Family Rise: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 659 Seizing Power, the Longevity Banquet, and Rebirth from the Ashes!
A travel-worn figure, exuding an aura of restraint, stealthily returned to Cangnan Prefecture City under the cover of night, like a ghost. He did not alert anyone, even avoiding the patrols and guards within the prefecture, and headed straight for the family's forbidden area in the back mountains.

It was Fu Yongyun, who had experienced great hardship and whose cultivation had increased dramatically.

The message has been delivered.

after awhile.

The array light barrier enveloping the forbidden area rippled, and a figure stepped out from it—it was Fu Yongfan.

"Eternal Fortune?! You...your cultivation level?!"

The magical power flowing around Fu Yongyun was vast and boundless, far surpassing what it had been before—clearly the aura of someone at the peak of the Golden Core stage! Yet, just a short time ago, his younger brother was only at the seventh level of the Golden Core stage! How could he have broken through several minor realms in such a short time, reaching the peak of the Golden Core stage?!
This is simply a fantasy!

Upon seeing his elder brother, Fu Yongyun finally relaxed, his tense mind finally at ease.

"Brother, this is not the place to talk. Let's go inside! This is of great importance!"

After entering the most secluded secret room and setting up layers of soundproof barriers.

Fu Yongyun could no longer hold back and recounted his experiences over the past period in detail—from Old Man Liu's plea for help, to his own soft heart in agreeing, to being tricked by Wu Hong, losing consciousness due to the Gu worm, being captured and taken to Changling Mountain to be used as a conduit to extract his essence and fortune, and finally to the Dragon Spirit's counterattack, the Wu family's defeat, the Dragon Spirit's dying entrustment, the Dragon Blood Bodhi entering his body, his cultivation skyrocketing, and the entire process of him destroying the traces of Changling Mountain...

Fu Yongfan listened quietly, his expression gradually changing from initial shock to extreme solemnity. When he heard about the dangers, even someone as calm and composed as him couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat for his younger brother, feeling a chill run down his spine!

If any link in this chain had gone wrong, Fu Yongyun would have been wiped out long ago!

To come back alive is nothing short of a miracle!

"Confused!"

Fu Yongfan couldn't help but rebuke him, but his tone was more filled with lingering fear and concern:

"How could you fall into someone else's trap so easily! If it weren't for... if it weren't for the remnant spirit of the dragon choosing you, you would already be..."

He took a deep breath, forcibly calming his turbulent emotions.

After the reprimand came deep worry.

He looked at Fu Yongyun and said in a deep voice:

"The Dragon Blood Bodhi, the Wu family has planned for it for many years and paid such a heavy price, but it has all failed at the last moment. They will never give up!"

He paced back and forth, his mind racing:
"The news of your survival must not be leaked! If the Wu family finds out, they will definitely suspect you first!!"

Fu Yongyun also realized the seriousness of the situation and quickly asked, "Brother, what should I do?"

Fu Yongfan stopped in his tracks, a resolute glint in his eyes: "The only way now is to let you 'die' once!"

He looked at Fu Yongyun and said, word by word, "From this moment forward, I will announce to the public that your life lamp suddenly went out a few days ago, and you have been neither found alive nor dead! The mansion will hold a funeral for you to cover your tracks!"

Fu Yongyun's body trembled, but he immediately understood his elder brother's intention.

This is to completely sever any possibility that the Wu family could link him to the events at Changling Mountain.

"But the Dragon Blood Bodhi within me and that sealed power..."

Fu Yongyun gazed inward at the silent jade box and vast energy deep within his dantian, a sense of unease creeping into his heart. This power was far too immense; he was still unable to fully control it, and he was unaware of any potential hidden dangers.

Fu Yongfan nodded solemnly:

“This is exactly what I’m most worried about. Dragon artifacts are mysterious and unpredictable. No one can say for sure whether the dragon spirit has any tricks up its sleeve inside. The Wu family has close ties with the Crown Prince, and this matter will inevitably attract even more powerful enemies to investigate. It is no longer safe for you to stay in Cangnan Prefecture.”

He pondered for a moment, a mysterious glint flashing in his eyes, and quietly used his talent [Turning Misfortune into Good Fortune] to divine Fu Yongyun's future.

After a while.

A glint flashed in his eyes, as if he had received clear guidance, and he said decisively:

"Once things calm down, I will immediately arrange for you to secretly leave Jinzhou and return to Jingzhou!"

“Jingzhou?” Fu Yongyun was taken aback.

