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

When Pang Ban handed the first military report to Dongfang Weiwo, his fingertips lingered on the edge of the paper for a moment longer.

"In the direction of Beijing."

He spoke in a flat voice, his gaze falling on the cold teacup on the corner of the table.

Three months ago, the three great families—Nangong, Ximen, and Beihai—gathered all their forces and joined forces with the Blood Shadow Elder of the Heavenly Demon Sect, who had made a comeback. Five early-stage Celestial Realm experts and hundreds of Grandmasters joined forces to attack the imperial city.

Dongfang Weiwo unfolded the military report. The paper reeked of a mixture of rust and burnt smells, and dark brown bloodstains were still wet at the edges. He scanned it line by line, his brows remaining unmoved.

"Qin Muzhi was still recovering from his injuries at the time," Pang Ban continued. "His seclusion was forcibly interrupted. He used the imperial token to open the forbidden area—five Celestial Ancestors emerged from the depths of the underground palace. They were all retired retainers of the imperial family, and the leader was at the peak of the mid-stage Celestial Realm."

Dongfang Weiwo raised his eyes: "How long has it been going on?"

"Seven days and seven nights," Pang Ban said. "The spiritual vein above the imperial city shattered, causing the entire capital to shake violently. The five Celestial Beings besieged the imperial city, exchanging hundreds of blows with the five royal patriarchs. In the end—three aristocratic patriarchs were all killed in battle, the Blood Shadow Elder fled severely wounded, and the Heavenly Demon Sect's elite forces suffered a loss of 70%."

Dongfang Weiwo's gaze lingered on the line "All three patriarchs have died in battle." Nangong Hui, Ximen He, and the Supreme Elder of the Beihai Family, whose true face had never been revealed—all were dead.

"They've been gambling," Dongfang Weiwo said, putting down the military report and tapping the table with his knuckles, "betting that Demon God Lü will appear at the crucial moment."

"We made the wrong bet," Pang Ban said.

"They didn't appear at all from beginning to end?"

"No."

Pang Ban said, "No one, no time, no corner of the battlefield—there is no trace of him. The imperial city was attacked until the floor tiles crumbled, and the forbidden areas were opened, yet he still did not appear. The message sent back by Shi Zhixuan said that after the emperor came out of the pass, he sat alone on the ruins of the Zichen Palace for a day and a night without saying a word."

Dongfang Weiwo was silent for a moment. He could imagine that scene.

The overlord of the entire world, the only one at the peak of the Celestial Realm, sat amidst the ruins where the floor tiles had crumbled like furrows, surrounded by the dead royal ancestors, the shattered dragon throne, and the charred palace walls. He sat there like an unworshipped stone statue.

He picked up the second military report and unfolded it quickly.

"After the destruction of the three great clans, the heroes of the world were completely unleashed."

Pang Ban relayed the intelligence aloud for him: "Master Liaochen of Wanfo Temple, in conjunction with the seventeen prefectures of Jiangnan, officially declared the establishment of the 'Jinling Buddhist Kingdom.' Bai Yujing, leading Ye Gucheng and Ximen Chuixue, confronted them on the riverbank. After three months of stalemate, war finally broke out."

Dongfang Weiwo asked, "Did Liaochen use that bronze bell?"

"It's activated." Pang Dian nodded. "He poured all his power into it at the initial stage of the Celestial Realm, drawing out a residual sword aura left behind by the Demon God Lü. Just that single residual aura pierced through three layers of Bai Yujing's sword formation."

"Bai Yujing has retired?"

"They retreated fifty miles. Then, with a backhand, they used their sword intent to activate the spiritual veins of heaven and earth, suppressing the chanting formation of the monks. The two sides had their share of victories and defeats, and finally, the Yangtze River became the boundary—the southern half of the city belonged to Wanfo Temple, and Liaochen proclaimed himself 'Buddha of Jinling,' ruling over thirteen prefectures."

