Family Rise: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 488 Escaping Death, Condensing the Golden Core, The Mysterious Youth
In the inner courtyard of the Fu family mansion, amidst the carved beams and painted rafters, maids bustled about carrying brocade, spiritual fruits, and jade artifacts. The grand ceremony for the family's promotion to the sixth rank was imminent, and the mansion was adorned with lanterns and decorations, exuding joy and celebration.

Liu Meizhen stood atop the high pavilion, her delicate hand slightly raised, a cup of spiritual tea held between her fingertips as she carefully examined the ceremony's proceedings. Her features were exquisite, her temperament gentle and refined, and her moon-white brocade robe accentuated her dignified bearing.

suddenly--

"Buzz!"

The mask inside the storage bag trembled slightly.

A glint flashed in Liu Meizhen's eyes, but her face remained impassive. She simply waved her hand and said:

"You all get down."

After everyone had left, she made a hand seal with her fingertips, and the secret chamber's restrictions were instantly activated.

Step into the secret room.

With a flick of her wrist, a bronze mask appeared, its patterns flowing as if alive. She immersed her consciousness into it, and a plea for help flooded in like a tidal wave—

"Mistress! Granny Silver Flower is trying to possess me. I am currently trapped in the Xuanbing Cave in the Icefield Mountain in the far west. This person has the cultivation of the peak of the Golden Core stage and has set up a soul-stealing array. The day I form my Golden Core will be the day she tries to possess me!"

It's a Cymbidium goeringii!
Liu Meizhen suddenly stood up!
Mo Lan has been missing for many years, and it turns out that she was imprisoned and used as a vessel for possession!

"The far west... Granny Silver Flower... Peak Golden Core Stage..."

Every word signifies—this situation is extremely dangerous!

She took a deep breath, her emotions quickly settling into a sharp calm.

"My husband is currently in seclusion, attempting to break through to the Golden Core stage. He must not be disturbed."

“The family’s fighting strength is insufficient. Yongxuan is only at the early stage of Core Formation, far from being a match for them.”

"There is a barrier between the Great Zhou and the far west, preventing cultivators above the Golden Core stage from crossing it..."

She tapped her fingertips lightly on the table, her thoughts racing.

"Then, the only feasible method is—"

"Leverage the momentum!"

Fu Molan is a commander of the Zhenshi Division. She was arrested while carrying out a mission for the division. If the Zhenshi Division is willing to pressure the Immortal Alliance, the Immortal Alliance, as the ruler of the far west, will surely be able to intervene against Granny Yinhua!

With a slight thought, she caused the golden bell in her sleeve to sway gently.

Before long, Fu Yongrui rushed over: "Mother, what are your instructions?"

Liu Meizhen's eyes sharpened: "Yongrui, does the Dark Hall have any information about Granny Silver Flower in the far west?"

Fu Yongrui frowned and said in a deep voice, "This person is an old demon who has lived for nearly a thousand years. It is rumored that her lifespan is coming to an end and she has been searching for a suitable body to possess. Her cultivation level is... the peak of the Golden Core stage!"

A cold glint flashed in Liu Meizhen's eyes. Just as I thought!

Having gotten the answer she wanted, Liu Meizhen turned around and went to the clan's storeroom without saying a word.

Liu Meizhen cast a spell into the identity token, and a beam of light fell on the stone door. With a loud rumble, the clan storehouse's restrictions opened.

Her eyes flashed like lightning, quickly scanning the treasures in the treasury—

"Centennial Mystic Ice Marrow": A rare ice-type treasure from the far west, which can help those who cultivate the "Mystic Ice Technique" break through realms.

"Mysterious Yang Jade Talisman": A life-saving talisman containing the power of a single strike from a Golden Core cultivator, it is extremely precious.

"Nine-Turn Spirit-Concentrating Pill": It can stabilize the soul and has a restraining effect on possession techniques.

"Those people from the Zhenshi Division won't go all out unless they receive a substantial gift," she muttered to herself. After a moment of contemplation, she picked up a treasure that could move people's hearts.

Step out of the clan storehouse.

Fu Yongrui, who was waiting at the door, hesitated and said, "Mother! The celebration is imminent and Father is in seclusion. If you are also absent, the guests will probably think we are being negligent. Why don't I take over the task of going to Zhenshi Division?"

"No"

Liu Meizhen shook her head:
"The only way to get those people from Zhen Shi Si to come out is for your father and me to go there in person."

Besides, no matter how important the Sixth Rank celebration is, can it be more important than Mo Lan's life?
Fu Yongrui, caught off guard, replied with shame, "Mother is absolutely right—"

"Yongrui, remember, what happened today must not be heard by anyone else," Liu Meizhen quickly transmitted her voice. "If even a single word of this is leaked and Granny Yinhua finds out beforehand, Molan will surely die!"

Fu Yongrui shuddered, and finally lowered his head: "Your son understands."

Outside the mansion, a two-headed, emerald-eyed giant python, coiled like a small mountain, raised its head and flicked its tongue. Its scales gleamed coldly, and its vertical emerald pupils were menacing and terrifying.

