Family Rise: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 545 Double Happiness, Special Lottery, Treasure Revealed
Above the sky, thunderclouds surged, and purple lightning flashed like dragons. The long-awaited tribulation lightning finally crashed down!

The first bolt of lightning, as thick as a mountain and radiating purple light, was like a sword of divine punishment, piercing straight down!

"boom--!!!"

The lightning exploded, and the entire Huizhou Prefecture trembled!
However, just as the lightning was about to strike Liu Meizhen—

Instead of dodging or avoiding, she formed hand seals, and the chaotic energy around her suddenly erupted!

"Chaos Devouring Heaven Technique!"

With a clear shout, her figure suddenly became ethereal, transforming into a chaotic vortex that actually swallowed the world-destroying lightning!

"what?!"

On the viewing platform, Old Ancestor Wu suddenly stood up, his old eyes wide: "She actually dared to directly devour the tribulation lightning?!"

Ouyang Qing's pupils also shrank sharply: "The Path of Chaos... She is walking the path of the ancient Path of Chaos!"

Huang Yuehua tried to calculate with her fingertips, but the divination results were completely chaotic and impossible to interpret. She murmured, "No wonder... no wonder I couldn't predict the outcome!"

The second and third bolts of lightning struck down in quick succession!

Liu Meizhen remained undeterred, her chaotic vortex swirling and swallowing all the tribulation lightning!

But when she reached the fourth challenge, her body trembled slightly, clearly indicating that she had reached her limit.

"In the end, we can't rely solely on the Dao of Chaos to withstand it..."

Her eyes flashed, and a bronze mirror flew out from her sleeve—the very "Thunder-Repelling Mirror" given to her by Fu Changsheng!
"Om-!"

Ripples spread across the mirror's surface, and a beam of azure light shot into the sky, colliding with the tribulation lightning!

"Boom——!"

The lightning bolts scattered and were deflected in all directions, failing to harm her in the slightest!
The fifth, the sixth...

The lightning grew increasingly violent, and the light from the lightning-repelling mirror gradually dimmed.

By the ninth step, cracks had appeared on the mirror!
Liu Meizhen took a deep breath, touched her brow with her fingertip, and her seven-aperture exquisite heart pounded violently, her spiritual pressure rising again!

"The Chaos Golden Core, condense!"

She actually managed to condense a golden core amidst the tribulation of lightning!

The chaotic energy transformed into a vortex, swallowing the descending tribulation lightning once more, while her golden core, tempered by the lightning, became even more solid!

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The lightning seemed to be enraged, striking down one after another, each strike more ferocious than the last!
With her long hair flying and her clothes fluttering, Liu Meizhen used the Chaos Vortex and the Lightning-Repelling Mirror alternately, managing to withstand all the lightning!
finally--

The final lightning tribulation descends!
It was a pure golden bolt of lightning, containing the will of Heaven, and its power far surpassed all that had come before!
"Come!"

With a fierce fighting spirit in her eyes, Liu Meizhen took the initiative to meet the attack head-on. The Chaos Vortex and the Lightning-Repelling Mirror erupted simultaneously, colliding head-on with the golden lightning tribulation!

"boom--!!!"

The world lost its color, and the wind and clouds swirled upside down!

After the lightning dissipated, Liu Meizhen's figure still stood in mid-air, surrounded by golden light, with a Chaos Golden Core floating in her dantian, radiating immense pressure!
First-grade Golden Elixir, complete!
……

The tribulation lightning dissipated, but the world did not return to peace.

Suddenly, auspicious clouds gathered in the sky, and golden light fell down like an inverted Milky Way, sprinkling onto the Fu family's mountain gate.

A gift from Heaven!

Liu Meizhen stood in mid-air, bathed in golden light. The chaotic energy and the power of the Heavenly Dao merged around her, and the golden core in her dantian became more and more brilliant, eventually transforming into a first-grade golden core with chaotic Dao patterns flowing all over its body!
Her aura steadily increased, from the early stage of the Golden Core realm... to the peak of the early stage of the Golden Core realm... until it was completely stable!
And what's even more astonishing is—

"Rumble--"

Beneath the Fu family's mountain gate, the spiritual veins trembled and the earth's veins surged! Originally a fourth-grade high-quality spiritual vein, it was actually blessed by the Heavenly Dao, its spiritual energy surged, spiritual springs gushed forth, and spiritual mist rose, directly advancing to a fourth-grade high-quality spiritual vein!

"The spiritual vein has advanced!" Fu Yongjing exclaimed.

"Hahaha! God bless my Fu family!" Fu Changli laughed loudly, his eyes filled with satisfaction.

At the same time, the golden light bestowed by Heaven shone upon hundreds of thousands of members of the Fu family—

"Buzz!"

Fu Yongren's spiritual energy surged, and the bottleneck of his early Purple Mansion stage suddenly loosened, causing his aura to surge and directly step into the middle Purple Mansion stage!
Fu Qingchun's body trembled, and the spiritual power in her dantian surged, breaking through from the late stage of Foundation Establishment to the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment!
Fu Yongxing, Fu Yongjing, and other core disciples also broke through their limits and made great progress in their cultivation!

