The crisis averted, the triumphant cheers of the Fuliu City inhabitants rose as the imposing intruders retreated in disarray. As Zhang Fan landed, the crowd surged towards him.
Fu Mengtian, leading the way, was followed by Fu Feng and a group of Golden Core realm cultivators from the Fu family. They approached Zhang Fan.
"Thank you, Daoist Zhang Fan. Although my Fu family is small and our strength limited, should you ever require assistance, we will spare no effort to aid you!" Fu Mengtian bowed deeply to Zhang Fan, his words earnest and his expression solemn.
After expressing their gratitude, Fu Mengtian invited Zhang Fan and Liu Mu to Fuliu Manor. Zhang Fan, however, declined.
"Gong Ziru attempted to kill me earlier. He will undoubtedly summon powerful individuals from Black Sand Grotto-Heaven to Da Yan Star. My remaining in Fuliu City may not be beneficial for you," Zhang Fan explained.
Before Fu Mengtian could respond, Zhang Fan continued, "Even if you do not consider yourselves, you should consider your Fu family."
This matter had originated from their Fu family, yet Zhang Fan was now shouldering the burden. Fu Mengtian felt immense guilt, but as Zhang Fan had said, he did not fear death, yet he had a vast Fu family behind him.
Liu Mu’s bright eyes fixed on Zhang Fan, surprised that this seemingly aloof young man possessed such integrity.
"Patriarch Fu, I will accompany Daoist Zhang Fan. We shall meet again if fate allows!"
Liu Mu also bid farewell to Fu Feng and Fu Sisi.
"Why are you following me?"
Zhang Fan glanced at Liu Mu's delicate and handsome face, thinking that if this person were a woman, they would surely be a beauty capable of toppling kingdoms.
"Why can't I come along?" Liu Mu found Zhang Fan's gaze peculiar, though he couldn't quite articulate why.
"While Black Sand Grotto-Heaven is not an overwhelmingly powerful force, your current strength is too weak. A single Nascent Soul cultivator at the Fourth Tribulation could easily defeat you. Traveling with me will at least ensure your safety."
Liu Mu stated this with confidence.
Zhang Fan was taken aback; he hadn't expected the usually gentle and polite Liu Mu to resort to boasting.
However, after leaving Fuliu City, he had planned to find a place to enter seclusion and break through to the Nascent Soul stage. If Liu Mu was patient enough to accompany him, Zhang Fan wouldn't mind.
...
As the two shot into the sky, transforming into streaks of light, they vanished from sight within mere breaths.
"Everyone, disperse. What are you still looking at?"
Seeing Fu Sisi gazing in the direction Zhang Fan had departed, with an unreadable expression, Fu Feng gently patted her shoulder. "Let's go. We and Daoist Zhang Fan ultimately belong to different worlds."
"To have befriended such a powerful individual is an honor for my Fu family. With Daoist Zhang Fan's talent, within a century, the entire star domain will undoubtedly look upon him with awe," Fu Mengtian said with considerable emotion.
No one doubted Fu Mengtian's words. Even now, the strength and talent Zhang Fan had displayed were enough to earn him renown throughout the Wushan Star Domain.
"Father, Zhang Fan killed someone from Black Sand Grotto-Heaven. Will this cause a lot of trouble?" Fu Sisi asked, a hint of worry in her voice.
"Haha, don't worry too much. While the elders of Black Sand Grotto-Heaven are important, they are not beyond being killed."
"With Daoist Zhang Fan's talent, if he truly faces insurmountable odds, he could simply join a top-tier force and his life would be secured."
Fu Mengtian chuckled.
If his Fu family had killed an elder from Black Sand Grotto-Heaven, they would likely face annihilation. However, for Zhang Fan, there were numerous options.
...
"Where do we go next?" Liu Mu inquired.
"Northern Ice Plains."
"For what?"
"To cultivate in seclusion."
"Oh."
Liu Mu's eyes brightened slightly. Zhang Fan was already at the peak of the Golden Core realm. If he were to go into seclusion, it would undoubtedly be to attempt a breakthrough to the Nascent Soul stage.
He was intensely curious: Zhang Fan was already so monstrous in the Golden Core realm; what would his power be like once he reached the Nascent Soul stage?
Just as Zhang Fan and Liu Mu were heading towards the Northern Ice Plains, the inter-stellar teleportation array in Da Yan City suddenly flared to life, startling the guards on duty.
