Immortality Through Array Formations Chapter 2078 Chapter 989: Winds Rising

Yu Er... turns out to be the Karma Dragon from the Great Wilderness?!

Mo Hua's eyes narrowed just a touch.

Yet this... how could it possibly be true?

Wasn't he born from the union of the Shangguan and Wenren clans? How on earth could he possess the bloodline of the Great Wilderness's Karma Dragon?

Still, the connection to the Dragon Soul couldn't be mistaken.

Deep within Mo Hua's Divine Soul, a faint roar from an ancient dragon echoed softly.

This stemmed from the ancient Dragon Soul he'd swallowed before, one that remained undigested, originating from the Great Wilderness's Dragon Emperor.

At this moment, the Dragon Soul vibrated in harmony with Yu Er, letting Mo Hua glimpse the faint outlines of the Karmic Dragon's Blood on the boy's features.

What's more, this silhouette of the Karma Dragon gleamed in a deep crimson hue.

The Bloody Shadow pulsed with a heavy aura of calamity, teetering between existence and oblivion, hinting at the hardships awaiting the bearer of this Dragon Shadow.

Mo Hua's brows knit together.

"Brother Mo?" The pure-hearted Yu Er noticed Mo Hua's grave look and inquired worriedly, "Is everything okay?"

Mo Hua slowly composed himself, ruffled Yu Er's hair gently, and murmured reassuringly, "Nothing's wrong... It'll all be fine..."

Yu Er clearly relished these head pats from Mo Hua, his face lighting up with a bright, untroubled grin.

But beneath that pure and joyful expression, the crimson dragon shadow let out a savage, bloodthirsty bellow toward Mo Hua before fading back into Yu Er's forehead.

A chill flickered in Mo Hua's stare.

...

The Gu Family's yearly banquet came next.

This year's event was lavish as ever.

Though it felt a tad more subdued than in previous years.

The fallout from the Solitary Mountain City incident had soured relations between the Gu Family and the Shen Family.

The core of the problem lay with the Taixu Gate, and its links to the Gu Family were neither major nor minor.

That said, the Shen Family wielded immense influence and oversaw the Qian Taoist Sect, so countless cultivation clans had to curry favor with them to place their young ones there.

Offending the Shen Family was out of the question, yet they also avoided crossing the Gu Family.

As a result, during the Gu Family's annual gathering this time, numerous clans opted to send presents alone, steering clear of personal appearances.

For noble houses, such moves stem from self-interest and are hardly surprising.

Everyone must tread lightly at times; provided no bridges are burned, future encounters can remain cordial.

The Gu Family, known for their straightforward ways, weren't fools in the ways of the world and chose not to take offense.

Mo Hua cared even less about it all.

His sole focus was on enjoying a good meal and satisfying his hunger.

The intricacies of clan politics and networking held no interest for him; those affairs were far removed from his life.

Amid the lively yet composed vibe, Mo Hua savored the feast, wandered the grounds to settle his stomach, paid respects to several Elders, gathered a stack of New Year presents, chatted with Elder Gu Hong about Uncle Gu's personal affairs, and then readied himself to head back to the Sect.

Wenren Wan arrived with Yu Er to bid him farewell.

"I've packed some sweets, fruit wine, plus the spiritual meats and dishes you enjoy. Sect meals tend to be bland, and you're always buried in formation work, so make sure to eat properly and stay nourished."

Wenren Wan's tone carried a warm, caring softness.

Mo Hua offered a thankful smile and said, "Thanks, Aunt Wan."

Yu Er waved goodbye to Mo Hua with evident reluctance.

Come tomorrow, he'd head back to the Shangguan Family alongside his mother for the ancestral rites, delaying his return to the Taixu Gate until after the new year.

That meant over ten days apart from Mo Hua.

Mo Hua pulled out a little present he'd set aside for Yu Er.

Among these were tiny gadgets he'd fashioned himself through array formations.

With them, Yu Er would have fresh playthings each day, even while at the Shangguan Family.

The rest consisted of the formation exercises Mo Hua had given Yu Er as practice.

Keeping busy with homework would keep Yu Er from feeling too down.

Yu Er's face showed a blend of delight and a slight pout, his feelings all jumbled up.

After a bit more light talk, just as Mo Hua prepared to depart, a stir erupted from afar, and a grand entourage with ornate canopies drew near, halting right at the Gu Family's entrance.

Cultivators stepped down from the carriages.

At the forefront strode a man in opulent robes, exuding a potent presence, his hair and beard streaked with silver, deep wrinkles etching his visage.

He advanced like a biting gale sweeping in.

The once-cozy air shattered in an instant.

Wenren Wan's face paled a little, while Yu Er looked scared, gripping his mother's sleeve tightly on reflex.

Spotting the arrival draw close, Wenren Wan had to step forward with a partial bow, saying, "Elder Wang."

Mo Hua knew him as well.

This elder with his salt-and-pepper hair and beard went by Shangguan Wang, a formidable Elder from the Shangguan Family at the Feather Transformation realm.

Rumor had it that long ago, Shangguan Wang had been passed over for Family Head, fueling his grudge against Shangguan Ce, Shangguan Yi, and even Yu Er's branch, where he struck at them without mercy.

Mo Hua harbored no liking for the man and so offered no salutation.

Shangguan Wang cast a quiet glance at Mo Hua, his eyes flashing open irritation mixed with a subtle wariness.

In the Formation Competition, he'd seen firsthand how Mo Hua, merely at Foundation Building Middle Stage, had dominated the prodigies from the Four Great Sects who were at Foundation Establishment Late Stage, ultimately conquering the full scope of the competition's formation challenges with sheer dominance to seize the top spot in Formations.

This youth was no pushover.

Thus, despite his own Feather Transformation prowess against Mo Hua's Foundation Stage, he overlooked the boy's "impertinence."

Shangguan Wang skirted past Mo Hua, neared Wenren Wan, and stated flatly:

"By order of the Family Master, I'll accompany the Young Madam and Young Master Yu back to the clan tomorrow."

"My gratitude to you, Elder Wang," Wenren Wan responded.

Shangguan Wang fixed a piercing look on Yu Er, gave a faint "Hmm," and proceeded into the Gu Family alone.

Mo Hua observed Shangguan Wang's retreating figure, struck by an odd unease he couldn't quite place.

Yet he couldn't identify the source of this discomfort.

As Shangguan Wang vanished into the Gu Family amid another flurry of activity and chatter, Mo Hua finally set off on his way.