Family Rise: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 650 An Astonishing Gain, Schemes Fail, and the Sky Collapses

The Beast Master suddenly slapped his chest, spitting out a mouthful of his heart's essence blood. At the same time, his hands moved in an ancient and sinister trajectory, outlining a blood-red rune that exuded an ominous aura.

He carefully retrieved an item from the deepest part of his storage bag—it was not a magical artifact, but a seemingly ordinary animal hide scroll that emitted faint fluctuations of contractual laws. It was the [Blood Pact of Alliance] that the three sects had signed when they formed an alliance!
"With the covenant as the guide, with blood as the sacrifice! Ancient covenant, heed my call!"

The Beast Master spat his heart's blood essence onto the scroll, which instantly burst into flames, transforming into two eerie streams of blood-red light! One stream of light contained the aura of the Joyful Venerable, and the other contained the aura of the Abbess Jingnian; they were the blood essence imprints left when the contract was signed!
"No!! You beasts! How dare you!" Faintly, one could hear the roar of the Joyful Abbot, filled with shock and rage, coming from the direction of the desert.

“Amitabha…karmic hindrance…” Master Jingnian’s weak and indignant voice rang out from the direction of the sea of ​​fire.

But nothing could stop it!

The two streaks of blood-red light, like venomous snakes that have found their target, ignored the spatial barrier of the Four Symbols and Eight Trigrams Formation, instantly pierced through the void, and entered the illusion where Master Huanxi and Master Jingnian were!

"what--!"

"Ugh—!"

Two piercing screams rang out almost simultaneously, filled with extreme pain and resentment!
The next moment, the figures of Master Huanxi and Abbess Jingnian twisted and blurred violently in their respective illusions. Their flesh, souls, and even their very essence were forcibly extracted and sacrificed by that strange power of the contract! Their auras deflated and dissipated rapidly like punctured balloons, eventually annihilating completely!
As the two False Infant Ancestors perished completely, the immense and pure life and soul power generated by their sacrifice, mixed with the power of the burning Blood Pact, converged in front of the Myriad Beasts True Man, violently tearing the void apart!

Tsk-!
A spatial rift with crimson lightning crackling at its edges appeared out of nowhere! Beyond the rift lay not ordinary void turbulence, but an unknown realm filled with a savage and violent aura!

A terrifying pressure that sent shivers down one's spine emanated from the crack!
Immediately afterwards, a massive claw covered in dark gold scales and wreathed in blood-red patterns suddenly emerged from the crack! This claw alone exuded an aura far surpassing that of the previous false infant, reaching the true Nascent Soul level, and was filled with chaos and destruction!
"Roar--!"

A roar that seemed to come from the ancient wilderness shook the entire Shuiyun Cave Heaven, and even the Four Symbols and Eight Trigrams Formation was violently shaken!

Yu Qingru, Liu Meizhen, Ouyang Fei, and Fu Molan's expressions changed drastically at the same time!

They sensed a terrifying force that was completely irresistible descending upon them!
"Hahaha! You scum of the Fu family! Do you see this? This is the price you paid for forcing me!" He roared like a madman, "To die under the claws of the 'Void Devouring Beast' is your honor!"

The Beast Master looked at the ever-expanding spatial rift and the terrifying claw, a twisted smile on his face that was a mixture of fear, madness, and a hint of relief.

The "Void Devouring Beast" he mentioned was the Nascent Soul Beast that was trying to cross over into another realm!
"Stop it! We can't let it come to pass!"

Liu Meizhen was the first to react and shouted sharply.

Yu Qingru forcibly suppressed the shock in her heart, and quickly formed hand seals, pushing the power of the Four Symbols Eight Trigrams Formation to its limit!

"The Four Divine Beasts, suppress the void!"

The phantoms of the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise unleashed a deafening roar, carrying immense array power, transforming into four enormous pillars of light that fiercely slammed into the spatial rift! In an attempt to close it and prevent the arrival of the Void Devouring Beast.

Liu Meizhen also did not hesitate, pushing the Burning Heaven Order to its limit:

"Burning Heaven Flame Domain, extreme burning! Fire Spirit, explode!"

She frantically drew upon the firepower of the entire Burning Heaven Flame Domain, condensing it into a highly refined pillar of flame that shot towards the outstretched claw! The Burning Heaven Flame Spirit let out a mournful cry, its body swelling violently, and with a resolute intent, it charged towards the spatial rift, exploding with a deafening roar! It attempted to use this final destructive force to severely injure or even force back the strange beast.

