Family Rise: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 549 Rebuilding the Foundation of the Dao, the Sacred Gu Appears, the First Merit

The afterglow of the setting sun shone on the small courtyard where Yu Qingru lived, and the bamboo in the corner swayed gently in the wind, making a rustling sound.

Before the stone table, Liu Shuang sat upright, her expression grave: "Mother, the matter of Core Formation cannot be delayed any longer. If our lineage produces no more Golden Core cultivators, our influence within the clan will only weaken."

Liu Shuang gave her husband a wink.

Fu Yongqing quickly said, "Mother, I've already asked around and found out the whereabouts of the 'Golden Core Pill.' Although it's expensive, it's all worth it if it can help you form your core."

Yu Qingru shook her head, her brows furrowed with determination: "My aptitude is limited; the success rate of forcibly forming a core is too low. It's better to concentrate resources on An'an; he has the best talent."

“Mother, I’m afraid this is not appropriate.” Liu Shuang’s voice was clear and bright, with a hint of shrewdness and competence. “Although my eldest brother is your eldest son, he is still the head of the Yu family. Our Fu family is at a critical moment of advancing to the fifth rank, and the candidate for Core Formation should be chosen from our lineage.”

“That’s right!” Fu Yongqing quickly added, “Mother, you don’t need to belittle yourself. You’ve worked so hard for the family all these years, don’t you deserve this opportunity?”

Liu Shuang also advised, "Mother, if you are worried about insufficient resources, Yongqing and I can go and find some more auxiliary spiritual items. If that doesn't work, we can ask Father for help. Now that the mistress has formed her core, I heard that Aunt Molan has obtained a Nine-Herb Pill. If you ask, Father will definitely not refuse. Father is now a patrol envoy, and his status is different from before."

Yu Qingru gently stroked the teacup with her fingertips, her gaze firm yet gentle.

"Shuang'er, Qing'er," she said softly, "I appreciate your kindness. But there are some things I must make clear today."

Liu Shuang keenly noticed the change in her mother-in-law's tone and quietly stopped Fu Yongqing from interrupting.

"Back then, I was ostracized by the Yu family and almost married into the Nangong family as a pawn in a political alliance," Yu Qingru said, a look of reminiscence in her eyes. "It was your father who saved me from this predicament."

The bamboo in the corner of the courtyard rustled, as if echoing this past event.

"Later, when I encountered a bottleneck during my Foundation Establishment, it was all thanks to your father." Her fingertips trembled slightly. "Even Ningning's strange illness—if your father hadn't risked venturing into the Xuanwu Dead Zone to find medicine, she would still be living a muddled life to this day."

Liu Shuang's expression shifted slightly, while Fu Yongqing's eyes reddened.

“We, the second branch of the family, are already incredibly fortunate to have achieved such a state of prosperity,” Yu Qingru said, taking a sip of her tea. “Your father has treated us with the utmost kindness and generosity; we should be content.”

There's one more thing she didn't mention.

She took the initiative to consummate her marriage with her husband. At the time, she promised that she did not need any formal status. Later, her husband still married her in a grand ceremony and promised her the status of a secondary wife. She was already content.

Yu Qingru put down her teacup, the porcelain clinking against the stone table with a crisp sound.
"Moreover, your Uncle Changli and Aunt Changli haven't even formed their cores yet. If we're talking about seniority, resources should be prioritized for them."

Liu Shuang's eyes flickered, and she suddenly stood up and bowed, saying, "Mother's reprimand is correct. It was your daughter-in-law who failed to consider things carefully." She then changed the subject, "However, I have a suggestion—why not gather everyone from the second branch of the family to discuss this matter another day? After all, it concerns the development of the entire lineage."

Fu Yongqing quickly chimed in, "Yes, yes, call back An'an, Shou, Yun, Ren, and Ningning!"

A look of relief appeared in Yu Qingru's eyes: "That's good. The family should get together more often." She looked towards the darkening sky, "I'll leave this matter to you all."

Liu Shuang respectfully agreed, secretly pinching Fu Yongqing. Fu Yongqing understood, quickly got up, and left with his wife.

...

...

As dusk settled, the spirit lamps in the patriarch's mansion were lit.

Fu Changsheng stood with his hands behind his back in the courtyard, watching the last rays of sunset fade into the sky. A communication jade talisman in his sleeve glowed faintly, and a smile appeared on his lips: "They've arrived."

"Master!"

A hearty voice came from outside the courtyard. Fu Changli strode in, carrying two jars of spirit wine, the jars still covered in fresh mud, clearly just taken from the cellar. Although he was over a hundred years old, his eyes still held a youthful excitement: "I heard you were going to invite me for drinks?"

"Third Brother, all you care about is wine." A clear, cold female voice followed. Fu Changli, dressed in a dark green outfit, her spirit beast pouch at her waist bulging slightly, and the feather tucked in her hair fluttering with each step, raised an eyebrow at Fu Changsheng: "The patriarch suddenly sent a message, is there some unusual activity at the Northern Witch Village?"

