Family Rise: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 653 A Great Calamity Approaches, Good Fortune, Interception
This is even more terrifying than the tribulation lightning of a first-grade Golden Core cultivator!
"Truly, heaven is jealous of talent..." Ouyang Fei lamented.

Even the Thunder Mirror and the Great Array couldn't stop it; Cuizhi's chances of survival are slim.

Liu Meizhen's face showed little worry, but rather a hint of excitement.

hum!
Just now.

Inside the quiet room, Cui Zhi, who was about to be swallowed by the lightning tribulation, suddenly unleashed an indescribable and strange power from within her body.

That power was not spiritual power, but it carried a supreme and awe-inspiring imperial majesty that ruled over all the wilderness. Like the rising sun, it was warm and boundless, instantly enveloping the green branches in a golden cocoon of light.

The dark golden lightning struck the cocoon of light fiercely, exploding into a blinding ball of light. However, the terrifying lightning power, enough to annihilate a late-stage Golden Core cultivator, was completely absorbed and neutralized by the golden cocoon of light, like a mud ox sinking into the sea, without harming the emerald branch inside in the slightest!

On the surface of the cocoon of light, a phantom figure faintly emerged. Although its face was not visible, it had an air of dominance over the world!
"This...this is..."

Ouyang Fei and the others were dumbfounded, completely unable to comprehend what was happening before their eyes.

When did such a terrifying power hide within Cuizhi's body?

The thunderclouds dispersed, and the sky cleared again.

Immediately afterwards, a gentle, nourishing rain, imbued with pure vitality and spiritual energy, fell from the sky, sprinkling down on every corner of the Fu family home.

Under the nourishment of this sweet rain, the Fu family's spiritual vein, which had been somewhat weakened by the lightning tribulation, was like a parched land receiving sweet rain. It emitted a joyful buzz, and the earth vein dragon energy suddenly surged, with the concentration of spiritual energy beginning to rise steadily!
"The spiritual vein... the spiritual vein is advancing!"

"My goodness, so many new spirit springs have appeared..."

"This blessing from heaven is far greater than any previous successful Golden Core tribulation in our clan..."

"Our Fu family has produced another prodigy!"

"..."

Everyone's face was filled with anticipation and excitement.

It was accompanied by a deafening roar.

The earth trembled slightly, and in the core area of ​​the clan, a brand new spring appeared out of thin air. The spring water that gushed out was filled with spiritual energy and actually reached the fifth-order top-grade quality!

at the same time.

In various parts of the family, more than twenty new spiritual springs were born one after another, all of them of fourth-order quality!
A top-grade fifth-tier spiritual vein! One fifth-tier spiritual spring and dozens of fourth-tier spiritual springs!
Ouyang Fei's beard trembled with excitement as he looked at Liu Meizhen:

"Mistress! A fifth-grade top-quality spiritual vein, multiple high-grade spiritual springs... This already meets one of the conditions for the imperial court to classify a family as a fourth-grade noble family!"

...

...

In a dilapidated courtyard in Jinzhou city.

Fu Yongfan held his breath and focused his mind, his fingertips forming a hand seal, and a mysterious Daoist aura emanated from his body.

[Avoid misfortune and seek good fortune!]
A moment later, he opened his eyes, a mixture of understanding and confusion flashing in them.

The derivation results show...

If they are to successfully complete the land grant process, the real turning point and opportunity will not lie in the official documents of the Zhenshi Division, nor in the alliances and rivalries with other aristocratic families, but in a Taoist temple called "Xuanqing Temple" outside the city.

"Xuanqing Temple..."

The head of the main hall of the Wuzhou Zhenshi Temple, Master Xuanyang, was originally from the Xuanqing Temple.

While in Wuzhou, Master Xuanyang had shown great kindness to the Fu family, and he had a particularly close and intimate relationship with Fu Changsheng's father. Therefore, it was only right that they pay a visit to Master Xuanyang's sect upon their arrival in Jinzhou, to convey their father's regards.

"Perhaps this is the key to breaking the deadlock."

He didn't make a fuss, only briefly telling Fu Yongkui and the others that he was going out to visit friends, before quietly leaving the city alone and heading towards Xuanqing Temple in the direction he had heard about.

……

Not long after Fu Yongfan left the city, Cheng Peng received a report from his informant at the Cheng family mansion.

"Oh? That brat from the Fu family went out of the city alone?" A glint of ruthlessness and excitement flashed in Cheng Peng's eyes. "Which direction did he go? What for?"

"Reporting to the young master, judging from the direction, they went west, but their specific purpose is unknown. There were no other experts from the Fu family with them, only him, whose cultivation level is only at the early stage of the Golden Core realm."

