Immortality Through Array Formations Chapter 2028 Chapter 972: Divine Statue (Part 3)

"What specific type of divine statue should we be hunting for?"

Mo Hua's brow furrowed. Lacking a concrete answer, he could only offer: "Seek out one that is peculiar, or perhaps one that strikes you as immediately distinct—something truly unique..."

Surveying the diverse array of sculptures before him, where nearly every piece seemed "different," Xun Ziyou sighed softly and said:

"Let us begin the search..."

Thus, under Mo Hua's guidance, Elder Xun, Master Gu, and Master Fan began weaving through the various Mountain God statues, hoping to identify the singular Lifebound Divine Statue.

...

Simultaneously, deep within the Divine Temple.

The demon-possessed Mr. Tu and Shen Shouxing remained locked in a brutal, unrelenting struggle.

Shen Shouxing, in particular, was fighting with the desperation of a madman. Abandoning all concern for his own survival, he unleashed every lethal technique he possessed.

As a cultivator at the Golden Core Peak, his berserk state made him resemble a rabid dog, making it difficult even for Mr. Tu to parry his savage assaults.

As the conflict dragged on and his wounds multiplied, the light in Shen Shouxing's eyes began to fade, replaced by encroaching shadows.

Paradoxically, his perception sharpened.

Through the haze, he caught a glimpse of a second face hovering above the monstrous form of the demon.

This countenance was sophisticated and polished, yet it radiated an aura of profound cruelty and detachment.

It was a face Shen Shouxing recognized instantly.

His pupils contracted sharply as he gasped, "You... Elder Shen?"

The demon's distorted features stiffened as it frowned: "How were you able to recognize me?"

As a servant of the Divine Lord, his malicious intent far exceeded that of common cultivators, existing on a plane beyond the physical.

A typical cultivator would only perceive a "puppet" demon; they would be unable to see the bloody phantom parasitizing the creature, let alone discern his true identity.

Yet, Shen Shouxing had seen through the veil...

Stunned, Shen Shouxing paused for a heartbeat before the pieces of the puzzle clicked together. In a fit of rage, he roared: "It was you... You were behind everything!"

Pale-faced and with teeth bared, he spat:

"The tragedy of Solitary Mountain was your design; the burial sealing technique came from you as well; you were the one who promised me prosperity and a limitless Dao..."

Mr. Tu dropped his facade, his expression turning frigid as he retorted:

"Did I tell a single lie? Have you not enjoyed a meteoric rise over these years? As a high-ranking elder of the Shen Family, were you not a man of great influence, commanding respect and brimming with ambition?"

"No, that's not it..." Shen Shouxing’s gaze wavered, "I was merely being steered by you. I am nothing more than... your pawn..."

He stared intently at the entity inhabiting the demon, asking coldly:

"You are no scholar-elder from the Qian Taoist Sect; what manner of creature are you, truly?"

Mr. Tu responded only with a silent, mocking grin.

A wave of dread washed over Shen Shouxing's heart.

He had lived under the delusion that the Shen Family were the primary victors, having seized the mines of Solitary Mountain and eliminated the troublesome Loose Cultivators.

Now, the grim reality dawned on him.

His family had never been the true beneficiaries.

Something far more malevolent had been observing them from the darkness all along...

Blinded by their pursuit of wealth and their own corruption, the aristocratic family had failed to see the truth.

Shen Shouxing was consumed by bitter regret.

Mr. Tu let out a sharp, haunting laugh:

"We both gained what we desired, so why speak of manipulation? Without my intervention, the Shen Family would never have ascended, and you would never have achieved the status of elder."

"Everything that transpired was exactly what you wished for."

"The prestige and the riches you enjoyed were all gifts from me."

These words seemed to pierce through Shen Shouxing's very soul.

"Prestige and riches?" Shen Shouxing’s eyes turned bloodshot as he let out a self-deprecating sneer, "What value do they hold now?"

"My son is dead—my only son is gone."

"I have no lineage and no future."

"The family interests, the authority, the status... everything I spent my life bleeding for has no heir. It’s all a hollow illusion, a gift prepared for another."

"A lifetime of toil, wasted..."

"This is... karma..."

A sense of the absurd took root in Shen Shouxing's heart, a desolate realization that blossomed into absolute despair.

The death of his son and the end of his bloodline acted like a key, unlocking the final barrier of his heart.

The seed within him finally broke through the soil.

The light in Shen Shouxing's eyes turned a murky gray-black as his willpower vanished, replaced by total madness.

"Then let us perish together..."

He cast aside his sword and, like a feral beast, threw himself at Mr. Tu. He used his bare hands and feet to claw at the demon's form, even sinking his teeth into Mr. Tu's flesh.

"Have you lost your mind?"

Mr. Tu sneered with disdain.

"Those who chase after petty fame and wealth possess fragile Taoist Hearts; in the end, they are nothing more than toys."

Mr. Tu commanded the demon to engage the crazed Shen Shouxing.

When a cultivator's Taoist Heart is snuffed out, they are reduced to mere instinct. Without the refinement of Taoist Skill, they actually become less formidable.

Consequently, despite his gruesome appearance and frantic state, Shen Shouxing's actual Power of Killing was diminished, managing only to inflict shallow bite marks on Mr. Tu.

To a "demon" composed of distorted and murky flesh, such injuries were trivial.

Mr. Tu remained unbothered.

However, he failed to notice that where Shen Shouxing's teeth had sunk in, faint traces of an ominous gray energy were seeping into his body, vanishing silently into his form...

...

Elsewhere, as Mo Hua continued his search for the Lifebound Divine Statue, a sudden shiver ran down his spine.

An icy dread gripped his heart.

Yet the sensation was fleeting, disappearing as quickly as it had arrived. When Mo Hua tried to focus on the feeling, it was gone.

"What was that..."

Mo Hua frowned, tempted to perform a detailed Calculation, but he lacked a starting point. With time running out and the need to find the Lifebound Divine Statue becoming desperate, he forced the concern to the back of his mind.

However, the search remained fruitless.

The exterior walls of the Divine Temple were lined with an overwhelming number of sculptures, creating a veritable "Divine Statue Forest." Each figure held a unique pose and possessed distinct features, making it nearly impossible to identify which one held the Mountain Lord's Lifebound essence.