Family Rise: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 658 The Chosen One! The Crown Prince's Wrath!!
"Ugh—!"

The intense pain even broke through some of the Gu worm's restraints, causing Fu Yongyun to let out an unconscious, painful groan. His body trembled violently, and a fleeting moment of clarity and extreme agony appeared in his eyes, only to be quickly replaced by emptiness. His face turned deathly pale at a visible speed, and his breath rapidly weakened.

The formation, infused with the blood of the Fu family's direct descendants, suddenly erupted with a soaring evil light!

The black and red beam of light, following that mysterious connection, suddenly blasted towards the southeast!
at the same time.

Far above Cangnan Prefecture, the once clear sky suddenly darkened, and the wind and clouds changed color!

An invisible, immense power, representing the new life and fortune of the Fu family, was forcibly extracted from the earth veins of Cangnan Prefecture and from the destiny of the Fu family members. It transformed into a torrent invisible to ordinary people, crossing space and being forcibly plundered!

"It's here! The power of destiny!"

Wu Hongluan felt the immense power that came from across the void, and she trembled with excitement!

however.

next moment.

But then the immense aura trembled slightly, and then unexpectedly reversed course:

"what happened?!"

Wu Laozu was startled.

It looks like all their luck is about to slip away.

She immediately activated her cultivation technique with all her might, guiding the remaining luck and mixing it with the blood sacrifice energy that had not yet completely dissipated from the sacrificial tower below. This transformed into a beam of light, interwoven with black and red, and entwined with countless resentments and unwillingness, which she forcefully poured into the ancient light shield below, which was covered with cracks—the Dragon Source Seal!
"Open the gate for me!"

Wu Hongluan let out a sharp whistle, pouring all her power into it!

"Kacha... Kachacha..."

This time, the incredibly tough ancient light shield, after obtaining the "Key of Destiny," finally could no longer hold on! Cracks spread rapidly like a spider web, instantly covering the entire surface of the light shield!
Boom! ! !

A deafening roar shook the entire Changling Mountain!
The ancient Dragon Source Seal shattered completely! It transformed into countless shimmering specks of light, dissipating into the world!
The moment the seal shattered, an indescribable, extremely pure, and immense energy containing the majesty of a true dragon and the breath of endless life erupted from the ground like a volcano that had been dormant for millennia!

The light dissipated.

Where the seal had been placed, a strange plant, about three feet tall, appeared, its entire body resembling a piece of blood-red jade. Its branches and leaves were crystal clear, with golden dragon shadows seemingly moving within its veins. At its tip grew three fruits, each the size of a dragon's eye, as red as blood, with naturally occurring dragon scale patterns on their surface—it was the Dragon Blood Bodhi!

The rich, almost overwhelming aroma of herbs instantly filled the entire valley, invigorating everyone and stirring their magical powers!

"Dragon Blood Bodhi! Finally... finally got it!" Wu Hongluan looked at the three fruits that shone with an alluring luster, her eyes filled with endless greed and ecstasy!
She couldn't wait to reach out and grab, and a suction force surged forth, about to pluck the three Dragon Blood Bodhi seeds.

However, just as her power was about to touch the Dragon Blood Bodhi!
Mutations reborn!

Beneath the Dragon Blood Bodhi plant, at the core that was originally sealed, a more ancient and obscure rune suddenly lit up!

"Damn it!"

Clearly, the dissipation of a large portion of the power of destiny caused the entire ceremony to be incomplete, leaving behind unresolved issues!
Wu Laozu was both shocked and furious.

Just now.

"Roar!"

A dragon's roar, seemingly from the ancient wilderness, suddenly resounded throughout the heavens and earth!

The shockwave made the entire Changling Mountain tremble, and the martial arts cultivators with lower cultivation levels even coughed up blood and collapsed to the ground!

Within the runes, a massive phantom slowly condensed and rose!
It was a dragon-shaped creature covered in dark gold scales, with a single horn on its head and five claws on its belly! It was not a physical entity, but rather composed of pure dragon essence and remnants of will. However, the pressure it exuded was like a tangible mountain, clearly reaching the Nascent Soul level!
The guardian dragon spirit's massive body suddenly swung, carrying a destructive aura, and pounced directly towards Wu Hongluan!

The dragon opened its mouth, and a burst of scorching dragon breath, hot enough to melt metal, erupted forth!

"Form the formation! Quickly form the [Mysterious Tortoise Sea-Suppressing Formation]!"

Although Wu Hongluan was startled, she remained calm and roared sharply.

Although the dragon spirit's aura was strong, it was somewhat weak!

