The Rise of a Family: Starting from Daily Intelligence - Chapter 403 (Patreon)

Chapter 403: Trump Cards Revealed, Three Core Rules, A Stir Among Spirit Treasures

Fu Changsheng distributed the spirit pills, talismans, and magic tools Qiu Niang had prepared. When Yaoyao received the topographic map of the Wan Feng Mountain Range, she was quite surprised. Inwardly, she praised her father—worthy of being Father indeed—he had even prepared this in advance. He hadn’t been in Huizhou Prefecture long, yet he was better at planning ahead than any of them.

Liu Meizhen wanted to have Fu Yongjing take her Two-Headed Green-Eyed Python along, but Fu Changsheng stopped her.

“The council has rules. In this competition, you may only use your own contracted spirit beast.”

Everyone had arrived.

Fu Changsheng raised his voice. “This hunting competition concerns our quota to enter the Kunlun Minor World. In a sense, it will indirectly affect the Fu Clan’s development for decades to come. So I want each of you to push yourselves to two hundred percent and win as many quotas for the Fu Clan as possible.”

At those words, the previously excited crowd suddenly grew tense.

Fu Changsheng paused, then changed his tone. “Of course… all of this is premised on safeguarding your lives. Remember this: no matter what happens, if the green hills remain, there’ll always be firewood to burn!”

The group responded in unison.

Their voices rose together, straight into the clouds.

The army’s morale could be used.

With a thought, Fu Changsheng sent azure light surging out. A furious roar followed as the Azure Flood Dragon took to the sky. Because the Yellow Dragon remnant soul had dwelled within it for decades, a faint trace of dragon might clung to the beast. The moment it appeared, the Two-Headed Green-Eyed Python coiling around Liu Meizhen immediately flattened itself to the ground, trembling. Even Yaoyao’s Four-Winged Red Python shrank its neck and burrowed into her sleeve, not daring to move.

Trailing behind Cuizhi, Widow Wang looked up at the matchless presence of the Azure Flood Dragon.

A deep awe flashed in her eyes.

Since entering the Fu family, this was her first time seeing the patriarch. She had heard the rumors long ago: the patriarch’s combat strength was boundless. Seeing it now, he truly was formidable. To command an Azure Flood Dragon on the verge of transforming into a true dragon—he was by no means an ordinary man.

Fu Changsheng led everyone onto the dragon’s back.

Sensing something, he let his gaze fall on Widow Wang.

This woman was the key to treating Ningning.

Having been looked at, Widow Wang’s heart raced. Her face flushed scarlet and she lowered her head at once, not daring to think further.

“Xiao Qing, full speed southwest.”

“Roar!”

The Azure Flood Dragon soared up.

In a blink, they pierced the cloud layer.

Its wings churned.

Its speed was like lightning!

Clearly, it had been cooped up too long in the Five Elements Space and was itching to fly.

Such speed made the Qi Refining juniors—who couldn’t yet fly on artifacts—so excited they couldn’t help but whoop and holler.

At the same time, a familiar mechanical voice sounded in Fu Changsheng’s mind.

“Ding.”

“You gifted your clansmen the Wan Feng Mountain map and gained two hundred family contribution points.”

Immediately, his panel’s total changed to three hundred.

As for the talismans and such he’d just given out, he had already registered those rewards back when he’d first acquired them, so there was no extra bonus now.

Three hundred contribution points could at most redeem three pieces of intelligence.

Before this, he’d had a surplus, so he’d used them without scruple. But now, at the start of the Wan Feng hunt, he urgently needed intel. Fu Changsheng mused, “Looks like I can only spend these contribution points at critical moments.”

The Azure Flood Dragon, happy to be out, flew on without rest.

By late afternoon they reached the Wan Feng range.

…

Meanwhile, in the Ouyang household.

The Ouyang patriarch stood high upon a platform, gaze like a torch as he swept his eyes over the nine competing clan disciples below. The instant he appeared, the noisy square fell silent.

