187: Fighting against the evil cult

Inside the depths of the underground palace, a layer of white frost condensed on the cold jade floor. This was the Small Taiji Formation set up by Zhang Sanfeng in operation. The true martial sword at the center of the Formation emitted a faint white glow, isolating the bloody stench of the outside world.

Jun Xiaoyao sat on the black iron throne, his fingertips tapping lightly on the armrest. His gaze fell upon the water mirror—the remnants of the Hundred Herbs Valley were fleeing south, but they had been trapped in the valley by the 'Ice Seal Formation' set up in advance by The Unruly. The screams of the poison masters came through the water mirror, carrying a hint of shrillness.

'Daoist Zhang Sanfeng's Taiji energy is indeed a restraint against yin evil.' Jun Xiaoyao spoke indifferently, his voice echoing in the spacious underground palace.

Zhao Gao stood bowing below the steps, holding a newly organized dossier: 'Young Lord, the Hundred Herbs Valley Master's 'Myriad Poison Banner' has been shattered by Daoist Zhang using Taiji energy, and all the poisonous centipedes on the banner have been frozen to death. Their Foundation is considered completely severed.'

'In addition, on the side of the Heavenly Thunder Hall, the Blood Saber Old Ancestor has returned with Lei Xiaotian's head, and the firearms workshop has also been burned clean.'

Jun Xiaoyao nodded, his gaze shifting to another part of the water mirror—the top floor of the Exquisite Pavilion. Star Plucker was wearing reading glasses, pretending to massage the back of the blind Pavilion Master, while his fingertips took the opportunity to touch the brocade box on the antique shelf. Inside the brocade box was that piece of 'star marrow,' which was currently emitting a soft halo, faintly echoing with the energy fluctuations of the summoning array.

'Tell him to hurry up, don't mess it up.' Jun Xiaoyao said.

As soon as he finished speaking, a black shadow suddenly flashed in the water mirror, fast as a ghost, lunging straight at Star Plucker's back! Star Plucker seemed to sense it; his figure hunched, avoiding the vital point by using the massage movement, and he backhanded three bone-piercing nails, but they were wrapped up by the black shadow's sleeve.

'It's the Demonic Cult's 'Shadow Assassin'!' Zhao Gao's expression changed slightly. 'The assassins of the Demonic Cult's 'Sun Moon Divine Cult' are said to only be loyal to the Ren Cult Leader, and they never use a second Move when killing.'

In the water mirror, the black shadow revealed half of his face, with blood-colored totems drawn at the corners of his eyes, and the short blade in his hand shimmered with green light—obviously quenched with deadly poison. Star Plucker did not dare to be careless, pushing his Treading Snow Without a Trace footwork to the limit, maneuvering between the beams and pillars of the Exquisite Pavilion, not forgetting to tease: 'This friend, one must observe first-come-first-served when grabbing things, right?'

Jun Xiaoyao pointed at the summoning array, and red light immediately lit up in the array: 'Summon someone who can deal with Demonic Cult martial arts.'

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

A monk wearing a kasaya walked out of the red light, holding a demon-subduing pestle, his face solemn and dignified. It was Jiumozhi from 'demi-gods and semi-devils'.

[Character Panel Expanded: Name: Jiumozhi (from 'demi-gods and semi-devils' world) Realm: Late Stage Great Grandmaster Martial Skill Cultivation Technique: 1. Flame Blade: Palm wind condensed like a blade, carrying Buddhist Protective Aura, specifically breaking the Demonic Cult's yin-cold Internal Skill, once split the Star-Hosting Old Immortal's poison skill with one blade. 2. Minor Formless Art: Can imitate any martial arts Moves, seeing through the flaws of the Demonic Cult's 'Star Absorbing Great Technique'. Special Abilities: - Buddhist Lion's Roar: A single shout can shake the opponent's mind, having miraculous effects on Shadow Assassins with unstable minds. - Eloquence Without Obstruction: Skilled in using Buddhist principles to shake the opponent's Dao Heart; Demonic Cult Cultists mostly do not believe in Buddha, making them easier to be influenced. Additional Items: - Demon-Subduing Pestle (Magical Artifact): Carved with Sanskrit, the sound waves emitted when striking can purify toxins, restraining the Shadow Assassin's poison blade. - purple gold alms bowl: Can hold holy water, forming a Buddhist light barrier when splashed, blocking the Demonic Cult's hidden weapons.]

