Family Rise: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 644 Killing the Chicken to Scare the Monkey, Endless Harvest, Relics of the Previous Dynasty

"Super Multiplier?"

Fu Changsheng's eyes lit up.

This is the first time this has happened. As for the five special draws, they should be due to the Seven-Colored Glazed Beast breaking through to the fourth rank.

Resist the urge to redeem immediately.

Fu Changsheng remained indifferent as he looked at the four still-warm corpses in the hall. He once again formed profound hand seals, causing the Heavenly Dragon Temple within his body to tremble slightly.

"Divine light from the underworld, captivating the soul!"

A golden divine light, far more refined than before and imbued with majestic divine power and boundless binding force, surged from his palm, like five agile golden chains, precisely piercing into the skulls of the five fallen elders.

"Ugh—!"

Five illusory, twisted, and grotesquely painful golden core souls were forcibly dragged out of the body! As soon as they left, they let out a mournful howl, filled with endless resentment and unwillingness.

"Red Feather! You traitor, worse than a pig or a dog! You let the wolf into the house and ruined my tribe! You will die a horrible death!"

"Fu Changsheng! You are so cruel, imprisoning your soul, condemning you to eternal damnation! You will surely be punished by heaven! True Monarch Baihua will never let you go! I'll be waiting in the underworld to see your entire Fu family wiped out—!"

The vicious curses and roars vibrated within the divine light's restraints, yet they could not break free even slightly.

Fu Changsheng remained completely oblivious to everything, his eyes showing no emotion, as if he were merely dealing with a few insignificant items. He changed his hand seals and uttered a low shout:
"seal up!"

The golden divine light suddenly contracted, pulling the five struggling and cursing souls back into its body and directly into the Netherworld Heavenly Dragon Temple.

Boom!

The cold, rough stone wall on one side of the temple rippled again, like a gaping abyss, mercilessly swallowing and sealing the five divine souls, turning them into five new bas-reliefs filled with pain and resentment.

Outside, Fu Changsheng's thoughts stirred again.

stop!
The skeletal vines shot out again, greedily wrapping around the five soulless corpses. The sickeningly loud devouring sound rang out once more as the essence of flesh and blood, along with the remaining medicinal energy, was rapidly plundered.

In just a few breaths, only five empty robes and some ashes remained on the spot.

Quiet.

Deathly silence.

Beside them, the four Golden Core elders who had chosen to submit and had been infected with the Heart-Eating Gu witnessed this complete and terrifying scene—from the fall of their physical bodies to the extraction and sealing of their souls, and then to the devouring of their corpses by the demonic vines, even the chance to fall into reincarnation was completely taken away!

A bone-chilling cold shot from their feet to the top of their heads, instantly turning their faces ashen. Their bodies trembled uncontrollably, and cold sweat soaked their backs. Their eyes, filled with boundless fear and awe, looked at Fu Changsheng, no longer daring to harbor the slightest disloyalty.

At the same time, a sense of relief at surviving a disaster welled up within me.

'Fortunately...fortunately I chose to surrender...'

'Otherwise, we would be condemned to eternal damnation!'

Fu Changsheng took in their reactions, knowing he had achieved his goal of establishing his authority. He spoke calmly, his voice breaking the deathly silence in the hall:
"Clean it up. From now on, do your job well, and you will have a bright future."

"Yes, Master! We will do our utmost, even at the cost of our lives!" The four elders bowed and replied almost simultaneously, their voices filled with unprecedented respect and fear, their heads bowed low.

at the same time.

The consciousness panel trembled slightly.

A line of text appears:

[Skeleton Vine: Peak Tier 4 (50/100)]

...

...

Fu Changsheng's gaze swept over Chi Ling, who stood respectfully with his hands at his sides, and the four newly appointed elders in the hall:
"Red Feather, you will take the lead. The five of you will immediately begin to investigate and register all members of the tribe."

He paused briefly, then continued:

"During the investigation, anyone who is willing to leave the Vermilion Bird Tribe and join my Fu family will be spared death. However, they will need to take the 'Locking Yuan Pill' and be controlled by my Fu family. In the future, they will need to exchange their merits for the antidote and their freedom."

The Locking Yuan Pill is an extremely potent, slow-acting poison. Without a unique antidote to alleviate its effects regularly, a burst of poison can completely destroy a Golden Core cultivator's cultivation, leading to a painful death. This is a common method for controlling surrendered soldiers and ensuring their loyalty.

"As for those stubborn and unyielding individuals who refuse to submit..." Fu Changsheng's gaze suddenly turned cold, like ice that had stood for millennia, "the five of you shall deal with them personally, leaving none alive. Their property shall be confiscated."

Upon hearing this, Chi Ling and the four elders were all startled, and cold sweat instantly broke out on their backs.

