143: Hidden Currents Hunt

In Jun Xiaoyao's study, the flame of the bronze lamp was gently pushed by a draft, casting his shadow against the stone wall like a silent statue. He held a fragment knocked off the Fentian Palace's Pill Furnace between his fingertips; the fragment radiated a scorching heat in his palm—this was the trophy brought back by Guan Yu, and also the first warning shot aimed at Kunlun Ruins.

Zhao Gao. He did not look up, his gaze fixed on the Map of Continental Powers spread out before him. The map was drawn with black iron liquid, and the edges were engraved with dense annotations. Regarding the poison backlash suffered by the leader of the Ten Thousand Poisons Cult, has any rumor spread that Beyond Heaven was responsible?

Zhao Gao emerged from the shadows, his black robes brushing the floor without a sound. He held an ebony tray, on which lay three tokens, each engraved with the characters Luo, Wang, and Kill. Replying to the Young Lord, as you commanded, the news has been spread. The interior of the Ten Thousand Poisons Cult is now in chaos; several Elders are fighting for the position of Cult Leader, and no one has the capacity to investigate the truth. He placed the tokens on the table. This is the newly forged Kill token. Whoever holds this token can mobilize all Heaven Rank Assassins of The Net.

Jun Xiaoyao picked up the Kill token; it was icy cold to the touch, its edges as sharp as a blade. Is there any movement from Kunlun Ruins?

The news of Ling Changfeng's capture has reached Kunlun Ruins. The Ruins Master, Ling Yunxiao, was so furious he smashed three Pill Furnaces. It is said he summoned twelve Law Enforcement Elders overnight to deliberate. Zhao Gao opened a secret report in his sleeve. They seem not to believe we could suppress both Fentian Palace and the Ten Thousand Poisons Cult simultaneously. They believe we used schemes and tricks, and intend to unite with Sword Tomb and Haoran Academy to take action.

Sword Tomb and Haoran Academy? Jun Xiaoyao chuckled, tossing the token back onto the tray. The old fogies at Sword Tomb guard their broken swords and haven't left their mountain gate in hundreds of years; the pedantic scholars at Haoran Academy only know how to wave their fans and say a gentleman does not act rashly. Ling Yunxiao is clutching at straws. He tapped his fingertip on the location of Sword Tomb on the map. However, since they want to make up the numbers, let them come.

Does the Young Lord mean...?

Send a gift to Sword Tomb. Jun Xiaoyao stood up and walked to the window, looking at the distant mountains shrouded in the night. Have the Marshal of the Unruly go there and retrieve that rusted iron sword hidden in the Sword Grave. Tell the tomb keeper of Sword Tomb: either follow the rules and bring ten top-grade spirit swords to trade for it, or watch their Ancestral Master's sword turn into scrap metal.

A flash of understanding crossed Zhao Gao's eyes. This subordinate understands. And what about Haoran Academy?

Haoran Academy prides itself on Literature Carrying the Dao and values its reputation above all else. A cold, sharp arc curled the corner of Jun Xiaoyao's mouth. Have the Shadow unit of The Net go to their Scripture Pavilion, make a copy of the Scandal Records written privately by those great scholars, and send them to the Continental Daily in the Imperial City. I want to see if they still dare to get involved while carrying the title of pure stream.

Three days later, Sword Tomb.

The Marshal of the Unruly, wearing a bronze mask, stood before the Sword Grave, holding a black cloth bundle containing that very ancient, rusted sword. The old sword-slave, his hair and beard white, trembled with rage as he gripped his cane. You insolent brat! This is the sword of the founder of our Sword Tomb; how dare you...

Old thing, spare the nonsense. The Marshal of the Unruly's voice came through the mask, carrying a metallic coldness. Ten spirit swords. Come to Beyond Heaven in three days to trade. If you don't come, this sword will appear in the black market's furnace. He turned and walked away, his black robes unfurling in the wind. By the way, remind your Young Lord not to play any tricks—people from The Net should already be at the door of your sword vault right now.

