Family Rise: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 574 God of Slaughter! Three more Golden Core cultivators added!!
Old Zhou's face darkened, his withered face revealing no emotion whatsoever. He simply said in a hoarse voice, "What? Does my Prince's Mansion need to report to a mere sixth-rank Wu family like yours when it comes to handling affairs?"

The presence of people from the Prince's Mansion, especially late-stage Golden Core cultivators, made Old Ancestor Wu somewhat apprehensive, but he still let out a cold snort:
“Fellow Daoist Zhou, you are mistaken! Huixi County is adjacent to the Wu family. If there is any disturbance here, it will affect the safety of my Wu family. How can you say it is unrelated? Moreover, the Fu family is a close relative and friend of my Wu family, and also my most important partner! Now that someone is sneaking around outside their forbidden area with malicious intentions, how can my Wu family sit idly by?”

His words were firm and unyielding, directly exposing the other party's ulterior motives, and he continued:
"Elder Zhou, instead of staying at the Prince's residence for quiet cultivation, has come to this desolate wilderness to 'do business'? What business is it? Could it be the same 'business' as those two guest elders of the Prince's residence who trespassed into the Fu family's forbidden area and ultimately met their demise?"

Old Master Wu's words were forceful and bluntly exposed the intentions of Old Master Zhou and the others.

Old Zhou's withered face twitched slightly, and a sinister glint flashed in his cloudy eyes. As a hereditary retainer of the Prince's Mansion, his loyalty to the mansion was ingrained in his bones. Coupled with his late-stage Golden Core cultivation and the confidence brought by the Nascent Soul talisman in his possession, how could he possibly take the two Golden Core cultivators from the Wu family seriously?
"Hmph, Old Ghost Wu, you think you're something special just because I gave you some face?" Old Zhou's hoarse voice was filled with undisguised contempt. "You two dare to block the Prince's Mansion's path? Like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, you're overestimating yourselves!"

He was too lazy to waste any more words with the two members of the Wu family. He pointed his withered hand at the two early-stage Golden Core guests beside him who were already trembling with fear, and ordered, "You two, go and have some fun with the Wu family's friends. Don't let them disturb me from doing my business."

Upon hearing this, the two early-stage Golden Core guests breathed a sigh of relief. As long as they didn't go head-to-head with Fu Changsheng, that killing god, everything would be fine.

The two unleashed their magical weapons and approached Old Ancestor Wu and Clan Chief Wu.

Old Zhou didn't even glance over there, and said to Chen Feng and Su Wan in a deep voice:

"Follow me to break the formation!"

Having said that, the Nascent Soul talisman in his hand, radiating a heart-palpitating aura, began to glow with a hazy light, and an aura of pressure far exceeding that of the Golden Core level began to spread out.

Right now!

"boom--!"

A vast and powerful aura suddenly shot into the sky from the array's light barrier below! Thousands of rays of light and auspicious colors appeared, and Fu Changsheng's figure, like a god descending to earth, suddenly appeared in mid-air.

The seven-colored light within his body surged and roared, releasing his cultivation without reservation; he was clearly at the late stage of the Golden Core realm! The profound and incredibly refined fluctuations of his magical power even startled Elder Zhou, a veteran late-stage Golden Core cultivator.

"You little beast, you've come at the right time!" Old Zhou's eyes narrowed, and the light of the Nascent Soul talisman in his hand became even more intense.

Fu Changsheng's gaze was cold as he swept over the two Wu family members who had been forced back, and then landed on Old Zhou, showing no interest in wasting words.

He pointed his fingers like a sword, aiming straight at the sky!

"Keng——!"

A clear, resonant sword cry echoed through the heavens and earth, and a massive, ancient sword phantom, imbued with the aura of endless ages and slaughter, burst forth from his body! It was the phantom of an ancient famous sword, carrying a sharp will to cleave through everything, aimed directly at Elder Zhou!
"Well done!" Although startled, Old Zhou remained calm, knowing full well that Fu Changsheng possessed such abilities. He suddenly unleashed the jade talisman in his hand!
"Buzz!"

The jade talisman exploded, transforming into a giant phantom that was incredibly solid, with a blurred face, yet exuding immense Nascent Soul power. The phantom roared and threw a punch, the fist imprint growing larger in the wind, containing a portion of the power of the rules of heaven and earth, and forcefully crashing into the phantom of the ancient famous sword!

"Boom!!!"

A deafening roar erupted, and terrifying energy shockwaves spread outwards like a tsunami. The phantom of the ancient sword and the giant phantom formed from the Nascent Soul talisman clashed and clashed fiercely, resulting in a stalemate where neither side could gain the upper hand!

