We began to discuss how to rescue Lu Tong. Although I had been on the Demon Dragon Continent for over a year, I had only been focused on cultivation within the Demon Dragon World and knew little of the continent's affairs. The only name that registered was the Azure Dragon Gang, the largest guild on the Demon Dragon Continent. If not for the previous clash with the White Tiger Alliance, I wouldn't even have known of their existence.

However, simply being the second-largest guild on the continent was enough to illustrate a harsh reality: the White Tiger Alliance's might was far beyond what we could handle currently. Through Lu Zhao’s introduction, I learned a great deal more about them.

The main headquarters of the White Tiger Alliance was in Su City. The entirety of Su City served as their territory, which spoke volumes about their staggering power. They were undoubtedly far stronger than the Moon Sect.

Their guild level was the highest possible, Dragon-rank, divided into twenty-four sub-guilds, boasting a membership of one hundred and twenty thousand. Among them were thirteen hundred masters at or above the peak of Red Moon. Those super-masters like Luo Meng numbered over thirty.

And this didn't even account for the older generation of super-masters, like Master Xiang Jianli, who had already retreated behind the scenes.

The final conclusion was that subterfuge was the only option; brute force was out of the question.

Thinking this over, Lu Zhao and I were at our wits' end.

Subterfuge—how could we possibly employ it! Facing such a formidable guild, what could I possibly do against them? Should I sneak into Su City, locate Lu Tong, and break him out?

The plan wasn't entirely unfeasible, but the chances of success were pitifully slim.

It seemed difficult for Lu Zhao and me alone to secure Lu Tong's release.

It was then that I recalled the Yun siblings and Tong Lei. I remembered they had significant friction with the White Tiger Alliance. As the saying goes, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Furthermore, I had saved them once. Perhaps they could lend us a hand.

"Brother Lu, I think I have an idea," I said.

"What idea?" Lu Zhao asked.

"I know some friends who might be able to help us."

"Friends?" Lu Zhao scoffed. "Ordinary people can't deal with the White Tiger Alliance. Are your friends capable?"

"The Panlong Yun Family," I stated seriously. "I wonder if the Panlong Yun Family is qualified to contend with the White Tiger Alliance."

"What? You mean the Panlong Yun Family?" Lu Zhao was greatly shocked.

"Yes, I have some connection with the young master and young mistress of the Yun Family." I immediately recounted the events that transpired on the East Pass Road to Lu Zhao.

"The Panlong Yun Family is one of the Six Great Families of the Demon Dragon Continent. Their strength is not something the White Tiger Alliance can easily challenge. If they are willing to help, there might be a chance to rescue the Sect Master," Lu Zhao admitted.

"One of the Six Great Families?" I was a little surprised. No wonder Yun Xi had that arrogant demeanor; she had quite the background. This significantly boosted our odds of success, though time was of the essence. "Brother Lu, take this calling card and hurry to the Panlong Yun Family to find Yun Xi. Tell him it's from a friend, Binghe. I believe he will surely help, if only because of the existing enmity between the White Tiger Alliance and the Yun Family; they wouldn't let the White Tiger Alliance succeed easily."

"That makes sense," Lu Zhao replied immediately. "And what about you?"

"I will head towards Su City first. Time is pressing; the longer it drags on, the greater the danger for Uncle Lu. If I find an opportunity, I will look to rescue him." Fortunately, Panlong wasn't far from here; I trusted Lu Zhao and the others would arrive there in time.

"Be careful on your own. Do not act rashly," Lu Zhao cautioned, worry etched on his face.

"I will," I quickly assured him. "There's no time to lose; we split up."

Leaving the forest, I found an official road. According to the map, following it west would lead me to the Red Sea, where the Imperial Guard Bureau of the Demon Dragon Empire was located. From there, I could take a Thunder Eagle directly to Su City.

In Red Sea City, I penned a magic letter and sent it to Dragon Shadow Villa. While distant help might be slow, I believed Master Jianli certainly wouldn't stand by idly. More importantly, my master possessed an Imperial Token, allowing him to mobilize the Villa's elites via Thunder Eagle to the Demon Dragon Continent. If luck was on our side, perhaps they could arrive in time. Afterward, I hurried toward the Imperial Guard Bureau.

