Family Rise: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 529 Annihilating the Blood Fiend! Ascending to the Fifth Rank!

Huixi County, Chiyang Mountain Range.

Deep within the cave, Fu Yongyao gathered a point of blue light at his fingertips and carved the final array pattern on the rock wall.

"Third Miss, the array core in the East District has been set up." An elderly man in gray bowed and reported, his voice extremely low.

Fu Yongyao nodded slightly, his fingers lightly tracing the array patterns on the rock wall. These patterns, seemingly chaotic, actually conformed to the ultimate principles of heaven and earth, each stroke containing destructive power.

Nine Heavens Thunderfire Array—this is the Fu family's trump card, a fourth-tier grand array, refined over the past few decades. Once fully activated, it is enough to raze the entire Crimson Sun Mountain Range to the ground.

"Pass down the order: all miners must evacuate immediately and return to Huizhou City in batches according to plan, without causing any disturbance."

The old man accepted the order and left, leaving only Fu Yongyao in the cave.

She took a deep breath and took out a jade talisman from her bosom. The talisman was engraved with the words "longevity," and it was a life-saving item that Fu Changsheng had left for her before he went into seclusion.

“Father,” she murmured softly, her fingertips tracing the patterns on the jade talisman. The jade slip was cool, yet it brought her a sense of peace.

Light footsteps sounded outside the cave, and Fu Yongyao quickly put away the jade talisman. A dark figure appeared silently at the cave entrance; it was Fu Yongrui.

"Third Sister, the puppets are in place." Fu Yongqing's face, hidden beneath his black robe, was paler than usual, a dark glint in his eyes. "Blood Fiend Sect spies infiltrated the mining area three days ago, and we deliberately let a few escape."

Fu Yongyao's lips curled into a slight smile: "Very good, have them take the message back." She turned and pointed to the array diagram on the rock wall, "The Nine Heavens Thunderfire Array has nine array eyes; this is the main array eye, and the other eight are guarded by puppets. Once activated, the Blood Fiend Sect members will have no chance of escape."

“Go, proceed according to plan.” Fu Yongyao patted him on the shoulder. “Remember, no matter what happens, staying alive is the most important thing.”

Fu Yongqing nodded solemnly, his figure disappearing into the darkness like ink.

Fu Yongyao stood alone deep within the cave, his fingertips lightly tapping, sending nine beams of azure light flying towards the array's cores in different directions. As the final incantation was completed, the entire mine trembled slightly, as if a sleeping behemoth was awakening.

Ten Thousand Skulls Mountain, the headquarters of the Blood Fiend Sect.

The Blood Immortal sat cross-legged in the center of the blood pool, his emaciated body submerged in the thick, viscous water. Skeletons floated in the pool, occasionally emitting eerie clanging sounds. Suddenly, he opened his eyes, his pupils blazing with a blood-red light.

"Someone come here!" A hoarse voice echoed in the empty hall.

Four purple-robed elders entered in response and knelt at the edge of the blood pool: "We respectfully request the Ancestor's decree!"

Blood Master slowly rose, blood dripping from his scarlet Taoist robe. He raised his hand, and a blood talisman flew in from outside the hall. The talisman burned in the air, transforming into a detailed map of the Huixi County mining area.

"The Fu family has indeed fallen for the trap," Blood Master sneered. "Our scouts report that the miners are secretly evacuating, and Fu Yongyao is personally overseeing the main mine. Old Nun Qiuyue was right; Fu Changsheng is indeed not with the clan!"

An elder looked up and asked cautiously, "Ancestor, could it be a trap?"

"A trap?" Blood Master scoffed, flicking his withered fingers as a drop of his essence blood fell into the blood pool. The water boiled, revealing a blurry image of Fu Yongyao setting up an array in the mine. "So what if it's a trap? Before absolute power, all schemes are futile!"

He turned and walked deeper into the main hall. The blood in the pool parted automatically, revealing a staircase leading underground. The four elders exchanged glances, but dared not say a word, and could only respectfully follow.

At the end of the stairs was a secret chamber, in the center of which sat a blood-red coffin. The surface of the coffin was covered with eerie runes, emanating a suffocatingly evil aura.

"Today, I will make the Fu family pay for their blood debt!" Blood Immortal bit his tongue, spitting a mouthful of blood essence onto the coffin. Runes lit up one by one, and the coffin lid slowly opened, revealing a mummified corpse.

Upon seeing this, the four elders all knelt down, their foreheads pressed against the ground, unable to look directly at each other.

"Blood Fiend Corpse King, rise!" Blood Master shouted sharply, and the mummified corpse suddenly sat up, two balls of blood-red flames igniting in its empty eye sockets.

This is the Blood Fiend Sect's prized treasure—the Blood Fiend Corpse King, forged from the corpse of a Golden Core cultivator, its strength comparable to a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator. To forge this item, Blood True Man slaughtered over a dozen mortal cities, collecting millions of living souls.

"That little brat Fu Yongyao thinks she can fight me with just formations?" Blood Master sneered. "I'll show her what despair truly means!"

