Demonic Cultivator: Immune To Common Side Effects - Chapter 70

Chapter 70: Moon Essence Stance—Am I the Fairy’s Inner Demon?

When the Sect Master of the Demon Shadow Sect saw Li Yan, a foolhardy Golden Core Stage loose cultivator daring to intrude on the territory of a Great Ascension Stage cultivator, he casually unleashed several Demon Shadows to strike him.

In the eyes of the Sect Master and his followers, this insignificant ant was less than a speck of dust before a Great Ascension Stage Immortal. A mere sliver of magical power from the Immortal’s fingernail could easily obliterate Li Yan.

But to their astonishment, as the Demon Shadows hurtled toward Li Yan, the Obscured Moon Sword Immortal blurred into motion, instantly teleporting in front of him.

Bang!

The Sword Immortal intercepted the seemingly fatal strike meant for Li Yan, then rebuked him sharply.

“Junior, retreat at once! I am engaged in battle with this demonic fiend. Even a stray wisp of my sword qi could harm you.”

Li Yan had originally intended to test his Indestructible Body and experience the Demon Shadow Sect Master’s Immortal Arts firsthand.

Although this was an Illusionary Realm, the Side Effect System’s Reversal meant that illusions could become reality. Wasn’t he essentially reliving the cataclysmic battle at Broken Sword Valley from tens of thousands of years ago?

Li Yan never expected the Obscured Moon Sword Immortal to stand before him, shielding him from harm.

He paused, a bewildered expression spreading across his handsome face.

“I almost forgot…”

“In this era, spiritual energy is abundant. The Immortal Cultivation World still rigidly adheres to the division between the Righteous and Demonic Paths—a relic of ancient times.”

He realized that the Immortal Art Era still embraced the concept of the Immortal Hero.

This wasn’t difficult to understand.

In this Immortal Cultivation World, spiritual energy was plentiful, and Blessed Grotto-Heavens dotted the landscape.

It was a place where countless tales of ordinary people rising against the odds thrived:

• The discarded wastrel who stumbled upon a Blessed Grotto-Heaven and defied fate.
• The unremarkable mortal who discovered a divine artifact and embarked on an inspiring journey of Immortal Cultivation.

Why could these true stories flourish in this era?

Because the Immortal Cultivation World was overflowing with resources. Immortal Cultivators only needed to jostle a little to gorge themselves on wealth.

The strict division between the Righteous and Demonic Paths held immense significance, uniting those who carved up the spoils together.

In this era, resources were plentiful, and the Righteous Path cultivators, driven by their sense of chivalry, joined forces to suppress those who sought shortcuts in Immortal Cultivation via the Demonic Path.

Most Immortal Cultivators of this time looked down upon Demonic Path cultivators.

In stark contrast,

Tens of thousands of years later, during the Era of Dharma Decline—the very era Li Yan inhabited—

Everyone had turned to the Demonic Path, and no one could claim moral superiority. Blood Qi Cultivators all glimpsed a boundless future of glory.

There was no point in despising each other; after all, none of them were paragons of virtue.

Witnessing the Immortal Cultivation World of tens of thousands of years ago, where kindness still lingered, Li Yan marveled at the stark contrast between eras.

From the Immortal Art Era’s spirit of “one for all, all for one” to the Dharma Decline Era’s ruthless motto of “better a dead Fellow Daoist than a poor Daoist,” where one sacrificed their own disciples and grandchildren to cut off their descendants’ futures…

Li Yan’s understanding of the Immortal Path deepened anew.

He murmured to himself, “Humans are ultimately animals. Even after cultivating to become Immortals and transcending the mundane, they can’t escape their primal nature.”

“The abundance or scarcity of Immortal Cultivation resources dictates the moral standards of Immortals.”

The Obscured Moon Sword Immortal frowned at Li Yan’s sudden remark.

“Junior, what nonsense are you spouting?” she demanded. “You’re in no position to witness a clash between Great Ascension Stage cultivators.”

Mindful of the Obscured Moon Sword Immortal’s well-intentioned warning, Li Yan responded with a smile. “Fairy, there’s no need to concern yourself with me. I wouldn’t dream of interfering with your duel against the Demonic Path.”

“Please allow me to observe from the sidelines and appreciate the Obscured Moon Sword Immortal’s Sword Intent.”

“You!?”

The Obscured Moon Fairy’s expression stiffened. She had mistaken Li Yan for one of her devoted admirers—a fool willing to risk his life just to witness her swordsmanship up close.

