Investiture of the Gods: Childhood Sweetheart Daji, Starting with Quasi-Saint Cultivation

"I have my own methods."

Su Yunbai remained noncommittal—in reality, it was a "Breaking the Restriction Charm" redeemed from the system shop, which consumed five thousand intimacy points.

The Blood Sea Ancestor stared at him for a long time.

"How would you like to collaborate?"

"Simple."

"Our ancestor severed ties with the Western Religion and instead allied with Chaoge. Your Majesty may bestow upon the Asura race the title of 'Sea-Suppressing Generals,' granting them the incense offerings of the mortal realm and protecting the peace of this region."

"Incense offerings?" The Blood Sea Ancestor sneered. "My Blood Sea lineage cultivates the Way of Slaughter; what use do we have for incense offerings?"

"The path of slaughter is ultimately a minor path," Su Yunbai shook his head. "Ancestor, you've cultivated for ten thousand years, have you ever even touched the threshold of the Primordial Chaos realm?"

The Blood Sea Ancestor remained silent.

He was indeed stuck at the peak of the Quasi-Saint realm for countless years, unable to break through.

"The power of incense offerings and vows is the result of the power of sentient beings' thoughts."

"By warming Yuan Tu Abi with incense, his malevolent energy can be washed away and transformed into a treasure for meritorious killing. At that time, the ancestor may be able to break through the shackles and glimpse the wonders of primordial chaos."

"Absurd!" shouted a demon general on the left. "Yuan Tu A Bi is a treasure of slaughter; if it were cleansed of its malevolent energy, where would its power be?!"

Su Yunbai looked at him: "How should this general be addressed?"

"I am Mara!" the demon general declared proudly—he was none other than Mara, the leader of the four great demon generals of the Blood Sea!

"So it's General Bo Xun." Su Yunbai nodded. "May I ask, General, in your cultivation so far, have you ever suffered the pain of 'inner demon backlash'?"

Bo Xun's expression changed.

The path of killing is most likely to breed inner demons.

He suffers a torment of inner demons every thousand years.

"The power of incense and prayers can subdue inner demons."

"If you nourish yourself with incense, your inner demons will naturally disappear, and your spiritual practice will be twice as effective."

Bo Xun's eyes flickered, clearly showing that he was tempted.

The Blood Sea Ancestor pondered.

"Su Yunbai, what you say makes sense. But... how can I trust you? And how can I trust King Zhou?"

"Ancestor, you don't need to believe me," Su Yunbai said. "Just look at the benefits."

He took out a scroll of golden silk.

"This is His Majesty's own handwritten edict appointing him as the 'Sea-Suppressing Divine General,' and it has been stamped with the Emperor's seal. As long as the Ancestor approves, the edict will take effect immediately."

The Blood Sea Ancestor accepted the imperial edict.

The flow of the emperor's fortune on the silk scroll cannot be faked.

"condition?"

"It's very simple."

"First, the Blood Sea must no longer cultivate using the souls of living beings. Second, when the Asura race enters the mortal world, they must abide by human laws and must not indiscriminately kill innocent people. Third, if Chaoge is in trouble, the Blood Sea must send troops to help."

The Blood Sea Ancestor frowned: "The first two are acceptable, but the third... what if the enemy is a saint?"

"Then there's no need to join the war," Su Yunbai said. "We just need to protect the people of Chaoge."

This condition is surprisingly lenient.

The Blood Sea Ancestor stared at the four demon generals.

After a moment, Mara spoke: "Ancestor, this agreement can be signed. The Western Sect has gone too far in bullying us; it would be better to establish a friendly relationship with Chaoge."

The other three demon generals nodded as well.

Blood Sea Ancestor finally looked at Su Yunbai.

"Very well, I agree."

He bit his fingertip, and a drop of his blood fell into the imperial edict.

The imperial edict shone brightly with golden light, transforming into two contracts. One flew into the brow of the Blood Sea Ancestor, and the other flew towards Chaoge.

This is a covenant witnessed by Heaven; those who violate it will surely be punished by Heaven!

"The contract is complete," said the Blood Sea Ancestor. "From this day forward, the Blood Sea and Chaoge are allied. The Yuan Tu and A Bi swords will be temporarily sealed away for a hundred years, nurtured with incense offerings."

