Family Rise: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 519 Acquiring a Spirit Pet Again, Taiyi Appears in the World, Heavenly Mystery True Lord
The poisonous miasma from the entire swamp surged forth, forming a ferocious blood-red armor around the black serpent's body. Its previously weak aura instantly surged, seemingly breaking through the fourth-tier barrier!
Li Wuhun forced himself to stand up despite his severe injuries and hissed:

"Form the Mysterious Slaughter Array!"

He bit his tongue, spitting a mouthful of blood onto the bone shield.

The shield instantly split into twelve bone fragments, which floated in the air and formed a strange array.

Mo Hongling understood and quickly made hand seals and chanted incantations.

Three golden skulls flew back to her side, forming a triangle that protected the two of them. She formed hand seals, and black blood seeped from her seven orifices:

"With my lifeblood, I offer this sacrifice to the Witch God!"

"boom!"

The twelve bone fragments simultaneously ignited with eerie green flames, transforming into twelve hideous ghostly figures. These figures, wielding bone spears, lunged at the Xuan Serpent. Each strike was accompanied by a piercing, ghostly wail, capable of piercing through its blood-red armor and directly corroding the Xuan Serpent's flesh.

"Roar"

The black serpent roared in pain, its tail slamming violently against the swamp.

Countless plumes of mud shot into the sky, solidifying in mid-air into a dense barrage of black ice spikes. With a flick of its head, the ice spikes rained down on the two of them!

"Puff puff--"

The three golden skeletons were the first to be hit, riddled with holes by the ice spikes. Mo Hongling coughed up another mouthful of blood, her face ashen white. Li Wuhun's twelve ghost shadows were also mostly scattered by the ice spikes, and the formation was on the verge of collapse.

At this critical moment, Li Wuhun suddenly pulled out a blood-red bone flute from his robes, a resolute glint in his eyes:

"Sixth Sister, use that move!"

Upon hearing this, the poisonous markings on Mo Hongling's face suddenly lit up.

She suddenly made a hand seal:

"Mystic Blood Escape!"

"puff--"

Both of them simultaneously spat out mouthfuls of blood essence, which condensed into a blood-red portal in the air. Li Wuhun gave the Black Water Serpent a final, venomous look before crushing the bone flute in his hand.

"boom!"

The moment the bone flute shattered, a bolt of crimson lightning struck the Xuan Snake's vital spot. The Xuan Snake let out a shrill roar, its massive body crashing to the ground, its crimson armor cracking inch by inch.

The blood-red portal swallowed the two of them, and they vanished without a trace in the blink of an eye.

"Father!" Fu Yongyao exclaimed urgently, "They're trying to escape!" The starlight on her Qingqiu Yitian Disc shone brightly as she prepared to use her tracking technique.

Fu Changsheng raised his hand to stop him: "We can't catch up. They're using a teleportation technique."

His gaze was fixed intently on the heavily injured Xuan Snake.

Subduing the Xuan Snake is more important than dealing with the two from Xuan Yin Village.

"Roar!"

Although the black serpent was severely injured, its ferocity remained undiminished. A crazed light flashed in its single eye, and its scales began to glow with an abnormal blood-red light. It had actually understood Fu Changsheng's intentions, and now it was ready to fight to the death.

"Oh no, it's about to self-destruct its demon core!" Ouyang Fei exclaimed.

Fu Changsheng shouted, "Yaoyao, Zhou Tian Xing Dou Formation!"

Fu Yongyao understood and released the Qingqiu Chess Plate.

Countless starlight descended, transforming into thirty-six star chains. Ancient runes appeared on each chain. With a whoosh, the sound of air being torn apart rang out, and in the next instant, the Xuan Snake was firmly bound.

"Roar!"

The black serpent struggled frantically, and the star chains groaned under the strain.

The Lotus Lantern above Fu Changsheng's head shone brightly, and nine green lotuses bloomed in succession, transforming into nine layers of restrictions that suppressed him.

"Fourth Sister, now!"

Fu Changli was already poised to act. She bit her fingertip and drew a blood talisman on the Beast King's Token:
"With blood as the catalyst, all beasts will submit!"

The Beast King's Decree transformed into a golden light and shot into the center of the Black Serpent's brow, but it trembled violently the moment it made contact!
"roar--"

The black serpent, with its single blood-red eye, suddenly raised its head and roared, its demon core spinning wildly within its body!

"Not good!" Fu Changli's expression changed drastically. She felt a terrifying backlash surge through the Beast King's Token, causing blood to spill from her seven orifices. "It would rather die than acknowledge a master!"

"puff!"

Fu Changli coughed up a mouthful of blood, his body swaying precariously.

The light on the Beast King's Token dimmed rapidly, and it looked like it was about to be shattered by the Xuan Serpent's violent demonic power!

A cold glint flashed in Fu Changsheng's eyes, and he abruptly formed a hand seal: "Chaos, manifest!"

"boom--"

A dark rift suddenly opened in the void, and an ancient and ferocious aura swept out. The massive body of the Chaos Beast stepped out of the air, its six scarlet beast eyes coldly looking down, and the pressure of an ancient ferocious beast pressed down like the collapse of the sky!

