Family Rise: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 657 Seizing Fortune, The Path to Nascent Soul, Slaying One's Own Kin
On the other hand, Fu Yongyi did the same.

Although his unique physical body wasn't as domineering as the Five Elements Dao Body, it was still extremely compatible with the earth's spiritual energy. The spiritual liquid from the Jade Purity Pool flowed in, not only purifying his magical power but also subtly stimulating the power of the Dharma Seed within him, making his perception of the earth's veins even more acute and profound. His aura was also steadily rising, launching a fierce assault on the barrier of the late Golden Core stage!
Time flowed slowly in the quiet of cultivation.

Stone interior.

The milky white spiritual mist enveloped the two figures, revealing only their faint, cross-legged silhouettes and the ever-increasing spiritual pressure emanating from them.

The Heavenly Sound Fairy stood guard to the side, holding her breath and not daring to disturb them in the slightest, her eyes filled with envy and anticipation.

I do not know how long it has been.

suddenly!

Fu Yongfan's body suddenly erupted with dazzling five-colored light!

The five colors of gold, cyan, blue, red, and yellow flowed and complemented each other, and an aura several times stronger than before erupted like a dormant volcano!

The middle stage of golden elixir!

With the gradual accumulation of knowledge and the final push from the Jade Purity Pool, his Five Elements Dao Body displayed terrifying advantages, stepping into the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm without any hindrance! His magical power surged like a river, the range of his divine sense expanded dramatically, and his control over the spiritual energy of heaven and earth became even more adept.

And almost immediately after Fu Yongfan's breakthrough.

Fu Yongyi, who was standing next to him, was also at a crucial moment!
His body shone with a brilliant, earthy-yellow light, intertwining with the milky-white, ethereal energy. He seemed to be one with the earth beneath his feet, his aura profound and deep. Within his body, his golden core trembled violently, and even some mysterious natural patterns began to appear on its surface!
boom!
A powerful aura, no less potent than that of Fu Yongfan's breakthrough, surged into the sky! Although blocked by the stone chamber, the immense spiritual pressure still startled the Heavenly Sound Fairy who was protecting her.

Late stage of Golden Elixir!

Thanks to the enlightening effect of the Jade Purity Pool and the activation of his own unique body and Dharma seed potential, Fu Yongyi broke through the barrier and entered the late stage of the Golden Core realm! His talent for perceiving earth veins also seemed to have undergone some mysterious change, becoming more subtle and profound.

When the two broke through and stabilized their realms, they opened their eyes to find that the milky white spiritual liquid in the pool had become clear and transparent, devoid of any spiritual energy, and the refreshing fragrance had vanished without a trace.

The Jade Purity Pool is a one-time use item; its effects have been exhausted.

Fairy Tianyin stepped forward and said with a smile, "Congratulations, Young Clan Leader! Congratulations, Yongyi, on your great progress in cultivation!"

After returning to Changling Mountain, Wu Hong's mind was not at ease despite the temporary relief; on the contrary, it was even more tense. He knew that the patriarch's decision not to pursue the matter for the time being was based on the more important goal of the "Dragon Blood Bodhi." If the matter did not progress for a long time, or if it was proven to be his excuse, he would be met with thunderous wrath.

He immediately strengthened the security and surveillance of Changling Mountain to the highest level, especially the hidden area that was believed to possibly contain the "Dragon Blood Bodhi," which was designated as a restricted area and guarded by his trusted direct subordinates. At the same time, he mobilized more array masters and explorers from the clan.

For a time, the depths of Changling Mountain were bustling with activity, and the lights of various detection arrays and spirit-finding compasses shone day and night. Wu Hong practically lived in the mountain, personally overseeing the efforts to find clues to the so-called "ancient restriction" or "symbiotic demon," while also hoping to truly locate and find a way to obtain the "Dragon Blood Bodhi."

Hard work pays off.

Or rather, it was the accumulation of generations of the Wu family on Changling Mountain that finally led to a breakthrough under immense pressure.

On this day, an elder skilled in breaking ancient restrictions, after repeatedly studying the extremely obscure energy patterns remaining in that area, combined with several newly discovered fragments of ancient ruins suspected to be sacrificial sites, unexpectedly pieced together a fragment of an ancient ritual!
"Elder! We found it! We found it!" The clan elder excitedly rushed into Wu Hong's temporary cave, holding a dark red jade slip that had just been deciphered and was made of a variety of rare materials.

Wu Hong suddenly stood up, his eyes flashing with a sharp light: "Tell me quickly! What method is it?"

