Family Rise: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 614: Abundant Harvests, Two Lottery Draws, and a Treasure Offering
The night was deep, but Wuzhou City was far from peaceful.

Hundreds of sharp streaks of light suddenly appeared from the direction of the Fu family mansion. Led by Liu Meizhen, the elite disciples of the Fu family's Conquest Hall poured out, their killing intent surging, like unsheathed swords, rushing straight towards the Huang family's ancestral land in the west of the city! That undisguised murderous aura instantly alarmed all the sensitive forces in Wuzhou City.

The Wu family, who lived next door to the Fu family, were naturally the first to be alarmed.

The Wu family council hall was brightly lit. The current Wu patriarch rushed in, his face filled with surprise and uncertainty. He bowed to an elderly man at the head of the table, who was resting with his eyes closed and exuding a profound aura, and reported:
"Ancestor, there's been a sudden, large-scale disturbance at the Fu family! Judging by the direction, they're heading straight for the Huang family! And their actions are aggressive, unlike their usual behavior. Do you think... we should send someone to inquire about it? To see if they need our assistance?"

Clan Chief Wu felt uneasy. The relationship between the Fu and Wu families was generally amicable, but the Fu family had grown powerful, even producing a fifth-rank imperial inspector, making their actions increasingly unpredictable. Tonight's large-scale commotion, targeting the Huang family, who were also sixth-rank officials, suggested something significant was about to happen. As neighbors, it seemed inappropriate for the Wu family to pretend ignorance; however, rashly intervening risked backfiring.

Old Ancestor Wu, sitting at the head of the table, slowly opened his eyes, his gaze sharp and restrained. He looked in the direction where the Fu family's escape light had disappeared, pondered for a moment, and then slowly shook his head.

"No need."

His voice was calm and steady, carrying a hint of worldly wisdom: "The Fu family's actions are no small matter, nor is it something that requires our assistance. Judging from their clear objective and overwhelming murderous aura, it seems that the Huang family... has crossed a line they shouldn't have."

Old Ancestor Wu had lived for hundreds of years, and was a shrewd and experienced man. He had long heard rumors that the Huang family had some unclear ties with the far west, and that the Fu family's patrolling envoy had "disappeared" in the far west a few years ago. Now that Fu Changsheng had suddenly returned, the Fu family had immediately launched an attack on the Huang family. The connection between these events was chilling to contemplate.

“Colluding with foreign enemies and harming colleagues… these are heinous crimes punishable by confiscation of property and extermination of the entire clan.” Old Ancestor Wu muttered to himself, a hint of understanding and fear flashing in his eyes.

He looked at the still somewhat bewildered Clan Chief Wu and warned, "The Fu family's actions must be based on solid evidence and they are acting under orders. If we rush there now, we will not only fail to help, but we may also interfere with the Fu family's actions and even get caught up in the vortex, which would be a loss. Observing the situation is the best policy."

Upon hearing this, Chief Wu's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately understood the implications. He quickly bowed and said, "Grandfather, you are wise! It was my oversight."

"Pass down the order," Elder Wu instructed, "Keep the doors tightly shut and restrain the clansmen. Tonight, no matter what sounds are heard from the direction of the Huang family, no one is allowed to go out to investigate, let alone make any unfounded comments! Everything will be clear by dawn tomorrow."

"Yes!"

The Wu family acted swiftly, quietly activating the formation and strictly forbidding any clansmen from leaving the area.

...

...

Just as the Wu family had set the tone of "wait and see" internally, the patriarchs of the two seventh-rank families under the Huang family—the Lin family and the Chen family—were also alarmed by the Fu family's unusual movements and met in a secret room in the Lin family overnight.

The atmosphere in the locked room was heavy, with flickering candlelight illuminating two worried faces.

Chief Lin, a thin middle-aged man, rubbed his hands together, his voice filled with anxiety: "Brother Chen, the Fu family's actions are clearly aimed at the Huang family! Judging from their murderous aura, it seems they're determined to fight to the death! What... what should we do? If the Huang family orders us to assist in their defense, should we send troops or not?"

The slightly overweight Clan Chief Chen, his brows furrowed, sighed, "Send troops? Brother Lin, have you forgotten the rumors from the far west over a decade ago? That Fu Changsheng single-handedly slew nearly a hundred Golden Core cultivators and three Pseudo-Nascent Soul cultivators! What kind of heaven-defying combat power is that? Now that he has returned safely, his cultivation is probably even more unfathomable! How many Golden Core cultivators can our two families put together? Would it even be enough to fill their teeth? If a real fight breaks out, let alone us, even if we add the Wu family, I'm afraid we'll be..."

