Returning to the Mysterious Era

Chapter 282 - The Demon Seed That Brings Power

"Demon Seed?" Feng Liusi looked at the object in Cassius' palm, unable to comprehend it for a moment. It seemed like a strange type of Qi, with an ominous aura hidden deep within the blackness.

Saint Feinan stood by, his gaze flickering, but he remained silent.

Cassius slightly curled his fingers inward, causing the egg-sized black Qi to compress into a more condensed form. In the end, it formed a small black dot, just a little larger than a sesame seed, that continued to spin between his fingers.

Qi, the essence of vitality, spirit, and energy, might exist within ordinary humans, but it was normally so faint as to be imperceptible, just like how one might describe a person’s aura. However, in combat artists who train Covert Martial Arts to push the human body to its limits, Qi has been strengthened to such a degree that it could even be seen as vapor, taking any form dictated by willpower.

In theory, Qi was an extension of the human body. Every species had limits, constrained by size, environment, and habits. Humans were no exception. However, humanity had learned to create, use, and master tools. In a sense, they had created external limbs. Qi was, thus, the sixth limb for every combat artist.

The progression from fistfighter to pugilist was the process of breaking through the limits of the human body. However, due to environmental constraints, human physicality could not grow endlessly. At some point, there was a ceiling. The further one went in Covert Martial Arts, the harder it would become to enhance one’s physical attributes. So, combat artists would shift their focus from physique to Qi. Qi’s ability to extend infinitely outward mirrored the infinite stamina of the body.

Thus, measuring a combat artist's strength did not come from their physique, but the size of their Qi. As Feng Liusi once mentioned, when he encountered that elderly man who was possibly a Holy Fist, the Qi around him was so abundant that it seemed to fill his entire field of vision. In truth, that old man could be considered a giant, since the size of his Qi was a direct reflection of his strength.

Now, the same applied to Cassius. The Demon Seed he condensed was, in essence, a part of his own body. If he injected this seed into someone else, it would be like leaving a piece of himself behind. It would be a bit like placing an invisible eye inside them. Though it couldn’t see or hear, it could give him a sense of its location.

Moreover, the Demon Seed’s weak Golem life magnetic field would slowly assimilate and transform the human life magnetic field over time, giving off a sinister aura. Since Cassius had already created his Will of the Fist and reached the level of a veteran combat artist, the Qi generated from his Golem Covert Martial Arts was no longer suppressed and could be controlled and condensed at will.

Feng Liusi found the entire concept intriguing and immediately notified the Blood Vulture organization to send someone over for experimentation. Cassius could control the Demon Seed freely, so if something went wrong, he could instantly withdraw it and nullify any effect.

Late into the night, they were met by the sound of footsteps from outside. A young man in a suit entered, looking a bit nervous, but he quickly walked up to Feng Liusi, whose nod reassured him.

Cassius raised his hand slowly, allowing the black Qi to gather once again in his palm. It first formed a spinning, egg-sized sphere, before compressing into a sesame-sized dot.

He waved the young man over. "There's no need to be afraid. This thing isn’t dangerous. I can withdraw it at any time."

The young man glanced at the black Qi swirling around the ominous Demon Seed, feeling a sense of foreboding. He swallowed nervously, as his eyes were instinctively drawn to Cassius’s deceptively handsome face.

Cassius’s gentle, reassuring smile allayed the young man’s anxiety, and he nodded. If he had been facing a burly, fearsome man, he might have tried to refuse. But Cassius didn’t look threatening, and besides, his boss was present.

In the next moment, he felt a slight impact on his chest. The Demon Seed had moved so quickly that he had barely registered it. When he looked up again, Cassius was still standing where he had been, though the black dot floating above his palm had vanished.

"Is it done?" The young man asked, moving his limbs cautiously. He found nothing out of the ordinary. He had expected searing pain from having something injected into him.

"Take a seat. I’ll begin my research," Cassius instructed, pointing to a light-yellow wooden chair that had been prepared for the experiment. Then he began testing the abilities of the Demon Seed.

Feng Liusi and Saint Feinan watched with interest. They had long known that Cassius possessed strange Covert Martial Arts techniques, like the mysterious life vibration energy and the three bizarre core principles. This Demon Seed was likely connected to those.

