220: Icefield Fortress Anomaly

The night in Beyond Heaven was always quiet, so quiet one could hear the faint flicker of candlelight.

Jun Xiaoyao sat before a water mirror, his fingertips caressing an "ice soul pearl" he had just acquired from the black market. This pearl originated from the Northern Ice Field and could suppress the agitation of Internal Energy, making it an excellent item for Innate Realm Cultivators to Break Through their Bottleneck.

In the water mirror, images relayed by The Net's secret agents slowly unfolded: the cavalry of Ice Field Fortress was assembling on the snowfield, their iron armor glinting coldly under the moonlight. The force numbered three hundred men, their spears pointed directly at Beyond Heaven's eastern "Black Iron Mining Area."

“Young Lord, the Fortress Lord of Ice Field Fortress, 'Ice Fiend,' has declared that he will seize the Black Iron Mining Area within three days.”

Zhao Gao's voice came from the shadows, holding newly compiled dossiers. “This Ice Fiend is a Late Stage Great Grandmaster, having Cultivated 'Ice Palm' for thirty years. His palm force can freeze Qi and blood within three feet. He also commands three Grandmaster Realm captains, making him difficult to deal with.”

Jun Xiaoyao placed the ice soul pearl on the table, its cold light reflecting in his eyes: “Black iron is a core Material for forging weapons. The eastern mining area provides us with over a thousand catties of mysterious iron each month; it absolutely cannot be lost.”

He tapped the water mirror with his fingertip, and the image switched to the secret chamber of The Net's main headquarters, where Marshal of the Unruly was strategizing over a map. “Have Marshal of the Unruly mobilize the 'Heaven Killing' and 'Earth Annihilation' groups, and dispatch twenty gold-medal assassins from The Net. We must defend the mining area.”

Zhao Gao bowed in response: “The order has been relayed as Young Lord instructed. Marshal of the Unruly said that merely defending the mining area is too passive. He wants to set up a 'Besiege Wei to Save Zhao' ploy—with Ice Field Fortress's main force deployed, the fortress itself will be empty. A small team can be dispatched to raid the Fortress Lord's manor and burn their granary.”

Jun Xiaoyao's lips curled slightly: “That move is ruthless enough, fitting Marshal of the Unruly's style. Let him proceed freely; if he needs support, mobilize Beyond Heaven's people.” He paused, then added, “Are the System's summoning points sufficient? Ice Field Fortress is coming prepared; perhaps we need to add someone capable of fighting.”

[System Prompt: Current summonable points: 1200. Characters meeting summoning conditions: 1. Yang Guo (the return of the condor heroes, Late Stage Great Grandmaster); 2. Linghu Chong (the smiling, proud wanderer, Mid-stage Grandmaster); 3. Little Dragon Girl (the return of the condor heroes, Mid-stage Grandmaster)]

Jun Xiaoyao's gaze lingered on the three names for a moment, finally settling on “Yang Guo.”

The Divine Eagle Hero's one-armed Aran Xiao Hun Palm was powerful and unpredictable, perfectly countering Ice Fiend's Ice Palm. He raised his hand and drew a summoning array pattern on the water mirror. Golden runes moved like living things, quickly coalescing into a figure—

[Summoned Character: Yang Guo]

[From: Jin Yong's the return of the condor heroes world]

[Realm: Late Stage Great Grandmaster]

[Martial Skills & Cultivation Techniques:]

1. Aran Xiao Hun Palm: A total of seventeen forms. Its power doubles when emotions are turbulent, capable of breaking through extreme cold.

2. Xuantie Sword Technique: A heavy sword without an edge, great skill without art. The sword body is heavy yet agile, capable of clashing with mysterious iron weapons.

3. Nine Yin Manual (partial): Internal Energy is profound and enduring, capable of resisting ice corrosion.

[Status: Peak (Left arm healed, System corrected)]

Yang Guo, dressed in dark black combat attire with a heavy sword at his waist, still carried a hint of unrestrained chivalry, despite both arms being intact. He cupped his hands to Jun Xiaoyao, his voice clear and bright: “Yang Guo greets Young Lord.”

“There's no need for such formality, Great Hero Yang.” Jun Xiaoyao pointed to the image of Ice Field Fortress in the water mirror. “Ice Fiend of the Northern Territory intends to seize my Black Iron Mining Area. His Ice Palm is exceptionally overbearing; I need your help to contain him.”

