133: Establishing authority in the martial arts hall

The training grounds of the Tianwaitian Headquarters were exceptionally lively today. Hundreds of Luowang Assassins stood in formation, their gazes fixed simultaneously on the two figures in the center of the field—Guo Jing and Dark Blade.

"From today on, Hero Guo will be in charge of the Martial Hall and responsible for your daily training." Dark Blade's voice was cold as his gaze swept across the assassins. "Hero Guo's Nine Yin Manual and Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms are both top-tier martial arts of the Jianghu. How much you can learn depends on your own fortune."

The assassins exchanged glances, their eyes filled with suspicion as they looked at Guo Jing. Dressed in coarse cloth robes with an honest, simple face, he looked nothing like a master of the Land Immortal Realm; he looked more like a farmhand.

"Hmph, I bet he got in through the back door, didn't he?" someone whispered in the crowd. "Lord Dark Blade's swordsmanship is the real deal. What kind of ability could this Guo fellow possibly have?"

Hearing the chatter, Guo Jing merely scratched his head. He cupped his hands to the crowd and said, "Guo Jing is untalented, but I am willing to spar with you all, just to let everyone see if my martial arts are worthy of your attention."

As soon as he finished speaking, a burly assassin stepped out from the crowd. It was none other than the number three assassin of The Net's Earth rank, the Late Grandmaster Realm expert, "Mountain-Splitting Axe" Li Kui. Carrying a giant axe on his shoulder, he said in a muffled voice, "Hero Guo? I think you're Guo the Great Fool! Let me, Li Kui, test you out!"

Li Kui swung his giant axe, hacking toward Guo Jing with the force of splitting mountains and shattering rocks. The wind from the axe whistled, and the assassins on the sidelines couldn't help but step back—the power of this axe was enough to cleave a thousand-catty boulder!

Guo Jing did not dodge or evade. As the giant axe drew near, he slowly pushed out his right hand. The palm strike, which seemed slow, carried a surge of majestic Qi. It was the "Vast Dragon Regrets" from the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms.

"Bang!" As palm and axe collided, Li Kui felt an overwhelming force surge toward him. His giant axe nearly slipped from his grasp, and he stumbled back seven or eight steps before barely stabilizing his stance. The web between his thumb and index finger had already been split open and was bleeding.

"This..." Li Kui widened his eyes, his face full of disbelief.

The assassins on the sidelines were in an uproar—Li Kui's strength was among the best in The Net, yet he had been repelled so effortlessly by the opponent?

"Is there anyone else who wants to try?" Guo Jing remained in his honest, simple appearance, but his tone carried an unquestionable dignity.

A swordsman assassin was unconvinced; his figure moved like lightning as he stabbed at Guo Jing's back. This was a lethal sword technique of The Net, with a tricky angle and speed as fast as lightning.

Guo Jing seemed to have eyes on the back of his head; he swung his left hand and caught the opponent's blade. With a light flick of his wrist, the longsword shattered into pieces. At the same time, he struck out with his right hand—the "Soaring Dragon in the Sky." The palm wind, accompanied by the sound of a dragon's roar, sent the assassin flying, causing him to crash to the ground and spit out blood.

With two consecutive defeats, no one dared to question him again. Guo Jing looked at Dark Blade and said in a low voice, "Lord Dark Blade, is this... wouldn't this be too flashy?"

The corners of Dark Blade's mouth curled into a rare smile: "The Martial Hall needs to establish prestige, and you have done well."

*** Meanwhile, at the Central Plains Holy Land, the "Ziyang Sect."

Sect Master Daoist Master Ziyang stood on the Star-Gazing Terrace, looking at the purple mist on the horizon, his brows furrowed. The Grand Elder beside him bowed and said, "Sect Master, Beyond Heaven has annihilated the Netherworld Cult and seized the netherworld ore vein. Now that they have gained a Land Immortal Realm expert like Guo Jing, their power cannot be underestimated. Should we..."

