Family Rise: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 627 Reclaiming Lost Territory, Bait, Backer Collapses

The Luo family's stronghold, the council hall.

The once solemn hall where the Luo family discussed clan affairs was now filled with oppression and strife. Two Golden Core elders of the Vermilion Bird tribe who remained behind—Chi Hu and Chi Yan—were arguing heatedly, their voices echoing in the empty hall.

"Defend? What's there to defend!"

Elder Chi Hu, with a sharp face and a hint of panic in his eyes, slammed his hand on the table:
"Chiyan, open your eyes and look! The chief and the others... they were almost completely wiped out at Tianlang Mountain! More than a dozen Golden Core elders! Even the chief almost... How many years has it been since our Vermilion Bird Tribe suffered such a heavy blow? Now our headquarters is as empty as paper!"

He became more and more agitated as he spoke, pointing outside the hall:

"This Luo family stronghold is a hot potato! Do you think the Luo family will give up? They will definitely try every means to take it back! Not to mention the Fu family is also eyeing us covetously! Fu Changsheng is a killing god. Even the chieftain was defeated by him. What's the difference between us two mid-stage Golden Core cultivators guarding this place and waiting to die?"

He was breathing heavily, and his tone was earnest:

"Listen to me! Before the Fu family can react, let's immediately take what resources we can still carry and retreat back to our tribal headquarters! That's where our roots are, and we need to protect them! If we stay here, we'll be surrounded and wiped out sooner or later by the Fu and Luo families working together!"

"fart!"

The burly, hot-tempered Elder Chiyan opposite him bristled with anger, his voice booming like thunder:
"Chihu! Have you been scared out of your wits by the Fu family? The chieftain isn't dead yet! He's just temporarily suffered a setback!"

His eyes burned with hatred as he growled:
"It is precisely because the Fu family killed so many of our compatriots and seriously injured our chieftain that this hatred is irreconcilable! We cannot slink back like cowards! Think about it, given the relationship between the Luo family and the Fu family, the Fu family will definitely send troops to help the Luo family take back this place!"

He suddenly stood up, placed his hands on the table, leaned forward, and stared intently at Chi Hu:

"As long as we hold this position, we'll be a thorn in the side of the Fu family! The chieftain will definitely go to the royal court for help! Once the reinforcements arrive, we can coordinate an attack from within and without, or even without that, we can lure the Fu family's Golden Core cultivators to our stronghold. With the formation here and the support from the Tianyin Mountain direction, we might be able to trap them! That will be the time to avenge our fallen clansmen!"

"Revenge? With just the two of us?"

Chi Hu chuckled and shook his head repeatedly:

"You've been blinded by hatred! Even if we don't retreat back to headquarters, we should immediately abandon this isolated outpost and retreat to Tianyin Mountain! There, Elder Chiwu and several other late-stage Golden Core cultivators are stationed, and there's also a mountain-protecting formation capable of unleashing Nascent Soul power—it's as solid as a rock! That's the frontline fortress we should be holding!"

Chiyan refused to back down an inch and retorted sharply:
"Withdraw from Tianyin Mountain? And then what? Is the Fu family stupid? They just experienced the battle where the Luo family was lured into our formation and annihilated. Would they repeat the same mistake and actively attack Tianyin Mountain, which has a Nascent Soul level formation? They'll only pick on the weakest target first! Right here! By holding this position, we can attract the Fu family's attention, buy time for the chieftain to call for reinforcements, and buy time for Tianyin Mountain to strengthen its defenses! If we all withdraw, the Fu and Luo families can take this place back without bloodshed. Their next step will be to calmly plan and threaten Tianyin Mountain!"

"You're gambling with our lives!"

"What's a little risk to your life for the tribe?!"

The two argued vehemently, neither able to convince the other, and the heated debate nearly froze the atmosphere in the hall. Each believed themselves to be the rational one, and the other to be either a coward or a madman.

Seeing that the dispute was at an impasse.

Chi Hu took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and proposed a compromise:

"Since we cannot reach an agreement, let us send this information, along with our opinions, to the chief for his decision!"

Although Chiyan was unwilling, he knew this was the only way at the moment, and nodded silently.

"Alright! Let the chief decide!"

He paused and added:

"At the same time, we immediately contacted Elder Chiwu of Tianyin Mountain, conveying our concerns and warnings of a possible attack by the Fu family. We asked him to be on high alert and agreed that if we discover any signs of a large-scale attack by the Fu or Luo families, they must immediately come to our aid! We must form a pincer movement!"

“Okay.” Chi Hu had no objection.

