192: Murong Family

Jun Xiaoyao sat on the jade throne in the core hall of Beyond Heaven, his fingertips lightly tapping the armrest, his gaze falling on the water mirror in front of him.

In the mirror was a secret report from the south sent by The Net: After the Blood Shadow Old Monster of the Murong Family severely injured Flying, he had turned his target to the Siguo Cliff of the West Peak Sword Sect, seemingly wanting to take advantage of Linghu Chong being grounded to seize the Nine Swords of Dugu manual on the cliff.

“Zhao Gao.” Jun Xiaoyao's voice was flat and waveless, yet it carried an unquestionable command.

Zhao Gao, who was standing by, immediately bowed: “Your subordinate is here.”

“How much energy reserve does The Net have left?”

“Replying to the Young Lord, after half a month of rest, the energy of the summoning array has recovered by thirty percent, enough for one intermediate summoning.”

Zhao Gao opened the dark gold ledger and his fingertips slid across the “Energy Income and Expenditure” page, “News has come from the Marshal of the Unruly that the secret posts of The Net in the south have already controlled the three streets outside the Murong Manor and can receive the summoned personnel at any time.”

Jun Xiaoyao nodded slightly, his gaze returning to the water mirror.

In the mirror, the Blood Shadow Old Monster was standing under the Siguo Cliff, his withered fingers crushing a rock, the debris falling to the ground with a rustle—he was testing the Restriction on the cliff.

Linghu Chong's figure was vaguely visible on the top of the cliff, a cold light occasionally flashing from the long sword in his hand; he had clearly noticed the disturbance.

“It's time to add some personnel.” Jun Xiaoyao tapped his fingertips on the groove of the summoning array, and the eye of the Formation immediately lit up with a ghostly blue light, “Target: Skilled in breaking Formations and unlocking Restrictions, with a Realm of at least Late Grandmaster Realm.”

The Formation hummed and rotated, and a figure gradually emerged in the blue light: he was dressed in a clean green robe, with a rusty sword hanging from his waist; it was Feng Qingyang from “the smiling, proud wanderer”.

When he landed, he stirred up a breeze, and as his robes fluttered, his eyes swept across the hall and finally landed on Jun Xiaoyao, kneeling on one knee:

“Subordinate Feng Qingyang, greets the Young Lord.”

[Character Panel Expanded: Name: Feng Qingyang (from the world of “the smiling, proud wanderer”), Realm: Late Stage Great Grandmaster, Martial Skill Cultivation Technique: 1. Nine Swords of Dugu: Breaks all martial arts in the world, divided into nine Moves including “General Formula”, “Sword Breaking Style”, and “Palm Breaking Style”, capable of instantly seeing through the flaws in an opponent's Move. 2. Purple Mist Technique: Internal Energy is mellow and long-lasting, can quickly restore one's own Qi, and can also dissolve external attacks. Special Abilities: - Sword Intent Divine: Can deter opponents below the Grandmaster Realm with just Sword Intent, causing their weapons to fall from their hands. - Restriction Breaking Technique: Proficient in ancient Restriction techniques, once used Sword Qi to split the century-old Seal of the back mountain of Huashan. Additional Items: - Rusty Sword (Companion Weapon): Looks decayed, but can change shape with Sword Intent, and will emit a platinum luster when performing the Nine Swords of Dugu. - Manual Rubbing (Incomplete Manual): Records the basic practice methods of the Nine Swords of Dugu, can be given to others for initiation.]

Jun Xiaoyao lifted his fingertips slightly: “The Restriction on Siguo Cliff was set by the successive Sect Heads of the Huashan Sect, and the Blood Shadow Old Monster is about to break it. You go and help Linghu Chong guard the manual. You don't need to take his life; just let the Murong Family know that the people of Beyond Heaven are not to be trifled with.”

Feng Qingyang cupped his hands: “Subordinate understands.”

When he turned around, the rusty sword suddenly let out a light sound like a dragon's chant, and his figure turned into a green shadow, disappearing into the blue light of the summoning array—this was a spatial teleportation technique unique to The Net, which could directly send the summoned person to the designated coordinates.

