Family Rise: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 605: Annihilation of Three Sects! Infinite Breakthrough!!

The night was as dark as ink, and the wind from the border carried a biting chill and a faint smell of blood.

Fu Changsheng's escape light landed quietly a hundred miles away from Zhenyuan Pass. He did not fly directly to the pass, but instead used the connections that Liu Meizhen had built up in her early years to request a secret meeting with the garrison general Yue Zhenshan with a token and a specific code.

Deep within the pass, in a secret military room equipped with an isolation array.

Yue Zhenshan was still dressed in black casual clothes, his posture as upright as a pine tree. He looked at Fu Changsheng who had appeared quietly, and there was not much surprise on his resolute face. He simply raised his hand and set up another layer of soundproof barrier.

"Fellow Daoist Fu's visit so late at night, surely it's not to discuss tea and Dao with me?" Yue Zhenshan asked directly, his voice steady.

Fu Changsheng bowed respectfully, his expression solemn:

"General Yue, you are wise. I have come here with an important matter to ask of you. I need to enter the far west to bring back my trapped people. I humbly request that you do me a favor and temporarily open a gap in the border defense barrier."

Upon hearing this, Yue Zhenshan's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly. He gazed at Fu Changsheng for a moment, then slowly said:
"Fellow Daoist Fu, I have long heard of your strength. To be able to reverse the demise of a false infant is truly remarkable, making you one of the best in the Golden Core realm. It is a great fortune for the imperial court to have someone like you."

He abruptly changed the subject, his tone becoming serious:

"But that's precisely why I have to remind you, fellow Daoist. The far west is not only home to false Nascent Soul cultivators. There are numerous sects, and their depths are unfathomable, with many true Nascent Soul True Monarchs in charge. The Supreme Elder of the Joyful Sect is at the peak of the early Nascent Soul stage and has been in seclusion for sixty years, with a chance of breaking through to the middle stage. Now, the Joyful Sect sees your Fu family as a thorn in their side. If you go there alone now, it's no different from a lamb entering a tiger's den, walking into a trap."

His gaze was sharp, carrying a hint of appreciation for talent: "Fellow Daoist, you are so young yet possess such cultivation and family fortune; your future is limitless. Enduring the pain for now and preserving your usefulness for the future is the best course of action. The imperial court... also does not wish to lose a future pillar of society, a fifth-rank imperial inspector."

These words were spoken from the heart, based on a realistic assessment, and also reflected Yue Zhenshan's personal appreciation and consideration for the interests of the imperial court.

Fu Changsheng could sense the sincerity in the other party's words. He cupped his hands again and bowed deeply: "Changsheng thanks the general for his frankness and protection. How could Changsheng not know the risks involved?"

He raised his head, his eyes clear and firm, filled with an unwavering resolve: "However, those trapped are my closest relatives, who fought alongside me, shedding blood and risking their lives for the Fu family. If I, Fu Changsheng, were to abandon them out of fear of danger, how would I be any different from a beast? In the future, my Dao heart would be clouded, and no matter how high my cultivation level, I would be nothing more than a walking corpse, unworthy of the very word 'human.'"

"Even if this journey is fraught with danger, a perilous path, or a place of immortality, I will go. I only ask that I have a clear conscience and that I bring them home."

His voice was not loud, but every word was firm and resonant, containing a kind of unwavering dedication and responsibility that was almost like the Tao.

Yue Zhenshan looked into Fu Changsheng's eyes, which held no fear, only unwavering resolve and a sense of responsibility, and remained silent for a moment. He had commanded troops for many years, witnessed countless deaths and life-or-death situations, and seen far too many choices made in the face of death. Fu Changsheng's gaze at this moment was so similar to that of his own valiant soldiers, willing to die for their comrades.

He knew that further persuasion would be useless.

"That's enough." Yue Zhenshan sighed softly, saying no more. He walked to the wall on one side of the secret chamber, took out an ancient-looking tiger talisman, and pressed it into a groove. A spiritual light flowed on the wall, revealing a detailed diagram of the energy flow of the border barrier.

“Since you are determined to go, I, Yue, will lend you a hand.” He pointed to an inconspicuous node on the map. “Three hundred miles west of here lies a dangerous place called ‘Soul-Severing Gorge.’ Due to the disordered ley lines, the barrier there is relatively weak and not easily detected by conventional monitoring methods. In one hour, I will have someone open a gap in the barrier there, just wide enough for one person to pass through. The gap will only last for three breaths. You must seize the opportunity.”