The black serpent's roar abruptly ceased.

Instinctive fear surfaced in its single eye, and its previously raging demonic power instantly froze—this was the natural submission of a low-level demonic beast to the suppression of its bloodline!

"Fourth Sister, hurry!!" Fu Changsheng shouted sharply.

Fu Changli endured the pain of the backlash, biting his tongue and spitting out a mouthful of blood that stained the Beast King's command crimson: "All beasts bow their heads and obey my command!"

"Buzz——"

The Beast King's command glowed with intense crimson light, transforming into countless golden threads that pierced the Xuan Snake's brow. This time, the Xuan Snake was powerless to resist, its massive body crashing to the ground.

"It's a success!" Fu Changli was somewhat exhausted, but she couldn't hide her ecstatic joy.

Ouyang Fei's beard trembled with excitement: "A peak fourth-tier spirit beast! My Fu family now has another guardian deity!"

However, the Xuan Snake was now on its last legs. The aftereffects of burning its bloodline, coupled with the backlash from its self-destructing demon core, had weakened its aura to the extreme. The blood armor beneath its scales was crumbling inch by inch. Although the fierce light in its single eye had faded, it still carried a trace of vigilance and resentment.

It hissed softly, seemingly still unwilling to completely submit.

Fu Yongyao stepped forward slowly, a soft blue spiritual light gathering in his palm, and said softly, "Don't be afraid, I won't hurt you."

The black serpent cautiously raised its head, its tongue flicking slightly, as if testing the waters.

"Yaoyao, be careful!" Fu Changli warned anxiously.

Fu Yongyao smiled slightly and continued to approach: "You are seriously injured. If you don't receive timely treatment, even if you acknowledge a master, you will find it difficult to recover to your peak condition."

Her healing spirit emanated a pure life force, and the blue lotus mark on her brow shone brightly. The black serpent seemed to sense that this power was beneficial to it, and its tense body relaxed slightly.

"Qinglian has overcome her calamity and is healed!"

Fu Yongyao spread his hands, and countless blue light spots fell on the black snake like a drizzle.

Its wounds healed at a visible speed, its broken scales regrowed, and its severed horn was slowly repaired. The black serpent was initially somewhat resistant, but as it was nourished by spiritual energy, its gaze gradually softened, and it even lowered its head slightly, taking the initiative to approach Fu Yongyao's palm.

"The Black Serpent... it's taking the initiative to show goodwill!" Fu Changli exclaimed in surprise.

Ouyang Fei stroked his beard and laughed, "Although demonic beasts are ferocious, they are also intelligent and know who is kind to them."

Fu Changsheng nodded slightly.

It seems that after Yaoyao broke through to the Golden Core stage, her healing spirit body also improved, and it also has a calming effect on demonic beasts.

When Fu Changli gently stroked its scales, it did not flinch, but instead slowly closed its single eye, seemingly enjoying the touch.

"It seems it has accepted you," Fu Changsheng said calmly.

Fu Changli smiled gently, continuing to channel spiritual energy into her palm: "Now that you have acknowledged your master, you will be a member of the Fu family. We will treat you well."

The black serpent let out a low hiss and lowered its head slightly, as if it understood her meaning.

Fu Changsheng nodded in satisfaction: "With this spirit beast guarding us, the Fu family is as secure as a rock in Yulin Prefecture."

Fu Changli lovingly stroked the scales of the black snake. After sensing it for a while, her expression changed, and she quickly transmitted her thoughts to Fu Changsheng:

"Patriarch! I sense that the Xuan Serpent seems to contain a trace of ancient true dragon blood!"

True dragon bloodline?!

Fu Changsheng subconsciously looked at the green dragon coiled around his waist.

No wonder Xiaoqing was always wary of the Xuan Snake. Xiaoqing had also absorbed the essence of the Yellow Dragon, so logically, the Xuan Snake should have been even more afraid of it.

Never imagined.

It turned out that this Xuan Snake also possessed the bloodline of a true dragon. If it could awaken, the Xuan Snake might not only transform into a flood dragon, but it might even evolve into a true dragon in the future. Immediately, it also transmitted its voice to Fu Changli:

"Fourth Sister, never mention the matter of the Xuan Snake hiding the bloodline of a true dragon to anyone else."

"Yes, Master"

Fu Changli nodded excitedly.

Fu Changsheng then addressed the crowd, saying, "The gains from this trip far exceeded our expectations. Upon returning to the manor, we will create a spiritual pool for the Xuan Snake."

Upon hearing that Fu Changsheng intended to take it back to his residence, the black serpent suddenly raised its head, a glint of intelligence flashing in its single eye. It growled softly, gently tugging its tail around Fu Yongyao's robe, and gestured towards the depths of the swamp.

"Where is it taking us?" Fu Yongyao asked curiously.

A glint of light flashed in Fu Changsheng's eyes: "Follow them."

The group followed the Black Serpent deeper into the swamp and soon arrived at an ancient cave shrouded in poisonous miasma. The cave entrance was covered with spiderweb-like restrictions, clearly meticulously arranged by the Black Serpent.

