157: The Secret of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion

Jun Xiaoyao sat upright in the main seat, his fingertips tapping lightly on the armrest, his gaze landing on the gray-robed old man in the center of the hall.

The old man had white hair and a beard, his face was lined with deep wrinkles, but his eyes were sharp and spirited; he was none other than the guardian of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion rescued from the Myriad Gu Cave—the Mysterious Mechanism Master.

"The Mysterious Mechanism Master greets the Young Lord."

The Mysterious Mechanism Master bowed, his voice old but full of vigor, "Many thanks to the Young Lord for your life-saving intervention. I have nothing to repay you with, so I wish to offer the 'Heaven-Reaching Pagoda Map' that the Heavenly Secret Pavilion has guarded for generations."

Jun Xiaoyao nodded slightly, signaling for Zhao Gao to take the sheepskin scroll handed over by the old man.

The map was unfurled, revealing the outline of a tall tower traced in cinnabar, with dense runes marked at the base of the tower, faintly echoing the patterns on the demon suppressing token.

The spire pointed to the northwest, which was the entrance to the legendary Secret Realm of "Shattering the Void."

"The Heaven-Reaching Pagoda is divided into nine levels," the Mysterious Mechanism Master explained, "Each level has ancient Restrictions that require corresponding tokens to open."

"The demon suppressing token is the key to opening the first level, while the token for the second level, the 'soul settling pearl,' is said to be in the national treasury of the Great Qian Dynasty."

Jun Xiaoyao tapped his fingertip on the characters "soul settling pearl" on the map: "The Great Qian Dynasty?"

He recalled his previous contact with the Third Prince, "They certainly are hiding quite a few good things."

The Mysterious Mechanism Master sighed: "It is a pity that the Heavenly Secret Pavilion suffered a great catastrophe; otherwise, we would not have allowed the Demonic Cult to take advantage of the situation."

"I have calculated that the Heaven-Reaching Pagoda will appear in three months, at which time all major forces will surely swarm over. If the Young Lord wishes to seize the initiative, you must obtain the soul settling pearl as soon as possible."

"The national treasury of the Great Qian Dynasty is heavily guarded," Zhao Gao added from the side, "It is said that three Land Immortal Realm experts are stationed there year-round, and it is protected by the 'Nine Dragon Sky-Locking Formation,' so breaking in by force is absolutely impossible."

Jun Xiaoyao looked up at the summoning array on the side of the hall, where the Spirit Stone at the center was emitting a warm luster: "Then let us invite a master skilled in infiltration."

"Activate the summoning, limit the scope to 'Grandmaster Realm and above, proficient in mechanisms and secret arts'."

[System Prompt: Consuming 2400 points, performing targeted summoning... Energy gathering...]

A pale golden light erupted from the array, with runes rotating like gears, condensing into a small, thin figure.

The person wore night-travel clothes, carried a treasure bag on his back, and held a string of copper keys in his hand; he was none other than "Sky-Piercing Rat" Lu Fang from the "three heroes and five gallants."

[Character Panel Expanded:]

Name: Lu Fang

From World: "three heroes and five gallants"

Realm: Late Grandmaster Realm

Martial Skill Cultivation Technique:

1. Sky-Piercing Earth-Escaping Technique: Expert at breaking mechanisms and infiltrating secret places; can find the entrance to any secret room within a hundred zhang.

2. Heart-Locking Finger: Fingertips are precise, can flick subtle latches, and has miraculous effects on breaking the core of Formations.

3. Wind-Following Steps: Footwork is light and airy, movements are silent, suitable for walking in heavily guarded places.

Additional Items:

- Hundred-Treasure Keys (Can open 99% of locks in the world)

- Heaven-Peering Mirror (Can see through disguises and hidden doors within three chi)

Loyalty: 90% (Honors promises, keeps faith, grateful for the life-saving grace)

Lu Fang cupped his hands at Jun Xiaoyao, his voice carrying a hearty tone: "Lu Fang greets the Young Lord. I heard we are going to steal treasure from the imperial palace? I am familiar with this work!"