"Furthermore," Yue Zhenshan turned around and added solemnly, "according to our intelligence, the Joyful Sect has been making frequent mobilizations recently. In addition to the main force that is suppressing the beast tide, its elite intelligence divisions, 'Soul Locking' and 'Spirit Severing,' as well as the guest elder 'Blood Slaughter,' are all active in the Hidden Mist Village area. Their target is clearly your Fu family. You must be extremely careful on this trip."

This is the maximum help and warning that Yue Zhenshan can provide within his authority.

Fu Changsheng memorized the location and relevant information of "Soul-Severing Gorge," and once again solemnly bowed to Yue Zhenshan: "General, the Fu family will forever remember your kindness today. Changsheng thanks you!"

Yue Zhenshan waved his hand: "No need for formalities. I hope you... will return safely with your clan soon. Please!"

Fu Changsheng didn't linger any longer. With a flicker of his figure, he disappeared into the secret room like a wisp of smoke.

Yue Zhenshan gazed in the direction where he had disappeared, his eyes deep. He knew all too well that Fu Changsheng's journey was fraught with peril, facing certain death. But that resolute willingness to risk everything for his loved ones filled even this seasoned general, who had witnessed countless battles and deaths, with a deep respect.

"Fu Changsheng... I hope you can create another miracle."

...

...

On the outskirts of the Yunlang Mountains, a temporary frontline camp of the Huanxi Sect was set up.

The stench of blood and gunpowder lingered, and the days of fierce fighting left everyone exhausted. However, the tide of battle finally began to turn in favor of the Joyful Sect after the tamed beasts driven by the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain and the Yin Sha Formation of the Xuanming Sect joined the fray. The surging beast tide was gradually pushed back, and it looked as if it would be forced back into the depths of the Yunlang Mountains.

Inside the main tent of the main camp, Master Huanxi was discussing the final cleanup with representatives from Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain and the Xuanming Sect. Although they were cooperating, he felt little joy. The losses caused by the beast tide far exceeded expectations. More importantly, the younger members of the Fu family were still as slippery as eels, and the rescue of Ouyang Fei had greatly humiliated him.

Just then, a trusted disciple of the Intelligence Hall silently entered the main tent, quickly walked to Yin Wujiu's side, and handed him an encrypted jade slip. Yin Wujiu scanned it with his divine sense, and a look of surprise flashed across his pale and gloomy face. He dared not be negligent and immediately stepped forward to respectfully present the jade slip to Master Huanxi.

"Sect Leader, we have just received an urgent report from 'Shadow' lurking on the border!"

Master Huanxi frowned, took the jade slip, and sent out a wisp of his divine sense to probe into it.

The next moment, the pressure of the pseudo-Nascent Soul Realm around him uncontrollably emanated a trace, causing the temperature inside the tent to drop sharply! On his originally gloomy face, a trace of disbelief first flashed across his face, and then, a light mixed with ecstasy, greed and cold killing intent burst out of his eyes!

"Fu Changsheng... he actually dared to come to the far west in person!" Huanxi Shangren's voice was slightly hoarse with excitement. "Good! Very good! It's like he's choosing the path to hell when there's no way to go to heaven!"

Everyone inside the tent, including representatives from Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain and Xuanming Sect, felt the sudden change in Huanxi Shangren's aura and his undisguised killing intent, and they all turned their heads to look.

Yin Wujiu then whispered another crucial piece of information from the jade slip: "An Ying has been confirmed to have reached the late Golden Core stage."

"Late stage of Golden Core?!" Master Huanxi's pupils suddenly contracted; this time, he was truly shocked!
He clearly remembered that decades ago, Fu Changsheng had only just entered the Golden Core stage and was treated like a rat in the far west. How long has it been? In less than a hundred years, he has broken through several minor realms and reached the late Golden Core stage!
What does this mean? Even for someone like Master Huanxi, who prides himself on his extraordinary talent and receives preferential treatment from the sect's resources, it still took him three or four hundred years to go from the early to the late Golden Core stage! Fu Changsheng's cultivation speed is simply astonishing and defies common sense!

"As expected! As expected!" After a brief moment of shock, an even more intense ecstasy and greed overwhelmed Huanxi Shangren's reason. "I had long suspected that the Fu family's rapid rise and Fu Changsheng's swift progress in cultivation must be due to some extraordinary opportunity! Now it seems that this opportunity is even more astonishing than I imagined!"

