Family Rise: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 622 Counterattack! Destroy the Vermilion Bird!!
Outside Tianlang Mountain, crimson surged like a tide.

Led by Chief Chi Liao, the Vermilion Bird Tribe's army, like a burning beacon, completely surrounded the main peak of Tianlang Mountain.

The intense spiritual pressure merged into one, causing the air above the mountains to distort slightly. The chilling aura startled birds and beasts within a hundred miles, causing them to flee in terror.

Chi Liao stood in mid-air, his red hair dancing wildly behind him.

He looked down at the mountain peak shrouded in a hazy, bluish-gray light.

The light screen appeared simple and unadorned, yet it exuded a resilient and profound aura. It was the protective mountain array upon which the Fu family relied for its survival—said to have been inherited from a master of array formations, and was extremely adept at defense.

"The Fu family... seems to have a bit more backbone than that paper tiger Luo family." Chi Liao grinned, revealing a set of white teeth, but his smile was icy cold. "Unfortunately, no matter how tough their bones are, they'll be shattered today!"

Behind him, a dozen Golden Core elders stood solemnly, their auras merging with those of the Crimson Flame Guards below, their military formation exuding a fierce and invincible aura.

"Chi Ling," Chi Liao called out without turning his head.

The gaunt-faced, strategist Elder Chi Ling stepped forward in response. He held an ancient compass in his hand, its needle spinning rapidly towards the protective array of Tianlang Mountain. Points of spiritual light spilled from the compass and disappeared into the void, as if he were probing something.

After a while.

Elder Chi Ling retrieved the compass, his brows furrowing slightly, and said in a deep voice:

"Chief, this formation is called the 'Mysterious Turtle Coiling Mountain Formation,' known for its stability and longevity. Its core formation eye is buried deep in the mountain's ley lines, connected to the earth's energy. A forceful attack would be much less effective and would be easily neutralized by the formation's ability to channel its power into the ley lines."

"Get to the point!" Chi Liao interrupted impatiently, "Where is the weakness?"

Elder Chi Ling pointed to several points on the array's light screen that appeared no different from other places, but under his compass detection, they revealed extremely faint stagnation of spiritual energy:
"This formation is not without flaws. Although the person who set it up is highly skilled, the Fu family has clearly not fully utilized its essence. Perhaps due to limited resources, there are minor flaws in the connection between several secondary nodes and the main earth vein. Ordinary attacks are difficult to shake it, but if absolute power is concentrated on one point, it may be possible to forcibly tear a gap."

He paused, then added solemnly:
"Alternatively, we can gather our strength, supplement it with military formations, and launch a sustained and fierce attack on one point. It might take one or two hours to break the spell by force. However, this method takes a long time and consumes a lot of our spiritual energy. If the Fu family has other plans or reinforcements arrive suddenly, there may be unforeseen circumstances."

"What's the other method?" Chi Liao asked directly, his eyes sharp.

Elder Chi Ling took a deep breath and flipped his hand to take out a bead the size of a dragon's eye, its surface covered with fine silver runes, and its interior seemingly filled with flowing liquid lightning. As soon as this bead appeared, the surrounding space rippled slightly.

"A fourth-order barrier-breaking bead!" an elder with expertise exclaimed.

"good."

Chi Ling nodded:

"This bead contains a trace of spatial tearing and law-destroying power, specifically effective against various restrictive formations. If this bead is used to attack that flawed point, there is a 70% chance of instantly tearing open a gap that can last for about ten breaths! However... a fourth-tier restrictive-breaking bead is extremely difficult to refine, and even in my tribe's inventory, there is only one..."

Chi Liao abruptly waved his hand to interrupt:

"What is a mere broken-restriction bead compared to the great cause of my Vermilion Bird tribe sweeping across the Eastern Wilderness?"
We must seize Tianlang Mountain with lightning speed before Fu Changsheng can return or before other forces of the Great Zhou can react!

"At that time, using this place as a base, we can advance or retreat as needed, and the entire eastern border will tremble before our might!"

His gaze swept over the elders behind him:
"No matter the cost!"
I want to be standing on the summit of Tianlang Mountain within the next 15 minutes!

Crimson Feather, use the Forbidden-Breaking Pearl! Blast open this tortoise shell for me!
"Chiwu, Chitu! Once the breach is open, you two will lead the vanguard of the Crimson Flame Guard and be the first to charge in! Kill everyone you encounter, destroy every house you see! I want this Heavenly Wolf Mountain barren!"

The rest of you, follow me to cover the retreat!
In this battle, leave no survivors, take no prisoners!

"Yes, Chief!"

...

...

Inside Tianlang Mountain, the atmosphere was as heavy as iron.

