134: Holy Land Spy

Inside the secret chamber of the Tianwaitian Headquarters, candlelight flickered, illuminating Jun Xiaoyao's handsome yet indifferent profile. He held a white jade chess piece between his fingers and gently placed it on the board, facing off against the Marshal of the Unruly.

"Young Lord, The Net has followed your instructions and placed spies within the Seven Great Sacred Lands." The Marshal of the Unruly's voice was cold and metallic as his masked gaze swept over the chessboard. "We have infiltrated the Xuantian Sect's Scripture Pavilion, the Hundred Flowers Valley's medicinal fields, and the Ziyang Sect's Stargazing Platform."

Jun Xiaoyao tapped the board with his fingertip, flipping the chess piece to reveal the character 'Kill' carved on its bottom side: "When can we acquire the Xuantian Sword Qi manual from the Xuantian Sect, and the Pill Formula for the nine revolutions soul returning pill from the Hundred Flowers Valley?"

"The Sword Manual for Xuantian Sword Qi is in the Sect Master's secret room. We must wait until next month's Sect Grand Ceremony when the guards at the gate change shifts to make a move." The Marshal of the Unruly handed over a secret report. "The Pill Formula of the Hundred Flowers Valley is kept personally by the Valley Master. 'Shadow' of The Net has already infiltrated the Valley Master's maid service and can acquire it in half a month at the earliest."

Jun Xiaoyao flipped through the secret report carelessly, suddenly stopping at one page: "Is Green Mist of the Ziyang Sect still at the Headquarters?"

"Yes. She has stayed for five days under the guise of 'exchanging Dao methods.' Yesterday, she even consulted Guo Jing on the essentials of the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms." The Marshal of the Unruly's tone deepened slightly. "Your subordinate investigated and found she performs divinations in her room every night, seemingly attempting to pry into Beyond Heaven's Luck."

Jun Xiaoyao curled his lips into a cold, sharp arc: "Have 'Shadow' add some 'Worry-Forget Powder' to her tea. Don't let her calculate things too clearly."

"Your subordinate understands."

*** Meanwhile, in the guest room on the west side of the Headquarters, Green Mist was frowning at a tortoise shell. The cracks on the shell were chaotic and disordered; every time she attempted to divine Beyond Heaven's Foundation, an invisible force would disrupt it, even causing a subtle backlash against her.

"What exactly is Jun Xiaoyao's background? How can he shield the secrets of heaven..." She rubbed her throbbing temples. The teacup on the table was steaming, containing Cloud Mist Tea freshly delivered from the kitchen.

The maid quietly tidied the desk, a barely perceptible cold glint flashing in her eyes—she was precisely 'Shadow,' the killer of The Net.

Green Mist picked up the teacup and took a small sip. She found the tea refreshing, carrying a faint floral scent. Moments later, she felt drowsy, and the agitation from her earlier divination gradually subsided.

"Strange, why does my head suddenly feel so heavy..." She slumped onto the desk, her consciousness quickly fading.

Shadow stepped forward, checked her pulse, confirmed the Worry-Forget Powder had taken effect, and quietly retreated. Outside the window, Guo Jing was practicing the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms. The force of his palms roared, shaking the leaves until they rustled down—he appeared to be training, but was actually surrounding the guest room, ensuring no one could approach.

*** Three days later, Hundred Flowers Valley.

'Bee,' the killer of The Net, blended into the herb-gathering team and followed the Valley Master's Medicinal Boy into the inner valley. Deep within the medicinal fields, several Elders were drying the nine leaf soul returning grass, which was the main ingredient for refining the nine revolutions soul returning pill.

Bee lowered her head, her fingers seemingly brushing the herbs casually. In reality, the special powder stuck to her fingernails had already fallen onto the leaves—this was 'Tracking Powder,' developed by the Marshal of the Unruly. It doesn't dissolve in water but becomes visible when exposed to spiritual energy.

"Hurry up, little girl!" the Medicinal Boy urged. "If you delay the Valley Master's Alchemy, I'll flay your skin!"

"Yes, yes, yes." Bee replied, a cold glint flashing in her eyes. She noticed that the stone house at the end of the medicinal field was heavily guarded, with Formation runes carved on the stone walls. The Pill Formula must be inside.

As night fell, Bee sneaked out of her quarters during the shift change interval and followed the route she had marked during the day to the vicinity of the stone house. The Formation's fluctuations were very weak; clearly, the Valley Master had deliberately lowered the defenses for his own convenience in entering and exiting.

She took out the 'Formation Breaking Talisman' given by the Marshal of the Unruly and stuck it on the stone wall. The runes instantly dimmed. Gently pushing the door open, the room was filled with a rich medicinal fragrance. Sure enough, a scroll of beast hide Pill Formula lay on the jade platform in the center.

Just as she reached out for it, an aged voice suddenly rang out: "Girl, what business do you have coming to this old man's Pill Chamber late at night?"

