Family Rise: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 591 Enemies Meet Again, Enter Another World, A Cunning Mantis Waits for Him
Fu Changsheng smiled slightly: "How are things at the Luo family?"

"Everything is fine. My adoptive mother treats me extremely well, and I've never lacked resources or cultivation techniques." Fu Yongxuan nodded quickly, suppressing the shock in his heart, and asked with concern, "At home... how are my younger brothers? How are Yongpeng, Yongjing, and Yongling?"

What she missed most were her three younger brothers, born to the same mother.

"All is well." Fu Changsheng nodded. "Yongpeng has also broken through to the Purple Mansion realm, so his path to immortality is now secure."

Upon hearing this, Fu Yongxuan visibly breathed a sigh of relief. Fu Yongpeng's talent was ordinary, and his cultivation had stagnated for many years. Now that he had finally broken through, a great weight was lifted from her heart.

"Where is Yongjing?" she asked hurriedly.

“Yongjing is already at the Pseudo-Core Formation stage and is preparing to form his Core.”

"Pseudo-Core Formation?" Fu Yongxuan's eyes lit up, and a subtle voice transmission reached Fu Changsheng's ears: "Father, the Luo family has advanced to the fifth rank and gained the qualification to enter the 'Mysterious Spirit Realm' once. After that, they can only enter once every sixty years. I heard that the realm is rich in resources and has many opportunities. If I go in then, I will definitely find a suitable Core Formation aid for Yongjing and bring it back."

The Mysterious Spirit Realm?
Fu Changsheng's heart skipped a beat! But his face remained expressionless.

The Mysterious Spirit Realm... that's where my father disappeared!

His gaze sharpened slightly as he looked at his daughter.

He almost blurted out that he should keep an eye out for clues about his father in the Xuanling Realm.

But he forcibly suppressed the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

This matter is far-reaching, and if we inquire rashly and are discovered by someone with ulterior motives, it may bring unnecessary trouble or even danger to my daughter.

Although Yongxuan is a daughter of the Fu family, she is also Luo Haitang's adopted daughter. Being in the Luo family, she may not be able to act entirely independently. As her father, he cannot burden her with excessive pressure and risks because of his own desires.

In the blink of an eye.

Fu Changsheng only showed a gentle smile and replied telepathically:
"It's good that you have this intention. If Yongjing knew, he would be grateful to you, his older sister. Although there are many opportunities in the Xuanling Realm, one must also prioritize one's own safety. As for finding the item, one should do what one is capable of and not force it."

"Father, rest assured, your daughter knows what's important."

Fu Changsheng smiled and gently patted his daughter's shoulder:

"Let's go, don't keep your godmother waiting."

...

...

In the reception room.

The air was filled with spiritual energy. After serving the spiritual tea, the waiter quietly withdrew.

Dressed in palace attire, Luo Haitang sat regally in the main seat. When her gaze fell upon Fu Changsheng, she still couldn't hide the hint of surprise. She herself possessed extraordinary talent and opportunities, and controlled the Luo family's resources. She had only recently broken through to the eighth level of the Golden Core stage, yet Fu Changsheng had already surpassed her, reaching the sixth level of the Golden Core stage—just one step away from joining her in the later stages!
Not to mention.

Fu Changsheng's fearsome reputation for slaying the Dream Demon had already spread throughout the great families of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Faced with such a figure whose strength and potential were unfathomable, even though his cultivation level was temporarily higher, Luo Haitang did not dare to be arrogant in the slightest. He personally got up to greet him and his attitude was quite polite.

After both parties sat down and exchanged a few brief pleasantries, the conversation turned to business.

"Is Patriarch Fu here today for matters concerning the Tianyin Tribe?"

“Indeed. I wonder what Fellow Daoist Luo’s plans are?” Fu Changsheng asked.

A hint of smugness flashed in Luo Haitang's eyes:
"My Luo family has been planning this for a century. We have sent our elite array masters to lie in wait near Tianyin Mountain day and night to observe and deduce its protective array."

She paused, then spoke with certainty:
"The fifth-order grand formation of the Tianyin tribe is indeed a tough tortoise shell to crack, but it is not invincible. According to the observations and deductions of my family's formation masters over the past hundred years, it has been discovered that every thirty years, the 'Earthly Fiend Spirit-Attracting' node in its southeast direction will experience a three-day period of weakness due to the fluctuations in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth!"

"During this period, if we combine the strength of our two families and launch a fierce attack on this point, the great formation will surely be broken!"

Luo Haitang's tone was resolute:
"And there are exactly twenty years until the next time the node weakens. Twenty years from now will be the best time for us to break through the Tianyin tribe in one fell swoop!"

Upon hearing this, a glint flashed in Fu Changsheng's eyes:
"A cycle of thirty years, a three-day opportunity... The Luo family has truly gone to great lengths for this. Twenty years is just enough time for our two families to prepare carefully. I, Fu, agree to this, and the Fu family will certainly do its utmost when the time comes."