Even the young Fu Qingying, under this gift from Heaven, had her meridians widened and her spiritual root aptitude subtly improved!
Hundreds of thousands of Fu family disciples, regardless of their cultivation level, benefited to varying degrees. Within the entire Fu family mountain gate, the aura of breakthroughs rose and fell one after another!
"The Mistress has successfully overcome her tribulation; Heaven bestows blessings upon her!"

"The Fu family will prosper!"

Cheers resounded through the sky, and the power of incense and prayers soared into the heavens, intertwining with the golden light of the heavens and transforming into a giant golden dragon that coiled above the Fu family's mountain gate, lingering for a long time!

……

Fu Changsheng stood with his hands behind his back, watching the auspicious clouds gradually dissipate in the sky, his eyes filled with satisfaction and pride.

"A first-grade golden elixir... Madam, you have indeed succeeded."

A smile played on his lips, and a surge of pride welled up within him. The Fu family producing two First-Rank Golden Core cultivators was a once-in-a-millennium event in the entire Great Zhou Dynasty!

Standing beside her father, Fu Yongyao's pretty face was filled with excitement, her beautiful eyes shining like stars: "Father, Mother succeeded! From now on, no one will dare to underestimate our Fu family!"

Her heart was surging with excitement, and thinking about the future status of the Fu family in the Great Zhou Dynasty, she couldn't help but clench her fists.

"My Fu family shall prosper!"

Fu Changsheng laughed loudly, his voice shaking the heavens, his heroic spirit infecting every clansman present.

at the same time.

A familiar mechanical voice echoed 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.

But now is not the time for a lottery.

-

Amidst the crowd, Fu Yongpeng gazed at his radiant mother on the high platform, feeling both proud and conflicted.

"Mother...she really succeeded..."

He clenched his fists, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

His father, Fu Changsheng, had never liked him, believing him to be mediocre and unlikely to amount to anything. But his mother was different. She was soft-hearted, and if he was willing to be more filial to her and win her favor, with her current cultivation level of a first-grade Golden Core and her potential, she would definitely be able to gather enough cultivation resources for him in the future, and perhaps even... support him so that he too could have the opportunity to condense a Golden Core!
Thinking of this, he felt a surge of emotion and couldn't help but pat his son's shoulder beside him, whispering:

"Qinglin, did you see that? Your grandmother has achieved the first-grade Golden Core! In the future, you must also condense a first-grade Golden Core like her, so that your father can also have some glory!"

Fu Qinglin was still young, but he was very intelligent. He nodded emphatically upon hearing this: "Father, rest assured, I will definitely work hard!"

However, Fu Qinglin's mother—Fu Yongpeng's Daoist partner—standing to the side frowned slightly, tugged at her son's sleeve, and whispered:
"Don't aim too high. On the path of cultivation, being down-to-earth is the right way."

Although she didn't say it outright, her eyes betrayed her worry. She knew her husband had limited talent, yet he always sought shortcuts, and now he was pinning his hopes on their son. This kind of mentality might not be a good thing.

Fu Yongpeng noticed his wife's attitude and was displeased, but due to the occasion, he did not say much. He just snorted and turned his gaze back to the high platform, plotting how to use his mother's influence to gain more resources for himself in the future.

-

At the gates of the Fu family mountain, the crowd rejoiced!
"The Fu family has produced two first-grade Golden Core cultivators; this is an unprecedented event in the Great Zhou Dynasty!"

"Hahaha! From this day forward, the Fu family shall be the foremost family in Huizhou!"

Cheers swept across the entire mountain gate like a tidal wave, and the Fu family members were all excited, as if they could already see the family's prosperous future.

On the high platform, Liu Meizhen slowly descended, her spiritual light receding, her Chaos Golden Core already formed. Her gaze swept across the crowd, pausing slightly when she saw Fu Yongpeng, a hint of tenderness flashing in her eyes.

—This son, though of mediocre talent, is ultimately her flesh and blood.

She sighed inwardly, then withdrew her gaze and stood side by side with Fu Changsheng, receiving the worship of the entire clan.

……

Ouyang Qing, Wu Laozu, and Huang Yuehua stood on the viewing platform, their eyes filled with awe as they watched the auspicious clouds gradually dissipate in the sky.

"A first-grade Golden Core..." Ouyang Qing's red lips parted slightly beneath her veil, her voice soft as a murmur, yet unable to conceal her astonishment, "This Liu Meizhen can actually achieve a first-grade Golden Core!"

The dragon staff in Old Ancestor Wu's hand was deeply embedded in the bluestone, and a complex expression appeared on his aged face: "I have cultivated for hundreds of years and have seen countless Golden Core cultivators, but as for a first-grade Golden Core cultivator... in the entire Great Zhou Dynasty, in the past thousand years, there have only been a handful of such people!"

Huang Yuehua's fingertips trembled slightly, and the three copper coins had already shattered. She whispered, "No wonder I couldn't predict good or bad fortune... A first-grade golden elixir has already touched the Heavenly Dao. How can it be predicted by ordinary divination?"

The three exchanged a glance, and each saw deep envy in the other's eyes.