Su Wan, Chen Feng, and Fairy Tianyin stood in the central chamber of the array in the stone fortress atop the peak. Through the massive crystal barrier, they could clearly see the enemy army surging like a crimson tide outside, as well as the array gap that had been forcibly torn open and was constantly pouring into the Vermilion Bird Tribe cultivators.

The auras of nearly twenty Golden Core cultivators pressed down on them as if they were tangible, and three of them were particularly powerful, clearly at the Pseudo-Nascent Soul stage!
This power far exceeded their previous expectations.

Chen Feng's face turned pale, and he spat out a mouthful of blood:
"Damn it! The Vermilion Bird Tribe has moved their entire ancestral home here? Three fake babies! That old bastard Chi Liao really thinks highly of us!"

The Heavenly Sound Fairy exuded a chilling aura, her eyes sharp as ice spikes. She spoke quickly:

"The enemy's strength is overwhelming, and a prolonged defense is unlikely. I suggest activating the backup teleportation array immediately to evacuate some core disciples and precious inheritances, preserving the flame! The three of us can cover the rear and seize an opportunity to break through!"

Su Wan shook her head violently and said firmly:

"No! If we retreat now, morale will collapse, the great formation will lose its master and break in an instant! Not only will the inheritance be in jeopardy, but all the disciples on the mountain will become lambs to the slaughter!"

She pointed to the massive array plate in the central chamber, its surface shimmering with light and covered in runes, her tone carrying an undeniable determination:
"This 'Mysterious Tortoise Coiling Mountain Formation' was personally reinforced by Fairy Tianyin. Its core is connected to the earth's veins, and it cannot be completely destroyed by a single barrier-breaking bead! As long as the three of us stabilize the central core and activate it with all our might, the gap is not insurmountable. At the very least, it can greatly slow down the enemy's advance!"

Her gaze swept over Chen Feng and Tian Yin, a glimmer of tacit understanding that the three of them had developed over many years of working side by side flashing in her eyes:

"Moreover, isn't the 'Three Powers Returning to Origin Secret Technique' that we have painstakingly cultivated over the past few decades precisely for dealing with such desperate situations?"

Upon hearing this, both Chen Feng and Fairy Tianyin's eyes sharpened.

The "Three Powers Returning to Origin Secret Technique" is a combined attack method that Fu Changsheng specially prepared for the three of them before he left. It takes the meaning of the three powers of heaven, earth and man, and can temporarily merge the spiritual power and divine sense of the three people into one, and unleash a power far exceeding the sum of their individual powers. It is especially good at holding the line and protracted battles.

Chen Feng gritted his teeth, the fear on his face vanished, replaced by a ruthless determination:
"Damn it! Wan'er is right! Forget about running! Let's fight them! I refuse to believe that the three of us working together can't hold this broken formation for even a moment!"

Seeing that Su Wan's mind was made up, Fairy Tianyin no longer insisted on leaving. Instead, the chill around her subsided, and her eyes became incredibly focused and cold.
"If that's the case, then let's fight. Before the patriarch returns, Tianlang Mountain cannot be lost."

"Alright!" Su Wan nodded emphatically, "Form the 'Three Powers Returning to Origin Formation,' using the formation as a foundation and resonating spiritual energy!"

Without a word, the three immediately took their positions, assuming the roles of Heaven, Earth, and Man at the core of the formation. Su Wan was in the center, representing "Man," and was in charge of harmony; Chen Feng was on the left, representing "Earth," with abundant spiritual power, and was responsible for stability; and Fairy Tianyin was on the right, representing "Heaven," with keen divine sense, and was responsible for observation and support.

"Return to the origin and unite as one, guard the heart and solidify the formation!"

The three of them simultaneously formed hand seals and chanted incantations.

A strange resonance arose between them, and cyan, yellow, and blue spiritual light surged from their bodies. It did not simply merge, but intertwined and rotated in a mysterious trajectory, finally transforming into a solid three-colored pillar of light, which crashed into the huge array plate below!

"Om-!"

The entire central chamber of the formation trembled violently, and the runes on the array plate, which had been somewhat disordered due to the gap, instantly stabilized and shone brightly! Even more powerful spiritual energy was drawn from the earth's veins and continuously poured into the mountain-protecting array.

……

outside world.

The formation master of the Vermilion Bird tribe aimed at the flawed node in the formation that had been detected earlier and flicked his finger.

"go with!"

The barrier-breaking bead transformed into a thin silver ray, silently slicing through the air and instantly touching the bluish-gray array.

There was no earth-shattering roar, only a crisp, clear sound like shattering glass—

"Crack!"