Yang Guo looked at the image of Ice Fiend demonstrating his palm technique in the water mirror, his brow slightly raised: “This palm force is extremely yin and cold, but in terms of raw power, it may not be able to contend with my Aran Xiao Hun Palm. Young Lord, rest assured, within three days, Ice Field Fortress will know to retreat.”

After Yang Guo left with Zhao Gao to familiarize himself with the battle situation, Jun Xiaoyao looked at the water mirror again. The scene from the eastern mining area had arrived: the outer defenses of the mining area were being reinforced. The Net's assassins, cloaked in snow-colored capes, lay in snowdrifts, disguised as ice mounds. The crossbow bolts in their hands were coated with “Ice Dissolving Powder”—a medicinal powder specially prepared by Marshal of the Unruly to neutralize the cold Qi of the Ice Palm.

“Marshal of the Unruly, have you selected the surprise attack team?” Jun Xiaoyao's voice transmitted through the water mirror to Marshal of the Unruly's ears.

In the water mirror, Marshal of the Unruly was using a wolf-hair brush to circle the granary's location on the Ice Field Fortress map: “I've chosen Cold Edge, the leader of the 'Heaven Killing' group. He excels at the light body Martial Skill 'Treading Snow Without a Trace.' He'll take ten assassins skilled in fire attacks. Here at the mining area, I'll have Yang Guo confront Ice Fiend directly, while I lead the 'Earth Annihilation' group to guard the flanks, ensuring everything is foolproof.”

Jun Xiaoyao nodded and switched to the Ice Field Fortress image. Inside the Fortress Lord's manor, Ice Fiend was lecturing three captains. He sat on a throne covered with white bear fur, an inch-thick layer of ice shards congealed in his palm: “The Black Iron Mining Area is crucial to Beyond Heaven; they will defend it to the death. You three will attack from the left, center, and right. Leave no survivors. Within three days, I want to see our Ice Field Fortress banners planted all over the mining area!”

The “Snow Wolf” captain on the left licked the scar at the corner of his mouth: “Fortress Lord, rest assured, my 'Snow Wolf Formation' has reached Major Achievement. Thirty men can trap a Grandmaster. We will ensure that no one from Beyond Heaven returns.”

The “Ice Cone” captain in the middle slapped the chain hammer at his waist: “Your subordinate will use 'Ice Breaking Hammer' to smash through their defenses and show them the might of Ice Field Fortress!”

The “Wind Blade” captain on the right was more cautious: “I heard that Beyond Heaven has an organization called The Net, and their assassins are very formidable. Shouldn't we leave some men to guard the fortress?”

Ice Fiend snorted: “The Net? Just some rats who can't stand the light! With our main force deployed, they'll be too busy hiding to dare launch a sneak attack! All troops, hear my order: depart at dawn tomorrow!”

Jun Xiaoyao, outside the water mirror, watched this scene, his fingertips lightly tapping the table. Ice Fiend's arrogance had given Marshal of the Unruly his opportunity. He called up Cold Edge's data panel:

[Character: Cold Edge]

[Affiliation: The Net's Heaven Killing Group]

[Realm: Middle Grandmaster Realm]

[Martial Skills: Treading Snow Without a Trace (light body skill), Blazing Fire Palm (fire attribute palm technique, counters ice)]

[Specializes in: Infiltration, Fire Attacks]

“Cold Edge's Blazing Fire Palm is perfect for dealing with Ice Field Fortress's ice walls,” Jun Xiaoyao muttered to himself. “Give them ten barrels of 'fire oil' as well, to ensure the granary is burned to ashes.”

At dawn the next day, Ice Field Fortress's cavalry departed as planned. Three hundred snow horses galloped across the snowfield, their iron armor rattling so loudly that the ice trembled. Ice Fiend led the charge, his mysterious iron long spear pointing eastward, followed by the three captains, their Aura formidable.

Barely half an hour after their departure, Cold Edge appeared outside Ice Field Fortress with ten assassins. Although the fortress walls were high, the defenses were lax due to the main force's absence. Cold Edge and his team used specialized iron grappling hooks to scale the wall in the morning mist, climbing silently like geckos. The sleeping guards were swiftly silenced, not even a whimper escaping their lips.

“Proceed as planned. Two on lookout, three to find the granary, the rest follow me to burn the stables!” Cold Edge whispered his command, and the assassins immediately dispersed. Ice Field Fortress's granary was built underground, with a heavy iron door. Cold Edge pulled out “Ice Dissolving Powder” from his 懷 and sprinkled it on the lock. The frozen lock core quickly melted, and with a gentle push, the door opened.

