Demonic Cultivator: Immune To Common Side Effects - Chapter 52

Chapter 52: Betraying Master and Ancestor—Seizing Tranquil Void’s Cave Mansion!

Daoist Tranquil Void was an old Daoist with snow-white hair, a youthful face, and a kind, benevolent demeanor.

His fingers formed an orchid mudra, pinching three Seven Star Needles between his fingertips.

“Sun, moon, and stars, bind soul and fix shadow—go!”

The old Daoist flicked his middle finger, sending the three needles flying with pinpoint accuracy into the shadow beneath the Immortal Carriage.

Tranquil Void chuckled inwardly. Originally, I prepared these Seven Star Needles for the Su Clan. Who knew I’d encounter another shadow-manipulating cultivator?

Once half your magical power is depleted, let’s see how you break free from the Seven Star Needles’ suppression!

Inside the Immortal Carriage, the Blood Shadow Eldest Daughter watched her shadow being pinned in place, cold sweat beading on her forehead.

“Seven Star Needles? Where did you find such a treasure?!”

The Seven Star Needles were one of the few Magical Treasures capable of suppressing Shadow Fiends. Forged from extraterrestrial meteorite iron and star essence, their crafting techniques had long been lost to time. As consumables, each use depleted their dwindling numbers.

The tips of the needles glowed with the light of the Chen Star, firmly anchoring the shadow to the ground.

Each Seven Star Needle could only be used once. Once withdrawn, it would shatter like a brittle piece of bamboo.

This Magical Treasure wasn’t just for dealing with Shadow Fiends; it could be used against people too!

Li Yan, watching from afar, immediately sensed the danger.

I can’t let that old man catch me!

The Seven Star Needles could immobilize a person’s shadow and Divine Soul. If he were pinned down, he’d suffer the same fate as the Blood Shadow Eldest Daughter.

Meanwhile, Old Daoist Tranquil Void, perched on his flying sword, smirked smugly, his arrogance practically radiating from his face.

“Where did this old one acquire the Seven Star Needles? Heavenly Secrets cannot be revealed.”

“Little beauty, now that I’ve immobilized you, you’re completely at my mercy.”

“Let’s see if you’re suitable as a Vessel. These little darlings are already eager to enter your body.”

With that, Daoist Tranquil Void held up a walnut-sized Insect Gu. Inside, plump, semi-transparent larvae writhed and squirmed.

Li Yan narrowed his eyes as Daoist Tranquil Void approached the Immortal Carriage.

He’d originally planned to stay out of it, figuring either the Eldest Daughter would kill the old Daoist, or they’d cripple each other, leaving Li Yan to pick up the pieces. It’s none of my business.

It now seemed that Daoist Tranquil Void had somehow acquired the Seven Star Needles, capable of immobilizing souls and locking shadows, completely suppressing the Eldest Daughter.

This was none of Li Yan’s concern. He merely sighed inwardly, lamenting his missed opportunity. He’d hoped to snatch a bargain, but the Eldest Daughter had been captured by Daoist Tranquil Void so easily.

Through the Shadow’s perspective, Li Yan watched as Daoist Tranquil Void approached the Immortal Carriage and slowly drew back its white curtain.

“Little beauty, the Insect Gu in this old man’s hands craves your tender flesh and blood!”

Daoist Tranquil Void’s expression twisted into a grotesque leer as he violently yanked open the carriage curtain.

Li Yan was puzzled.

Whether the accompanying maidservants had served any purpose was unclear, but why had Elder Si Deng fled? It made no sense. Given his strength, Elder Si Deng shouldn’t have abandoned the Eldest Daughter.

But all his doubts vanished the moment Daoist Tranquil Void flung open the carriage curtain.

If Daoist Tranquil Void had hidden tricks up his sleeve, surely the Venerable One’s Eldest Daughter had her own countermeasures?

The curtain parted to reveal an empty carriage!

Inside lay a Seven-Colored Glazed Pearl the size of a human head. The Eldest Daughter was nowhere to be seen.

Li Yan’s eyes lit up. “A Glazed Projection? So… the Eldest Daughter in the carriage is just a Sub Shadow?”

The real Eldest Daughter was still in Mishan City, using the Seven-Colored Glazed Pearl to project her shadow into the Immortal Carriage.

