182: Summoning Zhang Sanfeng

The summoning array deep within the underground palace glowed with a faint blue light. Jun Xiaoyao sat on the black iron throne, his fingertips idly tapping the armrest.

The water mirror before him reflected The Net's recent mission list—the “Myriad Sword Sect” in the Western Region was secretly hoarding black iron ore urgently needed by Beyond Heaven, the “Tuoba Aristocratic Family” in the Northern Region had intercepted Spiritual Vein ice bricks escorted by The Unruly, and the Hundred Flowers Valley in the Southern Region was even secretly colluding with the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, attempting to decipher Beyond Heaven's summoning array runes.

“Zhao Gao.” Jun Xiaoyao’s voice was devoid of inflection, yet it made Zhao Gao, who stood at the foot of the steps, stiffen.

“Young Lord.” Zhao Gao bowed in response, the bloodstains on the scroll in his hand not yet dry—left from purging traitors last night.

“The Sword Tomb of the Myriad Sword Sect is said to contain ‘Iron Cleaver’,” Jun Xiaoyao’s fingertip pointed to the Western Region map in the water mirror. “Have The Net’s Shadow Group retrieve it. Remember, keep a low profile; don’t let anyone realize it’s Beyond Heaven’s doing.”

Zhao Gao lowered his head to record: “The Shadow Group just finished infiltrating the Tuoba Aristocratic Family. Do they need rest?”

“No need.” Jun Xiaoyao said indifferently, “They’ve taken Beyond Heaven’s offerings, so they should be prepared to risk their lives at any time.” He looked up at the summoning array, where the runes began to flow. “Also, there’s a disturbance in the summoning array. It’s time to add someone.”

[System Notification: Host’s request detected, random summoning initiated...]

[Summoning target matching... Match successful!]

The blue light of the summoning array suddenly intensified, forming a pillar of light that shot directly to the dome of the underground palace. Within the light pillar, a figure dressed in a purple robe slowly materialized, a xiu chun saber hanging at his waist, his face stern, and his eyes as sharp as an eagle’s—it was none other than Lu Bing, Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard during the Ming Dynasty.

[Character Panel Expanded:

Name: Lu Bing (from the Wuxia derivative world of “History of Ming”)

Realm: Late Stage Great Grandmaster

Martial Skills and Cultivation Techniques:

1. xiu chun saber Art: Fierce and ruthless saber techniques, specialized in breaking internal True Qi; saber glow can cleave Protective Aura.

2. Flying Fish Movement Technique: Skilled in stealth and surprise attacks; can approach a target silently within ten zhang.

3. Imperial Prison Torture Arts: Proficient in 360 interrogation methods, capable of extracting truth from the dead.

Special Abilities:

- Commander of the Imperial Cavalry: Can command dark guard organizations, increasing the assassination efficiency of The Net’s Shadow Group (30% boost).

- Imperial Edict: Possesses natural suppressive power over aristocratic families and Sects; when their Realm is below Land Immortal, they will feel apprehension.

Attached Items:

- xiu chun saber (Divine Weapon): Cuts iron like mud, stained with Dragon blood, has a restraining effect on evil Cultivation Techniques.

- Embroidered Uniform Guard Waist Token: Can mobilize local government forces, convenient for disguising identity.]

Lu Bing knelt on one knee, his voice like clashing metal: “This subordinate Lu Bing pays respects to Young Lord.”

Jun Xiaoyao nodded slightly: “Rise. You go to the Southern Region and keep an eye on Hundred Flowers Valley.” His fingertip drew an arc on the water mirror. “If Elder Jing of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion dares to show his face, you don’t need to ask for instructions; just kill him.”

“This subordinate obeys.” Lu Bing took the Hundred Flowers Valley map handed to him by Zhao Gao, and with a flash of his purple robe, he vanished into the shadows—the essence of the Flying Fish Movement Technique.