Jun Xiaoyao pointed out the location of the national treasury on the map to him: "The national treasury of the Great Qian Dynasty, target is the soul settling pearl."

"You must retrieve it within three months, and you must not alert the imperial experts."

Lu Fang took the treasury layout map handed over by Zhao Gao and squinted at it for a moment: "The eye of the Nine Dragon Sky-Locking Formation is on the dome of the treasury, composed of nine night-luminescent pearls, with each pearl corresponding to a lock."

"As long as I use the Heaven-Peering Mirror to find the weakest one, and then use the Heart-Locking Finger to break the mechanism, I can infiltrate silently."

"Very good." Jun Xiaoyao nodded, "Have The Net's secret agents in the capital cooperate with you, and if necessary, you may use the 'Heaven' grade assassins to distract the guards."

At this moment, the figure of the Marshal of the Unruly appeared outside the hall, his gaze beneath the bronze mask sharp as a knife: "Young Lord, the Third Prince of the Great Qian Dynasty has sent someone to deliver a secret letter, saying he is willing to use the soul settling pearl to exchange for Tianwaitian's support for his ascension to the throne."

"Oh?" Jun Xiaoyao took the secret letter, the handwriting on it was flamboyant, revealing impatient ambition, "He certainly knows how to make a deal."

The Mysterious Mechanism Master suddenly spoke: "Young Lord, I have deduced the Third Prince's fate; although this person has the appearance of an emperor, he is narrow-minded. If we really help him ascend to the throne, he will surely become a future trouble."

Jun Xiaoyao placed the secret letter on the candle flame, watching it turn into ashes: "I have no interest in who becomes emperor; I only want the soul settling pearl."

He looked at Lu Fang, "The plan remains unchanged; set off as soon as possible."

Lu Fang cupped his fists in agreement, and as he turned, the keys in his treasure bag jingled, and he quickly disappeared outside the hall.

Seven days later, in the capital.

Lu Fang was dressed in the attire of a eunuch, mingling with the palace servants, and successfully entered the imperial palace.

Following the guidance of the layout map, he avoided the patrolling imperial guards and arrived behind the rockery near the national treasury.

He took out the Heaven-Peering Mirror and looked closely at the dome of the treasury—the nine night-luminescent pearls were indeed flickering on the dome, one of which was slightly darker in color, which was the weakness of the Formation eye.

"This is it." Lu Fang took a silver needle as thin as a hair from his treasure bag, performed the Wind-Following Steps, and climbed onto the eaves of the national treasury silently.

He held his breath, his Heart-Locking Finger slowly probed out, precisely piercing the base of the night-luminescent pearl.

With a soft "click," the night-luminescent pearl dimmed, and the light of the Nine Dragon Sky-Locking Formation weakened by three points instantly.

Lu Fang took the opportunity to sneak in through the ventilation duct he had scouted in advance; it was indeed filled with gold and silver jewelry, and on the jade platform in the center, a pearl the size of a pigeon egg emitted a soft white light—it was the soul settling pearl.

Just as he was about to reach out to take it, he suddenly sensed a sound of air being torn behind him.

Lu Fang dodged to the side, only to see a long sword fly past his shoulder and nail into the jade platform.

"A little rat from The Net, daring to break into my Great Qian national treasury!" An old man in python robes appeared at the door, his hair and beard standing on end; he was one of the royal experts, "Sky-Propping Sword" Liu Changfeng, a powerhouse at the Peak Heaven-Human Realm.

Lu Fang knew that he was no match for a head-on fight, so he immediately performed the Sky-Piercing Earth-Escaping Technique, his figure sliding toward the secret door in the corner like a loach: "Old thing, chase me if you have the ability!"

Liu Changfeng let out an angry shout, his long sword swirling out sword flowers as he gave chase.

