190: treasure bowl

Jun Xiaoyao sat on a sandalwood chair in the core hall of Beyond Heaven, twisting a white jade chess piece between his fingertips, his gaze falling upon the water mirror in front of him.

The scene in the mirror showed the black market trading area: a person wearing a bronze mask was handing a brocade box to a contact from The Net. The moment the brocade box opened, a flash of blood-colored light streaked across—that was the 'Blood Bodhi,' a supreme treasure from the Ten Thousand Mountains of the Southern Frontier that could bring the dead back to life and regrow flesh on bones.

"Young Lord," Zhao Gao walked into the hall with light steps and placed a black ledger on the table. "This is the seventh job The Net has taken this month. The Prince of Zhenbei has offered thirty thousand taels of gold to take the left ear of the leader of the 'Wolf Tribe' in Northern Desert.

The target is at the Innate Realm Peak, and he has fifty wolf riders under his command. It won't be easy to deal with."

Jun Xiaoyao dropped the white jade chess piece onto the chessboard, making a crisp sound. "What does the Marshal of the Unruly think?"

The message talisman beside the ledger suddenly lit up. Zhao Gao picked it up and injected a trace of Internal Energy. The voice of the Marshal of the Unruly came from the talisman, carrying the coarseness of wind and sand: "Young Lord, the Wolf Tribe leader excels at 'Mad Wolf Transformation.' On the night of the full moon, his strength can surge to the Grandmaster Realm. A head-on fight is not cost-effective.

My subordinate has already sent the Shadow Group of The Net to infiltrate the Northern Desert to first figure out his routine, and we will strike when he leaves the wolf riders to hunt alone."

"Feasible," Jun Xiaoyao said indifferently. "Have the Shadow Group bring enough 'Power-Dissolving Powder.' When dealing with a Martial Artist who has gone berserk, the medicine is more effective than swords."

He looked up at the summoning array in the center of the hall. The runes on the edge of the Formation were glowing faintly. After half a month of accumulation, the energy was sufficient for one medium-level summoning. "Also, the energy of the summoning array is sufficient. Summon someone who excels at tracking to support the Shadow Group."

Zhao Gao responded and activated the summoning array. The crystal at the center of the Formation suddenly lit up, and pale blue light patterns spread from the center outward. A damp atmosphere permeated the air—this was a sign of matching with a water-type or stealth-type character.

[System Prompt: Detected host requirement, matching Wuxia character who excels at tracking and stealth... Matching successful!]

A figure slowly walked out of the light patterns, wearing gray cloth short garments and straw sandals, with a rusty iron sword on his back. His face was as ordinary as a mountain woodcutter; it was Di Yun from 'A Deadly Secret'.

When he landed, his soles crushed the gravel on the ground silently, and his whole body carried a restrained sharpness.

[Character Panel Expanded: Name: Di Yun (from the 'A Deadly Secret' world); Realm: Grandmaster Early Stage; Martial Skill/Cultivation Technique: 1. Divine Light Scripture: Internal breath is thick and long-lasting, capable of rapidly recovering physical strength in desperate situations, and even saving those on the verge of death. When cultivated to a deep level, it is impervious to blades. 2. Blood Saber Scripture (Incomplete): Although only three-tenths have been learned, one can already execute the 'Blood Saber Escape,' using blood light to conceal one's figure and perform short-distance teleportation-like surprise attacks. Special Abilities: - Wilderness Tracking: Can judge the target's position in mountains, forests, and deserts through footprints and the direction of vegetation, with an error margin of no more than five zhang. Once hunted snow leopards in the snowy mountains. - Restraint Technique: Excels at disguising as an ordinary person, blending into crowds or beasts without being noticed. Once disguised as a woodcutter for three months to figure out the enemy's movements. Additional Items: - Rusty Iron Sword (Common Weapon): Looks worn out, but the sword body is quenched with potent poison; scratching the skin will cause the opponent to become paralyzed. - Coarse Cloth Shirt: Soaked in herbal juice, capable of masking human scent, making it difficult for hunting dogs to track.]

Di Yun knelt on one knee, his voice low like a stone mill: "Subordinate Di Yun, greets the Young Lord."

Jun Xiaoyao tapped the table with his fingertips: "The Wolf Tribe leader in the Northern Desert excels at going berserk. The Shadow Group needs someone to track from the side and figure out his hunting route. You take three Luowang Assassins with you. You don't need to participate in the fight; just be responsible for marking the location and send it back in real-time using the message talisman."

"Subordinate obeys." When Di Yun stood up, his figure flickered and he retreated to the hall door. With a tap of his toes, he disappeared at the end of the corridor—he had actually integrated the internal breath of the Divine Light Scripture into his footwork, as agile as a civet cat.

