In just a few moments, more than one hundred cultivators had arrived in front of the Black Dragon Boat. Leading them was a white-haired old matron. Among the rest, some were young, some elderly. However, all of them were at least at the third transformation. Every one of them was an Immortal Venerable–level existence.

The old matron recognized Chen Enxue’s identity at once and immediately cupped her hands in greeting.

“I am Ji Chunmei. Greetings, Daoist Chen!”

Those behind her followed suit, bowing together. While they could not be called deferential, they still showed the Enlightenment God Palace sufficient respect.

“Third Senior Sister, let me introduce her to you. This is my family’s Second Ancestor,” introduced Ji Sheng. “At present, the Second Ancestor is the only one managing all matters of the Ji Family, large and small. As for the Great Ancestor, he has been in seclusion for a long time, bitterly seeking a breakthrough. Even with the Ji Family encountering such serious trouble this time, he has no intention of leaving seclusion.”

This was Ji Sheng’s way of explaining why the Ji Family’s Great Ancestor had not come out to welcome them personally.

Chen Enxue smiled and nodded. She then asked Ji Chunmei, “Have the people from the Fire Virtue Immortal Division arrived yet?”

Ji Chunmei’s expression shifted slightly. She hurriedly replied, “I’ve already sent word to the Fire Virtue Immortal Division. The discussion has been scheduled for three days from now.”

“That works. Then let’s go down and talk properly. This isn’t the place for conversation,” Chen Enxue said with a slight nod.

At her invitation, Ji Chunmei and the others boarded the Black Dragon Boat as well. If not for Ji Sheng’s connections, ordinary outside cultivators would have had virtually no chance of setting foot on Chen Enxue’s Black Dragon Boat.

Before long, the Black Dragon Boat slowly descended into the Ji Family’s grounds. Special personnel were already stationed there, preventing ordinary Ji family members from approaching. They could only stand at a distance, watching with curiosity.

Everyone disembarked from the immortal boat in turn.

Little Immortal Honglian suddenly frowned. “Is Daoist Fang still in seclusion? I’ll go call him.”

“Oh, right, Fang Core hasn’t shown himself at all along the way,” Ji Sheng said casually. “Why not invite him to move to one of the Ji Family’s cultivation chambers to cultivate?”

Chen Enxue waved her hand dismissively. “Forget it. He’s probably at a critical juncture in his cultivation. Let him continue cultivating there. I alone am enough to handle your family’s business.” 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

At that moment, the door to Fang Chen’s chamber opened, and he stepped out. He looked at the approaching Little Immortal Hongliang and asked, “Daoist Hong, have we arrived?”

Little Immortal Honglian nodded, returning his smile. “We have.”

Chen Enxue was surprised upon seeing Fang Chen. As he and Little Immortal Honglian passed by her, she couldn’t help but transmit a message. “Ninth Brother, that escape technique of yours is pretty impressive. Can you teach it to me? I won’t make you repay the immortal crystals you owe me.”

Fang Chen replied, “Third Senior Sister, that technique is a secret art not passed on lightly. If you’re willing to acknowledge the same master as me, then I can decide to teach it to you.”

He neither outright refused nor agreed. He thought this explanation would put an end to Chen Enxue’s interest, but to his surprise, she actually seemed to consider it seriously. After a moment, she replied, “Let me think about it.”

This took Fang Chen by surprise, but he still nodded.

If Chen Enxue truly intended to acknowledge Yun He as her teacher, he wasn’t opposed to passing on the Shadow Buddha Technique to her. The key was whether Yun He would recognize her. If he did, then her identity would naturally be clean.

Under the leadership of Chen Enxue and Ji Chunmei, the group arrived at the Ji family’s reception hall. Once the core disciples had all taken their seats, Chen Enxue went straight to the point with Ji Chunmei, discussing the details of how the Ji family had offended the Fire Virtue Immortal Division.