He turned to face the four elders, his voice as cold as ice from the depths of hell: "Pass down the order! The entire Blood Fiend Sect is mobilized! Target: Chiyang Mine in Huixi County! Leave no one alive!"

"We will obey the Ancestor's decree!" The four elders responded in unison and quickly withdrew to make arrangements.

Blood Master stood alone in the secret chamber, his withered fingers gently stroking the face of the Blood Fiend Corpse King: "Old friend, after years of silence, today is your day to shine."

The Corpse King let out a silent roar, and a bloodthirsty aura soared into the sky, causing the entire Ten Thousand Skull Mountain to tremble.

Meanwhile, at Akizuki-an.

Abbess Qiuyue sat quietly on her lotus throne, a silver talisman in her hand. Suddenly, the talisman spontaneously combusted, transforming into a wisp of smoke that formed a line of small characters in the air: "Fu Changsheng is indeed not in the clan. Meet him tomorrow at noon in Huixi County."

"Amitabha." Abbess Qiuyue chanted the Buddha's name, but there was no compassion in her eyes. She raised her hand and waved, and two disciples behind her immediately stepped forward.

"Prepare the 'Lunar Eclipse Array'," she coldly ordered. "Tomorrow, this old monk will personally perform the ritual to deliver the souls of the entire Fu family!"

The two disciples obeyed and left, leaving Abbess Qiuyue standing alone in the nunnery, her white kasaya fluttering without wind. She took out a portrait of a gentle woman whose features bore a striking resemblance to Master Yun.

"Yunlang, Qing'er," she gently stroked the portrait, her voice chillingly tender, "Wait a little longer, and tomorrow the Fu family will pay for their blood debt!"

The portrait suddenly burst into flames, turning to ashes that scattered in the air. The laughter of Abbess Qiuyue echoed through the empty nunnery, like the wailing of a vengeful ghost.

The next day.

Fu Yongyao stood on the stone platform at the highest point of the mine, her plain white robe fluttering in the wind, her eyes cold as knives. She made a hand seal with her fingertips, and a beam of azure light entered the array plate beneath her feet, causing the entire Crimson Sun Mountain Range to tremble slightly, and the spiritual energy of the earth veins was slowly drawn in.

"They're here," she whispered.

In the distance, a streak of crimson light pierced the sky, moving with incredible speed, arriving in the blink of an eye. Blood Master stood atop a blood lotus, his emaciated body shrouded in a scarlet Daoist robe. His eyes flashed with bloodlust as he coldly sneered, "Young Fu family member, do you dare to block my Blood Fiend Sect by yourself?"

Fu Yongyao remained calm and said indifferently, "Blood Immortal, your lifespan is coming to an end, why seek your own death?"

Blood Master's eyes flashed with a bloody light, and he laughed in extreme anger: "What a sharp-tongued junior! Today I will show you what it means to wish you were dead!" He raised his hand and waved his hand, and the Blood Fiend Sect disciples behind him roared in unison and rushed towards the mining area like a tidal wave.

"Start the battle!" Fu Yongyao shouted coldly.

In an instant, the entire Crimson Sun Mountain Range shook violently, and nine crimson pillars of light shot into the sky, intertwining to form a huge net of fire that instantly incinerated the Blood Fiend Sect disciples who were at the forefront into ashes!

"Nine Heavens Thunderfire Formation?!" Blood Master's pupils shrank, then he grinned maliciously, "A mere formation dares to obstruct me?"

With a flick of his sleeve, the blood pool surged, and countless white bones coalesced into a giant blood hand, which slammed down on the array's core!

"boom--!"

The great formation trembled violently, but did not collapse. A trace of blood spilled from the corner of Fu Yongyao's mouth, yet he remained firmly standing in the center of the formation's core, coldly saying, "Blood Immortal, you cannot leave today."

"Arrogant!" Blood Master roared, about to attack again, when suddenly his expression changed and he looked up abruptly.

Above the sky, a sword light fell like a meteor, slashing straight down!

"Qiang——!"

Blood Master hastily defended himself, the Blood Lotus shattered, and he was sent flying dozens of feet backward, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. He stared intently at the newcomer and said in a cold voice, "Ouyang Qing?!"

Ouyang Qing stood with her sword in hand, the cold light gleaming on the blade, and said calmly, "Master Xue, it's been a long time."

"Heh, a mere early-stage Golden Core cultivator dares to stop me?" Blood True Man sneered, about to make a move, when suddenly a chill rose from behind him, and an ice crystal longsword silently pierced through!
"puff--!"

Blood Master barely managed to dodge, but was still grazed on the shoulder by the sword energy, the blood freezing instantly. He whirled around, his pupils shrinking: "Luo Haitang?!"

Luo Haitang, dressed in an ice-blue long dress, her eyes as cold as frost, said: "Blood Immortal, today is your death day."

Blood Master's face was grim. He looked around and found himself surrounded by three people. He grinned maliciously, "Fine, very well! Since you're courting death, I'll grant your wish!"

He suddenly bit his tongue, spitting out a mouthful of blood essence. The blood mist instantly transformed into countless ferocious ghost shadows, roaring as they pounced on the three of them!

