Family Rise: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 612 Fragments of an Ancient Kingdom, Breakthrough, Family Split
When the young master of the Immortal Alliance arrived, more than two hundred cultivators had already gathered in that open space.

The number of people is significantly less than when they first entered this place. Of the original three hundred and sixty people, less than three hundred remain, meaning that more than sixty Golden Core cultivators have been lost forever in these ruins.

The survivors were mostly wary, maintaining a safe distance from one another. Many bore injuries, or seemed much stronger than they had been months ago, clearly indicating their varied experiences.

The appraiser and the two black-clad fake infants stood before the gate of light, their gazes sweeping over the crowd. Especially after seeing the number of people noticeably decrease, their eyes remained unmoved, as if they had long been accustomed to it.

"The people have almost all arrived," the appraiser said slowly. "The teleportation array is about to be activated. I'll give you one last reminder: after we leave, this place will be completely sealed off. We don't know when it will reopen. If any of you have any familiar fellow cultivators who haven't arrived yet, please try to contact them yourselves. We won't wait for you if you miss the deadline."

A commotion arose in the crowd; some people began taking out communication talismans to try and make contact, but most attempts went unanswered. In such a dangerous place, losing contact for months was a recipe for disaster.

The deadline is fast approaching.

The mysterious female cultivator from the Ice Soul Profound Sect turned deathly pale. Her gaze, sharp as the most piercing ice spikes, swept wildly through the crowd, her divine sense relentlessly scanning the face and aura of every cultivator!
No!

No!

still none!

That cultivator named Fu Changsheng, the guy who might be hiding the refined source of the Five Elements Origin Qi, actually... didn't come out?!

"How is this possible?! How could he not have come out?!" she roared inwardly, a chilling despair mixed with overwhelming rage threatening to devour her reason. For the sake of the Five Elements Origin Qi, she had risked antagonizing those of equal rank, searching this cave for months like a headless fly, only to find it all in vain?!
Did he die in some unknown corner? Or... did he find another way to leave, or did he simply hide deep within the ruins, refusing to answer the call?
Either way, it would be disastrous for her! She couldn't face the owner in the ice coffin!
Just thinking about her master's reaction upon waking up and learning of this sent a chill down her spine, a thousand times colder than the Xuanbing Qi she herself cultivated!
Compared to her loss of composure and despair, the other three Nascent Soul cultivators who participated in the small exchange and were interested in the fifth-order seed on Fu Changsheng and other possible secrets also looked equally grim.

The old man in hemp robes, known as the "Old Monster of the Withered Tree," the middle-aged scholar with a sallow complexion, and two other mysterious figures with profound auras—their divine senses carefully probed the crowd several times, finally confirming that Fu Changsheng had indeed not come out!
"Damn brat!" The old monster withered wood's face was so gloomy it could drip water, filled with remorse. He had wanted to forcibly seize it at the exchange meeting, but due to the occasion and the presence of the others, plus his confidence that he could easily subdue a Golden Core junior after leaving, he didn't act immediately. Who would have thought that this kid would be so slippery, simply disappearing!

"I underestimated his courage and methods..." The middle-aged scholar's eyes flickered, carrying a hint of surprise and scrutiny. He had originally thought that Fu Changsheng had only gotten lucky with some opportunities, but now it seemed that this young man's decisiveness far surpassed that of his peers. He was willing to risk being trapped in the ruins forever rather than come out and face the covetousness of them, the Nascent Soul cultivators.

The other two mysterious Nascent Soul cultivators also had grim expressions. They exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of resentment and anger in each other's eyes. They had actually been outmaneuvered by a mere Golden Core junior! If word got out, where would they put their faces?

If I had known this would happen, I should have disregarded everything and taken them down with swift and decisive action at the exchange meeting! Rules and face are nothing but bullshit in the face of real interests!
"The deadline has passed!"

The appraiser, no longer waiting, simultaneously began performing hand seals with the two black-clad fake infants.

Om-!
The portal through which they had come shone brightly once more, and powerful spatial fluctuations spread out.

"Teleportation activated, everyone, please proceed!"

The nearly three hundred surviving Golden Core cultivators, with varying feelings, transformed into streaks of light and rushed into the portal, fearing that if they were a step too slow, they would be left there forever.

...

...

The South China Sea is a vast expanse of blue waves.

