Family Rise: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 499 Annihilation of the Heavenly Net! Ascending to the Fifth Rank!
"Thump—thump—thump—"

Three thunderous drumbeats resounded from the drum tower in the city center, the sound waves sweeping across the entire Demon-Controlling City like a tidal wave. These drumbeats were extraordinary; each one seemed to strike the heart, causing the blood and qi to surge. The people in the city opened their windows one after another, and saw squads of Fu family cultivators dressed in black battle robes gathering from all directions, rushing towards the aristocratic archway.

"It's a rallying order from the Conquest Hall!" A knowledgeable elder cultivator gasped. "The clan is getting serious."

Before the family's memorial archway, three hundred disciples of the Conquest Hall stood in formation. They were all dressed in black battle robes. Each of them carried a murderous aura, their eyes like knives, as if they were ready to draw their swords and drink blood at any moment.

On both sides of the archway, the cultivators from the Lei and Huang families were forced to step back, making way for this murderous group.

Chief Lei stood at the front of his own group, his expression shifting between anger and uncertainty.

He was furious all night after receiving the bad news about Zhenmo Pass last night, and now his eyes are bloodshot.

"Playing tricks."

Chief Lei spat out a few words through gritted teeth, but didn't actually step forward to stop them. Because he saw a figure in pure white standing at the highest point of the archway.

Today, Liu Meizhen has changed out of her usual elegant long dress and into a white, fitted outfit with a crimson belt around her waist. Her long hair is tied up high, making her look incredibly dashing. She holds a scroll of bamboo slips in her hand, her gaze sharp as lightning, sweeping over every face below.

“Everyone.”

Her voice wasn't loud, but it reached the ears of everyone present clearly, even the cultivators on the outermost edge could hear it perfectly. This was the ability of a half-step Golden Core cultivator to have their voice travel ten miles.

"I have gathered you all here today to announce something important."

Silence fell instantly beneath the archway.

Even the restless Lei family cultivators held their breath.

Liu Meizhen slowly unfolded the bamboo scroll in her hand, on which was a lifelike portrait of the deceased Fu family patriarch, Fu Changsheng.

"Several months ago, my husband, Fu Changsheng, encountered an accident while attempting to break through to the Golden Core stage. Yin Kui Zhenren seized the opportunity, possessing his body and causing his death." Liu Meizhen's voice was eerily calm. "On the surface, it seemed like an accident. But the truth is—"

She suddenly raised her voice and snapped the bamboo slips shut in her hand:
"On the day Xuanxiao Mountain was attacked by Tianluo Sect, the protective formation of the mountain was broken, which gave the Yin Puppet Demon an opportunity to take advantage!"

"The Tianluo Sect and the Yin Kui Demon have long been in cahoots. They seized the opportunity, launching their attack at the crucial moment when the patriarch was forming his core. If this grudge is not avenged, how can my Fu family maintain its standing in the cultivation world? If this hatred is not wiped out, I, Liu Meizhen, will have been unworthy of being a wife!"

By the end, her voice trembled slightly, but she quickly regained her composure:
"Today, in the name of the acting head of the Fu family, I declare—we will massacre the Tianluo Sect to avenge my deceased husband!"

"A bloodbath at Tianluo Gate!"

"Avenge the patriarch!"

The Fu family cultivators were filled with righteous indignation, their shouts rising in waves. Even some of the non-family cultivators who had been conscripted were caught up in the fervor, raising their weapons and shouting in unison.

Clan Chief Huang stood in the crowd, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. He hadn't expected that the Fu family had conscripted them to attack the Tianluo Sect.

"In this battle, the cultivators from the Huang and Lei families will serve as the vanguard, responsible for breaking through the Tianluo Sect's protective mountain formation!"

"Clan Chief Lei, do you have any objections?"

Liu Meizhen stood on a high place, dressed in white, her gaze as cold as ice.

Chief Lei took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and squeezed out his voice through clenched teeth: "Madam Fu has given her order, and the Lei family will obey." He bowed with his hands clasped, his movements as stiff as a puppet.

The Huang clan chief, standing to the side, remained calm, even displaying a hint of respect: "The Huang family is willing to be the vanguard, braving fire and water without hesitation."

Liu Meizhen nodded slightly: "At Chenshi (7-9 AM), the troops will be mustered at the drill ground. Those who are late—" Her gaze swept over the two families of cultivators, "...will be punished for disobeying orders."

As Liu Meizhen's figure disappeared, the Lei Clan Chief abruptly waved his sleeve, and the Thunder Beast turned around, carrying him at breakneck speed towards the Lei Clan camp. The Lei Clan cultivators hurriedly followed behind, each with a solemn expression.

Chief Huang watched the Lei family members leave, stroked his beard, and whispered to the elder beside him, "Return to camp for a meeting."

"That Liu Meizhen! That Fu family! Using our Lei family as pawns?"

Inside the central tent of the Lei family camp, a lightning barrier separated the inside from the outside. The Lei patriarch slammed his palm down, shattering the rosewood table in front of him, sending wood chips flying everywhere.

The Third Elder carefully reassured them, "Clan leader, this conscription order is much more acceptable than entering the Demon Suppression Pass."

"What is the Heavenly Net Sect? Do you think I care about that?" Clan Chief Lei whirled around, his robes whipping up a series of thunderous roars. "What I care about is Liu Meizhen's scheme. That woman is clearly trying to kill three birds with one stone!"