Possessing the Demon Dragon Imperial Token certainly made travel much more convenient. Traveling by Thunder Eagle, I reached Su City three days later. If Ji Du hadn't repeatedly warned me against reckless action, I would have immediately used the Imperial Token to mobilize troops and clash with the White Tiger Alliance.

Su City was a medium-sized city, essentially functioning as a guild territory, much like the Sandstone Fortress City of the Alliance center. Few guilds on the continent could claim an entire city as their base, illustrating the immense power of the White Tiger Alliance as the second-largest guild on the Demon Dragon Continent.

A guild territory city meant a powerful guild had acquired a specific region entirely through quests as their domain. As long as the guild wasn't disbanded, the right to use and manage that land remained theirs. Usually, the land acquired through quests was desolate open ground, strategically located near other major cities but undeveloped. Once a guild obtained the qualifications for this territory, they could freely develop it. Su City was precisely such a place, built up by the White Tiger Alliance from a barren small town into the medium-sized city it was today. Besides paying a fixed amount of tax to the nation annually, everything else was self-governed. It was like an independent small kingdom, its army composed of guild members. However, guild membership numbers were strictly regulated to prevent local forces from becoming too strong and threatening the Imperial power over the region.

Generally, the state did not interfere with the construction or operation of guild territories. But if any action detrimental to national stability or indications of rebellion or independence were detected, the Imperial pacification forces would unhesitatingly raze that city to the ground.

Therefore, unless it involved treason or rebellion, a guild territory was no different from an independent principality. The City Lord there could wield immense influence and do as they pleased. Whether the territory could be developed into a prosperous city depended entirely on the organization and management capabilities of the respective guilds.

Consequently, a city possessing a guild territory commanded extensive connections not only in the martial world but also in commercial and other spheres; it was no longer merely a martial organization.

The Marfa World was a very unique place. Here, the Imperial household, besides collecting taxes and maintaining a powerful military, allowed most cities to subsist on autonomy but never worried about local rebellions. It truly resembled the household responsibility system implemented during China's Reform and Opening Up.

Of course, the Imperial household possessed the absolute capacity to control the regions because they commanded the strongest army, along with Sky Demon Warriors whose power rivaled nuclear warheads. This overwhelming military might ensured the Imperial family's absolute control. Moreover, the annual taxes paid by the regions guaranteed the Imperial household's revenue and the upkeep of the army. If a city failed to remit sufficient taxes by the deadline, it would be forcibly re-nationalized and contracted out to other guilds or individuals.

In every city, apart from essential infrastructure like the Post Office, Relay Stations, the Imperial Guard Bureau, and military garrisons, the state didn't have to spend a single coin—a clear division of labor where everyone received what they needed.

Furthermore, the Imperial army stationed there did not participate in local public security maintenance, nor did they intervene in siege battles between guilds, unless there were severe incidents like rebellion or major threats to territorial integrity, such as an Orc invasion. Their daily duty was training, much like the function of modern military districts—a separation of civil and military authority. The army answered only to the Imperial household.

The City Guards, responsible for maintaining public order, were equivalent to modern police stations. Though few in number, they were sufficient. The garrison forces were the City Lord's private army, funded by the Lord, intended to repel invasions from other guilds.

Frankly, this social structure had persisted for tens of thousands of years. Except for instances of conquered nations, changes in the Imperial line had almost never occurred, forcing me to marvel at this incredible societal framework.

I also had to concede that absolute power brought absolute control. A single Sky Demon Warrior could easily destroy a city attempting rebellion; this fact alone was enough to halt any ambitious individual harboring ill intent. This was the Marfa World's distinct and tangible social system.

The Imperial Guard Bureau in Su City was located on the western side of the city, where most of the basic national facilities were concentrated: Post Office, Relay Station, Imperial Guard Bureau, National Army Garrison, and so on. Typically, such zones were situated far from the commercial and residential districts.

Exiting the main gate of the Imperial Guard Bureau, I faced a broad military thoroughfare! It led straight to the four city gates, specially constructed to handle any emergency, ensuring maximum troop deployment efficiency should war break out.

Only upon entering the East District did I step into the true world of Su City. It was bustling with people and traffic, much like other cities on the continent, vibrant and lively. After walking only a short distance, however, I noticed that the streets were adorned with festive lanterns everywhere, and everyone looked joyous, as if a great celebration were underway.

