As Zhang Fan traveled to Jianan Star aboard a starship, intelligence about his battle with the Elder of the Withered Sword was collected by the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion. Due to the involvement of the Elder of the Withered Sword, the high-ranking officials of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion paid close attention.
Upon meticulously reviewing the intelligence transmitted from Dayan Star, even the seasoned high-ranking officials of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion were shocked by the information.
A mere cultivator of the First Tribulation Nascent Soul stage had fought head-on with a peak Fourth Tribulation Nascent Soul expert like the Elder of the Withered Sword for dozens of rounds without sustaining any injuries. In the end, he managed to retreat unharmed due to his incredible speed, leaving the Elder of the Withered Sword unable to do anything about it.
This piece of news was hard to believe for anyone. Even the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion harbored doubts about the accuracy of the intelligence. The high-ranking officials of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion made a special trip to Dayan Star to verify the information with Celestial Immortal Lei Hong.
The commotion caused by Zhang Fan's battle with the Elder of the Withered Sword on Dayan Star was so immense that it almost razed the powerful city of Fuliu to the ground. Naturally, cultivators on Dayan Star were aware of it.
Such astounding news spread like a storm throughout the Wushan Star Domain, and Zhang Fan's name was etched into the hearts of many cultivators in the Wushan Star Domain.
Previously, after Zhang Fan revealed his identity as a first-grade top-tier Golden Core, he had already garnered considerable attention.
However, at that time, he had killed Elder Gong Ziru of the Black Sand Grotto-Heaven, forging a deadly feud with them, which caused many cultivators to lament.
Such a monstrous genius, before he could even grow, would likely be stifled in its cradle by the Black Sand Grotto-Heaven.
No one would dare to confront a behemoth like the Black Sand Grotto-Heaven in the Wushan Star Domain for the sake of a first-grade Golden Core genius cultivator.
But this time, the situation was entirely different.
Zhang Fan not only survived his first Nascent Soul tribulation but also displayed a combat prowess that defied human comprehension.
Generally speaking, to escape from a Fourth Tribulation Nascent Soul expert, even those who had cultivated golden Nascent Souls would need to survive a second Nascent Soul tribulation to have a chance.
And for a cultivator with a golden Nascent Soul to contend with a peak Fourth Tribulation Nascent Soul expert like the Elder of the Withered Sword, they would likely need to have survived at least a third Nascent Soul tribulation to be qualified.
However, Zhang Fan, having only survived his first Nascent Soul tribulation, possessed the strength of a Fourth Tribulation Nascent Soul. Such monstrous combat power had surpassed the understanding of all cultivators.
...
Jiexin Continent, located in the central region of the Wushan Star Domain, is a supercontinent with dimensions measured in light-years. The space here is incredibly stable, to the extent that starships cannot perform spatial traversals around Jiexin Continent.
To the south of Jiexin Continent lies a mountain range stretching for over a million li. Peaks are scattered across the mountains, and each peak is shrouded in spiritual energy, soaring into the clouds.
This mountain range is named Luoxian Mountain Range, and it is the place of indoctrination for the Flying Immortal Mansion.
Within the Luoxian Mountain Range, there is a peak shaped like a sword piercing the sky. Upon this peak, a young man in white sits cross-legged, remaining unmoving regardless of wind or rain.
"This person must possess an earth-shattering secret. Capture him alive, I want him alive." A voice echoed from the depths of the Luoxian Mountain Range into the young man's mind. He suddenly opened his eyes, and invisible sword energy erupted from them, cleaving a mountain peak in half from a distance.
Instantly, rocks crumbled, disturbing countless demonic beasts.
"Yes."
The young man in white responded, then leaped down and vanished into the Luoxian Mountain Range.
...
The Six Kings Mansion, renowned equally with the Flying Immortal Mansion, was currently gathered, also discussing Zhang Fan.
