Immortality Through Array Formations (The Quest for Immortality)

Chapter 964: Ominous Rumors

The power of the dragon vein erupted, and the aura of the Azure Dragon meandered through the grand hall.

The source of that Azure Dragon Qi lay within the Dragon Coffin.

Following the glow, everyone looked over—inside the Dragon Coffin lay the Fourth Prince, long deceased for who knows how many years, his expression still serene. And somehow, at some unknown point, he was now gripping a fragment of an azure bone in his hand.

That bone was the length of half an arm, jade-green and translucent, its head and tail shaped strangely. The bone structure seemed molded by the very hand of Heaven—it resembled a young dragon.

"Dragon Vein!!"

Elder Bearhide (Xióngxí) felt his blood boiling in excitement. His eyes turned red with greed as he lunged toward the Dragon Coffin, attempting to seize the Dragon Vein within.

Shentu Ao was being bathed in Azure Dragon Qi. Radiant light enveloped his body, as if his marrow and meridians were being reforged. His weakening aura began to strengthen again—and this time, the draconic might exuding from him was even more majestic and oppressive.

Seeing Elder Bearhide covet the Dragon Vein, Shentu Ao's face darkened with fury and he punched out.

A dragon-shaped azure shadow roared forth, charging straight toward Elder Bearhide.

Elder Bearhide's left arm transformed into a giant python to clash with the Azure Dragon. But in an instant, his demonic power was suppressed by the Azure Dragon Qi. His arm was torn and bloodied, and he was blasted several meters away.

Greed surged in Young Master Xuan's eyes. Seizing the moment, he shouted, "Shen Shouxing! Seize the Dragon Vein for me, and I'll give you your son back!"

Shen Shouxing's face twitched in anger, his gaze turning ice-cold.

He despised being ordered around by this Young Master Xuan—but with his foolish son used as a bargaining chip, his life held in another's hands, he had no choice.

Still, doubt lingered in his heart.

This thing… is it truly the Dragon Vein of the Great Wilderness?

Such a heaven-defying treasure—why was it buried in a tomb atop this Lone Mountain?

Elder Shen had never mentioned it.

His expression grew heavy. Then, drawing his white jade sword, he activated his peak Golden Core cultivation. Crystallized spiritual energy surged as man and sword became one, charging at Shentu Ao.

Even Xun Ziyou hadn't expected that this Lone Mountain tomb expedition would allow him to witness the Dragon Vein of the Great Wilderness Royal Lineage with his own eyes.

Whether the Dragon Vein was real or not—he couldn't allow it to fall into the hands of the demonic cultivators.

Especially not while Shentu Ao was actively absorbing its power.

If he was allowed to fully resonate with the Dragon Vein, even if everyone here joined forces, they might still be unable to restrain him.

Xun Ziyou activated the Great Void Sword Technique, transforming into countless sword lights that surged toward Shentu Ao.

As for Master Gu and Fan Jin, the two had originally come to rescue Mo Hua, but never imagined they would be swept into such an incredible and unfathomable fate. Shocked, they found it all almost unbelievable.

That radiant Dragon Vein—so noble and divine—how could they not want it?

But fortunately, in the face of desire, they remained rational. They knew this wasn't something they could afford to touch.

And this was a killing arena of peak Golden Core cultivators—far beyond their league.

So, they lingered on the outskirts, occasionally lending support with a strike or two, retreating immediately after. They didn't dare to wade deeper into this deadly clash.

Instead, most of their attention was focused on Mo Hua.

The Dragon Vein was a treasure they might not even be able to enjoy if they somehow obtained it.

But the life of Young Master Mo—that was truly and directly tied to their own future fortunes.

Fan Jin and Master Gu both watched anxiously, their eyes constantly on Young Master Xuan, hoping for an opportunity to snatch Mo Hua away.

Mo Hua still appeared dazed on the surface, but inwardly, he was closely observing the battle.

With the Dragon Vein's emergence, the situation had grown increasingly complex—

—and the battlefield even more intense.

Shentu Ao, empowered by the Azure Dragon's might, now fought three at once. He clashed in close quarters with Elder Bearhide's overwhelming demonic force, countered Shen Shouxing and Elder Xun's sword techniques, and resisted Young Master Xuan's sinister blood poison and his intermittent Heart Demon Seeding spells...

Mo Hua watched the Golden Core battle unfold.

At first, his thoughts wandered. But the more he watched, the more focused he became.

This was an excellent opportunity to observe.

Dueling between cultivators had many nuances.

Cultivation, techniques, physical arts—these overt aspects were of course important.

But real combat experience was priceless.

Without it, one's cultivation was mere theory. It didn't make one truly strong.

Here stood cultivators from great clans, elders from prestigious sects, mighty beast cultivators, and even royalty from the Great Wilderness.

