Chapter 461: The Yin God Appears, the Enthronement Ceremony, and the Development of the Family

Chapter 461: The Yin God Appears, the Enthronement Ceremony, and the Development of the Family

Chapter 461: The Yin God Appears, the Enthronement Ceremony, and the Development of the Family (9.2k)

Nanyang County is surrounded by mountains on all sides and has steep terrain. There are many deep valleys and ravines in the county, which are shrouded in mist all year round and have complicated spiritual veins. Although it is not a rich place, it has become an important resource base for the Nangong family because of its abundant Yinsha Stone.

This place was originally the fief of Nangong Lie, the eighth elder of the Nangong family.

This person is greedy and tyrannical. He has cultivated the "Erosion Bone Art" to the middle stage of the Purple Mansion. His Black Scale Guards are rampant in the county, exploiting both cultivators and mortals.

Monks are required to hand over 70% of their cultivation resources. Those who violate the rules will have their cultivation abolished and be thrown into the Soul-Devouring Abyss to fend for themselves. Mortals are forced to mine Yinsha Stones, and out of ten people going into the mine, only three or four can survive more than three years.

Because of this, Fu Changli, who was in charge of the neighboring Yunshan County, was at the same level as Nangong Lie, but he always disdained to interact with him. Once, an elder of the Fu family proposed to jointly develop the Xuanyin Iron Mine at the junction of the two counties, but Fu Changli just said coldly: "If you associate with jackals, one day they will bite you back."

now--

Nangong Yu stood on the tower in a black robe, with the Nangong clan members behind him and the Nanyang people kneeling in front of him. His eyes were like the abyss, overlooking all living beings, and he raised his fingertips slightly, and a purple pressure spread like a tide, shocking the whole audience.

"From today on, Nanyang County will be under my control."

The sound was not loud, but it was like a thunderclap, and no one dared to look up and question it.

"Nanyang County's taxes are reduced by half, and those who mine Yinsha Stone will have two days off every five days!"

"Taxes... reduced by half?"

A middle-aged cultivator who rented the Nangong family's spiritual field looked up in joy when he heard this. He was cultivating the "Qingmu Jue" and should have been full of vitality, but at this moment his dantian was exhausted and the spiritual energy remaining in his meridians was as thin as fog - all thanks to Nangong Lie's exploitation.

His companion tugged at his sleeve and shouted, "Don't look up! Who knows if this is a new trick!"

But his eyes were already red.

Over the past hundred years, every time the harvest came, 70% of the spiritual fields they rented were taken away, and the remaining money was not even enough to buy a Qi-nourishing Pill.

"Work five and rest two..."

At the back of the crowd, hunched-backed Old Zhao covered his mouth tightly. His three sons all died in the mine, and the youngest was only sixteen years old. When half of his body was crushed by the collapsed rocks, he was still holding half of the Yinsha Stone in his hand.

He muttered like a madman, and his turbid tears fell on the back of his cracked hands. This means that for every five days of work, he can go home and rest for two days!

If so.

Then perhaps his old bones could still raise his young grandson to adulthood.

He kowtowed heavily: "Thank...thank you for your grace, Immortal!"

Several monks in brocade robes exchanged glances and secretly clasped the jade talisman in their palms. They were originally the direct descendants of a small family under Nangong Lie, and they lived a comfortable life in the past by flattering and sharing the spoils.

"Work five and rest two?" One of them whispered, "The output of Yinsha Stone will surely drop, and our share..."

Another person sneered: "Why rush? No matter how ruthless Nangong Yu is, someone has to manage the mine for him."

But when they stole a glance at the figure in black robe on the city wall, they saw that the other party was looking at them with a smile, and their hair stood on end immediately - the look in his eyes was like he was looking at a group of lambs to be slaughtered.

Ever since Nangong Yu promulgated the new policy.

The second important thing was to build temples.

He personally selected the north of the city as the site of the temple. This place was filled with black fog all year round. It was rumored that it was the place where the evil spirits left over from the ancient battlefield gathered. He used the power of the Purple Palace to shatter the stubborn rocks in the valley and opened up a piece of open space with a radius of 100 meters. He drew a formation on the ground, and black blood seeped into the soil, turning into countless twisted runes, which captured all the evil spirits within a radius of ten miles and condensed them into the foundation of the temple.

"This temple needs to be built with the 'Blood Mud of All Souls'."

At a command, the Black Scale Guards brought in three hundred death row prisoners.

