208: Buddha's light dispels evil.

The water mirror in the core hall of Beyond Heaven shimmered with triple halos.

Jun Xiaoyao tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest of the black iron chair, his gaze landing on the scene of the Southern Chu Imperial Palace.

Xuanzang's purple gold alms bowl hung in mid-air, its mouth facing downward.

A golden beam of light enveloped the altar, and the blood-colored runes summoned by the Black-Robed State Preceptor melted away inch by inch within the light, emitting a "hissing" burning sound.

"Evil creature, will you not surrender?"

Xuanzang's voice was like a heavy bell, and the scriptures on his brocade kasaya flowed within the Buddha light, forming an invisible barrier that trapped the Black-Robed State Preceptor in the center.

Outside the barrier, the Men in Black wearing tokens inscribed with the character "Nether" attempted to charge, but were repelled by the golden light emitted from the scriptures.

Upon landing, they were already bleeding from their seven orifices, and the Gu inside their bodies exploded and died.

A flash of fear appeared in the Black-Robed State Preceptor's eyes, yet he remained stubborn: "Old bald donkey, don't think this bit of Buddha light can trap me!"

He violently tore open his black robe, revealing dense black patterns on his chest—these were the "Nether Gu Formation" drawn with his own essence blood.

The moment the patterns lit up, countless tiny Gu crawled out from his pores, condensing into a phantom of a centipede over a zhang long in mid-air.

"Nether Gu Devours Buddha!" the Black-Robed State Preceptor roared, and the centipede phantom lunged toward Xuanzang with a foul wind.

Xuanzang remained calm, raising his purple gold alms bowl, and chanted the mantra: "Om Mani Padme Hum!"

A powerful suction force suddenly poured out from the alms bowl.

The centipede phantom struggled and twisted, but was still sucked into the bowl bit by bit.

A moment later, a faint cracking sound came from within.

The Black-Robed State Preceptor was struck as if by a heavy blow, spitting out a large mouthful of black blood, and staggered backward: "Impossible... The Nether Lord said that this Gu Formation could break the world's Buddhist dharma..."

"Wicked path, and you dare to talk about breaking the dharma?"

Xuanzang stepped forward, and a Great Compassion Palm print condensed in the air.

Before the palm wind arrived, the Nether Gu Formation around the Black-Robed State Preceptor had already begun to disintegrate.

Those Gu that had just crawled out of his pores instantly lost their vitality, falling to the ground and turning into black ash.

Jun Xiaoyao, watching this scene before the water mirror, said to Zhao Gao: "Tell Xuanzang to leave him with one breath; I want to ask about the defensive layout of the Netherworld Valley."

"Also, notify the agents of The Net in the Far North Ice Plain to immediately investigate the specific location of the Netherwater. If the reserves are significant, mark them in advance."

"Yes, Young Lord."

Zhao Gao bowed in response, turning to the Shadow Guards behind him, "Transmit a message to Great Master Xuanzang to keep the Black-Robed State Preceptor alive; then send a signal to the 'Ice Falcon' in the far north, telling him to lead his men deep into the ice plain and ensure he finds the source of the Netherwater!"

The Shadow Guards accepted the order and retreated.

The image on the left side of the water mirror switched to the Far North Ice Plain.

Howling cold winds rolled with ice shards, freezing the earth into a sheet of white.

The agent of The Net, "Ice Falcon," was lying behind an ice cliff, observing the canyon in the distance with a specially made telescope—at the entrance of the canyon stood two ice sculptures, carved with ferocious Nether Gu patterns.

Between the ice sculptures, a pale blue mist permeated, which was the poisonous gas formed after the evaporation of Netherwater.

[The Net · Ice Falcon | From: "Flying Fox of Snowy Mountain" world | Realm: Grandmaster Peak | Martial Skill: 1. Treading Snow Without a Trace (Advanced): Walks silently on ice, can use wind and snow to cover aura. 2. Ice Soul Needle: Silver needles refined from black ice; after hitting the target, they freeze the Meridians, specifically countering the cold-resistant properties of Gu. | Special Ability: - Cold-Resistant Body: Can operate in an environment of minus fifty degrees for three days; the "Ice Breath" nurtured in his body can resist the poisonous gas of Netherwater. - Ice Mirror Technique: Uses ice as a mirror to reflect and detect Divine Sense, avoiding discovery by the guards of the Netherworld Valley. | Attached Items: - Black Ice Armor (Treasure Artifact): Light as a feather, harder than refined iron, can isolate the corrosion of Netherwater. - Signal Eagle: Pure white, can deliver messages in snowstorms, is the most reliable messenger on the ice plain.]

Ice Falcon whispered through the telescope: "There are eight guards at the Early Celestial Being Realm at the entrance of the Netherworld Valley. Each is clad in ice armor, and the spears in their hands are quenched with Netherwater. The ice surface they touch is bubbling."

"There are faint traces of Formation fluctuations inside the valley; it should be the 'Cold Ice Gu Formation' set up by the 'Nether' faction."

A member of The Net beside him whispered: "Lord Ice Falcon, should we try to break in?"