The talisman can withstand the power of an ancient sword!
Seeing this, Old Zhou felt somewhat relieved, but he showed no mercy. He knew Fu Changsheng's methods were unpredictable and that he had to go all out. He gave a low shout, patted his storage pouch at his waist, and a gleaming golden alms bowl and a bone umbrella painted with the Nine Netherworld Rakshasa pattern flew out!

The golden bowl spun rapidly, scattering countless golden rays that protected Old Zhou's body, its defensive power being extremely astonishing; the Nine Luo Umbrella suddenly opened, a howling wind blew, and countless ferocious ghostly shadows roared out, rushing towards Fu Changsheng!

at the same time.

The void around him rippled, and a ferocious beast that resembled a cheetah but had three eyes, wings under its ribs, and was covered in jet-black scales roared out, its aura reaching the late stage of the fourth rank!
As soon as the monster appeared, a gray, deathly light shot out from its third eye on its forehead. The speed was incredible, and it went straight for Fu Changsheng's brow!

At the same time, it swung its claws, and a set of miniature flying needle magic weapons silently attacked Fu Changsheng's lower body like poisonous bees!

This spirit pet was not only as powerful as a late-stage Golden Core cultivator, but it also possessed a natal spirit technique and a well-refined natal magic weapon! Combined with Elder Zhou's Golden Yuan Bowl and Nine Luo Umbrella, its attacks were like a storm, instantly engulfing Fu Changsheng!

Faced with this overwhelming attack, Fu Changsheng remained calm. With a thought, three ancient-looking lotus lanterns, each leaping with golden lightning, purple flames, and azure light respectively, rose above his head, forming a three-element formation. The lantern flames surged, transforming into three layers of light that firmly protected him!

Boom! Boom! Boom! Sizzle ...
Ghostly shadows, death rays, flying needles... all sorts of attacks frantically assaulted the three-colored light barrier, causing it to tremble violently, yet stubbornly holding on.

at the same time.

Fu Changsheng made a grasping motion with his left hand, and a spear wrapped in destructive lightning instantly materialized—the Heavenly Punishment Lightning Spear! With a flick of his right finger, a wisp of noble purple flame, capable of incinerating all things, leaped out—the Purple Extreme Profound Fire!
The lightning spear flew out of his hand, tearing through the sky and piercing straight at the late-stage fourth-tier demonic beast! The Purple Extreme Profound Fire transformed into a sea of ​​fire, sweeping towards the countless ghostly figures and the eerie Nine Luo Umbrella!

Boom! Sizzle... The lightning spear and the demonic beast's death ray collided and exploded. The purple flames scorched the ghostly figure, causing it to scream in agony. The precious light of the Nine Luo Umbrella quickly dimmed.

Old Zhou's pupils contracted, and he hurriedly activated the Golden Yuan Bowl to increase the defense. At the same time, he flicked his hands in succession, and a series of tricky, strange, insidious and vicious spells emerged like venomous snakes from their holes, targeting the gaps in Fu Changsheng's magic power and the weak points in his defense, revealing his experienced and ruthless combat skills.

In an instant, magical artifacts clashed, spells roared, and spirit pets howled in the sky. The two were evenly matched and it was difficult to determine who was superior!
However, as time went on, Old Zhou's shock grew stronger. He discovered that Fu Changsheng's magical power seemed inexhaustible. Despite casting so many powerful spells and controlling numerous magical treasures, his aura showed no signs of weakening! On the contrary, he himself, by activating his Nascent Soul talisman, controlling two powerful magical treasures, and commanding his spirit pet, had expended a great deal of magical power and was already showing signs of fatigue!
'This boy's magical power is unbelievably formidable?! He's practically a monster!' Old Zhou was horrified and already considered retreating. 'We can't continue this fight! We must immediately return to the Prince's mansion and request the Prince to send even stronger forces!'

Just as his mind wandered slightly, considering his escape route, and his offensive faltered for a tiny, insignificant moment—

Fu Changsheng, who had been steadily and seemingly focused on defense and confrontation, suddenly unleashed a terrifying glint in his eyes!
This is the moment he's been waiting for!
A flash of light appeared between his brows, and a [Void Talisman Guide], neither a talisman nor a scroll, imbued with a mystical aura, shot out silently!

The moment this object appeared, Old Zhou's hair stood on end. A deadly sense of crisis washed over him like ice water, making his very soul tremble! He let out a strange cry and desperately activated the Golden Yuan Bowl to block in front of him, retreating rapidly!

But, it's too late!

The Void Talisman seemed to ignore spatial distance; one moment it was between Fu Changsheng's eyebrows, and the next it was imprinted on Elder Zhou's Golden Yuan Bowl's defensive light!
There was no earth-shattering explosion, only a soft "crack" sound, like glass shattering.