On the other side, Abbess Qiuyue arrived, her white kasaya fluttering in the wind, her eyes filled with murderous intent.

"Fu Yongyao, prepare to die!" she shouted coldly, as a silver moon wheel flew out from her sleeve, aiming straight for Fu Yongyao's head!
"clang--!"

A figure in a gray robe suddenly appeared, shattering the silver moon wheel with a single palm strike, and said calmly, "Fellow Daoist Qiuyue, why bother attacking a junior?"

Master Qiuyue's expression changed: "Cao Wushang?!"

Cao Wushang stroked his beard and smiled: "It is indeed this old man."

A cold glint flashed in Master Qiuyue's eyes as she sneered, "The Cao family is also going to get involved in this matter?"

Cao Wushang shook his head: "No, I'm just here to stretch my muscles today."

"You're courting death!" Master Qiuyue roared, and the Silver Moon Wheel rose again, engaging Cao Wushang in battle.

In the center of the battlefield, Blood Master was fighting three opponents alone, but was gradually losing ground.

He roared and suddenly unleashed the Yuan Blood Seal, a blood-red pillar of light shooting into the sky, frantically devouring the blood energy of the entire mountain range!

"Not good! He's trying to force his way through the formation!" Fu Yongyao's expression changed, and he immediately formed a hand seal to stabilize the formation.

Luo Haitang's eyes turned cold, and she said in a chilling voice, "We can't let him succeed!" She formed a hand seal, and countless ice crystals transformed into a giant sword, slashing straight at Blood True Man!

Blood Master grinned maliciously, and the Yuan Blood Seal slammed violently into the ground—

"boom--!!!"

The entire Crimson Sun Mountain Range trembled violently, the earth's spiritual energy went berserk, and the Nine Heavens Thunderfire Array was actually torn open with a gap!
"Hahaha! You can't stop me!" Blood Master laughed loudly, about to rush out, when suddenly he stopped.

A section of emerald green vine silently wrapped around his ankle and suddenly yanked it!
"What?!" Blood Master was shocked. He looked down and saw a giant vine demon bursting out of the ground, its ferocious vines coiling around him like a giant python!

"A fourth-tier vine demon?!" he roared, and the Yuan Blood Seal slammed down wildly, but the vine demon was incredibly tough and he couldn't break free for a while!
At the same time, a white light flashed, and the Jade Horned Rhinoceros came flying through the air, its single horn radiating a dazzling cold light, piercing straight into the chest of the Blood True Man!

"puff--!"

Blood Master staggered backward, black blood gushing from the hole in his chest, yet the bloodlust in his eyes grew ever more ferocious. He suddenly bit his tongue, spitting a mouthful of blood essence onto the Yuan Blood Seal, and roared, "Blood Fiend Corpse King, appear!"

"boom--!"

A crimson pillar of light shot into the sky, and a completely red, desiccated corpse burst out of the ground. Crimson flames burned in its empty eye sockets, and its aura had clearly reached the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm!

"Be careful!" Luo Haitang shouted coldly, and the Ice Soul Sword instantly split into thousands of swords, forming a sword array to protect the three of them.

The Blood Fiend Corpse King roared to the sky, its sound so powerful it shattered the rocks. It pounced on Ouyang Qing with such speed it seemed to tear the air apart!
“Clang!”

Ouyang Qing parried with her sword, but was thrown dozens of feet away by the immense force, blood spilling from the corner of her mouth. Before she could regain her footing, the Corpse King pounced again, its claws aimed straight for her throat!
At the critical moment, a dark shadow flashed by, and Cao Xiang'er appeared like a ghost, unleashing her full power and striking the Corpse King on the back. Black energy, like a venomous snake, burrowed into the Corpse King's body, causing its movements to falter slightly.

"Roar—!" The Corpse King turned around in a rage, but was trapped by Luo Haitang's Ice Soul Sword Formation and could not break free for a while.

Seeing this, Blood Master sneered, "A mere junior dares to obstruct me, the Corpse King?" He made a hand seal and pointed, causing the Corpse King's body to blaze with blood-red light, which actually shattered the sword formation and charged forward again!

"Form the formation!" Fu Yongyao commanded, and the Jade Horned Rhinoceros and the Vine Demon activated simultaneously, entangling the Corpse King from the left and right. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Ouyang Qing unleashed her natal sword technique, transforming the Azure Edge Sword into a hundred-foot-long giant blade, slashing down!
"boom--!"

The Corpse King was cleaved into the mountainside by a sword, sending dust billowing into the sky. However, it emerged again moments later, bearing only a shallow sword wound.

"No, this monster's physical body is too strong!" Ouyang Qing's face turned pale.

The situation on the battlefield turned around in an instant!

In the distance, Abbess Qiuyue laughed loudly upon seeing this: "Cao Wushang, it seems that you are the ones who will perish today!" Suddenly, the silver moon wheel in her hand split into thousands, forming a silver cage that trapped Cao Wushang.

Cold sweat beaded on Fu Yongyao's forehead, and cracks appeared on the array plate in her hand. She looked towards the main mine shaft, gritted her teeth, and crushed a jade talisman.