"Early stage of Golden Core... Haha, this is truly heaven's help!" Cheng Peng clapped his hands and laughed. "This kid has a high status in the Fu family. If we can get rid of him without anyone noticing, the Fu family will definitely be thrown into chaos! Then, let's see how they will still have the mind to covet Cangnan Prefecture!"

A trusted aide with a sinister face and a mid-stage Golden Core cultivation level immediately stepped forward, licked his lips, and revealed murderous intent in his eyes:
"Young Master, why must you personally handle such a trivial matter? Leave it to me! I'll make sure that brat never returns, his body never to be found!"

Cheng Peng glanced at his trusted aide and pondered for a moment.

Fu Yongfan, after all, is the eldest son of the Fu family; he might have some trump card to protect himself. To ensure everything goes smoothly...

"Liu Gongfeng, you go with him," Cheng Peng said to a middle-aged man holding a sword standing in the shadows. "The two of you work together, and make sure it's quick and clean, leaving no trace that could be used against the Cheng family!"

The Liu Gongfeng remained expressionless, merely nodding slightly. The spiritual energy emanating from him was also that of a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator, but his aura was even more solid and sharp.

"Young Master, rest assured, we two will surely annihilate a mere early-stage Golden Core cultivator!" The ruthless confidant was full of confidence. He exchanged a glance with Liu Gongfeng, and with a flicker, they transformed into two faint streaks of light, silently chasing after him out of the city.

……

The western suburbs of Jinzhou are covered with verdant mountains.

Xuanqing Temple is situated on a secluded mountain peak. Although the temple is not grand, it exudes a simple and natural Taoist charm, blending seamlessly with the surrounding mountains and waters.

Fu Yongfan climbed the steps and arrived at the front of the temple. He introduced himself to the young Taoist boy guarding the gate, explaining that he was a descendant of a friend of the Taoist Master Xuanyang from Wuzhou and had come to pay a visit.

Not long after the young Taoist announced the arrival, an old Taoist priest with a slender face and wearing a blue Taoist robe came out to greet them. His aura was profound, clearly indicating that he was a cultivator in the late stage of the Golden Core realm.

"I am Xuan Yun, a humble Taoist priest, serving as an officer in this temple. Young friend, are you a member of the Fu family? My senior brother Xuan Yang is in Wuzhou, and his family has been very kind to him." The old Taoist priest spoke kindly as he led Fu Yongfan into a quiet room in the temple and served him tea.

Fu Yongfan respectfully returned the greeting: "Master Xuanyun, you flatter me. It was Senior Xuanyang who took care of my Fu family many times in Wuzhou. I, Fu Yongfan, have come to Jinzhou on my father's orders and it is only right that I pay my respects to your master's sect."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the two sides...

Although Fu Yongfan did not explicitly ask for help, his predicament was evident in his words.

After listening, Master Xuanyun stroked his beard and pondered for a moment before slowly saying:
"The Jinzhou aristocratic families' xenophobia is not a recent phenomenon. It involves a complex web of interests, especially given the existence of the Tianlong Mountain secret realm… As for Li Sheng, the deputy hall master of the Zhenshi Division…"

When he mentioned Li Sheng, his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, suggesting he didn't have a good impression of the person.

"This person's actions are indeed somewhat... well, I am already aware of this matter. Senior Brother Xuan Yang and your father had a very close relationship. Although my Xuanqing Temple is a secluded place for cultivation and it is inconvenient for us to directly intervene in worldly disputes, we will not sit idly by and watch our old friend suffer injustice."

He looked at Fu Yongfan, his gaze gentle yet carrying a hint of profound meaning: "Young friend, return to the city for now and wait patiently. Perhaps a turning point will come within the next day or two."

Upon hearing this, Fu Yongfan felt relieved, knowing that the technique of "avoiding misfortune and attracting good fortune" had indeed worked. He quickly stood up and solemnly thanked him, "Thank you, Daoist Master!"

After lingering at Xuanqing Temple for a while and asking some questions about Taoist practices, Fu Yongfan took his leave and descended the mountain.

...

...

After Fu Yongfan left.

The calm and composed demeanor that Master Xuanyun had just exuded instantly vanished, replaced by an undisguised excitement and solemnity.

He didn't even have time to straighten his sleeves; he hurried along, almost running, heading straight for the forbidden area behind Xuanqing Temple.

The forbidden area behind the mountain was shrouded in mist, and ordinary disciples had no idea of ​​the path and dared not approach it. However, Master Xuanyun knew the way well. He waved his whisk and cast several profound spells. The seemingly solid mountain wall in front of him suddenly rippled like water, revealing a secluded path that could only be passed by one person at a time.