He paused.

"However, the Western religion will not let this go so easily."

"This matter will be handled by His Majesty and this junior." Su Yunbai cupped his hands. "Thank you for your understanding, Ancestor."

Blood Sea Ancestor waved his hand.

"No need to thank me, we each got what we needed. Mara, see the guest out."

"Yes."

Mara led the two out of the palace.

Upon reaching the outside of the palace, Bo Xun suddenly stopped and looked at Su Yunbai.

"General Su, is it true that you said earlier that 'inner demons can be suppressed'?"

"nature."

Bo Xun hesitated for a moment, then took out a blood-red token.

"This is the 'Blood God Token,' which allows one to mobilize 100,000 Asuras from the Blood Sea. If Chaoge is in trouble, one can use this token to request aid."

Su Yunbai accepted it: "Thank you, General."

Mara nodded, then turned and left.

Leaving the sea of ​​blood, returning to the human world.

The sunlight shone down, dispelling the bloodthirsty aura surrounding him.

Yunxiao breathed a long sigh of relief.

"I never expected that the Blood Sea Ancestor would agree."

He had no choice.

"The Western religion wants to subjugate his entire sea of ​​blood into a Buddhist slave, while I offer equal cooperation. Anyone with a brain knows which to choose."

Yunxiao looked at him, her eyes rippled.

"The general is not only highly skilled in cultivation, but also adept at strategy."

This expedition through the Blood Sea averted a major calamity without bloodshed, and even provided Chaoge with a powerful ally… Yunxiao is truly impressed.

[Ding! Yunxiao's favorability has increased from 85 to 88!]

Only 2 points away!

Su Yunbai's heart stirred slightly as he looked at Yunxiao.

She stood in the sunlight, dressed in white, her face serene yet with a touch of gentleness.

Perhaps it was the shared experience of living and dying together, or perhaps it was the camaraderie forged while standing side by side during the negotiations...

The distance between the two has quietly closed.

"You flatter me, Fairy." Su Yunbai smiled. "Without your help, I would have found it difficult to accomplish anything on my own."

"I'm just an assistant," Yunxiao shook his head. "The one who truly takes charge is the general."

She paused, then suddenly asked, "Does the general plan so meticulously for each of his Daoist partners?"

This question carries a hint of inquiry, and also a hint of... jealousy?

Su Yunbai noticed it.

He said earnestly, "Every Daoist partner is unique. I plan for them because I care and want to protect them."

"Including me?"

"Of course it includes." Su Yunbai looked directly into her eyes. "Since you are traveling with me, you are someone I must protect."

Yunxiao's cheeks flushed slightly, and she looked away.

"Who needs your protection... I can protect myself."

Even so, his tone softened somewhat.

Taking advantage of the situation, Su Yunbai asked, "Does the fairy still remember the question I asked in the Asura Palace?"

Is emotion a weakness or a strength?

"Exactly," Su Yunbai said. "Now, does the fairy have an answer?"

Yunxiao remained silent for a long time.

"Perhaps it's... power."

She looked towards the distant horizon.

"I saw the joy of the remnant souls as the general purified them in the Blood Sea. I also saw the general's heart for seeking a way out for all living beings when he negotiated with the Blood Sea Ancestor."

"These things cannot be done without emotional motivation."

She turned back and looked at Su Yunbai.

"Master always says to 'transcend emotions.' But today I suddenly feel that perhaps... 'having feelings' is the true path."

These words marked the first time in her thousand years of cultivation that she questioned the teachings of her master.

This was also the first time I truly began to contemplate my own "Tao".

Su Yunbai was shaken.

He knew that Yunxiao's defenses were completely crumbling.

"The fact that the fairy can think this way shows that she has already touched upon her own 'Tao'."

"In fact, the core of the Jiejiao doctrine is to 'seize a glimmer of hope.' And emotion is the most fundamental manifestation of that hope."

"Love, hate, passion, joy, anger, sorrow—these are the most authentic aspects of life. If even these are abandoned, what is the point of spiritual cultivation?"

Yunxiao listened intently.

yes……