Family Rise: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 528 Lover, Rise to Power, Mysterious Old Man

Huizhou Prefecture, the inner courtyard of the Fu family.

The night was as dark as ink, and a waning moon was obscured by dark clouds, revealing only a faint, pale light. Fu Yongrui's figure seemed to blend into the darkness, silently passing through layers of restrictions, and arriving at an exquisite courtyard.

"Third sister, it's me." He knocked lightly on the door, his voice very low.

The door opened silently, and Fu Yongyao, dressed in a plain white robe with only a jade hairpin in her hair, clearly had anticipated his arrival. Behind her, on a table, lay a map of Huizhou Prefecture, and several jade slips floated in the air, emitting a faint spiritual light.

"Come in." Fu Yongyao stepped aside, and with a flick of his finger, a soundproof barrier immediately rose around the courtyard. "News from the Dark Hall?"

Fu Yongrui slipped inside, revealing a face as pale as paper beneath his black cloak. A dark glint flashed in his eyes as he took out a blood-red jade slip from his robes: "The old nun Qiuyue went to Ten Thousand Skulls Mountain today and had a private conversation with True Person Xue for two hours."

Fu Yongrui walked to the table, pointed at the map of Huizhou Prefecture, and the location of the Chiyang Stone mine immediately lit up with a red light: "Old Nun Qiuyue used the Azure Emperor's Longevity Technique as bait, and that old monster, True Man Xue, has already taken the bait."

Fu Yongyao frowned, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the jade hairpin: "A month later... that's too short a time."

“Third Sister, let’s retreat to Huizhou City,” Fu Yongrui suddenly said, his eyes dimming and revealing a rare hint of worry. “Old Nun Qiuyue is in the late stage of the Golden Core realm, and although True Person Xue is nearing the end of his lifespan, he is still a veteran Golden Core cultivator. You have just formed your Golden Core; if you fall into an ambush…”

"Retreat?" Fu Yongyao suddenly looked up, a sharp glint in his eyes. "Rui-di, where do you think we can retreat to now?"

With a flick of her sleeve, a 3D projection of the entire Wuzhou appeared above the map. The markers of forces such as the Northern Frontier Witch Village, the Seven Princes' Mansion, and the Lei Family lit up, like ferocious beasts eyeing the Fu Family's territory.

"The Heavenly Lake Sect has occupied Xuanxiao Mountain, the Autumn Moon Nunnery is eyeing it covetously, and now the Blood Fiend Sect is about to make its move," Fu Yongyao said in a low voice. "If we show weakness again, will the Northern Frontier Witch Village remain unmoved? Will the Lei family and the Seventh Prince's Mansion not take advantage of our misfortune?"

Fu Yongrui was silent for a moment: "Then please ask Father and Yongxuan to come out of seclusion. With them in charge, who would dare to act recklessly?"

The room suddenly became eerily quiet.

Fu Yongyao took a deep breath and waved her hand to set up three layers of restrictions, ensuring that not even an ant could crawl in to eavesdrop. She looked directly into her brother's eyes, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible: "They...are not in seclusion."

With a flick of his sleeve, Fu Yongyao revealed the scene of the Soul Palace, where Fu Changsheng's Soul Lamp wick was weak and its flame flickered.

"This is... Father's natal lamp?" Fu Yongrui's pupils contracted sharply.

"It started to become unstable a month ago." Fu Yongyao's voice was so soft it was almost inaudible. "Now I'll tell you the truth—Father and Yongxuan weren't in seclusion; they went to the Xuanwu Dead Zone in the Northern Frontier to search for the Xuanming Secret Realm."

"What?!" Fu Yongrui was struck dumb. "The Xuanwu Death Domain? That's not..."

"A place where nine out of ten die." Fu Yongyao smiled bitterly. "Ten days ago, the lamplight almost went out. This faint light now indicates that they may be trapped in some secret realm, their fate unknown."

The rain suddenly intensified, and a bolt of lightning ripped through the night sky, illuminating Fu Yongrui's pale face. He staggered backward, knocking over a celadon vase behind him. The sound of shattering porcelain was particularly jarring.

"So," his voice was hoarse, "now, the only true Golden Core cultivators in the Fu family are you and Uncle Chang Lei, who's far away at Zhenmo Pass?"

Fu Yongyao nodded: "Only you and I know about this. Even Yongqi and Yongren don't know."

Fu Yongrui's eyes flashed with black light, and his dark spiritual root uncontrollably expanded outward, forming a black vortex around his body. The objects in the study began to tremble, and several books shattered into pieces with a "crack".

"Yongrui!" Fu Yongyao called out softly, his fingers forming a hand seal, and a beam of green light entered his brow.

The black light gradually subsided. Fu Yongrui took a deep breath, barely managing to calm himself: "Third Sister, what should we do?"

Fu Yongyao quickly transmitted a few words telepathically.

Fu Yongrui's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he quickly added, "At the same time, spread rumors that Father is about to leave the pass to inspect the various prefectures. Use this mix of truth and deception to keep the enemy guessing."

