Chapter 1 Storm Clouds Gather

Jiangbei was beset by swirling winds and churning clouds. Rivers and lakes surged, and the earth's veins grew unstable, inevitably impacting grain production and logistics in all directions. Savvy merchants began hoarding goods, forming alliances, and hiring skilled bodyguards to escort their wares to prosperous lands, hoping to make a killing. The capital, Shenjing, the heart of the Great Heng Dynasty, was naturally the first choice for many. Whispers and rumors already flew through the streets of Shenjing. Merchants, cultivators, and martial artists from all corners of the land gathered, seeking information through every possible channel.

Inside a humble teahouse located in Xingde Ward, not far from the Imperial City, merchants from north and south had already filled the seats. Though it wasn't yet noon, the place was nearly packed, with a constant flow of customers adding to the bustling atmosphere.

A figure cloaked in black robes, head covered by a bamboo hat and a black veil, obscuring their gender, entered the busy teahouse. After waiting for a waiter to bring tea, the figure sat by the window, tossing a spirit pearl onto the table. The two men drinking tea opposite the seat immediately fled, never to move again. Such extravagant behavior drew considerable attention. However, this was Shenjing, under the Emperor's very nose, and no one dared to openly rob or seize the pearl. Instead, petty thieves lurked in the corners, observing the shrouded figure, but not approaching directly. Those who lacked the sense to navigate the complex social strata of Shenjing had long since been buried. Whether small-time thugs or beggars, the key was to discern who was untouchable.

"They say a great chaos is coming to the land. That Han Mountain bandit leader, Ye Chuoluo, was once a minor official of the Great Heng Dynasty, but now commands such influence that the court officials are helpless. There must be a reason behind this."

"Speaking of reasons, we can't ignore the number one evil cult throughout history, the Primordial Origin Sect. It's said the sect has five Heavenly Kings, seven Dharma Protectors, twelve Vajra, and thirty-six Fierce Bandits, each one a brutal killer with countless lives on their hands. And this Ye Chuoluo is one of the Primordial Origin Sect's five Heavenly Kings."

A storyteller, gaunt-faced and clean-shaven, holding a *Jingtangmu* (storyteller's block) and waving a folding fan, sat in the center of the hall, his words flowing like a torrent. The tea and wine drinkers around him listened with rapt attention, occasionally offering cries of approval.

In the storyteller's tale, Ye Chuoluo had become a ruthless demon who killed without restraint. Furthermore, he was tied to the Primordial Origin Sect, an infamous cult that had risen to prominence in recent years, becoming one of its so-called Five Heavenly Kings. Not only was his name tarnished, but his status was greatly diminished. If the storyteller was ignorant of the truth and merely fabricating tales for survival, that was one thing. But if he knew the truth and still did this, his heart was truly detestable.

"It is said that Ye Chuoluo, relying on his base skills, gained the trust of a rich widow, and stole her life savings from under her nose. With hundreds of taels of silver, he went straight to the home of the Minister of Justice, Cao Keyong."

"With this act, the evil dragon emerged from the mud, the fierce tiger entered the mountains, and the ominous star descended to the mortal realm." The storyteller struck the *Jingtangmu*, marking the end of a chapter. Cheers erupted, and coins and broken silver were thrown into the center of the hall. However, among the tossed money, something else was mixed in. A clearly poisoned dagger flew straight into the storyteller's chest. The storyteller cried out in agony before collapsing under the table, never to move again.

"You worthless trash, daring to slander the Chief!"

"Listen up! If anyone dares to breathe a word about what happened here today, don't blame us for coming after you!"

After delivering their harsh words, two burly men left before the city guards arrived. The remaining patrons of the teahouse were like cicadas in winter, lowering their heads and looking at the spot where the storyteller had fallen, their eyes filled with grief and indignation.

The person cloaked in the bamboo hat, set down their teacup, and let out a few cold, enigmatic laughs. Immediately after, he threw down a spirit pearl on the table. Under everyone's gaze, they walked through the center of the hall and "accidentally" stepped on the storyteller's wrist.

*Crack!*

The storyteller's hand broke. Accompanied by this, the seemingly dead storyteller jumped up, clutching his hand and crying out in pain. This sudden turn of events left many of the teahouse's patrons bewildered. At the same time, some who were secretly observing, followed the mysterious figure in the bamboo hat.

As the saying goes, a storm rises from the tips of weeds.

Refining the world meant refining all living things.

Mountains, rivers, lakes, and the earth's veins represented the objective state of the world. The people's hearts and minds reflected the subjective view of the world.

Luo Hou manipulated the Great Heng Dynasty, using its vast propaganda machine to smear Ye Chuoluo. The obvious goal was to increase his chances of winning this battle for the world. Clearly, he had not placed all his hopes on the propaganda network.

Han Mountain was originally an unremarkable short mountain. But as the saying goes, mountains are not defined by height, but by the presence of immortals. Since the Han Mountain Flower Gathering had settled here, the mountain had been continuously transformed. Over the years, the results were already quite different. After Ye Chuoluo achieved the Three Daos of Non-Determination, he added some of his own methods. Today, the mountain's terrain had changed significantly.

