"Do you really wish to stand by and watch your father and mother suffer such sorrow? Do you truly believe you can eliminate the Black God Gang, provoking a direct conflict with the establishment, and seize control of China as its sovereign?" Ye Xiaohou ground his teeth, his face frozen with cold resolve.

He continued, "Your ambition, Ye Han, strikes me as nothing more than the babbling of a fool, the petty games of a child—it is not a matter of mere delusion. Furthermore, this is the twenty-first century, an era defined by modern societal ideals, not the ancient times of feudal lords vying for supremacy! Do you comprehend that?"

"Sometimes, a person must be realistic. Do not presume that sheer strength alone grants you the power to overthrow whomever you desire!" Ye Xiaohou’s expression was etched with pain. Though his bond with Ye Han was not deep, he was still his elder brother, and as the younger, he could not simply watch his older brother march into a fiery pit.

"Hmph, don't lecture me here. Do you truly believe you are qualified to lecture me?" Ye Han was clearly beyond saving, poisoned too deeply by his own desires.

Those consumed by excessive ambition rarely heed warnings, inevitably leading themselves down a path of irreversible ruin.

"Big Brother...!"

"Enough!" Ye Han waved his hand dismissively. "If you have something pertinent to discuss, speak quickly. If not... I bid you farewell. Show him out!"

Tian Si appeared at Ye Xiaohou's side with perfect timing and gestured, "Please!"

"Very well," Ye Xiaohou sighed in deep frustration, feeling immense guilt toward his parents. His visit was not only for Yang Yi but also for his parents, yet receiving this answer left him feeling utterly helpless.

"Yang Yi requests your presence tonight at nine o'clock, at the Forbidden City!"

"Nine o'clock? The Forbidden City?" Ye Han's lip curled into an even colder sneer upon hearing this. "Yang Yi, are you attempting to replay the great battle of the Forbidden City? Very well, this young master shall indulge you!"

Meanwhile, within the grand meeting hall of the Heavenly Dragon Lineage.

"Reporting to the Sect Master, the Tenth Elder of the Heavenly Ghost faction is currently being held under guard by the Tenth Elder of the Heavenly Dragon faction, exactly as you commanded." A Heavenly Dragon clansman reported.

Yang Rong waved her hand. "En, you may stand down."

"Yes!"

"Rong'er, although we have captured the Tenth Elder of the Heavenly Ghost faction, they reacted swiftly and have all retreated to the Heavenly Ghost Lineage's fortress. Do you have any means of compelling them to surrender one by one?" Yang Xuan inquired.

"Grandfather, why do you ask...?" Yang Rong looked at him with confusion.

"Alas, the Heavenly Dragon and Heavenly Ghost lineages were once one and the same since ancient times. If not for certain past conflicts, we would not be in this predicament today," Yang Xuan stated with a touch of melancholy.

Indeed, in this world, nothing is harder to bear than the destruction wrought when brothers turn on brothers or sisters fight amongst themselves. It is only natural that Yang Xuan felt this sorrow now.

"Grandfather, the Heavenly Ghost faction is steadfastly waiting for their Sect Master to return before launching an attack against our Heavenly Dragon Lineage. If we cease our efforts now, I fear they will simply harass us again later. Furthermore, after the previous assault and given our numerical disadvantage, the clan members can hardly endure further hardship."

"Sigh, I know this, but...!"

"Old Man Xuan, I understand your sentiment. But have you considered the state of the Heavenly Dragon Lineage if we withdraw now? If things go poorly, others might annihilate your entire lineage!" Yang Yitian held no belief that allowing the Heavenly Ghost faction to regain its strength now, only to face a counterattack later, would yield anything but severe consequences.

"I am aware of all that. But I truly cannot bear to see it!" Seeing the troubled look on Yang Rong’s face, Yang Xuan understood perfectly what she was thinking. He took a deep breath. "Very well, very well. Rong'er, since you are the Sect Master now, let the final decision rest with you."

"Then Grandfather, I..."

"No matter. Proceed as you see fit. However, I hope you can minimize the bloodshed."

"Rest assured, Grandfather. I will not kill those who surrender," Yang Rong declared before immediately calling out, "Guards!"

"Sect Master!" A Heavenly Dragon clansman entered.

"Immediately relay my command: any members of the Heavenly Ghost faction who surrender will be spared; the same applies to those already captured!"

"Yes!"

"Since matters here are largely settled, and since Yang Xuan is present, I suppose it is time for me to depart," Yang Yitian stated calmly.

"Grandfather! Where are you going?" Yang Rong asked.

"The situation around Xiao Yi is not optimistic. Though he now has the women of the Zhuge family by his side, I still cannot put my mind at ease."