“That suits me perfectly.” Fu Yongyao gave him an approving look. “Furthermore, I want to set up the ‘Nine Heavens Thunder and Fire Array’ in the Crimson Sun Mine. The Blood Fiend Sect’s techniques are extremely yin and evil, and are most afraid of heavenly thunder and earthly fire.”

She took out a scroll of array diagrams from her sleeve and unfolded it, which was densely marked with various runes and the locations of array eyes. Fu Yongrui leaned closer to examine it and couldn't help but gasp.

"This... uses the ore vein itself as the array base? Once detonated, the entire Crimson Sun Mountain Range will..."

"We'll perish together," Fu Yongyao said coldly. "That's why the Blood Fiend Sect never expected us to dare to do this. They thought we'd hold onto the mine, but little did they know, we'd already mined almost everything out of it. Let's use its remaining power to turn it into the burial ground for Old Nun Qiuyue and True Man Xue. Wouldn't that be wonderful!"

Fu Yongrui's eyes lit up.

"Third Sister, I'll go to Huixi County to make preparations in advance," he said softly. "The Dark Hall has thirty assassins who can infiltrate the miners and ambush them."

Fu Yongyao shook his head: "Too dangerous. You stay in Huizhou City to oversee the situation and guard against a sneak attack from the Lei family. I'll go to Huixi County myself."

"No!" Fu Yongrui suddenly raised his voice, then quickly lowered it again, "If anything happens to you, the Fu family will truly..."

Fu Yongyao reached out and patted his shoulder, a rare hint of tenderness in his eyes: "Don't worry, I won't fight head-on. The formation is complete, only the final setup is needed. Three days later, send someone to deliver the formation plate to Huixi County; I'll disguise myself as the mining foreman and personally receive it."

She turned to look at the gradually stopping rain outside the window, her voice low and somber: "This battle must be fought so fiercely that the Blood Fiend Sect is utterly annihilated! Let those covetous forces know that even without Father's presence, the Fu family is not a lamb to the slaughter!"

Fu Yongrui remained silent for a long time before finally bowing deeply: "I will obey Third Sister's orders. I will go and make the arrangements immediately."

He turned to leave, but Fu Yongyao called out to him, "Yongrui."

"Um?"

"This matter is confidential; even the family elders cannot reveal it." A glint of light shone in Fu Yongyao's eyes. "The Fu family now...can only rely on us."

Fu Yongrui nodded solemnly, his figure gradually disappearing into the shadows.

The moonlight after the rain shone through the gaps in the clouds, illuminating Fu Yongyao's plain white robes. She picked up the array plate again, a blue light flowing from her fingertips, and began to deduce the final changes in the array.

"Master Qiuyue, True Person Xue," she murmured to herself, "if you want to mess with the Fu family, you'd better be prepared to have your teeth knocked out!"

...

...

After Fu Yongrui left, Fu Yongyao pondered for a moment, then turned and left the courtyard. He hurried through the corridor and arrived at a secluded courtyard. The gate was half-closed, and a solitary lamp could be faintly seen flickering inside.

She raised her hand and gently knocked on the door, whispering, "Aunt Molan, it's me."

A cool, clear voice came from inside the door: "Come in."

Fu Yongyao pushed open the door and entered, finding Fu Molan sitting cross-legged with a puppet component resting on her lap. She looked up at Fu Yongyao, her gaze calm: "What is it?"

Fu Yongyao didn't waste any words and went straight to the point: "Aunt Molan, I need you to go to the Zhenshi Division to see Cao Xiang'er."

Fu Molan frowned slightly: "Cao Xiang'er?"

“Yes.” Fu Yongyao briefly explained Master Qiuyue’s plan, then said, “Cao Xiang’er is now a Wanhu (a high-ranking official), and the Cao family has a close relationship with True Person Xuanyang. If we can get her to intervene, we might be able to persuade True Person Xuanyang to help our Fu family overcome this calamity.”

After hearing the details of the incident, Fu Molan also looked anxious. After a moment of silence, she said, "Although we were once colleagues, we were not close. She may not be willing to see me, and even if she does, she may not be willing to help me."

Since Cao Xiang'er emerged from seclusion after achieving the Core Formation stage, she has had almost no contact with the Fu family. Even the Cao family, a seventh-rank family in Wuzhou, has become quite distant from the Fu family.

among them.

Something must have happened.

But they had no idea.

Fu Yongyao took out a jade box from his sleeve and handed it over: "This is what my father left behind before he went into seclusion. He asked me to give it to Cao Xiang'er. Take this with you, and she will surely see it."

Fu Molan didn't ask any further questions. She put the jade box into her sleeve and stood up decisively: "When do we depart?"

A hint of gratitude flashed in Fu Yongyao's eyes: "The sooner the better."

Fu Molan nodded, said no more, turned around, took a dark cloak, put it on, and pushed open the door to go out. The night wind whipped up the hem of her clothes, and her figure disappeared into the darkness in the blink of an eye.