“Now!”

"Rumble--"

The entire Crimson Sun Mountain Range suddenly trembled violently, and a series of explosions echoed from the depths of the mines. One after another, the mine tunnels occupied by the Blood Fiend Sect disciples collapsed, and the Fu family assassins lying in ambush within simultaneously detonated the buried fire mines.

Blood Master's expression changed drastically: "How dare you—"

Before the words were even finished, all nine secondary array eyes of the Nine Heavens Thunderfire Array simultaneously lit up with a blinding red light. The accumulated spiritual energy of the earth's veins erupted like a volcano, and crimson magma surged forth from the ground!

"No!!" Blood Master let out a shrill scream. His painstakingly constructed Blood Fiend Nine Tribulations Formation collapsed inch by inch in the face of the power of heaven and earth, and the nine blood pillars fell one after another.

The Corpse King suddenly let out a painful roar, and wisps of blue smoke rose from its body—earth fire is the nemesis of such evil creatures!

Luo Haitang and Ouyang Qing exchanged a glance, simultaneously unleashing their killing moves. The ice crystal longsword and the azure sword light merged into one, transforming into a dazzling stream of light that pierced directly through the Corpse King's chest!

"puff--"

The Corpse King stood frozen in place, black blood gushing from the hole in its chest. It struggled to move, but its skull was crushed by a single hoof from the suddenly appearing Jade Horned Rhinoceros!
"Damn it!" Blood Master spat out a mouthful of black blood; the destruction of his natal Corpse King had severely injured him. He glared venomously at Fu Yongyao: "You little bitch, I'll make you pay with your life!"

Blood Master's eyes flashed with crimson light, and a strange crimson flame suddenly ignited around his body. He formed hand seals and chanted incantations, and his aura began to surge wildly!
"Not good! He's going to burn his life essence to fight to the death!" Luo Haitang's expression changed drastically, and she shouted sharply, "Retreat!"

Fu Yongyao stood rooted to the spot, a resolute glint in her eyes. She swiftly formed hand seals and uttered softly, "Nine Heavens Thunderfire, heed my command—Explode!"

"boom--!!!"

At this moment, the entire Chiyang Mountain Range erupted completely! The violent spiritual power accumulated in the earth's veins poured out like a flood bursting its banks, and scorching magma shot into the sky, turning the surrounding ten miles into a sea of ​​fire.

Blood Master let out a furious roar of defiance, his body gradually melting away in the raging flames. His final gaze was fixed on Fu Yongyao, filled with utter venom: "The Fu family...may they suffer a terrible death!"

Before he could finish speaking, his body turned to ashes and scattered in the wind.

On the other side, seeing the situation was dire, Abbess Qiuyue suddenly unleashed her Silver Moon Wheel, forcing Cao Wushang back. She then flashed away, attempting to escape the battlefield.

"Trying to leave?" Fu Yongyao sneered, and suddenly a cyan jade talisman appeared in her hand—the very life-saving item that Fu Changsheng had left her!

Without hesitation, she crushed the jade talisman, and a dazzling sword light shot out, instantly traversing a thousand feet and striking straight at Master Qiuyue's heart!

"Ah!" Master Qiuyue screamed in agony as half of her body was cleaved in two by the sword light, her blood splattering across the sky. But she was, after all, a late-stage Golden Core expert, and she managed to use the Blood Escape Technique, transforming into a streak of blood light and disappearing into the horizon.

"What a pity." Fu Yongyao sighed softly, then his face turned pale, he spat out a mouthful of blood, and his body swayed precariously.

"Yongyao!" Ouyang Qing rushed forward to support her.

Fu Yongyao forced a smile: "It's nothing. I've just exhausted my spiritual energy." She looked around at the ruins of the Crimson Sun Mountains and said softly, "We...won."

Luo Haitang sheathed her Ice Soul Sword and said calmly, "Blood Master is dead, and Abbess Qiuyue has fled with serious injuries. They won't cause any trouble in the short term." She looked at Fu Yongyao, a hint of appreciation flashing in her eyes, "You did well."

Cao Wushang stroked his beard and laughed, "With such a daughter, how could the Fu family not prosper?"

Fu Yongyao forced himself to stand up straight and bowed deeply to everyone: "Thank you all for your help. The Fu family will forever remember this kindness."

Although Fu Yongyao had exhausted his spiritual power, the overall situation was already settled, and now was the best time to take advantage of the situation to pursue and completely destroy the Blood Fiend Sect.

She took a Qi-restoring pill, and after a short rest, she looked coldly toward the direction of Ten Thousand Skulls Mountain and said in a deep voice, "The Blood Fiend Sect's foundation has not been destroyed. If we do not eliminate it completely, it will surely become a great threat in the future."

Luo Haitang nodded slightly and said calmly, "The Blood Fiend Sect occupies three spiritual veins and has many businesses under its control. Now that we've taken action, we should thoroughly eliminate them."

Ouyang Qing wiped the blade of her sword, her eyes flashing with a sharp glint: "Eliminate evil completely."

Cao Wushang stroked his beard and smiled, his eyes gleaming: "In that case, I will lend a hand."

