Family Rise: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 544 Furious, Taking Stock of the Gains, A Stunning Success

Ghost Spirit Gate - Yin Sha Hall
Inside the hall, eerie flames flickered, illuminating the walls piled high with white bones.

Yin Wujiu leaned against the skull throne, his fingertips stroking the nine skull jade pendants hanging from his waist, each one faintly emitting a mournful wail.

"Young Master, the Fu family has announced that they are willing to sell Elder Xuan Shang's two jade slips." A black-robed elder knelt on the ground, his voice low.

Yin Wujiu's lips curled slightly, a hint of coldness flashing in his eyes: "Oh? The Fu family is quite sensible."

“Young Master, this matter may be a trap.” Another elder stepped forward with a solemn expression. “After all, the Fu family is a Golden Core family, and Fu Changsheng has even killed a fake Nascent Soul cultivator. Going there rashly is too risky.”

"Heh." Yin Wujiu sneered, slowly rising to his feet, his dark gold robe fluttering even without wind. "The mere Fu family dares to make this young master fear them?"

With a flick of his finger, a blood-red jade pendant floated up, radiating a chilling aura.

"With the 'Netherworld Soul Jade' bestowed by my master, even if a Nascent Soul cultivator comes in person, I, the young master, can escape unscathed."

"But--"

"Enough!" Yin Wujiu's eyes flashed, and the temperature in the hall plummeted. "My mind is made up. I will go to the Fu family immediately!"
-
Fu Family Mountain Gate Archway

The black sedan chair of the Ghost Spirit Sect came flying through the air, accompanied by howling winds, and the surrounding vegetation withered instantly.

Yin Wujiu lifted the sedan curtain and looked coldly at the Fu family's mountain gate.

"The Fu family is quite impressive." He sneered, without stepping inside.

Just then, the array at the Fu family's mountain gate flashed with spiritual light. The disciples guarding the gate, having already received the patriarch's order, proactively opened the barrier and announced loudly:

"Distinguished guests from the Ghost Spirit Sect have come from afar. The Patriarch has ordered that you be invited inside for a discussion!"

Yin Wujiu raised an eyebrow, secretly on guard: "This Fu Changsheng is quite composed."

But he didn't take a step, and simply said, "No need."

He raised his hand and waved, and a beam of black light shot towards the disciple, transforming into a pitch-black jade slip that floated in mid-air.

"Tell Fu Changsheng that I am waiting for him at Yunling Mountain. If he wants to make a deal, he should come to see me in person!"

Before the words were even finished, the black sedan chair had already transformed into a gust of cold wind and disappeared into the horizon.
-
Fu Family Council Hall

“Father!” Fu Yongren said solemnly, “That Yin Wujiu is treacherous and cunning. Master is a Nascent Soul True Monarch, so his trump cards must be quite powerful. Moreover, according to Fairy Su, this person is treacherous and cunning. If you go alone, you may be ambushed!”

Fu Yongxing also said in a deep voice, "Why don't we have Grandpa Fei come back from Tianlang Mountain and have him follow us secretly, just in case?"

Fu Changsheng stood with his hands behind his back, his expression indifferent: "It's alright."

A deep light flashed in his eyes.

"Although this person is ruthless, he values ​​his life the most and will not rashly break ties with me."

"Can……"

Fu Changsheng smiled slightly: "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

With a flick of his sleeve, he transformed into a streak of azure light and vanished into the sky.

Fu Yongren and Fu Yongxing exchanged a glance, their eyes still showing worry.

"Brother, Father..."

Fu Yongren took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "Father always plans things out carefully before acting. Let's wait for news."
-
Yunling Mountain Cliff Pavilion
The mountain wind was biting, making the copper bells on the corner of the pavilion jingle.

Yin Wujiu, the young master of the Ghost Spirit Sect, stood in the pavilion with his hands behind his back, dressed in a dark gold robe. Nine jade skull pendants at his waist swayed gently in the wind, making a soft clinking sound. He squinted at the distant sea of ​​clouds, seemingly lost in thought.

It didn't take long.

A streak of blue light pierced through the clouds on the horizon and arrived in an instant.

Fu Changsheng stood in mid-air, his green robe fluttering in the wind, his expression as calm as if he were strolling in a garden. His gaze swept over the people in the pavilion, finally landing on Yin Wujiu, and he chuckled: "The young master of the Ghost Spirit Sect has come in person, I, Fu, have failed to greet you properly."

Yin Wujiu's pupils contracted slightly.

—This person's aura was as deep and restrained as a bottomless abyss. Although he was only at the early stage of the Golden Core realm, he gave people a sense of pressure as if they were facing a late-stage Golden Core elder in the sect!
He was secretly on guard, but his face remained arrogant: "The head of the Fu family is quite straightforward, actually daring to keep the appointment alone."

Fu Changsheng gracefully landed in the pavilion, sat down with a flick of his sleeve, and poured himself a cup of tea: "Young Sect Master has come from afar, so please speak frankly about your purpose."

Yin Wujiu stared at him and slowly said, "I have heard that the Fu family has two jade slips from the cave of the Xuan Shang Elder?"