Zhao Gao looked in the direction Lu Bing disappeared, and said in a low voice: “Young Lord, as for the Tuoba Aristocratic Family, Marshal of the Unruly has already led people to surround their mine. However, the Tuoba Family Head is in the Initial Heaven Human Realm. Although Marshal of the Unruly can suppress him, he fears that if pushed too hard, they will fight to the death.”

Jun Xiaoyao tapped the summoning array with his fingertip, and golden light once again illuminated the array: “Then summon another one.”

[System Notification: Second random summoning initiated... Match successful!]

Out of the golden light walked an old man in white, holding a whisk, with a youthful face and hair like crane feathers—it was Zhang Sanfeng of the Sect.

[Character Panel Expanded:

Name: Zhang Sanfeng (from the “the heaven sword and dragon saber” world)

Realm: Earthly Immortal Early-Stage

Martial Skills and Cultivation Techniques:

1. Tai Chi Fist: Uses softness to overcome hardness, can neutralize any force; those whose Realm is lower than his will have their attacks resolved.

2. Tai Chi Sword: Sword movements are fluid and perfect, capable of simultaneously dealing with a hundred Grandmaster Realm encirclements.

3. Pure Yang Limitless Art: Internal Energy is endless, can instantly recover 30% of one’s injuries.

Special Abilities:

- Wudang Dao Lineage: Has absolute rallying power over Daoist Sects, can command all Daoists in the world.

- Heaven and Man Induction: Can predict crises related to oneself within three days and avoid them in advance.

Attached Items:

- true martial sword (Divine Weapon): Contains Vast Righteous Qi, double the power when slaying evil cultivators.

- tai chi diagram (Incomplete Manual): Can set up a simple defensive Formation, resisting a full-power strike from anyone below the Land Immortal Realm.]

Zhang Sanfeng bowed with his hands clasped, his voice peaceful yet imbued with Dao rhyme: “This old Daoist Zhang Sanfeng greets Young Lord.”

Jun Xiaoyao looked at him, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes: “The Family Head of the Tuoba Aristocratic Family practices the Asura Skill, which is extremely malevolent, perfectly suited for Tai Chi to counter.” He turned the water mirror to the Northern Region. “True Man Zhang, I trouble you to make a move.”

Zhang Sanfeng waved his whisk: “This old Daoist will naturally serve. However, the Tuoba Aristocratic Family’s mine is connected to the Northern Region’s Spiritual Vein. It would be a pity to destroy it, so this old Daoist will try to hold back.”

“No matter.” Jun Xiaoyao said, “Spiritual Veins can be found again, but disobedient aristocratic families are more troublesome to keep.”

At this moment, the water mirror suddenly rippled, showing a message from the Western Region’s Shadow Group—the Myriad Sword Sect’s Sword Tomb was protected by the “Seven Stars Trapping Dragon Formation,” and the Shadow Group had lost three assassins but still hadn’t acquired Iron Cleaver. Zhao Gao’s expression changed slightly: “The Seven Stars Trapping Dragon Formation requires corresponding celestial phenomena to break it, but the celestial phenomena in the Western Region are chaotic right now...”

Jun Xiaoyao didn’t wait for him to finish speaking, already activating the summoning array again: “Then summon someone who understands celestial phenomena.”

[System Notification: Third random summoning initiated... Match successful!]

This time, a figure in green robes rose from the summoning array, holding a zhuge repeating crossbow and a star compass hanging at his waist—it was Kongming.

[Character Panel Expanded:

Name: Kongming (from the “romance of the three kingdoms” Wuxia world)

Realm: Peak Grandmaster Realm (skilled in Formations and celestial phenomena, comprehensive combat power comparable to the Heavenly Human Realm)

Martial Skills and Cultivation Techniques:

1. Eight Trigrams Formation: Can set up a stone Formation to trap ten thousand people; time flow inside the Formation is three times slower than outside.

