Family Rise: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 611 Spatial Evolution, Lottery, and Endless Gains
"If any of you find anything during your exploration, whether it's elixirs, minerals, or cultivation techniques, the discoverer will keep 60%, and my Netherworld Merchant Guild will only take 40%," the appraiser offered a very tempting promise.

But his tone immediately turned cold, carrying a hint of warning: "However, there are two points to clarify beforehand. First, the core area of ​​the ruins remains completely sealed off; approaching is strictly prohibited, and violators will bear the consequences! Second..."

He paused, his gaze sharpening: "Within this world, the Netherworld Merchant Guild will not intervene in any battles, fights, or treasure-grabbing among you fellow Daoists! Whether you cooperate or become enemies, live or die, it is up to your own abilities and fate!"

Upon hearing this, the atmosphere in the room instantly became subtle and tense!
This means that within this sealed-off cave ruin, freed from the constraints of external rules, the law of the jungle—survival of the fittest—will once again take over! Especially since this group of people has just finished a high-level trade fair, and they all carry more or less coveted treasures!
Yun Feiyang, Li Wuhen, and Xue Qingyi instinctively moved closer, subtly forming an alliance. The four mysterious cultivators, however, kept their distance, their eyes warily scanning the others. Hou San was so nervous that he almost clung to Fu Changsheng.

Fu Changsheng felt a chill run down his spine. This seemingly compensation was actually more like a scheme to raise a treacherous insect! The Netherworld Merchant Guild was using this opportunity to quell the discontent among the people who were trapped, and on the other hand, they probably wanted to use the people to further explore the ruins, and even... eliminate some unnecessary troubles.

Danger and opportunity coexist!
"Well? Fellow Daoists, would you be willing to explore this place while we wait?" the appraiser asked finally.

After a short silence.

"Since we have this opportunity, we certainly can't miss it," Yun Feiyang said first, a hint of interest on his lips.

“Okay.” Li Wuhen replied succinctly.

Xue Qingyi nodded slightly.

The four mysterious cultivators nodded in agreement.

Fu Changsheng pondered for a moment, then nodded.

According to intelligence reports, this place also holds a great opportunity.

"Alright!" Seeing this, the appraiser said no more. He walked to the bronze door, formed hand seals, and cast a series of profound spells.

hum!
The bronze gate slowly opened, but behind it was no longer the stone steps leading up from where they had come; instead, there was a distorted light curtain. Behind the light curtain, the faint shadows of mountains and rivers could be seen, and an ancient and desolate aura rushed towards them.

"Pass through this gate, and you'll reach the outer perimeter of the ruins. Good luck to you all." The appraiser stepped aside.

The appraiser had barely finished speaking!
Almost everyone's eyes were fixed on Fu Changsheng, who had just taken out a fifth-tier spiritual plant seed and openly sought innate five-element spiritual objects, like hungry wolves! A "fat sheep" who seemed to be only at the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm but possessed immense wealth!
It is a crime to possess a treasure!
A chilling killing intent spread out as if it were a tangible force, completely enveloping Fu Changsheng.

"Young master," the mysterious female cultivator transmitted first, her voice still carrying that chill, but now with an undeniable air of authority, "hand over your prized possession, as well as any spiritual items that may be related to the Five Elements, and I will guarantee your safe departure from this place and will also compensate you with a top-grade fifth-tier spiritual treasure."

Almost simultaneously, the cold voice of Xue Qingyi, the Holy Maiden of Yaochi in Tianshan, entered Fu Changsheng's ears: "Fellow Daoist, if you are willing to offer the final treasure and the clues to the Five Elements spiritual objects to Yaochi, I can make a vow to protect you and grant you a spot to cultivate in the outer area of ​​Yaochi for a hundred years."

Even though Yun Feiyang, the young master of the Immortal Alliance, and Li Wuhen, the holy son of the Extreme Fiend Sect, did not communicate directly, their burning gazes fully expressed their intentions.

Faced with the covetous eyes of all sides and the oppression of several geniuses of the same or even higher realms, Fu Changsheng appropriately revealed a trace of "panic" and "struggle" on his face, as if he was frightened by this sudden change.

He subtly took half a step back, moving closer to the portal leading to the ruins of the grotto-heaven, his voice carrying a hint of bravado but underlying weakness:
"Gentlemen... what do you mean by this? Fighting is forbidden here!"

