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Chapter 18: Fei Si Offers Strategies

His argument was with an old man in yellow robes, sporting a goatee and possessing piercing eyes. His surname was Fei, and his given name was Si.

Fei Si snorted coldly in return, "You brute. Was I really blocking you from capturing the demon cultivator? I was preventing you from destroying the Huoshi Forest!"

The two argued all the way to the presence of the city lord.

Thick clouds parted like curtains, revealing the true form of the city lord. The current lord's face was as calm as an ancient well, accustomed to the disputes between the two.

Fei Si and Chi Dun, one skilled in strategy and the other in martial prowess, were the strongest supports of the city lord, though they often disagreed.

After bowing in respect, Chi Dun immediately complained, accusing Fei Si of non-cooperation and even obstructing his pursuit, which now allowed the shadow demon cultivator to escape into the Huoshi Forest, necessitating a temporary seal on the forest.

Fei Si immediately retorted, "You brute! Do you know how valuable the Huoshi Forest is? It has been cultivated since the city was founded. It took the hard work of over a dozen generations, diligently working for hundreds of years to reach its current size."

"Huoshi is naturally explosive. If a battle were to break out within the Huoshi Forest, it would inevitably lead to a chain of explosive reactions. Then, the largest industry of our Huoshi Immortal City would turn to ashes!"

"The city's annual income relies heavily on the Huoshi Forest. One could say that it is the Huoshi Forest that sustains the operation of the Immortal City."

"You are only concerned with your own task, completely short-sighted. Once the Huoshi Forest is destroyed, how do you expect the Lord Mayor to explain to the Southern Dou Court?"

Originally, the three sects' masters hid the Lava Immortal Palace deep within Mount Huoshi, and after suppressing the volcano, this place gradually turned from a vile land into a blessed land.

The Southern Dou Immortal Court took interest in this area and, centuries ago, appointed Nascent Soul stage cultivators to settle in the volcano and construct an immortal city. After laying out the city's grand formation, which drew earth's strength and fire spirit energy to nourish, the Huoshi Forest was cultivated.

The Huoshi Forest yielded great profits, hence the name of Huoshi Immortal City originated from this.

The annual Huoshi picking also led to a unique festival for Huoshi Immortal City—the Huoshi Festival.

On the day of the festival, all the cultivators in the city would gather in the forest to participate in picking Huoshi. At that time, the city would be filled with the joy of a bountiful harvest, exceptionally lively.

Chi Dun, with his neck stiffened, was furiously glaring at Fei Si, about to speak.

The Lord Mayor interrupted: "Enough, you have questioned a group of cultivators, but do you have any leads?"

Chi Dun quickly bowed and presented a confession booklet.

The Lord Mayor remained seated, allowing the booklet to slowly float towards him. A swift gust of wind flipped through the booklet from beginning to end.

Being a Nascent Soul cultivator with astonishing spiritual sense, he scanned the contents of the booklet in just a few breaths.

It was of no value.

Chi Dun then asked, "Lord Mayor, that demon cultivator is currently hiding in the Huoshi Forest. What should we do?"

The Lord Mayor, with a flick of his spiritual sense, sent the booklet flying back to Chi Dun, his tone calm: "What do you think should be done?"

Chi Dun furrowed his brows with difficulty, "The Huoshi Forest is extremely important. I believe it would be better to report directly and have the Southern Dou Court dispatch capable individuals to handle it."

"Without saying anything else, just sprinkling a handful of red beans, with the Red Turban Strongmen taking the lead, would greatly reduce the casualties."

"Or, we could directly invite the people from the God-Catching Department to come over and hunt down the demon cultivators."

"Whether it's cultivating the ‘Alert Mind Art' or the monks from the God-Catching Department who specialize in the ‘Trace to Source Technique', they are all more skilled in capturing the culprits than I am."

The city lord looked emotionless as he glanced at Fei Si.

Fei Si immediately understood and called out again, "Brute!"

"What's the point of calling people from the God-Catching Department here, what else would there be for us to do?"

"We have already secretly negotiated properly with the two major families. Now, suddenly reporting upwards, how would we face the Zhou and Zheng families?"

