As several people entered the Chinese restaurant, they quickly found seats, ordered a few dishes, and took a few sips of wine. It was certainly the most pleasant part of their day. However, today was the final day of exams, meaning the summer vacation loomed ahead. But this summer might hold many unexpected events, such as what Xuanyuan Bing and Dongfang Shiling were about to reveal.

“Young Master, do you happen to have any free time in the coming days?” Dongfang Shiling inquired.

“Hmm?” Yang Yi looked at him, puzzled. “What is it?”

“The Invitation Summit of the Eight Great Clans!” Xuanyuan Bing stated calmly. “It’s time to settle matters regarding certain coincidences and what other clans have done against you and the nation.”

“The organizers are the Nangong Clan?” Yang Yi chuckled upon hearing Xuanyuan Bing’s words. He hadn't expected anything quite so interesting.

“No!” Dongfang Shiling interjected. “This is being hosted jointly by all Eight Great Clans. They are inviting high-ranking officials from all sectors—from national leaders down to the underworld syndicates. Even the heir of the Ye family will be present this time.”

“What?” A tremor ran through Yang Yi, not of fear, nor excitement, but rather a long-awaited sense of anticipation. Against one's enemies, especially the greatest one, anyone would feel compelled to meet them; perhaps this was the opportunity.

“Yi, this time it won't just be the patriarchs of the Eight Great Clans and those behind them. The scope has been expanded. Officials, the underworld, clans—everyone with a connection will receive an invitation from the Eight Great Clans. While this is framed as a settlement, it is essentially a banquet held in the Lion’s Den. Most importantly, this summit alone will be enough to distinguish friend from foe. That is the ultimate goal,” Xuanyuan Bing said impassively.

“Indeed, Young Master. This is a fine opportunity for us. If handled correctly…!”

Hearing Dongfang Shiling, Yang Yi fell into thought. This Invitation Summit jointly hosted by the Eight Great Clans was indeed no simple affair. Not only because it offered a chance to finally see who the Ye family heir truly was, but also because national leaders would be in attendance. This was undoubtedly a golden chance for Yang Yi to clarify just how many potential enemies he faced. Moreover, it was highly possible that by the end, apart from the Ye family, the other seven great clans might even side with him.

The underworld serves as the nation's second line of defense—the world’s second security zone. How could a nation stand firm without the underworld? One must avoid simplistic judgments that invert right and wrong; this is the channel of interest between people. Those who appear as enemies might secretly be allies, and conversely, those who appear as friends might be the greatest enemies in secret. All these dynamics correspond perfectly with the nature of the joint Invitation Summit organized by the Eight Great Clans.

“When will this summit take place?”

“In a few days.” Dongfang Shiling said while handing the invitation card to Yang Yi. He continued, “Today is the sixteenth. The formal commencement is on the evening of the twenty-first at seven o'clock. The location is noted on the card.”

“En, I understand.” Yang Yi put away the invitation, waved his hand, and said, “Come on, let’s eat. I’m starving.”

“Good!”……

“Is that him?” Inside the Chinese restaurant, a figure appeared at the doorway, pausing to gaze toward a specific spot before murmuring, “He really does bear a resemblance to himself. But even with the similarity, I must verify. Just in case. But if it truly is him, then what am I to do?”

“Sister Rong’er, why are you still lingering here? Come on, let’s go eat,” a smaller girl said, pulling Yang Rong’s hand.

“En, alright.” Yang Rong smiled faintly, nodded, took one last look at a certain spot, and then walked toward her seat.

Finally, after several days, the exams at Fudan University concluded, ushering in the wildly anticipated summer break. During this time, Yang Yi had been buried in work. The entertainment and film industries were being managed by Ye Xiaohou and Chen Yi. The Five Elements Death Gods and Five Elements Death Knights were under Long Yi’s direction, who was also handling the affairs of the Dark Council and the Holy See. Meanwhile, Xiaoyao Wuqing and Han Zhong were standardizing all the forces of the Black God Gang, and the Ten Armies were executing Yang Yi’s missions covertly.

Only Fatty Lin, Yang Yi, and Feng Shiji were currently in the office. A short while later, Ye Xiaohou walked in from the doorway and announced, “Boss, I’m here.”

“En, are you preparing to head back?” Yang Yi set down the documents he was reviewing and walked over to him with a smile. “Be careful on this trip back.”

“I will. But if there are no major issues, I believe we’ll see each other again at the Invitation Summit,” Ye Xiaohou nodded.

“En.” Yang Yi waved his hand and called out, “Six Paths of Reincarnation.”