"That is indeed true." Fu Changsheng took a sip of tea, his expression unchanged.

"Hand it over." Yin Wujiu's tone was icy. "The Ghost Spirit Sect can pretend this never happened."

The atmosphere inside the pavilion suddenly froze.

Fu Changsheng put down his teacup, raised his eyes and chuckled: "Young Sect Master, are you... threatening me?"

"So what if it is?" Yin Wujiu sneered, his fingertips tracing a blood-red jade pendant at his waist. "Does Patriarch Fu really think that killing a fake Nascent Soul cultivator will allow him to contend with my Ghost Spirit Sect?"

Fu Changsheng shook his head and sighed: "Young man, you're too hot-tempered."

He suddenly raised his hand, and two ancient jade slips appeared in his palm. He released a burst of spiritual energy—

"Crack!"

A fine crack immediately appeared on the surface of the jade slip!
Yin Wujiu's expression changed drastically: "You dare?!"

Fu Changsheng smiled enigmatically: "If the young sect leader wants the complete jade slip, he might as well exchange it for something. If he only wants to seize it by force..." He slowly closed his five fingers, "I, Fu, do not mind if we perish together."

Yin Wujiu's eyes flashed with murderous intent, but upon noticing the increasingly dense cracks on the jade slip, he finally gritted his teeth and suppressed his anger: "...What do you want?"

"I've heard that the Ghost Spirit Sect is famous for its 'Heavenly Nourishing Water'?" Fu Changsheng said slowly. "It's a fourth-grade spiritual material that can help Golden Core cultivators break through the mid-stage bottleneck."

Yin Wujiu's pupils shrank: "You!" This Heavenly Nourishing Water is a secret treasure of the Ghost Spirit Sect. Even though he is the young sect master, he still needs the approval of the Supreme Elder to use it!
Fu Changsheng stood up and flicked his sleeves: "One month from now, at noon, the transaction will take place here. No waiting after that time."

Having said that, he transformed into a beam of blue light and vanished.

Yin Wujiu stared in the direction he had disappeared, his expression shifting between anger and uncertainty.

The old man in black robes said in a low voice, "Young Master, should we report this to the Sect Master...?"

"No need!" Yin Wujiu sneered. "This young master has his own plans."

—Although the Heavenly Nourishing Water is precious, it is not worth mentioning compared to the item in the cave of the Mysterious Elder!
……

Ghost Spirit Gate - Deep within the Yin Sha Palace
After returning to the sect, Yin Wujiu did not immediately go to see his master. Instead, he went back to his cave dwelling and took out a black jade box from a hidden compartment. Sealed inside the box was a blood-red crystal, the "Blood Soul Mystic Crystal" bestowed upon him by his father, Yin Jiuyou, the sect leader of the Ghost Spirit Sect, when he broke through to the Purple Mansion realm. It could help cultivators stabilize their souls and was extremely precious.

He gently stroked the crystal with his fingertips, a hint of reluctance flashing in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a resolute expression.

"Master, your disciple requests an audience."

The deepest cavern of the Yin Sha Palace slowly opened, and the eerie green ghost fire burned silently, illuminating an old man sitting cross-legged on a white bone lotus platform—the Ghost Spirit True Lord.

The old man had a gaunt face, slightly closed eyes, and a faint gray mist surrounding him. He appeared ordinary, yet gave off a sense of unfathomable depth.

"Wu Jiu, what is it?"

Yin Wujiu knelt down respectfully, presented the Blood Soul Crystal with both hands, and said, "This disciple obtained this item by chance and has come to offer it to Master."

Ghost Spirit True Lord slowly opened his eyes, his gaze swept over the crystal, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

"You silly child, you never do anything without a reason. Tell me, what do you want this time?"

Yin Wujiu lowered his head, a hint of calculation flashing in his eyes, but his tone remained respectful: "Master, you are wise, this disciple does indeed have a request."

"speak."

"This disciple wishes to obtain a portion of 'Heavenly Nourishing Water,' but this item is precious and requires Master's approval."

Ghost Spirit True Monarch frowned slightly: "The Heavenly Nourishing Water is a secret treasure of the sect. Even your father wouldn't use it easily. What do you need it for?"

Yin Wujiu said in a deep voice: "This disciple has received definite information that the cave of the Xuan Shang Elder contains an opportunity to form a Nascent Soul, and the key jade slip to open the cave is now in the hands of the Fu family."

A hint of surprise flashed in Ghost Spirit True Monarch's eyes: "How could there be Nascent Soul-forming items in the cave of a Purple Mansion cultivator?"

Yin Wujiu said in a low voice, "Although Elder Xuanshang was only at the Purple Mansion stage back then, it is said that he obtained an item in an ancient ruin that can help a Golden Core cultivator break through to the Nascent Soul stage. This disciple wants to... obtain this item for my father."

Upon hearing this, Ghost Spirit True Lord gave him a deep look, then chuckled softly.

"You are filial."

He pondered for a moment, then with a flick of his sleeve, a gray light fell into Yin Wujiu's hand, transforming into a pitch-black jade bottle. Inside the bottle, a faint blue liquid flowed—it was the Heavenly Nourishing Water.

