Drop the Act, I Am the Flesh Progenitor! The Gao Family Shocked: My Son Has the Makings of a Lord!

"Ahhh..." Ji Quan shrieked frantically. "Kill me! Please, kill me..." Ji Quan was in utter agony, wishing for nothing more than death. Enveloped entirely by Lu Changsheng's blood, he could not even commit suicide. Furthermore, the pain was excruciating—so intense that it tore past all endurance. Lu Changsheng could also clearly sense that the true demon aura upon Ji Quan's body was vanishing bit by bit. A massive amount of true demon blood was swallowed up by Lu Changsheng's ancestral blood. After several hours, Ji Quan went completely still. "Dead?" With a thought, Lu Changsheng immediately drew back his ancestral blood. Yet once he withdrew the ancestral blood, no trace of Ji Quan's corpse remained. Ji Quan had vanished completely. Lu Changsheng knew that only through absolute death would a true demon dissipate so thoroughly. Moreover, Ji Quan had not revived. This proved that Ji Quan was truly dead. After all, Lu Changsheng possessed the capability to slay true demons. "Uh..." "I didn't expect to accidentally kill him. True demons aren't all that durable after all..." Lu Changsheng shook his head. His research truly was hard on demons. True demons were supposed to be immortal, yet by his hands, research alone had already claimed the lives of two. Still, this attempt to forcibly convert a true demon made things completely clear to Lu Changsheng. A true demon could not be converted into a blood scion by him. His ancestral blood conflicted fundamentally with true demon blood. Once a forced conversion began, either his ancestral blood would be drained dry, or the true demon's blood would be consumed completely, resulting in the true demon's absolute demise. In short, true demons could not become blood scions. With that, Lu Changsheng abandoned all thoughts of turning true demons into blood scions. Just then, Chen Ping arrived. "Progenitor, after Zhang Qing was converted into a blood scion, he took the initiative to present an exotic treasure kept in his family: a demon flower. "It is said that in the True Demon Realm, there is a tract of demon soil. Plants cultivated and grown from this demon soil are called demon plants! "Demon plants possess all manner of miraculous effects. Among true demons, they are considered rare, priceless treasures. By sheer coincidence, Zhang Qing's ancestors acquired a demon flower and later dried and preserved it. "Zhang Qing now wishes to present it to you, Progenitor." Chen Ping's words piqued Lu Changsheng's curiosity. "Bring Zhang Qing in." "Yes, Progenitor." Before long, Zhang Qing was led before Lu Changsheng. Zhang Qing had already been transformed into a blood scion and harbored no resistance toward his new nature. He had experienced the benefits of being a blood scion firsthand; even several lingering ailments that had plagued his body for years had been thoroughly cured. Moreover, he understood how immensely beneficial ancestral blood was to blood scions. Hence, he had hurried to offer the treasure in the hope that the Progenitor would bestow flesh and blood upon him. "Progenitor, this is an ancestral demon plant from my family." With that, Zhang Qing presented an exquisite wooden box. Lu Changsheng opened the box. Inside lay a blood-red flower, thoroughly air-dried and missing a few petals. "How is this demon flower used?" "And what effects does it have?" Lu Changsheng asked. "Progenitor, the flower can be ingested directly with water. "As for its effects, it is said that after consuming it, one's body will undergo certain changes. "However, one must not take too much. My ancestors would only take a tiny sliver of petal, grind it into powder, and drink it with water a little at a time. "It's just that we are mere mortals. Even after consuming it, there didn't seem to be much noticeable effect." Zhang Qing felt a bit sheepish. He had taken the demon flower before, hoping to improve his physical condition, but it had yielded virtually no results, leaving him sorely disappointed. Precisely because the flower had produced no real effect despite its grand reputation, Zhang Qing was willing to offer it up. Lu Changsheng nodded. Not bothering with water, he plucked a single petal and tossed it straight into his mouth. In truth, Lu Changsheng did not harbor high hopes for this so-called demon flower either. After all, Zhang Qing had experienced almost no effect. Yet, as he slowly refined the flower petal— *Boom!