The smile of the leader in black was gloomy, clearly a human face, yet resembling a Demon Monster.
It seemed as though a Demon Wraith was residing within him.
Jin Gui felt a chill in his heart, having no more thoughts of resistance, he gritted his teeth and accepted his fate, saying:
"As long as I can serve the young master and work for the leader, I would not hesitate to go through fire and water!"
The leader in black nodded with satisfaction, giving Jin Gui a deep look before saying in a deep voice:
"You haven’t had a Monster Pattern drawn on you yet, to reward your loyalty..."
"I will personally draw it for you!"
Jin Gui’s pupils contracted slightly.
Previously, he had secretly worked for the young master, often doing things against the Taoist Law, but had not yet delved into Evil Techniques.
The Evil Demon Path is not tolerated by the Taoist Court.
Violating Taoist Law could still be argued.
But once he practiced the arts of Demon Monsters, it was undoubtedly a capital offense.
And he had already spent quite a while in the Valley of Ten Thousand Demons, how could he not know what this "Monster Pattern" meant?
Once "Monster Pattern" was drawn on him, demonic power would assimilate with his flesh, truly stepping into the path of Evil.
However, this was something he had anticipated.
It was both a ritual and a form of "recognition."
At this point, he had no way to turn back.
Coming from an ill background, he naturally had to disregard everything and gamble for a future, otherwise, from where would the future come?
Jin Gui bowed and said, "Thank you, senior brother!"
This time, the leader in black did not correct his "address," but accepted the identity of "senior brother."
Afterward, the leader in black led Jin Gui to a secret chamber.
The surroundings of the secret chamber were drawn full of Formation.
The Formation Patterns were sinister and unpredictable.
Moreover, the surroundings were filled with human blood, human skin, skulls, man-eating grass, Yin Spirit Stones, rotting flesh, and other items of the Evil Path.
At the center of the secret chamber lay many Formation Books and Classics, recorded on materials of unspecified human or beast skin.
The leader in black took out a book, opened it, and said to Jin Gui:
"Among these dozens of Monster Patterns, pick one."
On the skin paper were illustrations of dozens of different Monster Patterns, including Bear Pattern, Eagle Pattern, Wolf Pattern, Dog Pattern, Snake Pattern, etc...
Each Monster Pattern corresponded to a type of Four Symbols Demon Array.
Likewise, it also corresponded to a type of powerful demonic power.
Bear Pattern with boundless strength, Wolf Pattern transforming into sharp claws, Snake Pattern inherently poisonous...
Jin Gui scanned through the various Monster Patterns, pointing to one and saying, "Senior brother, I choose this one."
The leader in black followed his gaze, eyes narrowing, then looked up at Jin Gui with an expression of interest.
"Tiger Pattern?"
Jin Gui nodded slowly.
He didn’t want to be a dog for life.
Even if he was humble now, only serving others as a lackey, he too dreamt of becoming a "king of all beasts" like a Fierce Tiger one day!
The leader in black’s expression was slightly complex.
It was unclear whether it was mockery or admiration.
He nodded, "Alright."
In this life, one is either a dog or a tiger.
Just because you have a Tiger Pattern, it doesn’t make you a tiger.
"The Four Symbols Formation stems from the Patterns of the Four Saints of the Great Wilderness, yet with the extinction of the Saint Bloodlines, only can the Saint Patterns be transformed into Beast Patterns, then evolve into Monster Patterns."
"And the tiger is the king of all beasts."
"One of the Four Saints is the White Tiger."
"Among the many powerful and ferocious Monster Beasts, one tiger can dominate a mountain and rule a territory."
"Hence, this Four Symbols Tiger Pattern is among the top-tier inheritances of the Four Symbols Monster Patterns."
"This type of Tiger Pattern can not only amplify the demonic power of a Fierce Tiger but can also blend the power of a Fierce Tiger into oneself, harnessing the power of a hundred beasts and mastering the earth-stilling might through the Formation."
"Now, I shall inscribe this ’Four Symbols Mysterious Tiger Demon Array’ upon your back, infusing it into your flesh..."
With a pen made of a White Bone, dipped in fresh blood, the leader in black inscribed Formation Patterns onto Jin Gui’s back.