Ouyang Fei flicked his hands in quick succession, and countless kinds of strange poisons mixed with his pure poison essence transformed into colorful yet deadly poison dragons that coiled around the cracks and claws, attempting to corrode their structure and energy.

Fu Molan then controlled all the remaining puppets to form a solid defensive line, blocking the gap between the group and the rift. At the same time, all the ranged attack puppets unleashed their full firepower, with crossbow bolts and energy beams pouring out like a torrential rain.

However, the gap between the Nascent Soul stage and the Golden Core stage is like an insurmountable chasm!
"Roar!"

The Void Devourer seemed to be enraged by the provocation of these "ants".

That dark gold claw merely made a light slash!
Kacha! Kacha!
The pillars of light from the Four Divine Beasts shattered like glass! The self-destruction of the Heavenly Fire Spirit only slightly dimmed the blood-red patterns on its claws! Ouyang Fei's deadly poison was easily repelled by the distorted spatial force surrounding the claws! Fu Molan's puppet defenses were as flimsy as paper, shaken to the side by the terrifying aura emanating from the claws, with many losing all their spirituality and becoming nothing more than scrap metal!

puff!
Yu Qingru, Liu Meizhen, Ouyang Fei, and Fu Molan were all struck as if by a heavy blow, spitting out a mouthful of blood and their auras instantly weakening. The backlash from the formation, the damage to their magical artifacts, and the shock to their minds left them completely powerless to resist.

Even the True Man of Ten Thousand Beasts was not spared.

He was closest to the rift and was the first to be hit by the aura of the Void Devouring Beast. His already serious injuries were compounded, and he collapsed to the ground.

Roar!
The spatial rift was completely torn open.

The Void Devourer has fully arrived!
Its body was as large as a small mountain, covered entirely in dark golden scales, with blood-red patterns flowing between the scales, making it seem as if it were alive. Its head resembled that of a lizard, but it had three vertical pupils, filled with greed and destruction.

"Roar!"

The first thing the Void Devouring Beast did after its arrival was not to attack Liu Meizhen and the others in the distance, but to suddenly lower its head and stare cruelly at the Wanshou Zhenren, who was lying on the ground, powerless to resist due to the sacrifice and backlash.

"No! No! It was I who summoned you! It was I who offered the sacrifice! I am your summoner!" The maniacal smile on the face of the Beast Master had long been replaced by boundless terror. He struggled to crawl backward, begging incoherently, "Spare me! I can find more sacrifices for you! More..."

The Void Devouring Beast's eyes are filled only with the most primal desire to devour.

To it, the summoner? It's nothing more than the "key" to open the passage and the "food" that first catches its eye!
The gaping maw suddenly opened, generating a terrifying suction force!

"Do not--!"

Amidst the desperate and unwilling screams of the Beast Master, he and several heavily injured spirit beasts beside him were sucked into the mouth of the Void Devouring Beast without any resistance and swallowed whole! A powerful False Infant Ancestor who once dominated a region thus became the first blood meal after his summoned creatures descended!
After devouring the Myriad Beasts True Man, the Devouring Void Beast licked its lips with lingering satisfaction, and its three vertical pupils immediately locked onto Liu Meizhen, Yu Qingru, and the others whose auras were weak.

"Quickly, retreat into the inner palace's light barrier!"

Despite her injuries, Liu Meizhen let out a delicate shout and, together with Yu Qingru, Ouyang Fei, and Fu Molan, they transformed into streaks of light and rapidly retreated into the depths of the Water Cloud Cave Heaven, where a protective light barrier formed by even purer water and cloud energy had been erected.

How could the Void Devouring Beast allow its "food" to escape?

It let out an impatient growl, but its massive body was unusually agile, transforming into a dark golden blood shadow that rushed straight towards the light barrier!

boom! boom! boom!
It swung its sharp claws and slammed them violently against the pale blue light screen.

The light barrier trembled violently, ripples spreading outwards. Although resilient, it clearly couldn't hold out for long under the continuous attacks of a Nascent Soul level expert. Liu Meizhen and the others inside the light barrier turned pale, desperately channeling their mana into it to maintain its state.

Just as the light barrier was about to collapse and the Void Devouring Beast was about to break through and enter!
"How dare you, evil beast!"

A calm yet imposingly authoritative shout rang out.

Fu Changsheng's figure appeared in front of the light screen as if by teleportation, blocking the Void Devouring Beast and Liu Meizhen and the others.

The Void Devouring Beast's attack abruptly halted, its three vertical pupils looking at Fu Changsheng with suspicion and uncertainty. From this human, it once again felt that unsettling sense of oppression.

Fu Changsheng didn't even glance at it, only saying indifferently:
"Kui Mulong, stretch your muscles a bit."

