Family Rise: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 531 Spiritual Aura, Special Lottery, Dragon Transformation
Fu Changsheng and his two companions seized the opportunity to run forward. The passage became narrower and narrower, while the river grew deeper and deeper, reaching their chests. A fork in the road appeared ahead, with two waterways on either side, both pitch black and bottomless.

"Which way?" Wu Ling'er asked urgently.

Fu Changsheng observed intently and discovered fine scratches on the rock wall of the waterway on the left—marks of human excavation! "The left side! The human marks indicate it might be the exit!"

Just as they turned to the left, the wall of fire behind them was breached. Swarms of water demons surged forth like a tide, their shrieks echoing through the narrow passage, making everyone dizzy.

Fu Changsheng reached for the last brocade pouch at his waist—it contained the "blood saltpeter" given to him by the old man, which would explode violently upon contact with water. Without hesitation, he threw the pouch into the waterway behind him.

“Get down!”

Amidst a deafening explosion, the ceiling of the passageway began to collapse. The three were propelled forward by the shockwave and swept into a whirlpool by the rushing water.
When Wu Ling'er regained consciousness, she found herself lying on a shallow beach, her whole body aching as if her bones were falling apart.

not far away.

Fu Changsheng carefully placed the unconscious Fu Yongxuan on a flat stone platform. Wu Ling'er, her clothes soaked through, walked over and took out a few surviving herbs from her medicine pouch.

"Senior Fu, I found some calming herbs that can help Sister Yongxuan stabilize her mind." She spoke softly, her fingers deftly crushing the herbs and applying them to Fu Yongxuan's temples.

Fu Changsheng nodded, his gaze sweeping across the vast underground space. Stalactites hanging from the cave ceiling emitted a faint glow, illuminating an area of ​​several dozen feet in radius. In the distance, the sound of an underground river could be faintly heard.

"Ling'er, you take care of Yongxuan. I'll go look around for an exit."

Wu Ling'er looked up, her wet hair clinging to her pale cheeks: "Senior Fu, be careful."

Fu Changsheng gripped the dagger at his waist, his only weapon now. The Lawless Land had stripped cultivators of all their advantages; he was now no different from a mortal. He walked slowly along the rock wall, his fingers tracing the damp surface, searching for any possible crevice or passage.

Deep within the cave, the blue light emanating from the stalactites grew increasingly dim. Suddenly, Fu Changsheng stopped in his tracks. On the rock wall ahead, there was an unusually smooth area, seemingly carved with something. He leaned closer to examine it, his breath catching in his throat.

It was a naturally formed mural, with flowing lines like clouds and water, depicting a blooming blue lotus. The lotus petals were outstretched, and there seemed to be a shimmering light flowing around the stamen, giving people a sense of vitality even in this dim environment.

“The Lotus Breathing Exercise” Fu Changsheng murmured, almost unable to believe his eyes.

The [Nourishing Spirit Lotus Seed] he obtained through a special lottery requires divine consciousness as soil, soul power as dew, visualization of the "Azure Lotus Breathing Diagram," and tempering with moonlight. Once mature, it can evolve into a primordial spirit.

This is the great path to becoming a deity.

He never expected to find the "Blue Lotus Breathing Exercise Chart" here.

Fu Changsheng subconsciously reached for the storage pouch at his waist, then smiled bitterly. In this lawless land, the storage pouch couldn't be opened, his divine sense couldn't be projected, and he couldn't even use the simplest jade slip. This unparalleled opportunity was right before him, yet he couldn't take even a fraction of it away.

"Senior Fu?" Wu Ling'er's voice came from behind, "Did you discover something?"

Wu Ling'er approached, looked up at the rock wall, and a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes: "This...this is the 'Azure Lotus Breathing Technique'? I've seen it recorded in ancient books!"

Fu Changsheng was shocked; he hadn't expected that Wu Ling'er would also recognize the picture.

"Legend has it that this painting contains profound truths about heaven and earth; if one can comprehend it, it will greatly benefit one's cultivation," Wu Ling'er said softly, her fingers unconsciously tracing the lines of the mural. "Unfortunately, it's not here."

She didn't finish her sentence, but Fu Changsheng understood what she meant. In this lawless land, they couldn't even cast the simplest spells, let alone record or comprehend such profound diagrams.

The three of them rested in the cave for the next few days.

Besides searching for an exit, Fu Changsheng would come to the mural every day, trying to preserve the picture using the most primitive method—memory. However, the lines of the "Blue Lotus Breathing Painting" were intricate and the artistic conception was profound, making it impossible for the mortal eye to fully remember it.

day to day.

Seeing Fu Changsheng's persistence, Wu Ling'er bit her lower lip: "Senior Fu, I... I might have a way to help you record that picture."

