"How can there be two Chen Enxues?!"

"If the one above is Chen Enxue, then who is the one below?"

A huge question mark rose in everyone's mind.

Shao Guangyin frowned, and he immediately shot a look at his companions. The nearby Corpse Transcending Immortals stopped what they were doing. The black mist slowly withdrew back into their bodies, but their faces were pale. The lifespan they had just burned could no longer be recovered.

Given a little more time, their very lives would have been completely sacrificed.

Above the birdcage, three figures now stood: Chen Enxue, the Sixth Star Lord of the Heavenly Immortal Clan, whom everyone had seen before, and a third person no one recognized. It was a dignified-looking female cultivator, exuding an aura that warned others to keep their distance.

When Shao Guangyin saw this woman, his expression flickered several times before he suddenly smiled and said, "Amitabha. I never expected to meet today the young generation's foremost figure of the True King Clan, Young Lady Shi."

The True King Clan? She's a genuine True Immortal?!

Amid their shock, everyone gradually understood what was happening.

"Everyone... I'm afraid our trip to the Lesser Immortal Realm was merely used by Third Senior Sister as a smokescreen..." one of the core disciples of the Enlightenment God Palace muttered.

The others nodded in agreement. It was obvious that from beginning to end, Chen Enxue and the others had been engaged in a silent duel with Shao Guangyin. Their presence had merely been the green leaves in this contest. They were background decorations. And now that the True King Clan had appeared, it meant the Enlightenment God Palace had won.

Ji Sheng suddenly glanced at Ji Tianjun. Seeing his face turn deathly pale, Ji Sheng sneered. "Cousin, didn't expect this, did you?"

Ji Tianjun's expression was a storm of shifting emotions. All the pretense had been torn away. He no longer bothered to keep up appearances. His face was ashen, and he remained silent.

Young Lady Shi's expression was cold. She merely swept her gaze lightly over Shao Guangyin before letting it fall on the Corpse Transcending Immortals beside him. Her eyes gradually sharpened. "You Corpse Transcending Immortals... how dare you involve yourselves in the struggles of the Fangcun Realm?"

The seventh-transformation Corpse Transcending Immortal leading the group opened his mouth, then lowered his head in silence.

In a situation like this, the more you spoke, the more you erred. Silence was golden.

Young Lady Shi's gaze suddenly fell upon "Chen Enxue." She said, "Xie Aman, explain what exactly happened this time."

Xie Aman?!

Senior Sister?!

The Chen Enxue who was aboard the Black Dragon Boat smiled. Her appearance instantly returned to its original form. Only then did everyone realize. Their Senior Sister had been with them all along and had also come to the Lesser Immortal Realm!

Fang Chen suddenly understood. No wonder the Sixth Star Lord of the Heavenly Immortal Clan looked surprised when he saw Third Senior Sister at the Ji Family earlier.

So the two had swapped places long ago. The one accompanying them had been Xie Aman, while the one who went to seek reinforcements, contacted the Sixth Star Lord, and invited the True King Clan was the real Chen Enxue.

Even if the True Immortal from the True King Clan had arrived late, it wouldn't have mattered. With Xie Aman's skills, she could have stalled for a long time. Which meant from beginning to end, they had been in an extremely safe situation.

Xie Aman cupped her hands respectfully. "Senior Sister Shi, the matter is already clear. Shao Guangyin ambushed me before and failed. Now he's turned his attention to Third Sister. He used Zhu Ling from the Fire Virtue Immortal Division to lure her here to the Lesser Immortal Realm, intending to act against her here."

Ji Sheng's face turned pale. "So... the Ji Family was merely used as a pawn..."

The thought that someone had used the Ji family to lure Chen Enxue out made him uneasy. If Chen Enxue had encountered danger in the Lesser Immortal Realm, it would mean the Ji Family had indirectly aided it!

"In that case... after the deed, Rulai Monastery and the Corpse Transcending Immortal Clan intended to shift the blame onto the Heavenly Immortal Clan?" said Sixth Star Lord suddenly.

After pondering briefly, he nodded. "Indeed. If something had happened to them here, the Heavenly Immortal Clan would very likely have been forced to take the blame."

The real Chen Enxue slapped the Sixth Star Lord hard on the shoulder and laughed. "See, Sixth Brother? I told you the truth. If I hadn't called you, your Heavenly Immortal Clan might have ended up carrying the blame without even knowing it."

Pain flashed across the baby-faced Sixth Star Lord's features as he rubbed his shoulder. "Relax..."

Then his expression turned stern as he looked at Shao Guangyin and the others. "Rulai Monastery and the Corpse Transcending Immortals owe us an explanation."

Shao Guangyin remained silent for a long time before suddenly smiling. "We were merely passing through and happened to encounter you all. We simply wished to make a Lesser joke, and perhaps spar a bit to exchange techniques." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

"This joke is not amusing, nor is that explanation convincing," Young Lady Shi said calmly, "As the Honored One of the Rulai Monastery, you ought to take responsibility. I will not concern myself with whether you truly joined hands with Meng Tianshu of the Mysterious Immortal Division to deal with Xie Aman in the past. But today, I witnessed your actions with my own eyes. If this matter is mishandled, it could spark conflict between the Fangcun Realm and the Lesser Immortal Realm. It would not only be the Heavenly Immortal Clan bearing responsibility. The True King Clan would likewise have to pay a price."

"It's not that serious." Shao Guangyin replied evenly. "We haven't fought. Neither side has suffered losses. How do you intend to settle this matter? We will not accept unfounded accusations."

"Unfounded accusations?" Xie Aman suddenly chuckled and pointed at Ji Tianjun. "That guy just openly called you 'my lord'. That proves he's your spy within the Enlightenment God Palace. He played no small role in luring Third Sister here. From beginning to end, you were the one scheming behind the scenes. Stop talking about unjust charges and speak directly. You tell me. How should this be handled? Otherwise... do you think my backup plan will win, or yours?"

Ji Tianjun's face grew even paler. He instinctively looked toward Shao Guangyin, eyes filled with pleading. But Shao Guangyin had no time for him. He was weighing the implications of Xie Aman's words.

"Very well. I was indeed unwilling to accept defeat in the battle at the Great Thunder Sound and thus sought to trouble you." Shao Guangyin sighed. "State your conditions. We will discuss them and try to provide a satisfactory explanation."

Seeing the Honored One of Rulai Monastery admit it, the core disciples of Enlightenment God Palace let out cold laughter. "Before stating conditions, I want you to tell me. What was the nature of that black mist just now? What did you intend to do to us?"

Xie Aman smiled faintly and continued, "If your answer satisfies me, I can also give you a satisfactory outcome."

At once, all eyes turned to Shao Guangyin. They were curious about the black mist, too.

"Oh, and by the way, when we fought at Great Thunder Sound, I secretly intercepted some of your power. After various tests, I've gleaned a bit of understanding. So speak carefully, don't try to conceal anything," Xie Aman warned.

Shao Guangyin frowned, wary. Intercepted some of my power?

Fang Chen suddenly thought of the black stone sphere.

Could it be that the black ink that had foiled Meng Suikong's advancement to the seventh transformation had been refined by Xie Aman using that very power as its foundation?