Family Rise: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 587 Strange Dream, Rebirth Hall, Ancient Medicine Garden

Jingzhou.

The crimson mist, like a living thing, carrying an aura of deathly stillness and evil that could annihilate everything, slowly spread over the ruins of the Gan family and continued to drift toward the border of the Fu family's Yunshan County fiefdom.

Just as the crimson light was about to touch the border of the Fu family—that desolate mountain range called Cangliang Mountain—a dozen dazzling streaks of light suddenly lit up the sky!

The light vanished.

A dozen or so cultivators with profound auras and different attire were revealed.

The two leaders were dressed in black official robes embroidered with the Xiezhi totem, their faces dignified; one was the head of the Zhen Shi Division of Jingzhou. The other wore a dark blue official robe embroidered with the Bi'an totem, his eyes sharp as lightning; he was the head of the Yu Shen Division. Behind them followed Golden Core cultivators from both divisions, their faces now as solemn as iron.

"Form an array! Stop it!" Without any wasted words, the head of the Suppressing World Division spoke in a booming voice, first summoning an ancient seal. The seal grew larger in the wind, radiating a majestic aura that suppressed evil spirits, and smashed fiercely towards the surging blood mist!
"Imperial Decree!" The Chief of the Divine Guardian made his move simultaneously, and a jade ruler wrapped in purple lightning shot into the sky, transforming into a thunderbolt that struck the terrifying shadow that was faintly visible in the blood mist.

The other Golden Core cultivators also roared angrily, and their natal flying swords, pagodas, bronze mirrors, whisks... all kinds of magical treasures shone with dazzling spiritual light, crashing towards the blood-red mist like a storm!
Rumble!
The deafening explosion was deafening, and various colored lights mingled and annihilated with the filthy blood. The powerful shockwave ripped a layer of the desolate mountain ground off.

however.

What chilled everyone to the bone was that, although their attacks were fierce, the blood mist only churned violently and slowed down slightly, but it was not truly repelled! On the contrary, it seemed to be enraged, spreading faster, becoming even darker in color, and emitting an even more terrifying evil aura! The shadows in the mist let out a silent roar, and an even colder and more violent power spread out, actually eroding the spiritual light of many magical treasures and dimming it!
The combined attack of the two masters, both at the Nascent Soul stage, only managed to cause the massive body of the evil spirit to pause slightly and retreat less than a hundred feet before advancing with even greater ferocity!
"No! This beast can devour life force to grow stronger. The more we fight it, the stronger it will become!" The head of the Zhenshi Division looked grim and quickly transmitted his voice to his colleague beside him.

"Ordinary methods won't be enough to destroy it; it must be sealed!" The head of the Divine Control Bureau's eyes were resolute. "I remember there's a 'Fifth-Order Demon-Sealing Array Diagram' in the state treasury!"

"However... in such a rush, the location for setting up the formation could not be carefully selected. Only this place—Cangliang Mountain—is the last natural barrier in its path!"

The two officials reached a consensus instantly.

"All Golden Core cultivators, form an array to block the enemy and buy time for the array to be deployed!" The Master of the World-Suppressing Division roared and activated the great seal once again.

At the same time, an ancient token appeared in the hand of the Chief of the Divine Control Bureau. He infused it with true essence, and his voice instantly resounded throughout all the major families of the entire Jingzhou through the token:

"Joint decree of the Zhenshi Division and the Yushen Division: All aristocratic family array masters, talisman masters, and construction masters within the territory of Jingzhou, shall immediately proceed to Cangliang Mountain in Yunshan County! Those who delay will be treated as traitors to the state!"

The decree caused an uproar throughout the region!

Streaks of light immediately rose from the cities and manors of the major clans, and all the cultivators who were named, no matter how important their affairs were, rushed to Cangliang Mountain without hesitation. No one dared to disobey the pressure from the two authorities and the charge of "treason."

Hundreds of highly skilled cultivators quickly gathered on the desolate mountain. The two departments had already dispatched people to transport the massive fifth-order array diagram and a huge amount of array-setting materials there.

"Hurry! Hurry! Hurry! Follow the formation diagram exactly, there must be no mistakes!" A Golden Core cultivator from the Zhen Shi Division was in charge of supervising the work, his voice urgent.

