Family Rise: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 563 Double Kill! An Unexpected Gain!
Shortly after Liu Meizhen led her two sons deep into the extinct volcano, a shadowy figure silently appeared near the crater.

It was none other than the mysterious female cultivator Yun Yi who had returned:

"So we've entered this place? Good, it saves me the trouble of going through all that trouble."

She carefully investigated and confirmed that Liu Meizhen's two-headed, green-eyed python was merely guarding the cave entrance and had not noticed her presence.

Without further hesitation, Yun Yi's hands flew, precisely striking array flags and plates into the void and rock layers surrounding the volcano's crater. Her movements were incredibly fast and her technique masterful; a set of arrays containing binding and isolating power quickly took shape, a faint halo flashing by before disappearing completely, silently enveloping the entire volcano's exit.

……

Deep underground, Liu Meizhen had set up a concealment array and was preparing to return the way she came with her two sons. Just as they were about to fly out of the volcanic passage, Liu Meizhen suddenly stopped, her delicate brows furrowing slightly.

"Mother, what's wrong?" Fu Yongjing asked, puzzled.

Liu Meizhen did not answer immediately. Her powerful divine sense, like the finest thread, carefully sensed what was above. The exit remained the same, and her spirit pet, the Azure-Eyed Python, was also unharmed. However, there was now a very faint fluctuation of spiritual energy in the air, one that did not belong to this place. This fluctuation was cleverly concealed beneath the residual heat of the volcano and the aura of the Azure-Eyed Python, making it almost imperceptible.

If she hadn't been so meticulous and vigilant, she would have almost overlooked it.

"No!" she said decisively, her voice low and sharp, "Something's happened up there, let's retreat downstairs!"

Although they didn't understand why, Fu Yongxing and Fu Yongjing had no doubt about their mother's judgment. The three of them immediately suppressed their escape light and quickly fell back to the bottom of the deep pit, clinging to the shadows of the rock wall.

Almost the instant they were falling, at the volcano's vent, Yunyi sensed the unusual movement of the aura below. Knowing that he had been discovered, he stopped hiding!

"Om-!"

With a muffled roar, countless runes suddenly lit up the entire crater, and a dark light curtain instantly solidified, like an inverted giant bowl, completely sealing off the exit! A powerful binding force spread out.

"Trying to hide now? Too late!" Yun Yi's cold voice came through the formation.

Liu Meizhen knew she was trapped; her opponent had come prepared, and retreat was futile. She took a deep breath and said urgently to her two sons, "You two wait here. No matter what happens, you must not come up!"

Before she finished speaking, she had already transformed into a blazing red light and soared into the sky!

"break!"

The instant she burst through the exit, Liu Meizhen raised her hand, and the Heaven-Burning Decree in her palm shone with crimson light! A vast domain of fire power suddenly expanded from her center, scorching and violent, as if it could burn everything!
The newly formed trapping array light barrier collided violently with the Burning Heaven Flame Domain, emitting a tearing sound that made one's teeth ache, and was actually forced open with a gap!
Liu Meizhen moved like lightning, instantly breaking through the gap and hovering in the air.

at the same time.

Flames gathered around her, and a "Heavenly Fire Spirit" formed entirely of blazing white flames, radiating the powerful fluctuations of the early Golden Core stage, glaring menacingly at the enemy in front of her.

A hint of surprise flashed in Yun Yi's eyes; she hadn't expected her opponent to possess such formidable array-breaking techniques and summoning abilities. She revealed herself, her gaze beneath her cloak fixed intently on Liu Meizhen:
"Excellent methods. No wonder she is the matriarch of the Fu family."

Liu Meizhen also recognized her opponent: a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator with a profound and concentrated aura, clearly not someone to be trifled with. She said coldly:
"Who are you? What is your purpose in setting up this ambush here?"

Yun Yi, not wanting to say more, went straight to the point:

"Hand over that brat's black-scaled python, and I'll turn around and leave immediately, never causing trouble for your Fu family."

Upon hearing this, Liu Meizhen's lips curled into a cold smile: "So it's all for my son's spirit pet. You've certainly got a good plan, but..." Her voice suddenly turned sharp, "You think you're worthy?"

"Since you're courting death, don't blame me!" Enraged, Yun Yi unleashed his mid-stage Golden Core spiritual power without reservation. With a wave of his hand, a gray streak carrying a chilling aura that corroded the soul swept towards Liu Meizhen.