Without another word, the two took out their communication jade talismans and solemnly began to send urgent messages to Chief Chi Liao, who was likely healing or seeking help in the direction of the royal court, and Elder Chi Wu, who was stationed at Tianyin Mountain.

...

...

Tianyin Mountain, the temporary council hall of the Zhuque tribe.

Elder Chiwu, who remained behind, and two other Golden Core elders received an urgent message from the Luo family's stronghold, and their brows furrowed.

"Those two, Chi Hu and Chi Yan, are already clamoring to leave? They really have no guts!" Elder Chi Wu snorted in dissatisfaction, but still instructed the guards, "Go and invite Chief Wu Yao to come and discuss this together. After all, Tianyin Mountain is now under our joint control, and he should do his part."

The guards took the order and left.

However, after a long while, the guard returned alone and reported:

"Elder, your subordinate has been requesting an audience with Chief Wuyao for a long time, but his cave is tightly sealed by the array, and no one has answered."

"No one answers?" Elder Chiwu frowned. "What's that old fox up to? This is a critical moment, what kind of deadlock is he doing?"

Another elder, named Chi Ling, with a thin face, had a hint of doubt in his eyes. He pondered for a moment and said:

"Something's fishy. Let's go check it out ourselves."

The elders immediately rose and went to the cave where Chief Wuyao usually cultivated. Sure enough, they saw the protective array glowing, guarding the cave tightly.

"Chief Wuyao! The tribe has important matters to discuss; please show yourself!"

Elder Chiwu channeled his spiritual power, and his voice penetrated the formation and entered the area.

After waiting for a while, the cave remained silent and unresponsive.

Elder Chi Ling's expression darkened slightly, and he cupped his hands in greeting:
"Chief Wuyao, my apologies!"

After saying that, he exchanged a glance with the other two elders, and the three of them attacked simultaneously, their powerful spiritual energy bombarding the array nodes. Although the protective array was quite formidable, it could not withstand the combined impact of three late-stage Golden Core cultivators. After flashing violently a few times, it collapsed with a "pop".

The formation was broken.

The entire cave was completely empty!
Where can we find Chief Wuyao now?
Not only did the people disappear, but some commonly used and valuable items also vanished, leaving only some bulky or worthless decorations.

"Where is he?!" Elder Chiwu stared wide-eyed in disbelief.

"Could it be..." Elder Chi Ling's mind raced, and a thought that made his heart sink emerged, "Could it be that this Wuyao, seeing that things were not going well, had already slipped away in advance?"

"Impossible!" Elder Chiwu retorted instinctively. "This Tianyin Mountain is the ancestral home of his Tianyin tribe for thousands of years! As the chieftain, how can he just abandon it? Besides, we have a mountain-protecting formation in hand, which is enough to unleash the power of a Nascent Soul cultivator. No matter how strong the Fu family is, do you think they would dare to attack us head-on?"

Elder Chi Ling did not argue with him, but immediately gave a stern order:

"Immediately send people to investigate the Tianyin tribe's core warehouses, secret halls, and the residences of their core elders!"

The command was executed quickly.

The news sent the hearts of all the elders of the Vermilion Bird tribe to the bottom – without exception, all those key locations were under the activated array, and after forcibly breaking through, they were all deserted! Moreover, judging from the traces left behind, the evacuation had been going on for some time, and was definitely not a spur-of-the-moment decision!

"Damn it! You bunch of cowards! You spineless cowards!"

Elder Chiwu was so enraged that he flew into a rage and began to curse:

"No wonder they agreed to co-govern with us so readily, even giving up the dominant position. It turns out they had the intention of having us take the lead while they could run away at any time!"

At this moment, everyone vaguely understood why the Tianyin tribe had "invited the wolf into the house"—they probably intended to divert trouble or even use someone else to do their dirty work!
Some of the more astute cultivators from the Vermilion Bird Tribe, looking at the empty cave dwellings and storerooms, and recalling Fu Changsheng's terrifying strength from Tianlang Mountain, couldn't help but feel a chill and a desire to retreat. Even the local powerhouse, the Tianyin Tribe, had fled at the mere sight of them; could these outsiders truly hold out?

Elder Chi Ling took in everyone's expressions, sighing inwardly, but remained outwardly calm, coldly saying:
"It is indeed shameful for the Tianyin Tribe to desert in the face of battle! But my Zhuque Tribe will never retreat a single step without the chief's order!"

