Family Rise: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 525 Spiritual Body, Lawless Land, Adding Another Golden Core

The council hall of Black Witch Village.

Wu Jiuyin, seated high in the main seat, said, "Seventh Elder, repeat what you saw."

The Seventh Elder, his body hunched over, spoke in a hoarse voice: "Reporting to the Chieftain, White Witch Village has built a bone altar in the center of the Xuanwu Dead Zone, and has sacrificed at least two thousand people in the past few months. Sacrificing a few hundred more will open the entrance to the ancient witch god's legacy."

Wu Jiuyin's gaze swept over the dozen or so elders in the hall. "What do you all think?"

The Fourth Elder was the first to rise, his eyes flashing with a fierce light: "Chieftain, is there even a question? White Witch Village has clearly found the inheritance of an ancient witch god! Three hundred years ago, they obtained only half a page of a fragmented scripture, and it already suffocated us. If they were to obtain the complete inheritance..."

"The Fourth Elder is absolutely right," the Fifth Elder added ominously. "I suggest we send troops immediately, before they fully activate their inheritance, and strike first!"

A murmur rippled through the hall, but the Sixth Elder remained silent. Wu Jiuyin's gaze fell upon him: "Sixth Elder, do you have any insightful opinions?"

The Sixth Elder slowly opened his eyes, a flickering eerie fire within them: "I have only one question—where did that Blood Gu message come from?"

The hall fell silent.

Cold sweat beaded on the Seventh Elder's forehead: "This... according to Wu Qi, the source cannot be traced."

“Interesting.” The Sixth Elder’s withered fingers rubbed his bone staff. “Just when our relationship with White Witch Village is at its most tense, someone sends us this kind of intelligence.”

Wu Jiuyin sneered: "Does the Sixth Elder suspect someone has set a trap?"

Don't wait for the other person to respond.

Wu Jiuyin continued:

"Regardless of who delivered the message, the important thing is that the White Witch Village is indeed making a major move in the Xuanwu Dead Zone. Whether the Witch God's legacy truly exists, or what the White Witch Village is plotting, we cannot let them succeed."

"Pass down the order: the entire village is to prepare for battle! At midnight three days from now, we will march on the Xuanwu Death Domain! Before that, please have the Holy Maiden consult the gods again."

Since the deaths of the First Elder, Second Elder, and Third Elder in Yulin Prefecture, no one has been able to suppress the chieftain, who has become even more autocratic.

A hint of impatience flashed in the Sixth Elder's eyes, but he still couldn't help but remind him:
"Chief, the Holy Maiden's last spell damaged our very essence; forcibly praying to the gods again could lead to unforeseen consequences."

“Those who accomplish great things always have to make sacrifices,” Wu Jiuyin said with an air of righteous indignation. “If Baiwu Village truly obtains the ancient inheritance, our entire village will be destroyed. Now is not the time to worry about personal gains and losses.”

...

...

Dozens of miles outside the Xuanwu Death Zone, on an inconspicuous little hill.

Fu Changsheng sat cross-legged within the concealment formation. Through the vision of the Soul-Devouring Insects, he could clearly see the defenses within the Dead Zone—nine late-stage Golden Core cultivators were guarding nine array platforms, and beside the central white bone altar, a high priest wearing a bronze mask was casting a spell.

"Father, how is the situation?" Fu Yongxuan asked in a low voice, his hand on the hilt of his sword, ready to strike at any moment.

Fu Changsheng withdrew his divine sense, a slight smile playing on his lips: "The Black Witch Village has taken the bait and will send troops in three days. As for the White Witch Village, the High Priest is preparing a blood sacrifice; it seems they intend to forcibly activate something."

"Blood sacrifice?" Fu Yongxuan frowned.

"Yes, at least two thousand living people." Fu Changsheng's voice turned cold. "The White Witch Village captured many cultivators and used their life essence as sacrifices."

A hint of reluctance flashed in Fu Yongxuan's eyes: "Are we just going to watch like this?"

“Wait.” Fu Changsheng’s gaze was profound. “Only when the two strongholds are fighting will we have a chance. If we act rashly now, we will only become the target of everyone’s attacks.”

He took out a golden talisman from his storage bag: "This is the 'Concealing Heaven Talisman,' which can hide one's aura for twelve hours, making it difficult for those below the Nascent Soul stage to detect. We'll use this to infiltrate when they start fighting."

...

...

a few days later.

The outer perimeter of the Xuanwu Death Domain.

Wu Jiuyin stood atop a withered ancient tree, his black robe blending seamlessly with the night. Behind him, nine Golden Core elders stood silently like ghosts, each with a uniquely shaped natal Gu at their feet.

“Seventh Elder.” Wu Jiuyin’s voice was deep and resonant, like a venomous insect wriggling underground.

