Entering the Immortal Path, Cultivating a Hundred Arts: Chapter 29: The Thunder Roc Demon Venerable
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As a means of confusing people, an illusion formation could subtly influence and manipulate the minds of others without leaving a trace.
Illusion talismans could also bewilder people, though they worked in a different way.
The two immortal arts differed in method, yet were identical in essence.
One focused on the mind, while the other focused on appearances.
Taking advantage of the Evergreen Art’s properties, Li Feng concealed his aura and carefully set up a second-grade inferior illusion formation around the area.
He had obtained this formation from the ruins of a cultivator. Before now, he had not reached the second grade and had never been able to use it. At last, it had found its purpose.
The illusion formation covered a wide area, silently enveloping Jin Yanzi and the others.
At that moment, they were wholly focused on capturing Li Qing and noticed nothing.
That was one of the illusion formation’s greatest characteristics. Anyone without a sufficient understanding of formations would find it extremely difficult to detect anything amiss.
After finishing his preparations, Li Feng used an illusion talisman to construct a lifelike phantom of an Ice-Armored Bull.
He added several wounds to the phantom, creating the impression that it had just endured a battle.
This was Li Feng’s first attempt at combining two immortal arts. He had no idea whether it would succeed.
Although an illusion talisman could reproduce the Ice-Armored Bull’s appearance with great accuracy, it could not imitate the fierce aura of a peak second-grade Ice-Armored Bull.
That was where the illusion formation revealed its might.
It could affect all five senses.
The higher the grade of an illusion formation, the greater its influence on the mind, and the more realistic it appeared.
After all this preparation, a considerable amount of time had passed.
Li Qing had acquired numerous wounds and was struggling to withstand the successive attacks of nine Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Li Feng did not delay any longer. He poured spiritual power into the phantom, and the Ice-Armored Bull came alive, shaking its head and swishing its tail with astonishing realism.
By then, the second-grade illusion formation had blended perfectly with the surrounding environment and was gradually beginning to take effect.
“Go!”
With the attitude of someone merely willing to give it a try, Li Feng controlled the phantom and charged into the battle.
The moment the Ice-Armored Bull appeared, its scarlet eyes locked firmly onto Jin Yanzi. It pawed at the ground, assuming a posture as though it were about to charge.
Li Feng promptly manipulated the illusion formation in concert with it. A violent gale suddenly swept through the surroundings, sending sand and stones flying.
The phantom’s aura rose steadily, stopping only after it had reached the peak of the second grade.
When Jin Yanzi saw the Ice-Armored Bull appear, he was horrified. He immediately recalled the nine Foundation Establishment cultivators and had them surround him against any unforeseen danger.
Although they were of the same realm, Jin Yanzi had no confidence that he could subdue the Ice-Armored Bull alone.
His specialty was alchemy, not combat.
Besides, at the same level, demonic beasts naturally possessed greater defenses and combat prowess than cultivators.
Hidden in the darkness, Li Feng let out a long breath and secretly rejoiced.
Fortunately, none of the Foundation Establishment cultivators was a formation master.
If even one first-grade formation master proficient in illusion formations had been present, they would have noticed something wrong.
A second-level Foundation Establishment cultivator stared at the Ice-Armored Bull, his expression tense and bewildered.
“Master Jin, wasn’t the Ice-Armored Bull lured to the Sky-Patterned Tiger so that they could fight? How did it end up here?”
The other Foundation Establishment cultivators were equally on guard, gripping their magic artifacts and daring not to relax for even an instant.
Judging by the situation, the Sky-Patterned Tiger had probably been defeated.
The Ice-Armored Bull continued to glare at Jin Yanzi with a predatory gaze.
The atmosphere was oppressively tense.
Li Qing finally had a chance to catch her breath. After adjusting her condition, she prepared to flee.
“Li Hu, Liu Er, stop her. We’ll deal with the Ice-Armored Bull.”
Jin Yanzi would rather have fewer guards beside him than let Li Qing go.
The Heavenly Crane Sect had offered an extremely generous reward for capturing the Bloodcloud Sect’s final disciple. He could not bear to watch a duck that was already cooked fly away.
Just as the two men were about to act, a deep and mysterious voice surged in from every direction and poured into everyone’s ears.
“Wretched humans, you dare bring calamity upon my demon clan? You seek death!”
