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

It was the third quarter of the hour of midnight. A vast, desolate mountain range. No moon, no stars.

Thick clouds obscured the sky. Mountain winds, carrying damp mist, poured in from the valley entrance, causing the pines surrounding the outpost to rustle in waves. The night watchman huddled in the shadow of a boulder, his eyelids heavy with sleep.

He didn't notice—dozens of dark figures were silently approaching along the ground.

Ten thousand bones wither at the very front.

His steps were as light as a cat's. Behind him followed more than thirty skilled members of the Blood Demon Cult—Tu Wanshan's men, plus the elite troops he had transferred from the main cult. They were all dressed in black with short swords, the blades coated with a deadly poison.

Tonight, the Blood Demon Cult will reclaim what belongs to them.

"Elder Wan," Tu Wanshan said in a low voice, approaching from the flank, "we've identified all three outposts around the stronghold. The first is behind the boulder directly in front. The second is on the pine tree to the left. The third is in a hollow on the ridge to the right."

Wan Gu Ku nodded. His gaunt face was expressionless.

"I'll do the first one. The rest are yours."

Tu Wanshan accepted the order. With a wave of his hand, two elders at the early stage of the Innate Realm led more than a dozen men to flank the left, while he himself led his men to maneuver to the right. Their movements were perfectly synchronized, clearly the result of careful rehearsal.

Wan Gu Ku continued walking. Every step was silent, his aura completely concealed—like a moving stone.

He paused, about ten feet away from the boulder.

Then accelerate.

The speed of someone at the Innate Profound Realm is terrifying. A distance of ten zhang can be covered in a mere breath.

The sentry didn't even have time to react. His throat was crushed by a withered hand. There wasn't even a scream. The body fell limply to the ground, where Wan Gu Ku gently placed it—without making a sound.

Almost at the same moment, faint sounds of bones cracking came from both the left and right wings.

Three hidden sentries. Within three breaths. All eliminated.

Wan Gu Ku gestured behind him. More than thirty dark figures surged toward the stronghold like a tide. Silent and chilling, they exuded murderous intent.

Chen Jialuo didn't sleep tonight.

He couldn't explain why, but he just felt uneasy. The night wind in the vast mountains was cooler than usual, making him feel uneasy. He put on his coat, got up, walked to the window, and opened it.

The courtyard was deserted. The moonlight was obscured by clouds. Only the dim yellow light from the lantern under the eaves shone through the clouds.

Business as usual.

But he always felt that something was wrong.

"Chieftain," Wen Tailai's voice came from next door, tinged with alertness, "Did you hear that?"

Chen Jialuo listened intently.

The sound of the wind. The rustling of the pines. The faint roar of a beast in the distance.

Then—a very faint thud, almost drowned out by the wind. Like something heavy falling to the ground.

Chen Jialuo's pupils suddenly contracted.

"Enemy attack!"

The sound exploded in the silent night sky like a thunderclap.

Almost simultaneously, violent impacts erupted from all four walls of the stronghold. Dozens of dark figures scaled the walls, blades flashing in the dim light—heading straight for the Hall of Righteousness.

"Clang—"

The window was smashed. Two Blood Demon Cult disciples broke in through the window, thrusting short knives straight at Chen Jialuo's throat.

Chen Jialuo retreated swiftly. A beaded rope flew from his waist, wrapped around the wrist of one of the men, and twisted sharply. "Crack!"—the wrist bone broke. The man screamed, and his short sword fell to the ground.

Another man's blade was already at him. Chen Jialuo dodged to the side and struck the man in the chest with a palm. The man flew backward and crashed into the wall.

But he had no time to catch his breath. More people poured in from all directions.

Wen Tailai had already rushed out of the room. His Thunder Palm technique erupted with blinding lightning in the darkness, sending two oncoming men flying with a single blow. But more enemies filled the gap, surrounding him completely.

"Wen Tailai, the Thunder Hand?" Tu Wanshan emerged from the darkness, a cold smile playing on his lips. "Peak of the Acquired Golden Body Realm—and dares to be so insolent before the Blood Nether Sect?"

Wen Tailai did not answer. He unleashed both palms simultaneously, causing lightning to explode and forcing the surrounding enemies back three steps.

But Tu Wanshan struck out with his palm. The insidious power of the Blood Fiend Palm collided head-on with the power of thunder.

Wen Tailai groaned and staggered back several steps. A trickle of blood escaped from the corner of his mouth.

The peak of the Acquired Golden Body Realm is two major realms apart from the early stage of the Innate Realm.

Zhao Banshan and Master Wuchen were also caught in a fierce battle.

Zhao Banshan's hidden weapons were incredibly accurate in the darkness, but there were too many enemies—for every one he shot down, two more would appear. Master Wuchen's Soul-Chasing Deadly Sword was as fast as a shooting star, but the two Blood Nether Sect experts who were attacking him were both at the peak of the Acquired Divine Strength Realm.

With two against one, plus Tu Wanshan's occasional palm strikes, the sword's momentum was gradually suppressed.

Chen Jialuo was also in a precarious situation. He was surrounded by three experts at the Acquired Divine Strength Realm. Although the beaded rope technique was exquisite, two fists could not fight against four hands. He already had several wounds on his body.

"Who exactly are you people?" Chen Jialuo gritted his teeth.

"The Blood Nether Sect," Tu Wanshan's voice was smug. "This mine originally belonged to us. What are you, the Azure Dragon Society, to dare to steal it?"

"Blood Nether Sect..." Chen Jialuo sneered, "Aren't you afraid of the Azure Dragon Society's retaliation?"

"The Azure Dragon Society?" Tu Wanshan laughed loudly. "A cowardly force like that dares to make the Blood Demon Sect afraid?"

His smile vanished. His gaze turned cold.

"Tonight, you will all die. The Blood Cult wants the mine."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Wan Gu Ku emerged from the darkness.

His appearance caused the entire battlefield to freeze. The pressure of the early stage of the Innate Profound Realm pressed down like a mountain—Chen Jialuo and the other three felt that even breathing became difficult.

Wan Gu Ku glanced around the arena, his gaze lingering on Chen Jialuo for a moment: "Sect Leader?"

Chen Jialuo did not answer.

"A mere acquired Divine Power Realm leader can control an entire Tianlan Mine," Wan Guku said sarcastically. "The Azure Dragon Society is nothing special."

"Elder Wan," Tu Wanshan said, "what should we do with these people?"

"Kill them," Wan Guku said calmly. "Leave one alive to find out the secrets of the Azure Dragon Society."

As soon as he finished speaking, the Blood Demon Sect disciples intensified their attack.

Chen Jialuo and his three companions stood back to back, surrounded by more than thirty people. Wen Tailai was injured. Zhao Banshan's hidden weapons were almost exhausted. Master Wuchen's swordplay was slowing down. Chen Jialuo's beaded rope was stained with blood.

"Chief," Wen Tailai said in a low voice, "I'll cover the rear. You guys break through."

"Bullshit." Chen Jialuo gritted his teeth. "We'll die together."

"Chief, the Lord's great cause cannot be without you..."

"Shut up."

Chen Jialuo gripped the beaded rope tightly, his eyes bloodshot. Tonight was likely a night of near-death experiences. But even if he died, he would take a few with him.

Wan Gu Ku stood with his hands behind his back, showing no intention of making a move. In his view, a few ants at the Acquired Realm were not worthy of his personal attention.

Just as Tu Wanshan raised his palm, preparing to deliver the final blow to Wen Tailai—

A sword light flew out from the darkness.