Chapter 963: Dragon Vein
Chapter 963: Dragon Vein
The white-haired and fair-skinned cultivator, with a youthful appearance, was none other than Xuan Sanren, also known as the Ascendant Realm Elder of the Dark Magic Sect, Xuan Maozu.
Ever since the Ten Thousand Demons Assembly, where he killed a Dark Magic Embryo, Xuan Sanren suffered a severe injury to his cultivation and went into seclusion, never to be seen again.
However, at this moment, karmic cause and effect were in motion, and an omen loomed over him, causing Xuan Sanren to sense something amiss and furrow his brows.
"Where is this karmic cause and effect coming from...?"
In his lifetime, he had cultivated the Dark Magic Embryo, killing countless people and making numerous enemies. At this moment, he couldn't pinpoint which enemy's grudge could make him feel this way.
"I never leave anyone alive, and all karmic cause and effect should have been settled. Could there be someone who slipped through the net?"
Xuan Sanren was uneasy, knowing that killing must be thorough, even if it meant eliminating infants in the womb, to ensure no loose ends.
This was Xuan Sanren's principle.
Although his cultivation was not the strongest among the demon leaders, his reputation for ruthlessness earned him the title of 'Xuan Maozu', as he was feared by many.
"What karmic cause and effect is this...?"
Xuan Sanren tried to trace the origin, but his mind went blank, with no clues to follow.
Xuan Sanren was about to give up, but his unease persisted. After deep contemplation, he made a firm decision and retrieved a compass from a heavily sealed red box.
This compass was crafted from white bones, with a lock sealed upon it. The lock was immersed in black, engraved with ancient and crude array patterns, and at its center, a demon eye was embedded, its gaze fierce and constantly blinking.
This was the Demon Sect's karmic treasure: the Netherworld Omnipotence Lock.
It had been a long time since Xuan Sanren last used this Omnipotence Lock.
Biting his finger, Xuan Sanren wiped the blood across his forehead, leaving a bloodstain that wriggled. His divine perception became increasingly sharp.
With a hand forming intricate gestures, Xuan Sanren activated the compass, hoping to use the Omnipotence Lock to deduce some past karmic cause and effect.
But in the next instant, the Omnipotence Lock trembled, and the demon eye within suddenly widened, filled with bloodshot veins, and trembled in fear.
Xuan Sanren stood frozen, his pupils gradually shrinking.
"Omnipotence Lock... can't calculate?"
"It's... afraid?"
"What is the Demon Sect's treasure afraid of? And whom is it afraid of?"
Xuan Sanren recalled the moment years ago, outside the Solitary Mountain City, when they surrounded that person, and the Omnipotence Lock seemed to tremble in the same way.
His unease grew.
In a daze, Xuan Sanren remembered the faint sense of foreboding he felt when deducing karmic cause and effect outside the Solitary Mountain City.
That feeling of foreboding resurfaced, bit by bit, in his mind.
It was as if he had unknowingly released a group of fish fry into the river.
But among the fish fry, there seemed to be a small yet ferocious 'crocodile'.
Yet, upon closer inspection, the vast river stretched endlessly, its waves shimmering, and nothing could be seen.
Xuan Sanren's brows furrowed tighter.
"That person is already dead, buried in the Netherworld, and those related have either died or dispersed. The storm has gradually calmed, and there's nothing to worry about."
"Who could this escaped 'crocodile' be?"
"Could it threaten my Dark Magic Sect?"
Xuan Sanren hoped he was overthinking, but deep down, he couldn't shake the feeling that, in the realm of darkness, a small fish was gradually rising, growing bit by bit...
"Ten years have passed, and the changes brought about by the Netherworld burial are slowly becoming apparent."
"Peril and danger are spreading."
"With the secrets of the heavens and karmic cause and effect, in the game of seeking immortality, who is this chess piece that has fallen?"
Xuan Sanren sat motionless for a long time, his mind still uneasy.
After a moment, his gaze dimmed, and from his bone ring, he carefully took out an ancient book.