Old Master Zhou's powerful natal magic treasure, the Golden Yuan Bowl, along with the thick golden light it emitted, was instantly cut and annihilated by an invisible spatial force, turning into the finest dust!
The talisman, its momentum undiminished, gently imprinted itself on Old Zhou's forehead amidst his terrified, desperate, and incredulous gaze.

Time seems to stand still at this moment.

Old Zhou's retreating figure suddenly froze, his face contorted with greed, horror, and fear.

The next moment, he collapsed and died.

The giant phantom formed from the Nascent Soul talisman, having lost the support of its master's magic power, let out a resentful roar and suddenly dissipated, transforming back into a much dimmer jade talisman that fell from the sky. The late-stage fourth-order demonic beast let out a mournful cry. The contract between it and Elder Zhou was forcibly broken, causing it to suffer a backlash. Its aura instantly weakened, and it glanced at Fu Changsheng in terror before turning into a streak of black light and attempting to flee.

Fu Changsheng wouldn't let it escape. The Heavenly Punishment Thunder Spear and the Purple Extreme Profound Fire instantly merged, trapping it. He severely injured and subdued it in a few moves, then placed a restriction on it and put it into his spirit beast pouch.

All of this is a long story, but in reality, from Fu Changsheng's sudden attack to Old Zhou's instant death, it only took a few breaths!
……

the other side.

Just as the earth-shattering battle between Fu Changsheng and Old Zhou broke out, attracting everyone's attention, Chen Feng and Su Wan exchanged a tacit glance and retreated without hesitation!

They had no intention of fighting; what did Old Zhou's life or death matter to them? Preserving themselves was their top priority! The two transformed into streaks of light and fled in different directions, attempting to escape this dangerous place amidst the chaos.

However, the moment they moved, the surrounding scenery suddenly changed!
The original mountain forest scene vanished like ripples on water, replaced by countless crisscrossing, shimmering walls of light with various runes, like a giant maze cage, instantly separating the two and trapping them in different array spaces!

"Not good! It's a formation! We've been tricked!" Chen Feng's expression changed drastically as he discovered that the connection between him and his Daoist partner, Su Wan, had been forcibly severed by the power of the formation. The two could not reunite, nor could they unleash their powerful combined attack. At this moment, all he could muster was his individual strength at the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm.

On the other side, Su Wan was also caught in the same predicament. Her pretty face was frosty, and a hint of anxiety flashed in her beautiful eyes.

Within the array space that trapped Su Wan, a flash of light appeared, and the figures of Yao Yao and Fairy Tianyin quietly materialized.

Yao Yao's eyes flashed with cold silver array patterns as she sneered, "Since you two are here, why are you in such a hurry to leave? Do you think my Fu family's forbidden area is some inn or restaurant where you can come and go as you please?"

Su Wan was horrified. It was clear that Elder Zhou was at a disadvantage in his fight with Fu Changsheng; his defeat was only a matter of time. She immediately suppressed her grief and anger over Liu Yun's death, forcing a sincere and urgent expression onto her face as she bowed to Yao Yao and Fairy Tianyin, saying:

"Two fairies of the Fu family, please understand! My husband and I had no intention of being enemies with the Fu family! We were forced to come here by the coercion of the Prince's Mansion! Now that we know the power of the Fu family, we dare not have the slightest intention to offend them! We beg you fairies to show mercy and let us leave. My husband and I swear that we will immediately flee far away and never set foot in Wuzhou again! Today's events are all our fault, and we are willing to offer all our possessions as compensation!"

She spoke very quickly and adopted an extremely humble posture, trying to find a glimmer of hope.

However, upon hearing this, Yao Yao scoffed. Nine illusory fox tails flickered within her golden core, and her eyes gleamed with a captivating light.
"Oh? No intention to be enemies with the Fu family? Then who was it that broke through the formation with deadly weapons? If all those who come to offend us can just walk away with a 'no intention to be enemies' when things get bad, then where will the prestige of my Fu family be? Won't it be that any Tom, Dick, or Harry will dare to provoke us in the future? Today, we will use you two to establish our authority!"

Before she finished speaking, Yao Yao's eyes shone brightly with pink light! An invisible and intangible yet soul-stirring charm instantly enveloped Su Wan!
Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox Bloodline Illusion Technique - Chaos of Gods!
Su Wan felt a blur before her eyes, her mind went blank for a moment, as if she were seeing countless enchanting illusions, and the flow of her magical power stagnates for a moment. She bit her tongue sharply, the sharp pain instantly bringing her back to her senses, but a cold sweat broke out on her back.

"What powerful illusion magic!" Su Wan knew that things would never end well today; the other party wasn't leaving her any room for maneuver. A resolute and ruthless glint flashed in her eyes. "Since you refuse to give me a way out, then don't blame me for being ruthless!"

