"Fellow Daoist Zhang Fan seems to understand formations as well?" Fu Feng asked, slightly surprised by Zhang Fan's evaluation of the Fu Liu Mountain Villa's formation.
"I know a little. Formations like your so-called mountain protection grand formations are something I can set up with ease," Zhang Fan replied, not showing any modesty.
"What a thick skin, boasting like that without even blushing," Fu Sisi grumbled under her breath, rolling her eyes.
Their Fu Liu Mountain Villa's formation was a series of interconnected Heavenly Grade low-tier grand formations, capable of combining various Heavenly Grade formations to form a chain array, something not easily achieved by ordinary formation masters.
While Zhang Fan was indeed powerful, it was precisely because of this that they couldn't believe he possessed such mastery in formations.
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. His aura was stable, and his brows carried a sharp, commanding presence.
This man was the current patriarch of the Fu family, Fu Mengtian.
He was a two-tribulation Nascent Soul cultivator, ranked on the Heavenly List.
"Father,"
Upon seeing the middle-aged man, Fu Sisi's face lit up with a smile. She quickly walked forward and called out.
Seeing both of them return safely, Fu Mengtian's face creased into a smile. He then turned his gaze to Zhang Fan and Liu Mu, asking, "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 on this trip, we likely wouldn't have escaped death. You probably wouldn't have seen Sisi and me again, Brother," Fu Feng introduced them solemnly.
"Oh?" A hint of surprise flickered in Fu Mengtian's eyes.
He wasn't surprised that the handsome young man called Liu Mu was addressed as a fellow daoist. After all, he could tell that Liu Mu was also a Nascent Soul cultivator.
However, the man named Zhang Fan, whom he could see hadn't yet formed his Nascent Soul and was only a Golden Core stage cultivator, was being called a fellow daoist by his second brother. Could he be an unparalleled prodigy who had condensed a first-grade Golden Core?
In the Myriad Domains Starry Sky, only cultivators of the same realm addressed each other as fellow daoist. Those of lower cultivation were considered juniors.
There were exceptions, of course. For instance, a first-grade Golden Core cultivator, whose combat power could even surpass many one-tribulation Nascent Soul cultivators, naturally had the right to be addressed as an equal by Nascent Soul cultivators.
"This journey is a long story..."
Fu Feng was about to recount their experiences in the Star Lake Forest to Fu Mengtian when a figure rushed into the hall from outside.
"Patriarch, something major has happened!" The man who entered was a young man clad in golden armor. His expression was anxious, and without acknowledging anyone else, he spoke directly to Fu Mengtian.
"What has caused such haste?"
"Outside Fu Liu City, the Ouyang family and the Li family have taken the lead, allying with the Seven Blood Cloud Tigers and bringing dozens of Golden Core stage cultivators and hundreds of Condensing Core stage cultivators to surround Fu Liu City," the man in golden armor said urgently.
"What is wrong with the Ouyang family and the Li family? Even if those two families join forces, plus those useless Seven Blood Cloud Tigers, do they think they can destroy my Fu family?" Fu Mengtian was not worried at all, mentally sentencing the Seven Blood Cloud Tigers to death.
Not to mention the defensive formations of Fu Liu Mountain Villa, even the city protection formation of Fu Liu City was something they couldn't break. What was the point of surrounding the city?
"Did they say why they are doing this?"
The man glanced at Zhang Fan and Liu Mu before replying, "They claim Elder Fu colluded with outer-realm cultivators and the White Cloud Tiger to slaughter cultivators entering the Star Lake Forest. If the White Cloud Tiger hadn't been injured, they probably wouldn't have escaped the Star Lake Forest."
"As expected..."
Fu Feng's face darkened. The spread of this rumor, though lacking evidence, would undoubtedly cause immense damage to the Fu family's reputation on Great Rock Star.
Internal strife among human cultivators, no matter how fierce, was one thing.
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 couldn't have done 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 cultivators, dozens of Golden Core cultivators, and hundreds of Condensing Core cultivators had gathered. Such a lineup could be considered luxurious.
However, the cultivators within Fu Liu City were not worried at all. Those who had lived in Fu Liu City for a long time knew that the city protection formation was not just for show.
To forcibly break through the city protection formation of Fu Liu City would require at least the strength of a four-tribulation Nascent Soul cultivator. Currently, the strongest on Great Rock Star, the Star Lord, was only a three-tribulation Nascent Soul cultivator.
Therefore, no one on Great Rock Star could break through the city protection formation of Fu Liu City by brute force.
Even if these several Nascent Soul cultivators joined forces with dozens of Golden Core cultivators, they couldn't do it.
The nine tribulations of the Nascent Soul realm were divided into three major tiers. The combined attack power of these cultivators might reach the peak of a three-tribulation Nascent Soul, but it was still far from the strength of a four-tribulation Nascent Soul.
For example, Zhang Fan, without using his trump cards, could fight evenly with an ordinary three-tribulation Nascent Soul expert. If he unleashed his divine abilities, he could even kill a three-tribulation Nascent Soul cultivator.
But against a four-tribulation Nascent Soul cultivator, even the weakest black Nascent Soul, Zhang Fan had no confidence in winning.
"Ouyang Jing, Li Dianyuan, you are too shameless!"
"Not only did you frame my second brother, but you've also slandered my Fu family for colluding with demonic beasts to cruelly slaughter humans. How could you engage in such despicable acts?"
Fu Mengtian's voice boomed like a bell, infused with vast magical power, reaching every corner of Fu Liu City.
No matter what, they couldn't accept this blame.
"Your sophistry is useless. Your Fu family has committed too many evils. Today, you will surely perish!"
Ouyang Jing, the current patriarch of the Ouyang family and also a two-tribulation Nascent Soul cultivator, stood above Fu Liu City, wearing a golden-patterned robe. He looked down with a cold expression.
"Patriarch Fu, my disciple was merely seeking an opportunity to break through to the Nascent Soul stage in the Star Lake Forest, but he died tragically within. Today, no matter what, I must have an explanation." An elder with a head full of white hair appeared in the crowd, exuding an imposing aura. He was, undoubtedly, a Nascent Soul cultivator.
"Patriarch Fu, although my elder brother's strength has not yet reached the Nascent Soul stage, he was at the threshold of it. With his power, it wouldn't be difficult for him to survive. But all of this is because of your Fu family..."
...
One by one, powerful figures stepped forward. All the over a hundred Golden Core cultivators who had died in the Star Lake Forest were, under the manipulation of the Ouyang and Li families, all blamed on the Fu family.
Many of these cultivators were alone, but many also had brothers, masters, or friends...
Although most of them were weak and dared not provoke the Fu family, some were strong, and there were even Nascent Soul cultivators among them.
Fu Mengtian's heart skipped a beat. He realized now that the situation was more difficult than he had imagined.
Fu Feng had been quite calm earlier, as he had the strong 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.
But now, it seemed he had underestimated the Ouyang family's schemes.
The Fu family might be able to withstand this siege with their formations, but in the days to come, they would face much hardship.
Facing numerous accusations, Fu Mengtian was at a loss for words. He knew that some might have been deceived by the Ouyang family, but many were definitely bribed by them.
With enough rumors, even a fabricated story could gain traction. If their Fu family was destroyed today, this crime would be cemented.
This was a plot to destroy them from within!
...