Nangong stood on the high platform, and the Tailing Gu flew out from his sleeves, penetrated into the prisoners' seven orifices, and instantly sucked out all their blood and essence, leaving only a shrunken skin. The corpse was crushed into powder, mixed into the Yinsha soil, and paved the first brick of the temple.

After the main part of the temple was built, Nangong Yu took nine "Xuan Yin Soul-Calming Steles" and buried them at nine locations around the temple. If a cultivator broke in, the formation would automatically trigger the "bone-eroding black fog", and those below the purple mansion would turn into bones if they touched it; if the kneeling person was disrespectful, the evil spirit in his blood would backfire, causing him unbearable pain.

The temple was completed on a yin year, yin month and yin day.

Nangong Yu, wearing a black gold ritual robe, stood on the ninety-nine black jade steps in front of the temple. There were crowds of people below the steps, not only the monks and common people from Nanyang County, but also the scattered monks from the neighboring counties who came to watch the ceremony - after all, a temple that could attract so much attention from the Purple Mansion Great Monk must have a mystery.

"Today, the Yin Temple is open, blessing all living beings."

He waved his sleeves, and the temple door opened, and a chilly air swept out. Everyone saw inside the temple:
In the center, a headless statue sits majestically, with black mist condensing into a vortex at the broken neck, revealing a ferocious face; on the left and right of the statue stand eighteen bronze ghost generals, holding knives and axes, as if ready to choose someone to devour; on the incense table stand three life lamps, the lamp oil is light gold.

“Anyone who bows down with sincerity will receive three gifts.”

Nangong Yu's voice was like the sound of metal clashing, echoing across heaven and earth:

The monks bestowed "Yin Sha Spiritual Liquid" - on the first day of every month, the first 100 people who burn incense can receive a bottle of body-tempering spiritual liquid to help increase their cultivation;

Mortals give "Avoiding Miasma Talisman" - Wearing this talisman, entering the mine can resist the erosion of evil spirits and greatly increase the chance of survival;
Those who are sincere will be given a "lot to relieve their misfortunes"

As soon as these words came out, everyone was shocked!
I was skeptical at first.

But as some people really got the benefits, more and more people came to the temple to worship. The Yinshen Temple had only been open in Nanyang County for a few months, but the popularity of incense far exceeded any Taoist temple or Buddhist temple in Jingzhou.

Every morning, a long queue would form in front of the temple, with monks and mortals alike kneeling devoutly and chanting "Mercy of the Yin God".

The miraculous things in the temple spread like wildfire.

When a casual cultivator was kneeling in the temple, he suddenly felt his mind become clear, and the incomplete martial arts technique "Xuan Yin Jue" that had troubled him for many years was completed by itself, as if a statue of a deity was teaching him the Dharma in the dark.

One cultivator was seriously injured and dying in the fight, and was carried into the temple by his companions. After three incense sticks, his meridians healed on their own, and even the cracks in his dantian disappeared without a trace.

"God, have mercy!" A white-haired old monk knelt in front of the temple, tears streaming down his face. He had been stuck at the peak of foundation building for fifty years and thought that his life was hopeless, but after drinking the spiritual liquid, the dawn of hope appeared in his purple mansion.

a few years later

The popularity of incense in front of the temple reached its peak.

The monks lined up in a long queue, and some even waited all night just to grab the bottle of spiritual liquid on the first day of the lunar year.

The monks are like this, and mortals regard the Yin Temple as a life-saving straw.

Since the distribution of the "Avoiding Miasma Talisman", no one working in the mines has died suddenly due to the erosion of Yinsha. Some people were even buried by a landslide for three days, but they were still able to crawl out alive, because the talisman in their arms was intact. An old woman suffering from tuberculosis was carried by her son to burn incense. She coughed up black blood that night, but the next day she was able to walk on the ground with a rosy complexion as if she had returned to her youth. Some farmers set up Yinshen tablets by the side of the fields. That year, the per-acre rice yield doubled, the grains were full like golden beads, and there was not even a trace of insect pests.

"God bless us!" Old miner Zhao San knelt in front of the temple and trembled as he wrote his grandson's name on the prayer board. His grandson was born weak, but since he wore the amulet he got from the temple, he has never been sick again.

In the square outside the temple, fruits, rice and grains offered by ordinary people are piled up like mountains. Every day, women come to clean the statues spontaneously, for fear of neglecting this "divine grace."