The surviving elders of the Wu family suppressed their fear and quickly formed a defensive formation around Wu Hongluan. Streams of spiritual energy shot into the sky, intertwining to form a huge spiritual energy shield that shimmered with tortoise shell patterns, barely managing to block the terrifying dragon breath!

"Ancestor! This dragon spirit is too powerful, it may have the strength of a Nascent Soul cultivator! We may not be able to withstand it, so we should avoid its sharp edge for now..." Wu Hong transmitted his voice, his face pale, as he sensed a deadly threat.

"Shut up!" Wu Hongluan's eyes were fierce as she stared intently at the circling dragon spirit. "It has been sealed for countless years and is already at its last gasp! This is its weakest moment! If we wait for it to absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and recover, we will have no chance! I am determined to obtain this Dragon Blood Bodhi!"

A resolute glint flashed across her face. Her hands abruptly formed an ancient and complex hand seal, and she shouted to the martial arts elders behind her who were arrayed in formation:
"Everyone, pour all your spiritual power into my body! Unleash the secret technique—[Blood Burning and Yuan Gathering Technique]!"

"Ancestor!"

Wu Hong and the others' expressions changed drastically.

This [Blood Burning and Yuan Gathering Technique] is a forbidden secret technique that the martial arts family has kept hidden. It forcibly raises the practitioner's cultivation level by one major realm by burning a large amount of the practitioner's and assistant's essence and potential. However, the practitioner will inevitably suffer severe damage to their vital energy afterward, and may even experience a drop in cultivation level!
"Execute the order!" Wu Hongluan's voice was icy and left no room for argument.

Wu Hong and the others dared not hesitate any longer. They bit their tongues and spat out their blood essence, while simultaneously injecting their spiritual power into Wu Hongluan's body without reservation!

"Om-!"

Wu Hongluan's aura erupted like a volcano!

Her face flushed instantly, veins bulged on her skin, and her aura surged. She forcefully broke through the solid barrier between the nascent soul and the nascent soul, temporarily possessing the terrifying strength of the early nascent soul stage! Although her aura was far less refined and stable than that of a true nascent soul cultivator, the pressure of the nascent soul stage was undeniable!
"Beast! Die!"

Feeling the surging power within her body, Wu Hongluan's confidence soared. She let out a sharp cry and pushed her hands forward forcefully!
"Nascent Soul Technique - Profound Yin Extinction Divine Light!"

A massive, dark gray beam of light, imbued with an aura of annihilation and death, seemed to emanate from the deepest hell, tearing through space and fiercely meeting the onrushing guardian dragon spirit! This was her trump card, a move that only those at the Nascent Soul stage could barely unleash!
A hint of solemnity flashed in the eyes of the guardian dragon spirit.

It let out an even louder dragon roar, its dark golden scales shining brightly, and a wild and ancient aura spread out!
"Bloodline Treasure Technique - True Dragon Sky-Splitting Claw!"

A gigantic dragon claw, formed entirely from pure dragon essence, appeared out of thin air. Its tip gleamed with a cold light that seemed to tear through space, and with an unstoppable momentum, it fiercely grabbed at the gray-black pillar of light!

Rumble——! ! !
Two terrifying attacks from the Nascent Soul level collided violently!
It unleashed a devastating energy shock!
The entire valley was instantly engulfed by a raging energy storm. The earth cracked, rocks turned to dust, and even the sturdy spirit-guiding sacrificial tower shook violently, cracks appearing on its body!

The stalemate lasted only a moment.

Wu Hongluan's [Mysterious Yin Extinction Divine Light] began to falter. After all, she had relied on secret techniques to forcibly enhance it, and her power was unstable. How could she possibly contend with a true dragon spirit bloodline treasure technique?
As the gray pillar of light was about to be torn apart by the dragon claw, a hint of pain flashed in Wu Hongluan's eyes, but more so, ruthlessness.

She suddenly slapped her dantian, and a beam of golden light shot out!

That was none other than a palm-sized, ancient-looking jade talisman radiating a sharp sword aura—a Nascent Soul Talisman! This was her trump card for survival, which she had obtained at great cost, containing the full force of a Nascent Soul sword cultivator's attack!
"cut!"

Wu Hongluan shouted sharply, activating the talisman with all her might!

hum!
The jade talisman instantly transformed into a hundred-foot-long golden giant sword, its sword intent soaring into the sky, carrying a terrifying will to annihilate everything, like a sword of divine punishment, fiercely slashing down towards the dragon spirit's Achilles' heel!

This strike has already reached the level of the mid-Nascent Soul stage!

