Transmigrated back into the body of her child self, can the mighty Celestial Bing Meilu survive in a Xianxia world all the while staving off the advances of arrogant young masters and wannabe protagonists alike?
Why is life so hard for the Icy Beauty?
Any corrections or criticisms are welcome, I hope you enjoy Chapter 58: The Demon-Beast System
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The BMFS faction marched from the Mission Hall to their faction base. Arriving in the field outside the building, they looked at it curiously. Li Ji frowned. He could sense the Qi of someone unfamiliar stalking about.
"Did someone really try and occupy our faction hall while we were away?" Jing Hu growled. "It really is the case that when the tiger leaves the mountain, the chicken comes to roost."
"Pipe down, fools," Bing Meilu shook her head. "Are you going to come and greet me?"
The Front door of the building opened, and a young girl pushed her way out of it. She was wearing the lieutenant robes of the Armada, emblazoned with silver birds and clouds. Her long ebony hair, and fair, rosy skin became visible as she pulled down her hood.
An aura leaked from the girl gently, the sign of one who had not learned to control their Qi. It seemed utterly drenched in blood, and yet, still somehow elegant and pure at the same time. It was like a pure lotus growing in a field of corpses.
"Mistress is that you?!" Xia Xuefeng asked, eyes wide.
"Indeed," Bing Meilu nodded, looking at Xia Xuefeng appreciatively. "I see you've broken into the Second Realm. Not bad."
"You did as well," Xuefeng noticed.
"How did you get out of the Shadow Pit?"
"During the disciple entrance exam, they took me out as an obstacle. I managed to show off Karmic Merit and prove my innocence," the blood cultivator sighed wearily.
"Hmm. How lucky. I had actually been planning on using the loyalty of my faction as a bargaining chip to get you out, it seems I won't have to do so now," Bing Meilu nodded. "I'll introduce you to some sisters later, for now, come meet your mistress's slaves."
Unlike Xia Xuefeng, who had voluntarily sworn herself to Bing Meilu, or her junior disciple sisters from the Moon Crying Swan Palace, the former Crimson Dragon Faction were a bunch of common extortionists and bandits she had essentially enslaved by force. Even now, with Core Formation members, they had still not shed the title and had an awkward expressions on their faces at the introduction.
They were already a power that could stand on their own in Port Snake, did they really still have to be slaves?
However, as far as Bing Meilu was concerned, they were lucky. When she was a Celestial who had birthed her own Heaven and Earth and who ruled a top power of the Deathless Domain, there were entire chiliocosm's worth of people who would kill their own mothers just for a chance for the honour to be sacrificed as a cultivation resource, let alone the lofty position of a slave.
The young girl spun around, addressing her faction.
"Listen up you lot. This girl here is Xia Xuefeng, my highest-ranking subordinate in this continent. According to seniority, you must all treat her like your own grandmother's grandmother at the least. I'm especially looking at you, Xi Fu. If you do anything untoward I will be displeased."
The Spear Cultivator nodded, looking aggrieved. He wasn't so in need of a woman he would try and seduce a girl barely out of childhood! Xi Fu, it had to be known, had standards...Assuming, he wasn't drunk of course.
Bing Meilu made her way into the faction room, leading Xia Xuefeng and the four Swan Palace disciples into a meeting room.
"Sisters, this is Xia Xuefeng, a subordinate who I picked up. She has a strong affinity for blood cultivation. Xia Xuefeng, these are some surviving members of my old sect, the Moon Crying Swan Palace. While out on my training trip, I found and saved them from a criminal who had abducted them. This is Tang Wuhan, that's Chang Xili, that's Sima Yazhu and that is Shen Xinyu."
Xia Xuefeng nodded, greeting each of the girls.
"My name is Xia Xuefeng, I was a member of a small trading company until Mistress picked me up. It's nice to meet all of you."
Of the four, only Shen Xinyue was fully her disciple. Sima Yazhu was essentially just staying with Bing Meilu because she didn't know what to do with her life for now. Tang Wuhan had decided to stay with Yazhu until she gave birth, before heading to visit her mortal sister. Chang Xili would live out her life in luxury somewhere in the mortal world but had yet to decide where, so she would also stay in the meantime.
