212: Leaking information

The candle flames in the core hall of Beyond Heaven flickered, casting light on Jun Xiaoyao's calm profile.

His fingertips twirled a white jade chess piece, his gaze fixed on the water mirror before him.

The mirror displayed the scene at the headquarters of The Net—Zhao Gao was standing in front of a massive map, his fingers tracing the markers of the various Schools in the Central Plains, his voice kept extremely low.

"Young Lord, as you commanded, the news that the 'Nether Lord is refining Gu to devour the world' has been spread."

"Now, several major Sects like Qingcheng, Wudang, and Emei are all spreading this matter; even the imperial court has sent secret agents to verify its truth."

Zhao Gao bowed and reported, a hint of smugness in his tone, "Especially the Emei School; Sect Head Miejue has declared that if the Nether Lord truly dares to take the lives of Mortals, she will personally lead a team to level Netherworld Valley."

Jun Xiaoyao's white jade chess piece gently landed on the "Netherworld Valley" position on the chessboard, emitting a crisp sound: "Sect Head Miejue’s temperament is indeed fiery; she is just right for this."

"Let people from The Net 'inadvertently' leak a message to her, saying that the Nether Lord’s Shattering the Void Gu requires the essence and blood of a virgin to be refined. Emei Disciples value this above all else; I guarantee she will be the first to charge ahead."

"Understood!" A flash of cunning crossed Zhao Gao's eyes, "I will arrange it immediately. By the way, Young Lord, news has come back from the Marshal of the Unruly that the heart-rotting grass has been safely delivered to the Far North Ice Plain. Sect Head Moon Invitation is very satisfied and even said she would exchange ten 'ice soul pearls' for the other half of the heart-rotting grass in our possession."

Jun Xiaoyao raised his eyes: "ice soul pearls? That item can suppress the rampaging Internal Energy; it is useful to keep. Tell the Marshal of the Unruly to agree to the trade, but have Moon Invitation send someone to Netherworld Valley to help. Tell her we lack a high-level expert who can control the field to deal with the Nether Lord."

Just as Zhao Gao responded, the water mirror on the left suddenly rippled, and the scene switched to the outskirts of Netherworld Valley. Li Xunhuan was leaning against an old locust tree, spinning his Flying Dagger with his fingertips. Behind him, the Luowang Assassins had already set up a dragnet—thirty-six assassins were hidden in the shadows, each holding a crossbow tipped with deadly poison, their bolts aimed at every gap at the valley entrance.

"The Nether Lord's subordinates just tried to break through, and I crippled three of them." Li Xunhuan's voice came through the water mirror, carrying a hint of nonchalance, "However, one survivor said that the Nether Lord is currently in the Nether God Hall refining the 'Nine Nether Pills,' claiming that taking it will allow one to reach the Void Shattering Realm."

Jun Xiaoyao raised an eyebrow: "Nine Nether Pills? What is he using to refine it?"

"The survivor didn't explain clearly, only saying that it requires 'Ten Thousand Soul Marrow' as a medicinal primer." Li Xunhuan tossed his Flying Dagger into the air and caught it steadily, "I suspect this Ten Thousand Soul Marrow is mostly condensed from the vengeful spirits in Netherworld Valley, numbering at least ten thousand."

The water mirror on the right lit up at this moment, revealing the figures of the Sweeping Monk and Let I Go. The two had reached the outside of the Nether God Hall. The three black pillars in front of the hall were indeed hung with the Soul Suppressing Gong, the soul locking chain, and the Soul Eroding Banner, with resentment swirling around them like living things. The Sweeping Monk's Buddhist light had shrunk to a range of about a zhang. Every time his black iron chair staff struck the ground, it could disperse the vengeful spirits rushing toward them.

"This Soul Eroding Banner is a bit tricky." Let I Go stared at the black pillar in the center, his Star Absorbing Great Technique operating to the extreme, black Qi churning on his palms, "The vengeful spirits on the banner can devour Internal Energy. I tried to absorb a bit earlier and was almost bitten back."