Liu Meizhen lightly touched the python's head with her toes and gently patted it with her delicate hand: "Let's go!"

"Hiss—!" The giant python hissed, its body suddenly sprang up, and it instantly transformed into a streak of green light, soaring through the air!

The wind howled, Liu Meizhen's robes fluttered, and her eyes held only determination.

We arrived in Wuzhou.

Liu Meizhen then went straight to the Zhenshi Division, and at the same time, discreetly slipped a box to the guard at the gate:
"Liu Meizhen of the Fu family of Huizhou requests an audience with Lord Qiu Wanhu. Please trouble you to convey my request." Liu Meizhen emphasized the words "Lord Qiu Wanhu," and anyone with discerning eyes would know what was going on.

The captain took the box, scanned it with his divine sense, and then put it into his sleeve with satisfaction. He glanced at her again, his gaze lingering on the Fu family jade pendant for a moment before turning around and going inside to report.

Before long, the gate slowly opened, and a captain dressed in a black flying fish uniform walked out.

"Madam Fu, please come with me."

As Liu Meizhen passed through the numerous courtyards, her heart raced. The bluestone path gleamed from the rain, reflecting the towering black buildings on either side. The layout of the Zhenshi Division's government office was complex, exuding a somber atmosphere, a stark contrast to the elegant courtyard of the Fu family.

Liu Meizhen followed the captain through the last corridor, and suddenly the view opened up before her—

A magnificent obsidian palace stands tall, with nine bronze soul-suppressing bells hanging from its eaves, emitting a chilling hum even without wind. The stone steps in front of the palace are covered with dark red patterns, which upon closer inspection are actually dried blood seeping into the stone marrow to form an "evil-slaying array."

"Mrs. Fu, please."

The captain stopped before the Xuan Tie Hall, and Liu Meizhen straightened her wind-blown hair. The moment she stepped into the hall, the eighteen Netherworld Lamps suddenly burst into flames, illuminating the sinister face of the black-robed man seated behind the dragon bone table. Qiu Wanhu was toying with a Soul-Devouring Nail between his fingers, the sharp tip drawing blood from his palm only to heal instantly.

"What brings Madam Fu here so late at night?" Qiu Wanhu's voice was deep and resonant, carrying the authority of someone who had long held a high position.

Liu Meizhen curtsied, the storage bag hidden in her sleeve already slipping silently into her palm: "Lord Qiu, I apologize for disturbing you, but my Fu family member, Mo Lan, was imprisoned by Granny Yinhua while carrying out a mission for the Zhen Shi Si in the far west, and she intends to seize his Dao foundation."

“Grandma Silver Flower,” Qiu Wanhu pondered, “that old demon is indeed searching for a suitable body. However, the far west is under the jurisdiction of the Immortal Alliance, and it would be inappropriate for our Zhen Shi Si to interfere.”

Before he could finish speaking, Liu Meizhen presented the storage bag: "I know this matter is troublesome, so I have prepared this small gift to express my gratitude."

Qiu Wanhu swept his divine sense across the area, and the chilling aura of the Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow, the oppressive power of the Profound Yang Jade Talisman, and the medicinal fragrance of the Nine-Turn Spirit Condensation Pill all caused his pupils to shrink slightly. He calmly closed the storage bag and tapped his fingertips lightly three times on the table.

"Commander Fu is a pillar of our Zhenshi Division. How could I stand idly by in this peril? Madam Fu, please rest assured, I will immediately write to the Immortal Alliance, instructing them to rescue him at all costs!"

Seeing his earnest words yet flickering eyes, Liu Meizhen bowed again: "Thank you for your kindness, Lord Qiu. When will we be able to hear back about this matter at the earliest?"

"The journey to the far west is long, taking at least several months," Qiu Wanhu stroked his short beard. "Madam Fu, please return to the manor and wait. I will immediately send someone to inform you as soon as there is news."

Several months!

Liu Meizhen's heart tightened. She feared Mo Lan wouldn't be able to wait that long: "Lord Li, could you expedite this? Mo Lan's situation is critical."

"Those old fogies in the Immortal Alliance have too many rules. But considering that Commander Fu is serving the court, I will do my best."

After Liu Meizhen left.

Just as Qiu Wanhu picked up his brush and dipped it in ink, a soft laugh suddenly came from outside the hall.

"Brother Qiu, are you still working so hard late at night?"

Accompanied by the scent of sandalwood, Li Wanhu strode into the hall with his hands behind his back. He wore a crimson brocade robe, with a blood-red jade pendant hanging at his waist, and each step he took rippled with spiritual pressure. His well-maintained face carried a warm smile, but the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes concealed a venomous coldness.

Qiu Wanhu paused, ink spreading across the memorial: "Lord Li has arrived at the perfect time. Commander Fu, Fu Molan, has encountered danger in the far west."

“What a coincidence.” Li Wanhu’s fingertips brushed against the paperweight on the table, and the bronze taotie-shaped decoration suddenly opened its eyes and bared its teeth. “Mo Lan is indeed a commander under my command. I will take care of this matter; there’s no need to trouble Brother Qiu.”