The black serpent raised its head and exhaled a breath of black mist, instantly dispelling the restriction. It swam into the cave first, and a moment later, it slowly retreated, carrying a pile of things with its tail.

“This is…” Fu Yongyao’s beautiful eyes widened.

The black serpent placed the treasures one by one in front of everyone:
Three fist-sized, dark blue orbs, their surfaces crackling with lightning, were actually rare "Mysterious Yin Thunder Essence," which could be used to refine lightning-type magical artifacts.
A section of crystal-clear dragon bone, exuding a majestic dragon aura, is a top-grade material for forging warships.

Dozens of "Bone-Rotting Spirit Flowers" growing on the skulls of demonic beasts are a miraculous medicine for refining poison pills;
Most notably, there was a broken bronze compass engraved with runes similar to those on the Xuan Yin Token.

The black serpent gently pushed the compass with its head, its single eye looking at Fu Changsheng, as if indicating that this item was the most precious.

Fu Changsheng picked up the compass, feeling a surge of excitement. If he wasn't mistaken, this was one of the three treasures mentioned in the intelligence report.

The black serpent let out a low growl, its single eye flashing with a lively light, and it turned its head to the deeper part of the swamp, as if signaling something.

"Patriarch, it seems... it's going to take us to another place?" Fu Changli keenly sensed the black serpent's intentions.

Fu Changsheng's eyes flickered slightly: "Follow them."

The black serpent led the group through a swamp shrouded in poisonous miasma to a secluded mountain wall. The wall was covered with dark green vines, and without close inspection, one would not notice the hidden secrets within.

"hiss--"

The black serpent spewed out a mouthful of black mist, causing the vines to wither and fall away, revealing a cave entrance sealed by layers of restrictions. These restrictions displayed dragon scale-like patterns, exuding an ancient and majestic aura.

"This is... an ancient restriction?" Ouyang Fei exclaimed in shock. "No wonder it has been preserved until now!"

The Xuan Snake gently nuzzled Fu Changli with its head, transmitting a vague divine thought through the Beast King Token. Fu Changli's eyes lit up, and he transmitted his voice, "Patriarch! The Xuan Snake said that it was just an ordinary little snake back then, which accidentally wandered into this place and swallowed a drop of dragon blood essence in the cave, which allowed it to cultivate to its current level!"

Fu Yongyao stepped forward, the Qingqiu Yitian Disc hovering in his hand: "Let me break the restriction."

She formed hand seals, and star patterns flowed across the array plate, transforming into countless tiny threads of starlight, which she carefully probed into the restrictions. Upon encountering the starlight, the dragon scale restrictions rippled like water, revealing a passage.

"What an ingenious method of cracking the code!" Ouyang Fei exclaimed.

As the group stepped into the cave, they were immediately awestruck by the sight before them—

In the center of the cave, three golden spiritual herbs grew quietly in a pool of spiritual spring. Each herb had seven dragon-scale-shaped leaves and a crystal-clear fruit at its tip, radiating a faint dragon's might.

"Dragon Transformation Grass!" Fu Changsheng's eyes flashed with a sharp light. "And it's almost ripe!"

Fu Changli's voice trembled with excitement: "Patriarch, with these three Dragon Transformation Grasses, the Azure Dragon's breakthrough to the fourth rank is just around the corner!"

The black serpent swam to the edge of the spirit spring and gently touched the surface of the water with its tail, signaling everyone to pay attention. At the bottom of the spirit spring, several golden scales could be vaguely seen, exuding a pure dragon aura.

"These are... scales shed by a true dragon?" Ouyang Fei's voice trembled. "No wonder they could nurture the Dragon Transformation Grass!"

The voice just fell.

But the scales vanished like flowers in a mirror or the moon reflected in water.

Obviously.

Over the years, the dragon scales have transformed into the dragon's breath of this place. Fortunately, there is a spirit-sealing array here, which prevents the dragon's breath from dissipating. Over time, this spiritual land has been nurtured into a place of dragon's breath, and it is because of this that the dragon-transforming grass has been able to grow.

Fu Changsheng pondered for a moment:
"The Dragon Transformation Grass still needs another twenty or thirty years to fully mature. However, with this soil, cultivating it to maturity won't be a problem."

but.

He planned to have Yongwei come as soon as possible and use her spiritual plant body to accelerate the growth of the Dragon Transformation Grass, since no one could predict what would happen decades from now.

Fu Changsheng chuckled and patted the black serpent's single horn:

"You have rendered a great service; you will be richly rewarded upon returning to the manor."

The black serpent swam merrily around the pool, splashing water everywhere. It now looked completely self-satisfied, bearing no resemblance to the majesty of a fourth-tier demon beast.
Just now.

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

"The Fu clan has gained a Golden Core cultivator and has been granted a special lottery draw opportunity. Would you like to redeem it?"

...

...

Xuan Yin Village - Blood Soul Hall
The eerie green candlelight flickered in the hall, illuminating the mottled bloodstains on the floor.