He didn't say the rest, but the meaning was clear. Faced with absolute power, their strength wasn't even worthy of being cannon fodder.

Clan Chief Lin's face paled even more: "But... but if we disobey the Huang family's orders and remain inactive, what if... I mean, what if the Huang family survives this calamity and recovers? With Huang Yuanshan's vengeful nature, do you think he'll let us off? He has the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion and Princess Runyu behind him! In that case, it will be a catastrophe for us as well!"

This hit the nail on the head. The Huang family's two powerful backers were like two mountains, suffocating these vassal families. Offending the Fu family could mean immediate death; offending the Huang family would also mean facing retribution in the future.

A dilemma! Either way, it's a dead end!

The two remained silent for a long time, with only heavy breathing remaining in the secret room.

Finally, Clan Chief Chen slapped his thigh, a hint of helplessness and determination flashing in his eyes: "Fighting is definitely not an option; going up there would just be suicide. Disobeying the Huang family's orders will indeed have endless consequences in the future... The only solution now is to stall!"

Chief Lin's eyes lit up: "Drag?"

"Yes!" Clan Chief Chen lowered his voice, "Our two families should immediately order the closure of the mountain gates and the activation of all protective formations! To the outside world, we should announce that the clan chief is in seclusion, the core elders have led a team to search for resources and have not yet returned, leaving the clan vulnerable and unable to respond to the call to arms! At the same time, we should send people to closely monitor the battle situation, but they must not step out of the clan territory even once!"

His eyes gleamed with shrewd cunning: "If the Fu family advances with unstoppable momentum and quickly destroys the Huang family, then everything will be fine, and we can simply remain inactive to follow the trend. But if... if the Huang family truly has hidden trump cards, or if their backers intervene in time, causing the war to stalemate or even reverse, then we can decide whether to send troops to 'serve the emperor' depending on the situation!"

"Brilliant!" Clan Chief Lin clapped his hands. "In this way, we avoid immediate conflict with the Fu family, and we also avoid explicitly defying the Huang family, leaving room for maneuver! Let's do it this way!"

"There's no time to lose, let's all go back and make our own arrangements! Remember, the news must be kept under wraps, and we must make the right gesture!" Chief Chen instructed.

The two reached an agreement and immediately left the secret room quietly, returning to their respective families.

Soon, the Lin and Chen families quietly erected the highest-level protective light screens in their ancestral lands, announcing that some were in seclusion and others had gone out and not returned, giving the impression that a storm was brewing and they were too busy to take care of themselves.

...

...

The night was as dark as ink, and a chilling murderous intent emanated from it.

Liu Meizhen, dressed in a tight-fitting outfit and holding the Burning Heaven Token, stood before the massive protective light barrier on Huang Family Mountain, which was now dimmed of spiritual light. Behind her were hundreds of elite disciples from the Fu Family's Conquest Hall, each with sharp eyes and a murderous aura, like cheetahs waiting to pounce on their prey.

The moment she arrived, the thick array light barrier, strong enough to withstand the attack of a Nascent Soul cultivator, rippled like water near the mountain gate, silently cracking open a gap large enough for several people to walk side by side!

Inside the central chamber of the formation, Huang Huanhuan observed the outside world through a water mirror, precisely controlling the formation.

"Enter!"

Without the slightest hesitation, Liu Meizhen waved her jade hand and took the lead, transforming into a streak of light and rushing into the gap! Hundreds of streaks of light followed closely behind, like a flood bursting its banks, surging fiercely into the Huang family mountain!

"Enemy attack!!"

"They're from the Fu family!"

"Quick! Stop them!"

The Huang family members were clearly prepared, and when they saw the Fu family cultivators storm in, chaos ensued! The remaining cultivators roared and unleashed their magical artifacts in an attempt to resist.

However, without a leader and with people in a state of panic, how could they possibly be a match for the Fu family's Conquest Hall, which had been preparing for a long time and was full of murderous intent?

Moreover, the protective array they relied on was now not only unable to protect them, but had become a cage imprisoning them!

The disciples of the Fu family's Conquest Hall were well-trained, forming small battle formations of three to five people each. Like efficient killing machines, they infiltrated, divided, and encircled the Huang family's territory!
Sword light, spells, and talisman light flashed wildly in the night sky, accompanied by shrill screams, desperate wails, and the clanging of weapons clashing.

Resistance is futile.

Having lost their top combat power and trapped by the formation, the Huang family cultivators were like headless flies, quickly being divided, surrounded, and annihilated one by one. Some clever clansmen, seeing that the situation was hopeless, tried to kneel down and beg for mercy, but what awaited them was still the merciless blade of sword.

