Forbidden Art: Art of Shepherding

## Chapter 30: Forbidden Art: Art of Shepherding

When Iver closed the Shepherd's Secret Covenant, the black leather book no longer transmitted that warm, delicate, skin-like touch.

It became quiet. As if everything before was just an illusion.

And at this moment, Iver finally understood why he hadn't seen this book in the original Historical timeline.

Because, if someone could truly open this secret codex correctly, they would most likely destroy it directly.

—The knowledge recorded on it was too dangerous.

It solved a core problem of the Path of Transcendence—the Path of Transcendence could not make others stronger besides oneself.

The essence of the Path of Transcendence was insubordination, the pursuit of Transcendence, and the seeking of something higher. It was an extremely selfish Path.

Relying solely on the power of the Path of Transcendence, it was impossible for others to benefit. This led to Demon Scholars often gathering together, but their strength never coalescing into a single rope.

And the "Art of Shepherding" integrated the characteristics of the Dedication Path. It benefited others by sacrificing oneself.

Feeding one's own flesh and blood to demons, and then granting the power of demons to mortals—this logic was in line with the principles of the Dedication Path. Because in this logical chain, demons were just a symbol. Just like earning money and then sharing it with the poor.

Similarly, using humans as sacrifices to supply demons, enhancing the power of these Phantom Demons for growth, without taking a single kickback or asking for any reward. This also conformed to the principles of the Dedication Path—the "altruism" of the Dedication Path was not limited to humans or one's own kind. Phantom Demons were certainly considered "others."

And when demons wanted to reciprocate with power for this offering, one still didn't take a single bit, giving it all to others. This didn't form a "transaction," and also conformed to the principles of the Dedication Path.

This entire behavior was filled with the demonic traces of ambition, and one could see the undisguised "desire to ascend" from the motive—becoming stronger at all costs. But it truly had a kind of divine compassion, always adhering to the sole principle of "helping others gain power to fulfill their wishes."

Everything the Shepherd did was not a transaction, but a gratuitous act of charity.

But the Shepherd ultimately obtained everything they wanted. Achieving a near perpetual motion cycle.

"—This book must not be left behind."

A very clear thought appeared in Iver's mind.

If anyone other than himself saw this book, they would probably regard the Great Beast of the "Great Beast Master" as the Shepherd's flock.

Moreover, if this book was a pure Dedication Path codex, then it would not have become a "forbidden book" and been collected by the Bureau of Supervision.

The fact that it could be taken away by the Supervisors was enough to show that this book was not so clean.

Of course, with the Bureau of Supervision giving this book to Iver, it was legal for him to read it himself. As long as he didn't pass on the knowledge from it, the Bureau of Supervision wouldn't bother him, but would turn a blind eye.

The problem wasn't here.

The real problem was… where did the Bureau of Supervision collect this book from?

This book was an Original Codex. As long as someone could correctly open this book, they could obtain the knowledge on it and receive the Shepherd's inheritance.

Did that mean that someone had already become a "Shepherd"?

If someone knew of the existence of the Shepherd's Secret Covenant and found out that the Glass Island's Bureau of Supervision had ultimately taken the book away, that person might chase this trace and eventually find Iver.

This unknown enemy made Iver's heart tighten.

He didn't know who the other party was—whether it was the inheritor of the "Shepherd," or another group of people who had come to hunt down the "Shepherd," he didn't know when these people would come. He wasn't even sure if this hypothetical enemy truly existed.

But just in case.

Iver needs to gain more influence in Avalon so that he can drive the Bureau of Supervision to reverse-track the possible "Shepherd."

At the same time, Iver does indeed possess the Art of Shepherding...

After Iver finished reading this book, a new skill had been silently added to his Priest and Demon Scholar professions.

Now, Iver's complete stats page looks like this: Priest LV6: [Basic Prayer - Level 2 (3%)], [Sacrificial Fire - Level 1 (5%)], [Illumination - Level 1 (15%)], [Blessing - Level 1 (0%)], [Shepherding (Flesh) - Level 1 (0%)]

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

Path of Transcendence lit: Dedication - First Layer; Transcendence - First Layer

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

Free Experience: 50 Path Traits—

Transcendence - Shadow Affinity LV1: You have signed a life-bound contract with a Shadow Demon and can freely use First Order Shadow Abilities.

Dedication - Flame Container LV1: You have consumed Candle Holder's Blood, and your soul has been expanded. Your Mana Pool (Fire) maximum capacity is increased by 14 Authority - Silver Scale: With this mark as a seal, the Silver Crowned Dragon is watching you, and a certain oath you have made must not be violated. When you attack anyone who violates the oath, you gain +1 Advantage (Divinity)—As the chosen successor and the perfect inheritor of the "Shepherd," Iver has indeed obtained the complete inheritance of the Art of Shepherding.

