Family Rise: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 489 Chaotic Lightning Tribulation, Possession, Settling Personal scores
The mornings in Qingxi Town are always shrouded in a thin mist, like a light veil draped over this small town nestled against the mountains and beside the water. In front of the "Jishetang" pharmacy at the east end of the town, a young girl dressed in coarse cloth is tiptoeing and wiping the signboard.

Fu Molan put down the rag, took two steps back, looked at the cleaned door plaque, and nodded in satisfaction. Half a year had passed, and she could now perform this ordinary chore quite well. Who would have thought that this girl working odd jobs in the pharmacy was once the renowned puppeteer of the Fu family, famous throughout Jingzhou?

"Girl, stop wiping, come in and have breakfast!" A hoarse voice called from inside the house, accompanied by the crisp sound of wine jugs clinking together.

Fu Molan turned and went into the house, where she saw Master Yu sitting cross-legged in front of a low table, holding a wine pot in one hand and a steamed bun in the other, with a few wine stains on his beard.

“Senior, you’re drinking on an empty stomach again,” Fu Molan said softly, her voice like a clear spring striking a stone.

Master Yu laughed heartily, the beads of wine on his beard trembling: "Wine is a good medicine, it cures all ailments! Come, come, sit down and eat."

Fu Molan sat down quietly, her elegant movements incongruous with the simple surroundings. She picked up a steamed bun and ate it in small bites, her eyes constantly glancing towards the door. Although half a year had passed, she was still worried that Granny Yinhua's people would find this place.

“Stop looking,” Master Yu took a swig of wine, his eyes unusually bright. “This place is very remote; that old hag won’t be able to find us anytime soon. Besides,” he patted the seemingly ordinary wine flask at his waist, “with this treasure, ordinary cultivators won’t be able to detect our presence.”

Fu Molan nodded, her gaze falling on the wine flask at Master Yu's waist.

The wine pot appeared ordinary, yet faint runes flowed within it. She had once seen a grandmaster chant incantations over the pot, and the wine within would transform into spiritual energy to nourish his damaged meridians. This was probably why he had been able to suppress his old injuries until now.

"Senior, when should we contact the mistress and ask her to send someone to the far west to pick us up?"

After the battle between Grandmaster Yu and Granny Yinhua, her old injuries recurred, and her cultivation level plummeted once again to below that of a low-level Qi Refining cultivator. Although she survived, her seven souls and six spirits were unstable, making her weaker than an ordinary person, let alone capable of cultivation.

This place is tens of thousands of miles away from the Great Zhou Dynasty.

The journey was fraught with countless risks, and the two of them alone could not possibly return safely to their tribe.

Master Yu gulped down another mouthful of wine: "That old hag Yinhua will definitely not let this go. We should not make any rash moves in the short term. Moreover, Changsheng is currently in seclusion. The younger generation of the clan will not be of any use here. We should just stay here for a few years."

"Yes, senior."

"Today I'm going up the mountain to gather some herbs, just to try my luck," Master Yu said, wiping his mouth as he stood up.

Fu Molan hesitated for a moment, "Senior's injuries."

"I won't die!" Master Yu waved his hand, swayed as he walked away, humming a little tune as he went.

Business was slow in the morning; only a few elderly women bought some herbs for treating rheumatism. Fu Molan quietly weighed and wrapped the herbs, her movements practiced and efficient.

As evening fell, an unexpected visitor broke the tranquility of the pharmacy.

"Oh, Old Yu's not here?" A burly man swaggered into the pharmacy, his eyes fixed on Fu Molan. "Young lady, running the shop alone?"

Fu Molan recognized the man; he was Zhao San, a notorious local ruffian, whose ancestors were said to have been cultivators. The previous times he had come, Master Yu had been there and dismissed him with a few words.

"Grandpa Yu went up the mountain to collect herbs," Fu Molan said calmly. "What medicine does Brother Zhao need?"

"Medicine?" Zhao San grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth. "My heart problem is allergic; seeing a young lady makes me feel a bit better." As he spoke, he leaned forward, his body reeking of cheap liquor.

Fu Molan took a half step back, her brows furrowing slightly. In the past, such a mortal wouldn't even be able to get close to her. But now…
"Zhao San!" A sharp shout suddenly came from the doorway. Fu Molan looked up and saw that Master Yu had returned at some point and was standing at the door, holding a bundle of herbs in his hand, his face terribly gloomy.

"Old Yu," Zhao San's imposing manner immediately weakened, "I just came to buy some medicine."

"Buying medicine?" Master Yu strode in, tossing the herbs onto the counter. "What for? To treat brain damage or just plain stupidity?"

Zhao San's face turned pale, then red: "You...how dare you swear at me?"

"Insulting me?" Master Yu suddenly burst into laughter, took a swig from his wine flask, and said, "I'm diagnosing you! Your forehead is dark, and your eyes are lifeless; I'm afraid you have an incurable disease!"

