Family Rise: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 579 Nascent Soul Formation, Double Happiness, Seizing Another Island

Wuzhou - Princess's Residence.

Princess Runyu appeared silently deep within the forbidden area.

This place was completely different from the ethereal beauty of the Princess's mansion. The air here was heavy and gloomy, filled with a faint smell of sulfur and decay. The vast space was shrouded by an array, preventing any leakage of energy.

In the very center, a twisted, dark rift, seemingly tearing through space, was forcibly bound, with countless runic chains wrapped around it, forming a difficult seal. Yet, deep within that rift, a terrifying, chaotic, and evil energy, not belonging to this world, still faintly emanated.

This is the sealed location of the tiny passage leading to the Demon Realm.

At this moment, ahead of the passage, a massive, intricately designed, pitch-black altar had been completed. Constructed of an unknown dark metal and bone-like material, the altar was covered with dense, mysterious, and eerie magical runes and array lines, emitting a faint glow. A dozen or so people dressed in uniform were conducting final rune calibrations and energy channeling throughout the altar, ensuring everything went perfectly. They had been working here for over a decade.

The head steward, Zhao Cong, followed closely behind Princess Runyu, his face filled with worry as he gazed at the altar, a testament to immense effort and fraught with countless taboos. He finally couldn't help himself; he stepped forward, lowered his voice, and spoke earnestly:
"Your Highness, this method... the variables are far too great!" Zhao Cong's voice trembled slightly. "Forcibly absorbing the essence of the demon realm and reversing yin and yang, even with the ancient treasure 'Returning to the Void Demon Guide' to transform it, the demonic nature is deeply rooted, and it is extremely corrosive to the bone and soul. What if... what if even the slightest bit of demonic energy taints the nascent soul's essence? The consequences would be unimaginable! At best, the path to enlightenment would be severed and the mind would be drastically changed; at worst... one might fall into the demonic path and be doomed to eternal damnation!"

He took a deep breath and earnestly advised:

"Your Highness, why not wait a little longer? Before she went into seclusion, the Eldest Princess gave instructions that once she emerges, she will find you the best spiritual artifact for Nascent Soul formation, which will surely help you safely condense a high-grade Nascent Soul. Why take such a risky step? Please reconsider, Your Highness!"

“Zhao Cong, do you know that merely a ‘high-grade Nascent Soul’ is not what I seek?”

Princess Runyu tilted her head slightly, her gaze sweeping over Zhao Cong, her eyes sharp as ice blades: "What I want is a flawless, supreme—a first-grade Nascent Soul!"

"Only by condensing a first-grade celestial infant can I forge an unparalleled foundation for the Dao, ensuring a smooth path to becoming a deity in the future. Even... upon ascending to the Spirit Realm, I can still stand at the pinnacle of all beings, instead of fading into obscurity! What my grandmother can give me might help me form a high-grade nascent soul, but that first-grade realm is ethereal and elusive, attainable only through immense fortune! This method before me, though perilous, is the only opportunity I can glimpse that first-grade realm!"

Her tone carried an almost obsessive determination and fervor: "Risk? I am aware of it, of course. But compared to the future of reaching the summit and overlooking all worlds, this risk is worth taking!"

Seeing that the princess was determined, Zhao Cong's words of persuasion stuck in his throat, finally turning into a helpless sigh as he lowered his head deeply: "This old servant... understands. May Your Highness succeed."

Princess Runyu said no more, and with light steps, her figure gracefully landed at the core of the formation in the center of the altar.

With a flick of her jade-like hand, an ancient object of strange shape, neither gold nor jade, appeared in her palm. It resembled a twisted key, or a piece of finger bone, its entire surface covered with natural demonic patterns, exuding a vast and eerie aura—it was the extraordinary treasure "Return to the Void Demon Guide" obtained from the ancient demon cave.

"Start the formation!"

The cold, commanding voice echoed throughout the forbidden area.

Upon receiving the order, the ten Golden Core cultivators surrounding the altar immediately began to simultaneously perform hand seals, channeling their spiritual power into the array's core beneath their feet without reservation.

Om-!
The massive altar trembled violently, and countless demonic runes on it lit up one by one, their eerie light surging to form an incredibly complex and profound array that connected heaven and earth, protecting Princess Runyu at its center.

At the same time, Princess Runyu summoned the "Return to the Void Demon Guide" from her hand.

The ancient treasure transformed into a dark stream of light, ignoring the seal that blocked the entrance to the passage, and shot straight into the depths of the twisted demonic passage like a fish returning to the sea!

"boom!!"

As if it had angered the terrifying being at the other end of the passage, the entire demon realm passage began to tremble violently, and even more violent and chaotic demonic energy surged out like a burst dam!

