Family Rise: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 564 Triple Happiness, Bumper Harvest, and the Wonderful Uses of the Dragon Blood Tree

"This is... 'Moon Soul Dew Ganoderma'?"

A hint of surprise and delight flashed in Fu Changsheng's eyes.

This item is extremely rare. Born in the most yin place, it absorbs the essence of the moon. It is a top-grade spiritual object that nourishes and stabilizes the soul. For Qiu Chan, who needs to reshape her spiritual body, it is a priceless treasure! Its value far exceeds that of those fourth-order spiritual materials.

"I never expected that this devil would have such a good thing in his possession."

Suppressing his joy, Fu Changsheng continued to probe with his divine sense.

Then, his attention was drawn to something else.

It was an unassuming earthenware jar, its mouth sealed tightly, yet even through the earthenware walls, one could sense the strange, vibrant energy emanating from within. He carefully lifted a small portion of the seal, and an indescribable, faintly sweet yet full of life-giving fragrance wafted out.

The jar contained a small amount of viscous, molten jade-like liquid, in which countless strange, luminous specks, finer than grains of sand, were slowly rising and falling.

"This is... 'Ten Thousand Years of Azure Stone Milk'? No, it seems to also contain some kind of... ancient demonic plant essence?"

Fu Changsheng examined it carefully, and even with his extensive knowledge, he was slightly moved.

This item is an unparalleled sacred treasure for spiritual plants!
Just one drop could shorten the growth cycle of a medicinal herb by decades and greatly improve its quality and efficacy.

For him, who possessed a mysterious Five Elements Space and cultivated countless rare spiritual plants, this thing was no less valuable than the Moon Soul Dew Ganoderma!
"Heh." Fu Changsheng chuckled, carefully resealing the pottery jar and putting it away separately from the Moon Soul Dew Ganoderma. "This is truly an unexpected delight. The cultivators of the Demon Suppression Pass do indeed possess some extraordinary wealth."

Before turning back to the interior.

Fu Changsheng sent a message to Commander Chi.

……

After arriving inside the customs area.

Without pausing, Fu Changsheng headed straight for the solemn main hall of Zhenyuan Zhenjun. His steps were steady, his face cold and stern, and he exuded an undeniable aura of killing intent. Upon seeing this, none of the armored soldiers on duty along the way dared to step forward to question him, and they all bowed and gave way.

"Junior Fu Changsheng has an extremely urgent matter that requires my immediate audience with the True Lord!" Fu Changsheng's voice clearly rang out from outside the hall, breaking the eternal silence surrounding the main hall.

……

When Li Wanhu saw Fu Changsheng return safely, his heart skipped a beat, and an inexplicable feeling of palpitation made him suddenly stand up from his seat.

"wrong……"

His brow furrowed, an ominous premonition gnawing at his heart like a venomous snake.

Fu Changsheng will always come back alive.

What exactly happened?!

Moreover, Fu Changsheng went straight to the True Lord's Palace as soon as he returned.

"Could it be..."

Thinking about the hidden dangers left over from more than a decade ago.

Li Wanhu broke out in a cold sweat.

He forced himself to calm down.

Make a hand seal with both hands.

hum!
The extremely well-hidden tracking mark he had secretly planted years ago has actually been detected!
This realization struck him like a bolt from the blue, leaving him utterly terrified!
The markings... were crystal clear! And they were located right inside the pass! Their location... clearly pointed towards the True Monarch's Palace!
"How is this possible?!" Li Wanhu's face turned deathly pale in an instant, and cold sweat instantly soaked through the back of his robe. His body trembled uncontrollably, gripped by immense fear.

Fu Changsheng! It's Fu Changsheng! He not only found Hei Zhenren, but also brought him back to Zhenmo Pass alive and directly to Zhenyuan Zhenjun!

Finished!

Only these two words remained in Li Wanhu's mind.

Before the Black Immortal, Li Wanhu's various crimes—bribing them to ambush and kill Fu Changlei, and then betraying them to silence them—were completely exposed! Before the Nascent Soul True Lord, the Black Immortal's confession didn't even require soul-searching techniques; the True Lord had countless methods to make him reveal the truth. Moreover, the Black Immortal hated him to the bone and would definitely tell him everything without hesitation!

Hiring someone to harm a colleague, framing an imperial inspector... any one of these is a capital offense!
"Escape! I must escape immediately!" His survival instinct screamed wildly. He rushed towards the outside of the mansion, but a quick scan with his divine sense sent his heart sinking into an ice cellar.