The Zhenshi Division has always operated with each member fulfilling their specific duties.

Qiu Wanhu was delighted to have some free time and immediately laughed:
"In that case, this case will fall to Brother Li."

After Zheng Wanhu left, Li Wanhu put away his smile and said, "Fu Changsheng, Fu Changsheng, your wife is quite clever. She even knew how to bypass me. Unfortunately, I am one step ahead."

With a flick of his finger, a sound transmission talisman flew out and disappeared into the void.

"Go, send a message to 'Grandma Silver Flower' in the far west—"

"Tell her that the Fu family has discovered her plan and that she should... take action as soon as possible."

As she left Zhenshisi, Liu Meizhen glanced back at the towering black gatehouse.

These high-ranking officials of the imperial court certainly cannot be trusted entirely.

She had to find another way.

On the way back, the rain gradually subsided, but Liu Meizhen's mood grew even heavier. As soon as the two-headed, green-eyed giant python entered the gates of Huizhou, Fu Yongrui rushed to greet it, his face showing rare excitement.

"Mother, Grandpa Yu has finished his seclusion and has been teleported over from Yunshan County. He's in the kitchen!"

Liu Meizhen's heart skipped a beat.

Master Yu—the mysterious old man who has been sleeping in the backyard of the Fu family for decades.

My husband was decades ago.

Before going into seclusion, he said meaningfully, "If you encounter a matter of life and death, you can seek help from your uncle."

Mo Lan is saved!
After passing through several courtyards, Liu Meizhen arrived at an inconspicuous little house next to the kitchen. Faintly, the sound of humming a tune could be heard from inside, along with a rich aroma of wine.

Pushing open the door, one sees an old man with white hair and beard, drinking heartily from a wine jar. His clothes are tattered, and his face is crisscrossed with wrinkles, but his eyes are surprisingly bright, like two cold stars in the dim room.

“Uncle Yu,” Liu Meizhen called softly.

The old man looked up, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his hazy, drunken eyes: "Little Liu, why do you look so worried? Has something happened?"

After hesitating for a moment, Liu Meizhen recounted Fu Molan's ordeal in detail, including her journey to Zhenshi Division for help.

After listening, Master Yu tilted his head back and took a swig of wine: "Hmph, those lackeys of the imperial court, if you actually believe their nonsense, just wait to collect that girl Mo Lan's corpse!"

and.

Liu Meizhen's actions.

I'm afraid they'll mostly do more harm than good!
After Liu Meizhen realized what was happening, her face turned pale.

She had long suspected something, but seeking help from the imperial court was the only path the Fu family could take before. Now that Master Yu had pointed it out, she felt the situation was even more critical.

"Please, Uncle Yu, save Mo Lan!" She suddenly knelt down, her forehead touching the ground.

Master Yu, still drunk, waved his hand dismissively, "Get up, get up, this old man hates this nonsense." He swayed to his feet, the drunkenness in his eyes instantly vanishing. "That girl, Mo Lan, I watched her embark on the path of immortality. Now that she's in trouble, it's only natural that I have to go."

Liu Meizhen looked up and saw Uncle Yu's hunched figure suddenly straighten, an indescribable aura emanating from him. The candlelight in the room flickered without wind, casting shadows on his face, making him appear like a god or demon.

"Uncle Yu, you..." She was so shocked she couldn't speak.

Master Yu instantly reverted to his drunken state, grinning to reveal a few yellow teeth. "Prepare ten jars of 'Drunken Immortal Brew' for me. I can't travel without filling my stomach."

Liu Meizhen nodded solemnly. Suddenly remembering something, she took out a jade slip from her sleeve: "This is a map of the Icefield Mountains attached to Mo Lan's message; it might be useful."

Master Yu stuffed the jade slip into his tattered clothes. "Don't worry, I'll bring Mo Lan back."

Not long after, Master Yu quietly left the Fu residence.

Icefield Mountain.

In the howling winds of the Xuanbing Cave, inside the secret chamber of the Soul-Stealing Array.

The human skin talisman in Granny Silver Flower's arms trembled violently, its blood-red light intensifying. Then, with a hiss, it burst into flames, transforming into a wisp of black smoke that condensed in mid-air into several lines of grotesque blood-red characters:
"The Fu family already knows. There's no time to lose; we must seize the body immediately."

The handwriting was deep red, cold and sharp as if carved by a knife, and vanished in an instant.

"She contacted the outside world?!"

Granny Yinhua's expression changed drastically. Her withered hands suddenly formed a hand seal, and a faint spiritual energy fluctuation remained in the air, mixed with a strange yet familiar aura—the icy coldness unique to the Cold Soul Breaking Technique.

"As expected, the restrictions were activated."

Her figure moved like a ghost towards the entrance, her withered fingers tracing the edge of the stone door, her fingertips feeling a lingering chill. Although the barrier had closed again, the runes, corroded by the frost, still bore faint cracks.

