Family Rise: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 629 Annihilating the Heavenly Yin, Seeking Aid, Divine Hand

Tianyin Mountain.

This ancient mountain gate, which originally belonged to the Tianyin tribe, is now shrouded in a thick, gray-white protective array. The array's light screen faintly displays the phantom of a Xuan Turtle, emanating a heart-palpitating aura of stability. This is the very thing that allows it to exert its Nascent Soul level defensive power—the "Xuan Turtle Coiling Mountain Array."

However, at the foot of the mountain, in a secluded rift where spiritual energy converges, three figures were quietly busy at work.

With focused attention, Fu Yongyao's hands moved like butterflies flitting among flowers, precisely striking the array flags that shimmered with silver light into the rock walls and the depths of the earth's veins.

Yu Qingru assisted from the side, harmonizing the spiritual energy of different attributes to ensure that the newly set up array blended perfectly with the surrounding environment and did not alert the outer array.

Fairy Tianyin stood quietly to one side, her divine sense acting like the most sophisticated radar, closely monitoring any unusual spiritual energy movement within Tianyin Mountain, providing early warning for setting up the formation.

The three worked together seamlessly, their movements swift and silent.

After a long while, Fu Yongyao unleashed the last main array flag. A silver array, roughly ten feet in diameter and with an extremely complex and exquisite structure, slowly lit up before quickly disappearing, leaving only barely perceptible spatial fluctuations.

Fu Yongyao let out a soft breath, wiped the fine sweat from her forehead, and a tired but satisfied smile appeared on her beautiful face:
"Success! The 'Primordial Void Breaking Formation' is complete. This formation can gather the power of the three of us and the earth's veins, compressing and condensing the energy to an extreme point. It is enough to work with Father's Breaking Formation to forcibly tear a temporary gap in the Xuan Turtle Coiling Mountain Formation!"

Yu Qingru nodded in approval:
"Yongyao, your mastery of formations has become increasingly profound. You were able to set up such a complex fourth-order barrier-breaking formation in such a short time without leaving a trace."

Fairy Tianyin nodded slightly and said succinctly, "Messages can be sent."

Fu Yongyao didn't delay any longer and immediately took out a specially made communication jade talisman and immersed his divine sense into it.

……

Fu Changsheng, far away in Tianlang Mountain, received his daughter's message almost simultaneously. He opened his slightly closed eyes, a glint of light flashing in them.

“Yongyao and the others are ready.” His calm voice echoed in the cave.

Liu Meizhen, Fu Molan, Fu Changli and the others who had been waiting nearby immediately perked up.

A sharp glint flashed in Liu Meizhen's eyes: "Husband, are you about to make a move against Tianyin Mountain?"

Fu Changsheng stood up, an invisible aura emanating from him: "The time has come. Meizhen, Molan, Changli, follow me. The rest of you, guard the mountain gate."

"Yes!" the three answered in unison, their fighting spirit rising.

Without much hesitation or mobilization, Fu Changsheng flicked his sleeves, and a streak of light carrying Liu Meizhen, Fu Molan, and Fu Changli rushed out of the cave, transforming into a stunning swan that tore through the sky, heading straight towards Tianyin Mountain!

This time, he will take advantage of the recent loss of the main force of the Vermilion Bird Tribe, the escape of the core of the Heavenly Yin Tribe, and the panic among those left behind, and remove this hard nail driven into the border of the Eastern Wilderness with lightning speed!
...

...

Inside Tianyin Mountain, the remaining cultivators of the Vermilion Bird Tribe were already like ants on a hot pan.

Seeing the murderous figures of the Fu family cultivators outside the mountain, especially the leader, a figure in a green robe with an aura as deep as the sea—Fu Changsheng, everyone's hearts sank to the bottom.

"Where are the chief's reinforcements? Why haven't they arrived yet!"

A hot-tempered Golden Core elder, his eyes bloodshot, roared, his voice filled with despair and resentment.

They had initially clung to a sliver of hope, hoping that Chief Chi Liao could bring in Nascent Soul cultivators from the royal court to turn the tide. But what awaited them was the devastating news of the Luo family's stronghold falling next door, the deaths of two colleagues, and the reality of the Fu family's army besieging the city!
“The next one is indeed us…” Another elder’s face turned ashen.

