Chapter 981: Ancient Array
Chapter 981: Ancient Array
The Dragon Soul's entrance was like swallowing a piece of hard, tough meat, impossible to chew, and it made his throat feel uncomfortable.
However, Mo Hua's Divine Perception had already reached the Condensed Qi stage and had completed the Pure Gold Dao, making it worlds apart from the Divine Sense of ordinary cultivators.
It was even more advanced than before.
The savage Dragon Power raged within his body.
Mo Hua summoned the Pure Gold Source, transforming it into a formidable Mental Force, like a millstone, slowly grinding and consuming the Dragon Soul.
A powerful, scorching force burned his throat.
The mighty Dragon Soul coursed through his entire body.
His rebellious Divine Perception, like a savage dragon, surged within him, dashing left and right.
Mo Hua activated the Tai Xu Divine Perception Sword Technique, along with the Formation, Spells, and Pure Gold Divine Power, to annihilate the Dragon's Mental Force within him.
His divine body glowed with pure gold, dazzling and blinding to behold.
The powerful Dragon Soul emitted a formidable aura, causing the Great Nobles in the hall to feel a prickling scalp.
After an unknown duration, the Dragon Soul's presence vanished, and Mo Hua opened his eyes, smacked his lips, and muttered:
"It has no flavor..."
But it was very filling.
Mo Hua felt a surge of Dragon Qi in his chest, and he couldn't help but burp.
This burp, like thunder, carried a dragon's roar, reverberating throughout the Dragon Hall.
Within the Dragon Hall, all the Descendants of the Vast Wilderness who had surrendered were petrified with fear, exclaiming in astonishment:
"Demon... Demon God!"
"He... killed the Dragon Emperor and disemboweled him, then... 'ate' him?!"
"Greatly Unfilial!"
"Has the Dragon Emperor... fallen?!"
"This is the Calamity of the Vast Wilderness!"
"Who on earth invited this heinous little Demon God?!"
...
The Dragon Hall was filled with terrified voices, a cacophony of chaos.
Mo Hua, annoyed by the commotion, turned his head and looked at the courtiers, some with dragon scales, some with dragon claws, and some with dragon beards, who had been blessed by the Dragon Vein. He licked his lips and flashed a mischievous smile, causing all the civil and military officials to scatter in panic, like monkeys fleeing from a falling tree.
Amidst the fleeing crowd, only one person stood motionless, with a blank stare and disbelief on their face.
This person was half-covered in dragon bones, with cloudy eyes and an aged face.
Mo Hua recognized this face.
He took a step forward, and with a flash of golden light, he appeared before this person, "Was it you who brought me here?"
The elder smiled bitterly, "Did the... Divine Lord see through it?"
Mo Hua looked at him curiously and asked slowly, "Didn't you die in the temple? Second Senior..."
This elder in the Dragon Hall was indeed the Second Senior of the Demon Clan.
He was the one who had guided Shen Tu Ao during the Gus Mountain Burial Ground expedition and had fused with the dragon bone to temporarily seal the Evil Fetus, sacrificing his life.
Mo Hua never imagined that the one who led him to the Dragon Hall would be the Second Senior.
The Second Senior's expression was filled with bitterness as he explained,
"Those who die for the Vast Wilderness with unwavering loyalty will have their lingering souls enter the Dragon Hall, ranking among the Dragon Order, and share eternal fame with the Dragon Emperor..."
Of course, the Dragon Emperor who was to enjoy this "eternal fame" had already been devoured by Mo Hua.
This absurdity was still hard for the Second Senior to believe.
In the nightmare of the Evil Fetus, his remaining soul had witnessed Mo Hua's battle with it.
He had expected Mo Hua to be strong.
But he never imagined that this seemingly clever and eccentric Junior Formation Master at the Foundation Establishment Stage in reality would be so formidable in the World of Divine Perception, to the point of being heinous...
The laws of the Dragon Hall could not suppress him, and the mighty Dragon's Might could not withstand him.
Powerful Dragon Generals were killed by his single blow.
The noble Dragon Emperor was crushed in an instant.
Even the Dragon Soul of the Vast Wilderness was "devoured" by him.
This was...
"Eating" the dragon.
The Second Senior felt a chill rise from the depths of his soul, spreading throughout his body, causing him to tremble uncontrollably.
A "terrifying" thought emerged in his mind...
"Ranking among the Dragon Order, sharing eternal fame..." Mo Hua shook his head.
Being an emperor in life, enjoying wealth and glory, was not enough; even in death, they still craved such privileges.
He fixed his gaze on the Second Senior again, "Why did you bring me here?"
