Family Rise: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 494 A Great Satisfaction, The Demon Vine Incident, and the Conspiracy
"My lord!" Liu Meizhen suddenly stepped forward, her voice rising abruptly, "I have another complaint to file!"

The divine messenger frowned slightly: "Speak."

Liu Meizhen took out an official document from her sleeve and presented it with both hands: "My Fu family member, Fu Molan, went undercover in the far west as a commander of the Zhenshi Division. After her identity was exposed, she was sold by Qiuyue Nunnery to Granny Yinhua as a vessel for possession. I personally went to the Zhenshi Division and asked Commander Zheng to report to the court and negotiate with the Immortal Alliance."

Her gaze was like a knife, piercing Li Wanhu: "However, this case was secretly intercepted by Li Wanhu, who has been slow to report it to the imperial court! As a result, the fate of my Fu family members remains unknown to this day!"

The hall erupted in an uproar.

Li Wanhu's expression changed slightly, but he quickly regained his composure: "Madam Fu, you are mistaken. I was preoccupied with various affairs and made a momentary oversight."

"Negligence?" Liu Meizhen interrupted with a cold laugh. "Then why would the spy point out that it was you, Lord Li, who instructed him to expose Mo Lan's identity?"

"Absurd!" Li Wanhu roared. "I don't know any spies at all!"

Liu Meizhen remained calm and bowed to the Imperial Envoy: "Please allow me to summon the witness, Your Excellency."

The divine messenger nodded: "Granted."

Fu Yongrui strode in, escorting a gaunt man. The man's face was ashen, and he wore spirit-suppressing shackles on his wrists. He was none other than Jin Wei, a secret agent planted by Li Wanhu in the far west.

"Kneel down!" Fu Yongrui shouted sharply, and Jin Wei's legs went weak and he knelt on the ground.

When Li Wanhu saw Jin Wei, his pupils suddenly contracted, and his fingers trembled slightly in his sleeve.

“My lord,” Liu Meizhen produced a talisman shimmering with golden light, “this is a divine interrogation talisman, which can compel the accused to speak the truth. Please grant permission to proceed with the interrogation in court.”

Just as the Imperial Envoy was about to nod, Li Wanhu suddenly shouted, "Wait! This person is unfamiliar. Who knows if he was sent by the Fu family to frame me?"

Cao Xiang'er snorted coldly: "Whether it's a frame-up or not, we'll know soon enough with a question." She turned to the Divine Envoy, "The Cao family is willing to provide the Mirror of Inquiry to assist in the interrogation."

Luo Haitang stepped forward as well: "The Luo family can use the Frost Soul-Locking Technique to ensure that the interrogation process is undisturbed."

With both Golden Core cultivators applying pressure simultaneously, the Divine Envoy immediately approved: "Granted!"

The Divine Inquiry Talisman hovered above Jin Wei's head, its golden light enveloping his entire body. Cao Xiang'er's Heart-Inquiry Mirror hovered to one side, its surface reflecting Jin Wei's spiritual state. Luo Haitang's fingertip gathered a point of cold light, ready to strike at any moment.

“Jin Wei,” Liu Meizhen’s voice was cold, “do you know this Lord Li in the hall?”

Under the influence of the divination talisman, Jin Wei's face contorted, yet he had no choice but to answer: "I recognize you. I am a spy planted by Lord Li in the far west."

"Liar!" Li Wanhu suddenly roared, "I have never seen this person before!"

At that moment, Jin Wei suddenly opened his eyes wide, black blood flowed from his seven orifices, and his whole body convulsed violently!

"Not good!" Luo Haitang reacted the fastest, sending a cold light into Jin Wei's body, but it was too late. Jin Wei was already dead, his body rapidly turning black and rotting.

"The Death-Slaying Gu!" The Divine Envoy slammed his fist on the table, glaring at Li Wanhu. "How dare you commit murder in court!"

Li Wanhu turned ashen-faced and waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "Your Honor, please understand! I'm innocent! This is clearly the Fu family!"

"Lord Li, there's no need for further explanation," Liu Meizhen interrupted coldly, then took out a recording pod from her sleeve. "We anticipated you would silence us, and interrogated Jin Wei beforehand using a divine interrogation talisman. This is the record."

The pods of the photograph unfolded, clearly revealing Jin Wei's previous confession:

"It was Lord Li who ordered me to deliberately reveal Fu Molan's identity. He said he would make the Fu family pay the price."

Li Wanhu staggered backward, cold sweat beading on his forehead: "A forgery. This is absolutely a forgery."

“Wait a minute!”

A majestic voice came from outside the hall. Everyone turned around and saw an elderly man in a purple and gold official robe stride in, followed by four experts from the Zhenshi Division.

"Deputy Supervisor!" Li Wanhu greeted him as if he had seen a savior and quickly bowed.

The visitor was none other than Yan Zhenren, the deputy supervisor of the Zhenshi Division, who had been on good terms with the Li family for generations.

The deputy supervisor nodded slightly to the divine messenger: "This case involves internal affairs of the Bureau of World Peace, and I have come here specifically to assist in the trial."

The Imperial Envoy remained expressionless: "Your Excellency, the Supervisor has arrived at the perfect time. Commander Li is suspected of colluding with foreign enemies, neglecting his duties, and harming his colleagues; the evidence is irrefutable. What does Your Excellency believe should be done?"

