Family Rise: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 582 Taking stock of the spoils, exchanging secret techniques, and opening the treasure.
"Leave!"

Fu Changsheng's icy voice boomed in her ears like a thunderclap from the heavens. He hadn't even used any magical artifacts; he had simply thrown a punch from afar!
boom!
The powerful and domineering fist intent, mixed with extremely refined magical power, slammed down from a distance! A jade pendant-shaped protective magic treasure that automatically appeared around the female cultivator shone brightly, but with a crisp "crack" sound, the jade pendant was instantly covered with cracks, and its spiritual light dimmed. It was actually shattered by a single punch!
The female cultivator's body trembled violently, a trickle of blood spilling from her mouth, her eyes filled with undisguised horror. She never imagined that Fu Changsheng's strength was so terrifying; a single punch from a distance could damage her protective treasure!
"You're courting death!" The female cultivator was both shocked and furious. She shouted and summoned a black banner shrouded in eerie ghostly energy. As the banner unfurled, countless twisted ghostly figures shrieked and lunged out, growing longer in the wind and transforming into ferocious ghostly demons that rushed towards Fu Changsheng.

Fu Changsheng's expression remained unchanged as he pointed his fingers like a sword into the air.

"Edict!"

A spear crackling with destructive golden lightning materialized out of thin air—it was the Heavenly Punishment Lightning Spear! The lightning spear carried the majestic might of heaven, possessing the utmost yang and strength, making it the nemesis of evil spirits and demons!
Boom!

The lightning spear instantly tore through the night sky and collided with the Myriad Ghosts Soul-Devouring Banner!
The blazing yang lightning clashed fiercely with the yin and ghostly energy, unleashing a deafening roar. Golden electric snakes darted wildly, and wherever they passed, the hideous ghostly figures, like snow meeting spring, let out mournful screams and dissipated into wisps of black smoke. The black banner itself trembled violently, its spiritual light flashing wildly, clearly severely injured.

The female cultivator's face turned deathly pale, and fear finally showed in her eyes.

Knowing she was no match for him, she bit her tongue without hesitation, spitting out a mouthful of blood essence, while simultaneously crushing an ancient jade talisman in her hand—a small teleportation talisman!
The power of space began to fluctuate, and a hazy white light was about to envelop her!
"Want to leave? Did you ask me first?"

Fu Changsheng snorted coldly, his hands suddenly forming a hand seal, and five-colored divine light shot up from his body, instantly covering an area of ​​a hundred feet!
The Five Elements Divine Light of the Day After Tomorrow - Forbidden Space!
The spatial ripples that had just begun to spread were forcibly smoothed out by an invisible giant hand, and the hazy white light suddenly dissipated! The female cultivator's teleportation technique was abruptly interrupted, and she suffered a backlash from the technique, spitting out another mouthful of blood, her eyes filled with despair and disbelief!
Just as her magic was broken and her mind lost control—

puff!

A thin yet incredibly sharp purple line of fire appeared before her brow as if by teleportation—it was the Purple Extreme Profound Fire that had been waiting for her! Before she could react at all, the Purple Extreme Profound Fire easily pierced through her protective spiritual light and passed right through her brow!

The female cultivator's body stiffened abruptly, and the light in her eyes instantly froze and dimmed. All her movements and expressions froze on her face, then her body went limp, and she fell straight down from the air, crashing to the ground with a "thud," lifeless.

From the moment Fu Changsheng made his move to the moment the female cultivator died, the entire process was as swift as lightning, lasting only ten breaths!
Nearby, Fairy Tianyin, who had just taken the antidote and was fully activating her Golden Core to work with the Annihilation Pill to dissolve the last trace of the poison, happened to witness this scene.

Her face was ashen, her body was ice-cold, as if she had been swallowed by a bottomless ice abyss, and even her soul was trembling!

A powerful cultivator in the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm... even used his natal magic treasure and a life-saving teleportation talisman... yet he was as powerless as a child in front of Fu Changsheng, easily killed with a mere gesture, and even escaping became a luxury!
What an overwhelming and despair-inducing gap in strength!
Fairy Tianyin's heart pounded wildly, her back completely soaked with cold sweat. She knew with absolute clarity that if she hadn't chosen to confess and instead continued to serve that female cultivator out of wishful thinking, she would be the one lying on the ground, her face unrecognizable, her soul scattered!

A wave of fear washed over her, almost overwhelming her.

But what followed was a near-exhausting sense of relief.

