Family Rise: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 656 Immense Wealth, Unlocked Potential, and Double Breakthroughs
Fu Yongfan had just bowed and was about to finish speaking when Vice Hall Master Liu quickly stepped forward, smiling broadly as he extended his hand to help him up.

"Young friend Fu, please rise! Fellow Daoists, there's no need for such formalities! You've made me feel ashamed!"

His tone was warm, even carrying a hint of barely perceptible apology:

"I, Liu, have come today to apologize to the Fu family on behalf of the Zhenshi Division! Previously, the staff of the Division were inefficient and caused many delays, which resulted in the Fu family members being stranded in the city for many days and unable to move into their fiefdom as soon as possible. This was truly a dereliction of duty by the Zhenshi Division! I, Liu, feel very uneasy. Today, I have specially prepared all the necessary documents and seals and come to the Fu family in person to handle the handover of the fiefdom in Cangnan Prefecture, in order to express my apology. I also hope that the Fu family will not hold any grudges against the Zhenshi Division because of this."

Upon hearing these words, not only was Old Man Zhang completely dumbfounded, but the down-on-their-luck cultivators watching from outside the courtyard also instantly erupted in uproar!

what? !

Wasn't Vice Hall Master Liu here to arrest someone and hold them accountable?

Instead, they came to...apologize?!
They even came to my door in person to handle the paperwork?!

This is absolutely unprecedented!
In this Jinzhou region, which newly arrived noble family doesn't offer lavish gifts and beg and plead for a smooth process? When have we ever seen the Deputy Hall Master of the Zhenshi Division take the initiative to admit his mistake and personally come to the slums to handle official business for someone?!
Old Zhang felt his head buzzing.

Looking at Vice Hall Master Liu's warm smile, and then at Fu Yongfan's tall and steady back in front of him, an indescribable excitement and relief welled up in his heart.

He vaguely sensed that his momentary leniency yesterday in taking in the Fu family was probably the most correct and greatest stroke of luck he had ever made in his life!

The crowd watching outside the compound was abuzz with discussion, and the tide of opinion turned in an instant:

"My God! Vice Hall Master Liu actually came to apologize? And he even personally handled the formalities?"

"Just who is the Fu family? How come they have such influence!"

"I knew it! Old Zhang had suddenly become so tough. Turns out he's latched onto the real Buddha's coattails!"

"Oh no, oh no! We were laughing at him before, and now we've been so blind!"

"This old man... he's really hit the jackpot! Who would have thought the Fu family was so secretive?"

"Quickly think of a way to get closer to Old Man Zhang; maybe we can even get some benefits from it..."

For a while.

A mixture of exclamations, envy, and regret filled the air. Those who had previously gloated now had incredibly complex expressions, their gazes toward Old Zhang's small courtyard filled with awe and longing.

Fu Yongfan seemed unsurprised by Vice Hall Master Liu's enthusiasm, remaining composed as he cupped his hands in greeting once more: "Hall Master Liu is too kind. A slight delay is nothing. The Hall Master's personal visit is already a great honor for the Fu family, and we are deeply grateful."

"Oh, young friend Fu, you're too kind!" Vice Hall Master Liu's smile widened, and his evaluation of the Fu family rose even higher. They were calm and composed, showing that this young man was no ordinary person! He gestured to his trusted steward to step forward, "Come, present the documents and seals to young friend Fu for his review."

The trusted steward hurriedly stepped forward with a brocade box, inside which were the land grant deed of Cangnan Prefecture, the seal of the garrison commander, and the authorization token to activate the core formation of the prefecture city, among other things.

After carefully checking and confirming that everything was in order, Fu Yongfan solemnly put it away and said to Vice Hall Master Liu, "Now that the formalities are complete, the Fu family will soon be heading to Cangnan Prefecture. In the future, we will need Hall Master Liu's help in Jinzhou."

"Of course, of course! Whatever the Fu family needs, as long as it doesn't violate the law, I, Liu, will do my best!" Vice Hall Master Liu readily agreed, and this goodwill was thus initially established.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, he took his leave with his trusted steward.

...

...

The news that Vice Hall Master Liu personally visited the Fu family to handle the transfer of their fiefdom spread like wildfire throughout the city.

Cheng Peng was frolicking and playing with a beautiful new concubine in the hot spring villa, enjoying himself immensely with her soft and fragrant body in his arms.

A trusted steward nervously reported the matter from outside.

"What?! That old bastard Liu Mingyuan personally went to the West Street slums? And even completed the formalities for the Fu family?!" Cheng Peng suddenly stood up from the hot spring, water splashing everywhere, his face filled with incredulous rage. "What is Li Sheng good for! He took the bribes from my Cheng family, and this is how he does things?!"