Their deadly exchanges, ferocious killing moves, flowing techniques, and shifting defenses offered countless lessons.

Actual combat is the best teacher.

Mo Hua might not be able to participate in a Golden Core-level battle yet—but he could certainly learn from it.

And in the future, when he broke through to the Golden Core Realm, he could integrate all he witnessed now—step by step—into becoming a true master of combat and slaughter: a formidable Golden Core cultivator.

Mo Hua's gaze grew deeper. His eyes shimmered, absorbing every detail of this battle—engraving it into memory.

As he watched, his brows suddenly furrowed.

Others might not notice it, but as an array master, Mo Hua sensed a subtle change in the Four Symbols Dragon Mark on Shentu Ao's body.

Previously, he had reverse-engineered part of it—the Four Symbols Azure Dragon Array, specifically the first eighteen array patterns.

By comparing the two, his perception became increasingly clear.

The Four Symbols Azure Dragon Array on Shentu Ao was indeed transforming. Influenced by the Dragon Vein, it was being "corrected," shifting from an Evil Dragon into a true Azure Dragon.

Deducing further, Mo Hua sensed that the changing dragon pattern contained a massive amount of evolution in Four Symbols Beast Runes.

Almost as if... this had all been calculated in advance.

First raise the Evil Dragon with myriad beasts, then use the Dragon Vein to refine it into an Azure Dragon...

The more Mo Hua thought, the stranger it all seemed.

In his mind, scenes from the Myriad Beast Valley flashed by—countless types of beast runes and demon patterns he'd seen and collected.

In a flash of insight, realization struck him.

He finally understood what Mister Tu had been doing in the Myriad Beast Valley—and how he used the myriad beasts to cultivate the Four Symbols Dragon Pattern.

The so-called "dragon" wasn't a single divine beast.

Its head was that of a horse, horns like a deer, eyes like a turtle, ears like a cow, scales of a fish, body of a snake, claws of an eagle, and paws of a tiger…

Only by gathering the strengths of ten thousand beasts could one form a dragon.

Mister Tu followed this very principle—he hunted and raised beast cultivators in Myriad Beast Valley, using them for experiments, merging and modifying countless beast runes.

Then, from their essence, he pieced together a powerful "Evil Dragon."

This array method resembled "origin tracing."

But it wasn't about refining many into one—it was more like patching together strengths from all sources.

Because it embodied the essence of myriad beasts, the Four Symbols Evil Dragon dominated them all—supremely powerful.

After Myriad Beast Valley was exposed, much was destroyed in advance.

The destroyed diagrams, scrolls, jade slips, and records must have contained research into this "Beast Runes into Dragon" project.

And this was Mister Tu's true mastery in array formations.

But that still wasn't enough.

A dragon must be painted—and then have its eyes dotted.

Even a dragon composed of all beast runes was still just an Evil Dragon—a "beast" in the end.

To transform beast into true dragon—one needed a final touch.

And that was the Dragon Vein.

Using its pure Azure Dragon Qi to wash away demonic and evil energies—fusing all beast runes into a single entity—thus completing the "Azure Dragon Array Pattern."

Mo Hua silently inhaled.

This was a true masterpiece. A grand plan.

As an array master, he knew full well that such experimentation required astronomical manpower, resources, and time.

Who knew how many years it spanned, how many beast cultivators died, how many runes were tested, before this Four Symbols Dragon Pattern was finally stitched together and etched onto Shentu Ao.

And now, with the Azure Dragon Qi bathing him—this was the final stroke: dotting the dragon's eyes.

Only Mo Hua had seen through it all.

Everyone present remained completely unaware.

They weren't array masters—most had never set foot in the Myriad Beast Valley, nor had they studied the Four Symbols Beast Runes in depth. They knew little about Mister Tu.

So, all they saw was the Dragon Vein.

But they couldn't see that behind it lay an entire, grand, and intricate Four Symbols Divine Beast Array system—built from start to finish.

Mo Hua wanted to speak, to give even a word or two of warning—but he was still under the effect of the "Heart Demon Seed", reduced to a puppet, unable to speak.

Of course, in truth, his words weren't really needed.

The cultivators present were all veterans of the path. Even if they didn't understand formations, they quickly sensed that something was wrong.

Something on Shentu Ao's body… was undergoing a step-by-step transformation.

They didn't know the principle, but they could tell what needed to be done.

Shen Shouxing immediately shouted, "Sever the Dragon Vein's Qi!"

Xun Ziyou and Elder Bearhide didn't hesitate—they moved to sever the link between Shentu Ao and the Dragon Vein.

Elder Bearhide charged in for close combat, forcing Shentu Ao back.

Xun Ziyou summoned sword intent to shred the Azure Dragon Qi.