Where the silver light landed, the array barrier rippled violently like water with a stone thrown in. Then, a hole with an unstable silver light flickering at its edge suddenly appeared and tore and spread outwards at a speed visible to the naked eye!
A gap large enough to accommodate several people walking side by side appeared prominently on the sturdy "Mysterious Turtle Coiling Mountain Formation"!
Through the gap, one could clearly see the astonished and resolute faces of the Fu family cultivators behind them, as well as the stone fortress standing atop the peak!
"My men! Follow me and kill!"

Chi Tu was the first to let out an excited roar, like a tiger released from its cage. He brandished the Burning Wasteland Battle Axe and transformed into a streak of crimson light, rushing towards the gap first!

Behind him, Elder Chiwu and hundreds of the most elite Chiyan Guards surged in like a flood bursting its banks, carrying an aura of annihilation!

Chi Tu, who was at the forefront, had just swung his battle axe and cleaved away two Fu family Purple Mansion cultivators who were trying to block him when he felt the resistance in front of him increase greatly. The edge of the gap that originally seemed fragile had now become as hard to tear as chewing gum.

"Huh? What's going on?!" He roared, and the Burning Wasteland Battle Axe erupted with raging flames as it slashed down again!

"boom!"

Amidst the deafening roar, the array shook violently, but instead of collapsing further as expected, it neutralized most of the violent axe force.

At the same time, the protective array of the entire Tianlang Mountain shimmered with light, and streaks of bluish-gray array power converged from all directions like tentacles, focusing on suppressing the gap. It also split off several condensed earth-yellow light pillars, which smashed into the vanguard of the Vermilion Bird Tribe who were pouring into the gap like giant hammers!

"Form a defensive formation!" Elder Chiwu, with his extensive experience, immediately sensed something was wrong and shouted loudly.

The Crimson Flame Guards, rushing into the breach, hastily formed a battle array to defend against the attacks from the array, which greatly slowed their advance.

In the air, Chief Chi Liao, who had been observing coldly, frowned, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes: "Oh? This remnant formation of the Fu family actually has such resilience? The person in charge of the formation is quite capable."

The Crimson Feather Elder beside him concentrated for a moment, then said in a deep voice:
"Chief, the power of the formation is increasing. At its core, three auras are connected by a secret technique, forming a unified whole, comparable to the late Golden Core stage. They are forcibly maintaining the formation and suppressing the breach!"

"Late-stage Golden Core?" Chi Liao scoffed, his eyes growing even colder. "A last-ditch effort! Pass down the order: regardless of the cost, launch a fierce attack on the breach! Chi Ling, you take men and locate the exact positions of those three who are in charge of the formation, and focus on eliminating them! I want to see how long they can hold out!"

"Yes!"

With the order given, the Vermilion Bird tribe's offensive became even more ferocious. The light of spells and the bombardment of magical artifacts poured down like a torrential rain on the vicinity of the breach and the entire protective mountain array, stirring up ripples across the sky.

Inside the central chamber of the formation, Su Wan, Chen Feng, and Fairy Tianyin were slightly pale, with fine beads of sweat on their foreheads.

Simultaneously dealing with such a fierce attack while also having to suppress the breach and mobilize the formation's power for a counterattack was an immense burden for the three of them. If it weren't for the "Three Talents Returning to Origin Secret Technique" linking their powers together and sharing the pressure, one of them would probably have already run out of spiritual energy.

"Hold on!" Su Wan gritted her teeth, squeezing out her voice, "The patriarch... will definitely sense it! Reinforcements... will arrive soon!"

Chen Feng grunted, forcibly swallowing a mouthful of blood, and roared:
"Don't worry! I haven't killed enough yet!"

Fairy Tianyin remained silent, but poured her icy spiritual power into the formation without reservation, her eyes unwavering.

Supported by the three, the bluish-gray array swayed amidst the storm of attacks, yet it never completely collapsed.

The gap that had been torn open was stopped from expanding under the continuous repair and suppression of the array's power, and instead began to shrink slowly.

...

...

Seeing that the gap torn by the forbidden bead was showing signs of closing thanks to the desperate efforts of Su Wan and the other two, Chi Liao's eyes blazed with murderous intent.

"Stubborn fools! I, the chieftain, will see how long you can hold out!"

Without further hesitation, he slapped a red jade beast-head storage bag at his waist, and an astonishing red light shot into the sky, the scorching aura instantly overwhelming all the spiritual energy fluctuations on the battlefield! A seal, entirely crimson, shaped like a vermilion bird spreading its wings, with patterns flowing on its surface like magma, appeared in his hand.

The Vermilion Bird Tribe's sacred treasure—the Vermilion Bird Heaven-Burning Seal!
As soon as this seal was unleashed, the fire elemental spiritual energy within a radius of several miles gathered wildly, and the faint cry of the Vermilion Bird could be heard in the air. A terrifying pressure far exceeding that of the Nascent Soul realm descended with a bang, causing the entire protective array of the Heavenly Wolf Mountain to groan in despair!
"Break it for me!"

