A Name That Silences a Hall

Just as the Fu Family Ancestor thought he had escaped the Fu Family Fort's perimeter, a soft, coquettish woman's voice sounded directly in his ear.

"Sir, your earth escape is far too slow. Why not hand your head to me, so this little girl can bring it back to our master and be done with it?"

The Fu Family Ancestor's heart jolted with alarm. His figure hesitated for a moment. But a white blur flashed before his eyes, and a bewitchingly beautiful young woman appeared as if from nowhere.

She stood less than a few feet away, smiling sweetly, face to face with him.

"You—"

Before he could utter more than a single word of shock, the woman parted her cherry-red lips. A puff of pink, fragrant mist shot from her mouth, instantly enveloping the caught-off-guard Fu Family Ancestor.

The old ancestor knew this was bad. He urgently tried to cast a spell to retreat. But as the sweet scent entered his nose and mouth, his body went limp, and he toppled over. His protective treasure light had been utterly useless. He lost consciousness before he even knew what hit him.

Silvermoon glanced at the unconscious prey before her. A faint smile crossed her jade-like face. She casually waved a hand downward. A crescent-shaped white blade shot forth and severed his head.

Blood splattered everywhere.

…

Inside the Fu Family Fort's main hall, several hundred guests were engaged in lively conversation. The few Core Formation cultivators who had come personally to offer congratulations were being entertained by Fu Family members of higher standing. The atmosphere was one of perfect harmony between host and guest.

Suddenly, faint screams echoed from outside the hall.

The buzzing chatter within the hall came to an abrupt halt.

The guests exchanged uneasy glances. Some of the more quick-witted cultivators immediately turned to watch the Fu Family members with wary expressions.

"Everyone, do not panic. It is likely a minor matter. I will send someone to investigate," said a blue-robed elder sitting near the two protectors of the Devil Flame Sect. His expression had shifted slightly, but he quickly regained his composure and spoke in a loud voice.

This man was a cousin of the Fu Family Ancestor, and the Fu Family's third Core Formation cultivator.

He offered a brief apology to the two Devil Flame Sect protectors, then turned and gave instructions to two Fu Family disciples standing behind him.

The two disciples immediately hurried toward the hall's entrance.

The two Devil Flame Sect Core Formation cultivators kept their expressions neutral, but they exchanged a glance of slight suspicion.

Two more screams rang out. It was clear that the two Fu Family disciples who had just stepped outside had met with misfortune.

This time, every guest in the hall heard it clearly. Everyone's expression changed.

The blue-robed elder's face grew especially ugly. He took a deep breath, then suddenly stood up and spoke in a heavy voice:

"Activate the hall's restrictions. Send word to the Ancestor at once."

A nearby Fu Family disciple, his face pale, acknowledged the order. He pulled a transmission talisman from his robes, muttered a few words into it, and tossed it into the air.

The talisman transformed into a streak of red light that shot directly through the roof. But a moment later, the disciple swallowed dryly and said:

"Not good. The transmission talisman was shot down. It seems we are surrounded."

Hearing this, even the Core Formation guests could no longer remain seated—let alone the blue-robed elder.

The pockmarked cultivator from the Devil Flame Sect frowned and spoke:

"Fellow Daoist Fu, it seems there really are enemies who have infiltrated the fort. I and Brother Sun will accompany you outside to have a look."

"I am deeply grateful for your willingness to help. I am in your debt, Fellow Daoists." The blue-robed elder, whose heart had been pounding with anxiety, broke into a broad smile of relief at the pockmarked cultivator's words.

The other Devil Flame Sect cultivator, a plain-looking middle-aged man named Sun, furrowed his brow. He seemed to disapprove of his companion's eagerness, but said nothing as he stood up along with him.

As for the remaining three or four Core Formation cultivators among the guests, they exchanged glances but made no move to join in.

Seeing three Core Formation cultivators preparing to step out together, the other guests fell silent, watching their every move.

The three men approached the hall's entrance with deliberate calm.

But just then, a clear, dragon-like chime rang out from beyond the hall. The blue-robed elder and his two companions paused in surprise, their steps slowing for an instant.

