Immortality Through Array Formations (The Quest for Immortality)

Chapter 962: Origins

Mo Hua focused and took a closer look.

The prince within the Dragon Coffin did resemble Yu'er slightly. While both had youthful features, this prince carried a natural air of majesty—very different from Yu'er's gentle and lovable demeanor.

Yet their brows and eyes… were undeniably similar.

Why?

Why did he resemble Yu'er?

Mo Hua frowned slightly.

"Could Yu'er be a prince of the Great Wilderness?"

"Or does he carry the bloodline of the royal clan?"

"But that doesn't make sense..." Mo Hua was puzzled. "Yu'er is clearly the child of the Shangguan and Wenren families. How could he be related to the Great Wilderness?"

—

On the other side, upon seeing the prince in the Dragon Coffin, Shentu Ao's emotions began to tremble.

"Ye'er…"

He murmured softly.

Ancient memories surged forth like bitter vintage wine, drop by drop, trickling back into his heart.

The Great Wilderness royal clan's misfortunes… the separation of kin and blood.

Over the years, his family had scattered, forced to roam, and he had even sacrificed his royal dignity, becoming a demon cultivator, playing along with traitors—living neither as man nor ghost. The bitterness, the despair, the helplessness—it all shook his soul and stirred his heart.

And now, at long last, he had finally seen… his dearest kin.

He had seen his younger brother.

Even though… his only brother was already dead.

Now, just a cold corpse, lying silently within this secluded Dragon Coffin.

With trembling hands, Shentu Ao reached toward the prince—whom he called "Ye'er."

But just then, a crimson sword light slashed through the air—striking his arm.

The sword strike was powerful, but Shentu Ao was protected by dragon runes. It didn't hurt him—didn't even break the skin.

Still, the sudden attack caused Shentu Ao's expression to darken.

He turned his head to glare coldly at Young Master Xuan, who held the sword.

"What do you mean by this?"

Young Master Xuan met his draconic gaze—it made his heart chill—but he quickly suppressed the fear, his eyes flashing as he smiled faintly:

"I want to ask Third Prince for something."

"What is it?" Shentu Ao's voice was low and commanding.

Xuan's gaze gleamed.

"I want… Prince Ye's body."

—

Those words made Mo Hua freeze.

And Shentu Ao's eyes turned bloodshot with rage. An immense killing intent erupted from him.

Xuan was shaken by the pressure and took a step back. But he quickly composed himself, gathering his demonic energy and channeling it into his eyes to confront Shentu Ao directly.

Though outmatched in cultivation, his mastery of the Dao Heart Demon Seed allowed him to resist Shentu Ao's oppressive aura. He spoke coolly:

"Prince Ao, don't you want to revive the Great Wilderness? Don't you want to restore the royal line?"

Those words seemed to strike a chord.

Indeed, for the sake of their revival, far too much had already been sacrificed. Even if it was humiliating… he had to endure it.

Had it only been this outrageous request for Ye'er's corpse, he would have already killed Xuan on the spot.

Shentu Ao slowly suppressed his killing intent.

"The royal inheritance of the Great Wilderness Dragon Pulse—I can grant you a portion."

"That's what the demonic sect wants." Xuan replied. "It's not what I want."

"Then what do you want?"

"Like I said. I want Prince Ye's corpse."

Shentu Ao's eyes were cold as frost.

Xuan chuckled slightly and said,

"The Demonic Sect is the sect. I am still me. I've taken a risk for them—naturally, I have my own… little request."

"I'll give you one more chance," Shentu Ao said flatly. "Think carefully."

Xuan shook his head.

"I will get Prince Ye's body—no matter what."

Shentu Ao's dragon runes lit up, blood energy surging. He looked at Xuan with cold disdain and a hint of mockery:

"What makes you think you can speak to me like this? What gives you the right to make such an insulting request? Your third-rate 'Dao Heart Demon Seed'?"

"Do you know—I could crush you with a single palm?"

Dragon runes flashed across his body, radiating deadly pressure.

Mo Hua was also baffled.

This Young Master Xuan didn't seem like an idiot—so why would he make such an outrageous demand?

Against Shentu Ao—a late-stage Golden Core cultivator, blessed with Evil Dragon Power, a high commander of the demonic sect and a prince of the Great Wilderness?

What was he relying on?

Did he think his "Dao Heart Demon Seed" could subdue Shentu Ao?

Impossible. Even Mo Hua didn't have that level of strength.

So then what?

Was it the ones Xuan had already controlled—Lord Gray, Stone, and Mo Hua himself, a mere Foundation Establishment?

Were they supposed to fight Shentu Ao?

No way. Even ten Lord Grays and Mo Hua together wouldn't stand a chance.

Mo Hua was a formation master—he'd seen firsthand how terrifying Shentu Ao's Four Symbols Evil Dragon Array was.

So what was Xuan banking on?

Just then, as Mo Hua puzzled over it—Young Master Xuan smiled and turned to the long-silent Elder Bear Demon, his voice laced with bewitchment:

"Do you want to be a 'bear'… or a dragon?"

