169: The power of the Dragon Essence expands the territory of the Net.

The snow continued to fall in the Northern Region, but strange heat was rising from the ice surface of the Bone Freezing Abyss.

Jun Xiaoyao stood in the center of the Dragon Bone, the Dragon Yuan Mark on his palm fully lit up. Black and white Qi circulated around him, and wherever it passed, the accumulated snow instantly melted, exposing the dark bluish-black rock beneath.

He looked down at the Disciples of the Seven Great Sects subdued by Luowang Assassinss beneath the ice, his gaze calm and steady, as if he were just looking at a group of insignificant ants.

"Young Lord," Zhao Gao bowed and stood aside, holding the newly drafted bounty list. "Fentian Palace has been breached. The remnants of Xingtian's body have been Sealed by Special Form: Space Traveler (Yang Jian) in the Earth Core Fire Vein, and Great Master Xuanzang is currently performing rites for the deceased souls.

Wind Seeker (Nie Feng) brought back the secret vault map of Fentian Palace, which contains three scrolls of 'Heaven-Grade' Cultivation Technique rubbings."

Jun Xiaoyao hummed softly, his gaze falling on the figure of the Marshal of the Unruly, who was directing The Unruly in counting the spoils of war in the distance. The black armor of The Unruly stood out sharply against the snow. They moved swiftly, sorting and packing the Storage Pouches and weapons of the Seven Great Sects. Occasionally, a captive attempting resistance would have their knees mercilessly shattered and be thrown into a nearby cage.

"Does The Net have enough manpower?" Jun Xiaoyao suddenly asked.

Zhao Gao paused for a moment, then hurriedly replied, "Currently, the Shadow Group, Killing Group, and Secret Group total three hundred and seventy people. We lost twenty-seven people in this battle at the Bone Freezing Abyss. Although we supplemented with some skilled fighters from the captives, our high-end combat power is still stretched thin."

The Dragon Yuan Power at Jun Xiaoyao's fingertips slightly surged, and the light of the summoning array lit up beneath his feet once more. This time, the light was dark gold, more intense than any previous time. Dense ancient script appeared in the array pattern, as if countless weapons were colliding and roaring within it.

[Summoning activated, consuming ten percent of Dragon Yuan Power. Target: High-end combat support]

First, a mass of blood-red mist rose from the array. The sound of horse hooves and the crisp clang of weapons came from the mist. A figure clad in silver armor stepped out of the fog, holding the dragon gallbladder bright silver spear, riding an extraordinary white horse. He was precisely the man from Changshan Zhending.

[Character Panel Expanded:

Name: General Zhao Yun

Origin World: 'romance of the three kingdoms'

Realm: Middle Celestial Realm

Martial Skill: Seven Probes of the Coiling Serpent Spear (The spear strikes like a Dragon, ever-changing and unpredictable, capable of simultaneously dealing with dozens of attackers), dragon gallbladder bright silver spear Art (The spear aura contains righteousness and deals extra damage to evil/supernatural enemies)

Special Ability: Full of Guts (Combat power doubles when cornered, mind is firm and unaffected by illusions)

Loyalty: 99% (Follows the Young Lord unto death after recognition; once protected his master by entering and exiting Changban Slope seven times, his resolve is unwavering)]

"This humble General Zhao Yun greets the Young Lord!" General Zhao Yun knelt on one knee, his silver spear propped on the ground. The cold gleam of the spear tip reflected the snow light, making it difficult to look directly at.

Jun Xiaoyao nodded slightly: "General Zhao, you arrived at a good time. The Myriad Gu Cave in the Southern Region has been restless lately, constantly poaching The Net's Assassins to refine Gu. Take a team from the Shadow Group, dismantle their lair, and burn all those Gu insects."

"This humble General accepts the order!" General Zhao Yun mounted his horse, pointing his spear tip southward. "Shadow Group, follow me!" Over ten black shadows responded and vanished into the wind and snow, following the figure of the white horse and silver spear.

