Family Rise: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 535 Three Lottery Draws, Bloodline Awakening, Taking the Initiative
Within the Five Elements Space, spiritual energy flows like mist, ceaselessly.

Fu Changsheng sat cross-legged on a futon in the wooden house, surrounded by five-colored light. At this moment, a familiar mechanical voice rang in his mind:
"Ding"

"Your family has gained another Golden Core cultivator, granting you a special lottery draw opportunity. Would you like to redeem it?"

Fu Changsheng's eyes lit up.

It seems that Uncle Fei has successfully overcome his inner demons and condensed his golden core.

Three special draws

Fu Changsheng's lips curled up slightly, a hint of anticipation flashing in his eyes.

He immediately said:
"Redeem for Special Prize Draw"

[Ding! One special lottery draw chance has been used.]

【Under extraction】

The system panel suddenly trembled violently, and countless runes surged forth, weaving into a massive roulette wheel in the void. The roulette wheel was divided into hundreds of areas, each shimmering with a different color of light, representing treasures of different grades.

Fu Changsheng held his breath and concentrated.

He was quite satisfied with the prizes from the previous special draws, and wondered what it would be this time.

"Buzz!"

The roulette wheel pointer finally stopped in a dazzling golden area.

Congratulations on obtaining: Heavenly Grade Dharma Seed - Spiritual Profound Understanding

"Heavenly Grade!" Fu Changsheng's pupils contracted slightly. System items were divided into four grades: Mortal, Spiritual, Earthly, and Heavenly, with Heavenly Grade being the highest. He quickly checked the item description:

【Celestial Grade Dharma Seed - Profound Spiritual Essence】

[This essence, condensed from the spiritual energy of heaven and earth by ancient powerful beings, can reshape a cultivator's meridians and give birth to a special spiritual body. It must be transferred into the body of a cultivation partner through a dual cultivation method, a process that takes forty-nine days and cannot be interrupted.]

Fu Changsheng's breath hitched, and a beautiful figure immediately appeared in his mind—Wu Ling'er.

In the lawless land, Wu Ling'er's foundation was damaged while saving him, and her cultivation level dropped to the Qi Refining stage. This seed of magic is exactly what she needs most!

Fu Changsheng's gaze fell on the ancient bronze box in his palm. The surface of the box was engraved with mysterious patterns, and a faint spiritual energy flowed around it.

With his right hand forming a hand seal, he channeled spiritual energy into the barrier, breaking the restriction.

“Click——”

Inside the box lay a crystal the size of a thumb, its entire body a vibrant green, with what appeared to be flowing clouds and mist within. Even the slightest wisp of its aura caused the surrounding spiritual energy to surge and churn.

"This is a Heavenly Grade Dharma Seed." Fu Changsheng took a deep breath, suppressing his excitement.

In the Land of No Return, if it weren't for Wu Ling'er's sacrifice, he would still be trapped there, and the father and daughter would have no way to escape. Moreover, he had promised at the time that he would definitely heal Wu Ling'er, so this seed of magic came at just the right time.

Just as he was about to put the box away, a red warning suddenly popped up from the system:
[WARNING: The appearance of a Celestial-grade Dharma Seed will trigger extraordinary celestial phenomena]

[It is recommended to use this within a sealed barrier, otherwise it may incur divine wrath.]

Fu Changsheng frowned. "Heaven's jealousy" is hardly a positive term in the cultivation world. Legend has it that when certain heaven-defying beings are born, they attract the suppression of the Heavenly Dao, bringing down calamities.

"It seems I need to make some preparations before using this method," he muttered to himself, turning his gaze to the two remaining special lottery chances on the system panel.

Perhaps try again?
Once the thought arose, it grew wildly like weeds. Fu Changsheng lightly tapped the air with his slender fingers, and the system panel opened in response.

"Redeem your second special lottery draw."

[Ding! One special lottery draw chance has been used.]

【Under extraction】

The system panel trembled violently once more, countless runes erupting forth and intertwining in the void to form that familiar, enormous roulette wheel. Hundreds of areas, each shimmering with different lights, slowly rotated, each representing a treasure that could potentially change one's destiny.

Fu Changsheng held his breath, his eyes fixed on the rapidly spinning pointer. Drawing a Heavenly-grade Dharma Seed last time was already a pleasant surprise; he wondered what he would get this time.
"Buzz——"

The roulette wheel pointer finally stopped in a silver-gray area he had never seen before. This area was much smaller than the previous gold area, almost the size of a pinhead.

Congratulations on obtaining: Time Source Spirit Pot (Special Category)

"Special category?" Fu Changsheng raised an eyebrow. System items are usually divided into categories such as cultivation techniques, magic weapons, pills, and materials. This is the first time he has seen a special category.

A jade pot the size of a palm emerged from the void and slowly landed in Fu Changsheng's palm. The jade pot was translucent, with what appeared to be a flowing galaxy inside. Its body was engraved with profound spatial and temporal patterns, and simply holding it in one's hand gave one a dizzying feeling of time distortion.