"puff--"

Li Wuhun suddenly spat out a mouthful of black blood, staggering and collapsing to his knees. His right arm was severed at the shoulder, and strange black energy swirled around the wound—a curse left by the Xuan Snake in its dying counterattack.

"Second Elder!"

Saintess Yunshang strode forward, gathering a wisp of witchcraft at her fingertips and placing it on Li Wuhun's brow. However, the black energy, like a leech, clashed back against her witchcraft!

"what!"

Yunshang let out a muffled groan and hurriedly withdrew her hand, her fingertips already turning bluish-black.

“It’s useless,” Li Wuhun laughed bitterly. “The divine power that beast unleashed by burning his bloodline will prevent my injuries from healing for at least thirty years.”

Beside her, Mo Hongling's condition was even more miserable. Half of her body was covered with spiderweb-like bloodstains, marks left by the venomous miasma of the Xuan Snake. Her once jet-black hair had turned gray, and her face was covered in wrinkles, as if she had aged decades in an instant.

Footsteps could be heard outside the hall.

The old village chief slowly walked in.

His gaze swept over their injuries, his brow furrowing: "How could they be so badly injured?"

Saintess Yunshang lightly bit her lip and took out a jade bottle: "This is a Saintly Realm Pill refined using Elder Wudu's 'Millennium Toad Venom,' which can stabilize the injuries of the two elders."

Li Wuhun and Mo Hongling quickly thanked them and accepted the food.

After taking the pills, the two finally regained some color in their faces.

"Tell me the specifics," the old chieftain said in a deep voice.

Li Wuhun forced himself to sit up: "That Blackwater Serpent has reached the peak of the fourth rank, and..." A hint of fear flashed in his eyes, "...it possesses the bloodline of an ancient ferocious beast! We used all our trump cards, even the Golden Skull was lost, and we still almost..."

Mo Hongling added, "If the Second Elder hadn't crushed the bone flute, triggering the life-saving talisman left by the chieftain, we would probably be..."

Before she could finish speaking, she coughed violently again, black blood spilling from the corner of her mouth. A deathly silence fell over the hall.

After a long silence, the old chieftain slowly spoke: "Are you sure the Xuan Yin Token is in that beast's hands?"

“Absolutely no mistake!” Li Wuhun gritted his teeth and said, “When we were investigating the Fu family, we clearly sensed the aura of the Xuan Yin Token deep within the swamp. And that Xuan Serpent…”

A flicker of fear crossed his eyes: "Its obsession with the Xuan Yin Token runs extremely deep; it would rather self-destruct its demon core than let us get close."

Yunshang said softly, "Chief, if what the two elders say is true, then that Xuan Snake already possesses the strength of a pseudo-Nascent Soul cultivator. The Fu family, a mere sixth-rank aristocratic family, would never dare to provoke such a ferocious creature."

She paused, then continued, "Moreover, the Black Witch Village and the White Witch Village have been engaged in frequent battles recently. If we send out all our forces, we risk being taken advantage of."

The old village chief squinted, his withered fingers stroking the human bone prayer beads.

"How long will it take for Elder Five Poisons to emerge from seclusion?"

“About sixty years,” Yunshang replied.

"Fine," the old chieftain snorted coldly. "Let that beast live a few more years. Once Elder Five Poisons emerges from seclusion, I will personally accompany him on this journey."

His gaze swept over the two heavily injured men: "You two go to the blood pool to heal your wounds. Although we were defeated this time, we have ascertained the true strength of the Black Serpent, which can be considered a contribution."

Li Wuhun and Mo Hongling kowtowed in unison: "Thank you for your kindness, Chieftain!"

After leaving the main hall, the two looked at each other and saw the relief of surviving a disaster in each other's eyes.

"Sixth Sister," Li Wuhun's voice was hoarse, "it's a miracle that you came back alive this time."

Mo Hongling touched her withered face with a bitter smile: "Yes, but these injuries will probably never heal."

...

...

Yu Gui Mountain Range, the temporary residence of the head of the household.

The azure dragon landed before the mountain gate. Fu Changsheng flicked his sleeve, and the massive body of the black serpent transformed into a streak of black light, disappearing into the Beast King Token at Fu Changli's waist. The gatekeeper disciples only saw the patriarch and three elders return, unaware that a peak fourth-tier ferocious beast was lurking within the token.

“Father.” Fu Yongyao lightly tapped the Qingqiu Chessboard with his fingertip, and starlight intertwined in the hall to form the phantom of the mountain-protecting array. “Aunt Yu has already set up the main array eye. According to the schedule, it will take about half a year to complete the mountain-protecting array.”

Fu Changsheng nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the city map of Yulin Prefecture hanging in the hall. The newly marked outline of the Demon-Controlling City on the map shimmered with a faint spiritual light, forming a mysterious formation with the surrounding thirty-six auxiliary cities.

"Yaoyao, once the mountain-protecting formation is completed, you and Qingru will work together to build a teleportation array from Huizhou Prefecture to Yulin Prefecture."

"Yes, Father," Fu Yongyao replied.

