Family Rise: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 521: Promoted to Second Rank, engaged in rampant plundering, infuriated.

Azure Lotus Refining Elixir Talisman!
The moment Fu Yongyao touched the talisman, a cool sensation traveled along her meridians to her dantian, as if a blue lotus was quietly blooming within her. The nine lotus petals on the talisman glowed slightly, and a golden light flowed around the lotus's heart, as if sealing away a small world within it.

Her breathing became slightly labored.

This talisman can defy fate and change one's destiny.

The grade of the Golden Core determines the limits of a cultivator's path. After a century of arduous cultivation, her third-grade Golden Core was already beyond the reach of ordinary cultivators. If she were to advance further, she might even reach the Nascent Soul stage, and perhaps even the Deity Transformation stage.
"Thank you father!"

Fu Changsheng could see that Yaoyao was eager to use the Azure Lotus Refining Talisman, so he didn't say much, but simply gave her some instructions on how to refine the talisman.

Wait until Yao Yao leaves.

A familiar mechanical voice echoed in his mind:
"Ding"

"You have gifted your clansman a Azure Lotus Refining Elixir Talisman, and have gained 3,000 clan contribution points."

...

Inside the cave, layers of restrictions were tightly closed.

Fu Yongyao sat cross-legged on the cold jade bed, slowly placing the talisman against his dantian. The instant the talisman touched his skin—

"boom!"

Nine beams of azure light pierced her body like chains, instantly binding her golden core. A wave of excruciating pain washed over her; she groaned, her knuckles clenching white, yet she dared not relax her grip even slightly. Looking inward, she saw cracks spreading across the surface of her golden core, like porcelain shattering inch by inch, while the azure light, like a living thing, seeped into the fissures, forcefully stripping away and refining the impurities.

“Crack—”

The outer layer of her golden core peeled away, and before the fragments could dissipate, they were crushed into dust by the power of the Azure Lotus Talisman. Her spiritual energy surged and roared, like a sword embryo being forged and reshaped in a raging fire.

……

After an unknown amount of time, the blue light inside the cave gradually faded.

Fu Yongyao slowly opened her eyes, a fleeting glimpse of a blue lotus appearing in them. She looked down at her palm, releasing a small amount of spiritual energy—

“Zheng!”

A sword aura condensed spontaneously, containing three parts sword intent even without the use of magic. She paused for a moment, then suddenly chuckled.

The second-grade Golden Elixir has been completed.

His divine sense spread out like a tidal wave, encompassing hundreds of miles of mountains and rivers. His spiritual energy circulated without stagnation, flowing like a surging river, ceaselessly vital.

...

...

Above Wuzhou City, clouds surged and several streaks of light pierced the sky, converging on the majestic Zhenshisi Hall in the city.

Today is the once-in-a-century Jin Dan Exchange Conference in Wuzhou.

Led by the Chief Supervisor of the Zhenshi Division, Master Xuanyang, all members of sixth-rank families, high-ranking officials of the Zhenshi Division, powerful figures from the Yushen Division, and even rogue cultivators at the Golden Core stage were invited to attend.

This is a grand gathering for Golden Core cultivators.

……

When Fu Changsheng landed outside the city on the Azure Dragon.

Looking up, a crimson streak of light shot through the air from afar, falling to the ground like a streak of fire, and instantly landed in front of the city gate. As the light dissipated, a familiar figure was revealed—Cao Xiang'er.

She wore a dark official robe of the Zhenshi Si Wanhu, with a red-patterned token hanging at her waist. Her features were still as beautiful as ever, but her eyes were colder than before.

Fu Changsheng was slightly taken aback, then stepped forward and said gently, "Xiang'er, it's been a long time. Congratulations on your promotion to Ten Thousand Households!"

Cao Xiang'er paused, glanced at him sideways, but her gaze was indifferent and distant, as if she were looking at a stranger.

“Master Fu,” she nodded slightly, her tone calm, “I am preoccupied with official duties and cannot keep you company.”

Before she finished speaking, she had already vanished in a flash of light, leaving only a wisp of cold fragrance lingering in the rain.

Fu Changsheng frowned slightly.

—This shouldn't have been the case between them.

The two had two sons together and still shared a past affection. Although they hadn't seen each other for many years, and Cao Xiang'er had already condensed her Golden Core and advanced to the rank of Ten Thousand Household, it was still not to the point that she wouldn't even say a word.

instinctive.

He felt there must be some misunderstanding between them.

……

Inside Wuzhou City, even before the Golden Core Exchange Conference officially began, cultivators from all sides had already gathered. Golden Core cultivators frequently soared through the air on the streets, their imposing aura causing lower-level cultivators to give way.

Not long after Fu Changsheng entered the city, he received a communication talisman.

—It's Ouyang Qing.

Following the directions, he stepped into a lakeside teahouse. Inside the private room, Ouyang Qing had been waiting for some time. She wore a plain white robe, with a jade hairpin in her hair. Her aura was restrained, yet she subtly exuded the unique majesty of a Golden Core cultivator.

"Fellow Daoist Fu, it's been a long time." She smiled slightly and poured tea herself.

Fu Changsheng sat down and said with a smile, "Fellow Daoist Ouyang has only recently formed his core, yet his aura is already so stable. Congratulations!"

