Family Rise: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 646 Six Lottery Draws, Back Cover Development, The Struggle for the Crown Prince
Om-!
一股隐晦的五色光华自傅永繁丹田深处透出，金、绿、蓝、赤、黄五色流转，隐隐构成一个玄妙的循环。

"It really is the Five Elements Dao Body!"

Fu Changsheng's gaze sharpened.

However, the five-colored light flickered erratically, seemingly lacking momentum and always falling short, unable to truly condense and take shape to awaken the Dao body.

Fu Yongfan also felt the power surging forth from his body, as well as the impenetrable membrane. He circulated his energy with all his might, his temples bulging with veins, but he still felt powerless.

As the five-colored light was about to dissipate, the opportunity to awaken the Dao body was about to be missed.

A resolute glint flashed in Fu Changsheng's eyes.

He focused his mind on the auspicious energy that gave birth to the family's jade seal, and carefully drew out a wisp of it.

"go with!"

He pointed his finger, and that invisible yet profoundly mysterious aura instantly entered Fu Yongfan's brow.

boom!
Like cooking oil over a raging fire, or adding the finishing touch to a painting!
With the blessing of this precious luck, the five-colored radiance within Fu Yongfan's body, which was about to fall into dormancy, suddenly burst forth with dazzling light!

The five colors—gold, green, blue, red, and yellow—stabilized completely, forming a clear, slowly rotating five-colored halo behind him! A harmonious, powerful, and infinitely compatible Daoist aura emanated from his body!
五行道体，成了！
At the very moment Fu Yongfan's Dao Body awakened—

The weather over Tianyin Mountain suddenly changed!

The once clear sky suddenly gathered auspicious five-colored clouds! Within the auspicious clouds, strange phenomena such as the clash of halberds, towering trees, rushing rivers, raging flames, and majestic mountains appeared alternately. The sounds of Daoist chanting and Zen recitation could be faintly heard. As if summoned, endless spiritual energy of the five elements joyfully converged towards the back mountain where Fu Changsheng's cave was located, forming a huge vortex of spiritual energy!

This astonishing celestial phenomenon instantly alarmed the entire Fu family of Tianyin Mountain!

"Look! Towards the back of the mountain!"

“那是什么？五色祥云！好浓郁的灵气！”

"This is where the patriarch is in seclusion! Could it be that the patriarch has broken through again?"

"No, this strange phenomenon seems to be related to the Five Elements, unlike the patriarch's usual style... It seems the family has produced another genius."

...

...

Inside the cave.

Fu Yongfan slowly opened his eyes, and a flash of five-colored light disappeared from them.

He felt his connection with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth had increased several times over, and his understanding and application of the five elements had entered a completely new realm. Overwhelmed with excitement, he bowed deeply to Fu Changsheng.
"Thank you for your kindness, Father!"

Fu Changsheng nodded in satisfaction, and with a flick of his wrist, another object appeared in his palm.

“Father, this is…” Fu Yongfan had never seen this before.

The jade talisman was a warm, lustrous blue-green color, and a budding blue lotus pattern was naturally imprinted on its surface.

"This is the 'Azure Lotus Refining Elixir Talisman'."

"You have just entered the late stage of the Golden Core realm, and your Five Elements Dao Body is just beginning to take shape. The Golden Core is at its most active and malleable stage. With the power of this talisman, you can refine the Golden Core, remove impurities, and improve its quality. This will greatly benefit you in stabilizing your realm, consolidating your foundation, and even in the future when you condense a higher quality Nascent Soul."

Upon hearing this, Fu Yongfan's breath caught in his throat!
Improve the quality of Golden Elixir!

This is an opportunity that any Golden Core cultivator would dream of!

The quality of the Golden Core directly affects the purity of magical power, the strength of spiritual consciousness, and the potential for future Nascent Soul breakthrough. The value of this Azure Lotus Refining Core Talisman is no less than that of a precious spiritual treasure!

"Father, you have bestowed such a generous gift upon me... I will certainly live up to your expectations!" Fu Yongfan's voice was choked with emotion as he bowed deeply once more.

"Yes, refine and use it properly. After stabilizing your cultivation and refining your golden core, devote yourself entirely to the preparations for the battle four years from now." Fu Changsheng waved his hand. "Go."

"Yes! Father!"

...

...

After Fu Yongfan left.

Fu Changsheng closed the secret room, and with a slight thought, he found himself in the Five Elements Space.

他刚取出盛放上古青牛精血的玉瓶，秋娘便感应到那股精纯的土属性气息，好奇地凑了过来：
"Master, what is this? Such a strong earth elemental aura!"

