194: Xuanbing Binglin

Jun Xiaoyao leaned against the mysterious iron throne, his fingertips tapping the Taotie patterns on the armrest. His gaze fell upon the scene in the water mirror of the North of the River border—five thousand elite troops of the Xuanbing Dynasty had set up camp at the ferry.

Silver armor shimmered coldly under the moonlight. The camp stretched for ten miles, and the "Xuanbing" characters on the banners exuded a murderous aura.

"Marshal of the Unruly, has the Shadow Group of The Net withdrawn?" His voice was flat, devoid of emotion.

The message talisman beside the water mirror lit up, and the voice of the Marshal of the Unruly came through: "Reporting to the Young Lord, the Shadow Group has fully withdrawn to the South of the River, leaving only three hidden sentries to monitor the movements of the camp."

He paused. "The Third Prince of Xuanbing is personally sitting in the central command tent. Judging by the posture, they intend to stay for a long time."

Jun Xiaoyao nodded slightly. His fingertips traced the map of the North of the River on the table. The locations of the Xuanbing army camps, marked in vermilion on the map, were dense, like a swarm of ants gnawing at the riverbank.

"They want the rights to water transport, yet they use 'clearing out bandits' as an excuse. They are certainly good at gilding their own faces."

"Young Lord, do you need the Profound Armor Battalion to Move?" Zhao Gao stepped out from the shadows, holding a dossier. "This is the information on the Third Prince of Xuanbing, Zhao Xuan—Innate Realm Peak, skilled in ice-type Cultivation Technique. Last year, he suppressed the pastoral rebellion in the Northern Territory with ruthless methods."

Jun Xiaoyao took the dossier and flipped through it nonchalantly. "Innate Realm? Not enough to warrant the Profound Armor Battalion."

He suddenly stopped at a certain page, a cold, sharp smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Oh? He even raised a 'Snow-line Eagle' as a scout? That saves us the trouble of reconnaissance."

Zhao Gao followed his gaze. The dossier stated, "The Third Prince of Xuanbing keeps an exotic beast, the Snow-line Eagle, which travels a thousand miles a day and can observe movements within a hundred miles." He immediately understood Jun Xiaoyao's intent.

At this moment, the summoning array in the center of the hall suddenly lit up with a pale blue light, the runes flowing like water ripples—this was a sign of a low-level summoning. Jun Xiaoyao raised his hand to signal Zhao Gao to step back. The light in the array condensed, gradually revealing a figure: dressed in washed-white cloth clothes, with a wine gourd at his waist, and holding a rusty iron sword in his hand. It was Linghu Chong from the smiling, proud wanderer.

[Character Panel Expanded: Name: Linghu Chong (From the smiling, proud wanderer world). Realm: Grandmaster Initial Stage. Martial Skill Cultivation Technique: 1. Nine Swords of Dugu: Sword Breaking Style, Blade Breaking Style, Palm Breaking Style, etc., nine styles capable of breaking all martial arts in the world. 2. Star Absorbing Great Technique: Capable of absorbing others' Internal Energy for one's own use, requires Muscle Tendon Changing Classic to resolve backlash (not yet learned). Special Abilities: - Sword Heart and Music Mind: Sword techniques are agile and unrestrained, not bound by Moves, with extreme creativity when facing enemies. - Wine-Induced Sword Spirit: Sword Moves appear more elegant after drinking, increasing power by 30%. Additional Items: - Iron Sword (Mortal Weapon): Seems ordinary, but Moves according to the master's will; when sword Moves are executed, there is a faint sound of a Dragon roar. - Wine Gourd: Contains 'Monkey Wine', drinking it can quickly restore Internal Energy.]

Linghu Chong hiccuped, rubbed his eyes to see the surroundings clearly, and cupped his hands with a smile. "This Young Lord, calling me here, could it be that you have good wine to treat me?"

Jun Xiaoyao pushed the dossier of the Xuanbing Dynasty to him. "There are five thousand elite troops in the North of the River, and there is a jar of 'Burning Knife' buried for thirty years in their camp. Go get it and share it with the brothers." He changed the subject. "By the way, let Zhao Xuan's Snow-line Eagle taste the power of the Nine Swords of Dugu."

Linghu Chong's eyes lit up. He grabbed the iron sword and shouldered the wine gourd. "Wine as payment? I'll take this job!" His steps were unsteady yet agile. He walked to the edge of the array and suddenly turned back. "By the way, if you run into someone called Yue Buqun, trouble you to pass on a message for me: 'A gentleman's sword suits a hypocrite, a perfect match'!" After saying this, he laughed and left, his figure disappearing into the teleportation light pattern in an instant.

Zhao Gao looked at the lingering smell of wine in the array and said in a low voice, "Young Lord, Linghu Chong hasn't resolved the backlash of the Star Absorbing Great Technique yet, will it..."

"It doesn't matter." Jun Xiaoyao interrupted him. "The Internal Energy of the Xuanbing soldiers is mixed and impure; it's just right for him to absorb enough." He pointed to the water mirror. "Look, Zhao Xuan's Snow-line Eagle has flown out."

In the water mirror, a white giant eagle with a wingspan of over a zhang was soaring from the Xuanbing army camp, its sharp claws gleaming with cold light, clearly intending to scout the movements of the South of the River. At this moment, Linghu Chong had just landed in the reed marshes by the river. He looked up at the giant eagle, grinned, and drew his iron sword to slash casually—it was the 'Arrow Breaking Style' of the Nine Swords of Dugu. The sword light swept across like a stream of silk, accurately slicing into the giant eagle's left wing.