With each sentence, he raised a finger: "First, exchange the heads of the Tianluo Sect for imperial merit; second, devour the Tianluo Sect's millennia-long accumulation; third—" his finger jabbed fiercely at the Fu family banner in the center of the camp, "using others to do your dirty work and weaken my Lei family!"

The Fu family is determined to reach the fifth rank.

However, their official titles as sixth-rank noble families have not yet been issued.

The elders inside the tent remained silent, trembling with fear.

The Fu family clearly intends to exploit them, but what can they do when they are of lower status? What they need to do now is minimize their losses.

Seeing that the clan leader didn't take the Tianluo Sect seriously at all, the Fifth Elder forced a smile and said, "Clan leader, although the Tianluo Sect is only a Purple Mansion sect, it has been established for a thousand years, and its protective formation is no small matter. If we attack by force, I'm afraid..."

"What are you afraid of?" A cold voice came from outside the tent. The tent flap was lifted, and a young cultivator in a blue robe slowly entered. His face was stern, and a long sword on his back was wrapped in coarse cloth, but it could not hide the chilling sword aura emanating from it.

"Cloud Sword?" Clan Chief Lei's brows relaxed slightly.

Lei Yunjian, a sword genius rarely seen in the Lei family in a century, had already reached the Pseudo-Core stage decades ago, but had been unable to break through due to a lack of Core Formation materials. He usually kept to himself and rarely went out, but today he took the initiative to show himself.

"Clan Chief," Lei Yunjian bowed respectfully, his voice calm, "I am willing to lead the team in this battle."

Everyone inside the tent was astonished.

Chief Lei narrowed his eyes: "Do you know what this means?"

“I know.” Lei Yunjian unfastened the longsword from his back, the coarse cloth unfurling to reveal the sword's deep blue blade. His next words, however, were transmitted telepathically: “The Tianluo Sect has stood for a thousand years. It is said that the sect possesses a ‘Condensing Essence Fruit’ that is about to ripen. This item can help me form my Core.”

A glint of light flashed in Chief Lei's eyes.

As a sect with a thousand-year history, Tianluo Sect possesses profound cultural heritage; it might truly have rare and precious materials that can help one achieve the Golden Core stage. If Lei Yunjian can break through using this, the Lei family will have two Golden Core cultivators, at which point...
"How confident are you?" Chief Lei asked in a deep voice.

Lei Yunjian lightly stroked the blade, a silent sword aura cutting through the ground, leaving a deep mark: "Seventy percent."

Clan Chief Lei pondered for a moment: "Very well! You will lead the team in this battle!" He turned to the elders, "Select twenty Purple Mansion Realm experts, elite ones! Since we're going to fight, we can't let the Fu family underestimate the Lei family!"

"Clan leader!" the Third Elder exclaimed urgently, "All the elite troops have been deployed; if anything goes wrong..."

Clan Chief Lei sneered, "Since the Fu family wants us to be the vanguard, they have to offer something in return. Issue my order: demand three 'Golden Armor Talismans' and ten bottles of 'Rejuvenation Pills' from the Fu family. Otherwise, we might as well not be the vanguard!"

He then whispered to Lei Yunjian, "Remember, just breach the mountain gate; there's no need for a fight to the death. If you encounter danger, preserving your strength is paramount."

Lei Yunjian nodded, a knowing glint in his eyes.

at the same time,

The Huang family camp presented a completely different scene.

The Grand Elder was distributing jade bottles to twenty white-haired Purple Mansion cultivators: "These are life-extending pills refined from three-hundred-year-old Polygonatum sibiricum. They can keep your vital energy from declining for three days."

Chief Huang leaned back in a sable-fur-covered recliner, slowly sipping his spiritual tea. "The Fu family wants to use us as cannon fodder, but little do they know this is a great opportunity for our Huang family." He tapped his finger, and a map of the Tianluo Gate appeared on the tea. "Danxia Cave, the Scripture Pavilion, the Spirit Herb Garden—these are the key points."

The Fifth Elder grinned sinisterly and said, "Clan Chief, why don't we bribe the deacons of the Heavenly Luo Sect with a large sum of money to open the side gate's restrictions?"

"Foolish!" the First Elder suddenly shouted, startling the Fifth Elder, whose hand trembled. "The Fu family can impeach Li Wanhu, so how could they not uncover such tricks? If they use you and then discard you, it will be too late for regrets!"

Once caught in a compromising situation with foreign tribes.

The Huang family is doomed!
"Send Mingyuan to lead the team," the Huang clan chief suddenly said. "His lifespan is nearing its end, and he's been stuck at the Pseudo-Core Formation realm for many years."

The Grand Elder nodded in understanding.

People who are about to die fight the hardest and are the most secretive.

The Grand Elder took out a jade slip from his sleeve. "This was obtained by me when I traveled to the far west many years ago. It records several weak points in the Heavenly Luo Sect's protective array."

Clan Chief Huang took the jade slip, scanned it with his divine sense, and his face lit up with joy: "With this in hand, our chances of breaking the formation have greatly increased!"

"Remember this," the Grand Elder's expression suddenly turned serious, "This item must not be known to the Fu and Lei families. We must break the formation and gain merit, but we cannot break through too quickly."

Obviously.

The Huang family also wanted to take this opportunity to weaken the Lei family's power.

Chief Huang understood immediately, and the two exchanged a knowing smile.

