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

The old beggar clutched his back, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, his face deathly pale.

Although the palm strike wasn't fatal, the internal force damaged his meridians. He won't recover for at least ten days to half a month.

Inside the temple, the child leader emerged, his face ashen. His eyes flashed with murderous intent as he looked at the old beggar's injuries.

"The Azure Dragon Society..." he gritted his teeth and spat out those three words, "Investigate! Find out exactly what this Azure Dragon Society is all about!"

He paused for a moment.

"And that 'person who shouldn't have been touched'—does that refer to the junior officer?"

The old beggar nodded with difficulty.

The child leader remained silent for a long time.

Finally, he said coldly, "Don't touch him yet. Report to the sect and wait for the elders to arrive before making any decisions."

The news spread quickly.

Inside the mountain god temple, when the old ghost heard the words "Azure Dragon Society," he frowned deeply: "Azure Dragon Society? Never heard of it. I know a little about any of the more famous forces in the martial arts world. But this one... it's like it appeared out of thin air."

The middle-aged woman said, "Could it be some reclusive force? Or an old force that has changed its name?"

Old Ghost shook his head: "Regardless of their background, the fact that they warned the Blood Demon Cult means that the junior officer has powerful connections. At this critical juncture, we shouldn't cause any unnecessary trouble. Our target is the mine; we don't care about anything else."

The middle-aged woman nodded in agreement.

County government office.

Sun Liangyu also received the news.

"Azure Dragon Society?" He pondered the three words repeatedly. He searched his memory but couldn't recall them. He knew a bit about the various martial arts factions within the Xuan Tian Dynasty, both large and small.

However, the name "Azure Dragon Society" has never appeared in any case file, any secret report, or any rumors in the martial arts world.

As if overnight, this force sprouted from the ground.

A master of hidden weapons at the peak of the Acquired Golden Body Realm—such a person would be no nobody in any force. Yet, he couldn't find a trace of him.

"A newly emerged force? Or is it an old force that has changed its name?" He muttered to himself, a hint of seriousness flashing in his eyes.

The man in black knelt down and whispered, "Sir, should we investigate?"

"Investigate," Sun Liangyu said, "but don't alert them. The Azure Dragon Society is capable of sending a hidden weapon expert at the peak of the Acquired Golden Body Realm, so they must be someone powerful. Don't provoke them before we figure out their background."

"Yes."

Sun Liangyu got up and walked to the window, gazing at the sparse stars in the night sky.

Blood Demon Sect, Heavenly Mountain Sect, White Lotus Sect, Azure Dragon Society...

The water in this pool is getting muddier and muddier.

But he likes it.

The muddier the water, the easier it is to catch fish.

The following morning. The Zhenfu Branch Office.

Dongfang Weiwo had just finished practicing his skills when Zheng Yuanlang sent someone to invite him.

This time, Zheng Yuanlang's attitude was much more serious than before.

"Dongfang Xiaoqi." He sat behind his desk, his expression serious. "Someone from above has arrived."

"Up there?" Dongfang Weiwo was slightly taken aback.

"The Pingyang County Garrison Command has sent a centurion over here," Zheng Yuanlang said in a low voice. "He is at the early stage of the Innate Qi Sea Realm and says he is here to investigate the cause of death of Commander Zhou Tie."

Dongfang Weiwo's mind stirred, but his expression remained unchanged: "What does my lord need me to do?"

"Not for now." Zheng Yuanlang waved his hand. "I called you over just to let you know. Behave yourself these next few days and don't cause any trouble in front of the centurion."

"Understood."

After leaving the hall, Dongfang Weiwo pondered to himself.

The fact that the Zhenfu Division sent a centurion to investigate Zhou Tie's death shows that the court did not disregard the matter, but was simply waiting for the right opportunity.

He was a centurion in the early stages of the Qi Sea Realm. Now, various forces have gathered in Qinghe City—the Blood Nether Sect has an outer sect elder, the Heavenly Mountain Sect has Xie Yunhe, and the White Lotus Sect has Sun Liangyu. Now, in addition, there is the centurion of the Town Pacification Division.

The four masters, each with their own hidden agendas.

Although Dongfang Weiwo is only at the Acquired Blood Exchange Realm, he has summoned characters and is not without the power to fight back.

Zhao Banshan is at the peak of the Golden Body Realm, Daoist Wuchen is at the mid-stage of the Divine Power Realm, Chen Jialuo is at the peak of the Divine Power Realm, Tian Guinong is at the peak of the Divine Power Realm, and Wen Tailai is at the peak of the Golden Body Realm.

Five experts at the Acquired Realm, if they cooperate properly, may not be unable to contend with an early-stage Innate Qi Sea Realm expert.

