Guan Yu was slightly perplexed, while over there, Ye Wen unconsciously glanced in this direction. Unexpectedly, in that moment of distraction, Yuan Hong, whom he had firmly grasped, suddenly trembled violently. Then, the grip on his hand loosened, and Yuan Hong vanished without a trace.

Ye Wen blinked, then recalled that Yuan Hong was adept at transformation, having focused only on his brute iron arms before, forgetting this fellow possessed other tricks.

His eyes widened, and as the light in his glazed pupils flowed, the situation in the hall became clear. Ye Wen merely swept his gaze around and immediately spotted a rather insignificant little bug, which was Yuan Hong in disguise, fluttering its wings and flying toward Guan Yu.

Ye Wen scoffed, crying out, "A trifling trick!"

Then, he flipped his hand, summoning his energy and channeling it into a straightforward slap. It was a simple outward strike, yet it carried the essential energy of the Bixue Ice, an icy chill that pierced the bone, immediately slowing the little bug's trajectory. If it didn't react immediately, it might freeze solid from the cold.

Yuan Hong was greatly alarmed, never expecting that even after transforming, Ye Wen could still discern his true form. In this current state, he was incredibly vulnerable; a direct hit from that cold might not kill him, but it would instantly turn him into an ice sculpture.

In panic, he dispelled the spell and reverted to his true form. Although forced to reveal himself, he had at least escaped Ye Wen's grasp. He shook his arms, emitting a sharp crackle as he recovered, then locked onto the residual palm energy Ye Wen had casually struck out with, countering it with a fierce punch.

With a bang, Yuan Hong staggered back three full steps, feeling an agonizing, bone-deep cold radiating from his fist, coupled with immense, brutal force. Even with his physically robust body, he felt his sinews and bones sustain some damage.

"What domineering palm energy..."

Since thoroughly comprehending the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms, Ye Wen's palm strikes had grown ever more formidable. Even a casual blow carried power that ordinary individuals could not possibly withstand. If Yuan Hong hadn't possessed innate advantages and tough arms, he would surely have been injured by that single palm.

Moreover, this strike carried the marrow-chilling cold of the Bixue Ice. Yuan Hong's right fist was not only agonizingly painful but was now coated in a layer of frost, its intense cold visible even to the naked eye.

Just then, Yuan Hong retreated next to Guan Yu. He glanced at the conflicted expression on Guan Yu's face and asked with confusion, "What are you pondering?"

Guan Yu replied, "There are some things I simply cannot make sense of!" It seemed he was still wrestling with whether this Guan Luyan was truly his descendant.

If Guan Luyan was not his descendant, merely exploiting the Guan family name for prestige, then why did the man know Guan Yu’s unique spear techniques? That style of spear work could only be learned by a direct descendant of the Guan lineage; Guan Yu had never taught it to an outsider! More critically, this spear art was unknown in the Immortal Realm; very few even knew of its existence.

But if he was his descendant, there were too many unexplained issues. In recent millennia, not only had few from the Guan family ascended, but few others had either. Moreover, not a single person from Earth had ascended to the Immortal Realm, yet Guan Yu's ancestral home was on that very Earth.

Having been in the Immortal Realm for so long, he already knew everything necessary—such as his origins and why he became a Heavenly General.

The more he thought, the more entangled his thoughts became. Seeing Yuan Hong about to step forward again, Guan Yu suddenly reached out and grabbed Yuan Hong's cloak, halting him instantly.

"What is it?"

Guan Yu said, "Don't be rash; let's question them clearly first!" Seeing Yuan Hong's displeasure, Guan Yu explained, "I know you have a death feud with those fellows from the West, but today's situation feels strange. It's better to ask clearly first!"

Initially, Guan Yu had also suspected the Shu Mountain Sect was colluding with the Western faction, or perhaps was merely a pawn planted in the Eastern Immortal Continent by the West.

However, having just witnessed the spear technique he once used, combined with Ye Wen's astonishing power—which seemed unnecessary for someone subservient to the Western group—and now having someone claiming to be his descendant, Guan Yu felt today’s events were far more complicated.