After the chaos of the beast tide subsided, Nanshan Island and its surrounding waters returned to their former tranquility. Xianyu, unable to stay idle, took advantage of the gap between Shangguan Hongyu consolidating her Golden Core realm and Alan and Miaoyin handling island affairs to slip away and play on a small subsidiary island belonging to Nanshan Island.

The island was lush with vegetation and beautiful scenery, but due to its relatively thin spiritual energy, no cultivators lived there regularly; only some ordinary fishermen occasionally stopped there. Xianyu transformed into a streak of blue light, hovering above the island and admiring the scenery, so different from the main island.

As she flew over a rocky area by the sea, the "Spirit Detecting Pearl" in her arms, which was inherited from the She family and was exceptionally sensitive to fluctuations in spiritual energy, suddenly became slightly warm and emitted a hazy, clear light.

"what?"

Xianyu stopped and landed curiously on a huge black reef. She focused her senses and, sure enough, detected a faint yet exceptionally pure fluctuation of spiritual energy emanating from deep within the reef beneath her feet. This fluctuation was completely out of place with its surroundings, as if it had been sealed away for a long time and was only now leaking out for some reason.

"Could it be..." Xianyu's eyes lit up as she recalled the violent tremors of the earth's spiritual energy during the beast tide. "That's it! It must have been the beast tide that disturbed the earth's veins, causing the restrictions on this deeply hidden cave to loosen, thus revealing a trace!"

With great interest, she made a hand seal, and a condensed beam of blue spiritual energy shot out from her fingertips, carefully pointing towards the source of the spiritual energy fluctuation.

"Om-!"

The moment the spiritual energy touched the reef, a sudden change occurred!

The entire reef area suddenly trembled. Countless complex and profound silver runes suddenly appeared on the seemingly ordinary black reef surface! The runes flowed and intertwined, forming a huge net of light that enveloped an area of ​​several dozen feet in radius. Immediately afterward, a thick, azure pillar of light shot into the sky from the center of the reef, reaching straight into the clouds, clearly visible even in the bright daylight! Within the pillar of light, the faint sound of the tide, like the roar of a dragon, echoed, radiating an ancient and majestic pressure.

"Wow! What a powerful restriction!" Xianyu exclaimed. She could sense that the original owner of this cave must have had an extremely high cultivation level in his lifetime, at least at the late Golden Core stage, or even possibly a Nascent Soul cultivator!

She tried various methods to break through the silver light net, such as using water magic to penetrate it, or using brute force to force it open. She even took out several spiritual artifacts from the She family that had broken through restrictions. But the light net, though seemingly thin, was incredibly tough. No matter how hard she tried, it only rippled and remained motionless, making it impossible to open.

The little girl was panting heavily, her face puffed up like a bun. Finally, she stamped her foot in frustration: "Hmph! What a lousy cave! When Auntie comes out of seclusion, she'll open it for her!"

Although she couldn't open it herself, Xianyu knew the importance of the situation. Such an unusual phenomenon might attract unwanted attention. She dared not delay and quickly took out more than a dozen small array flags from her storage bracelet, rapidly setting up a concealment and protection array around the rocky area. The array flags disappeared into the ground, and a thin layer of mist rose, barely concealing most of the towering pillar of light and the runic phenomenon. From the outside, it only appeared that the mist was slightly thicker.

"This should be fine, right?" Xianyu clapped her hands, quite satisfied with her arrangement.

However, she was still inexperienced and underestimated the commotion caused by the initial burst of the towering pillar of light, as well as the vigilance of some people with ulterior motives.

Less than a hundred miles from this affiliated island, a medium-sized magic ship bearing the cherry blossom emblem was seemingly cruising casually. At the bow, a monk with a sharp face, dressed in the attire of Cherry Blossom Island, suddenly opened his eyes. In his hand, a bronze mirror magic artifact was shimmering with a faint light that resonated with the distant azure pillar of light.

He suddenly stood up, his sharp gaze fixed on the direction of the island where the immortal jade was located. Although the strange phenomenon there was now mostly obscured by the mist, the initial burst of intense spiritual energy and the towering pillar of light had been precisely captured by the "Spirit Mirror" in his hand, which was specifically used to monitor abnormal fluctuations in the surrounding sea.

"Such intense ancient restriction fluctuations... it's at least the appearance of a Golden Core cultivator's cave!" The Sakura Island informant's face revealed a mixture of greed and excitement. "Nanshan Island just survived the beast tide and the Golden Core tribulation, and now they've discovered such an opportunity? It's only right that Sakura Island receives this good fortune!"

