Two Golden Core Cultivators each used their cloud magic to fly toward the mountain summit.
Chi Dun, with a dirty face, bearing some light injuries, coldly snorted on his gray cloud, "Fei Si! If it weren't for you hindering my pursuit of the demon cultivator, I would have captured him long ago!"
His argument was directed at an elder in yellow robes, with a goat beard and bright eyes, named Fei Si.
Fei Si coldly snorted, "You brute. Did I stop you from capturing the demon cultivator? I stopped you from destroying the Fire Persimmon Forest!"
The two argued all the way to the City Lord's presence.
Heavy clouds parted like curtains, revealing the true form of the City Lord.
The current City Lord's face remained calm and untroubled; he was long accustomed to their quarrels.
Fei Si and Chi Dun were the City Lord's most trusted aides, although the two had always been at odds with each other.
After Chi Dun saluted and paid respects, he immediately lodged a complaint, accusing Fei Si of non-cooperation and even obstructing him, allowing the Black Shadow Demon Cultivator to slip into the Fire Persimmon Forest, which now had to be temporarily sealed off.
Fei Si immediately retorted, "Brute!"
"The value of the Fire Persimmon Forest is immense, cultivated since the city's founding. Through the hard work of ten generations over hundreds of years, we have what we have today."
"Fire persimmons are already prone to explosion. If a battle occurs in the Fire Persimmon Forest, it will inevitably lead to a chain of explosions. By then, our Immortal City's greatest industry will be gone!"
"Half of the annual revenue of the Immortal City comes from the Fire Persimmon Forest. It's fair to say that the Fire Persimmon Forest sustains the operation of the Immortal City."
"You only care about your mission, a short-sighted fool. Once the Fire Persimmon Forest is destroyed, how will the City Lord explain to the Southern Bean Royal Family?"
It turned out that the Three Ancestral Masters had hidden the Magma Fairy Palace deep within the Fire Persimmon Mountain. After suppressing the volcano, this place gradually turned into a land of fortune from a place of evil.
The Southern Bean Immortal Dynasty set their sights here and assigned a Nascent Soul level cultivator to settle in the volcano hundreds of years ago, building the Immortal City. After the Immortal City Great Array was set up, it drew on the land's power and fire spiritual energy to nourish and cultivate the Fire Persimmon Forest.
The Fire Persimmon Forest yielded high returns, giving the Immortal City its name.
The annual fire persimmon harvest also spawned a unique festival called the Fire Persimmon Festival, solely belonging to the Immortal City.
On the festival day, all the cultivators in the city come to the forest to participate in picking fire persimmons. The city is then filled with the joy of harvest and bustling with activity.
Chi Dun, with his neck stiff and eyes glaring at Fei Si, was about to speak.
The City Lord interrupted, "Enough, you've interrogated several cultivators. Any clues?"
Chi Dun quickly bowed, handing over a confession book.
The City Lord remained seated, letting the confession book float slowly before him. A gust of wind blew it open from start to finish.
Being a Nascent Soul cultivator with an astonishing divine sense, he scanned the contents of the confession book in just a few breaths.
Without any valuable information.
Chi Dun sought instructions, "City Lord, the demon cultivator is now hiding in the Fire Persimmon Forest. What should we do?"
The City Lord sent the confession book back to Chi Dun with a wave of his divine sense, speaking calmly, "What do you think we should do?"
Chi Dun frowned in distress, "The Fire Persimmon Forest is extremely important. I suggest we report directly and have the Southern Bean Immortal Dynasty send capable people to handle it."
"Not to mention, just by scattering some red beans, having the Red Scarf Warriors lead the way could greatly reduce casualties."
"Or, directly request the Divine Hunter Office to send people to hunt the demon cultivator."
"Whether they practiced the Heart-Illuminating Warning Technique or the Tracing Technique, the divine hunters at the Divine Hunter Office are better at tracking down criminals than me."
The City Lord, expressionless, glanced at Fei Si.
Fei Si immediately understood and shouted again, "Brute!"
