Demonic Cultivator: Immune To Common Side Effects - Chapter 7

Chapter 7: The Blood Sign—You Will Monitor Your Senior Brothers

Daoist Xuanwang approached from afar, and Li Yan hastily ceased his Blood Qi Theft. The old Daoist’s cultivation was immeasurably higher than his own; he couldn’t risk being caught in the act. Li Yan quickly curled his fingers, silently slipped into the crowd, and positioned himself protectively in front of his senior brothers.

The One-Eyed Old Daoist strolled leisurely before the assembled disciples and cleared his throat with a dry cough.

“Morning practice begins.”

The disciples straightened their backs before Daoist Xuanwang. After scanning the group to ensure everyone was present, the old Daoist cleared his throat again and began chanting:

“Lock Qi at the throat, elbows shatter blood tendons, waist twists to sever meridians, shoulders rend souls, eyes devour light, steps plunge into the Yellow Springs…”

As Daoist Xuanwang’s low growls echoed through the dim morning light, the disciples contorted their bodies according to the mantra, performing exaggerated, nearly self-destructive movements.

Each posture left Li Yan’s back aching and his waist sore.

Suddenly, the old Daoist Xuanwang, who was guiding the practice from the platform, sensed something amiss.

“Strange,” the Old Daoist muttered, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the disciples. “Why are they all so listless today, as if their Blood Qi were completely depleted?”

He scrutinized each disciple, discovering that most of them indeed had weak Blood Qi.

The disciples themselves were equally puzzled. They had been full of vigor just moments before, but after only a brief morning practice, they now felt drained of jing energy and their Dantians powerless.

Throughout the entire morning exercise, the disciples remained lethargic, yawning frequently and sporting dark circles under their eyes.

Old Daoist Xuanwang stroked his beard, lost in deep thought.

Observing this, Li Yan realized he needed to moderate his Blood Qi absorption, maintaining a slow and steady pace rather than taking too much at once.

Fortunately, Old Daoist Xuanwang had arrived early, preventing Li Yan from stealing more Blood Qi.

However, aside from the daily morning exercises—his only opportunity to approach so many senior brothers and sisters at once, as they usually dispersed throughout the Tranquil Void Temple—there seemed no other way to absorb Blood Qi discreetly.

To achieve this undetected, Li Yan would likely need to upgrade his Blood Qi Theft skill, increasing its range.

Just as Li Yan was pondering this, the Old Daoist raised his hand.

“Stop!” Old Daoist Xuanwang barked. “Disciples, your spirits are low today. It seems the recent batches of Medicine Pills have been woefully ineffective.”

The moment these words were spoken, the disciples trembled violently, as if they had heard some terrifying prophecy.

The Old Daoist is going to perform Alchemy again!

Whenever he does, someone’s bound to suffer…

Xuanwang’s temper was as unpredictable as the weather; the disciples’ survival depended entirely on his whims.

The Old Daoist retrieved a bamboo cylinder from his sleeve, his eyes sweeping over the assembled disciples. “Same old rule: those who draw a Blood Sign, step forward.”

Senior Brother Ming Zhe, standing beside Li Yan, broke out in a cold sweat.

Damn it, if I draw a Blood Sign, I’m done for.

Curious, Li Yan asked, “What happens if you draw a Blood Sign?”

Ming Zhe’s eyelids twitched nervously. He lowered his voice. “Master… might drag you off…”

Before he could finish, the bamboo cylinder was already floating before him.

Old Daoist Xuanwang raised his hand, manipulating the cylinder telekinetically.

“Ming Zhe, what’s with all the whispering? Hurry up and draw!”

“Y-yes, Master!”

Ming Zhe trembled as he reached into the bamboo cylinder, fumbling around before pulling out a bamboo slip. He gripped it tightly, then slowly loosened his hand.

It was the Blood Sign!

Senior Brother Ming Zhe’s face drained of all color. He threw the slip aside and immediately activated his qinggong, attempting to flee.