"Fighting is forbidden?" Li Wuhen sneered, his murderous aura surging. "That old man said they wouldn't get involved, but he didn't say we couldn't 'spar'!"

Before he could finish speaking, his figure blurred, and a giant hand formed from dense baleful energy reached out to grab Fu Changsheng! It was as fast as lightning!

At the same time, Yun Feiyang lightly tapped his folding fan, and several sharp golden rays blocked Fu Changsheng's escape routes to the left and right. A cold mist appeared and disappeared from the mysterious female cultivator's sleeves, and ice crystals condensed around Xue Qingyi!

They all made their moves at the same time, each wanting to be the first to take down Fu Changsheng!

"you!"

Fu Changsheng was filled with shock and anger. Just as the murderous giant palm was about to strike him, his aura suddenly surged, instantly rising from the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm to the peak of the late-stage Golden Core realm! A flash of lightning appeared beneath his feet!
"boom!"

He left behind an afterimage as the giant palm of malevolent energy crushed him, but his true form, like a ghost, rushed into the gate of light with a speed far beyond the comprehension of ordinary Golden Core cultivators!

"Want to run?!"

"Leave the treasure behind!"

The four were shocked and enraged to discover that Fu Changsheng had concealed his cultivation level and possessed such a strange and swift movement technique. They immediately transformed into four streaks of light of different colors and gave chase!

Upon entering the dim and desolate cave ruins, Fu Changsheng did not linger and flicked his sleeves!
"Roar--!"

A deafening dragon roar resounded throughout the heavens and earth! Amidst the surge of azure light, a majestic azure dragon, tens of feet long with cloud-patterned wings on its back, appeared out of thin air! It was none other than Qing Lin, who had already advanced to the quasi-fifth rank!
"Xiaoqing, let's go!"

Fu Changsheng leaped onto the head of the Azure Dragon.

With a sudden flap of its enormous cloud dragon wings, Qinglin stirred up a violent airflow, and clouds and mist spontaneously formed around its body, surrounded by lightning!
"Whoosh-!"

Like a bolt of azure lightning tearing through the sky, the azure dragon carrying Fu Changsheng instantly broke the sound barrier and shot towards the depths of the ruins at a speed that left the pursuers behind speechless! That speed was even faster than the escape speed of an ordinary early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator!
"what?!"

"A near-fifth-tier mutated dragon?!"

"So fast!"

Yun Feiyang, Li Wuhen, Xue Qingyi, and the mysterious female cultivator, who had just chased into the ruins, only had time to see a blurry green figure disappear into the distant horizon, and their faces turned extremely ugly!

They never expected that this seemingly ordinary Golden Core cultivator not only concealed his cultivation level, but also possessed such a rare and incredibly fast near-fifth-tier flying spirit beast!

"Damn it!" Li Wuhen was so angry that he punched a nearby boulder into dust.

"I underestimated him." Yun Feiyang closed his folding fan, his face grim.

Xue Qingyi's eyes, hidden beneath her veil, were cold as she gazed in the direction where Fu Changsheng had disappeared, lost in thought.

The mysterious female cultivator exuded a chilling aura, and frost formed on the ground beneath her feet, clearly indicating her extreme anger.

"He may escape, but he can't hide!" The mysterious female cultivator's voice was icy cold. "He must still be in these ruins! Search separately! Even if we have to dig three feet into the ground, we must find him!"

“That’s right! He must have run deeper into the area! It’s more dangerous there, he can’t have gone far!” Yun Feiyang nodded in agreement.

At that moment, the four of them held nothing back and each displayed their unique abilities!
They couldn't believe that a cultivator at the early stage of the Golden Core realm could hide forever in this secluded cave!
Meanwhile, thousands of miles away, in a black mountain range full of strange rocks, Fu Changsheng put away the somewhat tired Azure Dragon and completely concealed his own aura.

There was no trace of panic on his face, only a cold calm.

"Want my things? Let's see if you have the ability and the life to take them..."

Set up the formation.

After confirming that it was temporarily safe, Fu Changsheng did not hesitate at all. He focused his mind on his body and communicated with the Five Elements Space that was closely connected to his Dao Foundation.

He took the [Five Elements Origin Qi], which had cost him a fortune and gone through many twists and turns, out of his storage ring without hesitation and put it directly into the Five Elements Space.