He strode in, and at the end of the path was an extremely simple stone chamber. In the center of the chamber, there was only a futon, and an old man with white hair and beard, an ancient face, and wearing a gray Taoist robe was sitting in meditation with his eyes closed. There was no fluctuation of spiritual energy around him, as if he had merged with the stone chamber, the mountains, and the world. If one did not open his eyes, one could hardly sense his presence.

This person is none other than the pillar of Xuanqing Temple, the Supreme Elder of extremely high seniority—Xuancheng Zhenjun.

"Grandmaster Uncle!" Master Xuanyun stopped outside the stone chamber, bowed respectfully, and said with a hint of urgency, "Just as you predicted, the Fu family of Wuzhou has sent someone! It was Fu Yongfan, the eldest son of the Fu family, who just left!"

The True Lord Xuancheng on the futon slowly opened his eyes. His eyes were not particularly bright, but they were as deep as the ancient starry sky, as if they could reflect the past and the future.

"Yes, I understand." Xuan Cheng Zhenjun's voice was calm and unhurried. "Have you come about the obstruction of the handover of the Zhen Shi Division?"

"Exactly!" Xuan Yun quickly recounted Fu Yongfan's experience and his own response, then couldn't help but ask, "Grandmaster Uncle, although the Fu family has just advanced to the fifth rank and has considerable potential, is it worth your attention, even predicting their visit months in advance and ordering me to keep an eye on them? Could it be... that they have something special about them?"

Xuancheng Zhenjun's gaze fell upon the void of the stone chamber, his eyes becoming somewhat ethereal and profound, and he slowly said:
"The secrets of heaven are in chaos, and a great calamity is imminent. This calamity is not an ordinary change of dynasties or rise and fall of sects, but a cataclysmic event that will sweep across the entire cultivation world and may even shake the very foundation of this world. At that time, no one will be able to escape unscathed."

Upon hearing this, Master Xuanyun's face turned deathly pale. Although his cultivation was not low, he had never heard of such a horrifying thing.

"A great calamity?! Grandmaster Uncle, is this true? Then what about my Xuanqing Temple...?"

"The capital may be protected by dragon energy, allowing us to temporarily secure a corner of the world, but it's not a foolproof plan." True Monarch Xuancheng interrupted him, his tone still calm, yet carrying an undeniable power. "And amidst this vast calamity energy, I sacrificed a hundred years of my lifespan to use a secret technique to peer into the secrets of heaven. Apart from the capital's stable fortune, I saw only a glimmer of hope in this seemingly insignificant Fu family... faint, yet incredibly tenacious, and perhaps even capable of reversing the situation!"

"What?!" Master Xuanyun was completely shocked.

He knew full well that his grandmaster's divination skills had reached a state of perfection; even he himself would need to expend a hundred years of his lifespan to glimpse a single clue, and yet this grandmaster had given such high praise. This Fu family…

"Therefore, forging a good relationship with them at this time is not just an ordinary friendship, but a way for my Xuanqing Temple to seek a chance to survive in this future catastrophe!" True Monarch Xuancheng withdrew his gaze and fell on Xuan Yun, becoming extremely serious. "This matter concerns the survival of our lineage and is the highest secret of our temple. It must not be made public, and we must not let the Fu family know that we did this on purpose. Everything must be natural and go with the flow."

"Yes! This disciple understands! I would never dare to reveal even the slightest detail!"

Master Xuanyun bowed respectfully, a cold sweat breaking out on his back. Only now did he truly understand why his grand-uncle valued the Fu family so highly. This was no simple investment; it was laying a crucial piece for the future of the entire sect!

"Go then." True Monarch Xuancheng closed his eyes again. "I will send a message to the Zhenshi Division. In future dealings with the Fu family, be careful not to be too distant or too close, lest you arouse suspicion. Good relationships need to be built up gradually."

"This disciple will humbly obey the Dharma decree!"

...

...

As Fu Yongfan left the Xuanqing Temple area and stepped into a remote mountain forest, a strong sense of alarm suddenly rose in his heart!

"Tsk! Tsk!"

Two incomparably sharp sword lights shot out from the void on the left and right sides without warning. One was sinister and cunning, aiming straight for his back, while the other was majestic and powerful, blocking all his escape routes! The killing intent was chilling, clearly indicating that it had been planned for a long time!
A sneak attack by two mid-stage Golden Core cultivators!
Although Fu Yongfan was shocked, he remained calm. He had been prepared for the trouble he might encounter, but he did not expect his opponent to be so impatient and to strike with such deadly force!

"Buzz!"

