Family Rise: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 522 Promotion, Transformation into a Dragon, Special Lottery
The flames of the blue lotus lamps gradually dimmed, but the spiritual pressure within the hall grew increasingly solid. More than thirty Golden Core cultivators sat upright before the jade table, the teacups on it long since cold, yet no one paid them any attention.

Master Xuan Yang lightly swept his whisk, and the star array patterns hanging from the dome suddenly changed, transforming into a vast meridian diagram suspended in the center of the hall. The diagram contained 360 major acupoints that flickered in and out of focus, with the Tanzhong, Zifu, and Baihui acupoints emitting the strongest golden light.

"Today's discussion will begin with the concept of 'three flowers gathering at the top of the head'."

With a light tap of his fingertip, three phantom images suddenly rose from the meridian diagram—a white lotus above the head, a crimson flame in the chest, and a blue light in the dantian, all connected by golden threads.

"The key to the Golden Elixir lies in the unity of the three treasures: essence, energy, and spirit."

Before he could finish speaking, Old Ancestor Xu suddenly sneered, "Fellow Daoist Xuan Yang, why bother with these old clichés? Which one of you here isn't a Golden Core cultivator? How could you not know the principle of the Three Flowers Gathering at the Top?"

Master Xuanyang was not annoyed, but instead chuckled: "Does Fellow Daoist Xu know why eight or nine out of ten who do not reach the Golden Core stage are stuck at the early stage for life?"

His whisk suddenly exploded into thousands of silver threads, each thread piercing an acupoint on the meridian chart. The previously stable flow of spiritual energy was instantly disrupted, and the three illusory figures trembled violently.

"boom!"

Seven figures suddenly appeared on the screen wall—all images of unranked Golden Core cultivators attempting their breakthroughs. At the moment of their breakthrough, spiderweb-like cracks suddenly appeared on the surface of their Golden Cores.

Fu Changsheng's gaze sharpened.

The direction of those cracks was remarkably similar to the patterns created by the Azure Lotus Refining Elixir Talisman!

"An ungraded Golden Core, with impurities still present, is forcibly forged at the top, like building a tower on sand." A glass bead flew from Xuan Yang Zhenren's sleeve, containing a wisp of dissipating Golden Core spiritual energy. "That was Fellow Daoist Yu Ding back then."

"Enough!" Old Ancestor Xu slammed his fist on the table, which crumbled into dust. His hair and beard stood on end, and his eyes were bloodshot. "The matter of Senior Brother Yu Ding's demise is none of your business, the Zhen Shi Si!"

The atmosphere inside the hall suddenly became tense.

"Fellow Daoist Xu, please calm down." The head of the Imperial Divine Bureau suddenly spoke, a bronze compass sliding out from his sleeve, his voice like the clang of metal: "Fellow Daoist Xuan Yang mentioned this matter only to warn future generations."

As the compass spun, the surging spiritual energy around Old Ancestor Xu was forcibly suppressed back into his body. His face turned ashen, and he finally sat heavily back down in his seat.

Master Xuanyang smoothly changed the subject: "In fact, half of the difficulty in breaking through to the middle stage lies in the improper construction of the 'divine bridge'."

Suddenly, a rainbow bridge appeared on the meridian diagram, its surface as clear as jade, connecting the upper and lower dantian. But when the rainbow bridge extended to the Baihui acupoint, it vanished two inches out of thin air.

"The bridge of divine consciousness requires a natal magic treasure as its foundation." The beautiful woman from the Tan family suddenly chuckled. As the golden hairpin in her hair swayed, a wisp of pink smoke wafted out and condensed into the phantom of a seven-stringed zither in front of her. "Back then, I used the 'Illusory Sound Jade Zither' as a catalyst and completed it in a few years."

Clan Chief Sun scoffed, "You dare boast about your clever tricks in playing the zither?" A beam of blood suddenly shot out from the top of his head, transforming into a three-pronged spear in mid-air. "The true Divine Bridge should be like this spear—unstoppable!"

Where the spear tip pointed, ripples appeared in the void.

Fu Changsheng seemed to be deep in thought.

His chaotic Dao foundation in his Purple Mansion revolves endlessly; if he were to build a bridge...
"Fellow Daoist Fu seems to have a different perspective?" Ouyang Qing suddenly transmitted her voice.

Fu Changsheng lightly tapped the table with his fingertips, and a wisp of the five elements' spiritual energy intertwined in his sleeve to form a miniature arch bridge: "I'm thinking, what if we build a bridge based on the principle of the five elements' mutual generation?"

"No!" Ouyang Qing's pupils constricted sharply. "The five elements of spiritual power clash; the slightest carelessness could..."

Before she could finish speaking, a blinding golden light suddenly burst forth in the center of the hall. The Divine Envoy had appeared before the meridian chart, seemingly out of nowhere.

"You all argue back and forth, but you've forgotten that the Golden Core grade is the most important thing."

He sneered, and a golden pill the size of a longan suddenly appeared in his palm. The surface of the golden pill had five cloud patterns, each containing a chilling pressure.

"A fourth-grade Golden Core!"

Several early-stage Golden Core cultivators gasped in shock. The purity of the spiritual energy emanating from that golden pill was more than ten times higher than that of ordinary Golden Core cultivators.

The Divine Envoy said proudly, "I broke through to the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm three years ago, and the Divine Bridge was formed on its own. Why bother with such trouble?"

