Family Rise: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 498 The Secret Realm's Supreme Treasure, Yaoyao Forms Her Core, A Do-or-Die Battle

Jingzhou, Yunshan County
"Seclusion?" Fu Changli frowned. "Yaoyao, you've just experienced great sorrow; seclusion at this time would be too risky."

In front of the cave dwelling on the back mountain of the Fu family, Fu Yongyao stood calmly: "That's precisely why we need to stabilize our cultivation level as soon as possible. Aunt, don't worry, I have the Soul-Suppressing Hairpin to protect me."

Fu Changli hesitated, then finally sighed softly, "If you feel unwell, leave seclusion immediately."

“Of course.” Fu Yongyao nodded slightly, turned and stepped into the cave.

The moment the stone gate closed, twelve array flags flew out from her sleeve, setting up an illusion array within the cave. At the same time, a silver light shot out from her fingertips, piercing through the mountain and entering the earth's veins—this was the "Earth-Traveling Talisman" she had meticulously crafted over nineteen years, which could use the power of the earth's veins to perform earth-遁术 (earth-遁术 is a type of magic that allows one to escape through the earth), with a speed comparable to that of an early-stage Golden Core cultivator.

"Hidden Mist Valley, here I come."

A flash of silver light, and the cave was empty.

...

...

Deep within Hidden Mist Valley, the Heavenly Secrets Array continued to operate as usual. Seven hundred and thirty compasses floated in the air, forming a perfect three-dimensional array. Fu Yongyao, his silver hair flying, stood at the center of the array's core, his pale golden eyes reflecting countless flowing runes.

"The Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, the constellations in their proper places."

She formed a hand seal, and the Heavenly Mystery Array Plate within her Purple Mansion resonated with the external array. As the last hand seal was completed, all 730 compasses simultaneously lit up with dazzling golden light, weaving together in the air to form a colossal net that blotted out the sky.

"open!"

With a soft shout, golden light surged towards the entrance of the secret realm like a tide. The originally invisible barrier revealed its true form under the golden light—it was a semi-transparent light membrane with ancient runes flowing across its surface, each containing world-destroying power.

Fu Yongyao looked solemn.

Even with her fourth-tier array mastery, she dared not be careless in the face of such an ancient restriction. She lightly touched her brow with her fingertip, drawing out a wisp of her life essence blood to draw a blood-red talisman in the air.

"break!"

The crimson rune imprinted on the barrier spread rapidly, like a drop of ink falling into clear water. The barrier trembled violently, countless runes disintegrated and reformed, eventually forming a vortex-shaped channel at the center.

The moment the passage took shape, thunderclouds gathered in the sky, and a bolt of purple lightning as thick as a bucket crashed down.

"snort."

Fu Yongyao snorted coldly and waved his sleeve. The Heavenly Mystery Array instantly transformed, with 730 compasses forming a massive umbrella-shaped structure that absorbed all the lightning. The lightning flowed between the compasses, ultimately being channeled into the earth's veins and dissipating into nothingness.

"There really was something unusual," she murmured to herself. "Luckily, we were well-prepared."

After the passage stabilized, Fu Yongyao did not rush to enter. She took out a jade slip and placed it between her eyebrows, probing it with her divine sense—this was a map of the secret realm left to her by her father. Although it was incomplete, it marked the locations of several key restrictions.

"If my second brother is still alive, he should be in this area."

She lightly tapped a spot on the map with her fingertip, where an ancient temple was marked. Putting away the jade slip, Fu Yongyao took a deep breath and stepped into the passage.

...

...

The moment she passed through the barrier, she felt as if she had entered another world.

The spiritual energy in the air was so thin that it was almost imperceptible; instead, there was an ancient and decaying aura. Looking around, the secret realm stretched out endlessly, with rolling mountains in the distance and overgrown weeds nearby, a scene of utter desolation.

"Something's not right." Fu Yongyao frowned slightly. "According to Father, the spiritual energy in the secret realm should be abundant."

She tried to sense her second brother Fu Yongrong's aura, but it was like throwing a stone into the sea. Even stranger, her connection with the Heavenly Mystery Array became faint, as if it had been severed by some force.

"Let's find Second Brother first."

Fu Yongyao moved forward cautiously, each step carefully placed to avoid the faint, visible patterns of the ancient restrictions on the ground. Although these ancient restrictions were dilapidated over time, the occasional glimpses of danger reminded her that the slightest carelessness could lead to utter destruction.

Upon reaching a valley, she suddenly stopped. Her pale golden eyes narrowed slightly—several skeletons lay scattered on the ground ahead, their bones an eerie bluish-black, clearly indicating death by poisoning.

"The Three Yin Bone-Corroding Poison," Fu Yongyao recognized this ancient and rare poison. "It seems to be formed from the remains of an ancient cultivator."

Just as she was about to go around, the ground suddenly trembled violently! Dozens of withered arms burst from the earth, followed by a series of blue-faced, fanged corpse puppets. Ghostly green flames flickered in their eye sockets, and they were bound by jet-black chains—all clearly at the third tier of strength!
"A swarm of corpse puppets!" Fu Yongyao's expression changed slightly. A third-tier corpse puppet is equivalent to a Purple Mansion cultivator. Although a single one is not a threat, dozens of them attacking together would force even a Golden Core cultivator to temporarily retreat.

