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

The agreed-upon date for action among the five forces is quietly approaching.

The Antarctic Sword Sect's team entered the west from the east, without any concealment along the way—Master Xuanbing had no need for concealment.

The overwhelming pressure of a Grandmaster at the seventh level was as imposing as a mountain, causing all forces along the way to bow their heads, with no one daring to stand in his way.

The White Lotus sect's procession entered the west from the south. The Golden-Robed Dharma King, dressed in a golden robe, sat atop a palanquin carried by eight bearers, its top adorned with a blooming white lotus, radiating golden light. Wherever they passed, White Lotus followers knelt on both sides of the road, chanting scriptures, their voices echoing across the land.

The forces of the Green Wood Sword Sect, Iron Blood Hall, and Blood Dark Sect also set off from their respective territories, advancing towards the headquarters of the Azure Dragon Society. Qing Yuanzi of the Green Wood Sword Sect rode a blue phoenix, his face pale, his old wounds still unhealed, but his gaze remained sharp as a sword. Iron Blade King of the Iron Blood Hall, clad in heavy armor, wielded a nine-ringed broadsword; wherever he went, his horse's hooves shattered the earth. Blood Dark Sect's Blood Dark Master was enveloped in dark red blood energy; wherever he passed, vegetation withered, and birds and beasts fled.

Although the three teams were not as powerful as the first two, they were ruthless and left no survivors along the way.

Five teams, five directions.

The imperial spies followed closely behind, recording every detail—the size of each team, the aura of each Grandmaster, and every marching route. Yan Jingchen personally annotated: "After this battle, the Azure Dragon Society's trump card will surely be revealed."

The monks of Qinglong Temple stood on high ground, watching from afar.

The headquarters of the Azure Dragon Society, inside the main hall.

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

Li Chenzhou finally received definite news.

Zhuo Donglai stood to the lower end, his voice solemn and clear:

"Five forces are joining forces and are approaching the headquarters. The Antarctic Sword Sect's Xuanbing Zhenren, a Grandmaster at the seventh level, is accompanied by four other Grandmasters—Ling Yunzi at the fourth level, Ling Xiaozi at the third level, and two elders at the fourth level each. The White Lotus Sect's Golden-Clad Dharma King, a Grandmaster at the sixth level, is accompanied by a Red-Clad Dharma King at the fourth level. The Green Wood Sword Sect's Qing Yuanzi is at the fifth level, still recovering from injuries; the Iron Blood Hall's Iron Blade King is at the third level; and the Blood Dark Sect's Xue Mingzi is at the second level."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone present: "A total of nine Grandmasters."

Gongzi Yu sat to the lower left, lightly waving a folding fan, his gaze sharp as a knife. He was the first to speak: "Dragon Head, how do we fight?"

Li Chenzhou slowly stood up, his black robe fluttering without wind, and an invisible pressure emanated from him, causing the candlelight to tilt to one side.

He didn't answer immediately, but instead his gaze swept over everyone present—from the silent Fu Hongxue to the smiling Chai Yuguan; from the expressionless Xiaoyao Hou to the Shangguan Jin Hong standing with his hands behind his back; from the wide-open eyes of Lei Sun to the snow-white-clad Ye Gucheng and Ximen Chuixue; finally, it landed on Zhuo Donglai's perpetually unfathomable eyes.

"Divide the troops."

"Fu Hongxue—"

He looked at the silent man in black in the corner.

Fu Hongxue was dressed entirely in black, seemingly blending into the shadows. The jet-black knife at his waist never left his side; he was like a blade concealed in its sheath, unassuming yet chilling. Hearing his name called, he slightly raised his head, revealing a pair of eyes as black as ink.

"You will personally lead the battle," Li Chenzhou said. "The head of the May Hall, Gong Shiyu, will accompany you. The two of you will confront the White Lotus Sect."

He paused, then looked directly at Fu Hongxue: "The Golden-Robed Dharma King is a Grandmaster at the sixth level, one level higher than you. But your blade will always draw blood, so I'm not worried."

Fu Hongxue didn't speak, but simply nodded slightly. The black sword at his waist trembled slightly, as if sensing its master's fighting spirit.

Gongzi Yu closed his folding fan, stood up from his seat, and bowed slightly: "Gongzi Yu obeys."

He wore a calm smile, but his eyes had lost all their nonchalance and were now filled with a serious edge. "The Red-Robed Dharma King is at the fourth level, while I am at the second level. I am at a disadvantage in a direct confrontation. But I can still restrain him."

Li Chenzhou glanced at him and nodded slightly: "You're smart, I'm at ease."

"Chai Yuguan, Xiaoyao Hou—"

Li Chenzhou turned his gaze to the two newly promoted Grandmasters.

Chai Yuguan's lips curled into a smirk, his eyes gleaming, and he resembled a wolf that had caught the scent of blood. He cupped his hands and said, "Lord Dragon, please give your orders."

The carefree Marquis remained expressionless, only slightly tilting his head to indicate that he was listening.

"You will lead the Er Yue Tang and San Yue Tang to fight against the Qing Mu Sword Sect."

Li Chenzhou said, "Although Qing Yuanzi is at the fifth level, his injuries have not healed, and his combat power is greatly reduced. You two are both at the first level of Grandmaster, and if you join forces, you may not be unable to win."

Chai Yuguan laughed, a meaningful laugh: "Even a wounded Fifth Heaven cultivator is nothing special. Dragon Head, rest assured, the Second Moon Hall will not disgrace itself."

The carefree Marquis finally spoke, uttering only two words, cold as if squeezed out from between his teeth: "I obey."

