Family Rise: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 566 Adding Golden Cores, Rare Treasures, and Shame
Behind the Fu family's mountain, in a forbidden, secret chamber.

The heavy stone door shut out all outside noise, with only the moonstones embedded inside emitting a cool and soft glow.

Fu Changli sat cross-legged on the central futon, her body enveloped in a misty aura, like a tangible veil. Her face was solemn, her brows furrowed with a hint of determination and resolve.

She had pushed the Earth-rank cultivation technique "Myriad Spirits Controlling Heart Sutra" to its limit. The vast true fluid within her body flowed wildly along the mysterious meridian routes like a surging river, emitting a faint sound of tides.

Within the dantian, all the true liquid had been compressed to its limit, forming a high-speed rotating, dazzling spiritual energy vortex. The golden core at the center had already solidified, emitting a heart-palpitating energy fluctuation.

"The time has come!"

Fu Changli suddenly opened her eyes, a sharp glint in them.

Without hesitation, she took out a pill the size of a longan, with seven colorful cloud patterns on its surface and a wonderfully fragrant aroma—the Seven Hearts Pill!

This elixir can stabilize the mind and enhance spiritual power. It is a precious medicine for resisting inner demons and assisting in the formation of the elixir during the elixir formation process.

She parted her lips slightly and swallowed the Seven Hearts Pill.

The pill melted instantly upon entering the mouth, and a cool yet powerful medicinal force exploded forth, flowing into the limbs and bones like sweet rain, eventually converging into the dantian's qi vortex.

boom!
With the boost of this powerful force, the cyclone, which was already at its limit, suddenly contracted inward!
An indescribable pain surged from his dantian, as if his entire body was about to be crushed by this terrifying force. But Fu Changli gritted his teeth, relying on the extraordinary control over spiritual power granted by the "Ten Thousand Spirits Heart Sutra" and his unwavering will, desperately guarding the clarity of his mind, frantically compressing and compressing it again!

Within the dantian, the dazzling vortex grew smaller and smaller, but its light grew brighter and brighter, eventually transforming into a golden pill the size of a longan, round and flawless, shining with golden light!

The golden elixir is ready!

However, before she could even breathe a sigh of relief, the scene before her suddenly blurred and distorted...
-
The battle cries shook the heavens! Flames soared into the sky!

A strong, pungent smell of blood and burning flesh filled the air, and scorching heat slapped against my face.

Fu Changli found himself no longer in a quiet secret room, but standing on a devastated battlefield—Luofeng Mountain, the Fu family's territory!
The sky was dyed an eerie color by the light and smoke of magic, and most of the familiar pavilions and towers of the past had been reduced to ruins. The air was filled with the shrill screams of the people, the angry roars, and the ferocious laughter of the enemies.

"Tianlong Tribe! The people of the Tianlong Tribe have attacked!" A young tribesman, his face covered in blood, ran past her in terror.

Fu Changli looked down and realized she was wearing the blood-stained battle robe from over a hundred years ago, and the long whip in her hand had lost its luster from continuous fighting. Her cultivation level had also regressed to the Qi Refining stage, leaving her feeling utterly powerless.

"Changli! Hurry! Follow your brother Changsheng and the others!" A desperate shout came from not far away.

She looked up abruptly and saw her third uncle, Fu Renming, covered in blood, his left arm twisted unnaturally, yet still wielding a giant axe, blocking the path leading down the mountain. In front of him were several grinning Tianlong tribe cultivators approaching.

"No! Third Uncle!" Fu Changli tried to rush over, but was frozen in place by an invisible force.

"Go!" Fu Renming turned back, his eyes filled with resolute determination and undeniable love. "Live on! The future of the Fu family rests on your shoulders!"

Before he could finish speaking, a sharp blade flashed, and Fu Renming's tall body trembled violently as blood gushed from his chest.

"Third Uncle—!" Fu Changli cried out in heart-wrenching sobs, tears instantly blurring her vision.

The scene changes again.

She saw her usually gentle and quiet fifth aunt, Fu Renhui, now acting like a mad tiger, detonating all the talismans she carried and a beloved magical artifact, turning into a violent explosion that temporarily blocked the pursuers.

"Go quickly! Changli! Take care of yourself!" These were Fifth Aunt's last words, filled with endless concern and reluctance.

She then saw several elders join forces to set up a deadly formation, burning their last bit of lifespan and soul to transform into a pillar of light that reached the heavens, temporarily trapping the strongest members of the enemy and giving these outstanding descendants of their families a slim chance to escape.

"go!"

"Come on!"

“Don’t look back!”

