Family Rise: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 583 Tree of Life, Important Intelligence, Dragon Slaying

Shuiyun Cave Heaven.

Fu Yongyao spent less than half a month preparing the plan to break the formation: "Mother, Father, Aunts and Uncles, this is the 'Five Directions Mountain-Suppressing Spirit-Locking Formation'. It requires five Golden Core cultivators, each belonging to the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, to simultaneously inject their Golden Core power into the five hidden formation eyes. Furthermore, one of them must reach the late Golden Core stage to take the lead in order to temporarily open the palace gate."

The group exchanged glances and nodded, having already agreed on the candidate.

Fu Changsheng stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "I will take the lead." Although he was normally at the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm, his aura surged instantly, and his Chaos Golden Core circulated, transforming into a metal-attribute mana output.

A crimson light flashed around Liu Meizhen, and her pure and domineering fire-attribute golden core magic power surged forth.

Fu Molan stepped forward, her delicate hand waving lightly. A chilling aura emanated from her, and ice crystals condensed in the air. It was a mutated ice attribute, but its foundation still belonged to the water element, which was enough to represent "water".

Fu Changli smiled gently, and a clear and soft yellowish-brown light swirled around her fingertips—the pure power of an earth-attribute golden core.

Fu Changli's face was calm, and his body exuded a vibrant vitality. The emerald green wood-attribute golden core magic power was gentle yet resilient.

"Now!" Yao Yao accurately reported five directions.

All five attacked at the same time!

Fu Changsheng's rich earthy yellow spiritual power, Liu Meizhen's fiery red spiritual power, Fu Molan's icy blue spiritual power, Fu Changli's gentle watery blue spiritual power, and Fu Changli's vibrant emerald green spiritual power—five dazzling golden core light pillars—precisely struck five different invisible nodes on the palace gate!

Om-!
Five-colored light suddenly shone on the palace gate, as if activating some ancient ritual. Five distinct yet perfectly fused golden core powers were inserted into the lock like a key.

The entire main hall trembled slightly, and the shimmering moonlight on the doors rippled violently like waves, finally emitting a heavy, ancient roar—

"Roll-roll-roll-roll-roll-"

The massive palace doors, sealed for countless years, slowly opened inward, revealing a deep and vast space behind them.

However, the instant the palace doors were fully opened, a life force far more concentrated than that outside, almost tangible, rushed out! At the same time, a soft yet incredibly resilient emerald green light membrane instantly formed inside the doors, completely sealing the entrance.

Everyone looked inside and was immediately speechless with shock at the sight before them.

In the center of the main hall, there was not the remains of a cultivator or an ordinary decoration as one might imagine, but a colossal tree that reached the heavens and the earth!
The tree's trunk is the warm, lustrous color of white jade, while its branches and leaves are a vibrant, lush green, as if carved from the finest jade, radiating boundless vitality and spiritual energy. Its canopy so high it seems to support the dome of an entire palace, with light raining down through its branches and leaves, nourishing all things. It is the true source of life in the entire Water Cloud Cave!
Among the branches of the Tree of Life, a tiny sprite, about the size of a palm, entirely emerald green, with transparent butterfly wings, timidly peeked out. Its body emanated extremely pure life energy, and its large eyes gazed at the intruder with a mixture of curiosity and wariness.

Clearly, the emerald green light membrane from earlier was set up by it.

Yao Yao stepped forward to investigate for a moment, her brows furrowing slightly. She turned to Fu Changsheng and said, "Father, this barrier wasn't originally part of the palace. It was set up by the spirit of the Tree of Life on its own. The life laws it contains are extremely high and pure, perfectly integrated with the core spiritual vein of this place, making it incredibly resilient. Unless we possess the absolute power of a Nascent Soul cultivator to forcibly tear it apart, we cannot enter the inner hall and can only move around in this outer hall area."

Fu Changsheng gazed at the Tree of Life and the tiny sprite, his eyes flashing with amazement and contemplation. He slowly said, "It's alright. The outer hall area is already vast, with such abundant spiritual energy, and the existence of this Tree of Life is already an immense opportunity. We must not forcibly offend this sprite and the Tree of Life. Let us explore the outer hall first."

"Before that, Yaoyao, come with us to the bottom of the lake to break a natural barrier."

The group left the main hall as instructed. The emerald green life light membrane continued to flow quietly after they left, isolating the mysterious life tree in the inner hall from the outside world.

Upon arriving at the lakeside, Fu Changsheng pointed again to the lakebed where the anomaly had been discovered earlier: "The natural restriction is located below this spot, intricately connected to the spiritual veins at the bottom of the lake. Forcibly breaking it might damage the spiritual veins; it needs to be slowly dismantled using the principles of array formations."