Just then, a strong spiritual energy fluctuation, completely different from the mountain-protecting array, suddenly came from somewhere at the foot of the mountain!
The Crimson Feather Elder, an expert in formations, paled drastically. After carefully sensing the situation with his divine sense, he exclaimed in shock:

"Not good! They've set up the 'Void-Breaking Boundary Array' at the foot of the mountain! This is an attempt to break through the entire formation by focusing on one point, using special methods to forcibly tear apart our Xuan Turtle Coiling Mountain Array! If they succeed, it's only a matter of time before the array is broken! We simply cannot rely on the advantage of the array to hold out for long!"

These words caused the already anxious people to collapse even more instantly!
"We can't hold on! Even the formation is unreliable, how can we fight? While the formation is still intact, let's retreat through the secret passage immediately!" An elder who had already decided to retreat shouted.

"Retreat? Where to retreat to? The tribe's main force has been wiped out, and going back will only result in a significant loss of strength! It would be better to rely on the remaining power of the great formation, wait for them to break in, and then fight to the death, taking a few Fu family Golden Core cultivators with us. That would be a way to fulfill our loyalty to the tribe!" The irritable elder's hair and beard stood on end, clearly indicating his intention to perish together with the enemy.

"Foolish! That's suicide! Fu Changsheng's methods are unpredictable; even the chieftain was defeated. What makes us think we can fight him? The right thing to do is to preserve our lives, retreat to the tribe, and then make further plans!"

Just as the group was arguing and morale was low—

Outside the mountain, Fu Changsheng had already taken out the Boundary-Breaking Talisman that emitted profound spatial fluctuations and an aura of destruction!
"That's... a boundary-breaking talisman!"

Elder Chi Ling's pupils shrank sharply. As a high-level array master, he knew better than anyone how terrifying this thing was. Especially with the support of the boundary-breaking array specially set up for it at the foot of the mountain, the defense of the Xuan Turtle Coiling Mountain Array would be greatly reduced in front of it, and it might even be instantly penetrated!

All the luck and all the arguments vanished the moment the talisman was seen!

"Go! Go now! It'll be too late if we wait any longer!"

Without the slightest hesitation, Elder Chi Ling shouted loudly, disregarding everyone else, and his figure transformed into a streak of light, shooting towards an extremely hidden escape route that had already been discovered.

Seeing this, the other two Golden Core elders no longer dared to have any thoughts of "loyalty." Their survival instinct overwhelmed everything, and they used their fastest escape techniques to follow Chi Ling in a hasty retreat, not even caring about their own teams.

With the leader gone, the team collapses and everyone scatters!

The Vermilion Bird Tribe cultivators who remained in the mountains were in an uproar when they saw their Golden Core elder flee without a fight!

"The elder has run away!"

"Run away!"

"The formation is about to break!"

Terrified screams erupted, and the once orderly formation collapsed instantly. Countless cultivators scattered like headless flies, trying to escape in all directions. The entire Tianyin Mountain was in chaos, with cries and screams filling the air.

And at that very moment—

"Boom——!!!"

A deafening roar resounded!

The entire Tianyin Mountain trembled violently! The thick, reassuring light barrier of the Xuan Turtle Coiling Mountain Array, under the combined impact of the Boundary Breaking Talisman and the Taixu Boundary Breaking Array, was like glass struck by a giant hammer, cracking at a visible speed. Then, in a blinding flash of light, it shattered into a huge hole!

Led by Fu Changsheng, the Fu family cultivators surged in through the breach like a tide!

However, the Vermilion Bird Tribe cultivators who tried to escape found to their despair that they had only taken a few steps when they crashed into a newly appeared, more solid and massive cyan light shield!

"Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!"

The sounds of impact rang out one after another, like moths drawn to a flame.

This protective barrier was actually a massive trapping formation secretly set up by Fu Yongyao, Yu Qingru, and Fairy Tianyin while they were breaking the formation! It had already turned the entire Tianyin Mountain into a giant cage!

...

...

Inside the dark and damp secret passage, several streaks of light were rushing forward at top speed. They were Chi Ling and several other Golden Core elders of the Vermilion Bird Tribe who had abandoned their formation and fled from Tianyin Mountain.

Behind them, the faint rumble of the array breaking could be heard, followed by muffled but still discernible screams and shouts of killing.

An elder, who had fallen slightly behind and whose face appeared somewhat aged, finally couldn't hold back any longer. As he flew away, he began to curse under his breath, his voice filled with regret and resentment:
"Damn it! Damn it all! If we had known the Fu family was so troublesome, we shouldn't have listened to the chief and provoked this evil star! Wouldn't it have been better to stay in the tribe? Why did we have to plot against Tianyin Mountain and the Luo family's stronghold! Now look what's happened... Our main force at the front is wiped out, our strongholds are lost one after another, and even Tianyin Mountain is gone... Our Vermilion Bird Tribe's foundation of thousands of years is now reduced to just a few crooked and worthless Golden Core cultivators like us. We're probably not even as good as some medium-sized tribes! How can we face our ancestors now!"

