Family Rise: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 652 Background Revealed, Nemesis, First-Grade Golden Core

Huizhou Prefecture.

Liu Meizhen was discussing with Fu Yongfan the development of the fiefdom of Cangnan Prefecture in Jinzhou.

She suddenly had a feeling.

Their gaze turned toward the back mountain.

But there was a secluded meditation room filled with spiritual energy—her adopted daughter, Cuizhi, was surging with energy, and her spiritual power was approaching perfection, which was clearly a sign that she was about to condense her golden core!
If so.

The trip to Cangnan Prefecture will have to be postponed.

After all, once Cuizhi forms her core, her background will also...

Fu Yongfan seemed to sense his mother's predicament, bowed respectfully, and volunteered:

“Mother, Sister Cuizhi is about to form her core. If you are worried about her, I am willing to take your place and lead the team to Cangnan Prefecture first.”

This time, we are responding to three attacks.

Fu Yongfan's strategic planning and ability to anticipate the enemy's moves demonstrate exceptional tactical acumen and decisiveness, which is evident to everyone in the family. His capabilities are already sufficient to make him a leader on his own.

She hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded:

"Fan-ge'er, you must remember that Jinzhou is not like Wuzhou or Jingzhou, which are border regions. The powerful families here are deeply entrenched, with incredibly complex networks of relationships. They all have intricate connections with high-ranking officials and nobles in the capital, and even members of the royal family. A single move can have far-reaching consequences."

She looked at Fu Yongfan, her gaze carrying a warning:

"Once you get there, don't rush things. The first priority is to understand the situation of all parties and clarify the power dynamics. Act discreetly and observe secretly. Avoid conflicts with local powerful families unless absolutely necessary. Prioritize establishing a foothold and understanding the situation."

Fu Yongfan wrote down his mother's instructions one by one:

"Mother, rest assured, I understand. I will act cautiously, first establishing a solid foundation before planning for the future."

...

...

a few days later.

Fu Yongfan and his group arrived in Jinzhou City via the inter-state teleportation array.

Stepping out of the magnificent teleportation hall, where runes flowed endlessly, a surge of spiritual energy from heaven and earth, several times richer and purer than that of Wuzhou, rushed towards me, instantly invigorating my spirit and causing every pore on my body to involuntarily open up.

Looking around, everyone was stunned by the sight before them.

Palaces and pavilions stand side by side, and the streets are wide enough to accommodate ten carriages traveling side by side. All sorts of mythical birds and beasts carry cultivators back and forth in the air.

Golden Elixir Masters, who are rarely seen in Wuzhou and are often pillars of local power, are almost everywhere here.

Shops lined both sides of the street, selling all sorts of cultivation items, their spiritual light shimmering; laughter and conversation drifted from teahouses and taverns, and one could even see cultivators playing with their spirit pets on the street, creating a scene of peace and prosperity.

“Brother Yongkui, look at that bird, its feathers are seven-colored!” Fu Yongyun couldn’t help but tug at Fu Yongkui’s sleeve.

Although Fu Yongkui tried hard to remain calm, his constantly glancing around betrayed his inner turmoil. He took a deep breath of the rich spiritual energy and murmured:

"This is Jinzhou...it seems there's gold everywhere!"

It was already late.

The officials of the Zhenshi Division, who were stationed in the prefecture, had already left their posts and were unable to process the matter of registering the new resident in the fiefdom.

"Let's find a place to stay first, and then we'll go and handle the matter of moving into the new fiefdom after the Zhenshi Division takes office tomorrow."

Although Fu Yongfan felt that Jinzhou was prosperous, he had been to the capital before, so the scene before him was still within his expectations.

They inquired at several seemingly grand inns, but received surprisingly consistent responses:
"I'm sorry, sir, our inn is fully booked for today."

"You're too late, there are no rooms available."

"We're full, let's look at other places."

At first, everyone just assumed it was because the city was bustling with people and didn't think much of it. But soon, Fu Yongyi keenly noticed that as soon as they were politely refused, new guests entered the room, and the innkeeper who had previously shaken his head at them immediately put on a smiling face and warmly greeted them, "We have rooms available, superior rooms available."

The youngest, Fu Yongqi, puffed out his cheeks and couldn't help but whisper:

"Brother Yongfan! They're clearly looking down on us! They're deliberately refusing to rent to us!"

The waters of Jinzhou are indeed very deep; before they even reached Cangnan Prefecture, trouble had already come knocking.

