242: Luo Wang receives the goods

Jun Xiaoyao sat on a rosewood chair in the Hanyue Valley Underground Palace, his fingertips lightly tapping the armrest, his gaze fixed on the black dossier before him.

The dossier's cover was embossed with a silver-threaded spiderweb pattern, indicating it was The Net's special mission log.

Only top assassins personally vetted by Zhao Gao were qualified to access it.

"Young Lord, the black market has delivered three courier tokens." Zhao Gao bowed and presented three bronze tokens, each inscribed with one of the characters: 'Stab,' 'Plunder,' and 'Probe.' "The 'Stab' token is for assassinating the City Lord of Qingzhou's son, with a reward of five thousand taels of gold;

The 'Plunder' token requires retrieving the 'Crimson Flame Pearl,' the treasure of the Danxia Sect; the 'Probe' token is the most unique, the employer wants to know about the unusual movements in the Myriad Buddha Grotto in the Western Regions over the past six months, and the reward is a piece of star marrow."

Jun Xiaoyao didn't even lift an eyelid, his fingertip tapping the 'Probe' token: "Take this one.

The star marrow will be useful. As for the other two..." He paused, "Let The Unruly's people take the 'Stab' token, consider it practice for The Unruly. Reject the 'Plunder' token; the Danxia Sect has Xuantian Holy Land backing it, don't touch them for now."

"Yes." Zhao Gao was about to withdraw when Jun Xiaoyao called him back.

"By the way, any news on the Myriad Bone Grotto remnants I asked you to investigate last time?"

"Reporting to Young Lord, Bone Jade confessed. The Myriad Bone Grotto has three sub-branches in the Western Regions, hidden in Black Wind Stockade, Soul Severing Ravine, and the stone caves beneath Blazing Heaven Cliff. Although the Great Priest is dead, the Execution Enforcer, Bone Fiend, escaped with the remaining forces into Soul Severing Ravine, reportedly holding a half-scroll fragment of the 'Myriad Bone Spirit Devouring Array.'"

Jun Xiaoyao's fingertips caressed the cold star marrow token, his eyes darkening slightly: "Bone Fiend? What Realm?"

"Bone Jade said he's a Late Stage Great Grandmaster, skilled in bone poison. Last year, he killed two Elders from Xuantian Holy Land in the Northern Territory."

"Interesting." Jun Xiaoyao's lips curled into a faint arc, "Send The Net's Ying Squad to scout Soul Severing Ravine. Don't alarm them, just find out Bone Fiend's movements."

"Young Lord, the Ying Squad just completed the 'Blood Raven Ridge' mission. Should they rest for a few days?"

"No need." Jun Xiaoyao said indifferently, "The Net doesn't keep them to rest."

Zhao Gao acknowledged and withdrew, leaving Jun Xiaoyao alone in the underground palace. He opened the system panel, and a light blue screen lit up in the darkness, with several names floating on it—this was his list of currently summonable Wuxia characters, with the required 'Summon Points' noted next to them.

[Current Summon Points: 12000]

[Summonable Characters:

1. Zhan Zhao (three heroes and five gallants): Middle Grandmaster Realm, Martial Skills "Southern Hero Sword Technique," "Sleeve Arrow Technique," skilled in tracking and guarding. Summon Points required: 8000

2. West Gate Blows Snow (legend of lu xiaofeng): Late Stage Great Grandmaster Realm, Martial Skill "Ximen Chuixue's Sword," skilled in Fast Sword and Sword Intent suppression. Summon Points required: 15000

3. Lu Zhishen (water margin): Peak Grandmaster Realm, Martial Skill "Mad Demon Staff Technique," skilled in close combat and defense. Summon Points required: 10000

4. Little Dragon Girl (the return of the condor heroes): Late Grandmaster Realm, Martial Skills "Jade Maiden Heart Sutra," "Jade Maiden Heart Sutra Swordplay," skilled in Qinggong and cold jade bed assisted Cultivation. Summon Points required: 12000]

Jun Xiaoyao's gaze lingered on West Gate Blows Snow's name for a moment. A Late Stage Great Grandmaster Realm could precisely suppress Bone Fiend's Late Stage Great Grandmaster Realm, but 15000 Summon Points were temporarily insufficient. He then looked at Little Dragon Girl; 12000 Summon Points were neither too many nor too few. The Jade Maiden Heart Sutra's Qinggong and cold jade bed Cultivation methods would be very helpful in increasing the speed of The Net's assassins.

"System, summon Little Dragon Girl."

[Confirm consuming 12000 Summon Points to summon Little Dragon Girl?]

"Confirm."

A soft white light suddenly illuminated the center of the underground palace. A white-clad figure gradually materialized within the light, her plain dress whiter than snow, her demeanor cold and aloof, it was Little Dragon Girl. Her toes lightly touched the ground as she landed, as if stepping on clouds. She nodded slightly upon seeing Jun Xiaoyao, her voice clear and cold like clashing jade: "Little Dragon Girl greets Young Lord."

Jun Xiaoyao observed her. Little Dragon Girl's Realm was indeed Late Grandmaster, and she carried a pure Internal Energy fluctuation that was more restrained than Bei Gongwang's aura. "Miss Long, there's no need for such formality," he gestured to a stone stool nearby, "Sit."

Little Dragon Girl sat down as instructed, her posture upright like a pine, her gaze calm and unwavering.

"Do you know about The Net?" Jun Xiaoyao asked.

"Slightly, it is the assassination organization under Young Lord's command." Little Dragon Girl's voice remained cold.

