As Zhang Fan was diligently cultivating his Nascent Soul, a major event occurred in Fuliu City.
The Fu family, who had thought they would prosper after surviving the recent tribulation and ascend to become the foremost family on Great Rock Star, now faced an even greater crisis.
Less than a day after Elder Gong Ziru of Black Sand Grotto-Heaven died in Fuliu City, reinforcements arrived.
Elder Ku Jian, also an elder of Black Sand Grotto-Heaven, possessed a strength far beyond Gong Ziru's.
As one of the most dominant forces in the Wushan Star Domain, Black Sand Grotto-Heaven naturally had an abundance of experts. The weakest among those who held the position of elder had to have survived the fourth Nascent Soul tribulation.
Gong Ziru's ascension to elder status in Black Sand Grotto-Heaven, with his cultivation as a second-grade Dao Array Master, was solely due to the extreme scarcity of Dao Array Masters.
"Deliver the murderer within seven days, or I will raze this Fuliu City!"
Ku Jian Elder's icy voice echoed throughout Fuliu City, instilling terror in every cultivator within its walls, making them curse their misfortune for being in Fuliu City at this time.
Some cultivators, upon hearing this, immediately fled the city. However, before they could even leave the ten-zhang vicinity of Fuliu City, they were pierced by an invisible sword qi, exploding into a mist of blood.
After several fearless warriors had confirmed this, the cultivators in Fuliu City fell into a state of panic, and chaos began to spread throughout the city.
Many cultivators had already recorded their dying wishes in their jade talismans, hoping their loved ones would see them after their demise.
In Fuliu Villa, the only three Nascent Soul cultivators of the Fu family gathered in the main hall, their faces etched with worry.
"Big brother, we cannot just wait to die."
"Then what can we do? Although Gong Ziru wasn't killed by us, he ultimately died within our Fuliu City, and we cannot escape responsibility," Fu Mengtian said with bitterness and sorrow in his heart.
Another Nascent Soul cultivator quietly observed the scene. Though not a member of the Fu family, his life-or-death bond with Fu Mengtian had led him to join the Fu family as a guest elder.
However, his strength was merely on par with Fu Feng's; he had not even survived his first Nascent Soul tribulation and was utterly incapable of resisting Ku Jian Elder.
If a Golden Core stage cultivator were to randomly slaughter humans, they would surely face condemnation.
But for Ku Jian Elder, not only was his strength immense, but he also had the backing of the behemoth force, Black Sand Grotto-Heaven, in the Wushan Star Domain. What would it matter if he annihilated Fuliu City?
Who would dare condemn him?
Who would stand against Black Sand Grotto-Heaven for the sake of cultivators in a mere city?
This was the privilege that came with power.
Fu Feng nodded; he understood this logic, but the fate of his entire Fu family was at stake, making it difficult for him to remain calm.
"Enough."
Fu Feng sighed inwardly and walked towards the hall's exit.
Within moments, someone rushed into the hall.
"Patriarch, Second Master has gone out of the city."
Fu Mengtian's expression changed drastically, and he rushed out of the hall.
...
Ku Jian Elder was clad in sackcloth and wore a pair of worn-out cloth shoes. His shoulder-length hair was unbound, falling loosely, giving him a somewhat disheveled appearance.
Yet, this disheveled old man had now become a living nightmare for every cultivator in Fuliu City.
He stood suspended above Fuliu City, his eyes scanning the city like a falcon's. At this moment, a figure flew out from Fuliu City, rapidly approaching him.
Ku Jian Elder did not make a move, instead observing the approaching person with keen interest.
"Junior Fu Feng greets Senior Ku Jian." At a distance of less than a hundred meters from Ku Jian Elder, Fu Feng stopped and bowed.
"Come to beg for mercy?"
"Useless. You still have three days. If you do not hand over the murderer, prepare to be annihilated," Ku Jian Elder said indifferently.
"The events of that day have already spread throughout Great Rock Star. I believe Senior is aware that fellow Daoist Zhang Fan departed long ago, and no one knows where he is now," Fu Feng stated.
"That is why I have given you seven days," Ku Jian Elder replied flatly.
"Although fellow Daoist Zhang Fan was invited by me to Fuliu City to resist the siege of the Ouyang and Li families, our Fu family's relationship with Zhang Fan is not very deep. He would not risk himself for our Fu family," Fu Feng continued to explain.
A smile flickered across Ku Jian Elder's withered face, appearing extremely terrifying.
"Not very deep? So, you do have some acquaintance. If I were to kill you, I wonder if he would rush here?"
As Fu Feng was about to respond, he saw Ku Jian Elder slightly open his mouth, and a black sword qi flew out, directly slashing towards Fu Feng.
...
Fu Feng was dead.
Fu Mengtian stood in Fuliu City, watching this scene, his heart filled with helplessness and rage.
But what was the use of rage?
With Fu Feng's strength, he could cleave Fu Feng with a sword qi, and he could cleave Fu Mengtian as well.
"Three days remain."
Fu Mengtian knew that the destruction of their Fuliu City was now irreversible. On this Great Rock Star, who could contend with Ku Jian Elder?
"Father, is there truly no way?"
Fu Sisi had witnessed with her own eyes how her second uncle was struck by a single sword qi, his Nascent Soul instantly extinguished. Her eyes were already red with tears.
"There is no way. The Fuliu City's defensive array is like a flimsy piece of paper to Ku Jian Elder, easily pierced. There is no method to stop him."
"He wants to find Zhang Fan, right? 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's talent is monstrous, he is far from being able to contend with Ku Jian Elder. Even if he cultivates to the Nascent Soul stage, it would not be enough."
The strongest first-grade Golden Core cultivators could, at most, contend with ordinary second-tribulation Nascent Soul experts during their Golden Core stage.
Of course, if one could cultivate powerful divine abilities, their strength could be further enhanced.
Just like the Nine Sword True Monarch who once descended to Earth; he only cultivated a second-grade superior Golden Core, but with his Nine Sword divine ability, he could unleash attacks comparable to a second-tribulation Nascent Soul expert.
And Zhang Fan's ability to unleash the power of a peak third-tribulation Nascent Soul cultivator during his Golden Core stage with divine abilities 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 expert.
The nine tribulations of the Nascent Soul stage have a bottleneck every three tribulations. The gap in strength among Nascent Soul experts in the first three tribulations would not be too large. As long as one cultivates a golden Nascent Soul and survives the first Nascent Soul tribulation, their strength would be comparable to an ordinary third-tribulation Nascent Soul expert.
But once one overcomes the fourth Nascent Soul tribulation, the Nascent Soul will undergo a fundamental transformation, and its strength will significantly increase.
Therefore, this was why Fu Mengtian did not place his hopes on Zhang Fan.
Furthermore, 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 force like Black Sand Grotto-Heaven?
...