—What does it mean that the Fu family has two members who have achieved the highest rank of Golden Core?
This means that both Fu Changsheng and Liu Meizhen have the potential to break through to the Nascent Soul stage! Even... if they have enough luck, the legendary Divine Transformation realm may not be out of reach!
“Let’s go and offer our congratulations.” Old Master Wu took a deep breath and took the lead.

Ouyang Qing and Huang Yuehua followed closely behind, and the three of them transformed into streaks of light, flying towards the Fu family's mountain gate.

……

The gate of the Fu family mountain, atop a high platform.

Liu Meizhen's spiritual light was contained, her Chaos Golden Core was complete, and her aura was as deep and boundless as the ocean. Fu Changsheng stood beside her, his eyes filled with satisfaction.

"Congratulations to Madam Liu on achieving the first-grade Golden Core!" Old Ancestor Wu spoke first, his voice booming, and he cupped his hands in a salute. "The Fu family has produced two Golden Core cultivators, both of them first-grade. This is an unprecedented event in the Great Zhou Dynasty!"

Ouyang Qing's white gauze fluttered slightly as she gracefully bowed, her voice clear and cold yet carrying a hint of respect: "Madam Liu is undergoing her tribulation today, and her elegance is unparalleled. I admire her greatly."

Huang Yuehua also bowed solemnly, her tone sincere: "With the first-grade Golden Core, the path to the Great Dao is within reach. The Fu family will surely become a giant in the future!"

Liu Meizhen smiled slightly and returned the greeting, saying, "You three are too kind. It was just a fluke."

Fu Changsheng laughed loudly, "The three of you have come from afar, why don't you come inside for a chat and share a cup of spiritual tea?"

Old Master Wu laughed heartily: "I couldn't be happier!"

Ouyang Qing's eyes flickered slightly, and she said softly, "It is my honor to be invited by Patriarch Fu and Madam Liu."

Huang Yuehua nodded in agreement: "That's exactly what I was thinking."

Each of the three had their own thoughts, but at this moment, they all sincerely offered their congratulations.

After all, the potential of a first-grade golden pill is enough to make any force take it seriously!

……

At the Fu Family Mountain Gate, during a banquet.

Amidst the clinking of glasses and the fragrant aroma of fine tea, the atmosphere was vibrant.

Old Master Wu raised his cup and said with a smile, "Patriarch Fu, Madam Liu, from today onwards, the Fu family shall be the foremost family in Huizhou. I toast you both!"

Fu Changsheng smiled and raised his glass: "Fellow Daoist Wu, you are too kind."

Liu Meizhen smiled faintly and sipped her spiritual tea.

Ouyang Qing's eyes flickered, and she asked seemingly casually, "Madam Liu, I wonder if there is a method for inheriting this Chaos Dao?"

Upon hearing this, the banquet fell slightly silent.

Liu Meizhen remained calm and said indifferently, "The Way of Chaos emphasizes opportunity and cannot be forced."

Ouyang Qing smiled slightly and said no more.

Huang Yuehua then looked at Fu Changsheng and smiled, "Patriarch Fu, if you have some free time in the future, would you be willing to give some pointers to the Huang family's disciples?"

Fu Changsheng laughed heartily: "If Fellow Daoist Huang has asked, I will certainly do my best."

Each of the three harbored their own thoughts, but at this moment, they all faced this soon-to-rise couple with the utmost respect.

—Because everyone knows what a first-grade golden elixir means!
...

...

Lei Family · Star Gazing Pavilion

"Crack!"

The jade cup in Chief Lei's hand was crushed, and the scarlet wine brewed with blood spirit dripped through his fingers, spreading a dazzling red on the bluestone ground.

"A first-grade golden pill. Another first-grade golden pill." His face was ashen, and his lips trembled as he repeated this devastating news.

The trusted elder beside him said tremblingly, "Clan leader, the Fu family now has two members at the first-grade Golden Core stage. What should we do?"

"Shut up!" Clan Chief Lei slammed his fist on the table, shattering it and sending splinters flying. Veins bulged on his forehead, and his eyes blazed with barely concealed fear. "How many years has it been? How long has it been since Fu Changsheng went from Foundation Establishment to Golden Core? And now even his Dao Companion..."

He suddenly shuddered.

If this couple is allowed to grow up...
"Quickly! Bring me my blood talisman!" Clan Chief Lei abruptly stood up, his dark red robe billowing even without wind. "I want to personally deliver a message to my cousin!"

……

The Secret Chamber of the Seven Princes' Mansion
Crimson array patterns slowly flowed across the floor of the secret chamber. The Seventh Prince's slender fingers tapped lightly on the armrest of the rosewood chair, his eyes flashing with a cold light.

"Your Highness, the Fu family now has two members who have reached the first rank of Golden Core. If we allow them to grow unchecked, I'm afraid they might face serious consequences in the future." A black-robed elder whispered a warning from the shadows.

The Seventh Prince's lips curled into a mocking smile: "So what if you're a First-Grade Golden Core cultivator? I've seen plenty of geniuses, but how many actually live to reach the Nascent Soul stage?"

