Family Rise: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 543 Important Intelligence, Treasure Acquired, Inner Demon Tribulation

Deep in the mountains, inside a hidden cave.

Fu Yongren sat cross-legged, his rough fingers tapping a rhythm on his knees. His brows were furrowed, and the faint phantom of Sirius appearing behind him revealed his inner turmoil.

“Fairy Su,” he suddenly spoke, his voice deep and rumbling like thunder, “the Ghost Spirit Sect is a major Nascent Soul sect in the Eastern Wilderness; this matter is beyond our ability to handle alone.”

Fu Yongkui was squatting at the cave entrance counting the storage bags when he heard this, his hand trembled: "Brother, you mean..."

“Return to the Fu family.” Fu Yongren said decisively, “Let Father make the decision.”

Su Yingxue's pale fingers tightened around the hem of her dress. She lowered her eyes and remained silent for a moment, then suddenly rose and gave a deep bow: "Fellow Daoists, Yingxue has something to tell you."

The cave fell silent, with only the distinct "crunch" of Little Blue gnawing on the spirit stones.

“I am no longer a disciple of the Valley of Ten Thousand Flowers.” Su Yingxue’s voice was very soft, but it was like a piece of ice falling into hot oil.

Fu Yongkui's eyes widened: "What? But you clearly..."

"My ancestor, Fairy Yunteng, was a Nascent Soul cultivator from the Valley of Ten Thousand Flowers," Su Yingxue said with a bitter smile. "But she disappeared without a trace three hundred years ago after going on a journey. Granny Jinhua of the valley had an old grudge against my ancestor, and over the years," her slender fingers trembled slightly in her sleeve, "the members of my lineage have either 'died unexpectedly' or 'gone mad with demonic possession.'"

Fu Yongren's pupils contracted. He had seen plenty of factional infighting in the cultivation world, where the strong prey on the weak, but hearing an orphan girl recount it still ignited a fire in his heart.

"A few months ago, I accidentally obtained a jade slip, intending to use it to gain merit and return to the sect," Su Yingxue said, a hint of pain flashing in her eyes, "but I discovered that Granny Golden Flower had already been secretly colluding with the Ghost Spirit Sect. They want more than just the jade slip; they want to wipe out our Su family."

“No wonder you ran away as soon as you saw the Ghost Spirit Gate,” Fu Yongkui couldn’t help but interject.

Fu Yongren glared fiercely at his younger brother.

Su Yingxue, however, didn't care. Instead, a sorrowful smile appeared on her face: "Now I have nowhere to go." She suddenly knelt down and kowtowed, "I beg you two fellow Daoists to take me in. Yingxue is willing to offer this jade slip as proof, only asking for the protection of the Fu family!"

Fu Yongren quickly helped her up.

“Fairy Su, there’s no need for that.” His voice softened unconsciously. “Although the Fu family isn’t as powerful as the Valley of Ten Thousand Flowers, they still protect individuals.”

Fu Yongkui, who was squatting on the ground carefully wiping a broken array plate he had just picked up, paused slightly upon hearing his brother's words. He looked up, his brows furrowed, and a shrewd glint in his eyes.

“Brother, this is not a good idea,” he said in a deep voice, his tone unusually serious. “Fairy Su has involved two major Nascent Soul sects, the Ghost Spirit Sect and the Valley of Ten Thousand Flowers, neither of which our Fu family can easily provoke. Even if the relics from Elder Xuan Shang's cave are extremely valuable, it's not worth getting dragged into such a vortex.”

Upon hearing this, Fu Yongren raised an eyebrow and looked at his younger brother with some surprise—this guy, who was usually stingy and meticulous about even a single spirit stone, was surprisingly sober at this moment.

"Young man, you are indeed cautious." Fu Yongren nodded, his tone carrying a hint of approval.

“It’s not caution, it’s pragmatism.” Fu Yongkui sighed, turning his gaze to Su Yingxue with a complex expression. “Fairy Su, we saved you out of a sense of duty, but if this brings annihilation to the Fu family, then it would be foolish courage.”

Su Yingxue pursed her lips, a hint of sadness flashing in her eyes, but she quickly regained her composure. She said softly, "Fellow Daoist Fu's concerns are valid; Yingxue dares not force the issue."

Fu Yongren pondered for a moment, then said, "However, the young master of the Ghost Spirit Sect has already set his sights on us. Even if we sever ties now, they may not let the Fu family off the hook."

“That’s why I said we must inform Father about this,” Fu Yongkui insisted. “Father is knowledgeable and experienced; he will make his own decisions. If he deems it feasible, then we can proceed.”

Fu Yongren pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "Alright, let's go back to the Fu family first."

Su Yingxue bowed slightly and said softly, "Thank you both, fellow Daoists."

Fu Yongkui glanced at her, hesitated for a moment, then took out a bottle of pills from his storage bag and handed it to her: "This is a 'Qi-restoring pill.' Although it was made from waste pill residue, the effect is still decent. You can use it for now."

Su Yingxue was taken aback, then smiled gratefully: "Thank you, Fellow Daoist Fu."