"Divine Envoy," Clan Chief Sun suddenly interrupted, "not everyone can condense a mid-to-high-grade Golden Core."

Almost everyone present was a low-grade Golden Core cultivator.

Old Master Xu pointed at the bronze array plate, which was engraved with the trajectory of stars. "If we're talking about breaking through the mid-stage Golden Core realm, the Heavenly Star Pavilion's 'Zhou Tian Yin Ling Array' is the right path."

As the array plate rotated, a vast starry sky appeared on the reflection wall. Each star shot down a beam of light, precisely targeting the vital acupoints on the cultivator's body.

"Refining the Golden Core with the power of the Zhou Tian stars is ten times faster than arduous cultivation!"

Master Xuan Yang shook his head: "The stellar energy is too violent; even Golden Core cultivators below the sixth rank cannot withstand it." He turned to Fu Changsheng, "I've heard that Patriarch Fu is proficient in talismanic arts. Have you ever tried the 'Nine Revolutions Spirit Nourishing Talisman'?"

Fu Changsheng's heart stirred.

The crafting notes for the Azure Lotus Refining Talisman do indeed mention this talisman.
“Nine Revolutions is too dangerous.” Master Yan, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up. “The ‘Three Talents Strengthening Pill’ is a safer option.”

A jade bottle flew out from his sleeve. The moment the fragrance of medicine wafted out of the bottle, the faces of the closest Golden Core cultivators suddenly flushed red—their Purple Mansion spiritual energy had spontaneously circulated through the Small Heavenly Circuit!

The debate began.

Cultivators from various schools—alchemy, artifact crafting, and talisman making—revealed their most prized techniques. Within the hall, spiritual light intertwined, and Daoist principles collided, causing even the azure lotus lamps on the dome to flicker unpredictably.

Fu Changsheng quietly observed everyone performing the magic, but his consciousness quietly sank into his Purple Mansion.

He suddenly had a flash of inspiration.

Five talismans of different colors flew out from the sea of ​​consciousness. The talismans were arranged in mid-air to form a miniature five-colored altar. Five phantom figures emerged in the firelight—Eastern Green Wood, Southern Crimson Fire, Central Yellow Earth, Western White Gold, and Northern Black Water. As the five energies circulated, they actually built a rainbow bridge between the upper and lower dantian!
after awhile.

boom!
The five-colored rainbow bridge collapsed.

However, he vaguely found a way to break through the bottleneck of the mid-stage Golden Core realm.

...

The exchange meeting has ended.

The cultivators inside the hall dispersed in twos and threes.

Fu Changsheng was about to get up.

"Young friend Fu, please wait." Master Xuan Yang's voice transmitted in his ear, "This concerns the position of Imperial Envoy; please proceed to the rear hall for a discussion."

Fu Changsheng's eyes flickered slightly as he followed the boy through layers of restrictions to a secluded side hall. Inside, there was only a table and a futon, with a jade slip floating on the table, emitting a faint blood-red glow.

Master Xuanyang sat cross-legged on a futon, and with a light sweep of his whisk, the surrounding restrictions instantly closed.

With a flick of his finger, the jade slip unfolded, revealing a map of the northern frontier.

Nestled among the rolling mountains, several Miao villages are scattered amidst swirling black mist, where the flickering of witchcraft totems can be faintly seen.

"Young friend Fu, are you still interested in running for the position of Patrol Angel?"

four years ago.

The imperial court issued three mission jade slips, which were respectively kept by the supervisors of the Zhenshi Division in Wuzhou, Qingzhou, and Yunzhou. Whoever finds the entrance to the Xuanming Secret Realm in the Northern Frontier first will become the Imperial Patrol Envoy.

Also.

Those who complete the mission will also have the opportunity to enter the royal vault and choose a treasure.

“Yu Xiaozi and Tuoba Xiong both went to the Northern Frontier three years ago. These two are both prodigies with extraordinary skills.” Xuan Yang Zhenren looked at Fu Changsheng with piercing eyes: “Young friend Fu, if you don’t want to miss this opportunity, you should set off.”

...

...

Baiwuzhai, Northern Xinjiang

As dusk settled, the distant mountains appeared as dark as ink.

Three figures stepped across the boundary marker of Baiwu Village. The leader was as tall and imposing as a mountain, and with each step he took, the ground beneath his feet trembled slightly.

Tuoba Xiong—a once-in-a-century prodigy of the Tuoba clan of Yunzhou, possessing innate divine strength, whose iron fists once shattered the head of a Golden Core demon beast. At this moment, he was shirtless, and dark gold patterns were faintly visible on his bronze muscles, making him resemble a statue of a war god.

"Sixth Uncle, Eighth Uncle, this village is unusually quiet."

Tuoba Xiong lowered his voice, his tone like muffled thunder. He twitched his nostrils slightly, catching a faint, sweet, and metallic scent wafting in the wind—the unique aroma of Gu worms.

Behind him, the Sixth Elder, clad in a grey robe, narrowed his triangular eyes, his withered fingers twirling a bronze divination coin. The coin spun in the air, emitting a faint hum.

"The shaman in the village is performing a blood sacrifice; now is the perfect time to infiltrate. Remember, the White Witch Village is skilled in cultivating the Heart-Nourishing Gu; you must not be contaminated."