"That's right!" Fu Yongfan said confidently. "The divination shows that going to the secret place where your grandfather secluded himself is the safest and most beneficial way for you to resolve the hidden dangers in your body! That place is the foundation of the Fu family, with strict formations, and it is far away from Jinzhou, a place of trouble. It is just right for you to concentrate on your cultivation, completely refine the opportunities in your body, and figure out the mystery of the Dragon Blood Bodhi!"

Upon hearing that it was the place where Grandpa Yu had once secluded himself, Fu Yongyun felt reassured.

"I understand, brother! I'll follow your arrangements!" Fu Yongyun nodded heavily.

Fu Yongfan patted his younger brother on the shoulder, his eyes deep: "Remember, from this moment on, Fu Yongyun is 'dead.' Before you have enough power to protect yourself, you must not reveal your identity! Focus on cultivating in Jingzhou. Everything outside is handled by me and the clansmen."

...

...

Wu family.

The space distorted and fluctuated, and the light of a small directional teleportation array gradually dimmed, revealing two figures.

The person at the forefront was none other than Consort Wu Yunshang, dressed in palace attire, with a beautiful face yet exuding an air of authority. Behind her followed an old man in a gray robe, with a profound and unfathomable aura and calm, serene eyes—none other than Elder Mo, the Nascent Soul protector sent by the Eastern Palace.

Despite her severe injuries, Wu Hongluan waited respectfully outside with Wu Hong and the remaining core elders.

"Your humble servants respectfully welcome Your Highness, the Concubine!"

Wu Yunshang's gaze swept over the crowd, pausing briefly on Wu Hongluan's paper-white face and the barely concealed panic on Wu Hong and the others' faces. A suspicion had already arisen in her heart:
"Mother, elders, there's no need for such formalities. The situation is urgent. What is the situation at Changling Mountain? Where is the Dragon Spirit and the Nascent Soul opportunity now?"

Wu Hongluan's heart tightened, and she said anxiously, "Your Highness, that dragon spirit is extremely cunning and fierce. Yesterday, it suddenly went berserk and used some kind of secret technique to trigger a rupture in the earth's veins, turning the main peak of Changling Mountain into a scorched wasteland! It... it has probably already taken the treasures and escaped far away!"

"Fled far away?" Wu Yunshang raised an eyebrow, a cold glint in her eyes. "Elder Mo, I would like to trouble you to personally go to Changling Mountain to investigate and see if you can find any clues about the dragon spirit's escape."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Old Master Mo's voice was calm. With a flicker, he disappeared from his original spot and teleported to Changling Mountain.

After Elder Mo left, only the mother and daughter remained in the courtyard.

Wu Yunshang's gentle expression vanished instantly, replaced by a chilling coldness born of long-standing power and keen insight into human nature. Her gaze was like a knife, piercing directly at Wu Hongluan:

"Mother, there's no one else here now. Tell me, what exactly happened?!"

Under her daughter's sharp gaze, Wu Hongluan felt completely exposed, and cold sweat beaded on her forehead.

This daughter's intelligence and cunning allowed her to climb to the position of concubine in the ruthless Eastern Palace and gain the Crown Prince's favor; she is no ordinary person. The Wu family has suffered heavy losses, and their future revival depends entirely on the Eastern Palace. If this is concealed further, causing the daughter to completely alienate them, then the Wu family will truly be finished.

She sighed deeply, no longer daring to conceal anything, and recounted in detail how the Wu family discovered the Dragon Blood Bodhi, how they built the sacrificial tower, how they performed the blood sacrifice, how they captured Fu Yongyun to seize their fortune, how they fought fiercely against the Dragon Spirit, how they suffered a crushing defeat, and how Wu Hong finally reported that the Dragon Spirit had recovered and escaped, and how Changling Mountain had turned into ruins.

Wu Yunshang listened quietly, her face calm and expressionless, but the coldness in her beautiful eyes grew stronger and stronger.

After Wu Hongluan finished speaking, the courtyard fell into a deathly silence.

After a long silence, Wu Yunshang finally let out a soft laugh, but the laugh carried a chilling coldness:
"Well done, well done, Wu family! Well done, my good mother! Discovering such an earth-shattering opportunity, instead of reporting it to the Crown Prince and seizing the opportunity, you thought of keeping it all for yourself? And what was the result? You lost Uncle Li's life, and most of the elite elders of my Wu family, ending up with nothing!"

With each word she spoke, Wu Hongluan's face paled a little more.

