166: Black Market Fame

Deep within Beyond Heaven, a faint blue Soul Fire quietly burned in a glass lamp, illuminating the Summoning Runes flowing across Jun Xiaoyao's fingertips. The Black Market bounty list spread out on the table showed that the topmost mission, "Thousand Gold for a Life," had been crossed out with cinnabar, marked with the small characters "Completed" next to it.

"Young Lord," Zhao Gao bowed, standing to the side, the scroll in his hand carrying a faint scent of blood. "The Net's 'Shadow Group' has completed its seventeenth order this month. The head of the Blood Hand Hall Master is already displayed on the Black Market Bounty Board." He paused, then added, "The remaining Blood Hand Hall members attempted a counterattack but were completely wiped out by The Unruly. None survived."

Jun Xiaoyao's fingertips didn't stop, the runes outlining a half-arc in the Void Realm—the shape of the summoning array. "Is there any movement from Marshal of the Unruly?"

"Marshal of the Unruly has led the 'Heaven Group' to infiltrate the Western Desert Imperial Dynasty," Zhao Gao opened another scroll. "The Western Desert Imperial Family secretly funded the Blood Hand Hall. The mysterious iron they stockpiled has been intercepted by The Unruly, melted down, and forged into three hundred Armor-piercing Blades, which are currently being sent to The Net."

The runes suddenly solidified, and faint golden light converged at the Array Core. Jun Xiaoyao looked up, his eyes reflecting the light patterns. "The Commander of the Western Desert Imperial Dynasty's 'Imperial Guards' is at the Peak Innate Realm. He is said to have cultivated the Indestructible Vajra Body. The Net's armor-piercing blades might not break his defense."

"Young Lord, rest assured," Zhao Gao replied, lowering his head. "Marshal of the Unruly has summoned 'Void Shattering Swordsman' Fu Hongxue, whose Realm is Late Stage Great Grandmaster. His Saber Intent can shatter Protective Aura. Fu Hongxue's 'Extinction Cross Saber' specializes in breaking Body-protecting Protective Aura. The Imperial Guards' Vajra Body won't last three moves against his saber."

[Character Panel Expanded:]

Name: Fu Hongxue

Origin World: Bright Moon Blade of the Horizon

Realm: Late Stage Great Grandmaster

Martial Skill: Extinction Cross Saber (Saber moves are vicious, every strike is fatal, Saber Intent can tear apart Body-protecting Protective Aura)

Special Ability: Crying Blood Saber (Burns one's own vital blood, increasing saber speed threefold, at the cost of three days of weakness afterward)

Loyalty: 99% (After recognizing the master, the saber follows the command)]

The light of the summoning array suddenly intensified. Fu Hongxue's figure condensed in the light. The moment his dark cloak swept the ground, the black saber at his waist was already half drawn, the crisp sound of the scabbard knocking carrying a bone-chilling coldness. "Target, the Imperial Guards Commander?" His voice was hoarse but conveyed undeniable resolve.

Jun Xiaoyao nodded, his fingertip tracing another name on the list—"Misty Rain Tower Master." "A new Black Market order: the 'Star Sand' secretly hoarded by the Misty Rain Tower Master can enhance the stability of the summoning array. If The Net wants it, they must retrieve it themselves."

"Young Lord, the Misty Rain Tower's protective array is the 'Seven Star Chain Array,' which requires seven people to break simultaneously," Zhao Gao said, frowning slightly as he looked through the scroll. "Currently, The Net can mobilize exactly six people in the Grandmaster Realm; we are short one."

The light of the summoning array flowed once more. This time, a long sword wrapped in chains appeared in the array. The skull pendant on the sword tassel gently swayed. Jun Xiaoyao flicked his finger, and a token dropped into the array. "Then summon one more person."

[Character Panel Expanded:]

Name: Thirteen Swallows

Origin World: The Third Master's Sword

Realm: Middle Stage Great Grandmaster

Martial Skill: Thirteen Swords of Life Taking (Sword moves are treacherous; the thirteenth sword, "Life Severing," can cut off vitality, which no one can withstand)

Special Ability: Clear Sword Heart (Predicts the opponent's next move; error rate is less than one in a thousand)

Loyalty: 99% (Follows the strong in search of defeat, believing Jun Xiaoyao can help him reach a higher Realm)]

Thirteen Swallows walked out of the sword shadow, his chained sword dragging on the ground, sending sparks flying. "Seven Star Formation?" He raised an eyebrow, the skull on his sword tassel turning toward Zhao Gao. "Lead the way."

Zhao Gao responded, a trace of awe flashing in his eyes as he turned. Every person the Young Lord summoned carried an edge capable of shaking a region, and this edge was being woven by The Net into an invisible, massive web, covering the continent's Black Market.

Three days later, in the Western Desert Imperial Dynasty.

Fu Hongxue's black saber sliced through the predawn mist, and the Imperial Guards Commander's Vajra Body shattered beneath the blade like paper. When The Unruly took over the Mysterious Iron Vault, they found a Secret Letter hidden at the bottom. The handwriting was messy but conveyed madness: "Beyond Heaven? The Net? Just clowns! Half a month from now, at the 'Icebound Valley' in the Northern Territory, I will let you know what true despair is."