The Eighth Elder on the far right suddenly sneered. A jet-black dagger slid from the old man's sleeve, its blade engraved with soul-suppressing runes. "Playing tricks," he licked the blade. "Just grab a shaman and search their soul."

"No!" The Sixth Elder's divination coins suddenly stopped spinning. "The White Witches are different from the Black Miao; they..."

Before the words were finished, a mournful flute melody suddenly echoed from the village.

The three of them changed color at the same time—a sign that the Gu formation had been triggered!
Tuoba Xiong reacted with lightning speed, his fists clashing together, unleashing a golden shockwave. Dozens of invisible Soul-Devouring Gu were knocked down, writhing on the ground and turning into pus and blood. The Eighth Elder's dagger flashed, severing the incoming transparent threads; with each thread severed, a puff of foul-smelling green mist exploded in the air.

"It's the Thousand Threads Gu! Retreat!" The Sixth Elder hurriedly made a hand seal, and three divination coins formed a triangular barrier.

Just then, blood-red runes suddenly lit up on the altar in the center of the village. A hunched old man wearing a drum made of human skin slowly turned around, his empty eye sockets staring straight at them.

Tuoba Xiong's muscles tensed instantly. That wasn't a living person at all—countless insects were clearly wriggling beneath the old man's skin!
"Outsider." The human-skin drum struck automatically, and a hollow echo reverberated from the old man's abdomen. "Die!"

"boom--"

Tuoba Xiong clashed his fists together, unleashing a golden shockwave that pulverized the three incoming Blood Corpse Gu into a bloody pulp. But even more Gu worms surged in from all directions, each gleaming with an eerie metallic luster, their wings emitting a piercing buzzing sound as they flapped.

"Golden Armor Gu!" The Sixth Elder's expression changed drastically, his withered fingers rapidly forming hand seals. "Eighth Brother, protect the Young Master!"

The Eighth Elder chuckled sinisterly, and his black dagger suddenly split into nine shadowy figures, weaving a web of death around the three. Any Gu worms that approached were instantly shredded to pieces. But after the insect corpses fell to the ground, they turned into a foul-smelling blood mist, slowly corroding the protective aura around them.

“These Gu worms… something’s not right!” The Eighth Elder’s pupils contracted slightly, and his dagger began to rust.

Around the village, a dozen or so Golden Core Gu Masters from White Witch Village silently appeared. They wore white robes embroidered with insect patterns, and pale masks on their faces. In the empty eye sockets beneath the masks, tiny silver Gu worms crawled.

The high priest raised his bone staff, and the twelve human skulls hanging from the top of the staff simultaneously opened their mouths, emitting sharp howls.

"what--"

The sound waves struck as if they were real, instantly shattering the Sixth Elder's divination barrier. Tuoba Xiong groaned, blood seeping from his seven orifices, but instead of retreating, he advanced, his battle markings radiating dazzling golden light.

"court death!"

He unleashed his right fist, the force of which transformed into a giant golden elephant that shattered the ground and crushed towards the high priest.

The high priest neither dodged nor avoided the attack, but lightly tapped the target with his bone staff.

"puff!"

The giant elephant phantom suddenly froze, and countless tiny black dots appeared on its body—thousands of Spirit-Devouring Gu were frantically devouring the spiritual energy. In the blink of an eye, the astonishingly powerful fist force was completely absorbed.

"Young Master, be careful!" The Sixth Elder suddenly threw out three bronze coins, which formed the character "遁" (dùn, meaning escape) in the air.

But it's too late.

Suddenly, the ground cracked open, and three blood-red vines as thick as buckets burst forth from the soil. The vines were covered with barbs, and the tips of each barb gleamed with a cold, eerie blue light—it was a deadly poison that could kill on contact with blood!
"Eight Desolate Battle Body!"

Tuoba Xiong roared, his muscles bulging, and ancient golden runes appeared on his skin. He grabbed a vine with both hands and tore it off in two!
But the broken vines sprayed a foul-smelling liquid that splattered on his arm, instantly corroding it to reveal the bare white bones.

"Young Master!"

The Eighth Elder's eyes widened in fury. Suddenly, he bit his tongue, spitting a mouthful of blood onto the dagger. The dagger instantly transformed into a black dragon, roaring as it tore a bloody path through the air.

"Walk!"

Taking advantage of the moment, the Sixth Elder threw out a purple talisman—the [Thousand-Mile Blood Escape Talisman]. The instant the talisman burned, the figures of the three began to blur.

The high priest snorted coldly and slammed his bone staff heavily on the ground.

"Want to leave?"

The totem poles surrounding the village lit up simultaneously, forming a blood-red cage. The streaks of light struck the cage, producing a piercing scraping sound.

"Damn it!" The Eighth Elder's face twisted in pain as he suddenly pulled out a jade box from his robes and crushed it.

A completely black Gu worm flew out of the box, its body covered with golden patterns.

"The Golden Silkworm Gu?!" the Sixth Elder exclaimed in shock. "When did you—"

The Eighth Elder grinned maliciously: "I've been waiting for this day!"

The black-gold Gu worms flapped their wings and flew towards the blood-red cage, frantically devouring the barrier. The High Priest finally paled, hastily forming hand seals to try and retract the Gu array, but it was too late—

"Crack!"

A gap appeared in the barrier, and three streaks of blood-red light shot into the sky, disappearing into the horizon in an instant.