Luo Haitang smiled and said, "Excellent! With the combined strength of our two families, the Tianyin Tribe will surely be defeated!"

Next comes the most practical division of benefits.

Fu Changsheng put down his teacup, his tone calm yet undeniable:
"Since we've joined forces, the spoils of war must be agreed upon beforehand. I, Fu, have only one request for this battle—Tianyin Mountain belongs to my Fu family."

“Tianyin Mountain?” Luo Haitang’s smile froze slightly. “Patriarch Fu, Tianyin Mountain is the foundation of the Tianyin Tribe. Not only is it a fourth-grade high-quality spiritual vein, but it also has thousands of acres of cultivated spiritual fields. It is the foundation upon which the family stands and develops. This is the most core area of ​​the Tianyin Tribe, and its value is the greatest…”

She hesitated for a moment, trying to find a compromise:

"How about this, let our two families jointly occupy Tianyin Mountain? Share the spiritual veins, and distribute the profits from the spiritual fields proportionally? Only in this way can we achieve long-term stability."

Fu Changsheng shook his head, his attitude resolute:

"I appreciate your kind offer, Daoist Luo. However, as my Fu family accumulates more Golden Core cultivators, we lack a fourth-order spiritual vein as a foundation in the Eastern Wilderness, which is quite inconvenient. This Tianyin Mountain is just what I need. I only require this mountain. As for the other resources, mineral veins, and population accumulated by the Tianyin tribe, my Fu family can consider taking a smaller share or even foregoing them in exchange."

His words were simple, but his meaning was clear—other things could be discussed, but the mountain must belong to me.

Luo Haitang suddenly felt a headache coming on. She rubbed her temples and said with a wry smile:
“Patriarch Fu, it’s not that I’m unwilling to yield. It’s just that… Alas, attacking the Tianyin tribe is a major family plan, and the distribution of benefits has already been preliminarily agreed upon in the clan council. Tianyin Mountain is such an important place that even as the Grand Elder, I cannot make decisions unilaterally and easily give way to others. Otherwise, I really wouldn’t be able to explain myself to the elders of the clan.”

She looked at Fu Changsheng, her tone tinged with both helplessness and solemnity:
"Let me discuss this matter further with the elders of the clan. We will surely give Patriarch Fu an answer."

Fu Changsheng knew this matter couldn't be rushed, and that internal coordination within the Luo family was indeed necessary, so he stopped pressuring and nodded slightly.

“Very well. Then I, Fu, will await your good news, Fellow Daoist Luo.”

...

...

Farewell to Fu Changsheng.

Luo Haitang then convened the Elders' Council in the name of the Grand Elder.

The atmosphere in the meeting hall was solemn.

After listening to Luo Haitang relay Fu Changsheng's request that he only wanted Tianyin Mountain.

The Luo family patriarch, Luo Tianqing, whose seat was in the main seat, immediately darkened his expression and slammed his palm on the sandalwood wooden table, making a dull thud.

"Outrageous! This Fu Changsheng is simply acting like a robber, it's incomprehensible!"

"My Luo family has spent a century of painstaking effort and sacrificed countless manpower and resources to finally crack the weakness of the Tianyin Tribe's grand formation! We sought to join forces with the Fu family because we thought highly of them and considered that we were both in the Eastern Wilderness and could support each other in the future! It's one thing for the Fu family to be ungrateful, but they dare to ask for the most fertile Tianyin Mountain? That's a fourth-grade high-quality spiritual vein! Thousands of acres of spiritual fields! It's the foundation of my Luo family for the next thousand years!"

He grew increasingly agitated as he spoke, and abruptly stood up, pacing back and forth in the main hall:
"Without Butcher Zhang, are we going to eat hairy pigs? In my opinion, we don't need to cooperate with the Fu family! In ten years, when the node is weak, my Luo family, with the full strength of the clan, surely we can take down the Tianyin tribe? Why should we hand over our greatest interests to others for nothing!"

Several elders inside the hall echoed this sentiment.

"The clan leader is absolutely right! That Fu Changsheng is far too greedy!"

"My Luo family has worked hard for a hundred years, how could we possibly be doing all this for someone else?"

"We can do just fine without the Fu family!"

Luo Haitang frowned slightly as she looked at her agitated clansmen, but did not immediately refute them. She knew that Fu Changsheng's strength was unfathomable, and that joining forces would be safer, but the clansmen's emotions and considerations of self-interest were not entirely unreasonable.

Luo Tianqing stopped, his gaze sweeping over the crowd before finally settling on Luo Haitang, his tone resolute:
"Haitang, there's no need to discuss this matter further! Since the Fu family has shown no sincerity, the cooperation is off! The most important matter for the Luo family now is preparing for the upcoming trip to the Xuanling Realm!"