The guardian dragon felt it was under mortal threat and let out a roar of alarm and rage!

It never expected that this human cultivator who had been forcibly promoted would have such a trump card!
At the critical moment, a resolute glint flashed in the enormous eyes of the guardian dragon spirit. It opened its mouth and spat out a dark golden scale, no bigger than an infant's palm, yet exuding an aura of boundless vastness, majesty, and immortality!

These scales may seem inconspicuous, but they are naturally engraved with profound and mysterious Dao patterns, as if they embody the ultimate principles of heaven and earth! They are the only remaining scale in its body—the true dragon's innate reverse scale!

The True Dragon's Reverse Scale hovered above the Dragon Spirit's head, instantly enlarging into an ancient, dark golden shield. Dragon shadows danced across the shield's surface, emanating an aura of impenetrability to all magic!
clang--! ! ! !

The golden greatsword slammed into the dark gold shield, producing a deafening clang that shook the universe! A terrifying shockwave spread out in a ring, tearing fine black cracks into the surrounding space!

The golden giant sword formed from the Nascent Soul talisman trembled violently, its sword light rapidly dimming, and finally, with a "crack," it shattered into countless points of light. The shield formed from the true dragon's life-bound reverse scale also dimmed, a fine crack appeared on its surface, and with a mournful cry, it shrank back to its original shape and flew back into the dragon spirit's body.

"Roar!"

The guardian dragon spirit was completely enraged!

As a noble dragon, it was driven to such a state by a group of insignificant humans, even its life-saving True Dragon Reverse Scale was damaged! Rage overwhelmed its reason, causing it to disregard the damage to its own essence and forcefully activate its bloodline power once again!
"Roar—! Ants! Die!"

The dark golden light on the dragon spirit's massive body surged once again, but this time the light was fierce and unstable. It burned the little remaining primordial dragon essence, and its huge dragon mouth suddenly opened, instantly condensing a dark golden light sphere that was compressed to the extreme and seemed to contain countless tiny dragon shadows roaring and churning inside!

"Bloodline Treasure Technique - Dragon Essence Annihilation Wave!"

The dark golden orb, carrying an aura of annihilation, shot towards Wu Hongluan and the Wu family's battle formation behind her like a meteor! Wherever it passed, space itself distorted and collapsed!
Wu Hongluan's expression changed drastically; she felt a deadly threat from this attack!
This beast is fighting desperately!

"Everyone, defend with all your might!"

She screamed, no longer caring about holding back. A stream of light flew out from her sleeve, instantly transforming into an ancient and heavy bronze cauldron. The cauldron was engraved with mountains, rivers, flowers, birds, insects, and fish, radiating a powerful spiritual pressure—this was her natal spiritual treasure, the Mountain and River Cauldron, which she had nurtured for many years!
She spat a mouthful of blood essence onto the cauldron, and the Mountain and River Cauldron hummed and instantly expanded, becoming like a mountain blocking the front of the battle formation. With its mouth facing downwards, thousands of thick, earth-yellow mystic lights fell down, attempting to block the terrifying Dragon Essence Annihilation Wave!
However, the dragon spirit, enraged by burning its very essence, unleashed a strike far more powerful than before!

The dark golden Dragon Essence Annihilation Wave crashed fiercely against the mysterious light hanging from the Mountain and River Cauldron!

"Kacha... Boom!!!"

The stalemate lasted less than a breath before the thousands of thick, profound lights shattered like paper! The Dragon Essence Annihilation Wave continued its momentum, directly striking the Mountain and River Cauldron!
"clang--!"

With a deafening roar, the Mountain and River Cauldron groaned in despair, its body instantly covered in cracks. Its spiritual light dimmed completely, and it shrank back into Wu Hongluan's body with a mournful cry. With her natal spiritual treasure injured, Wu Hongluan immediately suffered a severe blow to her mind and body, spitting out another mouthful of blood.

Without the protection of the Mountain and River Cauldron, the Dragon Essence Annihilation Wave, though weakened, was still terrifying and struck the [Mysterious Turtle Sea Suppressing Formation] hastily formed by the Wu family!

"Do not--!"

Wu Hong and the others let out desperate roars, pouring all their spiritual power into the formation without reservation.

But it was all in vain!
In the face of absolute power, defense is as fragile as a bubble!

"Puff-puff-!"