...

...

Demon Suppression Pass - Fu Changlei's Cave
Inside the secluded cultivation room, Fu Changlei slowly opened his eyes, his pupils seemingly reflecting stars. He opened his palm, and a Shadow Gate mask floated silently, Fu Changsheng's telepathic message echoing in his consciousness:

"The Nine Heavens Starry Sky Manual, Golden Elixir Chapter—The Northern Dipper governs death, the Southern Dipper governs life; the celestial stars temper my body. The Purple Mansion transforms into the starry sky, the Golden Elixir absorbs the light of the universe."

The cultivation technique was profound and obscure, yet it caused Fu Changlei's spiritual energy to surge. He murmured, "Does it require a fourth-tier star-level spiritual artifact for assistance?"

Several months later, the stone gate suddenly opened.

"Fourth Elder!"

Fu Qingyun, along with dozens of Fu family members, had been waiting outside. Upon seeing Fu Changlei emerge from seclusion, they all bowed in unison. Fu Qingyun had shed his youthful naiveté, and his brows now held a more composed air.

"How is the clan?" Fu Changlei's gaze swept over these energetic faces, a slight smile playing on his lips.

Fu Qingyun couldn't hide his excitement: "Aunt Yongyao successfully formed her Golden Core half a month ago! The imperial court bestowed Yulin Prefecture as her fiefdom, and now my Fu family has four Golden Core cultivators!" He lowered his voice, "The patriarch said that if we achieve further merits at Zhenmo Pass, the family's advancement to the fifth rank is just around the corner."

Just then, a guard rushed in from outside to report: "Commander, Commander Chi has arrived!"

Fu Changlei strode out to greet him, only to see Commander Chi in full military attire, an imperial command arrow hanging at his waist, laughing loudly, "Brother Fu, the True Lord invites you! Your imperial decree of appointment as commander has arrived!"

-

True Lord's Hall
An incense table was set high, and an imperial edict hung in the air. The True Lord stood with his hands behind his back, flanked by the generals of the Demon-Suppressing Pass. Li Wanhu stood at the head of the right side, a stiff smile on his face.

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Fu Changlei, the Commandant of Zhenmo Pass, has achieved the Golden Elixir and has distinguished himself in battle."

As the True Lord proclaimed the order, a bronze tiger tally slowly flew towards Fu Changlei. Just as he was about to receive it, Li Wanhu suddenly spoke:
“Wait a minute!”

The main hall fell silent.

Li Wanhu cupped his hands and said, "True Lord, you are wise. According to the rules of our Demon Suppression Pass, newly promoted commanders must pass three tests. Although Fellow Daoist Fu is exceptionally talented, he has only recently entered the Golden Core stage."

Commander Chi interrupted with a cold laugh: "When Commander Li was appointed, he didn't seem to have passed even one hurdle, did he?"

"You!" Li Wanhu's face darkened, but he forced a smile, suppressing his anger. "I'm only thinking of the safety of Zhenmo Pass. Besides," he glanced meaningfully at the Fu family members, "the Fu clan is growing increasingly powerful within the pass; if they aren't restrained..."

"fart!"

Fu Changlei roared, unleashing his Golden Core aura! The candles in the hall went out, leaving only the blinding lightning around him: "Li Wanhu! It's one thing for you to ostracize your colleagues, but today you dare to slander my people?"

He took a sudden step forward, causing the ground bricks to crack inch by inch: "You wanted to pass a test? Fine! Today, I'll do it right in front of the True Lord—" Lightning condensed into a spear in his palm, "and first, I'll try to pass through your 'smiling tiger's' gates of hell!"

Li Wanhu's eyes lit up.

Hooked!
They were just looking for an opportunity to get rid of Fu Changlei.

"Enough." The True Lord flicked his sleeve, an invisible force separating the two. He gave Li Wanhu a deep look: "The imperial decree is not to be trifled with." Turning to Fu Changlei, a hint of admiration flashed in his eyes, "Commander Fu, accept the seal."

Fu Changlei knelt on one knee and accepted the tiger tally with both hands: "Your subject receives the decree!"

Huizhou · Jiazhu Mansion
After finishing the Golden Core Exchange Meeting, Fu Changsheng did not linger in Wuzhou City, but directly rode the Azure Dragon back to Huizhou Prefecture.

Roar!
The azure dragon let out a low growl.

They landed slowly outside the herb garden on the back mountain of the mansion. Fu Changsheng walked along the bluestone path, passing through layers of restrictions, and saw Liu Meizhen pruning a century-old jade spring flower in the herb garden.

"Your Madam has emerged from seclusion?" Fu Changsheng approached with a smile, a crystal jade box sliding out of his sleeve. "Let's see what I've brought back."

Liu Meizhen turned and smiled faintly, taking the jade box and gently opening it. Inside, amber-colored spiritual liquid swirled, reflecting in her eyes and making them shine: "Mysterious Jade Dew!" She lightly touched the surface of the liquid with her fingertips, and instantly, milky white mist rose, transforming into countless illusory alchemy furnaces in the void. "With this, the Nine-Herb Pill should be ninety percent guaranteed."

Fu Changsheng stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the light in his Daoist partner's eyes, and said gently, "That child Yong'an has made further progress in alchemy recently. Why don't we let him come back to help you?"

