This confirmed that Song San was indeed someone she could work with.

And thus, the current scene unfolded.

The Qin family team walked in front, with Qin Ruqing’s radiant smile dazzling and slightly irritating.

She supported her ancestor, walking slowly and gracefully.

Meanwhile, the Fang family trailed at a distance, each of them wearing a sullen expression, clearly wanting to avoid any association with Qin Ruqing.

Their steps were deliberately slow, trying to lag behind and widen the gap between themselves and Qin Ruqing.

Sensing their reluctance, Qin Ruqing also slowed her pace…

Thus, these two prominent family teams, as if in unspoken agreement, moved forward at a snail’s pace.

The already-present family representatives watched the spectacle unfold with bemused expressions, clearing the path for the Qin and Fang families.

Qin Ruqing leisurely walked along the cleared path, leading the Fang family and drawing all eyes.

Upon reaching a central spot, Qin Ruqing openly took out a redwood chair from her storage ring, setting it up with a flourish, and helped Ancestor Wenxuan sit down, remarking…

“Ancestor, please take a seat. The hearing will likely start soon,” someone said.

Ancestor Wenxuan felt the heavy redwood chair make a solid thud as it landed.

The people around couldn’t help but flinch.

Ancestor Wenxuan sighed as she sat down, but there was an unexpected feeling of satisfaction.

— This child really does have a remarkable personality.

Strangely, when the noble representatives had gathered around the Song family, they were eager to get close to them.

But now that Qin Ruqing, the main person, has arrived, they seem hesitant and nervous.

So this is the little devil star?

They thought she would be older, but she looks even younger than they imagined.

She seems vibrant and full of energy…

She doesn’t look injured at all, even after a confrontation where she supposedly defeated someone.

They’re shocked!

The person sitting on the chair is the ancestor of the Qin family, whose presence is clearly between the Golden Core and the Nascent Soul stages, exactly as rumored, interrupted during his Nascent Soul tribulation.

Despite their curiosity, no one dares to approach—except for Fifth Clan Leader, Fifth Sheng.

Fifth Sheng is the first to approach and talk to Qin Ruqing, and he even warmly greets Qin Wenxuan.

Qin Wenxuan, who had been sitting in the redwood chair, instinctively stood up upon seeing the clan leader.

But Qin Ruqing placed a hand on her shoulder, pressing her down gently.

Qin Wenxuan hesitated but then sat back down.

Qin Ruqing smiled and said, “Greetings, Clan Leader. My ancestor is still recovering from injuries, so I am here to represent her.”

Fifth Sheng pretended not to notice the hand on Qin Wenxuan’s shoulder, nodding with a smile. “Just a casual greeting is fine, no need for formalities.”

They then began chatting casually and invited Qin Wenxuan to visit Penglai.

Qin Wenxuan politely declined with a stiff smile.

The recording(scribe) officer at the Eastern Region’s Celestial Bureau Office observed everything and reported it to Feng Qinxue.

“Director, does Qin Ruqing’s behavior seem a bit arrogant?” he asked, sounding more concerned than accusatory.

Feng Qinxue smiled slightly. “Arrogant? What of it?”

Seeing the recording officer remain silent, Feng Qinxue continued, “To criticize someone as arrogant, you need to have a strong basis for it. If you don’t, it just seems like a challenge.”

“Even the old Fifth Clan Leader is acting with Qin Ruqing. What about the others?”

Realizing this, the recording officer felt a chill.

He began to understand why others were hesitant.

Feng Qinxue, after smiling, sighed with a complex expression.

She admired Qin Ruqing’s talent and intelligence.

Many are talented, but few are both cunning and humble.

Such a rare talent is hard to come by, and unfortunately, she is not from her Feng family.

After her sigh, Feng Qinxue’s expression turned cold again.

“It’s almost time. Let’s go.”

“If we don’t leave now, that little devil star might cause a real commotion outside.”

“While she might enjoy herself, we’ll be left to clean up the mess.”

Feng Qinxue’s timing was perfect; if she had arrived any later, a fight would have broken out outside.

Qin Ruqing had already infuriated the Fang family’s representatives to their limits with only a few sarcastic comments and mocking glances.

Feng Qinxue’s arrival quickly put a stop to this unfolding drama.

Dressed in the uniform of the Eastern Region Celestial Bureau , Feng Qinxue led several officials past Qin Ruqing, shooting her a stern look as if to warn her to behave. Qin Ruqing just grinned.

Turning to face the crowd, Feng Qinxue’s expression turned serious as she announced, “Today, we are here to re-examine the old case of the Yinzhou battlefield: the Qin family’s alleged negligence that led to the fall of Yinzhou. Due to suspicions of foul play, the case is being reexamined with the presence of major family representatives.”