The secret letter was quickly delivered back to Beyond Heaven. Jun Xiaoyao held the paper, the light of the summoning array fluctuating behind him. "Icebound Valley..." He lightly tapped his finger on the three characters "Heavenly Human Realm." "It seems someone doesn't want The Net to have too peaceful a time."

[Character Panel Expanded:]

Name: Li Xunhuan

Origin World: sentimental swordsman, ruthless sword

Realm: Initial Heaven Human Realm

Martial Skill: Little Lis Flying Dagger (Never misses; the dagger's light can lock onto the target's aura, ignoring distance)

Special Ability: Insight into the Heart (Sees through the opponent's flaws and desires; the Flying Dagger specializes in attacking weaknesses)

Loyalty: 99% (Agrees with Jun Xiaoyao's philosophy, willing to use his Flying Dagger to protect Beyond Heaven)]

Li Xunhuan's figure appeared in the cold light of the Flying Dagger. The dagger spun between his fingers before landing in his palm. "The Valley Master of Icebound Valley is 'Old Monster Hantian,' who is at the Middle Celestial Realm. He is said to be able to freeze the flow of time," he tossed the Flying Dagger up and caught it again. "My dagger will lock onto his time node half a breath in advance."

Jun Xiaoyao looked at the figures lighting up sequentially in the array—Fu Hongxue's saber, Thirteen Swallows' sword, Li Xunhuan's Flying Dagger, and the six Grandmasters under The Unruly's command, perfectly rounding out the number seven stars. He threw the secret letter into the Soul Fire. The moment the flames flared up, a new entry automatically appeared on the Black Market list: "Retrieve the head of Old Monster Hantian, reward: a Beyond Heaven token."

When The Net's assassins saw the pattern of the token, fanatical light burst forth in their eyes. It was a mysterious iron token engraved with the character "Outer," and possessing it meant being able to directly meet the Young Lord, and even participate in the operation of the summoning array.

As night fell, Zhao Gao brought back news of Thirteen Swallows breaking the array: the moment the Seven Star Chain Array was cracked by the thirteenth sword, the Misty Rain Tower's Star Sand had already been placed in a specialized Jade Box, engraved with the Mark of Beyond Heaven. Jun Xiaoyao opened the Jade Box. The Star Sand's light merged with the summoning array, and three golden lines suddenly appeared on the runes at the Array Core.

"Realm limit unlocked to Land Immortal," the System notification sounded in his mind.

Jun Xiaoyao closed the Jade Box, the light of the Soul Fire flickering in his eyes. The Net's reputation had spread throughout the Black Market. Those forces that once mocked them as "clowns" were now secretly investigating the details of Beyond Heaven. But he knew this was just the beginning. When The Net's sabers and swords were stained with enough blood, and when the light of the summoning array illuminated the Northern Territory's Icebound Valley, the entire continent would understand—

Beyond Heaven is not a legend; it is The Net about to encompass everything.

News arrived from The Unruly's outpost in the Western Desert: Old Monster Hantian's minions had begun setting up defenses in Icebound Valley, with thousands of Puppets buried beneath the ice layer. Jun Xiaoyao looked at the Ice Plain Map sent by Fu Hongxue, his fingertip pressing heavily on the "Puppet Core" marker.

The summoning array lit up again. This time, a figure holding a Zen Staff was vaguely visible in the light.

[Character Panel Expanded:]

Name: Lu Zhishen

Origin World: water margin

Realm: Middle Celestial Realm

Martial Skill: Mad Demon Zen Staff (Weighs sixty-two jin; a horizontal sweep can shatter mountains)

Special Ability: Arhat Body (Physical Body is comparable to a Divine Weapon, immune to all attacks below one's own Realm)

Loyalty: 99% (Identifies Jun Xiaoyao as the "Enlightened Master," willing to guard the array with his Zen Staff)]

Lu Zhishen's Zen Staff smashed onto the ground, causing all of Beyond Heaven to tremble slightly. "Puppets in Icebound Valley?" He grinned, using his Zen Staff to lift the Star Sand from the ground. "With this monk's staff strike, no matter what kind of Puppet they are, they'll all turn into powder."

Jun Xiaoyao watched the sharp edges converging in the array—Fu Hongxue's saber was crying blood, Thirteen Swallows' sword was ringing, Li Xunhuan's Flying Dagger shone with cold light, and Lu Zhishen's Zen Staff pressed the ground until it bowed. He knew that Icebound Valley, half a month from now, would be the battlefield where The Net made its name, and the beginning of Beyond Heaven truly baring its fangs.

Zhao Gao walked in, holding the newly drafted Assassin Bounty List. The reward amounts on it had tripled, with every entry pointing toward the Northern Territory's Icebound Valley. "Young Lord, people in the Black Market say that as long as we take Icebound Valley, they are willing to dedicate thirty percent of their profits to Beyond Heaven."

Jun Xiaoyao did not reply, simply pushing the Star Sand Jade Box toward the center of the summoning array. The light flared brightly, reflecting off his calm profile. Profit was not important; what mattered was making the continent remember—

Those who dare to block Beyond Heaven's path must be prepared to face the wrath of thunder. The Net's blades never strike nameless ghosts; what they are about to strike are those self-important "despairs."