She suddenly slapped her dantian, and a pill-shaped magical artifact, completely red, covered with cracks, and radiating an extremely unstable and terrifying aura, was summoned!

"Blood-Burning Blazing Flame Pill!?" Fairy Tianyin, with her vast knowledge, recognized the item at a glance, her expression changing slightly. "Be careful! This is a one-time self-destructing magic weapon!"

A look of madness appeared on Su Wan's face as she poured her own blood essence into the crimson pill at any cost. The cracks on the surface of the pill suddenly lit up, and destructive energy gathered wildly!

"Die!" she shrieked, about to detonate the weapon of mass destruction!
Meanwhile, in another array space where Chen Feng was trapped.

Liu Meizhen and Fu Changli's figures appeared.

With her phoenix eyes gleaming with power, Liu Meizhen unhesitatingly summoned the Taiyi Dragon and Phoenix Divine Cauldron! The cauldron lid opened, revealing not just the single Red Lotus Earth Fire, but the "Red Lotus Heart Fire," a fusion of multiple different fire origins, its power amplified to a new level. Like a roaring fire dragon, it swept towards Chen Feng with the force to incinerate all things!
Fu Changli held the Beast King's Token, its light shimmering. A phantom of the Azure Phoenix, connected to her mind, cried out from behind her. Through the Token, she temporarily shared the Azure Phoenix's "Azure Phoenix Divine Wind" power. With a wave of her hand, countless azure wind blades, tearing through space, rained down like a storm, sealing off all of Chen Feng's escape routes!
Chen Feng's expression was extremely solemn. He was a sound cultivator, and his natal magic weapon was a jade flute. Currently separated by the formation, he couldn't combine his attacks with his partner, greatly diminishing his strength. He placed the flute to his lips, and a rapid, mournful sound suddenly rang out!
Woo——woo——!
The sound of the flute transformed into countless visible dark green sonic blades, rushing towards the Red Lotus Heart Flame and the Azure Phoenix Divine Wind like a raging torrent!
Rumble! Hiss! Hiss!
Flames, wind blades, and sound waves collided and annihilated each other wildly, producing a deafening roar. The turbulent energy currents caused the array space to flicker unpredictably.

Chen Feng's sonic attack was cunning and fierce, targeting the soul and mana nodes. For a time, he managed to barely withstand Liu Meizhen's Red Lotus Heart Flame and Fu Changli's Azure Phoenix Divine Wind, and the two sides were locked in a stalemate, fighting fiercely and evenly!
However, Chen Feng was inwardly groaning.

He was facing two Golden Core cultivators from the Fu family alone. Liu Meizhen's magic weapon was incredibly powerful, and Fu Changli's supernatural abilities were unpredictable. Although he was not defeated for the time being, his mana was being greatly depleted, and defeat was only a matter of time. Moreover, he was extremely worried about his Daoist partner, Su Wan, who was facing two array masters from the Fu family alone.

Both battlefields were locked in a fierce stalemate. However, the initiative was clearly firmly in the hands of the Fu family.

……

Fu Changsheng instantly killed Elder Zhou and then subdued the late-stage fourth-tier demonic beast with lightning speed. The entire process was smooth and powerful. His cold gaze swept over the other two battle groups.

The two early-stage Golden Core retainers, who had been ordered by Elder Zhou to deal with the two members of the Wu family, were already terrified. Having witnessed Elder Zhou being instantly killed, they had lost all will to fight. When they saw Fu Changsheng looking at them, they felt as if they were being stared at by a ferocious beast, their bodies went limp, and they almost fell off the sky.

"Master Fu, spare me! Spare me!"

"We were forced by the Prince's Mansion and have no intention of being enemies with the Fu family! We beg Patriarch Fu to show mercy. We are willing to offer our souls and blood and serve as slaves for eternity!"

The two men, tears streaming down their faces, knelt in mid-air, kowtowing repeatedly, begging for mercy and hoping to have a chance to live.

However, Fu Changsheng's eyes remained cold and unmoved. Such a cowardly and treacherous person was only a threat if kept alive, and an insult to someone like Elder Zhou, who, though an enemy, was still loyal.

He didn't even bother with words, pointing his fingers like a sword and making a point in the air.

"Tsk! Tsk!"

Two Heavenly Punishment Lightning Spears, wreathed in destructive lightning, instantly coalesced and traversed space as if by teleportation. In the desperate and terrified gazes of the two early-stage Golden Core guests, they precisely pierced between their brows! Before they could even utter a scream, the two collapsed to the ground, dead.

