As Wu Tao's every step forward brought forth waves of sword energy, rising higher like a surging tide, his initial Chuxi sword remained still, yet the sword energy around him erupted!
"Yin yin yin!!!"
The clang of clashing sword arts boomed, its boundless might impacting the Fan family's grand formation!
Standing aloft, Wu Tao's body was straight, a sharp aura involuntarily exuding from him.
This was the Fan family's estate, and such commotion naturally alerted the Fan family. A man and a woman, two young individuals, came forward.
"Senior, who are you, and what do you need? Perhaps..."
Though the aura alone indicated ill intent, the man and woman spoke courteously, displaying the arrogance of a powerful family that bullies the weak.
However, before they could even finish their words, their movements froze.
They stood rigid, like trees, as Wu Tao walked past them unhurriedly.
Just then, a gentle breeze swept by, seemingly triggering something. From the man and woman, a sharp sword light pierced through them.
Every inch of their skin, every pore, shimmered with sword light, its chilling radiance bone-deep.
Immediately, with two resounding thuds, two clouds of blood mist billowed. In an instant, the sword energy exploded from within them, tearing them into countless fragments.
"Who are you, what are you doing here..."
"Help! Kill him!"
"No!"
"Help me!"
The plight of these two drew the attention of other Fan family members.
Instantly, horror and fear surfaced on everyone's faces.
Many Fan family disciples either shouted angrily, cried out in shock, pleaded for help, or fled...
However, Wu Tao took another step forward. The Chuxi sword exhaled sword energy, which transformed into threads. Countless sword threads instantly enveloped the world.
Almost everyone's movements froze simultaneously, adopting strange poses like exquisite sculptures, standing motionless as one person and one sword slowly passed through them.
The fusion of his domain and sword energy brought a qualitative leap to Wu Tao's combat power.
Wu Tao continued his steps. The moment his back disappeared, blinding sword light engulfed everyone.
At the main residence, by the grand entrance.
Wu Tao paid no heed to the magnificent double doors crafted from ten-thousand-year-old redwood, adorned with bronze lion head lock clasps. He moved as if the doors simply didn't exist.
"Boom!"
The power of Wu Tao's surrounding sword energy was so immense that it shattered the doors into countless fragments without him even needing to lift a hand.
"Who are you?"
"Do you know where you are?"
An elder in the late Golden Core stage stood up abruptly, shouting angrily.
This was already the heart of the Fan family estate, and the identities of those residing here could be imagined.
However, Wu Tao didn't even spare him a glance. Without looking up, he swung the Chuxi sword at him.
"Chiii!!!"
The sword energy tore through the air, directly destroying the few magic treasures the elder had unleashed. The sword energy then continued, cleaving the outspoken elder in half.
"Ah~~~"
Screams of horror echoed, and countless Fan family disciples fled.
These minor figures did not warrant Wu Tao's personal attention.
Under Wu Tao's domain, countless sword threads danced like ferocious dragons. Any living creature, without exception, met its doom.
As he advanced, those who stood in his way died, and those walls that obstructed him were destroyed...
...
"Who are you?"
"What enmity does my Fan family have with you that you commit such atrocities..."
Among the group that hurried forward, an ancient figure spoke with rage, his eyes filled with boundless hatred.
This ancient figure was the Fan family's Old Ancestor.
Fan Pei Xi, the Fan family's sole cultivator in the early Nascent Soul stage, had a face ashen with extreme anger!
"The Fan family's Old Ancestor?"
Upon hearing this, Wu Tao's expression shifted. He retorted with a half-smile.
"Indeed, it is I. I don't seem to know you? Why are you so..."
Fan Pei Xi, seemingly wary, did not attack immediately and questioned again.
When he said this, the others behind Fan Pei Xi, excluding Wu Tao, looked at him in disbelief. The enemy had already stormed their gates, why ask so many questions?
Little did they know, Fan Pei Xi harbored reservations.
He knew the intruder was also an early Nascent Soul stage cultivator, and judging by his aura, seemed even stronger than himself. How could he afford to be careless? He naturally wanted to understand the situation clearly.
Fan Chou, from the Fan family's shop, happened to be at the rear of the crowd.
Seeing Wu Tao's disguised appearance, Fan Chou was instantly shocked. He then ran to his Old Ancestor's ear and began to explain Wu Tao's origins!
"What enmity???"
"Hahahaha..."
Wu Tao burst into laughter upon hearing this, pointing the Chuxi sword directly at the assembled Fan family members.
"No enmity!"
"Didn't you invite me here? Since I've come, I must give you a gift..."
"How about it? Do you like this gift?"
...
"What are you talking about?"
For a moment, disbelief etched itself onto the faces of the Fan family members. They had assumed it was some old enemy seeking revenge. While unexpected, it wasn't entirely inconceivable.
