Demonic Cultivator: Immune To Common Side Effects - Chapter 72

Chapter 72: Shadow Explosion Art? A Shattered Dao Heart.

A replica?!

While everyone else was focused on other details, Li Yan seized upon a crucial piece of information.

The Blood Glazed Lotus Lamp in his hand was actually a replica?

This was the very same Lotus Lamp that had been displayed in the Sect Armory of Broken Sword Valley.

Upon reflection, it seemed improbable that a Sect Sacred Artifact—such a precious treasure—would be so casually displayed in the armory.

Thinking back, he realized he had indeed taken a replica from Broken Sword Valley.

The real Blood Glazed Lotus Lamp was likely hidden away in some deeper, more secure location.

If even the replica possessed such formidable power, Li Yan couldn’t begin to imagine the effects of the genuine artifact.

How could he obtain the real Blood Glazed Lotus Lamp?

Returning to Broken Sword Valley was currently impossible.

In the real world, the valley only appeared once a year, and the Mist Gate connecting to it randomly materialized on some mountain peak.

Finding the Broken Sword Valley Secret Realm required not only waiting a full year but also relying on luck to discover where the Mist Gate would appear.

But by sheer coincidence…

The Illusionary Realm Li Yan was currently in depicted the Demon Shadow Sect from tens of thousands of years ago!

Though it was merely an illusion, the Side Effect Reversal System had activated, transforming the false into reality.

Moreover, within this Illusionary Realm, Li Yan was immortal and impervious to all attacks.

If Li Yan could retrieve the true Sacred Artifact, the Lotus Lamp, from the Illusionary Realm and trigger a Side Effect Reversal, the Little Western Paradise would gain a True Tathagata, and even the Six-Eared Macaque could become the Great Sage Equal to Heaven.

Having clarified his strategy, Li Yan turned his gaze to the Old Demon of the Demon Shadow Sect. The Old Demon had yet to summon any Magic Artifact, which meant the Sacred Artifact Lotus Lamp must still be in his possession. If Li Yan could force the Old Demon to reveal his true power and summon the genuine Blood Glazed Lotus Lamp, he might have a chance to seize it.

With this in mind, Li Yan, disregarding the onlookers’ astonishment, assumed the Moon Essence Stance. Including himself, thirty-seven black-robed figures simultaneously arrayed themselves against the Demon Shadow Sect’s Old Demon.

The disheveled Old Demon narrowed his eyes into slits, maintaining a facade of composure. Yet inwardly, a tempest raged as he pondered:

How does this brat know my Shadow Technique?

And the Magic Artifact he wields is a replica of our Sect’s Sacred Artifact!

Just who is this person?

Overwhelmed by conflicting emotions, the Old Demon’s smile vanished, replaced by a grim, piercing stare fixed upon Li Yan. This multiple shadow clone technique, a closely guarded secret of the Demon Shadow Sect, was mastered only by the Old Demon himself and a handful of his personally trained disciples. All other apprentices could control only a single shadow. The multiple shadow clone technique was the Old Demon’s signature skill, reserved exclusively for his most trusted disciples.

This youth is exceedingly peculiar…

The Old Demon abandoned his playful demeanor, his voice now radiating an imposing authority.

“Boy, where did you learn that spell?”

Li Yan’s lips curled into a smirk. “Would you believe me if I said I taught myself?”

Even if I told them the truth—that I traversed the Illusionary Realm and used Side Effect Reversal to arrive from the Era of Dharma Decline tens of thousands of years in the future—would they believe me? Who can say if the Illusionary Realm is real or just a dream?

Li Yan didn’t care what they thought. His eyes were fixed solely on the Sacred Artifact he craved. His feigned depth was a deliberate ploy to whet the Old Demon’s appetite, forcing him to summon the true Blood Glazed Lotus Lamp.

But the Old Demon clearly wouldn’t easily reveal his trump card. As Sect Master, he still had some dignity to maintain when facing a mere Golden Core Stage cultivator like Li Yan.

A sinister glint flashed in the Old Demon’s eyes. “Brat, I could crush you in an instant and then mold your soul into a Shadow Puppet!”