Decisive and ruthless!
This scene sent chills down the spines of Old Ancestor Wu and Clan Chief Wu, making them realize once again just how ruthless and decisive this Patriarch Fu was! He was as warm as a spring breeze to his friends, yet as cruel and merciless as a harsh winter to his enemies!

Meanwhile, Chen Feng and Su Wan, trapped within the formation, witnessed everything clearly. The murder of Elder Zhou and the instantaneous killing of their companions—Fu Changsheng's terrifying strength and ruthless methods completely shattered their last shred of hope.

"Patriarch Fu! Spare us! We surrender! We truly surrender!" Chen Feng was the first to dispel all resistance, put away the jade flute, and pulled Su Wan to kneel down directly in the array space.

Su Wan hurriedly dispersed the Blood-Burning Explosive Flame Pill that was about to explode, her face pale and her voice trembling as she said, "Patriarch Fu, we were blind and dared to offend your might, we deserve to die! We beg Patriarch Fu to spare our lives, considering how hard we have worked to cultivate! My husband and I are willing to swear an oath to the Heavenly Dao, to acknowledge you as our master, to be loyal to you for eternity, and to have no other intentions!"

Fu Changsheng flashed and appeared outside the formation that trapped them. He looked down at the two kneeling men begging for mercy with indifferent eyes and did not respond immediately.

Seeing that Fu Changsheng seemed unmoved, Chen Feng gritted his teeth and hurriedly offered an even bigger bargaining chip: "Master! We two are not without value! We are willing to identify the Seventh Prince Zhou Xuanming..."

Later it was changed to voice transmission.

Upon hearing this, a barely perceptible ripple flashed in Fu Changsheng's eyes. He hesitated for a moment before finally speaking, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable authority: "Release your divine soul to resist."

Upon hearing this, Chen Feng and Su Wan felt as if they had been granted a pardon. Without the slightest hesitation, they immediately released their spiritual defenses completely.

Fu Changsheng unleashed two profound runes from his fingertips, instantly embedding them between the two men's brows and leaving deep spiritual seals. From that moment on, he could decide their life or death with a single thought.

"Get up. I'll spare your lives for now, and you'll have to atone for your crimes. If you show any further disloyalty, you'll be destroyed, body and soul," Fu Changsheng said calmly.

"Thank you so much, Master, for sparing our lives! My wife and I will do our utmost to serve you, even unto death!" Chen Feng and Su Wan, having survived the ordeal, quickly kowtowed to express their gratitude before daring to stand up and stand respectfully to the side with their hands at their sides, their attitude extremely respectful.

……

Fu Changsheng led Chen Feng and Su Wan into a secret room heavily guarded with restrictions. His expression was calm and composed as he gestured for the two to reveal all the inside information they knew about the collusion between the Prince's Mansion and the Yin Kui Sect.

Having already pledged allegiance to each other, Chen Feng naturally dared not conceal anything. Su Wan took a deep breath and spoke first:

“My lord, you are wise. Although my wife and I hold positions in the Prince’s Palace, we have seen the palace gradually decline and Zhou Xuanming is stubborn and self-willed. He has already secretly prepared a way out for himself. For many years, we have been secretly collecting all kinds of secrets about the Prince’s Palace, especially its dealings with the Yin Kui Sect.”

Chen Feng interjected:
"Exactly. The Yin Kui Sect must have promised the Seventh Prince some amazing conditions that made Zhou Xuanming risk so much to not only reveal the backgrounds, resource distributions, and even some hidden weaknesses of many aristocratic families within the Great Zhou territory to them, but also to provide them with many unimaginable conveniences for their activities within the Great Zhou territory, such as forging identity documents, opening up secret transport routes, and even using the power of the Prince's Mansion to clear obstacles for them."

Su Wan lowered her voice and said solemnly:
"The most suspicious thing is that a group of core members of the Yin Puppet Sect were secretly placed deep in the forbidden area of ​​the Prince's mansion by the Seventh Prince under various identities more than a decade ago! They were claimed to be guest elders in seclusion or conducting some kind of secret research, but the security was extremely tight, and even we Golden Core guest elders could not get close. We tried to find out, but we could only vaguely sense that the Yin energy in the forbidden area was extremely heavy, and there were strange spatial fluctuations from time to time, as if some kind of... large-scale array construction or passage stabilization was being carried out."

"More than a decade ago?" Fu Changsheng's gaze suddenly sharpened. "It was shortly after the Lei family was destroyed and that rift in the Demon Realm was suppressed!"

The clues instantly connected in his mind!
Although he and Zhen Shi Si destroyed the passage that the Yin Kui Sect had been secretly building underground in the Lei family's territory to try and open a connection to the Demon Realm, the Yin Kui Sect was clearly still up to no good! They were very likely to take advantage of the Seventh Prince's power and greed to move the construction of another stronghold, or even the more important "main passage," directly to the heavily guarded and more easily concealed forbidden area of ​​the Prince's Mansion!