Seeing this, Fu Yongren's lips curled up slightly, thinking to himself, "This kid talks about being cautious, but he's still reluctant."

Fu Yongkui noticed his brother's gaze, coughed lightly, and said with a stern face, "Don't misunderstand, I just think your injuries are too severe, and it would be troublesome if you slowed us down on our journey."

Su Yingxue's smile deepened: "Yes, Yingxue understands."

Fu Yongren stood up and patted his younger brother on the shoulder: "Let's go back to the Fu family home first."

Fu Yongkui nodded, then muttered to himself, "I hope Father won't scold us for meddling..."

Fu Yongren chuckled: "Don't worry, Father values ​​loyalty above all else."

Su Yingxue looked at the two brothers and breathed a slight sigh of relief. She knew she was safe for the time being.

...

...

Huizhou Prefecture

Fu Family Forbidden Land - Breakthrough Cave
Inside the cave, the spiritual mist surged like a tide, and the rosy glow of the sunset filled the air.

Liu Meizhen sat cross-legged in the center of the Spirit Gathering Array. Her plain white robes fluttered without wind, and the spiritual pressure around her was as deep as the ocean, with faint sounds of dragon roars and phoenix cries echoing around her. Her eyes were closed, and a cinnabar mark between her brows shone like a star. Her seven-aperture heart beat rhythmically in her chest, and each beat caused the spiritual energy around her to rise and fall like the tide.

"Condensation!"

She suddenly opened her eyes, her fingertips forming a hand seal. A sixth-order "Condensing Pill Talisman" spontaneously combusted without fire, transforming into thousands of golden runes that entered her dantian. At the same time, she swallowed a Nine-Herb Pill, its medicinal power dissolving like sweet rain nourishing parched earth.

Within the dantian, the immense magical power, under the combined effect of the talisman and the elixir, began to rotate and compress wildly, gradually condensing into a dazzling golden elixir prototype.

"The Mysterious Yellow Elixir, tempering my Dao foundation!"

With a flick of her sleeve, the Xuanhuang Spirit Pill she had prepared beforehand floated up, its body flowing with chaotic energy, and she swallowed it in one gulp. As soon as the pill entered her stomach, it transformed into Xuanhuang Qi, which wrapped around the nascent golden core. The originally golden body of the core gradually took on a trace of chaotic color, and her Dao foundation also underwent a transformation, exuding an ancient and boundless aura.

"First-grade Golden Elixir, successful!"

With a clear shout, her spiritual pressure surged suddenly, and the golden core in her dantian was fully formed—perfectly round like a chicken egg, with chaotic patterns flowing on its surface. The moment the core was formed, it triggered a strange phenomenon in the heavens and earth, with clouds gathering above the cave and faint celestial music lingering around.

However, Liu Meizhen's expression did not relax; instead, it became even more serious.

"The tribulation of inner demons has arrived."

She had anticipated this; her keenly aware heart pounded in alarm, and the scene before her suddenly distorted—

The torrential rain poured down like a celestial river, splashing water from the bluestone slabs and wetting her knees. Six-year-old Liu Meizhen knelt in the mud outside the medicine hut, her thin arms supporting her on the ground. Her thin, coarse cloth clothes were already soaked through and clung tightly to her still-growing body.

"Stealing alchemical formulas? You dare to challenge me!"

The wooden door of the medicine hut was suddenly pushed open, and the alchemist, Old Master Wang, burst into action, his eyes wide with fury. A copy of the "Hundred Herbs Classic" was hurled at her head. The heavy, sharp corner of the book struck her forehead, instantly drawing blood. Crimson blood mingled with the rain, streaming down her pale cheek.

The pages of the book were scattered in the muddy water, and the ink began to smudge.

Xiao Meizhen didn't cry. She just knelt quietly, letting the rain wash over her wounds, until Old Wang slammed the door shut with a cold snort. Only after the lights in the medicine shop went out did she slowly move her numb legs and pick up the soaked papers one by one in the mud.

In the woodshed, she huddled in a pile of hay, carefully unfolding the soaked pages of her book. Outside, lightning flashed and thunder roared; with each flash of lightning, she seized the opportunity to decipher a page of the diagrams.

“Seven-leaf Ganoderma lucidum. Cold in nature.” Her lips, blue from the cold, trembled slightly as her fingers traced the shape of the herb in the air. A leak in the woodshed caused a drop of icy water to fall on the words “fire attribute,” instantly dissolving the ink.

She hurriedly tried to dab it with her sleeve, but only ended up smearing more.

At midnight, she took out the half-burnt charcoal pencil hidden under the straw and, by the faint moonlight, traced lines on her undergarment. The fabric was too thin; the charcoal pencil tore with a single stroke.

Xiao Meizhen bit her lip and suddenly smeared the tip of the charcoal pencil on the wound on her forehead—the blood-stained pencil tip could finally leave a clear mark on the fabric.

"Blood essence. Bitter taste," she murmured to herself as she traced the words on the fabric with her blood-stained fingers. With each stroke, a sharp pain shot through the wound on her forehead, but she remained oblivious.

As dawn broke, she was roughly dragged out of the woodshed.

