Family Rise: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 515

Deep within the Jade Osmanthus Mountains, in a valley shrouded in black mist, the Third Elder transformed into a gust of cold wind, sweeping past jagged rocks. He lightly tapped his white bone scepter, causing ripples to spread across the rock face in front of him, revealing the entrance to a hidden cave.

Inside the cave, a flickering eerie fire illuminated two figures sitting cross-legged.

The elderly man on the left was emaciated, with a blood-red centipede totem tattooed on his face; he was the Great Elder of the Witch Village. The middle-aged man on the right was forming hand seals in front of the ancient barrier shimmering on the rock wall, his spiritual energy transforming into fine black threads that seeped into the barrier's patterns; he was the Second Elder, a specialist in formations.

"The Fu family has backed out?" The First Elder didn't even lift his eyelids, his voice as soft as sandpaper.

"Hmm," the Third Elder put away his scepter, nodded, and said with some worry, "However, they will definitely send a message asking for help."

hum!
Just now.

Suddenly, the barrier in front of the rock wall burst forth with a blinding red light, and the Second Elder groaned as he took three steps back. Dense, savage characters appeared on the barrier, and the faint roars of beasts could be heard.

"How much longer?" The Grand Elder asked, a hint of impatience in his voice.

"The earliest is next month at dawn. This barrier was left by the ancient witch clan, and it needs to be broken according to the celestial phenomena," the Second Elder said, glancing at the First Elder's face.

"You've already cracked most of it. If you ask me, why not just break it open with brute force? One force can overcome all laws!" The Grand Elder said, slamming his withered, claw-like hand onto the barrier. The spiritual power of a late-stage Golden Core cultivator erupted, causing the entire cave to tremble. Yet, the characters became even clearer, eventually coalescing into a phantom of a winged tiger that pounced.

The Third Elder quickly used his scepter to block the attack.

With a loud clang, he used the momentum to slide back three zhang, and the tiger's shadow disappeared.

"Why the rush, elder brother?" He seemed used to the elder's temper, his voice soft and gentle.
"The Fu family doesn't have any veteran Golden Core cultivators. Even if Fu Changsheng comes in person, it won't delay our treasure hunt; on the contrary, he'll just be offering us his own lives. Back in the Great Zhou, you killed countless Golden Core cultivators!"

The Second Elder quickly echoed:
"Third brother is right. This barrier needs to be broken with skill; a forceful attack will only trigger a backlash and may even destroy the treasures within the barrier, making all our efforts futile."

"Then hurry up!" The Grand Elder flicked his sleeves and walked deeper into the cave, the skull beads hanging from his waist jingling. "We must get back to the Northern Frontier with the Witch God's relic before the Great Zhou Dynasty's lackeys!"

...

...

The Azure Phoenix was moored in a secluded mountain stream on the outskirts of Yulin Prefecture. The Fu family members dispersed to survey the terrain and gather intelligence.

Fu Yongyi led five disciples of the Mineral Exploration Hall along a dry stream valley. In his hand, he held a bronze compass—a third-tier treasure-hunting instrument. Runes flowed across its surface, and the pointer trembled slightly, yet it still failed to pinpoint a clear fluctuation of spiritual energy.

“Strange…” Fu Yongyi frowned. “The treasure-hunting instrument shows that the spiritual energy here is mixed, but we still can’t find the source.”

A disciple wiped the sweat from his brow and whispered, "Master, this area is low-lying, and the spiritual veins are barely visible. Could it be that the treasure-hunting device is being interfered with?"

Fu Yongyi did not answer, but slowly closed his eyes. When he opened them again, a faint golden light shone deep in his pupils—the Spirit Eye Technique!

This was a talent he awakened in his childhood after accidentally swallowing an unknown object from a dilapidated temple; it allowed him to see through the flow of spiritual energy that ordinary cultivators could not detect.

In an instant, the world appeared completely different to him.

Rocks, grass, streams... everything was stripped of its appearance, leaving only the interwoven spiritual energy veins like silk threads. His gaze swept across the ground, then suddenly stopped in front of a rock wall at the end of the valley.

"There!"

He strode forward, placing his palm on the rock wall, channeling his spiritual energy into it. However, a subtle, restrictive force within the rock wall repelled his spiritual energy!

"It's really weird!"

Fu Yongyi sneered, flipped his hand, and took out a barrier-breaking talisman, sticking it to the rock wall. The talisman burned, and the barrier loosened slightly, but it was not completely broken.

"Master, this restriction..." the disciples exclaimed in surprise.

“It wasn’t set up by humans.” Fu Yongyi narrowed his eyes. “It’s a naturally formed ley line seal. No wonder the treasure-hunting device couldn’t locate it!”

He took a deep breath, formed hand seals, and his spiritual power surged into the ground like a tide—Earth Listening Technique, Seventh Level!
"Om-"

The earth trembled, and spiritual energy rippled outwards, penetrating hundreds of feet underground. A moment later, Fu Yongyi suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze flashing with intense light!
"Found it! There's a hidden vein about ten feet underground!"

