144: The Outer Heavens are beginning to show their prowess.

Jun Xiaoyao sat on an ebony chair in the secret chamber of Beyond Heaven, a transparent white jade chess piece twirling between his fingers. The candlelight reflected off the chess piece, casting fragmented light into his eyes. The stone walls around the secret chamber were covered in runes, with spiritual energy subtly flowing through them. This was the “Spirit Locking Array” personally set up by Marshal of the Unruly, designed to both block detection and gather Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, making it ideal for discussing confidential matters.

"Zhao Gao, present The Net's recent task list." His voice was calm, betraying no emotion, but his gaze was fixed on the constantly updated power distribution map on the stone wall. The location of Kunlun Ruins on the map was marked with a prominent red circle.

Zhao Gao bowed and stepped forward, placing a black-covered ledger on the table. "Reporting, Young Lord, The Net has taken on seven tasks in the past three days. Five of them are from imperial city nobles, aiming to clear out the spies Kunlun Ruins has placed within the city. The other two are anonymous commissions, requesting close surveillance of Kunlun Ruins' grain transport team." He opened the ledger, pointing to a page. "This is a message from Marshal of the Unruly. Kunlun Ruins' vanguard camp has passed Black Wind Ridge. The team leader is Ling Yunxiao's eldest son, Ling Feng, who is at the Late Grandmaster Realm and habitually uses a 'Mountain Cleaving Axe'."

Jun Xiaoyao tapped the white jade chess piece lightly with his fingertip. "Ling Feng? He seems to understand tactics better than his father." He looked up at Marshal of the Unruly, who stood in the corner. "Marshal of the Unruly, your 'Shadow' group should make a move."

Marshal of the Unruly, wearing a bronze mask, spoke with a metallic coldness through it. "Young Lord, rest assured. The 'Shadow' group is already lying in wait in the dense forests on both sides of Black Wind Ridge. Each person is equipped with three 'Cloud Piercing Crossbows', and the arrowheads are poisoned with 'Spirit Dissipating Powder'. Those hit will experience chaotic spiritual energy within half an hour, and those below the Grandmaster Realm will be paralyzed on the spot." He paused, then added, "Additionally, I had people mix 'Vein Severing Grass' into the mountain spring in Black Wind Ridge. The people of Kunlun Ruins, traveling quickly, will surely drink the water. Even if they aren't hit by crossbows, it will reduce their combat strength by thirty percent."

Jun Xiaoyao nodded slightly, placing the white jade chess piece on the Black Wind Ridge location on the map. "No need to kill them all. Leave a few alive to deliver a message to Ling Yunxiao — Beyond Heaven's territory is not for just anyone to tread upon."

"Understood," Marshal of the Unruly bowed in response. As he turned, his black robe swept across the ground, stirring a faint scent of blood — an aroma only present with those who constantly associated with assassins.

At this moment, the stone door of the secret chamber was lightly tapped three times, which was The Net's signal. Zhao Gao went to open the door, and in came from Water Margin. He was bare-chested, his bronze skin still stained with dirt, and he carried a blood-stained cudgel on his shoulder. "Young Lord, I intercepted Kunlun Ruins' grain team. The leading minor headman said he wanted to see you, claiming to have a secret letter from Ling Yunxiao."

"Bring him in." Jun Xiaoyao's fingers still twirled the chess piece, his gaze not lifting.

A moment later, a man, tightly bound and pushed in, entered. His clothes were ragged, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, yet he stubbornly glared. "Where is Jun Xiaoyao? Let him come out! Our Realm Master said, if you're smart, you'll hand over Beyond Heaven obediently, otherwise..."

Before he could finish, from Water Margin kicked him in the back of the knee, and the man plopped to the ground. Only then did Jun Xiaoyao look up, placing the white jade chess piece before him. "What message did Ling Yunxiao send you to deliver? Speak clearly, and I'll give you a quick end."

The man spat out a mouthful of blood. "The Realm Master said that three days from now, at noon, he will set up a challenge arena at Soul Severing Cliff and invite you to personally attend. If you win, Kunlun Ruins will retreat three paces from now on. If you lose, Beyond Heaven must merge with Kunlun Ruins, and you, Jun Xiaoyao, must kowtow three times to the Realm Master!"

"Heh." Jun Xiaoyao chuckled softly, picked up the white jade chess piece, and suddenly flicked it with his finger. The chess piece shot towards the man's glabella like a sharp arrow, but stopped an inch away, hovering steadily in the air. "Go back and tell Ling Yunxiao that I accept the challenge. But the rules must change — the losing side must hand over jurisdiction of three cities, plus the half of the 'Grand Void True Scripture' hidden in Kunlun Ruins."

The man's pupils constricted. He could feel the spiritual energy contained within that chess piece — at least the pressure of a Great Grandmaster, even stronger than Ling Yunxiao! He opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single defiant word.

"Get out." Jun Xiaoyao waved his hand. "Don't let me see anyone from Kunlun Ruins in Beyond Heaven's territory again, unless they're here to deliver city deeds."

from Water Margin lifted the man and walked out. As he passed Zhao Gao, Zhao Gao slipped him a small bag of silver fragments. "Go to the accounting office and get a bottle of 'Skin Healing Ointment'. Your arm wound needs to be treated." from Water Margin grinned, revealing two rows of white teeth. "Thank you, Steward Zhao!"

The secret chamber fell silent again. Jun Xiaoyao picked up the ledger and reviewed The Net's new tasks. Zhao Gao reported from the side, "Young Lord, we just received news from the black market. Someone is willing to pay five thousand taels of gold for Ling Feng's left arm."

"Five thousand taels?" Jun Xiaoyao raised an eyebrow. "Ling Feng is at least a Late Grandmaster Realm cultivator; that price is too cheap." He picked up his brush and added a line to the ledger. "Tell the client: ten thousand taels, delivery within three days. Also, have the 'Shadow' group 'take care' of Ling Feng and make sure he doesn't die too quickly."

Zhao Gao acknowledged and noted it down, then added, "Also, Marshal of the Unruly said he wants to recruit more people. The 'Shadow' group has suffered significant losses recently and needs replenishment."

"Granted." Jun Xiaoyao closed the ledger. "Pick ten skilled individuals from The Net's 'Earth' group. Tell them that if they join the 'Shadow' group, their monthly pay will double, and if they die in battle, their families will be supported by Beyond Heaven."

Upon hearing this, Marshal of the Unruly's mouth curved slightly upwards under his mask — he knew this was the Young Lord's trust in him.

The candlelight flickered, reflecting Jun Xiaoyao's serene profile. He looked at the power distribution map on the stone wall, his finger pressing heavily on the words "Kunlun Ruins." Three days later at Soul Severing Cliff, it would not only be a challenge arena but also Beyond Heaven's true first touchstone for establishing itself on the continent. And he had already set the stage.