Family Rise: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 595 Refusal to Obey Even at the Cost of Death: A Son's Retreat – Trying to Steal a Chicken Backfires
The underground river surged, and the massive body of the two-headed dragon fully emerged from the water. Its four scarlet vertical pupils were fixed on Fu Changsheng, and its violent demonic aura pressed down as if it were a tangible substance. This peak fourth-tier demonic beast was only one step away from transforming into a dragon, and its strength far surpassed that of an ordinary peak Golden Core cultivator!

"Roar!"

The left-hand dragon head launched the first attack, spewing out a jet of pitch-black Xuan Yin Heavy Water. Wherever the water flowed, the air froze, even light was swallowed up, and it swept in with terrifying power that could corrode all things and freeze the soul! At the same time, the right-hand dragon head gathered its power, and the surrounding fire elemental energy frantically gathered, forming an extremely hot and compressed lava fireball, ready to be unleashed!

Water and fire intertwine, yin and yang harmonize—this is the terrifying aspect of the two-headed dragon! Ordinary Golden Core cultivators would likely be thrown into disarray and either die or be seriously injured in the face of such an attack.

Faced with this terrifying attack, Fu Changsheng neither unleashed the Fiery Dragon Mountain-Splitting Axe nor summoned the Azure Dragon to aid him. He simply slowly raised his right index finger:
"Perfect timing to test my newly mastered magic technique on you."

hum!
A golden glint appeared at the fingertip!
The golden light was initially weak, but it expanded instantly, transforming into an incomparably condensed, pale golden divine light that seemed to be composed of pure light. It was not dazzling, but it carried an unparalleled majesty that pierced through illusions and cleansed evil spirits, shooting straight toward the Xuan Yin Heavy Water!
laugh--!
There was no earth-shattering explosion. It was like boiling water being poured on snow. The Xuan Yin Heavy Water, which was enough to freeze the magic power of a Golden Core cultivator, was as if it had met its nemesis the moment it came into contact with the pale golden divine light. The cold energy melted away rapidly, and the dark water became clear at a speed visible to the naked eye. In the end, it turned into an ordinary stream of water and fell down with a splash!
Its ability to ward off evil is undeniable!
A hint of anthropomorphic astonishment flashed in the eye of the left head of the two-headed dragon, clearly not expecting its innate spell to be so easily neutralized.

Just then, the lava fireball brewing on the right side of the skull slammed into them! The intense heat distorted the air, and a scorching wave of air rushed towards them!

Fu Changsheng did not withdraw the divine light from his fingertips. With a slight turn, the pale golden divine light seemed to possess a spirit, drawing a beautiful arc in the air and accurately striking the core of the lava fireball!

"Break through illusion!"

The moment the divine light touched the fireball, the violent and unstable energy structure inside the fireball seemed to become transparent and clear under the "Illusion-Breaking" property! With a gentle stab, the divine light struck the most vulnerable energy node within it!
Boom!

The lava fireball wasn't shattered by brute force, but rather its internal structure was destroyed, causing it to instantly lose stability and explode violently in mid-air! Sparks flew everywhere, but most of the power was directed into the air, causing negligible impact on Fu Changsheng!
"Roar!"

The two-headed dragon was both shocked and enraged. Its two heads roared deafeningly at the same time, and its huge body stirred up the dark river. Countless water arrows, ice spikes and fireballs containing the two extreme attributes of cold and heat covered Fu Changsheng like a storm!

It intends to use its immense demonic power to exhaust this strange human to death!
Fu Changsheng used his divine powers of clear vision and sharp eyes.

He moved through the dense attacks as if strolling leisurely; the seemingly fierce attacks of the two-headed dragon couldn't even touch the hem of his clothes!
"Roar!"

The two-headed dragon went completely berserk, its two heads intertwined, and its demonic power erupted without reservation, unleashing its innate divine power—[Yin-Yang Strangulation]!
A jet-black Yin energy and a crimson Yang fire intertwined, transforming into a massive, hazy spiral pillar of light. Carrying a terrifying aura of destruction and annihilation, it pressed down upon Fu Changsheng! This attack had already faintly touched the threshold of the Nascent Soul stage!
Fu Changsheng's gaze sharpened; he knew he could no longer hold back.

He took a deep breath, and his golden core spun rapidly within his body, causing the second rising sun Dao pattern to shine brightly!
"Dispelling Illusion, Divine Light, Condense!"

He pointed his fingers like a sword and thrust them forward with a sudden thrust!
This time, it was no longer a thin ray of light, but a golden light sword that seemed to be in reality, embodying all his understanding of the Lesser Completion of the Chaoyang Breaking Illusion Divine Light! Runes flowed across the light sword, radiating a majestic Daoist aura that could sever illusions and purify everything!

