Chapter 962: Origins
Chapter 962: Origins
Mo Hua focused his mind and examined the prince in the dragon coffin more closely.
The prince's facial features were similar to Yu Er's, both youthful and innocent, but there was an innate sense of authority that set him apart from Yu Er's gentle and lovable nature.
However, their eyebrows and eyes were remarkably alike.
Why? Why did he resemble Yu Er somewhat?
Mo Hua furrowed his brows slightly.
"Is Yu Er a prince of the Great Wilderness Clan?"
"Or does he have the bloodline of the Great Wilderness Imperial Clan?"
"But that doesn't make sense..." Mo Hua was perplexed, "Yu Er is clearly the child of the Shangguan and Wenren families. How could he be connected to the Great Wilderness?"
On the other side, upon seeing the prince in the dragon coffin, Shen Tu Ao's emotions suddenly trembled.
"Ye Er..."
Shen Tu Ao muttered softly.
Distant memories, like aged bitter wine, trickled back into his mind, one by one.
The misfortunes that befell the Great Wilderness Imperial Clan, the separation of flesh and blood.
Over the years, his family had dwindled, and he had been wandering aimlessly, even sacrificing the dignity of the imperial clan to become a demon cultivator. He had been living neither as a human nor a ghost, enduring all sorts of bitterness and despair, making his heart tremble and his emotions surge.
Now, he had finally found his closest kin, his own younger brother.
Even though his only brother was already dead.
He had become a cold corpse, lying in this isolated dragon coffin.
Shen Tu Ao trembled, reaching out to touch the prince in the dragon coffin, the one he had called "Ye Er."
But suddenly, a blood-colored sword light slashed through the air, striking his arm.
The sword light was powerful, but Shen Tu Ao had the protection of the dragon pattern, so he was unharmed, not even a scratch on his skin."
However, this sudden change, still let Shen Tu Ao complexion a stagnation.
He turned his head, looking at the sword-wielding Xuan Gongzi, his expression cold, "What do you mean?"
Xuan Gongzi felt a chill in his heart as he was stared at by Shen Tu Ao's eyes, which were like those of a coiling dragon. But with a flash of his eyes, he dispelled the fear in his heart and smiled lightly, "I want to ask the Third Prince for something."
"What?" Shen Tu Ao's voice was low and imposing.
Xuan Gongzi's eyes gleamed, "I want... Ye Er's remains."
Upon hearing this, Mo Hua was taken aback.
Shen Tu Ao's eyes turned red with anger, and his entire body exuded a chilling killing intent.
Xuan Gongzi was intimidated by Shen Tu Ao's aura and couldn't help but take a step back, then he reacted and gathered his demonic energy into his eyes, confronting Shen Tu Ao.
Despite being at a disadvantage in cultivation, Xuan Gongzi managed to resist Shen Tu Ao's authority with his mastery of 'Dao Heart Cultivation of Evil'.
"Prince Ao, don't you want to revive the Great Wilderness Clan? Don't you want to restore the imperial clan?"
These words seemed to awaken Shen Tu Ao.
For the sake of the Great Wilderness Imperial Clan, he had already sacrificed too much. Therefore, he had to endure some humiliation.
Otherwise, if he had acted solely out of desire for Ye Er, he would have already killed Xuan Gongzi.
Shen Tu Ao slowly suppressed his killing intent, "I can pass on a portion of the Great Wilderness Dragon Lineage's heritage to you."
"That's what the Demon Sect wants, but not what I want," Xuan Gongzi replied.
"What do you want?"
"I already said, I want Ye Er's remains."
Shen Tu Ao's eyes turned cold.
Xuan Gongzi smiled slightly and then said, "The Demon Sect has its desires, and so do I. I took a risk for the Demon Sect, so naturally, I have my own small request."
"I'll give you one more chance to think it over," Shen Tu Ao said indifferently.
Xuan Gongzi shook his head, "Ye Er's remains are something I must have."
Shen Tu Ao's body was surrounded by the dragon pattern, and his blood energy surged as he looked at Xuan Gongzi with indifference, his cold expression carrying a hint of ridicule, "What makes you think you're worthy of speaking to me like this? What qualifications do you have to make such an impudent request? Do you think your 'Dao Heart Cultivation of Evil' is enough?"