He could almost see a supreme treasure beckoning him, one that could drastically increase one's cultivation speed and might even contain the secret to achieving enlightenment! If he could capture Fu Changsheng and force him to reveal this opportunity, even if it meant extracting his soul and refining his spirit to obtain the secret… then he could not only hope to reach the Nascent Soul stage, but he might even be able to glimpse the path to the Divine Transformation!
Compared to this incredible opportunity, the beast tide, the sect's losses, and even the juniors like Fu Molan and Fu Changli seem insignificant! As long as we obtain the secrets of Fu Changsheng, any price is worth paying!
He stood up abruptly, all the frustration from the unfavorable battle and Ouyang Fei's rescue vanished, replaced by the excitement and determination of a hunter discovering his ultimate prey.

"Pass down the order!" The voice of Venerable Huanxi resounded through the tent with an unquestionable decisiveness. "The frontline battle will be temporarily under the full responsibility of the Vice Sect Leader. Together with the fellow Daoists of Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain and Xuanming Sect, we must completely drive the beast tide back to Yunlang Mountain Range and seal the exit within one month!"

His gaze, sharp as a hawk's, swept over Yin Wujiu and the core elders in the tent: "Hall Master Yin, immediately mobilize all available agents in the Intelligence Hall to track down Fu Changsheng's whereabouts! He has just entered the far west and is unfamiliar with the place; he will surely try to reunite with Fu Molan and the others! Investigate along this direction!"

"The Enforcement Hall and the Conquest Hall, select all elders above the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm, and form a hunting squad led by myself! Abandon all secondary objectives; the primary mission is—to capture Fu Changsheng alive!"

He paused, his tone icy cold, and added, "Notify the elders guarding the forbidden area behind the mountain to activate the 'Nine-Child Mother Soul-Chasing Mirror' and lock onto Fu Changsheng's aura! I will ensure he has nowhere to hide in this far west!"

Orders were quickly issued, and the entire Joyful Sect's war machine instantly shifted its focus from dealing with the beast tide to the ultimate hunt for Fu Changsheng!

Those inside the tent felt the almost tangible killing intent and unwavering determination emanating from Master Huanxi, and they were all terrified. They understood that their sect leader was willing to pay any price for Fu Changsheng this time!

Master Huanxi walked outside the tent, gazing towards the south where Fu Changsheng might appear, a cold and greedy smile curving his lips.

“Fu Changsheng… my Nascent Soul foundation rests on you! However, just in case, I need to find two more reliable helpers.”

...

...

Shortly after.

The secret hall of the Joyful Sect's front-line camp.

The heavy stone door isolated the noise and bloodshed from the outside world, while the array inside the hall shimmered with spiritual light, ensuring that the conversation inside would never be leaked.

Venerable Huanxi sat in the main seat.

On the left was a burly man with a thick beard, dressed in a colorful animal skin robe, as imposing as an iron tower. He was none other than Xiong Gang, the Grand Elder of Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain. His aura was wild, and the faint roars of a hundred beasts seemed to surround him. His large, copper-bell-shaped eyes shone with a sharp light, carrying the instinct and aggression of a wild beast.

On the right was a tall, thin figure shrouded in a wide black robe—the Grand Elder of the Xuanming Sect, Elder Youquan. His face was withered, as if he had never seen the sun in a long time. His ten fingers were thin and dry like chicken claws, resting quietly on his knees. He exuded a faint, chilling aura of death, and his whole being was like a ghost crawling out of a tomb, silent and dangerous.

"Fellow Daoists," Master Huanxi said bluntly, his tone burning with barely suppressed passion, "we have just received definite news that Fu Changsheng, the patriarch of the Fu family, has secretly infiltrated our far western region!"

Upon hearing this, Xiong Gang raised his thick eyebrows and said in a booming voice, "Oh? Is this the Fu family brat who has repeatedly caused your Joyful Sect to suffer setbacks? He actually dares to come here to die in person?"

Master Huanxi nodded: "This boy is extremely cunning. Moreover, his cultivation has progressed at a speed far beyond reason. He could not have done this without an extraordinary opportunity! This time, he has walked right into our trap, which is a golden opportunity for us to seize this opportunity!"

A greedy glint flashed in Xiong Gang's eyes, and he slapped the armrest of his chair with his large, fan-like hand: "Hahaha! Good! Whatever this opportunity, I'll just snatch it! I want to see what kind of treasure can make a kid jump to the late stage of the Golden Core realm in less than a hundred years!"

The old man of Youquan spoke calmly and without emotion: "Opportunities are tempting, but one must be alive to enjoy them. Fu Changsheng dared to come alone, so he must have something to rely on. Fellow Daoist Huanxi, you summoned us to use our strength to set up a trap and ensure that nothing goes wrong?"

"Fellow Daoist Youquan is wise," said Venerable Huanxi. "This boy is quite strong and cunning. Although my Huanxi Sect alone is not afraid of him, I fear he might flee again if things turn bad. Therefore, I need your two assistance to lay a trap and capture him alive!"

