151: Initial establishment of the exploration department

Before the morning mist at Tianwaitian Headquarters had fully dispersed, Jun Xiaoyao stood before the viewing platform in his study, toying with a sound-transmitting jade. The jade was warm and smooth, with a faint flow of Qi circulating within—this was the first "achievement" Full of Towers had delivered yesterday, rumored to clearly record any sound within ten li, even distinguishing the gender of a butterfly by its wingbeats.

"Young Lord," Zhao Gao entered lightly, holding a stack of dossiers. The top cowhide cover was stamped with a red character for "Exploration" ( Explore). "This is the first jianghu secrets record compiled by Lord Full of Towers, detailing the recent movements of the Seven Great Sects and the Twelve Noble Families."

Jun Xiaoyao took the dossier, his fingertips tracing the cinnabar mark on the cover. Opening the first page, the handwriting was elegant and clear, unmistakably Full of Towers': "After Blazing Fire Palace's Saintess, Yan Lingji, was captured, Palace Master Yan Chongtian has mobilized three thousand Cultists, garrisoning them in Black Wind Valley outside Qingzhou City, seemingly intending to break her out of prison..."

"Three thousand Cultists?" Jun Xiaoyao raised an eyebrow slightly. "Yan Chongtian is certainly willing to spend big." He turned to the next page, his gaze falling on the words "Ten Thousand Treasures Tower." "Ten Thousand Treasures Tower recently acquired a large amount of Black Iron Ore Vein in the Northern Region, claiming it's for forging new weapons, but in reality, they've met with envoys from the Ice Plains Tribe three times. The goods traded were covered with black cloth, and three Heavenly Human Realm masters accompanied them."

Zhao Gao bowed and said, "Lord Full of Towers said that last night, while monitoring Ten Thousand Treasures Tower's secret chamber, he heard the Tower Master and the Ice Plains Tribe envoy mention the words 'Fire-Breaking Armor,' which seems to be a treasure armor capable of resisting Blazing Fire techniques."

"Fire-Breaking Armor?" Jun Xiaoyao placed the dossier on the desk. "It seems the Ice Plains Tribe is determined to go against Blazing Fire Palace." He looked at the summoning array in the center of the study, where the Spirit Stone at the array's core emitted a soft white light. "The Net's Intelligence Exploration Department has just been established and lacks someone capable of dealing with various forces. Activate the summoning, with the scope locked on individuals 'skilled in negotiation and strategizing.'"

[System Prompt: Consuming 2500 points, designated type summoning in progress...]

[Energy converging... character match successful...]

A faint golden light erupted from the array, runes swirling like starlight in the air, gradually coalescing into a figure dressed in official robes. The man had a refined face, a long beard of three strands beneath his chin, and held a feather fan. His eyes were profound, and he was none other than the "Crouching Dragon" from romance of the three kingdoms.

[Character Panel Unfolded:

Name: Kongming

Origin World: romance of the three kingdoms

Realm: Grandmaster Peak (Intellect conversion to combat power equivalent to Heavenly Human Realm)

Abilities:

1. Longzhong Plan: Skilled in strategic planning, capable of deducing optimal solutions from chaotic information, with extremely high accuracy in predicting force movements.

2. Debating with Scholars: Eloquent and sharp-tongued, capable of achieving objectives through negotiation, reducing the probability of conflict.

3. Eight Trigrams Formation: Proficient in Formation deployment, capable of increasing the combat power of ordinary soldiers by thirty percent, skilled in defense and encirclement.

Additional Items:

- Seven Star Lamp (can stabilize the mind and increase the success rate of deductions)

- Feather Fan (fan ribs conceal silver needles, can be used as hidden weapons)

Loyalty: 98% (Identifies with the 'Enlightened Lord's' philosophy, highly recognizes the Young Lord's strategic abilities)]

Kongming cupped his hands to Jun Xiaoyao, his voice steady as a bell: "Crouching Dragon Kongming greets the Young Lord." His gaze swept over the jianghu secrets record on the desk, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes. "Mr. Full of Towers' intelligence is quite detailed."

"Mr. Kongming possesses talent capable of governing the heavens and earth," Jun Xiaoyao gestured for Zhao Gao to bring a chair. "Beyond Heaven needs a 'strategist' to coordinate The Net's intelligence and actions. Would Mr. be willing to humble himself for this position?"

Kongming chuckled softly, fanning himself: "It is my fortune to work with such outstanding talents." He picked up the dossier and quickly skimmed through it. "Given the current situation, Blazing Fire Palace and the Ice Plains Tribe are destined for a battle. Ten Thousand Treasures Tower wants to reap the benefits. We can use this chaotic situation to seize the Black Iron Ore Vein in Qingzhou."

"Oh?" Jun Xiaoyao's interest was piqued. "What brilliant plan does Mr. have?"

"It's simple." Kongming spread a map on the desk and pointed his feather fan at Black Wind Valley. "Have The Net release news that the blueprint for the Fire-Breaking Armor is in Blazing Fire Palace's hands, and the Ice Plains Tribe will surely attack Black Wind Valley. Then, have the Intelligence Exploration Department subtly hint to Yan Chongtian that Ten Thousand Treasures Tower plans to sell the Fire-Breaking Armor to the Ice Plains Tribe, and Blazing Fire Palace will inevitably be distracted by Ten Thousand Treasures Tower. While the two tigers fight, we'll send Heaven Group assassins to infiltrate the Qingzhou mine and take over the guards."

