Immortality Through Array Formations Chapter 1996 Chapter 961: Dragon Coffin (Part 3)
Previously on Immortality Through Array Formations...
"Compared to that massive flesh corpse, this is the true 'powerhouse,' and he's far more terrifying..."
A wave of dread washed over him, leaving Mo Hua feeling a deep chill in his heart.
Previously, he had entertained the reckless thought of 'devouring' this Evil Embryo of Solitary Mountain City to force a breakthrough to the 20-Pattern Divine Sense level.
It appeared he had overstepped...
He simply wasn't qualified to prey upon an Evil Embryo at the absolute peak of the Third Grade.
In a direct confrontation, it was anyone's guess as to who would end up eating whom.
"I was too impulsive, too reckless..."
After a brief moment of reflection, Mo Hua immediately adjusted his internal strategy:
He would set the matter of the Evil Embryo aside; if it couldn't be provoked, he wouldn't touch it...
Simply finding a path to secure the Four Symbols Green Dragon Formation Map would be enough.
Naturally, if he could also seize the Dragon Vein of the Great Wilderness, that would be ideal.
These individuals were manipulating the Dragon Vein with thoughts of insurrection; taking it for himself would actually be doing the Taoist Court a massive favor.
Even if the Dragon Vein was useless to him personally, he could surrender it to the Taoist Court in exchange for some of their classified Ultimate Techniques. That would be a fair trade...
Mo Hua swiftly reached a decision.
Nearby, Young Master Xuan's expression flickered with apprehension upon hearing about the "Evil Embryo at the peak of the Third Grade."
He سپس knit his brows and asked, "If this Evil Embryo is truly that powerful, does it mean the coffin is off-limits?"
The black-robed elder remained quiet for a beat, offering no direct answer, but instead inquired:
"Young Master Xuan, can you still honor the pact we previously discussed?"
Young Master Xuan gave a firm nod. "Certainly. The demon gate of my lineage will support your Great Wilderness royalty in your quest to reclaim and rule the Southern Wilderness against the Taoist Court. Our only requirement is a territory where our Demon Gate can spread its teachings."
"Very well." The Second Elder nodded in approval.
He then stepped toward Shen Tuao and offered a formal salute. His face was a mask of complex emotions, and his voice trembled with age and sentiment:
"Third Prince, this old servant can only... escort you this far."
"I may never have the chance to see you take your place upon the Dragon Seat and govern the Great Wilderness..."
Shen Tuao, who had always maintained a cold, mountain-like arrogance, suddenly showed a flicker of grief in his eyes.
He performed a deep, respectful bow to the Second Elder.
This was the very first time Mo Hua had seen him show such humility.
Shen Tuao said nothing more after that.
That single bow communicated everything.
The Second Elder nodded, his voice regaining its composure: "I shall seal the Evil Embryo, masking its senses so it does not wake. You will then have your chance to open the coffin and retrieve the Dragon Vein. However, be warned: you have a window of only two hours."
Having spoken, the Second Elder looked upward, utilizing the esoteric techniques of the Great Wilderness to observe the Dragon Coffin's alignment while performing mental calculations.
Once he had pinpointed the exact spot, he walked to a clear space exactly three Zhang away from the Dragon Coffin.
Sitting cross-legged, the Second Elder produced several bizarre, ancient bone implements with a primitive, barbarian aura—claws, forearms, shins, and skulls among them.
These remains were carefully laid out on the earth by the Second Elder to mimic the shape of a dragon.
Next, the Second Elder brought out Blood Ink and began painting specific Formation Diagrams upon the ground.
Mo Hua observed closely, noting that these Formation Diagrams bore a resemblance to both Four Symbols Patterns and tribal beast totems. Rendered in blood, the style was eerie and completely foreign to him.
"Is this another hidden formation of the Great Wilderness?"
The Second Elder finished the Blood Patterns with meticulous care.
These crimson lines acted like veins, binding the White Bones together until they resembled a grisly, bloody Bone Dragon.
With the preparations complete, the Second Elder produced the final fragment of bone.
This particular piece was translucent like jade and clearly extraordinary; it was the same Dragon Bone he had used previously to hold back the suffocating pressure of the flesh corpse.
The Second Elder clamped his teeth down on the Dragon Bone.
He then drew a ritual dagger and plunged it into his own heart without a moment's pause. His entire frame shook violently, gripped by agonizing pain.
Through the suffering, the Second Elder's fresh blood poured from his mouth, saturating the Dragon Bone.
The Dragon Bone let out a mournful cry as it turned a deep crimson.
On the ground, the blood-etched Bone Dragon began to vibrate. Strands of blood slowly coiled around and fused with the White Bones, eventually manifesting into a "Dragon Bone Chain" forged from essence and bone.
This Dragon Bone Chain rose into the air and settled into a specific formation, sealing the blind spots of the Dragon Coffin and suppressing the terrifying energy contained within.
Slowly, the Second Elder’s head slumped forward, and his life force ebbed away.
Mo Hua watched, his soul trembling:
He's dead...?!
Is this the forbidden sorcery of a Great Wilderness Shaman?
This Second Elder, a Cultivator at the Late Golden Core Stage, had traded his life and utilized Dragon Qi to forge a Dragon Lock with his own blood and bone just to restrain the Evil Embryo?
Mo Hua glanced toward the Dragon Coffin from the corner of his eye.
Indeed, the Dragon Coffin was undergoing a subtle transformation.
It felt different now; it was as if something had been stripped away or "isolated," causing its physical presence in this world to be temporarily severed from its existence in the "Void Realm."
Any disturbances in the physical world would no longer provoke the entity on the spiritual plane—the peak Third Grade Evil Embryo.
This was a truly remarkable maneuver.
The Second Elder's sacrifice didn't just stun Mo Hua; even the Bear Demon Cultivator and Young Master Xuan were visibly shaken.
They never expected the Second Elder to actually give his life just to open the Dragon Coffin.
Furthermore, he had done so with absolute resolve, never wavering for a second.
Both men wore grim expressions for a moment.
The sorrow in Shen Tuao's eyes intensified, but he quickly suppressed it, burying the grief of this loss along with the pain of his fallen kinsmen deep within his heart.
His features returned to their usual mask of cold arrogance.
The Second Elder's life would not be thrown away. The blood of the Great Wilderness line would not be spilled in vain.
Everything was for the restoration of the royal house.
With a heart hardened by purpose, Shen Tuao stepped forward. He placed his large hand upon the opulent, golden Dragon Coffin and began to slide the heavy lid aside.
The echo of a dragon's roar filled the air.
A fierce resistance surged from the coffin as ancient Dragon Qi attempted to bore into Shen Tuao's arm.
However, these bursts of Dragon Qi were neutralized by Shen Tuao, who was bolstered by the power of the Evil Dragon.
Finally, the Dragon Coffin creaked open.
The air seemed to turn to ice.
As the interior of the coffin was revealed, everyone stood frozen in shock.
Resting inside the coffin, which was etched with golden Dragon Patterns, was a child who appeared to be roughly ten years old.
He looked like a young Prince, dressed in the dragon robes of the Great Wilderness, intricately embroidered with ancient Azure Dragon Patterns.
He lay within the Dragon Coffin with his body perfectly preserved. His face was pale but calm, his eyes shut in what looked like a peaceful slumber.
Upon seeing the child's face, Mo Hua's eyes widened in shock, and his heart skipped a beat:
"This person... why do they look so much... like Yu Er?"