Starting as the heir of a marquis's mansion, I gained access to a summoning system.

On the stone platform, a huge round stone table has been set up.

The stone table is a full two zhang in diameter, carved from a single piece of reef. The tabletop is polished smooth as a mirror, reflecting one's image. It can accommodate dozens of people, but only about ten families are truly qualified to sit there.

The various factions took their seats or stood around in order, like a carefully arranged chess game.

At the north end of the round table sat representatives of the three giant islands—

The one from Penglai Island was an elder, whose Daoist name was Qingxuanzi, and who was a Grandmaster at the second level. He had white hair and a youthful face, with a face as white as jade and an extraordinary demeanor. His gray-white robe was spotless, and he held a white jade whisk, which hung motionless at his side.

Penglai Island is shrouded in mystery. Legend has it that the island is rich in spiritual energy, and countless restrictions and formations are hidden among its towering peaks.

Decades ago, a rogue cultivator at the peak of the Grandmaster realm defied the odds and forcibly ventured deep into Penglai Island to search for the legendary ancient ruins. He never returned, leaving not a trace behind.

After that, no one dared to trespass into the heart of Penglai Island. There were even rumors that a peerless expert, surpassing even a Grandmaster, lived in seclusion on the island, but never appeared in public.

At this alliance meeting, Penglai Island only sent one elder—but no one dared to underestimate Penglai Island's importance because of this.

Beside Qing Xuanzi was the Lord of Giant Whale Island, Master Jingxiao, a Grandmaster at the Third Heaven.

He was as burly as a mountain, sitting there like a mountain of flesh, his face full of horizontal lines, but his eyes gleamed with a cunning that seemed incongruous with his size. He wore a black python robe, and a soft golden whip was tied around his waist, with a fist-sized luminous pearl at the tip that shone faintly in the sunlight.

Giant Whale Island is located in the northwest sea area of ​​the East China Sea. There are thousands of disciples on the island. The most famous one is the "Whale Swallowing Technique" of Master Whale Roar. It is said that in a naval battle, he once sucked up the seawater around three warships by himself and swallowed them into a vortex of true energy, turning them into dust.

At this moment, he was glancing sideways in the direction of the underworld, a half-smile playing on his lips, as if he were appraising a piece of fat meat.

Giant Whale Island acts tyrannically, having monopolized the pearl farms and coral mines in the northwest of the East China Sea for many years. Anyone who dares to defy them is crushed by sheer force. The arrival of Master Whale Roar this time is clearly not for mere eavesdropping.

Next to him is the Five Poisons True Man, the master of Ten Thousand Snakes Island, a Grandmaster at the Third Heaven.

His face was like a withered tree, his eyes sunken, his cheeks fleshless, and a faint, foul aura emanated from him. He wore a dark green robe, the hem embroidered with seven venomous snakes of different colors, their heads and tails intertwined, lifelike. His fingers were long and thin like chicken claws, his nails as black as ink, clearly coated with deadly venom.

Ten Thousand Snake Island is actually the lair of the Five Poisons Sect. The island is filled with snake dens and permeated with poisonous mist, and outsiders who set foot on it are almost certain to die. The Five Poisons Master himself is an expert in the rare poisons of the world. It is said that his true energy contains seven kinds of mixed poisons, and even cultivators of the same level will die from poisoning if they are not careful.

Ten years ago, the Bilan Sect, a medium-sized sect in the East China Sea, defied the orders of the Ten Thousand Snake Island. The Five Poison Master single-handedly stormed the sect's gates and poisoned the sect leader and six elders within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. No one in the entire sect dared to touch them. From then on, the Ten Thousand Snake Island became infamous in the East China Sea, and no one dared to provoke it.

He was currently dozing with his eyes closed. But everyone knew that this old poisoner was most dangerous when his eyes were closed—because you couldn't see where he was looking.

Thirteen people were seated on the east side of the round table.

They varied in appearance, some old, some young, and even the weakest among them were late-stage Grandmasters. Their attire was also inconsistent; some wore fine clothes, others were ragged and shabby, some were bare-chested and tattooed, and others were wrapped in thick furs. The only thing they had in common was the light in their eyes—cold, greedy, and ruthless, ready to strike at any moment.

