Family Rise: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 603 Cutting off the fuel supply, using one tiger to kill another, collapse
At the entrance to Hidden Mist Workshop, beside the once bustling passageway, now stands a tall, dark iron pillar.

Ouyang Fei was suspended from his shoulder blades by chains as thick as a child's arm.

His body was covered in blood, his robes were torn, and his exposed skin was covered with gruesome wounds and scorch marks, some so deep that the bone was visible, and others were an ominous black, clearly indicating that he had suffered from the backlash of a deadly poison and the torture of special instruments of torture.

Every day at noon, disciples from the Punishment Hall would step forward and unleash various insidious spells, either drawing earth fire to burn their meridians or summoning bone-corroding winds to ravage their souls. The piercing screams often shattered the silence above the market, causing passing cultivators to turn their heads in dismay, feeling a chill in their hearts, yet daring not to speak out in anger. Some soft-hearted female cultivators couldn't bear to watch and hurriedly lowered their heads and left.

"Tsk tsk, that's ruthless..."

"The Joyful Sect is making an example of someone to warn others; I've heard they're trying to lure people from the Fu family."

"Sigh, why bother? Wouldn't it be better to just give me a quick death?"

Faint whispers circulated among the crowd, but no one dared to take a step forward.

Master Huanxi remained calmly behind the scenes, observing with detached indifference. This was exactly the effect he wanted: to use the continuous pain and humiliation to break down Fu Molan and Fu Changli's psychological defenses, forcing them to lose their minds in extreme anger and worry, and willingly jump into this deadly trap.
-
No one noticed that on the second floor of a shop selling low-level talismans on the edge of the market, a slender figure was hidden in the shadows behind the window.

It was Fu Yongning.

She had come looking for the wooden flying rat, but instead witnessed the horrific torture inflicted on Ouyang Fei.

Those suppressed roars of pain were like the sharpest needles, piercing her heart. In a daze, she seemed to return to the cold backyard of the Prince's mansion, seeing her weak, helpless, and tormented self from years ago. Helplessness, anger, and deep-seated hatred intertwined, almost overwhelming her reason, making her rush out recklessly.

But she bit her lower lip hard, tasting the salty, metallic flavor of blood. No! Absolutely not!

She took a deep breath, her internal energy slowly circulating, a cool life force coursing through her body, barely suppressing her surging blood and killing intent. Impulsiveness wouldn't save Grandpa Fei, and it would only put Aunt Mo Lan and Aunt Chang Li in a desperate situation.

She had to wait, wait for the most suitable time.
-
On the execution platform, a new round of torture had just ended. The disciple who carried out the execution retreated with a cold smile.

Ouyang Fei's head drooped, his breath shallow and weak, as if he would die at any moment. However, in the silence, he suddenly raised his head, and with the last of his strength, let out a hoarse, maniacal laugh, a laugh filled with endless mockery and resolute determination:

"Hahaha... You scum of the Joyful Sect! Is this all the... tricks you've got?"

He coughed up several mouthfuls of black blood, his voice broken but clearly carrying throughout the surroundings:
"Mo Lan! Chang Li! And... all the sons of the Fu family! Listen up—!"

His eyes were wide open, tears of blood mingling with sweat streamed down his face, and he spoke each word slowly and deliberately, as if weeping blood:

"Don't...come...out!"

"I... I may die, but eighteen years from now... I'll be a hero again!"

"Whoever falls for this trap...shows himself...I'll never recognize him, even in death!!"

This sudden shout moved all the onlookers. The determination and protectiveness in that voice pierced through physical pain and shook the very soul.

Yin Wujiu, who was in charge of surveillance, frowned and waved to his disciple: "Gag him!"

...

...

In the secret outpost hundreds of miles away, the atmosphere was as heavy as the deathly silence before a storm.

Fu Changli abruptly stood up, her spiritual energy fluctuating slightly due to the surge of her emotions. This caused the Chaos Beast, which had been dozing in the corner, to raise its head, and the vines of the Skeleton Demon Vine wriggled uneasily in the shadows. The Azure Dragon with Azure Scales coiled to the side, its golden vertical pupils looking at Fu Changli with a questioning gaze.

"I can't wait any longer!" Fu Changli's voice was filled with barely suppressed anxiety and determination. "Mo Lan, did you see the images that were sent back? Uncle Fei... he's about to collapse! He's suffering inhuman torture every day, his meridians are ruptured, and his golden core is dimming! If we keep waiting, even if we manage to rescue him in the end, he'll just be a cripple who's exhausted and on his last legs! That's worse than killing him!"