The golden lightsaber clashed violently with the hazy, yin-yang strangulation beam of light!

There was no loud noise, only a teeth-grinding "sizzling" sound.

The golden lightsaber pierced the ice and snow like a red-hot iron. Under the divine light of dispelling illusion, the energy structure of the Yin-Yang strangulation pillar containing destructive power was dissected, disintegrated, and purified layer by layer! The hazy pillar of light became thin and transparent at a speed visible to the naked eye, and finally completely dissipated into nothingness!

Although the golden lightsaber had dimmed considerably, its momentum remained undiminished. It instantly pierced through the two-headed dragon's protective demonic aura, leaving a charred hole in its massive body. No blood flowed from the wound; instead, pale golden light threads spread out, continuously purifying its demonic power!

"Ouch——!"

The two-headed dragon let out a painful and desperate wail as its massive body crashed heavily into the water, its life force instantly waning. Its strongest divine power had been broken, its physical body injured, and its demonic power continuously purified by the restraining divine light, leaving it powerless to fight any longer.

Fu Changsheng gracefully landed on the water's surface, looked at the struggling two-headed dragon, and said, "Considering the difficulty of your cultivation, are you willing to submit and become my mount?"

Although its four eyes were filled with pain and fear, a defiant light still gleamed within them. It let out a low roar, conveying an unyielding will to die rather than submit. As a noble beast possessing true dragon blood, its pride forbade it to bow to humans and become a spirit pet.

Seeing this, Fu Changsheng felt regret, but he didn't insist. He respected that pride.

"Since that's the case, I'll give you a quick death."

Divine light gathered at his fingertips once more, and he pointed it at the vital point between the two-headed dragon's eyebrows.

This time, the two-headed dragon did not resist; it simply closed its eyes.

The divine light penetrated, instantly extinguishing its life force.

……

Just as Fu Changsheng collected the corpse of the two-headed dragon, preparing to let Xiaoqing devour and refine it, three powerful auras suddenly rushed from the upper reaches of the dark river, instantly descending into the arena and subtly surrounding Fu Changsheng in a triangular formation.

The leader was a pale-faced, sinister-looking young man dressed in a magnificent robe embroidered with a ferocious ghost head. His cultivation was around the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm, but a faint, radiant light emanated from him, indicating he possessed a powerful treasure. Behind him followed two black-robed elders, their auras as deep as the sea, both clearly at the peak of the Golden Core realm. Their eyes flashed with sharp light as they opened and closed, firmly fixed on Fu Changsheng.

The sinister young man's gaze swept over the remaining traces of the fierce battle and the lingering aura of the dragon, finally fixing on Fu Changsheng. His face instantly filled with anger and regret, and he shouted sharply:

"Fu Changsheng! It really is you! How dare you kill the spirit pet that I, the young sect master, raised here!"

Fu Changsheng raised an eyebrow and recognized the person who had come.

It was none other than Yin Wujiu, the young master of the Ghost Spirit Sect, whom he had met once in Jingzhou decades ago and with whom he had conducted a transaction. This man was eccentric and vindictive, and the transaction had not been pleasant. He never expected to run into him here today.

Seeing that Fu Changsheng remained silent, Yin Wujiu assumed he was afraid of him and became even more arrogant, pointing his finger at Fu Changsheng's nose and cursing:

"I, the young sect master, have spent countless efforts to find this Yin vein and nourish it with the aura of the Dragon Saliva Grass. It was about to mature and be subdued, but you, you scoundrel, have taken advantage of it and ruined my opportunity! If you don't give me an explanation today, don't even think about leaving this Dark River alive!"

Fu Changsheng remained calm and said indifferently, "Young Sect Master, you are mistaken. This dragon was a wild and untamed demon that had taken up residence in this place. How could it be considered tamed? I killed it with my own abilities, so why should I explain it to you?"

"Insolence!" A Golden Core Peak Elder behind Yin Wujiu suddenly stepped forward, his powerful aura pressing down on Fu Changsheng like a mountain. "My young sect master said it's a spirit pet, so it is a spirit pet! How dare you try to argue with me!"

Another elder spoke up in a sinister tone: "Fellow Daoist Fu, a wise man submits to circumstances. Since you have already killed the two-headed dragon, its corpse must be in your hands. How about this, our young sect leader is magnanimous. You only need to hand over the two-headed dragon's corpse and inner core, and compensate with equivalent spirit stones and treasures, and this matter can be dropped."