The voice just fell.

A massive, majestic dragon-shaped phantom covered in dark golden scales emerged from behind Fu Changsheng. It was the guardian beast he had subdued and whose soul had been initially stabilized—the Kui Mu Dragon! Although its physical body had not been restored and only its demonic soul remained, its essence was at the Nascent Soul level!
"Roar!"

Kui Mulong let out a dragon roar full of fighting spirit and pounced on the Void Devouring Beast!

The dragon's claws and the beast's claws collided fiercely!
Boom!

An energy storm swept out, causing the entire Water Cloud Cave Heaven to tremble. Two Nascent Soul level beings engaged in an earth-shattering battle within the Water Cloud Cave Heaven!

Kui Mulong is experienced in battle and possesses a variety of dragon supernatural abilities, but it is ultimately in a soul form and its strength has not been fully restored. On the other hand, the Devouring Void Beast was born in the savage realm, where fighting is instinctive, and it is also thick-skinned and possesses ferocious strength.

For a moment, Kui Mulong was actually at a disadvantage, and his dragon soul body was torn in several places by the Devouring Void Beast.

Upon seeing this, Fu Changsheng frowned slightly.

With a thought, he connected with the [Nine-Leaf Sword Fungus] within his body.

hum!
A fierce and unparalleled sword intent surged from his body!

The phantom of the Nine-Leaf Sword Fungus flashed behind him and disappeared in an instant. The vast sword energy gathered and condensed in the void into an ancient sword phantom with a simple and ancient shape, its blade covered with mysterious runes, and its whole body exuding a vast and boundless aura—the [Sky-Slaying Sword]!
This sword is not a physical object, but is formed from the original sword intent of the Nine-Leaf Sword Mushroom. However, its sharpness is enough to cleave through the void!
"go with!"

Fu Changsheng pointed his fingers, and the Sky-Slaying Sword emitted a clear and melodious sword cry, transforming into a dazzling sword light that tore through the heavens and earth, directly slashing at the Sky-Devouring Beast!
The Void Devouring Beast sensed a deadly threat, and for the first time, fear appeared in its three vertical pupils. It suddenly shook off Kui Mulong, and the blood-red patterns on its body shone brightly, condensing into a thick blood-red scale shield in front of it!
laugh--!
The Sky-Slaying Sword struck the scale shield, producing a piercing scraping sound.

The crimson scale shield rippled violently, and finally, to the disbelief of the Void Devouring Beast, it was cleaved open by the sword light, leaving a huge gap! The sword light, still powerful, struck its shoulder blade, leaving a terrifying wound that was deep enough to expose bone, with sword energy lingering around it!
"Ouch!"

The Void Devouring Beast let out a painful howl, its aura instantly weakening considerably.

It was utterly terrified. The human before it was far too strange. Not only did his aura suppress it, but he could also summon a dragon soul and unleash such terrifying sword techniques! It had the urge to retreat. Its three vertical pupils stared in horror toward the direction of the vanished spatial rift, wanting to tear through space and escape back to the other world.

"Want to leave now? It's too late."

Fu Changsheng's eyes were icy cold; this was the opportunity he had been waiting for.

Just as the Void Devouring Beast lost its composure and tried its best to break through space.

He flicked his sleeve.

A beam of black light shot out—it was the spiritual treasure, the [Spirit Locking Box]!
As the box opened, countless silver chains, shimmering with sealing runes, shot out as if they were alive, instantly wrapping around the Devouring Beast's limbs, neck, and torso before it could react! The runes on the chains lit up, unleashing a powerful force of confinement that not only restricted its movements but also frantically suppressed and devoured the demonic power and spatial talent within its body!

The Void Devouring Beast struggled in terror, but it was severely injured and entangled by the Kui Mu Dragon. How could it break free from this spiritual treasure that specifically imprisoned the Nascent Soul?

With a thought, Fu Changsheng connected with the Five Elements space.

"receive!"

An invisible spatial fluctuation enveloped the Void Devouring Beast, which was bound like a dumpling by silver chains.

The next moment, to the astonishment of Kui Mulong, Liu Meizhen, and the others, the enormous and ferocious Nascent Soul beast, along with its countless silver chains, vanished into thin air as if it had never existed.

The crisis is over!

Ouyang Fei came to his senses and looked at Fu Changsheng, but he couldn't speak for a long time.

The young man in front of me.

When we met in the Ten Thousand Ghosts Cave, I was just a junior Qi Refining cultivator.

But now, the opponent's strength has reached a level he can only look up to! Suppressing a Nascent Soul beast with a wave of his hand:

"The next generation is to be feared, the next generation is to be feared!"

