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

Green Dragon Society Headquarters

The atmosphere inside the main hall was solemn.

Li Chenzhou sat at the head of the table, his black robe making his expression even more somber. Zhuo Donglai stood at the lower end, surrounded by Gongzi Yu, Fu Hongxue, Chai Yuguan, Xiaoyao Hou, Shangguan Jin Hong, Lei Sun, and other core members.

The candlelight burned silently, casting flickering shadows on everyone's faces.

"It's been a month," Li Chenzhou said. "The Antarctic Sword Sect has sent a seventh-level expert, and the White Lotus Sect has also dispatched an even stronger Dharma King. The Iron Blood Hall, the Blood Nether Sect, and the Green Wood Sword Sect are all gathering. We may face multi-front warfare in the future."

Gongzi Yu frowned slightly, cupped his hands, and asked, "Dragon Leader, what should we do?"

Li Chenzhou did not answer immediately. His gaze swept over everyone present, finally settling on the dark sky outside the window.

"Prepare for war," he said.

"But there's no need to expand the army, much less to blindly expand. The existing structure of the Azure Dragon Society is sufficient to handle any situation. The January to April branches should slow down their advance, focusing on consolidating their existing territories and avoiding making any more enemies. The May and June branches should fully transition to intelligence and vigilance. I need to know the movements of every force, down to the day."

He paused, then looked at Fu Hongxue standing in the corner.

Fu Hongxue was dressed in black, silent as a mountain, with the black knife at his waist never leaving his side.

"Fu Hongxue," Li Chenzhou called his name.

"exist."

"As the leader of the Seven Dragons, you are responsible for building a reserve force. It doesn't need to be a fixed branch; draw elites from each branch, ready to support any front at any time. Keep a low profile in peacetime, but in wartime—" A cold glint flashed in Li Chenzhou's eyes, "it must be a fatal blow."

Fu Hongxue bowed respectfully, clasping his hands behind his back, and said, "Yes."

There were no unnecessary words; it was clean and concise.

Li Chenzhou then turned his gaze to Chai Yuguan, Xiaoyao Hou, Shangguan Jin Hong, and Lei Sun.

"The pills and spirit stones brought back from the ruins will be allocated to you first. I want to see you break through within a month."

The four responded in unison, "Yes!"

Chai Yuguan's lips curled slightly, and his eyes gleamed.

The carefree Marquis remained expressionless, but his hands clenched slightly. Shangguan Jin Hong stood with his hands behind his back, his aura as steady as an abyss. Lei Sun clasped his hands tightly, his knuckles cracking as he did so.

Zhuo Donglai had been listening quietly until now, at which point he spoke:

"Dragon Head, the imperial court and Qinglong Temple's spies have been very active lately. Should we purge them?"

"No need," Li Chenzhou waved his hand.

"Let them see. If they want to see the Azure Dragon Society's trump cards, then let them see them. But—" He changed his tone, his voice turning cold, "Only show them what we want them to see. Nothing they shouldn't see, not a single thing is allowed to slip out."

"Understood." Zhuo Donglai bowed and took half a step back, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes.

Li Chenzhou stood up and stood with his hands behind his back in the center of the hall. The candlelight cast his shadow long and thin, like a silent mountain pressing down on everyone's heads.

"Gentlemen," he said, his voice deep and powerful, "a storm is coming. But will the Azure Dragon fall—it never has, it never has, and it never will."

Everyone in the hall bowed in unison.

No one spoke, but the air was thick with a somber, iron-blooded atmosphere.

That was the aura of an impending great battle.

Pingyang County, the rear courtyard of the Zhenfu Division

Dongfang Weiwo sat on a stone bench in the courtyard, with a secret report spread out in front of him.

Guan Qi stood not far away with his hands behind his back, his gaze constantly scanning his surroundings, like a silent cheetah.

"Antarctic Sword Sect: Xuanbing Zhenren (Grandmaster Seventh Heaven) personally led the team, accompanied by Lingyunzi (Fourth Heaven), Lingxiaozi (Third Heaven), and two elders (Fourth Heaven, Fourth Heaven) - five Grandmasters."

"White Lotus Sect: The Golden-Robed Dharma King (Grandmaster Sixth Heaven) leads the team, accompanied by the Red-Robed Dharma King (Fourth Heaven) – two Grandmasters."