But just as this overwhelming demonic energy was about to crash into the altar, the "Return to the Void Demonic Guide" that had entered the passage suddenly erupted with a black light that devoured everything!

In an incredible way, it frantically absorbed the pure power of the demon realm's origin, and through that mysterious formation, it forcibly transformed and purified this terrifying energy that was capable of eroding all things!
The array shone brightly, forming a huge energy vortex above Princess Runyu's head.

Visibly, the pitch-black, violent, and chaotic demonic energy, after being transformed by the ancient treasure and the array, turned into a completely different kind of energy—

It was a strange spiritual energy that presented a chaotic color, yet was incredibly pure and contained almost innate Daoist principles! The moment it appeared, the concentration of spiritual energy in the entire forbidden area instantly soared to a terrifying level, even triggering a slight resonance with some kind of rule between heaven and earth. Its fragrance was intoxicating, and the smell made one's Nascent Soul tremble!

"The Mysterious Female Mother Qi!" Zhao Cong exclaimed in shock, his eyes filled with astonishment.

This is one of the ten most powerful acquired spiritual energies in the human realm, a legendary auxiliary spiritual object that can nourish the origin of the nascent soul, greatly improve the quality of the nascent soul formation, and help people condense a superior nascent soul!

The transformed "Mysterious Female Mother Qi" was like an inverted Milky Way, incomparably pure and vast, flowing continuously into Princess Runyu's crown chakra through the core of the formation!
Princess Runyu's delicate body trembled slightly, and her veil fluttered even without wind. She immediately focused all her mind, circulated her cultivation technique, and guided the vast and precious acquired maternal energy to break through the bottleneck of the Nascent Soul in the dark, launching a decisive attack towards the perfect first-grade Heavenly Infant realm!

The massive influx of "Mysterious Mother Qi" did not directly impact the Golden Core, but rather, like the gentlest maternal hand, seeped in thread by thread, nourishing the innate spiritual seed at the very core of the Golden Core.

The process may seem gentle, but it is actually extremely dangerous.

Each infiltration and transformation of spiritual energy requires extremely precise control of the cultivation technique. It is necessary to ensure the efficiency of the transformation of the mother energy to resist the inherent corrosiveness of the demonic energy source, and to ensure its purity, without any demonic impurities mixed in. Otherwise, all previous efforts will be in vain, and the nascent soul will be tainted.

As time went by, the light of the Nine Purple Golden Pill gradually became more inward, no longer radiating outward, but becoming brighter and more transparent inside!
It was as if a miniature, newborn sun was being conceived within the golden elixir!

On the surface of the golden core, the nine purple Dao patterns seemed to come alive, beginning to move and intertwine, outlining a blurry silhouette of a small figure sitting cross-legged. The abundant "Mysterious Female Mother Qi" was the best nourishment, continuously pouring into that silhouette, making it clearer and more solid at a speed visible to the naked eye.

It was vaguely visible that the little figure's eyebrows, features, and figure were exactly the same as Princess Runyu herself, only more exquisite and more perfect, exuding an innate Daoist charm, pure and flawless, untouched by dust.

It sat cross-legged with its eyes closed, its breathing synchronized with that of Princess Runyu. With each inhale and exhale, it stirred up the "Mysterious Female Mother Qi" around its body to form a tiny vortex, and the spiritual pressure it emitted was steadily and firmly increasing.

The transition from Golden Core to Nascent Soul represents a leap in the level of life and a transformation in the essence of the soul.

...

...

Fu Yong'an left Yu Qingru's courtyard, turned through several corridors, and entered Fu Changsheng's heavily guarded secret room.

Inside the secret chamber, the array's radiance had not completely dissipated, and the array diagrams outlined on the ground with spirit silver still shimmered with a mysterious light. However, most of the mid-grade spirit stones laid around it had already been used up.

Fu Yong'an sensed the lingering aura and his heart stirred slightly, but he remained calm on the surface, standing with his hands at his sides, waiting for his father's instructions.

With a wave of his hand, Fu Changsheng sent out several new mid-grade spirit stones, which precisely embedded themselves into the array nodes, making the slightly dim array light up again. He turned around, and in his palm, a pill the size of a dragon's eye, perfectly round, and exuding a profound and chaotic aura, quietly floated out.

"Father, what is this?"

"The Mysterious Yellow Elixir!"

After hearing Fu Changsheng's explanation of the Xuanhuang Spirit Pill, Fu Yong'an's breathing became rapid.

"Yong'an, sit down and regulate your breathing. I will help you refine it."

