Demonic Cultivator: Immune To Common Side Effects - Chapter 32

Chapter 32: Breakthrough – The Su Clan Arrives

An Insect Gu Inner Core?

It could help me break through to the Blood Shifting Realm!

Li Yan manipulated the Golden Body Dharma Idol, commanding it to lift its foot.

The Old Ghost Xuanwang had already been crushed into a bloody pulp beneath the Dharma Idol’s foot, countless Bloodline Insects crawling among the scattered fragments.

These must be the Insect Gu that parasitized Xuanwang’s body…

The sight made Li Yan’s stomach churn.

If the price of Immortality is to become a host for these parasites, what’s the point?

Wouldn’t the body become a slave to the Insect Gu?

Still, now that he had killed Xuanwang and obtained the Inner Core that could aid his breakthrough, Li Yan wouldn’t hesitate.

“Killing this old ghost and taking his Insect Gu Inner Core… that settles things.”

Li Yan raised his hand, and Shadow immediately retrieved the Insect Gu Inner Core, presenting it before him.

Staring at the pockmarked, worm-eaten Inner Core, a ghostly blue light flickered in Li Yan’s eyes.

Insect Gu Inner Core: A cultivator’s Dantian infested with a massive colony of Yin Insects.

Side Effect: Swallowing this core will cause the host to be parasitized by Yin Insects and subjected to Body Seizure by the Dantian’s original master.

Side Effect Rectified: Swallowing this core allows the host to absorb its essence, aiding in breaking through to the Blood Shifting Realm while simultaneously assimilating the memories of the Dantian’s original master.

Without hesitation, Li Yan swallowed the core whole.

As it slid down his throat, the mocking laughter of the Old Ghost Xuanwang echoed in his mind.

“Kid, this old Daoist has finally done it!”

“Easy peasy… Your body is mine now…”

“Wait, what’s happening? No… no, no, no!”

Soon, Xuanwang’s agonized screams echoed from within Li Yan’s stomach. As the Side Effect reversed, his fragmented soul was utterly annihilated, becoming nourishment for Li Yan.

The Old Ghost had just been mocking Li Yan for recklessly devouring anything.

But in the next instant, the Side Effect System erased everything, leaving behind only a sliver of memory.

As a surge of potent energy flooded Li Yan’s dantian, he began his breakthrough to the Blood Shifting Realm.

Simultaneously, a torrent of fragmented memories flooded his mind.

Like a dying man’s life flashing before his eyes, Xuanwang’s tragic existence unfolded before Li Yan:

My name is Zhao Chongjiu, Daoist name Xuanwang, nicknamed Medicine Fool. I was once a renowned barefoot doctor in these parts.

From the age of ten, I studied medicine under my father. We trekked through mountains and valleys, harvesting herbs and treating villagers in remote hamlets, earning a few copper coins to supplement our meager income.

Had fate not intervened, I would have followed the path of my ancestors—marrying, raising children, and passing down my medical skills to the next generation, just as my father taught me.

One day, my father rushed home in a panic, telling me that the Beast Transformation Disease had broken out in our village. The little girl next door and the old woman at the village entrance had both turned into bloodthirsty beasts. To protect me, Father was bitten by my infected mother and contracted the disease himself.

Before he died, Father told me to seek refuge at the Tranquil Void Temple in the mountains and become a disciple there. The Daoist might take me in.

That day, I fled through the mountains like a stray dog. The Beast Transformation Disease had spread throughout the entire mountain range, turning all the villagers into blood-crazed monsters. Finally, I encountered Daoist Tranquil Void, who rescued me and brought me back to the temple.

I told Daoist Tranquil Void that I wanted to return to the village and avenge my family! I wanted to cultivate immortality so that such a tragedy would never happen again.

My Master told me that my aptitude was poor. Even after a century of cultivation, I might never reach the Second Realm and become a Blood Shifting cultivator—unless…

To achieve immortality, I obeyed my Master and consumed the Insect Gu. Was this the price of immortality? Nourishing Gu with my own flesh to obtain Blood Qi… Was such a practice truly righteous?

After swallowing the Insect Gu, my cultivation base advanced by leaps and bounds, soon surpassing most of my senior brothers. Only Senior Brother Xuansha remained ahead of me; the rest were no match! Perhaps consuming Insect Gu was the only path for ordinary people to pursue Immortal Cultivation!

