Lan Juntian stepped forward, coming closer bit by bit.
He said aloud with a smile, "I am profoundly grateful to all of you for attending the Demon-Slaying Conference hosted by our Lan Family."
"In fact, I am aware that many among you are here simply to give face to the Lan Family, and quite a few have never paid attention to demonic issues."
"However, I am not being alarmist when I say that the history of Demons is even more ancient than that of families that have carried their legacies for over ten thousand years."
"They scheme for the keys to the seal of the Ancient Demon Cave, yearning for the day when the Ancient Demon King descends."
"Our Lan Family stands alone and weak; we hope that one day in the future, we can garner the support of everyone here for a united Demon-Slaying endeavor."
"Tomorrow, we will take you all to behold the Ancient Demon General and see the sort of existence it truly is."
Upon hearing Lan Juntian’s words, the people present dealt with it perfunctorily, for due to the low profile of the Demon Race, aside from the Demon-Slaying families, other powers rarely took notice.
"What is your opinion of this Demon-Slaying Conference?" Xu Zimei, drinking wine from his cup, looked to the three deans of Heavenly Dao Academy and asked with a smile.
"Without understanding, it’s difficult to judge, but it indeed warrants attention," Qing Yazi responded.
"Our Heavenly Dao Academy is the human race’s pioneer; when it comes to matters that endanger the Continent, our duty is clear," Wu Yunshan also nodded in agreement.
Xu Zimei just smiled without replying.
Beside them, the Divine Emperor watched the scene with a slight frown and spoke to Xu Zimei, "There is something amiss with this Lan Family!
"How could someone of Bai Meng’s stature be captured by them?"
"So many things in this world are unpredictable; who then could claim invincibility?" Xu Zimei replied with a light chuckle and a shake of his head.
In fact, he had long surmised that as a Demon-Slaying Family, the Lan Family had likely gained considerable understanding of demons over several eras.
They surely had their methods for dealing with them, but as the Divine Emperor was not a demon himself, Xu Zimei did not believe the Lan Family could truly stand against a Great Emperor.
"What do you intend to do, young master? Why not directly break into the Lan Residence?" the Divine Emperor asked, puzzled.
"I wish to meet an old acquaintance," Xu Zimei reflected for a moment before saying.
Since the Demon-Slaying Conference was to be held the next day, the Lan Family had arranged rooms for everyone to rest after the banquet was concluded.
Xu Zimei had little interest in the banquet, so he took the opportunity while everyone was busy greeting and networking to slip away from the Lan Residence with the Divine Emperor.
The two left and headed straight for the inner courtyard of the Lan Residence.
Because of the day’s excitement, nobody paid attention to Xu Zimei and his companion on their way.
After passing through several small courtyards, Xu Zimei stopped a passing member of the Lan Family and asked with a smile, "Where does your young miss, Lan Ke’er, reside?"
"Who are you? What do you want with our young miss?" the family member asked warily.
Xu Zimei just smiled, and grabbing the man’s throat, he said with a chuckle, "Talk."
"Don’t kill me! The young miss is in the left wing of the inner courtyard," the family member quickly explained while struggling.
"Just go straight ahead from here, and you’ll find the inner courtyard right in front."
After hearing the young man’s response, Xu Zimei applied a slight pressure with his hands, instantly twisting and breaking the man’s neck.
Then, a fire blazed from his right hand, incinerating the body completely.
"Let’s go see," Xu Zimei said.
The Divine Emperor nodded slightly, and the two walked for about ten more minutes.
At last, they came upon a vast courtyard with gray tiles and white walls, and a grand gate tower standing at the forefront of the complex.
The courtyard, shaded by green trees and surrounded by mountains, boasted a man-made hill with clear green river water babbling through.
At the entrance of the courtyard, two guards were stationed inside the gate tower.
Just as Xu Zimei attempted to enter the courtyard, the two guards instantly drew their swords, blocking his path.
"Halt, visitor, this is the inner courtyard of the Lan Residence."
"I’m looking for the young miss of the Lan Family," Xu Zimei said.
"Please go and inform them that an old acquaintance from the True Martial Holy Sect is visiting, and she will want to see me."
The guard on the left snorted coldly and said, "Who are you? Do you think our young miss is just someone anyone can meet?"
With a flick of his left hand, Xu Zimei sent a flame shooting from his fingertips.
It pierced the guard’s forehead in an instant, the tiny flame suddenly swelling and reducing the guard to a pile of gray ash.
"Go and report," Xu Zimei said indifferently, looking at the guard on the right.
"Ah," the guard instantly realized what had happened, swallowed hard, and hurriedly ran inside.
At that moment, inside the left chamber of the inner courtyard, Lan Ke’er was practicing her cultivation.
She was wearing a light cyan gauze dress with a pure white long skirt on the outside, and a gentle white silk ribbon tied around her slender waist.
Her originally jet-black hair had started to turn blue at the tips.
The hair seemed freshly washed, still bearing a somewhat hazy beauty.
Her eyes were clear pools of water; a mere glance back could make one’s heart and soul tremble.
At this time, she was sitting at the edge of the bed, cross-legged, with pale blue crystal stones floating before her.
These crystal stones were like amber, possessing a dreamlike and breathtaking beauty.
The space around her was slightly distorted, with light blue spiritual energy swirling around.
After a long session of cultivation, she finally took a deep breath and relaxed.
Right then, there was a knock on the door.
"Miss, a guard outside said someone is looking for you."
"Yun, come in," Lan Ke’er said softly.
The door opened, and a maid dressed in a plain cyan long dress entered.
"Miss, the guard outside said someone is here to see you.
I told him you were busy with your cultivation and could not be disturbed, but he wouldn’t leave without an answer from you," Yun said with a pout.
"Who is it?" Lan Ke’er asked with a smile.
"It seems like an old acquaintance from the True Martial Holy Sect," Yun said after a moment’s thought.
"How could there be an old acquaintance of yours from the True Martial Holy Sect on the Eastern Continent, which is so far away from our Central Continent?"
No sooner had she spoken than all the blue crystal stones surrounding Lan Ke’er’s body fell to the ground.
"An old acquaintance from the True Martial Holy Sect," Lan Ke’er murmured, seemingly in a daze.
"Miss, what’s wrong?" Yun asked with concern.
"Ah, I, I’m fine," Lan Ke’er quickly snapped back to reality, speaking anxiously.
"Yun, ask him to wait a moment, I’ll be right there."
Yun looked at her young miss somewhat bewildered, feeling that at this moment, her young miss seemed somewhat flustered.
Watching Yun’s retreating figure, Lan Ke’er hurried to the dressing table and started to dress up.
By the time Yun had finished speaking with the guard and returned to the room, Lan Ke’er’s room was filled with clothes.
"Yun, look quickly, which dress do I look good in?" Lan Ke’er eagerly pulled Yun over, asking while looking in the mirror.
"The young miss has innate grace and beauty, you’d look like a fairy in anything," Yun said with a light laugh.