Yin Wujiu snorted coldly, a glint of fervor flashing in his eyes, and interrupted:
"Not enough! How can mere compensation make up for my losses? Fu Changsheng, I've heard you possess a magnificent azure dragon mount. How about this, considering our transaction decades ago, I'll show mercy and spare your life. Simply offer up the azure dragon and its two-headed carcass, and I'll forgive and forget, letting you go! Otherwise…"

The threat in his words was self-evident.

Upon hearing this, the two elders at the peak of the Golden Core stage also released even stronger auras, and the air in the dark river seemed to freeze, as if a great battle was about to break out.

Looking at Yin Wujiu's self-righteous and forceful face, and glancing at the two Golden Core Peak cultivators who were eyeing him covetously, Fu Changsheng's lips curled into a cold smile.

"You want my Xiaoqing? And you want me to hand over the spoils of war?" He slowly shook his head, his tone still calm, but carrying a chilling undertone.

Just as the atmosphere was tense, and Yin Wujiu wore a savage grin of certainty, two Golden Core Peak elders were about to make their move, their magical power surging—

"stop!"

A deep yet authoritative shout resounded like thunder in the dark river, causing Yin Wujiu to sway and the two elders to change their expressions slightly, their gathered momentum momentarily halting.

The space rippled, and a middle-aged cultivator dressed in a dark purple ghost king robe, with a sinister face and an imposing aura, appeared out of thin air. His gaze was like lightning. He first swept across the scene, and when he saw Fu Changsheng and the extraordinary blue dragon beside him, whose aura had reached the peak of the fourth rank, his pupils suddenly contracted, and a trace of undisguised fear flashed deep in his eyes.

This person is none other than Gui Ming, the leader of the Ghost Spirit Sect! A powerful expert at the Nascent Soul stage!
He possessed far more intelligence than his son, Yin Wujiu, and knew that Fu Changsheng, who appeared to be only at the sixth level of the Golden Core stage, was actually a ruthless individual with the terrifying feat of defeating a Nascent Soul cultivator! He had heard countless stories of the Yin Bone Demon's fate! Although he himself was a fake Nascent Soul cultivator, he was absolutely certain that he could not defeat Fu Changsheng, who was capable of killing a Nascent Soul cultivator!

"Father! What brings you here?" Yin Wujiu was overjoyed to see his father, then pointed at Fu Changsheng and complained, "Father, this Fu Changsheng killed our tamed two-headed dragon and dared to speak rudely! Quickly capture him, that green dragon can be my mount!"

"You unfilial son! Shut up!" Guiming Sect Leader's face turned ashen. He turned around abruptly and, under Yin Wujiu's incredulous gaze, raised his hand and delivered a resounding slap!

Snapped!
The crisp sound of a slap echoed in the dark river. Yin Wujiu staggered from the blow, half of his cheek instantly swelled up, blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and he was completely stunned.

"Father...you...you hit me?"

"I'm beating you, you blind fool!" Sect Leader Guiming roared, his heart filled with shock and anger. This rebellious son dared to provoke such a fiend, practically pushing the Ghost Spirit Sect into a fire pit! He quickly turned to Fu Changsheng, forcing a very weak smile, and cupped his hands in greeting:

"Fellow Daoist Fu, my son is ignorant and has offended you. I hope you will forgive him and not hold it against him." His attitude was extremely humble.

Fu Changsheng watched this scene, the fighting spirit that had been blazing in his eyes slightly diminishing, but his expression remained cold and indifferent, and he remained silent. He wanted to see how Gui Ming planned to quell this matter.

Seeing Fu Changsheng remain silent, Gui Ming grew even more uneasy. He knew that a mere apology would hardly satisfy this ruthless man. Gritting his teeth, a flash of light appeared in his hand, and a small sapling, about three feet tall, with a jade-green body and faint spiritual light flowing among its branches and leaves, appeared. The moment the sapling appeared, the surrounding spiritual energy became more active.

"Fellow Daoist Fu, this is the 'Breakthrough Spirit Cloud Tree,' an extremely rare high-grade spiritual plant. In thirty years, this tree will bear fruit, and its fruit has a miraculous effect on breaking through the bottleneck of the late Golden Core stage." A look of pain flashed across Gui Ming's face, but he still presented the sapling with both hands. "This was my son's fault. Consider this spiritual tree as an apology from my Ghost Spirit Sect to you. I hope you will forgive me."

"Father! No!" Upon seeing this, Yin Wujiu, ignoring the burning pain on his face, cried out in alarm, "We finally obtained this spirit tree from the ancient cultivator's cave. Elder Mu even perished because of it! How can we give it to him!"

"Shut up! Who gave you the right to speak here!" Guiming Sect Leader roared in fury, slapping Yin Wujiu across the face again, sending him flying. Yin Wujiu crashed heavily into the rock wall and immediately fainted. He was truly enraged by his stupid son.