Looking at the elixir that was enough to drive countless cultivators mad, Fu Yong'an took a deep breath, suppressed the excitement and shock in his heart, bowed and said in a deep voice, "Yes! Father!"

He followed instructions and stepped into the center of the formation, sat cross-legged, adjusted his breathing, and instantly entered a state of complete absorption in his practice. This decisiveness and composure far surpassed that of his peers.

A barely perceptible hint of satisfaction flashed in Fu Changsheng's eyes. With a flick of his finger, the Xuanhuang Spirit Pill transformed into a stream of light and entered Fu Yong'an's body. At the same time, he formed hand seals, and the ground array once again roared into operation, frantically pouring in pure spiritual energy.

"Concentrate your mind and focus on the One, guide the medicinal power, and rebuild your Dao foundation!"

boom!
An even more intense chaotic Daoist energy exploded within Fu Yong'an's body! Although he possessed an exceptionally talented Heavenly Spiritual Root and a solid foundation, the sudden impact of such a massive energy still caused his body to tremble violently, his face to turn blood red instantly, and his meridians to feel as if they were about to burst!

Intense pain surged like a tidal wave, almost overwhelming his senses.

But Fu Yong'an's willpower was far stronger than that of ordinary people. He gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead, and withstood the impact without the slightest panic. Remembering his father's orders, he circulated his cultivation technique with all his might, using his strong willpower as a guide to painstakingly sort and guide the raging chaotic torrent within his body, bringing it back on track.

His movements may not have carried the arrogance and sharpness of a genius like Fu Yongxing, but they possessed a composure and perseverance honed by life's experiences, making each step incredibly solid.

Time passes slowly.

After refining thirty Xuanhuang Spirit Pills.

The rumbling within Fu Yong'an's body gradually became orderly, and the violent chaotic power began to be tamed by him little by little, slowly merging with the pure aptitude of his Heavenly Spiritual Root and his calm and tenacious mind and soul.

After an unknown amount of time, his body began to emit a hazy, dark yellow light. Although it was not as dazzling as Fu Yongxing's, it was more substantial and enduring, as solid and reliable as the earth.

finally--

hum!
A clear, profound sound emanated from his body; though not sharp, it was deep and resonant.

The divine light gradually receded, and Fu Yong'an slowly opened his eyes. The light in his eyes was gentle and warm, without any sharpness, yet deep as a pool, as if it could contain all things. The magical power within his body surged endlessly, and his foundation had been perfectly reshaped, radiating a chaotic Dao charm that shared the same origin as Fu Yongxing but had a completely different temperament.

The foundation of the Chaos Dao is complete!

He rose, straightened his robes, and bowed deeply to Fu Changsheng. His voice was steady yet filled with heartfelt excitement: "Thank you for your generous gift, Father! I will certainly live up to this opportunity, diligently cultivate my skills, and serve the family with utmost loyalty!"

Fu Changsheng accepted the bow and smiled freely: "Very good. You are calm, open-minded and reasonable. This path is based on you, which is a perfect match. I hope you will make good use of this power and stay true to your original intention."

"Your son will remember your teachings, Father!" Fu Yong'an replied solemnly.

The fourth Chaos Dao Foundation cultivator of the Fu family was born here.

at the same time.

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

"You have gifted your clansmen several Xuanhuang Spirit Pills; your clan contribution points have increased to 185,800."

With contribution points, you can unlock the [Training Room] after Fu Yong'an leaves.

Fu Changsheng had a thought and entered the small wooden house in the Five Elements Space:

"It's time to refine my own special Xuanhuang Spirit Pill."

"Open the training room"

hum!
next moment.

The surrounding scenery changed.

Fu Changsheng was already in the mysterious lotus pond in the system space.

Beneath our feet lies a white stone pavilion as smooth and warm as jade, surrounded by ethereal mist. In the pond, countless lotus flowers, formed from innate spiritual energy, stand gracefully, some in bud, others in full bloom, exuding a refreshing fragrance and boundless life essence.

He sat cross-legged in the center of the pavilion in the middle of the lake, with his palms facing the sky, holding his breath and concentrating.

With a slight thought, the twenty-four Xuanhuang Spirit Pills, obtained from the Mountain and River Clan-Suppressing Cauldron and containing the blessing of a fifth-rank official and the essence of the vast earth, emerged from his storage space. They swirled around him like stars surrounding the moon, emitting a soft yet profound Xuanhuang divine light, illuminating the entire pavilion in a hazy and sacred light.

