Jun Mo Xie secretly resolved: If this place was a hidden battlefield established by the Three Great Sacred Lands, then he would certainly make good use of it! He would first collect some interest on the accumulated blood debts! And that initial interest would surely be forged in blood! With the rhythmic clip-clop of hooves, Jun Mo Xie and his party of twenty-four slowly entered the heart of Naihua City! Juluo City, the Chen Family.

In the main hall, the Chen Family Patriarch, Chasing Cloud Hand Chen Chun Tian, sat with a grave expression in the seat of honor.

Flanking him were two white-robed elders, eyes slightly closed, seated motionlessly, resembling a pair of statues.

Below them, neat rows of seating, forty to fifty chairs in total, were all occupied.

Silence reigned, not a single sound escaped.

On every face lay the heavy tension of impending storm, mingled with a sharp, chilling will to fight! The sound of hooves suddenly rang out—a fast horse approached from afar, only pulling to an abrupt halt within the courtyard, followed instantly by a rush of hurried footsteps.

But— The two white-robed elders in the hall suddenly opened their eyes in unison, emitting dazzling beams of light! "They've arrived!" A ripple of alertness went through everyone in the hall, the two words emerging from their throats. "Reporting to the Patriarch, the people from the Dongfang Family have entered ** City!" A man in blue clothing entered the hall, knelt, and reported loudly.

Chen Qing Tian nodded slightly, his voice deep, inquiring, "Oh? Who has come? And how many are in the party?" The man in blue replied, "The leader of this group is Dongfang Wen Qing, the foremost figure of the Dongfang Family.

The remaining twenty-three accompanying him include two Heaven-rank assassins from the Dongfang Family, and one young man rumored to be a descendant from the younger generation of the Dongfang Family.

Furthermore, there are twenty escorts; judging by their attire, demeanor, and conduct, they are very likely the family retainers of that aforementioned junior." "Heh heh heh...

The Dongfang Family thinks too little of me.

Just Dongfang Wen Qing plus two Heaven-rank assassins, and they think they can take the head of Chen Qing Tian? Have I been dormant for so long that I've become so ignorant of heaven and earth? To even bring a junior relative along—do they truly believe ** City is a place they can enter and leave at will?" Chen Qing Tian smiled faintly and said coldly. "Hahahaha...

Only two Heaven-rank assassins...

and one Dongfang Wen Qing...

to come and assassinate the Patriarch with such meager strength, it's simply laughable, ha ha ha..." Below, a middle-aged man in blue burst into uncontrollable laughter. "Patriarch, the Dongfang Family is so arrogant.

This Guardian recommends we should certainly make them suffer a great deal, humiliate them thoroughly, and then execute them by slow slicing! Finally, send Dongfang Wen Qing's mangled corpse back to the Dongfang Family to officially declare war and annihilate them!" "Indeed, what Law Protector Li says has merit! Elder Brother, this action by the Dongfang Family clearly shows they hold our Chen Family in contempt.

We absolutely cannot swallow this insult so easily!" The one who spoke was seated third from the bottom, the Chen Qing Tian's third brother, Chen Qing Yun.

His face now was filled with a savage, bloodthirsty expression. "Everyone must not be careless! The Dongfang Family has never excelled at frontal combat; their terror lies in their intricate assassinations! The Heaven-rank assassins of the Dongfang Family are formidable entities capable of slaying Heaven Profound masters and retreating unharmed!" One of the two white-robed men beside Chen Qing Tian spoke slowly, "Dongfang Wen Qing of the Dongfang Family originally only possessed cultivation at the Divine Profound Third Grade, but recently, having gained some unknown fortuitous encounter, he has managed to elevate his strength in one leap! At this moment, Dongfang Wen Qing is likely at least above the level of Supreme.

If..." He slowly raised his head, his gaze, cold as lightning, sweeping across the hall, and continued gloomily, "If we underestimate him, we stand to suffer a great loss!" Chen Qing Tian's expression sobered. "Elder Fu gives timely warning." For the venerable Chen Qing Tian, the Patriarch of the Chen Family, to show such deference to this old man, and for none of the others below to show any surprise, taking it as a matter of course, clearly indicated that they were well aware of these two's origins. "You mentioned earlier that there was another young man among the group who should be a descendant of the Dongfang Family? What does that young man look like?" The other white-robed elder suddenly interjected.

He had remained mostly silent from the start, but now, his question seemed directed at something trivial.

The blue-clothed scout kneeling below paused, "That young man's appearance is extremely ugly, his face dark and blackened, his mouth slightly askew, his eyes one large and one small, and his manner coarse.

He looks...

rather like a rogue hoodlum, certainly not like the progeny of a great aristocratic family." This man, entrusted with the important task of scouting the news of the Dongfang Family's arrivals, was naturally sharp and astute.

Now, as he described the Dongfang Family group, his words betrayed not the slightest hesitation or omission.

Especially his depiction of Jun Mo Xie's current appearance, it was vivid, lifelike, and piercingly accurate. "The Dongfang Family has been a lineage of assassins for nearly a thousand years! How could they produce such a disgrace of a descendant?" The white-robed man's face darkened slightly. "The first generation sets the standard, the second generation sees it through, and if the third generation's reputation remains untarnished, they possess an innate confidence—what we call noble bearing.

