Family Rise: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 501 Important Intelligence: Unrivaled Among Those of the Same Rank, Returning to the Great Zhou
a few days later.

The Fu family's secret hall.

Fu Yongrui stood before the table and respectfully handed a jade slip to Liu Meizhen.

“Mother, the information on ‘Xuanyang Zhenren’, the chief supervisor of the Wuzhou Town Bureau, has been compiled.”

Liu Meizhen took the jade slip, scanned it with her divine sense, and a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes.

"Master Xuanyang... he actually comes from the 'Xuantian Temple'?"

Fu Yongrui nodded: "That's right. Master Xuanyang's real name is Zhang Xuanyang. He was once an inner disciple of Xuantian Temple. Later, due to his outstanding talent, he was recruited by the imperial court and served as the garrison commander of Zhenmo Pass and the Northern Border. Thirty years ago, he was transferred to Wuzhou as the Director of the Zhenshi Division, holding the power of supervision over the entire state."

Liu Meizhen's eyes flickered slightly: "Xuantian Temple is a legitimate Taoist sect with a delicate relationship with the imperial court. How could he hold such a high position?"

Fu Yongrui said in a low voice, "This person's cultivation has reached the peak of the Golden Core stage, and he is skilled in array formations and talismans. He is known in the court as the 'Iron-Faced Judge.' However..."

"But what?"

"Although he held a high position and wielded great power, he rarely interfered in the power struggles among aristocratic families. He lived a secluded life and rarely made public appearances. Most of the daily affairs of the Zhenshi Division were handled by Deputy Supervisor Yan."

Liu Meizhen tapped the table lightly with her fingertips, seemingly lost in thought.

"Does he have any dealings with the Seventh Prince?"

Fu Yongrui shook his head: "The Seventh Prince has visited many times, but has been politely refused each time. Master Xuanyang dislikes socializing and does not participate in the disputes between aristocratic families."

A glint of light flashed in Liu Meizhen's eyes.

— Not taking sides means not being won over by the Lei family.

"Does he have any preferences?"

Fu Yongrui pondered for a moment:
"According to the Dark Hall's investigation, True Master Xuan Yang is obsessed with the deduction of formations, especially those ancient and lost formations. In addition, he visits the Xuan Tian Temple every three years to pay his respects, seemingly having a past relationship with one of the elders there. However, according to the information I received, True Master Xuan Yang is still in seclusion, and there is no definite news yet as to when he will emerge."

Liu Meizhen frowned upon hearing this.

If that's the case, we need to contact my husband in the far west and return as soon as possible. He once said that Wuzhou, this fiefdom, holds immense opportunities.

The land of the far west.

After Fu Changsheng, Fu Molan, and the three masters emerged from Ghost Cry Abyss, they found a secluded valley. Fu Changsheng set up a concealment array and several restrictions before he felt somewhat at ease.

"Uncle Yu, rest for a moment." Fu Changsheng helped Master Yu up, but found that his body suddenly slumped down and he fell to the ground.

"Uncle Yu!" Fu Molan exclaimed and quickly stepped forward to help him up.

Master Yu's face was deathly pale, a trickle of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth. The wine gourd in his hand rolled to the ground with a "thud," spilling wine everywhere. His eyes were closed, his breathing weak, and he had fallen into a coma.

Fu Changsheng quickly checked his pulse, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper.

“Master, Uncle Yu…” Fu Molan’s voice trembled slightly, her eyes filled with self-blame and worry.

"The old injuries have flared up, and coupled with the forceful attacks of the past few days, my meridians have been severely damaged," Fu Changsheng said in a deep voice. "If I don't receive timely treatment, I'm afraid..."

He didn't continue, but Fu Molan understood what he meant. She clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging deep into her palms.

"It's all because of me," she whispered. "If it weren't for saving me, Uncle Yu wouldn't have..."

Fu Changsheng patted her shoulder and said gently, "Don't you know Uncle Yu's temperament? If he knew you were blaming yourself like this, he'd probably jump up and yell at you."

Fu Molan forced a smile, but couldn't manage to manage it.

Fu Changsheng quickly searched his storage bag, but after looking through all the pills, he couldn't find a single one that could treat Master Yu's severe injuries.

“It requires a near-fifth-tier Thousand Island Pill,” Fu Changsheng pondered. “It’s unlikely to be found in ordinary markets.”

Upon hearing this, Fu Molan's expression changed: "Does the patriarch mean..."

"Xianyun Textile Market." Fu Changsheng's gaze was firm. "There's an auction there in a month. I need to find a way to get the Huanxi Sect to offer this medicine voluntarily."

He planned to use himself as bait, deliberately going to the Xianyun Textile Market to purchase the quasi-fifth-grade healing elixir, the Thousand Island Pill. After revealing his whereabouts, he would disappear. Once the Huanxi Sect found relevant clues, they would know that he was looking for the Thousand Island Pill and would definitely try every means to produce the elixir and bid for it at the auction to be held a month later, thus luring him to show himself.

"Master, this...this is far too dangerous!" Fu Molan exclaimed urgently, "If you show yourself, wouldn't you be walking into a trap?"

Fu Changsheng smiled nonchalantly: "Don't worry, I have a way to get out of this."

"No, it's too dangerous!" Fu Molan shook her head. "Let me go instead."

“It would be more dangerous for you to go,” Fu Changsheng shook his head. “Besides, the Joyful Sect’s target is me; they won’t easily hand over the Thousand Island Pill. Only if I show myself will they spare no expense.”

Fu Molan wanted to say something more, but Fu Changsheng had already stood up, his eyes filled with unwavering determination.

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing," he said with a smile. "You stay here and take care of Uncle Yu; I'll be right back."

Fu Molan knew she couldn't change his decision, so she could only nod: "Patriarch, please be careful."