Huizhou Prefecture Main Hall Meeting Hall
In the main hall, the sandalwood incense was curling and the spirit tea was wafting. Liu Meizhen sat at the first seat. She tapped the table with her fingertips and spoke in a steady and powerful voice:
"Everyone, the Ministry of Suppression has announced that in one or two years, the imperial envoy will come in person to officially confer the title of Sixth Rank Family on our Fu family!"

As soon as the words fell, everyone in the hall had different expressions, but without exception, their eyes were flashing with excitement.

When the imperial court granted them the sixth rank reward.

The time limit given was that they had to destroy the two foreign Purple Mansion forces within thirty years, but under the leadership of the head of the Fu family, it only took them half the time.

Fu Changli, one of the four cultivators of the Fu family, said excitedly: "The Xuanxiao Sect's group of old dogs have schemed so hard, but unfortunately, it is my Fu family that has the last laugh!"

There was a hint of regret in his tone.

After all, he was in Eastern Wilderness and was unable to participate in the battle with Xuanxiao Sect.

Fu Changlei was always serious, but at this moment he showed a rare hint of excitement:
"Once we are promoted to a sixth-rank family, it means that we can peek into the secrets of the golden elixir and enter higher-level secret realms and ruins. We will have more diverse ways to obtain cultivation resources in the future. Our Fu family will surely make further progress in the future!"

In recent years, the tribe.

The number of Purple Mansion monks continues to increase.

Originally they were worried that there would be too many people and too little food.

After all, the resources needed for Purple Mansion cultivation are all third-level spiritual objects. Even the main ingredients of the simplest third-level inferior elixir require more than a hundred years to be produced. It is obviously far from enough to rely solely on the Fu family's own production and cultivation. Even if they are cultivated and refined into pills, there will not be enough to share.

This is also why we need to expand our territory.

The purpose of the Great Zhou Dynasty's war with the East Wilderness and the Far West was also to compete for more resources.

Fu Yongfu couldn't help but say:
"Mother, I wonder if any of the secret ruins that the sixth-rank families can enter have been opened recently?"

High-level secret ruins.

This means that the interval between each opening is longer.

If they are unlucky and happen to encounter another secret realm that has just been opened after being promoted, they will probably have to wait for more than a hundred years.

Fu Yongshang, who was standing by, glared at Fu Yongfu:
"Brother Fu, it is unknown what secret ruins this sixth-rank family can enter. How do you expect the mistress to respond to you?"

"Yes, I was too impatient."

Fu Yongfu scratched his head in a naive manner.

As the head of the Business Hall, Fu Yongshang was more concerned about the channels for purchasing goods:
"At present, all the major shops of our Fu family sell spiritual objects produced by ourselves. If we are promoted to a sixth-grade family, we will be able to trade with the imperial merchants of the court and find some spiritual objects and treasures that are not common in the market to sell. That will definitely help our Fu family's business to reach a higher level."

There was a pause.

Fu Yongshang's eyes turned and he continued:
"also"

"Wuzhou is a new place, and currently there is only one market town in Wuzhou City. This is extremely inconvenient for many cultivators, especially for foundation building and Qi refining disciples. It takes several months to travel back and forth at the fastest. If it is far, it will take more than a year. At present, various families have taken root in Wuzhou, a new place, and there are more and more cultivators. I suggest that we take advantage of the opportunity of being promoted to the sixth rank and discuss with the major families to establish a market town during the grand ceremony. Madam, what do you think?"

They had two experiences in the Yunshan County fiefdom.

If the market can get back on track.

That is definitely a sure win.

Liu Meizhen nodded and said:
"Yong Shang, your idea is good, but Wuzhou is adjacent to the Far West. If we really want to build a market, we must have the ability to resist the attack of the golden elixir. Otherwise, it will be a waste of time to help others. This matter will be decided by my husband after he comes out of seclusion."

You say something to everyone, and I say something.

The atmosphere in the hall was extremely harmonious.

After Liu Meizhen and the others had calmed down, she tapped the jade table and talked about business:

"I have called you all together today to set the rules for welcoming the emperor and worshipping our ancestors."

Gan Muwan was the first to stand up: "Mother, according to the "Ritual System of Aristocratic Family", the sixth-rank aristocratic family needs to prepare the following to welcome the emperor: a nine-layer white jade altar with mountain and river patterns engraved on it, and another 360 foundation-building disciples arranged in the "Zhou Tian Xing Dou Formation", and seven Purple Mansion monks holding the "Bei Dou Banner" to protect the way. I have already selected the foundation-building candidates, please take a look at it, mother."

talking.

Gan Muwan presented the list.