“Everyone, our hunting ground this time—the Wan Feng Mountain Range.”

With a wave of his hand, a vast map formed of spiritual light unfurled in midair. The ridges were clearly delineated, and a region spanning thousands of li seemed to spread open before their eyes.

“The Wan Feng range runs for thousands of li and is one of the Eastern Region’s most perilous hunting grounds. Its main peak, Heavenly Phoenix Peak, pierces the sky. It’s said an ancient phoenix once underwent nirvana there, leaving behind endless bloodline power. Around the main peak are countless branching ridges. The terrain is complex and ever-changing—volcanoes, forests, gorges, frozen abysses, miasma valleys—each harboring different demon beasts and resources.”

He pointed to a volcanic zone on the map and continued:

“This place is called Bloodflame Vale, home of the Bloodflame Hawk. The Bloodflame Hawk is a third-rank demon beast—extremely fast and extremely lethal. Its wings contain fire-attribute spiritual power and are superb materials for refining fire-attribute artifacts. But remember—Bloodflame Hawks flock. If you alarm one, the whole flock attacks. It’s exceedingly dangerous.”

His finger slid to a deep gorge.

“This is the Dragon-Transforming Blood Pool. Legends say a true dragon once fell here; its essence blood fused into the waters, birthing the Dragonblood Demon Vine. The vine contains the power of dragon blood and is the primary ingredient for refining the Dragon Transformation Pill—worth a king’s ransom. But high-rank beasts often guard the pool’s surroundings, and the water itself is highly toxic. One misstep, and you face annihilation.”

His gaze swept the disciples; his tone grew heavy.

“The dangers of the Wan Feng range don’t end there. A purple crystal vein lies buried in the earth-veins—an important resource of the Xuanxiao Sect, now under their tight control. The Miasma Valley is shrouded in poisonous fog year-round; only with a special Antidote Pill can you enter. The Cold Abyss is a land of extreme chill. Its cold qi erodes the meridians; the careless are frozen to death.”

He paused, voice dropping.

“Furthermore, the mountains are rumored to hide countless mechanisms and ruins. A cultivator once found a bronze armguard here—an ancient cultivator’s legacy artifact, incredibly powerful. There’s also talk of an ancient teleportation formation—find it, and you might leave directly. But all of this depends on your fortune. This hunt lasts one month. Your goal is not treasure-seeking, but to slay demon beasts and collect their demon cores.”

His eyes turned razor-sharp as they swept over each face.

“A month of hunting—time is tight.

“On the night of the Blood Moon, the beasts go berserk and their combat power doubles. When that night comes, the Wan Feng range will be even more perilous. And the weather is unpredictable—thunderstorms, toxic fog, extreme cold—all your enemies. Only caution will let you live here and earn enough points.”

Finally, he said, “Wan Feng is a land of peril and of opportunity. Whether you stand out depends on your strength and wits. Remember—return alive. That is the most important thing.”

Clearly, the Ouyang clan’s understanding of this range far surpassed that of the other nine great families.

Had the others known that the Ouyang clan had long prepared, they would never have agreed in council.

They had never expected it.

The Ouyang clan, seemingly aloof from worldly contests, had in fact begun laying plans since they were first enfeoffed. Their goal: first place in the hunt.

…

In the Huang clan.

Huang Tianba entered the ancestral hall alone. After shutting down the formation, he took a deep breath, as if coming to a decision. He formed a hand seal and struck the heavy stone wall. The wall trembled lightly as runes surfaced. Ripples spread, a gap flashed open, and Huang Tianba slipped inside the dark inner sanctum.

Within, candle flames wavered, reflecting rows of ancestral tablets—solemn and austere.

He walked to the deepest point and bowed with clasped hands.

“Old Ancestor, the chance to change the clan’s destiny has come. Please, Old Ancestor, emerge and decide the world with one kick.”

As his words fell, a chill wind whipped up in the shrine. The candles shook violently, as if something woke from the dark. A hoarse, ancient voice echoed within.

“Tianba, do you know the price for awakening me?”

