Family Rise: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 516 Burial Mist Tomb, the Lei Family's Sky Collapses, Three Lottery Draws
Black Fiend retreated ten feet, his short blade held horizontally in front of his chest: "Retreat!"

Before Chief Lei could react, the entire valley suddenly collapsed!

"Rumble--"

The ground undulated like waves, countless black stones crumbled and floated into the air, transforming into a dense array of skulls, their eye sockets burning with green flames and emitting piercing screams. The cracks in the barrier expanded wildly, and from within the blood-red light, a half-skeletal giant hand slowly emerged, its knuckles wrapped with rusty bronze chains.
"Whoosh——"

A bronze chain suddenly shot through the air. Clan Chief Lei hurriedly tried to block it, but with a "crack," the magical artifact, which was said to be able to withstand a blow from a Golden Core cultivator, shattered like paper! The chain continued its momentum and pierced straight through his shoulder!

"Ah!" Chief Lei screamed in agony as the flesh at the wound rapidly turned ashen, spreading to half of his body in the blink of an eye.

Black Fiend ripped off his bloodied left arm: "Go!"

Black Fiend and Chief Lei fled frantically, pursued relentlessly by bronze chains that seemed to come alive. These chains were inscribed with ancient witch incantations; wherever they passed, vegetation withered and rocks crumbled to dust.

"Damn it! What on earth is this?!" Chief Lei clutched his severed arm, his face deathly pale.

Black Fiend's eyes were gloomy: "The Tomb of the Witches... a forbidden place used by the ancient witch clan to sacrifice living people! Those idiots in Black Witch Village think it's a sacred place of the witches!"

Before the words were even finished, the ground suddenly cracked open, and a giant, skeletal hand burst forth from the earth, its five fingers spread wide, blotting out the sky!
"boom--!"

The giant hand slammed down, and Hei Sha shoved the Lei clan chief aside, but was himself thrown back by the shockwave, crashing through several boulders before coming to a stop. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and a hint of fear finally flashed in his eyes.

"There's no escape..." Black Fiend gritted his teeth, flipped his hand and took out a jet-black jade talisman, "I have no choice but to fight!"

He suddenly crushed the jade talisman, and a beam of eerie light shot into the sky, transforming into a giant ghost face that collided fiercely with the withered bone giant hand!
"boom--!"

The shockwave swept through, instantly leveling the surrounding forests within a hundred-foot radius. Chief Lei was thrown back by the aftershock and crashed heavily to the ground, his bones broken in countless places.

Amidst the smoke and dust, the giant skeletal hand slowly retracted, seemingly having been temporarily repelled.

Black Fiend staggered to his feet, his face ashen: "Let's go... This thing is temporarily suppressed, but it won't last long!"

Chief Lei struggled to his feet, his eyes filled with fear and resentment: "Blood Dove and White Bone Immortal..."

“Dead.” Black Fiend said coldly, “Once the Tomb of the Witches awakens, anyone who enters will surely die.”

He looked up toward the barrier, his pupils suddenly contracting—

Amidst the blood-red light, a blurry figure slowly rose to its feet. It wore a tattered sorcerer's robe and a bronze mask, beneath which lay a faceless mass of writhing black mist. Half a rusty bronze spear was embedded in its chest, and with each step it took, ripples of blood-red runes spread across the ground.

“Witch...Witch God?!” Chief Lei’s voice trembled.

Black Fiend's face was extremely ugly: "It's not the Witch God, it's the 'Witch Priest'... a killing puppet made by the ancient Witch Clan using living people!"

The priest slowly raised his hand, and a point of black light condensed at his fingertips.

Black Fiend suddenly grabbed Chief Lei: "Let's go!"

"boom--!"

As the black light swept past, the spot where the two had stood was instantly reduced to nothingness!

The bronze mirror in Yao Yao's hand shattered with a "crack," and the last image reflected on the mirror was the moment when the shaman looked up at the camera.

"What is that...?" Yu Qingru's voice trembled.

Fu Changli's expression was solemn: "An ancient witch clan's killing puppet, at least at the Nascent Soul level."

Everyone gasped.

Yao Yao stared at the broken mirror and suddenly said, "That's not right."

She lightly touched the shards of mirror with her fingertips, and the image froze on the bronze spear in the priest's chest: "Look, there's something stuck in its chest."

Fu Changli narrowed his eyes: "That's... the Soul-Suppressing Spear?"

“That’s right.” Yao Yao nodded. “It’s being suppressed, and its strength isn’t at its peak. Moreover…”

She pointed to the blood-red runes at the priest's feet: "These runes are dissipating, which means its awakening is incomplete and it needs continuous blood sacrifices to maintain its function."

Yu Qingru realized: "So it was chasing Hei Sha and Chief Lei to replenish its blood supply?"

“Exactly.” Yao Yao’s eyes sparkled. “As long as we do as Father instructed, we have a chance.”