"Shuzhen...no, that bitch Fu Molan actually discovered this place and even awakened her memories!"

A sinister glint flashed in the old woman's eyes, but a strange smile curled at the corner of her lips. She slowly turned around, her wide sleeves fluttering without wind, and a faint blood-red mist began to emanate from her.

In the secluded room, Fu Molan closed her eyes and pretended to sleep, her breathing steady, but her heart was pounding like a drum.

"Click——"

A very light footstep sounded.

Her eyelashes trembled slightly, and her fingertips tightened subtly.

"Little girl, you acted quite well."

—The voice has changed!
It was no longer the hoarse old woman's voice, but a clear, cold voice like a young girl's, yet carrying a sinister, bone-chilling quality.

Fu Molan suddenly opened her eyes, her blood freezing instantly—

Before them stood a stunningly beautiful woman with silver hair that cascaded down her back. Her skin was as white as snow, her lips as red as cinnabar, and a crystalline mark between her brows gleamed with a chilling light.

What's most captivating are those heterochromatic eyes—the left eye is a deep blue like the ocean, and the right eye is scarlet like a blood moon.

"What? Don't you recognize me?" The woman chuckled, but her eyes were devoid of any warmth.

Granny Silver Flower!

—This is her true face!

Fu Molan's heart pounded, her throat tightened, and an unprecedented sense of crisis swept over her.

"This body has been unused for three hundred years." Granny Silver Flower slowly raised her hand, a blood-red light flashing at her fingertips. "Today, I will open your eyes."

"Shh-!"

Seven streaks of blood-red light shot out like venomous snakes, instantly piercing into the location of the Cold Marrow Nails within Fu Molan's body!

"what--!"

The excruciating pain felt like a thousand needles piercing her soul; her whole body convulsed, her spiritual energy froze instantly, and she even stopped breathing.

"You think... I can't notice your little tricks?" Granny Yinhua leaned down and pinched her chin with her icy fingers.

It was discovered!

Fu Molan was shocked!
The pain was so intense that his vision blurred and blood gushed from his throat, but he clenched his teeth tightly, refusing to utter a single groan.

Granny Silver Flower sneered, and with a flick of her sleeve, the blood-red array on the ground suddenly lit up. Countless blood patterns writhed like living things, dragging her into the center of the array.

"Of all the vessels throughout history, your ice spirit root is the most perfect." She made a hand seal with her fingertips, her voice growing colder, "Unfortunately... you are too restless."

Incantation begins! Array shifts!
"A single nail locks the soul!"

"Two nails solidify the soul!"

"Three nails..."

With each incantation, Fu Molan felt the cold marrow nails burning like branding irons, her internal organs being torn apart inch by inch, the pain almost causing her to faint.

She clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug deep into her palms, and drops of blood fell.

—It's not time yet…

—Just one more moment… At the last moment, she suddenly raised her eyes, a cold smile slowly curving her lips.

"Grandma Silver Flower..." Her voice was hoarse, yet strangely calm, "Are you sure... who is being possessed right now?"

Grandma Yinhua's pupils suddenly contracted!

"boom--!"

Blood exploded, Fu Molan's body suddenly twisted, and silver threads burst out from under her skin—Thousand Machines!

Hidden runes suddenly lit up on the seven Frost Marrow Nails!
"A substitute puppet?!" Granny Silver Flower suddenly took a step back, her face instantly turning ashen.

She fell for their trap!
In the shadows, the real Fu Molan slowly stepped out of the ice mirror, seven blood-red threads wrapped around her fingertips, her gaze as cold as a blade.

Granny Silver Flower then realized that the red light of the entire Soul-Stealing Array was being frantically absorbed by the puppets. Even more terrifying, the blood-red patterns began to erode her magical power in the opposite direction of the array!

"You bitch!"

Granny Silver Flower screamed shrilly, her body erupting with blinding blood light as she tried to break free. But the formation was out of control, and her own life essence had become a cage trapping her.

Fu Molan's fingers flew, manipulating the puppet to form complex hand seals:

"How about using the Soul-Stealing Spell you taught me on yourself?"

Suddenly, the puppet opened its arms, and seven beams of blood-red light shot out from the location of the Frost Marrow Nails, weaving into a large net that enveloped Granny Silver Flower's soul. Every pattern on the net was clearly a modified puppet restriction.

Granny Yinhua dashed left and right, her stunningly beautiful face constantly shifting between that of a young girl and an old woman.

She suddenly let out a sinister laugh and pounced on the puppet:
"Do you think my nearly thousand years of cultivation will be defeated by such a petty trick as yours?"

Granny Silver Flower suddenly transformed into thousands of blood-red threads, which then eroded the puppet's restrictions in the opposite direction! Dense ancient demonic runes appeared on those blood-red threads, and with each rune that lit up, a section of the puppet's silver thread was dyed scarlet.

"Little girl, watch closely—" Granny Silver Flower's voice rang out from all directions, "This is the true 'Blood Puppet Technique'!"