The moment the multicolored light entered the space, the entire Five Elements Space trembled!
"Owner!"

The spatial artifact spirit Qiu Niang's figure instantly materialized. Sensing the pure and boundless innate power, excitement appeared on her beautiful face. She immediately formed hand seals, mobilizing the power of the entire Five Elements Space to assist in the refining process.

Om-!
In the center of the Five Elements Space, the mysterious temple that had been silent and exuded an aura of ancient vicissitudes seemed to awaken from its slumber! The previously indistinct runes on the temple suddenly lit up, emitting a five-colored divine light!
As if summoned by the supreme authority, the primordial energy of the Five Elements flew uncontrollably toward the temple and eventually disappeared completely into the temple's tightly closed, massive door covered with mysterious patterns!

Boom! ! !

A deafening roar, as if the heavens and earth were splitting apart, echoed within the Five Elements Space! The temple trembled violently, and the patterns on the door flowed and combined at an unprecedented speed, finally coalescing in the very center of the door to form an incomparably complex keyhole, containing the profound principles of the birth and death of the Five Elements!

At the same time, an indescribable, mysterious aura, seemingly capable of nurturing all things and reversing life and death, emanated from the depths of the temple, instantly filling the entire Five Elements Space!
This aura was pure and gentle. Wherever it passed, the chaotic barriers at the edge of space expanded slightly outward, the stability of the space increased, the ground became more fertile, and the concentration and activity of spiritual energy in the air significantly increased. Some spiritual herbs that were originally slow-growing even sprouted new buds at a speed visible to the naked eye!
"The power of creation! It's actually the power of creation!"

Qiu Niang was overjoyed. With her slender hand, she carefully guided the wisp of mysterious energy, as fine as a hair yet as heavy as a thousand pounds, and stored it in a jade bottle made of the purest jadeite that she had prepared beforehand, and quickly sealed it with layers of seals.

"Master, the space has been upgraded!" Qiu Niang's voice, filled with barely suppressed joy, came through the mental connection. "The temple has absorbed the Five Elements Origin Qi, opened the first seal, and revealed the keyhole! The space's origin has been replenished, its range has expanded by tens of thousands of miles, its stability has greatly increased, and this wisp of 'Creation Qi' has been born!"

Although Fu Changsheng did not enter in person, he could clearly sense the earth-shaking changes in the Five Elements Space through his mental perception. In particular, the wisp of creation energy that Qiu Niang had carefully collected contained a vast vitality and profound Dao charm that moved him deeply.

This energy is one of the most fundamental forces in the universe, possessing the power to transform the rotten into the miraculous! Whether used for alchemy, weapon crafting, direct absorption for cultivation, or even for nurturing spiritual plants and enlightening living beings, it has incredible uses! Its value, in some respects, even surpasses that of the Five Elements Origin Energy itself!

"Excellent!" Fu Changsheng was overjoyed. This adventure was worth it!

The advancement of the Five Elements Space and the revelation of the keyhole in the temple signify that he has taken a crucial step toward unlocking his own secrets and taking control of this space.

Just as he was instructing Qiu Niang to prepare to use this energy of creation to catalyze the Dragon Blood Tree.

hum!
Within the Five Elements Space, the weather suddenly changes!

A powerful aura suddenly erupted from Qiu Niang's body!
She was originally a spirit born from the Five Elements Space, one with the very essence of the space. Now, as the space absorbed the Five Elements' primal energy, its essence surged, resulting in a dramatic sublimation. As the spirit, she naturally received tremendous feedback and benefits! The bottleneck that had bound her for so long suddenly and effortlessly loosened!

boom!
Above the sky, the originally peaceful and flowing five-colored spiritual clouds suddenly gathered, churning and surging, and in the blink of an eye, they transformed into a thick cloud of tribulation covering a hundred miles! Within the clouds, lightning snakes danced wildly, thunder rumbled, and a chilling heavenly might locked onto Qiu Niang below!

Golden Core Tribulation!

Even a spirit must undergo trials by heaven and earth before it can condense a golden core!
"Master, I am about to undergo my tribulation!" Qiu Niang's clear voice carried a hint of solemnity, but even more so, it was filled with determination and anticipation. She had waited for this day for far too long.

Fu Changsheng had been focused on the changes within the space, and upon seeing this, he immediately replied, "Focus on your tribulation, I've got you covered!"