Of course, if their Dao-hearts were revitalized at some point before they left, that was also good, but Bing Meilu wouldn't be too torn up about them leaving. There was no point coercing someone to cultivate, if they truly had no desire, it was best to leave them alone.
"Shen Xinyue also became my direct subordinate. Now having two members, I decided to make it official. Our lineage is called the Crystal Providence Heavenly Palace. Shen Xinyue is the second disciple, and you are the first."
A wave of invisible karma latched onto Xia Xuefeng at the proclamation. The girl nodded.
"What are you, mistress?"
"Naturally I'm the Ancient Supreme Founding Ancestor of the first generation," Bing Meilu explained in all seriousness.
Xuefeng giggled slightly. What young girl gave herself such an old man-sounding title? What did it mean to be the 'first-generation ancestor' when the sect only had one generation and was founded five minutes ago?
"Shen Xinyue greets senior disciple apprentice sister!" the yin cultivator bowed her head in Xia Xuefeng's direction.
By now, Xinyue's cultivation had been firmly converted from the Snowblossom Falling Dance to the Crystal Providence Heavenly Tome. As opposed to Bing Meilu's cultivation of the Crystal Providence Absolute Tome, the derived method formed thirty-six yin Foundations in the central Dantian, an array that could unleash incredible power.
Converting her cultivation method had knocked Shen Xinyue down to the first stage of foundation establishment, but it was well worth it to cultivate methods from the higher realms. Her power and potential were now several times higher than before.
Xia Xuefeng blinked in surprise, before smiling. It was always a nice feeling to be above someone in status.
"Nice to meet you junior sister Xinyue, this senior sister will make sure you guide you well," Xia Xuefeng nodded seriously, patting her chest.
Bing Meilu shook her head at the sight. Shen Xinyue was probably several times Xuefeng's age and had far more experience as a cultivator.
"You girls can chat and get to know each other, I have some business to take care of," Bing Meilu stood, making her way into her throne room.
Still where she had left him months ago, was the frozen, ice-covered snake.
---
Silent. It was all silence. He didn't know how long it had been. Weeks. Months. Years. A single fly buzzed in the corner. Aiwa's eyes locked onto it. Each buzz bubbled through the air, wading over his dreary mind like sticky sap boiling over the edge of a pot.
Drip
Drip
Dripping to the ground.
He saw sounds and heard colour, head buzzing emptily.
Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.
All he had to sustain him was the empty calories of barren air, the buzzing and buzzing and buzzing of flies...
"Good morning, Aiwa. Are you ready to serve me?"
He didn't respond at first, didn't even really notice the sound, spilling and twirling and twisting into a cacophony that engulfed him. It was all empty noise, just empty and empty and em-
"Did you hear me?"
His eyes refocused. There was someone before him- A girl. The girl. Bing Meilu.
A weak fire lit in him, before snuffing itself out- He was too weary to even remember why he hated her.
"If you agree to serve me, I can release you,"
Release
Release
Release
The word seemed to stick out to him but he honestly couldn't tell why-
"Stop being so dramatic Aiwa- It's only been a few months," Bing Meilu ordered. "To cultivators like us, centuries can pass in a single sleep."
"Aiwa..." he tasted the word on his lips.
Yes, that was his name once. Would be Aiwa again? For so long he was but the receiver of the silence...
"I'll serve you- Please just get me out of here," he began to sob.
Bing Meilu smiled.
"Your conditions are acceptable."
With a wave of Qi, he felt the ice around him melt. His heart began to beat, his blood began to pump. The Qi inside him was once more beating.
He had almost forgotten how to be alive, how to cultivate. A breath, and qi gently churned through his injured body.
Aiwa had been a half step into Nascent Soul before being injured by the human rats from the trading company he'd devoured. He was then further damaged by Bing Meilu. At this point, it would take months of recovery before his combat power even reached that of a first-stage Core Formation. Of course, it would go much faster if he fed on some humans in the meantime.