Fu Changsheng said no more, and with a flash, he disappeared from the spot.

Joyful Sect

The Crimson Serpent Fairy stood in the intelligence hall, her desk piled high with jade slips and files. With a light tap of her fingertips, a ray of spiritual light swept across the surface, sorting through the clues she had gathered over the past few months.

"Fu Changsheng... is indeed not dead." She murmured softly, her brows furrowing slightly.

After months of investigation, she visited the rogue cultivators near Ghost Cry Abyss and finally learned from a dying evil cultivator that a green-robed cultivator, holding a Lotus Lantern, had killed Granny Silver Flower. She was almost certain that this person was Fu Changsheng.

"Elder, there's new information!" A disciple rushed in and handed over a recording stone. "The sentries from the Immortal Cloud Textile Market have transmitted images. Three days ago, someone claiming to be 'Qingxuan Sanren' approached Danxia Pavilion to purchase Thousand Island Pills."

The Crimson Serpent Fairy's gaze sharpened, and she channeled spiritual energy into her fingertips. A blurry figure appeared in the image stone—the person wore a bamboo hat, his aura was restrained, but a corner of a blue lotus pattern was faintly visible on his sleeve.

“Qianyu Pill…” She tapped the table with her fingertips, lost in thought. “A top-grade fourth-level spiritual pill that can only be used by those with Nascent Soul injuries. It seems that although Fu Changsheng killed Granny Yinhua, his injuries are not minor.”

After a moment's hesitation, she put away the recording stone and headed straight for the sect leader's cave.
-
Joyful Sect - Golden Cloud Palace
Master Huanxi sat cross-legged on the jade platform. After listening to Fairy Chilian's report, he lightly tapped the armrest with his fingertips, a calculating glint in his eyes.

“If Fu Changsheng truly needs the Thousand Island Pill, he will surely reappear.” He spoke slowly, his voice as steady as an abyss. “At next month’s auction at the Immortal Cloud Textile Market, I will request the Immortal Alliance to purchase one Thousand Island Pill for auction.”

The Crimson Serpent Fairy frowned slightly: "Sect Leader, the Thousand Isles Pill is extremely precious. If we use it directly as bait, wouldn't the price be..."

“It’s alright.” Master Huanxi raised his hand to interrupt. “Although this pill is rare, it’s insignificant compared to the secrets on Fu Changsheng’s body.” His gaze grew cold. “With Yin Kui, Junior Brother Yun, and Granny Yinhua all falling one after another, this boy must possess a great treasure. This plan must be executed with a single, decisive blow!”

The Crimson Serpent Fairy hesitated for a moment, then finally lowered her head and said, "Yes. I will arrange for people to spread the word and lure him into the trap."

Xianyun Textile Market, located at the most prosperous intersection of spiritual veins in the far west, is an ancient city with a history of thousands of years, and today it is bustling with activity.

The central auction pavilion stands majestically, carved entirely from white jade. Spirit bells hang from its eaves, their clear, melodious ringing soothing the soul in the gentle breeze. In the plaza in front of the pavilion, dozens of Foundation Establishment cultivators maintain order, allowing only those with permits to enter.

The Crimson Serpent Fairy, holding a purple-gold token, slowly stepped in. Today, she was disguised as an ordinary Golden Core cultivator, dressed in an elegant blue dress, her aura restrained, only her eyes concealing a sharp edge.

Inside the auction hall, golden nanmu chairs were arranged in a circle, with a gilded jade table suspended on a high platform in the center. Several treasures shimmering with spiritual light were placed on the table, attracting the burning gazes of many cultivators even before the auction began.

The private room on the second floor was shrouded in spiritual gauze, through which several figures could be vaguely seen sitting, their auras as deep as an abyss—clearly, those present today were not only Golden Core cultivators, but there might even be Nascent Soul cultivators secretly watching!

"clang--"

A clear, resonant bell rang, and the entire hall fell silent.

The auctioneer, dressed in a long purple and gold robe, with a refined and scholarly appearance, stepped onto the stage with a smile. With a flick of his sleeve, he announced in a clear voice:
"Fellow Daoists, your presence from afar is a great honor for Immortal Cloud Pavilion! Today's auction features thirty-six treasures, including several rare and exceptional items. We hope you will seize this opportunity!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he lightly tapped his fingertip, and the first item for auction floated into the air—

"The first item is a fourth-tier high-grade magic weapon—'Mysterious Frost Condensation Sword'!"

A flying sword, entirely azure blue, hovered in mid-air, its blade shrouded in a chilling aura, with faint frost flowers condensing on its surface.

"This sword is forged from the Northern Darkness Cold Iron. When drawn, it is like frost descending, capable of freezing the spiritual power of magical artifacts of the same rank. Starting bid: 200,000 spirit stones!"

"Two hundred and fifty thousand!"

"Three hundred thousand!"

Bidding was fierce, and in the end, a female cultivator with an ice spirit root won the bid for 850,000 spirit stones.

Following that, the second and third items were put up for auction in quick succession—

"The second item is a fourth-tier spiritual herb, the 'Nine Revolutions Soul-Condensing Flower,' which can help Golden Core cultivators stabilize their souls. Starting bid: 300,000!"

"The third item is a fragment of the ancient scroll 'Tai Xu Bu,' which is suspected to contain spatial escape techniques. The starting bid is 500,000!"

The atmosphere inside the arena grew increasingly heated, but the Crimson Serpent Fairy remained seated, her divine sense quietly sweeping across the entire arena.

Finally, halfway through the auction, the auctioneer flicked his sleeves and his voice suddenly rose—

"Next up is the highlight of this auction!"

A pure white jade box slowly floated into the air. Even before the lid was opened, a refreshing fragrance of elixir wafted out, making those who smelled it feel their souls clear and their magical power flow faster!