* Suddenly, Lu Changsheng's ancestral blood stirred with a burst of vitality. Yes, sheer vitality. It became astonishingly active, as though catalyzing his flesh and blood and driving his physical body into an intensely energetic state. Seizing the moment, Lu Changsheng immediately ingested various nourishing tonics. He could clearly feel the remarkable efficacy. In just an hour, the strength of his physical body had noticeably improved. Lu Changsheng made a rough estimate of the efficiency. *If I consume this demon flower at a rate of one petal per day, assuming the effect remains constant, my physical progress will increase by half within a month.* *That means reaching a fifteen-percent progression in a single month.* Lu Changsheng's heart gave a jolt. The effect was phenomenal. And this was merely from a single petal. What about two? What about three? However, upon closer examination, Lu Changsheng realized that with his current physical body, refining a single petal took several days. The entire demon flower would last him two to three months at most. Even so, that was already exceptionally good. *Demon plants! I need a large quantity of demon plants!* Lu Changsheng realized at once that if he wanted to elevate his body to quaternary growth, quinary growth, or even senary growth within ten years, he had to consume demon plants. Furthermore, the more, the better. Once he reached quaternary or quinary growth, he would undoubtedly require massive quantities of demon plants. "Zhang Qing, I am very pleased with the demon flower you offered. "I bestow upon you a mass of ancestral flesh." With a flick of his finger, a lump of flesh the size of an infant's fist detached from Lu Changsheng's body and flew directly into Zhang Qing. It swiftly burrowed into Zhang Qing's body, strengthening his physique. "Thank you, Progenitor!" Zhang Qing was overjoyed and promptly took his leave. "Chen Ping, while expanding the Flesh Temple, keep a close watch for any news regarding demon plants. "If any information surfaces, acquire them at all costs without delay. If you cannot obtain them, notify me immediately. "For now, the Flesh Temple will temporarily consolidate its strength. Await my orders before resuming further expansion." Chen Ping nodded. The reason Lu Changsheng held Chen Ping back from continuing the Flesh Temple's expansion was that he was waiting—waiting until he made a complete breakthrough to quaternary growth. Otherwise, at mere tertiary growth, he was only on par with a greater demon. Ruling Gushan City posed no difficulty, but if they expanded further, they would inevitably run into other greater demons or even demon kings. His current tertiary-growth strength was simply not enough. For now, keeping a low profile was the wisest course. *** Jingdu, the Demon God Ministry. *Crack.* A jade slip shattered completely. "Hmm?" "Ji Quan is dead?" "Bring me Ji Quan's dossier." Before long, Ji Quan's dossier was delivered into the hands of a high-ranking official of the Demon God Ministry. The official examined it closely, quickly noting the key details. "The magistrate of Gushan City suspected the presence of a true demon establishing a 'Flesh Temple' and wreaking havoc in Gushan City. Ji Quan was ordered to investigate, and now he is dead... "Only a demon can kill a demon. It seems there truly is a demon in Gushan City. "Troubled times indeed... Great Jing faces heavy pressure from the Demon Realm, leaving us virtually no spare hands to handle rogue true demons." Even knowing there was a problem in Gushan City, the ministry's leadership was currently powerless to intervene. Sending another half-demon would likely be sending them to their death. What if they sent a greater demon? Whoever killed Ji Quan was most likely a greater demon, and the Demon God Ministry was already stretched thin, unable to spare many greater demons at all. They had no choice but to shelve the matter. "Gushan City, Flesh Temple..." "I wonder which greater demon is behind this?" "Once this turbulent period passes and Great Jing receives reinforcements to alleviate the pressure, we will eradicate the Flesh Temple." The senior official recorded the matter of the Flesh Temple and set it aside. Once their hands were free, the Demon God Ministry would never allow a true demon to bring ruin to an entire region! *** Time flew by, and two months passed in a flash. Inside the secret chamber of the Flesh Temple outside Gushan City. *Swish.