……

The outer perimeter of the Yugui Mountains
Black Fiend and Chief Lei fled in a sorry state, with the shaman in hot pursuit behind them, as if playing with a cat and a mouse.

"Lord Black Fiend, if this continues..." Clan Chief Lei's aura weakened, and blood continued to flow from his severed arm.

Black Fiend's eyes darkened, and suddenly he caught sight of a streak of blue light in the distance, his pupils shrinking sharply: "The Fu family's flying boat?!"

Following his gaze, Chief Lei saw the Azure Phoenix hovering in the clouds and gritted his teeth: "It's the Fu family! These bastards lured us into this trap!"

Black Demon sneered, "Perfect."

He abruptly changed direction and sped towards the Azure Phoenix!

"Since we're going to die anyway, let's take the Fu family down with us!"

……

Azure Phoenix - Deck

"They're coming!" Fu Qingqing exclaimed.

Yao Yao laughed: "They took the bait as expected."

She raised her hand and waved: "Activate 'Heavenly Net'!"

"Om-!"

Countless runes lit up around the Azure Phoenix, and an invisible net quietly unfolded.

As soon as Hei Sha and Chief Lei approached the flying boat, they felt their bodies freeze, as if they had sunk into a swamp.

"An array?!" Black Fiend's expression changed drastically.

Yao Yao stood at the bow of the ship, her black hair flying in the wind, her eyes clear and cold: "Gentlemen, how have you been?"

Clan Chief Lei glared angrily: "Young Fu, how dare you scheme against us?!"

Yao Yao chuckled: "Clan Chief Lei, you are mistaken. It was clearly your own greed that led you into the trap of the Black Witch Village."

Black Fiend's eyes were sinister: "Enough nonsense! You think this broken formation can trap me?"

He suddenly unleashed a jet-black short blade, its blade surging with black energy, and slashed fiercely at the formation!
"clang--!"

Amidst the clanging of metal, the formation remained completely still.

Yao Yao shook her head: "It's no use. This is a 'Spirit Locking Array' specially prepared for Golden Core cultivators. The more you struggle, the tighter the restraints become."

Black Fiend's face turned grim. Suddenly sensing something, he abruptly turned around—

The shaman has already reached a hundred feet away!
It slowly raised its hand, and the black light reappeared.

Black Demon finally panicked: "Young friend of the Fu family, how about we cooperate? Otherwise, we'll all die!"

Yao Yao smiled enigmatically: "Cooperation?"

"Tell me all the secrets of the Seventh Prince's Mansion."

Black Fiend's pupils contracted: "You..."

"You won't agree?" Yao Yao shrugged. "Then let's die together."

The black light from the shamanic ritual has condensed into a form.

Black Fiend gritted his teeth: "Fine! I'll talk!"

……

a moment later

After Hei Sha quickly finished explaining the shady dealings of the Seven Princes' Mansion via telepathy, the witch priest's attack was already upon them!
Yao Yao, however, was prepared. She flipped her hand and took out a bronze fragment—the very one that Fu Yongyi had found at the edge of the mine.

"go with!"

She threw the fragments at the priest.

The shaman's movements suddenly stopped, and his empty "gaze" fell on the fragments.

“Just as Father said…” Yao Yao said softly, “This fragment belongs to the shaman.”

The priest slowly raised his hand, and the fragment flew into his palm.

"Om-!"

The bronze spear trembled violently, and the priest let out a silent roar as black mist surged around him.

Taking this opportunity, Yao Yao shouted, "Now! Activate 'Earth Vein Sealing'!"

"boom--!"

Seven beams of spiritual light shot out from the bottom of the Azure Phoenix and disappeared into the ground. The earth vein power of the entire Jade Osmanthus Mountain Range was activated, transforming into countless golden chains that bound the shaman!

"Roar--!"

The priest struggled frantically, but could not break free from the suppression of the earth's vein power.

Black Demon stared in disbelief: "You...were prepared all along?"

Yao Yao smiled: "Otherwise what? Did you really think we'd come here unprepared to die?"

She looked at the priest who was being pulled back into the barrier and said softly, "This priest is originally used to suppress the 'gravekeepers' of the burial mounds. Once fully awakened, the first person he will kill is the one who awakened him."

Chief Lei's face turned deathly pale: "So... the people of Black Witch Village..."

"He's dead," Yao Yao said calmly. "He brought this upon himself."

Hei Sha's eyes were complicated: "Young friend of the Fu family, I will remember your kindness today."

Yao Yao shook her head: "Don't thank me yet, we haven't settled our score."

She raised her hand and waved it, and the formation suddenly tightened!

"You!" Black Demon exclaimed in shock.

Yao Yao's eyes were icy cold: "The Seventh Prince's Mansion wants to harm my Fu family. Do you think I would let the tiger return to the mountain?"

Black Fiend laughed in fury: "Fine! Fine, the Fu family! If that's how it is—"

He suddenly crushed a jet-black jade talisman, and his figure instantly became ethereal!