Ouyang Qing shook her head, a look of gratitude appearing in her eyes: "If it weren't for your daughter Yongxuan's guidance, I'm afraid I would still be wandering in the Purple Mansion."

She paused and lowered her voice:

"At this Golden Core Exchange Meeting, the Chief of the Divine Control Department brought out several rare items, including a 'Nine Apertures Nascent Soul Pill' formula, which is said to have been used by ancient cultivators specifically for condensing their nascent souls."

Fu Changsheng's eyes narrowed: "Nine Apertures Nascent Soul Pill?"

He subconsciously thought of the Nine-Turn Golden Elixir, which was used by ancient cultivators to open the nine orifices with elixir, but he didn't know if it was related to the 'Nine Orifices Nascent Soul Pill' formula.

Ouyang Qing continued, "Besides that, there is also a broken sword, which is an ancient treasure. If Fellow Daoist Fu is interested, you can make preparations as soon as possible."

Fu Changsheng pondered for a moment: "Among the Golden Core cultivators attending this meeting, are there any noteworthy individuals?"

Ouyang Qing tapped the table lightly with her fingertips and said in a low voice, "Huang Yuehua of the Huang family has only recently formed her core, but I've heard that the Huang family has the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion of the Imperial Court as their backer, so their strength shouldn't be underestimated. Also, Zhou Xuanming, the Seventh Prince of Jingzhou, has come here, and Luo Haitang has also been specially teleported from Jingzhou..."

Inside the side hall of the Zhenshi Division, a jade lamp burned dimly, casting a half-light and half-dark glow on the interior.

Master Yan sat upright before the table, the teacup in his hand steaming, the tea aroma clear and refreshing, yet it could not conceal the faint but palpable sense of impending doom within the hall.

The palace doors opened silently, and a figure stepped inside, his purple-gold python robe gleaming coldly in the dim light.

—The Seventh Prince, Zhou Xuanming.

"Master Yan, I've kept you waiting." The Seventh Prince had a faint smile on his lips, but his eyes were devoid of any warmth.

Master Yan raised his eyes, his expression composed, and gestured, "Your Highness has come from afar, please sit."

The two sat facing each other, the aroma of tea wafting through the air, yet neither made a move.

……

"This Golden Core exchange meeting is quite lively," Master Yan said calmly, taking a sip of tea. "Even the Huang family, secretly supported by the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, has sent people. It seems the formula for the Nine Apertures Nascent Soul Pill is quite attractive."

The Seventh Prince traced the rim of his teacup with his fingertips and said calmly, "Master Yan is well-informed; he even knows the relationship between the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion and the Huang family. He truly deserves his position as the Deputy Director of the World-Suppressing Bureau."

Master Yan smiled slightly: "Your Highness is too kind. It's merely my duty; I only know a little bit."

He paused, then said seemingly casually, "I heard that the Prince's maternal grandfather, Chief Lei... met with misfortune in Yulin Prefecture, which is truly regrettable."

The Seventh Prince's eyes turned cold, and he paused slightly in his teacup.

The air seemed to freeze for a moment.

Master Yan sighed, his tone sincere: "Clan Chief Lei was a prodigy, yet he perished in the humble Jade Forest Prefecture; it is truly heartbreaking. And the two Golden Core cultivators of the Prince's Mansion, too… alas."

He shook his head, his face showing regret, but a deep meaning flashed in his eyes.

The Seventh Prince sneered, "Master Yan does seem to care about my family affairs."

Master Yan remained composed and said gently, "The Prince is a member of the royal family, and the Lei family is a prominent clan in the Great Zhou Dynasty. This matter naturally attracts widespread attention."

He raised his eyes and looked directly at the Seventh Prince: "However, the Fu family is now very powerful, and even Yulin Prefecture has become their fiefdom. Does Your Highness... intend to just tolerate this?"

The Seventh Prince suddenly laughed.

He set down his teacup, his tone playful: "Master Yan, you were forced by the Fu family to the point of being stripped of even your privileges as Deputy Supervisor, and now you come to advise me to take action?"

Master Yan remained calm, even somewhat composed: "Your Highness, please understand. I was merely expressing my indignation on your behalf. The Fu family, a mere newly promoted sixth-rank official, dares to challenge the imperial family?"

The Seventh Prince narrowed his eyes and slowly said, "The Fu family is nothing but ants."

He stood up, his purple-gold python robe fluttering even without wind, and said indifferently, "But what I want to know more is—Master Yan, can you swallow this insult?"

Master Yan smiled slightly, speaking calmly and unhurriedly: "I am old and no longer concerned with short-term gains. It would be a pity if the young prince, through momentary restraint, allowed others to believe that the royal family is easily bullied."

The Seventh Prince stared at him, then suddenly sneered, "Master Yan, what a sharp tongue you have."

He turned and walked towards the palace gate, paused, and said without turning back, "I have my own plans for the Fu family's affairs. As for you..."

"If you really want to use someone else to do your dirty work, you might as well show some sincerity."

As soon as he finished speaking, he strode away, and the palace doors closed silently.

Master Yan sat alone at the table, slowly drinking the cold tea in his cup, his eyes deep and unfathomable.

Some fires only need a single spark.

Inside the main hall of the Zhenshi Division, the dome hangs like a curtain, and nine blue lotus lamps are suspended high above, with ghostly flames burning in their hearts, reflecting the shimmering light and shadows within the hall.

