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

On a secluded mountain path on the outskirts of the vast mountains.

Zhao Banshan crouched among the branches of an old pine tree. His gaze, peering through the pine needles, fell upon a group of people on the mountain path below.

Five people. The leader was a middle-aged man in his forties, with a strong build, a sinister face, and a hideous scar running from his cheekbone to his jaw on his left cheek. His cultivation level was at the peak of the Acquired Divine Strength Realm. Behind him were four men at the Acquired Blood Exchange Realm to Golden Body Realm, each with a sword at their waist, their eyes warily scanning their surroundings.

Zhao Banshan recognized the leader—Scarface Liu, the second-in-command of Tianlang Village. He was Huo Tianlang's right-hand man and a ruthless bandit who had dominated the Cangmang Mountains for many years.

These people were clearly here for the mineral vein. Zhao Banshan silently memorized this information, then quietly slid down from the pine tree and disappeared into the distance.

Scarface Liu and his group of five walked quickly, heading deeper into the mountains. Zhao Banshan maintained a distance just wide enough not to be detected, following them for about half an hour. Scarface Liu stopped at a fork in the road, took out a sheepskin map from his pocket, examined it in the moonlight, and then turned into the narrower mountain path on the left.

Just as Zhao Banshan was about to follow, a sudden sense of alarm arose in his heart.

He stopped abruptly, pressing himself against the shade of a large tree.

At the other end of the mountain path, two people approached. One was a burly old man in black robes, with white hair and beard—Tu Wanshan. The other was a tall, thin old man in a moon-white robe, with a sword hanging at his waist—Han Songzi.

Two innate realms.

Zhao Banshan's pupils contracted to the size of pinpoints. He held his breath, suppressing his aura to the extreme, as if he had truly turned into a piece of tree bark.

Two old men walked past him on the mountain path less than twenty feet below, seemingly talking. He vaguely heard a few words—"evil aura," "entrance," and "three days later."

The two walked further and further away, disappearing into the depths of the mountain path that Scarface Liu had just turned into.

Zhao Banshan remained lying there for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, making sure the two had gone far away before slowly exhaling a breath of stale air.

His back was soaked with cold sweat. He slipped out of the shadows and quickly retreated towards the foot of the mountain—the simultaneous appearance of two experts at the Innate Realm meant that the struggle for this mine was no longer something he could handle alone. He had to report to his lord immediately.

The backyard of the division.

Dongfang Weiwo sat cross-legged on the bed, with three secret reports in front of him.

The first letter was from Daoist Wuchen: The Ghost Elder has been found, but he is accompanied by a master of the Innate Realm, suspected to be an elder of the Tianshan Sect. Wuchen and Tian Guinong have met up and are currently lying in wait, continuing to investigate the Ghost Elder's identity and the true purpose of this group. The other side is acting cautiously, and there are no further leads for the time being.

The second letter was from Zhao Banshan: Multiple forces have been discovered in the mountains. Scarface Liu, the second-in-command of Tianlang Village, has led a group into the mountains, seemingly to scout ahead. Their intentions are unclear, but it's speculated they're also after the mineral veins, hoping to get a share. Two other experts at the Innate Realm—Tu Wanshan, an elder of the Blood Nether Sect, and Han Songzi, an elder of the Tianshan Sect—have joined forces and entered the mountains, their target a valley shrouded in a barrier of malevolent energy. All forces are currently observing from the shadows, and no conflict has yet occurred.

The third secret report was unsigned, marked only by a tiny mark—it was delivered by an informant Zhao Banshan had placed in the city at Dongfang Weiwo's behest: Shen Lian, a centurion of the Zhenfu Division's Thousand-Household Office, at the early stage of the Innate Realm, has secretly arrived in Qinghe City. His purpose is unknown, his movements are covert, and he has not made any open contact with Zheng Yuanlang.

Dongfang Wei placed the three secret reports side by side, his eyes scanning over the lines of text.

Blood Demon Cult. Tianshan Sect. Tianlang Village. Zhenfu Division Thousand-Household Office.