Fu Changsheng suddenly looked up: "What method?"

"I am a psychic being." Wu Ling'er's voice was soft, yet it exploded in Fu Changsheng's ears like thunder. "If I cultivate with a man, a trace of innate psychic energy will be born within me, and this energy can temporarily enter the other person's body."

Spiritual energy.

These are the ten innate energies!

Fu Changsheng was startled.

"Senior Fu, the spiritual energy will allow you to briefly use your divine sense. Although the time is short, it's enough for you to record the image on the jade slip. It will also allow you to open your storage bag and retrieve some useful items."

Fu Changsheng's eyes lit up, but he quickly calmed down: "What's the price?"

Wu Ling'er lowered her head and remained silent.

“Ling’er, tell me the truth, what will be the price?” Fu Changsheng turned around and looked directly into her eyes.

Wu Ling'er whispered, "Your cultivation will drop, and you'll also lose some vital essence."

Fu Changsheng shook his head: "That's not all, is it?"

Wu Ling'er lowered her head: "Spiritual energy is the foundation of a spiritual body. Without it, I... I may never be able to recover my original cultivation level."

“Then there’s no need to mention it again,” Fu Changsheng said firmly. “I won’t trade your future for my opportunity.”

"But Senior Fu!" Wu Ling'er suddenly looked up, tears welling in her eyes. "Sister Yongxuan needs you! And we're trapped here, without spiritual power, with no way out!"

Her voice choked with emotion: "I'm willing to do this, not just for you, but for all of us."

Looking at her stubborn expression, Fu Changsheng felt a pang of pain in his heart. This girl, who had silently followed him all the way without ever complaining, was now willing to pay such a huge price for him.

“Ling’er,” his voice was hoarse, “do you know what this means?”

Wu Ling'er nodded, a faint blush rising to her cheeks: "I know. But I also know that if we don't do this, we might never get out of here."

She stepped forward, mustered her courage, and grasped Fu Changsheng's hand: "Senior Fu, you've protected me all this way. Now, please let me do something for you in return."

Fu Changsheng felt the warmth of her hand, his mind in turmoil. Reason told him he should refuse, but reality cruelly confronted him—without spiritual power, they might truly be trapped and die in this cave.

"Any other consequences?" he asked in a deep voice.

Wu Ling'er's eyes flickered for a moment, then she shook her head: "No more."

Fu Changsheng keenly caught that moment of hesitation and was about to ask further when Fu Yongxuan's faint groan came from afar. The two hurriedly returned to the stone platform and found that the black mark between Fu Yongxuan's eyebrows had spread further. Although it was suppressed by the Soul-Suppressing Pill, it was still slowly eroding him.

Seeing Fu Changsheng's furrowed brows, Wu Ling'er said softly, "Senior Fu, there's no need to hesitate. This is my own choice."

"it is good!"

As night fell, the blue light in the cave grew even dimmer. Fu Yongxuan took some calming herbs and fell asleep again. Fu Changsheng and Wu Ling'er went to a secluded corner where the "Blue Lotus Breathing Diagram" on the rock wall was faintly visible in the dim light.

Wu Ling'er had her back to Fu Changsheng, her fingers trembling as she untied her outer robe. Fu Changsheng grasped her shoulders and turned her around.

"Ling'er, if you hesitate even for a moment..."

Wu Ling'er raised her hand to cover his mouth, her eyes shining with unwavering determination: "I don't regret it."

Her clothes slipped down, and Fu Changsheng took a deep breath, gently pulling her into his arms. The moment their skin touched, a strange warmth flowed between them.

Wu Ling'er tilted her head back, closed her eyes, and responded awkwardly.

The moment the two united, the wisp of innate spiritual energy within Wu Ling'er flowed gently into Fu Changsheng's body like a trickle. An unprecedented sense of clarity swept over his consciousness, and the long-lost power of divine sense surged forth like a tide.

"Quickly!" Wu Ling'er's face was pale, and her voice was weak. "Time is running out."

Finished.

Exhausted, Wu Ling'er fainted.

Fu Changsheng dared not delay any longer. With a thought, he vanished from his spot and reappeared in the small wooden house in the Five Elements Space.

“Spiritual power...is back!” Fu Changsheng clenched his fist, feeling the long-lost power surging through his meridians.

Senses projected outwards.

The "Blue Lotus Breathing" mural is clearly visible in the cave.

Even more remarkably, under the blessing of spiritual power, every line on the mural seemed to come alive, containing profound Daoist rhythms.

He immediately sat cross-legged in the center of the wooden house, his eyes fixed on the mural. The lotus seed for nourishing the spirit was held in his palm, rising and falling with his breath. In his Niwan Palace, his long-dormant divine consciousness began to slowly circulate, following the trajectory of the "Blue Lotus Breathing Diagram".