Several townspeople had already gathered outside the pharmacy to watch the commotion, and some couldn't help but laugh out loud. Zhao San, losing face, glared fiercely at Master Yu: "Old man, you just wait!" With that, he pushed through the crowd and left.

Master Yu shook his head and took another sip of wine. "In this world, even thugs are so uncreative." He turned to Fu Molan, a hint of concern flashing in his eyes, "Are you alright, girl?"

Fu Molan shook her head and put the small wooden box back in its place: "Thank you, senior."

"No need for thanks," Master Yu waved his hand, then suddenly lowered his voice, "But this kid won't let this go easily. I'll keep watch tonight, so you can rest easy."

As night fell, Qingxi Town gradually quieted down. Fu Molan lay on the bed in the backyard cottage, but couldn't fall asleep. Moonlight streamed through the window paper, casting dappled shadows on the floor. She stretched out her hand, her fingertips trembling slightly, trying to mobilize the last remaining trace of magic power within her body.

no response.

Since that failed attempt to possess another body, her sea of ​​consciousness has been like a dried-up lake, unable to gather even a trace of spiritual energy. Worse still, her most proficient puppetry requires delicate manipulation of magical power, and now she can't even control the simplest puppets.

From next door came Master Yu's soft snoring, occasionally interspersed with a few words of murmured sleep.

Fu Molan quietly got up and took a small cloth bag from under the bed. Inside were several simple wooden puppets, which she had secretly carved over the past few days. Although she couldn't infuse them with magic, she still insisted on practicing the basic techniques of puppetry—her only connection to the past.

With nimble fingers manipulating the puppet's joints, Fu Molan closed her eyes, imagining the flow of magical power. Suddenly, a sharp pain exploded in her temple; she groaned, and the puppet fell to the ground.

The wounds in my sea of ​​consciousness haven't healed yet.
She bit her lip, and after the pain subsided, she picked up the puppet, carefully wrapped it up, and put it back under the bed.

At the same time, Master Yu in the front hall suddenly opened his eyes. There was no snoring at all; he hadn't slept at all. The old cultivator sighed softly, took out a talisman from his robes, flicked his finger, and the talisman spontaneously combusted, turning into a wisp of green smoke that drifted outside the door, forming an invisible barrier around the pharmacy.

"Silver Flower Old Witch," Master Yu muttered to himself, taking another swig of wine. "Trying to catch me? Not so easy."

The wine entered his throat, transforming into wisps of spiritual energy that flowed into his damaged meridians. A flicker of pain crossed Master Yu's face, but it was quickly replaced by his usual jovial expression.

Inside the council hall of Xuanxiao Mountain, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood.

Ouyang Fei leaned back in the rosewood chair, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest, the rhythm slow yet carrying a hint of barely perceptible impatience.

"Elder Ouyang, people from the Joyful Sect have been frequently appearing in the market recently, seemingly trying to find out the whereabouts of the patriarch."

The patriarch had already publicly announced that he was in seclusion to consolidate his pseudo-core cultivation.

Is Huanxi Zong asking a question he already knows the answer to?
Regardless of their motives, they must not allow the people of the Joyful Sect to roam freely on their territory.

Ouyang Fei sat up straight immediately.

He casually tossed a small jade bottle to Steward Liu, which shimmered with an eerie light in the sunlight. "This is a newly prepared 'Drunken Immortal Powder.' Next time the Joyful Sect people come, treat them to 'a cup of tea.'"

Manager Liu hurriedly caught the jade bottle, his expression changing slightly.

Who doesn't know that Ouyang Fei's "Drunken Immortal Powder" can kill people in their sleep?

This means that the people of the Joyful Sect will never return!

"Yes, elder!"

Manager Liu accepted the order and withdrew.

The meeting is adjourned.

Ouyang Fei stretched and was about to return to the secret room to continue studying the newly acquired poison manual when suddenly his heart skipped a beat.

A strange unease came from the direction of the back mountain.

"This is--"

Ouyang Fei suddenly turned around.

Suddenly, a massive vortex appeared in the sky above the forbidden area of ​​the back mountain. The vortex, like a gigantic black mouth, greedily devoured everything around it. The spiritual energy of the mountains surged towards the back mountain like a tide, forming a visible vortex of spiritual mist, dreamlike yet exuding a powerful pressure.

hum!
The protective array of Xuanxiao Mountain was automatically activated.

Golden rays shot into the sky, intertwining with the vortex of spiritual energy and producing a deafening roar, as if the heavens and earth were roaring in anger.

"All disciples, listen to my command! Deactivate the mountain-protecting formation!"

Ouyang Fei roared, his voice booming like a bell, echoing throughout the entire Xuanxiao Mountain.