"Brother, what do we do now?" Fu Yongkui also realized the seriousness of the problem, his brows furrowed.

There are rules in the city's wards and markets: if you don't have proof of residence, you will be driven out of the city by the patrol guards after a certain time at night.

Fu Yongrui, who had been observing silently, stepped forward and whispered:
“Brother Yongfan, I just observed the surroundings and consulted the simplified map of the city I collected earlier. There is an area at the very edge of West Street where many low-level, down-on-their-luck cultivators live. Although the conditions are simple, we might be able to rest for the night.”

The primary objective of this trip is to successfully reach Zhenshisi tomorrow, complete the handover of the fiefdom, and obtain legal jurisdiction over Cangnan Prefecture. Before that, it's best to avoid any unforeseen complications. As for accommodations, we can endure it for one night.

"As long as we have a place to stay, we can get through tonight. Let's go."

The group then headed towards the western edge of the city's main street.

The further west you go, the more drastically different the surrounding scenery becomes from the bustling city center. The streets become narrow and dirty, and the spiritual energy is noticeably thinner. On both sides are low, dilapidated houses, and most of the cultivators passing by have weak auras and weathered faces.

However, even in this seemingly unmanaged slum, when they tried to find temporary shelter to rent, they were met with indifferent shakes of the head and tightly closed doors. Even the most destitute-looking rogue cultivators, who seemed to be short of spirit stones, chose to refuse after glancing at them a few times.

At this point, even the slowest-witted Fu Yongyun finally understood.

He clenched his fists, his face filled with indignation:

"Brother Yongfan! This is no coincidence! From the inn to a place like this... we've been targeted by a group of people! No one in Jinzhou wants to give the Fu family even a foothold!"

His voice was filled with suppressed anger:

"They're trying to make it so we can't even stay in the city, and we'll have to leave in a sorry state! Trying to settle down in Jinzhou is probably as difficult as climbing to heaven!"

Just as everyone was planning to leave the city and spend the night in the wilderness.

A slightly trembling voice came from the dimly lit alleyway next door:

“Sirs… if you don’t mind, I have a place to shelter you from the wind and rain, but… the conditions are really simple, and I’m afraid it will be an inconvenience to you.”

Everyone followed the sound.

There stood a hunched old man with some unhealed wounds on his body, looking timid. His cultivation level was only at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, and his face showed fear and a hint of trying to please.

Fu Yongfan calculated with his fingers, a thought struck him, and he said:
"Old man, you are too kind. We only need a place to sit and rest. Please lead the way."

Upon hearing this, the old man hurriedly nodded and bowed as he led the way, taking everyone to a more dilapidated, almost crumbling courtyard deep within the slums.

Upon entering the courtyard, Fairy Tianyin, the array master, frowned slightly and said in a low voice, "Young clan leader, the protective array here... was recently damaged by someone, and the traces are very fresh."

Besides the old man, faint coughing could be heard coming from the inner room of the courtyard.

The old man explained awkwardly:

"That's my granddaughter. She's in poor health and has been bedridden."

He paused, then added, "The girl is at the Purple Mansion cultivation level."

For a cultivator at the Purple Mansion level to be reduced to such a state that he and his grandson need to huddle together in this place, there must be more to the story.

Fu Yongfan remained calm and gestured to Fairy Tianyin.

Fairy Tianyin understood, and with a light wave of her hand, several array flags silently disappeared into the courtyard. Instantly, a simple array with soundproofing and early warning functions was formed, isolating the inside from the outside.

The old man seemed to finally breathe a sigh of relief after the formation was set up, but the fear on his face did not diminish. He knelt down with a thud, his voice trembling with sobs:

"Senior, you are wise! It's not that I was unwilling to tell the truth before, it's just... I really didn't dare!"

He looked up, his face filled with bitterness and fear.

“A month ago, people came door to door to warn us, saying… saying that if anyone claiming to be from the Fu family of Wuzhou came, anyone who dared to receive them would be offending the entire cultivation family of Jinzhou! At best, they would have their legs broken and be driven out of the city; at worst… at worst, their lives would be in danger! How could we rootless, wandering cultivators dare to disobey…”

Fu Yongfan listened quietly, his face showing no surprise. He bent down to help the old man up, his tone calm yet tinged with a heavy weight:
"Old man, since you know the risks involved, aren't you just asking for trouble by receiving us? What will you and your granddaughter do if those people find out in the future?"