"This is the essence of an ancient green ox, a primordial earth elemental spirit." Fu Changsheng handed her the jade bottle. "You can integrate it into the palace."

"Master is amazing! You found another innate spiritual treasure of the Five Elements so quickly!!"

秋娘很是兴奋。

The jade bottle opened.

Instantly, a profound and boundless aura spread out, causing the entire Five Elements Space to tremble.

She made a hand seal with her hands, her expression focused.

Guided by her magic, the drop of blood transformed into a streak of earth-yellow light, which plunged straight into the mysterious palace in the center.

"Om-"

A warm, rich, earthy yellow light flowed across the palace's surface, and the previously dull patterns began to glow. Fu Changsheng could clearly sense that the palace gates were already two-thirds open.

at the same time.

The chaotic mist at the edge of the Five Elements Space surged violently and expanded outward.

On the newly reclaimed land, a vast desert slowly emerged.

The earth's spiritual energy here is exceptionally pure and rich, as if it had been dormant for ten thousand years and had just awakened.

"Moo—" Bingyan came running happily from afar, rolled around on the desert, looking quite content. The Flying Feather Beast also strolled over, standing obediently beside Fu Changsheng, curiously observing this new world.

At this moment, a sudden change occurred!
Qiu Niang, the spirit of the Five Elements Space, suddenly radiated brilliant light, and her cultivation level, originally at the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm, rapidly increased. The feedback from the spatial expansion allowed her to break through her bottleneck and step into the late-stage of the Golden Core realm!
"Master, I've broken through!" Qiu Niang exclaimed with delight as she felt the surging spiritual power within her body, her already lively temperament becoming even more extraordinary.

Upon seeing this, Fu Changsheng nodded slightly, a look of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.

The improvement of the spirit's cultivation level means that the Five Elements Space will be more stable, which is naturally a good thing for its master.

With another thought, a spiritual plant appeared in his hand.

The moment this item appeared, the space, which had been somewhat somber due to the perfect balance of the Earth element, suddenly gained a sense of freshness and vitality.

只见那是一株四叶青莲，莲茎如玉，叶片如翠。

It was the [Four-Turn Azure Lotus] that he had prepared long ago.

"Moo?"

Bingyan curiously approached, sniffed the green lotus with its big nose, felt the vitality that made it feel comfortable all over, and happily wagged its tail.

The Flying Feather Beast also tilted its head, its glass-like eyes reflecting the shimmering green light of the blue lotus.

Fu Changsheng turned his gaze to the seven-colored glass beast of the Primordial Mystic Vine.

"It's up to you, little guy."

Upon hearing this, the Seven-Colored Glazed Beast let out a clear, low cry, like the tinkling of shattered jade.

It took a step forward, and its dreamlike, shimmering light began to flow around it, especially the red and gold colors that represented the power of crimson flames and true gold, which suddenly intensified!

"Om-"

It opened its mouth and spat out a burst of red and gold divine light that intertwined and surged forth, quickly outlining and condensing in the air, transforming into an ancient and wondrous three-legged furnace phantom!

It is indeed the [Bloodline Treasure Technique - Crimson Gold Furnace]!
The furnace shadow slowly rotated, emitting a suction force.

The vibrant, four-turn blue lotus transformed into a stream of light and was absorbed into the crimson gold furnace.

In an instant, the furnace body shone brightly!

Crimson represents extreme heat, not burning, but "transformation"; gold represents immortal sharpness, not cutting, but "refining". The two forces blend perfectly within the furnace, enveloping the four-turn blue lotus.

The lotus flower's shape also began to undergo mysterious changes in the divine light, its petals slowly closing and shaping, evolving into the form of a lamp.

Time flows silently within the Five Elements space.

After an unknown amount of time, the phantom of the crimson gold furnace trembled slightly, and the furnace lid opened.

"Shh!"

A vibrant, verdant light, brimming with boundless vitality, shot into the sky, illuminating the entire Five Elements Space with a deep emerald hue.

光华收敛，一盏全新的宝莲灯静静悬浮于空。

The lamp has a warm, jade-like color and an ancient design. The main body of the lamp is like a lotus bud about to bloom. At the wick, a soft blue flame burns quietly, exuding a refreshing woody spirit and a peaceful Taoist charm.

The fourth natal lotus lamp—the Wood Element Green Lotus Lamp—is complete!

The moment the treasure lamp took shape, it transformed into a stream of light and entered Fu Changsheng's dantian, echoing the other three treasure lotus lamps with different attributes, forming a more stable and mysterious cycle.

