140: The Holy Land's Conspiracy

In the underground secret chamber of the Tianwaitian Headquarters, candlelight flickered against a bronze mirror. Jun Xiaoyao sat upright before the mirror, twisting a black chess piece between his fingertips, his reflection in the mirror calm and unruffled. The stone walls of the secret chamber were carved with runes, with spiritual energy faintly circulating—this was the "Soundproofing Array" recently set up by the Marshal of the Unruly to ensure no conversations would leak out.

"Young Lord, The Net has recently liquidated seventeen merchant firms connected to the 'Shadow Pavilion'." Zhao Gao stood beside the mirror, placing a gold-stamped ledger on the desk. The cover of the ledger was marked with a spider web in cinnabar. "This is the seized ledger. Through these firms, the Shadow Pavilion smuggled at least three thousand catties of black iron, with the destination unknown."

Jun Xiaoyao opened the ledger. The pages were filled with dense transaction records, and a few large transactions were marked with "Kunlun Ruins" as the recipient. His fingertips paused on the words "Kunlun Ruins": "The Holy Land is involved as well?"

"According to information sent back by The Unruly, the Law Enforcement Elder of the Kunlun Ruins met secretly with the Pavilion Master of the Shadow Pavilion last month." Zhao Gao handed over a secret letter. "The Shadow Pavilion wants to use the name of the Kunlun Ruins to get involved in the Jiangnan salt transport, and the Kunlun Ruins seems to want to obtain fragments of the 'Heavenly Derivation Compass' through the Shadow Pavilion."

A cold glint flashed in Jun Xiaoyao's eyes. The Heavenly Derivation Compass was an ancient relic, rumored to be able to locate Spiritual Veins and Secret Realms on the continent. He had obtained half a fragment from an Ancient Tomb three years ago and had kept it hidden in the Forbidden Ground of Beyond Heaven. "It seems some people have forgotten the fate of the 'Blood Shadow Tower' three years ago."

Three years ago, the Blood Shadow Tower attempted to seize the compass fragment and was wiped out by The Net overnight; the Tower Master's head was hung at the gates of Chang'an for three days as a warning. This event shook the Jianghu at the time, making many forces afraid to provoke Beyond Heaven lightly.

"Do you need to deploy the 'Heaven Group' of The Net?" Zhao Gao asked. Luowang Assassins were divided into Heaven, Earth, Mysterious, and Yellow groups based on their strength. The Heaven Group consisted of only ten people, all of whom were at the Peak Grandmaster Realm; they were the sharpest blade in Jun Xiaoyao's hand.

"No need." Jun Xiaoyao closed the ledger. "Let the 'Earth Group' handle those merchant firms. Leave one survivor to find out the Shadow Pavilion's stronghold in Jiangnan. As for the Kunlun Ruins..." He looked at the summoning array in the center of the secret chamber, where the Spirit Stone at the eye of the array was emitting a faint light. "It is time to add fuel to the fire."

Zhao Gao understood and retreated outside the array. Jun Xiaoyao stood up and walked into the array, taking a Jade Slip from his robes—this was the "Designated Summoning Talisman" given by the System after accumulating enough energy, which could randomly summon a "Holy Land Character" from the Wuxia world.

"System, activate designated summoning."

[System prompt: Designated summoning range locked to "Holy Land Character", matching...]

[Match successful!]

The summoning array suddenly erupted with dazzling golden light. Runes crawled on the ground like living things, forming a rotating pillar of light. After the light dissipated, a figure in white appeared in the array. She held a whisk, her appearance peerless, her temperament cold and aloof, like a Fairy who did not eat the food of mortals.