—Their support is not merely for moral reasons; the Blood Fiend Sect's accumulated resources, spiritual mines, and cultivation techniques over thousands of years are their true objective.

Fu Yongyao knew this perfectly well, but at this moment, the Fu family needed allies and also needed to deter other forces.

She cupped her hands slightly and said, "In that case, seniors, let us go together to Ten Thousand Skull Mountain and settle this matter once and for all!"

...

...

Ten Thousand Skulls Mountain, Blood Fiend Sect Soul Lamp Hall.

The Blood Fiend Sect leader was seated cross-legged in the hall, cultivating, surrounded by a swirling blood mist, his aura chilling. Suddenly, his brow furrowed, and he abruptly opened his eyes, his gaze fixed intently on the Life Soul Lamp held highest in the center of the hall—

Blood Immortal's life lamp has been extinguished.

"Snapped!"

The lamp shattered, a wisp of remnant soul dissipated, the Blood Sect Master's pupils shrank suddenly, and his blood seemed to freeze instantly.

"Our ancestor...has perished?!"

He suddenly stood up, and with a flick of his sleeve, all the lamps in the Soul Lamp Hall shook violently, reflecting his pale face.

"Impossible... Our ancestor was in the late Golden Core stage, and he was protected by the Blood Fiend Corpse King, how could he..." But the facts were right in front of them: the Blood True Man's life lamp had been extinguished, which meant that the Blood Fiend Sect had lost the battle in the Crimson Sun Mountains!

Moreover, they were utterly defeated!
The Blood Sect Leader felt a chill run down his spine and immediately realized: the Fu family would never let the Blood Fiend Sect go!

"Guards!!" he shouted sharply, his voice trembling slightly.

Several elders rushed over, but before they could speak, the Blood Sect Leader gritted his teeth and gave the order:
"Activate the mountain-protecting formation immediately! All disciples, be on alert! The Fu family... is coming!"
-
The Blood Fiend Sect was thrown into chaos instantly.

The mountain-protecting formation, the "Blood Fiend Nine Tribulations Formation," suddenly activated, and a blood-red light curtain enveloped the entire Ten Thousand Skull Mountain. However, the elders who were in charge of the formation turned pale—the Blood True Man had perished, greatly reducing the formation's power, and it was no match for the Golden Core cultivator's fierce attack!

"Sect Leader! We can't stop them! If the Fu family comes, they will arrive with overwhelming force!" an elder said in a trembling voice.

The Blood Sect Leader's face was grim, his eyes flashing with bloodlust, and he finally gritted his teeth and said:

"Have the elite disciples take the sect's secret manuals and core resources and evacuate through the secret passage immediately!"

"What about the remaining disciples?!" another elder asked urgently.

The Blood Sect Leader was silent for a moment, then said coldly:
"The time has come for them to serve their sect faithfully."
-
Inside the secret passage.

Led by their elder, the twenty most elite disciples of the Blood Fiend Sect hastily fled, carrying the sect's most precious treasures—the Blood Fiend True Scripture, a replica of the Yuan Blood Seal, and a thousand-year-old Blood Spirit Mushroom.

"Faster! Faster!" the leading elder roared, his eyes filled with fear.

A young disciple, pale-faced, asked in a trembling voice, "Elder... can we really escape?"

The elder did not answer, but gritted his teeth and quickened his pace.

Because they all knew that the Fu family would not let any remnants of the Blood Fiend Sect go unpunished.

Amidst the crowd, a disheveled man staggered forward, his clothes tattered, his exposed skin covered in dark red scars—marks left by the "Blood Prison." He was the former young sect leader.

His eyes were different from others; they showed no fear, but instead shone with a morbid excitement.

"Free... finally free..." he murmured, a smile uncontrollably spreading across his face. Decades of imprisonment, enduring the daily agony of bloodlust gnawing at his bones, should have driven him mad, but hatred kept him more lucid than anyone else.

Back then, if he hadn't been so greedy and reckless, insisting on competing with the Fu family for the Crimson Sun Stone mine, the Blood Fiend Sect wouldn't have lost most of its elite forces, and his father wouldn't have died from his injuries. The sect was furious, stripped him of his succession rights, and imprisoned him in the Blood Prison, where he suffered the torment of ten thousand bloods gnawing at his heart every day.

“The Fu family…” He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug deep into his palms, drawing blood, but he was oblivious to it. If it weren’t for the Fu family, he would still be the high and mighty young master of the sect. Why would he have become a prisoner, suffering endless torment?

He glanced at his fellow disciples fleeing in panic ahead, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes. These so-called elites were now nothing more than a pack of stray dogs. But precisely because of this, he had an opportunity—with a little manipulation, these people would become pawns in his revenge.

"Just wait, Fu family..." He sneered silently, bloodshot veins spreading in his eyes, "Once I regain control of the Blood Fiend Sect, I will wipe you all out, leaving not a single one alive!"
-
at the same time.

At the summit of Ten Thousand Skulls Mountain, the Blood Fiend Nine Tribulations Formation was fully activated.

