Fang Chen couldn't make heads or tails of the situation. While he had indeed secretly informed Xie Aman of the trip despite Chen Enxue's own refusal, Xie Aman had said she wasn't interested in joining them on the trip.

He had hoped Xie Aman's intervention would lower the risks of the journey. After all, he hadn't wished to see Chen Enxue fall into a demonic trap and awaken memories of her previous life. She was ranked third among the core disciples. If someone like her awakened her memories, she would be just like Shao Guangyin and pose an enormous danger to the Nine Mortal Realms.

Thus, Fang Chen couldn't help but be taken aback by Xie Aman's sudden appearance on Chen Enxue's Immortal Boat.

However, it didn't take long for Fang Chen to understand what was happening. He gave a bitter smile. "Senior Sister... you and Third Senior Sister have been in contact all along?"

"Of course," Xie Aman replied. "Do you really think the third-ranked core disciple of the Enlightenment God Palace would casually put herself in danger and run off to the Lesser Immortal Realm? This place is connected to the Greater Immortal Realm. If the barrier between the two realms were breached, everyone here would have to die three times over."

She rolled her eyes. "Without the Palace Lord's approval, without the Elders' Council's consent, and without my agreement, she wouldn't take a single step into the Lesser Immortal Realm."

"You make it sound like I have no freedom at all, like anyone can control where I go," Chen Enxue retorted. "I just thought this matter was a bit suspicious, so I let you know in advance."

Fang Chen looked at Chen Enxue, feeling a bit relieved. "So you also sensed something was off, Third Senior Sister?"

As expected of the third-ranked core disciple of the Enlightenment God Palace. She was sharp-minded.

"This matter is exactly like the ambush I suffered back then. It's just that the location has been changed to the Lesser Immortal Realm, and the invitation came through Old Tenth to lure her here," explained Xie Aman with a faint smile. "Under normal circumstances, there's almost no visible flaw. After all, our Enlightenment God Palace doesn't have much conflict with the various clans of the Lesser Immortal Realm. No cultivator here would have any reason to act against her."

Chen Enxue sneered. "But now, the situation is different. Shao Guangyin once orchestrated an assassination attempt against Senior Sister, and the one who struck at the end was an eighth-transformation Ancient Immortal named Meng Tianshu, who also came from the Lesser Immortal Realm.

"He is the younger brother of the head of the Mysterious Immortal Division. Back then, when the Enlightenment God Palace contacted the Mysterious Immortal Division, their division head said that his younger brother had been expelled from the division for many years, and that his actions had nothing to do with the Mysterious Immortal Division. Later, the Heavenly Immortal Clan behind the Mysterious Immortal Division stepped in to mediate, compensated us with a spiritual treasure, and the matter was settled."

"The Mysterious Immortal Division and the Fire Virtue Immortal Division are both backed by the Heavenly Immortal Clan..." Fang Chen muttered softly. "Senior Sisters, are you suspecting that the real mastermind behind this incident is actually the Heavenly Immortal Clan?"

"Correct. That suspicion exists," Xie Aman answered calmly. "But without concrete evidence, we can't bring charges against the Heavenly Immortal Clan. However, they dared to make a move against me. If they think they can wriggle out of this by giving away a spiritual treasure, a Guyue Ghost Boat, and an Immortal Register, then they're gravely mistaken. So I've been planning to give the Mysterious Immortal Division a big surprise. It just so happens that your matter came up at the same time."

Fang Chen finally understood. So Xie Aman had still been waiting for an opportunity to retaliate against the Mysterious Immortal Division, and after learning about the incident, she coordinated plans with Chen Enxue.

Xie Aman chuckled. "When I learned of this, I made a bet with your Third Senior Sister. I said you would definitely tell me about it, not for any other reason, but because I believed you would be able to see something odd about this situation. You couldn't say it outright back then, so you hinted at it indirectly, probably because Ji Sheng is your fellow disciple, and you didn't want to implicate him."