Fu Yongfan helped the old man up, tears welling in his cloudy old eyes.
“Senior, you may not know this… My surname is Zhang. I was originally a hunter from outside the city, and I depended on my granddaughter for survival. Originally… originally, although our lives weren’t wealthy, we were still quite peaceful. It’s all my fault for being useless and unable to protect her…”

He took a deep breath, his face filled with humiliation and resentment:

“A year ago, the young master of the Cheng family in Cangxi Prefecture saw my granddaughter by chance and... he harbored evil intentions and insisted on taking her as a concubine. But my granddaughter was stubborn and would rather die than comply... How could a small family like ours dare to aspire to a prestigious family like the Cheng family? We only ask to live a peaceful life.”

"After being rejected, the young master of the Cheng family didn't say anything on the surface, but secretly he kept making things difficult for her. Later... later, when my granddaughter went hunting with a group of people, she was ambushed and seriously injured, and has been bedridden ever since!"

The old man's voice trembled:
"We've already spent all our meager savings on her treatment, and borrowed from everyone we could, but her injuries... show no signs of improvement. We had no choice but to sell our old place and move to this cheapest slum to eke out a living."

He pointed to the wounds on his body and said bitterly:

"The Cheng family is powerful. They've said no one dares to hire this old man. I have to take care of my granddaughter and can't leave this city. It's even hard to find a hunting team to earn some money for medicine... I really can't go on like this!"

By the end, the old man was in tears.

"Outrageous! In broad daylight, how could someone bully others like this? Just who is the Cheng family that they dare to be so arrogant?" Fu Yong clenched his fists so tightly they cracked.

The old man wiped away his tears, his face showing even greater fear, and lowered his voice to say:
"Young senior, you may not know this, but it's one thing that the Cheng family is a fifth-rank family, but the key thing is that they are related by marriage to the Wu family, the number one family in Jinzhou! The young master of the Cheng family is the grandson of the Wu family's patriarch! Moreover, I heard that the Wu concubine in the Eastern Palace is his own aunt!"

He took a breath and continued:
"With this connection, the Cheng family is practically a local tyrant in Jinzhou. Apart from being wary of the Wu family's main branch, they hardly take other aristocratic families seriously. Originally... the Cangnan Prefecture, which the imperial court had bestowed upon your family, was already considered a sure thing by the Cheng family. Their power has expanded extremely rapidly, and they are only one step away from becoming a fifth-rank aristocratic family. Now that your family has interfered, how can they not harbor resentment? I'm afraid... I'm afraid the Cheng family is also behind the scenes in making things difficult for your family..."

Finished.

He suddenly knelt down with a thud and kowtowed repeatedly:

"Seniors! I know this request is presumptuous, but... my grandfather and I have been targeted by the Cheng family, and we have nowhere to stand in Jinzhou! I beg you, seniors, to have mercy and take us in! We are willing to be slaves and servants, just to survive!"

Before Fu Yongfan could speak, Fu Yongyun, kind-hearted and quick to condemn evil, could no longer contain himself. He stepped forward, helped the old man up, and said loudly:

"Please rise, sir! Since we've encountered such injustice, how can we stand idly by? We, the Fu family, will protect you and your grandson!"

He turned to look at Fu Yongfan, his eyes pleading: "Brother Yongfan!"

Fu Yongfan nodded slightly, which was considered as acknowledging Fu Yongyun's decision.

Upon seeing this, Fu Yongyun was overjoyed and immediately said, "Old man, quickly take me to see your granddaughter's injuries!"

He followed the old man into the inner room and carefully examined the injuries of the pale-faced female cultivator from the Purple Mansion who was lying on her bed. His brows furrowed.

"There are blockages in many of her meridians, and the cold energy is lingering... This injury isn't too serious yet." Fu Yongyun said, without hesitation taking out a jade bottle from his storage bag and pouring out two fragrant, luminous pills. "These are [Warm Sun Melting Snow Pills], which are incredibly effective for internal injuries and cold poison. Quickly give them to her!"

The old man took the pill, his hands trembling with excitement.

Although his cultivation level was low, he could tell that this elixir was no ordinary product and was extremely valuable. This grandfather and grandson had truly escaped a desperate situation and encountered a benefactor!

"Thank you so much, benefactor! Thank you so much, benefactor! I, this old man, kowtow to you!" The old man was about to bow again when Fu Yongyun quickly stopped him.

Seeing their granddaughter gradually regain color in her face and her breathing become much more stable after taking the medicine, the old man and his granddaughter were extremely grateful to Fu Yongyun and the Fu family. They felt that a ray of light had finally shone into their dark lives.