“小七，辛苦了，不过还得麻烦你再修复一物。”

With a thought, Fu Changsheng summoned the tattered dark blue arm armor and the clear, ethereal [Ten Thousand Year Azure] to float in front of the Seven-Colored Glazed Beast.

The seven-colored glass beast opened its mouth again.

A burst of crimson and gold divine light erupted, and the ancient and profound phantom of the [Crimson Gold Furnace] appeared in response, even more solid than before.

The first thing thrown into the furnace was that eternal blue sky.

The crimson-gold divine light coiled around it, "dissolving" it in a mysterious way, removing the subtle impurities that were not of the water element, making its original power even purer and more ethereal.

Immediately afterwards, the tattered arm armor flew into the furnace.

沧澜沉金在神光淬炼下，逐渐褪去暗淡，显露出深海波涛般的本质光泽，那丝蛟魂亦如冬眠惊醒，发出微弱的悸动。

"This is the moment!"

傅长生看准时机，将早已备好的“玄冰精髓”、“水玉琼浆”等辅助宝材打入熔炉。这些宝材瞬间被赤金神光炼化，与那团万载空青所化的青色灵液完美融合。

The Seven-Colored Glazed Beast's eyes narrowed, and it fully activated its bloodline treasure technique.

"Roar--!"

A faint dragon's roar rang out from the furnace, then grew clearer and louder! Nourished by the Ten Thousand Year Azure and the same material, the dragon's soul rapidly grew stronger, fully awakened, and actively merged with the newly formed arm armor, becoming a true weapon spirit!

The furnace light suddenly intensified, and a beam of azure light shot into the sky, with the faint phantom of a dragon circling within!

After the radiance subsided, a brand-new arm armor floated in the air.

The armor is a deep, azure blue, its sheen flowing like the tides, its surface covered in naturally formed runes, radiating powerful spiritual pressure and dense moisture. At the elbow guards, a miniature dragon pattern coils, its eyes lively, as if it might burst through the armor at any moment!
The Spirit Treasure-grade Armor—Azure Dragon Soul Armor—is complete!

The Azure Dragon couldn't wait to let out a long roar. Sensing the same aura, the Azure Dragon Soul Armor transformed into a beam of blue light and flew towards the Azure Dragon, perfectly fitting the base of its forelimbs. With a flash of azure light, it completely disappeared, blending seamlessly with the Azure Dragon's aura.

Feeling the immense water power emanating from the arm armor and the protective force connected to its bloodline, the Azure Dragon joyfully circled and danced in the air, stirring up the water elemental energy within the Five Elements Space.

"Xiao Qing, Xiao Qi, Skeleton, Chaos, Xiong Da..."

One by one, the Golden Core level spirit pets that had been called out gathered in front of Fu Changsheng:
"I will be going into seclusion for a while. During my seclusion, you will all follow Fan-ge'er's orders and not be naughty, understand?"

"Roar!"

The Azure Dragon was the most obedient, and nodded obediently.

A thought.

Fu Changsheng sent them out of the Five Elements Space, opened the secret chamber, and sent them to Fan Ge'er's cave.

“有十名金丹级战力相助，希望繁哥儿你不要让我失望。”

In particular, the Azure Dragon is already at the near-fifth rank.

His thoughts landed on the panel in his mind's eye.

也是时候抽奖了。

He had six special draws and two super-double draws.

"Redeem your prize for a special draw!"

hum!
The golden light on the panel suddenly surged, transforming into countless tiny runes. These runes collided and combined, eventually forming a huge, phantom roulette wheel. The wheel was divided into dozens of squares, and the outlines of different treasures could be vaguely seen in each square.

Fu Changsheng held his breath, his eyes fixed on the rapidly spinning roulette wheel:

"What are the prizes this time?"

轮盘旋转的速度逐渐减慢，最终指针停在了一个闪烁着浓郁翡翠光泽，散发着勃勃生机的格子上。

next moment.

An antique-style pottery jar appeared in his hand.

The earthenware jar is no bigger than the palm of your hand, and is brownish-brown in color. It has no decorative patterns on its body, giving it a simple and unadorned appearance. However, the mouth of the jar is sealed with a soft green film, and beneath the film, you can vaguely see a viscous, honey-like, and emerald-green liquid swirling inside.

"This is."