"call--"

Fu Changsheng slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, his eyes becoming calm and still. He formed the fundamental hand seals of the "Azure Emperor's Longevity Technique" with both hands, and the cultivation technique within his body, which had already reached the Golden Core stage, began to circulate rapidly!

hum!
Around the pavilion, the boundless spiritual energy of the innate lotus pond seemed to be summoned by the emperor, transforming into a visible azure torrent that surged into his body. At the same time, the twenty-four Xuanhuang spiritual pills surrounding him trembled simultaneously, their incomparably pure medicinal power roaring out of the pills like twenty-four Xuanhuang dragons, forcefully pouring into his meridians through his acupoints!
The Azure Emperor's Longevity Manual is the supreme law of the wood element, governing the creation of life and naturally adept at refining and absorbing various forms of energy. Now, with the blessing of the Lotus Pond Sacred Land, its power is amplified even further!

Fu Changsheng's body seemed to have transformed into a giant furnace. The golden core within his dantian, which had condensed the rudimentary form of the Chaos Dao Foundation, spun wildly, its seven-colored light surging and forming a deep chaotic vortex that greedily devoured the surging Xuanhuang medicinal power and innate spiritual energy.

Unlike before.

This Xuanhuang Spirit Pill possessed immense and potent medicinal power, containing a trace of auspicious official fortune and fragments of the laws of the earth, making it far more difficult to refine than ordinary pills. The massive energy surged through his meridians, causing waves of swelling. Had he not already forged a portion of his Chaos Dao Foundation, making his meridians far more resilient than those of his peers, he would likely have been injured by this torrent of medicinal power in an instant.

But his mind was as steady as a rock, and the "Azure Emperor's Longevity Technique" circulated smoothly and without hindrance, guiding the medicinal power to wash over his limbs and bones again and again, nourishing his internal organs, and finally flowing into the chaotic golden elixir in his dantian.

Time seemed to lose its meaning in this tranquil lotus pond space.

After an unknown amount of time, the medicinal power of one Xuanhuang Spirit Pill was completely refined, and its body turned into specks of ash and dissipated. Then came the second, the third…

With each pill he refined, Fu Changsheng's aura grew stronger, the chaotic vortex in his dantian solidified, and the chaotic Dao patterns on the golden pill became clearer and more profound.

A faint aura of primordial yellow began to emerge from the surface of his body, intertwining with the azure glow of the Azure Emperor's Longevity Technique, making him appear mysterious and powerful. His acupoints resonated with this aura, faintly emitting the resounding voice of the Great Dao.

After the last trace of medicinal power from the twenty-fourth Xuanhuang Spirit Pill was completely absorbed by the Chaos Golden Pill—

boom!
Fu Changsheng's body trembled violently, as if some invisible barrier within him had been broken!
Within his dantian, the Chaos Golden Core shone with boundless light, its Dao patterns now several times more complex and intricate, slowly circulating and evolving into phenomena of earth, water, fire, wind, and the birth and death of all things. An even more ancient, vast, and primordial aura emanated from his body.

He slowly opened his eyes, a fleeting, chaotic light flashing within them, as if countless worlds were being born and dying in a cycle of reincarnation.

Sink your mind into your dantian and carefully perceive it.

Deep within the core of the Chaos Golden Core, the previously indistinct chaotic region had now been completely illuminated and solidified in more than a third of its area, presenting a flawless and infinitely possible state, clearly distinct from the remaining unilluminated regions.

Chaos Dao Foundation Completion Rate - 38%!
"call……"

Fu Changsheng exhaled a long breath of turbid air containing the aura of Xuanhuang, and a satisfied smile appeared on his face.

The 38% completion rate brought about a comprehensive improvement. He could clearly feel that his own magical power was more refined and condensed than before, with the total amount increasing by nearly 50%! The coverage of his divine sense had greatly increased, and his perception and control of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth were also more acute and effortless. Every inch of his flesh and bones had undergone a profound tempering, and its strength had reached a new level.

More importantly, the further improvement of his Chaos Dao Foundation will make his future cultivation of supernatural powers and comprehension of the Great Dao much more efficient.

"Not bad. Although it took a long time, the gains were enormous." He felt the surging, seemingly inexhaustible power within him, and a surge of pride welled up in his heart.

With a thought, his figure disappeared from the pavilion in the middle of the lotus pond and returned to the small wooden house in the Five Elements Space.

"Before leaving the pass, I need to exchange for some intelligence."

...

…Deep within the Fu family's secret chamber, in the array laboratory exclusively for Yao Yao.

Yao Yao floated in the center of the laboratory, her figure light and graceful.

The mysterious and unpredictable [Qingqiu Yitian Disc] in her arms was floating in front of her. The tattered [Small Zhou Tian Star Barrier] array diagram was fully unfolded in front of her. On the material that was neither leather nor gold, the broken and blurred ancient array patterns seemed to be infused with life under the light of the Yitian Disc, and began to slowly extend, complete and deduce on their own.