He glanced at the two of them and offered them bait: "If we succeed, the Joyful Sect is willing to share the opportunities that Fu Changsheng possesses with you two! In addition, our sect is willing to offer each of you ten bottles of fourth-grade spiritual pills [Hundred Beasts Tempering Pills] to Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain and ten portions of [Mysterious Yin Soul Condensing Liquid] to the Profound Netherworld Sect as a reward!"

Upon hearing the mention of the "Hundred Beasts Tempering Pill," Xiong Gang's breathing became heavier. This pill was incredibly effective for the cultivators of Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain in tempering their physical bodies and connecting with their beast souls. He grinned, revealing his gleaming white teeth: "Great! I like things straightforward! Tell me, what do you want us to do? The men and spirit beasts of Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain are masters of tracking and hunting!"

The old man from Youquan tapped his withered fingers lightly on his knee. After a moment of silence, he realized that the [Mysterious Yin Soul-Gathering Liquid] was a treasure for the Xuanming Sect cultivators, used to nourish their souls and cultivate Yin Sha techniques. He slowly spoke, "Alright. My Xuanming Sect's 'Nine Nether Soul-Searching Array' can cover a thousand miles and lock onto the energy flow. The 'Mysterious Xuanming Soul-Locking Chain' can also trap his soul, making it difficult for him to escape. But it must be clear that since Fu Changsheng belongs to your Huanxi Sect, our two sects must give priority to selecting 30% of his personal resources."

"Yes!" Master Huanxi agreed without hesitation. Compared to the secrets within Fu Changsheng, those external things were insignificant.

The three parties quickly reached an agreement.

Xiong Gang, being impatient, immediately proposed a plan: "I'll have all my men release all the tracking spirit beasts under my command—those that fly in the sky, run on the ground, and burrow in the ground—to give him a comprehensive surveillance! I'll also send a squad of 'Raging Giant Apes' and 'Ironclad Earth Dragons' to launch a frontal assault and force him to show himself!"

The old man from Youquan added ominously, "I will personally set up the 'Nine Nether Soul Searching Array,' using Fu Changsheng's aura as a guide. As long as he is within a thousand miles, he will have nowhere to hide. At the same time, I will set up the 'Mysterious Nether Soul Locking Chain' at key points. Once he is caught, he will have no way to escape."

Master Huanxi nodded in satisfaction and added, "Good! My Huanxi Sect will deploy the 'Soul Locking' and 'Spirit Severing' divisions to block all possible escape routes, and use the 'Nine-Child Mother Soul-Chasing Mirror' to lock on remotely, in coordination with you two fellow Daoists. With the combined efforts of the three parties, we will create a four-fold blockade covering the sky, the ground, the soul, and the escape route, ensuring that Fu Changsheng becomes a turtle in a jar!"

...

...

The gap in the barrier of the Soul-Severing Gorge silently closed, and Fu Changsheng's figure had completely blended into the vast mountains and forests of the far west. He did not use his astonishing speed, but instead concealed his aura to the extreme, like an ordinary rogue cultivator in the early stage of the Golden Core realm, and slowly made his way towards the Yunlang Mountains.

However, his "low profile" made him stand out like a firefly in the dark, clearly visible in the face of the already intricate web of surveillance.

"Report! The target has crossed the Blackwater River and is heading due north, directly towards the Yunlang Mountains!"

"Report! The target is passing through Luoxiapo, maintaining a steady speed, with no abnormalities detected!"

"Report—!..."

Intelligence reports, transmitted through the spirit birds of Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain, the spies of the Xuanming Sect, and the spies spread throughout the Huanxi Sect, quickly converged at the temporary command post where the three leaders were located.

Hearing the endless, almost unchanging reports, Xiong Gang, the Grand Elder of Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain, was the first to lose his temper. His rough face was full of impatience and contempt, and his booming voice made the temporary cave resonate:
"Old man Huanxi, are you sure you're not mistaken? This is the Fu Changsheng who made you so wary, even going so far as to make a solemn promise to get our help?" Xiong Gang sneered, waving his large, fan-like hand as if shooing away a fly. "He acts so straightforwardly, like a fool rushing straight to his lair, without any strategy or concealment? I bet he's only at the late stage of the Golden Core realm, probably just artificially boosted with some kind of pill. He has the realm, but no brains!"

Beside him, a giant wolf covered in crimson scales (a fourth-tier spirit beast, the Crimson Scale Wolf) snorted, its scarlet tongue licking its fangs, its beastly eyes revealing the restlessness before the hunt and disdain for its weak prey.