The light of the summoning array did not cease, and another burly figure emerged from the array, holding two Eight-edged Purple Gold Hammers. He was over eight feet tall, broad-shouldered and muscular, with a saber scar running from his forehead down to his jaw—this was precisely the fierce general from the Sui and Tang dynasties.

[Character Panel Expanded:

Name: Li Yuanba

Origin World: 'Shuo Tang Quan Zhuan'

Realm: Late Heaven-Man Realm

Martial Skill: Purple Gold Eight-edged Hammer Technique (Possesses the strength to lift cauldrons; one strike can shatter mountains, and the resulting air waves from the hammer can rupture enemies' internal organs)

Special Ability: Berserk (Can enter a Berserk state during combat, increasing strength and defense threefold, but will fall into a coma afterward)

Loyalty: 95% (Only respects the strong; recognizes the Young Lord's Dragon Yuan Power and is willing to fight for him)]

Li Yuanba grunted gruffly, spinning the twin hammers in his hands. The ice beneath his feet cracked with a "kacha" sound, forming several fissures. "Young Lord, got any tough nuts for me to smash?"

Jun Xiaoyao pointed to the strongest-aura captives in the cage: "These are the Elders of the Seven Great Sects. They have tough bones and won't cooperate with the interrogation. If the General can make them talk, the location of the Myriad Frost Pavilion's treasury will be yours to choose from first."

Li Yuanba's eyes lit up. He grabbed an old man whose aura reached the Late Stage Great Grandmaster Realm and walked off. The old man was like a ragdoll in his hands, only capable of terrified whimpers. Before long, the crisp sounds of bones shattering and agonizing screams came from the distance, terrifying the other captives in the cage into trembling.

Zhao Gao's eyelids twitched as he quickly changed the subject: "Young Lord, the 'Quicksand Organization' in the Western Region sent someone with a treaty, offering the tax revenue of the Three Western Region Cities in exchange for us not interfering in their conflict with the Black Wind Stockade."

Jun Xiaoyao took the treaty, glanced at it, and threw it on the ground: "Tell them, either submit, or be exterminated. The Net doesn't need equal allies; it only needs obedient dogs."

As soon as he finished speaking, a blue-green light lit up in the summoning array. A scent of medicine drifted from the light, and an old man carrying a medicine basket and holding a hoe slowly walked out. His hair and beard were white, but his complexion was rosy, and his eyes were as clear as a child's.

[Character Panel Expanded:

Name: Famous historical physician (Hua Tuo)

Origin World: 'romance of the three kingdoms'

Realm: Peak Grandmaster Realm (Medical skills are divine; combat power is low but support ability is extremely strong)

Martial Skill: Qing Nang Jing (Non-offensive Martial Skill, can revive the dead and regrow flesh on bones; Medicinal Pills refined can temporarily boost a Martial Artist's Realm)

Special Ability: Mafei Powder (Can instantly render Martial Artists below the Great Grandmaster Realm unconscious, and has a paralyzing effect on the Heavenly Human Realm), Five Animal Frolics (Teaching others can strengthen the body and increase Cultivation speed)

Loyalty: 90% (Admiring the Young Lord's potential, willing to assist with medical skills, dislikes killing)]

"This old man, Famous historical physician (Hua Tuo), greets the Young Lord." Famous historical physician (Hua Tuo) put down his medicine basket and took out several spirit-glowing medicinal herbs. "I sensed the presence of Dragon Yuan Qi here just now, so I came specifically to see if anyone needed treatment."

Jun Xiaoyao pointed to the injured Luowang Assassinss: "I trouble you, Divine Doctor Hua."

Famous historical physician (Hua Tuo) nodded, took out golden needles from his medicine basket, and with a slight movement of his fingertips, the golden needles precisely pierced the wounded's Acupoints. The Assassins who had been wailing quickly calmed down, and a faint green light appeared over their wounds, which began to heal rapidly. While applying the needles, he said, "Although the Young Lord's Dragon Yuan Power is strong, it is too domineering. It needs to be balanced with gentle Qi, or it may harm your own Foundation in the future. I have a prescription for the 'Heart Calming Pill' here, which can help the Young Lord stabilize his Realm."