Yu Qingru's beautiful eyes also widened.

She knew her husband possessed profound cultivation and numerous trump cards, but she never expected that he would quietly subdue a Nascent Soul stage guardian beast! This was Nascent Soul level combat power! In any fifth-grade aristocratic family, this would be enough to serve as their ultimate foundation!

"Husband...this...this Kui Mulong..." she couldn't help but speak, her voice trembling slightly.

Fu Changsheng smiled slightly: "By chance, I reached a contract with Fellow Daoist Kui Mulong, and it is willing to help me protect my family. This is a long story, I will tell you in detail later."

He brushed the matter aside lightly and turned his gaze to Liu Meizhen.

Liu Meizhen had already collected the storage bags left behind by the Fallen Master Huanxi, Abbess Jingnian, and Master Wanshou, as well as the damaged Wanshou Banner:
"My lord, these are the spoils of war. The three False Infant Ancestors must be quite wealthy, and this is also the treasure of the Myriad Spirits Sect."

Fu Changsheng did not accept it:

"You four can divide these among yourselves."

Upon hearing this, all four were taken aback, and then a deep sense of emotion and excitement welled up within them.

The combined wealth of the three fake infant ancestors, along with a sect-protecting treasure, is immeasurable! Fu Changsheng gave it all to them without even blinking! What incredible trust and generosity!

"Thank you, Master (husband)!" the four said in unison, their loyalty and respect for Fu Changsheng reaching their peak.

The storage bag was opened.

Even the well-informed Liu Meizhen and Ouyang Fei couldn't help but marvel at the immense wealth of the three fake infant ancestors.

"As expected of a giant who controls a sect, his accumulation... far surpasses that of ordinary Golden Core cultivators."

Both the Haoyuan Pill, which enhances cultivation, and the Life-Creating Pill, which heals injuries and prolongs life, are rare treasures that are hard to find in the outside world.

In addition to a massive amount of spirit stones, high-level materials, and elixirs.

Most eye-catching were several jade slips emanating obscure fluctuations. Inside were the most treasured inheritances of the Joyful Sect, the Pure Brightness Nunnery, and the Myriad Spirits Sect—several powerful Nascent Soul stage techniques!
The Great Joyful Zen Technique: Nascent Soul Chapter, the Pure World Brahma Sound Mantra, the True Explanation of Taming the Spirits of Ten Thousand Beasts... any one of these techniques, if it were to be circulated, would be enough to cause a frenzy of competition among Golden Core cultivators. Although the Fu family already has an even more exquisite inheritance passed down by Fu Changsheng, these precious techniques are invaluable as references, for drawing inferences from other cases, or as gifts to meritorious guests or vassals.

"Husband, look at this."

Liu Meizhen took out a leather scroll from the Wan Shou Zhenren's storage bag. It was neither silk nor leather, and it was cold to the touch with an ancient, dark yellow tinge around its edges.

On the scroll, the complex terrain of the rugged area is outlined with some kind of dark red pigment. The mountain ranges are like coiled dragons and snakes, and the rivers meander like flowing blood vessels. In the center, there is a peculiar mark that looks like a triple pupil.

The entire map has no textual annotations, yet it faintly exudes an aura of vastness and wilderness, which does not match any known region in the current cultivation world.

This picture... is obviously not simple.

Fu Changsheng recalled the matter of the young master of the Ten Thousand Ghosts Sect, who had gone to the Ten Thousand Spirits Sect to discuss opening the Netherworld Secret Realm:
"Could this topographical map be the location of the Netherworld Secret Realm?!"

Fu Changsheng's heart stirred:
"Meizhen, immediately send a message to Yongrui, and use all reliable channels of the Dark Hall to closely monitor the movements of the core high-ranking members of the Wanling Sect, especially any movement related to maps, ruins, or secret realms. At the same time, consult all the ancient classics that the family and we can access, and try to compare them with the terrain features on this map."

"Yes, husband."

The three potential threats to the alliance have been eliminated.

Fu Changsheng has decided to go into seclusion to try and break through to the peak of the Golden Core stage!

at the same time.

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

"You have eliminated the hidden danger to the family, and your family contribution value has been changed to 80,000."

...

...

Meanwhile, the fighting in Ao Valley was nearing its end.

The protective barrier of the Five Elements Annihilation Array slowly dissipated, revealing a scene of utter devastation within the valley. Scorched earth, cracked rocks, frost, and lingering poisonous miasma mingled together, the air thick with the stench of blood and the acrid smell of burning spiritual energy. Over a hundred Golden Core cultivators from the three sects of the far west, along with even more Purple Mansion disciples, had all been reduced to mangled corpses, their bodies strewn across the ground. Occasionally, a few dying cries or sporadic acts of resistance could be heard, but they were swiftly and coldly extinguished.

