161: Qingyun's troubles begin

Inside the Beyond Heaven's council hall, morning mist filtered through the carved window lattices, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

Jun Xiaoyao sat in the main seat, rubbing a greenish-blue Jade Slip in his hand—this was the “result” Lin Pingzhi had sent back last night. It contained a secret letter, printed with blood, detailing the covert transactions between a Qingyun Sect Elder and the Demonic Cult. Although the handwriting was sloppy, it was enough to cause an uproar in the entire Righteous Path.

“Young Lord,” Zhao Gao entered lightly, holding a document scroll. “Sir Lin Pingzhi has followed the plan and delivered a copy of the secret letter to the leader of the 'Alliance of Righteous Qi'.

It is said that the Alliance of Righteous Qi has already gathered the major Schools and will convene the 'Evil Cleansing Assembly' on Mount Tai three days from now, with the spearhead aimed directly at the Qingyun Sect.”

Jun Xiaoyao placed the Jade Slip on the desk and tapped his finger lightly: “What is the Qingyun Sect's reaction?”

“They publicly claim it's a frame-up by the Demonic Cult, and they dispatched people from the Enforcement Hall to track down the leak. Currently, they have sealed the mountain gate, forbidding anyone from entering or leaving.” Zhao Gao added, “The spies The Net planted in the Qingyun Sect sent back news that Sect Head Immortal Master Daoxuan is currently in seclusion attempting to break through to the Land Immortal Realm. Sect affairs are being handled jointly by several Elders, and internal disagreements have already surfaced.”

Jun Xiaoyao's lips curled slightly: “Disagreements? This is only the beginning.” He looked at the summoning array in the center of the council hall. The Spirit Stones at the array's core emitted a bright luster, and the energy value was fully charged. “The Qingyun Sect is a thousand-year-old Sect after all, with deep foundations. A single secret letter isn't enough. Activate the summoning. This time, I want someone skilled at sowing discord and stirring up trouble.”

[System Notification: Consuming 2800 points, performing specified type summoning... energy matching...]

The summoning array suddenly lit up, and pale gray runes spread like smoke and dust, condensing into a figure dressed in a scholar's robe within the array. The person had a handsome face, held a folding fan, and a faint smile played on his lips. It was exactly Yue Buqun, the “gentleman sword” from *the smiling, proud wanderer*.

[Character Panel Expanded:

Name: Yue Buqun

From World: *the smiling, proud wanderer*

Realm: Grandmaster Initial Stage

Martial Skills and Cultivation Techniques:

1. Zixia Divine Skill: Profound inner breath; when circulated, purple Qi surrounds the body, allowing for rapid injury recovery.

2. Bixie Sword Technique (Incomplete): The Moves are vicious and deceptive, the speed is extremely fast, and it excels at attacking the enemy's vital points by surprise.

3. Gentleman Rhetoric: Clever speech, skilled at disguise and agitation, can easily provoke the emotions of others.

Additional Items:

- gentleman sword (The words “gentleman” are carved on the sword body, but it is actually incomparably sharp.)

- Hypocritical Mask (Can change appearance and temperament, confusing opponents.)

Loyalty: 88% (Ambitious, but absolutely obedient to absolute power.)]

Yue Buqun cupped his hands toward Jun Xiaoyao, his voice gentle and somewhat refined: “Yue Buqun greets the Young Lord. I hear we are dealing with the Qingyun Sect? I happen to know a thing or two about the dirty laundry of these prestigious Righteous Path Schools.”

Jun Xiaoyao pointed to the secret letter on the desk: “At the Evil Cleansing Assembly three days from now, I want the Qingyun Sect to be completely ruined, with no possibility of recovery.”

Yue Buqun lightly waved his folding fan, a glint flashing in his eyes: “Young Lord, rest assured, this matter is easy. I just need to infiltrate the Evil Cleansing Assembly and use a little trick, and I guarantee the Qingyun Sect Elders will turn against each other publicly.” He paused, then added, “However, the Qingyun Sect's 'Taiji Xuanqing Dao' is an orthodox Xuanmen Cultivation Technique. If we can obtain its Mind-Cultivation Technique, it would be a great help to Beyond Heaven.”