傅长生神识探入，接触那绿色光膜的刹那，一道信息自然浮现于心：
【Wanmuyuancui】

[Rank: Fourth-Tier High-Grade (Rare Treasure of Heaven and Earth)]

[Efficacy: Effective only for spiritual plants. Contains the primordial life force of all trees, which can promote the growth of spiritual plants, purify bloodlines, awaken spiritual intelligence, and repair damage to the primordial Dao. Particularly effective for wood and earth-type spiritual plants.]

【用法：以灵泉或无根之水稀释后浇灌，或直接以秘法引导其精华注入灵植本源。切记，非灵植之物，承受此萃有崩解之危。】

【禁忌：不可用于非灵植生灵，不可直接吞服（非木属道体者，有化树之厄）。】

"The Essence of Myriad Trees? It's only effective on spiritual plants?" A hint of surprise flashed in Fu Changsheng's eyes, which then turned into deep joy. "It's such a specialized and powerful sacred product for spiritual plants!"

He immediately thought of another treasured possession he had kept—

That [Nourishing Spirit Lotus Seed] that has been nurtured by its own divine consciousness, yet is progressing slowly!
This lotus seed is a naturally occurring spiritual object with extremely demanding growth conditions. It requires the continuous consumption of divine sense and soul power, supplemented by a special visualization method.

With the help of this [Ten Thousand Trees Essence], its growth process can be greatly accelerated!

Fu Changsheng had a sudden thought.

The [Nourishing Spirit Lotus Seed] appeared in his palm. The lotus seed was only the size of a grain of rice, and its entire body was a warm, jade-white color, with naturally formed, extremely fine blue lines on its surface.

He carefully drew out a drop of liquid, which looked like the essence of jade, from the [Ten Thousand Trees Essence] pottery jar using his divine sense.

As instructed, they retrieved the spiritual spring water condensed within the Five Elements Space and diluted the drop of Myriad Wood Essence a hundredfold. Even so, the diluted spiritual liquid remained a vibrant, emerald-green color, brimming with life.

他屏息凝神，先将自身状态调整至最佳，随后运转《青莲吐纳图》，神识之力如丝如缕，化作无形的壤土，将养神莲种轻轻托起。同时，他引动那一小汪稀释后的万木源萃灵液，使其化作蒙蒙的绿色光雨，均匀地洒落在莲种之上，并以自身魂力为引，导引着月华之力缓缓渗透。

"Om-"

得到万木源萃这专属于灵植的圣品滋养，养神莲种仿佛从沉睡中被彻底唤醒！玉白色的种皮瞬间变得透明，内部那一点先天生机以前所未有的速度膨胀、勃发！
What would normally take years or even longer of painstaking work has been compressed to the extreme by this drop of Wanmu Yuancui!

只见莲种表面的青色纹路骤然亮起，如同活过来一般游动、延伸。种皮顶端，一点嫩绿悄然破开，以肉眼可见的速度抽出细嫩的芽茎，芽茎之上，两片微小的、蜷缩着的翠玉般嫩叶缓缓舒展。

A cool, pure aura that penetrates directly to the very essence of the soul emanates from the budding lotus seed!
Just as these two tender leaves fully unfurled—

boom!
Fu Changsheng felt a sudden jolt in his sea of ​​consciousness!
It was as if some barrier had been broken!
那株刚刚萌芽的养神莲与他识海产生了玄之又玄的联系，莲叶轻轻摇曳，每一次摇曳，都仿佛在洗涤、凝练、扩张着他的神识海洋。原本如同湖泊般的神识，此刻开始疯狂地向四周蔓延，变得更加浩瀚、更加精纯、更加凝实！
He was shocked to discover that the strength of his spiritual sense had now surpassed that of an ordinary early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, and was even approaching the level of a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator!
"Nourishing Spirit Lotus, budding stage... Divine sense greatly increased! Truly living up to its reputation!"

A strong divine sense is of great benefit to all aspects of cultivation, combat, alchemy, and talisman making.

He carefully moved the budding lotus to the place in the Five Elements Space where the wood spiritual energy and moonlight were most abundant, and continued to nurture it with diluted wood essence and his own divine sense. Although the budding stage had been achieved, the lotus's growth potential was far from over. The future "lotus heart protecting the soul" and even "evolution of the primordial spirit" were even more worth looking forward to.

Composing himself, Fu Changsheng communicated with the system again:
"Continue with the special prize draw!"

hum!
轮盘再次飞速旋转起来，金光符文流转不息。

A moment later, the roulette wheel slowly came to a stop, and the pointer landed on a square that emitted a sharp golden light intertwined with a thick, earthy yellow halo.