"I'm going to attack another important stronghold of the Joyful Sect, 'Crimson Flame Valley' near the Yunlang Mountains!" Fu Changli said decisively. This was a risky plan she had been pondering for several days. "Following the same strategy as last time, we'll use the 'besieging Wei to rescue Zhao' tactic! I'll take Qinglin, Chaos, and Demon Vine to create a big enough commotion to force the Joyful Sect to send Golden Core cultivators back from Hidden Mist Market to reinforce us! Once the market's defenses weaken, Molan, you immediately take action and rescue Uncle Fei in the chaos!"

She believes this is currently the only way to break the deadlock and seize a glimmer of hope.

"Chang Li, no."

Fu Molan's response was concise and direct: "The Joyful Sect will not suffer the same loss twice. Crimson Flame Valley, and all other important strongholds, must be heavily guarded and their formations fully activated, just waiting for us to walk into their trap. If you go there, not only will you fail to lure the tiger away from the mountain, but you will also be surrounded and unable to protect yourself."

Fu Changli gripped the jade talisman tightly, arguing, "Are we just going to stand by and watch Uncle Fei be worn down to death?! Mo Lan, I know there are risks, but this is our only chance! Even the safest plan needs the right opportunity! Right now, the opportunity is that Uncle Fei is still alive! Once his golden core is completely shattered and his soul dissipates, it will be too late!"

She would rather take the risk than spend her future filled with endless regret.

...

...

The Yunlang Mountains are shrouded in mist year-round, with ancient trees reaching for the sky, and the chilling roars of beasts echoing from their depths. This place is not only a land of spiritual herbs and precious medicines, but also an important training and resource base for the Huanxi Sect. Several months ago, the once-in-a-century hunting grounds opened, and countless cultivators eager for opportunities and trials poured in, naturally including a large number of Huanxi Sect disciples and their vassals.

A slightly disheveled figure of a rogue cultivator followed the flow of people, carefully passing through the checkpoint set up by the Joyful Sect at the entrance to the mountain range. This person had an ordinary face, and her aura remained at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage; she was none other than Fu Changli, who had used the "Thousand Faces Technique." With her head bowed and eyes lowered, she was no different from other rogue cultivators, successfully blending into the Yunlang Mountain Range.

Instead of lingering on the outskirts, she used her beast tamer's keen sense of the aura of demonic beasts to avoid crowded and intrusive routes, stealthily making her way to the deepest, most remote areas of the mountains. The deeper she went, the higher the rank of the demonic beasts became, and the more ferocious their aura grew; ordinary cultivators dared not even set foot there.

Several days later, Fu Changli arrived at an ancient mountain forest filled with a primitive and desolate atmosphere. Here, towering trees blocked out the sky, the light was dim, and the air was filled with a strong demonic aura and a faint smell of blood. She stopped, took a deep breath, and no longer concealed herself, slowly releasing her pure beast-taming spiritual power. At the same time, she connected with the ancient [Beast King Token] deep in her sea of ​​consciousness.

hum!
An invisible yet noble pressure emanated from her, not intense, but carrying a power that reached the very essence of the demon beast's bloodline. The roars and chirping of insects in the mountains and forests instantly ceased, and countless divine senses, some wary, some awe-inspiring, and some ferocious, swept over from the shadows.

Fu Changli's gaze was calm as he spoke in a clear voice, which carried the power of the Beast King's Token and clearly reached the depths of the forest: "I am Fu Changli, carrying the Beast King's Token, and I request an audience with the master of this place. I have important matters to discuss, which concern the life, death, and freedom of the thousands of my kin here!"

She deliberately used the word "of the same kind" in an attempt to shorten the distance between herself and the monsters.

After a moment of silence, a powerful, primal pressure rose from the deepest part of the forest, locking onto Fu Changli. The pressure was so strong that it clearly reached the late Golden Core stage!

Immediately afterward, the ground trembled slightly, and a colossal beast, as large as a small mountain, slowly emerged from the shadows. It resembled a giant ape, but its entire body was covered in dark golden scales, it had a single horn on its head, and its eyes were like two burning golden flames. It was none other than one of the demon kings who occupied this mountain range—the [Golden Armored Demon Ape].

The demonic ape's golden pupils scrutinized Fu Changli, lingering for a moment on the illusory image of the Beast King's Decree in her sea of ​​consciousness. It spoke in a low, obscure human voice: "Beast King's Decree... Human, you have trespassed into my territory. What do you mean by 'freedom of life and death'?"