The corpse puppets emitted piercing shrieks and surged forward like a tidal wave. Fu Yongyao's silver hair flew wildly as her hands rapidly formed hand seals. Twelve array flags flew out from her sleeves, setting up the "Heavenly Net Array" around her.

"Sleepy!"

The array flags shone brightly, transforming into countless golden threads that intertwined into a net, firmly binding the first few corpse puppets that charged forward. However, more and more corpse puppets followed, and cracks quickly appeared in the array.

A bead of sweat appeared on Fu Yongyao's forehead. In the secluded realm where spiritual energy was scarce, the power of the formation was greatly reduced. She acted decisively, biting her tongue and spitting out a mouthful of blood essence:

"burst!"

The Heavenly Net Formation exploded with a deafening roar, the violent spiritual energy temporarily forcing back the horde of corpse puppets. Fu Yongyao seized the opportunity to retreat, but unexpectedly, he stepped into thin air—the ground suddenly collapsed, revealing a bottomless black hole!

"A forbidden trap!"

Before she could react, her body plummeted downwards. In that critical moment, the Soul-Suppressing Hairpin in Fu Yongyao's silver hair flew out automatically, forming a golden light barrier beneath her feet and slowing her fall.

...

...

"boom!"

She fell heavily to the ground, but Fu Yongyao endured the pain and quickly got up. The Soul-Suppressing Hairpin floated in front of her, emitting a soft golden light that illuminated the surrounding environment—it was a dilapidated ancient temple, with blood-red vines climbing all four walls, and a fox statue carved from blood jade enshrined in the center.

The fox is incredibly lifelike, with nine tails spread out like fans, and its eyes are like two living rubies, gleaming with an eerie light in the darkness.

"This is..." Fu Yongyao's pupils contracted sharply, "The Blood Jade Fox?"

She had seen related records in her family's ancient texts. The Blood Jade Fox was an ancient and exotic species, skilled in possessing and regenerating bodies, and preferred to reside in statues while waiting for prey to come to them.

Just as she cautiously retreated, the eyes of the Blood Jade Fox suddenly moved and stared straight at her!
"So many years have passed. Finally, a suitable body has been found." A chilling voice echoed within the temple. "Little girl, offer your body to me!"

The Blood Jade Fox statue exploded with a bang, and a stream of blood-red light rushed straight towards Fu Yongyao's brow!

At the critical moment, Fu Yongyao's bloodline suddenly surged! Her silver hair moved without wind, and nine illusory fox tails vaguely appeared behind her. A pressure originating from the depths of her bloodline spread out like a tide.

"Ah! This is... a nine-tailed celestial fox?!" A terrified scream came from within the blood-red light. "Impossible! How could a nine-tailed celestial fox exist in a hellish place like the mortal realm?!"

The crimson light seemed to be struck by lightning, its speed drastically reduced. Fu Yongyao seized the opportunity, forming hand seals, and the Soul-Suppressing Hairpin transformed into a golden light, piercing into the crimson light!
"seal up!"

A burst of golden light shone brightly, pinning the crimson light firmly in mid-air. The crimson light twisted and shifted, eventually manifesting as a palm-sized blood jade fox, bound by the golden light and unable to move.

"Spare me!" the Blood Jade Fox trembled. "This lowly demon was blind and disrespectful, offending Lord Celestial Fox!"

Fu Yongyao coldly looked down at it, a strange purple glint flashing in his pale golden eyes: "Trying to possess me?"

"No, no!" The Blood Jade Fox kowtowed repeatedly. "This lowly demon is willing to acknowledge you as my master, and will be loyal for all eternity!"

Fu Yongyao pondered for a moment. Although the Blood Jade Fox was insidious, it did possess some abilities. If he could subdue it, it would greatly benefit his exploration of the secret realm.

"Release your divine sense," she commanded.

The Blood Jade Fox dared not disobey and obediently opened its divine soul. Fu Yongyao condensed a drop of essence blood at his fingertip, drew a complex talisman in the air, and injected it into the Blood Jade Fox's brow.

"Ah!" The Blood Jade Fox writhed in pain, but quickly calmed down, a hint of awe appearing in its eyes. "Master."

Fu Yongyao nodded slightly: "Do you have a name?"

"The little demon's name in life was 'Chixiao'," the Blood Jade Fox said respectfully.

"Chixiao, are there any Core Formation spiritual objects in this secret realm?" Fu Yongyao went straight to the point.

Chi Xiao's eyes darted around: "Yes! There's a 'Spiritual Marrow Spring' in the chaotic graveyard of Beichuan in the secret realm. A single drop condenses every thousand years and can help a cultivator at the peak of the Purple Mansion realm form their Core. However..."

"But what?"

"That place is guarded by an ancient corpse king. In life, he was a pseudo-Nascent Soul cultivator; after death, he transformed into a corpse king. Although his strength has greatly diminished, he still possesses the power of a Golden Core cultivator." Chi Xiao shrank his neck. "Although Master has the bloodline of a Heavenly Fox, his cultivation is still shallow."

Fu Yongyao interrupted, "Has my second brother, Fu Yongrong, ever been to this place?"