The entire puppet suddenly convulsed violently, and the seven Frost Marrow Nails burst forth with blinding blood light. Fu Molan groaned, and several cracks appeared on the core of the puppet in her hand—those Frost Marrow Nails, nourished by the Profound Yin Blood Fiend for three hundred years, had now become the perfect springboard for Granny Silver Flower to possess another body!

A blood-red storm suddenly erupted within the secret chamber, and the magic array patterns that had been resisting the invasion began to peel away from the walls. Fu Molan realized with alarm that her connection with her substitute was being violently altered; twisted demonic runes had somehow infiltrated the carefully arranged puppet runes.

"You think I didn't notice the anomaly of the Frost Marrow Nails?" Granny Silver Flower's true form reshaped from the blood mist, her plain white dress transformed into a scarlet wedding gown. "Three hundred years ago, when I used this technique against Old Ghost Iron, your Fu family ancestor was still playing in the mud!"

She suddenly bit her tongue, spitting a mouthful of blood onto the puppet's crown. The substitute puppet's eyes instantly turned into two blood moons, and it gripped Fu Molan's throat!

The ground formation suddenly reversed, and all the blood-red patterns coiled around Fu Molan's limbs like living snakes. Granny Yinhua used the Seven Star Steps, each step leaving a burning blood-red footprint in the void:

"Nine Netherworlds, the Soul Flame Burns the Form!"

The three souls leave the body, and the seven spirits depart from the meridians!
I have made a pact with blood, and a spell as my guide.
Break through their sea of ​​consciousness, shatter their spiritual roots!
Demonic runes lock the soul, and piercing nails pierce the heart!
The old soul perishes, the new soul returns!

With each incantation uttered, blood erupted from the acupoints corresponding to Fu Molan's body. Her fingers, which were attempting to form hand seals, were frozen by the suddenly congealed blood, and the incantation surging in her throat turned into ice shards and fell—Grandma Silver Flower had actually used her own water elemental root characteristic to counterattack!
"Now, it's time to end it."

"Seize the body!"

Granny Silver Flower pressed her five fingers into a claw towards Fu Molan's crown, a swirling crimson vortex appearing in her palm. Fu Molan's pupils began to dilate, and the last thing she saw was the phantom of the nine-tiered Soul Refining Tower appearing in Granny Silver Flower's right bloodshot eye.
Fu Molan's consciousness gradually blurred amidst the excruciating pain. The blood-red demonic patterns of Granny Silver Flower coiled around her soul like venomous snakes, as if threatening to devour her completely. Her vision was stained crimson, and Granny Silver Flower's whispers, both alluring and sinister, echoed in her ears:

"Little girl, I'll accept your ice spirit root..."

Just as she was about to fall into endless darkness—

"boom--!!!"

The dome of the secret chamber exploded, and rubble rained down like a storm! A crazed figure descended amidst the dust and smoke, his bronze longsword carrying the force of splitting the heavens, slashing straight at Granny Silver Flower!

"You old hag, what kind of skill is it to bully the younger generation? Come, come, have a drink with this old man!"

The Fu family's reinforcements have arrived so quickly!

Grandma Yinhua narrowed her eyes.

The man before them was dressed in rags, with a gourd of wine hanging from his waist, looking every bit like a mad beggar. Yet, in his murky eyes, a sharp glint flashed that would chill even a Golden Core cultivator to the bone!
Granny Silver Flower's pupils constricted sharply, not daring to underestimate her. Her figure retreated like a phantom, and at the same time, an ice crystal mirror flew out from her sleeve—the "Mysterious Nether Mirror," a water-type quasi-spiritual treasure that she had nurtured for hundreds of years! The mirror flashed, and a cold wave surged forth, causing the temperature of the entire secret chamber to plummet, and thick frost to condense on the ground!

"clang--!"

The bronze longsword struck the mirror surface, its energy surging, and the sound of ice crystals shattering echoed endlessly! Granny Silver Flower sneered, her fingers forming a hand seal, and she uttered a low shout:
"Jiuyou Xuanshui Ning!"

In an instant, nine jet-black water dragons surged from the mirror, each containing extreme cold power, freezing the air wherever they passed! This was a high-level water-based spiritual technique; once touched by the Xuan Water, the physical body would be instantly frozen, making it difficult even for a Golden Core cultivator to escape!

"Hahaha! Fine wine!" Master Yu didn't dodge or evade, tilted his head back and gulped down a mouthful of strong liquor, then suddenly spat it out—

"call--!"

The wine transformed into a rain of fire, burning with intense "Azure Lotus Dao Fire," which collided violently with the Nine Nether Profound Water! The clash between water and fire caused a towering mist to rise from the sealed chamber, instantly blurring the view!

Granny Silver Flower's eyes turned cold. She formed a hand seal with her left hand and chanted in a low voice, "Nether Spring Blood Sacrifice - Manifestation of Dharma Form!"

