As Zhang Fan was concentrating on cultivating his Nascent Soul, a major event occurred in Fuliu City.
The Fu family, who thought they would soar to prosperity and become the foremost family on Dayan Star after overcoming this tribulation, encountered an even greater crisis.
Less than a day after Elder Gong Ziru of Black Sand Cave Heaven died in Fuliu City, someone from Black Sand Cave Heaven arrived.
Elder Ku Jian, also an elder of Black Sand Cave Heaven, possessed a strength that Gong Ziru could not compare to.
As one of the top powers in the Wushan Star Domain, Black Sand Cave Heaven was naturally replete with experts. To become an elder, one needed to have at least passed the Fourth Nascent Soul Tribulation.
Gong Ziru, with his cultivation as a second-grade Formation Dao Heavenly Master, only held the position of an elder in Black Sand Cave Heaven due to the extreme rarity of Formation Dao Heavenly Masters.
"Hand over the killer within seven days, or I will raze this Fuliu City!"
Elder Ku Jian's icy voice echoed throughout Fuliu City, striking terror into the hearts of all cultivators within. They cursed their misfortune for being in Fuliu City at this time.
Some cultivators immediately fled the city upon hearing this, but before they could even leave the vicinity of Fuliu City by ten zhang, they were pierced by an invisible sword qi, exploding into a bloody mist.
After verification by several brave souls, the cultivators within Fuliu City were plunged into despair. Chaos had already begun to grip the city.
Many cultivators even left their final messages with their divine sense in jade talismans, hoping their families and friends would see them after their deaths.
In Fuliu Villa, the only three Nascent Soul powerhouses of the Fu family gathered in the main hall, their faces etched with worry.
"Brother, we cannot just wait to die."
"Then what can we do? Although we didn't kill Gong Ziru, he ultimately died in our Fuliu City. We cannot escape responsibility," Fu Mengtian said with bitterness and sorrow in his heart.
Another Nascent Soul powerhouse watched the scene silently. Although he was not a member of the Fu family, he had chosen to join them and become an honored guest elder due to a life-or-death bond with Fu Mengtian.
However, his strength was only on par with Fu Feng, and he had not even passed his first Nascent Soul Tribulation. He was utterly incapable of resisting Elder Ku Jian.
If a Golden Core realm cultivator were to arbitrarily slaughter humans, they would undoubtedly be condemned.
But for Elder Ku Jian, not only was his strength formidable, but he also had the backing of the Wushan Star Domain's behemoth, Black Sand Cave Heaven. So what if he annihilated Fuliu City?
Who would dare condemn him?
Who would dare oppose Black Sand Cave Heaven for the sake of cultivators in a mere city?
This was the privilege that power bestowed.
Fu Feng nodded, understanding this logic, but the fate of his entire Fu family was at stake, making it difficult for him to remain calm.
"Alas."
Fu Feng sighed inwardly and walked towards the hall's exit.
Within moments, someone rushed into the hall.
"Patriarch, Second Master has left the city."
Fu Mengtian's expression changed drastically, and he rushed out of the hall.
...
Elder Ku Jian was clad in coarse hemp clothing and wore a pair of worn-out cloth shoes. His shoulder-length hair was unbound, cascading freely, giving him a somewhat disheveled appearance.
Yet, this very disheveled old man had become a nightmare for all the cultivators in Fuliu City.
He stood in the sky above Fuliu City, his eyes like a hawk's, scanning the city. At that moment, a figure flew out from Fuliu City and rapidly approached him.
Elder Ku Jian did not attack. Instead, he watched the approaching person with great interest.
"Junior Fu Feng greets Senior Ku Jian." About a hundred meters away from Elder Ku Jian, Fu Feng stopped and bowed.
"Come to beg for mercy?"
"It's useless. You still have three days. If you don't hand over the killer, prepare to be annihilated," Elder Ku Jian said indifferently.
"The events of that day have long spread across Dayan Star. I believe Senior already knows that fellow Daoist Zhang Fan departed long ago, and no one knows where he is now," Fu Feng said.
"That's why I've given you seven days," Elder Ku Jian replied indifferently.
"Although fellow Daoist Zhang Fan was invited by me to Fuliu City to resist the siege from the Ouyang and Li families, our Fu family's relationship with Zhang Fan is not that deep. He wouldn't risk himself for our Fu family," Fu Feng continued to explain.
A smile appeared on Elder Ku Jian's withered face, a truly terrifying sight.
"Not that deep? So, you do have some connection. If I were to kill you, I wonder if he would come?"
As Fu Feng was about to speak, Elder Ku Jian opened his mouth slightly, and a black sword qi shot out, directly striking Fu Feng.
...
Fu Feng was dead.
Fu Mengtian stood in Fuliu City, watching this scene, his heart filled with powerlessness and rage.
But what was the use of rage?
With Elder Ku Jian's strength, a single sword qi could kill Fu Feng, and it could kill him as well.
"There are still three days left."
Fu Mengtian knew that the destruction of their Fuliu City was now an irreversible fact. On this Dayan Star, who could match Elder Ku Jian?
"Father, is there truly no other way?"
Fu Sisi, who had witnessed her second uncle being struck by a sword qi and his Nascent Soul instantly annihilated, had eyes already red with tears.
"There is no other way. The Fuliu City's protective grand formation is like a thin piece of paper that Elder Ku Jian can easily tear through. There is no way to stop him."
"He wants to find Zhang Fan, doesn't he? If Zhang Fan comes, will he let our Fu family go?"
"Fellow Daoist Zhang Fan..."
Fu Mengtian shook his head and said, "Although fellow Daoist Zhang Fan is monstrously talented, he is far from being able to contend with Elder Ku Jian. Even if he cultivates to the Nascent Soul stage, it won't be enough."
The strongest of the top-tier Golden Core cultivators could, at most, contend with an ordinary second-tribulation Nascent Soul powerhouse during their Golden Core stage.
Of course, if one could cultivate some powerful divine abilities, their strength could be further enhanced.
Just like the Nine Sword True Monarch who once descended to Earth. He cultivated a mere second-grade top-tier Golden Core, but because of a certain Nine Sword divine ability, he could unleash attacks comparable to a second-tribulation Nascent Soul powerhouse.
And Zhang Fan, in his Golden Core stage, could unleash power equivalent to the peak of a third-tribulation Nascent Soul with his divine abilities. This was indeed very strong.
However, even if he broke through to the Nascent Soul stage, he might not be able to contend with the most ordinary fourth-tribulation Nascent Soul powerhouse.
The nine tribulations of the Nascent Soul realm. Every three tribulations represented a hurdle. The strength difference among Nascent Soul powerhouses in the first three tribulations would not be too great. As long as one cultivated a golden Nascent Soul and passed the first Nascent Soul Tribulation, their strength would be comparable to an ordinary third-tribulation Nascent Soul powerhouse.
But once the Fourth Nascent Soul Tribulation was passed, the Nascent Soul would undergo a fundamental transformation, and its strength would increase significantly.
Therefore, this was also why Fu Mengtian did not place his hopes on Zhang Fan.
Moreover, Zhang Fan did not have a deep connection with their Fuliu City. Even if he possessed the strength, why would he risk his life to confront a behemoth like Black Sand Cave Heaven?
...