Tales of demons and gods: Ultimate Villain

As the first rays of morning light filtered through the curtains, Shen Fei stirred awake. Slowly, he removed his hand from the warm, delicate body of Shen Xiu lying naked beside him. Careful not to wake her, he stood and climbed out of bed, stretching his toned frame. The faint rustling of sheets followed his movement as he gathered his thoughts.

Standing there, he found himself at a loss. 'What should I do next?' he wondered. The Sacred Family's library had already been thoroughly combed through. The other families would never grant him access to their collections so easily, given that they contained exclusive knowledge and cultivation techniques.

His mind briefly wandered to the vast library of the Holy Orchid Academy. It was the largest in Glory City and freely accessible to students, but he sighed. The holidays still stretched on for another twenty days, leaving him unable to return just yet.

"Let's take it easy today—rest, cultivate, and treat it like a day off," Shen Fei murmured to himself. With that thought, he headed to the bathroom. The sound of running water soon filled the room, a soothing backdrop as he cleansed himself.

Meanwhile, Shen Xiu stirred awake, her eyelashes fluttering as the muffled sound of water reached her ears. She stretched languidly before sitting up, her gaze falling on the clothes haphazardly strewn across the floor. With a faint blush creeping onto her cheeks, she leaned over and began gathering the garments Shen Fei had carelessly tossed aside the night before. Slipping back into her silken nightgown, she barely had time to adjust it when the bathroom door creaked open.

The sight before her made her freeze. Shen Fei stepped out, water dripping from his freshly bathed body, every muscle defined and glistening in the soft morning light. He made no effort to cover himself, a playful smirk curling his lips.

"You… shameless, perverted scoundrel!" Shen Xiu spluttered, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and embarrassment. Her cheeks turned a deep crimson as she averted her gaze, clutching her gown tightly.

"What's the matter, Shen Xiu?" Shen Fei teased, his voice smooth and laced with amusement. He grabbed a towel, casually wiping himself dry. "I'm just giving you a glimpse of your future husband. Consider it an honor."

"You're insufferable!" she snapped, though her voice lacked conviction. Her blush deepened as he shot her a cheeky wink before throwing on his clothes.

Shen Fei laughed lightly, blowing her a mock kiss as he sauntered out of the room. "Don't miss me too much," he said over his shoulder, leaving her fuming in a swirl of frustration and humiliation.

Back in his own room, Shen Fei fell into contemplation. Sitting on the edge of his bed, he weighed his options.

'Should I cultivate soul force or focus on body-forging today?' he mused. His thoughts were interrupted by vivid images of Shen Xiu's naked, curvaceous form flashing unbidden in his mind. Heat rose to his dick, a wicked grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"Soul force it is," he decided aloud, his tone dripping with determination. "Didn't Shen Xiu say that she'd be mine if I became a Gold-ranked Demon Spiritualist within a month? Just imagining her hot body writhing beneath me and moaning out my name… That's all the motivation I need."

Leaning back, he reflected on his progress. "The cultivation technique I developed after poring over countless manuals from the Sacred Family's library isn't perfect yet. It's still inferior to what Nie Li will eventually share with his friends," he admitted to himself. "But even so, it's leagues ahead of anything the people of Glory City are using now."

With his mind made up, Shen Fei crossed his legs on the bed. "Gold rank first. Then, I'll savor every inch of Shen Xiu. After that, I'll disperse my cultivation and channel all my soul force into refining my body."

A fierce determination burned in his eyes as he began to chant the mantra of his self-created technique. A warm bronze glow enveloped his body, his soul force surging as the technique came to life. The room grew silent, save for the rhythmic hum of his cultivation, a testament to his unwavering resolve.

After an hour of cultivation, a sharp "pop" echoed through the room. Shen Fei's body began to radiate a silver glow as he broke through to the rank of Silver Demon Spiritualist. His spiritual realm expanded dramatically—five times more than what conventional techniques in Glory City could achieve.

"So fast," he muttered, awakening from his meditative state. Inspecting his soul realm, his lips curled into a self-satisfied smirk. "I truly am extraordinary. Even the techniques I casually create are unparalleled."

The expansion of his soul realm was astounding. Typically, a Bronze Demon Spiritualist would progress through five levels, each requiring 100 soul force points. Only after accumulating 500 points could one advance to Silver rank. Yet Shen Fei's breakthrough had been effortless, his soul realm now holding an astounding 2,500 soul force points, far surpassing the norm. There was no pain or side effects—only growth.

"Could it be because I incorporated the essence of so many cultivation techniques? No, it's my talent at work," Shen Fei murmured, marveling at his heaven-defying aptitude. "As I cultivated, my talent refined and perfected the technique. Within just an hour, it absorbed so much energy and forcefully expanded my soul realm to unimaginable levels."

A gleam of ambition lit up his eyes. "It's decided. I'll continue using this technique, using it to advance my cultivation. I'll pour all my soul force into body forging, empty my soul realm, and then cultivate again. I'll repeat the process until I'm satisfied."

Pausing, a mischievous grin crept across his face. "But first, I'll reach Gold rank and then… enjoy Shen Xiu to my heart's content." He let out a foolish laugh, a lecherous glint in his eyes.