Without hesitation, he took out a communication flying sword, imprinted his divine sense into it, and shouted, "Go!"

The flying sword transformed into a barely perceptible streak of light, instantly piercing through the air and heading straight for the main island of Sakura Island.

...

...

Sakura Island, Main Hall Council Room.

The atmosphere was tense, and the spiritual energy was stagnant. Island Lord Sakurai Yue sat in the main seat, her fingertips lightly tapping the armrest, her face calm and composed. Below, five Golden Core elders stood on either side, their cultivation levels ranging from the early to late Golden Core stages. At this moment, they all held their breath and focused their gazes on the old woman beside the main seat who was resting with her eyes closed.

The old woman wore an elaborate dark purple robe, the sleeves embroidered with strange, twisted runes. Her aura was as deep and boundless as the ocean, and although she did not deliberately exude it, all the Golden Core cultivators present felt a faint pressure. She was the pillar of Sakura Island, the Great Elder—Grandma Chiyo, a powerful figure at the Nascent Soul stage, and also a rare "spellcaster".

After the jade slip was passed around among everyone, it finally fell into Granny Chiyo's withered palm. Without even opening her eyes, she scanned it with her divine sense and immediately understood the intelligence reported by the spies about the appearance of hidden caves on the affiliated islands of Nanshan Island and the strange phenomena caused by the attempt to open the immortal jade.

After a brief silence, Granny Chiyo slowly opened her eyes. Instead of being dim and yellow, her eyes were sharp as a hawk's, sweeping over everyone present.

"Everyone, please speak up." Her voice was hoarse, yet carried an undeniable authority.

An elder with a relatively amiable appearance, who was in the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm, hesitated for a moment before speaking: "Elder, Island Lord. Nanshan Island now has Shangguan Hongyu, who has just advanced to the Golden Core realm, and that Immortal Jade True Person of unknown origin. Their strength is no longer comparable to what it used to be. Last time... last time during the beast tide, we were in the wrong. If we were to forcibly seize the cave dwellings discovered on their affiliated islands now, wouldn't that be too aggressive and might completely escalate the conflict?"

"Exacerbate the conflict?" Granny Chiyo scoffed, her voice icy. "Elder Matsumoto, when did you become so naive?"

Her gaze was sharp as she looked at the elder who had spoken: "Shangguan Hongyu has just broken through to the Golden Core stage and is currently consolidating her cultivation. She will not be able to emerge from seclusion for a short time. As for Xianyu, although he is also a Golden Core cultivator, judging from his behavior, he is immature and not worth worrying about. Currently, on Nanshan Island, there seem to be two Golden Core cultivators, but in reality, only Xianyu is capable of fighting."

She paused, her tone tinged with mockery: "As for the last beast tide incident... Nanshan Island knew we were the ones diverting the trouble, yet they remained completely silent afterward, not even uttering a single question. What does that say?"

Granny Chiyo answered her own question with a resolute voice: "Either they are cowards, afraid of our Sakura Island, and dare not make a sound! Or they are biding their time, keeping this grudge in their hearts, waiting for the day when they have enough strength to take revenge!"

"No matter the reason," Granny Chiyo's voice suddenly rose, filled with resolute killing intent, "that cave must never fall into the hands of Nanzan Island! If it's the former, even a weakling might grow fangs after obtaining the cave's resources; if it's the latter, this cave will only fuel their ambition for revenge! With one side gaining and the other losing, it will surely become a major threat to our Sakura Island in the future!"

She slammed her thin hand down on the armrest of the chair, causing the air in the entire council chamber to tremble.

"The only truth and the way to survive is to seize opportunities and transform them into the power of Sakura Island!"

Her words were forceful and carried the naked logic of authoritarianism. Elder Matsumoto, who had raised an objection, opened his mouth, but under Granny Chiyo's cold gaze, he lowered his head in dejection and dared not speak again.

The other elders remained silent, trembling with fear. On Sakura Island, Granny Chiyo, with her feigned infant cultivation and unpredictable spells, had long established herself as the sole authority. No one dared to openly oppose her decisions.

Seeing this, Island Lord Sakurai Tsukishiro spoke up at the opportune moment, steer the conversation toward concrete actions: "The Grand Elder is absolutely right. In that case, how should we proceed? Shall we infiltrate secretly, or..."

