Chunibyo in Cultivation World

As for Li Tianwei, upon sensing Lin Xiaoyu’s appearance, his gaze naturally fell upon him.

”Lin Xiaoyu.”

With just one glance, Li Tianwei recognized him. After all, within the inherited memories of the Sacred Land of Lingxu were the appearances of those stationed in West-Ling City.

The cold words echoed. Lin Xiaoyu swallowed hard but did not feel fear or panic. In his eyes, it was only natural for the Patriarch of the Demonic Sect to be so indifferent.

When his own name was called, instead of fear, a faint trace of excitement appeared on Lin Xiaoyu’s face.

Yes, excitement. Excitement that the Patriarch—whose realm, according to that black-robed man, was so high he might soon Ascend—actually knew his name. That was a great honor!

As for why he felt the aura of the Golden Core Realm from this person, the answer was simple—the Demonic Patriarch before him was merely concealing his true cultivation.

”Lin Xiaoyu respectfully welcomes the arrival of the Demonic Patriarch.”

Seeing the situation, Lin Xiaoyu immediately clasped his hands in salute, speaking with utmost reverence.

As soon as his words fell, for some reason, the air around him seemed to grow even heavier.

Meanwhile, the one being so respectfully welcomed—Li Tianwei—had already allowed his gaze to turn completely cold.

When he descended here, Li Tianwei had imagined many reactions Lin Xiaoyu might show upon seeing him: remorse, despair—but never had he expected the man before him to be like this.

”He’s fallen into demonic ways—completely. He’s already surrendered himself to the demons.”

To Li Tianwei, there was only one conclusion: Lin Xiaoyu was beyond saving. Even if placed within his Saint Soul Banner, he would only corrupt the demonic souls within.

To think he actually desired to become a demon—so much that he mistook Li Tianwei himself for the Demonic Patriarch.

”Open your eyes and look carefully.”

Li Tianwei took out the token of the Sacred Land of Lingxu and raised it toward Lin Xiaoyu.

Upon seeing the token in Li Tianwei’s hand, Lin Xiaoyu’s expression immediately changed.

”The Sacred Lord’s Order.”

”Not good...”

In that instant, Lin Xiaoyu understood he had made a mistake, and a chill ran through his heart.

Yet soon, he calmed down. His expression turned grave, tinged with killing intent.

He no longer cared why Li Tianwei’s body exuded such a strange and sinister aura—if he held the Sacred Lord’s Order, then he must be eliminated.

After all, Lin Xiaoyu had long grown accustomed to dealing with such people.

Previously, when a disciple came here to recruit for the main sect and discovered something suspicious, Lin Xiaoyu had naturally refused to let him leave. He had even joined hands with the Blood Fiend Sect to erase them completely.

Later, when the Sacred Land of Lingxu sent an investigator at the Golden Core Realm, that one had met the same fate.

It was precisely because of that investigation that Lin Xiaoyu had decided to fully cooperate with the Blood Fiend Sect—even helping them bring forth their Patriarch’s descent.

Who could have known the Sacred Land of Lingxu would act so swiftly, sending yet another disciple bearing the Sacred Lord’s Order?

Now, looking at Li Tianwei, Lin Xiaoyu no longer felt fear.

This was West-Ling City. Under his management, if nothing else, he had laid countless methods and preparations here.

Moreover, in the Grand Hall stood an elder from the Blood Fiend Sect, and soon their Patriarch himself would arrive.

”Golden Core Realm. I don’t know why your power feels so strange, but West-Ling City isn’t a place you can just waltz into as you please.”

No matter how he looked at it, Lin Xiaoyu believed the advantage was his.

Yet the moment those words left his lips, a formless, overwhelming pressure descended. Li Tianwei didn’t bother with words—he simply reached out his hand and grasped toward Lin Xiaoyu.

That seemingly simple grab contained the might of the divine ability Prison Heaven. Indeed, Li Tianwei’s very first move was a divine ability.

He didn’t bother concealing anything. Why should he? In his current eyes, among all his techniques—be it the Fusion Golden Core or the Heavenly-Ending Yin Fiend—Prison Heaven now seemed almost ordinary.

It could be said that Li Tianwei’s casual strike was already a divine ability.

In an instant, the heavens and earth froze. An overwhelming might poured down, and Lin Xiaoyu, unable even to resist, was instantly seized and brought before Li Tianwei.

”Look at me. Look at me.”

Li Tianwei’s gaze locked firmly on Lin Xiaoyu’s eyes, his voice echoing around them.

Lin Xiaoyu’s mind grew vacant, as though he were falling endlessly into an abyss.

As for Li Tianwei, his intent was simple—he wanted to know what exactly Lin Xiaoyu had done to make West-Ling City become like this.

He named this technique: ”Soul-Subjugating Art.”

It was something Li Tianwei had created within just one hour at the Sacred Land of Lingxu.

And why had he thought of it? Because after witnessing the methods of the demonic cultivators in the Demonic Sect Territory, he had wanted to extract their souls and light heavenly lanterns upon them—he would not allow them peace.

Thus, Li Tianwei developed this art, refining it through countless experiments in soul guidance and control, weaving within it innumerable incantations.

Before long, everything Lin Xiaoyu had done in West-Ling City surfaced within Li Tianwei’s consciousness.

Just as Li Tianwei had suspected, the entire West-Ling City had already become a trading hub for the Demonic Sect, selling all kinds of human resources.

Everything within the city had been completely eroded by demonic cultivators. Both demonic and rogue cultivators came here to acquire all manner of otherwise unobtainable materials.

And the root of it all—was indeed Lin Xiaoyu.

Back when he was still a disciple of the Sacred Land of Lingxu’s main sect, Lin Xiaoyu had been among those with an upright temperament and stable Dao heart—otherwise, he wouldn’t have been stationed here in West-Ling City.

But all things change—and humans even more so.

As a disciple with a dual mid-grade Spiritual Root, reaching the Golden Core Realm had already been difficult enough. Yet how could human ambition stop there?

In his own eyes, he was a genius unparalleled, merely obstructed by his roots. To reach the Nascent Soul Realm, he needed more. The proximity of West-Ling City to the Demonic Sect Territory granted him ample opportunity to contact demonic cultivators. In fact, within the ruins of a Spirit Transformation Devil Cultivator, he even obtained a method to enhance his Spiritual Root.

The resources required for that method were vast—yet there was hope.

After much hesitation, Lin Xiaoyu finally decided. Since he was close to the Demonic Sect Territory, trading with them was undoubtedly the best choice.

He had the Sacred Land of Lingxu behind him, holding dominion over lands filled with ordinary mortals.

Under the protection of powerful cultivators, these mortals lived in peace; rain and harvests were balanced, and whenever evil arose, cultivators suppressed it.

Such governance by the great righteous sects of the Sacred Land of Lingxu existed to ensure that among mortals, more children would be born with Spiritual Roots. As for those without—no one cared.

Naturally, when life was good, no one would sell their children.

Of course, cultivators could simply seize them by force—but that risked exposure, and this was still territory of the Sacred Land of Lingxu.

So, he chose a subtler way: if mortals sold themselves willingly, it would draw no suspicion. After all, in the mortal world, selling people under hardship wasn’t unheard of.

To make them do it willingly was simple—make them starve. Yes, hunger was enough.

Thus, Lin Xiaoyu devised a perfect plan—to tamper with the farmlands of the mortal realm with spells.

By subtly altering the weather, in less than half a year, starting from West-Ling City, all the lands yielded poor harvests. A famine swept through.

From then on, Lin Xiaoyu controlled a group of merchants and began purchasing people from all regions, steadily expanding his operations.