183: Guan Yu

Deep within the underground palace, the runes of the ethereal blue summoning array flickered like breathing. Jun Xiaoyao leaned against the black iron throne, his fingertips toying with a “blood shadow token” he had just acquired from the black market—a token of a killer organization in the Southern Region. It had been “borrowed” by a Shadow Guard from The Net last night and was now spinning in his palm.

“Zhao Gao.”

From the shadows, Zhao Gao emerged, bowing. The hem of his black robe was stained with some still-wet mud, indicating he had just returned from outside.

“Young Lord, the Frost Jade from the ‘Ice Silkworm Valley’ in the Northern Territory has been secured. Marshal of the Unruly sent word that the escort team has passed ‘Soul Severing Cliff’ and will enter the underground palace in three hours.”

Jun Xiaoyao’s fingertips paused, and the blood shadow token stopped in his palm. “The Ice Silkworm Valley Master didn’t pursue?”

“He did,” Zhao Gao handed over a secret report, “but Marshal of the Unruly left a ‘false target,’ using a snow wolf tainted with the Frost Jade’s scent to divert the Valley Master’s ‘Ice Silkworm Guards.’ The Valley Master is probably still circling Soul Severing Cliff now.”

Jun Xiaoyao chuckled lightly, tossing the blood shadow token to Zhao Gao: “Dispose of it. Don’t let anyone see it’s The Net’s method. By the way, what’s happening in the black market?”

“Reporting, Young Lord, the black market is currently abuzz that Ten Thousand Treasures Tower has a new batch of ‘Spirit Devouring Gu’ that are said to be able to devour a Martial Artist’s Internal Energy. Many Sects are vying for them.” Zhao Gao opened the secret report, pointing to a line. “Also, the Pavilion Master of ‘Sunset Pavilion’ in the Western Territory has issued a bounty for the head of our The Net’s ‘Shadow Thirteen,’ offering thirty thousand taels of gold.”

Jun Xiaoyao raised an eyebrow slightly: “How did Shadow Thirteen provoke him?”

“Shadow Thirteen stole the Pavilion Master’s ‘heaven burning furnace’ from Sunset Pavilion last week. It’s said that the furnace is crucial for refining ‘realm-breaking pill’.” Zhao Gao added, “Sunset Pavilion has allied with three surrounding Sects and is setting up a ‘Heaven and Earth Net’ Formation, vowing to capture Shadow Thirteen alive.”

“Fool.” Jun Xiaoyao said indifferently, “The heaven burning furnace is useless to us, but Sunset Pavilion’s ‘Nine Revolution Rejuvenation Pill’ Pill Formula is worth acquiring.” He tapped the armrest of the throne, “Have Shadow Thirteen go to Sunset Pavilion again. Don’t steal the furnace; get the Pill Formula. Also, activate summoning array Number Three and add another person.”

Zhao Gao acknowledged and activated the Formation. The runes in the center of the underground palace suddenly lit up, golden light soaring into the sky, with the faint echo of a Dragon's roar—

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

In the light, a red-robed figure slowly materialized, with a date-red face, slightly narrowed Phoenix eyes, and holding a green dragon crescent blade. It was Guan Yunchang.

[Character Panel Expanded:

Name: Guan Yu (from the Wuxia derivative world of romance of the three kingdoms)

Realm: Middle Celestial Realm

Martial Skills and Cultivation Techniques:

1. Azure Dragon Crescent Blade Technique: The blade strikes are fierce and powerful. A single “Saber Dragging Strategy” can cleave mountains, providing absolute suppression against those below the Great Grandmaster Realm.

2. Spring and Autumn Righteous Qi Art: Internal Energy flows like a mighty river, endless. When activated, a crimson Qi aura forms around the body, capable of resisting hidden weapons and poison Cultivation Techniques.

Special Abilities:

- Loyalty Incitement: Morale of followers under command increases by 50%. When The Net members are nearby, their accuracy increases by 30%.

- Martial Saint's Pressure: When facing Daoist or Confucian Cultivators, it can weaken their strength by 20% because he was once enlightened by Saint Confucius, and his righteous Qi restrains evil spirits.

Additional Items:

- green dragon crescent blade (Divine Weapon): Weighs eighty-two catties. The blade is imbued with a Dragon soul. After slaying a target, it can absorb blood Qi to enhance the blade’s power.

- Red Hare (Divine Beast): Travels a thousand li by day and eight hundred li by night. Can tread on water and ride the wind, ignoring terrain obstacles.]

Guan Yu knelt on one knee, his voice like a resounding bell: “Guan pays respects to the Young Lord!”

Jun Xiaoyao nodded slightly: “Yunchang, you have worked hard. This time, I send you to the Western Territory to assist Shadow Thirteen in retrieving the Pill Formula. You must break Sunset Pavilion’s ‘Heaven and Earth Net’ Formation.”