【Time Origin Spirit Pot】

[Can accelerate the growth of spiritual plants, up to ten thousand years old]

[Usage Restriction: Can only be used once every 100 years]

[Warning: Excessive stimulation may cause mutations in the spiritual plant]

Fu Changsheng's pupils suddenly contracted, and his hand gripping the jade pot tightened involuntarily. A thing that could instantly allow a spiritual plant to grow to ten thousand years old? This was simply a heaven-defying artifact!

In the cultivation world, thousand-year-old spiritual herbs are already rare, and ten-thousand-year-old divine herbs exist only in legends. The value of a ten-thousand-year-old spiritual herb is enough to make Nascent Soul stage monsters fight tooth and nail for it. And such a treasure is now in his hands!
Fu Changsheng immediately recalled the many high-level spiritual flowers and herbs planted in the Mountain and River Town Clan Cauldron—Dragon Blood Tree, Clan Treasure Tree, Star Tree Seedling, Nine-Leaf Sword Fungus, Message Tree, Spirit Eye Tree, Primordial Mysterious Vine, and Heavenly Thunder Bamboo. He could choose one of them and use the Source Spirit Pot to accelerate its growth. He wondered if it could mature instantly!

"The prizes in this raffle are great!"

Fu Changsheng held the newly acquired Time Origin Spirit Pot in his palm, its interior reflecting the flowing starlight in his deep eyes. He had won two lotteries, obtaining a Heaven-grade Dharma Seed and this heaven-defying spiritual plant growth-enhancing treasure respectively; his luck was so good that even he himself found it unbelievable.

"One last chance to win the prize."

Fu Changsheng's gaze fell on the system panel, his finger hovering in mid-air, a rare moment of hesitation on his part. Cultivators value opportunity; too much of anything is as bad as too little. Having achieved two great successes in a row, what about a third?
"No, with such an opportunity before us, how can we be timid and hesitant!" A glint flashed in his eyes, and his finger firmly touched the exchange button.

"Redeem your prize for the final special draw."

[Ding! Last special draw chance used]

【Under extraction】

The system panel trembled violently, even more violently than the previous two times. Countless runes poured out like a torrential rain, and the wheel that intertwined in the void was more than twice the size of the previous one. Even more astonishingly, many unprecedented areas appeared on the wheel, some as black as ink, some flowing with seven colors, and even a few areas that were constantly changing color and shape.

Fu Changsheng's pupils contracted slightly, and his body involuntarily leaned forward. "This roulette wheel is different from before."

The pointer began to spin rapidly, traversing dazzling areas. Fu Changsheng held his breath, his gaze fixed intently on it. The pointer gradually slowed down, almost stopping when it passed the Heavenly Grade area, but then continued forward, finally stopping in a chaotic and indistinct region—neither gold nor silver-gray, but a constantly shifting, chaotic color, seemingly containing all the colors of the world, yet also seemingly having no color at all.

Congratulations on obtaining: Seed of Destiny (??? type)

"Question mark category?" Fu Changsheng frowned. This kind of label had never appeared in the system's item classification.

A seed the size of a fist slowly descended from the void, hovering in front of Fu Changsheng. The seed's outer shell was dark brown, its surface covered with mysterious natural patterns, occasionally shimmering with a faint seven-colored light. Most peculiarly, this seed gave the feeling of being both solid and ethereal, and when one's divine sense swept over it, there was even a sense of being swallowed up.

Seeds of Destiny

[Source unknown, effects unknown]

[Cultivation Method: Requires nourishment with essence and blood, supplemented by special emotional energy]

[Growth time: Uncertain]

[Warning: This item may bring unpredictable changes and can only be given to direct descendants.]

Fu Changsheng's gaze was fixed on the mysterious Seed of Destiny before him, his brows furrowed slightly. The patterns on the seed's surface seemed to flow slowly, emanating an indescribable and mysterious aura.

"It can only be given to direct descendants."

His divine sense swept over the bloodline chart of the Fu family, and the images of several descendants flashed through his mind one by one.

Yaoyao has already formed her core and is now a pillar of the family; Yongshou, Yongjing, Yongfu, and others have also reached the Purple Mansion realm, with limitless futures. These are all future pillars of the Fu family, and it is really not advisable for them to risk trying this unknown thing.

However, he soon had someone in mind.

Fu Changsheng pushed open the bamboo door of the small wooden house, and the swirling spiritual energy within the Five Elements Space brushed against his robes like a veil. In the distance, the Mountain and River Cauldron emitted rosy light, and the fragrance of the spiritual plants within it drifted on the wind.

"Master." A emerald shadow flashed by, and Qiu Niang stood gracefully three steps away. She wore a green silk dress, with a jade hairpin in her hair, and her eyebrows and eyes were like a painting, yet she possessed the ethereal quality unique to a spirit.

Upon hearing the sound, the Flying Feather Beast, perched on the edge of the Mountain and River Cauldron, looked up, its golden-brown feathers trembling as it let out a soft, affectionate "gurgle," before lowering its head again to continue preening the leaves of a spiritual herb with its beak.