The battle formation was instantly torn apart and collapsed! Several core elders of the Wu family, all at the late Golden Core stage, who were at the core of the formation, were the first to be hit. Under the violent dragon energy, their protective spiritual light melted away like ice and snow, and their bodies were instantly vaporized. They didn't even have time to scream before their souls and spirits were destroyed! The other elders were also severely injured by the aftershocks of the energy, coughing up blood and flying backward, their fates unknown!
As the core of the formation, Wu Hongluan suffered the greatest backlash! Her forcibly enhanced Nascent Soul cultivation receded like a tide. The terrifying backlash from the interruption of the secret technique caused her meridians to rupture, her Golden Core to crack, and her aura to plummet to the bottom. Her injuries were more than ten times worse than before!
Looking at her clansmen who had suffered heavy casualties in an instant, and at the guardian dragon spirit that was still ferocious and powerful, whose killing intent had intensified even though its aura had weakened, despair and fear finally appeared in her eyes.

Where there is life, there is hope!

A look of extreme pain flashed across her face as she abruptly crushed an ancient jade talisman that she had always kept hidden in her sleeve—it was her trump card, an extremely precious teleportation talisman!

"Buzz!"

A powerful spatial fluctuation instantly enveloped her.

"You beast! I will remember this grudge! I will repay it a hundredfold in the future!" Wu Hongluan glared venomously at the guardian dragon spirit and the dragon blood bodhi that was so close yet so far away. Her figure instantly became illusory amidst the spatial fluctuations.

The guardian dragon roared and slammed its claw down, but only shattered the spatial ripples left behind. Wu Hongluan had already teleported away to an unknown location using a small teleportation talisman.

"Ancestor!"

The elder's eyes were bloodshot, and he roared in a hoarse voice.

He didn't expect that.

At the critical moment, the patriarch surprisingly chose to flee alone.

At this moment, although the guardian dragon spirit's aura had weakened due to the continuous bursts of power, its ferocity had been fully unleashed. Its enormous dragon eyes were fixed on him, the one with the highest cultivation level present. With a swish of its massive body, carrying the remaining dragon might, it pounced again, its sharp claws tearing through the air, aiming straight for Wu Hong's head!

"Form the formation! Quickly! Form the Lesser Four Symbols Formation!"

Suppressing his grief and curses, Wu Hong sternly called out to the seven or eight remaining, heavily wounded Golden Core elders around him. These were his trusted confidants, whom he could barely rely on at this moment.

The remaining martial arts masters, despite their injuries, quickly gathered together, forming a simplified defensive battle formation. Streaks of spiritual energy shone as they attempted a final stand.

However, although the dragon spirit was injured, its remaining power was still strong! Its huge dragon tail lashed fiercely at the battle formation's light shield like a steel whip!
"boom!"

The protective barrier shook violently, flickering unpredictably. Everyone inside the formation coughed up blood, their faces turning even paler. A Golden Core stage elder, already severely injured, suffered a complete collapse of his spiritual energy, screaming as he was blasted away. Before he even hit the ground, he was incinerated to ashes by a wisp of dragon breath casually spat out by the Dragon Spirit!

"It...it's absorbing our life force to recover!" An elder was horrified to discover that the dragon spirit's minor wounds seemed to be slowly healing. Although its aura was still weak, it was no longer declining and instead showed a faint tendency to rebound from its lowest point!

It can even use the blood and soul power dissipated by severely injured cultivators as nourishment!
With one side gaining at the expense of the other, the Wu family members became even more desperate.

"Fight it!" Two more Golden Core elders were torn apart by the dragon's claws in the dragon's next attack, their essence, blood, and souls greedily devoured by the dragon.

Seeing his trusted confidants fall one by one, and the battle formation on the verge of collapse, a glint of madness and determination flashed in Wu Hong's eyes. Without further hesitation, he slammed his storage bag, and a jade talisman radiating a sharp sword intent and bearing fine cracks appeared in his hand—this was his trump card, a powerful but nearly ruined Nascent Soul Sword Talisman!

"You beast! Die!"

Wu Hong frantically poured the remaining spiritual power in his body into the sword talisman and suddenly activated it against the rushing dragon spirit!
"Zheng!"

Although not as refined as Wu Hongluan's sword, a sword aura of unparalleled sharpness, like a startled swan in the dark night, silently tore through space and headed straight for an old wound below the reverse scale on Long Ling's neck, which had been exposed by the previous attack!
The dragon spirit was determined to win, and never expected that this seemingly exhausted human had such a treacherous trick up his sleeve! By the time it sensed the deadly sword energy, it was too late to completely dodge!
"Pfft!"

The sword energy pierced the old wound with unparalleled precision, instantly erupting! The fierce sword intent raged wildly within the dragon spirit's body!