The trusted steward was so frightened that he knelt down with a thud, his voice trembling:

"Young Master, please calm down! According to... according to news from within the Zhen Shi Division, Vice Hall Master Li... he has been stripped of his power to assist in general affairs and relegated to the Black Wind Mine as its garrison commander by order of Hall Master Lei himself for dereliction of duty! This matter... is said to have been personally handled by Hall Master Lei!"

"Palace Master Lei?! How is this possible!" Cheng Pengtong shrank back abruptly, his anger instantly replaced by shock. "That old fellow Lei Hao has been in office for over a hundred years, and he has never interfered in specific affairs, nor has he ever shown favoritism to any aristocratic family. How could he make an exception for the newly arrived Fu family? And punish Li Sheng so severely?!"

He was completely baffled. What magic did the Fu family possess that could make the usually aloof Lord Lei stand up for them? This was utterly illogical!
"Young Master, why get angry over those country bumpkins?"

The concubine nestled beside him reached out her slender hand and gently stroked Cheng Peng's chest, her tone carrying a hint of flattery and indifference:
"You are Consort Wu's own nephew! Consort Wu is deeply favored by His Highness the Crown Prince. In this Great Zhou Dynasty, the Eastern Palace is practically half the sky! Even if the Fu family has gotten lucky and gained some favor from Palace Master Lei, so what? Can they possibly be more powerful than the Eastern Palace?"

She paused, her voice carrying a hint of seduction:
"If you ask me, all it would take is for Consort Wu to mention it in the Eastern Palace. Even without His Highness the Crown Prince speaking, there are plenty of people willing to help you and make that arrogant Fu family disappear without a trace."

These words were like a wake-up call, instantly extinguishing Cheng Peng's surprise and most of his anger.

Yes!

Behind him stands the Crown Prince! The future ruler of the world!

No matter how powerful Lei Hao is, he is only the head of the Zhenshi Palace of a prefecture. How can he be compared with the Crown Prince? Even if the Fu family has some potential and has gained some of Lei Hao's favor, what does it amount to in the face of absolute power?
Think of this.

Cheng Peng's mood immediately improved.

He pulled the concubine into his arms and kissed her hard on the cheek.
"Hahaha! Well said! My beauty, your words have truly awakened me from my dream!"

His arrogant and domineering expression returned, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes:
"The Fu family... Hmph! Let you be smug for a few days. Once my aunt has some free time, I, the young master, will definitely give them a good talking to! Then, let's see if you'll still be laughing!"

In his view, with the connection to the Crown Prince, the Fu family was like a grasshopper in autumn, unable to hop around for long. The previous setbacks and the current changes were nothing more than trivial episodes.

Cheng Peng, holding the trump card, is destined to be the ultimate winner.

...

...

Cheng Peng dismissed his attendants, even the cunning concubine, and hurriedly went alone to the family mansion to see his father, the clan chief Cheng.

In the study room.

Chief Cheng was discussing important matters with a woman dressed in magnificent robes, whose demeanor was both elegant and sharp. This woman was none other than Cheng Peng's mother, the daughter of Wu Hongluan, the patriarch of the Wu family, and the elder sister of Wu Shi, the concubine of the Crown Prince—Madam Wu.

Cheng Peng gave a detailed report on how Vice Hall Master Liu personally visited the Fu family to handle the formalities, and how Vice Hall Master Li was exiled by Hall Master Lei.

After listening, Clan Chief Cheng frowned, tapped his knuckles lightly on the table, and pondered:

“Lei Hao is an unfathomable man. For the past hundred years, he has never intervened in the disputes between aristocratic families. Now, he has made an exception for the Fu family, even going so far as to severely punish a deputy hall master... This matter is suspicious. Peng'er, before we thoroughly investigate the Fu family’s background and find out the real reason for Lei Hao’s change of attitude, we should postpone our actions against the Fu family to avoid getting burned.”

As the head of a clan, he considered things more thoroughly and from a longer-term perspective, and the attitude of the Lord of the Zhenshi Division should not be underestimated.

"Postpone? Father!" Cheng Peng asked anxiously.

However, before he could say anything more, Madam Wu snorted coldly, her phoenix eyes sweeping over the clan leader with a fierce look:

“Husband, when did you become so timid? The Fu family is nothing more than nouveau riche from a remote place like Wuzhou. They were lucky enough to receive an award. What earth-shattering background could they possibly have? As for Lei Hao… perhaps he just gave them a favor because they were newcomers, or perhaps the Fu family used some means we don’t know to temporarily establish a relationship. But can this little bit of favor compare to the relationship between our Wu family and the Crown Prince?”