Fu Changsheng flicked his wide sleeve, and the Time Origin Spirit Pot appeared in his palm: "Behold this."

The moment the jade pot appeared, the spiritual energy throughout the Five Elements Space suddenly froze. Qiu Niang's pupils contracted sharply, and she covered her lips with her hand: "Space-Time Dao Patterns?!" She floated closer for a closer look, her fingertips stopping an inch from the pot's surface, not daring to touch it. "Could this... this be the legendary Time Origin Spirit Pot?"

The flying beast keenly sensed the abnormality, flapped its wings and landed on Qiu Niang's shoulder, tilting its head to examine the jade pot, the three golden feathers on its crest shining slightly.

"You recognize him?" Fu Changsheng raised an eyebrow.

"I've seen it recorded in the 'Records of Wonders of the Myriad Realms' left by my old master," Qiu Niang's voice trembled slightly. "It's said that this pot can steal the sky and change the sun, reversing the withering and flourishing of plants." She suddenly looked at the Mountain and River Cauldron, "Master, could it be that you intend to use it for—"

Fu Changsheng turned his gaze to the Nine-Leaf Sword Fungus in the Mountain and River Cauldron. It was as white as jade, with only one of the nine sword-shaped leaves fully unfolded. The other eight leaves were still curled up like bamboo shoots, but they already faintly exuded a sharp sword aura.

“Indeed, this is exactly what we need to use it for.” Fu Changsheng gently stroked the spacetime Dao patterns on the surface of the Time Origin Spirit Pot with his fingertips. “This pot can only be used once every hundred years, so it must be used wisely.”

Suddenly, the feathered beast on Qiu Niang's shoulder let out a "coo," its golden-brown feathers bristling as if sensing some danger. Qiu Niang quickly stroked its back, her eyes gleaming with excitement: "Master, if the Nine-Leaf Sword Fungus can be cultivated to ten thousand years, perhaps it can—"

"Let's give it a try first." Fu Changsheng interrupted her conjecture, and with a wave of his sleeve, the clouds and mist in the Mountain and River Cauldron surged, and the Nine-Leaf Sword Mushroom was lifted up by a gentle force and suspended in mid-air.

The Time Source Spirit Pot slowly rotated in Fu Changsheng's palm, its opening aimed at the Sword Mushroom. He took a deep breath and channeled a stream of pure spiritual energy into the pot.

"Buzz——"

The jade pot suddenly burst forth with a silvery-gray light, and the galaxy within rapidly swirled. A phantom image of a river of time poured out from the pot's spout, completely enveloping the Nine-Leaf Sword Mushroom. In an instant, the spiritual energy throughout the Five Elements Space surged wildly, forming a visible vortex.

"Step back!" Fu Changsheng shouted, pulling Qiu Niang back three steps. The Flying Feather Beast was so frightened that it buried its head in Qiu Niang's arms, only peeking out with half its head sticking out.

In the long river of time, the Nine-Leaf Sword Fungus grew at a speed visible to the naked eye. The second sword leaf slowly unfurled, its veins flowing with brilliant golden light; then came the third, the fourth, and so on. Each new leaf unfurled, accompanied by a clear, melodious sword cry. When the ninth leaf was fully expanded, the entire sword fungus suddenly burst forth with dazzling golden light.

"It's done!" Qiu Niang exclaimed in surprise.

However, a sudden change occurred!
The Nine-Leaf Sword Fungus did not stop growing; instead, it began to twist and deform. The nine sword leaves intertwined with each other, gradually condensing into the phantom of a three-foot-long green sword. The sword's body was as transparent as jade, with nine golden lines flowing inside, emanating an ancient sword intent that sent chills down one's spine.

Fu Changsheng's pupils shrank sharply: "This is... a sword soul projection?"

Suddenly, the Purple Mansion in his Niwan Palace trembled. The illusory sword seemed to sense something and transformed into a stream of light, entering his brow. In an instant, countless insights into the Dao of Sword surged into his consciousness like a tidal wave.

"Master!" Qiu Niang rushed forward anxiously, but was forced back by an invisible sword aura.

Fu Changsheng closed his eyes and concentrated, only opening them after three breaths. A sword shadow flickered in his eyes: "So that's how it is. This sword can summon the phantom of an ancient famous sword to aid in battle, but..." He frowned slightly, "...each summoning costs three years of lifespan."

The Flying Feather Beast poked its head out from Qiu Niang's arms and cooed worriedly.

Qiu Niang exclaimed anxiously, "This price is too high—"

“Worth it.” Fu Changsheng smiled freely, his fingertips lightly touching his brow. “Three years of lifespan exchanged for a single breath of the power of an ancient sword; in a critical moment, it can reverse life and death.” He glanced at the still-spinning Time Origin Spirit Pot. “Besides…”

Before he could finish speaking, a thin crack suddenly appeared on the body of the teapot with a "crack".