A jade pendant at his waist lit up instantly, and a solid, earth-yellow light shield appeared. It was the life-saving talisman bestowed upon him by his father, Fu Changsheng—[Earth Guardian]!
"boom!"

Two sword beams slashed fiercely at the light barrier, producing a deafening roar. The light barrier shook violently, its light dimming considerably in an instant, but it ultimately withstood the fatal blow.

"Huh? Such a protective treasure?" The sinister henchman revealed himself, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, followed by an even stronger killing intent. "Let's see how many hits you can withstand! Brother Liu, let's break it together!"

On the other side, Liu Gongfeng remained silent, but with a flick of his sword, his flying sword transformed into a long rainbow, charging forward once more.

Fu Yongfan was about to summon the Azure Dragon.

"Certainly!"

A peaceful yet supremely majestic voice seemed to come from the heavens above, and also seemed to resonate in the hearts of everyone.

In an instant, the wind stopped, the clouds paused, and the two sharp sword lights froze in mid-air. The ferocious expressions on the faces of the two mid-stage Golden Core assassins froze, and even the light of the talisman that Fu Yongfan was about to activate dimmed instantly.

The entire space seemed to be held down by an invisible hand, everything stood still, and only thought remained.

A figure appeared silently in the arena.

The newcomer was a middle-aged Taoist priest dressed in a black robe. His face was ordinary, but his eyes were as deep as the starry sky. There were no powerful spiritual energy fluctuations around him, yet he seemed to be one with the entire world. He simply stood there quietly, becoming the center of this world.

His gaze swept over the two frozen assassins, finally settling on Fu Yongfan, and he nodded slightly: "Are you a member of the Fu family of Wuzhou?"

Although Fu Yongfan's body was unable to move, his mind was still functioning, and he quickly responded with his divine sense: "Junior Fu Yongfan thanks senior for saving my life!"

The Taoist priest said calmly, "I am Xuanfeng, and I have been entrusted by my junior brother Xuanyun to escort you on your way. These two men harbor treacherous intentions and have attacked and killed a member of a noble family who has been granted titles by the imperial court. Their crimes deserve to be punished."

His tone was flat, as if he were stating a trivial matter.

Without him making any move, the eyes of the two assassins at the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm were instantly filled with endless fear. Then, their bodies, like weathered sand, began to crumble from the edges, turning into the finest dust and dissipating into the air.

Both body and soul are destroyed!

He couldn't even utter a single resistance or a scream.

Fu Yongfan was shocked. What realm was this? A Nascent Soul True Monarch? Or... even higher? Xuanqing Temple actually had such a terrifying existence!

As space resumed its flow, Fu Yongfan regained his mobility. He took a deep breath and bowed again, saying, "Junior greets Senior Xuanfeng. Thank you for your help!"

Xuanfeng looked at him, his gaze seemingly able to see through everything: "The waters of Jinzhou run deep; I hope you will take care of yourself."

After he finished speaking, his figure slowly vanished like a bubble, as if he had never existed.

Fu Yongfan stood there for a long time before he could calm down from the shock.

...

...

Inside the Cheng family mansion, in a luxurious inner courtyard hot spring pool, steam rises and a warm fragrance wafts through the air.

Cheng Peng was flirting and playing with several scantily clad, graceful female cultivators, his jade cup filled with amber-colored spiritual wine, a scene of unrestrained indulgence.

"Young Master, would you like another drink?"

"Very well, very well, how could this young master refuse wine offered by a beauty?" Cheng Pengzhi was smug, embracing a female cultivator and drinking the wine in his cup from her hand in one gulp, feeling extremely pleased. Thinking that the boy from the Fu family was probably already reduced to ashes, he felt even more delighted.

However, at this moment——

"Young Master! Young Master!"

A hurried, panicked shout shattered the idyllic atmosphere. A trusted steward, without waiting for an announcement, rushed in, his face ashen, and nearly tripped over the slippery floor.

Cheng Peng's good mood was interrupted, his brows furrowed instantly, and he angrily shouted, "You insolent brat! Can't you see that I, the young master, am resting? What kind of behavior is this, rushing around like this! Get out!"

The trusted steward suddenly knelt down, not caring that the pool water had splashed onto his robes. His voice was trembling with sobs and disbelief and fear: "Young Master! Something terrible has happened! Elder Liu and Steward Zhao... their... their life lamps... have gone out!"

"What?!" Cheng Peng's jade cup fell into the pool with a "clatter," splashing wine everywhere. He stood up abruptly, ignoring the water on his clothes, and grabbed the steward by the collar, his eyes filled with shock, anger, and disbelief. "What nonsense are you spouting! Two mid-stage Golden Core cultivators trying to kill an early-stage Golden Core cultivator, how could they possibly fail? And... and their life-soul lamps were even extinguished? Did you see that clearly?!"