Not far from the manor, Commander Chi's burly, red-clad figure leaned casually against a stone pillar, seemingly talking to a lieutenant. However, his seemingly relaxed posture actually blocked several key routes leading to the nearest teleportation array from his residence. Further away, the massive black iron gate of the pass, even in non-combat hours, slowly closed prematurely, emitting a muffled rumble, its array light swirling, completely sealing off both inside and outside!

That little beast Fu Changsheng actually notified Commander Chi in advance.

He's blocking his own path!
A net that has been laid long ago!

They can't escape! They really can't escape!

A profound despair overwhelmed him like icy seawater. But Li Wanhu was no ordinary man to have risen to his current position; the more desperate the situation, the more his inherent ruthlessness and decisiveness were unleashed.

"No! I can't die here!" A look of madness flashed in his eyes, and he turned around and rushed back to the deepest secret chamber in the mansion!
"Boom!" The stone door to the secret chamber was violently pushed open.

Inside, there was only a young man in purple robes, bound by numerous restrictions, his eyes empty and numb. His cultivation was merely at the Purple Mansion level; he was a scion of a noble family who had mysteriously disappeared from the pass several months prior. At this moment, he was clearly completely controlled, a puppet devoid of self-awareness.

Looking at this young body, Li Wanhu saw no hesitation in his eyes, only hysterical madness and a will to survive.

"You forced me to do this! Fu Changsheng! You forced me to do this!" he roared in a low voice, his hands moving like lightning, forming strange and complicated hand seals. The spiritual energy around him flowed backward, and his soul power burned fiercely. The entire secret chamber was instantly enveloped in an evil light.

"The Art of Possession!"

He roared, and his entire soul transformed into a twisted black light, lunging fiercely at the young man from the Purple Mansion!

The young man's body convulsed violently, his face contorted in extreme pain, his eyes glazed over with a mixture of emptiness and struggle, and a strange "hoarse" sound emanated from his throat.

A moment later, the convulsions stopped.

The "young man" slowly raised his head, stretched his neck, and revealed a sinister and twisted smile on his face that was completely out of character for his age and belonged to Li Wanhu.

"Heh...hehe...Fu Changsheng...do you think you've already won?" A hoarse voice came from the young man's mouth.

He quickly packed away his original clothes and storage bag, changed into the young man's clothes, and even tried to imitate the young man's slightly fearful and uneasy aura, making his eyes look timid.

After a lot of work...

Li Wanhu nodded in satisfaction and walked towards another extremely hidden exit of the secret room, leading to a secluded alleyway outside the mansion.

He was now merely a "young member of a small family who had narrowly escaped from the demonic cultivators, had just returned to the pass, and was still shaken." He wanted to take advantage of everyone's attention being drawn to the standoff at the True Lord's Palace, blend into the crowd, and escape this damned Demon-Suppressing Pass!
As long as you live, you will have the chance to take revenge!

……

Zhenjun Hall.

The palace doors opened silently, and Zhenyuan Zhenjun stepped out slowly. He remained as ancient and serene as ever, but his aura was more profound than ever before, as if he had just engaged in a deep communion with heaven and earth. His gaze fell upon Fu Changsheng, who was waiting outside, and he nodded slightly.

"Chang Sheng, what is the matter that is so urgent?" Zhenjun's voice was calm, yet it carried an inherent authority.

Fu Changsheng bowed and said succinctly, "Reporting to the True Lord, I have ascertained the truth behind my younger brother Changlei's disappearance and captured a key witness. This matter involves Commander Li Wanhu of the Pass, and is of great importance, so I have to trouble the True Lord."

With that, he flicked his sleeve, and the Black True Man, whose cultivation had been completely destroyed by the restriction, appeared in the hall, collapsing to the ground.

Zhenyuan Zhenjun's gaze swept over Hei Zhenren, his eyes remaining unmoved as he awaited the next development.

Fu Changsheng clearly explained the cause and effect.

From Fu Changlei's last message to his own reverse tracking to Demon Dragon Mountain, his plan to capture Black Master, and Black Master's confession of all of Li Wanhu's crimes of hiring assassins to kill his colleagues and then betraying them to silence them.

Black Master's face was ashen, but upon hearing this, he struggled to raise his head and hissed:
“True Lord…True Lord, please bear witness! That old dog Li Wanhu…lured my brother and me with great rewards to ambush Commander Fu…and then cruelly killed him after the deed was done…My brother sacrificed his golden core to save me and died…Every word I have said is true! I only beg the True Lord…to severely punish that villain Li Wanhu! I, Black Wind…will die without regret!”

He knew he was doomed, but the thought of taking Li Wanhu down with him before he died, avenging his brother, gave him a twisted sense of pleasure.

After listening, Zhenyuan Zhenjun's expression remained calm, but the invisible pressure in the hall suddenly dropped a few degrees.

