At this moment, the Nascent Soul Middle Stage female cultivator saw this scene involving Ding Fan, and couldn't help but feel utterly shocked. Apparently, she never expected that the opponent's cultivator could be this powerful. Just one Wind Blade blew away Senior Brother Fang's large blade and injured him as well. This was simply unbelievable!

The Early Nascent Soul Stage female cultivator felt a very ominous premonition, but it seemed that saying anything now was already too late. She couldn't help but feel some regret; given that the two opponents were so formidable, she should have just avoided them. How did she end up entangled with them?

At this moment, the two boys and girls who saw Ding Fan in action couldn't help but feel extremely shocked. Clearly, they never thought that the good guy would be this powerful. Instantly, the two children's hearts lightened up, evidently thinking that such an outcome was indeed the best thing. This way, their rescue seemed very likely.

He Qianyao watched Ding Fan's actions, and couldn't help but have her heart finally settle down. Clearly, Ding Fan did not let her down. Indeed, that Nascent Soul Middle Stage cultivator was easily dealt with by Ding Fan.

At this moment, with a smile on her face, He Qianyao looked at the two opponents in front. She was curious about their thoughts upon seeing Ding Fan's feat. Clearly, He Qianyao realized the opponents had gone silent, with a serious expression on their faces, filled with extreme worry.

Ding Fan looked at the shocked and bewildered man and cracked a disdainful smile. Then, another Wind Blade swiftly slashed towards the opponent's head.

Thud...

Ding Fan's Wind Blade was exceptionally fierce, with immense power. At this moment, the man saw the Wind Blade approaching him and quickly mobilized True Qi to protect himself. But against Ding Fan's Wind Blade, it was utterly useless—the Wind Blade sliced through the True Qi barrier and slashed at the opponent's head, striking him down. Blood spurted out as the man was dead beyond any doubt.

To Ding Fan, he had already given them chances before. But since they seemingly didn't want them, they couldn't blame him. Ding Fan understood well that in the Cultivation World, if you weren't decisive, you would face endless troubles later. This was something Ding Fan understood perfectly.

Thus, when Ding Fan decided to make a move, he was already committed to killing. Furthermore, Ding Fan understood that if he did not kill the opponent, then the opponent would kill him. This was very clear. The result was due to Ding Fan's superior strength; if the opponent had been stronger, then Ding Fan and his companions would have been the ones dead.

Therefore, in consideration of all aspects, Ding Fan had to make sure to kill the opponent.

At this point, the Early Nascent Soul Stage female cultivator looked thoroughly dumbfounded. She fully understood she had encountered a master. The man used to kill Senior Brother Fang without even a blink or furrow in his brow, clearly suggesting it was effortless for him. Meanwhile, the female cultivator felt deeply pained and angry over Senior Brother Fang's death. Senior Brother Fang was her beloved man, and his brutal death was unbearable for anyone.

Immediately, the female took out an Array Talisman from her bosom and flung it directly at Ding Fan, then quickly started to escape to another location. Clearly, she knew that since Senior Brother Fang was dead, she would be next if she didn't flee. However, before leaving, she wanted to avenge Senior Brother Fang, so she tossed out a Talisman her father had given her. It was an extremely formidable Killing Formation. Even cultivators at the Emergence Stage would die without a doubt if caught in it! Yet, she was still worried that the opponent might escape, so she chose to flee promptly.

Also, the female's actions were partly to avenge Senior Brother Fang and partly to buy herself time to escape. This indeed seemed to be a wise choice.

However, this seemingly wise choice encountered Ding Fan, making it evidently less wise. At this moment, Ding Fan saw the female attempt to escape and immediately launched a Wind Blade, sending it flying at her. Though Ding Fan was caught in the formation she had thrown, Ding Fan knew very well that as an Early Nascent Soul Stage cultivator, she absolutely could not defend against his Wind Blade.

As Ding Fan had anticipated, the Wind Blade directly sliced that Early Nascent Soul Stage female cultivator in half. But before dying, the female saw Ding Fan was already trapped in the formation, and she couldn't help but reveal a smug smile on the corners of her mouth.

Clearly, she believed that even if she died, Ding Fan would also be doomed! Immediately, the Early Nascent Soul Stage female cultivator collapsed, dead beyond any doubt.

At this moment, He Qianyao saw Ding Fan trapped in the formation and couldn't help but feel extremely worried. She knew a little about that formation, evidently not a simple one—it was at least a Four Stars formation. Such a formation would spell death even for Emergence Stage cultivators, let alone Ding Fan, who was just a Late Nascent Soul Stage cultivator. Instantly, He Qianyao felt deeply concerned for Ding Fan, wanting to rush forward to help him, but was stopped by Ding Fan.