Fu Yongfan remained calm as he directed his clansmen to quickly clean up the battlefield.

The clansmen moved swiftly and skillfully, carefully collecting the remains of each Golden Core cultivator, along with their natal magic treasures and storage bags, leaving nothing behind. These would become resources for the Fu family's future development—whether for crafting puppets, nourishing spiritual plants, or extracting remnant souls for research, they would all be of great use.

Yue Zhenshan was also filled with turmoil as he looked at the scene before him.

He walked over to Fu Yongfan, patted him heavily on the shoulder, and his loud voice carried undisguised admiration:
"Nephew Yongfan, you deserve the greatest credit for this great victory! Your strategic planning and anticipation of the enemy's moves are truly admirable! If it weren't for your early warning and your devised plan to trap the enemy like a turtle in a jar, our border defenses would have been in grave danger, and Wuzhou would have been in peril!"

He surveyed the chaotic scene and continued:

"This battle has resulted in the capture of over a hundred Golden Core cultivators and countless Purple Mansion cultivators from the far west. It is a great victory unprecedented in decades, enough to deter villains and ensure peace on the border for decades to come! I will certainly report this truthfully to the court and request credit for the Fu family and for you, my nephew!"

Fu Yongfan humbly returned the greeting:
"General Yue, you flatter me. This is the duty of my Fu family. It is the duty of every citizen to defend our land and ensure our safety. Moreover, my Fu family has been granted an imperial title, so we should do our utmost. It is entirely thanks to your divine might, General, and the bravery of our soldiers that we were able to achieve this victory."

Yue Zhenshan nodded in satisfaction, then his expression turned serious, and he lowered his voice to say:
"With me here to oversee things, you don't need to worry about the subsequent clearing and defense. Although those three old devils are now like stray dogs, they still retain their cultivation. We shouldn't pursue a desperate enemy, but we must also be wary. My dear nephew, you should quickly lead the elite of your clan back to Huixi County to prevent them from resorting to desperate measures and attacking your clan's territory."

"General Yue's reminder is correct. I will lead my troops back immediately, just in case. I will leave the cleanup here to the General and the fellow Daoists of the Princess's Mansion."

After saying that, he waved his hand at the Fu family cultivators and the cultivators from the Ouyang, Wu, Cao, and Lei families alliance: "Everyone, follow me back to Huixi County immediately!"

However, as soon as he took a step, the head steward of Princess Runyu's mansion suddenly appeared, blocking his way with a seemingly warm but unquestionable smile.

"Young Master Fu, please wait."

The head butler's voice was calm, yet carried an air of authority born of long-standing power:

"Although the battle here is over, it is hard to guarantee that the three sects in the far west do not have other hidden tricks lying in ambush along the border. The Fu family and all our allies were the main force in this battle. If we withdraw now, and the defense line is lost, and some villains take advantage of the situation and disturb the peace within our territory, we will not be able to bear the consequences."

His gaze swept over the mess on the ground and the enemy cultivators' corpses being gathered up, and he continued meaningfully:
"Furthermore, the Fu family needs to be present to witness the tallying of the battle results and the tallying of merits. As for Huixi County, the Fu family has a deep foundation and is protected by a fifth-order grand formation, so it should be as solid as a rock. Even if a few stragglers manage to escape, they will only be a minor ailment and will not cause any major trouble. In my opinion, Young Clan Chief Fu should stay for now and return only after the situation has become clear."

Upon hearing this, Fu Yongfan's eyes instantly turned cold.

He was incredibly astute and immediately understood the steward's scheme—to delay them, creating an opportunity for Huanxi Shangren and his group who might be heading to Huixi County, and even hoping they could break through the defenses of Shuiyun Cave! Once Shuiyun Cave was exposed to fierce fighting, the Runyu County Princess's Mansion could forcibly intervene under the guise of "defense assistance" and "bandit suppression," and divide or even seize the cave's resources!

Yue Zhenshan frowned deeply; he had naturally seen through the head steward's thoughts, and said in a deep voice:
"Master Steward, the safety of the Fu family's stronghold is of paramount importance, how can we..."

The head butler interrupted him before he could finish speaking:

"General Yue, the safety of the border is of paramount importance! Does the general believe that the strength of our Princess's Mansion, together with the border troops, is insufficient to wipe out the remaining enemy and stabilize the defense line?"

These words carried a hint of questioning, putting Yue Zhenshan in a difficult position as well.