His eyes gleamed with ambition:
"The Xuanling Realm is rich in resources, especially its unique Core Formation spiritual treasures, which are hard to find outside! This time, our Luo family has advanced to the fifth rank, and we must seize this hard-won opportunity! We must do everything in our power to acquire as many Core Formation spiritual treasures as possible!"

"As long as our clan can produce a few more Golden Core cultivators, or even cultivate one or two late-stage Golden Core cultivators!" Luo Tianqing's voice was impassioned. "At that time, the strength of my Luo family will increase dramatically. Why should we need to care about Fu Changsheng's feelings? Ten years later, when we attack the Tianyin tribe, we might be able to easily take it down on our own. We won't need to beg the Fu family for help at all!"

"The most urgent task is the Xuanling Realm! All resources should be prioritized for the disciples who have entered the Xuanling Realm this time! We must ensure that they bring back enough Core Formation spiritual items!" Luo Tianqing made the final decision.

The elders in the hall nodded in agreement, clearly placing high hopes on the Xuanling Realm and believing it to be the key to their families' prosperity. The plan to cooperate with the Fu family to attack the Tianyin Tribe was temporarily shelved, with some even favoring independent action.

Luo Haitang looked at the decision that had already been made, sighed inwardly, but said nothing more. However, she had a vague feeling that giving up on joining forces with Fu Changsheng might not have been the best choice.

...

...

Eastern Wilderness, outside of Fallen Dragon Abyss.

This place is filled with malevolent energy, ancient trees reach for the sky, and strange rocks are scattered everywhere. A faint dragon's might and the smell of blood always linger in the air. Ordinary cultivators will find their spiritual energy circulation somewhat sluggish when they come here.

Chen Feng, Su Wan, and Fairy Tianyin proceeded cautiously in a triangular formation.

Chen Feng took the lead, his longsword flashing with sharp golden light as he shattered all the thorns and poisonous vines blocking his path; Su Wan stood in the middle, holding a zither, her fingertips lightly touching the strings, her spiritual sense spreading out like mercury, alerting her surroundings; Tianyin Fairy was at the rear, her fair hand waving lightly, several barely perceptible array flags silently disappearing into the ground, serving as both a warning and a preliminary trap for the subsequent battle.

"Thirty miles to the left, there's a violent fluctuation of demonic energy; it should be a fourth-tier demonic beast, the 'Earth Dragon Earthworm'!" Su Wan suddenly transmitted her voice, her tone tinged with seriousness. Although named an earthworm, the Earth Dragon Earthworm is actually enormous, like a small mountain, with thick skin, immense strength, and the ability to burrow underground, making it extremely difficult to deal with.

"Perfect timing! I've been needing an earth-attribute demon core!" Chen Feng's eyes gleamed, showing no fear whatsoever, but rather a surge of fighting spirit. "Fairy, it's up to you now!"

"Leave it to me." Fairy Tianyin said succinctly, her figure blurring as she darted to the left like a ghost. She formed hand seals and chanted incantations, instantly activating the array flags she had already set up.

"Kun Yuan Trapping Spirit Array, activate!"

hum!
A yellowish-brown light screen suddenly rose from the ground, covering an area of ​​hundreds of feet. The earth dragon earthworm, which had just broken through the soil and revealed its ferocious mouth, suddenly froze, as if it had sunk into a swamp. Its movements became incredibly slow, and it let out an angry roar. Its huge body twisted wildly, shaking the ground, but it was firmly bound within a certain range by the seemingly thin light screen.

"Madam!" Chen Feng shouted.

Su Wan understood, and her slender fingers plucked the zither strings sharply.

"Zheng—Buzz—!"

It wasn't a sound of killing, but rather a melody of "Chaos of the Gods." The sound waves were invisible, yet they precisely pierced through the formation, striking directly at the earth dragon demon's soul. The earth dragon's originally ferocious, scarlet compound eyes momentarily lost their focus, and its struggles weakened, as if it had fallen into some kind of chaotic state.

It's now!

Chen Feng let out a long roar, his body and sword becoming one, transforming into a dazzling golden rainbow that soared into the sky! His mid-stage Golden Core cultivation erupted without reservation, his sharp sword intent tearing through the air and emitting a piercing shriek.

"Sky-Splitting Sword!"

He seemed to transform into an indestructible giant sword, descending from the sky with an unstoppable and resolute momentum, stabbing with unparalleled precision at the relatively vulnerable junction between the earth dragon's head and body!

puff!

The golden light submerged!

With a piercing, agonizing scream, dark green, foul-smelling blood spurted out. Chen Feng's sword had nearly severed half of the earth dragon's neck!