Old Daoist Xuanwang merely snorted and clenched his fist.

The next moment, Senior Brother Ming Zhe screamed, clutched his chest, and collapsed to the ground, his body curled into a shrimp-like ball.

“Ming Zhe, you’ve been my disciple for half a year. How can you still be so foolish?”

Before Senior Brother Ming Zhe could struggle, Old Daoist Xuanwang tightened his fist further, as if trying to crush Ming Zhe’s heart from afar.

With a muffled groan, Senior Brother Ming Zhe fainted instantly. Two Servant Disciples quickly dragged him away, his fate unknown.

Having dealt with the fleeing Ming Zhe, the remaining disciples stiffened, holding their breath, afraid to make even the slightest sound.

“Continue drawing. Mingyan, it’s your turn.”

Xuanwang flicked his wrist, and the bamboo cylinder flew toward Li Yan.

Li Yan took a deep breath, knowing that drawing a Blood Sign could only mean trouble.

The Senior Brothers and Sisters who had drawn Blood Signs looked as pale as corpses.

Senior Brother Ming Zhe, disregarding his own safety, had desperately tried to flee but was swiftly subdued by Xuanwang.

Witnessing Xuanwang’s display of power, Li Yan was acutely aware of the vast difference in strength between master and disciple.

With his current cultivation base, defying the old man would only result in instant annihilation at Xuanwang’s hands.

Li Yan reached into the bamboo cylinder, fumbling around for a moment before slowly withdrawing a bamboo slip.

His clenched fist began to sweat as he slowly opened his hand to reveal the slip.

It was bloodless.

An ordinary slip! Not a Blood Sign!

Relief washed over Li Yan as his heart pounded wildly in his chest.

Soon, five more disciples had drawn Blood Signs.

Their legs buckled beneath them, and they collapsed to the ground, their faces ashen, before being led away.

Just as Li Yan thought he had narrowly escaped, Old Daoist Xuanwang turned his gaze upon him.

“Ah, right, Disciple,” the old man said. “You’re new to the Tranquil Void Temple and haven’t witnessed everything yet.”

“For this mountain descent, you shall wield the Blood Token and oversee these six on my behalf. Monitor their every move.”

“Should they dare to flee, snap this token. Their deaths will be assured.”

With that, Old Daoist Xuanwang pressed a blood-soaked wooden token into Li Yan’s hand.

The blood-soaked token felt brittle, as if the slightest pressure could snap it in two.

The Old Daoist handed Li Yan the wooden Blood Token, instructing him to descend the mountain with his senior brothers and sisters to supervise them.

What’s this?

Li Yan frowned deeply. “Master, why me?”

Old Daoist Xuanwang’s lips curled into a sinister smile, his eyes glinting with malice. “If this old man were to personally intervene, the Tranquil Void Temple would descend into utter chaos.”

“You must go in my stead, Disciple, and oversee your senior brothers and sisters as they work.”

“Go now, my dear disciple.”

The old man clearly understood that if Xuanwang himself ventured out, his hundred-odd disciples might strip the Tranquil Void Temple bare overnight. By assigning this arduous task to Li Yan, a newly arrived servant disciple, it was as if the old man saw him as a disposable pawn. After all, what did it matter if a fresh-faced servant disciple died?

Left with no choice, Li Yan stiffly accepted the Blood Token.

His mind began to race. Perhaps this trip down the mountain is my chance to escape the Tranquil Void Temple!

The old man had only placed a tracking seal on him. With Reverse Tracking, he could easily mislead him.

And with the Blood Token in hand, those six senior brothers and sisters would have to obey his commands—a perfect opportunity to slip away!

With this plan in mind, Li Yan clasped his hands and asked, “Master, what exactly am I to do? Just supervise them?”

“Exactly. Just keep an eye on them. Your senior brothers know what needs to be done.”

Old Daoist Xuanwang grinned, revealing a row of sharp, yellowed teeth as if recalling a pleasant memory.