"Aow—!" The dragon spirit let out a shrill, extremely painful howl. Its massive body convulsed violently, and dark golden dragon blood gushed out of its wounds like a waterfall! Its aura plummeted like a deflated balloon, and the ferocity in its eyes was quickly replaced by pain and weakness. It crashed heavily to the ground, creating a deep crater. Only weak breathing remained, and it looked like it was on its last legs, not far from death.

An eerie silence fell over the valley.

Wu Hong was stunned when he saw Long Ling lying on the ground, barely breathing. Then, a huge surge of joy welled up in his heart!
Dead?! This terrifying dragon spirit was actually critically injured and on the verge of death by his own attack?!

His heart pounded wildly, and his gaze instantly turned intensely to the intact Dragon Blood Bodhi tree that still radiated an alluring luster!

The patriarch fled, and the clan's elite forces were almost entirely wiped out... Now, this Dragon Blood Bodhi, and this Dragon Spirit's body, a treasure trove... wouldn't they all belong to me, Wu Hong?! If I can use this to break through to the Nascent Soul stage... then the Wu family should henceforth bear the surname Wu Hong!
Overwhelmed by immense greed, he was instantly consumed by it.

But being cautious by nature, he suppressed the urge to rush forward immediately and instructed the only remaining trusted elder beside him, who was also badly wounded:

"Go! Carefully pluck that Dragon Blood Bodhi from this 'Ten Thousand Year Warm Jade Box'! Check if the dragon spirit is truly dead!"

A hint of greed flashed in the eyes of the trusted elder, but he dared not disobey. He took the jade box that Wu Hong handed him, which exuded a soft warmth, and carefully flew towards the direction where the Dragon Blood Bodhi and the Dragon Spirit had fallen.

He cautiously observed the dragon spirit, and seeing that it was indeed completely still and its aura was so weak that it was almost nonexistent, he approached the Dragon Blood Bodhi with peace of mind. He skillfully used a special technique to transplant it, along with the spiritual soil around its roots, into the Ten Thousand Year Warm Jade Box, and quickly closed the lid to seal the spiritual energy.

"Elder, the treasure is in our hands! The dragon spirit is no longer alive!" The trusted elder exclaimed excitedly, holding the jade box.

Seeing this, Wu Hong lowered his guard and a smug smile appeared on his face. He was about to step forward and take the jade box.

However, in that very instant!

A sudden change occurred!

The dragon spirit, which had seemed to be on its last legs and lifeless, suddenly opened its tightly closed eyes! There was no trace of weakness left in its eyes, only endless resentment, madness, and a blazing golden light like a final burst of energy before death!
A dragon's might, far more ferocious and terrifying than before, erupted like a volcano! It burned away the last of its primordial dragon soul and life essence!
"Roar! You despicable humans! Let's destroy each other!"

The dragon spirit unleashed its final and most powerful attack! Its entire shattered dragon body transformed into a destructive dark golden streak of light, crashing into Wu Hong and his trusted elder with a resolute determination to perish together!
"Do not!!!"

Wu Hong was terrified. He was a little further away, and in this life-or-death moment, the instinct for survival overwhelmed everything! Almost instinctively, he shoved the trusted elder who was holding the jade box and was at the heart of the attack forward, while he himself retreated frantically backward!

"Elder, you... ah!"

The trusted elder had no time to react. His face was still filled with astonishment and disbelief when he was instantly engulfed by the destructive stream of light that the dragon spirit had transformed into. He and the box were vaporized, and his soul was destroyed!
Although Wu Hong had a buffer, the aftershocks of Long Ling's final attack were still terrifying! All the defensive magic treasures he hastily summoned shattered like paper. He was as if he had been hit head-on by Changling Mountain. His ribs were broken, his internal organs were displaced, and he spat out blood. He flew backward like a broken sack and crashed heavily into the mountain wall.

Faced with Long Ling's fearless counterattack.

At this moment, he couldn't care less about the Dragon Blood Bodhi. Survival was the priority. He quickly mustered his last bit of vital energy, burned his remaining essence blood, and used the extremely costly Blood Escape Technique.

"puff!"

He spat out another mouthful of blood, which turned into a blood mist that enveloped him. The next moment, his figure disappeared from the spot like a ghost.

...

...

at the same time.

The dragon spirit unleashed a devastating attack, its enormous phantom flickering violently like a candle in the wind, its originally blazing golden light quickly dimming and dissipating.

It had been sealed away for countless years and was already at its last gasp. Just now, in order to force back the powerful enemy, it burned the last remaining essence of its dragon soul. Now it was completely exhausted and had reached the end of its life.

"Alas... Through countless ages, it all comes to nothing but... a mirage..."