The array masters were engrossed in calculating directions and outlining the array base; the talisman masters frantically drew runes and embedded them into nodes; the builders moved earth and stones to solidify the foundation. Everyone was racing against time, ignoring the sweat soaking their clothes, because the earth-shattering roar of battle in the distance and the ever-approaching terrifying evil aura hung over everyone's hearts like a death warrant.

Just as the great formation was about to take shape, the battle in the distance took a turn.

The blood-red evil spirit, having been blocked for a long time, seemed to be thoroughly enraged.

The shadows in the fog twisted and expanded violently, unleashing a terrifying power far exceeding anything before. It instantly broke through the defensive line formed by more than a dozen Golden Core cultivators. Several magical treasures flew back with mournful cries, and two early-stage Golden Core cultivators even coughed up blood, suffering serious injuries.

"We can't wait any longer!" A look of pain and determination flashed in the eyes of the Chief of the World-Suppressing Division. "Use that thing!"

The head of the Divine Guard nodded emphatically.

The two simultaneously performed an extremely complex and ancient hand seal, chanting incantations. As they cast their spell, an ancient bronze mirror, with broken edges, a dark yellow body, and engraved with patterns of mountains, rivers, the sun, moon, and stars, slowly flew out from between the brows of the Master of the World-Suppressing Department.

The moment the bronze mirror appeared, a vast, ancient power, imbued with the majesty and fortune of the human dynasty, spread out, temporarily repelling the surrounding blood-red mist!
"A treasure of imperial destiny—the Mountain and River Mirror!" a knowledgeable Golden Core cultivator exclaimed, but his expression immediately changed, "However, this treasure requires Nascent Soul cultivation power to activate..."

"Join me!" the two masters shouted simultaneously, pouring all their magical power into the ancient bronze mirror without reservation. The other Golden Core cultivators immediately understood, placing their hands on the backs of the ones in front of them, as if relaying a baton, gathering all their magical power towards the two masters!

With the combined power of more than a dozen Golden Core cultivators, the Mountain and River Mirror finally trembled slightly, and its surface began to emit a hazy, mysterious yellow light. A beam of light, seemingly gentle yet containing supreme suppressive power, shot towards the blood-red evil spirit!
laugh--!
The blood mist dissolved violently as if it had encountered its nemesis, and the shadow in the mist let out a sharp, painful screech, showing its first obvious retreat!
"It's working! Lure it into the formation!" The two masters perked up, struggling to maintain the illumination of the Mountain and River Mirror while retreating towards the massive sealing formation that had just been set up on Cangliang Mountain.

The evil spirit seemed extremely wary of the light of the Mountain and River Mirror, and was continuously burned, so it was enraged and actually attracted to it. It wriggled its huge body and chased after it relentlessly, step by step being led to the huge trap prepared for it - the fifth-order Demon Sealing Array!
...

...

Om-!
As the last array base was activated, countless thick rune pillars of light suddenly lit up around Cangliang Mountain. They shot into the sky, intertwined and entwined in the high sky, instantly forming an enormous and complex three-dimensional light prison, completely enveloping the surging blood-red mist and the terrifying shadow within it!

The fifth-order Demon-Sealing Array is complete!

Within the light prison, crimson mist raged against the array walls, its twisted shadows emitting silent yet soul-shaking roars and howls, filled with violence and resentment. Each impact caused the entire light prison to tremble violently, the runes flickering and fading. The cultivators maintaining the array turned pale, desperately channeling their spiritual power into the array's core.

Ultimately, however, this fifth-order array diagram from the previous dynasty's treasury was extraordinary. The sealing power contained within it was extremely strong. No matter how the evil spirit attacked, although the light prison was teetering on the verge of collapse, it remained firmly trapped within it and could not break through.

The head of the Zhenshi Division wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth that had spilled from forcibly activating the Mountain and River Mirror, let out a long sigh of relief, and said with lingering fear, "Finally... we've temporarily trapped it. Judging from the strength of its struggle, with the power of this formation, trapping it for over a hundred years should not be a problem."

The head of the Divine Control Bureau was also pale-faced, and nodded, saying, "Although it is a temporary measure, it has at least relieved this urgent crisis and saved the lives of thousands of people in the realm. This beast is strange and powerful, far beyond our ability to deal with, and it is difficult for anyone other than a Nascent Soul True Monarch to completely deal with it."

The two officials exchanged a glance, both seeing the solemnity and lingering fear in each other's eyes.