The last time the title was bestowed was of the quasi-sixth rank, and the specifications were different from this. Otherwise, the Zhenshi Division would not have not notified the Fu family in advance and given them nearly a month to prepare.

Liu Meizhen glanced at the list.

It's tacit consent.

Yu Qingru added: "Big sister, I have mobilized the second-level and above formation masters in the clan to rush to build the altar overnight. It will be completed in a few months."

Ouyang Fei, as the oldest person in the hall, hesitated for a moment and said:
"According to the imperial system, nine third-level blue phoenix incense sticks are needed. These can be found in the treasury, but if I remember correctly, nine living third-level monsters will also be needed as sacrifices to replenish energy for the upgrade of the family jade seal. It's less than two years before the canonization, and time is extremely tight. I'm afraid we'll have to ask the East Wilderness stronghold and our Purple Mansion elders in Huizhou Prefecture to work together."

The beasts raised in the Valley of Ten Thousand Beasts are all spiritual beasts.

Once it has been cultivated to the third level, we naturally can’t bear to slaughter it.

Liu Meizhen pondered for a moment and said:
"It's been less than 20 years since the beast tide in Jingzhou. It may not be easy to find third-level monsters. In addition, the East Wilderness stronghold has to guard against the Tianyin tribe. It may take more than a year to transport them back and forth to our Huizhou Prefecture. If we activate the teleportation array, it will cost too much. These nine monsters should be handled by our Huizhou Prefecture, and Uncle Fei will lead the team to hunt in the Wanfeng Mountains. In recent years, the Dark Hall has collected many nests of third-level monsters in the Wanfeng Mountains, which saves everyone time in exploration. Uncle Fei, you can capture as many as you can, and don't have too much pressure. If it doesn't work, we can still purchase them from the market. Do everything within your means. Safety is the most important thing."

Currently.

The Fu family is no longer the impoverished Anyang County Fu family of the past.

Especially after plundering the wealth of the Tianlang Tribe and the Xuanxiao Sect, Huizhou Prefecture has now opened up three new counties, and there are a lot of offerings every year.

Upon hearing this, Fu Changli took the lead and said:
"Madam, I will be included in this hunting team."

She is a quasi-fourth-level beastmaster and knows more about the habits of monsters.

Yu Qingru, as a formation master, also volunteered.

The three heroes of the Qin family, Fu Yongrui, Fu Yongqing, Fu Yongfu, Fu Yongrui, Fu Yongjing and Liu Shuang and his wife also joined the hunting team.

Liu Meizhen said just in case:
"In that case, you should bring the Black Scaled Python with you. Xing Ge'er is in seclusion recently and won't go out."

The black-scaled python is quasi-fourth-level.

Everyone heard this.

I feel more confident about this hunt.

Everyone discussed the matters of ancestor worship after receiving the imperial edict, but what everyone was most concerned about was that the end of the month would be the time for the Fu family to be conferred a title. If the head of the family did not come out of seclusion by then, it would be unreasonable. Liu Meizhen said:
"My husband, I will personally inform everyone that my Fu family has officially been promoted to the rank of a sixth-grade family. This is a thousand-year event. I hope you will all work together to celebrate this great event!"

"We will follow the mistress's orders!" Everyone responded in unison, with a fiery light burning in their eyes.

After everyone came out of the meeting hall, due to limited time, they immediately returned to their caves to pack up the necessary items, and then set off on a small warship. In the cabin of the warship, Ouyang Fei sat in the main seat, waved his sleeves, and a yellowed animal skin map floated in the air. With the invocation of a spell, the land veins and mountains in the map seemed to come alive, becoming three-dimensional and vivid. He said in a deep voice:
"The mistress retrieved the data from the dark hall and selected nine third-level monster nests in the Wanfeng Mountains. Among them, the 'Red-eyed Fire Ape' lives in the lava cave on the southern slope, the 'Mysterious Ice Scale Python' is entrenched in the cold pond on the north side, and the 'Iron-backed Gray Wolf' roams in the Wind Blade Gorge in the east valley. The remaining four have mysterious tracks and need to be lured with bait."

"There are too many of us and it might alarm the monsters. Besides, if we act together, we won't have enough time. It would be better for us to split into four groups first." Everyone agreed.

After some discussion.

The three heroes of the Qin family are triplets who are connected by blood. Their combined attack technique can help them fight against enemies of higher levels, so they automatically form a team; Yu Qingru, Fu Yongqing, and Liu Shuang's family use formations to trap beasts and specifically counter the cold poison escape technique of the "Mysterious Ice Scale Python", so they form a team; Fu Yongrui, Fu Yongfu, and Gan Muwan form one team; the remaining Ouyang Fei, Fu Changli, and Fu Yongjing automatically form a team.