Fu Changsheng smiled without answering, and with a flick of his sleeve, three prayer mats appeared out of thin air: "Please sit down."

After the two were seated, he lightly tapped the stone table with his fingertips. Twenty-four Xuanhuang Spirit Pills emerged one after another from his storage bag, swirling with profound Daoist energy in the twilight, like a galaxy falling from the sky.

"What kind of elixir is this? The vitality of this elixir is unprecedented." Fu Changli's pupils shrank suddenly, and the spirit beast pouch at his waist trembled violently.

Fu Changli slammed the wine jar in his hand onto the table with a thud, oblivious to the spilled wine: "Patriarch, did you perhaps rob some ancient cave dwelling?"

"Items for reshaping the foundation of your Dao," Fu Changsheng said calmly. "Exactly twenty-four, twelve for each of you."

Fu Changli gripped the whip tightly, her voice trembling: "Brother, the clan is full of geniuses. Wouldn't it be more suitable to give this elixir to Yaoyao and the others of the Yong generation?"

"It is precisely because it is you that we should use it." Fu Changsheng interrupted him, his tone leaving no room for doubt. "Back then, when Luofeng Mountain suffered its calamity, only the four of us cultivators remained in the clan. Without you, how could the Fu family be where we are today? It was a great regret of mine that I could not find a spiritual pill to prolong my elder brother's life. I do not want to go through that again. Therefore, this Xuanhuang Spiritual Pill is only for you. As for the younger generation, they are still young and will have their own opportunities."

Fu Changli's eyes reddened, and he suddenly grabbed the wine gourd and took a big gulp: "Brother, all I've ever known all these years is how to brew wine."

"Well brewed." Fu Changsheng patted him on the shoulder. "How many of your clansmen have been saved by your spirit wine?"

He said no more and formed a hand seal. A huge array diagram appeared on the ground, and seventy-two jade lamps materialized out of thin air, forming a celestial array.

"Enter the formation."

Fu Changli took a deep breath and sat cross-legged at the center of the formation. Fu Changli wiped his face and obediently sat opposite his sister.

"Concentrate!"

With a soft shout from Fu Changsheng, twelve spirit pills disappeared into the brows of the two men.

hum!
Fu Changsheng made a hand seal, and seventy-two jade lamps suddenly lit up. As the array patterns flowed, the powerful spiritual energy transformed into the shapes of a blue dragon and a white tiger, surrounding Fu Changli and Fu Changli.

"boom--"

The elixir entered the body, and the chaotic Daoist energy erupted!
Fu Changli groaned, his dark green outfit fluttering even without wind, and the feathers in his hair trembling incessantly.

Her meridians felt as if they were being scorched by raging fire and corroded by freezing ice. Chaotic energy swept through her limbs and bones, and every inch of her flesh was undergoing destruction and reconstruction. She clenched her teeth, her knuckles turning white. The contracted spirit beast in the spirit beast pouch at her waist sensed its master's pain and let out a series of low growls.

"Steady your mind!"

Fu Changsheng shouted in a deep voice, and with a flick of his finger, a ray of clear light entered Fu Changli's brow, helping her suppress the raging chaotic power within her body.

the other side.

Fu Changli's face flushed red, and the smell of alcohol emanated from his body. The power of the elixir transformed into a rich, wine-like spiritual flow within his body, permeating his meridians.

Despite his unconventional personality, he was surprisingly calm at this moment, closing his eyes and concentrating, letting the chaotic Dao energy wash over him. Having brewed wine for many years, he had an extremely delicate control over spiritual power, and at this moment he was subtly guiding the medicinal power, allowing it to slowly permeate like aged spiritual wine, neither too fast nor too slow.

"Third brother, you've got some skills."

Fu Changli noticed his condition and calmed down a bit. She also adjusted her breathing and stopped resisting. Instead, she guided the power of chaos with her own will, just like taming a spirit beast, so that it would merge with her.

As time passed, a mysterious yellow light gradually appeared around the two of them. The impurities in their bodies were completely refined by the chaotic Daoist rhyme and expelled from their bodies as wisps of black energy.

Fu Changli's skin grew increasingly radiant and jade-like, a sharp, Daoist aura appearing between her brows, adding a touch of profundity to her already aloof demeanor. She slowly opened her eyes, a fleeting phantom of a spirit beast seemingly appearing deep within her pupils. Her aura was as powerful as a mountain, yet as agile as the wind. She gently clenched her fist, feeling the surging power within her, a slight smile playing on her lips:

"This Xuanhuang Spirit Pill is indeed extraordinary."

Fu Changli was enveloped in the aroma of wine, and his once slightly weathered face now appeared several times younger, his eyes clear as a young man's. He looked down at his palm, where the lines faintly revealed the essence of spirit wine, and couldn't help but burst into laughter:
"Wonderful! Wonderful! This elixir has deepened my understanding of the way of wine!"