Fu Changsheng's gaze fell upon the Barrier-Breaking Spirit Cloud Tree. He scanned it with his divine sense, confirming its authenticity—it was indeed a treasure greatly beneficial to Golden Core cultivators. He pondered for a moment. Gui Ming was, after all, a Nascent Soul cultivator, and the Ghost Spirit Sect had a Nascent Soul patriarch. If he were pushed too far and forced into a desperate fight, he too would inevitably face trouble. Since the other party was so sensible, offering such a generous gift, it was wise to accept the offer while he was ahead.

He reached out and took the spirit tree, saying calmly, "Since Sect Leader Guiming has shown such sincerity, it would be unreasonable for me to pursue this further. Let's just drop this matter."

Upon hearing this, Gui Ming breathed a long sigh of relief and quickly said, "Thank you for your magnanimity, Fellow Daoist Fu!"

Fu Changsheng said no more, put away the spirit tree, and in a flash, he and the Azure Dragon disappeared into the depths of the dark river.

……

As soon as Fu Changsheng's figure disappeared at the end of the underground river passage, the oppressive and suffocating atmosphere dissipated.

Yin Wujiu, the young sect leader, who had been restrained by his father Guiming with spiritual power, immediately struggled and rushed over, his face full of humiliation and resentment. Unable to contain his anger and doubt any longer, he loudly questioned:
"Father! Why are you so humble towards Fu Changsheng?! He's just a Golden Core cultivator. Even if he has some skill, why should our Ghost Spirit Sect, a dignified Nascent Soul sect, fear him?! And you even gave him that precious Barrier-Breaking Spirit Cloud Tree! If word gets out, what will become of our Ghost Spirit Sect's reputation?!"

The Ghost Sea Sect Leader's face was so gloomy it was almost dripping with water. He didn't answer his son immediately, but instead turned his icy gaze to the two Golden Core Peak Guardian Elders who were still shaken. He snorted coldly, "You two, did you also think I was too cowardly and boosted the morale of others?"

The two elders trembled as the sect leader's gaze swept over them, instantly snapping them out of their previous daze, which had been clouded by greed and their eagerness to protect their master. Recalling what had just happened, cold sweat instantly beaded on their foreheads.

One of the elders, his voice hoarse with lingering fear, said, “Sect Leader, please calm down! It was…it was our foolishness! That…that two-headed dragon was at the peak of the fourth rank, incredibly ferocious. Even if the two of us joined forces, we might not have been able to defeat it. But…but Fu Changsheng, after slaying that dragon, his aura was steady and long, his magical power unfathomable, and he didn’t even have a trace of disarray on his body. He was clearly…he handled it with ease!”

Another elder quickly chimed in, his voice trembling with fear: "To kill a peak fourth-tier demon beast so effortlessly, such strength is probably... probably beyond the Golden Core realm! If the sect leader hadn't arrived in time, the three of us would probably have followed in the footsteps of that two-headed dragon! The sect leader's forbearance has truly saved our lives and preserved the sect's strength!"

Thinking of Fu Changsheng's calm yet sharp gaze, the two elders felt a chill run down their spines and repeatedly apologized, daring not to utter a single complaint.

Yin Wujiu listened to the two elders' analysis, his expression shifting constantly. However, his childhood arrogance and the humiliation he had suffered today still made it difficult for him to fully accept. He stubbornly retorted, "So what? No matter how powerful he is, can he possibly defeat a Nascent Soul True Monarch? My grandmaster..."

"Shut up!" Sect Leader Guiming interrupted him sharply, his eyes filled with disappointment and anger. "You unfilial son! Even now you still don't know your place! Do you think a Nascent Soul True Monarch can be summoned at will? For your arrogance and ignorance, you're going to make a mortal enemy of a terrifying being who can reverse the Nascent Soul stage? Do you want the Ghost Spirit Sect to be doomed forever?!"

He grew angrier as he spoke, and directly ordered: "It seems I've been too lenient with you all this time! From today onwards, you get back to the sect's Repentance Cliff and go into seclusion for ten years! During these ten years, you are not to step out of the Repentance Cliff even once! If you dare to disobey, your cultivation will be crippled and you will be expelled from the sect!"

"Father!" Yin Wujiu was struck dumb, staring at his father in disbelief. What kind of place was the Cliff of Contemplation? The spiritual energy was thin, the place desolate and bitterly cold; ten years of seclusion there was practically torture!

"Take him away!" The Ghost Sea Sect Leader stopped looking at him and waved to the two elders.

The two elders dared not delay and quickly helped up Yin Wujiu, whose face was ashen but who dared not resist any longer, and left this place of trouble.

