156: The Net of Ten Thousand Gu

Deep within the secret chamber of Beyond Heaven, the cold light emitted by the dark blue night-luminescent pearls cast a long, narrow shadow of Jun Xiaoyao. His fingertips twirled half a piece of the demon suppressing token, his gaze fixed on the floating water mirror before him—the mirror displayed the scene on the outskirts of the Myriad Gu Cave, where poisonous mist was as thick as ink, and one could vaguely see multicolored poisonous insects crawling all over the craggy, strange rocks.

"Young Lord," Zhao Gao stood bowed to the side, holding a bamboo scroll in his hands, "White Jade Rat has sent word back that the Five Poisons Sect and the Demonic Cult have already clashed at the entrance of the Myriad Gu Cave, with both sides suffering heavy casualties. The Demonic Cult's 'Blood Mist Array' has been suppressed by the Five Poisons Sect's 'Myriad Poison Miasma,' and they have temporarily retreated to the Black Wind Pass three miles away."

Jun Xiaoyao lightly tapped his fingertips on the table, and the image in the water mirror switched to show a gray shadow gliding along the ground—it was none other than White Jade Rat. He was utilizing his Heaven-Drilling Rat movement technique to weave through the gaps in the battle, his iron ruler occasionally unsheathed to precisely parry the incoming poisonous needles and Talismans.

"Tell him not to approach the core area," Jun Xiaoyao said calmly, "The 'Gu King' of the Myriad Gu Cave is rumored to have already reached the Land Immortal Realm; it is not something he can handle."

"Yes." Zhao Gao immediately took out a message talisman, infused it with spiritual power, and the Talisman paper turned into a streak of fire and shot out the window.

Just then, the summoning array in the center of the secret chamber suddenly lit up with a faint glow, and the Spirit Stone at the center of the array began to tremble. Jun Xiaoyao raised an eyebrow: "Oh? The energy is just enough for one summoning." He stood up and walked to the front of the array, his fingertips tracing over the runes, "Random summoning, let's see who we can summon this time."

[System Prompt: Energy detection in progress... Matching Wuxia world character... Summoning initiated!]

The light of the summoning array suddenly became intense, with golden-red runes rising like flames, and the phantom of a long spear could be vaguely seen condensing in the light. As the light gradually faded, a figure dressed in silver armor appeared, with a resolute face, holding a dragon gallbladder bright silver spear, and a sword at his waist—it was none other than General Zhao Yun of Changshan from the "romance of the three kingdoms".

[Character Panel Expanded: Name: General Zhao Yun. From World: "romance of the three kingdoms". Realm: Peak Grandmaster Realm. Martial Skills and Cultivation Techniques: 1. Hundred Birds Facing the Phoenix Spear: The spear shadows are like a phoenix dancing in the Nine Heavens, capable of dealing with several experts besieging him simultaneously; the spear momentum is fierce without losing agility. 2. Dragon Gallbladder Art: An internal breathing Mind-Cultivation Technique; when activated, it can significantly increase speed and reaction, and can stimulate potential when near death. 3. Protector's True Form: When encountering danger, it can briefly condense a protective Protective Aura, with defense comparable to the Initial Heaven Human Realm. Additional Items: - dragon gallbladder bright silver spear (The spear body is crafted from cold iron mixed with mysterious gold, capable of breaking through most defenses in the world). - Green Steel Sword (Sharp and unmatched; when used in tandem with the dragon gallbladder bright silver spear, it can unleash the "Spear and Sword Combined" technique). Loyalty: 98% (Loyal and righteous, recognizes the Young Lord's decisions).]

General Zhao Yun knelt on one knee, his long spear propped against the ground, his voice like a booming bell: "Subordinate General Zhao Yun, greets the Young Lord!"

Jun Xiaoyao nodded slightly: "General Zhao Yun, rise. Currently, the situation at the Myriad Gu Cave is deadlocked, with the Five Poisons Sect and the Demonic Cult at a stalemate; we are in need of an expert capable of stabilizing the scene." He pointed to the chaotic battlefield in the water mirror, "General, are you willing to go and stabilize the situation? You do not need to intervene in the fight, just ensure that the people from The Net can smoothly investigate the tracks of the Gu King."

General Zhao Yun stood up, his gaze sweeping across the water mirror, his dragon gallbladder bright silver spear vibrating slightly, the spear tip pointing directly at the slaughter in the image: "With the Young Lord's order, this subordinate will naturally serve. It's just..." He paused, "The Five Poisons Sect is skilled in using Gu; this subordinate needs to carry some antidotes."

"It has already been prepared." Zhao Gao handed over a brocade box containing dozens of detoxification pills and anti-miasma Talismans, "This was specially made by Great Doctor Ping, and it can neutralize a hundred types of common Gu poisons."

General Zhao Yun took the brocade box and tied it to his waist, then mounted his horse—not knowing when, a white horse had appeared outside the secret chamber door; it was his mount, the Night-Illuminating Jade Lion. "This subordinate is off!" Before the words even fell, both man and horse had turned into a silver rainbow, rushing out of the Beyond Heaven area and galloping towards the Myriad Gu Cave.

In the water mirror, General Zhao Yun's figure soon arrived at the edge of the battlefield. At this moment, the Five Poisons Sect's "Golden Silkworm Gu" was wreaking havoc, the Demonic Cultists were screaming incessantly as they were gnawed upon by the Gu insects, and an Elder of the Five Poisons Sect had also been struck by the Demonic Cult's "Blood Shadow Palm," vomiting blood and retreating. Seeing this, General Zhao Yun flicked his dragon gallbladder bright silver spear, the spear shadows blooming like pear blossoms, instantly separating the two sides: "Stop!"