Upon hearing this, the disciples all showed expressions of shock. Hidden veins are different from ordinary spiritual veins; they are hidden deep underground, their spiritual energy is concealed, and they are extremely difficult to discover, but once mined, they are often of extremely high quality!

Fu Yongyi quickly took out a communication jade talisman and transmitted his voice to Yaoyao: "Yaoyao, a hidden vein of third-grade Xuan Iron has been discovered thirty miles to the southwest! The reserves are astonishing and it has never been mined!"

He put away the jade talisman, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"This time... we've really struck gold."
-
Yao Yao was discussing countermeasures with Yu Qingru and Fu Changli when she received Fu Yongyi's message. A glint flashed in her eyes, but before she could speak, another jade talisman on her waist suddenly lit up—it was an urgent message from Fu Yongrui of the Dark Hall!
She quickly channeled her spiritual energy, and Fu Yongrui's deep voice came from the jade talisman: "The Lei family has sent Lei Yunhai to lead a team into Yulin Prefecture, intending to seize as many resources as possible before we do!"

Yao Yao's eyes turned cold, but the corners of her mouth turned up slightly.

"The Lei family... has arrived at the perfect time."

Fu Changli raised an eyebrow: "Yaoyao, what do you plan to do?"

Yao Yao gently traced the mottled patterns on the bronze fragment with her fingertips. This was an ancient artifact discovered by Fu Yongyi at the edge of a mineral vein during his exploration. Fresh soil still clung to the edges of the fragment, giving it a faint glow in the sunlight.

“Since the Lei family is coming,” she said with a slight smile, “why not send them a generous gift? Lei Yunhai is an impatient and reckless man, and also stubborn and arrogant. If he finds out…”

Yu Qingru instantly understood: "You want to lead them to where the Black Witch Village is?"

“That’s right.” A calculating glint flashed in Yao Yao’s eyes. “Firstly, we can use the Black Witch Village to get rid of the Lei family. Secondly… if the two sides clash, we might be able to take the opportunity to investigate the Black Witch Village’s true purpose.”

Fu Changli pondered, "Although Lei Yunhai is reckless, he's not stupid. How can we be sure he'll take the bait?"

Yao Yao chuckled: "As long as he 'accidentally' discovers that the place occupied by the Black Witch Village is an ancient spiritual herb garden... given his personality, he will definitely take action!"

She quickly took out a blank jade slip, inscribed information with her divine sense, and then handed it to Fu Qingqing: "Qingqing, use the Thousand Faces Technique to disguise yourself as a rogue cultivator and 'accidentally' drop this item on the only way to Thundercloud Sea."

"Understood!" Fu Qingqing smiled slyly, turned around, and transformed into a streak of light, darting out of the cabin.
-
Lei Family Camp, outside Yulin Prefecture

Lei Yunhai kicked over the stone in front of him, his face grim.

"Useless! After searching for three days, we haven't even found a decent third-tier spirit item!"

A Lei family disciple standing beside him said tremblingly, "Young Master Yunhai, Yulin Prefecture is a vast territory, and we have limited manpower. Perhaps we should report to the clan leader first..."

"Shut up!" Lei Yunhai roared. "You can't even handle such a trivial matter. How are you going to explain this to your grandfather?!"

Just as he was getting impatient, he suddenly heard the sounds of fighting coming from the woods ahead. Several Lei family cultivators were escorting a disheveled herb gatherer, whose spiritual herbs had scattered all over the ground: "Senior, spare my life! I was just..."

Lei Yunhai's gaze suddenly fixed on the herb gatherer's waist—a half-bronze fragment gleamed strangely in the sunlight. He ripped the fragment off, and the ancient herbal patterns on it made his breath catch in his throat.

"I found it in the Yugui Mountains," the herb gatherer stammered, as a jade slip suddenly slipped from his sleeve.

"An ancient herb garden?!" Lei Yunhai's divine sense swept over the jade slip, and a greedy flame instantly ignited in his eyes. He suddenly grabbed the herb gatherer by the neck: "Lead the way!"

An older cultivator beside him cautiously said, "Young Master, this matter is suspicious. What if someone else has set this up..."

"Setting a trap?" Lei Yunhai sneered. "The Fu family set off later than us and are still on their way. How could they set a trap? Yulin Prefecture is a newly established fiefdom. The Fu family hasn't even arrived yet. Who else could it be?"

He waved his hand sharply: "Everyone, listen up! Head to the Jade Osmanthus Mountains immediately and seize the Spirit Herb Garden before the Fu family arrives!"

"But young master, what if there are cultivators from the Northern Frontier..."

"How dare cultivators from the Northern Frontier set foot in the territory of my Great Zhou!" A ruthless glint flashed in Lei Yunhai's eyes. "Moreover, my Lei family is backed by the Seven Princes and the royal family of Great Zhou. How dare these mere barbarians from the Northern Frontier touch anyone from my Lei family?"

He flipped his hand and took out a thunder talisman, grinning maliciously, "Moreover, my grandfather bestowed upon me the 'Heavenly Thunder Talisman,' which even a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator might not be able to withstand!"