Severely injured, the earth dragon demon soul, in excruciating pain, temporarily escaped the sonic disturbance and fell into a death madness. Its earthy yellow demonic power surged wildly, and countless sharp stone spikes burst out from the ground, indiscriminately bombarding the surroundings. The array light screen shook violently and was about to shatter!
"You beast! Cease your arrogance!" Fairy Tianyin shouted coldly, her hand seals changing again, and another array plate flew out, hovering in the air, sprinkling rays of clear light, barely stabilizing the crumbling Kunyuan Trap Spirit Array.

Su Wan's fingers moved even faster, and the zither music suddenly became rapid and high-pitched, like a silver bottle suddenly breaking and iron cavalry charging out, forcefully suppressing the earth dragon's last counterattack.

Chen Feng landed unharmed, though slightly out of breath. His sharp eyes spotted the earth dragon's throat, exposed by its head tilted back in pain.

"die!"

He suddenly attacked again, his sword flashing like lightning, disappearing in an instant!
scoff!

A huge, ferocious head flew into the sky, and the earth dragon's massive body convulsed violently a few times before finally crashing to the ground and falling silent.

The dust has settled.

The light from the array slowly faded, and the zither music ceased.

Chen Feng stood beside the demon beast's corpse, twirling his sword to shake off the blood, a satisfied smile on his face. Su Wan breathed a sigh of relief, her fingertips trembling slightly, sweat beading on her forehead, clearly indicating considerable exertion. Fairy Tianyin waved her hand to retrieve the array flags and plates, her expression still cold, but a hint of relief flashed in her eyes when she looked at the demon beast's corpse.

The three worked together, with Fairy Tianyin using an array to trap the enemy first, Su Wan using musical arts to disrupt the enemy and control the field, and Chen Feng unleashing his strongest attack to kill the enemy in one blow. The whole process was smooth and effortless, with a few twists and turns, but no real danger.

Chen Feng skillfully broke open the earth dragon's head and took out a yellowish-brown crystal core containing immense demonic power—a fourth-order demon core!
He tossed the demon core to Fairy Tianyin for safekeeping and laughed, "A great start! At this rate, the demon cores the patriarch needs will be gathered soon!" Thinking of the "Azure Lotus Refining Talisman," a burning light ignited in the eyes of the three of them.

Su Wan smiled gently:
"According to the intelligence from the Dark Hall, there should be another fourth-tier Spring Blossom Butterfly eight hundred miles to the west. However, this beast is elusive and extremely difficult to capture. Should we continue hunting near Fallen Dragon Abyss, or head to capture the Spring Blossom Butterfly?"

Fairy Tianyin put away the demon core and shook her head, saying:
"Our master wants us to keep an eye on the whereabouts of the Cloud Dragon Tiger in the Fallen Dragon Abyss. The Spring Flower Butterfly is quite far away and is near the Azure Dragon Tribe. It would be better if we continued to stay here and hunt. What do you two think?"

A hint of regret flashed across Chen Feng's face.

He did indeed yearn to engage the Spring Blossom Butterfly, renowned for its speed and illusions, in a fierce battle, to test whether his longsword could pierce its elusive shadows. But remembering Fu Changsheng's instructions and the crucial "Azure Lotus Tempering Talisman," he immediately suppressed his fighting spirit and nodded emphatically:
"The fairy is right! The head of the family's affairs are the most important! What is a mere butterfly compared to the head of the family's instructions!"

Although he abandoned the idea of ​​immediately searching for the spring flowers and butterflies, his enthusiasm for hunting remained undiminished, even intensifying. He suddenly slapped the spirit beast pouch at his waist and shouted:
"Old buddy, it's your turn to step up!"

A gray shadow darted out like lightning and landed on the ground. It was a small beast covered in fine silver scales, resembling a ferret, with its nose constantly twitching—it was Chen Feng's carefully nurtured spirit pet, the "Treasure-Seeking Weasel." Although this beast was not good at fighting, it was exceptionally sensitive to fluctuations in spiritual energy and the aura of demonic beasts, and was especially skilled at tracking.

"Go! Smell it and see where the Cloud Dragon Tiger is hiding!" Chen Feng ordered.

The treasure-hunting weasel squeaked, inhaling deeply the lingering dragon's might and various mixed demonic energies in the air. Its silver-gray eyes darted around a few times before it transformed into a silver streak and sped towards a more treacherous, mist-shrouded mountainous area deeper into the Dragon Abyss.

"Keep up!" Chen Feng shouted, and the three of them immediately followed.

The deeper one goes, the denser the malevolent energy becomes, and even eerie mists that can erode spiritual consciousness begin to appear. The ground also becomes more rugged and difficult to traverse, riddled with bottomless cracks and rocks torn apart by immense force. An ordinary Golden Core cultivator here would probably struggle to even discern directions, let alone track down a deliberately concealed fourth-tier demonic beast.

However, with the Heavenly Sound Fairy occasionally popping out array flags to stabilize the chaotic spiritual energy around them and dispel some of the fog; Su Wan using sound waves to probe the way and avoid hidden spatial rifts; and with the Treasure-Seeking Weasel's almost never-failing tracking instinct, the three of them, though moving slightly slower, always kept a firm grip on the general direction of their target.