He was not demanding of his subordinates on trivial matters, but he abhorred internal strife, especially when those at the leadership level hired thugs to harm their colleagues. This trend must not be allowed to continue! It had seriously crossed his bottom line and shaken the foundation of Zhenmo Pass.

Even knowing that Li Wanhu had some connections in the court, Zhenyuan Zhenjun's eyes were filled with only cold determination at this moment.

"Li Wanhu, how dare you!" Zhenjun's voice was not loud, but it carried a chilling aura. He said no more, and with a flicker, he disappeared from the hall as if merging into the void.

……

When Zhenyuan Zhenjun's figure appeared silently and like a ghost above the Li residence, chaos erupted below. Servants and retainers panicked, and cries and screams filled the air.

"My lord...my lord has been murdered!"

"Completely annihilated... How tragic..."

"It's in the secret room..."

With a sweep of his divine sense, Zhenjun instantly locked onto the secret chamber within the mansion. He took a step forward and found himself inside.

Li Wanhu lay on the ground, his face contorted in a grotesque grimace, blood flowing from his seven orifices. His body was utterly lifeless, and even more terrifyingly, his soul had completely dissipated; he was beyond dead. His death was gruesome, clearly indicating that his primordial spirit had been annihilated instantly by someone with extremely ruthless methods.

Almost simultaneously, Zhenyuan Zhenjun sensed that the life-soul lamp belonging to Li Wanhu inside the main hall had been completely extinguished.

Fu Changsheng arrived shortly afterward and, upon seeing the scene, frowned deeply: "True Lord, this matter... is too strange."

Li Wanhu was killed by villains immediately after being exposed; this silencing was far too swift and clean.

Zhenyuan Zhenjun carefully examined the corpse on the ground, even using the secret technique of tracing the source. After a moment, he slowly stood up and shook his head:

"It is indeed Li Wanhu without a doubt. His physical body and the faint remaining aura match. His soul has been annihilated and his life lamp has been extinguished. There is no way to fake it."

His gaze swept over the chaotic mansion, then drifted to the vast and perilous landscape beyond the pass. The forces within Zhenmo Pass were complex and not monolithic. Besides the Great Zhou Dynasty, there were representatives from sects in the far west, allies from the Miao villages of the northern frontier, and so on. If Li Wanhu's hiring of assassins were investigated thoroughly, it would undoubtedly unleash a massive uproar, becoming ammunition for others to attack the Great Zhou and question the unity within Zhenmo Pass.

Family scandals should not be aired in public.

Stability is paramount.

Zhenyuan Zhenjun had already made up his mind. He looked at Fu Changsheng and said in a deep voice:
"Li Wanhu's crimes are undeniable and he deserves to be punished by Heaven. Although he may have been killed by enemies or someone who wanted to silence him, he has only himself to blame. This matter ends here."

Fu Changsheng's eyes flickered slightly, and he immediately cupped his hands and said:
"This junior obeys the True Lord's will."

Zhenyuan Zhenjun was quite satisfied with Fu Changsheng's reaction, and his tone softened somewhat:
"Although we will not delve further into the matter of Li Wanhu, his guilt is undeniable. I hereby bestow this pill upon you in the name of 'eliminating traitors' as a small compensation, and I also hope that you will continue to do your best for Zhenmo Pass in the future."

A pill the size of a longan, brimming with abundant and pure spiritual energy, appeared before Fu Changsheng. Its fragrance filled the air, and with just one inhale, he felt his cultivation subtly surge.

It is the Cloud Spirit Pill, which can increase one's cultivation level by two cycles of sixty years.

Fu Changsheng did not refuse. He accepted the elixir and bowed solemnly, saying, "Thank you for your generous gift, True Lord. I will do my best in my duty."

The True Lord nodded, said no more, and his figure gradually faded away, as if he had never appeared.

Fu Changsheng put away the elixir, took one last look at Li Wanhu's "corpse," turned and left, his robes fluttering, a new plan forming in his mind. His immediate priority was to increase his strength, and then return to Ghost Cry Ravine to find the true whereabouts of his fourth brother, Changlei.

Return to residence.

After entering the secret chamber, he activated layers of formations and, after confirming that even the Nascent Soul's divine sense could not see through them, he then entered the Five Elements Space with a thought.

There was no rush to go into seclusion.

Instead, they went directly into the Temple of the Underworld.

……

"Autumn Cicada—" he called out as he walked in, his tone as relaxed as if he were strolling through his own backyard.

Sure enough, in the unusual ghost field in the backyard, a semi-transparent figure raised its head upon hearing the sound.

"Master! You're back!" Qiu Chan floated over, her soul form much more solid than before, like a soft halo coalescing into a human shape, holding several Xuan Yin Grasses that shimmered with a dark light in her hand. "Look, this batch of Xuan Yin Grasses is growing exceptionally well!"