With a flick of his finger, a blood-red jade slip floated up and transformed into a stream of light, flying into the old man's hand.

"Pass down the order: have the Lei family remain still and refrain from provoking the Fu family for the time being."

The old man was taken aback: "Your Highness, are we just going to let the Fu family grow stronger like this?"

The Seventh Prince sneered, "I have my own plans."

He slowly rose and walked to the array in the center of the secret chamber. Under the glow of the blood, his face looked particularly eerie.

"No matter how strong Fu Changsheng and his wife are, they are only Golden Core cultivators. My plan—" His voice trailed off, a glint of fanaticism in his eyes—" "Once my grand plan is complete, the entire Huizhou Prefecture will become my nourishment!"

Upon hearing this, the old man trembled and quickly bowed his head, saying, "Your Highness is wise!"

The Seventh Prince waved his hand: "Go, tell the Lei family to hurry up, and keep a close eye on the Fu family, but don't alert them."

"Yes!"

The old man bowed and withdrew, leaving only the Seventh Prince in the secret chamber. He gazed at the surging crimson light within the formation and murmured to himself, "Fu Changsheng hopes you will all live to see that day, to witness me ascend to the pinnacle!"

……

Huizhou Prefecture Council Hall

Fu Changsheng sat at the head of the table, with Liu Meizhen sitting beside him, and below them were the core elders and disciples of the Fu family.

"Father, the Lei family has suddenly become much more subdued lately, even ceasing their skirmishes at the border," Fu Yongrui reported, his brow furrowed. "I find something strange. Logically, with Mother having achieved a First-Grade Golden Core, they should be restless by now."

Fu Changsheng nodded slightly, his gaze profound: "The Lei family has the Seventh Prince behind them. Their sudden withdrawal must have a reason."

Liu Meizhen said softly, "The Seventh Prince is an extremely cunning man. He would never sit idly by and watch our Fu family grow stronger. He must be plotting something in secret."

Fu Yongyao pondered for a moment, then said, "Why don't we send Yongrui and Yongjing to investigate? Since the Lei family split, this so-called direct lineage lacks a Golden Core cultivator, while Yongjing now has the assistance of a Xuanjia warrior, ensuring his safe escape even if danger arises. Furthermore, his cultivation is only at the mid-stage of the Purple Mansion realm, so he won't attract the Lei family's attention."

Fu Changsheng pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "Alright, Yongjing, take a few elite disciples and secretly investigate the Lei family's movements. Remember not to alert them."

Fu Yongrui and Fu Yongjing clasped their hands in greeting and replied, "Yes, Father!"

……

Dark clouds obscured the moon, plunging the mountains and forests into complete darkness.

Seven dark figures silently swept across the treetops, led by Fu Yongrui and Fu Yongjing. Behind them, five elite members of the Fu family's Purple Mansion concealed their presence, moving like ghosts through the night.

“Third Brother, ahead is the newly acquired sixth-grade family fiefdom of the Lei family—'Red Sand Ridge'.” Fu Yongjing lowered his voice, tapped his fingertip, and a map drawn with spiritual energy floated in his palm. “According to intelligence, the Lei family has been frequently mobilizing cultivators here in recent months, but there is no sign of mining spirit mines, which is quite strange.”

Fu Yongrui nodded slightly. His perception, granted by his Dark Spiritual Root, far surpassed that of ordinary people. At this moment, he frowned slightly: "The spiritual energy here is thin, yet there is a strong smell of blood... Something's not right." He raised his hand to signal everyone to stop, flipped his palm and took out a pitch-black bean pod, and whispered: "'Recording Bean Pod' is ready. If you encounter anything unusual later, record it immediately."

Fu Yongjing nodded, secretly fastening three "concealment talismans" in his sleeve, and lightly touching the storage bag at his waist with his fingertips—containing the "Mysterious Armor Warrior" he had personally crafted, which he could summon at any time to defend against enemies.

At three-quarters past midnight, five dark figures silently swept past the boundary marker of the Lei family's newly fiefdom.

Fu Yongrui raised his hand to give the signal, and the group immediately dispersed into a fan shape and sneaked in. His dark spiritual root attribute allowed him to move freely in the night, even his shadow blending into the corners where the moonlight couldn't reach.

"Third Brother, there's something strange about the patrol team in the southeast corner," Fu Yongjing transmitted his voice, the bronze compass in his hand gleaming with an eerie light.

Fu Yongrui squinted.

He noticed that the guards all wore scarlet jade pendants at their waists, and their joints appeared slightly stiff as they walked. The leader of the Dark Hall slid three image-recording pods from his sleeve; the runes on the pods glowed faintly, and they silently disappeared into the shadows in different directions.

"Keep up."

He made a tactical hand gesture, and the seven of them advanced along the spiritual energy blind spot that Yongjing had calculated.

As they climbed over the third wall, Yongjing suddenly pressed down on the shoulder of the clansman beside him—his "Thousand Machine Shoes" had sensed an array fluctuation three zhang underground.

Everyone held their breath, watching Yongjing take out the bronze array plate from his storage bag.

