Six Kings City.
Just after the Black Sand Cave Heaven extended its invitation to the Flying Immortal Mansion and the Sun Shadow Cave Heaven, they each departed from their sects with their retinues. In just two days, everyone had arrived in the northern region of the Southern Wilderness.
With three half-step Transformation God powerhouses leading a group of high-level Nascent Soul cultivators, such a force would undoubtedly cause a tremendous stir anywhere on the Jiexin Continent.
Therefore, when they all arrived outside Six Kings City, both inside and outside the city, there was a wave of commotion. Outside the city, a crowd of Nascent Soul cultivators gathered from afar to watch. Four of the six top powers were involved, and if a battle were to erupt, the future landscape of the Jiexin Continent might very well be rewritten.
"This city-protecting grand formation does indeed possess some profound mysteries, but with the combined strength of our three parties, it won't be too difficult to break it, though it might take some time," Bai Mengtian said, looking at the city-protecting light screen of Six Kings City that reached into the sky.
"Brother Beichen, how about you make the announcement?"
"I have no objections," the Sect Master of Sun Shadow Cave Heaven, a man who appeared quite young named Sima Cang, said after hearing Bai Mengtian's words.
Fu Beichen did not refuse, nodded, then stepped into the void and approached Six Kings City. He declared, "Ling Xiu, that brat Zhang Fan has murdered numerous disciples from our three factions, and even my son died by his hand. This hatred is irreconcilable. Anyone associated with him, I will kill."
"I give you one hour to hand him over, otherwise, on the day the city falls, your Six Kings Mansion will cease to exist!"
His voice, imbued with immense magical power, resounded throughout Six Kings City, causing considerable unrest within the city walls.
Some cultivators were terrified, regretting their decision to come to Six Kings City at this time, fearing they would be caught in the crossfire when the city was breached.
Others were utterly bewildered, unable to comprehend why the Six Kings Mansion would oppose three top powers for the sake of Zhang Fan, believing it to be an unwise move.
Even within the Six Kings Mansion, there were dissenting voices, but the majority supported Ling Xiu's stance, especially those cultivators who had entered the Great Luo Realm with Zhang Fan. They had absolute confidence in Zhang Fan, so what if the three factions joined forces?
"Let them come!"
Ling Xiu did not even show himself, responding with a simple, blunt six words, and then there was silence.
Such a defiant attitude further enraged Fu Beichen. He wasted no more words and directly issued his command.
"Break the formation!"
When the three factions arrived, each brought a top-tier formation master. They emerged from the crowd, each taking their position, and began studying the city-protecting grand formation of Six Kings City, deploying formation-breaking pearls to crack the formation.
Silence descended upon the area both inside and outside the city walls. The Six Kings Mansion did not dispatch any cultivators to harass the formation breakers. With Fu Beichen, Bai Mengtian, and Sima Cang, three half-step Transformation God powerhouses, guarding the area, it was impossible for the Six Kings Mansion to find an opening.
On the second day of the formation breaking, all three factions received news from their respective sects: the three peak Nascent Soul cultivators sent to intercept Zhang Fan in the Great Luo Sea had all perished, with only a few elders of the Nine Tribulations Realm managing to escape.
When Fu Beichen heard this news, his face had already turned ashen. The Black Sand Cave Heaven had not only lost a peak Nascent Soul powerhouse but also a Supreme Elder who had entered the half-step Transformation God realm.
He initially intended to suppress this news, but after careful consideration, he eventually announced it.
"What? Zhang Fan actually has the strength to kill a half-step Transformation God expert?"
"This is impossible!"
This news caused a massive stir among the three factions. Beyond disbelief, there was a sense of unspoken dread.
The three of them, all half-step Transformation God powerhouses, had been peerless figures in their respective eras when they were young, yet they had cultivated for hundreds or even thousands of years to reach this realm.
And Zhang Fan, who had only cultivated for a few decades, could now contend with them?
"Brother Beichen, I would like to know, to what extent has your sect's Supreme Elder fused with his divine soul and rules?" Bai Mengtian asked, his brow furrowed, a rare expression.
Sima Cang, upon hearing this, also looked towards Fu Beichen.
Fu Beichen did not conceal anything and replied directly, "Two percent!"
Upon hearing this, Bai Mengtian's tightly furrowed brow slowly relaxed, and a sense of relief washed over him.