Cold sweat beaded on Huang Tianba’s brow, but his tone remained firm. “I know. But in this Wan Feng hunt, if our Huang clan can’t seize first, the other families will unite to suppress us. Moreover, this concerns the Kunlun Minor World quotas. If our Huang clan can find the spiritual item you need to form a core, we’ll soar to the heavens. This hunt matters greatly—to you and to the Huang clan!”

“Hmph!” The voice snorted. A figure slowly emerged from the dark—a white-haired elder, face withered but eyes like lightning, his presence suffocating. This was the Huang clan’s ancestor—Huang Wuji.

Huang Wuji’s gaze cut like a blade across Huang Tianba. “I had already feigned death and hidden in the shadows to scheme for a greater opportunity for the Huang clan. Now you rashly awaken me—have you considered how this upends my plans?”

Huang Tianba lowered his head; his voice shook. “Old Ancestor, I understand. But if we wish to suppress all rivals and become first among the clans of Wuzhou, only your intervention will do.”

Huang Wuji was silent for a moment, then sneered. “Very well. Since you’ve decided, I’ll emerge once. But this move requires a blood sacrifice to serve as the primer; only then can I exert the full power of my False Core cultivation. Are you prepared?”

Huang Tianba grit his teeth and nodded. “Rest easy, Old Ancestor. The blood offerings are ready.”

Huang Wuji nodded in satisfaction.

He waved his hand. A streak of blood light flew from his sleeve and became a blood-colored talisman, hovering in midair. “This is a Blood-Sacrifice Talisman. It can control beasts and boost their combat power. Distribute these among the Huang clan elites.”

Taking the talisman, feverish light flashed in Huang Tianba’s eyes. “Old Ancestor is wise! The whole clan will go all out!”

When the selected competitors assembled for departure, there were, curiously, five Foundation Establishment among them. According to the rules, only three Foundation Establishment disciples could compete.

Of the five chosen, two were called aside by Huang Tianba and handed a golden bead the size of a pinkie fingertip. “This is a Breath-Concealing Pearl. Keep it in your mouth. With this pearl, no Spiritual Sense short of mid-stage Golden Core can see through you.”

…

In the Wu clan.

Wu Tieya swept his gaze over the elite disciples. “The Wan Feng range may be dangerous, but to us it’s a natural land for formations.”

“Once you enter, do not rush to hunt. First set the Nine-Revolutions Winding Array. Once a beast or cultivator steps in, they’ll fall into illusions and find it hard to escape. We can then easily take them down.”

He paused, eyes glinting with a deeper meaning.

“Also… the Foundation Establishment disciples can jointly set a Spirit-Gathering Array and plant Explosive Talismans. When triggered, they can annihilate a wide area in an instant. Beast or foe—both turned to ash.”

As for the core area where the Purple Mansion cultivators would enter—

Their old ancestor had False Core cultivation, so there was no need to worry. He would be unstoppable. Moreover, Wu Tieya had brought the clan’s ancestral Heaven-Array Chessboard to merge with the earth-veins. When the time came, it would surely unleash unexpected effects.

This time’s hunt—

First place would belong to the Wu clan.

Feeling the old ancestor’s aura from the rear mountain, Wu Tieya’s spirits soared. He bowed deeply. “We welcome the Old Ancestor!”

…

Wan Feng range.

When Fu Changsheng arrived at the entrance on the Azure Flood Dragon, he discovered the Lei clan had already reached the site.

The one leading them was the innate sword seed, Lei Yunjian. Just standing there doing nothing, he seemed to carry faint, lingering sword qi about his body.

Clearly—

Though he had a special innate constitution, without a high-grade sword cultivation manual, he still couldn’t, like Fu Changsheng, draw all sword qi back into the heart.

As Fu Changsheng approached, the Nine-Leaf Sword Zhi he kept in the Five Elements Space trembled lightly, actually giving rise to a desire to devour Lei Yunjian. Fu Changsheng hurriedly calmed it, lest Lei Yunjian sense anything amiss.

