Inside the Nine Provinces Mausoleum, a map of the Nine Provinces Universe is painted.

After the Ten Thousand Mountain Alliance unified martial arts, the world was divided into nine major regions.

Those who joined the Ten Thousand Mountain Alliance early or made significant contributions within were granted territories, becoming local lords.

On the surface, this seemed like just a reshuffling of power within the martial arts realm.

But at least nominally, the Ten Thousand Mountain Alliance achieved unification.

Silvio Reed became the nominal Great Lord, and all local martial arts powers had to obey the Alliance’s orders.

But this was not what Silvio Reed wanted.

He desired true unification in every sense.

He wanted to be a king with absolute power and life-and-death control.

Yet, evidently, even though he possessed the strongest power within the Alliance, even though he had staunch supporters.

Even though he had War God Trent Marsh and his own guard, fighting against the entire world was too challenging.

Therefore, Silvio Reed orchestrated a rebellion, using the Imperial Heaven Official as a pawn to incite leaders discontented with the Ten Thousand Mountain Alliance to rise up.

This sparked a bloody massacre.

The rebels and those loyal to Silvio engaged in mutual slaughter, and those who survived ultimately fell by Silvio’s hand.

With these forces gone, the Nine Provinces fell into a state of having no leader.

Yet Dragon Dance believed he had become the greatest beneficiary and, before the Nine Provinces Mausoleum, killed Silvio Reed.

But in reality, that was Silvio Reed feigning death to avoid revenge from martial artists worldwide.

Hatred would slowly dissipate with time.

Silvio Reed himself then pushed his most proud disciple, who emerged from the pile of three thousand dead, to the peak of martial arts.

He created a new order, also called the Ten Thousand Mountain Alliance.

Only, this Alliance was not quite the same as the previous one.

Julius Reed was not as ruthless as imagined, which left Silvio Reed very dissatisfied.

But at least for the next few thousand years, the world once again fell into decline.

The once extremely strong forces began to decline as time passed.

Now, Silvio Reed feels the time is ripe.

All it takes is to spark a conflict, and he could fulfill his five-thousand-year wish with his power.

Even though this means the decline of martial arts.

Countless outstanding martial artists would die, and martial arts could regress by thousands of years.

But to him, it has no impact, and might even be considered a good thing.

After all, this world does not need a second strong player.

Ensuring his position as the number one in the world is what a creator of order needs to consider.

"On Blood Sweat Ridge, there is an elite squad I’ve hidden," Silvio Reed returned to the Nine Provinces Mausoleum, looking at the painting he once left for Trent Marsh, with his hands behind his back, he said, "Golden Cicada, you need to go and check."

"Has Trent Marsh betrayed?" Golden Cicada asked hoarsely, bent over, "And Mr. Springs, what should be done?"

"No need to deal with," Silvio Reed extended his right hand, waving it, "Remember, at any time, always stay rational. No matter what the other party does or says, just ignore, don’t listen or look."

"Understood," Golden Cicada nodded, "Then what task should I carry out at Blood Sweat Ridge?"

"Listen, observe, and report everything you see to me," Silvio Reed turned around, the broom in his hand had already transformed into the Moon Gathering Bow, grasped by him.

"No matter what happens, you are not to interfere. I sent you because you excel at concealment, I just want to know Trent Marsh’s purpose in doing this."

"Understood," Golden Cicada turned and left, disappearing into the Nine Provinces Mausoleum.

"The Commander’s Seal?" Silvio Reed removed a Commander’s Seal from his waist, weighed it in his hand, revealing a slight smile.

...

Blood Sweat Ridge is located north of Obsidian.

This was once a place for breeding blood sweat horses.

Yet in recent years, strange events have occurred at Blood Sweat Ridge.

The people inside either died or fled, even those who escaped did not say what exactly happened inside.

Some attempted to use high-tech methods to probe the condition inside Blood Sweat Ridge, but without exception, all efforts failed.

Blood Sweat Ridge is like a black hole, swallowing everything.

Prior adventurers and martial artists who entered also never returned.

At this moment, the hotel closest to Blood Sweat Ridge in Obsidian is already full.

Legend has it Silvio Reed left a mysterious treasure and a guard at Blood Sweat Ridge, a story that has spread like wildfire.

Many martial artists have rushed to Obsidian, eager to uncover the truth.

They aren’t interested in the treasure.

Recently, rumors that Silvio Reed is not dead has piqued their curiosity.

Many do not believe Silvio Reed is alive, they think it’s a leaked secret from Blood Sweat Ridge, intended to scare them with false news.

Those interested are solely focused on Silvio Reed’s guards at Blood Sweat Ridge.

Whoever controls Silvio Reed’s guards holds the power.

Whoever holds them stands at the peak!

The ambitious Southeast Lu family and Dragon family have started conquering, causing an immense pressure on some large families.

They remain ununited, each harboring individual plans.

Julius Reed and the True Lord of Nine Abysses arrived when the hotel was already full.

Fortunately, Julius Reed had booked a room in advance.

Conflict occupies the reception desk.

A burly man with a thick beard pounded the desk, shouting furiously, "What kind of lousy hotel is this with no rooms available and still wants to do business?"

"Sorry, all our rooms were filled yesterday. If convenient, you can go thirty miles away, there’s another hotel there."

The receptionist patiently explained.

"Bullshit! Today I’ll stay here, if not sorted, don’t blame me for what happens!"

The burly man’s outburst quickly attracted the attention of the hotel’s patrons.

Among them, many without rooms, and some who wandered downstairs.

In an effort to save space, the hotel converted the restaurant on the ground floor into a dining area.

The rest of the space was simply remodeled into guest rooms.

Nonetheless, the attraction of Silvio Reed’s guards remains too great, filling the hotel beyond capacity with martial artists.

"Do you even know this is the Phoenix Hotel?"

The front desk manager pointed at the sign behind, sneering, "If you want to cause trouble, please find another place!"

Bang!

The bearded man was already burning with fury; a renowned Great Grandmaster from afar, if not for recent martial chaos, leading to the death of his disciples, why would he come alone?

A Lu family, a Dragon family, even a mere hotel—none he can offend?

The surrounding martial artists joined in, creating a commotion.

They carelessly instigated because watching drama doesn’t fear trouble.

"The Phoenix has rules for the Phoenix Hotel, are you certain about causing trouble here?" The receptionist reconfirmed.

"Damn it! If I don’t get a room today, believe it or not, I’ll burn this place down?"

The bearded man hadn’t finished speaking when the receptionist pulled out a machine gun, spraying bullets.

Shooting him dead on the spot.