All eyes turned to Yao Yao.

Yao Yao understood, hovering above the lake. The [Qingqiu Yitian Disc] floated in front of her, emitting a hazy, clear light. Her eyes gleamed with wisdom as she carefully examined the hidden restriction below, which was almost integrated with its surroundings.

"Indeed ingenious," Yao Yao exclaimed after observing for a moment. "Borrowing the flow of water and absorbing the gentle power of the moonlight, it forms a self-circulating cycle. If it weren't for Father's keen eyesight, it would be almost impossible to detect. Breaking it is not difficult, but its power needs to be guided and dealt with slowly to avoid disturbing the creatures within or disturbing the spiritual veins."

She made hand seals, and the Yitian Disc spun rapidly. Streams of soft, moonlit silver array patterns flowed from the disc, slowly sinking into the lake water as if they had a life of their own, precisely adhering to the outer edge of the invisible restriction.

These array patterns did not forcefully impact the barrier, but rather, like the most nimble fingers, began to analyze, simulate, and even integrate into the energy flow trajectory of the barrier itself.

The process was completely silent; not even a ripple appeared on the lake's surface.

About half an hour later, a flash of silver light appeared in Yao Yao's eyes, and she uttered a low shout: "Open!"

The scene at the bottom of the lake blurred and distorted, as if the water was rippling, and an "entrance" that was originally indistinguishable from the lakebed rocks and silt slowly appeared. The entrance was only wide enough for one person to pass through, and behind it was a downward-sloping passage that emitted a soft blue light. A purer and colder aura, containing a rich moonlight power, emanated from it.

"The restriction has been temporarily activated and can be maintained for one hour." Yao Yao finished her work, sweat beading on her forehead, clearly indicating that this meticulous operation had taken a toll.

"Thank you for your hard work, Yaoyao." Fu Changsheng nodded and took the lead, transforming into a streak of light and disappearing into the passage. Liu Meizhen, Fu Molan, Fu Changli, and Fu Changli followed closely behind.

The passage wasn't long, and soon everyone found themselves in a huge underwater palace.

This water palace resembled a giant bubble, protected by a natural barrier. Its interior was dry and cool, devoid of water. The walls were inlaid with blue crystals that emitted a faint, self-illuminating glow, making the entire space resemble a dream under the moonlight.

The scene in the center of the Water Mansion left even the well-informed Fu Changsheng and his companions speechless.

There, dozens of giant jellyfish were suspended!

They are almost transparent, their caps resembling the purest full moon. Their soft bodies float gently like veils, radiating a soft yet cool, moon-white halo that illuminates the entire underwater realm with breathtaking beauty. Their aura is tranquil and serene, detached from worldly strife—they are none other than the legendary "Moonlight Jellyfish"!
These jellyfish seemed unaware of the intruders, continuing to rise and fall slowly according to some ancient rhythm, absorbing the pure moonlight power that seeped down from the top of the water palace and was transformed by a restriction.

"It really is here!" Fu Changli exclaimed, the sensation from the Beast King Token within his body becoming increasingly clear.

There were about fifty or sixty moon jellyfish in this group, most of which were at the third level, but twelve of them emitted demonic energy fluctuations that reached the fourth level! They guarded a light blue pool at the deepest part of the water palace. In the pool grew several strange little grasses that looked like they were made of ice crystals, emitting an alluring fragrance. They were obviously the treasures that these jellyfish were guarding.

Fu Changsheng did not act immediately. Instead, he turned to his fourth sister, Fu Changli, and asked her telepathically, "Changli, you are proficient in the art of beast taming. Do you know what is special about this type of moon jellyfish? Especially its attack methods?"

Upon hearing this, Fu Changli rapidly reviewed the vast beast-taming inheritance he had obtained from the Beast King's Decree.

After a while.

“Patriarch, according to the inherited records, the Moon Jellyfish is a very special water-type spirit. It prefers cold and shady places and lives by absorbing the essence of the moon. It is usually gentle and does not attack unless provoked, but its self-defense methods are extremely troublesome.”

She paused, organized her thoughts, and continued:

"Its greatest strength lies in its illusions!"
The moon-white aura emanating from them wasn't merely aesthetically pleasing; it was itself a powerful illusionary field capable of distorting perception and drawing people into a state of descent. Its effects might be limited at lower levels, but once they broke through to the fourth level…”

Fu Changli's voice carried a hint of solemnity:
"The power of its illusions will undergo a qualitative change! It is said that if ten fourth-order Moonlight Jellyfish simultaneously activate their illusions, the 'Thousand Moon Illusion' they weave is enough to trap or even annihilate the mind of a Nascent Soul cultivator! They can arouse the deepest fears and desires in the opponent's heart, and can make people fall into it silently until their soul withers and they die. They are extremely difficult to defend against and break."