The anxious, desperate yet hopeful urgings from her elders were like the sharpest knives, repeatedly tearing at Fu Changli's heart. She was forced to follow her equally young brothers and sisters, their faces streaked with tears and fear, as they fled amidst the flames and carnage, with the falling figures of their clansmen and the arrogant laughter of their enemies behind them.

Helplessness, grief, anger, fear, guilt... all sorts of emotions gnawed at her heart like venomous snakes.

Why was I so weak back then?

"Why can't I save them?"

"If I had been a little stronger back then..."

"Why are we the ones running away? We should have died there, with our people!"

The inner demon manifested her deepest pain and obsession, attempting to drag her into an endless abyss of self-blame and regret, causing her Dao heart to collapse and her golden core to shatter.

In the illusion, Fu Changli stopped running, tears streaming down her face, her eyes began to glaze over, and her aura became extremely unstable. A tiny crack even appeared on the golden core that had just been formed...

Just as cracks appeared in the golden core, and the inner demon was about to completely devour his mind!

A glimmer of light suddenly shone in the depths of Fu Changli's unfocused eyes!
It is the "All Spirits' Heart Sutra"!
This Earth-rank cultivation technique not only commands all spirits, but also allows one to control their own mind!
The remaining medicinal power of the Seven Hearts Pill she had taken was also fully activated at this moment, transforming into a cool stream that forcefully protected the last vestige of clarity in her mind.

"No..." She managed to utter a single word with her dry lips, her voice hoarse yet carrying a hint of determined struggle.

“To live on…not to eke out a living…” Fu Changli murmured to herself, tears still streaming down her face, but the confusion and despair were gradually replaced by a heavy sense of responsibility, “It’s for the sake of inheritance! It’s for the sake of the Fu family’s survival!”

Inside the secret chamber, the violently fluctuating spiritual energy around Fu Changli gradually calmed down. The fine cracks on the golden core quietly healed under the operation of the cultivation technique, becoming more rounded and solid, with golden light inside, revealing a calmness and power after being tempered.

The pain and struggle on her face gradually faded, replaced by a calm that had been washed away. The maturity and resilience of a mature woman between her brows became more and more obvious. However, deep in her eyes, there was an indelible, settled sadness and an even more determined will.

After a long while, she exhaled a long, drawn-out breath and slowly opened her eyes.

His eyes shone with a clear, bright light, and his spiritual pressure, typical of the Golden Core stage, was stable and immense.

……

Having just overcome the tribulation of inner demons, before Fu Changli could fully appreciate the profound mysteries of achieving the Great Perfection of the Golden Core, the heavy mountain rocks above the secret chamber seemed to become transparent, and a majestic heavenly might that made one's soul tremble pierced through all obstacles and descended with a thunderous roar!

Rumble——!
A deep, majestic thunder rumbled down from the heavens, and even those in the underground chamber could clearly feel the destructive power gathering frantically in the sky. The spiritual energy of the entire forbidden area in the back mountain became restless and agitated, and the birds and beasts in the forest fell silent, trembling and huddled in their nests.

"A tribulation of lightning..." Fu Changli's eyes showed no surprise, but rather a sharp glint of pre-preparedness flashed across them. Successfully forming the core brought with it the inevitable trial of Heaven!
She stood up and, in a flash, appeared in the open space behind the secret chamber. Looking up, she saw that the dark clouds above were spinning wildly like a giant vortex, covering an area of ​​dozens of miles. Within the clouds, blinding silver snakes writhed wildly, and the aura of destruction was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.

The first tribulation lightning bolt, carrying the might of heaven and earth, was like a roaring silver dragon, tearing through the sky and striking down directly at Fu Changli! Its power was so fierce that it was enough to severely injure or even annihilate an ordinary cultivator who had just formed his core!
Fu Changli remained calm and composed, showing no sign of panic. With a flick of her wrist, an ancient-looking token appeared out of thin air in her palm.

This token is neither gold nor wood, but a dark gold color. The front is engraved with an ancient character for "beast," its strokes powerful like the footprints left by a stampede of beasts. The back is embossed with a lifelike image of a hundred beasts paying homage. A warm yet undeniable radiance flows around the token, and it naturally exudes an aura of majesty befitting the king of beasts—it is none other than the acquired spiritual treasure, the [Beast King Token]!
"Yu!"

Fu Changli infused the Beast King Token with her pure Golden Core spiritual power. The token hummed and shone brightly, instantly enveloping her in a solid, dark golden light shield. Above the shield, the faint phantoms of various powerful beast souls flowed and roared, forming a solid barrier.