I'm so glad I made the right and wisest choice! I'm so glad I entrusted my life to an unfathomable powerhouse like Fu Changsheng!
The awe she held for Fu Changsheng deepened, mixed with boundless fear and a fervent sense of relief at escaping death. She bowed her head deeply, her posture humble to the point of being insignificant, her mind devoid of any other thoughts, only utter submission.

Fu Changsheng swept his sleeve, collecting the female cultivator's body and belongings. His gaze swept over Fairy Tianyin, and he spoke calmly, breaking the deathly silence:
"Has the poison been completely neutralized?"

Fairy Tianyin was startled and quickly looked inward. Then, she answered in a trembling voice with utmost respect, "Reporting to the master... the remnants of the poison have... have been completely eliminated!"

"Mm." Fu Changsheng nodded slightly. "Let's go."

After saying that, he moved and transformed into a beam of light, disappearing into the distance.

Fairy Tianyin dared not be negligent in the slightest. She suppressed the turmoil in her heart and hurriedly followed.

at the same time.

A familiar mechanical voice echoed in Fu Changsheng's mind:
"Ding"

"You have eliminated a major threat to the Golden Core realm for your family and the imperial court, earning 10,000 imperial merit points, and your family contribution points have been increased to 30,000."

……

The mysterious female cultivator's corpse appeared to be stored in a storage bag, but in reality, the moment it came into contact with Fu Changsheng's body, it was directly moved into the mysterious Five Elements Space within his body by a thought.

The place is shrouded in primordial chaos, as if it were a place before the creation of heaven and earth.

As soon as the female cultivator's corpse appeared, a faint, almost transparent phantom emerged from between her eyebrows in a panic. It was her golden core soul, attempting to escape into the void by carrying a bit of its original soul power.

"Hmph, you think you can leave now that you've come this far?"

Fu Changsheng's icy voice echoed through the space like a decree of heaven. He didn't even need to take action himself; with a slight thought, he had already communicated with the Heavenly Dragon God who was guarding the Netherworld deep within the space.

hum!
A dark and profound divine light, carrying the supreme power of reincarnation and suppression, shot into the sky from the direction of the underworld, arriving before the female cultivator and accurately targeting her soul. The female cultivator's soul let out a shrill and desperate scream, but like an insect caught in a spider's web, it could not move at all, forcibly restrained by the divine light and dragged into the depths of the underworld.

In the underworld, the majestic and ancient Heavenly Dragon Temple stood silently. Divine light enveloped the struggling female cultivator's soul, directly slamming her into the bare stone wall on one side of the temple.

"Do not--!"

With a final, unwilling cry, the female cultivator's soul transformed into a new, distorted relief on the stone wall, her face filled with terror, her posture frozen in the moment of her struggle to escape.

Upon closer inspection, there are sixteen such reliefs on this stone wall. Each one represents the soul of a Golden Core cultivator imprisoned here. The stone wall faintly emits a ghostly light, and a mysterious and eerie aura of a passage is slowly gathering.

"Sixteen... There are still thirty-four short of the fifty needed to open the Yin-Yang Path." Fu Changsheng's mind swept across the stone wall as he calculated indifferently.

……

Meanwhile, at the summit of Mount Ling in the Five Elements Space, spiritual energy was abundant.

The azure dragon, which was absorbing the essence of the sun and moon, suddenly opened its enormous eyes, as big as copper bells, and let out an excited low roar. Its massive body stretched out and it instantly swam to the female cultivator's corpse. It could sense the abundant blood and residual spiritual power contained within the body of this mid-stage Golden Core cultivator, which was an excellent tonic for it.

It raised its enormous head, looked into the void, and its eyes revealed a longing and a plea for instructions.

"Yes."

Fu Changsheng's will descended.

Upon hearing this, the Azure Dragon was overjoyed and let out a cheerful dragon roar. It opened its blood-red maw, and a powerful suction force surged out, swallowing the female cultivator's corpse along with her damaged magic weapon! Then it coiled up in the best position on Mount Ling, its body shimmering with azure light, its dragon scales opening and closing, and began to refine this "delicious meal" with all its might.

A surge of immense energy coursed through its body, and its aura became increasingly solid and powerful at a visible pace. In just a short while, its previously fluctuating mid-stage fourth-tier realm was completely stabilized, and it even subtly took a small step towards the peak of the mid-stage.

……

Meanwhile, Fu Changsheng's attention was focused on Qiu Niang, who was busy beside the medicinal herb field.