Yong'an was already a fourth-level alchemist and possessed the [Dan Fusion of Myriad Phenomena] technique seed, making him a powerful ally of Meizhen.

Liu Meizhen closed the jade box, her smile undiminished: "I naturally trust Qingru's child." She suddenly winked mischievously, "But if that boy comes, he'll probably plunder our herb garden—last time he refined the Barrier-Breaking Pill, he stole three five-hundred-year-old spiritual herbs."

"That's because Madam is very generous." Fu Changsheng laughed heartily, and two golden talismans flew out from his sleeve. "These two Golden Lotus Condensation Talismans, one for Uncle Fei, and you keep the other."

The talisman hovered in the air, its nine-petaled lotus pattern swirling. Upon hearing that this talisman could increase the success rate of Golden Core formation by 10%, Liu Meizhen's face showed joy and gratitude.

She looked at her husband with affection in her eyes.

I was right to make that choice back then.

"Thank you, my husband." Liu Meizhen waved her hand lightly, putting the talisman into her storage bag. "I'll have someone prepare a third-tier, five-elemental spiritual item." She suddenly looked up. "You're going to the Northern Frontier?"

"Hmm." Fu Changsheng gazed at the northern horizon, his eyes deep. "Yu Xiaozi and Tuoba Xiong have already wasted three years in Miao territory. If they don't set off soon, the position of Imperial Envoy will truly be out of my reach."

“The northern frontier is dangerous. My husband, should we let Yaoyao go with us? If so, there will be someone to look after her.” Liu Meizhen was still a little worried: “This position of patrol envoy is just icing on the cake. When my husband goes to the northern frontier, his own safety should be the top priority.”

"Hmm," Fu Changsheng gently held his wife's small hand and comforted her, "Madam, you don't need to worry too much. I know what I'm doing. However, Yaoyao is still in seclusion. I have already informed Yongxuan that she will come out of seclusion in a few days and go to the Northern Frontier with me."

"So good!"

Liu Meizhen breathed a sigh of relief, because Yongxuan had formed his core earlier than Yaoyao and had now entered the second level of the Golden Core stage. In addition, since he was originally a sword cultivator, his combat power was no less than that of an ordinary mid-stage Golden Core cultivator.

The couple lingered for a moment.

As Fu Changsheng left and returned to his secret chamber, a familiar voice rang in his mind:
"Ding"

"You have gifted three spiritual items to your clansmen, gaining four thousand clan contribution points."

Followed by.

The family contribution value on the panel has been changed.

After closing the magic array in the secret chamber, Fu Changsheng had a thought and entered the Five Elements Space.

The moment Fu Changsheng stepped into the Five Elements Space, a gentle breeze caressed his face.

A muffled "thump" came from afar. The Flying Feather Beast was clumsily patting the Mountain and River Cauldron with its huge claws. With each pat, a layer of blood-red ripples appeared on the cauldron, and the Dragon Blood Tree sapling inside swayed gently.

Qiu Niang, barefoot and dangling in the air, hands on her hips, exclaimed, "Yes, yes, that's it! Push harder!" Suddenly noticing someone approaching, she turned around and exclaimed in delight, "Master!"

Upon hearing the sound, the Feathered Beast looked up, its round, bright eyes immediately lighting up.

It let out a joyful "roar" and pounced with all four paws, but it was tripped by the Mountain and River Cauldron and almost flattened the entire spirit field.

Fu Changsheng rolled up his sleeve and supported the simpleton:

"Slow down."

He casually rubbed its furry ears. The feathered beast immediately squinted its eyes, making a purring sound in its throat, and kept burying its big head in his arms.

"That big oaf has been working really hard lately," Qiu Niang floated over, poking the feathered beast's wet nose with her fingertip. "He's always stealing Blood Jade Fruit—last time he almost ate every last unripe one."

The feathered beast's ears twitched, and it shrank its neck guiltily, digging a small hole in the ground with its claws.

Fu Changsheng chuckled.

He took out a jade box from his bosom.

The box shimmered with a green light, and the marrow essence condensed from the Dragon Transformation Grass was as clear as jade.

"Dragon Transformation Essence!" Qiu Niang carefully took it, then suddenly widened her eyes: "Even Xiao Feifei couldn't cultivate something of this quality! With this, Xiao Qing has a good chance of breaking through to the fourth rank!"

"Roar"

The azure dragon, hovering in mid-air, let out an excited roar. It lowered its head, its lantern-sized golden eyes fixed on the essence of dragon transformation, its scales trembling slightly. It had waited for this moment for far too long.

"Let's set up the formation." Fu Changsheng patted the flying feathered beast. "Go and draw the Northern River Spirit Vein over."

The Flying Feather Beast responded with a roar and flapped its wings, flying into the distance. Despite its usually憨态可掬 (simple and clumsy) appearance, it was exceptionally diligent when working—its four paws landed in specific positions, and with each landing, a burst of spiritual light shot into the sky. Soon, nine spiritual veins coiled like chains above Beichuan.

Qiu Niang's sleeves fluttered, and countless battle flags were planted into the ground:
"Nine Transformations Dragon Formation, activate!"

Nine rings of array patterns appeared on the ground, and the Azure Dragon eagerly coiled itself at the center of the array. When the essence of dragon transformation fell into its mouth, the entire space trembled. The Feathered Beast nervously guarded outside the array, its large tail flaring uneasily, while a hint of envy flashed in its eyes.