Her tone turned cold, carrying a hint of warning and pressure:

"Don't forget, back then, in order to gain the support of my Wu family and help your Cheng family advance to the fifth rank, you personally promised that the Cheng family would follow the lead of my Wu family in all its future actions! Now my mother (Ancestor Wu) has already ordered that we do everything in our power to prevent the Fu family from establishing itself in Cangnan Prefecture. Are you hesitating now because you want to break your promise?"

The Cheng family's current status is indeed inseparable from the support of the Wu family and the deterrent effect of their connection with the Crown Prince. The promise made back then was both an exchange of benefits and a form of constraint.

Chief Cheng's expression shifted repeatedly.

After a moment's consideration.

He finally sighed and said:

"Madam, you flatter me. Since the Cheng family has allied with the Wu family, we should stand together through thick and thin. Since my mother-in-law has made it clear, my Cheng family... will naturally not stand idly by."

He looked at Cheng Peng, his eyes regaining their usual decisiveness:
“Peng’er, continue with the plan you made before. However… the methods need to be more discreet, so as not to leave any more leverage like Li Sheng did.”

Cheng Peng was overjoyed upon hearing this: "Yes! Father! I understand!"

Seeing this, Madam Wu's expression softened slightly, and she said calmly, "This is the Cheng family head I know. Don't worry, if Lei Hao really dares to disregard the Crown Prince's reputation and forcibly interfere, my mother and the Crown Prince's side will step in."

...

...

The territory of Cangnan Prefecture.

In stark contrast to the bustling city of Jinzhou, this place is characterized by its continuous mountain ranges and rich spiritual energy, yet it also possesses a wildness that has not been fully cultivated.

The city is situated in a wide valley.

The city walls are towering.

The array's shimmering light could be faintly seen.

Fu Yongfan and his entourage piloted the treasure ship, gliding over mountains and rivers, and finally landed slowly in front of the most majestic garrison square in the center of the prefectural city.

Several people were already waiting in front of the government office.

The leader was a middle-aged general dressed in the standard black armor of the Great Zhou Dynasty, with a deep and imposing aura, and his cultivation had reached the late stage of the Golden Core realm. Behind him stood several lieutenants and an elderly man dressed in the robes of a formation master with sharp eyes.

Upon seeing Fu Yongfan and the others land, the middle-aged general stepped forward, clasped his hands in greeting, and said:
"But is it the Fu family of Wuzhou, with the newly appointed garrison commander of Cangnan Prefecture, Fu Yongfan, the young clan leader?"

His voice was loud and clear, carrying the distinctive strength of a military officer.

Fu Yongfan stepped forward, cupped his hands in return, and said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "It is indeed I, Fu. Thank you for waiting for me, General."

"This humble general, Zhao Qianjun, has been ordered by the Lord of Zhenshi Silei Hall in Jinzhou to temporarily assume the defense of Cangnan Prefecture. I am here to respectfully await the arrival of Young Master Fu."

Zhao Qianjun gestured to the side, and a deputy general immediately brought over a tray with a map of Cangnan Prefecture, household registers, resource and mineral distribution maps, and a tiger tally representing the authority of the garrison commander.

"These are all the official documents, seals, and tiger tally of Cangnan Prefecture. Please have Young Clan Chief Fu verify them."

Fu Yongfan carefully checked and found nothing amiss, then solemnly put it away and asked, "General Zhao, I was unaware that the city currently has a protective array..."

Zhao Qianjun seemed to have expected this, and spoke directly:

“Young Master Fu need not worry. Palace Master Lei has already given instructions that the Fu family has just arrived and it will take some time to set up the protective array. The [Earth Guarding Kun Yuan Array] currently covering the city is a fifth-order protective array and can be temporarily borrowed by the Fu family. Once the Fu family has set up its own array, the Zhen Shi Division will withdraw.”

Fifth-order Grand Formation!

Upon hearing this, Fu Yongyi, Tianyin, and the others all showed a hint of surprise in their eyes. With a fifth-order grand formation protecting them, at least in the initial stage, they would be safe and secure, gaining them valuable buffer time!

"Lord Lei's kindness is greatly appreciated, and General Zhao has worked hard. The Fu family is deeply grateful!"

As he spoke, Fu Yongfan took out a storage bag and handed it over:

"This is the market price for renting a fifth-order formation, to cover the maintenance costs of this formation. In addition, it is a small token of my appreciation to reward the general and his soldiers. I urge the general to accept it, otherwise I will not feel at ease."

Zhao Qianjun was slightly taken aback.