Furthermore, the appearance of the Shu Mountain Sect was genuinely too bizarre—emerging without warning. Guan Yu suddenly considered a possibility, though it seemed incredibly far-fetched.

Yuan Hong was somewhat disgruntled, but he respected this junior. Though both were Heavenly Generals, Yuan Hong had entered the Heavenly Court earlier than Guan Yu. Yet, strictly speaking, they were not under each other’s direct command; they were only leading troops together now due to specific circumstances. In plain terms, Yuan Hong was not Guan Yu’s direct superior, and Guan Yu wasn't obligated to obey him!

"Fine, we shall do as Cloud Elder suggests and clarify matters first!"

With a casual flick, a karah sound echoed. Yuan Hong intended for the burst of his own energy to shatter the frost on his right fist, but the resulting action only created a few cracks in the gradually thickening ice layer, with no other discernible effect.

Seeing this, Yuan Hong felt a flush of heat on his face. He immediately raised his left hand and struck his right fist, completely shattering the ice layer, before standing there as if nothing had happened—though his left hand kept kneading his right, revealing that the forceful attempt had indeed injured his hand.

Ye Wen was somewhat surprised to see Yuan Hong do this, sighing inwardly, "This fellow has a remarkably solid fist!"

For most people, forcibly shattering the ice layer this way after being struck by his chilling energy would risk destroying their own frozen fist if they weren't careful. Therefore, anyone with a modicum of reason wouldn't choose such a blunt method.

Yet, Yuan Hong did just that. Although his right hand felt slightly uncomfortable, it was not seriously damaged, and his fingers were already beginning to twitch faintly, indicating a gradual recovery.

"As expected of the Tongbi White Ape; truly blessed with a pair of strong arms!"

Retracting his gaze, Ye Wen walked over to Guan Luyan, placed a hand on his shoulder, and channeled his Innate Purple Qi through the young man's body. He found that Guan Luyan had no internal injuries; his wounds were superficial. Recalling Guan Yu’s earlier slash, its power was clearly a notch above Guan Luyan’s spear thrust. If it had connected squarely, it would have cost Guan Luyan his life or gravely wounded him. This suggested Guan Yu had held back his true strength.

"Whether Luyan is your descendant or not, this Ye does not dare claim certainty. However, I can answer the doubts you hold one by one!"

From the moment Guan Yu’s face showed doubt and confusion, Ye Wen had been seeking the crux of the issue. Now, having a moment's respite, a thought clicked, and he instantly guessed what was troubling Guan Yu.

Hearing Ye Wen say this, Guan Yu became curious. His phoenix eyes narrowed, and he inquired, "Since you say so, this Guan does have a few questions to ask!"

"Please!"

Ye Wen gestured dismissively, adopting an air of casual invitation.

Guan Yu nodded, pointing first at Chris and the others. "I wonder why your Sect harbors Westerners?"

At these words, everyone glanced toward Chris and his companions. Ye Wen hadn't expected these few Western disciples to cause such trouble, and he replied with curiosity, "May I ask why the General so strongly detests Westerners?"

He had now discerned that this Immortal Realm was not exclusively populated by Easterners, and likely contained more than just the Heavenly Court as a dominant force: "Could it be that the so-called Western Divine Race also resides in this world?"

Back on Earth, he had heard that the Western Church had also shown interest in the God-Beating Whip, even hoping to study it to find a way to communicate with their own deities. At the time, Ye Wen had wondered—even if the Whip could communicate with the divine, wouldn't it be the Eastern gods? What did the West have to do with it? Now, it seemed their ideas held merit; based on the current situation, the Western Divine Race and the Eastern Divine Race occupied the same world.

Indeed, Yuan Hong followed up, "Those Western fellows have coveted our Divine Land for millennia, repeatedly breaching our borders. As inhabitants of the Eastern Immortal Continent, how could we not despise them?"