The scene in the water mirror changed: under the Siguo Cliff, the Blood Shadow Old Monster's Blood Shadow Escape had just pierced through the third layer of the Restriction, when a platinum Sword Qi suddenly fell from the top of the cliff, smashing in front of him like a waterfall, stirring up a stone wave a zhang high.

Feng Qingyang's figure stood firm at the edge of the cliff, his rusty sword pointing obliquely at the ground, and the Sword Qi wove into a dense net around his body.

“Who is Your Excellency? You dare to meddle in the affairs of the Murong Family?” The Blood Shadow Old Monster's voice sounded like a broken gong rubbing together, and Blood Shadow Clones surrounded him from all directions, each holding a poisoned short needle.

Feng Qingyang couldn't be bothered to answer, his long sword trembled slightly, and the “Palm Breaking Style” of the Nine Swords of Dugu had already been delivered.

I saw the platinum Sword Qi traveling like a thin needle, instantly piercing the wrists of all the Clones, and the poison needles fell to the ground with a “clatter”.

This Move caused the pupils of the Blood Shadow Old Monster's real body to shrink suddenly—he had not even seen the trajectory of the opponent's sword Move.

“Breaking the Restriction is not difficult; the difficulty lies in guarding the heart.” Feng Qingyang's voice drifted down the cliff with the wind, “The Restriction of this Siguo Cliff is set for those with crooked hearts.”

He turned his wrist, and the Sword Qi suddenly turned into a chain, wrapping around the Blood Shadow Old Monster's ankle and pulling him to the ground.

Linghu Chong on the top of the cliff was dumbfounded, and the long sword in his hand almost fell—this sword technique was a hundred times more exquisite than what his Master Yue Buqun had taught him!

Jun Xiaoyao looked at the embarrassed appearance of the Blood Shadow Old Monster in the water mirror and said to Zhao Gao: “Let the Marshal of the Unruly send the ‘Poison Group’ of The Net in the south to add some ingredients to the Blood Shadow Old Monster's wounds.”

Zhao Gao immediately picked up his pen and wrote a message talisman. When the talisman paper burned out, in the water mirror scene in the south, several Men in Black leaped out from the shadows like ghosts, driving silver needles soaked with “muscle-softening powder” into the Blood Shadow Old Monster's wounds.

The old monster had just struggled to stand up when his legs suddenly went soft, and he fell heavily to the ground, his Blood Shadow Clones instantly collapsing.

“Young Lord, the reinforcements from the Murong Family are coming soon.” Zhao Gao pointed to the corner of the water mirror, where a team of guards in red was riding over, with the word “Murong” embroidered on their flags.

Jun Xiaoyao tapped his fingertips on the armrest of the jade throne: “Let Feng Qingyang withdraw.”

He looked at the summoning array, the blue light had dimmed a lot, “Leave the Blood Shadow Old Monster to cause trouble for the Murong Family—a piece of trash who has been hit by the muscle-softening powder is enough to give them a headache for three days.”

In the water mirror, Feng Qingyang's figure turned into a green shadow and swept down the Siguo Cliff. Before leaving, he looked back at Linghu Chong on the top of the cliff, and the rusty sword trembled slightly, leaving behind three afterimages of sword Moves—it was the “Arrow Breaking Style”, “Qi Breaking Style”, and “General Formula” of the Nine Swords of Dugu.

Linghu Chong was so fascinated that he forgot to say thank you.

“These three Moves are enough for him to ponder for half a year.” Jun Xiaoyao chuckled, “Consider it a favor to the West Peak Sword Sect.”

Zhao Gao recorded “Feng Qingyang supported Siguo Cliff, consumed ten percent of energy” in the ledger, and then said: “The Marshal of the Unruly said that The Net has accepted a new task in the black market; someone wants to hire us to kill the leader of the Jiangnan Salt Gang.”

Jun Xiaoyao shook his head: “The Salt Gang has no grievances with Beyond Heaven, so we won't accept it.”

He paused and added, “Let the Poison Group keep a close eye on the Blood Shadow Old Monster. If the Murong Family dares to kill him to silence him, then expose their evidence of colluding with the Western Regions drug lords to the government.”