Ouyang Fei waved his sleeves.

Eleven communication jade talismans floated towards everyone, admonishing:

"The intelligence of monsters is not inferior to that of humans. If they are in danger, light the talisman immediately to ask for help. It is better to return empty-handed than to lose a person!"

"Yes"

Everyone took the order and left.

Three figures walked on the dew towards Fengren Gorge. Qin Da carried a nine-ring broadsword on his shoulder, and the copper rings on the back of the sword jingled with his steps.

"Speaking of which, our move of marrying into the Fu family was a brilliant one." Qin San suddenly chuckled, with a cunning light flashing in his fox eyes. "Who would have thought that in just sixteen years, the Fu family would be promoted from the seventh rank to the sixth rank?"

Qin Er was playing with a jade slip on his fingertips, and smiled when he heard this: "I still remember clearly how Taoist Chen packed up his bags and ran away overnight when he heard that the Fu family and Xuan Xiao Sect were enemies."

"That old thing!" Qin's loud laughter startled the birds in the forest. "He sent me a message the day before yesterday, saying that 'the three brothers have unique vision' and wanted us to introduce him to the Fu family. Ha! Now he can only be a guest official in our Huiyang County."

Qin San deliberately pinched his voice and imitated the words of the casual cultivator: "'The Xuan Xiao Sect is powerful, and the Fu family is in danger' - what was the result? The Xuan Xiao Sect's mountain gate was split in half by our clan leader's sword!"

The three brothers looked at each other and laughed, startling a group of iron-feathered sparrows on the treetops and causing them to flutter and fly away.

Qin Er suddenly said seriously: "I heard that after the Fu family is promoted to the sixth rank, they will open the secret of forming a pill to those who have made contributions based on their contribution points."

Qin Da's copper bell-like eyes suddenly lit up: "Golden Elixir Avenue" He stroked the hilt of the knife, and his bronze face glowed red. "If we can make great achievements, maybe..."

"Brother, stop dreaming." Qin San interrupted with a smile, "First, let's capture this Iron-backed Gray Wolf alive."

The three of them walked for a while and came to a steep monster cave. The leader, Qin Da, suddenly raised his hand, and veins popped out on his bronze arm: "Stop."

After sensing it, Qin Er said cautiously: "Middle stage of the third level, the wind blade magic has reached its peak, and there is an old injury on the left hind leg."

Qin San heard this, gently stroked the bronze horn on his waist, and raised the corner of his mouth slightly: "Brother, let me go first this time?"

Qin Da grinned, revealing his white teeth: "As usual, I'll be in the front, the second one will control the situation, and the third one will raid the battlefield."

Before he finished speaking, a gray shadow suddenly appeared from the cracks in the rocks. The Iron-backed Gray Wolf King was the size of a calf, with its back armor gleaming with cold metallic light. It opened its mouth and three wind blades shone out, tearing through the air and making a sharp whistle.

"Well done!" Qin shouted, his arms were muscular, but he didn't dodge or evade, his fists were wrapped in red energy to block the wind blade. With three muffled "bangs", the wind blade was shattered, his palm burst, but his smile became even more ferocious.

Qin Er clasped his hands together and three golden chains shot out from his sleeves: "Three Talents Soul Locking Chains!" The chains wrapped around the joints of the Wolf King's limbs like spirit snakes, but a green light flashed on the Wolf King's iron armor, and the chains bounced off.

"Change formation!" Qin Da gave the order. The three brothers crossed their bodies and instantly formed a triangle formation. Qin San blew the bronze horn, and the strange sound waves made the wolf king stagnate. Qin Er took the opportunity to change the tactics: "Nine Palaces Beast Trapping Formation!" Nine golden lights rose from the ground, surrounding the wolf king in the center.

The wolf king howled, and dozens of wind blades burst out from his body. Qin Da did not retreat but advanced, smashing the wolf king's head with his fists like hammers. The wolf king raised his claws to meet it, and with a "boom" sound, a wave of air exploded. Qin Da took three steps back, blood oozing from the corners of his mouth, but his fighting spirit was even stronger: "That's strong!"

Qin Er suddenly flashed behind the wolf king and slammed his palm on its old wound: "Here!" The wolf king turned around in pain, but was slowed down by Qin San's sound waves. Qin Da seized the opportunity, stepped forward, and strangled the wolf king's neck with his strong arms: "Get down for me!"