The clan elder respectfully presented the jade slip, his tone tinged with barely suppressed excitement and a hint of barely perceptible trepidation: "Reporting to the Grand Elder, this method... is called the 'Bloodline Spirit Tracing Ritual'! According to the records, a 'Spirit Guiding Sacrifice Tower' must first be constructed as a communication medium to draw upon the earth's dragon energy and the origin of spiritual beings. However... however..."

"However what? Speak!" Wu Hong grabbed the jade slip, his divine sense sinking into it, and his brows immediately furrowed.

The elder swallowed hard and said in a low voice, "However, constructing the sacrificial tower is only the first step. To initiate the ritual, to guide and purify the essence of the spirits, we need... we need an extremely large amount of life energy as a 'sacrifice' and a 'key'! The jade slip mentions, 'The blood essence of all spirits can connect to the netherworld and trace back to the origin'... This, this seems to be a kind of... sacrificial method!"

“Sacrifice…” Wu Hong murmured repeatedly, his expression turning solemn.

He quickly scanned the contents of the jade slip, his heart trembling with each reading. This method was ancient and sinister, clearly stating that it required a massive amount of life essence to activate the ritual. The life energy contained within the flesh and soul of any demon beast or cultivator would suffice, and the required quantity was astonishing!
This is absolutely not the right path!
Once activated, it will surely lead to widespread devastation!

His hand holding the jade slip trembled slightly.

If this method is used, it will offend the natural order and be easily exposed, and will surely become a disgrace to the people.

However... this is currently the only way to access the "Dragon Blood Bodhi" and report back to the ancestor! More importantly, the jade slip describes that the "Dragon Blood Bodhi" essence purified by this method has an unparalleled attraction for Nascent Soul cultivators, and can even help them break through bottlenecks!

The immense temptation and the extreme risk clashed fiercely in his mind.

A moment later, a resolute glint flashed in Wu Hong's eyes.

He put away the jade slip and solemnly instructed the elder:

"This matter is classified as a top family secret. All those involved in its interpretation are to remain here and are forbidden from contacting the outside world! You must immediately take your men and, according to the jade slip, begin secretly preparing the materials needed to construct the 'Spirit-Guiding Sacrifice Tower'!"

"Yes, Elder!" The elder was startled and quickly accepted the order and left.

Inside the cave, Wu Hong pondered for a long time.

Finally, he took a deep breath, his figure transformed into a streak of light, and sped off once again toward the family headquarters.

This matter is of utmost importance; he must personally meet with the Ancestor and let her make the decision!

……

The Wu family's main clan resides deep within the forbidden area.

Wu Hongluan stood quietly by a spiritual pool. After listening to Wu Hong's report, and especially after carefully examining the dark red jade slip, an unprecedentedly fervent light suddenly burst forth in her phoenix eyes!
"Bloodline Tracing Ritual... Spirit-Guiding Sacrifice Tower... Offering sacrifices to all spirits, tracing back to the source..." She murmured the key words in the jade slip, her breathing becoming slightly rapid.

As a Nascent Soul cultivator, she could clearly sense the antiquity and extraordinary nature of the methods recorded in the jade slip. The part describing the original effects of the "Dragon Blood Bodhi" made her heart race! She had been stuck in the Nascent Soul realm for a long time. If she could obtain the help of this spiritual object's original essence, she would have a great chance of breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm!
As for the life energy required for the sacrifice...

A hint of coldness and indifference flashed in Wu Hongluan's eyes.

Compared to the path to immortality and the rise of the martial arts world, what are these sacrifices?
"Although this method is somewhat cruel, how can we tolerate womanly compassion in the struggle for the Great Dao?" Wu Hongluan's voice was cold, yet carried an undeniable determination. "The Dragon Blood Bodhi is the opportunity for the rise of my Wu family, and we cannot afford to lose it! Elder Hong, you have done very well!"

She turned around and looked at Wu Hong with a sharp gaze:

"Start immediately, initiate the 'Blood Source Project'! You are in full charge, mobilize all available resources of the family, and spare no expense to build the 'Spirit Guiding Sacrifice Tower' as quickly as possible!"

"As for the life energy required for the sacrifices..." She hesitated for a moment, a sharp glint in her eyes, "Seventy percent of the family treasury's reserves can be used to massively acquire low-level demonic beasts through all secret channels! Remember, this must be done in a dispersed manner to avoid detection! If there aren't enough demonic beasts..."

She paused slightly, her voice growing colder: "...Then let's use the family's elite assassins, and... those small, ignorant forces within Jinzhou that have a long-standing grudge against my Wu family. Let's make it clean, disguise it as a vendetta or an accident."