"Ninth Brother, you made me lose 50 merit points," Chen Enxue said with a smile that wasn't quite a smile.

"Third Senior Sister, I'll cover your merit points," Fang Chen offered promptly.

Chen Enxue's eyes lit up. Afraid he might change his mind, she quickly looked at Xie Aman. "Senior Sister, you heard that, right? Ninth Brother is paying! A gentleman's word! A promise is a promise!"

"You have merit points, but you shouldn't squander them like this," Xie Aman said, clearly annoyed. Still, remembering the main matter, she lowered her voice and continued, "I had Third Sister call you over because there's something I need to tell you. You're a newly promoted core disciple. You gained some fame in the battle of the Great Thunder Sound, but your own cultivation level isn't high. Here, you can't use Formation Immortal Arts, so attention from all sides won't be focused on you."

Fang Chen's eyes sharpened. "Please speak, Senior Sister."

It seemed those two already had some plans. However, they didn't know the real truth behind this matter. In their speculation, the ones targeting them were likely the Heavenly Immortal Clan, and the true target was the Enlightenment God Palace behind them.

If this is the demon race deliberately stirring things up, trying to provoke a war between the Enlightenment God Palace and the Heavenly Immortal Clan...

Fang Chen felt a bit helpless. At such a critical moment, Old Wang had disappeared without a trace. If he were here, he would surely find a roundabout way to hint something to Xie Aman.

Xie Aman continued, "Aren't you going to the Ji Family to negotiate with the Fire Virtue Immortal Division? You can say your cultivation has run into problems and that you need to enter seclusion here. Then use the escape technique you used back in the Great Thunder Sound and make a trip to the Mysterious Immortal Division."

She took out a black spherical object and handed it to Fang Chen. "This is a spiritual treasure I refined personally. It's different from ordinary spiritual treasures. It can only be used once, but its power is immense. When the time comes, place it at the Mysterious Immortal Division..."

She recited a string of locations.

"After placing it, just come back and regroup with us. I'll follow Third Sister and the others to see what the Fire Virtue Immortal Division is really up to this time."

Xie Aman sneered. "If they truly intend to harm the core disciples of my Enlightenment God Palace, then don't blame me for tearing off all pretenses."

Fang Chen accepted the black sphere. Its appearance was utterly ordinary, its aura likewise. With his cultivation, he couldn't sense even the slightest trace of anything related to cultivation from it. It was like a pebble that had been deliberately polished into a sphere.

"You want me to act separately... but the most critical point of this whole matter is still on the Fire Virtue Immortal Division's side... If their real target is Chen Enxue, then the one making a move would be at least a seventh-transformation Ancient Immortal."

"Ninth Brother, don't worry," Xie Aman said, assuming he was concerned for his own safety. "You won't be in any danger on this mission. Even if you're discovered, just say you're casually sightseeing. They won't dare do anything to you."

"Back then, when you used that escape technique, even Third Sister and I couldn't see through it. That's why you're the most suitable one for this task."

"Senior Sister, that's not what I'm worried about," Fang Chen said gravely. "Have you heard about some things that have been happening in the Lower Six Realms in recent years? That matter is extremely strange. I think it may endanger us."

"What matter?" Chen Enxue asked curiously.

Fang Chen was just about to explain when Xie Aman smiled and said, "You're talking about how, in the Lower Six Realms, many regions have suffered demonic calamities?"

Fang Chen was surprised. "You already knew about this?"

"Yes. The Spirit God Sect contacted us about it, saying someone is experimenting with a forbidden art using mortal lives." She smiled faintly. "The Spirit God Sect itself isn't exactly clean, yet they still had the nerve to bring this up with us.

"Still, the Palace Lord gave them some face and has already dispatched an Ancient Immortal to thoroughly investigate the matter."

"That Ancient Immortal... it wouldn't be Senior Taixu, would it?" Fang Chen asked in astonishment.