174: In the action plan

Jun Xiaoyao sat on the obsidian chair in the Heavenly Outer Palace, his fingertips lightly tapping the armrest.

The water mirror in front of him was displaying real-time footage transmitted by The Net.

Zhao Gao's voice came through the specially made message talisman, carrying a cold rigidity like metal rubbing against metal:

"Young Lord, the 'Black Wind Stockade' in the Western Territory has been uprooted. The head of the Stockade Master, 'Soul-Severing Blade', has been hung at the stockade gate as a warning.

The three crates of black iron and fifty catties of secret silver they were hoarding are currently being escorted back to the palace by The Net's Third Squad."

In the water mirror, the Luowang Assassins were loading heavy crates onto specially made black iron carts. Their movements were uniform, even their footsteps hitting the ground in the same rhythm.

Jun Xiaoyao scanned the image and gave a faint "En": "What about the remnants of Soul-Severing Blade?"

"As per Young Lord's instructions, all those who participated in the looting of the Beyond Heaven merchant caravans have been eliminated, not a single one left."

Zhao Gao's voice was without waves, "The remaining elderly, women, and children have been dispersed. The land deeds and mine blueprints of the Black Wind Stockade have been secured and can be incorporated into the Beyond Heaven territory."

Jun Xiaoyao's fingertips paused. The water mirror switched scenes, showing the Marshal of the Unruly leading The Unruly in patrolling the Northern Territory.

In the wind and snow, The Unruly wore uniform black martial attire, the sabers at their waists gleaming with a cold light as they checked the clearance documents of passing merchant caravans one by one.

"Is there any movement from the Marshal of the Unruly?"

The voice of the Marshal of the Unruly came through the message talisman, carrying the hoarseness honed by years in the cold wind: "People from the 'Cold Water Sect' in the Northern Territory are again making things difficult for our medicinal herb caravan at the checkpoint, claiming they want to take a thirty percent cut as a 'passage fee'. This subordinate didn't waste words with them and directly dismantled their checkpoint."

The water mirror flashed images of Cold Water Sect Disciples being pinned into the snow by The Unruly. The leading Cold Water Sect Elder was having his neck wrapped in an iron chain by the Marshal of the Unruly, his face flushed red.

Jun Xiaoyao's lips curled slightly: "Well done. Tell the Cold Water Sect to return the passage fees from the last six months doubled within three days, otherwise, turn their sect hall into an ice cellar."

"Understood."

At this moment, the water mirror suddenly popped up a new image—an urgent report from the Southern Territory.

In the image, the captain of The Net's Second Squad was covered in blood, kneeling on one knee while leaning on his saber. Behind him was a burned-out warehouse, with thick smoke billowing.

"Young Lord... the 'Crimson Chain Squad Sect' in the Southern Territory raided our Medicinal Pill warehouse and snatched twenty bottles of freshly refined 'Qi Gathering Pill'. The brothers... seven were lost..."

The faint smile on Jun Xiaoyao's face instantly vanished, his eyes cold as if tempered in ice.

He raised his hand and traced in the air before him. The summoning array suddenly lit up, and pale purple light swirled and condensed within the array, forming a blurred human figure.

"Summoning criteria: Southern Territory combat, skilled in tracking and assassination, Realm not lower than Great Grandmaster."

Light exploded from the array, and a black shadow landed with the sound of breaking through the air. He knelt on one knee, his black robes embroidered with silver bat patterns, and two short blades at his waist gleaming with a ghostly blue light.

[Character Panel Expanded: Name: Young Master Bat (Originally from the world of "Bright Moon Blade of the Horizon") Realm: Grandmaster Initial Stage Martial Skill: 1. Bat Movement Technique: Stepping through the air without sound, can conceal aura in darkness, tracking skill at Major Achievement, can find traces even if the target is hidden three feet underground 2. Twin Bat Slash: Twin blades cross to slash out a cross-shaped blood light, specializing in attacking the opponent's vital Meridians, those struck will have their life force severed Special Ability: Night Vision, can see as clearly as in daylight in lightless environments]

"Young Master Bat," Jun Xiaoyao's voice held not a shred of warmth, "Take The Net's Fifth Squad to the Southern Territory and investigate the lair of the Crimson Chain Squad Sect. Remember, I want the head of the Crimson Chain Squad Sect Leader to use as a chamber pot. Also, bring back the Qi Gathering Pills, bottles and dregs alike."

Young Master Bat lowered his head and clasped his fists, his voice sounding like sandpaper rubbing against wood: "This subordinate accepts the order."

Before the words had even faded, he had already turned into a black shadow and darted into the light of the message talisman, disappearing.