Wu Hong felt a chill in his heart and quickly lowered his head to reply:

"Yes! Ancestor is wise! Wu Hong will certainly live up to your expectations!"

With the approval and full support of our ancestor.

A massive amount of resources flowed out of the family treasury and, through various overt and covert channels, were exchanged for mountains of low-level demonic beasts, which were then secretly transported to a newly built, heavily guarded animal pen deep within Changling Mountain.

A few months later.

Deep within Changling Mountain, the bizarrely shaped, hundred-zhang-tall "Spirit-Guiding Sacrifice Tower" was finally completed.

The crimson runes covering the tower seemed to slowly writhe in the dim light, emanating an unsettling and sinister aura. Around the base of the tower, huge circular trenches were carved out, their inner walls also covered with array patterns that drew life energy.

Inside the animal pen, tens of thousands of low-level demonic beasts howled restlessly, instinctively sensing the threat of death. Deeper inside, some cultivators with considerable auras were imprisoned, but whose cultivation had been sealed. Most of them came from small forces that were hostile to the Wu family or had accidentally stumbled upon a secret, and their eyes were filled with despair and resentment.

everything's ready.

Wu Hong personally returned to the family's forbidden area and reported to Wu Hongluan.

"Ancestor, the sacrificial tower is complete, and the offerings are ready. We can start the 'Bloodline Tracing Ritual' at any time!" Wu Hong's voice carried a hint of barely suppressed excitement and tension.

Wu Hongluan suddenly stood up, her eyes flashing with brilliance, and her aura fluctuated slightly with anticipation.

"Very well! I will personally go and preside over the ceremony!"

Without further delay, she and Wu Hong transformed into streaks of light and headed straight for Changling Mountain.

……

The atmosphere in front of the sacrificial tower was solemn and heavy.

Wu Hongluan hovered above the tower, her crimson palace dress fluttering even without wind. The immense pressure of her pseudo-infant stage cultivation was released without reservation, enveloping the entire valley. Wu Hong and a group of core trusted elders stood solemnly in specific positions below, their expressions tense and dignified.

"The time has come, activate the formation!"

Wu Hongluan's cold voice, like shattering ice, resounded in the minds of every participant.

She formed ancient and complex hand seals and began chanting obscure and difficult incantations. As she chanted, the blood-red runes on the base of the sacrificial tower lit up one by one, pulsating like veins and emitting an eerie red glow.

"The sacrifice shall begin!"

Give an order.

The martial arts cultivators, who had been waiting in advance, immediately activated the formation.

Om-!
The array patterns within the circular ravine suddenly lit up, forming a powerful suction force. The gates of the beast pen burst open, and the terrified low-level demonic beasts were driven and dragged by the invisible force, tumbling into the circular ravine like a tide!

"Roar!" "Awooo!" "Hiss—!"

The mournful roars and cries of beasts instantly filled the air!
However, their struggles were futile. Once they fell into the ravine and came into contact with the crimson array light, their flesh withered and dissolved at a visible speed, turning into the purest life essence, which was drawn out by the array and surged towards the sacrificial tower above like rivers flowing into the sea!
at the same time.

Those imprisoned cultivators were not spared either. Amidst desperate curses or silent fear, they too were devoured by the formation, their flesh and souls turned into sacrifices!
A massive amount of life energy surged into the sacrificial tower.

The crimson runes on the tower grew brighter and brighter, their red light shooting into the sky and turning the entire sky crimson! The thick stench of blood mixed with the pure essence of life created a nauseating yet chilling atmosphere.

Top of the sacrificial tower.

Wu Hongluan's figure was shrouded in bloody light. She used all her strength to circulate her cultivation technique, guiding this massive energy and, according to the method recorded in the jade slip, blasting it towards the earth veins below, breaking through the seal of the "Dragon Blood Bodhi" that existed in the dark!
"Boom--!"

The earth began to tremble violently, as if a giant dragon were writhing underground. A hazy, ancient protective barrier, entwined with dragon-shaped phantoms, faintly emerged from the depths of the ground directly beneath the sacrificial tower! The barrier shimmered with iridescent light, radiating an aura of vastness, antiquity, and power!

"It's appeared! The Dragon Blood Bodhi's seal has appeared!" Wu Hong and the others trembled with excitement.

Wu Hongluan's eyes also shone with unprecedented brilliance as she worked even harder to activate the sacrificial energy and break through the light barrier.