The Lei family members dared not dissuade him any further and had no choice but to follow Lei Yunhai, heading towards the Yu Gui Mountains in a grand procession.
-
Azure Phoenix - Lookout
Yao Yao stood at the bow of the boat, gazing in the direction the Lei family's group had gone, a slight smile playing on her lips: "The fish have taken the bait. Now, we just have to wait for the Lei family to walk right into our trap. We need to get closer."

"What?" Yu Qingru exclaimed in surprise, "That's too dangerous!"

"Nothing ventured, nothing gained," Yao Yao said softly. "If Black Witch Village is truly plotting something, now is the best time to investigate."

She turned to look at the crowd, her eyes shining with determination.

"Order the Azure Phoenix to proceed covertly. We... will observe the situation!"

...

...

The outer perimeter of the Yugui Mountains
Lei Yunhai led the Lei family cultivators to lie in ambush in the bushes below the cliff. The moonlight, like water, reflected the mottled moss on the cliff face, making it look like a ghostly mask. The spiritual mist rising from the bottom of the cliff grew thicker and thicker, gradually condensing into strange runes that appeared and disappeared in the night sky.

"It really is an ancient cultivation restriction!" Lei Yunhai's eyes gleamed with greed as he gripped three restriction-breaking talismans tightly in his hand. "Prepare to make your move!"

Just then, the vines on the cliff face suddenly began to move without any wind. Several small, emerald-green snakes poked their heads out from among the branches and leaves, their cold, vertical pupils fixed on the Lei family members.

"Young Master, something's not right." A Lei family cultivator had just spoken when he suddenly screamed in agony—a small snake had somehow wrapped around his wrist, its fangs deeply embedded in his blood vessels, and in the blink of an eye, his entire arm had turned bluish-purple.

"Beware of poisonous creatures!" Lei Yunhai shouted, unleashing several bolts of lightning from his sleeve, shattering the small snakes on the surrounding vines into charred remains.

However, it was too late. The entire cliff seemed to come alive, and countless venomous snakes poured out from the crevices of the rocks, rushing towards the Lei family like a tidal wave.

"Form the array!" Lei Yunhai roared, summoning a lightning shield to protect himself. A ruthless glint flashed in his eyes as he slammed a barrier-breaking talisman against the cliff face: "Break!"

"boom--"

The spiritual light erupting from the talisman collided violently with the restrictions on the cliff face, causing the entire mountain to tremble. Rock fragments fell in a shower, revealing an ancient stone door hidden deep within the rock face.

"There really is a cave!" Lei Yunhai was overjoyed and was about to step forward when suddenly the hairs on his body stood on end—

The ancient runes on the stone gate suddenly glowed with a blood-red light, and a hoarse voice echoed from all directions: "Those who trespass on the sacred grounds of the Witch God, die!"

Azure Phoenix - Concealment Formation
Yao Yao stood on the deck, a bronze mirror in her hand reflecting the every move of the Lei family members. When that hoarse voice rang out, her pupils suddenly contracted: "It's the Black Witch Village's security barrier!"

Almost simultaneously, three astonishing auras erupted from the depths of the distant Yugui Mountains, like blood-red torches suddenly lit in the darkness.

"Three Golden Core cultivators?" Yu Qingru's face paled. "Should we..."

"Wait a little longer." Yao Yao stared intently at the bronze mirror. "Lei Yunhai has a life-saving item on him; he won't be gone so quickly."

Before she could finish speaking, the scene in the mirror was suddenly engulfed by a bloody light. Amidst the shrill screams, one could vaguely see Lei Yunhai crushing the Heavenly Thunder Talisman, the violent lightning colliding fiercely with the bloody light.

"Now!" Yao Yao turned around abruptly. "Activate all the concealment formations on the Azure Phoenix. Let's approach and observe!"

The outer perimeter of the Yugui Mountains
Blood shot into the sky, and Lei Yunhai staggered backward, the residual power of the Heavenly Thunder Talisman still pulsating at his fingertips. He looked up and saw a black figure walking through the air, clad in a black robe, with a gaunt face like a ghost, and eyes that glowed with an eerie green light, like a venomous snake eyeing its prey.

"A Golden Core cultivator?!" Lei Yunhai's heart trembled, but he quickly suppressed his fear and gritted his teeth, shouting, "I am a direct descendant of the sixth-rank Lei family, backed by the Seven Princes' Mansion! You evil cultivators, how dare you act so recklessly within the Great Zhou territory?!"

He flicked his sleeve, and a jade tablet engraved with the emblem of the Seven Princes' Mansion floated before him, shimmering with spiritual light and exuding an oppressive aura. Lei Yunhai sneered, continuing his bluff: "The people from the Imperial Guard are already on their way. If you know what's good for you, get out of the Great Zhou territory immediately! Otherwise, I will make sure you are all reduced to ashes!"

The Third Elder grinned sinisterly, revealing a row of gleaming white teeth. "The Seventh Prince's Mansion? The Imperial Guard?" He shook his head, his eyes filled with mockery, as if looking at an ant that knew no bounds. "Little brat, didn't your elders teach you that there are some places... not for you to come to?"