In the dark river, only the Ghost Nether Sect Leader remained. He gazed in the direction Fu Changsheng had departed, his expression shifting between anger and uncertainty, finally settling into a long sigh. He too felt resentment at today's humiliation. But faced with overwhelming power, forbearance was the only way to survive. He only hoped that the scourge would truly be forgotten and not cause any further trouble.

However, after the initial shock and fear, Yin Wujiu, who was forcibly taken away, felt a surge of overwhelming resentment and twisted killing intent. He had always had a smooth and successful life; how could he have ever suffered such humiliation? His father not only didn't help him but severely punished him—all because of that Fu Changsheng!
"Fu Changsheng... Fu Changsheng! I, Yin Wujiu, will remember this humiliation! When I have mastered my divine skills, I will make you pay a hundredfold, a thousandfold, ten thousandfold! I will make you kneel before me, begging for life and unable to die! I will slaughter your entire Fu family!"

A mad vow roared silently in his heart, and a seed of hatred was planted deep within him.

...

...

In a secluded, quiet room deep within the Fu family's villa in Huizhou Prefecture.

Fu Yongling slowly opened his eyes, and two invisible sword beams seemed to flash and disappear in his pupils. The sharp aura surrounding his body gradually subsided. He felt the pure sword essence within his body, which was almost twice as powerful as before, and a hint of surprise and joy appeared on his face.

"Mid-stage Purple Mansion Realm...he actually broke through like that?"

He muttered to himself, finding it somewhat unbelievable.

Just a few years ago, he was stuck at the bottleneck of the early stage of the Purple Mansion realm, unable to make any progress. He even used a precious "Cloud-Breaking Pill," but still failed. According to his estimate, he would need at least three to five more years of painstaking effort before he could possibly reach the mid-stage threshold.

But recently, during his cultivation, he felt his mind was exceptionally clear, and his comprehension of the "Gengjin Sword Technique" was divinely aided. The previously stagnant barriers were naturally overcome as if water had flowed into a channel, without encountering any obstacles, and he stepped into the mid-stage of the Purple Mansion realm in one fell swoop!

"How strange..." Fu Yongling was straightforward and devoted to the Dao. He was not complacent about this sudden "good fortune". Instead, he became vigilant and carefully examined himself several times to confirm that his foundation was solid and there were no hidden dangers. Only then did he feel a little relieved.

"Perhaps it's the result of years of hard work and accumulation." He ultimately attributed the reason to his single-minded and diligent accumulation of knowledge. With his breakthrough in cultivation, he was confident that he could now fight even ordinary late-stage Purple Mansion cultivators with the sword in his hand.

Just as he finished consolidating his realm and was preparing to leave seclusion to continue honing his swordsmanship, the jade talisman in his bosom, which represented his status as a core member of the Fu family and was usually almost silent, suddenly vibrated slightly and transmitted a divine thought message that was both familiar and somewhat unfamiliar to him—it was his father, Fu Changsheng!
The message was brief, yet carried an undeniable authority: "Yongling, now that your realm is secure, come to your fiefdom in Jingzhou immediately." Fu Yongling held the jade talisman, stunned for a moment.

His father had many children, and he knew his talent was only average among his siblings. Coupled with his personality, he usually devoted himself to sword practice and rarely interacted with his stern father. Why then did his father suddenly summon him personally?
Although he had doubts, as a child, he dared not neglect his father's instructions in the slightest.

"If my father summons me, it must be for something important."

Without any hesitation, Fu Yongling immediately ended his seclusion.

...

...

As soon as Fu Yongling stepped out of his secluded meditation room, a figure with a hint of smugness came to greet him; it was his elder brother, Fu Yongpeng.

"Second brother, you've finally emerged from seclusion! I recently broke through to the second level of the Purple Mansion realm and was just about to spar with you..." Fu Yongpeng hadn't finished speaking when his divine sense subconsciously swept over Fu Yongling, and the smile on his face instantly froze, replaced by undisguised astonishment, "Mid-stage Purple Mansion realm?! You... when did you break through?"

He knew full well that his second younger brother's talent was ordinary, having been stuck at the early stage of the Purple Mansion realm for a long time. He himself had only barely broken through to the second level of the Purple Mansion realm with the help of pills and a bit of luck. He thought he had finally closed the gap and even had a chance to surpass him, but unexpectedly, his brother had also broken through quietly, and even advanced to the mid-stage of the Purple Mansion realm on the path of sword cultivation! This instantly unbalanced his competitive spirit, but he quickly forced a smile on his face:
"Congratulations, Second Brother! Your progress in swordsmanship is truly a blessing for the Fu family!"

Fu Yongling was straightforward and did not notice the complex thoughts behind his brother's smile. He simply returned the greeting calmly: "Thank you for your congratulations, elder brother. It was just a fluke."

