Demonic Cultivator: Immune To Common Side Effects - Chapter 35

Chapter 35: Young Friend, You Are My Lifesaver!

Just as Third Elder Su Chongyue’s Blood Shadow was about to devour Li Yan, he unleashed a radiant White Lotus. Its golden, sacred light blazed, banishing all shadows from the area.

Outside the Poison Mist, Third Elder Su Chongyue felt utterly drained, his knees buckling beneath him. He collapsed to the ground, his pupils dilated, his eyes vacant. The old man stared blankly at the ground for a long moment before regaining his senses.

Third Elder Su Chongyue raised his trembling hands in disbelief. “I… I’ve finally broken free from the Blood Shadow’s control?!”

As his consciousness returned, Elder Su slowly stood up. The Su Clan disciples around him lay unconscious, bathed in the radiant white light.

Li Yan, the one responsible for all this, stood pale-faced, his forehead slick with cold sweat. Gasping for breath, he stared at the Lotus Lamp in his hand. “Activating this sacred artifact of the Demon Shadow Sect nearly drained all my Blood Qi.”

The White Lotus Bloom he had just unleashed had almost completely emptied his Dantian Qi Sea. Only his haphazardly practiced spells had managed to ignite the Lotus Lamp’s core, producing such an intense light.

Li Yan focused his gaze, and a line of text appeared before him:

The host’s reckless cultivation of the Blood Lotus Burning Lamp Technique has triggered a side effect, granting him a hundredfold increase in comprehension. Congratulations, host, for mastering White Lotus Bloom and activating an Ancient Sacred Artifact.

His haphazard cultivation had unlocked boundless potential, allowing him to activate the Blood Glazed Lotus Lamp at a crucial moment. The lamp’s light extinguished the Third Elder of the Su Clan’s shadow, freeing him from the Blood Shadow’s control and restoring his clarity of mind.

This was precisely why Li Yan had resolved to take this gamble. It seemed his gamble had paid off.

The System had warned that those who mastered the Blood Shadow Art would eventually be controlled by the Blood Shadow itself.

Looking at Third Elder Su Chongyue now, his face was etched with shock and wild elation. Compared to the Su Elder who had been possessed by the Blood Shadow, Su Chongyue now seemed more human than a Ghost Object.

Regaining consciousness, Su Chongyue cupped his hands in a respectful bow to Li Yan. “Young friend, if not for your intervention, I shudder to think how many more years I would have remained enslaved by this Blood Shadow.”

Hidden within the Poison Mist, Li Yan remained cautious, continuing to use its protective cover to observe the Third Elder. Feigning ignorance, he asked, “Elder Su, what exactly is this Blood Shadow?”

“Ah, it’s a long story, young friend. Let me give you the gist.”

“From the moment our Su Clan sons begin their cultivation journey, they must practice the Blood Shadow Art.”

“In our youth, none of us noticed anything amiss with the Blood Shadow. It wasn’t until we broke through to the Blood Core Realm that the Shadows began to develop their own consciousness.”

“The Shadow silently and imperceptibly corroded our physical bodies. Eventually, it seized control of mine, turning me into a Shadow Slave.”

“But in truth, the entire Su Clan, from top to bottom, had long been enslaved by the Blood Shadows.”

Elder Su’s words confirmed Li Yan’s suspicions.

The Su Clan had been practicing the Blood Shadow Art for generations, each generation unwittingly following the Shadows’ machinations down a path of no return.

If even the Su Clan Patriarch was a Shadow Slave, how could the younger members possibly perceive the truth?

From birth to the start of their cultivation, every aspect of their lives was meticulously orchestrated by the Shadows.

Now, Li Yan, wielding the Lotus Lamp—an ancient sacred artifact—had obliterated Su Chongyue’s Blood Shadow, thereby saving Elder Su.

Elder Su was deeply grateful. “Young friend, I’ve been enslaved by this Shadow for over a century. If not for your timely intervention, I…”

Imagine his soul trapped within his body, his physical form reduced to a mere shadow of a shadow, enduring a century of solitude and helplessness within a prison.

Those who have experienced such torment would never wish to relive it.

Elder Su’s eyes shone with irrepressible joy and gratitude.