"Do you know that I could crush you with a single palm?" Shen Tu Ao's dragon pattern flickered, and his killing intent was palpable.
Mo Hua was also puzzled in his heart.
This Xuan Gongzi didn't seem like a fool, so why did he dare to make such an audacious request to Shen Tu Ao, a Late Golden Core cultivator with the power of the Evil Dragon and the leader of the Demon Sect, a prince of the Great Wilderness Clan?"
What gave him the ability to affect Shen Tu Ao's 'Dao Heart Cultivation of Evil'?
Impossible... Even he didn't possess such strength.
So, was it because of the Gray Second Young Master, Stone, and himself, a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator, who had been affected by his 'Dao Heart Cultivation of Evil'?
That's also impossible...
Even with ten Gray Second Young Masters and himself, they wouldn't be a match for Shen Tu Ao.
Mo Hua was an Array Master, and he had witnessed the power of Shen Tu Ao's Four Symbols Evil Dragon Array with his own eyes, more clearly than anyone else.
Just as Mo Hua was puzzled, Xuan Gongzi smiled lightly and looked at the Bear Elder, who had been silent all along, his voice carrying a hint of enticement, "Do you want to be a 'Bear' or a 'Dragon'?"
The Bear Elder was taken aback, and Shen Tu Ao's eyes narrowed.
Xuan Gongzi turned to Shen Tu Ao and said to the Bear Elder, "If you kill him, that dragon pattern will be yours."
The Bear Elder remained silent.
Xuan Gongzi smiled at him and said, "You're not from the Great Wilderness Clan, and you're not even from the Great Wilderness."
"Don't think I don't know. You demon cultivators, the cultivation techniques you practice and the demon marks you nurture are all meant to benefit others. It's all about nurturing a set of true 'Dragon Transformation' array."
"You, as an elder, are nothing more than a disposable pawn."
"Are you content with being a dog bear all your life, obeying others' every command? Don't you want to be a true dragon yourself?"
"This is your only chance in this life. The Second Elder is dead, and Shen Tu Ao has also suffered a loss of Blood Qi. This is your one chance. If you don't take it, you'll never have the opportunity to obtain the Great Wilderness Dragon Pattern again."
Bear Elder's eyes trembled, his mind filled with internal conflict. After a moment, he gritted his teeth and stood before Xuan Gongzi.
Shen Tu Ao didn't show anger but instead sneered, "Dragon Transformation? What kind of person dares to attempt Dragon Transformation? Fine, if you wish to die, I'll grant your wish."
Shen Tu Ao's figure flashed, and in an instant, he appeared before Xuan Gongzi with a Dragon Shadow.
Amidst the evil dragon's roar, a pair of large hands wielded the might of ten thousand pounds, slamming down fiercely.
Xuan Gongzi's face changed, and his body twisted like a rubber band into an inhuman and bizarre posture, shedding the evil dragon's pressure. He escaped from under Shen Tu Ao's palm.
Shen Tu Ao's palm missed, and he quickly followed with another strike.
But this palm, as it reached midair, was intercepted by a thick and sturdy bear-like demon palm.
The Golden Core's power rippled, and a fierce wave of energy surged outward.
The force squeezed and the bloody wind howled. The few Golden Core cultivators present could handle it, but for Mo Hua, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, it was too much.
Taking advantage of the situation, Mo Hua pretended to lose his balance, letting the gale blow him away. He tumbled a few times and hid in the corner of the hall.
No one cared about this Golden Core level battle; they didn't bother with a Foundation Establishment level 'little puppet' like him.
Thus, Xuan Gongzi, through his Dao Heart Cultivation of Evil, commanded Gray Second Young Master and Stone, along with the late Golden Core stage Bear Elder, to engage in a fierce battle with Shen Tu Ao.
Shen Tu Ao had been frequently using his bloodline power and activating the Great Wilderness heritage, depleting a significant amount of his Blood Qi and weakening his strength considerably.
Xuan Gongzi and his allies fought against Shen Tu Ao.
However, despite their efforts, they were no match for Shen Tu Ao.