"A near-fifth-tier spiritual pill—the Thousand Island Pill!"

The jade box was opened, and a pill the size of a longan was quietly suspended in the air. The pill had faint waves flowing around it, and its spiritual light was like mist.

"This pill is made from the spiritual essence of the North Sea over a thousand years, and is refined with seventy-two kinds of rare spiritual herbs. It can heal injuries to the Nascent Soul stage, repair cracks in the Golden Core stage, and even help in breaking through the bottleneck of the Nascent Soul stage!" The auctioneer looked around the room and announced loudly, "Starting price - 600,000 spirit stones!"

“Nine hundred thousand!” an old man in black robes spoke first.

"One million!" came a detached female voice from the private room on the second floor.

"One million two hundred thousand!" A Golden Core Peak cultivator gritted his teeth and raised the price.

Bidding erupted in succession. The Crimson Serpent Fairy's eyes flickered slightly as her gaze fell upon a corner—there, a cloaked cultivator, who had remained silent until the price soared to two million, suddenly raised his hand:

"1500000."

His voice was deep, yet it was as loud as thunder, and the entire room fell silent!
The auctioneer's smile widened: "Any fellow Daoists willing to raise the bid?"

No one answered.

"make a deal!"

The cloaked cultivator stood up, handed over the spirit stones, took the jade box, and turned to leave.

The Crimson Serpent Fairy quietly followed, and seeing the cloaked cultivator turn into a dark alley, she immediately made a hand seal to cast the "Thousand-Mile Soul-Locking Technique," sending a wisp of her divine sense like a thread wrapping around him. However, less than ten miles outside the market, that wisp of divine sense suddenly vanished without a trace, becoming impossible to sense even a fraction of.

"What a brilliant counter-tracking technique!" She gritted her teeth, and a gilded compass flew out from her sleeve. The pointer spun wildly, finally pointing to a dense forest in the southeast.

At the same time, Venerable Huanxi had already transformed into a golden streak and soared into the sky. He held a fragment of his aura, retrieved from the auction house, between his fingers, his eyes gleaming with golden light: "Junior, no matter how extraordinary your abilities, you cannot escape my tracking techniques!"

Finished.

He stood atop a cloud, his hands forming a hand seal, his body radiating golden light. Suddenly, he bit his tongue, spitting out a mouthful of blood essence, which condensed into nine strange runes in the air.

"Searching for souls in the Nine Netherworlds, tracking forms across ten thousand miles!"

The runes exploded with a deafening roar, transforming into countless golden threads that formed a vast net covering an area of ​​hundreds of miles. Each golden thread shimmered with an eerie light, revealing even the smallest insects and ants buried three feet underground.

When Fairy Chilian arrived, she saw the golden silk net gradually dimming. Master Huanxi's face was so gloomy it could drip water—even with the secret technique, there was still no trace of the cloaked cultivator!
"Sect Leader Brother," the Crimson Serpent Fairy dug her fingertips into her palm, "this person's escape techniques are so advanced, I'm afraid he's already..."

"What's the panic!" Venerable Huanxi suddenly interrupted sharply, his sleeves fluttering even without wind. He narrowed his eyes, his gloomy expression suddenly turning into a cold smile: "Do you think I would do something I'm not sure of?"

The Crimson Fairy was taken aback.

Master Huanxi took out an ancient bronze mirror from his robes. The mirror surface shimmered with a faint light, and a phantom image of a pill could be vaguely seen floating within it. He flicked the mirror surface with his finger, and the hidden runes on the pill in the mirror suddenly lit up with a scarlet light.

"The 'Blood Soul Seal' on the Thousand Isles Pill was forged by me using thirty years of my lifespan." A cruel smile curled at the corner of his lips. "Unless he never uses this pill again."

The words have not yet fallen.

hum!
The ancient bronze mirror in Master Huanxi's hand shimmered with a ghostly light, its surface reflecting the Thousand Isles Pill imprinted with the "Blood Soul Seal." However, at this moment, the illusory image of the pill in the mirror gradually blurred, and the scarlet runes on its surface melted away like ice and snow, crumbling inch by inch!

"This is impossible!"

Master Huanxi's pupils constricted, and an expression of disbelief and astonishment appeared on his face.

His "Blood Soul Seal" was refined with his own blood essence and integrated into the pill pattern. Not to mention Golden Core cultivators, even Nascent Soul True Monarchs would find it extremely difficult to detect without careful examination! But now, the mark has been silently erased!

Upon seeing this, Fairy Chilian's heart sank: "Sect Leader, the mark has been broken?"

Master Huanxi's face was ashen, his eyes blazing with murderous intent: "So this is Fu Changsheng! He actually managed to break my Blood Soul Seal!"

He laughed in fury, his voice chillingly cold: "This boy must possess a great secret!"

—Being able to detect and erase the mark he planted, Fu Changsheng must possess some extraordinary secret technique. Fu Changsheng's value far exceeds their previous estimates!
The Crimson Serpent Fairy felt a chill run down her spine and whispered, "Sect Leader, this plan has failed. Fu Changsheng will definitely be more vigilant now. It will be difficult to lure him out again."

Master Huanxi snorted coldly: "Difficult? No matter how difficult, we must investigate!"

He whirled around, his purple-gold Taoist robe fluttering in the wind, his eyes flashing with a cold light: "Pass on my order—"

"First, send more spies into the Great Zhou to keep a close watch on the Fu family's movements. Report back immediately if Fu Changsheng shows up!"

"Second, contact the Joyful Union Sect and the Yin-Yang Sect, and offer three more 'Bliss Pills' as a reward in exchange for clues about Fu Changsheng's whereabouts!"

"Third, activate the 'Blood Shadow Guards' and send them to the Wuzhou border to intercept and kill Fu Changsheng. We absolutely cannot allow him to return to the Great Zhou alive!"