His words resonated with the other two elders, whose faces also showed the same regret and despair.

After this battle, the Vermilion Bird Tribe's strength plummeted, falling from one of the major tribes in the Eastern Wilderness to the bottom, its future uncertain, and it might even be swallowed up by other covetous forces.

"Enough! Crimson Flame!"

Elder Crimson Feather, flying at the very front, suddenly turned around and shouted sternly. Although his own heart was in turmoil, he had to calm everyone down at this moment:

"What's the use of saying all this now! It was a decision made by the chief. Who could have predicted that Fu Changsheng would have such heaven-defying methods? Hindsight is 20/20, it's no use!"

His sharp gaze swept over the others, his tone heavy and carrying a hint of warning:
"Now is not the time for complaints and regrets! We are now the core remaining strength of the tribe! We must unite, put aside past grievances, save our lives, and return safely to the tribe! Only when we return can the tribe have a glimmer of hope, a chance to stabilize the situation, and a possibility to recuperate!"

He took a deep breath, lowered his voice, but with an undeniable resolve:
"If we perish here again, or if we return as a disorganized mess, blaming each other... then what awaits our Vermilion Bird tribe is truly only disintegration like the Heavenly Yin tribe, or being divided and devoured by other tribes! Do you want to see that day?"

A brief silence fell over the secret passage, broken only by the rapid breathing of a few people and the whooshing sound of their flight. Chi Ling's words struck like a hammer, jolting the group from their fear and regret.

Yes, the tribe has very few Golden Core cultivators left, and these few are the last sparks of hope.

If internal strife continues, the Vermilion Bird tribe will truly be finished.

The group exchanged glances. Although their eyes were still filled with heaviness and unease, their desperate complaints were temporarily suppressed, replaced by an almost tragic will to survive and a sense of responsibility.

"Elder Chiling is right... Let's go back first and protect the tribe!"

"go!"

Without saying another word, the group focused their attention and increased their speed to the maximum.

...

...

At the end of the deep passage, a faint light could be seen, carrying the scent of plants and trees from the outside world.

That's where the escape route ends.

The streaking light abruptly stopped. Elder Chi Ling raised his hand to signal, and the others immediately held their breath and concealed their auras.

"Don't move yet!"

Chi Ling flipped her hand and took out an array plate engraved with intricate detection runes, carefully infusing it with spiritual power. The surface of the array plate shimmered with spiritual light, and invisible ripples spread out silently, carefully scanning the area within several miles of the exit.

Seeing this, Chi Yan's face showed impatience, and he transmitted his voice:
“Chi Ling, you’re being too cautious! We couldn’t even find this secret passage before. Chief Wu Yao of Tianyin only told us about it before he escaped. How could the Fu family have discovered it and set up an ambush so quickly? If we delay any longer, and the Fu family’s pursuers come through the passage, we’ll be trapped like turtles in a jar!”

Chi Ling didn't even raise her head, focusing entirely on sensing the feedback from the array plate, and coldly rebuked:
"Shut up! Chi Yan, better safe than sorry! The Fu family's methods are unpredictable, and Fu Changsheng is even more unfathomable. Who knows if they have tracking techniques we don't know about! How did the Luo family lose their stronghold? It was because of carelessness! Do you want to follow in Chi Hu's footsteps?"

Mentioning the tragic state of Chi Hu and the others at the Luo family stronghold, Elder Chi Yan's face paled, and he reluctantly shut his mouth, daring not to say another word.

After a moment, Elder Chi Ling carefully checked the information fed back by the array plate and found no hidden spiritual energy fluctuations or life force. He breathed a slight sigh of relief, but still dared not relax completely.

"It's safe outside for now." He put away the array plate, his expression still grave. "But we must not be careless! Form the 'Three Yangs Burning Wilderness Array'! Form a pincer movement and charge out together! If anything unexpected happens, immediately go all out and break through in three different directions!"

The other two elders, including Chi Yan who had been somewhat impatient earlier, now knew their lives were at stake and dared not delay. They immediately took their positions as instructed, and their auras instantly connected. Crimson spiritual energy surged around them, faintly forming a blazing triangular formation that combined offense and defense.

"go!"

With a low shout, Chi Ling and the three of them maintained their battle formation and, like three fiery meteors ready to be unleashed, suddenly rushed out of the passage exit!