The Second Senior's eyelids twitched, suppressing his thoughts, and he bowed his head, speaking in a respectful tone:
"In the battle at the Gus Mountain Temple, I witnessed the Divine Lord's ability to contend with the Evil Fetus. Knowing that your Divine Perception is extraordinary, I wanted to... offer you an opportunity to learn the Great Wilderness Legacy."
"It's not that simple, is it?" Mo Hua's eyes deepened.
"Yes..." The Second Senior, feeling Mo Hua's gaze, shivered, and his voice trembled, "The Dragon Hall of the Vast Wilderness is the Hall of Heritage. According to the rules of the Dragon Hall, to obtain the Great Wilderness Legacy, one must bow in reverence to the Dragon Emperor to receive his blessing."
"And as long as you perform the kneeling ceremony to the Dragon Emperor..."
The Second Senior paused, then continued, "You will develop a sense of loyalty and become a loyal arm of the Vast Wilderness."
Although referred to as an arm, it was no different from being a "servant."
Mo Hua's eyes narrowed slightly, "So, you gave me an opportunity and a trap at the same time. Were you plotting against me?"
The Second Senior's voice trembled, "Yes..."
Mo Hua looked at him with a smile that wasn't quite a smile, "Are you not afraid I'll crush you if you speak the truth?"
The Second Senior closed his eyes, sighed deeply, and then spoke bitterly:
"My lingering soul's survival is thanks to this Dragon Hall, and this Dragon Hall is rooted in the Dragon Emperor."
"Now that the Dragon Emperor is dead, the Dragon Soul... is gone, and the Dragon Hall is without a master. It won't be long before we, these lingering souls, disperse..."
Mo Hua glanced at the Second Senior, and indeed, he saw the elder's withered body gradually dimming, his limbs slowly dissipating.
Was he about to die? Mo Hua shook his head.
If that was the case, then let this grudge be forgotten.
In the world, most matters are a mix of good and bad.
The Second Elder, though plotting against him, had also provided him with a delicious treat he had never tasted before.
With his magnanimous nature, he decided not to hold a grudge.
"You can just die slowly..."
Mo Hua turned to leave, but suddenly the Second Elder called out to him, "Little Godly Lord..."
Mo Hua turned back and asked, "Do you have something else?"
A terrifying thought crossed his mind. The Second Elder's expression was solemn, his heart filled with turmoil, and finally, he sighed and said slowly,
"I want to make a deal with you..."
"A deal?" Mo Hua's eyebrows rose slightly.
The Second Elder nodded, "If given the chance, I'd like to ask you to step in when necessary to preserve a thread of my Great Wilderness bloodline..."
Mo Hua was puzzled, "You still have a bloodline in the Great Wilderness?"
Prince Ye had died long ago, and his remains were buried in the royal tomb on Gusu Mountain.
Shen Tu Ao was also dead, his skin peeled off by Butcher.
What bloodline did the Great Wilderness clan have left?
The Second Elder spoke calmly, "Yes."
"Where?"
The Second Elder paused for a moment, not wanting to reveal too much. He said, "Little Godly Lord, you will naturally encounter it in the future."
"You don't expect me to help revive your Great Wilderness bloodline, do you?" Mo Hua asked.
The Second Elder's eyes carried a hint of helplessness and despair, and he smiled bitterly,
"The Great Wilderness... it's very likely that it cannot be revived."
Mo Hua was a little surprised.
The Second Elder sighed, "From the very beginning, this has all been a game. Countless cultivators and ancient evil deities, the Demon Clan's ancestors, have been orchestrating this game behind the scenes."
"I thought I could deceive others, but in reality, everything I've done has been within someone else's calculations."
"The Great Wilderness has long been reduced to a mere pawn, manipulated by others."
"This is also something I only realized after my death..."
"In this game of life and death, if the Great Wilderness is not cautious, it will fall into the desperate situation of a severed bloodline, facing extinction."
"Therefore, I only ask that if given the chance, you can step in to preserve a thread of the Great Wilderness Imperial Clan's bloodline. Even if they can never revive their ancestral legacy or become the Great Wilderness Imperial Clan again, as long as they can break free from the fate of being manipulated and live peacefully, that's all I ask for..."
The Second Elder's words were sincere, even carrying a hint of pleading.
But Mo Hua shook his head, "Have you forgotten that I'm just a Foundation Establishment cultivator? I don't have the ability to help you..."
The Second Elder sighed inwardly and then cupped his hands respectfully, "Although your cultivation is only at the Foundation Establishment stage, your mastery of the path of Divine Perception is astonishing and rare in this world."