Fu Changli remained composed, looking directly at the demonic ape: "Your Majesty, the hunting grounds of the Yunlang Mountains open only once every hundred years. Each time they open, countless fellow demons are hunted down by cultivators, their inner cores, fur, and bones taken, like livestock kept in captivity. Are you willing to accept such a fate?"

Golden flames flickered in the demonic ape's eyes, a hint of violence and humiliation flashing within them, but it did not retaliate. It merely sneered, "The strong prey on the weak, it's the law of heaven and earth. The human race is powerful, and the formation seals them off, what can we do?"

"What if I told you there was a chance to break these shackles?" Fu Changli raised his voice, tinged with a hint of inflammatory rhetoric. "I have a way to help you all work together from the inside out to tear apart the restrictive formations surrounding the mountain range! At that time, the sky will be high and the sea wide, and you and all your fellow demons in the mountains will regain your freedom and no longer suffer this once-in-a-century cycle of slaughter!"

She stepped forward, her beast-taming spiritual power and the aura of the Beast King's Token merging around her, radiating a power that naturally drew the attention and trust of the beasts: "I am not speaking empty words. My clan and the Joyful Sect, which controls this place, are mortal enemies! My willingness to assist you is not entirely selfless; my aim is to use your strength to break through the Joyful Sect's stronghold and relieve the siege of my people! This is a mutually beneficial endeavor!"

Fu Changli's words struck at the heart of the beasts' suffering from enslavement and hunting, and further highlighted their common enemy—the Joyful Sect. The existence of the Beast King's Token greatly enhanced her persuasiveness, making her promise seem less empty.

The golden-armored demonic ape's enormous pupils flickered, clearly indicating intense deliberation. Trapped here for hundreds of thousands of years, enduring generations of humiliation, its yearning for freedom was deeply ingrained. The human female cultivator before it, while not possessing top-tier strength, exuded an undeniable affinity stemming from her bloodline and the imposing aura of the Beast King's Decree. More importantly, she offered a possibility to break the deadlock!
After a long silence, the demonic ape let out a deep roar, causing the leaves around it to fall in a rustling sound: "Human, your words have moved me. But this matter is of great importance and cannot be decided by a single demon like me."

It raised its head and let out a series of strange, penetrating howls that echoed deep into the mountains.

In less than half a day, three more powerful auras of demon kings rapidly approached from different directions. One was a [Azure Scale Demon Python] with a body entirely emerald green and a fleshy crest on its head; another was a [Iron-Winged Thunder Eagle] with wings that could blot out the sky and feathers as hard as iron; and yet another was a [Mysterious Yellow Earth Armor Bear] that appeared clumsy but exuded an aura as heavy as a mountain.

Including the Golden Armored Demon Ape, dozens of demon kings at the Golden Core stage eventually gathered!

Fu Changli reiterated his plans and promises, emphasizing breaking the restrictions, regaining freedom, and working together to deal with the Joyful Sect.

The four demon kings' divine senses intertwined, clearly engaged in a fierce exchange. Finally, the leading Azure-Scaled Python flicked its scarlet tongue, its chilling gaze locking onto Fu Changli: "Human, we can trust you once. But if you deceive us..."

"Fu Changli swears on her very soul that if I betray my fellow demons on this journey and aid the wicked, may my soul be annihilated and I never be reborn!" Fu Changli made this solemn oath without hesitation. She knew that she had to gain the absolute trust of these demon kings at this moment.

Seeing her decisiveness, the four demon kings dispelled their last doubts.

The golden-armored demonic ape pounded its chest, roaring like a war drum: "Good! Let's do it! Our ancestors have been trapped for hundreds of thousands of years, it's time to let those damned humans taste their power!"

The Azure-Scaled Python hissed, "I will contact all the races I can communicate with."

The Iron-Winged Thunder Eagle shrieked: "My lads are already itching for more!"

The Xuanhuang Earth Armored Bear let out a deep, rumbling roar: "Crush them!"

Fu Changli felt reassured, knowing that the most crucial step had been achieved. She said in a deep voice, "There's no time to lose. Everyone, please gather your troops immediately. Three days later, we will launch a coordinated attack from within and without—towards the entrance to the Yunlang Mountains, the Huanxi Sect's stronghold! Let's launch a general offensive!"

A bloodthirsty glint and a yearning for freedom ignited in the eyes of the four demon kings, each unleashing a unique roar and howl that echoed deep into the Yunlang Mountains. In an instant, all the beasts responded, and the entire mountain range seemed to come alive, a raging power suppressed for far too long gathering wildly!

...

...

The entrance to the Yunlang Mountains, the stronghold of the Huanxi Sect.

