Family Rise: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 518 Developing the Fiefdom, Core Formation Spiritual Objects, Divine Oracle

Northern Frontier, Xuanyin Village.

Under the cover of night, hundreds of eerie green torches flickered in the wind around the altar, casting a sinister and eerie glow over the stone structure. The old chieftain, draped in a dark robe embroidered with patterns of poisonous insects, held a string of human bone beads in his withered fingers, each bead inscribed with twisted witchcraft.

"Sacrifice—"

With a hoarse chant.

Twelve strong men carried the bronze sacrificial tripod up to the altar.

Crimson liquid churned within the cauldron, and the partially melted remains of a demonic beast were faintly visible. The old chieftain slit his wrist, and three drops of his purplish-glowing blood fell into the cauldron, causing the entire altar to suddenly glow with crimson patterns.

Center of the altar.

The saintess, dressed in a silver bell-adorned ceremonial robe, walked barefoot to an ancient rhythm.

She wore a bronze mask, and with each step she took, the nine bone bells at her waist emitted a chilling, crisp sound. When the seventh chakra dance was completed, all the torches suddenly turned a ghastly white at the same time.

"We respectfully request the Holy Maiden to issue a divine decree—"

The old village chief, Master Xuangu, his aged and powerful voice echoed through the mountains. He slammed his bone staff heavily on the ground. The pressure of his Nascent Soul realm cultivation caused thousands of villagers to kneel in unison.

At the top of the altar, the newly appointed Holy Maiden, Yunshang, walked barefoot with strange steps. She appeared to be no more than twenty years old, wearing a plain white robe embroidered with patterns of a hundred poisons, and silver bells at her waist jingled with her dance. The spiritual power of the early Golden Core stage flowed around her, transforming into wisps of white mist.

"Well"

Suddenly, Yunshang froze, her eyes rolling back in her head. The bonfires around the altar leaped three zhang high, transforming into hideous demonic faces. Her lips parted slightly, but a hoarse, ancient voice escaped:

"The people of Xuan Yin. The Xuan Yin lord of the Boiling Bone Pool. The Nine-Leaf Ganoderma in the Centipede Valley."

Before she could finish speaking, the Holy Maiden collapsed to the ground. The old chieftain rushed forward, placing his fingertip on Yunshang's brow, and channeled a wisp of black energy into her. The girl slowly awoke, her pretty face as pale as paper.

"Chieftain," she whispered weakly, "the Witch God has manifested!"

Inside the Xuan Gu Cave, bronze lamps illuminated the mottled murals. The old chieftain removed his mask, revealing an aged face covered with poisonous markings.

"Tell me, what exactly does the oracle mean?"

Yunshang knelt on the prayer mat and said softly, "The Witch God pointed out that within the territory of Yulin Prefecture of the Great Zhou Dynasty, there is a Xuan Yin Token in the Boiling Bone Pool, and a Nine-Leaf Crimson Gold Fungus grows in the Centipede Valley. These two treasures are related to our village's millennium-long plan."

A glint flashed in the old chieftain's eyes: "Yulin Prefecture?" He raised his hand and lightly tapped the bronze chime beside him. "Information Hall Steward."

Before long, a dwarf old man with a hunched back entered the cave; it was none other than Yin Jiu, the head of the intelligence hall.

"Tell me about the situation in Yulin Prefecture."

Yin Jiu's voice was hoarse: "Reporting to the chieftain, Yulin Prefecture was originally the homeland of a Miao village in our northern frontier. Hundreds of years ago, the Great Zhou Dynasty dispatched three Nascent Soul cultivators to raze it to the ground. It's said they were searching for the ruins of some ancient sect."

The old chieftain paused, pointing a finger: "Continue."

"The strange thing is that after hundreds of years of searching, the Great Zhou Dynasty found nothing, and in the end, they bestowed this place upon a newly promoted sixth-rank family, surnamed Fu." Yin Jiu revealed a mocking expression. "Just a few months ago, three elders of the Black Witch Village mistakenly entered the Tomb of the Witch on Jade Cassia Mountain and all perished. The Fu family, however, benefited from this misfortune, actually refining a Nascent Soul-level witch priest from the tomb into a guardian puppet."

"Snapped!"

The old chieftain's bone staff suddenly broke. The temperature inside the cave plummeted, and the pressure from the fake infant made Yunshang gasp for breath.

"So this is the Fu family," the old man sneered. "They dare to use my ancestor in witchcraft as a puppet."

Yunshang bit her lip lightly: "Chieftain, the item foretold by the oracle."

The old chieftain narrowed his eyes. "For the Witch God to personally bestow such a decree, these two items are definitely not simple. Yin Jiu, what is the strength of the Fu family stationed in Yulin Prefecture?"

"The patriarch, Fu Changsheng, is at the early stage of the Golden Core realm. His daughter, Fu Yongyao, also recently advanced to the Golden Core realm. There is also a beast-taming expert, Fu Changli, at the Pseudo-Golden Core realm. However, although Fu Changsheng is only at the early stage of the Golden Core realm, it is said that he has already killed eight Golden Core cultivators, and he has also condensed a first-grade Golden Core, with unlimited potential."