He looked at Fu Changsheng excitedly, his eyes full of joy: "Patriarch, I feel that the spirit wine we are brewing now might be able to get a Golden Core cultivator drunk!"

Seeing this, Fu Changsheng laughed loudly: "Then we'll have to rely on Third Brother for all the clan banquets in the future."

Fu Changli snorted and glanced at Fu Changli: "Third brother, don't get so caught up in brewing wine that you forget about cultivation."

Fu Changli scratched his head and chuckled, "Don't worry, don't worry, the wine needs to be brewed, and my cultivation level needs to increase too!"

Looking at the two of them transformed, a flash of satisfaction crossed Fu Changsheng's eyes. He flicked his sleeve to put away the jade lamp array, stood with his hands behind his back, and said in a carefree tone: "Alright, now that the Xuanhuang Spirit Pill has been refined, your future cultivation path depends on your own destiny."

Fu Changli gave him a deep look, then suddenly clasped her hands in a solemn gesture: "Patriarch, thank you."

Fu Changsheng waved his hand and laughed, "We're family, no need for thanks."

He still felt a little regretful.

Although the third brother and fourth sister consumed the same number of elixirs, they failed to develop a Chaos Dao Foundation like Mei Zhen.

at the same time.

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

"You have gifted your clansmen twenty-four Xuanhuang Spirit Pills, and have gained ten thousand clan contribution points."

...

...

Wu Ling'er's courtyard was shrouded in tranquility.

Ancient trees towered in the courtyard, and the witch bells hanging among their branches tinkled softly in the breeze, producing ethereal sounds. Wu Ling'er leaned against a soft couch, her delicate hand gently caressing her protruding belly, a vermilion mark between her brows gleaming faintly in the moonlight. Her face was slightly pale, yet she could not conceal the tenderness in her eyes.

"The little one is a bit quieter today," she murmured softly, gathering a wisp of magical power at her fingertips and slowly channeling it into her stomach.

Suddenly, a strong fetal movement came from my belly!
"Well--"

Wu Ling'er let out a muffled groan, her jade-like fingers clenching tightly around the bed curtains. Fine silver lines appeared on her abdomen, intertwining and shimmering like the trajectories of stars. Even more terrifying, in the center of those lines, the faint phantom of a six-winged Gu worm could be seen stretching its body!

"Is the Star Gu going to emerge from its cocoon ahead of schedule?"

She endured the excruciating pain and took out a bone flute from her bosom, playing it. Before the flute's melody faded, a figure in green pushed open the courtyard gate—Fu Changsheng, holding a jade pot, arrived under the moonlight, followed by two witch clan maids carrying spiritual herbs.

"Husband," Wu Ling'er said, beads of sweat forming on her forehead, "the fetal breathing has changed."

Fu Changsheng's gaze sharpened, and he instantly appeared before the bed. He placed his palm on Wu Ling'er's abdomen, and chaotic energy seeped into her body. His expression immediately changed: "The Six-Winged Star Gu is devouring your life essence!"

With a flick of his sleeve, nine bronze lamps appeared out of thin air, arranged according to the nine palaces. Fu Changsheng pointed his fingers like a sword, drawing nine runes in the air: "First, stabilize your breathing!"

The moment the talisman entered Wu Ling'er's abdomen, the silver patterns suddenly dimmed. She breathed a sigh of relief, but saw that Fu Changsheng's brows were still furrowed. He took out the Nine-Dragon Pregnancy-Stabilizing Pill from his robes:

"This pill will be of great use to you, Ling'er, take it quickly."

Yes, my husband.

Wu Ling'er didn't have time to ask any questions at this moment and swallowed it.

A series of pains came over me.

Wu Ling'er lay supine on the jade couch, the silver markings on her abdomen writhing like living creatures. Her ten fingers gripped the brocade quilt tightly, cold sweat soaking her temples. Beneath her swollen belly, the faint shadow of a curled-up Gu worm could be seen, its thin wings trembling, causing the spiritual energy within a ten-mile radius to stir restlessly.

"My lord, it's coming out."

Fu Changsheng placed one hand on her abdomen, the chaotic energy enveloping the womb like a net, but his brow gradually furrowed: "This Gu worm is growing by devouring star power, but it should be in its larval stage after emerging from its cocoon."

Suddenly, a hissing sound came from inside Wu Ling'er's belly—

"what!"

She cried out in pain as the silver markings on her abdomen exploded, unleashing a burst of dazzling starlight from within her. The entire courtyard was engulfed in blinding silver light, the witch bells hanging in the courtyard shattered, and the ancient leaves turned to dust!

"Condensation!"

Twelve array flags flew from Fu Changsheng's sleeve, instantly forming a starry barrier. In that split second, a clear cry pierced the night sky, and the infant in the swaddling clothes was slowly lifted up by starlight. Even more astonishing was that a palm-sized silver-white Gu worm was perched on the infant's chest—its entire body was as clear as jade, with two wings as thin as cicada wings on its back, and star patterns flowed around it, radiating the spiritual energy fluctuations of the Foundation Establishment stage.