He was acting under orders, and he had assumed that the Fu family, who had received personal favor from the Palace Master, might be arrogant and spoiled. He was prepared for them to accept the offer readily, or even find fault with it. However, he never expected that the Fu family would not only show no arrogance, but would also offer to pay for the formation, at a price significantly higher than the market rate, and even provide an extra 50,000 spirit stones as a service fee!

This insightful and sophisticated approach, along with this way of dealing with people without seeking personal gain and instead cultivating good relationships, instantly raised Zhao Qianjun's opinion of the Fu family significantly.

The solemnity on his face softened considerably, and he even showed a rare smile. After a moment's hesitation, he took the storage bag.
"Young Master Fu is so kind. If I were to refuse, it would be unreasonable of me. Therefore, on behalf of my men, I thank Young Master Fu for his generous gift!"

He put away his storage bag, his attitude noticeably warmer, and turned to the elderly man in the array master's robes, saying:

"Master Chen, please stay a moment and explain and demonstrate in detail to the fellow Daoists under Young Master Fu the various changes and control methods of this 'Earth Guarding Kun Yuan Formation', so that they can master this formation."

Master Chen, who had been expressionless, now felt a bit more favorably disposed towards the Fu family upon seeing how cooperative Fu Yongfan was. He nodded in agreement.

"General Zhao, rest assured, I will do my best."

Zhao Qianjun then said to Fu Yongfan:
“Young Master Fu, Master Chen is the foremost fifth-tier array master in our Jinzhou Zhenshi Division. He has a profound understanding of this array. With his guidance, your esteemed subordinate will surely be able to master this array as soon as possible.”

Fu Yongfan expressed his gratitude once again: "Thank you for your help, Master Chen and General Zhao!"

Zhao Qianjun laughed heartily, clasped his hands in a fist and said, "It's my duty, my responsibility. Now that the handover is complete, I won't disturb Young Master Fu any longer in managing the affairs of the manor. Farewell!"

"General, please wait!"

After seeing Zhao Qianjun and his troops off, Fu Yongfan immediately said to Fairy Tianyin, "Tianyin, you will learn formation manipulation from Master Chen. You must master this formation in the shortest possible time!"

"Yes, Young Clan Leader!" Fairy Tianyin solemnly responded, then respectfully bowed to Master Chen, "Thank you for your guidance, Master."

Master Chen saw that Fairy Tianyin had an ethereal temperament and pure cultivation, clearly indicating that she was an expert in formations. A hint of appreciation flashed in his eyes. Without saying much, he said directly, "Come with me to the central hall of the formation hub."

The next few hours.

Master Chen led Fairy Tianyin into the core hub of the array beneath the town's underground palace, explaining in detail the spiritual energy operation nodes of the "Earth Guarding Kun Yuan Array," the adjustment of defensive strength, and several powerful offensive variations.

Master Chen then made hand seals, activating the formation.

Om-!
The entire Cangnan Prefecture City trembled slightly as a thick, solid, earth-yellow light barrier shot into the sky, enveloping the entire city. Runes flowed across the light barrier, emitting a defensive aura that chilled the heart.

Immediately afterwards, Master Chen changed his incantation again.

Above the light screen, countless earth-yellow rays of light condensed, transforming into countless giant rocks that resembled phantom mountains. These rocks crashed down with tremendous force onto the pre-set target range on the ground, producing a deafening roar! Subsequently, the light screen conjured countless sharp stone spears and earth spikes, demonstrating their fierce attack patterns.

A unified offense and defense, adaptable to any situation!

The Heavenly Sound Fairy was completely focused, her divine sense closely following Master Chen's manipulation, constantly memorizing, understanding, and deducing. Her own mastery of formations was extremely high, and now, receiving personal guidance from a fifth-tier formation master, specifically targeting a particular formation, her progress was incredibly rapid.

As the sun sets in the west.

Fairy Tianyin is already able to independently control the "Earth Guarding Kunyuan Formation" for basic defense, early warning, and to unleash one or two simple offensive variations.

Seeing this, Master Chen stroked his beard and nodded, his eyes filled with even greater satisfaction:
"The fairy is exceptionally intelligent and has a high aptitude for array formations. Given time, her achievements will surely surpass mine. I have already passed on all the key points for controlling this array; you will only need to practice until you are proficient."

"Thank you so much, Master, for sharing your knowledge!" Fairy Tianyin bowed deeply, feeling quite confident in her ability to control this fifth-order grand formation.

Master Chen completed his mission and left without lingering, transforming into a streak of light.

Fu Yongfan and the others had been waiting outside. When they saw Fairy Tianyin emerge with bright eyes and her aura faintly connected to the entire city's grand formation, they knew that things had succeeded.

