104: Luo Wang Xizhi

Inside the Council Hall of the Tianwaitian Headquarters, candlelight flickered, illuminating Jun Xiaoyao's indifferent profile. His fingertips lightly tapped the zitan wood table in front of him. On the Western Regions map spread open on the table, the location of Fentian Palace was heavily circled in cinnabar, surrounded by dense small dots—these were The Net's hidden informants in the Western Regions.

“Young Lord, The Net's 'Heaven' level assassins have assembled. Dark Blade, West Gate Blows Snow, and No Fate are the main force, supplemented by twenty 'Earth' level assassins, ready to depart at any time,” Zhao Gao reported, bowing deeply, his voice extremely low, as if fearing to disturb the silence in the hall.

Jun Xiaoyao's gaze fell on the Flaming Mountain on the map—the Fentian Palace Headquarters was built within its belly. It was said that flames constantly swirled there, and ordinary people would be scorched if they approached within a hundred meters. “Has the Fentian Palace's mountain-protecting Formation, the Fen Tian Formation, been thoroughly investigated?”

“Reporting to Young Lord, it has been investigated,” Zhao Gao handed over a parchment scroll. “This Formation is composed of three hundred and sixty fire-patterned pillars, drawing on the fire of the earth veins. When activated, the flames are monstrous, capable of incinerating all attacks below the Heavenly Human Realm. The core of the Formation is in the Palace Master's secluded cultivation chamber, personally guarded by the Saintess.”

Jun Xiaoyao opened the parchment scroll, which depicted a detailed diagram of the Formation, with the positions of the fire-patterned pillars and the direction of the earth veins clearly marked. “The Saintess's information.”

Zhao Gao quickly took out another scroll: “The Fentian Saintess, named Crimson Chain, is rumored to be the Fentian Palace Master's Personal Disciple. Though only twenty years old, she has already reached the Peak Grandmaster Realm and Cultivated the Heaven Burning Art to the seventh level. She can control the Samadhi True Fire, and her methods are ruthless, having incinerated three disobedient branch altars overnight.”

“Name: Crimson Chain

Origin: Original Wuxia World (incorporating flame control setting)

Realm: Peak Grandmaster Realm

Martial Skill: Heaven Burning Art (controls flames, can unleash Samadhi True Fire at its highest), Crimson Chain Whip Art (soft whip imbued with flames, can ignite opponent's clothing and Meridians upon striking)

Trait: Proficient in Formations, especially skilled in controlling the Fen Tian Formation”

Jun Xiaoyao closed the scroll, his fingertips lingering on the words “Samadhi True Fire” for a moment. “An interesting little fellow, indeed.” He looked up at Zhao Gao, “Tell Dark Blade not to act hastily. First, ascertain the operating patterns of the Fen Tian Formation and find the weak points of its core. Remember, I want Crimson Chain alive, and the complete Cultivation Technique of the Heaven Burning Art.”

“Yes,” Zhao Gao bowed and withdrew, secretly clicking his tongue in amazement—the Young Lord actually wanted to capture Crimson Chain, who could control the Samadhi True Fire. This ambition was a bit too grand. But he dared not question it in the slightest; The Net's creed was “The Young Lord's command, to the death.”

Seven days later, Flaming Mountain in the Western Regions.

The continuous mountain range was enveloped in a faint fiery glow, the air filled with a scorching heat, and the ground appeared dark red, as if magma could erupt at any moment. The Net's assassins were hidden in the shadows on the outskirts of the mountain range, each suppressing their aura to the extreme, blending seamlessly with the surroundings.

Dark Blade stood behind a massive black rock, his black and white twin swords crossed before his chest, his gaze piercing through the swirling heat, fixed on the entrance of the Fentian Palace Headquarters—a stone gate enveloped in flames, with three burning characters “Fentian Palace” carved on its lintel.

“West Gate, go scout the distribution of the fire-patterned pillars. Be careful to avoid the patrolling Disciples,” Dark Blade commanded in a low voice, devoid of emotion. “No Fate, you will come with me to ascertain the energy flow of the mountain-protecting Formation. Remember, do not act unless absolutely necessary.”

West Gate Blows Snow held his profound ice sword, the cold air from the blade condensing into a faint white mist in the scorching air. “Understood.” With that, his figure flickered, employing the Flowing Cloud Flying Sleeve movement technique, and like a green shadow, he swept towards the depths of the mountain range. Wherever he passed, the scorching air seemed to freeze slightly.

No Fate followed closely behind Dark Blade. His Ghost Step made the rugged mountain path feel like flat ground, and his black figure perfectly blended with the shadows. If not for careful observation, his presence would be completely undetectable.

The three divided their tasks clearly and began to infiltrate quietly.

Inside the Fentian Palace Headquarters, Crimson Chain sat on the main seat in the grand hall, clad in a long crimson dress with leaping flame patterns embroidered on its hem. In her hand, she toyed with a crimson soft whip, the whip's tip occasionally sparking with fire.

“Saintess, news from the eastern branch altar reports that a group of strangers has recently appeared on the outskirts of Flaming Mountain, their movements secretive. Should we send someone to investigate?” a gray-robed Elder asked, bowing.

Crimson Chain's lips curled into a cold smile, a hint of disdain flashing in her eyes. “They are merely petty thieves coveting Fentian Palace's secret treasures. Ignore them. Pass down the order to strengthen the vigilance of the mountain-protecting Formation. Anyone who dares to approach will simply be burned.”