...

The next day.

Fu Molan stood before the imposing vermilion gates of the Zhenshi Division, glancing calmly at the three gilded characters "Zhenshi Division" on the plaque above the gate. She wore a plain long robe, with a jade token hanging at her waist—the symbol of her former position as a commander. Although she had left the Zhenshi Division many years ago, her posture remained as upright as a pine tree, her gaze steady and composed.

Seeing her distinguished bearing, the guards at the gate stepped forward and asked, "Senior, do you have a visiting card?"

Fu Molan nodded slightly and handed over a jade slip: "Please inform Commander Cao that my old friend Fu Molan has come to visit."

The guard took the jade slip and said respectfully, "Please wait a moment."

A moment later, the guard returned, looking slightly embarrassed: "Lord Cao said... he is too busy to meet with me."

Fu Molan's eyes flickered slightly, as if she had expected this, and she said calmly, "Please inform them again, just say that my family head has something to hand over to Lord Cao."

The guard hesitated for a moment, but ultimately turned around to report again.

In the inner courtyard, in Cao Xiang'er's study.

Cao Xiang'er was reviewing files at her desk when she heard the guard report again. She frowned slightly and asked, "Old items? What trick is Fu Changsheng playing now?"

A moment of silence.

Cao Xiang'er finally put down her pen and said calmly, "Let her in."

In the reception room.

Cao Xiang'er sat upright in the main seat, dressed in a crimson official robe, with a gleaming jade belt at her waist. Her brows exuded a commanding presence, and a faint aura of golden elixir power emanated from her. She raised her eyes to look at Fu Molan, who was walking in slowly, and said coldly, "Commander Fu, it's been a long time."

Fu Molan bowed and said calmly, "Now that I am no longer a commander of a thousand households, Lord Cao may address me by my name directly. Congratulations on your promotion to commander of ten thousand households and on your successful completion of the Golden Core stage."

Cao Xiang'er's gaze swept over her, noticing that her breathing was weak, clearly indicating that her soul injury had not yet healed. Her tone softened slightly: "How... is your injury?"

Fu Molan smiled calmly: "Take it easy and it won't die."

Cao Xiang'er sighed, a hint of regret flashing in her eyes: "If it weren't for that old scoundrel Li Wanhu and that old witch Granny Yinhua back then..." She paused, then shook her head and said, "Never mind, let's not talk about that. You've come today, is there something you need?"

Cao Xiang'er pointed to the seat below.

Fu Molan sat down, took out the jade box that Fu Yongyao had asked her to pass on from her sleeve, and gently placed it on the table: "This is something that the patriarch entrusted me to pass on to Lord Cao before he went into seclusion."

Cao Xiang'er's gaze sharpened as she stared at the jade box, her fingers tightening slightly: "He... asked you to bring this to me?"

Fu Molan nodded: "The patriarch said that this item can clear up the misunderstanding."

Cao Xiang'er instantly understood what was going on and sneered, "Misunderstanding? He imprisoned my son and extracted his spiritual root, what misunderstanding is there to speak of?"

Fu Molan remained silent, simply watching her quietly.

Cao Xiang'er stared at the jade box for a moment, then finally cast a spell. The box opened, revealing a series of image-recording pods. As spiritual energy flowed in, the pods slowly unfurled, and images appeared in the air—

In the scene, Fu Yongqiang, with a sinister expression, secretly pours poison into the food at the family banquet. When Fu Changsheng discovers this, he doesn't punish him but instead encourages him to reform and promises to help him cultivate. However, after embarking on the path of cultivation, Fu Yongqiang feels far behind his siblings, becomes resentful, and turns to alcoholism and trouble. After learning about his true identity, he harbors even more resentment towards his father, Fu Changsheng, and the Fu family: "I should have been the pride of the Cao family! Staying in the Fu family is your doing!"

The final scene shows Fu Changsheng sighing as he personally removes the spiritual root from the man, places him in a quiet courtyard, and assigns someone to take good care of him.

The image faded away, and Cao Xiang'er's face was pale, her fingers trembling slightly.

She had always thought that Fu Changsheng was heartless and cruel, abusing their son. But now it seems... Yongqiang brought it all upon himself.

He wronged Changsheng!

this moment.

He couldn't wait to go to Changsheng's door and apologize to him in person.

Seeing this, Fu Molan knew that the misunderstanding had been cleared up, and said softly, "The head of the family has never mistreated Qiang Ge'er, and even reshaped his spiritual root. But he was deeply troubled by inner demons and ultimately ruined his future."

Cao Xiang'er closed her eyes and said in a low voice, "...I misunderstood."

The room fell silent for a moment.

After a long while, Cao Xiang'er took a deep breath, raised her eyes and looked at Fu Molan: "Tell me, what does the Fu family need now?"

bother you for something.

Obviously.

Cao Xiang'er had already guessed that the Fu family had come to ask for something.