The deputy supervisor glanced at the photographic pod and said calmly, "A single photographic pod is hardly enough to draw a conclusion. Commander Li has served diligently in the Zhenshi Division for hundreds of years, and his achievements are evident to all. We must not convict him based on one-sided accounts; doing so would surely discourage the people."

"Your Excellency the Supervisor!" Cao Xiang'er suddenly stepped forward, unleashing her Golden Core aura without reservation. "With the double verification of the Divine Inquiry Talisman and the Heart-Inquiry Mirror, how could it be false? Could it be that the Suppressing World Division is protecting criminals?"

Luo Haitang also said coldly, "My Luo family will truthfully report what we saw today to the imperial court."

The Cao family is a fifth-rank family, and the Luo family behind Luo Haitang is about to be promoted to the fifth rank because of the Fu family's promotion to the sixth rank. With pressure from both sides, an ordinary person would have already backed down.

The deputy supervisor, however, remained unhurried:
"This Jin Wei is originally from the far west. Who knows if the Fu family colluded with foreign tribes to deliberately frame an official of the court? Can you really believe the words of a foreigner from the far west whose background you don't even know? Catching a thief with stolen goods is impossible without direct evidence. Be careful, or I might sue you for false accusation. Considering the recent death of the Fu family head, I will not pursue this matter for the time being. As for Fu Molan's matter, I will take the initiative to negotiate with the Immortal Alliance. Alright, it's not a big deal. Everyone disperse."

This is an attempt to smooth things over!

She had already guessed it.

Liu Meizhen took a deep breath and gritted her teeth, saying:

"Since Lord Li does not plead guilty, would you be willing to come with me to the Heavenly Execution Platform?"

This statement came out.

The expressions of everyone in the room changed.

There are three questions on the Xingtai Terrace of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

One question asks: Can one's heart be righteous?
The second question is whether the celestial laws can be followed?

Three questions to ask: Can we betray the common people?

Even Nascent Soul cultivators have nowhere to hide.

However, before going up, one must first endure the punishment of being struck by lightning.

Liu Meizhen is willing to risk her life to get an explanation.

Li Wanhu hadn't expected Liu Meizhen to push him to this point, but his mind worked quickly. To prevent the matter from escalating, he decisively said:
"Reporting to the Divine Envoy, I admit that I was too busy with official duties to report the matter of Fu Molan in time. However, I do not admit to colluding with foreign enemies or plotting against my colleagues. To prove my innocence, I can voluntarily resign from my position as the Commander of the Zhenshi Division."

There is no direct evidence.

In addition, Li Wanhu was a Golden Core cultivator, and the court's power was deeply entrenched. The Imperial Envoy did not want to offend him too much. After all, Fu Changsheng, the most promising member of the Fu family, was already dead. It was not worth tarnishing his future for someone unrelated.

The judge's gavel slammed down with a thunderous sound:
"Li Hu, the commander of the Zhenshi Division, has neglected his duties, causing his colleague to be in danger. He is hereby dismissed from his post immediately! Regarding the case of Fu Molan, the Zhenshi Division is ordered to immediately negotiate with the Immortal Alliance!"

"My lord!" Fu Yongxuan rushed forward, but Liu Meizhen grabbed his wrist.

"Mother!" Fu Yongxuan transmitted his voice, tinged with resentment, "Are we just going to let him go like this?"

Liu Meizhen lightly traced three lines on her palm with her fingertips—a secret code of the Fu family, meaning "consider this carefully." She showed no outward expression, but instead bowed deeply to the Imperial Envoy: "Thank you for upholding justice, Your Excellency."

The moment Li Wanhu's official hat was removed, his face turned ashen, like that of a dead man.

Centuries of hard work, all lost in a single day.

He glared venomously at Liu Meizhen, only to see a barely perceptible sneer curl up at the corner of her lips.

“Let’s go.” Liu Meizhen pulled her daughter around, her wide sleeves concealing her trembling fingertips. “This is the best outcome we could achieve.”

Back in the Fu family's secret chamber, Fu Yongxuan finally erupted: "Why did Mother stop me? That scoundrel was clearly..."

"Because the Grand Tutor's Mansion stands behind him!" Liu Meizhen suddenly slammed her hand on the table, shattering it and splashing tea onto her white mourning clothes. "Do you think your mother doesn't want to tear him to pieces? But the Cao and Luo families are already doing their best to stand up for us today!"

Trembling, she took out a jade slip. A map of the imperial court's power structure appeared in the light and shadow: "The Li family has served the Grand Tutor for three generations, and Li Wanhu's sister is even the Daoist partner of the Grand Tutor's third son. If we truly force him to the Execution Platform today, the Grand Tutor's mansion will..."

"But Father"

"If your father were alive, he would have a way to deal with this. But the Fu family cannot afford to lose now."

"It was my daughter who acted rashly."

Liu Meizhen sighed: "Yongxuan, you must remember, in the cultivation world, justice is always determined by strength."

As Li Wanhu stepped out of the gates of the Imperial Guard, the setting sun cast a long, blood-red shadow. His face maintained a respectful expression, but his hands, clenched tightly in his sleeves, were white at the knuckles. Several low-ranking cultivators in the distance bowed respectfully upon seeing him emerge, unaware of the sinister glint in the eyes of this recently dismissed commander.