With a thought, he subtly activated the power of the Five Elements Space, minimizing any external interference that might affect the lightning tribulation, while simultaneously protecting some important spiritual plants and buildings within the space.

"Roar!"

Just then, the Chaos Beast, which had been dozing by the spiritual spring, was awakened by the aura of the lightning tribulation. It opened its sleepy eyes, looked at the terrifying lightning tribulation brewing in the sky, then at Qiu Niang below who was standing ready, and tilted its head.

Then, it let out a low growl tinged with dissatisfaction, as if it felt the lightning tribulation had disturbed its peaceful slumber. Then, to the astonishment of the Feathered Beast and the Ice Flame father and son, it lazily opened its mouth.

That wasn't just an ordinary opening of its mouth; its mouth seemed to transform into a miniature chaotic vortex, generating an invisible suction force.

The first bolt of purple tribulation lightning, as thick as a bucket, crashed down with an aura of annihilation! However, this tribulation lightning, which would have made ordinary Golden Core cultivators take it seriously, was swallowed whole by the Chaos Beast as it approached its summit, like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea!
"Hiccup~"

The Chaos Beast let out a burp, a wisp of green smoke rising from its mouth. It smacked its lips, seemingly finding the taste quite good. The chaotic aura emanating from its body appeared to have solidified slightly.

Immediately afterwards, the second, the third... each tribulation lightning bolt stronger than the last fell in succession, but without exception, they all became "snacks" for the Chaos Beast! It accepted them all without hesitation, and even flew higher later on, as if afraid of missing a single one.

The nine tribulations of lightning passed by unscathed amidst the "smacking" sounds of the chaotic beast devouring them. The tribulation clouds in the sky seemed to pause for a moment before reluctantly dissipating, bringing down a sweet rain brimming with pure life force.

Bathed in the sweet rain, Qiu Niang's spiritual light surged, and her aura rose steadily! Her figure became more solid, her features more distinct and expressive, and a spiritual pressure befitting a Golden Core cultivator naturally emanated from her. In her dantian, a pure golden core, shimmering with five-colored light, slowly condensed and took shape!
The Spirit Core is complete!

The whole process went more smoothly than expected, and the biggest contributor was naturally the Chaos Beast with an excellent appetite, which could be called the "nemesis of lightning tribulations".

"Thank you for your protection, Master! Thank you... little guy!" Qiu Niang felt the surging power within her body and a clearer understanding of the world. Her face was filled with a joyful smile as she bowed gracefully to the void (Fu Changsheng) and the Chaos Beast beside her, which was licking its paws with lingering satisfaction.

The Chaos Beast arrogantly turned its head, flicked its tail, and lay back down by the spiritual spring to continue its nap, as if it had just done a trivial matter. After digesting the power of this tribulation lightning, its cultivation should be able to break through to the mid-stage of the fourth rank.

Fu Changsheng was also filled with joy.

As Qiu Niang advances to the Golden Core stage, her control over space will be greatly enhanced, and her mastery of formations will also improve significantly, which will be of great help to him!

at the same time.

In Fu Changsheng's sea of ​​consciousness, the dormant system panel reappeared on its own, accompanied by a clear notification sound:
"Ding!"

"Detected that the attached life form [Five Elements Space Spirit · Qiu Niang] has successfully advanced to the Golden Core stage, greatly enhancing the host's overall potential and foundation."

"Congratulations, host! You have been granted one [Special Lottery Draw Opportunity]!"

Fu Changsheng's mind stirred, and he temporarily put aside the threat of the external search, focusing his attention on the lottery wheel in his sea of ​​consciousness.

The roulette wheel is ancient and mysterious, divided into countless small areas with flowing light, representing various prizes such as pills, cultivation techniques, magic weapons, supernatural powers, spirit beasts, rare and precious materials, and special statuses. Among them are some items with a halo of light that are clearly extraordinary.

"Start the lottery!"

As Fu Changsheng gave his thought, the pointer at the center of the roulette wheel began to spin rapidly, turning into a blurry blur of light and shadow.

After counting the breaths.

"stop!"

The pointer's rotation suddenly slowed down, passing through the cultivation technique area, the magic weapon area, the elixir area... Finally, it slowly stopped in an area on the wheel marked with strange runes, but with a relatively restrained light.

"Ding!"

"Congratulations, host! You have obtained a special item: [Boundary Breaking Talisman (One-Time Use)]!"