"Qingmu Sword Sect: Qing Yuanzi (Fifth level, still recovering from injuries) - A Grandmaster."

"Iron Blood Hall: Iron Blade King (Triple) - A Grandmaster."

"Blood Dark Cult: Blood Dark Child (Dual Level) - A Grandmaster."

"In total: nine Grandmasters, including one at the seventh level and one at the sixth level."

Dongfang Wei gently put down the secret report and tapped his fingertips twice on the stone table.

"Nine Grandmasters," he said softly, a slight smile playing on his lips. "What a grand display."

Guan Qi said calmly, "Young Master, should I go and meet that Seventh Heaven cultivator first?"

"No rush." ​​Dongfang Weiwo shook his head. "Let them make the first move. The best situation is for the enemy to be in the open while we remain in the shadows."

He raised his head and looked towards the northern horizon.

A storm is indeed coming.

But this time, he didn't want to just be the one holding the umbrella.

He wants to be the storm itself.

Another month passed

The Azure Dragon Society is preparing for battle, with undercurrents swirling within its ranks.

The four hall masters successively ended their seclusion, and although the sounds of their breakthroughs were deliberately suppressed, they still could not escape the eyes of those who were paying attention.

Shangguan Jin Hong of Yiyue Hall, originally a mid-stage Grandmaster, took the "Tian Yuan Dan" brought back from the ruins. Its medicinal power was rich and long-lasting, allowing him to break through to the peak of the Grandmaster realm in one fell swoop. His aura was as steady as an abyss, and he was only one step away from becoming a Great Grandmaster.

Chai Yuguan of Eryue Hall, originally at the peak of the Grandmaster realm, experienced an unstoppable surge of true energy within his body after consuming the "Minor Breakthrough Pill." After three days of seclusion, he broke through to the first level of the Great Grandmaster realm. Upon emerging from seclusion, the smile on his lips deepened, but his eyes held a chilling sharpness.

The carefree Marquis of Sanyue Hall was already a half-step Grandmaster, only a thin veil away from truly transcending the human realm.

As the Lesser Breakthrough Pill entered his stomach, the thin layer of paper separating him from the world melted away silently, like thin ice meeting the scorching sun. Reaching the first level of Grandmaster was a natural progression. After emerging from seclusion, he remained silent, only lightly clenching his fist, causing the air in his palm to hiss in unbearable strain.

Lei Sun of Siyue Hall was originally a late-stage Grandmaster with a somewhat weak foundation, but the medicinal power of the Tianyuan Pill forcefully propelled him to the peak of the Grandmaster realm. Although he failed to break through to the Great Grandmaster level, his foundation is now solid, and given time, there is a possibility that he may advance further.

The four hall masters are: two Grandmasters at the first level and two Grandmasters at the peak.

When the news reached the council hall, Li Chenzhou simply nodded slightly, his expression unchanged.

Pingyang County, the rear courtyard of the Zhenfu Division

Dongfang Weiwo stood in the courtyard, holding the secret report that had just been delivered from the Azure Dragon Society in his hand.

Guan Qi stood not far away, as always, like a silent statue.

"Li Chenzhou has reached the eighth level of the Heavenly Realm."

Dongfang Weiwo said softly, a slight smile playing on his lips, "This speed is even faster than I expected."

Guan Qi said calmly, "Yan Kuangtu's skill is extraordinary. The fact that Li Chenzhou was able to fully absorb it shows that his talent and fist intent are extremely compatible with that power."

"Hmm." Dongfang Wei folded the secret report and put it into his sleeve. "With him overseeing things openly, the pressure on us behind the scenes is much less. Even if the five forces join forces, they may not be able to gain the upper hand."

Guan Qi was silent for a moment, then suddenly spoke up: "Young Master, should I go to see that Xuanbing True Person of the Seventh Heaven...?"

"No rush." ​​Dongfang Weiwo shook his head. "Let them make the first move. The best situation is for the enemy to be in the open while we remain in the dark. When they truly make their move—" He paused, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, "that's when we'll reveal our trump card."

Guan Qi nodded slightly and said nothing more.

The bamboo shadows sway in the courtyard as the autumn wind begins to blow.

The storm is getting closer.