Hearing such a threat from a Great Ascension Stage powerhouse would have sent most trembling and fleeing. But Li Yan only grew more excited. “Oh? Another intriguing spell! Would you mind teaching it to me?”

Li Yan’s arrogance baffled even the Obscured Moon Sword Immortal. “Young man, if you enrage that old demon, even I can’t protect you!”

In clashes between powerhouses, it was wise to avoid an opponent’s strongest techniques. No matter how powerful the Sword Immortal might be, she couldn’t possibly withstand the Old Demon’s Shadow Technique for the sake of a mere loose cultivator.

Yet Li Yan simply smiled politely and said…

“Fairy, I require no protection,” Li Yan said. “To be honest, I’m eagerly awaiting the Sect Master of the Demon Shadow Sect to unleash his next spell against me.”

Li Yan never missed an opportunity to secretly learn new spells. He couldn’t possibly pass up a spell from a Great Ascension Stage Immortal of the Immortal Art Era.

The Sword Immortal’s expression froze. “This Immortal values talent,” she snapped, “and only sought to save you because you’re a Righteous Path cultivator. Do as you see fit!”

Li Yan’s words had not only enraged the Obscured Moon Fairy.

Even the Old Demon across from him burst into mocking laughter.

Sometimes, when fury reaches its peak, laughter becomes irresistible.

Throwing back his head in a booming laugh, the Old Demon immediately began forming hand seals. His black and crimson robes billowed without wind!

His sleeves crackled as he conjured over ten thousand Demon Shadows into existence without chanting a single incantation.

Countless dark figures surged from the ground like clusters of deep-colored bombs, hurtling toward Li Yan in a relentless barrage.

The Obscured Moon Fairy’s heart tightened. “Shadow Explosion Art? This is bad!”

Her feathered robe fluttered as her figure vanished from the battlefield, leaving Li Yan alone.

Facing Li Yan, tens of thousands of shadows surged forward.

The Demon Shadows leaped into the air, unleashing a palm strike that descended like a heavenly decree, aimed directly at him.

As the countless dark figures crashed down, they unleashed a terrifying shockwave.

The black smoke from the explosion engulfed Li Yan completely, and the mountain peak where he stood was blasted into a crater tens of thousands of feet deep.

The entire mountain vanished in an instant, and the shockwave sent the spectating cultivators tumbling like scattered leaves.

Many curious onlookers failed to flee in time, coughing up blood as the shockwave churned their internal organs and sent their Blood Qi surging violently.

If mere spectators suffered internal injuries from the blast, what chance did Li Yan have at the epicenter? Surely nothing remained but ash.

The chain reaction of explosions shook the entire region to its core, making the earth tremble and the mountains quake. When the chaos subsided, countless injured onlookers cautiously staggered to their feet, still shaken by the near-death experience.

Among the crowd, aside from the Old Demon and the Sword Immortal, Cinder Annihilation Fairy possessed the greatest strength.

As the only Great Ascension Stage cultivator present, she had directly witnessed the full force of the explosion at close range.

“The Shadow Old Demon’s Shadow Explosion Art is truly terrifying. Today, I’ve finally witnessed its full horror,” Cinder Annihilation Fairy remarked from the sidelines, gaining fresh insights into her own cultivation.

“Seeing a Great Ascension Stage demon lord unleash thirty percent of his cultivation power makes this trip worthwhile.”

For immortal cultivators, the fastest growth comes not from secluded meditation, but from the crucible of battle and the wisdom gleaned from observing the clashes of masters. Witnessing such powerhouses clash is ten thousand times more enlightening than solitary practice.

Clutching her Violet-Gold Miao Blade, Cinder Annihilation Fairy gazed at the ten-thousand-foot-deep crater blasted into the earth.

“That arrogant brat… is he dead?”

The landscape before her was obscured by black smoke and dust. The majestic mountain that had stood moments before had been transformed into a colossal pit.

Just as everyone assumed Li Yan, the Golden Core Stage cultivator, had been reduced to ashes, his voice echoed from the depths of the crater.

“Not bad, not bad. I’ve learned another new spell.”

“Thank you, Sect Master, for bestowing this technique upon me! My gratitude.”

As Li Yan effortlessly floated back to the surface, the Demon Shadow Sect’s Old Demon’s Dao heart shattered completely.