Over nearly a thousand years, the Dongfang Family has seen far more than just a few generations! The possibility of such a profligate son existing is infinitesimally small!" He let out a heavy snort. "Moreover, Dongfang Wen Qing and Dongfang Wen Jian of the Dongfang Family have had no direct descendants for many years.

Only Dongfang Wen Dao has two sons; records indicate one of Dongfang Wen Dao's sons has just reached adulthood, and the other is barely twenty.

While their looks aren't strikingly handsome, they are acceptable.

Where did this dark-faced, coarse youth come from?" Chen Qing Tian’s expression sharpened. "Could it be that this is someone whose true identity has been concealed?" "That is most likely correct!" The white-robed elder asserted firmly. "And this person must be a powerful expert of unusual skill! This individual must play a crucial role in the Dongfang Family's current operation! As for Dongfang Wen Qing...

arriving with such fanfare, he might not be the greatest threat, at best serving as a visible decoy to draw attention! The key certainly lies with this so-called 'youth'." Chen Qing Tian nodded deeply, expressing full agreement, then turned his face over. "Immediately dispatch someone to investigate the background of that boy.

Monitor all their movements, and report any news without delay!" "Yes!" "Third Brother, maintain close contact with the Zhan Family and have them make preparations for action at any moment!" "Yes! Elder Brother, the masters from the Zhan Family are already prepared, and reinforcements are waiting just outside the city.

Should anything happen, they can provide full cooperation immediately." Just then, the blue-clothed scout, who had already risen, showed an expression as if he had more to say but hesitated.

The white-robed elder sensed this and asked, "Do you have something more to report?" "Yes...

It's just...

this matter is rather bizarre, and this subordinate dares not state it definitively." The scout paused, a look of deep thought crossing his face, and hesitated with a trace of uncertainty. "What else?" someone nearby pressed impatiently. "When I mentioned the twenty escorts whose attire suggested they were guards, I observed that each possessed a stable aura and a palpable air of ferocity.

Moreover, I could not discern their true cultivation levels at all.

But, from my observations, I discovered something very strange." "What strange thing?" Chen Qing Tian frowned slightly.

The scout’s expression deepened meaningfully. "The two Heaven-rank assassins of the Dongfang Family seemed to exhibit considerable fear toward those twenty escorts.

Their gestures showed slight constraint, perhaps even a subtle, visible reverence and deference. "Of course, this is merely my personal judgment, supported by no concrete proof!" The blue-clothed scout frowned, recalling the scene as he spoke.

At these words, the two white-robed elders instantly adopted expressions of grave contemplation.

They exchanged a look, both thinking of the same thing.

The elder spoke slowly again, "Did these people possess a certain untamable wildness about them? Are their physiques very imposing? Very...

fierce?" As this question was posed, Chen Qing Tian also immediately paid close attention.

Everyone in the hall instantly sat straighter, focusing intently on the blue-clothed scout.

Simultaneously, every mind arrived at the same conclusion: "Profound Beasts of the Heavenly Punishment, having taken human form!" "Yes, they are very imposing, all broad-shouldered and burly, radiating a bloodthirsty fierceness! But...

they didn't seem to possess any wild nature, and they were a very disciplined group.

The twenty men moved and stepped almost identically, a performance that strongly resembles battle-hardened, iron-blooded soldiers.

This subordinate can confirm, they are definitely not Profound Beasts from the Heavenly Punishment Forest..." The blue-clothed scout pondered, finally stating with certainty, "Although this subordinate has never seen high-level Profound Beasts in transformed shape, having grown up around beasts maintained in the estate, I am entirely sure of this distinction! They are not Profound Beasts." "This is strange..." The two white-robed elders exchanged another look, doubt flashing across both their faces.

They had suspected these might be reinforcements from the Heavenly Punishment Profound Beasts, but the scout's description made that seem unlikely.

Had they misjudged? "Furthermore, those twenty individuals showed respect to both the dark-faced youth and Dongfang Wen Qing! That is why this subordinate concluded those twenty were the family retainers of that junior!" The scout finished his final sentence and stood respectfully, head bowed. "This matter must be handled with extreme caution! It must be investigated thoroughly!" The two white-robed elders spoke to Chen Qing Tian in unison.

Chen Qing Tian took a deep breath, having clearly made a decision.

Chen Qing Yun stood up. "Regarding the Zhan Family, Elder Brother, please rest assured.

However...

concerning the matter of investigating the background of that dark-faced boy, who is best suited to be sent?" Chen Qing Yun was not foolish.

When Chen Qing Tian had previously spoken of sending someone to gather intelligence, it was meant for ordinary matters at best.

But now, based on the intelligence received and the attitude of the two white-robed elders, the matter had clearly escalated to a new level of importance that could not be treated lightly.

Any carelessness could lead to a botched mission at minimum, or the complete collapse of their plans at worst.

Chen Qing Tian pondered for a moment, then decided firmly, "Let Chen Chen go.

Only he can handle this matter perfectly and without leaving any trace; he is the one I trust most!" "Elder Brother, deploying Chen Er on the very first engagement? This...

isn't that giving that boy too much credit?" Chen Qing Yun looked stunned.