"Please, go ahead." Li Daoqiang extended his hand, smiling calmly.
Bai Xiaosheng's smile faded slightly as he said with a faint grin, "Chief, have you heard of the Azure Dragon Society?"
Li Daoqiang's heart tightened instantly. He never expected that this self-proclaimed Bai Xiaosheng, a master-level expert, would utter those three words right off the bat.
The Azure Dragon Society—in this world, he had only picked up scattered bits of information about it. It was a vast, unfathomably deep force lurking in the shadows. Beyond that, he knew nothing. But in his previous world, he had some understanding of it. Still, his interest was now thoroughly piqued.
"The Azure Dragon Society?" Li Daoqiang murmured with a hint of doubt, furrowing his brow slightly before speaking frankly, "That mysterious and elusive Azure Dragon Society?"
"The Azure Dragon Society is indeed mysterious and elusive to the world, but to some, it's no secret at all. Chief, you are now one of those people." Bai Xiaosheng said with a knowing smile.
"One of those people? What kind of people?" Li Daoqiang chuckled, as if genuinely intrigued.
"Top-tier experts of the world, men of great ambition, bold vision, and far-reaching foresight—true heroes." Bai Xiaosheng said solemnly.
Li Daoqiang's mind sharpened. From just these few words, he could already glean some meaning. This Azure Dragon Society was no simple matter.
"You see me as that kind of person?" Li Daoqiang said after a pause, his tone flat.
"Since we received news of you, Chief, we've carefully observed you for several months. From your conduct, your character, your actions in developing Black Dragon Stronghold, and so on—evaluating all aspects—we've concluded that you are indeed that kind of person." Bai Xiaosheng said earnestly, speaking bluntly as if he wanted no secrets.
Li Daoqiang made no comment. Being observed was nothing unusual; countless forces across the world were watching him, not just the Azure Dragon Society. He blinked and said with a faint smile, "I'll take that as a compliment."
Bai Xiaosheng was slightly taken aback by this response. It was the first time he'd heard such an answer. As he quickly speculated about Li Daoqiang's true character, he matched the smile and said calmly, "Naturally."
"And then what?" Li Daoqiang asked with a hint of curiosity.
Bai Xiaosheng grew even more puzzled. Given Li Daoqiang's age, encountering a secretive entity like the Azure Dragon Society for the first time should have stirred some reaction. Yet he seemed so relaxed and composed. Yes, that was the feeling Bai Xiaosheng got—relaxed and composed. Could he have known about the Azure Dragon Society before? A guess formed in his mind, but he couldn't be sure. He spoke more cautiously, "Next, I'll give you a detailed introduction to the Azure Dragon Society. How does that sound?"
"Please." Li Daoqiang nodded.
"The Azure Dragon Society has existed for centuries, enduring without decline, hidden beneath the martial world. There are rumors in the jianghu that since a year has 365 days, the society has 365 sub-altars. Since a year has 12 months, it has 12 halls. That's all true. That's the Azure Dragon Society—or rather, part of it. But few know its true essence and purpose."
Bai Xiaosheng paused, looking at Li Daoqiang seriously. "What is a 'society'? Why the name 'Azure Dragon'? It's simple: the Azure Dragon Society is a platform—a place for true heroes of the world to gather, cooperate, and trade fairly."
Hearing this, Li Daoqiang was genuinely surprised. For the first time, he felt he was touching something vast. Earlier, he'd thought the Azure Dragon Society, though mysterious and powerful, was just another force. As someone who believed his combat prowess had reached the level of a peerless expert, he respected it but didn't fear it. But if what Bai Xiaosheng said was true—that the society was a well-run platform—then this organization might truly deserve the title of a colossus. He also began to form a preliminary guess about why they had come to him.
Bai Xiaosheng sensed Li Daoqiang's newfound seriousness and was somewhat satisfied. He didn't continue, waiting for Li Daoqiang to speak first. Li Daoqiang obliged, saying with a frank tone, "What a formidable Azure Dragon Society. If that's truly the case, it's beyond my expectations."
"The Azure Dragon Society is exactly that. Within it, there are those called Dragon Heads. They are the true masters of the society, with no hierarchy among them—only cooperation. The twelve halls and 365 sub-altars are the forces under the Azure Dragon Head. The other Dragon Heads each command their own powerful factions. They are independent of each other, equal in standing, and only cooperate." Bai Xiaosheng said with certainty.
Li Daoqiang grew more curious and a bit wary, so he asked, "What are the conditions to become a Dragon Head?"