At first, the flow of his divine sense was obscure and difficult, like rowing against the current. But as his comprehension deepened, the Nourishing Lotus Seed gradually emitted a soft blue light, resonating with the Daoist charm on the mural. Fu Changsheng felt a cool aura pouring in from the crown of his head, reaching his dantian, and then nourishing his divine sense.

"The lotus blossoms for the first time, and the divine palace opens wide," Fu Changsheng murmured unconsciously, entering a profound state of enlightenment.

I do not know how long it has been.

The Nourishing Lotus took root and sprouted in his palm, producing two tender green cotyledons. A wisp of pure divine power flowed into his Niwan Palace along his meridians.

"boom--"

With a soft sound in his mind, Fu Changsheng felt his mind become clear. His divine sense, which was originally like a stream, was now like a raging river, and his perception range expanded more than tenfold! Even more miraculously, even with his eyes closed, every blade of grass and every tree in the Five Elements Space was clearly presented before his eyes, and even the tiny insects wriggling in the spiritual soil had nowhere to hide.

"The first stage of the Nourishing Spirit Lotus Seed is complete!" Fu Changsheng opened his eyes, a blue light flashing within them in an instant.

He looked down at his palm; the small blue lotus had taken root, its two cotyledons swaying slightly as if breathing. A faint golden light flickered at the lotus's heart—a wisp of his natal divine consciousness, perfectly fused with the lotus seed.

With a thought, Fu Changsheng summoned the Azure Lotus, which instantly transformed into a stream of light and entered his brow, settling into his Niwan Palace. Immediately, a cool sensation flowed throughout his body, even making his physical body feel refreshed.

“Unexpectedly, in this lawless place, we have turned misfortune into blessing.” Fu Changsheng said with deep emotion, “Just in case, let’s first engrave the ‘Blue Lotus Breathing Diagram’.”

Fu Changsheng quickly took out the jade slip and recorded the entire "Azure Lotus Breathing Diagram".

Just now.

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

"You have acquired the 'Azure Lotus Breathing Technique' for the clan, gaining 10,000 clan contribution points."

The value of the "Azure Lotus Breathing Diagram" was considerable, so receiving 10,000 family contribution points was within his expectations.

He was thinking about exchanging intelligence.

The familiar mechanical sound came again:
"Ding"

"Your family's protective vine has broken through to the fourth tier, granting you a special lottery draw opportunity. Would you like to redeem it?"

The protective vine has broken through?!
Fu Changsheng was overjoyed.

If I could take this opportunity to draw a treasure here that could help me climb Mount Wu, that would be wonderful.

A thought immediately occurred to him:
"Redeem your prize for a special draw!"

hum-

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

"This is.?"

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

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

"boom!"

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

When the light faded, a seed of magic lay quietly inside the box.

"Huh, this time it's actually a Dharma Seed!"

The last special lottery prize was the Heavenly Punishment Thunder Spear.

He hadn't exchanged for a magic seed in a long time, and he was quite looking forward to it.

Upon closer inspection, the scales on the surface of the seed were lifelike, and there seemed to be liquid thunder magma flowing inside. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a miniature azure dragon tumbling in the clouds and thunder.

at the same time.

Lines of thought flashed through my mind:
[Fourth-Order Magic Seed - Dragon's Throne Thunder Pivot]

[Applicable to: True Dragon Bloodline Spirit Beasts (Current Compatibility: 92%)]

Main effects:
I. Shedding Scales and Transforming into a Dragon: Awakening the Dragon Clan's Legacy Deep Within the Bloodline (Requires use in conjunction with a lightning tribulation)

II. Thunder Prison Armor: Transforms the tribulation lightning into protective dragon scales (each dragon scale can withstand a full-force attack from an early-stage Golden Core cultivator).
III. Swallowing Thunder and Spitting Elixir: Absorbing the spiritual energy of thunder from heaven and earth to nourish the host (conversion efficiency 35%)

"It's actually a unique spirit pet magic seed!"

Fu Changsheng's eyes lit up.

This is the first time I've ever won a prize like this!
"It just so happens that Xiaoqing is breaking through to the fourth rank, and this item is most suitable for her."

Fu Changsheng emerged from the small wooden house and, with a thought, arrived in Beichuan.

The Azure Dragon was coiled in the center of the Nine Transformations Dragon Formation. Most of its scales had fallen off, and the newly grown golden dragon scales shone brightly under the spiritual light. Its body was thicker than before, the mane on its back flowed like flames, its four claws were as sharp as knives, and the dragon horn on its forehead had completely broken out, winding like a piece of jade, with faint lightning crackling around it.