The blinding sunlight instantly enveloped them, and the fresh air rushed into their lungs. The three of them instantly spread their divine senses like a tide, vigilantly scanning their surroundings—mountains, forests, streams… all was silent, and there was indeed no sign of any ambush.

"See! I told you..." Elder Chi Yan felt relieved upon seeing this and couldn't help but speak again.

"Silence! Get out of here at full speed!"

Chi Ling dared not relax for a moment. He immediately interrupted him, maintained the battle formation, chose a direction, and the three of them transformed into three streaks of crimson rainbows, fleeing away at top speed, not daring to linger here for even a moment longer.

Just now.

"boom!!!"

A deafening bang suddenly exploded!

Three attacks, each with distinct attributes yet equally terrifying—the Azure Dragon's Sky-Splitting Dragon Breath, the Skeleton Demon Vine's Death Entanglement, and the Chaos Beast's Chaos Impact—were precisely aimed at the weakest point of their "Three Yangs Burning Wilds Formation"!

This long-planned combined attack has already surpassed the scope of the Golden Core stage!

The blazing triangular battle formation couldn't even hold on for a moment. Like glass struck by a heavy hammer, its brilliance shattered instantly, and the formation's structure was completely destroyed! The violent energy backlash caused the three people in the formation to grunt in unison, their blood churning, and even their escape light momentarily halted.

"Oh no! An ambush!" Chi Ling was horrified and forcibly steadied herself.

As the dust settled, they saw the attackers clearly—these were none other than the several infamous fourth-tier peak spirit beasts under Fu Changsheng's command!
What terrified them even more was that a figure in a green robe appeared silently not far in front of them, like a ghost, with indifferent eyes. It was Fu Changsheng!

"Fu Changsheng?! You...you weren't breaking the formation at the front mountain?!" Elder Chi Yan exclaimed in disbelief.

In a flash, Chi Ling understood, her face turning ashen.
"That one on the front mountain is fake! It's an illusion or a stand-in! He anticipated we would escape from here, and his real body has been lying in wait all this time!"

Thinking of Fu Changsheng's terrifying strength in reversing the death of the fake infant chieftain, the three of them had no will to fight left.

"Split up and run! Every person who can get away is one more person!"

Chi Ling roared hoarsely, transforming into a streak of blood-red light as she unleashed a blood escape technique that drained her vital essence, fleeing desperately in one direction! Chi Yan and the other elder also followed suit without hesitation, each choosing a direction and fleeing for their lives!

"Want to leave now? It's too late."

Fu Changsheng's icy voice was like the pronouncement of death. A flash of lightning appeared in his hand, and the terrifying Heavenly Punishment Thunder Spear was already in his grasp! The spear was crackling with purple lightning, radiating a destructive aura; it was clearly a genuine Nascent Soul spiritual treasure!

His gaze locked onto Chi Yan, who was the fastest to escape, and he swung his arm!
"laugh--!"

The Thunder Spear transformed into a purple bolt of lightning that tore through space, arriving faster than anyone else and instantly catching up with Crimson Flame! The layers of protective spiritual light that Crimson Flame hastily erected were as fragile as paper and easily pierced by the Thunder Spear!
"Do not--!"

Chi Yan only had time to let out a short scream before the lightning spear pierced through his body!

Even more terrifyingly, the lightning spear did not fly out of his body. Instead, it generated a terrifying suction force, just like a living thing. The essence of the golden core and the spiritual power of flesh and blood in Chi Yan's body were instantly devoured by the lightning spear, like rivers flowing into the sea. His whole body withered up at a speed visible to the naked eye, turning into a charred and dried corpse, and fell from the sky!

All of this happened in the blink of an eye!

Just as Chi Ling lost her composure due to this horrific scene—

"Roar!"

The Azure Dragon let out a deafening dragon roar, activated its Cloud Dragon Tiger Wings divine power, and its speed soared to the extreme, like a streak of azure lightning, instantly catching up with the other elder!
The skeleton demon vines standing on the back of the azure dragon shot out like death spears, instantly turning the elder into a sieve. Even his golden core was corroded by the death energy of the demon vines, and he died instantly!
In the blink of an eye.

Of the three late-stage Golden Core elders, only Chi Ling remained, having escaped some distance using Blood Escape!
Chi Ling glanced back and saw the scene of his two companions dying instantly. He also saw that Qing Jiao's cold gaze had locked onto him. He knew that with Qing Jiao's terrifying speed, he had no chance of escaping!
"I surrender! Patriarch Fu, spare my life! I'm willing to offer my soul and acknowledge you as my master! I can guide you, and if you ever attack the Vermilion Bird Tribe, I'll be your inside man! I only beg for my life!"

