Chapter 44 Buddhist Relic

If Chen Xiao wasn't mistaken, that irregularly shaped bead was a *sharira* (Buddhist relic).

The so-called *sharira* refers to the bead-like objects formed after the cremation of the remains of eminent monks.

Legend has it that *sharira* possess the *fali* (Buddhist power) of the monks during their lifetime, capable of warding off disasters and bringing good fortune in times of peril.

They are treasures sought after by many powerful and wealthy people.

Of course, there is another theory about *sharira*.

That *sharira* are merely gallstones or kidney stones inside the bodies of monks before their death… just a kind of lesion, completely unrelated to warding off disasters or anything like that.

And the one in front of Chen Xiao was obviously extraordinary.

The fact that it survived perfectly in that fire alone was enough to prove the point.

Moreover, it was highly unlikely that it was something grown or cultivated by that stinky dog itself.

Just as Chen Xiao was pondering this question, he suddenly noticed a large cyan snake slithering away on the ground.

Chen Xiao sneered and threw the Yitian Sword in his hand.

The cyan snake had thought it was about to escape when a golden jade sword was thrust in front of it.

It was only a few millimeters away from its head.

It understood that those few millimeters of deviation were intentional on Chen Xiao's part.

This also meant that, at least for the moment, Chen Xiao didn't want its life.

Thinking of this, the cyan snake transformed.

It turned back into the enchanting and beautiful human form, namely Mizukawa Seiko.

She deliberately lowered her neckline again, revealing more of the scenery inside.

Then she knelt down with a thud and begged for mercy in Chen Xiao's direction.

"Please, sir, have mercy and spare my life!"

Chen Xiao landed on the ground, retracted his wings, and hid them in his body.

After enjoying the scenery for a while and feasting his eyes, Chen Xiao looked serious.

He spread the *sharira* in his hand and asked Mizukawa Seiko, "Little snake demon, do you recognize this thing?"

Mizukawa Seiko said without hesitation, "Replying to your Excellency, this thing is a *sharira*."

"Nonsense, do you think I don't know it's a *sharira*?"

Chen Xiao glared at her and said impatiently, "I'm asking you what's going on with this *sharira*? Why can a dog demon absorb the power of human faith? Is it related to this *sharira*?"

"Your Excellency is indeed powerful! You guessed it right away!"

Mizukawa Seiko immediately praised him, then explained,

"This *sharira* is a Buddhist relic, a *fogusheli* (Buddhist bone relic) refined by the Dongying (Japanese) high monk Guangye Zen Master. The reason why the Dog General can absorb the power of faith is because it abandoned its physical body and fused its demon soul with the *sharira*!"

"There's such an operation?"

Chen Xiao was shocked. "Tell me in detail, and maybe I'll consider sparing your life."

Mizukawa Seiko saw the hope of survival and immediately said, "Replying to your Excellency, after the Dog General transformed, it became a demon cultivator, but because of its poor aptitude, it has been stuck in the Entering Dao stage."

"A demon cultivator in the Entering Dao stage has a limited lifespan of only two hundred years. When its lifespan was about to end, it abandoned its physical body and fused its demon soul with the *sharira*, becoming the Great God guarding the North Sea Shrine, enjoying the faith and incense of the world, in the hope of transforming into a god!"

Hearing this, Chen Xiao roughly understood what was going on.

The Dog General was originally just a small demon cultivator, who abandoned its physical body and fused with the *sharira* in order to pursue longevity.

It turned into such a bizarre thing that was neither human nor ghost, nor demon.

As for transforming into a god, that was pure nonsense.

Demon cultivators are not incapable of becoming gods, but wanting to become a god through this kind of opportunistic method is tantamount to a pipe dream.

It can absorb the power of human faith through the *sharira*.

And because of the demon soul, it can directly improve its strength by eating people.

But this kind of mixed and impure strengthening will ultimately lead to something that is neither fish nor fowl, and it will be difficult to achieve great things.

So after hundreds of years, its strength has remained like this.

Thinking of this, Chen Xiao asked again, "I heard that every shrine has a Great God guarding it. Are the Great Gods in the other shrines in the same situation?"

"More or less."

Mizukawa Seiko nodded.

"Then, are there demon cultivators like you in every shrine?"

Chen Xiao asked again.

Mizukawa Seiko shook her head. "Not so. The *guuji* (chief priests) of the other shrines are all human. In this era, demon cultivators have long declined. In the hundreds of years I've lived, I haven't met more than five of my kind."

When saying this, a trace of loneliness flashed in Mizukawa Seiko's eyes, the loneliness of not having any kind.

Chen Xiao nodded. This snake demon shouldn't be lying.

And its strength was only at the Golden Core Realm of demon cultivation, which was much stronger than the Golden Core Realm of human cultivators.

But in front of Chen Xiao, it was still just an insignificant existence.

As for its background, Chen Xiao wasn't interested in knowing.

The world is vast, with infinite creations.

Even if demon cultivation has declined, there will always be a few small fish that can cultivate and achieve success.

Obviously, this Mizukawa Seiko was one of them.

For it to cultivate to this level, the probability was even lower than one in ten thousand.

If it hadn't provoked Chen Xiao, Chen Xiao wouldn't have minded letting it continue to grow in this creation.

However, fate is unpredictable, and it happened to provoke Chen Xiao.

Moreover, Chen Xiao also thought of the earthworm he encountered at the foot of the mountain before.

That earthworm was most likely related to this snake demon.

Being able to create such disgusting things, Chen Xiao couldn't let it live just because of that.

"Your Excellency... you, didn't you say you would consider sparing my life?"

Mizukawa Seiko was unusually sensitive. When Chen Xiao had the intention to kill, it already sensed it.

"I did consider it carefully."

Chen Xiao said seriously, "The result of the consideration is that I can't keep you!"

This time Chen Xiao didn't lie. What ultimately made him decide to kill Mizukawa Seiko was that earthworm, so he had given it a lot of thought.

"Your Excellency, spare my life! I have cultivated hard for hundreds of years to get to where I am today. I don't want to die, Your Excellency! As long as you are willing to let me go, I will do anything you want!"

"Your Excellency, I can also recognize you as my master like Araki Miko. I can also be your dog!"

As she spoke, Mizukawa Seiko squeezed the cleavage in front of her chest again.

"..."

Chen Xiao was speechless.

"Are you disgusting me? Don't forget, you're just a stinky snake!"

Chen Xiao was indeed very interested in women, but the premise was that the other party had to be a human! The species could definitely not be broadened!

You're a snake, saying you want to be my dog? Can you bark? How amusing!

"Alas, so be it... Your Excellency, as long as you don't kill me, I can take you to a place. I guarantee, you will definitely be very interested in it!"

Mizukawa Seiko said with a determined look.

"Oh? Tell me about it!"

Chen Xiao touched his chin with interest.

Mizukawa Seiko licked her lips and said faintly, "Your Excellency, do you know that Dongying people stole a *ryumyaku* (dragon vein) from Kyushu?"