Demonic Cultivator: Immune To Common Side Effects - Chapter 6

Chapter 6: The Burning Lamp Technique and the Short-Lived

Li Yan swallowed nervously as he gazed at the eerie Fourth Floor Scripture Repository before him. Senior Brother Ming Zhe had clearly intended to set him up. Yet, upon calmer reflection, while the repository exuded an ominous aura, most of it seemed to emanate from the bookshelves themselves. Could it be…?

A daring idea struck Li Yan. He stepped into the Fourth Floor Scripture Repository, his eyes sweeping over the names of the cultivation techniques on the shelves. A quick glance revealed that most titles were saturated with keywords like “blood,” “corrosion,” “devour,” and “cadaver.”

The technique right in front of him, for instance, was labeled “Bone-Corroding Technique” and “Devouring Insect Gu Heart Method.”

It was then that Li Yan suddenly understood.

The Fourth Floor Scripture Repository contained no proper cultivation techniques at all.

That hypocritical Senior Brother Ming Zhe had deliberately brought him here to choose a technique, clearly intending to use him as a guinea pig.

These books were likely scavenged from all corners of the land by Daoist Xuanwang, and some might even bear traces of blood.

“And the thick layer of dust on these books proves that no one ever comes to the Fourth Floor Scripture Repository,” Li Yan deduced, secretly delighted.

Ming Zhe had tried to trick him for no good reason, but unknowingly did him a great favor. If all these Demonic Arts have such severe side effects, and I’m immune, wouldn’t that be wonderful?

His heart raced, his hands trembled. Faced with rows of bookshelves filled with Cultivation Techniques boasting extreme side effects, Li Yan’s eyes darted wildly, overwhelmed by the choices.

Suddenly, his gaze landed on a bloodstained book. While many volumes bore traces of blood, this one was completely soaked through with it, its pages dyed crimson.

Drawn to the scarlet tome, Li Yan stood on tiptoe and reached for it.

Bloodline Burning Lamp Technique.

Opening the first page, he saw a bloody palm print stamped across it.

Pinch the mystical gateway with your fingers, sacrifice blood to light the lamp! Bind souls to the wick, and let spirits fuel the flame!

A wave of sinister energy surged from the page. This single line revealed the technique’s inherent malevolence.

Flipping to the second page, Li Yan found a detailed description of the Elementary stage: using blood as the catalyst, transforming one’s flesh into a lampstand to illuminate and destroy malevolent spirits.

Flipping through the pages, Li Yan discovered that at its advanced stages, this technique even allowed one to use their own soul as fuel to summon the corporeal form of a Blood Demon.

Absolutely a Demonic Art! This is undoubtedly a Forbidden Art!

Following the methods outlined within, it seemed impossible for anyone to achieve Perfection in this Cultivation Technique.

This is like setting oneself ablaze as a living torch. Who in their right mind would practice this? The person who wrote this secret manual must have been quite the mad genius.

But what is poison to one may be medicine to another!

Li Yan closed the book with satisfaction. This was the one he wanted!

The elementary stage of this technique was surprisingly simple. All it required was mastering hand seals, incantations, and the Burning Lamp gesture to ignite one’s Blood Qi.

Just then, Senior Brother Ming Zhe, who hadn’t dared to step inside the Fourth Floor Scripture Repository, called out from the doorway.

“Junior Brother, have you made your choice yet? Morning practice is about to begin!”

Li Yan took the Bloodline Burning Lamp Technique and hurried out of the Fourth Floor Scripture Repository.

As he left the room, a pale, ethereal figure materialized on a bookshelf in the corner. Sitting there, dangling its legs, it watched Li Yan’s departure.

Oblivious to anything amiss behind him, Li Yan closed the door. Senior Brother Ming Zhe eagerly asked, “Which Cultivation Technique did you choose? Let me see!”

Li Yan replied calmly, “Senior Brother, I picked a relatively easy one to practice. Would you like to learn it?”