Silence fell over the cave. After a long while, Yunshang asked softly, "Chieftain, should we give up?"

"Give up?" The old chieftain suddenly chuckled strangely. "How dare others lay a finger on what belongs to my Xuan Yin Village?"

The Holy Maiden hesitated and said, "Then we must ask Elder Wudu to come out of seclusion."

The old chieftain shook his head. "This matter should not be publicized. Furthermore, Elder Five Poisons is in seclusion attempting to break through to the nascent soul stage; send Elder Two and Elder Six to Yulin Prefecture."

Yunshang slightly opened her beautiful eyes: "The chieftain is sending two late-stage Golden Core cultivators?"

"Although the Fu family is a small clan, they are somewhat peculiar." The old chieftain stroked the human bone prayer beads with his fingertips. "To be able to kill eight Golden Core cultivators in succession, Fu Changsheng must have extraordinary abilities. Better safe than sorry."

...

...

Yulin Prefecture.

Fu Changsheng sat upright in the main hall of the family mansion, his fingertips lightly tapping the armrest, his gaze fixed on the strange scale with dark gold patterns that Shou Ge'er had brought back. After a moment, he raised his hand and waved, a beam of spiritual light flew out, transforming into a sound transmission talisman and disappearing outside the hall.

Before long, light footsteps could be heard outside the hall.

"Father, you wanted to see me?" Fu Yongyao stepped into the hall, dressed in flowing blue robes, an ancient array plate hanging at her waist. Her features were gentle yet sharp. Behind her followed Fu Changli, whose beast-patterned token at her waist glowed faintly. Her steps were light and graceful, carrying a touch of dashing spirit.

Fu Changsheng raised his eyes, his gaze gentle yet sharp: "Fourth Sister, Yaoyao, sit down."

Fu Yongyao sat down and, seeing his father's solemn expression, asked softly, "Father, are you worried about the situation in the Northern Border?"

Fu Changsheng nodded and placed the scale on the table: "Yongshou explored the Black Mist Swamp and brought back this item. Its owner has probably reached the peak of the fourth rank, and may even have touched the bloodline of an ancient ferocious beast."

Fu Changli reached out and touched the scales with her fingertips. The Beast King Token within her body trembled slightly. She raised an eyebrow: "Such a strong aura of ferocity! Ordinary demonic beasts would never have such pressure."

Fu Changsheng said in a deep voice, "This beast is entrenched in the northern border. If it is not eliminated, it will surely become a hidden danger in the future." He paused and then said, "In addition, I have recently been studying the Lingxu Talisman Scripture and need a fourth-order demon core to refine the 'Azure Lotus Refining Talisman.' This talisman can refine golden cores and improve their quality."

Upon hearing this, Fu Yongyao's eyes flashed with disbelief: "Father...you mean, this 'Azure Lotus Refining Elixir Talisman' can improve the quality of Golden Elixir?"

Although her third-grade Golden Core is already considered top-notch, if she could advance further and reach the second-grade level, not only would her spiritual power increase significantly, but the bottleneck in her future breakthrough to the Nascent Soul stage would also be much looser!

Such a talisman is simply unheard of!

Fu Changli was so excited that she stood up abruptly, her eyes burning with excitement: "Patriarch! If we can really refine the Golden Core, wouldn't that mean that even Chang Lei and Yong Xuan would have a chance to advance further? Our Fu family in the future..." Before she could finish speaking, the excitement in her eyes was already burning like a raging fire.

Fu Changsheng glanced at the two of them, a slight smile playing on his lips: "This talisman isn't as amazing as you think. It's only effective the first time you use it, and we don't yet know exactly how much it can improve your abilities."

Even so.

This is also an existence that defies the heavens.

Seeing that the two had calmed down, Fu Changsheng continued:

"According to the Lingxu Talisman Scripture, this talisman requires a fourth-tier demon core as a catalyst."

Its effects are truly miraculous.

The spiritual materials needed for refining cannot be too common.

Fu Yongyao's eyes brightened slightly: "Father, if that's the case, our trip to the Northern Border can both eliminate the threat and obtain the elixir, which can be described as killing two birds with one stone."

She lightly tapped the array plate with her fingertips, and spiritual light flowed around it.

“The Black Mist Swamp has a complex terrain and is filled with miasma. We need to set up a blockade in advance to prevent the monsters from escaping.” She looked up at her father and said firmly, “Father will lead the attack, I will use the Four Symbols Spirit Locking Array to trap the enemy, and Fourth Aunt will use the Beast King Token to suppress its ferocity. We will definitely be able to take it down in one fell swoop!”

“What Yaoyao said is absolutely right,” Fu Changli said with a smile. “By the way, didn’t Shou’er say there’s a group of demonic crocodiles in the swamp? Should we take care of them while we’re at it? So they won’t harm the clansmen who will move here in the future.”

Fu Changsheng shook his head: "Although the demonic crocodiles are ferocious, they are quite intelligent. If one or two can be tamed, they may be used as guardian beasts of the mountain."

Fu Changli nodded in agreement: "Father is right. If we can subdue them, it will be a great help to Yulin Prefecture."

Yao Yao and Fu Changli were both in high spirits.