"You bastard! How dare you steal my teachings!" Old Wang roared, lashing her back with his rattan cane. "You, a bastard born of a lowly commoner, dare to dabble in alchemy?"

The vines tore the coarse cloth garment, revealing a blood-stained "notebook" underneath. Old Wang snatched it away, and when he saw the diagrams drawn in blood, his pupils contracted sharply.

"This is."

Xiao Meizhen suddenly pounced and bit Wang Lao's wrist. In the instant he cried out in pain, she snatched back the piece of cloth, turned around, and jumped into the ravine behind the herb garden.

She soaked in the icy stream for a whole day. When night fell again, a little girl, soaking wet, climbed ashore, clutching the blood-stained "elixir scripture" tightly in her hand.

Under the moonlight, she spread the fabric on the stone to dry, her six-year-old eyes gleaming with a calm flame beyond her years.

"One day," she whispered to the moon, "I will make all the alchemists in the world come begging for my elixir formulas."

—

The scene changes.

The scene before Liu Meizhen's eyes suddenly changed!
She felt as if she were in a blood-red world, with corpses piled up like mountains all around her, and countless twisted black shadows crawling out of the ground, emitting mournful howls.

"Liu Meizhen...you've schemed your whole life, but did you ever foresee this day?"

A chilling voice rang in her ear, like a venomous snake flicking its tongue, sending shivers down her spine.

Liu Meizhen's eyes turned cold, her mind racing: "An illusion? No, this is the manifestation of my inner demon tribulation!"

She had long known the horror of the inner demon tribulation, so she prepared the mind-severing technique in advance. But she did not expect the inner demon to be so fierce, directly conjuring up the past that she least wanted to face!

"Do you think you can reach the Great Dao through scheming alone?"

The shadows coalesced, transforming into familiar faces—enemies she had schemed to their deaths, cultivators who had perished because of her plans, and even… members of the Fu family who had sacrificed themselves because of her decisions!

Liu Meizhen's fingertips trembled slightly, but quickly, she let out a cold laugh:
"A mere inner demon dares to disturb my Dao heart?"

She suddenly raised her hand, her exquisite heart pounding violently, and a vast divine consciousness slashed out like a sharp sword!

"I, Liu Meizhen, never regret my actions!"

"boom--"

The illusion shatters!

However, the tribulations of inner demons are not so simple.
The next instant, the scene before her eyes changed again—

She saw herself... her golden core shattered, her foundation crumbled, and she was reduced to a cripple!
She saw the Fu family... slaughtered by their enemies because of her failure!
She saw the people she cared about most... leaving her one by one!

Liu Meizhen's pupils suddenly contracted, and her breathing became slightly sluggish.

This is her deepest fear...

"Are you scared?" The voice of the inner demon echoed eerily.

Liu Meizhen was silent for a moment, then suddenly, she smiled.

"Afraid?"

She slowly raised her eyes, her gaze revealing a sharp edge!

"I, Liu Meizhen, have cultivated the Dao to this day; have I ever feared failure?"

Even if Heaven wants to destroy me—

"I, too, will defy the heavens!"

As soon as she finished speaking, she suddenly activated her Seven Apertures Exquisite Heart, and a surge of chaotic energy erupted from her Golden Core, instantly sweeping across her entire sea of ​​consciousness!
"break!"

"Rumble--"

The illusion of inner demons is collapsing inch by inch!
-

Above the sky, dark clouds surged, and thunder roared like dragons, tearing through the heavens.

Liu Meizhen stood atop the mountain, her plain white robe fluttering in the wind, a single vermilion mark between her brows shining like a star. She looked up at the sky, her eyes filled with no fear, only tranquility.

"Golden Core Tribulation, come forth!"

"boom--!"

The first bolt of lightning struck down like a sword of divine punishment, piercing straight down!

Liu Meizhen neither dodged nor avoided the lightning bolt. Her seven-aperture exquisite heart pounded violently, and the Chaos Golden Core within her body shone with brilliant light, forcefully absorbing the lightning bolt into her body!

"Crackling—"

Her body was tempered by lightning, causing her skin to crack inch by inch, but it healed rapidly under the nourishment of chaotic energy.

The second one! The third one!
The thunder grew increasingly violent, as if it intended to annihilate her completely.

A trickle of blood escaped from the corner of Liu Meizhen's mouth, but her gaze remained sharp. She formed hand seals, and mysterious runes appeared around her—these were lightning-avoiding array patterns she had inscribed beforehand. While they couldn't completely negate the lightning tribulation, they could weaken its power by thirty percent!

"Rumble--"

As the final bolt of lightning struck, the world fell silent!
Liu Meizhen was covered in blood, but the light in her eyes shone even brighter. She slowly raised her hand, and in her palm, a golden pill, perfectly round like a chicken egg with chaotic patterns flowing across its surface, floated up, radiating immense pressure!
First-grade Golden Elixir, complete!
The Fu family was decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, and guests flocked to the house.

Liu Meizhen sat high in the main seat, dressed in a magnificent crimson robe. Her features were exquisite, and her demeanor was otherworldly. A smile played on her lips as she greeted the congratulatory guests from all directions, her every gesture exuding the composure and grace of a matriarch.