The Crimson Fairy was startled.

The Blood Shadow Guards are the most secretive assassins of the Joyful Sect. Each one is a Golden Core cultivator, skilled in assassination, and rarely deployed. The fact that the sect leader has even sent out the Blood Shadow Guards shows his determination to kill Fu Changsheng!

"Yes! This disciple will do it immediately!" She dared not hesitate and bowed to accept the order.

Master Huanxi gazed into the distance, towards Wuzhou, his eyes filled with murderous intent: "Fu Changsheng, do you think you can escape?"

"I'd like to see what secrets you're hiding!"

Fu Changsheng moved with lightning speed, traversing thousands of miles through the dense forest. After confirming that he had completely shaken off the pursuit of the Joyful Sect, he finally found a secluded cave. He raised his hand and set up several concealment formations and several warning restrictions before he felt at ease.

A thought.

They directly entered the small wooden house within the Five Elements Space.

He flipped his palm, and the jade box containing the Thousand Island Pill appeared. The box opened, and the pill emitted a misty light. The pill's patterns flowed like ocean waves, but its surface faintly revealed a trace of scarlet blood, which was almost imperceptible without close inspection.

"The system intelligence was indeed correct; this pill has been imprinted with the 'Blood Soul Seal'."

Without hesitation, he gathered chaotic magic power at his fingertips and gently touched the pill. A wisp of gray mist coiled around it, peeling away the blood-red runes from the pill bit by bit, like unraveling a cocoon. The runes seemed to possess sentience, struggling and twisting, but ultimately could not withstand the erosion of the chaotic power and completely dissipated.

"Hmph, Venerable Joy, your schemes have ultimately failed."

just in case.

Fu Changsheng's thoughts changed:
"Exchange Information"

hum!
The panel vibrated.

A large amount of yellow light surged.

Then, lines of text appeared:
[1: In her eagerness to break through to the Golden Core Realm, Yao Yao forcibly triggered a tribulation lightning in the secret realm three years later. The power of Yao Yao's tribulation lightning far exceeded that of ordinary Golden Core tribulations. Because she contained a trace of ancient demon bloodline, the heavenly tribulation descended even more violently, and the secret realm itself could not withstand such heavenly might. This caused the spatial structure of the secret realm to become unstable and eventually collapse. She and Rong Ge'er were both swallowed up by the spatial turbulence, leaving no trace of their bodies.]

[2: The Joyful Sect has dispatched three Golden Core assassins to infiltrate the far west and the border of the Great Zhou Dynasty, to intercept and kill you at all costs.]

[3: The chief supervisor of Wuzhou Town, "Master Xuanyang," is about to emerge from seclusion, while the Seven Princes and the Lei family have secretly courted the deputy chief supervisor, Master Yan, who plans to allocate the new fiefdom of Wuzhou to the Lei family.]

[4: A trace of Yin energy from the "Yellow Spring Pearl" still remains in the Grandmaster's body, which will only worsen his injuries. If he fights again, his foundation will be damaged beyond repair in the future.]

[5: The ancient teleportation array connecting the far west to the Great Zhou Dynasty has been monitored by the Joyful Sect, but it can be smuggled through by the black market merchant "Ghost Hand Old Nine". By taking an alternative route instead of the usual border route, one can safely reach the Great Zhou Dynasty, but each person needs to pay 300,000 spirit stones.]

[6: Fu Qingyun absorbed the Demon Eye in the Demon Suppression Pass, causing the Ancient Demon Vine to fully awaken. If it is not stopped in time, the Ancient Demon Vine will completely devour Fu Qingyun's consciousness.]

[7: Deputy Supervisor Yan Zhenren possesses a "Space-Locking Mirror," which can temporarily imprison spatial fluctuations within a radius of one hundred miles. If encountered, those within the Five Elements Space will be unable to escape.]

[8: If one can obtain the fragment of "Xuan Tian Zhen Ren" lost in his early years, one can use his connections to persuade him to help in the struggle for the new fiefdom of Wuzhou.]

【9:】

A total of twenty pieces of intelligence were exchanged.

The more Fu Changsheng read, the more alarmed he became.

He took a deep breath, suppressing his anxiety, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

—We must cure Uncle Yu as soon as possible, and then return to the Great Zhou at all costs!
a few days later.

Fu Changsheng used the "Thousand Faces Technique" to transform into an ordinary rogue cultivator and quietly returned to the cave where Fu Molan and Master Yu were.

"Patriarch!" Fu Molan's tense expression finally relaxed a bit when she saw him return safely.

Fu Changsheng nodded and took out the jade box: "Now that you have the pills, how is Uncle Yu?"

Fu Molan said in a low voice, "His breathing is steady, but his injuries have not yet improved."

"It's alright, with the Thousand Island Pill, Uncle Yu's injury is not a problem." Fu Changsheng walked to the stone bed, looked at the unconscious Master Yu, and frowned slightly.

At this moment, Master Yu's face was ashen, his breathing was weak, his once rosy cheeks were sunken, and even his signature wine gourd was tilted to the side, the wine already dried up.

“Mo Lan, you protect us outside, I will help Uncle Yu refine the medicinal power.”

Fu Molan nodded, stood at the cave entrance with her sword in hand, and released her divine sense to be vigilant about her surroundings.

Fu Changsheng sat cross-legged before the couch, holding the Thousand Island Pill in his palm. The pill was as lustrous as jade, and its fragrance was intoxicating. With a light touch of his fingertips, the pill transformed into a wisp of spiritual liquid, which was slowly poured into the Grandmaster's mouth.

"Use the Chaos Spirit to aid its refinement!"