They understood that this "personal handling" was a pledge of allegiance! With the blood of their former kin stained on their hands, there was no turning back; they could only be wholeheartedly bound to the Fu family's war machine. This was forcing them to completely sever ties with the past and offer the most bloody tribute of loyalty to their new master.

Chi Ling was the first to react, bowing deeply, her voice carrying a hint of determination: "Your subordinate obeys! I will certainly not fail my master's trust!"

The other four elders exchanged glances, all seeing the struggle in each other's eyes, which ultimately turned into helplessness and ruthlessness. They responded in unison, "Your subordinate obeys!"

...

...

After the five people left.

With a flick of his sleeve, Fu Changsheng collected all the storage bags on the ground. With a slight thought, he moved them into the Five Elements Small World.

"Qiu Niang, see if there's anything useful inside."

Qiu Niang scanned the area with her divine sense, a slight ripple appearing in her bright eyes.

"Master, quite a harvest indeed." She smiled slightly, and with a light tap of her fingertip, the illusory images of several items appeared. "These 'Essence of Wood' and 'Earth Spirit Milk' are of superior quality and can be used to accelerate the growth of those rare spiritual plants in the space, shortening their maturation cycle."

"These bottles of 'Purple Mansion Pill' and 'Condensing Yuan Pill' are all top-grade spiritual pills for improving the power of the Golden Core stage, but unfortunately they are not suitable for what the master needs at present."

"Huh?" She let out a soft exclamation as she counted the last storage bag. "These 'Soul-Suppressing Stones' and 'Rest Wood'... are some of the core spiritual materials needed to build the Hall of Heroes, saving us the trouble of collecting them."

Finally, her gaze fell on an inconspicuous, even slightly rusty, dark iron plaque in the corner of the storage bag.

The iron plate felt cold to the touch, and its surface pattern was dull and ordinary. However, when Qiu Niang carefully examined it with her divine sense, she sensed an extremely subtle dragon aura and spatial fluctuations.

She took a picture of it, examined it carefully for a moment, and a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes:
“Master, this item… is no ordinary token. Its core is forged from ‘Hidden Dragon Iron Essence,’ and the rust on the surface is a disguise. It is actually a troop deployment token of the ‘Dragon Guard’ from the previous dynasty!”

"Dragon Guard?"

“That’s right,” Qiu Niang affirmed. “When the previous dynasty fell, some of the Dragon Guard’s secret vaults were hidden away. If I’m not mistaken, this talisman should be the key to opening an abandoned secret vault somewhere in the capital. However, it’s from a long time ago, and we need to check the maps or relevant records of the previous dynasty to determine its exact location.”

This was an unexpected surprise.

Although it is not currently usable, it is undoubtedly a potential and extremely valuable lead.

...

...

After handling matters in the main hall.

Based on the memories obtained from the soul search, Fu Changsheng, holding the token of the Vermilion Bird Chieftain, entered the tribe's forbidden area—the Vermilion Bird Scripture Pavilion—without hindrance.

Unlike the grand and ancient Great Zhou Library, this place is more wild and ancient, with the air filled with the scent of sandalwood and animal skin scrolls.

The huge stone shelf was not entirely covered with jade slips; it contained more bone fragments, animal hides, and even some kind of strange metal sheet that carried the inheritance.

His divine sense spread out like a tide, enveloping the entire scripture pavilion.

"System, scan and index all the books here."

[Command received, initiating scanning and data collection...]

An invisible wave swept across every carrier, and a massive amount of information, like rivers flowing into the sea, surged into the system panel. Cultivation techniques, secret arts, totem visualizations, medicinal herb guides, secrets of the Eastern Wilderness... encompassing everything.

Suddenly, Fu Changsheng's gaze sharpened, landing on an ancient bookshelf deep within, carved from crimson beast bones. The several dark gold bone fragments displayed there emitted a Daoist aura that subtly echoed the fragments of the *Nine Revolutions Nascent Soul Secret Record* he had previously obtained on the ninth floor of the Great Zhou Scripture Pavilion!
He strode forward and immersed his consciousness into the depths.

【Title】：The Nine Revolutions Nascent Soul Secret Record - Supplement (Tribal Heritage Name: The Vermilion Bird Nirvana Secret Record - Part 1)

[Rank]: Nascent Soul Secret Technique (Incomplete)
[Status]: About 30% of the core techniques are missing, but the analysis of medicinal effects is relatively complete.

[Brief Description]: The fragments obtained by the ancestors of the Vermilion Bird tribe from ancient ruins share the same origin as the fragments in the Fu family's Scripture Pavilion. They emphasize using the power of fire element and blood and qi to assist in the formation of the Nascent Soul. They contain some speculations about alternative medicinal materials for the "Nine-Turn Nascent Soul Pill" and the methods for forming the Nascent Soul from the fourth to the sixth stage. The two fragments complement each other and can reconstruct about 70% of the content.

