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

Young Master Xuan gave a brief nod. "I am aware."

To ensure Shen Shouxing wouldn't attempt a sudden rescue, he pressed the edge of his blade firmly against Shen Qingsheng's throat. Then, leaning down, he murmured a few words into the young man's ear.

The previously unconscious Shen Qingsheng slowly opened his eyes. However, his pupils were vacant, and his face remained as expressionless as a block of wood.

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

"Nothing too extreme," Young Master Xuan replied, a slow smirk spreading across his face as he released his captive. "I merely applied 'Planting Devil in Taoist Heart' upon him. He is now my loyal servant, bound to my every command."

"You monster!" Shen Shouxing roared, his face contorted with murderous rage.

As his Sword Qi began to billow, Shen Shouxing raised his blade to strike. Before he could move, however, Young Master Xuan let out a mocking laugh.

"I should mention one more thing I told your son..." Young Master Xuan placed a hand on the back of Shen Qingsheng's head. "Should I perish, he is instructed to take his own life immediately."

Shen Shouxing’s sword froze in mid-air. "Do you truly expect me to fall for such a lie?" he asked coldly.

Young Master Xuan remained unshaken. "Are you willing to gamble? Is your son's life worth the risk?"

Shen Shouxing’s gaze wavered as he struggled to suppress his killing intent. Seeing that he had successfully neutralized the threat, Young Master Xuan turned his attention to the man standing nearby. "Elder Xun, perhaps we should discuss a partnership as well?"

Xun Ziyou’s brow furrowed in distaste. "Do you take me for a fool? I am an esteemed Elder of the Taixu Sect. Why would I ever ally myself with a degenerate of the demon path like you? What leverage could you possibly have?"

"The leverage," Young Master Xuan smiled thinly, "is the fact that your Taixu Sect disciples are currently in my grasp."

Xun Ziyou’s expression tightened. Nearby, Mo Hua was equally stunned. Had Young Master Xuan truly uncovered his secret?

"The bond between the Taixu Sect and the Shen Family isn't particularly strong. I found it curious that your Sect would interfere just because the Shen Family's Young Master was abducted. It wasn't until you glanced toward that corner upon entering that I understood..."

Young Master Xuan shifted his gaze toward the corner where Mo Hua stood. "You are here on a rescue mission, and the person you seek is this little brother who happens to be a gifted Formation master."

"You played your part well, showing no obvious signs of connection, and this young brother was quite clever, acting as though he didn't know you throughout our journey."

"However, no matter how meticulous the facade, a flaw will eventually reveal itself."

Xun Ziyou kept his face neutral, though his heart sank. "I haven't the slightest idea what you are implying. What would this mediocre boy have to do with my Taixu Sect?"

Young Master Xuan paused, a faint grin touching his lips. "To be perfectly honest, my granduncle once suffered a humiliating defeat due to 'Planting Devil in Taoist Heart'. Because of that, he searched tirelessly for the lost Illusion Demon Scripture of the Illusory Demon Sect, insisting that I master its contents."

"I have gained significant insight into Divine Thought, and my mastery of 'Planting Devil in Taoist Heart' is quite advanced. It has made me exceptionally sensitive to the shifts in human emotion."

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

Xun Ziyou’s frown deepened. This young demon path cultivator was incredibly cunning, possessing a sharp wit that reminded him of Mo Hua. He was becoming a serious problem.

While he continued to deny the accusation outwardly, a seed of worry grew in his mind. Could Mo Hua, despite his brilliance, have actually fallen victim to 'Planting Devil in Taoist Heart'? If the boy’s mind had been compromised, turning him into a mindless puppet, the situation would be catastrophic.

As Xun Ziyou wrestled with his anxiety, Young Master Xuan turned to Mo Hua and commanded, "Come here."

Mo Hua’s eyes appeared to lose their luster. Moving like a mechanical doll, he walked obediently to Young Master Xuan’s side.

"Tell your Sect Elder to follow my instructions," Young Master Xuan directed.

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

To a stranger, the sentence sounded like the words of a broken thrall. But Xun Ziyou knew Mo Hua far too well. Hearing such a ridiculous, blunt statement from the boy’s mouth gave him the distinct impression of a hidden, playful undertone.

Xun Ziyou felt a flicker of strangeness but was no longer truly alarmed. Given Mo Hua’s wit, it was hard to tell who was actually being deceived.

Relieved, Xun Ziyou forced himself to project an expression of agony and regret. He sighed deeply, looking utterly defeated. "As long as you do not harm him, I will comply."

A dark, satisfied smile crossed Young Master Xuan’s handsome features. With both the Shen Family’s heir and the Taixu Sect disciple as his puppets, he held total control over their lives. He was now in a position to dictate terms to everyone in the hall.

Every major power in the room was now forced to revolve around him!

He finally understood why his granduncle had been so adamant about him mastering 'Planting Devil in Taoist Heart'. The sensation of pulling the strings and manipulating the board was intoxicating.

He was currently only at the Initial Golden Core stage. If he could one day reach the Feather Transformation realm and fully master the Illusion Demon Scripture, he could dominate the world with a single thought.

Even that legendary, nameless Taoist who had caused his granduncle to lose a Mystery Demon Foetus might not be his match. At the very least, he would stand as an equal.

With 'Planting Devil in Taoist Heart' combined with a Mystery Demon Foetus of the Great Wilderness Royal Bloodline, his potential was limitless. The path to the Dao stretched out before him.

Ambition burned in Young Master Xuan’s eyes. With a cold sneer, he pointed toward Shen Tuao and shouted, "Everyone, strike together! Kill him!"

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

The tide of battle shifted instantly. Under Young Master Xuan’s calculated manipulation, a unified front had formed. Shen Tuao was now facing a desperate situation.

No matter how immense his power or how intricate his Evil Dragon Formation Patterns were, he could not withstand a siege by a Golden Core Peak cultivator, two Late Golden Core experts, and several others. His Blood Qi was already spent from the previous brutal encounters.

The fight was a bloody affair. As a member of the Great Wilderness Royal Clan, Shen Tuao possessed an iron will; even against such overwhelming odds, he refused to retreat.

He pushed his Evil Power to its breaking point, causing the Dragon Patterns on his skin to weep blood. Within the hall, the Evil Dragon’s roar was thunderous and majestic, yet as the battle wore on, a note of tragic desperation crept into the sound.

Overusing the Four Symbols Evil Dragon Pattern eventually triggered a violent backlash. The power of the Evil Dragon acted like a corrosive toxin, eating into his very marrow. His Dragon Patterns became corrupted, his flesh began to rot, and his meridians fell into chaos. The malevolent energy began to cloud his mind, turning his eyes a deep, frenzied crimson.

Just as Shen Tuao seemed to reach his limit, something changed. Perhaps it was the desperate roar of the dragon stirring the royal bloodline, but a sudden, brilliant light erupted from the dragon coffin.

A thread of pure Azure Dragon Qi drifted from the remains of the Fourth Prince, flowing directly into Shen Tuao’s body. This Qi was ancient, righteous, and incredibly powerful, free of any corruption. As it merged with him, it began to wash away the filth clinging to his Dragon Patterns.

The onlookers were stunned, and Mo Hua felt a jolt of surprise. Elder Bear Pi’s eyes, however, burned with pure avarice. This was the most refined Azure Dragon Qi imaginable—the true power of the Great Wilderness Dragon Vein!