He mustered his strength and analyzed:
"If the Fu family launches an attack, their primary target will undoubtedly be the Luo family's stronghold, where the defenses are weakest. Recapturing it would not only help the Luo family but also eliminate one of our outposts. We have ample time to wait for the chieftain to bring reinforcements from the royal court! Once a Nascent Soul True Monarch arrives, the situation can be reversed instantly!"

His words temporarily calmed some people's hearts.

However, the unease and panic brought about by the quiet withdrawal of the Tianyin Tribe hung like a shadow over the hearts of the remaining Zhuque Tribe members. At this moment, they could only place their hopes on the chieftain being able to quickly summon the Royal Court's Nascent Soul cultivator, and that... the Fu family's military might wouldn't be directed at Tianyin Mountain so soon.

...

...

The Eastern Wilderness Royal Court, the capital city.

The magnificent teleportation array's light faded, and Chi Liao's staggering figure appeared.

He didn't even have time to calm the churning blood and qi in his body and the excruciating pain from the backlash of the secret technique, nor did he care about tidying up his disheveled appearance. He forcefully gathered a breath of spiritual energy, transformed into a streak of crimson light, and headed straight for the "Crimson Cloud Cave Heaven" where his great-aunt was in his memory.

however.

When he arrived at the sacred mountain he remembered, he was astonished to find that the color of the array light screen covering the mountain had changed drastically, from the original fiery red to a deep and somber black.

The guards at the mountain gate were also unfamiliar faces, wearing armor that did not belong to the sacrificial temple.

"Halt! This is the place where True Monarch Xuan Gui cultivates in seclusion. No unauthorized persons are allowed to approach!" The guard leader sensed the unstable yet powerful aura emanating from Chi Liao and stepped forward to block him.

Chi Liao's heart sank. Suppressing his anxiety, he cupped his hands and said:

"Fellow Daoist, I am Chi Liao from the Vermilion Bird Tribe, here to pay my respects to True Lord Vermilion Bird. May I ask..."

Before he could finish speaking, the guard leader interrupted him, his tone carrying a hint of businesslike indifference:

“Vermilion Bird True Lord? She no longer cultivates here. This blessed land was reclaimed by the royal court fifty years ago and bestowed upon Black Tortoise True Lord.”

"What?!" Chi Liao was struck dumb, his face turning deathly pale. "Not here? Then...where is my great-aunt now? She is the head of the Temple of Sacrifices!"

The guard leader glanced at him, seemingly surprised that he was unaware, but still answered:

"The Vermilion Bird True Lord has long since resigned from his position as the head of the Sacrificial Temple due to a recurrence of his old injuries, and is now recuperating in the 'Sinking Flame Valley'. As for his exact location, it is beyond our knowledge."

Shenyan Valley?
That was a place on the outskirts of the capital where the spiritual energy was relatively thin, specifically used to house some injured, retired, or disgraced old ministers!
Not only did my great-aunt lose her blessed land, but she also lost her authority as the head of the sacrificial temple?!

Chi Liao felt a sudden dizziness and almost lost his balance.

Having lost the blessed land of cultivation and the authority of the temple master... this means that the great-aunt's influence in the royal court has plummeted!
He had originally hoped that with his great-aunt's power, he could easily persuade a Nascent Soul True Monarch to suppress Fu Changsheng, but now it seemed that hope was extremely slim!

He staggered back a few steps, staring at the dark array light screen, feeling that the towering pillar he used to rely on had collapsed more than halfway.

"Fu Changsheng... Is Heaven truly determined to destroy my Vermilion Bird tribe?" he murmured to himself, his voice filled with resentment and bitterness. However, he quickly rallied: "It seems I have no choice but to find her..."

...

...

Inside Fu Changsheng's private cave dwelling on Tianlang Mountain.

The barrier light flashed slightly, and two figures, slightly travel-worn and weary but still exuding a sharp edge, quietly appeared. They were Luo Haitang and Fu Yongxuan, who had secretly returned.

"Father!"

"Fellow Daoist Fu."

When Fu Yongxuan saw Fu Changsheng, a hint of affection and reassurance flashed in his eyes. Luo Haitang, on the other hand, had a complicated expression.

Fu Changsheng's gaze swept over the two of them. Seeing that his daughter's breathing was slightly weak, but her spirits were high and she was unharmed, the weight in his heart finally lifted. He nodded slightly, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable solemnity:

“It’s good that you’re back. Yongxuan, your courage in going deep into the heart of the Vermilion Bird tribe with your mother and destroying their stronghold is commendable. But you need to think more carefully and plan before you act.”