She actually used a secret technique, briefly burning her essence blood, causing her aura to surge wildly! The pressure of the peak Golden Core stage increased dramatically, and in an instant, she broke through to the Nascent Soul stage!
"You old madman, you have every right to be proud that you could force me to use a secret technique!" Her voice was icy, and she was surrounded by a deep blue water spirit essence, like a demon god emerging from the deep sea!
She raised her right hand, and the Xuanming Mirror floated in the air, its reflection showing a vast, illusory ocean.

"The Mysterious Netherworld Overturns - Suppresses!"

In an instant, the entire secret chamber seemed to be dragged into the deep sea, with endless water pressure crashing down! The ground collapsed, the walls crumbled, and even Master Yu's protective aura was squeezed and creaked!

"Nascent Soul Realm? Interesting!" Master Yu grinned, his eyes blazing with fighting spirit. He no longer concealed his presence, his aura suddenly erupting, and the rusty bronze sword trembled violently, the dragon and tiger Dao patterns on its blade fully reviving!
"In my drunken stupor, I pick up a lamp to examine my sword—"

He tilted his head back and gulped down the wine in the pot. His steps were unsteady, but he was in harmony with the rhythm of nature. His figure flickered like a phantom and actually went upstream against the raging water pressure!

"When I'm awake, I will slay all the demons under heaven!"

As the last word fell, the long sword in his hand suddenly burst forth with a dazzling blue light, its momentum like a celestial river pouring down, unstoppable as it slashed towards Granny Silver Flower!

"Azure Dragon Soul Shattering Slash!!!"

"boom--!!!"

The blade collided with the Xuanming Mirror, causing the entire secret chamber to collapse completely! Granny Silver Flower groaned, blood spilling from the corner of her mouth. Her Nascent Soul realm, enhanced by secret techniques, had actually been forced back by this single strike!

"How is this possible?!" A hint of horror finally appeared in her eyes. "Just who is this old madman?"

She stared intently at Master Yu and noticed a sealed wound on his chest that was bleeding. Clearly, the injury had not yet healed, but even so, she was still no match for him!

"Go!" Granny Silver Flower made a decisive move, her figure suddenly transforming into a dark blue water shadow, using the water-based escape technique "Mysterious Water Without Trace", and disappearing from the spot in an instant.

Master Yu did not pursue, but staggered and coughed up a mouthful of blood. He looked down at the ruptured seal wound on his chest and smiled bitterly:

"Tsk, the little bit of magic power I just recovered has been completely used up by this crazy old woman..."

He turned to look at the unconscious Fu Molan, checked her pulse, and breathed a sigh of relief: "Thankfully, her spirit is intact."

A beam of blue light entered her brow, temporarily suppressing the cold energy within her body.

"Little girl, you're really tough..." He grinned, then started coughing violently.

He hoisted Fu Molan onto his shoulder, and staggered out through the ruins, humming that drunken song as he walked:
"Do not laugh at me, drunk and lying on the battlefield... How many have returned from ancient battles..."

"waste!"

Li Wanhu slammed his fist on the jade table in front of him, shattering it. Shards flew everywhere, and a sharp spiritual pressure swept out, causing the restrictive runes in the secret chamber to light up and emit a piercing buzz. His face was terrifyingly gloomy, and the cinnabar mole between his eyebrows was eerily red, as if it might drip blood at any moment.

"That old hag Yinhua..." he spat out the words through gritted teeth, his fingers cracking as he clenched his fists, "She couldn't even handle a mere girl at the Purple Mansion Realm? And she was kidnapped by a mysterious person?!"

He suddenly stood up, and as his sleeves billowed, a chilling killing intent spread out, even dimming the candlelight.

—It was he who personally sent Fu Molan to Qiuyue Nunnery.

—It was he who deliberately revealed her identity, making her the target of public criticism.

It was also he who secretly hinted to Granny Yinhua to possess Fu Molan's body, attempting to use this old witch to make Fu Molan "disappear" silently.

"But Fu Molan is still alive..."

Although he was a Golden Core cultivator and didn't need to care about such a junior Purple Mansion cultivator, the thought of that short-lived Fu Changsheng made him feel uneasy.

"No, Fu Molan absolutely cannot live!"

As long as the dead cannot testify.

Then no one can do anything to him!
Jinzhou, the territory of the Cao family.

A sudden gust of wind arose, and dark clouds loomed over the city!
Above the Cao family ancestral land, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth converged wildly, transforming into a massive vortex of spiritual energy, like the heavens opening a cold, indifferent eye. At the center of the vortex, lightning flickered, and a deep rumble, like the roar of an ancient beast, shook the surrounding area.

In the forbidden chamber, after Cao Xiang'er overcame her inner demons, she suddenly opened her eyes, and at this moment, she was surrounded by a glass-like halo.

At her dantian, a golden pill the size of a longan slowly rotated, with six natural Dao patterns flowing across its surface as if they were alive.

at the same time.

A deafening roar followed.

The once cloudless sky suddenly became turbulent, and a cloud of purple energy shot into the sky from the direction of the Cao family's forbidden area, transforming into a dazzling golden lotus thousands of feet high. As the lotus petals unfolded, six rays of light, like an inverted Milky Way, illuminated the entire Cao family territory, making it appear like a dream.