More than thirty jade tables had been set up in the hall, with fragrant spiritual tea and fruits wafting from them. The Golden Core cultivators took their seats one after another, their auras either as deep and solid as mountains or as sharp as swords, intertwining to create a subtle spiritual pressure within the hall, making even the air feel thick and viscous.

"Fellow Daoists, the purpose of today's gathering is twofold: first, to exchange knowledge and resources, and second, to discuss the Dao and prove its principles."

On the main seat, Master Xuan Yang, dressed in a dark gold Daoist robe, held a whisk in his hand. His voice was calm and unhurried, yet like a clear spring, it instantly soothed the restless spirits within the hall.

"Now that we are in this hall, we shall act in accordance with the rules."

As soon as he finished speaking, he waved his sleeve, and the star array pattern in the center of the hall suddenly lit up. A phantom light screen rose from the ground and transformed into a huge "shadow wall". The spiritual patterns on the wall flickered, which could reflect the authenticity of all kinds of spiritual objects.

According to the rules, it starts from the last seat on the left.

Huang Yuehua rose, and with a light wave of her wide sleeves, a crimson jade box appeared on the table. The moment the box opened, the temperature in the hall rose sharply, and a spirit herb, its entire body as red as fire, lay quietly inside, its veins flowing with a molten lava-like luster.

"The Thousand-Year-Old Crimson Phoenix Grass can increase the success rate of condensing a Fire-attribute Golden Core by 20%." Her voice was cold as she glanced at everyone. "Exchange it for a Golden Core auxiliary spirit item of equal Water attribute."

Obviously.

Huang Yuehua's purpose this time was specifically to seek out spiritual items for her clansmen to achieve the Core Formation stage.

Ouyang Qing's eyes flickered slightly, and with a gentle wave of her slender hand, a crystal jade bottle appeared on the table. The bottle was translucent, and one could vaguely see a pool of deep blue water flowing within, like an inverted galaxy, its spiritual energy swirling into mist.

"Taiyi True Water, increases the chance of Core Formation by 25% for those with the Water element." She lightly tapped the bottle with her fingertip, and a drop of water leaped from the mouth, transforming into a towering phantom wave on the reflection wall. "I wonder if Fellow Daoist Huang is satisfied?"

Several low gasps immediately rang out inside the hall.

Huang Yuehua's eyes lit up with joy—this had a 50% higher chance than her Crimson Phoenix Grass!

"Wait!" A red-robed old man suddenly stood up from the seats on the right. "I am willing to offer three..."

"Deal." Huang Yuehua interrupted coldly, a wisp of bluish-gray incense stick flying from her sleeve and landing on the table. The incense stick was only three inches long, yet it faintly revealed dragon scale patterns. Its appearance immediately cleared everyone's minds. "I will make up the extra half-tenth of the price for Fellow Daoist Ouyang with five-hundred-year-old Awakening Incense. This incense can counteract the demonic influence of the Core Formation stage."

With a flick of her sleeve, half of her fragrant body wafted towards Ouyang Qing: "Fellow Daoist Ouyang, what do you think?"

Ouyang Qing reached out and caught it. The moment the refreshing incense touched her palm, a cool sensation ran through her brow. She smiled sweetly, "Fellow Daoist Huang is so generous." The Taiyi True Water Bottle immediately transformed into a stream of light and flew towards the other side.

As the red-robed elder sat down sullenly, Ouyang Qing carefully stored the broken half of the incense stick in her personal jade box. Everyone could clearly see that the broken part of the incense stick had golden threads, which was clear evidence of its superior quality.

...

The next person to be introduced was Ouyang Qing.

With a flick of her sleeve, a jet-black jade box slid out and landed on the table. The box was dull, yet faint dark patterns flowed within it, as if sealing something indescribable.

With a flick of her finger, the jade box opened silently.

Inside the box was a piece of pale white finger bone, with seven blood-red runes wrapped around it. Each rune writhed as if alive, faintly emitting a mournful cry. The temperature inside the hall plummeted, and even the spiritual patterns on the screen wall distorted slightly.

“The finger bone of the ancient evil cultivator ‘Blood Nether Child’.” Ouyang Qing’s voice came through the veil, cold as frost. “This bone contains the ‘Seven Fiends Soul-Locking Curse’, which can curse and kill the soul of a Golden Core cultivator, and can also be refined into a guardian Yin soldier.”

There was a moment of silence in the hall.

Several Golden Core cultivators' expressions changed slightly, and they subconsciously circulated their spiritual power to protect their divine senses—the relics of evil cultivators are often tainted with misfortune, but their power is also unpredictable.

Ouyang Qing closed the jade box, and the bloodthirsty aura immediately subsided. Her gaze swept over everyone, and she slowly said, "I wish to exchange three catties of 'Mysterious Yin Jade Soul' or one drop of 'Nine Nether Cold Marrow'."

As soon as this statement came out, the whole audience was in an uproar.

The Profound Yin Jade Soul is formed from the condensed Yin energy of the earth's veins, and it is only occasionally produced deep within ancient tombs; while the Nine Nether Cold Marrow is a legendary treasure of the Styx River. Both of these items are extremely Yin and extremely cold, and ordinary cultivators avoid them at all costs.