“Elder Su, given the circumstances, we should leave this place immediately.”

“If the Su Clan’s Blood Shadow detects that you’ve lost control, they’ll undoubtedly send someone to investigate.”

Hearing this, Elder Su trembled.

“You’re right! Young friend, you speak the truth. After a century of confinement, my mind has grown dull.”

Su Chongyue nodded repeatedly, turning to face the bewildered Su Clan disciples beside him.

“Descendants of the Su Clan, I trust you all heard what was said just now.”

“The Blood Shadow Art isn’t some Ancient Immortal Art; it’s an Evil Technique from an Ancient Demonic Sect!”

“Cultivate it to the end, and you’ll possess immense cultivation power, only to have your body seized by your own Shadow!”

“Now that you all know this truth, the Shadow Demon will surely not spare us.”

As these words echoed, the young disciples of the Su Clan exchanged panicked glances.

Terror and uncertainty filled their faces, unsure of what to do next.

Elder Su raised his hand, signaling for silence.

“We must leave this place immediately and seek refuge in some secluded paradise to evade Blood Shadow’s pursuit.”

No Su Clan disciple dared voice any objection. They had all witnessed Blood Shadow’s power firsthand, and Su Chongyue was the clan’s highly respected Third Elder.

“We pledge to follow Third Elder!” the disciples declared in unison, voicing their unanimous support. Su Chongyue breathed a sigh of relief.

Turning to Li Yan, he said, “Young friend, this old man intends to travel to Mishan City to seek sanctuary. Would you care to join us?”

Mishan City? Li Yan searched his memory. After absorbing Old Ghost Xuanwang’s memories, he had a clear understanding of the Mountain of No Return.

The Mountain of No Return wasn’t a single peak, but an entire region spanning thousands of li north to south, its jagged peaks and deep valleys forming a vast and treacherous landscape. It was also known as the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains, a testament to its immense scale and endless succession of peaks.

Mishan City, nestled on the eastern edge of this mountain range, was a fortified settlement where cultivators from both Buddhist and Daoist sects gathered.

Seeking refuge in Mishan City was indeed a wise choice. According to Old Ghost Xuanwang’s memories, Mishan City was considered a relatively safe haven.

Snapping out of his reverie, Li Yan glanced at Elder Su. “The journey to Mishan City is long and arduous. If Elder Su is willing to lead the way, this junior would be honored to accompany you.”

Traveling with a Blood Core Realm cultivator was far safer than venturing alone. Moreover, Li Yan had no idea of Mishan City’s precise location. If he relied solely on himself, sleeping under the stars and asking for directions, he would likely encounter numerous bandits and rogue cultivators along the way.

“Then let’s set off immediately! Move!” Elder Su confidently turned his back to Li Yan and led his disciples out of Broken Sword Valley.

After careful consideration, Li Yan decided to follow Elder Su’s group. “Su Mo, let’s go.”

Corpse Puppet Su Mo trailed closely behind Li Yan. Once they emerged from Broken Sword Valley, the group burst out of the swirling mist.

Elder Su asked curiously, “By the way, benefactor, may I ask your esteemed name?”

“Li Yan, at your service.”

Elder Su clasped his hands respectfully. “Now that I see you in person, young friend, I never expected you to be so young.”

“This old one has a question, though I hesitate to ask…”

Li Yan replied magnanimously, “Please, Elder, speak freely.”

“Su Mo is my grand-niece. What… what has happened to her?” Elder Su glanced at Corpse Puppet Su Mo, noticing the bizarre fact that while her soul was gone, she still retained vital signs. It was as if Su Mo existed in a strange state between life and death.

Unable to reveal everything, Li Yan maintained a solemn expression and began fabricating a tale. “When I found her in Broken Sword Valley, she was already in this state. She’s simply been following me ever since.”

Elder Su nodded thoughtfully. “I see. So even you don’t know what happened to Su Mo. Alas… This old one can barely protect himself. I have no time to investigate her condition further.”

As Li Yan and Elder Su emerged from Broken Sword Valley, Martial Uncle Xuansha, who had been waiting by the path, stared in disbelief.

“You dare show your face again, brat!”