Qiu Niang gasped, “Space-Time Backlash!” She hurriedly made a hand seal, and the spiritual energy of the earth veins in the Five Elements Space gathered into a net, wrapping the jade pot layer by layer.

Fu Changsheng remained calm, three talismans flying from his sleeve and affixing to the pot: "It's alright, it's just temporarily dormant." He gently stroked the pot, his eyes gleaming, "It can be used again after a hundred years."

Only then did the Flying Feather Beast dare to fly to the Time Source Spirit Pot. It cautiously touched the lid with its beak, but was bounced off balance by a ripple in spacetime and rolled sadly to Fu Changsheng's feet.

"You silly goose," Fu Changsheng chuckled, lifting it up and turning to Qiu Niang, "Today's harvest has been plentiful. You take Fei Yu to tend to the other spiritual plants; I need to study the mysteries of this sword soul."

Qiu Niang hesitated for a moment, then gave a graceful bow: "Master, be careful not to overexert your lifespan." With that, she picked up the still dazed Flying Feather Beast, transformed into a beam of green light, and disappeared into the Mountain and River Cauldron.

Fu Changsheng sat cross-legged on a futon, his consciousness sinking into his Purple Mansion. The Nine-Leaf Sword Soul floated silently, surrounded by countless tiny sword shadows. He stirred his mind slightly, attempting to sense one of them—

“Zheng!”

A deafening sword cry suddenly resounded within his Purple Mansion, and the projection of an ancient sword, entirely crimson and wreathed in the phantom of a fire dragon, slowly emerged. The two characters "Fenji" inscribed on the sword's blade appeared as if stained with blood, and even a mere phantom image caused his Purple Mansion to tremble.

"The ancient, malevolent sword, Fenji." Fu Changsheng was not surprised but delighted. "Indeed, it was worth the price!"

He decisively severed the connection, and the sword shadow vanished. Although it only lasted for half a breath, it had already consumed a year and a half of his lifespan. Fu Changsheng not only showed no remorse, but instead laughed loudly: "With this trump card, I have nothing to fear, even against True Person Tianyang!"

It's time to leave.

……

When Fu Changsheng stepped out of his secluded stone chamber, it was midnight. The moonlight, like water, poured over his tall and upright figure. He took a deep breath, and the unique fragrance of spiritual plants from Huizhou Prefecture filled his nostrils, but it couldn't mask the faint, unusual aura emanating from him.

“The dragon scales are restless.” Fu Changsheng frowned slightly, his right hand unconsciously touching his left arm. Beneath his sleeve, a patch of green scales was gleaming faintly, conveying an uneasy emotion.

“Father.” A dark figure appeared silently in the corner of the courtyard, as if emerging from the night. Fu Yongrui knelt on one knee, his dark robes almost blending into the darkness, only his cold, icy eyes gleaming in the moonlight.

Fu Changsheng raised his hand, gesturing for him to rise: "Rui'er, have you noticed anything unusual in the manor during my seclusion?"

Fu Yongrui stood up, his voice low and resonant like an echo in a valley: "Half a month ago, there were signs that the defensive array on the west side of the spirit mine had been disturbed, but no intruders were found. I have increased patrols."

Fu Changsheng's gaze sharpened, and with a flick of his finger, a soundproof barrier instantly enveloped the entire courtyard. His voice deepened: "True Master Tianyang has infiltrated the Fu family."

Fu Yongrui's pupils contracted slightly: "That fake infant cultivator from the Tianyin Tribe?"

“Indeed.” Fu Changsheng stood with his hands behind his back, the moonlight casting varying shades of shadow on his sharply defined face. “Master Tianyang is skilled in disguise; he must have already infiltrated my Fu family in disguise. His target…” He lightly stroked his right arm with his left hand, “is Qing’er.”

A sudden night wind arose, swirling fallen leaves in the courtyard. Fu Yongrui's robes remained motionless, as if even the wind itself shunned him: "Immediately investigate all those with different surnames." "No rush," Fu Changsheng raised a hand to stop him, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes, "This person's cultivation has already reached the Nascent Soul stage; rash action will only alert him. Investigate secretly, paying particular attention to those who have been in contact with direct descendants of the Fu family."

Fu Yongrui nodded: "I understand."

“Remember,” Fu Changsheng’s gaze was piercing, “True Master Tianyang dared to come to my Fu family because he relied on his Nascent Soul cultivation. During your investigation, be extremely careful and prioritize safety. If you discover anything suspicious, report it immediately. Do not act rashly.”

"Yes, father"

Fu Yongrui bowed again, his figure disappearing into the night like ink.
-
The Dark Hall was located thirty feet underground in the Fu family compound, sealed off by thirty-six layers of restrictions, and only core members were allowed to enter. When Fu Yongrui passed through the layers of formations and stepped into the secret room of the dossier, twelve Dark Hall disciples were already lined up and waiting.

"Retrieve all records of people with different surnames who have joined the Fu family in the past twenty years." Fu Yongrui's voice was icy, a stark contrast to his demeanor in front of his father just now.

