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

Qinglong Society, Yiyue Hall, Night

The moonlight, as clear as water, reflected on the black tiles and white walls of the Meng family mansion in Liuxiang, Pingyang County.

In the secret chamber at the back, candlelight flickered.

Shangguan Jin Hong sat upright in the main seat, toying with a pair of dragon and phoenix rings in his hands. The golden rings gleamed coldly in the candlelight. His face was expressionless, his eyes were slightly closed, and his aura was as deep and unfathomable as an abyss.

Meng Xinghun stood at the lower end and respectfully reported: "Hall Master, the reinforcements from the Qingmu Sword Sect have arrived. The mid-stage Grandmaster Qingmu Zhenren is leading the team, along with two peak Divine Vein Realm protectors and a hundred elite disciples. They are currently stationed at the Qingyun Inn in the east of the city and have made contact with the remnants of the Iron Sword Sect."

"What about the Iron Sword Sect?"

"Sun Tiegu, Zhou Tieshan, and others retreated to the old site of the Iron Sword Sect branch in the north of the city, where there are still more than 300 disciples. After being seriously injured, the Iron Hand Sword Elder disappeared and it is said that he has fled Pingyang County."

Shangguan Jin Hong opened her eyes, her gaze calm yet intimidating.

"The White Lotus Sect?"

"Liu San Niang is imprisoned in the dungeon, and Granny Zhou is locked in a dark room. The remaining forces of the White Lotus Sect in the county town have been completely wiped out, and there is no movement from the main altar for the time being."

"Skynet?"

"The deputy branch leader of Guangling Prefecture, 'Shadow,' has arrived in the prefectural city. He is at the early stage of the Grandmaster realm." Meng Xinghun paused, "but he is holding back, seemingly observing the situation."

Shangguan Jin Hong's lips curled into a cold smile: "Watching and waiting? That's clever."

He stood up, put his hands behind his back, and turned away from Meng Xinghun.

"Star Soul, tell me, how many forces in Pingyang County dare to oppose my Azure Dragon Society now?"

Meng Xinghun pondered for a moment: "On the surface, there are only reinforcements from the Green Wood Sword Sect and the three major families. The remnants of the Iron Sword Sect are already at their last gasp, the White Lotus Sect is hiding in the shadows, and the Heavenly Net has chosen to wait and see."

"What is the attitude of the three major families?"

"The Li, Wang, and Zhao families all have patriarchs at the early stage of the Divine Meridian Realm, and their current attitude is ambiguous. They have neither taken the initiative to submit nor colluded with the Green Wood Sword Sect, and seem to be waiting for the situation to become clearer."

Shangguan Jin Hong turned around, his eyes blazing.

"Wait for the situation to become clear? Then let them see the situation clearly."

He walked to the wall, where a map of Pingyang County was hanging.

"The Iron Sword Sect branch, the Green Wood Sword Sect's temporary headquarters, the residences of the three major families, the Wanbao Trading Company, the two major escort agencies..." Shangguan Jin Hong's finger traced across the map. "These forces occupy 60% of the county city's territory. I want them to either submit or disappear within ten days."

Meng Xinghun's heart skipped a beat: "What does the Hall Master mean...?"

"Take the initiative," Shangguan Jin Hong said calmly. "The White Lotus Sect, the Mad Blade Sect, and the Heavenly Net have already retreated; what remains is nothing but a rabble. Qingmu Zhenren? So what if he's a mid-stage Grandmaster?"

He walked back to his seat and sat down again.

"Now that I, Shangguan Jin Hong, have come to Pingyang County, I have no intention of just being a hall master."

Meng Xinghun understood.

This ruthless tyrant, obsessed with power in his past life, remains ambitious in this one. The Azure Dragon Society's First Moon Hall is just the beginning.

What he wanted was the entire Pingyang Prefecture, a force capable of rivaling the imperial dynasty and the holy land.

"Pass down the order." Shangguan Jin Hong's voice was calm yet authoritative. "Three days from now, the Azure Dragon Society will officially declare war on the Azure Wood Sword Sect. Have Lu Zhangke and Hebi Weng intensify their training of new recruits. Han Tang will be in charge of intelligence. You... will lead the troops to meet the enemy head-on."

"That Master Aoki..."

"Leave him to me." A murderous glint flashed in Shangguan Jin Hong's eyes. "Now that everyone knows that the Azure Dragon Sect has a Grandmaster in charge, it's time for the world to see me, the master of the One Moon Hall."

"Is the leader going to make a public appearance?"

"The time has come." Shangguan Jin Hong stood up. "The White Lotus Sect, the Heavenly Net, and the Mad Saber Sect have all retreated. The Green Wood Sword Sect is the last one to dare to step forward. After defeating Master Green Wood, no one in Pingyang County will dare to oppose my Azure Dragon Society."