“If you can obtain it, the Cultivation Technique will be yours to study,” Jun Xiaoyao said lightly. “But one thing: you must not harm The Net's spies.”

“I understand.” Yue Buqun bowed in assent. As he turned, he lightly waved his folding fan, and his figure vanished outside the hall, leaving behind only the phrase, “Wait for good news in three days.”

Three days later, at the peak of Mount Tai.

The venue for the Evil Cleansing Assembly was set up at the Jade Emperor Peak. Representatives from major Schools gathered here. The leader of the Alliance of Righteous Qi stood on the high platform, holding the secret letter aloft, his voice ringing out: “Everyone, look! The Qingyun Sect, as the leader of the Righteous Path, has secretly colluded with the Demonic Cult! Such conduct deserves execution!”

The crowd below immediately burst into an uproar. The Qingyun Sect representatives' faces were ashen. The leading Elder sternly shouted: “This is slander! It's a conspiracy by the Demonic Cult and Beyond Heaven!”

Just then, a refined voice rang out: “This Elder's words are mistaken.” Yue Buqun slowly walked out, dressed in a scholar's robe and holding a folding fan. “As far as I know, Elder Cangsong of the Qingyun Sect has left the mountain late at night multiple times, and his whereabouts were unknown. Many Disciples within the Sect can testify to this.”

Elder Cangsong's expression changed: “Who are you? Stop spouting nonsense!”

“I am Yue Buqun, a Loose Cultivator.” Yue Buqun lightly tapped his folding fan. “The day before yesterday, I passed by Mount Qingyun and happened to see Elder Cangsong secretly meeting with people from the Demonic Cult at the foot of the mountain, seemingly discussing how to seize control of the 'Immortal Slaying Sword Array'.”

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire venue was shaken. The Immortal Slaying Sword Array is the Qingyun Sect's treasure used to guard the Sect; its power is boundless. If it fell into the hands of the Demonic Cult, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Several Qingyun Sect Elders immediately began to suspect each other. A white-bearded Elder couldn't help but say, “No wonder you, Cangsong, strongly opposed activating the Immortal Slaying Sword Array during the last Sect Grand Ceremony. It turns out you had premeditations!”

Elder Cangsong was both shocked and enraged: “You... you are slandering me!”

Yue Buqun timely threw out a second “bomb”: “Not only that, but I also heard that Sect Head Daoxuan's seclusion to break through to the Land Immortal Realm was actually due to him being ambushed, and he is still unconscious. And the person who attacked him is one of the Elders here.”

This sentence completely ignited the fuse. The Qingyun Sect Elders immediately started accusing each other, even drawing swords. The venue instantly descended into chaos. Seeing this, the leader of the Alliance of Righteous Qi immediately ordered: “Apprehend the people from the Qingyun Sect and thoroughly investigate this matter!”

In the chaos, Yue Buqun quietly retreated to the side, giving a look to The Net's spy lurking in the shadows. The two quickly disappeared into the crowd.

In the Beyond Heaven Council Hall, the water mirror clearly reflected the chaotic scene on the peak of Mount Tai. The Qingyun Sect members were besieged by major Schools, suffering heavy casualties. Elder Cangsong was slain on the spot, and the remaining Elders were either captured or fled. A thousand-year-old Sect actually disintegrated in a single day.

“Yue Buqun's methods are truly formidable,” Zhao Gao exclaimed. “With just a few words, he incited internal strife within the Qingyun Sect and managed to escape unscathed.”

Jun Xiaoyao looked at Yue Buqun's retreating figure carrying the Qingyun Sect's Secret Manuals in the water mirror, and said indifferently: “If he wants the Cultivation Technique, let him take it. An incomplete Bixie Sword Technique won't cause much trouble.” Changing the subject, he continued, “Have The Net's people take over the Qingyun Sect's territory, especially their iron mines and medicinal gardens. Those are what we truly want.”