Although Elder Youquan of the Xuanming Sect remained silent, his figure, shrouded in a black robe, appeared even more hunched. His withered fingers unconsciously rubbed a jet-black bone bead, and the chilling aura emanating from him had diminished somewhat. Clearly, he too thought the target was somewhat overrated and was unimpressed by Huanxi Shangren's earlier solemnity. He even suspected that Huanxi Shangren had deliberately exaggerated Fu Changsheng's threat to get the two sects to cooperate.

Master Huanxi sat upright in the main seat, his face ashen. The "normal" reports constantly coming back from his subordinates did not put him at ease; instead, they intensified the uneasy feeling in his heart.

Something's wrong! Twelve out of ten things are wrong!

Based on all the information he had about Fu Changsheng, this young man was meticulous, planned carefully, and extremely cautious. From his confrontation with him, a pseudo-Nascent Soul cultivator, when he was only at the early stage of the Golden Core realm outside the Shuiyun Cave, to the Fu family's repeated growth in the face of crises, it was clear that he was by no means a reckless person.

How could such a clever person, knowing full well that the far west was a den of dragons and tigers, and knowing that the Joyful Sect would surely lay many traps, so openly and brazenly head straight for his target? It was almost as if he was deliberately telling them, "I'm here, I'm right here, come and catch me if you dare."

Is it extreme arrogance? Or... is it that they have something else to rely on and are therefore fearless?
Countless thoughts flashed through Master Huanxi's mind in an instant: A trap? A diversionary tactic? A feint? Or perhaps, Fu Changsheng really possessed some kind of trump card that could disregard their three-way encirclement?

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the doubts and a strange unease in his heart, and said in a deep voice, "Fellow Daoists, do not be deceived by appearances. Fu Changsheng is by no means a reckless person. The more 'normal' he acts, the more suspicious it is! We must still proceed according to the original plan, step by step, and we must not let our guard down!"

Upon hearing this, Xiong Gang frowned, clearly unimpressed. However, considering the promised resources and the "shared opportunity," he merely snorted and didn't refute further. Elder Youquan nodded slightly, giving Huanxi Shangren some face, but the air of disdain around him hadn't completely dissipated.

However, at that very moment, an urgent message arrived from the [Thousand-Mile Falcon] tamed in the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain, bringing the latest news:

"The target has entered the 'Miasma Forest' on the outskirts of the Yunlang Mountains, and its speed... has suddenly increased! It seems to have used some kind of high-level escape technique!"

"Let's do it, there's no need to wait!" Old Man Youquan rushed out first.

… …

On the outskirts of the Yunlang Mountains, at the edge of the miasma forest.

Fu Changsheng abruptly stopped, hovering in mid-air, calmly looking ahead. A shimmering light appeared in the sky, and nearly a hundred figures radiating the aura of Golden Core cultivators formed a fan shape, leading the way—Joyful Master, Xiong Gang, and Old Man Youquan. Further away, a dark, surging tide of beasts stirred restlessly under the pressure of the three great cultivators, but was temporarily kept at bay.

"Fu Changsheng! You have a path to heaven but choose not to take it, and you barge into the gates of hell!" Xiong Gang roared like thunder, his eyes filled with a cat-and-mouse smirk. "If you know what's good for you, kneel down obediently, hand over your secrets, and acknowledge my three sects as your masters, and perhaps I can spare the lives of your entire Fu family!"

The old man from Youquan added ominously, his voice like the spitting of a venomous snake: "If you resist stubbornly, the only outcome will be the extraction of your soul and the refining of your spirit, condemning you to eternal damnation. Your entire family will also be wiped out."

Although Master Huanxi did not speak, the pressure from the Pseudo-Infant Realm mixed with his greedy gaze was fixed on Fu Changsheng as if it were a tangible thing, as if he already regarded him as something that could be easily obtained.

Faced with coercion from three sides and the menacing gaze of nearly a hundred Golden Core cultivators, Fu Changsheng showed no sign of panic. Instead, he revealed a faint, almost mocking smile.

He did not answer a single word.

Just as Xiong Gang and Old Man Youquan thought he was either terrified or about to beg for mercy—

With a flick of his sleeve, Fu Changsheng sent a dark gold talisman, neither gold nor jade, engraved with mysterious spatial patterns, silently sliding into his palm. It was the [Forbidden Talisman: Drawing a Circle as a Prison]!
Without hesitation, he instantly poured his vast spiritual energy into it!
“Buzz——!!!”

A resounding buzz, seemingly from the ancient past and shaking the very soul, suddenly rang out! It didn't just ring in your ears, but resounded deep within the hearts of every living being within a hundred miles!

