Chapter 966: Evil News

The power of the Dragon Vein was on full display, with Azure Dragon energy swirling within the great hall. The source of this Azure Dragon energy was precisely located in the Dragon Coffin. Following the clear light, the crowd looked and saw that in the Dragon Coffin, the Fourth Prince, who had been dead for who knows how many years and was lying peacefully, held in his hand, unbeknownst to anyone, a section of azure bone.

This azure bone was half an arm long, the color of azure jade, crystalline and translucent, with strange head and tail shapes. The bone possessed the creation of heaven and earth, and its overall shape resembled a young dragon.

"Dragon Vein!"

Elder Xiong Pi felt his entire body's blood energy boiling, his heart endlessly excited. Immediately his eyes turned red, and he lunged towards the Dragon Coffin, wanting to seize the Dragon Vein within the coffin.

Shen Tu Ao received the infusion of Azure Dragon energy, his entire body bathed in clear light, as if being washed and refined. His originally declining aura gradually grew stronger, and this time, the dragon might was even more majestic and severe. Seeing Elder Xiong Pi coveting the Dragon Vein, Shen Tu Ao's face showed anger, and he unleashed a punch. An azure dragon shadow howled and surged, rushing directly towards Elder Xiong Pi.

Elder Xiong Pi's left hand transformed into a python, engaging with the Azure Dragon. In just an instant, his demonic power was suppressed by the Azure Dragon energy. His arm was a bloody mess, and he was blown back several zhang.

Xuan Gongzi's greedy thoughts suddenly arose. Seeing the situation, he immediately said, "Shen Shou Xing, seize the Dragon Vein for me, and I will return your son!"

Shen Shou Xing was slightly angry, his gaze icy. He didn't like being ordered around by this Xuan Gongzi, but his foolish son had become a bargaining chip, his life and death in someone else's hands, so he had no choice. However, his heart was also somewhat doubtful. Was this thing really the Dragon Vein of the Great Wilderness? Why would such a heaven-defying item be hidden in this remote mountain tomb? Elder Shen, he had never mentioned...

Shen Shou Xing's gaze sank, and then he drew out his white jade sword, urging his peak Gold Core stage spiritual power, which resembled crystallization. Man and sword became one, and he charged towards Shen Tu Ao to kill him.

Xun Ziyou had never expected that on this trip to the remote mountain tomb, he would actually personally witness the Dragon Vein of the Great Wilderness imperial clan. Although he didn't know if this Dragon Vein was real or fake, he absolutely could not let it fall into the hands of a demon cultivator. Moreover, this Shen Tu Ao was absorbing the power of the Dragon Vein. If left alone, if he fully resonated with the Dragon Vein, even if everyone joined forces, they might not be able to control him.

Xun Ziyou also urged his Tai Xu Sword Art, transforming into streaks of sword energy and attacking Shen Tu Ao. As for Gu Master and Fan Jin, their original intention was to rescue Mo Hua. However, they had completely not expected to unknowingly become involved in such an absurdly large cause and effect. Besides being shocked, they were also somewhat unbelievable. That clear and brilliant, supremely noble Dragon Vein, if they said they didn't want it, it was naturally not entirely possible. But in the face of greed, the two of them were still relatively rational, knowing that this was not something they could touch. This kind of life-and-death killing situation was also not something they could get involved in. Therefore, the two of them only guarded the periphery, occasionally making a move in response, striking once and then retreating, not daring to go deep into this late-stage Gold Core battlefield.

In contrast, the two of them focused more of their attention on Mo Hua. Even if they obtained something like the Dragon Vein, they might not have the fortune to enjoy it. But the safety of little Mo Gongzi truly concerned their future fortunes. Fan Jin and the other person were worried, and at the same time, they kept their eyes on Xuan Gongzi, thinking that if they had the opportunity, they would snatch Mo Hua back.