The killing continued in the darkness of night.

Warehouses, alchemy rooms, weapon workshops, spirit fields... key locations were swiftly taken over, and any attempts to sabotage or resist were instantly suppressed.

Blood flowed like a river and corpses were everywhere.

...

...

As dawn broke, the stench of blood had not completely dissipated from the Huang family's mountain stronghold, but order had been restored. Disciples of the Fu family's Conquest Hall patrolled and guarded key locations, while the few surviving members of the Huang family's collateral branches and servants were kept under close watch, trembling with fear.

Fu Changsheng sat in the Huang family's council hall, issuing orders in an orderly manner.

"Meizhen, take your men to inventory the Huang family's alchemy hall. Register and seal all the pill formulas, pills, spiritual herbs, and alchemy furnaces."

"Chang Li, you are now in charge of the Spirit Beast Valley. All spirit beasts, beast eggs, beast taming manuals, and related resources must not be overlooked."

"Mo Lan, you are in charge of the Scripture Pavilion. All written records, including cultivation techniques, spells, miscellaneous notes, and maps, must be carefully examined."

"Qingru, you are responsible for taking inventory of the spirit fields, medicinal gardens, and stockpiled spirit plant seeds of Baicaotang."

"Yes, my husband/master/father!"

The four women accepted the order and immediately led their respective groups to the designated branches. They knew that the Huang family's centuries-old accumulated resources presented an excellent opportunity to replenish the Fu family's coffers and address its weaknesses.

Fu Changsheng himself went straight to the Huang family's most heavily guarded treasure pavilion.

The treasure pavilion's doors were wide open, the original restrictions having already been remotely lifted by Qiu Niang from the array's central point. Fu Changsheng stepped inside and saw the pavilion glittering with jewels and overflowing with spiritual light, filled with various spirit stones, materials, magical artifacts, and antiques, all neatly categorized and displayed.

With a thought, Qiu Niang's figure materialized beside him.

"Qiu Niang, take a thorough inventory, focusing on finding spiritual plant seeds, rare ores, and spiritual materials with special attributes that are not found in the Five Elements Space, as well as... anything that might be related to the ancient times or secret realms," Fu Changsheng instructed. Ordinary resources are important, but treasures that can enrich the Five Elements Space or contain special value are what he values ​​more.

"Yes, Master." Qiu Niang accepted the order, her divine sense, like the most precise sieve, quickly scanning the rows of shelves and jade boxes. As a spirit of the Five Elements Space, she was extremely sensitive to various energies.

Fu Changsheng also started searching himself. As expected of the Huang family, which started out with mines, the treasure pavilion was piled high with spirit stones of various attributes, as well as a considerable number of fourth and fifth-grade refining materials, and even a few magic treasures of good quality.

Suddenly, while rummaging through an old wooden box in a corner, Fu Changsheng paused slightly. The box was made of ordinary material and covered in dust, seemingly forgotten for a long time. He brushed away the dust, opened the lid, and found not the treasures he had imagined, but several dark-colored, irregularly shaped stone slabs and an inconspicuous scroll wrapped in animal hide.

On those stone slabs were engraved some blurry patterns and unrecognizable ancient characters, seemingly recording some kind of ritual. The animal hide scroll, cold to the touch, when unfolded, did not depict a map or cultivation technique, but rather an extremely complex, primal... array structure diagram?

“Master, look at this.” Qiu Niang’s voice came with a hint of surprise. She was holding an object sealed in transparent crystal. It seemed to be a piece of dry, charcoal-like branch, but upon closer inspection, one could see a faint, extremely weak, heart-beat-like golden light slowly pulsating inside the branch.

"This is..." Fu Changsheng took the crystal, carefully sensing it, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. This withered branch seemed lifeless, but within that golden light was an indescribable, pure and ancient aura of the Wood element! Even the Azure Emperor Longevity Lotus in his dantian trembled slightly.

"It is suspected to be the remains of some kind of ancient spiritual root, containing a trace of undying origin," Qiu Niang judged. "If a method can be found to cultivate it, perhaps... there is a possibility of it coming back to life."

This was definitely an unexpected bonus!
Fu Changsheng carefully put away the stone slab, the scroll, and the mysterious withered branch separately. He had a premonition that these items might be far more valuable than the mountains of spirit stones and magical treasures piled up outside.

Several hours later, the sun began to set.

Liu Meizhen, Fu Changli, Fu Molan, and Yu Qingru returned to the council hall one after another, their faces beaming with the joy of their accomplishment.

