177: The Cave of Ten Thousand Serpents is breached; the Poisonous Net's reputation shakes the Southern Territory.

In the core of the Eight Trigrams Formation of the Heavenly Outer Palace, the soul settling pearl emitted a soft white light, intertwining with the blue light of the Cold Water Sect's Spiritual Vein ice bricks, outlining complete defensive runes on the formation base.

Gongshu Ban wiped the sweat from his forehead and bowed to Jun Xiaoyao in the water mirror, saying, "Young Lord, the defensive formation has been reinforced. Not to mention the Grandmaster Realm, even a Heavenly Human Realm expert trying to force their way in would take three hours."

Jun Xiaoyao tapped his fingertips on the profound iron armrest, his gaze fixed on the scene of the Ten Thousand Snake Cave in the Southern Territory shown in the water mirror—Great Doctor Ping's Hundred Poisons Pouch floated mid-air, and detoxifying powder, like fine rain, flew out of its opening, falling among the snakes. The Green Phosphorus Snakes and Bone-Corroding Vipers stiffened upon contact with the powder, their scales peeling off at a visible rate.

"Great Doctor Ping's detoxification technique truly lives up to its reputation."

Fragrant Bat's laughter came from the message talisman, with a hint of playfulness: "Young Lord, you may not know, but to force the snakes to retreat, Great Doctor Ping actually scattered 'Drunken Snake Powder' into the snake cave. Now, all the venomous snakes in the cave are doing drunken boxing."

In the water mirror, sure enough, several stout pythons swayed and entangled, biting each other with little force, making the Luowang Assassinss unable to hold back their laughter. Great Doctor Ping stood at the cave entrance, flicking his whisk: "What are you laughing at? Get to work quickly! It'll be troublesome when these snakes wake up!"

The captain of Luowang's Fifth Team immediately waved his hand, and the team members took out special snake-catching nets, netting the drunken venomous snakes one by one and tossing them into profound iron cages. Fragrant Bat, meanwhile, led a few team members deeper into the Ten Thousand Snake Cave, twirling a bamboo flute between his fingers: "The Cave Master should be in the innermost poison pool. It is said that a 'Nine-Headed Snake King' is raised in that pool, possessing Late Stage Great Grandmaster strength."

Jun Xiaoyao looked at the dark green ripples in the poison pool on the screen and suddenly said, "Have Great Doctor Ping prepare 'Poison Breaking Pills.' The Nine-Headed Snake King's venom can corrode a Grandmaster Realm's Protective Aura. Don't let our brothers suffer losses."

"It's ready," Great Doctor Ping's voice came from the message talisman, with a hint of pride, "My Poison Breaking Pills can even resist the poison of a Land Immortal for a moment."

In the water mirror, Fragrant Bat and his companions had already reached the edge of the poison pool. On the giant rock in the center of the pool, the Ten Thousand Snake Cave Master held a fanged scepter, its snake-eye gem sparkling red at the top. The Nine-Headed Snake King at his feet flicked its tongues, its nine heads vigilantly scanning its surroundings, the patterns on its scales flickering like flames.

"Fragrant Bat? People from The Net?" The Cave Master recognized the figure in the green robe, and his scepter paused. The Nine-Headed Snake King immediately let out an ear-splitting hiss, "How dare you trespass into my Ten Thousand Snake Cave! Today, I'll turn you all into snake dung!"

The Nine-Headed Snake King suddenly lunged, its nine heads simultaneously spitting dark green venom. As the venom hit the ground, the rocks were instantly corroded into pits. Fragrant Bat's figure flickered, executing the Fragrance of the Sea of Blood movement technique to its limit, dodging the venom like a ghost, his bamboo flute pointing directly at the Cave Master's glabella: "Cave Master, just surrender. Your snake soldiers have already been dealt with by us."

The Cave Master sneered, "Dealt with? Look behind you!"

Fragrant Bat turned around to see dozens of Snake Slaves pouring out from a secret door in the cave wall. These individuals had their minds eroded by venom, their skin was purplish-blue, their eyes vacant, yet they possessed immense strength, and the snake bone blades in their hands gleamed with potent poison. Luowang members immediately stepped forward to meet them. Amidst flashing blades and clashing swords, some were occasionally scratched by the Snake Slaves, their wounds rapidly turning black.

"Great Doctor Ping!" the captain of the Fifth Team shouted.

Great Doctor Ping, already prepared, tossed out a handful of golden needles. The needles landed precisely on the injured members' Acupoints, and the black poison was immediately suppressed. "Everyone take the Poison Breaking Pills! These Snake Slaves are afflicted with heart-eroding gu. Just kill them!"

Jun Xiaoyao watched the fierce battle in the water mirror, tapping lightly on the summoning array with his fingertip. A faint red light lit up in the array, runes flickered like flames, and faint roars of beasts could be heard.

"Summoning conditions: Restrains exotic beasts, possesses formidable power, capable of contending with the Nine-Headed Snake King."

The light in the array exploded, and a burly figure landed with a gust of wind, kneeling on one knee. His beast-skin armor was stained with dried blood, and the two giant axes in his hands gleamed with cold light.