Inside the Fu family council hall, Liu Meizhen stood by the window, gazing at the camps of the Lei and Huang families in the distance. Behind her, Fu Yongqi and Gan Muwan stood solemnly awaiting orders.

"Who will the Lei family send to lead the team?" Liu Meizhen asked without turning her head.

Gan Muwan stepped forward: "Reporting to Mother, it is the Thundercloud Sword."

Liu Meizhen paused slightly with her fingers: "That swordsmanship genius?" She turned around, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes, "Old Ghost Lei is quite willing to go to such lengths."

Gan Muwan sneered, "The Thundercloud Sword has been stuck at the False Core stage for many years; it must be aiming for the legendary Core Formation artifact of the Heavenly Luo Sect."

"You certainly have wild ideas," Liu Meizhen said calmly. "Send down the order to prepare thirty crossbows to accompany the vanguard."

"The mistress means that Fu Yongqi hesitated to speak."

Liu Meizhen's gaze was far-reaching: "Since we're going to attack Tianluo Sect, then we should be prepared to leave no one alive. Once the Lei and Huang families breach the mountain gate, Yongqi will lead the team to guard the two southeast exits. Remember, do not let any Tianluo Sect disciple leave the mountain gate alive."

She walked to the table, unfolded a map, and pointed to a valley: "Mu Wan, take a team and ambush them here. Make sure to wipe out the Tianluo Sect in one fell swoop."

"Yes, mother."

At dawn, banners fluttered across the training ground. The Lei family cultivators, clad in blue robes, exuded a chilling aura; the Huang family members, dressed in brown, close-fitting attire, appeared somber and somber. Before the two armies, Lei Yunjian and Huang Mingyuan stood side by side, one cold and aloof, the other mature and composed.

Liu Meizhen sat high on the command platform, her gaze sweeping over the cultivators below: "Today we set out on our expedition. I hope you will all work together with one heart and one mind to vanquish our enemies!"

"Unite as one! Let's vanquish the enemy!" the cultivators shouted in unison, their voices shaking the heavens.

Lei Yunjian looked up at the sky, a hint of longing flashing in his eyes; Huang Ming stroked his beard, a faint smile playing on his lips.

In a corner of the training ground, an inconspicuous cultivator quietly crushed a communication talisman. The talisman's light flashed and disappeared without anyone noticing.

...

...

Tianluomen.

Luo Youde held the blood-red, shimmering Yunxiang Fruit, his fingertips trembling. Just as he was about to put the fruit back into the box, the sect leader's token at his waist suddenly began to vibrate violently.

"Report—!" A disciple stumbled out of the secret chamber, his face ashen. "The Fu family... the Fu family is leading the Lei and Huang families to attack the mountain!"

Luo Youde's hand trembled, and the Yunxiang Fruit nearly fell. He swayed, and out of the secret chamber, grabbed his disciple by the collar: "Is there a Golden Core cultivator here?"

"No, no." The disciple's face turned blue from being pinched. "The leaders are Lei Yunjian from the Lei family and Huang Mingyuan from the Huang family."

Luo Youde breathed a sigh of relief and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. Without a Golden Core cultivator, the mountain-protecting formation could hold out for at least three to five days.

"Pass down the order: all disciples, take your positions and defend the formation to the death!" A ruthless glint flashed in his eyes. "Anyone who deserts their post will have their soul extracted and refined!"

After his disciples withdrew, Luo Youde hurriedly took out a moon-white jade talisman, an emergency communication talisman bestowed upon him by the Abbess of Qiuyue Nunnery. He bit his tongue, spitting a mouthful of blood onto the talisman: "Master, save me! The Fu family, in alliance with the Lei and Huang families, is attacking our sect! Tianluo Sect is in imminent danger!"

The jade talisman transformed into a beam of white light and soared into the sky, disappearing into the horizon in the blink of an eye.

Luo Youde paced anxiously in the secret room, activating the communication talisman every fifteen minutes. However, most of the day passed without any response from Qiuyue Nunnery, as if a stone had sunk into the sea.

"Damn old nun!" Luo Youde kicked over a table, his eyes bloodshot. "She was so arrogant when she needed my Tianluo Sect, but now that we're in trouble, she's turning a deaf ear!"

Boom——!
The entire secret chamber suddenly shook violently, and gravel fell down in a shower.

Luo Youde's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly made a hand seal to activate the Water Mirror Technique. The scene outside the mountain gate was displayed in the mirror: three hundred Lei family sword cultivators stood in formation, and sword light poured down on the formation like a torrential rain; Huang family cultivators controlled more than ten giant puppets, constantly bombarding the weak points of the formation.

What's most alarming is the thirty crossbows lined up outside the formation—these are war weapons specifically designed to counter the mountain-protecting formation, and each strike can dim the formation's light barrier.

"How could this be?" Luo Youde's fat face twisted in disbelief. "How could they know the weakness of the great formation?"

The scene in the water mirror suddenly switched to the main peak plaza. Chaos reigned there; dozens of disciples were blasted to pieces by the recoil from the array's power. Even more terrifying, the Yin energy of the Nine Netherworld Yellow Springs Array was visibly dissipating—the earth's veins had been disrupted by the Huang family's secret technique!
"It's over." Luo Youde's entire body trembled. "We can only hold on for one more day at most."