Suddenly, the clouds above the Five Elements Space surged violently, and a dark thundercloud condensed in the originally clear void, with lightning bolts dancing wildly and muffled thunder like the low roar of an ancient ferocious beast.

Fu Changsheng raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes: "The Five Elements Space can actually evolve into a Heavenly Tribulation?"

Qiu Niang said excitedly, "This is all thanks to Master for repairing a fragment of the Five Elements Space last time. Now the Five Elements Space can finally barely simulate the Heavenly Tribulation. However, we cannot control the state at will, and only Master's spirit pet can undergo the tribulation here!"

That's not bad either.

At least the transformation of the Azure Dragon into a Dragon will go unnoticed.

Fu Changsheng was very satisfied.

The Flying Feather Beast looked up at the thunderclouds, making uneasy "woofing" sounds in its throat, and scratching the ground nervously with its large claws, clearly extremely afraid of the heavenly might.

Fu Changsheng's gaze narrowed slightly, and with a flick of his sleeve, a dragon-shaped jade talisman appeared in his palm, which was the [Dragon Throne Thunder Pivot].

"Little Qing, catch!" He flicked his finger, and the seed of magic transformed into a beam of green light, shooting straight at the center of the Azure Dragon's brow.

The azure dragon's golden eyes shone brightly, and it opened its mouth to inhale, instantly merging the magic seed into its body. The next moment, its scales crackled and jingled, fine lightning patterns appearing on the surface of each scale, its dragon blood boiling, and an ancient and majestic aura awakening from the depths of its bloodline!
"Roar--!"

A dragon's roar shook the heavens, and the azure dragon's body suddenly stretched out. Its previously incompletely transformed tail split open completely, becoming a true dragon tail, its tail fins like blades, gleaming with a sharp, cold light. At the same time, the thunderclouds in the sky finally completed their formation—

"Boom——!"

The first bolt of tribulation lightning struck, a purple lightning bolt as thick as a bucket tearing through the sky and striking the Azure Dragon!

However, the Azure Dragon neither dodged nor avoided, but instead raised its head to meet the attack head-on. Brilliant lightning burst forth from its dragon horns, and at the very moment the tribulation lightning struck, its scales suddenly lit up, and countless lightning patterns intertwined into a net, forcefully devouring the power of the tribulation lightning!

【Thunder Armor】—The tribulation lightning is transformed into protective dragon scales, and a layer of crystal-clear thunder armor appears on the surface of the Azure Dragon's body. Each scale contains the power of thunder, and its defense increases dramatically!

"What a powerful seed of magic!" Qiu Niang exclaimed. "It can truly strengthen itself by borrowing the power of heavenly tribulation!"

Fu Changsheng's eyes were piercing, and the corners of his mouth were slightly raised: "It seems that this tribulation has become its opportunity instead."

The second and third bolts of tribulation lightning struck in succession, but the Azure Dragon fought with increasing ferocity. Its dragon body swam amidst the lightning, not only unharmed but also using the tribulation to shed its scales and transform into a dragon, activating the dragon clan's inheritance deep within its bloodline.

"Roar--!"

As the fourth bolt of tribulation lightning struck, the Azure Dragon suddenly soared into the air, opened its mouth, and swallowed the entire bolt of lightning! In an instant, its dragon blood boiled, its bones crackled, its dragon horn on its forehead fully formed, its dragon spine on its back bulged, and its four claws completely transformed into true dragon claws!

"Shedding scales and transforming into a dragon...it's done!" A glint flashed in Fu Changsheng's eyes.

The azure dragon roared to the sky, its voice shaking the heavens. Within the Five Elements Space, spiritual energy surged, faintly condensing into a phantom dragon shadow that hovered above the azure dragon's head, seemingly echoing the dragon lineage deep within its bloodline.

As the last bolt of tribulation lightning dissipated, the Azure Dragon's lightning armor receded, and its newly grown dragon scales gleamed with a deep blue light. Its dragon might was vast, and it had completely stepped into the fourth rank!
The Flying Feather Beast let out a "roar" and excitedly pounced forward, only to be gently swept away by the Azure Dragon's tail. Although the force was light, it contained the dragon's might, which frightened the beast into shrinking its neck and looking at Fu Changsheng with a pitiful expression.

"Haha, you silly goose, you can't beat it now." Fu Changsheng chuckled, reaching out to ruffle the Flying Feather Beast's large head. Qiu Niang floated over, grinning, "Congratulations, Master! Little Qing is now a true dragon, and who knows, she might even transform into a real dragon someday!"

Fu Changsheng nodded slightly, his gaze gentle: "Indeed, with this assistance, we will be more confident in our future endeavors."

The azure dragon let out a low roar, lowered its head, and affectionately rubbed against Fu Changsheng's arm, its eyes full of gratitude.