Ice Falcon shook his head: "The Young Lord has ordered us to scout, not to break in. Let's retreat to the shelter cliff thirty miles away first, and wait for news from Great Master Xuanzang before making further plans."

Having said that, he took out a piece of ice jade from his arms, and after injecting Internal Energy, the ice jade emitted a pale blue signal, merging into the wind and snow—this was a marker for subsequent support.

In the image on the right side of the water mirror, Never Seeking Defeat had already arrived at the edge of the miasma forest in the Western Regions with the Snow Wolf Clan.

Although the madness Gu in the bodies of the Snow Wolf Clan warriors had been suppressed by the Cleansing Heart Protective Aura, they still let out painful roars from time to time, and the Gu under their skin bulged like wandering snakes.

"Still no news from Great Doctor Ping?"

Never Seeking Defeat's black iron heavy sword was stuck in the ground, and the white mist on the sword enveloped the Snow Wolf Clan, "If this drags on, these people's Meridians will be eaten clean by the Gu."

As soon as he finished speaking, a green shadow swept out from the miasma forest, and it was Great Doctor Ping.

His whisk was stained with some light purple miasma, but it was purified by the scent of the Cleansing Miasma Pill on the whisk's threads: "The Ten Thousand Gu Assembly is set for three days from now."

"Madam Scorpion intends to sacrifice one hundred living people infected with the mother-child heart devouring gu at the Gu Refining Platform. It is said that among them are royal clansmen captured from Southern Chu."

He poured some black ointment from his medicine gourd and handed it to the Clan Chief of the Snow Wolf Clan: "This is 'Gu Suppressing Ointment'. Apply it to the bulging areas of the Gu, and it can temporarily suppress their vitality."

"In three days at the Ten Thousand Gu Assembly, Madam Scorpion will summon the mother of the mother-child Gu. At that time, I have my own way to lure out the mother Gu. As long as the mother Gu is killed, the madness Gu in your clansmen can be completely removed."

The Clan Chief took the ointment, looking at the black blood mixed in the melted snow under his clansmen, a flash of determination in his eyes: "Mr. Ping, whatever you need us to do, just say the word! Although the Snow Wolf Clan is not good at using Gu, we do not fear the evil demons of the Myriad Gu Valley!"

Great Doctor Ping nodded: "In three days, you only need to shout and cheer outside the miasma forest to attract the attention of the Twelve Poison Envoys. Leave the rest to the people of The Net and Beyond Heaven."

At this moment, the summoning array in the core hall suddenly lit up with a pale blue light, and runes flowed on the ground like a frozen river.

Jun Xiaoyao raised an eyebrow; this was a sign of energy compatibility with the Far North environment.

He flicked his finger, and a drop of essence blood fell into the array eye.

The light suddenly surged, and a figure dressed in white, holding a long sword, walked out from the light. It was Palace Master Moon Invitation from "Handsome Siblings".

[Character Panel Expanded: Name: Moon Invitation (From "Handsome Siblings" world) | Realm: Late Celestial Being Realm | Martial Skill Cultivation Technique: 1. Flower Transfer: Can reflect the opponent's attack Internal Energy back, especially countering the cold ice energy of the Netherworld Valley guards. 2. Bright Jade Skill (Ninth Level): Internal Energy is as pure as cold ice; when operating, the whole body is covered with a layer of ice crystals, and the poisonous gas of Netherwater cannot erode it. | Special Ability: - Ice Heart Technique: State of mind is like ice, unaffected by Gu illusions; even Madam Scorpion's "Infatuation Gu" cannot shake her mind. - Cold Moon Sword Domain: Uses Bright Jade Skill to drive Sword Qi, forming an ice domain with a radius of ten zhang, which can freeze the actions of Gu and has miraculous effects on the Cold Ice Gu Formation of the Netherworld Valley. | Attached Items: - Cold Moon Sword (Divine Weapon): The sword contains extreme cold Qi; when slashing, it can form ice ridges, piercing ice armor like cutting tofu. - Ice Silkworm Treasure Clothing (Treasure Armor): Woven from the silk of ten-thousand-year ice silkworms, immune to water and fire, can automatically absorb the surrounding cold Qi to replenish Internal Energy.]

Moon Invitation nodded slightly, her voice cold as ice: "Moon Invitation pays respects to the Young Lord."

"Although the Netherwater of the Far North Ice Plain is poisonous, it cannot withstand the extreme cold power of the Bright Jade Skill. This subordinate will definitely find the source of the Netherwater."

Jun Xiaoyao pointed to the scene of the Far North Ice Plain in the water mirror: "Ice Falcon has already set a marker outside the Netherworld Valley. You go to support him, and focus on investigating the Cold Ice Gu Formation in the valley."

"Remember, if you encounter guards at the Land Immortal Realm, do not force a fight; retreat to Beyond Heaven first."

"No need." A cold, sharp arc curved at the corner of Moon Invitation's mouth, "In this world, there aren't many who can take three moves of my Flower Transfer."

Having said that, her figure turned into a white rainbow, disappearing into the teleportation light pattern.