Yao Yao's eyes were tightly closed, her long eyelashes trembled slightly from time to time, and a very thin silver light flickered between her brows, which was the manifestation of her soul power being operated to the extreme.

The unparalleled array formation talent bestowed upon her by the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox bloodline, combined perfectly with the secret teachings of Qingqiu, was now perfectly integrated. Her divine sense was like the most intricate shuttle, with the Yi Tian Pan as its core, drawing upon the Daoist principles of the celestial stars, gradually reversing the process to complete the missing core and broken nodes of the array diagram.

This process was slow and arduous, often causing the entire local array to collapse due to a calculation error at a single node, requiring a complete restart. But Yao Yao remained calm and composed, her patience and focus seemingly inexhaustible, and each failure deepened her understanding of the array.

I don't know how many days and nights have passed.

Finally, at the very moment when the last broken core array pattern was successfully "etched" and repaired by the light of the Yi Tian Disc—

hum!
The entire array suddenly trembled, bursting forth with dazzling starlight! Although still damaged, all the array patterns on it had formed a complete cycle, and the Daoist aura spontaneously arose, no longer dormant. A vast, ancient aura, carrying the rhythm of the celestial sphere's rotation, permeated the air. Although far from its peak, it had already awakened!
"We did it!" Yao Yao opened her eyes, her gaze filled with exhaustion, yet sparkling with excitement and pride.

She immediately sent a message to Fu Changsheng:

"Father, the array diagram has been initially repaired. Although it can only exert the power of a fifth-grade low-level array, it is enough to set it up. We can head to the Water Cloud Cave now!"

...

...

South China Sea, Wucai Island.

Inside the quiet room, the clouds and mist gradually dispersed.

Shangguan Hongyu slowly opened her eyes, a crimson glow seemingly flowing deep within them. Her aura was even more profound and vast than before her seclusion, indicating that she had successfully recovered to the Pseudo-Core Formation realm. The three Cloud Jade Pills were indeed remarkably effective.

With a slight movement of her divine sense, she sensed that outside the quiet room, Xianyu was idly drawing circles in the water vapor with her fingers. After more than ten years of recuperation, Xianyu had also recovered to the early stage of the Golden Core realm.

"Auntie! You're out of seclusion!" Xianyu noticed the commotion immediately and jumped up excitedly. "I was so bored! Can we go attack that big island now?"

Shangguan Hongyu smiled slightly and ruffled her hair: "Yes, the time has come."

After she emerged from seclusion, she first carefully reviewed the report compiled by Alan regarding the recent developments on Nanshan Island. Sure enough, the fact that the young master of the She family and his protector had not returned for a long time had aroused suspicion on Nanshan Island, and the number of scouts sent out recently had increased significantly. However, they were temporarily misled by the feigned calm on Wucai Island and the occasional "unintentional" leaks of vague information about "the two island lords possibly visiting friends."

Can't wait any longer.

Shangguan Hongyu quietly left Five-Colored Island with the Immortal Jade. She did not use a flying boat, but instead relied on her profound cultivation to transform into two faint streams of light and head straight towards Nanshan Island.

Nanshan Island, the She family council hall.

The atmosphere was solemn.

"Still unable to contact Tianyun and Mr. Zhong?" A middle-aged man with a face somewhat resembling She Tianyun and a sinister gaze asked in a deep voice from the main seat. He was She Tianyun's father, the current head of the She family, She Longjiao, a cultivator at the early stage of the Purple Mansion realm.

The elder at the bottom shook his head: "Although the soul lamp was not extinguished, it was extremely weak and could not be located by the communication talisman. The last place it disappeared was undoubtedly near Five-Colored Island."

“Five-Colored Island…Shangguan Hongyu…” She Longjiao’s knuckles turned white from clenching his fists, and killing intent surged in his eyes. “How could a mere Qi Refining Island trap Mr. Zhong? They must have used some insidious trick! Send down the order to gather the men. The patriarch himself will go to Five-Colored Island to see for himself!”

Just then, an incomparably powerful divine thought swept across the entire Nanshan Island like a storm, making no attempt to conceal its terrifying pressure at the Golden Core level!
The faces of all the cultivators in the hall turned deathly pale instantly, and those with weaker cultivation levels almost collapsed to the ground.

"A Golden Core cultivator?!" She Longjiao was horrified. He no longer cared about his son and hurriedly led a group of family elders out of the council hall in a panic.

High above, two women stood suspended in mid-air.