Yao Yao took out the portrait.

Chi Xiao glanced at it, pondered for a moment, and then nodded, saying, "A few decades ago, someone did enter the secret realm. That man bore some resemblance to our master. He went to the central area of ​​the secret realm and never came out again."

Fu Yongyao's heart tightened. She had to find her second brother as soon as possible, no matter what dangers lay ahead.

"Lead the way." She put away the Soul-Suppressing Hairpin, her expression resolute. "To the central area."

"Master, please reconsider!" Chi Xiao cried out anxiously, "The central area is protected by an ancient restriction; anyone who doesn't possess the Golden Core cultivation level will surely die if they enter! Even if you have the Heavenly Fox bloodline..."

Fu Yongyao paused, his pale golden eyes narrowing slightly: "Are you sure?"

"Absolutely true!" Chi Xiao raised a forepaw as if swearing an oath. "That restriction is specifically designed to counter demons. Although you possess the bloodline of a celestial fox, your cultivation has not yet reached the Golden Core stage. Going in would be suicide!"

Inside the ancient temple, entwined with crimson vines, Fu Yongyao's silver hair fell loose, her fingertips unconsciously caressing the Soul-Suppressing Hairpin. The hairpin sent a cool sensation through her, as if her father were guiding her from the shadows.

"The Spirit Marrow Spring," she murmured softly, "how long will it take?"

Chi Xiao's eyes lit up: "If the plan goes smoothly, a few months should be enough! Although that Corpse King is strong, it's not very intelligent. Master will trap it with an array, and I'll take the opportunity to seize the spring. After I succeed, I'll immediately escape."

Fu Yongyao interrupted it: "What is the Corpse King's cultivation level?"

"It was a false infant in life, and fell to the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm after death." Chi Xiao shrank his neck. "However, it was suppressed by the rules of the secret realm, and its actual strength was only about the early-stage of the Golden Core realm."

A calculating glint flashed in Fu Yongyao's pale golden eyes. The Heavenly Mystery Array Plate within his Purple Mansion spun rapidly, deducing various possibilities.

“Not enough,” she suddenly said. “The trapping formation alone is insufficient to restrain a Golden Core level Corpse King.”

Just as Chi Xiao was about to speak, he saw Fu Yongyao take out an object from his storage bag—a completely black bead with blood-red patterns on its surface.

"The Yin Thunder Pearl?!" Chi Xiao exclaimed in shock, his hair standing on end. "Master actually possesses such a powerful weapon!"

"A gift from my father." Fu Yongyao gently stroked the bead with his fingertips, a hint of nostalgia flashing in his eyes. "It was originally meant to save my life, but now it comes in handy."

She retrieved the Yin Thunder Pearl and took out twelve silver array flags. These flags were different from the ones she had used before; they were embroidered with intricate star patterns and faintly shimmered with light.

Chi Xiao stared in disbelief at the "Zhou Tian Xing Dou Flag," exclaiming, "My master truly lives up to his reputation as a master of formations; he even possesses such a treasure!"

Fu Yongyao remained noncommittal, simply saying, "Tell me the specifics of the Spirit Marrow Spring."

Chi Xiao quickly became serious and said, "The spring is located deep within the chaotic graveyard of Beichuan, concealed by the Corpse King's Yin energy. Every month at noon, the Corpse King leaves the spring for half an hour to absorb Yin energy outside the graveyard."

"Noon," Fu Yongyao said thoughtfully, "the time when Yang energy is at its peak, yet it needs to replenish Yin energy."

"Exactly!" Chixiao clapped his hands. "This indicates that the Corpse King's Yin energy is unbalanced and needs to be replenished regularly. We can take advantage of this opportunity..."

Fu Yongyao raised her hand to stop it from continuing. She closed her eyes and concentrated, and the Heavenly Mystery Array Plate projected a three-dimensional image into her Purple Mansion—the terrain of Beichuan, the activity patterns of the Corpse King, and the flow trajectory of Yin Qi. Countless pieces of information intertwined into a network.

“No, we won’t act at noon.” She suddenly opened her eyes, her pupils gleaming with golden light. “We’ll choose midnight, when the yin energy is at its strongest.”

Chi Xiao was stunned: "But the Corpse King was at his strongest then!"

"That's precisely why it lowered its guard," Fu Yongyao said with a slight smile. "And..."

She tapped her fingertip, and a diagram of spiritual energy appeared in the air: "At midnight, yin energy surges upward, temporarily weakening the protective barrier of the Spirit Marrow Spring. More importantly—"

The diagram suddenly changed, revealing the underground spiritual vein's trajectory: "At that time, the yin energy of the earth veins and the Corpse King were one. If the Yin Thunder Pearl were used to detonate the earth vein nodes..."

Chi Xiao gasped, "Master, are you trying to create a rampage of Yin energy to suppress the Corpse King?"

“Not bad.” Fu Yongyao put away the diagram. “However, before that, you need to scout the way first.”

Chi Xiao's hair stood on end: "Me...me, me alone?"

"You are a spirit, and you are familiar with the environment of this secret realm," Fu Yongyao said calmly. "Go and mark a few key locations, especially the exact locations of the leyline nodes and the Spirit Marrow Spring."