The two engaged in a chase in the treasure-filled storeroom; Lu Fang used the terrain to constantly dodge, occasionally using the Hundred-Treasure Keys to trigger mechanisms, and the falling giant stones temporarily blocked Liu Changfeng's footsteps.

Just at this moment, several black shadows suddenly fell from the ventilation duct; they were the "Heaven" grade assassins of The Net.

The leading assassin unleashed a chain hook, entangling Liu Changfeng's long sword: "Mr. Lu, go quickly, leave this to us!"

Lu Fang no longer lingered, grabbed the soul settling pearl, and escaped through the secret door.

Behind him came the crisp sound of weapons clashing and screams; he knew those assassins were buying time for him with their lives.

In the Tianwaitian council hall, Lu Fang placed the soul settling pearl in front of Jun Xiaoyao.

The pearl felt warm in his hand, and when placed together with the demon suppressing token, their lights intertwined, projecting the scene of the second level of the Heaven-Reaching Pagoda on the map.

"You have worked hard." Jun Xiaoyao looked at the sword wound on his shoulder, "Physician Ping has prepared medicine; go down and rest."

Lu Fang thanked the Young Lord and turned to step down.

The Mysterious Mechanism Master looked at the soul settling pearl, a flash of excitement in his eyes: "With these two tokens, the Young Lord is already one step ahead of the other forces."

"Next, the 'boundary breaking talisman' for the third level is in the 'Snow Region Holy Land'; the Ice Silkworm Gu there is much more powerful than that of the Five Poisons Sect."

Jun Xiaoyao tapped his fingertip on the location of the Snow Region Holy Land on the map: "Snow Region Holy Land? Don't they always stay out of Jianghu disputes?"

"That is because no one can move them." The Mysterious Mechanism Master said, "The High Priest of the Holy Land is looking for the 'Nine-Turn Soul-Returning Grass,' which is said to be able to cure all strange poisons in the world, and this grass is only available at the headquarters of the Ten Thousand Poisons Cult."

A chill flashed in Jun Xiaoyao's eyes: "Ten Thousand Poisons Cult? They ruined my good deeds in Mobei last time; it is just right to settle old and new scores together."

He looked at the Marshal of the Unruly, "Have The Net investigate the defenses of the Ten Thousand Poisons Cult; within three days, I want a detailed map of their headquarters."

The Marshal of the Unruly bowed to accept the order, and a cold smile seemed to curl at the corner of his mouth beneath the bronze mask—for those forces that dared to provoke Tianwaitian, he never minded letting them taste the flavor of the bone whip.

The Mysterious Mechanism Master watched Jun Xiaoyao arrange things in an orderly manner and sighed inwardly: No wonder the prophecy of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion said "There is a heaven Beyond Heaven, and the carefree rule the world"; this Young Lord is young, yet he has such scheming and decisiveness, and his future achievements will surely be limitless.

Outside the council hall, the afterglow of the setting sun shone through the window lattice onto the demon suppressing token and the soul settling pearl, refracting colorful light.

Jun Xiaoyao looked at the outline of the Heaven-Reaching Pagoda on the map, his eyes flashing with the light of determination.

In the competition for the Secret Realm three months later, he not only wanted to get all the tokens but also wanted to make the name of Tianwaitian resound throughout the entire continent.

Zhao Gao was organizing new intelligence on the side and whispered: "Young Lord, the System prompts that the points from the missions recently completed by The Net are enough to summon another Land Immortal Realm expert."

Jun Xiaoyao nodded slightly: "Let's talk about that after dealing with the Ten Thousand Poisons Cult."

He picked up the soul settling pearl, feeling the energy contained within it, "Before that, let the Snow Region Holy Land know that cooperating with Tianwaitian is far more cost-effective than being an enemy of the Ten Thousand Poisons Cult."

The sandalwood incense in the council hall still lingered, making the figures of the group appear increasingly firm.

The shadow of the Heaven-Reaching Pagoda had already emerged in front, and The Net of Tianwaitian was quietly tightening, preparing to catch those blocking forces into it one by one.