“This case involves two major families: the Eastern Yinzhou Golden-ranked Fang Family,” she said, glancing toward the Fang representatives, who reluctantly stepped forward. “And the Southern Nanling Silver-ranked Qin Family, previously the Eastern Yinzhou Silver-ranked Qin Family.”

Qin Ruqing, supporting her ancestor, stood beside the Fang representatives, the two families side by side.

“The case was initially handled by the Eastern Region Celestial Bureau , but due to disputes, it has been transferred to the Central Office, where I will personally preside over it.” Feng Qinxue concluded her introduction as the scribe in blue robes stepped forward, holding a golden scroll and began reading the previous verdict.

The scroll detailed the alleged negligence of the Qin family, who were accused of abandoning their post on the eastern defensive line, leading to Yinzhou’s fall.

Based on these findings, the Qin family was demoted in rank.

After the reading, Feng Qinxue turned to Qin Ruqing, asking, “Does the Nanling Qin family have any objections to the previous verdict?”

Qin Ruqing stepped forward confidently. “I have objections!” she declared loudly. “The former Yinzhou Qin family suffered great injustice. The fall of the battlefield was not due to our negligence, but because another family deliberately manipulated events to frame us!”

Her words echoed like a thunderclap, and she let the room sit in stunned silence before continuing, “This family lured beasts from other defensive lines to the eastern line, overwhelming our forces and causing the defense to collapse. This was not our negligence but a calculated sabotage by a family putting their personal vendettas above the safety of the region. They should be punished a hundred, no, a thousand times more severely than the Qin family was!”

Feng Qinxue listened calmly and asked, “And which family are you accusing of this sabotage?”

Qin Ruqing’s eyes were sharp as she answered with unwavering conviction, “The Eastern Yinzhou Golden-ranked Fang Family.”

Feng Qinxue turned to the Fang family. “Do you have any rebuttal?”

The Fang family elder, hands clenched in his long sleeves, took a moment to steady himself before responding angrily, “Nonsense! It’s an indisputable fact that the Qin family’s negligence led to the collapse of the eastern line. The Celestial Bureau conducted its investigation, and the Qin family now dares to challenge this? Are you claiming the Celestial Bureau wrongly accused you?”

This was the Fang family’s prepared defense strategy—deny everything and shift blame onto the Immortal Affairs Office.

The Fang family argued that since the investigation and penalty were conducted by the Office, they were not responsible for the verdict.

If the Qin family wanted to appeal, they should direct their grievances at the Office, not the Fang family.

Feng Qinxue’s expression barely changed, but she scoffed inwardly.

The Fang family was still trying to wriggle out of the situation by dragging the Office into their mess, but they clearly hadn’t considered why the Feng family dared to hold this hearing in the first place.

If the Bureau was willing to reopen the case, it wasn’t afraid of being criticized, and any wrongdoings would ultimately be traced back to the Fang family’s manipulation.

The public would be more than eager to hold the true culprit accountable rather than fault the Feng family.

---

This scene is a powerful showdown between the Qin and Fang families, highlighting the tension, strategic maneuvering, and the thinly veiled accusations that have been simmering beneath the surface.

Let me know if you’d like to continue or explore more details!

Feng Qinxue didn’t comment on the remarks made by the other family members and instead looked at Qin Ruching, signaling for her to speak.

Confidently, Qin Ruqing smiled slightly and said, “I have evidence.”

Her casual words caused a brief silence in the assembly hall.

Despite their high status, everyone managed to maintain their composure, but the few ordinary citizens who managed to get inside the Celestial Bureau were in an uproar.

“Heavens, Miss Ruqing actually has evidence!”

“It’s obvious. Would she make such a big fuss without evidence? And would they hold a hearing otherwise?”

“But the hearing isn’t organized by Miss Ruqing. How is it related to her?”

“Ah, you wouldn’t understand. Just know this: those in power don’t act rashly. If they’re making a big deal out of this, she must have some backing.”

“One only needs to remember the Hundred Clans Conference. The Qin and Fang families had a conflict, but did the Celestial Bureau intervene then? Now, why are they suddenly backing Miss Ruqing? There’s clearly a reason!”

Among them, a Song family informant noticed this and thought, even ordinary people can be sharp-eyed!

In the center of the assembly hall, Qin Ruqing, having finished speaking, calmly summoned a purple-golden sphere.

The crowd was puzzled at first, but then they felt a rising heat from the sphere, which made the temperature in the room increase.

Though everyone present was a high-level cultivator and not usually affected by heat, this was different.

The heat made them uneasy and agitated, almost feeling like they wanted to argue or fight.

Realization struck—they were being affected by a special kind of flame.

It was astonishing that Qin Ruching’s casually summoned flame could have such an impact.