Liu Meizhen was the first to report: "Husband, the alchemy hall has been inventoried. We have obtained seven fourth-order pill formulas, one fifth-order pill formula (incomplete), hundreds of bottles of various finished pills, countless spiritual herbs, and three fourth-order pill furnaces. In addition, we also found a batch of handwritten notes recording the Huang family's unique alchemy insights."

Fu Changli continued, "Patriarch, the Spirit Beast Valley has yielded a bountiful harvest. We captured and tamed twelve third-tier spirit beasts, three fourth-tier spirit beast eggs, dozens of various beast-taming manuals and breeding methods, and a considerable amount of resources such as beast food and attractants."

Fu Molan's clear, cold voice rang out: "Patriarch, the Scripture Pavilion contains over three hundred cultivation techniques and spells, the highest reaching the late Golden Core stage. There are also some valuable records of geographical wonders and sect secrets concerning the far west, the northern frontier, and even the South China Sea. No direct evidence of collusion with foreign enemies has been found."

Yu Qingru reported gently, "Husband, Baicaotang has a total of 100 acres of spiritual fields, 30 medicinal herb gardens, and 127 kinds of spiritual plant seeds in stock, including three kinds that the clan does not have. We have arranged for people to take over and care for them."

Liu Meizhen added at the end: "In addition, we received a message from the clan that the people we sent out have successfully taken over all the resource strongholds in the two counties of Luchuan Prefecture under the Huang family's rule, including three small spiritual veins, seven mines and more than ten markets, with very little resistance."

Listening to everyone's reports, Fu Changsheng nodded slightly, quite satisfied. The Huang family's millennia-long accumulation had now fallen entirely into the Fu family's hands. Whether it was material resources or the inheritance of knowledge, it instantly boosted the Fu family's foundation!
With the addition of the territory and resources of the two counties of Luchuan Prefecture, the Fu family's sphere of influence and control will be greatly enhanced!
Just now.

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

The host was detected to have collected and integrated a large amount of resources for the family, greatly enhancing the family's foundation and development potential, and significantly improving the family's overall strength!
Rewards: 200,000 Clan Contribution Points! Two chances to win a special prize!

Two hundred thousand contribution points! Two special prize draws!

Even with Fu Changsheng's resolute will, he couldn't help but feel a surge of joy. This was undoubtedly a huge windfall! Especially the 200,000 contribution points, which were enough for him to perform several crucial operations in the system's [Cultivation Technique Deduction] or [Intelligence] sections.

"Perfect timing. I'll take this opportunity to see if I can draw some treasures to deal with the current situation," Fu Changsheng thought to himself. The Heavenly Mystery Pavilion and Princess Runyu were like two sharp swords hanging over his head; he needed to improve his own and his family's strength as soon as possible.

Without further hesitation, he focused his mind on the lottery wheel that shimmered with alluring light.

"Start the lottery!"

The roulette wheel spun rapidly, countless points of light flowing around it, and finally came to a slow stop, the pointer fixing on a verdant area radiating a vibrant, life-giving aura.

[Ding! Congratulations, host! You have obtained a special spiritual plant: one Enlightenment Tea Tree Sapling!]

Information flows into the heart: 【Enlightenment Tea Tree】: A spiritual root of heaven and earth, growing slowly. Its leaves, when brewed into tea, can help cultivators concentrate, calm their minds, and enhance their comprehension, with a certain chance of entering a state of sudden enlightenment. Note: Requires irrigation with spiritual spring water; its growing environment requirements are extremely high.

"The Enlightenment Tea Tree!" Fu Changsheng's eyes lit up with surprise. This item was priceless to cultivators! It could enhance comprehension, even increasing the chance of sudden enlightenment. In the long run, its effect on the overall strength of the family even surpassed many offensive treasures! It was perfect for planting in the Five Elements Space, where Qiu Niang could carefully tend to it. "Continue the lottery!"

The roulette wheel spun again, this time faster and brighter. Finally, the pointer stopped on an extremely blurry, silvery-white ball of light that seemed to be composed of countless tiny sword energies.

[Ding! Congratulations, host! You have obtained a special inheritance: one [Great Evolution Sword Formation (Fragment)] Inheritance Jade Talisman!]

【Great Evolution Sword Formation (Fragment)】: One of the ancient sword cultivation sects' most treasured sword formations (fragment), containing the basic method of setting up the sword formation and three variations. It requires at least seven Golden Core sword cultivators to set up. Once completed, the formation integrates offense and defense, with endless variations of sword energy, its power enough to threaten even early Nascent Soul cultivators! Note: This is a fragment; if it can be completed, its power will be immeasurable.

"Sword Formation Inheritance!" Fu Changsheng was shocked!
This is like timely help!