* Lu Changsheng opened his eyes. "It is done. Quaternary growth!" With a thought, Lu Changsheng brought up his attribute panel. **Host: Lu Changsheng** **Title: Flesh Progenitor** **Flesh Martial Dao: Quaternary Growth (1%)** On the attribute panel, Lu Changsheng had officially attained quaternary growth. Quaternary growth corresponded to the Dao Foundation and Foundation Establishment realms. By the classification of this world's true demons, it was the level of a demon king. A demon king! That was a power capable of ruling an entire territory—a formidable figure even within the Demon Realm. Over these past two months, Lu Changsheng's growth progress had reached fifteen percent per month. However, that had relied entirely on that demon flower. Without it, his cultivation speed naturally slowed. "Now the demon flower is gone, and having stepped into quaternary growth, my cultivation speed will inevitably drop further. "I must find more and better demon plants to maintain a cultivation progress of ten percent or more per month," Lu Changsheng murmured softly. Having reached quaternary growth, maintaining even ten percent a month would be exceedingly difficult on his own. "To find demon plants, relying on myself alone won't do; I must harness the power of the Flesh Temple. "Yet if the Flesh Temple remains holed up in Gushan City, finding demon plants will be out of the question. It seems the time has come for the Flesh Temple to expand..." A plan had already formed in Lu Changsheng's mind. He promptly summoned both Chen Ping and Gao Ping. "Chen Ping, how has the restructuring of the Flesh Temple progressed over these past months?" Lu Changsheng inquired. "Reporting to the Progenitor, the Flesh Temple has produced two blood scions of tertiary growth and thirty-two of secondary growth. "The total number of converted blood scions has consistently remained around a hundred thousand..." In other words, the Flesh Temple currently possessed a full hundred thousand blood scions! This was truly a staggering figure. While true demons were numerous, that was owing to a vast natural foundation. Blood scions, however, were different. They could be continuously converted from mortals—and mortals were countless. Furthermore, blood scions could bear offspring, and those children were born natural blood scions. In short, once spread on a grand scale, the blood scions would undoubtedly surpass the true demons in numbers. "Two tertiary-growth blood scions?" Lu Changsheng asked, intrigued. Tertiary growth marked an entry into the transcendent realm—no small feat. "Yes. Those two tertiary-growth blood scions stood out from the ordinary converts. How they should be deployed awaits your decision, Progenitor," Chen Ping asked cautiously. Tertiary-growth blood scions were extraordinary, rivaling greater demons. They represented a formidable martial force. Hence, Chen Ping did not dare assign them on his own authority; only the Progenitor could make that call. Lu Changsheng naturally understood Chen Ping's caution. "From now on, establish the Temple Guard Army. "All secondary-growth blood scions shall be incorporated into the Guard Army. "As for tertiary-growth blood scions, induct them into the Divine Guards as Blood Scion Divine Guards, answering directly to me." Lu Changsheng laid out the arrangements one by one. The Guard Army and the Blood Scion Divine Guards. By commanding these two divisions, he held total control over the Flesh Temple. "Understood, Progenitor," Chen Ping committed the orders to memory. "Chen Ping, Gao Ping, you two have done very well over these past few months. "Come forward. I shall bestow ancestral flesh upon you to aid your breakthrough into tertiary growth!" Lu Changsheng was clear in reward and punishment. Since both had performed admirably, he would not withhold rewards. This time, Lu Changsheng was prepared to bleed heavily to elevate them both straight to tertiary growth. After all, the temple already possessed tertiary-growth blood scions. If the two of them remained below that level, how could they command respect or keep the masses in line? Hearing Lu Changsheng's words, Chen Ping was ecstatic. Had he not labored tirelessly to expand the Flesh Temple precisely for the Progenitor's rewards? He knew well that his own talent for cultivation was mediocre. Yet so long as he served diligently, the Progenitor could lift him to the heavens in a single step! *Buzz.