"This matter is no longer just a matter for our Jingzhou; it concerns the safety of the imperial dynasty," the head of the Zhenshi Division said in a deep voice. "We must immediately record the details of this matter, along with the strange characteristics of this evil spirit, and report it to the imperial cabinet at the highest level of urgency via teleportation!"

“That is exactly right,” the head of the Divine Control Department agreed. “Please have the cabinet deliberate on this matter and dispatch a Nascent Soul True Monarch to handle it immediately. In the meantime, our two departments must send elite troops to guard this place day and night to ensure the Demon-Sealing Array is foolproof!”

With the plan finalized, the two chief officials immediately began making arrangements. A detailed report was quickly drafted, describing the entire process of the changes in the Crimson Forbidden Land, the emergence of the evil spirit, the destruction of the Gan family, and the sealing of Cangliang Mountain. It also included their preliminary assessment of the evil spirit's strength and details of the use of the Mountain and River Mirror and the fifth-order array diagram.

This urgent report was sent to the capital as quickly as possible.

...

...

The sealing of Cangliang Mountain has come to a temporary end.

however.

However, a strange incident occurred within the Fu family that no one knew about.

Fu Changsheng's son, Fu Yongyun, had accompanied his clan elders to inspect the outer perimeter of Cangliang Mountain when the seal was first completed. While the other clansmen felt uneasy and uneasy about the faint evil aura emanating from the seal, he vaguely sensed an indescribable, almost imperceptible...sense of familiarity from the depths of the sealed crimson mist?

The feeling was extremely subtle, as if it originated from some kind of connection deep in one's blood, yet it was so elusive that it could not be grasped.

Fu Yongyun was startled by his strange perception. Knowing the terror and eeriness of the evil spirit, he dared not reveal it in the slightest, nor dared to investigate it recklessly. He immediately forced himself to leave that area and return to his clan.

However, some things cannot be avoided simply by staying away from them.

That night.

Fu Yongyun meditated in the quiet room, trying to dispel the inappropriate feeling of "closeness" he had during the day, but unknowingly fell into a deep sleep.

In a dream.

He found himself back before that blood-red mist.

But unlike the eerie stillness and desolation he had felt before, the mist in the dream was much gentler, even carrying a hint of warmth. Then, the terrifying true form of the evil spirit—that indescribable, twisted shadow—slowly coalesced, transforming into a blurry yet peaceful phantom of a middle-aged Taoist priest.

The Taoist's illusory figure smiled slightly at him, showing no malice whatsoever. Instead, it appeared approachable, even... carrying the gentleness of an elder looking at a junior.

In the dream, the Taoist did not speak, but with a wave of his hand, some mysterious runes entered Fu Yongyun's sea of ​​consciousness. It was a special cultivation method that he had never seen before, but felt that it was extremely compatible with his physique. It was exquisite and profound, far surpassing the Fu family's cultivation methods that he knew.

The dream was long, as if a long time had passed, yet it also felt like only a moment.

When Fu Yongyun woke up from his dream, it was already broad daylight outside the window.

He sat blankly on the futon, the scene from his dream vivid in his mind, so clear it didn't seem like a dream at all.

What shocked him even more was that, subconsciously circulating his cultivation technique, he discovered that the bottleneck of the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, which had plagued him for so long, had actually been broken through without him even noticing! His internal energy surged and circulated, and he had already reached the late-Foundation Establishment stage!
"This..." Fu Yongyun was both surprised and delighted, but then a chill ran down his spine.

This breakthrough came too strangely!
It's absolutely inseparable from that dream and that sealed evil spirit!
For the next few days, he would have the same dream every time he fell asleep. In the dream, the "Taoist" remained peaceful, tirelessly teaching him his special method, and his cultivation was stabilizing and improving at an astonishing speed, even moving towards the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment.

A tremendous temptation and a deep fear intertwined in Fu Yongyun's heart.

He had initially considered telling his most trusted friend about it, but the words caught in his throat. The matter was far too bizarre and involved a terrifying evil spirit; if word got out, the consequences would be unimaginable. He couldn't even fathom how his family and the two departments would treat him once they found out about his "connection" with the evil spirit.

Ultimately, reason prevailed over the desire to confide.

He dared not go out easily anymore, claiming to be in seclusion to consolidate his cultivation, but in reality he was uneasy, both coveting the rapidly increasing power and fearing the unknown costs and crises hidden behind it.