Centered on Fu Changsheng, a dark golden halo that was difficult to detect with the naked eye but could be clearly "seen" by divine sense instantly spread out, like an inverted giant bowl, enveloping the entire miasma forest, the three groups of cultivators surrounding the forest, and even the part of the beast tide that was blocked further back!
The halo flashed and disappeared, but an invisible yet heavy force of law had already descended!
"what happened?!"

"My spiritual power... is fading?!"

"My cultivation level... it's declining! Impossible!!"

Almost at the same instant the halo disappeared, horrified screams erupted from all three factions!

The three leading cultivators were the first to be affected:

The greed and determination on Master Huanxi's face froze instantly, replaced by utter astonishment and disbelief! He clearly felt his immense magical power at the Pseudo-Infant Realm receding like a tide, forcibly suppressed by an irresistible force of rules, and finally stabilizing at... the Pseudo-Core Realm?! This sudden weakness made him dizzy and almost fall from the sky.

Xiong Gang let out a low roar: "My cultivation level... what's going on?! What kind of sorcery is this?!"

For the first time, the old man Youquan's hoarse voice was tinged with obvious panic: "Laws...this is the Law of Spatial Imprisonment! How could he possibly control something like this?!"

It wasn't just the three of them.

The nearly one hundred Golden Core cultivators behind them were now in complete chaos!
……

However, in stark contrast to the panic of the human cultivators were the demonic beasts who were also imprisoned here!

They were initially taken aback, sensing the drop in their demonic power and letting out uneasy roars. But soon, they discovered that although their demonic power was suppressed, their powerful bodies, claws, fangs, and the wild power in their bloodline, upon which they depended for survival, were far less affected than human cultivators who relied on spells and magical artifacts!

"Roar--!"

The Golden Armored Demon Ape, originally at the early fourth rank, had its demonic power reduced to the third rank, but its dark golden scales remained sturdy, and its strength was still terrifying. It reacted first, a savage glint of excitement flashing in its crimson beastly eyes. It suddenly stood upright and smashed a Xuanming Sect elder, whose cultivation had plummeted to the Purple Mansion stage and who was frantically forming hand seals, into a bloody pulp with a single punch!

"Ouch——!"

"hiss--!"

Like a fuse being lit, countless demonic beasts let out bloodthirsty roars! Their suppressed and driven rage erupted completely at this moment! Compared to those human cultivators who had suddenly become "fragile," they still maintained powerful close combat abilities!

The tide of battle turned in an instant!

Originally hunters, the three-way alliance has now become easier prey in the eyes of the monsters, as their cultivation levels have been forcibly lowered to the same level and they are even at a disadvantage because they rely more on magic!
……

Just now.

“Now,” Fu Changsheng, who was suspended in mid-air, spoke calmly, his voice clearly reaching the ears of the three great cultivators whose minds were shaken, “it’s my turn.”

His aura was not suppressed at all. Instead, under the blessing of the Seven-Colored Glazed Beast's divine light, it burst through the bottleneck like a burning flame and reached the peak of the Golden Core stage! The overwhelming pressure was like a tangible tsunami, crushing down on the enemies below whose cultivation had plummeted.

"Peak Golden Core?! This is impossible!" Master Huanxi exclaimed in shock, his face drained of color, his previous composure and calculation vanished, leaving only boundless fear. He was currently only a Pseudo-Core cultivator, the difference between him and the peak Golden Core was like heaven and earth!

For the first time, a look of horror appeared on Xiong Gang's wild face. He tried to roar, but his voice trembled slightly: "You... what kind of monster are you!"

The old man from Youquan's hoarse voice was filled with despair: "The restrictions are ineffective against him... He was prepared! Quick! Join forces! Otherwise, we will all perish here today!"

The instinct for survival overwhelmed everything! The three great cultivators, who were originally wary of each other, chose to join forces without hesitation.

"Joyful Realm, the Cycle of All Laws!" Master Huanxi roared, forcefully urging his suppressed spiritual power and summoning his natal magic treasure, the Reincarnation Banner. The pinkish-black evil light attempted to interfere with Fu Changsheng's consciousness, but it was like a mud ox entering the sea, with negligible effect.

"Beast Souls, empower me!" Xiong Gang's eyes turned bloodshot. He bit his tongue, spitting out blood essence, and used a secret technique. Behind him, several blurry beast soul phantoms, including a giant bear, a mad lion, and a ferocious python, appeared. His aura briefly increased, and he swung his giant axe, as big as a door, fiercely slashing at Fu Changsheng! This was his trump card, a desperate move!
"Nine Netherworld Mystic Fiends, Lock Soul and Seize Spirit!" Old Man Youquan shrieked, his thin hands forming a seal. One after another, pitch-black chains, exuding an extremely cold and corrosive aura, emerged from the void, coiling around Fu Changsheng's limbs and soul like venomous snakes. This was one of the Xuanming Sect's most powerful divine abilities!