* With a wave of Lu Changsheng's hand, large masses of flesh wrapped directly around Chen Ping and Gao Ping. The flesh writhed constantly, burrowing into their bodies. Though painful, the two were already blood scions with robust physical constitutions, making the pain entirely bearable. However, elevating them directly to tertiary growth—a transcendent realm—was no trivial matter. Lu Changsheng expended roughly a tenth of his flesh and blood before successfully helping the two step into tertiary growth! Although Lu Changsheng lost a significant amount of flesh and blood, a brief period of recuperation would restore it without damaging his foundation. The Flesh Temple still required Chen Ping and Gao Ping to oversee its operations, and expanding the temple to search for demon plants demanded their utmost devotion. Lu Changsheng was naturally generous with his rewards. "Very well. You have both stepped into tertiary growth. "This realm rivals that of a greater demon! "Step down and familiarize yourselves with your bodies and new power. Your primary objective going forward is expanding the Flesh Temple; you may begin infiltrating and spreading beyond Gushan City. "Secondly, keep a vigilant watch for demon plants. "These are the two foremost priorities for the Flesh Temple from here on." Lu Changsheng outlined the two key objectives. Chen Ping was quick to react. *The Progenitor has approved the expansion of the Flesh Temple?* Chen Ping was thrilled. He had felt stifled all this time. He was an ambitious man; commanding such a massive force as the Flesh Temple, how could he remain content being confined to a mere Gushan County? "We obey the Progenitor's command!" Chen Ping bowed respectfully and withdrew. With the Progenitor's blessing, the time had come for him to spread his wings! Chen Ping was determined to perform even better to earn the Progenitor's full satisfaction. Seeing their high spirits, Lu Changsheng nodded slightly. "Time to go convert the elders." Lu Changsheng rose, left the Flesh Temple, and returned to the Gao Manor. Inside the Gao Manor, everything appeared just as before. By Lu Changsheng's strict order, the Flesh Temple's expansion and conversions had steered entirely clear of the Gao Manor. Not a single soul within the estate had been converted into a blood scion. Yet no matter how thoroughly things were kept under wraps, with the entirety of Gushan City converted, how could the people of the Gao Manor remain completely oblivious? The household had already caught on to the strange atmosphere. "The young master is back!" Seeing Lu Changsheng, the servants of the Gao Manor beamed with delight. Lately, "Gao Wen" had been living outside, behaving shrouded in mystery. No one knew what he was up to, and the servants dared not ask. Yet every time "Gao Wen" returned, the master and mistress were overjoyed, and whenever the masters were happy, the servants naturally reaped all sorts of benefits. Thus, they wished "Gao Wen" would visit more often. "My son, you're finally back. "Let your mother see you. Have you grown thin...?" In the main hall of the Gao Manor, Father Gao and Mother Gao looked upon their son, "Gao Wen." Mother Gao fussed over Lu Changsheng, asking after his wellbeing. Father Gao, by contrast, scrutinized Lu Changsheng from head to toe, a faint flicker of suspicion in his eyes. Evidently, Father Gao was not easily fooled; he had already sensed that something was amiss. Naturally, Lu Changsheng had no intention of keeping up the pretense any longer. He had returned today to lay his cards on the table and reveal everything to his parents. "Gao Wen, did you come back this time because something has happened?" Father Gao asked slowly. Lu Changsheng glanced around the hall. Several maidservants stood nearby, and the head steward waited attentively just outside. There were quite a few people present. Yet Lu Changsheng did not dismiss them. After today, everyone in the Gao Manor would be converted into blood scions anyway. Moreover, with all of Gushan City under the Flesh Temple's control, what reason did he have to hesitate? "Father, Mother, I possess a method that can purge your illnesses and restore your youth," Lu Changsheng said directly. "What?" Father Gao's gaze turned razor-sharp in an instant. "Y-you... have you been converted into a blood scion?" Father Gao's entire body trembled. Without waiting for Lu Changsheng to answer, Father Gao pressed on, "That Flesh Temple reeks of evil. Sooner or later, the imperial court will wipe them out! How could you dare wade into such muddy waters? "When the imperial army arrives, the Flesh Temple will be reduced to ash, and every blood scion will surely face execution! "Furthermore, I've heard that blood scions are controlled and driven like cattle by the Flesh Temple! How could that ever be a path worth taking? "Foolish! You are truly utterly foolish!" Father Gao grieved bitterly. He