The Seventh Elder stepped forward, the snake-shaped tattoo on his neck gleaming eerily in the moonlight: "Chief, all the White Witch Village's sentries have been eliminated."

Wu Jiuyin's lips curled into a cold smile as he took out a small black banner, about the size of a palm, from his robes. The banner was embroidered with dense patterns of Gu worms, from which faint, mournful howls could be heard.

"A Nascent Soul-level magical treasure—the Myriad Gu Banner." A greedy glint flashed in the eyes of the Eighth Elder, Wu Li. "The chieftain is actually willing to use this treasure?"

Wu Jiuyin's withered fingers lightly stroked the banner: "That old codger from White Witch Village has reached the Great Perfection of the Golden Core stage, and he's also aided by the Bronze Ghost Mask. Without a swift and decisive strike, how can we break through his defenses?"

He turned to the elders: "Remember, this battle has two objectives—kill the High Priest and seize the inheritance! Leave no White Witch Village cultivator alive!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Wu Jiuyin suddenly bit his tongue, spitting a mouthful of blood onto the black banner. The small banner grew upon contact with the blood, instantly transforming into a three-zhang-long giant banner. Countless black wisps of energy surged from the banner, transforming into countless gold-devouring gu that filled the sky, emitting a chilling buzzing sound.

"kill!"

At Wu Jiuyin's command, the Black Witch Village members charged towards the center of the Dead Zone like arrows released from a bow. The Myriad Gu Banner cleared the way, and wherever it passed, the poisonous miasma traps set up by the White Witch Village melted away like ice and snow.

In the center of the dead zone, on the altar of bones, the high priest, wearing a bronze mask, suddenly looked up, his pupils contracting beneath the mask:
"Enemy attack!"

He slammed his skull scepter heavily on the ground, and the Golden Core cultivators on the nine array platforms simultaneously opened their eyes. However, before they could fully activate their defensive formations, a massive swarm of Gold-Eating Gu had already surged in like a tidal wave.

"It's the Myriad Gu Banner! Has the Black Witch Village gone mad?" a white-robed cultivator exclaimed in shock.

Before the words were even finished, the three Golden Core cultivators guarding the outer perimeter of the White Witch Village were already surrounded by a swarm of Gu worms. These Gold-Eating Gu worms resembled beetles, but possessed sharp mouthparts, easily piercing through the spiritual energy shield and burrowing into the cultivators' seven orifices.

"Ah—" Amidst screams, the three Golden Core cultivators withered away at a visible speed, and in the blink of an eye, only three emaciated corpses remained.

A flicker of horror crossed the high priest's eyes, followed by a fierce shout: "Activate the Blood Fiend Gu Formation! The rest of you, defend the altar to the death!"

He suddenly ripped a blood-red leather pouch from his waist and threw it into the air. The pouch exploded, and countless blood-red flying ants surged out, engaging in fierce combat with the Gold-Eating Gu of the Black Witch Village.

At the same time, the nine array platforms lit up with a blinding blood-red light, forming a light screen. Within the light screen, countless illusory images of Gu worms appeared, trapping the two Black Witch Village elders who were at the forefront.

"Despicable!" roared the Black Witch Village shaman, watching helplessly as his two companions were corroded by the blood-red light, red blisters rapidly growing on their skin, which then burst open, oozing foul-smelling pus and blood.

Upon seeing this, Wu Jiuyin not only wasn't angry, but instead gave a sinister smile: "As expected, you had a backup plan."

He formed hand seals, and the Myriad Gu Banner swelled once more, revealing a hideous ghost face on its surface that spewed out dark green poisonous mist. Wherever the poisonous mist passed, even the air itself sizzled and corroded.

Not to be outdone, the high priest's bronze mask suddenly lit up, forming a strange rune. Behind him, a phantom of a three-headed, six-armed sorcerer god appeared, each arm wielding a magical artifact, facing the poisonous fog.

The two forces collided in mid-air, unleashing a deafening roar. The shockwave swept through, snapping all the trees within a hundred feet radius and scraping three feet off the ground.

Taking advantage of this brief moment, Wu Jiuyin flashed through the defenses and arrived below the altar. He glanced around and saw nine prisoners chained together beside the altar, each with a blood-red rune drawn on their chest.

"Still want to continue the blood sacrifice?" Wu Jiuyin sneered, a dark light flying out from his sleeve, aiming straight for the high priest's throat.

The high priest hastily dodged, his bronze mask grazed by the dark light, leaving a deep crack. He roared, "Second Priest, complete the blood sacrifice!"

Upon hearing this, the second priest, wearing a silver mask, swung his sword without hesitation at the nine prisoners on the altar. Their corpses fell into the blood pool at the same time, stirring up a towering wave of blood.

"boom!"