"A teleportation talisman?!" Fu Changli's expression changed.

The figure of the black demon gradually disappeared, leaving only a venomous voice: "Fu family, we'll see!"

Yao Yao sighed, "It's a pity one got away."

Clan Chief Lei was firmly imprisoned by the Spirit-Locking Array, forced to watch helplessly as Hei Sha escaped, while he himself was unable to move. His face was ashen as he glared at Yao Yao: "You little bitch, how dare you scheme against me?!"

Before Yao Yao could speak, a clear, cold voice slowly drifted from the void—

"Clan Chief Lei, it's been many years, and you're still the same... reckless fool."

Before the words were finished, a tall, slender figure descended from the clouds, his green robe fluttering in the wind. He had a handsome face, eyes as deep as the abyss, and an aura that was restrained yet subtly exuded a chilling pressure.

Fu Changsheng!
Chief Lei's pupils constricted, and his entire body felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar: "You...how did you get here?!"

Fu Changsheng stood with his hands behind his back and said calmly, "I can't come to my Fu family's fiefdom?"

Chief Lei's expression changed drastically, and he suddenly realized what was happening, roaring sharply, "All of this... was your doing?!"

Fu Changsheng's gaze remained calm, neither admitting nor denying, but slowly saying, "Clan Chief Lei, your Lei family has repeatedly provoked my Fu family. I originally did not wish to retaliate against you, but you shouldn't have—"

His eyes suddenly turned cold, and his voice was like ice: "You shouldn't have stepped into Yulin Prefecture, and you shouldn't have... secretly plotted against my Fu family with the Seventh Prince!"

Clan Chief Lei's heart pounded, but he quickly regained his composure and sneered, "Fu Changsheng! Stop putting on airs! I am the maternal grandfather of the Seventh Prince, how dare you touch me?!"

Although he was trapped, he remained fearless because he was certain that Fu Changsheng would not dare to kill him!
The Seventh Prince is of royal blood and wields immense power. No matter how strong the Fu family is, they are only a sixth-rank family. How dare they oppose the royal family?!
However, Fu Changsheng simply looked at him quietly, his eyes as cold as if he were looking at a dead man.

Chief Lei felt uneasy under Fu Changsheng's gaze, but he still maintained his composure and gritted his teeth, saying, "Fu Changsheng, I can pretend that what happened today never happened! As long as you let me leave, my Lei family will never interfere with your Fu family again!"

"Heh." Fu Changsheng chuckled lightly, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. "Clan Chief Lei, you seem to have misunderstood something."

He slowly raised his hand, and a wisp of sword light condensed at his fingertips, its cold gleam chilling.

"I am not here today to negotiate with you."

"I've come... to take your life!"

Chief Lei trembled, finally panicking: "You...you dare?!"

Fu Changsheng's eyes were icy cold, his sword flashed, and his killing intent was chilling: "The grievances my daughter Yongning suffered in the Prince's mansion, I will take them back from you today."

Clan Chief Lei finally realized that Fu Changsheng really wanted to kill him!
His face was deathly pale, and his voice trembled: "Fu Changsheng! Have you gone mad?! If you kill me, the Seventh Prince will never let your Fu family off! You—"

"Noisy." Fu Changsheng put on the Shadow Gate mask and swiped his finger.

"laugh--!"

The sword flashed like lightning, instantly piercing through Chief Lei's brow!
Clan Chief Lei stared wide-eyed, his face filled with disbelief, as if he couldn't believe even in death that Fu Changsheng actually dared to kill him!
"You...you..." His lips moved, and blood spilled from his seven orifices.

Fu Changsheng withdrew his hand, his expression indifferent, as if he had merely crushed an ant.

Yao Yao stepped forward and said softly, "Father, it's a pity that Hei Sha escaped."

Fu Changsheng gazed into the distance with a deep look in his eyes: "It's alright, he can escape for a while, but he can't escape forever."

"I will collect the debts of the Seventh Prince's Mansion one by one."

The Lei clan chief's body crashed to the ground, but a wisp of dark light suddenly shot out from between his brows—the soul of a Golden Core cultivator, wrapped in his primordial blood essence, transformed into a streak of blood-red light and fled madly into the distance!

"Fu Changsheng! You destroyed my physical body, this is an irreconcilable hatred! Once I possess your body and rebuild my strength, I will surely annihilate your entire Fu family!!" Clan Chief Lei's soul roared with venomous resentment, his speed as fast as lightning.

Fu Changsheng remained indifferent, not even lifting his eyelids.

"Stubborn."

With a slight thought, the Heavenly Dragon Temple deep within his body trembled violently!
"Om-"

A vast and ancient dragon's roar resounded from the void, and the dragon patterns on the temple's stone pillars seemed to come alive, their eyes blazing with golden light. Chief Lei's divine soul escape light abruptly halted, and the surrounding space seemed to freeze, as if forcibly fixed in mid-air by an invisible force!

"What...what is this?!"