Zhao Gao flipped through the ledger and added: "In addition, the Murong Family in Jiangnan has sent people to contact the black market, wanting to hire The Net to assassinate the Sect Head of the West Peak Sword Sect. They said the West Peak Sword Sect has recently been investigating the whereabouts of the treasure basin, and that treasure basin is said to be hidden under the ancestral home of the Murong Family."

Jun Xiaoyao raised his eyes: "treasure basin?"

"It is a legendary exotic treasure that can generate wealth on its own," Zhao Gao explained. "The Murong Family is afraid that the West Peak Sword Sect will find solid evidence, so they want to silence them. The offer is very high: ten spirit condensing pills and the salt permits for the three states of Jiangnan."

Jun Xiaoyao picked up the jade pendant beside the water mirror, stroking the 'Beyond Heaven' mark on it: "The Sect Head of the West Peak Sword Sect is in the Grandmaster Realm, which is not easy to deal with." He looked at the summoning array. Although the energy had just been used once, because Di Yun's Realm was not high, there was still a little left. "Summon another one."

Zhao Gao activated the Formation again. This time the light pattern was crimson, carrying a scorching aura—obviously, it had matched a character who excels in strong attacks.

[System Prompt: Remaining energy is limited, matching low-level high-combat-power character... Matching successful!]

A figure leaped out of the red light, holding dual axes, with a tiger's back and a bear's waist; it was Li Kui from 'water margin.' When he landed, he let out a shout that shook the dust on the hall beams, and the cold light on the axe blades made his full beard look fierce.

[Character Panel Expanded: Name: Li Kui (from the 'water margin' world); Realm: Middle Grandmaster Realm; Martial Skill/Cultivation Technique: 1. Dual Axe Wild Dance: When waving the dual axes, it forms a gale; no one can get close within ten zhang. Once split a city gate with one axe. 2. Savage Ox Strength: Concentrates internal breath in both arms, increasing strength by three times. Can tear a fierce tiger apart, but it consumes a lot of strength and requires three days of rest afterward. Special Abilities: - Rage State: Gets stronger when facing stronger opponents. The more critical the situation, the fiercer the axe technique. Once killed a bloody path through heavy encirclement, scaring off five thousand elite soldiers. - Formation Breaking: Excels at crushing enemy Formations. A sweep of the dual axes can repel several Martial Artists at once, suitable for cooperating with Luowang Assassins to encircle and annihilate strong enemies. Additional Items: - Black Iron Axe (Treasure Artifact): The axe body is engraved with anti-slip patterns, weighing sixty-four catties. When hacking, it carries the sound of breaking through the air, intimidating the opponent's mind. - Black Iron Armor: Protects the heart and back, difficult for ordinary swords to injure, but does not affect agility.]

Li Kui knelt on one knee with a "thud" and shouted in a muffled voice: "Black Whirlwind Li Kui, greets the Young Lord! As long as the Young Lord gives the word, regardless of what Sword Sect Head it is, I will split him with one axe!"

Jun Xiaoyao shook his head: "No need. The West Peak Sword Sect cannot be moved for the time being." He looked at Zhao Gao. "Tell the Murong Family that The Net does not take jobs involving Sect grudges. Also, have the Shadow Group investigate the treasure basin matter. If such an object really exists, quietly record the medicinal guide; there is no need to alarm anyone."

"Yes." Zhao Gao responded and handed over a secret report. "By the way, the Marshal of the Unruly said that among the new assassins recruited by The Net, there is one called 'Night Owl' who has excellent talent, but his temperament is too fierce and he is disobedient. He has injured his companions during several training sessions."

Jun Xiaoyao looked at the water mirror, which showed the scene of The Net's training base: a black-clothed assassin was parrying the siege of his companions with a short knife. His figure was ghostly and his knives were ruthless. He had actually practiced the 'Shadow Killing Technique' quite well, but he didn't know how to hold back, and had already scratched two people.

"Let Di Yun take him to the Northern Desert on the way," Jun Xiaoyao said. "If he is wild and untamable, throw him into the wolf den to grind him."

At this moment, a slight commotion came from outside the hall. Zhao Gao went out for a moment and returned with a blood-stained message talisman in his hand: "Young Lord, the Shadow Group was attacked in the Northern Desert! It was the 'Blood Wolf Guard' of the Wolf Tribe. Three assassins were surrounded. Di Yun just sent a message saying the other side has a Grandmaster Realm shaman priest who knows 'Beast Control Technique,' and the Shadow Group is trapped in Black Stone Gorge."

Jun Xiaoyao's fingertips tightened sharply, and the white jade chess piece was squeezed with a mark: "Li Kui, you take twenty elite assassins to support Black Stone Gorge. Remember, save people first, then destroy his altar—once that shaman priest leaves the altar, the Beast Control Technique will lose thirty percent of its power."

"Order received!" Li Kui picked up his dual axes and strode out of the hall. Twenty black-clothed assassins followed immediately, their footsteps shaking the corridor.