"How is it?" Fu Yongfan asked.

Fairy Tianyin nodded confidently: "Young Clan Leader, rest assured, controlling this formation is no longer a problem. With this formation in place, even a Nascent Soul cultivator would find it difficult to breach Cangnan Prefecture!"

Upon hearing this, Fu Yongfan's tense nerves finally relaxed slightly.

He surveyed the somewhat empty and desolate city, which had been revitalized under the radiance of the array, and said in a deep voice:

"In this way, my Fu family finally has a foothold in Jinzhou!" "Pass down the order: immediately close the four gates and activate the great array for early warning. Everyone should perform their duties: repair the government office, inventory the warehouses, and appease the remaining cultivators and mortals in the city."

...

...

After the situation in Cangnan Prefecture was initially stabilized.

"Finally, I can really unleash my full potential!"

On this day, Fu Yongyi came alone to the continuous mountain range behind the prefectural city, found a secluded place with high elevation, and sat down cross-legged.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then slowly exhaled.

With each breath, a unique aura began to emanate from his body, subtly resonating with the surrounding mountains and earth. This was the talent he had gradually awakened after receiving the Dharma Seed bestowed upon him by Fu Changsheng—[Earth Vein Perception].

This talent allows him to perceive more clearly the flow and direction of the earth's spiritual energy, as well as the anomalies contained within it.

His divine sense, like invisible ripples, slowly spread and permeated the surrounding mountains and land from his center. Deep underground, the surging spiritual veins, like sleeping dragons, gradually formed hazy images in Fu Yongyi's mind, their rhythmic breathing and varying strengths.

As a former fiefdom, Cangnan Prefecture has a spiritual vein of a high grade.

Although it appears somewhat disorganized due to years of neglect, its essence remains.

Fu Yongyi carefully sensed the surroundings, trying to find a spiritual eye node that could be used by the family, or a potential hidden danger or mineral vein.

Sudden.

When his divine sense swept over an inconspicuous, desolate valley about a hundred miles from the city, a strange sense of "stagnation" came over him.

The flow of spiritual energy in the earth's veins seemed natural, but in his perception, it was as if it were blocked by an extremely thin "membrane" that was almost integrated with the surrounding environment. When the spiritual energy flowed through this place, it would produce a subtle, regular deflection and dissolution.

"Hmm? Something's not right here..."

Fu Yongyi frowned slightly, focusing all his attention on pushing his ability to sense the earth's veins to its limit.

A moment later, he suddenly opened his eyes, a glint of light flashing in them.

"It's not a naturally formed spiritual energy barrier...it's more like a natural illusion array built on the earth's veins, using the power of mountains and rivers to hide itself? No, there seem to be traces of human arrangement within it, extremely ancient and obscure."

He dared not delay and immediately got up and returned to the prefectural city.

...

...

Inside the garrison headquarters, after listening to Fu Yongyi's detailed description, Fu Yongfan tapped his fingers lightly on the table and pondered:

"A hidden ancient formation, seemingly both natural and man-made, relying on the earth's veins? In this sensitive period, any unknown hidden dangers must be thoroughly investigated. Brother Yongyi, thank goodness you are meticulous."

After a moment's thought, he made a decision:
"Just in case, I'll go with you. We'll also bring the Azure Dragon, the Skeleton Demon Vine, Chaos, and those five fourth-tier Spirit-Devouring Insects. Fairy Tianyin has the deepest understanding of formations, so please come along too; perhaps she can see the clues to the formation."

……

Outside the valley, the vegetation is withered, the rocks are jagged, and the spiritual energy is thin, making it seem worthless. No wonder it has been neglected for many years.

But Fu Yongyi's perception of the earth's veins is never wrong.

The Celestial Fairy hovered in mid-air, her beautiful eyes shimmering with a faint spiritual light. Her hands formed hand seals, and probing array lights swept across the entire valley like ripples on water. Her expression gradually changed from solemn to surprised, and finally to one of unbelievable fervor.

"How is it, Tianyin?" Fu Yongfan asked.

The Heavenly Sound Fairy withdrew her spell, took a deep breath, and spoke with suppressed excitement:
“Young Clan Chief, Yongyi, this is by no means a simple natural illusion array! This array borrows the power of the earth's veins and integrates the power of mountains and rivers. Its array arrangement method... is completely different from the array system that we currently use. It is more ancient and grand, pointing directly to the origin of the Great Dao! This is clearly an array set up using ancient methods!”

"An ancient formation?" Fu Yongfan and Fu Yongyi exchanged a glance, both seeing the shock in each other's eyes.