A ruthless glint suddenly flashed in his eyes. He turned around, opened the secret compartment of the chamber, and swept away all the rare materials accumulated by the previous sect leaders. That wasn't all. Before the mountain gate was breached, he went to the Scripture Pavilion, the Treasure Hall, and the Spirit Herb Garden. He left nothing behind. Finally, he glanced at the withered Yunxiang Grass, gritted his teeth, and crushed a domino in his hand.

A moment later, an elderly man in purple robes silently appeared in the secret chamber. This was the Grand Elder of the Tianluo Sect, a cultivator at the late stage of the Purple Mansion realm, with a hideous scar on his left cheek.

"The sect leader summoned me?" the Grand Elder asked in a hoarse voice.

Luo Youde suddenly broke into a smile: "Elder, I have a favor to ask of you."

Before he could finish speaking, a beam of black light suddenly shot out from his sleeve. The Grand Elder had no time to react before the black light struck him between the eyebrows, freezing him in place.

"I'll borrow your body for a moment." Luo Youde grinned maliciously, made a hand seal, and took out a human skin mask from his storage bag, covering the Grand Elder's face. As the eerie incantation rang out, the Grand Elder's face visibly twisted and changed, eventually becoming exactly like Luo Youde's!
"Go and guard the main array eye," Luo Youde ordered.

The elder, disguised as "Sect Leader Luo," nodded blankly and turned to leave. This was the "Shadow-Shifting Technique," a secret technique passed down within the Tianluo Sect, capable of disguising oneself for three hours without being detected.

After confirming that no one was around, Luo Youde hurriedly went to a corner of the secret room, placed his feet on the Seven Stars position, and tapped the ground seven times. The ground silently slid open, revealing a deep tunnel—an escape route reserved by successive sect leaders, leading directly to the Blackwater River hundreds of miles away.

"Fu Yongxuan, Liu Meizhen." Luo Youde took one last look at the mountain gate that had stood for nearly a thousand years, the resentment in his eyes almost tangible. "Once I successfully form my core, I will make you pay for your blood debts!"

His obese body strangely curled into a ball, and he slid into the tunnel like a fish. The instant his figure disappeared, the entire secret chamber suddenly shook violently—the protective mountain formation had been broken.

...

...

The moment the protective mountain formation collapsed, Lei Yunjian's figure flashed like a dark blue lightning bolt, and he was the first to break into the Tianluomen mountain gate.

"Disciples of Tianluo Sect, form the formation!" A Purple Mansion Elder shouted sternly, and dozens of disciples immediately formed the "Blood Fiend Formation." Blood-red runes spread beneath their feet, and a cold wind howled, accompanied by ghostly wails.

Lei Yunjian remained indifferent, lightly raising his longsword. The sword's edge did not move, yet its aura was already present.

"break."

With a single word uttered, sword light poured forth like a galaxy, instantly tearing apart the Blood Fiend Array!
"Pfft pfft pfft—" Several disciples' chests exploded with blood, and they died before they could even scream.

"Stop him!" The Purple Mansion Elder's eyes were bloodshot as he summoned a blood-red soul banner, unleashing thousands of vengeful ghosts that howled and pounced forth.

Lei Yunjian's steps did not stop; his sword slashed diagonally—

"Thunderstrike - Thousand Streams"

The sword light split, like hundreds of bolts of lightning intertwined, annihilating any evil spirit that touched it! The Purple Mansion Elder retreated in horror, only to see the Thundercloud Sword flash and arrive before him.

"you--"

The sword flashed, and a head flew off!
Blood splattered, but Lei Yunjian's white robes remained unstained, with only a drop of blood sliding down the tip of the sword.

"Thundercloud Sword! Stop your arrogance!" Three cultivators from the Heavenly Net Sect's Purple Mansion realm attacked simultaneously. One wielded a saber, its energy like a dragon; another wielded a talisman, its golden light like a prison; and the last one formed hand seals, causing the ground to suddenly crack open, and countless bone hands reached for Thundercloud Sword's feet!

Lei Yunjian's eyes turned slightly cold, and his swordplay suddenly changed—

"Skyward - No Return".

The sword light poured down like moonlight. In an instant, the swordsman's sword was broken and his arm was snapped, the talisman user's golden talisman was shattered, and the person who was forming the hand seals had no time to react before a line of blood appeared on their throat!
"Bang! Bang! Bang!" The three corpses fell to the ground almost simultaneously.

The disciples of Tianluomen were terrified, yet none of them retreated.

"Fight for the sect! Fight to the death!" a Foundation Establishment disciple roared, burning his essence blood and transforming into a blood shadow as he lunged at Thundercloud Sword!

Lei Yunjian frowned slightly, and lightly tapped the blade—

"Swoosh!" The blood splattered, and the disciple, his chest pierced, still clung tightly to the sword, laughing maniacally, "Let's die together!"

"boom!"

The shockwave from the self-destruction forced Lei Yunjian back three steps, tearing his sleeve and revealing a bloodstain.

A flicker of emotion finally crossed his eyes.

"Can the wrath of an ant really harm me?"

Seeing this, the disciples of Tianluo Sect followed suit, roaring as they charged forward—

"The Heavenly Net Gate will never be a slave!"

"kill!!!"

Blood mist continued to explode, and the Thundercloud Sword flashed with light, yet it was still forced to retreat step by step.

"You're courting death!" A chilling light flashed in Lei Yunjian's eyes; he finally stopped holding back—

"Thunderous Sky - Myriad Calamities"

The sword was drawn, and the world fell silent.