Jiumozhi put his hands together and chanted a Buddha's name: 'Namo Amitabha, what are the Young Lord's instructions?'

'Go to the Exquisite Pavilion, help Star Plucker solve the Shadow Assassin, and bring the star marrow back by the way.' Jun Xiaoyao said, 'Remember, keep him alive. I want to know why the Sun Moon Divine Cult is meddling in the matter of the star marrow.'

'This poor monk obeys.' Jiumozhi turned around, the demon-subduing pestle tapped on the ground, and his figure turned into a yellow shadow, rushing out of the underground palace.

In the water mirror, the fight in the Exquisite Pavilion had entered a white-hot stage. The Shadow Assassin's short blade was lethal in every Move, but it was avoided by Star Plucker's ever-changing footwork. The two chased in the narrow attic, breaking quite a few antique vases. The blind Pavilion Master sat on the grand master chair, touching the teacup with an expressionless face, as if he turned a deaf ear to the fight in front of him—this abnormal calmness made Jun Xiaoyao's eyes narrow.

'Zhao Gao, check the background of the Exquisite Pavilion Master.'

Zhao Gao immediately took out the dossier and flipped through it: 'Returning to the Young Lord, the Pavilion Master's surname is Wei. He suddenly appeared in the black market ten years ago. It is said that he was a bodyguard in his youth, and later his eyes were destroyed by enemies, so he opened this Exquisite Pavilion. But The Net's people have checked, his martial arts are not like an ordinary bodyguard, more like... someone who has practiced an Incomplete Manual of the 'Sunflower Manual'.'

Jun Xiaoyao raised his eyebrows: 'Sunflower Manual? Then his relationship with the Sun Moon Divine Cult is not simple.'

Just as he was speaking, a flash of golden light suddenly appeared in the water mirror. Jiumozhi's Flame Blade palm wind broke through the window, striking straight at the Shadow Assassin's back. The Shadow Assassin hurriedly turned back to block. The poison blade collided with the palm wind, making a harsh sound, and the green light on the poison blade instantly dimmed—obviously restrained by the Buddhist Protective Aura.

'Demonic Cult evildoer, don't you surrender yet!' Jiumozhi raised his demon-subduing pestle, and the Sanskrit lit up. The Shadow Assassin suddenly clutched his head and screamed, obviously injured by the sound waves.

Star Plucker took the opportunity to snatch the brocade box on the antique shelf, opened it, but was stunned: 'It's empty?'

The blind Pavilion Master suddenly laughed, the laughter sharp like a night owl: 'The star marrow was taken away by the Ren Cult Leader long ago. What is left here is just a decoy.' He stood up abruptly, his figure fast as a ghost, and both palms slapped toward Star Plucker's back—the Moves were yin and soft, indeed carrying the shadow of the Sunflower Manual!

Seeing this, Jiumozhi swept his demon-subduing pestle, forcing Pavilion Master Wei back. 'So it is a descendant of the Sunflower Manual, no wonder he colluded with the Demonic Cult!'

A trace of cruelty flashed in Pavilion Master Wei's eyes: 'Since it has been exposed, then I can't keep you!' He struck with both palms, the palm wind carrying a strange fragrance, which was actually soul-bewitching smoke sprayed from his sleeves.

Star Plucker was prepared, blocking with his folding fan, and the antidote powder in the fan bones scattered with the wind: 'Old thing, you are still a bit too green to play with poison!'

