The luxurious mansion had no opulent furnishings on its top floor, instead resembling a more primitive setting.
Lush green decor was interspersed with numerous plants.
Alongside them were many ancient stones, bones, weapons, and other artifacts.
Upon entering, one could detect an aura of antiquity.
A rusty iron sword, merely a glance at which conveyed a sense of fierce malevolence.
This sword was a weapon of ill omen.
There was also a remarkably complete skeleton, its origin unknown, but faintly, Chen Fan sensed a trace of a soul.
Lady Howard walked to the complete beast skeleton and gently caressed it, saying, "This was found in an ancient cave beneath the southern sea. This beast seemed not entirely dead, and one wonders if it might have a chance to revive."
"Hoo."
Chen Fan inhaled.
Indeed, established powers with a certain history possessed their trump cards.
Lady Howard then moved to the rusty sword Chen Fan had first seen and spoke, "This sword has been corroded by time, also found in the sea. It seals an extremely ferocious aura within, perhaps... it will have a day to unleash its ferocity again."
Chen Fan nodded, "One more chance to unleash, then it will fade into oblivion."
"Yes."
Lady Howard was quite talkative, introducing her treasures one by one.
Under Chen Fan's gaze, she approached a stone tablet and spoke again, "This stone tablet shares the same origin as the one belonging to Legion Commander Geli. We obtained two of them that day, Geli has one, and I have the other."
Chen Fan was overjoyed.
"The Eight Generals of the Ancient Demons."
Lady Howard's eyes revealed a look of longing. "The Beast Legion excels at taming beasts, but unfortunately, such existences are beyond our reach."
She spoke the truth, her tone tinged with regret.
All beast tamers yearned for ancient and powerful beings.
The strength of a beast tamer was half dependent on their beasts.
"City Lord Chen."
Lady Howard finally came back to her senses, looking at him and smiling, "I know the purpose of your visit. I'd like to know, where did you learn of the Eight Generals of the Ancient Demons?"
She was very curious.
"..."
Chen Fan hesitated for a moment.
Then he replied, "I am searching for something. The White Bone Forest, one of the Eight Generals of the Ancient Demons, might know its whereabouts."
"White Bone Forest?"
Lady Howard spun around abruptly, her gaze fixed intensely on Chen Fan, "You actually know the names of the Eight Generals of the Ancient Demons?"
"Fire Demon told me," Chen Fan did not conceal it.
Hearing this, Lady Howard understood.
She then sighed, "It's a pity. I have searched for many years without finding a single true ancient beast. City Lord, you are fortunate to have the Fire Demon's loyalty."
"You are mistaken."
Chen Fan refuted, "Between the Fire Demon and me, it is not a relationship of loyalty."
"Ah..."
Lady Howard seemed not to have heard his words, sitting down on a sofa by the wall, lounging languidly.
Lady Howard possessed an excellent figure, the kind that captivated a man's gaze instantly.
Even Chen Fan couldn't help but look a few more times.
"Heh heh."
Sensing his gaze, Lady Howard's movements became more alluring.
Her fiery expression, her watery eyes, seemed to shimmer like autumn water with every gentle blink.
"City Lord Chen."
Lady Howard smiled enchantingly, her eyes captivating. "Have you ever considered forming an alliance?"
"What?" Chen Fan snapped back to attention.
"An alliance."
Lady Howard repeated with a charming laugh, "Currently, Dameria Continent is dominated by four great powers. The Dark Church and the Skeleton Society are like grasshoppers tied to the same rope. If you and I form an alliance, we will not have to fear them."
Before he could fully process it, she continued, "Neither the Angelic Holy See nor the Dark Church are good people; both harbor ambitions of world domination."
"And you?"
Chen Fan suddenly asked, "Does Madam not harbor the ambition to dominate the Dameria Continent?"
"Naturally."
At this moment, Lady Howard was remarkably forthright. "If it were possible, who would be content to be on par with others?"
"So, City Lord Chen, shall we form an alliance?"
Chen Fan shook his head, "Apologies, my ambitions lie elsewhere."
Lady Howard was surprised.
She had assumed cooperation was a sure thing.
What she could see, she didn't believe Chen Fan couldn't.
Previously, the presence of the Angelic Holy See had forced various factions to restrain themselves.
Now, the Angelic Holy See was a thing of the past. There might be a period of peace, but it wouldn't last long.
The Dark Church and the Skeleton Society were undoubtedly united.
If the remaining two factions did not join forces, they would likely be defeated one by one.
And while Wenlan City's forces might not have many mid-tier experts, its top-tier combatants were stronger than the Beast Legion.
Tinnuk, Old Demon, Fire Demon—these three were peak powerhouses.
Then there were the lurking, ancient Angelic Emperor, the three Elder Sages, and others watching from the shadows.
Therefore, if the Dark Church and the Skeleton Society were to make a move, their first target would undoubtedly be the Beast Legion.
Turning the southern region into a watery expanse was also one of Lady Howard's preventative strategies.
Where there was water, the Beast Legion's strength could increase by thirty percent.
She had not expected Chen Fan to reject her proposal.
"Why?" Lady Howard asked, full of confusion.
"As I said, my ambitions lie elsewhere."
Chen Fan explained, "I have no interest in power, nor do I intend to be a hegemon. My reason for coming to Dameria is solely to find something."
"..."
Lady Howard didn't know what to say.
She could tell Chen Fan was genuinely uninterested in these matters.
After a moment's thought, she pointed to the stone tablet standing not far away and said, "If I give you this stone tablet, will you cooperate with me?"
"..."
This time, it was Chen Fan's turn to be at a loss for words.
After a long pause, he said, "I owe Legion Commander Geli a favor. If you are willing, you can also exchange this stone tablet for a chance to have me help you once."
He truly did not want to get involved with power.
His previous involvement against the Angelic Holy See was out of necessity.
He preferred to avoid conflict if possible.
"Heh heh."
Lady Howard laughed.
She had figured it out; this stone tablet was indeed very important to Chen Fan. "What if I asked you to kill someone for me?"
"Certainly."
Chen Fan nodded without hesitation, "On one condition, no ordinary people."
Lady Howard blinked in surprise, then a smile touched her lips, "City Lord Chen's immense favor for the life of an ordinary person? I'm not that foolish."
"Hmm."
Chen Fan nodded, agreeing.
As long as it wasn't an ordinary person.
As for cultivators, once they embarked on this path, they had to be prepared for death at any moment.
Life or death, it was all fate.
"Then it's settled."
Lady Howard was pleased with the transaction. "Now, this stone tablet belongs to City Lord Chen."