The Rise of a Family: Starting from Daily Intelligence - Chapter 421 (Patreon)

Chapter 421: Gaining Another Spirit Pet, Mountain-River Ancestral Cauldron Evolves, Blessing and Calamity Intertwined

After fleeing Heavenly Secrets Valley, Fu Changsheng immediately changed clothes. With the Azure Flood Dragon leading the way, he sped off without pause—racing in the direction opposite Heavenly Secrets Valley.

Ancestor Huang’s Cloudridge Mountain was right near Heavenly Secrets Valley.

Doubling back now—if he ran into Liu Bingqing and the other two again—he would likely be hard-pressed to escape.

He had already used up the four chances in the Heavenly Phoenix Talisman Treasure. He had only snatched the Ethereal Cloud Mica amid the chaos just now; if he truly crossed hands with Wu Liangba, he would have only been able to run for his life. Though the other man was merely at the False Core Realm, he had nonetheless stepped into the Golden Core ranks.

“Hopefully there’s still time.”

According to the intelligence he had read, Ancestor Huang needed ten days to half a month to break free.

Presumably, Liu Bingqing and the other two wouldn’t actually keep watch in Heavenly Secrets Valley for that long.

Every minute and second in the Kunlun Minor World was precious.

After flying for a while, Fu Changsheng swept out his spiritual sense and found a place to hide.

“Xiao Qing.”

The Azure Flood Dragon understood, gave a low roar, then dove and alighted on an unremarkable bramble-covered peak to the west. Its form blurred as it slipped into a ruined cave-dwelling within. After laying down a formation, Fu Changsheng moved with a thought and entered the Five Elements Space.

At the same time, a familiar mechanical chime sounded in his mind.

“Ding.”

“You have acquired the crucial Ethereal Cloud Mica for the clan and earned two thousand family contribution points.”

That neatly offset what he had spent earlier to exchange for intelligence.

Just in case, Fu Changsheng decided to exchange another batch of intelligence to see whether anything new about Ancestor Huang would refresh. If Liu Bingqing’s trio had already left Heavenly Secrets Valley, he could forgo waiting and head straight for Cloudridge Mountain.

He moved his mind at once.

“Exchange intelligence.”

Hum!

The panel quivered.

Waves of golden light surged.

Then frame after frame of images rolled forth.

With prior experience, he was used to the system’s changes. He set his intent on the first image.

Hum!

The image flipped.

The scene became clear, vivid, and three-dimensional.

He saw that in Heavenly Secrets Valley, Yang Shitian shielded Liu Bingqing behind him. Liu Bingqing’s amniotic fluid had broken—she was about to give birth. Yang Shitian, tense, faced off against Wu Liangba.

“Fellow Daoist Wu, the Ethereal Cloud Mica’s already been taken by that masked man. There’s nothing worth your coveting on us. If you truly insist on making a move, don’t forget that my wife’s grandaunt is a late-stage Golden Core cultivator. Should anything befall my wife, that senior will undoubtedly find a way to track down the murderer.”

In the battle just now, Wu Liangba had also been injured. This trip had been a complete failure; he had gotten nothing, which made him unwilling to leave. His gaze fell on Liu Bingqing’s storage pouch, and the corner of his mouth lifted.

“I’m not one of those who fail to see reason. Hand over Fairy Liu’s storage pouch, and I’ll leave without another word.”

“Don’t push us too far.”

Enduring the pain, Liu Bingqing’s eyes flashed with cold light—she looked ready to fight desperately.

Seeing this, worry flooded Yang Shitian’s face. He spoke gently.

“Wife, I’ve always listened to you in everything. This time, let me make the call.”

With that, he pulled off Liu Bingqing’s storage pouch.

In his eyes, nothing was more important than his wife.

“Fellow Daoist Wu, swear that once you take the pouch, you will not harass or entangle us further.”

“Haha, easily done, easily done.”

Wu Liangba’s mood brightened on the spot.

He swore, took the pouch, swept it with spiritual sense—and his face changed. Inside were only a pitiful few dozen mid-grade spirit stones. He’d been tricked.

“What a treacherous pair—how dare you scheme against me!”

Wu Liangba, livid, was about to strike.

Yang Shitian blinked in confusion.

He reflexively swept his own storage pouch and discovered—without knowing when—all of his wife’s belongings had been transferred into his pouch.