The dragon spirit's enormous body began to become transparent, eventually turning into specks of golden light that drifted away like fireflies.

"what?"

In the instant before its consciousness was completely annihilated.

It seems that something has been discovered.

Its last remaining spiritual thought, carrying the ancient jade box containing the Dragon Blood Bodhi, like a weary bird returning to its nest, precisely entered the body of Fu Yongyun, a young man who was unconscious and weak from having his essence and fortune forcibly extracted, in the ruins not far away.

It sensed a unique aura emanating from this boy.

The moment the jade box entered Fu Yongyun's body, an unexpected change occurred!
The Dragon Blood Bodhi seemed to sense a compatible vessel and actively released its purest Dragon Essence medicinal power! This vast yet gentle energy did not violently impact Fu Yongyun's body. Instead, like sweet rain, it first nourished and repaired his meridians and dantian, which were riddled with holes due to the loss of essence and blood and the invasion of Gu worms.

The mother Gu within his body, which had lost Wu Hong's control, was instantly purified and melted away in the face of this pure and vast dragon essence, like ice and snow meeting the blazing sun.

Immediately afterwards, a massive amount of energy began to surge into his golden core! His cultivation level began to rise rapidly at a visible speed!
Golden Core Stage 7... Golden Core Stage 8... Golden Core Stage 9...

In the end, his cultivation progressed rapidly, breaking through the barrier of the late Golden Core stage and firmly settling at the peak of the Golden Core stage!
However, the energy contained in the Dragon Blood Bodhi and the last dissipated portion of the Dragon Spirit's essence was far more than that. Most of the purer and more abundant energy was not immediately absorbed, but was sealed layer by layer by a mysterious sealing power originating from the Dragon Spirit's lingering will, stored in his limbs, bones, and deep dantian, like a dormant volcano, waiting for him to gradually refine and absorb it in the future.

I do not know how long it has been.

Fu Yongyun's long eyelashes fluttered, and he slowly opened his eyes.

At first, his eyes were somewhat dazed and cloudy, but soon, the memories before he fell into a coma came flooding back like a tide—Old Liu's betrayal, the strange incense sticks, the Gu worms that burrowed into his body, losing consciousness... as well as fragmented and complex memories and insights belonging to the Dragon Spirit, and the surging, seemingly endless power within his body!

He sat up abruptly and looked inward at himself in disbelief.

His cultivation at the peak of the Golden Core stage was incredibly stable, his internal injuries had been fully healed, and he was even several times stronger than before he was injured! The vast energy that was sealed away was even more alarming to him.

We must not stay here!

All traces must be destroyed. No one, especially the Wu family, should be allowed to deduce what happened here or the true whereabouts of the Dragon Blood Bodhi!
He took a deep breath, and the immense magical power of the peak Golden Core stage erupted without reservation! He formed hand seals, drawing upon the earth's energy, while simultaneously activating the vast energy within his body that was not yet fully refined and carried a trace of dragon might!
"The earth's veins are overturned, and dragon flames scorch the heavens!"

He let out a low shout and slammed both palms down onto the ground!

"Boom--!"

The entire Changling Mountain began to tremble violently, more violently than ever before! The earth cracked open into bottomless ravines, and scorching subterranean fire erupted from the fissures, engulfing everything! Rocks collapsed, trees were burned, and all traces of the battle, the lingering aura, were completely erased, covered, and annihilated in this instant!
...

...

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

Wu Hongluan's figure staggered into existence amidst a spatial fluctuation. As soon as she landed, she spat out another mouthful of dark red blood, her face as pale as paper, and her aura extremely weak. She forced herself to sit cross-legged, her consciousness sinking into her body to carefully examine her injuries.

This investigation plunged her into despair.

Her meridians were severed, many acupoints collapsed, and her golden core was covered in cracks, its light dimming. What was even more troublesome was that the dragon spirit's final counterattack contained a trace of strange dragon essence evil energy, like a bone-deep sore, constantly eroding her foundation.

“Such domineering dragon essence... I’m afraid ordinary pills will be unable to eradicate it.” Wu Hongluan frowned, her eyes filled with gloom. “It seems that we have no choice but to ask the Eastern Palace for the ‘Nine Cloud Pill’.”

The Nine Cloud Pill is a secret healing elixir of the Eastern Palace, said to be able to heal flesh and bone, revive the dead, and has miraculous effects on restoring one's foundation and expelling foreign energies. However, this pill is extremely precious, and even for her daughter, Consort Wu, to obtain one would be no easy task.