The warm yellow light illuminated the entire room, which had a faint floral scent. Standing on the soft, dark-red carpet, Cassius operated his Golem Covert Martial Arts technique, trying to verify some of the ideas brewing in his mind.

By combining three distinct frequencies, he quickly entered the Golem life magnetic field state. Instantly, Cassius became aware of a miniature heart nearby that was emitting a faint magnetic field. Opening his eyes, he saw that the source of the magnetic field was the young man.

A location-tracking ability, he noted mentally.

Cassius then adjusted the frequency of the life magnetic field slightly and sent a message to the young man. Almost immediately, the man’s expression shifted from tense to rigid, and his body began to tremble. His previously healthy complexion turned pale as if some acute symptom had taken hold, leaving him in an obviously distressed state.

"How are you feeling now?" Cassius asked.

The young man gasped, struggling to respond, "Dizzy...nauseous. It’s like I haven’t eaten or slept in days. I feel terrible, but I don’t know where exactly..."

"Can you keep going?" Cassius asked thoughtfully.

The young man nodded. As time passed, minute by minute, sweat began to bead on the young man’s forehead, soaking through the fabric of his suit. He looked as though he’d been pulled out of a pool. When he saw that the young man was reaching his limit, Cassius ceased the technique.

"How do you feel now?" he asked again.

The young man panted heavily. He looked like a broken bellows, his soaked hair sticking to his forehead.

"Get him a glass of water," Cassius ordered.

After half a minute, the young man felt better after drinking the water. He exhaled deeply and provided feedback. "The discomfort grew stronger as time went on, especially during the last few seconds. I felt like I was suffocating..."

The lingering fear was evident in his eyes. Cassius silently nodded.

It was clear that the Demon Seed could affect its host and that the effects would intensify over time. The mechanism seemed to involve controlling and amplifying the Golem life magnetic, which caused discomfort as it affected the host’s life magnetic field. In essence, this function allowed the Demon Seed to control its host.

Once the young man had calmed down, Cassius’ eyes flashed as he moved on to the third test. "I’m going to teach you a breathing technique. Memorize it quickly, and then cooperate with me for the experiment."

After about ten minutes, the young man barely managed to memorize a small portion of it. What Cassius had taught him was, of course, the Golem Breathing Technique.

Cold winds blew past the window, while the three of them watched the young man. Cassius felt a subtle sense of anticipation for some reason. After a brief moment, he said, "Now, start practicing what I just taught you."

The young man nodded and began mimicking the breathing technique. At first, he wasn’t very skilled, and nothing particularly special happened. But as time passed, the effects gradually appeared.

Hoo, hiss... hoo, hiss hiss... hoo hoo, hiss...

The room echoed with faint but rhythmic breathing. The young man's expression slowly calmed, as if this breathing rate had some kind of unique ability. Suddenly, he felt a warm current flowing through his abdomen. It was like a small stream of steam that gently warmed his organs.

He faintly heard a sizzling sound inside his body, as if oil was being heated to a boil. However, the young man didn’t feel pain, only a growing sense of fullness. The air between his nostrils continued to circulate slowly.

"Report your condition," Cassius suddenly said.

The young man jolted out of his meditative state, his breathing cycle broken. The warmth in his chest quickly dissipated, turning cold again, leaving him with an inexplicable sense of loss.

He frowned slightly and looked up at Cassius.

"It felt like there was a warm current flowing through my body. Everywhere it passed felt incredibly comfortable, almost like soaking in a hot spring."

As expected... Cassius thought to himself, his suspicions confirmed.

The young man had just practiced Golem Covert Martial Arts. However, the young man’s training seemed to be happening in reverse. The Demon Seed implanted in him contained a faint Golem life magnetic field, and the Golem Breathing Technique acted as a catalyst to trigger it. It stimulated the life magnetic field to nourish and reshape his flesh and blood.

But where did the energy come from? Most likely from the daily nutrients consumed by his body. Cassius stood still for a moment, lost in thought. The young man sat in the chair, waiting for several minutes.

Feeling bored, he unexpectedly asked, "Can I try it again?"