"Wait for Father to return..." Fu Yongyun locked himself in his quiet room, gazing out the window, his palms sweating with tension. "I must wait for Father to return! Only by asking him personally can I perhaps understand the truth of this matter..."

...

...

The River Styx is silent; a small boat crosses it by itself.

Fu Yongzhao stood on the old ghost ship, letting it carry him slowly across the river filled with a dense aura of death. All around was an impenetrable grayness and deathly silence, with only the faint sound of the ship's hull cutting through the water and the bone-chilling, soul-freezing aura in the air.

I do not know how long it has been.

The small boat lurched gently and finally came to rest on a shore shrouded in a bleak gray mist. The atmosphere here was even more stagnant and ancient than on the River Styx, as if it were the final resting place for all the dead.

Fu Yongzhao took a deep breath of the cold, yin energy. Instead of feeling uncomfortable, he felt a strange sense of comfort.

He took a step out, leaving the small boat and stepping onto this unknown land.

Beneath his feet lay a grayish-white ground, seemingly paved with bone meal, soft and cold. He took a few steps forward, trying to see his surroundings more clearly, but the gray fog severely obstructed his vision.

at this time.

In the distance, a faint blue light suddenly appeared, like a lantern guiding the souls of the dead, drifting slowly in the thick fog.

Fu Yongzhao's heart stirred, and he immediately concealed all traces of his human presence, cautiously approaching the direction of the blue light.

As he drew closer, he witnessed a breathtaking scene:
Behind that eerily floating blue lantern, a vast and silent procession followed! Countless translucent, vacant-eyed ghosts lined up in a long queue, numbly following the blue lantern, slowly moving in a fixed direction.

Fu Yongzhao's eyes lit up. Far from being afraid, he found it extremely interesting.

On a sudden impulse, he immediately unleashed the secret technique passed down in the Dark Hall—the "Ghostly Mimicry Technique"—which could simulate the aura of death and alter one's own energy fluctuations. His aura rapidly turned cold and ethereal, and his body took on a semi-transparent quality, blending into the rear of the ghostly procession and appearing indistinguishable from the surrounding dazed and confused spirits.

He lowered his head and, mimicking the other ghosts, numbly followed the group.

The blue lantern seemed to have no intelligence, merely guiding the way mechanically. The procession passed through thick gray fog and finally arrived before an enormous palace.

This palace was not built of bricks and stones, but rather of countless enormous, pale, and strangely shaped skulls! Ghostly green flames flickered in their eye sockets, forming the entire eerie and terrifying structure. The palace doors were tightly shut, and above hung a huge plaque, also carved from white bones, inscribed with several twisted, ancient characters that could be understood by all spirits—[Hall of Rebirth].

Fu Yongzhao felt a chill run down his spine: "The Hall of Rebirth? Could this be...?"

Before he could figure it out, after a while, the palace door, made of huge ribs joined together, slowly opened inward with a heavy creaking sound.

A purer, yet more majestic, yin energy surged out from inside the door.

Then, a woman dressed in a plain white dress, with cascading black hair and a pale yet exceptionally beautiful face, floated out of the hall as if weightless. Her expression was indifferent, her gaze sweeping over the vast procession of ghosts outside the door, devoid of sorrow or joy.

She stretched out her slender white hand, holding in her palm an ancient bronze mirror with its edges engraved with mysterious runes—a treasure containing powerful reincarnation energy.

With a light touch of her slender finger, she caused the bronze mirror to slowly float up, turning towards the procession of ghosts below. It emitted a soft yet irresistible white light, like moonlight, scattering and enveloping the entire procession.

The ghosts illuminated by the white light appeared slightly more solidified, but nothing else changed. However, when the white light swept over Fu Yongzhao and two other seemingly ordinary ghosts in the line, something strange happened!

The white light that fell upon their heads did not dissipate; instead, it rapidly condensed and contracted, eventually transforming into three dazzling white coins, roughly the size of copper coins, radiating strange cyclical fluctuations. These coins floated quietly above their heads, like some kind of special mark.

The woman in white seemed to nod slightly, raising her hand to retrieve the bronze mirror treasure. The white light that had enveloped all the ghosts also disappeared, except for the coins above the heads of Fu Yongzhao and the other two "souls," which continued to shine.

The woman in white fixed her gaze on the three of them, her clear, cold voice like a drop of icy spring water: "The three of you, come with me."

...

...