"The Fu family. What a Fu family!" Li Wanhu gritted his teeth inwardly. "A mere sixth-rank family dares to oppose my Li family?"

He hurried through several streets and alleys, and after confirming that no one was following him, he turned into an inconspicuous teahouse. Inside a private room on the second floor, the deputy supervisor was leisurely sipping tea, his weathered face revealing no emotion amidst the fragrant aroma.

"This humble official pays his respects to Your Excellency, the Supervisor." Li Wanhu bowed deeply, his forehead almost touching the ground.

The deputy warden raised his eyelids slightly: "Sit down."

Li Wanhu carefully sat down, about to speak, when the deputy supervisor sighed first: "You...you've truly broadened my horizons today."

"I was foolish and have implicated you, sir," Li Wanhu said with a look of shame, but in his mind he was quickly calculating how to salvage the situation.

The deputy supervisor put down his teacup, the porcelain clinking against the wooden table. "That woman, Liu Meizhen, is so calculating, her schemes are meticulously planned, and yet you've walked right into her trap."

Li Wanhu's brow twitched: "Does Your Excellency mean..."

"That Jin Wei is clearly a suicide squad!" the deputy supervisor sneered. "What spies from the far west? He's obviously a pawn the Fu family prepared long ago. If you hadn't flatly denied knowing him, he might not have committed suicide on the spot. Your denial played right into their hands—lying under the Divine Inquiry Talisman immediately triggers the Death-Destroying Gu. Isn't this an obvious trap?"

Li Wanhu felt as if struck by lightning, his back instantly soaked with cold sweat. He recalled Liu Meizhen's sharp, knife-like eyes in the courtroom and finally realized that he had fallen into her trap from the very beginning.

"And then there's the matter of Fu Molan," the deputy supervisor shook his head, "Her infiltration into the far west was a government secret. By withholding the official documents and not reporting it, you gave the Fu family leverage. If you had submitted them openly from the beginning, the court would have rejected them on the grounds of 'inconvenience in negotiation,' and there wouldn't be this farce today."

Li Wanhu's throat tightened, and after a long pause, he managed to squeeze out, "This humble official...this humble official was blinded by hatred."

"Hatred?" The deputy supervisor smiled smirked. "Li Hu, you've been in officialdom for centuries, how can you still act so impulsively?"

A hush fell over the private room, broken only by the bubbling of the boiling tea. Li Wanhu's face alternated between pale and flushed, finally settling into a long sigh: "Your Excellency is right."

The deputy supervisor poured another cup of tea and pushed it towards him: "I've already spoken to the Grand Tutor's mansion. Although you've been dismissed, your foundation remains intact. The most urgent task now is to find a pretext for your reinstatement."

Li Wanhu's eyes lit up: "Does Your Excellency mean..."

"Demon Suppression Pass," the deputy supervisor uttered three words. "The demon race is making frequent moves; it's a time when they need men. Go there and earn some merit, and I'll use my influence in the court to get you reinstated."

Li Wanhu was overjoyed, but a look of worry appeared on his face: "However, the Demon-Suppressing Pass is extremely dangerous."

"What? Scared?" The deputy supervisor narrowed his eyes. "Still can't let go of that personal grudge against the Fu family?"

"This humble official wouldn't dare," Li Wanhu quickly bowed his head, "I'm just worried that if I leave, the Fu family might take advantage of the situation."

The deputy warden waved his hand to interrupt him: "Fu Changsheng is dead. The Fu family is just supported by a few women; they can't cause any real trouble. But you—" He gave Li Wanhu a meaningful look, "Remember, a true hunter never lets his prey see his killing intent."

Li Wanhu's heart skipped a beat, then he understood: "This humble official understands."

...

...

"arrive."

Fu Changlei stood on the deck of the flying boat, his gaze sharp as lightning, staring at the towering, dark city in the distance.

The Demon-Suppressing Pass was more formidable than I had imagined.

The city walls, over a thousand feet high, were entirely black, their surfaces covered with ancient runes, each line flowing with a dark golden light, as if alive. Beyond the walls, demonic energy swirled like mist, ceaselessly billowing, with distorted demonic shadows vaguely visible wandering within.

"This is... the Demon Suppression Pass?" Fu Qingyun took a deep breath, his eyes filled with both shock and a hint of fear.

Fu Qingyun stood at the edge of the crowd, draped in a black robe, his expression calm, with only a hint of hidden greed flashing in his eyes.

He could sense that the demonic energy here was excellent nourishment for the Devouring Demon Vine.

"Everyone, line up!" Fu Changlei shouted in a low voice, and fifty Foundation Establishment cultivators quickly assembled.

"Remember, from this moment on, you are not only members of the Fu family, but also warriors of the Demon Suppression Pass." Fu Changlei's gaze swept over the crowd like a knife. "Here, we can only rely on each other. If anyone harbors any wicked intentions or betrays their opponents, don't blame me for disregarding our kinship!"

Everyone tensed and responded in unison, "Yes!"
-
Inside the Demon Suppression Pass, cultivators were as numerous as clouds, including those dispatched by various powerful families and sects, and the air was filled with a chilling atmosphere.