However, just as the ceremony was halfway through—

"Mistress! Something terrible has happened!"

A Fu family steward stumbled in, his face pale, holding a blood-stained communication jade slip in his hand.

Liu Meizhen's eyes narrowed, and her fingertips trembled slightly.

That jade slip... was a protective talisman she personally crafted for her eldest son, Fu Yongfan!
She took the jade slip, scanned it with her divine sense, and her expression changed drastically!

"Fan-ge'er...the capital is in danger!"

The information in the jade slip was fragmented, but it was enough for her to determine that Fu Yongfan was trapped in a forbidden area in the capital, his life hanging by a thread!
"What about immortality?" she asked in a deep voice.

"The patriarch... is still in seclusion," the steward whispered.

Liu Meizhen closed her eyes briefly, and when she opened them again, her eyes were filled with determination.

"Prepare spirit stones; I will go to the capital myself."

"Mistress! You have just completed your tribulation, and your cultivation level is not yet stable..."

"No need for further words." She waved her sleeve, her voice as cold as frost. "My son's life is more important than anything else."
-
Liu Meizhen ventured alone into the forbidden area, where the surrounding formations were heavily guarded and fraught with danger.

Ignoring the chaotic state of her spiritual energy, she forcefully activated her golden core, breaking through formations as she advanced. Finally, in a dark dungeon, she saw Fu Yongfan chained up.

"Fan-ge'er!"

She strode forward, gathering spiritual power at her fingertips to sever the chains.

Fu Yongfan slowly raised his head, revealing a face as pale as paper, but a hint of sarcasm flashed in his eyes, as if his wicked scheme had succeeded.

...

...

Huizhou Prefecture.

Outside the weapon-refining hall, the sunlight was just right.

Fu Yongjing and Fu Yongxing stood side by side in front of their father's secluded cave. Although their clothes had been changed, the weariness between them was still evident. Fu Yongjing held a sandalwood box in his hands, its surface engraved with lightning-avoiding runes, from which faint electric sparks flickered.

"Brother, do you think Father will be satisfied?" Fu Yongxing asked in a low voice, his fingers unconsciously rubbing his sleeve. "We could have forged two sides."

Fu Yongjing grinned and patted his younger brother on the shoulder: "Yongxing, when did you become so insecure? A fourth-grade, high-quality magic weapon! Do you know how many weapon refiners in the entire Huizhou Prefecture can forge a magic weapon of this grade?"

As they were talking, the stone door of the cave suddenly opened, and a refreshing spiritual energy surged out. Fu Changsheng, dressed in a green robe, stood with his hands behind his back, his brows revealing the clear and refreshed feeling of someone who had just emerged from seclusion.

"Father!" The two brothers bowed simultaneously.

Fu Changsheng's gaze fell on the wooden box in his eldest son's hand, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes: "You...successfully?"

Fu Yongjing stepped forward and presented the wooden box with both hands: "I have not failed you, but..." His voice lowered, "...of the Heavenly Punishment Thunder Crystals you gave us, we...we only managed to refine one Thunder-Repelling Mirror."

Fu Changsheng took the wooden box, his fingertips lightly touching its surface, instantly sensing the surging lightning power contained within. He slowly opened the lid, and a beam of purple light shot into the sky, casting a mysterious aura on his face. Inside the box, a round mirror, entirely purplish-black, lay quietly. Its surface was as smooth as black jade, with nine lifelike lightning patterns along its edge, seemingly ready to leap from the mirror at any moment. The array patterns on the back of the mirror were intricate and profound; even with Fu Changsheng's keen eyesight, he needed to concentrate intently to discern even a fraction of them.

"Good! Good! Good!" Fu Changsheng exclaimed three times, his eyes filled with satisfaction. "A fourth-grade, high-quality item, and a Lightning-Repelling Mirror specifically designed to counter heavenly lightning!" He looked up at his two sons, his smile brimming with undisguised pride. "Do you know how many spirit stones a magic weapon of this grade would be worth at an auction?"

Fu Yongxing pursed his lips: "Father, we wasted a Heavenly Punishment Thunder Crystal."

"Silly child." Fu Changsheng closed the box and reached out to pat his young son's head. "Fourth-grade high-quality magic treasures are hard to come by, let alone one that can withstand the Golden Core tribulation. I am very pleased with your achievement on your first attempt."

Fu Yongjing scratched his head and chuckled, "Father, you didn't see those hundred-plus failures we had. Once, Lei Jing went berserk and almost blew up the Earth Fire Chamber."

"But you persevered." Fu Changsheng's gaze was profound. "In the art of weapon crafting, talent is certainly important, but perseverance and willpower are even more valuable."

According to intelligence information.

With the impending tribulation of lightning, this lightning-repelling mirror has arrived just in time.

As they were talking, a streak of azure light rushed towards them from afar, landing in front of the three in the blink of an eye. The light dissipated, revealing a young girl in a light blue dress, with exquisite features and an ancient bronze compass hanging at her waist.

"Father has emerged from seclusion?" Fu Yongyao's gaze swept across the room, immediately noticing the wooden box in Fu Changsheng's hand. "Is this... the Thunder-Repelling Mirror complete?"