"Furthermore," Fu Changsheng suddenly made a hand seal, and a three-dimensional map immediately appeared in the hall, "the Yulin Prefecture will be renovated according to this city construction map. The defense of the Demon-Controlling City will follow the regulations of the 'Ten Thousand Beasts City' in the Southern Frontier, but the demon-suppressing runes from the 'Mysterious Yin Beast Control Technique' must be secretly engraved on the city walls."

On the map, a magnificent city rises from the ground.

The city walls are inlaid with thirty-six stone sculptures of demonic beasts, and the street layout subtly corresponds to the constellations of the heavens. Most astonishingly, there is a floating "Demon-Controlling Platform" in the center of the city, with the formations on the platform echoing the mountain-protecting formation.

Yu Qingru gasped, "This... this is turning an entire city into a magical treasure?"

“Excellent.” Fu Changsheng traced the map with his fingertip, and countless golden patterns lit up. “The city walls are constructed using spirit mud mixed with dragon bones, and three hundred and sixty demon-suppressing stakes are buried underground. Once the grand formation is complete, it can withstand even attacks from fifth-tier demonic beasts. Yaoyao, you and Qingru are fully responsible for this matter. Remember, the core formation must be completed before the first batch of clansmen migrate.”

"Fourth Sister," Fu Changsheng turned to Fu Changli, "The matter of the Black Serpent will not be revealed for now. We will make arrangements after she has recovered from her injuries."

Fu Changli nodded in understanding, and the token at her waist rippled slightly. She could feel the Xuan Snake breathing in and out spiritual energy within the token's space, repairing the damage to her burning bloodline.

Ouyang Fei stroked his beard and chuckled, "With this fourth-tier spirit beast secretly protecting us, coupled with the Nascent Soul witch ritual, we have nothing to fear even if a Nascent Soul cultivator attacks the Jade Osmanthus Mountain Range."

Fu Changli suddenly remembered something: "Patriarch, those four-winged centipedes..."

“They will be temporarily housed in Centipede Valley.” A glint flashed in Fu Changsheng’s eyes. “Once the Demon-Controlling City is completed, it can serve as the first line of defense.” He lightly tapped the city construction map with his fingertip, and a blood-red mark lit up at the location of Centipede Valley.

After giving his instructions, Fu Changsheng turned and walked out of the hall. The Azure Dragon was already coiled up, waiting, the moonlight flowing like water on its scales. Ouyang Fei stood quietly to the side, holding a poison pouch, the eerie green light in his eyes even brighter than usual.

"Uncle Fei, it's time to go back to Huizhou."

As the azure dragon soared into the sky, Fu Changsheng took one last look at the Jade Osmanthus Mountains in the night. Along the ridgeline, the faint glow of the array's spiritual light could be seen lighting up one after another like stars. He knew that when these starlights connected, it would be the day the Fu family truly took root in the Northern Territory.

The azure dragon pierced through the clouds and mist, leaving a trail of azure afterimages in the fierce wind.

Ouyang Fei sat cross-legged on the dragon's head, his poison sac emitting eerie green mist that mingled with the spiritual energy around him. Fu Changsheng stood with his hands behind his back on the dragon's back, his robes fluttering, his gaze piercing through the clouds towards Huizhou.

"Uncle Fei, you should go into seclusion after returning to the manor." Fu Changsheng flicked a wisp of green light from his fingertip, which transformed into a jade slip in front of Ouyang Fei. "The 'Myriad Poisons Condensing Pill Method' recorded in the *Mysterious Yin Poison Scripture*, combined with the Nine-Leaf Crimson Gold Ganoderma to refine the Nine-Ganoderma Pill, is enough to allow you to cross the threshold of a fake pill."

Ouyang Fei took the jade slip, his withered fingers trembling slightly.

He took a deep breath:

"I will certainly not fail the patriarch's high expectations."

...

Huizhou Prefecture.

As the azure dragon landed in the inner courtyard of the Fu family, the sky was just beginning to lighten. Liu Meizhen had already sensed its presence and stood under the eaves in a moon-white dress.

"Madam." After the couple entered the secret chamber, Fu Changsheng lightly tapped his fingertip, and the Nine-Leaf Crimson Gold Ganoderma floated in the morning light, its nine leaves unfurling like flames. "Do you recognize this?"

Liu Meizhen's pupils constricted sharply: "Nine-Leaf Crimson Gold Ganoderma? A rare treasure of heaven and earth, embodying both yin and yang! If one could refine the Nine-Leaf Ganoderma Pill..."

“These are the spiritual items for your Core Formation, prepared for you and Uncle Fei.” Fu Changsheng took her slightly cool fingertips in his hand and found that his wife’s palms were sweaty—this usually composed master of alchemy was unusually flustered at this moment.

Liu Meizhen finally breathed a sigh of relief, but a look of worry appeared in her eyes: "The success rate of the Nine-Herb Pill is less than 30%. We need to find 'Millennial Earth Milk' or 'Mysterious Jade Dew' to enhance its medicinal power and make more pills. Husband, I received a message from the Imperial Divine Bureau that a Golden Elixir Exchange Conference will be held in Wuzhou City in three years."