The once orderly camp was now in chaos. The disciples, who had just escaped from the hunting grounds in a disheveled state, still had lingering fear on their faces. They scrambled to escape through the temporary teleportation array set up at the stronghold or by riding their escape lights, and the noisy shouts and urging voices were endless.

"Quick! Move! A beast tide! It's a super-large beast tide!"

"It's in complete chaos! There's more than one Golden Core Demon King!"

"My sister hasn't come out yet..."

The two Golden Core elders of the Joyful Sect responsible for guarding this place—Elder Ma (mid-Golden Core stage) and Elder Sun (late-Golden Core stage)—floated in mid-air with solemn expressions. Elder Ma held a dazzling [Hundred-Mile Mirror] in his hand, and the scene displayed on the mirror made his scalp tingle: billowing smoke and dust, like dark clouds pressing down, and the eyes of countless demonic beasts flashing scarlet light in the dust. Among them, several powerful auras belonging to Golden Core Demon Kings rose into the sky like smoke signals, carrying an aura of destruction, surging towards the entrance!

"Not good! The scale of the beast tide far exceeds the records! Quick! Activate the highest level sealing barrier immediately, and do not let any of the demonic beasts out!" Elder Ma shouted urgently, about to join forces with several other Golden Core cultivators from affiliated sects to cast a spell to completely seal off the mountain exit.

"Wait!" Elder Sun grabbed his arm, his face ashen, his eyes anxiously scanning the ever-flowing crowd. "My true disciple Zhao Kui hasn't come out yet! He took that item in; it absolutely cannot be lost! Wait another incense stick's time!"

Elder Ma was both anxious and furious: "Elder Sun! What time is it! Look at the scale of this beast tide! In the time it takes for an incense stick to burn? Or even half an incense stick to burn, we could be submerged by the beast tide! For the sake of one disciple, are you going to put the entire stronghold, and even the heart of the sect's rear, in danger?!"

"Zhao Kui is the future hope of our sect, how can he be compared to an ordinary disciple! Besides, once the sealing barrier is fully opened, the people inside will never be able to get out again!" Elder Sun refused to back down, and the two argued fiercely in the air, causing even more chaos below due to the fluctuations in spiritual energy.

In the brief moment of this dispute, the ground shook more and more violently, and in the distance, billowing dust could be seen on the horizon, along with the faint roar of ten thousand beasts galloping. The suffocating demonic aura pressed down as if it were a tangible force!

Elder Sun's face turned deathly pale. He finally realized he couldn't wait any longer. He gritted his teeth and glanced at the mountain exit, where there was still no sign of his disciples. He suddenly pulled out a jade talisman controlling the core of the formation, ready to crush it and forcefully activate the final seal!
"Want to shut it down now? Too late!"

A chilling roar seemed to come from the deepest hell!

The three spirit beasts, who had already infiltrated the vicinity of the stronghold with the help of the concealment talisman provided by Fu Changli and their own talents, suddenly launched an attack!

First came the Chaos Beast. Its Chaos Thunder Eye suddenly opened, and a gray lightning bolt that distorted space struck first, not at Elder Sun, but precisely at the jade talisman in his hand! The jade talisman flashed with spiritual light, instantly becoming covered in cracks, its connection with the core of the formation forcibly disrupted and severed!
"What?!" Elder Sun was both shocked and furious.

Almost simultaneously, countless thick, dark green vines, exuding an aura of death, burst forth from the ground like ghosts—the Skeleton Demon Vines! They not only instantly entangled Elder Sun's legs, devouring his spiritual power, but also wove themselves into a massive vine net, temporarily trapping him and the surrounding space!
"You beast!" Elder Ma exclaimed in horror upon seeing this, summoning a flying sword to slash at the demonic vine in its path to rescue it.

However, a green shadow was faster than him!
The enormous body of the Azure Flood Dragon with its azure scales appeared before Elder Ma like a ghost, unleashing its terrifying pressure as a peak fourth-tier being without reservation, like a bottomless abyss descending in an instant! Elder Ma felt as if the blood in his body was about to freeze, his golden core stagnate, and all that remained in his eyes were those cold and ruthless golden vertical pupils.

The Azure Dragon didn't even use any supernatural powers; it simply and swiftly extended a claw!
"Pfft!"

The protective aura shattered like paper, Elder Ma's chest was pierced through, and his golden core and life force were crushed instantly! The horror in his eyes was frozen in time, and his body fell helplessly from the sky.

Instant kill!