Fu Changsheng patted its dragon horns and laughed, "Now that you have broken through, you should consolidate your realm and follow me to conquer the world in the future."

The azure dragon roared in response, and at the same time, the [Dragon Throne Thunder Pivot] Dharma Seed within its body suddenly burst forth with dazzling lightning. Strands of pure lightning spirit energy flowed out from the azure dragon's body, transforming into a phantom of an azure lightning dragon, which suddenly rushed into Fu Changsheng's body!
"Hmm?" Fu Changsheng's eyes narrowed as he felt a vast and pure spiritual energy surge into his meridians, like a rushing river washing over his limbs and bones. This spiritual energy contained the true meaning of thunder, yet it was gentle and docile. It was the heaven and earth thunder spirit energy that the Azure Dragon had devoured during its tribulation, which had been transformed by the Dharma Seed and returned to nourish it!

"Such pure spiritual energy!" Fu Changsheng's heart stirred, and he immediately sat cross-legged and began to circulate the "Azure Emperor Longevity Technique".

In an instant, azure light swirled around him, and his golden core spun rapidly within him. The Dao patterns on the surface of the golden core spread like vines, greedily devouring the power of the thunder spirit. The previously stable bottleneck loosened at this moment, and the shackles of the second level of the golden core were easily broken through as if they were thin paper!

"boom--"

On the surface of the Golden Core, the third golden pattern has completely solidified!

In an instant, Fu Changsheng's aura surged, and a powerful pressure swept out. His robes fluttered without wind, his hair flew, and he was like a drawn sword, its sharpness fully revealed!

"Third level of Golden Core!" He slowly opened his eyes, his pupils swirling with azure light, as if lightning were flickering within them.

Qiu Niang floated over happily, grinning, "Congratulations, Master, your cultivation has advanced another step!"

The Flying Feather Beast also let out a "roar," nuzzling its large head against Fu Changsheng's arm, its eyes filled with admiration.

The azure dragon descended from the sky, its head lowered, and affectionately nuzzled Fu Changsheng's shoulder, seemingly delighted that its power of reciprocation could help its master break through.

Fu Changsheng smiled slightly, reached out and stroked the dragon horn of the Azure Dragon, feeling the cool touch and faint thunderous power coming from his fingertips. He felt happy: "This time I have gained a lot. Not only did Xiao Qing successfully transform into a dragon, but my cultivation also broke through. It saved me decades of hard work. This [Dragon Throne Thunder Pivot] is not only a great opportunity for Xiao Qing, but also an unexpected joy for me."

He looked up at the sky of the Five Elements Space. The clouds that had been churning due to the lightning tribulation had gradually calmed down, but he could vaguely sense that the laws of this space had become more perfect.

"It seems I need to find more fragments of the Five Elements Space to speed up its completion," he muttered to himself, a hint of anticipation flashing in his eyes.

Qiu Niang blinked and asked curiously, "Master, shouldn't we go out and get some exercise next? Xiao Qing's strength has increased greatly now, it's a good time to test her skills!"

With the Azure Dragon, their journey through the Lawless Land became much easier, greatly shortening the time to reach Wushan and reducing the dangers considerably.

at the same time.

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

"Your spirit pet, the Azure Dragon, has broken through to the fourth rank, granting you a chance to draw a special prize. Would you like to redeem it?"

"Ding"

"Your daughter, Fu Yongyao, led her clan to annihilate the Blood Fiend Sect, eliminating a major threat to Huixi County. You have been awarded a special lottery chance. Would you like to redeem it?"

Happiness came too suddenly.

Fu Changsheng was about to exchange the money.

But with a thought, he could move his mind.

Upon discovering that Wu Ling'er, who had been unconscious for a long time, was about to wake up, he quickly waved his sleeve, and countless pill bottles and talismans fell from the storage room in his space into a large package.

"It's time to go out."

Fu Changsheng took one last look at the Five Elements Space.

A thought.

He reappeared in the cave outside, and at the same time, the Azure Dragon also came out of the Five Elements Space with him.

"Hmm~"

Wu Ling'er let out a soft moan and opened her eyes. Seeing the azure dragon coiled beside Fu Changsheng, Wu Ling'er sat up abruptly, her pale face filled with shock: "This...this is a dragon?!"

The azure dragon let out a low roar, its whiskers swaying slightly, and a hint of arrogance flashed in its golden eyes.

Fu Changsheng supported the swaying Wu Ling'er and said gently, "Don't be afraid, this is Xiao Qing, my spirit pet."

talking.

He handed Wu Ling'er a blood-replenishing pill.

Wu Ling'er took the pill and swallowed it; her complexion gradually became rosy.
"Thank you, Senior Fu."

"There's no need for such formalities between us. Just call me Brother Fu from now on."

"Yes, Brother Fu."

