Inside the spacious hall, the crowd was bustling and lively, filled with a festive atmosphere. On specially designated seats arranged throughout the hall sat the leaders or representatives from the eastern provinces of the Empire. Although many people deeply desired the Mohist sect to falter, they still made it a point to maintain a polished and respectful demeanor in public. At the highest podium, a distinguished elderly man in a fine robe was bowing politely to the guests flowing in and out below. He clearly relished the countless admiring and envious glances, his weathered face radiating joy and pride, with a smile of satisfaction never fading. This man was Master Mo Cheng, the Grand Elder of the Mohist sect and a pillar of the organization—much of the sect's current standing owed to his efforts. "Master Bor, the Governor of Yan City, has arrived!" At the main entrance, a clear and resonant announcement reached the hall, causing the bustling atmosphere to momentarily quiet down. A series of curious glances swept toward the entrance. Typically, imperial officials would not proactively attend celebrations hosted by local powers. Yet here, the magistrate of Yancheng was present in person at such a public gathering—an act that immediately signaled to the audience that the Mo family had successfully established connections throughout the entire city. With official backing and the powerful support of Yunlan Sect behind them, it was no surprise that the Mo family had seen a rapid rise in strength, and was now quietly emerging as the dominant force among all regional powers in Northeastern provinces. Smiling at the stout man, who had evidently drawn considerable benefits from the Mohist family over the years, a cold sense of murderous intent flashed through Mo Cheng's mind. Yet on his face, he maintained a warm smile, gently guiding him toward a specially prepared seat on a raised platform. After exchanging a few pleasant words with the magistrate of Yancheng, a clear and resonant announcement echoed from the entrance. "Mr. Ye Cong, the head of the Ye family, is here!" "Heard this name, Mo Cheng was slightly taken aback, his face then expressing a half-smiling, half-reflective expression. The Ye family was indeed one of the three major families in Northeast Province. While their influence was somewhat behind the flourishing Mo family, years of steady accumulation had made the Ye family's strength undeniable. What particularly stirred Mo Cheng's expression was the personal visit of the Ye family's head, coming to extend congratulations. Under normal circumstances, the relationships among the four major families in Northeast Province were fiercely competitive—rarely did one extend formal congratulations to another. This unexpected gesture from the Ye family clearly signaled a subtle effort to show goodwill and yield. Clearly, as the Mo family's strength grew, the Ye family's resistance and opposition were beginning to waver. "Ha ha, Grandfather Mo, you truly remain vigorous! Northeast is about to be entirely absorbed under your influence," said a lean middle-aged man, laughing heartily as he moved through the hall, addressing Mo Cheng on the stage." "Hehe, I didn't expect the Master of the Ye Cong clan to have come as well—how truly honored I am!" Mo Cheng smiled warmly, chatting with Ye Cong with a polite smile masking a more reserved demeanor, then welcomed him to a prominent position. Subsequently, one after another, a series of influential leaders from the northeastern provinces of the Jia Ma Empire arrived. In the bustling hall, nearly eight out of ten major powers from the region had gathered—undoubtedly a rare and splendid gathering. As he gazed upon the array of distinguished guests, the warmth of his smile grew ever more radiant. In the northeastern provinces, aside from his own family, the Mo clan was truly the only one with such broad influence. Upon hearing the final announcement, the smile on Mo Cheng's face blossomed like a full bloom of chrysanthemums, and he stepped down from the platform, hastening toward the main entrance. As the focal point of the entire gathering, Mr. Mo Cheng's actions naturally drew everyone's attention. To see him personally coming out to greet them, everyone was momentarily stunned and began whispering among themselves. In this eastern province, it seemed rather rare that someone would receive such enthusiastic treatment from the Grand Elder of the Mo family. "This old fellow will surely be boasting about this matter for years to come." "Ah, it seems the Yunlan Sect has been placing ever greater importance on the Mo family. Indeed, even the future abbot of Yunlan Sect has come all the way to attend." Once the identity of the woman in the moon-colored robe was revealed, the guests in the hall immediately exchanged murmured sighs of envy. To the mid-tier and lower-ranking factions, the Yunlan Sect—this towering giant standing at the pinnacle of the Gama Empire—was as unattainable