[Character panel expanded: Name: Little Dragon Girl. From World: "the return of the condor heroes". Realm: Middle Stage Grandmaster Realm. Martial Skills and Cultivation Techniques: 1. "Jade Maiden Heart Sutra": The supreme Mind-Cultivation Technique of the Ancient Tomb sect. After Cultivation, one's temperament becomes ethereal, Internal Energy becomes pure, and it can suppress masculine martial arts. 2. "Jade Maiden Heart Sword": Combined with Yang Guo's "Quanzhen Sword Technique", its power doubles. When performed alone, it is agile and elegant, unpredictable. 3. "Nine Yin Manual (Part)": Learned techniques such as the "Yijin Jing Bone-Forging Chapter", with extremely strong healing capabilities, and Internal Energy that is endless.]

[Loyalty: 100% (System forced binding)]

Little Dragon Girl nodded slightly to Jun Xiaoyao, her voice as cold as clashing jade. "Little Dragon Girl, greets the Young Lord."

Jun Xiaoyao pointed to the chair beside him. "Miss Dragon, no need for formalities. Since you are new here, familiarize yourself with the rules of Beyond Heaven first. Zhao Gao, take Miss Dragon to settle in at the 'Quiet Heart Garden' and give her a copy of the 'Beyond Heaven Secret Records'."

Zhao Gao complied and led Little Dragon Girl out of the secret chamber. As Little Dragon Girl left, her gaze inadvertently swept over the bronze mirror. A white shadow seemed to flash in the mirror. She frowned slightly but did not ask further—this was the absolute obedience granted by the System; she would never ask about things she shouldn't.

After the two left, Jun Xiaoyao looked back at the bronze mirror. The image in the mirror changed gradually, revealing a map of Jiangnan. He pointed his fingertip at "Misty Rain Tower" on the map. "The Shadow Pavilion's stronghold is most likely here."

At this moment, footsteps sounded outside the secret chamber door. The figure of the Marshal of the Unruly, Yuan Tiangang, appeared at the door. His bronze mask shone coldly under the candlelight. "Young Lord, Disciples of the Kunlun Ruins have entered Jiangnan. The team is led by the Young Ruins Master Ling Yunxiao, at the Initial Heaven Human Realm. It is said that his 'Kunlun Sword Technique' has already received his father's true teachings."

"Ling Yunxiao?" Jun Xiaoyao remembered this person. He had met him once at the "Sword Discussion Conference" three years ago. He was young and arrogant, determined to prove he was stronger than his father. "Perfect, let Miss Dragon go meet him."

Yuan Tiangang bowed slightly. "Do you need the 'The Unruly' to cooperate?" The Unruly was the intelligence organization of Beyond Heaven, directly controlled by Yuan Tiangang, with members all over the continent, even capable of infiltrating the core of major Holy Lands.

"No." Jun Xiaoyao shook his head. "Let Little Dragon Girl take action alone. Let's see if the Ancient Tomb sect's kung fu can teach this Young Ruins Master a lesson about how high the sky is and how deep the earth is." He picked up the black chess piece on the desk and placed it gently on the "Misty Rain Tower" position in the copper mirror. "Also, have The Net investigate Ling Yunxiao's weakness—the prouder a person is, the more obvious their weaknesses usually are."

Yuan Tiangang acknowledged and left. Only Jun Xiaoyao remained in the secret chamber. He looked at the map of Jiangnan in the copper mirror, his mouth curling into an indiscernible arc. Whether it was the Shadow Pavilion or the Kunlun Ruins, if they dared to touch his things, they had to be prepared to bear the consequences.

Three days later, Misty Rain Tower, Jiangnan.

A fine rain like silk shrouded the pavilion built by the water. In a private room on the third floor, the Helmsman of the Shadow Pavilion's Jiangnan branch was talking to a young man in brocade clothes. The young man had a jade pendant hanging from his waist, engraved with the words "Kunlun"—it was Ling Yunxiao.

"Young Ruins Master, rest assured. That batch of black iron has been hidden on an island in Taihu Lake. We just need to wait for the storm to pass, and it can be shipped to the Kunlun Ruins." The Helmsman smiled obsequiously and poured wine for Ling Yunxiao. "As for the fragments of the Heavenly Derivation Compass, we have already found clues. They are at..."