Fu Changsheng looked her over with a smile: "Not bad, not bad, you look much stronger." He magically pulled something out of his sleeve, "Here, I brought you something good."

As soon as that thing appeared, the entire courtyard brightened up a bit. It looked like a lingzhi mushroom formed from moonlight and dew, with starlight floating around it. It was extremely beautiful and emitted a refreshing coolness.

"This is the Moon Soul Dew Ganoderma. With this, you should be able to condense it into a physical form." Fu Changsheng said with a hint of anticipation.

Qiu Chan's eyes lit up immediately! She knew her stuff; the essence of Taiyin contained in this treasure was even purer and more abundant than the Xuanming Bone Jade she had been longing for!
"This...this is so precious!" she exclaimed, both surprised and delighted.

"Take it, don't be so polite with me." Fu Changsheng waved his hand with a smile, "Use it quickly and see the effect."

Qiu Chan nodded vigorously, immediately sat down on the spot, and began to circulate her energy. The Moon Soul Dew Ganoderma transformed into a cool and comfortable powerful energy that flowed into her body, enveloping her entire "person" in a bright halo.

Fu Changsheng watched from the side with a hint of anticipation.

The figure in the light grew clearer and clearer, more and more real... Before long, the light dissipated, and a real, clearly defined cicada appeared in the spot. She curiously pinched her arm—it was real! And hot!
"Master! I really have a body now!" She jumped up in surprise.

Qiu Chan had already mastered the "Taiyin Transformation Technique" quite well, and the seeds of the Nine Nether Blood Lotus were ready. All that was missing was the Xuanming Bone Jade. This Moon Soul Dew Ganoderma was exceptionally effective, allowing it to solidify ahead of schedule!
Fu Changsheng watched Qiu Chan excitedly familiarize herself with her newborn body, his eyes filled with satisfaction, and he smiled:
"Alright, don't get too excited yet. Your physical body is newly formed and needs to be stabilized. Next is the formation of the core, which is the real hurdle. You must be fully prepared and not be careless in the slightest."

Upon hearing this, Qiu Chan immediately suppressed her joy and respectfully replied, "Yes, Master! Qiu Chan will certainly cultivate diligently and never fail to live up to Master's high expectations!"

She clenched her fist, feeling the real power flowing within her body, and was filled with unprecedented confidence in the upcoming Golden Core realm.

At this moment, the Yin energy deep within the temple fluctuated, and the spirit of a slightly aged, ethereal old man passed through the wall and arrived. It was none other than Old Man Fu, who had stayed behind to guard the Fu family's Yin residence. He had just sensed the powerful and pure Yin energy in the backyard, as well as the finally solidified spiritual pressure, and couldn't suppress his curiosity as he rushed over.

As soon as he entered, his gaze was fixed on the graceful and lifelike Qiu Chan. His old eyes widened instantly, and his soul trembled with excitement.

"This...this...Qiu Chan, you...you really succeeded?!" Old Fu circled around Qiu Chan twice, feeling the vibrant energy emanating from her, his tone filled with disbelief and deep envy.

"A physical body! A real physical body! Congratulations! What an incredible blessing!"

He was so envious he almost drooled, clicking his tongue in amazement for a while before suddenly remembering his business. He quickly floated over to Fu Changsheng, his expression becoming more serious.

“Master,” Old Fu cupped his hands in greeting, his tone tinged with urgency, “Now that Qiu Chan has condensed her body, the next step is the Golden Core Path, which is a great thing. But on my side, the matter of opening the Yin-Yang Path must also be expedited.”

He extended an illusory finger and gestured:

"The soul power accumulated in the Yin house is now sufficient, and all preparations are in place. The only thing missing is fifty Golden Core stage souls as a catalyst, as well as a fifth-tier witch treasure, in order to forcefully break through the Yin-Yang barrier and open up that path."

"Yes, I understand. The Yin-Yang Path must be opened. Fifty Golden Core Divine Souls... I will gather them as soon as possible."

Add Black Zhenren.

We've collected ten so far, which is one-fifth of the total.

……

Fu Changsheng flashed and appeared at the summit of the Spirit Mountain in the Five Elements Space.

Thoughts moved slightly.

The seemingly simple pottery jar then appeared in his hand.

He had barely lifted a sliver of the seal when the exotic fragrance, a blend of faint sweetness and boundless vitality, once again filled the air. "Ah! Master, what treasure is this?"