In the corner, a man in black robes who had remained silent raised his head, revealing a pair of eyes that gleamed with a bluish light beneath his hood: "I don't have the Nine Nether Cold Marrow, but I have two jin of 'Mysterious Yin Jade Soul' here."

A fist-sized, grayish-white jade stone flew out from his sleeve. Its surface was covered with honeycomb-like holes, each pore emanating a chilling aura. The illusory image projected onto the screen wall was a mountain of corpses and a sea of ​​blood.

Ouyang Qing's eyes flickered slightly: "Two jin isn't enough."

The man in black robes gave a hoarse laugh and tossed out another jet-black bead: "How about adding this 'Yin Sha Thunder Bead' as well?"

The surface of the bead is crackling with electric light, yet it is an eerie dark green.

Ouyang Qing nodded without hesitation: "Okay."

She pushed the Blood Demon Child's finger bone towards the man in black robes, while simultaneously accepting the Profound Yin Jade Soul and the Yin Sha Thunder Pearl.

...

...

When it was the turn of the Seventh Prince Zhou Xuanming, everyone was very curious. It was said that the Prince's Mansion had more channels for exchanging supplies than they did, so everyone wondered what the Seventh Prince would exchange for.

The atmosphere inside the hall suddenly froze.

All eyes turned to the figure in the purple and gold python robe.

With a flick of his sleeve, Zhou Xuanming, the Seventh Prince, revealed three objects simultaneously on the table:
On the left is a jade scroll gleaming with golden light, its surface wrapped with nine dragon-shaped seals; in the middle is a broken sword, its blade covered in rust, yet faintly revealing flowing blood-red patterns; on the right is a small bronze cauldron, inside which something seems to be colliding, emitting a dull "thump-thump" sound.

"A fragment of the Nine Dragons Heavenly Gang Technique." He lightly tapped the jade slip with his fingertip, and nine dragon shadows coiled and roared on the reflection wall. "It is a secret manual that directly points to the path of the Nascent Soul stage."

The audience erupted in uproar!

The Nascent Soul Transformation Technique—this is a Heavenly Rank Technique!

Even the Zhen Shi Si Jian Zheng Xuan Yang Zhenren and the Yu Shen Si Si Zhu, who were present, had their pupils shrink suddenly.

Master Xuan Yang's whisk trembled slightly as he disregarded his decorum and snatched the jade slip from afar.

A flash of spiritual light appeared between his fingers, and the nine dragon-shaped seals were released instantly.

However, when he scanned the contents of the jade slip with his divine sense, the anxious look on his face froze instantly—the jade slip opened with the three ancient seal characters "Purple Mansion Chapter" clearly engraved, and although the subsequent contents were exquisite, they abruptly ended at the Golden Elixir Chapter.

"Your Highness," Xuan Yang Zhenren said, suppressing his disappointment, as he pushed the jade slip back onto the table. "This incomplete manuscript doesn't even include the Golden Elixir chapter."

The Seventh Prince's lips curled slightly.

Suddenly, a bronze compass flew out from the sleeve of the python robe and hovered above the jade slip.

The compass needle spun wildly, tracing dense, intricate calculations in the void. "Does the True Man know that three hundred years ago, the Master of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion deduced a complete Nascent Soul cultivation technique from only half a fragment of the *Tai Xu Jing*?"

He lightly tapped the compass with his fingertip, and the tracks instantly transformed into golden runes that disappeared into the jade slip:
"If we obtain this incomplete manuscript as a guide, and combine it with the Celestial Compass..."

"Ah."

The head of the Divine Guardian suddenly let out a cold laugh:
"Does the Prince perhaps believe that everyone is the Master of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion?"

He slid a tortoise shell from his sleeve, its naturally formed cracks subtly echoing the missing parts of the jade slip. "The fragments of the Luo Shu treasured by my Imperial Divine Bureau have remained unfinished for five hundred years." The atmosphere in the hall suddenly became subtle.

Several Golden Core cultivators who had initially been envious quickly withdrew their auras—although Heaven-Rank cultivation techniques were good, if they could not be fully developed, they would ultimately be nothing but a mirage.

...

The Seventh Prince's gaze turned slightly cold, and with a hint of reluctance, he took out a dusty, square stone slab from his robes. The surface of the slab was covered with fine cracks, and several dark gold lines could be faintly seen intersecting among them.

"This item was obtained from the secret realm of the Imperial Mausoleum." He lightly flicked the stone shard with his fingertip, producing a dull, metallic sound. "Even a full-force attack from a Nascent Soul cultivator couldn't harm it in the slightest."

The people in the hall scanned it with their divine senses, but all of them showed puzzled expressions - this stone slab had neither spiritual energy fluctuations nor Dao patterns flowing, just like an ordinary piece of gravel.

"I wish to exchange for secret techniques or miraculous elixirs that can improve the quality of the Golden Core."

A few chuckles suddenly rang out in the hall.

Old Master Xu stroked his beard and shook his head:

"Your Highness, are you joking? We'd be too busy using any spiritual item that can improve the quality of a Golden Core; who would be willing to exchange it?"

“Exactly!” The beautiful woman from the Tan family beside her covered her mouth and laughed. “A few years ago, the Heavenly Sword Sect risked the lives of three Golden Core elders for a single ‘Second-Rank Golden Core’ formula.”