The atmosphere at the scene suddenly became somewhat tense. The clan heads of the Ouyang and Wu families looked at each other, not daring to interrupt. On one side was the Fu family, which was at the height of its power, and on the other side was the Princess's Mansion, which represented imperial power. They were caught in the middle, in a dilemma.

Fu Yongfan's mind raced. He knew that forcing his way in was not the best strategy, and a direct confrontation with the Princess's Mansion would be detrimental to the Fu family. The icy expression on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a calm smile, as if his earlier urgency had been merely an illusion.

“The head steward is very thoughtful; it was I who was rash.” Fu Yongfan nodded slightly, his tone calm. “In that case, we will stay here for the time being to assist General Yue and the head steward in stabilizing the border defenses and taking stock of the battle results. As for the family…”

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the distant direction of Huixi County, a hint of unwavering certainty flashing deep within his eyes, before he calmly said:

"As the head steward said, the Fu family has been established for hundreds of years and has its own ways of dealing with petty villains. If some clowns dare to provoke us, they are only courting death."

His change in attitude surprised the head butler, who was somewhat puzzled by Fu Yongfan's confidence.

Does the Fu family have other tricks up their sleeve?

Is the defense of Shuiyun Cave Heaven really so strong that it can withstand the desperate attacks of the three Nascent Soul cultivators?

Just as the atmosphere became tense and the head butler was about to say something more, an inconspicuous jade pendant at Fu Yongfan's waist vibrated slightly, and a secret message that only he could perceive entered his mind—a message from his mother, Liu Meizhen, concise and to the point:

"The three have been executed, and the cave is unharmed."

Just as he predicted.

Fu Yongfan felt relieved, but his expression remained unchanged. Instead, he seemed to have just received the news, his face showing a timely hint of "surprise" and "relief." He then turned to Yue Zhenshan, his voice clear enough for everyone around to hear clearly:
"General Yue, I have just received an urgent message from the clan! The three bandit leaders who infiltrated my Huixi County—Master Huanxi, Abbess Jingnian, and Master Wanshou—have been annihilated by the forces left behind by our clan, their souls and bodies destroyed!"

These words came out like a thunderclap from a clear sky!

"what?!"

"How can this be?!"

"The three fake infants... are all wiped out?!"

Not only did the clan leaders, including Ouyang and Wu, gasp in surprise, but even the soldiers and cultivators who were cleaning up the battlefield stopped what they were doing and looked over in disbelief.

According to the intelligence they received.

Fu Changsheng, the Fu family's strongest fighter, has already gone into seclusion.

Who is capable of slaying the three false infants!

The butler's warm smile froze instantly, and a look of disbelief, horror, and gloom flashed deep in his eyes.

He stared intently at Fu Yongfan, as if trying to find even the slightest trace of a lie on the other's face, but Fu Yongfan's expression was calm and his gaze was composed, showing no sign of falsehood.

Three fake infants... and at crucial moments they can even briefly boost their combat power to the level of Nascent Soul cultivators!

The head steward was filled with turmoil.

He had originally planned to let the snipe and the clam fight while the fisherman benefits, but now he was told that both the snipe and the clam had been easily crushed by the Fu family, the "fisherman." How could he not be shocked and afraid?
Fu Yongfan took in the changes in the head steward's expression, inwardly sneering, but outwardly remaining humble, and said to Yue Zhenshan:
"General Yue, now that the bandit leader has been eliminated and the remaining enemy forces on the border have been basically wiped out, there should be no more 'backup plans' that could threaten the security of the defense line. I still have some follow-up matters to attend to at home, so I won't bother you any longer."

He said this not only to Yue Zhenshan, but also to the head steward.

Upon hearing this, Yue Zhenshan burst into laughter, feeling extremely pleased with himself.

"Excellent! Excellent! The Fu family is truly a pillar of Wuzhou! This is a double blessing, a tremendous achievement! Nephew, return quickly and convey my regards to the head of the Fu family! Once this matter is settled, I will personally pay him a visit!"

This time, the head butler's lips moved, but he could no longer find any reason to stop him.

The Fu family's swift and decisive annihilation of three fake infants revealed their strength and resources, already making him wary. To forcibly obstruct them would not be seeking profit, but rather creating enmity! Even the Runyu Princess's mansion was unwilling to easily offend a fifth-rank family possessing the power to at least kill fake infants.

He could only manage a forced smile, and said dryly:
"Congratulations, Young Master Fu! The Fu family is indeed a hidden force, truly admirable. In that case, I will not linger any longer."

