Chapter 1354: A Brutal Battle

Chapter 1353: A Brutal Battle

The fighting inside the Great Wilderness Dragon Hall was extraordinarily intense.

All manner of sword techniques, Dao arts, and the thunderous might of the demonic dragon clashed without pause. Blood sprayed through the air, baleful energy churned and surged. Even outside the Dragon Hall, Mo Hua could still sense the savage slaughter within.

The deathly baleful aura within his Fate Pattern seemed to be stirred as well, causing an inexplicable irritability and bloodthirst to rise in his heart.

Mo Hua did his utmost to suppress the violence boiling inside him.

Yet in just a single hour, Elder Xuanyuan and the others were forcibly driven out of the Dragon Hall by Shentu Ao.

They had no choice but to retreat. If they had not, they might truly all have died at Shentu Ao’s hands.

Even so, more than a dozen Golden Core elders’ corpses were left behind inside the hall.

Every one of those bodies was devoured by the demonic dragon clinging to Shentu Ao, becoming nourishment of flesh and blood.

Shentu Ao did not pursue the Dao Court elders further. Like a demonic dragon guarding a treasure mountain, he refused to leave the Dragon Hall.

Mo Hua guessed that the Strange Dao dragon diagram on Shentu Ao required sustenance from the blood pool, which was why he could only move about within the hall.

From the moment Shentu Ao awakened, the entire Great Wilderness Dragon Hall had become his hunting ground.

Whoever entered the hall would become prey of flesh and blood.

Elder Xuanyuan cast Shentu Ao a deep look and, in order to preserve his life, was forced to withdraw from the Dragon Hall for the time being.

…

Outside the vast and desolate hall, the many Dao Court elders all wore pale faces, their hearts filled with shock and dread.

Hundreds of Golden Core elders from great aristocratic clans, each dominant in their own region, yet they could not deal with a single remnant of the Great Wilderness Royal Clan? Not only had they failed to kill this vile creature, they had instead lost over twenty lives to him…

An elder from the Yuwen clan frowned deeply and asked in a low voice,

“Elder Xuanyuan, do you know what demonic path this Great Wilderness remnant has entered? How can he be so ferocious?”

They were all elders of great clans and considered themselves well-informed, yet none had ever seen such a monster that so defied common sense.

Nor had they ever encountered a demonic cultivator this powerful.

His cultivation appeared to be only at peak-stage Golden Core, yet hundreds of Golden Core elders joining forces could not subdue him.

Instead, quite a few had died by his hand.

This had completely surpassed the bounds of what could be called “human.”

Could it be that in an age of great chaos, monsters were truly destined to emerge?

Elder Xuanyuan’s gaze was grave as he shook his head.

“The Royal lineage of the Great Wilderness gathered here. Now that the Great Wilderness has fallen, it is not surprising for a monster to have arisen. As for what Demonic Dao he has entered and what path he walks… the Demonic Dao is sinister and errie, with countless branches. Even I cannot judge.”

Mo Hua looked at the crowd, hesitated, but ultimately did not speak that name.

He knew that leaving it unsaid was better, bringing it up would only make things worse.

Seeing everyone’s morale sinking, Elder Xuanyuan said,

“No matter what fiend he is, killing him ends everything. The last remaining royal of the Great Wilderness is right before us. So long as we slaughter him, we sever the Great Wilderness bloodline and accomplish everything in one stroke, completely eradicating the root of its calamity.”

(TN: His audacity to say this “last remaining royal”)

“Even if it costs our lives, it will be worth it.”

“If we truly cut off the source of the Great Wilderness disaster, our merit will be boundless. Our names will be recorded with honor in our clan genealogies.”

At these words, many elders from great clans nodded in agreement.

“To live in mediocrity for a hundred years is still death. Better to fight to the death now, wipe out the Great Wilderness Royal clan in a blaze of glory, and not have lived in vain.”

“Good! What a blaze of glory”

“No regrets in this life!”

The crowd’s spirits surged at once.

Mo Hua sighed inwardly.

Elder Xuanyuan nodded. “Since that is so, then the same words as before: we work together with one heart to slay the Great Wilderness remnant, end this source of calamity, and return peace to the Heavenly Dao.”

“Good!”

Everyone was fired up as if injected with chicken blood.