Ancient artifacts, whatever they may be, represent both immense opportunities and risks.

"Is it possible to crack it?" Fu Yongfan asked in a deep voice.

Fairy Tianyin frowned and pondered for a moment, then said somewhat uncertainly, "This formation is profound. If we forcefully break it, it may trigger a backlash from the formation, with unpredictable consequences. Perhaps... we can try to break the formation with the formation itself, find the key points in its operating rules, and resolve them with skillful force."

As she spoke, she took out several antique-looking jade slips from her storage ring, exuding an aura of age.

"These are ancient research books on ancient formations that the family has collected over the years, as well as those provided by the Luo family. Perhaps there are some similarities between them and this formation."

The three immediately found a secluded spot outside the valley. Fairy Tianyin devoted herself entirely to deducing the formation by referring to ancient texts. Fu Yongfan and Fu Yongyi stood guard beside her, while vigilantly observing their surroundings.

This deduction took several months to complete.

One evening at dusk, the Fairy of Heavenly Sound finally raised her head. Although her eyes were tired, they shone with confidence.

"Found it! Although this formation is profound, over the years, several auxiliary nodes connecting it to the earth's veins have become loose. We can set up three 'Spirit Disruption Formations' here, here, and here to interfere with the supply of spiritual energy from the earth's veins. Then, using this place as a breakthrough point, we can use 'Spirit-Breaking Needles' to fiercely attack the core runes that circulate spiritual energy... This should open a temporary gap!"

Just do it.

Under the guidance of Fairy Tianyin, and with the assistance of Fu Yongfan and Fu Yongyi, they quickly set up three small yet sophisticated spirit-disrupting arrays at the designated locations.

With a command from the Heavenly Sound Fairy, the Spirit Disruption Array was activated, and beams of distorted spiritual light shot into the ground. Instantly, the flow of spiritual energy around the entire valley paused slightly, and the invisible "membrane" seemed to ripple.

"It's now!"

With a flick of her jade hand, Fairy Tianyin unleashed three "Primordial Breaking Needles," each as thin as a cow's hair yet gleaming with dazzling white light, which shot out and precisely struck the three core rune nodes she had calculated!

Om-!
A deep hum resounded, and the air in front of them rippled violently like water. Then, in front of the three of them, at the previously empty entrance to the valley, space distorted, and a hole about the height of a person, flickering with an unstable gray light, slowly appeared!
"The entrance is open! Hurry in! This method won't last long!" Fairy Tianyin exclaimed urgently.

Without hesitation, the three of them flashed into the gray light cave entrance. The Azure Dragon, the Skeleton Vine, and the Chaos Beast followed closely behind.

Less than three breaths after they entered, the gray light cave entrance flickered violently a few times before suddenly closing, and the valley returned to its desolate and lifeless state, as if nothing had ever happened.

...

...

As you pass through the cave entrance, the scenery suddenly changes.

It was no longer a desolate valley, but a vast, dark underground space.

The air was thick with the smell of dust and a distinctive fishy odor of minerals.

Beneath their feet lay an uneven ground, scattered with many long-rotted mining tools such as picks and carts. On the surrounding rock walls, there were still obvious traces of human excavation, as well as some simple runes that had long lost their luster.

Here, there is a mine ruin that has been abandoned for who knows how long!

Judging from the degree of weathering of those tools and traces, no one has set foot there for at least a thousand years.

"Indeed, it's a hidden paradise!"

Fu Yongyi looked around. His sense of the earth's veins seemed to be suppressed in this place, but he could still feel a faint trace of spiritual energy deep inside.

However, before they could investigate further, a sickening "thumping" sound came from deep within the mine, growing louder and louder as it approached!
Immediately afterwards, a dark shadow surged out from the depths of the mine like a tide!
Those were enormous bats, with wingspans exceeding one meter!

These bats were entirely black, with eerie green flames flickering in their eye sockets, fangs protruding from their mouths, and an aura of death and chill emanating from their bodies!

"Fourth-tier demonic beasts, flying corpse bats! And there are so many of them!" Fu Yongfan's eyes narrowed.

Flying Corpse Bats typically inhabit extremely yin places, feeding on yin energy and flesh. They are ferocious, live in groups, and are extremely difficult to deal with.

Hundreds and thousands of flying corpse bats swept in like a black storm, bringing a stench to the air!
"Roar--!"

Before Fu Yongfan could give the order, the azure dragon coiled on his wrist suddenly expanded, returning to its enormous size of tens of feet, and let out a deafening dragon roar! The powerful dragon might mixed with the demonic power of a near-fifth rank surged out, instantly disrupting the formation of flying corpse bats charging at the forefront.

at the same time.