[Character Panel Expands:

Name: from Water Margin

Origin World: "water margin"

Realm: Late Stage Great Grandmaster

Martial Skill Cultivation Technique:

1. Jade Ring Steps, Mandarin Duck Kicks: Footwork dazzles opponents, powerful punches and kicks can shatter metal and stone

2. Fury Cleaves Mount Hua: Dual axes strike down with immense force, once cleaved a fierce tiger to death

Special Abilities:

- Tiger Fighting Strength: Grows stronger when facing stronger foes, battle power increases by 30% against exotic beasts, fearless of death

- Adamantine Body: Years of training muscles and bones, Physical Body strength comparable to profound iron, can withstand Grandmaster Realm attacks head-on

Additional Items:

- Fine Steel Twin Axes: Weighs sixty-four catties, axe blades are tempered with armor-piercing runes, can cleave through exotic beast scales

- tiger skin skirt: Impenetrable by blades and spears, can resist partial poison erosion]

from Water Margin raised his head, his eyes wide, his voice like a great bell: "Young Lord, what beast is causing trouble? Let me deal with it!"

Jun Xiaoyao pointed at the Nine-Headed Snake King in the water mirror: "The Nine-Headed Snake King is wreaking havoc in the Ten Thousand Snake Cave of the Southern Territory. from Water Margin, go help them slay this evil beast."

"Understood!" from Water Margin raised his twin axes, his figure transforming into an afterimage, and charged into the light and shadow of the message talisman.

In the water mirror, the Nine-Headed Snake King was entwining two Luowang members, about to swallow them. Suddenly, a golden light flashed, and from Water Margin's twin axes, accompanied by the sound of air being torn, struck down, directly hitting the seventh head of the Snake King. With a "crack," snake scales shattered, and the snake head let out a mournful shriek.

"Good fellow, you're even stronger than the tiger on Jingyang Ridge!" from Water Margin laughed heartily, his twin axes whirling impenetrably, forcing the Nine-Headed Snake King to retreat repeatedly.

Seeing the unfavorable situation, the Cave Master waved his scepter, urging the Snake King to spray a poisonous mist. from Water Margin, however, was unfazed. A flash of light from his tiger skin skirt blocked the poisonous mist entirely. He seized the opportunity to close in, using his left axe to parry a snake head, and his right axe to chop down fiercely—another snake head fell to the ground, dark green snake blood splattering all over him, yet he seemed oblivious, fighting with even greater vigor.

Fragrant Bat, seeing this, pointed his bamboo flute at the Cave Master: "Your Snake King is almost finished. Why not surrender?"

The Cave Master's face turned pale. He turned to flee but was kicked to the ground by from Water Margin. "Where do you think you're running!" from Water Margin stepped on his back, placing his twin axes at his neck, "This fellow is mine to handle!"

Jun Xiaoyao looked at the Nine-Headed Snake King in the water mirror, with seven of its heads severed and on its last breath, and the Cave Master pinned to the ground, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes. "Tell from Water Margin to spare the Cave Master's life; I want to interrogate him personally. Also, send the Ten Thousand Snake Cave's poison scripture to Great Doctor Ping, and have him extract the Nine-Headed Snake King's gallbladders to refine 'Bone Strengthening Pills,' distributing them to the brothers who performed meritorious service this time."

"Yes," Zhao Gao's voice came, "Additionally, the Northern Territory Imperial Family has sent another message, saying they are willing to send the princess as a hostage, only asking that the Young Lord protect the Northern Territory from encroachment by other forces."

Jun Xiaoyao sneered, "No need for a hostage. Tell them to pay one hundred thousand taels of silver monthly as 'protection fees.' Tell the Northern Territory Emperor that Beyond Heaven is not a charity, and if they want protection, they must show sincerity."

The water mirror scene shifted, and the battle at the Ten Thousand Snake Cave was nearing its end. from Water Margin, holding the remaining two snake heads, walked over to Fragrant Bat, laughing heartily, "These snake heads will surely make good wine!" Great Doctor Ping was busy inventorying the poison samples found in the Cave Master's secret room, occasionally exclaiming in wonder. Luowang members were clearing the battlefield, packaging the captured poison scripture and snake gallbladders one by one.

Jun Xiaoyao watched this scene, his gaze turning towards the sea of clouds outside the underground palace. The Ten Thousand Snake Cave in the Southern Territory was broken, The Net's prestige grew even more, the Northern Territory Imperial Family bowed in submission, and the Western Territory mining area smoothly began operations... Beyond Heaven's Foundation grew more stable, and the Void Fissure in the Forbidden Land, three months away, was also drawing closer.

He walked to the summoning array, looking at the red light that had not yet extinguished, knowing that this was just the beginning. As his power expanded, he would inevitably encounter stronger opponents and require more powerful individuals to join. But he had patience; The Net's web would grow denser, and more powerful individuals would be summoned, until throughout the entire continent, no one would dare to defy the will of Beyond Heaven.

At this moment, Great Doctor Ping's voice came from the message talisman: "Young Lord, these Nine-Headed Snake King gallbladders are indeed excellent. After refining, they can produce at least fifty Bone Strengthening Pills, enough to significantly enhance the Physical Body strength of The Net's brothers."

"Very good," Jun Xiaoyao said calmly, "Have Gongshu Ban accelerate the refining of profound iron. Once our brothers' strength increases further, we will go and meet the Void Fissure in that Forbidden Land."

In the water mirror, the afterglow of the setting sun spilled over the ruins of the Ten Thousand Snake Cave, and The Net's banner fluttered in the wind. In the distance, Fragrant Bat was sharing wine from a gourd with from Water Margin, while Great Doctor Ping studied the newly acquired poison scripture, a lively scene unfolding. Jun Xiaoyao watched all this, a faint smile finally gracing his lips.

The era belonging to Beyond Heaven was slowly drawing back its curtain.