Bee froze completely and slowly turned around. The Hundred Flowers Valley Master stood at the doorway, leaning on a cane, his eyes flashing with all-knowing insight.

"Valley Master, spare my life!" Bee immediately knelt, but her fingers secretly reached for the poison needle at her waist.

The Hundred Flowers Valley Master laughed: "The Net's methods are truly formidable, capable of replacing even my Medicinal Boy. What a pity..." He tapped his cane, and the ground cracked. Bee felt her legs go numb, unable to move. "Did you think this old man was truly unprepared?"

The stone house door suddenly slammed shut, and runes lit up all around, trapping Bee in the center.

"Speak! What does Jun Xiaoyao want, sending you here?" the Valley Master demanded sternly.

Bee bit down on the poison sac hidden in her tooth. Black blood spilled from the corner of her mouth: "What the Young Lord wants is, naturally... your life!" Before her voice faded, she violently lunged toward the Valley Master, her eyes flashing with determination.

The Valley Master hadn't expected her fierce resolve. He retreated hastily but was grazed on the arm by a poison needle that sprang from Bee's sleeve. "Despicable!" he roared, slamming a palm onto Bee's crown.

Bee collapsed onto the ground, looking one last time toward the Pill Formula's location, a faint smile on her lips—before she was captured, she had memorized the contents of the Pill Formula. She only needed to use The Net's message talisman, and the information would be transmitted back to Beyond Heaven.

*** At the Tianwaitian Headquarters, when Jun Xiaoyao received the message talisman, he was watching Guo Jing practice a newly created palm technique. The writing on the talisman paper was fragmented, but enough to piece together the formula for the nine revolutions soul returning pill.

"Bee is dead," the Marshal of the Unruly said gravely. "The Hundred Flowers Valley Master has detected our actions and ordered the entire valley sealed, launching a search for The Net's spies."

Jun Xiaoyao crushed the talisman paper, the powder scattering on the wind: "The Hundred Flowers Valley Master's cultivation is at the Mid-stage Terrestrial Immortal Realm, slightly weaker than Guo Jing." He looked at Guo Jing, "Great Hero Guo, do you dare to 'pay a visit' to the Hundred Flowers Valley?"

Guo Jing cupped his fists and said, "If the Young Lord commands it, Guo Jing will not shrink even from ten thousand deaths!" His palm glowed faintly, the Qi force of the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms already accumulating and ready to strike.

"There's no need for killing," Jun Xiaoyao said lightly. "Go smash his Pill Chamber and seize ten stalks of nine leaf soul returning grass. Remember, you must let the entire Jianghu know that anyone who touches Beyond Heaven's people must pay the price."

"Yes!"

*** Three days later, a tremendous roar echoed from the Hundred Flowers Valley. Guo Jing split the valley gate with a single palm strike. The Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms swept through like a hurricane, leveling the Valley Master's Pill Chamber. Facing the swarming experts of the valley, he moved as if entering an uninhabited land. Wherever his palm force passed, stone shattered and wood broke. He ultimately left with ten stalks of nine leaf soul returning grass, striding away under the Valley Master's horrified gaze.

When the news spread, the Jianghu was shaken. The Seven Great Sacred Lands truly felt Beyond Heaven's dominance for the first time—for the sake of one killer, they sent a Land Immortal Realm expert to personally strike and destroy a century-old Pill Chamber.

Inside the Ziyang Sect, Green Mist turned pale upon hearing the news. She finally understood why her previous divinations had been interfered with—such a power was simply beyond her ability to pry into. That very night, she hastily left the Tianwaitian Headquarters, citing "urgent Sect matters."

After the Xuantian Sect Master learned the news, he immediately hid the Sword Manual of Xuantian Sword Qi in a more secret Subterranean Palace overnight and tripled the guards. He knew he might be next.

At the Tianwaitian Headquarters, Jun Xiaoyao was looking at the nine leaf soul returning grass Guo Jing had brought back. He instructed the Marshal of the Unruly: "Have Cheng Lingsu refine the pills according to the formula. Start with three batches." His fingertip traced the grass blades. "Also, issue generous pensions to The Net's brothers. Bee's family will be supported by Beyond Heaven for life."

The Marshal of the Unruly bowed in affirmation, his awe for Jun Xiaoyao deepening further. This Young Lord seemed cold, yet he never mistreated his subordinates. Why were The Net's killers willing to fight to the death? Precisely because of this—by following the Young Lord, as long as they remained loyal, even if they died, their families would be protected.

The candlelight danced, reflecting Jun Xiaoyao's calm profile. He didn't care about the Jianghu's evaluation or the Holy Lands' apprehension. He only knew that what belonged to him must be held firmly in his grasp. If anyone dared to steal or destroy it, he would use the most direct method to make them understand how to write the word 'regret.'

Outside the window, Zhao Gao was directing Disciples to expand The Net's training camp, with new killers continuously joining. Beyond Heaven's shadow was covering the entire Jianghu at a visible pace. And the source of all this was merely the seemingly casual young man sitting before the chessboard.