"roar--"

The Azure Dragon let out a painful roar, and its hundred-zhang-long body began to twist violently.

Its blue scales began to peel away one by one, revealing newly formed golden scales underneath. Each new scale shimmered with a metallic sheen, and fine dragon patterns were faintly visible at the edges.

Fu Changsheng's gaze was solemn.

A tremendous change was taking place within the Azure Dragon's body:
The originally blue dragon bones gradually turned jade-like, and the blood flowing in its marrow turned from red to gold. Three unformed dragon claws pierced through its abdomen, dripping with golden blood. Most astonishingly, there was a bulge on its forehead—a piece of crystal-clear dragon horn was breaking through the skin!

Qiu Niang's hands continued to perform incantations.

The Nine Transformations Dragon Formation shone with dazzling golden light, frantically drawing in spiritual energy from within a hundred miles, forming a massive vortex of spiritual energy above the Azure Dragon's head.

The feathered beast nervously pawed at the ground, creating several deep trenches.

At this moment, a series of bulges appeared on the back of the Azure Dragon, indicating that the dragon spine was taking shape!
"Boom!"

The Nine Transformation Dragon Formation suddenly shone with a blinding light, and the nine spiritual vein chains tightened simultaneously.

The azure dragon writhed in agony, each scale peeling away to reveal newly formed golden dragon scales beneath. Its tail began to fork, gradually transforming into a true dragon tail.

Suddenly, Qiu Niang cried out, "Mysterious Yin True Water, come!"

The jade bottle in her hand tipped over, and a drop of dark blue liquid flew towards the azure dragon. The moment the true water touched the dragon's body, the azure dragon's entire body burst into ice-blue flames, and the speed at which its old and new scales changed accelerated slightly.

Several days passed.

The changes in the Azure Dragon subsided, its breathing became long and even, and its aura slowly increased at a visible rate.

Fu Changsheng observed for a few more days and saw that the spiritual energy in the Azure Dragon's body was circulating smoothly and that the essence of the dragon transformation was gradually merging into its bloodline, so he nodded slightly.

"It seems it will take some more time." He turned to Qiu Niang and said, "You stay here and watch over it until it has fully refined the essence, then help it break through to the fourth rank."

Qiu Niang gave a playful bow: "Master, rest assured, Xiao Qing will definitely succeed in transforming into a dragon this time!" Her eyes darted around, and she added, "However, if its breakthrough is too disruptive and destroys the naturally growing medicinal herbs of Beichuan, Master, please don't blame me."

The Flying Feather Beast let out a "roar" and nuzzled Fu Changsheng's arm with its big head, as if to assure him that it would help keep an eye on things.

Fu Changsheng chuckled and ruffled the feathered beast's fluffy head: "The biggest help you can give is if you steal a few less spirit fruits."

The feathered beast's ears twitched, and it immediately withdrew its paws, pretending to sit obediently to the side, but its eyes still couldn't help but glance in the direction of the spiritual medicine.

Fu Changsheng didn't linger any longer. He took one last look at the Azure Dragon, which was refining the essence. Seeing that its aura was stable, he turned around and left the Five Elements Space.

Next, he should head to northern Xinjiang.

Just now.

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

"Congratulations on your clone Fu Changlei's promotion to commander. You have been granted a special lottery chance. Would you like to redeem it?"

Chang Lei got promoted?!

He was one step ahead of him.

Fu Changsheng's eyes lit up with joy, and he focused his mind on the "Special Lottery" option on the panel.

"exchange."

hum-

The panel burst into golden light, and countless ancient runes swirled like stars, eventually coalescing into a bronze roulette wheel. The wheel was engraved with obscure Daoist patterns, and within each of its twelve compartments floated the phantoms of different treasures: a crimson flying sword, a jade scroll, and a pill furnace.
The roulette wheel began to spin rapidly, and finally the pointer stopped on a pattern surrounded by blue light.

"This is.?"

The storage bag suddenly sank, revealing a bronze box. The box was three feet long, covered with lightning patterns, and had a purple-gold talisman pasted on its opening. A muffled thunder could be faintly heard emanating from within.

Fu Changsheng lightly tapped his fingertip, and the talisman ignited without wind.

"boom!"

A bolt of blue lightning cleaved open the box lid, and the entire wooden house was instantly filled with blinding lightning.

When the light faded, a uniquely shaped spear lay quietly inside the box.

The spear is nine feet long, its body carved like green jade, with naturally formed spiral lightning patterns on its surface; the spearhead is not metal, but a section of crystal-clear purple stone, with a moving lightning bolt sealed inside.

The moment he gripped the spear shaft, lines of information appeared!

[Heavenly Punishment Thunder Spear]

[Tier 4, Low Grade (Upgradeable)]

Material:
Spear shaft - core of a ten-thousand-year-old lightning-struck Jianmu tree
Spearhead - Heavenly Tribulation Lightning Essence (containing a trace of the true meaning of Heavenly Tribulation Lightning)

【characteristic:
I. Breaking the spell: Ignoring protective auras below the third tier.
II. Heavenly Might: Attacks are accompanied by a thunderous shock.

