"Senior, you do not know yet."
Lan Kuang once again provided a reasonable explanation. "When my father took office, he already announced that he was only the acting city lord. The true city lord of Wenlan City is Senior."
Chen Fan: "..."
Alright.
Since things had come to this, there was not much he could say.
It was only when the convoy drove into the Oriental Manor that the crowd slowly dispersed.
However, the commotion in Wenlan City did not end. The lively scene continued for three full days.
During these three days, all the families in Wenlan City united and held a grand celebration ceremony called Wenlan Never Sleeps City.
For three days, all the restaurants in Wenlan City were open for free. Anyone could eat and drink without spending a single cent. All expenses were covered by the families of Wenlan City.
Three days of wild revelry, celebrating the independence of Wenlan City.
...
During these three days, Chen Fan did not leave the manor. He stayed inside the manor with Old Demon, cultivating.
What was called cultivation was actually comprehending the future path under the Enlightenment Stone.
There were never two identical paths to cultivation. Anyone who wished to reach the absolute peak had to forge their own path.
On the fourth day, the revelry of Wenlan Never Sleeps City had just concluded when Chen Fan emerged from his seclusion.
"Senior."
Lan Kuang had already been waiting outside the manor.
As soon as Chen Fan came out of seclusion, he summoned Lan Kuang.
"Tell me about everything that has happened these past three days."
"Yes."
Lan Kuang nodded.
During these three days, the news of the Light Society's destruction spread throughout Dameria, striking everyone with fear.
In addition to this, the Skeleton Society's Heaven Skeleton had designed an ambush for an Elder of the Angel Holy Assembly, an Elder with empty robes, and it failed.
Although the other party managed to escape in the end, they were severely wounded and on the verge of death. It was said that the hope of survival was extremely slim.
There was also a piece of news that the Holy Emperor had emerged from seclusion and intended to personally seek justice for the Light Society.
"By the way, there's another matter. Your subordinate is unsure if I should speak of it."
"Speak."
Lan Kuang was quite shrewd.
Since he mentioned there was news, it was likely not ordinary news.
"It's about the Easterners."
Lan Kuang did not say the word "slaves." Although in Dameria, all Easterners were referred to as slaves.
However, in front of Chen Fan, it was best not to utter the word "slaves."
Speaking of Easterners as slaves in front of an Easterner who had given you everything, what was the difference between that and courting death?
"Easterners?"
"Yes."
Lan Kuang said in a deep voice, "Senior should also know that on the continent of Dameria, there is a group of Easterners who are kept as slaves."
"Mm."
He had indeed heard of this matter.
But it was only limited to hearing.
Having been in the East for so long, other than Old Demon, he had not encountered any Easterners.
Lan Kuang said, "Dameria has a deathly forbidden zone called the Fiery Prison. All Easterners were exiled to the Fiery Prison by the Angel Holy Assembly, where they endured inhuman torture."
"Mm."
"The Fiery Prison experienced a riot the day before yesterday."
Lan Kuang narrated slowly, "In the Fiery Prison, a submerged being awakened. It is said that countless Easterners inside suffered heavy casualties."
This was what Lan Kuang wanted to say.
Chen Fan had a doubt. "Why were people confined in the Fiery Prison?"
"The Fiery Prison is filled with potent fiery energy. Legend has it that an ancient fire demon exists within. The Easterners were exiled to the Fiery Prison and were constantly attacked by flames, which could continuously deplete the Fiery Prison's power, preventing the fire demon suppressed within from awakening."
"And then?"
Surely, there wasn't just this little bit of news?
Indeed, Lan Kuang's words were not finished. "The Fiery Prison riot resulted in numerous casualties, but a group of Easterners broke through the blockade and escaped. They... revealed a piece of news."
"What news?"
"They said that what was suppressed in the Fiery Prison was not a fire demon at all, but... the current Angel Holy Emperor."
"Mm?"
Chen Fan's brows furrowed.
The Holy Emperor, suppressing himself? How was that possible?
"The Lanting family had a hidden contact who interacted with the escaped Easterners. They said that the person being suppressed was the Angel Holy Emperor. However, as soon as the news spread, the contact was killed."
After speaking, Lan Kuang stood aside and remained silent.
He was only responsible for relaying the information. The decision was Chen Fan's.
"What is the Angel Holy Assembly doing?"
"Killing."
Lan Kuang said, "They are encircling and annihilating all Easterners who escaped from the Fiery Prison."
"Oh?"
If his interest was not very strong before,
Now, it had become interesting.
"Currently, all seven Archbishops of the Angel Holy Assembly have emerged from seclusion and are scouring the land, hunting down the Easterners who escaped the Fiery Prison."
Knock, knock, knock.
Chen Fan tapped his fingers on the table, remaining silent for a long time.
"Where are the nearest Easterners?"
"In a forest called Mia, not far from Wenlan City. Currently, two Archbishops have surrounded Mia Forest, and no one is allowed to approach. It is said that there are dozens of Easterners inside."
Chen Fan suddenly stood up. "Old Demon, let's go."
Whoosh!
Old Demon's figure appeared.
Chen Fan looked at Lan Kuang. "You don't need to go. Continue to gather information. Don't let any news about the Angel Holy Assembly slip by. You did very well with this piece of information about the Fiery Prison."
"Thank you for your praise, Senior."
Lan Kuang was extremely happy to receive a word of praise from Chen Fan.
"Let's go."
Without hesitation.
Chen Fan and Old Demon soared into the sky.
...
Mia Forest.
The forests on the continent of Dameria were mostly primeval forests, rarely frequented by humans.
Legend had it that deep within these primeval forests lived very powerful ancient demonic beasts.