Immortality Through Array Formations Chapter 2002 - 963: Dragon Vein (3)

Young Master Xuan gave a nod. "I know."

To ensure Shen Shouxing wouldn't dare a sudden strike, he pressed the edge of his blade firmly against Shen Qingsheng’s throat.

He then leaned in, murmuring softly into Shen Qingsheng’s ear.

Though he had been unconscious, Shen Qingsheng’s eyes slowly fluttered open; however, his pupils were vacant, and his face remained as stiff and hollow as dried clay.

Shen Shouxing’s eyes narrowed sharply. "What have you done to Qinger?"

"It is nothing serious," Young Master Xuan replied, a slow grin spreading across his face as he let go of Shen Qingsheng. "I merely utilized 'Planting Devil in Taoist Heart' on him. He is now my obedient servant, bound to follow my every command."

"You monster!" Shen Shouxing roared, his face twisted with lethal intent.

As his Sword Qi began to billow, Shen Shouxing swung his longsword upward. Yet, before the blow could land, Young Master Xuan let out another laugh.

"I should mention, I gave your son one final instruction..." Young Master Xuan said, his hand pressing against the back of Shen Qingsheng’s skull. "Should I perish, he is to take his own life immediately."

Shen Shouxing’s blade froze in mid-air. He spoke through gritted teeth, "You expect me to believe such a claim?"

Young Master Xuan replied with cold indifference, "Care to gamble? Are you willing to wager your son's life on it?"

With his gaze wavering, Shen Shouxing was forced to violently suppress his urge to kill.

Seeing that Shen Shouxing was now under his thumb, Young Master Xuan shifted his attention to Xun Ziyou. "Elder Xun, perhaps you and I should consider a partnership as well?"

Xun Ziyou’s brow furrowed in distaste. "Do you take me for a fool? As a respected Elder of the Taixu Sect, why would I ever consort with a demon path degenerate like yourself? What leverage do you possibly have?"

"Simply this..." Young Master Xuan smiled thinly. "The disciples of your Taixu Sect are currently within my grasp."

Xun Ziyou’s pupils shrank instantly.

Mo Hua was equally startled by the revelation.

Had Young Master Xuan truly uncovered his secret identity?

"There is no deep history between the Taixu Sect and the Shen Family. It puzzled me why your sect would interfere just because the Shen Family's heir was abducted. However, the moment you stepped into this room and glanced toward that corner, everything became clear..."

Young Master Xuan’s eyes locked onto Mo Hua in the shadows. "Your mission is a rescue, and the target is this young brother who happens to be a master of Array formations."

"You played your part well, showing no obvious signs, and this young lad was quite cunning, acting as though he didn't recognize you throughout the journey."

"But no matter how flawless the deception, a slip-up was inevitable."

Xun Ziyou kept his face devoid of emotion, though his heart grew heavy. "I haven't the slightest idea what you are talking about. What connection could this mediocre boy have with my Taixu Sect?"

Young Master Xuan paused, a smirk dancing on his lips. "To tell you the truth, my granduncle once suffered a humiliating defeat due to 'Planting Devil in Taoist Heart.' Because of that, he went to extreme lengths to recover the lost Illusion Demon Scripture of the Illusory Demon Sect, demanding that I master it."

"I have gained substantial insight into Divine Thought, and my proficiency in 'Planting Devil in Taoist Heart' is quite high. This makes me exceptionally sensitive to the shifts in human emotion."

"Consequently, Elder Xun, your little performance was never going to deceive me."

Xun Ziyou’s frown deepened.

This demon path youth was incredibly shrewd, possessing a cunning nature that reminded him of Mo Hua. He was going to be a problem.

Outwardly, he continued to deny the accusation.

Internally, however, a seed of worry took root:

Could the brilliant Mo Hua have actually fallen victim to 'Planting Devil in Taoist Heart'?

If his mind had truly been subverted, turning him into a mindless puppet, the situation would be disastrous.

While Xun Ziyou wrestled with his anxiety, Young Master Xuan barked an order at Mo Hua:

"Come here."

Mo Hua’s gaze turned dull. Like a mindless doll, he walked obediently toward Young Master Xuan.

Young Master Xuan commanded, "Tell your Sect Elder to follow my lead."

In a flat, wooden tone, Mo Hua spoke: "Elder Xun, I am under his control. Please do as Young Master Xuan says."