So decisive and efficient it was chilling!
After dealing with Elder Ma, the Azure Dragon did not stop moving. Surrounded by clouds and mist, with faint phantom images of dragons and tigers accompanying it, it was its innate divine ability - [Cloud Dragon Tiger Wings]! Its speed instantly soared to the limit, as if breaking through the limitations of space. The next moment, it appeared in front of Elder Sun, who was desperately struggling to break free from the skeletal demon vines.

Elder Sun was terrified and desperately activated his natal magic weapon to protect himself, crying out, "Fellow Daoist, spare my life! I am..."

His response was the Azure Dragon's merciless claws, sharp and powerful enough to tear everything apart!
"No—!" Elder Sun's pleas for mercy came to an abrupt halt. His protective magic treasure shattered inch by inch in the face of absolute power, followed by his own physical body and golden core.

In the blink of an eye, two Golden Core elders of the Joyful Sect who were in charge of guarding the area perished!

The remaining cultivators in the stronghold, witnessing this scene, were utterly plunged into despair and chaos, crying out and scattering in all directions.

With the last obstacle gone, the beast tide, like a raging torrent bursting its banks, led by dozens of demon kings, crashed through the stronghold's rudimentary defenses. Carrying the pent-up anger of hundreds of thousands of years and the yearning for freedom, it surged forth and instantly submerged the entire Joyful Sect stronghold in the raging torrent of demon beasts!
...

...

News of the beast tide breaking through the seal in the Yunlang Mountains spread like wildfire. The billowing dust and deafening roars instantly put the Huanxi Sect's important stronghold, "Chiyang Fortress," closest to the mountains, into a state of high alert.

Inside Chiyang Fortress, the six Golden Core elders guarding the area (two late-stage, three mid-stage, and one early-stage) immediately gathered at the core array eye, their faces increasingly grim.

"Those two good-for-nothings, Ma Yuan and Sun Qian! Did they grow up eating shit? They can't even guard the exit of the barrier!" A hot-tempered late-stage Golden Core elder, his hair and beard bristling, cursed loudly, his voice echoing in the stone chamber.

Another elder, a late-stage Golden Core cultivator with a sinister face, was relatively calm, but his eyes were also terrifyingly gloomy: "It's useless to curse them now! After the Black Wind Medicine Valley and two other locations were attacked last time, the sect strictly ordered all strongholds to strengthen their defenses and practice city defense. I never thought that when the day actually came, it wouldn't be the Fu family that came, but this group of damned beasts!"

He took a deep breath, suppressing his shock and anger, and shouted sternly, "Shut up! Proceed according to Plan No. 3! Activate the 'Crimson Sun Burning Heaven Formation'! All disciples, take your positions and inject your true essence into the formation's core. Anyone who leaves their post will be executed without mercy!"

At the command, the entire Crimson Sun Fortress sprang into action like a sophisticated war machine. Although the roar of the beast tide outside grew ever closer, and the earth trembled violently, and the disciples within the fortress couldn't help but show fear, their long-term training and strict sect rules proved effective. Figures rushed to their designated posts along predetermined routes, and a surge of spiritual energy began to converge at the pre-set array points throughout the fortress.

Om-!
Outside Crimson Sun Fortress, a blazing light shield suddenly shone, its surface a deep crimson red. The shield seemed to teem with flowing magma, radiating terrifying heat that even distorted the air itself. This was none other than Crimson Sun Fortress's renowned fourth-tier defensive array—the [Crimson Sun Burning Heaven Array]! The array not only possessed astonishing defensive power but also formidable counter-attack capabilities; any low-level demonic beasts that approached the shield would be instantly incinerated.

Almost the instant the formation was fully activated, the vanguard of the beast tide—countless raging monsters with bloodshot eyes, imprisoned for hundreds of thousands of years—slammed into the crimson light barrier like a giant black wave!

"boom!!!"

The deafening impacts continued relentlessly! Low-level demonic beasts, upon contact with the light barrier, were instantly reduced to charred remains amidst agonizing screams. But the beasts behind seemed utterly fearless, charging forward relentlessly, attacking the barrier with their claws, horns, and bodies. Demonic energy, blood energy, and the array's scorching spiritual power clashed violently, producing a hissing sound. The entire light barrier trembled violently, its spiritual light flickering erratically.

Four Golden Core Demon Kings hovered behind the beast tide, coldly watching everything unfold.

The golden-armored demonic ape roared, its massive fist, imbued with dark golden demonic power, slammed into the light barrier like a meteorite, creating a huge ripple!

The Azure Scale Python opened its mouth and spewed out a dark green poisonous mist, which corroded the light shield and made a hissing sound that made one's teeth ache.

With a flap of its wings, the Ironwing Thunder Eagle unleashed countless black wind blades, as solid as metal, that slashed at the same spot on the light shield.