The Fu family's number of Golden Core cultivators is gradually increasing, but they lack powerful combined attack methods. This incomplete "Great Evolution Sword Formation" can perfectly fill this gap! Once mastered, seven Golden Core cultivators forming an array can threaten Nascent Soul cultivators, greatly enhancing the Fu family's high-end deterrent power and self-defense capabilities! Although it is only an incomplete piece, its value is already immeasurable!
The two lotteries, one enhancing the family's foundation and long-term potential (Enlightenment Tea) and the other directly boosting the family's immediate combat strength and deterrent power (Sword Formation), are both things the Fu family needs most right now!

"The system is indeed mysterious," Fu Changsheng thought to himself.

Looking at the family contribution points of 200,000 on the panel, he had already made up his mind.

"It's time to deduce the sequel to the 'Chao Yuan Ying Secret Technique'..."

His mind focused on the [Cultivation Technique Deduction] panel, looking at the progress that was stuck at 21%, his eyes resolute.

"System, deduce the 'Chaotic Nascent Soul Secret Technique'!"

"Command received, begin simulation..."

The immense "energy" contained in the 200,000 family contribution points was being frantically extracted by the system. In Fu Changsheng's sea of ​​consciousness, the deduction process of the "Chaotic Nascent Soul Secret Technique" was proceeding at an unprecedented speed.

The chaotic energy surged, evolving into earth, water, fire, and wind. Countless runes containing profound principles of the Dao were born, destroyed, combined, and collided like stars. His own insights into the "Azure Emperor's Longevity Technique," the "True Body of Earth," the "Mysterious Netherworld Infant Condensation Strategy," and even the "Reversing Origin and Returning to Truth" method also transformed into resources, merging into this chaotic torrent, refining and perfecting his unique Dao of Chaos.

The simulation progress bar jumped at an unprecedented speed:

22%...25%...30%...35%...

Finally, when the contribution value settled at [58, 700], the system's deduction slowly came to a halt.

[Ding! The deduction progress of "The Secret Technique of the Chaotic Nascent Soul" has reached 40%!]

A surge of information, several times larger and more sophisticated than before, flooded into Fu Changsheng's consciousness, leaving him deeply shaken.

[The Secret Technique of the Chaotic Nascent Soul (Fragment - 40%)]:
• Foundation Laying Chapter (100% Complete): The foundation is now incredibly solid, the Chaos Dao Foundation is stable, and the balance between magic power, physical body, and divine soul has reached perfection.

• Core Condensation Chapter (85% Complete): More than half of the content has been completed! It details how to compress and condense the "Chaotic Primordial Core" at the center of the Chaotic Foundation, using one's own understanding of the laws of chaos, the five elements, and yin and yang as a guide. It outlines the specific methods, required resources (including several extremely rare spiritual objects), and potential risks and countermeasures. Most importantly, it points out the next step—finding a place rich in chaotic energy, or drawing upon the chaotic power of heaven and earth (such as a lightning tribulation), is necessary to complete the final core condensation.

• Nascent Soul Transformation Chapter (5% Complete): Finally, it's no longer a complete blank! An extremely vague guide appeared, mentioning that the "Chaotic Yuan Dan" is the seed of the "Chaotic Yuan Ying," which requires one's own Dao thought as fire and the chaotic energy as fuel to revive from annihilation and create from nothingness... The information is still severely incomplete, but at least there is a direction.

• Tribulation Transcending Chapter (0%): Completely blank.

"40%... The Core Condensation Chapter is nearing completion!" Fu Changsheng was thrilled. This simulation had yielded tremendous results! Not only did it clarify the specific steps and resource requirements for core condensation, but more importantly, it deepened his understanding of "chaos," making the path ahead much clearer.

"A place rich in chaotic energy... or to draw upon the power of chaos..." he pondered. Both conditions were extremely demanding. A place rich in chaotic energy was a rare find. And the most common way to draw upon the power of chaos was—a Heavenly Tribulation! And it was by no means an ordinary Golden Core Heavenly Tribulation; it would at least need to be at the level of a Nascent Soul Heavenly Tribulation to possibly draw upon a trace of true chaotic power.

"It seems that the key to condensing the core of the Chaos Yuan Dan may lie in the Nascent Soul Heavenly Tribulation..." Fu Changsheng's eyes flashed, showing no fear but rather a sense of challenge.

He focused his mind and deeply imprinted the new secret techniques he had deduced into the depths of his soul.

Then, he looked at the core clansmen present.

"Meizhen, Molan, Changli, Qingru." His voice was steady. "The Huang family's affairs are settled, but storms are brewing outside. Our Fu family needs to digest what we have gained and increase our strength as soon as possible to cope with any changes."