The meticulous weapon refiner's fingers flew, seven counting rods levitating into an array. Moments later, translucent, blood-red patterns appeared on the ground. "It's a variant of the Blood-Feeding Spirit Fusion Array," his pupils contracted slightly, "but the array's core now contains a corpse-controlling talisman from the Yin Puppet Sect."

Suddenly, a cold wind arose.

Fu Yongrui's expression changed, and he suddenly swung out a black iron chain, binding everyone's waists: "Retreat!"

Almost simultaneously, ten corpse puppets with green flames flickering in their eye sockets burst from the ground. Yongjing reacted extremely quickly, and the twelve apricot-yellow flags in his sleeves formed a "Small Heavenly Concealment Formation," completely isolating everyone's aura.

Something's not right.

Fu Yongrui stared at the Lei family mark on the necks of the corpse puppets and suddenly noticed that they all looked up at the same angle—like puppets being manipulated by the same string. He manipulated the image pod to focus on the back of the corpse puppet's head and indeed captured the faint, blood-red threads.

Yongjing suddenly pressed down on the array plate: "Something is moving underground!"

The "Earth Listening Bell" he forged vibrated violently, and fine cracks appeared on its bronze surface.

As everyone looked down, the entire land suddenly became transparent, and a huge blood pool thirty feet below could be vaguely seen, with hundreds of corpses wrapped in red threads floating in the pool!

"It's a blood-based secret technique from the Yin Puppet Sect!"

Fu Yongrui recognized the jade pendant at the waist of the black-robed man standing by the pond. He decisively crushed the communication jade talisman, while Yongjing activated the backup "telescope" to transmit the image back to the family in real time. When the last family member withdrew from the wall, Yongjing threw out three "mirage beads" to create the illusion that a wild cultivator had accidentally wandered in.

On the hillside before dawn, Yongjing was destroying all traces of their pursuit.

"Third Brother, those corpses in the blood pool," his voice trembled slightly, "I saw the robes of the former elder of the Lei family."

"Let's go back first," Fu Yongrui said, sealing the pod containing the photograph into the black iron box. He gazed at the sky beginning to lighten, recalling his father's words: "When the enemy is unusually quiet, it's often because they're preparing to uproot you."

The group was about to leave the border of the Lei family's fiefdom.

Fu Yongrui raised his hand to signal everyone to stop. His divine sense trembled slightly. He frowned and whispered, "Something's not right."

Fu Yongjing lightly stroked the "Earth Vein Compass" at his waist. The compass needle spun wildly, finally settling in the northwest direction. His expression changed drastically: "A Golden Core aura is approaching!"

Before he finished speaking——

"Hehehe... The Fu family's little mouse has quite a keen sense of smell."

A chilling voice came from the mist, and then a black-robed cultivator slowly stepped out. His face was gaunt, his eyes were sunken, and his pupils had an eerie grayish-white hue. Wisps of malevolent energy swirled around him.

Fu Yongrui's pupils contracted slightly, and alarm bells rang in his mind—this person was definitely not a cultivator from the Great Zhou Dynasty, but most likely the mastermind behind the Lei family's new fiefdom, Crimson Sand Ridge.

"Who are you? Why are you blocking my way?" Fu Yongrui asked in a deep voice, while secretly fastening a "Void Escape Talisman" in his sleeve, ready to retreat at any moment.

Yin Zhenren grinned, revealing his gleaming white teeth: "Dead men don't need to know too much."

Before he finished speaking, he waved his sleeve, and in an instant, dozens of gray-white threads shot out from the air, attacking Fu Yongrui and his group like venomous snakes!

These threads are crafted by evil spirits. Once they bind a person, they will erode their soul and turn them into a puppet!
"Retreat!" Fu Yongrui shouted sharply, his dark spiritual root erupted, and his figure retreated like a ghost. At the same time, he threw out three "Mysterious Yin Thunder Pearls", which exploded with lightning and barely blocked the invasion of the silk threads.

However, Master Yin sneered and with a flick of his finger, the threads bypassed the lightning as if they were alive, continuing their pursuit!

At the critical moment.

"Om-!"

A colossal bronze shadow crashed to the ground, causing the earth to crack!

Fu Yongjing formed hand seals and coldly shouted, "Black Armor Warrior, activate!"

"boom!"

A bronze puppet three zhang tall rose from the ground, its body covered in flowing runes. With a stretch of its arms, it managed to block all the incoming threads of yin spirits!

A hint of surprise flashed in Yin Zhenren's eyes: "Oh? A Golden Core level puppet?"

The Xuanjia warrior's eyes shone with a crimson light, the core array on his chest activated, and a vast amount of spiritual power gathered in his right fist, which he then unleashed with a mighty punch!

"Boom--!"

The force of the punch shook the air. Yin Zhenren hastily raised his hand to block, but was still knocked back several steps, and the ground beneath his feet cracked inch by inch!
"Interesting..." Yin Zhenren licked his lips, his killing intent intensifying. "Unfortunately, it's ultimately just an inanimate object!"

He made hand seals and chanted incantations. In an instant, the Yin energy around him surged, transforming into a phantom of a three-headed, six-armed evil ghost!