Fu Changsheng understood: "I will go myself. Meizhen, you should use this time to familiarize yourself with and comprehend the elixir formula."

The two talked for a short while.

After Liu Meizhen left, Fu Changsheng waved his sleeve, and thirty-six restrictive runes lit up one after another, completely isolating the entire stone chamber.

Thoughts moved slightly.

His figure had already appeared inside the small wooden house in the Five Elements Space.

On the table in the center of the wooden house, three antiques are quietly displayed:
The Xuan Yin Token glowed with an eerie light, the bronze compass's runes flickered, and the ancient ring gleamed with blood-red patterns. The three seemed unrelated, yet they all trembled simultaneously the moment Fu Changsheng formed a hand seal and chanted an incantation!

"The Mysterious Secrets of Taiyi, with the Sword Soul as the Guide"

As ancient incantations echoed in the room, the three ancient artifacts suddenly floated up.

The crimson runes on the Xuan Yin Token writhed as if alive, the broken patterns on the bronze compass began to fill in on their own, and the ancient ring burst forth with crimson light. The three intertwined in the air to form a three-colored pillar of light, within which countless tiny golden characters flowed like swimming fish.

"boom--"

A deafening sword cry resounded throughout the Five Elements Space!

The moment the beam of light exploded, a magnificent map of mountains and rivers slowly unfolded in the void.

The outline of the Jade Osmanthus Mountain Range in the picture glows with blood, and a giant sword phantom that pierces through the heavens and earth appears in the valley where the Burial Mist Tomb is located. The hilt of the sword is carved with the Big Dipper, and the blade is wrapped with nine dragon patterns. It is the appearance of the "Big Dipper Dragon Pattern Sword", the treasure of the ancient Taiyi Sword Sect!

The changing map was reflected in Fu Changsheng's pupils.

In a daze, I seemed to see the magnificent scene from ten thousand years ago:
Atop the sea of ​​clouds, 100,000 sword cultivators stood in formation, riding flying swords, their sword energy soaring to the heavens. Seventy-two suspended sword pavilions encircled the main peak, each topped with a hundred-foot-long giant sword, forming the awe-inspiring "Sword Array of All Heavens." Furthermore, a bronze chariot pulled by nine dragons rolled across the sky, and on the chariot, an old man's sleeves billowed, and with a casual gesture, a sword river appeared, like an inverted Milky Way.
That was the most prosperous era for the Taiyi Sword Sect—

With a single sword strike, all sects bow down. Sect Leader Qingweizi proved his Dao with the sword. He once annihilated a Nascent Soul stage demonic cultivator with a single sword strike in the Northern Frontier. The aftershocks of his sword energy cleaved the Canghai Sea into a hundred-mile-long canyon! The sect's scripture pavilion contains 36,000 volumes of sword manuals. Even the sweeping boy is proficient in the art of sword control.

Until that catastrophe struck.

The map suddenly shook violently, and the scene changed to an apocalyptic landscape.

The sky split open with a jagged gash, and a torrent of purple lightning poured down like a waterfall. The seventy-two sword pavilions collapsed one after another, and a hundred thousand flying swords melted into molten iron in the lightning. Qingweizi burned his primordial spirit to activate the Big Dipper Dragon Pattern Sword, and the entire sect sank into the earth's veins in a deafening explosion.
"I see." Fu Changsheng's eyes gleamed. "The Taiyi Sword Sect actually transformed its entire sect into a hidden paradise, concealed beneath the Jade Cassia Mountain's geological veins!"

The light on the map began to shrink, eventually condensing into a three-inch-long bronze key. One end of the key was engraved with the Big Dipper, while the other end was a ferocious dragon's head, with the ancient and powerful characters "Taiyi" in the middle. Just as Fu Changsheng reached out to take it, the key suddenly split into three illusory images, simultaneously entering his brow, dantian, and sea of ​​consciousness!

A massive flow of information sweeps through the soul:
"The entrance to the Sword Gate deep within the Burial Mist Tomb requires five cultivators to cultivate the 'Taiyi Qingling Technique' to the Golden Core stage as a catalyst. This secret realm appears once every three hundred years."

...

...

The capital of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the Tianji Pavilion.

On the star-gazing platform surrounded by nine layers of purple aura, the bronze armillary sphere suddenly emitted a piercing buzzing sound.

Master Xiao, who was sitting cross-legged in the center of the star chart, suddenly opened his eyes. His pupils reflected the wildly spinning star trails—the Po Jun star, representing the "sword," was colliding fiercely with the Yin Yuan star, symbolizing the "secret realm." A fleeting golden light burst forth from the southeast corner of the Ziwei Enclosure.

"The Taiyi Key has appeared!"

Master Xiao's Taoist robes fluttered as his ten fingers traced afterimages in the air. Countless divination symbols flew out from his sleeves, forming a massive "Lianshan" divination array in the sky. However, the divination symbols were shattered by an invisible force the moment they were completed.