Jun Xiaoyao took the prescription. Most of the medicinal ingredients listed were rare, but not difficult for the current Beyond Heaven. Watching Famous historical physician (Hua Tuo) systematically treat the wounded, he suddenly asked, "Does the Divine Doctor know the legend of the 'Immortality Elixir'?"

Famous historical physician (Hua Tuo)'s hand paused, and a complex light flashed in his eyes: "Legend says Qin Shi Huang sought it but failed to obtain it. That medicine is extremely overbearing; although it can extend life, it causes people to lose their minds and become monsters who only know slaughter. If the Young Lord seeks eternal life, it would be better to rest and recuperate. Dragon Yuan Power already contains vitality—why rely on external objects?"

Jun Xiaoyao smiled and did not press further. At this moment, the Marshal of the Unruly dragged Snow Thousand Cold over. Snow Thousand Cold's shoulder blades were pierced by iron chains, her cultivation completely wasted, and her face was full of venomous hatred.

"Young Lord, this Old Hag is very stubborn and refuses to hand over the key to the Myriad Frost Pavilion's treasury," the Marshal of the Unruly said, kicking Snow Thousand Cold's knee pit, forcing her to kneel.

Li Yuanba walked over carrying a bloody, mangled figure and casually threw it in front of Snow Thousand Cold: "This is her Junior Brother. He just told me the treasury is in the 'Ice Crystal Cave,' so I smashed him to death to save on food."

Snow Thousand Cold looked at the remains on the ground and let out a shrill scream, struggling to lunge forward, but the Marshal of the Unruly stepped on her back.

Jun Xiaoyao squatted down and pinched Snow Thousand Cold's chin: "Does the Myriad Frost Pavilion's Library contain records of 'Shattering the Void'?"

Snow Thousand Cold sneered: "What if you do get it? Although Dragon Yuan Power is strong, it may not be able to withstand the tearing of the Void Storm..."

Jun Xiaoyao had no patience for her nonsense and signaled Zhao Gao to drag her away. He stood up and looked toward the west, where the continent's most mysterious "Forbidden Land" lay, rumored to hide the secret of Shattering the Void.

"Zhao Gao and the Marshal of the Unruly will stay behind to clean up the Bone Freezing Abyss and transport all the spoils of war back to the Heavenly Outer Palace after counting them," Jun Xiaoyao's voice carried unquestionable authority. "After General Zhao Yun dismantles the Myriad Gu Cave, he will go to the Western Region to intimidate the Quicksand Organization. Li Yuanba will accompany me to the Ice Crystal Cave. Divine Doctor Hua will stay to look after the wounded. Once everyone has regrouped, we will go to the Forbidden Land."

"Yes!" everyone responded in unison.

The light of the summoning array gradually faded, and the Dragon Yuan Mark on Jun Xiaoyao's palm flickered with a soft glow. He knew that with the addition of General Zhao Yun, Li Yuanba, and Famous historical physician (Hua Tuo), the strength of Beyond Heaven had risen another level, and the shadow of The Net would cover more territories. Those forces that once underestimated Beyond Heaven would soon realize that they were not facing an ordinary assassination organization, but a behemoth capable of overturning the entire continental structure.

In the wind and snow, Li Yuanba followed behind Jun Xiaoyao, carrying his twin hammers, each step leaving a deep imprint on the ice. In the distance, General Zhao Yun's white horse and silver spear had become a small dot. The Unruly and Luowang Assassinss were systematically cleaning up the battlefield. Famous historical physician (Hua Tuo)'s medicinal fragrance mixed with the scent of blood, forming a strange smell that permeated the air above the Bone Freezing Abyss.

Jun Xiaoyao looked up at the gloomy sky. Dragon Yuan Power slowly circulated within his body. He could feel that more powerful beings were being drawn by the summoning array. Soon, this continent would become thoroughly lively. And he would stand at the center of this storm, using the power of The Net and Beyond Heaven to weave a web of his own dominion.