The Xuanhuang Earth Armored Bear stood upright, and each slap of its heavy paws caused the entire foundation of the fortress to tremble slightly.

Inside the fortress, six Golden Core elders were fully engaged in presiding over the formation, their expressions grave. They could feel the immense pressure the formation was under.

"Hold on! Concentrate your spiritual energy in the southeast; the demonic ape is attacking there!"

"The earth fire veins are supplying at full capacity, don't be stingy with spirit stones!"

"Ballasts ready! Aim at that Thunderhawk in the sky and fire in unison!"

As orders were issued, the cultivators of Crimson Sun Fortress gradually regained their composure after the initial panic. Huge ballistae roared, their specially crafted armor-piercing bolts blasting towards the Iron-Winged Thunder Eagle in the air, forcing it to constantly dodge. Supported by six Golden Core cultivators and countless disciples, the array's protective barrier, though fluctuating violently, steadfastly withstood wave after wave of increasingly powerful beast tides.

The battlefield descended into a brutal stalemate. The corpses of demonic beasts piled up like mountains outside the fortress, only to be trampled into mincemeat by subsequent waves of beasts, while the spiritual energy reserves of Crimson Sun Fortress were rapidly depleting.

This is a war of attrition; it remains to be seen whether the beast tide will exhaust its strength first, or whether the formation of Chiyang Fortress will give out first.

In the distance, hidden in the shadows, Fu Changli watched the massive and fierce battle, her brows furrowing slightly. The defensive strength and reaction speed of Chiyang Fortress exceeded her expectations. The Joyful Sect had indeed learned its lesson; this nut to crack was tougher than she had imagined.

"It seems that the beast tide alone is not enough to make them feel the pain; we need to give them something more..."

A resolute glint flashed in her eyes as she flipped her hand and took out the black bead with strange spiral patterns flowing across its surface—the [Breaking Barrier Bead]!
This bead is specifically designed to break through various restrictive formations. Although she cannot fully unleash its power with her current cultivation level, it is enough to create a brief opening in such a high-intensity confrontation formation!
"go with!"

Fu Changli seized the moment when the spiritual light of the array's protective barrier seemed to stagnate slightly after withstanding the combined attack of the Golden Armored Demon Ape and the Xuanhuang Earth Armored Bear. With a flick of his finger, the Barrier-Breaking Pearl transformed into a barely perceptible beam of dark light and silently shot towards a certain node of the protective barrier!

"Om-!"

The moment the barrier-breaking bead touched the light shield, it didn't produce a deafening roar. Instead, it was like water droplets falling into boiling oil. The array runes there instantly became chaotic, and the flowing crimson spiritual light suddenly dimmed, revealing an irregular hole about ten feet in size! Although the surrounding spiritual energy was frantically surging in to try to repair it, the flaw had already been formed!
"Roar--!"

The previously restless and disorganized beast tide was instantly ignited by the newly appeared breach! Hope was within reach! The aura of freedom wafted through the gap! All the demonic beasts, whether low-ranking or high-ranking, roared with even wilder excitement, surging towards the breach like a flood finding an anthill in a dam! The four demon kings were also greatly encouraged, attacking the area around the breach with all their might to prevent it from healing!

"not good!!"

At the core of the Chiyang Fortress array, the six Golden Core elders who were in charge of the array almost simultaneously changed their expressions drastically! The feedback from the array clearly told them that a hole had been forcibly torn in the array!
"What happened?! Why did the array nodes suddenly collapse?"

"It wasn't the demonic beasts that breached the defenses! Someone secretly intervened! It was a magic weapon that could break through restrictions!" The elder with the sinister face reacted instantly, both shocked and furious. "This beast tide was premeditated! It's a diversionary tactic! The target is other parts of the sect!"

The thought that the sect might be facing other attacks, while they themselves were being held back here by the beast tide and this dark force, sent a chill down the spines of the six elders.

"Hold on! Repair the formation quickly!" the hot-tempered elder roared, desperately channeling his spiritual power into the formation's core.

However, the damage caused by the broken barrier bead far exceeded expectations. Coupled with the frenzied attack of the beast tide outside, the breach not only failed to shrink but also showed a tendency to widen under the relentless onslaught of the demonic beasts! The entire "Crimson Sun Burning Heaven Formation" flickered violently and emitted an unbearable hum, clearly on the verge of collapse!

The sinister elder acted decisively, a look of pain and resolve flashing across his face. He shouted sternly, "The formation is about to collapse! Immediately send a top-level emergency distress signal to the sect! Explain the situation here, suspect a conspiracy by the Fu family, and request the attention of the Nascent Soul Ancestor to send reinforcements immediately!"