Fu Molan's eyes flickered slightly, and she said directly, "Master Qiuyue is colluding with the Blood Fiend Sect to harm the Fu family. The family head is in seclusion, and Yongyao hopes that Lord Cao can persuade True Person Xuanyang to take action and suppress the two."

Cao Xiang'er frowned: "Master Xuan Yang went to the capital three days ago and will not be back for a while."

Fu Molan's expression remained unchanged, only her fingertips tightened slightly.

Cao Xiang'er pondered for a moment, then suddenly raised her eyes, a resolute glint in them: "Although True Person Xuan Yang is not here, my father can take action. He is now in the late stage of the Golden Core realm."

Fu Molan was taken aback, then stood up solemnly and bowed deeply: "The entire Fu family is deeply grateful."

Cao Xiang'er waved her hand.

Previously, Liu Meizhen had even apologized with thorns on her back because of this matter, and she had believed her. Now that the misunderstanding has been cleared up, she also wants to take this opportunity to make amends.

...

...

at the same time.

Inside the Ouyang family's council hall.

Ouyang Qing lightly tapped her fingertip, and a wisp of spiritual light dissipated from the communication jade slip. She frowned slightly and turned to look at the Ouyang clan leader, who sat in the main seat: "Clan leader, Fu Yongyao has sent a message requesting assistance."

Chief Ouyang slowly opened his eyes, his gaze sharp yet restrained: "What is it?"

"The Blood Fiend Sect and the Autumn Moon Nunnery have joined forces to seize Huixi County and the Chiyang Stone mine," Ouyang Qing said in a cold voice. "Yongyao hopes I can lend a hand."

Clan Chief Ouyang tapped his fingertips lightly on the armrest, pondering, "The Fu family needs to seek outside help." He suddenly looked up, "Where is Fu Changsheng?"

The flickering candlelight in the hall illuminated Ouyang Qing's solemn face: "Yongyao was never mentioned."

"Heh." Clan Chief Ouyang sneered. "Given Fu Changsheng's temperament, if he were still in the clan, would he have allowed the Tianhu Sect to occupy two mountains? Nor would he have allowed Elder Nun Qiuyue to act so presumptuously."

Ouyang Qing's eyes flickered slightly: "What does the clan leader mean?"

“Fu Changsheng has most likely encountered some trouble.” Clan Chief Ouyang rose and paced back and forth, his robes fluttering even without wind. “If he were truly in seclusion, why would Fu Yongyao be seeking help everywhere?”

Outside the window, the bamboo shadows swayed, casting dappled light. Ouyang Qing gripped the sword at her waist: "Should we offer our assistance?"

Clan Chief Ouyang suddenly turned around, his gaze sharp as lightning: "Qing'er, have you considered this? If something truly happens to Fu Changsheng, can the Fu family still maintain its current status?" He pointed out the window, "The Northern Frontier Witch Village, the Seven Princes' Mansion—aren't they all eyeing us covetously?"

"But Yongxuan once..."

"Kindness must be repaid, but not at the cost of one's life!" Clan Chief Ouyang interrupted. "Elder Nun Qiuyue is in the late stage of the Golden Core realm, and although True Man Xue's lifespan is nearing its end, his fearsome reputation remains. You are only just forming your Golden Core; this battle will be extremely dangerous."

Ouyang Qing raised her sword-like eyebrows slightly, exuding a commanding presence: "Clan leader, it is precisely because I have just formed my Golden Core that I need to hone it. Moreover," she said, a wisp of sword energy gathering at her fingertips, "that without Yongxuan's guidance that day, I might not have been able to break through the bottleneck."

Chief Ouyang gazed at her for a long time, then suddenly sighed, "Enough." He took out a crimson jade pendant. "Wear the 'Mysterious Yang Heart-Protecting Jade.' If things become unbearable, escape immediately."

"Thank you, clan chief!" Ouyang Qing's eyes flashed with surprise.

"Remember," the Ouyang patriarch said solemnly, "you are the only Golden Core cultivator in my Ouyang family. You can assist, but you must not risk your life."

Ouyang Qing solemnly accepted the jade pendant, clasped her hands in a respectful bow, and said, "Qing'er understands."

After she turned and left, the Ouyang clan chief looked in the direction of the Fu family and murmured to himself, "Fu Changsheng, Fu Changsheng, if something truly happens to you, the fate of Wuzhou may be about to change."

A night breeze swept through the hall, causing the candlelight to flicker violently and casting his shadow long and short. In the distance came the clear cry of Ouyang Qing, who was flying through the air on her sword, like a phoenix's cry in the heavens, unstoppable.

Luo Family Ancestral Land, Cold Moon Pavilion
Luo Haitang, dressed in an ice-blue long dress, stood by the window, her fingertips lightly caressing a dim lamp. The lamplight was faint, almost extinguished, illuminating her icy face.

"Elder," a Luo family guard knelt on one knee and reported in a deep voice, "Miss Yongxuan's life-sustaining lamp... is still weakening."