Chi Ling could no longer care about the dignity of an elder or loyalty to the tribe. Faced with life and death, he chose the most humble way to survive. He suddenly stopped his escape light, turned around and knelt down in mid-air in the direction of Fu Changsheng, his hands trembling as he presented the ball of life soul light he had condensed.

Fu Changsheng flashed and appeared in front of him, looking at him with deep eyes.

Without further ado, he reached out and collected the wisp of life soul, and at the same time flicked his finger, sending a faint, almost invisible golden light into Chi Ling's dantian.

"The soul has been captured. This is the 'Heart-Eating Gu,' and life and death are in my hands. If you dare to betray me, the Gu worm will devour your heart, and your soul will be scattered." Fu Changsheng's voice was devoid of any emotion.

Chi Ling felt the weakness of having her life soul controlled, and the chilling aura of the lurking Gu worms within her dantian. Terrified, she trembled and immediately touched her head to the ground.

"I wouldn't dare! Your subordinate, Chi Ling, would never dare to betray your master!"

"What other valuable items are there inside Tianyin Mountain?" Fu Changsheng asked.

Chi Ling dared not conceal the truth and quickly replied:

"Reporting to the master, the chieftain of Tianyin, Wuyao, was cunning. He had already taken away most of the important supplies and inheritances when he left. Now, the most valuable thing in the mountains is the Tianyin Mountain Range itself, which is a fifth-order spiritual vein of extremely high quality! Secondly, there are the thousands of acres of spiritual fields that have been cultivated for many years, as well as the many rare spiritual plants planted on them."

Fu Changsheng nodded slightly; this was in line with his judgment.

He glanced at Chi Ling, then suddenly struck out with his palm. He didn't kill him, but a hidden force penetrated his body, damaging most of his meridians and leaving him severely injured.

"Pfft!" Chi Ling spat out a mouthful of blood, her aura instantly weakening. She looked at Fu Changsheng in confusion.

"With these wounds, flee back to the Vermilion Bird Tribe. Lie low and await my orders," Fu Changsheng said calmly.

Chi Ling instantly understood Fu Changsheng's intentions—a self-inflicted injury ruse, and a stab planted deep within the Vermilion Bird tribe! He felt bitter, but dared not disobey in the slightest. He struggled to his feet and staggered toward the Vermilion Bird tribe to "escape."

...

...

Tianyin Mountain, formerly the council hall of the Tianyin tribe, now has a new owner.

Fu Changsheng sat upright in the main seat, listening to his wife Liu Meizhen's clear and organized report:

"My lord, in this battle, our side suffered seventeen minor injuries, with no casualties. We killed and captured over three hundred cultivators from the Vermilion Bird Tribe, and seized various magical artifacts, pills, and materials, which have been preliminarily inventoried and stored. In addition, we received four thousand eight hundred acres of spiritual fields, of which about five hundred acres are of the third rank or above. The various spiritual plants are growing well, and we need to arrange for spiritual plant caretakers to take over and tend to them as soon as possible."

Liu Meizhen continued in a calm tone:
"As Chi Ling said, most of the high-level supplies and inherited books in the warehouse were taken away by the core members of the Tianyin Tribe when they evacuated. What remains are mostly basic resources and some bulky materials that are inconvenient to carry. The biggest gain so far is Tianyin Mountain itself, as well as this stable fifth-order spiritual vein."

Fu Changsheng nodded slightly, not surprised by the result:

"Meizhen, Tianyin Mountain has just been pacified, and everything is in need of rebuilding. You will be in full charge of the affairs here. You must appease the surrendered soldiers, allocate resources, and integrate the spiritual fields. You must restore order to this place as soon as possible and start producing resources for my Fu family."

"Rest assured, my lord, Meizhen will do her utmost." Liu Meizhen solemnly replied.

Fu Changsheng turned his gaze to Yu Qingru beside him:
"Qingru, you immediately lead the disciples of the Array Hall to repair the protective array of Tianyin Mountain. The foundation of this array is still intact, so repairing it is not difficult. The key is," he emphasized, "that we must completely transform its control core, discarding all the original control runes and backdoors, and constructing a new core that is completely controlled by my Fu family! We must not leave any hidden dangers, especially any possible tricks by the Vermilion Bird Tribe, which must be investigated and eliminated one by one!"