The leading disciple of the Dark Hall bowed and said, "Hall Master, there are a total of 93,743 files."

Fu Yongrui's eyes flickered slightly: "Select those who have direct contact with the direct descendants."

The jade slips flew around, and the array activated. Half an hour later, the number of slips dropped sharply to sixty-six.

“Continue the selection,” Fu Yongrui tapped the table lightly with his fingertips, “those who have no relatives or friends, those of unknown origin, and those whose cultivation has suddenly improved.”

The number of files dwindled again, leaving only sixteen suspended in the air. Fu Yongrui's gaze was sharp as he swept them over one by one. When he saw the name "Ye Qingyang," his pupils suddenly contracted—this was the "Master Ye" that Fu Yongxing had frequently mentioned in recent years.

"Give a detailed report on this person." Fu Yongrui tapped his finger, and the file unfolded automatically.

The disciple from the Dark Hall quickly replied, "Ye Qingyang, a rogue cultivator, was brought into the Fu family over a decade ago after rescuing Young Master Yongxing from a predicament. He claims to be from the Ye family of Nanling, whose entire family was massacred by enemies, leaving him as the sole survivor. He is at the mid-stage of the Purple Mansion realm and is skilled in weapon crafting, especially dragon-patterned artifacts."

Fu Yongrui sneered, "Too much of a coincidence." He turned to another disciple, "Investigate the massacre of the Ye family in Nanling."

Several days later, the investigation results were presented to Fu Yongrui—it was indeed true, the time, place, and method all matched. There were even survivors who identified Ye Qingyang.

“Continue the investigation.” Fu Yongrui tossed the file back onto the desk. “I need to know his daily whereabouts and who he contacts.”

The disciples of the Dark Hall obeyed and left. Fu Yongrui stood alone in the secret chamber, his fingertips gathering a wisp of dark spiritual energy, which he used to draw a portrait of Ye Qingyang in the air. In the portrait, the middle-aged scholar was gentle and refined, with a smile in his eyes, showing no trace of his evil cultivation.

“Tianyang Zhenren,” Fu Yongrui murmured softly. Suddenly, the portrait distorted and dissipated into a cloud of black mist.

...

...

Fu Changsheng walked through the Fu family garden under the moonlight, the spiritual plants on both sides of the bluestone path swaying gently in the night breeze. In the distance, a delicate courtyard was dimly lit, which was "Qixia Garden" where Wu Ling'er was temporarily staying.

As soon as he reached the courtyard gate, Fu Changsheng heard a soft zither melody. The music was intermittent, indicating that the player was restless. He pushed open the gate and saw Wu Ling'er sitting alone on a stone bench in the courtyard. Her plain white gauze dress reflected the moonlight, and her slender fingers trembled slightly on the zither strings.

"Ling'er," Fu Changsheng called softly.

The music stopped abruptly. Wu Ling'er looked up sharply, her emerald eyes flashing with surprise: "Brother Changsheng!" She hurriedly stood up, the silver bells at her waist jingling crisply, but hesitated before taking a step. "You've emerged from seclusion?"

Fu Changsheng noticed her subconscious movement of adjusting the hem of her clothes, and his heart softened. The once valiant and capable holy maiden of the Northern Frontier Witch Village had now become so cautious.

"I've come to see you." He approached naturally, brushed the fallen leaves off the stone bench, and sat down. "Are you settling in well at the Fu family's?"

Wu Ling'er twirled the sash of her dress between her fingers, forcing a smile. "Sister Yu has treated me extremely well; she even took me to see the flower market in Huizhou the other day." Her voice trailed off, "but..."

"Just what?"

"With my current cultivation level," Wu Ling'er said with a wry smile, opening her palm, a faint wisp of spiritual energy flickering in her hand, "I haven't even reached the Foundation Establishment stage yet, truly..."

Fu Changsheng suddenly grasped her icy hand. Wu Ling'er was startled, noticing a glint of stars in his eyes: "I'll take you somewhere."

The stone door to the secret chamber slowly closed, completely isolating it from the outside world. Wu Ling'er looked around uneasily. The walls of this stone chamber, located beneath Fu Changsheng's bedroom, were covered with ancient runes, and a jade platform in the center emitted a soft light.

"Brother Changsheng, what is this?"

"Heal your wounds." Fu Changsheng waved his wide sleeves, and seven bronze lamps lit up in succession, forming the Big Dipper formation. He took out a bronze box from his bosom, and the moment the lid was opened, the entire stone chamber was suddenly filled with life.

Wu Ling'er's eyes widened. The emerald crystal in the box shimmered with iridescent light. She had only inhaled a breath of the dissipated spiritual energy, and her cultivation, which had stagnated for many years, showed signs of loosening!
"This is."

"A Celestial Grade Dharma Seed, Profound Spiritual Essence," Fu Changsheng said in a deep voice. "It is condensed from the spiritual essence of heaven and earth collected by ancient powerful beings, capable of reshaping a cultivator's meridians and even allowing you to give birth to a special spiritual body."

