193: Net Clearing Obstacles

The night pearl in the core hall of Beyond Heaven emitted a soft halo of light. Jun Xiaoyao leaned back on the black iron throne, rotating a black jade ring on his fingertip.

In the water mirror, the slaughter at the North of the River ferry was nearing its end—Zhang Fei's serpent-headed spear pierced through the chest of the leader of the River-Crossing Dragon gang. His black steed trampled through the bloody water, neighing. Three hundred Luowang Assassins were methodically clearing the battlefield, binding the remaining gang members.

"Young Lord," Zhao Gao said, bowing as he held a freshly received secret report. "The River-Crossing Dragon's lair, the 'Dragon King Temple,' has been taken down by The Unruly. Thirty thousand taels of silver and a batch of contraband salt were seized. According to the rules, thirty percent goes to the Beyond Heaven treasury."

"However..." He paused. "General Zhang Fei used 'Mad Lion's Fury' and is currently regulating his breathing at the ferry; it will take seven days for him to recover."

Jun Xiaoyao's gaze did not leave the water mirror. In the mirror, Zhang Fei was sitting on a reef, his face as pale as paper, clearly exhausted. "Have the Poison Group send some 'spirit condensing pill' over," he said calmly. "Also, notify Yellow Pharmacist in the South of the River. Once he finishes tending to Flying's injuries, have him go to the North of the River to regulate General Zhang's Qi."

"Understood." Zhao Gao replied, then unfolded a dossier. "By the way, news has come from the black market: the owner of the 'Ten Thousand Treasures Tower' has announced that they will unite the seven great families to hold a 'Treasure-Gathering Assembly' in three months. It is said they will display the real treasure basin."

The ring on Jun Xiaoyao's fingertip stopped rotating: "The Murong Family's treasure basin?"

"Exactly." Zhao Gao added. "The owner of the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower is a Mysterious Person. No one knows his background, only that he has collected countless rare treasures, and even the imperial family gives him some face. For this assembly, he has invited dignitaries from various Imperial Dynasties, Elders of Sects, and even... sent an invitation to the Young Master of Tianwaitian."

A gold-stamped invitation suddenly appeared in the water mirror, written in seal script with the words "To the Young Master of Tianwaitian." The bottom right corner was stamped with the red seal of the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower. Jun Xiaoyao picked up the invitation, his fingertips brushing the paper. The touch was warm and smooth; it was actually carved from thousand-year jade marrow.

"Interesting." He placed the invitation on the table. "This owner knows that the Murong Family is fighting over the treasure basin, yet he still dares to hold an assembly. Either he is fearless, or he intends to sit back and reap the benefits."

Zhao Gao leaned in to look at the invitation: "Does the Young Lord intend to go?"

"No." Jun Xiaoyao shook his head. "It is not appropriate for Beyond Heaven to reveal itself. Let The Net send a representative. Remember, observe only, do not act. If anyone dares to covet the treasure basin at the assembly, handle it according to the rules—breaking the black market's rules is the same as slapping The Net in the face."

At this moment, the summoning array in the center of the hall suddenly emitted a faint light. As the runes flowed, the energy slot showed it had recovered to forty percent. Jun Xiaoyao raised an eyebrow: "It seems someone else is about to send us resources." He said to Zhao Gao, "Activate the Formation."

Zhao Gao followed the order and dripped his essence blood into the array eye. The Formation instantly erupted with dazzling golden light. From within the light, a figure in official robes walked out, holding a folding fan, with a handsome face. It was White Jade Rat from "three heroes and five gallants."

[Character Panel Expanded: Name: White Jade Rat (from the world of "three heroes and five gallants"). Realm: Late Grandmaster Realm. Martial Skills/Cultivation Technique: 1. Brocade Rat Movement Technique: Agile and swift, skilled in infiltration and escape; once broke into Kaifeng Prefecture at night without being detected. 2. Sleeve Arrow Technique: Conceals twenty-four bone-piercing nails in the sleeves, with a range of five zhang, precision comparable to an eagle's eye, specifically designed to break Protective Aura. Special Abilities: - Disguise and Voice Mimicry: Can imitate anyone's appearance and voice; once disguised as an imperial envoy to infiltrate the governor's mansion. - Mechanism Mastery: Can crack various locks and traps; the mechanisms of the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower are like nothing to him. Additional Items: - Folding Fan (Treasure Artifact): The fan ribs are made of black iron and can be disassembled into short blades; the fan surface depicts a map of the vast landscape, capable of confusing the opponent's line of sight. - Night-Walking Suit (Special Material): Impervious to water and fire, can conceal aura, rendering tracking arts below the Grandmaster Realm ineffective.]

White Jade Rat bowed and smiled: "Subordinate White Jade Rat, greets the Young Lord. Looking at this Formation, is there some fun task?"

Jun Xiaoyao pushed the invitation from the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower to him: "Go to the Treasure-Gathering Assembly in three months and keep an eye on the treasure basin for me. If anyone causes trouble, no need to ask for instructions, just disable them."

"Got it!" White Jade Rat put away his folding fan, a hint of excitement flashing in his eyes. "Just in time to see what treasures this Ten Thousand Treasures Tower has. If there's something that catches my eye, should I 'take' it back for the Young Lord?"

"Act according to your ability." Jun Xiaoyao said noncommittally. "Don't break the rules."

