The Chen Family's Strength

After resting for the night, all his fatigue had vanished. Chen Cheng rose early and, with the maidservants attending him, tidied his appearance.

The Steward had also been waiting outside the courtyard since early morning. Only after Chen Cheng left Linjiang Courtyard did the Steward respectfully step forward to greet him.

"Young Master, the Family Head has been waiting for quite some time. Please follow this old servant." The Steward spoke with his body bent, fully adopting the manner expected of a servant.

"Lead the way," Chen Cheng said.

Now that Chen Cheng was the Young Master of the Chen Family, he naturally needed to familiarize himself with its members.

Chen Cheng walked under the Steward's guidance.

The Chen Estate covered an enormous area. Even after walking for quite some time, they still had not reached the Chen Family's Meeting Hall.

Of course, this was only at an ordinary person's walking pace, without using Dou Qi to accelerate.

As a family with two Dou Emperors, the Chen Family's power was no weaker than that of the imperial family.

There were many powerful experts within the family, and with the Murong Family's financial support, the Chen Family was the local emperor of Yanling County, beyond the Empire's jurisdiction.

Along the way, they also encountered some younger members of the Chen Family.

Some sparred in the Training Ground; some sat quietly in the shade of trees reading books; some couples flirted openly as if no one else existed; while others...

"So that's the Young Master? I heard the Family Head only brought him back yesterday. He doesn't seem like much, does he?" A handsome young man stood by the corridor, watching Chen Cheng pass by as he quietly spoke to a companion beside him.

"He really doesn't seem like much. Other than that pretty face, I can't sense even a trace of Dou Qi from him. He should be nearly seventeen, right? Don't tell me he hasn't even started cultivating yet?" someone said in surprise.

"He's not young anymore. His body has already matured, and he has missed the best time to cultivate. Even if he begins now, his future achievements won't be very high," another person said.

"But so what? He's the Family Head's only son. His status is right there. Even if he can't become a Dou Zhe, he can still accomplish something elsewhere. His birth has already determined the lower limit of his future. At the very least, he'll enjoy wealth and glory for the rest of his life," someone argued.

Chen Cheng heard every bit of the surrounding discussion, but he did not pay much attention to it.

Chen Cheng had suddenly returned to the Chen Family, yet his status immediately surpassed that of everyone his age. Furthermore, Chen Cheng did not possess the slightest cultivation, so these proud people naturally found it hard to accept.

But however dissatisfied they were, they could do nothing to Chen Cheng. Chen Cheng's father was a Dou Emperor, and his grandfather was also a Dou Emperor. With such an identity, even if others resented Chen Cheng, they could only keep it bottled up inside.

By the time Chen Cheng arrived at the Chen Family's Meeting Hall, quite a few people were already seated inside.

These people were all high-ranking members of the Chen Family. The instant Chen Cheng entered the room, more than twenty gazes simultaneously focused on him.

Seemingly sensing their predatory stares, Chen Cheng's body paused for a moment as he glanced around from the corner of his eye.

Other than Chen Yuan in the seat of honor, as well as Chen Ming and Chen Yang below him, Chen Cheng did not recognize anyone else.

"Scan their information." Chen Cheng communicated with the system and issued the command.

After Chen Yang sat an old man in black robes. A scar ran across his face, giving him a particularly fierce appearance.

Name: Chen Mian

Cultivation: Four Star Dou Wang

The next person was a woman in her forties. Her hair was an unusual purple-brown, and she wore a purple dress.

Name: Chen Li

Cultivation: Two Star Dou Wang

Through the system's scan, Chen Cheng discovered the third and fourth Dou Wangs in the hall besides Chen Yuan, Chen Ming, and Chen Yang. The remaining twenty-odd people were all Dou Lings.

"Cheng'er, come sit here." When Chen Yuan saw Chen Cheng arrive, he waved at him and pointed to a seat placed beside him.

Hearing this, Chen Cheng walked unceremoniously toward Chen Yuan's side. Since he had decided to accept this identity, he naturally ought to possess the rights that came with it.

As the only son of a Dou Emperor, even without the slightest cultivation, his status still surpassed that of most people.

"Cheng'er greets Father." Reaching Chen Yuan, Chen Cheng cupped his hands and bowed. This was a son's respect for his father.

"Good, good. Cheng'er, there is no need for such formality. Quickly, take your seat." Chen Yuan smiled in satisfaction.

After eleven years, hearing himself called "Father" once more truly made him happy.

