Family Rise: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 596 Nascent Soul Formation Opportunity, Breakthrough, Adding Another Golden Core
Following the route indicated by Master Yu, Fu Changsheng arrived at a scorching valley.

The valley was filled with churning lava and oppressive heat. In the center of the valley, a spiritual plant shaped like a phoenix, its buds about to bloom, swayed gently in the heat – the Wuxiang Flower. Beside the plant, a giant python covered in crimson scales and sporting a single horn coiled up, exuding a ferocious aura.

The earth-lung fire python sensed the presence of a living person and immediately raised its enormous head, its scarlet forked tongue flicking in and out, emitting a threatening hiss.

Fu Changsheng did not step forward, but with a thought, a beam of azure light flew out from his sleeve, landing to the side and transforming into a larger and more magnificent azure dragon. The azure dragon had gleaming scales and a vast aura, already at the peak of the fourth rank. It looked down at the fire python below and let out a deep dragon roar.

As the oppressive aura descended, the Earth-Lung Fire Python was momentarily stunned, a hint of fear flashing in its eyes. Although its talent was extraordinary, the difference in their cultivation levels was simply too great.

"It's up to you now, give it a go," Fu Changsheng said to Qingjiao, his tone filled with trust in his partner. He stood with his hands behind his back, his expression composed, showing no intention of making a move.

Upon receiving the order, the Azure Dragon let out a deafening dragon roar and pounced on the Earth-Lung Fire Python.

Although the fire python fought back fiercely, igniting the earth's fire and engulfing its body in raging flames, its innate supernatural abilities proved utterly powerless under the absolute suppression of the azure dragon's strength. In just a few rounds, the azure dragon pinned it down by a single claw, its powerful demonic energy binding it completely, rendering it immobile.

After subduing the fire python, Qingjiao did not kill it, but turned to look at Fu Changsheng.

Fu Changsheng stepped forward slowly, his gaze calmly fixed on the Earth-Lung Fire Python, its eyes now filled with fear and pleading. He was not a bloodthirsty man; this beast's cultivation was difficult, and it was an ancient, rare species. He hesitated for a moment before speaking:

"Considering the difficulty of your cultivation, are you willing to submit to me, and I will spare your life?"

The Earth-Lung Fire Python had awakened its intelligence. Sensing the calm and convincing aura emanating from Fu Changsheng, and glancing at the imposing Azure Dragon, it finally lowered its head, letting out a whimper of submission, and voluntarily separated a wisp of its divine soul essence.

Fu Changsheng skillfully accepted the soul imprint, completing the master-servant contract.

He casually took out a healing pill and flicked it into the fire python's mouth to help stabilize its injuries.

at the same time.

A familiar mechanical voice echoed in his mind:
"Ding"

"You have added a Golden Core cultivator to your family and have been granted a special lottery draw opportunity. Would you like to redeem it?"

Fu Changsheng pondered for a while, then decided to return to his own secret chamber. There were unknown variables hidden in the inner layer of this secret chamber, so it was always better to be cautious.

……

Master Yu, carrying his wine gourd, swayed as he approached again, a mysterious smile on his face, his voice already somewhat slurred from the alcohol:

"Young man of longevity, there is an even greater opportunity in this secret realm. I have been pondering it for many years, and today I will tell you all at once."

He pointed to an area deep within the secret realm, shrouded in a hazy glow and with faintly visible runes:
"See that? The core area of ​​the secret realm. I've repeatedly tested the restrictions there over the years. Although I can't get in, I can almost confirm it with my divine sense—a 'Nascent Soul Tree' is being nurtured inside!"

"The Nascent Soul Tree?"

Upon hearing this, Fu Changsheng's heart skipped a beat, and even with his composure, his breathing became somewhat rapid.

The difficulty of forming a Nascent Soul is as high as ascending to heaven; countless exceptionally talented Golden Core cultivators spend their entire lives stuck at this bottleneck. However, the "Nascent Soul Fruit" produced by the Nascent Soul Tree is one of the most superior spiritual objects in the world for aiding in Nascent Soul formation, increasing the success rate by 20%! If this news were to spread, it would be enough to unleash a bloodbath throughout the entire cultivation world.

In an instant, Fu Changsheng's mind was filled with a flurry of thoughts.

If he could truly obtain this item, not only would his own path to enlightenment be further advanced, but it would also mean that his family would continue to produce new Nascent Soul cultivators in the future, laying a foundation for an unshakeable legacy for a thousand years!
"Indeed, it is the Nascent Soul Tree."

Master Yu nodded affirmatively, then immediately poured cold water on the idea:
"However, the barrier in that core area is incredibly strong. I have tried countless times to force it open, and it would require the immense magical power of a Nascent Soul stage cultivator."