"A sixth-grade Golden Core?!"

The teacup in the hands of the Cao family's eldest elder clattered to the ground. This powerful cultivator at the late Golden Core stage trembled with excitement. He stared intently at the seven beams of light, his cloudy old eyes instantly welling up with tears.

"Our Cao family is finally about to produce a prodigy!"

"Our ancestors have shown their power!"

"Next, as long as Xiang'er successfully withstands the tribulation lightning, there is hope for her to reach the Nascent Soul stage in the future!"

The voice just fell.

The Cao family members all stood outside the protective mountain formation, their expressions solemn as they gazed at the sky. The Cao patriarch gripped his staff tightly, his knuckles white, his white beard whipped about by the fierce wind, his eyes filled with worry.

"A sixth-grade Golden Core tribulation... Can Xiang'er withstand it?"

"boom--!!!"

The first bolt of tribulation lightning tore through the sky, its blinding silver light descending like an angry dragon, striking fiercely towards Cao Xiang'er's secluded cultivation cave. The entire mountain trembled violently, the protective array's light barrier fluctuated wildly, and the runes flickered uncertainly.

"The first attack is already this fierce?!" The younger generation of the Cao family disciples turned pale, and some even staggered backward, their minds shaken by the terrifying power of heaven and earth.

Cao Xiang'er sat cross-legged in the center of the Spirit Gathering Array, her body radiating spiritual light like flames. A phantom golden core nascent form floated above her head, its patterns flowing like stars, clearly the image of a sixth-grade golden core!

The moment the lightning struck, she suddenly opened her eyes, her sword intent surging. With a flick of her jade hand, a streak of azure sword light rose against the heavens and collided violently with the lightning!

"boom--!!!"

The shockwave exploded, cracking the cave walls inch by inch. A trickle of blood escaped from Cao Xiang'er's lips, but her fighting spirit burned even brighter: "A mere tribulation lightning dares to obstruct my path?!"

"Xiang'er is injured!" Clan Chief Cao took a step forward, his withered hand pressing firmly on the array plate, wishing he could rush in and help immediately.

"Calm down!" the Grand Elder hissed, his voice hoarse. "She must bear the tribulation herself. If others interfere, it will only make the heavenly punishment more severe!"

Though he said this, his hand trembled slightly within his sleeve—the Cao family hadn't produced a sixth-grade Golden Core in nearly a thousand years. If Xiang'er succeeded, the Cao family would produce another prodigy! But if she failed…

The second and third bolts of tribulation lightning struck down one after another, each one more violent than the last!
Cao Xiang'er's robes were tattered, and her snow-white skin was covered in scorch marks, yet her golden core grew even more solid amidst the lightning. The fourth tribulation lightning transformed into crimson fire lightning, and a faint phantom of a Vermilion Bird appeared, swooping down with a piercing cry!

"It's the Heart-Burning Fiery Thunder!" an elder exclaimed in horror. "This thunder specifically targets the Dao heart, Xiang'er—"

Before she could finish speaking, Cao Xiang'er let out a long howl, and a bronze ancient lamp suddenly flew out from between her eyebrows. The lamp flame surged and transformed into a blue lotus that held up the fire and thunder!

"The Azure Lotus Heart-Protecting Lamp?! It's the Ancestor's life-saving treasure... and he actually bestowed it upon Xiang'er!"

The moment the ninth tribulation lightning struck, the entire sky seemed to be torn in two! A bolt of purple-gold divine lightning, like a sword of heavenly punishment, pierced straight at Cao Xiang'er's golden core with destructive force!
The Cao family members held their breath; only the rumble of thunder could be heard in the heavens and earth.

"boom!!!"

As the smoke and dust cleared, a figure staggered to her feet. Cao Xiang'er was covered in blood, but the golden core above her head shone brightly, its six runes like the Big Dipper hanging in the sky, illuminating the entire Cao family territory!

"It's done... a sixth-grade Golden Core! It's done!" The Cao family erupted in cheers.

Chief Cao laughed loudly, tears welling in his eyes, "May Heaven bless my Cao family!"

“Wow—”

The instant the calamity clouds dispersed, a clear light suddenly descended from the heavens, like a cascading Milky Way, transforming into a sky full of glistening dew. These raindrops were no ordinary water; each one shimmered with seven-colored light and contained the essence of the Dao. The moment they fell, the spiritual energy concentration of the entire Cao family's territory surged!

"Sweet dew falls from the heavens! It is a blessing from the Great Dao!"

The elder suddenly looked up, his aged face trembling with excitement. He stretched out his withered palm, and a drop of sweet dew fell into his palm, transforming into a wisp of pure innate spiritual energy that flowed through his meridians and throughout his body, causing his cultivation, which had stagnated for many years, to subtly loosen!
Where the sweet dew falls, withered trees come back to life, and medicinal herbs grow wildly.

