167: Black Market Bounty

Deep within the underground palace of Beyond Heaven, eerie blue Soul Fire snaked along the stone walls, tracing a partial summoning array on the floor.

Jun Xiaoyao leaned against the cold jade couch, twirling a mysterious iron token between his fingertips; the three words 'Beyond Heaven' on the token glinted with a cold light. Zhao Gao, kneeling before the couch, bowed his head as he reported, the ink on the scrolls still damp.

"Young Lord, the latest bounty list from the black market is out." Zhao Gao spread the scroll, where 'Top of the List: Obtain Mysterious Ice Jade Marrow, Reward: One Land Immortal Realm Cultivation Technique' was written in cinnabar. "The issuer is the Myriad Frost Pavilion of the Northern Region. The pavilion master, Snow Thousand Cold, is at the Late Heaven-Man Realm and is said to hold half a map for Shattering the Void."

Jun Xiaoyao didn't even lift his eyelids, the token spinning faster in his grip. "Mysterious Ice Jade Marrow? That thing is in the Bone Freezing Abyss of the Far North Ice Plain, surrounded for a hundred miles by Soul-Devouring Mist. Not a single person who enters has come out alive."

"The Shadow Group of The Net has discovered that among Snow Thousand Cold's personal guards, three are remnants of the former Blood Hand Hall. When Blood Hand Hall was destroyed back then, they fled with thirty percent of the pavilion's secret treasury treasures and are now hiding in the Labyrinthine Formation on the outskirts of the Bone Freezing Abyss."

Zhao Gao added, "The Marshal of the Unruly says these three have the antidote formula for the Soul-Devouring Mist."

Jun Xiaoyao's fingers paused, and the token landed on the scroll with a 'clack.' When he looked up, the laziness in his eyes had vanished. "How are the preparations on the side of The Unruly?"

"Reporting to Young Lord, the Marshal of the Unruly has already led the Heavenly Battalion into the Far North Ice Plain. A message sent last night stated that the eye of the Labyrinthine Formation is at the bottom of an ice lake, requiring a Grandmaster who is proficient in water to break the Formation."

The light of the summoning array suddenly flared, pale green runes flowing across the ground to form a vortex. Jun Xiaoyao stood up, walked to the front of the array, and tapped his finger on the eye. "Summon White Stripe in the Waves Zhang Shun."

[Character Panel unfolding:

Name: Zhang Shun

From World: water margin

Realm: Peak Grandmaster Realm

Martial Skill: Water Ghost Skill (Can hold breath underwater for three days without stopping, movement like a fish, able to hide aura in water currents)

Special Ability: Cold Pool Current Control (Can direct underwater undercurrents to strike enemy Formations, specialized for breaking Formations)

Loyalty: 99% (Admires the Young Lord's strength, willing to go through fire and water for The Net)]

A ten-foot-high splash erupted from the vortex as a man dressed in a diving suit stepped out on the waves. The water droplets flying off him as he knelt on one knee froze into ice pellets in mid-air. "Subordinate Zhang Shun greets the Young Lord!" His voice was thunderous, and the Water-parting spikes at his waist gleamed coldly.

"Are you confident in breaking the Labyrinthine Formation of the Bone Freezing Abyss?" Jun Xiaoyao asked.

Zhang Shun looked up, water droplets still clinging to his face. "Rest assured, Young Lord. I practiced breath-holding at the bottom of the Xunyang River for ten years. Never mind an ice lake Formation eye, I'd even dare to dive into the water eye of the Netherworld Blood Sea!"

Jun Xiaoyao nodded and tossed him a token engraved with the word 'Net.' "Take this and find the Marshal of the Unruly. Once the Formation is broken, the Mysterious Ice Jade Marrow belongs to Beyond Heaven. Those three Blood Hand Hall remnants are to be left for The Net to sacrifice its blades."

"Understood!" As Zhang Shun took the token, the ice pellets on his diving suit melted instantly. His figure flashed and disappeared into the side door of the underground palace, leaving only a trail of water.

Zhao Gao watched the direction where the water trail vanished and said softly, "Young Lord, Myriad Frost Pavilion also released news saying that as long as someone can get the Mysterious Ice Jade Marrow, they are willing to gift the Ice Soul Sword. That sword was the personal blade of the Sword God Ye Gucheng back then, said to be able to slash through the Protective Aura of the Heavenly Human Realm."