The moment I stepped into the Hall of Rebirth.

An indescribable, chilling aura, seemingly capable of freezing time and space, swept over us, far more intense and pure than anything outside.

The interior of the hall was extremely vast, far exceeding its apparent size from the outside, as if it were a world unto itself. The dome hung high, guarded by countless phosphorescent vertebrae that intertwined and cast a cold, eerie light. The surrounding walls were constructed of layers upon layers of bones in various shapes, their empty eye sockets seemingly silently watching over everything within the hall.

The woman in white led Fu Yongzhao and two other "ghosts" with glittering coins floating above their heads, along a side corridor formed by ribs, deeper into the area.

Along the corridor, one could occasionally see "soul guides" dressed in white robes, their faces expressionless, moving back and forth, or driving some mysterious treasures that emitted a faint glow and whose purpose was unclear.

At the end of the corridor was a relatively small door, formed by two enormous, smooth, mirror-like shoulder blades. The woman in white stopped before the door, extending her pale fingers to trace an intricate rune on the bone door.

crunch--

The bone door slid open silently, revealing a more secluded side hall behind it, where the yin energy was almost tangible. Strange patterns naturally formed on the white bone walls, like a natural array, slowly absorbing and gathering the yin energy from the surroundings.

In the center of the side hall, there is a small pool. The pool is not filled with water, but with a thick, milky white liquid that flows slowly, emanating a soothing aura.

"Enter the Soul Purification Pool to wash away impurities and stabilize the soul source."

The other two ghosts, oblivious and numb, instinctively drifted towards the milky-white pool and slowly sank into it. Their souls became more solid and translucent at a visible speed, and the white coin above their heads glowed faintly.

"And such good things!"

Fu Yongzhao imitated the ghosts around him and slowly floated toward the Soul Purification Pool.

An indescribable chill and a sense of comfort washed over him simultaneously, as pure yin energy attempted to surge into his "soul." The divine soul in his Niwan Palace became more solid, and the coin above his head began to glow normally.

The woman in white standing to the side watched calmly, unaware of anything unusual.

After a moment, the woman in white seemed to think the baptism was complete and said, "It's ready, come out now."

As instructed, the three "ghosts" floated out of the pool.

The woman in white glanced at them, her gaze lingering briefly on Fu Yongzhao, as if she felt his soul's solidity was slightly less than expected, but she didn't pay much attention, attributing it to individual differences. She nodded: "Come with me to see the outer steward."

She turned around and led the three of them deeper into the side hall.

...

...

Shuiyun Cave Heaven.

"Yaoyao," Fu Changsheng called out.

Fu Yongyao, who was exploring the cave ahead, came upon hearing the news: "Father?"

"Look here," Fu Changsheng pointed to the invisible array area marked by the [Divine Clarity and Clear Vision] divine ability, "Is it possible to break it?"

Fu Yongyao's face turned serious as he summoned the [Qingqiu Yitian Disc], which had been repaired and was now radiating a hazy, clear light. The disc floated in the air, and streaks of silver array patterns reached out towards that invisible area like tentacles.

After carefully sensing it for a moment, Fu Yongyao's eyes flashed with confidence: "Father, this formation is indeed an ancient spirit-suppressing and invisibility formation, extremely profound. If it were intact, I'm afraid I would be helpless. But after countless years, the formation's energy is almost exhausted, and many nodes are damaged, its power is less than one-tenth of what it used to be. Give me some time, and with the help of the Yi Tian Disc, I should be able to find the weak points and slowly penetrate and break it down."

"How long will it take?" Fu Changsheng asked.

“The foundation of this formation is still intact. We need to test it carefully to avoid triggering its countermeasures or causing it to collapse completely and damage the contents inside.” Fu Yongyao estimated that “it will take a few days to a month to open a safe entrance.”

Fu Changsheng nodded upon hearing this. For such an ancient and wondrous formation, this speed was already extremely fast, and only Yaoyao, who possessed the inheritance of Qingqiu and had the Yitian Disc in her hands, could accomplish it.

"Alright, then you can focus on breaking the formation here. Be careful, safety first," Fu Changsheng instructed.

"Don't worry, Father, Yaoyao understands!"

Seeing his daughter intently manipulating the Yi Tian Disc and analyzing the formation, Fu Changsheng decided not to disturb her. He could use this time to explore the other caves within the training grounds; perhaps he would find something else there.

...

...

