"Little Fa... is that you?" Ning Zhongyuan, his face weathered and aged, asked Ning Fa with a trembling body.
Ning Fa turned around, looking at these extremely familiar faces. Tears welled up in his eyes again, and he choked out, "It's me, I'm back..."
"Good, good, good! Little Fa, you're finally back!" Ning Zhongyuan's old eyes were streaming with tears, and Ning Zhongjiu's eyes were also red.
The other members of the Ning Family were even more teary-eyed, their excitement and joy overwhelming.
Following this, thunderous cheers erupted.
"Welcome back, Ancestor!"
"Welcome back, Ancestor!"
At this point, the old man with blond hair and the others finally reacted.
The old man with blond hair looked as if he had seen a ghost, and said in disbelief, "You're Ning Fa? How is this possible? Didn't you die long ago! And you're already at the Nascent Soul stage!"
The expressions of the other Wu Family members also changed, and they secretly thought, "This is bad."
After all, as Golden Core Cultivators, they belonged to the same era as Ning Fa. They were also in the Yunhuang Alliance, and the exaggerated battle records and rumors about Ning Fa were deeply imprinted in their minds.
Now, to suddenly see Ning Fa return like a king, and moreover, to have advanced to the Nascent Soul stage, how could they not feel fear?
The old man with blond hair also frowned deeply, thinking to himself how unlucky he was to encounter this god of slaughter on his return.
Then, he felt a sense of relief, thinking how fortunate it was that he hadn't made a killing blow just now, otherwise, it would have been truly troublesome.
Although he had advanced to the Nascent Soul stage hundreds of years ago, he did not dare to underestimate Ning Fa in the slightest.
After all, the past few decades had repeatedly proven that the strength of the experts on the Star Ranking after forming their Nascent Soul was far greater than that of ordinary Nascent Soul Cultivators.
Moreover, Ning Fa was the former number one on the Star Ranking.
The old man with blond hair's thoughts raced. He had already decided that at worst, he would offer an apology. Even if he had to lose some precious resources or his dignity, he would have to accept it.
At the same time, he secretly sent out a Sound Transmission Talisman, quickly asking an old friend from another nearby family to come and help mediate.
At this moment, Ning Fa slightly calmed the surging emotions in his heart and turned around, his expressionless gaze sweeping over the Wu Family members.
His extremely icy gaze sent a chill through the Wu Family members, making them feel uneasy and restless.
The old man with blond hair coughed and forced himself to remain calm, saying, "I didn't expect Fellow Daoist Ning not only didn't perish but has now returned after forming his Nascent Soul. This is truly a joyous occasion, especially for our current Cangyuan.
This old man originally had some minor grievances with your esteemed family, but in consideration of Fellow Daoist Ning's presence, we shall let this matter go."
After speaking, the old man cupped his fists towards Ning Fa and was about to lead the Wu Family members away.
Ning Zhongyuan and Ning Zhongjiu frowned but didn't say much.
Although they could also tell that Ning Fa was now a Nascent Soul Cultivator, in their opinion, Ning Fa must have only recently formed his Nascent Soul, and it was best not to contend with such an established Nascent Soul Cultivator.
But just then, a sound like a thunderclap rang out.
A thick bolt of lightning suddenly struck behind the Wu Family members, startling them all.
Ning Fa looked at the Wu Family cultivators and said expressionlessly, "Did I say you could leave?"
The old man with blond hair turned around, suppressing his anger, "Fellow Daoist Ning, what do you mean? Are you trying to spar with this old man? I would very much like to see what is so extraordinary about you, the former number one on the Star Ranking!"
Although the old man with blond hair spoke toughly, he felt a bit uneasy in his heart.
This was because the killing intent emanating from Ning Fa at this moment was too intense, giving him a sense of fear he hadn't felt in a long time.
Upon hearing this, Ning Fa let out a burst of laughter as if he had heard a joke.
His laughter grew louder and louder, even piercing metal and cracking stone. To the ears of the Wu Family members, it was like bolts of lightning exploding in their Sea of Consciousness.
The Wu Family cultivators' faces immediately turned pale, and they clutched their heads, groaning miserably. Their faces were all deathly pale and contorted.
Even the old man with blond hair was no exception. He sat cross-legged, as if facing a formidable enemy, constantly forming hand seals. Spiritual light radiated from around him, and large beads of sweat dripped from his face.
Before long, the Foundation Establishment stage Wu Family members could no longer endure it.
A Wu Family member first began to bleed from all seven orifices, and then his entire head exploded with a bang, splattering blood and brain matter onto the other Wu Family members.