In the next instant, hundreds of sword lights poured down like a torrential rain, and wherever they passed, blood and flesh flew everywhere!
Ten breaths later, Lei Yunjian stood with his sword in hand, surrounded by mountains of corpses.

Without pausing for a moment, Lei Yunjian rushed towards the forbidden area behind Tianluomen Mountain.

...

the other side.

Huang Mingyuan kicked open the dilapidated stone door of Danxia Cave, and dozens of Huang family cultivators rushed in like wolves. However, what greeted their eyes was not a room full of spiritual herbs, but a scorched earth!
"Where's the elixir?!" Huang Mingyuan's pupils constricted, his face instantly turning ashen. He grabbed a Tianluo Sect prisoner, his fingers hooked around his throat, and demanded sharply, "Where did Luo Youde hide the elixir?!"

The disciple, his face covered in blood, grinned maliciously as he spat out a mouthful of bloody foam: "You...don't even think about it..."

"You're courting death!" Huang Mingyuan roared in fury, unleashing a burst of force from his palm that snapped the disciple's neck. He tossed the corpse aside and coldly ordered, "Search! Dig three feet into the ground and find Luo Youde!"

The Huang family cultivators immediately scattered, some bombarding the ground with magical artifacts, others using earth-遁术 (earth-遁术 is a type of magic that allows one to escape into a hidden compartment). However, at this moment—

"How dare a junior from the Huang family cause trouble at my Tianluo Sect?"

An old, hoarse voice echoed eerily, like a chilling wind passing by, sending shivers down one's spine.

Everyone turned around abruptly, and saw an old man with white hair sitting cross-legged on the ruins deep within the Danxia Cave. His face was ashen, but his eyes burned with eerie, ghostly green flames, and his spiritual energy surged like boiling water, as if he were burning away his lifespan!
"It's the guardian elder of the Tianluo Sect!" a Huang family cultivator exclaimed in shock, his voice filled with barely concealed fear.

The elder guarding the pavilion slowly raised his head, a sinister smile tugging at the corners of his withered lips: "Since you're here, stay—"

He slammed both palms down on the ground, the veins on his thin arms bulging like coiled dragons!

"Activate the Netherworld Burning Formation!"

"boom--!!!"

The entire Danxia Cave trembled violently, the ground cracked instantly, and countless eerie green pillars of fire shot into the sky from the cracks! These flames were no ordinary fire, but rather the Nine Netherworld Yin Fire, fueled by the earth's yin energy and specifically designed to burn the souls of cultivators!

"what--!"

The dozen or so Huang family cultivators closest to the pillar of fire didn't even have time to scream before they were engulfed by the green flames. Their flesh melted like wax, their bones crackled and popped in the flames, and in the blink of an eye, they turned into a pile of charred ashes!
"Retreat! Retreat now!" Huang Mingyuan roared, his eyes bloodshot, as he summoned an ancient bronze mirror. The mirror surface shimmered with an earthy yellow halo, transforming into a barrier in front of him.

However, the Netherworld Flames coiled around the barrier like living creatures, frantically eroding it. Huang Mingyuan bit his tongue, spitting a mouthful of blood onto the mirror, and roared, "Mysterious Yellow Mountain Suppressor, all evil cannot invade!"

The ancient mirror shone brightly, barely managing to hold back the flames. But the other Huang family cultivators weren't so lucky—

A guest elder of the Huang family, at the early stage of the Purple Mansion realm, roared and hurled three Ice Soul Talismans. A chilling current swept through, but was instantly engulfed by green flames. The flames backfired along the talismans, burning him into a charred corpse in the blink of an eye!
Another cultivator tried to escape using earth magic, but as soon as he entered the ground, he was entangled by tongues of fire that surged from the crack and was dragged back to the surface to be burned!
Screams rose and fell, and the entire Danxia Caves were transformed into a living hell!
"You old bastard!" Huang Mingyuan's eyes turned bloodshot as he saw the heavy casualties among his clansmen. He suddenly tore open his shirt, revealing an inner armor covered with talismans.

"Burning Blood to Transform Spirit, Earthly Divine Thunder—"

"Boom!"

All the talismans on his inner armor ignited simultaneously, and Huang Mingyuan's body erupted with a blinding yellow light. He clasped his hands together, and a thick, earthen-yellow lightning bolt slammed towards the guardian elder!
The elder guarding the cave sneered, and with a flick of his withered hand, the Nine Netherworld Flames condensed into a ghost-face shield. The lightning bolt collided with the ghost face, unleashing a deafening roar that caused the entire cave ceiling to collapse from the shockwave!
Amidst the flying rocks, the elder guarding the pavilion suddenly appeared behind Huang Mingyuan like a ghost, his withered hand reaching straight for his back: "Junior, I'm taking your life!"

"puff!"

Claws pierced flesh, blood spurting out! In the nick of time, Huang Mingyuan barely managed to turn to the side; his strike, originally aimed at the heart, only pierced through his right shoulder. He roared in pain, slamming his palm into the chest of the Guardian Elder, unleashing a close-range burst of Earthly Divine Thunder!
"Crack!"

The elder guarding the pavilion's sternum caved in, yet he seemed oblivious, his other hand gripping Huang Mingyuan's throat like an iron clamp: "Come with me on my journey!"

His spiritual energy went completely berserk, and his withered body swelled up like a balloon—he was about to self-destruct his Purple Mansion!