He placed both palms on the Grandmaster's back, and the chaotic energy flowed like a trickle, guiding the medicinal power through his meridians. The effects of the Thousand Island Pill were extremely potent; if Fu Changsheng hadn't used chaotic energy to temper it, ordinary Golden Core cultivators simply wouldn't have been able to withstand it.

As time passed, the spiritual energy within the cave surged, and Master Yu's pale face gradually regained its color, his withered meridians regaining vitality under the nourishment of the medicine.

……

A few months later.

"Hmm... this wine... why does it taste bland?"

A muffled murmur rang out, and Fu Changsheng and Fu Molan turned their heads at the same time.

Master Yu on the stone bed opened his eyes groggily, raised one hand to scratch his messy hair, and reached for his waist with his other hand, only to find nothing.

"Huh? Where's my wine gourd?"

Fu Changsheng smiled slightly, took out a brand-new wine gourd from his storage bag, and shook it: "Uncle Yu, the wine is here."

Master Yu's eyes lit up. He grabbed the gourd, tilted his head back, and took a big gulp before letting out a long sigh of relief: "Ha—I'm alive again!"

He smacked his lips, then suddenly realized what was happening and stared wide-eyed at Fu Changsheng and Fu Molan: "Wait, how long have I been unconscious?" "Three months and seven days," Fu Molan whispered.

"So long?!" Master Yu sat up with a jolt, but the movement aggravated his injuries, causing him to wince in pain. "Hiss—that old hag's poisonous fire was really potent..."

Fu Changsheng laughed and said, "Uncle Yu, you almost lost your life this time."

Master Yu waved his hand dismissively: "Hey, it's nothing! I'm tough as nails, even the King of Hell wouldn't dare take me!"

He took a swig of wine, then suddenly remembered something and squinted at Fu Changsheng: "But speaking of which, where did you get the Thousand Island Pill? That stuff is hard to find."

Fu Changsheng smiled without saying a word.

Fu Molan pursed her lips and whispered, "The patriarch risked going to Xianyun Textile Market to lure the Huanxi Sect into a trap..."

"What?!" Master Yu sat bolt upright, nearly dropping his wine gourd. "Are you out of your mind? Those lunatics from the Joyful Sect are searching the whole world for you, and you still dare to show your face?!"

Fu Changsheng shrugged, his tone relaxed: "Isn't everything alright?"

"Bullshit!" Master Yu rarely swore, his mustache bristling. "If something happens to you, how am I supposed to explain this to your father?!"

Fu Changsheng laughed and said, "Uncle Yu, your injury hasn't fully healed yet, don't get excited."

Master Yu stared at him for a long time, then suddenly sighed and shook his head, saying, "You brat... just like your father, once you've made up your mind, not even nine oxen can pull you back."

He tilted his head back, took a swig of his drink, smacked his lips, and suddenly grinned: "Well done!"

Fu Changsheng smiled.

Fu Molan stood aside, watching the two bicker, a hint of warmth flashing in her eyes.

Master Yu glanced at her, then suddenly handed her the wine gourd: "Girl, don't keep a straight face, have a sip?"

Fu Molan was taken aback, then quickly shook her head: "I... don't drink alcohol."

"Tsk, how can a cultivator not know how to drink?" Master Yu shoved the drink into her hand without further ado. "Drink! Calm your nerves!"

Fu Molan had no choice but to take a small sip, which immediately caused her to cough and her cheeks to turn red.

Master Yu laughed heartily: "That's more like it!"

Fu Changsheng shook his head and chuckled, then said seriously, "Uncle Yu, although your injuries have stabilized, a trace of the Yin energy from the 'Yellow Spring Pearl' still remains in your body. If you force yourself to fight again, it might damage your foundation, making it difficult to repair in the future."

Master Yu took a swig of wine and waved his hand dismissively: "I'm an old man with bones as thick as a rock. What haven't I seen? This little bit of Yin energy is nothing!"

Fu Changsheng shook his head: "We must not be careless."

He flipped his hand and took out a jade slip, handing it to Master Yu: "This is intelligence from the clan; please take a look."

Master Yu took the jade slip, scanned it with his divine sense, and his originally relaxed expression gradually became serious.

"That girl Yaoyao... she's actually trying to force her way into the Golden Core stage?" He frowned deeply. "And that brat Fu Qingyun, he's actually being corrupted by the demonic vine?"

Fu Changsheng nodded: "Time is of the essence; we must return to Great Zhou as soon as possible."

Master Yu put away his wine gourd, his expression unusually serious: "Those lunatics from the Joyful Sect won't let us leave easily. They've also got their eyes on the teleportation array from the far west to the Great Zhou."

“I’ve discovered a secret route.” A glint of light flashed in Fu Changsheng’s eyes. “The black market merchant ‘Ghost Hand Old Nine’ has a smuggling route that can bypass the Joyful Sect’s blockade and go directly to the Great Zhou.”

Fu Molan frowned: "Is this person trustworthy?"

Fu Changsheng said calmly, "He's only after money. As long as he gets enough spirit stones, he won't cause any trouble."

Master Yu stroked his chin: "Three hundred thousand spirit stones per person, that's not cheap."

Fu Changsheng laughed and said, "As long as we can get back safely, this little price is nothing."

He stood up, flicked his sleeve, and removed the cave's protective barriers: "There's no time to lose; let's set off immediately."

-

Three days later.

The far west, the black market.

In the narrow alley, dim lanterns flickered, and the air was filled with a mixture of decay and medicinal herbs. Fu Changsheng and his two companions, cloaked, followed a thin guide, winding their way through the alley before finally stopping in front of a dilapidated shop.

The shop sign was crooked, with three hastily written characters: "Ghost Hand Pavilion".

The guide whispered, "Gentlemen, we've arrived."

Fu Changsheng nodded and casually tossed him a mid-grade spirit stone: "Thank you for your trouble."

