fire)

Free Experience: 50

Characteristics of the Path——

Transcendence-Shadow Affinity LV1: You have a natal pact with Shadow Fiend, which gives you access to the first level of shadow.

Consecration - Flame Container Lv1: You take the blood of the Candle and your soul is expanded. Increases the maximum capacity of your Mana Pool (Fire) by 14

Authority-Silver Scales: With this mark as a seal, the silver-crowned dragon is watching you, and a vow you have made cannot be broken. When you attack any Oath Breaker, gain +1 Advantage (Divine)

——As the chosen successor and the inheritor of the perfect fit of the "shepherd", Eivas has indeed received the complete inheritance of the "shepherding" skill.

And there's no denying it......

This forbidden skill is indeed very useful to Ewass.

Because when it was mentioned in the "Shepherd's Tantra" that "flesh and blood are used to make illusions grow", Evas realized that he had a major omission before-

In the game, the way for the Scholar of Mortal Sins and the Lord of the Great Beast to raise the level of the "Great Beast" is to take them to repeatedly farm illusions of the same attributes. You only need to arrange a boss that is the book of the specified attribute illusion, and you can immediately challenge and defeat the opponent. Let the Great Beast grow by devouring the remains of the other party.

But this is not easy to use in real life.

Because he doesn't have a "quest finder" to randomly arrange the book, the illusion is not like the boss in the dungeon that can be refreshed infinitely. Then he can only level up the illusion by feeding rare materials with the corresponding attributes, which requires a huge cost, and it takes time and energy to collect materials.

But if he has the art of shepherding (flesh and blood), he can use himself as food and sacrifice to the illusions.

Eivus's oath was to "not use the lives and corpses of my fellow human beings as my ritual materials and sacrifices", and he certainly did not fall into this category.

After all, "self-sacrifice" is a regular skill of demon scholars. Nor will it lead to the inability to advance to the Scholar of Mortal Sins.

Although the "shepherd" has become skinny and scarred because of this flesh and blood shepherding.

But Ewass has the most orthodox priesthood of the lineage. The "fire worship" method, one of the four sacred techniques that the Church has carefully selected for thousands of years, can enable Eivas to quickly recover lost lives and heal his own physical wounds.

- There is no need to sacrifice others.

Just let the big beasts eat my own flesh slowly.

It's just that he can't achieve this cycle of spirit and flesh that uses all the people as grass and moves forever.

He can grant the power of illusions to others, and he can also feed illusions with his own flesh and blood. But it is not possible to feed the humans you shepherd to the illusions in turn - because this involves the sacrifice of the same kind, which will pollute your own soul.

At this point, Ivus finally understood why the black book reacted when it approached Yulia.

Because it sensed the phantom in Yulia's body that had been suppressed and malnourished for a long time.

The canon itself has a weak spirituality.

Hatching phantasmal eggs is the easiest way to obtain weak juvenile phantoms.

In the visions of the Black Book, Ivas saw with his own eyes that the mid-developed "shepherds" had obtained a large number of juvenile illusions through this means:

The children, who were the eggs of the illusion, were collected from all over the world by his legions. After long-term feeding of the decoction made by his blood, the illusions in their bodies will grow rapidly, eventually causing the "eggs" to crack and hatch the illusions.

“…… Anyway, let's destroy the book first. ”

Ivas muttered to himself.

Whether or not his adoptive father will be the final boss, this book can't be seen by him. It would be even more troublesome if the eldest brother or Yulia saw it. Anyway, the knowledge in it has already penetrated into Ivus's brain, and he can't forget it if he wants to.

From the moment he got the book, whether he used it or not, he would be suspected of having it by those in the know.

Then there is nothing to be reserved. Not only to use it, but also to use it fiercely!

It just so happens that now is the opportunity to try the appeasement effect of the art of "shepherding" on illusions......

With that in mind, Ivus got up from his wheelchair.

The moment when his feet are on the ground, his feet in contact with the ground. His spirituality formed a stable circuit with the earth, and the sleeping shadow demon in the shadow of Ivas was immediately awakened.

The shadow beneath him spread out like ink on paper.

【My Master......】

A viscous, echoing voice rang out of Ivas's head, filled with a sense of danger.

[You call me...... What to do? 】

"Destroy it."

Ivus whispered, throwing the Shepherd's Tantra into the bubbling shadows.

But it wasn't dissolved.

Shadow Fiend showed obvious displeasure.

[Heh, you can't always treat me like a garbage can, master. I can't throw anything into me...... What I desire is fresh flesh, a holy soul, a ......]

Just as Shadow Fiend expressed his displeasure, Ivas pulled out his sterling silver dagger from the table.