"puff--"

A mouthful of blood splattered onto the astrolabe, and Master Xiao staggered back three steps. He stared in disbelief at the yarrow stalks that had spontaneously combusted—a phenomenon the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion had never witnessed in nearly a thousand years!
"Master!" Master Xiao crushed the communication jade talisman, and his figure transformed into a stream of light, plummeting three thousand feet into the ground.

After passing through the nine layers of restrictions, the view suddenly opened up before me.

The entire earth vein was hollowed out into a huge spherical space, with 365 ancient bronze mirrors floating in the air, each reflecting the real-time celestial phenomena of a different region. In the very center of the space, the white-haired Celestial Mystery True Lord floated in the illusory starry river with his eyes closed, his body wrapped in tangible causal threads.

"The sword of the Breaking Army resounds, the Hidden Origin manifests in the world." The Heavenly Mystery True Lord slowly opened his eyes, his pupils reflecting the waxing and waning of nebulae. "How many layers of heavenly secrets have you seen?"

Master Xiao knelt respectfully, saying, "This disciple only glimpsed a dragon-shaped sword aura soaring into the sky in the Northern Frontier, but before I could investigate further, I was struck by a backlash." A broken divination image appeared in his palm. "Even stranger, this divination triggered the self-immolation of the yarrow stalks."

The words are not finished yet.

Suddenly, all the ancient bronze mirrors simultaneously reflected the shadow of swords!
The Heavenly Mystery True Lord's white hair moved without wind, and seven tortoise shells flew out from his sleeve. The tortoise shells formed the shape of the Big Dipper in the air, but when they pointed to the direction of Yulin Prefecture, they cracked with a "crack".

"Even the Innate Eight Trigrams Armor..." Master Xiao's expression changed drastically.

The Celestial Mystery True Lord suddenly groaned, golden blood seeping from the corner of his mouth. The blood transformed into runes and disappeared into the void, only to be evaporated by some force halfway through. The entire spherical space began to tremble, and the three hundred and sixty-five ancient mirrors were successively shrouded in white mist.

"What a powerful technique for concealing celestial secrets!" Heavenly Mystery True Monarch wiped the golden blood from the corner of his mouth. "It can even interfere with the Heavenly Mystery Star-Gazing Array."

Master Xiao suddenly thought of something: "Master, the Fu family has just been granted the title of Yulin Prefecture, could it be..."

"Impossible." The Heavenly Mystery True Monarch declared decisively, "If the Taiyi Sword Sect's secret realm were in Yulin Prefecture, how could Patriarch Qingxuzi not have foreseen it before his passing?" He suddenly made a hand seal, unleashing a golden light, and an ancient mirror instantly revealed the landscape of Yulin Prefecture. "Look—"

The landscape in the mirror was clearly visible, except for the Jade Osmanthus Mountain Range, which was shrouded in a strange blue mist. When the golden light tried to penetrate the blue mist, nine illusory blue lotuses suddenly appeared on the mirror.

"This is.?"

"The Azure Lotus Blinding Technique." The Heavenly Mystery True Monarch's expression was grave. "And it's a modified version." He flicked his sleeve, putting away the ancient mirror. "The Fu family is no simple matter; that patriarch likely has other connections."

Master Xiao was puzzled: "But Fu Changsheng is only at the second level of the Golden Core stage on the surface."

"Fool!" Heavenly Mystery True Monarch rarely showed anger, his white hair standing on end. "Those whom even your master cannot fathom are most likely the reincarnation of some powerful being."

The spherical space suddenly fell into an eerie silence.

At the same time, the image of the Fu family's spirit boat was reflected in all 365 ancient mirrors. The man in the green robe standing with his hands behind his back at the bow of the boat seemed to sense something and actually looked at them through the mirror.

"From this day forward, the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion will observe the Fu family but not interfere," Heavenly Mystery True Lord's voice carried an unprecedented apprehension. "Pay special attention to that little girl named Fu Yongyao; she carries the scent of Qingqiu."

When Master Xiao bowed in agreement, he did not notice that his master's hand was trembling slightly in his sleeve.

...

...

Northern Xinjiang, Black Witch Village.

The crimson moonlight pierced through the thick poisonous miasma, casting dappled shadows on the altar of the witch god.

Twelve fresh corpses hung from a bronze pillar, their blood flowing into a central blood pool through grooves engraved with incantations. The Holy Maiden of the Mysterious Moon stood barefoot on the floating skulls, and with each swing of her bone staff, she stirred up the mournful howls of the vengeful spirits in the blood pool.

"We respectfully request the Witch God to issue a decree—"

Her snow-white ankles were submerged in thick, sticky blood, and her black gauze dress was lifted by the stench of the blood, revealing the venomous snake tattoos wrapped around her waist. Those tattoos were actually living creatures, now raising their heads and flicking their tongues, greedily sucking in the bloody stench in the air.

Around the altar.

Twenty-four witches mechanically performed a soul-summoning dance, their eyeballs already gouged out, eerie green flames flickering in their empty sockets. Each time the Holy Maiden of the Mysterious Moon chanted a syllable, a witch would suddenly convulse and collapse, becoming nourishment for the pool of blood.

“Click.”

