"If it's nothing, then it's nothing. Why keep repeating it? Are you afraid people won't know what you have?" Yang Yi shot him a disgruntled look before turning to Qin Feng. "Let's go. We'll ensure your safety tonight. After tonight passes, we'll have absolutely no connection anymore. You must know why I'm doing this!"

"Heh, don't draw the line with me so quickly. There are still things to look forward to!" Qin Feng chuckled.

"Stop with the nonsense and hurry up. If a fight breaks out here, I can't guarantee your life!" Yang Yi said, already striding out.

Following him, the others filed out, though Long Yi paused to ask, "Chief, why are you allowing them to be so presumptuous!"

"Sigh, Long Yi, you should know the strength of the Black God Gang. Yang Yi has a Ten War Generals under him, and you are one of them. Their collective power is far beyond what you all can match right now. Not to mention the current group here? Don't think I don't trust your strength, but the gap in power is a reality. Perhaps this is the difference between ability users and martial artists!" Qin Feng finished, then walked out.

The Dragon Group members who followed all lowered their heads. It was unavoidable that they felt disheartened, but they also knew the difference between themselves and others—the saying 'comparing yourself to others invites anger' was precisely this kind of truth.

Meanwhile, back in the main hall, the setting had entered its most crucial phase. Of the Eight Great Families of Huaxia, only the Dongfang family was explicitly told by Yang Yi to leave early, the purpose being to inform Mu Qingfeng to prepare his sect for what was coming. As for the others, notifications had been sent; whether they chose to stay or go was largely irrelevant to Yang Yi, as after all, they had their own legs to walk away with. Undeniably, only the Dongfang family and the Xu family from the Four Great Military Regions were absent; everyone else remained.

However, it must be noted that Ye Han had already left this place; only Ye Xiaohou remained from the Ye family, as the former head of the Ye family had not appeared here in the first place. More significantly, a large number of giants from the business world, titans of politics, military commanders, and triad overlords—individuals of extremely high status—were present. If any incident were to erupt now, mishandling it could potentially cause a massive upheaval across Hangzhou.

"GA!"

"Is everyone present?" The man called GA was the strongest among those Ye Han had planned for the assassination, a figure whose power neared the Grandmaster realm.

"CB—C, all personnel are accounted for."

"Excellent. Target acquisition. If success is achieved, all the better, but if not, do not easily sacrifice your lives!" CA commanded.

"Understood!"

At this moment, Yang Yi and his group were seated around a table. Sensing an incorrect atmosphere, Yang Yi suddenly shouted, "They're here!"

"Fatty, Bing'er, and Third Brother, protect him. Six Paths of Reincarnation!"

"Yes, Dragon Lord!" Six figures materialized near Yang Yi.

"Pay attention, the opponents' strength is not low. Engage with full force and prioritize the kill; do not linger in the fight!" Yang Yi finished, and before anyone could react, his eyes were locked firmly on the railing of the second floor, where ten figures in black, wearing masks, stood waiting. Few downstairs noticed, until a gunshot suddenly ripped through the air, causing immediate pandemonium in the hall.

"Ah...!" People were clutching their ears, looking around wildly, and many began to flee randomly, instantly creating an extremely chaotic scene!

"Non-essential personnel, if you don't want to die, get out of this hall immediately!" CA's voice, brimming with killing intent and ice-cold energy, instantly spread. The combined aura of the ten was enough to send a shudder of terror through everyone present!

"Who are you people?" Shangguan Qingyun demanded, his face etched with fury.

How could he not be angry? He had assumed that a gathering jointly hosted by the Eight Great Families, attended by crocodiles from all regions, would be a place where no one dared to cause trouble. But fate, as always, brings the unexpected, and some people simply possessed that kind of audacity.

"Who we are is not important. What is important is that you don't want to die right now—get out immediately!"

"Insolence!" The former head of the Nangong family and others roared in unison.

Just as the two sides were about to clash, Qin Feng called out toward those on the main stage, "Patriarch Shangguan, and the Commanders of the Four Great Military Regions, please withdraw. Their target is me!"

Hearing this, the few people remaining in the hall turned to look at Qin Feng, their expressions filled with bewilderment. The three major Princes of the Triads, however, murmured thoughtfully.

"It seems Ye Han really intends to use this opportunity to set up a trap for the Black God Gang's Dragon Lord," Ling Feng sneered.

Fang Kai, hearing this, commented, "That's obvious. Once he falls, the Black God Gang's Dragon Lord won't fare well either. Look, his people are protecting him."

"None of that matters. What matters is that the strength of those people upstairs seems very high!" Mo Leng observed.

"What do we do, Brother Shangguan?" the former Nangong family head asked.

"Since Brother Qin has said so, there is no need for us to wade into this muddy water. However, if anything happens to this invitation event today, especially to Brother Qin, and things go badly, we...!"