He walked into the shadows, where a silent figure stood.

"Jing Wuming".

"Your subordinate is here." Jing Wuming stepped out of the shadows, expressionless, his left hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

"Three days from now, you will accompany me into battle. Those two peak Divine Vein Realm guardians are yours."

"Yes."

Jing Wuming flashed and disappeared back into the darkness.

Shangguan Jin Hong looked at Meng Xing Hun: "Go, prepare for the final battle in three days."

"yes!"

Meng Xinghun exited the secret room.

Shangguan Jin Hong sat alone by the candlelight, stroking the dragon and phoenix ring, murmuring to himself, "Power... In this life, I will not lose again."

He Qingquan paced back and forth, his face grave.

The news that the Iron Sword Sect's branch had been destroyed and that Iron Hand Sword Elder had escaped with serious injuries shocked him greatly.

"The Azure Dragon Society actually has a Grandmaster in charge..." he muttered to himself. "Just who is this Dragon and Phoenix Ring Grandmaster?"

A disciple rushed in: "Elder He, the headquarters has replied!"

He Qingquan took the letter, unfolded it, and his expression changed drastically.

"The headquarters has dispatched Elder Aoki, an inner disciple of the Aoki Sword Sect, in person?"

Master Qingmu, a mid-stage Grandmaster, led a hundred elite disciples and two peak Divine Vein Realm protectors to Pingyang County within three days.

He Qingquan took a deep breath, a complex look flashing in his eyes.

Master Qingmu is an inner elder of the Qingmu Sword Sect, whose cultivation level far surpasses his.

"The headquarters has really gone all out this time..." He Qingquan muttered to himself, then instructed his disciples, "Notify the remaining members of the Iron Sword Sect that reinforcements will arrive within three days. Tell them to prepare, and once the reinforcements arrive, join forces to deal with the Azure Dragon Society!"

"yes!"

The disciple left in a hurry. He Qingquan walked to the window and looked at the night outside.

The Azure Dragon Society... just who are you?

Three days later.

The atmosphere in the main hall of Qingyun Inn was somber.

Master Aoki sat upright in the main seat, dressed in a green robe, with white hair and beard, a thin face, and eyes that shone with restrained light.

His aura was calm, yet it subtly revealed a sharp sword intent that made people afraid to look directly at him.

Seated on either side were two guardians: the left guardian, Tiemu, was burly with bulging muscles in his arms and was skilled with a heavy sword; the right guardian, Qingsong, was tall and slender with a refined demeanor and possessed unparalleled mastery of the Qingmu Sword Technique. Both were at the peak of the Divine Meridian Realm.

"He Qingquan," Master Qingmu spoke, his voice aged yet full of vigor, "explain the situation of the Azure Dragon Society in detail."

He Qingquan bowed respectfully and recounted the rise of the Azure Dragon Society, from seizing the Heavenly Origin Medicine and destroying the Black Wind Stronghold, to suppressing the White Lotus Sect, repelling the Heavenly Net, and then to the destruction of the Iron Sword Sect's branch...

"That Dragon and Phoenix Ring Grandmaster, known to outsiders as Shangguan Jin Hong, is the master of the First Moon Hall of the Azure Dragon Society," He Qingquan said. "This person is mysterious and unpredictable, and has never made a public appearance, but he once severely injured Spider, the leader of the Guangling branch of the Heavenly Net, with a single move. His strength is at least at the early stage of Grandmaster, or even higher."

Master Qingmu sneered, "Early-stage Grandmaster? I am a mid-stage Grandmaster, why would I be afraid of someone at the early stage?"

Ironwood Protector said in a deep voice, "Master, Shangguan Jin Hong was able to severely injure the spider, so his cultivation level is probably more than just the initial stage."

"I've heard of Spider. He's the branch leader of Tianwang in Guangling Prefecture, a Grandmaster in the early stage," said Master Qingmu calmly. "The difference between Grandmasters in the early stage can be huge. I'd like to see how capable this Shangguan Jin Hong really is."

He stood up and scanned the crowd.

"Pass down the order: in three days, the Green Wood Sword Sect will officially declare war on the Azure Dragon Society."

"Act on behalf of Heaven, expel evil spirits and heretics, and reclaim control of the county town."

"By the way..." A greedy glint flashed in his eyes, "swallow up the remnants of the Iron Sword Sect and incorporate them into my Green Wood Sword Sect. Pingyang County can only have one master."

He Qingquan felt a chill run down his spine.

Master Qingmu is aiming to kill two birds with one stone—both attack the Azure Dragon Society and swallow the Iron Sword Sect.