Under the impact of the vast life energy, the light shield fluctuated violently, the light on its surface became flickering, and even some tiny cracks appeared!
However, just when the light barrier seemed about to be broken, and even the outline of a strange plant with a dragon shadow entwined in it was faintly visible, a sudden change occurred!
That enormous life energy actually ran out of steam!
The blood-red light gathered at the sacrificial tower began to flicker and dim. The mountain of monster and cultivator corpses piled up in the circular ravine had all turned to ashes, and all the offerings had been consumed!
But the ancient light shield, though covered in cracks, still stubbornly held on and did not completely break!
"Not enough! The energy from the offerings isn't enough!" Wu Hong exclaimed in shock, his face turning deathly pale.

Wu Hongluan's fervor and anticipation froze, replaced by immense anxiety and anger.

She frantically urged her own nascent spirit power, trying to make up for that last gap, but the light barrier was extremely tough. Lacking the crucial "key," she couldn't budge it with her own power alone!
Just then, the dark red jade slip seemed to resonate with the unbroken seal below, automatically flying out of Wu Hongluan's arms and hovering in mid-air. A new, even more ancient and twisted line of text appeared on its surface:

"Using the essence of all spirits' blood as a guide and the power of destiny as a key, the foundation and destiny of a powerful family must be infused into the top of the sacrificial tower in order to completely open the seal of the Dragon Source and see the true face of Bodhi."

The power of destiny is the key! The foundation and destiny of a prominent family!

Upon seeing these words, Wu Hongluan and Tong Kong suddenly shrank back, and Wu Hong and the others also gasped in shock.

Luck is elusive and hard to find, yet it truly exists. A family's ability to establish itself, thrive, and grow is inextricably linked to the luck it accumulates. To strip a family of its foundational luck is almost tantamount to severing its lifeline and destroying its future! This method is far more vicious than slaughtering living beings!
“I need… the fortune of a powerful family…” Wu Hongluan muttered to herself, her eyes darting around frantically, as if searching for a suitable target.

Jinzhou is home to many powerful families, but those with sufficient fortune and the ability to mobilize resources...

Suddenly, her gaze fixed on the southeast direction, where Cangnan Prefecture was located!
A name shot into her mind like a venomous snake—the Fu family!
Having just been promoted to the fifth rank and received a reward from the Great Zhou Dynasty, this is a time when fortune is gathering and prosperity is on the rise! Moreover, the Fu family and the Wu family already have a feud. Using them as a scapegoat can not only satisfy the requirements of the ceremony, but also avenge the death of his younger brother Wu Li, and eliminate this potential threat. It is simply killing two birds with one stone!
Wu Hongluan stared at the line of text about "the power of destiny as the key," her eyes flashing with cold light.

She wasn't entirely clueless about the method of extracting the fortune of aristocratic families.

Her daughter, Consort Wu, who married into the Eastern Palace and was deeply favored by the Crown Prince, secretly gave her many secrets in order to consolidate her own and her family's position. Among them was an extremely insidious formation—the [Fate-Stealing Reverse Meridian Formation]!
Once set up, this formation can forcibly strip away and absorb the accumulated fortune of a powerful force. However, this formation has a crucial and demanding condition: it requires the blood of a high-ranking cultivator from the direct lineage of the target family as a catalyst to accurately locate and leverage the foundation of their clan's fortune! The purer the bloodline and the higher the cultivation level, the better the effect!

"The Fortune-Seizing Reverse Meridian Array..." Wu Hongluan muttered to herself, a cold smile curving her lips, "Perfect for use!"

She immediately informed Wu Hong of the key points of the formation and the necessary conditions.

Upon hearing this, Wu Hong was initially delighted, but then his brows furrowed and his face showed difficulty:
“Ancestor, this method is indeed ingenious, but… the Fu family is currently holed up in Cangnan Prefecture City, protected by the ‘Earth-Defending Kunyuan Formation.’ This is a fifth-order grand formation with astonishing power. It is said that even a Nascent Soul cultivator would find it difficult to break through in a short time. If the Fu family holds firm and does not come out, we will have no way to enter the city to capture their direct descendants, let alone obtain their blood as a catalyst…”

This is precisely the biggest problem right now. The Fu family, having gained access to the Zhen Shi Si (a powerful organization), possesses a formidable defense, making it impossible for them to find a foothold. Wu Hongluan narrowed her phoenix eyes and said coldly, "If a direct attack doesn't work, can't we find a way to lure them out? Create conditions, set a trap!"