Jiumozhi took the opportunity to perform the Lion's Roar, a Buddha's name shaking the attic until it was crumbling, and Pavilion Master Wei and the Shadow Assassin both paused. At this moment, the Shadow Assassin suddenly took out a signal flare from his arms, shot into the sky, and exploded into a black lotus in the air—this was the gathering signal of the Sun Moon Divine Cult.

'Not good, they are calling for reinforcements!' Star Plucker said.

Jiumozhi paused the demon-subduing pestle, and the Buddhist light covered the two: 'Don't be afraid, this poor monk's Buddhist light barrier can block it for a while.'

In front of the water mirror, Jun Xiaoyao looked at the black lotus signal, his fingertips tapping heavily on the black iron armrest: 'Activate the number two summoning array.'

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

This time the summoning array lit up with golden light, and a figure in white robes stepped on the light, holding a long sword. It was Feng Qingyang from 'the smiling, proud wanderer'.

[Character Panel Expanded: Name: Feng Qingyang (from 'the smiling, proud wanderer' world) Realm: Early Celestial Being Realm Martial Skill Cultivation Technique: 1. Nine Swords of Dugu: Breaks all martial arts in the world, especially good at cracking the Demonic Cult's weird Moves, once knocked down the weapons of the Demonic Cult's ten elders with one sword. 2. Zixia Divine Skill: Pure Internal Energy, the formed Qi shield can resist the suction of the Star Absorbing Great Technique. Special Abilities: - Sword Grandmaster: Any sword Move has flaws in his eyes. After the Shadow Assassin's poison blade Moves were seen through by him, their power was greatly reduced. - Retired for many years: Knows the history of the Demonic Cult like the back of his hand, knows many secret strongholds of the Sun Moon Divine Cult. Additional Items: - black iron heavy sword (Divine Weapon): The sword body is heavy, carrying unparalleled Aura when hacking and slashing, suppressing the Demonic Cult's yin-soft sword techniques. - Sword Manual (Incomplete Manual): Records the essence of the Nine Swords of Dugu, can be temporarily lent to Luowang Assassins to comprehend, enhancing the power of their sword Moves.]

Feng Qingyang stroked his long beard, his gaze falling on the black lotus signal in the water mirror: 'The 'Black Lotus Order' of the Sun Moon Divine Cult, it seems that Ren Cult Leader is playing for real. Young Lord, do you need this old Daoist to meet him?'

'No need.' Jun Xiaoyao said, 'Solve the trouble of the Exquisite Pavilion first. Mr. Feng Qingyang, you go to support Jiumozhi, bring Pavilion Master Wei and the Shadow Assassin back, I want to interrogate them personally.'

'Easy to say.' Feng Qingyang vibrated his long sword, the sword body made a clear sound like a dragon's chant, and his figure turned into a white rainbow, rushing out of the underground palace.

At this time, Zhao Gao received a message talisman, and reported with a solemn expression: 'Young Lord, news came from the Southern Territory, the Sun Moon Divine Cult gathered five thousand Cultists at Black Wood Cliff, Ren Cult Leader spoke out, saying that he wants to 'flatten Beyond Heaven and seize the star marrow'.'

A cold light flashed in Jun Xiaoyao's eyes: 'He actually dares to think so.' He looked at the summoning array, the energy in the array had been restored after a short recovery, and it was enough to summon one more person. 'Activate the number three summoning array, summon someone who can command the overall situation this time.'

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

The array lit up with purple light, and a figure wearing a python robe appeared, holding a military talisman. It was Kongming from 'romance of the three kingdoms'.

