The Illuminati, the foremost power under the Angelic Holy Assembly, akin to the Skull Society under the Dark Church.
Boom!
The ground trembled as a pack of massive demonic beasts thundered forth, halting at the foot of the sacred mountain.
Figures descended from the backs of these beasts.
Masters of beast control, they must be from the Demonic Beast Legion.
The demonic beasts of the East were ridden in the West.
The Demonic Beast Legion, a formidable independent force, appeared and disappeared without a trace, not subject to the authority of the Angelic Holy Assembly or the Dark Church. They possessed the qualifications to contend for a third major power, yet they had remained largely inactive.
This group was highly capable of stirring up trouble.
Following them came various other factions, some led by city lords, others by the leaders of smaller powers.
Chen Fan had no interest in watching further.
These were mere minnows, not worth his attention.
The Dark Church, the Skull Society, the Illuminati, the Demonic Beast Legion—only these five forces warranted his concern.
As for the other minor factions, some clearly pledged allegiance to the Angelic Holy Assembly, others to the Dark Church, and some played both sides. In any case, these groups were inconsequential.
While Chen Fan observed others, those factions were also observing him.
The battle of Wenlan City had thoroughly established Chen Fan's reputation.
Because of Chen Fan, Wenlan City was now on the path to independence.
However, neither side seemed inclined to initiate contact immediately.
At this moment, the three black-robed bishops who had pursued the Old Devil returned. Judging by the fluctuations in their aura, they had clearly failed to capture him, and one of them was severely injured, his energy significantly depleted.
"Hahaha."
Not long after, the Old Devil reappeared, attacking the Dark Church's encampment.
"Kill."
This time, four black-robed bishops emerged.
The Old Devil turned and fled without engaging in any fight.
...
Thus, the Old Devil became a disruptive force, constantly harassing the Dark Church.
His escape capabilities were extraordinary; even four black-robed bishops working together failed to capture him, and they were continuously injured by him.
The Dark Church was thoroughly exasperated.
"Old Devil."
Suddenly, the Old Devil, hidden somewhere, heard Chen Fan's voice: "Stop playing around. Kill one."
The Old Devil stiffened and grumbled as he rose.
"Kill."
The Old Devil attacked again.
This time, only two Dark Bishops engaged him.
They had realized that this fellow was merely here to cause trouble, with no intention of killing.
Like a toad hopping onto a griddle, he wasn't biting, but he was certainly annoying.
"Boom."
But in the next moment, an immensely powerful aura surged from the Dark Church's side.
The Old Devil held a corpse in his hand, its black robes dripping with blood.
The Sixth Dark Bishop had been killed.
The Old Devil had killed someone.
And not just anyone, but a bishop of the Dark Church.
A bishop of the Dark Church was a true expert who had transcended the Nascent Soul stage and entered the Divine level.
On the continent of Damelia, a divine-level expert was enough to establish a major power.
Yet, now, he had been killed before the eyes of numerous Dark Church powerhouses.
The corpse was held in the Old Devil's hand, his demonic energy boiling ferociously.
The energy within the Sixth Dark Bishop was continuously draining, being absorbed by the Old Devil.
The Heaven-Swallowing Demonic Art could devour anything.
"Boom."
An aura that seemed to transcend the Divine level surged forth from the Dark Church's encampment.
Following it came wave after wave of powerful divine-level auras.
"They're showing themselves."
Chen Fan smiled.
The Old Devil indeed lived up to his reputation as a former half-step Supreme Being. Even with only seventy percent of his former strength, he could easily slay an enemy leader amidst a myriad of troops.
This was a demon from the East, full of confidence.
Run.
The Old Devil's mind was solely focused on this one thought.
"No need to run."
Chen Fan's voice reached the Old Devil's ears again: "Go kill people from the Illuminati."
Old Devil: "???"
Trust me, and you will be safe.
The Old Devil, with no other choice, gritted his teeth and charged towards the Illuminati.
"Kill."
With his full power unleashed, the Old Devil was incredibly potent.
At this moment, he was like a rampaging dragon that had charged into the Illuminati's stronghold.
"You court death."
The Illuminati naturally had many powerhouses.
As the foremost faction under the Angelic Holy Assembly, they too had a considerable number of divine-level experts.
"Boom."
In the blink of an eye, the Old Devil was locked in combat with three divine-level experts from the Illuminati.
Meanwhile, the Dark Church powerhouses who were about to intervene instinctively halted.
A sinister pleasure mixed with chilling killing intent spread across their faces as they watched the Old Devil battle the Illuminati's strongmen.
"Wait a little longer."
This was the thought in everyone's mind within the Dark Church.
The Dark Church had lost one person. Although it was a loss, if the Illuminati also suffered casualties, it wouldn't be too late to act.
Unease stemmed not from scarcity, but from imbalance.
"Don't kill them."
Chen Fan's voice reached the Old Devil.
The Old Devil, who had been fighting with lethal intent, immediately restrained his strength.
The three from the Illuminati noticed this and also eased their attacks.
The scene of the Old Devil killing the Sixth Dark Bishop of the Dark Church was still fresh in their minds. The Old Devil's power was evident, and who would dare push him to exert his full strength?
Besides, if it was an act, who couldn't perform it?
The two sides battled for a long time without a clear victor.
However, the battlefield was slowly shifting.
"Something's wrong."
The people from the Dark Church finally sensed that something was amiss.
"Run."
There was no need for Chen Fan's reminder; the Old Devil turned and fled on his own.
Though reckless, he was not foolish.
If he still couldn't understand Chen Fan's plan now, he deserved to die.
"Whoosh."
The Old Devil fled.
The Illuminati members made no move to stop him. Instead, one of them casually struck out a palm, helping the Old Devil accelerate his escape.
Thus, the Old Devil escaped with ease.
"Bastards."
The Dark Church powerhouses' eyes bulged, their gazes fixed intently in the direction the Old Devil had fled.