At the Black God Gang's Shanghai headquarters, Yang Yi sat in his office, poring over maps detailing the power distribution of the Northern underworld, alongside intelligence reports sent back by Tian Er, including the current strength and positioning of Ye Han's forces in the North. Amidst this data, Yang Yi discerned a series of developments that left him profoundly shocked.

In South Africa, forces affiliated with the military were secretly positioned at strategic checkpoints and crossings throughout the North.

Tibet, a traditional stronghold of Buddhist Lamas, was using the recent proliferation of scripture dissemination as a pretext; their adherents were now lying low in the capital, poised to act at an opportune moment.

Meanwhile, the three major princes of the Northern underworld remained completely inactive, merely maintaining strict oversight over the subordinate factions of their respective cliques.

However, within the Four Great Military Regions, while it was already known that the Xu family stood firmly alongside Yang Yi, the Ling, Mo, and Fang families—the three other dominant military powers—had previously maintained an ambiguous stance regarding their connection to Ye Han’s strength, uncertain of the true direction things were heading. Now, everything was laid bare, especially after the nation issued its final ultimatum.

Clearly, all military region assets had now aligned themselves entirely with the state, forbidden from interfering in the power struggles between underworld factions. Yet, observing the state's deployment, Yang Yi recognized the brilliance of the mind holding supreme authority in Huaxia, the one above ten thousand others.

First, through a massive, unadulterated military parade, numerous soldiers were congregated in the capital, with a large portion of high-ranking commanders and generals mobilized within Zhongnanhai. Wu Ming's objective in doing this was twofold: to quietly manage the conflicts stirring up from the underworld's turmoil, and simultaneously to preempt any audacious, treasonous ambitions from Ye Han from fully erupting later.

"Ye Han, oh Ye Han, I never expected your ambition to be so vast. To eliminate the head of a nation—you truly aspire to wear the crown!" Yang Yi murmured, shaking his head as he surveyed the documents.

Just then, Xiu'er, carrying a tray of tea, approached and set a cup before Yang Yi. "Husband, please take a moment to rest."

"It's fine, I'm used to it," Yang Yi replied with a knowing smile, deeply touched by Xiu'er’s concern.

If she hadn't been there these past few days, assisting him in counsel, Yang Yi might never have realized how immature his own methods remained; his overly determined recklessness had nearly buried the potential of a true overlord, causing him to navigate many matters in roundabout ways.

"Husband, have you discerned something?" Xiu'er stood beside him, embodying the image of a virtuous wife, inspiring boundless admiration.

Hearing her, Yang Yi nodded. "Three of the Four Great Military Regions have sided with the state. This means the state has placed all its wager on me, intending to use my hand to eliminate Ye Han. Afterward, the state will undoubtedly view me with suspicion."

"Husband, are you contemplating how to resolve this situation to satisfy both parties?"

Yang Yi glanced at Xiu'er and let out a helpless, wry smile. "Though the time we have spent together hasn't been long, I must say, no one understands me better than Xiu'er!"

"Husband, though you are the hegemon of the underworld, you must know that historically, the worlds of darkness and light are mutually dependent; remove one side, and the world descends into chaos. However, the current Huaxia Head of State understands this problem, but due to various national constraints and interests, they are forced to place controls upon you."

"And since you never wished to be constrained by others, conflict with the state will inevitably arise. If the consequences escalate severely, the state will certainly dispatch forces to eliminate you—it's precisely like an ancient emperor who cannot tolerate the existence of anyone threatening his throne!" Xiu'er stated with grave seriousness.

"Indeed. Right now, I am contemplating what method exists to handle this. Of course, letting the Black God Gang, which I struggled to build, vanish into nothingness is absolutely impossible!" Yang Yi closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Heh heh, well. It's not that time yet. Let’s not discuss this for now. Tell me, why haven't Fatty and the others returned? We are scheduled to leave for the capital tomorrow."

As Yang Yi finished speaking, Feng Shi hurried in from the doorway. "Young Master, someone just called; they said Lin Fatty and the others have returned."

"Oh? Where are they now?" Yang Yi’s spirits immediately lifted.

"They are on their way back!"

"Good, excellent. Prepare the banquet immediately!"

"Understood!"

A ripple of excitement moved through Yang Yi. Their return meant they possessed the necessary capital for the unification of the national underworld. Xu Ming was the Young Commander of one of the Four Great Military Regions and the youngest General in Huaxia. Ye Xiaohou was the head of the Ye family in Jiangnan; although Xiao Yao Wuqing had already been dispatched north on his orders, some matters still required Ye Xiaohou’s personal attention.