Mo Hua's expression was still listless on the surface, but he was secretly monitoring the battlefield. As soon as the Dragon Vein appeared, the situation became more and more complex, and the battle gradually intensified. Shen Tu Ao relied on the power of the Azure Dragon to fight against three opponents. He simultaneously dealt with Elder Xiong Pi's surging demonic power in close combat, the sword techniques of Shen Shou Xing and Elder Xun, as well as Xuan Gongzi's sinister blood poison and the occasional interference from the Dao Heart Seed Demon...

Mo Hua watched the battles of these Gold Core cultivators. At the beginning, he still had other thoughts, but as he watched, his expression became more and more focused. This was a good opportunity to observe a battle. There were many things to pay attention to in a fight between cultivators. Cultivation, Dao methods, and body techniques, these superficial strengths, were important. But fighting experience was also very valuable. Without the tempering of actual combat, even with empty cultivation, it was just idle talk, not truly powerful. And the cultivators on the field included cultivators from a great world family, elders from great sects, powerful demon cultivators, and an imperial descendant from the Great Wilderness lineage. These people were fighting for their lives, unleashing frequent killing moves. Their Dao method flow, attack and defense conversions, offered too many things to reference and learn from.

Actual combat was the best teacher. Mo Hua could not participate in this kind of Gold Core level battle yet, but he could learn first. After breaking through to the Gold Core stage in the future, he would transform all of this into his own use, thereby step by step becoming a truly powerful Gold Core great cultivator who was proficient in fighting and skilled at killing. Mo Hua's pupils gradually deepened. As his gaze flowed, he meticulously recorded this top-tier Gold Core battle and engraved it in his mind.

As he watched, Mo Hua suddenly frowned. Others might not understand, but Mo Hua, as an array master, could perceive that the Four Symbols Dragon Pattern on Shen Tu Ao's body was undergoing subtle changes. And he had previously deduced and calculated, restoring a part of it—that is, the first eighteen array patterns of the Four Symbols Azure Dragon Array. Compared to that, this perception was more vivid. The Four Symbols Azure Dragon Array on Shen Tu Ao's body was indeed changing, being "corrected" by the breath of the Dragon Vein, transforming from an evil dragon into a true Azure Dragon. And through continuous deep research by deduction and calculation, Mo Hua could perceive that this change in the dragon pattern actually contained the "evolution" of the Great Four Symbols Demon Pattern. It seemed as if all of this had been calculated beforehand. First, use ten thousand demons to raise an evil dragon, and then transform the evil dragon into an Azure Dragon...

The more Mo Hua thought about it, the stranger he felt. Various demon patterns and beast patterns, searched and collected in the Ten Thousand Demon Valley, flashed through his mind like fleeting shadows, one by one. In a flash of lightning, Mo Hua's heart suddenly shook, and he had an epiphany. He understood exactly what Mr. Tu had done in the Ten Thousand Demon Valley and exactly how he used ten thousand demons to raise the Four Symbols Dragon Pattern. The so-called dragon was not a single divine beast. Its head was like a horse, its horns like a deer, its eyes like a turtle, its ears like a cow, its scales like fish, its body like a snake, its claws like an eagle, and its palms like a tiger... Only by collecting the strengths of ten thousand demons could one form a dragon.

Mr. Tu followed this principle, greatly hunting demon beasts and raising demon cultivators in the Ten Thousand Demon Valley. He used these demon beasts and demon cultivators to conduct extensive experiments and research, deeply applying the Four Symbols Demon Pattern. Then, he extracted the essence of the powerful demon patterns, fused and summarized them together, piecing together a "evil dragon" with powerful demonic power. This array method derivation was similar to "returning to the source," but it was not about transforming many into one. It was more like a kind of "sewing" and "splicing" that took the strengths of each. Because it condensed the strengths of ten thousand demons, the Four Symbols Evil Dragon could make ten thousand demons submit and was extremely powerful.