"Just as I thought!" Fu Changsheng was overjoyed. The two fragments complemented each other, directly completing more than half of the technique! This would save him countless time and contribution points in the future when he deduced the complete technique.

As he continued browsing through the collection, he made new discoveries.

[Title]: Sirius Battle Body - Advanced Edition - Howling Moon Sirius Body
[Rank]: Unknown; can be cultivated up to the late Nascent Soul stage.

[Brief Description]: This is the advanced part of a top-tier body-refining technique originating from the Heavenly Wolf bloodline. It requires tempering the body with the essence of moonlight and the evil energy of stars. Upon mastery, one can transform into a Heavenly Wolf, drawing upon the power of the stars, and physically confront magical treasures of the same level. This chapter completes the cultivation methods from the peak of the Golden Core stage to the late stage of the Nascent Soul stage.

This is the follow-up technique of the Sirius Battle Body that he obtained earlier!

The path of body refinement was able to continue.

Finally, his gaze was drawn to a silver feather that was suspended in the air and constantly emitting spatial fluctuations.

[Title]: Void Escape

[Rank]: Nascent Soul Treasure Technique
[Brief Description]: An extremely rare spatial escape technique, requiring a certain level of spatial talent or the assistance of spatial artifacts to master. When used, it allows the user to transform into the void, teleporting short distances, ignoring most restrictions and array formations, making it extremely life-saving. However, it consumes a huge amount of energy, and there is a risk of getting lost during long-distance travel.

"Void Escape..." Fu Changsheng's eyes gleamed brightly. This was an excellent means of self-preservation and assassination! Combined with his powerful divine sense and numerous trump cards, it would undoubtedly elevate his combat abilities to a new level!
"All included!"

As the system notification indicated that the data collection was complete, he acquired all the accumulated heritage of the Vermilion Bird tribe, accumulated over countless years.

……

We came out of the library.

Fu Changsheng turned and went to the treasure vault.

The heavy stone door slowly opened, and a rich spiritual energy mixed with the unique aura of various rare and precious materials rushed out.

The warehouse was extremely spacious, displaying countless resources in various categories: mountains of spirit stones, fourth-tier spirit materials shimmering with different colors, rare spirit herbs sealed in jade boxes, and numerous powerful magic weapons and ancient treasures.

With a thought, he summoned Qiu Niang from the Five Elements Space.

"Qiu Niang, take a careful inventory and collect everything that we don't have in our warehouse, or that is of better quality."

"Yes, Master." Qiu Niang smiled sweetly, her eyes sparkling with a strange light.

She moved with light, graceful steps, her divine sense spreading out like silk threads, and began to systematically identify, sort, and collect them. Countless spirit stones, ores, spirit herbs, and magical treasures were drawn into the Five Elements Space like a whale sucking in water, categorized, and placed into the newly built "Vermilion Bird Treasury."

Suddenly, Qiu Niang stopped in a corner where broken ancient treasures were displayed. She gently raised her hand, and a wisp of spiritual energy lifted an item.

It was a rusty, even somewhat twisted bronze arm armor. The dragon patterns that had once been carved on the armor plates were now blurred and dim, but the core still faintly exuded a chilling sense of weight and moisture.

“Master, look at this.” Qiu Niang handed the arm armor to Fu Changsheng. “Although this armor is tattered and its core restrictions are mostly destroyed, its base material is ‘Azure Gold’ and it contains a trace of dragon soul as its spirit, making it extremely compatible with the Azure Dragon’s attributes. If we can find the fifth-tier spiritual material ‘Ten Thousand Year Azure’ as its core, supplemented by other water-type treasures, we have a 70% chance of repairing it, or even surpassing it in its former glory, making it a spiritual treasure-level armor suitable for the Azure Dragon to use!”

Fu Changsheng took the arm armor and carefully examined it with his divine sense. He indeed sensed the faint azure dragon's soul essence and the unique water element fluctuations of the Canglan Chenjin. He nodded.

“It certainly suits you. Eternal Azure Sky… I think I saw it just now.”

His divine sense immediately scanned the supplies he had just collected and quickly locked onto a cold jade box that had been placed separately.

Upon opening the jade box, one finds a fist-sized, bluish-green gelatinous substance lying quietly inside, seemingly with flowing clouds and mist, emanating a rich, ethereal moisture and boundless vitality.

It is indeed a fifth-grade spiritual material—Eternal Azure!
"The materials are all ready. I'll have Xiao Qi start repairing them later." Fu Changsheng put away the arm armor and the Ten Thousand Year Azure Sky Armor together.

The two continued to go deeper.