Seeing that Chi Xiao was still trying to refuse, Fu Yongyao suddenly ignited a wisp of purple foxfire at his fingertips: "Or, would you like to experience the feeling of your bloodline burning your soul again?"

"I'm going! Right now!" Chi Xiao darted out of the temple gate in a flash, his voice carrying far, "Master, wait for my good news!"

Only after Chi Xiao left did Fu Yongyao's expression relax slightly. She gently touched the wooden hairpin in her hair and murmured to herself, "Father, Yaoyao will not let you down."

...

...

Two weeks later, at midnight.

The mass graves of Beichuan were shrouded in thick, inky darkness, with howling winds whipping up the stark white bones scattered on the ground. Fu Yongyao hid behind a boulder, her silver hair dyed black with a special potion, and her plain white dress replaced with night clothes.

"Master, everything is marked." Chi Xiao transformed into a streak of blood-red light and slipped into her sleeve. "The ley line node is three zhang below the Corpse King's throne, and the Spirit Marrow Spring is in the cave behind it."

Fu Yongyao nodded slightly, took out twelve Zhou Tian Star Flags, and inserted them into the ground in a specific order. Each flag entering the ground caused a subtle fluctuation of spiritual energy, but it was quickly covered by the dense Yin energy around them.

"Remember, after the Yin Thunder Pearl detonates, you only have ten breaths to extract the spiritual essence," she cautioned. "Do not be distracted."

Chi Xiao nodded nervously, "Master, rest assured, this little demon knows what's important."

Fu Yongyao said no more, forming hand seals, and the Heavenly Mystery Array Plate within his Purple Mansion resonated with the Zhou Tian Star Array. The twelve array flags lit up silently, and starlight-like silver threads intertwined into a net underground, waiting for the moment of detonation.

“They’re here,” Chixiao suddenly whispered.

In the distance, a tall figure slowly approached. It was a giant clad in tattered armor, its exposed skin a bluish-gray, with eerie green flames flickering in its eye sockets. With each step it took, the ground trembled slightly, and the surrounding yin energy converged upon it as if paying homage to a king.

Golden Core level Corpse King!
Fu Yongyao held her breath and concentrated, concealing her aura to the extreme. The Corpse King seemed to sense something, suddenly stopping and looking towards where she was hiding.

Chi Xiao huddled up in fear. Just at this critical moment, Fu Yongyao flicked his finger, and a piece of beast bone that had been prepared beforehand flew out from the bushes in the distance.

"Crack!"

The Corpse King was immediately attracted by the sound and turned to walk in that direction. Fu Yongyao took the opportunity to activate the last array pattern, and the entire Zhou Tian Star Array entered a state of readiness.

"Get ready," she transmitted to Chi Xiao telepathically.

The Corpse King returned to its "throne"—a giant rock covered in eerie runes—and began absorbing the earth's yin energy. With each breath, a visible vortex of yin energy formed around it.

Fu Yongyao waited patiently until midnight, when the yin energy was at its peak.

"Now!"

She suddenly crushed the jade talisman in her hand! The twelve pre-placed array points simultaneously activated, and the Zhou Tian Star Array instantly took effect, enveloping the Corpse King and its throne within it.

"Roar--!"

The Corpse King rose in a rage, only to see Fu Yongyao already appear outside the formation, his Yin Thunder Pearl drawing an arc and landing precisely three zhang below its seat!

"burst!"

"boom!!!"

Amidst the earth-shaking roar, the Yin Thunder Pearl detonated the earth's vein nodes, unleashing a torrent of violent Yin energy that erupted like a volcano. The Corpse King was the first to be hit, suffering a backlash from the very Yin energy it relied on for survival, and let out a piercing howl.

"Chixiao!" Fu Yongyao shouted sharply.

The Blood Jade Fox transformed into a streak of light and darted towards the cave behind. Fu Yongyao, on the other hand, was doing his best to maintain the formation, fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead. Although the Corpse King was severely injured, its Golden Core level strength was not to be underestimated. It frantically attacked the formation walls, and each impact caused Fu Yongyao's blood and qi to surge.

"Five breaths. Six breaths," she counted silently in her mind, a trickle of blood spilling from the corner of her mouth.

Just as the formation was about to collapse, Chi Xiao finally returned, holding a jade bottle in his arms containing three drops of crystal-clear liquid.

"Got it!" it shrieked.

Fu Yongyao immediately changed his formation, switching the Zhou Tian Xing Dou Formation from "trapped" to "illusion," and simultaneously threw out three talismans that transformed into their phantoms, escaping in different directions.

"Walk!"

She grabbed Chixiao and used earth-遁术 (earth-遁术 is a type of magic that allows one to escape into the ground). Behind her came the deafening roar of the Corpse King, and the entire mass grave trembled.
Half an hour later, in a cave ten miles away from Beichuan.

Fu Yongyao sat cross-legged, her face pale, trying to regulate her breathing. Forcibly trapping the Golden Core level Corpse King and continuously using high-level escape techniques had almost exhausted her spiritual power.

"Master, the spiritual essence is here." Chi Xiao presented the jade bottle as if offering a treasure. "Exactly three drops, enough for core formation." Fu Yongyao took the jade bottle, feeling the surging spiritual power within, and a hint of joy finally appeared in his eyes.