Although Liu Meizhen was only at the second level of the Golden Core stage, her first-grade Golden Core suddenly circulated within her body, unleashing a surge of incomparably pure and high-quality magical power. Its crimson radiance even surpassed the opponent's gray glow. She pointed her fingers like a sword, unleashing a condensed, heaven-burning sword aura that instantly shredded the gray streak!

Boom boom boom!
The two instantly engaged in battle.

Fire Spirit roared and rallied from the side, unleashing a raging inferno.

Yun Yi possessed a profound cultivation level and abundant magical power; Liu Meizhen's Golden Core was of unparalleled quality, and the purity and enduring nature of her magical power was in no way inferior to that of a mid-stage cultivator. In addition, her Burning Heaven Technique was extremely profound, and for a time they fought to a standstill, with no clear winner.

Yun Yi grew increasingly alarmed as the fight progressed, never expecting her opponent to be so formidable. Knowing that further delay might lead to unforeseen complications, a fierce glint flashed in her eyes, and she finally made her decision.

"You have every reason to be proud that you could force me to use this!"

She abruptly pulled back, flipped her palm, and a palm-sized, dark golden dragon pearl covered with mysterious patterns appeared. A terrifying pressure that made one's heart tremble instantly enveloped the world!
"Dragon Ball! The power of a Nascent Soul!?" Liu Meizhen's pupils shrank suddenly.

"To die under the power of a Nascent Soul cultivator is your honor!" Yun Yi grinned maliciously, activating the dragon pearl in his hand with all his might.

The Dragon Ball shone brightly, and a phantom dragon shadow roared out, carrying terrifying power capable of destroying the heavens and the earth, rushing straight towards Liu Meizhen! In her view, facing this attack that transcended her realm, Liu Meizhen had no chance of survival!
However, facing this fatal blow, Liu Meizhen showed no panic whatsoever, only a cold resolve.

"You're not the only one who can deliver a Nascent Soul strike."

A golden light suddenly shone from between her brows, and a terrifying power, even more noble, more domineering, and imbued with imperial majesty, erupted! A solid golden phoenix shadow cried out, its power overwhelming, in no way inferior to the dragon shadow!
"What?! This is... the aura of the Eldest Princess?! Impossible!" Yun Yi's sinister smile instantly turned into utter shock and disbelief!

In the blink of an eye, the dragon's shadow and the phoenix's shadow clashed fiercely!

Boom! ! !

A deafening roar resounded, and a terrifying energy storm swept in all directions, shearing a layer of rock from the crater!
The stalemate lasted only a moment before the dark golden dragon scales let out a mournful cry and shattered with a bang! Although the golden phoenix shadow had dimmed considerably, its momentum remained undiminished, carrying the supreme majesty of the princess, and instantly pierced through Yun Yi's protective spiritual light!
"No!! Fellow Daoist, spare my life! I'm willing..." Yun Yi was terrified and begged for mercy.

But Liu Meizhen's eyes were cold and unmoved.

She knew perfectly well that being merciful to the enemy was being cruel to herself and her family.

The phoenix's shadow swept past mercilessly.

The begging for mercy stopped abruptly.

Yunyi's body fell to the ground, raising a few specks of dust.

Liu Meizhen landed slowly, her breathing now steady. She first cautiously scanned her surroundings with her divine sense to confirm that there were no more ambushes before walking to the corpse.

With a flick of her slender hand, the storage bag at Yun Yi's waist and the shattered fragment of the dragon pearl flew into her hand. She probed the storage bag with her divine sense and examined it carefully. The bag contained few items, but they were of high quality, including a considerable amount of spirit stones, pills, and talismans.

Suddenly, her gaze sharpened, and she took out a warm, smooth jade bottle.

As soon as she uncorked the bottle, an incredibly pure medicinal fragrance, carrying the scent of scorching dragon breath, instantly filled the air, causing the Burning Heaven Technique within her body to stir slightly.

"This is... the Fire Dragon Pill?" A hint of surprise flashed in Liu Meizhen's eyes.

This pill is made primarily with Fire Dragon Grass, containing an extremely large amount of fire-attribute essence, making it remarkably effective for fire-type Golden Core cultivators breaking through bottlenecks. The quality of this bottle of pills is enough to support her breakthrough to the third level of the Golden Core stage!
Suppressing her joy, she continued her investigation and discovered several more magical artifacts with blurry dragon-shaped patterns and an identity token. These patterns were ancient and mysterious, and did not match the symbols of any sect or family she knew.

“Dragon pattern… a dragon pearl that can unleash a Nascent Soul attack, and this Fire Dragon Pill…” Liu Meizhen frowned slightly, her mind racing. “This person’s background is definitely not simple, and there are probably many powerful connections behind him.” She put all these things away, intending to investigate them in detail when she got back.