Leading the group was a graceful woman in white with an unparalleled beauty. Her expression was cold, and she exuded the spiritual pressure of a mid-stage Purple Mansion cultivator—it was none other than Shangguan Hongyu from the intelligence reports. But what truly terrified everyone was the seemingly radiant young woman beside her—that suffocating pressure originated from her!

Xianyu idly played with the ends of her hair, but her eyes, which swept down at her, held a kind of indifference that looked down on ants.

"What...what kind of senior has graced my Nanshan Island with your presence? This junior, She Longjiao, is terribly unaccustomed to your presence and begs your forgiveness!" She Longjiao suppressed his fear and hurriedly bowed, his voice trembling. He was filled with astonishment and doubt; how could the island lord of Five-Colored Island appear with a Golden Core cultivator?
Shangguan Hongyu's clear, cold voice echoed throughout the venue: "The She family has been indulging their children, who have invaded my Five-Colored Island without cause and injured my disciples. Today, I have come to seek justice."

She Longjiao's heart skipped a beat, realizing something was wrong. He quickly explained, "Senior, please understand! There must be a misunderstanding! My son, Tianyun, is young and ignorant. If he has truly offended us, I am willing to apologize on his behalf and compensate Five-Colored Island tenfold for all its losses! Please, Senior..."

"Misunderstanding?" Shangguan Hongyu interrupted him, a mocking smile playing on her lips. "No need. I will take the compensation myself."

Before she could finish speaking, Xianyu, who was standing beside her, seemed to be getting impatient and pouted, "Auntie, why waste your breath talking to them?"

She stretched out her slender finger and casually pressed it down on the She family members below who were looking on high alert.

In an instant, the weather changed dramatically!

A gigantic blue hand, formed from the vast water elemental energy, appeared out of thin air, blotting out the sky and exuding boundless pressure and destructive aura. It slammed down fiercely towards the mountain where the She family patriarch was in seclusion and the location of She Longjiao and the others!

"No!! Ancestor, save me!" She Longjiao was terrified and roared madly, unleashing his spiritual power without reservation in an attempt to resist.

Deep within the She family compound, an aura of a mid-stage Purple Mansion cultivator suddenly erupted, and a figure filled with shock and anger soared into the sky—it was none other than the She family patriarch! Sensing the pressure of a Golden Core cultivator, he had intended to remain patient and observe, but now he had no choice but to take action!
"Fellow Daoist, please show mercy!" The She family patriarch summoned an ancient mirror magic weapon, its light radiating in all directions, to meet the giant blue palm.

However, everything is in vain.

"boom--!!!"

As the giant palm pressed down, the radiant light emitted by the ancient mirror magic weapon of the She family patriarch shattered instantly like paper. He himself didn't even have time to scream before he was smashed into a cloud of blood mist, his body and soul completely destroyed! Below, She Longjiao and a group of core high-ranking members of the She family, along with the magnificent council hall, were all reduced to dust by this palm strike!
All that remained on the ground was a bottomless abyss of a giant palm print.

silence!

Deathly silence!

All the cultivators on Nanshan Island, whether they were members of the She family or guests and vassals, stood frozen in place, their faces pale and their bodies trembling as they stared at the two figures in the air that resembled gods and demons.

The power of the Golden Core is terrifying! It can annihilate a Purple Mansion like crushing an ant!
Someone reacted first, and with a thud, knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly.
"Mercy, Master! Mercy, Island Lord! We surrender! We surrender!"

In an instant, like a tidal wave, all the surviving cultivators, whether willingly or forced, knelt down, their kowtows and pleas for mercy shaking the heavens and the earth. Many non-family retainers and vassal cultivators rushed to pledge their loyalty, fearing that if they were a step too slow, they would be wiped out by that terrifying giant hand.

Shangguan Hongyu looked down at the kneeling cultivators below, her eyes cold and unwavering.

Her clear, cold voice rang out again, reaching everyone's ears: "From this day forward, Nanshan Island changes hands and comes under the command of my Five-Colored Island."

“All direct and collateral relatives of the original She family shall be killed without mercy.”

"All non-clan cultivators who offer up their life souls and swear an oath of loyalty to me through the Heavenly Dao can be spared from death."

Her orders were extremely ruthless, especially the order for non-family cultivators to kill members of the She family. This was both to completely cut off their escape route and to test their loyalty.

Upon hearing this, the kneeling non-clan cultivators hesitated only slightly, but when they saw the expressionless Golden Core girl in the air and the bottomless palm print, their desire to survive instantly overwhelmed everything.

"I'll obey!"

Immediately, some quick-reacting cultivators, their eyes red, lunged at the She family members who were already terrified!