As the light faded, a pair of uniquely shaped metal rings appeared in Fu Changsheng's hands. The two metal rings were of different sizes, and were dark gold in color. Their surfaces were covered with intricate and complex natural patterns, and they faintly exuded pure metal element power and a heavy and stable earth element aura.

Divine sense probed in, and information emerged:
【Mother and Child Gold Sinking Rings】

【等阶：四阶极品法宝（特殊束缚类）】

【材质：沉金之精、戊土母气】

【characteristic:
1. The child ring locks the enemy, while the mother ring seals off the enemy.

The sub-ring flies out, ignoring most protective auras of the same level, and locks onto the target's dantian or golden core; the mother ring then suppresses it, drawing upon the earth element's mother energy, greatly restricting the target's movement and mana circulation.

Second, the interplay of metal and earth elements creates exceptional sturdiness. The surrounding structure contains the complementary power of both metal and earth elements, making it extremely difficult to destroy.

[Note: This technique is best used by cultivators with metal or earth elemental roots or related supernatural abilities to maximize its power.]

"Mother and Child Golden Rings? A magic weapon for binding and suppressing?" Fu Changsheng played with the pair of dark golden rings, feeling the heavy power and sharp aura contained within them, quite satisfied. "Perfect, I have all five elements, so I can drive this treasure without any hindrance. This treasure is both offensive and defensive, and it is especially good at restricting powerful enemies. Whether it is a one-on-one battle or a group battle, it can play a key role."

A thought came to my mind.

After initially refining the pair of golden rings, he put them away and focused his attention on the lottery wheel again.

“第三次特殊抽奖，开始！”

As the roulette wheel spun, the pointer landed on an ice-blue square, instantly releasing an extremely cold aura that caused the temperature within the Five Elements Space to drop several degrees.

【玄冰凝魄丹】

【等阶：五阶中品灵丹】

【功效：淬炼神魂，稳固元婴，抵御心魔。尤其适用于修炼冰属性、水属性功法，可提升二成凝结元婴时的成功率与品质。】

[Contraindication: This technique should be used with caution by cultivators with fire-attribute spiritual roots, as the elements clash and may damage their foundation.]

"Mysterious Ice Soul-Condensing Pill!" Fu Changsheng's eyes flashed with a sharp light. "It's actually a precious pill that can improve the success rate and quality of Nascent Soul formation! This item is ineffective for me, but it is still a rare treasure. Whether used to exchange for needed resources or bestowed upon clansmen who cultivate water and ice attribute techniques, it is an excellent choice."

He carefully placed the chilling pill into a specially made jade bottle and sealed it. In some cases, the value of this pill was no less than that of an ordinary spiritual treasure.

"There are three special draws left." Fu Changsheng took a deep breath, calming his excited emotions from winning several great treasures in a row. "I wonder what I'll draw next?"

He restarted the lottery.

The roulette wheel flashed, and this time, the pointer landed on a seemingly ordinary, even somewhat dusty, square.

The light subsided, and a palm-sized, irregularly shaped object with a rough surface like an ordinary stone appeared in his hand. It was inconspicuous, without the slightest fluctuation of spiritual energy. If it hadn't been drawn from the system wheel, Fu Changsheng would have thought it was just a stone from the mortal world.

However, when he carefully examined it with his divine sense, he vaguely sensed that the inside of this "stone" seemed to contain an extremely restrained, almost primitive, profound Daoist charm, which was completely different from any earth-attribute material he had ever encountered before.

一道晦涩的信息缓缓流入识海：

【Dust of the Breath of Earth】

[Rank: ??? (Fragment of an Innate Item)]

[Efficacy: Contains the vitality of creation, capable of self-growth, and nourishing all things. Though merely a speck of dust, it possesses boundless potential. Integrating it into earth-elemental magical artifacts or blessed lands can solidify its foundation, gradually fostering its own creation. It can also cultivate specific spiritual plants, potentially producing miraculous effects.]

[Note: It needs to be nurtured with the pure power of earth spirit or the warmth of creation to activate its activity.]

"Dust of the Breath of Earth?!" Fu Changsheng's heart skipped a beat, almost thinking he had misread it!
Breath of Earth!

那可是神话传说中，能够自行生长、永不耗减的先天神土！即便眼前这只是微不足道的一粒“尘埃”，其价值也远超寻常四阶、五阶的灵物！

"It can grow on its own and nourish all things... Integrating into the Five Elements space will surely make the foundation of the space more stable and greatly increase its potential!!"

Fu Changsheng suppressed the urge to immediately attempt to fuse the artifact and carefully put it away. He needed to carefully consider how to use it.