Granny Chiyo snorted coldly: "In the shadows? The immortal jade has already set up an array to conceal it, which means she already knows the value of the cave. According to reports from our spies, patrols on Nanshan Island have been frequent recently, so she is obviously on guard. There are too many variables in operating in the shadows."

A cold glint flashed in her eyes: "If we're going to take it, let's take it openly and honestly! Find a pretext and send an envoy to Nanshan Island. Say that Sakura Island has detected abnormal spatial fluctuations on that affiliated island, which is suspected to be the appearance of an ancient cultivation cave. In order to avoid causing trouble and endangering the stability of the surrounding seas, Sakura Island is willing to 'assist' Nanshan Island in jointly exploring and managing this island."

"If they know what's good for them and obediently relinquish control, perhaps we can even give them a piece of the pie. If they don't..."

Granny Chiyo's lips curled into a cruel smile: "Then don't blame us for taking swift and decisive action in the name of 'maintaining stability in the seas'! Perfect timing, while Shangguan Hongyu is unable to act, let's capture that immortal jade first, and then force her to reveal the method to open the cave!"

...

...

Nanshan Island, side hall for deliberation.

The strange phenomena of the affiliated islands reflected by the water mirror technique slowly dissipated, but the atmosphere inside the hall grew increasingly heavy. Xianyu put away her usual playful demeanor, her little face tense, and quickly recounted how she discovered the cave, her unsuccessful attempt to open it, and how she set up an array to conceal it.

"That's how it is." Xianyu rubbed her nose in annoyance. "The barrier was too strong, I couldn't open it. I felt... I felt that the thing inside was unusual, so I came back quickly."

Upon hearing this, Alan's face paled instantly: "A hidden cave... appearing at a time like this! Those wolves on Sakura Island will never let this opportunity pass! Steward, Immortal Jade, this matter is of utmost importance. In my opinion, we must report to the Island Lord immediately! Please make the decision, Island Lord!"

Her words carried an undisguised anxiety. Shangguan Hongyu was the soul of Nanshan Island, and in Alan's view, only the island lord's return from seclusion could handle such a crisis.

“No.” Miao Yin’s clear, cold voice rang out, carrying a hint of helpless resolve. She looked at Alan and slowly shook her head: “Alan, I understand your feelings. But the Island Master has just formed her Core and her realm is not yet stable. Forcing her to emerge from seclusion would at least damage her cultivation, and at worst shake her foundation, with unimaginable consequences. Even if the Island Master were to emerge now, with her early Golden Core stage cultivation, how much of a chance would she have against the forces that Sakura Island has cultivated for many years, especially that Grand Elder at the Nascent Soul stage?”

These words were like ice water poured over Alan's head, instantly cooling his feverish mind, but the worry in his eyes deepened: "Then... what should we do? Are we just going to watch Sakura Island come and take it?"

Miaoyin took a deep breath, a glint of wisdom flashing in her eyes: "The only way forward is to take advantage of the situation. We have no chance of winning if we fight head-on; if we endure, they will only take advantage of us. We must find a powerful enough backer to deter Sakura Island from making any rash moves."

She paused, then said, word by word, "Apply to join the 'Myriad Paths Alliance' immediately!"

"The Alliance of Ten Thousand Paths?" Xianyu blinked; she wasn't very familiar with the power distribution in this sea area.

Alan's eyes lit up, as if he had seen a glimmer of hope in a desperate situation: "Sister Miaoyin, you mean... that Myriad Paths Alliance that governs the order of the outer star seas, requires its members to share some resources, but also provides protection?"

“Exactly.” Miaoyin nodded affirmatively. “According to the alliance’s rules, once a member is officially approved and joins, the properties and resource points registered under their name will be protected by the alliance’s laws, and others may not forcibly seize them. Otherwise, it will be considered as challenging the alliance’s authority.”

She looked at Xianyu and Alan, her gaze intense: "This hidden cave is the best 'pledge of allegiance' we can offer to join the alliance! We should report its information completely and proactively propose that the alliance take the lead in its development. According to the alliance's rules, the original island that discovers and hands over such an important resource point will receive at least 30% of the profits!"

"Thirty percent?" Xianyu pouted. "That's so little, that's what we found out!"

Miaoyin smiled bitterly: "Immortal Jade, if Sakura Island takes it, we won't even get a tenth of it, and we might even lose our island and our lives. Using 70% of the profits to exchange for the protection of the Alliance and the remaining 30%, as well as the safety of Nanshan Island, is the most rational and only option at present. With the Alliance as our shield, even if Sakura Island is unwilling, it will never dare to make a move openly."