Upon hearing this, Fu Changsheng's eyes flashed with surprise. He hadn't expected that these seemingly gentle and harmless jellyfish would have such a terrifying trump card.

"As for the demon core," Fu Changli continued, her tone carrying a strange undertone, "the demon core of the Moonlight Jellyfish is also different from that of other demon beasts. Although their entire essence is condensed in the demon core, this core is more like a temporary crystallization of 'moon essence.' After it is taken away, as long as their life force is not damaged, given time, they can absorb moon essence again and condense a new demon core. However, this process will consume a large amount of their vital energy."

"It can actually regenerate a demon core?" Even Fu Changsheng was somewhat surprised this time.

These characteristics are practically made for the sustainable acquisition of alchemy materials!
“That’s right,” Fu Changli affirmed. “That’s why the ancient texts advise that if you encounter a swarm of Moonlight Jellyfish, you should avoid draining the pond to catch all the fish unless absolutely necessary. Taking the core and keeping your life is the way to long-term survival. Moreover, the few ‘Ice Soul Condensing Grasses’ that they guard seem to greatly help them condense their demon cores and enhance the power of their illusions; they are the foundation of their race.”

After listening to Fu Changli's explanation, Fu Changsheng immediately had a clearer plan in mind.

He had originally only planned to obtain two fourth-tier jellyfish demon cores to test his pill-making skills, but now that he knew how powerful their illusionary arts were, he needed to be even more cautious to avoid triggering a frenzied backlash from the entire clan during the process of obtaining the cores. The regenerative nature of those demon cores, however, gave him hope for a long-term, stable supply of the main ingredient for the Solid Cloud Pill.

A slight smile appeared on Fu Changsheng's lips.

“Patriarch, what Fourth Sister said has reminded me. My unique spirit wine, ‘Seven Imperial Wine,’ is of a yin and cold nature. It can calm the mind and intoxicate the soul. It is originally used to assist cultivation and soothe the mind, and its medicinal power is mild. However, if these jellyfish, which are inherently yin and cold and rely on the power of moonlight, were to consume it, the interplay of yin and yang medicinal power might produce a miraculous effect, enough to intoxicate their souls and temporarily render them powerless to resist.”

Fu Changli then changed the subject, adding with a hint of regret:

"However... this wine is extremely difficult to brew, and I only have one bottle left. If the target is a fourth-tier jellyfish, given its demonic power, I estimate that one bottle can only reliably incapacitate two at most, and perhaps add one third-tier jellyfish, but to be absolutely sure, it is safest to limit it to two fourth-tier jellyfish."

Upon hearing this, Fu Molan, her cool and aloof expression remaining unchanged, replied:
“In that case, I can control the ‘Mysterious Water Puppet’ to infiltrate the Water Palace. This puppet is forged from the essence of cold iron, and its core is driven by the water spirit. It has no soul or spirit, and no thoughts or desires, so it is not afraid of being deceived by illusions. I can manipulate it to disturb the jellyfish swarm and take the opportunity to lure two fourth-order jellyfish away from the group and lead them to our predetermined location.”

She looked at Yaoyao: "Yaoyao only needs to set up a trap in a suitable location in advance to temporarily block its way back and isolate it from movement."

Yao Yao immediately nodded: "It's a piece of cake. I can set up the 'Minor Sumeru Forbidden Array' right now. Although it's not as good as the Zhou Tian Star Barrier, it will be no problem to trap two fourth-order jellyfish for a while."

After listening to their well-coordinated plan, Fu Changsheng showed an approving expression.

“Very good. Let’s proceed with this plan. Changli, prepare the wine; Molan, prepare the puppets; Yaoyao, set up the formation immediately. The movements must be slow and gentle, so as not to cause too much disturbance.”

"Yes!" the group replied in unison, and immediately split up to prepare.

……

Yao Yao hovered above the position Fu Changyi had chosen, her hands fluttering like butterflies. Fine yet condensed array patterns flowed from her fingertips, silently merging into the lakebed and water below. In a short while, a small but stable "Minor Sumeru Forbidden Array" was formed, its radiance completely concealed, blending seamlessly with the surrounding aquatic environment, ready to be activated.

Fu Molan then summoned a "Mysterious Water Puppet" crafted entirely from elite dark blue cold iron, in the form of a mermaid. She touched the puppet's core with her fingertip, infusing it with pure magic power. The puppet's eyes glowed with a faint icy blue light, and then, with a swift movement, it glided silently into the natural barrier entrance, like the most agile fish, and entered the interior of the Water Palace.