She spoke with a half-smile. “Daoist Ji, where is that good-for-nothing junior who offended the Fire Virtue Immortal Division? Why not call him out so we can take a look? I’d like to see what kind of person dares to offend an eighth-transformation Ancient Immortal of the Fire Virtue Immortal Division, to the point of them calling for the extermination of your entire clan.”

Her words immediately made the Ji family cultivators present feel embarrassed.

Ji Chunmei couldn’t help but sigh. “Just talking about this makes me angry. Producing a junior who doesn’t know the immensity of heaven and earth is the misfortune of our family.”

Fang Chen closed his eyes and pretended to rest. In the meantime, his soul had already left his body, wandering throughout the Ji Family.

After a short while, he returned.

There doesn’t seem to be any ambush. It looks like Ji Tianjun and the person behind him aren’t planning to set a trap within the Ji Family.

At that moment, a young man appeared in the hall. He was kneeling on the ground, head lowered, being scolded by Ji Chunmei sentence after sentence.

“Not very high in cultivation, just the Fusion Realm,” Chen Enxue said as she examined the young man, frowning. “He hasn’t even reached the Upper Three Realms, nor become an Immortal. How did he manage to offend the Fire Virtue Immortal Division?”

A core disciple couldn’t help but speak up. “Exactly. The Fire Virtue Immortal Division is one of the Hundred Divisions of the Lesser Immortal Realm, subordinate to the Heavenly Immortal Clan. Do they really have no tolerance at all? How could a mere Fusion Realm cultivator provoke them to this extent?”

Ji Sheng himself didn’t know the true reason either. He barely even recognized the young man in front of him.

Ji Chunmei let out a long sigh, as if struggling internally. Only after several breaths did she shake her head and say, “This time, the Ji Family is indeed in the wrong.”

“What exactly is the reason?” Chen Enxue frowned. “Daoist Ji, we traveled a long way here solely because Ji Sheng is our fellow disciple. We don’t want to see the Ji family suffer calamity, but we don’t want to be treated like fools either. If we don’t know the real cause, how are we supposed to negotiate with the Fire Virtue Immortal Division?

“Or do you think that just the people I brought with me are enough to sweep aside the Fire Virtue Immortal Division? If they send an eighth transformation Ancient Immortal, we would all have to close our eyes and wait to die together.”

Little Immortal Honglian and the others all grew solemn.

Seeing that Chen Enxue had spoken so bluntly, Ji Chunmei no longer dared to hide anything and immediately explained the cause.

After a while, Chen Enxue finally grasped the situation. She couldn’t help but burst out laughing. She pointed at the young man and said, “You really have some guts. An eighth-transformation Ancient Immortal’s direct blood relative, and you dared privately pledge yourselves to her for life?”

“That alone would be bad enough, but she is already betrothed to the Heavenly Immortal Clan. Now that you cut in and stole her away, the Heavenly Immortal Clan might personally suppress if they don’t care about appearances.”

The young man kept his head lowered and muttered, “She... she never told me any of that...”

Ji Chunmei’s face darkened with fury. She roared, “She didn’t tell you, and you couldn’t think to ask? You didn’t even bother to find out her background, yet you dared to take her chastity? Are you trying to anger us elders to death? If I’d known this would happen, back when the Great Ancestor brought you back, I would’ve refused to let you through the door! There are countless Ji Family branches within the Lesser Immortal Realm. If it weren’t for the Great Ancestor’s sake, do you think you could’ve entered the main lineage!?”

The young man no longer dared to say a word.

Chen Enxue looked him over carefully a few times, then suddenly noticed something rather intriguing and pointed out, “Ninth Brother, come take a look. Why do I feel like he resembles you a little?”

Fang Chen was taken aback.

A few core disciples who were somewhat fond of gossip had already stepped forward. After looking, they all agreed with Chen Enxue’s remark.

Little Immortal Honglian also came over to take a look. A trace of surprise flashed in her eyes. She turned to Fang Chen and said, “Daoist Fang, come take a look.”