Luo Haitang's gaze narrowed slightly. She lightly tapped her fingertips with spiritual energy, causing the green lamp to flicker gently, but there was still no improvement. She remained silent for a moment, then said coldly, "Investigate." "Yes," the guard replied and withdrew.

Three days later, the Luo family's secret service presented a confidential report.

Luo Haitang unfolded the jade slip, scanned it with his divine sense, and his expression suddenly turned cold: "The Xuanwu Death Domain?"

The jade slip detailed the whereabouts of Fu Changsheng and Fu Yongxuan—the two were not in seclusion, but rather had ventured deep into the Northern Frontier to search for the entrance to the Xuanming Secret Realm, preparing for Fu Changsheng's election as a Patrol Angel. However, a sudden anomaly occurred in the Xuanwu Dead Zone, turning the entire region into ruins, and to this day, no one has dared to explore it further.

“Foolish.” Luo Haitang uttered two words coldly, it was unclear whether she was referring to Fu Changsheng or Fu Yongxuan.

With a slight movement of her fingertips, the jade shattered into ice crystals.

What kind of place is the Xuanwu Dead Zone? Even Nascent Soul cultivators who step inside might not be able to escape unscathed. How dare Fu Changsheng bring Fu Yongxuan inside?

Luo Haitang closed her eyes, suppressing her anger.

Fu Yongxuan was a prodigy nurtured by the Luo family with a great deal of resources, and was also her adopted daughter. Now, however, due to Fu Changsheng's willful actions, her fate is uncertain.

"Haitang." An aged voice rang out. Clan Chief Luo approached slowly, leaning on his cane, his brow furrowed. "I just received news that the Fu family is requesting help. Master Qiuyue and Master Xue are planning to attack the Fu family?"

"good"

Luo Haitang did not mention that Fu Changsheng had taken Fu Yongxuan to the Xuanwu Death Domain.

Once the old patriarch learns the truth, he will definitely blame the Fu family. In any case, she still doesn't want any rift between the two families.

Upon hearing this, Clan Chief Luo stroked his beard and pondered, "Master Tianhu has seized two of the Fu family's strongholds in succession, yet Fu Changsheng hasn't shown up. I'm afraid he's not in seclusion, but rather has met with misfortune. The Fu family already has many enemies; if Fu Changsheng truly has met with misfortune, this great tree may fall." He looked up at Luo Haitang, "Should we still help?"

Luo Haitang was silent for a moment, then said:
"Yongxuan is my adopted daughter, and more importantly, she is a prodigy nurtured by the Luo family. If the Fu family suffers any misfortune and we stand idly by, Yongxuan will surely distance herself from our Luo family in the future."

"But Abbess Qiuyue is at the late Golden Core stage, and True Man Xue is infamous. Neither of them are easy to deal with. The Fu family currently only has Fu Yongyao, a Golden Core cultivator, who has only recently broken through to the Golden Core stage. The disparity in strength between us and the enemy is vast. This battle..."

“I know what I’m doing,” Luo Haitang interrupted, her eyes resolute. “Clan leader, you don’t need to worry about me. Besides, in my opinion, Fu Changsheng definitely won’t fall like this. Last time, the Fu family even held a funeral for him, and he still came back alive and well. This time, we’ve lent a helping hand in our time of crisis, and the Fu family will remember this favor in the future.”

"Clan leader, don't forget, it's said that Liu Meizhen and Ouyang Fei of the Fu family are both in seclusion trying to reach the Golden Core stage. Once they successfully form their cores, the Fu family might even advance to the fifth rank before our Luo family."

"Even so," Patriarch Luo said cautiously, "Haitang, you are the pillar of the Luo family. Our Luo family is currently at a crucial moment in its advancement to the fifth rank. We absolutely cannot afford any mishaps. If things become unmanageable, you must immediately withdraw."

"it is good"

Luo Haitang agreed.

After the old clan chief left.

She turned and looked in the direction of the Fu family's residence.

She and Fu Changsheng had a child together before, but she had to abort the child for the sake of the Great Dao. This time, she considered it as repaying Fu Changsheng's favor.

“Fu Changsheng,” she murmured to herself, “you’d better still be alive.”

Otherwise, how should this cause and effect be accounted for?
...

...

A month later.

Huixi County, Xishan.

Fu Yongyao, draped in a gray-brown cloak, concealed her aura, blending seamlessly with the surrounding rocks. Seeing a faint flash of sword light on the horizon, she flicked her finger, sending out a hidden guiding talisman to direct Ouyang Qing's direction.

As the sword light touched the ground, Ouyang Qing's figure appeared. She exchanged a glance with Fu Yongyao, but neither of them said anything.

"Follow me," Fu Yongyao said in a low voice, turning to lead the way.

The two passed through layers of restrictions surrounding the mine and finally entered a secret chamber hidden inside the mountain. The chamber was covered with array runes that prevented people from peeping, and in the center there was only a futon and a lamp that burned eternally, making it seem extremely simple.

“This place is safe, no one can explore it.” Fu Yongyao raised his hand and set up the last soundproof barrier before showing a slight relaxation. “Thank you for coming to help, Fellow Daoist Ouyang.”