Before he could finish speaking, the Third Elder waved his sleeve, and an extremely cold spiritual power suddenly erupted! Lei Yunhai's pupils shrank, and before he could react, several Lei family cultivators beside him screamed and exploded into a bloody mist!
"No—!" Lei Yunhai's eyes widened in horror as he frantically channeled his spiritual power, attempting to summon a life-saving magic weapon. However, the Third Elder merely raised his hand slightly, his five fingers like hooks, grabbing at the air—

"Crack!" The protective aura around Lei Yunhai shattered instantly, and an invisible force gripped his throat, lifting him into the air!
"A mere fake pill dares to boast in front of me?" The Third Elder smiled coldly, his fingertips exerting a slight force.

Lei Yunhai's face turned purple as he struggled and roared, "You...you dare to kill me...the Lei family and the Seven Princes' Mansion...will not let you get away with this..."

"Heh." The Third Elder chuckled, a murderous glint flashing in his eyes. "Then let them... give it a try."

"puff--!"

The blood mist exploded, and Lei Yunhai's corpse fell like a rag doll. The Third Elder withdrew his hand, his gaze sweeping over the wreckage on the ground, and said indifferently, "Clean up the corpse, don't defile the sacred ground."

In the distance, on the Azure Phoenix, hidden within the array, all was deathly silent.

The bronze mirror in Yao Yao's hand trembled slightly, and the blood-red light reflected on its surface gradually dissipated, leaving only a pile of wreckage. Her fingers tightened, her knuckles turning white, and a cold glint flashed in her eyes.

"Lei Yunhai... just like that, he's dead?" Yu Qingru's voice trembled slightly, clearly shocked by the Third Elder's methods.

Fu Changli snorted coldly: "Arrogant and conceited, they deserve to die. However..." She turned her gaze to Yao Yao, "The people of Black Witch Village are so ruthless, they don't even give face to the Seventh Prince's Mansion, it seems that they have much to gain."

……

Black Witch Village Cave, Deep in the Yu Gui Mountains

The Third Elder stepped into the cave, a faint scent of blood still lingering on his black robe. The First Elder sat cross-legged in the center of the altar, his eyelids slightly raised: "Is it resolved?"

"You mere ants, how dare you make such a racket?" The Third Elder smiled coldly, and flicked out a blood-stained jade token from his sleeve—the very token of Lei Yunhai's Seventh Prince's Mansion.

The Second Elder glanced at it, his brows furrowing slightly: "The Seventh Prince's Mansion is not a threat, but if it attracts the attention of the Great Zhou Dynasty..."

"What's there to be afraid of?" The Grand Elder sneered, his withered fingers rubbing the skull beads at his waist. "The relic of the Witch God is about to appear. Once we obtain the inheritance, even if the Emperor of the Great Zhou himself comes, he will be powerless to stop us!"

The Third Elder nodded in agreement: "Eldest Brother is right. Moreover..." A calculating glint flashed in his eyes, "If the direct descendants of the Lei family die at our hands, and the Lei family and the Seventh Prince's Mansion want to take revenge, the first to bear the brunt will be the Fu family."

The Grand Elder narrowed his eyes: "Oh?"

The Third Elder chuckled sinisterly, “The Fu family and the Lei family have a long-standing feud. Now that Lei Yunhai has died in Yulin Prefecture, and the Fu family happens to be here conducting research—who do you think the Lei family will suspect first?”

The Second Elder suddenly realized, clapped his hands and chuckled, "Brilliant! In this way, the Fu family will be too busy to help themselves, let alone have the energy to stop us."

The elder was silent for a moment, then suddenly grinned, revealing his gleaming white teeth: "In that case... let the Fu family take the blame again!"

...

...

Lei Family Soul Palace
The eerie blue life-soul lamps flickered in the darkness, their dim light illuminating the spirit tablets inscribed with runes. Suddenly—

"Crack!"

With a crisp sound, Lei Yunhai's Soul Lamp suddenly went out, the wick broke, and a wisp of green smoke rose up.

The old man guarding the Soul Hall suddenly looked up, his cloudy eyes widening, and his withered fingers trembling violently.

"Young...Young Master's life lamp..."

He staggered out of the Soul Hall, scrambling and crawling towards the Lei family's main hall, his voice hoarse as a broken gong: "Clan leader! Something terrible has happened! Young Master Yunhai's life lamp—has gone out!"

Lei Family Main Hall
Clan Chief Lei was meditating with his eyes closed, lightning crackling around him. Upon hearing this, he abruptly opened his eyes, unleashing a violent burst of spiritual pressure that shook the entire hall!
"What did you say?!"

The old man prostrated himself on the ground, his forehead pressed against the earth, and said in a trembling voice, "Young Master's life lamp... has gone out..."

"boom--!"

Chief Lei slammed his palm down, shattering the black iron table beside him. Lightning flashed in his eyes, and his hair and beard stood on end!