He flashed into the air, unleashing the full power of a late-stage Purple Mansion cultivator, like a towering mountain, suppressing the panicked disciples. Sensing this immense pressure, the disciples immediately stopped what they were doing and quickly returned to their posts, busily getting to work.

boom!
Just as the mountain-protecting formation closed.

Dark clouds suddenly gathered in the sky, and in the blink of an eye, they covered the sky for miles around.

Lightning flashed and thunder roared in the dark clouds, with streaks of purple lightning crisscrossing the cloud layer, radiating a suffocating pressure. The lightning bolts resembled angry dragons, darting and roaring through the clouds, seemingly announcing the arrival of disaster.

"Golden Core Tribulation?!"

Ouyang Fei's pupils contracted sharply as he stared incredulously toward the back mountain, his heart churning with turmoil.

"The patriarch is actually about to form his core?"

Six years ago, the patriarch had just broken through to the Pseudo-Core Realm.

Normally, it would take at least twenty or thirty years to attempt to form a core.

Ouyang Fei was deeply shocked, but now was not the time to think about that.

He was well aware of the terror of the Golden Core Tribulation.

If one is not careful, the head of the family will be reduced to ashes.

"Someone! Immediately send a message to Huixi County requesting Elder Yongxuan to return to the mountain to protect the Dharma!" Ouyang Fei swiftly issued a series of orders, his voice urgent and forceful. "Activate all defensive barriers! All disciples, return to your positions! No one may move without my order!"

He looked at the increasingly thick clouds of calamity, a trace of worry flashing in his eyes.

People from the Joyful Sect have been appearing frequently lately, probably because of this matter.

Think of this.

Ouyang Fei took out a small emerald green bottle from his sleeve, poured out a bright red pill, and swallowed it.

This is a "Soul-Burning Pill," which can increase mana by 50% in a short period of time, but at the cost of serious side effects. But he can't worry about that now; he must do everything in his power to ensure the family head successfully forms his core!

Deep within the Nine Nether Valley, a perpetual, gloomy mist shrouds the valley.

Master Yin Kui sat cross-legged atop the blood coffin, his face, withered like tree bark, shrouded in gloom. Opposite him, Abbess Qiu Yue and Master Yun were examining a Yuan Yin Flower that was about to mature.

This thousand-year-old spiritual herb, entirely white with blood-red stamens, was the key to their ten-year plan. The Yuan Yin Flower is a sacred object for Core Formation, increasing the success rate of Core Formation by 30%.

They had calculated that Fu Changsheng would be tempted by the Core Formation artifact, and deliberately set up a trap here.

Ten years of hard work

"We can finally close the net."

The three of them looked at each other.

Their faces were all beaming with joy.

however.

next moment.

A rapid buzzing sound came from Master Yun's waist. A spell was cast, and a somewhat fearful voice came from the jade talisman. After hearing it, a trace of horror flashed in Master Yun's cloudy eyes:
"Fu Changsheng has reached the Core Formation stage?"

Master Qiuyue's whisk trembled, and her well-maintained face instantly twisted in pain: "Impossible! He's clearly still in the Pseudo-Core Formation stage. Without the Yuan Yin Flower, how could he possibly form his Core?"

The three of them rushed out of the cave at the same time and arrived near Xuanxiao Mountain as quickly as possible.

Hundreds of miles away, a pillar of spiritual energy shot straight into the sky, reaching to the heavens. Thunderclouds filled the sky, and even from such a distance, one could still feel the awe-inspiring power of the heavens. The pillar of spiritual energy, like a giant pillar connecting heaven and earth, emitted a dazzling light that shook the hearts of everyone present.

"This is... the Chaos Lightning Tribulation!" Yin Kui Zhenren's voice was hoarse, his thin fingers digging deeply into his palms, blood seeping from between his fingers. "He actually triggered the Chaos Lightning Tribulation!"

Master Yun's face turned ashen, and he snapped his folding fan shut.

"This child must not be allowed to live!"

"Qiuyue, it's time to contact the Tianluo Sect and tell them to attack Xuanxiao Mountain at all costs!"

Tianluomen is a Zifu sect they secretly support, located near Xuanxiao Mountain. Now, they can only rely on Tianluomen to forcibly interrupt Fu Changsheng's Core Formation.

"go!"

Without a word, Abbess Qiuyue immediately moved and left the Blood Cave, her eyes flashing with resentment.

Her daughter, Lin Qingxin, died at the hands of Fu Changsheng; this is an irreconcilable hatred!

If she weren't afraid of going to the Great Zhou and incurring the Immortal Alliance's wrath, she would have already stormed the Great Zhou and slaughtered that beast Fu Changsheng.

Before leaving, Master Yun gave Master Yin Kui a meaningful look:

"Vaginal friend, we have created an opportunity for you to possess someone; now it's up to you to know how to seize it."

Obviously.