Before he could finish speaking, a very light sound of clothes fluttering came from outside the window. The door of the private room was gently pushed open. Little Dragon Girl stood at the door, her white clothes slightly dampened by the fine rain, making her appear even more ethereal and peerless.

"Shadow Pavilion Branch Helmsman, Kunlun Ruins Young Ruins Master?" Little Dragon Girl's voice had no ripples. She flicked her whisk, and the silver threads shot towards the Helmsman like sharp blades.

The Helmsman was shocked and drew his sword to block, but his wrist was entangled by the whisk. With a "crack", his wrist bone shattered. Ling Yunxiao stood up abruptly, his long sword unsheathed. "Who are you? How dare you interfere in the affairs of the Kunlun Ruins?"

Little Dragon Girl did not answer. Her figure flickered, and she was already close to him. The whisk turned into ten thousand silver threads, forcing Ling Yunxiao to retreat repeatedly. His Kunlun Sword Technique was broad and powerful, originally of a rigid and fierce style, but it was completely restrained by Little Dragon Girl's elusive footwork. After a few moves, his shoulder was swept by the whisk, leaving a bloodstain.

"Who exactly are you..." Ling Yunxiao was shocked and angry. He did not expect such an expert to be in Jiangnan.

Little Dragon Girl flicked her fingertip, pointing at the major acupoints on his chest, her movements as fast as lightning. Ling Yunxiao could hardly parry in his haste. Just as he was about to be struck, several black shadows rushed out from behind the screen in the private room, holding short knives and stabbing directly at Little Dragon Girl's back—they were the Shadow Pavilion's guards.

Little Dragon Girl seemed to have eyes in the back of her head. She swirled the whisk backhand, entangling all the short knives, and at the same time, she lightly kicked Ling Yunxiao's knee. Ling Yunxiao knelt on one knee, all the blood draining from his face.

"Shadow Pavilion remnants, execute on the spot." Little Dragon Girl said lightly, the silver threads of the whisk surging, instantly piercing the throats of those guards. She turned to the Helmsman who was paralyzed on the ground. "Speak, what have you found out about the fragments of the Heavenly Derivation Compass?"

The Helmsman was scared out of his wits and shouted incoherently: "It's... it's at Beyond Heaven! We found out the fragments are at the Tianwaitian Headquarters!"

Hearing this, a flash of greed appeared in Ling Yunxiao's eyes.

Little Dragon Girl did not ask further. She raised her whisk and ended the Helmsman's life. She looked at Ling Yunxiao and said coldly: "Go back and tell your father, the things of Beyond Heaven are not something the Kunlun Ruins can touch." After speaking, her figure flashed and disappeared into the rain curtain.

Ling Yunxiao sat paralyzed on the ground, looking in the direction where Little Dragon Girl had left, his eyes filled with both fear and unwillingness. He clutched his injured shoulder and gritted his teeth: "Beyond Heaven... Little Dragon Girl... I will remember this!"

Meanwhile, Tianwaitian Headquarters.

Jun Xiaoyao saw everything at the Misty Rain Tower through the copper mirror. He picked up a white chess piece and placed it on the "Kunlun Ruins" position. "Ling Yunxiao, you are far worse than your father." He whispered to himself, "However, his greed can be utilized."

Zhao Gao walked into the secret chamber: "Young Lord, the Earth Group has finished clearing out the Shadow Pavilion's merchant firms in Jiangnan. According to your instructions, we deliberately let go of one lackey who knew 'the compass fragments are at Beyond Heaven'."

"Very good." Jun Xiaoyao put away the black and white chess pieces. "The Kunlun Ruins will make a move soon. Have the Heaven Group of The Net get ready. This time, we want to let all the Holy Lands know that Beyond Heaven is not something they can covet."

The candlelight gradually extinguished, and only the copper mirror continued to emit a faint light, reflecting Jun Xiaoyao's unfathomable eyes. The situation on the continent, because of half a compass fragment, was quietly surging again, and he was sitting in the center of the storm, calmly moving the chess pieces.