"Shangguan Jin Hong, Lei Sun, Ye Gu Cheng—"

Li Chenzhou looked at the two hall masters of Yiyue Hall and Siyue Hall, and then at the white-clad swordsman who had been standing quietly by the door.

Ye Gucheng was dressed in white, with a long sword hanging at his waist. His face was as handsome as a celestial being under the moon. He stood there, his aura faint, as if he might transform into a sword light and pierce through the air at any moment.

Shangguan Jin Hong stood with his hands behind his back, his aura calm and unwavering. Upon hearing his name called, he merely raised his eyelids slightly, without any other expression.

Lei Sun was different. This leader of the Siyue Hall had wide-open eyes, his knuckles cracking as he clenched his fists, looking like a tiger chained up, eager to rush out immediately.

"Blood Demon Sect's Blood Demon Child, Grandmaster Level Two."

Li Chenzhou said, "Mr. Ye is at the peak of the fifth level; he can easily crush you alone. Shangguan Jin Hong and Lei Sun, both at the peak of the Grandmaster level, will accompany us to guard against any tricks. With three against one, we cannot afford to lose."

Ye Gucheng remained calm, as if Li Chenzhou had just described a trivial matter rather than a life-or-death battle. He simply nodded slightly and uttered a single word: "Agreed."

Shangguan Jin Hong clasped his hands in a salute and said in a deep voice, "As you command."

Lei Sun clasped his hands in a deep fist salute, his voice booming so loud it echoed throughout the hall: "Yes!"

"Zhuo Donglai, Ximen Chuixue—"

Li Chenzhou looked at the steward and another swordsman in white.

Ximen Chuixue stood expressionless, his white robes spotless, the long sword at his waist still sheathed, yet everyone could feel the chilling aura emanating from him. He stood there, like a sword drawn from its sheath—no, he himself was the sword.

Zhuo Donglai smiled slightly, a smile that was gentle and polite, yet unfathomable. He bowed and said, "Please speak, Dragon Head."

"Iron Blade King of the Iron Blood Hall, Grandmaster Level 3," Li Chenzhou said. "Mr. Ximen is at the peak of Level 5, and Zhuo Donglai is Grandmaster Level 1. If the two of you join forces, you can finish this quickly."

Ximen Chuixue spoke calmly, uttering only two words, yet as cold as the winter wind: "Kill."

Zhuo Donglai bowed, his voice steady: "Yes, sir."

"Antarctic Sword Sect—"

As Li Chenzhou finished speaking, his tone suddenly turned cold, like a knife suddenly drawn from its sheath.

The air in the main hall seemed to freeze.

Everyone turned to look at him simultaneously.

"I will personally lead the fight," Li Chenzhou said.

"The seventh level of the Xuanbing True Person realm, plus four accompanying Grandmasters... I alone am enough."

Grandmaster, Eighth Heaven.

With such strength, he could easily deal with a seventh-level Grandmaster and four third- or fourth-level Grandmasters.

His gaze swept over everyone present, finally settling on the dark sky outside the window.

"This battle," Li Chenzhou's voice was deep and powerful, each word like a hammer blow to the heart, "concerns the life and death of the Azure Dragon Society. All our trump cards must be revealed when the time comes."

He paused, then slowly raised his right hand, making a fist with his five fingers.

"Gentlemen—"

"We will not return until we win."

Everyone in the hall rose simultaneously, bowed, clasped their hands in greeting, and shouted in unison:

"We will not return until we win!"

The sound shook the roof tiles, causing the candlelight to flicker violently.

The voice echoed through the main hall, across the courtyard, and throughout the entire Azure Dragon Society headquarters. Everyone who heard it felt their blood boil and gripped their weapons tightly.

War is imminent.

Meanwhile, in Pingyang County.

Dongfang Weiwo stood with his hands behind his back in the courtyard, his blue robe fluttering gently in the wind.

Guan Qi stood quietly behind him.

"The five factions have moved," Dongfang Weiwo said in a low voice. "The Antarctic Sword Sect, the White Lotus Sect, the Green Wood Sword Sect, the Iron Blood Hall, the Blood Nether Sect... nine Grandmasters."

Guan Qi said calmly, "Li Chenzhou alone can take on an entire sect. Ye Gucheng and Ximen Chuixue each control one side. Fu Hongxue plus Gongzi Yu, Chai Yuguan plus Xiaoyao Hou... In this battle, the Azure Dragon Society has a good chance of winning."

Dongfang Weiwo shook his head: "Not enough."

He turned to Guan Qi: "The Golden-Clad Dharma King of the White Lotus Sect is a veteran of the sixth level of the Heavenly Realm, and his methods are ruthless. Although Fu Hongxue is at the peak of the fifth level, he is still one level below. Gongzi Yu is at the second level of the Heavenly Realm, which is enough to restrain the Red-Clad Dharma King, but he is still lacking in direct confrontation."

He paused, but a slight smile played on his lips: "However... I trust Fu Hongxue's sword."

Guan Qi remained silent for a moment, then suddenly spoke, "Young Master, do you need my help?"

"No," Dongfang Wei said, her voice soft but firm, "Now is not the time for you to make your move."

He turned around and looked north again. An autumn breeze swept up a fallen leaf, which drifted past him before being blown into the sky.

"I always feel..." he said softly, as if talking to himself, "that someone is behind all of this."

Guan Qi nodded slightly: "Yes, sir."

There were no unnecessary words. To Guan Qi, Dongfang Weiwo's words were everything.

Dongfang Weiwo stood with his hands behind his back, his blue robe fluttering in the wind. His gaze pierced through layers of dark clouds, as if he could see the battlefield a thousand miles away.

There, a storm is brewing.

But he doesn't intend to just be the one holding the umbrella.

He wants to be the storm itself.

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

The storm has finally arrived.