White Jade Rat left. The scene in the water mirror switched to the Murong Manor in the South of the River. The Blood Shadow Old Monster lay on the bed, his face green and black. Murong Fu stood by the bed, looking at his festering wounds, his brows locked tight. "Useless!" Murong Fu's voice was cold. "You couldn't even take down a mere Cliff of Repentance, and you even got hit by The Net's muscle-softening powder!"

The Blood Shadow Old Monster coughed up blood: "That Feng Qingyang's sword technique is too strange, subordinate... subordinate is no match for him. Patriarch, perhaps we should give up on the treasure basin. The power of The Net is unfathomable..."

"Shut up!" Murong Fu kicked over the medicine bowl. "The treasure basin is related to the revival of the Murong Family. Even if we have to sacrifice the whole clan, we must get it!" He turned to his confidant. "Go invite the master of 'Ghost Valley.' Tell him I am willing to trade half of my family's assets for his help. We must get the treasure basin before the Treasure-Gathering Assembly!"

Jun Xiaoyao, watching this scene in front of the water mirror, curled his lips into a cold smile: "Ghost Valley? Isn't that an evil Sect skilled in raising corpses?" He said to Zhao Gao, "Investigate the background of Ghost Valley."

Zhao Gao quickly brought the dossier: "Reporting to the Young Lord, the master of Ghost Valley, 'Master Corpse,' is in the Early Celestial Being Realm. It is said he has lived for a hundred years and can control a hundred bronze-armored corpses, using ruthless methods. Twenty years ago, he was hunted by the top ten Sects and fled into the hundred thousand mountains of the Southern Frontier. I didn't expect Murong Fu to be able to contact him."

Jun Xiaoyao tapped his fingertip on the summoning array: "It seems I have to summon someone else who can deal with evil arts."

The Formation lit up again, this time with the light of Buddha. From the golden light walked out a monk wearing a cassock, holding a purple gold alms bowl. It was Xuanzang from "journey to the west" (using a Wuxia derivative setting here, strengthening his ability to subdue demons and monsters).

[Character Panel Expanded: Name: Xuanzang (from the Wuxia derivative world of "journey to the west"). Realm: Peak Grandmaster Realm. Martial Skills/Cultivation Technique: 1. Tathagata Palm: The palm force contains Buddhist light, specifically designed to break evil things; bronze-armored corpses dissolve upon contact. 2. Tightening Fillet Spell (Improved Version): Uses Buddhist sounds to bind the minds of evil spirits, making Master Corpse's corpse-control technique ineffective. Special Abilities: - Buddha Light Protection: Three feet of Buddha light around his body; evil objects cannot get close, and the corpse energy of Ghost Valley cannot erode him. - Transcending Scriptures: Reciting scriptures can purify wandering souls, allowing controlled corpses to return to peace. Additional Items: - purple gold alms bowl (Buddhist Artifact): Can collect evil objects, sucking bronze-armored corpses into it to refine them. - Nine-Ring Tin Staff (Magical Artifact): Striking the ground can emit a Buddhist sound shockwave, shattering low-level corpse puppets.]

Xuanzang put his hands together and chanted a Buddhist name: "This monk Xuanzang greets the Young Lord."

"Master Corpse from the Southern Frontier's Ghost Valley intends to intervene in the matter of the treasure basin," Jun Xiaoyao said. "You go to the Southern Frontier, keep an eye on his movements, and don't let him ruin the rules of the Treasure-Gathering Assembly."

"This monk obeys." Xuanzang turned and left. Wherever the Buddha light passed, the runes of the summoning array glowed with a soft luster.

At this moment, the Marshal of the Unruly's message talisman suddenly lit up. His voice carried a hint of solemnity: "Young Lord, the background of the River-Crossing Dragon has been discovered in the North of the River—it is the 'Xuanbing Dynasty' of the Northern Territory. Their Third Prince is secretly supporting the River-Crossing Dragon, with the goal of monopolizing the water transport in the North of the River. Just now, the Xuanbing Dynasty has sent five thousand elite troops into the North of the River, claiming to 'clear out bandits,' but in reality, they are targeting us."

A cold light flashed in Jun Xiaoyao's eyes: "Xuanbing Dynasty? They want to interfere in Jianghu affairs?" He looked at the summoning array, the energy was almost exhausted. "Have Zhang Fei retreat to the South of the River. Leave the North of the River to the Shadow Group of The Net for now, and avoid their sharp edge."

"Understood." The Marshal of the Unruly replied.

Jun Xiaoyao stood up and walked outside the hall, looking at the crescent moon on the horizon: "Xuanbing Dynasty, Murong Family, Ghost Valley... This game of chess is getting more and more lively." He turned back to Zhao Gao. "Tell all members of The Net that for the next three months, we will shrink our defensive lines and prepare fully for the Treasure-Gathering Assembly."

Zhao Gao bowed and acknowledged, but in his heart, he understood that although the Young Lord appeared to be retreating, he was actually accumulating strength. Whether it was the five thousand elite troops of the Xuanbing Dynasty or the bronze-armored corpses of Ghost Valley, in front of the Beyond Heaven's The Net, they were ultimately just clowns.

The night pearl in the core hall gradually dimmed, and the runes of the summoning array also fell silent, as if accumulating energy for the next eruption. Jun Xiaoyao returned to the throne, picked up the black jade ring, and under the candlelight, the character "Tian" on the ring faintly glowed.

He didn't need to enter the field himself, because the blade of The Net was sharp enough; the people summoned were strong enough. Beyond Heaven was like an invisible net, covering the sky above this continent, seemingly calm, but secretly weaving its own order—those who submit to me will prosper, those who oppose me will surely die.