"Two wings. A larval form?" Wu Ling'er weakly propped herself up, her eyes filled with disbelief.

Suddenly, the star-like insect took flight, its wings refracting a seven-colored halo in the moonlight. It circled the infant three times before swooping down on Fu Changsheng, its mouthparts opening to reveal fine, star-like teeth!

"This little thing is quite fierce." Fu Changsheng chuckled, condensing chaotic energy into a blue lotus at his fingertips. Just as he was about to flick his finger, the infant suddenly giggled and reached out to grab at the air—

"Eeya!"

The Star Gu was struck as if by lightning, freezing in mid-air. It let out two unwilling cries before finally obediently landing back on the infant's chest, its six slender feet gently tugging at the swaddling clothes, showing a hint of grievance.

Wu Ling'er couldn't help but chuckle: "As expected of a companion witch beast, it's indeed obedient."

Fu Changsheng lightly touched the Star Gu's back armor with his fingers, and the chaotic energy seeped into its body.

After a moment, he suddenly realized, "This Gu worm was nourished by your Wu clan's bloodline in the womb and further enlightened by my Chaos Dao, causing it to mutate." He pointed to the four faintly visible protrusions on the Star Gu's back, "There are also four unevolved wing membranes hidden here. It should grow an extra wing with each breakthrough."

In other words.

It has the potential to grow into a deity in the future!

No wonder it is one of the twelve sacred Gu of the Witch Clan.

As if to prove his words, the Star Gu suddenly raised its head and hissed, its two thin wings trembling violently. It frantically absorbed the remaining star energy in the courtyard, and a third pair of wings began to bulge, seemingly about to burst out of its body!

"Peak of the second tier."

Wu Ling'er sensed the change in the Gu worm's aura and her expression suddenly changed slightly:
"My husband, our child has just been born and cannot continue to withstand the effects of witchcraft!"

Sure enough, the infant's rosy face began to turn pale. Fu Changsheng snorted coldly, and the Chaotic Green Lotus in his palm suddenly bloomed, a beam of green light connecting the Star Gu to the infant:
"Don't bite off more than you can chew."

The Star Gu curled up in pain, its newly grown wingtips slowly retracting into its carapace.

It touched the baby's cheek with its tentacles with a pitiful expression, and fed back a wisp of pure star power, which improved the baby's complexion.

"At least he knows when to advance and when to retreat."

Fu Changsheng withdrew his oppressive aura and observed the mutated Star Gu with great interest:
"Ordinary six-winged star gu are inherently violent, but this one knows how to feed its host. Interesting."

Wu Ling'er took the child, and with a flick of her fingertips, she concentrated her magical power and placed it on Xing Gu's forehead:

"From this day forward, your name is 'Star Slave,' and you shall protect my child with your life."

The Star Gu's wings trembled slightly, emitting a clear and melodious sound, as if in response.

It obediently burrowed back into the baby's clothes, revealing only a sliver of its silvery-white carapace at the collar, resembling an exquisite brooch.

"Ling'er, you've worked so hard." Fu Changsheng looked at the sleeping baby in his wife's arms and smiled, "This little guy was born with the ability to tame alien creatures from the stars, how about we name him Yongkong?"

"Yes, I'll do whatever my husband says."

Wu Ling'er leaned on his shoulder, gazing at the gradually brightening sky, and whispered that she just hoped her child could grow up safely.

The star-like creature stealthily peeked out its tentacles from within the swaddling clothes, hooking onto the infant's little finger. In the morning light, two pairs of half-formed wing membranes were faintly visible beneath the carapace, shimmering with mysterious starlight.

… …

Northern Xinjiang, Black Witch Village.

The night was as dark as ink, and on the altar shrouded in black mist, twelve bone lamps burned eerily.

A woman dressed in a dark black shaman's robe stood silently in the center, the hem of which was embroidered with ancient dark gold runes that shimmered slightly with her breath. Her face was hidden under a hood, revealing only her delicate chin and a touch of crimson lips.

Sudden--

"Crack!"

Without warning, a thin crack appeared in the crystal ball at the center of the altar, and a ray of silver light suddenly burst out from the churning black mist inside!
The Black Witch Saintess suddenly looked up, her hood slipping down to reveal a stunningly beautiful face. Her eyes were like abysses, yet at this moment they reflected that fleeting glimmer of silver light.

"The aura of the Six-Winged Star Gu"

With a gentle wave of her hand, the scene in the crystal ball rapidly changed—a human city could be vaguely seen, with starlight falling, but it quickly dissipated.

"Your Holiness?"

Beneath the altar, an old woman in black robes knelt respectfully: "Has there been any unusual activity at Xuanwu Village?"

The saintess lightly traced the cracks in the crystal ball with her fingertips, her voice ethereal yet icy: "No, it's something more important." Her red lips pursed slightly, "A sacred Gu has appeared in the Wuzhou region."

The old woman trembled: "One of the Twelve Sacred Gu, the Six-Winged Star Gu?"