The entire dead zone suddenly trembled violently, countless cracks appeared in the ground, and dark red light shone through the earth. The runes on the bone altar lit up one by one, eventually converging into a blood-red pillar of light that shot straight into the sky.

"Hahaha!" The high priest's laughter, hidden behind his mask, was maniacal. "The legacy of the Witch God will ultimately belong to White Witch Village!"

Rumble!
Just now.

The crimson pillar of light suddenly twisted, forming a massive vortex. A terrifying suction force erupted from it, and the second priest, who was directly in the vortex, was sucked in before he could even react.

"this"

This was not what he expected.

This doesn't look like the entrance to a secret realm at all.

The high priest looked up in astonishment.

Wu Jiuyin's eyes flashed with greed, and disregarding his own elders, he was the first to rush into the vortex. A Black Witch Village cultivator who was blocking his way was casually slapped away by him, coughing up blood and collapsing to the ground.

"Chieftain!" the Seventh Elder exclaimed, only to see Wu Jiuyin plunge into the vortex without turning his head.

Seeing this, the high priest gritted his teeth and followed: "Everyone from White Witch Village, follow me into the secret realm!"

The vortex grew larger and larger, and countless poisonous insects and scorpions crawled out from the cracks in the ground, only to be swept into it. The cultivators from both villages were either sucked into the secret realm in terror or fled in panic.

A young disciple of the White Witch Village was so frightened that his legs went weak and he knelt on the ground: "No, I don't want to go in!"

Before he could finish speaking, a crack spread to his feet, engulfing him. Amidst screams, blood gushed from the crack, adding to the horrific scene.

As the last cultivator was sucked in, the vortex suddenly contracted, then exploded with a deafening roar. The violent energy swept across the entire Xuanwu Dead Zone, leveling the bone altar to the ground.
...

...

When Wu Jiuyin regained consciousness, he found himself standing on a dark red wasteland. There was no sun or moon in the sky, only clusters of will-o'-the-wisps floating in the air, casting a pale light.

"Is this the place where the God of Witchcraft passed down his legacy?" he muttered to himself, cautiously looking around.

The Myriad Gu Banner had shrunk to the size of a palm, which he clutched tightly in his hand. But he immediately discovered that he couldn't mobilize his internal magical power; at this moment, he was no different from an ordinary mortal.

"what happened?"

A hint of panic flashed across Wu Jiuyin's face.

Just now.

A faint sound came from afar.

A moment later, a White Witch Village cultivator staggered over, a deep wound on his chest that exposed bone.

"Damn it, I actually got separated from the High Priest." The cultivator spat out a mouthful of blood, took out a jade bottle from his robes, poured out a few pills, and swallowed them.

A cold glint flashed in Wu Jiuyin's eyes as he silently approached. Just as he was about to make his move, the ground suddenly bulged up, and a giant python as thick as a water bucket burst out of the earth, biting down on the head of the White Witch Village cultivator!
"Ah!" The scream abruptly stopped as the giant python snapped its jaws shut, separating the cultivator from his head.

Wu Jiuyin's pupils contracted slightly as he recognized it as the legendary "Earth Dragon Gu," an ancient Gu worm that had long been extinct. He held his breath and slowly retreated.

After swallowing its prey, the giant python cautiously scanned its surroundings with its three glowing green eyes before slowly sinking into the ground.

Wu Jiuyin waited a long time before daring to move, his heart filled with shock and fear: "I can cultivate Earth Dragon Gu, but I can't use any magic power. What kind of hellish place is this?"

...

...

Fu Changsheng was awakened by a sharp pain.

He opened his eyes and found himself lying on his back on a patch of dark red sand. The sky was a sickly purplish-red, devoid of sun, moon, and stars, with only a few floating phosphorescent lights casting a faint glow. Even more strangely, he could not feel a trace of spiritual energy flowing within his body, and even his connection to the Five Elements Space had been severed.

"Hmm." He tried to sit up, but found something heavy pressing on his chest.

Looking down, he saw a female cultivator dressed in Black Witch Village attire lying on top of him. The woman's face was as pale as paper, and there was a trace of blood at the corner of her mouth, indicating that she had been injured when entering the secret realm.

Fu Changsheng carefully pushed her away and checked his own condition.

Aside from having no spiritual power, his body was otherwise unharmed. His storage bag was still at his waist, but when he tried to open it, it wouldn't open.

"It seems there's something strange about this secret realm; even storage artifacts are disabled," he muttered to himself, his gaze sweeping around.

This was a boundless wasteland, the ground covered with dark red gravel that crunched slightly underfoot. In the distance, several strangely shaped stone mountains could be vaguely seen, their forms resembling twisted human bodies, sending chills down one's spine.

A soft murmur came from behind.

Fu Changsheng turned around and saw that the female cultivator from the Black Witch Village had woken up. She looked to be in her early twenties, with a beautiful face, and was currently frantically checking her condition. When she discovered that she could not mobilize her spiritual power, a trace of fear flashed in her almond-shaped eyes.