"Qiu Niang, take inventory of this scoundrel's storage bags."

"Yes, Master," Qiu Niang replied obediently, picking up the exquisite storage bag and using her divine sense to carefully examine it.

A moment later, a look of surprise appeared on her face: "Master, this female cultivator is quite wealthy, with a lot of spirit stones, materials, and pills. But the most peculiar things are two items."

"Firstly, she carries with her a miniature spiritual plant garden, similar to a spatial magic artifact. The spiritual energy inside is exceptionally rich, and she has planted two spiritual plants separately. One is the 'Condensed Purple Cloud Mushroom,' and the other is the 'Three-Leaf Spirit-Nourishing Flower,' both of which are rare spiritual items that greatly benefit Golden Core cultivators in enhancing their magical power. In particular, the Three-Leaf Spirit-Nourishing Flower, judging from its condition, seems to be only about a hundred years away from maturity."

"Secondly, we found a jade bottle containing a spiritual liquid called 'Heavenly Cloud Spiritual Liquid'. The jade bottle has a note that this spiritual liquid can accelerate the growth of spiritual plants, but... its efficacy seems to be limited. The note says that it can at most extend the life of a medicinal plant by several decades, and the effect will decrease with repeated use on the same spiritual plant."

Upon hearing this, Fu Changsheng's mind stirred slightly: "Heavenly Cloud Spirit Liquid? Although its effects are not strong, it comes in handy right now. Qiu Niang, take the oldest Seven Heart Begonia planted next to those Seven Heart Begonia seedlings, which is still decades away from its next maturity, and use this spirit liquid to accelerate its ripening."

"Yes, ma'am." Qiu Niang immediately took action, carefully taking the oldest Seven Heart Begonia from the medicinal field, and then cautiously dripping a drop of Heavenly Cloud Spirit Liquid onto it.

The spiritual liquid touched the plant and was quickly absorbed. The Seven Heart Begonia unfolded at a speed visible to the naked eye, its leaves becoming more lush and green, its branches more vigorous, and the flower buds at the top slowly swelled and changed color, finally bursting into a dreamlike seven-colored radiance. A rich medicinal fragrance instantly spread throughout the air!
It's ripe!
What surprised Qiu Niang even more was that, along with the ripening of this Seven Hearts Begonia, two new, tender and green Seven Hearts Begonia seedlings quietly sprouted in the soil around the roots of the plant!

"Master! It's a success! Not only has it matured, but it has also sprouted two more seedlings!" Qiu Niang reported happily.

Fu Changsheng sensed the changes within the space and nodded in satisfaction. With this, plus the original four seedlings, he now possessed a total of six Seven Heart Begonia seedlings, promising a bright future.

“Very good. Take good care of the Condensed Purple Cloud Fungus and the Three-Leaf Spirit-Nourishing Flower, especially the latter. Remind me when it matures.”

"Yes, Master!" Qiu Niang respectfully responded, carefully harvesting the newly ripened Seven Heart Begonia, and then properly transplanting two new seedlings and the remaining four saplings. Only then did she turn her gaze to the two rare spiritual plants in the miniature medicine garden, her eyes filled with enthusiasm.

...

...

Fu Changsheng came out of the secret room and went directly to the alchemy room where Liu Meizhen was.

Inside the room, the lights were soft and warm.

Fu Changsheng took out the jade box containing the ripe seven-heart begonia:
"Meizhen, this Seven Heart Begonia has matured. Please contact Yong'an and begin refining a batch of Seven Heart Pills."

Liu Meizhen accepted the jade box, a hint of joy flashing in her eyes. It was a good thing that the family could have another batch of pill-forming spiritual materials. She nodded and replied, "Don't worry, husband. I will send a message to Yong'an later and tell him to start refining pills once he has adjusted his condition."

Fu Changsheng nodded slightly and added, "Yes. This Seven Heart Begonia was traded from the Wu family. The original agreement was that after the pill was completed, two Seven Heart Pills would be given to the Wu family. The day the pill is completed will be the day we fulfill our promise. You must personally supervise this matter and not neglect it."

"I understand," Liu Meizhen said solemnly. "The Wu family is on good terms with us, so we should keep our promise."

Fu Changsheng pondered for a moment, as if remembering something, and asked, "By the way, who in the clan exchanged those three Seven Hearts Pills that you and Yong'an refined before?"