"Do you know how carefully I navigated every step in the Eastern Palace, as if walking on thin ice? Every favor, every promotion, was earned through my utmost effort, even at the risk of my life! I spared no effort in elevating the Wu family from an ordinary clan to a fifth-rank aristocratic family, so that you could be my allies, not so that you could be clever in the rear, drag me down, and destroy my foundation!"

Wu Yunshang's voice wasn't loud, but every word was piercing, carrying an intense, suppressed anger and despair. Looking at her blood relatives before her, she felt a chill run to her very bones. She had fought her way out to the top, yet her family had nearly destroyed everything she relied on!
Wu Hongluan was speechless and filled with shame.

Wu Yunshang took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing her surging emotions. Things had come to this point; reprimands were useless. She had to stop the damage as quickly as possible and firmly grasp control of the family to prevent such uncontrollable folly from happening again!

“Mother, your injuries are serious. The most important thing now is to rest and recuperate. You don’t need to worry about family matters anymore.”

Upon hearing this, Wu Hongluan lowered her head, her face ashen.

She understood that the family authority she had painstakingly built up over centuries now belonged entirely to the concubine of the Crown Prince, her own daughter. The tide had turned; all that remained was submission and healing, hoping for a sliver of hope that she might one day return to the center of power.

Go out of the hall.

Wu Yunshang's gaze swept over the remaining Wu family elders in the courtyard, who were silent as cicadas in winter, like cold stars.

"Take this as a warning to all of you."

"The rise and fall of a family depends on the general trend and one's duty. If anyone acts arbitrarily and disregards the overall situation in the future, the family rules will be ruthless, and the Crown Prince will be even more ruthless."

"We will heed Your Majesty's teachings!" the elders replied in unison, their voices filled with awe and trembling.

Wu Yunshang nodded slightly, her gaze finally settling on a middle-aged cultivator at the back of the crowd. He had a calm demeanor and a slightly reserved yet shrewd look in his eyes.

This person is named Wu Cheng'an. His cultivation level is only at the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm. He has never shown off in the clan, but he is cautious and reliable in his work. Most importantly, his lineage had received secret favors from Wu Yunshang in the early years. He himself had already pledged his loyalty to Wu Yunshang before she entered the Eastern Palace. He is one of the few truly trustworthy secret agents in the clan.

"Elder Wu Cheng'an," Wu Yunshang said.

When his name was called, Wu Cheng'an quickly stepped forward and bowed deeply: "Your subject is here!"

"Mother is seriously injured and needs to rest for a long time. Family affairs are complicated and cannot be left unattended. You have always been diligent and methodical. From today onwards, you will temporarily assume the position of clan chief and manage all affairs, large and small, of the clan. In case of any important matters, you must report to me in a timely manner through the secret passage without delay."

Wu Cheng'an was deeply shaken.

He never imagined that such immense power would fall into his lap.

He quickly suppressed his excitement and prostrated himself on the ground with even greater respect:
"Your Majesty, I will do my utmost, even unto death, to repay your kindness! I will obey your every command!"

"Get up," Wu Yunshang said calmly, without offering any words of encouragement, and went straight to the point, "The position of clan leader is not for you to enjoy honor. Right now there is an important matter concerning the future of the clan, and even my position in the Eastern Palace, which you need to prepare for immediately."

She paused for a moment, her gaze sweeping across the room to make sure everyone heard her clearly, before slowly speaking:
"A secret report from the Eastern Palace indicates that the opening date of the 'Tianlong Mountain Secret Realm' within Jinzhou may be significantly brought forward, perhaps within the next few years."

These words sent a chill down everyone's spines.

The Tianlong Mountain Secret Realm opens once every hundred years. It is rich in spiritual energy, abundant in rare and precious materials, and even yields spiritual items that aid in Core Formation, making it a focal point of contention among major powers. Opening it earlier means significantly reduced preparation time, intensifying the competition.

Wu Yunshang continued:

"This opening of the secret realm is different from the past. According to the information that the Eastern Palace discovered at great cost, there is an extremely special spiritual treasure deep within the secret realm. Nourished by the essence of the secret realm, it has a long growth cycle and is about to mature."

Her voice suddenly turned serious and cold:
"The Crown Prince is determined to obtain this item! It is one of the gifts that His Highness the Crown Prince has carefully selected to prepare for His Majesty's upcoming birthday banquet! Its significance is so great that it concerns the reputation of the Crown Prince and the Emperor's favor, and it must not be lost!"

"A birthday gift for the Emperor's birthday banquet!" Everyone gasped.