In a majestic hall of the Six Kings Mansion, six figures with extraordinary auras sat cross-legged before a table laden with delicacies and immortal wine. They drank heartily and ate succulent roasted meat, the aroma of wine and meat filling the hall, intoxicating all who entered.
"If we could take Zhang Fan into our Six Kings Mansion and nurture him well, perhaps in a few hundred years, our Six Kings Mansion could be renamed the Seven Kings Mansion," said a man with a full beard.
"Second Brother, you think so highly of that Zhang Fan?"
"Haha, Eldest Brother invited us brothers to eat and drink well, is he not just asking for our opinions?"
"I have also learned about Zhang Fan. He was born on a barren planet on the fringes of the Wushan Star Domain. Coincidentally, that barren planet was the place of opportunity left behind by True Immortal Zhiwu."
"To be able to seize an opportunity amidst the competition with many top-tier Golden Core realm cultivators in the Wushan Star Domain, despite his origins as a cultivator from a barren planet, is enough to demonstrate how extraordinary his talent is."
"The reason he incurred the wrath of the Black Sand Grotto-Heaven was merely because of the Fu family in Fuliu City on Dayan Star."
"As far as I know, his relationship with the Fu family was not deep, yet he did not back down when facing the Black Sand Grotto-Heaven, which demonstrates that he is a person of loyalty and courage."
"I admire such talent," the bearded man said after a lengthy discourse, then picked up a massive piece of roasted meat and began to gnaw on it.
"Second Brother speaks wisely. Be it talent or character, Zhang Fan is top-notch and worthy of entering our Six Kings Mansion."
A young man in black, who appeared quite refined, nodded in agreement.
"Eldest Brother wishes to take Zhang Fan into our Six Kings Mansion, and I have no objections. However, whether it succeeds is another matter."
"Haha, since none of my brothers have any objections, shall we entrust this matter to Sixth Brother?" The middle-aged man seated at the head of the table had a rich smile on his face, appearing to be in a very good mood.
"Eldest Brother's command, Little Brother will surely handle it properly," the young man in black solemnly replied.
...
In a mysterious space on Jiexin Continent, countless sword energies and sword dao rules danced within the space, appearing chaotic yet seemingly adhering to some great dao, possessing an ineffable charm.
In the center of the space stood a massive circular millstone. Upon the millstone, an elder with a head full of white hair sat cross-legged. He wore a snow-white robe, and his face appeared tranquil.
"Yue'er, go and bring someone to see me. Tell him... that I wish to take him as my disciple." The elder's voice was deep and melodious, echoing through the mysterious space.
Whoosh!
The countless sword energies and sword dao rules in the space dissipated, and a beautiful figure in green attire appeared. She stood before the white-haired elder, a hint of curiosity on her delicate face, and asked, "Master, have you finally made up your mind to find me a junior brother?"
"Yes. You may have heard of this person's name. His name is Zhang Fan."
"Zhang Fan... I have naturally heard of him. His name is likely known to all major powers in the Wushan Star Domain by now."
"However, not long ago, the Black Sand Grotto-Heaven issued a bounty for Zhang Fan through the Red Immortal Alliance, offering fifty million spirit crystals for his life." the woman in green said.
"Fifty million spirit crystals, the Black Sand Grotto-Heaven is truly generous," the white-haired elder chuckled.
Fifty million spirit crystals could already purchase a very good intermediate-grade celestial treasure. For that matter, the wealth of an ordinary Fourth Tribulation Nascent Soul expert was not even that much.
"That's not all. If one can capture him alive and hand him over to the Black Sand Grotto-Heaven, the bounty is one hundred million spirit crystals."
"Speaking of which, I'm almost tempted."
"This is your future junior brother!" the white-robed elder reminded her.
"Whether he agrees to your apprenticeship is still uncertain."
"Heh heh, but Master, don't worry. It's rare for you to have the thought of taking on a disciple after hundreds of years. Even if he disagrees, I'll still drag him back for you!"
Lighthearted laughter echoed through the space, and the beautiful voice had already departed, leaving the white-robed elder with a helpless sigh.
...