At this moment, Fu Yongxing and Fu Yongjing cautiously flew up. Seeing that their mother was unharmed and then seeing the corpse of the mid-stage Golden Core cultivator on the ground, their faces were filled with shock and lingering fear.

"Mother, are you alright?" Fu Yongjing asked anxiously. Fu Yongxing stared at the corpse, her face pale: "She...she came for my Black Scale?"

Liu Meizhen nodded, looking at her youngest son with a serious expression: "Now you know fear? If I hadn't happened to be here, could the two of you have withstood an attack from a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator? Could you have withstood an attack from a Nascent Soul cultivator?"

Fu Yongxing recalled the terrifying aftershocks of the collision between Nascent Soul level cultivators, shuddered, and with no more hope left, he knelt down with a thud.
"Your son knows he was wrong! He was arrogant and ignorant, and almost caused a disaster! From now on, he will follow his father and mother's teachings, never go out on his own again, and will diligently cultivate!"

This time, he genuinely felt fear and regret.

Fu Yongjing also knelt down immediately: "Mother, it was my fault for not watching over my younger brother properly. Please punish me."

Seeing that the two truly knew their mistake, Liu Meizhen softened her tone:
"Get up, both of you. I hope you will remember this incident. The dangers of the cultivation world are far beyond your imagination. If it weren't for me today, neither of you would have survived."

"Yes!"

The two men responded respectfully, then stood up, still shaken.

Just then, two streaks of light flew rapidly from afar, Fu Yongqing and Liu Shuang, who had rushed over after sensing the intense energy fluctuations in the area.

Upon landing, the two were shocked to see the scene in complete disarray and a Golden Core cultivator lying dead.

Fu Yongqing strode forward, his face filled with panic and self-reproach, and bowed deeply to Liu Meizhen:
“Mother! Yongqing has failed in his duties, allowing such thieves to infiltrate the fiefdom, disturbing you and endangering my two younger brothers. He deserves to die! Please punish him, Mother!”

As a prefect, it was a grave dereliction of duty for him to be unaware that a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator was hiding within his fiefdom.

Liu Shuang's gaze swept across the battlefield, finally landing on Liu Meizhen, whose expression was calm and whose aura fluctuated slightly. An astonishing light burst forth from her cool eyes.

To reverse the tide and defeat someone in the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm! What kind of strength is that?
Liu Meizhen is far more unfathomable than the rumors suggest!

A yearning for power and respect for the strong welled up within her. She cupped her hands and said, "Mother is incredibly powerful and calm in the face of danger. Liu Shuang admires you!" Her tone was filled with unprecedented sincerity, a longing for absolute strength.

Liu Meizhen waved her hand and said to Fu Yongqing, "This person's concealment skills are extremely high; it's not your fault. Get up."

She abruptly changed the subject, issuing a clear instruction:

"Yongqing, immediately mobilize the strongest array masters and trusted men in the prefecture to set up multiple layers of restrictive arrays around this dormant volcano, and keep a close watch on it, forbidding anyone from approaching to investigate. Keep today's events a secret."

"Yes! I will do it immediately! I will make sure there are no more mistakes!" Fu Yongqing quickly agreed, feeling somewhat relieved.

"As for you two," Liu Meizhen looked at her two sons, "you will immediately return to the county town with Yongqing and go directly back to Huizhou Prefecture through the teleportation array."

Fu Yongxing was taken aback: "Mother, use the long-distance teleportation array between the county city and the prefectural city? That would be very expensive..."

"Now is not the time to worry about spirit stones!"

Liu Meizhen interrupted him, her tone resolute:
"Their target is clear: you and your spirit pet. Their backing is unknown, and whether they have accomplices is also uncertain. Traveling by land is fraught with too many variables and dangers; only a teleportation array provides instant access and is the safest and most reliable option. Set off immediately, without delay!"

Hearing their mother's arrangement, the two brothers realized the seriousness of the situation and dared not object further. Their opponent had even resorted to a Nascent Soul stage attack, which was far beyond their capabilities.

"Mother, rest assured, I will personally escort my two younger brothers to the teleportation array to ensure that nothing goes wrong!" Fu Yongqing assured him.

...

...

Demon Suppression Pass - Demon Dragon Mountain
Dark, ominous clouds hung low over the mountain ridge, and jagged rocks, like the fangs of a troll, pierced the inky soil. The demonic energy here was far denser than in ordinary areas, and even the air you breathed carried a chilling, corrosive force.