This was to allow Yin Kui Zhenren to take advantage of Tianluomen's attack on Xuanxiao Mountain and infiltrate the area.

Yin Kui Zhenren's expression was unpredictable.

His lifespan had run out, and his original plan to seize Fu Changsheng's exceptionally gifted body in the Nine Nether Valley had been completely disrupted. Master Yun's words clearly indicated that he wanted him to take advantage of the chaos to enter the Xuanxiao Sect and perform the body-snatching technique.

"No matter how strong Fu Changsheng is, he has only just formed his core, and he is at his weakest after his tribulation." Yin Kui Zhenren smiled sinisterly, his figure gradually blending into the shadows, like a venomous snake hidden in the darkness. "Fu Changsheng, I am determined to have your physical body."

The loess soil has buried up to their noses and eyes.

He couldn't care less about the Immortal Alliance at this moment; he had no choice but to take a gamble!
The night, thick as ink, pressed heavily upon the main peak of the Tianluo Mountains. Two streaks of light, one blue and one gray, pierced the night sky like swords, carrying a chilling aura as they hurtled towards the Tianluo Gate. Their speed was so extreme that before the disciples guarding the mountain could even see who they were, two terrifying pressures enveloped the entire Tianluo Gate like Mount Tai pressing down.

"Luo Youde! Get out here and see me!"

Master Yun's stern shout was like a thunderclap, booming through the silent night sky and making the mountain gate archway tremble.

Beside her, Abbess Qiuyue gently swayed her whisk, appearing kind and gentle, but her eyes flashed with a cold, venomous light.

"Come on, come on!"

A chubby figure tumbled and crawled out of the back hall; it was Luo Youde, the head of the Tianluo Sect. This short, stout middle-aged man was covered in cold sweat, his Daoist robe and belt were tied askew, making him look like a frightened groundhog, not at all like a fake Core Formation cultivator. He knelt down on the bluestone slab in the courtyard with a thud, repeatedly kowtowing:

"I was unaware of your arrival, esteemed elders. I have failed to greet you properly and deserve to die for this!"

Master Yun snorted coldly, and a streak of green light flew out from his sleeve, striking Luo Youde's face with a sharp crack, leaving a bloody mark.
"Useless! Fu Changsheng is about to successfully form his core, and you still have the mind to sleep?"

Luo Youde covered his face, his small eyes wide with shock: "Didn't Patriarch Fu only break through to the Pseudo-Core Formation stage six years ago? How could this be?"

"Shut up!" Abbess Qiuyue suddenly interrupted, her voice sharp and piercing, like fingernails scraping porcelain. "Right now, gather all your Tianluo Sect disciples and attack Yunxiao Mountain! Stop Fu Changsheng's Core Formation at all costs!"

Upon hearing this, Luo Youde collapsed to the ground, his fat face trembling like a leaf.

The Fu family of Yunxiao Mountain?
That's a sixth-grade family with a Golden Core cultivator in charge!
He only has thirteen Purple Mansions in the entire Tianluo Sect, and he himself has only recently broken through to the False Core stage. Wouldn't going there be suicide?
"Senior, you are wise!" Luo Youde cried, snot and tears streaming down his face, his expression filled with terror. "How could a small sect like ours be a match for the Fu family? We probably wouldn't even be able to get close to their gates."

A cold glint flashed in Master Yun's eyes, and he suddenly made a hand seal and chanted an incantation.

"what--!"

Luo Youde suddenly curled up into a ball and let out a pig-like howl. He frantically scratched his chest as if a million ants were gnawing at his heart. The surrounding disciples all turned pale at the sight.

"How did the Poison Pill taste?" Master Yun coldly stared at Luo Youde, who was convulsing on the ground, his face devoid of pity. "Did you think my Poison Pill was for nothing? If we don't send troops today, the entire sect will suffer a fate worse than death!"

"but"

"Don't worry, we won't let you die in vain."

talking.

He took out a glittering golden talisman and a small white jade seal from his sleeve. The runes on the talisman flickered and emitted a mysterious light, while the white jade seal was warm and delicate, clearly not an ordinary item.

"These are the 'Golden罡破界符' and the '玄冰印,' both magic treasures, enough to protect you. In addition, Fu Yongxuan is currently in seclusion in Huixi County and won't be able to get here for a while. As long as you act quickly enough, everything will be alright!"

Luo Youde's pain subsided slightly, and he shakily raised his head. Upon seeing the two treasures, he immediately became breathless.

Talisman!

A magical treasure! He wouldn't even dare to dream of such a treasure under normal circumstances.

Greed had just arisen when it was suppressed by fear—

Even the most precious treasures need to be used while you're alive!
Master Yun saw through his thoughts:
"Listen, if you die in battle, I will ensure the continued existence of your Tianluo Sect; but if you dare disobey..."

