Gong Ziru made his move with extraordinary decisiveness. Before anyone could react, Zhang Fan was already enveloped by the formation, trapped in an inescapable array.
"Not good!"
No one had anticipated that Gong Ziru, who moments before had been amiable and ingratiating, would suddenly attack Zhang Fan.
"Big Brother, Daoist Liu Mu, I implore you to join me and help Daoist Zhang Fan break this entrapment formation!"
Fufeng knew that no matter what, Zhang Fan could not be harmed. If Zhang Fan fell, his Fufamily would once again be in a perilous situation.
Upon hearing Fufeng's words, neither of them hesitated. Three figures shot up from Fuliu City, simultaneously conjuring their spirit treasures and unleashing swift attacks towards the entrapment formation.
However, no matter how fierce their combined assaults were, they could not shake the formation.
"How is this possible?"
The three dared not believe that Gong Ziru, merely a second-rank Array Dao Heavenly Master, had, in such a short time, set up a formation that their combined might could not break.
"You think you can break this formation with just this? What a pipe dream!"
Seeing this, Gong Ziru's lips curled into a sneer. Even if their strength were doubled, they still wouldn't be able to break the formation.
This entrapment formation was named the Nine Peaks Spirit Entrapment Formation, a mid-grade Heavenly tier formation.
Once trapped within it, even a fourth-tribulation Nascent Soul expert would need immense effort to break through by brute force. Such a powerful formation was naturally beyond Gong Ziru's current Array Dao cultivation.
This formation had been set up by another Array Dao Heavenly Master from their Black Sand Cave, who had refined it into an array disk. The value of this set of array disks was no less than a Heavenly Treasure.
Of course, only cultivators of the Array Dao lineage could comprehend the array disks and use them to set up formations.
Without understanding Array Dao, even obtaining an array disk would be useless.
The Fufamily members were filled with panic, but Zhang Fan, trapped within the formation, appeared remarkably calm. He stared at Gong Ziru and asked, "You intend to kill me simply because I refuse to join your Black Sand Cave?"
"Dead men have no need for so many pointless words! I kill you merely to avenge Daoist Ouyang!"
Gong Ziru said in a deep voice.
He would naturally not reveal his true reason for killing Zhang Fan. If he were to say that anyone who cannot be used by their Black Sand Cave must die, then who would dare join them in the future?
In reality, apart from this reason, another was that Zhang Fan's ability to cultivate a first-grade top-tier Golden Core indicated he must have had extraordinary encounters, which Gong Ziru naturally would not let go.
"Even if this formation can trap me, do you think it can kill me?" Zhang Fan asked again.
Everyone was also perplexed. Zhang Fan's strength was evident to all; even a third-tribulation Nascent Soul expert might not be his match. To kill him would likely require at least a fourth-tribulation Nascent Soul expert.
"Rest assured, there are few people that our Black Sand Cave wants to kill who manage to survive. As long as we can trap you, someone will come to kill you!"
Gong Ziru was not worried in the slightest. The moment Zhang Fan had slain Ouyang Jing with a single sword strike, he had secretly contacted an elder of the Black Sand Cave.
As long as Zhang Fan could be trapped, Elder Black Nether would arrive and naturally kill him.
Although Gong Ziru's words were tactful, everyone understood their implication: another expert from the Black Sand Cave was undoubtedly rushing to Great Rock Star.
Fu Mengtian and the others grew anxious but were utterly helpless.
In contrast, the Li family members were filled with anticipation. If the experts from the Black Sand Cave dealt with Zhang Fan, and incidentally resolved the Fufamily as well, then from that day forward, their Li family would be the foremost family on Great Rock Star!
However, before dealing with Zhang Fan, their Li family dared not act rashly. After all, that young man was too mysterious. The ability to cultivate a first-grade top-tier Golden Core suggested either a powerful background or an incredible fortuitous encounter. Until he was utterly annihilated, no one could guarantee what might happen.
"Although I truly do not wish to kill you, Patriarch Ouyang and I are like brothers. If I do not kill you, the rage in my heart cannot be pacified, and Brother Ouyang cannot rest in peace."
"It is only a pity for your cultivation and talent."
Gong Ziru's thick skin was truly remarkable. He had forgotten that Ouyang Ye had been sent to the executioner's block by his own hands earlier.