After the exposure of the Ten Thousand Demon Valley, many things were destroyed in advance. And those destroyed array diagrams, classics, jade slips, and various records were necessarily all about the research of this demon pattern "transforming into a dragon." This was also where Mr. Tu's true array method attainment lay. But this was still not enough. Drawing a dragon still required dotting the eyes. Collecting complete ten thousand demon patterns and drawing a dragon could only result in an evil dragon, which was fundamentally still just a "demon." If one wanted to transform a demon into a true dragon, one needed to dot the eyes. And this "eye-dotting" thing was the Dragon Vein. Using the pure Azure Dragon energy within the Dragon Vein to wash away the demonic energy and evil power would melt and cast all the demon patterns into one, transforming them into a true "Azure Dragon array pattern."

Mo Hua secretly took a deep breath. This was a truly grand scheme, a major strategy. As an array master, how could Mo Hua not know that this array method experiment required a huge amount of manpower, material resources, and financial resources. During this period, who knows how many years and months were consumed, how many demon cultivators died, how many demon patterns were experimented with, before finally piecing together this Four Symbols Dragon Diagram and engraving it on Shen Tu Ao's body. And now, this infusion of Azure Dragon energy was the final stroke of this "drawing a dragon and dotting the eyes."

All of this, only Mo Hua saw it. The people on the field were completely unaware. They were not array masters, most of them had not been to the Ten Thousand Demon Valley, had not deeply researched the Four Symbols Demon Pattern, and did not understand Mr. Tu. Therefore, they only saw the Dragon Vein. But they did not see that this Dragon Vein involved a complete, long, complex, and grand Four Symbols divine beast array method construction from beginning to end.

Mo Hua really wanted to open his mouth and remind them, but he was currently under the "Dao Heart Seed Demon," a puppet, unable to say a word. Of course, he actually didn't need to speak. The several cultivators on the field were all experienced in cultivating the Dao. Although they didn't understand array methods, they quickly all perceived that something was wrong. Something on Shen Tu Ao's body was gradually completing its transformation. They didn't understand the principle, but they roughly knew what to do.

Shen Shou Xing immediately said, "Break his Dragon Vein energy!"

Xun Ziyou and that Elder Xiong Pi dared not neglect and immediately made a move to cut off the connection between Shen Tu Ao and the Dragon Vein. Elder Xiong Pi engaged in close combat, forcing Shen Tu Ao to retreat. Xun Ziyou then urged his sword intent to strangle the Azure Dragon's breath. Shen Shou Xing's white jade sword light was transparent, striking the Azure Dragon array pattern all over Shen Tu Ao's body.

Mo Hua felt a bit conflicted. He feared that Shen Tu Ao would absorb the power of the Azure Dragon and counter-kill Elder Xun Ziyou and the others. He also feared that Elder Xun Ziyou and the others would be too forceful and destroy Shen Tu Ao's body, which was washing away demonic evil energy and gradually completing the Azure Dragon array pattern. But things had come to this point, the situation was ever-changing, and the scene was unlikely to develop according to his wishes.

After dozens more rounds, with the cooperation of Elder Xun and the demon cultivator Xiong Pi, Shen Shou Xing swung his long sword, stirring up heavy sword energy, condensing into a sword curtain, and completely cutting off the resonance between the Azure Dragon energy and Shen Tu Ao. The array pattern on Shen Tu Ao's body also stopped its true "dragon transformation."

The several people also began a true life-and-death battle. The battle on the field also became more and more tragic. Shen Shou Xing, Xun Ziyou, Elder Xiong Pi, and Shen Tu Ao all began to sustain injuries, and as the fight intensified, their injuries also gradually worsened. Their spiritual power and blood energy were also gradually consumed. In a fight between experts, in the end, it is often a comparison of willpower and endurance. Shen Tu Ao fought against three opponents. Even if his willpower was firm and his body was strong, under a long battle, he was bound to be at a disadvantage. Any other late-stage Gold Core cultivator would not have been able to hold on for so long.

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Finally, after hundreds more rounds of fighting, Shen Tu Ao's blood energy began to run low again. Shen Shou Xing seized the opportunity and broke his dragon scales with a sword, stabbing his heart pulse. However, Shen Tu Ao's body was like steel. This sword broke his scales and skin but did not penetrate his chest. Shen Tu Ao roared angrily and then wanted to resist.