This place houses the tribe's most treasured possessions, each piece radiant and exuding an astonishing aura. There are millennia-old warm jade capable of nourishing the soul, the essence of the Fiery Blaze used to forge fire-based magical artifacts, and bone fragments recording ancient combat techniques…

Just as Fu Changsheng was counting the boxes of top-grade spiritual materials, an inconspicuous jade box caught his attention.

The jade box itself was nothing special, but the seal on it was written in ancient Eastern Wilderness script: “Jade Accompanying Void Stone”.

A thought struck him, and he opened the jade box.

Inside, there lay a fist-sized piece of jade, its surface as clear as the sky, with what appeared to be flowing clouds within, emanating a pure aura that stabilized the space and cleansed away impurities.

【Yunqing Jade】: A fifth-grade low-level spiritual material, usually found in the core of large void stone veins. It contains pure spatial power and purification properties, and is one of the core materials for repairing and stabilizing ultra-long-distance teleportation arrays.

“Yun Qingyu!” A hint of joy finally flashed in Fu Changsheng’s eyes.

The last missing and rarest core material for repairing the ancient teleportation array in the South China Sea is this item!
Unexpectedly, they were able to collect them all in the treasure vault of the Vermilion Bird tribe.

"Qiu Niang, speed things up! Move all the treasures out of the house!"

"Yes, Master!"

Soon.

The treasure vault was completely cleared out.

"Huh, there's a hidden array here!"

Break the magic array.

A pool of spiritual spring came into view.

The spring, no more than a foot square, was filled with a rich vitality and pure spiritual energy, and at its heart, a blue lotus quietly bloomed.

Its stem is like jade, its leaves are emerald green, and its lotus platform has four layers of petals, each layer overlapping the others, displaying four different shades of blue luster, flowing slowly, as if containing the meaning of the birth and death cycle of the four seasons. At the heart of the lotus, a single point of spiritual light, as small as a bean, radiates a magnificent energy that makes one's heart tremble.

"Master, look!" Qiu Niang's voice was filled with surprise.

Fu Changsheng flashed to the edge of the spring. Sensing the familiar Daoist aura emanating from the green lotus, his eyes flashed with a sharp light.

"Four-fold Azure Lotus!"

This is the core ingredient for crafting the "Four Symbols Lotus Lamp"!

His previous creation of the Three Talents Lotus Lantern was already quite powerful. If he could use this Four-Turn Azure Lotus as the core, supplemented with other precious spiritual materials, to create the Four Symbols Lotus Lantern, its power would surely undergo a qualitative leap, becoming another powerful trump card in his hands.

"I never expected that the Vermilion Bird Tribe would harbor such a spiritual treasure." Fu Changsheng's tone carried a hint of satisfaction. This treasure vault had indeed not disappointed him; the final surprise was here.

He carefully lifted the entire four-turn green lotus, along with the pool of spiritual spring mud beneath its roots, and placed it in the Five Elements Small World. He specially designated a spiritual spot to properly house it, ensuring its vitality would never cease.

"Let's go check out the medicinal herb garden!"

...

…Inside the heavy stone palace of the Xuan Turtle Tribe.

A scout, crawling on the ground, his voice trembling uncontrollably, reported the earth-shattering news that had just been confirmed:

"Chief, it's absolutely true! The Vermilion Bird Tribe... has changed hands overnight! The Crimson Flame Hall was awash in blood, four elders perished on the spot, and the remaining elders all submitted to the Fu family! The mountain-protecting formation... has now changed hands and is controlled by the Fu family!"

"Kacha!"

Chief Xuan Turtle suddenly stood up, unconsciously crushing the armrest of the Xuanbing Stone seat beneath him! His usual composure was gone, replaced by utter shock and disbelief.

"Zhuque... is dead? How is that possible!" His voice was dry, a ache he himself didn't even realize. "He clearly possessed a Nascent Soul talisman bestowed upon him by the Hundred Flowers True Monarch! Even if he was no match for it, he should have been able to escape without hindrance thanks to the power of the talisman! Could it be that Fu Changsheng... actually possesses the power to directly confront a Nascent Soul cultivator?!"

This deduction sent a chill down his spine. A Golden Core cultivator defeating a Nascent Soul cultivator—this was an extremely rare feat in the entire history of the Eastern Wilderness! If Fu Changsheng truly possessed such combat power, then his threat level would far exceed expectations!
What made him even more uneasy was—

"And that mountain-protecting formation!" He took a deep breath, trying to calm his churning blood. "The Vermilion Bird Tribe's 'Crimson Flame Heaven-Burning Formation' is ancient and incredibly powerful. Even if a Nascent Soul cultivator were to come in person, without inside help, a direct attack would require a huge cost and a lot of time! How did the Fu family manage to break through and control it without anyone noticing?"

