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

The Blood Demon Cult's temporary camp in the vast mountains.

Tu Wanshan sat cross-legged in the tent, a jug of strong liquor in front of him, but he didn't drink it.

The wound on his left shoulder had scabbed over, but it still ached faintly on cloudy days. The blow from that grey-clad swordsman had left him with considerable psychological trauma.

"Elder," a disciple said, lifting the curtain to enter, "reinforcements from within the sect have arrived."

Tu Wanshan suddenly stood up.

Outside the tent, three people were walking up the mountain path. The one in the lead was an old man with white hair, a gaunt face, sunken eyes, and a faint smell of blood emanating from him. Behind him were two middle-aged men, both at the early stage of the Innate Realm.

"Elder Wan," Tu Wanshan said respectfully, clasping his hands in greeting.

The white-haired old man—Wan Gu Ku. Ranked seventh among the outer elders of the Blood Nether Sect, with a cultivation level at the early stage of the Innate Profound Realm. Extremely experienced and ruthless, even Tu Wanshan had to give him some leeway.

"Elder Tu, you're badly injured." Wan Gu Ku glanced at Tu Wanshan's left shoulder, his tone flat. "What's the background of that Azure Dragon Society?"

Tu Wanshan recounted the events of that night in detail. After listening, Wan Guku remained silent for a moment: "A mere early-stage Innate Realm swordsman, leading a few Acquired Realm cultivators, managed to rout you all?"

Tu Wanshan's face was grim: "That gray-clad swordsman's sword was too fast... and at the time, the three forces were fighting each other, the scene was too chaotic."

Wan Guku waved his hand, no longer blaming: "The mine matter can't be delayed. The Iron Sword Sect and Wanbao Trading Company are here too, right?"

"Yes. Both sides sent people, both of whom are at the Innate Realm."

"The Iron Sword Sect is the local bully, and the Wanbao Trading Company is just businessmen." Wan Guku sneered. "Businessmen are easy to deal with. As for the local bullies... well, we'll see if they know what's good for them."

He turned and walked into the tent, his voice coming from inside: "Don't make a move yet, wait until the evil energy barrier dissipates. Send someone else to contact the Iron Sword Sect and sound them out."

The vast mountain range, the camp of the Tianshan Sect.

Han Songzi's complexion was better than a few days ago, but the sinister look in his eyes had not diminished at all.

The person he was waiting for had arrived.

The one who came was Leng Qianqiu, the "Ice Hand," who ranked third among the outer elders of the Tianshan Sect and whose cultivation was at the mid-stage of the Innate Profound Gang Realm.

This man was fair-skinned and looked like a scholar. However, his palms were always bluish-white and felt like ice to the touch. He brought five disciples at the Acquired Divine Strength Realm. Together with Han Songzi's original forces, the Tianshan Sect's combat strength around Qinghe City was already quite considerable.

"Han Songzi, you've really messed up this time." Leng Qianqiu's tone was teasing, but his eyes were cold.

Han Songzi gritted his teeth: "I'll kill that gray-clad swordsman with my own hands sooner or later."

"Don't rush," Leng Qianqiu said. "The mine is the real issue. The Blood Nether Sect has also sent reinforcements. When I entered the mountain, I sensed a familiar aura—that old bastard Wan Gu Ku, he's at least at the early stage of the Profound Realm."

Han Songzi's expression changed slightly: "Ten Thousand Bones Withered? The seventh-ranked outer disciple of the Blood Nether Sect?"

"It's him," Leng Qianqiu said calmly. "The Blood Nether Sect is determined to get this mine. We can't leave empty-handed."

A 50/50 split is the bare minimum. If all else fails, we'll join forces with the Blood Demon Sect to kick the Iron Sword Sect and that Azure Dragon Society out of the game first, then split the spoils between the two.

Han Songzi hesitated: "Will the sect agree to this?"

"The sect leader said that as long as we can get our hands on the mine, we can team up with anyone." Leng Qianqiu patted his shoulder, her tone more relaxed. "Don't worry, with me here this time, there won't be any more accidents."

Qinghe City, a dilapidated temple in the south of the city.

This used to be a secret outpost of the White Lotus Sect. After Sun Liangyu was hunted down, this outpost was abandoned. But tonight, a faint light shines again in the dilapidated temple.

Sun Liangyu sat before the collapsed Buddha statue. Her face was ashen, and her lips were cracked. The wound on her left arm had become infected and emitted a foul odor.

The man in black is dead. All his men are dead.

He is now truly all alone.

"Still no reply from the church?" The voice was so hoarse it was almost inaudible.

The only attendant—a boy of about fifteen or sixteen—shrank in a corner and shook his head upon hearing this: "Sir, all the carrier pigeons we sent out were intercepted by the Garrison Command. There are spies everywhere outside; I don't even dare to enter the city."

Sun Liangyu closed her eyes and remained silent for a long time.

"Then we won't wait any longer." He finally spoke, his voice filled with a desperate resolve. "The White Lotus Sect still has a few spies in Pingyang County. Take my token and go find them. Tell them—I, Sun Liangyu, am still alive. Give me a way out, and I will repay you handsomely in the future."

The boy took the token and hesitated, saying, "Sir, you're here all alone..."

"You won't die." Sun Liangyu waved her hand. "Go. Remember, be careful of the Zhenfu Division."

The boy gritted his teeth, turned around, and disappeared into the night.

Sun Liangyu sat alone in the dilapidated temple, staring at the dying embers of the fire. A sinister glint flashed in her eyes.

Sun Liangyu has managed Qinghe City for over a decade; how could he be so easily crushed?

On the outskirts of the vast mountain range lies an unnamed high ground.

Shen Lian lay prone behind a boulder, observing the direction of the Azure Dragon Society's stronghold in the distance through night vision binoculars.

He had been lying in wait here for a full day and night. But he still couldn't get a clear picture of the situation inside the stronghold. The outer sentry posts were very professionally arranged—covert and exposed sentries patrolled alternately, leaving almost no blind spots.

"This Green Dragon Society doesn't seem like a makeshift operation," he muttered to himself.

A spy beside him whispered, "Commander, should we move closer?"

"No need. Let's retreat." Shen Lian put away his binoculars. "Go back first and give Zhou Gang and Qian Qi a summary of the situation. This group is not simple; approaching rashly will only alert them."

The two slid silently down the hill and disappeared into the darkness.

Qinghe City, the rear courtyard of the branch office.

The night is dark.

Dongfang Weiwo finished his practice and opened his eyes.

His progress was minimal after a day's blood circulation. But he wasn't in a hurry. That's how cultivation at the Blood Exchange Realm works—it takes time and effort, there are no shortcuts.

He stood up, walked to the window, and opened it.

A cool night breeze blew in. The distant, desolate mountain range was shrouded in darkness, devoid of any light.

But there was a subtle tension in the air, like a fully drawn string.

He knew that peaceful days wouldn't last long.

But someone will handle those things.

He closed the window, returned to his bed, and continued practicing his cultivation technique.