"take it."

Yin Wujiu was overjoyed and was about to bow in gratitude when he heard Ghost Spirit True Lord say calmly:

"However, Fu Changsheng of the Fu family is not someone to be trifled with. Are you sure you can get the better of him?"

A cold glint flashed in Yin Wujiu's eyes, and he said in a low voice, "Master, I am unwilling to be led by the nose by him. I wonder if... I could tamper with this thing?"

Upon hearing this, Ghost Spirit True Lord was not angry at all; instead, he revealed a meaningful smile.

"Oh? What do you want?"

Yin Wujiu said coldly, "If a Soul-Devouring Curse can be hidden in the Heavenly Nourishing Water, when Fu Changsheng refines it, the curse will erupt. Even if it cannot kill him, it can severely damage his soul!"

Ghost Spirit True Lord chuckled and shook his head: "You child, you have quite the ruthless mind."

He hesitated for a moment, then lightly touched the jade bottle with his fingertip. A wisp of gray mist silently seeped into it and disappeared in an instant.

"Go, and don't disappoint your father."

Yin Wujiu's lips curled into a sinister smile as he respectfully kowtowed, "Thank you, Master!"

After he left, Ghost Spirit True Lord stared at his retreating figure, a profound look flashing in his eyes.

"The opportunity to form an infant... Ah, Wujiu, are you acting for your father or for yourself?"

He slowly closed his eyes and said no more.

...

...

At the summit of Yunling Mountain, there is a pavilion on a precipice.

The mountain wind howled, making the copper bells on the corner of the pavilion jingle like a death knell.

Fu Changsheng stood with his hands behind his back in the pavilion, his blue robe billowing in the wind, his gaze calmly fixed on the approaching black light on the horizon. Wherever the black light passed, the vegetation withered, and even the sunlight seemed to dim.

"Master Fu, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

As the black light dissipated, Yin Wujiu, clad in a dark gold robe, appeared, stepping through the air. Nine skull jade pendants at his waist clashed together, producing a chilling, crisp sound. A cold smile played on his lips, but his eyes flashed with wariness.

Fu Changsheng nodded slightly: "Young Master, your arrival is just in time; the tea is still warm."

The purple clay teapot on the stone table emitted wisps of steam, and two cups of tea had already been poured. Yin Wujiu glanced at it but did not sit down.

"No need for formalities." With a flick of his sleeve, a jet-black jade bottle floated in the air, its surface wreathed in eerie gray patterns. "The Heavenly Nourishing Water is here. Where is the jade slip?"

Fu Changsheng calmly took out two ancient jade slips from his bosom. The surface of the jade slips was engraved with intricate cloud patterns and shimmered with a faint blue light in the sunlight.

"Young Master, would you like to inspect the goods?"

A glint of greed flashed in Yin Wujiu's eyes as he raised his hand to take the jade slip. Fu Changsheng, however, flicked his wrist, and the jade slip disappeared back into his sleeve.

"What does Patriarch Fu mean by this?" Yin Wujiu's face darkened, and the skull jade pendant at his waist moved without wind.

Fu Changsheng chuckled, "Cash on delivery. If the young sect leader doesn't trust me, you can simply drop the matter."

Their gazes clashed in mid-air, their invisible auras colliding, causing the temperature in the pavilion to plummet. Behind Yin Wujiu, two black-robed elders quietly stepped forward, their spiritual energy surging.

After a brief stalemate, Yin Wujiu suddenly burst into laughter: "Good! Patriarch Fu is indeed cautious!"

He flicked his finger, and the jet-black jade bottle slowly flew towards Fu Changsheng. Fu Changsheng did not catch it directly with his hand, but instead a small bronze mirror flew out from his sleeve, its surface rippling, steadily supporting the jade bottle.

"A Mirror of Protection?" Yin Wujiu's pupils contracted slightly.

Fu Changsheng lightly tapped the mirror with his fingertip. Instantly, the illusory image of the jade bottle appeared in the mirror, and within the bottle's dark blue liquid, a wisp of gray mist could be vaguely seen swimming like a venomous snake.

Yin Wujiu remained unfazed: "Patriarch Fu is joking. The Heavenly Nourishing Water originates from a place of Yin and Sha, so it's perfectly normal for it to contain a trace of Yin energy."

Fu Changsheng gave him a deep look, then tossed the two jade slips into the air: "Catch."

Yin Wujiu quickly summoned a black light to wrap around the jade slip. After checking that it was correct, he took a step back, and a golden light shot straight into Fu Changsheng's face from the sleeve of the Golden Core Elder behind him!

"How dare you!" Fu Changsheng shouted, and the Lotus Lantern inside his body automatically flew up, transforming into a lotus barrier to block the golden light.

"boom!"

The two forces collided, and the four pillars of the pavilion snapped instantly, tiles falling in a shower. Fu Changsheng and the Golden Core elder who had made the move each took three steps back, the stone table in the middle already reduced to dust.

As the smoke cleared, Yin Wujiu's face was ashen. Fu Changsheng, however, remained calm, the Amulet Mirror spinning rapidly in his hand, the black jade bottle already stored in his storage bag.