Is he an inside traitor? Or has he mastered some unknown, terrifying method capable of instantly dismantling a fifth-order grand formation?
Either way, it's terrifying. This means that their Xuan Turtle tribe's prized "Xuanming Heavy Water Formation," whose defensive capabilities surpass even the Vermilion Bird Formation, might no longer be safe in the face of the Fu family!
"The Fu family... has grown to this extent?!" Chief Xuan Turtle felt a chill run down his spine as a strong sense of crisis instantly gripped him.

He could no longer sit still and immediately shouted in a deep voice:
"Issue the order! All elders, immediately set aside all matters at hand and come to the Xuanming Hall for a meeting! There must be no delay!"

...

...

Inside the Xuanming Palace of the Xuan Turtle Tribe.

After the chieftain of Xuan Gui announced the shocking news that the Zhuque tribe had changed hands overnight.

The entire hall was initially deathly silent, then erupted into an uproar.

An ancient ancestor, whose lifespan was nearing its end but whose aura was at its most powerful, suddenly opened his cloudy eyes:
"We can't wait any longer! This young man from the Fu family is growing at an alarming rate! He has already advanced to the fifth rank. If we allow him to continue developing, with the help of the Water Cloud Cave, I'm afraid that in less than a hundred years, no, even just a few decades, there will be no place for us in the Eastern Wilderness! We must nip him in the bud before he has fully grown his wings and his foundation is secure!"

His withered hand slammed heavily onto the icy armrest, sending chills through the air.

"With the Fu family's main forces currently celebrating in Huizhou Prefecture, Fu Changsheng is all alone in the Vermilion Bird Mountains. This is a golden opportunity! Our clan should immediately contact the Fire Phoenix Tribe, and the two families should join forces and launch a full-scale attack to encircle and annihilate Fu Changsheng with overwhelming force! No matter how strong he is, can he possibly withstand our combined attack?!"

Upon hearing this, a flicker of interest flashed in the eyes of several other Nascent Soul elders in the hall, who were also advanced in years and whose futures seemed bleak. If they could seize the Nascent Soul formation opportunity from the Water Cloud Cave Heaven, they might still have a glimmer of hope.

However, another, younger, late-stage Golden Core elder frowned and hesitated before speaking:
“Ancestor, think it over! Among the forces that oppose the Fu family, there are the Seven Princes’ Mansion, the Huang family, the Tianyin tribe, and now the Vermilion Bird tribe. Which of them will have a good ending? Fu Changsheng is an unpredictable man with an endless stream of trump cards. Fighting him to the death is probably not a good strategy.”

He paused, then continued, "Our Xuan Turtle tribe has always lived a secluded life in a remote corner, avoiding conflict and refusing to antagonize others. Although the Fu family is powerful, as long as we don't provoke them, they probably won't send troops to attack us, a tough nut to crack, without cause. Why wade into this mess and risk the extermination of our entire tribe?"

"Hmph! Foolish!" the fake Nascent Soul Ancestor interrupted sharply. "The opportunity to form a Nascent Soul in the Water Cloud Cave is right before your eyes. Are you all willing to stop here and perish in the Golden Core stage? That is the hope to reach the Great Dao of Nascent Soul!"

Just as a debate was about to erupt, the Xuan Turtle Chieftain, who had been silent all along, finally spoke slowly, his voice low but carrying an undeniable weight:
"Opportunities are important, but the prerequisite is that you have to be alive to enjoy them."

His gaze swept over everyone present, finally settling on the radical fake infant patriarch:

“Ancestor, do you know that Chief Vermilion Bird once vowed that he had reached an alliance with the three fake infant Daoist friends of the Joyful Sect to deal with the Fu family together.”

All eyes turned to them; they had also heard about this matter.

Chief Xuan Turtle spoke calmly, but dropped a bombshell: "But according to the top-secret intelligence I just received, the three fake infants of the Joyful Sect... have long since perished, and were killed by Fu Changsheng alone."

"what?!"

"This is impossible!"

"Three fake infants... killed by one person?!"

Exclamations of shock rose and fell, even the veteran Pseudo-Nascent Soul cultivators paled, unable to maintain their composure! The difference between a Pseudo-Nascent Soul cultivator and a peak Golden Core cultivator seemed minuscule, but in reality, they were worlds apart. Fu Changsheng's ability to kill the Vermilion Bird Chieftain wielding a Nascent Soul talisman was already astonishing, but now news had spread that he had single-handedly fought and killed three Pseudo-Nascent Soul cultivators? This strength was completely beyond their comprehension!
Chief Xuan Turtle took in everyone's reactions and said in a deep voice:

"Now, do you all still think that besieging the lone Fu Changsheng is a sure thing? That could very well be a one-way road to the underworld!"