Four forces, all centered around that valley shrouded in malevolent energy within the vast mountain range.

What is in the valley that has attracted the attention of so many forces at the same time?

He suddenly remembered the stone Zhao Banshan had brought back—a sample of raw Tianlan stone, with a rough surface and faint blue veins flowing inside. Zhao Banshan had found it by a stream on the outskirts of the Cangmang Mountains; he had simply felt that the stone had a special aura and brought it back without thinking.

If the valley contains a Tianlan Stone vein, then everything makes sense.

Tianlan Stone, along with Xuan Iron and Deep Sea Cold Iron, is known as one of the three most famous materials for crafting artifacts, and is a true strategic resource.

A top-tier sword can double the combat power of a martial artist in the Acquired Realm. The Blood Demon Sect wants it, the Heavenly Mountain Sect wants it, the Heavenly Wolf Stronghold wants it, and the imperial court wants it too.

After a moment of silence, his gaze returned to the three secret reports.

When the old ghost sent someone to test him, he immediately marked the old ghost in his mind. Who is behind this person? Is it the Tianshan Sect, or some other force? He must find out.

However, with an Innate Realm elder guarding Gui Lao, Wu Chen and Tian Guinong cannot find an opportunity to approach and investigate for the time being.

Let's try a different approach—if we can't investigate the old ghost, let's investigate the origins of the innate realm expert behind him.

Since the elders of the Tianshan Sect have come to Qinghe City, they must have some connections to uncover. A master of the Innate Realm couldn't just appear out of thin air. His background, his past, his position within the Tianshan Sect—this information is far more valuable than Old Ghost's life.

"Zhao Banshan," Dongfang Weiwo said.

In the darkness, a figure landed silently on the veranda: "Your subordinate is here."

"Pass on the order to Daoist Wuchen and Tian Guinong: continue to keep an eye on that elder of the Tianshan Sect and Old Ghost, and don't alert them."

Find out their true purpose in coming to Qinghe City, and ascertain their identities and positions within the Tianshan Sect. Find out as much as you can.

Zhao Banshan's eyes flashed: "Does the master mean... to investigate but not kill?"

"Yes. Investigate, don't kill." Dongfang Weiwo's voice was calm. "A single mine has attracted so many big fish. It's too early to act now. Let them bite first, and then we'll see what happens. Until then, we need to thoroughly investigate the background of each party."

"Understood."

"Also, send a message to Chen Jialuo. Tell him to send men to keep an eye on Tianlang Village as well."

Although Tianlang Village is the weakest, Huo Tianlang has managed to remain entrenched in the Cangmang Mountains for so many years; he must have his own way of surviving. Such a person won't easily put himself in danger; he must be waiting for some opportunity. Record his every move.

Zhao Banshan hesitated for a moment: "My lord, if the people of Tianlang Village clash with other forces, what should I do?"

"I don't care," Dongfang Weiwo said calmly. "Tianlang Village is the local power, while the Blood Demon Sect and Tianshan Sect are outsiders. It's none of our business who fights whom. All we need to know is—who won, who lost, and who is still alive."

"Understood."

Zhao Banshan's figure disappeared into the night.

Dongfang Weiwo sat cross-legged again and closed his eyes.

In the darkness, a slight smile curved the corners of his lips.

Four forces have gathered in this small town, each with their own hidden agendas. The Blood Demon Sect and the Heavenly Mountain Sect are outwardly allied, but their rivalry is likely ongoing. The Heavenly Wolf Stronghold wants a share of the spoils, but lacks the strength. The centurion of the Garrison Command arrived silently, his true intentions unknown.

Meanwhile, Dongfang Weiwo had five experts at the Acquired Realm in his hands and a Grandmaster-level life-saving jade pendant in his pocket.

There's no rush to draw your sword.

Look first, think then, and act last.

This is his way of dealing with the world.

The night wind howled outside the window. Thick fog churned endlessly deep within the vast mountains.

This unremarkable small to medium-sized city is being swept away by an unseen undercurrent, heading in a direction that no one could have foreseen.