"Young Master, what is the meaning of this?" Fu Changsheng dusted off his sleeves. "Are you perhaps planning to discard me after I've served my purpose?"

Yin Wujiu stared intently at him, then suddenly sneered, "Patriarch Fu, you have quite the methods. But do you really think that just because you've killed a fake infant, you can truly rival a Nascent Soul True Monarch?"

He deliberately emphasized the words "Nascent Soul".

Upon hearing this, Fu Changsheng, far from being afraid, laughed loudly: "I, Fu, naturally dare not underestimate the methods of a Nascent Soul True Monarch. However—"

His tone shifted abruptly, his eyes flashing with a sharp light: "Does the young sect leader think I, Fu, would come to this appointment unprepared?"

As he spoke, he touched his brow with his fingertip, and a golden light shot into the sky, transforming into a fragmented ancient talisman in mid-air. Although the talisman was only a third of its original size, it exuded a suffocating pressure, and the surrounding space began to distort.

"The Primordial Void Talisman?!" Yin Wujiu exclaimed in shock, his face instantly turning deathly pale. "This is impossible! This item was destroyed in the great battle between good and evil!"

Fu Changsheng remained noncommittal, simply stating, "If you want war, then let's fight!"

Yin Wujiu's chest heaved violently, a look of struggle flashing in his eyes. The blood-red jade pendant at his waist trembled slightly, as if urging him to make a decision.

Finally, he took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his anger: "Patriarch Fu is indeed a man of hidden strength. Let's leave it at that."

He turned and vanished in a flash of black light.

Two old men in black robes followed closely behind, giving Fu Changsheng a sinister glare before leaving.

After the Ghost Spirit Sect members had gone far away, Fu Changsheng's composure gradually faded. He looked down at the Averting Calamity Mirror, where the gray mist inside the jade bottle was still swirling, like a bone-deep infection, definitely not ordinary Yin energy.

Things from the Ghost Spirit Sect are indeed not easy to obtain.

The reason he used the Taixu Divine Talisman was to intimidate the young master of the Ghost Spirit Sect, showing that the Fu family was not a pushover he could easily manipulate.

"It seems we need to find another way to eliminate the hidden dangers of this health-preserving water."

...

...

Deep in the Clouds and Mountains, outside the cave of the Mysterious Old Man

Three ancient jade slips floated in mid-air, emitting a faint blue light. Yin Wujiu stood with his hands behind his back, his dark gold robe fluttering in the mountain wind, and the nine skull jade pendants at his waist collided with each other, producing a chillingly crisp sound.

"Young Master, the formation is complete." A black-robed elder bowed, his face plastered with a fawning smile. "Although the restrictions left by Elder Xuan Shang are exquisite, under your brilliant guidance, Elder Liu and I have broken through ninety percent of them."

Another elder, with a pointed face and monkey-like features, immediately chimed in, "Exactly! Young Master is a genius, even able to decipher this ancient formation. Even if the Fu family obtains the jade slip, without Young Master's mastery of formations, they probably wouldn't be able to open this cave for a hundred years!"

Yin Wujiu's lips curled slightly, a hint of smugness flashing in his eyes: "Stop flattering me. Let's begin."

"Yes!"

The two elders immediately formed hand seals, channeling three streams of spiritual energy into the jade slip. The jade slip instantly shone brightly, projecting countless runes that intertwined in the air, gradually forming a phantom portal. Five dragon-shaped reliefs coiled around the portal, each with a groove at its eye.

"The Five Dragons Spirit Locking Array?" Yin Wujiu frowned slightly. "No wonder it requires three jade slips to activate simultaneously."

With a flick of his finger, three drops of his blood fell into the eye sockets of the three dragons. The moment the blood seeped in, the three stone dragons seemed to come alive, their mouths wide open, emitting silent roars.

"open!"

At Yin Wujiu's command, the portal slowly opened, and a long-dormant spiritual energy rushed out. The two elders exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with greed.

"Young Master, please go first!"

Yin Wujiu snorted coldly and strode in. The cave was dimly lit, and most of the luminous pearls embedded in the walls had dimmed. He casually cast a spell, and dozens of bronze lamps lit up simultaneously, illuminating the entire front hall.

In the center of the front hall stood a stone table with several magical artifacts on it. Yin Wujiu swept them over with his divine sense, and his expression immediately darkened.

"A high-grade third-tier flying sword? A mid-grade third-tier heart-protecting mirror?" He grabbed the jade slip on the stone table and became even more furious after probing it with his divine sense. "A mere cultivation experience of a Purple Mansion cultivator is worthy of being called a secret treasure of a cave dwelling?" Upon seeing this, the two elders hurriedly stepped forward to examine it.

"Young Master, please calm your anger!" the black-robed elder said with a forced smile. "This is only the front hall; the real treasures are surely in the inner chamber!"

“Yes, yes, yes!” the sharp-mouthed elder chimed in. “Look at the dust on this stone table; it’s obvious someone’s been messing with it recently. The Fu family might have already come in and ransacked it!”

A cold glint flashed in Yin Wujiu's eyes: "Search! Turn the entire cave upside down!"