Nine towering blood pillars burst forth from the mountain, each pillar bound by soul-locking chains formed from the essence and blood of generations of cultivators, weaving together in the air to create a blood-red net that blotted out the sky. Suspended at the center of the formation was the Blood Jade Seal, another treasure of the Blood Fiend Sect, which was currently emitting a suffocating blood-red light.

"Initiate the Nine Tribulations!"

The Blood Sect Leader roared and crushed the Sect Leader's token. Thousands of Qi Refining disciples instantly exploded and died, their blood transforming into hideous ghost faces that merged into the great formation. The entire mountain range trembled violently, and countless skeletons crawled out of the ground, forming a white torrent that built a ten-zhang-long wall of bones at the mountain gate.

Outside the mountain gate.

Fu Yongyao, Luo Haitang, Ouyang Qing, Cao Wushang, and Cao Xiang'er stood in mid-air, coldly watching the Blood Fiend Sect's final struggle.

"A death throes," Luo Haitang said calmly.

Fu Yongyao gathered lightning at his fingertips, his eyes filled with murderous intent: "Break the formation."

boom!
All five attacked at the same time.

Golden light exploded.

Inside the formation, the Blood Sect Master, bleeding from all seven orifices, laughed wildly: "How could you possibly break through a thousand years of accumulated knowledge?"

hum!
After absorbing the essence blood, the Blood Jade Seal suddenly expanded, transforming into a blood cloud hundreds of feet in diameter. Nine tentacles covered with barbs emerged from the cloud, each radiating a terrifying pressure reminiscent of a pseudo-infant stage cultivator.

Snapped!
The protective vines were entangled by a tentacle and withered over ten feet in an instant.

Fu Yongxuan's pupils shrank sharply: "The blood sacrifice must be stopped!"

The surviving low-ranking disciples within the formation had been corrupted into mindless zombies by the blood mist. They mechanically walked towards the blood pillar, allowing the formation to drain their life essence. With each person absorbed, the blood curtain grew thicker, gradually forcing back the frost of the cold night.

The Blood Sect Master's skin cracked all over, yet he still grinned maliciously and made a hand seal: "With my flesh and blood, I forge the Blood Fiend, a thousand-year foundation." Before he could finish speaking, his entire human skin suddenly exploded, turning into a rain of blood that merged into the great formation. The nine tentacles instantly solidified like black iron, sweeping across all directions with an aura of destruction.

Cao Wushang, Fu Yongyao, and the other two demons also joined the fight.

Rumble!
The mountain-protecting formation barely functioned for a few hours before collapsing with a deafening roar!
The few surviving Blood Fiend Sect disciples looked at the sky in despair. Some knelt and begged for mercy, while others fought back frantically, but without exception—

They were all killed!

A thousand-year-old sect, destroyed in a single day!

...

Ten Thousand Skulls Mountain, the headquarters of the Blood Fiend Sect.

The once eerie and sinister Blood Fiend Hall has now been taken over by the Fu family cultivators. Fu Yongyao stood at the head of the hall, her face pale, but her eyes sharp as knives. Behind her stood Golden Core cultivators such as Ouyang Qing, Luo Haitang, and Cao Wushang, while inside the hall were elites from various Purple Mansion families, their eyes burning with anticipation as they awaited the spoils of war.

"Gentlemen," Fu Yongyao said, looking around at everyone, his voice cold, "the Blood Fiend Sect has been destroyed, but how its assets should be distributed needs to be determined."

Cao Wushang stroked his beard and smiled, speaking first: "Young friend Fu, your Fu family has planned the most and contributed the most to this battle. I believe that the Fu family should be in charge of the distribution."

Luo Haitang nodded slightly: "That's how it should be."

Ouyang Qing had no objection.

Fu Yongyao nodded slightly, then took out a jade slip, tapped it with his fingertip, and a detailed map was projected out by spiritual light—it was a map showing the distribution of all the Blood Fiend Sect's industries!

"The Blood Fiend Sect has three core industries." She tapped her finger, and three marks lit up on the map.

First, the spiritual veins of Wanku Mountain.

Although this mountain is filled with yin energy, it contains a fourth-order yin energy spiritual vein underground, which is suitable for cultivating evil cultivation techniques and can also be used to refine evil energy to make magical artifacts, making it priceless.

Second, the Blood Fiend Sect's Sutra Repository.

It contains heretical secret manuals such as "Blood Fiend True Scripture" and "Nine Nether Soul Refining Technique," which are despised by the righteous path, but are priceless treasures to some cultivators.

Third, the three Xuan Yin Iron Mines controlled by the Blood Fiend Sect.

This mine can be used to refine Yin-attribute magical artifacts and is a core material for refining Ghost Path and Corpse Path magical treasures, generating astonishing profits every year.

The people inside the hall were breathing heavily, their eyes burning with fervor.

Fu Yongyao remained calm and continued, "In this battle, my Fu family suffered heavy losses of cultivators, and the Crimson Sun Mine has been destroyed, so we need to make up for the losses. Therefore, my Fu family will take 50% of the Ten Thousand Skulls Mountain Spirit Vein."