Chief Lei screamed in terror, his soul struggling violently, but he was like a moth caught in a spider's web, unable to move at all.

Fu Changsheng's robes fluttered without wind, and the faint phantom of a majestic temple appeared behind him. The temple gates opened wide, and a radiant divine light poured out, enveloping the Lei clan chief's soul.

"Do not--!!!"

Chief Lei's soul was dragged by the divine light and fell into the depths of the underworld.

When he could see his surroundings again, he found himself in a magnificent temple. Nine dragon-carved stone pillars reached to the sky, and the ground was paved with ancient bronze bricks, each brick inscribed with densely packed soul-suppressing incantations.

What terrified him most was—

On the stone walls on both sides, seven blurry figures were sealed! The figures were bound by chains, their faces were distorted, and they were all the souls of Golden Core cultivators!

"Grandma Silver Flower?! Yin Puppet Master?! And..." Clan Chief Lei trembled, recognizing several familiar faces. These people were all Golden Core experts who had been rumored to have been killed by Fu Changsheng in recent decades!
"This is all true."

This is not a rumor!

Only then did Chief Lei belatedly realize what kind of being he had offended!
He was afraid.

Whoosh!
at the same time.

At the very end of the stone wall, a newly formed chain, like a venomous snake, slithered out and coiled directly around his soul. Chief Lei finally collapsed, kneeling on the ground and frantically kowtowing:
"Senior Fu! Patriarch Fu! I was blind! Please spare my life! I am willing to sign a soul contract and be your slave for eternity!"

The dragon patterns on the temple dome looked down indifferently, and Fu Changsheng's cold voice came from within the divine light:
"Those who enter my temple of the dead—"

"May you be forever imprisoned in the Yellow Springs."

"boom!"

The chains suddenly lashed out, slamming the Lei clan chief's soul into the stone wall. His wails abruptly ceased, and he transformed into the eighth sealed figure, his face still frozen in extreme fear and regret.

We are one step closer to opening the Yin-Yang Path with fifty Golden Core Divine Souls.

Lei Family Soul Palace
On the bronze lamp stand, the life-soul lamp representing the Lei clan chief suddenly shattered, and the eerie blue flame turned into a wisp of smoke and dissipated.

"Click——"

The sound of the lamp shattering was particularly jarring in the deathly silent Soul Hall. The elder guarding the hall trembled, and the whisk in his hand fell to the ground with a "clatter".

"The clan chief... has fallen?!"

His voice was hoarse and trembling, as if the sky had collapsed.

Lei Family Main Hall
"Boom!"

The teacup in the elder's hand shattered instantly, scalding tea splashing onto his robes, but he seemed oblivious. Throughout the hall, all the high-ranking members of the Lei family stood up abruptly, their faces deathly pale.

"The clan leader... is dead?" The second elder's voice trembled, as if he couldn't believe his ears.

The hall was deathly silent; you could hear a pin drop.

Suddenly, a piercing wail shattered the silence—

"Father!!" Clan Chief Lei collapsed to the ground, his eyes bloodshot, veins bulging on his forehead, a picture of utter grief. He pounded the ground, his voice hoarse with despair: "The Fu family! It must have been the Fu family who killed Father! I will take revenge! I will make the Fu family pay for their crimes in blood!!"

His performance was extremely moving, and many members of the Lei family also had tears in their eyes, their emotions running high.

"Revenge! We must get revenge!"

"The Fu family has gone too far!" "We beg the Grand Elder to uphold justice!"

Everyone looked at the Grand Elder, only to see the usually composed old man slowly close his eyes and sigh deeply, "Just as I thought..."

His voice was soft, yet it was like a bucket of cold water poured over everyone's heads.

Clan Chief Lei's sobs faltered. He looked up at the Grand Elder, a shadow of gloom flashing in his eyes, but it quickly turned into grief and indignation: "Grand Elder! Father has died tragically, and you remain unmoved?!"

The elder opened his eyes, his gaze as deep and calm as an ancient well: "Young clan leader, do you still remember how I advised the clan leader back then?"

Chief Lei choked.

The First Elder surveyed the crowd, his voice heavy: "I've said it before, the Fu family's foundation is unfathomable, especially that Fu Changsheng, who is far more complex than he appears. But the Clan Chief wouldn't listen, insisting on joining forces with the Seventh Prince's Mansion, and now..."

He shook his head and didn't continue, but his meaning was clear.

Silence fell over the hall once again.

The Second Elder couldn't help but ask, "But is the grudge against the clan leader just going to be left like this?"

"Of course it doesn't count!" Young Master Lei stood up abruptly, gritting his teeth. "The Fu family must pay the price! I'm going to the Prince's mansion right now to ask my cousin to send troops to raze the Fu family to the ground!"

He finished speaking and was about to rush out, but was stopped by the Grand Elder's cold shout—

"stop!"

Clan Chief Lei paused, turned to look at the Grand Elder, his eyes gloomy: "What does the Grand Elder mean by this?"