Wu Hong pondered for a moment, his mind racing as he analyzed the known information about the core members of the Fu family:
“Our ancestor is wise. It has now been confirmed that the purest bloodline of the Fu family in Cangnan Prefecture is that of the young patriarch, Fu Yongfan, who is at the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm. If we can use him as a catalyst, the effect will be the best. However, this young man is calm and decisive, meticulous, and has experienced a lot. He is by no means an easy person to deal with. Trying to set a trap to lure him out of the city is as difficult as climbing to the sky.”

He paused and changed the subject:
"Besides him, there is his younger brother, Fu Yongyun. He is the youngest, and although we don't know how he used it, his cultivation has reached the late stage of the Golden Core realm. However, according to the information we have, he has lived in the clan for most of the year and rarely goes out to train. He must lack experience, and his temperament may not be as calm as his brother's. He... may be our only chance."

“Fu Yongyun…” Wu Hongluan repeated the name in a low voice, a cold glint in her eyes, “Late stage of Golden Core, direct descendant, young, inexperienced… Very good! It’s him!”

She looked at Wu Hong and commanded, "Elder Hong, I don't care what method you use or what conditions you create, you must lure Fu Yongyun out of Cangnan Prefecture in the shortest possible time. Remember, he must be alive. At least until he completes his role as the array's guide, he cannot die!"

Wu Hong sensed the resoluteness and chill in the old ancestor's words, and his heart tightened. He knew there was no turning back now, so he bowed and replied, "Yes, old ancestor! Your subordinate will do everything in his power to capture Fu Yongyun!"

Cangnan Prefecture.

Fu Yongyi and Fu Yongfan, along with the Fairy of Heavenly Sound, are in seclusion in the forbidden area behind the mountain.

Chen Feng and Su Wan went to the city to meet the first group of Fu family merchants arriving. Fu Yongrui stayed in the city to gather intelligence.

Fu Yongyun temporarily took charge of the general affairs of Cangnan Prefecture.

Although the affairs of the prefectural city were not extremely demanding, they were still a considerable challenge for Fu Yongyun, who had little experience. He handled his daily affairs diligently, but occasionally he found them somewhat tedious, and he longed more for the magnificent experiences his brothers had described.

On this day, he was reviewing documents when the steward of the mansion led a man to see him. It was none other than Old Man Liu, who had taken in the Fu family and now held a sinecure in the mansion.

Old Liu's face was filled with sorrow, and his eyes were pleading. When he saw Fu Yongyun, he bowed and said, "This humble servant, Liu Gen, pays his respects to Young Master Yongyun."

Fu Yongyun put down the jade slip and said gently, "Elder Liu, there's no need for such formalities. Please speak freely."

Before Old Man Liu could speak, his eyes reddened. He took out a slightly worn communication jade talisman and said in a choked voice, "Young Master, it's...it's my Daoist companion who has been away from home for over a hundred years...sending a message."

Fu Yongyun knew some of Old Liu's past, and frowned slightly upon hearing this.

Old Liu continued, "The message said... she was on her deathbed and wanted to see me one last time before she passed away, and... she also wanted to see her daughter, Xiaoya, one last time." His words were filled with complex emotions, sadness, resentment, but more than anything, a sense of helplessness and soft-heartedness in the face of time. "She said she knew she owed us, father and daughter, a great deal, and dared not ask for forgiveness, she only asked... only asked to see her one last time."

Fu Yongyun was silent for a moment, then asked, "What does Elder Liu mean?"

Old Liu wiped away his tears and sighed, "Young master, everyone has a heart. Although she cruelly abandoned us back then, we were still...we were husband and wife, and she gave birth to Xiaoya. Now that she is dying, I really can't bear to refuse her wish. I want to see her one last time, so that...this karma can be put an end to it."

"And what about your daughter?" Fu Yongyun asked.

Mentioning his daughter, Old Liu's expression turned even more bitter: "That little girl... she's so stubborn, she absolutely refuses to go. She resents her mother for giving birth to her but not raising her, for not caring about her for over a hundred years, and only now, on her deathbed, does she remember... Alas, it's not the child's fault, it's just that this old man was incompetent, unable to keep her mother from leaving back then..."

Looking at Old Liu's grief-stricken appearance, Fu Yongyun couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy. He was young and kind-hearted, and he believed that people on their deathbeds speak kindly, so it was only natural for Old Liu to want to see him and settle his heart's knot.

But he remembered his elder brother Fu Yongfan's strict orders before he went into seclusion: "During our seclusion, the city's formation will be fully activated, and no one is allowed to enter or leave at will, in order to prevent any unforeseen events."

Fu Yongyun hesitated.

Old Liu's situation is special, and he is only a Foundation Establishment cultivator and an outsider. The Wu family should not target an insignificant old man.