Fu Changsheng nodded: "Yao'er, you've arrived just in time. Immediately place this mirror within the tribulation-crossing formation atop Green Bamboo Peak, so it can resonate with your mother's protective magic treasure."

Fu Yongyao took the wooden box, lightly touched the mirror's surface with her fingertip, and a faint bolt of lightning shot into her fingertip. A hint of surprise flashed in her eyes: "Fourth-tier high-grade? Sixth brother, little brother, your talent for refining weapons is truly remarkable!"

"Just lucky," Fu Yongxing said modestly, but a hint of pride could not be hidden in his eyes.

Fu Yongyao chuckled, "Mother will be delighted to know." She turned to Fu Changsheng, "Father, as you instructed, I have set up thirty-six lightning-attracting arrays on Green Bamboo Peak. Combined with this lightning-repelling mirror, they should be able to neutralize over ninety percent of the heavenly lightning's power."

Fu Changsheng nodded in satisfaction: "I trust you to handle things. However," he frowned slightly, "the Golden Core Tribulation your mother triggered is extraordinary; we still need to make more preparations."

The bronze compass at Fu Yongyao's waist suddenly vibrated slightly, emitting a faint blue light. She glanced down at it, her expression changing slightly: "The Qingqiu Yitian Compass is warning that a tribulation of lightning may descend in six months."

"So fast?" Fu Yongjing exclaimed in surprise.

Fu Changsheng made a decisive decision: "Yao'er, go and set up the Thunder-Repelling Mirror immediately. Yongjing and Yongxing, you two come with me to the storeroom and fetch some more protective magic items." He looked towards the distant direction of Green Bamboo Peak, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes, "I hope this time the preparations are sufficient."

Fu Yongyao held the wooden box, her long blue dress fluttering even without wind. "Father, rest assured, with the Thunder-Repelling Mirror and my Qingqiu Yitian Disc guiding her, Mother will surely survive the tribulation safely." She paused, a confident smile curving her lips. "Mother never disappoints."

Upon hearing this, Fu Changsheng laughed heartily: "Good! These are the children of Fu Changsheng! Come, let's make thorough preparations for your mother!"

The four split up. Fu Yongyao transformed into a streak of green light and headed straight for Qingzhu Peak, while Fu Changsheng took his two sons to the family storeroom.

but.

just in case.

Fu Changsheng still focused his thoughts on the panel in his sea of ​​consciousness and immediately said:

"Exchange Information"

hum!
The panel vibrated.

A large amount of yellow light surged.

Followed by.

Lines of text appeared one by one:

[1: Deep within an abandoned mine in Yunshan County lies an ancient puppet talisman, the "Mysterious Armored Warrior," which requires the essence of a golden elixir and the Spirit Awakening Technique recorded in a fragment of the "Tiangong Kaiwu" (The Exploitation of the Works of Nature) to activate.]

[2: The "remains of ancient cultivators" circulating in the black market of Qinglin County recently are actually bait set up by the Heavenly Corpse Sect. Those who come into contact with them will be infected with "Corpse God Gu" and will eventually become materials for corpse refining.]

[3: The roots of the old locust tree on the east side of the Shangguan family's spiritual field have reached a thousand feet, touching an ancient spiritual spring. If one communicates with it using the "Azure Wood Summoning Technique," one can obtain the tree spirit [Essence of Wood].]

[4: There is a piece of lightning-struck wood deep in the Sirius Mountains]

[5: The fetus in Wu Ling'er's womb is actually a mutated form of the ancient "Six-Winged Star Gu". It requires the blood essence of nine kinds of poisonous dragons to break out of the cocoon, otherwise it may backfire on the mother.]

[6: If the "Golden-Veined Spirit Wheat" mutant plant cultivated by Fu Yongwei is watered with herbal essences, it can produce "Golden Ear Core," the main ingredient of the "Life-Creating Pill," after maturity.]

[7: The Black Witch Village Chief captures a scion of a noble family of the sixth rank from the Great Zhou Dynasty, and uses the family's fortune to cultivate witchcraft slaves, intending to break free from the Holy Maiden's control.]

[8: The seemingly withered "Seven Hearts Begonia" in Wu Garden is actually affected by the residual heat of the [Mysterious Netherworld Ice Flame]. It can be revived if transplanted to a fire vein.]

[9: The newly acquired fiefdom of the Ouyang family is inhabited by a "Spirit-Devouring Demon Vine" deep within the spiritual vein. It is currently dormant but will erupt and devour the entire spiritual vein in twenty years.]

[10: The blood-red palace that Fu Qingyun often sees in his dreams is a memory inherited from the Demon Vine]

[11: The hidden compartment on the third floor of the Great Zhou Imperial Treasury contains the sword tassel of the Azure Lotus Sword Immortal (containing a fragment of sword intent). Holding it allows one to sense the location of the nearest Lotus Lantern.]

[12: During his time infiltrating the Fu family, True Immortal Tianyang concealed a damaged spiritual treasure in the escape passage of his cave dwelling. This treasure can withstand a fatal blow from an early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator (requires a specific incantation)]

[13: At the bottom of Fu Yongxing's weapon-refining room, there is a deposit of "Earth Core Fire Copper". Every hundred years, it condenses into a size the size of a fingernail. The current amount is enough to refine a fourth-order fire-type magic weapon.]