A clear, cheerful voice rang out, accompanied by a shimmering light, and Qiu Niang's figure instantly materialized beside Fu Changsheng. She curiously circled the pottery jar, her eyes sparkling.
"What amazing vitality! I feel like the spiritual plants in the space are cheering! This... could this be the legendary 'Ten Thousand Year Azure Stone Milk'? The one that can save you decades of hard work with just one drop?"

"Qiu Niang has a good eye." Fu Changsheng smiled and nodded, confirming its guess. "It is indeed this thing."

"Great!"

Qiu Niang was so excited she almost floated away:
"Master, which plant should we use it to ripen first? Those precious plants in the Mountain and River Town Clan Cauldron are all eagerly awaiting nourishment!"

She counted them off on her fingers as if they were her most treasured possessions:
"Dragon Blood Tree, Star Tree, Seven Heart Begonia, Thunder Bamboo, Bodhi Tree... It's a pity they're all still just seedlings."

The commotion also alerted the Flying Feather Beast and Bingyan, father and son, who were carefully tending to the spiritual plants beside the Mountain and River Town Clan Cauldron.

The Flying Feather Beast flapped its broad wings and landed clumsily. Its huge head curiously approached the pottery jar, its nostrils twitching as it emitted a low, surprised whimper. Little Ice Flame, on the other hand, was much more lively. It transformed into a streak of red and blue light and darted onto Fu Changsheng's shoulder with a "whoosh." It affectionately rubbed its little head against Fu Changsheng's cheek, its bright eyes fixed on the emerald-like liquid, chirping urgently as if urging its master to use it quickly.

Fu Changsheng's gaze swept over the few rare seedlings bathed in the spiritual light in the distant herb garden. After a moment's thought, he made his decision.

The cicada has already formed a physical body; the next step is the Core Formation stage.

Qiu Niang is also at the pseudo-core stage.

The Fu family also urgently needs to add another Golden Core cultivator in order to advance to the fifth-grade aristocratic family:
"Prioritize the ripening of the Seven-Heart Begonia. The heart of this thousand-year-old begonia is a top-grade spiritual object that can assist in the formation of the core, which is perfect for our current use."

"Yes, Master!" Qiu Niang exclaimed joyfully.
Once the decision was made, Fu Changsheng no longer hesitated.

He drew out drops of molten jade-like stalactite from his fingertips and precisely dripped them onto the slightly immature seedling of the Seven Heart Begonia, which was already faintly radiating a seven-colored glow.

hum!
When the stalactite touches the leaf, it instantly transforms into a vast, pure vitality that permeates it.

The seedling grew rapidly at a speed visible to the naked eye, sprouting branches, unfolding leaves, and blooming into a dazzling seven-colored flower. Then, after the flower withered, it bore fruit and condensed into a begonia heart that exuded a refreshing fragrance and shimmered with light! The whole process took only a moment, and a thousand-year-old spiritual plant was born.

What's even more surprising is that next to the mature seven-heart begonia, the soil stirred and two new seedlings, each radiating the same glow but smaller, quietly sprouted from the ground!

"Two new seedlings have sprouted just like last time!" Qiu Niang exclaimed with delight. "Now we won't be short of Seven Heart Begonias!"

Fu Changsheng glanced at the jar; there were about ten drops left. He looked at Qiu Niang: "What do you think should be done with the rest?"

Qiu Niang tilted her head and thought for a moment:

“Master, the remaining azurite isn’t enough to ripen a Seven-Heart Begonia. Why not use it to ripen a Dragon Blood Tree? I remember that the Dragon Blood Tree sapling will be ready to have its ‘Dragon Blood Resin’ harvested for the first time in about a hundred years. That’s a key material for refining fifth-tier magic weapons, and it can also heal serious injuries. It will be of great benefit to you when you travel in the outside world in the future! Using this azurite will allow us to ripen it to a harvestable stage ahead of time!”

Upon hearing this, Fu Changsheng's eyes flashed with approval:
"Alright, we'll do as you say."

He once again drew out drops of the ancient azure stone milk, which fell onto the dragon blood tree seedling, which had a peculiar shape, leaves resembling dragon scales, and a dark red body.

A surge of vitality flowed in, and the dragon blood tree saplings stretched and grew joyfully, their trunks becoming thicker and more gnarled, their dragon-scale-like leaves shimmering with a metallic luster, and a faint dragon's might began to spread.

Although it is still far from being 3,200 years old and fully mature, its trunk has become noticeably moist and has a faint fragrance of resin, clearly meeting the standard for its first harvest.

The Feathered Beast purred softly, seemingly pleased with its master. Little Ice Flame jumped excitedly around on his shoulder.

Fu Changsheng extended his finger, gathering a wisp of pure magic power at his fingertip, and carefully made a light stroke below a crevice in the tree bark where the resin was most abundant.

