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

Late autumn when I was fifteen.

I, the only one in the East, sat in the courtyard for three days in solitude.

The decision has finally been made.

Five years have passed. He has thoroughly examined all the official documents and gazettes in the clan school's library.

On the surface, the Xuantian Dynasty ruled the world through six ministries.

But what truly commands respect are the three major institutions.

The first one is the Six Doors.

They are in charge of all criminal cases, apprehending criminals, and maintaining public order. Their power extends to every city. Local constables are nominally under the government's jurisdiction, but in reality, they all obey the orders of the Six Doors. In major criminal cases and conflicts within the martial arts world, the Six Doors' badge is more effective than the prefect's official seal.

His residence, the Marquis of Weeping Blood Mansion, was located within the jurisdiction of the Six Doors' Imperial City General Office. However, the Marquis's Mansion held a transcendent status, so the people from the Six Doors dared not interfere.

The second is the Zhenfu Division.

Established by the founding emperor himself, the Zhenfu Division had only two responsibilities: protecting the emperor and investigating, arresting, and interrogating all criminals who threatened imperial power. Its privileges were astonishing. The Zhenfu Division could directly arrest and interrogate high-ranking officials, reporting back to the emperor afterwards. This was known as "acting first and reporting later." Even the most powerful and influential ministers in the court would change their expressions upon hearing the words "Zhenfu Division."

The third is the suspended mirror stand.

Established by the previous emperor, it serves directly the emperor and is not subject to any other institution. Its supreme leader is the most powerful eunuch by the emperor's side—the Grand Eunuch Cao Qiansui. In recent years, his power has continued to expand, showing signs of surpassing the Zhenfu Division. His spies are everywhere. From secret court discussions to rumors circulating in the martial arts world, nothing escapes their notice.

Each of the three institutions has its own strengths.

The Six Doors manage "matters." The Garrison Command manages "people." The Mirror Platform manages "information."

Dongfang Weiwo weighed the pros and cons repeatedly.

Finally, their attention turned to the Zhenfu Division.

The reason is simple. The Six Doors are rooted in the local area, but their power is constrained by the local government, leaving them with limited options. The Suspended Mirror Platform is too mysterious; if he were to rashly try to enter, it would only attract attention.

The Zhenfu Division alone possesses considerable power, strong independence, and a clear promotion path. Starting as a junior officer in a local branch, one can accumulate merits to rise to the rank of general, centurion, chiliarch, and finally Zhenfu Commissioner.

More importantly, the Garrison Command deals with dangerous criminals year-round, providing numerous combat opportunities. It needs energy points. Killing enemies is the most direct way. To sustain itself through war, there is no better place than the Garrison Command.

As for where to start?

It wasn't the Imperial City's General Headquarters. It was a small to medium-sized city far from the capital. The more inconspicuous it was, the better; the further away from the center of power, the better.

After thinking it through, he didn't hesitate any longer.

He changed into a clean and neat black robe.

Push open the courtyard gate.

He walked toward his father's study.

The study of the Marquis of Weeping Blood is located in the third courtyard along the central axis of the mansion.

The area is surrounded by evergreen pines and cypresses, which remain green all year round.

There were no extra servants in the courtyard. Only an old man in gray sat on the porch with his eyes closed, resting. His breathing was so deep and slow that it was almost inaudible, and his aura blended with that of the pine and cypress trees.

Dongfang Weiwo recognized him.

Han Bo. He's been with my father for decades. No one knows his background. All that's known is that when my father was in the northern camp, Han Bo was the commander of the personal guards. Later, when my father returned to the capital to inherit the title, Han Bo came to the Marquis's residence with him. He lives a secluded life and rarely shows his face. When the elders of the clan occasionally mention him, their words are tinged with a hint of apprehension.

"Second Young Master."

Han Bo opened his eyes, his gaze peaceful.

"The Marquis is inside."

Dongfang Weiwo nodded. He took a deep breath. He raised his hand and knocked on the door.