Following this, a series of popping sounds echoed, and the other dozen or so Foundation Establishment stage Wu Family members also died from exploding heads.
As for the Golden Core stage Wu Family members, their faces were also deathly pale, and they felt as if they were on the brink of death, liable to explode at any moment.
The old man with blond hair looked on in horror, inwardly exclaiming, "This person actually possesses a Divine Soul Attack Secret Technique! And how could such powerful divine soul energy possibly belong to a cultivator in the early Nascent Soul stage!"
Finally, the death-knell-like laughter stopped.
The few Golden Core stage Wu Family members immediately knelt in the air without regard for their appearance, cold sweat pouring down them as if they had just walked through the gates of hell.
Their gazes towards Ning Fa were now as if they were looking at a ghost or a god.
Seeing Ning Fa's divine might unleashed with just a laugh, the Ning Family members were filled with ecstatic joy.
Ning Fa looked coldly at the Wu Family members.
In reality, Ning Fa didn't want to kill them so easily, as that would be letting them off too cheaply.
Otherwise, let alone these Golden Core cultivators, even the Wu Family ancestor at the Nascent Soul stage would have exploded and died under his divine soul attack.
At this moment, Ning Fa slightly raised his head to look in a certain direction, a smile with an unidentifiable meaning appearing on his lips.
He detected several Nascent Soul cultivators rushing towards them in his spiritual sense.
Therefore, Ning Fa had already decided to establish his authority, intending to let this Wu Family ancestor die before their eyes.
At this moment, the old man with golden hair managed to stand up, looking at Ning Fa with a face full of horror, then gritted his teeth and said:
"Fellow Daoist Ning, I came to your clan this time due to unavoidable circumstances. A person from your clan killed my most beloved grandson, which is why I lost my temper and attacked.
However, I dare to swear a Heart Demon Vow that I only intended to teach you a lesson and absolutely had no intention of destroying your clan. Furthermore, I did not cause any casualties among your clan members.
How about this: your clan's protective formation was accidentally destroyed by me. I am willing to compensate with a fourth-tier grand formation.
Additionally, I will add five hundred thousand, no, one million Spirit Stones as an apology. Fellow Daoist Ning, what do you say?"
This old man with golden hair was also quite straightforward. After witnessing Ning Fa's terrifying Divine Soul Attack Secret Technique, he knew he was no match for Ning Fa, even with the Golden Core cultivators of his clan.
Thus, he unashamedly apologized and admitted guilt, hoping Ning Fa would let the matter go.
He didn't dare to mention that Ning Fa had just killed over a dozen Foundation Establishment stage Wu Family members.
The other Golden Core stage Wu Family members didn't blame their ancestor for losing face; instead, they wished their ancestor would increase the compensation several times over so they could leave this place quickly.
However, Ning Fa still looked at the Wu Family members with a cold, expressionless gaze, making them all feel a chill in their hearts.
At this moment, Ning Fa suddenly smiled and said calmly, "Next life, keep your eyes open a bit wider."
One could only say that this Wu Family ancestor was unlucky to have run into Ning Fa at this particular time.
Ning Fa was already like a volcano about to erupt due to the encounters of the Huayu Sect and the Ning Family.
And this Wu Family ancestor, unknowingly, had thrown himself into the path, naturally igniting Ning Fa.
The killing intent in Ning Fa's heart was so strong that even if other great cultivators were present, it would be difficult to stop him.
The old man with golden hair's face changed drastically. Without a word, he opened his mouth and spat out a small golden sword, which shot towards Ning Fa like a blinding golden light.
He then summoned a golden circular alms bowl. Bathed in golden light, it greatly increased his speed as he fled backward.
After experiencing Ning Fa's Divine Soul Attack Secret Technique, this old man with golden hair had no courage to fight Ning Fa. He didn't even care about his own clansmen, only wanting to escape immediately.
Seeing this, the other Golden Core stage Wu Family members were also greatly alarmed and quickly fled in all directions.
Ning Fa's eyes flashed with cold light. He punched out fiercely, directly shattering the golden longsword.
Immediately, a blue light flashed before him, revealing the slender figure of Blue Lightning.
Ning Fa said coldly, "Slay all those Golden Core cultivators, leave none alive!"
Blue Lightning crossed her arms, sharp blue array light surging non-stop. Her bright, delicate face curved slightly, and then she disappeared in a flash of blue light.
Ning Fa also flew forward amidst the sound of wind and thunder. In just a few flashes, he had caught up to the old man with golden hair, who had flown out hundreds of feet.
Golden and silver light flashed wildly, but after only a few breaths, the screams of the old man with golden hair could be heard.