A blood-red, piercingly shrill beam of light shot into the sky from the core of Chiyang Fortress, ignoring the obstruction of the formation, and flew toward the direction of the Huanxi Sect's mountain gate at top speed!
SOS signal sent!

Outside the fortress, the beast tide surged into the outer area of ​​Chiyang Fortress through the ever-widening breach, like a flood breaking through a dam, engaging in close combat with the Huanxi Sect disciples who were defending the area. A fierce battle erupted instantly!

...

...

Joyful Sect, Headquarters of the Intelligence Hall.

Yin Wujiu clutched the newly received communication jade talisman, still bearing the distinctive scorching aura and urgent markings of Chiyang Fortress, his expression instantly turning extremely grim. He dared not delay for a moment, transforming into a gust of yin wind and swiftly arriving outside the meditation room of Master Huanxi.

"Sect Leader! Urgent military intelligence!" Yin Wujiu's voice carried a hint of barely perceptible panic.

The stone door to the meditation room slid open silently, and Master Huanxi's aura surged, clearly sensing the unusual distress signal. He took the jade slip, scanned it with his divine sense, and its contents caused his aura to suddenly become violent, even causing the jade chair beneath him to emit a faint cracking sound!

"The beast tide in the Yunlang Mountains has broken through the seal... The Chiyang Fortress formation has been forcibly torn open... It is suspected that someone has secretly used a magic weapon to break the seal... We request the attention of the Nascent Soul Ancestor and request reinforcements to be dispatched immediately..."

Each word was like a heavy hammer blow, striking the heart of the joyful person.

"The Fu family's junior!" Master Huanxi practically spat out these four words through gritted teeth, his eyes blazing with murderous intent. "What a clever feint! What a vicious scheme!"

He instantly grasped the situation: Fu Changli, using some unknown method, had managed to persuade the imprisoned demonic beasts deep within the Yunlang Mountains and used the Breaking Restriction Pearl to open an exit, creating this massive beast tide that threatened the sect's foundation! Her goal was to divert him and the main force from Hidden Mist Workshop!

“One is causing trouble in the Yunlang Mountains, and the other…” His gaze, like a cold blade, swept towards the direction of Yinwu Workshop, “is definitely lurking nearby, waiting for us to leave so we can rescue that bastard Ouyang Fei!”

“Yin Wujiu!” Master Huanxi suddenly stood up, his voice carrying an unquestionable authority.

"My subordinate is here!"

"You, take 'Blood Butcher' and stay behind at Hidden Mist Pavilion!" Venerable Huanxi swiftly ordered. "Blood Butcher" was a late-stage Golden Core elder in the sect, renowned for his ruthlessness and formidable strength. "That Fu Molan is only at the early Golden Core stage. Even if she possesses puppetry skills, with the two of you here, you're more than capable of killing her! Keep a close eye on her. If she dares to show herself to rescue anyone, kill her without mercy!"

He paused, his tone chilling: "If she doesn't show herself... when I return after quelling the beast tide, I will have Ouyang Fei executed by slow slicing right before her eyes! Let's see how long she can endure it!"

"Your subordinate obeys! I will certainly not fail your trust!" Yin Wujiu's eyes flashed with bloodlust and excitement as he bowed and accepted the order. With his late-stage Golden Core cultivation and the Blood Slaughter Guest Elder, he was absolutely confident in dealing with Fu Molan, who was only at the early stage of Golden Core.

"All other Golden Core elders, depart with me immediately for Crimson Sun Fortress!" With a flick of his sleeve, Venerable Huanxi transformed into a dazzling rainbow, soaring into the sky. His voice, like rolling thunder, resounded in all directions, "Suppress the beast tide and exterminate the remnants of the Fu family!"

Whoosh!Whoosh!Whoosh!
Powerful auras of Golden Core cultivators rose from all corners of Hidden Mist Workshop, following closely behind Master Huanxi, streaking across the sky like shooting stars, rapidly heading towards the Cloud Lang Mountains. The overwhelming pressure caused the remaining cultivators in the market below to feel suffocated.

In the blink of an eye, the only remaining top combat force of Hidden Mist Workshop was Yin Wujiu and the "Blood Butcher" guest elder who exuded a bloodthirsty aura.

Yin Wujiu and Xue Tu exchanged a glance, both seeing the icy killing intent in each other's eyes. With a swift movement, they each occupied a high vantage point at the market entrance, their divine senses forming an invisible net that completely enveloped the entire market and its surrounding area, making it impossible for any disturbance to escape their perception.