Zhao Gao, listening from the side, gasped: "This plan kills three birds with one stone! It weakens Blazing Fire Palace and the Ice Plains Tribe, allows us to seize the mine, and makes Ten Thousand Treasures Tower take the blame!"

Jun Xiaoyao looked at Kongming, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes: "Proceed as Mr. says. Full of Towers will be responsible for spreading the news, Marshal of the Unruly will lead the Heaven Group to prepare to take over the mine, and Zhao Gao will coordinate the cooperation of The Net's various departments."

Three days later, Black Wind Valley, Qingzhou.

The Ice Plains Tribe's cavalry surged towards the valley entrance like a tide. The Clan Chief, at the forefront, wielded a giant axe and roared, "Seize back the Fire-Breaking Armor blueprints, and annihilate Blazing Fire Palace!" Although the Blazing Fire Cult Cultists in the valley resisted fiercely, the Ice Plains Tribe warriors fought without fear of death, quickly reaching the main camp.

Yan Chongtian was in his tent, cursing Ten Thousand Treasures Tower. Hearing that the vanguard had fallen, he angrily kicked over the desk: "Useless! You can't even hold a valley entrance!" Just as he was about to personally enter the fray, a Cultist stumbled in, shouting, "Palace Master, Ten Thousand Treasures Tower's people burned our grain supplies from the rear!"

"What?!" Yan Chongtian was both shocked and enraged. "These treacherous merchants!" He weighed his options for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said, "Retreat! We'll return to the Headquarters first, then settle accounts with Ten Thousand Treasures Tower!"

Just as Blazing Fire Palace was retreating and the Ice Plains Tribe was busy counting their "spoils of war," Marshal of the Unruly had already led the Heaven Group assassins to infiltrate the Qingzhou Black Iron Ore Vein. The mine's guards had mostly been dispatched to Black Wind Valley, leaving behind only the old, weak, and sick, who were no match for The Net's assassins. Half an hour later, the mine's flag had been replaced with The Net's black spiderweb banner.

In the Tianwaitian study, Kongming was using the Seven Star Lamp to deduce the subsequent situation. The flame of the lamp wick flickered steadily, casting shifting light and shadow on his face. "Young Lord," he opened his eyes, "the Ice Plains Tribe didn't find the blueprints, so they will surely vent their anger on Ten Thousand Treasures Tower; Blazing Fire Palace lost its grain supplies and the mine, its strength greatly diminished. We only need to guard the mine, and within three months, Qingzhou's medicinal herbs and cloth businesses will proactively seek us out."

Jun Xiaoyao looked at the scene of the mine in the water mirror, nodding in satisfaction: "Mr. Kongming's strategy is indeed flawless." He turned to the last page of the jianghu secrets record, which recorded: "Kunlun Ruins has been unusually active recently, seemingly searching for the other half of the 'Heavenly Evolution Compass' fragment."

"Kunlun Ruins still hasn't given up?" A cold glint flashed in Jun Xiaoyao's eyes.

Kongming fanned his feather fan: "Ling Yunxiao's revenge for his severed arm has not been exacted, and he covets the compass Treasure Trove, so he naturally won't let the matter rest. However, he is greatly weakened and won't dare to act rashly in the short term, which is a good opportunity for us to consolidate our power in Qingzhou." He paused, then added, "Mr. Full of Towers said that Kunlun Ruins sent an envoy to Jueqing Valley, seemingly wanting to ally with Valley Master Gongsun Zhi to jointly deal with us."

"Gongsun Zhi?" Jun Xiaoyao recalled that person's "Yin and Yang Reversal Blade Art." "He's quite a troublesome character."

"No matter." Kongming smiled slightly. "Although Jueqing Valley's 'Love Flower' is poisonous, with the medical skills of the One-Finger Doctor, it can be dispelled. We only need to..." He lowered his voice and whispered a few words into Jun Xiaoyao's ear.

After listening, Jun Xiaoyao laughed heartily: "Excellent plan! Just as Mr. said, let Gongsun Zhi know that cooperating with Beyond Heaven is more worthwhile than cooperating with Kunlun Ruins."

The sunlight outside the window shone through the lattice, falling on the jianghu secrets record on the desk. The words "Beyond Heaven" on the paper's edge seemed to come alive in the light. The Net's Intelligence Exploration Department had Full of Towers' "ears," its strategy had Kongming's "brain," and with Marshal of the Unruly's "hands" and Zhao Gao's "eyes," this net covering the continent was becoming increasingly dense.

Jun Xiaoyao picked up the sound-transmitting jade, and Full of Towers' gentle voice came through: "Young Lord, Ten Thousand Treasures Tower Master is cursing the Ice Plains Tribe for their treachery, saying he will cut off their medicinal supplies..."

He put down the sound-transmitting jade and looked at Kongming: "Mr. thinks, should we 'help' Ten Thousand Treasures Tower?"

Kongming stroked his beard and smiled: "Adding flowers to brocade is not as good as sending charcoal in the snow. Have the Intelligence Exploration Department 'accidentally' reveal the Ice Plains Tribe's granary location to Ten Thousand Treasures Tower. The favor owed to us will have to be repaid sooner or later."

The laughter in the study intertwined with the birdsong outside the window, forming a melody with hidden sharpness. Jun Xiaoyao knew this was just the beginning. As Beyond Heaven's wings grew fuller, those forces that once underestimated them would eventually understand—this net woven from intelligence, strategy, and sharp blades, once tightened, would leave no possibility of escape.