Fu Changsheng chose some of the outermost and smallest-looking cave dwellings. Most of these cave dwellings had simple entrances, and some even had completely broken restrictions.

Pushing open a weathered stone door, dust settled in a flurry. The interior was small, containing only a stone bed, a stone table, and a futon. On the stone bed lay the skeleton, long since reduced to bones, in a cross-legged meditation posture. Beside it lay a rusty longsword and a small storage bag. Probing with divine sense, I shook my head slightly:
“Most of them are daily necessities and low-grade pills, and the spirit stones have lost all their spiritual energy. Only this sword…” He brushed away the rust on the sword, revealing the still gleaming blade underneath: “The material is still acceptable, it should be a high-grade third-tier sword, but unfortunately, it has lost most of its spiritual energy.”

After exploring several similar small cave dwellings, the situation was largely the same. Most were inhabited by ascetic cultivators, and what they left behind was of limited value to the Fu family at present. However, they did find some special ores, seeds of spiritual herbs, and several jade slips recording different cultivation techniques. Although the quality was not high, they could enrich the foundation of the family's library.

As one ventures deeper into the inner perimeter, the scale of the cave dwelling becomes noticeably more elaborate, and remnants of protective barriers begin to appear.

Before a cave dwelling located beside a stream, a layer of pale blue water blocked their path. After observing for a moment with his Divine Clarity and Clear Vision, Fu Changsheng laughed and said, "A simple water ripple array, neglected for years, has lost more than one-tenth of its power."

With a flick of his finger, a beam of light struck a node in the water curtain, causing it to ripple and dissipate.

The interior of this cave dwelling was much more spacious, with separate alchemy and weapon-refining rooms. Inside the alchemy room, a bronze furnace, about half a person's height, stood quietly, with unburnt charcoal ash still at the bottom. Fu Changsheng stepped forward to examine it, gently tapped the furnace, and the lid opened, revealing three pills, each the size of a longan and covered with a layer of grayish-white cinnabar!

"Huh? There are still some pill residues?" Fu Changsheng carefully collected them in a jade bottle, examined them carefully, and said regretfully, "Unfortunately, it's been too long, and the medicinal properties have completely solidified and deteriorated, so it can't be taken. But this pill furnace is a good thing, a fourth-grade low-level magic treasure. If it's properly nurtured, it can still be used."

Inside the weapon-refining room, there were scattered unfinished magical artifacts and various spiritual materials, most of which had dim spiritual light. Fu Changsheng picked up a fist-sized, crimson, yet incredibly heavy piece of metal from a pile of scrap in the corner.

"This is... Crimson Fire Copper?" A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. "This is an excellent material for refining fire-attribute magic weapons. Judging from its quality, it's at least a mid-grade fourth-tier! Such a large piece must be very valuable!"

Soon, Fu Changsheng arrived at a much grander cave dwelling located halfway up the mountain. There he encountered Fu Changli and Fu Changli.

The bronze gate of this cave was tightly closed, its surface carved with intricate animal patterns, faintly emanating a chilling aura.

“The restrictions here are quite strong, and although they have stood the test of time, they should not be underestimated.” Fu Changsheng’s expression turned serious as he used his Divine Clarity and Vision Divine Power.

After a full incense stick's time, he seized the opportunity, tapping his hands repeatedly to unleash dozens of magic spells to break the spell, and only then did the bronze gate slowly open with a rumble.

The moment the door opened, a rich aroma of medicine and a musty smell wafted out.

The cave is extremely large and divided into several areas.

The most eye-catching feature was a spiritual field in the side hall. A faint light flickered above the field, still maintaining the simplest spirit-gathering array! Within the field grew over a dozen spiritual plants, entirely emerald green, orchid-like in shape, and bearing small red fruits at their tips!
"Azure Marrow Orchid! And judging by its age, it's at least three thousand years old!" Fu Changli exclaimed in surprise, extremely excited. "This is the main ingredient for refining various fourth-tier pills that nourish the soul and repair the foundation of one's Dao! It has long been extinct in the outside world!"

Fu Changsheng's face lit up with joy.

With this thing.

Then Uncle Yu's injuries will be mostly healed.

In the meditation chamber of the main room, they discovered another set of remains. The skeleton was pale gold, indicating that the person had a very high level of cultivation in life. The person was not sitting cross-legged, but leaning against the wall, with broken bones in the chest and a broken jade pendant tightly clutched in their hand.