After all, with so many years passed, the Fan family had undoubtedly made many enemies. The current calamity, though strange, wasn't entirely surprising.
"But... what kind of ridiculous reason is that!"
The crowd was momentarily speechless, unsure of what to say.
In recent years, the Fan family had acted with impunity. Throughout Shu Commandery, apart from the Zhuge family, whom they couldn't afford to offend, they disregarded other powers. Never did they imagine they would be so disdained one day.
"Arrogant! It seems you truly wish to fight my Fan family to the death!"
It was still Fan Pei Xi, the Fan family's Old Ancestor, who was the first to react, roaring in anger.
"Bastard! What do you think my Fan family is..."
"Heaven has brought you here today, but you shall not leave!"
...
A scorching heat emanated from Fan Pei Xi's body, forcing his juniors to retreat.
"Haha..."
"Then let's see if you have the ability, Fan family's Old Ancestor!"
Wu Tao laughed heartily, showing no concern.
Countless five-colored sword energies erupted from Wu Tao's body!
"This is too much!"
Upon seeing this, Fan Pei Xi cast aside all other thoughts, leaving only a murderous intent in his heart.
Regardless, after this incident, their Fan family's reputation would undoubtedly plummet. This was almost a certainty.
The thought fueled a surge of anger within him.
"Die!"
With a furious roar, Fan Pei Xi produced his life-bound artifact, the Fire Dragon Staff. Instantly, scorching heat permeated the air, as if the Fan estate had suddenly become a sweltering summer.
Within this heat, a ten-thousand-zhang fire dragon roared forth.
"A fine display! Truly worthy of the Fan family's pillar of strength!"
Wu Tao praised inwardly. This Fan family Old Ancestor was considerably stronger than the early Nascent Soul cultivators he had encountered before, and he wielded this technique with effortless grace.
Following this ten-thousand-zhang fire dragon, the many disciples of the Fan family showed no weakness, unleashing a torrent of artifacts and treasures that filled the sky.
The sheer scale of this assault was immense, as if the very earth could be pierced through.
Facing such an onslaught, Wu Tao showed no fear. Empowered by the forces of heaven and earth, he struck out with the Chuxi sword once more!
"Yin..."
The overwhelming sword energy, imbued with the power of heaven and earth, let out a cry of a sword and, like a world-shattering force, swallowed and dissolved all attacks, like the midday sun in the snow!
Seeing this, Fan Pei Xi's expression could only be described as grim. It was evident that he harbored thoughts of devouring Wu Tao's flesh and drinking his blood.
"If I let you leave the Fan estate alive today, I shall not be surnamed Fan!"
In response to his threatening words, Wu Tao chuckled, his face stern. "Relax, not one of you will escape today."
As he finished speaking, without waiting for others to react, he patted his storage bag, and a scroll unfurled in mid-air.
With a "whoosh," it expanded, transforming into thousands of immortal swords. Sword light surged like a sea, exerting a world-suppressing might.
The Myriad Swords Breaking Immortal Diagram!
With the appearance of the Myriad Swords Breaking Immortal Diagram, it rapidly unfurled, resembling a sword sea that blotted out the sky, enveloping the entire Fan family estate and slowly descending.
Instantly, waves of sword energy struck their faces, carrying the sharpness of blades, and countless bloodstains became visible.
"This is bad. He truly intends to slaughter us all."
Just as this thought surfaced in everyone's minds, Wu Tao pressed down with one hand.
Simultaneously, the Myriad Swords Breaking Immortal Diagram descended, and thousands of immortal swords scattered, ruthlessly reaping the lives of the Fan family disciples.
"Fan family's Old Ancestor, there were rather a lot of people in the arena, so I cleared some space in advance. You don't mind, do you?"
Amidst the countless desperate screams, Wu Tao's tone was laced with mockery, his face filled with playful malice.
...
"You are so cruel!"
A flicker of pity crossed his eyes, for now, it was his kin being slaughtered.
After this battle, even if he emerged victorious, the Fan family would be severely weakened, their years of efforts ruined.
A moment later, he took a deep breath and calmed himself, but the ruthlessness in his eyes intensified.
"Today, I shall show you how my Fan family rose to prominence!"
As he spoke the latter part, his voice grew heavy, revealing a hatred that penetrated to the bone.
...
"Show me your skills, stop blabbering."
Wu Tao spread his hands, saying nonchalantly.
He knew precisely what had propelled the Fan family to its current standing, having investigated thoroughly for days.
Besides the Fan family Old Ancestor before him, there was their clan-protecting grand formation.
At this moment, Fan Pei Xi, the Fan family's Old Ancestor, finally revealed his true strength.
Scorching winds raged, and fiery lotuses bloomed everywhere. A fiery red figure slowly floated into the air.
The Fan family's Old Ancestor, Fan Pei Xi, had finally unleashed his true power.