The wolf king struggled frantically, and the iron armor scraped Qin Da's chest, leaving a bloody mess. Qin Er quickly took out a bronze collar: "Soul Sealing Ring!" The collar was accurately buckled around the wolf king's neck, and the runes lit up, and the wolf king immediately collapsed to the ground.

Qin Da wiped the blood off his face and kicked the unconscious wolf king: "There must be something good in this beast's lair."

The three followed the wolf king's scent and came to a hidden cave. The cave was filled with a foul stench and bones were everywhere. Qin San covered his nose and said, "These bones belong to human beings."

Qin Er squatted down, his fingertips glowing with golden light: "He was born in the last three months. Judging from his attire, he looks like a casual cultivator." He paused and picked up a bronze fragment from the pile of bones: "Is this... a storage device of an ancient cultivator?"

Qin Da snatched the fragment and stroked the lines on it with his rough fingers: "No matter where it came from, let's find out if there is a complete one."

The three of them went deeper into the cave and found a natural stone chamber at the end. There were vague ancient runes engraved on the stone wall, and a complete bronze box was placed on the central stone platform. Qin Er was about to step forward, but Qin Da stopped him: "Wait." He took out a mechanical mouse from his arms and put it on the ground.

As the mechanical rat approached the stone platform, there was a sudden "click" sound, and several wind blades shot out from the wall, chopping the mechanical rat into pieces. Qin San gasped: "This beast actually knows how to set a trap?"

Qin Da grinned and drew his sword: "Second brother, break the formation. Third brother, be alert." Qin Er carefully studied the runes and nodded after a moment: "It's a simplified version of the wind blade formation. I can solve it."

Half a quarter of an hour later, the bronze box was finally in hand. When he opened it, he saw three jade slips and a small bronze compass neatly placed inside. Qin Er picked up the compass and his face suddenly changed: "This is the ancient Fengling Sect's wind-seeking disk!"

Qin Da snatched the compass, his eyes lit up, "We're rich! If we hand this thing over to the clan, we can get a lot of contribution points!"

...

...

The cold pond was surrounded by mist, and the formation pattern outlined by cinnabar on the frozen soil was glowing with a faint green light. Yu Qingru quickly adjusted the last formation flag.

“Qing’er, add a little more of the Tempting Incense.” Without even raising her head, she spoke in a low but unquestionable voice, “The Mysterious Ice Scale Python is cunning. If it senses anything unusual, all our efforts today will be in vain.”

Fu Yongqing nodded quickly and carefully added a pinch of dark red powder to the bronze incense burner. He was born honest, without his mother's talent for formations, nor his Taoist partner's fierce killing skills. Among Fu Changsheng's children, he was the least outstanding, and even among the Fu family, he was just average.

"Mom, the center of the formation is stable." He reported in a low voice, with a hint of awe in his tone.

Yu Qingru said "hmm" lightly, her eyes swept across the cold pond, and the corners of her mouth rose slightly: "Shuang'er, is your 'Hanpo Talisman' ready?"

"Don't worry, mother-in-law. Three 'Hanpo Talismans' are enough for it to drink a pot of wine." She slightly opened her red lips, her voice soft but full of confidence.

Fu Yongqing looked at his wife with admiration and a hint of shame in his eyes.

"Here it comes." Yu Qingru suddenly said in a low voice.

The surface of the cold pond suddenly exploded, and a giant silver-scaled python broke out of the water. Its icy vertical pupils locked onto the three people, and when it opened its mouth, a biting cold mist gushed out!

"Retreat!" Liu Shuang shouted delicately, and her figure flashed in front of Fu Yongqing like a ghost. The talisman in her hand instantly turned into an ice wall, blocking all the cold fog.

Fu Yongqing reacted a little slower, but he was not panicked. He immediately used a large golden net, which was covered with demon-suppressing bells. "Heavenly net!" He shouted, and the golden net swelled in the wind and covered the giant python.

The giant python roared and swept its tail, causing the golden net to shake continuously!

"Humph, the beast is quite ferocious." Yu Qingru sneered and suddenly made a hand gesture, "The Soul Locking Formation, start!"

hum!
In an instant, the twelve formation flags glowed with green light, transforming into countless chains that wrapped around the giant python's body! The giant python struggled frantically, making the chains clang, but it was unable to break free.