The storeroom was filled with dry straw and frozen meat. The assassins quickly doused everything with fire oil. Cold Edge pulled out a tinderbox, just about to light it, when he heard footsteps outside—the patrol team was changing shifts. “Quick! Light it!” Cold Edge hissed, throwing the tinderbox onto the haystack. A roaring fire instantly erupted, and thick smoke billowed upwards through the vents.

“Go!” Cold Edge led his men out of the granary, colliding directly with the patrol team. He unleashed a palm strike imbued with fire, and the Blazing Fire Palm instantly ignited the opponents' leather armor. The patrol team screamed and scattered. By the time they rushed out of the fortress gate, the stables were also ablaze, hundreds of warhorses whinnied in fright, and the entire Ice Field Fortress descended into chaos.

Meanwhile, on the snowfield in front of the Black Iron Mining Area, Ice Fiend's army had confronted The Net's forces.

“Rats of Beyond Heaven, hand over the mining area if you know what's good for you, otherwise today will be your doomsday!” Ice Fiend's voice was like a biting wind. With a wave of his palm, the accumulated snow in front of him instantly froze into an ice wall.

Yang Guo emerged from behind the mining area's defenses, his heavy sword dragging on the ground, leaving deep tracks in the snow: “Fortress Lord Ice, what big talk! First, take a palm from me!” His figure flickered, and he unleashed the “Fearing the Sky May Fall” form of the Aran Xiao Hun Palm. The palm wind seemed ethereal, yet carried an indescribable melancholic power, actually cracking the ice wall.

Ice Fiend's pupils contracted: “Aran Xiao Hun Palm? You are Yang Guo?” He had heard the Divine Eagle Hero's name in the Jianghu years ago, but never expected to encounter him here.

“Indeed.” Yang Guo's wrist twisted, and his heavy sword was drawn. “Fortress Lord Ice, if you retreat now, you can still preserve the Foundation of Ice Field Fortress, otherwise...”

“Enough talk!” Ice Fiend's competitive spirit was ignited. He unleashed his full power Ice Palm, and where the palm wind passed, the air itself condensed into frost. Yang Guo did not dodge or evade. He used the “Heavy Sword Without Edge” form of the Xuantie Sword Technique, and the sword body, carrying immense force, slammed into the palm wind. With a loud clang, ice shards and snow spray scattered, and both men retreated three steps.

“Interesting!” Ice Fiend licked his lips, which were purple from the cold. “Again!”

Just as the two were locked in fierce combat, news of the fire at Ice Field Fortress reached Ice Fiend's ears via a fast horse. “Fortress Lord! It's bad! The fortress is on fire, the granary and stables are gone!” The messenger's voice was tearful.

Ice Fiend's face changed drastically. He then realized he had fallen for a 'lure the tiger out of its mountain lair' scheme. Yang Guo seized the opportunity, unleashing successive Aran Xiao Hun Palm strikes. The “Dragging Through Mud and Water” and “Lacking the Strength to Do as One Wishes” forms followed in quick succession, the palm winds like a tide. Distracted, Ice Fiend found it difficult to parry and was struck on the shoulder. His frozen, stiff muscles instantly went numb from the impact.

“Retreat!” Ice Fiend roared, clutching his shoulder. At this moment, he only wanted to return to the fortress to put out the fire, no longer caring about the mining area.

Yang Guo did not pursue, merely standing on the snowfield, watching Ice Field Fortress's cavalry retreat in disarray.

Marshal of the Unruly emerged from the flank, a cold smile on his lips: “Young Lord calculated truly accurately; Ice Fiend indeed couldn't resist the provocation.”

“Just guarding the mining area is enough.” Yang Guo sheathed his heavy sword. “After this battle, Ice Field Fortress will be unable to offend us for at least half a year.”

Jun Xiaoyao, in front of the water mirror, watched all this, then placed the ice soul pearl back into its brocade box.

In the dossiers on the table, a new task had been marked by Zhao Gao: the “Liusha Sect” of the Western Regions intended to monopolize the spice trade, affecting Beyond Heaven's black market business.

He picked up a pen and circled the three characters “Liusha Sect” in the dossier. His pen tip paused for a moment before writing a line: “The Net, prepare the 'Poison Scorpion' group. Within three days, take down the Liusha Sect's main headquarters.”

The candlelight flickered, reflecting his calm profile. The interests of Beyond Heaven were never something anyone could touch at will. Ice Field Fortress was like this, and the Liusha Sect would be the same.