3. Thunder Absorption: Can absorb the power of thunder to strengthen itself.

[Hidden Ability: For each Golden Core cultivator killed, the user can absorb their Golden Core Thunder Pattern (currently 0/40)]

Fu Changsheng's pupils contracted slightly. The most terrifying aspect of this spear was its "growth potential" attribute—if it could collect nine different Golden Core Thunder Patterns, it might even be able to advance to a fifth-tier spiritual treasure!

He lightly swung his spear, leaving fine streaks of lightning in the air where the spear tip passed. Even more remarkably, the Heavenly Punishment Lightning Spear seemed to be perfectly suited to the Ancient Origin Thunder Scripture he cultivated.

"The prizes are great this time."

Fu Changsheng's lips curled slightly, and suddenly he thrust his spear into the void with a backhand motion—

"Crack!"

The testing stone, ten zhang away, shattered instantly, its broken surface charred black, with tiny lightning snakes writhing among the rubble. This attack used no spiritual power; it was purely the inherent power of the spear!

Just then, the sound of flapping wings came from outside the wooden house. The large head of the feathered beast squeezed open the window and peered out curiously. When it saw the thunder spear, its feathers bristled and it turned and ran away.

Fu Changsheng chuckled.

Jingzhou · Yu Family Residence
Fu Yong'an sat upright in his study, holding a communication jade talisman between his fingertips. When he scanned the contents of the talisman with his divine sense, his pupils suddenly contracted.

"Nine-Herb Pill?!"

He suddenly stood up, and the teacup on the table was overturned by his sleeve, spilling tea all over the floor.

"Master?" The old steward who was guarding the door pushed the door open upon hearing the voice, only to see that Fu Yong'an, who was usually calm and composed, had an unusually surprised expression.

Fu Yong'an took a deep breath, slowly put down the jade talisman, his eyes still filled with shock: "Father actually wants to refine the Nine-Herb Pill?"

Upon hearing this, the old steward gasped in shock: "But is that the Nine-Herb Pill that can help cultivators form their Core?"

Fu Yong'an nodded, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the edge of the jade talisman: "This elixir harmonizes Yin and Yang, and can be taken regardless of the cultivation method. It is a top-grade spiritual item for Core Formation." He gave a bitter smile, "My Yu family has exhausted all its resources over the years, and we still haven't been able to find even a formula for an elixir that can assist in Core Formation."

He looked out the window, his gaze distant.

A treasure like the Nine-Herb Pill would be enough to cause fierce competition among major powers in the cultivation world, potentially even sparking a bloody war. Yet, Father could easily produce the materials to refine it; this demonstrates his profound knowledge and resources.
"Pass down the order." Fu Yong'an suddenly turned around, his voice steady and powerful. "For the next few months, the Third Elder will temporarily manage the clan's affairs. All Yu family members currently residing outside the clan are to be recalled, and security in the clan's territory will be strengthened."

The old steward bowed and replied, "The master wants it."

"Let's go to Huizhou." Fu Yong'an's eyes gleamed. "This alchemy session is also an opportunity for the Yu family."

He clenched his fist secretly.

The Fu family, under his father's control, was already a sixth-rank aristocratic family, while the Yu family, which he himself led, was still hovering around the eighth rank. This opportunity to observe the refining of the Nine-Herb Pill was an immense chance for the Yu family!

Several days later, the Jingzhou teleportation array lit up with a dazzling white light.

Fu Yong'an, dressed in a plain long robe with the Yu family token hanging at his waist, calmly stepped into the formation. As the formation activated, his figure gradually blurred.

...

Huizhou Prefecture Teleportation Hall

"Buzz——"

As the light from the array faded, Fu Yong'an straightened his robes and stepped out. A steward from the Fu family was already waiting nearby; upon seeing him, he immediately stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Young Master Yong'an, the mistress is already waiting in the alchemy room."

Fu Yong'an nodded slightly: "Thank you for leading the way."

Passing through numerous courtyards, the fragrance of herbs grew stronger. When the door to the alchemy room was pushed open, Liu Meizhen was standing in front of the Taiyi Dragon and Phoenix Divine Cauldron, her fingertips swirling with seven-colored spiritual light.

"Yong'an's here?" she said with a smile without turning her head. "Perfect timing, this Nine-Leaf Crimson Gold Ganoderma has just reached the right stage of its cultivation."

Fu Yong'an stepped forward, his gaze falling on the divine cauldron: "The Mistress's 'Seven Apertures Spirit Tempering Technique' is becoming increasingly exquisite."

Liu Meizhen then turned around and looked him over: "You've become even more composed over the years."

With a gentle wave of her hand, the jade box on the table opened, revealing a scroll of elixirs gleaming with golden light. Runes flowed across its surface, accompanied by faint sounds of dragons roaring and phoenixes singing.

"The Nine-Leaf Ganoderma Pill takes the nine-leaf red gold Ganoderma as the main ingredient, supplemented with Xuan Yu Condensed Dew to harmonize the five elements, and then uses Cold Marrow Liquid to stabilize Yin and Yang."

She lightly touched the prescription with her fingertips.

In a flash of inspiration.

The words on the prescription transformed into phantom images, evolving into the steps of alchemy in the void:
"The key lies in the 'Seven Revolutions to Condense the Elixir' method, which requires using divine sense to separate seven strands while simultaneously refining the medicinal properties. If one is not careful, the medicinal power will become unbalanced."