Ouyang Qing nodded slightly, her gaze calm: "Fellow Daoist Fu is too kind. I will repay Yongxuan's kindness in guiding me in the past."

She sat cross-legged, her sword lying horizontally in front of her knees, and closed her eyes to regulate her breathing. Although her expression was calm, the slight tightening of her fingertips betrayed the gravity in her heart.

—In this battle, the enemy is strong and we are weak, and the odds are against us.

After half a cup of tea.

The seal on the secret chamber fluctuated again, and Fu Yongyao pushed open the door and entered, followed by a tall figure.

Ouyang Qing opened her eyes, her gaze slightly narrowed.

The newcomer wore an ice-blue dress, had a cold and beautiful face, and exuded a chilling aura. It was none other than Luo Haitang!
—A mid-stage Golden Core cultivator!
Ouyang Qing's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected the Fu family to invite Luo Haitang. She felt a little relieved and stood up to bow, saying, "Senior Luo."

Luo Haitang nodded slightly, her gaze sweeping across the secret chamber before finally settling on Fu Yongyao. She transmitted her voice, asking, "Is Fu Changsheng still in the Xuanwu Death Domain?"

Fu Yongyao was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "The patriarch... cannot return for the time being."

really
Luo Haitang said no more, walked to the side, and closed her eyes to rest.

Ouyang Qing and Fu Yongyao exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of relief in each other's eyes.

With Luo Haitang, a mid-stage Golden Core expert, in charge, the chances of winning this battle have increased significantly!

More than an hour passed.

The stone door to the secret chamber opened again, and Fu Yongyao was followed by Cao Xiang'er and an old man with white hair and beard. The old man wore a gray robe, his aura was restrained, yet he gave people a sense of unfathomable depth.

"Senior Cao?!" Ouyang Qing suddenly stood up, unable to hide her shock.

Cao Wushang stroked his beard and smiled, "Young friend, there's no need for such formalities."

Cao Xiang'er said cheerfully, "My father heard that we were going to deal with Old Nun Qiuyue, so he volunteered to come and stretch his muscles."

Luo Haitang's eyes flickered slightly, and her gaze toward Fu Yongyao held a deeper meaning—the Fu family's methods were indeed extraordinary, being able to persuade someone like Cao Wushang to come.

Fu Yongyao gestured for everyone to sit down, then with a flick of his finger, a light screen unfolded, displaying a topographical map of the Crimson Sun Mountains: "Gentlemen, the plan is as follows..."

She explained the layout of the Nine Heavens Thunderfire Formation in detail, her voice steady and powerful. When she mentioned using the mineral vein as the formation's base, a glint flashed in Cao Wushang's eyes: "What courage!"

“Senior Cao, you are responsible for restraining Abbess Qiuyue,” Fu Yongyao said, looking at Cao Wushang. “As long as you hold her off for half an hour, the great formation can be activated.”

Cao Wushang smiled calmly: "Although I am old, keeping an old nun occupied is no problem for me."

"As for Blood Immortal," Fu Yongyao turned his gaze to Luo Haitang and the other two.

Luo Haitang said coldly, "If it's just the three of us, our chances of winning are less than fifty percent."

The secret room fell silent for a moment.

Fu Yongyao suddenly made a hand seal, and the spirit beast pouch at his waist shone brightly. A snow-white spirit rhinoceros with a jade horn on its forehead appeared out of thin air, and a chilling aura instantly filled the entire secret chamber.

"A fourth-tier spirit beast?!" Ouyang Qing exclaimed in surprise.

Even more shockingly, Fu Yongyao took out another piece of emerald green vine, which transformed into a giant vine demon three zhang tall as soon as it landed, and its aura was also at the fourth level!

For the first time, Luo Haitang showed surprise: "The Fu family actually has such a profound background."

"Is that enough now?" Fu Yongyao asked.

Luo Haitang's lips curled slightly: "Five against one, a perfect chance of winning." Her gaze towards Fu Yongyao now held a hint of admiration. "No wonder the Fu family has risen to prominence; I underestimated you all."

Cao Xiang'er laughed, "Good! Now let's see how that old monster dies!"

Fu Yongyao looked around at everyone and bowed solemnly: "The survival of the Fu family depends entirely on you all."

Cao Wushang stroked his beard and nodded: "Young friend Fu's plan is meticulous; I eagerly await the outcome of this battle."

A lawless land.

A magnificent carriage drawn by four black horses pulled up in front of Old Zhang's house right on time. The driver was a middle-aged man with an expressionless face, dressed in black, with a short knife at his waist.

"Get in the car," the man said coldly, without even lifting his eyelids.

Fu Changsheng and Wu Ling'er bid farewell to Old Man Zhang and his grandson, and boarded the carriage. The carriage was lined with soft animal hides, and had small windows on both sides with thin gauze curtains. With the crack of a whip, the carriage slowly started moving, heading towards the inner city.

