Just as the great saber was about to fall on Lan Tianxiong's neck.
Whoosh!
A terrifying sound of wind breaking came from outside the great hall.
Immediately, everyone's vision flashed, and they only saw a gleaming object, like a hidden weapon, smashing fiercely onto the head of the black-faced burly man at the peak of the Qi Refining realm.
"Ah!"
The black-faced man let out a scream of agony, his head splitting open, and his body was sent flying backward by a powerful impact. He twitched twice on the ground before letting out his last breath.
Everyone was shocked by the sudden turn of events.
They couldn't help but exchange glances, stunned into silence.
What in the world was going on?
This black-faced man was, after all, a strong cultivator at the peak of the Qi Refining realm, and he had died so silently...
"What a powerful hidden weapon!"
Someone gasped, taking a sharp breath.
To be able to kill a peak Qi Refining realm cultivator so easily, without even giving the black-faced man time to react, the attacker of this hidden weapon clearly possessed strength far exceeding that of the black-faced man. They were likely a powerful expert in the Profound Gang realm!
"Hidden weapon, your mother! It's Tian Gou! It's Tian Gou's head!"
Upon seeing the appearance of the so-called "hidden weapon," someone's body trembled, and they cursed loudly.
This immediately drew everyone's attention, and they couldn't help but look down at the ground.
They saw a bald head rolling on the ground. Due to the immense force when it collided with the black-faced man's head, it was bloody and mangled, almost exploding into fragments.
However, the gleaming bald head was easily recognizable.
Besides Tian Gou, who else had such a shiny, oiled bald head?
"Bad news, boss, Tian Gou has been killed!"
"How could this be? Tian Gou was at the peak of the early Profound Gang realm. With his strength, who here besides you could have killed Tian Gou?"
"Damn it, does the Lan family still have a hidden Profound Gang realm expert? Could the Lan family have a mid-stage Profound Gang realm cultivator!"
A group of bandits immediately became vigilant.
They all stood up, radiating murderous intent, and their sabers, spears, swords, and halberds were all ready for battle.
Liang Hutou's single eye shot out a fierce glare, fixed on the outside of the great hall.
As the atmosphere became tense.
A young, slender figure slowly strode into the great hall.
Behind him, Lan Xueyi, Lan Junjie, and some of the younger disciples of the Lan family had returned.
"It's him! Ling Fan!"
"It really is him."
"Could Tian Gou have been killed by him?"
"He actually didn't run, and he brought back so many of the younger generation of the Lan family! Is he here to die? Or does he think he can contend with Liang Hutou!"
Upon seeing Ling Fan, the powerful cultivators from the various families in Jiangnan City were stunned and exclaimed.
"Xiao Fan, you... Ai ya, why did you come back!"
Lan Tianxiong exclaimed with a greatly changed expression.
If he hadn't been bound by heavy chains, he would have immediately gotten up to drive Ling Fan away.
Li Huimei, without even bothering to wipe the blood flowing into her eyes from her forehead, shouted, "Xiao Fan, quickly take Xueyi and the others and leave, hurry, or it will be too late! As long as you are good to Xueyi in the future, I will die with no regrets!"
All the Lan family members were also anxious, and they all shouted, "Nephew-in-law, you shouldn't have come! This Liang Hutou is a late-stage Profound Gang realm expert, you are no match for him, hurry and go!"
Among the many guests from Jiangnan City, Wu Tong and Tan Tianyang exchanged glances, their eyes filled with immense joy.
They had originally been worried that Ling Fan would escape this calamity.
But they never expected Ling Fan to be so arrogant, knowing that the top expert Liang Hutou, a late-stage Profound Gang realm cultivator, was here, yet he dared to come and court death!
"Hmph, I didn't expect Tian Gou to be killed by such a young boy like you... truly a useless piece of trash."
Liang Hutou snorted coldly, "But since you've come, none of you are leaving!"
Ling Fan smiled faintly, "Leave? This Lan Family Fortress is my home. Isn't it natural for me to return to my own home? Why should I leave?"
Liang Hutou was stunned for a moment and said, "Aren't you afraid of death? Let me tell you, this Lan Family Fortress and the fire crystal mine now all belong to me, the Mountain Master. I originally wanted to take your father-in-law as a slave to serve me, but he was ignorant of the times, so I was preparing to kill him!"
"Now that you have killed Tian Gou, causing me to lose a Profound Gang realm subordinate for nothing, this debt must be settled with you!"
"How about this, I, the Mountain Master, also appreciate talent. As long as you agree to become my servant and serve me for life, I will spare the lives of everyone in the Lan family. What do you think of this deal?"
Liang Hutou leaned back in his grand tutor's chair, his demeanor calm and in control of the situation.
The powerful cultivators from the various families in Jiangnan City beside him were slightly surprised.
They hadn't expected Liang Hutou to not intend to kill Ling Fan, but instead wanted to take Ling Fan for his own use.
Many of them immediately became anxious.
If Liang Hutou truly spared Ling Fan, with Ling Fan's terrifying talent, it was likely that within ten years, or even a few years, Ling Fan's strength would become so strong that it would be completely out of control.
At that time, with Ling Fan's vengeful and unforgiving nature, he would definitely settle the score for today's grievances.
These families from Jiangnan City had defected and sided with Liang Hutou. If Ling Fan didn't settle accounts with them, it would be a miracle.
Moreover, even without these past grievances, they did not want to see Ling Fan alive.
Because Ling Fan's talent was too strong, posing too great a threat to the various families and forces in Jiangnan City.
Tan Tianyang said, "Mountain Master Liang, this is absolutely not permissible! This Ling Fan is extremely vengeful. If you spare his life today, you will surely suffer retaliation in the future!"
Wu Tong's eyes shot out venomous light. She was the one present who most wished for Ling Fan to die. With malicious intent, she said, "Mountain Master Liang, you must cut the weeds and remove the roots! This Ling Fan cannot be kept."
"Mountain Master Liang, we can understand your appreciation for talent, but this Ling Fan's talent is too monstrous. Moreover, this person is arrogant and has great ambitions, and no one can control him!"
"Mountain Master Liang, please think twice. Keeping this person is not only a threat to yourself but also a great threat to us families in Jiangnan City. With him around, our Jiangnan City will never have peace."
The cultivators from Jiangnan City spoke one after another.
Even Li Qi, the Profound Gang realm commander from the City Lord's mansion, said, "Mountain Master Liang, eradicate evil completely and do not leave any hidden dangers. This is also the intention of our City Lord."
If others said it, it would be fine, but Li Qi's words represented the will of the City Lord's mansion, which even Liang Hutou had to take seriously.
He nodded.
He turned to Ling Fan and sneered, "I didn't expect you to have so many enemies in Jiangnan City. That's right, your existence has threatened their interests and positions. No wonder they all wish you were dead."
Ling Fan didn't care and casually flicked his finger, saying, "They are just a bunch of fickle opportunists. When they witness my true strength, they will know that in front of me, they are just a bunch of ants, a speck of dust. By then, they will not dare to have any ulterior motives towards me, and will only forever revere me."