To an outsider, the sentence might have seemed unremarkable.

But Xun Ziyou knew the boy far too well.

Hearing such a ridiculous statement from Mo Hua’s mouth gave him the distinct impression of a hidden, playful undertone.

Xun Ziyou felt a strange sensation, but he was no longer alarmed.

Given Mo Hua’s wits, it was hard to say who was actually bewitching whom...

There was no need for further concern.

Xun Ziyou quickly adopted a mask of conflict, pain, and desperation, as if he were devastated by Mo Hua’s predicament. Finally, he let out a defeated sigh.

"As long as his life is spared, I will do as you wish."

A dark, satisfied grin appeared on Young Master Xuan’s elegant face.

The heir of the Shen Family and the disciple of the Taixu Sect—both vital hostages—were now firmly in his pocket. Their lives resided in his hands.

He could now effectively rule through these pawns, intimidating the various powers at play.

Virtually every Cultivator in the hall was now forced to submit to his will.

Every major faction was bowing to him!

It was no wonder his granduncle had insisted he master 'Planting Devil in Taoist Heart' at any cost.

The sensation of pulling the strings of others' minds and dominating the battlefield was intoxicating.

And he was currently only at the Initial Golden Core stage.

He imagined the day he reached Feather Transformation. Once he fully mastered both the Illusion Demon Scripture and 'Planting Devil in Taoist Heart,' he could force submission with a single thought, holding the strings of life and death for all.

Even that legendary, nameless Taoist who caused his granduncle to lose a Mystery Demon Foetus would likely be no match for him.

At the very least, he would stand as an equal to such a figure.

With 'Planting Devil in Taoist Heart' and a Mystery Demon Foetus carrying the Great Wilderness Royal Bloodline, he could inherit the legacy of the Great Wilderness...

The path of the Dao was truly without limits.

Ambition burned in Young Master Xuan’s eyes as he let out a sinister sneer. Without further delay, he pointed a finger at Shen Tuao. "Everyone, strike together! Kill him!"

Shen Shouxing, Xun Ziyou, Elder Bear Pi, and the others traded glances. Without hesitation, they drew their weapons and activated their magic treasures, launching a combined assault on Shen Tuao.

The tide of battle shifted instantly.

Through Young Master Xuan’s calculated manipulation and threats, a unified front had been formed. A deadly siege was underway.

Shen Tuao now faced a nearly impossible situation.

Regardless of his immense power or the strength of his Evil Dragon Formation Patterns, he could not hope to prevail against a Golden Core Peak, two Late Golden Core experts, and a half-dozen other Golden Core Cultivators—especially with his Blood Qi drained and his body exhausted from previous clashes.

For Shen Tuao, the struggle was agonizing.

Possessing the pride of the Great Wilderness Royal Clan, he refused to retreat a single inch, even when facing the entire room.

As the fight raged, he pushed his Evil Power to its absolute limit, causing blood to begin weeping from his Dragon Patterns.

The roar of the Evil Dragon echoed through the hall with terrifying majesty, but as the minutes ticked by, the sound began to carry the desperate tone of a man at the end of his rope.

Furthermore, the overexertion of the Four Symbols Evil Dragon Pattern triggered a backlash from the dragon's dark energy.

The power of the Evil Dragon acted like a lethal toxin, burrowing into his marrow and flesh.

The Dragon Patterns on his skin began to rot; his flesh festered, his Meridians fell into chaos, and the corruptive energy began to cloud his mind. His eyes turned bloodshot as his sanity slipped away.

It appeared that Shen Tuao was on the verge of death.

Whether it was the desperate Dragon Roar calling out to the royal blood of the Great Wilderness, or some other catalyst, a brilliant light suddenly erupted from the dragon coffin.

A thread of Azure Dragon Qi drifted from the remains of the Fourth Prince resting within the coffin, flowing directly into Shen Tuao’s form.

This wisp of Azure Dragon Qi was pure, ancient, and filled with divine majesty, devoid of any corruption. As it merged with Shen Tuao, it began to slowly purge the filth clinging to his Dragon Patterns.

The spectators were stunned, and Mo Hua felt a surge of shock in his heart.

Elder Bear Pi’s eyes burned with pure avarice.

This was the untainted Azure Dragon Qi—the genuine... power of the Great Wilderness Dragon Vein!