Chen Xiaojun asked, "Grandpa, with so many families in Soul Fighting City, some must be closer than others. How well do they get along?"
"You could already tell a little from how much detail your second great-uncle gave each of them."
"I remember you saying that each family develops its own enterprises, with a whole circle behind it. Does our family have one too?"
The string of questions showed Chen Xiaojun's keen nose for such things.
Chen Cong paused, then smiled easily; Chen Yu rubbed his temples and took a sip of Fragrant Snow Spirit Tea.
Chen Yu began slowly, "Very good. The Karmaflame Demon Blade Ximen Family and the Seven Extremes Bow Yang Family have been our Chen Clan's staunch allies for thousands of years."
"The Mountain Bearer Gui Family, the Nine Heavens Rainbow Phoenix Ma Family, and the Dragon-Pattern Long Family have also been friends for generations. As for the remaining families-the Brightlight Mirror Xue Family, the Heaven Suppressing Mystic Stele Fang Family, the Mysterious Heaven Gourd Chen Family, the Primordial Yellow Bell Zhong Family, the Heavenly Book Bu Family, and the Ning family-they form another circle."
"But over the past thousand years, we have mingled, intermarried, and watched over one another. Overall, the families get along quite well. Our family, for instance, also has good relations with the Ma Family and the Zhong Family. The Gui Family and the Heaven Suppressing Mystic Stele Fang Family are also the closest of friends because of their Martial Soul Fusion Skill."
"As for each family's forces, don't forget what Grandpa told you about the wider Chen kinship group. Its overall strength rivals that of a large sect. Among the Twelve Families, we have developed these branch forces the best."
"Although living separately disperses our strength, our branches reach into every