Four sworn brothers, reunited after more than half a year apart. Yet, this particular evening seemed to carry a different flavor. Inside the tent, tables were laden with food and drink, and only the four of them remained, surrounded by heavily guarded troops—a clear explanation for the unusual atmosphere.

"Third Brother, you rascal… I thought you’d forgotten about us brothers now that you’re a high-ranking general. Didn't expect you to have such a conscience, preparing good wine and food to treat us?" Fatty Lin asked, a wide, knowing smile on his face.

"Damn it, Second Brother, listen to how you put things," Xu Ming shot Fatty Lin a look, annoyed. "Today is the last day of your military training. Regardless, we have to send you off properly, brothers!"

"Isn't that right? You scoundrel, you seem completely different since we parted ways half a year ago. Third Brother, I heard from Eldest Brother that you’ve improved quite a bit. Hurry up and tell us, what’s your Realm now?" Ye Xiaohou still felt this question was the most important, as he never wanted to lose to the guy who used to call him 'Sweetie' when they were young.

"Uh, no significant progress, actually, I've fallen behind a bit," Xu Ming replied with a touch of false modesty.

But the moment his words landed, Fatty Lin hurled two huge eye-rolls his way. "Just brag about it, Third Brother. I actually went to observe you once. Fourth Brother, you won't believe it, but this guy is absolutely monstrous."

"Oh? How monstrous? Could it be that 'Sweetie' really turned into a woman? Did he get a sex change?" Ye Xiaohou asked urgently.

Hearing this, Yang Yi shot his three companions an exasperated look. Ignoring the banter, he simply walked over, pulled out a chair, poured himself a glass of red wine, and began to sip it slowly and deliberately. Seeing that Yang Yi hadn't objected to his comments, Fatty Lin smiled and continued, "The most monstrous thing about Third Brother was that scene where he faced ten thousand new recruits with only a dozen men. It made my blood boil watching him! By my estimate, his cultivation must be close to the late stage of the Profound Master Realm?"

"Holy hell… no way?"

"Uh, this… well, that!" Xu Ming was clearly becoming a little embarrassed by Fatty Lin's exaggeration.

"Damn it, Sweetie, hurry up and tell us, what Realm are you actually at? Are you really a Profound Master?" Ye Xiaohou pressed.

"Just recently broken through," Xu Ming nodded.

"I’ll be damned!" Ye Xiaohou shook his head vigorously. "Damn it, I’m the weakest among you guys now. Heaven’s Dao is unfair! Come on, beautiful women, come and ravish me!"

"........." Fatty Lin and Xu Ming both gave him a speechless look. However, Xu Ming then turned his curiosity toward the other two, asking about their cultivation levels. "What about you two? We'll ignore Eldest Brother for now. As for you, Second Brother… I guess you're close to my level?"

"Damn, Second Brother is already at the upper stage of the Azure Master Realm. I’m only at the upper stage of the Profound Key Master Realm," Ye Xiaohou stated with confusion.

"Second Brother, you’re amazing," Xu Ming said, his eyes lighting up upon hearing this.

"What’s so amazing about it? Brother Yi has already broken through to the Minor Master level! And he can release a Fourth-Tier Master Domain, while we’re still stuck at the first tier. It's tragic," Fatty Lin complained, still obsessing over this Master Domain issue.

Indeed, in the last half-month, Yang Yi had trained day and night. Benefiting immensely from this military training, he had broken through to the Minor Master level (which was the true Master level) just a few days prior. Of the six layers of the Master Domain, he had already completely comprehended two of the most difficult to control—the latter four. This clearly showed that Yang Yi was the type of person who was just an ordinary man when idle, but utterly inhuman when cultivating.

"A Fourth-Tier Master Domain?" Xu Ming gasped in shock, muttering, "Good heavens, no wonder I felt like I was walking through mist and fog just looking at Eldest Brother earlier."

"Enough, you lot. Are you done fooling around? If you keep this up endlessly, I’m going back to sleep," Yang Yi said. He genuinely didn't want them to keep discussing his cultivation. Ever since encountering Tian San that day, Yang Yi had been extremely resentful in his heart.

He recalled the time when that person claimed that even if Yang Yi broke through to the Minor Master level, he might not be his match. This statement alone proved Tian San's strength was formidable, likely at least in the Great Master Realm. A Great Master—that was a level close to the Three Flowers Gathering at the Apex, an utterly transcendent existence. Moreover, they were still enemies. This fact alone made Yang Yi eager to push his own power to its absolute limit.

"Uh! Come on, brothers, let's all sit down. Drinks," Xu Ming called out loudly.

"Cheers!"