Small Mirror Lake could no longer be considered "small." Looking out, one saw shimmering waves, misty vapours, and an unexpectedly vast expanse. A light boat drifted on the lake, with Ye Chuoluo sitting at the bow.

A slightly damp breeze blew, smoothing his long hair over his shoulders. Ye Chuoluo was not on the *fatai* (battle platform), constantly engaged in a "tug-of-war" with Luo Hou. Luo Hou, using the "substitutes" that Ye Chuoluo had sent out, had created quite a stir with some petty tricks. But at the same time, Yuan’s arrival in the capital had exposed the imperial family's secrets, revealing many things that could not be seen or exposed to the light. In comparison, the royal gossip was more eye-catching.

"In a few more days, when the gossip is even hotter, we'll release the evidence."

"We'll use this opportunity to completely sever ties with the Primordial Origin Sect."

"The Primordial Origin Sect is already a pile of rotten dog shit. Continuing to be entangled with them is not a good thing," Ye Chuoluo said calmly.

He Gang, who had arrived on the water with the wind, said, "The imperial court's control over public opinion is stronger than ours. More evidence may not be of much use."

Ye Chuoluo replied, "That's why I'm waiting for an opportunity."

"That substitute won't last long. It will probably explode at an important occasion, giving many people a surprise." As he spoke, Ye Chuoluo waved his hand and said, "These are just small tricks, useful but not crucial. To win, we must truly disrupt the opponent's formation."

"Let me ask you, what constitutes disrupting the opponent's formation?"

He Gang scratched his head and said, "I guess it means luring the opponent out of the capital!"

"Although the Great Heng Dynasty looks like an iron plate now, it's actually just being held together by high pressure. Once Luo Hou leaves the capital, things will inevitably change. As long as we shake the foundation, even if he's a Non-Determination cultivator, he'll be in trouble."

"Then how can we force him to leave the capital?" Ye Chuoluo asked.

He Gang shook his head, realizing that this question was beyond his area of expertise. How could he predict whether a Non-Determination cultivator would move?

Ye Chuoluo took out the Yunmeng Great Drum: "Seven days from now, let's hold a Return the Drum ceremony! We'll escort it back to the Yunmeng Marsh with great fanfare, handing it over to the Yunmeng Marsh Dragon King, Yuan Kun."

"You and Yan Po are responsible for guarding it."

He Gang was shocked. Today, the mountains, rivers, and lakes were all manipulated and decided by that network. The Yunmeng Great Drum's symbolic meaning had long outweighed its practical use. But this was only a superficial view. In fact, with the Yunmeng Great Drum, Yunmeng Marsh and its eight provinces could "detach" from the network and become independent at any time. For Ye Chuoluo and Luo Hou, it held strategic significance. From a longer-term perspective, Ye Chuoluo should suppress the drum and never release it. Because, as long as the conflict remained on the "network," Ye Chuoluo's advantage was in continuous accumulation.

He Gang didn't know all the details, but he understood the drum's function and meaning. Therefore, he said to Ye Chuoluo, "Chief! This is too important, I'm worried."

Ye Chuoluo waved his hand, "There's nothing to worry about. Just do as I say. Even if it's really lost, don't worry about it."

"Luo Hou and I are not the same." With that, he directly handed the Yunmeng Great Drum to He Gang and ignored it.

He Gang held the Yunmeng Great Drum as if he was holding a hot potato, looking very uneasy. As for Ye Chuoluo, he didn't feel that using the Yunmeng Great Drum as a test balloon was inappropriate. Today, although Luo Hou was fighting him on the "network," his real-world operations were still focused on the "periphery." This gave Ye Chuoluo a strong sense of déjà vu, like the "disappeared" Jin Budao had returned. Although Jin Budao was originally a split body of Luo Hou, and the two had similarities in their methods, it wasn't strange. But Ye Chuoluo felt that everything that was happening now was not Luo Hou's true "move." To see the "true scriptures," he had to push harder.

The Yunmeng Great Drum was a form of open conspiracy. Even if Luo Hou knew that Ye Chuoluo was digging a pit for him, he would still choose to jump in. Because the drum was an important tool for Luo Hou to regain the initiative in the struggle for mountains, rivers, lakes, and the earth’s veins.

Seven days later, a long drum-escorting procession set out from Han Mountain, making its way towards Yunmeng Marsh with constant drumming and gongs. The Yunmeng Marsh side, also bearing the pressure of the Great Heng Dynasty, arranged a group of people to meet them from afar. They truly wanted the Yunmeng Great Drum to return, even if it didn't mean controlling the eight provinces. The drum's symbolic meaning to the Yunmeng Marsh water tribes and its strengthening effect on water tribe cultivators was enough to warrant their utmost attention.

As the large group approached Xin Province, the sky suddenly changed color. An army waving the Great Heng’s unbreakable flag suddenly emerged from the clouds, instantly cutting the drum-escorting procession into three sections. At the same time, several Intent Realm cultivators simultaneously attacked Yan Po, He Gang, and the others.