Just as the Fu Family Ancestor thought he had escaped the bounds of the Fu Family Fort, a soft and seductive woman’s voice whispered in his ear: “Your earth escape technique is far too slow. Why not hand over your head to me, so I can report back to my master?”
Startled, the Fu Family Ancestor instinctively halted, only to see a flash of white before him. A bewitchingly beautiful young woman had appeared out of nowhere, standing mere feet away, smiling sweetly at him.
“You—” Before he could utter another word, the woman parted her rosy lips and exhaled a mist of pink fragrance, instantly enveloping him.
Realizing the danger too late, the Fu Family Ancestor tried to retreat, but the moment the sweet scent filled his nostrils, his body went limp. His protective aura failed completely, and he collapsed unconscious.
Silver Moon glanced at her fallen prey, a faint smile playing on her jade-like face. With a casual flick of her delicate hand, a crescent-shaped white light slashed downward.
Blood splattered.
Inside the Fu Family Fort’s grand hall, hundreds of guests were engaged in lively conversation. Several Core Formation cultivators who had come to offer congratulations were being entertained by high-ranking Fu Family members, creating an atmosphere of harmony.
Suddenly, faint screams echoed from outside the hall, abruptly silencing the chatter. The guests exchanged uneasy glances, while the more alert among them cast wary looks toward the Fu Family cultivators.
“Everyone, remain calm. It must be some minor disturbance. Let me send someone to investigate,” declared a blue-robed elder seated beside two guardians of the Demon Flame Sect. Though his expression flickered momentarily, he quickly regained composure. This man was a cousin of the Fu Family Ancestor and the third Core Formation cultivator of the Fu Family.
After excusing himself to the Demon Flame Sect guardians, he turned and ordered two Fu Family disciples to check outside. The two hurried out.
The Demon Flame Sect cultivators remained outwardly composed but exchanged a brief, questioning glance.
Two more screams rang out—clearly, the dispatched Fu Family disciples had met a grim fate. This time, everyone in the hall heard it clearly, and unease spread like wildfire.
The blue-robed elder’s face darkened. Taking a deep breath, he stood and commanded, “Activate the hall’s defensive formation! Send word to the Ancestor immediately!”
A nearby Fu Family cultivator, pale-faced, hastily retrieved a message talisman, whispered into it, and flung it upward. The talisman transformed into a streak of red light, shooting through the roof—only to be struck down moments later.
“The message talisman was intercepted! We’re surrounded!” the disciple stammered.
At this, even the Core Formation guests could no longer remain seated.
A pockmarked cultivator from the Demon Flame Sect frowned and spoke up, “Brother Fu, it seems enemies have infiltrated your fort. Brother Sun and I will accompany you to investigate.”
The blue-robed elder, inwardly panicked, brightened at the offer. “Your assistance is greatly appreciated!”
The other Demon Flame Sect guardian, a plain-looking middle-aged man surnamed Sun, frowned slightly but rose without protest.
The remaining Core Formation guests exchanged glances but chose not to intervene. As the three Core Formation cultivators strode toward the hall’s entrance, the room fell silent, all eyes fixed on them.
Just as they neared the door, a clear, dragon-like cry echoed from outside. The trio paused in surprise.
In that instant, a ten-zhang-long emerald streak—like a celestial sword—swept into the hall, swirling around them before erupting into dozens of blinding green rays. The cultivators inside instinctively blinked. By the time their vision cleared, the emerald streak had already vanished back outside.
The blue-robed elder and the two Demon Flame Sect guardians stood frozen, their backs to the crowd. The hall’s occupants stared in confusion, unsure what had transpired.
Then a female cultivator screamed.
All eyes snapped toward her. Beside her sat a headless Fu Family steward, blood gushing from his severed neck.
Horrified, the guests realized that every Fu Family member in the hall—stewards and disciples alike—had been silently decapitated.
“The green light! Someone attacked them with a magic treasure!” a quick-witted cultivator shouted, turning to warn the trio at the door—only to choke mid-sentence, his face draining of color.
The blue-robed elder and the two guardians collapsed into piles of dismembered flesh, slain by the emerald streak.
The hall erupted in stunned silence. If the guests had been uneasy before, they were now gripped by terror. Protective barriers flared to life around hundreds of cultivators, and defensive artifacts materialized in a dazzling array. Groups huddled together, fear etched on their faces.
Anyone capable of slaughtering three Core Formation cultivators and over a dozen Fu Family disciples in an instant had to be a monstrously powerful figure—likely a Nascent Soul cultivator. And if that were the case, exterminating everyone in the hall would be child’s play.
Regret gnawed at many. Why had they come to celebrate the Fu Family’s longevity? Now they were caught in a disaster not of their making.
The hall remained eerily quiet.
A few Core Formation cultivators with stronger spiritual senses attempted to probe outside, but the Fu Family had long ago sealed the hall against such intrusions. Cursing inwardly, they could only wait in frustration.
Then, an unfamiliar male voice rang out from beyond the hall:
“From this moment, no one leaves for one hour. Anyone who disobeys—dies. After the hour, you may go freely.”
The voice was cold, laced with an unmistakable killing intent that sent chills down every spine. Yet, paradoxically, the guests relaxed slightly. The speaker had no intention of slaughtering them—provided they stayed put.
They understood their survival hinged on not witnessing the assailant’s identity. Even without the threat, none would dare step out, let alone seek revenge for the Fu Family. Who would provoke a Nascent Soul cultivator over a minor clan?
The hour passed slowly, punctuated only by sporadic, abruptly cut-off screams outside. Clearly, a massacre was underway in the Fu Family Fort, with no resistance offered.
The guests exchanged grim looks. Some pitied the Fu Family’s fate; others secretly relished their downfall.
After what felt like an eternity, the screams ceased. Silence reclaimed the fort. Still, no one dared move.
Only when the full hour had elapsed—and the warning voice did not return—did a Core Formation cultivator finally muster the courage to step outside. When nothing happened, the rest flooded out in relief.
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