The awe-inspiring righteousness carried by the spear momentum caused the chaotic battlefield to fall silent. Upon seeing this, the Five Poisons Sect Elder shouted: "Who goes there? How dare you interfere in the affairs of my Five Poisons Sect?"

General Zhao Yun held his spear horizontally while mounted, and said in a clear voice: "General Zhao Yun, under the banner of Beyond Heaven. This place is not a place for fighting; if you wish to determine a victor, retreat three miles, and do not hinder the actions of others." The aura of the Peak Grandmaster Realm radiating from his entire body spread out, and whether they were from the Five Poisons Sect or the Demonic Cult, all felt an invisible pressure, and for a moment, none dared to step forward.

"Beyond Heaven?" The Demonic Cult leader frowned, "Never heard of it."

"Now you have." General Zhao Yun's tone was calm, yet carried unquestionable majesty, "Either retreat, or taste the power of my dragon gallbladder bright silver spear."

Before the water mirror, Jun Xiaoyao watched this scene, a faint arc curling at the corners of his mouth. Zhao Gao said at the right moment: "The Young Lord is wise; with General Zhao Yun holding the ground, White Jade Rat and the others should be able to sneak into the Myriad Gu Cave smoothly."

Jun Xiaoyao did not respond, only shifting his attention to another part of the water mirror—there, White Jade Rat was taking advantage of the opening created by General Zhao Yun to quietly circle around to the cliff on the side of the Myriad Gu Cave, using his iron ruler to chisel out footholds, climbing upward step by step. The cliff was covered with dark red moss, which would ooze a sticky liquid when touched, clearly containing potent poison.

"Have the Ying Squad of The Net provide support," Jun Xiaoyao ordered, "Lower a rope at the top of the cliff."

"Yes."

In the water mirror, General Zhao Yun was still confronting both sides, his dragon gallbladder bright silver spear occasionally tapping lightly, neutralizing any attacks that attempted to probe him, maintaining his deterrent force throughout. On the other side, White Jade Rat had already climbed to the middle of the mountainside when suddenly his foot slipped, and he nearly fell off the cliff—a completely emerald green scorpion crawled out from under the moss and bit the sole of his boot.

"Not good!" Zhao Gao exclaimed in a low voice.

White Jade Rat reacted extremely quickly; his left hand used his iron ruler to precisely knock off the scorpion, while his right hand quickly took out a detoxification pill and stuffed it into his mouth. Even so, the sole of his boot still turned a blackish-purple. He gritted his teeth, tore off a corner of his clothing to bind his lower leg tightly, and continued to climb upward, his speed not slowing in the slightest.

Jun Xiaoyao watched this scene, the demon suppressing token at his fingertips slightly hot. He knew that White Jade Rat's tenacity and General Zhao Yun's composure were both indispensable forces for Beyond Heaven. And the third piece of the demon suppressing token deep within the Myriad Gu Cave, as well as that mysterious guardian of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, were the true goals of this trip.

"Notify General Zhao Yun," Jun Xiaoyao suddenly spoke, "Half an hour later, if White Jade Rat succeeds, sound the spear as a signal, and retreat."

"Yes."

The poisonous mist in the water mirror seemed to have become thicker, and one could vaguely hear the low roar of the Gu King coming from within the cave. General Zhao Yun remained as upright as a pine tree, the light reflected by his dragon gallbladder bright silver spear flickering in the poisonous mist like a bright lamp, guarding the investigation operation quietly proceeding behind him. In the secret chamber of Beyond Heaven, Jun Xiaoyao stood quietly, his gaze deep, as if he had already seen through the layers of poisonous mist to the secret hidden in the deepest part of the Myriad Gu Cave.

Time slipped away bit by bit, and when the first ray of morning light pierced through the poisonous mist, a crisp sound of a spear suddenly came from the water mirror—that was General Zhao Yun's signal. Immediately after, White Jade Rat's figure appeared at the top of the cliff, holding high a bronze token in his hand, which, when pieced together with the previous two, formed the complete "demon suppressing token"!

"It's done!" A look of joy flashed in Zhao Gao's eyes.

Jun Xiaoyao stroked the patterns on the demon suppressing token; the moment the three tokens merged, runes flowed, vaguely revealing the coordinates of the "Heaven-Reaching Pagoda". Watching the back of General Zhao Yun shielding White Jade Rat as they retreated in the water mirror, he said slowly: "Close The Net."

Following the order, members of The Net appeared from everywhere like ghosts, providing support for the two to retreat. Seeing this, the Five Poisons Sect and the Demonic Cult, although unwilling, were wary of General Zhao Yun's spear technique and the mysterious nature of The Net, and ultimately did not dare to pursue.

When the figures in the water mirror all disappeared from view, Jun Xiaoyao put the complete demon suppressing token into the brocade box. The night-luminescent pearls in the secret chamber still emitted a cold light, but there seemed to be an unusual aura in the air—it was the palpitation of being about to touch the secret of the Heaven-Reaching Pagoda, and also the prologue to the further expansion of the Beyond Heaven forces.

Zhao Gao organized the subsequent intelligence and said in a low voice: "Young Lord, the guardian of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion has been rescued by the Ying Squad and is on the way back to Beyond Heaven."

Jun Xiaoyao nodded, his gaze looking towards the rising morning sun outside the window, a faint, elusive smile lingering at the corners of his mouth. The action at the Myriad Gu Cave was just the beginning; next, the Heaven-Reaching Pagoda, the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, Shattering the Void... there were even more resources and secrets waiting for Beyond Heaven to contend for. And he only needed to sit firmly behind the scenes, letting The Net and the summoned experts retrieve them for him one by one.