The Sword Qi of the Cold Moon Sword left a faint ice trace in the air.

Zhao Gao watched the ice trace gradually melt away, and said in a low voice: "Young Lord, Great Master Xuanzang has sent back news; the Black-Robed State Preceptor has confessed."

"The valley master of the Netherworld Valley, the 'Nether Lord,' is said to have been a traitor of the Myriad Gu Valley. He stole Madam Scorpion's secret recipe for Netherwater, only then did he set up his own sect in the far north."

"Under his command are three 'Nether Generals,' all at the Earthly Immortal Early-Stage. Among them, the 'Ice Nether General' is the most skilled in manipulating Cold Ice Gu and guards the core vein of Netherwater."

Jun Xiaoyao drew circles on the armrest with his fingertips: "A traitor? This is interesting. It seems Madam Scorpion convened the Ten Thousand Gu Assembly not only to show off the mother-child heart devouring gu, but also to use the hands of the Central Plains Martial Forest to get rid of the Nether Lord, this thorn in her side."

He looked at the scene of the Southern Chu Imperial Palace in the water mirror.

Xuanzang had already taken the Black-Robed State Preceptor into the purple gold alms bowl and was using Buddha light to purify the bloodstains on the altar, "Let Xuanzang finish handling the affairs of Southern Chu and immediately rush to the Far North Ice Plain. His Buddha light happens to counter the Cold Ice Gu Formation."

"Yes."

On the left side of the water mirror, Ice Falcon was lying behind the shelter cliff, watching Moon Invitation's figure coming treading on snow.

The Cold Moon Sword trembled lightly in her hand, and the cold Qi on the sword made the surrounding wind and snow condense into ice crystals: "Where is the marker?"

Ice Falcon pointed in the direction of the Netherworld Valley: "There is a lake emitting blue mist three miles inside the valley; that should be the source of the Netherwater."

"However, the Ice Nether General is guarding it. This subordinate has observed for three days and has never seen him leave the hundred-zhang range of the lake."

Moon Invitation sneered: "An Earthly Immortal Early-Stage, also worthy of being called a general?" She raised her Cold Moon Sword.

An ice ridge shot toward the ice sculptures at the entrance of the Netherworld Valley.

The ice sculptures shattered at the sound, and dozens of ice-blue Gu crawled out from inside—they were the larvae of the Cold Ice Gu.

"Indeed there is an ambush." Moon Invitation's fingertips slid across the sword body, and the Bright Jade Skill was fully operational.

Her whole body was instantly covered with a layer of ice crystal armor, "Follow me in, and let you see what real ice control is."

A flash of excitement appeared in Ice Falcon's eyes, and he waved his hand to signal the members of The Net behind him to follow: "Understood!"

Jun Xiaoyao, before the water mirror, watched Moon Invitation's figure step into the Netherworld Valley, and then looked toward the direction of the miasma forest in the Western Regions—Great Doctor Ping had already infiltrated the Myriad Gu Valley and was disguised as a Gu raiser.

He was cleaning up the bone-eroding vines near the Gu Refining Platform; the warriors of the Snow Wolf Clan had applied the Gu Suppressing Ointment, the red in their eyes gradually faded, and they were rubbing their hands waiting for the Ten Thousand Gu Assembly in three days.

"Zhao Gao," Jun Xiaoyao suddenly spoke, "Compile a list of the remnants of the Southern Chu Imperial Family."

"The Net will take a new order—help the Snow Wolf Clan take back the three pastures occupied by Southern Chu. The reward will be the 'Ice Plain Iron Mother' they found."

Zhao Gao was stunned, then reacted: "Is the Young Lord trying to make the Snow Wolf Clan owe us a favor?"

"Not just that." A faint smile curled at the corner of Jun Xiaoyao's mouth, "The Ice Plain Iron Mother can forge divine weapons, just right to add a layer of protection to Great Master Xuanzang's purple gold alms bowl."

"As for the Snow Wolf Clan... after the Ten Thousand Gu Assembly, they will be our best eyes and ears in the Northern Territory."

The wind outside the hall carried the cold of the far north and the miasma of the Western Regions, weaving into an invisible wall of Qi outside the core hall.

Jun Xiaoyao leaned on the black iron chair, watching the movements of various forces in the water mirror, with not a ripple in his eyes.

The Cold Ice Gu Formation of the Netherworld Valley, the mother-child heart devouring gu of the Myriad Gu Valley, the Netherwater and the Ice Plain Iron Mother, and the Nether Lord hiding behind the scenes... This game of chess is getting more and more complicated, but also more and more interesting.

And he, the Young Master of Tianwaitian, only needs to sit securely on the fishing platform, waiting for the chess pieces to collide with each other, and then at the most appropriate moment, reach out and take the spoils he wants most.

The light of the summoning array gradually subsided, but left faint ice patterns and Buddha light imprints on the ground, indicating that the next summoning might bring even more unexpected characters.

Jun Xiaoyao knew that as the situation in the Far North and Western Regions unfolded, this storm sweeping across the continent was about to welcome its true climax.