After passing through the bustling streets of the outer city, the carriage arrived before a tall, black stone wall. The wall was about ten zhang high, its surface smooth as a mirror, without a single gap. Fully armed guards stood atop the wall, their spears gleaming coldly in the morning light.

"The inner city walls," Wu Ling'er whispered, "are much higher than the outer city walls."

The carriage stopped in front of a huge iron gate at the foot of the wall. The coachman in black showed a token, which the guards carefully checked before waving him through.

The iron gate slowly opened with a dull rumble. The moment the carriage entered the inner city, Fu Changsheng felt a faint fluctuation sweep over his body, as if something was probing them.

The inner city was a stark contrast to the outer city. The streets were wide and clean, lined with uniform stone buildings, each adorned with exquisite carvings. Pedestrians were well-dressed and walked with a leisurely pace, showing none of the haste and anxiety of the outer city.

But what is most striking is that almost everyone here exudes a similar aura—that is, they were almost all cultivators before.

"It's so quiet here," Wu Ling'er observed the street through the car window. "Not even a hawker's cry."

Fu Changsheng nodded. The inner city was indeed unusually quiet, and pedestrians spoke in hushed tones, as if afraid of disturbing something.

The carriage traveled for about fifteen minutes before stopping in front of a three-story stone building. A plaque reading "Medicine Garden Villa" hung above the gate, and two servants dressed in green robes stood in front of it.

"We've arrived," the driver finally said, adding, "Master Bai is waiting for you inside."

Master Bai received them in a simply furnished hall. Various medicinal herb specimens were displayed in the hall, and a faint medicinal fragrance filled the air.

"From today onwards, you are officially disciples of the Herb Garden." Master Bai gestured for the two to sit down. "You will need to complete a designated herb-gathering task each month, and the rest of your time is yours to use as you see fit. Your accommodations have been arranged; they are in the small courtyard behind the main building."

Fu Changsheng cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, Master. May we move freely within the inner city?"

"With this token, you can go to most places," Master Bai stroked his beard. "There are only two forbidden areas—the City Lord's Mansion and the 'Blood Arena.' Unauthorized entry to the former is punishable by death, and the latter..." He gave the two men a meaningful look, "Easy to get in, hard to get out."

Wu Ling'er asked curiously, "What kind of place is the Blood Arena?"

"The Arena of Life and Death," Master Bai said calmly. "Private duels are forbidden within the inner city; all grudges must be settled in the Blood Arena. The one who wins ten consecutive matches will have the opportunity to meet the City Lord."

A glint flashed in Fu Changsheng's eyes: "An audience with the city lord?"

“Indeed,” Master Bai nodded, “However, I advise you to stay away from there. In the past ten years, no more than three people have ever walked out of the Blood Arena alive.”

After settling into his accommodations, Fu Changsheng decided to familiarize himself with the inner city environment first.

The Medicine Garden Villa is located in the eastern part of the inner city, an area filled with workshops and schools of various trades. Walking down the street, you can often see burly men wielding heavy hammers in blacksmith shops or elderly men carefully cultivating medicinal herbs in their gardens.

The western district was a residential area with more luxurious buildings and exotic flowers and plants lining the streets. The northern district was a market, not as bustling as the outer city, but selling only the finest items. And the southern district…
"Halt!" A guard stopped Fu Changsheng and Wu Ling'er, who were trying to enter the South District. "This is a restricted area; unauthorized personnel are not permitted."

Fu Changsheng looked up and saw the black pyramid standing in the center of the southern district, even more awe-inspiring up close. The pyramid was constructed from countless black square stones, each engraved with strange runes. Heavily guarded the base, with fully armed guards stationed every ten steps, vigilantly patrolling the surroundings.

"Is that the City Lord's Mansion?" Wu Ling'er asked softly.

The guard gave her a cold look: "Leave immediately!"

Back at the herb garden villa, Fu Changsheng asked Master Bai for more information about the city lord.

"The City Lord," Master Bai squinted, "I've been in the inner city for 330 years, and I've only seen him three times from afar. It's said the City Lord has lived for over a thousand years and holds all the secrets of Tianyun City."

"Thousands of years?" Wu Ling'er exclaimed in surprise, "Wouldn't that be like being a god?"

Master Bai shook his head: "Here, no one is a god. The city lord is just a rather special case."

Over the next few days, Fu Changsheng completed his herb-gathering tasks in the herb garden while secretly investigating the inner city and gathering information about Yongxuan. He discovered that the inner city residents were not hostile to outsiders, but they all avoided the topic of the city lord.

What's even stranger is that all the residents of the inner city seem to be insensitive to the passage of time. When Fu Changsheng asked them how long they had been in the inner city, most of them would look confused and then give a number that was clearly inconsistent with their appearance and age.

"Me? About 120 years, I guess?" a blacksmith who looked to be only in his early forties replied.

Dusk always comes suddenly in the inner city.

Fu Changsheng stood under the eaves of the herb garden courtyard, watching the last ray of sunlight being swallowed by the black walls. Ten days had passed, and he had searched almost every corner of the inner city, but he still couldn't find a trace of Fu Yongxuan.