Liu Meizhen understood this perfectly and immediately replied, "My lord, the first one was exchanged by Yongyi. He has worked hard and made great contributions to the family's exploration of spirit mines over the years, and he has accumulated enough contribution points. The second one was exchanged by Yongrui. He manages the Dark Hall effectively, and his cultivation has reached a critical point. The third one..." She paused slightly, her voice softening, "...was exchanged by my sister Qingru."

Fu Changsheng nodded after hearing this.

"If everything goes smoothly this time, we will produce three pills," Fu Changsheng calculated. "We will give two to the Wu family, and we should still have one left over."

He looked at his wife and solemnly instructed, "This one should also be placed in the Hall of Merit, with a clear price tag, so that clansmen can still exchange it fairly based on their contribution points. Our Fu family is fair in its rewards and punishments, prioritizes keeping promises, and ensures equal opportunities. We must never again allow clansmen to feel resentful because of unfairness, or even to go astray."

Upon hearing this, Liu Meizhen's expression also turned solemn. She deeply understood the profound meaning behind her husband's words. Although the matter of the Heavenly Sound Fairy had been resolved, it had served as a warning. She nodded solemnly: "My husband's consideration is thorough, and I have remembered it. Once the elixir is completed, I will certainly act as you instructed, placing the elixir in the Hall of Merit, making it public to the clansmen, and redeeming it according to the regulations."

"That's good then." Fu Changsheng looked pleased. "Thank you for your help."

Liu Meizhen smiled gently: "This is my duty." She carefully put the jade box away. "I will go and prepare to have Yong'an start the furnace as soon as possible."

...

...

A few months later.

Deep within the forbidden area behind the Wu family's mountain.

The spiritual energy inside the cave was far less abundant than that of the Fu family's Shuiyun Cave. Wu, the patriarch of the Wu family, was wearing an old Taoist robe and sitting cross-legged on a futon. His aura was deep and stagnant, but it faintly revealed a sense of the fragility of the early stage of the Golden Core realm. The quality of his Golden Core was subpar.

Opposite him, the current Wu Clan Chief also wore a solemn expression. Although he was also in the early stage of the Golden Core realm, and had only formed the lowest-grade ninth-rank Golden Core, his foundation was slightly more stable than that of the ancestor. At this moment, however, his brows were filled with deep worry.

"Ancestor," the Wu clan chief's voice was filled with barely suppressed anxiety, "As for the Fu family... the Heavenly Tribulation has struck again. I heard that this time it was Fu Yongning and her spirit pet who broke through to the Golden Core stage together! The Fu family now has so many Golden Core cultivators that you can't even count them on two hands!"

He paused, his tone growing increasingly heavy: "Logically speaking, in the last transaction involving the Seven-Heart Begonia, the Fu family promised to give my Wu family two Seven-Heart Pills after they were successfully refined. Now that they've started their furnaces one after another, the pills must have been successfully made. But look, the Fu family has gained new members and their strength has skyrocketed, yet they haven't mentioned our original agreement at all! Could it be that they... they're trying to renege on this debt?"

The more the Wu clan chief spoke, the more likely it seemed, and an urgent look appeared on his face: "Ancestor, should we... send someone to remind the Fu family? After all, those two Seven Hearts Pills are of great importance to our Wu family; they might be able to create two more Golden Core cultivators!"

However, as soon as he said it, he immediately deflated and said dejectedly, "But...but now Fu Changsheng is a fifth-rank patrol envoy with great power. The Fu family's own strength is unfathomable, with more than a dozen Golden Core cultivators, and Fu Changsheng, a killing god who can reverse the death of a fake infant, is also in charge...If they are really determined not to admit it, we...we dare to fight to the death?"

A brief silence fell over the cave, broken only by the slightly heavy breathing of Clan Chief Wu.

After a long while, Old Master Wu slowly opened his eyes. His gaze wasn't sharp, but it carried a calm and insightful quality that came with the passage of time. He gently shook his head, his voice hoarse yet exceptionally steady:

"Tianyou, you're worrying unnecessarily."

Clan Chief Wu was taken aback: "Ancestor?"

Old Ancestor Wu said slowly, "The friendship between my Wu family and the Fu family began when we were still small. Decades ago, it was my Wu family that first saw the hidden potential of the Fu family and took the initiative to arrange a marriage, offering timely help. Afterwards, the Fu family went through several upheavals. Although my Wu family was weak, we never backed down and always stood firmly on the side of the Fu family. The Fu family remembers this bond, and Fu Changsheng remembers it even more."