He looked at his daughter, his expression solemn:

"The Vermilion Bird Tribe has been entrenched in the Eastern Wilderness for many years, and its territory is close to the core radiation area of ​​the Royal Court, with intricate relationships. Your operation this time seems to be going smoothly, but in reality, it is taking advantage of the fact that its main force is tied down and its rear is empty. If there is the slightest mistake, and its affiliated or other Golden Core tribes that covet the Fu and Luo families find out, forming an encirclement, the consequences will be unimaginable."

His words contained no harsh rebuke, but the concern and warning beneath his calm tone made Fu Yongxuan's heart skip a beat, and he quickly bowed:

"I understand, and I have caused you worry. I will always remember your teachings and think things through carefully before acting."

Seeing this, Luo Haitang, who was standing to the side, had a look of guilt on her face:
“Fellow Daoist Fu, this is my fault. I was blinded by hatred and insisted on taking revenge on the Vermilion Bird Tribe, which almost put Yongxuan in danger.”

Fu Changsheng waved his hand:
"I do not blame you for your desire for revenge. The Vermilion Bird Tribe and the Luo Family are mortal enemies, so it is only natural for you to retaliate. I also know that you and your mother have a deep bond and support each other. I just want you to remember that no matter what, as long as you stay alive, there are endless possibilities. If you are not alive, all ambition, hatred, and protection will be in vain. Only by living can you have a future."

This statement was both a warning to Fu Yongxuan and a promise to Luo Haitang—as long as he was alive, the Fu family would be a support for Luo Haitang and her daughter.

Upon hearing this, Fu Yongxuan was startled, and a warm feeling and enlightenment welled up within him:

"Remember your father's teachings!"

They chatted for a while.

Fu Changsheng took the initiative to steer the conversation back to the main topic:

"Fellow Daoist Luo, do you have any strategies for retaking your Luo family's stronghold? As long as it is within our power, my Fu family will do our utmost to help."

Upon hearing this, Luo Haitang felt a surge of warmth in her heart and a feeling of gratitude welled up within her.

Fu Changsheng didn't take advantage of her previous rashness, nor did he offer any conditions before readily helping her. This made her deeply feel that her choice to befriend the Fu family and even treat Yongxuan as her own son had been worthwhile. She took a deep breath, suppressed her surging emotions, and said solemnly:

"Fellow Daoist Fu is so kind, I am deeply grateful! I do have a plan regarding that stronghold."

A glint of shrewdness flashed in her eyes, and she lowered her voice as she said:
"To be honest, Fellow Daoist Fu, that stronghold has been in operation for hundreds of years. As the Grand Elder, I secretly set up an emergency passage many years ago. The entrance is hidden beneath the quiet room in my former cave dwelling, concealed by illusion and isolation arrays, making it extremely well hidden. The exit is in a natural stone cave thirty miles outside the stronghold, also protected by arrays. The Vermilion Bird Tribe has only occupied it for a short time and should not have noticed it. We may be able to sneak in quietly through this passage."

Fu Changsheng nodded slightly and pondered for a moment before saying:
"Infiltrating through the secret passage is indeed a brilliant move. However, even if they successfully enter the stronghold, the Golden Core cultivators of the Vermilion Bird Tribe who remain there will likely hold their ground firmly at the core of the protective array. Fellow Daoist Luo, I wonder how powerful your Luo family's protective array is?"

Luo Haitang was fully aware of this and immediately replied:

"This formation is called the 'Rock-Suppressing Mountain Formation.' When fully activated, it gathers the power of the earth's veins and mountains, enough to unleash the full power of a Nascent Soul cultivator in the early stages! It was because of this formation that the clan leader dared to leave only Hao... only a Golden Core cultivator to guard the rear." When she mentioned Luo Hao, she paused slightly, a complex emotion flashing across her face.

At this moment, Fu Yongxuan's eyes flashed, and he interjected:
"Father, Mother, since they are relying on the great formation, let's try to lure them out for a moment! As long as they leave the center of the formation platform, we will have an opportunity to take advantage of them!"

Luo Haitang gave her goddaughter an approving look and continued:
“What Yongxuan said is exactly what I was thinking. I have a plan. Back when Clan Chief Luo… held absolute power, I sensed that there might be changes within the clan. So, before relinquishing some of my authority, I secretly transferred some of the most precious treasures and spiritual materials that the clan had collected and accumulated over the years in the Eastern Wilderness. I hid them in the family cemetery behind our stronghold. Beneath one of the inconspicuous graves, there is a secret chamber, sealed with a special forbidden technique.” She looked at Fu Changsheng, clearly outlining her plan:
“We can use this place to set up an ambush. First, Yongxuan and I will sneak into the stronghold through the secret passage and try to seemingly unintentionally leak the news that ‘the Luo family’s secret treasure is hidden somewhere in the cemetery in the back mountain’ to the two Vermilion Bird Elders. They occupy the stronghold and will definitely search everywhere. They will be tempted by such news. As long as they become greedy and leave the array platform to explore the back mountain, we can immediately have another group of people come out of the secret passage to take over control of the array’s central hub!”

