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

The following morning. The council hall of the Meng residence.

Meng Xinghun, Han Tang, Lu Zhangke, Hebi Weng, Chen Jialuo, Wen Tailai, Zhao Banshan, Wuchen—all the core members of the Azure Dragon Society gathered in Pingyang County.

This is the first general meeting of all members since the establishment of the Green Dragon Society.

Dongfang Weiwo sat in the main seat. He wore a mask. His voice, altered by true energy, was deep and majestic.

"I have summoned you all here today to announce an important matter."

His gaze swept over the crowd and landed on Meng Xinghun.

"Meng Xinghun, leader of the Yiyue Hall. You've worked hard these past few days."

Meng Xinghun clasped his hands in a fist salute: "It's my duty."

Dongfang Weiwo nodded and looked towards the hall door.

"Come in."

The curtain was lifted.

Shangguan Jin Hong strode in.

He wore a dark brocade robe and a gold belt. His face was stern and his aura was as imposing as a mountain.

The moment he walked in, the temperature in the entire council chamber seemed to drop several degrees. All eyes fell on him. Some were curious. Some scrutinizing. Some wary.

Meng Xinghun narrowed his eyes slightly.

He was a former assassin. He has an extremely keen sense of danger.

This man—is extremely dangerous. More dangerous than Yin Wuji. More dangerous than Lu Zhennan. More dangerous than anyone he has ever met.

Han Tang's hand unconsciously gripped the hilt of the sword.

Lu Zhangke and Hebi Weng exchanged a glance. They both saw the shock in each other's eyes. They were both at the early stage of the Profound Realm, able to sense that the other's cultivation was far superior to their own—like an abyss, unfathomable.

Chen Jialuo, Wen Tailai, Zhao Banshan, and Wuchen were only at the Acquired Realm, so their senses weren't that sharp. But the invisible pressure still made them shudder.

Shangguan Jin Hong stood to the right of the main seat, bowing slightly. His voice was steady and respectful.

"Shangguan Jin Hong greets my lord."

Dongfang Weiwo nodded. He spoke slowly.

"From today onwards, Shangguan Jin Hong will serve as the head of the Yi Yue Hall. Meng Xing Hun, Han Tang, Lu Zhang Ke, and He Bi Weng will be under the jurisdiction of the Yi Yue Hall. Meng Xing Hun will remain the head of the First Branch, Han Tang will serve as the head of the Second Branch, and Lu Zhang Ke and He Bi Weng will serve as protectors of the hall."

Meng Xinghun showed no displeasure. He stood up and clasped his hands in a fist salute.

"Greetings, Hall Master."

Han Tang followed closely behind. (The tone was flat.)

"Greetings, Hall Master."

Lu Zhangke and Hebi Weng also stood up and clasped their hands in a fist salute.

Shangguan Jin Hong nodded slightly. His gaze swept over the four people. His gaze was unhurried, yet carried an invisible weight, like a mountain pressing down on their shoulders. It lingered for a moment on Meng Xinghun, then on Han Tang, before withdrawing.

No one spoke immediately. The council chamber remained silent for a full three breaths.

"No need for formalities, everyone." He finally spoke. His voice was deep and resonant, devoid of any emotion. "From now on, let's work together with one heart and one mind."

A short sentence. A flat tone. Yet it carried an undeniable air of authority. It wasn't a discussion. It wasn't politeness. It was an announcement. This was Shangguan Jin Hong's way of speaking.

Chen Jialuo stepped forward and clasped his hands in greeting.

"Master. My subordinate, Chen Jialuo, is in charge of the stronghold in the Cangmang Mountains."

Shangguan Jin Hong glanced at him and said calmly, "The Cangmang Mountains are the foundation of the Azure Dragon Society. Thank you for your hard work, Leader Chen Jialuo."

His tone remained calm.

But when Shangguan Jin Hong uttered the words "You've worked hard," it made everyone involuntarily straighten their backs. It was as if this simple acknowledgment carried more weight than any reward.

Dongfang Weiwo stood up.

"Meeting adjourned. Hall Master Shangguan, please stay behind."

The crowd filed out.

As he walked out of the council hall, Meng Xinghun paused slightly.

He glanced back at Shangguan Jin Hong's retreating figure, a complex light flashing in his eyes.

Only Dongfang Weiwo and Shangguan Jin Hong remained in the council hall.

"Mr. Shangguan," Dongfang Weiwo pushed a thick file over. "This contains detailed intelligence on various forces in Pingyang County. The White Lotus Sect, the Mad Saber Sect, the Iron Sword Sect, the three major families, the two major escort agencies, the Zhenfu Division, the Six Doors, and the recently emerged mysterious black-clad force, Tianwang. Take a look."

Shangguan Jin Hong took the file and flipped through a couple of pages. He didn't sit down immediately, but stood and read it. His posture was composed, his gaze sharp as an eagle.

A moment later, he closed the file. A slight smile played on his lips. The smile was devoid of warmth, carrying only the sharp edge of a hunter spotting its prey.

"Three elders at the Divine Meridian Realm from the White Lotus Sect. One late-stage and one peak-stage Divine Meridian Realm from the Suppression Division. One peak-stage Divine Meridian Realm from the Green Wood Sword Sect..." The tone was flat, as if reciting an unimportant menu. "Nothing special."

Raise your head. Look at Dongfang Weiwo.

"My lord, I have a question."

"explain."

"What is the Azure Dragon Society's goal?" The voice was steady and powerful. "To remain confined to a corner of the world, or to contend for supremacy?"

Dongfang Weiwo remained silent for a moment.

"To vie for supremacy."

Shangguan Jin Hong smiled.