If so...

The Seven Princes' Mansions have practically planted a bomb right under their own beds, a bomb that could blow up the entire mansion and even the surrounding states!
A cold sweat instantly broke out on Fu Changsheng's back.

As a patrolling angel, his duty is to oversee the region, eradicate demonic scourges, and maintain peace. If, within the territory of Wuzhou under his jurisdiction, the Yin Kui Sect, under the cover of the Prince's Mansion, were to successfully open a stable passage to the demon realm, leading to a large-scale demon invasion... the consequences would be unimaginable! Not only Wuzhou, but also the neighboring Jingzhou and Jingzhou would suffer immense devastation. He himself would be severely derelict in his duties and inescapably guilty. At that point, not only would his career be in jeopardy, but even his life would be in danger.

But on the other hand... crises also contain tremendous opportunities!
If he could uncover the conspiracy first and destroy the demon's lair within the Prince's mansion with swift and decisive action, preventing a catastrophe... that would undoubtedly be a tremendous achievement! With such a distinguished accomplishment, coupled with his current strength and the Fu family's gradually rising status, being promoted to a fifth-rank Imperial Patrol Officer would not be an unrealistic expectation!

The power, status, and resources that a fifth-rank Imperial Envoy can command are far greater than what they currently possess! This will be a tremendous boost to the Fu family's future development.

Thinking of this, Fu Changsheng's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he had already made up his mind.

He looked at Chen Feng and Su Wan and said in a deep voice, "The information you provided is crucial. Immediately compile all the evidence you have gathered regarding the collusion between the Seventh Prince and the Yin Kui Sect, including documents, accounts, videos, and even eyewitness clues, and hand them over to me. In particular, do not overlook any clues about the situation inside the forbidden area of ​​the Prince's Palace."

"Yes, Master!" Chen Feng and Su Wan bowed and responded immediately.

Fu Changsheng waved for them to go and tidy up, while he stood with his hands behind his back in the secret room, his gaze piercing through the walls and looking towards the direction of the Prince's Mansion, his eyes becoming incredibly sharp.

"Zhou Xuanming... Yin Kui Sect... truly brought about their own destruction!" he muttered to himself, a chilling killing intent and sense of responsibility rising within him.

This matter must be dealt with as soon as possible, and it must be dealt with cleanly and efficiently. We must not only eradicate this evil threat, but also firmly grasp this tremendous achievement in our hands!
……

The situation was urgent, concerning the lives of millions and his own future, so Fu Changsheng did not hesitate for a moment. He immediately set up a decoy array in the extinct volcano region of Huixi County, creating the illusion that he was still in seclusion or stationed there. Then, he quietly used the teleportation array secretly built by the Fu family to instantly arrive in Wuzhou City.

Upon appearing, he immediately used the highest emergency authority to contact the person in charge of the Zhen Shi Si in Wuzhou—the Xuan Yang Zhenren, a Pseudo-Nascent Soul Realm expert—as well as the head of the Yu Shen Si, who was also a Pseudo-Nascent Soul Realm expert.

In a completely secure room, Fu Changsheng dismissed everyone around him and succinctly conveyed the evidence provided by Chen Feng and Su Wan, along with his own deductions, to the two big shots.

"What?! The Seventh Prince actually dared to collude with the Yin Puppet Sect, and is suspected of constructing a passage to the Demon Realm within the forbidden area of ​​the Prince's Palace?!" Upon hearing this, True Person Xuan Yang abruptly stood up, his usually calm face filled with shock and disbelief. The Chief of the Divine Control Department also narrowed his eyes, gasping, "Zhou Xuanming... how dare he do this?! This is a heinous crime of treason and collusion with demons! Annihilation, body and soul, would not be an exaggeration!"

However, after the initial shock, the head of the Divine Guardian quickly calmed down, his brows furrowed, and his face showing difficulty:

"Inspector Fu, this matter is of utmost importance! Although the Seventh Prince is in decline, he is still of royal blood and his status is sensitive. If we are not absolutely certain, and rely solely on the testimonies of two surrendered soldiers and a few pieces of evidence, and we rashly break into the Prince's residence to search, what if we make a mistake... It would be a minor matter if we alert the enemy, but if we are charged with disrespecting the royal family and committing insubordination, the three of us would likely face severe consequences!"

He pondered for a moment and then suggested:
"How about... we secretly report this information to Jingzhou, so that the Zhenshi Division and Yushen Division of Jingzhou can handle it together? In this way, even if there is a mistake, we will have some room for maneuver."