After a moment's hesitation, Fu Yongyun looked at Old Liu's expectant and sorrowful eyes and finally softened.

He stood up and said, "Old Liu is a man of great loyalty and righteousness, which is admirable. Since you have made up your mind, I will allow you to leave the manor. However, my elder brother has given prior orders that you must go and return quickly, and be careful on the road without delay!"

Upon hearing this, Old Man Liu was moved to tears and kowtowed repeatedly: "Thank you, young master! Thank you for your kindness! I will definitely go and return quickly and will not cause any trouble for your household!"

Fu Yongyun nodded, personally took the token, opened a small gap in the city's grand formation, sent Old Man Liu out, and repeatedly reminded him to be careful.

Following the message, Old Man Liu arrived at a remote village of ordinary people, hundreds of miles outside Cangnan Prefecture. In a simple thatched hut, he met his Daoist companion, whom he had not seen for over a hundred years.

The woman before him was no longer the radiant woman he remembered. Instead, she lay on the bed with white hair, a wrinkled face, and barely breathing. Only her eyes, which were looking at him, still held a familiar outline, filled with deep guilt and sorrow.

"Brother Gen...you...you've come..." The old woman's voice was hoarse and weak as she struggled to sit up.

Old Liu was overwhelmed with mixed feelings as he watched this scene. His past resentment seemed to have faded considerably in the face of life and death, leaving only a sigh. He stepped forward and helped her up: "Don't move... lie down."

"I'm so sorry... I'm so sorry, little girl..." Tears welled up in the old woman's eyes, her cloudy eyes filled with remorse. "Back then... I was blinded by greed..."

"It's all in the past." Old Liu shook his head, his tone relieved. "It's good to be able to see you one last time before I die."

He assumed his partner's guilt stemmed entirely from abandoning her husband and daughter years ago, and offered words of comfort. Upon hearing this, the old woman's guilt deepened, her lips trembled, as if she wanted to say something but found it difficult to speak.

Just then, a cold, mocking voice suddenly rang out in the room:

"It's so touching, but unfortunately, no matter how well the acting is done, it can't change the ending."

Before he finished speaking, the space inside the room rippled, and the figure of Wu Hong, the eldest elder of the Wu family, slowly appeared. He looked at the old woman on the bed and the astonished old man Liu with a mocking gaze.

"The Wu family!" Old Liu's face changed drastically; he instantly realized he had fallen into a trap! He looked abruptly at his Daoist partner on the bed, his eyes filled with shock and anger. "You...you lied to me?!"

The old woman dared not look Liu in the eye, and sobbed, "Brother Gen... I'm sorry... They kidnapped Xiaobao... my grandson... If I didn't do as they said, they would kill Xiaobao! I had no choice... I really had no choice..."

Grandchildren? Old Liu was struck dumb, finally realizing that his Daoist partner had already remarried after leaving him and even had grandchildren. An indescribable sense of bitterness and absurdity welled up in his heart.

Wu Hong interrupted impatiently, "Enough nonsense! Liu Gen, I'm giving you a chance to live. Cooperate obediently and do us a small favor, and afterwards we'll not only spare your life but also bestow upon you a life of wealth and honor."

Old Liu snapped out of his grief and looked at Wu Hong, his eyes gradually hardening and turning cold. He spat, "Bah! The Wu family is a wolf in sheep's clothing, trying to harm the Fu family? Dream on! The Fu family saved my life and took me in. Although I, Liu Gen, am of low cultivation, I am grateful and will never be an ungrateful wretch!"

The old woman on the bed grew anxious and shrieked, "Liu Gen! Have you gone mad! What kind of power is the Wu family? Can the Fu family compare? A wise man submits to circumstances! Only by following the Wu family can you have a future! Are you really going to risk your life for that little bit of kindness?"

"Those who walk different paths cannot make plans together!" Old Liu said resolutely, his gaze towards his Daoist partner filled with disappointment. "I, Liu Gen, only seek to have a clear conscience in my actions!"

"Stubborn fool!" Wu Hong's face darkened, losing his patience. "Since you refuse to listen to reason, then don't blame this elder for being ruthless!"

He suddenly raised his hand, and a beam of dark light shot into Old Liu's body! Old Liu felt his whole body stiffen, his consciousness instantly blurred, as if something had burrowed into the depths of his soul, and his body was no longer under his control.

"What...what did you do to me?!" Old Liu was horrified to discover that although he could still think, his body was like a puppet on strings.

Wu Hong sneered, then looked at the terrified old woman: "As for you, you've been used up and it's time for you to go. Don't worry, your grandson will be joining you soon."