Amidst the laughter, the Seventh Prince's expression grew cold. Suddenly, a point of golden light gathered at his fingertips, which he gently touched the dark patterns on the edge of the stone slab.

"Buzz——"

Suddenly, the stone slab emitted a strange resonance, and wisps of golden light seeped from its surface cracks, projecting a fragmented star map onto the reflection wall. Even more astonishingly, the golden cores within all the Golden Core cultivators trembled simultaneously, as if summoned by some unknown force.

The laughter stopped abruptly.

Fu Changsheng's pupils contracted slightly—in the Five Elements Space within his sea of ​​consciousness, the copper bells on the eaves of the mysterious palace swayed automatically without any wind.

“This thing… could it be the legendary Five Elements Primordial Spiritual Object?” Master Xuan Yang examined it closely, then shook his head, somewhat regretfully: “It’s just tainted with the Five Elements aura, what a pity.”

If it truly is a naturally occurring spiritual object.

How could the Seventh Prince be willing to give it up in exchange?

"Although it is not a spiritual object of the Five Elements, this treasure can be used as a guide. In this way, we will have a basis for finding spiritual objects of the Five Elements."

The voice just fell.

Zheng Wanhu from Jingzhou spoke up, "I am willing to exchange it for a fragment of the 'Nine Revolutions of the Golden Elixir'."

Everyone followed the sound.

Zheng Wanhu held a half-page of gold foil between his fingers, densely covered with ancient seal script: "This technique was obtained by me a hundred years ago in the cave of an ancient cultivator. It requires dispersing one's golden core cultivation and using a secret method to rebuild one's foundation."

There was an uproar in the hall.

"Discard your cultivation and start over? Isn't that ruining your future?" Huang Yuehua couldn't help but exclaim.

Zheng Wanhu sneered, and nine illusory golden cores suddenly appeared on the gold foil, arranged from ninth to first grade: "Ordinary golden core cultivators are trapped at their original grade for life. But those who cultivate this technique—" He pointed his finger, and the nine golden cores suddenly shattered and reformed, the last one even jumping three grades, "Each time one disperses their power, the quality of the golden core can increase by one grade!"

On the screen wall, the meridian diagram that appeared when the golden core was reconstituted bore a striking resemblance to the Azure Lotus Refining Elixir Talisman, bearing seven-tenths of its original appearance. Fu Changsheng's gaze narrowed slightly—this was clearly the path of ancient body cultivators!

“Of course,” Zheng Wanhu suddenly put away the gold foil, “If one cannot break through after dispersing one’s cultivation three times, one will die from severed meridians.” He looked meaningfully at the Seventh Prince, “Although it is only an incomplete piece, Your Highness is of noble birth, so I’m sure you can persuade the Eldest Princess to ask that person from the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion to help deduce and perfect it.”

Upon hearing this, the Seventh Prince's face suddenly turned ashen.

“Fellow Daoist Zheng is joking.” His voice was as cold as ice. “Her Highness the Princess is busy with countless affairs of state; how could she trouble herself with such a trivial matter?”

The hall became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Several veteran Golden Core cultivators exchanged glances—everyone knew that since the old Prince's passing, the Eldest Princess had never set foot in the Seventh Prince's Mansion again. The Seventh Prince's Mansion was now nothing more than a fallen royal family living in seclusion in a remote corner.

“Your Highness,” Zheng Wanhu seemed to realize his slip of the tongue and quickly tried to salvage the situation, “I didn’t mean to.”

Suppressing his anger, the Seventh Prince raised his hand to interrupt: "Zheng Wanhu, I am not interested in your incomplete cultivation technique."

talking.

I glanced around.

He was about to sit down.

...

"Your Highness, please wait."

A bluish-green talisman slid from Fu Changsheng's sleeve. The talisman was only three inches long, yet the nine-petaled lotus pattern was faintly visible. The talisman hung three inches above the table, moving without wind, and emitting a faint fragrance of blue lotus.

The Seventh Prince paused, glanced at the seemingly ordinary talisman, and sneered, "Does Patriarch Fu really think he can fool me with just any talisman?"

A few low laughs echoed inside the hall.

Fu Changsheng, unhurried and unhurried, lightly touched the surface of the talisman with his fingertip. In an instant, nine beams of azure light shot out from the talisman, intertwining in the void to form a budding azure lotus. As the lotus petals opened and closed, the sounds of the Great Dao echoed, causing everyone's golden cores to tremble slightly.

"This is--!"

Master Xuan Yang, seated at the head of the table, suddenly stood up. He stared intently at the illusory image of the blue lotus, his voice trembling slightly:

"The Azure Lotus Elixir Tempering Talisman recorded in the *Lingxu Talisman Scripture*? Wasn't this talisman lost for a thousand years?"

The audience erupted in uproar!

Several Golden Core cultivators suddenly stood up, their eyes gleaming. Huang Yuehua crushed the teacup in her hand with a "crack," the spiritual tea soaking into her sleeves without her noticing.

The Seventh Prince's expression changed drastically: "Impossible!"

He suddenly turned to Master Xuanyang, "Master, you must look carefully!"

Master Xuan Yang had already flashed to Fu Changsheng's desk, his hands forming a hand seal. A golden light shot out from between his brows, enveloping the talisman. Within the golden light, the lotus pattern that had been faintly visible on the talisman became even clearer, and a point of golden light at the lotus's heart moved as if it were alive.