This shadow could materialize, taking on the form of a living person, which had misled Li Yan into believing there was someone actually inside.

Impressive! Li Yan thought, secretly astonished, clutching his chest as a wave of belated fear washed over him.

I was planning to seize an opportunity to strike at the Blood Shadow Eldest Daughter and turn her into my Shadow Puppet. Good thing he didn’t give me the chance…

He was grateful Daoist Tranquil Void had taken the fall for him. Otherwise, the consequences would have been dire.

Imagine Li Yan sneaking in to imprint a Shadow Puppet mark on the Eldest Daughter, only to discover she was merely a Sub Shadow. The resulting embarrassment would have been unbearable.

Meanwhile, the most bewildered person was undoubtedly Daoist Tranquil Void.

He pulled back the curtain and saw a Seven-Colored Glazed Pearl inside the carriage. The old Daoist’s face crumpled completely.

Li Yan couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly at the sight of the old Daoist’s humiliation.

From within the Immortal Carriage, the Eldest Daughter’s teasing voice echoed from the Seven-Colored Glazed Pearl:

“Trying to catch me? You insignificant insect! Do you really think you’re an Immortal?”

“Oh, and by the way, your Insect Gu will explode… and so will my Seven-Colored Glazed Pearl.”

Her voice dripped with mockery and a hint of mischievousness.

The Old Daoist’s face paled instantly. Without hesitation, he turned and fled.

But behind him, a sinister laughter echoed through the dim, dense forest. Two colossal Shadow Hands, each hundreds of feet long, erupted from the ground.

The gargantuan palms formed an inescapable net, blocking Daoist Tranquil Void’s escape route.

Then came the crisp sound of shattering glass.

Crack!

The Seven-Colored Glazed Pearl shattered, unleashing a beam of death from its core.

The black ray streaked across the twilight sky, striking Daoist Tranquil Void squarely in the back.

Hidden in the shadows, Li Yan watched helplessly as the dark beam pulverized the Old Daoist’s head.

The dusky sky was bisected by a stark black line.

The headless corpse of Daoist Tranquil Void plummeted from the sky, landing among the withered leaves.

Watching Daoist Tranquil Void’s headless corpse fall, beads of sweat rolled down Li Yan’s forehead.

“The ferocity of combat between Blood Core Realm cultivators is truly terrifying,” he muttered.

“The Eldest Daughter’s methods are too cunning. Even with such cautious travel, she still uses a projection.”

Clearly, the spells mastered by Blood Core Realm cultivators were beyond Li Yan’s current capabilities.

Fortunately, his cautious nature had prevented him from rashly intervening.

As the black ray of death slowly dissipated into the air, the projection of the Seven-Colored Glazed Pearl vanished, and with it, the Blood Shadow Eldest Daughter’s presence.

Unless she had prepared a second Seven-Colored Glazed Pearl in her palanquin, her shadow wouldn’t be able to manifest again anytime soon.

Just as tranquility returned to the dense forest, Daoist Tranquil Void’s headless corpse suddenly twitched violently.

Li Yan frowned. “That old ghost… he’s still alive?”

“Good thing I didn’t rush in to loot the body. Caution always pays off.”

The headless corpse continued to twitch, then lurched to its feet. Dragging its mangled body, it staggered westward.

Hidden in the shadows, Li Yan watched the wounded prey with the cool detachment of a seasoned hunter.

Should I strike?

But he’s still a Blood Core Realm cultivator. He’s already condensed his Blood Core.

Even though the old Daoist is heavily injured, it’s best not to act rashly. He might still have some tricks up his sleeve.

Even facing a headless, heavily wounded Blood Core Realm cultivator, Li Yan decided caution was the wisest course.

He watched as the headless Daoist Tranquil Void found a secluded spot and sat down cross-legged to meditate.

Stroking his chin, Li Yan felt a daring idea take shape in his mind.

According to Daoist Xuan Ye’s memories, Daoist Tranquil Void has a fortified Cave Mansion protected by a Mountain Guardian Formation. Outsiders can’t easily breach it.

But if I seize this once-in-a-millennium opportunity and use Daoist Tranquil Void himself to activate the Mountain Guardian Formation, wouldn’t everything inside his Treasure Vault—his entire Cave Mansion—become mine?

A meticulous and audacious plan gradually crystallized in Li Yan’s mind.