This matter concerns the current Emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty's birthday banquet, and nothing here is of utmost importance. If handled well, the Wu family will have rendered a great service, not only reversing the disastrous defeat at Changling Mountain but also further consolidating Wu Yunshang's position in the Eastern Palace, bringing unimaginable rewards and opportunities to the Wu family. But if handled poorly… the consequences will be unimaginable!
Wu Yunshang's gaze was like a solid ice spike, piercing towards Wu Cheng'an, who had just stood up, and all the elders:
"In this expedition to the secret realm, my Wu family must exert all its strength and spare no expense to seize that spiritual treasure! You may use the remaining resources in the family treasury as appropriate, and select all the elite disciples. I will also later transfer a group of elite assassins and suitable treasures from the Eastern Palace to lend you a helping hand."

She leaned forward slightly, each word carrying an undeniable, iron-fisted tone:

"Remember, it's 'essential'! This item concerns the grand plan for the Eastern Palace, and even more so, whether my Wu family can rise again! In the secret realm, no matter what power we face, no matter who tries to stop us..."

Wu Yunshang suddenly flicked her sleeve, and the golden phoenix embroidered on her palace dress seemed about to spread its wings and fly away, a chilling killing intent filling the entire courtyard:
"—All must be swept away! Slay the Buddha if he stands in my way, kill the god if he stands in my way! Anyone who obstructs us is an enemy of the Wu family, an enemy of the Eastern Palace! Even if other sixth-rank families, or even…some foolish fifth-rank forces covet it, there's no need to worry, the Eastern Palace will back you up! What I want is for that spiritual object to be delivered to me safely! Do you understand?"

"Sir, you understand!"

...

...

Tianlang Mountain.

The secret room was filled with a rich aroma of medicine, mixed with a refreshing scent of alcohol.

Master Yu sat cross-legged, with a jade gourd lying casually beside his legs.

He tilted his head back, his Adam's apple bobbing, and drank the last drop of wine from the gourd. Only then did he smack his lips with a hint of lingering satisfaction, casually setting the empty gourd aside. His palm was open, and there lay the last "Spirit Nourishing Pill," the size of a longan and shimmering with a faint glow.

"Good stuff... but it's missing some snacks to go with the drinks." He muttered to himself, flicked his finger, and the pill melted instantly in his mouth.

All of a sudden.

A gentle yet powerful medicinal force, like a tidal wave, suddenly spread through his parched and damaged meridians, like rain after a long drought. His previously dim and listless aura began to rise and solidify at a visible speed. The nascent soul phantom within his body, covered with fine cracks and with a dim light, also seemed to be infused with vitality, slowly unfolding and emitting a halo several times brighter than before.

I do not know how long it has been.

Master Yu exhaled a long breath, which condensed into a thin white ribbon that lingered in the room for a moment before dissipating. He stretched his joints, making soft cracking sounds, and his usual lazy smile was now tinged with genuine ease.

"Hey, old buddy, I can finally move around again." He looked inward at his nascent soul in his dantian and muttered to himself, "Although it's still far from its peak, it should be enough to scare people and deal with some minor troubles."

at this time.

An inconspicuous jade pendant at his waist was slightly warm, transmitting a brief, encrypted message from Fu Yongfan. Master Yu took a swig of wine that he had seemingly produced from nowhere, squinted as he read it, and raised an eyebrow.

"Yongyun has gotten himself into big trouble again? Tsk tsk, he's always causing me trouble."

Still feeling the effects of the alcohol, he stretched out his wine-stained fingers and began to rapidly draw and calculate in the air, muttering incantations. After a while, he stopped, grabbed the gourd, and took another swig.

The figure swayed.

His figure had disappeared from the secret room.

……

Several days later, in a remote valley in Jingzhou.

Master Yu appeared like a ghost and immediately spotted Fu Yongyun, who was disguised as a down-on-his-luck rogue cultivator and looking around warily. He grinned, walked over casually, and patted Fu Yongyun's shoulder hard, almost making the unsuspecting young man stumble.

"Young man, still alive? You look quite unique!" He laughed heartily, looking him up and down. "Let this old man see how much good fortune our 'deceased' Seventh Young Master has received?" Fu Yongyun quickly bowed, feeling somewhat relieved. The old ancestor's playful and stern demeanor made him feel warm and at ease.

Master Yu casually grabbed Fu Yongyun's wrist, and a gentle yet irresistible subtle divine sense instantly probed into him. The playful smile on his face gradually faded, and his eyes became focused, even showing a hint of surprise. While probing, he also casually took out his wine gourd and took a sip.