“Young Lord, rest assured!” Guan Yu cupped his fists and stood up, the green dragon crescent blade spinning in his hand. The blade wind swept across the ground, carving several deep grooves. “My blade specializes in breaking petty Formations!”

After Guan Yu departed, Zhao Gao said again: “Young Lord, the ‘Wang Clan of Langya’ in the Eastern Domain sent an invitation, asking our The Net to help them retrieve their family heirloom, the ‘soul settling pearl,’ which was stolen by ‘Blood Hand Hall.’ They are offering fifty thousand taels of gold.”

Jun Xiaoyao perused the invitation, his fingertips pausing on the words “soul settling pearl”: “This pearl can stabilize one’s mind and has a miraculous effect on preventing Qi Deviation during Cultivation. It has some use. Activate summoning array Number Four.”

The Formation lit up again, this time with a cyan light, and the faint cry of a crane—

[System Notification: Second summoning initiated, target matching locked...]

From the light emerged an old man in white, holding a whisk, with the hair of a crane and the face of a child. It was Zhang Sanfeng (second summoning, Realm slightly improved).

[Character Panel Expanded:

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

Realm: Earthly Immortal Early-Stage (half a Realm higher than last summoning)

Martial Skills and Cultivation Techniques:

1. Thirteen Forms of Taiji: Smooth and fluid, capable of deflecting all attacks. It has a natural restraining effect on Formations and can use softness to overcome hardness, breaking through confining Formations like “Heaven and Earth Net.”

2. Pure Yang Limitless Art: Internal Energy is as pure as glazed glass, capable of purifying all yin and evil Qi. It has a special effect against Blood Hand Hall’s blood poison Cultivation Technique.

Special Abilities:

- Dao Rhyme Flow: Within a hundred zhang radius, The Net members’ Internal Energy recovery speed increases by 40%.

- Wisdom Eye for Formations: Any Formation appears transparent in his eyes, and he can instantly pinpoint the Formation core.

Additional Items:

- true martial sword (Divine Weapon): The sword body is engraved with a tai chi diagram. When thrust, it forms a Sword Qi vortex, tearing through Formation barriers.

- bagua mirror (Magical Artifact): Can reveal invisible targets, countering Blood Hand Hall’s “Blood Stealth Art.”]

Zhang Sanfeng bowed with his hands clasped: “This old Daoist pays respects to the Young Lord. The matter in the Eastern Domain can be entrusted to this old Daoist. Although Blood Hand Hall’s blood poison Cultivation Technique is insidious, it cannot break this old Daoist’s Taiji Qi aura.”

Jun Xiaoyao nodded: “Thank you, True Man Zhang. Remember, keep the soul settling pearl. I’ll give you thirty percent of the gold from the Wang Clan.”

Zhang Sanfeng stroked his beard and smiled: “This old Daoist doesn’t care for gold. I only ask the Young Lord to allow me to study that pearl for a few days to comprehend the principle of ‘soul settling’.”

“Granted.”

After Zhang Sanfeng left, Zhao Gao looked at the empty summoning array and whispered: “Young Lord, after continuously summoning two individuals above the Heavenly Human Realm, the Formation’s energy is seventy percent depleted. Should we rest for a few days?”

Jun Xiaoyao looked at the water mirror. The mirror showed Shadow Thirteen’s secret code drawn on the outer wall of Sunset Pavilion—indicating the Pill Formula was in a hidden compartment in the Pavilion Master’s bedroom. On the other side, Zhang Sanfeng was slowly walking into the Misty Forest of the Eastern Domain with Taiji steps. Blood Hand Hall’s dark sentries, who had just intended to ambush him, were sent flying by the Qi force from his whisk.

“No need to rest.” Jun Xiaoyao traced runes on the armrest of the throne. “Inform Marshal of the Unruly to take three hundred The Unruly members and raid ‘Black Wind Stockade’ in the Southern Region. They robbed us of three ships of sulfur last month; it’s time to settle that score.”

Just as Zhao Gao was about to respond, the water mirror suddenly fluctuated violently, reflecting a person wearing a bronze mask, standing on the rooftop of The Net’s main headquarters, bowing remotely towards the underground palace.

“Young Master of Tianwaitian,” the masked man’s voice was hoarse, “I am ‘Ghost Strategist,’ representing the ‘Ten Absolute Alliance.’ I wish to make a deal with you—the coordinates of ‘Shattering the Void’ in exchange for your The Net not acting for three years.”

A cold glint flashed in Jun Xiaoyao’s eyes: “Ten Absolute Alliance? They dare to come knocking.” He said to Zhao Gao, “Activate summoning array Number Five, and summon ‘him’.”

This time, the summoning array glowed with black light, and the faint sound of thunder erupted—it seemed another heavyweight figure was about to appear. In the water mirror, a strange smile seemed to curl under Ghost Strategist’s mask.

The air in the underground palace grew heavier. The Net’s tentacles had already extended to the four domains, and a larger game of chess had just begun.