Hearing this, a flicker of bitterness crossed Yang Rong’s face. She knew well that even she might not gain the upper hand against Ye Han. Having Yang Yi face Ye Han was undoubtedly a clever arrangement. "Grandfather, as soon as I settle things here, I will hurry over immediately."

"En."

"Old Yang, if you see that boy...!" Yang Xuan began, the words catching in his throat, only to finish with a bitter smile. "Forget it, forget it."

Yang Yitian observed this and shook his head. "If you wish to reconcile with him, you had best go see him yourself. I know that rascal's temperament well; sharp tongue, but a soft heart. A few kind words should be enough for him to forgive you."

Yang Rong and Yang Xuan exchanged a look but remained silent.

Six o’clock in the afternoon.

At Yang Yi's villa, tonight was set to be a night of great battle, so everyone had gathered around a large table, preparing for a substantial feast before the engagement.

Unmistakably, this was a pre-battle meal. All the core leaders of the Black God Gang were seated around that table: the Ten Generals, the Six Paths of Reincarnation, Fatty Lin, Xiaoyao Wuqing, Xuanyuan Bing, and others.

Yang Yi surveyed the faces seated on either side, his heart filled with deep emotion. How long ago was it that the Black God Gang was merely a minor faction? Now, it had grown into a major power across the nation, even the world. This development proved that time waits for no one, and the course of events is unpredictable.

He stood up, raising his wine glass. "Esteemed colleagues, tonight marks our final confrontation with Ye Han. I trust you all understand that this battle is fraught with peril...!" He paused, then continued, "Think back: just a few years ago, our Black God Gang was a small outfit. Today, we are renowned throughout the country and the world. The contribution of every core member here is indispensable. You have all witnessed the history of the Black God Gang, and your names will be inscribed in its annals."

"However, for this battle tonight, I ask that we stand united, overcoming this crisis together, so that in this final fight, we can unleash our fury one last time. Let the world see, let the nation see, let Ye Han see that the Black God Gang is not the prey he claims us to be, but a newly unsheathed blade. If he wishes to devour us, he must first prove he has the capacity to do so!"

"Boss!"

"Brother Yi!"

"Dragon Lord!"

"We will not let anyone look down on us!" Everyone present understood that the battle tonight was one that would redefine the history of the Black God Gang, the moment it formally ascended to its peak—perhaps this was Yang Yi’s ultimate goal.

Yang Yi looked at the assembled group, raising his glass once more. "Excellent. Tonight, let us meet the ambitious Ye Han head-on. Come, bottoms up!"

"Bottoms up! Bottoms up! Bottoms up!"

After the meal, everyone proceeded to the conference room. Having eaten and drunk their fill, the next order of business was preparing for everything the night would bring.

Seven o'clock in the evening: The small conference room at Yang Yi's villa.

The core members took their seats one by one, awaiting Yang Yi's instructions. Simultaneously, the satellite uplink communication system was fully operational. Now, with a single command from Yang Yi, all forces affiliated with the Black God Gang could see and hear him. This was the Black God Gang's exclusive satellite communication network, built by the world's foremost hacking nation: the United States.

Undoubtedly, with an independent satellite system, independent transmitters, independent defense protocols, and intelligence network monitoring, it would be exceedingly difficult for any external entity to breach their communications.

"Dragon One, the latest situation reports!" Yang Yi said, his expression grave.

"Yes!" Dragon One immediately produced a file and handed it to Yang Yi.

Five minutes. In just five minutes, Yang Yi grasped the latest developments. First, Yang Yi’s appointed battle time was nine o'clock tonight. It was now seven o'clock, leaving only two hours. The Black God Gang’s peripheral forces in the north had completely infiltrated Ye Han's outer defenses and were now rapidly converging on the capital for reinforcement!

However, it was impossible for all forces to arrive at the capital before the battle commenced. Due to a one-hour time difference, intelligence reports indicated that the outer forces would require another three hours before reaching the periphery of the capital. This, too, created a one-hour gap.

Furthermore, with the fight commencing at nine o'clock, Ye Han would certainly dispatch his full strength to annihilate the Crown Prince faction and Yang Yi’s forces within the capital based on the initial thrust. Based on this alone, Yang Yi seemed to have made his final decision.

"All members of the Black God Gang, heed my command!" A voice echoed through the small conference room, but it was also broadcast across the entire Black God Gang satellite network, letting more affiliated forces know that tonight was the most tense moment since the gang’s founding—the leap toward its zenith. This moment would be recorded forever in the Black God Gang's historical chronicles.

"Yes!"

All the core members of the Black God Gang responded in unison, their faces stern as they looked at Yang Yi, seemingly awaiting his order.

The ancient saying goes: Observe widely, select judiciously; accumulate deeply, release sparingly. The Black God Gang was like a vast ocean—previously calm as still water, enduring setbacks with forbearance, it had finally reached the time to strike back directly and raise monumental waves.