A ghostly green flame appeared in his other hand, flickering and emanating an eerie aura.
"The fire of the poison pill will burn away the souls of your entire sect, condemning you to eternal damnation!"

Luo Youde's face turned ashen, and he finally lowered his head in resignation.

"I will respectfully obey the instructions of my predecessors."

Boom!
next moment.

The bells of Tianluomen rang out urgently, their sound particularly jarring in the silent night.

Tens of thousands of disciples gathered in the training ground, their faces filled with fear. Most of them had already sensed the abnormal activity of the Poison Essence Pill within their bodies and knew that disaster was imminent. The toxicity of the Poison Essence Pill was like a venomous snake, crawling through their bodies and causing them intermittent, excruciating pain.

Luo Youde stood on the high platform, forcing himself to remain calm as he displayed two treasures:

"Disciples, do not be afraid! With the great treasure bestowed by True Master Yun and Abbess Qiuyue, we will surely win this battle! All participants will be rewarded with ten thousand spirit stones, and those who make meritorious contributions will be granted Soul-Guiding Pills and ascend to the Purple Mansion of Dao!"

His voice trembled slightly, but he was still trying his best to calm the troops.

Sparse, intermittent responses rang out from the audience.

Everyone knew this was a suicide mission, but under the threat of the poison pills and the lure of a hefty reward, they still managed to assemble a team. The disciples looked at each other, their eyes filled with helplessness and fear.

Master Yun nodded in satisfaction and exchanged a glance with Abbess Qiuyue.

They didn't expect Tianluomen to succeed at all, but as long as these people could weaken the Fu family a little and create an opportunity for Yin Kui Zhenren to act in secret, that would be enough.

In their eyes, the disciples of Tianluomen were nothing more than pawns.

After the two Golden Elixir Immortals left, Luo Youde returned to the secret chamber alone and wept as he faced the portrait of his patriarch.

"Ancestors above, your unworthy disciple Luo Youde is utterly incompetent, and today he dares to lead his followers to their deaths!"

His body trembled slightly, his face full of regret and helplessness. If he hadn't accepted the bait thrown by Master Yun, he wouldn't be in this predicament today.

He trembled as he took out a jade slip and recorded his last words.

If I die, my eldest disciple will succeed me as sect leader.

He then took out the "Blood Escape Talisman" he had treasured for many years and stuck it to his chest—this was his last resort to save his life. He knew that the journey ahead was fraught with danger, but this "Blood Escape Talisman" might give him a glimmer of hope.

At the third quarter of the hour of midnight, the entire Tianluo Gate was mobilized.

The night wind howled, as if playing a mournful song for this group heading to their deaths.

Luo Youde looked back at the mountain gate where he had lived for hundreds of years, his eyes filled with reluctance and determination, and turned away with gritted teeth.

Mount Xuanxiao was shrouded in mist and clouds, with pale golden runes flowing through the Nine Revolutions Heavenly Gang Array, enveloping the entire mountain peak.

"Elder, there's movement in the southwest!" a disciple rushed in to report.

Ouyang Fei narrowed his eyes and scanned the southwestern mountains and forests with his divine sense.

His expression changed.

He saw a warship rapidly approaching, and although it tried its best to hide, it could not escape his late-stage Purple Mansion divine sense.

"Those scoundrels from the Tianluo Sect." Ouyang Fei's face was solemn. Sect Leader Luo was a powerful figure, but his cultivation level was questionable. He quickly ordered, "Sound the alarm! Deploy defenses according to the third plan!"

"Boom!"

The sound of bells echoed through the valley, and the Fu family disciples quickly took their positions.

In mid-air, aboard the warship.

Looking at the tribulation clouds atop Xuanxiao Mountain, Luo Youde's forehead was covered in cold sweat. His obese body was wrapped in a large Taoist robe, and his small eyes darted around, scrutinizing the protective array before him. Behind him, twelve Purple Mansion Elders and hundreds of elite disciples stood ready, but Luo Youde himself shrank back, his heart pounding with anxiety.

"Sect Leader, are we... really going to attack Xuanxiao Mountain?" an elder asked in a low voice. "What if Fu Yongxuan is inside the mountain..."

"Shut up!" Luo Youde wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, forcing himself to remain calm. "Master Yun and Abbess Qiuyue said that Fu Changsheng is at a crucial moment in his Core Formation, and Fu Yongxuan has been transferred to guard the Crimson Sun Stone mine and can't possibly return in time! If we don't attack now, when will we?"

He swallowed hard, calculating in his mind: if he could interrupt Fu Changsheng's Golden Core formation, Master Yun would agree to remove the "Poison Cloud Pill" from his body, and might even bestow upon him a true Golden Core cultivation technique! But what if he failed…

He shuddered and dared not think any further.

"Let's... let's test the waters first!" Luo Youde waved his hand. "All disciples, listen to my command! Form an array and attack the mountain-protecting formation!"

