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

Zheng Yuanlang's probing was less intense than Dongfang Weiwei had imagined.

The front hall was not large. Zheng Yuanlang sat behind a desk and pointed to the chair opposite him.

"sit."

Dongfang Weiwo sat down.

Zheng Yuanlang turned a page of the official document, then put it down. He picked up his teacup and took a sip.

"Dongfang Xiaoqi, how have you been settling into Qinghe City?"

"Thank you for your care, sir. Everything is fine."

"You'll get used to it." Zheng Yuanlang nodded. "Are you comfortable using those three men under you, Liu Tie, Zhang Dashan, and Su Wen?"

"Liu Tie is experienced, Zhang Dashan is steady, and Su Wen is young and hardworking. They are all useful people."

Zheng Yuanlang nodded again. His gaze lingered on the boy's face for a moment. The boy's expression was calm and composed, neither humble nor arrogant.

"That's good." Zheng Yuanlang put down his teacup. "You've only been here a few days, and a post-natal Blood Exchange Realm assassin died in Willow Leaf Alley in the west of the city. Although it has nothing to do with you, you did patrol the west of the city. I have to ask about it as usual."

"Understood, sir." Dongfang Weiwo nodded. "I did pass through the west side of the city that night and found nothing unusual. If there are any clues, I will report to you immediately, sir."

"Okay." Zheng Yuanlang waved his hand. "That's all. Go on with your work."

Dongfang Weiwo rose, bowed, and withdrew.

Zheng Yuanlang watched his retreating figure, his brows furrowing slightly.

That's perfectly normal. Too normal to be true.

A fifteen-year-old boy, having only been in an unfamiliar city for a few days, had a powerful assassin, a cultivator at the Acquired Blood Transformation Realm, die nearby. An ordinary person would either be tense or eager to distance themselves. But Dongfang Weiwo was neither tense nor did he try to distance himself. He simply stated the facts calmly.

Either he really knows nothing. Or he does know, but he's so cunning that he can fool a seasoned veteran who's been in the business for over a decade.

After leaving Zheng Yuanlang's place, Dongfang Weiwo remained calm. He had already mentally reviewed the conversation three times.

Zheng Yuanlang was testing him. He wasn't overly suspicious, but a suspicion existed.

Fortunately, he played the role of an ordinary second young master in the Marquis's mansion for five years. When it came to shrewdness and composure, he was second to none among his peers.

But this test also made him more clear-headed.

Although he was alone in the outside world, he had summoned figures to help him in secret, but these people did not have legal identities and could not show themselves in public.

The position of a junior officer in the Zhenfu Division was both a form of protection and a constraint—his every move was under the watchful eyes of others.

He needed a force that could act independently and without being suspected. An organization completely under his control, presented in mystery.

Back at his residence, he shut himself in and pondered deeply.

That night, in a secret room.

Chen Jialuo, Daoist Wuchen, Zhao Banshan, Wen Tailai, and Tian Guinong. The five of them gathered together.

Dongfang Weiwo sat in the main seat, his gaze sweeping over everyone: "I have gathered you all here today to discuss something. I plan to create a faction and include all of you within it. From now on, all your activities outside will be conducted in the name of this faction, and you must not reveal your relationship with me."

Chen Jialuo clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Young master, if you have any orders, we will do our best to fulfill them." The other four responded in unison.

"This organization is called the Azure Dragon Society."

He took a piece of silk from his pocket and spread it on the table. An organizational chart was drawn on it.

At the very top, below him, are seven dragon heads.

Beneath the dragon's head were four chief administrators: Heaven, Earth, Black, and Yellow. Heaven was in charge of punishments and oversight; Earth was in charge of intelligence and espionage; Black was in charge of finances and industry; and Yellow was in charge of military campaigns and foreign affairs.

Below the seven dragon heads are the twelve moon halls. Each hall is under the jurisdiction of thirty branches, and each branch is under the jurisdiction of several personnel.