The Sweeping Monk pointed his staff at the Soul Suppressing Gong: "Strike the gong first. Once the Soul Suppressing Gong rings, the vengeful spirits will temporarily lose their wits; that will be the perfect time to dismantle the soul locking chain." He looked toward the water mirror, "Young Lord, do you need the people from The Net to cooperate?"

"Have Li Xunhuan release three signal arrows." Jun Xiaoyao said indifferently, "The first notifies the outer Schools to stand by; the second lets the Luowang Assassins clear out any stragglers; the third... wait until the Soul Suppressing Gong is struck before releasing it, allowing the various Schools to come in and 'observe the ceremony'."

"As you command!" Li Xunhuan immediately pulled three special signal arrows from his quiver, with ribbons of different colors tied to the arrow tails.

At this moment, the middle water mirror suddenly lit up, showing the Marshal of the Unruly leading Sect Head Moon Invitation as they rushed toward Netherworld Valley. Moon Invitation was dressed in white, her skirt hem embroidered with ice patterns, holding a Cold Moon Sword in her hand, her eyes as cold as ice.

"The Marshal of the Unruly says Sect Head Moon Invitation has arrived outside Netherworld Valley. The other half of the heart-rotting grass that she wants..." Zhao Gao was interrupted by Jun Xiaoyao before he could finish.

"Have her wait at the valley entrance," Jun Xiaoyao said, "Wait until the major Schools charge in, then she can make her move to pick up the scraps. Remember, tell her not to hurt Sect Head Miejue; keep the Emei School as a shield."

As soon as Zhao Gao noted this down, Let I Go in the right water mirror suddenly moved. Seizing the gap where the resentment of the Soul Eroding Banner was slightly weaker, he lunged at the center black pillar, his Star Absorbing Great Technique transforming into two streaks of black Qi, tightly binding the links of the soul locking chain!

"Old Monk, do it!" Let I Go roared, veins bulging on his forehead, "I can hold on for ten breaths at most!"

The Sweeping Monk did not dare to delay. He raised his black iron staff high, the treasure bead at the end of the staff erupting with dazzling Buddhist light, and struck the Soul Suppressing Gong fiercely!

"Clang—!"

The giant sound of the bronze gong was like a thunderclap. The vengeful spirits inside Netherworld Valley halted instantly, their originally twisted forms becoming stiff. The soul locking chain hanging on the black pillar vibrated violently, the links emitting a harsh friction sound.

"Now!" The Sweeping Monk shouted, his staff falling again, striking precisely at the joint of the soul locking chain.

"Snap!" The crisp sound of the chain links breaking was clearly audible. Let I Go seized the opportunity to exert force, his black Qi shrinking sharply, and he actually pulled down half of the soul locking chain!

"The second signal arrow!" Jun Xiaoyao's voice came through the water mirror.

Li Xunhuan fired the arrow, and the red signal arrow rushed into the sky, dragging a tail of flame. The Luowang Assassins immediately charged out from the shadows, crossbows firing in unison, turning the Nether soldiers rushing out of the Nether God Hall into hedgehogs.

"Good!" Let I Go tossed the torn soul locking chain to the Sweeping Monk, "This thing is mine!" After saying this, he lunged at the Soul Eroding Banner, his Star Absorbing Great Technique running wildly, and he actually began to devour the vengeful spirits on the banner, though his face became paler and paler, clearly consuming a great deal.

The Sweeping Monk carried the broken chain, his body protected by Buddhist light, and walked quickly toward the third black pillar—the Soul Eroding Banner hanging there had the thickest resentment, and as the banner surface fluttered, countless painful human faces could be vaguely seen.

"Young Lord, the third signal arrow?" Li Xunhuan's voice carried a questioning tone.