"Well done," she said, a rare compliment from her.

Chi Xiao was flattered and about to speak when his ears suddenly twitched: "Oh no! The Corpse King is coming!"

The ground trembled slightly, and a loud crash of falling trees echoed in the distance. Fu Yongyao's expression hardened—he hadn't expected the Corpse King to break free of the array's illusion so quickly.

"Master, go first!" Chi Xiao said urgently, "I'll go out and hold it off for a while!"

Fu Yongyao shook his head: "It's too late."

She quickly set up a concealment array at the cave entrance, and at the same time took out all the remaining array flags to set up the last line of defense inside the cave.

"Roar--!"

The Corpse King has arrived at the foot of the mountain. It has clearly locked onto the spiritual essence aura in some way and is rushing up the mountain recklessly.
-
“Crack—”

The last defensive array at the cave entrance shattered like thin ice, and the Corpse King's bluish-gray giant hand pierced through the stone wall, instantly flooding the cave with putrid yin energy. Fu Yongyao felt a sweet taste in his throat and forcibly swallowed the blood that welled up in his mouth.

"Master!" Chi Xiao shrieked, jumping onto her shoulder. "The entire formation is broken!"

Fu Yongyao did not respond, his pale golden eyes fixed on the giant hand whose cracks were widening. The Heavenly Mystery Array Plate within his Purple Mansion was spinning wildly, but it could not deduce any way out—his spiritual power was exhausted, his array flags were used up, and even the Soul-Suppressing Hairpin had cracked during the escape.

The Corpse King's hideous face squeezed in from the crack, his eerie green eyes locking onto the spirit marrow jade bottle in her hand, and a greedy arc stretched out from the corners of his rotting mouth.

"hand over."

The hoarse voice, like sandpaper scraping, carried the scent of death.

Fu Yongyao's fingertips turned cold. Never before had she felt death so clearly approaching—not as a master of formations strategizing, but as a Purple Mansion cultivator with depleted spiritual energy, facing an absolute power gap.

In that life-or-death moment, a scene suddenly flashed through her mind: Master Yu, his eyes glazed with drunkenness, shoved a worn-out chessboard into her hands, muttering reeking of alcohol—"Girl, when you're on the verge of death... hiccup... use this."

At the time, she thought it was just drunken talk. The chessboard looked like it was made of ordinary pine wood, with a missing corner on the edge. It wasn't even a basic array device.

"Let's take a gamble."

Fu Yongyao bit his tongue hard, using the intense pain to unleash his last bit of spiritual power, and pulled out the tattered chessboard from the deepest part of his storage bag.

The chessboard felt weightless in his hand, its surface covered in scratches, even the nineteen horizontal and vertical lines were blurred. Chi Xiao's eyes widened: "Master, this..."

"Roar!"

The Corpse King had completely breached the cave entrance, its rotting giant hand slamming down! Fu Yongyao hesitated no longer, channeling all his spiritual power into the chessboard, while simultaneously activating his Heavenly Fox bloodline—

"Buzz!"

The chessboard suddenly trembled violently and burst forth with a blinding blue light! Countless crisscrossing phantoms appeared within that light, forming a massive, three-dimensional array that blotted out the sky and enveloped the entire cave.

The Corpse King's giant hand stopped abruptly three inches from Fu Yongyao's head, as if it had struck an invisible wall. It was filled with shock and rage, and fear appeared for the first time in its eerie green eyes.

"This is.?!"

Fu Yongyao was also stunned. She had never seen such a complex array structure before—every pattern in that blue light contained profound mysteries far beyond her comprehension, and even the Heavenly Mystery Array Plate in her Purple Mansion began to tremble uncontrollably.

The chessboard detached from her palm and floated in mid-air. The missing corner automatically filled in, transforming into the shape of a blue fox head, creating a wondrous resonance with the celestial fox bloodline within her.

"Qingqiu. Demon Suppression!" The Corpse King suddenly let out a terrified roar, his body beneath his tattered armor trembling violently. "No, impossible!"

Although Fu Yongyao didn't understand what the Corpse King was afraid of, her fighting instincts made her seize the opportunity immediately. She formed hand seals, guiding the blue light of the chessboard into a giant sword, which she slashed down at the Corpse King!

"cut!"

The giant azure sword slid silently down, leaving tiny cracks in the space it passed through. The Corpse King frantically raised his arm to block, but his arm was easily severed! Black, rotten blood gushed out, turning into wisps of azure smoke as it hit the ground.

"Roar--!"

The Corpse King let out a deafening roar, slamming its remaining arm into the ground. The entire cave shook violently, and countless rocks rained down from the ceiling. It seized the opportunity to turn and flee, the black blood dripping from its severed arm corroding deep furrows in the ground.

"Master, hurry and chase after it!" Chixiao cried urgently. "We can't let it get away!"

Fu Yongyao staggered and knelt on one knee. Activating the chessboard had almost drained her last bit of strength; she could barely stand. She managed to lift her head and saw the Corpse King crash through the mountain wall, fleeing in panic towards Beichuan.

Don't chase a desperate enemy.

Besides, she already had what she needed.