Fu Changlei and his group were assigned to the "Third Battalion," which was led by the Golden Core cultivator of the Great Zhou Dynasty, "True Man Chixiao."

True Man Chixiao, a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator, practices fire-based techniques. He is known for his violent temper and ruthless methods, earning him the nickname "Fire Madman" within the Demon Suppression Pass.

"A newcomer?" True Immortal Chixiao sat in the main seat of the tent, his eyes sharp as he scanned the crowd.

Fu Changlei clasped his hands in greeting: "Fu Changlei, a newly recruited cultivator from the Third Battalion, has brought fifty Foundation Establishment cultivators to report for duty."

True Immortal Chixiao sneered: "The Fu family? A sixth-rank family? Ha, I hope you're not just useless people here to gain prestige."

Fu Changlei frowned, but did not refute. He simply said in a deep voice, "Rest assured, Master. Now that we are here, we will do our utmost."

Master Chixiao waved his hand: "Alright, let's start with patrol duties tomorrow. By the way, there are three rules for Zhenmo Pass: First, those who abandon their posts will be executed! Second, those who desert in the face of battle will be executed! Third, those who collude with the demons will have their entire family executed!"

"As ordered!"

Everyone's hearts trembled.
-
The following day, Fu Changlei led his team on their first patrol mission.

The patrol area is located on the outskirts of Zhenmo Pass, where demonic energy is abundant and low-level demons occasionally roam.

"Everyone stay alert!" Fu Changlei shouted in a low voice, holding the Thunderclap Mace in his hand, which was faintly flashing with lightning.

Fu Qingyun followed closely behind Fu Changlei, his long sword gleaming coldly, his expression tense.

Fu Qingyun, meanwhile, quietly lagged behind at the end of the line, his gaze deep and his fingertips trembling slightly.

He could feel the Devouring Demon Vine within his body writhing excitedly.

“Hungry… so hungry…”

The whispers of the demonic vine echoed in his mind, as if urging him to devour the surrounding demonic energy.

Fu Qingyun's lips curled slightly, and with a flick of his finger, a wisp of demonic energy was silently absorbed into his body.

"Hmm?" Fu Changlei seemed to sense something, and suddenly turned around, his gaze like lightning, staring straight at Fu Qingyun.

Fu Qingyun's expression remained unchanged as he lowered his head slightly: "Uncle Changlei, what's wrong?"

Fu Changlei stared at him for a moment, then shook his head: "It's nothing, let's move on."

—But in his heart, he had become more wary of Fu Qingyun.

...

Just as the patrol was about to end, something unexpected happened!
"Watch out!" Fu Changlei shouted suddenly, and the Thunderclap Mace burst forth with blinding lightning, blasting towards the shadow on the left side of the group!
"hiss--"

A sharp screech rang out, and a pitch-black demonic figure suddenly sprang out from the shadows. It was ghostly, faceless and eyeless, with only two scarlet eyes that gleamed with a bloodthirsty light.

"Shadow Fiend!"

Everyone's expression changed drastically!

The Shadow Demon is formless and intangible, specializing in attacking a cultivator's spiritual sense, making it impossible to defend against!
"Form the formation!" Fu Changlei roared, and lightning surged, transforming into a lightning barrier to protect everyone.

Fu Qingyun gritted his teeth and swung his sword, unleashing a torrent of sword energy, but it was as if he had slashed into the void, having no effect whatsoever!

"Physical attacks are ineffective!" Fu Qingyun said urgently.

"Attack with divine sense!" Fu Changlei shouted, simultaneously forming hand seals, and a lightning talisman instantly condensed, blasting towards the Shadow Demon!

"boom!"

Lightning exploded, and the Shadow Demon let out a shrill roar as its body twisted and disintegrated.

Just now.

The remaining Shadow Demons, who had been hiding in a corner, roared out from all directions.

"Oops!"

Fu Changlei's expression changed.

He was no match for four people and simply couldn't take care of so many clansmen.

in the crowd.

Fu Qingyun moved.

A slight smile played on his lips, a cold glint in his eyes, as he murmured, "Finally... I can have a good meal."

With a flick of his finger, a wisp of dark vine silently spread out from his sleeve, burrowing into the ground like a venomous snake, heading straight for the Shadow Demon!

"puff!"

The vines suddenly pierced into the Shadow Demon's body!

Shadow Demon froze, his crimson eyes widening suddenly as if he had encountered his natural enemy!
"hiss--!"

It struggled frantically, but could not break free, and could only watch helplessly as its demonic energy was devoured by the vines!

In just a few breaths, the Shadow Demon's body deflated like a punctured sack, quickly shriveling up and finally turning into a wisp of black smoke, disappearing without a trace.

In panic.

No one noticed his little actions at all.

"Boom!"

As the bells on the city wall rang.

The swarming Shadow Demons receded like a tide, and the crowd, who had thought they were doomed, breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Even a simple patrol today has been so dangerous.

They dared not imagine how intense the battle would be if they actually went to the battlefield.
-
After finishing the patrol and returning to the camp, Fu Changlei took Fu Qingyun directly into his tent and set up a soundproof barrier.

"Qingyun," Fu Changlei's voice was icy, "what exactly is your demonic vine?"