The guide took the spirit stone, a hint of joy flashing in his eyes, and quickly retreated into the shadows and disappeared.

Fu Changsheng pushed open the shop door, the rotten wooden door creaking open. The shop was dimly lit, and the shelves were filled with strange and unusual objects, some of which even exuded a chilling aura.

Behind the counter, a hunched old man was wiping an antique bronze mirror. Hearing the noise, he didn't look up, and asked in a hoarse voice, "What would you like, sir?"

Fu Changsheng said directly, "Ghost Hand Ninth Brother, we're going to the Great Zhou."

The old man paused slightly as he wiped the bronze mirror, then finally looked up. His face was etched with wrinkles, but his eyes were exceptionally bright, as if they could see right through people's hearts.

“Three hundred thousand spirit stones per person, pay upfront.” He stretched out his withered hand, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Fu Changsheng didn't waste any words. With a wave of his sleeve, nine hundred thousand spirit stones were piled on the counter, shimmering with spiritual light.

Ghost Hand Old Nine glanced at it and nodded in satisfaction: "Excellent."

He put away the spirit stones, took out a yellowed animal hide map from under the counter, and spread it out on the table: "Meet at midnight tomorrow at the foot of Black Wind Cliff. Latecomers will not be waited for."

Fu Changsheng glanced at the map, memorized the location, and nodded, saying, "Okay."

Ghost Hand Old Nine suddenly grinned, revealing a few yellow teeth: "Just a heads-up, the Joyful Sect is keeping a close eye on anyone going to the Great Zhou these days. Be careful on the road."

Fu Changsheng's gaze turned slightly cold: "Thank you for the reminder."

-

After leaving the black market, the three found a secluded place to rest temporarily.

Fu Molan whispered, "Patriarch, is this person trustworthy?"

Before Fu Changsheng could answer, Master Yu had already taken a swig of wine and laughed, "Girl, people in this kind of place only care about money, not people. As long as we give him enough, he won't cause trouble for himself."

Fu Changsheng nodded: "Uncle Yu is right. However, just in case, we should still make some preparations."

He flipped his hand and took out three talismans, handing them to the two: "These are 'Concealment Talismans,' which can hide one's aura. Even Nascent Soul cultivators will find it difficult to detect unless they examine it carefully."

Fu Molan took the talisman and carefully put it away.

Master Yu waved his hand, saying, "I have no need for this thing."

Fu Changsheng frowned: "Uncle Yu, your injuries..."

Master Yu laughed heartily: "Don't worry, although I can't go all out, I still have some tricks to conceal my aura."

As he spoke, his aura suddenly became elusive, as if he had merged with the surrounding environment, and it would be difficult to detect his presence without careful observation.

Seeing this, Fu Changsheng nodded slightly: "In that case, we'll depart in three days."

-

However, that very night...

Fu Changsheng was adjusting his breathing when he suddenly felt a chill and abruptly opened his eyes.

"somebody is coming!"

Almost simultaneously, Master Yu and Fu Molan also noticed something amiss.

The three exchanged a glance and quickly concealed themselves.

A moment later, three dark figures silently appeared at their original spot. One of them, holding a compass, said coldly, "The aura ends here."

The other man said coldly, "Keep searching; they can't have gone far."

Fu Changsheng's eyes were icy cold.

—They are the "Blood Shadow Guards" of the Joyful Sect!
They were dressed in dark red robes, their faces covered with bronze demon masks, and a chilling, bloody aura emanated from them. One of them held a compass, his fingers forming hand seals, and strands of blood-red threads spread from the compass, crawling across the ground like venomous snakes, searching for their presence.

“They’re using the ‘Blood Guiding Technique,’” Fu Changsheng whispered. “They’ll find this place in no more than half a quarter of an hour.”

Fu Molan gripped the Frost Sword tightly, her knuckles turning white, her voice slightly cold: "Patriarch, we are extremely well hidden; they may not be able to find us."

Fu Changsheng shook his head, his gaze grave: "They've already sent a message to the Joyful Sect. If the Joyful Venerable and the Crimson Serpent Fairy arrive, none of us will be able to escape."

Master Yu took a swig of wine, smacked his lips, and suddenly grinned: "Kid, go ahead. I trust you can get away with it."

Fu Molan turned her head sharply: "Uncle Yu!"

Master Yu waved his hand, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes: "Girl, this kid is much more slippery than you think. Since he dared to go out, he must be confident he can shake them off."

Fu Changsheng chuckled and patted Fu Molan's shoulder: "Molan, take Uncle Yu to Black Wind Cliff first. I'll arrive before midnight."

Fu Molan pursed her lips, a struggle in her eyes, but in the end she only whispered, "...Patriarch, be careful."

Fu Changsheng nodded, saying nothing more. He flicked his finger, and chaotic energy condensed in his palm, transforming into a gray talisman, which he handed to Fu Molan: "If anything unexpected happens, crush it, and I will sense it immediately."

Fu Molan took the talisman and carefully put it away.

Fu Changsheng took a deep breath, a resolute glint in his eyes. His figure blurred, and he vanished from the concealment array like a ghost. Simultaneously, the azure dragon in his sleeve transformed into a streak of azure light, instantly enveloping him and soaring through the air!

"boom--"

A blue dragon pierces the night sky!

The three Blood Shadow Guards suddenly looked up, and the leader shouted sharply, "It's Fu Changsheng! After him!"

Three blood-red shadows instantly transformed into streaks of light, giving chase!

The Azure Dragon was incredibly fast; having broken through to the quasi-fourth rank, it was even faster than a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator, with the wind whistling past its ears. He didn't let the Azure Dragon escape at full speed, but deliberately controlled its speed to ensure that the Blood Shadow Guards could keep up, yet couldn't truly intercept it.

