Demonic Cultivator: Immune To Common Side Effects - Chapter 76

Chapter 76: Slaying the Old Demon, Seizing the Lotus Lamp

Li Yan, clad in a simple Daoist robe, began to flicker in and out of existence.

He lowered his head to examine his hands, his brow furrowing deeply.

Could this Illusionary Realm have a time limit? Am I being ejected from this world?

His body shifted from solid to ethereal, growing increasingly faint and transparent.

Though his journey had been fruitful, yielding the Immortal Grade Moonbow Sword, the Moonbow Stance, and several Shadow Techniques, such a treasure-filled Illusionary Realm was a rare opportunity, perhaps never to be encountered again.

Most importantly, he desperately wanted the Blood Glazed Lotus Lamp held by the Old Demon.

Am I really going to vanish like this, returning empty-handed to the God’s Tomb?

What a waste…

As his figure grew increasingly faint, nearly fading completely from the realm, the Obscured Moon Sword Immortal’s voice rang out from behind: “Immortal Clan member, before you depart, might I ask how this Ten Shadows Formation can be broken?”

Hidden within the Ten Shadows Formation, the Old Demon roared with laughter: “He’s about to disappear! How do you think you can breach my Ten Shadows Formation now?”

Seeing Li Yan on the verge of vanishing, the Demon Shadow Sect’s Old Demon grew bolder.

“Once this old fool is gone, I’ll settle the score with you lot!”

By now, everyone was convinced that Li Yan was indeed an Immortal who had descended from the White Jade Capital, and that his time in the mortal realm was limited.

His time was up; Li Yan was about to return to the heavens.

But just as he was on the verge of vanishing, the Obscured Moon Sword Immortal’s approach brought an unexpected twist.

Li Yan, who had already become a transparent shadow, gradually solidified, his form returning.

He himself noticed this change.

Hmm?

As the Obscured Moon Sword Immortal drew closer, his body, which had been fading from the Illusionary Realm, regained its clarity.

Could it be…?

Did I start fading simply because I strayed too far from the Obscured Moon Fairy?

Upon closer reflection, it became clear: the master of this Illusionary Realm was none other than the Obscured Moon Sword Immortal herself.

Earlier, everyone’s attention had been focused on the Ten Shadows Formation, including the Sword Immortal’s.

Her mind was absorbed by the Ten Shadows Formation, causing her to neglect me, which in turn caused my body to begin to blur?

Of course, this was merely Li Yan’s own speculation. He couldn’t be entirely certain whether it was true.

The only thing he knew for sure was that to remain in the Illusionary Realm longer, he needed to keep his attention fixed on the Sword Immortal.

She is the true master of this realm.

With his thoughts clarified, Li Yan’s lips curled into a smile as he strode purposefully toward the Obscured Moon Fairy.

As Li Yan drew closer to the Sword Immortal, his form stabilized, eventually returning to its original state.

“What? Did you think This Venerable One would vanish?” he quipped, concocting a plausible excuse that none dared question. “That was merely a spatial fluctuation blurring my Projection.”

A Projection.

The crowd sighed inwardly.

“So it’s a Projection of the Immortal Clan.”

“No wonder it’s indestructible, remaining unscathed even when faced with the Old Demon’s Shadow Explosion Art.”

But when the Sword Immortal met Li Yan’s gaze, a peculiar unease stirred within her.

How strange.

When Li Yan looked at her, the Sword Immortal felt as if she stood naked before him, her innermost thoughts laid bare to this immortal’s piercing eyes.

This sensation was not entirely unfounded. After all, Li Yan was within her Illusionary Realm—a manifestation of her innermost mind, her dreams, and her nightmares.

The Obscured Moon Fairy politely clasped her hands in a formal greeting. “Immortal One, please break the Ten Shadows Formation.”

Li Yan, in turn, found himself curious about this fairy.

He reasoned that understanding the underlying circumstances would allow him to remain in this Illusionary Realm longer. With this in mind, he decided to inquire about her motives for wanting to slay the Sect Master of the Demon Shadow Sect.

“I have a question,” Li Yan said.

“Please ask, Immortal,” the Obscured Moon Sword Immortal replied, adopting the respectful posture of a junior awaiting the guidance of a senior.

Li Yan pointed toward the Ten Shadows Formation shrouded in dark mist. “What is the true nature of your feud with the Demon Shadow Sect’s Old Demon? Would you go so far as to annihilate his entire sect just to eliminate him?”