A month after gaining my Cultivation Base, I returned alone to my mountain village. Slaying demons and monsters, I rescued the surviving villagers, who were deeply grateful. For the first time, I truly understood the meaning of the words “Immortal Hero”!

During my first year at Tranquil Void Temple, my cultivation progress began to stagnate. A voice suddenly appeared in my mind, insisting that cultivation alone wasn’t enough—I needed nourishment, I needed to refine elixirs…

I held firm to my principles, ignoring the voice. I could never use my elders and fellow villagers as ingredients for elixirs! They had shown me kindness, sending firewood and food every harsh winter so our family could survive the days when heavy snow sealed off the mountains.

By my fifth year, my Cultivation Base had fallen far behind all my peers, even losing out to newly arrived junior brothers. I began to doubt: was the Dao Heart I had so stubbornly upheld truly worthwhile? Fortunately, Senior Sister Xuanye stayed by my side, comforting me and offering to become my Dao Companion. Even the toughest days became bearable with her.

One day, I stumbled upon Senior Sister Xuanye secretly engaging in dual cultivation with Xuansha… Was the Dao Heart I had clung to truly correct? Without strength, I couldn’t even protect my own Dao Companion!

One day, the villagers came to Tranquil Void Temple seeking my help to heal an elderly man. In that moment, a sinister thought arose within me. I told them the old man had only days to live, even though I could extend his life by several months. Yet… I secretly refined him into a Medicine Pill. After all, he wouldn’t last much longer anyway, right?

The exquisite taste of that Medicine Pill allowed me to finally break through to a minor realm. The sheer ecstasy of consuming it sank deep into my bones, into my very soul. I… I crave power! I desire immortality!

Recently, I found a young boy named Li Yan at the foot of the mountain. His potential is remarkable. He’ll make a perfect backup body. If my attempt to reach the Blood Core Realm fails and my physical form disintegrates, I’ll simply seize his body.

Old Ghost Xuanwang’s brief and tragic life flashed through Li Yan’s mind like lightning.

A vast trove of alchemical knowledge—including information about Daoist Tranquil Void and the secrets of the Mountain of No Return—flooded Li Yan’s consciousness.

Simultaneously, he officially entered the Second Realm: the Blood Shifting Realm.

Only then did he exhale a long, drawn-out breath.

“Once an Insect Gu is implanted, the worms slowly devour Xuanwang’s mind, causing him to lose himself on the path to power.”

Li Yan savored the memory, recalling the unparalleled, addictive thrill of using people as alchemical ingredients and then swallowing the resulting Medicine Pills.

“If Xuanwang had remained steadfast in his Dao Heart,” he mused, “he would have reached the peak of the Blood Condensation Realm and stopped there.”

“But because that Senior Sister cheated on him, Xuanwang’s Dao Heart shattered, driving him to pursue power… Misfortune truly loves to prey on the unfortunate.”

Stroking his chin, Li Yan glanced at Su Mo, the Corpse Puppet beside him.

At least, he thought, the Corpse Puppet bound to me will never betray me.

If Li Yan were to die, Su Mo would vanish into ash, buried alongside him. Moreover, having personally refined her, he could sever the bond with a mere thought, reducing her to dust.

“Corpse Puppets are the best,” Li Yan mused. “They never disobey me, right, Su Mo?”

He reached out and patted her head.

Su Mo’s expression remained blank, unable to comprehend such complex human affairs. Corpse Puppets simply couldn’t grasp the intricacies of relationships.

Seeing her innocent simplicity, Li Yan chuckled softly.

“Old Ghost Xuanwang was too naive in his youth, easily manipulated by his Senior Sister. If he had sealed his heart against love, his Dao Heart would never have shattered.”

Confusion clouded Su Mo’s clear eyes. “Seal his heart? Lock away love?”

As Li Yan relaxed deep within Broken Sword Valley, chatting idly with Su Mo, Xuansha’s distant shout pierced the air: “The Su Clan! What are they doing here?!”

The Su Clan?

Li Yan’s brow furrowed. The Su Clan’s sudden appearance outside Broken Sword Valley… Could they be Su Mo’s family?