From Jiangbei to south of Yangzhou, the area falls under the control of the Azure Dragon Society. Bai Yujing is stationed in Yangzhou, facing the Wanfo Temple across the river. Every day, one can see the monks' robes fluttering on the opposite bank, while on this side, swords flash like snow.

Dongfang Weiwo chuckled silently: "Separated by a river, each worships their own Buddha."

Pang Ban continued, "The Zhenwu Dao Sect remained completely oblivious. Their mountain gates were tightly shut, and not a single soldier was dispatched. The attack on the imperial city, the annihilation of powerful families, the fragmentation of Jiangnan—they all pretended not to see it."

"They've always been like this." Dongfang Weiwo flipped through the military report. "What about their disciples?"

They only guarded the mountain and never went out. They publicly declared that "a great calamity is about to befall the world, and the Taoist sect must preserve its flame."

However, according to Shi Zhixuan's intelligence, the True Martial Sect Leader secretly left the mountain three times within six months—to the frozen northern lands, to Penglai in the East Sea, and to the Imperial Mausoleum. Three directions.

"He's watching." Dongfang Weiwo tapped the desktop.

"Let's see if the traces left by the Demon God Lü are still there," Pang Ban said. "The True Martial Sect hasn't participated in worldly conflicts for three hundred years."

He placed the General's Report on the left and picked up the third copy. (The Four Extremes Sword Sect.)

After returning to the mountain, the patriarch secluded himself and used the broken stones brought from the imperial mausoleum as a sword blank, but the sword was not completed after three months of forging. However, the Four Extremes Sword Sect's mountain gate had already expanded eight hundred miles south from the western border, and twelve minor families along the way surrendered at the mere sight of it, expanding its territory from one state to three states.

With the patriarch no longer leaving the mountain, his disciples have become the strongest force in the west, subtly forming a standoff with the western branch of the Azure Dragon Society.

"That patriarch of the Four Extremes Sword Sect," Dongfang Weiwo raised his eyes, "what kind of sword is he forging?"

"I don't know. But since it used items from the imperial tombs, it's definitely not an ordinary item."

The fourth military report was read by Dongfang Wei himself. Page by page, it was like turning the pages of a fragmented map.

The Xiao family of Luoyang seized control of the Luoyang Basin during the great battle in the imperial city. They established a self-contained territory spanning four hundred li, headed by Xiao Yuanshan, a Grandmaster at the eighth level. While outwardly submitting to the imperial family, they in reality refused to pay taxes or provide troops.

The Liu family of Qingzhou, based in the seven prefectures of Qingzhou, has united with three surrounding aristocratic families to form the "Qingzhou Alliance," led by Grandmaster Liu Rufeng at the sixth level of the Heavenly Realm. They publicly claim to "protect the borders and people and not participate in the struggle for supremacy," but in reality, they have been cutting off the royal family's southward supply lines for three months.

The Yan family of Youzhou secretly colluded with the northern barbarians. By using thirteen border cities as bargaining chips, they secured the barbarians' decision not to invade southward, and in return, the Yan family proclaimed themselves "Kings of Yan," extending their influence throughout the entire Youzhou region.

The Tang Clan of Sichuan, with its gates locked at Jiange Pass, forbids outsiders from entering Sichuan. The Tang Clan's patriarch, though not yet a Celestial, has cultivated Sichuan for centuries, wielding all its strategic advantages. Any imperial edict ordering entry into Sichuan was torn up on the spot.

When Dongfang Wei saw the last copy, his knuckles tightened suddenly.

The Wu Clan of Mobei. The Wu family of the Zhenbei Marquisate, who have guarded the northwest corner of the northern border for generations, are known as the two pillars of the northern border, along with the Weeping Blood Marquisate of the Dongfang family.