Just then, Xuanyuan Jing, the prodigy of the Xuanyuan clan, spoke up.

“Elder, I will go as well.”

Steady in temperament, he had remained silent all along, quietly following at Elder Xuanyuan’s side, only now speaking.

The moment Xuanyuan Jing opened his mouth, the prodigies from the Dao provinces also grew indignant.

Yuwen Hua said, “That’s right, we’ll go too. Let’s meet this so-called Great Wilderness prince and do our part in slaying the remnant.”

All along the journey they had been under protection, with no chance to act, and had long grown impatient.

With the Dao province prodigies declaring their stance, those from Qian Province, Qianxue Prefecture and the other eight provinces also could not help wanting to speak, including Xiao Ruohan, Ao Zheng, Feng Zichen, and the rest.

But Mo Hua cast them a look. Remembering his instructions, they all swallowed their words.

Elder Xuanyuan shook his head. “No.”

Seeing the dissatisfaction on the prodigies’ faces, he softened his tone.

“This time is different. This is a great demon at peak-stage Golden Core, not someone you hot-blooded youths can challenge just because you wish to.”

Though these prodigies were all heaven’s favored, some with powerful bloodlines, capable of defeating ordinary early-stage Golden Cores at at peak-stage Foundation Establishment realm.

But peak-stage Golden Core and early-stage Golden Core were worlds apart.

And among peak-stage Golden Cores, this Royal remnant Shentu Ao was anything but ordinary.

Elder Xuanyuan had just fought him and knew full well how terrifying he was.

Moreover, this was no ordinary exchange, it was a life-and-death struggle.

No matter how strong their bloodlines, these prodigies absolutely could not brush against Shentu Ao, or they might be swallowed alive in the blink of an eye.

Even possessing Longevity Talismans would not help.

Such talismans were immensely precious. If even one shattered, he as the guardian elder would be lucky not to have to atone with his life, with exile being guaranteed.

Xuanyuan Jing still wished to argue.

Elder Xuanyuan said gently, “It is good that you have the heart. But this is a Golden Core battle. It is not yet your time to take the stage.”

Xuanyuan Jing froze.

“When we elders join forces to kill Shentu Ao, break open the Dragon Hall, and open the Dragon Pool—that will be your opportunity.”

“Remember, you are prodigies. Your foremost task is cultivation and growth, not risking your lives before forming a Golden Core. That is the conduct of fools.”

“For now, the only thing you should think about is forming your core.”

“Leave the life-and-death struggle to us. We guardian elders will clear the road for you.”

Xuanyuan Jing nodded slightly. The other Dao province prodigies were also moved, grateful for the elders’ protection.

Elder Xuanyuan’s expression eased. Looking at Xuanyuan Jing again, he spoke earnestly:

“You are a genius our Xuanyuan clan has poured great effort into nurturing. Every step of your cultivation bears the clan’s painstaking investment.”

“Qi Refining to solidify the foundation, Foundation Establishment to choose your Dao path—these all lay the groundwork.”

“But only forming the Golden Core can transform all your prior cultivation and effort in a single instant, bringing a qualitative metamorphosis.”

“The gap between you will widen tenfold, even a hundredfold. The better the spiritual roots, the higher the technique, the firmer the foundation—the stronger the Golden Core.”

“The Golden Core is the first great watershed in a cultivator’s Dao path.”

“It determines a cultivator’s fate.”

“A high-grade Golden Core is a superior fate. A low-grade Golden Core is an inferior fate.”

“The gap between Golden Core grades is something a cultivator can never make up for in a lifetime.”

“Therefore, before forming your core, you must not act rashly or rush things. You must patiently await your Golden Core transformation.”

“Form a high-grade, even top-grade Golden Core, and from then on you will transcend the mundane and will be truly superior individuals, superior cultivators.”

“As for those with intermediate-lower grade Golden Cores, they will never be able to compare with you in their entire lives…”

…

At this point, Elder Xuanyuan cast an intentional glance at Mo Hua.

Mo Hua’s expression darkened.

The old bastard was taking a jab at him.

Xuanyuan Jing and the other prodigies, however, looked invigorated and cupped their hands in salute. “Thank you for your guidance, Elder. We will remember it in our hearts.”