The four of them sat, chatting and drinking, recalling the romantic tales of half a year ago versus the shameless, sordid affairs of the last six months. They initially thought that scoundrels like them were only fit to discuss such topics, but the more they talked, the more inadequate they felt.

Because, apart from seeing Liu Qingqing a few times during his travels, Xu Ming hadn't truly kept in touch with anyone. To put it bluntly, he was on the verge of a relationship crisis at any moment. As for Ye Xiaohong, that was even worse; hardly any women sought him out. For the past six months, besides that damned Aunt Feng Jiu bullying him a few times for amusement, no real woman had paid him any mind.

As for Fatty Lin, there was no need to elaborate. He had been glued to Yang Yi's side constantly. Forget finding women; he didn't even have time to visit escorts. Even if he did, the guy would spend the time watching porn instead, revealing the depth of his shameless depravity.

However, when the conversation turned to Yang Yi, their expressions shifted to a level of dejection that matched their sense of failure. Yet, in the end, they used the power of collective indifference to 'squash' Yang Yi's scandalous love life.

"Sigh, these years of us four brothers campaigning south and campaigning north—the good life seems further away, what a load of crap," Xu Ming sighed gloomily.

"I don't think so. At least I’ve gotten the Black God Gang’s two major film companies running successfully. Now I’m preparing to 'attack' Hollywood and the Dutch 'Oscars'," Ye Xiaohou declared confidently.

"Damn, I actually find things quite fulfilling. Besides, the war with the Eight Great Families is inevitable soon. Once we settle that matter, Brother Yi and I will be transferring to Beijing in just over a month," Fatty Lin revealed.

"Ah, Beijing?" Xu Ming was stunned by the news, his eyes wide with surprise as he questioned Yang Yi. "Eldest Brother, are you really planning to move into Beijing and attack the Northern Underworld?"

"Why, is that not allowed?" Yang Yi asked, taking a sip of red wine.

"This, Eldest Brother, you need to think this through carefully. Considering the Black God Gang’s current strength…"

"Third Brother, you don't need to worry about that. The Black God Gang's power has grown beyond your wildest imagination. I dare say, if Eldest Brother willed it, conquering the Northern Underworld would be a simple task. However, there are some people we must be wary of," Ye Xiaohou stated seriously.

"Wary of some people? Could it be—?" Xu Ming stared at Ye Xiaohou, his eyes wide, as if he, too, knew something significant.

"Exactly. Him. My brother, Ye Han!" Ye Xiaohou declared decisively.

"Uh, Eldest Brother, you already knew?" Xu Ming asked Yang Yi.

"Heh heh. I have a subordinate named Xiaoyao Wuqing; he’s the one who told me many things you all kept from me."

"This, Eldest Brother, it’s not that I intentionally hid things from you, it’s just…"

"Alright, no need to explain. I can understand that. Everyone has their secrets. Besides, there are many things about me that you don't know," Yang Yi said, not minding at all that they had concealed things. He knew that true brothers understood clearly which things needed to be shared and which should remain private. After all, knowing certain things too early did no one any good.

"I apologize, Eldest Brother. I truly wanted to tell you before, but I had my own difficulties," Ye Xiaohou admitted, looking somewhat embarrassed.

"I know that, which is why I didn't force you to say anything, did I?" Yang Yi patted his shoulder, then continued, "However, the current evolving situation forces me to take this seriously."

"Evolving situation?" Xu Ming looked at Yang Yi doubtfully.

"Ye Han has already marked me as a rival, and specifically, a rival he cultivated himself," Yang Yi said, his tone edged with bitterness. He was deeply displeased by people who were stronger than him, yet enjoyed watching, toying with, and slowly cultivating rivals to play with them. Most importantly, he treated his sparring matches with Yang Yi as mere entertainment.

While it was uncertain who would win in a clash between two masters, that feeling alone deeply irritated Yang Yi.

"Eldest Brother, what are your plans then?" Regarding Ye Xiaohou's brother, Ye Han, seeing Yang Yi as a rival, Xu Ming seemed to have predicted this and immediately asked.

"What else can I do? Since he wants an earlier engagement, then I can only accompany him to the end. Furthermore, he already stated that the stake for our confrontation will be the Northern Underworld," Yang Yi said with a faint smile.

"What?" Xu Ming’s shocked expression was evident all evening. He felt that everything Yang Yi had said tonight involved earth-shattering news, and he was overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of it. "Then, Eldest Brother, you mean you want to resolve the matter of the Eight Great Families as quickly as possible?"

"Exactly. I must monopolize seven of the Eight Great Families; otherwise, I won't even qualify to face him," Yang Yi drained his red wine in one gulp, his face set in a grim expression.