Chen Cheng sat in the seat beside Chen Yuan and looked toward the elders below. Their gazes remained fixed on him. Some were satisfied, while others felt there was something lacking.

Chen Cheng's return meant that Chen Yuan now had an heir, which also meant Chen Yuan's ambitions could be revived. The Chen Family once again had the motivation to contend for supremacy. Once the Chen Family's status rose, the status of these elders would naturally rise with it.

What left them dissatisfied was that they could not sense the slightest fluctuation of Dou Qi from Chen Cheng. This meant that Chen Cheng had not even reached the first stage of Dou Qi.

Although the energy at the Dou Qi stage was extremely subtle and difficult for ordinary people to detect, everyone present had their own methods. Even if they could not determine Chen Cheng's exact level, they could at least sense something unusual.

The Family Head's son having no Dou Qi at all was indeed deeply regrettable.

"Cheng'er, you have already met Elders Chen Yang and Chen Ming, so I will not introduce them again." Chen Yuan pointed at Chen Yang and Chen Ming as he spoke to Chen Cheng.

These two had joined forces to kill a Sixth Order Magical Beast some time ago, so Chen Cheng still remembered them well. Chen Cheng saluted the two of them, and they returned the gesture with satisfaction.

"This is Elder Chen Mian, one of the Chen Family's Four Great Dou Wangs. He possesses the cultivation of a Four Star Dou Wang and oversees the military affairs of the Andong War Zone. You should seek his guidance often." Chen Yuan pointed to the old man in black below as he introduced him to Chen Cheng.

"Chen Cheng greets Elder Chen Mian." Chen Cheng rose and saluted him.

Chen Mian was also quite satisfied by Chen Cheng's actions. As the Family Head's son, he was neither arrogant nor impetuous, and his manners were impeccable. Such conduct had already won the approval of this military leader who commanded an entire region.

"Hahaha, Young Master, you are too courteous. My overnight journey back was not in vain. Not bad, not bad," Chen Mian said with a satisfied laugh.

Chen Yuan then pointed to the woman in purple and introduced her to Chen Cheng. "This is Elder Chen Li, a Two Star Dou Wang and also a poison master. She oversees the Poison Master Association within Yanling County. Her understanding of Poison Art is no less than mine. If you are interested in learning Poison Art, you may seek Elder Chen Li's guidance."

Upon hearing this, Chen Cheng immediately saluted Chen Li.

In the Izumo Empire, Poison Masters were not despised. On the contrary, it was a highly sought-after profession. For Chen Li to oversee a regional branch of the Poison Master Association in such an environment was enough to demonstrate her capability.

Her hair bore an eerie purple-brown hue, precisely because she practiced Poison Art and had allowed deadly toxins to enter her body.

Hearing this, Chen Li smiled with great satisfaction. "Brother, you flatter me. How could my meager Poison Art possibly compare to yours? But if the Young Master wishes to learn Poison Art, the resources of the Poison Master Association within Yanling County are at your disposal."

"Thank you, Elder Chen Li," Chen Cheng said gratefully.

Although Chen Cheng had obtained Red Serpent's Poison Art, compared to the Dou Qi Continent's standards, it could only be said to have given him an introduction. If he wanted to learn more advanced Poison Art, he still needed to build up his own knowledge and experience.

With her status as Branch President of Poison Master Association, Chen Li could indeed provide Chen Cheng with considerable convenience.

"Hehe, calling me Elder Chen Li is far too formal. Your father and I address each other as siblings, so you may call me Auntie," Chen Li said.

"Chen Cheng greets Auntie Chen Li," Chen Cheng said.

"Good, good." Chen Li praised him with satisfaction.

Afterward, Chen Cheng introduced him to the others in the Council Hall. All of them were direct descendants of the Chen Family, and more than twenty of them possessed the cultivation of Dou Lings. Each oversaw a region within Yanling County.

Among them was also a Fourth Grade Alchemist with the cultivation of a Dou Ling, the most skilled alchemist among the Chen Family's direct descendants.

Besides that, the Chen Family had recruited several outsiders, including three Dou King Supplicants, one Fifth Grade Alchemist Supplicant, and more than thirty Dou Ling Stewards.

Two Dou Emperors, seven Dou Kings, and over fifty Dou Lings, along with the Murong Family's financial power and the military forces under King Yanling's command.

Such a force could easily overthrow the Izumo Empire.

Even if the Izumo imperial family knew that the Yanling Chen Family harbored rebellious intentions, they lacked the power to suppress them and could only try to placate them.