"Fellow Daoist Zhang Fan seems to understand formations as well?" Fu Feng asked, somewhat surprised by Zhang Fan's assessment of the Fu Liu Mountain Villa's formation.
"I know a bit. Formations like your so-called mountain protection formations are something I can set up with ease," Zhang Fan said without humility.
"What a thick skin. Bragging like that without even blushing," Fu Sisi muttered under her breath, rolling her eyes.
The formation at their Fu Liu Mountain Villa was a set of consecutive Heavenly Grade lower-tier formations, capable of linking multiple Heavenly Grade formations together. This was not something ordinary formation grandmasters could achieve.
Although Zhang Fan's strength was indeed formidable, it was precisely because of this that they found it hard to believe he possessed such attainments in formations as well.
Fu Feng merely smiled, thinking Zhang Fan was joking.
Under Fu Feng's guidance, they entered a grand hall. Seated at the head of the hall was a middle-aged man in a black robe with gold patterns. He exuded a steady aura, and his brow held a hint of sternness that commanded respect even when he was not angry.
This was the current patriarch of the Fu family, Fu Mengtian.
A powerful cultivator at the Nascent Soul stage, Second Tribulation, who was also ranked on the Heavenly Rankings.
"Father."
Upon seeing the middle-aged man, Fu Sisi's pretty face lit up with a smile. She quickly walked forward and called out.
Seeing that both of them had returned safely, Fu Mengtian's face broke into a smile. He then turned his gaze to Zhang Fan and Liu Mu and asked, "Second Brother, who are these two?"
"This is Fellow Daoist Liu Mu, and this is Fellow Daoist Zhang Fan!"
"If it weren't for Fellow Daoist Zhang Fan's intervention this time, none of us would have survived. You might not have seen Sisi and me again, Brother."
Fu Feng introduced them solemnly.
"Oh?" A flicker of surprise crossed Fu Mengtian's eyes.
He wasn't surprised that the handsome man called Liu Mu was addressed as a fellow daoist. After all, he could tell that Liu Mu was also a Nascent Soul stage cultivator.
However, this man named Zhang Fan, he could tell at a glance that he had not yet formed a Nascent Soul and was only a Golden Core stage cultivator. Yet, he was addressed as a fellow daoist by his second brother. Could he be a peerless prodigy who had condensed a First-Class Golden Core?
In the Myriad Domain Starry Sky, cultivators of the same realm addressed each other as fellow daoists. Those of lower cultivation were considered juniors.
Of course, there were exceptions. For instance, a First-Class Golden Core cultivator, whose combat power could even surpass that of many First Tribulation Nascent Soul cultivators, naturally had the right to be addressed as an equal by Nascent Soul cultivators.
"This journey is a long story..."
Just as Fu Feng was about to recount their experiences in Star Lake Forest to Fu Mengtian, a figure rushed into the hall from outside.
"Patriarch, something big has happened!" the golden-armored young man who entered the hall said, his expression frantic. He didn't even acknowledge the others and spoke directly to Fu Mengtian.
"What has happened to make you so flustered?"
"Outside Fu Liu City, the Ouyang family and the Li family have taken the lead, joined by the Seven Blood Cloud Tigers, leading dozens of Golden Core stage cultivators and hundreds of Core Condensation stage cultivators, and they have surrounded Fu Liu City." the golden-armored man said urgently.
"What madness has possessed the Ouyang and Li families? Even if the two families join forces, along with those useless Seven Blood Cloud Tigers, can they really destroy my Fu family?" Fu Mengtian was not worried at all and had already sentenced the Seven Blood Cloud Tigers to death in his mind.
Not to mention the protective formation of Fu Liu Mountain Villa, they couldn't even break through the city protection formation of Fu Liu City. What was the point of coming to surround the city?
"Did they say why they are doing this?"
The man glanced at Zhang Fan and Liu Mu before speaking, "They claim that Elder Fu colluded with outer-realm cultivators and the White Cloud Tiger to slaughter cultivators entering Star Lake Forest. If the White Cloud Tiger hadn't been injured, they wouldn't have escaped Star Lake Forest either."
"As expected..."