He stood up, his powerful aura enveloping the entire room:

"The opportunity to form a Nascent Soul is certainly tempting, but to knowingly jump into a dead end is not bravery, but unwise. According to my intelligence, during this Great Wilderness Sacrifice, the Eastern Wilderness Royal Court will release clues and opportunities regarding Nascent Soul-forming auxiliary spirits, allowing us to find them ourselves. This is a safer and less risky path."

He ultimately made the final decision:
"Therefore, the plan to join forces with the Fire Phoenix Tribe to attack the Fu family is hereby abandoned! Our clan should conserve its strength and prepare for the Great Wilderness Sacrifice to compete for the opportunity bestowed by the Royal Court! Issue an order that from this day forward, the mountain gates shall be closed, and no one shall leave the mountain unless absolutely necessary. Furthermore, no one shall be allowed to provoke the Fu family!"

"Yes, Chief!" Most of the elders, including the few nascent infants who were tempted, gave up their plans after hearing about Fu Changsheng's terrifying feat of single-handedly killing three nascent infants, and responded in unison.

...

...

Chief Xuan Turtle did not delay. After leaving Xuanming Palace, he personally rode his escape light to the Fire Phoenix Tribe.

“Fellow Daoist Xuan Gui, I already know your purpose.” Chief Fire Phoenix spoke first, his voice like the friction of earth and fire. “I have received news about the Vermilion Bird matter. That Fu family… has indeed become a force to be reckoned with. Their ruthless methods and unpredictable strength are truly terrifying.”

The chieftain of the Xuan Turtle nodded slightly, his expression solemn:
“Now that Fellow Daoist Fire Phoenix is ​​aware of this, you should understand our clan’s predicament. It is not that we are afraid of war, but that Fu Changsheng… is no ordinary Golden Core cultivator. He single-handedly killed three Pseudo-Nascent Soul cultivators. Such a feat is unheard of. If we were to force a war against him now, it would be tantamount to throwing an egg against a rock.”

He paused, looking at Chief Fire Phoenix:

“I know you are unwilling, but so are my Xuan Turtle tribe. Who wouldn’t covet the opportunity in Shuiyun Cave? But now, the opportunity has been lost, and the situation is beyond our control. The Fu family’s power is not something that our two families can easily shake by joining forces. If we force it, I’m afraid we will not only fail to obtain the opportunity, but also invite annihilation.”

Chief Fire Phoenix remained silent for a moment, the only sound in the hall being the gurgling of flowing lava.

He certainly understands this principle.

Seeing that the small family they could once easily manipulate had now grown to the point where they had to look up to them or even avoid their sharp edge, the resentment and unwillingness in their hearts were hard to quell.

But reality is what it is, leaving him no choice but to bow his head.

Finally, he exhaled a long, hot breath, as if releasing the pent-up emotions in his chest, tinged with helplessness and dejection:
"Very well... Fellow Daoist Xuan Gui is right. It would be unwise to continue fighting at this time. My Fire Phoenix Tribe... agrees to abandon the plan to attack the Fu family."

He raised his eyes, the resolve of a tribal chief rekindled within them: "In that case, we shall do as you said before, lie low for now, conserve our strength, and focus all our energy on the upcoming Great Wilderness Sacrifice to compete for the opportunity bestowed by the Royal Court!"

"That's exactly right!" Chief Xuan Turtle breathed a sigh of relief as his goal was achieved. "Then I won't bother you any longer. Take care, fellow Daoist."

"Take care of yourself."

The two chieftains bowed to each other, and the Xuan Turtle Chieftain transformed into a beam of light and departed.

Chief Fire Phoenix stood alone by the lava pool, gazing at the churning crimson lava with a deep, unfathomable look in his eyes.

"Fu Changsheng... Shuiyun Cave Heaven..." he murmured to himself, "I'll let you enjoy your freedom for a while longer. After the Great Wilderness Sacrifice, the situation may very well change!"

...

...

Deep within the Valley of a Hundred Flowers, amidst swirling clouds and mist, exotic flowers bloom in vibrant colors.

A plain-clad spy stood respectfully at the end of the flower path, reporting to a woman dressed in colorful robes, with stunning beauty but a frosty expression.

"...According to reliable sources, the chieftain of the Vermilion Bird tribe has fallen, and his tribe has been taken over by the Fu family."

The woman was none other than Fairy Ni Chang, a true disciple of the Hundred Flowers True Lord. Upon hearing this, her slender eyebrows furrowed slightly, and a spirit flower silently withered at her fingertips.

"Chief Suzaku...is dead?" Her voice was cold and unreadable. "Do you know who did it?"

"Reporting to the fairy, it should be the head of the Fu family, Fu Changsheng."