The golden-red, molten amber-like dragon's blood resin immediately and slowly seeped out, condensing into beads.

Having anticipated this, he took out a warm, smooth jade bottle and poured in every last drop of the liquid.

In the end, he collected about seven or eight drops of dragon blood resin, each drop containing immense blood energy and a trace of true dragon majesty.

"What a treasure," Fu Changsheng praised, sealing the jade bottle. He didn't use it all; he only took out three drops and held them suspended in his palm. He carefully put the rest away for future use.

After returning to the cabin.

With a single thought:
"Open the training room"

hum!
The next moment he appeared in the pavilion in the middle of the lotus pond.

He sat cross-legged, and with a thought, the Heavenly Punishment Thunder Spear, crackling with purple lightning and exuding a menacing aura, emerged from his dantian, hovering in front of him, emitting a soft hum, as if anticipating a transformation.

Fu Changsheng took a deep breath, his hands forming the refining incantation. His golden core circulated within him, and surging pill fire mixed with thunderous true essence surged forth, enveloping the three drops of dragon blood resin and the Heavenly Punishment Thunder Spear together.

"Refining!"

He gave a low shout, and the fire and lightning intensified instantly.

The three drops of dragon blood resin did not evaporate in the scorching energy; instead, they transformed into three golden-red streams of light, struggling and hissing like living things, slowly merging into the body of the Heavenly Punishment Thunder Spear.

hum!
The untamed dragon nature contained within the dragon blood resin clashed with the destructive power of the Heavenly Punishment Thunder Spear, producing a crackling sound.

Fu Changsheng's expression was solemn. He fully activated his cultivation technique, using his powerful divine sense and cultivation to forcibly harmonize the two forces and perfectly fuse them.

Time passed little by little.

Finally, the last wisp of golden-red light completely disappeared into the spear.

Om-!
The Heavenly Punishment Thunder Spear suddenly trembled violently, emitting a high-pitched and clear hum, its sound even faintly carrying a trace of the power of a dragon's roar!
The spear, originally composed purely of purple lightning, now seemed to have golden-red blood flowing within it, making it appear even more mysterious and powerful. An even more terrifying aura emanated from the spear, not only the destructive power of lightning, but also an awe-inspiring majesty emanating from a superior being!

Fu Changsheng opened his eyes and reached out to grasp the Thunder Spear.

A feeling of being connected by blood, as if it were his own arm, welled up within him. With a slight thought, he did not unleash the thunder, but simply pointed the spear tip forward gently.

An invisible pressure instantly spread out – it was the might of the dragon!

"Success."

Fu Changsheng smiled, feeling quite satisfied with the significantly enhanced power of the Heavenly Punishment Thunder Spear. The infusion of dragon blood resin not only added the "Dragon's Might" effect, capable of intimidating opponents, but the spear itself was also strengthened, making it even more powerful than before.

He retrieved the Heavenly Punishment Thunder Spear into his dantian and nurtured it.

……

Calm your mind and adjust your state to the best.

Only then did he take out the Cloud Spirit Pill bestowed by Zhenyuan Zhenjun.

The pill, the size of a longan, exuded a powerful and pure spiritual energy. Its fragrance was intoxicating. Just one whiff of it made one feel the green lotus within their body sway gently, revealing a sense of longing.

Without further hesitation, he put the Cloud Spirit Pill into his mouth.

The pill melted instantly upon entering his mouth, transforming into a vast, pure energy like a surging river, which rushed into his limbs, bones, meridians, and dantian!
This force is gentle yet immense, like a gentle rain falling to nourish all things.

Fu Changsheng immediately focused his mind and concentrated his energy, fully activating the "Azure Emperor's Longevity Technique".

Within his dantian, the golden elixir containing the mysterious blue lotus spun rapidly, emitting a rich blue radiance.

The blue lotus residing at the core of the golden elixir seemed to come alive.

Four lush, verdant leaves, adorned with flowing Dao patterns, unfurled, generating a powerful suction force. Like a bottomless pit, they greedily yet methodically absorbed and refined the immense medicinal power of the Cloud Spirit Pill, transforming it into incomparably pure Azure Emperor's Longevity Mantra.

Each cycle of the exercise is a major circulation.

The surging medicinal power was partially refined by the green lotus.

Time slips away quietly during cultivation.

I do not know how long it has been.

The surging spiritual energy around Fu Changsheng gradually subsided.

He slowly opened his eyes, and a fleeting image of a blue lotus flashed in his pupils, deep and full of vitality.

The pure power accumulated over two cycles of sixty years has been completely absorbed and refined by the green lotus within the golden core!
The mana of the entire Golden Core became incredibly abundant, several times more powerful than before taking the pill. The mana became increasingly mellow and refined, flowing smoothly and effortlessly, carrying a boundless life force.