This time, his smile held a warmth. Not from joy, but from satisfaction. He bowed slightly.

"Then I'll know what to do."

Outside the council chamber. Under the corridor.

Meng Xinghun hadn't gone far. He stood in the shadow of the pillars, looking at the old locust tree in the courtyard, lost in thought. Han Tang stood behind him, as silent as ever.

Footsteps came from behind.

Meng Xinghun didn't turn around. Han Tang's hand was already on the hilt of his sword—then he released it. The newcomers were Lu Zhangke and Hebi Weng.

"Master," Lu Zhangke said in a low voice, "This new leader... is no ordinary person."

Meng Xinghun finally spoke.

"Grandmaster Realm".

Three words. Lu Zhangke and Hebi Weng both gasped in shock.

Grandmaster realm? There isn't a single Grandmaster realm cultivator in the entire Pingyang County.

"How did the leader know?" asked Hebi Weng.

"A feeling." Meng Xinghun turned around, his gaze calm. "I've killed people in the early stages of the Profound Gang Realm, and I've seen Yin Wuji in the Divine Meridian Realm. But this person's aura is many times stronger than Yin Wuji's. The feeling of him standing there... is like a mountain."

There was a moment of silence in the corridor.

He looked up towards the council chamber. A complex light flashed in his eyes.

"With someone like this in charge, the Azure Dragon Society truly has confidence."

Half an hour later. The first internal meeting of Ichigetsu-do.

Shangguan Jin Hong sat in the main seat, with a map of Pingyang County spread out before him. Meng Xing Hun sat to his left, and Han Tang to his right. Lu Zhang Ke and He Bi Weng stood on either side.

Shangguan Jin Hong did not speak immediately.

He examined every mark on the map with an unsettling slowness. The council chamber was so quiet you could hear the crackling of the candlelight. No one dared to urge him on. No one even dared to breathe loudly.

Finally, he spoke.

"Tell me about your current situation." The voice wasn't loud. Every word seemed to be carved from stone, carrying an undeniable weight.

Meng Xinghun leaned forward slightly. His voice was steady.

"The Yiyue Hall currently has one leader, two leaders at the level of leaders, two protectors, and twenty-three ordinary members. In terms of finances, the Tianlan Stone transaction netted 48,000 taels of gold, and with the previous mining income, there are currently 350,000 taels of gold in the account. There are three intelligence outposts, located in the south of the city, the north of the city, and the Cangmang Mountains."

Shangguan Jin Hong tapped her fingers lightly on the table.

Just for a moment.

Meng Xinghun unconsciously stopped talking.

"Twenty-three people," Shangguan Jin Hong repeated the number. There was no disappointment or dissatisfaction in her tone, only a calm and even statement. But it was precisely this calmness that made everyone feel an invisible pressure.

"Too little."

It wasn't criticism. It was stating a fact. But as soon as those two words were uttered, Meng Xinghun's brow twitched slightly.

Han Tang clutched the fabric on her knees. Lu Zhangke and Hebi Weng exchanged a glance. Neither of them spoke.

Shangguan Jin Hong didn't wait for a response. She continued.

"The three major families, two major escort agencies, and countless smaller forces in Pingyang County. We'll swallow the weak and incorporate the strong. Within three months, Yiyue Hall will expand tenfold."

Meng Xinghun looked up: "Master, recruiting people will take time..."

Shangguan Jin Hong glanced at him.

Just a glance. No emotion whatsoever. Yet it made Meng Xinghun swallow back the words he was about to say.

That look—it wasn't anger. It wasn't contempt. It was a matter-of-fact look of looking down.

Like a tiger eyeing its prey. No need to roar. Just watch. The prey will know its place.

"Chief Meng." The voice was calm. "You're a former assassin, skilled in assassination and stealth. Expanding your territory isn't your forte, and I don't blame you for that. But now that you're under my command, you only need to do one thing—execute."

Meng Xinghun was silent for a moment. He stood up and clasped his hands in a fist salute.

"Yes."

There was no explanation. There was no resentment. It wasn't out of fear, but because he saw something in Shangguan Jin Hong's eyes—the gaze of someone who had truly controlled a vast power.

The old man he used to work for also had a similar look in his eyes. But the old man was more reserved. Shangguan Jin Hong was more domineering.

Shangguan Jin Hong withdrew her gaze. Continue.

"The conflict between the Mad Saber Sect and the Iron Sword Sect is irreconcilable. The Iron Sword Sect's reinforcements will arrive soon, and a conflict between the two sides is inevitable. When the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman benefits—but what I want is not to wait until they are both exhausted before I can take advantage of the situation."

He stood up, walked to the map, and pointed to the location of the Iron Sword Sect's branch.

"I want the Mad Blade Sect to believe they can win."

The finger moved to the headquarters of the Mad Blade Sect.

"To make the Iron Sword Sect believe that they have a chance of winning."

The finger moved to the Zhenfu Division in the center of the city.

"This made Lu Zhennan feel that the situation was still under his control."

The finger moved to the remnants of the White Lotus Religion in the west of the city.

"To make the White Lotus Sect feel that they still have a chance."

He turned around. His gaze swept over everyone present. That gaze was like a knife, scraping across each person's face, leaving an invisible mark.

Everyone is making their moves on the chessboard according to their own calculations. No one notices that the chessboard itself has been switched.

Meng Xinghun narrowed his eyes slightly.

Han Tang's pupils contracted slightly.

Lu Zhangke and Hebi Weng exchanged a glance. They both saw the coldness in each other's eyes.

This is not the way of thinking of a martial arts master.

This is the mindset of a ruthless leader.