"And it's a juvenile." The saintess's gaze was profound. "To be able to hatch a sacred Gu in this era, it must be born from the combination of the bloodline of the witch race and the special physique of the human race."

She suddenly turned around, and as her black robe sleeves fluttered, the bone lamps around the altar all went out.

"Pass on the order."

In the darkness, the saintess's voice cut like an icy blade: "Send three Black Crow Envoys secretly to Wuzhou to find out which family has acquired the host of the Sacred Gu." She paused, "Remember, only investigate; do not alert them."

The old woman hesitated and said, "Isn't the Holy Maiden going herself?"

"After years of planning, the most urgent task now is to deal with the Xuanwu Village." The Holy Maiden sneered, a black butterfly phantom conjuring at her fingertips. "But the Sacred Gu is of paramount importance. If we can obtain it, what do those fools from the Xuanwu Village matter?"

The black butterfly flapped its wings and vanished as specks of fluorescent light.

The Holy Maiden gazed south, a calculating glint in her eyes: "Go. Have the Black Crow Envoy take the 'Shared Fate Gu.' If danger arises, kill yourself immediately. We must not allow anyone to trace any clues about the Holy Gu's reappearance."

"Yes!"

The old woman respectfully withdrew, her figure disappearing into the darkness.

The altar returned to silence.

The saintess stood alone in the darkness, a blood-red jade pendant appearing on her fingertip at some unknown time, sealing a sleeping four-winged Gu worm within.

"Six wings appear, the Witch God returns."

She murmured softly, a meaningful smile playing on her lips:
"This game is getting more and more interesting."

...

...

The forbidden area behind the Wu family mountain, within the high-grade spiritual herb garden.

Wu Zhengyang, the second master of the Wu family, squatted in front of a Seven Heart Begonia, his brows furrowed. This six-hundred-year-old spiritual herb should have been lush and verdant, with its seven-colored petals blooming like a rosy cloud. But now, its leaves were withered and curled, and strange gray spots appeared on its branches. No matter what kind of spiritual rain technique or nourishing spell he used, he could not stop its decline.

"Husband, is it still not working?"

Madam Wu approached quietly, carrying a cup of fine tea. Looking at her husband's weary face, she said with heartache, "You haven't slept for months."

Wu Zhengyang sighed deeply, the spiritual light gathered at his fingertips slowly dissipating: "This Seven-Heart Begonia is the main ingredient for refining the 'Profound Origin Pill.' If it withers, the clan leader's breakthrough to the Golden Core stage will be delayed. It's regrettable that I've searched through countless scriptures but can't find the cause!"

After a moment's thought, Madam Wu suddenly said, "How about we ask the Fu family for help?"

"The Fu family?" Wu Zhengyang was taken aback, then smiled wryly. "The Fu family is currently at its zenith, with seven Golden Core cultivators alone, not to mention Fu Changsheng is already a sixth-rank Imperial Inspector. I'm afraid we won't be able to persuade them to join us."

"You!" Madam Wu playfully poked his forehead. "Didn't our Yuxian marry Fu Qinglin? Although this marriage was arranged privately by Fu Yongpeng of the Fu family without Fu Changsheng's consent, Fu Yongpeng is still the legitimate son of Fu Changsheng, the head of the Fu family. Qingyue has been married into the Fu family for many years and has given birth to such an outstanding child as Qinglin. Even if we don't care about the man, let's ask Qingyue and Yuxian, aunt and niece, to help mediate. Surely they can persuade Fu Yongwei and his wife?"

Wu Zhengyang frowned: "But Qinglin has always been lukewarm towards Yuxian. Qingyue's relationship with Fu Yongpeng is even worse. If it weren't for the Ancestor's Core Formation, I heard Fu Yongpeng even threatened to divorce his wife before."

"So what?" Madam Wu scoffed. "No matter how dissatisfied he is, he's still our Wu family's son-in-law. He can't possibly turn us away by using the pretext of visiting Yu Xian, can he? This matter is settled."

Master Wu was ultimately cautious:
"The Seven-Heart Begonia is a spiritual object that can assist the Golden Core cultivator. It would be inappropriate to reveal this to outsiders. I must ask my elder brother for permission first."

The clan chief of Wu is the elder brother of the second master of the Wu family.

……

The Wu family's medicinal garden was shrouded in a thin mist. The Wu patriarch stood with his hands behind his back, his fingertips gently tracing the withered yellow leaves of the Seven Hearts Begonia, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper.

“Big brother.” Wu Zhengyang stood to the side, his voice trembling.

"This is what you meant by 'slightly withered'?" Clan Chief Wu withdrew his hand, his fingertips stained with a few specks of faded pollen. "The entire medicinal herb has lost three or four tenths of its vitality. How long do you intend to hide this from me?"

Wu Zhengyang broke out in a cold sweat and was about to explain when he saw his elder brother suddenly cough violently, a trace of dark red seeping through his fingers.

"Has my brother's old injury flared up again?"