Fu Qingyun was stunned for a moment. He had been very careful, but he still got discovered. Considering that he would inevitably have to use the Devouring Demon Vine frequently in the future, he stopped hiding it. After arriving at the Demon Suppression Pass, he found that the laws here were very lenient. As long as you were not a traitor, no one cared what kind of cultivation path you took.

after all.

This is the gathering place of four major forces: the Great Zhou Dynasty, the far west, the Northern Frontier Witch Clan, and the Eastern Wilderness Tribes.

Fu Qingyun smiled slightly: "Uncle Changlei, why ask a question you already know the answer to? Haven't you already guessed it about the Devouring Demon Vine?"

Fu Changlei's eyes flashed with lightning: "The Devouring Demon Vine is a forbidden object. Do you know what the consequences will be if it gets out of control?"

Fu Qingyun's expression remained unchanged: "I know."

"Then you still dare to cultivate?!" Fu Changlei roared angrily.

Fu Qingyun raised her eyes, a hint of madness flashing in them: "Because... I need power."

He slowly raised his hand, and a wisp of dark demonic vine appeared in his palm. He whispered, "In the Fu family, I will always be a marginal figure, but here... I can become stronger!"

Fu Changlei remained silent for a long time before finally saying, "I can disregard how you use this thing, but you must promise me two things."

"First and foremost, we must never devour fellow cultivators!"

“Secondly, if the Demon Vine goes out of control, I will kill you myself.” Fu Qingyun smiled slightly, a glint of cunning in his eyes: “Deal.”
-
That night, Fu Qingyun stood alone at the edge of the camp, gazing at the surging demonic energy in the distance, her fingertips gently stroking the demonic vines wrapped around her wrist.

"It's not enough... I need more..."

A slight smile played on his lips as he muttered to himself, "Shadow Fiend... truly a delicious prey."

Meanwhile, on the other side of the camp, Fu Changlei stood on a high place, gazing intently at Fu Qingyun's back.

"Magic Vine... I hope you won't disappoint me."

He gripped the Thunderclap Mace tightly, lightning flashing in his palm.

—If Fu Qingyun can truly control the Demon Vine, perhaps… it will become a sharp weapon for the Fu family in Zhenmo Pass.

But what if it gets out of control...

A resolute glint flashed in his eyes.

"I will end your life myself."

Within the Valley of Broken Souls, the gray mist writhed like a living creature.

The moment Fu Molan stepped inside, she felt a cold gaze fixed on her back.

The valley is filled with jagged rocks that twist in the mist into the shape of a hanging demon, with dark red liquid seeping from the cracks and emitting a rusty, bloody smell.

"Watch your step." Master Yu suddenly grabbed Fu Molan.

She looked down and saw that the ground was covered with white bones, each step producing a sickening cracking sound. Fresh flesh and blood still clung to the bones, indicating that someone had recently perished there.

"Chuckle, chuckle"

An eerie laugh came from the fog.

Fu Molan's grip on the sword tightened slightly, and the frost that had condensed on the blade suddenly moved without any wind—this was a warning from the sword's aura!
boom!
Dozens of bluish-gray arms burst from the ground, each hand with three-inch-long, jet-black fingernails.

"this…"

Fu Molan felt a chill run down her spine.

Because these arms are connected to fleshy tendrils resembling blood vessels at their base, which writhe wildly in the air.

Master Yu gulped down a mouthful of strong liquor, the spray forming a fiery net in the air, sizzling as it burned the arms.

"It's Blood Corpse Vine!" His expression changed drastically. "If you get entangled by this thing, your flesh and blood will be sucked dry."

Before he finished speaking, the ground suddenly rose up.

A decaying corpse dressed in a Taoist robe burst from the ground; its rotting face still vaguely resembled that of a disciple of some sect. Numerous fleshy tendrils sprouted from its abdominal cavity, shooting towards the two like living snakes.

“Stand back!”

Master Yu threw out three purple talismans.

The talisman spontaneously combusted in mid-air, transforming into three lightning dragons that hurtled towards the rotting corpse. Just as the lightning was about to strike, the corpse mysteriously split into seven, one of which suddenly appeared behind Fu Molan!
"Ding!"

Fu Molan swung her sword backhand, but the blade was caught in the bite of the rotting corpse.

Those gleaming white teeth were actually gnawing at her sword energy!
"You're courting death!" Master Yu threw out his wine gourd, and a ghostly blue flame spewed from its mouth, burning the rotting corpse into charcoal.

"This is the corpse-refining technique of the Yin Sha Sect." He panted as he put away his wine gourd. "It seems someone is deliberately raising corpses here."

The two had only taken a few steps.

Rumble!
Suddenly, the entire valley began to tremble.

The white bones on the ground floated up and formed a giant skeleton three zhang tall in the air. Green will-o'-the-wisps flickered in its empty eye sockets, and its jaw opened and closed with a deafening shriek.

"A White Bone Demon Lord at the Golden Core stage!" Master Yu's pupils constricted, and he bit his tongue sharply, spitting his blood essence onto the wine gourd. "Girl, lend me a wisp of sword energy!"

Without hesitation, Fu Molan pointed her fingers and unleashed a sword beam.