The phantom of the evil spirit roared and unleashed its six arms, each strike containing the terrifying power of the early Golden Core stage!
"Dang! Dang! Dang!"

The armored warrior crossed his arms, bracing himself against the onslaught. Sparks flew from his bronze body, and runes flickered in and out of existence. Sweat beaded on Fu Yongjing's forehead as his hands flew, rapidly forming hand seals to constantly adjust the puppet's core, keeping it at its peak condition.

"Third Brother, give the signal!" he shouted in a low voice.

Without hesitation, Fu Yongrui took out a crimson gold talisman—a golden elixir talisman given to him by Fu Changsheng before his departure.

"boom--!"

The talisman burned, and a crimson pillar of fire shot into the sky, turning into a rain of fire that forced Yin Zhenren to temporarily avoid its attack!

at the same time.

Fu Yongrui immediately sent a distress signal!

Not long after.

Yin Zhenren then sensed several golden core auras rapidly approaching from afar.

"Damn it!" A hint of resentment flashed in his eyes as he gritted his teeth and said, "Consider yourselves lucky!"

After saying that, a jet-black bone nail flew out from his sleeve. With a flick of his finger, the nail turned into a beam of light and instantly disappeared into Fu Yongjing's body!
Fu Yongjing groaned, his face turning deathly pale, and his spiritual energy seemed to stagnate.

Yin Zhenren smiled sinisterly: "Once you're afflicted by this curse, you'll become a puppet of my Yin Puppet Sect in three months. The Fu family... can't save you!"

Before he finished speaking, his figure transformed into a wisp of black smoke and dissipated into the morning mist.

Fu Yongrui supported the swaying Yongjing, his face extremely grim: "Fifth Brother!"

Fu Yongjing endured the excruciating pain and gritted his teeth, saying, "It's alright... Let's go back to the family first... Father... surely has a solution..."

In the distance, several streaks of light pierced through the air, led by Fu Changsheng!
Fu Changsheng arrived through the air, his spiritual pressure as deep as an abyss. When his gaze fell on Fu Yongjing's pale face, his pupils suddenly contracted.

"The Heart-Eating Curse?" He grabbed Fu Yongjing's wrist, channeling the spiritual power of his Chaos Golden Core to probe him. His face instantly darkened: "A forbidden technique of the Yin Puppet Sect!"

Liu Meizhen followed closely behind, her delicate hand waving lightly. A wisp of chaotic energy coiled around Fu Yongjing's heart meridian, temporarily suppressing the burgeoning curse power. Her beautiful eyes flashed with malice: "Such a vicious method. This curse will slowly erode your soul. If it's not lifted within three months..."

Before he could finish speaking, Fu Yongrui knelt on one knee: "Father, it is my fault!" He presented the black iron box with both hands, "There is a blood-related mysterious array hidden underground in the Lei family's fiefdom, and the body of a former elder of the Lei family is also in the pool."

Fu Changsheng took the image-recording pod and scanned the images within with his divine sense. When he saw the hundreds of corpses floating in the blood pool, a cold glint flashed in his eyes: "What exactly is the Lei family plotting?"

but.

The most important thing right now is to suppress the curse within Yongjing's body.

Seven bronze nails flew out from the sleeve. The nails pierced the puppet's joints with precision, and the chaotic energy wrapped around their tails instantly eroded the control runes.

Fu Changsheng formed a hand seal with one hand, unleashing the full power of his Chaos Golden Core: "Suppress!"

The morning mist within a ten-mile radius suddenly solidified, and all the falling puppet limbs hovered in mid-air. He condensed a drop of blood essence at his fingertip and drew intricate Dao patterns in the void. The blood droplet transformed into three hundred and sixty fine threads that pierced into Fu Yongjing's major acupoints.

"Heaven and earth are the furnace, chaos is the fire—refine!"

Fu Yongjing suddenly let out a horrific scream, and dozens of blood-red centipedes crawled out of his seven orifices. The insects turned to ashes as soon as they came into contact with the air, and the ashes corroded the ground, creating a pit more than ten feet deep.

"What a vicious method!" Fu Yongyao, who arrived shortly after, gasped. "This is the Yin Kui Sect's secret 'Thousand Insects Devouring the Heart Curse.' The cursed one will slowly transform into the caster's clone. When did people from the far west infiltrate Wuzhou?"

at the same time.

Fu Changsheng suddenly groaned, and spiderweb-like black patterns appeared on his left arm. Liu Meizhen immediately pressed her fingers on three acupoints between his elbows, and chaotic energy washed over them like a wave, forcing the spreading curse poison to her fingertips.

"laugh--"

A drop of black blood fell to the ground, eroding the entire rock into a honeycomb pattern. Fu Yongjing finally regained consciousness, staring at his father's blackened fingertips, his lips trembling as he couldn't speak.

"It's alright." Fu Changsheng shattered the black blood at his fingertips, and the chaotic energy at the wound surged, healing in an instant.

Red Sand Ridge - Underground Blood Pool

Yin Zhenren transformed into a wisp of black smoke and instantly vanished back into the secret chamber of the blood pool. His face was ashen, and with a wave of his sleeve, the corpses in the blood pool were instantly incinerated by the evil fire, and even the blood-patterned array at the bottom of the pool was wiped away by his own hands.