[14: The forbidden area of ​​the Valley of a Hundred Flowers, the "Hundred Flowers Tomb," contains the "Nine-Petal Needle," the natal magic weapon of Su Yingxue's ancestor. Its spirit has not yet dissipated (it only recognizes the Su family bloodline)]

[15: The skull jade pendant worn by the young master of the Ghost Spirit Sect contains a wisp of his master's soul (which can unleash Nascent Soul level combat power at crucial moments)]

[16: The ancient bronze mirror hanging from the beam of the Gan Family Ancestral Hall is actually a fragment of a "demon-revealing mirror." When infused with the golden light of merit, it can reveal the true forms of demons within a radius of a hundred miles.]

[17: Among the swarm of spirit butterflies raised by the witches of White Witch Village, a "Dream Queen Butterfly" has infiltrated. Its scales can induce a beautiful dream and a permanent sleep (the antidote is the secretions of the Spirit-Eating Insects)]

[18: The "Snow-Striped Tiger King" kept in the Tianyin Tribe's hunting grounds is pregnant with twins, one of which is a mutant born with "Penetrating Eyes" (capable of seeing through disguises below the Nascent Soul stage)]

[19: The three jade slips required to open the cave of the Mysterious Elder are in the hands of your son Fu Yongkui, Su Yingxue whom they rescued, and the young master of the Ghost Spirit Sect. This cave also contains a hidden central chamber, which is the true treasure storage place. It contains the treasures you need, but you need to activate the five dragon pillars simultaneously with the spiritual power of the Taiyi Five Elements Technique. Forcibly breaking it will trigger a self-destruction restriction.]

【20...】

...

A total of twenty pieces of intelligence were exchanged.

Compared to the past, this intelligence is quite good.

Fu Changsheng's eyes flashed like lightning as he memorized all twenty pieces of intelligence, and he already had a plan in mind.

Just then, the communication jade talisman at his waist vibrated slightly. He scanned it with his divine sense and saw it was a message from his eldest son, Fu Yongren—

"Father, Yongkui and I rescued a female cultivator from the Valley of Ten Thousand Flowers in Yunshan County. Her name is Su Yingxue. She possesses a jade slip that opens the cave of the Elder Xuanshang, but the young sect leader of the Ghost Spirit Sect is also hunting her down, intending to seize this item. According to Su Yingxue, there are great treasures hidden inside the cave, but the Ghost Spirit Sect is powerful, and I dare not act on my own. Therefore, I request Father to make the decision."

A glint flashed in Fu Changsheng's eyes, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.

"The cave dwelling of the Mysterious Elder... just as I thought."

He hesitated for a moment, then immediately replied—

“Yongren, I am already aware of this matter. You should tell Su Yingxue that the Fu family can protect her, but she needs the jade slip as proof. Also, you two don’t need to confront the Ghost Spirit Sect head-on. You can spread the word that the Fu family is willing to sell the jade slip, and I will hand it over to them when I return to Yunshan County.”

Based on intelligence reports.

The young master of the Ghost Spirit Sect possesses the trump card of the Nascent Soul stage, so Yongren and the others are not suitable to deal with him.

After sending the message, Fu Changsheng stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze deep.

"Father, something happened to my elder brother?" Fu Yongjing keenly noticed the change in his father's expression.

Fu Changsheng shook his head: "It was Yongren and the others who stumbled upon an opportunity."

He was calculating in his mind—

The true treasures of the Xuan Shang Elder's cave dwelling are located in a secret chamber. Opening the chamber requires the spiritual power of the Taiyi Five Elements Technique to activate the Panlong Pillar, a secret unknown to outsiders. Even if the young master of the Ghost Spirit Sect enters the cave dwelling, he will only take the surface treasures, while the true core treasures will still fall into the hands of the Fu family.

not to mention……

His gaze swept over the information displayed on the mental panel—

The skull-shaped jade pendant worn by the young master of the Ghost Spirit Sect contains a wisp of his master's soul (capable of unleashing Nascent Soul level combat power at crucial moments).

"If we really break off relations, this kid has a fake infant-level trump card; it would be unwise to fight him head-on."

"It would be better to use him to open the cave legitimately. The Fu family can benefit from this and avoid a direct conflict with the Ghost Spirit Sect."

Fu Changsheng looked at Fu Yongjing and Fu Yongxing and said with a smile, "Let's go. Let's go to the storeroom and get some protective magic items first. After your mother passes her tribulation, I will have to go back to Yunshan County in person."

As Fu Changsheng emerged from the treasure vault, the sky was already beginning to lighten with the first hint of dawn. He stood under the eaves for a moment, then lightly tapped the jade talisman at his waist three times with his fingertips.

“You two go and prepare,” he said to his two sons. “I’ll be right back.”