"Don't come over, it's very dangerous here!"

At this moment, Ding Fan's words clearly carried a heavy tone, and his voice allowed no room for doubt. Upon hearing Ding Fan's words, He Qianyao couldn't help but stop in her tracks. She could feel the seriousness in Ding Fan's heart. Obviously, this formation was quite dangerous for Ding Fan, leaving He Qianyao at a loss for what to do.

Seeing He Qianyao stop and not approach, Ding Fan felt somewhat relieved. For Ding Fan, it was essential to ensure He Qianyao's safety. However, after he spoke, the scene before him suddenly changed, no longer the forest where Ding Fan had been standing. Ding Fan immediately understood this was due to an illusion. Still worried, he called out to the outside:

"Don't come over, first go rescue those two kids!"

After Ding Fan finished speaking, he didn't know that He Qianyao outside the formation couldn't hear his words. At this time, He Qianyao saw the formation Ding Fan was in form a pale yellow circle that completely enveloped him.

Seeing this, He Qianyao was extremely anxious, but she understood that Ding Fan didn't allow her to get closer because the formation was definitely not a simple one. Also, He Qianyao was aware that the formation was quite complex, and with her early Nascent Soul Stage cultivation, she wouldn't be of much help to Ding Fan. Her anxiety only grew.

Immediately, He Qianyao went to untie the ropes on the boy and girl. The two children, upon seeing what was happening to Ding Fan, felt a pang of heartache, even at their young age, understanding that Ding Fan was trapped in the formation because he came to save them. Moreover, they could tell that the formation was far from simple.

They knew very well in their hearts that this formation was definitely not a simple existence, and clearly, the brother who had rescued them was in great danger.

At this time, He Qianyao watched Ding Fan within the formation as it gradually grew more blurry, so much so that she couldn't see Ding Fan's figure anymore, leaving her extremely anxious but helpless. Meanwhile, He Qianyao continuously observed the formation, hoping to find a flaw to save Ding Fan, but after searching, she found nothing, feeling disheartened, her heart tightly tied up with worry for Ding Fan.

...

All around Ding Fan was a barren landscape, with only scattered stones on the ground, not even a single blade of grass. Ding Fan carefully observed his surroundings, knowing full well that this must be the illusion from the formation. He was somewhat surprised by its power, realizing that the Early Nascent Soul Stage woman must not be as simple as she seemed.

Ding Fan wasn't overly concerned about having killed her; instead, he felt quite fortunate. He knew that if the woman had a complex background, he had eliminated potential future troubles by slaying her.

As Ding Fan was momentarily distracted, countless flying sand wind blades suddenly appeared in the sky. These wind blades were made entirely of sand and rocks, possessing immense power. Ding Fan understood that these wind blades were even stronger than his own and that the consequences would be dire if he got hit.

Despite feeling tense, Ding Fan remained calm, cautiously observing while drawing his flying sword and slashing at the approaching wind blades. Although the wind blades were formidable, they weren't invincible, especially since Ding Fan's flying sword was forged from divine iron, a powerful existence. With a single swing, the wind blades crumbled into dust.

Ding Fan continually swung his flying sword, shattering the wind blades into granular sand that scattered around him. He found himself in a desert-like space surrounded by sand and rocks.

Even though Ding Fan's flying sword could shatter the fierce sand wind blades, their sheer number was overwhelming, making defense impossible for him alone. However, thanks to the fist technique adapted from the stele, Ding Fan continually shifted his form, carefully dodging the sand wind blades while his flying sword danced in his hand.

Despite this, small cuts from the sand wind blades appeared on Ding Fan's body. Though not life-threatening, the pain of sand entering his flesh was quite unbearable. Ding Fan gritted his teeth, striving to maintain his composure while his eyes constantly searched for the formation's core. He knew this formation's deadliest aspect was lulling one into merely dodging the wind blades, which, if a cultivator succumbed to, would exhaust even those with the highest cultivation.

Ding Fan did his utmost to dodge the wind blades, all the while searching for the formation's core. Although he hadn't found it yet, his movement technique had significantly improved during this time, which was a small joy amid hardship. Never before had Ding Fan encountered such a relentless and intense attack range, leaving no room to dodge nor defense to uphold.

Yet, in such a harsh environment, Ding Fan deepened his understanding of the fist technique from the stele, gaining profound insight into the movement and footwork transformed from that fist technique, making notable progress.