Chi Liao's hair and beard stood on end as he poured his immense spiritual power into the Burning Heaven Seal.

The crimson seal grew as it faced the wind, instantly transforming into the size of a small mountain. The Dao patterns of the two characters "Burning Heaven" flowed at the bottom of the seal, carrying the destructive power to burn mountains and boil seas and suppress everything, and smashed down fiercely at the original gap!

"boom--!!!!!"

This time, the explosion was hundreds or even thousands of times louder than the previous explosion that broke the barrier!
The entire Tianlang Mountain trembled violently, as if an earth dragon had turned over! Under the bombardment of the Vermilion Bird Burning Heaven Seal, the tough bluish-gray array barrier was as fragile as paper. Centered on the gap, it was instantly covered with spiderweb-like cracks, and then collapsed in a blinding light!

"puff--!"

Inside the central chamber of the formation, Su Wan, Chen Feng, and Fairy Tianyin, who were doing their best to maintain the formation, were struck in the chest as if by a heavy hammer. Almost simultaneously, the three of them spat out a mouthful of blood, and their spiritual energy instantly became chaotic. The mysterious state of "Three Talents Returning to Origin" was forcibly interrupted!

The backlash swept over me like a tidal wave, and my meridians felt like they were being stabbed with needles.

"The great formation... is broken!" Chen Feng's eyes were bloodshot, and his voice was hoarse.

Su Wan's face was deathly pale, but her eyes still retained a final glimmer of clarity and decisiveness:
"Let's go! To the teleportation hall! It's our only hope of contacting our clan; we can't afford to lose it!"

She mustered her spiritual energy, pulled up the badly injured Chen Feng and Tianyin, and transformed into three streaks of light. Ignoring her own injuries, she rushed towards the teleportation hall located deep inside the mountain at top speed.

Almost the instant they left, a violent attack engulfed the original central chamber of the formation.

……

"kill!"

"Leave no one behind!"

Without the protection of the mountain-guarding formation, the cultivators of the Vermilion Bird Tribe poured into Tianlang Mountain like a flood bursting its banks. Shouts of battle, explosions, and the screams of the dying instantly echoed through the mountains.

Chi Liao withdrew the Vermilion Bird Burning Heaven Seal, its light now slightly dimmed, his face paling slightly, clearly indicating the immense energy drained by activating this treasure. His divine sense swept across the entire Heavenly Wolf Mountain like a tidal wave, immediately locking onto the hidden place emitting faint spatial fluctuations—the Teleportation Hall! "Found them! Surround the Teleportation Hall! Don't let those three Golden Core cultivators escape, and don't let them destroy the teleportation array!" Chi Liao coldly ordered, his figure flashing as he took the lead, rushing towards the Teleportation Hall. Several Golden Core elders followed closely behind.

……

Su Wan and her two companions were the first to rush into the teleportation hall.

The main hall is built of solid black stone and has an independent protective array inside. At the center is a teleportation array inscribed with intricate runes that connects to the Fu family's secret stronghold.

As soon as they activated the palace's protective measures, a pale white light curtain rose up and enveloped the palace. Chi Liao and the others appeared outside the palace, completely surrounding it.

Chi Liao did not attack immediately. He calmly observed the three pale-faced people in the hall, his voice carrying a hint of seduction:
"Elder Su, Elder Chen, Elder Tianyin. The three of you are not of the Fu family bloodline, but merely guest elders. Now that the Fu family's power has waned and Tianlang Mountain has been destroyed, why waste your lives for a dying family?"

He pointed to the teleportation array that was in operation:

"If you destroy this formation with your own hands right now and cut off the Fu family's hopes of reinforcements, I swear in the name of the chieftain of the Vermilion Bird Tribe that I will not only spare your lives, but also treat you as honored guests! Wealth, glory, and cultivation resources will not be stingy to my Vermilion Bird Tribe! A wise bird chooses a good tree to perch on. You three are all intelligent people and should know how to choose."

"I'll curse your ancestors!"

Ignoring his internal injuries, Chen Feng spat a mouthful of bloody saliva onto the ground and cursed loudly:

"You old dog, Chi Liao! Stop pretending to be benevolent! Even if I die, I'll still be a ghost of the Fu family! You think you can make us betray the patriarch? Keep dreaming!"

Su Wan wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, her eyes cold and resolute: "No need for further words. If you want to fight, then fight. If you want to destroy the teleportation array, you'll have to step over our corpses first."

Although Fairy Tianyin did not speak, she had already conjured an ice crystal longsword in her hand, the tip of which pointed directly out of the hall, demonstrating her attitude through her actions.

The feigned kindness on Chi Liao's face vanished instantly, replaced by a sinister murderous intent.