She paused, then continued to elaborate:
"At the same time, Fellow Daoist Fu, you can lead your men to ambush in the secret chamber of the tomb in advance. The secret chamber is narrow, easy to defend and difficult to attack, and has a restriction to isolate the aura. Once the two Golden Core cultivators are caught in the trap, you can take advantage of the terrain and join forces with the ambushers to annihilate them swiftly with lightning speed, without giving them a chance to react or call for help."

Luo Haitang concluded by saying:
"The key to this mission is quality, not quantity. Infiltrating the stronghold and controlling the array's core requires reliable individuals, while setting up ambushes and assassinations requires absolute combat power. I suggest that Fellow Daoist Fu personally lead the team, accompanied by the powerful azure dragon and the skeleton demon vine, along with a high-level array master. The array master is there as a precaution; if the Vermilion Bird Tribe modifies the array, it will ensure that we can quickly seize control of the central point, rather than being unable to operate it once we have it."

Upon hearing this, Fu Changsheng's eyes revealed approval. Luo Haitang's plan was intricately linked, fully utilizing their own advantages and the enemy's psychology; it was indeed shrewd. After a moment's thought, he made his decision:

“Fellow Daoist Luo’s plan is excellent, so let’s proceed accordingly. As for the array master… I will take Yongyao with me. She has a great talent for arrays and should be able to handle the task.”

After agreeing on the plan, the group carefully reviewed the details and contingency plans for each step to ensure everything went smoothly.

...

...

The Luo family stronghold, the family cemetery in the back mountain.

Ancient trees towered here, creating a solemn atmosphere, with tombstones standing silently in the dappled shadows. Normally, apart from the Luo family members who regularly came to clean and pay their respects, few people visited. Since the Zhuque tribe took over, it has become even more desolate and lonely.

A warrior at the Purple Mansion Realm, belonging to the Hunting Hall of the Vermilion Bird Tribe, was anxiously looking around. His tamed "tracking beast," a creature with a keen sense of smell and resembling a raccoon, had somehow broken free of its restraints and darted into the depths of this graveyard.

"Little one, come out here! This isn't a place to play!"

The soldier called out in a low voice, his steps hurried among the tombstones. He knew this place had once been an important stronghold of the Luo family, and although it had been taken over by the tribe, there was no guarantee that there were no remaining restrictions. He couldn't help but feel a little apprehensive.

Suddenly, a slight shoveling sound and excited squeaking came from ahead.

The soldier's heart tightened, and he rushed to the sound. He saw his tracking beast circling around an old tombstone that looked ordinary and even inconspicuous, with its two front paws digging at the soil next to the base of the tombstone.

The tombstone was no different from the others, covered with moss and the marks of time.

"Don't dig randomly!"

The warrior gave a low shout and stepped forward to try and catch the mischievous spirit beast.

However, just as he approached, the tracking beast's claws seemed to touch a loose stone brick, and a barely audible "click" was heard.

Om-!
In an instant, a strange change occurred!

The base of the old tombstone silently slid open a gap just wide enough for one person to pass through, and a long-sealed yet exceptionally pure spiritual energy mixed with a faint precious light suddenly shone out from the gap!

Although it was only a fleeting moment, the gap quickly closed, and the tombstone returned to its original state, as if nothing had happened.

But that instant of precious light and spiritual energy, like a firefly in the dark night, was clearly reflected in the eyes of this Purple Mansion warrior!

The soldier froze on the spot, his eyes wide open, his heart pounding. He rubbed his eyes in disbelief and looked at the tombstone again—still ancient, silent, and unremarkable.

But what I just saw was definitely not an illusion!

That pure spiritual energy, that alluring radiance… Beneath this tombstone surely lies a secret treasure of the Luo family that has never been discovered! Perhaps due to its age, the restrictions have loosened slightly, allowing the spirit beast to accidentally trigger a trace of it!
...

...

The Luo family stronghold is located at the core of the mountain-protecting formation.

