Chapter 243: Dominating with Power

“Everyone, rise!” Although Chen Wansheng wore a smile, his demeanor had turned cold and aloof—completely different from how he treated Chen Fei.

Chen Wang and the others stood up, and many of their gazes turned toward Chen Fei.

However, what followed was a strange change in their expressions.

They almost thought they were hallucinating!

Why was the Chen Family Patriarch’s token in this young man’s hands?

“Chen Wang, from today onward, the Patriarch of the Chen Family will be Chen Fei! On normal days, you will still manage family affairs, but meeting Chen Fei will be like meeting me. Understood?” Chen Wansheng said solemnly.

These words exploded like a bomb in the crowd.

Only one question echoed in their minds:

Who… is Chen Fei?

From within the crowd, Chen Tian suddenly raised his head and looked at Chen Fei. After hearing Chen Wansheng’s words, he stared in disbelief. Upon closer inspection, he did find the youth somewhat familiar.

“Ancestor, could there be some misunderstanding here?” Chen Tian hesitated before speaking.

In an instant, the previously noisy scene fell silent. No one had expected Chen Tian to openly object!

Chen Wansheng turned to him, his gaze filled with authority. “What misunderstanding?”

Chen Wang’s face darkened. He turned to rebuke Chen Tian, “Insolent fool! Are you questioning the Ancestor’s decision?!”

Chen Tian clenched his teeth, then spoke in a low voice, “Ancestor, Patriarch, do you know who led the people from Yunmen into our ancestral land? Qin Shuang is Chen Fei’s wife!”

“Chen Fei disappeared from the family as a child. Now he suddenly returns with suspicious timing!” Chen Tian raised his head and looked at Chen Wansheng. “I suspect Chen Fei is a spy colluding with evil cultivators!”

Given what Qin Shuang had done, the suspicion wasn’t entirely baseless.

Who could guarantee Chen Fei’s return wasn’t an inside job?

If true, wouldn’t handing the family to him lead them to ruin?

Chen Wansheng narrowed his eyes. He genuinely didn’t know about this. After all, for years he’d been focused on fighting the Chen Family’s nightmare-like existence. Who had time to manage internal affairs?

If Chen Tian hadn’t mentioned it, Wansheng wouldn’t have realized it either. Now he took it seriously.

“Oh? Chen Wang, care to explain why Chen Fei left the family as a child? Since when has the Chen Family had such high standards for core disciples?” Wansheng asked coldly.

Chen Wang’s expression changed. Chen Tian had just shot himself in the foot!

Didn’t Chen Tian know exactly why Chen Fei left?

Chen Wang hesitated for a long while, unsure how to respond.

“Well, well, it seems you’ve all been very busy while I was away!” Chen Wansheng sneered.

Chen Wang’s face changed drastically. He hurriedly knelt, “Ancestor, there’s more to this than it seems…”

At that moment, Chen Fei suddenly asked, “Where is Ling Zhong?”

The Chen Family members remained silent.

Chen Wansheng chuckled, “It seems that because I’ve been gone for so long, many have forgotten the rules!”

As his voice fell, his aura burst forth and crushed everyone to the ground—none could resist.

Just moments ago, he had emphasized that seeing Chen Fei was the same as seeing him.

And yet, look at their attitude now?

Frankly, even if all of them joined forces, they wouldn’t be worth a single finger of Chen Fei.

Despite their distant bloodline, Chen Fei was the one Chen Wansheng had chosen as his sole heir! Someone capable of breaking the bloodline curse and standing against it gave Wansheng a rare sense of hope.

Now that Chen Fei was being disrespected, how could he tolerate it?

“Ancestor, I truly didn’t know about this matter!” Chen Wang said quickly.

Then he turned to his eldest grandson, Chen Tian.

“Where’s Ling Zhong? Speak!” Chen Wang demanded.

Chen Tian hesitated, but soon felt the crushing pressure of Wansheng’s gaze.

He had intended to resist, but under that gaze, he could only clench his fists and say through gritted teeth, “I had him detained. I did it to protect the family!”

“That bastard was the one who bore this illegitimate child, Chen Fei!” Chen Tian spat with hatred.

But before he could say more, he coughed up blood—Chen Fei now stood before him, face cold. “What did you just say?”

Wansheng’s expression also turned icy. “Chen Wang! Is this how you educate the family?”

He was clearly disappointed. “Send word: three days from now, we hold a clan assembly! It’s time the Chen Family took some action!”

His voice carried unmistakable killing intent.

Chen Wang’s face turned pale, but he dared not disobey. He quickly kowtowed, “Yes! I will make the arrangements! But Ancestor, enemies are watching from outside. If they exploit this moment…”

Wansheng simply flicked his sleeve. “Let them come speak to me! Also, release Ling Zhong. If anything happens to him—don’t blame me for abandoning blood ties!”

It was clear—Wansheng stood firmly behind Chen Fei.

Chen Fei, too, was eager to see Ling Zhong. With Wansheng’s backing, even if Chen Tian had some tricks, he wouldn’t dare use them now.

And judging by Chen Tian’s reaction, the circumstances of Chen Fei’s childhood abandonment were more complicated than they seemed.

Of course, that was the original body’s past—but since he had inherited it, Chen Fei wouldn’t mind investigating the truth.

Chen Wang quickly withdrew with his people.

Chen Tian glanced at Chen Fei with a mix of hatred and surprise before finally leaving with clenched teeth.

“If the meeting in three days doesn’t satisfy you, the Chen Family will give you a proper explanation,” Wansheng said solemnly.

Perhaps due to cultivating for too long, Wansheng valued blood ties least of all. If Chen Fei was unhappy or decided to break from the family, Wansheng didn’t mind creating a new Chen Family for him to lead.

What mattered most was not the people—but the ancestral land of the Chen Family.

Chen Fei nodded. “Thank you, Ancestor.”

“Good! Go now. If anything arises, come directly to the ancestral land!” As he spoke, Wansheng’s figure disappeared before Chen Fei’s eyes.

Not a single trace of spiritual energy had been felt!

Chen Wansheng’s strength had reached an unimaginable level!

Even the peak Heaven Ascension cultivator, Ancestor Tianqing, hadn’t given Chen Fei this kind of feeling.

Relieved, Chen Fei knew that with Wansheng’s support, unless Chen Tian wanted to rebel, he wouldn’t dare disobey. Ling Zhong would soon be brought out safely.

Without delay, Chen Fei turned and quickly left the ancestral land.