Elder Xuanyuan nodded in satisfaction. Looking again at Xuanyuan Jing and the others, he said meaningfully,

“Forming your Golden Core in the Dragon Pool also carries special significance. I hope all you prodigies can ‘transform into dragons’ within the Dragon Pool, receive the Great Wilderness’s destiny upon you, manifest auspicious omens, and from then on defy the heavens to change your fate, soaring through the Nine Heavens and serving the Dao Court even better…”

(TN:- Hint: You can only enter the Dragon Pool if you are a Great Wilderness royal descendent)

“This is also the Dao Court’s reward and expectation for you.”

Mo Hua frowned.

The other prodigies’ gazes trembled, each lost in different thoughts.

After finishing, Elder Xuanyuan said no more. Instead, he began issuing orders to continue preparations to kill Shentu Ao.

During their first clash with Shentu Ao, everything had happened too suddenly. There had been no time to set defenses, deploy formations, or devise methods to counter him, hence their defeat.

But now things were different. The Dao Court elders had already fought Shentu Ao once and had a rough understanding of some of his techniques.

Though Shentu Ao was powerful, he was not without flaws.

They could now employ targeted methods against him.

Moreover, the elders present were all from great clans with deep inheritances, each carrying numerous spirit artifacts and treasures.

Gathered together, pooling their ideas and revealing their individual methods, the combat strength they could unleash was more than double before.

For example, the Xuanyuan Clan’s third-grade Golden Crow Fire Dao formations.

Certain supreme treasures of the Jiang Clan that could suppress baleful and demonic qi.

Rare spirit artifacts from the Yuwen Clan that could guard the mind and resist the intimidating shock of dragon roars…

As well as life-preserving, evil-expelling pills and high-powered talismans from various traditions and lineages.

All of these were treasured heirlooms of their respective clans and sects.

Most of them, Mo Hua had never even heard of.

After all, he had yet to form a Core and came from a rogue cultivator background. Though he had inherited the Dao lineage of the Great Void Sect, his foundation was still shallow. There were blind spots in his cultivation knowledge, and he knew little about many inherited traditions.

In terms of formations, however, he knew quite a lot, many of the formation mysteries he grasped were things the elders of these great clans might know nothing about.

But when it came to magic treasures, supreme artifacts, top-grade pills, and peak-stage talismans—rare items related to artifact forging, alchemy, and talisman crafting—Mo Hua was completely clueless.

He had grown up poor. As a child, he had never had access to expensive cultivation items. As an adult, he had simply never developed the habit of using them.

When casting spells, he didn’t even need spirit artifacts.

Even his Magic treasure was just natal formations he had drawn on his own bones.

In short, any method that required “burning money,” Mo Hua avoided entirely. The techniques he used either consumed divine sense or spiritual power, things he could regenerate himself.

But Elder Xuanyuan and the others did not care about such costs.

Shentu Ao might be their final enemy. Killing him would mean their mission was more than half complete.

Thus, they spared no expense, bringing out many of their trump cards and carefully planning tactics specifically against Shentu Ao.

Soon, everyone launched the second “encirclement.”

This time, the operation was far more grand in scale. All kinds of formations, magic treasures, talismans, and enhancement pills were used.

Formations restricted him, sword qi crisscrossed, spells flew, talismans bombarded, and the Golden Core elders besieged him together.

Shentu Ao, like some demonic monster, was suppressed for a time, unable even to strike back.

But whenever the assault slackened even slightly—giving him a moment to breathe and absorb the black blood in the blood pool—his injuries would rapidly recover.

He was like an unkillable demonic dragon of the Great Wilderness.

The encirclement lasted for two hours. The Golden Core elders exhausted their methods and suppressed Shentu Ao the entire time, yet ultimately still failed to kill him.

In their fatigue, two Golden Core elders were careless for a moment and became tainted by black blood. Shentu Ao suddenly burst forth, seized their arms, tore open their chests, and swallowed them whole.

The bloody scene shocked all the elders.

After devouring flesh and blood, Shentu Ao’s injuries healed even faster, chilling everyone to the bone.

In terror, the group had no choice but to retreat from the Great Wilderness Dragon Hall.

But Elder Xuanyuan refused to give up. After a brief rest, he patched up flaws in their plans, added more countermeasures against Shentu Ao, and launched a third “siege.”

This third siege lasted even longer.