Fu Changsheng stepped forward, gently took the half of the jade pendant, and probed it with his divine sense. A fragmented message flowed into his mind: "...The demonic traces have appeared...The sect has suddenly suffered a great calamity...Master...Senior Brother...Protect...The inheritance..." The message was fragmented and filled with despair and resentment.

Clearly, the owner of this cave was seriously injured when he escaped back from the sect during a major upheaval, and eventually passed away here.

Fu Changsheng sighed softly, filled with deep respect for this senior. He carefully moved the remains aside and discovered a hidden compartment on the wall behind them. Inside the compartment were no elixirs or magical treasures, only a deep purple jade slip.

His consciousness sank into the jade slip, and the first four ancient-looking characters appeared: "The Sword Manual of Awakening of Insects"!
Upon closer examination, it turns out to be an extremely profound lightning-attribute sword cultivation technique, capable of directly leading to the Nascent Soul stage! The technique not only includes cultivation methods but also comes with several extremely powerful lightning-attribute sword divine abilities!
"Excellent technique!" A glint flashed in Fu Changsheng's eyes.

All cave dwellings have been searched.

The income is substantial.

Now, only the unbroken restriction on Yao Yao remains.

...

...

Fu Yongyao was completely focused. The Qingqiu Yitian Disc hovered in front of him, its clear light flowing. Countless fine silver array patterns seemed to have a life of their own, constantly probing, analyzing, and impacting the invisible spirit-suppressing and invisible magic array.

However, this formation is an ancient and wondrous formation. Even though it has been worn down by time and its power is only a fraction of what it once was, its foundation and mystery are still far beyond imagination.

"This formation is so strange. Its internal circulation is self-contained and ever-changing. I can't find a real breakthrough." Yao Yao's face showed a hint of frustration and anxiety. She didn't want to disappoint her father.

A flick of the wrist.

A strange mask, thin as a cicada's wing, with an ambiguous smile and a hint of crying, appeared in her hand—it was the [Shadow Gate Mask].

She gently placed the mask over her face, focused her mind, and tried to communicate with Master Yu, who was cultivating in seclusion deep in the secret realm of Yunshan County.

A moment later, a faint light flashed on the mask, and an old but somewhat languid voice rang in her mind: "Eh? Yao Yao? Why did you think of contacting Grandpa Yu? Have you encountered some difficulties?"

Through his thoughts, Fu Yongyao clearly transmitted the array difficulties he encountered, the patterns he saw, and the places where energy flow was blocked.

Master Yu remained silent for a moment, seemingly calculating, before his voice rang out again, tinged with a hint of amazement:
"Tsk tsk, a spirit-sealing invisibility array? And it's the complete ancient version! Yao Yao, you're lucky, these things are rare. Hmm... you're stuck at the 'Nine Revolutions' node? This array is a balance of reality and illusion. You take 'Li' as reality, and it transforms reality into illusion. You should use the energy of 'Kan Water' accompanied by the patterns of 'Xun Wind' to lightly touch its 'Kun Earth' foundation in order to trigger its true veins to appear..."

Master Yu's few words went straight to the heart of the matter, clearly dissecting a key change in this ancient and wondrous formation.

Fu Yongyao was a top genius in the art of formations. With this guidance, he suddenly understood everything and all the obstacles that had been blocking him became clear!
"I see! Thank you, Grandpa Yu!" Yao Yao replied excitedly.

"Haha, it's a piece of cake. Breaking this formation will greatly benefit your skills in formations, so make the most of it. If there's nothing else, this old man will continue drinking." Master Yu's voice, tinged with laughter, gradually faded away.

Fu Yongyao removed her mask, her eyes once again filled with confidence. She activated the Yitian Disc again, but this time her method was different. The silver array patterns no longer forced their way in, but instead transformed into a trickle, following the hidden meridian pointed out by Master Yu, gently probing in like a key.

hum...

A soft, ancient hum resounded.

The "open" space ahead rippled like water, and an oval entrance, just wide enough for one person to pass through and emitting a soft white light, silently appeared! Behind the entrance, a breathtakingly pure spiritual energy rushed towards them!

"It's a success!" Fu Yongyao exclaimed joyfully, and immediately contacted his father and others through a communication talisman.

Soon, Fu Changsheng, Liu Meizhen, Fu Molan, Fu Changli, and Fu Changli, who had finished refining two batches of Guyun Pills, quickly returned.