Fu Changsheng laughed:
"Before we head to the Black Mist Swamp, we'll go to the Corpse Bone Pool. Brother Shou said that dozens of Tier 3 Corpse Bone Snakes are lurking at the bottom of the pool, and a Tier 4 Snake King is suspected to be hiding deeper inside."

Furthermore, Centipede Valley is home to swarms of four-winged centipedes, whose venom is extremely potent. There is also a thousand-legged demon centipede on the verge of transforming into a dragon, its strength approaching the mid-stage of the fourth rank.

Mention this.

Fu Yongyao covered his mouth and smiled: "If that's the case, then Grandpa Fei must personally make the trip."

Ouyang Fei possessed the Body of Ten Thousand Poisons, and had been stuck at the Pseudo-Core Formation level for many years.

Just saying.

Ouyang Fei's hoarse laughter rang out from outside the door: "Haha, little girl, you've got your eye on this old man!"

An elderly man in a grey robe pushed open the door and entered. He was thin but vigorous, with a pair of eyes that gleamed with an eerie green light. Seven poison sacs of different colors hung from his waist. As he stepped into the hall, a faint purple poisonous mist swirled around him, only to vanish in an instant.

Fu Changsheng stood up to greet him: "Uncle Fei, you've come at just the right time."

Ouyang Fei waved his hand, his gaze falling on the dark gold scale, and he frowned: "What a strange and fierce aura!" He flicked a wisp of purple smoke from his fingertip, and the smoke made a "hissing" sound as soon as it touched the scale, and was actually swallowed up by the patterns on the scale.

Upon seeing this, Fu Changli exclaimed in surprise, "You can even neutralize Uncle Fei's 'Seven Deadly Poisons'?"

Ouyang Fei's eyes flashed with a sharp light: "Interesting! If this beast can withstand my poison skills, its poison sac will definitely be an excellent material for refining poison-type magic weapons!"

After the four discussed their options, they decided to take action.

just in case.

Fu Changsheng instructed Yaoyao to leave Hanxiao at the family mansion, so that Qingru and the others could focus on setting up the protective mountain formation. After finishing their official duties, the four of them rode the Azure Dragon northwards towards Yulin Prefecture.

...

...

a few days later.

Above the Boiling Bone Pool, poisonous miasma surged and a chilling wind howled.

Fu Changsheng stood with his hands behind his back by the pool, his robes fluttering in the wind, his gaze sharp as lightning as he stared at the pitch-black water. Suddenly, strange ripples spread across the surface, as if some enormous creature was awakening beneath the water.

"They're here!" Fu Yongyao shouted, and the array plate in his hand shone brightly. Four array flags flew out instantly and hovered in the four directions of the pool.

"boom--!"

In an instant, dozens of bone-corroding snakes burst from the water, their bodies shooting forward like arrows! They were entirely black, yet their scales gleamed with a ghastly white sheen, as if cast from pure bone, their scarlet eyes flashing with bloodlust. Venom dripped from between their fangs, splashing onto the ground and instantly corroding it into charred pits!
Fu Changli snorted coldly, and the Beast King Token at her waist suddenly lit up. A crimson spirit pattern spread out from the token, transforming into a long, fiery whip. With a flick of her wrist, the whip swept out like a serpent!

"Clap! Clap! Clap!"

The three-headed bone-rotting snake was struck by the whip, its body instantly exploding, blood and flesh flying everywhere! However, more bone-rotting snakes pounced wildly, the swarm surging towards the group like a tidal wave.

A hint of excitement flashed in Ouyang Fei's eyes. He suddenly raised his withered fingers, and all seven poison sacs trembled at the same time, with wisps of purplish-black poison mist coiling around them as if they were alive.

"Seven Deadly Poisonous Fiends - Devour!"

Wherever the poisonous fog passed, the bone-rotting snakes let out mournful hisses, their scales melting away at a visible speed, their flesh rotting and turning into pools of foul-smelling blood in the blink of an eye!
Just now.

"Boom——!"

The pool water suddenly burst open, and a huge black shadow shot into the sky!

Fourth-tier Corrupted Bone Serpent King!

This snake was far larger than its kind, its head ferocious like a dragon's, with a single, stark white bone spur atop its head. Its eyes were dark gold, and its body was shrouded in a dense aura of death. With a swift spit, a torrent of jet-black venom cascaded down like a waterfall, its very flow causing the air to hiss and sizzle in its wake!
"retreat!"

With a soft shout, Fu Changsheng conjured a jade lotus lantern from his sleeve. The lantern, no bigger than a palm, emanated a chilling aura of spiritual energy. He simply made a hand seal, and the lotus lantern shone brightly with azure light.

Nine blue lotuses bloomed from the lamp wick, encircling the father and daughter. The pitch-black venom struck the lotus petals, hissing as it was completely blocked.

Upon seeing this, Fu Yongyao immediately activated the Qingqiu Yitian Disc. The ancient and simple array disc floated up, with star patterns flowing on it, projecting the image of the stars in the sky into the void.

"Zhou Tian Xing Dou - Trapped!"