Clan Chief Wu waved his hand and took out an exquisite jade bottle from his robes. This was a fourth-grade pill bestowed by the ancestor, extremely precious. He took one, and his pale complexion improved slightly.

"Before our ancestor went into seclusion, he specifically instructed us," he said in a low voice, "that this Seven-Heart Begonia is crucial to whether our clan can produce another Golden Core cultivator. If anything goes wrong..."

The unfinished words sent a shiver down Wu Zhengyang's spine.

"Prepare the gifts." Clan Chief Wu suddenly turned around, a slight breeze stirring his sleeves. "I will personally go to the Fu family."

-

In front of Fu Family Mountain.

As soon as Chief Wu landed, he saw his daughter Wu Qingyue and his grandniece Wu Yuxian waiting for him. To his surprise, his usually arrogant son-in-law Fu Yongpeng was now greeting him with a beaming smile.

“Father-in-law!” Fu Yongpeng bowed respectfully, the jade pendant at his waist jingling. “I have prepared spiritual tea; please follow me to the courtyard.”

“Father.” Wu Qingyue subtly stepped forward, shielding her husband behind her, and bowed to the Wu clan chief. “My son is currently in seclusion and was unable to come to greet you. I hope you will forgive me, Father.”

Clan Chief Wu glanced between his daughter and son-in-law, understanding dawning on him. Ever since their ancestor successfully formed his core, this son-in-law's attitude had completely changed.

"Is Patriarch Fu here?" he asked, getting straight to the point.

Fu Yongpeng beat him to the punch, his face beaming as he cupped his hands and said, “Father-in-law, please wait a moment! Father is currently in Aunt Wu’s courtyard. I will go and invite him right away—” Before he finished speaking, he had already made a hand seal and mounted his escape light, hurrying towards the mountainside, not even bothering with basic hospitality.

Watching her husband's departing figure, Wu Qingyue's lips curled into a mocking smile: "Father, you see, ever since the news of our ancestor's Core Formation came, his attitude has changed faster than a spinning top." She took the Wu clan leader's arm and lowered her voice, "The other day he even personally cooked me a ginseng chicken soup. Anyone who didn't know better would think he was the epitome of a devoted husband."

A glint flashed in the eyes of the Wu clan chief, who gently patted his daughter's hand. "Times change, and so do human nature." His gaze swept over the Fu family members patrolling the mountain gate, and his voice was barely audible: "As long as it benefits the Wu family, we can tolerate this insincerity."

Just then, a surge of spiritual energy suddenly came from afar. Fu Yongpeng returned, looking disheveled and somewhat embarrassed. "Father is currently protecting Aunt Wu and cannot receive guests at the moment," he said, glancing at Clan Chief Wu's expression before quickly adding, "However, I have already informed the steward to prepare the best part of the Welcoming Peak!"

"It's alright." Clan Chief Wu laughed heartily, seemingly oblivious to his son-in-law's embarrassment. "I was just thinking of speaking with Yu Xian myself." He turned to his grandniece, who stood quietly to the side, his gaze both loving and scrutinizing: "I heard that Qing Lin has already reached the mid-stage of the Purple Mansion realm?"

Upon hearing this, Fu Yongpeng immediately straightened his back, an undisguised smug look on his face: "Lin'er is exceptionally talented, just bestowed upon us by Father a few days ago." He suddenly fell silent, as if remembering something taboo, and changed his words: "In short, Father-in-law, rest assured, with the Fu family's support, Lin'er's future is limitless!"

Chief Wu nodded with a smile.

“Let’s go.” Clan Chief Wu took the lead, his black robe sleeves billowing like clouds in the wind. “I just happened to bring a jar of three-hundred-year-old ‘Mysterious Ice Brew.’ Let’s have a good chat, father-in-law and son-in-law.” He gave Fu Yongpeng, who was still only at the half-step Purple Mansion realm, a meaningful look, and sighed inwardly, “With such talent and character, it’s no wonder Fu Changsheng was unwilling to support this legitimate son.”

As the clan chief walked, he transmitted a message to his daughter beside him: "Remember, the interests of the family always come before personal grudges. No matter how cowardly Fu Yongpeng is, he is still Fu Changsheng's legitimate son and Qinglin's father. There are some ways he should save face."

Chief Wu followed Fu Yongpeng into the elegant room, where the maids served him spiritual tea before withdrawing.

Before long, a streak of azure light pierced the sky and arrived in an instant. Fu Changsheng, dressed in a plain robe, stepped into the hall, his aura as restrained as a deep abyss, with only the embroidered emblem of the Imperial Guard on his cuffs revealing his identity.

"Clan Chief Wu, I've kept you waiting." Fu Changsheng smiled and cupped his hands in greeting.

Chief Wu quickly rose to return the greeting: "Lord Fu, you are too kind. Congratulations on your promotion to Imperial Inspector and the arrival of your son." He then took out a jade box from his sleeve. "This is a longevity lock carved from three-hundred-year-old cold jade; consider it a small gift for your son."