And undeniably...

This Forbidden Art is indeed very useful to Iver.

Because in the Shepherd's Secret Covenant, when it mentioned "using flesh and blood to make Phantom Demons grow," Iver realized that he had previously overlooked a major point—

In the Game, the means for Great Sin Scholars and Great Beast Masters to increase the level of "Great Beasts" is to repeatedly farm Phantom Demons of the same attribute with them. Just queue for a Dungeon where the BOSS is a Phantom Demon of the specified attribute, and you can immediately challenge and defeat the opponent, allowing the Great Beast to grow by devouring the opponent's remains.

But this is not very effective in real life.

Because he doesn't have a "Dungeon Finder" to randomly queue for Dungeons, and Phantom Demons can't be infinitely refreshed like BOSSes in Dungeons. So he can only feed them rare materials of the corresponding attribute to increase the level of the Phantom Demons—which requires a huge cost, and collecting materials also takes time and effort.

But if he has the Shepherding (Flesh) skill, he can offer himself as food and sacrifice himself to the Phantom Demons.

Iver's oath is "I will not use the lives and remains of my own kind as my ritual materials and sacrifices," and he himself certainly does not fall into this category.

After all, "self-sacrifice" is a common skill for Demon Scholars and will not prevent him from advancing to Great Sin Scholar.

Although the "Shepherd" becomes emaciated and scarred because of this flesh and blood Shepherding.

But Iver has the most orthodox Priest inheritance. The "Sacrificial Fire" method among the four Sacred Arts carefully selected and prepared by the Church over thousands of years can allow Iver to quickly recover lost life and heal his physical wounds.

—No need to use others as sacrifices.

Just let the Great Beasts slowly eat my own flesh and blood.

It's just that he cannot achieve the eternal cycle of spirit and flesh that treats all people as grass.

He can grant the power of Phantom Demons to others, and he can also feed Phantom Demons with his own flesh and blood. But he cannot feed the humans he has Shepherded back to the Phantom Demons—because that would involve sacrificing his own kind and would pollute his soul.

Iver finally understands why this black leather book reacted after approaching Yulia.

Because it sensed the long-suppressed and malnourished Phantom Demon within Yulia's body.

The Original Codex itself also has a faint spirituality.

Hatching Phantom Demon eggs is the easiest way to obtain weak, juvenile Phantom Demons.

In the illusion of that black leather book, Iver saw with his own eyes that the "Shepherd" in the mid-stage of development obtained a large number of juvenile Phantom Demons through this method:

Those children, who served as Phantom Demon eggs, were collected from all over the world by his legions. After being fed potions made with his blood for a long time, the Phantom Demons within them would grow rapidly, eventually causing the "eggs" to crack and the Phantom Demons to hatch.

"...In any case, let's destroy the book first."

Iver muttered to himself.

Regardless of whether his foster father would become the final BOSS, he couldn't let him see this book. It would be even more troublesome if his elder brother or Yulia saw it. In any case, the knowledge within had already burrowed into Iver's brain, impossible to forget.

From the moment he obtained this book, he would be suspected of using it whether he did or not.

Then there was no need to be reserved. He would not only use it, but use it fiercely! Coincidentally, there was an opportunity now to test the soothing effect of the Art of Shepherding on Phantom Demons...

Thinking this, Iver stood up from his wheelchair.

The instant his feet touched the ground, his spirituality formed a stable circuit with the earth, and the Shadow Demon sleeping in Iver's shadow was immediately awakened.

The shadow beneath him spread out like ink blooming on paper in an instant.

[My master...]

A viscous, echoing voice rang in Iver's mind, filled with a sense of danger.

[What do you summon me for?]

"Destroy it."

Iver said in a low voice, throwing the Shepherd's Secret Covenant into the bubbling shadows.

But it was not dissolved.

The Shadow Demon showed obvious dissatisfaction.

[Heh, you can't always treat me like a trash can, master. Not everything can be thrown into me... I crave fresh flesh, sacred souls, and...]

Just as the Shadow Demon expressed its dissatisfaction, Iver drew out his pure silver dagger from the table.

It was a ritual knife used to inscribe ritual arrays, more than sharp enough but lacking in toughness.

Iver smeared the ritual knife with essential oils infused with Cinnamon Essential Oil and Rosemary. He infused a little light-attribute mana and dark-attribute mana into the two essential oils respectively.