Liu Bingqing said coldly, “Fellow Daoist Wu, don’t forget your oath.”

“Fine, fine, fine—this enmity, I’ll remember!”

Wu Liangba shot into the sky and vanished.

Yang Shitian turned around, eyes brimming with admiration for his wife. Liu Bingqing, however, urged anxiously, “Leave here at once.”

If Wu Liangba brought others back, they would be in dire straits.

Hum!

The scene dissipated.

A line of text surfaced next:

[1: Liu Bingqing and the other two have left Heavenly Secrets Valley one after another. Before long, Liu Bingqing will give birth to a baby girl with Yin-Yang Eyes.]

“They left!”

Joy rose in Fu Changsheng’s heart.

If so, there was no need to keep waiting on this bramble mountain.

His gaze fell on the remaining intelligence:

[2: The bramble mountain you’re on has a lower third-rank spiritual vein.]

“Huh? There’s actually a lower third-rank spiritual vein here!”

Yet he had sensed nothing earlier. He had chosen this abandoned cave precisely because the spiritual energy was so thin as to be almost nonexistent—unlikely to draw other cultivators.

“Stop exchanging!”

Since there was a third-rank spiritual vein here, he could refine it into the Mountain-River Ancestral Cauldron first. At present the cauldron had absorbed only one vein. According to the system, once it refined enough veins, a second function would manifest. Its current function was that for each third-rank spiritual vein refined, the spiritual vein grade of the Spirit Mountain within the space would rise by one small step.

He formed seals with both hands.

With the chant rising, hum!

The Mountain-River Ancestral Cauldron above the Spirit Mountain soared. Fu Changsheng gripped the massive cauldron and, with a thought, stepped out of the Five Elements Space. He spread his spiritual sense wide and searched several times. He found not so much as a trace of a spiritual vein—not even a spot with slightly denser spiritual energy. Without the system’s tip, he would never have believed a spiritual vein was hidden here.

“Xiao Bai, it’s up to you.”

The Azure-Faced White Fox sprang out lightly, snow-white fur glimmering in the dim cave. Its nose twitched; its fox eyes half-closed as if sensing something. A moment later, it gave a low cry and darted toward the cave’s depths.

Fu Changsheng followed closely. The Mountain-River Ancestral Cauldron in his hand trembled faintly, as if it too sensed the vein.

They wound through a crooked passage until Xiao Bai stopped before a stone wall.

“Jiu.”

The Azure-Faced White Fox chirped and tapped the ground with a paw, indicating the vein lay below.

Fu Changsheng’s eyes narrowed. A simple barrier. He turned his right palm over; a No-Boundary Talisman appeared. Power gathered in his palm. With a hum, the talisman activated. He slammed it into the stone wall.

Boom!

Ripples of light spread.

The barrier shattered, revealing a deep fissure below.

In an instant, a surge of pure spiritual energy gushed out, condensing into faint spirit mist in the air.

“There really is a spiritual vein!”

He leapt into the fissure and found a naturally formed spirit hollow below. At its center lay a crystalline, jade-like spiritual vein coiled like a swimming dragon, radiating dense spiritual energy.

“A third-rank vein—and of excellent quality!”

Fu Changsheng’s heart leapt, then tightened. Scattered around the vein lay a few sets of white bones, with faint demonic energy still clinging to them.

“A guardian demon beast?”

His gaze sank. He spread his spiritual sense fully, wary of all sides.

Just as he prepared to drive the Mountain-River Ancestral Cauldron, the ground shook and a black shadow shot out from the depths of the vein.

“Hiss—”

A jet-black giant python rose, crimson pupils locking on Fu Changsheng. Its flicking tongue exuded wisps of poisonous miasma.

“A quasi fourth-rank demon beast—Black-Scale Profound Python!”

Fu Changsheng’s eyes sharpened. This sort of python had long entrenched itself upon the spiritual vein and fused with its aura. Its strength was comparable to a False Core cultivator—and with such virulent toxin, even a False Core expert would hesitate to provoke it.

“A bit troublesome.”

Before his words faded, the Azure Flood Dragon flashed out from the side and roared at the python.

Though originally stronger than the Azure Flood Dragon, the Black-Scale Profound Python’s arrogance stalled. It retreated a step in fear.