As if doused with a bucket of cold water, Fu Changsheng's excitement instantly cooled down by more than half.

The power of the Nascent Soul stage? He was currently hovering on the threshold of the late Core Formation stage, a far cry from the Nascent Soul realm. The treasure was right before his eyes, yet he could only sigh in vain due to his insufficient strength. This disparity made him sigh softly, a barely perceptible hint of regret and helplessness flashing across his face.

Master Yu noticed the change in his expression, laughed heartily, and patted him forcefully on the shoulder:

"Tsk, getting discouraged already? That's not like you at all!"

He took a swig of wine, wiped the wine stains off his beard, and said in a nonchalant manner:

"Don't worry! I don't have many other strengths, but I am patient and have some knowledge of array formations and restrictions. Since brute force won't work, let's try a clever way! Although this barrier is powerful, it has been around for a long time and there are always patterns to follow. I will continue to ponder and try slowly. I may not be able to find a clever way to replace the power of the Nascent Soul."

His tone was relaxed, carrying a certain confidence that was both rough around the edges and meticulous:

"Anyway, the Nascent Soul Fruit will take years to mature, and we have plenty of time. What's the rush? Once you reach the False Nascent Soul realm and my injuries have healed, we can discuss this further. Who knows, I might just find the trick someday? Good things come to those who wait. This is your opportunity, and you can't escape it!"

Hearing Master Yu's seemingly casual yet optimistic and confident words, the gloom in Fu Changsheng's heart gradually dissipated. Yes, the path of cultivation is long; how can one be discouraged by temporary obstacles?
After a moment's thought, Fu Changsheng also spoke of another important matter on his mind:

"Uncle Yu, there is another matter that I would like to ask you to consider."

He described in detail the mountain-protecting array of the Tianyin tribe, which was built on the natural Xuan Yin earth vein and was a complete whole, explaining its general operating rules and changes in Qi.

If they can break through this formation and conquer the Tianyin tribe, the Fu family can open a secret path to the South China Sea.

At that time, they could either establish a new base in the South China Sea or have an additional way to cope with any situation, no longer being completely controlled by the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Moreover... this can also be used to find the whereabouts of Hongyu.

Upon hearing this, Master Yu tilted his head back and gulped down several mouthfuls of wine. He casually wiped his mouth with his sleeve, squinted, and gestured with his fingers in the air, simulating the flow of an array. After a long while, he shook his head and clicked his tongue.
"Tsk, young man of longevity, you've really given this old man a difficult task. From your description, the great formation of the Tianyin tribe borrows the power of the earth's veins, with yin and yang flowing in a self-contained cycle, making it almost impenetrable. You think you can just force your way through?"

He let out a burp, clearly authentic.
"It cannot be broken without the power of a Nascent Soul cultivator! At least for now, there seems to be almost no flaw to exploit."

Seeing Fu Changsheng's brows furrow slightly, Master Yu chuckled again, patted another wine gourd hanging from his waist, and changed the subject:
"However, don't be in a hurry. Once my injuries have healed to about 70-80% and my soul is fully restored, and I combine this with the ancient restriction fragments I've been studying in this secret realm over the years, I might be able to deduce some other insights. No matter how perfect an array is, it still has its own rules and cycles of operation, and it's not impossible to find a 'gap' that can be used."

He swung his gourd, but his eyes cleared somewhat, revealing a confidence and cunning akin to that of a seasoned array master:

"There's always a way! Just wait for my good news. Come, let's not talk about these brain-teasing things for now. Have a drink with me to celebrate that you got the Fire Python and I got the Elixir—double happiness!"

Fu Changsheng took the gourd of wine offered to him and took a sip. The spicy wine calmed his slightly agitated mind, which had been agitated by the Nascent Soul Tree and the Heavenly Yin Formation.

……

Master Yu had been itching to get his hands on the "Pure Void Elixir" for a long time. After discussing it with Fu Changsheng, he couldn't wait to sneak into his simple thatched hut, set up a few simple isolation barriers, and begin to refine the medicinal power in seclusion in order to recover from his injuries as soon as possible.

Fu Changsheng summoned the newly subdued Earth-Lung Fire Python to the outside of the thatched hut:

"You have cultivated here for many years and are familiar with the environment. You shall protect the Dharma here and not allow any living creatures to approach."

The Earth-Lung Fire Python let out a low growl, indicating that it had accepted the order. Its massive body stood like a crimson wall, faithfully guarding the thatched hut.

After making the arrangements, Fu Changsheng did not rest.

