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

That item was from a Tianlan Stone mine.

Tianlan Stone is as famous as Xuan Iron and Deep Sea Cold Iron, and is a strategic resource for crafting renowned artifacts.

A master of innate talent wielding a renowned weapon can increase their combat power by more than 30%; an army equipped with such a weapon experiences a qualitative leap in combat strength. Therefore, any faction controlling such a mine would significantly enhance its power.

The White Lotus Sect has been suppressed by the imperial court for many years, secretly accumulating power and urgently needing various resources. They are determined to obtain the Tianlan Stone mine.

"Pass down the order to have our men prepare to obey my commands at any time."

"Yes." The man in black acknowledged the order and withdrew.

Sun Liangyu got up and walked to the wall, pressing the mechanism. The wall slowly cracked open, revealing a dark room. Inside the dark room was a statue of a white lotus, its petals as white as snow, gleaming faintly in the candlelight.

He knelt before the statue and respectfully kowtowed three times.

"A white lotus descends to earth, and pure fire burns the heavens."

Whispers echoed in the dark room.

Mountain God Temple.

The old ghost sat cross-legged, the black mist around him thicker than before. A middle-aged woman stood to one side, while the iron slave stood guard at the door like a stone statue.

His soul has recovered faster than expected these past few days. In another three or four days, he will be able to activate the secret technique to open the "entrance." At that time, that thing will be theirs.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Footsteps could be heard outside the temple.

The middle-aged woman's expression tightened, and she placed her hand on the hilt of her sword. Tie Nu also slightly turned to the side, blocking the old ghost's path.

A man dressed in black walked in through the temple gate. He was tall and thin, his face hidden by a hood, revealing only his pale chin.

"Old Ghost, how have you been?"

His voice was hoarse, yet tinged with laughter.

The old ghost opened his eyes, and after recognizing the person who had arrived, he nodded slightly: "Elder Xie, you've come just in time."

The man in black removed his hood, revealing a thin face. He was around fifty years old, with long, narrow eyebrows and a three-pronged beard. He appeared somewhat like a sage, but his eyes held a sinister glint.

Xie Yunhe, an elder of the Tianshan Sect. Initial stage of the Qi Sea Realm.

The Tianshan Sect is a major demonic sect beyond the Great Wall, whose influence has dominated the Western Regions for thousands of years. They have always wanted to expand eastward and enter the heart of the Xuantian Dynasty. This time, they have their sights set on the Tianlan Stone mine.

"The higher-ups are pressing us hard," Xie Yunhe said calmly. "The mine matter can't be delayed any longer. How are your preparations going?"

"In another three or four days, my soul will be able to recover to the point where I can activate the secret technique," the old ghost said. "Then we'll open the entrance, and the mineral vein will be ours for the taking."

"Three or four days..." Xie Yunhe pondered for a moment, "What's the Blood Nether Sect and the White Lotus Sect up to?"

"The Blood Nether Sect sent an outer sect elder, a mere early-stage Qi Sea Realm cultivator," Ghost Elder sneered. "As for the White Lotus Sect, Magistrate Sun Liangyu is one of their people, and he's been operating in the shadows all along."

Xie Yunhe frowned slightly: "Both sides have sent personnel at the Innate level. The situation is somewhat tricky."

"What's there to be afraid of?" Old Ghost said dismissively. "Your cultivation is no less than theirs. With me and Iron Slave by your side, dealing with them is more than enough. Besides, only I know the location of that mine, and the entrance requires my secret technique to open. Without me, they wouldn't even be able to find where the mine is."

Xie Yunhe nodded slightly, but his brows remained furrowed.

He was worried not only about the Blood Demon Cult and the White Lotus Cult.

When they killed Zhou Tie that day, they left runes on the cliff face—a unique mark of the Tianshan Sect, intended to assert their dominance. But unexpectedly, this mark brought them even more trouble.

"Has the matter of that minor officer from the Garrison Command been thoroughly investigated?"

The old man shook his head: "I didn't investigate much. A fifteen-year-old boy at the peak of the Body Refinement Realm is nothing to worry about."

Xie Yunhe, however, was not as optimistic as him: "Better safe than sorry. That young man comes from the capital and can be sent out to a remote area on his own at such a young age. He must have someone behind him."