Shen Tu Ao, with his bare hands and fists, channeled the power of the evil dragon, and the azure dragon pattern flashed. With the support of the Four Symbols Azure Dragon Evil Formation, he overwhelmed the Bear Demon Elder, who was also at the late Golden Core stage and had a body as tough as steel, forcing him to retreat step by step.
Not to mention Xuan Gongzi.
He could only stay at a distance, relying on the blood-colored sword light to attack or using the Dao Heart Cultivation of Evil to cause minor interference. He dared not take a single step closer.
Mo Hua lay there like a wooden puppet, watching from afar with envy.
"This is the Four Symbols Azure Dragon Array..."
The array merged with the flesh, and with each punch, a dragon shadow appeared, forming an integrated offense and defense. It was both majestic and powerful. Not only was the body protected by dragon scales, but the dragon's power also dominated in both attack and defense.
If he could learn this, he wondered if he could be as powerful.
Of course, his physical foundation was too shallow, so he probably wouldn't be able to learn it well.
But even if he could learn just a fraction of it, it would be enough.
This way, when he used the Flowing Water Steps in the future, he wouldn't have to focus solely on dodging. He could also surprise his opponents with a punch.
"Four Symbols Azure Dragon Array..."
The more Mo Hua watched, the more he coveted it.
On the other side, Shen Tu Ao held an absolute advantage. Gray Second Young Master and Stone had already been struck, their limbs broken and lying on the ground.
The Bear Demon Cultivator struggled to catch his breath under the pressure.
"Indeed, I underestimated him. The Great Wilderness Imperial Clan's heritage is truly legendary..." Xuan Gongzi gritted his teeth and then turned to the Bear Elder beside him, saying,
"Bear Elder, there's no need to hold back anymore."
The Bear Elder's eyes darkened.
Shen Tu Ao was taken aback but quickly understood. He punched towards the Bear Elder.
This punch came without warning and with greater force than before.
The Bear Elder couldn't block it, so he gritted his teeth. His originally robust and sturdy body suddenly slid, like a thick python, coiling around Shen Tu Ao. Simultaneously, he bit down on Shen Tu Ao's back neck, drawing blood.
Shen Tu Ao was injured, but his gaze remained unchanged. He struck out with another punch.
This punch was solid, hitting the Bear Elder directly. The sound of shattering bones rang out, and his flesh tore open inch by inch.
The Bear Elder spat out a mouthful of blood and then transformed back into a bear, retreating.
But his arm hung limply.
Especially the skin on his arm, which was shredded by the evil dragon's power.
However, in the next moment, the demon power surged, and his skin began to regenerate. The damaged skin peeled away, revealing a brand new demon mark underneath.
It was a strange serpentine pattern.
Mo Hua, who had spent time in the Ten Thousand Demons Valley and was familiar with these Four Symbols demon marks, was secretly shocked.
The Bear Demon Elder had two sets of demon marks, which was unusual.
One was the bear demon pattern, the other was the serpent demon pattern.
Mo Hua's eyes flickered slightly.
With just one glance, he understood the origin of this serpent pattern.
This serpent pattern belonged to the serpent elder among the three Golden Core demon cultivators in the Ten Thousand Demons Valley.
During the siege of the Demon Sect, the serpent elder died, and his demon pattern seemed to have been stripped off.
Now, this serpent pattern was fused into the body of the bear demon cultivator.
Either he had secretly stripped the skin when the serpent elder died, or he had already plotted against the serpent elder beforehand, stripping his skin, which led to the serpent elder's fatal injuries during the Dao Court’s siege.
Mo Hua was secretly taken aback.
Indeed, the cultivation world was perilous, and the hearts of these demon cultivators were one more cunning than the next.
Even though he knew some of the backgrounds of these demon cultivators, he never expected that this seemingly honest Bear Elder would have such deep scheming.
He clearly had harbored covetous thoughts for a long time, wanting to strip the Azure Dragon Pattern from the Demon Sect Overlord.
He had even made ample preparations for it.
"Another one trying to snatch what I want..."
Mo Hua's thoughts flickered.
On the other side, Shen Tu Ao stopped, looking at the serpent pattern on the bear demon cultivator's body, his brows slightly furrowed.
"Snake about to transform into a dragon..."
Since he was exposed, the Bear Elder no longer hid his aura.