Along the way, they even encountered several attacks from other demonic beasts, but with the three of them working together more and more seamlessly, they managed to get through each one without any real danger. Instead, they even gained a fourth-grade low-level "Poisonous Miasma Spider" demon core.

After several days of tracking and trekking.

The treasure-hunting weasel finally stopped in front of a huge lake.

This lake is extremely peculiar. Its waters are not clear, but rather a mixture of milky white and pale blue. Mist swirls above its surface year-round, a rich blend of spiritual energy, water vapor, and a trace of pure dragon breath, creating a unique environment. Many rare and precious spiritual herbs and plants grow along its shores.

“Yunlong Lake!” Fairy Tianyin’s eyes narrowed, and she said in a low voice, “Ancient books record that there is a strange lake on the outskirts of Fallen Dragon Abyss. Because it contains a thin layer of dragon breath water, it can gather clouds and mist to nourish certain demonic beasts. It seems that this is the place.”

Chen Feng took a deep breath. The air was filled with a chilling pressure, carrying the ferocity of a tiger and the ethereal quality of a dragon in the clouds, a strange fusion of the two qualities.

"That's it! That's the smell! That hairy beast's lair must be nearby!" Chen Feng excitedly licked his lips, his eyes sharp as an eagle's, scanning the misty lake and the steep cliffs around him. "Such a strong scent, it seems there's more than one!"

Su Wan and Fairy Tianyin also sensed it, their expressions becoming more serious. The Cloud Dragon Tiger was a rare species among fourth-tier demonic beasts, possessing both wind and water attributes. It could control clouds and mist, its whereabouts were elusive, and its attacks were fierce, making it far more troublesome than the Earth Dragon. If there was more than one, the danger would increase significantly.

Just as the three were preparing to follow suit, with Fairy Tianyin setting up an even more powerful trapping formation, Su Wan using music to lure them from a distance, and Chen Feng waiting for the opportunity to unleash his power—

The Heavenly Sound Fairy paused abruptly as she was about to throw out the array flag. Her expression changed slightly, and she hissed, "Wait! An expert is approaching!"

Almost simultaneously, Su Wan's zither strings emitted a very faint hum. Her face paled, and she exclaimed urgently, "Several Golden Core cultivators are approaching from the southwest, moving at an extremely fast speed!"

Chen Feng reacted swiftly. Despite his intense fighting spirit, he didn't hesitate, instantly concealing his aura and shouting, "Conceal your breath! Hide!"

With a flick of her sleeve, the Celestial Maiden sent out a gossamer-like magical artifact, as thin as a cicada's wing, which instantly expanded, enveloping the three people and the mink. The veil flashed with light, and the three people's aura, form, and even temperature seemed to vanish into thin air, perfectly blending into the lakeside mist and environment. This was her prized "Illusory Mirage Veil," adept at concealing one's presence.

A moment later, the sound of something breaking through the air came from the horizon.

A luxurious yet eerie black palanquin, carried by four expressionless, menacing black-robed warriors, descended through the air. The palanquin was shrouded in malevolent energy, its curtains embroidered with grotesque ghost heads. Wherever it passed, even the rich spiritual energy of the lakeside seemed to be tainted with a layer of gloom.

Following closely behind the palanquin were two figures as deep and imposing as mountains, both dressed in the robes of Ghost Spirit Sect elders, their bodies brimming with spiritual energy, clearly both being great cultivators at the peak of the Golden Core stage!
The sedan chair came to a steady stop above Yunlong Lake, the curtains of the chair moving automatically without wind, lifting to both sides.

A young man with a pale face and a sinister, arrogant look stepped out. He wore a dark gold robe, and the nine skull jade pendants hanging at his waist were particularly eye-catching—it was Yin Wujiu, the young master of the Ghost Spirit Sect!

decades ago.

Fu Changsheng and he also had a deal.

Yin Wujiu stood with his hands behind his back in the void, looking down at the cloud-shrouded Yunlong Lake below, a hint of greed and determination flashing in his eyes.

An elder in black robes stepped forward, his divine sense sweeping across the lake and surrounding cliffs like a tidal wave, and said in a deep voice:
"Young Master, according to the intelligence obtained by your disciples at the cost of their lives, the peak fourth-tier Cloud Dragon Tiger that devoured True Monarch Ao Qing's spiritual treasure, the [Flaming Dragon Mountain-Splitting Axe], disappeared at this Cloud Dragon Lake. The lake's environment is special, capable of preventing divine sense from probing deeply, making it the most suitable place for it to hide."

Another elder with a pointed beak added sinisterly:

"Moreover, it is said that the beast is pregnant with its young and is certainly guarding its nest at the moment, unlikely to leave easily. This is the perfect opportunity to seize the spiritual treasure!"