"It's absolutely true, young master!" The steward cried, tears streaming down his face. "I saw it with my own eyes. Just half an incense stick's time ago, the disciple guarding the Soul Hall rushed over in a panic. When I got there, I saw that the Soul Lamps of Elder Liu and Steward Zhao... had indeed gone out at the same time! I have immediately sent people to investigate the direction they were on their mission!"

Cheng Peng's face turned ashen. He shoved the steward aside and paced back and forth by the pool. The female cultivators in the pool were already terrified and huddled to the side, not daring to make a sound.

"Impossible... Absolutely impossible!" Cheng Peng muttered to himself, unable to accept this fact. "Even if Fu Yongfan had three heads and six arms, and had many trump cards to protect himself, he couldn't possibly kill two experienced mid-stage Golden Core cultivators! Something must have gone wrong!"

He stopped abruptly, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes: "Could it be that Xuanqing Temple got involved? The Fu family boy just came out of that dilapidated Taoist temple and something happened to him..."

The manager quickly shook his head, his tone certain:

“Young Master, Xuanqing Temple is aloof from worldly affairs and never interferes in the disputes between aristocratic families. This has been the rule for many years. Back then, the patriarch of the Wu family personally visited the mountain with lavish gifts, hoping to ask Xuanqing Temple to put in a good word for him in the capital, but he was turned away. The Wu family is a relative of the emperor, with a concubine in the Eastern Palace! Xuanqing Temple doesn't even give face to the Wu family, so how could they possibly make an exception for the newly arrived Fu family?”

Cheng Peng agreed with this assessment.

Xuanqing Temple holds a superior position, and even the Wu family behind the Cheng family finds it difficult to curry favor with them. There is indeed no reason for them to break with convention for the sake of the Fu family.

"What exactly happened?!" Cheng Peng roared in frustration.

The steward kneeling on the ground hesitated for a moment, then stammered, "Young Master...we...we recently received some unverified intelligence from Wuzhou...that Fu family patriarch, Fu Changsheng, seems to...seems to possess a near-fifth-tier Azure Dragon as a spirit pet..."

"A near-fifth-order Azure Dragon?!" Cheng Pengtong's eyes suddenly contracted.

That's a terrifying existence equivalent to the Great Perfection of the Golden Core stage, or even touching the threshold of the Nascent Soul stage! If Fu Changsheng were to go into seclusion, he could entrust this azure dragon to Fu Yongfan to protect him...

The manager continued his analysis, and the more he talked, the more likely it seemed:

"Yes, that must be it! Otherwise, there's no way to explain it! Two mid-stage Golden Core cultivators, even if they were no match for the enemy, would always have a chance to escape. It's impossible for them to perish simultaneously without even being able to send out a distress signal, and for the incident to be handled so cleanly, leaving not a single decent trace! Only an absolute crushing power could achieve such a feat! Fu Yongfan himself certainly doesn't have this ability. The only explanation is that the legendary near-fifth-order Azure Flood Dragon was secretly accompanying and protecting him!"

Cheng Peng's face turned extremely ugly. His previous arrogance vanished, replaced by a heavy pressure.

"Damn it! The Fu family... they've really hidden themselves well!" Cheng Peng gritted his teeth and slammed his fist into the jade pillar next to him, making a dull thud.

He had initially thought the Fu family were just nouveau riche who had gotten rich by luck and could be easily manipulated, but he hadn't expected them to have such powerful trump cards. Now, it would be much more difficult to easily oust the Fu family as he had previously anticipated.

"Young Master, what's next..." the steward asked cautiously.

Cheng Peng took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down, his eyes turning sinister:

"This matter requires careful consideration. We must report to Father and Ancestor immediately! Before we ascertain the true nature of that azure dragon, we should refrain from any further rash actions."

He glanced at the steward still kneeling on the ground and the female cultivator trembling in the pool, feeling that all the previous pleasure had turned into irony. He waved his hand irritably:
"Get out of here! Anyone who dares to utter a single word about what happened today, I'll skin them alive!"

Everyone felt as if they had been granted a pardon and scrambled out of the room.

By the hot spring pool, only Cheng Peng remained, his face so gloomy it seemed to drip water. He gazed in the direction of the slum where the Fu family was temporarily staying, and for the first time felt that this piece of meat, which he thought was easy to obtain, seemed to have turned into an extremely hard bone to gnaw at.

...

...

the other side.

Fu Yongyi, Fairy Tianyin, Chen Feng, and Su Wan have quietly left the state city and, according to plan, disguised themselves and secretly headed to Cangnan Prefecture.