Over the next three days, the two Golden Core elders practically dug three feet into the cave. They broke open every stone door, examined every inch of the walls, and even pried up and inspected the blue bricks on the ground one by one. However, apart from some third-grade spiritual materials and a few bottles of long-ineffective pills, they found nothing.

"Useless! All of you are useless!"

Yin Wujiu kicked over the stone table, shattering the objects on it. His handsome face was now contorted with rage, and the murderous intent in his eyes was almost tangible.

"Young Master, please calm your anger!" The black-robed elder knelt down with a thud, cold sweat pouring down his forehead. "I have used my divine sense to investigate, and this cave indeed has no hidden chambers."

If so.

Then he would have wasted a bottle of Tianyang Shengshui for nothing.

The elder with the pointed beak rolled his eyes and said, "Young Master, Fu Changsheng must have known that this cave was worthless, so he deliberately set a trap to trick you out of your Heavenly Nourishing Water!"

"Fu Changsheng!" Yin Wujiu gritted his teeth, the blood-red jade pendant at his waist fluttering even without wind. "What a Fu Changsheng!"

He suddenly turned around, and a black light flew out from his sleeve, shattering the stone pillar in the center of the cave.

"Young Master, shall I go to the Fu family?"

"Shut up!" Yin Wujiu roared. "Do you think the Fu family is a pushover? Fu Changsheng possesses fragments of the Taixu Divine Talisman, which even Nascent Soul True Monarchs must be wary of!"

The two elders immediately fell silent.

Yin Wujiu took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed his anger. After all, he was the young master of the Ghost Spirit Sect, and he quickly regained his composure.

"Make a note of this for now," he said coldly. "Return to the sect to report first. As for the Fu family, there's plenty of time."

As he stepped out of the cave, Yin Wujiu glanced back, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes. He felt he had overlooked something, but the two Golden Core elders repeatedly confirmed that there was no hidden space in the cave.

"Walk!"

The black sedan chair soared into the air and disappeared into the horizon in the blink of an eye. The mountain wind howled, scattering the footprints outside the cave, as if no one had ever been there.

Deep within the cave, five dragon-carved pillars stood silently, the runes of the "Taiyi Five Elements Technique" on their surfaces glowing faintly before gradually dimming.
...

...

Unsan County, abandoned mine.

A chilling mountain wind howled through the jagged rock crevices. Fu Changsheng's sharp gaze swept across the deep, dark mine shaft before him.

"Father, this mine has been abandoned for many years. Could there really be treasures here?" Fu Yongjing scratched his head, the weapon-forging hammer hanging at his waist clanging with his movements.

Fu Changsheng smiled slightly, and a white light flew out from his sleeve. The blue-faced white fox landed lightly, its silvery-white fur gleaming faintly in the dim mine.

"Little guy, it's up to you now." Fu Changsheng gently stroked the white fox's head.

The blue-faced white fox let out a low growl, its pupils suddenly gleaming with a ghostly blue light. Activating its Spirit Eye Technique, the scene inside the cave instantly transformed in its eyes—dense spiritual energy patterns appeared on the stone walls, and the hidden spiritual veins beneath the ground were clearly visible.

"Squeak!" The white fox suddenly darted into the depths of the mine, with Fu Changsheng and his son following closely behind.

After passing through the winding tunnel, the white fox stopped in front of a seemingly ordinary stone wall, its front paws digging incessantly. A glint flashed in Fu Changsheng's eyes, and he gathered spiritual energy at his fingertips, drawing a barrier-breaking talisman on the stone wall.

"Buzz——"

The stone wall rippled like water, gradually revealing an ancient stone gate. Intricate runes were carved on the gate, and the two characters "Lingxu" were faintly visible.

"A natural illusion array!" Fu Yongjing exclaimed. "Father, there really is treasure here!"

Fu Changsheng's expression was solemn: "The cave dwelling of the Lingxu Talisman Cultivation lineage." He formed hand seals, and seven golden rays simultaneously struck different parts of the stone door. The stone door slowly opened, and a long-sealed spiritual energy rushed out.

The cave dwelling was simply furnished, with a jade slip emitting a purple light placed on a stone platform in the center. Just as Fu Changsheng was about to step forward, suddenly—

"Crack!"

The ground cracked open, and a completely black puppet slowly rose up. The puppet was over ten feet tall, clad in black armor, with piercing eyes, radiating a chilling aura.

"The Xuanjia Warrior!" Fu Yongjing's eyes lit up; his instinct as a weapon refiner made him immediately recognize this ancient talisman.

Fu Changsheng raised his hand to silence his son, his gaze falling on the groove in the puppet's chest: "It requires the essence of a golden elixir and the Spirit Awakening Technique from the *Tiangong Kaiwu*." He took out a jade bottle from his storage bag. "Fortunately, I was prepared."

Fu Yongjing took the jade bottle, his face full of admiration: "As expected of my father, your wisdom is unparalleled!"

"You haven't been following that kid Yongxing for long, but you've already picked up his smooth talk." Fu Changsheng laughed heartily. "You're skilled in weapon crafting; this talisman is destined for you. Quickly use your Spirit Awakening Technique!"