"Ye Gucheng?" Jun Xiaoyao raised an eyebrow. The light of the summoning array surged again, this time with golden runes. "Then I should definitely meet him. Summon West Gate Blows Snow."

[Character Panel unfolding:

Name: West Gate Blows Snow

From World: legend of lu xiaofeng

Realm: Late Grandmaster Realm

Martial Skill: Flying Immortal from Beyond the Heavens (Fierce sword techniques, sword light like frost, can cleave through spatial barriers)

Special Ability: Clear Sword Heart (Absolute perception of sword-type weapons, can predict the trajectory of all sword techniques)

Loyalty: 99% (Recognizes the Young Lord's strength, willing to prove his Dao with his sword)]

A figure in clothes as white as snow coalesced in the golden light. The long sword at his waist was not yet unsheathed, but it already exuded a bone-chilling coldness. West Gate Blows Snow stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze falling on Jun Xiaoyao, his tone as flat as ice: "The Mysterious Ice Jade Marrow? Or Ye Gucheng's sword?"

"Both." Jun Xiaoyao pointed at the Myriad Frost Pavilion mark on the scroll. "Snow Thousand Cold wants to use The Net's hand to get rid of the Blood Hand Hall remnants, and also use the Ice Soul Sword to lure people of the Jianghu into killing each other. Quite a clever plan."

West Gate Blows Snow lightly stroked the scabbard with his fingertips. "Ye Gucheng's sword should not fall into the hands of scoundrels." Before he finished speaking, his sword was unsheathed three inches. A strand of Sword Qi flew past Zhao Gao's ear, turning the three words 'Myriad Frost Pavilion' on the scroll into dust. "Within three days, I will bring the Ice Soul Sword back."

His figure flashed, the Sword Qi lingering without dissipating, carving a sword mark on the stone wall before he vanished into the light and shadow.

Zhao Gao touched the strands of hair brushed by the Sword Qi, saying with lingering fear, "The Sword Qi of the Sword God West Gate truly lives up to its reputation..."

Jun Xiaoyao didn't respond, his gaze fixed on the residual golden light of the summoning array. A water mirror slowly rose within the array, reflecting the scene of the Far North Ice Plain—the Marshal of the Unruly was leading the Heavenly Battalion to set a net across the ice plain. Zhang Shun's figure diving into the ice lake was like a silver arrow, while in the Myriad Frost Pavilion a hundred miles away, Snow Thousand Cold was sneering at a fragmented map.

"Young Lord," Zhao Gao handed over another secret report, "The Fentian Palace of the Southern Region has sent an envoy with a visiting card, saying they wish to cooperate with Beyond Heaven. They have Phoenix Blood in their possession, which can double the energy of the summoning array."

Jun Xiaoyao took the secret report. Just as his fingertips touched the paper, the summoning array trembled violently, and red runes gushed out like a tide. His eyes sharpened. "It's a Blood Sacrifice Formation! Someone is forcing a summoning!"

[Character Panel forced to unfold:

Name: Wind Seeker

From World: Wind and Cloud

Realm: Initial Heaven Human Realm

Martial Skill: Wind God Leg (Footwork as fast as the wind, can step through the Void Realm, leg strength can split mountains and crack stones)

Special Ability: Ice Heart Sutra (Suppresses the demonic nature within the body; when erupting, can briefly increase to the Middle Celestial Realm)

Loyalty: ??? (Forced summoning, consciousness unstable)]

Amidst the red Formation light, a youth in black appeared, staggering. The 'Wind' mark on his forehead flickered intermittently, his eyes a mix of demonic light and clarity. "I... who am I?" He clutched his forehead as the air currents swirling around him caused the Soul Fire in the underground palace to flicker wildly.

Jun Xiaoyao frowned, concentrating a golden light at his fingertip and pressing it against the youth's forehead. "Wind Seeker? Who summoned you?"

Wind Seeker's whole body trembled, the demonic light fading slightly. "Fen... Fentian Palace... They used Phoenix Blood to activate the Blood Sacrifice Formation. I smelled Bu Jingyun's aura..."