Wu Ling'er stared wide-eyed at the crystal in disbelief. Even with her extensive knowledge of the Northern Frontier Witch Village, she had never heard of such a divine object. A Heavenly Grade! That was a legendary rank!
"This is too precious," she said, her voice trembling. "Brother Changsheng, I..."

Fu Changsheng raised his hand to stop her: "When you destroyed your own foundation to save me, did you ever hesitate?"

Wu Ling'er shook her head.

“Then accept it.” Fu Changsheng’s tone left no room for argument. “However,” he rarely hesitated for a moment, “this seed of cultivation needs to be transferred into your body through dual cultivation. The process will take forty-nine days, and it cannot be interrupted during this period.”

Wu Ling'er's cheeks flushed.

With a wave of his hand, Fu Changsheng spread a soft spiritual carpet on the floor of the secret chamber. He sat cross-legged, gesturing for Wu Ling'er to sit opposite him: "I will guide you using the Imperial Court Dao Body."

Wu Ling'er took a deep breath and closed her eyes to regulate her breathing. When she opened her eyes again, she had entered a meditative state, with faint fluctuations of spiritual energy emanating from her body.

Fu Changsheng formed a hand seal, and the Heavenly Grade Dharma Seed floated between the two of them. He said in a deep voice, "Begin."

In an instant, the seed of magic burst forth with a dazzling emerald light, illuminating the entire secret chamber like an emerald palace. Fu Changsheng pushed forward with both hands, and the seed of magic slowly moved toward Wu Ling'er's heart. The moment it touched her body, it transformed into countless points of light and merged into her.

"Ah!" Wu Ling'er cried out in pain, feeling a vast, ocean-like energy rush into her meridians, as if ten thousand ants were biting wherever it passed. She leaned back, but Fu Changsheng caught her.

"Hold on!" Fu Changsheng's voice was steady as he intertwined his hands with hers. "Follow my spiritual power!"

Wu Ling'er gritted her teeth and nodded, feeling the gentle, spring-like spiritual energy emanating from Fu Changsheng, guiding the violent energy of the Dharma Seed to flow orderly within her body. The two streams of spiritual energy gradually merged, forming a perfect cycle.

Time lost its meaning during cultivation. After an unknown amount of time, Wu Ling'er suddenly found that the pain was lessening, replaced by a strange sense of comfort—like a parched riverbed receiving sweet rain, or withered spiritual herbs regaining life. Her meridians were being reshaped!

Fu Changsheng's forehead was covered in a fine sheen of sweat, but his gaze remained resolute. He could clearly sense the changes within Wu Ling'er's body—the foundations damaged in the Lawless Land were being repaired little by little by the power of the Dharma Seed, becoming even more resilient than before.

“Ling’er,” he suddenly spoke, “the seed of magic can not only heal you, but may also allow you to give birth to a special spiritual being. Now relax your mind and accept it.”

Wu Ling'er did as she was told, completely relinquishing control over her spiritual power. In an instant, countless points of light lit up within her body, like stars in the night sky. These points of light gradually connected, forming a mysterious pattern on her body.

As the days passed, the spiritual energy in the meditation room grew increasingly dense, even condensing into a liquid that swirled around the two of them. On the twenty-first day, a powerful burst of spiritual pressure suddenly erupted from Wu Ling'er's body—her cultivation had finally broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage!

Fu Changsheng's lips curled slightly, but he dared not relax in the slightest. The power of the Dharma Seed was less than half consumed; the real transformation was yet to come.

On the thirty-fifth day, a clear and melodious phoenix cry suddenly echoed in the quiet room. A blurry phoenix silhouette appeared behind Wu Ling'er, vanishing in an instant. Fu Changsheng's pupils contracted slightly—this was a sign of spiritual awakening!

On the forty-second day, Wu Ling'er began to absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth on her own, no longer relying entirely on Fu Changsheng for its supply. Her pale complexion gradually regained its rosy hue, becoming even more radiant and beautiful than before her injury.

At midnight on the forty-ninth day, the spiritual energy within the secret chamber had become so dense that it was visible to the naked eye, transforming into a seven-colored glow that swirled in the air. Wu Ling'er hovered in mid-air, every pore on her body absorbing this vast spiritual power.

Suddenly, a pair of illusory fiery wings appeared behind her, crimson as blood, yet crystal clear. With a gentle flap of the wings, countless sparks scattered, only to vanish into light before hitting the ground.

“This is…” Fu Changsheng’s pupils contracted slightly as he recognized the legendary spiritual phenomenon.

Wu Ling'er suddenly tilted her head back and let out a clear, long cry—a sound unlike any human's, but rather like that of some ancient divine bird. Behind her, in the void, the phantom of a huge crimson divine bird slowly emerged. The divine bird had long tail feathers, its body was wreathed in ever-burning flames, and its eyes were like two burning stars.

"The Vermilion Bird Spirit!" Fu Changsheng blurted out.