...

...

After everyone settled down temporarily in the old man's dilapidated courtyard and set up a warning and soundproof array, Fu Yongrui left quietly.

He didn't entirely believe the old man's side of the story.

As the head of the family's secret branch, he needed more reliable sources of intelligence to verify the old man's words and to find out just how murky the waters were in Jinzhou.

His figure flickered a few times in the dark alley, and when he reappeared, he had changed into a completely different face and clothes. His aura had also become ordinary and unfamiliar, just like one of the thousands of ordinary cultivators in the state city, inconspicuous.

He didn't linger in the slums, but instead navigated the city's streets and alleys with practiced ease, his destination clear.

More than a year ago.

When the news came that the family's new fiefdom had been designated in Jinzhou.

Fu Yongrui, anticipating the worst, used a large sum of money from the Dark Hall and, through several layers of covert operations, secretly purchased a property in the most chaotic and well-informed southern district of the city—the Yichun Courtyard.

This place is a melting pot of all sorts of people, making it an ideal spot for gathering information and building connections.

Fu Yongrui avoided the noise at the main gate and went around to the backyard through a side alley that was only wide enough for one person to pass through. He cast a subtle spell on a seemingly ordinary brick wall.

hum!
A hidden door slid silently open in the wall, and he disappeared into it in a flash. The hidden door then closed as if he had never been there.

...

...

Deep within the brothel, in a luxurious yet elegantly decorated room, the still-charming proprietress was smilingly entertaining several regular customers. Suddenly, a warm jade pendant in her sleeve vibrated very slightly, and a hidden rune flashed across its surface.

A fleeting hint of surprise crossed the proprietress's eyes, but she quickly regained her composure, exchanged a few more jokes with the customers, and then excused herself to change clothes before gracefully retreating into the back room.

As soon as she left the front hall, the smile on her face vanished instantly. She whispered to a trusted aide waiting in the corridor, "Go to the side gate in the back courtyard, pick up a distinguished guest, and lead him directly to the secret room 'A3'. Remember, it must be done discreetly."

"Yes, Master." The trusted aide acknowledged the order and silently withdrew.

Before long, Fu Yongrui, now with a new look, was led through several hidden corridors and secret doors into a secret room whose walls shimmered with light that blocked out runes.

As soon as the door to the secret room closed, all the formations were activated instantly, completely isolating the inside from the outside.

The proprietress, or rather, the person in charge of the Fu family's secret branch in Jinzhou City, was now completely devoid of any trace of worldliness. Her expression was solemn as she respectfully bowed to Fu Yongrui.
"Your subordinate, Yunniang, greets the Hall Master."

Fu Yongrui nodded slightly and cut straight to the point: "No need for formalities. Yunniang, in the past year or so, how much have you learned about the backgrounds of the various forces in Jinzhou? Especially those related to our upcoming move into Cangnan Prefecture." Yunniang was clearly prepared and reported in a clear and organized manner:

"Reporting to the Hall Master, according to my investigation, there were originally four fifth-rank aristocratic families occupying the entire Jinzhou region. Now, with the addition of our Fu family, there are five families. Each of these four families has people backing them in the capital, and their networks of relationships are intricate and complex."

She paused and continued:

"Among them, the Wu family expanded its power the fastest due to its connection with the Crown Prince's concubine. The other three families also tacitly acknowledged it as the leader of the aristocratic alliance, and outwardly obeyed its commands. However..."

Yunniang's tone hardened slightly, and she lowered her voice:
"In terms of foundation and strength, the strongest is probably not the Wu family, but the Zhuo family. When the Zhuo family was promoted to the fifth rank, the ancestors of the Wu family had not yet moved to Jinzhou. It was an ancient family with a history of more than a thousand years. There have always been rumors that the Zhuo family already has a Nascent Soul True Monarch in charge. It may only be a matter of time before it is promoted to the fourth rank family."

"The Zhuo family is extremely low-key and rarely gets involved in the disputes between aristocratic families. After the Wu family moved into Jinzhou, they also tested the Zhuo family many times. Seeing that the Zhuo family had no intention of vying for the empty title of 'head of aristocratic family,' they took the lead. But in private, the Wu family always had some fear of the Zhuo family."