Through the shared perspective of the puppets, everyone could "see" the group of moon jellyfish in the water palace still slowly rising and falling, as tranquil as a dream.

Fu Molan was completely focused on controlling the Xuan Shui puppet. The puppet did not rush directly towards the jellyfish swarm, but cautiously circled around to the flank. First, it slightly disturbed the water flow to attract the attention of a few third-tier jellyfish. Seeing that they only slightly retracted their tentacles in a wary manner and did not react further, she then controlled the puppet to carefully approach the two outermost jellyfish among the twelve fourth-tier jellyfish.

As it approached a certain distance, the Xuan Shui Puppet suddenly accelerated, quickly passing between the two fourth-tier Moonlight Jellyfish. At the same time, the puppet's tail sprayed out two weak but provocative streams of water, which accurately struck their soft umbrella-like caps.

hum...

The moon-white halos on the bells of the two offended fourth-tier Moonjellyfish brightened noticeably, indicating they were enraged. With a flick of their transparent bodies, dozens of nearly invisible tentacles swept towards the puppet like ribbons, stirring up streams of icy water.

The Xuan Shui puppet, without lingering in battle, followed Fu Molan's command and turned to flee towards the exit of the Water Mansion. Two fourth-tier jellyfish were indeed drawn in, breaking away from the group and chasing after the puppet. Their speed was slow, but they carried a chilling, oppressive aura.

"They're here!" Fu Molan whispered.

The Xuan Shui puppet was the first to rush out of the restricted entrance, followed closely by two fourth-tier Moonlight Jellyfish.

"Activate the formation!" Yao Yao immediately formed a hand seal.

Buzz! The Lesser Sumeru Forbidden Array was activated instantly, and a transparent light barrier suddenly appeared, enveloping the area near the entrance and temporarily isolating it from the outside world.

The two moon jellyfish seemed to sense something was amiss. Their umbrellas shimmered, their moon-white halos intensified, and an invisible yet powerful illusionary force began to spread, attempting to distort the intruder's perception. However, everyone present was prepared, guarding their minds, and with Fu Changsheng's powerful divine sense as a backup, they were not substantially affected. The Xuan Shui puppet, on the other hand, remained completely unresponsive.

"Chang Li!" Fu Changsheng shouted.

Fu Changli had been preparing for a long time. Upon hearing the sound, he immediately pulled the cork off the precious "Seven Imperial Wine" bottle in his hand. He did not pour the wine directly into the water, but instead made hand seals, guiding the clear and slightly cold wine into two thin streams of wine. As if guided by an invisible hand, they were accurately shot towards the two jellyfish's open mouthparts (located below their umbrella caps).

Jellyfish instinctively inhale the surrounding water to obtain nutrients and energy, and the wine containing special medicinal properties is then ingested by them.

At first, the two jellyfish showed no abnormality; in fact, their tentacles waved more frantically, as if they were becoming more agitated by being surrounded, and the illusion field was strengthened once again.

But just a few breaths later, the moon-white halo flowing on their canopies began to flicker, like a lamp with a faulty connection. Their floating bodies also began to lose their balance, becoming swaying and unsteady, their tentacles drooping softly, no longer aggressive.

A few breaths later, the two fourth-tier Moonlight Jellyfish completely lost their vitality. Their bellies contracted slightly, and as if drunk, they slowly sank to the bottom of the lake. The terrifying illusionary aura surrounding them also completely dissipated. Qi Yujiu's medicine had taken effect!

"Quick! The effects of the medicine are limited!" Fu Changli reminded him, his face somewhat pale. Controlling the precise delivery of the wine and ensuring the medicine's effectiveness had taken a toll on him.

Fu Changsheng moved swiftly and appeared beside the two drowsy jellyfish. He pointed his fingers like a sword, his fingertips radiating extremely refined magical power, and carefully touched a spot beneath the jellyfish's bell.

puff.

With a soft thud, the jellyfish were not harmed. Two perfectly round demon cores, about the size of pigeon eggs and radiating a soft, moon-white glow and pure, cold energy, were extracted. The moment the demon cores left their bodies, the two jellyfish twitched slightly, and their luster dimmed a bit, but their life force remained, albeit very weak, as they entered a deep slumber and began to recover.

Fu Changsheng placed the two icy-cold Moonlight Jellyfish Demon Cores, which contained immense and pure spiritual power, into a specially made jade box and sealed them away.

"Withdraw the formation, let's go." Fu Changsheng decisively gave the order.

Yao Yao immediately deactivated the Lesser Sumeru Forbidden Array. Fu Molan also retrieved the Xuan Shui Puppet.