Countless starlight descended, forming a cage that trapped the serpent king. The beast twisted its body frantically, and the bone spikes on its head suddenly emitted a ghostly light, corroding the starlight and creating gaps in it.

"You wicked beast!" Fu Changsheng's sword-like eyebrows shot up, and the shape of the Lotus Lantern in his hand suddenly changed. The lantern body lengthened, transforming into a three-foot-long green sword. The space at the sword's edge slightly distorted, revealing a terrifying cutting power.

"Destroy the evil!"

The sword flashed like lightning, aiming straight for the snake king's vital spot. The beast neither dodged nor evaded; its tail suddenly gleamed with a metallic sheen, colliding head-on with the sword's edge.

"clang--!"

The clang of metal against metal echoed across the land. Fu Changsheng's hand went numb, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. This snake king had actually refined its tail into a natal magic weapon!
Taking advantage of the opportunity, the Snake King retaliated, its mouth wide open, and a jet of black light shot out. Fu Yongyao hurriedly changed his spell: "Star Shift and Dipper Reversal!" The stars on the Yitian Disc shifted, actually deflecting the fatal blow by three inches, grazing Fu Changsheng's clothes.

"Father, be careful! This beast has cultivated his own innate divine power!"

Fu Changsheng laughed loudly: "It's alright!" After saying that, a phantom lamp suddenly appeared above his head, which was the third transformation of the Lotus Lantern - the lamp wick taking shape!
Soft, clear light shone down, and the meridians that had been corroded by the poison gas instantly healed. Fu Changqi's momentum surged again, and a blazing blue flame ignited on his Qingfeng sword.

"Yaoyao, lend me a hand!"

Fu Yongyao understood, and the Yitian Disc spun rapidly: "Zhou Tian Xing Li - Gather!" Countless starlight converged on the Qingfeng Sword, and the sword light surged more than ten feet.

The snake king seemed to sense a deadly threat and turned to flee. But how could Fu Changsheng give it the chance? He took a step forward, and the space itself distorted where his sword pointed.

"cut!"

A flash of blue light appeared, and the Serpent King let out a shrill roar. Its tail, comparable to a magical artifact, snapped off instantly, and dark golden blood gushed out.

Ouyang Fei, who could see it clearly from a distance, shouted a warning: "Be careful of its dying counterattack!"

As expected, the dying snake king suddenly detonated its severed tail! Countless bone spikes rained down on the father and daughter. Fu Changsheng remained calm, and the Lotus Lantern underwent its first transformation, with nine green lotuses blocking all the bone spikes.

Fu Yongyao seized the opportunity, and the stars on the Yitian Plate suddenly lit up. Countless dazzling meteors fell from the heavens and struck the Snake King's head.

"boom--!"

As the smoke and dust cleared, the Serpent King was found dead. A demonic core, gleaming with an eerie light, floated on the surface of the pool, radiating astonishing spiritual energy.

Fu Changsheng sheathed his sword and stood there, the Lotus Lantern transforming back into its smaller form and settling into his palm. He turned to look at his daughter, his eyes filled with satisfaction: "You cooperated well."

Fu Yongyao smiled.

In the distance, Ouyang Fei and Fu Changli had also dealt with the remaining snakes.

Fu Changsheng raised his hand, and the demon core, gleaming with an eerie light, fell into his palm. The demon core felt cold to the touch, and its surface was shrouded in wisps of black energy, which seemed to have a faint effect of corroding spiritual power.

"This demon core is brimming with demonic power." Fu Changsheng flipped his hand and took out a jade box, sealing the demon core inside. "It's perfect for refining the Azure Lotus Tempering Talisman."

Ouyang Fei was already squatting beside the snake king's corpse, his withered fingers lightly tracing the severed tail: "Excellent material! This snake tail, after hundreds of years of tempering, is comparable to a mid-grade fourth-tier magic weapon." He took out a small, dark green knife and skillfully peeled off the snake's skin. "If these scales were forged into armor, they could definitely withstand a full-force attack from an early-stage Golden Core cultivator."

Fu Changli stared at the bone spur atop the snake king's head, her eyes shining: "Patriarch, could you grant me this bone spur?"

“Of course.” Fu Changsheng nodded with a smile, his gaze shifting to the pool. “However, the real treasure is probably still at the bottom of the pool.”

Upon hearing this, Fu Yongyao immediately activated the Qingqiu Chess Plate. Star patterns flowed on the plate, projecting a scene at the bottom of the pool—in the dark water, the entrance to a cave could be vaguely seen.

"There really is a nest!" Her eyes lit up. "I can use starlight to clear a path, which will temporarily isolate me from the poisonous water."

"No need." Fu Changsheng waved his hand, and the Lotus Lantern lit up with a blue light again. "This lamp can ward off all poisons; let's go down directly."

The four of them dived into the pool, the blue light emanating from the Lotus Lantern keeping the poisonous water at bay. Scattered in the mud at the bottom of the pool were many white bones, some human-shaped and some animal-shaped, presumably the snake king's prey.

At the cave entrance, a stone tablet leaned precariously in the mud, bearing several blurred ancient seal characters. Fu Changsheng brushed away the mud and softly murmured, "Mysterious Yin Cave."