They did not use teleportation arrays, but instead relied on the speed of Golden Core cultivators to travel discreetly.

Several days later, the four entered the territory of Cangnan Prefecture.

Upon entering, a surge of spiritual energy, far richer than that found outside Jinzhou city, carrying the crisp, clean scent of the mountains and fields, immediately enveloped them.

"Such pure spiritual energy!" Chen Feng couldn't help but take a deep breath, his eyes flashing with surprise. "The quality of the spiritual veins here is probably even better than that of Jinzhou City, but it is undeveloped and appears more primitive."

Looking around, Cangnan Prefecture boasts a majestic landscape with rolling mountains that resemble giant dragons coiled around the city. Among them, the main mountain range, Cangnan Mountain, soars into the clouds with imposing grandeur. Clouds and mist swirl around the mountain, and waterfalls and springs can be vaguely seen amidst ancient trees reaching for the sky, creating a primitive and magnificent scene.

"Indeed, it is a treasure land." Fairy Tianyin nodded slightly, her beautiful eyes revealing admiration. "If it is managed well, it will surely become the foundation for the prosperity of my Fu family in time."

They attempted to approach the core area of ​​Cangnan Prefecture, namely the majestic Cangnan Mountain and the prefectural city at its foot, but found soldiers in full Zhou Dynasty armor patrolling and guarding the area, with faint array lights flickering around them. The fiefdom had not yet been formally handed over, and this place was still guarded by imperial troops, strictly prohibiting outsiders from entering.

"It seems we can't get in until we get the official documents from the Zhenshi Division." Fu Yongyi looked at the heavily guarded city in the distance and shook his head helplessly.

Although he belonged to the clan chief's lineage, he was pragmatic and well aware of the main purpose of this trip. He looked at Chen Feng and the other two, who were more experienced, and took the initiative to speak:
“Fellow Daoists, since we can’t enter the prefectural city, why don’t we go and take a look at Changling Mountain, which borders the Wu family?”

Based on Fu Yongrui's suggestion.

Changling Mountain seems to be somewhat unusual.

The four immediately changed direction and stealthily headed towards Changling Mountain, which was located at the border between Cangnan Prefecture and the Wu family's fiefdom.

Although Changling Mountain is not as large as the main ridge of Cangnan Mountain as a border mountain range, it still stretches for hundreds of miles, with steep terrain and deep forests.

Upon arriving at the outskirts of Changling Mountain, the four concealed their presence and hid in a dense ancient forest.

Fu Yongyi held his breath and focused his mind, quietly circulating the power of his bloodline. A faint, almost imperceptible spiritual light flickered in his eyes. This was his innate talent—the [Spiritual Eye]. Although not yet fully developed, it allowed him to see through some illusions and sense auras that ordinary cultivators could not detect.

His gaze was sharp as lightning, sweeping towards Changling Mountain in the distance.

He could see that the spiritual energy flowing through the mountains seemed normal, but deep within the lush mountains, he vaguely sensed an obscure, ancient aura containing a special fluctuation, as if something was buried deep within.

“There is indeed something in the mountains,” Fu Yongyi said in a low voice, his brows furrowing slightly. “But it’s too far away, and there’s some kind of force blocking it. I can’t see it clearly. I can only sense its presence, but I can’t tell what it is.”

Just then, the Heavenly Sound Fairy beside her took out a palm-sized, compass-shaped array plate covered with intricate runes. With a light tap of her fingertip, the array plate began to rotate silently, emitting a faint glow.

After a moment, the Heavenly Sound Fairy's pretty face slightly hardened, and she whispered:

“Yongyi’s perception is correct. The outer perimeter of Changling Mountain is shrouded in a very subtle array fluctuation. This array is not simply for protection or concealment, but more like a... composite sealing and interference array, of a high grade. It is this array that interfered with Yongyi’s spiritual eye detection.”

"There's a formation?" Upon hearing this, Chen Feng's eyes flashed with a sharp light. He was rather impulsive and suggested, "Since we've confirmed that something's strange, why don't we try to get closer? Perhaps we can find a weak point in the formation and sneak in to investigate?"

"No!" Su Wan, standing beside him, immediately intervened. More meticulous and composed, she shook her head and said, "Brother Feng, don't be impulsive. Our mission is merely to ascertain the general situation of the fiefdom and its surroundings, not to directly clash with the Wu family. Since the formation here is of a high grade, it indicates the Wu family highly values ​​this mountain and must be taking precautions. Approaching rashly, triggering an alarm, and revealing our whereabouts, would not only alert them but could also bring unnecessary trouble to the family."