The skull-shaped vines around Fu Yongyi's waist shot out like lightning, growing rapidly in the wind and transforming into countless terrifying vines covered in sharp thorns. Like ferocious giant pythons, they lashed out and coiled around the swarm of bats! Wherever the vines passed, death energy was devoured, and the bats were drained of their life essence and soul, turning into dried corpses and falling to the ground.

The Chaos Beast was not to be outdone.

Its body swayed, becoming agile and nimble, and it spewed out a hazy, chaotic aura. Any flying corpse bats that were touched by this aura instantly became slow in their movements, and their demonic power sluggish, as if they were about to be assimilated and decomposed.

Fu Yongfan even summoned his flying sword, its light splitting into countless shapes, like a sudden storm, precisely targeting and killing the bats that were trying to bypass the attacks of the Azure Dragon and the Demonic Vine.

He released five fourth-tier spirit-devouring insects, which, like five transparent shadows, specifically targeted those bats in the swarm whose auras were slightly stronger and who seemed to be leaders, silently devouring their demonic power.

The battle broke out suddenly and ended quickly.

With the combined strength of the Azure Dragon and the Skeleton Vine, both near-fifth-tier warriors, along with surprise attacks from the Chaos Beast and the Spirit Devouring Insect, and the assistance of Fu Yongfan and Fu Yongyi, this massive horde of fourth-tier flying corpse bats was wiped out in the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, leaving behind only a pile of dried corpses and a chilling aura of death.

After the battle ended, the three of them took a short break to catch their breath before carefully exploring the mineral vein in the ruins.

Using his ability to sense the earth's veins, Fu Yongyi discovered a puppet, mostly buried under rubble, in a corner of an abandoned workshop deep within the mine, where half of the structure had collapsed.

The puppet has an ancient and simple design. The runes engraved on its body are very different from those of the current schools. Most of its body has decayed, but its core ribcage and the joints connecting the limbs are made of a dark silver material that is neither gold nor wood. After thousands of years, it still exudes a faint spiritual light and has no trace of rust.

"This is... 'Nebula Silver Mother'?!"

After careful examination, Fu Yongyi was both surprised and delighted:
"This is one of the core materials for crafting high-level puppets. It has excellent toughness and superior spiritual energy conductivity, making it suitable as the skeleton for a Nascent Soul stage puppet! If I take it back to Aunt Mo Lan, she will surely be delighted!"

He carefully disassembled the still-unrotted parts of the broken puppet, especially the fist-sized pieces of Star Silver Mother, and solemnly put them away.

Undeterred, he activated his ley line perception again, carefully scanning every inch of the workshop. When his divine sense swept over a seemingly ordinary patch of ground in the center of the workshop, an extremely faint spatial fluctuation caught his attention.

After digging about three hundred feet deep, his divine sense touched a hard object.

Brushing away the dirt, a simple, dark gray ring with intricate cloud patterns engraved on it appeared in his hand.

"A storage ring?!" Fu Yongyi was overjoyed.

Storage rings are far superior to storage bags, offering more space and greater stability; they are typically used only by high-level cultivators.

However, when he tried to probe the ring with his divine sense, he was firmly blocked by an incredibly tough barrier. He then tried to bind the ring with his blood, channeling his magical power into it, and even had Fu Yongfan and Fairy Tianyin try it themselves, but the result was still the same—the ring remained unmoved and could not be opened.

"What a powerful restriction! It has maintained such strength after thousands of years! The owner of this ring must have had extremely high cultivation in his lifetime, or the ring itself must have been of extraordinary quality." Fairy Tianyin marveled after examining it.

Helpless, Fu Yongyi had no choice but to temporarily put away the storage ring that couldn't be opened.

"It seems we can only wait for Father to emerge from seclusion before trying to open it again."

As the three were preparing to continue their exploration, Fairy Tianyin suddenly let out a soft "Eh," her gaze falling on a fork in the road deeper in the mine, almost completely blocked by a massive collapsed rock.

“Young Clan Leader, Yongyi, look at the spiritual energy fluctuations over there… Although extremely weak, they are exceptionally pure and refined, completely different from the deathly and malevolent energy in this mine, and even carrying a sense of… purity and cleansing.”

Upon hearing this, Fu Yongfan and Fu Yongyi immediately focused their attention and sensed the surroundings.

“It’s definitely different!” Fu Yongyi’s eyes lit up. “It feels… very much like those legendary spiritual springs that can cleanse magical power and aid in cultivation!”

Fu Yongfan made a quick decision: "Clear the rubble and see what's behind it!"

