Demonic Cultivator: Immune To Common Side Effects - Chapter 66

Chapter 66: Leading the Way—Elders First

Awakening from the Illusionary Realm, Li Yan savored the sweetness of his success.

The dense spiritual energy within the illusion had transported him back to the Ancient Immortal Cultivation Era.

But when he opened his eyes, Li Yan, who had been immersed in a Heavenly Paradise just moments before, found himself back in the God’s Tomb, piled high with flesh and gore.

The fairies who had danced in the Blood Pool and among the Other Shore Flowers now lay collapsed on the ground.

Their exquisite beauty had vanished, replaced by the bluish-gray, withered corpses of desiccated husks.

Presumably, I absorbed too much spiritual energy in the illusion, Li Yan thought. The beautiful dream shattered, turning fairies into dried-up corpses.

Still, he could consider it an act of kindness—freeing them from their endless nightmare.

As Li Yan stood up, the Other Shore Flowers around him began to wither, and the crimson Blood Pool became clear and pure.

It was as if his actions had purified the blood-soaked filth, restoring it to its natural state.

This scene left the Cinder Annihilation Fairy within the Demonic Eye speechless for a long time.

Li Yan’s performance had utterly transcended her understanding.

The Cinder Annihilation Fairy was unaware of Li Yan’s entry into the dreamscape and his absorption of spiritual energy.

In her eyes, Li Yan simply sat down by the Blood Pool, and the land corrupted by the Bloodline was instantly purified.

The female cultivators trapped within the Endless Blood Realm were released, their souls restored and returned to the cycle of Reincarnation.

Just then, Li Yan sensed something amiss behind him.

Countless powerful cultivators were probing the area with their Divine Sense.

Li Yan could detect at least a hundred strands of Divine Sense and dared not linger.

“So many people? That must be the work of Old Daoist Tranquil Void.”

He had anticipated Daoist Tranquil Void’s resentment, knowing the old Daoist wouldn’t stand by and watch him plunder the Underground Cave alone. The Daoist likely thought, “If I can’t have it, neither will Li Yan.”

Sensing the intruders’ approach, Li Yan was already prepared.

Su Mo, the Corpse Puppet he had stationed outside the God’s Tomb, sent him a message:

A Blood Shifting Realm cultivator from Mishan City had arrived at the God’s Tomb.

Judging by his attire, he wasn’t from the Su Clan but rather an Inner Disciple of the Heavenly Evolution Sect from Mishan City.

A fierce glint flashed in Li Yan’s eyes.

“Su Mo, strike!”

Hidden in the shadows, Su Mo existed in the liminal space between life and death, her aura undetectable to cultivators. She possessed no magical power, only the physical strength of a Blood Core Realm cultivator.

Corpse Puppet Su Mo crashed down from above, her Demonic Bone Greatsword tearing through the air as if to rend the very fabric of space.

The Heavenly Evolution Sect disciple sensed the danger, but it was too late. The greatsword slammed down, sending him flying several meters despite his Blood Qi defense.

He tumbled through the air before landing with a sickening thud, spitting out a mouthful of blood. Severely injured, he looked up in shock at the figure behind him.

“Wait… you’re… Miss Su Clan, Su Mo!”

Though her hair had turned stark white, everyone knew Su Mo, the Su Clan’s renowned prodigy. The Heavenly Evolution Sect disciple watched as Su Mo dragged her greatsword step by step toward him.

Desperate, he fumbled for a talisman, hoping to send a distress signal.

But he never got the chance.

Several shadows lurking in the darkness surged forward, ensnaring the Heavenly Evolution Sect disciple’s limbs.

As Li Yan activated the Blood Shadow Immortal Art, the disciple struggled desperately, his muffled cries sounding like those of a drowning man.

Like someone sinking beneath the waves, he was dragged deeper and deeper into the shadowy abyss by the grasping shadows until he vanished completely into the ground.

The shadows acted like a dark pool, submerging him into the Shadow World to be enslaved.