“Fu Changsheng…” Fairy Ni Chang repeated the name softly, a hint of barely perceptible annoyance flashing in her eyes. To her, the conflicts between these tribes and families in the Eastern Wilderness were like ants fighting each other, noisy and boring.

She looked up at the secluded cave deep in the valley, shrouded by the Myriad Flowers Restriction. The atmosphere there was quiet, and her master, True Monarch Hundred Flowers, was at a critical stage of breaking through his bottleneck. He had already ordered that no one should disturb him except in cases of the destruction of the sect.

“I know about this.” Fairy Ni Chang withdrew her gaze, her tone indifferent. “Before my master went into seclusion, he made it clear that he would bestow a talisman to sever the ties with the ancestors of the Vermilion Bird tribe. Once the cause and effect are cleared, there will be no more entanglement.”

She glanced at the spy and said indifferently:
"Chief Zhuque was incompetent and unable to protect his legacy, thus falling to the hands of others; this was his fate. The feud between the Fu family and the Eastern Wilderness tribes is their own affair, and Hundred Flowers Valley will not interfere, much less disturb Master's seclusion over such a trivial matter. You may leave; there is no need to report this matter any further."

"Yes, fairy." The spy bowed and replied, then quietly withdrew.

The Fairy of Rainbow Robes stood alone among the flowers, her divine sense subtly sweeping towards the direction outside the valley. She sneered inwardly, 'Fu Changsheng? I hope you'll be sensible enough not to bring trouble to my Hundred Flowers Valley. Otherwise…' A wisp of seven-colored light flashed at her fingertips and then vanished.

...

...

Huizhou Prefecture, the second day of the Fu family celebration.

On the main hall square, the atmosphere remained lively, with guests enjoying themselves. Liu Meizhen, seated high in the family head's seat, was chatting with the matriarchs of several friendly families when suddenly, a communication jade talisman in her sleeve began to warm slightly.

Her expression remained unchanged. She apologized and quietly focused her consciousness into the jade talisman. The next moment, an uncontrollable light of surprise suddenly burst forth in her eyes, and even the fingertips holding the jade talisman turned slightly white with excitement.

She took a deep breath, suppressed her turbulent emotions, and slowly stood up.

Her movement immediately drew everyone's attention. The once noisy square gradually quieted down, and all the guests looked at the head of the table with curiosity.

Liu Meizhen surveyed the entire area, a radiant smile spreading across her face like never before. Her clear voice, carrying a sense of pride and declaration, resonated throughout the square:

"Fellow Daoists, distinguished guests! I just received a message from my husband, Changsheng—" She paused slightly, pleased to see that everyone's curiosity had been piqued, before announcing loudly, "The men of my Fu family have captured another city last night! The Vermilion Bird Tribe of the Eastern Wilderness now belongs to my Fu family!"

"what?!"

"The Vermilion Bird Tribe?! How is this possible!"

"Last night? Didn't Patriarch Fu just leave his seat briefly?"

Liu Meizhen's words were like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly creating ripples! The audience erupted in an uproar, with exclamations and questions rising and falling.

The Wu family patriarch nearly dropped the jade cup from his hand, the Cao family patriarch snapped off a few strands of his beard, and the Ouyang family head suddenly stood up, his face filled with disbelief!

They could clearly see that almost all of the core members of the Fu family, including the unfathomable patriarch Fu Changsheng, had been at the banquet! Fu Changsheng had only just left the banquet! How could the Fu family, without moving their main force, have broken through the Vermilion Bird Tribe's protective mountain formation, which even Nascent Soul cultivators found troublesome, and completely captured it overnight?
This is simply unbelievable!
However, these words were personally announced by Liu Meizhen, the matriarch of the Fu family, leaving them no choice but to believe them!
After a brief moment of shock, everyone's gaze towards the Fu family completely changed. They had initially thought the Fu family's advancement to the fifth rank was a leap forward, but now it seemed their foundation and methods were far more terrifying than they had imagined! At this rate, becoming a fourth-rank family was probably not far off!

The Wu family patriarch was the first to react, quickly raising his wine glass with an extremely enthusiastic smile, and loudly congratulating, "Congratulations to the Fu family! Congratulations to the matriarch! The Fu family's military might is truly invincible!"

Congratulations to the Fu family! Another significant addition to their fortune!

"The rise of the Fu family is unstoppable! Congratulations!"

In an instant, congratulations poured in like a tidal wave. All the guests, regardless of their inner thoughts, wore the most sincere or the most obsequious smiles as they raised their glasses to toast Liu Meizhen and the key figures of the Fu family.

...

...

Outside the Imperial Capital's Xuntian Hall.

The enormous monument to merit soared into the clouds, its inscriptions gleaming with light, representing the glory and authority of the Great Zhou's Imperial Envoy. On ordinary days, the cultivators who passed by would either stop to admire it or exchange hushed conversations, creating a relatively peaceful atmosphere.