Fu Yongfan smiled faintly, said no more, cupped his hands to Yue Zhenshan and the head steward respectively, then turned around, his gaze sweeping over the Fu family and the alliance cultivators, and said in a deep voice:

"let's go!"

...

...

Meanwhile, far to the west, deep within the Joyful Sect.

The Sixth Elder, who was in charge of guarding the Soul Hall, was sitting cross-legged on a futon, routinely adjusting his breathing.

However, not long ago, he watched helplessly as the dozens of Golden Core Soul Lamps on the Soul Stand, representing the main force of this expedition, flickered violently one after another without warning, like candle flames being swept away by a gale, and then went out one after another with a "poof poof poof" sound!

The scene was like a silent massacre unfolding before his eyes.

Fifty lamps! A full fifty soul lamps belonging to Golden Core cultivators went completely dark in a very short time! Among them were even several bright lamps belonging to late-stage Golden Core elders!

The Sixth Elder's face went from initial confusion to astonishment, then to deathly pale, his whole body ice-cold, as if he had fallen into an icy abyss.

"No... Impossible... How could this happen..."

His lips trembled; he could hardly believe his eyes. Fifty Golden Core cultivators—this was practically the entire high-end fighting force the sect could muster! And... they were all wiped out?
However, the nightmare is not over yet.

Just as he was trembling with fear and almost collapsed to the ground, the brightest and most blazing soul lamp at the very top of the Soul Hall, representing the pillar of the sect—Master Huanxi—suddenly burst forth with its last dazzling light. Then, as if all the lamp oil had been burned out, it flickered violently a few times and with a "hiss," went out completely! Not even a wisp of smoke remained.

A deathly silence fell over the Soul Palace.

The Sixth Elder stared blankly at the dimly lit soul lamp, his mind a complete blank.

The sect leader... has fallen?

Decades ago, the sect had already lost nearly half of its Golden Core cultivators, severely damaging its vitality.

Now, not one of the Golden Core cultivators who went on the expedition, including the sect leader, has escaped; they have all perished!
what does this mean?
This means that the Joyful Sect's high-end combat power has been almost completely wiped out!

Only a handful of elders remained, mostly at the early Golden Core stage, along with some Purple Mansion disciples... With such strength, let alone maintaining their status as a first-rate sect, even their ability to protect themselves in the dog-eat-dog world of the far west became uncertain!
A catastrophe!

This is a true catastrophe!
"It's over...it's all over..."

The Sixth Elder muttered to himself in a daze, overwhelmed by immense fear and despair. He could almost see the surrounding forces eyeing him covetously, how they would pounce like hungry wolves upon learning the news, tearing the Joyful Sect, now devoid of claws and teeth, to shreds and devouring it all.

No! We absolutely cannot sit idly by and wait to die!

A thought flashed through his almost frozen mind like lightning—the Supreme Elder! Yes! And the Supreme Elder, True Lord Huanxi!
Joyful True Monarch is the sect's only Nascent Soul cultivator, a true pillar of strength! Although the True Monarch has long been in seclusion and has strictly ordered that he not be disturbed except in times of sect survival, right now... isn't right now a critical moment for the sect's life and death?!
The Sixth Elder jolted awake, scrambling to his feet. Forgetting all decorum, he scrambled out of the Soul Hall, transforming into a streak of light as he rushed headlong towards the forbidden area behind the mountain!

The forbidden area behind the mountain was shrouded in mist and heavily fortified with array formations.

The Sixth Elder knelt at the entrance to the forbidden area, banging his head on the ground, his voice shrill and terrified, crying out:

"Grand Elder! Something terrible has happened! The Sect Leader... the Sect Leader and all the Golden Core Elders who went to war... their soul lamps... have all been extinguished! The sect is in imminent danger! We beg the Grand Elder to come out of seclusion and take charge of the situation!"

"Om-"

The mountain wall ahead, shrouded in dense spiritual mist and layers of arrays, suddenly emitted a deep hum. The spiritual mist seemed to be parted by an invisible hand, slowly flowing to both sides, revealing a simple and heavy stone door behind it, covered with moss and ancient runes.

The stone gate slid open silently, just wide enough for one person to pass through.

A more refined spiritual pressure, yet also carrying a heavy, gloomy aura and a chilling presence, emanated from behind the door, causing the Sixth Elder, who was kneeling on the ground, to tremble and lower his head even further.

"Come in."

A hoarse, dry voice, as if it hadn't been spoken in a long time, came from behind the door. It was devoid of any emotion, yet contained an undeniable authority.

The Sixth Elder felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He scrambled to his feet, carefully bowed, and hurried through the stone gate.

Behind the door was a small cave dwelling, simply furnished with a table and a futon.