Xuan Sanren's fair palm gently caressed the ancient book.
"From now on, the life and death fate of the Dark Magic Sect may be entrusted to this..."
This was a damaged book, its pages yellowed and old, showing signs of water damage and fire. On the damaged cover, six ancient and powerful characters were written:
"Daoheart Demonization Art".
...
In the Solitary Mountain Temple, Xuan Gongzi also sensed a faint palpitation, but his mastery of divine soul was far inferior to Xuan Sanren's, so he didn't take it to heart.
Moreover, he had to deal with Shen Tu Ao.
He needed to take the Great Wilderness inheritance from Shen Tu Ao, as well as another foundation for cultivating the Dark Magic Embryo—
The Great Wilderness Dragon Lineage's flesh.
Although the Great Wilderness Dragon Lineage was good, it had a drawback: it was an imperial clan's inheritance, and its cultivation methods, array techniques, artifact refinement, bone talisman techniques, sacrificial methods, and other secret techniques were mostly unmanageable and unusable without the imperial clan's bloodline.
Therefore, without the imperial clan's bloodline, even with the Great Wilderness inheritance, it was somewhat useless.
Shen Tu's second elder didn't mention this, but Xuan Gongzi understood.
To obtain the Great Wilderness inheritance, one must first have the Great Wilderness bloodline.
Without the bloodline, everything was just talk.
The Great Wilderness imperial clan was almost extinct, and their flesh was hard to find.
The only living member was Shen Tu Ao, but he was too strong, with a firm will and great ambition, making him difficult to control.
Even if they cooperated, it would be challenging to please him.
Therefore, the only option was to find the deceased 'fourth prince' and refine his flesh into his 'Dark Magic Embryo'.
Dark Magic Embryo Transformation, Supreme Demon Cultivation.
One body, two embryos, indistinguishable from real or fake.
Once the Dark Magic Embryo was refined, he would become the Great Wilderness prince, able to act under the prince's name.
In the future, when the grand plan succeeded, the entire Great Wilderness would become his possession.
Xuan Gongzi's heart burned with ambition, his desires soaring.
He didn't voice these thoughts, but after so many years of deception, Shen Tu Ao understood Xuan Gongzi's intentions when he mentioned the 'Dark Magic Embryo'.
"As expected, those not of our kind have different hearts... Nine States' cultivators truly deserve to die." Shen Tu Ao's face turned cold.
Xuan Gongzi didn't care and instead asked Shen Tu Ao, "Prince Ao, don't you want your brother to come back to life?"
"Come back to life?" Shen Tu Ao coldly laughed, "Is borrowing a corpse for the soul's return considered coming back to life?"
"No matter how he comes back, he'll be alive, able to accompany you..." Xuan Gongzi's eyes darkened, his voice carrying a hint of regret, "It's better than him lying cold in his coffin."
Shen Tu Ao's gaze was sharp, "It's just a shell without a Divine Soul."
Xuan Gongzi's gentle smile remained, "The body is your brother's, but the soul is mine. I can recognize you as my elder brother and become your Imperial Younger Brother."
These words truly enraged Shen Tu Ao, his pupils slightly dilated, "You, a deceitful and malevolent person, dare to call yourself my brother?"
Xuan Gongzi's smile turned cold, "You are the one who doesn't know how to appreciate a good offer..."
He turned to look at Xiong Bei, the Bear Demon Cultivator, "Kill Shen Tu Ao, and you can transform into a dragon. If you can't kill him, we will both die here."
Elder Xiong Bei's gaze darkened, clearly not fond of Xuan Gongzi's condescending tone, but these words hit a nerve.
Who would want to be a bear when they could be a dragon?
Now, with the dragon in shallow waters and injured, this was the best opportunity for Xiong Bei to swallow the dragon and transform. A once-in-a-millennium chance.
On Xiong Bei's body, demonic energy surged, two sets of Four Symbols Array patterns intertwined, and the savage bear power merged with the venomous serpent power within him.
In an instant, his body became a few inches taller than Shen Tu Ao's.