A cold smile curled at the corner of Yin Wujiu's lips, followed by a flash of fierce light in his eyes:
"Use the 'Ten Thousand Ghosts Sealing Map'! Completely seal off the entire lake and the surrounding mountains for me! Not a single fly is allowed to escape! Today, I will definitely drag that beast out and seize the spiritual treasure!"

"As ordered!"

The two elders responded in unison and leaped into the air at the same time.

One person unleashed a black scroll depicting countless agonizing and twisted ghostly figures. The scroll grew longer in the wind, instantly transforming into a massive canopy that blotted out the sky. Countless ghostly figures roared out from it, carrying bone-chilling malevolent energy, merging into the void and transforming into an invisible barrier that rapidly spread in all directions.

The other person flicked his hands in quick succession, and dozens of jet-black array flags were precisely inserted into key positions around the lake, instantly forming an extremely complex array that complemented the Ten Thousand Ghosts Sealing Boundary Map in the sky, completely turning the Yunlong Lake area into a dead end where no one could enter or leave!
A powerful sealing force spread out.

Chen Feng and the other two, hidden under the veil of illusion, suddenly felt a sinking sensation all around them, as if they had fallen into a swamp. Even the flow of their spiritual energy became sluggish, and they were horrified.

The young master of the Ghost Spirit Sect is incredibly generous!
Not only did he come in person, but he also brought two Golden Core Peak Elders and such a powerful sealing magic treasure, all to hunt down the Cloud Dragon Tiger that devoured the Nascent Soul True Monarch's spiritual treasure?

Chen Feng and Su Wan exchanged a glance, both seeing the shock and worry in each other's eyes. The Heavenly Sound Fairy also wore a solemn expression and spoke to the two of them using telepathy:
"It seems that the purpose of the patriarch in asking us to find the Cloud Dragon Tiger is also for that spiritual treasure. We should not delay and should inform the patriarch to come as soon as possible."

...

...

at the same time.

The black-robed elder formed hand seals and chanted incantations. The Myriad Ghosts Sealing Boundary Diagram in the air surged violently, and countless ghostly figures shrieked as they rushed towards the lake surface, transforming into streaks of dark lightning that slammed into the milky blue lake water!
Another elder with a pointed beak activated the ground array flags, causing the lake to tremble. Dozens of thick, black bone spikes burst from the ground, emitting a foul and chilling aura that continuously eroded and stirred the spiritual energy in the lake.

"Roar--!!!"

Two deafening roars suddenly echoed from the depths of the lake! The roars contained extreme anger and a hint of barely perceptible weakness.

Boom!

The entire Yunlong Lake seemed to explode!

Two enormous figures broke through the lake's surface and soared into the sky!

Those were two colossal tigers, each the size of a small mountain, their bodies covered in flowing, silvery-white fur. They possessed a pair of ethereal, cloud-like wings on their backs, and a single horn on their foreheads shimmered with the light of wind and thunder. They were none other than peak fourth-tier demonic beasts—the Cloud Dragon Tigers! One of the female tigers had a noticeably swollen belly and moved somewhat sluggishly, clearly in the crucial stage of her pregnancy.

What is even more noteworthy is...

The magnificent Gongyunlonghu was holding a giant axe with an ancient and imposing design in its mouth! The axe was dark red, as if magma was flowing in it, and the blade emanated a chilling sharpness and scorching heat. It was the spiritual treasure that True Monarch Ao Qing of the Eastern Wilderness Royal Court had lost—the Flaming Dragon Mountain-Splitting Axe!

At this moment, the giant axe was shimmering with red light, and it was faintly connected with the aura of Gong Yunlonghu. It was clear that it had been initially refined and could use some of its power!
"You beast! You really are here! Hand over the spiritual treasure!" Yin Wujiu's eyes blazed with greed as he shouted fiercely.

His response was a furious tiger roar from Gong Yunlonghu!

It suddenly shook its head and swung the Fiery Dragon Mountain-Splitting Axe!
Although the movements were somewhat clumsy and far less refined than when human cultivators used spiritual treasures, the sheer power of her peak fourth-tier demonic energy still unleashed a world-destroying force!
A massive, crimson axe-like beam tore through the sky, carrying terrifying heat waves capable of scorching mountains and boiling seas, and unparalleled power to split mountains, heading straight for the Myriad Ghosts Sealing Boundary Map in the sky!

laugh--!
As the axe's edge passed, countless ghostly figures that had been blocking their way melted away like ice and snow, turning into wisps of smoke after emitting mournful screams. The enormous black scroll trembled violently, its spiritual light dimming slightly. The black-robed elder who was controlling the sealing map let out a muffled groan, his face turning pale.

"You beast! You actually managed to activate this treasure!" The sharp-mouthed elder was filled with shock and anger.