Upon seeing the successfully opened entrance and the pure spiritual energy emanating from it, far surpassing that of the outside world, everyone was astonished.

"Let's go in and take a look!" Fu Changsheng stepped into the portal first, followed closely by the others.

Upon entering, everyone felt their pores involuntarily open, greedily absorbing the spiritual energy. The spiritual energy here was not only several times denser than that outside, but its quality was also incredibly pure. It could be converted into one's own magical power almost without much refining after being inhaled. It also contained a trace of extremely faint yet exceptionally high-level energy attributes, making one feel completely comfortable and clear-headed.

“This… the spiritual energy here…” Fu Changli took a deep breath, his face full of shock, “It seems to have a trace of the legendary ‘spirit realm energy’. Although it is far less miraculous than the records describe, its quality is definitely far superior to ordinary blessed lands!”

At this moment, the white light at the entrance gradually stabilized, and the scene inside became clearer. The faint mist that had been shrouding the area dissipated, revealing the true face of this sealed space.

The first thing that catches the eye is the towering, extraordinary tree in the center!

The tree trunk is a warm, crimson red, like a dancing flame, while the branches and leaves are lush and green, exuding a rich fire-attribute spiritual energy and vibrant vitality.

A few fist-sized, not-yet-fully-ripe, crimson fruits, their surfaces entwined with flame-like patterns, hung sparsely on the tree—these were the Fire Phoenix Trees!
"The Fire Phoenix Tree! This is a divine tree that has been extinct for 100,000 years!" Fu Changli's beautiful eyes lit up, and she couldn't help but exclaim.

Before she could finish speaking, the azure phoenix on her shoulder could no longer contain itself. It let out a high-pitched, excited cry, spread its wings, and flew towards the fiery phoenix tree, landing lightly on a thick branch.

The moment the bird and the tree came into contact, something wonderful seemed to happen.

The Azure Phoenix was enveloped in a brilliant azure and crimson light, and its aura began to fluctuate violently, showing signs of breaking through the third-tier bottleneck and reaching the fourth tier! It greedily absorbed the pure fire spirit essence emanating from the Fire Phoenix Tree, appearing extremely comfortable.

Fu Changli, connected to the Azure Phoenix, instantly understood and excitedly said to Fu Changsheng:
"Master! Feng'er told me that if it can consume a ripe 'Fire Phoenix Fruit' from this tree, it can absorb the vast fire essence within, which will not only allow it to break through to the fourth rank, but even... there is a great chance that it can awaken a trace of the ancient Azure Phoenix bloodline!"

Upon hearing this, Fu Changsheng nodded slightly, not surprised at all, as all of this was already in the information he had exchanged. "Hmm, this is its destiny. It seems we will have to wait here for some time." He looked at the few fruits that were not yet fully ripe, estimating the time.

At this time.

Liu Meizhen squatted down, picked up a handful of soil, and examined it carefully.

The soil presents a strange appearance with five colors interwoven: white, blue, black, red, and yellow. It is incredibly delicate and contains an amazing spirituality.

A look of amazement flashed in her eyes, and she stood up and said to Fu Changsheng:
"Chang Sheng, it seems that what we have entered is not a simple sealed land, but an ancient high-level spiritual herb garden that has been completely preserved!"

She said with a hint of regret, "Unfortunately, it's too ancient. The ancient medicinal herbs that were originally planted here have all withered and lost their spiritual essence, perhaps because no one took care of them or because they couldn't adapt to the changes of time."

She spread her palms, displaying the five-colored soil: "But look at this spiritual soil! This is the legendary 'Five-Colored Divine Soil'! Although its spirituality has been greatly diminished, and it is far less capable of nurturing all things as in the legends, its characteristics remain. Ordinary spiritual plants planted here would wither instantly because they could not withstand its remaining domineering earth energy. However, if a spiritual plant of a high enough grade and with strong enough vitality is cultivated in this soil, its growth can be greatly accelerated! This soil has played an indispensable role in the survival and slow maturation of this Fire Phoenix Tree!"

Everyone's eyes were once again focused on the Fire Phoenix Tree and the Five-Colored Divine Soil beneath it, their eyes filled with fervor.

at the same time.

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

"You and your clansmen have contributed many cultivation resources to the clan, and your clan contribution value has been increased to 130,000."

(End of this chapter)