When the three great families attacked the capital, Marquis Wu Lie of the Wu family led 5,000 elite cavalry south under the pretext of "serving the emperor." On the way, he suddenly turned southeast and took advantage of the emptiness of the Central Plains to capture seven cities in succession, occupy four counties in Huaibei, and command an army of 30,000. He proclaimed himself "Duke of Zhenbei".

"Wu Lie." Dongfang Weiwo stared at the name. "He's rebelled."

"It's not considered anti-China."

Pang Ban said, "He is still fighting under the banner of 'serving the emperor,' but he is occupying territory that is 'beyond the reach of the imperial court.'"

Nominally still the Marquis of Zhenbei, he actually commanded all the taxes and troops of the four commanderies north of the Huai River. This man was smarter than the three great aristocratic families—he neither raised the banner of rebellion nor declared himself emperor, but simply seized territory. The imperial family could find no pretext for a full-scale attack.

Where is Qin Muzhi?

Upon learning this, he was so enraged that he vomited blood and fainted. However, the royal family was no longer capable of launching a southern campaign.

Dongfang Weiwo remained silent for a long time. He stared at the two characters "Wu Lie," his dark gold eyes like a well slowly freezing over.

This man stood shoulder to shoulder with his father in the northern border for twenty years, enduring wind and snow, only to turn around and carve up half of the Central Plains behind his back.

He put down the military report, his fingers barely moving, as if he were putting down someone who was no longer worth mentioning.

Fifth report. Internal summary of the Underworld. Under the leadership of the Five Kings of the Underworld, Pang Ban advanced across the East Sea, and the entire East Sea archipelago, with Ten Thousand Snake Island at its core, came under the control of the Underworld. Tie Zhongtang and Song Que have recovered from their injuries, and both have broken through to the peak of the ninth level of the Grandmaster realm;

Jue Wushen's right arm recovered, and his cultivation advanced to the half-step Celestial Realm; Ouyang Feiying was a Grandmaster at the eighth level, and Yang Dingtian was a Grandmaster at the seventh level. All five kings of the Underworld were ranked at the high level or above, making their combat power in the East Sea unparalleled.

"Should we go to the underworld or not?" Dongfang Weiwo asked.

"They remain steadfast in guarding the seas. They neither assert their power nor seize territory. All that is known is that a mysterious maritime overlord has emerged in the East China Sea."

"Very good." Dongfang Wei set the military report aside separately. "Let them continue to hold the line. When the time is right, the coastline will be the most secure wall behind us."

The sixth military report came from the headquarters of the Green Dragon Society.

Li Chenzhou broke through to the half-step Celestial Realm three months ago, and his fist intent "Reigning Supreme" advanced another level, capable of shattering mountains with a single punch. Guan Qi spent half a year dealing with the barbarians in the Northern Territory, and his cultivation broke through to the peak of the ninth level of the Grandmaster Realm. The influence of the Misty Sky Alliance spread throughout the thirteen cities of the Northern Territory.

Fu Hongxue, Shangguan Jin Hong, Chai Yuguan, Xiaoyao Hou, and Gongzi Yu have all been promoted to Grandmasters, making the thirteen western prefectures of the Azure Dragon Society as impregnable as a rock.

Pang Ban stood quietly to the side for a while. The sea breeze from outside the window blew in, making the edges of the military newspaper rustle.

He suddenly spoke up: "There's one more thing."

I alone raise my head in the East.

"After the Battle of Jiangnan, Liaochen sent a white-robed monk to Yangzhou to find Bai Yujing. He carried a message with him."

"explain."

"If the Azure Dragon Society wants to know the origin of the copper bell, they must exchange it for something."

Dongfang Weiwo's eyes narrowed slightly.

"'The first piece of rubble behind the frozen stone gate in the North.'"

There was a moment of silence in the room. The sea breeze, carrying a damp, salty scent, blew through the window, causing the military report on the table to tremble slightly.

"Liao Chen." Dongfang Weiwo softly repeated the name. "What is he looking for? The copper bell originated from the relics of the Demon God Lü, and the Northern Stone Gate is one of the oldest seals. The connection between the two things..."