接连的惊喜，让傅长生对剩下的两次特殊抽奖和两次超级加倍更加期待。他定了定神，再次沟通系统。

"Fifth Special Lottery!"

The roulette wheel pointer swept across the surface, and this time it stopped on a dark red leather scroll that looked ancient and weathered.

【Ancient Demon Battle Records - Fragment (Part 1)】

[Rank: Tier 4, Top Quality]

[Content: Records ancient demon race battle formations, profound and unfathomable. This fragment contains three basic battle formations: "Three Talents Demon-Slaying Formation," "Five Elements Spirit Control Formation," and "Seven Stars Army-Breaking Formation," requiring three or more demons or those with demonic lineages to practice together. Once the formation is complete, it allows the combined power of the group to fight against opponents of higher ranks!]

[Note: Collecting more fragments will unlock more powerful battle formations, and may even allow you to condense an ancient demonic form.]

"Battle formation techniques!" Fu Changsheng's eyes lit up. This was a treasure! He had many spirit pets of various kinds. If they could learn this battle formation and cooperate with each other, their overall combat power would surely soar! If the Azure Dragon, Chaos Beast, and Seven-Colored Glazed Beast formed a battle formation, they would probably be able to fight against a true early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator! This was practically tailor-made for his current spirit pet army!
他迫不及待地将神识沉入皮卷，粗略浏览了一番，其中记载的战阵果然精妙无比，涉及气血联结、妖力共鸣、阵势变幻等诸多玄奥。

"Excellent! This item is perfect for Fan-ge'er to train with Xiao Qing and the others. In four years, they will surely become a formidable force!"

Fu Changsheng put the scroll away with satisfaction and conducted one last special lottery draw.

The roulette wheel spun, and this time the pointer stopped on a dull, unremarkable square. A flash of light, and a fragment that looked like it had been broken off from a stone tablet fell into Fu Changsheng's hand. The fragment was only the size of a fingernail, neither gold nor stone, and was engraved with several ancient symbols that were so twisted they were unrecognizable, exuding an extremely ancient and barbaric aura.

[Unknown stone tablet fragment (???)]

[Rank: Undetermined]

[Effect: Unknown (Seems to be related to some ancient ritual or contract?)]

[Note: It bears the indelible marks of time, perhaps concealing the secrets of a lost era.]

"An unknown entity?" Fu Changsheng frowned slightly, carefully sensing it. Apart from the ancient aura, there was nothing else unusual about it. He tried to input his magic power and divine sense, but it was like throwing a stone into the sea. "It seems that a specific opportunity is needed to unlock its secrets." He put it away for the time being, to be explored later.

And now, there are two more, even more precious ones left – Super Double!
Fu Changsheng took a deep breath, his gaze fixed intently on the panel in his sea of ​​consciousness. He wondered what kind of surprise this super-enhanced feature would bring him.
...

...

The Fu Family Council Hall.

The atmosphere inside the hall was solemn and dignified.

With the head of the family, Fu Changsheng, in seclusion, the main seat was vacant. The matriarch, Liu Meizhen, sat at the head of the table below the main seat, dressed in an elegant palace gown. Her face was still radiant, but her brows showed more composure and majesty than when she was younger.

"The reason I have gathered you all here today is to discuss the development of the newly granted fiefdom of Cangnan Prefecture in Jinzhou," Liu Meizhen said in a clear and melodious voice, getting straight to the point. "Cangnan Prefecture is located in Jinzhou, which is far away from the Tianyin Mountain, the ancestral home of my Fu family. We need to make careful plans and prepare for the future in order to establish ourselves and develop here."

She paused, then turned her gaze to the person below:
“Yongrui, as the head of the Dark Hall, you have the clearest understanding of the situation in Jinzhou and the surrounding areas of Cangnan Prefecture. You will be the first to explain the situation to the elders.”

"Yes, Mother."

Fu Yongrui stood up and bowed slightly to Liu Meizhen and the elders present.

"According to the initial investigation by the Dark Hall, the spiritual energy environment and resource output of my Fu family's Cangnan Prefecture are still under detailed evaluation in southern Jinzhou. At present, the most important thing to pay attention to is the power that borders my territory—the Wu family, the number one fifth-rank family in Jinzhou!"

Upon hearing the words "Wu Family," the expressions of many elders in the hall who were familiar with the situation in Jinzhou changed slightly.

Fu Yongrui continued:

"The Wu family is extremely powerful. There is a fifth-rank patrol angel in the family named Wu Poyun, who ranks fifteenth on the patrol list, even ahead of the family head! This person is a recognized genius in Jinzhou. He has long been a pseudo-navel cultivator. What is even more terrifying is that when he was at the ninth level of the Golden Core stage, he had the achievement of defeating a pseudo-navel cultivator. His strength is unfathomable."