"Impossible!" he roared. "I gave him the Heavenly Thunder Talisman; even a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator couldn't harm him! Moreover—" His voice suddenly turned cold, "I repeatedly instructed him before departure that once the Fu family arrived in Yulin Prefecture, they should retreat immediately! How could he…"

He abruptly formed a hand seal, and a blood-red rune condensed at his fingertips—the Soul-Chasing Technique, a secret technique passed down through the Lei family! The rune flickered, vaguely reflecting the last scene before Lei Yunhai's death—

Blood filled the sky as the black-robed cultivator's withered hand gripped Lei Yunhai's throat, his chilling voice echoing:
"The Seventh Prince's Mansion? Ha... then let them... give it a try."

The screen shattered, and the Thunder Clan Chief's eyes widened in fury!

"Northern Frontier cultivators?!" He was taken aback at first, then flew into a rage. "Absurd! How could Yunhai provoke people from the Northern Frontier?!"

He whirled around, shouting angrily, "Where's the communication jade slip?! What was the last message Yunhai sent back?!"

An elder, trembling, handed over a blood-stained jade slip: "The young master's last message said... an ancient medicinal garden has been suspected to have been discovered in the Jade Osmanthus Mountains of Yulin Prefecture..."

An ancient medicinal herb garden?!
Chief Lei stared at the blood-stained jade slip, his anger gradually replaced by a deep sense of calculation.

"Ancient Medicine Garden."

He murmured to himself, his knuckles tapping the armrest, his mind racing.

"The imperial court has sealed off Yulin Prefecture for hundreds of years; could it be for this reason?"

Legend has it that the Great Zhou royal family buried numerous secret realms on the borders in ancient times, including medicinal herb gardens, ancient cultivation caves, and even lost supernatural power inheritances. And Yulin Prefecture happens to be the place that was suddenly designated a forbidden area by the imperial court hundreds of years ago!

"No wonder...no wonder the Fu family was so eager to take over Yulin Prefecture!"

A cold glint flashed in Chief Lei's eyes, and a slow, cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

"What a cunning family, the Fu! On the surface, they're going to take over the fiefdom, but in reality, they're after the ancient medicine garden!"

He suddenly stood up, his body crackling with lightning, and his voice boomed like thunder:

"Order! All cultivators of the Lei family at the late-stage Purple Mansion realm or above, assemble immediately!"

The elders below exchanged glances, one of them cautiously saying, "Clan leader, although Yunhai's death is undoubtedly related to the Fu family, our rash entry into Yulin Prefecture might cause problems with the imperial court..."

"The imperial court?" Clan Chief Lei sneered. "The Fu family killed my Lei family's direct descendants. What's wrong with us going there to seek justice? Besides..." His gaze turned cold as he slowly said:
"If that ancient medicine garden is real, how could my Lei family miss it?"

Upon hearing this, greed flashed in everyone's eyes.

But Chief Lei was not completely blinded by anger and greed. He pondered for a moment, then flipped his hand and took out a communication jade talisman. Lightning flashed at his fingertips as he inscribed a few lines of text:

"Your Highness, the Seventh Prince:"

An ancient medicinal herb garden has appeared in Yulin Prefecture. The Fu family has secretly plotted against Yunhai, intending to seize it for themselves. The Lei family wishes to seek justice, but fears the Fu family has other backing, and requests Your Highness to send a Golden Elixir cultivator to assist them.

With a flick of his finger, the jade talisman transformed into a streak of light and vanished into the sky.

"Hmph, the Fu family." Clan Chief Lei's eyes flashed with murderous intent. "Do you think you can safely obtain the treasure after killing members of my Lei family?"

"dream!"

...

...

The Secret Chamber of the Seven Princes' Mansion
The Seventh Prince, Zhou Xuanming, sat upright before the jade table, toying with the communication jade talisman he had just received, a strange glint flashing in his eyes.

"The Ancient Medicine Garden of Yulin Prefecture?"

He narrowed his eyes slightly, a record from the imperial archives flashing through his mind—

"Deep within the Jade Osmanthus Mountains lies a sacred site of the ancient Witch Clan, rumored to contain the 'Nine-Turn Mystic Spirit Grass,' which can help Golden Core cultivators break through the Nascent Soul bottleneck."

He tapped the table lightly with his fingertips, pondered for a moment, and then let out a cold laugh:
"Is the Lei family trying to use my power to seize an opportunity?"

but
"That suits me just fine."

He raised his hand and waved it, and a dark shadow appeared silently behind him.

"Black Fiend."

The dark figure knelt on one knee, his voice hoarse: "What are your orders, Your Highness?"

"You will make the trip yourself, taking two Golden Core cultivators with you, and accompany the Lei family to Yulin Prefecture," Zhou Xuanming said calmly. "If there truly is an ancient medicine garden..."

A cold glint flashed in his eyes:
"Get the medicine first, then silence them."

The shadowy figure bowed his head: "Understood, subordinate."

Seven Princes' Mansion - Flying Star Pavilion

Three figures stood atop the pavilion, their black robes fluttering in the wind, their auras as deep as the abyss.

