If you die, I will be able to inherit your cultivation.

Less than two hours after Su Mingyue received the news that the immortal was taking on a disciple, the major families in Yongning City also received messages from flying eagles.

These aristocratic families were originally scattered throughout various counties and prefectures of Youzhou, but after Emperor Yongchang ascended the throne and Su Mingyue took control of the Great Xia, they were separated from the families of the powerful clans.

Sensing the presence of the power center, they all moved their family residences to Yongning City.

Yongning City transformed from a county seat into a secondary capital. The city walls were renovated, the streets and alleys were widened, and the best locations in the city were divided up by the newly moved-in aristocratic families.

Later, the more than two thousand Blood Refining Realm warriors escaped from the Endless Forest.

Some of them eventually returned to their homeland, only to find that their families had already moved to Yongning City, so they stayed there as well.

After several rounds of negotiation with Su Mingyue and Su Yongning, these martial artists finally reached a fragile agreement.

They jointly guarded Youzhou.

A group of martial artists followed Su Yongning to garrison various parts of Youzhou.

The other part remained in Yongning City, ostensibly to assist in guarding the secondary capital, but secretly as pawns to check and balance various forces.

The news of the immortal taking on a disciple was like a boulder thrown into a lake, shattering the already turbulent waters.

No one would willingly hand over the chance to live forever to someone else.

This is human nature.

The path to immortality is clear: emperors, generals, and strategists.

While it may seem to offer a fair chance for all parties to compete, ultimately only a small group of people at the very top of the pyramid have the real opportunity to win these three tickets.

Which of those Blood Refining Realm warriors wasn't a powerful figure who once dominated a region?

Which one of them didn't have their blood drawn from the pool of blood for countless years, and only crawled out of hell because of their resentment towards their fate and their overwhelming rage?

They valued life more than anyone else, and longed for immortality more than anyone else.

Nobody wanted to let someone else pick this peach; nobody wanted it.

In a secret room of a mansion in Yongning City, several Blood Refining Realm martial artists met and discussed countermeasures in hushed tones.

Some advocated immediately contacting allies in other states and taking the lead in sending troops to gain fame and glory.

Some advocated immediately sending troops to seize territory and further contend for supremacy.

Before they could come up with a solution, the guard outside delivered another secret report.

The Yongning West Reservoir collapsed, and a huge boulder weighing tens of thousands of kilograms broke through the water. The boulder's surface was engraved with an eight-character prophecy: "The sun and moon shine in the sky, and the earth unites in virtue."

The moment the secret report was laid out on the table, the entire room erupted in uproar.

If you, Su Yongning, wanted to become emperor, most people would have been able to accept it, even if they didn't want to.

Su Yongning spent most of his life managing Youzhou, and he personally trained the northern border troops.

Merit, seniority, connections, prestige—all of these are there for all to see.

If he wanted to take that position, while it might not be entirely convincing, it would at least be legitimate.

But what are you, Su Mingyue?

A young woman in her early twenties, instead of finding a suitable family for a marriage alliance and settling down to be a dutiful wife and mother.

They insist on wielding swords and spears, fighting on the battlefield, and now they even have the audacity to dream of seizing the throne.

The eight large characters on that massive boulder weighing tens of thousands of kilograms were all paving the way for Su Mingyue.

The sun and moon shining brightly in the sky represent "brightness," while the harmony of the earth and the earth represents "a woman ruling the world."

This is no auspicious sign from heaven; it's clearly a meticulously planned political performance.

Even a fool could tell that Su Mingyue was creating public opinion to justify her claim to the throne.

Who gave her the courage?

The martial artists present grew increasingly angry, and one of them slammed his hand on the table, making the teacups on it rattle loudly.

This Yongning City belongs to everyone; we all promised to stay in the city and defend it together.

It's because of the Su family's reputation, and because of Su Yongning's many years of business dealings in Youzhou.

You, Su Mingyue, only temporarily held military power on behalf of your father. Now that the old Marquis has returned, do you really think of yourself as the ruler of Youzhou?

Without informing each family or sitting down to discuss it, they just pulled this crazy trick of bringing good fortune from the sky. What do they think the major families in Yongning City are?

That night, the more than thirty Blood Refining Realm warriors who remained in Yongning City began to coordinate with each other.

Messengers rode their horses between various mansions, and secret letters were circulated in dimly lit studies.

A group of old enemies who used to be adversaries on the battlefield and attack each other in the court now surprisingly agree on a consensus and quickly reach a settlement.

They wanted to ask Su Mingyue in person what she really meant.

If things really turned sour, they knew that the Youzhou army's magical forces were not to be trifled with.

But these men were not lacking in brute force; they were willing to risk their lives to pull her off her horse.

However, this is the worst-case scenario; we haven't reached that point yet.

However, we can't just let Su Mingyue off the hook like this. At least we have to force her to give an explanation and let her know that Yongning City doesn't belong to Su Mingyue alone.

They argued for half the night about who should take the lead, who should apply pressure, and who should provide support, but no one raised any objection to the decision itself.

The next morning, before dawn.

More than thirty Blood Refining Realm martial artists set off from their respective residences.

Some rode horses, some walked, some were accompanied by a few trusted guards, and some were alone.

They met up on the long street in front of the Marquis's mansion, forming a dense, dark mass.

There were no flags, no ceremonial guards, and no one spoke.

More than thirty focused gazes silently pierced through the morning mist, fixed on the tightly closed vermilion gate of the Marquis's residence.

Staring intently at the two rows of silent, standing stone lions, and at the faded, gilded plaque above the doorway.

At the very front stood an elderly man with gray hair and beard, his hands clasped behind his back.

The veins on the back of his thin, bony hand were faintly bulging, and the breathing of the thirty-odd people behind him condensed into a very low and deep hum in the morning mist.

Just then, the sound of rapid hoofbeats rang out from the end of the long street.

Approaching from afar, their footsteps shattered the tense silence in front of the Marquis's mansion.

Everyone turned around and saw a troop of dusty cavalry riding through the morning mist.

The leader dismounted swiftly and cleanly, his black armor still stained with a faint trace of dew.

The visitor was none other than Marquis Su Yongning, who had traveled day and night from the northern border to return.

Su Yongning tossed the reins to his personal guards and strode toward the crowd.

His gaze swept across the faces of the dense crowd in front of the Marquis's mansion, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper.

He knew all of these people. Some were his old comrades-in-arms who fought alongside him in the northern border, while others were his sworn enemies who had fought him openly and secretly on this land of Youzhou.

Some of them were his close friends with whom he had shared hardships and supported each other as they escaped from the Blood Pool prison and walked out of the Endless Forest.

More than thirty Blood Refining Realm martial artists, more than thirty familiar faces, were blocking the gate of the Su family, their expressions unfriendly and their aura menacing.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Su Yongning said, standing in front of the crowd, clasping his hands in a respectful gesture, his voice as steady as a rock.

"May I ask what brings you all gathered outside my residence?"