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

Time flies like water, and a year has passed in the blink of an eye.

The tide of this golden age is surging ever stronger, and the concentration of spiritual energy in the world has increased more than tenfold in the past. The air is filled with spiritual energy so rich that it is almost tangible; taking a breath, one can almost feel the joyful leap of true energy in one's meridians.

Countless bottlenecks were loosened, and countless martial artists broke through their shackles and stepped into higher realms this year.

In teahouses and taverns, everyone was talking about who had broken through to a higher level and which faction had obtained some kind of opportunity.

This is a crazy era, but also an era full of opportunities—if you are strong enough, you can rise to the top in one step; if you are too weak, you can only become a stepping stone for others to rise to the top.

In the thirteen prefectures of the west, the standoff between the Qinglong Society and the Qinglong Temple lasted for a full year.

The two major powers, like two ancient behemoths, occupied the northern and southern ends of the west, eyeing each other menacingly. They probed each other's strength, and small-scale conflicts were frequent—one day the Azure Dragon Society would eliminate a spy for the Azure Dragon Temple, the next day the Azure Dragon Temple would intercept a shipment from the Azure Dragon Society. Bloodshed occurred from time to time, but a full-scale war never broke out.

Zen Master Qinglong was wary of the unfathomable power of the Qinglong Society. The old monk once told his disciples, "I cannot fathom the true nature of the Qinglong Society. An opponent one cannot easily provoke is not to be trifled with."

Li Chenzhou was also waiting for the best opportunity. He once said to the hall masters in the main hall, "No rush. Let them make the first move, and we will strike later. The time is not yet ripe, and we cannot force it."

The two giant beasts were eyeing each other menacingly, and neither dared to make a move.

The West thus maintained a delicate balance—tense yet ultimately unsheatheeded.

The Qinglong Society's growth rate over the past year has been astonishing.

The main hall of the main altar was brightly lit by candlelight.

Li Chenzhou sat high in the main seat, dressed in a black robe, his aura as deep and unfathomable. His eyes were slightly closed, and there was a faint flow of true energy around him, causing the air in the entire hall to tremble slightly with each breath.

A year ago, he had just refined the power instilled by Yan Kuangtu and stepped into the eighth level of the Grandmaster realm. Today, a year later, that power has been completely absorbed, digested, and integrated into his being.

Peak of the Eighth Heaven.

They are only one step away from the Ninth Heaven.

"Dragon Head".

Zhuo Donglai stood below the hall, his hands tucked into his sleeves, bowing slightly. His voice was not loud, but it clearly reached the ears of everyone in the hall.

Zhuo Donglai opened the register on the plate and reported the names one by one.

"Chaiyuguan's economic network has penetrated the entire west and even extended to the central and southern states."

The Er Yue Tang family now controls 137 businesses, spanning every city in the thirteen prefectures. He himself has not slacked off this year, breaking through from the first level of the Grandmaster realm to the mid-stage of the second level.

"The Marquis of Xiaoyao's control over the waterways has greatly increased. The influence of the Six and a Half Hall extends to every river in the thirteen prefectures, from upstream to downstream, from freight to passenger transport, almost all of which are under his control. His cultivation has also broken through to the early stage of the second level of the Grandmaster realm."

"Gongzi Yu's May Hall has grown rapidly. In this year, he recruited three masters at the peak of the Grandmaster level and expanded his territory by 30%."

Zhuo Donglai continued, "Ximen Chuixue and Ye Gucheng broke through one after another this year, reaching the sixth level of the Grandmaster realm. When the two of them joined forces, no one below the eighth level of the Grandmaster realm could rival them."

"Fu Hongxue has also broken through to the sixth level of the Grandmaster realm. His strike..." A hint of fear flashed in Zhuo Donglai's eyes, "...is getting faster and faster. So fast that even I can't see it clearly."

Li Chenzhou nodded in satisfaction.

Such a lineup would be enough to make any force tremble in the face of the entire Eastern Continent.

Pingyang County, the rear courtyard of the Zhenfu Division.

Unlike the hustle and bustle of the outside world, this courtyard remains as peaceful as a paradise.

one Year.

Dongfang Weiwo has lived here for a year.

His daily routine was as disciplined as that of an ascetic monk—practicing boxing in the morning, studying swordsmanship in the afternoon, and meditating at night. Day after day, without interruption.

He knocked down clumps of bamboo in the yard, leaving the ground covered with withered yellow leaves. The walls were covered with fist marks, each one as deep and even as if measured with a ruler.

In that year, he broke through two realms from the early stage of Grandmaster and entered the late stage of Grandmaster.

But his true combat strength is far greater than that.

The morning mist had not yet dissipated.

Dongfang Weiwo stood in the courtyard, dressed in a blue robe, hands clasped behind his back. His figure was much more upright than a year ago, and his brows showed more composure, less youthful air. But his eyes remained as bright as stars and as deep as an abyss.

Ximen Chuixue stood outside the courtyard, as silent as ice as ever.

Ye Gucheng sat on a stone bench in the courtyard, holding a cup of hot tea in his hands, but his gaze always followed Dongfang Weiwo's figure.

Dongfang Weiwo raised his right arm and clenched his fist.

Then, throw a punch.

There was no outward release of true energy, no earth-shattering display. It was just a punch, calmly and quietly striking the void.

But the instant that punch landed—

The air in the entire courtyard seemed to freeze.

Ximen Chuixue's fingers twitched slightly. A ripple appeared on the teacup in Ye Gucheng's hand.

This is the fourth move of the Overlord Fist – Fist that Shakes Mountains and Rivers.

After a year of practice, Dongfang Weiwo has gained a basic understanding of this technique. Although he is far from mastering it, he is now unstoppable within the Grandmaster realm.

Dongfang Weiwo stood with his fist clenched, exhaling a breath of stale air.

"Mr. Simon," he suddenly spoke, his voice clear and bright, "what do you think my chances are against a Grandmaster at their peak?"

Ximen Chuixue remained silent for a moment.

"Ten out of ten," he said, his voice as clear and cold as spring water.

Dongfang Weiwo's lips curled slightly, and he asked again, "Where is the Grandmaster?"

Ximen Chuixue glanced at him and said calmly, "Early-stage Grandmaster, you can fight. Mid-stage Grandmaster, you must retreat."

These few simple words represent the highest level of recognition for Dongfang Weiwo—a young man in the late stage of Grandmaster level was able to fight against an early stage Grandmaster. Such cross-level combat power is something that very few people in the entire Eastern Continent can achieve.

Dongfang Weiwo nodded, showing neither pride nor dissatisfaction.

"We still need to work harder," he said softly.