202: Southern Chu obtains "sand"

Jun Xiaoyao sat on the profound iron chair in the Core Hall of Beyond Heaven, his fingertip lightly tapping the taotie pattern on the armrest.

There were no candles inside the hall; only four water mirrors emitted a faint blue glow, casting his profile in alternating light and shadow. In the first water mirror on the left, Zhao Gao stood before the bronze mirror at The Net Headquarters.

His fingertip swept across the densely packed names on the mirror—these were the targets of missions The Net had recently accepted. Red, green, and yellow dots marked the mission progress: red light meant completed, green light meant pending, and yellow light meant in progress.

"Young Lord," Zhao Gao's voice came through the message talisman, carrying a deliberately suppressed reverence, "We just took a huge order from the Black Market—the Icefield Wolf Clan in the Northern Territory wants us to eliminate the Steward of the Liusha Sect in the Western Regions.

They offered thirty million taels of gold, plus the mining rights to three iron ore deposits. They said the Liusha Sect has been secretly digging soul-eating sand recently, and the Icefield Wolf Clan Chief feared they would damage the Northern Territory's Earth Veins, which is why they ordered the killing blow."

Jun Xiaoyao didn't even lift his eyelids, his gaze fixed on the second water mirror. The mirror showed the Marshal of the Unruly at The Unruly's Camp, using a silver needle to prick his fingertip and drip blood onto a black strange stone.

After meeting the blood, the strange stone glowed red, and a few lines of small text appeared: [soul-eating sand source: Black Wind Valley, Western Regions, connected to the Liusha Sect's Mine Shaft].

"Have The Net accept the mission." Jun Xiaoyao's voice was flat and emotionless. "Also, have the Marshal of the Unruly take a team of The Unruly to Black Wind Valley to confirm the reserves of soul-eating sand. If the amount is large, seize the entire Mine Shaft."

"Yes, Young Lord!" Zhao Gao immediately responded, turning to the Shadow Guards behind him. "Pass on my order: The Net's 'Heaven' Group is to take the Icefield Wolf Clan's mission, target the Liusha Sect Steward, and complete it within three days! Also, send word to the Marshal of the Unruly to prepare to lead a team to Black Wind Valley!"

The Shadow Guards accepted the order and withdrew. On the bronze mirror, the green light next to the name "Liusha Sect Steward" immediately turned yellow.

In the third water mirror, West Gate Blows Snow had just emerged from White Camel Mountain Villa's Secret Passage. A corner of the "Toad Skill Essentials" silk scroll in his hand was lifted by the night wind, revealing half a map tucked inside.

His figure flickered, and he landed beside Zhan Zhao, handing over the silk scroll: "Found it. Look at this map; it seems to be the Black Wind Valley Mine Shaft Distribution Map."

Zhan Zhao took the silk scroll, unfolded the map under the moonlight, and frowned slightly: "That's right, the marked location overlaps with the soul-eating sand source reported by the Marshal of the Unruly.

The Liusha Sect is indeed mining in Black Wind Valley, and the Mine Shaft is dug extremely deep, almost reaching the Icefield Wolf Clan's territory."

As the two were speaking, the sound of hooves approached from afar. General Zhao Yun rode up on his horse, holding his bright silver spear, followed by a squad of The Unruly Cavalry: "The Marshal of the Unruly wants us to first set up control around the perimeter of Black Wind Valley and wait for his main force before taking action. Mr. Ximen, Brother Zhan, shall we go together?"

West Gate Blows Snow nodded, his black scabbard sword gleaming coldly under the moonlight: "Let's go."

Zhan Zhao patted the juque sword at his waist and flipped onto the accompanying black horse: "It's time to see what the origin of this soul-eating sand is."

The scene in the fourth water mirror shifted to the entrance of Black Wind Valley. Liusha Sect guards were patrolling, carrying iron shovels. A small mountain of black sand piled up at the Mine Shaft entrance, emitting a strange purple glow—it was the soul-eating sand. Several people resembling Miners were squatting by the pile, moving slowly, their eyes dull, their cheeks covered in greenish-black spots.

"Hurry up and load it! This batch of sand must be transported to the Southern Chu Dynasty people. If you delay the time, the Steward will flay you alive!" A guard with a fleshy face kicked a Miner. The Miner stumbled and fell, unable to get up for a long time, and black blood actually overflowed from the corner of his mouth.

Jun Xiaoyao's fingertip paused before the water mirror, and a faint indentation was tapped into the taotie pattern on the armrest. He took out a piece of Dark Jade token from his sleeve, flicked it lightly, and the token transformed into a streak of light, flying out of the hall—this was a Summoning Order, a signal specifically for Beyond Heaven's Core Members.

A moment later, Red Whip Woman floated into the hall, stepping on a red leaf. She had just finished dealing with the aftermath of Wang Chongyang's Corpse Fiend on Zhongnan Mountain, and her skirt still had lingering Gold Dust: "Young Lord, what are your orders for summoning me?"

"Take some Antidote Pills to Black Wind Valley," Jun Xiaoyao's voice transmitted through the water mirror. "Those Miners have been poisoned by the soul-eating sand, and they are still useful alive."

Red Whip Woman nodded and took out a Carved Porcelain Bottle from her sleeve: "This is the newly refined 'Soul Clearing Pill.' It can temporarily suppress the toxins. I will head over now." With that, her figure disappeared outside the hall.

