"Everything I say today is the truth. Since its founding, the Azure Dragon Society's highest goal has been to overturn the world and cleanse the universe. Azure Dragon means capturing the dragon!"
Boss Azure Dragon's voice was wild, imbued with a terrifying magic. It rang through the room, leaving everyone silent.
After a long while, someone finally spoke up. "That's your Azure Dragon Society's business. Why should we help you? Do you understand how great the risks are?"
Though Boss Azure Dragon's martial arts were unfathomably profound, his identity shrouded in the utmost mystery, and the Azure Dragon Society's power vast enough to span the four seas, everyone present was an unrivaled warlord, a lord of their own domain. People like them would never fear anything, much less be persuaded by a few words. The only thing that could make such people take a risk was sufficient profit.
Boss Azure Dragon clearly understood this, so he did not grow angry. His gaze swept lightly over everyone below, unfathomably deep, as though it could pierce to the depths of their souls.
"When I say this, I am not making empty boasts. The Azure Dragon Society has endured for over a thousand years. Its power is far beyond anything anyone could imagine."
Boss Azure Dragon looked at them calmly, with a hint of pride, as though he looked down upon the world.
"Wherever sunlight shines in this world, the Azure Dragon Society is there."
Boss Azure Dragon spoke with utter arrogance, but no one present said a word. They remained silent, as if accepting his claim.
Even He Heng had to admit that even if he took one third of the Azure Dragon Society's former strength and merged it with the forces of the many bosses from the novels, forming Green Robe Tower, its power still wouldn't amount to half of the Azure Dragon Society's current strength.
That was because what he called one third referred to one third of the Azure Dragon Society's overt power—the portion that did not belong to Boss Azure Dragon's hidden forces. As the Azure Dragon Society's eternal ruler, Boss Azure Dragon's forces were its true foundation.
That power was terrifying enough to make the martial world tremble and dynasties totter, for it was a foundation accumulated over hundreds of years.
For instance, a high-ranking court official might come from a family with an impeccable pedigree, its members blameless for three generations, and enjoy the emperor's deep trust for his unwavering loyalty.
Yet in truth, he might be a member of the Azure Dragon Society. His family might have been blameless for three generations, but hundreds of years ago, his ancestor had already belonged to the Azure Dragon Society. Who could possibly uncover the truth?
There were many people like that in the Azure Dragon Society. Some might not even belong to the Society, but only to Boss Azure Dragon himself. For hundreds of years, ever since their ancestors' time, they had lain dormant within great clans, sects, and the imperial court, ready to overturn everything at a critical moment.
No one else possessed such a foundation. The martial world changed with each generation, every twenty years—but who could endure for hundreds or even thousands of years, leaving behind countless forces?
Whether it was the imperial court, the army, or the ancient clans and sects, any of them could become the Azure Dragon Society's force at a crucial moment.
With such power, no matter how the world's winds rose and clouds surged, no matter how heaven and earth were overturned, the Azure Dragon Society's roots would never be shaken. It had long since taken root in every corner of the world, waiting for its moment to rise.
"To bring about this day, my Azure Dragon Society has prepared for countless years. This time, I am very confident that I can see the plan through!"
Boss Azure Dragon's voice rang out softly, filled with boundless ambition and madness, shaking everyone to the core.
"Before that, I hope to have everyone here give their full cooperation. Even with the Azure Dragon Society's power alone, this plan would be difficult to carry out."
Boss Azure Dragon's gaze burned as he looked at them. Everyone fell silent, glancing at one another and then around the room. At last, they gritted their teeth and nodded firmly.
They were all warlords, each harboring sky-high ambition. Though they knew the plan was dangerous, they were willing to gamble. That was the nature of a warlord.
Heroes had no regrets. Warlords had no tears.
For the sake of their ambitions, warlords could do anything.
"Good! Good! Good!"
Boss Azure Dragon seemed deeply moved, repeating the word three times. His gaze was resolute and mad, terrifying and unfathomable, as he looked at everyone present.
"Once the plan succeeds, I will reward you all with territory," Boss Azure Dragon declared solemnly.
Their expressions did not change. For people like them, any promise was empty talk. Only the benefits they ultimately received were eternal.
Boss Azure Dragon understood that too, so he continued.
"This plan is called... Qingping."
"The great wind rises from the tips of duckweed. This wind will... change the world!"
Boss Azure Dragon looked at them with a sneer, his madness verging on insanity.
"I cannot yet tell you exactly what the Qingping Plan entails. After all, even among those present, not everyone may be one of us."
Boss Azure Dragon's gaze turned cold as he watched them, seeming to pierce straight to the depths of their souls and see through everything. It made them break out in a cold sweat.