Inside the Dragon Hall, both sides fought in a life-and-death struggle.

Sword qi, Dao techniques, and spiritual energy intertwined, while the deafening roar of a demonic dragon filled the air.

The blood-red sky at the horizon continued to darken.

Mo Hua watched the surging auras within the Dragon Hall, his heart trembling. After holding back for a long time, he finally took out a jade slip once more.

He really did not want to calculate this time.

More than anyone, he knew Shentu Ao’s power came from the Demonic Dragon Diagram on his body.

And that dragon diagram had come from his Martial Uncle’s hand.

Mo Hua feared that if he calculated further and traced it back to his Martial Uncle, it would be no different from a short-lived man hanging himself, i.e. courting death.

So during the earlier battles, even when he had chances to spy on the dragon qi and reverse-deduce the formation diagram, Mo Hua had restrained himself.

He was genuinely afraid.

He truly hoped Elder Xuanyuan and the others could just kill Shentu Ao, sparing him from taking this risk.

But the situation now did not seem promising.

Frowning, Mo Hua could only endure his unease and activate the Heavenly Secret Derivative Algorithm, beginning bit by bit to deduce the changes in the terrifying demonic dragon aura within the Dragon Hall.

Under normal circumstances, he would have no way to reverse-deduce something like this. Even if he could, the speed would be painfully slow.

But Shentu Ao was different. Mo Hua had seen the dragon diagram on Shentu Ao from the very beginning.

He also understood the various transformations of that dragon diagram like the back of his hand.

And he himself could draw the complete Four Symbols Azure Dragon Formation.

With this foundation, deducing the Four Symbols Demonic Formation Diagram was not especially difficult.

The only question was which parts his Martial Uncle had altered, whether it involved third-grade territory, and whether it included… changes to demonic formation patterns.

Mo Hua could only steel himself and continue deducing bit by bit.

Once a formation is tainted with Demonic patterns, it is like a cup of wine laced with poison.”

You don’t want to touch it, yet you have no choice but to raise that “poisoned wine” to your lips and taste it little by little.

To find out what kind of poison was in the wine, what the formula of the toxin was, and which deadly properties had been used…

Even Mo Hua’s fingers—long accustomed to drawing formations—began to tremble faintly, something that hadn’t happened in a long time.

Time passed, and the battle inside the Dragon Hall continued.

Mo Hua’s deductions of the Four Symbols Strange-Dao Demonic dragon diagram also deepened bit by bit.

Another hour went by when the fighting inside the Dragon Hall suddenly stopped. Elder Xuanyuan retreated once more in defeat.

This time, they had lost three more people, yet they still hadn’t managed to kill Shentu Ao.

Elder Xuanyuan’s face was dark and grim.

The others all wore heavy expressions as well, fear mixed in.

Shentu Ao’s strength and eerie nature had clearly begun to affect their state of mind.

Elder Xuanyuan sighed. “Sit down and meditate. Recover your injuries first…”

The group sat in meditation with gloomy expressions, swallowing pills to restore spiritual power and heal their wounds.

Meanwhile, Mo Hua stared blankly at the half-derived Four Symbols Strange-Dao Demonic Dragon Formation Diagram, lost in thought, no one knowing what was on his mind.

Suddenly, his expression changed, and he turned to look beneath the Dragon Hall.

Not only Mo Hua—Elder Xuanyuan, two peak-stage Golden Core cultivators, and several late-stage Golden Core elders all gradually changed expression and looked downward as well.

Elder Xuanyuan said coldly, “Be careful!”

Before his words even finished, a silver-white zombie hand burst out of the ground and grabbed toward the foot of the Dao Province prodigy, Yu Wenhua.

Yu Wenhua was startled and immediately dodged, but he was half a beat too slow. Fortunately, the guardian elder beside him slashed at the hand with a sword.

The zombie hand was blocked briefly by sword qi, and Yu Wenhua managed to break free.

But before long, more and more zombie hands stretched out from beneath the earth, like bamboo shoots sprouting after rain.

At the same time, a pink mist began to spread through the surroundings.

Howls—neither human nor beast—echoed from all directions.

Skulls the size of fists fell from the sky like hailstones.

Within the blood-colored sky, a demonic sword with eyes growing on it hovered in midair.

The phenomena of the demonic path began to appear openly in this stretch of heaven and earth.