Demonic Cultivator: Immune To Common Side Effects - Chapter 42

Chapter 42: Shadow Puppet Technique – Reclaiming Mastery

Moon Shadow Daoist’s heart skipped a beat when Li Yan demanded the sacrificial incantation.

“Does Your Excellency intend to steal the Venerable One’s cultivation base?”

“I cannot comply! If I betray the Venerable One, I will never be resurrected again!”

Shadow Fiend Resurrection.

The term was familiar to Li Yan.

Having recently learned the Blood Shadow Immortal Art, he had become acquainted with many new concepts.

Shadow Fiend Resurrection referred to the special technique that allowed a Shadow Fiend to be revived even after it had dissipated.

As long as the Shadow Fiend’s original body remained alive, it could be resurrected through a ritual.

Theoretically, if the original body survived, a Shadow Fiend could be resurrected indefinitely.

Therefore, even if Li Yan killed Moon Shadow Daoist now, he would only lose a portion of his cultivation base.

Compared to betraying the Venerable One, this Shadow Fiend would rather die again.

Seeing Moon Shadow Daoist’s unwavering refusal, Li Yan remained unperturbed.

He raised his hand and retrieved a magical treasure—the Shadow Soul-Locking Chain—from his storage ring.

“Shadow Transformation Magical Treasure.”

As Li Yan silently chanted, a Shadow Soul-Locking Chain materialized in the hands of each of his two shadows.

When Moon Shadow Daoist was bound, confusion flickered across his face. “What do you intend to do?”

Li Yan’s Sub Shadow yanked the chain forcefully, dragging Moon Shadow Daoist forward. Following the trail of his shadow, they began tracking down the Daoist’s original body.

Only then did Moon Shadow Daoist panic.

“You’re breaking all the rules of honorable combat! How dare you try to find my true body?”

“You… aren’t you afraid of drawing the Venerable One’s attention?”

Li Yan’s Sub Shadow, who was pulling the iron chain ahead, retorted, “If the Venerable One you speak of could truly see everything, he would have come to save you long ago.”

“The fact that he hasn’t noticed anything yet proves he’s too busy to care about a mere Shadow Puppet like you.”

Hearing this, Moon Shadow Daoist grew even more frantic.

Li Yan was clearly right!

The Venerable One couldn’t possibly oversee everything. With tens of thousands of Shadow Puppets under his command, he wouldn’t immediately notice the loss of a few.

No matter how desperately Moon Shadow Daoist struggled, Li Yan followed the shadow trace connecting him to his true body, eventually locating a Daoist temple.

“Moon Gazing Daoist Temple?”

The temple stood less than three li from the small grove, and within its walls resided Moon Shadow Daoist’s true body.

By this time, Li Yan had already arrived outside the temple with Su Mo, riding his flying sword.

He donned a mask to conceal his face, then leaped over the temple wall with Su Mo in tow.

To their surprise, the temple was completely deserted.

Instead, several shadows slithered out from beneath the temple grounds.

These dark figures crept forward silently, attempting to ambush Li Yan.

Unbeknownst to them, everything was under Li Yan’s control.

“Burn!”

He casually ignited the Blood Glazed Lotus Lamp. A searing white light flashed, and a piercing wail erupted from the shadows, instantly purifying the Shadow Fiends that had possessed the Dao Children.

The shadows didn’t even have time to struggle before dissolving into nothingness.

Li Yan was certain: when its effects were reversed, the Blood Glazed Lotus Lamp, an ancient Sacred Artifact of the Demonic Sects, proved remarkably effective against Shadow Fiends.

After annihilating the shadow sentries, Li Yan strode brazenly through the Moon Gazing Daoist Temple. The rhythmic snoring of sleeping Dao Children echoed throughout the complex.

It was clear: everyone in the temple had become a Shadow Puppet.

Having fallen under the Shadow Puppet Technique, everyone would sink into a deep, dreamless slumber each night, leaving only the Shadow Fiends on guard.

After incinerating a few overzealous Shadow Fiends with the Lotus Lamp, Li Yan reached the temple’s innermost chamber and pushed open the door.

There lay Moon Shadow Daoist’s true body, snoring loudly in his bed.

A crescent moon mark was indeed imprinted on his forehead.

“Judging by Moon Shadow Daoist’s true form, he should be a first-layer Blood Core Realm cultivator.”

“This massive temple, with over a hundred people, yet not a single night watchman… The entire place has been overrun by Shadow Puppets.”

Staring at the Daoist’s slumbering form, Li Yan realized how easily he, a first-layer Blood Core Realm cultivator, had approached unnoticed.