"From now on I will not tolerate any disobedience or disrespect. If you wish to be free, you'll treat serving me as a goal with the same importance as eating or breathing. Any hint of insubordination will result in you being locked up again. In fact, I'll make that an order. Aiwa, you will never purposely do something, either by action or inaction you know or suspect I would disapprove of. Should you find any loophole to do so, you'll lock yourself back up and Immediately inform me."
Using his own cognition in the order would make it much tighter as if he thought she would disapprove of something, he would be restricted. There were likely still loopholes, but Bing Meilu was not bothered with that now. Perhaps she'd have Li Ji come up with some airtight set of orders later.
"On that note, give me a full report on your status in the Demon-Beast System, including all abilities, perks, races, classes and the like. "
Basic Info
Name: Aiwa Satsushi
Age: Four Years(Current Body) 27 Years (Mental Age)
Cultivation Level: 3.10.10 (Equivalent to human Half-Step Nascent Soul) (Crippled)
Equipped Class: Tamed Beast
Equipped Race: White Sword-Scale Python
Demon-Points: 135
'Click to Open Shop'
Unlocked Perks:
Swordbreaker Scales
--Deal huge damage to any weapon used on your scales
Eyes of the Hunter
--See prey from a great distance, through basic obstacles, illusions and concealments
Wuji Stomach
--No longer have a limit on the amount of stored food, does not affect digestion speed
Bravely Ran Away
--Speed and stealth double when fleeing from a predator or other lethal threat
Natural Poison Immunity
--Acids and poisons of the Mortal Realm do not affect you
Shadow-Kin
--When in the dark or shadows, your aura and scent become imperceptible
Size Control
--You can compress your body anywhere from your full size to the size of a normal snake, no matter how large you would otherwise be. You can dispel the compression at any time. A sufficiently strong attack can dispel the compression
Digestive Efficiency 2
--No longer takes time to digest humans, digesting demons is much quicker
Lethal Venom 3
--Your venom is even more dangerous
Class Master 1
--Slightly enhance equipped Class
Expand...
Activatable Skills:
Rupturing Roar
--Release a roar that stuns enemies and damages their senses
Devouring vortex
--Create a vortex that sucks prey into your stomach to be digested. More effective on human prey. Size of vortex scales with body size
Venom Lance
--Fire venom from your fangs at an enemy, deals extra damage to optical organs
Reinforced Inject Venom
--Inject a huge amount of venom when biting
Coiling Prison
--Wrap around prey and choke them out with Qi-enforced bindings
Expand...
Unlocked Classes:
Prey
Harder to be exposed when hiding
Prey + 1
Even Harder to be exposed when hiding
Poisoneer
+5% Damage to venom and poisons
Nightstalker
+5% Damage when ambushing
Nightstalker + 1
+10% Damage when ambushing
Harder to be exposed when hiding
Nightstalker + 2
+30% Damage when ambushing
Much harder to be exposed when hiding
Nightstalker + 3
Double Damage when ambushing
Significantly harder to be exposed when hiding
Enhanced Vision in the dark
Tamed Beast
+ 5% bonus damage when attacking under the Owners order
1: Tamed Beast may never disobey the Owner
2: Tamed Beast can never attack the Owner
3: Tamed Beast and Owner form a spiritual link
Unlocked Races:
Garden Snake 'Extremely Weak (1)'
--Venomous Snake 'Extremely Weak (1)'
---Large Venomous Snake 'Extremely Weak (1)'
----Qi-Venom Demon Serpent 'Extremely Weak (1)'
Fire Fang Blood Serpent 'Extremely Weak (1)'
--Slithering Lava Python 'Extremely Weak (1)'
---- Boiling Rock Lava Drake 'Extremely Weak(1)'
Deep Earth Hiding Bird-Python 'Extremely Weak (1)'
White Swordscale Python 'Extremely Weak (1)'
Black Acid Flood Dragon 'Very Weak (2)'
Active Quests:
Story : H̸̒͜e̵̺̚a̵̧̓v̴͙́ẻ̴͔n̴͕͝'̶͙̓s̸̭̍ ̶͕͗R̶̫͆ḙ̸͊t̵̺͑r̶͇̃ȉ̵̼b̷͈́ṵ̸͝ť̷̞i̴͉̔o̶̜̚n̵̦̉
Task: Slay and devour 'Bing Meilu'
Progress: 0/1
Reward: Unlock Bloodline 'Crystal Heaven Dragon(Extremely Strong (10))'
Triggered: Island Chaser 1
Task: Devour six Islandback Tortoise Eggs
Progress: 1/6
Reward: Oceancrosser 1 Perk: Faster movement in the water
Triggered: The Human Dao 1
Task: Consume 100 humans a day, every day for a week
Progress: 0/7
Reward: Increase in comprehension
Default: Bloodline Hunter 2
Task: Gain 5 distinct Demon Racial bloodlines(Does not count the bloodlines used to acquire Bloodline Hunter 1)
Progress: 1/5
Reward: Bloodline Upgrade Crystal
Default: Class Master 2
Task: Level a Class to Rank 5
Progress: 3/5
Reward: Upgrade the effectiveness of equipped classes
---
"Hmm, so you're basically designed to be an ambush hunter, I suppose that makes sense for a Snake..."