Fu Changsheng appeared like a ghost in a secluded mountain hollow, his aura completely concealed, as if he had merged with this demonic land. He did not rush into action, but instead carefully scanned his surroundings with his divine sense, confirming that the few sneaky "tails" following behind him had been completely shaken off.

“Li Wanhu…” A cold sneer curled at the corner of his lips. His tricks of tracking and ambushing seemed so ridiculous under his deliberate reversal and full use of his escape techniques.

He did not go to the obvious trap in Ghost Cry Gorge, but instead came to Demon Dragon Mountain based on the information provided by the intelligence.

Because Black Master, one of the Black Wind Duo who ambushed and killed Chang Lei, is healing his wounds here. As long as this thief is captured alive, it will be a foregone conclusion that Li Wanhu will be punished.

Before searching for Fu Changlei.

He has to get rid of this cancer, Li Wanhu.

"Qiu Niang!"

Fu Changsheng did not hesitate at all, and his mind was set on it.

The air around him rippled slightly, and a figure dressed in simple clothes, yet with a cold and aloof demeanor, appeared—it was Qiu Niang. Upon her appearance, without Fu Changsheng needing to say a word, a glance around revealed everything.

"The earth's energy veins converge here, making it a perfect opportunity to draw upon their power."

Qiu Niang's voice was clear and melodious, and her hands had already begun to form hand seals. Streams of light and color flew out from her sleeves and accurately disappeared into the surrounding ground and rocks. Her movements were fluid and graceful, demonstrating her mastery of the art of formations.

Fu Changsheng was generous, ejecting a large number of high-grade spirit stones and even several spirit crystals, embedding them into key nodes of the formation to provide immense energy to this temporary array.

Before long, an invisible, yet terrifying, trapping formation that enveloped the entire valley and caused the earth's demonic energy to tremble slightly, quietly took shape. The moment the formation was completed, the surging demonic energy around it seemed to freeze for a moment.

"Om-!"

Almost at the same moment the grand formation was fully activated, from the depths of the valley, a figure enveloped in a dense aura of black evil energy suddenly soared into the sky, shouting with a mixture of shock and rage:

"Who dares disturb my peaceful meditation?!"

The Black Immortal hovered in mid-air, his expression one of surprise and uncertainty.

He was in the midst of a critical period of secluded healing when he was abruptly interrupted by a powerful, sudden force of confinement, nearly worsening his injuries. He stared intently at Fu Changsheng, who had suddenly appeared below, sensing the latter's mid-stage Golden Core cultivation. Feeling apprehensive, he forcibly suppressed his anger and clasped his hands in a fist salute:

"Fellow Daoist, we are complete strangers. Why have you set up this formation to trap me? Is there some misunderstanding?"

His injuries had not yet healed, and he was truly unwilling to fight against cultivators of the same level at this moment.

Fu Changsheng stood with his hands behind his back, his robes fluttering in the demonic wind. His expression was calm and composed, but his words pierced Hei Zhenren's heart like poisonous thorns:
"Misunderstanding? Lord Li Wanhu sent me here to completely settle the unresolved issues of Ghost Cry Gorge. Tell me, is this a misunderstanding?"

"Li Wanhu?!"

Hei Zhenren was taken aback at first, then his pupils suddenly contracted, and the forced politeness on his face was instantly replaced by endless resentment and rage! The crushing defeat at Ghost Cry Gorge, his younger brother's self-destruction of his golden core to save him, the humiliation of hiding here like a stray dog ​​to heal his wounds... everything was completely ignited by the three words "Li Wanhu"!
"Bullshit! That old dog Li Wanhu! He dared to send people to silence us!!"

Hei Zhenren completely lost his mind. His eyes turned blood red in an instant, and his demonic energy exploded. No longer caring about his unhealed injuries, he fiercely unleashed a broken ghost banner, which transformed into a ferocious black rainbow and rushed straight at Fu Changsheng!
"Die to me!"

Rumble!
His furious, all-out attack struck the invisible barrier that enveloped the valley, but it only stirred up ripples across the sky, its power being weakened by more than 30% by the great formation!

Fu Changsheng wanted him to lose his composure and attack in a frenzy!
Just as Hei Zhenren's old power had just dissipated and new power had not yet arisen, and his defenses were wide open due to his rage, Fu Changsheng was born.

Two streaks of light flew out from his sleeves, transforming into two ancient lotus lamps. The lamp wicks ignited without fire, casting a clear, boundless glow, like a cage between heaven and earth, instantly suppressing and imprisoning the churning demonic energy around the Black True Man!
Black Master's expression changed drastically. He struggled frantically, but felt as if he were trapped in a quagmire, and his movements became more than ten times slower!
The next moment, Fu Changsheng appeared in front of him as if by teleportation. With a flick of his fingertip, the purest yet destructive Purple Extreme Profound Fire leaped out, ignoring all protective demonic energy, and accurately struck his dantian!
"Ugh—!"

