Demonic Cultivator: Immune To Common Side Effects - Chapter 41

Chapter 41: You’re a Malevolent Spirit—Why Are You Bathed in Holy Light?

Even among shadows, appearances differed.

Li Yan’s shadow, lacking self-awareness, appeared dull-witted to other shadows.

But this was inevitable.

The Side Effect Reversal System ensured Li Yan’s shadow remained subservient to its master, preventing it from turning against him.

Precisely because of this perceived dullness, Crescent Shadow felt no wariness toward Li Yan’s shadow.

Yet now, they watched Li Yan’s shadow sprawled across the Sacrificial Formation, brazenly reversing the cosmic order to siphon the Blood Shadow Venerable One’s energy.

A dark, smoky aura streamed from the Formation, flowing into Li Yan’s shadow like a swirling mist.

Having stolen the Venerable One’s Immortal Art, Li Yan gained a deeper understanding of the Blood Shadow Art.

Thanks to the Blood Glazed Lotus Lamp, Li Yan possessed two shadows: a Main Shadow and a Sub Shadow.

The Main Shadow was the one beneath his feet, while the Sub Shadow was projected by the lamp.

This Sub Shadow could vanish instantly by extinguishing the lamp’s light, disappearing without a trace.

In combat, the Sub Shadow proved far more potent and versatile.

Simply snuffing out the lamp’s light allowed him to easily evade pursuers.

Witnessing Li Yan siphoning the Venerable One’s cultivation base, Crescent Shadow roared, “Who exactly are you?!”

With a swift motion, Crescent Shadow raised both hands. Its ten fingers transformed into ten writhing black serpents, coiling forth to bind Li Yan’s shadow.

As shadows closed in, Li Yan initially considered extinguishing his light and recalling his Sub Shadow.

But a daring idea flashed through his mind. Instead, he began manipulating his Sub Shadow to flee.

Beneath the starlit sky, two shadows raced through the forest, locked in a desperate chase.

The Crescent Shadow sneered, “Just follow your shadow, and I’ll find your true form!”

“Where do you think you’re going, brat?”

The Crescent Shadow believed himself to be the hunter, unaware that he was stepping into a meticulously prepared trap laid by Li Yan.

Within the Concealment Formation, Li Yan retrieved a Magical Treasure—the Soul-Locking Banner.

Su Mo, standing beside him, looked puzzled. “Master, can this thing even capture shadows?”

She understood Li Yan’s plan, but what baffled her was this:

Even if the entity being lured here was merely a shadow, could the Soul-Locking Banner truly be used to trap it?

Li Yan’s lips curled into a smile. Instead of explaining, he demonstrated on the spot.

He raised the Soul-Locking Banner with his right hand and silently chanted, “Shadow Transformation Technique.”

In an instant, both Li Yan’s Main Shadow and Sub Shadow found themselves holding identical Soul-Locking Banners.

That’s right!

This was the Blood Shadow Immortal Art he had just mastered, allowing him to extract a shadow copy of a Magical Treasure and project it into the hands of a shadow.

Under Li Yan’s control, the two shadows flanked their prey from opposite sides, their Shadow Soul-Locking Banners plunging into the ground!

Originally designed to capture the souls of the living and the dead, the Soul-Locking Banner could now ensnare shadows as well!

Through the Blood Shadow Immortal Art, the Soul-Locking Banner transformed into the Shadow Soul-Locking Banner!

Magical Treasures from the real world could be projected into the shadow realm using Immortal Techniques.

Two Shadow Soul-Locking Banners rose, conjuring multiple shadow walls that trapped the Crescent Shadow within.

“A Shadow-Locking Formation?!”

The Shadow Soul-Locking Banners successfully formed the formation, completely sealing off the Crescent Shadow’s escape routes.

Seeing this, the shadow with the crescent mark on its forehead visibly panicked.

“Who are you exactly?!”

“All Shadow Fiends are kin! Why would you attack me and attempt to steal the Venerable One’s cultivation base?”

The Crescent Shadow glanced around, noticing that the two shadows surrounding him were identical—twins?

“Greetings, esteemed sirs! I am Moon Shadow Daoist, a disciple of the Blood Shadow Venerable One. May I inquire as to your honorable names and sect affiliations?”