He looked out of the cave, as if he could see through the stone wall to the sky that belonged to the Fu family: "The Fu family's rapid rise is not solely due to its overwhelming strength, but also because of its methodical approach and its commitment to keeping its promises. Especially Fu Changsheng, whose ambitions are lofty and whose vision is grand. How could he destroy his own Great Wall and ruin the reputation and credibility that the Fu family has built up over the years for a mere two Seven Hearts Pills? That would be tantamount to killing the goose that lays the golden eggs, extremely foolish, and completely out of character for him."

"But..." Chief Wu wanted to say something more.

Old Master Wu raised his hand to interrupt him: "There are no buts. If Fu Changsheng really wants to go back on his word, he doesn't need any excuse. What can my Wu family do? Since he hasn't explicitly denied it, he's waiting for the right time to fulfill his promise. Perhaps they still need to coordinate and allocate the funds internally, or perhaps... he's waiting for a more appropriate time so that my Wu family will feel even more indebted."

The patriarch's voice was unwavering: "Just wait patiently. What belongs to the Wu family will not be missing a single one. Coming to urge them now would only make the Wu family appear petty and impatient, needlessly inviting contempt and ruining years of goodwill."

As the clan chief listened to his ancestor's analysis, the anxiety on his face gradually faded, replaced by a hint of shame and understanding. He took a deep breath, bowed, and said, "It was my impetuousness and shortsightedness that led me to this. Thank you for your guidance, Ancestor."

Old Ancestor Wu nodded slightly and closed his eyes again: "Cultivate diligently. The Fu family's power is unstoppable. Our Wu family only needs to follow closely behind, abide by our duties, and our own opportunity will come. Remember, when dealing with powerful figures, being preoccupied with personal gain and loss, and engaging in suspicion and probing are the greatest taboos. Honesty and integrity, and maintaining a firm stance, are the way to long-term success." "Yes, this junior will remember."

...

...

Outside the Wu family's mountain gate, a streak of light gracefully descended, revealing Liu Meizhen's elegant and noble figure. She did not deliberately release any pressure, but the invisible aura belonging to the matriarch of the Fu family and a Golden Core cultivator was enough to make the gatekeeper disciples dare not be negligent. They hurriedly bowed and paid their respects, while simultaneously sending word inside.

In a short while, the Wu clan chief and the Wu patriarch came out to greet them personally, their faces showing just the right amount of enthusiasm and respect.

"Madam Liu's presence is an honor to our Wu family. Please come in!" the Wu patriarch said with a cupped-hands gesture and stepped aside to greet her. Old Ancestor Wu also nodded with a smile, adopting a very humble posture.

On the way to the reception hall, Clan Chief Wu couldn't help but secretly transmit his voice to the Ancestor, his voice filled with barely suppressed excitement: "Ancestor, Madam Liu has come in person, could it be...?"

Old Master Wu remained outwardly calm, but his fingers twitched slightly within his sleeve as he transmitted his voice, "It's almost certainly true. Stay calm."

Inside the reception room, the aroma of tea wafted through the air. Clan Chief Wu personally served the Wu family's treasured premium spiritual tea. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Liu Meizhen smiled slightly and glanced around.

Clan Chief Wu immediately understood and waved his hand to activate the isolation array in the reception room, ensuring that the conversation here would not be leaked.

After the array light screen rose, Liu Meizhen took out a smooth jade box with sealing runes from her sleeve and gently pushed it in front of the two Wu family members.

Chief Wu's breath hitched, and almost instinctively reached out to break the seal.

Old Master Wu, however, was much more composed. He raised his hand in a gesture of obstruction, then turned to Liu Meizhen, his tone serious yet questioning, "Madam Liu, what is this...?"

Liu Meizhen smiled and nodded: "This is what we promised back then. I've come today to present it to fulfill our agreement."

Despite the existing speculation, upon hearing the confirmation with his own ears, Old Ancestor Wu took a deep breath, stood up first, and bowed deeply to Liu Meizhen: "The Fu family keeps its promises and honors. On behalf of the entire Wu family, Wu Qingfeng thanks Madam and the Longevity Patrol Envoy!"

After the ceremony, he carefully reached out his hand, and a faint light emanated from his fingertips as he unlocked the seal on the jade box.