He had already fused with sixty percent of his divine soul and rules. Although they were all at the half-step Transformation God realm, there was a vast gap in strength between the Supreme Elder of the Black Sand Cave Heaven and himself.
Even he was confident that he could kill the Supreme Elder of the Black Sand Cave Heaven in a one-on-one confrontation.
"We must break the formation as quickly as possible. By taking hostages, we can at least make Zhang Fan hesitate," Sima Cang said.
Although they did not fear Zhang Fan, even with his half-step Transformation God strength, the successive losses had left them feeling somewhat aggrieved, and their actions now carried an extra layer of caution.
Fu Beichen remained silent, but his anger was nearing its breaking point. He had initially thought sending out a Supreme Elder was already giving Zhang Fan sufficient consideration, but he had underestimated Zhang Fan's strength.
For his Black Sand Cave Heaven, the losses this time were too great. They had to recoup their losses from the Six Kings Mansion. This was precisely why the three of them had not gone to the Great Luo Sea to intercept Zhang Fan, but instead came to Six Kings City to demand the person.
The Flying Immortal Mansion and the Sun Shadow Cave Heaven thought the same way. Everyone understood this, yet no one spoke it aloud.
Many things could be done openly, but they could not be said openly.
On the fifth day of the formation breaking.
"Master Heguan is indeed the earliest formation master to enter the Nine Tribulations Realm. It took the combined efforts of us three to spend a full five days to thoroughly understand this city-protecting grand formation."
The three formation masters rose simultaneously. As they retrieved their formation-breaking pearls, the massive light screen that enveloped Six Kings City also disappeared.
"Good!"
Upon seeing this, Fu Beichen stepped forward and shouted again, "Ling Xiu, the city-protecting grand formation you relied on has now been broken. Out of consideration for our many years of acquaintance, I will give you one last chance. Hand over those three little thieves, and we will not pursue your previous transgressions. Otherwise, today will be the day your Six Kings Mansion is destroyed!"
Ling Xiu stood on the city wall, his posture erect, gazing at the cultivators from the Flying Immortal Mansion, Black Sand Cave Heaven, and Sun Shadow Cave Heaven below. His eyes were devoid of any ripple.
"Haha, Fu Beichen, do you think I, Ling Xiu, am so foolish? Zhang Fan is an honorary elder of my Six Kings Mansion, and his people are naturally people of my Six Kings Mansion. Do you think I, Ling Xiu, would hand over my own people to you?"
"If you have the guts, then break through the city and enter. I, Ling Xiu, will say this now: any cultivator who dares to intrude into Six Kings City today will face an endless fight to the death with my Six Kings Mansion!" Ling Xiu knew Fu Beichen well. When he chose to stand with Zhang Fan, Fu Beichen would have already considered his Six Kings Mansion an enemy. If he believed Fu Beichen's words, not only would the reputation of his Six Kings Mansion be ruined, but it might also lead to a greater disaster.
Handing over Lin Haotian and the others, wouldn't that push Zhang Fan to become his enemy? How could Ling Xiu do something so foolish?
After all, hearing what Shen Feichen and the others had said about Zhang Fan in the Great Luo Realm, he still felt his heart pounding with disbelief.
The Great Luo Realm had existed for hundreds of thousands of years and had been opened dozens of times. From ancient times to the present, only True Immortal Ziwu had entered the third level. However, this time, as many as three people had entered the third level.
Moreover, the other two who entered the third level of the Great Luo Realm were one Zhang Fan's disciple and the other his good friend. He understood very well what this meant.
"Since that is the case, then do not blame us for being ruthless!"
"Attack the city!"
Following Fu Beichen's command, figures shot up from the ground, unleashing powerful auras, and charged towards Six Kings City.
A colossal sword light tore through the sky, striking the city wall, creating a gap tens of feet long in the sturdy wall.
"Kill!"
Dozens of Nascent Soul cultivators, the weakest being at the seventh tribulation realm, led by the three half-step Transformation God powerhouses, charged into Six Kings City together. The sky was filled with spells that descended like a meteor shower, smashing onto the city walls. The walls, which had stood for hundreds of thousands of years, collapsed with a roar.
Without the protection of the city-protecting grand formation, even the sturdiest walls could not withstand the bombardment of a group of powerful Nascent Soul cultivators.
"Everyone, retreat to the Panlong Mountain Range."
The enemy had superior numbers, so Ling Xiu chose not to engage them head-on, opting to retreat to the Panlong Mountain Range to hold their ground...