as a mountain peak, imposing and overwhelming. The fact that the Mo family had now forged ties with them must have stirred envy in countless hearts. "Mo Chang is being too formal," said Nalan Yanran, "I merely followed my teacher's instructions." She glanced around the hall, taking in the leaders who collectively represented nearly eight out of ten of the eastern provinces. A touch of surprise and something subtly unfamiliar flickered in her eyes. She then bowed gracefully, her tone composed and reserved. "Hehe, Lan Nu, Ge Ye Elder, please!" Smiling warmly at Lan Yanran and the elder Ge Ye behind her, Mo Cheng turned and personally led them forward, guiding them to the very front seat. Only after placing himself beside them did he sit down, laughing and chatting enthusiastically with both of them. In the bustling hall, a steady stream of subtle glances kept drifting over Lan Yanran's graceful figure. This woman, renowned as the one destined to shape the future of Yunlan Sect, had undoubtedly become the center of attention in the room. Meanwhile, Ye Cong, the head of the Ye family, watched with admiration and envy as Mo Cheng conversed warmly with Na Lan Yanran. After a long pause, he sighed with a sense of helplessness, his mouth full of bitterness. Though he had long wished to approach the future abbot of Yunlan Sect and forge a connection with him, after carefully weighing the relative statuses and positions of both families, he could only shake his head with a wry smile, lift the teacup beside him, and take a deep, steady swallow. In his heart, he was quietly calculating whether he should initiate cooperation with the Mo family sooner, in case the Mo family's rising strength would one day completely uproot them. "Hai Bode nodded slightly, then turned to Xiao Yan, asking, 'What do you plan to do next?' 'Create a scene—just as you suggested. First, we need to seriously injure that old man, then force them to surrender. Mu Cheng is practically an unshakeable pillar for the Mu family. I'm certain his life will command a considerable price.' Xiao Yan inserted his hand into his sleeve, his gaze sharp and cold, like a venomous snake, fixed firmly on Mu Cheng. 'What a miserable old man—he's just encountered Xiao Yan, this very calamity.' Upon hearing this, Hai Bode nodded, silently mourning the now-cheerful Mu Cheng in his heart for several seconds. In the hall, Mu Cheng finally ceased his conversation, slowly rose to his feet, and surveyed the various factions present. With a gentle gesture, he pressed his hands together, and the bustling atmosphere gradually settled, the attention of everyone shifting toward him. "Hehe, thank you all for coming to this gathering—my old bones, I suppose. I'm sure your invitations clearly mentioned that this meeting also serves as a platform for a major matter we'd like to discuss with each of you." Noticing the atmosphere gradually settling, Mo Cheng smiled. "Recently, after internal deliberations within our Mo family, we've decided to establish a Mo Alliance. This alliance won't be a rigid organization, but rather a loose network bringing together friendly factions to jointly secure mutual benefits. After all, the strength of a single entity is far less than that of several combined. As for me, anyone joining the Mo Alliance will become a formal ally of the Mo family, gaining access to Mo family intelligence, military support, and other privileges. What do you think? If any of you are interested, let's work together." Mo Cheng said with a warm smile. Hearing Mu Cheng's words, the guests in the hall displayed a range of expressions. Though Mu Cheng had not spoken of a strictly organized structure, everyone was well aware that once they joined this so-called Mu Alliance, they would effectively bear the seal of the Mo family. While they might later receive protection from the Mo family, it would still be equivalent to being formally absorbed and integrated into Mo's fold. A brief silence settled over the hall. Eventually, one after another, several smaller, less powerful factions stepped forward, expressing their willingness to join the Mu Alliance—many of them had already made up their minds to align themselves with the Mo family. With these early commitments, several mid-sized factions, previously hesitant due to concerns about being placed on the Mo family's blacklist, also began to follow suit after a moment's hesitation. Seated in the foremost position, gazing at the various powers continuously pouring into the Mohist faction, Nalan Yanyan subtly furrowed her brows. She gently turned her head, meeting Egé’s gaze—both of them exchanged a glance that carried an unspoken significance. "Nor did he pay any attention to whether others had objections. With a simple wave of his hand, Mu Cheng settled it thus. Watching Mu Cheng—so self-assured, almost like he had been scripting his own performance—the people in the hall found themselves utterly speechless. How thick-skinned was this old man?