He handed the copied "Great Evolution Sword Formation (Fragment)" jade talisman to Liu Meizhen: "This is an ancient sword formation, requiring at least seven Golden Core sword cultivators to set it up. Its power is enough to threaten Nascent Soul cultivators. You will take the lead, select the elites of the clan, and quickly comprehend and practice it to form a fighting force!"

"Yes, my lord (patriarch)!" Liu Meizhen solemnly accepted the gift, a sharp glint flashing in her beautiful eyes. She knew all too well the importance of this formation to the family.

Fu Changsheng then looked at Fu Molan and Fu Changli: "Molan, the books obtained from the Scripture Pavilion need to be sorted and archived as soon as possible, discarding the dross and retaining the essence to enrich the family's heritage. Changli, the newly acquired demon beasts from the Spirit Beast Valley should be properly tamed and trained, and the best ones should be selected to supplement the Conquest Hall."

"Qingru, the transplantation of the Hundred Herbs Hall's spiritual herbs is crucial to the future foundation of our family's alchemy, and cannot be lost."

“We understand!” the three women replied in unison.

...

...

Fu Changsheng took out a strange jade slip that emitted a deep, dark light and was made of neither gold nor jade, and handed it to Liu Meizhen. Liu Meizhen took it and immersed her consciousness into it. After a moment, she suddenly opened her beautiful eyes, which were filled with undisguised shock and excitement!
"This...this is...the Pool of Reincarnation?!" Her voice trembled slightly. "Although it's not a true cycle of heaven and earth, it can nourish the soul, repair the origin, and even...refine the spiritual root and purify one's aptitude?!"

The construction blueprints for the [Reincarnation Pool] (a replica) recorded in this jade slip completely exceeded Liu Meizhen's understanding in terms of concept and function! Nourishing the soul is crucial for saving Ouyang Fei, while refining the spiritual root has the heaven-defying effect of solidifying the family's foundation for eternity! The value of this item is immeasurable!
“Excellent.” Fu Changsheng nodded solemnly. “If this pool can be completed, it can heal Uncle Fei and solidify the foundation internally; externally, it can secretly improve the aptitude of clan members. It is a core secret for the rise of the clan! It must not be lost!”

Liu Meizhen took a deep breath, suppressing her excitement, and nodded solemnly: "Husband, rest assured, I understand! This matter concerns the lifeline of our family, and must not be leaked in the slightest!" She pondered for a moment and said decisively: "In my opinion, the place to build it is none other than Shuiyun Cave Heaven beneath the extinct volcano in Huixi County!"

"Oh? Tell me in detail." Fu Changsheng gestured for her to continue.

“Firstly, Shuiyun Cave Heaven is the core secret realm of my Fu family. It is protected by a natural extinct volcano and multiple illusion arrays, making it extremely secretive and difficult for outsiders to see. Secondly, the cave heaven is rich in spiritual energy, and the Tree of Life is there to provide the massive amount of spiritual energy needed to build and operate the Reincarnation Pool. Thirdly, the cave heaven is a self-contained space, which makes it easy to keep information secret and concentrate resources on such a massive project,” Liu Meizhen explained clearly.

Upon hearing this, Fu Changsheng wholeheartedly agreed: "It coincides with my thoughts. Shuiyun Cave Heaven is indeed the best choice."

With the location chosen, the next step is to select the right people.

"Such a massive and crucial project requires the use of a large number of talisman masters, array masters, and talisman masters from the clan. There must be an absolutely reliable and outstanding person to oversee the entire project." Liu Meizhen looked at Fu Changsheng and said earnestly, "I recommend my sister to take charge of this matter."

"Qingru?" Fu Changsheng's eyes flickered slightly.

“Yes,” Liu Meizhen explained, “Qingru is my husband’s Daoist partner, and her loyalty is beyond question. More importantly, her talent and skill in array formations are second only to Uncle Yu and Yaoyao in the clan, and she even surpasses them in certain precise manipulations and the combination of spiritual plants and array formations. It is safest for her to take the lead, with Uncle Yu providing guidance from the side. I can coordinate external resources and fully cooperate to ensure an uninterrupted supply of materials.”

After a moment's thought, Fu Changsheng nodded in agreement: "Qingru is meticulous and has a real talent for array formations. Moreover, she is calm and composed, making her suitable for this important task. As you have suggested, Qingru will take charge, you will coordinate, and Uncle Yu will serve as the technical advisor. Starting immediately, select trustworthy array formation experts from the clan and secretly send them to Shuiyun Cave to begin preliminary preparations!"