Yu Qingru was well-versed in formations and naturally understood the advantages and disadvantages involved. She nodded solemnly:
"I understand. I will personally oversee the process to ensure that the core of the new formation is flawless."

After arranging these two important matters, Fu Changsheng dismissed everyone except his daughter, Fu Yongyao:
"Yaoyao, the reason I am so eager to conquer Tianyin Mountain is not only to weaken the Vermilion Bird Tribe and expand the family's power, but also for a more important purpose."

"According to multiple sources, there is a teleportation array in Tianyin Mountain that leads to the South China Sea. The South China Sea is rich in resources and far away from the troublesome Eastern Wilderness. If we can open this array, it will be of great importance to both the development of our family and to provide a way out."

"This matter is of utmost importance and must not be leaked in the slightest. The search for the ancient teleportation array will be carried out secretly by you and me, father and daughter. Yongyao, you have the highest level of expertise in array formations and have broken through ancient barriers many times. This search will depend on you."

Fu Yongyao felt her father's trust and sense of responsibility, and her beautiful face was full of seriousness and determination: "Father, rest assured, I will do my best to find that teleportation array!"

...

...

Inside the quiet chamber of Fire Phoenix Valley in the back mountain of the Vermilion Bird Tribe.

Chi Liao sat cross-legged on the cold futon, his face ashen, his breath weak and feeble, even more listless than when he had just escaped from Fu Changsheng's clutches. The aftereffects of forcibly using the forbidden secret technique were like a malignant tumor, constantly eroding his foundation and lifespan.

Just then, a jade talisman engraved with tribal totems on his waist began to flash violently, and then with a "crack", several cracks appeared on its surface - a sign that the last trace of connection with the core formation of Tianyin Mountain had been severed!

Almost simultaneously, a trusted clansman scrambled into the quiet room, his voice trembling with sobs and utter terror:

"Chief! Something terrible has happened! We just... we just received Elder Chi Ling's last message, sent back at the cost of his life... Tianyin Mountain... Tianyin Mountain has been breached by the Fu family! Elders Chi Yan and Chi Gang have perished, and Elder Chi Ling has fled with serious injuries, his fate unknown! The clansmen who remained behind... have all been wiped out!"

"puff--!"

Chi Liao's body trembled violently, and he suddenly spat out a mouthful of dark blood, which even contained some fragments of internal organs! His already shaky aura plummeted to the bottom, and he seemed to have aged decades, with the last bit of light in his eyes completely dimming.

Tianyin Mountain... is lost too!

The Luo family's stronghold fell, which he could at least call a strategic abandonment. But Tianyin Mountain was half of their territory, acquired at the cost of almost all of their Golden Core cultivators! It was their greatest asset for a future comeback! And now, it had been so easily taken away by the Fu family!

It's over... The Suzaku tribe's foundation built over thousands of years is truly going to be destroyed in his hands!

Extreme anger, regret, and despair intertwined, burning his heart like poisonous fire, causing his injuries to worsen again.

He coughed violently, blood constantly spilling from the corner of his mouth, but amidst the desolation, a hint of madness and determination gradually gathered in his eyes.

Originally, he still held onto a sliver of hope, unwilling to beg that person, unwilling to show her his wretched and pathetic state. After all, back then…

But now, the tribe is on the verge of life and death. Besides her, who else can save the Vermilion Bird tribe? And who else can deal with that terrifying Fu Changsheng?
With trembling hands, he took out a phoenix-shaped jade pendant, long covered in dust and with an ancient design, from the deepest part of his personal storage bag. The pendant was made of ordinary material, but it contained a special divine soul imprint.

He took a deep breath, as if using all his strength, and poured a faint trace of his divine soul power into it, conveying an extremely weak yet sorrowful and desperate plea.

...

...

Valley of Miracle Doctors.

Inside the bamboo hut, the fragrance of medicine mingled with a faint, deathly aura.

The Master of Green Wood slowly withdrew his fingers from Zhou Jin's brow, the vibrant green light swirling around his fingertips dimming. A rare hint of weariness and regret appeared on his usually impassive face. For months, he had tried various secret techniques, including acupuncture, the Yi Wood Resurrection Technique, and even using his own essence as a catalyst, but the "Extinction Miasma" entrenched in Zhou Jin's very being remained stubbornly entrenched, like a malignant tumor.

He turned around, looked at the Ninth Prince and his chief steward who were standing guard beside him, their eyes sunken and their expressions haggard, and gently shook his head.

“Your Highness, Steward Zhou,” the doctor’s voice was slightly hoarse, “I… have done my best.”