"If you call the Divine Hunter Office, what will be our role?"
"We have already secretly negotiated with the two major families. Reporting this suddenly, how will we face the Zhou Family and the Zheng Family?"
"Doing so would severely violate protocol!"
"In the future, if the Lord takes office somewhere else, how could the local cultivator family clans ever trust my lord again?"
"You must know that to govern a region, one must maintain good relations and close cooperation with the local major clans. Only then can the administration run smoothly."
"Going back on one's word is despicable behavior!"
Fei Si's rebuttals were intense and emotional.
He had some words left unsaid—
The discovery of the Magma Fairy Palace was after the City Lord took office. According to regulations, the City Lord should have reported it promptly.
However, the Zhou Family and the Zheng Family strongly persuaded and heavily bribed him, and the City Lord himself coveted the treasures of the Magma Fairy Palace, thus concealing it.
The original secret cooperation among the three parties had always been peaceful.
The Ning Family's discovery of the Magma Fairy Palace was expected, and all three had been mentally prepared for it.
But a sudden accident occurred—the Magma Fairy Palace exploded!
That damn Black Shadow Demon Cultivator, single-handedly, turned a great situation upside down.
The Magma Fairy Palace almost fully emerged, and the City Lord had to personally intervene to barely suppress it. However, the entry criteria for the palace were lowered to the Qi Refinement Realm, and the Dharma Transmission Bell's sound was widely spread.
Though the City Lord issued multiple orders to control the on-site cultivators and cover the truth efforts, the news still leaked significantly. Over time, the Southern Bean Royal Family would inevitably learn of it.
If the City Lord had obtained some treasures from the Magma Fairy Palace, it could be explained.
But now, he had gained nothing substantial!
Serious losses were already inevitable for the Immortal Dynasty. Given the circumstances, how could the City Lord willingly withdraw? Of course, he was determined to explore the palace fully, as that served his interests best.
Chi Dun found himself unable to argue with Fei Si and simply spread his hands, indicating that the task was too difficult and beyond his capability.
Fei Si sneered, "You, just a brute, how could you come up with any solutions? Let me handle it!"
The City Lord fixed his gaze on Fei Si, speaking indifferently, "Fei Si, what solution do you have? Speak freely."
Fei Si had already thought it through and now smiled, "My lord, I believe the best solution is to remain calm and hold steady."
"The demon cultivator's goal is evident, the Magma Fairy Palace!"
"Earlier, he attempted entry into the palace but was stopped by Zheng Shuanggou. This time, why did he appear near the dungeon?"
"On the surface, he aimed to destroy the pillars beneath the dungeon."
The Immortal City Great Array of the Fire Persimmon Immortal City had five main pillars located in the Zhou Family, Zheng Family, Ning Family, the dungeon, and the city guard barracks. Destroying these pillars would threaten the entire Immortal City's array.
"But this is only the surface's objective!" Fei Si concluded confidently, with a gleam in his eyes.
"He might be deliberately exposing himself to lure Chi Dun's pursuit, seeking the City Lord's appearance to capture him."
"Ultimately, the demon cultivator hid in the Fire Persimmon Forest. It appeared he acted in desperation, but it's highly suspicious."
"Fire persimmons are prone to self-explosion, and the forest is heavily arrayed. Why did he choose to hide there?"
"Currently, the multiple arrays in the Fire Persimmon Forest have all been activated, temporarily trapping the demon cultivator. It seems he is now like a caged bird or a turtle in a jar, but I believe he is merely attracting our attention."
"I have a bold guess. This demon cultivator is just a decoy, while others might be lurking in the shadows."
"Once we are drawn in and concentrate our forces to besiege him, the volcano's mouth will inevitably be left unguarded, revealing a weakness."
"The enemy situation is unclear; our knowledge is very limited. We have no idea how many enemies are hiding in the dark."
"It's even possible that the three major families are colluding with the demon cultivator or are the masterminds behind them!"
Chi Dun stood there, slightly open-mouthed and dazed.