"Who are you?" Upon seeing Fu Changsheng, the female cultivator immediately took a few steps back warily, raising her short dagger. "You're not from the Black Witch Village!"

Fu Changsheng didn't answer immediately, but instead carefully observed her. The woman was not tall, only reaching his shoulder. The Black Witch Village's clothing looked somewhat loose on her, adding to her delicate appearance. She had a pair of very special eyes, with rare amber pupils that resembled two drops of solidified honey in the dim red light of the day.

“Fu Feiyu.” He briefly gave his name, then asked, “Do you know where this is?”

The female cultivator paused, seemingly surprised by the other party's directness. She bit her lower lip: "I...I don't know either. My last memory is of being sucked into that blood-red vortex."

Her words trailed off as she suddenly realized something: "You...you stay away! I'm the personal disciple of the Eighth Elder of Black Witch Village!"

Fu Changsheng almost burst out laughing. The way this girl threatened people was just like a cat with its fur standing on end, completely lacking any deterrent effect.

"Don't worry, I'm not interested in you." He waved his hand and turned to leave. His immediate priority was finding his daughter and a way to restore his spiritual power; he didn't have time to waste here.

"Wait!" the female cultivator suddenly called out to him, "Where are you going?"

Fu Changsheng didn't turn his head: "Find a way to leave."

He heard rustling footsteps behind him; the female cultivator had followed. Fu Changsheng stopped, raising an eyebrow at her: "What?"

The female cultivator's face flushed red, her fingers nervously twisting the hem of her clothes: "This place...this place is too eerie. I feel it's safer for two people to be together."

Seeing that Fu Changsheng remained silent, she quickly added, "I can help! Although I can't use Gu techniques right now, I know a lot about poisons."

Fu Changsheng scrutinized her. The girl was clearly terrified by the eeriness of the secret realm, preferring to follow a stranger rather than act alone. However, what she said made sense; having another person would indeed provide more protection, and besides, her knowledge of the Black Witch Village might be useful.

"Whatever you say." Fu Changsheng finally nodded, "But stick close, I might not be able to protect you if we encounter danger."

The female cultivator breathed a sigh of relief and jogged to catch up with Fu Changsheng: "My name is Wu Ling'er, thank you!"

The two walked one after the other across the wasteland, the surroundings eerily silent except for the echoes of their footsteps. Fu Changsheng would occasionally crouch down to examine the ground or look up to observe the distant terrain, searching for possible clues.

"Senior Fu," Wu Ling'er asked softly, "you're not from the Northern Frontier, are you? Why are you in the Xuanwu Dead Zone?"

Fu Changsheng didn't answer, but instead asked, "Why did your Black Witch Village suddenly attack the White Witch Village?"

Wu Ling'er was taken aback by the question, and hesitated for a moment before replying, "The chieftain said that White Witch Village has found the inheritance of an ancient witch god and wants to possess it exclusively. I don't know the specifics; I'm just following my master's instructions."

Fu Changsheng seemed to be deep in thought. It seemed that the false information he had spread had indeed worked; Wu Jiuyin had believed it and thus sent out his entire force.

“There’s something ahead.” Fu Changsheng suddenly lowered his voice and grabbed Wu Ling’er’s wrist.

Wu Ling'er was startled and followed his gaze. About a hundred feet away, the ground rose slightly, and something was wriggling under the sand.

"It's...it's the Earth Dragon Gu!" Wu Ling'er gasped. "Wasn't this ancient Gu worm extinct long ago?"

Fu Changsheng narrowed his eyes: "Are you sure?"

"There's no mistake!" Wu Ling'er's voice trembled. "It's recorded in the 'Black Witchcraft Codex' that the Earth Dragon Gu resembles a giant python but has three eyes and feeds solely on the flesh and blood of cultivators. We must go!"

Just as the two were about to quietly slip away, Wu Ling'er accidentally stepped on a dry branch, making a crisp "crack" sound.

The ground suddenly exploded open, and a giant python as thick as a bucket burst out of the earth! It was completely black, with scales that gleamed with a metallic sheen, and sure enough, a third eye grew in the center of its forehead, which was now staring intently at the two of them.

"Run!" Fu Changsheng grabbed Wu Ling'er and ran wildly toward the nearest rocky mountain.

A rustling sound came from behind, and the Earth Dragon Gu caught up at an astonishing speed. Wu Ling'er was so frightened that her face turned pale, and she was practically dragged along by Fu Changsheng.

"There's a cave entrance up ahead!" she suddenly pointed to the bottom of the rocky mountain.

Without a word, Fu Changsheng pulled her towards the dark cave entrance. The Earth Dragon Gu followed closely behind, its stench already palpable.