When Zhao Gao responded, a black shadow suddenly broke into the water mirror—it was the confidant of the Marshal of the Unruly, who was kneeling on the ground to report: “Young Lord, the granary of The Net in the North of the River has been burned! The ones who set the fire are the people of the ‘Dragon Crossing the River’, and they said they want to grab our water transport business next month!”

The smile on Jun Xiaoyao's face faded, and the jade ring on his fingertip turned gently: “Dragon Crossing the River?”

He looked at the summoning array, the remaining energy flickering in the eye of the Formation, “It seems I have to summon someone else.”

The Formation lit up with a red light again, which was a sign of matching a fierce character. A strong man with a leopard head and round eyes walked out of the red light, holding an eighteen-foot snake spear, his voice like a giant thunder: “The end general Zhang Fei, greets the Young Lord!”

[Character Panel Expanded: Name: Zhang Fei (from the world of “romance of the three kingdoms”), Realm: Mid-stage Grandmaster, Martial Skill Cultivation Technique: 1. Overlord Spear (improved version): The spear strikes like thunder, can sweep across thousands of troops, once scared away Cao Cao's million soldiers at Changban Slope. 2. Furious Lion's Rage: Stimulates one's own Qi and blood, strength triples in a short time, the price is weakness for three days afterwards. Special Abilities: - Roar Breaks Dangyang Bridge: Uses a roar to deter the opponent's mind, those below the Grandmaster Realm will directly faint. - Brave and Fearless: Gets braver the more he fights, every time he defeats an opponent, his attack speed increases by ten percent. Additional Items: - Eighteen-foot Snake Spear (Divine Weapon): The spear body is wrapped with mysterious iron chains, can whip and strike targets ten zhang away. - Wuzhui Horse (Treasure Horse): Travels a thousand miles a day, can run on water, and can crush solid ice when hooves generate wind.]

Jun Xiaoyao pointed his fingertips at the fire of the granary in the North of the River in the water mirror: “General Zhang, take three hundred Luowang Assassins and let the Dragon Crossing the River know that the things of Beyond Heaven are not to be touched.”

Zhang Fei shouted and responded: “The end general obeys!”

He turned over and mounted the horse, the eighteen-foot snake spear drew a red light in the air, “Dare to burn the Young Lord's granary? Old Zhang will sink all their ships!”

Watching Zhang Fei's figure disappear into the teleportation array, Zhao Gao couldn't help but say: “Young Lord, General Zhang Fei's Furious Lion's Rage is too harmful to the body, should we...”

“It doesn't matter.” Jun Xiaoyao interrupted him, “The leader of the Dragon Crossing the River is in the Innate Realm, just right for General Zhang to stretch his muscles.”

He looked at the spreading fire in the water mirror, “By the way, have the secret posts in the south prepare healing medicine for when General Zhang returns.”

The sound of the night watchman tapping the watch came from outside the hall; it was already the third watch.

Jun Xiaoyao got up and walked outside the hall, looking at the starry sky exclusive to Beyond Heaven—this night sky covered by the Formation could only be seen from the core hall.

He raised his hand to catch a falling night dew, his fingertips cold.

“Zhao Gao,” he said softly, “For next month's water transport, send more people from The Net.”

“Yes.”

“Also,” Jun Xiaoyao's gaze fell on the summoning array, where the red light was slowly settling, “Keep an eye on Linghu Chong of the West Peak Sword Sect. If he can comprehend those three sword Moves, incorporate him into the ‘Sharp Group’ of The Net.”

A flash of surprise flashed in Zhao Gao's eyes, and then he bowed in agreement.

He knew that the Young Lord never did useless work, and this Linghu Chong was afraid that he would become a new pawn of Beyond Heaven.

In the water mirror, Zhang Fei's Wuzhui Horse had already stepped across the ferry in the North of the River, the eighteen-foot snake spear flew off the first sentry of the Dragon Crossing the River, and the roar shook the river surface, causing ripples.

When Jun Xiaoyao turned back to the hall, a faint smile hooked at the corner of his mouth—The Net's net was tightening, and the shadow of Beyond Heaven had just begun to cover this continent.