Zhao Gao's expression changed drastically. "Fentian Palace wants to use Senior Wind Seeker's power to break the Dragon Lock Tower! Their old lair is suppressed beneath the tower, and it's said to hide the Dragon Yuan that can allow one to directly Breakthrough to the Land Immortal Realm!"

A cold light flashed in Jun Xiaoyao's eyes as he crushed the armrest of the cold jade couch. "To dare touch my summoning array, Fentian Palace must be tired of living." He looked at the still-struggling Wind Seeker. "Want to find Bu Jingyun? Cooperate with me. Beyond Heaven will help you find him. The condition is—tear down Fentian Palace's Blood Sacrifice Formation."

Clarity grew in Wind Seeker's eyes, and the air currents from the Wind God Leg slowly calmed. "If I can find Senior Brother Yun, Wind Seeker is willing to follow the Young Lord's orders."

[Loyalty updated: 9%]

Jun Xiaoyao nodded and said to Zhao Gao, "Have the Killing Group of The Net come out in full force to accompany Wind Seeker to the Southern Region. Remember, the Dragon Yuan can be taken, but the people of Fentian Palace—leave none alive."

"Yes!" As Zhao Gao took the order, hurried footsteps came from outside the underground palace. A scout from The Unruly rolled in, covered in blood. "Young Lord! This is bad! Myriad Frost Pavilion has joined forces with the seven major Sects of the Northern Region to set an ambush at the Bone Freezing Abyss, saying they want to... to besiege Beyond Heaven!"

Jun Xiaoyao looked at the violently flickering summoning array, where golden, green, and red runes intertwined into a web, as if foretelling a storm that would sweep across the continent. He slowly stood up straight, the mysterious iron token humming in his palm. "Besiege? Then let them see what The Net of Beyond Heaven is made of."

"Zhao Gao," his voice was calm yet carried an unquestionable authority, "summon Qiao Feng, Xu Zhu, and Duan Yu. Tell them the snow in the Northern Region needs to be stained with some color."

[Character Panel awaiting summoning:

Qiao Feng: demi-gods and semi-devils, Realm: Peak Grandmaster Realm, Martial Skill: Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms, Special Ability: Dragon Capturing Skill (Can retrieve objects from a distance, deter the small-minded)

Xu Zhu: demi-gods and semi-devils, Realm: Initial Heaven Human Realm, Martial Skill: Beiming Divine Art + Minor Formless Art, Special Ability: Life-Death Talisman (Can freeze the opponent's Meridians)

Duan Yu: demi-gods and semi-devils, Realm: Late Stage Great Grandmaster, Martial Skill: Six Meridians Divine Sword, Special Ability: Subtle Steps of the Rippling Waves (Evasion rate 10%)]

The light of the summoning array shot into the sky, piercing through the underground palace and illuminating the night sky of Beyond Heaven. On the Far North Ice Plain, the Marshal of the Unruly looked at the pillar of light on the horizon, a cold sneer curling his lips as he signaled the Heavenly Battalion. "Form ranks! Once the three 'distinguished guests' arrive, we'll go meet the 'siege' of the Myriad Frost Pavilion!"

At the bottom of the ice lake, Zhang Shun had already found the eye of the Labyrinthine Formation. The moment his Water-parting spikes pierced the ice layer, the Soul-Devouring Mist of the entire Bone Freezing Abyss suddenly surged, as if fearing something. Meanwhile, in the Fentian Palace of the Southern Region, the light of the Blood Sacrifice Formation suddenly dimmed. The Elder presiding over the Formation discovered in horror that the Phoenix Blood at the eye was flowing backward—Wind Seeker's figure appeared before the Formation, the fierce winds from his Wind God Leg tearing the runes of the Blood Sacrifice Formation to shreds piece by piece.

Deep within the underground palace, Jun Xiaoyao watched the images coming from various places in the water mirror, and the mysterious iron token in his hand finally stopped spinning. He knew that this disturbance caused by the Mysterious Ice Jade Marrow was merely the prelude to Beyond Heaven stepping onto the continental stage. When Qiao Feng's Dragon-Subduing Palms cleave the snow of the Northern Region, and when West Gate Blows Snow's sword strikes down the plaque of the Myriad Frost Pavilion, the entire continent will understand—

Wherever The Net reaches, all living beings shall bow. The rules of Beyond Heaven are the rules of this world.