Hidden in the shadows, Li Yan pieced together the information from the Daoist’s words.

It seemed the Su Clan wasn’t the only family suffering from shadow possession; the entire Mishan City region was infested with these beings.

They called themselves Shadow Fiends, and the outer city was clearly under the control of someone called the Blood Shadow Venerable One.

Moon Shadow Daoist continued, “The outer city of Mishan is the Blood Shadow Venerable One’s sacred mountain gate! Do you not fear his wrath for imprisoning me here?”

The Daoist mistakenly assumed Li Yan was an outsider Shadow Fiend.

“Still calling himself Moon Shadow Daoist?” Li Yan couldn’t help but chuckle. Not only had the shadow usurped its master’s place, but it had also brazenly styled itself as a Venerable One and a Daoist. In this Mountain of No Return, it seemed even shadows sought to devour their human hosts.

“Insolent cur, daring to call yourself Moon Shadow Daoist!” Li Yan finally spoke through his shadow.

Moon Shadow Daoist’s eyes darted about, as if calculating something. He let out a series of sinister, cold laughs. “I thought you were more formidable. Judging by your Shadow Aura, you’re merely at the Fourth Layer of the Blood Shifting Realm.”

“Since you refuse to identify yourselves, this Poor Daoist has no choice but to take action!”

With that, Moon Shadow Daoist rose into the air, his shadow solidifying into a corporeal form. The dark figure waved its horsetail whisk, channeling a soft, sinister moonlight that shattered the Shadow Soul-Locking Banner blocking its path.

Moon Shadow Daoist’s shadow snorted coldly. “You’re likely just two masterless Wild Shadows, barely awakened to consciousness, yet you dare to be insolent before this Poor Daoist!”

The shadow formed a hand seal and chanted, “Radiant Moon, lend me your power!”

As the Moonlight Radiance surged toward Li Yan’s two shadows, Li Yan muttered softly under his breath.

“It seems I can’t pry any more information out of him. Time to close the net.”

“Golden Body Dharma Idols, arise!”

As Li Yan activated the incantation, two Golden Body Dharma Idols materialized from the shadows, their golden radiance blazing forth, dispelling the lingering darkness and confusion.

Moon Shadow Daoist, who had been so composed just moments before, now let out a piercing scream of agony.

“Yang Sacrifice Power?”

“Impossible! Utterly impossible!”

The Shadow Fiend—the entity claiming to be Moon Shadow Daoist—never dreamed of this.

They were both shadows, both malevolent entities. Why could he only wield Moonlight Radiance, while Li Yan could summon Golden Body Dharma Idols? It defied all logic.

The Shadow Fiend was like a vengeful ghost—what self-respecting demon would dare tattoo the Great Mighty Heavenly Dragon on its back?

For the Shadow Fiend, watching Li Yan’s two shadow avatars transform into Golden Body Dharma Idols felt like witnessing two Asura Demons instantly metamorphose into True Lord Erlang, Manifest Sage!

When Moon Shadow Daoist saw the two Golden Body Dharma Idols rise from the ground, his mind went blank with shock.

The searing golden light forced him to his knees, begging for mercy.

“Daoist Priest! Daoist Priest, spare my life!”

“You two are the real Shadow Daoists!”

“I, Moon Shadow Daoist, bestowed this title upon myself! This humble one’s eyes failed to recognize Mount Tai, and my vision was clouded!”

The two Golden Body Dharma Idols pressed closer, shrinking Moon Shadow Daoist’s shadow until it huddled trembling in a narrow crevice.

Li Yan’s lips curled into a smile as he spoke through the shadow: “Tell me everything you know.”

Moon Shadow Daoist stared in terror at the golden figures flanking him. The golden light radiating from the Yang Sacrifice Power exerted an overwhelming suppression on Shadow Fiends. Though his Cultivation Base was formidable, the Golden Body Dharma Idols had him completely subdued.

Helplessly pinned down, Moon Shadow Daoist stammered, “This humble one will reveal all! I beg the true Shadow Daoists to spare my life!”

“Give me the sacrificial incantation!”

Li Yan’s objective was clear: to fleece the Venerable One! With the sacrificial incantation in hand, he could reverse the Side Effect Reversal System’s drawbacks and siphon power from the Blood Venerable One. What could be better than directly stealing the Venerable One’s cultivation?