Boom!

The first bolt of lightning struck the light barrier with a deafening roar. The dark golden light barrier trembled violently, and the illusory image of the beast soul on its surface flickered, yet it forcefully resisted, dispersed, and dissipated the violent lightning power into nothingness!

The calamity clouds seemed to be enraged, and they churned even more violently.

The second and third bolts of lightning struck in succession, each one thicker and more ferocious than the last! The silver lightning illuminated the entire back mountain as if it were daytime.

Holding the Beast King's Token, Fu Changli stood as steady as a rock. The dark golden light shield gradually dimmed under the continuous bombardment, but her eyes remained calm as she continuously channeled spiritual energy to maintain it.

As the fourth, even more terrifying bolt of tribulation lightning began to gather, Fu Changli knew that relying solely on the Beast King's Token's autonomous defense was becoming insufficient. With a thought, she connected with her own spirit beast space.

"Qing'er, help me!"

Phew——!
A clear, resonant, and noble phoenix cry echoed throughout the heavens and earth! A streak of azure light flew out from a jade pendant at Fu Changli's waist, growing longer in the wind and instantly transforming into a magnificent and incomparably beautiful azure phoenix!

Its wings were magnificent, its entire body a pure, flawless azure, its tail feathers long and flowing, and its body was surrounded by pure innate wind spirit energy and a faint trace of Nirvana fire. It was none other than Fu Changli's most important natal spirit pet, the Azure Phoenix, possessing the bloodline of the ancient Azure Phoenix!
"Beast Soul Symbiosis!"

Fu Changli gave a low shout and fully activated another characteristic of the Beast King's Token.

A flash of blue light appeared on the Beast King's Token, and an invisible bridge was instantly built between her and the Azure Phoenix.

All of a sudden.

Behind Fu Changli, a pair of enormous, ethereal blue phoenix wings made of gentle breeze and luminous feathers seemed to appear! Her aura suddenly changed, gaining a touch of the noble, agile, and naturally affinity for the power of wind and thunder of a blue phoenix.

She briefly gained some of the Azure Phoenix's innate abilities!

The fourth bolt of lightning crashed down!
This time, Fu Changli did not choose to fight back.

The illusory blue phoenix wings behind her fluttered gently, and her figure instantly became blurred, as if she had merged into the wind. With incredible speed and agility, she narrowly avoided the core of the tribulation lightning's attack range, allowing only the residual lightning power to graz the light shield of the Beast King's Decree and be easily neutralized.

The Azure Phoenix's ability to ride the wind is remarkably effective in evading heavenly tribulations!

As if possessing a spirit, the tribulation clouds sensed the difficulty of the tribulation seeker, and the fifth tribulation lightning bolt brewing in the center of the clouds took on a faint purple hue, its power suddenly increasing exponentially!

Fu Changli's expression remained unchanged, but his thoughts shifted again.

In an instant, beams of light flew out from the other beast-taming pouches on her body!
A giant tortoise, covered in rock armor and shaped like a giant turtle, landed heavily, letting out a deep roar. Earthy yellow spiritual light gathered, reinforcing the earth.

A purple lightning sable, its entire body crackling with lightning, moved with lightning speed, actively facing some of the dissipated lightning, and was able to absorb a small amount of the lightning tribulation power.

Several scaled creatures skilled in defense, spirit butterflies skilled in interference, ice-attribute birds that can breathe cold air... all sorts of spirit pets were summoned. Although they dared not directly confront the core tribulation lightning, they each displayed their unique abilities, either assisting in defense, dispersing the power of the tribulation lightning, or buffing Fu Changli and Qingluan.

All beasts submit, and all beasts lend their support!
This is the terrifying aspect of a top-tier beast tamer undergoing tribulation!
She was by no means fighting alone!
Fu Changli stood in the center, holding the Beast King's Token, surrounded by illusory images of hundreds of beasts, with a blue phoenix calling out above her head for protection. Her gaze calmly fell upon the earth-shattering purple lightning tribulation, perfectly integrating her own power with that of all her spirit pets through the Beast King's Token.

"bring it on!"

She let out a clear shout and took the initiative to meet the final and strongest heavenly tribulation!

boom--! ! !
The lightning burst forth, completely engulfing her figure.

After a long while, the lightning gradually subsided, the clouds of destruction slowly dispersed, revealing a clear blue sky, as if the scene of destruction just now was merely an illusion.

Fu Changli remained standing, her robes fluttering. Although her face was slightly pale and her breathing somewhat disordered, the spiritual pressure of her golden core was even more condensed and vast, carrying a purity and power that had been tempered by heavenly lightning.

