168: The Dragon's Essence Appears

On the cold jade bed in the underground palace, Jun Xiaoyao held a chess piece between his fingers and gently placed it on the chessboard.

Black and white chess pieces revolved in his palm, reflecting the faint glow of the summoning array—the light was three times brighter than last night, and the runes at the array's core had condensed into half a Dragon-shaped mark, its scales lifelike, as if it would break through the wall in the next second.

“Young Lord,” Zhao Gao bowed and handed over a secret letter, snow particles from the Northern Territory clinging to the envelope. “Marshal of the Unruly sent word that the Maze Array in Bone Freezing Abyss has been broken. The three remnants from Blood Hand Hall were impaled to the bottom of the ice lake by Zhang Shun’s Water Separating Sting, and the antidote for the Soul Devouring Mist has been obtained.”

Jun Xiaoyao grunted in acknowledgment, his gaze still fixed on the chessboard: “What about West Gate Blows Snow?”

“The Sword God has already entered Myriad Frost Pavilion. His sword shattered Snow Thousand Cold’s mountain-protecting array, 'Frosty Sky Snow,' and he is currently searching for the Ice Soul Sword within the pavilion. According to scout reports, a rubbing of half a Dragon Yuan map is hidden in Myriad Frost Pavilion’s library.”

The chess piece paused between his fingers. When Jun Xiaoyao looked up, a hint of interest flashed in his eyes: “Dragon Yuan... it seems this trip to the Northern Territory wasn’t in vain.” He flicked a finger, and a black piece landed on the “Heaven’s Core” position of the chessboard. “Have Marshal of the Unruly lead his people to guard Bone Freezing Abyss; don’t let other forces take advantage.”

As soon as his voice fell, the summoning array suddenly lit up with dazzling golden light, and runes surged like Dragons and flood Dragons. A deep Buddhist chant emanated from the array, and a figure clad in a kasaya appeared in the golden light, holding a purple gold alms bowl, with compassionate yet stern and righteous eyes.

[Character Panel Expanded:

Name: Xuanzang

From World: “journey to the west”

Realm: Late Stage Great Grandmaster

Martial Skill: Great Compassionate Palm (Palm wind contains Buddhist light, can purify evil spirits, has a restraining effect on demonic Cultivation Techniques)

Special Ability: Fillet Spell (Binds the target's mind with Buddhist chants, even Heavenly Human Realm experts find it hard to break free)

Loyalty: 95% (Admiring Young Lord's ambition for the world, willing to protect Beyond Heaven with Buddhist Dharma)]

“Amitabha,” Xuanzang clasped his palms in greeting. The Buddhist light rising from his alms bowl fell upon the summoning array, causing the half Dragon-shaped mark to solidify slightly. “This poor monk comes from the Eastern Land, hearing of rampant malevolence here, specifically to assist.”

Jun Xiaoyao looked at the Buddhist light flowing in his alms bowl and suddenly smiled: “Great Master, you’ve arrived at just the right time. Fentian Palace in the Southern Domain is using a Blood Sacrifice Formation to summon demonic generals, and we just happen to need an expert who can purify evil spirits.”

Xuanzang’s gaze slightly narrowed: “The Blood Sacrifice Formation harms the harmony of heaven and earth; this poor monk shall go and deliver them.” With a flash of Buddhist light, he had already stepped out of the array, and the Buddhist light flying from his alms bowl projected a path onto the stone wall. “Benefactor Wind Seeker is already waiting en route; this poor monk will be back shortly.”

Before the array light had subsided, another purple lightning bolt struck, and Saber Qi surged through the array. A man in black robes, carrying a green dragon crescent blade, stepped out. With a red face, long beard, and Phoenix eyes wide open, a stern righteousness soared to the heavens.