Fu Yongpeng suppressed the bitterness in his heart, remembered the important matter, and put on an even warmer smile: "Second brother, now that you have broken through in your cultivation, it is time to consider settling down and starting a family. I have come here today to discuss a very important matter with you."

He lowered his voice and said, "You know the Xu family, a seventh-rank noble family, right? Their patriarch values ​​you highly and is willing to marry his eldest daughter to you, forming a marriage alliance with our Fu family. This is a rare and auspicious match!"

Seeing Fu Yongling's calm expression, Fu Yongpeng continued to patiently persuade him:

"Look at us four siblings, only I'm married. Yongjing is a good-for-nothing, and my eldest sister is cultivating at the Luo family, oblivious to worldly affairs. You should think about the family and yourself. Look at Yu Qingru's branch of the family, so prosperous and quick to accumulate contribution points, making it easier to exchange for Core Formation spiritual items. Many hands make light work! If you marry into the Xu family, with your in-laws' support, your cultivation resources will be much more plentiful in the future. Wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?"

Fu Yongpeng was confident of success. In his view, his younger brother, who was almost invisible in the family and not noticed by his parents, was already climbing the social ladder by marrying into the Xu family, and should be grateful and agree. He even felt that it was a favor for him to "take care" of his younger brother by "arranging" this good marriage for him.

However, Fu Yongling shook his head, his tone gentle yet firm:

“Brother, marriage is a serious matter, not something to be taken lightly. It is a matter for our parents to decide. I am devoted to the sword and have no such thoughts for the time being.”

Fu Yongpeng frowned, wanting to persuade him again.

Fu Yongling spoke first, saying, "Brother, Father just sent me a message, ordering me to go to my fiefdom in Jingzhou immediately. This matter is urgent, so please forgive me for not being able to stay any longer; I must depart immediately."

"Father summoned you?" Fu Yongpeng was stunned upon hearing this, his face filled with disbelief. His father was busy with many affairs of state and had many children. Why would he suddenly summon his usually insignificant second brother?

In an instant, a thought slithered into his mind like a venomous snake: Could it be that his father was about to bestow some heaven-defying opportunity upon his second brother? Otherwise, why would it be so sudden? Thinking of Fu Yongling's inexplicable breakthrough just now, he felt more and more certain that his guess was correct! A mixture of jealousy, resentment, and urgency surged into his heart.

He reacted quickly, his face immediately changing to a concerned smile: "I see! Father's summons is indeed of great importance! Coincidentally, I also have some trivial matters to attend to in Jingzhou, so let's go together, brothers, so we can look after each other on the way."

He was determined to go and see why his father had summoned his second brother! If there was any benefit to it, even if not for himself, he would fight for it for his grandson Qinglin!
...

...

In the fiefdom of Jingzhou, Fu Changsheng resided in his quiet chamber.

Fu Yongling came as summoned, his heart filled with a mixture of respect and trepidation. The door to the quiet room opened silently, and he straightened his robes before stepping inside alone.

Fu Changsheng stood by the window with his hands behind his back. When he sensed his son coming in, he turned around and looked him over for a moment, his gaze lingering on the sharp sword energy flowing around him.

"Mid-stage Purple Mansion Realm, sword energy solidified, it seems you haven't been slacking off."

Feeling a warmth in his heart upon receiving his father's approval, Fu Yongling bowed and said, "I dare not disappoint my father's expectations."

Fu Changsheng nodded slightly, and an invisible barrier instantly enveloped the entire meditation room, isolating it from the outside world. His expression turned solemn: "I have summoned you here today because I have an opportunity concerning your path to enlightenment. This matter is extremely confidential; you must not mention it to anyone except yourself, including your brothers and sisters, understand?"

Seeing his father's solemnity, Fu Yongling felt a chill and immediately promised solemnly, "Your son will remember this and will never reveal it!"

"Alright." Fu Changsheng said no more, pointing his fingers like a sword towards his brow. A wisp of extremely condensed golden light, exuding an ancient and broken aura, was slowly drawn out and hovered above his fingertip. The core of the light seemed to contain an extreme sharpness capable of slicing through the void. The air in the quiet room seemed to be cut by the invisible sword intent.

"This is the [Spell Seed: Void-Slaying Sword Intent], a high-grade Earth-rank treasure, a bloodline inheritance. Today, it will be planted in your Purple Mansion."

Although Fu Yongling didn't know exactly what the "Dharma Seed" was, the "high-grade Earth Rank," the "bloodline inheritance," and the soul-shaking sensation brought by that wisp of sword intent made him instantly understand what an extraordinary opportunity this was! He trembled slightly with excitement, but his strong willpower allowed him to immediately steady himself and bow deeply: "Thank you, Father, for your generous gift! Yongling will protect this secret with his life, cultivate diligently without ceasing, and never dishonor this Dharma Seed!"