Fu Yong'an focused intently, observing the subtle tremors within his body caused the [Dan Fusion of Myriad Phenomena] Dharma Seed to tremble. Every rune and every change in medicinal properties on the pill formula flowed into his sea of ​​consciousness like water, merging with his alchemy experience.
"Mistress, could the 'Seven Revolutions to Condense the Elixir' method be further refined by using the principle of the five elements' mutual generation? Crimson metal is fire, and black jade is water. If we use wood spirit as a bridge, the fusion of water and fire will be more stable."

"Not bad! You saw the key point at a glance."

With a flick of her sleeve, Liu Meizhen caused the Taiyi Dragon and Phoenix Divine Cauldron to hum, and phantom images of dragons and phoenixes appeared on its surface. Within the cauldron, a fire of elixir spontaneously ignited, splitting into seven colors, burning brightly yet not intensely.
"In that case, let us join forces. I will focus on refining the seven orifices of the spirit, while you will manage the harmony of the five elements."

Fu Yong'an nodded, his hands forming a hand seal. A wisp of azure wood spiritual energy surged from his fingertips, winding around the crimson golden fungus. Liu Meizhen closed her eyes and concentrated, her seven orifices working in perfect harmony. Her divine sense split into seven strands, like seven spiritual snakes probing into the cauldron, precisely enveloping the medicinal herbs and beginning the refining process.

The red gold fungus slowly melted in the cauldron, the medicinal liquid flowing like red gold, burning fiercely like fire.

Liu Meizhen's seven strands of divine consciousness acted like seven nimble hands, sometimes kneading, sometimes lifting, removing impurities from the medicinal liquid bit by bit. Fu Yong'an, on the other hand, maintained the balance of the five elements, using the spiritual energy of the green wood as a guide to harmonize the fire, ensuring that the medicinal power was neither too hot nor too cold.

"Second Transformation, Entering the Mysterious Jade Dew!" Liu Meizhen shouted softly.

With a flick of his sleeve, Fu Yong'an sent the amber-colored spiritual liquid from the jade box flying into the cauldron. The moment it touched the Crimson Gold Ganoderma lucidum liquid, a hissing sound came from inside the cauldron, and mist rose as the liquid began to separate into layers.

"Cold Marrow Liquid, stabilize!" Fu Yong'an reacted quickly, sending a drop of dark blue cold marrow into the liquid, instantly calming the agitated medicinal properties.

The two worked together seamlessly.

The alchemy process is halfway complete.

Fu Yong'an suddenly felt a jolt in his sea of ​​consciousness. The [Dan Fusion of Myriad Phenomena] Dharma Seed shone brightly, and the alchemical fire, medicinal liquid, and spiritual patterns before his eyes flowed like a galaxy, every change clearly discernible. He entered a profound state.

The method in his hand changed.

The originally stable spiritual energy of the green wood suddenly split, wrapping the medicinal liquid layer by layer like a net, with each wisp of spiritual energy precisely locking in the medicinal power, preventing it from leaking out in the slightest.

"This boy's talent in alchemy is truly terrifying!" Liu Meizhen noticed something amiss and glanced to the side. She saw that Fu Yong'an's eyes were like stars and his body was surrounded by alchemical aura, clearly indicating that he had entered a state of enlightenment.

She immediately adjusted her rhythm, her seven senses became even more refined, and in conjunction with Fu Yong'an's state of enlightenment, she refined the medicinal liquid to its ultimate perfection.

Ten days are approaching.

The medicinal liquid inside the cauldron had condensed into three clusters of spiritual light, like three small suns, floating within the cauldron. Liu Meizhen and Fu Yong'an simultaneously finished their hand seals, and the cauldron lid slammed shut with a "boom." The phantom images of dragons and phoenixes coiled around the cauldron, emitting a clear and melodious chant.

"open!"

The moment the cauldron lid was lifted, three golden rays shot into the sky, and the dome of the alchemy room reflected a seven-colored glow. The rich aroma of medicine solidified and transformed into a spiritual mist that permeated the air. Three golden pills, each the size of a dragon's eye, floated in the air. Two of them had dragon-like patterns on their pills and faintly flowed with Daoist energy, clearly indicating that they were of superior quality!

"Three full-grade pills... two of them are of superior quality!"

Liu Meizhen could not hide her joy; even the usually composed woman couldn't help but smile.

Fu Yong'an awoke from his moment of enlightenment, and seeing this, he was also deeply moved. He cupped his hands and said:
"Congratulations, Madam! With the completion of this pill, my Fu family will gain three more Golden Core cultivators!"

Liu Meizhen rolled up her sleeves and placed three Nine-Ganoderma Pills into a jade bottle, her smile gentle and warm.
"If it weren't for your sudden enlightenment and assistance, how could it have been so perfect? ​​Your understanding of the harmony of the five elements in this alchemy has benefited me greatly as well."

Fu Yong'an humbly replied, "The key is the mistress's Seven Aperture Spirit Tempering Technique; I merely added the finishing touch."

After the initial joy subsided, Liu Meizhen regained her composure and pondered, "During this alchemy process, I discovered that if the Seven Apertures Spirit Tempering Technique is combined with the Five Elements Bridging Technique, the efficiency can be increased by another 30%. Perhaps I can try this next time I refine pills."

Fu Yong'an nodded: "I also have a deep understanding. The path of alchemy is not about forcing the purity of medicinal power. Sometimes, the method of mixing can stimulate a deeper level of medicinal properties."

(End of this chapter)