His entire physical body exploded with a boom, and then an infant, about an inch in size, emerged and fled desperately – it was the old man with golden hair's Nascent Soul.
Just as this Nascent Soul was desperately using its Teleportation technique to escape, a silver-white beam of light shot out from Ning Fa's eyes, instantly striking the Nascent Soul out of the void.
A golden lightning net then flew over, immediately covering the Nascent Soul's head and bringing it before Ning Fa.
"Fellow Daoist Ning, show mercy!" A shout suddenly came from afar.
In the blink of an eye, several streams of light arrived, revealing four figures, all of them Nascent Soul cultivators. Moreover, three of them were acquaintances of Ning Fa.
Among them was a peerlessly beautiful woman wearing a moon-white palace dress, looking like an immortal descended to earth. She was Fairy Miaoyin, the Pavilion Master of Tianyin Pavilion.
Another was a young man with a clear and handsome appearance, wearing a white robe. He was True Lord Yun Jing, a Nascent Soul elder from the Golden Rainbow Sect.
Another was an old man wearing a dark brocade robe with graying temples. He was the Grand Elder Tianfu, True Lord Tianfu, of the Spirit Talisman Sect.
The last one was an old man with a ruddy complexion and sharp eyes. This old man was surprisingly at the Mid Nascent Soul stage, and he was the one who had shouted earlier.
These four Nascent Soul cultivators looked at Ning Fa with expressions of shock and horror, and even the usually dignified Fairy Miaoyin was no exception.
They had all been in Tianyu City and rushed here in a hurry after receiving news of Ning Fa's return.
Before this, they were already shocked that Ning Fa had not perished and had returned after forming his Nascent Soul.
And now, on their way here, they had observed Ning Fa's actions from afar with their spiritual sense.
Upon seeing that Ning Fa had, in just a few moves, defeated the Wu Family ancestor, also a Nascent Soul cultivator, causing his physical body to collapse and forcing his Nascent Soul to flee.
The key point was that the Wu Family ancestor's Nascent Soul couldn't escape even with Teleportation, yet it was captured.
This truly shocked them and filled them with great horror.
After all, apart from the old man in gray at the Mid Nascent Soul stage, the others believed that even if they could defeat the Wu Family ancestor, it wouldn't be a quick victory, and they certainly wouldn't be able to prevent his escape.
Yet, this person was so easily captured by Ning Fa, a newly advanced Nascent Soul cultivator, which clearly indicated that if it were them, the outcome would be the same?
True Lord Yun Jing, Fairy Miaoyin, and True Lord Tianfu looked at Ning Fa, their eyes filled not only with shock but also with disbelief.
After all, Ning Fa had interacted with them several times before. Back then, he was only a Golden Core cultivator. They never expected that after such a short time, he would be so powerful upon their reunion.
The old man in gray looked deeply at Ning Fa and shouted again, "Fellow Daoist Ning, I am Elder Xu Jinghe of the He Yi Gate. I implore Fellow Daoist Ning to calm down.
Fellow Daoist Wu is, after all, a Nascent Soul cultivator and an important force in resisting external enemies. Please spare his life.
Of course, Fellow Daoist Wu must provide compensation that satisfies Fellow Daoist Ning. Fellow Daoist Wu, you should have no problem with this, right?"
The golden-haired elder's Nascent Soul, trapped by the golden lightning net, quickly shouted in a shrill voice, "This old man is willing to offer five million spirit stones as an apology. Furthermore, Daoist Ning can pick anything he desires from my storage ring. I can even make a Heart Demon Vow, vowing never to seek revenge again!"
To save his life, the golden-haired elder's Nascent Soul spared no effort.
At this moment, Ning Fa scanned the Nascent Soul cultivators present and chuckled.
With a mere thought, the golden lightning net expanded. The golden-haired elder's Nascent Soul, as if granted a great pardon, retreated rapidly. He wiped a cold sweat from his forehead, a venomous glint flashing in his eyes.
Xu Jinghe, Yun Jing, Fairy Miaoyin, and the others also couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. A peaceful resolution was naturally the best outcome.
But just then, Fairy Miaoyin's starry eyes widened as she looked at Ning Fa.
She sensed Ning Fa's intense killing intent.
Without turning his head, Ning Fa extended his right hand and then clenched it suddenly.
The fleeing golden-haired elder's Nascent Soul, as if under immense pressure, found itself unable to move for a moment.
Just as a look of terror appeared on his face, a fist of silver lightning suddenly materialized behind him and struck with great force.
Amidst the violent lightning, the golden-haired elder's Nascent Soul vanished without a trace.