Inside the most secure secret chamber of the entire stronghold, spiritual light flowed and runes flickered. The two Golden Core elders of the Vermilion Bird tribe who remained behind—Chi Hu and Chi Yan—were busy with their own tasks, and the atmosphere was heavy.

Elder Chiyan sat cross-legged on the edge of the array platform, his eyes closed. His spiritual energy was subtly connected to the platform, and his divine sense, like invisible tentacles, closely monitored every movement inside and outside the array. He was determined not to leave the platform even a step before the chieftain's new instructions arrived, to prevent any unforeseen circumstances.

On the other side, Elder Chihu appeared much more anxious.

He wasn't just sitting there passively; instead, he was circling the core of the array platform, his hands constantly forming incantations, attempting to modify and cover up the control runes originally belonging to the Luo family, embedding the unique array imprints of the Vermilion Bird tribe. He was a high-level array master, well aware of the power of this "Solid Rock Suppressing Mountain Array." If he could completely master it, his chances of holding the array would increase significantly. He raced against time, and fine beads of sweat even appeared on his forehead.

At this tense moment—

"Om..."

A faint yet exceptionally pure fluctuation of spiritual energy, accompanied by a fleeting, magnificent light, suddenly emanated from the direction of the cemetery behind the mountain! Although the distance was not close and the phenomenon disappeared extremely quickly, how could it escape the keen perception of two Golden Core cultivators?
Elder Chiyan suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze flashing with sharp light. He looked towards the back mountain, his brows furrowed, but his body remained as steady as a mountain, showing no intention of moving.

Elder Chi Hu's hand seals faltered, nearly triggering a backlash from the formation. He abruptly turned his head, his eyes instantly blazing with barely suppressed greed and astonishment:

"That's... a treasure?! How could such a high-grade spiritual object appear in the back mountain?!"

He almost instinctively got up to go and check.

The Luo family has been entrenched in this area for hundreds of years, so it's perfectly normal for them to have some hidden treasure chambers. If they could get their hands on them, whether to improve their strength or to contribute to the tribe in the future, it would be a great gain!

"Chi Hu!" Elder Chi Yan shouted in a deep voice, his tone like muffled thunder, "Calm down! The situation is delicate right now. How can we know that this isn't a trap set by the Luo or Fu families to lure us away from the array platform!"

Chi Hu froze, a look of struggle flashing across his face. Chi Yan's worries were not unfounded; he too feared this was a ploy to lure the tiger away from the mountain. But the spiritual energy contained within that precious light was truly alluring, making him unbearably eager.

He took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to go immediately, but unwilling to give up, he compromised, saying:

“You’re right, it’s not wise for us to act rashly right now. But I’ll send my trusted men to investigate and find out the details, is that alright? If it’s truly an opportunity, we can’t let it slip by! If it’s a trap, losing a few Purple Mansions won’t affect the overall situation.”

Elder Chiyan pondered for a moment, deciding that sending his trusted confidant to scout ahead was indeed much safer than risking their own lives, and finally nodded in agreement.
"Sure. But have your men be careful. If anything seems amiss, immediately withdraw and raise the alarm!"

"Don't worry!" Elder Chihu immediately took out a communication jade talisman and whispered a few instructions after seeing that Chiyan agreed.

Soon, several figures of Purple Mansion cultivators belonging to Elder Chi Hu's faction quietly left the core array platform area and cautiously made their way towards the cemetery behind the mountain.

Inside the secret chamber, Elder Chihu had begun attempting to modify the formation again, but his mind was clearly no longer fully focused, and he would occasionally glance towards the back mountain. Elder Chiyan, on the other hand, closed his eyes again, but his aura became even more concentrated, clearly prepared to deal with any unexpected situation.

...

...

The cemetery on the back hill.

The trusted Purple Mansion cultivators sent by Elder Chi Hu met up with the Hunting Hall warrior who had noticed the anomaly.

Guided by the soldiers, they arrived at the seemingly ordinary blue stone tombstone.

The group dared not be careless. They first carefully surveyed their surroundings to make sure there were no ambushes before a Purple Mansion cultivator skilled in formations stepped forward to cautiously examine the restrictions on the base of the tombstone.

A moment later, the Purple Mansion Array Master retreated with a solemn expression and whispered to his trusted leader:
“Boss, there is indeed an extremely sophisticated concealment and protection formation hidden here. The leakage of precious light and spiritual energy just now was probably caused by a very brief crack in the formation due to its age or the accidental contact just now. Now the formation has stabilized, and with our strength, we simply cannot break it without alerting the person who set it up. We might even trigger a counterattack from the formation.”

