"Father."

Young Master Fu wailed mournfully.

How did things turn out this way? After Mrs. Zhou woke up and saw Fu Shanhai’s appearance, she fainted again.

"Take Elder Fu down to rest."

Feng Santong said weakly.

As the one maintaining the operation of the array, he too consumed a significant amount of life force and Foundation Establishment True Essence. Although he didn’t end up like Fu Shanhai, who turned into a skin-and-bones old man, his hair did acquire many white strands, instantly aging him by over ten years.

"Zhang Lingfeng has accumulated a lot of power, he must be well cared for, and Elder Fu’s sacrifices mustn’t be wasted. Take him back to the Sword Sect."

Gu Xiaohui said.

"Yes!"

Qin Qianyu nodded, carrying Zhang Lingfeng away.

He took a deep look at Fu Shanhai, surprised that the Fu Family could sacrifice so much for Zhang Lingfeng, even more than the opportunities the Qin Family had given him.

In the future, if Zhang Lingfeng hesitates on whether to repay the Fu Family or the Qin Family and ultimately chooses to favor the Fu Family, Qin Qianyu would understand.

Just based on Fu Shanhai’s actions, Zhang Lingfeng is warranted to reciprocate with all his might.

"The matter is done; old man, once you recover your strength, I’ll settle the score with you properly."

Master Tianshui said.

Then his figure vanished into the void.

As a Soul Master, he need not worry about Fu Shanhai reneging on the debt.

"Uncle!"

Fu Rong left, holding Fu Shanhai.

"Mother, how could it be like this?"

Young Master Fu cried bitterly. This sacrificial array was supposed to be prepared for him, but somehow it inexplicably benefited Zhang Lingfeng.

His father became the sacrificial offerer.

Zhang Lingfeng benefited from it, things developed too quickly for him to react.

...

An hour later.

"Cough, cough, cough!"

In Fu Shanhai’s cave.

Fu Shanhai gradually woke up.

Mrs. Zhou sat at the bedside, seeing her husband turned into a skin-and-bones old man. She turned away, continuously wiping her tears.

"How did it come to this? What should I do now?"

Young Master Fu questioned.

"Cough, cough, you unfilial child!"

Fu Shanhai coughed, feeling originally guilty and indebted to Young Master Fu. His expression gradually twisted, finding Young Master Fu more displeasing the more he looked.

Ever since this fellow returned from the depths of the ocean, strange things kept happening to the Fu Family, causing him to become like this.

"I..."

Young Master Fu sensed something was amiss.

Fu Shanhai’s face turned stern.

He quickly executed a spell.

The dry Foundation Establishment True Essence within him released from the Dao Platform once again, causing his emaciated visage to fill out, his hair transitioning from white to gray, then to black, finally to jet black.

After a moment, Fu Shanhai’s appearance reverted to the original.

Although his appearance could recover, his aura couldn’t be concealed.

Still no longer the robust and unfathomably strong image he had; his impression remained extremely weak, requiring a long time to recover.

He introspected to inspect the Dao Platform.

Discovering the Golden Core shadow was dim, seemingly with no sign of ever coalescing.

This sacrifice.

Although it didn’t take his life, it squandered all the life force he had accumulated over the years, making it nearly impossible for him to become a Golden Core expert.

The cost paid was far greater than imagined.

Plus, the fee for Master Tianshui wasn’t paid yet, thinking about it made Fu Shanhai want to just bash his head against the wall.

"If it weren’t for Zhang Lingfeng, things wouldn’t have turned out like this. I’ll go kill him."

Mrs. Zhou was furious.

"Stop."

Fu Shanhai called her back, disapprovingly saying, "Given the circumstances, if you killed Zhang Lingfeng, wouldn’t I have sacrificed for nothing?"

"But..."

Mrs. Zhou was unwilling.

"From now on, Zhang Lingfeng is the hope of the Fu Family; his growth concerns the future of the Fu Family."

Fu Shanhai closed his eyes and said helplessly.

Given the circumstances, aside from going along with the mistake, what else could be done?

They certainly couldn’t just kill Zhang Lingfeng, wasting all those years of life and hard-earned cultivation. You know this sacrifice not only dealt Fu Shanhai a severe blow but also blocked his path to becoming a Golden Core expert.

To kill Zhang Lingfeng is to lose all.

"What about me, father?"

Young Master Fu asked.

Fu Shanhai scolded, "Do you want your mother to end up like me?"

"I..."

Young Master Fu was speechless.

"Stop dreaming about the Divine Grade Spirit Root physique."

Fu Shanhai, heart like dead ash, lamented the loss of his cultivation and decades of life force; his mood was understandable, but Young Master Fu, no matter how he might be, was his son. He could only say, "Perhaps this is karma; Zhang Lingfeng truly possesses Qi Fortune. From now on, don’t scheme against him. I have a feeling he might lead the Fu Family to rise, even turning misfortune to a blessing."

Meticulous planning.

Originally believed to be flawless.

In the end, everything benefited Zhang Lingfeng.

As the leader of the Fu Family, with top-tier strength and status on Ancient Blue Star, Fu Shanhai began to believe in karma.

Nelieving more firmly that Zhang Lingfeng was shrouded in Qi Fortune.

Otherwise, how could a peak Foundation Establishment Realm expert, nearly stepping into the Golden Core Domain, be outwitted by Zhang Lingfeng?

He felt an invisible hand was controlling all this.

As if a Nascent Soul Great Power was watching him, seeing him act recklessly, ultimately eating bitter consequences.

"Just afraid, in the end, it’s all for nothing."

Mrs. Zhou had long since cried herself red-eyed.

Given the circumstances, even if Zhang Lingfeng were willing to sacrifice and return the power to me, this body couldn’t absorb it. Even if it could, strength wouldn’t return to the past.