The leader was none other than Hei Sha, the commander of the Seventh Prince's Palace's secret guards, a late-stage Golden Core cultivator with a cold, chiseled face and eyes as black as ink, seemingly capable of swallowing light. Behind him stood two elders—

On the left, Blood Dove was emaciated with a sinister face. Strands of blood-red silk were wrapped around his fingertips, writhing like living creatures. He cultivated the Blood Demon Scripture and was famous for his blood refining technique. He once slaughtered three evil cultivator strongholds in one night, refining their blood essence into pills. He was infamous for his viciousness.

The White Bone Master on the right is dressed as a scholar, holding a white bone folding fan. He has a smile on his face, but his eyes are as cold as a snake. He cultivates the "White Bone Path," a heretical sect. His bones have long been refined into magical artifacts. With a wave of his fan, he can summon thousands of bone spikes to kill people invisibly.

Clan Chief Lei stood before the three men. Although he was also a Golden Core cultivator, he was subtly intimidated by their aura and was secretly shocked: "The Seven Princes' Mansion is indeed well-founded. They can send out two enshrined members at random, and they are both at the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm!"

He smiled broadly, cupped his hands, and said, "Fellow Daoists, thank you for your trouble this time."

Hei Sha nodded indifferently, and with a flick of his sleeve, a streak of light shot into the sky from the top of the pavilion—it was a jet-black flying boat, its hull covered with silver runes, and its bow as sharp as a falcon's. It was one of the treasures of the Seven Princes' Mansion—the "Mysterious Falcon Boat"!
"Get on the boat," Black Fiend said succinctly.

Chief Lei was secretly delighted and quickly followed. The Xuan Falcon Boat was extremely fast, far exceeding the escape speed of ordinary Golden Core cultivators. If they could use the boat's speed, they could reach Yulin Prefecture in just a few days!
On the boat, Chief Lei feigned admiration and said, "The Prince's Mansion's magic weapon is indeed extraordinary. With the help of this boat, the Fu family probably won't even have a chance to react."

Blood Dove chuckled sinisterly, blood trickling from his fingertips: "The Fu family? A mere sixth-rank family from a small, outlying state, dares to compare themselves to our Prince's Mansion?"

The White Bone Immortal waved his white bone fan and said leisurely, "Clan Chief Lei, I've heard that Fu Changsheng from the Fu family has repeatedly used the conscription order to make things difficult for your Lei family?"

A cold glint flashed in Chief Lei's eyes, then he laughed and said, "These are just old stories, not worth mentioning. However... if we can take care of him this time, that would be good."

He thought to himself, "If Fu Changsheng were in Yulin Prefecture, with the combined strength of these three, we would surely be able to kill him! At that time, my Lei family would not only be able to monopolize the ancient medicine garden, but also eliminate a major threat!"

Blood Dove licked his lips, a bloodthirsty glint in his eyes: "Fu Changsheng? I heard he's a first-grade Golden Core cultivator. I wonder what it'll taste like when he refines a Blood Pill..."

Clan Chief Lei felt a chill run down his spine, but remained outwardly calm, simply smiling and saying, "If Fellow Daoist Xuejiu is interested, once we capture him, you can do whatever you want with him."

Hei Sha remained silent throughout, standing with his hands behind his back at the bow of the boat, gazing towards the direction of Yulin Prefecture, as if deep in thought.

……

Yulin Prefecture, Yugui Mountain Range

The Xuan Falcon Boat soared through the air and hovered above the mountain range.

Chief Lei looked down and saw a valley shrouded in thick black mist among the mountains, with ancient runes shimmering on the rock walls, forming a barrier.

"That's it!" Clan Chief Lei's eyes flashed with a sharp light. "That barrier is definitely not something an ordinary cultivator could set up; it must be a relic from ancient times!"

Blood Dove narrowed his eyes, the blood vessels at his fingertips trembling slightly, as if sensing something: "Interesting... There is an extremely cold aura within this barrier, like... the methods of the Northern Frontier witch cultivators."

The White Bone Immortal chuckled, fanning himself: "Northern Frontier cultivators? No wonder they dared to kill and rob within the Great Zhou territory; they're incredibly audacious."

Black Fiend said coldly, "No matter who it is, anyone who blocks the way shall die."

Chief Lei felt much more at ease!
His gaze was fixed intently on the barrier, as if he could already see the ancient elixirs and rare treasures within...

but.

Unfortunately.

He couldn't find Fu Changsheng anywhere.

Inside the cave, eerie flames flickered.

Fine beads of sweat appeared on the Second Elder's forehead, and black threads, like spiderwebs, clung to the barrier at his fingertips, slowly eroding the ancient runes. Suddenly, his fingers trembled, and he abruptly looked up: "Big brother, someone's coming!"

The Grand Elder suddenly opened his eyes, the blood-red centipede totem contorting on his face: "Who?!"

The Third Elder closed his eyes to sense them, and his expression changed drastically: "Golden Core cultivators! Four of them! One of them... has a powerful aura, probably a late-stage Golden Core cultivator!"