The old sword-slave watched his retreating figure, spat out a mouthful of blood, and collapsed on the ground. Although Sword Tomb was strong, it feared damage to the Ancestral Master's relics above all else, for that was the Foundation of the entire Sword Tomb.

At the same time, Haoran Academy.

The headline of the Continental Daily was printed in bold cinnabar characters: Shocking! Head of Haoran Academy Visits Brothel at Night; Manuscript Records Salacious Details. The attached page even printed several pages of the manuscript with blurry but recognizable handwriting, signed by the very scholar who often preached, Preserve Heavenly Principles and Destroy Human Desires.

The entire Imperial City was in an uproar, and the streets were filled with discussion. The gates of Haoran Academy were surrounded by angry students and commoners. Several Elders were sweating profusely; forget about supporting Kunlun Ruins, they couldn't even leave the house without climbing over the wall.

Kunlun Ruins, Council Hall.

Ling Yunxiao looked at the urgent report in his hand, his face ashen. Sword Tomb sent a message saying they wanted to seclude themselves for reorganization and temporarily not participate in external disputes, while Haoran Academy sent a letter directly stating, Lack of strength, please forgive us. The original four-party coalition was now reduced to just Kunlun Ruins and a few small Sects, looking like a joke.

Trash! A bunch of trash! He kicked over the table, the jade cup shattering on the ground. What exactly is the background of Beyond Heaven? They dare to touch my people at Kunlun Ruins and even provoke Sword Tomb and Haoran Academy!

The Law Enforcement Elder beside him bowed and said, Ruins Master, please calm your anger. In this subordinate's opinion, for Beyond Heaven to quietly take down Fentian Palace and the Ten Thousand Poisons Cult, and to make Sword Tomb and the Academy retreat, there must be a powerful figure supporting them behind the scenes. Why not...

Why not what? Ling Yunxiao glared at him. Our Kunlun Ruins has a Legacy of a thousand years; are we to bow to a nobody? He slapped the table hard. Pass on my order: summon all Disciples, and in three days, march on Beyond Heaven! I want to see if this rat hiding in the dark dares to come out into the light!

Beyond Heaven, Secret Chamber.

Jun Xiaoyao looked at the secret report handed to him by Zhao Gao, his fingertip sliding over the words Kunlun Ruins summoning Disciples. Just in time. He looked at Little Dragon Girl standing to the side. Your Jade Maiden Heart Sutra can restrain poison arts. Although the Ten Thousand Poisons Cult is in chaos, there is no guarantee they won't send suicide squads to sneak attack. Take twenty Luowang Assassins to guard the back mountain and set up an array using Ice Soul Silver Needles.

Little Dragon Girl nodded. Yes, Young Lord.

Guan Yu. Jun Xiaoyao turned to the red-faced, long-bearded man. You take the Heaven unit to the front mountain to set up an array. Use the fragments of the Fentian Palace's Pill Furnace to draw out the earth fire. The people of Kunlun Ruins are skilled at using fire; let them taste the feeling of being roasted.

Guan Yu cupped his fists. This one obeys.

Marshal of the Unruly. Jun Xiaoyao finally looked at the figure wearing the bronze mask. You take the Earth unit to infiltrate the lair of Kunlun Ruins. Once their main force leaves, retrieve the Kunlun Secret Records hidden in the Zhenxu Tower. Remember, the bigger the commotion, the better. It's best to let Ling Yunxiao know his home has been robbed.

The Marshal of the Unruly bowed slightly. This subordinate understands.

After everyone dispersed, Jun Xiaoyao sat back at the table and picked up the half-fragment of the Pill Furnace. The firelight danced on the fragment, reflecting the bottomless coldness in his eyes. He never initiated trouble, but anyone who dared to touch his things had to be prepared to pay the price—Kunlun Ruins was merely the first stepping stone for him to expand the territory of Beyond Heaven.

Outside the window, the night grew thicker. The mountain wind stirred the fallen leaves, tapping against the window lattice like countless hands knocking on the door, as if foreshadowing the blood-drenched hunt destined for three days later. And the identities of the hunter and the prey had been determined from the very beginning.