Whatever the case, the Fu and Lei clans were formally allies at the moment.

Lei Yunjian wasn’t talkative. The two exchanged a clasped-hands salute with no attempt to get chummy and fell into silence.

After a while, a treasure ship sped in from the horizon.

Fu Changsheng’s expression shifted.

He could sense on the ship an aura that was very close to Golden Core. If he wasn’t mistaken, that would be the Wu clan’s False Core old ancestor. In a blink, the ship arrived—it was indeed the Wu clan, with two seventh-rank clans allied to them aboard as well.

Wu Tieya swept a glance over the Fu clan’s group.

Seeing a Qi Refining disciple among them who was only mid-stage, he snorted. “Truly a clan from the wilds.”

No matter how capable a mid-stage Qi Refining disciple was, how could they be stronger than one at the peak?

Wu Tieya looked down on the Fu clan even more. He turned to the Wu Old Ancestor. “Old Ancestor, we’ve spotted the clan that’ll place last.”

The Wu Old Ancestor let his gaze fall on Fu Changsheng and Lei Yunjian. His brows drew together. Even when their ship had still been far away, he’d felt a sweep of Spiritual Sense. At such a distance, only a Golden Core could do that—stronger even than he was.

But the strongest present were Lei Yunjian at Purple Mansion eighth layer and Fu Changsheng at Purple Mansion seventh.

“Was I mistaken?”

Still uneasy, the Wu Old Ancestor warned Wu Tieya to be careful and not underestimate anyone.

Just then, the Ouyang clan appeared as well.

As always, every Ouyang clansman wore a veiled scarf. These were refined from the Ouyang clan’s Seven-Colored Cloud; Spiritual Sense couldn’t pierce them.

Wu Tieya snorted. “Mystifying, all day long.”

Even so, wary of the Ouyang clan’s unknown background, he didn’t dare offend them openly.

Wu Tieya was introducing the background of each clan to his Old Ancestor when he noticed the elder’s expression change. At a loss, he asked, “Old Ancestor, what is it?”

Before the answer came, another treasure ship streaked in from the horizon.

It bore the Lei clan’s banners. Two seventh-rank subordinate clans followed.

When Wu Tieya’s Spiritual Sense landed on the Lei Old Ancestor at Lei Tianba’s side, his face changed. The Lei clan had hidden another False Core. If so, their Wu clan’s claim to first place was no longer certain. “Old Ancestor, the Lei clan sure hid deep. How strong do you judge this Lei ancestor to be?”

“Can’t see through.”

The Wu Old Ancestor shook his head.

Instinct told him this Lei Old Ancestor’s cultivation might even surpass his.

However, he was an old-school False Core cultivator himself—he didn’t flinch.

A thought struck him. His Spiritual Sense swept swiftly across Lei Yunjian and Fu Changsheng. Lei Yunjian wore surprise on his face at the Lei clan fielding a False Core expert. Fu Changsheng, by contrast, was as calm as if he’d known all along.

“Could that earlier Golden-Core-like Spiritual Sense have come from this Fu boy?”

The Wu Old Ancestor’s frown deepened.

…

Nine clans had already arrived.

Only the Cao clan remained.

Huang Tianba grew impatient. “What’s with the Cao clan? Have they grown afraid and withdrawn from the competition?”

At that moment, Fu Changsheng—silent until now—reminded him, “There’s still half a cup of tea before the official start.”

Huang Tianba snorted and fell silent. He looked down on Fu Changsheng, a cultivator who had clawed his way up from the bottom to Purple Mansion seventh layer. To argue with him would only lower his own standing.

As they spoke, a rainbow light sped over from the west.

Unexpectedly, the Wu Old Ancestor and the Lei Old Ancestor both stiffened at once and turned to the west in near unison. The light collapsed, revealing ten people of the Cao clan led by Cao Xianger.

Another False Core cultivator!

Feeling the aura on Cao Xianger, Wu Tieya’s face changed.