"You won't listen to reason, so you'll have to suffer the consequences! Since you're courting death, this chieftain will grant your wish!"

Without further ado, he unleashed the Vermilion Bird Burning Heaven Seal once more! Although its power was not as earth-shattering as when he first broke the formation, it was more than enough to deal with the independent protective formation of this teleportation hall!

"Heaven-Burning Seal, fall!"

The small crimson seal, carrying the power to suppress everything, slammed heavily onto the pale white light screen!
"Crack... Boom!"

The protective array of the teleportation hall couldn't even withstand a single breath before shattering! The violent energy shockwave ripped the hall doors and large sections of the walls away, sending dust billowing everywhere!

Inside the hall, Su Wan, Chen Feng, and Fairy Tianyin were exposed to numerous experts from the Vermilion Bird Tribe, with the teleportation array they had vowed to protect behind them.

There is no way out but to fight!
...

...

Just as Chi Liao grinned maliciously, preparing to wave his hand and order his elders to swarm forward and crush Su Wan and the other two, along with the teleportation array—

A sudden change occurred!

The spatial fluctuations on the teleportation array, which had been running stably, suddenly became extremely violent. A blinding white light shot into the sky, instantly illuminating the entire dilapidated hall as if it were daytime!

"Om-!"

A deep, resonant sound echoed through the space, seemingly coming from a distant place.

Chi Liao's sinister smile froze, and his pupils suddenly contracted. The Vermilion Bird Tribe elders behind him, who were preparing to charge, also stopped in their tracks, looking at the core of the light with suspicion and uncertainty.

The light dissipated.

More than a dozen incredibly powerful figures appeared in the teleportation array like divine soldiers descending from the sky!
The leader, dressed in a green robe that fluttered in the wind, had a calm face but deep, unfathomable eyes—it was Fu Changsheng! His aura seemed peaceful, yet it was as if he were one with the entire world, giving people a sense of unfathomable depth.

Behind him stood Liu Meizhen, Fu Changli, Fu Changli, Fu Molan, Fu Yongyao, Han Xiao, Fu Yongyi, Fu Yongning... one by one, the core Golden Core cultivators of the Fu family stood solemnly, their killing intent palpable!
What's even more unsettling is...

Beside them followed several spirit beasts of different shapes, all exuding terrifying demonic energy—the ferocious skeleton vine, the majestic blue dragon, the blazing earth-lung fire python, and the most ancient and chaotic beast!
Nearly twenty Golden Core cultivators, plus several powerful spirit beasts comparable to Golden Core cultivators!

As soon as this power appeared, the pressure that was as solid as a mountain crashed down, instantly shattering the arrogant arrogance of the Vermilion Bird Tribe!

The three women, Su Wan, Chen Feng, and Tianyin Fairy, who were originally in despair, suddenly burst into unbelievable joy and a sense of relief when they saw that familiar figure.

"Patriarch!" the three exclaimed excitedly, their tense minds suddenly relaxing, almost causing them to lose their balance.

Fu Changsheng's gaze swept over the three people's pale faces and the bloodstains at the corners of their mouths, then looked at the dilapidated palaces around them and the Vermilion Bird Tribe cultivators who were packed tightly around the palace. His eyes instantly turned as cold as ice.

He didn't speak, but the silent rage and killing intent caused the temperature in the entire teleportation hall to plummet.

Chi Liao's expression changed drastically, and his heart was filled with shock and turmoil.

Fu Changsheng! Why did he return at this time?! And with so many Golden Core cultivators! This number is almost comparable to the elite troops of the tribe he brought! And those few demonic beasts, their auras are so terrifying!
He instantly realized that his meticulously planned lightning attack had backfired!
“Fu… Fu Changsheng!” Chi Liao forced himself to remain calm, but his voice was slightly hoarse. “You…”

Before he could finish speaking, Fu Changsheng had already moved.

He didn't look at Chi Liao, but instead turned his gaze to his clansmen beside him, whose fighting spirit was boiling. His voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable determination, clearly resounding throughout the entire Tianlang Mountain:

"Anyone who offends Tianlang Mountain will be killed without mercy."

"Not one left."

The order was given, as swiftly as the clash of metal!
"kill--!"

The Fu family cultivators and spirit beasts, who could no longer contain themselves, erupted like unsheathed swords, carrying boundless rage and the flames of revenge, charging towards the terrified Vermilion Bird Tribe cultivators outside the hall!

Fu Changsheng wielded the Heavenly Punishment Thunder Spear, his body enveloped in purple divine light. Each strike drew upon the power of heaven and earth, unleashing thunderous force. The purple glow contained the profound mystery of annihilating all laws. The thunder spear thrust out like lightning falling from the heavens; the divine light swept across, causing the very space to tremble.