"It is undoubtedly the Azure Lotus Refining Elixir Talisman."

Master Xuan Yang sighed deeply, his eyes filled with shock:

"This talisman can refine impurities in golden cores, improving their quality by at least one grade. If used on golden cores below grade three, it may even help them reach the grade one threshold."

The hall erupted in chaos.

"Fellow Daoist Fu!" Old Ancestor Xu slammed his hand on the table and stood up abruptly, "I am willing to exchange half of the *Taiyi Qingnang Shu* for it!"

"I'll offer three drops of ten-thousand-year-old marrow!" A small jade bottle flew out from the sleeve of the beautiful woman from the Tan family, its mouth sealed with seven layers of talismans. "Plus an ancient treasure!"

in a blink.

More than ten rare treasures floated in front of Fu Changsheng's desk, their radiant light illuminating the hall as if it were daytime.

The Seventh Prince's face turned ashen, and he suddenly roared, "Stop right there, all of you!"

The aura of a Golden Core cultivator erupted suddenly, and the nine coiled dragons on his purple-gold python robe seemed to come alive, roaming and roaring in the void. He coldly swept his gaze across the crowd:

"The rules of this exchange meeting are first come, first served. Unless I cannot provide something that satisfies Patriarch Fu, it is not your turn to interfere!"

The expressions of the assembled monks changed.

Ultimately, they dared not confront the royal family directly and had no choice but to reluctantly withdraw the treasure.

The Seventh Prince turned to Fu Changsheng, suppressing his anger, and asked, "What does Patriarch Fu want?"

Fu Changsheng slowly put away the talisman, and the illusory image of the green lotus disappeared: "I want all three items that the Prince just showed me."

"You—!" The Seventh Prince's fists clenched so tightly they cracked. "The incomplete copy of the Nine Dragons Heavenly Gang Technique plus the Five Elements Stone Fragments aren't enough?"

“Of course not.” Fu Changsheng picked up his teacup and took a sip. “I will also trouble the Prince to exchange the incomplete copy of the ‘Nine Revolutions of the Golden Elixir’ from Zheng Wanhu.”

"Snapped!"

The desk of the Seventh Prince shattered with a crack. His eyes flashed with murderous intent: "Fu Changsheng, don't push your luck!"

“If the Prince feels it’s not worth it,” Fu Changsheng said, making a move to stand up, “Old Ancestor Xu’s *Taiyi Qingnang Shu* seems quite good as well.”

"Wait!" the Seventh Prince shouted through gritted teeth, veins bulging on his forehead. He abruptly turned to Zheng Wanhu: "Give me that incomplete manuscript!"

Upon hearing this, Zheng Wanhu's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly. He slowly stroked the half-page of gold foil, feigning hesitation, and said, "Your Highness, this secret technique was obtained by me after countless brushes with death."

A chilling glint flashed in the Seventh Prince's eyes, and the dragon patterns on his purple-gold python robe faintly glowed with bloodlust: "Commander Zheng, what do you intend to do?"

Everyone in the hall held their breath, realizing that Zheng Wanhu was trying to take advantage of the chaos.

"I've heard that the Prince's mansion possesses a bottle of 'Nine-Turn Jade Elixir'," Zheng Wanhu said, narrowing his eyes and gently tracing the gold foil with his fingertips. "If the Prince would be willing to part with it..."

"Insolence!" A golden light suddenly flew from the Seventh Prince's sleeve, transforming into a longsword with dragon patterns that hovered three inches above Zheng Wanhu's head. "Do you know that's a secret treasure of my royal palace?"

The sword's edge flashed with a cold light, and several strands of Zheng Wanhu's white hair silently broke off. But instead of dodging, he smiled and said, "If the Prince is unwilling, this old man will now present the incomplete scroll to the Fu family head."

"You—!" The Seventh Prince trembled with rage, his dragon-patterned longsword vibrating violently. The spiritual pressure within the hall suddenly intensified, and several early-stage Golden Core cultivators turned pale, forced to circulate their inner energy to resist.

Seeing this, True Person Xuan Yang coughed lightly to smooth things over: "Your Highness, please calm down. Fellow Daoist Zheng acted impulsively."

"Good!" the Seventh Prince suddenly roared, his voice shaking the flames of the lotus lanterns atop the palace roof. He flicked his sleeve, and a jade bottle flew through the air towards Zheng Wanhu. "Now, bring me the incomplete manuscript!"

Zheng Wanhu swiftly caught the jade bottle, and after scanning it with his divine sense to confirm its authenticity, the wrinkles on his face smoothed out. He respectfully presented the gold foil, saying, "The Prince is indeed very generous."

The Seventh Prince snatched the gold foil, turned around, and slammed the three items heavily onto Fu Changsheng's desk. His eyes were bloodshot, and he practically spat out the words through clenched teeth: "Now, give me the talisman!"

Fu Changsheng calmly examined the items, paying particular attention to the Five Elements Stone Slab. When his divine sense touched the dark gold patterns within the cracks of the stone slab, the mysterious palace in his sea of ​​consciousness trembled slightly.

"The Prince is quite generous." Fu Changsheng finally handed over the Azure Lotus Refining Talisman.