With a year still to go before the Wuxiang Flower matures, he naturally wouldn't waste any time. He found a flat bluestone by the clear stream not far from the thatched hut, sat down cross-legged, and with a wave of his hand, six round beads of different colors, yet all radiating immense demonic power and pure spiritual light, appeared before him—these were the six fourth-order demon cores he had obtained from Chen Feng, Su Wan, and Fairy Tianyin.

These demon cores have different properties; some are as fiery as fire, some as gentle as water, and some as sharp as gold. They are all excellent materials for refining the "Azure Lotus Tempering Talisman".

Immediately afterwards, he solemnly took out a talisman brush.

The pen's handle is a deep, dark purple, as if containing stars, with naturally formed, mysterious patterns that subtly resonate with the laws of heaven and earth. The bristles are made of some unknown silver animal hair, with a point of spiritual light swirling at the tip. It is none other than the Nine Heavens Heavenly Talisman Pen, the growth-type talisman-making treasure that has accompanied him for so long.

"Old buddy, you'll have to work hard again today."

Adjust your breathing to bring yourself to peak condition.

Fu Changsheng's gaze sharpened, becoming incredibly focused and composed.

He made a hand seal, channeling his pure magical power into the Nine Heavens Celestial Brush. The brush tip instantly lit up, radiating a brilliant yet gentle nine-colored glow, and the surrounding spiritual energy spontaneously converged towards the tip.

He was already quite adept at refining the Azure Lotus Tempering Talisman.

Just as the energy of the sixth demon core was completely refined into the talisman, and the last Azure Lotus Refining Talisman was completed, a sudden change occurred!

The Nine Heavens Celestial Brush, which had been operating at high efficiency and receiving a massive infusion of energy, suddenly burst forth with a nine-colored radiance several times stronger than before!

The star patterns on the pen seemed to come alive, frantically absorbing the fragments of laws and pure spiritual energy that had dissipated during the refining process.

An even more powerful and profound aura awakened and rose from the pen!
Fu Changsheng's eyes lit up with surprise.

He could clearly feel that the bottleneck of the natal talisman brush in his hand was loosening and breaking through!
"Om-"

A clear, resonant hum echoed through the valley. The Nine Heavens Celestial Brush's radiance was restrained, but the spiritual pressure it emitted suddenly rose to a new level, becoming even more profound and vast. The spiritual light at the tip of the brush became increasingly condensed, as if it could easily pierce through the void and connect with the Great Dao.

Fourth-grade superior quality!

With the successful refinement of six high-level spirit talismans, this already immensely potential growth treasure finally achieved its goal of becoming a fourth-tier high-grade magic weapon!
at the same time.

A familiar mechanical voice echoed in his mind:
"Ding"

"You have acquired six Azure Lotus Refining Elixir Talismans for the family; your family contribution points have increased to 60,000."

...

...

Time flies, and a year passes in the blink of an eye in the secret realm.

On this day, Fu Changsheng sensed something and opened his eyes from meditation. In a flash, he arrived at the scorching valley.

In the center of the valley, the "Wuxiang Flower" had fully bloomed. Its petals resembled a phoenix spreading its wings, and its entire body shimmered with a seven-colored radiance like glass. A refreshing fragrance permeated the air, invigorating the mind and soul, and even the nascent golden core seemed to flutter with joy.

"The time has come."

Fu Changsheng's face showed relief. He carefully stepped forward, took out a warm jade box and a specially made jade shovel, and skillfully harvested the spiritual flower, which was crucial to his path to immortality, along with the spiritual soil around its roots, and carefully sealed it away. With this, the clan could have another Golden Core cultivator.

at the same time.

A familiar mechanical voice echoed in his mind:
"Ding"

"You have acquired a Core Formation aid for the family; your family contribution points have increased to 64,000."

……

"Now that this matter is settled, it's time to leave."

Fu Changsheng glanced back at the thatched hut where Master Yu was in seclusion. The restrictions there were still secure, and the aura was steady and increasingly powerful. It was clear that Master Yu was in a critical period of refining the medicinal power and would not be out of seclusion for a while.

After a moment's thought, Fu Changsheng had already made up his mind.

He summoned the Earth-Lung Fire Python and gave it the following instructions:
“I need to go out to take care of some things. You stay here and protect the Grandmaster until he comes out of seclusion. This place is full of spiritual energy, which will also benefit your cultivation.”

The Earth-Lung Fire Python responded with a low growl, its massive body coiling around the thatched hut, its aura connected to the earth's veins, forming a solid defensive line.

After making the arrangements, Fu Changsheng did not delay any longer. His figure transformed into a streak of azure light and quietly left the secret realm of Yunshan County.

Based on previously obtained intelligence.

