When the plot-skips players into the game world

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The Shadow Demon really had its fill this time.

As Aiwass progressed along the Path of Devotion, the strength of the flesh and blood he willingly sacrificed also increased.

Perhaps it was truly sated, or maybe it was showing gratitude... It could also be the appearance of the Defiant Flame Butterfly that made it somewhat wary, eager to elevate its status in Aiwass's heart.

The Shadow Demon volunteered that it was willing to try the other side of the Nurturing Skill, granting a portion of its own core power to Lily.

As a Demon, the Shadow Demon did not believe in "familiarity breeding affection," but in interests and fear as the only true connections. So, it tried to make itself a bit more useful.

——Even though it was an Upper-Level Demon, the Shadow Demon felt at the moment it was actually the weaker party.

If it were other Demon Scholars, they would have to be subservient to the Shadow Demon. That's where the concept of "Upper-Level Demon" came from, after all.

Because the Demons themselves were stronger, the Binding of the Demonic Pact was insufficient. These demons would listen when they were in a good mood and ignore you when they weren't. Moreover, if the Demon wished, it could dispose of them, find a new master, or even return to their own territory in the Dream Realm without much difficulty.

But this was no problem.

Compared to those Demon Scholars whom the Shadow Demon found uninspiring, it preferred the type like Aiwass, who had a promising future and brought danger and excitement.

"Speaking of which," Aiwass said casually while preparing the Nurturing ritual, "you mentioned you were reborn around a couple of decades ago? Have other Demon Scholars summoned you before?"

"Yes," the Shadow Demon chuckled with Croix's sweet voice: "But I easily killed them all.

"They were too weak. Lacking strength, talent; devoid of the desire to ascend higher, let alone vision. Rarely could they summon me, yet they only wished that I might remove their political rivals for them, or protect them in the shadows."

It was clearly impatient with those Demon Scholars: "Assassination, such a trivial matter, couldn't you just hire assassins or bodyguards to do the same?"

"Eh?"

Lily, who was nearby, asked curiously, "Do Demons not like killing people?"

"This is common knowledge not known to many Demon Scholars—most Demons actually don't like bullying the weak. Demons like to eat people, or rather, all Phantom Demons are interested in souls, because souls, thoughts, will are the sustenance of Phantom Demons. The Shadow Demon is also tasting my 'Transcendence'."

Aiwass explained on the side: "Demons are simply cruel by nature, violent of temperament, and therefore merciless in their actions, choosing the fastest, most utilitarian ways to obtain sustenance. But it doesn't mean that they take pleasure in torture... Humans have concluded that Demons delight in killing based on their own moral outlook and preferences."

Lower-Level Demons like attacking humans because they are the weakest of the Phantom Demons. Just like the Hook Demon, they are not transformed Demons branded with great sins, but newly born Phantom Demons emerging from various concepts of pain, sin, evil, and desire.

These Phantom Demons are not very intelligent and have no memories of their past lives. They have only instincts, and even speaking does not come easily to them.

Apart from residing in the Dream Realm and leaving no complete body when they die in the Material Realm, they are not much different from ordinary beasts. In fact, many wild animals are smarter than them—like the Gryphon, for example.

"By observing the habits of these Lower-Level Demons, the Demon Scholars drew characteristics that don't quite fit Upper-Level Demons. This is why they face strong resistance when trying to control Upper-Level Demons."

Aiwass spoke with a smile: "For these cleverer Upper-Level Demons, who are as intelligent as normal humans or even more so, the Demon Scholars, having gotten used to commanding the lesser demons, also treat them like children or idiots, which is a behavior that easily infuriates Demons."

"So, we don't mind the human Demon Scholars' division of 'Upper-Level Demons' and 'Lower-Level Demons'."

The Shadow Demon added from underneath Aiwass: "Let them summon brainless Demons. I would rather rest in the Shadow Realm."

"The Shadow Realm... What's it like?" Lily asked with curiosity.

"You'll see it soon enough."

The Shadow Demon answered: "Though the Shadow Realm is in the Dream Realm, part of it overlaps with reality. It's also called the Shadow Nation, the Netherworld… Even though mortals consider 'the Netherworld,' 'Heaven Realm,' 'Underworld' to be different 'planes,' they are actually all in the Dream Realm, just different regions of it."

In the Shadow Realm, the Shadow Demon is actually a minority. There are other Phantom Demons there that possess the power of shadows.

Most of them come from the Path of Love, with a few from the Path of Transcendence and the Path of Adaptation. Because the Celestial Marshal who controls the Shadow Realm is not a Fallen Celestial Marshal but a Shadowy Celestial Marshal.