"Hmph, they've taken the bait after all." Fu Changsheng sneered, his divine sense sweeping over the three blood-red figures relentlessly pursuing him.

Suddenly, the Azure Dragon changed direction and sped off in the northwest!

"He's trying to escape to 'Spirit-Slaying Valley'!" a Blood Shadow Guard said coldly. "Stop him!"

The three of them simultaneously formed hand seals, their bodies surging with crimson light, and their speed suddenly increased!

Fu Changsheng's lips curled slightly, a sly glint in his eyes. He suddenly slapped his storage bag, and a talisman flew out, instantly burning to ashes!

"boom--"

The talisman exploded, filling the sky with gray mist that obscured divine sense!

"Damn it! It's the 'Chaos Obscuring the Sky Talisman'!" Blood Shadow Guard roared, his figure pausing, forced to slow down.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Fu Changsheng flashed and directly entered the Five Elements Space!

"Where is he?!" The Blood Shadow Guard rushed into the gray fog, only to find that Fu Changsheng's presence had completely vanished!

"Impossible! He couldn't have vanished into thin air to form the Three Talents Blood Fiend Array!" he shouted. The three of them stood back to back, and thirty-six blood threads shot out from their sleeves at the same time, weaving into a net in the air. Wherever the blood net passed, even the air hissed and corroded.

Just as the blood web was about to cover the entire valley, a sudden change occurred!
"Buzz——"

Suddenly, a burst of seven-colored light erupted from the void, and a small beast with a body entirely of crystal leaped out of thin air, its single horn on its forehead radiating seven-colored divine light. The light cascaded down like a waterfall, illuminating an area of ​​ten feet in a dreamlike state.

"This is... a wild beast?!" the Blood Shadow Guard on the right exclaimed in shock.

Fu Changsheng actually possessed such a rare item.

No wonder the sect leader was willing to go to any lengths to capture him; now I understand.

"Boy, prepare to die!"

He didn't finish his sentence.

A streak of azure sword light suddenly pierced out from the divine light.

So fast that it didn't even leave an afterimage!
"puff!"

The sword's edge pierced through the blood net; had he not reacted quickly and dodged to the side, the sword light would have already pierced his throat. Even so, half of his shoulder was still sliced ​​off, blood splattering onto the bronze mask and winding down the hideous patterns on its face.

"This"

Fu Changsheng's methods were beyond the capabilities of a cultivator who had just condensed his Golden Core.

The remaining two Blood Shadow Guards retreated several feet.

A figure slowly emerged from the seven-colored divine light. It was Fu Changsheng. His green robes fluttered in the wind, and he was surrounded by seven-colored light. His aura was several times stronger than before!
"Second level of the Golden Core stage?!" The leading Blood Shadow Guard's voice was hoarse. "In less than a year, his cultivation has actually broken through! No, this is due to the blessing of a wild beast!"

"You have a sharp eye, but unfortunately you saw something you shouldn't have."

Fu Changsheng's lips curled into a slight smile, and a jade lotus lamp appeared out of thin air in his palm. The wick burst into flames with a "pop," instantly transforming into nine azure lotuses that surrounded him. The lotus petals were densely covered with innate Dao patterns, forming a cyan light curtain—the first transformation of the Lotus Lamp, the "Azure Lotus Barrier"!
"Don't be fooled by him!" The Blood Shadow Guard on the left suddenly bit his tongue, spitting out a mouthful of blood essence. The blood mist condensed in the air into three blood-red throwing knives, their blades wreathed in dark, malevolent energy.

"The Blood Fiend Sect's Blood Transformation Divine Blade?" Fu Changsheng's pupils contracted slightly. "You guys certainly have a wide range of knowledge."

Three blood-red blades pierced the air, instantly withering the vegetation in their wake. Fu Changsheng neither dodged nor evaded, and the Azure Lotus Barrier shone brightly. The blood-red blades struck the light barrier, producing a metallic clang, and the nine Azure Lotuses spun simultaneously, shredding the blood-fiend energy completely!
"My turn." Fu Changsheng shouted coldly, and the Lotus Lantern in his hand suddenly stretched and deformed, the lamp base transforming into a sword hilt, and the lamp body extending into a three-foot-long green blade. The space at the sword's edge slightly distorted, revealing tiny black cracks—the second transformation, "Azure Sky Sword"!
With a single, seemingly effortless strike, the sword's edge appeared strangely before the throats of both Blood Shadow Guards simultaneously. The leader, in shock, shattered the jade pendant on his chest, instantly creating a crimson barrier.

"Crack!"

The barrier shattered instantly, but it did delay the sword's momentum for a moment. The two Blood Shadow Guards seized the opportunity to retreat, their necks still bleeding from the sword's energy.

"Blood Demon Fusion Technique!" The three suddenly made hand seals simultaneously, and fine blood droplets seeped from their pores. The blood droplets intertwined in the air, connecting the two into a two-headed, four-armed monster! Their auras instantly surged to the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm!

Fu Changsheng's expression was solemn. With a wave of his left hand, twelve pale white bone nails shot out from his sleeve. Each nail was engraved with twisted runes, forming a sinister array in the air—it was none other than Granny Silver Flower's "Twelve Yin Fiend Soul-Destroying Array"!
"You can actually control multiple magical treasures simultaneously?!" The Blood Shadow Guard's voice echoed as he merged with the other, his four arms forming hand seals at the same time. Suddenly, the ground cracked open, and nine blood pythons burst forth from the earth, each exuding the pressure of an early-stage Golden Core cultivator!

At the critical moment, the wick of the Lotus Lamp on Fu Changsheng's head suddenly separated, casting a hazy light—the third transformation, "Azure Rain Healing the Heavens"! Wherever the light rain passed, his meridians, which had been damaged by forcibly activating multiple magical treasures, were instantly healed.