"He's piecing together a map," Pang Ban said.

"Ignore him for now." Dongfang Weiwo gathered all the military reports together, pushed them to the corner of the table, and then pulled out the last letter that was at the bottom.

The father's handwriting. The hidden seal of the Marquis of the Northern Border's Bloodstained Mansion. The edge of the letter was scorched, the handwriting was messy, but the force was thick, as if it had been carved out by knife strokes.

"Only I—"

The war in the North has reached its most intense stage.

The three barbarian Celestials have been besieging the frozen earth defense line for two months. The Golden Khan has recovered 70% of his injuries, Chile has newly advanced to the initial stage of Celestial Realm, and there is also a black-robed figure suspected to be a high-level demon. The three have surrounded the area, and the father has been holding out with the power of his Demon-Sealing Bloodline until now.

The dark gold lines on my right arm have spread to my elbow. After each activation of my blood vessels, I must seal them with true qi for three hours, otherwise the lines will continue to spread. I can only hold on for a maximum of three more months.

If you leave the pass, come quickly.

—Father

At the end of the letter was a line of extremely fine handwriting, as if the last bit of writing effortlessly slipped away:

"If you can come, please bring a pot of Pingyang County aged wine. The wind and snow here are too much to handle."

Dongfang Weiwo gripped the letter tightly.

His knuckles were white, and the edges of the letter were wrinkled from his pinching.

He recognized his father's handwriting. That last stroke was always drawn too quickly, like someone rushing to do the next thing, never willing to finish the stroke. But this time, the last stroke trembled slightly, and the ink smudged irregularly on the paper—the hand holding the pen was shaking.

Three months.

As he stood up, the chair slid back with a screeching sound.

"Pangban. Arrange the fastest ship. I need to go to the North."

Pang Ban looked at him. He didn't ask any questions, only nodded.

"The Five Kings of the Underworld have been deployed to the area surrounding the frozen northern lands to await orders. They will be there when you arrive, young master."

Dongfang Wei had already reached the door. His dark cloak billowed like wings in the draft, and the scabbard at his waist tapped lightly against the door frame with a dull thud.

But he took his third step and then stopped.

He turned around and looked at Pang Ban.

"In the past six months," his voice suddenly softened, "has there been any news from my mother?"

Pang Ban shook his head.

"The Eldest Princess remains at the old residence of the Marquis of Weeping Blood. The Marquis is alone on the northern frontier, and the Eldest Princess has not left the residence. She is waiting for the young master and the Marquis to return."

Dongfang Weiwo nodded. Then he asked, "Where's my little sister?"

"The secret guards send a message every two weeks. Everything seems normal. The poison within their bodies remains unknown."

Dongfang Wei didn't say anything more. He stood at the door, the sea breeze blowing in his face, making the cloak on his shoulders flutter.

His profile was backlit by the setting sun, his angles like the ridge worn smooth on a scabbard over many years. His dark golden eyes reflected the churning clouds on the horizon, thick, iron-gray, pressing down on the northern skyline.

He turned and walked toward the dock.

The bow cut through the waves, speeding northwest. The dark sail was billowed into a taut bow by the wind. He stood on the deck, his hand on the gunwale, his fingertips tracing the curve of the folded corner of the letter in his pocket.

Three months.

Father is waiting for a pot of old wine from Pingyang County. Mother is waiting for two people to return at the threshold of the old residence. The younger sister is still unaware of what has been planted within her.

And further afield, at the edge of the sky, the tide of spiritual energy is boiling. The moment when the fragments of the Tianxuan Continent merge is drawing ever closer. At that time, the demon race will no longer pour in only through the Penglai Passage, but will surge towards the Eastern Continent from all directions.

He never had enough time.

The boat moved like a knife, cleaving through the waves. The northwest horizon pressed down heavily in the twilight, like a stone door slowly closing.

He went to meet him.