The leader was a man in his fifties with a chiseled face and fierce eyes. He wore a black sharkskin armor and had a pair of water-splitting spikes hanging from his waist. He was none other than Li Tianxiao, the leader of the Thirteen Great Thirteen Bandits of the East Sea, also known as the "Sea Demon King," a Grandmaster at the second level.

His fingers tapped slowly on the table, but his gaze remained fixed on the people of the underworld, as if he were weighing something.

On the west side of the round table, an elderly man in a gray robe sat alone.

His face was as still as a deep well, his wrinkles deep like knife scars, his eyelids half-closed, as if he were half-asleep. His aura was as deep as the sea, and he sat there like a rock, inconspicuous, yet unmoving.

He is the envoy sent by the King of the East Sea – "Old Man Sea" Baili Cang, a Grandmaster at the fifth level.

King Qin Zhao of the East Sea is based in Haizhou Prefecture, controlling the military and political power of the ten prefectures of the East Sea. His influence is unfathomable, and he rarely interferes in the affairs of the East Sea.

But every time he speaks, it's enough to change the landscape of the East Sea. The last time he spoke was fifteen years ago—when the three giant islands were fighting fiercely, the King of the East Sea only said, "Each should take half a step back," and the three families obediently stopped fighting.

This time, he sent Baili Cang.

Grandmaster Level 5—this cultivation level itself signifies everything. Even if everyone present were combined, they probably couldn't stop this gray-robed old man.

Baili Cang remained silent throughout, simply sitting there quietly like a clay sculpture.

On the south side and around the round table, there were also about a dozen representatives of medium-sized forces.

The sect leader of the Tide Sect, "Master Chaoyin," is a peak Grandmaster. He wears a sea-green Taoist robe, holds a string of coral prayer beads, has a kind face, but his eyes dart around rapidly.

Han Tong, the leader of the Yuyang Gang, nicknamed "Iron Net," was a late-stage Grandmaster. He was lean and had calloused hands. It was said that he could hold his breath underwater for half an hour.

The remnants of the Sea Sand Gang, with the new gang leader "Remnant Sand" Mo San, a mid-stage Grandmaster.

He sat in the far corner, his face grim, his gaze occasionally drifting towards the underworld, his eyes filled with hatred, yet also with an undisguised fear.

After the Sea Sand Gang was swallowed up by the Underworld, its remaining forces regrouped on the edge of the East China Sea. This time, they came mostly to demand an explanation through the alliance meeting—but he also knew that no one would stand up for him.

The mistress of Bibo Manor, known as "Fairy Bibo," Liu Rushi, is a peak Grandmaster. She wears a long, light green dress, has a beautiful face, and a cool, aloof demeanor. Although a woman, she controls several secret smuggling routes in the East China Sea. She sits there, toying with a jade hairpin in her hand, her gaze shifting back and forth between Ouyang Feiying and Whale Howling Master.

The leaders of seven or eight smaller forces, including the Silver Shark Society, Dinghai Gate, and Changfeng Dock, were mostly at the early or mid-stage of the Grandmaster level. Some stood, some sat, and their expressions varied.

The air was filled with the smells of the sea and gunpowder.

Even before the alliance meeting officially began, many eyes were already scanning back and forth between Ouyang Feiying and Yang Dingtian—some were curious, some were wary, some were hostile, and some were simply there to watch the show.

Ouyang Feiying glanced at the entire audience, his gaze lingering on Baili Cang for a moment, then on the faces of Jingxiao Zhenren and Wudu Zhenren for a second each.

He and Yang Dingtian exchanged a glance, and without saying a word, they sat down at the empty seats at the round table.

Robes fluttered in the wind as they awaited the start of the performance.

The sea breeze blew in from outside the island, making the gold-embossed invitations on the table rustle, as if someone were turning the pages of an endless ledger.

In the distance, the faint rumble of thunder echoed across the sea—the weather was about to change.