"Absolutely not!" Master Xuan Yang immediately rejected the idea, his tone resolute. "Master, you are mistaken! The matter of the demonic scourge is ever-changing; how can we allow it to be reported up the chain of command, jeopardizing our chances of victory? Can we guarantee that there aren't any spies from the Yin Kui Sect in Jingzhou? If the news leaks out, and the Yin Kui Sect and the Seventh Prince, in their desperation, prematurely activate the passage, who can bear the consequences? At that time, countless lives will be lost, and how will we face the court and the people? In my opinion, no matter how great the risk, we must immediately and secretly take control of the Prince's residence and uncover the truth!"

Seeing that True Person Xuan Yang was resolute, the head of the Imperial Guard compromised and said, "What Fellow Daoist Xuan Yang said makes sense, but matters concerning the royal family are ultimately troublesome... How about we invite Princess Runyu to go with us? She is of noble status, and if she is present to preside over the proceedings, even if it turns out to be a misunderstanding, we can still explain it to the royal family."

Master Xuan Yang shook his head again, his gaze sharp: "Princess Runyu and the Seventh Prince are cousins, connected by blood. Even if she and Zhou Xuanming are not on good terms, if the Prince's mansion truly harbors a demonic passage, this matter will surely shake the court and the public, and the Eldest Princess's lineage will inevitably be implicated. Whether Princess Runyu will handle this impartially to protect the reputation and power of her mother's lineage, or choose to secretly protect them and keep the peace, remains to be seen! Asking her to go with us would be even more risky!"

The two fake infants each held their own version of events, arguing endlessly and unable to reach a decision.

Fu Changsheng watched anxiously from the sidelines. Every minute that passed increased the risk of the Prince's Mansion noticing something amiss! Once Zhou Xuanming and the Yin Kui Sect were on guard, or even decided to fight to the death, it would be too late!

Fortunately, he had already confirmed the intelligence through the system before he came: [There are indeed members of the Yin Kui Sect lurking in the forbidden area of ​​the Prince's Mansion]! This gave him full confidence.

Seeing that his two superiors were still struggling with the risks and responsibilities, Fu Changsheng suddenly stepped forward. Although his aura as a late-stage Golden Core cultivator was not as strong as that of the two fake Nascent Soul cultivators, his resolute determination and confidence instantly overwhelmed the argument.

"My lords, there's no need for further argument!" Fu Changsheng's voice was deep and resolute, his gaze sweeping over Xuan Yang Zhenren and the head of the Imperial Guard with lightning speed. "I, Fu Changsheng, guarantee with my own head and the future of the Imperial Guard that within the forbidden area of ​​the Prince's Mansion, there must be demonic scoundrels from the Yin Kui Sect and their demonic projects! All the evidence points to this place, without a doubt!"

His tone was firm and resolute, filled with unwavering conviction: "If it is ultimately found that I misjudged the situation, I, Fu Changsheng, will bear all the blame, and it will have nothing to do with you two! But if our hesitation at this moment leads to the outbreak of the demonic scourge and causes a catastrophic disaster... then we will not only be derelict in our duty, but also sinners for all time!"

Fu Changsheng's resounding assurance and his willingness to bear all the consequences alone finally silenced the two arguing individuals.

Master Xuan Yang gave Fu Changsheng a deep look, and seeing the unwavering determination in his eyes, he finally nodded emphatically: "Good! Since Inspector Fu has such courage and responsibility, I will trust you this time! I'll stake this old body on accompanying you to the Prince's Mansion!"

Seeing that things had come to this point, and with Fu Changsheng having made a solemn pledge, the head of the Imperial Guard no longer hesitated. He gritted his teeth and said, "Very well! Since Inspector Fu is so certain, I, the head of the Imperial Guard, am also willing to go! This concerns the lives of the people, and we cannot afford to be timid!"

The three exchanged glances and instantly reached an agreement.

A swift and decisive operation targeting the Prince's Mansion is about to begin!

……

The Prince's Mansion, the Soul Palace.

Inside the dimly lit hall, hundreds of spirit lamps burned silently, illuminating the ancient, mottled patterns on the walls. Suddenly—

puff!puff!puff!
Three soft cracking sounds rang out in succession, jolting the old steward guarding the Soul Hall awake from his drowsy state. He was horrified to see that the life-soul lamps representing Elder Zhou and the two early-stage Golden Core guest elders had suddenly gone out at the same time, leaving only a wisp of green smoke rising from the lamp bases!
"How...how is this possible?!" The old steward was so frightened that he stumbled and scrambled out of the Soul Palace, almost running on his hands and feet towards the bedroom where the Seventh Prince Zhou Xuanming was.