Suddenly, a "Nine-Heart Begonia" in the clan, which had not bloomed for a hundred years, burst into bloom, with nine golden flowers opening simultaneously. The fragrance of the flowers condensed into a tangible spiritual mist, enveloping the entire Cao family. A young disciple accidentally inhaled a breath of it and instantly broke through a minor cultivation level, overjoyed and dancing with delight.

Cao Xiang'er stood in the void.

The dew fell on her body and produced a clear, jade-like sound, washing away the wounds she had suffered during her tribulation. Even her tattered Taoist robe was repaired on its own, radiating a more dazzling spiritual light than before.

"Quickly! All disciples, sit cross-legged and meditate!" Clan Chief Cao's white beard trembled with excitement, his voice trembling. "This is a blessing from the Great Dao, something that cannot be sought after!"

The entire Cao family, young and old, sat down to meditate on the spot.

Dewdrops fell on the brows of Foundation Establishment disciples, helping them to open their sea of ​​consciousness; they landed on the dantian of Golden Core elders, helping them to refine their magical power. Even the guardian spirit beasts roared to the sky, frolicking and rolling in the rain, their scales and feathers shining even brighter.

Even more miraculously, the dew did not dissipate upon landing, but instead transformed into countless tiny golden runes, imprinting themselves on the bricks and tiles of the Cao family's estate. The spiritual energy channels of the entire clan's territory spontaneously reorganized, and the power of the mountain-protecting array was increased considerably out of nowhere!
Cao Xiang'er closed her eyes and felt the sweet dew cleansing her, when suddenly she felt a profound scripture appear in her sea of ​​consciousness.

She had a sudden inspiration, and gently opened her lips to utter the first syllable. The entire shower of heavenly dew suddenly stopped, and then, like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea, it all disappeared into her golden elixir!

"boom!"

The sixth-grade Golden Core underwent another transformation, its patterns evolving into an image of the sun and moon shining together, its aura becoming three times more refined than before. The Cao family members stared in disbelief, even the several Golden Core elders couldn't help but bow – this was a sign of the Great Dao's approval, meaning Cao Xiang'er's future achievements might far exceed their imagination!
Three quarters of an hour later, the sweet dew gradually stopped.

The Cao family's territory was completely renewed, with spiritual energy like mist that lingered for a long time. Every member of the clan had a rosy glow on their face, and their cultivation had all improved.

Cao Family Mountain Gate.

"Halt! This is Cao family territory; unauthorized personnel are prohibited from entering!"

The disciple guarding the mountain shouted coldly, brandishing his long spear to block the figure in green robes before the mountain gate. Today was a grand celebration for the Cao family, with the birth of a sixth-grade Golden Core cultivator and the arrival of heavenly dew. The Cao family was on high alert; how could they allow outsiders to trespass?
The man merely smiled slightly, his expression calm, seemingly oblivious to the wariness before him. He wore a simple blue robe, with a sheathless iron sword hanging at his waist, its blade weathered and worn. Yet, this seemingly ordinary young man, standing there, inexplicably exuded a mountain-like sense of steadfastness.

“I am but a nobody, and it is indeed inappropriate for me to trespass into your esteemed residence.” He bowed respectfully, his tone calm. “However… if I were to state my name, perhaps I could gain an audience with Senior Cao Xiang’er.”

The disciple guarding the mountain frowned, about to reprimand him, when he heard the young man slowly say:

"Jingzhou, Luofeng Mountain, Fu family members."

As soon as he finished speaking, the disciple guarding the mountain's expression changed slightly.

Fu family?

I heard that Aunt Cao Xiang'er and Fu Changsheng of the Fu family had a past relationship.

"You..." The disciple guarding the mountain was surprised and uncertain. Just as he was about to ask further questions, he suddenly felt a sharp gaze sweep over him from behind. Turning around, he saw that Cao Yuande, the law enforcement elder of the Cao family and also Cao Xiang'er's half-brother, had somehow appeared on the stone steps of the mountain gate. His white eyebrows were slightly furrowed, and his eyes were scrutinizing the young man like lightning.

"The Fu family?" Cao Yuande's eyes narrowed.

The young man nodded readily: "Exactly."

Cao Yuande was displeased.

Although the Fu family has now been promoted to a sixth-grade family, in their eyes they are still a poor family from a remote place, at best nouveau riche with no foundation. Now that Sister Xiang'er has condensed a sixth-grade golden core and has the potential to become a nascent soul in the future, they cannot allow Sister Xiang'er and Fu Changsheng to continue their entanglement.

According to the elders...

Xiang'er's Golden Core was formed this time because of Fu Changsheng. She almost couldn't overcome her inner demon tribulation. And the Fu family, no sooner had Xiang'er formed her Golden Core than they sent people to come.

Cao Yuande was about to kick them out.

The young man chuckled lightly, "If the elders were to drive me away today, Senior Cao would certainly not let me off easily when he finds out."

between words.

He was certain that Cao Xiang'er would see him!

Cao Yuande frowned, re-examining the young man. He saw that the man was only at the early stage of the Purple Mansion realm, and that a strange, inexplicable aura was faintly emanating from him.
"Since you are from the Fu family, please state your name!"

(End of this chapter)