The water mirror switched to a map of the Southern Territory. Jun Xiaoyao pointed his fingertip at the location of the Crimson Chain Squad Sect's main altar: "Zhao Gao, mobilize The Net's Seventh Squad to flank from the side; don't leave them any retreat route."

"Rest assured, Young Lord. The Seventh Squad is already on standby and moved the moment Young Master Bat set off."

Jun Xiaoyao leaned back in his chair, his gaze sweeping over the power distribution map on the stone wall of the palace.

The Black Wind Stockade in the Western Territory, the Cold Water Sect in the Northern Territory, the Crimson Chain Squad Sect in the Southern Territory... these forces that dared to touch the interests of Beyond Heaven should have the awareness of being crushed.

Not half an hour later, the message talisman suddenly vibrated, and Young Master Bat's voice came through, panting slightly: "Young Lord, the Crimson Chain Squad Sect's main altar has been breached.

The head of the Sect Leader, 'Madame Crimson Chain', is here. Eighteen bottles of Qi Gathering Pills have been recovered; the other two were fed to a poisonous python by her. This subordinate has already slaughtered the beast and brought back its inner core as well."

In the water mirror, Young Master Bat was using his short blade to lift a bloody head, stepping on the severed snake corpse beneath his feet. Surrounding Luowang members were packing the Medicinal Pills into crates.

The courtyard of the Crimson Chain Squad Sect was ablaze with raging fire, yet it could not illuminate the coldness in the depths of Young Master Bat's eyes.

Jun Xiaoyao tapped his fingertips lightly: "Give the snake core to Li Shizhen and have him refine it into a 'Poison Resistance Pill'. As for the head of Madame Crimson Chain... do as I said."

"Understood."

After dealing with the affairs in the Southern Territory, the water mirror popped up follow-up news from the Blood Shadow Gate—Li Shizhen was taking his medicine boy to count poisonous herbs at the former site of the Blood Shadow Gate. Those plants that were once used to refine deadly poisons had now all become his medicinal materials.

The old gentleman shook his head while recording: "A waste of natural resources. Such good 'Nether Grass' was actually used to refine Bone Rotting Powder. What a pity."

Jun Xiaoyao watched this scene and suddenly remembered when he had just established Beyond Heaven.

At that time, The Net had only just gathered thirty people, and the Marshal of the Unruly was still smoothing out the team. The first mission they took was to intercept and kill a den of horse bandits who had robbed a Beyond Heaven merchant caravan.

At that time, he was hiding in a mountain hollow, watching the Marshal of the Unruly lead ten people to charge in. When they returned, only seven remained, but they carried back all the stolen goods.

The summoning array back then was still very weak, and every summoning would exhaust three days of the palace's energy, but now it could summon at will.

Jun Xiaoyao gazed at the flowing light in the summoning array, where several unsummoned names still lay dormant—all of them renowned ruthless characters in the Wuxia world. Unless absolutely necessary, he did not want to use them easily.

"Zhao Gao," he suddenly spoke, "Have all squads of The Net redraw the recent power map. Any marked as 'hostile' should be dealt with according to the standard of the Crimson Chain Squad Sect."

"This subordinate understands."

"Marshal of the Unruly," Jun Xiaoyao switched channels, "If the Cold Water Sect in the Northern Territory dares to delay, directly freeze their Spiritual Veins."

"Order received."

In the water mirror, members of The Net were acting according to instructions. The Unruly had erected wooden signs in the Northern Territory reading "Beyond Heaven Merchant Caravans Tax-Free". Passing merchant caravans saw this and one after another changed to take this route, unexpectedly revitalizing the desolate trade routes of the Northern Territory in an instant.

Jun Xiaoyao watched the image of the gradually bustling trade route, and a faint smile finally rippled at the corner of his mouth.

Beyond Heaven did not need everyone to submit, but anyone who dared to touch his resources or move his people had to weigh whether they were qualified enough.

Deep in the palace, the light of the summoning array brightened a few more degrees, as if a new figure was gestating within it.

Jun Xiaoyao knew that as the power of Beyond Heaven expanded, more troublesome opponents would always emerge.

But he was not afraid—The Net's blades were fast enough, The Unruly's iron chains were hard enough, and with these Wuxia powerhouses that could be summoned at will, the Foundation of Beyond Heaven was already far beyond what those thin tents from back then could compare to.

He raised his hand to turn off the water mirror, and the palace fell into a brief silence.

Only the faint light of the summoning array danced on the stone walls, like a pack of dormant wolves, waiting for the signal for the next strike.