The group quickly retreated from the underwater palace. Shortly after their departure, the entrance to the natural barrier slowly disappeared again, returning to its original state as if no one had ever been there. Only the two jellyfish, now devoid of their demon cores, remained, slowly absorbing moonlight in their slumber, beginning their long recovery process. Back on the surface, feeling the powerful energy emanating from the two fourth-tier demon cores in the jade box, everyone wore relieved smiles.

"In this way, we have the main ingredient for refining the Solid Cloud Pill," Liu Meizhen said happily.

Fu Changsheng nodded: "Thank you all for your hard work. Changli's spirit wine, Molan's puppet, Yaoyao's formation, and Changli's message are all indispensable. If this pill is successful, it will be of great benefit to the Golden Core cultivators of my Fu family."

……

Fu Changsheng stood before the massive main hall of Shuiyun Cave, his gaze sweeping over the hall gate, which was bathed in moonlight and covered with ancient restrictions. With a slight thought, his consciousness sank into the depths of his sea of ​​consciousness.

"Exchange intelligence."

hum!
In an instant.

Golden light shone brightly in the sea of ​​consciousness.

Lines of text appeared one by one:

[1: In the Spirit Herb Garden of Shuiyun Cave, there is a Fire Phoenix Tree. The fruit on the tree will ripen in less than a hundred years. If Fu Changli's Azure Phoenix can consume the fruit of the Fire Phoenix Tree, there is a chance that it will awaken a trace of the ancient Azure Phoenix bloodline.]

[2: Deep within the dry well behind the Huang family's mountain, behind a natural illusion array, lies a small [Jade Nether Stone] mine, with reserves sufficient for a century of mining.]

[3: Your spirit pet "Seven-Colored Glazed Beast" can awaken another innate divine ability if activated with three "Clarity Fruits".]

[4: When the Azure Dragon molts next time, if it is supplemented with "Dragon Blood Grass" and "Earth Core Fire Lotus", its scale defense will increase by 30%, and it will have a chance to learn the Dragon Breath Technique.]

[5: Three feet beneath the floor tiles in the northeast corner of the side hall of the Merit Hall in Shuiyun Cave, there is a fragment of the Qingqiu Yitian Plate. After it is combined with the replica that your daughter Fu Yongyao has, there will be an unexpected surprise.]

[6: The rogue cultivator "Zhao Xing," who is on good terms with your son Fu Yongyun, is actually a core disciple of the "Xuan Yue Sect" in the far west. He was ordered to infiltrate and gather intelligence on the Great Zhou Dynasty, but he has no ill intentions towards the Fu family.]

[7: Hidden within the dragon's mouth at the top of the third coiled dragon stone pillar in the Shuiyun Cave Heaven cultivation ground is a concealed [Sumeru Ring]]

[8: Among the batch of magical artifact fragments marked "discarded" in the Huang family's storeroom, a grain of [Star Sand] was embedded in the hilt of a broken sword.]

[9: In Shuiyun Cave, there is a recipe for "Hundred Rivers Converging into the Sea Wine". If a drop of "Morning Dew" is added, the quality of the wine will surely reach the highest level.]

[10: A batch of undervalued ores will be found among the vendors in Wuzhou Market, including a piece of "Black Sinking Iron" containing the essence of Geng Metal.]

[11: Fu Yongyi's son, Fu Qingcheng, overlooked a small branch vein during his exploration of spirit mines, which contains a small amount of [Warm Jade], which can be used to refine auxiliary magical artifacts for nourishing the meridians.]

[12: One of the outer members of the Dark Hall has been coerced by the "Shadow Assassin Tower" with his family and has been turned. He is codenamed "Shadow Seven" and will send false information the next time he delivers intelligence.]

[13: Fu Linian, a collateral descendant of the Fu family, has unparalleled talent in the art of talismans. However, due to the early death of his parents and the lack of introductions, his talent has been buried and he is currently only a first-level talisman master.]

[14: If the pair of "Azure-Eyed Spirit Foxes" in the family's spirit beast garden are fed with petals of the "Three-Leaf Spirit-Nourishing Flower," their offspring have an 80% chance of mutating and greatly increasing their intelligence.]

[15: Within the [Beast King Token] refined by Fu Changli, there is a fragmented divine thought of an elder of the "Ancient Beast Taming Sect". If certain conditions are met, the complete inheritance can be obtained.]

[16: If Yao Yao's "Minor Heavenly Cycle Star Barrier" set up in the Burning Heaven Fire Domain can be cleansed with "Taiyin True Water" to enhance its concealment effect to the point that it would be difficult to detect even in the mid-Nascent Soul stage.]