"Damn it!" he gritted his teeth, a sinister glint in his eyes. "The Fu family... actually managed to suppress my 'Thousand Insects Devouring Heart Curse'!"

He had thought that once this curse was cast, Fu Yongjing would become a puppet, allowing him not only to uncover the Fu family's secrets but also to plant a hidden agent within the family. However, he never expected that Fu Changsheng would be able to forcibly suppress the curse with the power of his Chaos Golden Core, almost causing a backlash against him!
Just as Master Yin was about to send a message, the blood-red jade talisman on his body suddenly rippled strangely. A hoarse voice came from the bottom of the pool: "Elder Yin, you have disappointed me greatly."

Yin Zhenren trembled and immediately knelt on the ground: "Sect Master, please forgive me! I did not expect the Fu family to suddenly intrude into the Lei family's fiefdom. It was my oversight."

"A negligence?!" A blurry figure slowly rose from the blood pool, its body wrapped in crimson chains. "Do you know how much effort this sect has expended to orchestrate this scheme within the Lei family?"

Yin Zhenren's forehead was beaded with cold sweat: "Your subordinate knows his mistake! But your subordinate has discovered an important piece of information—that young weapon refiner from the Fu family actually possesses the aura of a primordial spiritual treasure!"

Blood Shadow suddenly solidified slightly: "A Primordial Spiritual Treasure? Are you sure?"

"Absolutely true!" Master Yin hurriedly said, "When I was casting the spell, I sensed a primordial aura within him; it's almost certainly a primordial spiritual treasure!"

Blood Shadow was silent for a moment, then suddenly let out a piercing laugh: "Good! Very good! This is an unexpected delight." The chains rattled. "I will send the 'Blood Puppet Child' to assist you. Remember, if you fail again this time..."

"Your subordinate is willing to endure the punishment of having your heart devoured by ten thousand insects!"

Blood Shadow nodded in satisfaction, then dissolved into blood and vanished. Yin Zhenren breathed a sigh of relief, but then heard a child's laughter behind him. Turning around, he saw a red-clad boy, about seven or eight years old, squatting by the blood pool playing with a skull. When he turned around, the boy grinned, revealing a mouthful of sharp teeth.

"Junior Brother Yin, the sect leader sent me to help you~" The boy's voice was childish, but his eyes flashed with a bloodthirsty light.

Yin Zhenren's heart skipped a beat—the Blood Puppet Child may look young, but he is actually a monster refined from the essence blood of nine hundred and ninety-nine Purple Mansions, and his cultivation has reached the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm!
"Thank you for your trouble, Junior Brother," Master Yin forced a smile. "However, we must first deal with the Great Zhou Dynasty's inspection."

Lei Family Secret Room
Chief Lei's fat body trembled, and he almost crushed the communication jade talisman in his hand, his forehead covered in cold sweat.

"Useless! A bunch of useless trash!" He slammed the jade talisman on the ground, roaring hysterically, "Didn't I tell you to be on high alert?! How could the Fu family have managed to sneak in?!"

The trusted elders inside the secret room remained silent, none daring to respond.

Clan Chief Lei paced back and forth, his face ashen, his eyes filled with terror and rage: "It's over...it's over! The Yin Puppet Sect's blood pool has been discovered, and the Fu family will definitely use this to make a big fuss! Colluding with evil cultivators and sacrificing their clansmen with blood—this is a crime punishable by the extermination of the entire clan!"

The more he thought about it, the more frightened he became. His legs went weak, and he slumped into a chair, muttering to himself, "No...no! My Lei family must not be destroyed in my hands!"

He suddenly looked up, a fierce glint in his eyes, and gritted his teeth, saying, "Quick! Send a message to my cousin immediately! Tell him... tell him that the Fu family framed us and deliberately slandered my Lei family for colluding with evil cultivators!"

An elder cautiously said, "Clan leader, but that blood pool does indeed exist. If the imperial court sends people to investigate..."

"Shut up!" Clan Chief Lei roared, slamming his fist on the table and smashing it. "Fool! As long as my cousin is willing to protect us, who would dare to investigate?! He's a member of the Great Zhou royal family, the dignified Seventh Prince!"

He frantically pulled out a blood-red jade talisman, his fingertips trembling as he channeled spiritual energy into it, his voice almost pleading: "Cousin! Cousin, save me! Those bastards from the Fu family somehow sneaked into Crimson Sand Ridge and discovered the Yin Puppet Sect's Blood Pool! They'll definitely use this to wipe out my Lei family! Cousin, you can't just stand by and watch me die!"

The communication jade talisman flickered for a moment, and the Seventh Prince's icy voice came through: "Fool! I warned you long ago to be careful! Now that things have been exposed, you still have the nerve to come begging me?"

Clan Chief Lei's face turned ashen, and he hurriedly said, "Cousin! You are my own cousin! If the Lei family falls, your grand plan will also be affected! As long as you are willing to help, the Lei family will definitely follow your lead in the future!"