After all, the two had been intimate. Wu Ling'er was initially shy, but seeing that Fu Changsheng was generous and didn't bring up the past again, she relaxed.

"Ling'er, there are only a few months left before the Wushan Pass opens," Fu Changsheng said, picking up the still unconscious Fu Yongxuan. "We should not delay and must set off immediately."

The azure dragon crouched low, allowing the three to climb onto its back. Once they were settled, it suddenly soared into the air, its tail lashing out, and shot towards the top of the cave like an arrow!
"Hurry up!" Fu Changsheng shouted in a low voice.

Lightning flashed from the Azure Dragon's horns as a bolt of azure lightning struck the cave ceiling. With a deafening roar, the rock shattered, revealing a narrow passage. It nimbly darted through the crack, carrying the three of them into the underground river.

The river water parted automatically under the dragon's might, forming a channel.

Suddenly, strange ripples appeared on the water ahead, and dozens of water demons surged from all directions, their pale, ghostly claws reaching for the dragon's belly.

"You're courting death!" Fu Changsheng sneered.

The azure dragon's golden eyes widened in fury, and with a single clenched jaws, a pillar of azure lightning erupted forth! The lightning exploded in the water, forming a massive electric net that instantly shattered the water demons that touched it, turning them into wisps of black smoke.

"Roar—" The dragon's roar reverberated, causing the entire underground river to tremble. The remaining water demons fled in terror, daring not to approach again.

Half a day later, the azure dragon broke through the water's surface, carrying the three of them out of the Five Fingers Mountain territory. The long-awaited sunlight shone on them, and Wu Ling'er couldn't help but cheer, "We're out!"

Fu Changsheng, however, looked solemnly into the distance: "Next, we will cross the Black Swamp."

Wu Ling'er followed his gaze and saw a gray mist shrouding the horizon, with the shadowy silhouettes of twisted, withered trees faintly visible. Even from a distance, she could feel the cold, decaying aura emanating from the trees.

Months later, at the edge of the Black Swamp.

The Azure Dragon landed in a withered forest. The trees here were dry and twisted, their branches reaching towards the sky like ghostly claws. The ground was covered with a thick layer of humus, soft and spongy underfoot, with bubbles rising from it from time to time, emitting a pungent stench.

Fu Changsheng placed Fu Yongxuan on a relatively dry stone slab and fed her a Soul-Suppressing Pill. Wu Ling'er then took out her medicine pouch and prepared a powder to resist the miasma.

“The miasma in the Black Swamp is highly poisonous; contact with it will cause immediate festering.” She divided the powder into three portions. “This medicine will last for twelve hours.”

Fu Changsheng carefully put away the medicine powder, when suddenly his ears twitched: "Something's coming."

Deep within the withered forest, a rustling sound came from the ground, like countless feet treading on decaying leaves. Gradually, dozens of swaying figures emerged from the mist—they resembled humans, but their skin was festering, revealing stark white bones, and eerie green will-o'-the-wisps flickered in their empty eye sockets.

"Corpse puppet!" Wu Ling'er exclaimed.

Fu Changsheng drew his sword, while the Azure Dragon coiled and ascended into the sky, its dragon might overwhelming. However, the corpse puppets showed no fear whatsoever, instead accelerating their charge!
"Something's not right." Fu Changsheng frowned. "Ordinary corpse puppets couldn't withstand the dragon's might."

Before the words were finished, the horde of corpse puppets suddenly parted, and a hunched figure draped in a black robe slowly stepped out. He pulled back his hood, revealing a face mostly rotting, but a strange smile played at the corners of his mouth:

"Outsider, I've been waiting for you for a long time."

Fu Changsheng's pupils contracted: "You are... the Black-Robed Guard of Tianyun City!"

"Clever." The man in black robes sneered. "The city lord anticipated your arrival at the Black Swamp and specifically instructed me to wait for you here."

He waved his hands, "Go! The city lord wants them alive!"

Dozens of enhanced corpse puppets roared and charged forward. The Azure Dragon roared and swept its tail, shattering the front row of corpse puppets, but more corpse puppets followed one after another.

Fu Changsheng's sword light was like a rainbow, and each strike precisely severed the head of the corpse puppet.

In the heat of battle, the man in black robes suddenly pulled out a bone flute and blew out a piercing sound. The ground began to tremble, and from the depths of the swamp, a colossal creature slowly rose—

It was a giant corpse puppet, pieced together from countless corpses, standing three zhang tall, with the same black crystal embedded in its chest. With each step it took, the ground trembled.

“A fourth-tier corpse king!” Wu Ling’er’s face turned deathly pale.

Fu Changsheng's gaze turned serious as he shouted to the Azure Dragon, "Hold it back!"