"boom!"

The blood pythons collided with the bone nail array, their Yin energy and blood energy mutually corroding each other. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Fu Changsheng summoned the Thousand Waves Overlapping Peaks Banner, with the Xuan Shui Mirror hovering beside him. The mirror rotated, reflecting half of the blood pythons back!
"How is this possible?!" Blood Shadow Guard exclaimed in shock and fury. "How could you simultaneously activate both water and yin elemental magic treasures?!"

Fu Changsheng sneered without answering, continuously channeling chaotic magical power into the four magical treasures. The Lotus Sword was the main offensive weapon, the Soul-Destroying Nails were used to trap the enemy, the Mysterious Water Mirror was used to deflect attacks, and the Thousand Wave Banner was used for defense—the four magical treasures were used in his hands with perfect coordination, like extensions of his own limbs!
Suddenly, the Blood Shadow Guard let out a shrill scream, and all four arms plunged into his own chest simultaneously! Blood gushed out, condensing in the air into a ten-zhang-long blood halberd. "With my lifeblood, I sacrifice the Blood Demon Halberd!" The blood halberd slashed down with earth-shattering force, leaving tiny cracks in the space wherever it passed.

"Explode!" Fu Changsheng detonated the Thousand Waves Banner without hesitation. The power of the fourth-tier magic weapon's self-destruction blasted the Blood Halberd off course by three points. He seized the opportunity to thrust out with his sword, and the tip of the Azure Sky Sword emitted a point of chaotic light.

"Pfft!"

The sword pierced through the Blood Shadow Guard's chest, and the chaotic energy instantly corroded his internal organs. However, the opponent grinned maliciously, grabbed the sword, and simultaneously struck Fu Changsheng's crown with his remaining three hands!

"Mysterious Water Mirror, explode!" Fu Changsheng sacrificed another magical artifact. The spatial turbulence generated by the exploding mirror shredded the Blood Shadow Guard's arms, and he himself was also shaken by the aftershocks, coughing up blood.

At the last moment, the twelve Soul-Destroying Nails suddenly glowed with an eerie light, and the runes on the nails wriggled like living beings. "Destroy!" Fu Changsheng shouted sharply, forming a hand seal. The bone nails exploded simultaneously, and the Yin energy transformed into twelve chains, forcibly tearing the Blood Shadow Guard's primordial spirit out of his body!
"Ah—!" With a shrill scream, the combined state was forcibly dispelled. The three Blood Shadow Guards fell to the ground, their bronze masks shattering to reveal three young faces covered in blood-red patterns.

“What a… Chaotic Dao Foundation!” One of them coughed up blood, his eyes flashing with madness. “But you think this is the end?”

"if not?!"

Fu Changsheng put on the Hidden Sect mask and flicked his index finger.

Three sword beams swept across the necks of the three Blood Shadow Guards.

Gudong.

Three fine heads rolled to the ground.

Fu Changsheng raised his hand and formed a hand seal, gathering a wisp of chaotic energy at his fingertips to outline a profound rune in the void.

"open!"

Suddenly, a deep crevice opened in the ground, a cold wind howled, and the phantom of an ancient temple slowly emerged—it was the Netherworld Heavenly Dragon Temple! The temple was pitch black, its surface engraved with dragon patterns. Two massive bronze doors slowly opened, and three beams of divine light shot out like chains, instantly wrapping around the corpses of the three Blood Shadow Guards.

"What is this?!"

One of the Blood Shadow Guards' souls was forcibly dragged out, struggling in terror but unable to break free from the divine light's restraint. The other two souls were similarly pulled out; they roared madly, attempting to burn their remaining souls to escape, but the divine light, like a leech, firmly locked them in.

"No! Spare us! We are willing to acknowledge you as our master!"

"Fu Changsheng! Spare us! We'll kill for you! We'll wipe out the Joyful Sect for you!"

“We know the location of the Joyful Sect’s secret vault, we can—”

Fu Changsheng remained indifferent, and with a flick of his sleeve, the divine light suddenly contracted, dragging the three divine souls into the depths of the temple like shooting stars.

"boom!"

Inside the temple, densely packed sealing runes appeared on the stone walls on both sides. On the left wall, the souls of Granny Silver Flower and True Man Yun were imprisoned, their faces contorted as if wailing silently. On the right wall, however, was the soul of True Man Yin Kui, his eyes closed, like a statue.

"no, do not want!"

The three Blood Shadow Guards were terrified. They did not want to be sealed away forever, nor did they want their souls to be scattered! However, the divine light was merciless and directly slammed them into the stone wall on the right.

"Om-"

The sealing runes on the stone wall suddenly lit up, and the souls of the Blood Shadow Guards instantly froze, transforming into three new statues, standing alongside Yin Kui Zhenren. Their expressions were frozen in the terror of their final moment, and they were completely silent.

Fu Changsheng withdrew his gaze, raised his hand and waved, and the illusory image of the Heavenly Dragon Temple slowly dissipated, the cracks in the ground closed again, as if nothing had ever happened.

"Joyful Sect... however many you send, I'll take them all."

He sneered, and with a flick of his sleeve, he seemingly put the three corpses into his storage bag, but in reality, he threw them into the Five Elements Space.

Just now.

A familiar mechanical voice echoed in his mind:
"Ding"

"You have killed three Golden Core cultivators from the Joyful Sect, adding 30,000 Imperial Merit Points to your family and earning 30,000 Family Contribution Points."

Followed by.

The family contribution value on the panel has changed to 68,000.

"Finally, the system can deduce the Golden Core chapter of the 'Azure Emperor's Longevity Manual'!"

Fu Changsheng's face lit up with joy. Without lingering for a moment, he destroyed the traces at the scene and immediately disappeared from the spot.

(End of this chapter)