Throughout history, there probably hasn't been a Foundation Establishment cultivator who could step into the Great Dragon Hall, slay the Dragon Emperor, and swallow the Dragon Soul without their body exploding.
"Moreover, all of this depends on your convenience..."
"If it's possible, I ask for your assistance. If it's not, please don't force yourself."
Mo Hua nodded, but he still didn't readily agree. Instead, he asked, "Then what are you offering in this deal?"
Preserving the bloodline of the Great Wilderness was no small matter.
The Second Elder was a man who knew his limits, and the fact that he dared to make such a request meant he must have something valuable to offer.
The Second Elder glanced at Mo Hua and spoke slowly, "If I didn't mistake it, your physical body has already reached the late Foundation Establishment stage, but you haven't cultivated your Life-Bound Treasure, have you?"
Mo Hua's gaze sharpened, and he nodded slightly.
The Second Elder said, "Little Godly Lord, you're proficient in formation techniques. Are you planning to use my Great Wilderness' Four Symbols Green Dragon Divine Beast Formation as your Life-Bound Formation Diagram?"
"Yes," Mo Hua didn't hide it from him.
The Second Elder shook his head, "Little Godly Lord, you can't use the Four Symbols Green Dragon Formation..."
Mo Hua asked, "Why?"
The Second Elder didn't dare to be too straightforward and spoke euphemistically, "The Green Dragon is the Destined Dragon that my Great Wilderness clan has inherited for generations. This type of Divine Beast only recognizes bloodlines. Regardless of status, it won't acknowledge anyone outside of our Great Wilderness clan."
"Secondly, Little Godly Lord, you don't cultivate body refinement techniques, and your physical body is slightly... weaker. Therefore, you can't bear the overwhelming power of the Green Dragon..."
Mo Hua nodded slightly.
He was well aware of the importance of bloodlines.
Indeed, there were many concerns regarding his physical body.
The savage and violent Dragon Power had almost torn him apart when he forcefully swallowed the Dragon Soul with his powerful Dao Transformation Divine Perception.
His Divine Perception was strong, but his physical body was weak.
If he directly imprinted the Green Dragon Formation onto his body, using his physical body to bear the savage power of the Green Dragon, it might tear him into pieces in an instant.
"And then?"
Mo Hua looked at the Second Elder, knowing that he wouldn't speak these words without reason.
The Second Elder paused for a moment, still struggling internally at the last moment, unsure if he should reveal it.
But his remnant soul was gradually fading away.
His legs had already turned to dust, and his body was disintegrating like sand.
The Second Elder sighed, as if resigned to his fate, and said slowly, "I know of a formation that should be more suitable for you..."
Mo Hua's pupils constricted slightly, "What formation?"
The Second Elder sighed, "This formation was discovered by a Great Shaman of my Great Wilderness clan, who had achieved heavenly cultivation, in the endless primeval abyss. It is an ancient formation with strange patterns."
"These ancient formations have tortuous patterns and are primitive and savage, not suitable for the cultivation system of the Great Wilderness."
"In fact, this formation doesn't even seem to be made for humans."
"But this Great Shaman ancestor didn't give up. He devoted most of his life's efforts and painstakingly researched. Finally, relying on his exceptional cultivation achievements, he used the framework of the Four Symbols Formation to recompile this ancient formation into a Four Symbols Formation that can be integrated into a cultivator's meridians and bones..."
The more Mo Hua listened, the more shocked he became. He frowned and asked, "You're not lying to me, are you?
The Second Elder sighed, "When one is about to die, why bother with lies? Moreover..." His gaze flickered with fear as he glanced at Mo Hua, "In the presence of a young deity, how dare I speak falsely?"
Mo Hua's gaze deepened as he looked at the Second Elder, seeing through his soul and confirming that he wasn't lying. Only then did he slowly nod and ask, "What is the name of this formation, and which category of Four Symbols Pattern does it belong to? What is its rank?"
The Second Elder shook his head, "I have no idea."
"You don't know?" Mo Hua's gaze turned slightly somber.
The Second Elder explained, "This formation is too unconventional and terrifying. It only existed in the hands of that Great Shaman from the past."
"After the Great Shaman's fall, the Great Wilderness Imperial Court issued an imperial decree, stripping him of his title and destroying all his works. They not only desecrated his tomb but also directly classified this formation as a taboo, prohibiting its inheritance forever."
"Therefore, I have never personally seen the formation that the Great Shaman researched..." The Second Elder sighed deeply.