He paused briefly to allow everyone to process the information, then dropped an even heavier bombshell:
"Moreover, according to various rumors, the Wu family is only one step away from becoming a fourth-grade family! The number of Golden Core cultivators in the family is conservatively estimated to be over a hundred! In Jinzhou, the Wu family is undoubtedly the head of the families, with a deep-rooted influence and great power."

殿内响起一阵低低的吸气声。

Over a hundred Golden Core cultivators! A pseudo-Nascent Soul genius! A near-fourth-rank aristocratic family! Any one of these pieces of information would be enough to make one's heart tremble, let alone all of them combined in one family.

Living next to such a behemoth must be incredibly stressful.

Fu Yongrui, with a solemn expression, slowly and deliberately delivered another crucial piece of information:
"In addition, the Dark Hall also discovered a crucial piece of information. In the early years of the Wu family, when their ancestor Wu Hanshan was in charge of the family, he married off his youngest direct descendant daughter to the Crown Prince's residence as a concubine."

"This woman is extremely capable; she rose to the rank of concubine entirely on her own."

He paused briefly to make sure everyone had heard him clearly before continuing:

"This Consort Wu is quite favored and has given birth to a son for the Crown Prince. Although this son is not born of the legitimate wife, he holds a considerable position in the Crown Prince's residence because of his mother's favor. More importantly, this son has followed the lead of his half-brother, His Highness the Crown Prince's grandson, since childhood, and their relationship is extremely close."

说到这里，傅永瑞的目光扫过在场众人，最终落回柳眉贞身上，语气带着一丝无奈：
“Mother, elders, you must all know that Yongning was previously… the granddaughter-in-law of the Princess’s household. The Princess’s lineage and the Crown Prince’s lineage… have long been at odds, fighting for many years. With this entanglement, the Wu family’s attitude towards my Fu family is probably far from friendly. If we want to settle down smoothly in Jinzhou, especially in Cangnan Prefecture which is adjacent to the Wu family, it will probably be… extremely difficult.”

Fu Changli frowned:
"In this way, even if the Wu family does not openly start a war with my Fu family, they will definitely suppress and hinder us in all aspects."

Resource exploration, personnel exchanges, trade and commerce... the Wu family only needs to give a slight indication, and the local forces in Jinzhou will probably all try to trip them up.

"Mother, I am willing to go to Cangnan Prefecture!"

Fu Yongyi stood up and looked around at everyone:

"Gentlemen, our fiefdom has been developed for over a hundred years, and the mineral deposits in all areas have been almost completely explored. In recent years, no new mineral veins with exploitable value have been discovered. Cangnan Prefecture is a completely new territory, vast in area and with unknown geology. It is the perfect place to explore new mines and re-establish the family's foundation! No matter how many difficulties there are, I will go and take the plunge!"

傅永毅话音刚落。

Fu Yongkui, who was temporarily acting as the deacon of the Business Hall, also stood up:

“Mother, Yongkui has also volunteered to go.”

My cousin Yongshang is currently in seclusion, attempting to break through to the Golden Core stage, so I am temporarily in charge of the Business Hall.

The newly established fiefdom is in dire need of reconstruction, a crucial time to seek business opportunities and open up new channels. While the Wu family is indeed powerful, the Jinzhou market is vast, and there is certainly a place for my Fu family's business hall to establish itself. Even if the initial stages are difficult, someone needs to first explore the ways of the world, build relationships, and lay the foundation for future trade.

Seeing that Fu Yongyi and Fu Yongkui had volunteered, a hint of approval flashed in Liu Meizhen's eyes.

“It is good that Yongyi and Yongkui have such ambition. However, pioneering work cannot be accomplished by the efforts of one or two people alone.”

She selected the generals one by one:
"The Array Academy will select two cultivators proficient in defensive and spirit-gathering arrays to accompany us, prioritizing the stabilization of the stronghold's defenses and the gathering of spiritual energy."

"The Spirit Plant Hall will select experts familiar with spirit grains and the cultivation of low-level spirit herbs to ensure that the basic spirit materials can be self-sufficient in the early stages."

"The Hall of Deacons selects a group of capable and efficient deacons who are good at handling general affairs to manage the relocated mortals and coordinate internal affairs."