"Your Highness! Your Highness! Something terrible has happened!" The old steward collapsed outside the palace gate, his voice trembling with grief, "Elder Zhou... Elder Zhou, and Elders Wang and Li's life... life lamps have gone out!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xuanming, who was enjoying fine wine and delicacies inside the hall, dropped the jade cup in his hand with a "crack" and shattered it on the ground. He stood up abruptly, his face first showing astonishment, then unbelievable rage.

"Bullshit! Did you see that clearly?!" Zhou Xuanming grabbed the old steward by the collar, his face contorted with rage. "Old Zhou has a Nascent Soul talisman bestowed upon him by this king! And a late-stage fourth-tier spirit pet protecting him! Even if he was no match for Fu Changsheng, how could he not even escape? How could he possibly perish?! Absolutely impossible!"

The old steward trembled with fear: "It's absolutely true... Your Highness, the soul lamps... the soul lamps really went out... all three... at the same time..."

Zhou Xuanming released his grip, staggering back two steps. The rage on his face gradually gave way to disbelief and lingering fear. He had originally thought that with Elder Zhou's cultivation and trump cards, they could at least ascertain the truth, or even severely damage the Fu family, or at the very least escape unscathed... But he never expected that they would suffer total annihilation!
"Fu Changsheng... Fu Changsheng! Just how far have you gone?!" He muttered to himself, a genuine fear gripping him for the first time towards the man from Huizhou Prefecture. Even a Nascent Soul talisman couldn't save his life? Fu Changsheng's strength was probably far more terrifying than he had imagined!
However, this fear lasted only a moment before being replaced by his inherent sense of superiority and arrogance regarding his royal status.

"Hmph!" Zhou Xuanming forced himself to calm down, his face regaining some color, and even revealing a hint of sarcasm. "Even if Fu Changsheng has extraordinary abilities, so what? Does he dare to attack my Prince's Mansion?"

As if encouraging himself, he raised his voice eight octaves, radiating an inexplicable confidence: "I am a member of the Great Zhou royal family, the dignified Seventh Prince! His Fu family is merely a sixth-rank aristocratic family. Even if he had ten times the courage, he wouldn't dare to lay a finger on a hair on my royal residence! Otherwise, back then, when I abandoned his daughter, and the former Princess Consort tortured that little bastard so much, almost killing her, if Fu Changsheng truly had any backbone, he would have already come knocking on our door! Why has it been decades and he hasn't even dared to utter a fart? It's clear that deep down he's a cowardly, incompetent, and utterly useless coward! He's not worth fearing at all!"

The more he talked, the more convinced he became of his own reasoning, completely interpreting Fu Changsheng's forbearance back then as cowardice and fear of imperial power. This idea made him feel at ease again.

"That useless old Zhou! I trusted him so much and bestowed upon him such a treasure, yet he still managed to botch things! He deserves to die!" Zhou Xuanming cursed, blaming the failure entirely on the old man's incompetence.

But then, he frowned again, a hint of doubt in his eyes: "However... those two guys, Chen Feng and Su Wan, their life lamps are still lit? They didn't die? They even escaped?"

This surprised and puzzled him. Even Elder Zhou, who possessed the talisman, was dead; how could Chen Feng and his wife have escaped?

A faint unease swept over him. Although he didn't think Fu Changsheng would dare to do anything to the Prince's Mansion, the events in Huixi County seemed rather strange.

"Someone come here!" he shouted in a deep voice.

A trusted guard immediately appeared.

"Immediately send more men to thoroughly investigate what exactly happened at the extinct volcano in Huixi County! How did Elder Zhou and the others die? How did Chen Feng and his wife escape? Not a single detail can be overlooked!" Zhou Xuanming ordered, trying to dispel the inexplicable unease in his heart.

"Yes, Your Highness!" The guard acknowledged the order and quickly withdrew.

Zhou Xuanming stood alone in the hall, looking at the shattered jade cup on the ground, his eyes shifting uncertainly. He repeatedly told himself not to worry, that Fu Changsheng would never dare to defy the world and attack the royal family's mansion, but deep in his heart, the unease caused by the unknown could not be completely calmed down.

Just as the unease in Zhou Xuanming's heart began to spread, a black bone talisman placed against his chest suddenly became slightly warm, emitting a rapid and subtle fluctuation.

Zhou Xuanming's expression changed abruptly, his previous agitation and unease instantly replaced by an extreme solemnity and tension. Without hesitation, he immediately waved his hand to activate the strongest isolation array in the palace, ensuring that no one could spy on him. Then, with a flicker of his figure, he passed through an extremely secret passage and silently arrived at the forbidden area deepest in the royal palace.

Complex incantations were cast into the heavy stone door, and with a dull creak of machinery, the door slowly slid open, releasing a pure yet chilling wave of demonic energy.

The scene inside the forbidden area was horrifying.

(End of this chapter)