The Ninth Prince swayed violently, his face turning deathly pale. His lips trembled, and he could barely utter a sound: "Holy Hand...you...what did you say?"

"The miasma that has afflicted this child has already invaded his internal organs and eroded the very source of his soul. It cannot be removed by ordinary medicines or even common secret techniques." The Azure Wood Saint Hand's tone was solemn. "If it were three to five years earlier, before his foundation was damaged and before the evil energy was deeply rooted in his soul, it might have been possible to forcibly remove it with the 'Life Creation Pill' combined with the Yi Wood Rejuvenation Technique. But now... the evil energy is already entangled with his life essence. Forcibly removing the evil would be tantamount to directly destroying his life force."

He looked at Zhou Jin, who was lying on the bed with a weak breath and a dazed mind, and sighed, "With golden needles and spiritual medicine, I can only extend his life by three to five years at most. Moreover, in the last days, he will gradually become weaker and lose his five senses, becoming like a withered tree... Let him finish his unfinished wishes while he still has some energy, so that he will not leave any regrets."

“Three to five years… regret…” the Ninth Prince murmured repeatedly, his heart aching.

He gazed at Zhou Jin's pale, peaceful face, as if she were merely asleep, but the image that flashed through his mind was perhaps that of his seventh brother, filled with a similar sense of resentment before his death. He abruptly looked up, his eyes bloodshot, and with a final, desperate hope, grabbed Qingmu Shengshou's sleeve:

"Holy Hand! Is there really no way at all? No matter how difficult, no matter what is needed, even if I have to give up everything and travel all over the land, I will find it for you! Please think of another way!"

The head steward also knelt down with a thud, tears streaming down his face: "Holy Doctor, please have mercy! The young master is still so young, the old master's lineage cannot end here!"

Aoki, the master healer, remained silent for a long time, watching the heartbroken expressions of the master and servant. He had practiced medicine for hundreds of years and witnessed countless partings and deaths, but each time he faced such desperate pleas, his heart was still moved.

He brushed aside the Ninth Prince's hand, walked to the window, gazed at the vibrant herb garden outside, and slowly spoke, his voice carrying a distant and ancient quality:

"There is a way... not entirely. There is indeed a heaven-defying secret technique in ancient books, called the 'Heaven-Stealing and Foundation-Seizing Secret Technique'."

The eyes of the Ninth Prince and his chief steward suddenly lit up with an astonishing light, as if drowning people had grasped at the last straw.

"This secret technique can forcibly strip away another person's near-perfect spiritual root and foundation, replacing the eroded and decayed foundation within the patient's body with its boundless vitality and primal power, thereby achieving the effect of 'destruction before construction.' Theoretically, it can indeed cure his miasma ailment, and may even turn misfortune into blessing, granting him greater potential."

"Strip someone of their Dao foundation?" The Ninth Prince was taken aback, then a resolute look flashed across his face. "What kind of Dao foundation do you need? I'll go find it right away! Whether it's buying assassins, or..."

Aoki Seishe turned around, interrupting him, her eyes sharp and cold:
"Your Highness, please wait. This method has three major hurdles, making it almost impossible to complete."

"First, not just any foundation will do. It must be the foundation of the 'Innate Five Elements Chaotic Dao Body'! This physique is the essence of heaven and earth, and it is extremely rare, appearing only once every ten thousand years. Those who possess this physique can advance their cultivation by leaps and bounds in a day. They are the Dao children that major sects have devoted their efforts to cultivating. How can they be easily moved?"

"Secondly, to perform this secret technique, one must use 'Nine Heavens Breath Soil' as the base, 'Jianmu Core' as the catalyst, and 'Chaos Origin Liquid' for cleansing... These spiritual materials are all legendary divine objects that have disappeared from the human world since ancient times. I have read through all the books in the valley and have only seen their names in fragmentary and rare copies."

"Thirdly, and also the greatest challenge." Qingmu Shengshou stared intently at the Ninth Prince with piercing eyes. "This secret technique goes against the heavens and is against the harmony of the world. Both the caster and the castee will suffer enormous karmic backlash and divine punishment. The chance of success is less than one in ten. Even if successful, the one stripped of their Dao foundation will perish in body and soul, while the one who receives the Dao foundation will live the rest of their life in endless karmic entanglement and inner demon tribulations. It can be said that they have embarked on a dead end that is intolerable to heaven and earth."

A deathly silence fell over the bamboo hut.