The five people stared at the silk, their eyes filled with shock.

Seven Dragon Heads, Four Chief Stewards, Twelve Monthly Hall Masters, and 365 Branch Halls—a vast structure capable of covering the entire Eastern Continent. Although it's currently just an empty shell, the young master's ambition is evident.

"We have limited manpower right now, so let's build the framework first and fill in the gaps gradually."

He looked at Chen Jialuo.

"Chen Jialuo, you will temporarily serve as the leader of the first branch of the 'Yin Hall' in the Twelve Moon Hall, leading a branch of thirty people and being responsible for the management and expansion of the stronghold in the Cangmang Mountains."

Chen Jialuo knelt on one knee: "Your subordinate obeys!"

He looked at the other four: "Wuchen, Zhao Banshan, Wen Tailai, and Tian Guinong, you four do not have formal positions for the time being. You will operate outside as members of the Azure Dragon Society. We will appoint you when we have enough manpower."

The four men clasped their hands in unison: "As you command."

"Furthermore, the Azure Dragon Society is currently maintaining secrecy, and no one is allowed to reveal their identity."

"yes!"

With the arrangements made, everyone dispersed.

Dongfang Weiwo sat alone in the room, tucking the silk into his bosom.

The Azure Dragon Society is just the first step.

One day, this power will spread throughout the world, becoming the sharpest sword in his hand.

Several days later. On the outskirts of the vast mountain range.

Chen Jialuo, along with Wen Tailai, Sun Laosi, and more than twenty others, erected a stone tablet outside the mountain stronghold.

The inscription above reads "Azure Dragon".

From this day forward, this mountain stronghold will be the first branch of the Azure Dragon Society.

Although Sun Laosi and the others did not understand what the "Azure Dragon Society" was, they did not dare to ask any more questions when they saw the solemn expression on the leader's face.

All they knew was that from now on they had joined the "Green Dragon Society"—the rules were stricter than before, and the treatment was much better.

Chen Jialuo stood on the high point of the mountain stronghold, gazing into the depths of the vast mountain range.

The young master's task for him was to manage the stronghold, expand his influence, and accumulate energy points. Currently, these twenty-odd people were still a disorganized mob and needed time to be refined. However, Sun Laosi was a valuable asset—he knew the area well and had extensive connections; with him around, recruiting more people wouldn't be difficult.

"Chieftain," Wen Tailai strode over, "we've scouted the demonic beast lair to the south. Three at the Blood Transformation Realm, twelve at the Body Refinement Realm. We've also figured out their distribution pattern. When are we to make our move?"

"Tomorrow," Chen Jialuo said, "Let everyone get a good rest tonight. We'll set off early tomorrow morning."

"yes!"

The county government office, the secret room in the back hall.

Sun Liangyu sat behind her desk, a secret letter clutched in her hand, her brows furrowed.

The secret message came from above, using the White Lotus Sect's internal code.

The letter stated that the Blood Nether Sect had secretly dispatched an outer sect elder to Qinghe City. His name was "Blood Hand" Tu Wanshan, a cultivator at the early stage of the Innate Qi Sea Realm. His target was the item located in the Cangmang Mountains.

"Early stage of the Innate Qi Sea Realm..." Sun Liangyu murmured to himself.

He himself was also at the early stage of the Qi Sea Realm.

If he were to face an opponent of the same level, the outcome would be unpredictable. But fortunately, he was not alone—the White Lotus Sect had been secretly operating in Qinghe City for many years and had several skilled fighters under their command. Although their highest level was only at the Acquired Divine Power Realm, they had the advantage of numbers.

What truly made him wary was the information revealed behind the Blood Demon Cult's operation.

The fact that the Blood Nether Sect sent an elder at the early stage of the Innate Qi Sea Realm shows that they are determined to obtain that item.

On the White Lotus Sect's side, the order from above was "act according to circumstances, take what you can, destroy what you cannot take, and absolutely do not let the Blood Dark Sect succeed."