However, the Vermilion Bird Chieftain, Chi Liao, was indeed formidable. As the leader of a large tribe, he possessed profound knowledge and skills. His body was enveloped in raging flames, transforming into a solid Vermilion Bird battle armor, and he wielded a crimson halberd with impenetrable precision. Even more alarming was the fact that he had clearly studied Fu Changsheng's methods in depth, anticipating the ferocity of lightning magic and the corrosive power of purple energy, always managing to neutralize them at crucial moments with exquisite movement techniques or formidable fire-based divine abilities.

Not only that, Chi Liao also unleashed an extremely powerful treasure technique—【Vermilion Bird Burning Heaven Dance】! His movements were like a Vermilion Bird soaring through the sky, agile and unpredictable. As he swung his halberd, he brought up a sky full of crimson flame feathers. These feathers were not illusory, but rather manifestations of highly condensed fire-elemental laws. Each feather was extremely sharp and contained explosive power, and it was able to withstand the Heavenly Punishment Thunder Spear without being at a disadvantage.

"Fu Changsheng! I have long seen through your methods! Today I will show you the true heritage of my Vermilion Bird Tribe!" Chi Liao roared. Although he was slightly passive under Fu Changsheng's relentless attacks, he defended his position as solid as a rock, and it was difficult to determine the winner for the time being.

Fu Changsheng frowned slightly, his gaze sharp as lightning, quickly sweeping across the entire battlefield.

Below, the Azure Dragon, though awe-inspiring, was trapped by an array formed by two late-stage Golden Core elders from the Vermilion Bird tribe, both skilled in combined attacks. Its roars echoed, but it struggled to break free for a short time. The Skeleton Vine was further targeted by three elders wielding specially crafted fire-type magic weapons. The vine feared fire, and despite its ferocity, it was effectively restrained.

As for the rest of the clansmen, Liu Meizhen, Fu Changli and others were locked in a fierce battle with Elder Zhuque, and the situation seemed evenly matched. However, the enemy had the advantage in numbers and was fearless. In the long battle, the Fu family would inevitably suffer casualties.

Fu Changsheng's mind raced. His purpose in coming here was to provide rescue and deterrence, not to engage in a mutually destructive battle with the Vermilion Bird Tribe. Moreover, the family's foundation was hard-won, and every Golden Core member was of paramount importance.

"We can't delay any longer..."

At this thought, a resolute glint flashed in Fu Changsheng's eyes. He feinted with his spear, forcing back the countless feathers flying everywhere, and then suddenly retreated a hundred feet.

"Hmph! Trying to escape?" Chi Liao thought that Fu Changsheng was trying to retreat after failing to break through his defenses, so he became even more aggressive and pointed his halberd to give chase.

But Fu Changsheng didn't look at him anymore. Instead, he formed an ancient and profound hand seal with both hands. His aura suddenly became ethereal and sharp, and a sword intent that seemed to come from the primordial era awakened within him.

A point of emerald green light shone between his brows, and then a phantom of a nine-leafed Ganoderma lucidum, shaped like a sharp sword and exuding endless sharpness and vitality, appeared—it was the Nine-Leaf Sword Ganoderma, a rare treasure of heaven and earth that he had obtained from the secret realm and nurtured for many years!

"Using the sesame seed as a guide, I summon my ancient sword!"

Fu Changsheng murmured, his voice seemingly transcending time and space. He suddenly poured his vast spiritual power and divine sense into the illusory image of the Nine-Leaf Sword Fungus.

"Zheng——!"

A clear and melodious sword cry resounded throughout the heavens and earth, instantly drowning out all the fighting and roaring on the battlefield!
The Nine-Leaf Sword Mushroom shone brightly, its sword leaves trembling in unison, each leaf displaying a different ancient sword-shaped rune. As the runes lit up, the void behind Fu Changsheng began to distort violently, and a massive, ancient, sharp, and imposing sword shadow slowly solidified and manifested from nothingness!
These sword shadows all exuded different yet equally terrifying sword energy, as if the souls of famous swords that had been dormant for thousands of years had been awakened by the power of the Nine-Leaf Sword Mushroom and had crossed time and space to arrive!

The sword shadow trembled slightly.

One divides into two, two divides into four…

Ten! One hundred!
In the blink of an eye, a total of 365 ancient sword phantoms appeared, like an army being inspected, neatly floating behind Fu Changsheng, with the sword tips pointing directly at Chi Liao and the entire Vermilion Bird tribe's battle formation!
The magnificent sword's power enveloped the entire landscape!
The murderous aura of the entire Tianlang Mountain was completely overshadowed by the sharpness of the countless ancient swords!

Chi Liao's arrogant expression froze instantly, replaced by unprecedented shock and disbelief!

"What...what kind of supernatural power is this?!"