It was the ritual knife used to depict the ritual array. More sharpness but less toughness.

Ivas smeared the ceremonial knife with essential oils infused with cinnamon and rosemary. He injected a little light attribute mana and dark attribute mana into the two essential oils respectively.

He then placed it on top of the candle flame and swept it lightly. A deep, dim light emerged from the ritual knife.

Ivus stretched out his right hand and took a deep breath.

He then gripped it so hard until the blade cut through the tendons and snapped into the bones.

"Then take it, my blood, my bones, my flesh......"

He endured the pain and said silently in his heart:

Eat in silence, my lamb ......

[I am for the sacrament, this is for mercy]

The pool of mana in Aihuas's body suddenly loosened—the few remaining three-colored mana of his body was randomly injected into his bloodstream, leaking out like a bath with a cork peeled open.

He visualized that instead of red blood was coming out of his wounds, it was golden honey and white milk. He lowered his eyes, and the gaze he looked at the Shadow Fiend with compassion and pity.

Eivas strives to keep his heart free of fear, greed, pain, and hatred, but pure goodness and love.

As if he was not in front of a cunning and deadly demon, but a begging child dying of hunger on the side of the road.

It is a pure, equal, high gift.

- Voluntary sacrifice has a sanctity. Just as Ivas can summon a superior demon as a sacrifice.

And now, the blood he voluntarily donated with the right rituals has become an extremely luscious and delicious sacrificial thing that is enough to make illusions addicted-

The shadow demon, who was still complaining, immediately kept silent.

It rose from the ground like madness, like dozens of intertwined snakes, gently wrapping around Ivus's right hand, greedily licking every drop of blood, along with the fingers and the back of the hand.

Until the mana pool in Aihuas's body was completely depleted, he could no longer flow a single bit of mana. The "shepherding" ceremony was then terminated.

Ivus pulled the ritual knife away, and the wound scarred on its own.

And even though the scalding, searing blood was gone, Shadow Fiend was still licking Ivus's right hand intently. It's like a puppy licking the palm of its owner after eating the food in its owner's hand.

“…… Looks like you like it. ”

Ivus's face was pale, but the corners of his mouth were slightly raised.

His voice was a little weak—half from blood loss, half from severe pain.

During the ritual, he could not frown at the pain and show disgust and fear. Otherwise, the shepherding ceremony will fail.

But now it's OK.

The scars that could be seen deep in the bones did bring him great pain. But fortunately, he forcibly endured it, so that the ceremony did not fail.

【…… Yes, host]

The Shadow Demon's attitude suddenly changed, and he suddenly became well-behaved.

[I...... I like it very much]

The tone of voice has visibly become flattering, no longer a muddy and dangerous bestiality, but a hoarse and low female voice.

Shadow Fiends are amorphous, with no physical body and no gender.

It's just a gesture of fawning over and surrendering to Ehuas—in what it understands to be clumsy.

"Then go back first," Ivus said calmly, "remember what I told you to do?" ”

[Of course, my honorable master ......]

Shadow Fiend replied without hesitation.

Transformed into a black hound, it leaped high and slammed headfirst into the tantric book that Evas had thrown to the ground.

But it was bounced out—

The black book burst into scorching light when it was struck by the Shadow Demon. It's like a hammer hitting an anvil.

A single impact only tore the black book, but it didn't corrode immediately.

However, as if provoked and lost face, the Shadow Demon immediately transformed into an even more hideous and huge wolf, and crashed into the "Shepherd Tantra" again.

This time it was powerless to resist—corrosive shadows continued to pour into the pages, and it became dry, decaying, blackening, shrinking, and twisting at a rate visible to the naked eye. Eventually it turned to dust and disappeared without a trace.

The Shadow Fiend sank into the shadow of Ivus once more, vanishing without a trace.

Evas didn't have time to wipe the remaining blood from the ritual knife, so he could only insert the silver dagger back into its sheath first. This would undoubtedly ruin the ceremonial knife, but he couldn't care about it anymore.

When the ritual was over, he felt more and more exhausted and dizzy.

His fingers trembled wildly from the pain and blood loss, and his brain swelled from the utterly depleted mana. Everything in front of me is constantly shrinking and expanding, like drinking too much wine and about to break off, and like I can't lift my eyelids and is drowsy in a high math class......

- Next time, at least a little mana will have to be left to use the method of fire worship. How can it be so weak to completely deplete mana......

Very good, it was a very important experience. It is better to get it in a safe place than to understand it in a time of crisis......

The last thought that came to Aihuas's mind was incomplete. He staggered to the bed.

didn't even have time to take off his clothes and cover the quilt, and he fell directly into a coma on his bed.