A stream of information then flooded into Fu Changsheng's mind:
[Boundary-Breaking Talisman (One-Time Use)]: An ancient secret talisman containing a trace of the power of the fundamental laws of space. Once activated, it can forcibly tear apart most formations, restrictions, and barriers below the fifth rank (including the fifth rank), opening a temporary passage.

"A Boundary-Breaking Talisman?" Fu Changsheng's eyes flashed with a sharp light. Although this item is a one-time consumable, its effects are incredibly powerful in certain situations! Whether it's infiltrating certain secret realms or forbidden areas, dealing with the current predicament—this cave ruin sealed by the Netherworld Merchant Guild's formation—or navigating the traps that the enemies outside might have laid—it is undoubtedly an excellent trump card!

"Perfect timing!" Fu Changsheng felt reassured and carefully put away the talisman, which was neither gold nor jade, had a cool touch, and had silver spatial ripples flowing on its surface.

The feedback from Qiu Niang's breakthrough, coupled with the unexpected acquisition of the Boundary-Breaking Talisman, gave him even more confidence.

...

...

at the same time.

At the same instant that Fu Changsheng poured the Five Elements Origin Qi into the Five Elements Space, it was completely swallowed and refined by the mysterious temple.

In another area of ​​the cave ruins, a mysterious female cultivator, who was pressing her palm to the ground and carefully exploring with her divine sense like mercury flowing across the ground, suddenly trembled and her face turned deathly pale!

"puff--"

She actually spat out a small mouthful of blood, and the icy aura surrounding her suddenly became chaotic. Her hands, which were pressed against the ground, jerked away as if she had been electrocuted, and her eyes were filled with disbelief and horror!
"How is this possible?! The mark...it's gone?! Completely gone!"

She gasped in shock, her voice trembling slightly with extreme shock and a hint of fear.

She had already secretly planted an extremely hidden tracking mark on the Five Elements Origin Qi, connected to the origin of her "Ice Soul Profound Art". This mark was extremely sophisticated; unless a Nascent Soul True Monarch with a cultivation level far exceeding that of the caster personally removed it, it would be absolutely impossible for the connection to be lost so abruptly and completely!

"Impossible! How long has it been? How could a Golden Core cultivator refine an innate Five Elements spiritual object in such a short time?!" Her heart was filled with shock and disbelief.

But no matter how unwilling she was to believe it, that clear connection to the origin was indeed severed, completely severed, as if the Five Elements Origin Qi had never existed in this world!
This result sent a chill down her spine.

She knew better than anyone how much the owner of the ice coffin valued the Five Elements Origin Qi! This item was crucial to its revival, and it was her most important mission on this trip, without exception! Now, right before her eyes, it had been stolen and even completely refined... She couldn't bear this responsibility!
The thought of the possible punishment for failing the mission, and the fury of the master upon awakening, sent chills down her spine.

"No! This can't be!" She abruptly raised her head, her once beautiful face contorted with extreme resentment and madness. Her eyes were bloodshot as she stared in the direction where Fu Changsheng had disappeared. Her voice was as cold as ice, carrying a chilling killing intent.
"Fu Changsheng! No matter what methods you used! Even if you really refined that Five Elements Origin Qi, I will still extract your soul and refine your essence, blood, cultivation, and that origin together... extract them all!"

...

...

The complete disappearance of the Five Elements Origin Qi imprint caused a shockwave, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake. It not only drove the mysterious female cultivator mad, but also alerted Yun Feiyang, Li Wuhen, and Xue Qingyi, who were closely watching the matter.

The light from the probing mirror in Yun Feiyang's hand flickered slightly, and the faint light that had been locking onto Fu Changsheng's remaining aura completely dissipated. He raised an eyebrow, put away the mirror, and a playful smile appeared on his face.

"Interesting... He actually refined it? Or did he use some method we don't know to completely isolate its aura?" He waved his folding fan, his gaze sweeping over the desolate cave. "Never mind, since the spiritual object is lost, getting entangled with him further is just a waste of energy. This blessed land is rarely opened; perhaps there's another destiny involved."

As the young master of the Immortal Alliance, he was well aware of the pros and cons. To fight to the death with a Golden Core cultivator with unpredictable methods and a near-fifth-tier spirit beast over a treasure that had already disappeared (or been refined) was not a wise move. Rather, it would be better to explore the ruins themselves; perhaps they could discover other unexpected gains.