The moment the box was opened, two pills, each the size of a longan, perfectly round and flawless, with naturally flowing cloud patterns on their surface, radiating a seven-colored glow and immense medicinal power, lay quietly on the soft brocade. The extremely pure medicinal power and the faintly contained aura of the laws of heaven and earth instantly filled the entire secret chamber!
"Seven Hearts Pill! It really is a Seven Hearts Pill! Two of them!" Clan Chief Wu couldn't help but exclaim, his face beaming with joy.

When they carefully perceived the appearance of the elixir, they were shocked and their faces showed an expression of disbelief and astonishment!

"This...this medicinal power...is so pure and abundant, with natural patterns and inner radiance...could this be...a top-grade quality?!" Clan Chief Wu's voice trembled with extreme shock.

Old Ancestor Wu's pupils contracted, and his hands holding the jade box trembled slightly. Their greatest hope was merely to obtain two low-grade, or even slightly flawed, Seven-Heart Pills; they would have been content with that. How could they have dared to dream of such a top-grade spiritual pill, which even Golden Core cultivators in the outside world would covet? Its value far exceeded that of their Seven-Heart Begonia sapling!

"Madam Liu! This...this is far too precious!" While excited, Old Ancestor Wu immediately felt a sense of unease and hurriedly said, "A top-grade Seven-Heart Pill is priceless! The original agreement was for only two Seven-Heart Pills, without specifying the quality. Such a generous gift is unworthy of my Wu family! Please allow my Wu family to make up the difference, otherwise I will not be at peace with myself!"

Liu Meizhen smiled and waved her hand, her tone gentle yet firm: "Fellow Daoist Wu, you flatter me. The Fu and Wu families are related by marriage and should support each other. When my Fu family was first established, the Wu family offered its full assistance; in the matter of the Prince's Mansion, the Wu family also risked their lives to stand with my Fu family. This is just a small token of the Fu family's goodwill, how can there be any difference? If we really want to haggle, it would only make us seem distant."

Her words were well-chosen, both clarifying that it was a way of repaying kindness and saving face for the Wu family.

Upon hearing this, Old Ancestor Wu was filled with emotion, and a strong thought arose within him: he must cling tightly to the Fu family! Obtaining the top-grade pill today was a matter of goodwill, but if this goodwill only diminishes without strengthening, it will eventually run out. The Fu family's rise is unstoppable; they must see the Wu family's enduring value!
His mind raced, and in an instant, he made a decision that caused even Chief Wu's expression to change drastically.

Old Master Wu's expression turned solemn. He cupped his hands again, his tone utterly sincere: "Madam's kindness is deeply appreciated by the Wu family! Since we are family, the Wu family is willing to do its utmost for our in-laws. I've heard that the Fu family has been promoted to a fifth-rank aristocratic family and is still short ten fourth-rank craft masters?"

Liu Meizhen's eyes flickered slightly, and she nodded, saying, "That is indeed the case."

Old Ancestor Wu said solemnly, "Although my Wu family is a small clan, our ancestral spinning skills are quite well-known in Tiannan. Tianyou's wife is a fourth-level spinning master. And your niece Qingyue, who married into your family, is extremely talented in this field. I heard that she is already a third-level top-grade spinning master, just one step away from the fourth level."

He paused, then said something astonishing: "I have discussed this with the clan leader, and we are willing to impart all the knowledge we have to Qingyue, teaching her the core fourth-level spinning technique of the Wu family, so that she can break through to the fourth level in one fell swoop! In this way, the Fu family can gain another fourth-level craftswoman!"

"Ancestor!" Clan Chief Wu nearly cried out in shock upon hearing this, his face drained of all color! The fourth-tier core spinning technique was one of the family's most fundamental secrets, never to be passed on to outsiders! How could it be so easily passed on to a married daughter? This was tantamount to destroying the Great Wall of our own destiny!
But a sharp glance from Patriarch Wu, imbued with undeniable authority, forcefully suppressed the patriarch's impending objection. The patriarch could only lower his head, his face pale, his heart churning with turmoil, yet he dared not utter another word.

Liu Meizhen took everything in stride and understood. She had come today with the intention of deepening cooperation with the Wu family in exchange for the complete inheritance of their spinning techniques, but she hadn't expected them to be so sensible as to offer it so readily, and even for free!

Her smile widened, but she did not immediately agree. After a moment of contemplation, she solemnly said, "Fellow Daoist Wu is so generous. On behalf of the Fu family, Meizhen thanks you in advance. However, the Fu family never takes advantage of its allies for nothing."