"Uncle, is there a happy event in the city?" I couldn't help but ask a middle-aged peddler setting up his stall.

"Why, yes! Our City Lord is getting married! Can you imagine the townsfolk not being happy?" the peddler replied enthusiastically.

"Ha! That truly is cause for celebration," I chuckled.

"You look like you're from out of town?" the peddler noted.

"Yes, I've long heard that Su City, under the rule of the White Tiger Alliance, is prosperous and wealthy, and the Alliance Leader is a top hero on the continent today. I'm passing through and thought I'd take a look, perhaps even catch a glimpse of the Alliance Leader's imposing bearing." It was clear the White Tiger Alliance was popular here; I certainly dared not mention I was looking for trouble.

"Haha, you've come at the perfect time," the middle-aged vendor said heartily. "In seven days, it will be the great day of the Alliance Leader's wedding. He will invite heroes from all directions and host a grand feast. Stay a few more days, and you're guaranteed to see the Alliance Leader."

"That's exactly what I intended," I replied with a smile. "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

.......................................

I followed the central street all the way until I reached a colossal fortress. From afar, the fortress was shaped like a gigantic White Tiger. Its head was raised towards the sky, its four limbs slightly coiled, looking majestic and imposing as if ready to pounce at any moment.

The fortress was encircled by high outer walls, upon which I could occasionally see ripples of distorted magical energy—the defensive barriers cast by massive magic arrays, capable of resisting high-intensity magical attacks. The walls appeared as tall and thick as the outer city walls, and surprisingly, they were equipped with dedicated siege weaponry like ballistae and catapults. It looked like an armed fortress, stunning me almost speechless.

At the base of the walls, several teams of impeccably uniformed patrols marched back and forth. These patrols were mixed units of Warriors, Mages, and Taoists, each member possessing at least a peak High-rank strength. To use such talented individuals merely as gate guards was ridiculously extravagant.

The White Tiger Alliance certainly put on a grand display. I was inwardly astonished. To avoid drawing the attention of the patrols, I didn't linger long, just glancing around casually before moving on quickly.

I found an inn, ordered some food and drink, and settled in. The White Tiger Alliance's defenses were airtight; I could only wait for nightfall to seek an opportunity to infiltrate. I still had a whole afternoon until dark.

I occupied the time eating and drinking while scanning the Red Scroll, searching for various updates from the last year. After over a year spent cooped up in the Demon Dragon World, I was completely unaware of external affairs. What concerned me most was whether the Bichuan Sand City Treasure had been opened, and what the outcome was of the joint operation between the Star Moon Alliance and the Heroes' Society.

Earlier, Lu Zhao and I had been too preoccupied with rescuing Lu Tong to inquire about the Bichuan situation. I had a persistent knot of worry in my stomach.

Unfortunately, this information was severely outdated. I couldn't find anything relevant on the Red Scroll.

So, I spent some money to buy a full year's worth of the Red Gazette from the waiter—one of the basic services offered by inns to accommodate traveling merchants and martial artists who needed to easily track information of interest.

The only major event on the Bichuan Continent in the past year had indeed been the opening of the Sand City Treasure.

Through the Red Gazette, I learned that four months after I entered the Demon Dragon World, the Bichuan Continent successfully opened the Sand City Treasure. However, what surprised everyone was that besides terrifying monsters, the Sand City Treasure held no actual treasure.

The Sand City Treasure was divided into the Path of Shadow, Path of Shadow I, Path of Shadow II, and Path of Shadow III, which was the Sand City Treasure Pavilion. The first four layers were guarded by numerous mutated creatures. Layers one through three were guarded by mutated Zuma creatures. Though formidable, they couldn't stop the joint advance of the Heroes' Society and the Star Moon Alliance.

But upon entering the fourth layer, the Sand City Treasure Pavilion, the situation defied all expectations. A large number of terrifying demonic beasts appeared simultaneously inside. Demonic creatures like the Ox Demon King, the Yellow Springs Sect Leader, the Iris Sect Leader, the Twin-Headed Vajra, the Twin-Headed Blood Fiend—beasts normally only found in forbidden zones—were all present in the Sand City Treasure Pavilion. As a result, the advance team was nearly wiped out, with only a few highly skilled individuals managing a desperate escape. The Sand City Treasure was subsequently classified as one of the continent's most terrifying forbidden zones, which no one dared to enter lightly.