Concurrently, Xuan Yuanbing was the head of the Xuan Yuan family. Having her lead the three major sects that had recently submitted to Yang Yi was entirely appropriate. Furthermore, tasking these several families with hosting the Xuan Men faction to challenge the remaining three major sects of Huaxia was an undeniable and definitive arrangement, reducing a significant amount of trouble for Yang Yi.

And as soon as Li Qian and Xia Shiyun returned, Yang Yi would certainly arrange protection for them, allowing them to continue pursuing their ambitions. This would prevent another kidnapping incident like the last time due to his underworld affairs. For Yang Yi, those two were undoubtedly his reverse scale; in fact, any woman of his would be an inviolable reverse scale.

"Rong'er!"

"Grandfather, you’re here?" Yang Rong, sitting on the sofa, glanced at him upon hearing the sound and smiled faintly. "What’s wrong? You look quite grim!"

"Something major is amiss. Do you think my expression could be pleasant?" Yang Xuan’s face was heavy with worry.

"What happened? Did something occur?" Yang Rong’s delicate eyebrows knitted together upon hearing this.

Yang Xuan sighed mournfully. "Alas, news arrived from the Mai Clan that the Heavenly Ghost lineage has recently begun making moves against us."

"Making moves?" Yang Rong sounded surprised. "Does this mean Ye Han is about to strike against us?"

"Yes! Given that Xiao Yi has not yet completed the formal recognition of lineage, I surmise he intends to use the conflict between the Heavenly Ghost and Heavenly Dragon lineages to deploy forces from the Heavenly Ghost lineage to deal with Xiao Yi."

"Could it be?" Yang Rong felt a jolt of alarm. She hadn't expected Ye Han to make this move. If Yang Xuan’s assessment was correct, Ye Han would have to lock down the Enforcement Elders within every Mai Clan—meaning the ten elders of both the Heavenly Dragon and Heavenly Ghost factions.

"I heard that a month ago, Ye Han took advantage of the Heavenly Ghost Tenth Elder being in secluded cultivation to marshal a substantial portion of his forces and begin plotting against us. The Heavenly Ghost Tenth Elder has surely been deceived by Ye Han's lies and has been drawn out to focus solely on dealing with us," Yang Xuan explained.

"Then we must hurry to the Mai Clan area to finalize the succession matters, otherwise...!" Yang Rong felt a touch of anxiety, and being mindful of certain responsibilities, she felt compelled to complete everything swiftly, lest complications arise later...

However, Yang Xuan looked at her with a heavy expression. "Rong'er, are you truly set on...?"

"Grandfather, there is no other choice. Since Mother and Father are gone, I do not wish to lose my younger brother as well." Yang Rong closed her eyes; for the sake of her brother, she was willing to sacrifice everything, including her own happiness.

"Since you have made your decision, Grandfather will not force you," Yang Xuan felt immense pain, recognizing that a large part of this current outcome was his own doing. "Alas, let us depart then!"

"En," Yang Rong nodded.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the compound.

"Young Master, they have returned; all six of them are safe and sound!" Feng Shi said with a bright smile.

"En, I know," Yang Yi murmured, then turned to Murong Lianxue and Xiu'er. "Let’s go see them."

"Okay!" Murong Lianxue took Xiu'er's hand. "Sister Xiu'er, I'll tell you later when you meet them, don't be too bothered. Although Brother Fatty and the others are scoundrels, they are good people!"

"En!" Xiu'er allowed Murong Lianxue to hold her hand, responding as they walked.

Seeing this, a gentle smile spread across Yang Yi’s lips. As they stepped out the door, he unexpectedly asked Feng Shi, "Yanran, did you notice anything unusual about the six of them?"

"En, it seems they have all changed quite a bit," Feng Shi nodded in response.

"Oh, really?" Yang Yi’s expression suddenly shifted, and he quickened his pace toward the outside.

"Everyone, remember what Sister Rong said: don't let Yi know about certain things right now, or the consequences will be severe," Xuan Yuanbing instructed seriously while sitting on the sofa.

"Right. Yi will definitely ask in detail when he arrives," Xia Shiyun agreed.

The others nodded in succession. The main door opened at that moment. Murong Lianxue entered first, pulling Xiu'er by the hand, followed by Yang Yi and Feng Shi. However, before Yang Yi could fully enter, he saw everyone staring in their direction—or more accurately, staring at Xiu'er with expressions of shock.

The fact that Murong Lianxue was holding her hand already indicated something significant. That girl rarely held anyone's hand. To be precise, in all the time they had known Murong Lianxue, she had only personally taken Yang Yi’s hand once; Xiu’er was the second.