188: Black Lotus Siege

Deep in the underground palace, on the cold jade platform, Jun Xiaoyao twisted a black lotus-shaped token between his fingertips—this was the token retrieved from Shadow Assassin earlier, its edges engraved with intricate devilish patterns, cold to the touch.

In the water mirror, dozens of black lotus signals had risen in the direction of Black Wood Cliff, like ink-colored fireworks exploding in the night sky. A torrent composed of five thousand Cultists was surging toward the border of the Southern Region, the four blood-red characters "Sun Moon Divine Cult" on their flags appearing particularly glaring under the torchlight.

"Young Lord, Mr. Kongming has sent word. The Eight Trigrams Formation has been set up on the outskirts of Black Wood Cliff at the 'First Line of Sky', but there are too many Cultists, and the array eye cannot hold for much longer."

Zhao Gao held the message talisman, sweat seeping from his temples. "The three hundred The Unruly brought by the Marshal of the Unruly have just arrived and are using repeating crossbows to suppress the vanguard, but the enemy is fearless, charging the formation wave after wave."

Jun Xiaoyao tossed the black lotus token onto the jade platform; the token made a crisp sound as it landed. He looked up at the summoning array. The light within the array flowed faintly; after several summons just now, the energy bar had only thirty percent remaining, just enough for one medium-intensity summoning. "Activate summoning. Target: A Martial Artist capable of breaking large-scale formation battles."

[System Notification: Energy matching... Host requirement detected, matching Wuxia world character... Lock successful!]

The light of the summoning array suddenly turned crimson-gold, and a wave of heat rushed toward him as if magma were surging underground. A burly figure stepped out, treading on flame-like light patterns. He wore a bright silver helmet and animal-faced armor, dragging a green dragon crescent blade in his hand. The blade left scorched marks as it scraped across the cold jade floor—it was Guan Yu from the "romance of the three kingdoms".

[Character Panel Expanded: Name: Guan Yu (from the "romance of the three kingdoms" Wuxia world). Realm: Early Celestial Being Realm. Martial Skill Cultivation Technique: 1. green dragon crescent blade: The blade momentum is heavy and fierce; one move, "Dragging Blade Technique," can split a stone wall a zhang wide. When sweeping, it raises a gale, specifically designed to break dense formations. He once cut down a thousand-man queue of the Yellow Turban Army with a single slash. 2. Spring and Autumn Blade Technique: A blade technique that fuses the principles of the "Spring and Autumn Annals." The blade light is like a long rainbow piercing the sun, capable of shaking the resolve of those with weak hearts; Cultists easily feel timid upon seeing his blade momentum. 3. Loyalty Qi Energy: A crimson Qi shield surrounds his body, capable of resisting hidden weapons and potent poisons, and has a natural suppression effect on the cold Cultivation Technique of the Devil Cult. Special Abilities: - Enemy of Ten Thousand: Combat power doubles when trapped in heavy encirclement. The more outnumbered he is, the fiercer his blade moves; he once took the head of a top general from among ten thousand armies. - Crescent Blade Formation: Using himself as the array eye, he can condense the Aura of surrounding Martial Artists, channeling the power of Luowang Assassins into a single slash, with power comparable to a strike from the Land Immortal Realm (requires cooperation of five or more people). Additional Items: - green dragon crescent blade (Dao Artifact): Weighs eighty-two catties; the dragon shadow reflected by the blade can dispel the soul-bewitching arts of the Devil Cult. - Green Robe (Treasure Clothing): Impenetrable to blades and guns, capable of blocking sneak attacks from below the Grandmaster Realm.]

Guan Yu cupped his hands and bowed, his voice like a booming bell: "Guan greets the Young Lord! Hearing that bandits are causing chaos, I am willing to go and break the formation!"

Jun Xiaoyao nodded, pointing his fingertip toward the location of the First Line of Sky in the water mirror: "Kongming's Eight Trigrams Formation is about to be overrun. Take fifty Luowang Assassins to support, use the Crescent Blade Formation to strike once and dampen their arrogance."

"This subordinate obeys!" Guan Yu picked up the green dragon crescent blade, the dragon shadow appearing on the blade. As he turned, his armor clanged. Fifty Luowang Assassins had already appeared from the shadows, dressed in black with black scarves, revealing only their eyes. They bowed in unison: "Awaiting General Guan's orders!"

The scene in the water mirror changed. Inside the First Line of Sky canyon, the stone wall of the Eight Trigrams Formation had been rammed open, and the Cultists were surging in like a tide. The Marshal of the Unruly was directing the repeating crossbowmen to fire in turns. Crossbow bolts pierced the bodies of the front-row Cultists, but could not stop the trampling from the rear. Many of The Unruly had drawn their blades for close-quarters combat, their armor splattered with blood.

"The Unruly, listen up! Hold the gap!" The Marshal of the Unruly whipped a cultist who lunged at him, the iron whip wrapping around the opponent's neck and throwing him violently into the crowd. "Anyone who dares to retreat one step will be dealt with by military law!"

Just then, the sound of thunderous hoofbeats came from outside the canyon. Guan Yu arrived at full speed riding the Red Hare (summoning includes mount). The green dragon crescent blade drew a crimson arc in the air and slashed onto the gap with a "boom." Stone chips flew, and the dozen or so Cultists at the very front were instantly blown away by the Saber Qi.

"Guan is here! You devilish Cultists, who dares to advance another step?"