The old woman stared wide-eyed in disbelief: "No! You promised me...you promised..." Before she could finish, Wu Hong waved his hand, a gust of wind swept past, and the old woman's voice stopped abruptly. Her eyes froze, and her life was extinguished. Even in death, her eyes were filled with the shock and regret of being betrayed.

Wu Hong didn't even glance at her corpse. He ordered the old man Liu, who was being controlled by his secret Gu worm technique, "Go back and meet Fu Yongyun. Light this incense and bring it within three zhang of him." He handed the controlled old man Liu a piece of seemingly ordinary gray incense stick.

……

Cangnan Prefecture, within the garrison headquarters.

Fu Yongyun was handling official business when he saw Old Liu return safely. He breathed a sigh of relief and asked with concern, "Old Liu, did things go well? You don't look too good."

Controlled by the Gu worms, Old Man Liu's movements were slightly stiff, but his voice conveyed weariness and sorrow: "Thank you for your concern, Young Master. I've... I've already sent her away. With this matter settled, I feel empty inside." As he spoke, he seemingly unintentionally moved closer to Fu Yongyun, and the gray incense stick in his sleeve was quietly lit, the colorless and odorless smoke slowly drifting out.

Fu Yongyun, unsuspecting, even offered words of comfort: "When a person dies, it's like a lamp going out. Mr. Liu, please accept this loss and take care of yourself..."

Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly felt his magical power stagnate, its circulation becoming extremely sluggish, as if it were bound by invisible shackles!
"Not good!" Fu Yongyun's expression changed drastically, and he tried to retreat, but it was too late!

A strange smile appeared on the face of "Old Man Liu" opposite him. He opened his mouth and spat out a thin golden light that shot out like lightning and instantly entered Fu Yongyun's body!
Fu Yongyun felt a cold and evil power instantly invade his meridians, rushing straight to his dantian and sea of ​​consciousness. He wanted to resist, but his magic power was imprisoned by the strange fragrance and he couldn't mobilize it at all!

"You...you're not Old Liu!" Fu Yongyun was both shocked and furious, staring intently at the person in front of him.

Old Liu's body began to tremble violently, as if countless insects were wriggling beneath his skin. His face contorted in extreme pain, his eyes darting between fleeting clarity and confusion. With his last breath, he roared, "Young Master...quick...go...away...the Gu..."

Before he could finish speaking, his body turned to ashes like dry grass that had been set ablaze, vanishing into the air, his soul and spirit utterly destroyed!
The golden light that invaded Fu Yongyun's body was the mother Gu planted by Wu Hong. It had already taken root in his body and began to devour his essence and magic power, releasing a stronger binding force. At the same time, a strange power began to erode his soul!

Fu Yongyun groaned, feeling excruciating pain all over his body, and his consciousness began to blur. He tried his best to activate the life-saving method given to him by his elder brother, but the Gu worm was extremely strange, and even his divine sense was greatly suppressed!

Everything went black before his eyes, and he completely lost consciousness.

...

...

The night is dark and everything is silent.

Under the cover of the fifth-order grand formation, Cangnan Prefecture City resembled a sleeping behemoth, exuding an aura of tranquility. However, a figure, as elusive as a ghost, silently evaded all the patrolling guards and arrived at the edge of the city's grand formation.

It was Fu Yongyun who was controlled by the Gu worm.

His eyes were vacant, but his movements were exceptionally precise. In his hand was a barrier-breaking talisman given to him beforehand by Wu Hong, which carried special privileges. He simply affixed the talisman to the light barrier, and the solid Earth-Defending Kun Yuan Array light barrier rippled open like water, creating a gap just wide enough for one person to pass through.

Fu Yongyun flashed and appeared outside the city. Without any hesitation, he flew low towards a predetermined direction.

Just a dozen miles from the city, a Wu family treasure ship, which had been hidden in the clouds, slowly descended. The cabin door opened, and Wu Hong appeared with two trusted elders, a sinister smile on his face as if his scheme had succeeded.

"Excellent! All my efforts in arranging this have not been in vain!" Wu Hong looked at Fu Yongyun, whose eyes were vacant and who was like a puppet on a string, and nodded in satisfaction. He carefully checked the condition of the Gu worms in Fu Yongyun's body and confirmed that the control was stable and there were no unexpected issues.

"Take them onto the ship and return to Changling Mountain immediately! There must be no mistakes!" Wu Hong ordered.