Master Yu made hand seals and chanted incantations, causing the wine gourd to expand several times over, actually fusing the sword energy and blood wine into a stream of crimson-gold light. The skeleton had just raised its bone claws when it was pierced through the chest by the stream of light, letting out a shrill wail.

"Now's the time!"

The two rushed into the depths of the valley.

A deafening roar, like a mountain collapsing and the earth splitting, came from behind as the skeleton frantically reformed. Master Yu suddenly pulled a bronze compass from his sleeve; the pointer spun wildly before pointing to a rock wall.

"There's a natural illusion array here, quick!" He took out a handful of cinnabar and sprinkled it onto the rock wall, whereupon dense runes appeared. With the final incantation, the two figures instantly disappeared into the rock wall.

Inside the illusion array, Fu Molan noticed that Master Yu's face was ashen, and his hand holding the gourd was trembling uncontrollably. This senior, who was always jovial and sarcastic, was now finally showing signs of exhaustion.

"you"

"It's alright." Master Yu waved his hand, took out a human skin talisman, bit his tongue and spat out a mist of blood. The talisman transformed into the appearance of Fu Molan, except that ghostly green flames flickered in her eye sockets.

When Granny Silver Flower stepped into the Valley of Broken Souls, the surrounding evil spirits all gave way, as if afraid of her aura. She sneered, made a hand seal with her fingertips, and a wisp of black mist floated out from her sleeve, transforming into a skull in the air and flying in a certain direction.

"You little bitch, you're pretty fast."

Following the scent, she soon arrived at a narrow cave. The entrance was covered by vines, but she could vaguely sense the residual spiritual energy fluctuations inside.

"Heh, you think you can hide here and I won't find you?"

With a flick of her sleeve, Granny Silver Flower caused the vines to wither instantly, and she strode into the cave. However, after only a few steps, a blinding golden light suddenly shone beneath her feet—

"boom!"

The entire cave collapsed instantly!

Granny Silver Flower roared, unleashing a burst of black energy that shattered the falling rocks. However, just as she emerged from the ruins, she was met with a sharp sword light!
"You're courting death!" She raised her hand and grabbed, shattering the sword light, but upon closer inspection, there was no Fu Molan in front of her. There was only a burnt-out talisman!

"An illusion?!" Granny Silver Flower was furious, only then realizing that she had been deceived.

Just now.

Gurgling.

Suddenly, black water seeped from the ground beneath her feet, but the reflection on the water's surface was not of her, but of countless distorted skull faces.

"Wow--"

Five jets of water shot into the sky, condensing in mid-air into pale white bone claws, each knuckle dripping with highly corrosive Yellow Spring Yin Water.

"Pretend to be a ghost!"

Granny Yinhua snorted coldly.

The "Mysterious Netherworld True Water Pendant" hanging from his waist shone brightly with blue light, and three layers of water curtain barriers instantly appeared around him.

"You mere watery bone structure dares to show off before me?"

A crystal-clear "Frosty Marrow Ice Soul Sword" flew out from her sleeve, its blade flowing with liquid frost.

With a flick of her sword, the countless bone claws instantly froze into ice.

Wow!

The true form of the White Bone Demon Lord finally rose from the pool.

Its entire skeleton is translucent, and its bone marrow flows with a ghostly blue light. With each step it takes, viscous black water seeps out from the gaps in its bones. A beating black heart floats in its chest cavity, and more than a dozen struggling cultivator souls are sealed inside!

"A demonic entity at the Golden Core stage?!"

Granny Silver Flower's pupils contracted, and suddenly a "Thousand Waves Overlapping Peaks Flag" appeared in her hand. As the flag fluttered, all the moisture in the entire valley was drawn away, forming a hundred-foot-high tsunami phantom above her head.

"boom!"

A giant wave crashed down.

The White Bone Demon Lord collapsed with a crash.

Granny Yinhua showed no joy whatsoever; instead, she frowned.

But then, the demon bone that fell into the water was covered with dense water ripples and runes, which quickly rearranged and transformed into nine water bone clones in an instant.

"this…"

Grandma Yinhua felt a chill run down her spine.

Rumble!
As the incantation of the Water Bone began.

The ground suddenly turned into a churning pool of blood.

Countless pale arms reached out with lightning speed to grab at Granny Silver Flower.

A critical moment.

The "Azure Wave Calming Hairpin" on her hair bun flew out automatically, and the head of the hairpin burst out with dazzling blue light.

"Condensation!"

Centered on her, the blood within a ten-foot radius instantly solidified into blue ice. The movements of those water-bone clones immediately slowed down.

Too late and things will change.

Granny Yinhua no longer held back and seized the opportunity to unleash her natal magic weapon, the "Heavenly River Weak Water Bottle." As the bottle tilted, a drop of Xuanming True Water, heavy as a thousand pounds, crashed down.

"Boom!"

It was like the resounding beat of a heavenly drum.

The three water-bone clones that were the first to be hit immediately disintegrated.

But the remaining six suddenly merged, and the demonic bone itself thrust forward, wielding a longsword formed from its spine.

Zizizi!
Wherever the sword's edge passed, even the air froze!
Granny Yinhua retreated rapidly, and a "Gui Water Yin Thunder" flew out from her sleeve.

boom!
The thunder pearl collided with the sword's edge.

