Just as the Fu family ancestor managed to escape beyond the boundaries of the Fu Family Fortress, a sweet, coquettish woman's voice rang out by his ear.
"Your earth-escape technique is far too slow, sir. Why not hand over your head and let this little girl report back to her master instead?"
The Fu family ancestor's heart lurched with shock, and his figure faltered involuntarily. But in the next instant, a flash of white appeared before him, and without warning, a stunningly beautiful young woman materialized out of thin air.
She stood merely a few feet away, her delicate laughter like the tinkling of jade, facing him directly.
"You—"
The Fu family ancestor had barely managed to spit out a single syllable when the woman's rosy lips parted slightly. A wisp of pink, fragrant mist sprayed from her mouth in an instant, enveloping the unprepared Fu family ancestor head to toe.
He cried out inwardly in alarm and hurriedly began channeling a spell to retreat. But the moment the sweet scent entered his nose and mouth, his body went limp and he toppled over. The protective spiritual light about his body proved utterly useless. He lost consciousness on the spot.
Yin Yue glanced at the unconscious prey before her, a faint smile gracing her jade-like face. Her slender hand swept casually downward, and a crescent-shaped arc of white light sliced through the air!
Blood sprayed in all directions.
…
In the main hall of the Fu Family Fortress, several hundred guests were heatedly discussing various matters. A few visiting Core Formation cultivators had come personally to offer congratulations, and several high-ranking Fu family cultivators were seated alongside them — the scene radiated the warm conviviality of gracious hosts and pleased guests.
Suddenly, a few muffled screams drifted in from outside the hall.
The buzzing chatter inside ceased abruptly.
The guests exchanged uneasy glances, and a number of the sharper cultivators immediately fixed wary gazes on the Fu family members.
"There's no need to panic, everyone. It may be some minor matter. Allow this old man to send someone to investigate, and we'll know soon enough." A blue-robed elder seated beside two Protectors of the Demon Flame Gate spoke in a loud, composed voice, though his expression had shifted momentarily.
This man was a cousin of the Fu family ancestor and the third Core Formation cultivator of the Fu family.
He offered an apology to the two Demon Flame Protectors, then turned to two Fu family disciples behind him and issued a brief instruction. The pair immediately hurried out of the hall.
The two Demon Flame Gate Core Formation cultivators maintained their composure, though they exchanged a glance laced with a trace of suspicion.
Two more screams rang out — unmistakably, the two Fu family cultivators who had just left the hall had met a bloody end.
This time, everyone in the hall heard it crystal clear. Every face in the room changed.
The blue-robed elder's expression turned particularly grim. He drew a deep breath, then suddenly rose to his feet and spoke in a low voice: "Activate the hall's protective formations. Send word to the ancestor at once — quickly!"
A nearby Fu family cultivator, face white as a sheet, obeyed. He drew a voice-transmission talisman from his robes, whispered a few words into it, and hurled it skyward. The talisman transformed into a streak of red light and shot straight through the roof.
But moments later, the cultivator swallowed hard and reported: "It's bad — the voice-transmission talisman was shot down. It seems we've been surrounded."
At these words, not only the blue-robed elder but even the remaining Core Formation guests could no longer sit still.
The pockmarked cultivator of the Demon Flame Gate furrowed his brow and said: "Daoist Fu, it appears your fortress truly has infiltrators. Brother Sun and I will accompany you outside to investigate."
"That would be most appreciated, sir. I am in your debt — please, by all means," the blue-robed elder replied, his heart still pounding. Hearing the pockmarked cultivator's offer, his face broke into visible relief.
The other Demon Flame Gate cultivator, a middle-aged man of unremarkable appearance surnamed Sun, frowned slightly. He seemed to disapprove of his companion's decision but said nothing, rising to his feet alongside him.
As for the remaining three or four Core Formation cultivators among the guests, they exchanged glances but showed no intention of rashly getting involved.
With all three prominent Core Formation cultivators preparing to venture out and investigate, every other cultivator in the hall fell completely silent, watching their every move.
The three advanced at an unhurried pace and drew near the hall's entrance.
But at that very moment, a resonant cry from outside the hall pierced the air — clear and piercing as a dragon's roar. The blue-robed elder and the other two froze, their steps slowing involuntarily.