Alan pondered for a moment, then nodded heavily: "Sister Miaoyin is right! The Island Master also mentioned before his seclusion that if we encounter an insurmountable force, we can consider relying on external forces. Although the Myriad Paths Alliance will take away most of the benefits, it can indeed ensure that the foundation of Nanshan Island is not lost. I will go and organize the island's information and application documents now!"

Xianyu looked at Miaoyin, then at Alan. Although she felt a little aggrieved, she understood that this was the best solution for the moment. So she puffed out her cheeks and said, "Alright, alright, I'll listen to you. Humph, once Auntie comes out of seclusion and becomes even more powerful, I'll settle accounts with those bad guys!"

...

...

As dusk settled, the study of the Huang family, a sixth-rank official's residence in Wuzhou, was brightly lit. "Come in," came the Huang family patriarch's slightly authoritative voice from inside the door.

Huang Yuehua pushed open the door and entered. She saw the Huang clan chief sitting upright behind a large rosewood desk, toying with a jade ruyi scepter full of spiritual energy in his hand. Several files about the family's businesses and recent gift lists with other families in the city were spread out on the desk. The room was filled with the fragrance of incense, but it also exuded an air of shrewd calculation.

"Clan Chief," Huang Yuehua said with a cupped-hand salute, her voice calm.

Chief Huang raised his eyelids, his gaze sweeping over Huang Yuehua, but he didn't put down the jade ruyi in his hand, his tone neither warm nor cold:
"It's Yuehua. What is it? If it's still about reducing ties with the Princess's Mansion and saving expenses to replenish the clan's treasury, then there's no need to mention it again."

Huang Yuehua sighed inwardly, knowing that the clan leader had reservations about her consistent views, but the news she brought now concerned the clan's more fundamental future. Her expression remained unchanged as she said in a deep voice:

"I am not here today for worldly matters. I have been in seclusion recently and have made some progress in the art of divination. I have spent a lot of effort deducing and discovered that there seems to be a great opportunity hidden in the forbidden area behind our clan's mountain."

"Oh? The forbidden area in the back mountain? An opportunity?" Upon hearing this, the Huang clan chief paused in his jade ruyi, a half-smile playing on his lips, his skepticism undisguised. "Yuehua, could it be that you've over-analyzed and your mind is depleted, causing you to have a delusion? That forbidden area in the back mountain is where my Huang family ancestors were buried and cultivated in seclusion. Over the generations, it has been explored by countless ancestors. If there were truly any extraordinary treasure there, how could it have remained until now, waiting for you and me to discover it?"

He leaned forward slightly, his gaze sharp as he stared at Huang Yuehua, his tone becoming more forceful:

"Besides, the back mountain is a place with heavy yin energy. Apart from ancestral worship and a few people in seclusion, there are few people around. You say there is a chance, what kind of chance is it? Is it a treasure left by our ancestors, or a spiritual root of heaven and earth? Is there a more specific indication? You can't just make a big fuss based on your so-called 'deduction'."

Huang Yuehua met his gaze and said frankly:

"The secrets of heaven are shrouded in mystery, difficult to fathom. However, through repeated verification using the 'Star Derivation Technique,' I have confirmed that the sensation is not unfounded. The opportunity lies hidden deep within the forbidden area, its energy obscure yet powerful, appearing and disappearing as if connected to the earth's veins. To determine its exact nature, a thorough on-site investigation is necessary. I request permission from the clan leader to dispatch several meticulous and reliable disciples, carrying magical artifacts such as the 'Star-Fixing Compass' and the 'Dragon-Seeking Ruler,' to accompany me into the area for a detailed investigation."

"Deploy manpower? Use ancestral treasures?" Clan Chief Huang scoffed, leaning back in his chair and waving his hand dismissively. "Yuehua, it's not that I don't trust you. It's just that the clan is currently going through a turbulent period. The Fu family is eyeing us covetously, and we need manpower to manage our various businesses. Where would we find the extra manpower and resources to accompany you on such unrealistic endeavors?"

His words were earnest, but they contained a veiled warning:

"It's good that you're focusing on the art of divination, but you also need to be grounded and consider the immediate and tangible interests of the family. Maintaining good relationships with the City Lord's Mansion and Princess Runyu are the tangible opportunities. Let's put the matter of the back mountain aside for now; perhaps your perception is wrong."

Huang Yuehua remained silent for a moment.