"Hmm... Peak Golden Core stage, a bit unsteady, but the foundation is solid enough... Wow! Good heavens!" His eyes widened suddenly, as if he had discovered some incredible treasure. "It's actually Dragon Blood Bodhi! This dragon essence... is frighteningly pure!"

He released his grip, stroked his chin, circled Fu Yong once, and clicked his tongue in amazement:

"Incredible! Incredible! Kid, you've really struck gold this time! If you can find the right method to gradually dissolve the energy within this treasure, reaching the Nascent Soul stage? That's not a dream! You might even get some of the True Dragon's aura, which would bring many benefits!"

Fu Yongyun felt a surge of warmth in his heart and was about to speak when Master Yu pressed down the stopper on the wine gourd, his face hardening:
"But wait! Don't laugh yet!"

His tone became more serious, but his eyes showed concern:

"Your cultivation level has increased like an inflated balloon, it looks impressive but is hollow inside! Your foundation is unstable, your magic power is impure, it's like a child playing with a sledgehammer, you're likely to smash yourself! Listen to me, right now, immediately, put away your thoughts of refining the Dragon Blood Bodhi! First, honestly hone your peak Golden Core stage magic power until it's smooth and transparent, as easy to use as your own limbs! Otherwise, you'll bite off more than you can chew, and you might choke to death!"

Fu Yongyun broke out in a cold sweat after being reprimanded by him with sharp words, and quickly nodded in agreement.

"That's right! Come with me, I'll take you to a good place where no one will bother you while you're 'grinding your hammer'!" Master Yu regained his cheerful demeanor, rolled up his sleeves, and once again took Fu Yongyun into the air.

This time, the route was even more mysterious. Master Yu hummed a wild, off-key tune, pausing every now and then to drink a mouthful of wine while facing a cliff or an ancient tree, or to cast a seemingly chaotic spell. Fu Yongyun was dazzled by the sight, and could only feel admiration.

Finally, the two stopped in front of a barren, inconspicuous rocky hillside in Yunshan County, where spiritual energy was scarce.

"We're here!" Master Yu chuckled and suddenly tossed the gourd in his hand into the air. His hands moved like butterflies flitting among flowers, casting dozens of spells. The gourd spun and dripped in the air, the wine spilling out and outlining mysterious patterns.

Click.

A soft click, like a key being inserted into a lock, revealed a shimmering, multicolored portal, just wide enough for two people to pass through. From behind the portal, one could faintly hear birdsong, smell the fragrance of flowers, and sense an energy several times richer than that outside.

"A secret realm?!" Fu Yongyun exclaimed in shock, completely stunned. He had never imagined that his family possessed such a hidden treasure in Jingzhou!

"Didn't expect that, did you?" Master Yu winked smugly, put away his wine gourd, and took a satisfying sip. "Besides me, only Yongyao and your father Changsheng know about this place. Come on, let's go in and broaden our horizons!"

After passing through the portal of light, a bright and open space suddenly appeared before me.

A secluded little world unfolds before your eyes, with babbling springs, blooming exotic flowers, and lurking spirit beasts. Several newly built, ancient-style pavilions sit amidst it, peaceful and serene, with abundant spiritual energy.

Fu Yongyun took a deep breath and felt refreshed, his sense of awe and belonging to his family deepened.

Master Yu led him around the perimeter and brought him to a secluded bamboo grove courtyard. He pointed and said, "You can stay here. It's peaceful. There's a spiritual spring over there. Soaking in it will help stabilize your magical power."

Then, he pointed to the area deep within the secret realm, shrouded in mist and emanating a faint, astonishing pressure. His expression turned unusually serious as he took a swig of wine and said:
"See that over there? That's the innermost level of the secret realm, it's extremely dangerous. You kid, don't be so curious, absolutely no going in! You hear me?"

He then shook the wine gourd in his hand and a jade talisman that controlled the entrance and exit:
"Only I, or Yongyao and Changsheng with this thing can open this door. As for you, just stay here and 'sit in jail' until your magic power is polished to a shine before you talk about it. Right now, everyone outside thinks you're dead. A dead person should act like a dead person, right?"

Fu Yongyun looked at Master Yu's seemingly joking but undeniable gaze and nodded emphatically:

"Rest assured, Ancestor, Yongyun understands! I will certainly obey and devote myself to cultivation!"

"Alright! You can play by yourself then. The wine is almost gone, I need to go find some more." Master Yu waved his hand, his figure swaying as he walked towards the entrance of the secret realm. Just before disappearing, he turned back and called out, "I planted a few 'Drunken Immortal Herbs' in the spirit field, they're almost ripe, remember to harvest them for me! They're excellent ingredients for brewing wine!"