Hei Zhenren let out an extremely shrill scream, feeling an indescribable burning pain and emptiness in his dantian. His golden core, which he had painstakingly cultivated for many years, was forcibly stripped away by the purple fire! His cultivation vanished in an instant like a burst dam!
His vision went black, and he almost fainted, but Fu Changsheng's other hand moved with lightning speed, striking dozens of acupoints all over his body, not only completely destroying his cultivation but also severing his chance to sever his heart meridian and detonate his remnant soul. The Black True Man fell limply from mid-air, crashing to the ground like a lump of mud, his eyes filled with endless despair and desolation.

Fu Changsheng raised his hand and retrieved the two Lotus Lanterns and the dim, cracked Golden Core. Without even glancing at the cripple on the ground, he rolled up his sleeve and wrapped him into a pre-prepared restriction talisman, sealing him completely.

The whole process was swift and efficient, from provoking, luring the enemy, suppressing them, to disarming and capturing them, all within a dozen or so breaths.

On the way back.

Fu Changsheng took out the storage bag he had looted from Hei Zhenren.

The restrictions on the bag's opening had long since vanished under the Purple Extreme Profound Fire. He probed inside with his divine sense, briefly examined it, and raised an eyebrow slightly.

This demonic cultivator was quite wealthy, and some of his possessions were quite unexpected.

The first thing that catches the eye are several pieces of ore and spirit wood, each shimmering with different luster and containing pure spiritual energy. They even faintly bear the baleful marks unique to the area surrounding the Demon Suppression Pass. "Mysterious Fiend Iron Essence," "Yin Soul Wood"... these are all good spiritual materials among the fourth-tier items. It seems that this Black True Man has "collected" quite a few things outside the Demon Suppression Pass. It's unclear whether he obtained them through demon hunting or by killing and robbing.

His divine sense bypassed these spiritual materials and continued to probe inward.

Suddenly, a thought struck him.

...

...

Thunder Ruins.

Holding the token that instantly granted them a huge sum of money, Fu Changlei and his two companions did not flaunt their wealth. Instead, they discreetly and quickly made their way to the "Wanxiang Tower" in the city center—the main place for exchanging points, which was like a vast marketplace with all kinds of resources.

The Vientiane Tower was also bustling with people, yet unusually quiet. Most people silently checked and exchanged information in front of the various light screens, then quickly left, prioritizing efficiency.

Ali quickly found the counter for exchanging the Cleansing Spring. The information was clearly listed on the light screen:

Low-grade Purifying Spring: 100 points/bottle (Removes impurities and alleviates mild demonic poisoning)
Medium-grade Purifying Spirit Spring: 500 points/bottle (Purifies meridians, effective against moderate demonic poison)

Superior Purifying Spirit Spring: 1000 points/bottle (Cleanses the Golden Core, eradicates stubborn demonic poison and Spirit-Eroding Powder)

Premium Purifying Spring: 2000 points/bottle (Rebuilds Foundation)

Upon seeing the price of the superior-grade Cleansing Spring, Ali gasped, but when she saw that its effects were clearly stated as "eradicating the Corrosive Spirit Powder," hope immediately ignited in her eyes. They had over 1,300 points, enough to redeem a bottle!
"Exchange for a bottle of top-grade Pure Spirit Spring." Fu Changlei pressed the token onto the designated slot on the counter.

With a flash of light, 1000 points were deducted, and a jade bottle slid out from under the counter. The bottle was warm and smooth, and inside it was a small half-full bottle of liquid that was shimmering with seven-colored light and exuding a pure and refreshing fragrance.

Holding the jade bottle, even Fu Changlei couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion. The hope of restoring his cultivation was within reach.

They did not linger at Wanxiang Tower. Fu Changlei used his remaining points to exchange for three days' use of a medium-sized residence and some necessary food and water before heading to their assigned accommodation—an independent stone house on the outskirts of the city. Although simple, it had basic soundproofing and was quiet and private enough.

Inside the stone house, Fu Changlei sat cross-legged on the only stone bed and drank the bottle of top-grade Pure Spirit Spring without hesitation.

The spring water entered my throat and transformed into a gentle yet powerful torrent of energy, instantly surging into my limbs and bones.