At the critical moment, the two rushed into the cave. The enormous body of the Earth Dragon Gu crashed into the cave entrance, shaking down countless pebbles, but it was too large to enter and could only roar angrily.

"We're safe for now." Fu Changsheng released Wu Ling'er's wrist and then realized that his palms were covered in sweat.

Wu Ling'er slumped to the ground, her chest heaving violently. "Thank you, thank you." Fu Changsheng didn't respond, but instead carefully examined the cave. There were obvious signs of artificial excavation on the cave walls, as well as some strange runes carved on them, faintly emitting a dim light.

"These are ancient shamanic scripts?" Wu Ling'er asked in surprise, leaning closer to examine them. "I learned some from my master."

Fu Changsheng raised an eyebrow: "You can understand it?"

Wu Ling'er nodded. "This was carved by a rogue cultivator from the Northern Frontier named 'Mo Tianwen'."

Fu Changsheng's gaze sharpened: "A rogue cultivator? When did this happen?"

Wu Ling'er continued deciphering the symbols: "According to the records above, he was swept into this place by a blood-red vortex two hundred years ago, accompanied by two fellow Daoists."

Her voice trailed off, her fingertips lingering on a particularly deep carving: "After they entered, they discovered they couldn't use their magic, and their storage bags wouldn't open—they'd been attacked by the Earth Dragon Gu."

Fu Changsheng crouched down and, by the faint glow of the cave wall, saw a pile of white bones wrapped in clothing in the corner. The bones had several broken ribs, and the right hand was tightly clutching a sharp stone piece, presumably used to carve these words.

Wu Ling'er covered her mouth, a hint of pity flashing in her eyes: "He...he held on here for seven days, but in the end..."

Fu Changsheng examined the pile of bones and found a jade pendant in the tattered clothes. The pendant was engraved with the three characters "Mo Tianwen" and the back had a simple portrait of a little girl with pigtails.

"What else did he say at the end?" Fu Changsheng asked in a deep voice.

Wu Ling'er reviewed the runes again: "He said that beneath a loose stone slab at the deepest part of the cave lies a jade box containing all that he had ever acquired in his life. If anyone finds it later, please give one of the jade pendants, a cyan one, to his daughter, Mo Xiaoyu."

She paused, then continued, "It also says that his daughter lives in 'Qingluo Valley' in the Northern Frontier."

Fu Changsheng was silent for a moment, then got up and walked into the cave: "Let's go take a look."

Wu Ling'er quickly followed and whispered, "Senior Fu, would you help him fulfill his last wish?"

Fu Changsheng didn't answer directly: "Let's find the item first."

The cave was damp and cold, filled with a musty smell. Fu Changsheng stopped in front of a visibly loose stone slab and forcefully lifted it. Sure enough, a jade box, about the size of a palm, was hidden underneath, with several spiritual materials placed beside it.

"It really exists!" Wu Ling'er exclaimed, then lowered her voice, afraid of disturbing the Earth Dragon Gu outside.

Fu Changsheng carefully opened the jade box. Inside were several pieces of minerals of different colors, a blue jade pendant, and a folded animal hide. He unfolded the hide, which was covered with dense writing.

"It's Senior Mo's notes," Wu Ling'er leaned closer. "It records his discoveries in the secret realm."

The two read by the dim light.

"After three days of observation, this place is far from safe. The daytime heat is scorching, and the nights are bone-chillingly cold. There is no water, no food, only slaughter. I personally witnessed two Golden Core cultivators being devoured by 'Spirit-Devouring Ants,' a truly gruesome sight."

"A stone tablet was discovered, inscribed with an ancient shamanic warning: 'Only blood can open this gate, only death can grant passage.' Could it be that a human sacrifice is required to leave this place?"

"My injuries have worsened, and I know my days are numbered. If any fellow Daoists see this note, please remember two things: First, do not eat any fruit from this place; second, do not trust anyone who claims to be a guide."

At the end of the notes, the handwriting was already crooked and shaky, clearly written in a state of extreme weakness:

"Xiaoyu, I am sorry. This 'Azure Spirit Pendant' is an heirloom of my Mo family. I hope that a destined person will bring it back to us."

After reading it, Wu Ling'er's eyes reddened slightly: "Senior Fu, we..."

Her words were interrupted by a violent tremor. At the cave entrance, the Earth Dragon Gu was crashing wildly, and rocks were falling down in a shower.

"It's coming in!" Wu Ling'er's face turned deathly pale.

Fu Changsheng quickly gathered the items from the iron box, stuffed them into his pocket, and scanned the cave: "Look for any other exits."

As the two searched the cramped cave, Wu Ling'er suddenly exclaimed, "Here! There's a hollow space behind the stone wall!"

Fu Changsheng stepped forward and tapped the spot she pointed to, receiving a hollow echo. He took two steps back and kicked it hard. The already weathered stone wall broke open, revealing a dark passage behind it.