Inter-stellar teleportation arrays allowed cultivators to traverse rapidly between different star systems. It was the fastest mode of travel below the Divine Transformation True Immortal realm, but it was also the most expensive.
The spirit crystals consumed with each teleportation were enough to make a Golden Core cultivator ache, so generally, Golden Core cultivators would opt for inter-stellar flying ships for travel. Although it took longer, it was far more economical.
Those who used inter-stellar teleportation arrays were typically Nascent Soul cultivators.
Of course, there were a few top-tier Golden Core experts whose strength rivaled that of ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators, possessing deep foundations and not minding the cost.
An old man clad in grey linen robes emerged from the teleportation array. His body was gaunt, his eyes sharp like a falcon's, and his keen gaze swept across the surroundings. The guards, all in the Golden Core realm, felt a stinging sensation and a sense of dread.
"In which direction is Fuliu City?" the old man in linen robes asked, his voice somewhat hoarse.
"Reporting to Senior, Fuliu City is located southwest of Da Yan City, approximately ninety-eight thousand kilometers from here," a guard in a standard battle armor responded swiftly.
The old man in linen robes nodded slightly after hearing this, then took a step and vanished from their sight.
"Who exactly was that senior? He felt far more powerful than our Star Lord. Why would such a strong individual come to our Da Yan Star?"
After the old man in linen robes departed, the guards watching the inter-stellar teleportation array began to discuss amongst themselves, filled with questions. Da Yan Star, though somewhat known, was merely a third-rate planet. It should hold no appeal to such a powerful being.
A third-rate planet signified that the strongest individual on the planet was at most a Nascent Soul cultivator at the Third Tribulation. For those beyond the Third Tribulation, it held no attraction whatsoever.
"Regardless, this matter is not to be taken lightly. We must report it upwards."
...
The Northern Ice Plains were located in the extreme northern reaches of Da Yan Star. Thousands of miles were covered in snow and ice, presenting a vast expanse of white as far as the eye could see, as if one had stepped into a world of ice and snow.
"Why did you have to come so far to cultivate in seclusion? And to such a cold place?"
The snow and ice concealed all signs of life. Not only were there no human traces, but even demonic beasts were rarely seen, making Liu Mu feel rather bored.
"Quiet."
Zhang Fan replied with a smile.
To break through to the Nascent Soul stage from two first-grade, high-quality Golden Cores, Zhang Fan himself was unsure of any potential anomalies. Therefore, it was better to break through far away.
Moreover, this place was remote and rarely visited. The extremely low temperature made it difficult for ordinary Golden Core cultivators to adapt, and the spiritual energy here was even denser than in Fuliu City, making it suitable for cultivation.
They traveled for over a thousand li into the Northern Ice Plains, and along the way, they did not encounter a single demonic beast.
"We'll stop here."
Zhang Fan selected a towering ice peak, tens of thousands of meters high, and with a single sword strike, he flattened the summit.
The ice surface was as smooth as a mirror. Looking down, Liu Mu could still see his own reflection, a faint smile gracing his handsome face.
"Pretty boy!"
Zhang Fan muttered upon seeing this, then took out the eighteen formation disks he had seized from Gong Ziru. He spent half an hour to fully refine them.
"These formation disks are quite good. Perhaps I can give them to Luo Shui if I meet her later, as a means of self-preservation," Zhang Fan thought, unaware that Qin Luoshui had already been taken away by Immortal King Zhiwu to an unknown location.
After fully refining the eighteen formation disks, Zhang Fan waved his hand. The disks flew out in an orderly fashion, scattering around them.
"Rise!"
With a low shout, streaks of pure white, transparent light barriers shot into the sky, enveloping Zhang Fan and Liu Mu within.
This was a trapping formation, capable of both ensnaring enemies and obstructing them.
Protected by the Nine Peaks Spirit-Trapping Formation, ordinary cultivators at the Fifth Tribulation of Nascent Soul would find it difficult to break through, especially since Zhang Fan's formation-laying skills were far superior to Gong Ziru's.
The same formation disks, when set up by different individuals, could yield vastly different levels of power.
"I am about to enter seclusion to attempt a breakthrough to the Nascent Soul stage. It might take some time. If you find yourself bored, you can go explore," Zhang Fan said.
"I'm not that bored. I've felt my cultivation improving recently, and I'm preparing to undergo my Nascent Soul tribulation. You don't need to worry about me," Liu Mu replied with a slight pout.
There was no one in this vast icy expanse for thousands of miles; what was there to explore?