“Another suicidal Sword Obsessed! I simply can’t dissuade him.” The Obscured Moon Sword Immortal sighed in resignation, turning her attention back to the battlefield. A clash between two Great Ascension Stage Immortals from the Righteous and Demonic Paths demanded her full concentration; she couldn’t afford to waste energy on a mere junior.

With a flourish of her Moon Essence Sword, she unleashed a surge of Sword Intent that made Li Yan’s blood boil with excitement.

“Truly worthy of being a Sword Immortal from the ancient era,” Li Yan murmured, stroking his chin as if struck by an epiphany. “Every move and stance embodies a profound understanding of the Dao.”

“Just observing her sword technique is extraordinary.”

Side Effect Reversal: The host has comprehended the Moon Essence Stance within the Illusionary Realm. Its form resembles a crescent moon, flowing with ethereal grace like shimmering moonlight.

Moon Essence Stance (Immortal Grade – Elementary): Balanced for offense and defense, it can deflect spells from cultivators of the same cultivation stage. With mastery, it can even deflect spells from higher-stage cultivators.

Hiss!

Li Yan took a deep breath, feeling an unprecedented sense of exhilaration.

No wonder the ancients said, “Those who dwell near cinnabar are reddened, those who dwell near ink are blackened.” The ancients never lied!

In the Era of Dharma Decline, mingling with those degenerate wretches only led to mutual degradation, each vying to see whose spells were filthier.

But here, at the peak of the Immortal Art Era, witnessing a Fairy’s graceful presence and exquisite swordplay up close proved endlessly enlightening.

“What a magnificent Moon Essence Stance!” Li Yan clapped enthusiastically, momentarily distracting the Obscured Moon Sword Immortal.

She couldn’t shake the feeling that this young man was peculiar. Despite being a mere Golden Core Stage loose cultivator, she sensed something unusual about him.

It wasn’t romantic love, but the Obscured Moon Fairy sensed a profound connection between herself and Li Yan.

Mhm.

The Fairy’s intuition was correct. Li Yan had indeed entered this Illusionary Realm through her, returning to the Broken Sword Valley of tens of thousands of years past.

Their minds resonated, forging an inexplicable bond within this illusory world.

Suddenly, a discordant voice shattered the tranquility.

“Obscured Moon Fairy, can a mere loose cultivator truly unsettle your composure?”

“Perhaps the Fairy lacks companionship and suffers from unbearable loneliness? Would you require this old one to properly cherish you?”

In the distance, the Sect Master of the Demon Shadow Sect, his hair disheveled beneath his black robes, brazenly taunted the Obscured Moon Sword Immortal.

It was obvious to everyone that the Obscured Moon Sword Immortal seemed somewhat concerned about this young man. Could there be a special relationship between them?

Yet none of them realized they were merely fragments of this Illusionary Realm.

Nor did they know that Li Yan had entered the Obscured Moon Sword Immortal’s consciousness from reality.

Their connection was akin to that between a dreamer and a dream interpreter.

But the Demonic Path cultivators, fueled by vulgar malice, began to speculate about their relationship with vile intentions.

The Obscured Moon Fairy scoffed coldly, “Demonic fiends, cease your attempts to corrupt my Dao heart!”

“I cultivate the Path of Ruthlessness. How could I possibly harbor affection for another?”

“It’s just that this young cultivator… he’s truly extraordinary!”

Yet the more the Obscured Moon Fairy protested, the more brazenly the surrounding Demonic Path cultivators guffawed.

The Sect Master of the Demon Shadow Sect seized the opportunity to preach his twisted philosophy to the Immortal Cultivators.

“You so-called Righteous Path cultivators who renounce the Seven Emotions and Six Desires—”

“That’s utter bullshit!”

“Why not indulge in unrestrained pleasures with us Demonic Path cultivators instead? Immortality grows tedious and tasteless—seize pleasure while you can! Only by freeing your mind can you attain the Great Dao!”

As he spouted his twisted logic, the Sect Master pointed at Li Yan.

“Look at the Obscured Moon Fairy—she claims to abstain from men and preserve her purity.”

“Yet this handsome young cultivator has already thrown her into disarray! Hahaha!”

The Demonic Path cultivators’ mocking laughter fueled the Obscured Moon Sword Immortal’s rage. She gripped her Moon Essence Sword tightly.

“Vile fiends! Stop spreading such slanderous lies!”

“I have severed the Seven Emotions and Six Desires. How could I fall prey to your heart demons?”

The more the Fairy protested, the more wildly the surrounding Demonic Path cultivators roared with laughter.