As he spoke, the look he gave Chris and the others grew colder, causing Chris to frown deeply. He hadn't realized this was the reason, and judging by the atmosphere, the conflict between Easterners and Westerners in this world was severe. If so, would the Shu Mountain Sect, fundamentally rooted in Eastern civilization, still tolerate him?

Ye Wen also noticed the change in Chris's expression, realizing that if he couldn't stabilize this disciple’s heart, the Shu Mountain Sect might fracture from internal strife. More critically, with a quick glance, he saw Claire standing with Li Xiaoyao, their hands secretly clasped—although it looked like Li Xiaoyao was comforting her, Claire’s rosy cheeks suggested otherwise…

"Alright, enough said. For the sake of my disciples, this Master must bear the brunt of this for now!"

Ye Wen stepped forward. This step directly blocked Yuan Hong's line of sight toward Chris. While he could still see Chris, any move to attack would surely be intercepted by Ye Wen.

Seeing this, Yuan Hong grew furious again, but before he could speak, he heard Ye Wen say, "I see. Ultimately, it boils down to national hatred... General Guan mentioned earlier that you share a death feud with the West; I wonder..."

Yuan Hong did not reply. It was Guan Yu who spoke: "General Yuan's sworn brothers all perished in the previous wars against the Western faction..."

"Oh..."

Ye Wen was momentarily stunned, then recalled that Yuan Hong indeed had several sworn brothers who ascended the Investiture of the Gods list with him to become Heavenly Officials, only to have them all perish in battle now! Realizing this, his strong aversion to Westerners became understandable; this was truly a matter of blood debt.

"Sect Master Ye hasn't answered the previous question yet!"

Ye Wen turned around, organizing his thoughts. "This matter is rather long. Perhaps you two should sit down and listen patiently!"

"No..." Yuan Hong waved his hand, about to refuse, but Guan Yu stopped him in time, agreeing immediately: "That would be excellent!"

Since the commotion of fighting, many disciples had gathered at the entrance of the main hall. Ye Wen merely said, "We were just engaging in a friendly spar with this guest; don't make a fuss. Disperse!" He then pointed to two disciples: "Go fetch some seating for our guests!"

Disciples immediately rushed to a side room, retrieved fine tables and chairs specifically kept in the main hall, set them up in their established positions, and prepared tea before withdrawing completely.

Now, only Ye Wen, the highest-ranking members of the Shu Mountain Sect, and the next generation of disciples remained in the main hall. All younger disciples were ushered out, leaving only Guan Shuying. Then, the main doors of the hall were closed. Ye Wen settled in his seat and began his explanation.

"General Yuan's enmity with the West stems from the Western residents in this Immortal Realm; is that correct?"

"Yes!" Although Yuan Hong was displeased, since they were now negotiating calmly, he wouldn't stoop to feigning deafness. After all, he was an honorable man and wouldn't adopt such petty behavior.

Ye Wen smiled. "In that case, my disciples have absolutely no enmity toward General Yuan... in fact... they have no connection whatsoever!"

"Oh?"

This statement instantly piqued Guan Yu's interest. He felt the suspicion in his heart slowly beginning to materialize into reality.

Ye Wen glanced at Guan Yu. "General Guan seems to have already guessed!"

"I have a guess, but there are still a few points I don't understand..."

"No matter, you shall know soon enough!"

Hearing Ye Wen say this, Guan Yu ceased pressing and sat down with Yuan Hong to await the rest of the story. Ye Wen continued, "Actually, this Ye was not born in this Immortal Realm..."

Yuan Hong's eyelids jumped. He turned to look at Guan Yu, seeing his calm expression, and suddenly had an epiphany, understanding what was happening. He even grasped why the Shu Mountain Sect had appeared so suddenly and silently—the entire reason lay here.

But if that were the case, didn't it mean the entire Shu Mountain Sect had ascended together? However, while the Sect Master Ye possessed immense power, his disciples were not all universally formidable. How could they all ascend simultaneously?