The First Elder's gaze was like a knife, piercing straight into the heart of Young Clan Chief Lei: "Young Clan Chief, do you want my Lei family to follow in the footsteps of the Clan Chief?"

Clan Chief Lei's expression changed: "You—"

The Grand Elder stopped looking at him and turned to face the crowd, his voice steady and powerful: "Everyone, with the patriarch's fall, our Lei family has been severely weakened. The most urgent task is to stabilize the family's foundation, not to act rashly!"

He paused, then continued, "Yunfeng is currently in seclusion. He is a born swordsman and a fourth-grade Golden Core cultivator. As long as he successfully breaks through to the Nascent Soul stage, what worries will our Lei family have about not rising to prominence!"

Mentioning Lei Yunfeng eased the tension in everyone's expressions.

Seeing this, the First Elder's tone softened a bit: "As for the Fu family... this matter needs to be considered carefully. Before Yunfeng emerges from seclusion, our Lei family should not make any more powerful enemies."

His gaze swept over Young Master Lei, and he said meaningfully, "Especially our dealings with the Prince's Mansion must be suspended for now."

Clan Chief Lei clenched his fist tightly in his sleeve, his nails digging deep into his palm, but he put on a receptive expression and bowed his head, saying, "Elder is right to reprimand me. I acted impulsively."

The elder nodded, seemingly satisfied with his attitude.

However, a hint of resentment and disdain flashed in Young Master Lei's lowered eyes.

'Old man, you really think you can make decisions? Once I'm the clan leader, you'll be the first one I deal with!'

He sneered inwardly, but his face remained increasingly respectful.

After everyone had left, Young Master Lei returned to his courtyard alone.

"boom!"

He kicked over the table, his face contorted with rage: "You old bastard! How dare you reprimand me in public!"

A trusted aide quickly stepped forward and said obsequiously, "Young clan leader, please calm down. The Grand Elder is just relying on his seniority. Once you officially succeed as clan leader, won't he have to defer to you?"

Clan Chief Lei snorted coldly, his eyes gleaming with ambition: "Successor to the clan chief? Heh, that old bastard will definitely do everything he can to stop me..."

He narrowed his eyes, then suddenly revealed a sinister smile: "Go, send a letter to my cousin, saying... my father died at the hands of the Fu family, but the Lei family's elder is too cowardly to seek revenge. Please ask him to stand up for me!"

The confidant was taken aback: "Young Clan Leader, didn't the Grand Elder say..."

"Does it matter what he says?" Young Clan Chief Lei scoffed, his eyes filled with disdain. "I am the future head of the Lei Clan! What the Lei Clan should do is none of his business!"

He stood with his hands behind his back, gazing in the direction of the Fu family, a cruel smile curving his lips: "Fu Changsheng... dared to kill my father. One day, I will make you know what it means to wish you were dead!"

His confidant trembled at his chilling tone, quickly bowed his head in agreement, and hastily withdrew.

Clan Chief Lei stood alone in the courtyard, the moonlight shining on his sinister face, revealing a pair of ambitious eyes.

He could almost see himself sitting on the throne of the clan leader, wielding great power, condensing a top-grade golden core, and trampling the Fu family under his feet.

The Seven Princes' Mansion - Secret Chamber
The figure of Hei Sha emerged from the void, his face pale and his breathing disordered, clearly indicating that he had suffered a serious injury. As soon as he landed, he knelt on one knee, bowed his head, and said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, your subordinate has returned."

The Seventh Prince, Zhou Xuanming, slowly raised his eyes, lightly tapping the jade table with his fingertips, and asked indifferently, "Where are Xuejiuzi and Baigu Shangren?"

Black Demon lowered his head even further, his voice hoarse: "Your Highness, the two retainers... have fallen."

"Oh?" The Seventh Prince raised an eyebrow, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. "What's going on?"

Hei Sha had already prepared his explanation in his mind, and immediately said in a deep voice: "Clan Chief Lei claimed to have discovered an ancient medicine garden in Yulin Prefecture, but in reality it was the ancient witch's sealed place. Xue Jiuzi and Bai Gu Shangren broke in with him, but they triggered the killing restriction and the two unfortunately perished. I fought desperately to break through and barely escaped back..."

He deliberately concealed the existence of the Fu family, and made no mention of his own being trapped with Chief Lei, instead shifting all the blame to the Black Witch Village.

The Seventh Prince narrowed his eyes, his fingertips pausing: "Where is Chief Lei?"

Hei Sha's voice was low and deep: "Clan Chief Lei... has also fallen."

"Dead?" The Seventh Prince sneered. "A dignified Golden Core cultivator, so utterly pathetic? Useless trash!"

With a flick of his finger, a communication jade talisman floated in the air, containing the message that Clan Chief Lei had just sent—

"Cousin! My father died at the hands of the Fu family! The eldest elder of the Lei family is too cowardly to seek revenge. Please, cousin, do justice for me!"