"Madman!" Huang Mingyuan cried out in terror, struggling desperately but unable to break free. Just as they were about to perish together, a dark shadow suddenly crashed in from the side, forcefully separating the two.

"Father, run!" It turned out that Huang Mingyuan's son had risked his life to save him!
"boom--!!!"

The elder guarding the pavilion exploded with a deafening roar, unleashing a torrent of violent spiritual energy and Netherworld Flames that swept in all directions. Huang Mingyuan's son was the first to be hit, instantly obliterated. Huang Mingyuan himself was thrown back by the shockwave, crashing heavily into the stone wall, half his body charred black, his right arm a bloody mess!
When the smoke and dust cleared, Danxia Cave was reduced to ruins. The Huang family cultivators were almost entirely dead or wounded, with only three or five remaining, barely clinging to life. Huang Mingyuan coughed up blood as he struggled to his feet, staring at his son's lifeless body, his face twisted like a demon's: "Tianluo Sect... I will make you... pay for your blood debt!"

...

Lei Yunjian moved like lightning, his sword light clearing a path as he fought his way to the forbidden area behind Tianluomen.

The place is shrouded in mist, with ancient runes carved on the surrounding mountain walls. A massive bronze gate stands in front of it, with nine chains wrapped around it and faint blood-red light flowing through it, clearly a high-level restrictive formation.

"Hmph, a mere formation, you think you can stop me?" A cold glint flashed in Lei Yunjian's eyes as he flipped his hand and took out a golden talisman—the Boundary-Breaking Talisman! This talisman was a secret treasure of the Lei family, extremely precious, and even he only had one.

"What a pity." He muttered to himself, and without hesitation activated the talisman. The golden runes instantly ignited, transforming into a dazzling golden light that pierced the bronze giant door like a sharp blade!

"Ka-ka-ka-"

The chains shattered inch by inch, and the massive bronze gate burst open!

Lei Yunjian flashed and stepped into the forbidden area.

However, the sight before him made his pupils shrink—

In the center of the forbidden area, dozens of Tianluomen cultivators stood ready, and the leader was none other than Luo Youde!
"Sect Leader Luo, you've hidden yourself quite well." Lei Yunjian sneered, his sword pointing straight at you. "Hand over your Core Formation artifacts, and I might spare your corpses."

Luo Youde's face was grim, a hint of panic flashing in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure and shouted sternly, "Thunder Cloud Sword! Your Lei family has no enmity with my Tianluo Sect, so why did you help the Fu family destroy my sect?!"

"Enough with the nonsense." Lei Yunjian slightly raised his sword, his sword aura already locked onto Luo Youde. "Hand it over, or—die!"

"Don't even think about it!" roared an elder from the Heavenly Luo Sect's Purple Mansion, summoning a blood-red longsword whose aura was like a rainbow, slashing straight at the Thundercloud Sword!
"You're courting death." Lei Yunjian's eyes turned cold, and the blade shifted slightly—

"Thunderstrike - Mountain Breaker".

"Qiang——!"

Swords clashed, and the blood-red longsword snapped in two! Before the elder could react, the sword light pierced his chest, and blood spurted out!

"Kill him! Protect the sect leader!" The other Tianluo Sect cultivators roared, unleashing their magical artifacts, talismans, poisonous mist, and dark lightning, bombarding the Thundercloud Sword with overwhelming force!
Lei Yunjian snorted coldly, and his sword aura suddenly changed—

"Heavenly Sky - Myriad Calamities".

The sword light split apart, pouring down like a torrential rain, each sword energy precisely piercing the throat of a cultivator! Blood splattered, screams echoed, and in the blink of an eye, more than ten Tianluo Sect cultivators fell to the ground, dead!

However, none of the remaining people retreated; instead, they charged forward even more frantically!

"Thundercloud Sword! You won't be able to hurt my sect leader!" a Foundation Establishment disciple roared, burning his essence blood and transforming into a blood shadow as he crashed into the Thundercloud Sword!

"Boom!" The shockwave from the self-destruction forced Lei Yunjian back several steps, his sleeves ripped, and a bloody gash appeared on his arm.

"Insects!" His eyes flashed with killing intent, and his sword flashed again—

"Thunderclap - Soul Annihilation".

This sword strike was as fast as thunder, aimed straight for Luo Youde's throat!

"Sect Leader, be careful!" A Purple Mansion Elder leaped forward, using his body to block the sword's edge!
"Pfft!" The sword light pierced through the elder's body, killing him instantly, but the sword's momentum was also momentarily halted. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Luo Youde retreated rapidly, throwing out three jet-black poison nails from his sleeve, aiming directly at Lei Yunjian's eyes!
With a flick of his sword, Lei Yunjian shattered the poisonous nails with his sword energy, but this also delayed him for a moment.

"Form the formation! Defend the sect leader to the death!" The remaining Tianluo Sect cultivators roared, forming the "Five Symbols Soul Locking Formation," using their own blood essence as a guide to transform into blood-red chains that bound the Thundercloud Sword's limbs!
"A mere trick!" Lei Yunjian sneered, unleashing his lightning spiritual power. His sword energy surged like a tide, instantly shattering the chains!

However, just as he was about to reach Luo Youde—

"boom!"

A dark figure suddenly crashed in from the side—it was a disciple of the Tianluo Sect who had self-destructed his Purple Mansion! The violent impact of spiritual energy caused Lei Yunjian to falter, and a trace of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.