At the same time, the Golden Core cultivators from the three sects who had not yet been torn apart by the demonic beasts also unleashed their final frenzy in extreme fear. Various flying swords, magic weapons, talismans, and spells poured down on Fu Changsheng in the air like a torrential rain! In an instant, spiritual light flashed wildly, and the deafening roar engulfed Fu Changsheng's figure.

However, despite the seemingly overwhelming attack, Fu Changsheng's eyes remained as cold as ice.

He didn't even use many fancy supernatural powers.

He simply raised his hand.

"puff!"

A purple-gold lightning spear materialized out of thin air, carrying an aura of destruction akin to divine punishment. It instantly pierced through the beast soul phantom that Xiong Gang had conjured using a secret technique, and then pierced through his chest! Xiong Gang's burly body stiffened abruptly, his eyes filled with resentment and disbelief. His protective aura crumbled like paper, and his immense life force was instantly annihilated by the lightning. His charred corpse fell to the ground.

Fu Changsheng rolled up his sleeve and put the corpse into his storage bag.

"First."

His voice was flat, as if he had simply swatted a fly.

The next moment, he vanished like a ghost, reappearing behind Old Man Youquan. The insidious Xuanming Soul-Locking Chains didn't even manage to touch the hem of his clothes.

"No—!" Old Man Youquan was terrified and tried to escape, but he felt that the space around him had been completely locked.

Fu Changsheng pointed his fingers like a sword, his fingertips wrapped in a refined purple divine light, and gently pointed out.

"Crack!"

The thick Yin Sha protective shield around Elder Youquan shattered like glass. The finger force pierced through his body, shattering his golden core, which he had cultivated for hundreds of years, along with his soul! His black robes slumped, and his aura instantly dissipated.

"the second."

The remains were also collected.

In the blink of an eye, two powerful cultivators who once dominated their respective regions perished!

The Golden Core cultivators below were completely devastated! This wasn't a battle, it was a massacre! It was a blatant crushing defeat!

"Run!"

"He's the devil!"

"Help!"

They cried out and scattered in all directions, no longer caring about their sect's mission or their attempt to capture Fu Changsheng. But within the confines of the "drawing a circle on the ground as a prison," where could they possibly escape to?
Fu Changsheng was like a tiger among sheep; with each flash of his figure, a shower of blood would inevitably fall, taking the lives of one or even several Golden Core cultivators.

The Heavenly Punishment Thunder Spear in his hand, bathed in the essence and remnant souls of numerous Golden Core cultivators, emitted a joyful and greedy buzzing sound. Profound blood-red patterns began to emerge and spread on the purple-gold spear, and the pressure it emitted rose sharply, faintly attracting the surrounding spiritual energy of heaven and earth. It even showed signs of breaking through the limits of magic weapons and advancing to a spiritual treasure!
Screams, pleas for mercy, and explosions rose and fell, turning the entire restricted space into a bloody slaughterhouse.

……

In just the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

When Fu Changsheng stopped again, the nearly one hundred imposing Golden Core cultivators had dwindled to just Huanxi Shangren. His face was ashen, and he hovered alone in mid-air, trembling all over. His eyes were filled with endless fear and despair as he looked at Fu Changsheng, devoid of any of his previous greed and majesty.

"Fu Changsheng! You can't kill me! My Joyful Sect's Supreme Elder is a Nascent Soul True Monarch! If you dare to touch me, the True Monarch will surely emerge from seclusion, and at that time, there will be no place for your Fu family in heaven or on earth! Now let me leave, and I... I can pretend that today's events never happened!"

Upon hearing this, Fu Changsheng did not stop walking, but the mocking sneer on his lips became even more pronounced: "A Nascent Soul True Monarch? Heh, once he emerges from seclusion, I, Fu Changsheng, may not be unable to fight him. As for you... you are doomed to die today! I'll use your fake Nascent Soul and Golden Core to sharpen my Thunder Spear and help it advance to a Spiritual Treasure!"

Before he finished speaking, the Heavenly Punishment Thunder Spear in Fu Changsheng's hand, which was buzzing incessantly, suddenly burst out with dazzling purple-gold lightning. Its destructive aura locked onto Huanxi Shangren, and it looked like it was about to be released from his hand!