Then, he placed it over the candlelight, gently sweeping it across. A deep and dim light emerged from the ritual knife.

Iver extended his right hand, taking a deep breath.

Then he clenched it tightly until the blade cut through the muscles and lodged into the bone.

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

He endured the severe pain, silently reciting in his heart:

[Eat in silence, my lamb...]

[I am the sacrament, this is grace]

The mana pool within Iver suddenly loosened—his remaining meager three-colored mana randomly injected into his blood, leaking out rapidly like a bathtub with its plug pulled.

He envisioned that what flowed from his wound was not red blood, but golden honey and white milk. He lowered his eyes, and the gaze he cast upon the Shadow Demon became compassionate and pitying.

Iver tried his best to keep his heart free of any fear, greed, pain, and hatred, only pure goodness and love.

It was as if he was not facing a cunning and deadly demon, but a starving child begging for food by the roadside. That was a pure, equal, and supreme gift. ——Voluntary sacrifice possesses a sacred quality. Just as Iver could summon a high-ranking demon when he was a sacrifice. And now, he voluntarily offered his blood through the correct ritual, which had become an extremely sweet and delicious sacrificial offering, enough to addict Phantom Demons— The Shadow Demon, who had been complaining, immediately shut up. It rose from the ground as if it were mad, gently wrapping around Iver's right hand like dozens of snakes intertwined, greedily licking every drop of blood, including the gaps between his fingers and the back of his hand. Until the mana pool in Iver's body was completely exhausted, and no more mana could flow out. The "Shepherding" ritual also ended. Iver withdrew the ritual knife, and the wound scabbed over on its own. Even though that hot, scorching blood had disappeared without a trace, the Shadow Demon still concentrated on licking Iver's right hand. Just like a puppy licks its owner's palm after eating food from their hand. "...It seems you like it very much." Iver's face was pale, but the corners of his mouth turned up slightly. His voice was a little weak—partly because of blood loss, and partly because of the severe pain. During the ritual, he could not frown or show disgust and fear because of this pain. Otherwise, the Shepherding ritual would fail. But now he could. The deep, bone-deep wound did bring him extreme pain. But fortunately, he forcibly endured it, so that the ritual did not fail. […Yes, Master] The Shadow Demon's attitude suddenly changed, and it immediately became well-behaved. [I…like it very much] Its tone became visibly ingratiating, no longer the turbid and dangerous bestiality, but like a hoarse and deep female voice. Shadow Demons are amorphous, without material bodies or gender. This was just its way of expressing its favor and submission to Iver—in its own clumsy way of understanding. "Then let's go back first," Iver said calmly, "Do you remember what I asked you to do?" [Of course, my noble master…] The Shadow Demon responded without hesitation. It transformed into a black, agile hound, leaped high, and crashed headfirst into the Secret Covenant book that Iver had thrown on the ground. But it was bounced away— When the black leather book was hit by the Shadow Demon, it suddenly burst out with scorching flames. Like a hammer hitting an anvil. One impact only tore the black leather book, but it was not immediately corroded. The Shadow Demon, as if provoked and losing face, immediately transformed into a more hideous and gigantic wild wolf, and crashed into the Shepherd's Secret Covenant again. This time it was finally unable to resist—corrosive shadows continuously poured into the pages, and it visibly became dry, decayed, blackened, shrunk, and twisted. Finally, it turned into dust and disappeared without a trace.

The Shadow Demon sank back into Iver's shadow, disappearing without a trace.

Iver didn't have time to carefully wipe the bloodstains remaining on the ritual knife, so he could only first insert the silver dagger back into its sheath. This would undoubtedly ruin the ritual knife, but he couldn't care less about that now.

As soon as the ritual ended, he felt increasingly intense fatigue and dizziness.

His fingers trembled madly due to the severe pain and blood loss, and the completely exhausted mana caused his brain to swell in waves. Everything in front of him was constantly shrinking and expanding, like he had drunk too much and was about to black out, or like he couldn't lift his eyelids in a higher mathematics class, drowsy and sleepy...

—Next time, I must at least save some mana to use the Sacrificial Fire method. Completely exhausting mana is so weakening…

Very good, this is a very important experience. It is better to gain it in a safe place than to understand it in a crisis…

The last incomplete thought floated in Iver's mind. He staggered towards the bed.

He didn't even have time to take off his clothes and cover himself with a blanket, and directly fell into a coma on his bed.

The cat is also going to faint. The power was out all day until 6 pm, and I finished writing at 4:30... I'll correct the typos when I wake up. If you see any typos, you can leave a message first~! An update of more than 7,000 words, please vote for monthly tickets and follow the reading~!