She looked at Fu Yongyi and Fairy Tianyin, her tone firm: "In my opinion, we have already achieved our goal by confirming that Changling Mountain is unusual and has been sealed off by the Wu family with an array. As for what is hidden in the mountain, we still need to discuss it carefully and wait until the family officially moves in before we can proceed with our plans."

Upon hearing this, Fu Yongyi nodded in agreement.

Seeing that his Daoist partner and Fu Yongyi both agreed, Chen Feng suppressed his curiosity and impulse, and nodded: "Alright, I was too impatient. So, let's..."

"Withdraw," Su Wan said decisively. "Remember the terrain and the approximate range of the formation. Go back and meet up with Yongfan, then we'll discuss this further."

...

...

Deep within Changling Mountain, in a cave dwelling concealed by layers of arrays and shrouded in spiritual energy.

In the center of the cave, a complex array drawn from countless runes was slowly operating, emitting faint spatial fluctuations. At the core of the array, a smooth, mirror-like control panel shimmered with a faint light, clearly reflecting the scenery within dozens of miles of Changling Mountain, with every detail of the vegetation and rocks clearly visible.

The Wu family's eldest elder, a nascent soul cultivator with a gaunt face and a deep, unfathomable aura, stood with his hands behind his back in front of the control panel, his sharp gaze sweeping across the scene displayed on the mirror.

Suddenly, his gaze sharpened, fixing on the edge of the mirror, where four figures were stealthily moving, trying to conceal themselves. It was Fu Yongyi, Fairy Tianyin, Chen Feng, and Su Wan.

"Hmph, the Fu family has a pretty keen sense of smell."

The Grand Elder snorted coldly, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger. Despite the extreme caution of Fu Yongyi and his companions, their movements were still impossible to escape the watchful eyes of this extensive and high-level surveillance array.

Standing beside him was the Second Elder of the Wu family, also a Nascent Soul cultivator, but with a more sharp and outward-radiating aura, his eyes carrying a murderous intent. He stared at Chen Feng (seventh level of Golden Core), the cultivator with the highest cultivation level on the mirror, a cold glint flashing in his eyes:
"Elder, now that they've reached the vicinity of Changling Mountain, it's hard to say they haven't noticed anything amiss in the mountains. If we let them take the message back, things might go awry! In my opinion, perhaps..." He made a throat-slitting gesture, his killing intent undisguised, "With our cultivation levels, dealing with these juniors is a piece of cake."

A seventh elder with an effeminate appearance chimed in:
"The Second Elder is absolutely right. It is better to kill the innocent than to let the guilty go free. If we get rid of them now, no one will know, and the Fu family will not be able to trace it back to us."

Upon hearing this, the Grand Elder frowned slightly and said in a deep voice:
"Do not act rashly. Before the clan leader went into seclusion, he repeatedly instructed us that the Fu family is newly established and is gaining momentum. Moreover, the eldest princess is behind them. Before we figure out their true strength, we should not take the initiative to have a direct conflict with them unless necessary, so as not to give them a handle to use against us and disrupt our overall plan in Jinzhou."

He pointed to the constantly flashing light at the core of the array on the control panel, representing a hidden place in the mountains, and said in a solemn tone:

"Our top priority is to ensure the successful retrieval of that treasure in the mountains. This item is crucial to the future fortune of our Wu family for the next few centuries, and we absolutely cannot afford to lose it. If any unforeseen complications arise now, and we attract the attention of the Fu family's experts or even the Eldest Princess's faction, it might expose our true objective, resulting in a greater loss for a lesser cause!"

The Second Elder scoffed dismissively:
"Elder, you're being far too cautious! They were just a few Golden Core cultivators. If we killed them, so be it. Who can prove that our Wu family was behind it? Anything can happen in this desolate wilderness. Besides..."

His tone shifted, carrying a hint of provocation and ulterior motives:

"You and I both know that our Wu family is aligned with the Crown Prince, while the Fu family is clearly on the side of the Eldest Princess. The struggle between the Crown Prince and the Eldest Princess has long been out in the open, and we and the Fu family are mortal enemies, destined to clash sooner or later! Now, while they are still establishing themselves, it is the perfect opportunity to clip their wings and weaken them! Are you so timid and hesitant because you are afraid of the Fu family?"

The Grand Elder's face darkened, a flash of anger crossing his eyes:

"Second Elder! Watch your words! I put the interests of the clan first, so why should I be afraid? Are you going to disobey the clan leader's orders?"