I'll be keeping a close watch on you these next few days. Focus on recovering your spiritual essence and don't cause any unnecessary trouble.

Although the old ghost disagreed, Xie Yunhe's cultivation was higher than his and he was also an elder of the sect, so he couldn't refute him and nodded.

Xie Yunhe put his hood back on, turned around, and disappeared into the night.

Zhenfu Branch Office.

Dongfang Weiwo sat in the room. Zhao Banshan stood opposite him, reporting the results of the investigation over the past few days.

"Young Master, we've found out." Zhao Banshan said in a low voice, "The group that tried to assassinate you was indeed from the Blood Nether Sect."

They settled in a dilapidated temple in the south of the city. Their leader was a dwarf who appeared to be a child but was actually an adult, with a cultivation level at the Acquired Divine Power Realm. One of his subordinates was an old beggar, also at the Acquired Divine Power Realm. The assassin you killed was called Black Serpent, and he was at the mid-stage of the Blood Exchange Realm.

Dongfang Weiwo remained expressionless, lightly tapping his fingers on the table.

Blood Dark Cult.

He had no grudge against this faction, yet they sent men to kill him. Although the specific reasons were unknown, one thing was clear—they didn't take him seriously at all. A fifteen-year-old junior officer, in their eyes, was simply to be killed without consequence.

Why did they want to kill me?

"My subordinates have learned that they seem to be searching for something in the Cangmang Mountains. Since you happened to arrive in Qinghe City to take up your post at this time, they were worried that you would get in their way, so they decided to strike first."

"In other words, I was blocking their way."

"Yes."

After a moment of silence, a cold glint flashed in Dongfang Weiwo's eyes.

He was never one to submit to injustice. Since others dared to send assassins to kill him, he would never sit idly by and wait for his doom. So what if it was the Blood Demon Sect? So what if it was a top-tier demonic force? Anyone who dared to touch him would pay the price.

"Zhao Banshan, go to the dilapidated temple in the south of the city tonight. In the name of the Green Dragon Society, give them a warning."

Zhao Banshan clasped his hands in a fist salute: "Your subordinate understands. How far should the killing go?"

"Kill that old beggar," Dongfang Weiwo said coldly. "Spare the dwarf's life. Let him know who did it. Also, test if they have anyone backing them. Let him know—if he dares to lay a finger on us again, next time it will be his life."

"yes!"

That night, the moon was dark and the wind was high.

A dilapidated temple in the south of the city.

The old beggar sat cross-legged in the temple keeping watch, his bamboo cane resting on his knees, his eyes slightly closed.

Although he wasn't injured in his battle with Zhao Banshan that day, the exquisite skill with which the opponent used hidden weapons left him with lingering fear. He had remained vigilant for the past few days. But after several days of silence, he gradually relaxed.

Tonight, it's his turn to keep watch.

The wind howled outside the temple. He yawned and was about to close his eyes for a nap.

Suddenly, a soft sound was heard.

It looked like someone had stepped on a dead branch.

"Who?!"

He suddenly opened his eyes. A bamboo cane was in his hand. He sprang into action.

A dark figure darted in from outside the door. Swift as a ghost.

He swept his bamboo staff horizontally, unleashing a burst of energy that enveloped an area of ​​about ten feet in front of him. But his opponent's hidden weapon was even faster—three flying needles silently pierced through the staff's shadow, heading straight for his face.

The old beggar quickly turned his head. Two flying needles grazed his cheeks. The third hit him squarely on the shoulder.

"It's you again!"

Recognizing that it was the expert in hidden weapons who had killed the Ghost Hand that day, he was both shocked and furious. He wildly brandished his bamboo staff and fought back desperately.

But Zhao Banshan didn't engage in prolonged combat this time. He flashed past the frontal attack and appeared beside him.

He struck out with his palm.

This palm strike appeared light and airy, but it contained hidden internal strength.

It struck the old beggar right in the back of the head.

"puff--"

He spat out a mouthful of blood. His body staggered forward.

Zhao Banshan did not pursue. He flashed out of the temple.

"Listen up, Blood Nether Sect—" The voice came from the darkness, cold and clear, "The Azure Dragon Society does not want to be your enemy, but your people should not touch those they should not touch."

This is just a warning. Next time—it will be your lives.

The words were barely out of his mouth when the dark figure vanished into the night.