“Senior Fu,” Wu Ling’er approached quietly, carrying a cup of freshly brewed medicinal tea. “I’ve inquired at all the clinics in the West District, and none of them have treated any injured women from out of town recently.”

Fu Changsheng accepted the medicinal tea, the steam condensing into white mist in the cold air. The tea reflected the blood-red moonlight unique to the inner city—the moon here was always veiled in a dark red, like gauze soaked in blood.

“Something’s not right.” Fu Changsheng suddenly put down his teacup. “Throughout the entire inner city, nobody’s talking about the missing persons.”

It's truly strange. Logically, there should be quite a few cultivators who were drawn into the secret realm along with Fu Yongxuan. Yet, the inner city residents they've encountered these past few days have either been extremely secretive or acted as if...
"It's like they had no idea an outsider had come in." Wu Ling'er shuddered. "No one even mentioned what Old Zhang said about 'people being sucked in every month.'"

A night breeze swept across the eaves, causing the hanging bronze wind chimes to ring hollowly. The chimes, engraved with twisted runes, were essential talismans for warding off evil spirits in every household within the inner city.

"We'll go to the South District tomorrow." Fu Changsheng stared at the faintly visible black pyramid in the distance.
-
"Get out of here, you old madman!" A commotion erupted at the entrance of the South District Tavern.

Fu Changsheng looked in the direction of the sound and saw an elderly man with white hair and beard being pushed and shoved out of the shop by a waiter. The old man was dressed in rags, clutching a jar of wine tightly to his chest, and muttered drunkenly, "Just one day's credit."

"Borrow money? My foot!" The waiter kicked the old man over. "He's already bought three credits this month!"

The old man fell to the ground, the wine jar shattered, and the murky wine spilled all over the floor. Ignoring the sharp pieces of porcelain, he lay on the ground and licked the wine, acting as if he had gone mad.

Passersby quickly moved away, some scoffing under their breath, "That madman Fu's gone on another drunken rampage."

Fu Changsheng frowned, strode forward, and helped the old man up: "Are you hurt, sir?"

The old man's cloudy eyes darted around, then he suddenly grabbed Fu Changsheng's sleeve: "My wine!"

The waiter, hands on his hips, cursed, "Sir, ignore him! That old madman!"

"How much for the drinks?" Fu Changsheng interrupted coldly.

The waiter was taken aback: "Twenty copper coins?"

Fu Changsheng took out a piece of silver from his pocket and tossed it over: "That's enough to buy ten jars."

The old man's eyes lit up, and he suddenly leaned closer to Fu Changsheng and sniffed: "You...you have a special scent." He lowered his voice mysteriously, "Come with me."

The old man staggered ahead, leading the way through several dark alleys until they arrived at a dilapidated thatched hut. Several yellowed talismans, long since devoid of any spiritual power, were crookedly pasted on the door.

Pushing open the door, Fu Changsheng's pupils constricted—the four walls were densely covered with runes! Some were drawn with cinnabar, others with charcoal. Even more astonishingly, he didn't recognize most of these runes!
"This is... the Heavenly Gang Demon-Suppressing Talisman?" Wu Ling'er pointed to a corner. "I've seen something similar in the ancient books of Black Witch Village."

The old man suddenly became more lucid, a glint of insight flashing in his cloudy eyes: "Little girl, you have a good eye."

Fu Changsheng solemnly cupped his hands in greeting: "Junior Fu Changsheng, may I ask, senior?"

"Senior? Hahaha." The old man suddenly burst into wild laughter, his laughter tinged with desolation. "In this godforsaken place, what senior is there to speak of!" He grabbed a wine jar from the corner of the wall and gulped down several mouthfuls before reverting to his mad state.

Fu Changsheng looked around and noticed several tattered booklets piled in the corner. He randomly opened one and found it to be a book recording various talismans! The runes drawn on one page bore a striking resemblance to the "Boundary-Breaking Talisman" recorded in the *Lingxu Talisman Scripture*!

"Senior is proficient in the art of talismans?" Fu Changsheng's voice trembled slightly.

The old man, his eyes glazed with drunkenness, waved his hand, "Talismans? That's all from my past life." He suddenly lunged at the table, his trembling fingers drawing lines on the surface. "Look... this should use the 'Reverse Five Elements' technique, but without spiritual power, it's all just waste paper!"

Fu Changsheng was startled.

The reverse five elements brush technique is something that only a Nascent Soul stage talisman-making master would have the insight to use in the outside world!
"Senior." Fu Changsheng was about to ask further when the old man suddenly collapsed onto the table, snoring loudly.

Wu Ling'er said softly, "Senior Fu, this old man..."

"This is extraordinary." Fu Changsheng carefully picked up the scattered talismans from the ground. "These talisman combinations are exquisite. Even without the enhancement of spiritual power, their structure alone contains the profound principles of heaven and earth."

(End of this chapter)