"This is actually the cave dwelling of an ancient cultivator!" Ouyang Fei exclaimed in surprise. "No wonder it could raise such a ferocious creature."

The cave was simply furnished, with only a stone platform standing out. On the platform was a bronze box, its surface engraved with sealing runes. Fu Changsheng carefully examined it before opening it with his spiritual power.

With a click, the box lid popped open. Inside, three items were neatly arranged: a fragmented jade slip, a jet-black token, and a crystal-clear bead. Fu Changli curiously picked up the jade slip and scanned it with her divine sense: "It's half of the *Mysterious Yin Beast Control Technique*!" she exclaimed in delight. "The beast control methods recorded inside are even more exquisite than what our Fu family currently possesses!"

Ouyang Fei stared at the bead, his breathing becoming rapid: "This...this is the Profound Yin Bead! A supreme treasure that can help those with Yin-attribute spiritual roots break through to the Golden Core stage!"

With this thing.

Then Fu Yongrui in the dark hall will be able to successfully break through to the Golden Core stage!
Fu Changsheng picked up the jet-black token, and saw the three small characters "Mysterious Yin Token" engraved on the back. He infused it with a wisp of spiritual power, and the token immediately emitted a faint glow, but its specific purpose remained unknown.

"It seems the secrets of this Bone-Rotting Pool are more numerous than we imagined." He put away the token and looked around. "Time to head to Centipede Valley."

Before leaving, Fu Changsheng specifically instructed Yaoyao to set up a protective barrier at the cave entrance. This Xuan Yin Cave might come in handy in the future.

at the same time.

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

"You and your clansmen slew a fourth-tier demonic beast and obtained valuable resources, earning you 10,000 clan contribution points."

Followed by.

The family contribution value on the panel has been changed to 12,000.

...

After leaving the Bone-Rotting Pool, the four rode the Azure Dragon northward. The further north they went, the stronger the stench in the air became. Ouyang Fei took a deep breath, his eyes flashing with green light: "Such potent centipede venom!"

At the entrance to the valley ahead, countless black figures slithered across the ground. They were four-winged centipedes, each as thick as an arm, their bodies as black as ink, with four transparent, thin wings on their backs, and their thousand legs making a chilling rustling sound as they crawled.

"The number is more than expected." Fu Yongyao frowned slightly, the Qingqiu Yitian Disc already spinning in his palm. "There are at least tens of thousands."

Fu Changsheng focused his senses, then suddenly his expression hardened: "Be careful, they've discovered us!"

Before the words were finished, a sharp screech suddenly echoed through the valley. All the four-winged centipedes simultaneously flapped their wings and took flight, quickly forming a bizarre formation in the air.

"A Heavenly Net Formation!" Ouyang Fei's expression changed drastically. "These beasts actually know battle formations!"

The formation of thousands of centipedes was like a net, completely surrounding the four of them. Each centipede spewed out dark green poisonous mist from its mouthparts, which quickly formed a poisonous cloud.

"Let's split up!" Fu Changsheng decided decisively. "Yaoyao, come with me to deal with that centipede! Uncle Fei, Fourth Sister, you guys take care of the younger ones!"

Having said that, he summoned the Lotus Lantern, and nine blue lotuses bloomed, protecting Fu Yongyao as they charged straight to the center of the formation. There, a thousand-legged demon centipede, ten zhang long, was coiled on a boulder. Its entire body was crimson, each segment of its carapace gleaming with a metallic sheen, and its head was already faintly showing the appearance of a dragon.

"hiss--!"

The centipede let out a piercing screech, spewing a stream of crimson venomous flame from its mouth. Fu Changsheng drew his sword, the Lotus Lantern transforming into a sharp green sword, and slashed out: "Break!"

Meanwhile, the situation on the periphery is far from optimistic.

Although Ouyang Fei's Seven Deadly Poisons were formidable, these four-winged centipedes were themselves highly venomous and extremely resistant to poison. Even more terrifying was the fact that their battle formation was constantly shifting, sometimes charging like a long snake formation, sometimes encircling like a lotus flower formation.

"Damn it!" Sweat beaded on Ouyang Fei's forehead; four of his seven venom sacs were already empty. "These beasts are much more troublesome than the Bone-Rotting Snakes!"

Fu Changli's situation was even more critical. Every time she swung her fiery whip, it was neutralized by the venom spewed by dozens of centipedes simultaneously. One centipede seized the opportunity to break through her defenses, its sharp mandibles leaving a bloody gash on her arm.

"Ah!" Fu Changli cried out in pain, feeling her entire arm go numb instantly. In that critical moment, the beast-patterned token at her waist suddenly began to vibrate violently.

"Perfect timing to try the Beast King's Token"

A sudden inspiration struck her, and she grabbed the token. The beast patterns on the token shone brightly, and an ancient and majestic aura suddenly erupted!

"Roar--!"

A deafening roar erupted from the token, causing all the four-winged centipedes to freeze in place. Fu Changli felt a strange incantation suddenly appear in her mind, which she recited without hesitation:
"All beasts submit, heed my command!"

A beam of golden light shot out from the Beast King's Token, transforming into a gigantic golden rune in the air. The rune spun and fell, enveloping all the centipedes within a hundred feet radius.