"Walk!"

As soon as the two entered the passage, the cave behind them collapsed completely due to the impact of the earth dragon gu. In the darkness, the two could only move forward by feeling their way along the slippery cave walls, with cold water droplets falling from above from time to time.

"Senior Fu," Wu Ling'er asked softly, "do you think we might end up like Senior Mo?"

"No." Fu Changsheng's voice was exceptionally firm in the darkness.

The passage gradually sloped downwards, and the air became increasingly humid. After walking for about half an hour, a glimmer of light appeared ahead.

"There's light!" Wu Ling'er exclaimed in surprise.

The two quickened their pace. At the end of the passage was a small cave, with sunlight filtering through a crack in the ceiling. In the center of the cave was a pool of dark water, its surface as still as a mirror.

Fu Changsheng squatted by the water's edge and scooped up some water with his hands. The water was clear, but had an eerie pale blue tint.

"Don't drink it!" Wu Ling'er hurriedly grabbed his wrist. "Senior Mo's notes say that we cannot eat anything from here."

Fu Changsheng nodded and sprinkled the water back into the pool: "I was just checking."

He looked around and found a narrow crevice on the other side of the cave, just wide enough for one person to pass through.

“Let’s rest for a while, then continue on.” Fu Changsheng sat down on a relatively dry rock.

Wu Ling'er hesitated for a moment, then sat down not far from him, hugging her knees. "Senior Fu, are you saying this really not the Xuanming Secret Realm?"

Fu Changsheng pondered for a moment: "According to Mo Tianwen's records, it shouldn't be. The true entrance to the Xuanming Secret Realm is probably elsewhere."

"Then we..."

"I'll search for a way out of this place while also looking for my daughter. Furthermore, I must find a way to restore my magical powers."

Wu Ling'er lowered her head, her finger unconsciously drawing circles on the ground: "Senior Fu, what kind of person is your daughter?"

Mentioning Fu Yongxuan, Fu Changsheng's cold expression softened slightly: "She's stubborn, but incredibly talented. She's a swordsmanship genius, one in a century for the Fu family."

A hint of envy flashed in Wu Ling'er's eyes: "That's wonderful. I grew up in Black Witch Village, and apart from my master, no one has ever truly cared about me."

Fu Changsheng glanced at her but didn't reply. He took out Mo Tianwen's cyan jade pendant from his pocket and examined it carefully in the light. The pendant was exquisitely crafted, with a lotus flower carved on the front and a portrait of the little girl on the back.

"Will you help him fulfill his last wish?" Wu Ling'er asked again.

Fu Changsheng put away the jade pendant: "If we can get out of here, and if it's on our way..."

After a moment of silence, Wu Ling'er suddenly said, "Senior Fu, actually... I've seen records of the Xuanming Secret Realm."

Fu Changsheng looked up abruptly: "What?"

“I once obtained a jade slip by chance, which recorded…” Wu Ling’er lowered her voice, “The entrance to the Xuanming Secret Realm is indeed in the Xuanwu Dead Domain, but it’s not in a fixed location; it moves with the ‘Blood Moon Night.’ The High Priest and the others have probably gone to the wrong place.”

A glint of light flashed in Fu Changsheng's eyes: "What else do you know?"

Wu Ling'er bit her lip: "The jade slip says that there is 'Netherworld Grass' in the true Xuanming Secret Realm, but it needs to be harvested using a special method, otherwise it will wither immediately."

Just as she was about to continue, ripples suddenly appeared on the surface of the pool. The two stood up alertly and saw a dark shadow moving beneath the surface.

"Back off!" Fu Changsheng pulled Wu Ling'er behind him.

The water surface exploded, and a monster resembling an eel but with a human face leaped out, opening its mouth full of sharp teeth as it lunged forward!
Fu Changsheng picked up a sharp stalagmite from the ground and stabbed it fiercely at the monster. The monster nimbly twisted its body to dodge, and with a sweep of its long tail, it knocked Fu Changsheng back several steps.

"Ah!" Wu Ling'er cried out in surprise, grabbing a stone from the ground and throwing it at the monster.

The monster cried out in pain and lunged at her. Fu Changsheng seized the opportunity to rush forward, and the stalagmite pierced the monster's eye with pinpoint accuracy. The monster let out a scream like a baby crying, writhed wildly, and finally sank to the bottom of the water, leaving behind a pool of foul-smelling liquid.

"Are you alright?" Fu Changsheng turned to Wu Ling'er.

Wu Ling'er shook her head, her face pale: "Another ancient Gu worm?"

“Hmm, ‘Human-faced Eel,’ it feeds on human brains. Luckily, it’s only at the early stage of the first tier.” Fu Changsheng frowned, looking at the now calm pool. “We shouldn’t stay here any longer. Let’s go.”