He paused, a hint of awe flashing in his eyes:
"The person who set up this formation is far more skilled in formations than I am. The strength of this protective formation... I'm afraid it would be difficult to activate safely in a short time without the personal presence of a Golden Core cultivator, especially a high-level formation master like Elder Chi Hu."

Upon hearing this, the trusted leader frowned.

He knew that Elder Chihu was modifying the mountain-protecting formation at a critical moment, but the discovery here was clearly no small matter. He dared not delay and immediately reported the findings in detail to Elder Chihu in the secret chamber via a communication jade talisman.

Inside the secret chamber, Elder Chi Hu's eyes flashed with a sharp light upon receiving the message, and his face revealed an expression of "I knew it," along with a hint of suppressed excitement.

He looked at Chi Yan, who remained firmly seated on the platform, and said in a deep voice:

“Chiyan, you heard it too. There is indeed a hidden treasure chamber in the back mountain, surrounded by a powerful protective array that my men couldn’t touch. The person who set up the array is extremely skilled and not ordinary. The items hidden inside are probably more valuable than we imagined!”

His tone carried a hint of urgency:

“Now that the formation has appeared, the longer we delay, the greater the variables will become. If this commotion attracts outside surveillance, or if the formation disappears again on its own, we will miss our chance! I must go personally to break the formation as soon as possible and retrieve what is inside! You stay here and oversee things; I'll be right back! With the mountain-protecting formation in place, even if something unexpected happens, it will hold until I return!”

After hearing the report, Elder Chiyan was filled with doubt and apprehension.

Treasure room, high-level formations... all of this seems to point to the important legacy that the Luo family may have left behind.

He glanced at Chi Hu, whose expression was resolute, and then thought that the mountain-protecting formation was now basically under control. With him stationed here, there should be no major problems for the time being. If he could truly obtain the Luo family's secret treasure, it might be beneficial to the tribe and to the current steadfast situation.

After much deliberation, he finally relented, but his tone was extremely serious:

"Alright! Go and return quickly! Remember, breaking the formation and retrieving the treasure is the priority; do not cause any unforeseen complications! Once you have succeeded, or if you encounter any unusual activity, return immediately! I will keep a close eye on the direction of the back mountain, and if there is any unusual activity, I will activate the great formation to provide support immediately!"

"understand!"

Elder Chihu was overjoyed to see that Chiyan agreed. He immediately stood up, and in a flash, he transformed into a streak of light and headed straight for the cemetery on the back mountain.

Inside the core chamber, Elder Chiyan was left alone. He took a deep breath and focused his spiritual sense more on the direction where Chihu had left. He connected his spiritual power with the array platform more closely and dared not relax in the slightest.

...

...

The flowing light created by the Elder Chi Hu arrived at the cemetery on the back mountain in an instant.

He ignored the bowing subordinates of the Purple Mansion and stared intently at the blue stone tombstone.

His divine sense swept over the area carefully, and he indeed sensed the deeply hidden yet exquisitely crafted protective array at the base. With the discerning eye of a high-level array master, he immediately judged that this array was not something an ordinary elder of the Luo family could have set up; its techniques were ancient and profound, faintly carrying the essence of the Luo family's core heritage.

"There is indeed something fishy!"

Chi Hu's heart burned even hotter. He waved for his men to step back and stand guard, then stepped forward, his hands moving like butterflies flitting among flowers, as crimson spiritual incantations were injected into specific nodes on the base of the tombstone.

He dared not forcefully break the formation, fearing he might damage the treasures within or trigger an even more powerful countermeasure. Instead, he chose to use his profound knowledge of formations to find and analyze the operating rules and core runes of this complex formation, attempting to open a temporary passage with minimal cost and in the fastest way possible.

The spiritual patterns around the tombstone lit up again, but this time they did not activate on their own. Instead, under Chi Hu's guidance, the light flowed in an orderly fashion, like a tamed wild beast.

The array's light barrier rippled slightly, and a highly unstable light gate, barely wide enough for one person to pass through, was slowly forming.

Chi Hu was completely focused, sweat beading on his forehead, calculating the changes in each rune in his mind. He was confident that he would be able to completely open the entrance to this treasure chamber in ten breaths at most!
……

Meanwhile, outside the stronghold, in that secluded mountain hollow.

Fu Changsheng, Luo Haitang, Fu Yongxuan, Fu Yongyao, along with the Azure Dragon and the Skeleton Vine, who had concealed their auras, were quietly lurking. Fu Yongyao held a small array plate in his hand, with flashing lights on it, clearly showing the energy flow at the core of the mountain-protecting array and... the unusually active array fluctuations in the cemetery behind the mountain.