She took back the chessboard, panting.

When the chessboard returned to his palm, it had returned to its worn state, except for the faint warmth remaining on the fox head mark at the missing corner. Fu Yongyao stared at this seemingly ordinary object, a storm raging within him—

Who exactly is Grandpa Yu? And why does he possess such a priceless treasure?
Chi Xiao jumped to her side, gazing at the chessboard with awe: "Master, this... could this be the 'Qingqiu Chessboard'? The legendary treasure of the Qingqiu Fox Clan?"

"Qingqiu?" Fu Yongyao's heart skipped a beat. In the memories of the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox that she had awakened, it was mentioned that Qingqiu was the ancestral land of the Celestial Fox, and the Yitianpan was an acquired spiritual treasure that could evolve the stars in the heavens.

“No.” She examined the chessboard closely. “This should just be a replica. But even a replica is far beyond the capabilities of an ordinary cultivator.”

Put away the array plate.

"Walk!"

Fu Yongyao endured the burning pain in his meridians, grabbed Chi Xiao, and rushed out of the cave. The roar of the Corpse King gradually faded away behind him, but a suffocating sense of oppression still lingered in the air.

"Master, head east!" Chi Xiao peeked out from her sleeve. "The spiritual energy is most abundant six hundred miles away. Although it can't compare to the Spirit Marrow Spring, it's enough for Master to use when she forms her core in the future."

Fu Yongyao nodded slightly, the Soul-Suppressing Hairpin in her silver hair gleaming faintly, and she transformed into a blur as she swept across the wasteland. With each step she took, miniature array patterns automatically appeared beneath her feet, concealing her figure in the environment.

Wandering corpses occasionally darted among the withered trees and strange rocks along the way, but she skillfully avoided them all. Chi Xiao huddled close to her collar and whispered, "Master, that chessboard..."

“Let’s talk about it when it’s safe.” Fu Yongyao interrupted it, his pale golden eyes scanning the surroundings warily.

...

...

Several days later, a breathtaking view unfolded before them—in the center of a valley surrounded by ring-shaped mountain walls, a clear spring gurgled forth. Around the spring grew rare star-patterned grass, its naturally formed array of patterns on its leaves shimmering faintly in the moonlight.

"It really is the Starlight Spirit Eye!" Chi Xiao exclaimed in delight. "This kind of spirit eye changes with the movement of the stars, making it most suitable for the Celestial Fox clan to cultivate!"

Fu Yongyao remained motionless at the valley entrance. With a flick of her finger, three copper coins flew into the valley, forming a hexagram in the air.

"The trigram Kan (坎) above Gen (艮) signifies water and mountain difficulties." She frowned slightly. "There are obstacles, but one can cross great rivers."

"Master is also skilled in divination?" Chi Xiao's eyes widened.

"I know a little." Fu Yongyao put away the copper coins. "Grandpa Yu taught me."

She walked slowly into the valley, tossing down a flag every seven steps. By the time she reached the spring, the twelve flags had formed a perfect protective array. The spring water was crystal clear, its bottom covered with shimmering, star-like crystal fragments.

"This is it."

Fu Yongyao sat cross-legged and carefully examined the spirit marrow jade bottle. The three drops of spirit marrow were crystal clear, with cloud-like spiritual energy flowing inside, making it a top-grade Core Formation spiritual item.

“Master.” Chi Xiao suddenly jumped to her knees, hesitating to speak.

"explain."

"Forming the Core is no small matter," Chi Xiao said, rubbing his claws. "The lightning tribulation requires the protection of a magical treasure, and the inner demon tribulation requires a cleansing object. Although you have obtained the spiritual essence, your preparations are still incomplete. Perhaps..."

Fu Yongyao raised her hand to stop it from continuing. She took out the seemingly tattered chessboard, her fingertips lightly tracing the fox head mark on the chipped corner: "What do you think this is?"

Chi Xiao blinked.

How could it have forgotten this treasure?

A glint of purple light flashed in Fu Yongyao's eyes: "Although what Grandpa Yu gave me was a replica, this item is sufficient to withstand the lightning tribulation."

As she spoke, she placed the chessboard flat on her lap, bit her index finger, and let a drop of blood fall from the center. The moment the blood touched the chessboard, the blurry lines suddenly lit up with red light, and the nineteen lines of latitude and longitude seemed to writhe and recombine as if alive, eventually transforming into the pattern of a miniature protective mountain array.

"As for the inner demon tribulation," Fu Yongyao's silver hair moved without wind, and a faint nine-tailed phantom appeared behind him, "the Heavenly Fox Clan possesses the secret technique 'Mirror Flower, Water Moon,' which can reveal one's true nature."

Chixiao wanted to dissuade him, but seeing his master's eyes harden into an unwavering resolve, he could only bow his head and step back, saying, "This humble demon will protect my master."

Fu Yongyao said no more and first took a Jade Rejuvenation Pill to restore her magical power. After her spiritual power was replenished, she moved her hands like butterflies flitting among flowers, throwing out all the remaining array flags.

"The secrets of heaven form its bones, the stars its veins, the universe cycles endlessly, life never ceases!"