"No." Daoist Master Ziyang shook his head. "Although Beyond Heaven acts domineeringly, they have never actively provoked the Holy Lands. This Jun Xiaoyao is unfathomable, and with the System assisting him, the characters he summons are all top-tier experts. It would be unwise to make an enemy of him at this time."

"But the other Holy Lands are watching us," the Grand Elder said worriedly. "The Xuantian Sect and the Hundred Flowers Valley have already sent people to Beyond Heaven to investigate. If we take no action, we might be seen as weak."

Daoist Master Ziyang pondered for a moment: "Send people to deliver gifts to congratulate Beyond Heaven on annihilating the Netherworld Cult. In addition, have Green Mist go to Beyond Heaven. It will be a visit in name, but in reality, it is to test the true strength of Jun Xiaoyao. Green Mist is a once-in-a-century Genius of our sect and has already reached the Peak Heaven-Human Realm. If she can befriend Beyond Heaven, it will be advantageous to our sect with no downsides."

"Yes, Sect Master."

*** Tianwaitian Headquarters, study.

Zhao Gao placed a dossier in front of Jun Xiaoyao, which recorded the movements of the major Holy Lands.

"Young Lord, the Ziyang Sect, Xuantian Sect, and Hundred Flowers Valley have all sent people, claiming to congratulate us on annihilating the Netherworld Cult, but in reality, they are here to probe our strength," Zhao Gao reported. "Among them, the Ziyang Sect's envoy, Green Mist, is a female Disciple. Only twenty years old, she has already reached the Peak Heaven-Human Realm and is said to be proficient in the art of divination."

Jun Xiaoyao flipped through the dossier, his fingertip pausing on the name "Green Mist" for a moment. "The art of divination? Interesting. Have Guo Jing receive them; it will be a good opportunity for them to witness the strength of Beyond Heaven."

"Yes." Zhao Gao added, "News has come from Cheng Lingsu. She used the Ore from the netherworld ore vein to refine a type of 'Poison-Tempered Needle' that can break through the Protective Aura of the Grandmaster Realm. The poison is potent; those struck by it will be completely paralyzed within half an hour."

"Very good," Jun Xiaoyao nodded. "Have her refine more and equip the Luowang Assassins with them."

*** Three days later, the Guest Reception Hall of Beyond Heaven.

Green Mist and the envoys from other Holy Lands sat in the hall, their expressions varying. Green Mist was dressed in green, her appearance beautiful and refined, but her gaze was scrutinizing, observing the layout of the hall from time to time—from the material of the pillars to the patterns of the floor tiles, everything exuded a low-key luxury, clearly showing that Beyond Heaven had a profound foundation.

Guo Jing walked into the hall and cupped his hands to everyone: "Envoys, you have traveled far. On behalf of the Young Lord, I welcome you all."

"Hero Guo is too kind." Green Mist stood up to return the salute. Her gaze lingered on Guo Jing for a moment, and she was secretly shocked—this person's aura was as calm as an abyss; she could not see through his depth. He was at least in the Land Immortal Realm!

The Xuantian Sect's envoy was a middle-aged Daoist. He stroked his beard and smiled: "I have long heard that Hero Guo's Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms are unrivaled in the world. I wonder if we might have the honor of witnessing them today?"

This appeared to be a request for instruction, but in reality, it was an attempt to probe Guo Jing's strength.

Before Guo Jing could speak, a commotion suddenly erupted outside the hall. A Luowang Disciple rushed in: "Hero Guo, it's bad! Shi Wanchen of the Medicine King Valley has broken in with his people, saying he wants to avenge himself on Miss Cheng!"

Guo Jing frowned: "How many people did he bring?"

"About a hundred people, all holding poison, and they are coming aggressively!"

Green Mist and the others exchanged glances, a glimmer of curiosity flashing in their eyes—the feud between the Medicine King Valley and Beyond Heaven had long been rumored in the Jianghu, so there would be a good show to watch today.

Guo Jing stood up and said: "Everyone, please wait a moment. I will be right back."