In the water mirror, Di Yun was leaning against the rock wall, waving his rusty iron sword to resist the pouncing wild wolves. When the Divine Light Scripture was running, a faint golden light appeared around him, actually bouncing off the sharp claws of the wild wolves; the assassins of the Shadow Group formed a defensive Formation, short knives striking out together, barely blocking the impact of the Blood Wolf Guard. Not far away, the shaman priest stood on the altar, pointing his bone staff, and more than ten wild wolves suddenly went berserk, their eyes turning crimson, charging without fear of death.

"Too slow." Jun Xiaoyao watched the scene in the mirror and quickly swiped his fingertips across the summoning array—although the Formation energy was almost exhausted, he still forcibly injected a trace of Internal Energy. "One last summoning."

[System Prompt: Insufficient energy, activating emergency plan, summoning auxiliary character...]

A soft white light lit up in the Formation, and a figure in a Taoist robe walked out slowly, holding a whisk; it was Ma Yu from 'the legend of the condor heroes.'

[Character Panel Expanded: Name: Ma Yu (from the 'the legend of the condor heroes' world); Realm: Late Grandmaster Realm; Martial Skill/Cultivation Technique: 1. Quanzhen Internal Skill: Extremely pure and harmonious, capable of rapidly calming the restless internal breath of oneself and others, and even neutralizing the influence of some confusion techniques and beast control techniques. 2. Golden Goose Skill: Footwork is light and agile, excels at dodging and support, once used this skill to pass the Formation eye in the Formation of the Seven Masters of Quanzhen. Special Abilities: - Heart-Clearing Mantra: Reciting scriptures can dispel mental control, letting controlled wild beasts regain their sanity, and has a restraining effect on the shaman priest's Beast Control Technique. - Healing Technique: Using Internal Skill to heal others, the speed is three times that of ordinary doctors, especially good at dealing with wounds caused by beast claws and tooth marks. Additional Items: - whisk (Magical Artifact): The whisk threads contain heart-clearing True Qi; where it sweeps, it can purify evil energy, making Beast Control Technique difficult to take effect. - Tao Te Ching (Copy): When opened and recited, it can enhance the power of the Heart-Clearing Mantra, expanding the range to ten zhang.]

"Daoist Priest Ma, thank you for your hard work," Jun Xiaoyao said. "The shaman priest of Black Stone Gorge is not easy to deal with. Please go to assist Li Kui and break his Beast Control Technique."

Ma Yu bowed: "This humble Daoist obeys the Young Lord's order." He flicked his whisk, his figure turned into a white shadow, and he chased in the direction of Li Kui.

In the water mirror, the battle situation in Black Stone Gorge quickly reversed. When Ma Yu's Heart-Clearing Mantra sounded, the berserk wild wolves stopped their movements one after another, their eyes regained clarity, and several even turned their heads to bare their fangs at the shaman priest; Li Kui's dual axes swept like a gale, splitting the stone pillar of the altar with one axe, the shaman priest's bone staff immediately lost its luster, and the Beast Control Technique completely failed; Di Yun took the opportunity to lead the Shadow Group assassins to break through, the golden light of the Divine Light Scripture protected the injured companions, and the rusty iron sword accurately pierced the wrist of the Blood Wolf Guard leader.

Jun Xiaoyao watched the battle in the mirror gradually subside and threw the crushed white jade chess piece onto the chessboard. The summoning array in the hall had completely darkened, the runes losing their luster like a sleeping snake. Zhao Gao tidied up the scattered ledgers and whispered: "Young Lord, this time we used Daoist Priest Ma, I'm afraid we will have to rest for half a month before we can summon again."

"It doesn't matter." Jun Xiaoyao stood up, walked outside the hall, and looked at the mountains shrouded in twilight in the distance. "It is time for The Net to settle down." He looked back at the plaque of the core hall—the three golden characters 'Beyond Heaven' were shining in the sunset. "After the matter in the Northern Desert is over, let the Marshal of the Unruly reorganize The Net, filter out those with crooked minds, and those who remain are the ones who can truly accomplish great things."

Zhao Gao nodded in agreement, but thought to himself: Although the Young Lord never shows his face, he sees everything clearly. The Net is like a net that is constantly tightening, and the Young Lord is the person holding The Net rope. He seems careless, but he can always tighten the rope at the most critical moment, leaving no escape for the prey trying to break free.

The night grew darker, and the lights in the core hall of Beyond Heaven lit up one by one, reflecting the empty summoning array. The message talisman sent back by Di Yun lay on the table with only three simple words on it: "Already escaped." Jun Xiaoyao picked up the talisman paper, his fingertips sliding over the handwriting on it, and a trace of an imperceptible arc curled up at the corner of his mouth.

He does not need to take action himself, because every blade of The Net is controlled by him; every move of Beyond Heaven is within his calculations.

The Imperial Dynasties, families, and Holy Lands on this continent are like chess pieces on a chessboard, and he is sitting outside the chessboard, watching the game of chess slowly unfold.