Just at this moment, Elder Xiong Pi's arm was like a mad python, twisting Shen Tu Ao's body. Xun Ziyou saw an opening and inserted a needle, nailing Shen Tu Ao's left shoulder with a sword. Shen Tu Ao, who was already heavily injured, was unable to struggle free for a time. His anger spewed, and he roared like a trapped beast. As long as Shen Shou Xing exerted his full force and added another sword, he could penetrate his heart pulse. At that time, even if Shen Tu Ao didn't die, he would be severely injured.

But just at this moment, Shen Shou Xing's sword edge suddenly turned and chopped towards Xun Ziyou. All the way here, Xun Ziyou had always been on guard against Shen Shou Xing. But in the process of surrounding and killing Shen Tu Ao, after successive hard battles, his heart was more or less somewhat negligent. Therefore, he was more or less caught off guard by this sword. By the time Xun Ziyou reacted, Shen Shou Xing's sword light had already rushed straight towards his heart pulse. This was a sword from a peak Gold Core stage, and it was also a sudden sneak attack. Others did not expect it, and even if they did, they fundamentally could not block it. But because he had been on guard, his instinct was still there. At the critical moment, Xun Ziyou subconsciously shifted his body. Shen Shou Xing's long sword then deviated several inches, stabbing his shoulder, and the sword energy strangled his flesh.

Xun Ziyou could only give up on Shen Tu Ao and retreat. Elder Xiong Pi alone could not suppress Shen Tu Ao and also had no choice but to retreat several zhang. Shen Tu Ao struggled free from the restraint and slowly stood up. For a time, the four people formed separate arrays, each holding killing intent, mutually guarding against each other.

Xun Ziyou glanced at the sword wound on his shoulder, then looked at Shen Shou Xing, and said coldly, "Elder Shen, what does this mean?"

Shen Shou Xing's expression was cold, and his heart was regretful. This Elder Xun was still too vigilant. All the way to now, he had only given this one opportunity. Even so, this sword was still dodged by him. Otherwise, if the long sword had penetrated his heart, and the sword energy had strangled him again, he would have almost died here.

Shen Shou Xing silently looked at Xun Ziyou. Things had come to this point, and he didn't need to hide anything anymore. He then said lightly, "For my Shen family, I'm afraid I'll have to trouble Elder Xun and leave you at the bottom of this remote mountain tomb."

Xun Ziyou was not surprised. His gaze was like a sword. "So, all of this was really done by the Shen family?"

"Was it your Shen family that created the mine disaster, killing tens of thousands of mine cultivators, and then used the tomb to seal this mine pit, preventing these suffering mine cultivators from ever seeing the light of day after death?!" Xun Ziyou's tone was filled with anger.

The crowd's expressions changed, and Mo Hua's heart trembled slightly. Shen Shou Xing's gaze was dim, and he said nothing.

"You don't speak, is that a default?" Xun Ziyou's gaze condensed, and then his face showed sarcasm. "Your Shen family is really ambitious. The entire mine, so many innocent cultivators... just kill them, just kill them..."

Xun Ziyou then looked at Shen Shou Xing again. "The remote mountain is your responsibility, and you, who are not yet in the Feathering realm, can serve as a real power elder of the Shen family. You must have established a great merit that shook the heavens. This merit, I guess, was just killing these mine cultivators, right?"

"That year's mine disaster, was it you, Shen Shou Xing, this Elder Shen, who planned and executed it with one hand, right?" Xun Ziyou's tone was icy, but he suppressed his anger.

As soon as these words came out, the scene was dead silent. Everyone on the field was silent. Even if they didn't know before, after entering the tomb, entering the ten thousand-person pit, seeing so many corpses and evil, and the mountains of corpses, everyone's hearts had more or less speculated earlier. It was just that no one pointed it out. Pretending not to know could temporarily cover the truth. Once it was pointed out that it was indeed the Shen family that did it, it was almost immediately a situation of not resting until death. The Shen family would definitely silence them.