Before he finished speaking, he had already disappeared outside the portal.

...

...

Tianyin Mountain, the forbidden area behind the mountain.

This place is shrouded in a perpetual mist, its spiritual energy leaning towards a chilling, eerie atmosphere, forbidding ordinary clansmen from approaching. Deep within the forbidden area, on a clearing concealed by an ancient array, lies the remnant of a massive, exceptionally complex stone platform. The runes engraved on its surface are mostly worn away, but the remaining patterns still reveal its once-powerful grandeur, traversing boundless space—this was a long-distance teleportation array leading to the South Sea.

At this moment, Fu Yongyao was sitting cross-legged, hovering three feet above the array platform.

Her expression was focused, a glint of light flashing between her brows, reflecting in harmony with an ancient jade disc that hovered and slowly rotated before her. The jade disc was bluish-gray, with fox shadows swirling around its edges, and its center scattered with stars—it was her natal magic treasure, the Qingqiu Yitian Disc, which she cultivated with her very life force. This disc excelled at divination, determining direction, and manipulating the power of space, making it an excellent treasure for repairing ancient formations like this.

The jade plate cast a soft, misty light, like the most nimble fingers, seeping little by little into the damaged runes of the array platform, attempting to untangle the chaotic spatial patterns and reconnect the broken spiritual energy channels. Fine beads of sweat had formed on Fu Yongyao's forehead, clearly indicating extreme exhaustion.

“Something’s not right…” She suddenly frowned, muttering to herself as her fingertips moved in a series of hand seals, causing the light of the Qingqiu Yitian Disc to flicker erratically. “Why can’t the spatial coordinates be stabilized? The receiving point on the other side… is drifting erratically? How can it be anchored?”

She tried several times, but each time the fragile connection was broken by the strange movement of the other end's "foothold," even triggering a backlash from the residual power of the formation, causing her aura to churn. As a result, the repair progress was repeatedly delayed, and years of work almost came to a standstill.

"Sigh..." Fu Yongyao put away the Yitian Disc, sighed softly, and his beautiful face showed a trace of fatigue and confusion. This kind of "live target" confrontation was completely beyond the scope of conventional array repair.

Just then, a lazy voice with a mocking tone rang out:
"Oh, our little fox, is it stumped again? Your brows are so furrowed they could trap a mosquito."

Amidst the strong smell of alcohol, a figure staggered out of the forbidden area's mist—it was Master Yu. He still clutched the seemingly inexhaustible gourd of wine, his face bearing his usual cynical smile.

Upon seeing the newcomer, Fu Yongyao's eyes flashed with a relieved joy, and he quickly rose to greet him.
"Grandpa Yu! What brings you here?" She was a disciple of Master Yu and had learned a wide variety of skills, especially in formations and divination. She had received a lot of true teachings from Master Yu and knew that although her grandfather Yu seemed unreliable, his attainments in the Great Dao and miscellaneous studies were unfathomable.

"Young Changsheng was worried about this place and sent me to come and check. Perfect timing, this old man is also a bit tipsy, so I came out for a stroll." Master Yu walked to the edge of the array platform, not minding the dirt, and plopped down on a broken array stone, took a swig of wine, and squinted at the ancient giant array. "Tell me, where is it stuck?"

Fu Yongyao's spirits lifted.

He immediately and clearly explained his attempts over the past few months, the strange phenomenon of the other end's coordinates drifting erratically, and the resulting difficulties in repairing the problem, and added at the end:
"Based on my speculation, the other side is either in some kind of extremely unstable spatial rift zone, or... is itself a mobile 'secret realm' or a special carrier, rather than a fixed land."

"A mobile 'vessel'? Heh, maybe it really is. That godforsaken place, the South China Sea, is boundless and full of strange and wonderful things. Floating immortal mountains, the remains of giant beasts drifting with the current, even the remnants of magical treasures crafted by powerful beings... all are possible."

He stood up, walked to the center of the platform, and a sharp glint flashed in his cloudy old eyes, a glint that was completely out of place with his drunken appearance.

"Your line of thinking isn't wrong, but your method is too rigid. You're always thinking about 'restoring everything to its original state,' making this side adapt to that 'stray guy' over there?" He shook his head, the smell of alcohol wafting from his gesture. "Why not think about it the other way around?"

"The other way around?" Fu Yongyao was taken aback.

"That's right!" Master Yu slapped the stone array platform beside him, kicking up a cloud of dust. "We're not going to build the 'fixed target' passage anymore. We're going to build... an 'adjustable' 'fishhook'!"