Nine Heavens Breath Soil, the Core of the Jianmu Tree, Chaos Origin Liquid… these names, existing only in ancient myths, were like heavy hammers, shattering the hopes that the Ninth Prince had just ignited. Not to mention the Chaos Dao Body, which was only found once every ten thousand years, and the terrifying success rate and terrible consequences.

This is not just as difficult as climbing to the sky, it's simply impossible!
The Ninth Prince staggered back a step, leaning against the cold wall. The light in his eyes dimmed completely, leaving only endless despair and emptiness. He understood that the Divine Hand had not offered him hope, but rather extinguished his last remaining thoughts.

Even the most skilled healers in the Divine Healer Valley bluntly stated that it was "impossible." Where else in this world can one find a chance of survival?

The head butler knelt on the ground, his body trembling slightly, before finally letting out a weak sob.

Aoki Seishe looked at them and sighed softly again: "Let's spend these last few years with him. Perhaps... returning to his hometown is the best ending for him."

He said no more, turned and left the bamboo hut, leaving this heavy despair to the Ninth Prince and his servant.

The Ninth Prince slowly slid down to the ground, gazing at Zhou Jin on the couch, two streams of hot tears finally streaming down his face uncontrollably. He murmured softly, as if speaking to Zhou Jin, yet also as if speaking to himself:

“Jin’er…Grand Uncle…I’m sorry to you…and I’m sorry to…Seventh Brother…”

...

...

After the master craftsman Aoki left, only a suffocating silence remained in the bamboo hut. The Ninth Prince sat there motionless for an unknown amount of time until a faint groan came from the bed.

"Grand Uncle..."

The Ninth Prince suddenly came to his senses and tightly grasped Zhou Jin's cold hand: "Jin'er, you're awake? How are you feeling? Don't be afraid, your royal uncle is here, your royal uncle will definitely..."

“Grand Uncle,” Zhou Jin gently interrupted him, forcing a faint smile, “there’s no need to comfort me. I vaguely heard what the Holy Hand said. Three to five years… is enough.”

He paused, his breathing becoming rapid, and after a moment he continued:
"Your nephew has no hope of achieving the Great Dao. These past few years have been nothing but a waste of time, exhausting your great-uncle and the two protectors. Now, your nephew only wishes…only wishes to return to my hometown of Wuzhou. My mother was seriously ill before, and I, being unfilial, failed to be by her side, causing her worry. And…Brother Kang…"

When her younger brother Zhou Kang was mentioned, Zhou Jin's eyes softened slightly, carrying a hint of barely perceptible guilt and longing:
“Since we parted when I was young, I have never heard from him again. I wonder if he is doing well in the Fu family. I want to go and see him and give him some of the things my grandfather left behind. He was intelligent and resilient from a young age, far surpassing me... Perhaps my grandfather's things will not be forgotten in his hands.”

Upon hearing Zhou Jin mention Zhou Kang, a glint of light flashed in the Ninth Prince's cloudy eyes.

Yes, Seventh Brother has another grandson!
The child who was sent to be raised by his maternal relatives, the Fu family.

Over the years, out of guilt towards his seventh brother, he deliberately avoided everything related to his seventh brother, and consequently ignored news about this other grand-nephew.

The Fu family... though a prominent local clan, is far from the capital. That child, fatherless and without support, is living under someone else's roof; his life will likely be difficult...

A strong sense of responsibility and a desire to make amends welled up within him. He couldn't let Seventh Brother's bloodline suffer any more injustice!
"Jin'er, you're right!" The Ninth Prince gripped Zhou Jin's hand tightly, his tone becoming firm. "You should go back and see. However, you won't go alone; your royal uncle will accompany you!"

Zhou Jin was taken aback, and quickly said, "No! My imperial uncle is of noble status and busy with state affairs, how could he possibly do this for his nephew..."

"What political affairs, what status, nothing is more important than family!" the Ninth Prince declared resolutely. "You are seriously ill and have traveled a long distance; how can your imperial grand-uncle be at ease? Besides, Kang'er... is also my own grand-nephew! He left home at a young age, and as his grand-uncle, I have never fulfilled even the slightest responsibility; I feel truly ashamed. This trip is a good opportunity to see how he is doing. If the Fu family treats him well, that's fine; but if there is the slightest neglect..."

A sharp glint flashed in the Ninth Prince's eyes. Though he didn't say it aloud, the imposing presence of someone accustomed to a high position was naturally revealed. He took a deep breath, his tone softening, yet carrying an undeniable resolve:
"It's settled then! Once you're feeling a bit better, we'll head to Wuzhou."

(End of this chapter)