With that thought in mind, he no longer hesitated. He transformed into a golden streak of light and leisurely headed in a direction completely different from where the mysterious female cultivator and Fu Changsheng were.

On the other side, Li Wuhen sensed the information transmitted back by the evil spirit—the target's aura had completely disappeared. A trace of violence and dissatisfaction flashed in his scarlet eyes.

"Hmph, consider yourself lucky!" Li Wuhen sneered, withdrawing all the evil spirits. He looked towards the areas deep within the cave that exuded an aura of danger and opportunity, his eyes rekindling with a bloodthirsty light. "This ruin is rich in evil energy, just what I need! Perhaps I can find a treasure trove to temper my evil spirits!"

He ignored Fu Changsheng's matter and, his figure enveloped in surging baleful energy, crashed into a black valley in the ruins, where the baleful energy was most concentrated, like a blood-red meteor.

In the blink of an eye, two of the four top pursuers had left.

Only Xue Qingyi, the Holy Maiden of the Jade Pool of Tianshan, remained quietly standing atop a broken stone peak, her veil fluttering, her cold gaze fixed on the direction where Fu Changsheng had disappeared, unmoved for a long time.

“Such a rare treasure of heaven and earth… how could an ordinary Golden Core cultivator refine it so easily?” she murmured to herself, her voice ethereal and otherworldly. “Even with a secret treasure to isolate it, it would be impossible to do so thoroughly and so quickly.”

"Azure Dragon... its unpredictable movement techniques... concealing its cultivation level... and that ability to instantly break free from our lock-on..."

All the signs connected in her mind.

"This child must be hiding a great secret and a great opportunity far surpassing that rare artifact!"

Her eyes grew brighter and brighter.

Compared to a primordial spiritual object that may have already been lost, a "person" with immense secrets and potential might be of even greater value!
"Find him...I must find him!" Xue Qingyi made up her mind. She didn't intend to seize him by force, but rather to "recruit" him. With Yaochi's resources and reputation, she was confident she could offer him conditions that would tempt him.

...

...

the other side.

With a thought, Fu Changsheng summoned the blue-faced white fox with a keen sense of smell and a special sensitivity to rare and precious materials from the Five Elements Space.

As soon as the little creature emerged, its nostrils flared rapidly. In this land filled with an ancient and dilapidated atmosphere, it seemed both excited and instinctively awe-inspiring. It circled Fu Changsheng twice, then turned in one direction, emitting soft "woofing" sounds, its little paws constantly scratching the ground.

"Is there something underground?" Fu Changsheng realized.

Following the blue-faced white fox's guidance, he arrived at an area that appeared no different from the rest of the place, filled with black gravel. The white fox stopped beside a huge, oval-shaped boulder, half-buried in the ground, and kept rubbing its head against the bottom of the rock.

A chaotic light flickered in Fu Changsheng's eyes as his [Clear Mind and Bright Eyes] supernatural power quietly activated.

The scene before my eyes suddenly changed!
Around that boulder, space was slightly distorted, and countless tiny runes, almost blending into the surrounding environment, were faintly flashing, forming an extremely exquisite natural illusion array that was inclined to concealment and deception! If he had not possessed a powerful divine sense and the ability to see through illusions, he would have had no way of noticing it.

"Indeed, there is more to it than meets the eye."

He carefully observed the energy flow of the illusion array and found several relatively weak points. Instead of forcibly breaking through the array, he relied on his precise grasp of the energy trajectory and, like a fish swimming, his figure flickered a few times, silently passing through the invisible barrier of the illusion array.

Suddenly, everything becomes clear!
Beyond the illusion array lay a downward-facing, deep, and narrow cave entrance, from which a damp, cold wind carrying a faint scent of water and fish blew out.

At the edge of the cave entrance, obvious traces of human excavation can be seen, but due to the passage of time, they have long been covered by moss and the dust of years.

Without hesitation, Fu Changsheng led the blue-faced white fox into the cave.

The cave was initially very narrow, winding downwards. After walking for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the sound of rushing water reached their ears. Ahead appeared a wide underground river, its water as black as ink, bottomless, exuding a chilling aura, its destination unknown.

The underground river is flanked by slippery rock walls. On the riverbank near Fu Changsheng, there are some huge, broken stone pillars that are different from the surrounding rocks, metal fragments carved with strange patterns, and even some ancient pottery fragments half-buried in the silt.