The two quickly passed through the narrow gap. At the other end of the gap was an upward slope, and they could vaguely feel a breeze on their faces.

“The wind means it’s blowing outside.” Fu Changsheng’s spirits lifted.

After climbing for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the view suddenly opened up before them. They stood on a high cliff, below which stretched a vast, dark red plain, dotted with a few scattered stone forests. Phosphorescent lights floated in the sky, illuminating the entire space as if it were a ghostly realm.

“That is…” Wu Ling’er suddenly pointed into the distance.

In the center of the plain stood a huge black pyramid-shaped building, its top emitting an eerie red light.

Fu Changsheng narrowed his eyes: "There should be someone there."

Just as the two were surveying the terrain, they heard the sound of splashing water coming from the gap behind them. The human-faced eel had caught up with them!

"run!"

Fu Changsheng pulled Wu Ling'er along the cliff edge and ran at full speed. The human-faced eel crawled out of the crevice and chased after them at an astonishing speed. Just when they were about to be caught, Fu Changsheng suddenly noticed several vines hanging from the cliff face.

"Grab the vines and swing down!"

Wu Ling'er stared in terror at the bottomless cliff: "I...I dare not."

"Quickly!" Fu Changsheng shouted, grabbing a vine and shoving it into her hand.

The human-faced eel was almost within reach. Wu Ling'er gritted her teeth, closed her eyes, and jumped off the cliff. Fu Changsheng followed closely behind, and the two swung across the vines to the stone platform on the other side.

The human-faced eel hissed for a while at the edge of the cliff, before finally retreating back into the crevice unwillingly.

Wu Ling'er slumped onto the stone platform, trembling all over: "It's too terrifying!"

Fu Changsheng gazed at the distant black pyramid, his eyes resolute: "We'll go there. If there's a way out of here, it must be in that building."

...

...

Above the Fu family in Yunshan County

Dark clouds rolled in, and thunder roared like angry dragons through the clouds, the muffled thunder shaking the earth slightly. In the forbidden area behind the Fu family mountain, the dark red protective vine had grown to a height of ten zhang (approximately 33 meters), its thick vines coiling like a dragon, its surface covered with blood-red runes, radiating a chilling pressure.

Fu Yongwei, who had just returned from Yulin Prefecture in Wuzhou, stood atop the mountain. Her long, plain white dress fluttered in the strong wind as she gazed intently at the strange phenomenon of lightning tribulation in the sky, her eyes grave. Beside her, Wu Qing and Liu Yingying were equally tense, their spiritual energy surging around them, ready to deal with any unexpected events at any moment.

“When demonic beasts and spiritual plants undergo tribulation, the lightning tribulation is even stronger than that of cultivators,” Wu Qing said in a deep voice. “Fortunately, the clan has provided support. Over the past four years, they have exhausted a large amount of resources to prepare the ‘Mysterious Wood Spirit Protection Array’ and the ‘Lightning-Avoiding Golden Scale Armor.’ With these two items as assistance, we hope that the City-Protecting Vine can withstand the tribulation.”

Fu Yongwei nodded slightly, her fingertips forming a hand seal, and a beam of spiritual light shot into the array plate in the center of the forbidden area. Instantly, a layer of hazy blue light rose, enveloping the protective vines within. Liu Yingying then took out a jade talisman, gave a soft shout, and the talisman transformed into specks of spiritual light that merged into the vine's surface, adding another layer of protection.

"boom--!"

The first lightning bolt crashed down, its silvery-white light like a sword of divine punishment, striking the protective vines fiercely. The vines trembled violently, the runes on their surface flashed wildly, and the protective shield of the Xuanmu Spirit Protection Array dimmed instantly by three-tenths.

"We held on!" Fu Yongwei breathed a sigh of relief.

However, each lightning strike was more ferocious than the last. The second and third strikes came down in succession, scorching and cracking the protective vines, but the blood-red runes shone even brighter, as if they were using the power of the lightning to temper themselves.

By the sixth lightning tribulation, the Xuanmu Protective Spirit Array finally gave way and shattered.

"not good!"

Fu Yongwei's expression changed, and she quickly made a hand seal to activate the "Lightning-Avoiding Golden Scale Armor" that she had prepared beforehand. Golden scale phantoms covered the surface of the vines, and they withstood the seventh lightning tribulation.

When the eighth lightning tribulation struck, the city-protecting vine was already covered in wounds, but a powerful vitality was faintly emanating from the core of the vine.

When Fu Yongwei was about to leave Yulin Mansion, her father splashed the "Life-Creating Elixir" he had given her onto the roots of the vines.

Suddenly.

The protective vines were reborn, and the broken tendrils grew wildly!
A vine, as translucent as ruby, shot skyward, its tip blossoming into an eerie, blood-red bud. The bud burst open, spewing forth a cloud of blood mist that collided with the descending ninth bolt of lightning—

"boom!!!"