Fu Yongjing took a deep breath, dripped the essence of his golden core into the groove, and at the same time, his hands rapidly formed hand seals. Streams of spiritual runes flowed from his fingertips, winding around the puppet like swimming dragons.

"The workings of nature are ingenious, and talismans possess spiritual power!"

As the final incantation was cast, the Xuanjia warrior's eyes shone brightly with purple light. He knelt on one knee and performed an ancient salute to Fu Yongjing.

"Success!" Fu Yongjing excitedly pumped his fist, only to see his father walking toward the stone platform, intently examining the purple jade slip.

Fu Changsheng probed the purple jade slip with his divine sense and immediately felt an ancient and profound aura rushing towards him. The spiritual talisman pattern that recorded "Tai Xu Yin" slowly unfolded in his sea of ​​consciousness. It was actually composed of countless tiny spatial rifts, each of which shimmered with starlight.

Fu Changsheng's pupils contracted slightly. Even with his Golden Core stage cultivation, he found it difficult to fully comprehend the mysteries within.

The talisman pattern was not static, but constantly shifting between reality and illusion. At times, it transformed into a bridge of light spanning the heavens and earth, and at other times, it shrank into a single, dazzling starlight. Even more astonishingly, miniature black hole-like vortexes could be faintly seen within the runes, continuously devouring the surrounding light.

"Father?" Fu Yongjing asked worriedly, noticing his father's unusual expression.

Fu Changsheng took a deep breath and withdrew his divine sense from the jade slip: "This 'Primordial Void Guide' is extraordinary. It is not only a spiritual talisman, but also contains a trace of spatial laws."

He lightly tapped his fingertip, channeling a wisp of spiritual energy into the jade slip. Instantly, the light within the cave began to distort, and fine cracks appeared in the air, as if space itself were about to tear apart at any moment.

"Ordinary talismans mostly rely on the spiritual power of heaven and earth to unleash their power, but this 'Void Guide'—" Fu Changsheng's eyes gleamed—"can actually briefly create a small world within itself. Although the range is only a few feet, it's enough to avoid fatal attacks in a critical moment."

Fu Yongjing's eyes widened: "Isn't that equivalent to..."

“That’s right.” Fu Changsheng nodded. “It’s like having an extra life. However…” His expression turned serious. “Each use consumes a tremendous amount of energy. With my current cultivation level, I can only use it a maximum of three times a day.”

Just then, the jade slip suddenly trembled violently, and a phantom talisman was projected into the air. The talisman evolved on its own, first transforming into a black bird with outstretched wings, then into a swimming yin-yang fish, and finally settling into the shape of an ancient key.

"A spirit has manifested!" Fu Changsheng exclaimed in shock, "A spirit has actually been born within this jade slip!"

The key-shaped talisman trembled slightly, emitting a clear, melodious sound. Fu Changsheng, with a sudden inspiration, took out the fragment of the Taixu Divine Talisman he had previously obtained. The moment the two met, the Dao patterns on the fragment suddenly came to life, resonating with the key-shaped talisman.

"I see!" Fu Changsheng exclaimed in sudden realization. "This 'Tai Xu Yin' is actually a matching incantation for the Tai Xu Divine Talisman. With it, I can better control that fragment."

He tried to bring the two objects closer together, and the key's talisman shadow slowly merged into the fragment. Instantly, a small portion of the cracks on the Taixu Divine Talisman fragment healed at a visible speed, and the pressure it emitted became even stronger.

Fu Yongjing was dumbfounded.

Fu Changsheng put away the two treasures, his eyes gleaming with undisguised joy: "Jing'er, we've truly struck gold this time. This 'Tai Xu Yin' can not only be used alone, but it can also nurture fragments of the Tai Xu Divine Talisman."

He didn't continue, but Fu Yongjing already understood that this meant his father would possess a treasure that would grow with age.

Before leaving the cave, Fu Changsheng deliberately tested the power of "Tai Xu Yin". He made a hand seal and pointed, and the space in front of him instantly distorted, forming a transparent barrier. Fu Yongjing controlled the Xuanjia warrior to throw a punch, but the blow, which was powerful enough to split mountains and shatter rocks, was like a mud ox entering the sea, not even causing a ripple.

"What amazing defense!" Fu Yongjing exclaimed.

Fu Changsheng frowned slightly. "No, you're wrong." He removed the talisman. "This isn't defense; it's transferring the attack to another space. If my cultivation were sufficient, I could even make the attack return along its original path."

The father and son exchanged a glance, both seeing the shock in each other's eyes. The value of this "Tai Xu Yin" far exceeded their initial expectations.

Fu Changsheng carefully put away the jade slip and patted his son's shoulder: "Let's go back to Huizhou Prefecture. Your mother has been in seclusion for many years and is probably about to undergo her tribulation."

...

...

In the midst of inner demons.

The moment Liu Meizhen's fingertips touched Fu Yongfan's wrist pulse, her heart skipped a beat. A wisp of chaotic energy quietly flowed into his meridians as she gently asked, "Can you still walk?"

