Immortality Through Array Formations Chapter 1998 Chapter 962: Origins (Part 2)

"This represents your singular opportunity in this existence. The Second Elder has fallen, and Shen Tuao stands isolated with his blood qi nearly spent. Strike now, or the Great Wilderness Dragon Pattern will remain forever beyond your reach."

The eyes of Elder Bear Pi flickered with hesitation as his spirit wavered. After a tense silence, he set his jaw and positioned himself protectively before Young Master Xuan.

Rather than showing rage, Shen Tuao let out a mocking laugh: "Aspiring to become a dragon? What sort of refuse thinks they are worthy of such a transformation? Very well, if death is what you crave, I shall grant it to you."

With a sudden burst of movement, Shen Tuao’s form blurred, leaving a draconic shadow in his wake as he reached Young Master Xuan in a mere instant.

Accompanied by the thunderous roar of the Evil Dragon, two massive palms descended with the crushing weight of ten thousand pounds.

Young Master Xuan’s face paled. His body contorted into a bizarre, inhuman shape, stretching like a band of rubber to shed the overwhelming pressure of the Evil Dragon and slip through Shen Tuao’s grasp.

Though his initial strike missed, Shen Tuao pivoted his hand for a follow-up blow.

However, this second attack was intercepted in mid-air by a demonic hand as powerful and thick as that of a Bear Pi.

The collision of Golden Core strength sent a shockwave through the air, causing the surrounding aura to erupt in a violent, outward surge.

As the raw power tore through the space and a foul gale began to howl, the Golden Core cultivators present remained steady, but Mo Hua—still only in the Foundation Establishment Realm—found the pressure unbearable.

Seizing the moment, he feigned a loss of balance. Allowing the fierce winds to sweep him away, he tumbled across the floor several times until he was safely tucked into a secluded corner of the great hall.

In the heat of a Golden Core Realm struggle, no one spared a thought for a "little puppet" at the Foundation Establishment Realm.

Utilizing the Planting Devil in Taoist Heart technique, Young Master Xuan directed Mr. Hui, Stone, and the late-stage Golden Core Elder Bear Pi to launch a coordinated assault against Shen Tuao.

Shen Tuao had pushed his bloodline limits repeatedly during their journey, overtaxing the Great Wilderness heritage and draining his blood qi, which had notably hampered his combat effectiveness.

Young Master Xuan and his allies held the advantage in numbers.

Despite this edge, they remained unable to overcome Shen Tuao.

Fighting with his bare hands, Shen Tuao channeled the Evil Dragon's might into every strike. Azure-red Formation Patterns pulsed across his skin, fueled by the Four Symbols Green Dragon Evil Formation. He relentlessly pressured Elder Bear Pi, whose late-stage Golden Core cultivation and steel-like physique were forced into a steady retreat.

Young Master Xuan fared even worse.

He was relegated to the periphery, using flashes of scarlet sword light to harass their foe or attempting to disrupt him with Planting Devil in Taoist Heart, never daring to engage in close-quarters combat.

Mo Hua lay motionless, watching the battle with a sense of deep longing.

"So that is the Four Symbols Green Dragon Formation..."

The way the formation melded with the physical form, manifesting dragon shadows with every blow, provided a perfect harmony of offense and defense. It was both regal and terrifying, granting the user the protection of dragon scales and the supreme destructive force of a dragon's strike.

He wondered if he could ever achieve such heights if he mastered it.

He knew his own physical Foundation was far too weak to truly excel in such a discipline.

Yet, even if he could only harness a fraction of Shen Tuao’s power—perhaps just a tenth—it would be transformative.

With that strength, his Water Passing Step wouldn't just be for evasion; he could actually counter-attack. A punch backed by a dragon shadow, regardless of its actual lethality, would be an incredible deterrent.

"The Four Symbols Green Dragon Formation..."

Mo Hua’s envy only grew as he continued to observe.

Meanwhile, Shen Tuao maintained total dominance. Mr. Hui and Stone had already been battered into submission and tossed aside like trash.

The Bear Demon cultivator and Young Master Xuan were now being suppressed, their breathing becoming heavy and ragged.

"I truly underestimated him; the legacy of the Great Wilderness Royal Clan is formidable..." Young Master Xuan hissed through clenched teeth. He turned his gaze toward the Bear Demon cultivator and commanded:

"Elder Bear, stop holding back. Show your true strength."

Elder Bear Pi’s expression turned solemn.

Shen Tuao hesitated for a fraction of a second before realizing the danger, immediately throwing a punch toward the Elder.

This strike was sudden and carried more power than any before it.

Realizing he couldn't parry the blow, Elder Bear Pi’s massive frame suddenly became fluid. Like a giant python, he coiled around Shen Tuao and sank his teeth into the back of the man's neck, drawing a spray of blood.

Though wounded, Shen Tuao’s resolve didn't waver as he delivered another punch.

This blow connected squarely with Elder Bear Pi, resulting in the sickening crunch of breaking bones and the sound of tearing flesh.

Coughing up blood, Elder Bear Pi reverted to his Bear Pi form and retreated, his arm dangling uselessly at his side.

The skin of his arm had been shredded by the Evil Dragon's energy, leaving behind a bloody mess.

However, demonic power soon surged through him. His bones began to knit back together and his flesh started to regenerate. As the damaged skin peeled away, a new set of monster patterns was revealed beneath.

It was a sinister snake pattern.

Mo Hua, who had spent time within the Valley of Ten Thousand Demons studying these Four Symbols Monster Patterns, watched in silent amazement.

Astonishingly, this Bear Demon cultivator possessed two distinct monster patterns: the Bear Demon Pattern and the Snake Demon Pattern.

Mo Hua’s eyes narrowed as he focused.

With a single look, he recognized the source of the serpentine design.

It belonged to the Snake Demon Elder, one of the three Golden Core Demon Cultivators from the Valley of Ten Thousand Demons.

The Snake Demon Elder had perished during the Taoist Court's assault on the Demon Sect, and it appeared his monster pattern had been harvested.

Now, that pattern had been grafted onto the Bear Demon cultivator.

Either he had surreptitiously flayed the Snake Elder upon his death, or he had betrayed him earlier, ensuring the Snake Elder was weakened enough to fall during the siege.

Mo Hua marveled silently at the ruthlessness.

The world of Cultivation was truly treacherous; these Demon Cultivators were far more cunning than they appeared. Despite knowing their reputations, he never would have guessed that the seemingly straightforward Elder Bear was such a calculating schemer.