Seventy-two array flags were inserted into the ground, echoing the twelve main flags previously placed, forming a three-dimensional array. The star-patterned grass around the spring moved without wind, and the array patterns on the leaves detached from the grass and merged into the array.

Chi Xiao was dumbfounded. This kind of formation technique far exceeded the level of an ordinary fourth-level grandmaster.

Finally, Fu Yongyao suspended the chessboard three feet above his head. The chessboard slowly rotated, scattering starlight that connected with the grand formation below. From afar, the entire valley appeared to be covered by an inverted glass bowl, its outer walls shimmering with countless mysterious runes.

"Chixiao." Fu Yongyao closed his eyes and concentrated, "No matter what happens, no person or thing is allowed to approach within a thousand feet."

"Yes, sir!" The Blood Jade Fox leaped onto a high rock, its body swelling to over ten feet in size, transforming into a three-tailed blood fox. "This humble demon guarantees it with my life!"

...

...

"Close the mountain gate! Close the mountain gate now!"

Luo Youde, covered in blood, rolled into the Tianluomen Mountain Protection Formation like a lump of mud. His fat face trembled incessantly, and his Taoist robe was torn to shreds by the sword energy, making him look like a plucked fat chicken.

"Sect Leader?!" The mountain-guarding disciple stared dumbfounded at the usually arrogant pseudo-Core Formation cultivator. "The others?"

"They're all dead! Completely dead!" Luo Youde screamed hysterically, kicking the disciple in the chest. "Activate the 'Nine Netherworld Yellow Springs Formation' immediately! Quickly!"

At his command, all seventy-two peaks of Tianluomen simultaneously lit up with a ghostly green light. Thick fog surged from the earth's veins, instantly enveloping the entire mountain gate. Faintly, the sounds of ghosts wailing and wolves howling could be heard within the fog; this was Tianluomen's trump card for survival—a life-saving formation based on the earth's yin energy and crafted with the help of thousands of yin spirits.

Luo Youde slumped onto the sect leader's throne, his teacup trembling in his hand, oblivious to the tea spilling all over him. The image of that bloody night—Fu Yongxuan's sword sweeping across the land, annihilating hundreds of disciples—kept flashing through his mind.

"It's over. It's all over."

He trembled as he reached for his chest, where the Blood Escape Talisman had long since turned to ashes. If it weren't for this life-saving item, he would already be a corpse by now.

"Report—!" A disciple rushed into the main hall in a panic. "A sword light has been spotted in the southwest!"

Luo Youde slid off the chair, his obese body rolling half a circle on the floor before he finally got up: "Fu Yongxuan is here? Quick, get ready!"

"No, no," the disciple stammered, "I was just a passing cultivator."

Luo Youde let out a long sigh, then flew into a rage and slapped the disciple away: "Useless trash! If you dare to lie about military intelligence again, I'll extract your soul and refine it into the great formation!"

In the days that followed, the Tianluo Gate was filled with unease. Luo Youde was like a frightened bird, terrified at the slightest disturbance. He guarded the central point of the great formation day and night, even sleeping with the formation plate in his arms, fearing that Fu Yongxuan would suddenly come to kill him.

...

...

Soon after, an even more terrifying message arrived.

"What? Fu Changsheng...is dead?" The array plate in Luo Youde's hand clattered to the ground. "Possessed by Yin Kui Zhenren?"

Before him, a scout dressed in black knelt on the ground: "It's absolutely true. The Fu family has already set up a mourning hall, and all the prominent families in Yunzhou have sent people to offer their condolences."

Luo Youde's fat face twitched violently. Logically speaking, he should be happy that the Fu family lost a Golden Core cultivator, but at this moment he only felt a chill run from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

"It was me. I killed Fu Changsheng," he muttered to himself, cold sweat pouring down his back. "If I hadn't led the attack on Xuanxiao Mountain, how would Master Yin Kui have had a chance?"

He suddenly remembered something and grabbed the scout's collar: "What was Fu Yongxuan's reaction?"

The scout turned pale with ferocity at his狰狞 expression: "Fu... Fu Yongxuan has gone into seclusion, supposedly to avenge his father."

"It's over!" Luo Youde released his grip, staggering back a few steps. "He'll definitely come after me."

Even more terrifying is what's going on with Yin Kui Zhenren—that evil cultivator was clearly using Tianluo Sect as a pawn! The last operation was obviously meant to send them to their deaths; if he hadn't been lucky...
"No. I must reach the Core Formation stage." A glint of madness flashed in Luo Youde's eyes. "Only by reaching the Core Formation stage can I survive."

"Get out!" Luo Youde suddenly roared. "Without my order, no one is allowed to approach within a hundred feet of the main peak!"

After everyone had left, Luo Youde activated all the restrictions on the secret chamber, then spat out three mouthfuls of blood essence to set up three layers of soundproof barriers before collapsing to the ground. He took out a bronze mirror from the deepest part of his storage bag; the mirror was covered with cracks, yet it emitted a faint spiritual light.

"Master," Luo Youde choked back tears as he looked into the bronze mirror, "this disciple is incompetent, leading the Tianluo Sect to its doom."

The bronze mirror remained unresponsive. It was merely a ritual implement used to express longing; the true Master Tianluo had passed away three hundred years ago.