Before he finished speaking, his figure vanished in a wisp of breeze. When he reappeared, he was outside the "Listening to the Rain Pavilion," where True Immortal Tianyang had once lived. This courtyard seemed ordinary, but in reality, it concealed numerous restrictions. Fu Changsheng, however, was not in a hurry to break the formation. Instead, he stood with his hands behind his back, as if recalling something.

"Old man Tianyang," he chuckled, and a small bronze seal suddenly flew out from his sleeve. The eyes of the dragon coiled on the seal's knob lit up red, and the restrictions in the courtyard instantly melted away like ice and snow.

This is the "Breaking Seal" obtained from Tianyang Zhenren's storage bag. I never expected it to come in handy today.

Passing through the corridor, Fu Changsheng went straight to the bedroom. He cast a spell on a pattern on the carved bedpost, and with a hum, ripples appeared. The entire bed slid open silently, revealing a deep passage below.

"It really is here." A glint flashed in his eyes, but he did not enter immediately. Instead, he made a hand seal to summon a puppet and ordered it to scout ahead.

The puppet had barely taken three steps into the passage when it was suddenly sliced ​​in two with a "crack." Fu Changsheng, instead of being surprised, was delighted: "Well done, Tianyang! Even in death, he left behind such a ruthless trump card."

He took out a bronze lamp, its wick igniting spontaneously without a flame, emitting a faint blue light. Where the light shone, countless silver threads appeared on the walls of the passage—the legendary "Shadowless String"!
"Luckily, I didn't overestimate myself." Fu Changsheng wiped away a cold sweat and took out a peacock feather from his pocket. This was also obtained from Tianyang Zhenren's storage bag. With a gentle wave, all the silver threads disappeared.

At the end of the passage was a stone chamber, with a portrait of the Celestial Master Tianyang hanging on the wall. Fu Changsheng pointed his fingers like a sword, and a sword aura shot straight at the left eye of the portrait.

With a loud "boom," the hidden compartment behind the portrait opened, and a tattered talisman gleaming with golden light floated out.

"A magical treasure?!"

The moment this tattered talisman appeared, the entire stone chamber was filled with a brilliant golden light. Mysterious Daoist patterns flowed across the surface of the talisman, and the two characters "Tai Xu" were faintly visible. Although it was only one-third of its original size, it exuded a chilling aura.

"It's actually a fragment of the Taixu Divine Talisman!" Fu Changsheng's pupils shrank, and his fingertips trembled slightly. This spiritual treasure was the natal magic weapon of the ancient Taixu Daoist, and legend has it that in its complete state, it could create a small world. During the great war between good and evil, this talisman was shattered into thousands by the Demon Lord, and the fragments were scattered across various realms. He never expected that the old man Tianyang would actually have a small piece hidden away!

He carefully formed hand seals, setting up three layers of restrictions, before reaching out to take the talisman. The instant the fragment touched his hand, an aged Daoist voice suddenly echoed in his mind: "The wielder of this talisman must use their life essence as a catalyst, but each use will shorten their lifespan by ten years."

Fu Changsheng smiled nonchalantly.

His lifespan was already longer than others, but having an extra trump card to save his life was an immense stroke of luck.

He immediately bit his tongue, spitting a mouthful of blood onto the talisman.

After the ritual is completed.

As the golden light surged, he clearly felt the terrifying power contained within the fragment—though less than one-thousandth of its complete form, it was enough to instantly drain the spiritual energy of heaven and earth within a ten-mile radius and unleash a full-force attack comparable to that of a Nascent Soul cultivator in the early stages!
"What a powerful weapon!"

His eyes flashed with a sharp light as he recalled the jade slip recording that when the Eastern Wilderness tribes were fighting against the Great Zhou and besieging Qingxia Mountain, Tianyang Lao'er was clearly not in the mountain, but the mountain-protecting formation suddenly erupted with a shocking golden light, instantly killing a Nascent Soul cultivator.

It turns out that it was thanks to this fragment
The reason why Master Tianyang left behind this fragment of spiritual treasure was simply because his lifespan was coming to an end and he dared not use it at all.

hum!
at this time.

The golden light of the talisman faded, and it transformed into an ordinary piece of yellow paper. Fu Changsheng carefully stored the fragment into his dantian.

...

...

The Dark Hall stronghold.

Fu Yongrui was sitting cross-legged in the quiet room, regulating his breathing, when suddenly he felt a heat between his brows. He opened his eyes and took out a dark gold jade talisman from his robes—this was the "Mysterious Talisman" that his father used to transmit secret orders to the Dark Hall.

Several lines of small characters appeared on the jade talisman:
"Investigate Su Yingxue's background, focusing on verifying three key points: 1. The feud between her ancestor, Fairy Yunteng, and Granny Jinhua; 2. The current status of the Su family lineage within the Valley of Ten Thousand Flowers; 3. The origin of the jade slip she possesses. Report back within three days."

The writing gradually faded, eventually turning into the character "密" (secret) imprinted on the surface of the jade talisman. This was the highest-level investigation order from the Fu family's secret branch.

Fu Yongrui's expression hardened, and he immediately summoned two trusted confidants by making a hand seal. Both men were dressed in ordinary merchant's attire; one was short and stout like a wealthy old man, and the other was tall and thin like an accountant.