The Beast King's Token, its light dimming, flew back into her hand. The Azure Phoenix nuzzled her cheek affectionately, and the other spirit pets chirped joyfully, celebrating their master's successful tribulation.

Fu Changli gently stroked the feathers of the Azure Phoenix, and looking at her companions who were safe and sound, a gentle and gratified smile appeared on her lips.

The Golden Core Tribulation was safely overcome!
From this point on, the path to greatness is within reach!
...

...

Jingzhou, the residence of the Seven Princes.

A secret report from Wuzhou was respectfully presented to Zhou Xuanming, the Seventh Prince, who had just left the pass.

He had been lounging lazily on the soft couch, casually accepting the jade slip and scanning it with his divine sense.

The next moment, he sat up abruptly, his nonchalant expression instantly replaced by extreme astonishment and ecstasy, and even his breathing became rapid.

“Runyu…Runyu’s cousin has arrived?! Her fiefdom…is actually in Wuzhou?!” His voice trembled slightly with excitement, and his eyes shone with intense light.

According to the imperial family hierarchy, Princess Runyu's mother was his own aunt, belonging to the same lineage as the eldest princess, making them close cousins.

"An opportunity! This is a golden opportunity!"

Zhou Xuanming suddenly stood up and paced back and forth in the lavishly decorated hall, rubbing his hands excitedly:
"If I can climb up to my cousin Runyu's high branch and borrow the power of the Eldest Princess, why should I worry about not being able to hold my head high in the royal family? Those scoundrels who used to look down on me will all have to kneel down and lick my boots!"

He grew increasingly excited and immediately ordered, "Open the storeroom! I, the king, will personally select a gift for my cousin!"

The warehouse is a treasure trove, filled with precious gems.

Zhou Xuanming's gaze swept over the numerous spiritual materials and magical artifacts, but in the end, he gritted his teeth and walked to the deepest part, carefully opening a jade box protected by multiple restrictions.

Inside the box, a pill the size of a longan, perfectly round, radiating a soft blue light and boundless vitality, lay quietly—a fifth-grade low-level Qingchun Pill! This pill could help those in the late stage of the Golden Core realm break through bottlenecks, making it extremely precious. He had obtained it by chance when he was incredibly lucky back then, and had always cherished it as his life.

At that moment, the muscles on his face twitched a few times, showing that he was in great pain, but in the end, his desire for power overwhelmed everything.

"You can't catch a wolf without risking your cub! Only such a precious treasure can show my sincerity and importance!" He hardened his heart, closed the jade box, and clutched it tightly in his hand.

……

Prince Zhou Xuanming of the Seventh County arrived at his destination aboard his relatively respectable but rather shabby treasure ship compared to the imperial capital's treasure ship.

The once desolate and silent mountains had been transformed. A magnificent mansion was beginning to take shape, with pavilions and towers arranged in a harmonious and orderly fashion, and exquisitely crafted beams and painted rafters. The overall style was grand and imposing, yet the details exuded the elegance and luxury unique to royalty. A spiritual light emanated from it, and the fluctuations of its magical formations were hidden, yet they inspired awe. Compared to his cobbled-together Jingzhou Prince's mansion, which reeked of nouveau riche wealth, it was like heaven and earth, making his mansion look like the residence of a country bumpkin.

Zhou Xuanming straightened his most luxurious robes, tried to suppress his feelings of inferiority and a trace of jealousy, put on his warmest and most friendly smile, handed over his visiting card, and stated his identity and purpose.

After waiting for a while, he was led by a Golden Core cultivator to meet Zhao Cong, the legendary head steward of the princess's mansion.

Zhao Cong, still dressed in a blue robe, stood before the main hall, which was undergoing final touches. His expression was calm, revealing neither joy nor anger. Upon seeing Zhou Xuanming, he merely nodded slightly, his tone distant yet polite.
"So it's His Highness the Seventh Prince. I'm so sorry for not greeting you sooner."

Zhou Xuanming hurriedly stepped forward, beaming and cupping his hands in greeting:
"Steward Zhao, you are too kind! I was overjoyed to hear that my cousin Runyu was granted this place, so I prepared a small gift to congratulate her! I wonder when my cousin will arrive? I will then host a banquet to welcome her."

As he spoke, he gestured for his attendant to present the jade box containing the Qingchun Pill.

Zhao Cong glanced at the jade box but did not take it. He simply said:
"The whereabouts of the Princess are beyond the knowledge of us servants. I will convey Your Highness's wishes. However, the Princess prefers quiet and dislikes noise, so Your Highness need not trouble yourself with the welcoming banquet."