The thought of having to beg her daughter for medicine filled Wu Hongluan with a sense of humiliation. But what fueled her anger and resentment even more was the near-failure of Changling Mountain!

After years of planning, expending a vast amount of resources of the Wu family, and even sacrificing the lives of his younger brother Wu Li and many core elders, they ended up in such a state! They failed to obtain the Dragon Blood Bodhi, were severely injured and on the verge of death, and suffered a great loss to the Wu family's strength. It can be said that they lost both their wife and their army!

"How hateful! How hateful!" She dug her fingers deep into the ground until her knuckles turned white.

However, being an ancient monster who had lived for hundreds of years, she quickly forced herself to calm down from her extreme anger and resentment. What's done is done; regret was useless. She had to find a way to make up for the losses, and perhaps even… extract the greatest benefit from them!

Her eyes flickered, and an idea gradually became clear.

The secret of Changling Mountain, after such a massive battle, can probably no longer be kept secret. While the dragon spirit is terrifying, the Eastern Palace has deep resources and numerous experts; they may well have the means to subdue it. Since my Wu family cannot obtain it, then perhaps… we should offer it to the Eastern Palace as a favor—no, as a "grand gift"!

Given the Crown Prince's doting affection for his daughter, if she could seize this opportunity to subdue the Dragon Spirit and even obtain the Dragon Blood Bodhi, her position would undoubtedly be more secure, and the rewards she would receive would certainly be substantial. At that time, she herself would not only receive the Nine Cloud Pill to heal her injuries, but perhaps also gain other resources to compensate for the family's losses, and even forge a deeper bond with the Crown Prince!

Think of this.

She struggled to her feet and retrieved a beautifully crafted bronze mirror with phoenix patterns inlaid along its edges from a hidden compartment in the secret room. This was the unique communication tool she shared with her daughter, Consort Wu, who was far away in the Eastern Palace—the Mother-Child Heart Mirror.

She forcefully suppressed the pain from her injuries, channeled her remaining magical power, and poured it into the spirit mirror.

The mirror rippled like water, and soon, the silhouette of a woman dressed in palace attire appeared. Her appearance was somewhat similar to Wu Hongluan's, but she was younger and more beautiful, with a hint of elegance and arrogance between her brows. She was her daughter, the Crown Prince's concubine.

"Mother?" Wu Yunshang was shocked to see Wu Hongluan's pale and weak appearance in the mirror. "What happened to you? How did you get so badly injured?"

"Yunshang, my son..." Wu Hongluan's voice was weak, filled with just the right amount of grief and urgency, "Your mother is powerless. My Wu family... discovered an immense opportunity in Changling Mountain of Jinzhou, which we intended to offer to the Crown Prince, but alas... the dragon spirit guarding this opportunity is simply too powerful..."

She deliberately omitted the specific details of the Wu family's original intention to monopolize the treasure and their failure, emphasizing instead the "treasure hunt for the Eastern Palace" and the "powerful dragon spirit."

"Dragon Spirit?!" Upon hearing this, Wu Yunshang's phoenix eyes lit up, and her breathing became rapid. "Mother, is what you're saying true? There's a Dragon Spirit in Changling Mountain? And an opportunity associated with it?" She had been stuck at the peak of the Golden Core stage for a long time, desperately seeking an opportunity to form her Nascent Soul. The Dragon Spirit and the treasures associated with it held a fatal attraction for her!

"Absolutely true!" Wu Hongluan affirmed, and then released a trace of the extremely weak dragon essence remaining in her body, transmitting it through the spirit mirror. "My injuries were caused by that beast! Although this dragon spirit has been sealed for many years and its strength has been greatly reduced, it still possesses the power of a Nascent Soul cultivator, and it is accompanied by a spiritual object that seems to be able to help with the formation of a Nascent Soul! Our Wu family is powerless and has suffered heavy losses. Only the Eastern Palace can subdue it!"

Sensing that pure and domineering dragon essence aura, Wu Yunshang had no more doubts, and her face was instantly filled with great surprise!

"The opportunity to form my Nascent Soul... This is my opportunity to form my Nascent Soul!" She was so excited that she could hardly contain herself and immediately said to Wu Hongluan, "Mother! You have done a great service! This matter must be kept a secret. Before I arrive, you must not make any rash moves, and you must not let the news leak out!"

She hesitated for a moment, then resolutely said, "I will immediately go to see His Highness the Crown Prince, explain this matter, and request the use of the 'directional teleportation array' in the Eastern Palace's secret vault to teleport directly to the Wu family in Jinzhou! Mother, please stabilize your injuries and wait for me!"