Then, a whirlwind swept by, and Xiong Bei pounced on Shen Tu Ao like a bizarre demon beast.
His right arm suddenly swelled, transforming into a bear claw, and with a gust of bloody wind, he struck towards Shen Tu Ao's head.
Shen Tu Ao's right arm transformed into dragon scales and clashed with Xiong Bei's attack. The impact sent them both staggering back, and surprisingly, their strengths were evenly matched.
Xiong Bei's spirit soared, his left arm became blurred with demon marks, and a ferocious serpent appeared, opening its blood-basin mouth to bite towards Shen Tu Ao.
Shen Tu Ao frowned, turned, and grabbed the serpent's head with his steel-like hand. Before he could twist the serpent's head off, a blood-colored sword light slashed across his back.
This sword strike was much more powerful than the previous ones, breaking through the bloody skin.
Shen Tu Ao didn't take it lightly, but after a moment, he realized that within the blood light, there was a powerful poison.
It was probably a vicious blood poison of a low grade, currently corroding his physical body.
Shen Tu Ao dared not be careless, so he left Xiong Bei and turned to deal with Xuan Gongzi's blood-colored sword light.
But this blood poison was strange; it flowed through his meridians and merged with his flesh and blood, like bone-eating worms, slowing Shen Tu Ao's movements.
"Kill him!" Xuan Gongzi said.
Xiong Bei seized the opportunity to leap forward, attacking Shen Tu Ao head-on with the bear's power. When he saw that things were not going well, he transformed into a ferocious serpent and started biting Shen Tu Ao.
With Xuan Gongzi's blood sword and blood poison, the battle raged on for dozens of rounds, and Shen Tu Ao's situation became increasingly dire.
"Is Shen Tu Ao going to die just like this...?" Mo Hua wondered silently.
Just then, his expression changed, and he stole a glance at the hall's entrance.
Elder Xiong Bei and Xuan Gongzi also seemed to sense something and slowly turned their gaze towards the door.
At the entrance of the hall, at some point, another group had appeared.
It was Shen Shouhang and Xun Ziyou, along with their companions.
Currently, their foreheads were darkened, their faces grim, indicating that they had encountered the chaotic evil spirits at the golden square on their way here and had gone through quite a bit, with some even losing a portion of their divine sense and being tainted by malevolent entities.
This included Elder Xun Ziyou and his two companions, who had suffered some loss of divine sense and were infected by evil spirits.
These evil spirits were so subtle that even they might not have noticed them.
Mo Hua was worried, but at the same time, he felt that something was amiss.
"Elder Xun... How did they get here?"
"Why are they always able to catch up...?"
Not only was Mo Hua puzzled, but even Xuan Gongzi and the others were surprised. However, they didn't speak or make any sudden moves.
The atmosphere in the hall became quiet and solemn, even a bit oppressive.
With the various forces intersecting, the situation naturally became more complex.
Upon entering, Elder Xun Ziyou glanced at Shen Tu Ao and his group, then his gaze swept the room and landed on Mo Hua, who was hiding in the corner, unharmed, and he breathed a sigh of relief.
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He was a "bodyguard," and Mo Hua's safety was his top priority.
Shen Shouhang, like Mo Hua, only glanced at Shen Tu Ao's group before searching for his son.
Soon, he spotted Shen Qing Sheng.
However, Shen Qing Sheng's condition was poor, as if he had been discarded like trash, unconscious.
Shen Shouhang was furious and immediately wanted to rescue Shen Qing Sheng.
But as he was far away, just as he was about to move, Xuan Gongzi was quicker and lifted Shen Qing Sheng, placing the sword across his neck and saying to Shen Shouhang:
"Don't come any closer."
Shen Shouhang had no choice but to stop, and he said coldly, "Let him go, and I'll spare your life."
Xuan Gongzi smiled, "Do you think that's possible?"
Shen Shouhang's gaze sharpened, "I don't believe you can hold him forever. Don't forget, I'm at the peak of the Golden Core, while you're only at the early stage. With the slightest carelessness, I can kill you."