These words were impeccably polite, yet also extremely cold, effectively shutting down Zhou Xuanming's enthusiasm and expectations, even refusing to accept the gift.

Zhou Xuanming's smile instantly froze, a hint of undisguised embarrassment and anger flashing in his eyes. He, a prince, had come in person and presented such a generous gift, yet he couldn't even see the person in question, and was even treated so disrespectfully by a mere steward!
But he knew all too well that the other party held a special position, possessed unfathomable strength, and had the support of the Eldest Princess and Princess Runyu; they were not someone he could afford to offend. He forcibly suppressed his anger and forced a dry laugh:
"Hehe, I was being presumptuous. My cousin is of noble status and naturally very busy. Well... then I won't disturb you any longer. I will come to pay my respects when my cousin arrives."

Zhao Cong remained calm and composed, giving a slight bow:

"Your Highness, please take care."

After leaving the construction site of the Princess's Mansion and stepping onto his own flying boat, Zhou Xuanming's forced smile vanished instantly, his face turned ashen, and he slammed his fist hard against the jade wall of the flying boat!

"What a damned lackey! How dare you look down on me like this!" He gritted his teeth, his voice squeezed out from between his teeth, full of humiliation and resentment. "He's just relying on his master's power! Runyu... Hmph, you dare to give me a hard time before we've even met? You look down on me, a prince born out of wedlock?"

He turned back to look at the magnificent and radiant Princess's mansion, his eyes turning incredibly sinister.

"Just you wait... Just you wait! One day, I will repay this humiliation a hundredfold!"

...

...

Huixi County, an extinct volcano.

“Mother,” Yao Yao’s voice was clear and melodious, with a confident composure, “I have basically figured out this restriction. Its core is the ‘Three Talents Ancient Restriction,’ which maintains a balance with the desolate death energy of this place and the hidden earth fire. It is extremely tough, and a forced attack will only trigger a backlash from the earth fire, the power of which may be no less than a blow from a Nascent Soul cultivator.”

Liu Meizhen listened intently, her eyes sparkling with admiration and trust in her daughter's intelligence.

Yao Yao continued, "The way to break the formation is to use the formation to break the formation. It requires three Golden Core cultivators to simultaneously inject the spiritual energy of the formation at a specific frequency into the three hidden nodes of the restriction, according to the three directions of Heaven, Earth and Man. It is like turning three locks at the same time with a key. Only then can the door be opened quietly without triggering a backlash and maintained for a moment."

Her gaze shifted to Hanxiao hovering beside her: "Hanxiao, your ice-attribute spiritual essence is pure and refined, and you can take charge of the 'Heaven' position, responsible for stabilizing the energy flow of the restriction core."

Han Xiao nodded gracefully, a hint of eagerness flashing in his icy blue eyes: "I will obey Master's orders."

Immediately, Yao Yao looked at her mother, her tone respectful yet confident: "Mother, your cultivation is profound and your spiritual power is boundless. Please guard the 'Earth' position and use the power of earth and metal to soothe and guide the potential fluctuations of the earth's veins, preventing them from becoming abnormal."

Liu Meizhen nodded without hesitation: "Okay."

“Then I will take the lead in coordinating and assuming the ‘human’ position. I will use my array spirit body to sense the changes in the restrictions, control the overall situation, and seize the opportunity,” Yao Yao said in the end. Her fingertips flashed with spiritual light as she quickly drew three intricate and profound miniature array patterns in the air, which shot towards Liu Meizhen, Han Xiao, and herself respectively. “These are the frequencies and operating methods required for the Spirit Rhinoceros Array Power. Please, Mother and Han Xiao, follow these instructions.”

Liu Meizhen and Han Xiao closed their eyes simultaneously, instantly grasping the essence of the array pattern. Liu Meizhen's Seven Apertures Exquisite Heart allowed her to instantly understand the key points, while Han Xiao, as a gifted spirit beast, also possessed an instinctive comprehension of such precise control.

"start!"

With a soft shout from Yao Yao, the three of them attacked simultaneously.

With a gentle push of her jade-like hand, Liu Meizhen unleashed a surge of rich, pure, earthy-yellow spiritual light towards the "Earth" node, as steady as a mountain, quietly seeping into the ground and achieving a delicate balance with the restless earth veins.

With a clear whistle, Han Xiao spat out an extremely condensed beam of ice-blue light, which accurately hit the "Heaven" node. However, the extreme cold power did not erupt. Instead, it wrapped around the node like silk threads, miraculously smoothing out the hidden energy turbulence in the core of the restriction.