Directional teleportation arrays consume enormous amounts of resources and are never used except for extremely important matters. Wu Yunshang's actions demonstrate her determination to obtain this "Nascent Soul Formation opportunity."

"Alright! I'll wait for you!" Wu Hongluan felt reassured, knowing she had made the right move. She cautioned, "Yunshang, be careful, that dragon spirit is exceptionally ferocious..."

"Mother, rest assured!" Wu Yunshang interrupted confidently. "The foundation of the Eastern Palace is far beyond what a mere dragon spirit that has been sealed away for so long can compare to. You should focus on recovering from your injuries. Your daughter will be there soon! At that time, I will definitely avenge you and seize the opportunities for you!"

...

...

Wu Hongluan ended her communication with her daughter.

Correct breathing and meditation.

Hurried footsteps could be heard outside the secret room.

Wu Hongluan frowned, and despite her severe injuries, she opened the secret chamber's protective barrier.

Wu Hong was covered in blood and his breath was weak. He was not much stronger than her and staggered in.

"Ancestor! It's over! Everything's over!"

As soon as Wu Hong entered, he collapsed to the ground, his voice shrill and tearful:

"That dragon spirit...that dragon spirit...it devoured the golden cores of all the clansmen who remained behind, and its strength...its strength has recovered, even surpassing its previous level! Your subordinate...your subordinate barely escaped by the skin of his teeth!"

In an attempt to shirk responsibility, he completely concealed the crucial detail that he had used his trusted confidant to shield him from the attack, leading to the loss of the Dragon Blood Bodhi. Instead, he exaggerated the terror and ferocity of the Dragon Spirit, portraying it as a being that had recovered its strength and was invincible.

"What?!" Wu Hongluan's expression changed drastically upon hearing this!
She originally thought that the dragon spirit, having endured a series of battles, could only retreat to Changling Mountain to recuperate. In this way, once the experts from the Eastern Palace arrived, they could capture it with lightning speed.

But if what Wu Hong said is true, that Long Ling not only did not die, but also absorbed the golden core to restore her vitality and became even stronger than before... then the matter will be troublesome!

The threat level and difficulty of capturing a Nascent Soul-level dragon spirit in its prime are worlds apart from that of a severely injured and dying dragon spirit! While the Eastern Palace certainly possesses profound resources, it might not be willing to easily provoke such a being for an uncertain opportunity. More importantly—

"Oh no!" Wu Hongluan suddenly realized an even more terrifying consequence. "If that beast really recovers its strength, why would it stay obediently in Changling Mountain? It will definitely flee at the first opportunity!"

Once the Dragon Spirit absconds with the treasure and disappears into the vast天地 (heaven and earth), finding her will be like searching for a needle in a haystack! Then the "chance to form an infant" that she promised to her daughter and the Crown Prince will become a huge joke! Not only will she not get any credit, but she will probably also be blamed for "falsely reporting military intelligence"!
The thought of her daughter arriving via a teleportation array only to find an empty mountain made Wu Hongluan feel dizzy and her injuries seemed to worsen.

"Quickly! Send the men stationed near Changling Mountain to investigate immediately! I need to know the exact situation there!"

Wu Hong was secretly delighted, knowing that his words had worked. He quickly accepted the order and left hastily despite his injuries.

after awhile.

Wu Hong returned, his face even more grim than before, and even showing a hint of fear.

"Ancestor... the people you sent to investigate have returned with news... Changling Mountain... the main peak of Changling Mountain... has been reduced to scorched earth and ruins! Earth fire erupted, the mountain collapsed, and all traces... have been completely erased! There is no sign of life, and... no trace of dragon energy can be detected!"

"ruins?!"

Wu Hongluan was struck dumb, her body swaying violently, almost falling to the ground. She snatched the communication jade talisman and scanned it with her divine sense. It clearly recorded the horrific scene of Changling Mountain at this moment—scorched earth, bottomless ravines, and still-smoking rocks... Where was there even a trace of the sacred mountain and blessed land? Not to mention the dragon spirit and the Nascent Soul treasures!
"puff--!"

Overwhelmed by anger and grief, Wu Hongluan could no longer suppress her injuries, and a mouthful of bright red blood gushed out, staining her chest. Her face instantly turned ashen.

The dragon spirit has vanished! The artifact for forming the Nascent Soul has also disappeared without a trace!

All her calculations and hopes vanished completely at this moment!

"It's over...it's all over..." she muttered to herself, lost in thought, slumped into a chair, as if she had aged a hundred years in an instant.

Now, how can she explain this to her hopeful daughter who is about to arrive? And how can she face the questioning from the Crown Prince?

(End of this chapter)