"Go and summon 'Azure Cicada' and 'Night Owl'," Fu Yongrui said in a deep voice. "Also, activate our 'March Willow' in the Valley of Ten Thousand Flowers."

The tall, thin man looked troubled: "Master, 'March Willow' spent thirty years lying low before reaching the position of steward, and you're putting her into service now?"

Fu Yongrui tapped the table lightly with his fingertips: "This is an order personally given by Father." With just these words, the two immediately bowed and withdrew.

Before long, two figures appeared in the quiet room. On the left was a young girl carrying a medicine basket, and on the right was a blind old man leaning on a bamboo cane.

"Qingfu greets the Hall Master." The girl greeted him with a smile, but the silver bell on her wrist did not make a sound.

The blind old man tapped the ground with his bamboo cane: "Night Owl, heed my command!"

Fu Yongrui took out a recording stone, and Su Yingxue's image appeared in the air: "Investigate this person's background. Qingfu, go to the black market to acquire all information about Wanhua Valley. Yexiao, go to Baihua City and focus on investigating the list of disciples expelled in the last ten years."

He then took out a brocade pouch and handed it to the blind old man: "This contains my father's specially made 'Heart-Questioning Incense,' which can be used on the outer disciples of the Valley of Ten Thousand Flowers when necessary."

The three men obeyed and left. Fu Yongrui then took out a bronze mirror from a hidden compartment, bit his fingertip, and wrote the three characters "March Willow" on the mirror surface. The blood seeped into the mirror, and gradually the figure of a female cultivator refining pills appeared.

"Your subordinate greets the Hall Master." The female cultivator's voice came through the mirror, but her alchemy hands did not stop.

Fu Yongrui asked directly, "Do you know about the old grudge between Fairy Yunteng and Granny Jinhua?"

The female cultivator in the mirror paused slightly in her hand gestures: "Why would the sect leader suddenly ask this?" She lowered her voice, "This matter is taboo in the valley, but..."

She suddenly turned around, pretending to inspect the alchemy furnace, and said in a very fast voice, "Three hundred years ago, Fairy Yunteng disappeared while searching for her natal magic weapon, the 'Nine-Petal Needle.' Granny Jinhua took the opportunity to purge the Su family lineage. Ten years ago, after the last member of the Su family 'went into demonic possession,' no one has ever tended the Hundred Flowers Tomb since."

A glint flashed in Fu Yongrui's eyes: "Su Yingxue?"

"It does exist; she is a direct descendant of Fairy Yunteng." The female cultivator suddenly raised her voice. "This batch of Nourishing Heart Pills will be ready in another hour." She then transmitted her voice secretly: "But she stole the valley's secret treasures and fled three months ago; Granny Golden Flower has issued a kill order."

The bronze mirror suddenly vibrated violently, and the female cultivator hurriedly severed the connection. In the last image transmitted, there seemed to be a figure moving outside the alchemy room.

a few days later.

Three intelligence reports lay before Fu Yongrui: a chronicle of major events in Wanhua Valley over the past century, which Qingfu had acquired from the black market; the testimonies of seventeen expelled disciples recorded by Night Owl; and a secret letter sent by "March Willow" on her adventure.

Fu Yongrui turned and walked towards the patriarch's mansion.

...

...

The head of the house.

Fu Changsheng was studying ancient books in his study when he suddenly frowned and looked out the window.

"Father." A deep voice came from the shadows, and Fu Yongrui's figure slowly emerged. His expression was cold, but his eyes held a rare solemnity.

Fu Changsheng put down the book in his hand and nodded slightly: "Rui'er, what did you find out?"

Fu Yongrui stepped forward, pulled out three jade slips from his sleeve, and respectfully handed them over: "The matter of Su Yingxue has been investigated and clarified."

Fu Changsheng took the jade slip, scanned it with his divine sense, and his eyes flashed with a sharp light.

“Fairy Yunteng is indeed her ancestor. She disappeared three hundred years ago and is suspected to be related to Granny Jinhua.” Fu Yongrui’s voice was icy. “The Su family line in Wanhua Valley has been wiped out. What she stole was an ancient jade slip that recorded the location of the cave of Elder Xuanshang.”

Fu Changsheng pondered for a moment, then lightly tapped the table with his fingertips: "The Ghost Spirit Sect is chasing her because of this jade slip?"

“Yes.” Fu Yongrui nodded. “But that’s not all—the young master of the Ghost Spirit Sect personally took action, so there’s probably something they desperately need hidden in the cave.”

Fu Changsheng sneered inwardly.

Even if the young sect leader obtains the three jade slips, he will definitely not be able to find the true location of the treasure: "Rui'er, you continue to keep an eye on the movements of the Ghost Spirit Sect. I'm going back to Yunshan County. By the way, send someone to keep an eye on the Wu family as well."

"Yes, Father." Fu Yongrui's face showed worry: "Father, according to the information I have, the young master of the Ghost Spirit Sect is treacherous and cunning. You must be very careful when dealing with him."

"I know." Fu Changsheng smiled faintly, but his eyes were cold. "If he dares to have any wicked thoughts, I will have my own ways to deal with him."

(End of this chapter)