A shocking scene unfolded—the ferocious four-winged centipedes all prostrated themselves on the ground, trembling in submission! Even the thousand-legged demon centipede in the distance faltered, and Fu Changsheng seized the opportunity to strike its carapace with his sword, causing it to let out a painful hiss.

"I...I succeeded?" Fu Changli stared in disbelief at the token in her hand. She could feel a connection established between herself and the centipedes.

Even more miraculously, faint centipede patterns appeared on her arm, and the venom from the bite was transformed into her own power!

"Good girl!" Ouyang Fei laughed loudly, "Quickly make these beasts turn against us!"

With a thought, Fu Changli summoned thousands of four-winged centipedes, which immediately turned and pounced on the thousand-legged demon centipede. Although they dared not directly attack their king, the disruption they created was sufficient.

Seizing the opportunity, Fu Changsheng activated the third transformation of the Lotus Lantern. The wick hung high above their heads, casting a gentle light to heal their injuries. He and Fu Yongyao exchanged a glance, and the father and daughter attacked simultaneously!

"Zhou Tian Xing Li - Gather!"

"Azure Lotus Sword Technique - Slash!"

Starlight and sword light intertwined, transforming into a dazzling pillar of light that instantly pierced through the head of the Thousand-Legged Demon Centipede!

"Hiss—!" The demonic centipede let out its last mournful cry, and its massive body crashed to the ground.

Fu Changli stepped forward, and the Beast King's Token flashed, actually capturing the soul of the Thousand-Legged Centipede. She exclaimed with delight, "Patriarch, it seems I can borrow its power!"

As she spoke, crimson armor appeared on her arms, and her fingertips transformed into sharp claws.

Fu Changsheng nodded with satisfaction: "It seems this Beast King's Token is even more miraculous than we imagined." He turned to Ouyang Fei, "Uncle Fei, the venom sac of this demon centipede is yours."

Ouyang Fei had already begun dissecting the corpse with great eagerness: "Excellent material! Excellent material indeed! This demonic centipede is about to transform into a dragon, and its venom sacs are of extremely high quality!"

After Fu Changsheng and Ouyang Fei finished disposing of the bodies, he said:

"Let's go check out their lair."

The lair of the Thousand-Legged Demon Centipede is located in a natural cave deep within the Centipede Valley. The cave is damp and dark, with moss that emits a ghostly green fluorescence crawling all over the rock walls, making the entire cave look eerie and terrifying.

"Be careful." Fu Changsheng walked in front, the Lotus Lantern emitting a soft blue light. "This demonic centipede has been entrenched here for many years, and there might be traps in its lair."

Deep within the cave, on a spacious stone platform, grows a strange plant, entirely crimson. It resembles a lingzhi mushroom, but has nine leaves, each covered with golden veins and emitting a rich medicinal fragrance.

"Nine-Leaf Crimson Gold Ganoderma!" Ouyang Fei's voice trembled with excitement. "This is the main ingredient for breaking through the Golden Core bottleneck!"

Fu Yongyao cautiously examined his surroundings: "There are no restrictions around this spiritual herb; it seems that the demonic centipede kept it as its own."

Fu Changli's gaze, however, was drawn to the other side of the stone platform. There, piles of white bones lay, some human, some demonic beasts. Among the bones, an ancient bronze ring stood out conspicuously.

“Master, look at this.” She carefully lifted the ring with her spiritual power. “It looks like a storage ring.”

Fu Changsheng took the ring, scanned it with his divine sense, and frowned slightly: "It has a restriction, and it's very special." He tried to inject spiritual power, and a layer of blood-red runes immediately appeared on the surface of the ring, repelling his divine sense.

"Huh?" Ouyang Fei leaned closer for a look. "This restriction technique doesn't seem to be something set up by modern cultivators."

Fu Yongyao took the ring and examined it carefully. "The patterns on it look familiar," she suddenly remembered something and took out the Xuan Yin Token she had obtained from the Boiling Bone Pool from her bosom. "Look, aren't these patterns very similar to those on the Xuan Yin Token?"

Upon comparison, everyone indeed discovered that the patterns of the two originated from the same source.

"It seems this ring is connected to the Xuan Yin Cave," Fu Changsheng said thoughtfully. "Perhaps we need to gather something to open it."

As everyone was examining the ring, Fu Changli suddenly looked up alertly: "Someone's coming! And a lot of them!"

A jumble of footsteps and voices could be heard outside the cave:

"Quick! That commotion came from here!"

"That centipede demon must have been killed. We can't let someone else get the treasure first!"

Fu Changsheng remained expressionless.

The system intelligence was indeed accurate; the people of Xuan Yin Village were indeed searching for those two items. His objective was to use someone else to do his dirty work, luring the Xuan Yin Village to deal with the terrifying entity at the Demon Crocodile's Nest.

The fish has taken the bait!

He immediately said:
"Pack your things, let's take another route."

Ouyang Fei quickly picked the Nine-Leaf Crimson Golden Fungus, while Fu Changli pocketed the valuable materials from the skeletons.

at the same time.