*** At the entrance of the headquarters, Shi Wanchen and the Medicine King Valley Disciples blocked the gate. Looking at Guo Jing, who was walking toward them, he sneered: "Where is that traitor Cheng Lingsu? Make her come out and die! Otherwise, I will use 'bone melting powder' to poison your Beyond Heaven to the ground!"

Guo Jing said in a deep voice: "Miss Cheng is a person of our Beyond Heaven. If you want to touch her, you must pass me first."

"Just you?" Shi Wanchen waved his hand, and dozens of Disciples simultaneously threw out poison powder. The powder turned into colorful smoke in the air, which was foul-smelling and nauseating.

"Petty tricks." Guo Jing took a deep breath and unleashed the "Turtle Breathing Technique" from the Nine Yin Manual, while simultaneously striking out with both palms, "Divine Dragon Swings Tail"!

The palm wind was like a wall, scattering the poisonous smoke completely. With a flash of his figure, he rushed into the midst of the Medicine King Valley Disciples, striking out with the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms in succession. Wherever the palm wind passed, the poison bottles in the Disciples' hands shattered, and the people were sent flying, but not a single person died—Guo Jing had shown mercy.

Seeing this, Shi Wanchen took action himself. He unleashed a poison umbrella, and dozens of poison needles shot out from the umbrella ribs, firing toward the vital acupuncture points all over Guo Jing's body.

Guo Jing used the "Left and Right Mutual Combat Technique" with his left hand to catch the poison needles barehanded, while his right hand struck out with "Dragon Appears in the Field." The palm wind landed on the poison umbrella, shattering it instantly. Shi Wanchen was knocked backward, crashing against the stone wall and spitting out black blood.

"Are you convinced?" Guo Jing looked at Shi Wanchen, his tone indifferent.

Shi Wanchen's eyes were filled with unwillingness, but he knew he was no match for him. Gritting his teeth, he said: "I will remember the humiliation of today! Let's go!"

The Medicine King Valley Disciples left in a sorry state. Guo Jing turned and returned to the hall, his body completely untainted by the poison.

Inside the Guest Reception Hall, Green Mist and the others were already dumbfounded. The Xuantian Sect envoy muttered: "Mid-stage Terrestrial Immortal Realm... no wonder Beyond Heaven dares to be so domineering."

Green Mist's heart was in turmoil—she had secretly attempted divination just now, but she could not calculate Guo Jing's destiny; it was as if it were shrouded in a layer of mist. And the source of that mist was none other than the Young Master of Tianwaitian, Jun Xiaoyao.

"It seems that this Young Master Jun Xiaoyao is even more mysterious than imagined," Green Mist thought to herself. "It would be better for the Ziyang Sect to befriend Beyond Heaven."

*** Inside the study, Zhao Gao reported the situation in the Guest Reception Hall to Jun Xiaoyao.

"Young Lord, Green Mist has indicated that the Ziyang Sect is willing to form an alliance with Beyond Heaven to jointly maintain order in the Central Plains. The Xuantian Sect and Hundred Flowers Valley have also expressed goodwill, hoping to purchase Ore from the netherworld ore vein."

Jun Xiaoyao picked up his teacup and took a light sip: "We can form an alliance, but the Ore can only be traded, not bought. Tell them to trade with Cultivation Technique Secret Manuals or Heaven And Earth Treasures; the rarer, the better."

"Yes."

"Also, keep an eye on Shi Wanchen," Jun Xiaoyao added. "The Medicine King Valley's poison arts still have some use. Have The Net go and 'invite' him to Beyond Heaven. If he refuses, abolish his poison cultivation."

Zhao Gao bowed in acknowledgment, his awe of Jun Xiaoyao's planning growing ever deeper. Annihilating the Netherworld Cult, obtaining the Ore vein, summoning Guo Jing, establishing the Martial Hall, and then using Guo Jing's hand to intimidate the Holy Lands—now that the major powers were all showing goodwill, Beyond Heaven had faintly become the number one power in the Jianghu.

And the mastermind behind all of this had remained sitting in this study the entire time, appearing calm and unruffled, while in reality, he had long held the situation of the world in his palm.