The azure dragon roared and soared into the sky, engaging the Corpse King in fierce combat. Lightning and putrid poison collided, unleashing a blinding burst of light.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, the man in black robes approached Fu Changsheng and said with a sinister smile, "Give up. In this black swamp, my power is inexhaustible!"

As he spoke, the black light from the magic crystal on his chest shone brightly, summoning even more corpse puppets from the ground!

Fu Changsheng fought and retreated, when suddenly his legs gave way—he had been forced into a quagmire, and his legs were slowly sinking.

"Brother Fu!" Wu Ling'er wanted to rush over to help, but was stopped by the corpse puppet.

The man in black robes laughed triumphantly: "It's over!"

Just as he approached, a glint flashed in Fu Changsheng's eyes, and dozens of green vines suddenly shot out from the mud, wrapping around the black-robed man like serpents!

"What?!" The man in black robes was shocked and struggled desperately, but the vines tightened their grip.

Fu Changsheng sneered: "You think I didn't notice this artificial swamp?" He formed hand seals, "Azure Wood Binding Spirit Technique, withdraw!"

The vines suddenly tightened, and the man in black robes let out a shrill scream. The magic crystal on his chest flickered wildly, trying to absorb the spiritual energy of the vines, only to discover in horror that the vines were actually drawing his power away!
"No, impossible!" the man in black exclaimed in horror. "What kind of evil magic is this?!"

Fu Changsheng remained unmoved and continued to activate his incantation. The patterns on the vines glowed with a blue light, and the power of the magic crystal was gradually drained away, causing the black-robed man's body to visibly wither away.

"Ah—!" After a final scream, the man in black robes turned into a dried-up corpse, and the magic crystal shattered with a "crack".

With the caster's death, the Corpse King's movements faltered, giving the Azure Dragon an opportunity to shatter its head with a bolt of lightning. The remaining corpse puppets also collapsed, reverting to their inanimate forms.

Wu Ling'er ran over, still shaken: "Brother Fu, are you alright?"

Fu Changsheng shook his head and leaped out of the mud.

...

...

Months later, a bluish-green hue appeared on the horizon.

A blue dragon pierced through the clouds, its scales gleaming coldly in the twilight. Fu Changsheng stood atop the dragon's head, his robes fluttering, his gaze fixed intently on the distance—where a distorted void was slowly taking shape.

"We've arrived!" Wu Ling'er supported the unconscious Fu Yongxuan, her voice trembling slightly with excitement. Her pale cheeks were flushed red by the strong wind, but her knuckles gripped the dragon horns tightly, as if afraid of missing this once-in-a-millennium spectacle.

Suddenly, the sky and earth darkened.

The previously gray sky suddenly cracked open, like a giant beast opening its eyes. A gale swept up boulders and sent a towering mountain rising from the void. The mountain was as black as iron, its surface riddled with honeycomb-like holes, within which countless scarlet lights flickered, like a thousand bloodthirsty eyes.

"This is Wushan?" Wu Ling'er gasped.

Fu Changsheng patted the Azure Dragon's horns: "Prepare to go up the mountain."

The azure dragon roared, its body crackling with lightning, and carried the three of them straight into the sky. Just as they approached the mountain, countless witchcraft insects surged out of the cave, a dark, overwhelming swarm like a tidal wave!
"Roar--!"

The azure dragon opened its mouth and spewed forth pillars of azure lightning, turning all the Gu worms in its path into charred remains. However, the swarm was simply too large, and soon some escaped insects crawled onto the dragon's body. Fu Changsheng's sword flashed like a rainbow, each strike precisely severing the insects' heads; Wu Ling'er continuously scattered medicinal powder to repel any approaching poisonous insects.

"This can't go on!" Fu Changsheng frowned as he looked at the increasing number of wounds on the Azure Dragon's body. These Gu worms were not only numerous but also highly poisonous, even corroding the Azure Dragon's scales into black holes.

Just as the Azure Dragon was exhausted, Fu Changsheng suddenly pulled out a jade box from his robes and flung it open—

"Buzz!"

Thousands upon thousands of spirit-devouring insects surged forth like a black mist, instantly covering half the sky. These ferocious insects devoured any Gu they encountered, leaving nothing but destruction in their wake. The two swarms clashed in the air, producing a sickening chewing sound.

"Walk!"

Taking advantage of the gaps in their path cleared by the Soul-Eating Insects, the three finally reached the summit. Nothing grew there, except for an ancient altar standing in the center, above which floated a swirling black vortex—the passage out of the Lawless Land!

"Finally!" Wu Ling'er cried tears of joy.

Just then, a chilling laugh echoed from beside the altar: "I never imagined that someone other than myself could climb Mount Wu."