Fu Yongfan stood up with her help, but his fingers subtly avoided her probing spiritual power. "How could your son trouble his mother?" he said respectfully, just like the Fan-ge'er she remembered, without the slightest fault.

The dungeon passage was deep and dark, with water droplets seeping from the stone walls.

Liu Meizhen said gently, "Fan-ge'er, you've suffered. If your uncle knew about this, he would be heartbroken."

Fu Yongfan lowered his eyes and smiled weakly: "My uncle... has always been kind to me."

——Wrong.

A cold glint flashed in Liu Meizhen's eyes.

Fu Changren passed away decades ago.

Although Fan Ge'er hadn't returned home for decades, it was impossible for him to forget the death of his uncle. Fu Changren was like a father to Fan Ge'er, as Fan Ge'er had learned to manage the household from him since childhood.

If it really is Fan-ge'er, how could he not know about this?

She slowly raised her hand and touched Fu Yongfan's cheek, her fingertips surging with spiritual energy as she probed his internal energy.

His meridians were unobstructed, his dantian was stable, and even his spiritual fluctuations were exactly the same as Fan Ge'er's.

But ironically, he didn't remember that Fu Changren was dead.

"Mother?" Fu Yongfan looked at her with a puzzled expression, his eyes filled with familiar affection. "What's wrong?"

Liu Meizhen smiled slightly and withdrew her hand: "It's nothing, I just feel sorry for you."

She turned around, but her fingertips had already formed a killing seal within her sleeve.

—This is still a tribulation of inner demons.

And she must sever her last remaining obsession.

"Fan-ge'er," she suddenly spoke, her voice soft yet carrying an undeniable authority, "Do you remember what your uncle taught you when you were ten years old?"

Fu Yongfan was taken aback, then smiled and said, "Of course I remember. My uncle taught me the 'Hundred Herbs Classic,' saying that the essence of alchemy lies in..."

"—Wrong."

Fu Changren is a spiritual plant husband!
Liu Meizhen suddenly turned around, her eyes flashing with cold light, and the power of the Chaos Golden Core in her palm erupted!
"boom--!"

Fu Yongfan was caught off guard and his chest was pierced by the palm strike!
"Mother...?!" He looked down in disbelief at the flesh and blood gradually disintegrating on his chest, his eyes filled with horror.

Liu Meizhen remained expressionless, channeling her spiritual power through her fingertips, causing the chaotic energy to burn his soul like a raging fire.

“You are not Fan Ge’er,” she said coldly. “The real Fan Ge’er would never forget the anniversary of his uncle’s death.”

"You... how could you be so heartless as to kill your own son?!" Fu Yongfan's face twisted in pain, his voice gradually turned cold, and his body began to disintegrate.

Liu Meizhen's eyes were as cold as ice as she spoke, each word distinct and deliberate:
"It's just a demon in my heart. What kind of child are you to me?"

"boom--!"

The illusion shatters!

Inside the cave, the spiritual mist surged, and the rosy light suddenly vanished.

Liu Meizhen suddenly opened her eyes, her heart pounding like thunder, her spiritual pressure as deep as the ocean, and her golden core completely solidified!
...

...

Huizhou Prefecture, above the Fu family

The sky suddenly changed color, and the clear sky was swallowed up by rolling thunderclouds in an instant. The dark, oppressive clouds surged like a raging sea, intertwined with purple lightning, roared with thunder dragons, and a terrifying pressure enveloped the entire Fu family mountain gate.

Rumble.

A rumble of thunder followed.

A purple crack suddenly appeared in the sky, as if a god had opened his eyes.

At first, it was just a tiny electric snake, about the thickness of a bowl, that darted about. In the blink of an eye, it transformed into a hundred-foot-long thunder dragon, churning and roaring in the clouds. The spiritual energy of the entire Huizhou Prefecture was shaken, and countless cultivators looked up in shock.

"This is the tribulation of Mei Zhen?!"

Fu Changsheng's pupils contracted sharply, and his hand clenched unconsciously in his sleeve. He had survived his tribulation by the skin of his teeth, yet he had never triggered such a celestial phenomenon!

The thunderclouds grew thicker and thicker, eventually forming a thunderous vortex a thousand feet in diameter above the Fu family's residence. At the center of the vortex, lightning flashed like molten lava, and the faint phantom of a thunder god could be seen, wielding a giant hammer as if about to strike.

"Father, Mother, this tribulation of lightning... is even more terrifying than yours back then! Are we not prepared enough?"

Fu Yongyao looked up at the sky, her pretty face deathly pale. She herself was a Golden Core cultivator, but the power of the tribulation before her was several times greater than when she had undergone her own tribulation!
Fu Changsheng also looked solemn.

When he underwent his tribulation, he had the assistance of a chaotic beast and was protected by numerous tribulation-crossing treasures, yet he still narrowly escaped death. But this time, Mei Zhen's tribulation is even more perilous than his!
Fu Changsheng pressed his hand against his daughter's shoulder, a steady warmth emanating from his palm: "Don't panic." His voice was deep and resonant, like a bell, but his eyes held a turbulent undercurrent: "Your mother has always been meticulous in her planning. Since she dared to summon the tribulation lightning, she must have made thorough preparations."