“Bloodline Suppression!”

Fu Changsheng’s eyes lit.

How had he forgotten? Xiao Qing was no longer the little green snake of yesteryear—it had evolved into a flood dragon, a bloodline one grade higher than a python.

If so, they had a firm chance to win.

“Hisss~”

The Azure Flood Dragon was practically drooling.

To it, a quasi fourth-rank Black-Scale Profound Python would be a tremendous tonic.

“Xiao Qing—take it alive.”

Fu Changsheng checked the eager flood dragon.

A beast of this rank, if subdued and taken back to the clan as a guardian spirit beast for the juniors, would be of even greater benefit.

“Xiao Qing, hold it head-on. Xiao Bai, look for an opening to interfere. I’ll set a formation to suppress it!”

The Azure Flood Dragon could wait no longer. With a low roar its body swelled, becoming a ten-zhang flood dragon. Dragon Might surged as it pressed upon the python. Xiao Bai slipped into the shadows, fox eyes glittering as it searched for a weak point.

The Black-Scale Profound Python coiled and lunged like an arrow loosed from the string—clearly unwilling to submit.

“Roar!”

Xiao Qing did not flinch. Dragon claws tore the air, raking for the serpent’s head. The two tangled in an instant; sparks flew where scales crashed, and the whole spirit hollow shook.

Seizing the chance, Fu Changsheng cast his seals. A handful of formation flags flew from his sleeve and planted themselves around the hollow, forming the Spirit-Lock Monster-Trapping Array. This formation specialized in restraining demon beasts; once trapped, their demonic power would be greatly suppressed. He had been given it by Yu Qingru before he set out, as a protective measure.

“Roar!”

Sensing something, the Black-Scale Profound Python narrowed its eyes. It snapped its tail to force Xiao Qing back and spat a reeking cloud of venom straight at Fu Changsheng.

“Hmph!”

Well prepared, Fu Changsheng flicked his sleeve. A golden talisman flashed out, spreading into a barrier that blocked the poisonous fog. He pointed, low voice cutting the air.

“Rise!”

Hum—

Array lines flared across the ground. Countless golden chains burst up like spirit serpents, coiling toward the python.

The Black-Scale Profound Python bellowed, body thrashing as it tore several chains apart by brute force. Its sweeping tail shattered most of the flags.

“Such monstrous strength.” Fu Changsheng frowned. Its savagery far exceeded his estimate.

Just then, Xiao Bai leapt from the shadows. Its claws glimmered with a ghostly light as it slapped squarely at seven inches behind the serpent’s head.

“Hiss—!”

The python howled, movements pausing for a beat.

Fu Changsheng seized the opening and turned his hand, producing an ancient Beast-Controlling Ring—gifted by his fourth sister, Fu Changli, specifically for subduing demon beasts.

“Go!”

The ring shot off in a streak straight for the python’s skull.

The serpent sensed danger. Its pupils shrank and it spat out a pitch-black demon core to block the ring.

“Demon core out of the body? Looking for death.” Fu Changsheng sneered, tapped his finger, and the ring accelerated, skirting the core to snap around the serpent’s head.

Hum—

Golden light flooded from the Beast-Controlling Ring. The Black-Scale Profound Python let out a chilling scream. Its coils thrashed madly, but the light clung like a maggot to bone, swiftly seeping into its soul.

At first the python would rather die than yield.

But as suffocation closed in, survival instinct gradually smothered its resistance. It whimpered low, the ferocity in its eyes giving way to submission. At last it lowered its head and slid to Fu Changsheng’s feet in surrender.

“Those who know the times are wise. Not bad.”

Satisfied, Fu Changsheng pressed a palm to the serpent’s head, sensed the beast-taming brand within its soul, confirmed it, and then withdrew the Spirit-Lock Monster-Trapping Array.

“From today, you’ll be our Fu Clan’s guardian spirit beast. I’ll grant you the name ‘Xuan Ying.’ Rest easy—once you enter our clan, I’ll see to it you break through to fourth rank.”

The Black-Scale Profound Python—no, Xuan Ying—hissed softly and flicked its tail in acknowledgment.

With Xuan Ying subdued, nothing blocked Fu Changsheng. He drove the Mountain-River Ancestral Cauldron at once and began refining the spiritual vein.