Shen Shouxing's white jade sword gleamed as he slashed at the Azure Dragon array pattern encircling Shentu Ao's body.

Mo Hua felt conflicted.

He feared Shentu Ao would absorb the Azure Dragon's power and counter-kill Elder Xun and the others…

But he also feared they'd go too far and destroy the increasingly purified and complete Azure Dragon array pattern on Shentu Ao's body.

Yet at this point, with the chaos unfolding, the situation could no longer follow Mo Hua's expectations.

Dozens of exchanges passed. Working in sync, Elder Xun and the Bearhide beast cultivator gave Shen Shouxing the opening to sweep out with his sword, unleashing a curtain of sword light that completely severed the resonance between Shentu Ao and the Azure Dragon Qi.

The array pattern on Shentu Ao's body… ceased its true "dragonization."

And from that moment, the fight turned into a true life-and-death struggle.

The battle on the field grew increasingly brutal.

Shen Shouxing, Xun Ziyou, Elder Bearhide, and Shentu Ao—each of them was wounded. And as the battle dragged on, their injuries deepened.

Their spiritual power and life essence were gradually being consumed.

Clashes between high-level cultivators often came down to willpower and endurance.

Even with his mighty physique and tenacious spirit, Shentu Ao was still fighting three Golden Core experts. Over time, he was bound to fall into a disadvantage.

Any other late-stage Golden Core cultivator wouldn't have lasted this long.

At last, after hundreds more exchanges, Shentu Ao's life essence was nearly depleted.

Seizing the chance, Shen Shouxing pierced through his dragon scales and stabbed at his heart meridian—but Shentu Ao's body was like steel. Though the blade tore his scale armor, it couldn't fully penetrate his chest.

Shentu Ao roared in fury, preparing to retaliate.

Just then, Elder Bearhide's arm coiled like a berserk python and restrained half of Shentu Ao's body.

Xun Ziyou saw an opening and thrust his sword into Shentu Ao's left shoulder.

Already grievously injured, Shentu Ao could not break free immediately. His anger surged, dragon roars echoed—it was like a trapped beast howling.

If Shen Shouxing poured in all his strength for one more sword, he could pierce Shentu Ao's heart meridian.

At that point, even if Shentu Ao didn't die, he'd be crippled.

But right then, Shen Shouxing suddenly turned his blade—

—and slashed at Xun Ziyou!

All this time, Xun Ziyou had been wary of Shen Shouxing. But after so many exhausting battles while surrounding Shentu Ao, his vigilance had dulled.

So this sudden strike caught him off guard.

By the time Xun Ziyou realized what was happening, Shen Shouxing's sword light was already streaking straight for his heart meridian.

It was a peak Golden Core strike, a sneak attack. No one expected it—and even if they did, no one could stop it.

But thanks to his lingering caution, Xun Ziyou reacted on instinct in the nick of time and twisted his body slightly.

The sword missed his heart by a few inches and pierced his shoulder instead, sword Qi tearing through his flesh.

Xun Ziyou had no choice but to release Shentu Ao and retreat.

Elder Bearhide could not restrain Shentu Ao alone and was also forced back a few meters.

Shentu Ao broke free and slowly stood up.

For a moment, the four men separated—each facing the other with killing intent, eyes wary.

Xun Ziyou glanced at the wound on his shoulder, then glared coldly at Shen Shouxing.

"Elder Shen, what is the meaning of this?"

Shen Shouxing's expression was cold and distant, though he felt some regret in his heart.

Elder Xun had been far too cautious. From start to finish, this had been his only opening.

And even then, he still failed to land a killing blow.

Had his sword pierced through, and the sword Qi ripped through the heart… Xun Ziyou would've met his end then and there.

Now, staring at Xun Ziyou in silence, Shen Shouxing no longer felt the need to conceal anything. He said flatly:

"For the sake of the Shen family… I'm afraid I must trouble Elder Xun to remain buried here in this Lone Mountain tomb."

Xun Ziyou wasn't surprised. His gaze turned sharp as blades.

"So it's true, then? All of this… was the doing of the Shen family?"

"Your Shen family caused the mine collapse, leading to the deaths of tens of thousands of mine cultivators… then used this tomb to seal the mine, condemning those poor souls to eternal darkness, never to see daylight again?!"

His voice shook with suppressed rage.

The expressions of those present changed. Mo Hua's heart trembled slightly.

Shen Shouxing's gaze dimmed. He said nothing.

"Silent?" Xun Ziyou's eyes narrowed. Then, with a mocking sneer:

"Then I take that as confirmation."

"Your Shen family truly has some nerve… So many innocent cultivators, and you just—killed them off?"

Xun Ziyou stared straight at him.

"Lone Mountain was under your charge. And you, someone not even in the Ascension Realm, were granted full authority in the Shen family. You must've rendered some tremendous service."