"What the True Lord bestowed is indeed extraordinary."

"At this rate, if I were to cultivate quietly for several more decades, absorbing and refining what I have gained, the growth of the fifth leaf of the Azure Lotus and the breakthrough to the fifth level of the Golden Core stage would be a natural outcome."

It's time to leave.

...

...

Yao Yao and Master Yu stood in the central area of ​​the secret realm.

Before them, a crimson barrier stretched across the heavens and earth like a giant curtain, its surface flowing with obscure and ancient array patterns, sometimes surging like magma, sometimes fading like stars. The terrifying energy fluctuations caused the surrounding space to distort slightly, and even light that approached was completely swallowed up.

"Tsk tsk, this barrier." Master Yu took a swig of wine, his drunken eyes gleaming with a sharp light. "It is based on the earth's veins, draws on the power of the stars, and integrates the Dao of Blood Fiend. The person who set up the array must be at least a Nascent Soul level expert."

Array patterns swirled in Yao Yao's eyes, her spiritual body operating spontaneously, a massive amount of information flooding into her sea of ​​consciousness. She lightly touched the void with her jade-like fingers, tracing profound paths: "Grandpa Yu, look at that group of auxiliary star positions in the northeast corner; the connection with the earth vein node seems to be momentarily delayed."

Master Yu squinted at it, then suddenly slapped his thigh: "Brilliant! This flaw was hidden very well, yet you saw through it at a glance!"

The two were engrossed in deducing the formation.

Yao Yao sometimes frowned in deep thought, and sometimes quickly calculated. Her array spirit body enhanced her perception of array structures by several levels. Many difficulties that even grandmasters had struggled with for years were as clear as peeling away layers in her eyes.

Months passed.

Yao Yao suddenly stopped her hand gestures and stared blankly at the blood-red array eye at the core of the barrier, where the cycle never ended.

In her eyes, it was no longer a simple energy hub, but the source that transformed into billions of array patterns. The generation, flow, and annihilation of each pattern conformed to some ultimate principle of heaven and earth.

"Heaven and earth are the array, stars are the chess pieces," she murmured unconsciously, the array patterns in her pupils spinning wildly.

Master Yu noticed something was wrong and abruptly put down his wine gourd: "This girl..."

Suddenly, a dazzling silver light emanated from Yao Yao's body, and countless array patterns surged forth from within her, resonating mysteriously with the barrier. She floated into the air, her long hair moving without wind, and her fingertips automatically traced array diagrams a hundred times more intricate than before.

"An epiphany?!" Master Yu was both surprised and delighted. "Quick! Hanxiao and Chixiao, protect her!"

The two spirit beasts immediately stood guard on the left and right sides, their ice and fire powers intertwining to form a barrier.

Within Yao Yao's sea of ​​consciousness, the [Heavenly Array Dao Seed], which was not yet fully fused, trembled violently, and cracks spread across its surface. The vast ancient array Dao inheritance surged forth like a burst dam, completely merging with her divine soul.

The excruciating pain came, yet it was also accompanied by a pleasurable sense of rebirth.

She saw the trajectories of stars transform into natural array diagrams, saw the veins of mountains and rivers condense into supreme array foundations, and saw the withering and flourishing of plants and trees implying life and death array transformations. All things in heaven and earth can be arrays!
"Congeal!"

Yao Yao instinctively formed a hand seal, and the last trace of resistance within her body shattered with a bang.

boom!
The array seed was completely refined.

In that instant, the boundless spiritual energy of heaven and earth within the secret realm surged into her body like rivers flowing into the sea. Her golden core spun on its own, its surface glowing with Dao patterns, and her cultivation barrier quietly opened up as she naturally comprehended the situation.

Golden Core Stage 3!

His aura was stable, and his inner spiritual light was contained.

After a long while, Yao Yao slowly opened her eyes. The countless array patterns in her eyes gradually disappeared, returning to a deep and calm state. She felt the surging power within her body and the complete and perfect understanding of the Dao of Arrays, and a smile appeared on her lips.

Master Yu breathed a sigh of relief, then clicked his tongue in amazement: "After several months of enlightenment, you've refined the Dao Seed and broken through your cultivation level. Girl, your talent has truly opened my eyes!"

He took a big gulp of wine, shook his head, and exclaimed, "The Healing Spirit Body ensures your foundation remains intact, the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox bloodline grants you extraordinary comprehension, and the Array Dao Spirit Body helps you master countless arrays. Three spirit bodies combined in one body—a rare sight indeed! The Fu family has truly produced a phoenix!"