"How is this possible?!" The First Elder's eyes flashed with bloodlust. "How could the Lei family and the Prince's mansion have arrived so quickly?!"

The Third Elder gritted his teeth: "It must be the Fu family who leaked the information! They want to use someone else to do their dirty work!"

The First Elder grinned maliciously, the skull beads at his waist jingling: "The Fu family, indeed! But... you think you can reap the benefits without lifting a finger? Dream on!" He suddenly stood up. "Third brother, come with me to meet them! Second brother, you continue breaking the formation, you must open the barrier within half an hour!"

The Second Elder's expression turned grave: "Brother, be careful, the other party is not friendly!"

"Hmph!" The Grand Elder waved his sleeve, and a blood-red bone knife appeared in his withered hand, its blade coiled with grotesque centipede phantoms. "A few mere Golden Core cultivators dare to trespass on the territory of my Black Witch Village?!"

-

The Xuan Falcon Boat hovered in the air, with the four members of the Lei Clan standing in mid-air.

Blood Dove's fingertips trembled with blood, and he sneered, "As expected, it has the stench of the Northern Frontier. It seems that Lei Yunhai's death was not unjust."

The White Bone Master chuckled, fanning himself: "The people of Black Witch Village are quite bold, daring to kill people within the territory of the Great Zhou."

Black Fiend's gaze was icy, and he suddenly raised his hand: "They're here."

"Shh-!"

Black mist surged, and two figures stepped out into the air.

The elder, his black robes fluttering and a blood-red centipede totem writhing on his face, said menacingly, “Have you come uninvited, do you wish to be enemies of my Black Witch Village?”

The Third Elder stood to his side, lightly tapping the air with his bone scepter, and smiled sinisterly: "Clan Chief Lei, everyone from the Seven Princes' Mansion, why make such a fuss over a dead junior?"

Clan Chief Lei's eyes flashed with lightning as he roared, "Enough nonsense! You killed my Lei family's direct descendants, and today you will pay for this in blood!"

The Grand Elder scoffed, "You think you can compete?"

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly swung the blood-red bone knife!

"boom--!"

A hundred-foot-long streak of blood-red light tore through the black mist and struck the Thunder Clan Chief!
"A mere trick!" Chief Lei roared, his palm crackling with lightning. A bolt of purple lightning met the blood-red light, and the two forces collided in mid-air, unleashing a deafening roar!
-

Blood Dove cackled, his figure transforming into a bloody shadow as he instantly closed in on the Third Elder: "I want your blood!"

Blood vessels swelled at his fingertips, transforming into countless scarlet chains that coiled around the Third Elder.

The Third Elder gave a sinister smile and slammed his bone scepter into the ground: "Ten Thousand Gu Devour the Heart!"

“Buzz buzz—!”

Black mist spewed from the skull at the top of the scepter, from which countless fine, hair-like worms flew out and instantly devoured the blood-silk chains!
Blood Dove's pupils contracted: "Soul-Devouring Gu?!"

"Not only that!" The Third Elder flicked his sleeve, and a jet-black scorpion gu struck Blood Dove's heart like lightning!

Blood Dove retreated violently, biting his tongue and spitting out a mouthful of blood essence: "Blood Fiend Shield!"

"laugh--!"

The scorpion worm crashed into the blood shield, corroding a large hole in it!
the other side.

The White Bone Immortal gently waved his folding fan and laughed, "Elder, why don't you let me experience your witchcraft?"

The Grand Elder sneered, "You're courting death!"

He suddenly slapped the skull beaded necklace at his waist, and a skull shot out, growing larger in the wind until it was the size of a house, spewing out a foul-smelling poisonous mist!
The Bone Master remained calm and unhurried, unfolding his folding fan: "Bone Prison - Thousand Edges!"

"Whoosh whoosh—!"

The white bone patterns on the fan surface lit up, and countless bone spikes shot out like a torrential rain, piercing through the poisonous mist and continuing to bombard the Grand Elder with undiminished force!
The elder grinned maliciously, slashing horizontally with his blood-red bone blade. The blade energy transformed into a hundred-foot-long centipede, shredding all the bone spikes to pieces!
-

Black Fiend remained motionless, his cold gaze sweeping across the battlefield.

Suddenly, he vanished from the spot in a flash!
The next instant, he appeared behind the Third Elder and struck him in the back with a palm!

"Third brother, be careful!" the eldest elder shouted sternly.

The Third Elder's hair stood on end, and he hastily deflected the blow with his scepter.

"clang--!"

Hei Sha slammed his palm onto the scepter, and the violent spiritual power sent the Third Elder flying hundreds of feet away!
"Pfft!" The Third Elder spat out a mouthful of blood, his face deathly pale. "Late-stage Golden Core?!"

Black Fiend remained expressionless as he approached again: "Die."

The Third Elder gritted his teeth, suddenly ripped open his robe, revealing a hideous Gu pattern on his chest: "Native Gu - Thousand Souls Corroding Bones!"

"Om-!"