Why?

This was the fate of those who became Shadow Puppets. A Shadow Fiend could induce an unnaturally deep sleep in its host whenever it pleased, almost like death.

Li Yan stepped forward and patted Moon Shadow Daoist on the cheek. The Daoist groggily opened his eyes, his pupils unfocused and his expression blank with confusion.

“This Shadow Fiend is truly formidable,” Li Yan remarked. “It can turn its host into a puppet.”

“Many who become Shadow Puppets die without ever realizing their shadows act independently at night.”

There was a crucial difference between Shadow Slaves and Shadow Puppets.

Take Third Elder Su Chongyue of the Su Clan, for example—he was a Shadow Slave. Shadow Slaves knew they had been enslaved but were powerless to resist.

Shadow Puppets were different. Those who became Shadow Puppets remained unaware that their shadows had developed independent consciousness.

Moon Shadow Daoist was one such case. Every night, he would suddenly feel drowsy, collapsing into a deep slumber. Once he was asleep, the Shadow Fiend could roam freely.

During the day, it parasitized its host, draining his Cultivation Base. At night, it ventured out to hunt—this was the typical pattern of a Shadow Fiend.

By this time, Moon Shadow Daoist’s shadow had also been brought back into the room.

When the Shadow Fiend saw Li Yan’s true form, its eyes widened. “You… you have two shadows?!”

“Just who in the world are you?!”

Faced with the Shadow Fiend’s shock, Li Yan offered no reply.

Instead, Li Yan bit his fingertip and used his blood to inscribe the incantation for the Shadow Puppet Technique on the Moon Shadow Daoist’s shadow.

Seeing this, the Shadow Fiend immediately understood Li Yan’s intent.

Li Yan had sought out Moon Shadow’s true form precisely to control him!

“You… where did you steal the Venerable One’s Shadow Puppet Technique?!”

“No! Please, don’t erase my consciousness! I beg you…”

Before the Shadow Fiend could unleash its furious roar, Li Yan swept his palm across the floor, erasing the runes from the shadow.

The gesture instantly calmed the dark figure.

It transformed into a mindless Shadow Puppet, standing blankly to the side.

Using the stolen Shadow Puppet Technique, Li Yan had turned the tables, transforming the Moon Shadow Daoist’s shadow into his own puppet.

Li Yan crooked a finger. “Tell me, who is your master?”

The Shadow Puppet replied in a dazed voice, “You are my master.”

Elated by the technique’s success, Li Yan eagerly pressed for answers.

“Tell me, how did you find me? Why were you looking for me?”

The Shadow Puppet answered without hesitation, responding to every question Li Yan posed.

“The Su Clan sent someone to tell us to find a young cultivator who had escaped from Tranquil Void Temple.”

“You matched the Su Clan’s description perfectly. We’ve been watching you since you entered the village.”

Hearing this, Li Yan’s brow furrowed in thought.

He had been marked the moment he appeared outside Mishan City. No wonder.

“What’s your connection to the Su Clan?” Li Yan pressed, determined to extract every detail from the Shadow Puppet.

The Shadow Puppet replied truthfully, “The Su Clan Patriarch is a close friend of the Blood Shadow Venerable One. They were both born as Shadow Fiends in the same generation.”

“The Su Clan issued a search warrant, and we simply followed orders.”

Just as he suspected. The Su Clan Patriarch was also a Shadow Fiend, firmly controlled by the Shadow.

Curious, Li Yan inquired, “What about the Venerable One himself? Is the Blood Shadow Venerable One the City Lord of Mishan City?”

The Shadow Puppet shook its head. “No. Though they both bear the title ‘Venerable One,’ they are not the same person.”

Having gathered all the information he needed, Li Yan cut straight to the point. “Brainwash Moon Shadow Daoist right now. Tell him I’m the son of his old friend, here to stay at the temple for a while.”

The Shadow Puppet nodded. “As you command, Master. I will rewrite Moon Shadow Daoist’s memories to accept your presence.”

“Then, give me the sacrificial incantation. I intend to steal the Venerable One’s Cultivation Base! Is that possible?” Li Yan asked tentatively.

Without hesitation, the Shadow Puppet replied, “As you command.”

He watched as the shadow immediately began drawing the sacrificial formation on the ground.

This meant that Li Yan could steal the Blood Shadow Venerable One’s Cultivation Base at any time, anywhere!

He watched as the sacrificial formation was drawn on the floor. Then, he raised his hand and pressed it against the intricate pattern.

Sacrifice effect activated: You are now absorbing the Blood Shadow Venerable One’s abilities.