Yao Yao landed gracefully and bowed respectfully: "Thank you for protecting me, Grandpa Yu. Grandpa Yu, I am 70% confident that I can break this barrier."

……

Several years passed.

"Grandpa Yu, we've found it. The core array's eye isn't a single point, but a nested three-element formation. We need to break through the three auxiliary eyes—'Heavenly Pivot,' 'Earthly Bind,' and 'Human Soul'—simultaneously to open a passage."

Master Yu took a big gulp of wine and laughed heartily, but there was a hint of solemnity in his laughter: "Wonderful! Truly wonderful! You can even deduce such an ancient secret technique as the Three Elements Formation Breaking Technique... Girl, your talent in the Dao of Formations is truly terrifying."

His laughter subsided, his drunken eyes narrowed, and he carefully sensed the three weak points marked by Yao Yao. His expression gradually turned serious: "The method is correct. But..."

Before the words were even finished, Master Yu and Yao Yao's expressions changed simultaneously!
The moment the spirit diagram of the broken formation took shape, a vast, desolate, and terrifying will filled with endless bloodlust suddenly awakened from the depths of the barrier! Like a giant beast that had been sleeping for countless ages, it quietly opened its eyes.

Although it was only a fleeting moment, the undeniable pressure of the Nascent Soul was like ice water poured over their heads, instantly chilling them to the bone.

"Hiss..." Master Yu gasped, sobering up considerably. He grabbed Yao Yao's wrist as she was about to make a move. "Girl! Stop!"

The spiritual light at Yao Yao's fingertips suddenly went out. Her face turned slightly pale, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead. She was clearly shocked by the sensation she had just experienced: "The aura of a Nascent Soul... and it is extremely powerful and violent."

"Powerful beyond anything!" Master Yu wiped non-existent cold sweat from his forehead, still shaken. "This barrier isn't some treasure gate at all; it's clearly a seal! Who knows what kind of monster is locked inside! Once it's opened, the consequences will be unimaginable! Your father was right; this matter is definitely beyond our ability to handle."

Yao Yao gazed at the crimson barrier, now calm but still concealing immense danger. The array patterns in her eyes slowly subsided, restoring her usual composure and wisdom. She exhaled a breath of stale air and decisively said, "In that case, we shouldn't linger here. Grandpa Yu, you..."

"Me?" Master Yu resumed his lazy demeanor, shaking his wine gourd. "Of course, this old man will stay here. This secret realm is a good place for me to retire, quiet and peaceful. I can also keep an eye on this thing for you, so that if there's any unusual activity, I can notify Fu boy immediately."

Knowing Yao Yao was worried, he grinned and said, "Don't worry, this old man values ​​his life very much and will never go near this thing. But you, hurry up and go out and tell your father about the situation here in detail."

Knowing that his mind was made up, Yao Yao stopped trying to persuade him and bowed respectfully, saying, "Grandpa Yu, please be careful."

"Of course, of course." Master Yu waved his hand, as if he suddenly remembered something. He rummaged in his pocket for a while and took out a spiritual fruit full of spiritual energy and natural Dao patterns. The fruit was fragrant and made people feel comfortable.

Here, take this.

"Heavenly Essence Fruit?" Yao Yao recognized the fourth-tier spiritual treasure at a glance, slightly surprised.

"Hehe, I stumbled upon this while wandering around this secret realm a few years ago." Master Yu tossed the fruit to Yao Yao. "It would be a waste for me to keep it here as a snack. Take it out and give it to your third uncle, Fu Changli. He's a master brewer. Have him brew a few jars of fourth-grade 'Heavenly Essence Nectar.' Just don't forget to save one for this old man!"

He winked, giving him a knowing look.

Yao Yao took the Heavenly Essence Fruit, carefully put it away, and smiled gently: "Grandpa Yu, don't worry, I will definitely pass on this message. I will make sure my third uncle brews the best spirit wine for you."

"Hahaha, you're the one who understands me best!" Master Yu laughed with satisfaction, then tilted his head back and took another gulp of wine. "Let's go, let's go, be careful on the road."

Yao Yao nodded and summoned Han Xiao and Chi Xiao.

Han Xiao glanced at the barrier, his sharp tongue returning: "Finally, we're leaving this hellhole. If we stay any longer, I'm afraid that silly fox's fur will be stained red by the evil aura here."

Chi Xiao immediately bared his teeth: "It's better than you being all cold and icy, making it feel like snow wherever you go!"

"Alright, Hanxiao, go and say goodbye to your parents," Yaoyao instructed softly.

Han Xiao paused for a moment, unusually not retorting, and replied in a low voice, "Yes, Master." He then transformed into a streak of blue light and swiftly sped towards the frozen lake in the northern part of the secret realm.

(End of this chapter)