At this moment, Zhao Gao's message talisman lit up again: "Young Lord, the Liusha Sect Steward has received wind of the situation and is packing up to flee. Should we have The Net move ahead of schedule?"

Jun Xiaoyao looked at the first water mirror. The yellow light of the "Liusha Sect Steward" on the bronze mirror was flickering, as if urging action. He drew a circle on the armrest with his fingertip: "Don't let the 'Heaven' Group kill him directly; capture him alive. I need to ask him when the Southern Chu Dynasty people are coming to collect the sand."

"Understood!"

The water mirror scene shifted, and the assassins from The Net's "Heaven" Group had infiltrated the Liusha Sect Headquarters. The leading Man in Black wore a Bronze Mask, his short blade slicing through the window paper as he silently landed on the beam of the Steward's Bedroom. The Steward was stuffing a stack of Account Books into a Secret Compartment, muttering, "This batch of sand is high purity, and Southern Chu raised the price by twenty percent again. Once this shipment is sold, I'll go hide in the Eastern Regions..."

Before he finished speaking, the Masked Man leaped down from the beam, placing the short blade against his neck: "Liusha Sect Steward, come with us."

The Steward was so terrified he collapsed on the ground, his pant legs damp with fluid: "D-don't kill me! I know Southern Chu's secret... They are buying soul-eating sand to refine heart-eroding gu, which they plan to use to control the Elders of the major Schools!"

The Masked Man snorted coldly, used a Cloth Strip to gag his mouth, lifted him onto his shoulder, and walked out. On the bronze mirror, the light dot for the "Liusha Sect Steward" completely turned red.

In Black Wind Valley, when the Marshal of the Unruly arrived with the main force, General Zhao Yun and West Gate Blows Snow had already secured the Mine Shaft entrance. The Marshal of the Unruly looked at the sluggish Miners, his brow tightly furrowed: "Where is Red Whip Woman? Tell her to quickly detoxify the Miners!"

"Coming!" Red Whip Woman's voice came from the air. She floated down, stepping on the Pill Furnace Lid, and distributed the Soul Clearing Pills to the Miners: "Hold it under your tongue; you'll recover within half an hour."

The Miners tremblingly accepted the Medicinal Pills and held them in their mouths. Before long, some coughed up black phlegm, and their eyes gradually regained clarity. One Old Miner grabbed Red Whip Woman's sleeve, sobbing: "Please save us, Miss... The Liusha Sect forced us to dig this cursed sand. Many people couldn't endure it... Those who died were just thrown into the Mine Shaft to fill it up..."

The Marshal of the Unruly's gaze darkened upon hearing this, and he waved his hand: "The Unruly, listen up! Seal all Mine Shaft exits, search carefully, and record the location of any bodies found immediately. Don't miss a single one!"

"Yes!"

Zhan Zhao took the map and walked deep into the Mine Shaft, finding dozens of bodies wrapped in Straw Mats piled in a corner. Black blood seeped from the mats, exactly matching the signs of Wang Chongyang's Corpse Fiend transformation. He drew his juque sword to lift the Straw Mats. Every body had the same Brand on the chest—the Southern Chu Dynasty's Mysterious Bird Pattern.

"Marshal of the Unruly, look at this!" Zhan Zhao held up the Rubbing of the Brand in his hand.

The Marshal of the Unruly took the rubbing, his expression suddenly changing: "It is indeed Southern Chu's doing! They want to use soul-eating sand to refine a Corpse Fiend Army. This is meant to incite chaos across the continent!"

Jun Xiaoyao slowly stood up before the water mirror. Dense footsteps sounded outside the hall—Beyond Heaven's Core Members had all arrived. General Zhao Yun, West Gate Blows Snow, Zhan Zhao, Red Whip Woman, Marshal of the Unruly... the figures of everyone appeared in the four water mirrors, their gazes unanimously directed toward the Core Hall.

"Young Lord, issue the order!" The Marshal of the Unruly's voice was filled with killing intent. "Southern Chu dared to harm our people and take lives by digging soul-eating sand. It's time to settle this score!"

Jun Xiaoyao looked at the faces of everyone in the water mirrors, and his fingertip heavily struck the armrest of the profound iron chair. The four water mirrors suddenly converged, transforming into a massive Mirror Wall, reflecting the full view of Black Wind Valley—The Net's assassins were clearing out the Liusha Sect Remnants, The Unruly were treating the Miners, and Red Whip Woman's Soul Clearing Pills emitted a golden light, suppressing the purple glow of the soul-eating sand.

"The Net is to continue tracking Southern Chu's Transaction Lines, and The Unruly are responsible for clearing out the Black Wind Valley Mine Shaft," Jun Xiaoyao's voice transmitted through the Mirror Wall to every corner. "Three days from now, I want to hear your detailed reports in Beyond Heaven's Deliberation Hall."

"Yes! Young Lord!"

When the Mirror Wall dissipated, the sky turned a fish-belly white. Jun Xiaoyao sat down again, his fingertip lightly tapping the armrest, a cold, sharp arc forming on the corner of his mouth. Southern Chu Dynasty, soul-eating sand, Corpse Fiend Army... this game was getting more and more interesting. He didn't mind letting these forces know that Beyond Heaven doesn't just take Assassination Orders; it will also reveal its sharpest blade when others infringe upon its interests.

The daylight outside the hall grew brighter, illuminating the patterns on the profound iron chair, making the interwoven sword marks and blade shadows clearer—that was the mark belonging to Beyond Heaven, and the New Order about to be carved onto this continent.