2. Repeating Crossbow Art: Improved zhuge repeating crossbow, can fire ten arrows at once, range of a hundred zhang, specialized in breaking Formation nodes.

3. Seven Stars Life Extension Art: Can forcefully sustain the life of a dying person, at the cost of three years of one’s own lifespan.

Special Abilities:

- Stargazing and Qi Observation: Can see through the celestial phenomena correlation of any Formation, instantly finding a way to break the Formation.

- Brocade Bag Stratagem: Pre-written strategies that can handle over 90% of unexpected situations.

Attached Items:

- Seven Stars Lamp: A Magical Artifact that maintains one’s celestial phenomena perception, can locate positions within a Formation.

- bagua mirror: Reflects the reality and illusion of a Formation, revealing the Formation core.]

Kongming bowed: “Liang pays respects to Young Lord. The Myriad Sword Sect’s Seven Stars Trapping Dragon Formation requires the power of the ‘Po Jun Star’ at midnight tonight to break it. Liang has already written the strategy in a brocade bag; just hand it to the Shadow Group.”

Zhao Gao took the brocade bag, just about to give the order, when a bloody figure suddenly burst into the water mirror—it was a trusted subordinate of Marshal of the Unruly, with a poisoned crossbow bolt stuck in his shoulder, his voice hoarse: “Young Lord... the Tuoba Aristocratic Family has invited ‘Elder Suan’ from the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, and Marshal of the Unruly is trapped in the ‘Two Poles Reversal Formation’!”

Zhang Sanfeng frowned slightly: “Two Poles Reversal Formation? That’s an evil Formation that reverses Yin and Yang. This old Daoist needs assistance to break it.”

Jun Xiaoyao tapped the summoning array three times in quick succession with his fingertips, and three rays of light instantly shot up from the array—he had actually summoned three people at once!

[Character Panel Expanded (Brief):

1. Guo Jing (“the legend of the condor heroes”): Late Grandmaster Realm, Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms can break Yin and Yang barriers.

2. Yang Guo (“the return of the condor heroes”): Early Stage Great Grandmaster, black iron heavy sword can cut Formation foundations.

3. Little Dragon Girl (“the return of the condor heroes”): Peak Grandmaster Realm, jade bee stinger can pierce Formation nodes.]

“Guo Jing will assist True Man Zhang in breaking the Formation; Yang Guo and Little Dragon Girl will go with Lu Bing to the Southern Region,” Jun Xiaoyao said at a rapid pace. “Tell Lu Bing that this Young Lord doesn’t mind burning all the honey in Hundred Flowers Valley.”

The three figures departed upon receiving their orders, and the underground palace returned to silence. Zhao Gao looked at the summoning array runes scattered across the floor and said in a low voice: “Young Lord, recent frequent summoning has almost depleted the array’s energy.”

Jun Xiaoyao looked at the beacon fires simultaneously lighting up in the Western, Northern, and Southern Regions in the water mirror, a cold, sharp smile playing on his lips: “Energy can be gathered again, but if an opportunity is missed, it’s gone.” His fingertips traced the patterns on the black iron throne. “Once these bothersome obstacles are cleared, Beyond Heaven’s name should be well-remembered by the continent.”

At this moment, the heaven-peeking mirror of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion suddenly appeared in the water mirror—Elder Jing was standing in front of the mirror, looking in the direction of Beyond Heaven’s underground palace, his brows tightly furrowed. Behind him, a figure in a Dragon robe slowly turned around; it was none other than the former emperor of the Great Yan Imperial Dynasty, who had supposedly “passed away” long ago!

Jun Xiaoyao’s fingertips suddenly stopped.

It turned out that behind those aristocratic families and Sects who intercepted resources and colluded with external enemies, there was an even larger net hidden.

The summoning array in the underground palace lit up again, and this time, the calm in Jun Xiaoyao’s eyes completely shattered, replaced by a chilling sharpness.

“It seems it’s time to let them know that Beyond Heaven’s Net is never just for catching small fish.”