These words caused a slight commotion in the hall, but no one dared to directly object. After all, the Fu family had indeed paid the greatest price in this battle, and although Fu Changsheng had not appeared, his influence remained, and no one wanted to provoke him.

Cao Wushang pondered for a moment, then smiled and said, "It is reasonable for the Fu family to take 50%. However, for the remaining 50%, my Cao family is willing to exchange it for spirit stones or other properties."

Luo Haitang sneered: "Fellow Daoist Cao has quite the plan. This Yin Sha Spiritual Vein is also beneficial to my Luo family's ice-type cultivation technique. How can I give it all to you?"

Ouyang Qingyi said calmly, "The Ouyang family also intends to get a share of the pie."

Seeing that a dispute was about to break out, Fu Yongyao raised his hand and pressed down, and the hall immediately fell silent.

"Gentlemen, the Blood Fiend Sect has many properties, there's no need to rush." ​​Her eyes flickered slightly, revealing a deep meaning. "How about this—the Fu family will take 50% of the Ten Thousand Skulls Mountain spiritual vein, and the remaining 50% will be bid on by the Cao, Luo, and Ouyang families, with the highest bidder winning. As for the cultivation techniques in the Scripture Pavilion, each family can make a copy, with the original belonging to the Fu family."

"As for the Xuan Yin Iron Mine..." she paused, "of the three veins, the Fu family will take one, and the remaining two will be divided among you all."

Upon hearing this plan, everyone pondered for a moment and nodded in agreement. Although the Fu family took the lion's share, they also gave the other forces enough room to maneuver, preventing a complete breakdown in relations.

Cao Wushang laughed heartily: "Young friend Fu is fair in his dealings, I have no objection!"

Luo Haitang nodded slightly: "Alright."

Ouyang Qing said calmly, "The Ouyang family agrees."

Fu Yongyao smiled slightly, and with a flick of his finger, the map shimmered with light, marking the areas each party had acquired.

...

...

Xuanxiao Mountain, main peak hall.

Master Tianhu suddenly crushed the communication jade talisman in his hand, his face turned deathly pale, and fine beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.

"The Blood Immortal... has fallen?"

His voice trembled slightly, as if he couldn't believe the news.

Just days ago, he secretly contacted Master Xue, agreeing to join forces to suppress the Fu family and divide their assets. But now, the Blood Fiend Sect has been destroyed, Master Qiuyue has fled with serious injuries, and the Fu family is not only unharmed, but has even joined forces with the Luo family, the Ouyang family, the Cao family, and other forces to eradicate the Blood Fiend Sect in one fell swoop!

"How is this possible... Blood Master is at the late Golden Core stage, and he also has the Blood Fiend Corpse King at his disposal, how could he possibly lose?!"

He suddenly stood up and paced back and forth in the hall, his heart filled with fear and trepidation.

—His Tianhu Sect was merely a newly established Golden Core sect, and he himself had only recently formed his own core; his strength was far inferior to that of True Immortal Xue. Now that the Fu family had achieved a great victory, if they were to turn around and settle scores with him for seizing Tianluo Mountain and Xuanxiao Mountain, how could he possibly resist?
"No... We absolutely cannot sit here and wait to die!"

A ruthless glint flashed in Master Tianhu's eyes. He immediately made a hand seal and sent an order to summon the elders of his sect.

A moment later, several Foundation Establishment elders rushed over, but before they could speak, they heard True Person Tianhu say coldly:
"Immediately gather the sect's core resources and prepare to evacuate!"

"What?!" The elders were shocked.

A white-haired elder said urgently, "Sect Master! Tianluo Mountain and Xuanxiao Mountain are the foundation of our sect. If we abandon them now, how will we stand in the future?!"

Master Tianhu sneered, "Foundation? What's the point of a foundation if you've lost your life!"

With a flick of his sleeve, he declared sternly, "The Fu family has already destroyed the Blood Fiend Sect; their next target will undoubtedly be my Heavenly Lake Sect! If we don't escape now, will we follow in the footsteps of True Immortal Blood?!"

Upon hearing this, everyone turned pale and dared not speak further.

Master Tianhu's gaze turned cold as he continued, "Furthermore, pass on my order—activate the 'Spirit Extraction Array' to completely drain the spiritual essence of Tianluo Mountain and Xuanxiao Mountain!"

"This..." The elders gasped.

Draining the spiritual veins means that these two mountains will be completely turned into wasteland, barren for a hundred years!
This is a plan to wipe out the entire family!
Master Tianhu sneered, "What I can't have, the Fu family can't have either!"

……

Wuzhou, the ancestral home of the Huang family.

The Huang family patriarch sat upright in the quiet room, holding a newly shattered communication jade talisman in his hand, his expression shifting between light and shadow.

"The Blood Fiend Sect... is destroyed?"

He slowly stood up, his fingers trembling slightly beneath his sleeves, his eyes filled with disbelief.

