As night slowly descended, it continued to rain,

but today’s Canglan City was particularly quiet.

After passing through the Thirteen Wind and Rain Streets, a grand estate could be seen glowing brightly amidst the dim night, with three large words in iron-silver calligraphy on an archway in front—Law Enforcement Hall.

Behind the archway lay a 333-step marble staircase, majestic and imposing, with the mansion resembling a crouching lion overseeing all beings.

Led by an Elder of the Law Enforcement Hall, Gu Zhan entered the mansion, and immediately towering buildings loomed ahead, with fine rain and slanting wind brushing against the lanterns, and patrolling guards moving meticulously.

Soon, after passing through several large courtyards, they arrived at a seven or eight-story tower.

Upon entering the tower,

Gu Zhan immediately sensed many powerful presences observing him.

"The Law Enforcement Hall is where the Beidou Bang sets its rules, so even the City Lord’s Mansion cannot compare to its strictness." 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

At that moment, a gentle voice spoke, and a white-haired elder emerged from one of the rooms.

Gu Zhan assessed the elder, who, despite his age, had a youthful complexion, was energetic, and had an exceptional aura.

The elder smiled slightly and said, "I am Yun Wei."

Gu Zhan clasped his hands and said, "Greetings, Cloud Protector."

Yun Wei gestured to a nearby chair and said, "Please have a seat!"

Gu Zhan slowly sat down and said, "Today, Canglan City is in turmoil. Thank you for your assistance, Cloud Protector."

Yun Wei chuckled and said, "I didn’t specifically help you or the Sixth Young Master. Today, regardless of which young master wins the Xuanhu Sect’s change, I would assist them in purging dissent. During the old to new transition, for the stability of Beidou Bang, this is an inevitable process."

Saying this,

Yun Wei poured Gu Zhan a cup of tea and said, "Today at the East City Gate, I saw you from afar, Squad Leader Gu, already showing the potential of a dragon rising from the sea. Among the young generation of Beidou Bang, you are the foremost. Across all the geniuses in Yunzhou, you stand in the second tier—truly remarkable. I’ve invited you here to lend a helping hand."

Gu Zhan furrowed his brow slightly and asked, "Please, Cloud Protector, guide me."

Yun Wei took a sip of tea and said, "I remember you came to Yunxi because you were being hunted by the Chengyang Marquis’s Mansion and the Celestial Sword Alliance."

Gu Zhan nodded slightly.

Yun Wei smiled and said, "The Chengyang Marquis’s Mansion is harmless; it holds a position with the Court and dares not seek directly in Yunxi, unless one day Yunxi’s land is reclaimed by the court.

But the Celestial Sword Alliance is different. It is a martial world influence, seeking naturally as per martial world rules, and the sects in Yunxi land have no reason to object. Last time, the Dragon King shielded you; next time, it will depend on you."

Gu Zhan furrowed his brow slightly and said, "Is Qi Baiyu coming to Yunxi?"

"Soon," Yun Wei said, "last year, after Qi Baiyu’s battle with the Dragon King at the Nu River, he was injured but also gained insights. After returning to the Celestial Sword Alliance, he’s been in seclusion. It’s expected that when he exits next, he will be a Grandmaster.

If Qi Baiyu becomes a Grandmaster, Beidou Bang won’t be able to protect you. If the Dragon King were in his prime, he could contend with Qi Baiyu, but now, the Dragon King is old and has limited time left."

Gu Zhan squinted his eyes and said, "This... Cloud Protector, isn’t this internal Beidou Bang’s secret? Is it appropriate to tell me?"

"Aren’t you a senior member of Beidou Bang’s inner circle?" Yun Wei said. "You’re clean, capable of decisive action, a leading figure among the young generation of Beidou Bang. If you can’t know this, who can?"

Yun Wei chuckled and said, "Gu Zhan, I know your journey has been one of reluctant trust and vigilance in all matters. It’s a good habit. However, after the Dragon King, Beidou Bang doesn’t belong to any individual. It promotes the capable and demotes the incapable. You’re skilled, with outstanding talent,

I’ve investigated your life; you’re a formidable leader. I think Beidou Bang would be in good hands with you. The Dragon King is old, and so is our generation, but among the new generation, there are mostly average individuals—you’re truly exceptional."

Gu Zhan listened in silence.

Yun Wei continued, "Truth be told, Beidou Bang does not lack Fifth Realm Great Cultivators, but there’s no one with your potential. You have the potential to be among the first-tier of geniuses."

Gu Zhan asked bewilderedly, "How is the division among these geniuses determined?"

Yun Wei said, "Actually, there’s no specific requirement, but you can sense it yourself. Although you’re now a Fifth Realm Cultivator, Qi Baiyu is also a Fifth Realm Cultivator. Can you match him?"

Gu Zhan shook his head slightly.

He never thought of Qi Baiyu as an unsurpassable peak, but he couldn’t deny that even though they were both in the Fifth Realm, he was indeed no match for Qi Baiyu.

Only upon reaching this realm did he understand why Qi Baiyu was the undeniable first genius of Yunzhou.

Qi Baiyu is a person who can dominate an era,

with Fifth Realm cultivation, killing Grandmasters like slaughtering chickens—it is truly terrifying.

Currently, Gu Zhan’s cultivation has reached the Fifth Realm Peak,

He clearly understands that the difference between the Dao Realm and Grandmaster is vast.

Grandmaster is a title of respect.

This realm is called Divine Thought.

Because upon reaching this realm, one can condense Primordial Spirit Thought, triggering Heaven and Earth Resonance, and manifest Dharma Heaven and Earth.

This is completely different from the Dao Realm, which manipulates Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi by fortune; Divine Thought directly communicates and extracts from the heavens and earth.

The difference between them is significant.

Yet, despite this disparity,

Qi Baiyu can still reverse-slay Grandmasters, even withstanding several exchanges with the Dragon King Mo Jingzhou without dying, even leaving the Dragon King helpless.

Though the Dragon King is old,

he remains a Supreme Grandmaster in the Divine Thought Third Realm.

The Divine Thought Realm is divided into three tiers,

The first tier is honored as Grandmaster,

The second tier is honored as Great Grandmaster,

The third tier, the pinnacle tier, is honored as Supreme Grandmaster.

Beidou Bang stands as one of the top five forces in Yunxi because it has a Supreme Grandmaster.

Strictly speaking, numerous forces in Yunxi equal Beidou Bang in strength, but Beidou Bang surpasses them to become one of the five giants because it has a Supreme Grandmaster.

Yet such a figure, even in old age, retains formidable might, unmatched by regular Grandmasters or Great Grandmasters, yet Qi Baiyu, as a Fifth Realm Great Cultivator, can engage for several moves, which is truly astonishing.

And now,

Gu Zhan has also reached the Fifth Realm,

his foundation is quite deep, with many Earth Tier Martial Arts reaching the Great Success Realm, yet he knows himself well, only capable of barely contending with ordinary Grandmasters using the Netherworld King’s Array-breaking Saber at Great Success.

Yun Wei looked at Gu Zhan and smiled, "That is the difference between you and the first-tier geniuses; you can only be in the second tier."