She then changed the subject: "How about this? The Wu family can select a reliable disciple with talent in spiritual plants and send him to my Fu family. My Fu family is willing to teach him the complete fourth-order spiritual plant techniques to help him become a fourth-order spiritual plant master! In this way, we can exchange and help each other, what do you think?"

Upon hearing this, both Old Ancestor Wu and Clan Chief Wu were stunned.

In exchange for the Fu family's fourth-order spirit plant technique, using fourth-order spinning technology?

This...this is an absolutely incredible surprise!
The Fu family's spiritual plant cultivation techniques are renowned, capable of nurturing rare treasures like the Seven Heart Begonia. Their lineage must far surpass that of the Wu family! In this transaction, the Wu family not only didn't lose out, but actually gained a huge advantage!
Looking at the two people's expressions of surprise and joy, Liu Meizhen smiled and said, "Not only that, I also hope that your Wu family can help convey a message to the families in Wuzhou and even further afield: anyone who is willing to cooperate sincerely with the Fu family and pass on their unique high-level cultivation arts will be rewarded by the Fu family with inheritance or resources of equal value."

Her gaze deepened: "What my Fu family seeks is not merely to gather ten fourth-rank craftsmen to advance to the fifth rank. Rather, it is to embrace all rivers and streams, gather the strengths of all schools, and solidify the foundation of our family for generations to come. Even if one day in the future, my Fu family steps out of Tiannan and goes to a wider world, the wisdom and skills gathered here will be our family's most precious wealth and heritage."

Upon hearing this, Old Ancestor Wu was utterly shocked, and his gaze towards Liu Meizhen was filled with admiration. It turned out that the Fu family's schemes were far more grand and far-reaching than anyone had imagined!
"Madam's wisdom and foresight are truly admirable!" Old Master Wu bowed deeply once more, this time sincerely, without the slightest hesitation. "We leave everything to Madam's arrangements! The Wu family is willing to forever follow in the footsteps of the Fu family!"

...

...

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!"

...

...

A few days later, in Huixi County.

A fiery inferno, a dormant volcano.

Fu Changsheng, Liu Meizhen, Yaoyao, and Fu Molan, Fu Changli, and Fu Changli, who had been urgently recalled, stood at the edge. Below them was a scorching land where dark red magma still churned.

"Let's begin, Yaoyao," Fu Changsheng said in a deep voice.

Yao Yao nodded emphatically, her expression solemn. She took a deep breath and summoned the partially repaired [Small Heavenly Cycle Star Barrier] array diagram.

The array diagram grew longer in the wind, transforming into a massive silver scroll that stretched across the void, shimmering with countless starlight points. Yao Yao's hands moved like butterflies flitting among flowers, casting countless profound spells. The Qingqiu Yitian Disc hung high above her head, pouring down its immense deductive power to assist in its control.

"Using the stars as a guide, a barrier is formed by nature! Fall!"

With a clear shout, the massive array slowly sank into the crater of the dormant volcano, and countless starlight points scattered like seeds, merging into the volcano's walls and the deep earth veins.

In an instant, a sudden change occurred!

On the inner walls of the volcano, countless mysterious silver array patterns lit up, connecting heaven and earth. Above, even in broad daylight, hazy phantoms of stars appeared, descending wisps of pure stellar power. A massive, transparent barrier, imperceptible to the naked eye yet undeniably real, slowly took shape, like an inverted giant glass bowl, completely enveloping and covering the entire dormant volcano crater and its core area below.

Above the barrier, streaks of light occasionally flashed by like a galaxy, radiating a chilling defensive power and concealed fluctuations.

"It's done!" Fu Yongyao's beautiful eyes lit up. "With this protective array, it will be extremely difficult for anyone below the Nascent Soul stage to detect it, let alone break in!"

Fu Changsheng sensed the strength of the barrier and nodded in satisfaction: "Thank you for your hard work, Yaoyao. Let's go in."

The group passed through the star barrier and stepped into the Water Cloud Cave once again.

Before me stretched a vast expanse of misty water, the palace complex in the heart of the lake appearing and disappearing amidst the swirling vapors, serene and mysterious.

Yao Yao immediately began preparing to break the array surrounding the palace. The Qingqiu Yitian Disc hovered in front of her, emitting a soft and mysterious light, and began to analyze the ancient restrictions that enveloped the palace.

Just now.

A sudden thought flashed through Fu Changsheng's mind, and he recalled an important piece of information he had previously obtained through the system exchange:
In the lake surrounding the Water Cloud Cave, a group of "Moonlight Jellyfish" dwells; their demon cores are the main ingredient for refining the fourth-tier "Solid Cloud Pill."