"First, one must be a peerless expert—that's the foundation. Then, one must be a bold hero with great vision." Bai Xiaosheng revealed without hesitation.
Li Daoqiang's heart skipped a beat. Peerless experts! Every Dragon Head was a peerless expert. That made the Azure Dragon Society's strength truly unfathomable, capable of shaking the world. The one who set these rules must have been an extraordinary genius with immense boldness. A "bold hero with great vision" essentially meant a warlord. By harnessing the ambitions and desires of such warlords, letting them take what they needed and cooperate for mutual gain, how could the Azure Dragon Society not be powerful? A single peerless expert was strong, but limited. Several peerless experts united, however, wielded energy on a completely different scale.
"How many Dragon Heads are there in the Azure Dragon Society?" Li Daoqiang asked, his mind racing.
"That question can only be answered once you become a Dragon Head yourself, Chief." Bai Xiaosheng smiled.
"A Dragon Head of the Azure Dragon Society—are you here to invite me to join? But my strength hasn't reached the peerless level yet." Li Daoqiang said calmly.
"Becoming a Dragon Head is indeed difficult. Your current top-tier strength is still a step short. However, the Azure Dragon Society is always seeking those who have the potential to become Dragon Heads. Master-level heroes are sufficient. The society can help them grow quickly until they become true Dragon Heads." Bai Xiaosheng said sincerely.
Li Daoqiang silently praised the strategy. Clever. Recruiting master-level warlords—this formed the society's middle and outer layers. Whether these warlords became peerless experts or not, their ambitions would bind them to the Azure Dragon Society, maintaining it and, to some extent, acting as its tentacles. A brilliant move! It truly was a vast platform. As expected, the Azure Dragon Head and his forces were the core foundation, drawing in other Dragon Heads and master-level warlords, extending the society's reach across the entire world.
Though this model seemed loose, as long as there was enough profit, every Dragon Head and warlord would protect the society's existence. The Azure Dragon Head, as the core, could wield influence several times greater than his own strength and enjoy survival odds far beyond those of similar forces. The benefits were obvious. Of course, there were trade-offs. If the righteous martial world or dynastic families targeted the Azure Dragon Society, they'd focus on striking the Azure Dragon Head. If he fell, the society might collapse. On the flip side, this was what attracted warlords—safety and low risk.
But if his guess was right, the number of Dragon Heads must be limited, perhaps just a few. After all, peerless experts with warlord ambitions were rare across the world. More importantly, the society's model required careful selection of members. Only profit and ambition could sustain this platform. If a Dragon Head was unsuitable, the whole organization could face major problems. And if there were too many Dragon Heads, making the society too powerful, the righteous martial world and dynastic families wouldn't tolerate such a terrifying colossus. Only by careful selection, ensuring the Dragon Heads were reliable, maintaining secrecy, and keeping the society's strength—or at least its displayed strength—below the threshold that would provoke total destruction, could the Azure Dragon Society survive. Its unique, loose model of non-interference among Dragon Heads helped it endure.
As for those below the Dragon Heads—the so-called reserve Dragon Heads—their influence was far less than that of peerless experts, and they likely knew less. Bai Xiaosheng's frankness, seemingly unconcerned about leaks, might be due to Li Daoqiang's identity and recent actions, confidence that he'd join, or the fact that major powers already knew this much. It didn't affect the society's core, so it was shared freely. Any deeper knowledge would likely be off-limits.
Thinking quickly, Li Daoqiang fell silent, and the assembly hall grew quiet. Bai Xiaosheng didn't rush, waiting patiently. Facing such a decision, anyone would take time to consider. He was confident Li Daoqiang would join. Months of observation and investigation into his past had convinced them: Li Daoqiang was ambitious, greedy for wealth, somewhat lustful, and actively developing Black Dragon Stronghold. Though young, he already bore the traits of a warlord. Someone like him wouldn't miss a stage like the Azure Dragon Society.
After a while, Li Daoqiang spoke calmly, "You've come to invite me to join the Azure Dragon Society. If I agree, what do I gain, and what must I give?"
"If you agree, Chief, the Azure Dragon Society will help Black Dragon Stronghold rapidly develop its strength. This help covers all aspects. It just requires you to pay a fair price—silver, martial arts manuals, services, and so on. The society is a platform for fair trade, as I'm sure you understand. As for what you must give after joining? Rest assured, you need give nothing. You'll only gain an identity within the society and a channel to trade with other experts." Bai Xiaosheng said with certainty.
(Thank you for your support.) ······