This energy was not violent; instead, it possessed a gentle, nourishing quality, like spring rain. Wherever it passed, the insidious, corrosive toxins melted away like snow meeting the sun. The blocked and corroded meridians were forcibly opened, and the parched dantian began to regain its vitality.

The process was not entirely comfortable.

The toxins were forced out of his body, causing a stinging pain like being pricked with needles; the reshaping of his meridians was like scraping the bone to remove poison. Fine beads of sweat appeared on Fu Changlei's forehead, and his body trembled slightly, but he didn't even frown. He focused all his energy on circulating the remaining intent of the "Nine Heavens Star Technique," guiding this pure energy to cleanse himself.

Ali and Tiezhu stood guard to the side, watching nervously.

Black stains, toxins and impurities, were seeping from Fu Changlei's skin. His aura, initially faint and ethereal, gradually became longer and more sustained, with even a faint flash of lightning appearing on his body.

Several hours later, Fu Changlei suddenly opened his eyes, his eyes shining brightly. Although his cultivation was far from recovered, the feeling of weakness and mortalism had completely disappeared, replaced by a restrained composure and a hidden sharpness.

He exhaled a long breath of foul air, which carried a hint of fishy stench.

"Brother Changlei, how is it?" Ali asked anxiously.

"The toxins have been cleared and my meridians have been reshaped." Fu Changlei felt the long-lost flow of spiritual energy within his body. Although it was as faint as a stream, it was real and tangible. "It will take some time for my cultivation to recover, but I am no longer in any serious danger."

Ali and Tiezhu were overjoyed upon hearing this.

However, the joy on Fu Changlei's face was fleeting, and he quickly regained his usual composure. He looked at Ali:

"Ali, take out that fragment of the Ancient Thunder Scripture stele."

Ali immediately took out the heavy stone tablet. After the poison was neutralized, Fu Changlei's spiritual sense was more than ten times sharper. He placed his hand on the stone tablet again and carefully comprehended it.

This time, the feeling was completely different!

No longer vague, the ancient lightning patterns became crystal clear in his perception, even resonating mysteriously with the faint lightning spiritual power that had just regenerated within him! The content of the inscription was automatically filled in and deduced in his mind, and many things that were previously obscure and difficult to understand suddenly became clear!
More importantly, at the very bottom of the stone tablet, he discovered some extremely hidden marks that were not thunder patterns!

Those markings were more like map markers, pointing to a specific location. There were also several ancient runes next to them, which Fu Changlei identified as meaning "inheritance" and "trial"!
Fu Changlei's heart skipped a beat.

The value of this broken stele goes far beyond the fragments of the Ancient Thunder Scripture; it also hides clues pointing to the true core inheritance of Thunder Ruins!
He immediately composed himself, burying this discovery deep within his heart. He understood better than anyone the principle that possessing a treasure invites trouble. This Heavenly King City was far from being as peaceful and simple as it appeared on the surface.

Just then, a slightly arrogant voice came from outside the stone house:

"The person inside, come out for a moment."

Fu Changlei's eyes narrowed, and he gave Ali and Tiezhu a look, signaling them to be on their guard. Then he walked out first.

Three cultivators stood outside. The leader was an arrogant young man with late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation, while the two behind him were mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, clearly indicating that he was their leader. They wore uniform clothing with a crossed battle axe embroidered on their chests.

"What is it?" Fu Changlei asked calmly, sensing that the other party was up to no good.

The young cultivator sized up Fu Changlei, seemingly surprised by his weak aura, but then revealed a disdainful expression:
"New here? Don't you know the rules? This area is under the protection of our 'War Axe Alliance'. Each person must hand over ten points or equivalent items every day, and we'll keep you safe."

It was indeed extortion. Private fights were strictly prohibited within Tianwang City, but this kind of disguised "protection fee" was difficult to completely eliminate, especially for newcomers like them who seemed weak.

Upon hearing this, Tie Zhu glared angrily, and Ali clenched her fists.

Fu Changlei smiled, but the smile didn't reach his eyes: "What if we don't pay?"

The young cultivator's face darkened:
"Not handing it in? Then pray you don't run into anyone from our Battle Axe Alliance while doing quests outside the city! Or... you can go to the Dao Discussion Platform right now and spar with me? Of course, fists and feet have no eyes, and if you accidentally break a hand or foot, it wouldn't be good if it delayed your points."

The threat in his words was made no attempt to conceal.

He was certain that Fu Changlei's cultivation level was "low" and that he dared not accept the challenge.

Fu Changlei looked at them and suddenly asked, "Are you from the Battle Axe Alliance familiar with Thunder Ruins?"