Two elders immediately stepped forward, one on each side, to "escort" Fu Yongyun onto the treasure ship. The treasure ship then took off, its array fully activated, increasing its speed to the maximum. It transformed into a streak of light and sped towards Changling Mountain without the slightest delay.

Inside the cabin, Wu Hong took out the dark red communication jade talisman, immersed his divine sense into it, and sent a message to Wu Hongluan, who was far away in Changling Mountain:
"Ancestor, the prey has been captured and is on its way back! The 'key' will be ready soon. Please prepare to resume the sacrificial ceremony!"

After sending the message, Wu Hong looked out the window at the rapidly receding sea of ​​clouds, his eyes flashing with excitement and ruthlessness.

"Fu Yongyun, Fu Yongyun, if you have to blame someone, blame yourself for being born into the wrong family! Being able to become a stepping stone for the ancestor to ascend to the Nascent Soul stage is a fitting end for your death!"

Confined to a corner of the cabin, Fu Yongyun's eyes remained vacant, oblivious to his impending fate. Only deep within his dantian, where the golden core was tightly suppressed by the Gu worms, would occasionally flicker with an extremely faint, unwilling ripple, which would then be swallowed up by the even denser darkness and confinement.

The treasure ship cut through the long night, carrying the Wu family's ambitions and Fu Yongyun's misfortune, heading straight for that bloody sacrificial site.

...

...

At Changling Mountain, in front of the Spirit-Guiding Sacrifice Tower.

Upon receiving Wu Hong's message, Wu Hongluan's phoenix eyes suddenly flashed with a terrifying light, and her whole body trembled slightly with excitement. She had waited for this moment for far too long!
"Everyone, listen to my command!" Her clear, cold voice echoed throughout the valley. "'The key' is on its way. From this moment on, operate the sacrificial tower at full power to maintain the sealing fluctuations. Once the 'key' is in place, we will proceed with the final sacrifice!"

"We will obey the Ancestor's decree!" The core elders of the Wu family below responded in unison, casting spells to reactivate the somewhat dim sacrificial tower. The blood-red runes slowly lit up, echoing the ancient light shield covered with cracks below, maintaining its unstable state.

Several hours later, a streak of light rushed across the sky and the Wu family's treasure ship landed steadily beside the sacrificial tower.

Wu Hong jumped off the boat first, walked quickly to Wu Hongluan, and bowed: "Ancestor, I have not failed you! Fu Yongyun, the direct descendant of the Fu family, has been brought here!"

Behind him, two elders escorted Fu Yongyun, whose eyes were vacant and whose movements were stiff.

Wu Hongluan's burning gaze instantly fell on Fu Yongyun, as if she were examining a perfect sacrifice. She scanned him with her divine sense, confirming that his body brimmed with vitality, his late-stage Golden Core cultivation was stable, and his bloodline was pure—the perfect "catalyst" to unleash the [Reverse Meridian Fortune-Stealing Array]!
"Good! Very good!" Wu Hongluan exclaimed repeatedly, her face beaming with almost manic joy. "Heaven blesses the Wu family! Elder Hong, you have done a great service!"

"I would gladly die to serve our ancestor!" Wu Hong quickly pledged his loyalty.

"There's no time to lose, set up the formation immediately!" Wu Hongluan didn't delay any longer. With a flick of her sleeve, dozens of strangely shaped, pitch-black formation flags, shrouded in an ominous aura, flew out and precisely inserted themselves into specific positions around the sacrificial tower. These were the formation flags of the [Fate-Stealing Reverse Meridian Formation]!

She personally took action, forming hand seals and chanting ancient and sinister incantations. As she chanted, the black array flags moved without wind, and twisted blood-red runes appeared on their surfaces. Strands of black and red light spread out from the flagpoles, intertwining and entwining like living things, quickly outlining a complex array pattern about three zhang in diameter in front of the sacrificial tower.

At the center of the formation, a powerful suction vortex emanated, faintly pointing southeast—towards the location of Cangnan Prefecture!
"Place the 'primer' at the heart of the formation!" Wu Hongluan shouted sternly.

Wu Hong immediately signaled to the two elders to escort Fu Yongyun to the very center of the formation. Fu Yongyun stood there stiffly, still without any reaction.

Wu Hongluan took a deep breath, a ruthless glint flashing in her eyes. She pointed her fingers like a sword and made several virtual taps on Fu Yongyun's three vital points: his brow, chest, and dantian!
"Puff puff!"

Three jets of crimson blood suddenly shot out from Fu Yongyun's three locations! The blood did not fall randomly, but was drawn by the power of the formation and precisely merged into the patterns of the formation beneath his feet!
(End of this chapter)