The pressure between Chen Fan and Elder Gu clashed.
Behind Elder Gu, the Gu family powerhouses rose, their faces solemn as they looked at Chen Fan.
And behind Chen Fan, Long Ling stood with An An and the others.
The atmosphere grew increasingly solemn.
The killing intent intensified.
"Hahaha."
Suddenly, Chen Fan's laughter broke the heavy atmosphere.
The laugh was abrupt, yet it quickly dissolved the tense air. He said, "I've heard that the Gu family is among the top-tier powers in the Central Continent. Truly, you live up to your reputation."
"Heh heh."
Elder Gu's laugh was somewhat strained. "Little... You flatter me."
He ultimately couldn't say the two words "little Chen."
Chen Fan continued with a smile, "Does Elder Gu think it's appropriate for me, Chen Fan, to be the City Lord of Freedom City?"
"..."
Silence.
Elder Gu did not respond immediately. He looked grimly at the other factions.
Seeing that the others remained passive, he forced a smile onto his stiff face. "This is an internal affair of Freedom City. Although I am a few years older than you, I will not presume to make decisions for others."
He conceded.
Elder Gu actually conceded.
This was something no one had expected.
Who was Elder Gu?
He was the younger brother of the Gu family patriarch, a top-tier power in the Central Continent.
He had come precisely to seize Chen Fan's position as City Lord.
And now, he had taken a step back.
Looking at the other factions that chose to remain silent, everyone understood.
Elder Gu could be the first to step forward, but he would not always be the one at the forefront.
It was time for other factions to make their move.
Chen Fan also saw this.
After Elder Gu sat down, he smiled and looked at the other top-tier factions.
There were more than ten top-tier factions seated at the front.
His gaze swept across them one by one...
"Chen Fan."
Someone still stepped forward.
The speaker had a pair of invisible wings growing behind him, which fluttered gently.
"The Demon race?"
Chen Fan raised an eyebrow and smiled. "The Immortal Realm truly accepts all, with humans and demons coexisting. That is acceptable."
He then added, "Do you have something to say?"
"Naturally."
The speaker was a woman, her wings behind her gently fanning. "I want to ask you, are you truly prepared to succeed as the City Lord of Freedom City?"
"No."
To everyone's surprise, Chen Fan denied it.
But then he added, "Originally, I didn't want to be this City Lord and planned to give it up.
But I am a person who never succumbs to coercion. The more people don't want me to be the City Lord, the more I will insist on it. Aren't you angry?"
His tone was slightly flippant.
But others heard the provocative undertone in Chen Fan's voice.
Yes, it was a provocation.
You disagree?
Come on...
"Heh heh."
The woman smiled. "Do you think you have the ability to challenge all the factions present?"
"No."
Chen Fan was well aware of this.
He was strong, confident that he had no equal among the Emperor realm.
But the enemies before him were too numerous.
A mere glance revealed titled Emperors.
If so many people were to gang up on him, even with five divine artifacts, the outcome would not be pleasant.
However, he was fearless.
Chen Fan said again, "Whoever wants to fight, then fight. But today, you'd better pray that you can kill me. Otherwise, I will retaliate one by one."
I am petty, and I'm laying my cards on the table.
His tone was icy, making everyone tremble.
No one could ignore the threat of a titled Emperor.
"So, is there anything else?" Chen Fan asked her again.
"..."
Silence.
After a period of silence, he spoke again. "The former City Lord ascended the throne after a bloody battle. Since you intend to be the City Lord, you must not fear any challenge, correct?"
"I don't want to resort to force."
Chen Fan made it clear. "But if someone is seeking death, I wouldn't mind giving it a try."
"Besides, whether I can succeed as the City Lord is not something you can dictate. Friends in the shadows, are you not coming out yet?"
Having said that, Chen Fan's gaze turned towards a certain point in the void.
The moment his voice fell, space began to twist.
A foot stepped out of the distorted space, and then... a hunched figure emerged.
This person wore a rain cape, a bamboo hat, and was bent over, holding a fishing rod. A lantern hung from the rod.
"Hiss."
The moment this person appeared, gasps of astonishment erupted from the surroundings.
Chen Fan's pupils also contracted.
This person was incredibly strong.
He sensed a dangerous aura emanating from this individual.
Long Ling's voice chimed in behind him at the opportune moment. "The Angler. He once competed with my master for the position of City Lord and lost. Then he disappeared. I didn't expect him to return."
Indeed, he was a powerful being.
How strong was he to have fought with Yi Fu, who could slay Heavenly Emperors, and survive?
Just by looking, Chen Fan couldn't discern the depths of his power, but he sensed an extremely dangerous aura from him.
This person was extremely dangerous.
Drops of water slid off the Angler's body, as if he had just returned from fishing in a stormy sea.
He lowered his head, standing motionlessly in the void.
"There's someone else."
Chen Fan's voice grew more solemn.
It wasn't just the Angler.
"Ah..."
A yawn was heard.
From the crowd below, a sudden commotion arose. A plump figure slowly approached, yawning continuously. "I really didn't want to come, but since all my old friends are here, it wouldn't be right if I didn't. Alas... really, disturbing my sleep."
A bald head, monk robes, and prayer beads.
The newcomer was actually a monk.
"Whoosh."
This time, Long Ling didn't need to explain.
The rioting crowd had already provided the answer: "Monk Meng."
"He's actually awake? Chen Fan is finished..."
"This brutal killer..."
Monk Meng slept every day.
Even when he wasn't sleeping, he always looked half-asleep.
"Did this person also fight with City Lord Yi Fu?" Chen Fan asked Long Ling.
"No," Long Ling shook her head.
"Oh, that's good..."
Chen Fan breathed a sigh of relief, thinking he was starting to get a psychological complex.
But Long Ling's next sentence made Chen Fan's gaze turn grim. "My master once said that if you see Monk Meng, never try to fight him. Running is the wisest course of action."
Chen Fan: "..."
Good heavens, both of them had immense backgrounds.
"Is there anyone else?" Long Ling was already nervous.
She was confident she could deal with the others, but these two... with the methods left by her master, she wasn't sure she could handle them.
These two were truly extraordinary individuals.
They were beings whose names alone inspired fear from the depths of one's heart.
"I don't know."
Chen Fan also gave them an ambiguous answer.
Little brats, trying to scare me? I'll give you an ambiguous answer too.
This was too infuriating.
Long Ling: "..."
"Never mind."
Chen Fan had made up his mind. He licked his lips and cupped his fists towards the Angler and Monk Meng. "Are you two seniors also here to contend for the position of City Lord?"
The Angler remained as still as a corpse, not uttering a word.
Monk Meng, however, chuckled and said, "I'm purely here to watch the fun. City Lord Chen can pretend I don't exist."
Monk Meng was the only outsider who addressed him as City Lord.