She knew the clan leader's character well: ambitious and eager to curry favor with the powerful. He had always lacked patience and trust in matters of "internal pursuit" that required investment and had uncertain outcomes. In addition, she had often disagreed with him on family policies, so he was even less likely to support her now.

Seeing Huang Yuehua remain silent, her expression still composed, showing no intention of arguing, the displeasure Huang Clan Chief felt due to differing stances dissipated somewhat. He simply thought that Huang Yuehua was indeed as always, a "soft target" who wasn't good at arguing. His tone softened slightly, but carried an undeniable finality:
"Alright, there's no need to discuss this further. If you're still worried, just be more careful when you perform ancestral rites in the future. If there's nothing else, you may leave; I have some matters to attend to."

Huang Yuehua raised her eyes and gave the clan leader a deep look. Her gaze was calm and unwavering, as if she had already expected this outcome. She said nothing more, but bowed slightly again: "Yes, clan leader. Yuehua takes her leave."

After speaking, she turned around, her steps still steady, and silently left the study, gently closing the door behind her.

Hearing the footsteps receding outside the door, Chief Huang shook his head and muttered to himself:
"An opportunity in the back mountain? Ha, you're really overthinking it. Instead of wasting time on that, I should be thinking about how to prepare a birthday gift that will impress the city lord..." His attention quickly returned to the gift list and relationship chart on his desk.

Huang Yuehua, having left the study, stood on the veranda, gazing towards the back mountain shrouded in night:

"Since the family won't help, then... I'll do it myself."

...

...

Several months have passed quietly.

On the edge of the forbidden area behind the Huang family mountain, Huang Yuehua emerged, travel-worn. Her usually composed face bore an undisguised weariness, but her eyes shone with an astonishing light. She opened her palm, where a spirit-seeking rat with glossy fur and a keen sense of smell was munching on a small piece of ore that shimmered with a subtle spiritual light. This spirit-seeking rat had cost her nearly half her fortune, but now, the information it brought back was priceless.

Without pausing for a moment, she went straight to the door of the clan chief's study again.

Clan Chief Huang was about to dismiss her with the excuse of being busy with official duties when his gaze was suddenly drawn to the ore in Huang Yuehua's hand. Although he was not an expert in exploration, as a Golden Core cultivator, his perception of spiritual materials was not weak. The pure and powerful earth-elemental spiritual energy contained in the ore, as well as its unique crystal patterns, all pointed to a possibility that made his heart race.

"This came from... the back mountain?" Chief Huang's voice trembled slightly.

"Yes." Huang Yuehua said succinctly, placing the ore on the desk. "Based on the guidance of the spirit-seeking rat and preliminary surveys, there is a large black iron vein hidden beneath the forbidden area in the back mountain, accompanied by a small amount of Geng metal essence. Judging from the direction of the vein and the thickness of the deposit, its scale... is enough to support our Huang family's full-scale mining for a hundred years."

“A century-old…large-scale mineral vein!” Clan Chief Huang suddenly stood up from his seat, grabbed the ore, and repeatedly probed it with his divine sense. The expression on his face changed from surprise and doubt to shock, and finally turned into ecstatic joy! “Good! Good! Good! Yuehua, you have done a great service! Heaven bless my Huang family! Heaven bless my Huang family!”

Overjoyed, his gaze towards Huang Yuehua completely changed. His previous indifference and disdain vanished, replaced by an unprecedented level of respect, even tinged with a complex sense of apprehension. He now truly realized that this seemingly unassuming girl's mastery of celestial secrets had likely already deeply inherited the true essence of his great-uncle in the Celestial Secrets Pavilion! No wonder his great-uncle had defied all opposition to bestow upon her the precious Core Formation artifact! This girl was no ordinary person!

...

...

The following day, the Huang Family Golden Elixir Elders Council convened urgently.

Inside the council hall, the atmosphere was lively. Chief Huang, his face glowing, announced the discovery of a large black iron ore vein to the public in a loud voice.

Immediately, the hall erupted in an uproar, followed by a surge of excitement and agitation.

"Elder Yuehua is truly a pillar of our Huang family!"

"To be able to see through the secrets of heaven and find such a treasure! Elder Yuehua's secret arts are probably not far from the realm of 'insight into the secrets of heaven'!"

"Given time, Elder Yuehua will surely be able to enter the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion! At that time, what need will my Huang family have to worry about not prospering?"

"With Elder Yuehua here, it is truly a blessing for the family!"