The blinding light made everyone close their eyes.

When they opened their eyes again, the thunderclouds began to dissipate, and a ray of sunlight pierced through the clouds, shining on the protective vines. The charred vines quickly fell off, and the new stems, like carved ruby, had their surface runes turned dark gold.

The dark clouds in the sky gradually receded, replaced by a light drizzle of spiritual rain. Where the raindrops fell, the scorched earth quickly came back to life, withered trees sprouted new buds, and spiritual herbs grew wildly. The entire forbidden area behind the Fu family mountain seemed to be infused with boundless vitality in an instant.

The cultivators of the Spirit Plant Hall, who had been watching intently, finally erupted in a wild cheer!

"It's done! It's really done!" An elderly plant master exclaimed excitedly, his beard trembling and his eyes welling up with tears. "A fourth-tier city-protecting vine... the Fu family's plant cultivation has finally reached the top tier!"

"This is combat power comparable to a Golden Core cultivator!" Another young disciple clenched his fist excitedly. "It's equivalent to the family gaining another 'Golden Core' cultivator. Let's see who dares to underestimate the Fu family now!"

Elder Fu Changqing of the Spirit Plant Hall was moved to tears, and laughed loudly, "A century of hard work has finally paid off! With this protective vine, the spirit plant lineage of my Fu family will surely be renowned throughout the Great Zhou!"

The news swept through the entire Fu family like a hurricane, and everyone, whether direct descendants or outsiders, was thrilled.

"A fourth-tier protective vine! May the heavens bless the Fu family!"

"Haha, with this spirit vine here, the yield of the family's spirit fields will surely double in the future!"

"I've heard that this city-protecting vine can defend itself. If any foreign enemies attack in the future, it will be the first line of defense!"

The clansmen spread the news excitedly, their faces beaming with pride and joy. Even the usually stern elder of the Enforcement Hall rarely smiled, stroking his beard and nodding: "Good, good! The clan's foundation has been strengthened once again; a fifth-rank is within reach!"

...

Fu Yongwei stood before the newly revitalized city-protecting vine, lightly tapping her fingertip as a wisp of spiritual energy flowed into the vine. Instantly, dark golden runes lit up, and the entire vine stretched out as if alive, radiating a chilling pressure.

With a wave of her hand, the main vine of the city-protecting vine suddenly extended, coiling around everyone's heads like a giant python. Runes flashed on the surface of the vine, actually condensing into a layer of blood-red barrier in the void.

After sensing it for a while.

She discovered that the protective vine had awakened two high-level bloodline spiritual techniques after its breakthrough.

The first barrier is the 'Blood Talisman Spirit Barrier'.

This barrier can withstand a full-force attack from a cultivator in the early Golden Core stage. If combined with the family's grand formation, it can even briefly contend with a cultivator in the mid-Golden Core stage.

The second step is—Gathering Spiritual Energy and Feeding Back.

The protective vine can absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth on its own and nourish the family's spiritual fields. In the future, the production of spiritual herbs and spiritual rice of my Fu family will increase by at least 30%!

Fu Yongwei tapped her finger again, and the roots of the city-protecting vine suddenly burrowed into the ground. In an instant, the spiritual energy within a radius of a hundred feet gathered wildly, forming a dense spiritual mist.

Upon hearing this, Wu Qing became somewhat agitated.

This means that the clan's cultivation resources will be more abundant!

With this magical vine, the rise of the Fu family will be unstoppable!

...

Dozens of miles away, Wu's scouts, observing the strange phenomenon of the spiritual rain above Fu's residence, looked grave and quickly sent a message back:

"The Fu family's protective vine... has reached the fourth tier!"

Upon receiving the news, the head of the Wu family remained silent for a long time before finally letting out a long sigh: "Issue the order that, effective immediately, all transactions between the Wu family and the Fu family will be subject to a further 20% discount."

"Another 20% discount? Patriarch, that's far too much!" The Second Elder frowned. "The Fu family may be strong, but my Wu family is also a seventh-rank family. Why should we show such weakness?"

"Show weakness?" Clan Chief Wu sneered, his gaze sweeping over everyone. "The Fu family already has five Golden Core cultivators. If they take another step, they will become a fifth-grade family. At that time, even if we want to make concessions, they may not necessarily appreciate it."

The Third Elder stroked his beard and pondered, "But the Fu family and my Wu family are related by marriage after all, and the two families have always been on good terms. Why be so tense?"

Clan Chief Wu's gaze darkened slightly as he slowly said, "Precisely because we are related by marriage, we should take the initiative to show goodwill. The Fu family's rise is already established; if we continue to act arrogantly, wouldn't we miss our opportunity?"

(End of this chapter)