Yao Yao's fingers flew, and strands of silver array patterns flowed from her fingertips as if alive, flowing into the "human" node. In her eyes, billions of array patterns frantically deduced, meticulously controlling the proportion, rhythm, and timing of the three forces, making them perfectly match the inner rhythm of the ancient restriction.

The three forces intertwined, forming a mysterious Three Powers Formation that resonated strangely with the ancient restriction.

hum-

The stone wall trembled violently, and the rough marks on its surface slowly disappeared as if a disguise had been removed, revealing a smooth, mirror-like jade door engraved with countless profound runes. Above the door, light flowed rapidly, eventually forming a slowly rotating vortex at the point where the power of the three realms converged.

"Open!" Yao Yao shouted, and the three of them increased their strength at the same time.

The vortex of light suddenly expanded, transforming into a stable passageway that people could pass through. Behind it, one could faintly perceive a vast open space and extremely pure ancient spiritual energy.

The barrier is broken!
However, before the three could take a closer look at the interior of the cave, two crimson lights suddenly shone in the passage, as if a ferocious beast that had been sleeping for thousands of years had opened its eyes.

boom!
A powerful energy fluctuation at the late Golden Core stage suddenly erupted, and a puppet over ten feet tall, forged entirely from dark gold metal and engraved with countless battle runes, wielding a giant halberd, charged out of the passage with heavy steps! Its eyes flashed with crimson light, and its icy killing intent instantly locked onto the three "intruders" outside the door.

The guardian of the ancient cultivator's cave has been activated!

Liu Meizhen reacted extremely quickly, taking a step forward to protect Yaoyao. A shield with flowing mountain and water phantoms was instantly summoned, blocking the puppet's probing halberd wind and producing a deafening sound of metal clashing.

The dark gold puppet halberd swung, producing a muffled sound of air being torn apart. Its crimson eyes were fixed on Liu Meizhen, who had made the first move. The cold light on the halberd blade surged, containing a golden sharpness that could tear everything apart, and it cleaved down! Its power far exceeded that of an ordinary late-stage Golden Core cultivator.

Although Liu Meizhen was startled, she remained calm, knowing that a direct confrontation was not the best strategy. Her quick wit and sharp mind worked rapidly, instantly assessing the situation.

"This beast is powerful and imposing; we cannot defeat it by force!" she shouted, her figure drifting backward like a willow catkin, while simultaneously forming hand seals.

"Red Sky, emerge!"

With a clear sword cry, a crimson sword light shot out from her body, growing longer in the wind and transforming into a nimble flying sword wreathed in flames. Instead of piercing the puppet's vitals, it deftly drew an arc and precisely struck the weak spot on the side of the giant halberd.

Clang! Sparks fly!

The Crimson Sky Sword was shaken by the immense power contained in the giant halberd, causing it to groan and fly backward. However, it still managed to deflect the trajectory of the powerful slash by a few degrees, and it crashed heavily onto the ground next to Liu Meizhen, creating a deep crater and sending shards of rock flying.

At the same time, Liu Meizhen raised her hand again, and a small, exquisite, ancient cauldron engraved with dragon and phoenix patterns flew out. It instantly expanded, with its mouth facing down, spewing out divine light in blue and red. It was not an attack, but rather transformed into a tough light screen that enveloped the three of them.

"Divine Light of the Void, Charge!"

The aftershocks of the giant halberd struck the light barrier, creating violent ripples. The barrier teetered on the brink of collapse, but ultimately managed to barely withstand the first wave of impact. Liu Meizhen's face paled slightly; clearly, simultaneously wielding two powerful magical treasures to deal with attacks far exceeding her own cultivation level had taken a toll on her.

"Hanxiao!" Yaoyao cried out urgently, her fingertips already pressed on the ancient jade array plate floating in front of her.

"Understood! Watch me!" Han Xiao, who had been preparing for this moment, took a step forward upon hearing the voice. His body shone with icy blue light, and his figure swelled up within the light, instantly revealing part of his true form—a magnificent and extraordinary rhinoceros phantom covered in ice crystal scales enveloped him! It lowered its head, and the crystal-clear horn on its forehead burst forth with a dazzling cold light. A thick, solid ice wall instantly condensed, reinforcing the light barrier behind the Taixu Dragon and Phoenix Divine Cauldron!
"Mystic Ice Barrier!"

With the double defense in place, they temporarily stabilized the situation.

The puppet, having missed its first attack, gleamed even brighter with crimson light in its eye sockets. It retracted its giant halberd and prepared to launch an even more ferocious attack.