"Earth Spirit Milk" is located in a stalactite cave in an abandoned mine in Jingzhou.

This is a thousand-year-old spiritual milk.

If he can find it, it will be enough to help him break through to the late stage of the Golden Core realm.

Fu Changsheng went directly to the entrance of the mine under his own name that had been abandoned for many years.

The depths of the mine were dark and damp, crisscrossed by abandoned mine tunnels. Fu Changsheng released his divine sense to carefully investigate, while simultaneously patting his spirit beast pouch. A flash of white light appeared, and a snow-white fox with strange blue markings on its face landed gracefully. This little fellow possessed an exceptionally keen sense of smell and spiritual awareness, making it most adept at finding spiritual treasures of heaven and earth.

"Go, sense carefully, and find the stone cave containing pure earth vein spiritual energy," Fu Changsheng instructed.

The blue-faced white fox twitched its pink nose, a glint of light flashing in its eyes. It then transformed into a white shadow and led the way. Fu Changsheng followed closely behind, traversing the intricate network of abandoned mine tunnels in search of its prey.

However, after searching the mine for several days, they found nothing except some long-depleted ordinary spirit ore veins and a few worthless natural caves. They didn't even detect a trace of any decent spiritual energy fluctuations, let alone "earth spirit milk."

Fu Changsheng stood at the mine's exit, gazing at the desolate mountains and fields, his brows slightly furrowed:

"The intelligence is probably accurate, but these 'abandoned mines' probably don't just refer to my Fu family's mine. There are quite a few abandoned mines in Huainan Prefecture and even the entire Jingzhou. Some of them may be in the hands of other powerful families or forces, but the outside world just refers to them as 'abandoned mines'."

If that's the case, the search area would be too large.

Investigating the abandoned mines under the names of other powerful families one by one would not only be time-consuming, but also easily attract unnecessary attention and alert the enemy. Although he urgently needed spiritual items like "Earth Spirit Milk" that could instantly restore his magical power and assist in breaking through the barrier, he also knew that this matter could not be rushed.

"It seems that this matter needs to be considered carefully."

Fu Changsheng made a decisive decision. He was decisive and didn't get stuck on things. Since this path was temporarily blocked, he put it aside and turned to other important matters.

"Return to Huizhou Prefecture. On one hand, I can entrust the task of searching for the 'Stalactite Cave' to the younger members of the family, so that they can keep an eye out and make their move gradually. On the other hand, I also need to go back and give away the four spiritual fruits from the [Family Treasure Tree]."

...

...

On the edge of Heshan County in Jingzhou, deep within an abandoned mine long forgotten by time.

He Qingjun was panting heavily, his white beard covered in dust, his meager spiritual power from the late Qi Refining stage nearly exhausted. He had been chasing a rather plump "earth rat" for most of the day. Although this low-level demonic beast wasn't of much use, its fur and flesh could still be exchanged for a few spirit stones at the market. To accumulate the unattainable Foundation Establishment Pill for his grandson, this old man dared not slack off in the slightest.

"You beast, where do you think you're going!"

Seeing the group of groundhogs scurry into a narrow mine tunnel, He Qingjun gritted his teeth and followed them in. The tunnel was dark and damp, reeking of mold. However, they hadn't gone far when suddenly a dense rustling sound came from all around.

He Qingjun's heart skipped a beat, and he knew something was wrong!

Dozens of small, scarlet eyes lit up in the darkness—this wasn't a lone groundhog at all, but rather someone had disturbed a rat's nest!
In an instant, dozens of ferocious ground squirrels pounced from all directions, their sharp claws gleaming coldly.

Although He Qingjun was experienced in combat, he was no match for four opponents, especially since his spiritual energy was nearly depleted. He wielded a low-quality magical longsword, fighting and retreating, the sword light appearing extremely weak in the darkness.

"Boom!"

Just as he was struggling to cope, the long-neglected mine tunnels, strained by the fierce fighting and fluctuations of spiritual energy, finally gave way. The rock strata at the top groaned under the weight and then collapsed en masse! Boulders carrying mud and soil crashed down! "My life is over!"

A flicker of despair crossed He Qingjun's eyes. He could almost see himself buried here, his grandson's expectant gaze shattered. He instinctively covered his head, his body being pulled downwards by a tremendous force.

I don't know how long I fell, but instead of being smashed to pieces as I expected, I landed with a "plop" in a cold puddle.

cough cough...

He Qingjun struggled to get up, soaked to the bone and looking utterly disheveled.

But the next moment, he froze, his cloudy old eyes widening instantly.

This is not the dark bottom of a mine, but a huge natural cave!