Hei Sha's heart skipped a beat, but his expression remained calm. He said in a low voice, "Your Highness is wise. I did not see anyone from the Fu family in Yulin Prefecture. Young Master Lei's words... are probably wrong."

The Seventh Prince sneered, and with a flick of his finger, the jade talisman turned into dust, clearly unconcerned about Young Master Lei's lament.

Chief Lei is nothing but a dog; once he dies, we'll just replace him with another one.

The Seventh Prince spoke in a detached tone:
"But Yulin Prefecture... even the Black Witch Village wants to get involved, coupled with the previous actions of the imperial court."

"Black Fiend".

"My subordinate is here."

"Continue to send people to keep an eye on Yulin Prefecture." The Seventh Prince's eyes were cold.

Black Fiend bowed his head and accepted the order: "Yes."

The Seventh Prince waved his hand, signaling him to step back.

After Hei Sha left, the Seventh Prince waved his sleeve, and the array on the wall of the secret room lit up, revealing a map of the Great Zhou territory.

“Yulin Prefecture…” He stared at a spot on the map and muttered to himself, “It seems there really is something hidden there.”

……

Northern Xinjiang, Black Witch Village.

The night was as dark as ink, and the massive canopy of the Witch God Tree swayed in the wind, rustling softly. This ancient tree, which had grown for over a thousand years, was a sacred object of the Black Witch Village. Countless bone bells hung from its trunk, each corresponding to the life spirit of an important figure in the village.

"Ding--"

A crisp cracking sound suddenly rang out, breaking the silence of the night.

The tree guardian, Amu, suddenly looked up, his cloudy old eyes fixed on the top of the tree canopy—where three bone bells side by side had simultaneously developed cracks.

"The life bells of the First Elder, Second Elder, and Third Elder!"

Old Mu's withered fingers trembled, barely able to grip the bone staff. He stumbled and scrambled out of the treehouse, his hoarse voice piercing the night:
"Quickly! Report to the chieftain! The souls of the three elders have been extinguished!"

...

Deep within the Black Witch Village, on an altar built of black stone, the village chief, Wu Jiuyin, who had just finished his seclusion, slowly opened his eyes. His face was sinister, a blood-red vertical line between his brows was faintly visible, and his body exuded the pressure of a peak Golden Core cultivator.

"Chief! Something terrible has happened!" A black-robed disciple stumbled into the altar, his forehead hitting the ground hard. "The life bells of the three elders have shattered!"

A flash of bloodlust appeared in Wu Jiuyin's eyes, and his wide black robe billowed without wind. He slowly rose, each step seeming to tread on the hearts of everyone present.

"Investigate." The icy voice was like the coldest depths of hell. "Where did they go?"

Half a day later, in the council hall of Black Witch Village.

Seven elders dressed in black robes stood on either side, the atmosphere so heavy it was almost frozen. Wu Jiuyin sat high in the main seat, his fingertips rhythmically tapping the armrest, each tap seeming to strike the hearts of everyone present.

“Reporting to the Chieftain,” the Fourth Elder bowed, “we have ascertained that the First Elder and two others secretly traveled to Yulin Prefecture of the Great Zhou Dynasty several months ago, supposedly for… relics from the Temple of the Witch God.”

"The Temple of the Witch God?" the Fifth Elder exclaimed. "Isn't that the legendary sacred site of the ancient Witch Clan?"

The Sixth Elder sneered, "No wonder you kept it from the Chieftain; you wanted to keep the opportunity for yourself."

"Unfortunately, that's not the Temple of the Witch God, but the Burial Mound of the Witches... a forbidden ground used by the ancient Witch Clan to sacrifice living people!" Wu Jiuyin's gaze swept over everyone present, finally stopping at the three empty seats: "This is the consequence of acting on one's own."

Everyone was shocked.

After a while.

"Chieftain," the Fourth Elder stepped forward, "a new family, the Fu family, has arrived in Yulin Prefecture. It's said that the Fu family patriarch, Fu Changsheng, is only at the early Golden Core stage. Since a burial mound for witches has appeared in Yulin Prefecture, there might actually be a witch god temple. Do you think we should send someone to investigate?"

“If there really were a Temple of Witchcraft, how could the Great Zhou Dynasty have investigated for hundreds of years without finding anything?” Wu Jiuyin interrupted him.

The Fourth Elder was speechless.

"The White Witch Village has been frequently provoking us lately, and they've already seized three spirit mines on the border." Wu Jiuyin's voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable authority. "Send the order: all personnel are to withdraw to the village and defend against the White Witch Village with all their might."

"What about Yulin Prefecture?" the Sixth Elder asked, unwilling to give up.

Wu Jiuyin's lips curled into a cold smile: "A small family that hasn't even reached the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm is guarding this place. If they really discover some ancient ruins, do you think they can keep it a secret? Just keep an eye on them; there's no need to waste too much energy on these small families."