“Yes.” Zhao Gao bowed in assent and handed over another document scroll. “Young Lord, the Emperor of the Great Qian Dynasty has sent an envoy with an Official Letter, proposing an alliance with Beyond Heaven to jointly deal with the Heaven-Reaching Pagoda, which is about to appear.”

Jun Xiaoyao took the Official Letter. The handwriting on it was imposing but revealed a hint of flattery: “That old Emperor is quite well-informed.” He placed the Official Letter over a candle flame and watched it turn to ash. “Tell him that Beyond Heaven does not form alliances; we only conduct transactions. If he wants information about the Heaven-Reaching Pagoda, he can exchange half of the National Treasury's resources for it.”

Zhao Gao hesitated slightly: “Half the resources? Won't that be too harsh?”

“Harsh?” Jun Xiaoyao sneered. “Once they know the true value of the Heaven-Reaching Pagoda, they will think this transaction is quite worthwhile.” He looked at the summoning array. “The Qingyun Sect is destroyed; next, it's time for those Imperial relatives. Activate the summoning, locking the scope onto characters 'skilled in schemes and governance'.”

[System Notification: Consuming 3000 points, performing specified type summoning... energy gathering...]

The light of the summoning array lit up again. Golden runes ascended like imperial Qi, condensing into a figure dressed in a Dragon Robe. The person's face was imposing, and his eyes were deep. It was precisely Cao Cao, the “Treacherous Hero” from *romance of the three kingdoms*.

[Character Panel Expanded:

Name: Cao Cao

From World: *romance of the three kingdoms*

Realm: Mid-stage Grandmaster (Scheming ability calculated as combat power equivalent to Heavenly Human Realm)

Abilities:

1. Talent Recognition and Utilization: Skilled at discovering talent and maximizing the abilities of subordinates.

2. Art of Schemes and Governance: Proficient in imperial stratagems, skilled at balancing various factions and stabilizing rule.

3. Hegemon's Aura: The Aura radiating from the body can intimidate people, causing low-level Martial Artists to tremble without fighting.

Additional Items:

- Heaven Reliant Sword (Incomparably sharp, symbolizing royal authority)

- Thirteen Chapters of Military Strategy (Records various methods of marching and formation deployment)

Loyalty: 90% (I would rather wrong the world than have the world wrong me, but absolutely loyal to absolute power.)]

Cao Cao cupped his hands toward Jun Xiaoyao, his voice carrying a hint of dominance: “Mengde greets the Young Lord. I hear we are dealing with the Imperial Family? This is my specialty.”

Jun Xiaoyao looked at him, a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes: “The Third Prince of the Great Qian Dynasty is ambitious but lacks ability. I want you to help him ascend the throne, on the condition that he must become Beyond Heaven's Puppet in the imperial court.”

Cao Cao laughed heartily, clapping his hands: “This is an easy task. Young Lord, rest assured, within three months, the Great Qian Dynasty's imperial court will definitely follow Beyond Heaven's lead.”

Outside the council hall, the glow of the setting sun spilled onto the ground, casting long shadows. The Qingyun Sect Secret Manuals brought back by Yue Buqun were neatly placed on the bookshelf. Cao Cao had already taken The Net's people and headed to the Capital City, preparing to initiate a new layout. Jun Xiaoyao stood by the window, gazing at the distant horizon, his eyes gleaming with the light of determination.

With the destruction of the Qingyun Sect and the impending control of the Great Qian Dynasty, Beyond Heaven's power was soaring. But this was not enough; the Heaven-Reaching Pagoda was his ultimate goal. He knew that as the Heaven-Reaching Pagoda approached, more powerful experts and factions would be drawn into the conflict, but he was confident that no matter how turbulent the undercurrents, they would ultimately be firmly controlled by the giant net of Beyond Heaven.