Hundreds of Tianluo Sect disciples responded in unison, unleashing their magical artifacts. In an instant, spiritual light flashed and sword energy crisscrossed as they bombarded the Nine Revolutions Heavenly Gang Formation. However, the formation only trembled slightly before completely neutralizing these attacks.

Seeing this, Luo Youde felt somewhat relieved.

It seems the Fu family truly lacks a Golden Core cultivator to oversee things; otherwise, they would have already come out to intimidate them.

His courage suddenly grew, and a sinister smile appeared on his fat face:
"All disciples, heed my command! Charge into Xuanxiao Mountain and kill without mercy!"

"kill!"

The Tianluo Sect disciples were greatly encouraged and charged madly towards the mountainside.

Luo Youde carefully took out a golden talisman from his bosom—the Golden Gang Boundary-Breaking Talisman, a treasure bestowed by Master Yun, specifically designed to counter the mountain-protecting formation!

"Break it for me!"

He bit his tongue, spitting a mouthful of blood onto the talisman. The talisman instantly ignited, transforming into a golden stream of light that pierced the Nine Revolutions Heavenly Gang Formation like a sharp sword!

"boom--!!"

Amidst a deafening explosion, the light barrier of the great formation trembled violently, then shattered inch by inch like glass! The protective formation of Xuanxiao Mountain had been broken in a single blow!

"Hahaha!" Luo Youde laughed triumphantly, "The Fu family is nothing special! Everyone, follow me and charge in!"

The disciples of Tianluo Sect were greatly encouraged and rushed in. However, the moment they stepped into the mountain gate, a sweet and pungent smell suddenly filled the air.

"Oh no! It's poison!" A Purple Mansion Elder's expression changed drastically, and he quickly covered his mouth and nose.

But it's too late.

"How dare those scoundrels from the Tianluo Sect trespass on Xuanxiao Mountain?"

A hoarse voice rang out, and a middle-aged man dressed in a dark green robe slowly walked out. It was none other than Ouyang Fei, a late-stage Purple Mansion cultivator from the Fu family!

A cold smile played on his lips as he held a bright green poison banner in his hand. With a gentle wave, a cloud of poisonous mist surged forth like a tidal wave!

"The Ten Thousand Poison Banner?!" Luo Youde was terrified and immediately activated his protective aura, shouting, "Retreat!"

However, three Purple Mansion Elders and dozens of disciples have already been contaminated by the poisonous fog. Their faces turned black instantly, blood flowed from their seven orifices, and they collapsed and died!

Luo Youde was both shocked and furious, but he quickly calmed down.

No matter how strong Ouyang Fei is, he is only at the late stage of the Purple Mansion realm, while he is at the Pseudo-Core realm and has the Xuanbing Seal bestowed by True Man Yun!

"Ouyang Fei!" Luo Youde shrieked, "You can't stop me!"

He suddenly unleashed the Xuanbing Seal, and the small white jade seal grew in the wind, transforming into an iceberg that crashed towards Ouyang Fei with its biting cold!
Ouyang Fei's expression was solemn. He quickly made a hand seal, and the poisonous mist around him condensed into a poison shield to withstand the attack of the Xuanbing Seal!
"boom--!"

The poison shield shattered, and Ouyang Fei was forced back several steps, a trickle of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth. But his eyes remained sharp, and he sneered:
"Luo Youde, is that all you've got?"

Seeing that his attack had failed to severely injure Ouyang Fei, Luo Youde grew anxious.

He had to act quickly, otherwise he would surely die once Fu Yongxuan returned!

"Die!"

He had originally reserved 50% of his magical power, intending to use it to escape at a critical moment, but now he left none behind, frantically activating the Xuanbing Seal. The power of ice erupted, and the entire area instantly froze!

boom!
The power of magical treasures.

It was something Ouyang Fei couldn't possibly withstand.

Ouyang Fei froze, his movements immediately slowing down.

Luo Youde seized the opportunity and once again manipulated the Xuanbing Seal to smash down fiercely!
"boom!"

Ouyang Fei was sent flying dozens of feet, crashing heavily into the mountainside, his chest caved in, blood gushing out. But he still struggled to his feet, standing in front of the entrance to the forbidden area at the back of the mountain, grinning:
"Want to go back? Only if I'm dead!"

Luo Youde was both shocked and furious. How could Ouyang Fei be so difficult to deal with?! He dared not delay any longer and gritted his teeth, saying:
"Since you're courting death, then I'll grant your wish!"

He activated the Xuanbing Seal once more, preparing to completely obliterate Ouyang Fei.

"not good!"

At this critical moment, a crimson light suddenly appeared on the horizon, arriving in an instant. It was a blood-red sword light that caught up with Xuanbing Seal and cleaved it into the sky.

"boom--!"