The Red Hare reared up, its neighing sound making the Cultists' eardrums ache. The fifty Luowang Assassins quickly lined up in a fan shape, protecting Guan Yu in the center, their Qi energy converging into his body—the Crescent Blade Formation was initially formed. The crimson blade light suddenly swelled by three zhang, like a small sun hanging over the canyon.

"This is... the Aura of the Heavenly Human Realm!" someone among the Cultists exclaimed, and the momentum of the charge immediately stalled.

Inside the formation, Kongming stroked his beard and smiled: "Yunchang has come just in time!" He seized the opportunity to adjust the array eye, the stone wall closed again, trapping the Cultists who had rushed into the gap inside the formation.

Before the water mirror, Jun Xiaoyao watched this scene and tapped his fingertip on the summoning array again. When Guan Yu appeared just now, the System indicated that only ten percent of energy remained, barely enough to summon a support-type character. "Summon one more, someone skilled in defense."

[System Notification: Insufficient energy, activating emergency matching... Character locked!]

A soft white light lit up in the array, and an old man in Daoist robes walked out slowly, holding a whisk, with crane-like hair and youthful complexion—it was Daoist Chongxu from "the smiling, proud wanderer".

[Character Panel Expanded: Name: Daoist Chongxu (from "the smiling, proud wanderer" world). Realm: Peak Grandmaster Realm. Martial Skill Cultivation Technique: 1. Tai Chi Sword: The sword circles are layered and overlapping, capable of unloading any fierce offensive. He once used sword circles to entangle Linghu Chong's Nine Swords of Dugu. 2. Wudang Cotton Palm: The palm force is soft but extremely resilient, capable of leaving shallow pits on stone walls; skilled in close-quarters entanglement. Special Abilities: - True Martial Formation: A defensive formation composed of seven people, whose connected palm forces can form a Qi wall, capable of blocking a full-strength strike from below the Heavenly Human Realm. - Heart-Cleansing Mantra: Reciting scriptures can soothe one's own mind and dispel the bewitching sounds of the Devil Cult. Additional Items: - true martial sword (Dao Artifact): The blade is covered with Daoist runes, capable of purifying Devilish Qi. - Eight Trigrams Mirror: Hanging at the array eye, it can provide warnings of sneak attacks; the stronger the light on the mirror surface, the more urgent the warning.]

Daoist Chongxu bowed with a Daoist salute: "This poor Daoist, Chongxu, is willing to assist the Young Lord in guarding the formation."

"There is a hidden valley on the west side of Black Wood Cliff," Jun Xiaoyao looked toward the edge of the water mirror, where there was an inconspicuous gap. "The Cultists might bypass from there. You take twenty Luowang Assassins to garrison it and use the True Martial Formation to block them."

"This poor Daoist obeys." As Chongxu turned, twenty assassins followed silently, their toes touching the ground like willow catkins flying—this was the "Shadow Step" of the Luowang Assassins, specializing in stealth.

At this moment, Zhao Gao handed over another secret report: "Young Lord, news from the black market says the Sun Moon Divine Cult has offered a thousand taels of gold for your whereabouts, and also... they said if they find the entrance to Beyond Heaven, they will burn it to the ground."

Jun Xiaoyao sneered and picked up the black lotus token on the table, crushing it: "Burn it? They have to have the ability to do so." He looked at the summoning array; the energy was exhausted, and the faint light gradually extinguished. "Zhao Gao, pass down the order: all Luowang Assassins are to enter Level 3 alert. The black market missions are suspended, and everyone is to return to defend the Southern Region."

"Yes!"

In the water mirror, Guan Yu's green dragon crescent blade slashed out another crimson rainbow, splitting the Cultists' flags in two; Chongxu's True Martial Formation lit up in the hidden valley, the Qi wall formed by connected palm forces blocked the first wave of sneak attacks; inside Kongming's Eight Trigrams Formation, the stone walls constantly opened and closed, the Cultists were trapped inside, rushing left and right, but could never find an exit.

The Marshal of the Unruly wiped the blood from his face and smiled at the The Unruly beside him: "See that? This is the benefit of following the Young Lord—when the sky falls, there are always experts to hold it up!"

Jun Xiaoyao leaned back on the black jade chair, watching the stalemate on all sides in the water mirror. He never personally took action, yet he could always summon the person to break the deadlock at the most critical moment. The Net was his hands, the summoned Martial Artists were his blades, and Beyond Heaven was the heart hidden behind all of this, beating calmly, controlling every vein.

Black lotus signals were still exploding in the night sky, but the momentum had weakened significantly. Jun Xiaoyao knew this was just the beginning—if the Sun Moon Divine Cult dared to have designs on Beyond Heaven, they would have to endure The Net woven by The Net. He picked up the teapot on the table and poured himself a cup of tea. Amidst the curling tea mist, a cold glint flashed in his eyes:

"Want to burn my place? Ask Guan Yunchang's blade if it agrees first."

Outside the underground palace, the wind swept the ashes of the black lotus across the treetops, and in the canyon of the Southern Region, crimson blade light and white palm shadows intertwined into a net, tightening little by little, trapping the five thousand Cultists in an increasingly smaller circle. The name of Beyond Heaven, perhaps after tonight, would quietly spread across the continent with this battle—not as a code name for black market assassins, but as a hard bone that even the Sun Moon Divine Cult could not chew through.