Several dozen li from the valley where the True Martial Sect was located, a highly concealed wooden cabin stood deep within a mountain forest...
Inside the cabin, a tall man wearing a mask sat at the head of the room, his indifferent gaze fixed on the people below.
"How are the preparations?"
A man below, dressed in clothes embroidered with white lotus patterns and clearly a member of the White Lotus Sect, reported,
"We have already made contact with all the hidden agents. Once we make our move, they will actively cooperate with us, striking from within and without to take down the True Martial Sect in one fell swoop!"
"Very good."
The masked man gave a slight nod without saying anything more to him. He shifted his gaze to the woman on the other side. Though she too wore a mask, her alluring figure could not be concealed no matter what. He asked,
"What about your side?"
"Things have gone fairly smoothly. Most have already agreed, while a small number are still sitting on the fence. It seems they still fear the True Martial Sect's ancestor," the woman replied.
"Hmph, they don't know what's good for them."
A savage gleam flickered in the masked man's eyes as the corners of his mouth curled upward.
"The tide of the age is upon us, and the outcome was decided long ago. No one can change it. The True Martial Sect has a Grandmaster—do we not have one as well?!"
He then ordered, "Go tell those wavering fools that before we officially act, they must give us a clear answer and support us with their actions. Otherwise, they can only be our enemies!"
"Then when do we make our move?"
Not only the woman who had asked, but also the man from