Each family head was an intelligent person and naturally understood the implication in Shangguan Qingyun's words. Yet, at that very moment, Yang Yi's voice reached them: "Everyone, please rest assured. As long as you remain on the sidelines and do not interfere, this matter today will not involve you. Moreover, the person behind me will absolutely be safe."

"On what grounds do you say that?" The former Nangong family head, although aware of the Black God Gang's Dragon Lord's existence, had never been told that the Dragon Lord was this young man before him! Furthermore, his previous knowledge of the Dragon Lord came solely from files; he had never seen the actual person, and his own subordinates had not mentioned it, leading to his current challenge.

Just as the former head of the Ximen family displayed a similar expression, Shangguan Qingyun quickly stopped them, stating, "He is the Black God Gang's Dragon Lord; do not act rashly!"

"What!" Undoubtedly, the former heads of the Ximen, Tang, and Gongsun families, none of whom had seen Yang Yi before, were stunned. They had initially felt that his statement carried no weight, but now, for some reason, they all fell silent. The remaining three commanders of the Four Great Military Regions merely frowned, staring intently at Yang Yi.

"Good kid, you even took the wager," Xuanyuan Hao said with a stern face, though his heart was bursting with pleasure. For some unknown reason, he felt this way the moment he saw his daughter, Xuanyuan Bing, standing behind Yang Yi. His gaze also fell upon the six figures standing beside Yang Yi, as he thought to himself, 'What powerful individuals!'

"Boss, those six… could they be the other experts from the Dragon Ranks?" Fang Kai asked, slightly shocked.

"According to the intelligence, that should be correct," Ling Feng replied, equally astonished. He hadn't expected Yang Yi to have so many experts backing him—one after another, all high-ranking individuals from the Dragon Ranks. Even if some weren't officially ranked, they were undoubtedly experts at the level of Intermediate Grandmaster or higher.

Yang Yi scanned the room, his gaze cold and distant. He paid no mind to their looks or their thoughts. Because he knew that no matter how many people he had, the sheer disparity in strength meant they were no match for those black-clad figures, especially the one who had just spoken.

"The Black God Gang's Dragon Lord, I see. Not bad, a Minor Grandmaster's strength. And those six behind you were once Dragon Rank experts, but alas...!"

"Alas what?" Yang Yi countered with a cold laugh.

"Alas, their positions have been taken by my people. Do you truly believe that just your own strength, nearing the Grandmaster level, can protect that old man?" CA stated.

"Heh, how will we know if we don't try?" Yang Yi sneered.

CA returned the cold smile, but then immediately swept his right hand toward Yang Yi's position. The other nine figures instantly appeared in front of Yang Yi. A flash of black short-knife energy sliced through the air, coinciding precisely with the glint of six accompanying daggers. Simultaneously, Xuanyuan Bing, Fatty Lin, and Xu Ming all charged forward.

"You three!" Yang Yi frowned upon seeing this.

"Tsk tsk, Boss, can't help it, we're itching for a fight!" Xu Ming chuckled ominously.

"Don't worry, we'll finish them quickly!" Fatty Lin declared with great arrogance.

Yang Yi, however, did not share this sentiment. He instantly unleashed his Grandmaster Domain, his eyes narrowing sharply as he shouted, "Bing'er, Fatty, Third Brother, all of you come back here!"

The disparity in power made Fatty Lin and the others eager to challenge them, causing them to ignore Yang Yi's command. Yang Yi trembled momentarily, but then sighed, "You lot! You actually dare defy my orders? You will all have hell to pay when this is over!"

"Oh ho? A Fifth-Level Grandmaster Domain? Not bad, young fellow. Only in the mid-Grandmaster stage, yet capable of forging a Fifth-Level Domain—you are indeed the opponent the Young Master anticipated!" CA muttered, then his figure dissolved and reappeared directly in front of Yang Yi.

Seeing the enemy suddenly materialize before him, Yang Yi felt an inexplicable tremor. He knew he was weaker than this man, who was clearly approaching the Grandmaster realm. A full stage difference was an undeniable gap.

"Your strength is good, but you are no match for me!"

"Hmph!" Yang Yi snorted, intending to strike, but found his body completely locked, staring at the CA before him with utter disbelief!

"Oh ho? Realized you can't move, have you? Let me tell you, this is the gap between a Grandmaster and a Minor Grandmaster!" CA grinned maliciously, about to strike when a fierce surge of killing intent suddenly froze him. "Who—who exactly is it?"

"Swish!" The entire hall seemed to fall instantly silent. A figure slowly manifested from the air—a young girl, perhaps twelve or thirteen years old, her face set with murderous intent as she spoke, "If you dare touch a single hair on him, I will flay you alive immediately!"