[Character Panel Expanded:

Name: Guan Yu

From World: “romance of the three kingdoms”

Realm: Initial Heaven Human Realm

Martial Skill: green dragon crescent blade (Saber momentum is fierce, capable of splitting mountains and breaking peaks; the “Saber Dragging Strategy” can tear space)

Special Ability: Loyal and Righteous Soul (Subordinate soldiers' morale skyrockets, personal Battle Intent increases with fighting spirit, maximum can reach Land Immortal Realm)

Loyalty: 98% (Once acknowledged as master, will follow through life and death; if betrayed, Heart Demon self-destructs)]

“This Guan has answered the summons,” Guan Yu propped his blade on the ground, and the blade hummed. “What are Young Lord’s orders?”

Jun Xiaoyao pointed to the “Southern Domain” position on the chessboard: “Fentian Palace’s Blood Sacrifice Formation needs someone to break it. General’s Azure Dragon blade can perfectly cut through their mountain-protecting array.”

Guan Yu stroked his beard and nodded, a flash of Saber light and he vanished into the underground passage. Jun Xiaoyao looked in the direction he left and said to Zhao Gao: “Send the ‘Red Hare’ summoning charm to the General; don’t let him think Beyond Heaven mistreats its fierce generals.”

At this moment, hurried footsteps came from outside the underground palace. The Net’s Shadow Guards scrambled in, three poisoned crossbow bolts stuck in their bodies: “Young Lord… Fentian Palace… Fentian Palace has summoned 'Xingtian'! Benefactor Wind Seeker and Great Master Xuanzang are entangled!”

The summoning array violently trembled, and the runes instantly turned a dark, blood-red. The chess piece in Jun Xiaoyao's fingertips

“Crack!” it shattered, and a cold light flashed in his eyes: “Xingtian? The ancient demon god? Is Fentian Palace trying to drag this continent into purgatory?”

[Emergency Summon Activated, consuming 30% of Beyond Heaven’s energy reserves—

Character Panel Expanded:

Name: Special Form: Space Traveler

From World: “Investiture of the Gods”

Realm: Earthly Immortal Early-Stage

Martial Skill: Three-Pointed Double-Edged Blade (Blade and spear combined, can break myriad laws; Heavenly Eye can see through illusions)

Special Ability: Eighty-Nine Arcane Art (Seventy-two transformations, indestructible, immune to most physical attacks)

Loyalty: 90% (Obeys orders but not summons; only willing to act if recognizing Young Lord's strength)]

Ten thousand golden lights erupted from the array. Special Form: Space Traveler, holding his three-pointed double-edged blade, his Heavenly Eye opening and closing on his forehead, had already taken in the entire underground palace. “Xingtian? Wasn’t that fellow beheaded by the Yellow Emperor? To dare resurrect through blood sacrifice, how audacious.” He sneered, and the golden light shot from his Heavenly Eye penetrated the underground passage. “Young Lord, let me borrow your The Net; I’ll go meet this headless madman.”

Jun Xiaoyao waved his hand, opening the teleportation array to the Southern Domain: “Xingtian’s head is sealed beneath Fentian Palace. Shatter the Seal, and he will collapse without a fight.”

Special Form: Space Traveler’s figure had already leaped into the array, leaving only a “Don’t worry,” and the golden light, wrapped in thunder, disappeared.

Zhao Gao wiped the sweat from his forehead: “Young Lord, our energy reserves are almost depleted. If we summon further, the summoning array might collapse.”

Jun Xiaoyao looked at the half Dragon-shaped mark in the array, then suddenly stood up: “To Bone Freezing Abyss.”

“Young Lord?”

“The aura of the Dragon Yuan seems to be nearby.” Jun Xiaoyao’s fingertip traced the array’s core, and the Dragon-shaped mark suddenly lit up towards the north. “Marshal of the Unruly might not be able to hold it; I’ll have to go personally.”

The cold wind of the Northern Territory, laden with snow particles, cut at one's face like a blade. The ice lake of Bone Freezing Abyss was surrounded by The Unruly, impenetrable. Bodies of the Seven Great Sects floated on the lake's surface, and faint water traces left by Zhang Shun could be seen beneath the ice. Marshal of the Unruly was brandishing his iron whip, lashing at an old man in a white robe: “Speak! Where is Myriad Frost Pavilion’s main force hidden?”