With the combined efforts of the three, and the Azure Dragon sweeping with its giant tail, they quickly cleared away the collapsed rocks blocking the fork in the road, revealing a narrow but exceptionally clean passage with smooth walls.

After walking along the passage for about a hundred feet, a natural stone chamber, only ten feet square, suddenly appeared before us.

In the center of the stone chamber was a small, milky-white pool, only about ten feet in diameter.

The pool water was crystal clear, shrouded in a light white mist, and a refreshing fragrance permeated the entire stone chamber, making one feel refreshed and invigorated, and subtly activating one's inner magical power.

A thin, shimmering, transparent light barrier enveloped the small pool, sealing it off and preventing the excessive dissipation of spiritual energy.

"This is... Jade Purity Pool?!"

The Heavenly Sound Fairy carefully examined the blurred ancient seal script on a broken stone tablet by the pond, her voice filled with unbelievable surprise:
"Ancient texts record that the Jade Purity Pool is a place where the essence of heaven and earth's spiritual veins converge, containing a trace of innate pure spiritual energy. Cultivating in the pool is equivalent to a profound enlightenment, which can not only greatly purify one's magical power, but also greatly increase the chance of breaking through bottlenecks! Its pool water is milky white and has a refreshing fragrance... exactly the same as the pool before us!"

"Jade Purity Pool!" Fu Yongfan and Fu Yongyi also gasped for breath.

This is a legendary sacred place for cultivation, a place that can only be encountered by chance!

“However, this barrier…” Fu Yongfan looked at the transparent light shield.

"This is the 'Ancient Spirit-Containing Restriction,' designed to lock in the spiritual energy of the pool water and prevent it from leaking out. Over the years, its power has diminished to less than one-tenth of its original strength, but I can break it," Fairy Tianyin said confidently after careful observation.

She took out the ancient book again for comparison, and then her hands moved like butterflies flitting among flowers, casting spells and accurately targeting several weak points in the light barrier.

About one stick of incense later.

The transparent light shield trembled slightly like a bubble, and with a soft "pop," it vanished without a trace.

All of a sudden.

An even richer fragrance and extremely pure spiritual energy wafted over them, causing the pores on their bodies to open involuntarily as they greedily absorbed it.

When the light barrier dissipated, they could clearly see that there wasn't much milky-white spiritual liquid at the bottom of the pool; it only covered the bottom with a thin layer. Judging from its concentration and volume of spiritual energy...

"The spiritual liquid in this Jade Purity Pool is probably only enough for the two of them to use once. Moreover, once they start absorbing it, the innate pure spiritual energy it contains will be quickly consumed and cannot be regenerated. It is a one-time use item," Fairy Tianyin judged, her tone tinged with regret.

The atmosphere suddenly became a little subtle.

Who wouldn't be tempted by such an opportunity?
However, resources are limited and can only be used by two people.

The Heavenly Sound Fairy's gaze swept over Fu Yongfan and Fu Yongyi, and almost without hesitation, she smiled freely and took a step back:
"Young Clan Leader, Yongyi, you two are the future pillars of our Fu family, and you are at a crucial stage in your cultivation breakthrough. Such an opportunity should be enjoyed by the two of you. Tianyin has a deep understanding of array formations, so there is no need to rush her cultivation breakthrough. She will protect you from the side."

“The Heavenly Sound Fairy…” Fu Yongyi was somewhat moved.

Fu Yongfan gave Tianyin Fairy a deep look, remembering her kindness, and without further pretense, said in a deep voice:

"In that case, Yongyi and I will accept your kindness. Without further ado, let's enter the pool and begin our cultivation!"

The two took off their outer robes, leaving only their inner shirts, and stepped into the Jade Purity Pool, which was about ten feet in diameter, and sat down cross-legged.

The pool water only reached waist level, but the extremely pure spiritual liquid, carrying a hint of coolness, seemed to have a life of its own as soon as it touched the body, rushing wildly into the limbs and bones through the pores!

Fu Yongfan felt a jolt run through his body!
He possesses the Five Elements Dao Body, making him extremely compatible with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

At this moment, in this Jade Purity Pool, they are even more at ease!
The Five Elements Dao Body operated spontaneously, forming five small vortexes around its body, greedily yet orderly devouring the spiritual liquid in the pool.

The innate pure spiritual energy contained within it is like the finest sandpaper, repeatedly washing and refining his golden core and meridians, washing away any impurities, and making his magical power become pure and condensed at a speed visible to the naked eye!
He is stuck at the peak of the early stage of the Golden Core realm.

Under the impact of this overwhelming and pure energy, it began to loosen violently.

The golden elixir within his dantian spun rapidly, its light growing ever brighter, and its size slowly increasing!
(End of this chapter)