At this rate, the Wu clan might not only miss first place—even third was uncertain. Their greatest trump card had been possessing a False Core ancestor. With this new factor, Wu Tieya couldn’t help himself. “Patriarch Cao, the council clearly ruled that no outside helpers are allowed for this competition—not even guest elders!”

The Huang Old Ancestor bore a yellow-peach sigil between his brows—that unique clan imprint formed when circulating qi, so his identity couldn’t be faked.

But Cao Xianger, a beauty like a celestial maiden, looked nothing like the Cao patriarch.

With some pride, the Cao patriarch cupped his hands. “I forgot to introduce properly. I am of the Wuzhou fifth-rank Cao clan’s branch. This clan-sister is a member of the main family. We’re the same clan. I already showed respect for the council’s rules by not inviting a Golden Core from the main line to compete.”

At that, the faces of the other seven great families—save the Lei and Fu clans—changed. None of them had imagined that the seemingly unremarkable Cao clan had such a background.

Huang Tianba tried to brazen it out. “You say this fairy is Cao clan, therefore she’s Cao clan? Without strong proof, even if you step into Wan Feng, we won’t recognize it.”

Wu Tieya’s eyes lit up; he chimed in at once. “Brother Huang speaks true.”

The two rarely stood on the same side—but this time they did. By the time the Cao clan found witnesses and documents, the competition would be half over.

Cao Xianger gave a cold laugh and flicked her sleeve. An identity jade token of a Ten-Thousand-Household Lord of the World Pacification Bureau floated into the air. At the sight of it, everyone’s expression changed together. The Bureau existed to restrain the great families and reported directly to the Great Zhou Emperor. No one dared impersonate a Ten-Thousand-Household Lord.

With the jade token displayed, the Wu Old Ancestor shot Wu Tieya a glare, blaming him for failing to dig up the Cao clan’s background. If they’d known, they would’ve recruited the Cao clan long ago. Smiling affably now, he cupped his hands. “A misunderstanding, Lord Cao. Please don’t take offense.”

Huang Tianba grumbled, but he didn’t dare say more.

All were present.

The time to begin the hunt had arrived.

The Ouyang patriarch stepped forward. Since the Wan Feng hunt had been proposed by the Ouyang clan, he would preside over the occasion.

“Everyone.”

“I will repeat the council’s decision.”

“For this Wan Feng hunt, you must carry a Recording Pearl to document any beasts you slay. There are three rules.”

“First: kills by higher cultivation against lower-rank beasts do not count. Simply put, Foundation Establishment disciples may only kill second-rank or third-rank demon beasts; no matter how many first-rank beasts they kill, no points are awarded.”

“Second: Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, and Purple Mansion are three separate tiers, and points do not influence the other tiers. In other words, the twenty Purple Mansion quotas are determined by the Purple Mansion teams. Likewise, the Purple Mansion points have no bearing on the other quotas—fifty for Qi Refining and thirty for Foundation Establishment.”

“Lastly, aside from the two points above, there are no rules for this competition.”

In other words—

Robbing and killing among competitors was allowed. Any means could be used.

“Any questions?”

For Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment, the resources in the Kunlun Minor World would mostly be first- and second-rank anyway. The critical tier was Purple Mansion. Of course, once inside Kunlun, anything was possible—some low-tier disciple might stumble on heaven-defying fortune.

Huang Tianba had waited long enough. “The hour has come. If there are no objections—begin!”

“Wait!”

Just as his voice fell, Fu Changsheng stepped forward.

His eyes rested on the Huang clan’s ranks. “Patriarch Huang, by the rules there are only three Foundation Establishment slots. Your clan’s numbers in Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment seem to be swapped by a perfect count. Did you perhaps forget?”

A flash of panic crossed Huang Tianba’s face, gone in an instant. He sneered. “Fu brat, what nonsense are you spouting? I brought three Foundation Establishment disciples—how could there be two extra?”

“Oh.”