“暗堂，增派得力人手，归永瑞统辖，重点探查苍南府内部及周边详细情报，尤其是可能存在的资源点和中立势力。”

“届时，我会亲自带队前往。”

Liu Meizhen's expression was solemn:
"In the early stages, we don't need to pursue large-scale operations or comprehensive development. Our primary task is to 'establish a firm foothold'! We need to select locations to establish outposts, understand the terrain and resource distribution within our territory, and assess potential risks. When contacting local forces, we must be cautious, focusing on information gathering and avoiding conflict. All actions must prioritize our own safety and consolidating our foundation."

At this moment, Yu Qingru, who was sitting at the lower end of the table, hesitated for a moment before speaking:

“Mistress, since the imperial court has granted us this fief, according to the regulations, our Fu family, as a fifth-rank family, is qualified to recruit three sixth-rank families as vassals. Now that we know the situation in Jinzhou is complex and the Wu family is powerful, should we first look for suitable sixth-rank families within Wuzhou and even in the surrounding prefectures, and pre-determine their status as vassals? This would add some strength so we can go to Cangnan Prefecture together to expand. More strength always means more security.”

Upon hearing this, the elders nodded slightly, seemingly finding it reasonable.

Liu Meizhen slowly shook her head:

"Qingru's concerns are indeed reasonable. However, the quota for vassal families is an important bargaining chip for our Fu family. It should not be given away lightly and should be used wisely."

She paused slightly, then continued:
“Currently in Wuzhou, the Ouyang family, the Cao family, and the Wu family are indeed on good terms with my family and have close ties. But precisely because of this, even without the title of vassal, they would most likely be willing to provide assistance when my Fu family needs it. Inviting them under the title of vassal at this time would only be icing on the cake and would offer limited help to my Fu family in the predicament we are facing in Jinzhou.”

"We should carefully examine the surrounding areas of Jinzhou and Cangnan Prefecture and select families that are truly familiar with the local situation, possess unique resources or abilities, and can form a certain balance with the Wu family's power. This move will be like sending charcoal in snowy weather, truly helping the Fu family to take root in Jinzhou and open up new opportunities."

Upon hearing this, everyone pondered it carefully and revealed expressions of sudden realization and admiration.

"We have no objection and will obey the mistress's arrangements!"

Inside the council hall, the discussion about the development of Cangnan Prefecture came to a temporary end.

"Madam, everyone," Fu Changli said in a steady voice, "Now that our Fu family has been officially granted the title of a fifth-rank family, according to the laws of the Great Shuo Dynasty, we must establish the position of heir within ten years and report it to the court for record. This matter concerns the succession and stability of our family. Although there is no need to rush, it should be put on the agenda and we should discuss a plan as soon as possible to avoid being rushed later."

This statement came out.

The atmosphere inside the hall, which had just become somewhat lively due to the confirmation of the development strategy, suddenly became subtle again.

The position of heir apparent is of great importance, involving the future core of the family's power. Many elders, especially those with outstanding younger generations in the family, kept their eyes down and dared not speak easily, for fear of appearing too eager or inadvertently choosing the wrong side.

Liu Meizhen's gaze swept over everyone present, taking in all sorts of expressions. Her expression remained calm, clearly indicating that she had been prepared for this.

“三弟所虑甚是。”她微微颔首，声音清晰传遍大殿，“此事，我与夫君此前已有商议。今日趁此机会，便与诸位说明。”

She paused, her tone turning solemn:
“傅家世子之位，非依长幼，不循私情，唯以功勋、能力论英雄。

自今日起，凡我族长一脉，永字辈、青字辈子弟，皆纳入考评之列。

The family will establish a merit book to record in detail the contributions of each member to the family—whether it be expanding territory, exploring resources, honing skills, improving cultivation, or making outstanding contributions in diplomacy, trade, military preparedness, or other areas, all will be counted as merit according to the regulations.

“An assessment is conducted every two and a half years, and those who rank in the top three in terms of merit become candidates for the crown prince.”

"At that time, the family elders council will comprehensively consider the candidates' cultivation, character, ability, and suitability for the future development of the family, and publicly select the heir from the three candidates."

"This method aims to encourage the younger generation of the clan to strive for excellence and contribute more to the family, and also to ensure that the Fu family has successors and that the lineage is orderly. What do you all think?"

After a moment of silence, a chorus of approval erupted in the hall.

"The mistress and the head of the household have considered this matter carefully; this method is perfectly just!"

"Judging heroes by their merits is the most convincing way to win people's respect and can also avoid unnecessary internal strife."

"Indeed, a heir selected in this way will surely be an outstanding member of the clan and able to lead the Fu family to greater heights!"

(End of this chapter)