“Mountain-River guards the clan—spiritual vein to the cauldron… receive!”

Golden light spouted from the cauldron mouth, swallowing the entire vein like a whale drawing in the sea. The instant the vein entered, the Spirit Mountain within the Five Elements Space shuddered violently, its mass rising as spiritual density surged—catapulting from peak third rank to quasi fourth rank.

Even the medicine-garden space within the cauldron expanded by dozens of li.

“Excellent.” Joy welled in Fu Changsheng’s heart.

Just then, the system tone rang again.

“Ding.”

“You have reclaimed a quasi fourth-rank Black-Scale Profound Python for the clan and refined a third-rank spiritual vein. You gain three thousand family contribution points.”

A heartbeat later, the family contribution tally on the panel changed to fifteen thousand.

The panel quivered.

A line of text appeared:

[Mountain-River Ancestral Cauldron: First Rank (30/100)]

Judging by the progress, Fu Changsheng estimated that refining three to five more veins would manifest the cauldron’s second function.

He thought for a moment and turned to Xuan Ying.

“Xiao Ying, you’ve cultivated here for years. Do you know of any other spiritual veins nearby?”

Xuan Ying’s pupils flickered as if thinking; then its tail swayed.

It had never left this barrier since birth, and knew nothing of the outside world.

A bit regretful, Fu Changsheng had the Azure-Faced White Fox confirm there was nothing else here. He was about to head for Cloudridge Mountain when his expression suddenly changed.

Outside the bramble mountain, several streaks of light were racing in—one aura among them was… Wu Liangba!

“What a coincidence?”

Fu Changsheng’s eyes shifted. He stuffed Xuan Ying into the Spirit Beast Pouch, donned the mysterious robe, and fully hid his figure. A sweep of spiritual sense confirmed Wu Liangba and his companions were indeed headed straight for this mountain.

“Did he plant a tracking mark on me?”

Thoughts turning quickly, he checked himself and found no marks. It was merely coincidence. He moved at once, slipping into the Five Elements Space—by now the trio had already reached the mountain entrance; it was too late to flee.

Outside the bramble mountain, three streaks of light tore the sky like meteors. At their head was Wu Liangba, face dark and vicious. Behind him flew two False Core cultivators: one in a scarlet robe with a string of skulls at his waist, the other in a gray-white cloak with a withered, corpse-like face.

“Fellow Daoist Wu, you’re certain that Black-Scale Profound Python is here?” The scarlet-robed cultivator licked his lips, greed flashing in his eyes. “If it truly has reached quasi fourth rank, its demon essence will be perfect for seizing that treasure!”

Wu Liangba snorted. “I discovered that python back then—how could I be wrong? This bramble mountain looks barren but hides a barrier and a third-rank spiritual vein. That beast lairs within.”

The three landed before the mountain. Wu Liangba swept his spiritual sense—and his face changed. “Not good! The barrier’s broken!”

He flashed into the fissure first. Seeing the spirit hollow empty and even the last wisp of aura gone, Wu Liangba’s face twisted. “Who?! Who dared steal my prey?!”

The scarlet-robed cultivator crouched and rolled a freshly shed black scale between his fingers. “The scale is new—subdued not long ago.”

The gray-cloaked one pressed skeletal fingers to the ground and sensed for a moment. “The vein was uprooted—quite a feat. At least Golden Core methods.”

“Bullshit!” Wu Liangba smashed a nearby stone wall with one palm. “Why would a Golden Core take a mere third-rank vein? It must be that masked man!”

He vaguely smelled a familiar aura—like the masked man from Heavenly Secrets Valley.

Murderous light flared in Wu Liangba’s eyes.

“He snatched my Ethereal Cloud Mica and seized my Black-Scale Profound Python. This enmity is irreconcilable!”

The scarlet-robed cultivator suddenly sniffed. “There’s demon aura left… and—” His expression turned odd. “Flood dragon aura?”

“Flood dragon?” Wu Liangba’s pupils shrank as he recalled the Azure Flood Dragon’s traces in Heavenly Secrets Valley. He came to a sudden realization. “Of course! That masked man must have an Azure Flood Dragon at his side.” He ground his teeth. “A skulking rat who ruins my plans again and again!”