The voice was like a colossal bell being struck, its thunderous roar deafening and soul-shaking.
To speak human language and call itself a demon, this being had to be at least a Nascent Soul demon sovereign.
Never had they imagined that they would encounter a demon sovereign from the Hundred Thousand Mountains here.
Everyone’s heads began to buzz, and dizziness overwhelmed them.
Two of the Foundation Establishment cultivators lost control of their minds, blood spilling from their ears and noses.
Jin Yanzi noticed that his hair had risen and that the spiritual power within his body was slipping out of control. These were signs that silver lightning was about to condense.
Taking the lead, Jin Yanzi decisively fell to his knees and apologized.
“We did not know that Your Excellency the Demon Sovereign had arrived. For the sake of the Guiyuan Imperial Family, please spare our wretched lives!”
When he finished speaking, a long silence descended upon the surroundings.
Jin Yanzi was filled with unease. Sweat slid down his face, though he remained utterly unaware of it.
Whether they could leave alive depended entirely on a single word from the other party.
Suddenly, a silver lightning python more than ten feet thick streaked across the sky and descended upon the nine Foundation Establishment cultivators.
The lightning was fierce and overbearing. In an instant, it claimed all their lives, leaving Jin Yanzi alone kneeling in place, his trousers soaked through.
“Begone!”
Amid the rumble of thunder, the demon sovereign gave his reply.
“Thank you for your mercy, Your Excellency.”
Jin Yanzi did not dare linger. He abandoned the Ice-Armored Bull cub and swiftly fled aboard his flying boat.
He did not even dare spare a glance at the corpses of the cultivators who had accompanied him.
Li Qing had witnessed everything from beginning to end and now found herself in an extremely awkward position.
With the demon sovereign saying nothing, she had no idea whether she was allowed to leave.
The lightning python appeared once more and struck beside a distant thicket.
Li Feng was forced to reveal himself from hiding.
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Li Qing’s eyes brightened with delight when she saw the familiar figure.
“Was all that commotion just now your doing?”
Li Feng gave a bitter smile and shook his head.
He had created the phantoms of the two demonic beasts, but the demon sovereign that had suddenly appeared had nothing to do with him.
He bowed toward the empty air.
“Thank you, Senior Demon Sovereign, for sparing our lives.”
Li Qing was instantly stunned. There really was a demon sovereign!
She hurriedly bowed as well.
The deep voice sounded once again.
“Boy, there is a familiar scent about you. It seems you have been to the ruins.”
“Senior, did you know the master of the ruins?”
Li Feng was secretly shocked. He wondered what relationship this being had with the ruins’ master.
“An old friend of mine from a century ago. What a pity.”
The demon sovereign let out a sigh.
As his words fell, lightning flashed, and a tall, formidable figure appeared before the two of them.
He had a narrow, angular face, broad shoulders, a hooked nose, pointed ears, and deep green pupils. A pair of folded black wings extended from his back, giving him an otherworldly, demonic appearance.
His powerful presence made it difficult for Li Feng and Li Qing to breathe, and they could not help feeling an impulse to prostrate themselves in worship.
With a light tap of one finger, the demon sovereign caused Li Qing’s body to go limp. She fainted.
Li Feng’s heart tightened at the sight.
“Do not be afraid. What I am about to say is not suitable for her to hear.”
“I am Lei Peng. Five hundred years ago, I became acquainted with Qing Shan. Unfortunately, his fate was filled with hardships, and he was unable to walk the path to immortality to its end.”
“When his lifespan was nearly exhausted, he withdrew with me into the Hundred Thousand Mountains and quietly awaited his final journey.”
Lei Peng spoke slowly, his expression focused, as though the words had stirred memories from the past.
“When you used the illusion formation, I sensed something familiar. That was why I came out to investigate.”
Li Feng suddenly understood. No wonder this experience had never occurred during his previous simulations.
It seemed that once his actions changed, they exerted a tremendous influence on everything that followed in his life.
Lei Peng scrutinized Li Feng from head to toe.
“You obtained the Spirit Concealment Art?”
Li Feng nodded in acknowledgment.
“Since you have gained Qing Shan’s recognition, you are also my junior. It is only right that I offer you some guidance.”
Lei Peng produced two objects: a manual of spells and a jade bottle.
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