After hearing the information about the Zhuo family, Fu Yongrui frowned slightly and raised a key question:
"It's true that the Wu family is powerful, but to say that they can command all the aristocratic families in Jinzhou, making them willing to completely break off relations, join forces to exclude our Fu family, and even control the accommodations in the entire prefecture to make things difficult for us... that seems a bit much. Do you think all the aristocratic families are willing to follow the Wu family's lead without any of their own plans?"

Upon hearing this, Yunniang immediately explained:

"Master, you are wise. It is indeed difficult for the Wu family alone to unite all the aristocratic families like this. The real reason why the aristocratic families of Jinzhou have formed a tacit understanding and joined forces to reject outsiders lies in a secret resource called 'Tianlong Mountain'."

"Tianlong Mountain?" Fu Yongrui's gaze sharpened.

“Yes.” Yunniang nodded. “This mountain is located in the central area of ​​Jinzhou and is jointly controlled by the four major fifth-rank families. It opens once every hundred years. According to our extensive investigation and analysis of past data, every time Tianlong Mountain opens, the number of Golden Core cultivators in the major families of Jinzhou will experience a significant surge.”

She said with certainty:

"Therefore, we deduce that Tianlong Mountain is very likely to produce rare spiritual items that can assist in the condensation of the Golden Core, or special opportunities that can greatly increase the probability of Golden Core formation! For any aristocratic family, this is a core interest concerning their foundation and future!"

Yunniang looked at Fu Yongrui with a solemn expression:

"There are less than ten years left before the next opening of Tianlong Mountain. The Fu family's entry into Jinzhou at this time, according to custom, qualifies them to participate in the resource allocation of Tianlong Mountain next time. This means that the cake originally divided among the four great families will now have an additional share, which they naturally do not want."

"Therefore, with just a little guidance, the Wu family can easily unite with the other three families to form an exclusive alliance. They are trying to use various means to intimidate us before we have a firm foothold, and even hope that we will back down and give up our right to participate in the resources of Tianlong Mountain. This is the deepest and most direct reason why they are joining forces against my Fu family!"

Fu Yongrui pondered for a moment, then tapped his finger lightly on the table and asked:

"What about the Cao family? In our fiefdom of Wuzhou, we have a decent relationship with the local branches of the Cao family. If we can form an alliance with the main branch of the Cao family here, it will greatly benefit the Fu family's foothold."

Upon hearing the name of the Cao family, Yunniang's face showed a hint of confusion and caution. She shook her head.

"Master, the situation regarding the Cao family is somewhat unusual. According to our observations, the Cao family in our sect suddenly announced their closure several decades ago, refusing to accept outside visitors, and their disciples rarely travel outside."

She paused, then emphasized:

"Even when Tianlong Mountain opened such an important opportunity last time, the Cao family did not send anyone to participate. This caused quite a stir at the time, with all sides speculating. Some said that the Cao family was secretly cultivating some earth-shattering figure, others said that they had obtained some kind of hidden inheritance that they needed to digest, and there were even rumors that something had happened within the Cao family... But the truth is unknown to outsiders, and the Cao family has never given any explanation."

"It seems that the Cao family route is not viable for the time being," Fu Yongrui said calmly.

Yunniang nodded in agreement, then took out a jade slip from her storage bag and presented it with both hands:
"Master, this is a detailed topographical map of Cangnan Prefecture and its surrounding areas drawn by your subordinate. Please take a look."

Fu Yongrui took the jade slip and immersed his divine sense into it, where the mountains, rivers, spiritual veins, towns, and villages of Cangnan Prefecture appeared one by one. His gaze quickly locked onto a continuous mountain range at the border between Cangnan Prefecture and the Wu family's fiefdom.

“Changling Mountain…” he murmured the name.

Yunniang stepped forward at the opportune moment, pointed to the location of Changling Mountain on the map, and said:
"Master, you are wise. According to reports from our spies planted around the Wu family, the Wu family seems to be paying special attention to Changling Mountain over the past year. People of high status have been frequently and secretly entering and leaving the mountain, and their actions are quite covert. We suspect that the Wu family may have some schemes in this mountain, perhaps... related to preventing my Fu family from settling in, or even involving greater interests."

Fu Yongrui's gaze was fixed on the border mountain range on the map, his eyes sharpening. The Wu family's unusual actions, coupled with the special location of Changling Mountain, made him sense something amiss.

This mountain will likely be the first focal point of the clash between the Fu and Wu families.

...

...

The city of Zhou, the Cheng family mansion.