A middle-aged man dressed in a black robe slowly walked out; it was none other than Wu Jiuyin, the leader of the Black Witch Village! His face was sinister, with a blood-red vertical line between his eyebrows, and strange blood-red energy swirled around him.

"Chieftain?!" Wu Ling'er exclaimed in surprise.

Wu Jiuyin didn't even glance at her, his greedy eyes fixed on the Azure Dragon: "True Dragon Bloodline... I never expected to encounter such a treasure in this godforsaken place." He turned to Fu Changsheng, his tone arrogant, "Boy, break the contract and offer this dragon to me, and I'll spare your life."

Fu Changsheng calmly shielded Wu Ling'er behind him, saying, "You have quite the arrogance."

Wu Jiuyin snorted coldly, then suddenly noticed Wu Ling'er hiding behind Fu Changsheng: "Traitor! You come from the Black Witch Village, yet you dare to collude with outsiders? Quickly assist me in capturing this fiend!"

Wu Ling'er's delicate body trembled, but she shook her head firmly: "Chief, Brother Fu is a good man, he..."

"Shut up!" Wu Jiuyin roared, raising his hand and unleashing a streak of bloody light. "Traitors deserve to die!"

Fu Changsheng's sword flashed, shattering the bloody light. A cold glint appeared in his eyes: "To touch my people in front of me? You're courting death!"

Wu Jiuyin laughed loudly, "With your meager skills?!" He formed hand seals, and his body surged with blood-red light. "Let me show you the true power of the Witch God!"

In an instant, the world changed color, and countless blood-red runes surged from Wu Jiuyin's body, coalescing in the air into a ferocious phantom of a witch god. That phantom had three heads and six arms, wielding various strange magical artifacts; its oppressive aura was so strong that even space itself distorted!
"Brother Fu, be careful!" Wu Ling'er cried out urgently, "This is a forbidden technique of the Black Witch Village, capable of borrowing the power of the Witch God!"

Fu Changsheng suddenly laughed: "The power of the Witch God? Coincidentally, I have a portion of that too."

He bit his tongue hard, spitting out a mouthful of blood. The blood transformed into a golden rune in the air, instantly connecting with the spiritual energy within his body—

"boom!"

A majestic dragon's roar suddenly echoed through the heavens and earth, and the phantom of a magnificent golden temple appeared behind Fu Changsheng. The temple doors swung open, and a five-clawed golden dragon coiled out, its eyes like lightning, staring directly at Wu Jiuyin!
"This is...a true god?!" Wu Jiuyin's expression changed drastically. "Impossible! How could you..."

Before the words were even finished, the golden dragon roared and transformed into a beam of golden light, rushing straight at Wu Jiuyin. The illusory image of the witch god couldn't even withstand a single breath before shattering instantly!

"No--!"

Terrified, Wu Jiuyin turned to flee, but was caught by the golden light and dragged directly into the illusory temple. With a deafening crash, his body was slammed against the temple's stone wall, embedding itself deeply and becoming immobile!

"A mere false god dares to be so presumptuous in front of the Heavenly Dragon." Fu Changsheng snorted coldly and waved his hand to dispel the illusory temple.

Wu Ling'er stared in disbelief: "Brother Fu, what are you doing?"

Fu Changsheng turned around and smiled gently at her: "A little stroke of luck." He looked towards the passageway. "Let's go, it's time to go home."

The three stepped onto the altar, their figures gradually disappearing into the vortex. Only Wu Jiuyin's unwilling roar echoed on the mountaintop.
The light of the teleportation gradually faded, and Fu Changsheng opened his eyes to find himself standing in a lush bamboo forest. A gentle breeze rustled the bamboo leaves, and a faint spiritual energy filled the air.

"This is..." He subconsciously activated his cultivation technique, and the long-lost spiritual power surged through his meridians. His golden core spun rapidly, radiating immense pressure.

"My magic power has been restored!" Wu Ling'er exclaimed in surprise, but then her face turned pale and she swayed. Her aura suddenly plummeted, declining from the Purple Mansion Realm all the way down to the Qi Refining Stage.

Fu Changsheng quickly helped her up and scanned her with his divine sense, discovering that her meridians were as dry as a cracked riverbed.

"Ling'er, you..." He was shocked, only then realizing how serious the "drop in cultivation" that Wu Ling'er had mentioned was.

Wu Ling'er forced a smile: "It's alright, Brother Fu. I—" She suddenly stopped, staring wide-eyed at Fu Changsheng, "You...you're a Golden Core cultivator?"

Now that his magical power has been restored, Fu Changsheng unconsciously exudes an aura of power that is only found in Golden Core cultivators.

Fu Changsheng nodded and was about to speak when he saw Wu Ling'er unconsciously take a half step back, a hint of inferiority and fear flashing in her eyes.

(End of this chapter)