The moment the Seventh Prince received the Azure Lotus Refining Talisman, a hint of barely concealed elation flashed in his eyes. But soon, his expression darkened, and he coldly surveyed everyone in the hall, especially Fu Changsheng and Zheng Wanhu.

"I have taken note of what happened today." His voice was low, and each word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth.

Fu Changsheng smiled calmly, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Highness is too kind. It's merely a matter of mutual benefit."

The Seventh Prince snorted coldly, flicked his purple-gold python robe, and turned to leave. Everyone in the hall quickly made way for him, no one daring to stop him. Only after he left did the oppressive atmosphere in the hall ease slightly.

Zheng Wanhu toyed with the newly acquired Nine-Turn Jade Elixir, smiling as he looked at Fu Changsheng: "Fellow Daoist Fu, you've certainly had a fruitful day."

Fu Changsheng smiled slightly: "Likewise."

Zheng Wanhu said meaningfully, "However, the Seventh Prince is a vengeful man, so you should be careful, fellow Daoist."

Fu Changsheng nodded: "Thank you for the reminder."

At this moment, True Man Xuan Yang coughed lightly and said loudly:
"The exchange continues, next up—"

Everyone's attention returned to the trade fair, but privately, many people still glanced at Fu Changsheng from time to time, their eyes filled with curiosity.

Inside the hall, a spiritual light swirled, and it was the turn of the beautiful woman from the Tan family.

She gently gathered her hair at her temples, and her wide sleeves unfurled like flowing clouds, revealing an ice crystal jade box that slid out from her sleeves and hovered three inches above the table. As the box lid opened, a wisp of milky white mist coiled out as if alive, transforming into thousands of illusory alchemy furnaces on the screen wall, each containing floating pills.

"Mysterious Jade Dew." She lightly tapped the jade box with her fingertip, and a drop of amber-colored spiritual liquid emerged from the mist, hovering before everyone's eyes. "Taken from the heart of cold jade marrow, it can increase the success rate of fourth-grade spiritual pills by 30%."

Fu Changsheng's eyes flickered slightly—

This is precisely the key auxiliary material that Mei Zhen needs to refine the Nine-Herb Pill! He scanned the drop of spiritual liquid with his divine sense and saw that it contained faint ice crystal patterns, confirming that it was indeed the genuine product.

The beautiful Mrs. Tan looked around at everyone, her red lips slightly parted:
"I wish to exchange this for a thousand-year-old Jade Spring Flower, the stamens of which must have golden patterns."

There was silence in the hall for a moment.

Jade spring flowers are rare to begin with, and those that are a thousand years old are even rarer, let alone those with golden patterns and stamens.

Fu Changsheng tapped the table without making a sound.

A jade box flew out from his sleeve, its surface engraved with the four ancient seal characters "Spring Breeze and Rain". The moment the box opened, a snow-white flower branch slowly unfurled, and nine jade-white petals bloomed in succession. Three golden rays of light in the flower's center twinkled like stars, illuminating half of the hall.

"What a coincidence."

Fu Changsheng gently stroked the flower branch with his fingertips, and a delicate fragrance immediately filled the air. Several Golden Core cultivators felt their spiritual energy in their Purple Mansions instantly cleansed upon smelling it.
"I recently acquired a jade spring flower, which is about 1,200 years old. The golden patterns on the flower stamen have formed the three elements."

The spiritual light inside the hall gradually dimmed, and the transaction between the more than thirty Golden Core cultivators was nearing its end.

...

...

As the last monk put away the spiritual items on the table, everyone's eyes turned to the person in the main seat.

A peculiar scroll, neither silk nor jade, slowly emerged from Xuan Yang Zhenren's wide sleeve.

The scroll, suspended above the screen wall, slowly unfurled on its own.

The material resembles both cicada wings and rosy clouds, with cloud patterns resembling nine orifices flowing across its surface. Within each pattern, there seems to be a phantom of an infant sitting cross-legged, breathing deeply. As the scroll unfolds, the spiritual energy of the entire Zhenshi Temple suddenly converges towards the center like a tide, forming nine small vortexes of spiritual energy above the scroll.

"The Nine Apertures Condensing Infant Elixir Formula".

"Leaving behind the divine imprint left by ancient Nascent Soul cultivators before their passing."

The instant the scroll was fully unrolled.

The nine-aperture cloud pattern suddenly detached from the paper and formed a miniature alchemy furnace in the void.

The nine apertures on the furnace wall flickered, each flash accompanied by a surge of spiritual energy of different attributes. Most astonishingly, there was a blurry nascent soul phantom inside the furnace—though only three inches tall, the pressure of the Great Dao emanating from it caused the Purple Mansions of the Golden Core cultivators present to tremble!
Fu Changsheng's pupils contracted slightly.

"This pill formula requires a total of 360 kinds of spiritual materials." Master Xuan Yang swept his whisk lightly, and densely packed projections of spiritual herbs flew out from the illusory image of the pill furnace. "Among them, there are nine main ingredients, which need to correspond to nine different kinds of acquired spiritual objects."

As the projection swept over everyone's heads, several late-stage Golden Core cultivators suddenly changed color—among the nine main ingredients were rare treasures of heaven and earth such as "Five Elements Spiritual Essence" and "Mysterious Yin Moon Essence," which had long since disappeared.

