Immortality Through Array Formations Chapter 2004 Chapter 964: Evil Tidings (Part 2)
Previously on Immortality Through Array Formations...
It appeared as though every detail had been meticulously arranged beforehand.
The plan was clear: utilize the Valley of Ten Thousand Demons to foster an Evil Dragon, and subsequently refine that creature into an Azure Dragon...
A sense of growing dread filled Mo Hua as he contemplated the implications.
Memories of various Monster Patterns and Beast Patterns gathered from across the land within the Valley of Ten Thousand Demons flickered through his mind.
Suddenly, a spark of inspiration struck him, sending a jolt through his heart as he reached a moment of sudden enlightenment.
He finally grasped what Mr. Tu had been orchestrating in that valley, and the precise method he used to nurture the Four Symbols Dragon Pattern through the lives of countless demons.
A dragon, in this context, was not merely a single Divine Beast.
It possessed the head of a horse, the antlers of a deer, the eyes of a tortoise, and the ears of an ox; its form was covered in fish scales, with the body of a snake, the talons of an eagle, and the paws of a tiger...
Only by synthesizing the collective attributes of all demons could it truly manifest as a dragon.
Adhering to this theory, Mr. Tu had conducted mass hunts of monster beasts within the Valley of Ten Thousand Demons, raised monster cultivators, and performed relentless experiments using the Four Symbols Monster Pattern.
By distilling the essence of the most potent monster patterns and stitching them together, he had fabricated an "Evil Dragon" possessing overwhelming demonic energy.
This method of Formation deduction bore a resemblance to the "Return to Origin" technique.
However, instead of distilling many elements into a singular unity, it functioned more as a "patchwork" construction that harvested the specific strengths of each component.
Because it was a concentration of every demon's power, this Four Symbols Evil Dragon could dominate all other demons, granting it unparalleled strength.
When the Valley of Ten Thousand Demons was finally raided, much of the evidence had been destroyed in haste.
Those lost Formation Diagrams, ancient manuscripts, Jade Slips, and records were undoubtedly the fruits of this research into the "Dragon Transformation" of monster patterns.
This work represented the pinnacle of Mr. Tu’s true mastery over Formations.
Yet, even this was insufficient.
To truly bring a dragon to life, one must still "dot the eyes" of the painting.
A dragon created solely from the patterns of demons remained an Evil Dragon—a creature that could only ever be classified as a "monster."
To achieve the transformation into a genuine dragon, a final catalyst was required.
That catalyst was the Dragon Vein.
By utilizing the untainted Azure Dragon Qi from the Dragon Vein to purge the Monster Qi and Evil Power, the disparate monster patterns could be fused into a singular, authentic "Green Dragon Formation Pattern."
Mo Hua inhaled sharply in secret.
The sheer scale of this ambition and strategy was staggering.
Being a Formation Master himself, Mo Hua understood that such experimentation demanded an incredible amount of human lives, materials, and wealth.
Over countless years, through the deaths of innumerable monster cultivators and endless experiments on monster patterns, this Four Symbols Dragon Diagram had finally been perfected and etched onto the body of Shen Tuao.
The current absorption of Azure Dragon Qi was the definitive "final stroke" of the process.
Only Mo Hua, with his unique insight, saw the truth of the situation.
The others present remained completely oblivious.
Lacking the expertise of a Formation Master and having never studied the Four Symbols Monster Pattern or Mr. Tu’s methods, they saw nothing but the Dragon Vein.
They were blind to the overarching structure of the complex Four Symbols Divine Beast Formation that linked everything together.
Mo Hua desperately wanted to shout a warning, but the "Planting Devil in Taoist Heart" had turned him into a silent puppet.
In truth, his words might not have been necessary.
The cultivators engaged in the struggle were veterans of Tao Cultivation; though they lacked knowledge of Formations, they quickly sensed an unnatural shift.
A step-by-step metamorphosis was occurring within Shen Tuao's form.
While they did not grasp the underlying mechanics, they knew what action to take.
"Sever his connection to the Dragon Vein Qi!" Shen Shouxing commanded.
Without a moment's hesitation, Xun Ziyou and Elder Bear moved to break the link between Shen Tuao and the Dragon Vein.
Elder Bear engaged in fierce close-quarters combat, forcing Shen Tuao to give ground.
Simultaneously, Xun Ziyou unleashed his Sword Intent to dissipate the lingering Azure Dragon presence.
Shen Shouxing’s White Jade Sword flashed as he struck at the Green Dragon Formation Pattern etched into Shen Tuao’s flesh.
Mo Hua felt a wave of internal conflict.
He was terrified that if Shen Tuao finished absorbing the Azure Dragon's power, he would slaughter Elder Xun and the others.
Conversely, he feared that their heavy-handed attacks might ruin the Green Dragon Formation Pattern just as it was nearing its purified, completed state.
However, the battle was moving too fast for his concerns to matter; events were spiraling beyond anyone's control.
After dozens of exchanges, and with the support of Elder Xun and the Bear Demon Cultivator, Shen Shouxing unleashed a flurry of Sword Qi. This defensive curtain successfully severed the resonance between Shen Tuao and the Azure Dragon Qi.
Consequently, the "Dragon Transformation" of the Formation Patterns on Shen Tuao’s skin ground to a halt.
With the transformation interrupted, the true struggle for survival began.
The violence on the battlefield grew more savage by the second.
Shen Shouxing, Xun Ziyou, Elder Bear, and Shen Tuao were all bleeding now, their wounds multiplying as the intensity of the fight peaked.
Their reserves of Spiritual Power and Blood Qi were reaching their limits.
When masters of this level clash, the outcome is often decided by sheer endurance.
Despite his monstrous constitution and legendary stamina, Shen Tuao was struggling to hold his own against three powerful opponents simultaneously.
Any typical Late Golden Core Stage cultivator would have collapsed long ago under such pressure.
Finally, after hundreds of rounds, Shen Tuao’s Blood Qi began to fail him.
Seeing a window of opportunity, Shen Shouxing lunged, aiming his blade at Shen Tuao’s heart. Though the sword pierced the dragon scales, Shen Tuao’s hide was as hard as tempered steel, preventing the blade from sinking deep into his chest.
Shen Tuao let out a furious roar, attempting a counterattack.
At that exact moment, Elder Bear’s arms wrapped around him like massive pythons, pinning half of his body.
Xun Ziyou took advantage of the opening, driving his sword through Shen Tuao’s left shoulder to anchor him in place.
Battered and broken, Shen Tuao thrashed in a fit of impotent rage, his Dragon Roar now nothing more than the desperate, mournful cry of a cornered animal.