His eyes gleamed with an almost childlike light as he began to gesture:
"The foundation of this ancient formation is still intact, and its core spatial penetration capability remains. The difficulty lies in positioning. Since the other end is moving, let's not pursue precise anchoring in one go. We can change the 'receiving logic' of the transmission from 'fixed-point connection' to 'range sensing-dynamic connection'."

Seeing Fu Yongyao's seemingly understanding yet confused expression, Master Yu put it more bluntly:
"Simply put, we'll use the deductive abilities of your Qingqiu Yitian Disc, combined with the residual power of the formation, to send a stable 'spatial ripple' with a special identification mark instead of directly opening a fixed passage. This ripple will continuously probe within a certain range. Once it detects that the 'drifting place' on the other end has entered the ripple's range and its spatial attributes match our preset mark, the formation will automatically activate, establishing a brief, enhanced teleportation link to 'pull' the person over!"

Fu Yongyao's beautiful eyes grew brighter and brighter as she listened.

This idea is quite imaginative, breaking out of the conventional framework of array repair, but upon closer examination, it is actually feasible in principle!
It is especially suitable for the current situation where the counterparty is not fixed.

“Grandpa Yu is brilliant! This way, we don’t need to know the exact location of the other end, only its approximate spatial attributes and possible activity ‘frequency,’ and we can just wait for it to come to us!” she said excitedly, but then she thought of the difficulty, “However, building this kind of ‘intelligent’ sensing and connection mechanism requires a very deep integration of spatial arrays and the way of deduction, and it will probably take a lot of time…”

"Time-consuming? Of course!"

Master Yu interrupted her, took another swig of wine, and smacked his lips:

"Doing it this way is more than ten times more troublesome than building a fixed formation! It's like giving your little plate and this broken platform a new brain that can 'find its own way' on top of an ancient formation. Don't even think about it without several years of work."

A few years.

For cultivators, it's just a blink of an eye.

Fu Yongyao immediately perked up and threw himself into the repair formation.

...

...

The Vermilion Bird Mountains.

Several years have passed quietly.

Above the lava lake, the luminous cocoon, interwoven with blue and red hues and shimmering with iridescent light, pulsated rhythmically like a heart. Each pulsation caused the surrounding scorching fire elemental energy to tremble slightly. The oppressive aura emanating from within the cocoon grew increasingly powerful, subtly exceeding the realm of mere physical energy, carrying with it a chilling aura of a higher level of life.

Fu Changli guarded the Dharma here day and night.

On this day, the pulsation of the cocoon suddenly intensified!
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The sound of a heartbeat, like a drumbeat, resounded throughout the underground space, causing even the lava lake below to ripple with unusual waves.

"It's coming out!" Fu Changli suddenly stood up.

Katcha—!
A crisp cracking sound rang out, and the first crack appeared on the surface of the cocoon of light. Then, the crack spread rapidly like a spiderweb!
“Violent——!”

A clear, high-pitched phoenix cry, brimming with new life and ancient majesty, suddenly erupted from the shattered cocoon of light! The sound waves swept across, causing dust to fall from the rock walls.

The light explodes!

A tall and elegant figure soared into the sky!

No longer a pure azure, it now donned a magnificent plumage of interwoven blue and crimson, shimmering with iridescent light! Its tail feathers were longer, tipped with specks of crimson gold, like burning stars. The crest atop its head became even more regal and dazzling, with faint, ethereal flames flickering around it. Its wings spread, blue and crimson light swirling, radiating a breathtaking beauty and an overwhelming aura of power!

Fourth tier!

The Azure Phoenix has finally broken into the ranks of fourth-tier spirit birds!
Rumble.

at the same time.

An invisible pressure from heaven and earth pierced through the rock layers and firmly locked onto the newly promoted Azure Phoenix!

"Lightning tribulation!" Fu Changli's expression changed slightly.

When a spirit beast advances to the fourth rank, it is similar to a cultivator forming their core. Both require undergoing the baptism of heavenly lightning to temper their demonic body and soul before they can truly stabilize their realm.

Fu Changli waved her jade hand, and several beams of precious light flew towards the Azure Phoenix:

"Xiaoqing, catch!"

A tortoise-shell shaped shield, a small blue banner embroidered with cloud and thunder patterns, and several spirit beads that shimmer with different attribute lights are all tribulation-crossing treasures that Fu Changli has carefully collected or refined for his beloved pet over the years.