A young man in fine clothes was listening to a servant's report when his face suddenly darkened, and he smashed the jade cup in his hand to pieces!
"What?! That old geezer Zhang actually dared to take in those country bumpkins from the Fu family? Is he tired of living?!"

"Young Master, please calm down," a trusted aide quickly advised. "According to our spies, the Fu family only sent eight Golden Core cultivators to hand over their fiefdoms. The highest-ranking among them is that guest elder named Chen Feng, who is only at the seventh level of the Golden Core stage. The rest are mostly juniors at the early or middle stages of the Golden Core stage. It seems that the Fu family is nothing special, far from the mystical figure the Wu family patriarch described, and that we need to be so vigilant."

Upon hearing this, Cheng Peng's anger subsided slightly, and a disdainful sneer appeared on his face:

"Hmph, I thought they were some powerful figures crossing the river, but they're just a bunch of bumpkins from some backwater village who got a fifth-rank title by sheer luck. With that little strength, they dare to come to Jinzhou to grab a piece of the pie?"

A sinister glint flashed in his eyes as he stood up and straightened his robes.
"Come with me to the Zhen Shi Si. Now that they're here, they won't take the territory so easily!"

……

Zhenshi Division, Jinzhou Branch Hall, Deputy Hall Master's Study.

A young official with a slightly effeminate face and a deep sense of vicissitude in his eyes that seemed out of place for his age was listening to Cheng Peng's purpose.

He is Li Sheng, the current deputy hall master of the Jinzhou branch of the Zhenshi Division. His soul, however, is that of Li Wanhu, who decades ago forged a blood feud with Fu Changsheng in Jingzhou and was ultimately forced to possess and be reborn!
After decades of navigating the treacherous waters of officialdom, relying on his past experience and ruthless methods, he had finally climbed to this position, believing that his grudges with the Fu family had faded away with the events of Jingzhou. But to his utter surprise, the Fu family rose like a comet, leaping to become a fifth-rank aristocratic family, and to make matters worse, was enfeoffed in Jinzhou! What a twist of fate!

Hearing Cheng Peng's request to delay the handover procedures with the Fu family, Li Sheng (Li Wanhu) felt a surge of hatred and murderous intent that he could hardly contain.

His current state of being reborn through possession and with his foundation damaged is all thanks to the Fu family! This enmity is irreconcilable!

But he remained outwardly calm, instead revealing a hint of embarrassment as he lightly tapped his fingers on the table.

“Young Master Cheng, this matter… is not easy to handle. The Fu family is a fifth-rank noble family bestowed by the imperial court, and the handover procedures are all set in precedent. If we delay without reason, it will be difficult for me to explain if the higher-ups investigate.”

Cheng Peng, having grown up in a prestigious family, could certainly understand the implied meaning behind this.
He cursed the old fox inwardly, but put on a smile and subtly pushed a heavy storage bag over:
"Lord Li is very busy with many affairs of state. This is just a small token of my appreciation, nothing more than a small token to offer you some tea. As for the higher-ups... with my aunt from the Wu family in the Eastern Palace, I'm sure no one will investigate such a trivial matter."

Li Sheng (Li Wanhu) scanned the storage bag with his divine sense. The abundant spirit stones and several rare materials inside brought a knowing smile to his face.

“Young Master Cheng, you’re too kind. Since you’ve asked, I can certainly help. The handover procedures for the Fu family are complicated and involve a lot of paperwork. Careful verification will take some time.”

"In that case, thank you very much, Palace Master Li!" Cheng Peng left satisfied, having achieved his goal.

Inside the study, the smile on Li Sheng's (Li Wanhu's) face vanished instantly, leaving only a chilling resentment. He gazed in the direction of the slum where the Fu family was temporarily residing, his fingers slowly clenching.

"The Fu family... Fu Changsheng... You didn't expect to meet me again, did you? This time, on my turf, I'll make you pay!"

...

...

The next morning, Fu Yongfan and his party arrived early at the Zhenshisi Jinzhou branch hall.

The palace was magnificent and heavily guarded, demonstrating the majesty of imperial power in this place. Fu Yongfan handed over the official document from the imperial court, stating that he had come to handle the handover of the fiefdom of Cangnan Prefecture.

The attendant who received them checked the documents and was fairly polite. He led them to a side hall to wait and explained that the seal needed to be personally approved by Vice Hall Master Li.

However, this wait lasted for most of the day.

As the sun rose higher, apart from the occasional low-ranking clerk coming and going, no one else came to the side hall. Fu Yongyi, being rather impatient, couldn't help but get up and ask several times, only to be told, "Lord Li is very busy, please be patient," and "The procedures are complicated, and we are checking them one by one."