Luo Youde suddenly slapped himself hard across the face, and five red marks immediately appeared on his fat face.

"Now is not the time to cry!"

He gritted his teeth and stood up, went to the west wall of the secret chamber, bit his index finger and drew a blood talisman on the wall. The wall slid open silently, revealing a hidden compartment behind it. Inside, three items were neatly arranged: a jade slip, a box of bone powder, and half a jade pendant.

The jade slip contains the highest secret of the Tianluo Sect—the "Blood Marrow Nourishing Spirit Technique." This is an evil technique brought back from an ancient ruin by the sect's founder. It can forcibly accelerate the ripening of spiritual herbs using the essence and blood of cultivators, at a terrible cost but with astonishing results. For three hundred years, successive leaders of the Tianluo Sect have strictly adhered to the ancestral precepts and have never used it.

"Master, trembling, I hold up the jade slip. Today, I must break my vows."

A crazy plan flashed through his mind—to form a Golden Core! As long as he could achieve the Golden Core, he would have a chance to neutralize the poisonous Yuan Pill within him and save his life from Fu Yongxuan's revenge!

The key lies in the Yunxiang Grass in the "Heavenly Jade Pool" deep within the forbidden area.

...

...

At midnight, Luo Youde came alone to the forbidden area behind the mountain.

This seemingly ordinary herb garden actually hides a spiritual eye a hundred feet underground, where a three-foot-tall spiritual herb grows. Its stem is like jade, its leaves naturally adorned with cloud patterns, and at its tip hangs a fruit the size of a green jujube, emitting a faint fragrance.

Yunxiang Grass, a top-grade spiritual item for wood-type cultivators to form their core!
Luo Youde stared at the spiritual herb with fascination. This was the greatest treasure of the Tianluo Sect, meticulously cultivated by successive sect leaders for over four hundred years. Under normal growth conditions, it would take another ten years to mature.

"I can't wait any longer," he muttered to himself, taking out the box of bone powder from his robes. This was "Yin Marrow Powder" refined from the bones of three hundred cultivators, which, when combined with the "Blood Marrow Nourishing Spirit Technique," could forcibly stimulate the potential of spiritual herbs.

As the bone powder fell, the clear spiritual liquid in the Heavenly Jade Pool instantly turned dark green. Luo Youde quickly formed hand seals, carving a complex blood array on the ground. With each stroke, wisps of black energy seeped from the ground, gradually forming a hideous ghost face pattern on the edge of the pool.

"Someone! Bring up the offerings!"

At his command, hundreds of chained cultivators were brought in. These were rogue cultivators and cultivators from small families secretly captured by the Tianluo Sect in recent years, their cultivation levels ranging from Foundation Establishment to Purple Mansion. They looked at the blood array by the pool in terror, already guessing the fate that awaited them.

"Luo Youde! You'll die a horrible death!" an old man with chains piercing his collarbone cursed fiercely. "The Yun family of Qinglan Mountain will haunt you even as ghosts!"

Luo Youde ignored him, staring intently at Yun Xiangcao: "Fellow Daoists, it is your good fortune to help me form my core."

He made hand seals and chanted incantations, and the eighteen bronze pillars simultaneously lit up with blood-red patterns. The cultivators bound to them immediately let out shrill screams as their life essence was forcibly extracted, turning into streaks of blood that flew towards the jade pool.

"Blood Refining Spirit-Enhancing Technique!" A middle-aged cultivator's eyes widened in fury. "How dare you use such an evil technique!"

Luo Youde's fat face jiggled, revealing a smile more like a grimace: "Evil magic? Any magic that saves lives is good magic!"

As the essence blood was continuously injected, the originally clear pool water gradually turned dark red. The Yunxiang Grass seemed to be stimulated, its nine leaves trembled violently, and the silver veins began to glow with an eerie red light.

"not enough!"

Luo Youde raised his hand and cast a spell. The blood array immediately lit up with a dazzling red light, enveloping the remaining hundreds of cultivators at the same time.

Amidst piercing screams, their bodies shriveled at a visible speed, their essence and blood forcibly extracted, transforming into dozens of blood snakes that slithered toward Yunxiang Grass.

"Using blood as the catalyst, and marrow as the medium," Luo Youde chanted, a sickly blush rising on his obese face. "Seize the power of heaven and earth, reverse the cycle of yin and yang!"

The blood snake coiled around the Yunxiang grass, gradually staining its once verdant stems with crimson. The fruit at the top frantically absorbed the essence blood, swelling to more than double its size, and strange vascular patterns appeared on its surface.

As the last cultivator collapsed to the ground, turning into a dried corpse, the Yunxiang Grass suddenly erupted with a blinding burst of blood-red light. When the light dissipated, the fruit was fully ripe, its entire body crystal clear like jade, though faint black lines could be seen moving within it.

Overjoyed, Luo Youde rushed forward and carefully picked the fruit.

According to the jade slip, these artificially ripened Yunxiang fruits contain blood poison and must be taken in conjunction with the "Purifying Spirit Pill." He had already prepared everything.

"Master Fu Yongxuan," he grinned maliciously as he put the fruit into the jade box, "once I successfully form my core, I will make you pay for your crimes in blood!"

(End of this chapter)