The Northern Frontier Witch Clan has a legend of possessing the Vermilion Bird bloodline, and unexpectedly, it has awakened in Wu Ling'er! The effect of this Heavenly Grade Dharma Seed far exceeds his expectations!

The phantom of the divine bird let out a long cry, then transformed into a stream of light and disappeared into Wu Ling'er's crown chakra. In an instant, raging flames erupted around her, the flames a deep red with gold, yet they did not harm her in the slightest. Instead, they flowed around her body like water.

As the flames died down, Wu Ling'er landed slowly. When she opened her eyes, a fleeting flame pattern appeared in them.

"Brother Changsheng..." Her voice trembled as she looked down at her hands. Palms up, a ball of crimson flame appeared out of thin air, dancing obediently at her fingertips.

Fu Changsheng let out a long sigh of relief, all the fatigue of the past forty-nine days vanished. He strode forward, grasped Wu Ling'er's wrist to examine it—her meridians were as wide and resilient as rivers, her spiritual energy surging like the sea, her cultivation had not only fully recovered, but had even reached the mid-stage of the Purple Mansion realm!
"It's a success." Fu Changsheng smiled with satisfaction. "Not only did it cure you, it also awakened your Vermilion Bird Spirit Body."

Wu Ling'er stood frozen in place, her emerald eyes filled with disbelief. She gently raised her hand, and a wisp of crimson flame wrapped around her arm like a ribbon; with a thought, a pair of phantom wings of flame appeared behind her; even with her breath, tiny sparks escaped from her lips.

"Is this really me?" Her voice trembled as she touched her cheek with her fingertips, afraid that it was all a dream.

Fu Changsheng chuckled: "Let's test your spiritual power."

Wu Ling'er took a deep breath and formed a hand seal. In an instant, a fire phoenix about a foot long flew out from her palm, circled once in the secret chamber, leaving a dazzling trail of flames in its wake. The fire phoenix finally landed on her shoulder, affectionately nuzzled her cheek, and then dissipated into specks of light.

"I...I've really recovered?" Tears welled up in Wu Ling'er's eyes. "And I've even become stronger?"

Fu Changsheng nodded: "The Vermilion Bird Spirit Body is one of the four great fire-type spirit bodies. Not only does it cultivate at a speed far exceeding that of ordinary people, but it also possesses a natural affinity for fire-type spells. You now..."

Before he could finish speaking, Wu Ling'er suddenly threw herself into his arms, tears streaming down her face. "Thank you, thank you for not giving up on me," she choked out, "In the Land of Lawlessness, I thought I would never..."

Fu Changsheng gently stroked her soft, long hair without saying a word. He could feel the trembling of the delicate body in his arms, the excitement of being reborn.

Suddenly, Wu Ling'er took a step back, wiped away her tears, and did something that surprised Fu Changsheng—she bit her fingertip, used her blood to draw an ancient rune on her forehead, then knelt on one knee, her right hand on her heart:
"By blood, by soul, Wu Ling'er will follow Fu Changsheng's lead for life." She raised her head, her eyes burning with unwavering resolve. "This is the highest 'blood oath' of the Northern Frontier. From this day forward, my life is yours."

Fu Changsheng quickly helped her up: "Nonsense! What would I do with your life?" He frowned at the blood-stained mark on Wu Ling'er's forehead. "Quickly break this oath."

Wu Ling'er smiled brightly, the beauty mark at the corner of her eye shining brightly in the firelight: "It can't be broken! Once the blood oath of the Northern Frontier is sworn, it can never be broken unless one dies." She winked mischievously, "So Changsheng, you'd better live well, or I'll have to follow you down with me."

"Nonsense!" Fu Changsheng scolded again, but a warm feeling appeared in his eyes. He reached out and wiped the blood talisman from Wu Ling'er's forehead, finding that the talisman had seeped into her skin, leaving only a faint red mark.

Wu Ling'er grasped his hand, her eyes sparkling with a newfound light: "Let me show you the power of the Vermilion Bird Spirit Body!"

Before Fu Changsheng could respond, crimson flames erupted around her once more. In the flames, her figure gradually blurred, eventually transforming into a palm-sized firebird. She fluttered her wings and flew to his shoulder, affectionately pecking at his earlobe.

"Transformation technique?" Fu Changsheng exclaimed in surprise. This was not an ability that a Purple Mansion cultivator should possess.

The firebird landed and transformed back into Wu Ling'er. Her cheeks were flushed, clearly indicating that the spell had consumed a lot of energy: "It can only last for a moment, but it might be useful in a critical moment." As she spoke, she raised her palm, and a ball of crimson flame rose up, transforming into various shapes in the air—swords, birds, and even a blooming lotus flower.

"The Crimson Flame Spirit Fire can incinerate everything without harming itself," Wu Ling'er proudly introduced, then demonstrated several basic spells. With the Vermilion Bird Spirit Body's blessing, the originally ordinary fireball spell was multiplied in power, and its flight speed increased by more than 30%.