Liu Shuang seized the opportunity, her figure flashed, and she came close to the giant python like a ghost. With a flash of cold light on her fingertips, an ice needle accurately pierced into the gap between the scales!
"Cold Soul Needle, Seal!"

The giant python's movements suddenly stopped, the fierce light in its eyes faded, and its huge body slammed onto the ice, stirring up ice chips all over the sky.

Fu Yongqing let out a long sigh and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead: "Mother and Shuang'er are really good. If I rely on myself, I'm afraid I can't even catch its tail."

Yu Qingru glanced at him and said calmly: "Although you are not very talented, you are down-to-earth. The Fu family is not short of geniuses, but people who can stay stable."

Liu Shuang put away the talisman, walked to Fu Yongqing's side, and gently held his hand: "Husband, don't belittle yourself. If it weren't for your 'net of heaven and earth', I would have a hard time getting close to it."

Fu Yongqing felt warm in his heart and grinned.

Yu Qingru said no more, took out an ice-crystal bead, flicked her finger, and the bead sank into the giant python's brow, completely sealing its demonic power.

"Call it a day." She clapped her hands and said calmly, "I can still exchange this Mysterious Ice Scale Python for a 'Neng Yuan Pill' for you, Qing'er."

This time out hunting.

What everyone earns will be turned over to the clan, which is double the usual reward.

Fu Yongqing's eyes lit up when he heard this:
"Mother, if I can use this to break through to the second level of the Purple Mansion, I won't have to bother you to help me in governing Huixi County in the future."

Although Liu Shuang and Fu Yongqing obtained the right to govern Huixi County from Fu Changsheng, because it was newly established and a lot of work needed to be done, Yu Qingru spent almost all her time helping to manage Huixi County.

after all.

She is not only a quasi-fourth-rank formation master, but also the head of the Yu family.

Liu Shuang wished that her mother-in-law Yu Qingru would stay in Huixi County, but her mother-in-law had more than one child, and her sister-in-law's condition had not improved. Although her mother-in-law didn't say it, it could be seen that she was still very anxious.

But she just couldn't bring herself to say that her mother-in-law should leave Huixi County. After all, Huixi County was not on the right track yet. She could only wait until later to make up for her mother-in-law.

After the Black Ice Scale Python was put into the specially made cold jade box, Fu Yongqing was about to close the lid of the box when he suddenly caught a glimpse of a faint blue light emerging from the depths of the cold pond out of the corner of his eye.

"Mother, Shuang'er, look—" He pointed to the bottom of the pond, his voice hesitant, "What is that?"

Yu Qingru frowned, pinched her fingers, and a beam of spiritual light shot into the pool, instantly dispelling the cold fog. The scene at the bottom of the pool was clearly visible - deep in the ice cave where the giant python had originally lurked, there were three crystal clear animal eggs lying quietly, with mysterious ice patterns flowing on the surface, faintly emitting rich ice spiritual power.

"Mysterious Ice Python eggs!" Liu Shuang's eyes flashed, and her tone was rarely surprised, "This female python actually laid eggs here."

Fu Yongqing scratched his head: "Should we..."

"Of course we have to take it." Yu Qingru interrupted her son, her tone firm, "The eggs of the third-level monsters are very valuable. If you can hatch and tame them, they will be a great help to your Huixi County fiefdom in the future."

Liu Shuang's figure flashed, and she rushed to the bottom of the pool like a ghost. However, just as her fingertips were about to touch the python eggs, the water in the pool suddenly surged violently, and a black shadow suddenly jumped out from the side of the ice cave!

"Be careful!" Fu Yongqing exclaimed.

It turned out to be a smaller male python with sharp fangs, and it rushed straight to Liu Shuang's throat!

In a flash, Liu Shuang twisted her waist, and a cold light flashed in her sleeves - "Swish!" A short blade as thin as a cicada's wing swept across, and blood splattered instantly at the seven-inch part of the male python!
However, the beast's ferocity remained undiminished. It swept its tail across and hit Liu Shuang's shoulder hard, forcing her back several steps.

"How dare you, beast!" Yu Qingru shouted fiercely, and twelve bronze nails flew out from her sleeves and instantly pierced into the vital points of the male python. The male python stiffened instantly, but the fierce light in his eyes became more intense.

Fu Yongqing took the opportunity to cast out the golden net and entangled the male python tightly. Liu Shuang wiped the blood from the corner of her lips, sneered and threw out three "Cold Soul Talismans", which turned into ice chains and locked the male python firmly on the stone wall at the bottom of the pool.

