Summoned Characters: Yuan Tiangang and Fu Hongxue

If only I had ten million fortune points, I could exchange them directly for a King Pill. With someone in the King Realm, the faction fortune bonus could increase by 4%. What a pity! I'm still short on high-end fighting strength!

System, use the three Character Summoning Cards in my inventory!

"Understood, host!"

"Ding! Character Summoning Cards used successfully!"

Congratulations! Summoned character obtained: Yuan Tiangang

The Bad Commander from a certain world

Suddenly, a breeze brushed past, and a figure appeared before Luo Tian like a ghost.

The man was tall and straight-backed, but a black robe shrouded him, making it difficult to see his full appearance. He also wore a strange mask over his face.

System, show me Yuan Tiangang's attributes.

Cultivation: peak Reincarnation Realm

Cultivation arts: Heavenly Gang Art, Huayang Needle Technique

Specialties: strategy and management

The peak Reincarnation Realm-no wonder the powerful presence radiating from him seemed capable of easily tearing apart the void and suppressing everything.

The Heavenly Gang Art he specialized in was a martial art he had created himself. Naming this art after the "Heavenly Gang" alone showed how powerful it was.

If an ordinary person were fortunate enough to learn the Heavenly Gang Art, not only would their martial power increase greatly, but once they struck, the force contained in their fists could truly shake heaven and earth.

Every punch unleashed surging currents of air, forming an indestructible layer of protective Gang Qi.

More wondrous still, experts who cultivated the Heavenly Gang Art to its utmost could even move instantaneously, leaving their enemies unable to guard against them.

Their attacks could shake heaven and earth in an instant, possessing boundless might.

Besides the Heavenly Gang Art, Yuan Tiangang had two other supreme skills. The first was the Huayang Needle Technique, a wondrous needle technique performed with Huayang Needles.

Huayang Needles were as fine as silk, yet incomparably sharp, easily piercing an enemy's defenses. Moreover, this needle technique was not merely a hidden-weapon technique. It also had a special effect: it could dissipate all of an opponent's internal power for a short time, leaving them unable to resist.

"Furthermore, if used properly, the Huayang Needle Technique could temporarily immobilize an opponent, leaving them unable to move so much as an inch."

Lastly, Yuan Tiangang was also proficient in a formation called the Spirit-Binding Formation.

Once deployed, this formation could bind enemies firmly within it, making escape difficult no matter how they struggled. Even powerful opponents could only submit to capture once trapped within the Spirit-Binding Formation.

In addition, Yuan Tiangang had studied alchemy extensively and could refine all manner of rare pills to assist his own cultivation or treat injuries. Such a versatile expert was truly astonishing!

"Greetings, my lord!" Yuan Tiangang said in a hoarse voice.

"Rise. There's no need for such ceremony! Yuan Tiangang, I have an important assignment for you!" Luo Tian said, waving his hand.

Yuan Tiangang bowed slightly, confidence and resolve flashing in his eyes. "Rest assured, my lord. With my peak Reincarnation Realm cultivation, I will surely fulfill your command!"

Luo Tian nodded and continued, "Good. In that case, head beyond the dynasty and investigate other parts of the Southern Region.

"As for the Shadow Pavilion members accompanying you, decide their numbers yourself.

"Remember, you must be cautious. Do not beat the grass and startle the snake. Also, here are ten million high-grade spirit stones for you to allocate.

"You can use them to develop new personnel, recruit subordinates, or bring some factions under our control. How you use these resources will depend on your ability.

"I intend to establish a second faction. I'm entrusting this task to you!"

As he spoke, Luo Tian handed Yuan Tiangang a storage pouch filled with high-grade spirit stones.

At the same time, Luo Tian took out a stack of communication talismans and handed them to Yuan Tiangang. "These communication talismans will let you stay in touch with the Shadow Pavilion at any time. If you discover important intelligence, send it back immediately.

"Once the Shadow Pavilion takes over the Heavenly Star Dynasty, I'll come to you!"

Yuan Tiangang accepted the storage pouch and communication talismans with both hands and replied solemnly, "Yes, my lord! I understand."

"However, to ensure the operation remains secret and avoid exposing the Shadow Pavilion's existence, I intend to head beyond the dynasty alone, without taking anyone else.

"After all, faces that have appeared in the Shadow Pavilion could alert others, allowing them to trace us back to our base."

Luo Tian thought briefly and felt that Yuan Tiangang's words were not without reason, so he agreed. "Very well. Go ahead first and serve as the vanguard."

"If you encounter difficulties or need anything along the way, contact me promptly."

Yuan Tiangang cupped his hands in salute. "Thank you for your trust, my lord. I will give this my all and fulfill your charge!" Before his words had faded, his figure flashed and vanished like a phantom, speeding off beyond the dynasty.

Once one's cultivation reached the King Realm, one could tear through space to travel short distances. What a pity!

Yuan Tiangang's cultivation was still two steps short. After the peak Reincarnation Realm, there was another minor realm: the half-step King Realm.

Only after the half-step King Realm came the King Realm!

