Immortality Through Array Formations Chapter 2056 Chapter 981: Ancient Formation_3

"Unwilling to accept his defeat, this elder Great Witch refused to give up. He dedicated his final days to rigorous research, eventually drawing upon his profound mastery of Tao cultivation. By utilizing the framework of the Four Symbols Formation, he reconstructed that ancient formation into a new Four Symbols Formation—one capable of integrating directly into a cultivator's meridians and bones..."

Listening to this, Mo Hua felt a growing sense of alarm. He frowned and asked, "Are you certain you aren't deceiving me?"

The Second Elder let out a weary sigh. "A man standing at the threshold of death has no reason to lie. Furthermore..." The Second Elder stole a glance at Mo Hua, a trace of trepidation visible in his gaze. "How would I dare to speak untruths in the presence of the Little Divine Venerable?"

Mo Hua peered deeply into the Second Elder’s eyes, scrutinizing his Divine Soul. Once he was satisfied that the man was being honest, he gave a slow nod and inquired further:

"What is the specific name of this formation? Which variation of the Four Symbols Pattern does it belong to, and what is its grade?"

The Second Elder shook his head. "I possess no knowledge of those details."

"You don't know?" Mo Hua’s expression darkened slightly.

"The formation is far too bizarre and terrifying," the Second Elder explained. "Knowledge of it existed solely in the hands of that Great Witch of the past."

"Following the Great Witch's demise, the Great Wilderness Imperial Court issued an official decree. They stripped him of his 'Great Witch' title and ordered all his manuscripts destroyed. Not only did they raze his tomb, but they also categorized this formation as forbidden, ensuring it would never be handed down."

"Consequently, I have never personally witnessed what this formation the Great Witch labored over actually looks like..."

The Second Elder heaved a heavy sigh.

Mo Hua’s frown deepened. "If you have never seen it yourself, and the Formation Diagram is sealed away rather than in your possession, how can you use it as a bargaining chip for our trade?"

The Second Elder’s eyes turned mysterious. "While I do not hold this Ancient Formation Map, I am aware of its location."

Mo Hua arched an eyebrow. "And where is that?"

"It is held by that traitor of my Great Wilderness tribe," the Second Elder revealed.

Mo Hua’s heart gave a sudden jolt. "Mr. Tu?"

The Second Elder appeared momentarily startled, then nodded. "Indeed, while he wanders the world outside, he uses the alias 'Mr. Tu'."

Mo Hua's brow furrowed. "Does this mean we have to slay Mr. Tu to retrieve this Ancient Formation Map of the Great Wilderness?"

Mr. Tu was at the very least a cultivator of the Feather Transformation Realm. Furthermore, as a recent servant of the Evil God, he undoubtedly possessed some of the deity’s divine techniques.

A servant of the Evil God at the Feather Transformation Realm.

Mo Hua searched his mind for a solution, yet he couldn't conceive of a way to kill such a powerful foe.

"That won't be necessary," the Second Elder stated.

Mo Hua was confused. "If it is in his possession and we don't kill him, how could we possibly obtain it?"

The Second Elder replied, "He holds it, yet he remains ignorant of where it truly is hidden."

Mo Hua became increasingly bewildered. "What are you trying to say?"

The Second Elder lowered his voice to a whisper. "Within a specific region of Qian State, there is a forbidden area. Tucked inside that forbidden area is a hidden chamber containing an altar. Upon that altar sits an enshrined white bone statue of an evil god, featuring a human face and the horns of a sheep."

"The formation is etched inside that very statue of the human-faced, sheep-horned evil god..."

"The traitor is unaware of this fact. He is terrified of that ancient, malevolent object and wouldn't dare lay a finger on the statue..."

Mo Hua was stunned by this revelation.

A forbidden area, an altar, and a white bone statue of an evil god with a human face and sheep horns?

And the Ancient Formation Map of the Great Wilderness was there?

Mo Hua looked at the Second Elder with a skeptical eye. "How is it that you know things that Mr. Tu does not?"

"Because..." The Second Elder began to cough, his spectral form growing even more translucent. "I have lived far longer than that traitor. Long ago, I began using dragon bones to extend my lifespan; otherwise, my time would have ended ages ago..."

"But because of my unfinished duties, I refused to die."

"This ancient formation is a taboo of the Great Wilderness. I had no intention of revealing it to anyone, but when I encountered the Little Divine Venerable just now..."

The Second Elder paused, leaving the thought unfinished before continuing, "After witnessing the power of the Little Divine Venerable, a small spark of hope was lit. I decided to use this ancient formation as a bargaining chip to strike a deal with you... I only ask that you protect a single branch of the Great Wilderness lineage."

Mo Hua felt a touch of sympathy, yet he countered with a question:

"You have already divulged all your secrets. If I decide not to honor our pact and simply take the formation for myself without protecting your Great Wilderness bloodline, what could you possibly do?"

Most of the Second Elder's remnant soul had already faded away. Hearing Mo Hua's words, his face took on a bitter expression as he said:

"As I said, I lack the power to change anything at this stage. I am merely entrusting this to you, Little Divine Venerable, fueled by a thin hope."

"If the Little Divine Venerable chooses to help, I will be eternally grateful. Should you choose otherwise, I will offer no complaint."

The Second Elder finished speaking, his presence growing increasingly faint.

Mo Hua remained quiet for a long moment before asking softly, "Is all of this truly worth the effort?"

A small smile played on the Second Elder’s lips, his eyes filled with conviction:

"I am of the Great Wilderness. I was born there, raised there, and mastered the Great Wilderness heritage. My cultivation was only possible because of it. It is only natural that I serve my tribe with every ounce of my strength until my final breath."

Mo Hua said nothing.

The Second Elder’s remnant soul had already vanished from the waist down, and half of his torso was crumbling into ash.

Even his facial features were starting to blur.

Aware that his soul was about to dissipate completely, the Second Elder’s aged eyes shone with a final flicker of longing and hope as he looked toward Mo Hua with humility.

Mo Hua let out a soft sigh, nodded, and said:

"Very well, I give you my word."

The Second Elder clasped his hands together, offering one final bow to Mo Hua. He said with total sincerity:

"May the path of the Little Divine Venerable be without limits, and may he be blessed with immense fortune and luck!"

With his final wish granted, his form vanished entirely, turning into a puff of ash that drifted away into the void.

Mo Hua watched the Second Elder disappear, his eyes shimmering with complicated emotions.

With the Second Elder gone, a profound silence fell over the Dragon Hall of the Great Wilderness.

Without a "lord" to lead them, all the dragon ministers of the Great Wilderness dissolved into blue smoke, vanishing into nothingness.

The dragon aura permeating the hall began to fade as well.

Mo Hua felt his own form start to warp.

A powerful force of expulsion gripped his body, intent on casting out the "uninvited guest."

Mo Hua turned his head to take one last look at the Dragon Hall, which had grown dark following the Dragon Emperor's death, before his entire being faded away.

After a dizzying sensation of twisting and turning, the surrounding scenery distorted.

When Mo Hua finally opened his eyes, he was resting on his desk in the Disciple's Residence.

Before him sat the partially completed Dragon Pattern and the half-finished deduction of the Four Symbols Monster Pattern.

The Dragon Vein lay right beside his hand.

Everything that had transpired in the Dream Dragon Palace remained vivid in his mind.

"The Ancient Formation Map of the Great Wilderness..."