However, the first three layers of the Path of Shadow had become another excellent training ground for Bichuan martial artists, offering some compensation to the Bichuan martial world. As for Yan Luo's current situation, she seemed to be doing well, judging by her latest ranking on the Bichuan Martial Arts Experts List.

I held the top spot: First: Azure Lightning - Star Cluster Second: Dragon Abyss Flying Snow Third: Bear Dominates the World Fourth: Tiger Howls in the Wild Fifth: Eagle True Madman .............. Yan Luo's ranking had advanced considerably; she was now sixty-sixth. Her strength must have improved significantly.

After carefully checking for any other major happenings, I felt much more settled. As long as Dragon Shadow Villa and the Moon Sect were fine, I had little to worry about.

In Cangyue Continent, the second-largest guild, the Black Tortoise Alliance, after successfully encircling and eliminating the Yellow Springs Sect Leader with the Vermilion Bird Alliance, launched an operation to encircle the Ox Demon Cave and the Ox Demon King. However, the operation ultimately failed, resulting in the loss of over half their forces.

Feng Qingtian, Xia Ya, and Han Yunzhen—figures renowned on the War God List, Saint Demon List, and True Soul List—had not reappeared in over a year. Affairs in the Vermilion Bird Alliance were managed by their deputies.

Similarly, the five great young masters from Bichuan had rarely shown themselves.

Azure Lightning, Dragon Abyss Flying Snow, Bear Dominates the World, Tiger Howls in the Wild, and Eagle True Madman had also been absent for a long time.

The top five young masters from the Demon Dragon Continent. The top five young masters from the Sealed Demon Continent!

Almost all had simultaneously vanished!

Some speculated that they must be in seclusion, cultivating.

Seeing this news, my first thought was the Heavenly Demon Competition. Perhaps in the near future, I might find myself competing alongside them again.

There was much other news, but what interested me most was this:

A new wave of young masters characterized by fast sword or fast blade fighting styles had emerged across the continent, and their titles invariably contained the word "Lightning."

Eighty-second on the Bichuan rankings was a young master named Black Lightning, and ninety-seventh was a female warrior named Red Lightning.

In Cangyue, White Lightning, Cyan Lightning, and Gold Lightning had also made it onto the War God List.

On the Demon Dragon Continent, there was even a Purple Lightning! Its origin was equally mysterious!

The commentary in the Red Garment section was amusing, grouping Azure Lightning, Red Lightning, Gold Lightning, Cyan Lightning, Purple Lightning, Black Lightning, and White Lightning together as the "Seven-Colored Lightnings," a rather fitting set. A whirlwind of lightning seemed to be sweeping across the Marfa Continent! I expected more Lightning masters to appear soon.

Additionally, two new weapons had become bestsellers in the continent's major blacksmith shops.

One was the Lightning Blade! Its design was identical to my Hundred Battles Blade.

The other was the Lightning Sword, styled exactly like my rapier.

Seeing this gave me a dizzying sensation. I never expected to be so famous that I would attract imitators so quickly.

***Does this world have trademark protection laws? I should sue them for infringement.

Just as I was starting to feel a bit smug, two dozen young martial artists suddenly flooded into the inn entrance. At the sight of their attire, I nearly fell backward. They wore light blue armor, yet they carried a saber on the left and a sword on the right! The style was exactly like my rapier and my Hundred Battles Blade. Even more shocking, they all had uniform blue hair and blue eyes, and their hairstyles were identical to the long, single ponytail I used to wear.

Good heavens, was I hallucinating? This was the exact look I sported when adventuring with Yan Luo in Bichuan! Back then, I used the alias Blue Star, and Yan Luo used Blue Moon, using the Illusion Eye and dyes to change our eyes and hair to blue. I never expected to run into a whole group of youths dressed exactly like that here.

"Waiter, bring us whatever food you have that's good!" The group of over twenty youths shouted loudly as they entered.

"Patience, young heroes, good wine and fine dishes will be right out!" The waiter quickly shoved several tables together to form one super-sized round table, clearly very familiar with their routine. The two dozen young martial artists sat down boldly, drawing the stares of the other merchants and martial artists in the inn.