Fu Yongfan sat upright in his chair, his face calm, but he already understood. This was definitely not normal efficiency. The difficulties he encountered when entering the city yesterday and the delays by the Zhenshi Division today were clearly orchestrated by the same force behind the scenes.

"Brother Yongfan, they're clearly making things difficult for us on purpose!" Fu Yongyun said in a low voice, indignant.

"Take your time," Fu Yongfan said calmly.

He then secretly transmitted his voice to Fu Yongrui: "Yongrui, investigate the background of this Vice Hall Master Li who is in charge of the handover."

Upon receiving the message in the secret chamber, Fu Yongrui immediately investigated through the Yichun Courtyard's channels. Soon, information about Li Sheng (Li Wanhu) came back—he came from a fifth-rank aristocratic family in Luanzhou, and through his own efforts and some unknown opportunities, he rose all the way to the position of Deputy Hall Master of the Zhenshi Division. He was a smooth talker and had close ties with local aristocratic families.

“Li Sheng…”

Just as Fu Yongfan was deep in thought, a clerk finally reappeared, wearing a formulaic smile:

"I apologize for keeping you all waiting. Lord Li has preliminarily verified the documents, but there are slight discrepancies between the boundary demarcations in a few places and the old files, so we need to consult earlier records for verification. In addition, the 'Seal of Peace and Security', 'Treasury Talisman' and other tokens required for the handover also need time to prepare. I'm afraid you will have to wait a while longer."

Upon hearing this, even the usually composed Fu Yongkui frowned. The imperial court had already issued a clear decree regarding the demarcation of territories; how could it be easily mistaken? This was clearly a blatant excuse for delay.

Fu Yongfan stood up, his expression still calm, and said to the clerk, "In that case, we will come again tomorrow. Thank you for your trouble."

After saying that, he led everyone away from the Zhenshi Division.

"Brother, are we just going to wait here like this?" Fu Yongyi couldn't help but ask as they returned to the dilapidated courtyard.

Fu Yongfan looked towards the center of the city and said slowly, "They want to use these methods to force us to back down or make us make mistakes because of impatience. We will not let them have their way."

He pondered for a moment, then instructed, "Yongrui, continue to dig deeper into the background of that Vice Hall Master Li."

"Yes." Fu Yongrui accepted the order.

"Brother Yongyi, you and the four of you disguise yourselves as travelers and go to the border of Cangnan Prefecture, especially the area near Changling Mountain. Be careful to stay hidden and avoid conflicts with the locals. First, find out the terrain and the Wu family's movements."

"understand!"

"Yongyun, take good care of Old Man Zhang and his grandson. Yongkui, go and stroll around the market, keep an eye on the city's developments, and see if there are any business opportunities suitable for our Fu family's future development."

...

...

Huizhou Prefecture.

Above the quiet room where Cuizhi was in seclusion, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth suddenly surged!

Countless visible points of spiritual energy surged in from all directions, forming a massive vortex that poured into the meditation room like a funnel. At the center of the vortex, the faint sounds of wind and thunder could be heard, and a faint golden light shone through, illuminating the entire back mountain in a magnificent glow.

Liu Meizhen and a group of family elders had been waiting outside. Sensing this magnificent phenomenon of Core Formation, their faces showed relief and anticipation.

"Such an extraordinary phenomenon shows that Cuizhi has laid an extremely solid foundation, and the quality of the golden core she forms must be extraordinary!" Ouyang Fei stroked his beard and exclaimed in admiration.

Liu Meizhen nodded slightly.

The mystery of Cuizhi's background may soon be revealed.

……

Inside the quiet room.

Cui Zhi sat cross-legged, her spiritual power reaching its peak. Within her dantian, a perfectly round and dazzling golden core, containing immense energy, was slowly taking shape!

Just as the golden core was fully formed and began to emanate immense pressure...

Cuizhi felt a loud "boom" in her sea of ​​consciousness, and the scene before her eyes suddenly changed!

No longer was she in her familiar secluded chamber, but in a magnificent palace with intricate carvings and painted rafters. Dressed in luxurious palace attire, she was surrounded by countless palace servants and addressed as "Your Highness." With a loving father and a gentle mother, she was the most favored jewel of the Great Shang Dynasty, enjoying all the riches and honors of the world.

However, this beautiful illusion was suddenly shattered!