"Come in."

The door wasn't closed.

Dongfang Wudi sat behind his desk, a military report in his hand, his expression calm. The afternoon sun slanted in through the window, casting glints of silver light on his dark robes. This grandmaster, standing at the pinnacle of martial arts in Dongzhou, looked like an ordinary middle-aged scholar. Not a trace of imposing aura emanated from him.

Dongfang Weiwo entered the study and bowed respectfully.

"Father."

Dongfang Wudi put down the military report and raised his eyes.

My gaze lingered on him for a moment. His expression was as still as a stagnant pool. I couldn't discern any emotion.

"explain."

One word: Decisive and efficient.

Dongfang Weiwo was used to his father's way of speaking. He didn't beat around the bush.

"I want to go out and gain experience. I'll join the Garrison Command and start from a local branch."

The study remained quiet for three full breaths.

Dongfang Wudi's face remained expressionless. There was no surprise, no approval, no objection. He simply watched his second son quietly.

His gaze seemed to pierce through flesh and bone, looking straight into the depths of the soul.

The Grandmaster's gaze carried an indescribable sense of oppression.

I alone in the East remained completely still.

a long time.

Dongfang Wudi withdrew his gaze.

He didn't ask why. He didn't ask, "Why do you suddenly want to go out and gain experience?" He didn't ask, "Is a place like the Zhenfu Division suitable for a fifteen-year-old kid like you?" He didn't ask, "Is your cultivation level sufficient?"

He didn't ask any of the questions a father might ask.

He simply reached out and took a jade pendant from his waist.

A palm-sized piece of green jade. It is lustrous throughout, with a texture so fine it's almost transparent. The front is carved with a coiled dragon, lifelike, its head raised as if about to burst forth from the jade. The back is engraved with the ancient seal script character for "East," its strokes sharp and powerful.

"This jade pendant contains the power of one of my strikes."

His voice was so flat, as if he were talking about something trivial.

"It will automatically activate when faced with a life-or-death crisis. No one below the Grandmaster level can break it."

He paused slightly. As if remembering something, he added another sentence.

This time, there was finally a very subtle fluctuation in his tone.

"As for Grandmasters—"

Dongfang Wudi raised his eyelids, his gaze passing over Dongfang Weiwo and landing on the horizon outside the window.

At that moment, a trace of the aura that he had suppressed for countless years suddenly leaked out.

Just a trace.

The air in the study seemed to freeze.

The Xuan paper on the window frame trembled slightly, emitting a barely audible buzzing sound.

"In the entire Eastern Continent, no Grandmaster has ever dared to make a move against my son, Dongfang Wudi."

This wasn't a harsh remark. It was even rather understated.

But the hint of arrogance hidden in his words was like a sharp sword that had been sheathed for thousands of years, inadvertently revealing an inch of its edge.

Dongfang Weiwo's mind was suddenly jolted.

He knew his father was very strong. A Grandmaster, one of the few in the entire Eastern Continent. But he had always thought his father was just "one of them".

until now.

Judging from the information revealed in this sentence, Dongfang Wudi is probably among the very top-tier individuals at the Grandmaster level.

"Dare to lay a hand on my son" and "Dare to lay a hand on me" are two different things.

The former means that Dongfang Wudi has enough confidence that no Grandmaster in the entire Dongzhou would dare to touch his sore spot.

This confidence is something that ordinary grandmasters cannot possess.

"Your son obeys."

He took the jade pendant with both hands and solemnly fastened it to his waist. The moment the jade pendant touched his skin, he could clearly feel the power contained within it—like a dormant volcano, its calm exterior concealing world-destroying power.

"Go."

Dongfang Wudi picked up the military report again, his gaze returning to the paper. It was as if nothing had happened.

Dongfang Weiwo bowed deeply, then turned and left the study.

As I reached the door, I suddenly heard my father's voice behind me.

"Come back alive."

He paused slightly. He didn't turn around.

He nodded vigorously.