"You...you're courting death!" He was utterly enraged, his sword strike now unleashed without restraint—

"Thunderclap - Heavenly Punishment!"

"boom--!"

With a single sword strike, the entire forbidden area trembled, the ground cracked, and blood and flesh flew everywhere the sword energy passed through!
When the smoke and dust cleared, there was no one left standing in the forbidden area.

Lei Yunjian, panting and dripping blood from his sword, slowly walked toward the fallen Luo Youde.

"Now, hand it over," he said coldly.

Blood trickled from the corner of Luo Youde's mouth, yet he smiled eerily: "Too late... You... will never get it..."

Lei Yunjian frowned, suddenly sensing something was wrong. He grabbed Luo Youde by the throat and forcefully invaded his sea of ​​consciousness with his divine sense—

"A substitution technique?!"

His expression changed drastically, and he suddenly crushed the head of "Luo Youde" in his hand!

"boom!"

His head exploded, but there was no blood. Only a wisp of black smoke dissipated, revealing his original face—the Grand Elder of the Tianluo Sect!
"Damn it!" Lei Yunjian was furious. He cleaved the elder's mangled corpse in two with a single sword strike, his killing intent almost tangible.

He'd been tricked!

The real Luo Youde has already fled!

...

...

Luo Youde's obese body emerged from the bottom of the Blackwater River, soaking wet and in a sorry state. He looked back and saw flames soaring into the sky in the direction of Tianluo Gate. The mountain-protecting formation had long been shattered, and the sounds of lightning, sword shadows, and explosions could be faintly heard.

"The Fu family... the Lei family... the Huang family..." He gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with a venomous hatred that almost materialized. "Once I successfully form my core, I will make you pay for your crimes in blood!"

However, just as he climbed ashore and prepared to escape—

"Sect Leader Luo, where are we going?"

A cold voice came from behind, as chilling as ice.

Luo Youde froze, then turned around abruptly. He saw Liu Meizhen, dressed in white, standing quietly by the riverbank, her eyes like frost, a faint, cold smile playing on her lips.

"Liu Meizhen?!" Luo Youde's pupils constricted, his heart filled with utter shock. "This secret passage is known only to the successive sect leaders, how could she be here?!"

But he quickly calmed down, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes.

"Madam Fu, that's quite the method." He smiled sinisterly. "But do you think you can stop me all by yourself?"

He's a veteran pseudo-core cultivator. What is Liu Meizhen? She's practically courting death!

"Sect Leader Luo can give it a try." Liu Meizhen said calmly, showing no fear whatsoever.

Luo Youde's eyes flashed with murderous intent, his fat body suddenly trembled, and his spiritual power surged wildly. Instantly, three dark green poison needles shot out from his sleeve, aiming straight for Liu Meizhen's brow, throat, and heart!
"die!"

The poisoned needle pierced the air with a piercing shriek, its tip flashing an eerie green light, clearly coated with deadly poison. This was Luo Youde's signature hidden weapon, the "Soul-Destroying Needle," specifically designed to break through protective spiritual energy, obliterating the soul of anyone struck by it!
However, Liu Meizhen didn't even lift her eyelids.

Just as the poisoned needles were about to touch her, a seven-colored light suddenly shone in her eyes. Her mind, sharp and perceptive, activated, and all the laws of the world appeared to her as clearly as lines on her palm. She gently turned to the side, and the three poisoned needles strangely changed direction, grazing past her and embedding themselves in the rock behind her, instantly corroding the entire boulder into pus!
"What?!" Luo Youde was shocked. His Soul-Destroying Needle had never missed, yet it was so easily dodged today?

"Is this all the skill Master Luo has?" Liu Meizhen chuckled, her jade finger flicking lightly, and an invisible sword aura suddenly burst forth, heading straight for Luo Youde's throat.

Luo Youde roared, his obese body surprisingly agile as a monkey, jerking backward to dodge the sword energy while slamming his palms into the ground: "Yin Sha Earth Dragon!"

The earth trembled, and dozens of black earth dragons, formed from Yin energy, burst forth from the ground, baring their fangs and claws as they lunged at Liu Meizhen. Each earth dragon contained a deadly poison that corroded spiritual energy, and wherever it passed, vegetation withered.

Seven-colored light shimmered in Liu Meizhen's eyes as she moved like a phantom through the dragon horde, precisely dodging each earth dragon's attacks. She formed hand seals and uttered a soft shout: "Break!"

A beam of clear light burst forth from her palm, like the rising sun, instantly purifying the Yin energy dragon. This was none other than the "Rising Sun Shattering Evil Technique," a method to counter Yin energy techniques!
Upon seeing this, Luo Youde's face turned ashen. He suddenly bit his tongue, spitting out a mouthful of blood, and his hands rapidly formed hand seals: "Blood Demon!"

His essence blood transformed into a sky full of blood mist, and a three-zhang-tall phantom of a Blood Demon condensed behind him, wielding a giant axe, its murderous aura overwhelming. This was the secret technique of the Tianluo Sect, using essence blood as a catalyst to summon the projection of an ancient demon, its power boundless!

"Slash!" Luo Youde grinned maliciously as he cleaved down with his Blood Fiend Demon Axe, distorting the very space around him.

Liu Meizhen's expression finally hardened slightly, and her Seven Apertures Exquisite Heart activated at full power, her eyes blazing with seven-colored light. She formed hand seals, and seven different colored spiritual lights appeared around her, transforming into seven light shields that surrounded her.