"Wait a bit longer," Cassius replied. He caught a glimpse of the young man's slightly disappointed expression. After a brief silence, he ordered, "Go ahead and try again."

"Alright."

The young man readily agreed and began again. After two or three more rounds, Cassius suddenly interrupted the young man just as his expression was most relaxed, staring at him intently.

"What are you doing!?"

The young man’s tone was unexpectedly irritated, as he glared at Cassius. After a few seconds, he realized who the three people in the room were and quickly looked away in terror.

Cassius, however, showed no signs of displeasure, instead making a mental note.

There is an addictive element to this.

"Don't be afraid, it's just a side effect of the experiment," Cassius reassured him. He then asked, "Do you feel hungry? Do you have an overwhelming urge to eat, with your stomach feeling extremely empty?"

"No... no, I don't," the young man answered honestly, though his body seemed to react to the suggestion. His stomach began churning, and saliva started to pool in his mouth, as if every cell in his body was sending signals of hunger to his brain.

"I... I..." He raised his head, looking uncomfortable.

Cassius immediately took out the food he had prepared. The moment the young man smelled the aroma of food, he pounced on it, ravenous.

Once again, Cassius noted this down.

The training consumed physical energy, and the need for food and the sensation of hunger remain human traits. There were no signs of transformation into a dark creature.

Watching the young man devour the food with oil dripping down his chin, Cassius suddenly had an idea. He extended a hand and placed it on the young man's shoulder.

Buzz~~

A surge of Decay-Rank life vibration energy transmitted through his arm, and the young man, who had been eating enthusiastically, suddenly froze in place, as if he had turned to stone.

Several minutes passed. Just as Saint Feinan thought the poor kid might have died, the young man suddenly let out a loud burp and stood up energetically.

"Why did you stop eating?" Cassius asked from the side.

"I don't know why, but I'm full. I can't eat any more."

Not only did the young man feel full, but his body was now brimming with energy. The weakness from before had completely disappeared, and he felt incredibly light. The light around him also seemed unusually bright.

"How did that feel just now?" Cassius asked.

"It was unbelievably satisfying. I want to experience it again," the young man answered truthfully. He noticed that his voice sounded more powerful, and even the sounds of others speaking seemed clearer to him.

"Good."

Cassius nodded.

Addictive property confirmed again.

They then conducted a few more tests. The young man moved further away from the Flower Season Hotel. After testing, Cassius could still roughly sense his exact location within one kilometer. Beyond that distance, the signal became fuzzy, and he could only sense the general direction.

However, the punishment imposed by Cassius remained unaffected. Even beyond one kilometer, when Cassius altered the frequency of the Golem life magnetic field, the young man still experienced discomfort. It was like the telepathic connection between twins, except it was one-sided.

The Demon Seed was essentially part of Cassius' Golem Qi. When Cassius' body changed, the Qi changed as well.

Late at night, in a room on the third floor of the Flower Season Hotel, Cassius looked at the young man who had expressed a desire to serve him and turned to Feng Liusi.

"What was this man's personality like before?"

"Reserved, somewhat introverted, but competent," Feng Liusi thought for a moment before answering.

Cassius nodded.

Two possibilities, or perhaps both.

First. the Qi induces a sense of attachment and admiration for the original body. Or second, the Demon Seed influences the host's personality, stirring up subconscious desires, making them bolder, more aggressive, and more driven.

Cassius exhaled slowly but still coldly rejected the young man's request. He placed his hand on the young man and retrieved the Demon Seed.

For the moment, there were no visible changes. Cassius reached out again, sensing the young man's internal state. This time, he examined him for over half an hour before drawing a conclusion.

The young man's energy was gradually draining away. Without the Demon Seed to anchor it, this process was slow, but in about one or two months, he would return to his original state.

"Another function has appeared. The Covert Martial Arts created from the Blood of the Spirit, composed of nine portions of mental energy, is far more complex than I had imagined..."

Cassius pondered the matter until the next morning.

As the sky brightened and the golden light of dawn poured in, Feng Liusi pulled open the curtains and pointed at the bustling square below.

"Stop thinking about it. The Tulip Antique Exhibition has begun..."