He had initially thought that with Fu Changsheng in seclusion, the Fu family would lose its greatest reliance and be doomed to defeat against the combined forces of the Blood Fiend Sect and the Autumn Moon Nunnery. Yet, Fu Yongyao, a mere junior, had managed to orchestrate such a grand scheme, even managing to enlist the assistance of Golden Core experts like Luo Haitang, Ouyang Qing, and Cao Wushang!
--what does that mean?
This means that even without Fu Changsheng, the Fu family's resources and connections far exceed the Huang family's imagination!

"It was a mistake..."

Chief Huang's face was gloomy, and he was filled with remorse.

Although his Huang family and the Fu family were both sixth-rank families, his family only had one member at the early stage of the Golden Core realm, making them far weaker than the Fu family. Originally, he planned to sit back and watch the two families fight, intending to wait until the Fu family, the Lei family, and the Blood Fiend Sect were all exhausted before coming out to take advantage of the situation.

But now, the Fu family has not only survived, but has also wiped out the Blood Fiend Sect in one battle, and its power has grown even stronger!
"We can't wait any longer..."

Chief Huang's eyes flashed as he quickly weighed the pros and cons.

Now that the Fu family has won a major victory, if they were to take the opportunity to settle old scores, the Huang family would likely not fare well. Rather than passively taking a beating, it's better to take the initiative to show goodwill, at least to prevent the Fu family from regarding the Huang family as enemies!
"Somebody come!"

He gave a stern shout, and immediately an elder respectfully entered from outside the door.

"What are your orders, Chief?"

Chief Huang said coldly, "Prepare a generous gift immediately!"

The elder was taken aback: "Clan leader, what is this...?"

Clan Chief Huang narrowed his eyes and slowly said, "Have Yuehua personally visit the Fu family to celebrate their great victory in annihilating the Blood Fiend Sect!"

The elder's pupils contracted, and he instantly understood the clan leader's meaning. He quickly nodded, "Yes! I will arrange it immediately!"

After the elders withdrew, Clan Chief Huang stood alone in the quiet room, gazing at the gloomy sky outside the window, and murmured to himself:

"The Fu family... is probably not far from becoming a fifth-rank aristocratic family."

—And the Huang family, if they don't want to fall too far behind, they have to choose sides now!
...

...

Lei family, Zidian Peak.

The eldest elder of the Lei family sat quietly in the ancestral hall.

The flickering candlelight in the ancestral hall illuminated his deeply lined face. This old man, who had taken over the family business after Master Lei, had aged considerably in the past decade or so, and now appeared somewhat hunched over.

"Elder!" A Lei family Purple Mansion Elder rushed in, his face pale. "I just received confirmation that the Blood Fiend Sect's headquarters has been razed to the ground, and Blood True Person's body has been completely destroyed! The Fu family, together with the Luo family, the Ouyang family, and the Cao family, have divided up all of the Blood Fiend Sect's assets!"

The Grand Elder's expression changed, and after a long silence, he finally sighed, "One wrong step leads to another..."

His voice was hoarse, filled with deep regret.

—If the former clan leader hadn't been so headstrong and repeatedly targeted the Fu family in order to curry favor with the Seventh Prince's Mansion, the Lei family wouldn't be in such an awkward situation today.
The Fu family is now very powerful, and even the notorious evil sect, the Blood Fiend Sect, has been eradicated. Although the Lei family is a sixth-rank family, its foundation is far inferior to that of the Fu family.

"Elder, should we make preparations soon?" the elder asked cautiously. "If the Fu family takes advantage of their great victory and then turns around to settle old scores..."

The First Elder raised his hand to interrupt him, a trace of composure appearing on his aged face: "There is no need to panic. Although the Fu family and the Lei family have had friction, they are not mortal enemies. The one who is truly irreconcilable with the Fu family is the Seventh Prince's Mansion."

He slowly rose, walked to the window of the ancestral hall, and gazed at the distant, mist-shrouded mountain peaks with a profound look in his eyes.

"Moreover, Yunfeng is currently in seclusion at the Sword Pavilion. As long as he is there, the Fu family will not dare to exterminate the Lei family."

When Lei Yunfeng was mentioned, a hint of relief finally appeared in the Grand Elder's eyes.

—This most outstanding genius of the Lei family in contemporary times is their greatest asset.

"Then...should we try to curry favor with the Fu family?" the elder asked in a low voice.

The First Elder gave a wry smile: "Trying to curry favor? Our Lei family is the maternal family of the Seventh Prince's Mansion. If we rashly bow down to the Fu family, what will the Seventh Prince think?"

He shook his head and sighed, "Now we can only wait and see, and carefully maneuver between the Seventh Prince's Mansion and the Fu family."

The elder hesitated, then remained silent.

The First Elder looked in the direction of the Fu family, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

He certainly wanted to resolve his grievances with the Fu family, but the relationship between the Lei family and the Seventh Prince's Mansion meant that they could not easily side with the Fu family.

"I just hope... the Fu family can understand that the Lei family is not their real enemy."

He murmured to himself, as if trying to convince himself.

Outside the window, a bolt of lightning ripped through the sky, illuminating his aged yet composed face.

This old man, who had weathered many storms, knew very well—

In this vortex that is about to sweep across Huizhou, the Lei family must proceed with extreme caution in order to protect themselves.

(End of this chapter)