With the two Nascent Soul experts of the Ouyang family gone, Gong Ziru still used them as an excuse to kill Zhang Fan. This left the Golden Core realm cultivators of the Ouyang family feeling choked and eager to leave the scene as soon as possible.
"Indeed, it is a pity!" A smile appeared on Zhang Fan's face. He looked at Gong Ziru and said, "You are decisive and resourceful. If you were to survive, you would surely achieve great things in the future!"
"Alas, today you shall perish here."
As Zhang Fan spoke, he extended his hands and inserted them into the light barrier that surrounded him.
The smile on Gong Ziru's face suddenly froze. He discovered that Zhang Fan's hands had passed through the light barrier without any resistance, and a gap was slowly tearing open. The formation began to destabilize.
"How is this possible?"
Gong Ziru found it unbelievable. If he had not researched the Nine Peaks Spirit Entrapment Formation deeply, even he could not break it.
"This formation is indeed good, but you have used it in the wrong place!"
Zhang Fan retrieved his ancient bronze sword and instantly unleashed eighteen strikes. Eighteen sharp sword qi streaks shot out, landing on the eighteen array disks hidden within the formation.
As the low sounds of sword qi impacting the array disks echoed, the light barrier that enveloped Zhang Fan dissipated completely. A mid-grade Heavenly tier entrapment formation was broken so easily by Zhang Fan.
Under Gong Ziru's astonished gaze, Zhang Fan casually waved his hand, collecting all eighteen array disks that had formed the formation into his possession.
"So powerful!"
Liu Mu, Fufeng, and Fu Mengtian watched this scene with wide-eyed admiration. Only those who had made an attempt knew how formidable the entrapment formation was. Even a fourth-tribulation Nascent Soul expert would need considerable time to forcefully break it.
Although Zhang Fan's strength was immense, it was impossible for him to forcefully break the formation. Yet, he managed to escape in such a short time, indicating he possessed considerable attainment in Array Dao, possibly even surpassing Gong Ziru.
"Where on earth did this monstrous talent come from!"
This question filled everyone's minds. What kind of mighty being could teach such a prodigious junior?
Fu Sisi, standing in Fuliu City, looked up at the scene unfolding. She felt ashamed. She had previously mocked Zhang Fan for bragging in Fuliu Mountain Villa, never imagining she would be proven wrong so quickly.
However, this slap to her face felt incredibly satisfying!
"Are you prepared to face death?"
Zhang Fan gently vibrated his long sword, and a light, clear, and resonant sword hum sounded.
Hearing this sword hum, Gong Ziru instantly snapped out of his shock. He knew Zhang Fan intended to kill him.
His greatest reliance was the formation. If the formation was ineffective against Zhang Fan, he would become a defenseless child, at the mercy of others.
"You cannot kill me! I am an elder of the Black Sand Cave. If you dare to attack me, you will surely be hunted by the Black Sand Cave..."
Facing death, Gong Ziru's usual arrogance and composure vanished, replaced by shock and regret.
He attempted to leverage his background to intimidate Zhang Fan, but he had far underestimated Zhang Fan. Before he could finish speaking, a sword shadow flashed, and his voice abruptly ceased.
"Since you have made a move against me, even if you were the son of a True Immortal, I would still kill you!"
One sword strike to sever the physical body, another to extinguish the Nascent Soul. Gong Ziru never dreamed that he, a dignified Array Dao Heavenly Master and an elder of the Black Sand Cave, would die at the hands of a cultivator of the Golden Core realm.
After slaying Gong Ziru, Zhang Fan turned his gaze towards the group of cultivators surrounding Fuliu City. His icy gaze swept over them, and no one dared to meet his eyes.
"Are you not going to scram, or do you wish to die?"
Upon hearing Zhang Fan's voice, the group of cultivators who had gathered to attack Fuliu City felt as though they had received a great amnesty. They transformed into streaks of light and fled from Fuliu City in a battered manner, like stray dogs.
Having witnessed Zhang Fan's power, they no longer dared to harbor any hostile intentions and had been eager to retreat.
However, without Zhang Fan's permission, none dared to be the first to leave. If they attracted Zhang Fan's attention, a single sword qi strike would be enough to kill even a Nascent Soul cultivator.
In mere moments, the sky above the once bustling Fuliu City became tranquil.
...