"You forced me to do this!!" Seeing that there was no hope of reconciliation, the desire to survive overwhelmed everything. A look of pain and madness flashed across his face. He suddenly pulled out a bead the size of a longan, completely red, with fine cracks on its surface!

The moment the bead appeared, a terrifying energy fluctuation, far exceeding the level of a pseudo-core cultivator and causing the surrounding space to slightly distort, instantly spread out! It was as if a slumbering ferocious beast was about to awaken!

"【Crimson Sun Heaven-Burning Pearl】! Explode for me!!" Venerable Huanxi roared hoarsely, frantically pouring the last of his spiritual power into the pearl, preparing to detonate it! This was a trump card bestowed upon him by the Supreme Elder of the Huanxi Sect to save his life, containing the power of a Nascent Soul True Monarch's sealed attack, equivalent to the full-force attack of an early Nascent Soul cultivator! Once detonated, everything within several miles would be reduced to scorched earth, and he was confident that Fu Changsheng would have no chance of survival!
However, just as the crimson bead's light surged and was about to reach its critical point—

Fu Changsheng's eyes were icy cold, showing no sign of panic. A seemingly ordinary jade talisman in his sleeve shattered silently.

Small teleportation spell!

A barely perceptible ripple spread through the space, and Fu Changsheng's figure vanished from the spot like a ghost in the blink of an eye!
The next moment, he appeared behind Master Huanxi, whose body was completely exposed due to the full activation of the precious pearl!

"What?! No—!" Master Huanxi felt a chill run down his spine, his soul almost leaving his body. He tried to turn around and defend himself, but it was too late!
"Pfft!"

The Heavenly Punishment Thunder Spear, which condensed all of Fu Changsheng's peak Golden Core power, carried the murderous aura that had killed nearly a hundred Golden Core cultivators, and was eager for his advancement, easily pierced through the weak protective spiritual light that Huanxi Shangren had hastily gathered, like a hot knife cutting through butter. It entered from his back and emerged from his chest!

The violent power of lightning exploded within his body in an instant, destroying all his vitality. Even his terrified and twisted soul was greedily devoured and absorbed by the lightning spear!
Huanxi Shangren froze, looking down in disbelief at the spear tip gleaming with an eerie, blood-red light emanating from his chest. Power drained from his body like a tidal wave, and extreme cold and darkness rapidly consumed his consciousness.

In the final moments of his life, countless images flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern:
He was of mediocre talent in his youth and struggled at the bottom of the sect...

He accidentally obtained a fragmented inheritance from an ancient demonic cultivator, and climbed the ranks step by step with ruthlessness and cunning...

Slandering fellow disciples, currying favor with elders, and finally the smug satisfaction of taking the position of sect leader...

His painstaking efforts to cultivate his sect, coupled with his greed when coveting the opportunities offered by the Fu family...

In the end, it was Fu Changsheng's cold, indifferent gaze, as if looking at an ant, and the thunderous spear that pierced through his chest...

“I… am not reconciled… I was only one step away… Nascent Soul… Divine Transformation…” His lips moved, emitting a faint sound like a mosquito’s buzz, filled with endless regret, despair and resentment.

However, it all came to an end.

The light in his eyes dimmed completely, and his body fell from the sky like a rag doll.

“Buzz——!!!”

Just as the aura of the Venerable Huanxi completely dissipated, the Heavenly Punishment Thunder Spear, which had devoured the essence of the last pseudo-Nascent Soul cultivator, suddenly erupted with an unprecedentedly intense light! On the spear shaft, the blood-red patterns that had previously only appeared solidified and spread, intertwining with the purple-gold thunder runes to form a more complex and profound pattern!

A spiritual pressure, surpassing even magical artifacts and carrying a faint fluctuation of the laws of heaven and earth, suddenly spread out from the thunder spear! The surrounding spiritual energy frantically converged upon it, emitting a joyful buzzing sound!

After this battle, the Heavenly Punishment Thunder Spear, having consumed the blood of nearly a hundred golden pills and three false infants, finally broke free from its cocoon and transformed from a top-tier magic weapon into a low-grade spiritual treasure!

Although it is only of low grade, its power is incomparable to that of the past. It also contains a trace of the true meaning of divine punishment, and has a strong restraining effect on evil spirits and ghosts!
Holding the newly revamped and imbued with spiritual energy, Fu Changsheng felt the immense power and intimate connection emanating from the Heavenly Punishment Thunder Spear, and a surge of pride welled up within him. With this spiritual treasure's assistance, his strength would reach a new level!
at the same time.

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

"You have slain nearly a hundred Golden Core cultivators and successfully rescued your clansmen, earning you two special lottery draws. Would you like to redeem them?"

(End of this chapter)