The statue of the sorcerer god in the center of the altar suddenly turned its head. The face, pieced together from 365 pieces of infant skulls, suddenly glowed with a blood-red light in all its empty eye sockets.

The Holy Maiden of Xuan Yue immediately knelt on the ground, her forehead pressed against the blood-soaked ground.

She felt an ancient and evil will descending upon her, and the mark of the sorcerer on the back of her neck began to burn with pain.

"Taiyi Sword Gate"

The hoarse voice exploded in her mind, causing Xuan Yue to tremble violently, black blood seeping from her seven orifices. The blood droplets did not fall to the ground but hovered in the air, forming a blurry map.

"The Key. The Great Zhou Opportunity"

More fragmented information flooded her mind, and Xuan Yue's fingernails dug deeply into the cracks in the stone. She saw a colossal sword spanning the heavens and the earth, dragon patterns coiled around its blade, and the Big Dipper suddenly lighting up at the hilt—

The key to the Taiyi Sword Sect has appeared.

It's right here within the territory of the Great Zhou!

The altar fell silent once more, and the eye sockets of the witch god statue gradually dimmed. Xuan Yue trembled as she sat up and glanced at the altar—twelve witches remained alive.

“Keep jumping,” she commanded softly, her fingers lightly tracing the venomous snake at her waist. “The ritual isn’t over yet.”

The priestesses continued their dance numbly, completely unaware that the pool of blood beneath their feet was boiling. When the first priestess was suddenly dragged to the bottom of the pool by a bloody hand, the others didn't even stop dancing.

Xuan Yue watched this dance of death unfold until the last priestess was swallowed by the blood pool. She slowly walked to the edge of the altar, where two personal maids knelt.

"Your Holiness," the older maid began, but a venomous snake bit through her throat.

The young maid retreated in terror, only to be grabbed by the neck by Xuan Yue. "Xiao Tao, how many years have you been with me?" Xuan Yue asked gently, her fingers slowly tightening.

"One hundred and twenty-two years." The maid's face turned purple.

"It's been so long," Xuan Yue sighed as she snapped her neck, "that's why I can't keep you here any longer."

Two corpses were thrown into the blood pool, the splashing blood condensing into a rune in the air. Xuan Yue bit her tongue, spitting out a mouthful of blood essence: "By the God of Witchcraft, what I have witnessed today is forever sealed in the Yellow Springs!"

The talisman exploded, transforming into countless blood-red earthworms that burrowed into the ground. This was the most vicious "sealing curse" of the Black Witch Village; the souls of all beings who witnessed the divine oracle's descent would be forever imprisoned.

“Next,” Xuan Yue wiped her fingers with a silk handkerchief, a calculating glint in her single eye, “it’s time for 'her' to make her appearance.”

Back in her bedchamber, Xuan Yue dismissed all the guards. She loosened her belt, revealing her back—where a strange picture was tattooed: another "Xuan Yue" chained and imprisoned in a thicket of thorns.

"Wake up, my other half."

As the incantation was recited, the tattoos began to writhe. The chains snapped inch by inch, and the figure within the thorns gradually took shape. When the last barrier was lifted, two Holy Maidens of the Mysterious Moon appeared within the bedchamber!
The new one, however, had pure amber eyes and no sinister aura.

"Sister is still so ruthless." The clone chuckled, stroking the original's remaining eye. "She's even willing to sacrifice her own eyes."

Xuan Yue coldly pushed her hand away: "Remember your mission—infiltrate Wuzhou of the Great Zhou Dynasty as the rogue cultivator 'Yun Ni.' The key to the Taiyi Sword Sect should be nearby."

Xuan Yue retrieved a bone nail from a hidden compartment in the dressing table. "Remember, you are my 'purified body' after 330 years of cultivation. If you dare to betray me..."

The bone nail suddenly pierced the clone's chest, but no blood flowed. The clone merely frowned slightly: "I know, annihilation of both soul and body."

A clapper sounded outside the window, and Xuan Yue's expression changed slightly: "It's past dawn. The chieftain will be here soon to inquire about the results of the sacrifice." She quickly tossed a plain white dress to her clone, "Take the secret passage; you must bring back the key!"

Her clone changed into a dress, instantly transforming into a refined and ethereal beauty. She twirled in front of the bronze mirror: "Sister, do you think any man in the Great Zhou would like me like this?"

Her response was a slap as sharp as a venomous snake.

“Remember who you are.” Xuan Yue gripped the clone’s neck and whispered in her ear, “You are merely a vessel for my evil thoughts. Never, ever try to replace me.”

The clone chuckled and vanished into a wisp of green smoke, leaving only a faint fragrance drifting south. Xuan Yue straightened her clothes and sat back at her dressing table, putting on her eye mask in front of the bronze mirror. When the chieftain, reeking of blood, pushed open the door, she had already transformed back into the dignified and somber holy maiden of the Black Witch Village.

"How about the sacrificial ceremony?" The chieftain's withered fingers caressed the human bone prayer beads.

Xuan Yue bowed respectfully: "Reporting to the chieftain, the Witch God has foretold that our battle with the White Witch Village will only result in mutual destruction."

(End of this chapter)