The Seventh Prince remained silent for a moment, then snorted coldly: "Useless! Listen, destroy all evidence immediately, the Blood Pool, the Corpse Puppet, leave none behind! As for the Yin Puppet Sect members... make them temporarily withdraw from Wuzhou."

Chief Lei, feeling as if he had been granted a pardon, nodded repeatedly: "Yes! Yes! I'll take care of it right away!"

The Seventh Prince's voice was icy: "Remember, if there's another mistake, I'll be the first to wipe out your Lei family!"

The communication was interrupted. Clan Chief Lei let out a long sigh of relief, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, and then resumed his arrogant demeanor, puffing out his chest and saying to the elders, "Did you hear that? With my cousin here, the Fu family can't cause any trouble! Go and clean up Red Sand Ridge immediately, and don't leave any evidence!"

An elder hesitated and said, "Clan leader, what about Master Yin..."

Chief Lei waved his hand impatiently: "Get them out of here! A bunch of good-for-nothings!"

The elders exchanged glances, sighed inwardly, but dared not say anything more, and could only accept the order and leave.

After everyone left, Clan Chief Lei slumped into his chair, a venomous glint in his eyes: "Fu Changsheng... you just wait! Once my cousin's grand plan is complete, I will personally tear you apart!"

Within the Five Elements space.

Fu Changsheng used his mind to communicate with the [Hope Gu] within his body, secretly praying that he could draw the spell to heal Yongjing's curse in this special lottery.

Take a deep breath.

A thought immediately occurred to him:
"Redeem and enter a lottery"

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

【Under extraction】

The system wheel spun wildly, and countless ancient runes intertwined in the void, finally settling on a blood-red area.

[Congratulations on obtaining: Earth-grade Secret Treasure - Heart-Eating Reversal Curse Nail]

【Heart-Eating Reverse Curse Nail】

[A top-tier Earth-grade secret treasure, forged from Nine Nether Profound Iron and infused with the malevolent energy of three thousand vengeful spirits. It can reverse the cause and effect of curses, turning the curse power back on the caster. The higher the cultivation level of the cursed person, the stronger the backlash. It must be used in conjunction with the essence blood of the cursed person. Once it is driven into the heart meridian, the curse is immediately reversed.]

Fu Changsheng's eyes flashed with a sharp light!
"What a brilliant 'Heart-Eating Reversal Curse Nail'!" He flipped his palm, and a three-inch-long, jet-black bone nail appeared, its body wrapped in blood-red patterns, from which one could faintly hear a mournful wail. This object was extremely insidious, yet it was the perfect weapon to break the [Heart-Eating Curse] on Yongjing's body!

With a sweep of his divine sense, he instantly understood the method of use—a drop of the cursed person's heart's blood was needed as a guide to drive the bone nail into their Tanzhong acupoint. The curse power would then flow upstream along the cause-and-effect line, directly attacking the curser's soul!
“Yin Zhenren…you have calculated everything, but you never expected that my Fu family would have such a thing!” Fu Changsheng sneered. After emerging from the Five Elements Space, he flashed and appeared in the quiet room where Fu Yongjing was recuperating.

Inside the quiet room, Liu Meizhen was using chaotic energy to suppress the curse power of Fu Yongjing. Seeing Fu Changsheng suddenly appear, her beautiful eyes lit up: "Husband, have you found a solution?"

Fu Changsheng nodded, holding up the pitch-black bone nail in his palm: "With this, we can make that bastard from the Yin Puppet Sect reap what he sows!"

Fu Yongjing weakly opened his eyes, and when he saw the bone nail, his pupils contracted slightly: "Father, this is..."

"Don't ask, hold back." Fu Changsheng pointed his fingers like a sword and made a light stroke. A drop of crimson blood immediately seeped from Fu Yongjing's chest and floated in the air.

"go with!"

His lifeblood flowed into the bone nail, its surface gleaming with vibrant blood-red veins! With a flick of his wrist, Fu Changsheng sent the bone nail piercing Fu Yongjing's acupoint at the center of his chest like lightning—

"puff!"

Fu Yongjing groaned, only to see the bone nail turn into a wisp of black smoke, following the traces of the curse power and drilling into the void!

……

Wuzhou border.

Yin Zhenren was adjusting his breathing when he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his chest!

"what--!"

He screamed in agony, spitting out black blood from his seven orifices, as the cursed power around his body rebounded wildly! The Yin Puppet Curse Threads that were originally wrapped around Fu Yongjing now all rolled back, biting into his own body like venomous snakes!

"No! This is impossible!" Yin Zhenren stared in horror at the raised runes under his skin. The Thousand Insects Devouring Heart Curse that he had personally planted was now frantically gnawing at his internal organs!

"Pfft!"

A jet-black bone nail pierced through his heart, its tip still bearing pieces of his heart's flesh and blood!
"Heart-Eating Reversal Curse Nail?! How could the Fu family possess a forbidden treasure of the Yin Puppet Sect?!" Yin Zhenren roared in despair. The next moment, his body cracked like porcelain, and countless curse insects poured out from the cracks, gnawing him into a skeleton!
The Blood Puppet Child, who had been laughing and joking, was terrified at the sight and turned to flee.

(End of this chapter)