The scene shifts to a scene of raging war and earth-shaking shouts of battle!

The once loyal guards turned against her, and the familiar palace was engulfed in flames. She saw the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion Master, who was usually respectful to her father and regarded as his right-hand man, come in wearing blood-stained armor, holding a sharp sword, and walking through mountains of corpses and seas of blood, with a ferocious and greedy smile on his face.

"Why... Imperial Preceptor... Father Emperor treated you like a brother!" she cried out in her dream.

"Brothers? Hahaha! This vast land should rightfully belong to the capable! Your Shang clan bloodline is nothing but parasites who usurp the throne!" The Heavenly Mystery Pavilion Master laughed wildly as he swung his butcher's knife.

She watched helplessly as her father and mother fell into pools of blood, and as her brothers and sisters were mercilessly slaughtered, the entire bloodline of the Shang Dynasty royal family wiped out! Endless grief, hatred, and despair overwhelmed her like a tidal wave.

"Do not--!"

In the quiet room, Cuizhi suddenly opened her eyes.

This is...a dream?!

She was picked up by her mother-in-law when she was an infant, so how could she have memories of being a royal princess? But... it all felt so real, as if she had experienced it herself.

"What... exactly is going on?"

However, the outside world did not allow her to think it over carefully.

"Boom!"

Above the secluded meditation room, the swirling vortex of spiritual energy was suddenly replaced by boundless dark clouds. The clouds were as thick as ink, and as they rolled, purple lightning and golden snakes appeared. The majestic power of heaven descended, making all the cultivators of the Fu family in Huizhou Prefecture unable to breathe. Those with lower cultivation levels trembled and almost knelt down.

"A tribulation of lightning! It's a Golden Core tribulation of lightning!" an elder exclaimed.

Liu Meizhen's expression was extremely solemn: "This power... far surpasses that of an ordinary Golden Core cultivator undergoing the Tribulation of the Third Nine Heavens! Could the branch be... a First-Grade Golden Core!"

No sooner had the words left his mouth than the first bolt of tribulation lightning tore through the sky. The purple lightning, as thick as a child's arm, carried an aura of destruction and struck the quiet room!
"Activate the formation!" Elder Ouyang Fei shouted sternly, his hair and beard bristling.

The Fu family had been preparing for this for many years. Suddenly, the array bases on the back mountain shone brightly, and an incredibly solid azure light shield instantly rose up, firmly protecting the meditation room within.

"boom--!"

The lightning struck the light barrier violently, unleashing a deafening roar and causing everyone to be temporarily blinded by the blinding light. The light barrier shook violently, flickering unpredictably, but ultimately managed to withstand the first attack.

However, the thunderclouds in the sky seemed to be enraged, churning even more violently, with a second, a third... each one thicker and more swift than the last!
The purple lightning gradually turned into a crimson gold color, carrying the heat to burn everything and the power to shatter the void, continuously bombarding the protective array.

"Crack... Crack..."

After withstanding six lightning tribulations, the protective array, which had been continuously improved by the Fu family with all their resources and had successfully withstood dozens of Golden Core lightning tribulations, finally let out a mournful cry of being overwhelmed. The light shield was covered with spider web-like cracks, and finally shattered under the seventh crimson-gold lightning dragon, turning into countless points of light!
"Oh no!" Liu Meizhen's heart tightened.

Just then, three ancient bronze mirrors flew up from the depths of the Fu family compound, hovering in a triangular formation above the quiet room. Runes flowed across their surfaces, emitting soft yet resilient rays of light that intertwined to form a triangular array of light—the very same extraordinary treasure crafted by the Fu family, the [Thunder Mirror]!
The eighth lightning bolt struck down fiercely, but was steadily caught by the triangular light array. The mirror surface shone brightly, guiding and dispersing some of the lightning power, thus eliminating it into nothingness.

"It's blocked!" Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

The ninth and final lightning tribulation, a devastating dark golden lightning bolt, fell silently and swiftly like a spear of divine punishment, carrying terrifying power that distorted the void!
"Om-!"

The three Thunder Mirrors trembled violently, and the runes on their surfaces instantly shone brightest before peeling off and dimming as if they were burning.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

With three crisp sounds in succession, the three Thunder Mirrors painstakingly crafted by the Fu family ultimately failed to create a miracle under this final lightning tribulation, exploding into dust!
The dark golden lightning tribulation was only slightly weakened, but it still carried the momentum of destroying everything, and went straight to the roof of the quiet room!
(End of this chapter)