The Azure Phoenix, being sentient, let out a clear cry and gently flapped its wings, gathering these treasures around itself. The spiritual light connected with its own demonic power, forming layers upon layers of protection.

"Boom!"

The first thick silver lightning bolt ignored part of the mountain's obstruction and, with some kind of spatial penetration ability, appeared directly above the underground space, striking down directly at Qingluan!

The Azure Phoenix raised its head and cried out, its body radiating a brilliant azure and crimson light as it unleashed its awakened bloodline spiritual technique—Azure Flame Protection! A layer of condensed, almost tangible azure and crimson flame shield firmly protected it, while its tortoise-shell shield expanded in the wind, blocking the way at the front.

"boom!"

The lightning struck the shield violently, causing the shield to shake violently. The aura of the tortoise shell shield dimmed slightly, but it ultimately blocked the first attack.

Then came the second, the third... each bolt of tribulation lightning thicker than the last, its color gradually changing from silver to pale gold, its power multiplying!

The eighth tribulation lightning bolt, crimson gold in color, descended with an aura of destruction!

"boom--!"

As the light faded, the Azure Phoenix's enormous body plummeted like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily onto the rocks beside the lava lake. Its body was charred black, its feathers scattered, and its aura was so faint as to be almost imperceptible.

The final and strongest ninth tribulation lightning bolt, a purple-gold color, had already taken shape within the tribulation clouds. Its destructive aura made even a Golden Core cultivator like Chi Yu feel his scalp tingle.

"What a pity..." Chi Yu looked at the dying Qing Luan and couldn't help but shake his head and sigh.

The purple-gold lightning pillar, like a spear of divine punishment, carrying the terrifying will to end the life of all things, crashed down! It aimed directly at the charred body on the ground that seemed lifeless!
Just as the lightning pillar was about to touch Qingluan's body—

"Boom!"

A faint, yet exceptionally clear and powerful heartbeat suddenly emanated from that charred body!

Then came the second, the third… The heartbeats grew faster and stronger, like the heavy pounding of war drums!
"Huh?" Akabane's eyes widened suddenly.

Suddenly, a dazzling crimson-gold light burst forth from within the charred body of the Azure Phoenix! The light did not come from the outside, but rather from the depths of every bone and every strand of flesh! The charred shell rapidly cracked and peeled away in this light.

“Violent——!”

A high-pitched phoenix cry, containing endless pain, struggle, and rebirth, resounded through the sky!
The broken body of the Azure Phoenix burst into flames!
It wasn't ignited by lightning, but rather self-ignited! Pure, blazing, crimson-gold flames, imbued with the ancient aura of the Vermilion Bird, enveloped it entirely!
Reborn from the ashes!
The purplish-gold tribulation lightning crashed down, but it seemed to plunge into an inexhaustible ocean of flames. The violent lightning and the flames of rebirth intertwined, clashed, and annihilated each other!
"This...this is..." Elder Chiyu stared in disbelief at the ball of flame that was floating in the thunder and fire, not only not destroyed, but growing stronger and stronger. "Rebirth from the ashes?! The supreme talent of the ancient Vermilion Bird bloodline! It...it actually obtained such a blessing during the fusion?!"

Fu Changli's tightly clenched hands trembled slightly, but his eyes shone with ecstatic joy.

"With the help of the final and strongest lightning tribulation power, the essence of the Vermilion Bird's bloodline was completely melted, and the deepest hidden talent was stimulated... Indeed, pressure is the best catalyst."

The lightning gradually died down.

The flames, however, burned ever brighter, gradually receding inwards. At the center of the flames, a completely new, more perfect, and majestic figure slowly took shape.

Finally, the flames suddenly contracted inward, disappearing completely into the newborn body!
The radiance faded, and a magnificent blue phoenix stood proudly in place!

Its body was even more perfectly streamlined than before, each feather shimmering with crystalline light, the blue and red hues blending harmoniously like flowing flames and jade, its tail feathers trailing a dreamlike glow. A towering crest atop its head, its eyes sharp and agile, and the pressure emanating from its body was stable and profound, clearly indicating an incredibly solid early-stage fourth-tier realm! Furthermore, an ancient and noble aura originating from the depths of its bloodline was subtly revealed.

“Violent——!”

It raises its head and cries out, its voice echoing across the fields.

The calamity clouds quickly dissipated, replaced by a peaceful, multicolored glow.

Heaven sends down timely rain, this is a cause for celebration.

Akabane quickly stepped forward: "Congratulations, Miss Changli! It is a great fortune for the family to have such a divine bird!"

(End of this chapter)