Moreover, he still carried the jade pendant his father had given him—a Grandmaster's strike. Those at the Innate Realm were nothing but ants.

"Young master," Tian Guinong emerged from the shadows, "that centurion has already entered the city and is staying at the post station."

Dongfang Weiwo nodded slightly: "Keep an eye on him. But don't get close. Early-stage Qi Sea Realm cultivators have keen senses; getting too close will make them easy to detect."

"Yes." Tian Guinong accepted the order and left.

Dongfang Weiwo stood in the courtyard, gazing at the distant, vast mountain range.

Various forces have entered the fray. The struggle for the Tianlan Stone mine is about to erupt.

An hour later, he made new arrangements.

He summoned Tian Guinong and said, "I have a task for you. Daoist Wuchen has already gone into the mountains to investigate the background of Gui Lao's group, but there may be a master of the Innate Realm among them."

Go into the mountains and meet up with Wuchen. The two of you will work together to find out exactly who Gui Lao is and why he appeared in the Cangmang Mountains. Do not alert them for now; return once you have found out.

A glint of shrewdness flashed in Tian Guinong's eyes: "Your subordinate obeys. If we encounter a master of the Innate Realm, how should I handle the situation?"

"Avoid it if you can. Finding out the truth is the top priority; there's no need for a direct confrontation."

"Understood."

Tian Guinong turned and left. His figure disappeared into the night in a few leaps.

Dongfang Weiwo stood under the corridor, gazing in the direction he had disappeared, his gaze calm.

The old man and his gang have their eyes on the mines and have already reached the edge of his territory.

He was never one to passively accept defeat—when someone extended a claw, he would first assess who the other party was, where they came from, and what their capabilities were. Knowing oneself and one's enemy is the key to remaining invincible.

This is his way of dealing with the world.

Meanwhile, in the county government office study.

A newly delivered secret letter lay before Sun Liangyu. The handwriting on the letter was neat and composed.

The letter contains the following content:

The outer sect elder of the Blood Nether Sect has arrived in Qinghe City. He is a beginner-level Innate Realm cultivator known as "Blood Hand" Tu Wanshan.

This person had already entered the Innate Realm ten years ago, ranking seventeenth among the outer elders of the Blood Nether Sect. He was skilled in the Blood Fiend Palm, a palm strike with insidious and poisonous power. His four companions were all at the Acquired Divine Power Realm.

Another elder from the Tianshan Sect has also arrived. He is at the early stage of the Innate Realm and is known as "Han Songzi." He is one of the four outer sect elders of the Tianshan Sect and is skilled in the Tianshan sword technique, whose swordplay is chilling. He is accompanied by three others. The two sects have joined forces to plot against the mine.

Sun Liangyu placed the secret letter on the table and frowned.

Two individuals at the Innate Realm, plus their respective Acquired Divine Power Realm attendants. This force, even in a small place like Qinghe City, is more than enough to roam freely.

"My lord," a voice in black came from the corner, "with both factions joining forces, shall we continue to observe?"

"Let's wait and see." Sun Liangyu said without hesitation, "The more critical the moment, the less we should act."

Although the Blood Demon Sect and the Heavenly Mountain Sect have joined forces, they are not necessarily a united front. There is only one Heavenly Tranquility Stone mine; if the two sects divide it, who will get more and who will get less? This discord will inevitably surface sooner or later.

He paused for a moment.

"What's the current situation with those people from Tianlang Village?"

"They're still hiding in the mountains. Their leader, Huo Tianlang, is quite patient, keeping his troops at bay and waiting for the Blood Demon Sect to scout ahead."

"Huo Tianlang." Sun Liangyu repeated the name, a smile playing on his lips. "A bandit leader at the peak of the Acquired Divine Power Realm, trying to snatch food from two Innate Realm experts. Quite bold."

"My lord, should I go and tip him off? Let him know that the Blood Demon Sect and the Heavenly Mountain Sect have joined forces?"

"No need. Let him find out for himself. Once he suffers a great loss at the hands of the Blood Demon Cult, he'll understand that having guts alone isn't enough to get his hands on this piece of meat."

Sun Liangyu picked up the secret letter again, his gaze lingering for a moment on the names "Blood Hand Slaughtering Ten Thousand Mountains" and "Cold Pine Seed": "Pass down the order, everyone evacuate from the outer perimeter of the Cangmang Mountains."

Leave only two of the most astute spies to keep a close watch on the mine entrance from a distance. These two experts at the Innate Realm have an extremely wide range of perception; if our people get too close, they'll be easily detected.

It's better to know less than to expose something.

"yes.