What exploded was not fire, but an extremely cold mist powerful enough to freeze and shatter a golden core.

The demon bone's movements faltered.

Granny Yinhua immediately bit her finger and drew a blood talisman in the air:
"Nine Netherworlds and Hellish Waters, heed my command!"

A sudden downpour of black rain fell from the sky, each drop as heavy as lead and mercury. The demonic bone was dented by the impact, and its heart cracked. Enraged, it tore open its ribs, revealing the divine souls sealed within its heart—those souls suddenly let out a piercing wail:
"Roar!"

The sound waves caused Granny Silver Flower to bleed from all seven orifices.

"Is this beast going to fight to the death?"

With a sinister grin, she removed her earrings, revealing two grains of "Weak Water Divine Sand." The divine sand dissolved upon contact with water, and the entire pool of blood suddenly formed a massive whirlpool.

"Ho ho ho—"

The demon bone panicked and tried to break free, only to find that the souls it had devoured were pulling its heart in the opposite direction!

"burst!"

As Granny Yinhua made a hand seal, the Weak Water Whirlpool exploded with a deafening roar.

Rumble!
As the mist dissipated, only half of the demonic bone's broken heart floated on the surface. She had just breathed a sigh of relief when the heart suddenly split open, and a beam of black light shot straight towards her brow!

"Mysterious Water Mirror!"

In the nick of time, the diamond-shaped water mirror hanging on her chest automatically protected her. The black light was refracted onto the distant mountain wall, corroding the entire peak into a honeycomb pattern. Granny Silver Flower, seeing her natal defensive magic weapon now cracked, finally showed a look of pain.

At this moment, her hair was disheveled, her robes were torn, and her left hand was ulcerated to the bone from being stained with the Yellow Spring water.

All of this was clearly a scheme set up by Fu Molan and that drunkard; the murderous intent in Granny Yinhua's eyes was almost tangible.

"You little bitch, just you wait, cough cough cough!"

She quickly swallowed a "Water Element Regeneration Pill," and her festering left arm began to wriggle and grow.

At the summit of Thunder Prison Peak, a fierce wind howled.

Dark, ominous clouds churned and coalesced in the sky, resembling a ferocious beast ready to devour its prey. The Lei Clan Chief sat cross-legged in the center of the altar, his purple Daoist robe fluttering in the wind, the lightning patterns on his garments gleaming with a dangerous light.

"Hahaha!" He suddenly threw his head back and laughed wildly, his laughter filled with madness. "A mere Golden Core Tribulation lightning dares to obstruct me?"

He slapped his dantian, and the precious fourth-grade Thunder Essence Pill flew out of his mouth, hovering three inches above his head. Fine dragon-shaped thunder patterns appeared on the surface of the pill, resonating with the array around the altar and emitting a deep hum.

"Boom!"

The first bolt of azure lightning tore through the sky, slashing down like a sword of divine punishment.

The Lei clan chief neither dodged nor evaded; instead, he spread his arms, allowing the lightning to pierce through his entire body. The electric light raged within him, spiderweb-like cracks appeared on his skin, and the blood was evaporated by the intense heat before it could even flow.

“Ugh!”

He let out a roar that was a mixture of pain and pleasure, his teeth grinding together. The ancient runes carved on the altar lit up one after another, channeling most of the lightning tribulation power into the ground, instantly turning the rocks within a hundred feet in radius into dust.

After the lightning subsided.

Chief Lei spat out a mouthful of blood crackling with electricity, but his laughter grew even more maniacal:

"Not enough! More!"

The second bolt of lightning was purplish-black, as thick as an adult's waist, and struck down with an aura of annihilation. This time, the Thunder Clan Chief finally showed a solemn expression, forming hand seals and setting up seven layers of lightning barriers in front of him.

"Crack!"

The barriers shattered one after another, and lightning struck the Thunder Essence Pill overhead. Spiderweb-like cracks immediately appeared on the surface of the pill, and dazzling purple light shot out from the cracks.

"Break for me!"

Chief Lei roared and unleashed his full power in activating his cultivation technique. With a crisp "crack," the Lei Yuan Dan shattered completely, turning into a cloud of purple mist which he inhaled into his stomach.

"puff--"

He spat out a mouthful of blood, blood seeping from every pore of his body, making him look like a blood-soaked figure. But his eyes shone with a frightening light, filled with madness and triumph.

In the sky, the tribulation clouds began to slowly dissipate, and the tribulation ended after only two bolts of lightning struck.

"That's it?" Clan Chief Lei staggered to his feet, wiping the blood from his face, his voice hoarse. "The legendary Golden Core Tribulation is nothing more than this!"

Elder Lei Ming stood at the edge of the altar, his brows furrowed as he gazed at the murky golden core phantom in the patriarch's dantian.

This golden core was dull in color and its spiritual energy fluctuations were chaotic and disordered, clearly indicating that it was a low-grade ninth-rank golden core.

Not even a single drop of rain fell after the disaster!
"Congratulations, Clan Chief, on achieving the Golden Core Dao!" The Second Elder was the first to kneel and shout, his voice full of flattery. "From this day forward, the Lei family shall be the leader of Wuzhou!"

Chief Lei felt the surging yet complex spiritual energy within his body and nodded in satisfaction.