He sensed the destructive power contained within those 365 sword shadows, each one no less powerful than a full-force strike from a Golden Core cultivator. Moreover, their energy was interconnected, forming a natural, unparalleled sword formation! This was far beyond the reach of ordinary magic weapons or spells!
Chief Chi Liao's eyes were bloodshot with rage. He finally understood why Fu Changsheng was able to slay the fake infant with his Golden Core body!

This secret technique for summoning ancient swords has completely surpassed the realm of the Nascent Soul stage. The natural sword array formed by the countless sword shadows is so powerful that even a true Nascent Soul cultivator would have to be wary of such a terrifying offensive technique and would not dare to directly confront it, let alone someone who is currently only a Nascent Soul cultivator.

"Retreat! Retreat now! Everyone, scatter and escape!!"

Chi Liao practically roared the order, his voice filled with unprecedented panic and despair. He no longer cared about tribal honor or chieftain dignity; survival was his top priority! Flames erupted around him, and he didn't hesitate to burn his life essence, transforming into a crimson meteor as he fled towards the distant horizon.

The other Golden Core elders and Crimson Flame Guards of the Vermilion Bird tribe were terrified. They all used their supernatural abilities, such as transforming into rainbows, earth-遁 (earth-遁 is a type of magic or magic), or blood-遁 (blood-遁 is a type of magic or magic), wishing they had two more legs. They fled in all directions in a panic, hoping to escape the range of the destructive sword rain.

however--

Amidst the chaos, Qiu Niang, who had been hidden in the shadows and appeared to be merely an attendant, suddenly flashed a glint in her eyes. Her hands, already formed incantations in her sleeves, shot into the air as the Vermilion Bird tribe attempted to flee!
"Om-!"

A deep, resonant hum, seemingly capable of freezing the void, resounded.

A colossal array diagram, shimmering with star-like points of light, appeared without warning above Mount Tianlang, instantly unfolding and covering the sky for dozens of miles around! The array diagram was crisscrossed with lines and runes, radiating a powerful force of spatial confinement and spiritual interference!
This was precisely the backup plan that Qiu Niang had secretly laid out during the fierce battle between Fu Changsheng and Chi Liao, thanks to her profound mastery of formations—the [Zhou Tian Forbidden Sky Formation Diagram]!
The array shone brightly, like an inverted giant glass bowl, enveloping all the Vermilion Bird Tribe cultivators who were trying to escape, including Chi Liao!
"what happened?!"

"My escape technique has failed!"

"The space is locked!"

Exclamations and desperate roars erupted. The Golden Core elders, who had transformed into streaks of light, seemed to have crashed into an invisible wall. Their escape lights instantly dissipated, revealing their disheveled figures. Those who attempted earth escape found the ground beneath their feet as hard as iron; those who used blood escape felt their blood and qi stagnate, and the backlash from their secret techniques caused them to spit out blood.

The crimson meteor that Chi Liao had transformed into also suddenly stopped. He felt as if he had fallen into an invisible swamp, and the surrounding space became extremely viscous, causing his flight speed to drop by more than ten times!
He suddenly looked up at the enormous array that covered the sky above him, and utter despair finally appeared in his eyes.

In front, there was an ancient sword formation, powerful enough to threaten the Nascent Soul stage, which was poised to be unleashed by Fu Changsheng, and behind, there was this mysterious and unpredictable high-level formation diagram that imprisoned the void, cutting off their retreat!
A net has been cast, a trap that can be set in all directions!
Fu Changsheng stood in the center of the sword formation, his eyes indifferent as he looked at Chi Liao and the others struggling like trapped beasts in the formation. The three hundred and sixty-five ancient sword phantoms floating behind him trembled slightly at their tips, emitting a humming sound as if they were thirsting for blood.

He slowly raised his hand and gently pressed it down on the trapped members of the Vermilion Bird tribe.

"cut."

At a single command, ten thousand swords were unleashed!

"Everyone, listen to my command! Form the 'Vermilion Bird Burning Heaven Battle Formation'! Concentrate all your strength to fight against the sword formation! This is our only chance of survival!"

Chi Liao's voice was like rolling thunder, forcefully suppressing the panic of his subordinates.

The panicked elders and elites of the Vermilion Bird tribe, their ferocity ignited in the face of death, immediately forced themselves to calm upon hearing this. They swiftly converged on Chi Liao, their auras linked, and their spiritual power poured in frantically. Blazing fire-attribute spiritual power soared into the sky, condensing into a more solid and massive fiery Vermilion Bird phantom than before. Its wings folded, protecting everyone below, attempting to withstand the torrential rain of ancient swords.

However, Chi Liao did not place all his hopes on this. A glint of madness and determination flashed in his eyes as he shouted sharply to the trusted elders beside him, "Protect me! Buy me ten breaths!"