[17: In the "Black Mountain Mortal Town" within the Fu family's Huizhou Prefecture sphere of influence, at a temple fair thirty years later, an old man sells an ancestral "Iron Bagua," which is actually a broken fragment of the Nascent Soul stage magic weapon "Yin Yang Mirror."]

[18: A secret letter that Fu Yongrui accidentally intercepted while managing the Dark Hall. It was written in a lost ancient script. If it can be deciphered, it will have a profound impact on the Fu family.]

[19: Underworld Heavenly Dragon Temple, if the number of imprisoned Golden Core Divine Souls can be increased to twenty-five, a minor divine ability, [Soul Howl Impact], can be unlocked ahead of schedule.]

【20:……】

……

The thirty pieces of intelligence, encompassing a wide range of topics, some concerning crises, others revealing hidden opportunities, and still others involving personnel matters both inside and outside the family, were presented to Fu Changsheng in great detail.

His consciousness processed this information rapidly, his expression calm and composed, with only a glint of brilliance occasionally flashing deep in his eyes.

In just a few breaths, Fu Changsheng had categorized and memorized this intelligence, and had initially formed a framework for subsequent actions:
"Let's go into the hall."

...

...

The Eastern Wilderness Royal Court.

Chief Ao Cang of the Azure Dragon Tribe stood respectfully outside the massive and ferocious beast-bone gate of the Hunting Temple, his dark golden wolf eyes like two cold, eerie lamps, casting an unspoken, heavy pressure upon him. Time seemed to thicken and slow down, each breath an agonizing ordeal.

Just as cold sweat was about to bead on his forehead, the heavy, dark red stone door, which seemed capable of isolating everything, slowly opened with a dull creaking sound, creating a gap just wide enough for one person to pass through.

A middle-aged cultivator dressed in the robes of a temple steward, with a stern expression, stepped out from the door. His gaze swept over Ao Cang like that of a hawk, carrying an indifference born of someone who had long held a high position and was accustomed to powerful figures from all sides coming to kowtow.

"Chief Ao Cang?" His voice was flat and emotionless, revealing neither joy nor anger. "Elder Ao Qing is currently supervising the training of several newly arrived beasts at the beast taming grounds and is not free at the moment. The elder has ordered you to go to the side hall of the temple immediately and wait."

"Yes, yes, thank you for leading the way, Your Excellency." Ao Cang hurriedly bowed and replied, not daring to have the slightest objection, much less to show any dissatisfaction that his great-aunt had not come to greet him in person. In this royal capital temple, he was well aware of his own importance.

The steward said nothing more, only nodded slightly, and turned to walk into the room. Ao Cang immediately took a deep breath, focused his mind, and carefully followed.

Upon entering the temple, Ao Cang felt an even more primal, wild, and ferocious aura mixed with a faint smell of blood rushing towards him, as if he had instantly stepped from the civilized world into a prehistoric beast's lair.

The light suddenly dimmed, and the massive pillars were carved from the bones of unknown giant beasts or pitch-black rocks. The walls were inlaid with the skulls of various demonic beasts or strange crystals, emitting eerie glows of different colors. The air was filled with a dense aura of demons, the scent of herbs, and a faint, almost imperceptible... aura of fear.

Occasionally, faint roars of beasts, the dragging of chains, and even the whistling of whips could be heard from the depths, adding to the eeriness and cruelty of this solemn temple.

The steward led the way without a word, his footsteps barely making a sound on the cold ground. Ao Cang followed closely behind, his eyes fixed straight ahead, but his divine sense couldn't help but cautiously probe his surroundings, and he was immediately horrified.

He sensed that every one of the tightly closed stone chambers on either side exuded a powerful and violent demonic aura, at least at the late Golden Core stage or even the Pseudo-Nascent Soul level! Furthermore, several subtle yet soul-chilling auras were hidden deep within them, undoubtedly those of Nascent Soul level demons!
In this place, he, the fake infant chieftain who could dominate a region in the outside world, felt as insignificant as an ant, as if he could be devoured by a giant beast lurking in the darkness at any moment.

After several twists and turns, the steward led him to a relatively secluded and quiet side hall.

"Wait here. The elder will summon you when he has finished his business." The cold-faced deacon said this and then turned to leave, leaving Ao Cang alone in the empty and cold stone hall.

The interior was simply furnished, with only a few stone chairs and a fireplace burning with a pale blue flame that flickered but did not provide much warmth.

Ao Cang dared not sit down, much less move around or extend his divine sense. He could only stand with his hands at his sides in the hall, like a prisoner awaiting judgment. Time passed slowly, with only the crackling of the flames in the fireplace and the increasingly rapid beating of his own heart.

I don't know how much time passed, maybe an hour, maybe two hours.