Elder Bear Demon froze. Shentu Ao's eyes narrowed sharply.

Xuan continued, looking at Shentu Ao but speaking to the elder:

"If you kill him, all those dragon runes—become yours."

The bear elder stayed silent.

Xuan smiled again.

"You're not one of the Great Wilderness. You're not even from the Great Wilderness."

"Don't think I don't know. You demon cultivators—your cultivation methods and beast marks—were always meant to serve someone else. You were just fuel for a formation meant to birth a true dragon."

"You're just a tool. A stepping stone."

"You really want to be a bear forever? Obeying someone else for life? Don't you want to be the dragon just once?"

"This is your only chance. Second Elder is dead. Shentu Ao's blood energy is depleted, and he's alone. If you don't fight now, you'll never get those dragon runes."

Elder Bear Demon's gaze wavered—conflicted, torn. Then he clenched his teeth and stepped over to Xuan's side.

Shentu Ao wasn't angry. He laughed mockingly.

"You think you're worthy of becoming a dragon? Fine—since you're so eager to die, I'll oblige you."

His figure flickered, drawing forth a dragon shadow—in a single breath, he was in front of Xuan.

The Evil Dragon roared. With mighty force, his palms slammed downward like a mountain.

Xuan's face changed. His body twisted like elastic, contorting into an inhuman form to evade the crushing pressure of the Evil Dragon, narrowly slipping out of Shentu Ao's grasp.

Missing the first strike, Shentu Ao spun and struck again—

But this time, the blow was intercepted midair by a massive, bear-like claw.

The clash of Golden Core powers erupted in a surge of violent force, the shockwave exploding outward.

Winds howled with blood-scented fury. The Golden Core cultivators could withstand it—but Foundation-level Mo Hua couldn't.

He used the moment to pretend to be knocked off balance, rolling several times to a corner of the hall.

In a battle of Golden Core cultivators, no one paid attention to a lowly "puppet" at the Foundation level.

And so, using the Dao Heart Demon Seed, Xuan commanded Lord Gray and Stone, and with the Bear Demon Elder—launched an assault on Shentu Ao.

Shentu Ao had been burning his bloodline power repeatedly to activate the royal inheritance. His blood energy was weakened. His strength had taken a hit.

Xuan's side had numbers.

Yet even so…

They still weren't his match.

Bare-handed, Shentu Ao wielded Evil Dragon force. Between fists and palms, red-blue formation runes shimmered. Empowered by the Four Symbols Azure Dragon Evil Formation, he forced the Bear Demon Elder—also a late-stage Golden Core with a steel-like body—to retreat again and again.

As for Young Master Xuan…

He could hardly get near him.

Young Master Xuan used crimson sword lights to distract Shentu Ao from afar, or threw minor interference with his Dao-Heart Demon Seed, but never dared approach.

Mo Hua lay in the shadows like a wooden puppet, watching in envy.

"So this is the Four Symbols Azure Dragon Formation…"

The array fused with the physical body—each punch spawned a dragon's shadow, perfectly uniting offense and defense. Not only did the dragon scales protect Shentu Ao's flesh, but every strike carried the invincible might of dragon qi.

Mo Hua wondered if he could ever learn anything like it. Of course, his body was too weak to truly master it. But even a fraction—say a tenth—as powerful, he thought, would be plenty. Then, using his Flowing Water Step, he could dodge—and maybe land a surprise punch laced with a dragon's shadow!

"Four Symbols Azure Dragon Formation…"

Mo Hua's eyes burned with longing.

—

Meanwhile, Shentu Ao held the absolute upper hand. Lord Gray and Stone lay discarded at the side, their limbs shattered. The Bear Demon Elder and Young Master Xuan were both pressed to their limits, gasping for breath.

"I underestimated him… the royal inheritance of the Great Wilderness truly lives up to its name…"

Young Master Xuan bit his lip. Then he turned to the Bear Demon Elder.

"Elder Bear, it's time to stop holding back."

The Bear Demon's eyes darkened. Shentu Ao paused, realizing Xuan's plan, and lashed out with a punch so sudden it was stronger than before.

The Bear Demon Elder saw it coming too late. In a desperate move, his hulking form slithered like a massive python, coiling around Shentu Ao. He bit down savagely on the back of Shentu Ao's neck, fountaining blood.

Wounded, Shentu Ao's gaze didn't waver—he unleashed another punch. It struck the Bear Demon Elder squarely. Bone-crushing sounds echoed as flesh and bone splintered.

Spitting blood, the Bear Demon recoiled, reverting to his half-human, half-bear form. Yet his arm hung limp—dragon qi had shredded the flesh. In the next instant, however, his demon energy surged. His bones knit anew, and torn skin sloughed away, revealing new, eerie serpent runes beneath.

Mo Hua, who had tangled with the Four Symbols demon marks in the Myriad Demon Valley, felt a cold shock. This Bear Demon Elder wore two demon marks: one of the bear and one of the serpent.

Mo Hua's pupils flickered.

