"Greetings to the Ancestor of the Zhou Family!"

"Greetings to Ancestor Zhou!"

The affiliated families, the offering corps, and Jiang Chen all bowed respectfully to the Zhou Family Ancestor.

"Have you seen your ancestor before?"

Taking advantage of the bow, Jiang Chen quietly asked Zhou Liecheng.

Zhou Liecheng paused slightly, then responded in a low voice, "No, but my grandfather has."

"Isn't your ancestor someone who only appears in the ancestral hall?" Jiang Chen asked again.

Zhou Liecheng replied with confusion, "I'm not sure why he appeared here."

After everyone finished their bow, Jiang Chen turned to look at Zhou Dingguo.

At this moment, Zhou Dingguo seemed to be sizing up the Zhou Family Ancestor, his eyes showing faint traces of surprise and unfamiliarity!

Jiang Chen's heart sank immediately, and he turned to fix his gaze on the Zhou Family Ancestor ahead.

"Today is the Zhou Family's ancestral tribute ceremony. I am very pleased that you are all here. However, among today's visitors, there is one friend whose arrival I do not understand."

The Zhou Family Ancestor turned to Jiang Chen and smiled faintly. "Head of the Jiang Family, can you explain why you've come here?"

Jiang Chen paused slightly and furrowed his brows. The members of the Cold Ming Family and another family all revealed strange expressions.

A few individuals from these two major families, who had only arrived today, stepped forward and positioned themselves behind Jiang Chen.

"Ancestor, Mr. Jiang is here at my invitation!" Before Jiang Chen could answer, Zhou Liecheng stepped forward and bowed, offering an explanation.

The Zhou Family Ancestor glanced at Zhou Liecheng and said indifferently, "Why would you invite the head of a commercial family to participate in our annual ancestral tribute ceremony?"

"Ancestor, I wanted to bring up a matter during the ceremony, which is why I invited Mr. Jiang!" Zhou Liecheng replied respectfully.

The Zhou Family Ancestor furrowed his brows lightly and looked at Zhou Liecheng dispassionately. "What is it you wish to say? Speak now."

Zhou Liecheng froze for a moment, casting a startled glance at the Zhou Family Ancestor.

The Zhou family members, especially Zhou Dingguo's generation, exchanged curious looks, sensing something unusual about the ancestor today.

"Yes!"

Zhou Liecheng, feeling somewhat baffled, hesitated briefly before stepping forward and turning to address the crowd. "Today, in the presence of our ancestor and everyone gathered here, I wish to announce something. I, Zhou Liecheng, hereby request that my father, Zhou Jiang, pass on the position of Family Head to me!"

The Zhou Family members showed no sign of surprise, nor did the affiliated families or the offering corps, noting they were already aware of the matter.

Jiang Chen frowned lightly; in their original plan, Zhou Liecheng was supposed to press the claim after reaching the ancestral hall.

However, with the abrupt appearance of the Zhou Family Ancestor, Zhou Liecheng was forced to act prematurely, throwing their plan into disarray.

"Mr. Jiang, should I prepare now?" Yue Shaoting transmitted a message to Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen glanced at the Zhou Family Ancestor and transmitted back to Yue Shaoting, "Senior, inform everyone that in this confined space, it is impossible to move unnoticed. Have them remain vigilant. High-level cultivators should find opportunities to position themselves on the periphery. I fear events will deviate from our expectations."

"Understood!"

Yue Shaoting nodded briefly.

"Impudence!"

A booming voice rang out as Zhou Jiang stepped forward, glaring at Zhou Liecheng. "Liecheng, what are you trying to do? Are you attempting to defy your elders and ancestors?"

Zhou Liecheng followed the script they had devised, beginning his speech: "No, of course not. It's just that, given today's societal developments..."

As Zhou Liecheng spoke, the Zhou family began dividing into two factions, splitting clearly along lines of opposition. The offering corps and affiliated families opted for silence, gradually positioning themselves behind Zhou Dingguo and other neutral members.

Jiang Chen raised an eyebrow slightly. The stone chamber was now split into three groups: opposing factions led by Zhou Liecheng and Zhou Jiang in the center, Zhou Dingguo's group on the left, and Jiang Chen's group on the right.

Because of this shift, Jiang Chen and his group, who had initially been among the crowd, suddenly found themselves isolated.

Narrowing his eyes slightly, Jiang Chen glanced once more at the Zhou Family Ancestor, who now bore an enigmatic smile on his face.

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

Suddenly, the Heaven and Earth Dragon Origin Qi within Jiang Chen surged violently, waves of overwhelming and ferocious energy threatening to burst forth!

Jiang Chen's expression changed sharply as he turned to look at the affiliated families and offering corps standing behind Zhou Dingguo's group. At that moment, though they appeared to be watching Zhou Liecheng and Zhou Jiang, the corners of their eyes occasionally darted toward Jiang Chen's side!

"Enough arguing!"

An abrupt shout rang out as Jiang Chen strode decisively toward Zhou Liecheng and Zhou Jiang.

Standing before the two, Jiang Chen spoke in a grim tone, "Zhou Liecheng, when you invited me here, you didn't tell me I would be expected to take sides in your dispute with your father for the position of Family Head. This is your family's matter, and I will not involve myself!"

Zhou Liecheng was stunned, staring in bewilderment at the unpredictable Jiang Chen.

Zhou Jiang, Zhou Dingguo, and the others also looked at Jiang Chen in shock.

"What... is going on?!"

Cold Ming stared incredulously at Jiang Chen. This was completely against their plan!

Yan Hu and Spirit You exchanged glances, then stepped forward toward Jiang Chen. Seeing their movements, Fang Tiancheng followed suit, and when these three moved, the members of the two hidden families followed as well.

With this, the distance between Jiang Chen's group and the Zhou Family, including affiliated families and the offering corps, shrank noticeably!

The Zhou Family Ancestor furrowed his brows, staring at Jiang Chen in puzzlement, while the Zhou family members looked similarly perplexed.

"What's happening?!"

"What is Head Jiang doing?!"

"This… doesn't feel right!"

Even those Zhou family members whom Zhou Dingguo had privately informed found themselves bewildered by Jiang Chen's actions.

Zhou Dingguo narrowed his eyes slightly, scanned Jiang Chen, glanced around, and then suddenly understood something. He shouted, "Head Jiang, since you know you shouldn't meddle in my Zhou Family's internal affairs, I must ask you to refrain from interfering!"

As he spoke, Zhou Dingguo stepped closer to Jiang Chen and his group. With his movement, a bewildered contingent of Zhou family members followed suit.

This brought Jiang Chen's group and the Zhou family together, while the affiliated families and offering corps remained excluded!

"Old Master Zhou, what's this supposed to mean? You invite me here, but then won't let me speak? Are you looking down on me, Jiang Chen?"

Jiang Chen glared at Zhou Dingguo, raising his voice angrily. "If not for me, would you have been able to hold onto the Huangluo Clan and Yue Family? Now that they've stayed, you've decided to give me attitude? Do you think I, Jiang Chen, am easy to bully?"

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

As he spoke, Jiang Chen activated his Inner Qi, releasing an aura both ethereal and vast, which surged fiercely, pressing down on Zhou Dingguo with intensity.

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