vehemently denounced the myriad evils of the Flesh Temple, warning that their treacherous ambitions would inevitably bring imperial eradication upon them. In short, Father Gao saw no future for the Flesh Temple. Given time, destruction was certain. Lu Changsheng parted his lips, hesitating to speak. "Sigh, our family has boarded a pirate ship. "Forget it, forget it. You are the only son of the Gao family; if you commit a crime, it's no different than the entire family committing it. "Take me to see the higher-ups of the Flesh Temple. I must have a proper talk with them. Even if we join the Flesh Temple, we cannot let you remain a mere pawn..." Father Gao showed remarkable resolve and self-assurance. With immense wealth and businesses spanning the entire Shannan Prefecture, if the Gao family were to join the Flesh Temple, they would certainly never settle for being foot soldiers. Even if he had to pave the way with silver, he would ensure "Gao Wen" was valued by the temple. After a long pause, Lu Changsheng lightly clapped his hands. *Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.* Instantly, a succession of formidable figures dashed in from outside, gathering in the main hall of the Gao Manor. "Greetings, Progenitor!" A dense crowd of black-clad figures—all blood scions—knelt respectfully on the ground. Lu Changsheng spoke slowly, weighing each word, "Father, Mother, as you can see... "In truth, the Flesh Temple was created entirely by my own hand..." Father Gao: "..." Mother Gao: "..." The servants of the Gao Manor: "..." The entire household fell dead silent. You could have heard a pin drop. *The Progenitor?* Walking the streets of Gushan City, who hadn't heard of the Progenitor? He was the founder of the Flesh Temple, said to possess boundless divine abilities and unfathomable might, capable of slaying even true demons. Yet that terrifying figure, rumored to possess three heads and six arms—the Flesh Progenitor—was none other than their young master, Gao Wen? This was simply... unbelievable. Father Gao was the first to snap back to his senses. His expression was rather awkward. Just moments ago, he had been railing against the Flesh Temple's evils, calling their ambitions treacherous. Hadn't he just been cursing his own son? No, his precious son could not be cursed. With a twitch of his hand, Father Gao's expression turned solemn as he declared in a deep voice, "Splendid! Truly worthy of being the qilin prodigy of our Gao family—born to achieve great things! "To single-handedly forge the Flesh Temple in such a short time... Now that the world stands on the brink of chaos, my son has the makings of a lord!" Lu Changsheng wore a half-smile. Father Gao truly doted on his son, Gao Wen, to an extreme. Even if it were outright rebellion, Father Gao would likely throw his full weight behind Gao Wen. Such was the devotion toward the single heir of three generations. A moment ago, the Flesh Temple was a nest of treacherous ambitions doomed to perish; now, Gao Wen possessed the makings of a lord. Truly... adaptable! Regardless, Father and Mother Gao had finally accepted that Lu Changsheng was the Flesh Progenitor. That was enough. "Father, Mother, I will personally convert you both into blood scions now. "Becoming blood scions brings numerous benefits." With that, Lu Changsheng personally oversaw his parents' conversion. Meanwhile, the other members of the Gao household were converted by the blood scions he had brought along. Before long, the entire Gao Manor had been completely transformed into blood scions. "How wondrous..." "I feel younger." "The aches and pains in my body have truly vanished..." Having transformed into blood scions, Father and Mother Gao were filled with joyous shock. Lu Changsheng had put in extra effort, elevating them directly to secondary growth. With the physical constitution of secondary growth, it was more than enough to keep his parents healthy and full of vigor. Later, once he reached quinary or senary growth, he would elevate them further. "My son, go forth boldly and do your great deeds. Do not worry about us. "Whether you choose to rebel or carve out a territory as an overlord, the Gao family stands behind you! "Even if we end up beheaded and our lineage wiped out, our Gao family will meet the end neat and united!" Father Gao was decisive and bold. He urged Lu Changsheng not to hold back out of concern for the Gao family. The Gao family was his solid backing! Even in failure, the worst that could happen was dying together. With the Gao Manor settled, Lu Changsheng returned