The two sides refused to back down, leading to a battle between Nascent Soul experts that erupted over Fuliu City. However, Lei Hong Tianxian had only just passed his fourth Nascent Soul tribulation, and there was still a gap between him and a seasoned four-tribulation Nascent Soul expert like Ku Jian Laoren.
"The Star Lord is in danger!"
Fu Sisi looked up at the earth-shattering battle, her heart filled with awe. Although all were Nascent Soul cultivators, the combat below four tribulations was indeed worlds apart from this.
The land within a thousand-mile radius was engulfed by lightning carrying destructive power and corrosive sword light. The ground was crisscrossed with ravines, as if it had experienced an apocalypse!
Fu Sisi suspected that if such a battle occurred on a weak life-bearing planet, the planet itself might crumble.
With Lei Hong Tianxian's domain shielding it, Fuliu City was less affected. Yet, even a mere wisp of Ku Jian's domain power seeping out caused numerous cultivators within Fuliu City to perish.
"It seems my Fuliu City is doomed!"
Fu Mengtian sighed inwardly. Ku Jian Laoren's killing intent was too strong; even the Star Lord could not stop him.
After dozens of exchanges, Lei Hong Tianxian could no longer withstand Ku Jian Laoren's fierce attacks. He was struck by a sword qi, leaving a foot-long bloodstain across his body.
"If your strength is insufficient, you should be more discreet. With your power, you cannot stop me."
After injuring Lei Hong Tianxian, Ku Jian Laoren did not press his attack. After all, Lei Hong Tianxian had now passed the fourth Nascent Soul tribulation and could be considered a core pillar of the True Fire Cave. Once his strength stabilized, he would surely be transferred from Great Rock Star and promoted to Elder by the True Fire Cave.
Conflict between cultivators was normal, but if he killed Lei Hong Tianxian, the True Fire Cave would certainly not let it go.
Lei Hong Tianxian held his spear in one hand, purple lightning flashing on his chest. The horrific wound was slowly healing, but Ku Jian's power continued to erode his body. He had no strength left to fight; he had lost this battle.
There was no anger in his eyes, only dejection and helplessness.
"I have failed you all."
Lei Hong Tianxian looked at the corpses littering Fuliu City, his heart filled with guilt. As Star Lord, his duty was to protect all life on the planet. If they fought amongst themselves, he might not intervene, but an external threat was something he, as Star Lord, had to face.
But this time, he was truly powerless.
Unable to bear witness to the scene, Lei Hong Tianxian prepared to turn and leave. However, just as he turned, his domain sensed someone suddenly intruding and flying towards Fuliu City at an extremely high speed.
Lei Hong Tianxian could sense it, and Ku Jian Laoren naturally sensed it too. A hint of anticipation appeared in his sunken eyes, and his movements paused.
Hundreds of miles away, Zhang Fan sensed that something was amiss. The world was filled with a power of intense corrosion, and the closer he got to Fuliu City, the stronger it became.
"That Gong Ziru was an Elder of Black Sand Cave. It's highly likely someone from Black Sand Cave has arrived," Liu Mu reminded him.
"Who cares who it is, let's go and see." Having broken through to the Nascent Soul stage and passed his first Nascent Soul tribulation, Zhang Fan's strength had greatly increased. He did not take ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators seriously.
Liu Mu nodded. With his current strength, he could contend with even a four-tribulation Nascent Soul expert for a few moves, let alone Zhang Fan, whose strength was no weaker than his own.
At Zhang Fan's current speed, the distance of hundreds of miles was covered in just a few breaths.
However, when they arrived at Fuliu City, they witnessed the scene they least wished to see.
Fuliu City, once bustling with a population of tens of millions, was now a dead city. The main streets, once filled with traffic, were now strewn with corpses, like a mass grave.
"You are the murderer of Gong Ziru, Zhang Fan?"
Zhang Fan followed the voice and saw a gaunt old man looking at him with a strange smile. The power radiating intense corrosion was emanating from him, spreading outwards.
"He actually came."
Fu Sisi looked up at the figure, her heart filled with complex emotions.
Zhang Fan glanced at Ku Jian Laoren, ignoring him, and descended with Liu Mu, landing beside Fu Mengtian.
"Where is Fu Feng?"
Zhang Fan, not seeing Fu Feng, asked.
"He's dead. Ku Jian Laoren besieged Fuliu City, intending to slaughter everyone. Fu Feng went to plead for mercy and was killed by Ku Jian Laoren," Fu Mengtian sighed. "Young friend Zhang Fan, I'm glad you came. It proves Fu Feng did not make friends with the wrong person."
"However, Ku Jian Laoren is incredibly powerful. Even the Star Lord, who just passed the fourth Nascent Soul tribulation, is no match for him. If you have a chance, you should leave quickly."
"Dead?"
Zhang Fan nodded calmly and said, "Fu Feng and I were acquainted. I will avenge him."
Millions had died in Fuliu City, their vital essence drained, their deaths gruesome. However, for Zhang Fan, this was a minor event.
If a battle at the Divine Transformation True Immortal level were to erupt on a life-bearing planet, even just the residual effects could easily destroy it, claiming billions of lives.
"That old devil Ku Jian is so ruthless, threatening to slaughter the city at every turn. This person cannot be left alive!"
Compared to Zhang Fan's calmness, Liu Mu was furious. He was about to move to engage Ku Jian Laoren in battle.
"Let me handle it."
Zhang Fan stopped Liu Mu. Each set of three tribulations was a hurdle for Nascent Soul cultivators. Ku Jian Laoren, having passed the fourth Nascent Soul tribulation, possessed strength that could almost crush cultivators below the four-tribulation Nascent Soul stage.
Although Liu Mu had cultivated a top-grade Golden Core, he was only a one-tribulation Nascent Soul cultivator, far from being strong enough.
Fu Mengtian was about to intervene, but Zhang Fan's figure flashed, and he appeared in the sky above Fuliu City, confronting Ku Jian Laoren.
"You are Zhang Fan? You killed my Black Sand Cave Elder and dare to appear before me. You have quite the nerve." Ku Jian Laoren examined Zhang Fan with some curiosity.
Lei Hong Tianxian, who had been preparing to leave, also stopped, looking at the young man with curiosity.
"Heh heh!"
Zhang Fan exchanged no pleasantries. With a light chuckle, a bronze ancient sword appeared in his hand. He activated the power of the Sword Dao rules and unleashed a strike. The dazzling sword light tore through the sky, heading straight for Ku Jian Laoren.
"Oh?"
Zhang Fan's move surprised Ku Jian Laoren. He could tell at a glance that Zhang Fan was only a one-tribulation Nascent Soul cultivator, yet the power of this sword strike was even stronger than that of an ordinary peak three-tribulation Nascent Soul expert.
"The rumors are true. To possess such strength with only one-tribulation Nascent Soul, you must have cultivated the ultimate Golden Nascent Soul?"
Ku Jian Laoren casually waved his hand, and countless sword-like illusions appeared in the air, clashing with the dazzling sword light.
"Domain of the Dao? I have one too!"
As Zhang Fan's thought arose, the power of heaven and earth surged like waves. Thunder flashed in the sky, sword intent permeated the air, and dense Sword Dao rules and Thunder Dao rules shot out from Zhang Fan's body, distributing themselves throughout the domain, numbering nearly two thousand.
The Sword Dao was primary, with the Thunder Dao as a supplement, forming a Thunder-Sword Dao domain that enveloped hundreds of miles.
"How is this possible?"
Everyone was astonished by the emergence of Zhang Fan's domain.