With a casual wave of his hand, a bolt of purple lightning shattered a boulder thirty feet away, sending debris flying as he laughed loudly to the sky:
"Pass down the order: the Golden Core Ceremony will be held in one month! Let all the prominent families of Wuzhou come to witness the rise of the Lei family!"

A month later, the Lei family's main hall was decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, but it could not hide the desolate atmosphere.

In the square in front of the palace, thirty-six thunder drums were lined up in a row, with a burly man bare-chested standing in front of each drum, holding a drumstick made of thunder-struck wood. At a command, the drummers swung their arms in unison.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The dull drumbeats were like thunder, yet they couldn't dispel the gloom hanging over the celebration. The guests who came to watch the ceremony were sparse, with only a dozen or so representatives from minor families affiliated with the Lei family standing trembling in the corner.

"The Ouyang family didn't come?" Clan Chief Lei sat upright in the main seat, his face ashen.

"Master, the Ouyang family has sent congratulatory gifts, saying that with the family competition approaching, they are simply unable to attend." The steward's voice trailed off.

"What about the Cao family?"

"The Cao family says that the Cao clan patriarch is currently in seclusion."

"The Wu family?"

"The Wu family said"

"Enough!" Clan Chief Lei slammed his hand on the armrest, instantly reducing the sandalwood armrest to dust. His eyes flashed with lightning, his voice as cold as the depths of hell: "Fine, very well. Fu Changsheng is dead, yet these aristocratic families still dare to treat me with such disrespect?"

The entire hall was deathly silent. Yun He, the patriarch of the Yun family who had come to present gifts, wiped the cold sweat from his brow; the gift list in his hand was already soaked with sweat. He forced himself to take a step forward, his voice trembling:

"The Yun family has presented ten third-grade spiritual herbs, one third-grade lightning-attribute ore, and five hundred mid-grade spirit stones."

"That's it?" Clan Chief Lei suddenly spoke, his voice not loud but instantly silencing the entire hall. He slowly rose, and the lightning patterns embroidered on his purple Daoist robe seemed to come alive, shimmering and dancing on the surface of the fabric.

Yunhe's legs went weak, and he knelt down on the ground: "Senior Lei, please forgive me."

A bolt of purple lightning flashed, and Yunhe was sent flying, crashing heavily into a pillar in the hall. His chest was charred black, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, but he dared not utter a word of complaint. Instead, he struggled to his feet and kowtowed repeatedly.

"Within three days, provide five times the amount of the congratulatory gift," Chief Lei said slowly, a cold glint in his eyes. "Otherwise, I will personally make a trip to your Yun family."

Seeing this, representatives from other prominent families secretly sent messages, urging their clansmen to prepare even more valuable gifts. The entire celebration ended hastily in an atmosphere of extreme oppression.

Late at night, in the most secret room of the Lei family.

Chief Lei respectfully poured a cup of century-old spirit wine for the Seventh Prince. In the candlelight, the young prince was pale, with dark circles under his eyes, and his body reeked of a mixture of perfume and alcohol, clearly from excessive indulgence.

“Grandfather, there’s no need for such formalities.” The Seventh Prince waved his hand lazily, his voice tinged with a hint of drunkenness. “Now that you have achieved the Core Formation stage, I will naturally do my utmost to assist you in advancing to the sixth-rank aristocratic family.”

A hint of smugness flashed in Chief Lei's eyes, but he quickly concealed it: "Thank you, Your Highness. However..." He hesitated.

"The Fu family?" The Seventh Prince scoffed, downing his wine in one gulp. "What trouble can a family without its head possibly cause?"

He suddenly lowered his voice:
"However, maternal grandfather, you must be careful. There are rumors in the court that Fu Changsheng may have faked his death."

"suspended animation?"

Chief Lei's pupils contracted sharply, and the wine cup in his hand cracked with a "crack".

Rumor has it that Fu Changsheng has condensed a rare first-grade golden core. If he is truly not dead, breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage in the future is almost a certainty. Thinking of Fu Changsheng's vengeful nature, Clan Chief Lei felt a cold sweat break out on his back.

Seeing this, the Seventh Prince waved his hand dismissively:

"Grandfather, there's no need to worry too much. Even if Fu Changsheng isn't dead, whether he'll live long enough to condense his Nascent Soul is still uncertain."

He smiled meaningfully and took out a jade slip from his sleeve:
"This is a copy of the imperial decree granting your favor. As long as my maternal grandfather can gather the necessary merits for promotion within six months, I guarantee your Lei family will be promoted to the sixth rank!"

"In addition, the new fiefdoms granted by the imperial court to sixth-rank noble families are said to have recently been secured. I will find a way to ensure that your family, the Fu family, receives such a fiefdom."

Clan Chief Lei accepted the jade slip with both hands, a ruthless glint in his eyes: "Thank you, Your Highness! However, I have decided to personally visit the Fu family tomorrow to investigate their true situation."

The Seventh Prince nodded, his eyes glazed with drunkenness, then suddenly lowered his voice and said, "By the way, things are tense in the court lately; that matter needs to be dealt with thoroughly."

Chief Lei's expression hardened, and he nodded solemnly: "Please rest assured, Your Highness, that batch of 'goods' has been properly handled and will absolutely not implicate the Prince's Mansion."

(End of this chapter)