Just as he prepared to resume his cultivation, a loud knock interrupted him, followed by a voice from outside the room.

"Master Shen Fei, the Patriarch has summoned you to his study," a guard announced.

Annoyed by the intrusion, Shen Fei's mood soured instantly. Rising from the bed, he opened the door and glared at the guard with irritation. "I heard you the first time. Now go away," he snapped before slamming the door shut.

Grumbling under his breath, Shen Fei changed into formal attire. "Damn old man. What nonsense is he planning now?" he muttered as he adjusted his outfit. Satisfied with his appearance, he made his way to Shen Hong's study.

Upon reaching the door, Shen Fei pushed it open and stepped inside without knocking, prompting an immediate reprimand.

"Still no manners. Can't you learn to knock before entering?" Shen Hong said sternly, his brows furrowed.

Shen Fei smiled foolishly, feigning ignorance. "Knock? Oh, I must've forgotten," he replied, his tone casual and dismissive.

Shen Hong sighed, opting not to waste time on his son's antics. "Why didn't you visit the library today?" he asked, his voice carrying a sharp edge.

"I've already read every book in the Sacred Family's library. They're all stored here now," Shen Fei said, tapping his temple with an arrogant grin that mimicked the original Shen Fei's demeanor.

"It seems you've also advanced to Silver rank," Shen Hong noted, his sharp gaze appraising Shen Fei.

"Yes, Father. I broke through just recently," Shen Fei replied, maintaining his prideful façade while inwardly cursing the guard for interrupting him earlier. 'Couldn't even conceal my aura properly thanks to that fool.'

Shen Hong nodded in approval. "Follow me."

Without another word, he turned and walked deeper into the study, with Shen Fei following closely behind. At the far end of the room, Shen Hong stopped before a painting on the wall. With practiced precision, he removed the artwork, revealing an iron nail embedded in the wall. Pressing it deeper, he tapped a series of bricks in a specific sequence.

"Rumble."

The wall split down the middle, its two halves sliding apart to reveal a hidden chamber. Shen Hong stepped inside as the mechanism ground to a halt. Shen Fei followed, his curiosity piqued as he observed the secret room now laid bare before him.

The room was dimly lit, with a soft glow emanating from luminescent stones embedded in the walls. A few burning torches hung on brackets, casting flickering shadows that danced across the confined space. The room was small and sparsely furnished, containing only a modest study table, a chair, and a single bookshelf holding around ten to fifteen books.

Shen Hong turned to face Shen Fei, his sharp gaze scrutinizing him. "These are my private collection of books," he said, his tone serious. "There are few, but each one holds invaluable knowledge. You may study all of them."

Shen Fei's brows lifted in surprise. He had been completely unaware of this hidden treasure trove. Curiosity sparked in his eyes as he approached the bookshelf. He picked up a book titled Detailed Description and Uses of Poisons, then seated himself at the study table. Placing the book on the surface, he began to read.

In just two minutes, he finished the book and returned it to the shelf. Without hesitation, he grabbed the remaining books, stacked them on the table, and sat back down to read, flipping through each volume with astonishing speed.

Shen Hong stood silently to the side, his arms crossed as he observed Shen Fei closely. His piercing eyes never left his son, studying his every reaction as he read through the collection.

Meanwhile, Shen Fei secretly activated his divine sense, monitoring Shen Hong while keeping a calm outward demeanor. Internally, however, he was breaking into a cold sweat, cursing his father silently.

'Damn, bastard! Have you dragged me into some secret library of the Dark Guild? What kind of books are these?!'

Each title he read made his heart sink further: books on poisons, slave inscription techniques for enslavement, dark devouring techniques, demon-devouring techniques, alchemical recipes for berserk pills and blood-burning pills, soul-searching methods, soul destruction and control techniques, and even emotion manipulation techniques. Every vile and sinister practice imaginable seemed to be detailed within this collection.

Feigning an excited expression, Shen Fei finished reading the last book within an hour. He stood up, turning to Shen Hong with a gleam of fake enthusiasm in his eyes. "Father, I've read through all the techniques!"

Shen Hong's gaze deepened, his expression unreadable. "And what do you think of these techniques, my son?" he asked, his voice low and deliberate.

"They're… amazing!" Shen Fei said, his tone brimming with fabricated excitement. "With the slave seals and soul techniques, I could easily control both followers and enemies at the academy." He paused, allowing a lecherous grin to creep onto his face. "And as for the emotion manipulation techniques… heh heh."

Shen Hong's stern face softened slightly, a glimmer of satisfaction in his eyes. "You truly are my son," he said with a faint, approving nod.

Shen Fei smiled broadly, masking the turmoil roiling within him.

"Now, leave," Shen Hong ordered briskly. "And remember—do not speak of this collection to anyone."

"Don't worry, Father," Shen Fei replied, patting his chest in a gesture of assurance. "I won't breathe a word."

With that, Shen Fei left the hidden chamber and exited the study. Only once he was back in the safety of his own room did he let out a long sigh of relief, the tension finally easing from his body. He leaned against the door, muttering under his breath, "What the hell kind of family have I been reborn into…"

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