In that split second, a azure rainbow over thirty meters long swept in from outside like a flying immortal descending from the heavens. It curled lightly around the three men, then dozens of smaller azure beams burst forth from the rainbow, dazzling and blinding. The cultivators in the hall instinctively blinked.

In that instant, the azure rainbow completed a single loop and flew back out of the hall.

The blue-robed elder and the two Devil Flame Sect protectors stopped in their tracks. They stood motionless with their backs to the crowd, as if frozen in shock.

The other cultivators in the hall exchanged bewildered glances, uncertain what had just happened.

Suddenly, a shrill scream erupted from a female cultivator. Everyone's gaze instinctively followed hers.

The woman was deathly pale. Beside her sat a Fu Family steward. His head had rolled from his neck at some unknown moment. Only a headless corpse remained seated there, blood spurting three feet into the air from the severed neck.

Only then did the other cultivators realize that over a dozen Fu Family members—stewards and disciples alike—had all lost their heads. They had died silently, without a sound.

"That azure light! Someone attacked with a treasure using that azure light! Fellow Daoist Fu, you—" A cultivator who was on good terms with the Fu Family reacted quickly. He shouted in alarm and anger, intending to warn the blue-robed elder and his two companions at the entrance. But his words died halfway, and his face turned ashen.

Because the three men, their backs still to the crowd, had suddenly fallen apart like paper dolls. Their bodies split into pieces, turning into three heaps of shredded flesh. They had been killed by that azure rainbow.

Seeing this, every guest present involuntarily gasped.

If they had managed to keep their composure until now, this sight thoroughly shattered their nerves.

Multicolored protective barriers flickered to life around several hundred cultivators. Oddly shaped defensive artifacts of every description materialized beside them.

Those who were acquainted or from the same sect gathered together nervously, fear written plainly on their faces.

A being capable of instantly killing three Core Formation cultivators and over a dozen Fu Family disciples—by anyone's reckoning, a terrifying existence. Most likely, a Nascent Soul cultivator had made a move.

And if a Nascent Soul cultivator truly had made a move, wiping out everyone in this hall would be a matter of trivial ease.

The more these people thought, the more terrified they became. Strangely, the hall itself fell into dead silence. Many regretted ever coming to congratulate the Fu Family. This was nothing more than being caught in the crossfire when the city gates caught fire!

A few of the more perceptive Core Formation cultivators wanted to secretly extend their divine sense to probe the situation outside.

But the Fu Family, fearing that guests might spy on the fort's secrets, had erected divine-sense-isolating restrictions around the hall. Their senses could not penetrate beyond the walls at all. These cultivators, already inwardly cursing their luck, now added bitter curses for the Fu Family as well.

Just as the guests were at their most unsettled, an unfamiliar male voice sounded from outside the hall.

"From this moment on, no one is to leave this hall for one hour. Anyone who does so will be killed without mercy. After one hour, you may come and go as you please."

The man's voice was simple and ice-cold, carrying an indescribable murderous aura that sent a chill through anyone who heard it.

But as these words reached the hall, the gathered cultivators let out a collective sigh of relief.

The speaker's tone did not suggest he intended to silence them all. They counted themselves lucky.

Still, they understood clearly. He was letting them go mostly because they had not seen his true face. Hence, even without the threat, none of them would have dared to leave.

As for avenging the Fu Family? That was a joke.

Even if they had the ability, who would make an enemy of a Nascent Soul cultivator for a mere Fu Family?

One hour—neither long nor short.

During that time, aside from the faintest whispers, the only sounds were the occasional screams of death from outside. The screams were short and urgent, ending in an instant.

Someone was slaughtering everyone in the Fu Family Fort, and not a single person could put up any resistance.

Hearing this, the cultivators inside grew even more uneasy. They all silently wondered what sort of powerful figure or great power the Fu Family had offended to invite such a complete massacre. Some felt a pang of sympathy for the fallen, while others secretly gloated.

After only the time it took to drink a cup of tea, the screams from the Fu Family Fort finally ceased. Outside became as silent as the hall.

The cultivators exchanged glances, but still, no one dared to make a move.

After a full hour had passed, the warning male voice did not reappear. Finally, a Core Formation cultivator worked up the courage to step out of the hall first. He emerged unscathed.

Seeing this, the other guests finally felt safe enough to pour out of the hall.