"Five Earth Immortals?"
Hearing this, everyone felt their breath catch in their throats.
Among those present, besides the blood race members whose strength had reached the Saint level, there were also those with the blood of vampire princes.
They held rather high positions within the blood race, so although they didn't know much about the realm of Earth Immortals, they had all heard of it.
Each Earth Immortal was a powerful being comparable to their vampire princes.
The number of vampire princes they had was likely known only to their patriarch and two elders at the peak of the Divine realm.
But they vaguely knew that their blood race certainly did not have more than five, otherwise, they would not have been at a disadvantage in their centuries-long struggle with the Holy See.
"Bella, is what you said true? Why haven't we received any news?" a senior blood race member, whose strength had reached the Divine realm, asked.
The blood race had been in a standoff with the Holy See for hundreds of years, and they naturally had people constantly monitoring the Holy See's movements. If a battle at the Earth Immortal level occurred within the Holy See, they should have received news.
Everyone's gaze turned to Aile Bella. It wasn't that they didn't believe her; on the contrary, as the pride of their blood race, everyone in the blood race trusted her implicitly.
It was just that the news Aile Bella had just revealed was too shocking, so shocking that they found it difficult to accept in such a short time.
In the previous century, in an era when technology was not as developed as it is now, every Earth Immortal was capable of destroying cities and devastating nations.
Yet, Aile Bella claimed that the young man beside her had not only defeated the Pope of the Holy See, who had broken through to the Earth Immortal realm, but had also retreated unharmed from an encirclement by five Earth Immortals.
What level of strength would be required to achieve such a feat?
"Naturally, it is true. After master left the Holy See, he returned to the Ancestral Castle with me. It has been too short a time, so it is normal that the news has not spread yet."
Although Aile Bella had not witnessed it firsthand, she absolutely trusted Zhang Fan's words, so she spoke with full confidence.
"Campbell has stepped into the Earth Immortal realm?" the retro-robed man sitting on the throne asked.
Aile Bella looked at her father and nodded gently, her eyes carrying a hint of complexity.
She knew that her father had been in a losing battle with the current Pope of the Holy See for decades, and his only hope was to surpass the Pope by reaching the Earth Immortal realm.
Now, the current Pope of the Holy See had also entered the Earth Immortal realm, but her father was still at the peak of the Divine realm. He must be feeling very disappointed at this moment, wouldn't he?
The retro-robed man seated above nodded, falling silent.
Just then, a figure flashed in from outside the door, appearing in the great hall in less than a second.
She was shrouded in a black robe, her form indistinguishable until she spoke, revealing herself to be a woman.
"Patriarch, the intelligence team stationed in Italy has sent a message. Confirmed by Agent Seven, a great battle occurred within the Holy See. The holy light shield that had protected the Holy See for hundreds of years was shattered, and the main hall of the Holy See was also significantly damaged. The specific identities of the combatants are still being investigated. The Holy See has completely sealed off information."
As soon as this news was delivered, the blood race members who had begun to believe Zhang Fan based on Aile Bella's confident assurance now had no room for doubt.
"I know. There's no need to investigate further. Tell our kin lurking in Italy to be careful and to minimize their actions during this period, remaining on standby." the blood race patriarch stated.
The woman shrouded in the black robe, upon hearing this, was somewhat confused. Logically, with such a major event happening in the Holy See, their blood race should be very concerned. Why were they showing no interest this time?
"Yes!"
Despite her confusion, she always strictly followed the patriarch's orders without questioning why.
With that, she drifted away, disappearing quickly into the castle.
After the woman left, the way the others looked at Zhang Fan changed. Even the young blood race members who had wanted to challenge Zhang Fan felt their hearts pounding violently.
To be able to defeat the Pope who had entered the Earth Immortal realm, and to shatter the Holy See's holy light shield and retreat unharmed from the combined assault of five Earth Immortals – such strength was enough to make their patriarch look up to him. The thought of them, mere Saints, daring to challenge him was suicidal.
Though the blood race members were all immensely proud, they also understood the respect due to the strong. Zhang Fan's strength might even surpass that of their vampire princes, so they naturally dared not be as presumptuous as before.
"Alright, now does anyone still want to test my strength?"
Zhang Fan surveyed the room. Wherever his gaze fell, everyone lowered their heads, not daring to meet his eyes. Finally, Zhang Fan's gaze settled on Aile Bella's father, the patriarch of the blood race.
"With Elder Zhang's strength, it is truly my daughter's honor to be able to follow him."
The blood race patriarch remained silent for a long time, then gradually a smile spread across his face as he spoke with great politeness.
He had also thought it through. This Elder Zhang from China, possessing such strength at his young age, must have stumbled upon a tremendous opportunity.
And with his current strength, very few people in the world could snatch this opportunity away. Therefore, with Aile Bella by Zhang Fan's side, she might also gain considerable benefits.
After all, from Aile Bella's current strength, they knew that she had likely already reaped many rewards. Otherwise, even with her astounding talent, her strength would not have grown so rapidly.
"Spare me the pleasantries. Find me a secret chamber quickly. I need to enter seclusion immediately. Otherwise, if those old fellows from the Holy See come looking for me, you won't be able to stop them," Zhang Fan waved his hand, saying.
Upon hearing Zhang Fan's words, the expressions of everyone in the blood race turned grim. What Zhang Fan mentioned was precisely what they had overlooked.
They had also heard about Zhang Fan's feud with the Holy See. Rumor had it that the conflict arose because Zhang Fan had stolen the origin crystal of the Holy See's Golden Scepter.
And this time, Zhang Fan had attacked the Holy See, nearly killing the Pope and shattering the holy light shield that had protected the Holy See for centuries. With such a deep enmity, how could the Holy See let this go?
If they were to track him to their Ancestral Castle, it might lead to another battle of Earth Immortals, and this battlefield could very well be within their Ancestral Castle.
Although the blood race members harbored deep animosity towards the Holy See, Zhang Fan's words made them feel as if they had taken the blame.
Thinking of this, they felt a sense of displeasure.
"If that is indeed the case, then we hope Elder Zhang will step in when the time comes," the blood race patriarch clearly possessed a foresight greater than that of the other blood race members.
For their blood race, this might be a crisis, but it was also a potential opportunity to turn the tables.
...