A deafening explosion resounded through the sky, and the Xuanbing Seal exploded high in the air, turning into countless ice crystals that fell from the sky. The shockwave shattered all the trees within hundreds of feet, but failed to affect the back mountain in the slightest.

A red figure stood in mid-air, wielding a long sword, his phoenix eyes filled with murderous intent. It was none other than Fu Yongxuan, a cultivator at the early stage of the Golden Core realm!
"Anyone who dares to offend the Fu family shall die!"

A chilling voice, like the coldest ice in the netherworld, rang out as Fu Yongxuan swung his sword, unleashing a crimson sword light that transformed into a hundred-foot-long rainbow that swept across the battlefield. Wherever it passed, Tianluo Sect disciples fell like wheat being harvested, hundreds dying instantly.

The Wrath of the Golden Core.

Blood flowed like a river!

Luo Youde was terrified and crushed the Blood Escape Talisman in his bosom without saying a word. A flash of blood light appeared, and his obese body transformed into dozens of blood shadows that scattered and fled—it was the life-saving secret technique "Blood Shadow Escape".

Fu Yongxuan snorted coldly, and his sword light split into raindrops, annihilating most of the blood shadows, but one still managed to escape and disappeared into the horizon in the blink of an eye.

"Miss Yongxuan, don't chase after them," Ouyang Fei cried weakly. "The patriarch's tribulation is of utmost importance."

Fu Yongxuan then sheathed his sword, flashed to Ouyang Fei's side, took out a pill, and fed it to him: "Grandpa Fei, you are badly injured."

Ouyang Fei shook his head with a wry smile: "To think I'd be injured by such a lowly scoundrel in my old age." He looked towards the back mountain, where the thunderclouds were growing increasingly thick. "How is the patriarch?"

Fu Yongxuan's expression was solemn: "Father's Golden Core tribulation is unusual; it seems to be a Chaos Tribulation."

"Chaotic lightning tribulation?! Isn't this the Nascent Soul lightning tribulation? How is this possible!" Ouyang Fei was filled with shock.

"Grandpa Fei, I sent a message to my godmother before I came, asking her to come and help." Although Fu Yongxuan was worried, he remained calm: "Uncle Fei, you go and heal your wounds first. Leave this place to me."

at the same time.

A hundred miles away, a blood-red figure staggered to the ground, transforming back into Luo Youde's obese form. His face was ashen, and his left arm was severed at the shoulder, a result of the sword light from Fu Yongxuan.

"I survived."

Luo Youde lay on the ground, panting heavily, feeling both relieved and terrified. Surviving was a good thing, but the mission had failed; what would Master Yun do with him?
Thinking about this, the wound on my severed arm seemed to hurt even more.

Luo Youde struggled to his feet and fled towards Tianluo Gate. He dared not imagine what awaited him, but at this moment he only wanted to get as far away from Xuanxiao Mountain as possible.

After the protective formation of Xuanxiao Mountain was broken, residual poisonous mist filled the mountain, lingering like ghosts among the rocks and trees.

Fu Yongxuan, dressed in a red robe, stood proudly before the mountain gate. The red robe fluttered in the wind, and her phoenix eyes, filled with murderous intent, coldly gazed down the mountain. Her gaze seemed to pierce through the thick fog, discerning all hidden dangers.

"Elder, the foundation of the Nine Revolutions Heavenly Gang Formation has been damaged and needs to be repaired immediately!" A Fu family formation master rushed over, looking anxious, and cupped his hands in request.

“No need.” Fu Yongxuan raised her hand to stop him, her tone firm and calm. “Father is at the critical moment of forming his core. If the mountain-protecting formation is restarted, it will cause fluctuations in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, which may interfere with the tribulation.” She knew the importance of her father’s core formation. At this moment, any external interference could lead to failure.

"But if we don't repair it, what if another enemy attacks..." The formation master's face showed worry, and his voice trembled slightly. Xuanxiao Mountain's defenses are currently weak, and if another powerful enemy were to invade, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"Then let them come!" Fu Yongxuan sneered, the sword in his hand humming and vibrating, its blade flashing with a blazing white light, as if responding to her anger. "I'd like to see who dares to trespass on Xuanxiao Mountain at this time!"

"Quickly clear the mountain gate; leave no one from the Tianluo Sect alive!"

At his command, the Fu family disciples sprang into action.

Wielding magical artifacts, they cleared the battlefield of debris, slaughtering all the remaining soldiers of the Tianluo Sect. Simultaneously, they deployed sentries throughout the mountain gate, vigilantly monitoring the surroundings to prevent outsiders from infiltrating. The Fu family disciples all wore solemn expressions; they understood that Xuanxiao Mountain was currently in a precarious situation, allowing no room for error.

However, just as everyone was busy and tense—

"boom!"

A golden streak of light streaked across the sky, moving with lightning speed, and landed before Mount Xuanxiao in the blink of an eye. As the light dissipated, a middle-aged man in a black official robe with a bronze official seal hanging at his waist was revealed—it was none other than Li Wanhu, the Commander of the Zhenshi Division!