Without hesitation, the trusted elders immediately stood in front of Chi Liao, burning their own golden core essence and pouring their spiritual power into the battle formation to reinforce the Flame Vermilion Bird's defense.

Chi Liao himself formed a series of strange and ancient hand seals with a speed imperceptible to the naked eye, chanting incantations that echoed across the battlefield. His aura surged wildly at an abnormal rate, crimson cracks appeared on his skin as if magma flowed within him, and his once red hair turned gray at a visible speed!

The forbidden technique of the Eastern Wilderness—[Blood Sacrifice Technique]! It forcibly elevates one's cultivation level by a major realm at the cost of permanently depleting one's lifespan and life essence!

"boom!"

A terrifying pressure, far surpassing that of a nascent infant and truly belonging to the Nascent Soul stage, erupted from Chi Liao's body like a volcanic eruption! The void beneath his feet distorted slightly, and the light of the Zhou Tian Anti-Void Array Diagram flickered violently!
"Fu Changsheng! Prepare to die!" Chi Liao's eyes were bloodshot, like a ferocious beast ready to devour its prey. He completely ignored the ancient sword about to fall, and disregarded his clansmen who were forming a defensive array. He had only one target—Fu Changsheng!

To catch the thief, first catch the king! As long as Fu Changsheng is killed or severely injured within the effective time of the secret technique, this terrifying sword formation and encirclement can naturally be broken!
With a swift movement, he seemed to teleport, breaking through the spatial distance and appearing directly in front of Fu Changsheng! His hand, imbued with the violent fire attribute spiritual power of a Nascent Soul level cultivator, was like a red-hot iron, aiming straight for Fu Changsheng's dantian and vital point! The speed and power far surpassed any previous attack!
Fu Changsheng's pupils contracted slightly. This was his first direct confrontation with an opponent possessing Nascent Soul level power, and the overwhelming pressure was truly terrifying. He dared not be careless in the slightest; his mind raced, and the seven-colored divine light within his body suddenly erupted!

"Buzz!"

With the infusion of the seven-colored divine light, his cultivation aura instantly broke through the bottleneck and reached the peak of the Golden Core stage! Although there was still a qualitative gap between him and the Nascent Soul stage, this was the strongest state he could currently unleash!
At the same time, three ancient-looking lotus lanterns, their flames glowing blue, gold, and purple, flew out from his body. Spinning rapidly, they transformed into three solid protective shields, layer upon layer, guarding him. The blue light was vibrant with life, the gold light was indestructible, and the purple light was impervious to all magic!
However, the power of the Nascent Soul is far beyond imagination!
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Chi Liao's palm, imbued with forbidden power, pierced through the butter like a red-hot dagger. The three layers of protective light shield of the Lotus Lantern in front of Fu Changsheng, which were enough to withstand the full-force attack of a fake Nascent Soul cultivator, shattered one after another without even a moment's resistance! The flames of the lanterns flickered violently, and the spiritual light dimmed instantly!
The force of the palm strike lessened slightly, but it still carried a deadly threat as it slammed into Fu Changsheng!
At the critical moment, Fu Changsheng's figure suddenly blurred. A jade talisman inscribed with profound spatial runes shattered silently beneath his feet—a minor teleportation talisman!

"Shh!"

His figure vanished from his spot in the blink of an eye, reappearing dozens of feet away. Chi Liao's deadly palm strike only shattered the afterimage he left behind.

"Hmph! You can dodge the first day of the month, but you can't dodge the fifteenth!" Chi Liao reacted extremely quickly. His attack missed, but without stopping, he struck out with his palm again. A Vermilion Bird-shaped flame palm print, condensed to the extreme, was like a malignant sore that it instantly crossed space and chased after Fu Changsheng!
Fu Changsheng's expression turned solemn. He didn't have time to use his escape technique again. He joined his fingers like a brush, using his divine sense as ink, and rapidly sketched in the air. A seemingly simple silver talisman, yet imbued with the ethereal and otherworldly essence of the universe, instantly took shape—the Void Talisman!
"go with!"

The silver talisman grew taller in the wind, blocking the Vermilion Bird's fiery palm print.

There was no earth-shattering explosion. The violent fiery palm print seemed to sink into an invisible quagmire the moment it came into contact with the Void Talisman. Its destructive energy was rapidly decomposed and absorbed by the talisman, like ice and snow melting away, its power reduced by more than 80%! The remaining palm wind struck Fu Changsheng's protective aura, causing his blood and qi to surge, but it was no longer enough to kill him!
Fu Changsheng, with his peak Golden Core cultivation, managed to neutralize the furious attack from a Nascent Soul level cultivator using his profound talismanic techniques!
(End of this chapter)