Fu Changsheng didn’t argue. He flicked his sleeve and a second-grade Spirit-Questioning Talisman appeared in his hand. His gaze landed on two Huang clansmen whose faces had gone deathly pale. “Whether it is or isn’t—ask, and we’ll know.”

The other clans, half-skeptical before, now understood at once.

The Huang clan had hidden Foundation Establishment cultivators among Qi Refining ranks—tantamount to a crush by higher realm.

Wu Tieya snorted. “Huang Tianba, a clever trick!”

If Fu Changsheng hadn’t happened to notice, those fifty Qi Refining quotas might all have been seized by the Huang clan.

Beside him, the Wu Old Ancestor looked deeply at Fu Changsheng. In that instant, he became certain: the earlier Golden-Core-like Spiritual Sense had come from this young man. Clearly, he cultivated some secret technique for augmenting Spiritual Sense.

A technique to enhance Spiritual Sense—

Anywhere, that was a priceless treasure. And this youth’s sense had grown so terrifying as to leap a whole great realm.

The Wu Old Ancestor’s eyes narrowed. A vicious thought stirred.

Elsewhere, Huang Tianba, his trick exposed, gnashed his teeth. He couldn’t fathom it—with Breath-Concealing Pearls in place, how had Fu Changsheng spotted it? Had a spy been planted in the clan? That seemed the only possibility. Huang Tianba decided then and there: after the competition, no matter the means, he would drag this spy into the light.

Because of Fu Changsheng’s move, the Huang clan would launch a purge that threw the entire household into misery.

But that was later.

Right now, Huang Tianba snorted through stiff lips. “Hmph, just teasing you a little!”

He clapped his hands.

Two Qi Refining clansmen who’d been hiding outside stepped forward. Clearly, he’d made thorough preparations.

Just then, the Ouyang patriarch glanced at the sky. “The hour has come.

“This hunt lasts for one month. After one month, reconvene here. There is a two-day window for regrouping. If you still haven’t returned by the cutoff, all points are void.”

As soon as he finished, the Wu clansmen were first to rush into the entrance.

Fu Changsheng moved to Cao Xianger’s side. The two hadn’t seen each other in some time, but this wasn’t the moment to chat. He unobtrusively slipped her a jade slip he had inscribed on the way over.

“Xianger, this is the Wan Feng range map.”

Cao Xianger’s eyes lit up.

She offered, “Changsheng, shall we form a team?”

Fu Changsheng shook his head.

With three False Core cultivators in play, if he didn’t give it everything, the Fu clan might not get even a single Purple Mansion quota for Kunlun. Quotas would be allocated according to the final percentage of demon cores secured—no upper limit.

So—

He planned to throw in everything: Autumn Cicada, the Frost-Prison Ice Bear, the Profound Water Beast, the Skull Demon Vine from the Five Elements Space, and even the Seven-Colored Glazed Beast that had long hidden in the Five-Color Pool. Only then would his odds be calculable.

Seeing how tense he was, Cao Xianger consoled him. “Don’t worry. No matter what, I’ll bring you into the Kunlun Minor World.”

In other words, should the Fu clan fail to secure a quota, she would pull one from the Cao clan’s Purple Mansion allotment for him.

But the Wuzhou Cao clan wasn’t hers alone to command.

Fu Changsheng was moved, but he still intended to rely on his own strength.

After everyone entered the mountains, he quietly transmitted to Fu Yongjing and Fu Qingyun, “Head into the outer zone. You two can hunt alone.”

They truly were Foundation Establishment, and first-rank beasts were child’s play. Even among clanmates, it was best to be cautious to prevent loopholes others might exploit.

In addition—

Brother Shou carried two third-rank corpse puppets. Gan Muwan had third-rank Gu. Fairy Tianyin was a formation master.

In Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment, the Fu clan would not place last no matter what. The only uncertainty lay with the Purple Mansion team. The Ouyang clan had chosen Wan Feng and must have prepared beforehand. The Huang, Wu, and Cao clans each had a False Core. The pressure on Fu Changsheng was immense.

“Move out!”