The remote mountain mine disaster, with tens of thousands of loose cultivators tragically dying. This kind of shocking evil act was almost enough to shake the foundation of the Shen family. The Dao Court would absolutely not let the Shen family go. The Shen family would also face questioning from all sides and a complete purge. And from the current perspective, Shen Shou Xing had actually not planned to let the crowd leave the remote mountain alive from the beginning.

Fan Jin's scalp felt numb, and his heart was bitter. His worst premonition was still confirmed. This disaster, in the end, could not be avoided. On the other hand, Gu Master's heart was cold, and at the same time, he was filled with infinite anger. He was so angry that his body trembled, almost biting his teeth tightly, saying each word slowly: "Tens of thousands of loose cultivators in the remote mountain were all just killed like this, dying in this dark, sunless mine pit..."

"Shen Shou Xing, can your conscience really pass? Are you really not afraid... of suffering retribution?"

Shen Shou Xing's expression was indifferent, but his forehead was continuously twitching. The struggle in his heart seemed to not want to recall this past nightmare. The scene of so many mine cultivators being killed, their confused, helpless, lonely, and desperate faces, broke through the sealed memory again, floating in his mind. These were the decisions he personally made, which was equivalent to him personally creating killing karma. A crack naturally appeared in Shen Shou Xing's heart nature.

But his face was still numb and cold. "I... had to do it."

Xun Ziyou sneered. Shen Shou Xing did not pay attention to this sarcasm but sighed lightly. "In a great world family where geniuses gather, how difficult it is to climb upwards. If you're not in it, you fundamentally don't understand."

"Especially disciples with poor origins, illegitimate bloodlines, located at the edge of the family's power. Climbing upwards is even more difficult than ascending to heaven."

"All the good things belong to others."

"You can only follow behind others, divide some of the leftover soup and cold rice that others don't want, and still have to be humble and kneel, grateful."

A trace of anger and pain was revealed in Shen Shou Xing's eyes. "I have tasted this kind of taste, so I don't want to live this kind of life, and I don't want my son and grandson to live this kind of life in the future."

"So, I want to climb upwards, climb upwards at all costs."

Xun Ziyou was silent, then said lightly, "So, these ten thousand mine cultivators in the remote mountain just became your stepping stones to climb upwards?"

"I originally didn't want to kill them either," Shen Shou Xing said coldly. "I don't kill indiscriminately, but they caused too much trouble, even making it irreparable. If it continued like this, a large number of loose cultivators would develop into a mob and refugees. The Shen family couldn't settle them, so naturally there was only one path to take... burying them along with the remote mountain."

Gu Master's anger surged. "Your Shen family occupied their mountain, seized their mine, forced them to a dead end, and instead blamed them for causing trouble?"

Shen Shou Xing said, "The mountain was thrown by themselves, the mine was sold by themselves. Loose cultivators are short-sighted. For a moment's benefit, they threw away their life's foundation. What does it have to do with my Shen family?"

"You..." Gu Master's anger was blocked in his chest, and he pointed a trembling finger at Shen Shou Xing, unable to say a word.

Xun Ziyou said coldly, "No matter for what reason, you cannot be so heartless as to kill so many loose cultivators..."

Shen Shou Xing was indifferent for a moment, then sighed lightly. "They... were useless, ah..."

"For mining, my Shen family has a large number of spirit machines and doesn't need them to exert force."

"They were originally poor and suffering, and we couldn't earn spirit stones from them anymore."

"Their only value was that they had lived in the remote mountain for generations, but they also sold it all off for a moment's personal gain."

"Think about it yourself, what use do they... still have?"

"Furthermore, these hungry and poor loose cultivators would still cause trouble. In this way, I had even more no way to leave them."

"Leaving them is of no benefit to my Shen family, to the Dao Court department, to the remote mountain, or even to the stability of the entire Qian Xue Prefecture."

"Cultivators want to progress, world families want to develop, and the cultivation world wants to prosper. Naturally, they need to step on the bones of these lower layers."

"Since ancient times, it has always been so."

"It's just that some people can see it, and some people can't."

"Those who can see it are powerless; those who can't see it or are unwilling to see it are indifferent..."