Mo Hua's eyebrows furrowed even more, "If you haven't seen it yourself, and since this formation diagram has been sealed, it's definitely not in your possession. Then why are you using it to bargain with me?"
The Second Elder's eyes grew dim, "Although this ancient formation diagram is not in my possession, I know where it is."
Mo Hua raised an eyebrow, "Where is it?"
The Second Elder replied, "It's in the hands of a traitor from my Great Wilderness clan."
A Transcendence Stage Servant of the Demon God.
Mo Hua racked his brains but couldn't figure out how to defeat him.
"There's no need," the Second Elder said.
Mo Hua was puzzled, "If it's in his possession, how can I possibly get it without killing him?"
The Second Elder explained, "It's in his possession, but he doesn't know where it is."
Mo Hua became more confused as he listened, "What do you mean?"
The Second Elder spoke in a low voice, "In a forbidden zone somewhere in Qian Kun State, there is a secret chamber. Within the chamber, there is an altar. On the altar, a Human Face, Ram Horns, and Bone Demon God Statue is enshrined."
"This formation is engraved within the statue..."
"Even this traitor doesn't know about this. He is filled with reverence for that ancient evil entity and dares not touch the statue..."
Mo Hua's heart stirred.
A forbidden zone, an altar, and a Human Face, Ram Horns, and Bone Demon God Statue?
The Ancient Strange Formation of the Vast Wilderness?
"Because..." The Second Elder coughed, and his figure became even dimmer, "I have lived longer than this traitor. Long ago, I used dragon bones to prolong my life, or else I would have died long ago..."
"But with unfulfilled desires, I am unwilling to die."
"This ancient formation is a taboo of my Great Wilderness clan. I originally didn't want to tell anyone about it, but I just saw the young deity..."
The Second Elder paused, not explicitly stating, "After seeing the young deity's divine might, I had a glimmer of hope and decided to use this ancient formation as a bargaining chip to make a deal with you, young deity. I only ask that you protect the bloodline of my Great Wilderness clan."
Mo Hua's heart was slightly moved, but he asked in return, "You've told me all the secrets. If I don't keep my promise, and I only seek the formation without protecting your clan's bloodline, what can you do?"
The Second Elder's remnant soul had already dissipated by more than half. Upon hearing this, he spoke with bitterness, "As I said, at this point, I am helpless. I only had a glimmer of hope, so I entrusted the young deity with this task."
"If the young deity takes action, I will be eternally grateful. If not, I will have no complaints."
After speaking, the Second Elder's breath grew even weaker.
Mo Hua remained silent for a moment before slowly asking, "Is it worth it to do all this?"
The Second Elder smiled faintly, his gaze resolute, "I am a member of the Great Wilderness clan, born and raised in the Great Wilderness. Having learned the clan's heritage, I have achieved this level of cultivation. It is only right that I dedicate myself to my clan, serving it with all my heart until death."
Mo Hua remained silent.
The Second Elder's remnant soul had already dissipated, and his legs, as well as half of his body, had begun to turn to ash.
His face was gradually becoming indistinct.
Perhaps sensing that the true dispersal of his soul was imminent, the Second Elder's aged eyes held a glimmer of hope and longing as he looked at Mo Hua with a hint of humility.
Mo Hua sighed softly and nodded, "Alright, I agree."
The Second Elder clasped his hands together and bowed to Mo Hua one last time, sincerely saying, "May the young deity's path be boundless, and may blessings fill the heavens!"
After expressing his final wish, his figure completely vanished, turning into a wisp of smoke that dissipated into the heavens and earth.
Mo Hua watched as the Second Elder's figure disappeared, his eyes flickering with a complex expression.
As the Second Elder's figure dissipated, the Dragon Hall of the Great Wilderness also fell into complete silence.
All the Dragon Servants of the Great Wilderness, without a "monarch" to serve, turned into smoke one by one and vanished without a trace.
The Dragon Qi in the Dragon Hall began to dissipate as well.
Mo Hua's figure started to distort.
A repulsive force descended upon Mo Hua, seemingly intent on expelling this "unwanted guest" completely.
Mo Hua turned back and took one last look at the Dragon Hall, which had grown completely dim following the Dragon Emperor's death. Then, his entire person gradually disappeared.
The scenery twisted as the world spun.
When Mo Hua opened his eyes again, he found himself lying on the desk in the disciple's dormitory.
Before him were the Four Symbols Demon Textures he had been speculating upon and the incomplete Dragon Textures.
The Dragon Vein was right at his fingertips.
The events in the Great Dragon Hall were still fresh in his memory.
"The ancient formation diagram of the Great Wilderness..."
(End of Chapter)
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