The Golden Core elders all rose to their feet, expressing their heartfelt admiration and flattery to Huang Yuehua, who remained calm and composed at the lower end of the table. Their words subtly revealed their view of her as the future hope and reliance of their families.

Clan Chief Huang sat in the main seat, observing the scene of the assembled elites. His smile remained unchanged, but a shadow of unease and wariness flashed quickly across his eyes. He noticed that when the elders spoke, their gazes were more focused on Huang Yuehua than on him, the clan chief. Huang Yuehua himself possessed the highest cultivation level in the clan and was the first member to achieve Golden Core formation independently. Previously, due to his lack of ambition, the position of Grand Elder was practically meaningless. But if he demonstrated his abilities and gained the support of these powerful elders… would he still be able to call the shots in the Huang family in the future?
A strong sense of crisis gripped Chief Huang. He would not allow anyone to challenge his authority or shake the foundations he had built!

"Alright!" Clan Chief Huang spoke loudly, silencing the crowd's discussions and regaining control. "Now that the mineral vein has been discovered, the most urgent task is to transform it into the clan's strength as quickly as possible! My intention is to immediately cease all non-essential clan activities, mobilize 80% of the cultivators and all body refiners, and dedicate all the clan's resources to mining at the fastest speed possible! To avoid any unforeseen complications!"

He attempted to re-establish his dominant position with decisiveness and courage.

However, no sooner had he finished speaking than Huang Yuehua's calm voice rang out, clearly reaching everyone's ears: "Clan leader, this move is too reckless. Such a high-profile operation will inevitably cause a huge disturbance, making it impossible to conceal. A century-old mine is an opportunity for our Huang family, but in the eyes of more powerful forces, it is a crime to possess a treasure. Once the news leaks out, it may bring annihilation. I believe that the safest approach is to prioritize secrecy, mobilize trusted individuals, and mine slowly and steadily."

Huang Yuehua's words were reasonable and well-founded, hitting the nail on the head. The previously noisy council hall instantly fell silent. The elders exchanged glances, all seeing agreement in each other's eyes, and no one uttered a word to echo the clan leader's radical plan. Their silence was, in itself, a silent support for Huang Yuehua.

Seeing this, Chief Huang's anger flared, further solidifying his resolve to suppress Huang Yuehua's influence. He slammed his hand on the armrest of his chair, abruptly stood up, and spoke in a stern voice:
"Playing it safe? Slowing down the mining? Yuehua, you're being far too cautious! Although my Huang family is ranked sixth, we're not pushovers! Don't forget, we have our great-uncle in the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion! And we have the connection with Princess Runyu! In this Wuzhou territory, who dares to touch my Huang family? Who dares to seize my Huang family's mines?!"

He surveyed the crowd, his gaze sharp and resolute: "My mind is made up! We will mobilize the entire clan to mine with all our might! Execute immediately! Meeting adjourned!"

After saying that, he didn't give anyone a chance to refute him, and left in a huff, leaving behind a crowd of people in the council hall with various expressions.

Huang Yuehua watched the clan leader's departing figure, her brows furrowing slightly before finally letting out a barely audible sigh. The other elders exchanged glances, a sense of unease about the future settling over them.

...

...

Inside the system training room, by the lotus pond, time flies by.

Fu Changsheng sat cross-legged in the pavilion in the middle of the lake, his body surrounded by spiritual energy, almost tangible. The spiritual herb he had obtained through the exchange had already been completely refined, its immense medicinal power perfectly fused with the life-giving principles of the "Azure Emperor's Longevity Technique".

At this moment, within his dantian, the azure lotus rooted in chaos and supporting the golden core swayed gently. Beside the original seven lotus leaves, the eighth delicate and vibrant petal was slowly unfolding, solidifying, and finally taking shape, complementing the other seven petals and radiating an even more profound Daoist charm.

boom!
An aura nearly twice as powerful as before erupted from his body, then quickly receded and returned to stillness.

Eighth level of Golden Core achieved!

At the same time, the power of his divine soul in his Niwan Palace also increased, his divine sense became more refined, its coverage wider, and his perception more acute. That divine soul dwelling place, which existed between reality and illusion, also seemed to have been expanded, becoming more stable and expansive.

"call……"

Fu Changsheng slowly opened his eyes, his pupils gleaming with a deep blue light, as profound as a still pool. Feeling the surging magical power within him and his increasingly solidified soul, he nodded in satisfaction. The advantage of the system's training room, with its three times the time flow, was now fully on display.