[Character Panel Expanded: Name: Kongming (from 'romance of the three kingdoms' Wuxia world) Realm: Peak Grandmaster Realm (Intelligence type, comprehensive combat power comparable to Heavenly Human Realm) Martial Skill Cultivation Technique: 1. Eight Trigrams Formation: Can set up a stone Formation to trap ten thousand people, has miraculous effects on large-scale Cultists, once used this Formation to trap Lu Xun's army of one hundred thousand. 2. Repeating Crossbow Technique: The improved Zhuge Repeating Crossbow can shoot ten arrows at once, with a range of one hundred zhang, suppressing the Demonic Cult's charge. Special Abilities: - Divine Strategy: Can predict the Demonic Cult's attack route and deploy defenses in advance. - Stargazing: Can judge good or bad luck based on the changes in the stars, avoiding the Sun Moon Divine Cult's surprise attacks. Additional Items: - Seven-Star Lamp: A Magical Artifact that maintains one's own energy, allowing him to stay awake and formulate strategies for three consecutive days. - Brocade Bag Strategy: Write down countermeasures in advance, can resolve seventy percent of sudden crises.]

Kongming bowed and saluted: 'Kongming, pays respects to the Young Lord. Although the Sun Moon Divine Cult has many people, they do not understand the Formation, Kongming only needs to set up the 'Eight Trigrams Formation', and he can make their five thousand Cultists unable to Move an inch.'

Jun Xiaoyao nodded: 'Good. After Mr. Feng Qingyang solves the Exquisite Pavilion, you take the Shadow Group of The Net to the Southern Territory, deploy defenses on the periphery of Black Wood Cliff, and don't let them easily step out of the Southern Territory.'

'Kongming obeys.'

In the water mirror, Feng Qingyang's Nine Swords of Dugu had broken through the doors and windows of the Exquisite Pavilion, and the sword light rolled toward Pavilion Master Wei like a silk ribbon. Although Pavilion Master Wei's Sunflower Manual was fast, it was resolved one by one by the Nine Swords of Dugu, and he was forced to the corner after a few rounds. Jiumozhi took the opportunity to subdue the Shadow Assassin, the demon-subduing pestle against his throat: 'Speak, why does Ren Cult Leader want the star marrow?'

The Shadow Assassin gritted his teeth and didn't speak, but was shaken by Jiumozhi's Lion's Roar until his seven orifices bled, and finally couldn't hold on: 'Cult ... Cult Leader said, the star marrow can repair the hidden dangers of the 'Star Absorbing Great Technique', allowing him to break through to the Land Immortal Realm...'

Jun Xiaoyao's eyes sharpened when he heard this. He knew the hidden dangers of the Star Absorbing Great Technique; if it could be repaired, the strength of the Sun Moon Divine Cult would skyrocket. He said to Zhao Gao: 'Notify the Marshal of the Unruly, take three hundred The Unruly to the Southern Territory to support Kongming, must guard Black Wood Cliff, and cannot let Ren Cult Leader step out half a step.'

'Yes.'

In the water mirror, Star Plucker had found the real star marrow—hidden in the base of the blind Pavilion Master's teacup, and was now carefully putting it into his arms. Feng Qingyang abolished Pavilion Master Wei's martial arts, Jiumozhi was holding the Shadow Assassin, and the three were preparing to leave the Exquisite Pavilion. In the distance, more black lotus signals rose in the sky, obviously the reinforcements of the Sun Moon Divine Cult had arrived.

Jun Xiaoyao watched this scene, his fingertips sliding lightly over the summoning array. The energy in the array was still recovering. The next summoning might be able to summon a powerhouse who can fight against the Land Immortal Realm. But he was not in a hurry. The Net of The Net had been quietly spread, and the more anxious the Sun Moon Divine Cult was, the easier it would be to reveal flaws.

On the cold jade floor of the underground palace, the white light of the Small Taiji Formation and the red light of the summoning array intertwined, reflecting the cold light in Jun Xiaoyao's eyes. How could he allow others to covet the resources of Beyond Heaven? Since the Sun Moon Divine Cult dared to reach out, they must have the awareness to pay the price.

This struggle surrounding the star marrow had just begun.