Countless stalactites of various shapes and sizes hung from the cave ceiling, shimmering with a soft glow and illuminating the interior in a dreamlike manner. What shocked him most was the spiritual energy here! The pure spiritual energy, so dense it was almost impenetrable, enveloped him like a warm, flowing stream. With each breath, his long-parched meridians felt an unprecedented sense of comfort, and even his previously depleted spiritual energy was slowly recovering!

"This...this is..."

He Qingjun's heart pounded wildly; he had never felt such abundant spiritual energy in his entire life! He suppressed his excitement and eagerly scanned his surroundings. Soon, his gaze settled on a stone platform in the center of the cave.

There, there is a naturally formed stone mortar, about the size of a bowl.

The stone mortar contained a small pool of milky white liquid, the surface of which was shimmering with iridescent light and emitted an indescribable fragrance. Just one whiff of it made one feel refreshed and as if they had become ten years younger!

"Millennial Spiritual Milk!"

He Qingjun's mind went blank for a moment, and he instantly recognized the object!
He had seen related records in his family's tattered books. This was a rare treasure nurtured by heaven and earth, and a sacred medicine for Golden Core cultivators to break through their bottlenecks!
A wave of overwhelming joy washed over He Qingjun, instantly engulfing him.

He seemed to see his grandson's bright future after successfully establishing his foundation, and the hope for his branch of the clan to rise again! He trembled as he reached out his hand, wanting to touch the legendary spiritual object.

But his finger suddenly stopped just inches away from her breast.

The ecstasy on He Qingjun's face gradually faded, replaced by an unprecedented calmness and solemnity.

"No..." he muttered to himself, withdrawing his hand and examining it carefully. "The Thousand-Year Spirit Milk is extremely gentle yet contains immense energy. It must be stored in a specially made jade bottle or cold jade box to lock in its spiritual essence. If I take it with my bare hands like this, I'm afraid I'll damage its spiritual essence in an instant, wasting such a precious resource!"

More importantly, he sensed his own weak cultivation level and a bitter smile appeared on his lips: "Such a divine substance, how domineering is its medicinal power? Let alone this whole pool, even a single drop would probably be enough to burst my body, which is only at the late stage of Qi Refining! I am not worthy of enjoying it, I am not worthy of enjoying it..."

He raised his head, his sharp gaze sweeping across the top of the cave. Sure enough, in one corner, he discovered several fine cracks, from which wisps of pure spiritual energy were slowly dissipating. Although the process was slow, if this continued, the abnormal spiritual energy here would inevitably be detected by those outside.

“The restriction has been broken, and spiritual energy is leaking out... This place is no longer a place to stay for long, nor can I occupy it alone.”

He Qingjun took a deep breath, his mind clear. This opportunity was too great, far beyond his ability to handle alone! He understood the principle of "possessing a treasure is a crime" all too well, having lived most of his life. Once the news leaked, not only would he, a mere late-stage Qi Refining cultivator, be unable to protect this immense wealth, but the entire eighth-rank He family would likely face annihilation!

We must contact the clan as soon as possible!

The only way to make a decision is to report this matter to the clan and let the Grand Master of the Purple Mansion decide. Perhaps we can use this merit to secure the greatest benefit for our grandson and our branch of the family! This is the wisest and safest choice.

With that thought in mind, He Qingjun no longer hesitated.

He took one last, greedy look at the pool of millennia-old spiritual milk, as if trying to etch the image into the depths of his soul. Then, resolutely, he turned and, drawing on his years of experience, began searching for a way out of the collapsed ruins. At that moment, he had only one thought in his mind: to return to his family as quickly and safely as possible and bring back this news that could change their destiny!
...

...

Upon receiving the astonishing news secretly delivered by He Qingjun, an elder from a collateral branch of the He family, He Qingshang, was overwhelmed with emotion. Knowing the gravity of the matter, she dared not delay and personally went to the abandoned mine to confirm it.

When she passed through the hidden crevice under He Qingjun's guidance, felt the dense spiritual energy, and saw the thousand-year-old Earth Spirit Milk that was like a treasure of heaven and earth, even with her composure as the head of the family, she almost lost her composure.

"May Heaven bless my He family... No, this thing is both a blessing and a curse; if handled improperly, it could lead to the extermination of our clan!"

He Qingchang quickly calmed down.

She immediately ordered the most trusted array masters in the clan to set up layers of concealment and protective restrictions around the natural stone cave as quickly as possible, sparing no expense, and classified the place as a top secret.

However, she knew that the truth would eventually come out.

The He family is currently just a minor eighth-rank clan, without even a single Purple Mansion cultivator within its ranks. They are utterly powerless to protect such a treasure, coveted even by Golden Core cultivators. Seeking external assistance is the only option, and this assistance must be powerful enough and have some connection to the He family.