"It's time to go out."

With a thought, his figure disappeared from the lotus pond, and the next moment, he was back in the quiet room of the Heavenly Mystery House located in the wreckage of the ancient kingdom's treasure ship.

In the outside world, only ten years had passed. (Thirty years in the training room)
He put away the Heavenly Secrets House, walked out of the cabin, and went to the next room.

Qiu Niang remained seated cross-legged in the center of the ancient teleportation array, but she was completely different from ten years ago. The array's spiritual light surrounding her was now purer and more complex. Her ten fingers danced like butterflies among flowers, and streaks of multicolored light precisely entered each node of the teleportation array. The originally dim and damaged array was now illuminated in nearly half of its area, steadily emitting soft and profound spatial fluctuations!

Sensing Fu Changsheng's presence, Qiu Niang stopped what she was doing and turned around happily: "Master, you've emerged from seclusion!"

"Yes, thank you for your hard work." Fu Changsheng's gaze swept over the ancient formation, which was clearly mostly repaired, and his eyes showed approval. "It seems like the progress is good."

"Thanks to Master's good fortune, this servant has been fortunate enough to gain something." Qiu Niang smiled modestly, then her tone became somewhat excited, "This ancient formation is extremely profound. This servant has studied it for ten years, and although I have not been able to fully comprehend its core mysteries, I have basically mastered its temporary activation and energy guidance methods! I only need to adjust a few key nodes and inject enough energy, and I should be able to activate a teleportation!"

"Good!" Fu Changsheng's spirits lifted. The hope of leaving this place was right in front of him.

“In addition,” Qiu Niang continued, waving her hand lightly. A flash of light appeared, and several items suddenly appeared on the ground.

A fist-sized, silvery-white metallic ore exuding a sharp aura [Essence of Geng Metal];
A strange little grass, encased in cold jade and resembling an ice sculpture, called the Frost Grass;
There are also a few broken bone fragments, covered with ancient characters, faintly revealing an atmosphere of barbarism.

“This is what I and Xiaobai (the blue-faced white fox) found during our exploration of the wreckage of this treasure ship and the surrounding area over the past ten years. This Gengjin essence is exactly what Master needs, and Xuanshuang grass is an ice-attribute spiritual medicine with extremely high age. As for these bone fragments…” Qiu Niang picked up the bone fragments and handed them to Fu Changsheng, “I don’t recognize the characters on them, but I feel that they seem to record some kind of ancient body-refining technique.”

Fu Changsheng took the bone fragment and probed it with his divine sense. Sure enough, he felt a desolate and ancient aura and intent. Although it was incomplete, it was of an extremely high level! This reminded him of the fragment of "True Body of Earth" that he had obtained from the Hermit of the Mountain.

"A very fruitful haul!" Fu Changsheng put away the items, feeling even more at ease. With these resources, his foundation had been further strengthened.

He looked at the ancient teleportation array that shimmered with light, his gaze hardening.

"Prepare to activate the teleportation array, Qiu Niang. This place is no longer safe to stay; it's time... to leave."

"Master, you're ready, the teleportation is about to begin!" Qiu Niang's voice echoed in his mind.

Fu Changsheng took a deep breath, adjusted himself to his best condition, and spread chaotic spiritual energy throughout his body. He said in a deep voice, "Activate!"

Qiu Niang activated the final core node of the formation!

boom! ! !
A blinding silver-white beam of light shot into the sky from the center of the ancient formation, instantly engulfing Fu Changsheng's figure! A powerful spatial tearing force came, but compared to the long-distance teleportation he had experienced before, this time, with the power of the ancient formation and Qiu Niang maintaining it, the passage seemed relatively stable.

I don't know how much time passed, maybe a moment, maybe a long time, but the intense tearing sensation suddenly disappeared.

down to earth!

A familiar scent of fresh grass and trees mixed with a faint smell of blood filled my nostrils, and I could hear the faint roars of beasts and the sound of the wind.

Fu Changsheng steadied himself, immediately concealing all his aura, and cautiously surveyed his surroundings.

He found himself at the bottom of a narrow valley, surrounded by steep cliffs. The valley was dimly lit and densely vegetated. Behind him, the ancient array that had teleported him out had, after fulfilling its purpose, rapidly dimmed, its runes shattered, and it had completely turned into a pile of rocks, rendered unusable.

(End of this chapter)