"Qiuyue Temple's 'Blood Blade' is indeed worthy of its reputation." Yu Qingru glanced at her daughter-in-law deeply, her tone meaningful.

Liu Shuang smiled slightly: "Grandma's 'Twelve Sealing Nails' is the real killer move."

Fu Yongqing looked at his mother and wife and swallowed. He suddenly felt that his title of "son of the clan leader" was not worthy of the title...

Three python eggs were obtained successfully. After Yu Qingru detected them with a secret method, she showed a happy expression: "Two live eggs, one dead egg. The live egg can be hatched and domesticated, and the dead egg..." She stroked the eggshell with her fingertips, "You can refine the 'Xuanbing Pill' to help you break through the third level of the Purple Mansion."

Fu Yongqing was overjoyed when he heard this: "Mom, this..."

"Don't be too happy too soon." Yu Qingru snorted coldly, "The python eggs need an extremely cold environment to hatch, so we need to ask our fourth sister Changli to open the ice cellar. As for refining the elixir-" She paused, "When the time comes, let your eldest brother An'an help you refine it."

Liu Shuang bowed and said, "Thank you for the gift, mother."

Fu Yongqing looked at the lustrous python egg in his hand, and suddenly felt that this "ordinary cultivator" of his was not so ordinary after all...

...

...

Deep in the dense forest, Fu Yongfu squatted beside a bluestone, carefully pouring dark red spiritual wine. The wine was as thick as honey, exuding a strong aroma of blood and spiritual herbs. He patted the huge wine gourd at his waist and whispered proudly:

"Hehe, this is my newly brewed 'Blood Brew', the third-level fire ape's favorite flavor, and I added some 'Immortal Drunken Grass'. I guarantee it won't be able to move its legs once it smells the scent!"

A cold snort came from behind the tree. Gan Muwan was lurking like a night cat, the silver bell on her wrist swaying slightly, but without making any sound: "Myna, pay attention."

Fu Yongfu scratched his head and smiled innocently: "Yes, yes, yes."

In the shadows, Fu Yongrui's figure almost blended into the darkness, with only a pair of cold eyes flickering slightly. He said in a low and hoarse voice: "Here I come."

Heavy footsteps came closer and closer, the bushes were roughly pushed aside, and a giant red ape stepped into view. Its copper bell-like eyes scanned the surroundings vigilantly, its nostrils twitching constantly, and it was finally attracted by the spiritual wine on the bluestone.

The fire ape leaned over and licked the wine with its scarlet tongue.

"Now!" Gan Muwan suddenly rang the silver bell, and in an instant, countless tiny poisonous insects flew out from her sleeves, covering the fire ape like a black mist. However, these poisonous insects did not attack directly, but formed an airtight insect wall, trapping the fire ape inside!
The fire ape was furious and opened its mouth to spit out evil fire.

"Fifth brother!" Gan Muwan shouted sternly.

In the shadows, Fu Yongrui flashed behind the fire ape like a ghost, flicked his fingertips, and a red pill shot accurately into the fire ape's mouth. The pill melted in its mouth, and the fire ape's body shook, and the fierce light in its eyes gradually faded.

"The Immortal Drunken Pill is working." Fu Yongfu grinned and patted the wine gourd. "No matter how fierce the monster is, it can't withstand the combined power of wine and medicine!"

Gan Muwan quickly stepped forward, took out a golden ring engraved with flame patterns, and put it on the fire ape's wrist with neat movements.

“The Fire Sealing Ring can suppress the Demonic Fire for three months.” Having won the first battle, her face relaxed.

Fu Yongrui dragged out a red chain from the shadows and carefully bound the fire ape's limbs. The chain was woven from fire silk and was not afraid of being burned by the demonic fire. He moved very lightly, as if he was afraid of waking something up, and his eyes were as cold as a snake.

Fu Yongfu was helping out, muttering, "Oh, what a pity! If this fire ape could be tamed, maybe it could help us brew spirit wine in the future!"

Gan Muwan glanced at him and said, "This fire ape is used for sacrifice."

Fu Yongfu smiled awkwardly and said no more.

The three of them worked together to lift the unconscious fire ape onto a specially made prisoner car, the frame of which was engraved with runes that suppressed the fire element's demonic power. Gan Muwan checked it once, and after confirming that it was correct, she finally showed a hint of satisfaction.

"Mission accomplished, return and report." She gave the order succinctly.

Fu Yongfu followed happily, while Fu Yongrui disappeared silently into the darkness, as if he had never appeared.

(End of this chapter)