The other female Cloud Dragon Tiger, though not attacking directly, let out a deep, long roar that strangely resonated with the male tiger's howl. The cloud patterns around both Cloud Dragon Tigers shone brightly, wind and clouds converged, and their demonic power, bloodline power, and even that faint trace of dragon breath perfectly merged, forming above their heads an even larger, more solid phantom of a Cloud Dragon Tiger, its feet treading on wind and clouds, its body wreathed in lightning!
The phantom roared to the sky, and the sound waves transformed into a tangible impact, causing the sealing array set up by the two Golden Core Peak Elders to shake violently. Even Chen Feng and the other two, who were hiding in the distance, felt a stinging pain in their souls!

"A combined attack of bloodline spiritual techniques! Its power is comparable to a strike from an early Nascent Soul cultivator! Be careful!" The black-robed elder was horrified and hurriedly activated the Sealing Boundary Diagram with all his might, with countless ghostly figures layered upon each other to protect him.

The elder with the pointed beak also frantically poured in spiritual power, and the black light of the array flags on the ground shone brightly, condensing into a huge skull shield to block the way.

Rumble——! ! !
The phantom of Yunlonghu suddenly pounced down, colliding fiercely with the defensive measures of the two elders!
A deafening roar resounded, the ghostly thunder and shadows dissipated, and the skull shield shattered! The two Golden Core Peak elders were struck as if by a heavy blow, simultaneously spitting out a mouthful of blood, their bodies flying backward, their auras instantly weakening by more than half, already severely injured!
The light of the Ten Thousand Ghosts Sealing Boundary Map dimmed and fell, the array flags on the ground were mostly broken, and the entire sealing array was on the verge of collapse!
"Useless!" Yin Wujiu's face was extremely ugly. He hadn't expected the two beasts to be so troublesome. He watched as the Gongyunlonghu raised its Flaming Dragon Mountain-Splitting Axe again, the crimson axe light about to strike down once more, while the two elders were powerless to resist.

A flicker of pain crossed his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by ruthlessness. He slapped his waist, and the blood-red skull token, which had always hung there and possessed the most eerie aura, flew out!

"Please help me, Master!" Yin Wujiu bit his tongue and spat a mouthful of blood onto the token.

The token emitted a burst of blood-red light, and a terrifying pressure that sent shivers down one's spine suddenly descended! A blurry, gray-robed old man phantom, composed of pure soul power, rose from the token. Although his face was obscured, his eyes were cold and indifferent, as if he regarded all living beings as ants.

It was a fragment of the Ghost Spirit True Lord's soul!
"Hmph, two little cats, do they really require me to divide my soul?" The illusory figure spoke in a hoarse, low voice, tinged with displeasure, but his movements were swift. He pointed his illusory finger at the shaky Myriad Ghosts Sealing Map and the tattered array flags below.

hum!
The originally dim boundary map suddenly burst into a blood-red light, its power even greater!

Countless blood-red ghostly figures roared out, no longer launching chaotic attacks, but transforming into eerie blood-red chains that, as if possessing life, precisely wrapped around the two cloud dragon tigers, especially at the crucial point where their demonic power fused!

At the same time, the broken array flags on the ground were forcibly condensed by an invisible soul force, bursting out with overwhelming resentment and transforming into a huge blood-red vortex, frantically devouring and absorbing Yunlonghu's demonic power and blood!

"Ouch——!"

The combined attack of the two cloud dragon tigers was forcibly interrupted by the blood-red chains. The fused demonic power instantly backfired, causing them to howl in pain. The enormous phantom of the cloud dragon tiger fluctuated violently and then collapsed with a roar!
Gong Yunlonghu attempted to wield the Flaming Dragon Mountain-Splitting Axe to sever the chains, but the blood-red chains were formless and intangible, making them immune to physical attacks to some extent. They also contained a powerful soul-eroding force, causing Gong Yunlonghu's movements to become sluggish, and the light on the axe quickly dimmed.

The mother dragon tiger was already weak from pregnancy, and now she was even more exhausted by being sucked into the blood-red vortex, letting out a mournful cry.

"Now! Kill them!" Yin Wujiu roared ferociously.

The two heavily injured Golden Core Peak Elders mustered their last bit of spiritual power, transforming into two streaks of black light, and unleashed their most desperate and ultimate divine abilities—a Netherworld Ghost Claw and a Soul-Eating Demon Thorn—which precisely struck the vital points exposed by the backlash and the chains binding the two Cloud Dragon Tigers!
puff!puff!
With two mournful and desperate roars, the male cloud dragon tiger's head was pierced by a ghostly claw, and the female cloud dragon tiger's heart was pierced by a demonic thorn! The massive body convulsed violently a few times before finally collapsing to the ground with a thud, and blood instantly stained the lakeside red.

The Flaming Dragon Mountain-Splitting Axe clattered to the ground beside Gong Yunlonghu's corpse.