The temperature in the entire hall plummeted the moment the jade box was opened. The lock was engraved with the four characters "福寿永昌" (May you enjoy lasting happiness and longevity), each stroke flowing with spiritual patterns that only a Golden Core cultivator could inscribe—clearly the work of the Wu family patriarch.

Fu Changsheng's eyes flickered slightly, and he solemnly accepted the gift: "Old Ancestor Wu is very kind."

Amidst the wafting aroma of tea, Chief Wu took a sip of the spiritual tea, then suddenly sighed and gently placed the teacup on the table.

"Lord Fu, to be honest, I have another request to make." A look of worry appeared between his brows. "The 600-year-old Seven-Heart Begonia in my clan has recently withered suddenly for some unknown reason. Its leaf veins have turned gray, and black veins have grown inside its petals. It has lost more than 30% of its vitality."

Fu Changsheng paused slightly, his hand, which was about to raise his cup, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes: "The Seven-Heart Begonia is a spiritual medicine that aids in the cultivation of Golden Core cultivators. Clan Chief Wu trusts our Fu family so much?"

If not forced to, I would not easily show it to others.

Chief Wu smiled bitterly to himself, but showed no sign of it on his face, his expression sincere: "Everyone speaks highly of Lord Fu. If even Lord Fu cannot be trusted, then there is no one trustworthy in the world."

He looked at Fu Changsheng with sincere eyes, "I've heard that Miss Fu's third daughter, Yongwei, is proficient in the art of spiritual plants. Would it be possible to invite Miss Yongwei to our Wu family to check on the growth of the 127 Heart-shaped Begonia?"

Fu Changsheng put down his teacup, tapping his fingertips lightly twice on the table. "Unfortunately, Yongwei and her husband are currently in seclusion, studying a combined attack technique." He looked up at Clan Chief Wu, his gaze clear as a pool. "However..."

“I’ve seen a similar record in an ancient book.” Fu Changsheng’s sleeves fluttered slightly, and a jade slip floated in the air, projecting a few lines of blurry text: “The Seven-Heart Begonia grows in extremely yang places. If it encounters yin energy, its leaf veins will turn gray, and its petals will grow black threads—exactly the same symptoms described by Chief Wu.”

Clan Chief Wu's pupils constricted slightly, his heart filled with surprise and doubt: Fu Changsheng was renowned for his talisman-making skills, when did he also possess such expertise in spiritual plants? However, he showed no outward sign, instead revealing a look of delight: "Lord Fu is indeed knowledgeable and insightful! I wonder if this ancient text records a method of treatment?"

Fu Changsheng put away the jade slip, his robes fluttering even without wind as he stood up: "I need to see it with my own eyes to confirm. If it is truly as described in the ancient texts..." He paused, "I need a Seven-Heart Begonia sapling as payment."

"This..." Clan Chief Wu stroked his beard, deep in thought. The Seven-Heart Begonia only bears fruit every five hundred years, and the clan currently has no more than five saplings. But considering that the withered main plant was crucial to whether the clan could produce another Golden Core cultivator, he immediately slammed his hand on the table and said, "If Your Excellency can truly save the main plant, I, Wu, am willing to offer two saplings!"

Fu Changsheng laughed heartily, "Clan Chief Wu is straightforward." He turned to Fu Yongpeng, who was standing to the side, and instructed, "Go and fetch my Green Wood Cauldron." He then said to Wu Qingyue, "Tell your Aunt Yongwei that I'll take three bottles of the 'Clear Spirit Dew' she cultivates for future use."

Seeing this, Clan Chief Wu's doubts deepened—even tools had to be prepared on the spot; did this Clan Head Fu truly understand the ways of spiritual plants? But with the die already cast, he had no choice but to steel himself and rise to lead the way: "Please follow me, sir."

As the two flew past the Fu family's spiritual fields, Clan Chief Wu couldn't help but probe, "I didn't expect Lord Fu to also have expertise in spiritual plants?"

Fu Changsheng, standing atop azure clouds, chuckled upon hearing this: "Just a smattering of knowledge." He pointed to a field of golden ears of rice below, "Like this thousand-thread spirit rice, it appears to be growing well, but in reality, its roots have been hollowed out by bloodworms—Clan Chief Wu, if you don't believe me, you can pull up a stalk and see."

Clan Chief Wu, somewhat skeptical, took a stalk and indeed found the base of the rice plant covered in red threads. Just as he was surprised, he suddenly heard Fu Changsheng transmit his voice, "Actually, that ancient book was a gift from Yongwei. Over the years, whenever she encountered difficulties with spiritual plants, she would discuss them with me." His tone carried a hint of paternal pride. "This child is exceptionally gifted; even at the Qi Refining stage, she could distinguish the essence of hundreds of herbs."

These words were perfectly worded, explaining the source of his knowledge while also implying that he was not entirely an outsider. Chief Wu suddenly understood, and the last trace of doubt in his heart vanished.

...

...

Deep beneath the Wu family's land lies a strange space where intense heat and extreme cold intertwine.