“Fu Molan… I’d like to see if you dare to come…” Yin Wujiu licked his lips, like a lurking viper waiting for its prey to come to its door.

...

...

Fu Molan, hidden in the shadows, peered through the monitoring puppet, clearly seeing the defenses deployed by Yin Wujiu and Xue Tu Keqing at the market entrance. The two, one in the light and one in the shadows, their auras intertwined, almost completely blocking all possible paths to the execution platform.

Forcing your way in will surely result in certain death.

She needed to create a large enough, real enough chaos to completely draw the attention of both of them, even if only briefly.

The opportunity was fleeting. Fu Molan no longer hesitated.

With a flick of her fingertips, her divine sense, like an invisible thread, instantly connected with the three self-destructing puppets—[Flame Burst], [Lightning Strike], and [Spirit Erosion]—that had been quietly placed in the northwest corner of the market—the furthest point opposite the southeast corner where the execution platform was located!
"burst."

A cold, low shout echoed in her mind.

Boom! Boom! Crack!
From the northwest corner, a deafening roar suddenly erupted! First, a blazing fireball shot into the sky, accompanied by a violent explosion of spiritual energy; then, countless raging silver lightning snakes raged, leveling the buildings in that area; finally, a dark green, corrosive mist spread out, rapidly corroding the surrounding spiritual energy and matter!

The enormous commotion, the chaotic fluctuations of spiritual energy, and the clearly aggressive poisonous fog were like a boulder thrown into a calm lake!

"what happened?!"

"Enemy attack?! Over there!"

The remaining cultivators in the market were in an uproar, looking in terror toward the northwest corner.

At the execution platform, Yin Wujiu and Xue Tu Keqing's expressions changed simultaneously!
"A diversionary tactic?" Yin Wujiu's eyes flashed with malice, and his divine sense instantly swept towards the explosion site, but apart from the chaotic spiritual energy and rampant poisonous fog, he did not find the exact figure of the manipulator.

"I'll go check! You stay here!" Blood Butcher, with his violent nature and preference for taking the initiative, had already transformed into a streak of blood-red light and headed straight for the northwest corner before he finished speaking. He believed that Yin Wujiu's strength was sufficient to guard this place.

Yin Wujiu frowned slightly, but did not stop them. His divine sense was firmly locked onto the execution platform and Ouyang Fei, while he also diverted some of his attention to the movements in the northwest corner. He was confident that even if he was alone, if Fu Molan, who was at the early stage of the Golden Core realm, dared to show herself, she would not escape his perception and be killed with lightning speed.

However, in the split second between Xue Tu's departure and Yin Wujiu's attention being diverted by the explosion in the northwest corner and the possible presence of "Fu Molan" inside—

A slender and agile figure, like a raccoon that had already blended into the shadows, silently slipped out from a pre-calculated blind spot behind the execution platform, a spot that had been briefly exposed due to the slight pull of the array's energy from the explosion in the northwest corner!
It was Fu Yongning!
She had been waiting for this opportunity for far too long!
A flash of emerald light appeared in his hand, severing with pinpoint accuracy the black iron chain that pierced Ouyang Fei's shoulder blade and was engraved with restrictive runes!
The entire process was so fast that it was beyond the limits of what the naked eye could perceive. There was not a single trace of spiritual energy leaking out, and not even a gust of wind was stirred up.

Ouyang Fei's consciousness had already become blurred due to the prolonged torture. He only felt his body lighten as he fell into a slender yet firm embrace. He barely opened his swollen eyes and saw only Fu Yongning's eyes, which were filled with tears but were incredibly resolute.

“Ning…’er…” His lips moved, uttering a faint sound like a mosquito’s buzz.

"Grandpa Fei, don't speak, let's go!" Fu Yongning did not hesitate at all. Holding Ouyang Fei, his figure floated backward like a willow catkin, once again merging into the shadowy blind spot. In a few leaps, he was far away from the execution platform and quickly fled in the opposite direction of the explosion in the northwest corner, following the pre-planned evacuation route.

Only now did Yin Wujiu suddenly realize that the atmosphere at the execution platform was unusual!

He suddenly turned his head and saw that the black iron pillar was now empty, with only two broken chains swaying slightly in the air!

"Damn it! We've fallen into a trap!" Yin Wujiu was both shocked and furious, his face turning ashen instantly! He never expected that the other side had a second person, and that their concealment techniques were so sophisticated and their timing so precise!
"Blood Butcher! The man has been rescued! Chase him!" He roared, his figure transforming into a gust of cold wind as he frantically pursued Fu Yongning in the direction he had fled.

(End of this chapter)