The carnage erupted instantly!
To survive and to impress their new masters, these former vassals became even more ruthless and decisive than anyone had imagined. Cries of agony, pleas for mercy, and the sounds of battle echoed across Nanshan Island, and the once-powerful She family was instantly plunged into a sea of ​​blood.

……

The bloody purge of the She family on Nanshan Island lasted for several days before gradually subsiding.

The once-prosperous She family mansion has now changed hands. The stench of blood that filled the air was slowly dispelled by purification magic, but the chilling atmosphere and awe were deeply imprinted in the hearts of every survivor.

Shangguan Hongyu moved into the cave dwelling that originally belonged to the She family patriarch. This place had the most abundant spiritual veins and was suitable for quiet cultivation. Xianyu, on the other hand, enthusiastically chose a nearby palace with the best scenery to stay in, ostensibly to "help her aunt guard the gate."

On this day, Shangguan Hongyu was taking stock of the regular resources that had been moved from the She family's treasury when a woman dressed in plain clothes, yet whose stunning beauty could not be concealed, came to request an audience, led by her disciple.

This woman possessed stunning beauty. Though she showed no trace of spiritual energy, appearing as ordinary as a mortal, a serene composure born of hardship and a transcendent clarity remained between her brows. She was none other than Miaoyin, the former island lord's most beloved concubine.

"This humble concubine, Miaoyin, greets the Island Lord."

Shangguan Hongyu's gaze swept over her, noticing that the woman's meridians were completely shattered, and her dantian was utterly lifeless, shrouded in a chilling poison; she was indeed a cripple. But strangely, her soul seemed far stronger than that of ordinary people, bearing the marks of a long period of refinement.

"What do you want?" Shangguan Hongyu asked in a flat tone.

Miaoyin raised her head, her eyes devoid of flattery or fear, only a calm that followed near despair and a faint glimmer of hope: "This humble servant knows that the island lord is currently taking stock of the She family's assets. The treasury that is on the surface is merely a cover; She Longjiao's true treasure is elsewhere, protected by an extremely sophisticated array."

Shangguan Hongyu's eyes flickered slightly: "Oh? How did you know? And why are you telling me?"

Miaoyin forced a bitter smile: "Because the one who set up that formation was none other than the guilty concubine. And She Longjiao is the enemy who imprisoned me, destroyed my Dao foundation, and cut off my path to immortality. I hate that I can't bear to eat his flesh and sleep on his skin! I only hate that I have become a cripple and am powerless to take revenge. Now that the island lord has eliminated the She family, he is my benefactor."

She paused, a flicker of reminiscence and pain in her eyes: "I was a cultivator from outer space, caught in a spatial storm, my golden core shattered, and I ended up here. When the She family found me, I was on the verge of death. She Longjiao coveted my array formation skills and... my appearance, feigning to heal me, but in reality, he used insidious drugs to completely destroy my dantian foundation, leaving me with no chance of recovery. Then he imprisoned me, forcing me to set up a protective array for his secret treasures, so that he could enjoy them for his lust..."

Her voice was calm, yet it contained a deep-seated hatred.

“I was originally a top-tier fourth-order array master, with the cultivation of a Golden Core and a lifespan of a thousand years… but now…” She closed her eyes, two lines of clear tears sliding down her cheeks. “I have no other wish but that the island lord can open the secret treasure and prevent the possessions of my enemy from being tarnished. If the island lord can trust me, I can guide you on how to break the array. I only ask that the island lord can grant me a place to live in the future, so that my crippled body can eke out a living until the end of my lifespan.”

Shangguan Hongyu listened quietly, her divine sense constantly surrounding Miaoyin, judging the truthfulness of her words. The vicissitudes and hatred in this goddess's soul seemed genuine, and the residual imprints of array knowledge were also undeniable.

"Lead the way." Shangguan Hongyu stood up, her words concise and to the point.

Guided by Miaoyin, Shangguan Hongyu arrived at a highly secluded waterfall behind the She family's mountain. Passing through the water curtain, she indeed saw a massive black iron gate that blended seamlessly with the mountain rocks. Runes flowed across the gate, forming an extremely complex, nearly fourth-order protective array, its spiritual light both subtle and powerful.

"This formation is called the 'Small Heavenly Cycle Evolution Formation.' It appears to be a single, unified whole, but in reality, it contains a life gate that changes with the flow of time..." Miaoyin observed carefully for a moment, then accurately reported the formation's name and key weaknesses, and instructed Shangguan Hongyu on how to use minimal power to enter the life gate at a specific time.