Fu Feng's expression turned grim. The spread of this rumor, though lacking evidence, would undoubtedly cause immense damage to the Fu family's reputation on Great Rock Star.
Internal conflicts among human cultivators, no matter how fierce, were understandable.
But colluding with demonic beasts to slaughter humans was a grave taboo.
"Brother, this matter..."
"There's no need to say more. I naturally believe you wouldn't do such a thing!"
Fu Mengtian waved his hand and then stepped out of the hall.
"Let's go and see."
...
At this moment, outside Fu Liu City, several Nascent Soul stage cultivators, dozens of Golden Core stage cultivators, and hundreds of Core Condensation stage cultivators had gathered. Such a force was truly magnificent.
However, the cultivators within Fu Liu City were not worried at all, for those who had lived in Fu Liu City for a long time knew that the city protection formation was not merely for show.
To break through the city protection formation of Fu Liu City by brute force would require at least the strength of a Fourth Tribulation Nascent Soul cultivator. Currently, the strongest on Great Rock Star, the Star Lord of Great Rock Star, was only at the Third Tribulation Nascent Soul stage.
Therefore, no one on Great Rock Star could break through the city protection formation of Fu Liu City using brute force.
Even if these several Nascent Soul stage cultivators and dozens of Golden Core stage cultivators joined forces, they couldn't do it.
The nine tribulations of Nascent Soul were divided into three tribulation stages, each being a hurdle. Their combined attack power might reach the peak of a Third Tribulation Nascent Soul, but it was still far from the strength of a Fourth Tribulation Nascent Soul.
For example, Zhang Fan, even without using his trump cards, could contend evenly with an ordinary Third Tribulation Nascent Soul cultivator. If he unleashed his divine abilities, he could even slay a Third Tribulation Nascent Soul cultivator.
But against a Fourth Tribulation Nascent Soul cultivator, even the weakest, a Black Nascent Soul, Zhang Fan had no confidence in victory.
"Ouyang Jing, Li Danyun, you are too shameless!"
"Not only did you conspire to frame my second brother, but you also slandered my Fu family for colluding with demonic beasts and cruelly slaughtering humans. Such despicable actions, you are capable of them?"
Fu Mengtian's voice boomed like a bell, carrying immense magical power, reaching every corner of Fu Liu City.
No matter what, they couldn't take this blame.
"No matter how you argue, it's useless. Your Fu family has committed too many injustices, and today you will surely perish!"
Ouyang Jing, the current patriarch of the Ouyang family, also a cultivator at the Second Tribulation Nascent Soul stage, wore a gold-patterned robe and stood above Fu Liu City, looking down with a cold expression.
"Patriarch Fu, my disciple was merely seeking an opportunity to break through to the Nascent Soul stage in Star Lake Forest and tragically died there. Today, no matter what, I demand an explanation." An old man with white hair appeared, his presence extraordinary. He was clearly a Nascent Soul stage cultivator.
"Patriarch Fu, although my elder brother's strength has not yet reached the Nascent Soul stage, he was already at the threshold. With his power, it would not be difficult for him to survive. But all of this is because of your Fu family..."
...
One powerful cultivator after another stepped forward. Under the manipulation of the Ouyang and Li families, all the more than one hundred Golden Core stage cultivators who died in Star Lake Forest were blamed on the Fu family.
Many cultivators were alone, but many others had brothers, masters, or friends...
Although most of them were weak and dared not provoke the Fu family, there were also powerful cultivators among them, and even Nascent Soul stage cultivators.
Fu Mengtian's heart skipped a beat. He realized then that the situation was more dire than he had imagined.
Fu Feng had been quite calm earlier because he had the powerful support of Liu Mu and Zhang Fan. Even if the Ouyang family joined forces with the Li family and the Seven Blood Cloud Tigers, he was not worried at all.
But looking at it now, he had underestimated the Ouyang family's tactics.
The Fu family might be able to withstand this siege with their formations, but their future days would be much harder.
Facing numerous accusations, Fu Mengtian was speechless. He knew that some might have been deceived by the Ouyang family, but many others were undoubtedly bought by them.
Three people talking about a tiger could make it seem real. If their Fu family was destroyed today, this charge would stick.
This was a scheme to kill their spirit!
...