"Yes!" Liu Meizhen solemnly replied.

"As for the massive resources required for construction..." A sharp glint flashed in Fu Changsheng's eyes, "We can use the Huang family's treasury to fill most of the gaps! I'll figure out a way to deal with the rest of the scarce resources."

After Liu Meizhen left.

Fu Changsheng swayed and headed straight for the treasure vault.

...

...

As Fu Changsheng entered the storeroom, his third brother, Fu Changli, immediately came to greet him. Fu Changli's cultivation was at the early stage of the Golden Core realm, and his aura was gentle, unlike the menacing presence of the disciples of the Conquest Hall. Instead, his brows carried a hint of focus and tranquility unique to those who were dedicated to honing their skills.

"Patriarch, you've arrived." Fu Changli bowed respectfully. Although he was also a Golden Core cultivator, he felt deep respect for this patriarch who had repeatedly created miracles and led the family to prosperity.

Fu Changsheng nodded slightly, and with a flick of his sleeve, ten jade boxes and bottles of various styles appeared neatly on the jade platform in the center of the storeroom. The mouths of the boxes and bottles opened slightly, and immediately, a rich medicinal fragrance and a strange spiritual energy filled the air, causing the spiritual energy in the storeroom to fluctuate slightly.

"These are the ten Core Formation aids I obtained during this trip. Please count them, store them in the warehouse, and keep them safe. In the future, they will be distributed to meritorious and promising disciples according to clan rules," Fu Changsheng said calmly.

"Ten...ten portions?!" Fu Changli gasped and quickly stepped forward to examine them closely.

The Seven-Aperture Exquisite Lotus, the Seven-Heart Pill, the Profound Yang Fruit, the Golden Elixir... each one is a treasure that any Golden Core cultivator in the outside world would dream of but could never obtain! Now, it's as common as cabbage, with the patriarch taking out ten portions at once!

Fu Changli's hands trembled slightly as he counted the items, his admiration for the patriarch reaching its peak. Every time the patriarch returned, he brought astonishing gains! His methods were simply unfathomable!
"Patriarch, your abilities are truly remarkable! I admire you!" Fu Changli praised sincerely, carefully categorizing and recording these spiritual items before sealing them away in the innermost treasure vault. With these ten Core Formation spiritual items, the family could produce ten more Golden Core cultivators.

After doing all this, he seemed to remember something, took out an exquisite white jade wine jar from his storage bag, presented it to Fu Changsheng with both hands, and wore a simple yet proud smile on his face:
"Patriarch, you are constantly traveling and fighting, which must have greatly depleted your magical power. This is a fourth-grade superior spiritual wine that I recently developed—【Rejuvenation Brew】. I dare not speak for other things, but it is quite effective in quickly restoring the magical power of the late Golden Core stage. I hope it will be of some use to you."

Fu Changsheng took the wine jar, broke the clay seal, and a rich, intoxicating aroma immediately wafted out. Just one sip, and he felt his internal energy subtly activating. A hint of surprise appeared in his eyes as he praised, "Third brother, your talent in brewing is truly extraordinary. This wine is no less valuable than some top-grade Qi-restoring pills, and it's even easier to absorb. Thank you for your thoughtfulness; this will indeed be of great benefit to me."

Upon receiving the patriarch's affirmation, Fu Changli's smile widened. He then rubbed his hands together somewhat embarrassedly and said, "Patriarch, to be honest, I've recently been trying to research a kind of spiritual wine that can help cultivators form their core."

"Oh?" Upon hearing this, Fu Changsheng immediately became interested, his eyes shining as he looked at Fu Changli. A spirit wine to aid in Core Formation? This was unheard of! If it could truly be successfully developed, its significance would even surpass that of a few more Core Formation spirit materials! Because, theoretically, spirit wine could be continuously brewed!
Fu Changli felt a little nervous under the patriarch's gaze and quickly said, "However... it's still just a preliminary idea. We've encountered many difficulties, and success is still a long way off. The recipe and the process are far from mature..."

"It's alright!" Fu Changsheng interrupted him, his tone encouraging and affirming. "Having this idea and putting it into practice is already commendable! Changli, go ahead and do your research! If you need any spiritual materials, take them from the storeroom! If they're not in the storeroom, just tell your sister-in-law and ask her to find a way to get them! The family will fully support you!"

Fu Changsheng knew that the long-term prosperity of a family required not only strong military power, but also talent in various fields and a unique foundation. His third brother's talent for brewing, if he could forge a new path, might become another powerful trump card for the Fu family in the future!

Moved by the patriarch's support, Fu Changli clasped his hands in a deep fist salute: "Thank you for your trust, patriarch! I will do my utmost and never let the family down!"