"That 'merit'… must've been this massacre of the mine cultivators, am I right?"

"This so-called 'mine disaster' back then—was orchestrated and carried out by you, Elder Shen, with your own two hands?"

His voice was icy, yet controlled.

As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere fell into a dead silence.

No one present said a word.

Even those who hadn't known the truth before—after entering the tomb, after stepping into the pit of ten thousand corpses, after witnessing the endless undead and the mountains of piled bodies—had already begun to suspect the truth.

They had just chosen not to speak of it.

Pretending not to know still allowed the truth to be temporarily buried.

But once it was exposed, once the Shen Family's deeds were laid bare—it would instantly become a matter of life and death, a grudge that could only end in blood.

The Shen Family would never allow witnesses to live.

Over a hundred thousand rogue cultivators perished in the Lone Mountain mining disaster.

Such a monstrous crime could shake the very foundation of the Shen Clan.

The Dao Court would absolutely not let it slide.

The Shen Family would be condemned from all sides. Their reputation would be utterly ruined.

And judging by things now, it was clear that Shen Shouxing had never intended to let anyone walk out of Lone Mountain alive.

Fan Jin felt his scalp go numb, his heart filled with bitterness.

His worst fears had come true after all. This calamity—he had not escaped it.

Beside him, Master Gu felt a chill in his chest, along with a surge of fury.

He trembled all over, clenched his jaw, and forced out his words:

"Over a hundred thousand rogue cultivators… all buried alive in this dark, sunless mine…"

"Shen Shouxing, can your conscience really live with that? Are you truly unafraid… of retribution?"

Shen Shouxing's expression remained indifferent, but a vein throbbed constantly on his forehead. Deep inside, he was struggling—clearly, he didn't want to recall the nightmare of the past.

The scenes of countless miners being buried alive, their faces filled with confusion, helplessness, loneliness, and despair—those memories broke through the seals of his mind and resurfaced.

He had made that decision himself. It was no different than committing the slaughter with his own hands.

A crack formed in Shen Shouxing's heart.

But on the surface, his face remained cold and numb. "I… had no choice."

Xun Ziyou sneered coldly.

Shen Shouxing ignored the mockery and sighed faintly.

"In a great clan where geniuses gather, climbing up is no easy feat. If you're not part of it, you'll never understand."

"Especially if you're of low birth, born of a concubine, on the fringes of the family's power… climbing up is like reaching the heavens."

"All the good things… always belong to others."

"You can only follow behind, picking at their leftovers… and still you must bow and scrape, full of gratitude…"

A flicker of anger and pain shone in Shen Shouxing's eyes.

"I've tasted that bitterness. That's why I refused to keep living like that. And I won't let my sons and grandsons live like that either."

"So I had to rise. No matter the cost—I had to climb."

Xun Ziyou was silent for a moment, then said flatly:

"So… the hundred thousand miners of Lone Mountain… became your stepping stones?"

"I didn't want to kill them either," Shen Shouxing said coldly. "I'm not someone who kills for pleasure. But they stirred up too much chaos—it became unmanageable. If it had continued, those scattered cultivators would've turned into a mob."

"The Shen Family couldn't possibly accommodate them. So there was only one option left… to bury them. Along with Lone Mountain."

Master Gu's fury surged. "You Shen Family—took their mountain, seized their mine, drove them to desperation—and now you blame them for revolting?!"

Shen Shouxing replied, "The mountain? They abandoned it themselves. The mine? They sold it of their own will. Scattered cultivators are short-sighted—for fleeting profit, they gave up the very foundation of their survival. What does that have to do with my Shen Family?"

"You—!" Master Gu's chest was heavy with rage. His finger trembled as he pointed at Shen Shouxing, unable to speak a word.

Xun Ziyou said coldly, "No matter what excuse you offer, you cannot justify slaughtering so many rogue cultivators."

Shen Shouxing paused for a moment, then let out a quiet sigh.

"They… were useless."

"For mining, my Shen Family has large-scale spiritual machines. We didn't need their labor."

"They were poor—there was no spirit stone profit to be made from them."

"The only valuable thing they had was Lone Mountain, passed down through generations… but even that, they sold for personal gain."

"Think about it—what use did they have left?"

"And on top of that, those starving, impoverished cultivators were stirring up trouble. That made it even more impossible to let them stay."

"Keeping them would've helped no one—not the Shen Family, not the Dao Court, not Lone Mountain, not even the peace of the entire Qianxue Prefecture."

"For cultivation to progress, for noble families to rise, for the cultivation world to flourish—someone has to be trampled underfoot."

"It has always been this way."

"It's just… some people see it. Some don't."

"Those who see it… are powerless."

"Those who don't, or won't see it… remain indifferent."

(End of this Chapter)