"Isn't the Dream Realm the place where we participate in the Ascension Ceremony?" Lily pressed on.

"All Transcendents who participate in the Ascension Ceremony actually enter the same area. The region they enter during the ceremony is called the 'Trial Ground'."

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Aiwass answered, "I've heard that the Trial Ground used to have no Angel Envoy presiding over it. Back then, some Phantom Demons would lurk nearby, intruding into the ascension ceremonies and devouring the souls of those Transcendents undergoing promotion... it was like a passerby wolf snatching away the examinee.

"There are also some Phantom Demons that particularly despise a certain Path. So they would deliberately target Transcendents of that Path, causing their promotion to fail. Some Transcendents took advantage of this habit, summoning Phantom Demons and notifying them in advance to seek collusion outside of the ceremony.

"This is undoubtedly a form of cheating.

"The role of the presiding official is to prevent such occurrences, guarding the ceremony site from outside intrusion. Although an Angel Envoy may not necessarily be very strong, they are representatives of the Nine Pillar Gods; attacking an Angel Envoy is tantamount to attacking the Nine Pillar Gods... Am I right?"

"Completely correct, my wise and learned master. Your understanding of demons and the Dream Realm has surpassed over ninety percent of demonologists in this world."

"Ninety percent? One hundred percent!"

Aiwass said unapologetically, "Even the progenitor of the profession of demonologists, who has now become an Upper-Level Demon and serves as an apostle to the Fallen Celestial Marshal, Jean de Fontenelle, has taken the wrong Path."

In this field alone, he was confident and felt assured of surpassing everyone of his era.

Although Demonology has now become the most popular profession along the Path of Transcendence, it is actually a relatively young profession.

The first demonologist was born at the beginning of the 15th century, less than five hundred years ago. His name was Jean de Fontenelle, and he was the world's first person to develop a Demonic Pact.

He was once an alchemist, attempting to create a "magic potion that could bring the dead back to life."

He obviously failed. But he only failed halfway, because he summoned his once friend... who had been transformed into a Shadow Demon. To keep his friend in this world, he developed the Demonic Pact.

"The world's first demonologist, his contracted demon was the Shadow Demon. It is rumored that he could summon a demon from his own shadow to tear others to shreds... that's undoubtedly the Shadow Demon.

"He was not well-known by himself, but he had a student named François Prelati. He did not carry on the alchemical legacy left by his teacher but developed an interest in Demonology. Ultimately, by studying his teacher's theories, he established the tradition of the demonologist.

"He later became a Snare Fiend, and his friend Gilles de Rais was originally interested in alchemy, but under his deliberate guidance, he also became a Blood Fiend. These were the first three who advanced through demonology to become Demon Incarnations. Ultimately, all three of them became apostles of the Fallen Celestial Marshal."

For humans with short lifespans, the temptation of transcending into immortal and immensely powerful demons was irresistible.

As a result, all demonologists took the wrong path.

However, this "wrong path" is also relative to the era, as before the invention of the Ring of Ouroboros ritual, becoming a demon was the only promotion path for demonologists.

But they clearly didn't understand demons well enough. They didn't know how to summon Upper-Level Demons and were even ignorant about Upper-Level Demons, and their research into demons themselves was not sufficiently in-depth... Although they had deciphered some of the birth causes and abilities of lower-level demons, they were essentially clueless about demons above the fifth Energy Level.

"Fallen Celestial Marshal?"

Lily realized a point, "Why not the Serpent Father?"

"Here lies the crux of the issue."

Aiwass just smiled but did not elaborate: "Enough preparation, let's try the Nurturing Skill... to channel the power of the Shadow Demon into your body."

This was actually the reason Aiwass was certain those demonologists had taken the wrong path.

Because a Demon Incarnation could only be promoted to an apostle of the Fallen Celestial Marshal.

Contrary to the impression demons give people, the Serpent Father is relatively more compassionate, or at least has a more aloof personality than the Pillar Gods.

He abhors blood sacrifices and live sacrifices and thus does not like cruel Demon Incarnations. The reason the Path of Transcendence always conveys the concept of cruelty and evil is actually because the voices of demons are louder and their presence is more notable.

Therefore, once you become a Demon Incarnation, you will definitely be loathed by the Serpent Father.

This is why after they transformed into Demon Incarnations, they could no longer continue to progress on the Path of Transcendence.

——This is a secret unknown by one hundred percent of demonologists and probably by the vast majority of demons as well. Because although demons worship the Serpent Father, they have no actual contact with him.

So Aiwass chose to keep silent.

Because this was information he should not have known under any circumstances, nor was there any legitimate channel through which to have acquired it!