The young cultivator was taken aback, not expecting him to ask this. He subconsciously replied arrogantly, "Of course! Our alliance leader is a Golden Core cultivator, and he often leads teams deep into the Thunder Ruins for hunting, so he's naturally familiar with it..."

“Very well.” Fu Changlei interrupted him, his tone still indifferent. “Points? No. If you want them, exchange them for detailed information about the depths of Thunder Ruins. Or… get lost.”

The last word, "Get lost," was uttered with a chilling aura, an aura cultivated through countless life-or-death battles, instantly overwhelming the pressure of the opponent's Foundation Establishment stage cultivation.

The young cultivator was taken aback by the sudden aura and subconsciously took a half step back, his expression changing several times. He suspiciously tried to sense Fu Changlei again, but still only felt that the other party's aura was weak. However, the coldness and depth in those eyes sent a chill down his spine.

"You...just wait for me!"

After uttering a harsh but ultimately cowardly remark, the young cultivator left dejectedly with his two companions. Unable to ascertain Fu Changlei's true strength, they dared not make a move within the city.

Tie Zhu spat angrily in the direction they left, while Ali looked worried.

"Brother Changlei, they definitely won't let this go," Ali whispered. "We've already offended the local tyrants as soon as we arrived. We're afraid things will get tough when we do missions outside the city in the future..."

"It's alright." Fu Changlei turned and went back into the house, his expression calm. "He's just a clown. The most urgent thing is to restore my cultivation as soon as possible."

He stared intently at the broken stele of the Ancient Thunder Scripture. Although the toxins had been cleared, his dantian and qi sea were depleted. Relying solely on absorbing this meager spiritual energy step by step would take an unknown amount of time.

"We need more points to exchange for pills or spiritual items that can help me recover quickly," Fu Changlei said in a deep voice.

His gaze returned to the hidden markings on the broken monument. "Deep within Thunder Ruins... perhaps that's where we truly need something, and the key to solving all our troubles."

But with their current strength, venturing deep into Thunder Ruins would be tantamount to suicide.

“Ah Li, Tie Zhu,” Fu Changlei said to the two of them, “For the next few days, you will continue to take on those safe, low-level missions to familiarize yourselves with the environment and accumulate experience. Safety first. I need to go into seclusion for a few days to study this inscription.”

"Great!" Tie Zhu patted his chest. "Brother Chang Lei, don't worry, with me here, I'll definitely protect Sister Ali!"

Ali nodded solemnly: "Brother Changlei, you can focus on your seclusion. Leave the outside matters to us." She knew that Fu Changlei's recovery was their greatest asset.

Fu Changlei said no more and immediately set up a simple warning barrier in the stone house. Then he immersed himself in comprehending the fragments of the Ancient Origin Thunder Scripture.

This time, he no longer merely memorized and understood the scriptures, but attempted to guide the newly formed, faint, and wisp-like lightning spiritual power within his body to circulate it through the body according to the most basic yet orthodox method of lightning elemental circulation recorded in the inscription.

The process was extremely slow and arduous. His meridians were newly opened and incredibly fragile, while his lightning spiritual power was domineering and unparalleled. Each circulation brought a needle-like pain. But his will was so strong that he gritted his teeth and used his powerful divine sense to precisely control that faint spiritual power, slowly opening up the dried-up riverbed.

At the same time, his understanding of Raibou was also improving rapidly.

Those patterns, which were originally just inanimate objects, gradually came to life in his eyes, forming a mysterious connection with the thunderous energy of heaven and earth. He even began to try to trace those thunder patterns in the air with his fingers as a brush.

At first there was no response, but he did not get discouraged. He tried again and again to adjust the output of his spiritual power, the order of his strokes, and the infusion of his spirit.

a few days later.

When Fu Changlei drew a complete "Lightning Guide" rune in the air again, the rune glowed slightly, absorbing a trace of barely perceptible lightning spirit energy from the air, and maintained it for several breaths before dissipating!
Become!

Although it was just a basic first-tier rune and could not last long, it meant that he had truly cast a spell again for the first time after losing his spiritual power!
More importantly, through this process, his control over his newly generated lightning spiritual power became exquisite and far surpassed that of before.

Under the repeated impact of the lightning, the meridians also became slightly more resilient and wider.

He slowly opened his eyes, a flash of lightning seeming to pass through them. His cultivation level was still low, probably only recovered to the late stage of Foundation Establishment, but his foundation had been honed to an exceptionally solid level, and his understanding of lightning techniques had leaped to a new level.