"Calm your mind, release the defenses of your Purple Mansion, and guide the sword intent into your body. The process may be painful, so you must keep your mind clear." Fu Changsheng's tone was calm and carried an undeniable power.

Fu Yongling immediately sat down cross-legged, fully circulated his cultivation technique, and released his protection of the Purple Mansion.

With a flick of his finger, Fu Changsheng sent the golden sword intent into a streak of light that precisely pierced Fu Yongling's brow.

"Ugh!" The moment the sword intent entered his body, Fu Yongling groaned, his face turned deathly pale, and veins bulged on his forehead. It felt as if countless tiny blades were piercing through his dantian, trying to cut his consciousness apart; the pain was far beyond his imagination.

Fu Changsheng placed his palm on the top of Fu Yongling's head at the right moment, and a surge of magical power, far more refined and vast than Fu Yongling's own, gently flowed in, like the most resilient protective sheath, enveloping the rampaging sword intent seed and guiding it to sink towards the center of the Purple Mansion, while simultaneously stabilizing Fu Yongling's almost collapsing soul.

This process lasted for a full two hours. Fu Changsheng remained calm throughout, steadily protecting his son with his unfathomable cultivation.

When Fu Changsheng finally withdrew his palm, Fu Yongling was soaked in sweat and felt completely exhausted. But when he looked inward into his Purple Mansion and saw the golden seed floating in the center, emitting a faint yet incredibly pure sword intent of cleaving through the void, all his fatigue and pain transformed into immense joy and determination.

He struggled to his feet and bowed deeply once more. This time, his voice was choked with emotion and filled with unwavering determination: "I will never forget my father's kindness in giving me a second chance at life! I will dedicate my entire life to climbing to the pinnacle of swordsmanship!"

Fu Changsheng looked at the sword heart light in his son's eyes, which was purer and sharper than ever before, and nodded in satisfaction.

Outside the quiet room, in the distance, a covered corridor.

Fu Yongpeng paced anxiously. He arrived a step later than Fu Yongling and was told that his father was having a private conversation with his second brother and that no one was allowed to disturb them. He tried to eavesdrop but was blocked by an invisible barrier.

"What exactly are they talking about? So mysterious..." He felt like he was being torn apart by a hundred claws. All sorts of guesses drove him crazy with jealousy, but he was helpless and could only wait anxiously outside.

……

Upon seeing Fu Yongling emerge from the secret chamber, Fu Yongpeng immediately went to greet him and said urgently:
"Second brother, how is it? What does Father want with you?"

"It's just a routine inquiry about cultivation matters."

Fearing his brother would continue to press him, Fu Yongling made an excuse and left first.

As Fu Yongpeng watched his younger brother leave, his barely concealed excitement and the subtle, chilling aura emanating from him filled him with a complex mix of emotions. He was almost certain that his father had bestowed upon his second brother an extraordinary opportunity! This filled him with both jealousy and resentment.

"We are both sons of the same father!" He was filled with resentment, but dared not show it in the slightest. He could only suppress his emotions, put on a respectful smile, and walk toward his father's quiet room.

“Father, your son Yongpeng requests an audience.”

The door to the quiet room opened silently, and Fu Yongpeng carefully walked in. He saw Fu Changsheng with his back to him, looking out the window.

"What is it?" Fu Changsheng's voice was calm and even, revealing no emotion.

Fu Yongpeng quickly bowed and said, "Father, I heard that my second brother has made a breakthrough in his cultivation, so I came to congratulate him. Also... I have been managing family affairs recently and I feel that my cultivation is insufficient. I am afraid that I will fail your trust. I wonder if you... can give me some guidance?" His words were tactful, but the probing meaning in them was very obvious.

Fu Changsheng turned around, his gaze sweeping indifferently over Fu Yongpeng. How could he not know what his eldest son was thinking? Jealous, and always blaming external factors for his own shortcomings.

“Yongpeng,” Fu Changsheng said, “the path of cultivation prioritizes one’s character. If you can transform your competitive spirit and resentment into the motivation for diligent cultivation, your path will naturally be broad. You have done a decent job in family affairs, but you must know that strength is the foundation upon which my Fu family stands.”

He didn't bestow any physical gifts, but instead pointed out Fu Yongpeng's character flaws. This was both a warning and a form of guidance.

Upon hearing this, Fu Yongpeng felt a pang of disappointment, but dared not refute it. He could only bow his head and say, "Father's teachings are correct. I will remember them."

