176: The arrival of the Soul-Stabilizing Pearl stirred up undercurrents.

On the ice jade floor of the Heavenly Outer Palace, ice bricks condensed from the Cold Water Sect's Spiritual Vein emitted a faint blue light. Gongshu Ban was carefully embedding them, along with the craftsmen, into the cold-attributed array base grooves of the Eight Trigrams Formation.

With each piece embedded, the ice patterns on the array base brightened slightly, and the temperature of the entire underground palace dropped by three degrees.

Jun Xiaoyao sat on the Profound Iron platform suspended mid-air, lightly tapping the armrest with his fingertips. In the water mirror, the Northern Territory Imperial Family's convoy was crushing the accumulated snow as it drove toward Beyond Heaven. The leading carriage was decorated with bright yellow silk, instantly recognizable as imperial standard.

"Young Lord, the Northern Territory Imperial Family's convoy has passed Black Wind Ridge and is still thirty li away from the underground palace."

Zhao Gao's voice came through the message talisman, carrying a hint of imperceptible amusement. "Besides the soul settling pearl, the convoy is escorted by three Imperial Family Envoys, all at the Late Grandmaster Realm of cultivation. It seems they want to make a show."

Jun Xiaoyao slightly lifted his eyelids, his gaze falling upon the roof of the most luxurious carriage in the water mirror—a fist-sized luminous pearl refracted a gentle halo through the curtain gap. It was undoubtedly the soul settling pearl.

"Have the Marshal of the Unruly 'greet' them," he said calmly. "Tell those three Envoys that Beyond Heaven doesn't keep idlers. If they want to enter the underground palace, they must disarm and follow the rules."

"This subordinate understands."

The water mirror scene shifted, revealing the sight of the Southern Territory Black Market. Fragrant Bat was leaning against the railing of a tavern, twirling half a fake Beyond Heaven clearance document between his fingers, a smile playing on his lips as he listened to two merchants chatting nearby.

"Did you hear? The group that's been robbing people using fake documents was cornered by The Net at the docks yesterday. They say over twenty were slaughtered on the spot, and the rest were skinned and hung from the mast—"

"Serves them right! Daring to impersonate people from Beyond Heaven—it's lucky they weren't pulverized and scattered."

The fake document twirled lightly between Fragrant Bat's fingers. He suddenly stood up and walked toward the back courtyard of the tavern. In the back courtyard, a scarred man was counting stolen goods. The token hanging from his waist was clearly engraved with the characters "The Net," but they were crooked and disorganized. Fragrant Bat lightly tapped his bamboo flute, and a copper coin accurately struck the man's wrist, making the token fall to the ground with a "clatter."

"Brother," Fragrant Bat smiled like a cat that stole fish, "The Net's token isn't engraved like that. Especially the left-falling stroke of the character 'Net' ( net), it should carry three parts of Sword Qi."

The scarred man whipped his head around. Seeing a drunkard in a green robe, he roared in anger, "Where did this lunatic come from, daring to interfere with this grandpa's business!" He threw a punch. Fragrant Bat's figure swayed, evading the punch as if stepping on water. The bamboo flute wrapped around the opponent's arm, and with a gentle twist—a "snap" sound was heard. The man's arm bent at a strange angle, and he writhed on the ground in pain.

[Character Panel Update:

Target: Fake Net Gang Leader (Scarred Li)

Realm: Innate Late Stage

Outcome: Disarmed by Fragrant Bat using the "Fragrance of the Sea of Blood" movement technique, and handed over to The Net for disposal after his four limbs were broken.

Related Clue: Instigated by the Southern Territory's "Ten Thousand Snake Cave," intending to disrupt Beyond Heaven's reputation.]

"Ten Thousand Snake Cave?" Fragrant Bat picked up the secret letter retrieved from the man's chest, raised an eyebrow, and whistled. "Quite well hidden." He tucked the secret letter into his sleeve and vanished at the end of the alley, leaving behind only a light, floating message: "Tell your Cave Master to surrender to Beyond Heaven within three days. Otherwise, I don't mind turning the snake cave into a wine cellar."

In front of the water mirror, Jun Xiaoyao's eyes gradually chilled as he read the secret letter sent back by Fragrant Bat. The Ten Thousand Snake Cave was an established power in the Southern Territory, famous for raising venomous snakes. He didn't expect them to dare to pull tricks behind his back. His fingertip lightly tapped the summoning array; a faint purple light illuminated again, and runes spread out like vines—

"Summoning Requirement: Proficient in infiltrating Poison Territory, capable of neutralizing the Ten Thousand Snake Cave's snake venom, and Realm no lower than Great Grandmaster."

Within the light, a figure dressed in white slowly materialized. A medicine pouch hung from his waist, and he held a whisk in his hand. His face was refined and elegant, like an exiled immortal—it was Great Doctor Ping, the Divine Physician from "the smiling, proud wanderer."

