Cultivating Demonic Cultivation Art Leads to Backlash

"Cough, cough, thank you all, fellow Daoists."

After Xia Wantang and her group dealt with all the Heavenly Demon Cult members who arrived later, they unlocked the handcuffs of the captured cultivators and demonic beasts.

Among the human cultivators, apart from Xuan Yu, everyone else's condition was not optimistic. Xia Wantang had no choice but to take out a few healing pills and distribute them to them.

The demonic beasts were all doing fine. Xia Wantang had already let the Three-tailed Fire Fox take them and leave quickly.

"My name is Xuan Yu, from the Crimson Sun Sect in the South Plains Domain. May I ask how I should address my benefactors?"

Xuan Yu was in relatively good condition. After recovering, he bowed to Xia Wantang and the others to express his gratitude.

After a few introductions, Qu Zhuowen asked with some curiosity:

"You're from the South Plains Domain? And the number one sect there, the Crimson Sun Sect?"

"Then why did you travel so far to the East Hill Domain for training?"

Hearing this, Xuan Yu gave a wry smile:

"I just love to wander around. See, I got myself into trouble."

"It's a good thing you all came. Otherwise, I really would have perished here today."

Changing the subject, he became very curious about Xia Wantang's identity:

"Fellow Daoist Tang, I didn't expect you to be a rogue cultivator, and so young too. You make me feel ashamed. How did you cultivate?"

Xia Wantang skillfully shifted the topic:

"It's not time to relax yet. Didn't they say the Cult Master is in seclusion? We need to deal with the Cult Master quickly."

According to the normal plot progression, Xuan Yu was destined to die today. He was a character who had never appeared in the novel before.

She wondered how much impact her appearance would have on the subsequent plot. Fortunately, this identity didn't require frequent appearances. Even if others were curious about her, they wouldn't be able to find her even if they dug up the earth.

Hearing this, Xuan Yu slapped his head:

"Right, right, we still need to deal with the Heavenly Demon Cult Master."

"Take me with you. The other cultivators are not in good shape, let them leave first."

Upon hearing this, the cultivators who had just recovered from their injuries thanked Xia Wantang and her group and stumbled away.

"The Heavenly Demon Cult Master is in seclusion in the last stone chamber. This is what the Left and Right Protectors mentioned before."

As he led the way, Xuan Yu explained the situation:

"I heard that the Heavenly Demon Cult Master has the cultivation of the peak Spirit Channeling Realm, just one step away from breaking through to the Spirit Sovereign Realm."

"Right now is the critical moment for his breakthrough."

Hearing this, Qu Shengwen was shocked:

"Peak Spirit Channeling Realm... then we don't seem to be his match."

Ling Xuan also frowned:

"I didn't expect these cult members to have average strength, but the Left and Right Protectors and the Cult Master are all stronger than one another. Is Demonic Cultivation Art really that powerful?"

Yan Wen shook his head:

"Although Demonic Cultivation Art advances quickly, it is ultimately a shortcut. The foundation is unstable, and it's difficult to sustain for long."

"I'm afraid that even with the cultivation of the peak Spirit Channeling Realm, the Heavenly Demon Cult Master's strength should be around the perfected Spirit Channeling Realm."

Hearing this, Qu Zhuowen put on a long face:

"But even with the strength of the perfected Spirit Channeling Realm, we are still no match. Holy Son Yan Wen, your cultivation is only at the late Profound Heaven Realm!"

Xuan Yu blinked and looked at Xia Wantang:

"With Fellow Daoist Tang's cultivation... it should be fine, right?"

Although she hadn't made another move since then, her previous casual Wind Blades could instantly kill the Left and Right Protectors. Her cultivation should be at least at the late Spirit Channeling Realm.

Hearing this, Ling Xuan and the other three looked at each other, all uncertain:

Fellow Daoist Tang indeed has cultivation above the Spirit Channeling Realm, but she is so young after all. It's hard to reach the perfected Spirit Channeling Realm, right?

Hearing this, Xia Wantang could only say:

"If all of us work together, and I also know some formations, it shouldn't be difficult."

Even though she said that, she would definitely be at the forefront.

Among those present, apart from her and Yan Wen, their strength was around the late Mystic Martial Realm. Rushing to the front would be suicide.

For some reason, Xia Wantang's words were very convincing, and the others felt reassured.

Of course, there was also some frustration.

Because these people were all proud talents in their respective sects. They thought they were already outstanding among their peers.

But Xia Wantang, a mere rogue cultivator, possessed such high cultivation. Their past confidence and sense of superiority were shaken.

Yan Wen had the best mindset among them. He always believed that there was always someone better, and there were heavens beyond heavens.

Although he was often called the number one prodigy in the East Hill Domain, he never truly believed it.

He felt more curiosity and suspicion about Xia Wantang's identity:

With such strength, talent, and beauty, why has Fellow Daoist Tang remained unknown in the East Hill Domain? I've never heard of her.

[Tang Wan gained 5 favor points with Yan Wen. Current favor points: 45. Exchange faith points: 50.]

[Huh? How did Yan Wen's favor points increase again? Host, you didn't do anything, did you?]

Xia Wantang: "On one hand, it's because my sister is strong. On the other hand, he's become more curious about me."

[Understood, but not really.jpg.]

In a short while, the group arrived at the entrance of the stone chamber where Ye Shang was in seclusion.

Xia Wantang whispered:

"Don't rush. I'll set up a defense formation first."

As she spoke, she tapped the void with her fingertips, and Yan Wen and the others saw a light shield illuminate around them.

The spiritual power fluctuations within the shield were clearly different from before.

"Wow, Sister Tang, you're amazing! Not only can you break formations, but you can also set up such powerful ones!"

"Your 'knowing a little' threshold is way too high!"

Xuan Yu, not understanding the "knowing a little" reference, looked confused but still praised her:

"Fellow Daoist Tang is truly a jack of all trades!"

After setting up the formation, Xia Wantang's expression turned solemn:

"After I break open the stone door, don't leave my side. Use long-range magical attacks."

Although the Heavenly Demon Cult leader's cultivation was not as high as hers, it was far superior to everyone else present.

If the opponent were to launch a surprise attack, she might not be able to protect everyone.

The others nodded solemnly, fully aware of the danger.

"Boom!"

With a loud noise, the stone door was directly sliced in half by sharp wind blades.

Ye Shang, who had been engrossed in cultivation inside the stone chamber, opened his eyes. Sensing the complete annihilation of the Heavenly Demon Cult members, his expression became as ferocious as a ghostly Asura:

"You court death!"

With that, he ascended into the air, and a stream of black spiritual power surged towards Xia Wantang and the others.

Xia Wantang waved her large hand, and the wind blades directly sliced through the black spiritual power, which fell to the ground and turned into a few dirty water stains.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. I didn't expect the Heavenly Demon Cult leader to have a Water Spirit Root."

"But why did your water element turn black... Could it be a backlash from cultivating demonic arts?"

Seeing Ye Shang, Xia Wantang knew he was no match for her.

Although Ye Shang possessed the strength of the peak Spirit Channeling Realm, he was strong on the outside but weak on the inside. Due to his cultivation of demonic arts, his Dao heart was extremely unstable, and his demonic energy showed signs of subtly backlashing against him.

She suspected that if this continued, even if Ye Shang managed to break through to the Spirit Sovereign Realm, he would suffer a demonic energy backlash, completely lose his mind, and become a puppet controlled by demonic energy.

No wonder in the original text, Ye Shang's appearance was already neither human nor ghost when Xiao Rui encountered him.

From her current observation, he seemed to be in decent condition, even a little handsome.