Jiang Chen smiled lightly and pointed to the vacant seat, "Sit down and talk."

Spirit You touched his head and walked with Yan Hu to the empty seats at the end. As they moved, he whispered, "Brother Hu Zi, did I say something wrong?"

"These are also members of the hidden clans!" Yan Hu whispered back with a light smile.

Spirit You was slightly stunned, and when he got to the empty seats, he turned and gave the others, including Leng Ming, an apologetic smile before sitting down.

"Brother, can you tell me how you interrogated them?" Leng Ming's tone was a bit hostile.

Spirit You glanced at Leng Ming, then turned to look at Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen smiled faintly and patted Leng Ming on the shoulder, "Spirit You is my brother. He's never encountered hidden clans before, or rather, today might be the first time he has even heard the term 'hidden clans.' You're not being petty, are you?"

"Alright."

Leng Ming gave Jiang Chen a look and nodded slightly. Then he turned to Spirit You, "However, I still want to know how you conducted the interrogation."

Jiang Chen looked at Leng Ming and nodded at Spirit You.

With Jiang Chen's cue, Spirit You said softly, "I didn't do much. Just woke them up and then, in their presence, started to whittle away the young man's fingers. One hundred and twenty-seven cuts to reduce a thumb to bone, and then I asked them, 'How many cuts do you think it'll take to whittle him into a skeleton?' After that, they answered every question!"

"Whittle..."

"One hundred and twenty-seven cuts for just one finger?!"

"How is that possible?!"

Leng Ming and the others' faces changed dramatically as they exclaimed in shock.

Li Tianchong frowned and said in a low voice, "You call such punishment 'not going in hard'?"

"Don't doubt it; he's capable. I've seen him whittle someone for an entire day and night, about tens of thousands of cuts, until the person really turned into a skeleton!"

Jiang Chen laughed lightly as he vouched for Spirit You and then looked at Li Tianchong, "For him, it really is considered 'not going in hard,' Elder Li. This kid's methods of punishment are endless. Some of the tortures I've just heard about make even me shudder!"

Li Tianchong and the others looked at Spirit You with a hint of wariness in their eyes.

"Let's eat, talk while eating." Jiang Chen picked up his chopsticks to signal everyone and looked up at Spirit You.

Understanding, Spirit You spoke softly, "Those people are from the Liu Family in A province. They were approached by the Chen Family from the northwest for a worldly trial and were pulled into the Zhou Family's camp. The Zhou Family gave them a task to take down your family, the family of the grand instructor. The Liu Family, greedy for merit, did not wait for the Chen Family and directly approached Jiang Yuqing, the current spokesman of the Jiang Family."

"The northwest Zhou Family?" Jiang Chen slightly furrowed his brows.

"Why would the Zhou Family do this?" Li Tianchong frowned, a trace of confusion flickering in his eyes.

Spirit You shook his head gently, "The people from the Liu Family don't know. They just follow orders!"

After a pause, Spirit You continued, "However, according to the Liu Family, the members of the Chen Family have already arrived, it's just that they seem to be on another task and did not come here immediately."

"Another task?"

A cold light flashed in Jiang Chen's eyes as he whispered, "In Jincheng, another task..."

Taking out his phone, Jiang Chen opened a group chat and sent a voice message, "Everyone, pay attention. The hidden clans of the Martial Dao World have been out in the world for a year now. Starting now, if any clan seeks your help to join the secular world, remember, you must not agree, absolutely do not let them through your clan's doors. Also, if any hidden clan from the northwest region approaches you, stall them and notify me!"

"What? The hidden clans are out in the world?!"

"They've been hiding for a year?"

"Yes."

"Understood, Mr. Jiang."

"Good."

Surprised exclamations and responses filled the group chat but no one asked why. Everyone in the chat showed absolute trust in Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen waited quietly for a while, and seeing no more responses in the group chat, he let out a sigh of relief. The lack of response meant they hadn't yet encountered any hidden clans seeking to use their families to enter the world.

Putting away his phone, Jiang Chen turned to Yan Hu, "Hu Zi, notify our people to check where the Chen Family members are."

"Yes."

Yan Hu responded and made a phone call.

After the meal, everyone returned to their bedrooms, and Jiang Chen called Yan Hu and Spirit You to his attic.

"Spirit You, what's the situation at Spa Training Camp?" They sat down, and Jiang Chen looked up at Spirit You.

Spirit You replied softly, "Our contact from Spa Training Camp will be transferring through Jincheng International Airport next Wednesday. We'll meet then."

"Next Wednesday... today is Monday. We should make it in time," Jiang Chen murmured, nodding slightly.

"Grand Instructor, isn't Scar..." Spirit You reminded softly.

"The battle for the Ge'er Family heir is coming up. At this time, let's not disturb Scar. Let him focus on the competition. Taking him with us might give people a reason to criticize," Jiang Chen shook his head, "After all, our trip might lead to a conflict with them. The best-case scenario would be an internal cleanup within their ranks. Either way, it would bring loss to Spa Training Camp!"

Spirit You nodded in sudden understanding.

Dinglingling!

Yan Hu's phone rang. He took it out and answered the call.

"Young Master, Wu Ji said that the person in charge in Jincheng saw five half-Venerable Realm and three suspected Venerable Realm experts inquiring about the Martial Alliance," Yan Hu reported after hanging up, his voice grave.

"The Martial Alliance?!"

Jiang Chen was stunned for a moment, then frowned as he quickly took out his phone and dialed a number.

Somewhere along the eastern coastal region of Jincheng, at Martial Alliance Headquarters.

In the central building's conference room, the atmosphere was very tense.

Martial Alliance Leader Xiao Chang'an sat in the principal seat with two Vice Alliance Hierarchs, Dao Wufeng and Liu Qingxia, and the six council members all seated to his left in a row.

Across from them sat ten middle-aged and elderly men, and at the end was Li Yunfeng, who had been expelled from the Martial Alliance.

"Gentlemen, I apologize, but I understand the rules of entering the world, and I cannot allow the Martial Alliance to become a stepping stone for you. Please understand," Xiao Chang'an said gravely.

"Is this how you refuse to give the Chen Family face?" the elder on the right started, his face dark as he looked at Xiao Chang'an, "Alliance Hierarch Xiao, my Chen Family is offering to use your Martial Alliance as a means to enter the world as a sign of respect. By refusing, you risk creating enemies for your Martial Alliance."

Buzz, buzz, buzz!

As soon as the elder's words ended, all ten persons on the right burst out with tremendous aura, pressuring Xiao Chang'an and the others intensely.

"So powerful?!"

"How is this possible?!"

"This..."

Xiao Chang'an and the others turned pale and looked at the group to their right in surprise.

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