[Character Panel Expanded:

Name: Great Doctor Ping

Origin World: "the smiling, proud wanderer"

Realm: Grandmaster Initial Stage

Martial Skills and Cultivation Techniques:

1. Peerless in Medicine and Poison: Can both bring the dead back to life and concoct highly lethal poisons. Especially skilled at neutralizing snake and insect venom.

2. Finger Flick Acupoint Strike: Highly precise technique that can seal an opponent's Meridians, preventing them from using Internal Energy.

Special Abilities:

- Qi Observation Diagnosis: Can determine whether an opponent is afflicted by Gu or poison, and the type of toxin, with just a glance.

- Rapid Drug Production: Can formulate targeted antidotes within half an hour.

Additional Items:

- Hundred Poisons Pouch: Contains samples of the world's exotic poisons and antidotes, allowing for rapid comparison of toxin components.

- Gold Needles: Can be used not only for acupuncture and healing but also as hidden weapons. Striking Acupoints can temporarily suppress toxin spread.

Loyalty: 85% (Eccentric temperament, only respects the strong, acknowledges the Young Lord's decisiveness.)]

As soon as Great Doctor Ping stabilized, he frowned. "Which idiot got poisoned this time? This old man doesn't have time to tend to fools."

Jun Xiaoyao turned the water mirror toward the map of the Ten Thousand Snake Cave and said plainly, "Mr. Ping, are you confident you can neutralize the Ten Thousand Snake Cave's venom?"

Seeing the snake species marked on the map, Great Doctor Ping's eyes lit up. "Azure Phosphorus Snake, Bone-Corroding Viper... quite rare specimens." He flicked his whisk. "I can neutralize them, but I have one condition—after the task is complete, I want the Ten Thousand Snake Cave's poison scripture as my consultation fee."

"Agreed." Jun Xiaoyao did not hesitate. "The Net's Fifth Squad will cooperate with you. Just ask for any medicinal ingredients you need."

Just then, Zhao Gao's message talisman vibrated again. "Young Lord, the Northern Territory Imperial Family's convoy has arrived. The Marshal of the Unruly has verified the soul settling pearl; it is genuine. The Imperial Family Envoys wish to request an audience with you, claiming they have important matters to report."

Jun Xiaoyao glanced at the Imperial Family messenger nervously holding the brocade box in the water mirror, and sneered. "Have them unload the tribute at the mountain gate. Leave the soul settling pearl, and send the people back. Tell the Northern Territory Emperor that if he behaves himself, the Imperial Family will be safe. Otherwise, the Cold Water Sect is an example."

"Furthermore," he added, "have Great Doctor Ping take the Hundred Poisons Pouch and meet up with Fragrant Bat. They should first scout the periphery of the Ten Thousand Snake Cave. The Net's First and Fifth Squads are on standby. Wait for the signal to act."

"This subordinate accepts the order."

In the water mirror, the Northern Territory Imperial Family messenger looked as if he had received a great pardon, scrambling to direct people to unload the tribute. The faces of the three Imperial Family Envoys were ashen, yet they dared not refute in the slightest—the Marshal of the Unruly stood right beside the mountain gate, his iron chain gleaming coldly in the sunlight. The Unruly behind him all had knife-like gazes, clearly capable of overturning the convoy on the spot with a single command.

Meanwhile, inside the Ten Thousand Snake Cave in the Southern Territory, the Cave Master was toying with a poison fang ring, listening to his subordinate report the destruction of the fake Net group. A sinister smile curled his lips. "Beyond Heaven? They're just lucky. Pass down the order: release all the 'Heart-Devouring Snakes.' I want to see if The Net's people are truly invulnerable!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a burst of flute music suddenly came from outside the cave. It was clear and melodious, yet it caused all the venomous snakes inside to become restless, curling up into balls. The Cave Master's expression drastically changed. "Who is outside?!"

In front of the water mirror, Jun Xiaoyao watched Great Doctor Ping's antidote powder kill the venomous snakes, and watched Fragrant Bat use his bamboo flute to incite the snake horde to kill each other, without a ripple of emotion in his eyes. He raised his hand and picked up the newly delivered soul settling pearl. The pearl felt warm and smooth, faintly glowing with white light, truly capable of calming the mind and resisting illusions.

"Gongshu Ban," he called out loudly, "Embed the soul settling pearl into the core of the Eight Trigrams Formation to reinforce the Defensive Array."

Deep within the underground palace, the craftsmen responded and became busy. Jun Xiaoyao gazed at the faint light that had not yet extinguished in the summoning array, knowing this was only the beginning—the Ten Thousand Snake Cave, the undercurrents behind the Northern Territory Imperial Family, and the Void Fissure in the Forbidden Land three months from now... Beyond Heaven still had a long way to go. But he was not in a hurry. The Net's blades were sharp enough, and the summoned powerful individuals were gradually forming a force. All that remained was slowly drawing in The Net.

In the water mirror, Fragrant Bat's bamboo flute music suddenly soared, Great Doctor Ping's whisk transformed into a white shadow and rushed into the Ten Thousand Snake Cave, and The Net's assassins surged toward the cave entrance like a tide—the reckoning of the Southern Territory had begun.