What surprised Fu Changsheng the most was that Wu Ling'er deliberately made a cut on her arm, and the cut healed at a speed visible to the naked eye, leaving no scar in the blink of an eye.

"Extraordinary regenerative ability is also one of the characteristics of the Vermilion Bird spirit body." Wu Ling'er's eyes were full of joy. "Brother Changsheng, you not only healed me, but also gave me a body ten times, a hundred times better than before!"

“This is what you deserve,” Fu Changsheng said softly. “If you hadn’t risked your life to save me in that lawless place, I’d probably still be trapped there.”

Wu Ling'er shook her head, then suddenly leaned in and lightly kissed his cheek: "Anyway, thank you." She blushed and stepped back.

Fu Changsheng was taken aback, then smiled slightly: "Ling'er, it's best not to show your spirit body to others."

Wu Ling'er nodded, her hands forming a hand seal, and spiritual light flowed around her. After a moment, the conspicuous phantom of the fiery wings gradually faded away, and the fire patterns in her eyes also disappeared.

"Chang Sheng, shall I go to Yulin Prefecture to help build the border defenses of Beilin County?"

Wu Ling'er felt that she had to do something for the Fu family, otherwise she would be too ashamed of Changsheng's gifts.

"Okay," Fu Changsheng nodded slightly, as he also had important matters to attend to.

...

...

Inside the main hall of the Fu family residence, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood.

Fu Changsheng sat upright in the main seat, his fingertips lightly stroking the Azure Dragon Jade Pendant, his gaze falling on the sixteen jade slips that had just been presented. Each jade slip recorded detailed information about a suspicious outsider, collected and compiled by the disciples of the Dark Hall over several months.

"Father, these are the sixteen selected candidates." Fu Yongrui, his black robe trailing on the ground, spoke in a voice as cold and clear as a deep pool. "Seven of them have close ties with the direct descendants of the Yong generation, four have frequented important family grounds, and the origins of the remaining five are questionable."

Fu Changsheng nodded slightly, his divine sense scanning the jade slips. When he saw the three characters "Ye Qingyang" on the third jade slip, his finger paused.

"How long has this person known Yongxing?"

“Reporting to Father, it has been twelve years and seven months,” Fu Yongrui replied without hesitation. “Yongxing encountered danger while training abroad and was rescued by this person. Since then, they have been frequent visitors.”

"Twelve years." Fu Changsheng's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, and his knuckles tapped lightly on the table. Twelve years is enough for a stranger to become a close friend, and also enough for a treacherous person to lay a deadly trap.

Noticing his father's change in mood, Fu Yongrui continued, "This man claims to be an orphan of the Ye family of Nanling, skilled in weapon crafting, especially in dragon-patterned artifacts. Yongxing's weapon crafting skills have improved by leaps and bounds in recent years, largely thanks to his guidance."

"Oh?" A sharp glint flashed in Fu Changsheng's eyes. "What's he after?"

“That’s precisely what’s suspicious,” Fu Yongrui’s voice grew colder. “In the past twelve years, this person has never asked for any reward, and he has even politely declined most of the gifts Yongxing offered as thanks. He only accepted a refining furnace three years ago, worth no more than a hundred spirit stones.”

Fu Changsheng's tapping suddenly stopped. Unconditional kindness often conceals a greater scheme—this is an age-old truth in the cultivation world.

What is Yongxing's attitude towards this person?

“I regard him as a teacher or mentor.” Fu Yongrui paused briefly, then added, “Even more so than I am with my father.”

“Yongxing is naive and easily deceived,” Fu Changsheng said in a low voice. “But if Ye Qingyang truly has ulterior motives, twelve years is far too long.”

Fu Yongrui took out a black jade slip from his sleeve: "I have compiled all the records of this person's contact with Yongxing over the past twelve years. For the first eight years, it was limited to exchanges on weapon crafting, but in the last four years, he has begun to intentionally or unintentionally inquire about family secrets, especially the rumors about Father's natal spirit beast."

A cold glint flashed in Fu Changsheng's eyes. Tianyang Zhenren had infiltrated the Fu family for his Azure Dragon!
“Continue surveillance, but don’t alert them,” Fu Changsheng said in a deep voice. “Also, arrange for a reinvestigation of the Ye family massacre in Nanling. I need to know every detail.”

"My father was skeptical."

"Master Tianyang is a master of disguise," Fu Changsheng sneered. "The massacre of his entire family two hundred and thirty years ago provided him with the perfect cover for his identity."

A hint of murderous intent flashed in Fu Yongrui's eyes: "Should we isolate Yongxing first?"

Fu Changsheng shook his head: "Yongxing is no longer a child; forcibly intervening will only backfire." He pondered for a moment, "Besides, if this person is truly Tianyang Zhenren, alerting him would be counterproductive. However, passive defense is not as good as taking the initiative. Yongrui, do me one more thing..."

Fu Changsheng quickly transmitted a few words telepathically. Upon hearing this, Fu Yongrui looked worried, but still cupped his hands and said:
"I'll take care of it right away."

(End of this chapter)