Everyone bowed in unison: "We obey the chieftain's command!"

After the meeting, the Seventh Elder did not leave immediately. He stood in the shadows, watching the others walk away one by one, a sinister glint in his eyes.

"Seventh Elder, please wait. Is there something you want to say?" Wu Jiuyin asked without looking up.

The Seventh Elder bowed respectfully: "The Chieftain is wise. I am only concerned that the First Elder's faction may not let this go so easily."

Wu Jiuyin finally looked up at him: "So?"

"I am willing to share the burden for the chieftain and keep a close eye on their movements in secret," the Seventh Elder said sincerely.

Wu Jiuyin stared at him for a moment, then suddenly smiled: "Go."

As soon as the Seventh Elder left the council hall, Wu Jiuyin's smile vanished instantly. He condensed a drop of black blood at his fingertip and flicked it lightly towards the shadows in the corner of the hall: "Follow him."

The shadow distorted slightly before returning to stillness.

In the southwest corner of Black Witch Village, inside a stone house hidden by vines, candlelight flickers.

The Seventh Elder knelt on the ground, his forehead pressed against the cold earth: "Holy Maiden, after a hundred years, I have, as you instructed, gained the chieftain's trust."

Behind the gauze curtain, a graceful figure appeared and disappeared. The woman's voice was ethereal, yet carried an inexplicable eeriness: "The Grand Elder is dead?"

"Yes, along with the Second Elder and the Third Elder, their lives and souls were annihilated." The Seventh Elder's voice trembled. "According to our scouts, they died in an ancient ruin in Yulin Prefecture."

"Yulin Prefecture," the Holy Maiden repeated softly, causing the gauze curtains to move without wind. "What is the background of that Fu family?"

The Seventh Elder hurriedly said, "This is a newly appointed sixth-rank family. The patriarch, Fu Changsheng, is at the early stage of the Golden Core realm. It is said that he has an adopted son with a naturally gifted spiritual eye."

"Spirit Eye?" The Holy Maiden's voice suddenly rose, then returned to calm. "Continue to monitor the village's movements. Report any abnormalities immediately."

"Yes." The Seventh Elder hesitated for a moment. "Holy Maiden, I don't understand why you treat the Chieftain so differently."

"Shut up!" the saintess snapped, abruptly lifting the veil to reveal a stunningly beautiful yet deathly pale face—her eyes had no pupils, only a deathly white. "Do your job well, or you'll be the next one to have your soul extinguished!"

The Seventh Elder trembled all over, repeatedly kowtowing: "This subordinate knows his mistake! This subordinate will do it immediately!"

After the Seventh Elder hastily retreated, the Holy Maiden slowly raised her hand, and a wisp of black mist appeared in her palm:
"Ling Tong, could he be the one the Witch God spoke of...?"

The sounds behind were barely audible.

...

...

After the Lei clan chief's soul was suppressed, the world returned to silence. Fu Changsheng stood with his hands behind his back on the cloud, his robes fluttering, his gaze calmly fixed on the still struggling shaman in the distance.

“Father.” Yao Yao arrived, her black hair fluttering in the wind. “Although the ritual has been temporarily suppressed by the power of the earth’s veins, I’m afraid it won’t last long.”

Fu Changsheng nodded slightly, a deep glint in his eyes: "No need to panic."

He raised his hand and waved, and nine jade talismans flew out from his sleeve, floating in the air in a nine-palace formation. Each jade talisman was engraved with intricate runes, with faint dragon shapes moving among them.

"Qingru," Fu Changsheng called softly.

Yu Qingru immediately stepped forward, followed by more than ten Yu family formation masters. She gestured, "Husband?"

"You and Yaoyao will set up the 'Nine Dragons Locking Heaven Formation' together." Fu Changsheng's voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable authority. "I want this ritual to forever suppress Jade Cassia Mountain."

Yu Qingru's pupils contracted slightly: "Nine Dragons Locking the Heavens? That's an ancient forbidden formation, it requires..."

“I know it requires the essence blood of nine Golden Core cultivators as a catalyst,” Fu Changsheng interrupted her, flicking his fingertip. Nine golden drops of blood floated out. “They were prepared long ago.”

Everyone wore a joyful expression.

As expected of the head of the family, everything is under the other party's control.

Yao Yao solemnly accepted the blood bead: "I will obey Father's command."

She turned to the family's array master and shouted, "Set up the array!"

More than ten array masters immediately dispersed, each holding array flags and talismans, and began to set up array points in various parts of the mountain range. Yu Qingru stood in the center, her hands forming a seal, and nine drops of essence blood swirled above her palms, gradually transforming into nine miniature golden dragons.

"Heaven and earth are the furnace, and creation is the craftsman!" Yu Qingru shouted, and nine golden dragons soared into the sky, each disappearing into one of the nine jade talismans.

"Buzz——"

The jade talisman trembled violently, emitting a deafening dragon's roar. In an instant, the entire Jade Osmanthus Mountain Range shook violently, and nine golden pillars of light shot into the sky from all parts of the mountain range, weaving together in the air to form a huge golden net.