"Now!" Yao Yao's eyes shone brightly with silver light, and countless runes lit up on the ancient jade array plate. She quickly tapped her hands, "Trapping Array, activate! Spirit Binding Runes!"

It was not an offensive killing formation, but dozens of silver spiritual energy chains that roared out from the array plate. As if they had a life of their own, they did not wrap around the puppet's body, but precisely wrapped around the shaft of its giant halberd, the joints of its arms, and the key points of its leg movements!

These chains of spiritual energy were extremely tough, and also possessed a peculiar effect of slowing down and disrupting the flow of spiritual energy. The puppet's frenzied movements suddenly froze, and the giant halberd it raised seemed to sink into an invisible quagmire, its speed plummeting. It let out a silent roar, its body covered in flashing runes, and terrifying power began to tear at the silver chains. The chains shattered one by one, but new ones were constantly added to replace them.

Yao Yao's face paled slightly as she activated the array plate with all her might, crying out, "Mother! Han Xiao! Its power is too strong; it can't hold you here for long!"

Liu Meizhen saw clearly that although the puppet was temporarily restrained, its power level far surpassed theirs, and it would inevitably fall if they held out for too long. Her mind raced, and she immediately made the wisest judgment:
"No need to get entangled with it! Its duty is to guard the cave entrance and prevent outsiders from entering! Our goal is not to defeat it, but to break through its defenses and enter the cave!"

She spoke rapidly and clearly: "Yaoyao, maintain the restraint! Hanxiao, charge with me! Its movements are restricted, this is our opportunity!"

Before she finished speaking, Liu Meizhen had already recalled the Crimson Sky Sword to protect herself. At the same time, she fully activated the Void Dragon and Phoenix Divine Cauldron. The dragon and phoenix phantoms on the cauldron swirled around, and the blue and red divine light no longer focused on defense, but transformed into a powerful thrust, enveloping her and Han Xiao beside her. Like an arrow released from a bow, she took advantage of the moment when the puppet was struggling with the spiritual energy chains and rushed past its side!

"Roar!" Hanxiao roared, his four hooves pounding the frost to accelerate himself and his mistress.

Sensing that the intruder was about to break through the defenses, the puppet flew into a rage, its energy fluctuations suddenly increasing to a higher level, and it looked as if it was about to forcefully shatter all the chains.

Yao Yao gritted her teeth, her fingertips tracing across the ancient jade array plate, forcing out a drop of her essence blood to merge into it: "Explode!"

The silver chains binding the puppet suddenly shone with a blinding light and exploded! Although they failed to damage the puppet's core, they successfully interrupted its impending power, causing it to stagger.

In that brief moment of delay, Liu Meizhen and Han Xiao transformed into two streaks of light, narrowly missing the puppet's attack range, and successfully rushed into the light vortex passage!

"Yaoyao!" Liu Meizhen cried out the moment she entered the passage.

Yao Yao's blood and qi surged under the backlash of the self-destruction of the chains, but she suppressed the discomfort and combined her movement technique with the array, transforming into an ethereal and unpredictable trajectory. At the last moment when the puppet giant halberd was swung down, she flew into the vortex of light like a startled swan.

hum!
The vortex of light quickly contracted and disappeared after the three entered, transforming back into the jade door, though the runes on it were slightly dimmer.

The dark gold golem lost its target, its giant halberd slamming into empty air, causing the ground to tremble violently. The crimson light in its eye sockets flickered a few times, seemingly confirming that the intruder had disappeared from its protective range, before slowly retracting its giant halberd and retreating with heavy steps into the shadows deep within the passage, falling silent once more.

Inside the passage, Liu Meizhen helped up Yaoyao, whose face was slightly pale, and asked with concern, "Are you alright?"

Yao Yao shook her head, swallowed a spirit pill, and smiled, "It's nothing, just a backlash of magic power. I can recover after a short rest. Mother's strategy is brilliant."

Han Xiao looked back at the vanished entrance with lingering fear: "That big guy was really something! I almost died there!"

Looking at the now peaceful passage behind her, Liu Meizhen breathed a sigh of relief, but her eyes gleamed with excitement: "We're finally in. What awaits us ahead will surely not disappoint."

The passageway was not a smooth path, but a short, downward jade staircase. At the end, a faint, fiery red light surged, illuminating the surroundings in a crimson glow, and a heart-palpitating wave of scorching energy permeated the air.

The three of them carefully descended, and as soon as they stepped out of the passage, the scene before them made their expressions freeze.

There was no road ahead; instead, there was a vast underground lava lake!
The crimson lava flowed slowly like boiling blood, occasionally bubbling up huge bubbles that would burst open, splashing scorching waves. There were no bridges or stone piers across the lake.