Then he smiled. "I can't tell you the entire Qingping Plan just yet, but I can tell you its first step. It's crucial, and determines whether the second and third steps can be carried out."
Everyone had clenched their fists, their palms slick with sweat.
Boss Azure Dragon smiled mysteriously. "The first step of the plan is to kill someone."
"Who?"
"Tie Zhongtang!"
Those three words sent shockwaves through the room. Everyone stared at Boss Azure Dragon.
The name Tie Zhongtang seemed to hold a terrifying power of its own, silencing the warlords and even filling them with awe.
Tie Zhongtang, master of the Great Banner Sect and universally acknowledged as the Number one person Under Heaven. This title did not mean he had the world's greatest martial arts, but that he was the greatest man.
Tie Zhongtang had lived a life of honor and integrity, unmatched in benevolence and righteousness. He had roamed the world with unshakable resolve, embodying the highest ideals of chivalry. He fought for the world and its people, and was unquestionably the greatest hero in the world.
Whether they were his friends or enemies, whether they loved or hated him, everyone had to respect him.
Though those present were all renowned warlords and overlords, cold and ruthless people, even they had to admire Tie Zhongtang.
"Why kill Tie Zhongtang? He shouldn't have anything to do with our affairs, should he?" Young Master Yu asked, frowning. He was Shen Lang's successor. Though he had now completely parted ways with Shen Lang, he still moved between the Black and White Sects, and admired Tie Zhongtang as well.
"Why?" Boss Azure Dragon shot back, his gaze cold as he looked at them. "Because if he lives, he'll have a huge impact on our plans. And I also want to use him to draw someone out."
"Draw someone out? Who?" they all asked together. They couldn't imagine who could be lured out by using Tie Zhongtang, the greatest hero under heaven, as bait.
Boss Azure Dragon answered calmly, "The Night Emperor!"
That was another terrifying name, one that might even surpass Tie Zhongtang's. The martial world changed with each generation, every twenty years. Before Tie Zhongtang and Sword God Xie Xiaofeng, the era of the martial world belonged to the Night Emperor and the Lady of the Future.
When they moved, the wind and rain darkened the skies, thunder and lightning struck together. When they were still, their forms were clear as polished mirrors, the stars opening up the jade-blue heavens!
Wind, rain, thunder, and lightning—the Four Saints of Martial Arts. The Night Emperor and the Lady of the Future reigned supreme over the martial world. The greatest masters, whose deeds shook heaven and earth, all belonged to the Jade Sky Scripture.
The Night Emperor was the ruler of the Jade Sky Scripture, and the greatest person of his time.
"How is that possible? He's still alive?" someone cried. Four or five decades had passed. Was the Night Emperor still alive?
"Though I'd rather it weren't so, the truth is that the Night Emperor is still alive," Boss Azure Dragon said calmly.
Jade Rakshasa frowned. "So what? Even if the Night Emperor is still alive, he's seventy or eighty years old. Can he still stir up trouble? And what does our plan have to do with him? The Night Emperor doesn't look like someone who cares about the fate of the nation and its people!"
"There's a lot you don't know. The Night Emperor's identity is no ordinary one. And if we carry out the second step of the plan, he'll definitely come out to interfere. By then, Tie Zhongtang won't stand by either. Others like Xie Xiaofeng and Li Xunhuan will probably get involved as well." Boss Azure Dragon glanced at everyone.
They all frowned as they watched Boss Azure Dragon.
Boss Azure Dragon stopped keeping them in suspense. "Does anyone here know where the Night Emperor came from?"
They thought it over, then all shook their heads.
"Do you really think someone like the Night Emperor could come from an ordinary family?" Boss Azure Dragon continued.
They shook their heads again. In truth, the Night Emperor was exceptionally gifted, accomplished in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and knew how to enjoy life. He seemed nothing like someone of ordinary birth—more like a refined young master from a great family.
But what kind of family could raise someone like the Night Emperor?
"Night Emperor—the word 'emperor' isn't one just anyone can use." Boss Azure Dragon spoke with an implied meaning.
Boss Azure Dragon smiled, his expression mysterious. "Do you know the Night Emperor's surname?"
This time, someone had the answer.
"The Night Emperor's surname is Zhu."
Though the Night Emperor's identity was shrouded in mystery, everyone present was a powerful lord in their own right, with access to all kinds of intelligence. Something as relatively open as his surname was naturally known to them.
Boss Azure Dragon smiled again and asked, "Then do you know the surname of the Son of Heaven of the Great Ming Dynasty?"
"Of course it's Zhu!"
Even a three-year-old knew the emperor's surname, so someone answered at once.
Then everyone suddenly shuddered, their expressions changing as they looked at one another.
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