Immortality Through Array Formations Chapter 2008 Chapter 965: In Hand (Part 3)

He had been searching for the perfect moment to trigger a violent internal struggle among the crowd. His plan simultaneously relied on the Dragon Vein's backlash to cripple every opponent on the field.

"As one would expect... from that little beast of the Mystic Demon Sect..." Shen Shouxing spoke, his voice sounding thin and ragged.

Despite his youth, the boy possessed a heart so malicious and calculating that it rivaled the most ancient Old Demons.

Quietly, Shen Shouxing began to circulate his Qi, attempting to mend the damage dealt to his arm by the Dragon Vein’s rebound. However, the Karma Dragon energy of the Great Wilderness proved incredibly violent, making it impossible to purge in a short window of time.

Furthermore, he detected a faint trace of corrupted blood circulating within his physical body.

Shen Shouxing’s pupils suddenly shriveled as he remembered his earlier loss of composure and the overwhelming greed he felt upon seeing the Dragon Vein.

"Did you employ some other trickery?"

"I utilized a bit of poison from the Illusory Demon Sect..." Young Master Xuan replied with an air of indifference.

Strolling toward the nearby Dragon Vein, he added, "The specialty of the Illusory Demon Sect's poison is its ability to manufacture illusions and cloud the Divine Sense. By mixing this toxin with blood, I clouded your judgment. I then paired it with the 'Planting Devil in Taoist Heart' technique, driving you all to fight for the Dragon Vein with suicidal desperation."

"The true genius of the plan is that the poison itself is quite weak. I coated my blade with it, delivering the toxin under the cover of the Mystic Demon Blood Sword's light, making it completely impossible to perceive."

"You slaughtered one another, and the moment blood was drawn, the poison took hold. Because the toxicity is so subtle, none of you were able to sense it."

"I had little choice; your Cultivation levels are simply too high. Even with my mastery of the Illusory Demon Sect's original scriptures, I had to go to these lengths to successfully plant a devil in your Taoist Heart."

Shen Shouxing’s eyes were like chips of ice. "So, every detail was within your calculations?"

"Of course..."

Now standing directly before the Dragon Vein, a faint smirk played on Young Master Xuan’s lips. "Otherwise, how would a mere cultivator at the Initial Golden Core Stage dare to gamble his life alongside those at the Late or even Peak Golden Core Stage?"

"To me, this ordeal is a trial—a necessary test."

"Demons walk the earth, and swords taste blood."

"Only by achieving feats that common Golden Core cultivators find impossible will the ancestors acknowledge me. Only then can the Mystic Demon Sect be safely placed in my hands in the future."

"Within the Mystic Demon Sect, those thousands of rebellious Demon Heads will truly be cowed into submission and follow my lead."

"And at last, the Dragon Vein is mine..."

Young Master Xuan gazed at the Dragon Vein, his heart swelling with emotion and triumph. Yet, he remained cautious. Instead of grabbing it directly, he produced an ancient, black demonic banner to shroud the object.

The origin of this archaic banner was a mystery, but it effectively suppressed the Dragon Vein's radiant light and sealed its Draconic Qi.

Once enveloped by the demonic banner, the Dragon Vein resembled a common bone, its defiant draconic pressure completely extinguished.

Only then did Young Master Xuan feel safe enough to take the Dragon Vein into his hands, avoiding any injury from the dragon energy's backlash.

The prize was secured; every part of his scheme had succeeded.

"Whether you are a Prince of the Great Wilderness, a Golden Core scion of a noble clan, or a Sect Elder... in the end, you are all merely pawns to be toyed with in the palm of my hand..."

With a cold sneer, Young Master Xuan weighed the Dragon Vein in his palm, a satisfied grin appearing on his face. He then casually passed the treasure to Mo Hua, who stood beside him, and commanded, "Hold this for me."

Mo Hua accepted the Dragon Vein.

Young Master Xuan turned his gaze back toward Shen Shouxing, but before he could utter a word, a sudden jolt of alarm struck his heart.

"Wait, what did I just do?"

"Why would I ever hand the Dragon Vein to someone else for safekeeping?"

The smirk vanished instantly as Young Master Xuan’s eyes stretched wide. He spun around, only to realize that Mo Hua was no longer standing at his side.

Glancing upward, he saw that Mo Hua had somehow managed to stealthily retreat ten zhang away without being noticed.

Realizing that Young Master Xuan was staring at him, Mo Hua paused and looked back at the Young Master.

The two of them locked eyes for a brief second, the world around them seemingly frozen in place.

Mo Hua blinked once, quietly turned his head away, and then—without a moment's hesitation—clutched the Dragon Vein tight and bolted.