“Your subordinate is here,” six figures appeared in the office and responded in unison.

“This time, you must ensure the safety of the Fourth Brother. Follow his orders exclusively throughout. If anything happens to him, bring me your heads.”

“As commanded!” The Six Paths of Reincarnation replied.

“Boss!” Ye Xiaohou called out, feeling a surge of emotion.

“Alright, don’t put on such a face for me. Go on, and remember to be careful,” Yang Yi clapped him on the shoulder.

“En, I will.” Ye Xiaohou bowed to Fatty Lin and the others before heading toward the door.

Fatty Lin, however, stepped forward at this moment and asked, “Boss, do you think the Fourth Brother will succeed this time when he goes back? Ah, whether he succeeds or not isn’t the main point; the primary concern is his safety. Although I don’t know much about the Ye family, I at least know that the so-called heir of the Ye family right now is not the true inheritor.”

“Indeed. I never expected that guy, the Fourth Brother, to actually be the true heir back then. It seems something major happened in their family,” Fatty Lin nodded.

“Since the Fourth Brother is unwilling to mention it, we shouldn’t press. So, right now, I only wish for him to return safely. I truly do not want my brother to become a martyr,” Yang Yi stated quietly, his deep eyes narrowing.

“En!” Fatty Lin nodded before asking, “Brother Yi, the Conservatory of Music is also on break today. Shouldn’t you go pick up the Sister-in-law and the others?”

“Right. It seems I’ll have to postpone that again,” Yang Yi thought with a wry smile.

“Are you planning to return to City A only after attending the Invitation Summit?”

“En. I’ve thought about it repeatedly these past few days. There’s still no news from the Dark Council, and the Holy See hasn't made any moves either. Long Yi hasn't sent back any reports. Let’s take a short break for now,” Yang Yi smiled faintly. “Haven’t you all always wanted to visit the Xuanmen Sect? Now you have a chance.”

“Xuanmen?” Fatty Lin asked. “Are you going back to Xuanmen?”

“There are some matters I must return to inquire about.”

“Uh!” Seeing Yang Yi’s peculiar expression, Fatty Lin paused before speaking, “Brother Yi, about the issues with the Dark Council and the Holy See this time, do you think that…?”

“I’m not sure. If any accidents occur, things could become unpredictable.”

“True. Whether we destroy them or let them survive on their own is uncertain. However, I do feel that even if we have to deal with them carefully, we would still possess sufficient capital to dominate the world’s underworld,” Fatty Lin mused thoughtfully.

“Alright, let’s not talk about this anymore. I’m going to pick up those two girls first,” Yang Yi smiled, not allowing the potential troubles stemming from so many ongoing issues to overwhelm him.

Although the Dark Council hadn't stirred yet, since the two individuals joined, the Council seemed to have gained wings, solidifying its status as a formidable syndicate in America.

“President, do you truly intend to place significant trust in those two?” A scantily clad blonde beauty, wearing a pair of non-prescription glasses, exuded an air of refreshing naturalness. However, her prominent bust was enough to bewitch without even trying.

“CA, I’ve known that fellow Los for over twenty years. Now that an old friend is in trouble, we naturally cannot stand idly by. However, I do wonder if we are currently being eyed by someone else?” The President of the Dark Council, Austin Mark—usually referred to as President Mark—spoke.

“President, are you referring to the Black God Gang?” the American girl named CA asked.

“No, I mean the Holy See,” Mark, who was generally straightforward, was inwardly extremely meticulous, seeing all matters with perfect clarity.

“President, isn't that stating the obvious? The Holy See has always had their eyes on us,” CA rolled her eyes at Mark with irritation, likely the only person in the entire Dark Council who dared treat Mark this way.

“Oh? Haha, is that so? Haha, then is it the Black God Gang and the British Royal Family?” Mark laughed heartily, but anyone could tell that his laughter was merely on the surface while his mind was churning beneath.

“But, President, do you really think it’s necessary to clash with the Black God Gang and the British Royal Family just for the sake of two people?” CA inquired.

“Actually, the issues between the Black God Gang and us can be resolved quite easily, but that is not what concerns me!” Mark narrowed his eyes, a hint of coldness flashing within them, and continued, “The ambition of the Black God Gang is clear: to dominate the world’s underworld, to eradicate the world’s major syndicates in one swift move, and then sweep up all the large and small underworld factions. Given the current power of the Black God Gang, this is certainly possible. The Dragon Lord of the Black God Gang is also a formidable figure, but one must remember there is someone above him.”

“President, you mean that…?”

“Yes, him. Sigh, sometimes I really think the Chinese are utterly incredible.”