Seeing this, Yin Wujiu finally breathed a sigh of relief, his face filled with ecstatic joy. He leaped down to retrieve the spiritual treasure he had longed for.

……

A sudden change occurred!

A blurry figure appeared silently, like a ghost or a teleporter!

The person's face was covered by a plain, unremarkable mask typical of the Shadow Gate, revealing only a pair of eyes as calm as an ancient well. The spiritual energy emanating from his body clearly indicated that he was only at the early stage of the Golden Core realm!
Yet this "mere" early stage Golden Core cultivator moved with incredible speed! Almost the instant Yin Wujiu saw the newcomer, the other's hand had already lightly brushed across the ground.

Swish!
The heavy Flaming Dragon Mountain-Splitting Axe, along with the two cloud dragon and tiger corpses that were as big as small mountains, vanished into thin air at the same moment, completely taken away without leaving a single drop of blood!

All that remained was a desolate open space ravaged by the battle, along with the lingering smell of blood and the fluctuations of demonic energy in the air.

Everything happened too fast, too abruptly!

Yin Wujiu's hand froze in mid-air, the ecstasy on his face instantly solidified, then transformed into extreme astonishment and disbelief, and finally exploded into a raging fury!
"You're asking for it!!!"

A twisted, almost distorted roar burst from Yin Wujiu's throat. His eyes instantly turned bloodshot as he stared intently at the masked man who was now standing empty-handed. His killing intent swept out like a tangible force! A mere early-stage Golden Core cultivator, an ant-like creature, dared to snatch food from the tiger's mouth in front of him, the young sect master of the Ghost Spirit Sect, and steal the treasures and spoils of war that he had obtained at great cost!
This is an utter disgrace! It's a lawless provocation!

"Take him down! Extract his soul and refine his spirit! I want him to wish he were dead!" Yin Wujiu roared madly.

The two heavily injured Golden Core Peak Elders were both shocked and furious. Despite their injuries, they unleashed astonishing speed, transforming into two streaks of black light as they pounced on the masked man. The Netherworld Ghost Claw and the Soul-Eating Demon Thorn condensed once more, and they attacked in anger, determined to crush this reckless thief instantly!
However, faced with the enraged attack of two peak Golden Core experts, the masked man neither dodged nor evaded, but merely glanced indifferently at the furious Yin Wujiu. His gaze was calm and unwavering, even carrying a hint of…mockery?
Just before the attack was about to strike, the masked man's figure swayed slightly, like a reflection in water, and became indistinct.

The next moment, two violent attacks pierced through, but only shattered a fragment of the image before crashing into the ground and creating two huge craters.

The masked man's true form had already appeared a hundred feet away. With another flicker, he disappeared into the thick fog and the shadows of the forest like a wisp of smoke, his speed was unbelievable!
"Chase him! Don't let him get away!" Yin Wujiu was both shocked and furious. He personally rode his escape light and chased after him frantically with the two elders.

What chilled them to the bone was that even though they used their secret techniques to speed up at all costs, the ghostly figure in front of them maintained a distance from them, and was even gradually widening the gap! The opponent's escape technique was extremely strange, and he moved with ease in the complex terrain. Every blink he made perfect use of the environment to cover himself, as if he was born to belong to this shadow.

In just a few breaths, the figure simply turned into a rocky ravine and completely disappeared without a trace, as if it had never existed.

Yin Wujiu and his two companions suddenly stopped in mid-air, their divine senses sweeping over every inch of land and every rock below like a comb, but they found nothing! The other party had vanished without a trace, like a drop of water merging into the ocean!
"Ah—!!!" Yin Wujiu trembled with rage, letting out a furious roar filled with extreme frustration and resentment.

He sacrificed his master's life-saving soul tablet! Two elders were seriously injured! Just when the treasure was within his grasp, it was snatched away right before his eyes by a cowardly early-stage Golden Core cultivator! And he, the dignified young sect master of the Ghost Spirit Sect, leading two peak Golden Core cultivators, couldn't even catch up! He allowed the other party to escape so easily!
What a shame!
It was utterly a disgrace to Yin Wujiu and a trampling of the Ghost Spirit Sect's prestige!

"Check! Check it for me!"

Yin Wujiu abruptly turned his head, his bloodshot eyes fixed on the two pale-faced elders, his voice hoarse and distorted with extreme rage:
"Mobilize all forces! Search the entire Eastern Wilderness! Notify all affiliated forces! Offer a bounty! Issue a warrant for his arrest! I need to know who that bastard is!"

"He stole more than just spiritual treasures and demon beast materials! He ruined my grand plan to present to my master! He squandered the life-saving trump card bestowed upon me by my master! This is an irreconcilable feud! Even if I have to turn the Eastern Wilderness upside down, I will drag him out! I will tear him to pieces and hone his soul for a hundred years!!"

(End of this chapter)