"Father, Fellow Daoist Luo, the target has left its nest and is working hard to break the tomb's restrictions. At the core array platform, there is only one Golden Core cultivator remaining," Fu Yongyao reported in a low, calm voice.

A cold glint flashed in Luo Haitang's eyes:
"Alright! Proceed according to plan! Yongyao, you and Fellow Daoist Fu will immediately sneak in through the secret passage and seize the array platform! Yongxuan, you and I will go to the cemetery to cooperate with Senior Qingjiao and the Demon Vine to intercept and kill Chihu!"

Fu Changsheng nodded slightly, saying nothing more, but addressed Fu Yongyao:

"Walk."

The two figures flickered and disappeared from the spot like ghosts, accurately finding the entrance to the secret passage that Luo Haitang had mentioned. They silently sneaked in and headed straight for the core of the stronghold.

Luo Haitang and Fu Yongxuan exchanged a glance, both seeing the killing intent and determination in each other's eyes. They leaped forward like two hunting leopards, carrying the faint dragon's might of the Azure Dragon and the chilling death aura of the Skull Demon Vine, heading straight for the cemetery behind the mountain!

……

At the cemetery, Elder Chi Hu already had a smile of victory on his face, and only the last bit of obstruction remained on the array gate in front of him.

Right now!

A terrifying pressure, as if Mount Tai were pressing down on you, suddenly descended!

With a deafening dragon roar, the enormous body of the Azure Dragon blotted out the sky above the graveyard! At the same time, countless demonic vines carrying corrosive death energy burst forth from the ground like giant black pythons, instantly blocking all escape routes!
"No! I fell into a trap!"

Elder Chi Hu's expression changed drastically, and he was horrified! He wanted to stop breaking the formation and withdraw to defend himself, but because his mind was completely absorbed in the final moment of breaking the formation, his movements were a beat too slow!

"You old scoundrel Chi Hu! Prepare to die!"

Luo Haitang's hate-filled shout rang out, and a cyan sword aura, condensed from her life's cultivation, poured down like the Milky Way from the heavens, slashing straight at Chi Hu's face! Fu Yongxuan's dark sword shadow, however, was like a malignant tumor, sealing off all possible angles for him to dodge!

With Luo Haitang and her daughter's long-awaited combined attack in front, the terrifying dragon breath of the Azure Dragon locking him in from above, and the deathly entanglement of the Skeleton Demon Vine all around... Elder Chihu was instantly caught in a deadly ambush!

He let out a roar of unwillingness and hastily summoned his natal magic weapon to try to resist, but under the siege of so many powerful beings, especially under the suppression of the Azure Dragon's absolute power comparable to the late Golden Core stage, his resistance seemed so pale and powerless.

"boom--!"

The sword energy, dragon breath, and demonic vines struck almost simultaneously!
A burst of light and a deafening roar!
Once the dust had settled, only Elder Chi Hu's mangled, charred corpse and his natal magic weapon, now dim and cracked, remained. A Golden Core cultivator had been swiftly killed by lightning in a single exchange!

……

Almost at the same time that Chi Hu fell.

Inside the secret chamber of the core array platform of the stronghold, Elder Chiyan, who had been intently sensing the direction of the back mountain, suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood—although he and Chihu had a grudge, as tribal elders, they naturally had a spiritual connection! The sudden annihilation of Chihu's aura shocked him to his core!
"Chi Hu!!" His eyes were bloodshot with shock and rage. He immediately activated the mountain-protecting formation with all his might, launching an indiscriminate attack on the back mountain without regard for anything else, while simultaneously sending the most urgent distress signal to Tianyin Mountain!

however--

"Buzz!"

At the core of the array behind him, space distorted, and the figures of Fu Changsheng and Fu Yongyao appeared out of thin air!

Fu Changsheng remained expressionless, simply raising his hand and pointing. A condensed purple divine light, striking Elder Chiyan's raised right hand—which was about to form a hand seal—arrived faster than the original!
"Crack!"

The sound of the arm bone cracking was clearly audible!
Elder Chiyan let out a scream, and his movements came to an abrupt halt.

He turned around in horror and saw Fu Changsheng descending like the Grim Reaper, and Fu Yongyao who had already immersed his divine sense into the array plate, rapidly analyzing and seizing control of the array. His eyes were instantly filled with boundless despair.

Finished!

He knew it was all over! The outpost couldn't be held!

(End of this chapter)