However, at this moment, a sudden surge of yellow light appeared in the central area of ​​the monument, attracting everyone's attention!
"Look! The merit list has changed!"

"It's Huang Guang! He jumped up the rankings! Who is it?"

Everyone stared intently, and saw a name that had originally been ranked outside the top twenty now radiating a striking yellow light. The merit points displayed behind it jumped sharply, and the name rose accordingly, finally settling firmly at—

15th place: Fu Changsheng!

"Fu Changsheng! It's him again!"

"Hiss... How long has it been? He jumped directly from eighteenth to fifteenth!"

"Three consecutive victories! Where did this... this achievement come from? Did you wipe out a large demonic lair? Or did you slay a Nascent Soul stage demon?"

An uproar erupted in the square, the murmurs exploding like boiling water. Astonishment and disbelief were written on everyone's faces.

The top twenty on the merit list are all renowned figures with profound achievements. Reaching this level, advancing even one rank is incredibly difficult, requiring a massive accumulation of merit. Such a rapid leap in rankings, as Fu Changsheng has been seen in nearly a century!
"This young man... is truly a dark horse! He has emerged unexpectedly and his momentum is unstoppable!"

"I heard that his family has just been promoted to the fifth rank. They must have swallowed up some powerful force. Their luck has been restored, and their merits have naturally skyrocketed."

"The Vermilion Bird Tribe! It must be the Vermilion Bird Tribe of the Eastern Wilderness! Rumors have been circulating for the past two days that the Fu family has already brought them under its control!"

"So that's how it is! To annex a long-established fifth-rank tribe, no wonder the merit is so terrifying!"

"At this rate, it probably won't be long before he really breaks into the top ten!"

Mentioning the top ten ignited a burning, complex light in everyone's eyes. The top ten on the Archangel Merit Ranking were a massive dividing line! Entering that ranks meant not only unparalleled glory but also a direct promotion to a fourth-rank Archangel, a dramatic shift in status, power, and resources!

"A fourth-rank Imperial Envoy... At that time, the Fu family will probably really soar to new heights!"

"With the blessing of a fifth-rank aristocratic family and his own extraordinary talent, this boy's future is truly limitless!"

The crowd was discussing it.

Sudden.

It came to an abrupt end at a certain moment.

Everyone's gaze involuntarily turned to the figure slowly walking towards them from not far away.

The man was dressed in a tight-fitting black outfit. He wasn't particularly burly, but he resembled a peerless, deadly blade that had concealed all its sharpness. Just by walking, he exuded a chilling, murderous aura. His face was cold and hard, and his eyes were like ice that had stood still for millennia. Wherever he swept over, the air seemed to freeze.

"He's a martial arts madman!"

"Why is he here...?"

Someone gasped in a low voice, their voice filled with barely concealed awe and fear.

The newcomer was none other than Wu Yunjun, the peerless genius from the Wu family of Jinzhou, who is currently ranked fourteenth on the merit list! His path to rise is very similar to that of Fu Changsheng. Both of them used war to sustain themselves, were decisive in killing, and climbed to a high position by stepping on the corpses of countless enemies. They are recognized as one of the killing gods among the patrol angels.

Wu Yunjun walked straight to the monument of merit, his gaze calmly sweeping over the list. When he saw the new name radiating a yellow light right below his own—"Fu Changsheng, number fifteen"—his eyes showed no fluctuation, as if he had only seen a trivial matter.

He lingered for less than three breaths before turning away indifferently and leaving silently, just as he had arrived, amidst the awe-inspiring gazes of the assembled cultivators.

Only when his figure completely disappeared into the depths of the Sky Patrol Hall did the tense atmosphere on the plaza suddenly ease, and hushed discussions arose again, but much quieter than before.

"That madman... just now, did he see Fu Changsheng's name?"

"I definitely saw him! He was right behind him in line!"

"Hiss... Don't forget, the Fu family's newly acquired fifth-rank fiefdom is located in Jinzhou!"

Upon hearing this, the people around him were first taken aback, and then their expressions became quite interesting.

Jinzhou has always been the sphere of influence cultivated by the Wu family for many years, practically an impenetrable fortress. Now, suddenly, a rising star, Fu Changsheng, who is also known for his ruthlessness, has appeared, and his family's fiefdom is located in Jinzhou...

"Two tigers cannot share one mountain..." an old man stroked his beard and sighed meaningfully.

"Wu Yunjun is extremely bloodthirsty, and Fu Changsheng doesn't seem to be one to swallow his anger either. These two are both in Jinzhou, and in the future... there will likely be a fierce battle between them. It'll be quite a show!"

(End of this chapter)