The gray-cloaked one spoke in a chill tone, “For someone to subdue a quasi fourth-rank beast so easily—his strength may—”

“What’s there to fear!” Wu Liangba barked. “The brat’s only at eighth-layer Purple Mansion. Even with secret arts, he can at most squeeze out False Core strength. The three of us together could fight even a Golden Core!” He spun abruptly, his spiritual sense sweeping through the entire mountain like a tide. “He can’t have gotten far. Search!”

They split up. Wu Liangba produced a blood-red compass and spat a mouthful of essence blood upon it. “Blood-Trail Soul-Chase—reveal!”

The needle spun madly—then pointed straight down.

“Underground?” Wu Liangba froze, then grinned savagely. “So you’re hiding in the earth vein. Let’s see how long you hide!” He stomped—cracks webbed across the ground. “Get out here!”

But the depths of the earth vein were empty, with only a few lingering wisps of aura.

“Impossible!” Wu Liangba raved, blasting out dozens of strikes in a row. The whole mountain trembled. Rocks collapsed; dust billowed. Yet he found no one.

The scarlet-robed cultivator frowned. “Fellow Daoist Wu, the man likely has a special earth-escape art.”

“Damn brat!” Wu Liangba’s eyes were blood-red. That masked man had slipped away again—infuriating.

When he finally calmed, the scarlet-robed one said, “Fellow Daoist Wu, since there’s no quasi fourth-rank Black-Scale Profound Python, we’ll have to make do with my early third-rank White-Phosphor Black Python. Time’s almost up—if we’re late, someone else may get that treasure first.”

The other companion also urged him on.

Wu Liangba snorted reluctantly. “Go!”

After the trio left, half an hour passed.

Wu Liangba’s figure flashed back—he had returned to make sure. Only after confirming the mountain truly hid no one did he leave, still seething.

…

In the mist of Cloudridge Mountain, Ancestor Huang advanced with difficulty, every step like treading on blades. His Profound Yin robe had been corroded into tatters by the mountain’s toxic miasma. A claw wound on his right arm gaped to the bone, seeping black blood—the work of a Red-Eyed Demon Wolf, its poison already numbing half his body.

“This damned wasteland of a mountain!”

Ten days ago, when he was randomly transmitted here, he had high hopes.

But he soon discovered the space here was completely sealed—even the most basic transmission jades wouldn’t work. Worse, the mountain’s demon beasts seemed particularly sensitive to a cultivator’s aura. Just yesterday, a pack of Red-Eyed Demon Wolves had driven him to the base of a sheer cliff. If not for timely use of his life-bound Profound Yin Shield, he would have been wolf food.

“I can’t keep dragging this out.”

When his spiritual power ran dry, the pack would swarm—and that would be the day he perished.

Resolute light flashed in Ancestor Huang’s eyes. He took out his last bottle of Qi-Recovery Pills from his pouch. He poured out two and swallowed them, then found with a bitter smile that the bottle was empty. Less than thirty percent of his spiritual power remained; wielding magic treasures was a pipe dream.

Worse still, this mountain seemed to be a natural maze. No matter which way he walked, he would circle back to the start.

“Hm?”

He seemed to faintly hear wind chimes from outside the mountain.

Ancestor Huang’s eyes lit.

Heaven take pity—at last, a hope of escaping.

That wind chime was, at this moment, a lighthouse in a storm.

He had no other choice. He followed the sound of the chimes and dashed southwest.

“Awooo!”

Dozens of pairs of crimson eyes lit within the fog around him.

“Not good!”

His heart clenched. He hastily raised the Profound Yin Shield.

More than thirty Red-Eyed Demon Wolves padded out of the mist. The lead wolf king was as large as a tiger, a golden vertical stripe blazing upon its brow.

“They came right when I’m weakest!”

The wolves fanned into a semicircle, hemming him in. With his back to the cliff, he had nowhere to retreat. He gritted his teeth and formed seals. The Profound Yin Banner unfurled, turning into a three-zhang curtain of blackness before him.

“Awooo—”

The wolf king howled, and the pack swarmed.

“Out of my way!”

Ancestor Huang roared.

Spiritual power surged into the banner. The rearing yin wind knitted into a wall.

The first five wolves tumbled into a whirling eddy of black wind and were minced to pulp in an instant.