Li Yan chanted under his breath:

“Soul-Devouring Bone-Mimicking Aspect, Spirit-Drinking Visage-Simulating Adornment, Shadows Transform with the Heart, Illusion and Reality Both Meet Their Demise.”

The Blood Shadow Avatar Technique allowed him to drag weaker opponents directly into the Shadow World for imprisonment.

“Blood Shadow Avatar, arise!”

As Li Yan intoned the command, the Heavenly Evolution Sect disciple’s shadow crawled out of the ground.

While his original body remained locked in the Shadow World, his shadow now replaced him in reality.

Initially jet-black and unnatural, the shadow’s form gradually softened and blended into its surroundings until it perfectly replicated the disciple’s appearance.

The shadow’s face was etched with disbelief, his eyes brimming with gratitude as he turned to Li Yan.

“Yuanji, Inner Disciple of the Heavenly Evolution Sect, pays his respects to Master!”

“If not for you, Master, I would have remained crushed beneath that man’s heel for the rest of my life!”

The shadow had usurped the body, leaving the original host as its shadow.

Li Yan knew from his spells that a shadow’s personality was typically the opposite of its host’s. A brutally violent host would have a shadow of extreme gentleness.

Yuanji, the Heavenly Evolution Sect disciple before him, was humility personified, showing utmost deference to Li Yan.

Observing the shadow cultivator’s unwavering loyalty, Li Yan nodded. “Very well. When others arrive, guide them into God’s Tomb.”

“Let those outsiders pave the way for me!”

“Understood!”

Li Yan then retreated with Su Mo to the periphery of God’s Tomb. The dense Blood Qi in the area would effectively conceal their presence.

The tomb’s intensely concentrated Blood Qi made it ideal for concealment.

Hidden away, Li Yan could hear the whistling of flying swords echoing through the tunnels of the Underground Cave.

More and more Human Cultivators were converging on God’s Tomb.

Li Yan and Su Mo remained concealed in the shadows, quietly observing the situation outside.

The man and his Corpse Puppet remained hidden in the darkness.

But then…

Li Yan suddenly felt Su Mo tighten her grip on him. The petite, adorable Corpse Puppet had reached out and embraced him, burying her face against his chest.

Like a child clinging to an adult, Su Mo naturally nestled against him, resting against his body.

Inhaling Li Yan’s scent, the Corpse Puppet closed her eyes contentedly.

Li Yan couldn’t help but feel both amused and exasperated at the Corpse Puppet in his arms.

This white-haired woman possessed the appearance of maturity, yet her inner self remained that of an innocent child.

Utterly unaware of the concept of propriety between men and women, Su Mo simply enjoyed physical closeness.

Li Yan chuckled softly, whispering, “Su Mo, why are you hugging me so tightly?”

The white-haired woman’s innocent face wore a bewildered expression.

“Covering Master’s aura with a hug… Am I doing it wrong?”

So, she was just trying to conceal Li Yan’s presence? Was I overthinking things, or was Su Mo simply making excuses?

Given her unique existence in the liminal state between life and death, she was indeed undetectable to outsiders. Li Yan saw no reason to ask her to let go.

He stopped resisting, sensing a large group of cultivators approaching. They were members of Mishan City’s Four Great Sects. Elders from the Heavenly Evolution Sect, the Yellow Path Sect, and other major sects had been drawn to the scene.

Meanwhile, Yuanji—the man Li Yan had replaced with a Shadow Puppet—stood guard at the entrance to God’s Tomb.

An elder from the Heavenly Evolution Sect immediately strode forward. “Yuanji, have you located the Core Formation cultivator?”

Yuanji clasped his hands in a respectful salute. “Sixth Elder, the cultivator has already fled into God’s Tomb!”

Seeing Yuanji acting normally, the group suspected no treachery among their ranks. Instead, they immediately surged into God’s Tomb, falling straight into Li Yan’s trap.