When he emerged from seclusion, Ali and Tiezhu had just returned. Both looked tired, but also somewhat pleased. They had been cautious these past few days, taking on several gathering and clearing tasks. Although they hadn't earned many points, things had gone smoothly, and they hadn't encountered any more members of the Battle Axe Alliance.

"Brother Changlei, you've emerged from seclusion?" Ali asked with delight, sensing the significantly more solidified aura emanating from Fu Changlei.

"Hmm." Fu Changlei nodded, looking at them. "How was the harvest?"

Tie Zhu eagerly reported, "We earned fifty-seven points! We also found out some information. Those bastards from the War Axe Alliance were definitely up to no good. They were secretly investigating our background and even said they'd see how long we could hide."

Ali added, "I also heard that a batch of large team missions will be released in a few days, with generous rewards, but they require teams and are very dangerous. Many teams are recruiting."

Fu Changlei's eyes flickered slightly: "Large-scale team missions... might be an opportunity." Going it alone is too inefficient and makes one vulnerable to suppression. Joining a temporary team would allow him to earn points and also provide an opportunity to learn more about Thunder Ruins.

"Let's go check out the mission hall."

Upon returning to the main hall, it was still bustling with activity. Sure enough, several newly released team quests with extremely high rewards were scrolling across the largest jade wall in the center:

"Recruiting Teammates: Explore the 'Black Wind Cave' on the outskirts of Thunder Ruins, hunt down the early-stage Golden Core demon 'Shadow Wind Wolf', and obtain its inner core. Requires at least five members with cultivation levels above late Foundation Establishment. Reward: 3,000 points, distributed according to contribution." "Urgent Recruitment: Clear the demonic cluster around the 'Abandoned Teleportation Array,' suspected to be led by a demon general. Requires a team of at least twenty members, cultivation level not limited, but must obey commands. Reward: 5,000 points, plus loot distribution."...

Below these tasks, there are many cultivators watching, discussing, or spontaneously forming teams.

Fu Changlei's gaze swept across the list, finally settling on a relatively obscure task with modest rewards, but one that stirred something within him:

"Seeking scholars proficient in ancient runes: assist in breaking the outer restrictions of the 'Ancient Observatory'. Mission location: Central edge of Thunder Ruins. Requirements: Must be able to identify at least three basic ancient thunder runes. Reward: 800 fixed points, with an additional reward if successful. The team currently has three members: one early-stage Purple Mansion sword cultivator, one late-stage Foundation Establishment array master, and one mid-stage Foundation Establishment pharmacist."

Ancient runic studies? Ancient thunder patterns? Ancient observation stations?

This mission was practically tailor-made for him! Moreover, the team was fully equipped, with offensive, support, and healing capabilities. The location was on the central edge of Thunder Ruins, which would allow them to avoid the areas where the Battle Axe Alliance usually operated, and also provide an opportunity to conduct an on-site investigation of Thunder Ruins, and perhaps even verify the clues on the broken stele.

"Take this one." Fu Changlei pointed to the quest.

"Ah? But Brother Changlei, they require you to be proficient in ancient runes..." Ali was a little worried, as ancient rune studies are extremely niche and difficult.

"It's alright," Fu Changlei said confidently. His understanding of the ancient thunder patterns, honed over the past few days of studying the broken stele, probably far surpasses what ordinary people imagine.

He took out his token and reconnected to the mission information. Soon, a message came through the token: "Runic Scholar? Show your qualifications."

Fu Changlei remained expressionless, gathering a faint wisp of lightning spiritual power at his fingertips and rapidly sketching in the air. This time, he wasn't drawing a single rune, but three interconnected and extremely complex ancient lightning patterns—a combination he had newly comprehended from the broken stele!
The three runes flashed through the air, yet they exuded a pure and ancient charm, drawing surprised glances from several truly knowledgeable array masters nearby.

After a brief silence, the token vibrated again, transmitting coordinate information and a simple word: "Come."

Fu Changlei put away the token and said to Ali and Tiezhu, "You two stay in the city and continue to take on security missions until I return."

"Brother Changlei, I'll go with you!" Ali said urgently, "I can help dispel the demonic energy!"

Tiezhu also clamored to go along.

Fu Changlei shook his head: "The key to this mission is solving the puzzle; having more people might not be useful. Besides, there's a Purple Mansion cultivator in the team, so we're relatively safe. You all stay in the city, focus on your cultivation, and protect yourselves and our remaining points." His tone left no room for argument.

Ali bit her lip, knowing that Fu Changlei's decision was right, and finally nodded: "Then you must be careful."

Fu Changlei patted Tiezhu on the shoulder, said nothing more, turned around and followed the coordinates toward the agreed meeting point.

(End of this chapter)