A fierce glint flashed in the Second Elder's eyes. He knew that even invoking the Clan Chief wouldn't be enough to intimidate the First Elder. His mind raced, and he changed his approach:
“Very well, since the Grand Elder prioritizes safety, guarding the core of this formation and the treasures in the mountain is indeed of paramount importance and cannot be compromised. Then the Grand Elder shall personally oversee this place to ensure that nothing goes wrong.”

He paused, a sinister smile spreading across his face:

"As for those four little bugs from the Fu family outside... I'll take a few trusted men to deal with them. I guarantee we won't take action within the Changling Mountain territory. We'll lure them to a place far from here before dealing with them, leaving no evidence that could affect important matters in the mountain. This way, we can eliminate the hidden danger without violating the clan leader's order of 'no conflict unless absolutely necessary.' The Grand Elder should be at ease, right?"

The First Elder stared at the Second Elder, his eyes flashing.

He knew full well that these two elders were promoted by the patriarch and had never been on good terms with his lineage, and were domineering and ruthless in their actions. His insistence on taking action was probably not only to eliminate the threat, but also to take the opportunity to claim credit and suppress his own reputation.

But the Second Elder's words did indeed shut him up, preventing him from taking action at Changling Mountain, which theoretically reduced the risk of exposing the mountain's secrets. Moreover, forcibly stopping him would only make him appear cowardly and give others ammunition to criticize him.

After a moment of contemplation, the Grand Elder finally said in a cold voice:

"Since the Second Elder insists on going, then we must act swiftly and decisively, leaving no trace whatsoever, and ensuring they have no chance to send a message back! If things don't go well, we must retreat immediately, with protecting the treasures in the mountains being our top priority!"

Seeing that the First Elder had relented, the Second Elder revealed a triumphant smile and cupped his hands in greeting:

"Elder, rest assured, a few mere Golden Core cultivators will be easy to capture! Just wait here for good news!"

After saying that, the Second Elder did not delay any longer. With a flicker of his figure, he and two trusted late-stage Golden Core elders transformed into three faint streaks of light and silently left the cave, heading in the direction where Fu Yongyi and the other three had retreated.

Inside the cave, the First Elder looked at the disappearing points of light on the control panel where the Second Elder and the other two had vanished, then glanced at Fu Yongyi and his group of four who were heading into the distance. His brows furrowed, and a sense of unease rose in his heart.

"Pass down the order," the First Elder said to the Seventh Elder beside him in a deep voice, "Strengthen the security of the core area in the mountain. Activate all formations at full capacity. Without my order, no one is allowed to approach the area where the treasure is located!"

"Yes, Elder!" The Seventh Elder's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly accepted the order and left.

……

On the outskirts of Changling Mountain, in the ancient forest.

Fu Yongyi and his three companions were quietly withdrawing according to plan, moving slowly and trying to conceal their presence to avoid attracting attention.

However, just as they were about to completely leave the Changling Mountain area, Chen Feng, whose cultivation was the highest, suddenly changed his expression and shouted:
"Not good! Experts are catching up! They're incredibly fast, at least at the late Golden Core stage, and there's more than one!"

Almost as soon as he finished speaking, a powerful divine sense, like an invisible net, swept across their area in an instant. Although it was fleeting, the cold sense of being locked on sent chills down the spines of the four of them!
"Split up!" Fu Yongyi decided decisively without the slightest hesitation. "Proceed according to plan and meet up in the state capital!"

"go!"

The four of them worked together seamlessly, splitting into three directions in an instant and speeding away!
Fu Yongyi and Tianyin Fairy are in one group, while Chen Feng and Su Wan are in another.

However, they still underestimated the speed and determination of the fake infant monk!
Just as they split up and fled, three powerful auras appeared behind them like ghosts, the leader of which was none other than the Second Elder!
The Second Elder watched the four people scatter and flee, a cruel smile curving his lips: "Trying to run? Too late!"

His divine sense instantly locked onto Chen Feng and his wife, who possessed the highest cultivation levels, as well as Fu Yongyi and the Heavenly Sound Fairy, who were alone. He then gave orders to his two trusted confidants behind him:

"Go after those two who are alone, and capture them alive. I want to question them! Hand over the couple to me, Elder!"

"Yes!"

The two late-stage Golden Core elders immediately transformed into streaks of light and chased after Fu Yongyi and Fairy Tianyin respectively.

The Second Elder himself moved with lightning speed, as if teleporting, and closed the distance between himself and Chen Feng and Su Wan in a few flashes.

The terrifying speed of the fake infant cultivator was on full display!

"Husband, it's too late!" Su Wan felt the suffocating pressure behind her, and her face turned pale.

Chen Feng gritted his teeth, a resolute glint in his eyes, and shoved Su Wan aside forcefully: "Wan'er, you go first! I'll hold him off!"

(End of this chapter)