"Seven Luminaries Protect You!"

The giant axe slammed into the light shield, unleashing a deafening roar. The first six light shields shattered one after another, but the seventh light shield firmly blocked this fatal blow.

Upon seeing this, a flicker of panic crossed Luo Youde's eyes. This Blood Demon had consumed thirty percent of his life essence, yet it had been blocked?
“My turn.” Liu Meizhen whispered, and with a flick of her jade hand, a crystal-clear jade sword appeared in her palm. The sword was as transparent as ice, and a galaxy seemed to flow within it.

"Star River Sword Intent!"

With a single swing of the sword, countless starlight showered down, each ray of starlight a sharp sword aura. The Blood Demon's phantom was instantly pierced by millions of sword energies, letting out a roar of resentment before collapsing with a deafening roar.

Luo Youde coughed up a mouthful of blood, his breath fading. But the ruthlessness in his eyes intensified, and he suddenly pulled a jet-black token from his robes: "You forced me to do this!"

The token shattered, unleashing countless vengeful spirits and ghosts that instantly transformed the surrounding area into a ghostly realm. This was Luo Youde's last trump card—the Ten Thousand Ghosts Token, sealing thousands of vengeful spirits. Once released, it would indiscriminately attack friend or foe!

Liu Meizhen's expression finally changed, but she quickly regained her composure. She closed her eyes, activated her Seven Apertures Exquisite Mind to its fullest extent, and a holy white light emanated from her body.

"The Pure Lotus Flower!"

A giant white lotus bloomed at her feet, its petals unfurling, releasing a pure purifying power that swept in all directions. Vengeful spirits and vengeful ghosts were instantly annihilated upon touching it, their mournful howls echoing through the night sky.

Luo Youde was dumbfounded. His strongest trump card had been so easily cracked.

"Now, it's time to end this." Liu Meizhen opened her eyes, her pupils shimmering with seven-colored light, seeing through all illusions.

"Buzz——"

Suddenly, streaks of blood-red array patterns lit up the surrounding void, and countless runes intertwined, completely enveloping Luo Youde!
"A Soul-Locking Array?!" Luo Youde's face turned deathly pale. "When did you set it up?!"

Liu Meizhen's lips curled slightly: "A dying person need not know."

Before she finished speaking, she lightly tapped her fingertip, and the formation suddenly contracted. Countless blood-red chains emerged from the void, coiling around Luo Youde like venomous snakes!

"A mere formation, you think you can trap me?!" Luo Youde roared, his spiritual power erupting as he unleashed a palm strike, the Yin Sha palm wind sweeping across, attempting to shatter the chains.

However, those chains were like a malignant tumor clinging to the bone; instead of being shaken off, they tightened even more!
"Impossible!" Luo Youde was shocked and furious. He frantically channeled his spiritual power, but the more he struggled, the deeper the chains bound him, and they even began to erode his meridians!

"Don't waste your energy," Liu Meizhen said calmly. "This formation is specifically designed to counter Yin Sha techniques. The more you resist, the faster you'll die."

Luo Youde finally panicked, a hint of fear flashing in his eyes: "Madam Fu! Let's talk this out! I'm willing to offer all the resources of the sect, just to save my life!"

Liu Meizhen smiled enigmatically: "Oh? Sect Leader Luo is willing to bow down?"

"Yes! Of course I'm willing!" Luo Youde nodded hastily, forcing a fawning smile. "As long as Madam Fu spares my life, I'm willing to acknowledge you as my master and serve you at your beck and call!"

He sneered inwardly, "You wretch! Once I successfully form my core, you'll be the first person I kill!"

Liu Meizhen's eyes were deep and unfathomable, as if she could see through his thoughts. She said softly, "Very well, then hand over a wisp of your life soul."

Luo Youde was overjoyed and without hesitation forced out a wisp of his life soul, which transformed into a beam of light and flew towards Liu Meizhen.

“From now on, I am Madam Fu’s dog!” He bowed and scraped, but a sinister glint flashed in his eyes.

Liu Meizhen took the life soul, gently stroked it with her fingertips, and suddenly smiled.

"Sect Leader Luo, do you really think... I'd believe you?"

Luo Youde was stunned, and before he could react, Liu Meizhen suddenly clenched her fists—

"puff!"

That wisp of life force was instantly annihilated!
"Ah—!!" Luo Youde let out a shrill scream, blood flowing from his seven orifices, his spiritual power instantly went berserk, and his meridians shattered inch by inch!

"You...you..." He stared at Liu Meizhen with wide, incredulous eyes.

Liu Meizhen's expression was indifferent. She raised her hand and waved it, and a sword aura pierced through his brow.

"idiot."

Luo Youde's body crashed to the ground, his eyes still filled with resentment and bitterness.

Liu Meizhen bent down and took off his storage ring. She scanned it with her divine sense and smiled slightly.

"As expected, all the resources of the Tianluo Sect are concentrated here."

With a sweep of her divine sense, she discovered a blood-red, glowing fruit hidden in a box deep within her storage ring—the very same Yunxiang Fruit!

"With this, my chances of forming the Core Formation have increased by another three percent."

She put away the storage ring, took one last look at Luo Youde's corpse, flicked a wisp of flame from her fingertip, and burned it to ashes.

"The Tianluo Sect is hereby expelled."

(End of this chapter)