The first thing He Qingchang thought of was her younger sister, He Qingru, and the Fu family her sister had married into! Especially her sister's husband, Fu Yongyi, who was said to have successfully formed his Golden Core and become a high-ranking Golden Core cultivator!
With mixed feelings, He Qingchang secretly arrived at the Fu family.

Back then, her father intended to pass the position of family head to her, who was more capable of enduring humiliation and hardship, and hoped to strengthen the alliance with the emerging Fu family through marriage. His first choice for marriage was Fu Yongyi, the adopted son of the Fu family. However, she was proud and arrogant at the time, and looked down on him because he was an adopted son and seemed to have mediocre talent. In the end, the marriage fell to her younger sister, He Qingru, who had a more gentle temperament.

Looking back now, it's clear that life is unpredictable.

Her younger sister and husband had a harmonious marriage, and her husband had even achieved the Golden Core stage, while she, though supporting the He family, was struggling to make ends meet. A trace of regret and barely perceptible sorrow swept through her heart.

In the courtyard of her younger sister He Qingru, the sisters met and were filled with emotion.

He Qingru now possessed an elegant demeanor and her cultivation had reached the Purple Mansion realm, making her a completely different person from when she was at home. Upon hearing her sister's purpose, she dared not delay and immediately introduced her to Fu Yongyi, who had just finished his seclusion.

After explaining the purpose of the visit.

He Qingru helped pass on the message:

"My lord, my sister has discussed it with the clan. The He family is willing to offer this precious land, along with the thousand-year-old spiritual milk, to the Fu family. They only ask that the Fu family, considering the kinship, bestow ten Purple Mansion auxiliary spiritual items to help the He family's descendants break through and continue the family's heritage."

"Ten portions of Purple Mansion Spiritual Items?"

Upon hearing this, a hint of surprise flashed in Fu Yongyi's eyes.

He had initially thought the He family would use this opportunity to make exorbitant demands, asking for resources at the Golden Core level or even directly requesting the Fu family's long-term protection. He hadn't expected the conditions to be so "restrained." The Millennium Earth Spirit Milk, especially beneficial for late-stage Golden Core cultivators breaking through bottlenecks, was far more valuable than ten portions of Purple Mansion Spiritual Items.

He Qingchang's move, seemingly at a disadvantage, was actually shrewd. She showed sufficient sincerity, and what she asked for was something that the Fu family could easily provide and that was crucial to the He family. She handled the situation perfectly.

“Sister Qingchang, I am aware of this matter. The thousand-year-old spiritual milk is indeed precious, and the He family's conditions are reasonable. However, the allocation of ten portions of Purple Mansion spiritual items needs to be reported to Father for a decision. Fortunately, Father is currently in the manor. Please wait a moment, and I will go and report to him immediately.”

After saying that, Fu Yongyi stood up, gestured to He Qingru to take good care of his sister, and then turned and walked towards the quiet room in the backyard where Fu Changsheng was in seclusion.

...

...

In the quiet room of the Fu family's backyard, Fu Changsheng listened to his son Fu Yongyi's report, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

The stalactite cave he had been searching for had returned to his sight in this way, and it was even offered by his in-laws, which saved him a lot of trouble.

"Please invite Patriarch He over for a chat."

A moment later, He Qingshang, led by Fu Yongyi, stepped into the meditation room again. Facing Fu Changsheng, the renowned patriarch of the Fu family in Huizhou and a Golden Elixir Master, she was even more nervous than when facing her brother-in-law, and bowed deeply.
"Junior He Qingshang pays respects to Master Fu."

Fu Changsheng offered a slight gesture of support, his attitude gentle: "Patriarch He, there's no need for such formalities. Yongyi has already told me. The He family has discovered a treasure trove and is willing to offer it to the Fu family. Our Fu family will remember this kindness. The ten portions of Purple Mansion Spiritual Items you requested are acceptable."

Upon hearing this, He Qingchang felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from her heart. Overwhelmed with emotion, she bowed again, saying, "Thank you so much, Master Fu! The He family will forever be grateful!"

"Let's not delay, let's go take a look." Fu Changsheng acted decisively and immediately got up.

The group secretly set off and returned to the abandoned mine in Jingzhou. With He Qingshang leading the way, they quickly passed through a hidden crevice and entered the natural stone cave.

Upon entering the stone cave, even with his extensive knowledge, Fu Changsheng couldn't help but show satisfaction upon sensing the extremely pure spiritual energy of the place. His gaze immediately fell upon the small, milky-white spiritual pool in the center of the cave.