"These youngsters, they think slapping a saber on one side and a sword on the other makes them Lightning Rangers," several middle-aged men beside me mumbled quietly.

"Haha, old brother, you're behind the times," a young Taoist beside him retorted. "Which young person in their teens or twenties isn't carrying a saber on the left and a sword on the right, sporting blue eyes, blue hair, and blue armor? It's called fashion, you understand?"

"Fashion?" A middle-aged man looked stunned. "It's blue all the way through."

"How much power can a thin long blade and a slender sword really have?" grumbled another middle-aged warrior leaning on a battle-axe at his feet.

"Power isn't the main point; the point is that most people dress this way. If you carry an Eight Desolations or a Zhandao, or an axe, people will surely laugh at you for being an old fuddy-duddy," the young Taoist said. "Of course, no one would laugh at an older uncle like yourself."

"What? You dare call me old?" That middle-aged warrior instantly flared up. "And 'uncle'!"

"Face reality," the young Taoist chuckled lightly.

"Besides, don't underestimate that long saber and slender sword," another young warrior interjected. "When used well, they are incredibly potent."

"Heh heh, this big brother has some insight," the leading youth from the group that just entered turned back, smiling brightly. "I haven't quite mastered the Lightning Sword yet, but the Lightning Blade is formidable. It lets me train and kill monsters at least twice as fast as when I used my Zhandao, and it feels very natural to wield." The youth’s smile was so open and cheerful that it made people feel an instinctive closeness and joy, completely devoid of any sense of arrogance or superiority. The martial artists in the inn seemed infected by his good humor, growing interested. Soon, they gathered around, loudly discussing their cultivation experiences and gesturing animatedly as they spoke.

"Tell us exactly what advantages the Lightning Blade has," the middle-aged warrior grumbled, still looking unconvinced.

“Slaying monsters is as easy as slicing vegetables,” the youth declared, his excitement surging. He then drew his long, slender saber and casually brandished it. “Wielding the blade with both hands concentrates the power, and the saber’s design allows for more rational, smoother chopping angles, reducing air resistance. It’s faster too; against monsters whose defenses aren't overly strong, it’s basically one slice, one kill.”

“That’s an exaggeration,” the middle-aged warrior scoffed. “But that blade looks too thin. Can you even block a full swing from my battle-axe?”

“You just won’t believe it when I tell you you’re outdated,” the young warrior from earlier interjected immediately. “Who would be foolish enough to clash head-on with you these days? A simple sidestep is all it takes to evade your axe.”

“Exactly,” the youth boasted. “That’s the brilliance of the Lightning Saber. As long as your footwork is nimble enough, you can evade most standard attacks, and initiate your own strike during the evasion—truly achieving an integration of offense and defense. Furthermore, given the weight of your ‘Purgatory’ axe, any casual chop from me, and you wouldn't even have time to block.”

The youth’s words startled me greatly. I never expected the essence of the Hundred Battles Saber to be grasped so quickly by others. The defining characteristic of the Hundred Battles Saber is its seamless integration of offense and defense, fully maximizing the destructive power of a cleaving strike, pushing both speed and force to their limits.

This young man had clearly grasped the core secret. And judging by his stance, the technique of dual-handed saber handling for the Hundred Battles Saber was clearly no longer a secret.

“I don’t believe it. How about we fight?” the middle-aged warrior insisted stubbornly.

“You shameless old fool, you’re old enough already and still daring to challenge a young man just starting out,” boomed another, powerfully built young warrior from a different table. “What this young brother said is absolutely correct. The Lightning Saber is indeed the most fashionable weapon right now. I happen to have been practicing with it myself for a while; perhaps I could step in for a match instead?”

“Sounds good!” Cheers immediately erupted from the surroundings, leaving me with a wry smile. While being admired and imitated was certainly making me a little arrogant, having my secret, hard-won survival skill learned by others gave me a profoundly complicated feeling.

“A fight is a fight. Who’s afraid of whom?” The middle-aged warrior immediately hefted his great battle-axe and strode toward the back door of the inn. “Let’s settle it in the dueling yard.”

Dozens of people in the establishment poured out, flocking to the dueling yard in the inn's rear courtyard to watch the spectacle.

Yet, I was in no mood to watch the show now.