Little Immortal Honglian came to a stop beside Fang Chen. "Daoist Fang, they've come with ill intent."

As she looked at Shao Guangyin and the others, a trace of gravity flashed through her eyes.

"It's fine. Just because they lost back at Great Thunder Sound doesn't mean they will ambush us here," Fang Chen said with a smile, trying to reassure her. "If they really did that, once the news got back, our Enlightenment God Palace and the Rulai Monastery would truly be at war."

Little Immortal Honglian forced a bitter smile. She was more afraid that the news would never make it back at all.

"Stop chanting scriptures. Our Enlightenment God Palace doesn't believe in that nonsense," Chen Enxue said impatiently. "Speak. What business do you have waiting for us here?"

"This humble monk is merely passing by. We did not wait here specifically for you," Shao Guangyin replied, shaking his head as he gestured. "If you are in a hurry, Core Disciple Chen, please go on ahead."

"Really just passing by? Then I'm turning around and leaving," Chen Enxue said with a smile.

"Don't regret it."

As she spoke, the Black Dragon Boat immediately turned about. The core disciples present instinctively began channeling immortal essence into it, temporarily taking on the role of an expedition squad.

In the next instant, streams of withered bones swept out of the void. In the blink of an eye, they enveloped the heavens and earth like a massive cage, trapping both the Black Dragon Boat and Shao Guangyin's group inside.

Fang Chen sighed. So it's really come to this.

He silently rehearsed the demonic language he had learned from Xin Zong. The accent was a bit strange, but as long as he played the role of a taciturn character, he should be able to pass.

That was Fang Chen's worst-case plan for the trip. If he couldn't stop it, he would blend in, becoming an honest mole.

Seeing the bone-cage filling the sky like a prison, Nanming Ruyue, Li Shanzi, and the other core disciples all revealed looks of shock and anger.

"A Corpse Bone Formation? Shao Guangyin, what are you planning to do, bringing this group of Corpse Transcending Immortals here?" Chen Enxue questioned coolly. "Back then, your Rulai Monastery exhausted every excuse just to avoid going to war with the Enlightenment God Palace. What does this mean now?"

Shao Guangyin said nothing. He only slowly turned his gaze toward a Corpse Transcending Immortal beside him. That figure was tall and slender, wrapped in a cyan robe, his expression somewhat gloomy. He did not speak, merely cast Chen Enxue a detached glance. Suddenly, immortal essence condensed about him as waves of black mist began to billow forth.

The other Corpse Transcending Immortals exchanged glances, then black mist also began to pour from them in rolling surges.

Nanming Ruyue and the others could clearly feel that as the black mist emerged, the auras of these Corpse Transcending Immortals were visibly declining.

"Core Disciple Chen, the process will be quick. Before long, you'll understand my painstaking intentions today," Shao Guangyin said with a faint smile.

Chen Enxue raised an eyebrow. "Playing mysterious tricks?"

Ji Tianjun suddenly stepped forward, clasping his hands toward Shao Guangyin. "My lord! Fang Chen of the Enlightenment God Palace once killed our people during the battle of Great Thunder Sound. I believe he is unqualified to take part in this matter!"

Nearby core disciples exchanged looks, surprise flashing in their eyes.

Ji Sheng stared at Ji Tianjun in disbelief. "What are you saying?!"

"Cousin, this has nothing to do with you. You'll understand soon enough why I'm doing this," Ji Tianjun said calmly, showing no fear of exposure.

Before long, everyone here would be on the same side; there was nothing left to hide.

"This has nothing to do with me? When did you collude with Shao Guangyin of Rulai Monastery!? How can you say this has nothing to do with me!? Are you trying to harm me or the Ji Family!?" Ji Sheng roared.

"Cousin, I wouldn't harm you. If I wanted to, why would I have taught you methods back then, letting you quickly grasp Formation Immortal Techniques?" Ji Tianjun replied with a smile.

Li Shanzi was stunned. "You taught him some ways to help him quickly master Formation Immortal Techniques?"

The core disciples present found it hard to believe.

Comprehending Formation Immortal Techniques usually relied entirely on oneself. Even across generations of the Enlightenment God Palace's inheritance, few dared claim they could teach someone to master them quickly.

Ji Tianjun ignored Li Shanzi and simply looked at Shao Guangyin.

Shao Guangyin glanced at Fang Chen, fell silent for a moment, then slowly nodded. "You're right. He did kill our people. He won't participate in today's matter."

The corner of Ji Tianjun's mouth lifted slightly. He cast a provocative sideways glance at Little Immortal Honglian.

Her expression darkened severely.

Fang Chen now understood. That was their way of denying him any chance to awaken. Looks like I won't be playing the mole after all.

At that moment, Shao Guangyin's immortal vessel was completely engulfed by black mist. Faces flickered in and out within it.

"Everyone, please remain calm. You'll soon know everything," Ji Tianjun said, the smile on his lips deepening.

Ji Sheng's face was ashen. He wanted nothing more than to strike down Ji Tianjun on the spot. But he couldn't, not yet. He still needed answers from him.

Fang Chen fixed his gaze on the black mist. As expected, this was their method of unleashing a demonic calamity.

The Corpse Transcending Immortal earlier is very likely a seventh-transformation Ancient Immortal. The others aren't weak either. If they're going to restrict the demonic calamity's range to this small area, the awakening rate is probably going to be much higher.

Fang Chen grasped the strengths and weaknesses of this method.

They may not have enough manpower to unleash a demonic calamity on a large scale, but they can absolutely awaken memories of past lives within a small area, turning people into demons. If these awakened ones are all top-tier core elites, then over hundreds or thousands of years, the demon race could seize control of the most outstanding core cultivators of the Nine Mortal Realms without spilling a drop of blood, indirectly controlling the Nine Mortal Realms themselves.

So that's it... they don't want war either. The best strategy is to win without fighting at all. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

That had troubled Fang Chen for a long time. If the demon race also didn't want war, that was undoubtedly good news for humanity. At least the Nine Mortal Realms wouldn't fall into the chaos of old, nor exhaust their foundations.

Presumably, the demon race didn't want to take over a land reduced to ruin either.

At that moment, Little Immortal Honglian's voice suddenly sounded in Fang Chen's ear, "Daoist Fang, I can protect you, but I hope... you won't think I've been deceiving you all this time."

Seeing her about to continue, Fang Chen hastily transmitted back. "Wait, don't rush. Senior Sister is also in the Lesser Immortal Realm."

Little Immortal Honglian was stunned. Senior Sister is here too?

Fang Chen noticed that Chen Enxue's expression had remained calm and unperturbed all along. That composure reminded him of Xie Aman, and something seemed to click in his mind.

"Anyone there? If not, we'll just open it ourselves," came a voice from above them.

A loud boom followed, and the bone cage was instantly shattered from the top. Several figures poked their heads through the opening, one being unmistakably Chen Enxue.

"Third Senior Sister!? How is she there?! Then who is this?!"

The core disciples of the Enlightenment God Palace were dumbstruck, instinctively turning to stare at the Chen Enxue not far away.