What lies between them and the other side of the lava lake is not a physical obstacle, but a ball of flame that floats directly above the lava lake, slowly rotating and constantly changing shape!

This flame was no ordinary fire; its color was a magnificent crimson gold, yet at its core shone a pure, lotus-shaped white. It burned silently, radiating terrifying heat that slightly distorted the surrounding space, and a scorching sensation that penetrated straight to the soul caused a stinging pain in the spirit and a restless mind.

"Red Lotus Heart Flame!"

Liu Meizhen's phoenix eyes narrowed, instantly recognizing the origin of the fire, her tone carrying a rare hint of solemnity:

"This is a strange fire formed by the intertwining and tempering of the earth's fire essence and the demonic thoughts of cultivators over ten thousand years. It can not only burn gold and melt iron, but also scorch the soul and arouse inner demons, making it extremely difficult to deal with!"

The crimson lotus heart flame seemed to sense the presence of living people, and its rotation speed suddenly increased, splitting into several crimson-gold fire snakes that, carrying a destructive aura, fiercely pounced towards the platform where the three were!

The heat wave hit them, even forcing the chill around Han Xiao to recoil backward.

"careful!"

Yao Yao immediately activated the ancient jade array plate, and cool array patterns appeared, attempting to set up a defense in front of her to isolate the heat wave and the invasion of her soul. However, the array patterns began to melt rapidly as the fire snake approached, clearly unable to completely resist.

Hanxiao also let out a low roar, spewing out a large amount of icy mist, but it could only slightly slow down the fire snake's speed. The icy mist melted upon contact with the fire, sizzling loudly.

Faced with this sudden attack on both the soul and the body, Liu Meizhen remained calm. A glint flashed in her eyes, which held a keen and insightful mind, and she instantly grasped the key point.

"This fire, though powerful, has no intelligence and only protects this place by instinct. Its core power lies in that pure white fire lotus!"

She speaks very quickly, and her thoughts are incredibly clear:

"Ordinary methods are insufficient to capture or even resist it, but fortunately... my Taixu Dragon and Phoenix Divine Cauldron contains Yin and Yang energies, possessing the primal power to refine all things, which may be able to restrain it!"

Before she finished speaking, she had already stepped forward, protecting Yao Yao and Han Xiao behind her.

With his hands moving like butterflies flitting among flowers, the Taixu Dragon and Phoenix Divine Cauldron, which was floating in the air, shone brightly once again!
The dragon and phoenix carvings on the cauldron seemed to come alive, and the sounds of dragon roars and phoenix cries faintly echoed. The cauldron's mouth was aimed at the ferocious fire serpent that was rushing towards it and the main body of the Crimson Lotus Heart Flame behind it. The blue and red divine light of the void no longer dispersed, but condensed into an extremely solid pillar of light, like an invisible vortex, generating a huge suction force!

"receive!"

Liu Meizhen let out a low shout, pouring all her spiritual power into the divine cauldron.

The fire serpents that rushed forward were the first to be hit. As if grabbed by an invisible giant hand, they struggled and twisted, and were dragged toward the mouth of the cauldron against their own will. Finally, with a mournful cry, they were completely sucked into the cauldron!
Immediately afterwards, the core of the Crimson Lotus Heart Flame was also strongly drawn in! It trembled violently, attempting to resist, releasing an even more terrifying heat wave. The crimson-gold flames scorched the Divine Light of the Void, crackling and popping.

Fine beads of sweat appeared on Liu Meizhen's forehead, clearly indicating that collecting such a strange fire was extremely difficult for her. However, her eyes were sharp as she fully activated the power of the divine cauldron. The divine cauldron spun rapidly, the yin and yang energies within it intertwining and transforming into a millstone-like force, constantly eroding the Red Lotus Heart Fire's resistance.

The pure white core of the fire lotus seemed to sense the suppression of some higher-level power, and its struggles gradually became powerless.

After a stalemate of about ten breaths, a soft "hum" was heard, and the powerful Red Lotus Heart Flame finally could not withstand the refining and absorption force of the Taixu Dragon and Phoenix Divine Cauldron. It turned into a stream of light and was completely absorbed into the cauldron!
The lid of the cauldron slammed shut with a clang, and the cauldron trembled slightly. A layer of crimson-gold light appeared on its surface, but it was quickly suppressed by the blue-red divine light inside and returned to calm.

The scorching heat vanished instantly, and the lava lake continued to churn, but the terrifying threat was gone.

(End of this chapter)