He fully revealed his aura, and under the enhancement of the two Four Elements Demon Patterns, the bear and serpent demon powers mixed together. Although it seemed somewhat mismatched, it was also extremely fierce and powerful.
Shen Tu Ao's expression became serious for the first time.
Seeing this, Xuan Gongzi slowly exhaled and said:
"Third Prince, as I said, if you hand over Prince Ye’s body to me, I will not break my promise. My lineage of the Demon Sect will still assist you in unifying the Great Wilderness."
"Opposing the Dao Court and reviving the Great Wilderness Imperial Clan, you know how difficult this is, more than I do."
"You are not a person who clings to outdated ways and refuses to adapt."
Shen Tu Ao was silent for a moment, then asked coldly, "Why... must it be Ye Er’s remains?"
Xuan Gongzi looked at the prince's body in the dragon coffin, a greedy expression in his eyes. After a moment of contemplation, he slowly said, "Between us, there's no need to hide... I need Prince Ye’s body to cultivate... the Dark Magic Embryo!"
Dark Magic Embryo?
Mo Hua, hiding in the corner, was taken aback by this.
He felt that these three words were very familiar, as if he had heard them somewhere a long time ago.
Memories, like waves, slowly traced back...
Mo Hua's pupils suddenly constricted.
Dark Magic Embryo... Xuan Sanren?!
"Xuan Sanren..."
Mo Hua's gaze trembled. He remembered that back then, the righteous and demonic factions had surrounded his master in the Five Elements Sect in Lishan City.
A group of demon cultivators took the opportunity to host the Ten Thousand Demons Assembly.
During the assembly, his granduncle used the Deceptive Daoist's Sky Sealing Array to seal the Ten Thousand Demons Hall, and then used the Dao Heart Cultivation of Evil to slaughter all the demon cultivators.
Among them were even three Ascendant Realm cultivators.
At that time, his granduncle had a Golden Core level demon seed, and theoretically, it should have been impossible to erode an Ascendant Realm cultivator's Dao heart—
This was what the Ascendant Realm demon, the "Poison Venerable," had said.
But the problem was with "Xuan Sanren."
Mo Hua remembered very clearly that at the time, the Poison Venerable had cursed:
"... Xuan Sanren, you cowardly beast, you actually used the Dark Magic Embryo to replace your true body?"
The Dark Magic Embryo, an unparalleled demonic art.
One body, two embryos, making it hard to distinguish between the real and the fake.
Sealing his master's karmic cause and effect, and seizing the secrets of the Heavenly Burial in the Netherworld, this was a major matter, and Xuan Sanren seemed to have foreseen the danger of this journey, so he dispatched the Dark Magic Embryo to replace his true body.
However, although the Dark Magic Embryo had two lives in one body, its Dao heart was divided.
It had the cultivation of the Ascendant Realm but lacked a complete Ascendant Realm Dao heart.
This gave his granduncle an opportunity.
In the sealed demon hall, an Ascendant Realm Dark Magic Embryo was possessed by his granduncle's Dao Heart Cultivation of Evil, and the other two Ascendant Realm demons were almost certainly doomed.
"Using the Dao Heart Cultivation of Evil to slaughter ten thousand demons and slay the Ascendant Realm..."
Mo Hua had been an eyewitness back then.
And those demon cultivators who had besieged and trapped his master were mostly killed by his granduncle.
Only Xuan Sanren had died with just a Dark Magic Embryo.
Mo Hua turned to look at Xuan Gongzi.
It made sense why he felt familiar with Xuan Gongzi during his divination, even sensing a deep connection between them.
It turned out that this karmic cause and effect traced back to the "Xuan Sanren" who had betrayed his master...
Xuan Gongzi, Xuan Sanren, the Dark Magic Sect...
"This is truly... a profound connection."
Mo Hua's gaze was cold.
Xuan Gongzi, who was facing off against Shen Tu Ao, his expression changed slightly, a inexplicable sense of foreboding rising in his heart, as if he was being targeted by some terrifying beast.
...
At this moment, across thousands of mountains.
In the dark and cold, demon cultivator-filled, dragon pit and tiger den of the Dark Magic Sect.
An elderly man with gray hair and a youthful face, who was in seclusion, suddenly opened his eyes, a shudder of his heart.
What karmic cause and effect... had been triggered?
(End of Chapter)
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