to the Flesh Temple. For now, all he needed to do was wait patiently. *** Shannan Prefecture, the prefectural capital. Recently, an undercurrent had emerged within the capital. No, it could no longer be called an undercurrent; it was a raging torrent, swelling with violent waves. A faction known as the "Flesh Temple" had forcefully barged into Shannan City. Numerous factions populated the city: the authorities, gangs, merchant guilds, and countless other organizations across all walks of life. With the world descending into chaos and the dynasty displaying clear signs of decline, the imperial authorities had grown weak. Naturally, all manner of opportunistic factions and ruthless outlaws raised their heads. The local government was powerless, struggling merely to maintain a semblance of order. At that moment, inside the Black Shark Gang, a group of black-clad figures had surrounded the gang members. The Black Shark Gang controlled docks and gambling dens of all sizes across Shannan Prefecture, commanding formidable influence. Yet someone dared to strike against them, a spectacle that stunned onlookers. However, the chief of the Black Shark Gang showed no surprise. Instead, he said with a grim face, "How long has your Flesh Temple even been in Shannan City? So eager to move against my Black Shark Gang—do you truly believe you have us at your mercy?" A tall, burly man stepped forward from the crowd of intruders. A terrifying aura radiated from his entire frame. "The mortal world is a sea of bitterness, and all living beings suffer. The Progenitor descended from heaven to deliver the masses. "The immensely compassionate Flesh Progenitor grants you the opportunity to become blood scions, delivering you from this sea of bitterness. You should be grateful!" Hearing this, the Black Shark Gang chief sneered, "A pack of charlatans and madmen! Don't assume my Black Shark Gang fears you. Kill them!" In his younger days, the Black Shark Gang chief had fought tooth and nail to secure his current status. He would never stand by and watch the Flesh Temple swallow his gang whole. The tall blood scion let out a long sigh and shook his head slightly. "Mortals are ignorant, stubbornly clinging to their delusions. But no matter; the immensely compassionate Flesh Progenitor is willing to grant you a chance to escape the sea of bitterness. "May the sea of flesh cleanse the filth of this world..." With that, countless black-clad blood scions slit their own fingers and forcefully flicked their blood toward the Black Shark Gang members. Instantly, the entire hall of the Black Shark Gang was drenched in crimson. Blood seemed to blanket every surface. Wherever the blood touched the gang members, it immediately burrowed into their bodies. Accompanied by excruciating agony, the gang members convulsed on the ground, overwhelmed by unbearable pain. "Ahhh..." "It hurts! It hurts so much!" "What evil sorcery is this?" "It hurts! End it, give me a swift death..." Confronted with the agony of the Black Shark Gang, the blood scions remained completely unmoved. "To ascend to ultimate bliss, one must be transformed into a blood scion and become our brother or sister. "The torment before conversion is merely the cleansing of impurities. Bear it a little, and it will pass..." For these blood scions, the so-called "net of flesh" consisted of numerous scions spraying their blood across the ground or onto people. In this manner, ordinary mortals could be converted into blood scions automatically. Moreover, it instantly robbed mortals of their combat capabilities. This was a method devised by the Flesh Temple's blood scions through practical combat. It had to be said that the results were remarkably effective. Even Lu Changsheng had no idea that the Flesh Temple and blood scions he created were expanding at an incredible, shocking speed. They were undergoing developments that even Lu Changsheng could not foresee. Whether such changes were for better or worse, even Lu Changsheng could not tell. Two hours later, the members of the Black Shark Gang slowly came to. They no longer felt any pain. Instead, they felt invigorated, filled with inexhaustible energy. Evidently, they had been transformed into blood scions. "Welcome, brothers and sisters. Now that you have all become blood scions, we may bask together in the radiance of the immensely compassionate Flesh Progenitor. "Through the Grand Dao of Flesh, we escape the sea of bitterness and ascend to ultimate bliss together!" Instantly, the entire hall of the Black Shark Gang erupted into religious fervor.