At the bottom of the pool, the round, full, and radiant ancient earth spirit milk settles quietly, emitting an aroma that is refreshing and invigorating.

Fu Changsheng stepped forward to examine it carefully, and nodded slightly:

"As expected of a thousand-year-old quality, and its spiritual essence is complete, it has never been used in the slightest, which is rare."

Without further delay, he took out a jade bottle that he had prepared beforehand, meticulously carved from ten-thousand-year-old icy jade. As soon as the bottle appeared, the surrounding air seemed to freeze.

He carefully formed a hand seal, meticulously transferring the entire pool of millennia-old spiritual milk, along with the three drops of the most essential primordial spiritual milk, into the Cold Jade Marrow Bottle, sealing it securely. As the spiritual milk left the pool, the spiritual energy within the cave seemed to dim slightly.

Having done all this, Fu Changsheng turned around and, without hesitation, took out ten identical jade boxes from his storage ring and handed them to He Qingshang:
"Patriarch He, these are ten complete sets of Purple Mansion auxiliary spiritual items, including essential items such as 'Condensed Purple Qi' and 'Pulse Protection Pill,' enough to support ten Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivators attempting to break through to the Purple Mansion realm. Please take a look."

He Qingchang received the jade box with trembling hands. A quick scan with her divine sense revealed its substantial weight and superior quality, far exceeding her expectations. She was overwhelmed with gratitude.

"The He family will never forget Master Fu's generous gift!"

Fu Changsheng waved his hand and said nonchalantly, "This is a fair trade, and the He family deserves it."

After everyone left.

Fu Changsheng instructed Qiu Niang: "Qiu Niang, the natural restrictions here have been damaged. You should personally set up the 'Minor Five Elements Concealing Spirit Array' and the 'Illusory Heart Mist Array' to completely seal off and conceal this place. It will be difficult for anyone other than a Nascent Soul cultivator to detect it."

"Yes, Master." Qiu Niang accepted the order and immediately began to get busy, taking out various array plates and flags and skillfully setting them up.

Then, Fu Changsheng patted the spirit beast pouch again, and two streaks of dark light flashed, transforming into two fist-sized, beetle-shaped spirit insects that were jet black and shiny, emanating a chilling aura.

"These are two near-fourth-tier 'Spirit-Devouring Insects,' best at devouring spiritual energy and concealing their tracks, and are exceptionally ferocious. Let them guard this place, just in case." Upon receiving the command, the Spirit-Devouring Insects flapped their wings, emitting a faint buzzing sound, and quickly blended into the shadows of the cave, disappearing from sight.

……

After arranging the protection of the grotto, Fu Changsheng and Qiu Niang carefully checked the newly set up array to ensure that everything was foolproof before preparing to return to the Fu family.

Before leaving, he seemed to remember something, stopped, and looked at his calm and respectful son Fu Yongyi beside him. A flash of light appeared in his hand, and the Azure Lotus Refining Talisman appeared in his palm.

"Yongyi".

Fu Yongyi looked up at the sound and saw the talisman his father was holding. He was taken aback by the unique, serene aura emanating from it. He didn't recognize the origin of the talisman, but instinctively sensed its extraordinary nature.

Fu Changsheng handed over the talisman and explained, "This is the 'Azure Lotus Refining Elixir Talisman,' which I recently made. Its effects are extraordinary; it can refine the elixir to a certain extent, purify the elixir essence, and has the miraculous effect of improving the quality of the elixir."

"Improve the quality of the Golden Core?"

Upon hearing this, Fu Yongyi was jolted awake, almost unable to believe his ears!

The quality of a Golden Core is almost entirely determined from the moment it is formed, forming the foundation of a cultivator and determining the upper limit of their future cultivation path. While ancient texts contain legends mentioning certain heaven-defying spiritual objects or opportunities that can improve the quality of a Golden Core, these are all ethereal and unattainable. His condensation of a second-grade Golden Core was already a stroke of luck; he never dared to hope for any further advancement!

And now, his father has so casually placed this legendary opportunity into his hands!
"Father...this...this item is far too precious!"

Seeing his son's barely contained excitement, Fu Changsheng's eyes flashed with a gentle smile, and he patted his shoulder:

"Your Golden Core is newly formed and your foundation is solid, making this the perfect time to use this talisman. A second-grade Golden Core is already quite good. If you can use the power of this talisman to take it a step further, condense the prototype of a first-grade Golden Core, or even truly achieve first-grade status, it will be of immeasurable benefit to your future condensation of the Nascent Soul and even your pursuit of higher paths."