Shangguan Hongyu did as she was told, pointing her finger like a sword, precisely at the moment when the sunlight reflected off the waterfall shone on a rune on the door.

"Om..."

The light flowing on the stone gate paused slightly, then silently slid inward.

Behind the door was a stone chamber that wasn't very large, but it exuded a spiritual aura. Several jade shelves were placed inside.

On the jade platform at the very center, several spiritual objects floated, shimmering with a hazy light:
A crystal-clear "Purifying Lotus" exuding a tranquil and peaceful aura is a top-grade auxiliary spiritual object for resisting inner demons during the Core Formation stage!

Several array flags engraved with mysterious lightning patterns surround a core array plate, forming a complete "Minor Yi Wood Azure Lightning Array," a precious array tool specifically designed to weaken the Golden Core lightning tribulation!
On the innermost side, a black box, neither gold nor wood, lay quietly, inconspicuous yet faintly exuding a chillingly sharp aura.

Shangguan Hongyu first put away the Purifying Lotus and the Thunder Tribulation Array Flag. She was overjoyed. With these two items, her success rate in forming her core would increase by at least 20%!

Finally, her gaze fell on the black box. She tried to open it, but found that the box was a single, seamless piece, and she couldn't probe it with her divine sense.

“This thing…” Miaoyin frowned slightly. “When She Longjiao obtained it, he did not know its purpose. He only felt that its material was special and indestructible, so he hid it here. I once sensed that it contained extremely sharp energy, which seemed to be related to swordsmanship, but I could not see through it.”

After a moment of contemplation, Shangguan Hongyu activated the "Mysterious Fire True Technique," slowly channeling pure fire-attribute spiritual power into the box.

The box did not respond.

She tried other types of spiritual power, but the result was the same.

Just as she was about to put the box away for later study, the sword intent that she had cultivated within her body through the practice of sword techniques seemed to be stirred by the contents of the box, flowing on its own and gently touching the box through her fingertips.

Just at this moment!

"Zheng——!"

The lid of the box popped open automatically, and a light particle, shaped like a small sword, transparent and ethereal, yet containing endless profound sword dao essence, slowly floated up!
"A seed of swordsmanship!" Miaoyin exclaimed in disbelief. "It's such a legendary spiritual object! Only a person with an extreme affinity for swordsmanship can trigger its recognition of a master!"

The sword seed trembled slightly in the air, as if sensing something. The next moment, it transformed into a stream of light and instantly entered Shangguan Hongyu's sea of ​​consciousness between her eyebrows!
Shangguan Hongyu shuddered, feeling countless insights into swordsmanship and fragments of profound sword techniques flooding into her mind like a tide. The many obstacles she had encountered in cultivating sword techniques instantly became clear, and the sword intent in her sea of ​​consciousness became more solid, stronger, and more spiritual at a visible speed!
After a long while, she slowly opened her eyes, a flash of brilliance in them, and her aura seemed to have become even sharper.

"Thank you." Shangguan Hongyu looked at Miaoyin, her tone much more sincere.

Miaoyin quickly bowed: "It is my honor to be of any help to the island lord."

Having obtained such a precious treasure, the opportunity to form her core had arrived, and Shangguan Hongyu no longer hesitated.

She summoned Alan and appointed her to oversee all the mundane affairs of Nanshan Island, with Miaoyin assisting her. Although Miaoyin had no cultivation, her knowledge, experience, and especially her knowledge of formations were of great benefit to the management and development of the island.

"Miss Miaoyin has rendered me service. From now on, when you see her, you should treat her as if she were me. Do not neglect her. When it comes to the maintenance and modification of the formations on the island, you should listen to her opinions more often," Shangguan Hongyu instructed.

Alan respectfully accepted.

Finally, Shangguan Hongyu said to Xianyu, "Xianyu, your aunt is going into seclusion to condense her golden core. This seclusion is of utmost importance and cannot afford any mistakes. You will protect me. Anyone who dares to approach within a thousand miles of the cave and disturb the seclusion will be killed without exception!"

"I know, Auntie! Don't worry, with me here, not even a fly can get in!" Xianyu patted her chest and assured me, her little face full of seriousness.

Before going into seclusion, Miaoyin solemnly reminded her again: "Island Master, the time required to form the core is difficult to predict. It could take several years, or even decades or hundreds of years. But you must remember that, as far as I know, a large-scale beast tide will break out in this sea area about once every hundred years. Judging from the time, it will probably happen within the next few decades. If you are disturbed by a beast tide during your seclusion, the consequences will be unimaginable. Please be sure to pay attention to the time or take all necessary precautions."

Shangguan Hongyu nodded solemnly: "I understand, thank you for reminding me."

(End of this chapter)