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

"You and your clansmen slew a mid-stage fourth-tier demonic beast and obtained valuable resources, earning you 10,000 clan contribution points."

Followed by.

The family contribution value on the panel has been changed to 22,000.

...

The four quickly retreated through a hidden passage on the other side of the cave. This passage was narrow and dark, clearly the hunting route of the centipede demon. At the end of the passage was a secluded mountain stream, with a waterfall cascading down, forming a natural barrier.

Fu Changsheng stopped in his tracks, his gaze deep: "It seems the people of Xuan Yin Village have already set their sights on us."

Fu Yongyao lightly tapped the Qingqiu Chess Plate with his fingertip. Starlight flowed on the plate, reflecting the scene outside the cave—more than ten cultivators dressed in Xuan Yin Village attire were searching around. Leading them were two elderly men with profound auras, namely Li Wuhun, the second elder of Xuan Yin Village, and Mo Hongling, the sixth elder!

“Two late-stage Golden Core cultivators…” Fu Changli said solemnly, “Patriarch, should we temporarily avoid their advance and retreat to the Jade Osmanthus Mountain Range?”

Fu Changsheng shook his head, a slight smile playing on his lips: "No need. Since they're here, they can help us solve the problem of the Black Mist Swamp."

He flipped his hand and took out the Xuan Yin Token. The token trembled slightly in his palm, as if responding to something.

Fu Changsheng's gaze was profound. "If I'm not mistaken, the true target of Xuan Yin Village's trip is the Xuan Yin Token in my possession!"

A glint of light flashed in Ouyang Fei's eyes: "Does the patriarch mean... to use someone else to do the dirty work?"

Fu Changsheng nodded: "The Blackwater Serpent has reached the peak of the fourth rank, and its strength is comparable to that of a Nascent Soul cultivator. It is difficult for the four of us to kill it alone. However, if the people of Xuan Yin Village make a move, it will surely result in mutual destruction."

Fu Yongyao immediately understood: "Father wants them to weaken the Blackwater Serpent first, and then we can reap the benefits?"

“Not bad.” Fu Changsheng put away the Xuan Yin Token, his gaze cold. “But before that, we need to give them some ‘clues’.”

He raised his hand and waved, and a wisp of spiritual energy quietly attached itself to the rock at the cave entrance, transforming into a barely perceptible guiding rune that pointed directly towards the Black Mist Swamp.

……

Half a day later, at the edge of the Black Mist Swamp.

Li Wuhun and Mo Hongling led a group of Xuan Yin Village disciples to track them down.

"Second Elder, the Black Mist Swamp is just ahead!" a disciple reported in a low voice. "The Fu family members seem to have fled in this direction!"

Mo Hongling sneered, "Escape? They think they can survive by hiding in the Black Mist Swamp?" Blood spiders crawled in her sleeves, and she said sinisterly, "The poisonous miasma in this swamp is nothing more than a tonic for our Xuan Yin Village."

Li Wuhun frowned: "Before we set off, the chieftain said that although Fu Changsheng's cultivation was not high, he had successfully killed eight Golden Core cultivators. On our way here, the two fourth-order demonic beasts in the Corrupted Bone Pool and the Hundred-Legged Valley were also killed by them. We should be careful."

He raised his hand and waved it, a black aura sweeping across the ground, revealing the spiritual energy fluctuations that Fu Changsheng had deliberately left behind.

"This is... the aura of the Xuan Yin Token!" Li Wuhun's pupils shrank. "They really did get the Xuan Yin Token!"

A glint of greed flashed in Mo Hongling's eyes: "Chase them! We absolutely cannot let the Fu family take away our village's most precious treasure!"

Without further hesitation, the group plunged straight into the Black Mist Swamp.

……

Deep in the swamp, all was deathly silent.

Fu Changsheng and his three companions hid among the clouds high in the sky, observing quietly.

"They've gone in," Fu Yongyao said in a low voice. "Father, will that Blackwater Serpent really make a move?"

Fu Changsheng's gaze was profound: "The Xuan Yin Token has a fatal attraction to the Black Water Serpent, and it will never let any cultivator who gets close go."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a deafening roar suddenly echoed from the depths of the swamp!
"boom--!"

Black mist surged, and a colossal black shadow burst forth from the water—a black serpent hundreds of feet long! It had grown a single horn on its head, its scales gleamed with a metallic sheen, and its eyes were blood-red. It was none other than the "Black Water Serpent," which was about to transform into a dragon!
"hiss--!"

The Blackwater Serpent opened its mouth and spewed out a jet of black poisonous flame, instantly turning several Xuan Yin Village disciples to ashes!

Li Wuhun and Mo Hongling's expressions changed drastically: "A peak fourth-tier demonic beast?!"

The two hurriedly unleashed their magical weapons. Li Wuhun's ten fingers transformed into jet-black claws, which he fiercely grabbed at the snake's body; Mo Hongling, on the other hand, released hundreds of blood spiders, attempting to corrode the snake's scales.

However, the Blackwater Serpent was incredibly ferocious. With a sweep of its tail, it crushed Mo Hongling's swarm of blood spiders! A dark light burst from the single horn on its head, and a bolt of black lightning struck down. Li Wuhun groaned, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth!