"I don't ask for much." Master Xuan Yang suddenly closed the scroll, and the myriad phenomena in the sky instantly converged into a line of spiritual light. "Experiences in forming the Nascent Soul, secret techniques, or..." He glanced at everyone, "spiritual objects that can help the Golden Core cultivator break through the Nascent Soul barrier."

You can hear a needle drop in the hall.

An ancient bronze lamp flew out from Xu Laozu's sleeve.

The lamp wick was not burning, but a wisp of green smoke condensed into the shape of a hairpin, lingering three inches above the lamp.

“Left by Master Qingming before his death eight hundred years ago.” Old Ancestor Xu lightly flicked the lamp with his fingertip, and the wisp of green smoke suddenly transformed into a three-inch figure, practicing mysterious hand gestures in the void, “containing the seven secrets of breaking the elixir and forming an infant.”

The shadow wall immediately projected seven layers of illusory tribulations, with tiny figures beneath each layer of tribulation clouds responding with different techniques. When the final tribulation of inner demons descended, the wisp of green smoke split into nine, manifesting nine different methods to overcome the tribulation!
Master Xuan Yang's eyes flickered slightly, but he shook his head and said, "Master Qing Ming's 'Nine Smokes Tribulation Crossing Technique' is indeed a masterpiece, but..." He flicked his whisk, and the illusory image above the lamp suddenly blurred, "This technique requires the cooperation of an innate Dao body. If an ordinary cultivator tries to practice it, I'm afraid he will die ten times out of ten."

Old Master Xu's face immediately darkened.

"I do possess something," the beautiful woman from the Tan family suddenly chuckled, her golden hair ornament fluttering without wind. She parted her lips and released a seven-colored crystal the size of a pigeon's egg. The crystal's surface was covered with honeycomb-like holes, each containing a cluster of different colored spiritual flames burning within it.

"Seven Emotions Fire Seed." She lightly stroked the crystal with her fingertips, and the seven-colored flames suddenly intertwined into a rainbow-like arch. "Taken from the remains of a demon from beyond the realm, it can burn away the inner demons of the Nascent Soul."

The moment the crystal appeared, the palace in Fu Changsheng's sea of ​​consciousness suddenly trembled. He keenly noticed that when the orange flame swept past, Xuan Yang Zhenren's left hand, which was hanging in his sleeve, trembled almost imperceptibly.

“Not enough.” Master Xuan Yang’s voice remained calm. “This item can only deal with the inner demon tribulation; it is of no help to the first six heavenly tribulations.”

The beautiful woman from the Tan family froze on her face and reluctantly put away the crystal.

Next, the head of the Divine Guardian directly presented an ancient bronze mirror.

The back of the mirror was engraved with ancient sacrificial patterns, but the surface was murky like mist. When he wrote a blood curse on the mirror, the mist suddenly dissipated, revealing a blood-red world within the mirror—countless Nascent Soul cultivators were fighting within it, and the ancient mirror absorbed the spiritual light of every fallen Nascent Soul.

"The Infant Nurturing Mirror," the Master said in a hoarse voice, "can nurture a nascent soul for a hundred days, equivalent to a hundred years of arduous cultivation."

Even Master Xuan Yang leaned forward slightly this time. But when his divine sense touched the mirror, he suddenly frowned: "The bloodthirsty aura in the mirror is too heavy, I'm afraid..."

"Who uses this for a proper Nascent Soul cultivator?" Clan Chief Sun suddenly sneered, and a piece of charred, withered wood flew out from his sleeve. The wood looked ordinary, but the moment it appeared, it caused the nine blue lotus lamps on the ceiling to tilt simultaneously—the flames of the lamps bent towards the withered wood as if in worship!
"Thunderclap Wood." A golden light burst from Clan Chief Sun's fingertip and struck the wood. The charred outer layer immediately peeled off, revealing the purple-gold wood grain inside. "This ten-thousand-year-old Thunderclap Wood was struck down by a heavenly tribulation three hundred years ago. It can withstand a Nascent Soul lightning tribulation."

Amidst the uproar, Master Yan, who had remained silent all along, suddenly stood up.

A black ebony box slid out from his sleeve. The box was plain, yet it gleamed with an eerie matte sheen against the backdrop of the screen wall, as if it could devour the surrounding spiritual energy. He did not display it directly, but instead lightly tapped the lid with his fingertip, and a wisp of divine sense quietly drifted toward the main seat.

Master Xuanyang's brows twitched almost imperceptibly.

As the two communicated telepathically, a wisp of bluish-gray mist suddenly leaked from the crack in the box. The mist condensed into a blurry infant's face three inches above the table, vanishing in an instant. Fu Changsheng's pupils constricted sharply—the mist clearly carried the unique Daoist aura of a Nascent Soul cultivator!
"Fellow Daoists," Xuan Yang Zhenren suddenly waved his whisk, extinguishing all the spiritual patterns on the mirror wall, "the Nine Apertures Nascent Soul Pill formula has been assigned to someone."

Old Ancestor Xu, Clan Chief Sun, the beautiful woman from the Tan family, and others were somewhat disappointed. Fu Changsheng also had his eyes opened, discovering that these veteran Golden Core cultivators possessed profound foundations, far exceeding his expectations.

(End of this chapter)