Jun Xiaoyao looked at the left water mirror; the forces of the Qingcheng and Wudang Schools had already arrived at the valley entrance. Sect Head Miejue's Heaven Reliant Sword flashed with cold light, clearly unable to wait any longer. He tapped his fingertips on the chessboard: "Release it."

The third signal arrow was golden, exploding into a sky full of golden dust as it tore through the sky. Seeing this, the various Schools outside the valley surged into Netherworld Valley like a tidal wave, and the sounds of shouting and killing instantly echoed throughout the valley.

"Sect Head Miejue, this way!" People from The Net "happened" to appear beside her, pointing toward the direction of the Nether God Hall, "The Nether Lord is refining Gu inside, and he is using the souls of virgins!"

Sect Head Miejue’s eyes turned sharp, and her Heaven Reliant Sword spun into a sword flower: "How dare the evil demons! Emei Disciples, follow me and charge in!"

For a time, the sounds of sword lights, palm winds, and Magical Artifact collisions intertwined. The various Schools were locked in a melee with the Nether soldiers. Although the Nether Lord's forces were strong, they could not withstand the sheer number of opponents and were soon forced to retreat step by step.

In the middle water mirror, Sect Head Moon Invitation stood quietly at the valley entrance, watching all this with cold eyes. The Marshal of the Unruly whispered beside her: "Sect Head, shall we make our move now?"

Moon Invitation withdrew her gaze, her Cold Moon Sword trembling slightly: "No rush, wait until they are both heavily injured. By the way, the other half of the heart-rotting grass..."

"The Young Lord said that once he obtains the Nether Lord's Nine Nether Pills, he will give it to you," the Marshal of the Unruly said.

A cold, sharp smile curled the corner of Moon Invitation's mouth: "Jun Xiaoyao is certainly good at calculating. Tell your Young Lord that this Sect Head is waiting for his promise."

In the right water mirror, the Sweeping Monk had already pulled down more than half of the Soul Eroding Banner. The vengeful spirits on the banner lost their support and fled in all directions, screaming.

Let I Go, holding the broken soul locking chain, was fighting with the Nether Lord's personal guards who had rushed out. Every time his Star Absorbing Great Technique struck someone, the opponent would instantly wither, clearly having had their Internal Energy sucked dry.

"The Nether Lord has come out!" Li Xunhuan's voice suddenly rang out. The scene in the water mirror shifted; the gates of the Nether God Hall opened with a boom, and a figure draped in black robes walked out slowly. Vengeful spirits swirled around him, and his Realm was shockingly at the Late Stage of the Land Immortal!

"A group of ants, daring to disturb this old man's cultivation!" The Nether Lord's voice was like two stones grinding together, harsh and unpleasant, "Today, I will let you taste the feeling of ten thousand souls devouring your heart!"

With that, he pushed his palms out, and black arrows condensed from countless vengeful spirits shot toward the melee crowd. Many Disciples from the Schools could not dodge in time and were instantly pierced by the black arrows, falling to the ground and twitching in agony.

"Sect Head Miejue, watch out!" Li Xunhuan's Flying Dagger struck out, precisely deflecting a black arrow shooting toward her.

Sect Head Miejue’s eyes grew stern, and her Heaven Reliant Sword transformed into a stream of light, stabbing directly at the Nether Lord's face: "Die, evil monk!"

Jun Xiaoyao watched the increasingly chaotic battle in the water mirror, his white jade chess piece falling gently, pressing exactly onto the characters "Nether Lord".

"Zhao Gao," he spoke slowly, "Have the people from The Net withdraw to the periphery and act as 'reinforcements' for the various Schools. Remember, don't actually intervene; just watch the show."

"Yes, Young Lord." Zhao Gao bowed and retreated, turning to convey the order.

In the water mirror, the slaughter continued. The screams of vengeful spirits, the clashing of weapons, and the wails of the dying intertwined into a scene of purgatory.

Jun Xiaoyao leaned back against the black iron chair, his face devoid of any ripples—to him, this was nothing more than a play with a script already written, and he was the only audience, as well as the ultimate winner.