Gasping, sweat beading his brow, Ancestor Huang held on. The Profound Yin Banner had repelled the first wave, but his remaining thirty percent spiritual power was bleeding away. His meridians already ached from overexertion.

“I must end this quickly.”

He fixed his gaze on the wolf king with the golden stripe. Cunning beast—it had stayed behind its pack commanding, never giving him a clean shot to cut off the head.

Suddenly, guile flickered in the wolf king’s eyes and it gave a strange keening cry. The remaining wolves instantly changed formation—splitting into three teams rotating their assault: one feinting, one harassing, the last lurking for a killing strike. Their coordination rivaled trained cultivators.

“Puh!”

A smaller wolf seized an opening and raked his back. He grunted and fired an arc of yin lightning in reply, charring the beast. That brief distraction opened a gap in his front. Three wolves broke through the wall of yin wind, their fangs already grazing his robe.

“Courting death!”

Bloodshot filled Ancestor Huang’s eyes. He bit the tip of his tongue. A spray of essence blood struck the banner, and it blazed with bloody light. Nine blood-red chains lanced from the fabric, skewering the lunging wolves. But the desperate strike shook his meridians; blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

The wolf king’s brow suddenly shone. Three paths of golden纹 gleamed—signifying a wolf nearing quasi fourth rank; each stripe stood for a bloodline spell.

“Roar!”

The first stripe flared.

In a breath, dozens of blood-red wind blades screamed through the air, shattering stone wherever they passed.

Ancestor Huang hastily sealed. The Profound Yin Shield expanded, dense yin-sha sigils crawling over its face.

“Yin-Sha Profound Radiance!”

He spat a breath of life-source essence. The shield burst with black light.

Ding, ding, ding—

The wind blades shrieked against the light screen.

Before the first wave ceased, the second stripe blazed.

The wolf king threw back its head; every hair stood on end, shooting out as a storm of blood needles.

“Ten Thousand Blood Soul-Eater Needles?”

This specifically pierced protective light. Ancestor Huang’s pupils tightened. He slapped his pouch.

“Nine-Nether Soul-Wraith Banner!”

A pitch-black banner shot up, its cloth unfurling into a ten-zhang ghostly canopy.

Boom, boom, boom—

Wailing spirits surged from the banner, colliding with the blood needles midair in a chain of detonations.

Seizing the lull before the third wave, Ancestor Huang fought back, biting his finger to quickly sketch a blood talisman in the air.

“Profound Yin Soul-Butchering Finger!”

He fingered a sword-point. A jet of ebon light leapt from his fingertips—his buried trump card—driving straight for the wolf king’s throat.

Hum!

Right then, golden light flared on the wolf king’s brow as the third stripe ignited, condensing a blood-red crystal wall before it.

Boom!

The clash blew the fog clear for ten zhang around.

“Pff!”

The backlash hurled Ancestor Huang, blood spraying from his mouth; cracks spidered across his Profound Yin Shield. The wolf king also reeled, its three stripes dimming by more than half.

Locked in stalemate, the wolf king suddenly reared. Blood-light clawed over its forepaws.

“That beast even dares use the life-risking Blood-Sha Heaven-Rending Claw!”

Clearly, the wolf king meant to fight to the death.

Heart aching, Ancestor Huang flung his final trump—an ink-black Profound Yin Thunder Bead. This had been a gift from Realman Xiao before the expedition; he had meant to use it in Azure Serenity Valley to seize the Donghua Yin Wood, not waste it on a beast.

“Die!!”

He snapped his seals.

Rumble!

The bead exploded.

The valley itself shook under the force.

“Awooo—”

Amid roiling smoke, heedless of the wolf king’s enraged howls, Ancestor Huang squeezed the last dregs of spiritual power within him and streaked along the wind-chime’s direction. With a hum, he stumbled out of the mist. Stabbing sunlight made his vision go black; he nearly collapsed. Forcing himself upright and gulping air, he felt his spiritual power almost dry. His meridians burned from overuse.

“At last… out.”

Thanks for reading—what a ride, right? If you’re enjoying Fu Changsheng’s string of lucky breaks (and the trouble that chases them), please consider supporting the translation on Patreon; even a small pledge keeps me grinding out more chapters for you. And if you’ve got a minute, dropping a rating or review on NovelUpdates helps new readers find this story—your word of mouth really matters!

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