"System! Continue using the remaining two Character Summoning Cards!"

"Ding!" Congratulations! Summoned character obtained: Fu Hongxue

Cultivation: mid Reincarnation Realm

Lame [disabled right leg]

Specialties: killing with poison, surprise attacks, saber techniques [swift as lightning], hailed as the fastest saber under heaven

Weapon:

A saber of a very unusual shape, with a jet-black sheath and a jet-black hilt

Congratulations! Summoned character obtained: Bi Yiren

Cultivation: mid Reincarnation Realm

Alias: Blood-Clad Man

The [Blood-Clad Man], known as the [greatest swordsman under heaven], dominated the martial world with his twin supreme skills of [swordsmanship and lightness arts]. Obsessed with the way of the sword, he had attained the realm of unity between man and sword.

"Greetings, my lord!" The two spoke together, bowing to Luo Tian.

"No need for such ceremony. Just call me young master!"

"First, familiarize yourselves with how the Shadow Pavilion operates! After that, I may need you both to take action!

"Right now, our Shadow Pavilion needs to take over the Heavenly Star Dynasty! We'll make other arrangements afterward!

"While you're at the base, arrange your own cultivation schedules!"

"Yes, young master!" The two answered and left.

Hmm, I should go out for some fresh air. I can't stay at the base cultivating all the time!

Heavenly Star City bustled with prosperity, people coming and going in an endless stream. Luo Tian strolled leisurely through its streets alone.

Today, he had changed into another entirely unfamiliar face. He couldn't keep wearing a mask all the time-how uncomfortable that would be! He seemed to have no connection whatsoever to anyone in the city.

As he walked, Luo Tian arrived before a particularly conspicuous building-the Heavenly Star Restaurant.

This was the largest and most luxurious restaurant in Heavenly Star City, and it was also a property owned by the Murong Imperial Family. Carriages and horses streamed past its entrance, guests crowded its doors, and business was exceptionally brisk.

Luo Tian walked casually into the restaurant, headed straight upstairs to the second floor, and found a table by a window.

Then he ordered several exquisite dishes and some wine from a waiter and quietly waited for them to arrive. Before long, delicious dishes were brought out one after another, and Luo Tian poured himself wine, drinking and savoring the food.

Meanwhile, he secretly released his divine sense, listening closely to the conversations of nearby martial artists to see whether there were any rumors.

Suddenly, from a table in the corner to Luo Tian's right, one martial artist lowered his voice and said mysteriously, "I've got a secret to tell you! Want to hear it?"

The other martial artists immediately grew interested, leaning closer and pressing him. "What secret? Did you manage to win over Widow Wang? Come on, tell us!"

Seeing this, the man smiled faintly and shook his head. "It's not about Widow Wang!"

His cultivation was at the mid Yin-Yang Realm. He kept them in suspense. "Hehe, you know how it works. If you want to know this secret, you'll have to pay for this meal!"

Though somewhat reluctant, their curiosity got the better of them, and they nodded in agreement.

Only then did the martial artist slowly speak. "I heard that the imperial family's second prince, Murong Chong, has returned! He's actually in a private room upstairs right now!"

Another martial artist curled his lips dismissively. "Murong Chong? Doesn't ring much of a bell!"

"So he's back. What's so strange about a grown man coming back?"

However, the martial artist who had spoken earlier shook his head and explained solemnly, "That's where you're missing something. This second prince, Murong Chong, is no ordinary person!

"Two years ago, he was only in his teens, yet his cultivation had already reached the early Sea Transformation Realm. Talent like that was utterly exceptional within the Heavenly Star Dynasty!

"A high-ranking member of a major faction called the Blood God Sect spotted him while passing through the Heavenly Star Dynasty, accepted him as a disciple, and took him away!

"Now that two years have passed, who knows what realm his cultivation has reached?

"He might already be a peerless expert in the Tribulation Crossing Realm!" Hearing this, all the martial artists sucked in a breath of cold air, shock appearing on their faces.

"The Blood God Sect? Never heard of it!" several of them said.

"Tch, of course you lot haven't heard of it!

"I heard that the Blood God Sect is countless times stronger than the Heavenly Star Dynasty!

"With such excellent resources and a great sect putting its full effort into nurturing him, his strength must be improving as fast as lightning.

"Just imagine-even if some random high-ranking member of the sect came and acted, they could probably destroy the entire dynasty with ease in the snap of a finger!

"Hmph! With your paltry early Yin-Yang Realm cultivation, how much could you possibly know of the world?" The speaker shot the other man a look of utter disdain.

Naturally unwilling to accept such mockery, the other man immediately demanded, "Hmph, stop showing off. Where did you learn this supposedly unknown secret, then?"

The first man's lips curled slightly into a sly smile as he lowered his voice. "Heh, heh, heh. To tell you the truth, a distant relative of mine happens to serve as a guard beside the eldest prince, Murong Yi.

"At one point, he happened to overhear the eldest prince boasting about this!

"Besides, only a handful of people in Heavenly Star City know about it!"

"So that's how it is! Still, it's not as interesting as Widow Wang!" another martial artist said.