To suggest Ye Wen forcibly carried his entire sect in ascension by his own power, Yuan Hong absolutely refused to believe it. Although Ye Wen was strong, he wasn't that strong. If such a terrifying figure existed, Yuan Hong suspected he would already be dead. Furthermore, if cultivators had ascended, the Heavenly Court would certainly have received notice. To properly arrange ascending individuals, the Court had long set up formations: people from fixed locations would emerge from fixed points, where Heavenly Court reception personnel would register them and explain the general circumstances of the Immortal Realm.

But Ye Wen and this entire Shu Mountain Sect—so many people ascending together—could not have done so without a single trace of notice, nor could they be ignorant of the Immortal Realm’s basic rules, resulting in Yuan Hong leading troops to attack them. In short, many details did not add up. Just as he prepared to question this, Guan Yu spoke first: "Sect Master Ye's ascension... I presume it did not follow the usual pattern?"

Ye Wen chuckled. "It was actually an accident. One might even say this Ye didn't even know we would ascend to the Immortal Realm!"

He then recounted the story of their ascension, slightly modified: he changed the narrative of him and his junior martial brothers accidentally arriving in the Immortal Realm to an event where the entire Shu Mountain suddenly encountered a cosmic anomaly, causing the entire mountain, along with all its members, to arrive here in the Immortal Realm.

"For some time, none of us knew this was the legendary Immortal Realm!"

After he finished speaking, Guan Yu glanced at Guan Luyan and asked, "So, Sect Master Ye and your entire Sect came from Earth?"

"Precisely!"

Guan Yu fell silent, turning to exchange a look with Yuan Hong. Then, in unison, they spoke a single phrase: "Spatial Rift!"

Ye Wen remained silent, acting as if he hadn't heard, and very calmly lifted his teacup, taking a sip.

Suddenly, Guan Yu addressed Cui Jun, the Gourd Immortal, who was also astonished by this revelation: "Senior Cui traveled to the Lower Realm on business decades ago, so you must be somewhat familiar with Lower Realm affairs. This Guan would like to ask Senior Cui to pose some questions regarding the Lower Realm to this Sect Master Ye."

At these words, everyone realized that Cui Jun had actually visited Earth. They didn't know by what means he had gone, but this provided a way to test whether Ye Wen had been lying earlier. If they truly came from Earth, Cui Jun's questions should elicit accurate answers.

Cui Jun scratched his thinning hair, then flicked his sleeve. A thud sounded, and an object appeared before everyone.

"If Sect Master Ye hails from Earth, you must know what this is?"

Ye Wen stared at the square object, momentarily stunned. He truly hadn't expected to see such an item in the Immortal Realm, especially presented by an Immortal Realm resident: "That is a television... though the model is a bit old!"

Cui Jun, seeing Ye Wen answer correctly, then produced another item: "And this?"

"An electric iron!"

"And this?"

"A game console!"

"And this?"

"...Senior, is it appropriate to bring this item out right now?"

Cui Jun, feeling excited, kept pulling things out until he noticed the blushing faces of the few women in the hall. Realizing the item was indeed ill-suited for the moment, he hastily tucked it away: "My mistake just now, look at this one instead!"

"Senior... this item shouldn't be taken casually, should it?"

Ye Wen gazed at the concrete pillar lying across the hall, utterly speechless. Where did this old man get everything? Had he even dismantled a utility pole?

Cui Jun chuckled awkwardly, waved his large sleeves, and retracted the collection of miscellaneous items, then asked, "Right, do you know the Sect Master of the Qingcheng Sect?"

"Qingcheng?" Ye Wen's eyelid twitched. A bad premonition suddenly struck him, and he cautiously inquired, "Is Senior Cui referring to Sect Master Yu Lin, Yu..."

Cui Jun nodded vigorously upon hearing this. "That lad is not bad; he has some comprehension. It's a pity his mind is too burdened, and his strength is limited. Furthermore, I was restricted at the time, otherwise, I would have brought him back to the Immortal Realm..."

Ye Wen felt supremely unlucky today. He hadn't expected Cui Jun to have any connection with Yu Lin, and judging by his words, he held a favorable opinion of Yu Lin. This made it difficult to reveal that Yu Lin had died at his own hands.