"Damn it!" Mo Hongling gritted her teeth. "This beast is too strong, let's retreat!"

But how could the Blackwater Serpent let them go? With a coil of its body, it blocked their retreat!
A chilling light flashed in Li Wuhun's eyes, his withered body suddenly swelled, muscles bulged beneath his black robe, and his ten fingers transformed into jet-black claws, their tips gleaming with a sinister purple light. He roared, "Mysterious Yin Ghost Claw - Soul Split!"

"laugh--!"

Five jet-black claw shadows tore through the air, viciously grabbing at the Blackwater Serpent's vital spot. Serpent scales clashed with sharp claws, scattering blinding sparks. The serpent, in pain, swung its massive tail like a colossal pillar, whipping up a ten-zhang-high black wave of swamp mud.

Li Wuhun's body twisted eerily, transforming into a wisp of black smoke at the last second, passing through the gap in the snake's tail. He formed hand seals and spat out a mouthful of foul-smelling black blood: "Blood Fiend Yin Thunder!"

"Boom!"

The black blood transformed into nine bolts of dark lightning in the air, striking the base of the Xuan Snake's single horn in succession. That horn was the key to the Xuan Snake's transformation into a dragon, and now, struck by the dark lightning, it immediately cracked with several fine lines. The Xuan Snake flew into a rage, its scarlet snake pupils suddenly contracting, and it opened its mouth to spew out a jet of pitch-black poisonous mist, which was mixed with countless tiny bone spikes!
"Second Elder, be careful!" Mo Hongling warned sharply. At the same time, seven blood jade spiders flew out from her sleeve and formed a blood-red spider web in the air, barely blocking some of the bone spikes.

Li Wuhun retreated rapidly, but three bone spurs still pierced his shoulder blade. The wound instantly turned bluish-black, and venom spread wildly along his meridians. He groaned, and with his left hand, his fingers cleaved like a knife, he actually managed to rip out the entire chunk of rotting flesh!

Mo Hongling's hunched body suddenly straightened, her withered hair moving without wind, and she grinned maliciously, "Little darlings, dinner's ready!"

"Puff puff--"

Dozens of blood sacs burst open from under her skin, releasing thousands upon thousands of crimson spiders. Each spider was only the size of a grain of rice, but each had a hideous human face on its abdomen. They frantically pounced on the black snake's wounds, burrowing into the flesh through the gaps in its scales.

The black serpent writhed in agony, turning the swamp upside down. Suddenly, it raised its head to the sky, its single horn emitting a blinding, eerie light. The poisonous miasma of the entire swamp was drawn towards it, forming a black tornado around its body!
"Not good! It's a poisonous miasma storm!" Li Wuhun's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly summoned a bone shield. The storm contained highly corrosive venom, and most of the blood spiders released by Mo Hongling instantly melted away.

Mo Hongling bit her tongue, spitting out a mouthful of blood essence: "Blood Spider Transformation!"

The remaining blood spiders suddenly merged, transforming into a blood-red spider phantom the size of a house. The spider's eight long legs pierced towards the black serpent's eyes like javelins, only to be severed at the waist by a sudden sweep of the serpent's tail!
"Ugh—" Mo Hongling suffered a backlash, spitting out a mouthful of black blood. She staggered backward, pulling a black ceramic jar from her robes, and hissed venomously, "You beast, you're courting death!"

The earthenware jar shattered, and three golden skeletons shot out. Each skeleton had a blood-red crystal embedded between its eyebrows, radiating the aura of a Golden Core cultivator!
"Go!" Mo Hongling pointed her finger, and three golden skeletons opened their jaws, emitting a silent shriek. Wherever the sound waves passed, countless water columns exploded on the surface of the swamp. The Xuan Snake's movements suddenly froze, as if bound by invisible chains.

Seizing the opportunity, Li Wuhun transformed into a streak of black light, shooting straight into the snake's eyes: "Mysterious Yin Soul-Slaying Finger!"

His right index finger had turned completely black, its tip radiating a chilling aura of death. If that finger strike landed, even a Nascent Soul cultivator would be severely injured!

"Pfft!"

A black finger pierced the snake's eye, and the black serpent let out a deafening roar. It twisted its body wildly, and its single horn suddenly detached from its head, transforming into a black lightning bolt that struck towards Li Wuhun!

"Second Elder!" Mo Hongling screamed.

Li Wuhun had no choice but to take the blow head-on. At the critical moment of life and death, a bone talisman on his chest suddenly exploded, revealing the phantom image of the old chieftain, Xuan Gu Zhenren.

"boom--!"

The black lightning collided with the phantom, erupting in a dazzling light. When the light dissipated, Li Wuhun was kneeling on the ground, his right arm gone at the shoulder, the wound charred black. The Xuan Snake's single horn was also completely broken off, its aura greatly diminished.

The swamp suddenly fell into an eerie silence.

The remaining eye of the black serpent stared intently at the two, then slowly opened its blood-red maw. What was truly chilling was that a crimson rune emerged from deep within its throat—the bloodline mark of an ancient ferocious beast!
"It's over." Mo Hongling's face was ashen. "It's going to burn its bloodline."

(End of this chapter)