Fu Yongxuan's pupils contracted, and alarm bells rang in her mind: "Li Wanhu? What is he doing here?" Her eyes instantly sharpened as she stared intently at Li Wanhu, as if trying to see right through him.

Li Wanhu smiled, cupped his hands in a respectful bow, and said in a gentle yet sharp voice, "Fairy Fu, it's been a long time."

Fu Yongxuan looked at him coldly, showing no intention of making way: "Lord Li, Xuanxiao Mountain is not receiving guests today, please leave." Her voice was icy, without the slightest bit of politeness.

Li Wanhu's smile remained unchanged. He took out a golden token from his sleeve and said loudly:
"I am acting on the orders of the imperial court to thoroughly investigate the Golden Core cultivator who has infiltrated the Great Zhou from the far west! According to reliable intelligence, this person is very likely hiding near Xuanxiao Mountain with malicious intent!"

A cold glint flashed in Fu Yongxuan's eyes: "Absurd! Xuanxiao Mountain is the stronghold of my Fu family. How could there be outsiders lurking there?"

Li Wanhu sighed with feigned helplessness: "Fairy Fu, I am only acting under orders, please understand." He waved the token in his hand and said sincerely, "The imperial decree cannot be disobeyed."

This is using the imperial court to pressure her!
Fu Yongxuan suppressed his anger, stepped aside to make way for him, and said in an icy tone, "Lord Li, you may investigate if you wish, but if you disturb my father's Core Formation..."

"Rest assured, I know what I'm doing." Li Wanhu nodded with a smile, but a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

Li Wanhu stepped into Xuanxiao Mountain, pretending to inspect the various areas. With each step he took, he carefully observed his surroundings, while secretly keeping an eye on the changes in the tribulation clouds behind the mountain. When he reached the halfway point, he suddenly took out an ancient bronze mirror from his robes—the Spirit-Suppressing Mirror, a spiritual treasure capable of revealing hidden Golden Core cultivators!
"Om-"

The Spirit Suppressing Mirror floated in the air, its surface rippling with light as it slowly swept across the entire Xuanxiao Mountain.

Fu Yongxuan stood aside, coldly watching his every move, his eyes filled with vigilance.

Suddenly, the mirror trembled violently, and its light locked onto a shadowy spot near the forbidden area in the back mountain!

There, a golden core level aura was hidden!

A glint flashed in Li Wanhu's eyes, but he remained expressionless. He quietly made a hand seal, and a hidden wave of magical power silently covered the area, instantly concealing the strange phenomenon in the mirror light!

"Hmm? No abnormalities?" He pretended to be puzzled as he put away the Spirit Suppressing Mirror, turned to Fu Yongxuan and smiled, still wearing that gentle smile on his face. "It seems the information was wrong. Fairy Fu can rest assured."

Fu Yongxuan frowned slightly, sensing that something was amiss. She keenly noticed that Li Wanhu's behavior was somewhat strange, but since the Spirit Suppression Mirror wasn't reacting, she couldn't say anything more and could only say coldly:
"Now that the investigation is complete, Lord Li, please return!"

Li Wanhu smiled slightly, cupped his hands in farewell, and turned to disappear in a streak of light. His figure gradually faded into the distance, leaving only a faint ray of light behind.

However, shortly after he left—

From the shadows outside the forbidden area in the back mountain, a gaunt figure slowly emerged—it was none other than Yin Kui Zhenren! He had been terrified when the Spirit Suppressing Mirror revealed his presence, but to his surprise, Li Wanhu not only did not expose him, but also helped him conceal his aura!
"Hehe..." Yin Kui Zhenren chuckled sinisterly, his voice as grating as a ghost, "Fu Changsheng, Fu Changsheng, you have quite a few enemies."

After leaving Xuanxiao Mountain, the smile on Li Wanhu's face vanished instantly, replaced by a cold and sinister expression.

"Fu Changsheng, do you think you can turn things around just by condensing your Golden Core?" he muttered to himself, his tone full of mockery and disdain. "With Yin Kui the Old Demon around, you are doomed!"

Yin Kui Zhenren's lifespan is nearing its end. He is lurking in Xuanxiao Mountain, his purpose clearly being to possess Fu Changsheng! What he needs to do is to go with the flow and let Fu Changsheng die at the moment he is closest to success! In this way, he can get rid of Fu Changsheng and clean himself up, killing two birds with one stone.

"The enemy of my enemy is my ally."

Li Wanhu sneered, his figure transforming into a streak of light and disappearing into the horizon.

Fu Yongxuan returned to the mountain gate, a sense of unease still lingering in his heart.

She always felt that Li Wanhu's trip was strange, as if he was hiding some unspeakable secret.

(End of this chapter)