"Once this is done, it will greatly disrupt the rules!"

"In the future, if the lord continues to govern a region, how will the local cultivator families trust our lord again?"

"You must know, to sit in local governance, one must maintain good relations and closely cooperate with the local major clans, only then can governance be smooth and orders followed."

"Going back on one's word is the behavior of a petty person!"

Fei Si vehemently refuted, emotionally charged.

He still had some words left unsaid—

The discovery of the Lava Immortal Palace was after the city lord took office. According to the rules, the city lord should have reported it in a timely manner.

However, at that time, the Zhou and Zheng families strongly persuaded and heavily bribed, and the city lord himself was tempted by the treasures of the Lava Immortal Palace, so he concealed it without reporting.

Originally, the three parties were secretly developing it, and all was well.

The Ning family's discovery of the Lava Immortal Palace was not unexpected; all parties involved had long been mentally prepared for such an event. However, an unforeseen incident occurred—the Lava Immortal Palace was blasted open!

That damned Shadow Demon Cultivator single-handedly turned a favorable situation on its head, rendering it completely unrecognizable.

The Lava Immortal Palace was almost fully revealed, and it was only through the city lord's personal intervention that it was barely subdued. Nevertheless, the selection criteria for the Lava Immortal Palace were lowered to the Qi Cultivation stage, and the sound of the transmission bell spread far and wide.

Despite the city lord issuing multiple orders to control the cultivators present and keep the situation under wraps, word had already leaked significantly. As time passed, the Southern Dou Court would inevitably become aware.

If the city lord had obtained some treasures from the Lava Immortal Palace, it would have been another story. However, he had not managed to secure any benefits!

The losses on the part of the immortal dynasty were now inevitable. Under such circumstances, how could the city lord just give up? He would undoubtedly proceed with exploring the immortal palace with all his might, as that was in his best interest.

Chi Dun, unable to argue with Fei Si, simply spread his hands, indicating that the task was too difficult and he was out of ideas.

Fei Si scoffed, "You, a mere brute, how could you think of a solution? It has to be me!"

The city lord looked at Fei Si and spoke indifferently, "Fei Si, if you have any methods, feel free to speak."

Fei Si, who had already prepared his response, now smiled and said, "My lord, I believe the best method is to ‘calm it with stillness.'"

"It's clear that the Shadow Demon Cultivator's target is the Lava Immortal Palace!"

"Previously, he wanted to enter the immortal palace but was stopped by Zheng Shuanggou. Why did he appear near the dungeon this time?"

"On the surface, he aimed to destroy the formation pillars beneath the dungeon."

Within Puppet Immortal City, there are five major formation pillars located at the Zhou family's, Zheng family's, Ning family's homes, the dungeon, and the city guard barracks. Destroying these pillars would jeopardize the entire city's grand formation.

"But that's just the apparent objective!" Fei Si judged, his eyes sparkling with confidence.

"He is likely deliberately exposing himself, luring Chi Dun to pursue him, to attract the city lord to appear and capture him."

"In the end, this demon cultivator fled into the Huoshi Forest, seemingly in panic, but his choice was rather peculiar."

"Huoshi are prone to exploding, and the Huoshi Forest is laced with multiple arrays. Why would he choose this place to hide?"

"Now, with multiple arrays in the Huoshi Forest activated simultaneously, the Shadow Demon Cultivator is temporarily sealed off. He seems like a bird in a cage, a turtle in a jar, but I'm more inclined to believe he's diverting our attention."

"I have a bold conjecture. This Shadow Demon Cultivator is merely a decoy on the surface; in reality, there might be others lurking in the shadows."

"Once we are drawn to him and concentrate our forces to encircle and suppress, the area around the volcano's mouth will inevitably be left vulnerable, exposing flaws."

"We have very limited knowledge about the enemy situation. We don't know how many enemies are hidden in the shadows."

"Furthermore, it cannot be ruled out that those three major families might be internal supporters of the demon cultivator, or even the masterminds behind the scenes!"

Chi Dun listened, his mouth slightly agape and his eyes glazed over in disbelief.