Finally, a series of steady and imposing footsteps approached from the outer corridor of the palace.

Ao Cang's spirits lifted, and he quickly straightened his robes, took a deep breath, bent his waist even lower, and squeezed out the most respectful and humble expression on his face as he looked towards the palace gate.

Before the figure could be seen, a scorching, domineering, and terrifying pressure, like flowing lava, had already descended upon the side hall, making Ao Cang's breath catch in his throat and causing his internal magic power to stagnate!

Immediately afterwards, a figure dressed in a dark red and gold elder's robe stepped into the hall.

The newcomer was an old woman. Her face still faintly revealed the sharp features of her youth, but the years and the passage of time had etched deep marks on her features. Her hair was not white, but a dark red like cooled lava, meticulously tied into a high bun at the back of her head, adorned with a hairpin shaped like a dragon's tooth.

Her figure was not hunched over, but rather exceptionally upright. The spiritual pressure emanating from her body was like a volcano about to erupt, fiery and violent. She was clearly a True Monarch in the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm!

What is particularly striking are her eyes, which gleam with a sharp light when they open and close, as if molten lava is churning deep within them. They exude an air of authority and ruthlessness that comes with long-held power and the ability to control life and death, making it impossible for anyone to look directly at them.

She was Ao Cang's great-aunt, Ao Qing, one of the powerful elders of the Hunting Temple!
Ao Qing stepped into the hall, his gaze like a branding iron, instantly landing on Ao Cang, who was bowing with his head down, with scrutiny and a hint of impatience.

"Ao Cang?" Her voice was hoarse and deep, yet contained a powerful sense of strength, echoing in the stone hall. "Why don't you stay properly in your Azure Dragon Tribe and come to the capital to find me? What brings you here?"

Ao Cang felt the gaze that seemed to pierce through his very soul. His heart pounded wildly, and he dared not be the slightest bit negligent. He quickly stepped forward and bowed deeply once more, his voice trembling slightly with tension and awe:
"Ao Cang, my unworthy nephew, pays homage to my great-aunt! I wish my great-aunt eternal blessings and a successful future!"

Ao Qing remained expressionless, merely humming softly through her nose in response, her gaze still coldly fixed on him, awaiting his next words. Clearly, these empty formalities and flattery held no interest for her.

Ao Cang dared not waste any more words. He knew that this great-aunt was cold-blooded and disliked those who were slow-paced and incompetent. He suppressed his excitement and fear, organized his thoughts, and tried to make his voice sound calm, but it still trembled slightly.
"Your Excellency, I have come here today because... because the tribe has recently discovered an incredible opportunity! This matter is of great importance, and I dare not act on my own initiative, for I fear that I am not capable enough and may ruin the opportunity. Therefore, I have come to inform Your Excellency and ask for your decision!"

"Oh? A tremendous opportunity?" Upon hearing this, Elder Ao Qing's lava-like eyes finally showed a very faint fluctuation, but more so, suspicion and scrutiny. "Your Azure Dragon Tribe, living in a remote corner, what tremendous opportunity could you possibly have? Could it be that you have discovered another fourth-tier dragon's nest?"

Her tone carried a subtle hint of sarcasm, clearly indicating that she didn't take it too seriously.

"No! No!" Ao Cang quickly looked up, his face flushed with excitement, and his voice rose involuntarily. "Grandmother, it's not a dragon! It's...it's a real dragon! A real, living dragon!"

"What?! A real dragon?!"

Even with Ao Qing's mid-Nascent Soul stage mental state, upon hearing these two words, his whole body trembled violently, his eyes flashed with a terrifying light, and the molten lava-like pressure around him uncontrollably emanated a trace, instantly causing the temperature of the entire side hall to rise sharply, and the dark blue flames in the fireplace to suddenly dim!
She took a step forward, instantly closing the distance to Ao Cang, their faces almost touching. Her lava-like pupils were fixed on him, and her voice became incredibly sharp and urgent:

"Explain yourself! Where is the real dragon? Is your information reliable? If you dare utter a single falsehood, I will immediately throw you to feed the gluttonous beasts of the rear guard!"

A terrifying pressure, like a giant mountain, pressed down on Ao Cang, making his bones groan, but he was secretly delighted! His great-aunt was indeed interested in this!

He suppressed his discomfort and quickly delivered his carefully crafted explanation at top speed, his tone filled with unwavering excitement:
“Absolutely true! Great-aunt! The source is absolutely reliable! It was witnessed and heard by our tribe’s men while hunting outside the Fallen Dragon Abyss!”

