Demonic Cultivator: Immune To Common Side Effects - Chapter 40

Chapter 40: Sacrificing Li Yan? Time to Turn Side Effects into Advantages.

Li Yan watched the eerie villagers search the dense forest, their torches casting flickering shadows. He remained hidden within his Concealment Formation, wary of making a hasty move.

Beside him, Corpse Puppet Su Mo cradled a bowl of Spirit Liquid, sipping it delicately. As she replenished her energy, she blinked curiously. “Master, they’re weak. Let me handle them.”

“No. When things are this strange, there’s bound to be a catch,” Li Yan replied. “Look at their shadows.”

From within the Concealment Formation, he pointed to the villagers’ shadows. The shadows twisted into grotesque shapes, as if they were alive and possessed minds of their own.

Judging by this…

The villagers were undoubtedly being manipulated by their shadows, forced to hunt for Li Yan.

Thinking aloud, Li Yan muttered, “I knew the Su Clan’s Blood Shadow power was immense, but I never imagined they’d dare enslave villagers with shadows right outside Mishan City.”

“Aren’t the Su Clan’s shadow masters afraid of offending the Venerable One of Mishan City?”

Just then, Li Yan noticed several villagers’ shadows whispering among themselves.

Could shadows communicate with each other? Hmm… I’ve got it!

Li Yan formed a hand seal with two fingers, released his own shadow, and extended it outward.

As his shadow approached the other Blood Shadows, they showed absolutely no suspicion. The dark figures merely glanced at Li Yan’s shadow before resuming their conversation.

“A villager reported this morning that a Foreign Cultivator has arrived in Niu Family Village.”

“He’s neither staying with the villagers nor lodging at the inn. Where could he be hiding?”

Another shadow replied coldly, “It must be that meddling Daoist Zhang Jiu interfering again, saving that outsider’s life!”

“Continue searching. If you fail to find him and delay the sacrifice… you know the consequences.”

“Yes!”

The other shadows dared not protest and immediately dispersed to resume their search for Li Yan.

The commanding shadow growled under its breath, “That dog Daoist Zhang Jiu! He’s thwarted my plans time and again.”

“He’d better not try to leave the city tonight. If I catch him, I’ll definitely refine him into a Shadow Puppet!”

Li Yan, eavesdropping through his own shadow, confirmed his suspicions: the shadows created by the Blood Shadow Art possessed self-awareness. They could seize control of their original hosts’ bodies and were no longer content with being mere Shadow Slaves. They had even begun transforming ordinary people into Shadow Puppets! The villagers wandering aimlessly through the forest with torches were likely some of these Shadow Puppets.

Li Yan also noticed a white crescent moon mark between the eyebrows of one particular black shadow. This distinguished him from the others, suggesting a hierarchical ranking among them.

At that moment, the crescent-marked shadow turned its gaze toward Li Yan. “Newcomer? I don’t recognize you.”

“Judging by your dull-witted look, you’re fresh off the boat.”

“You, come with me.”

To the crescent shadow, Li Yan’s shadow appeared vacant and emotionless, clearly a newly formed one. Seeing such a blank-faced shadow, the crescent shadow lowered its guard.

Li Yan’s shadow remained undetected, and consumed by curiosity, he silently followed the Crescent Shadow.

The group of shadows scoured the dense forest, but failed to locate Li Yan’s true form.

With the Concealment Formation activated, finding someone hidden in such a vast forest proved exceedingly difficult.

Growing impatient, the Crescent Shadow cursed angrily, “Dawn is almost here, and we still haven’t found that brat!”

“He’s probably not even here! We’ll never be able to return with results…”

“All of you, gather here now!”

At the Crescent Black Shadow’s furious roar, the villagers’ shadows slithered like pythons across the ground, converging on the clearing.

“Since we’ve found nothing today, each of you must sacrifice a hand as a pledge of loyalty to the Blood Shadow Venerable One.”

With that, the Crescent Shadow etched arcane Ancient Immortal Script into the sandy soil.

Li Yan couldn’t decipher the script, but he secretly memorized the shapes of the characters.

The shadow wearing the crescent diadem then issued commands to the other Shadow Puppets.

“Begin the sacrifice!”

The Shadow Puppets stood in line, pressing their left hands against the ground.

Before their very eyes, their left arms slowly dissolved into ash, drawn away by the sacrificial formation.

Mournful cries echoed as the Shadows’ limbs crumbled, writhing in pain.

Li Yan considered using the chaos to slip away, extinguishing his own Shadow.

But then the System chimed in:

Detected sacrificial ritual with severe side effects! Host, proceed immediately—this is a golden opportunity!

Huh?

The Shadows were sacrificing their left arms, yet the System was urging him to seize the chance.

A daring idea sparked in Li Yan’s mind.

The Crescent Black Shadow, a crescent moon symbol adorning its forehead, surveyed the group of one-armed Shadows and nodded in satisfaction.

Then it spotted Li Yan’s Shadow and barked, “You’re the last one! Hurry to the sacrificial formation and offer your arm to the Blood Shadow Venerable One!”

“Yes,” Li Yan’s Shadow replied mechanically, devoid of emotion.

Under Li Yan’s control, it began shuffling toward the trap formation. Mimicking the others, he raised his hand and guided his Shadow to place its arm within the sacrificial array.

The Crescent Black Shadow, still oblivious to the danger, began chanting the sacrificial incantation, preparing to sacrifice Li Yan’s Shadow’s arm.

Host’s Shadow detected being sacrificed! Side Effect Reversal activated!

Side Effect: Sacrifice Shadow’s left arm to the Blood Shadow Venerable One.

Effect Reversal Activated: Absorbing the Blood Shadow Venerable One’s power.

Heaven and Earth Turned Upside Down!

At that very moment, no one realized that Li Yan’s Shadow—the seemingly dull-witted, mindless entity—was relentlessly absorbing the Blood Shadow Venerable One’s power and transmitting it to Li Yan’s true self.

Absorbing the Blood Shadow Venerable One’s power. You have mastered the Blood Shadow Avatar Technique.

Absorbing the Blood Shadow Venerable One’s power. You have mastered the Shadow Puppet Technique.

Absorbing the Blood Shadow Venerable One’s power. You have mastered the Blood Shadow Immortal Art!

Absorbing the Blood Shadow Venerable One’s energy. Your Cultivation Base has advanced to the fourth layer of the Blood Shifting Realm.

Absorbing…

If Li Yan’s self-sacrifice had been known, it might have shaken the heavens and earth. But this wasn’t self-sacrifice—it was an act of loving devotion.

While other Shadows were sacrificing themselves, Li Yan was the one doing the reaping, like a sheep farmer shearing his flock.

One skill after another was added to his arsenal, and his Cultivation Base continued to climb.

And all of this was happening in complete silence, likely unnoticed even by the Blood Shadow Venerable One himself.

However, the Crescent Shadow, marked by a crescent moon on its forehead, sensed something was amiss.

“Hmm?”

“Wait a minute, what’s going on?”

“Not only hasn’t your arm been sacrificed, but… your Shadow is actually growing stronger?”

Though the Crescent Shadow couldn’t comprehend the reason, it recognized the anomaly.

“Just who are you?”