The Sword Immortal’s delicate eyebrows furrowed, her expression grave. “The Sect Master of the Demon Shadow Sect is no longer content with ordinary evil arts. He recently unearthed an Ancient Tomb.”

“Within that subterranean tomb lies a slumbering Ancient Deity.”

“If that Ancient God were to awaken, it would inevitably bring about a world-destroying catastrophe!”

As the Sword Immortal spoke, Li Yan’s mind flashed back to the words of the Sword Immortal Corpse in the God’s Tomb:

I can’t do anything… In the end, I couldn’t save anyone.

The white-haired corpse in the God’s Tomb was none other than the Obscured Moon Sword Immortal herself, tens of thousands of years in the future.

The Illusionary Realm and reality converged. Li Yan finally understood the true meaning behind the white-haired corpse’s cryptic words.

The Sword Immortal’s mission was to prevent the Old Demon from awakening the Ancient God!

Could the rampant rise of Blood Cultivators during the Era of Dharma Decline be due to the Shadow Old Demon’s greed, which led to the Ancient God’s awakening and the subsequent decline of spiritual energy?

Piecing together the events that had transpired, Li Yan seemed to have grasped the reasons behind the decline of spiritual energy and the downfall of the Immortal Cultivation World.

This decline, which ushered in the Era of Dharma Decline, stripped away spiritual energy and forced cultivators to prey on each other for survival, was likely caused by the Sect Master of the Demon Shadow Sect awakening the Ancient God known as the Bloodline Emperor within the God’s Tomb.

Li Yan turned to face the Ten Shadows Formation. “Was it you who awakened that damned thing in the God’s Tomb?”

Shadow Old Demon, hiding within the formation, shuddered. “You? Do you truly know what lurks within the God’s Tomb?”

Alas.

Even if Li Yan had foreseen this impending disaster, he couldn’t have averted it.

After all, this was merely an Illusionary Realm, and the deed was already done.

Since nothing could be changed, he would proceed directly to his objective!

Without wasting words, Li Yan strode into the Ten Shadows Formation.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, he walked directly into the array.

Within the Ten Shadows Formation, countless phantoms and illusions swirled.

As its name suggested, the formation possessed ten elemental attributes: wind, fire, thunder, lightning, illusions, poison, and more.

Breaking through it was notoriously difficult; ordinary cultivators could spend a year trapped within its depths without finding an exit.

Yet before Li Yan’s eyes, countless notifications flashed:

You are in an Illusionary Realm and immune to Poison Shadows.

You are in an Illusionary Realm and immune to Water Shadows.

You are in an Illusionary Realm and immune to Delusion Shadows.

You are in an Illusionary Realm, immune…

Li Yan traversed the entire Ten Shadows Formation in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

The Ten Shadows Formation, the Old Demon’s pride and joy, was effortlessly overcome by Li Yan.

When Shadow Old Demon saw Li Yan emerge from the dense fog and appear within his Sect, he was shaken to his core.

“Why… why must you relentlessly pursue me like this?”

As the Old Demon’s focus wavered, the Obscured Moon Sword Immortal, who had been waiting outside the Ten Shadows Formation, seized the opportunity to break through.

The fairy held her breath, concentrating intently, and whispered, “There’s a flaw where the Immortal Clan passed through.”

Seizing this hard-won chance, she unleashed a Crescent Moon Slash!

A crescent-shaped arc of sword qi tore through the Ten Shadows Formation, ripping open a fissure at its weakest point.

The fog-shrouded Ten Shadows Formation instantly dissipated like smoke.

Above, the ink-black storm clouds, heavy with oppressive stillness, suddenly churned. A fierce wind swept away the lingering remnants, white light erupted, and the dark clouds retreated like a receding tide, revealing a vast, clear blue sky stretching ten thousand li.

The black clouds over the Demon Shadow Sect vanished in an instant.

Obscured Moon Sword Immortal and Cinder Annihilation Fairy materialized in the air.

The Moon Essence Sword and Violet-Gold Miao Blade struck simultaneously at the Demon Shadow Sect’s Old Demon.

A clash between masters lasts but a breath. The Old Demon vanished without a trace, leaving behind only a severed arm and the Blood Glazed Lotus Lamp.

“Master! I’ve secured the Lotus Lamp you wanted!”