"This is... a fragment of an ancient kingdom's ruins?" Fu Changsheng's gaze sharpened. It seemed the intelligence was correct; fragments of an ancient kingdom's ruins had indeed been thrown or drifted into this grotto-heaven by some immense force.

The blue-faced white fox seemed even more excited, jumping directly into the fragments, sniffing here and there, and finally calling out urgently towards the downstream direction of the underground river.

Fu Changsheng's heart stirred, and he walked downstream along the riverbank.

The further down you go, the more numerous and complete the fragments of ruins appear on the riverbank. You can even see some broken palace foundations and collapsed statues.

Finally, after rounding a huge bend, the sight before him made Fu Changsheng gasp for breath!
In a relatively open bend in the river ahead, the dark water was washing over an enormous... ship!

It was an ancient ship, its entire body crafted from a mixture of some kind of dark gold metal and strange ancient wood, its style completely different from that of the present day, filled with a desolate and ancient aura. Most of the ship was submerged in the river, with the part above the water reaching dozens of feet high. It was covered with mottled corrosion marks and battle scars, with many parts damaged. The huge mast had been broken and was leaning diagonally over the hull.

Even so, it still exudes an undeniable and majestic aura, like a sleeping giant lying quietly in this ancient underground river.

"An ancient treasure ship!" A dazzling light flashed in Fu Changsheng's eyes!

The intelligence report mentioned that part of the ancient treasure ship, which sank to the bottom of the Jinsha River and was carrying a large amount of Gengjin essence, had drifted to the underground river of this blessed land!

This is an unexpected surprise!

He suppressed his excitement and cautiously probed forward with his divine sense, wary of any possible restrictions or dangers.

Meanwhile, the blue-faced white fox had already run to the bottom of the ship and was excitedly barking at a huge hole, clearly attracted by something inside.

Without further hesitation, Fu Changsheng swayed and landed on the huge and ancient ship like a feather.

"Woo woo!" The white fox scratched at a pile of rotting debris in the corner of the cabin with its paws.

Fu Changsheng brushed aside the dust, revealing a complex platform about three zhang in diameter, constructed of some kind of silver metal. The platform was covered with ancient runes that had long been lost, and many places were damaged and broken, their spiritual light dimmed, but the overall framework was still intact, and a faint spatial fluctuation still remained.

"An ancient teleportation array!" Fu Changsheng's heart skipped a beat!
It’s really another village where everything is bright and clear!
If he could activate this teleportation array, he could leave this dangerous place directly and get rid of those four troublemakers outside! As for where the teleportation destination was, although it was unknown, could it be any more dangerous than facing four Nascent Soul cultivators with ill intentions at the same time?

However, his joy was fleeting. After a careful examination, his brow furrowed.

The construction principles, energy circuits, and rune system of this ancient array are completely different from the teleportation arrays commonly used in the cultivation world today. It is much older, more complex, and even carries a hint of barbarism. Many key nodes are damaged, and more importantly, he cannot understand its activation and positioning methods at all!
Forcibly activating it would have unimaginable consequences; one would likely be thrown into spatial turbulence and perish both body and soul.

"Master, let me see."

Just then, within the Five Elements Space, Qiu Niang, who had just stabilized her Golden Core realm, volunteered. As the spirit of the Five Elements Space, she possessed an innate and keen perception of energy flow and array structure, especially in the realm of space. As her cultivation improved and the origin of the Five Elements Space strengthened, her understanding and control also increased accordingly.

Fu Changsheng's heart stirred, and he summoned Qiu Niang.

Qiu Niang's figure materialized beside the ancient teleportation array. She extended her slender fingers, gently brushing them across the cold, ancient runes, closing her eyes to sense the faint remaining Daoist principles and energy trajectories within. Around her, the five elements of spiritual light flowed naturally, subtly resonating with the ancient array.

A moment later, she opened her beautiful eyes, her gaze filled with a mixture of amazement and solemnity: "Master, this formation... is extremely ancient and profound. Its core is not driven by spirit stones, but rather by drawing upon a special spatial energy deep within the earth's veins to perform long-distance and even interdimensional teleportation. The damage is quite severe, especially since several key positioning and stabilizing runes have become ineffective."

"Can it be repaired? Can it be started?" Fu Changsheng asked the key questions directly.