The Gu pattern on his chest cracked open, and a crimson centipede emerged, growing larger in the wind until it became a hundred-foot-tall behemoth, lunging at Hei Sha!

Black Fiend's eyes narrowed slightly, and he finally unleashed his magic weapon—a pitch-black short blade, its blade wreathed in eerie black energy.

"Destroy."

With a swift cut, the centipede gu was severed in two!

The Third Elder was struck dumb, coughing up blood again: "Impossible! My natal Gu..."

-

Upon seeing this, Chief Lei laughed wildly, "The Black Witch Village is nothing special! Today we'll send you on your way!"

He formed hand seals, and lightning around his body gathered into a thunder dragon, roaring as it charged toward the Grand Elder!
The Grand Elder laughed in fury: "Do you really think my Black Witch Village has no tricks up its sleeve?!"

He bit his finger hard, smearing the blood onto the crimson bone knife: "Witch God Sacrifice - Blood Centipede Devouring the Sky!"

"Roar--!"

The centipede phantom on the blade swelled up, transforming into a thousand-foot-long blood centipede that swallowed the thunder dragon whole and pounced on the Thunder Clan Chief with undiminished momentum!

Chief Lei's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly summoned a thunder shield.

"boom--!"

The blood centipede struck, and the lightning shield instantly cracked!

-

Just now.

"Om-!"

Deep within the valley, the barrier suddenly erupted with blinding blood-red light!
The Second Elder's joyful voice rang out: "Big Brother! The barrier has been broken!"

"boom--"

The entire Yugui Mountain Range trembled violently, and the ancient barrier deep in the valley suddenly cracked. Blood-red light, like magma, gushed out from the cracks and shot straight into the sky!
In an instant, the celestial phenomena changed dramatically—

The once grey night sky was stained a dark red, the clouds twisting into grotesque, monstrous faces that hissed silently. Countless fissures appeared in the ground, and black mist, writhing and rising like living creatures, revealed a dense array of savage totems emerging from it: winged tigers, three-headed pythons, nine-eyed toads…

"The Witch God's Barrier has opened!" The First Elder laughed wildly, the blood-red centipede totem writhing madly on his face. "Second Brother, let's go!"

Three dark figures transformed into a gust of wind and rushed towards the crack in the barrier. The Lei Clan Chief's pupils constricted sharply; ignoring his injuries, he roared, "Stop them!"

Blood Dove and White Bone Master attacked simultaneously—

"Blood Net!"

"A prison of bones!"

A web of blood and stark white bone spurs crisscrossed the sky, but then the Third Elder hurled a bone scepter. The skull at the top of the scepter exploded, spewing out a foul-smelling green mist that dissolved the blood and decayed the bone spurs wherever it passed!
"Damn it!" Chief Lei watched helplessly as the three from Black Witch Village disappeared into the barrier rift. The entrance, surging with blood-red light, was like the maw of a giant beast, devouring all light and shadow, making it impossible to see what was inside.

Seeing this, Chief Lei's eyes blazed with greed, and he roared, "Follow them! We can't let them get ahead!"

Blood Dove and White Bone Master could no longer contain themselves. With a flash, they rushed straight to the entrance of the barrier like two streaks of light!

Black Fiend's pupils constricted sharply, and he shouted sternly, "Wait!"

However, it was too late—

Blood Dove cackled and his figure transformed into a blood shadow. White Bone Master waved his folding fan, and bone spikes cleared the way. The two of them disappeared into the surging blood light almost simultaneously!
"Damn it!" Black Fiend's figure flashed, his jet-black short blade slashing horizontally, a sharp black light cutting towards the entrance of the barrier, attempting to block it—

"boom!"

The black light struck the blood-red light, but it was like a mud ox sinking into the sea, without any reaction!

Clan Chief Lei followed closely behind, about to rush in, when Hei Sha suddenly turned around, grabbed his shoulder with such force that he almost crushed his shoulder bone!

"You—!" the Thunder Clan Chief roared in fury.

"Fool!" Black Fiend's eyes flashed with cold light. "This barrier is strange!"

Black Fiend's gaze, deep and unfathomable, slowly swept over the twisted cracks in the barrier: "Doesn't Chief Lei find this strange?" He lightly tapped the edge of the crack with his short blade. "Bone patterns are faintly visible within the blood-red light, and Gu shadows are hidden within the mist—this barrier is alive."

As if to confirm his words, the edge of the crack suddenly writhed, and scarlet tentacles quietly emerged, only to quickly retract.

Chief Lei squinted and said, "It's indeed strange. This barrier doesn't seem to have been broken; it's more like it opened its mouth on its own. But the people from Black Witch Village all went in. Even if something's strange, they wouldn't be courting death, would they? If they were allowed to get the treasure first..."

Before he could finish speaking, a heart-wrenching roar suddenly echoed from within the barrier:

"No! This is—"

Dead silence.

Thick blood mist gushed from the cracks, faintly mixed with the crackling sound of bones shattering. The ancient runes on the surface of the barrier began to twist, gradually forming a blurry giant face, its mouth stretched to its ears, revealing a sinister smile.

(End of this chapter)