The old man spat out a mouthful of blood: “Where is Jun Xiaoyao? Tell him to get out here and die! Pavilion Master Xue said, hand over the Dragon Yuan map, and we’ll spare your Beyond Heaven!”

“Noisy!” A clear voice rang out as Jun Xiaoyao stepped through the snow, his dark cloak flapping in the wind. “When my people ask questions, you’d best be honest.”

He raised his hand and pressed it on the ice surface. The light of the summoning array seeped through the ice into the bottom of the lake. The previously calm lake water suddenly boiled, and a colossal skeleton covered in scales rose from the lake bed. In the empty cavity of its chest, half a crystal-clear stone was embedded, emitting a terrifying energy.

“Dragon Yuan!” The people of the Seven Great Sects cried out in alarm, their eyes instantly burning with greed.

Jun Xiaoyao condensed black and white Qi at his fingertips, just about to reach for the Dragon Yuan, when the sky suddenly darkened. Snow Thousand Cold floated into mid-air on ice shards, followed by over a dozen Heavenly Human Realm experts. She pointed at Jun Xiaoyao and sneered: “Young Lord of Beyond Heaven? Today is your day of death!”

The ice suddenly shattered, and Guan Yu’s Azure Dragon blade, accompanied by the neighing of Red Hare, cleaved into the crowd. Where the Saber light passed, screams rose one after another. Xuanzang’s Buddhist light surged from the south, pinning the charging demonic cultivators one by one into the snow. Special Form: Space Traveler’s three-pointed double-edged blade was clashing with Xingtian’s giant axe, and the golden light shot from his Heavenly Eye forced the headless demon god to retreat repeatedly.

“Young Lord, seize the Dragon Yuan!” Marshal of the Unruly’s whip snapped Snow Thousand Cold’s sleeve, the iron whip coiling with cold air, forcing her to retreat repeatedly.

Jun Xiaoyao flew onto the Dragon bone. As his fingertips touched the Dragon Yuan, the half-crystal stone suddenly merged into his palm, perfectly fitting with the Dragon-shaped mark of the summoning array. In that instant, a Dragon’s roar echoed through heaven and earth. Black and white Qi swirled around him, and his Realm instantly broke through the Heavenly Human Realm, directly approaching the Land Immortal Realm.

“This is impossible!” Snow Thousand Cold shrieked.

Jun Xiaoyao looked down at the Dragon Yuan Power flowing in his palm. The summoning array's light had already shot into the sky, and countless phantoms of Wuxia worlds flashed in the light—Qiao Feng's Dragon Subduing Palm Qi shook the four fields, Duan Yu's Six Meridians Divine Sword pierced through the clouds, Xu Zhu's Beiming Divine Art absorbed all the ice and snow... “Game over.” Jun Xiaoyao waved his hand, and the black and white Qi transformed into a giant net, covering all the remaining forces of the Seven Great Sects. Guan Yu's Azure Dragon blade was at Snow Thousand Cold's neck, Special Form: Space Traveler had already walked over, carrying Xingtian's shattered body, and Xuanzang was closing his eyes, chanting scriptures for the dead.

Marshal of the Unruly walked closer, looking at the Dragon Yuan mark in Jun Xiaoyao’s palm, and grinned: “Young Lord has now become a Land Immortal. From now on, shouldn’t The Net’s bounty list increase in price?”

Jun Xiaoyao said nothing, only looking south. There, Buddhist light was rising from the direction of Fentian Palace, and the airflow stirred by Wind Seeker's Wind God Leg carried a hint of warmth. He knew that Beyond Heaven’s net had only just begun to spread.

The summoning array in the underground palace was completely formed, the Dragon-shaped mark flowing with divine light. More names slowly appeared in the array—Sun Wukong, Zhao Zilong, Fragrant Bat... Jun Xiaoyao brushed the snow particles from his shoulder and turned to walk towards the teleportation array beneath the ice.

Zhao Gao followed behind, looking at the names about to be summoned, and suddenly felt that the sky of this continent was about to change. And the Young Lord of Beyond Heaven stood at the center of this turbulent change, twirling the profound iron token between his fingers, as if holding the fate of the entire Jianghu.