Chapter 5046: Guess Editor: Misty Cloud Translations Upon hearing this, the Cheng family patriarch folded his arms behind his back, furrowing his brow in deep thought as he paced the hall. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢 The other supreme masters of the Cheng family listened in silence, heads bowed slightly, lost in their own thoughts. Only Cheng Wanshan laughed immediately upon hearing the words: "Old Predecessor, I believe your worries are unnecessary. She’s just a woman—how strong could she possibly be?" Since she dares to come here like this, I’ll lead men there now and wipe them out without delay!" He had expected the Old Predecessor to agree with his words, but instead, the Old Predecessor’s gaze turned dark and cold as it fixed on him. Startled, the smile froze on his face, unable to retreat. "Brainless fool!" The Cheng family Old Predecessor’s voice was dark and furious as he rebuked him. He snorted heavily, swept his sleeve aside, and strode back to his seat at the head of the table. Staring at Cheng Wanshan, who was now drenched in cold sweat, he spoke in a grim tone: "How on earth did you become the Cheng family Patriarch? You lack even the most basic discernment. The Cheng family now faces great calamity, and you will not escape blame!" This rebuke carried a strong sense of venting anger. Faced with an unavoidable family catastrophe, hearing these words only intensified his fury. It also served as an outlet for the anxiety and unease gnawing at his heart. Rebuked before the entire assembly, Cheng Wanshan bowed his head, daring not to show discontent or anger. For the Old Predecessor was the ultimate authority in the Cheng family. Even if he were killed, no one would dare utter a word. "If it’s truly as the guard said—that she came with only one young woman and three children—then there’s only one possibility," an elder spoke up, his expression grave as he looked toward the Old Predecessor seated at the head. "That her power has grown so formidable that she alone could shake the entire Cheng family to its core." The hall fell silent at these words, quiet enough to hear a pin drop. Truthfully, this thought had crossed the minds of several present. If she had brought reinforcements, it might be manageable. But if she truly came alone... her power would be terrifyingly formidable. "It suddenly occurs to me," another elder spoke up, his face now deathly pale and his demeanor unnervingly frail, "that among women of this age possessing such formidable power, there seems to be only one." "Who?" the others in the hall turned to him, their eyes demanding an answer. The elder lifted his gaze to meet theirs. Taking a deep breath to steady his surging emotions, he uttered, "Phoenix Empress." "Whoa! That... that’s impossible!" The Cheng family Old Predecessor sucked in a sharp breath. Seated at the head of the table, he leaned back in his chair, overcome by shock and dread. Though he declared it impossible, his expression betrayed that he too harbored this suspicion. "Besides her, who else could it be?" The elder looked at them and sighed softly. "Who else possesses the power to single-handedly slay four Supreme-level experts? Who else would dare come to Longnan alone? We never uncovered the identity of that azure-robed woman because none of us considered that possibility. But now that we do, everything falls into place." "If it truly is that one, I say we needn’t fight this battle. No matter how we fight, we cannot defeat her. Remember, she single-handedly killed someone of the stature of the Great Emperor Northern Flame. How much more so for us?" Another elder murmured, leaning back into his chair as if all his strength had been drained in that instant.