To be honest, Bing Meilu could only really think about one thing right now.
'If I can die and then come back, can I turn my tamed beast into a Crystal Heaven Dragon?'
Crystal Heaven Dragons could grow naturally to the Celestial Realm, and that was without any purposeful cultivation. Having one would be an immense weapon. However, it would probably not be possible to 'trick' a system created by a Devil from the Pit.
"Oh well, maybe I'll figure something out eventually," Bing Meilu shrugged.
She had Aiwa enlarge himself slightly and hide inside her robes, wrapped around her neck. Should she order, he could immensely shoot out from her robes to attack an enemy. A useful secret weapon.
She return to the room where Xia Xuefeng was chatting with Shen Xinyue, telling her about how she had met Bing Meilu. Sima Yazhu and Tang Wuhan were listening silently, while Chang Xili sat, reading a book.
Bing Meilu returned to her throne room and took a seat, closing her eyes in meditation.
---
Later that day, at night time, Xia Xuefeng stepped into the throne room. Bing Mielu opened her eyes.
"Yes?"
"Ah, hey Mistress. I had some things I wanted to ask you about..."
"You may ask."
"Well, first of all, ever since we met up, my Karmic Merit has been feeling really strange... I can't quite describe it, but it seems to shudder and wobble whenever I look at you,"
'Well, I've become an enemy of the Heavens of the Jade Sparrow World, so your Karmic Merit is afraid of me. At the same time, due to the rules of Heaven, it isn't allowed to directly inform all Karmic Merit wielders I am an enemy, so it can only react strangely.' Bing Meilu thought.
It's not like she could actually say that. Even if Xia Xuefeng was loyal, she could always be soul searched.
"Let's just say I've had a very interesting training trip." Bing Meilu said aloud.
"Uh-huh... And there's one more thing..."
Xia Xuefeng pulled something from her spatial ring. It was a black key. The handle was a black skull with ruby-red gems inlaid into its empty eye sockets. The key itself was a simple cylinder, inscribed with ancient symbols. Furthermore, there were ancient characters inscribed upon it.
"Mistress, I found something that seems related to my cultivation method-"
The moment it entered the air, Bing Meilu felt her entire cultivation system jolt, her seventy-two moons, twisting and pulsing as if they had some strange resonance. To actually make the Crystal Providence Absolute Tome respond...
Bing Meilu looked at the characters inscribed on the key.
'Let ye be warned, for below lies the prison of Grand Emperor Blacksky...'
Bing Meilu exploded forward, seeming to almost teleport. She ripped the key from Xia Xuefeng's hands forcefully, eyes narrowed. A river of Qi poured into her arms, and with all her might, she launched the object away.
It sailed through the air with an ominous silence, pushing through a window like a hot knife through butter and disappearing into the sky.
A moment later, the key was back in Xia Xuefeng's grasp as if it had never left.
"It's too late. You're already infected by its Karma."