Seeing most of the ten families already inside, Fu Changsheng stopped lingering.

With a sweep of his arm, he led his people in.

In the outer zone of Wan Feng, night fell. A gauzy mist veiled the vast forests.

Fu Yongjing gripped his Profound Iron sword. The Soul-Suppressing Talisman wrapped around the hilt was faintly warm, as if warning him of nearby danger. His breathing was light, his steps lighter still. He slid along a rock face, the rotting leaf litter underfoot whispering softly.

Far off, a Blood-Tooth Wolf growled—low, vicious.

Fu Yongjing closed his eyes and stilled his mind. Having broken through to Foundation Establishment, he could project his Spiritual Sense, sensing beast auras within fifty zhang. Compared to other Qi Refining clansmen who relied on Spirit-Seeking instruments, he moved through the dense forest like a fish in water.

“Southeast, three. Northwest corner, two…” he counted silently. Positions of the wolves etched themselves into his sense. His heartbeat quickened slightly, but his fingers were steady as bedrock. These Blood-Tooth Wolves were the most common beasts in the outer zone—first-rank, pack hunters, fangs venomous, fond of encircling lone cultivators.

When the first wolf burst from the brush, Fu Yongjing didn’t turn.

His Profound Iron sword flicked back in a slanting lift; the edge cut precisely three inches into the throat—Blood-Tooth Wolf’s only fatal point, demonstrated seven times by Fu Yongqi during the clan meet. Before the corpse hit the ground, the second wolf bit for his ankle.

“Bang!” Fu Yongjing flung an Earth-Shaking Talisman from his sleeve. As the talisman’s light burst, he borrowed the force to vault. The third wolf snapped at empty air and sank its fangs into its companion’s corpse. The hiss of venom corroding flesh made one’s teeth ache.

Twisting midair, Fu Yongjing drove the point toward a wolf’s eye.

“Crack!” A tail swept his blade aside. The Profound Iron sword flew from his hand.

The tail lashed again. Fu Yongjing tumbled, a vine rose from his bloodline, coalescing in his palm into the phantom of a viper.

“Hiss—” The phantom shot like lightning and bit the wolf’s tail. The beast convulsed with a wail as the phantom actually tore its demon core free! Seizing the chance, Fu Yongjing snatched up his sword. Black miasma clung to the edge as he stabbed into the belly. This time, even the bones smoked with corrosion.

“This is… Bone-Eroding Poison?” He watched the fading serpent shadow in his palm; alarm bells rang in his heart.

Even the outer zone was perilous. One careless moment and he’d be dead. He raised his guard to the utmost.

After two or three wolves fell in succession, the rest realized he was no easy prey. With a single howl, they scattered. Fu Yongjing didn’t give chase. Such packs usually had a king. Judging by the first-rank peak wolves just slain, the king would likely be second-rank.

Better safe than sorry.

He chose not to press forward. Just as he turned to collect the carcasses, the Void-Heaven Tower in his sea of consciousness—long silent—gave a soft hum.

Startled, Fu Yongjing quickly tucked the Recording Pearl into his storage pouch.

At once, the pagoda exerted a suction, drawing out the Bone-Eroding Poison from the wolf corpses strand by strand. Fu Yongjing blinked, then swept the area with a swift glance. With a flick of his sleeve, he gathered all the bodies into his pouch.

The Void-Heaven Tower was his greatest secret.

Father had warned him again and again.

Do not let outsiders discover it lightly.

So how would he dare let the pagoda devour poison in an open place like this?

Night had deepened.

He needed to find a place to rest.

With a sweep of his sense, he flashed several times and chose an abandoned cave dwelling. After laying a simple Warning Formation, he patted his storage pouch. A rainbow gleam flashed, and a Mechanism House appeared—the very one Fu Changsheng had gifted him before departure, an allotment only seventh-rank clans could apply for.

A Mechanism House—

Even a Nascent Soul’s Spiritual Sense couldn’t see through it.

Fu Yongjing’s figure blurred as he stepped inside.

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