"Go, cultivate diligently, and keep Qinglin under control so he doesn't go astray." Fu Changsheng waved his hand, signaling him to leave.

"Yes, Father." Fu Yongpeng dared not say another word and respectfully withdrew from the quiet room. Once outside, the respect on his face instantly turned gloomy. To him, his father's "guidance" was nothing but perfunctory words, further confirming the fact that his father was "biased."

"Strength is the foundation, is that it... Fine, then I'll make Qinglin even stronger! Strong enough that you can't ignore him!" He clenched his fist.

In the quiet room, Fu Changsheng shook his head slightly.

With many children, each with their own distinct temperament, he could not be absolutely fair. He could only teach them according to their individual needs and provide them with the most suitable guidance. Yongpeng had a flaw in his character, and if he could not realize it on his own, forcing him to have opportunities might actually harm him.

Before returning to Huizhou Prefecture.

He needs to go see Uncle Yu first.

...

...

Fu Changsheng's figure disappeared silently into the perpetual mist outside Yunshan County, like a wisp of green smoke.

The entrance to the secret realm was hidden, and it would have been impossible to find without the special marks left by Yao Yao and the other two. As soon as he stepped in, the surrounding scenery changed instantly. It was no longer a desolate wilderness, but a valley filled with spiritual energy and exotic flowers and plants.

Beside a clear stream in the valley, there was a simple thatched hut.

Master Yu was sitting with his legs crossed, pouring himself a drink from the stream.

"Uncle Yu, you're living a carefree life."

Master Yu turned around upon hearing the voice, and through his drunken haze, he recognized the person. He laughed heartily and tossed his wine gourd over: "I thought it was Yaoyao, but it's you, kid! Come, come, have a drink with this old man first!"

Fu Changsheng reached out and took the gourd, but did not drink from it. He merely weighed it in his hand, then took out a warm, smooth jade box from his robes, his expression turning solemn:
"We'll drink the wine later. Take a look at this first."

Seeing his expression, Master Yu also toned down his joking manner, took the jade box, and casually opened it. The moment the lid was opened, a refreshing and invigorating medicinal fragrance instantly filled the air, instantly uplifting the spirit. Inside the box, a pill the size of a longan, perfectly round, and emitting a faint glow lay quietly.

"This...this is..." Master Yu's hand trembled violently, his drunkenness vanished instantly, his eyes widened as he stared intently at the pill, his voice trembling:
"The Purifying and Dispelling Pill! This... how is this possible? Wasn't the main ingredient for refining this pill extinct ten thousand years ago?"

"Young man of longevity, where...where did you obtain this item? With it, my chronic illnesses and old injuries can be restored by at least 70%! At that time, although I will not be able to return to my peak, I will have no problem unleashing the strength of a pseudo-infant!"

Master Yu carefully closed the jade box, clutching it tightly in his hand as if it were a priceless treasure. He took a deep breath, suppressing his excitement, and resumed his carefree demeanor. He grabbed his wine gourd, took a large gulp, and wiped his mouth with his sleeve: "Good lad! I'll remember this favor! By the way, you've come at the perfect time!"

He took a few steps closer, lowered his voice, and though he seemed casual, his eyes revealed a hint of shrewdness: "In this secret realm, I have discovered a fine place where a 'Wuxiang Flower' is being nurtured. This flower is a top-grade spiritual object that helps with the formation of the Golden Core, stabilizing the embryonic form and improving the quality of the Golden Core. Judging by the time it takes, it will be fully mature in about another year."

Upon hearing this, Fu Changsheng's heart stirred. The more Golden Core cultivators there were, the more special lottery chances he would have, making it a win-win situation: "Uncle Yu, where is he?"

"About a hundred miles to the southwest, there's a troublesome fellow guarding the area," Master Yu clicked his tongue. "It's a mid-stage fourth-tier ancient beast called the 'Earth Lung Fire Python,' which resides on the Earth Fire Spirit Vein. Its innate supernatural power is fused with the earth fire, making it extremely difficult to deal with. I was still recovering from my injuries and didn't bother to provoke it."

"A mid-stage fourth-tier demonic beast?" Fu Changsheng raised an eyebrow, showing no fear whatsoever. Instead, a hint of joy flashed in his eyes, as he needed a fourth-tier demonic core to refine the "Azure Lotus Refining Talisman".

"Uncle Yu, I'll go and meet it."

"Don't be so arrogant, kid!" Master Yu warned, "That fire python is not to be trifled with!"

Fu Changsheng smiled calmly: "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

Having spent many years in the secret realm, Master Yu knew nothing about Fu Changsheng's current combat strength.

at the same time.

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

"You have gifted the Grandmaster a healing elixir, and your family contribution points have been increased to 45,000."

(End of this chapter)