……

Liu Meizhen had ruled the clan for over a hundred years, employing both kindness and strictness, and was deeply loved by the people. At this moment, hundreds of thousands of clansmen surged towards the Tianlong Temple like a tidal wave, from white-haired elders to toddlers, all standing solemnly. In the square in front of the temple, nine bronze cauldrons burned incense that shot into the sky, the blue smoke rising like pillars straight to the heavens.

"kneel--"

With a powerful command from Elder Fu Changli, hundreds of thousands of people knelt down in unison. The bluestone ground thudded with the sound of their knees.

"May the Heavenly Dragon God protect my mistress and help her successfully overcome her tribulation!"

The sound was like thunder, making the copper bells on the eaves of the temple ring.

At the forefront of the crowd, Fu Yongjing held a bronze lamp in both hands, its wick burning with a thousand-year-old flame taken from the ancestral temple. His expression was solemn, and he took each step with utmost steadiness, as if afraid of disturbing this sacred moment.

Beside him, six-year-old Fu Qingying was being led by her mother, her little hands clumsily clasped together. The child's clear voice was particularly crisp in the solemn atmosphere: "Grandpa Heavenly Dragon God, please bless Grandmother with peace." Before she finished speaking, a drop of candle wax suddenly splashed from the ancient lamp, burning a red mark on the back of the child's hand.

"Ying'er!" the young woman exclaimed.

Fu Qingying bit her lip and shook her head, raising her little hand even higher: "Ying'er isn't afraid of pain, as long as Grandmother is safe."

On the high platform, Fu Changli, who was in charge of the ceremony, struck the jade chime in his hand heavily upon seeing this.

“Boom—”

Amidst the clear, resonant sound of chimes, hundreds of thousands of clansmen bowed their heads simultaneously. The muffled thuds of their foreheads hitting the ground blended together, even drowning out the distant roar of the thunderous tribulation.

Incense smoke intertwined in the air, vaguely transforming into the shape of a dragon, which then swam towards the most intense part of the tribulation clouds.

……

Three figures landed almost simultaneously on the viewing platform outside the Fu Family Mountain Gate.

Old Ancestor Wu leaned on his dragon-patterned staff, his seemingly cloudy old eyes beneath his long, snow-white eyebrows gleaming with a sharp light. He gazed at the overwhelming thunderclouds that blotted out the sun, his staff unconsciously digging deep into the bluestone: "When I formed my core, it was only three bolts of lightning. This…" His aged voice carried an undisguised shock, "...if this tribulation were to strike me, I fear not even ashes would remain."

Ouyang Qing, her face veiled in a simple white gauze, arrived gracefully, the silver bells at her waist jingling crisply amidst the thunder: "I've seen the tribulation of a third-grade Golden Core cultivator, but none possess such power. Madam Liu has kept a low profile all these years, so it turns out she's been brewing such an earth-shattering act."

Huang Yuehua was the last to land, the subtle divination patterns embroidered on her pale yellow skirt gleaming faintly. Three copper coins slipped from her sleeve, only to suddenly split in two mid-air.

"How is this possible?" her voice trembled. "I couldn't even predict good or bad fortune?"

Old Ancestor Wu slammed his dragon-patterned staff heavily on the ground: "I've said it before, Madam Liu is no ordinary person! Back when the hundred-year beast tide broke out in the Ten Thousand Mountains, it was she who, with her Qi Refining cultivation, united her clansmen to withstand the repeated attacks. How could such a character be ordinary?"

Ouyang Qing gazed thoughtfully towards the direction of the sacrificial ceremony: "Look at that incense." There, the combined power of the hundreds of thousands of clansmen kneeling in prayer condensed into a pale golden band of light in the air, rivaling the lightning tribulation. "No wonder the Fu family is thriving; such cohesion is terrifying!"

……

Lei Family · Star Gazing Pavilion

The jade slip in Chief Lei's hand fell to the ground with a "thud," the image of thunderclouds still floating in the air. Even through the image, the image of the sky-covering purple lightning dragon made him feel a chill.

After a while.

Chief Lei laughed loudly, looking up at the sky:

"Heaven is helping me!"

The disciples standing by looked at each other in bewilderment.

Chief Lei slammed his fist on the table, shattering it amidst flying splinters, and roared, "Prepare a feast! Bring out all the 'Blood Spirit Brew' that's been stored for three hundred years!"

A trusted elder cautiously stepped forward: "Clan leader, although this tribulation is powerful, what if Liu Meizhen..."

"Back when Fu Changsheng was undergoing his tribulation, he nearly lost his life after only twenty-seven bolts of azure lightning. Look at these thunderclouds—" the Lei clan chief pointed to the faintly visible phantom of the Thunder God in the image, "it's at least a forty-nine-fold tribulation; how could Liu Meizhen possibly withstand it?!"

Suddenly, he made a hand seal, and a message talisman shot into the sky: "Immediately summon the envoys from the Seventh Prince's Mansion to witness the ceremony! Tell them that I want them to see with their own eyes how the Fu family will lose their matriarch!"

(End of this chapter)