Qiu Niang pondered for a moment and said, "I can't do a complete repair with my current abilities. It requires a complete array diagram and high-level materials. But... if it's just a temporary activation for a one-time teleportation, perhaps we can try."

Upon hearing this, Fu Changsheng remained silent for a moment, then his eyes instantly hardened: "Start repairing! As soon as possible! We need to leave before they find this place!"

"Yes, Master!" Qiu Niang said no more and immediately sat cross-legged in the center of the ancient teleportation array, her hands forming hand seals to draw upon the primal power of the Five Elements Space. Streams of multicolored light surged from her body, like nimble threads, carefully winding around and repairing the broken rune nodes, attempting to rebuild the energy circuit.

Fu Changsheng then retreated to an adjacent, relatively intact cabin.

He was not idle. Surrounded by powerful enemies, every bit of improvement in his strength would give him more resources to protect himself or even fight back.

He first had Qiu Niang set up a simple concealment and protection array in the cabin to isolate the interior from the outside atmosphere and movement. Although the effect could not compare with the natural illusion array outside, it could still serve as a certain warning and delaying effect.

Then, he took out the Heavenly Secrets House.

The Heavenly Secrets House appears to be just a small, exquisite model, but after being infused with magic, it quickly expands and transforms into a quiet room with its own independent space.

Fu Changsheng stepped inside, and with a thought, entered the small wooden house in the Five Elements Space. He sat down cross-legged and locked onto the [Training Room] function that he hadn't used for a long time.

"Open the training room!"

hum!
His consciousness blurred for a moment, and the next instant, he found himself in that familiar, mist-shrouded lotus pond. Beneath his feet was an exquisitely crafted winding corridor, and ahead stood the pavilion in the heart of the lake, exuding a tranquil and Taoist aura.

With a flick of his wrist, a jade box appeared. Inside were three lingzhi mushrooms, each as white as jade, radiating a soft glow and boundless spiritual energy—the very same Jade Marrow Lingzhi that the middle-aged scholar had exchanged with him, capable of enhancing one's late-stage Golden Core cultivation!
Without the slightest hesitation, he took out a piece of jade marrow fungus and swallowed it directly.

The elixir melted upon entering the mouth, transforming into a gentle yet powerful stream of pure medicinal energy that surged into the limbs and bones, rushing towards the golden core in the dantian!
"The Azure Emperor's Longevity Manual," please share!

Fu Changsheng silently urged himself and immediately began to circulate his main cultivation technique. The rich spiritual energy around the pavilion in the middle of the lake was also drawn in, converging towards him like a vortex. Together with the medicinal power of the Jade Marrow Mushroom, it was rapidly refined and absorbed!
Within his dantian, the perfectly round and radiant golden core, its surface shrouded in chaotic energy, greedily absorbed the pure energy, like parched land receiving timely rain. It grew and solidified at a visible speed! The magical power flowing within it became even more powerful and refined!
With the accelerated time and enhanced spiritual energy in the training room, the efficiency of refining Jade Marrow Fungus far exceeds that of the outside world!

One, two, three!
Fu Changsheng was completely focused on his cultivation. His aura steadily increased along with his magical power. His foundation, which had become somewhat weak due to the continuous battles and rapid advancement, became more solid and stable under the tempering of the pure medicinal power and the "Azure Emperor's Longevity Technique".

...

...

Several months passed quietly in this secluded cave ruin.

For cultivators, several months is but a fleeting moment. Some have found opportunities in these ruins and improved their strength; others have perished in the struggle and battles, becoming nourishment for this ancient land.

On this day, a magnificent and clear divine thought wave, like a morning bell and evening drum, resounded throughout the entire cave ruins, clearly echoing in the consciousness of every survivor:

"To all fellow cultivators still stranded here, the Netherworld Market teleportation array has been repaired and will open in one day to transport you away. The teleportation array has limited energy and its operation time is short. Once closed, it is unknown when it will reopen. Please proceed to the light gate at the entrance of the ruins immediately! Latecomers will not be waited for!"

The voice belonged to the appraiser who hosted the exchange meeting.

When the news arrived, the monks scattered throughout the ruins reacted in various ways.

Some breathed a sigh of relief, finally able to leave this perilous place; others looked unwilling, clearly their exploration was not yet complete, or they had not found the expected treasure; still others had shifty eyes, seemingly plotting something.

(End of this chapter)