First-grade Golden Elixir!
A thunderous boom echoed in Fu Yongyi's mind as those four words exploded within him. That was a legendary realm, recorded in ancient texts as unattainable without extraordinary opportunity, unwavering perseverance, and exceptional talent. Once achieved, the quality of one's inner energy, the depth of one's magical power, and one's understanding of the laws of heaven and earth would all undergo a qualitative leap!

"Father's generous gift is like a second birth! Your son... will certainly live up to your expectations, diligently cultivate, make good use of this talisman, refine the golden core, and seek the Great Dao!"

After Fu Yongyi left.

Fu Changsheng also planned to finish his official duties and then go into seclusion to try to break through to the late stage of the Golden Core realm. With the Millennium Spirit Milk, breaking through should not be difficult.

...

...

As soon as Fu Changsheng returned to the skies above Huizhou Prefecture, he felt an unusual surge of spiritual energy in the heavens and earth. Dark clouds covered the distant horizon, silver snakes danced wildly, and a mighty heavenly power descended.

"Is it the Golden Core Tribulation?" Fu Changsheng's gaze sharpened, then a relieved smile appeared on his lips. "Judging from the direction, it's the place where Yongrui was in seclusion. He has finally reached this point."

He did not rush to approach, lest he interfere with the heavenly tribulation, but instead quietly observed from a distance. He saw that the tribulation area was already shrouded by a profound array, with flowing array light, which was the "tribulation protection array" that the Fu family now had as standard equipment.

At the heart of the formation, an ancient and simple mirror floats, its face aligned with the tribulation clouds. It is the "Thunder Mirror," capable of dividing and weakening the lightning tribulation.

At the edge of the great formation, a massive and majestic Chaos Beast roared to the sky, its body shrouded in chaotic energy, filled with a thirst for heavenly lightning.

The entire tribulation process, though filled with thunder and terrifying scenes, proceeded smoothly and methodically thanks to the Fu family's skillful and procedural approach. The Thunder Mirror repeatedly refracted and weakened the lightning pillars, the protective array steadily withstood the remaining power, and the Chaos Beast greedily devoured the dissipated lightning power. Its aura, tempered by the lightning, grew increasingly deep and powerful, reaching the critical point of near-fourth rank, needing only one more opportunity to completely transform.

Finally, he safely passed the ninefold tribulation of lightning. The tribulation clouds dispersed, and sweet rain fell from the sky. The pure spiritual energy of heaven and earth nourished him, and Fu Yongrui, who was bathed in it, saw his aura rise steadily, officially stepping onto the path of the Golden Core!

At the same time, the spiritual veins of the entire Huizhou Prefecture also benefited from this Golden Core achievement, with the spiritual energy becoming more active and abundant, showing a faint trend of advancing in rank again.

Once the strange phenomena of heaven and earth subsided, Fu Yongrui, who had successfully transcended the tribulation but whose aura was still somewhat unstable, immediately came before Fu Changsheng and respectfully bowed: "Father! Your son has successfully completed the Core Formation and has fulfilled his mission!"

Fu Changsheng looked at his adopted son, whose face was resolute and whose eyes held a sharpness and composure honed from long-term leadership of the Dark Hall. Now, he possessed the majesty of a Golden Core cultivator, which greatly pleased Fu Changsheng.

Fu Yongrui has been in seclusion for decades in order to break through to the Golden Elixir stage.

"Good! Very good!" Fu Changsheng nodded with a smile and patted his shoulder. "The Fu family has gained another Golden Core cultivator. This is a joyous occasion!"

Fu Yongrui's face showed joy, but also a hint of urgency:

"Thank you, Father! However, I have been in seclusion for a long time, and I am truly concerned about the operation of the Dark Hall. I wonder how it is now..."

“Yongrui, I understand your thoughts. But your Golden Core is newly formed and your realm is not yet stable. This is a critical period. The affairs of the Dark Hall have their own operating procedures, which can be handled by the deputy for the time being. Your first priority is to immediately return to seclusion to consolidate your Golden Core realm. You need to stabilize it for at least a year and a half to completely stabilize your cultivation.”

Fu Changsheng's tone turned serious: "Cultivation is the foundation. Do not let worldly affairs shake your foundation. It is not too late to take over the Dark Hall when your realm is stable."

Seeing his father's resolute attitude and the reasonableness of his words, Fu Yongrui, though still concerned about the matter at hand, knew the priorities and suppressed his eagerness, bowing and saying, "Yes, Your son obeys! I will go back to seclusion to consolidate my cultivation!"

at the same time.

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

"Your clan has gained a Golden Core cultivator and you have been granted a special lottery draw opportunity. Would you like to redeem it?"

Including the previous one.

He then had two special chances to win a prize.

(End of this chapter)