He recognized those serpent runes immediately—they were the marks of the Snake Elder slain during the purge of the Demon Sect! That elder's skin had been stripped… and now these very runes remained on the Bear Demon.

Either the Bear Demon snatched the skin after Snake Elder died, or he had treacherously murdered the Snake Elder himself to claim those marks—ensuring the Snake Elder fell in battle against the Dao Court.

Mo Hua's mind reeled. The cultivation world was merciless, and these demon cultivators were more scheming than he'd ever imagined. That seemingly straightforward Bear Elder had long coveted Shentu Ao's Azure Dragon runes… and made ample preparations to seize them.

"Another rival, fighting me for power…"

Mo Hua's thoughts raced.

—

Shentu Ao's expression darkened as he considered the bear elder's new serpent marks.

"A python aspiring to become a dragon…"

With the dual power of the Four Symbols beast formations, the Bear Demon Elder's mixed bear-snake qi was bizarre yet brutally potent.

Even Shentu Ao's demeanor, usually cold and imperious, grew serious.

Young Master Xuan saw this and allowed himself a small sigh of relief. Then he spoke to Shentu Ao:

"Third Prince, like I said, if you hand over Prince Ye's body, I will not go back on my word. My sect will still help you unify the Great Wilderness."

"To rebel against the Dao Court and restore the royal line—that's no small matter. You know that better than anyone."

"You are no stubborn relic—you can adapt."

Shentu Ao fell silent, then asked coldly:

"Why… is Prince Ye's body so important?"

Xuan looked at the young prince in the coffin, greed flashing in his eyes. After a pause, he said quietly:

"To cultivate the Xuan-Demonic Fetus."

Xuan-Demonic Fetus?

Mo Hua froze. The name rang a distant bell… it felt incredibly familiar.

Pieces of memory surged back, one by one…

Mo Hua's pupils snapped wide.

Xuan-Demonic Fetus... Xuan Sanren?!

"Xuan Sanren…" Mo Hua's eyes flickered slightly.

He still remembered—it was during that year when the righteous and demonic factions besieged his master in the Five Elements Sect of Lishan City.

The demon cultivators took the chance to host the so-called "Ten Thousand Demons Assembly."

And during that assembly, his Elder Martial Uncle had used the Sealing Heaven Array of Deceit to trap the Myriad Demons Hall, then unleashed Dao-Heart Demon Seeding, slaughtering the entire horde of demons to the last man.

Among them were even three cultivators of the Ascension Realm.

At the time, his martial uncle was only a Golden Core realm cultivator with a demonic seed. Logically, there was a whole major realm separating them—it should've been impossible for him to corrupt the Dao-hearts of those in the Ascension Realm—

That was something even the Ascended demon cultivator called "Poison Sovereign" had admitted.

But the problem… lay in Xuan Sanren.

Mo Hua remembered it vividly. Back then, the Poison Sovereign had cursed loudly:

"...Xuan Sanren! You cowardly, life-loving beast! You actually sent your Xuan-Demonic Fetus instead of coming in person?!"

Xuan-Demonic Fetus Transformation—an ultimate demonic art.

One body, two fetuses. Truth and falsehood, nearly indistinguishable.

Back then, when they were trying to sever his master's karmic ties and steal the secret of the Return-to-Void Sky Burial, it was an earth-shattering affair. Xuan Sanren must've sensed how dangerous it was, and chose to send the Xuan-Demonic Fetus in his place.

But though the Xuan-Demonic Fetus had the cultivation of Ascension Realm, its Dao-heart was incomplete, split off from the true body.

And that gave Martial Uncle his opportunity.

Inside the sealed Myriad Demons Hall, with the incomplete Dao-heart of the fetus, Xuan Sanren's Ascension clone fell prey to Dao-Heart Demon Seeding.

The other two Ascension-level demon lords were doomed to die as well.

"He seeded demons in the hearts of the Ascended and slaughtered all the demon cultivators..."

Mo Hua had witnessed it with his own eyes.

Most of the demons who besieged his master back then were wiped out by his martial uncle's hand.

Only Xuan Sanren survived—barely.

But the one that died was merely a Xuan-Demonic Fetus.

Mo Hua turned his head toward Young Master Xuan.

No wonder, during his divinations earlier, he'd felt that this Young Master Xuan seemed oddly familiar, even felt a deep karmic link.

So that was it… this karma went all the way back to Xuan Sanren, the one who once betrayed and harmed his master.

Young Master Xuan… Xuan Sanren… Xuan-Demonic Sect…

"Well now… what a deep karmic entanglement this is."

Mo Hua's eyes grew icy cold.

In the midst of his standoff with Shentu Ao, Young Master Xuan's expression suddenly shifted, his heart inexplicably struck with unease.

It felt like some terrifying beast… had just marked him as prey.

...

At that very moment—across mountains and rivers…

In the cold, shadowy depths of the Xuan-Demonic Sect—filled with devilry and peril…

An old man with crane-white hair and childlike features, deep in secluded cultivation, suddenly opened his eyes.

His heart trembled violently.

Some karmic thread… had just been plucked.

(End of this Chapter)