“Yes,” the gray-robed Elder responded and withdrew, though a vague unease lingered in his heart—those who could hide their tracks on the outskirts of Flaming Mountain were certainly not ordinary petty thieves.

Crimson Chain toyed with her soft whip, her gaze fixed on the swirling flames outside the hall, a hint of fanaticism in her eyes. In three more days, it would be her critical moment to Breakthrough to the Heavenly Human Realm. At that time, she would need to draw upon the earth vein fire of the Fen Tian Formation to temper her Meridians. If successful, she would be the youngest Heavenly Human Realm expert in Fentian Palace for hundreds of years. By then, not to mention the Western Regions, even the prominent families of the Central Regions would have to heed her wishes!

She was completely unaware that three deadly shadows had already quietly approached the outer fire-patterned pillars of the Fen Tian Formation.

Late at night, northern foothills of Flaming Mountain.

West Gate Blows Snow was hidden behind a rock blackened by flames, his profound ice sword unsheathed three inches, the cold air from its blade pushing back the surrounding heat waves by three feet. The fire-patterned pillar before him was about three zhang tall, carved entirely from crimson rock, its body covered with flowing flame runes. Every incense stick's time, the runes would light up once, emitting scorching heat waves.

“One, two, three...” West Gate Blows Snow silently counted, observing the pattern of the runes lighting up. He noticed that whenever the seventh fire-patterned pillar lit up, the runes on the thirteenth pillar next to it would momentarily dim. Although it was only for an instant, it indicated a weak point in the energy flow.

He carved this discovery onto the rock wall using a special secret code, then his figure flickered, disappearing like a ghost into the night, heading towards the next fire-patterned pillar.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the mountain range.

Dark Blade and No Fate were lying in a hidden mountain hollow, observing the energy core of the Fen Tian Formation through gaps in the heat flow—a massive volcanic crater where magma churned, emitting suffocating heat waves. The energy of the earth vein fire was continuously supplied from here to various fire-patterned pillars.

“The energy flow frequency is a tide every half a quarter of an hour. During the low tide, the Formation core's defense will weaken by thirty percent,” Dark Blade whispered, lightly drawing marks on the ground with his black sword. “The tide time is related to the moon phase. Tonight at midnight is the low tide period.”

No Fate tightened his grip on his iron sword, a hint of killing intent flashing in his eyes: “Act at midnight?”

“No hurry,” Dark Blade shook his head. “We will formulate a plan after West Gate confirms all the weak points. The power of the Fen Tian Formation should not be underestimated. If we fail, we will not only fail to complete the Young Lord's mission but also alert the enemy.”

No Fate said no more, his gaze fixed intently on the volcanic crater, as if rehearsing how to Breakthrough that scorching energy barrier.

Three days later, Tianwaitian Headquarters.

Jun Xiaoyao looked at the secret report sent back by The Net, which meticulously documented the Fen Tian Formation's operating patterns, the weak points of the fire-patterned pillars, and the tide times of the earth vein fire. His fingertips gently tapped on the secret report, a faint smile playing on his lips.

“It's smoother than I imagined,” he looked up at Zhao Gao. “The complete version of Fentian Palace's Heaven Burning Art is said to be hidden in Crimson Chain's personal sachet?”

“Yes,” Zhao Gao nodded. “The Net's informants once personally saw Crimson Chain always wearing a sachet embroidered with fire patterns, never leaving her side. It is likely that besides the Cultivation Technique, it also contains the token to open the secret chamber.”

Jun Xiaoyao closed the secret report: “Tell Dark Blade to proceed as planned. During the low tide period at midnight, West Gate Blows Snow's profound ice sword will freeze the Formation core's energy. Dark Blade will lead the assault, and No Fate will be responsible for tying up the outer guards. Remember, you must capture Crimson Chain alive and obtain the sachet.”

“This subordinate understands,” Zhao Gao bowed and withdrew, a hint of anticipation flashing in his eyes as he turned—this clash between The Net and Fentian Palace was destined to stir up colossal waves in the Western Regions.

Silence returned to the hall. Jun Xiaoyao walked to the window, gazing at the night sky to the west. The stars there seemed to be tinged with a faint red, as if foreshadowing the war that was about to ignite on Flaming Mountain.

He was not worried that The Net would fail. Dark Blade's Late Heaven-Man Realm strength, coupled with West Gate Blows Snow's profound ice sword, which countered fire, and supplemented by No Fate's Fast Sword sneak attacks, would be sufficient to deal with a Saintess at the Peak Grandmaster Realm and a Fen Tian Formation that was not yet fully operational.

What he truly cared about was the Heaven Burning Art—that Cultivation Technique could not only control flames but was also said to be able to unleash the True Sun Fire when Cultivated to its extreme. Combined with Ouyezi's forging techniques, it would be enough to create true divine weapons. As for Crimson Chain... a Genius who could reach the Peak Grandmaster Realm at twenty years old, if she could be subdued, it would also be a considerable gain for Beyond Heaven.

As night deepened, faint rumbling sounds came from the direction of Flaming Mountain—the surging of the earth vein fire. Jun Xiaoyao knew that The Net's sharp blade had pointed west, and Fentian Palace's peace was about to be completely shattered.

And at the center of this storm, the Fentian Saintess, still in secluded Cultivation, had no idea that she had become a “prey” in the eyes of the Young Master of Tianwaitian, and a crisis concerning the rise and fall of Fentian Palace was quietly approaching.