"Screech—" The Snow-line Eagle screamed as it plummeted toward the river, feathers from its wings flying like snow. Linghu Chong's figure chased after it like a ghost. The tip of his sword tapped on the eagle's claw, and the giant eagle immediately went limp. He dragged it by the leg into the reed marsh, leaving only a few drops of blood on the water surface.

Zhao Xuan in the central command tent stood up abruptly, looking at the empty sky, his face livid. "Where is the Snow-line Eagle?!!"

A guard reported in a panic: "Your Highness, the Eagle just now was slashed down on the South of the River bank, and there's no movement!"

Zhao Xuan smashed his fist on the table, shattering the bronze wine cup: "Investigate! Investigate who did this for me! Daring to touch my things, they are tired of living!"

Jun Xiaoyao in front of the water mirror picked up his teacup, watching Zhao Xuan's furious appearance, a faint smile on his lips. At this moment, the message talisman lit up again; it was news from the hidden sentries of The Net: "Young Lord, the Xuanbing camp has started searching, and they have sent ten speedboats to patrol along the river."

"Let Linghu Chong withdraw when he has had enough fun." Jun Xiaoyao put down the teacup. "Zhao Gao, send the token of the 'Heaven' Battalion to the Marshal of the Unruly. Tell him, if Zhao Xuan dares to cross the river, treat him with the 'Water Mine Array'."

Zhao Gao responded and retrieved a mysterious iron token engraved with the character 'Heaven', injecting Internal Energy to activate the teleportation talisman. The token turned into a stream of light and shot into the water mirror, falling into the hands of the Marshal of the Unruly.

When the Marshal of the Unruly received the token, he was leading the Shadow Group to set up hidden stakes on the South of the River bank. He stroked the patterns on the token and said to the assassins beside him: "The Young Lord has ordered, if the Xuanbing boats dare to cross the boundary, set off some fireworks for them to see!"

The assassins answered in unison. The water mines (clay pots wrapped in tung oil, filled with gunpowder) in their hands were quietly pushed to the bottom of the river, with fuses connected to the mechanisms on the shore, waiting for the order to detonate.

At this time, Linghu Chong had tied the corpse of the Snow-line Eagle to a reed stalk, making a simple scarecrow, with a wooden sign inserted above it: "Prince of Xuanbing, eagle meat doesn't taste good. Next time, send a jar of good wine as an apology?" Then he found a crooked-neck tree, leaned against the trunk, and drank the Monkey Wine, waiting to see Zhao Xuan's reaction.

Zhao Xuan was indeed enraged by the scarecrow and immediately ordered: "Prepare the boats! This Prince wants to go to the South of the River personally to see who is courting death!"

Five thousand elite soldiers moved at the command, and ten warships raised their sails, slowly sailing away from the ferry. In the water mirror, the Marshal of the Unruly was sneering as he turned the mechanism lever. Sparks began to appear on the fuses of the water mines at the bottom of the river.

Jun Xiaoyao raised his hand to signal Zhao Gao to turn off the water mirror: "No need to watch. Let them make a scene." He looked at the summoning array; the energy in the array had recovered a little bit. "Summon another one who is good at defense, so Zhao Xuan doesn't jump over the wall in desperation."

As the runes flowed, a figure wearing armor appeared in the array, with a resolute face and holding a long spear. It was Yue Fei from the complete story of yue fei.

[Character Panel Expanded: Name: Yue Fei (From the complete story of yue fei world). Realm: Grandmaster Initial Stage. Martial Skill Cultivation Technique: 1. Li Quan Spear Technique: The spear strikes like a Dragon, capable of sweeping across thousands of troops; once knocked down a great general of the Jin Kingdom with one spear. 2. Yue Family Spear Technique: Contains thirty-two Moves, both offensive and defensive, especially skilled in formation battle and defense. Special Abilities: - Divine Military Management: Can train scattered soldiers into elites within three days, increasing team combat power by 30%. - Loyalty to the Country: His own Qi and blood can transform into a shield, protecting friendly forces within ten zhang. Additional Items: - Li Quan Divine Spear (Divine Weapon): The spear body is engraved with Dragon patterns; when thrust, there is a faint Dragon roar, with extremely strong armor-piercing ability. - Commander Flag: When unfurled, it can stabilize military morale, allowing friendly forces to ignore fear effects.]

Yue Fei knelt on one knee, his voice like a bell: "Subordinate Yue Fei, greets the Young Lord!"

Jun Xiaoyao helped him up: "General Yue, the defense line of the South of the River is entrusted to you. The Xuanbing troops are not to be feared, but we must guard against them desperately setting fire to the river."

Yue Fei cupped his hands: "Subordinate will definitely not let you down! I will go set up fireproof embankments now and train a water force to ensure that not an inch of the South of the River is lost!"

Watching Yue Fei leave with vigorous and resolute actions, Jun Xiaoyao leaned back on the throne. The farce in the North of the River had just begun. Since the chess pieces of the Xuanbing Dynasty had delivered themselves to the door, wouldn't it be a pity not to use them? His fingertips tapped on the armrest, and he had already outlined the next step of the layout in his heart—let Linghu Chong disrupt the military morale, Yue Fei stabilize the defense line, and then use Zhao Xuan's hand to drag the aristocratic families of the South of the River into the water. At that time, Beyond Heaven would sit back and reap the profits. Wouldn't that be wonderful?

The wind outside the hall blew with the dampness of the river water, rolling up a corner of the curtain, revealing the increasingly dense stars in the night sky. Jun Xiaoyao looked at those stars, as if he saw the future territory of Beyond Heaven. Every star would be a piece on his chessboard.