The priest seemed to sense the danger, letting out a silent roar as black mist surged around him, attempting to break free from the leyline chains.

"Trying to escape?" Fu Changsheng sneered, his hands forming a hand seal. "Suppress!"

The nine jade talismans exploded simultaneously, transforming into nine hundred-foot-long golden dragons that roared and pounced on the shaman. The golden dragons coiled around the shaman's body, merging with the earth's vein chains to form golden runes that were deeply imprinted into the shaman's body.

"Roar—!" The priest struggled frantically, the bronze spear in his chest shaking violently, black blood gushing out continuously.

Fu Changsheng remained unmoved and continued to activate his incantation. As more and more runes appeared, the shaman's movements gradually slowed down, eventually becoming as still as a statue, with only the green flames in his eye sockets still flickering, indicating that he was not truly dead.

A few months later.

"It's done!" Fine beads of sweat appeared on Yu Qingru's forehead, but she couldn't hide the excitement in her eyes. "The Nine Dragons Locking Heaven Formation is complete, and the witch priest has been completely imprisoned!"

Fu Changsheng nodded: "That's right." He turned to Yaoyao, "Girl, did you understand?"

Yao Yao's eyes sparkled, and she said softly, "Father replaced the original bronze spear with the Nine Dragons Locking Heaven Formation to suppress it, connecting the witch priest to the Jade Osmanthus Mountain's ley lines, making it part of the mountain range."

"Clever." Fu Changsheng revealed a hint of approval. "In this way, the witch priest can neither break free nor escape, and is forced to rely on the earth's spiritual energy to maintain its existence. If it wants to survive, it must protect this mountain range."

Yu Qingru suddenly realized: "So, my husband wants..."

"Let the shaman become the guardian deity of Yulin Prefecture," Fu Changsheng said calmly. "Anyone who dares to infringe upon Yulin Prefecture will face the wrath of this ancient killing puppet."

Upon hearing this, everyone gasped in shock. With the Witch Priest's Nascent Soul level strength, coupled with the enhancement of the Nine Dragons Locking Heaven Formation, even a peak Golden Core expert would likely perish here!

Fu Changsheng raised his hand and cast a spell. The bronze spear on the shaman's chest trembled violently and slowly merged into his body. At the same time, the green flames in the shaman's eyes gradually turned pale gold, and the black mist around him was also tinged with gold.

"From this day forward, the shamanic ritual will coexist with the veins of Jade Osmanthus Mountain." Fu Changsheng's voice echoed through the valley. "Those who offend my Jade Forest shall die!"

As if in response to his words, the shaman slowly raised his head, his empty gaze sweeping over everyone present. When his "gaze" landed on Fu Changsheng, he lowered his head slightly, as if in submission.

Yao Yao watched this scene, deeply shocked. Suddenly remembering something, she asked, "Father, what about the burial mound of the witches?"

Fu Changsheng's gaze was profound: "I have temporarily sealed the Tomb of the Burial of Witches. Once I am strong enough, I will completely eliminate this hidden danger."

Just now.

A familiar mechanical voice echoed in Fu Changsheng's mind:
"Ding"

"You have successfully slain an enemy and added a Nascent Soul Witch Priest Guardian to your new fiefdom, earning three special lottery draws. Would you like to redeem them?"

Fu Changsheng was overjoyed, never expecting that he would have three chances to win a special prize this time.

...

Amidst the swirling mountain mists, deep within the Yugui Mountains, a brand-new mansion rises from the ground.

With its blue bricks and gray tiles, upturned eaves and corners, the mansion, though only a temporary structure, already exudes a magnificent aura. Around the mansion, runes flicker, and arrays of light curtains flow, gathering the spiritual energy of the entire mountain range here.

"rise!"

Yao Yao stood in the square in front of the mansion, her fingertips radiating spiritual light. A golden array pattern spread from beneath her feet, quickly covering the entire foundation of the mansion.

"Om-"

The ground trembled, and the last pillar of the main hall of the mansion stood up with a roar. The coiled dragon patterns carved on it shone faintly under the infusion of spiritual energy, as if they might come to life at any moment.

"With Yao Yao's array formation, the defenses of this temporary residence are so strong that even a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator would have a hard time breaking through it." A hint of envy flashed in Yu Qingru's eyes.

Yao Yao's mastery of formations is no less than that of many older generation formation masters.

Fu Changsheng stood on the edge of the cliff, his green robe fluttering in the wind, his gaze calmly surveying the entire mountain range.

The witch priest has been suppressed by the Nine Dragons Locking Heaven Formation and transformed into a guardian puppet of the Jade Osmanthus Mountain Range. The entrance to the Tomb of the Witch has also been sealed by layers of restrictions, so there will be no further changes for the time being.

He was finally able to enter the secret room to participate in a special lottery draw.

(End of this chapter)