Xuan Gongzi nodded, "I know."
Then he pressed the sword against Shen Qing Sheng's neck, ensuring Shen Shouhang wouldn't suddenly attack him.
After that, he whispered something in Shen Qing Sheng's ear.
Shen Qing Sheng, who had been unconscious, slowly opened his eyes after hearing this. However, his eyes were vacant, and his expression was as stiff as a clay sculpture.
Shen Shouhang's pupils constricted, "What did you do to Qing'er?"
"Nothing," Xuan Gongzi released Shen Qing Sheng and smiled, "I just simply used the 'Daoheart Demonization' on him, making him listen to my commands and become my servant."
"Vile beast!" Shen Shouhang's face turned murderous.
As the sword energy surged, Shen Shouhang raised his longsword, but before he could strike, Xuan Gongzi smiled again, "By the way, I also told your son one more thing..." Xuan Gongzi pressed against Shen Qing Sheng's head, "If I die, he will commit suicide."
Shen Shouhang's longsword paused, and he said coldly, "Do you think I'll believe you?"
Xuan Gongzi remained calm, "Do you want to gamble with your son's life?"
Shen Shouhang's gaze trembled, and he forcibly suppressed his murderous intent.
Xuan Gongzi, having subdued Shen Shouhang, turned to Xun Ziyou beside him, "Elder Xun, why don't we work together as well?"
Xun Ziyou furrowed his brows, "Are you crazy? I am a dignified elder of the Void Gate Sect. How could I possibly collaborate with you, a disciple of the Demon Dao?"
"Just because..." Xuan Gongzi smiled, "You have a disciple of the Void Gate Sect in my hands."
Xun Ziyou's pupils constricted.
Mo Hua was also taken aback.
This Xuan Gongzi, he knew his identity?
"Your Void Gate Sect and the Shen family don't have a deep relationship. I didn't quite understand before, why the Shen family's young master was captured, and your sect was getting involved. Until you just entered the room, glanced at the corner, I realized..."
Xuan Gongzi looked towards Mo Hua in the corner, "You're also here to rescue someone, and the person you're saving happens to be this talented little brother who's skilled in array techniques."
"You just hid it well, without showing it, and this little brother is also clever, pretending not to know you all along the way."
"But no matter how well you hide, there will always be flaws."
Xun Ziyou's expression remained unchanged, but his heart sank slightly, "I don't understand what you're talking about. This little brother has such poor aptitude, what could he possibly have to do with my Void Gate Sect."
Xuan Gongzi paused, a shallow smile appearing on his lips, "To be honest, my grand-uncle, in the 'Daoheart Demonization Art' that he suffered greatly from, so he searched for the lost 'Daoheart Demonization Canon' of the Illusionary Demon Sect, urging me to cultivate diligently."
"I have a keen understanding in the way of divine sense, and my cultivation in the 'Daoheart Demonization Art' is also quite decent. My perception of human emotions is also quite sharp."
"Therefore, Elder Xun, your little thoughts can't escape my notice."
Xun Ziyou furrowed his brows.
This Demon Dao young master, with his cunning schemes, gave him a feeling similar to Mo Hua, indeed hard to deal with.
On the surface, he still didn't want to agree.
But at the same time, he also felt a bit worried:
Could this clever little Mo Hua have really been demonized?
If he was truly bewitched, lost his sanity, and became someone's puppet, then the trouble would be enormous.
As Xun Ziyou's heart was filled with anxiety, Xuan Gongzi instructed Mo Hua:
"Come over here."
Mo Hua indeed had a dull expression, like a wooden man, obediently walking towards Xuan Gongzi.
Xuan Gongzi commanded, "Let your sect's elder listen to my words."
Mo Hua spoke in a wooden tone, "Elder Xun, I've been controlled. You should listen to Xuan Gongzi."
These words, if someone didn't know Mo Hua well, might not seem significant.
But Xun Ziyou was very familiar with Mo Hua.