The Solid Cloud Pill has a remarkable effect on stabilizing the cultivation of Golden Core cultivators and purifying their mana, making it one of the high-level pills that the family urgently needs.

“Moonlight jellyfish…” Fu Changsheng’s gaze fell upon the vast and deep lake, and his divine sense stirred slightly.

A beam of white light flew out from his spirit beast pouch and landed, transforming into a snow-white fox with strange blue markings on its face and lively, cunning eyes—his spirit pet, the Blue-Faced White Fox.

"Go, explore the lake and look for the jellyfish swarm that contains the power of moonlight," Fu Changsheng ordered.

The blue-faced white fox let out a soft cry, its unique pupils gleaming with an eerie light, possessing an innate and extremely strong perception of treasures and special spiritual essences. It leaped forward, silently disappearing into the clear yet unfathomable lake water, diving downwards like a white lightning bolt.

Everyone waited patiently.

About an incense stick's time later, with a splash, the blue-faced white fox leaped back onto the shore, carrying a spiritual plant in its mouth, its entire body a deep blue, its leaves resembling condensed water ripples, emitting a cool, refreshing aura.

It placed the spiritual plant at Fu Changsheng's feet as if seeking credit.

"A fourth-tier Water Condensation Flower, not bad, it's an excellent material for refining water-attribute pills." Fu Changsheng patted the white fox's head and put it back into his spirit beast pouch, but his brows furrowed slightly. "But I haven't found any trace of the Moonlight Jellyfish?"

It seems these jellyfish were very well hidden, even the treasure-hunting blue-faced white fox failed to find them.

Just then, the fourth sister, Fu Changli, who had been quietly sensing her surroundings, suddenly let out a soft "Eh." The [Beast King Token] seed she was refining within her body was slightly warming up, autonomously emitting a peculiar fluctuation that resonated faintly with the water elemental energy of the lake.

She closed her eyes and concentrated, carefully sensing for a moment before speaking somewhat uncertainly, "Brother Changsheng, the Beast King Token within my body seems to vaguely sense that deep within this lake, there lies an extremely peculiar, tranquil, and icy demonic aura. It is yin in nature and carries the subtle charm of moonlight... It's very similar to the moon jellyfish you just mentioned. However, this aura is extremely ethereal, obscured by some kind of power, making it impossible to pinpoint its exact location."

Upon hearing this, a glint flashed in Fu Changsheng's eyes.

“No problem. Since we’re sure they’re at the bottom of the lake, I’ll find them myself.”

He stepped forward, stood by the lake, and slowly closed his eyes. The next moment, he suddenly opened them!

Deep within his once profound eyes, it seemed as if countless stars were born and died, and endless laws flowed! After being refined by the "Seven-Colored Illusionary Spirit Liquid," his divine power, which had been upgraded to the "Penetrating Void Divine Eye," was unleashed with overwhelming force!
His gaze became incredibly penetrating, and the lake water before him seemed to become transparent in his "eyes," probing downwards layer by layer. Water plants, reefs, the spiritual energy of the undercurrents, scattered low-level aquatic creatures... every detail of the lake bottom was presented to his vision in an almost primordial way.

His gaze swept across a large area of ​​the lakebed, but he found nothing unusual. The moon jellyfish's ability to conceal themselves was indeed extraordinary.

However, when his gaze swept across a seemingly ordinary lakebed covered with thick silt and aquatic plants on the eastern side of the lake, his divine eyes keenly detected a very faint spatial ripple and array fluctuation that was out of place with the surrounding environment!

The fluctuations were extremely subtle, almost merging with the lake's spiritual veins. If he hadn't mastered the Divine Eye, he would never have been able to detect them.

"Found it!" Fu Changsheng smiled. "Indeed cunning, it hid behind a natural concealment barrier. No wonder the white fox couldn't find it."

He pointed to that location: "The Moonlight Jellyfish swarm is hidden within a natural water palace enclosure beneath that lakebed. Changli's perception is correct."

Everyone looked in the direction he pointed and saw that the body of water was no different from other places, and they couldn't help but marvel at Fu Changsheng's unpredictable methods once again.

“With a goal in mind, things will be much easier.” Fu Changsheng said calmly, “Once Yaoyao has dealt with the palace formation, we will go and meet this group of Moonlight Jellyfish, and obtain some demon cores to add another type of spiritual pill to the family.”

(End of this chapter)