As Li Yan held out the bloodstained technique, Ming Zhe recoiled, waving his hands frantically. “No need! No need!”

“Junior Brother,” Ming Zhe said, giving Li Yan a thumbs-up, “you’ve got real vision. Out of hundreds of techniques, you chose the best one!”

This new Junior Brother is something else! Ming Zhe thought. Out of hundreds of techniques, he picked a bloodstained one to practice. He’s not acting like a newbie at all, going straight for the heavy-duty stuff!

After a moment, Ming Zhe lowered his voice and asked, “When you first entered the Fourth Floor Scripture Repository, did you see anything?”

“See anything? Nope,” Li Yan shook his head. He genuinely hadn’t noticed anything.

Senior Brother Ming Zhe seemed visibly disappointed by Li Yan’s answer.

“Alright, go register this Cultivation Technique at the counter, and then we’ll head to morning practice.”

As they spoke, the two had already reached the ground floor counter.

When Li Yan placed the bloodstained Cultivation Technique on the counter, the female disciple in charge of the Scripture Repository trembled slightly, staring at him in disbelief.

However, she said nothing, silently recording the loan before gesturing for Li Yan to leave.

Only then did Senior Brother Ming Zhe grin widely, clapping a hand on Li Yan’s shoulder. “Let’s go, Junior Brother!”

Leading Li Yan out of the Scripture Repository, they quickly arrived at the plaza where the Tranquil Void Temple disciples gathered for their morning practice.

Over a hundred disciples had already assembled in the plaza. Some sat cross-legged in meditation, others stretched their limbs, while still others practiced with their peachwood swords.

When Li Yan walked onto the plaza, all eyes turned to him, scrutinizing the newcomer.

“I heard he replaced Ming Che as manager of the Stone Workshop Hall.”

“He’s quite handsome, but I wonder how long he’ll last.”

“So pale and delicate—a sure sign of an early grave.”

The senior brothers and sisters whispered among themselves, their private conversations filled with malice.

Unbeknownst to them, Li Yan had already reached the first level of the Blood Condensation Realm. With a slight twitch of his ears, he could hear every word of their discussion.

The animosity radiating from these senior brothers and sisters toward the new servant disciple was palpable.

They were all placing bets on how long the new junior brother would last, with some of the more brazen senior sisters even wagering a night in their chambers against his survival.

Li Yan narrowed his eyes, a silent chuckle brewing within him. None of these senior brothers and sisters have likely broken through the first layer of the Blood Condensation Realm. If I’m careful and discreetly steal their Blood Qi, I should be able to go unnoticed.

Noticing his master was nowhere in sight, Li Yan steeled his courage and raised his hand, initiating the Blood Qi Theft technique.

As he absorbed the energy, the Blood Qi of the senior brothers and sisters within twenty steps began to flow silently into the palm of Li Yan’s hand.

The Blood Qi from these seniors was far superior to anything he’d obtained from the retainers.

A single use of Blood Qi Theft nearly made Li Yan moan in ecstasy.

Silken threads of crimson energy surged into his palm, shooting straight into his Dantian Qi Sea.

Countless fine strands coalesced into a crimson river within his body, nourishing his Dantian Qi Sea.

As Li Yan continued his theft, his Qi Sea expanded, and the Blood Qi within his Dantian thickened.

Second Layer of the Blood Condensation Realm!

Third Layer of the Blood Condensation Realm!

Li Yan sat cross-legged on the ground, quietly siphoning the Blood Qi from the surrounding senior brothers and sisters.

Amidst this gathering of over a hundred seniors, Li Yan realized a profound truth:

What they say is true: “Those who dwell near vermilion are dyed red, and those near ink are blackened.” Being around these people made Blood Qi Theft faster and the energy more potent!

Just as he was completely immersed in his cultivation, preparing to break through to the third layer of the Blood Condensation Realm…

“Master has arrived!”