Hearing these dull words from Mo Hua's mouth, he felt a playful mischief.
Xun Ziyou's mood was a bit odd, but he didn't find it surprising.
With Mo Hua's cleverness, who was bewitching whom was indeed hard to determine...
As long as nothing bad happened...
Xun Ziyou's face showed a mix of conflict, pain, and anxiety, as if he was extremely regretful because of Mo Hua's control. In the end, he sighed and helplessly said, "Just don't hurt him, and the rest is up to you."
Xuan Gongzi's handsome face revealed a gloomy and triumphant smile.
With the Shen family's young master and the Void Gate Sect's disciple, these two crucial "hostages" were in his hands, their lives and deaths at his command.
He could now use the "Son of Heaven" to command the feudal lords.
At this moment, almost all the cultivators in the hall had to obey his orders.
All the power dynamics were leaning towards him! No wonder his grand-uncle would ask him to spare no effort in cultivating the 'Daoheart Demonization Art'.
Playing with people's hearts and controlling the situation, the taste of it was indeed enjoyable.
And now, he was merely at the early stage of the Golden Core.
One day, when he advanced to the Ascendant Realm, having cultivated the 'Daoheart Demonization Canon', and perfected the 'Daoheart Demonization Art', with just a thought, he could make others submit and control their lives and deaths.
Even if he couldn't compare to that legendary, unmentionable, demonized grand-uncle who died, he might still surpass him.
Or at the very least, he could rival that person.
With the 'Daoheart Demonization Art', and possessing a body carrying the Great Wilderness Imperial Clan's bloodline, capable of cultivating the Great Wilderness Imperial Clan's 'Daoheart Demonization Embryo'...
The path ahead was limitless.
Xuan Gongzi's eyes gleamed with ambition, grinning viciously, and without hesitation, he pointed at Shen Tu Ao, "Everyone, join forces and kill him!"
Shen Shouhang, Xun Ziyou, Bear Elder, and the rest of the crowd glanced at each other, and without further hesitation, they drew their swords, unsheathed their knives, and summoned their treasures, attacking Shen Tu Ao.
The situation turned against Shen Tu Ao.
Under Xuan Gongzi's alliance and coercion, the crowd joined forces, forming a siege.
What faced Shen Tu Ao was almost a dead end.
No matter how profound his cultivation was, and how powerful the Evil Dragon Array Patterns were, it was impossible for him to withstand the blood loss, consecutive fierce battles, and then still confront a Golden Core peak cultivator, two Late Golden Core cultivators, and five other Golden Core cultivators in a siege.
Shen Tu Ao fought valiantly in this battle.
As a member of the Great Wilderness Imperial Clan, he had his own dignity, and he never retreated even when facing the crowd.
During the battle, he pushed his Evil Energy to the extreme, and the Dragon Patterns all over his body started to bleed.
In the hall, the Evil Dragon roared, carrying a sense of majesty, but as time passed, a hint of despair from a dead-end path gradually mixed in.
And as the Four Symbols Evil Dragon Array Patterns were overused, Shen Tu Ao also suffered backlash from the Evil Dragon's power.
The Evil Dragon's power, like poison, seeped into his bones and flesh.
The Dragon Patterns on his body started to become turbid, his skin began to rot, his meridians became chaotic, and the evil energy entered his brain, making his mind unclear and his eyes bloodshot.
As Shen Tu Ao was about to reach a dead end, an unknown force seemed to stir the Great Wilderness Imperial Clan's bloodline, and a strand of azure Dragon Energy burst out from the Dragon Coffin, surging into Shen Tu Ao's body.
This strand of Azure Dragon Energy, dignified and ancient, carrying a sense of majesty without any evil, and as it entered Shen Tu Ao's body, it also gradually washed away the evil energy intertwined with the Dragon Patterns on his body.
The crowd's expressions changed, and Mo Hua was also startled.
The Bear Elder's eyes were filled with greed.
This was the purest Azure Dragon Energy, the true... Great Wilderness Dragon Lineage's power!
(End of Chapter)
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