After handling these routine matters.

Fu Changsheng sent communication talismans to his two sons, Fu Yongren and Fu Yongkong.

...

...

The news of the Huang family's destruction and the Fu family's rise was like two thunderbolts, completely stunning the patriarchs of the Lin and Chen families, both of whom were of the seventh rank.

When they met again in the Lin family's secret room, the two men's faces no longer held the luck they had felt a few days ago; only fear and unease remained.

“It’s over…it’s all over…” Clan Chief Lin’s face was ashen, and his voice was hoarse. “The Huang family has been accused of colluding with foreign enemies and has been wiped out! As vassals of the Huang family, we did not participate in this, but if the Fu family wants to take their anger out on us, they can find any excuse to crush our two families into dust!”

Clan Chief Chen was also drenched in cold sweat, his obese body trembling slightly: "Who could have imagined that Fu Changsheng would be so ruthless and decisive, and his strength so terrifying! Even the Huang family's 'Nine Revolutions Profound Yellow Formation,' which is rumored to be able to threaten Nascent Soul cultivators, could not stop him in the slightest! In his eyes, what are we any different from ants?"

"We must find a way! We must get the Fu family to let us go!" Clan Chief Lin grabbed Clan Chief Chen's arm, his eyes bloodshot. "We must offer gifts! We must send generous gifts to show our sincerity and beg the Fu family not to hold a grudge against us!"

"Gifts?" Clan Chief Chen gave a bitter smile, a smile more like a grimace. "Brother Lin, do you think the Fu family still cares about our meager possessions? The Huang family's centuries of accumulated wealth have fallen into their hands, and the resource points of the two counties in Luchuan Prefecture are all theirs. What our two families have offered, even if we give them everything, is probably no different from garbage in the eyes of the Fu family now! How can we possibly impress them?"

These words were like a bucket of cold water poured over his head, leaving Patriarch Lin frozen in shock. Indeed, the Fu family was now incredibly wealthy (relative to them), and their power was immense. How could their two families, with their meager resources, possibly be of any interest to them?

The locked room fell into a despairing silence once again.

After a long silence, a struggle flashed in Patriarch Chen's eyes, which ultimately turned into resolve. He abruptly raised his head, lowered his voice, and almost squeezed out the words through clenched teeth: "Now, if we want to survive, and even if we want to use this to climb up to the Fu family, there is only one way..."

Chief Lin asked anxiously, "What method?"

Chief Chen took a deep breath: "We will offer the secret we discovered... to the Fu family!"

The Lin clan chief's pupils constricted sharply, and he exclaimed, "You mean...that place?! That's our two families' biggest secret, our hope for future rise!"

"Hope?" Clan Chief Chen smiled bitterly. "If we lose our clan, how can we talk about rising again in the future? That place is good, but with the strength of our two families, we are simply powerless to explore it, let alone unlock the opportunities within. Keeping it is nothing but a mirage, and it might even bring about our deaths! It's better... better to use it to exchange for a chance to live, or even... exchange for a future!"

His eyes burned as he looked intently at the Lin clan chief: "The Fu family is currently very powerful and needs various resources and opportunities to consolidate its power. Offering this secret is a timely help! However, we cannot give it away for nothing..."

"What do you mean?" Chief Lin understood immediately.

"What do our two families lack most right now?" Clan Chief Chen said, enunciating each word clearly, "Golden Core cultivators! Top-tier combat power! If we had Golden Core cultivators to guard us, why would we be living in such constant fear? On this condition, we request the Fu family to bestow upon our two families... each a Golden Core formation aid spiritual item!"

This request is undeniably audacious. Spiritual items that aid in Core Formation are extremely rare. The Fu family has just acquired the Huang family's inventory and might have some surplus, but why should they be given to these two former vassal families?

Clan Chief Lin's expression shifted as he weighed the pros and cons and risks. Ultimately, the will to survive overwhelmed everything, and he gritted his teeth: "Alright! Let's do it this way! You can't catch a wolf without risking your cub! Let's exchange that elusive secret for two real Core Formation spiritual treasures. If we succeed, our two families will have a foundation for continuation and rise! It's better than living in fear, or even following in the footsteps of the Huang family!"

"There's no time to lose!" Chief Chen said immediately upon seeing Chief Lin's agreement. "Let's go back right away, retrieve the half of the secret map, combine it into one, prepare other gifts, and set off for the Fu family immediately! Our attitude must be respectful; we must demonstrate our value!"

"understand!"

The two reached a consensus and, without further hesitation, immediately split up to take action.

(End of this chapter)