“Recently, there have been frequent unusual movements in the depths of the Dragon Abyss, with terrifying dragon roars emanating from it, their sound reverberating for miles around, containing supreme dragon might, far surpassing that of any other dragon! Furthermore, some mercenaries who managed to escape confidently claim that in a fleeting glimpse, they saw a dazzling golden light shimmering at the bottom of the abyss, with scales and claws far larger than they had imagined! Based on all the signs, it is highly likely that it is a true dragon that has been severely injured, and may even be trapped by an ancient restriction!”

As he spoke, he carefully observed Ao Qing's expression. Seeing the light in her eyes growing brighter, he immediately pressed his advantage, his tone becoming even more fervent and seductive:

"Grandmother! Just think! That's a real dragon! Its entire body is a treasure! Its dragon blood and dragon essence are supreme medicines, enough to greatly advance your cultivation, and even allow you to glimpse the gate to the Divine Transformation realm! Its dragon bones and dragon scales are excellent materials for refining heaven-reaching spiritual treasures! If we can tame it, it will be an unprecedented feat in the history of our Eastern Wilderness, enough to allow our Ao clan to suppress all other families in the royal court, and even... even..."

He stopped at just the right moment, leaving Ao Qing with endless room for imagination.

Elder Ao Qing's chest heaved slightly, clearly shaken by the sudden news. The doubt in her eyes was quickly replaced by burning greed and desire! A true dragon! For any cultivator, especially one like her whose cultivation had been stuck at a bottleneck for years and who was eager to break through, the temptation was fatal!

Her cultivation technique is inherently fire-oriented. If she could obtain the blood of a true dragon... especially the extremely yang and powerful blood of the five-clawed golden dragon, her chances of breaking through her current bottleneck would greatly increase!
But having weathered many storms, she forcibly suppressed the urge to set off immediately, took a deep breath, her lava-like pupils locked onto Ao Cang, and her voice became unusually calm and dangerous:
"Dragon Fallen Abyss... That's one of the most infamous forbidden areas in the Eastern Wilderness, an ancient battlefield remnant, where space is chaotic and evil spirits roam freely. Even Nascent Soul cultivators risk perishing if they venture deep into it. Are you sure the information is accurate? If it's a trap or a misjudgment, you should know the consequences."

"I swear on my life!" Ao Cang immediately pointed to the sky and swore, his face full of "sincerity." "I have verified this matter from many sources, and it is by no means unfounded! As for those mercenaries who escaped back, I have also "properly" settled them to ensure that the news will not leak out!"

He stepped forward, lowering his voice even further, full of seductive power: "Grandmother, this is a golden opportunity! The dragon is clearly in dire straits, otherwise why would it have caused such a commotion? This is a godsend! If we wait for it to recover, or if other forces discover it, this incredible opportunity will slip through our fingers!"

"As long as you, my great-aunt, personally take action, with your extraordinary cultivation at the mid-Nascent Soul stage, and with your grand-nephew's support, we will surely succeed! At that time, with the True Dragon in hand, your path to the Great Dao will be clear, and my Azure Dragon Tribe will also be able to follow you and rise to the heavens!"

Elder Ao Qing fell silent, pacing slowly through the hall with her hands behind her back. Her dark red elder robes fluttered without wind, and her aura fluctuated wildly, clearly indicating an intense inner struggle. She was well aware of the dangers of the Dragon Abyss, but the allure of the true dragon was simply too great!
After a long while, she suddenly stopped, a resolute glint flashing in her eyes!

"Very well!" Her hoarse voice carried a sense of desperation. "I'll trust you this time! Go back and prepare immediately. We'll meet outside the temple in three days!"

“Remember, Ao Cang,” she whirled around, her molten pupils flashing with a chilling warning, “if this succeeds, you will naturally reap the rewards. But if there is any trickery involved… you should know the consequences of deceiving me and wasting my time!”

"I understand! I would never dare to deceive my great-aunt! I will do my utmost to help my great-aunt obtain the true dragon!" Ao Cang was overjoyed and quickly bowed to make his promise, but a layer of cold sweat broke out on his back.

"Get out of here! Don't be late in three days!" Elder Ao Qing waved his hand impatiently.

"Yes! Nephew takes his leave!" Ao Cang felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He bowed deeply again and almost backed away from the side hall. Only after he walked out of the menacing gate of the Hunting Temple and felt the light from the outside did he breathe a long sigh of relief and realize that his inner shirt was soaked with cold sweat.

But then, boundless ecstasy and ambition surged into his heart.

"Success! My great-aunt agreed! The blood of the true dragon... the path to the Nascent Soul... the day when I, Ao Cang, rise to power is just around the corner!"

He didn't linger any longer, riding his escape light back to his landing spot to make final preparations.

(End of this chapter)