The Black Fiend Master sat cross-legged on a blood-red altar, his gray robes billowing even without wind, his gaunt face appearing particularly sinister in the glow of the eerie blue flames. Before him floated a fist-sized ball of eerie blue flame, the very sacred fire of the Black Fiend Cult—the Profound Nether Ice Flame.

The flames were sometimes as cold as ice, and sometimes as hot as magma; these two completely opposite properties were perfectly blended together, emitting a heart-pounding aura.

"Soon. Almost there." The hoarse voice of the Black Fiend Master echoed in the cave, his eyes gleaming with fanaticism. "After absorbing three more branches of the spiritual veins, you will gain sentience and become the sacred flame of my Black Fiend Sect!"

The azure flames seemed to understand his words, leaping merrily. The surrounding temperature plummeted, and a thick layer of frost instantly condensed on the rock wall, only to melt away in the blink of an eye due to the intense heat emanating from the flames, turning into billowing white mist.

Black Fiend Master nodded in satisfaction, his withered fingers forming hand seals, guiding the spiritual energy drawn from the Wu family's spiritual veins into the Profound Nether Ice Flame. He had been lurking here for three years, carefully controlling the speed of absorption to avoid attracting the attention of the Wu family's Golden Core Ancestor.

"These fools from the Wu family think they can rest easy just because they've advanced to the sixth rank?" Black Fiend True Person sneered. "Once the Sacred Flame is complete, the first thing I'll do is use your Wu family as a sacrifice!"

Just then, he suddenly frowned, sensing a powerful aura descending upon the Wu family from the ground.

"A Golden Core cultivator?" Black Fiend True Man's expression hardened, and he immediately concealed his aura, cautiously probing upwards with his divine sense.

……

On the ground, there is the Wu family's medicinal herb garden.

Fu Changsheng followed Clan Chief Wu through layers of restrictions to the withered Seven-Heart Begonia. He calmly examined the precious herb, while his divine sense silently extended downwards, probing for the anomalies beneath the ground.

"As expected, it's here," Fu Changsheng thought to himself, but his face remained expressionless, instead revealing a thoughtful look.

Seeing his solemn expression, Chief Wu couldn't help but ask, "Lord Fu, is there any way to cure him?"

Fu Changsheng withdrew his gaze and smiled calmly: "Clan Chief Wu, rest assured, I am confident in treating this illness. However, we need to set up two layers of formations: one to protect the essence of the spiritual medicine, and the other to dredge the yin energy of the earth's veins."

"Two formations?" Clan Chief Wu asked, slightly puzzled.

Fu Changsheng explained, "The Seven-Heart Begonia's root system is severely damaged. If we directly dredge the earth's veins, it might not be able to withstand the changes in spiritual energy. We need to first stabilize its vitality with the 'Green Wood Nourishing Yuan Array,' and then use the 'Yin-Yang Transformation Array' to regulate the earth's veins."

This explanation was reasonable, and Chief Wu nodded repeatedly: "Lord Fu has considered everything thoroughly; please proceed with the plan."

Fu Changsheng said no more, and took out seventy-two cyan array flags from his storage bag, each engraved with intricate runes. He made hand seals, and the array flags flew in all directions as if they were sentient, inserting themselves into the soil in specific positions.

"Aoki Nourishing Essence, rise!"

With a soft shout, all seventy-two array flags simultaneously lit up with azure light, weaving together in the air to form a massive net of light that slowly descended, enveloping the Seven-Heart Begonia. Upon contact with the azure light, the withered leaves of the herb trembled slightly, seemingly finding some relief.

Chief Wu was overjoyed upon seeing this: "It works! Lord Fu truly lives up to his reputation!"

Fu Changsheng smiled slightly and took out thirty-six jade talismans from his robes, each emanating a faint aura of chaos. He casually tossed the talismans to the ground, but in reality, the landing point of each one was carefully calculated, perfectly forming the outline of a larger array.

Deep underground, Black Fiend Master's brows furrowed more and more tightly.

"Is Fu Changsheng really only here to heal the spiritual herb?" He was suspicious, but seeing that the other party was indeed seriously setting up an array to heal the spiritual herb, he relaxed slightly. "Even if he discovers something amiss, what can a mere third-level Golden Core cultivator do?"

However, when Fu Changsheng began to set up the second layer of the formation, Black Fiend Master's expression suddenly changed drastically!

"not good!"

He suddenly stood up and discovered that the location where the jade talismans fell had formed a huge cage underground, completely sealing off the space where he was!

"We've been discovered!" Black Fiend Master's eyes flashed with cold light. "So, Fu Changsheng, you sly fox! On the surface, you're treating the medicinal herbs, but in reality, you're after me!"

On the ground, Fu Changsheng sensed the change in the underground aura, knowing that his opponent had noticed him. He no longer concealed himself, and his hand seals suddenly accelerated, causing all thirty-six jade talismans to simultaneously emit a dazzling, mysterious yellow light!

(End of this chapter)