In the center of the cave, a figure dressed in an old gray Taoist robe sat cross-legged on a futon with his back to him. His aura seemed to blend into the entire cave, and his presence was almost imperceptible unless one paid close attention. That was the pillar of the Joyful Sect, the Nascent Soul Ancestor—Joyful True Monarch.

"Your disciple pays respects to the Supreme Elder!"

The Sixth Elder knelt down again with a thud, his voice still trembling.
"Reporting to the Supreme Elder, the Sect Leader... and all fifty Golden Core Elders who went on the expedition... their life-life lamps were just... completely extinguished!"

"Completely annihilated... Even the [Forbidden Spirit Box] and those life-saving items I bestowed upon him... failed to protect him..."

He seemed to be talking to himself, or perhaps confirming something.

Upon hearing this, the Sixth Elder was even more horrified.

Only then did he realize that the sect leader had actually brought with him a spiritual treasure and Nascent Soul techniques bestowed by the Supreme Elder! Even so, they were still completely wiped out?! The Fu family's strength...

Joyful True Lord slowly turned around.

His face didn't look old; in fact, one could say it was quite handsome. But his eyes were as deep as an ancient, icy pool, devoid of any ripples, only displaying an indifference that seemed to have seen through the passage of time. Yet, at this moment, beneath that unchanging indifference, a very faint hint of surprise did flash.

"To be able to break the [Forbidden Spirit Box] and kill a fake Nascent Soul cultivator with Nascent Soul abilities... this Fu family is no ordinary fifth-grade family." He stated a fact in a calm voice, "I'm glad they... died without cause."

"Supreme Elder... then... then what is the grudge between the Sect Leader and the other elders..." The Sixth Elder couldn't help but ask, his voice barely audible.

"Enmity?" Huanxi Zhenjun's lips curled into a cold smile, devoid of any warmth, only endless mockery and indifference. "Huanxi provoked the attack, but was outmatched and slaughtered instead. The Fu family was merely acting in self-defense; what enmity could they possibly have?"

His gaze, like a cold blade, swept over the Sixth Elder:
"In the cultivation world, the strong prey on the weak. If you can't win, you have to admit defeat. If you don't even understand this basic principle, you deserve to die."

The Sixth Elder felt a chill run through him under that gaze, as if he had been stripped naked and thrown into a frozen wasteland. All his petty thoughts and resentments were frozen, leaving only boundless fear and awe. He immediately kowtowed to the ground.
"This disciple...this disciple is foolish! The Supreme Elder is right!"

Seeing the Sixth Elder looking lost and confused about the future, Huanxi Zhenjun's indifferent gaze shifted slightly. With a flick of his sleeve, a beam of spiritual light shot out and transformed in front of the Sixth Elder into a scroll that was neither silk nor leather, with yellowed edges, depicting a peculiar terrain and a triple eye mark.

"This is a topographical map of the 'Netherworld Eye' ruins in the far west. According to my deduction, there will be unusual activity in these ruins within sixty years, and they may open. The laws within the ruins are special, and only cultivators below the Golden Core stage are allowed to enter."

His voice remained calm, yet it pointed the Sixth Elder in despair to a path:

"Pass down the order: the sect will close its gates immediately and proceed with a low profile. All disciples should focus on cultivation and accumulating strength. Special attention should be given to nurturing promising Foundation Establishment and Purple Mansion disciples, and gathering information related to the ruins in preparation for the opening of the 'Netherworld Eye'."

He paused:

"If we can gain something from these ruins, perhaps... it will be the opportunity for our sect to rise again. Let's go."

The Sixth Elder was stunned at first, then a huge surge of joy welled up in his heart, instantly dispelling his previous despair!

Ruins! And ruins that only low-level disciples can enter!
This means that these elders and disciples who stayed behind and were not very strong actually had a chance to use their skills!
This is truly a ray of light in the darkness!
"Thank you so much, Grand Elder! Thank you so much, Grand Elder, for your guidance! This disciple will certainly follow your instructions and do my utmost!" The Sixth Elder kowtowed repeatedly in excitement.

"Remember, keep a low profile and conserve your strength. If you dare to start a war again, you will ruin the last bit of vitality of my sect..." Huanxi Zhenjun did not finish his words, but the sudden, tangible, and icy killing intent made the Sixth Elder feel as if he had fallen into an ice cave, and the hair on his body stood on end.

"This disciple wouldn't dare! Absolutely not!" he hurriedly assured.

"Well, let's go."

With the indifferent voice of the Joyful True Lord, the stone door closed silently once again, isolating the inside from the outside.

(End of this chapter)