"I need you to teach The Net's 'Wind' Squad Qinggong," Jun Xiaoyao stated directly, "They are responsible for tracking and retreating, and their speed is not yet fast enough. Also, can your cold jade bed Cultivation method be modified into a rapid-learning version suitable for assassins?"

Little Dragon Girl pondered for a moment: "The principle of the cold jade bed is to force out Impurities from the body using extreme cold Qi. If an assassin's Foundation is unstable, using the cold jade bed directly will damage their Meridians. I can modify it into a 'Cold Water Art,' using ice water immersion combined with breathing techniques. Although not as effective as the cold jade bed, it can increase Qinggong speed by 30% within three months."

"That works." Jun Xiaoyao nodded in satisfaction, "Zhao Gao will arrange for you to meet the leader of the 'Wind' Squad, and you can discuss the specifics."

Little Dragon Girl rose and bowed: "Yes, Young Lord."

Just then, Zhao Gao hurried back, holding a blood-stained bamboo tube: "Young Lord, urgent news from the Ying Squad! Something has happened at Soul Severing Ravine!"

Jun Xiaoyao tore open the paper strip inside the bamboo tube. It contained only a line of blood-red characters: "Bone Fiend set an ambush, Shadow Three and Shadow Seven are dead, bone poison is spreading, quick reinforcements!"

His fingertips clenched the paper strip tightly, and the paper instantly crumbled. The Ying Squad was The Net's elite; six members, all Early Grandmaster Realm, yet two were lost?

"Where is the Marshal of the Unruly?"

"Reporting to Young Lord, the Marshal of the Unruly is in Qingzhou with The Unruly, handling the 'Stab' token. He is closest to Soul Severing Ravine and can arrive within a day if they ride at top speed."

Jun Xiaoyao looked at the system panel. West Gate Blows Snow required 15000 Summon Points, and he was still short 3000. He gritted his teeth and converted the newly acquired star marrow into 5000 Summon Points, adding them in. The number on the panel instantly became 14000—still short 1000.

"System, convert last month's leftover 'Mission Points' into Summon Points."

[Confirm converting 500 Mission Points (1 point = 2 Summon Points) into 1000 Summon Points?]

"Confirm!"

[Current Summon Points: 15000]

[Summon West Gate Blows Snow?]

"Summon!"

The underground palace lit up again, this time with a fierce Sword Intent. A white-robed figure descended amidst sword light, his face stern, the sword at his waist emitting a chilling aura—it was West Gate Blows Snow. He looked at Jun Xiaoyao, slightly cupping his hands: "West Gate Blows Snow greets Young Lord."

"Mr. Ximen," Jun Xiaoyao stood up and handed him the blood-stained paper strip, "Soul Severing Ravine, Bone Fiend, Late Stage Great Grandmaster, uses bone poison, killed two of my subordinates."

West Gate Blows Snow read the paper strip, his eyes growing colder. The moment he drew his sword, the temperature in the underground palace plummeted: "When do we depart?"

"Now." Jun Xiaoyao looked at Zhao Gao, "Prepare the fastest horses. Have the Marshal of the Unruly meet us ten li outside Soul Severing Ravine."

"Yes!"

As West Gate Blows Snow turned, his sword light flashed, and he vanished at the tunnel exit. Jun Xiaoyao watched his retreating figure, then looked at Little Dragon Girl: "Put the 'Wind' Squad matter aside for now. You come with me to Soul Severing Ravine. Your Jade Maiden Heart Sutra can cure cold poison, and perhaps it will also be useful against bone poison."

Little Dragon Girl nodded and followed. The two quickly boarded the Black Eagle Beast Carriage outside the underground palace—a carriage pulled by the exotic beast 'Ink Feather Eagle,' three times faster than a swift horse, capable of traveling a thousand li a day.

As the beast carriage sped along, Jun Xiaoyao lifted the curtain, watching the fleeting night scenery outside. He never actively sought trouble, but whoever harmed his people would pay the price. Bone Fiend killed Shadow Three and Shadow Seven; this debt must be repaid with bones.

Little Dragon Girl sat opposite him, closing her eyes to circulate her Internal Energy. She could feel the seemingly calm yet icy aura emanating from the Young Lord—this Young Master of Beyond Heaven, while appearing not to interfere with specific matters, once his interests were touched, his ruthlessness far surpassed that of ordinary people.

"Young Lord," Little Dragon Girl suddenly spoke, "Mr. Ximen's sword is very fast, but Bone Fiend's bone poison is adept at entangling people. Should Senior Lu Zhishen also..."

"No need." Jun Xiaoyao interrupted her, "West Gate Blows Snow is enough to deal with a Late Stage Great Grandmaster. I don't want a living captive; I want all forces in the Western Regions to know the fate of those who provoke Beyond Heaven."

By the time the beast carriage entered the Western Regions, the sky was already tinged with the pale light of dawn. The outline of Soul Severing Ravine appeared faintly in the morning mist, and from a distance, the banners of The Unruly could be seen fluttering at the valley entrance.

The Marshal of the Unruly came forward, his dark python robe stained with dew: "Young Lord, the remaining members of the Ying Squad have been evacuated. They were poisoned by bone poison and are lying unconscious in the tents behind."

Jun Xiaoyao entered the tent and saw four Ying Squad assassins lying on beds, their skin tinged with blackish-green, their breathing weak. Little Dragon Girl stepped forward to take their pulse, her brows slightly furrowed: "It's Bone-Corroding Powder. The toxins have already invaded their Meridians. Ordinary antidotes are useless."

"Can you cure it?"

"The Jade Maiden Heart Sutra's Internal Energy can expel the poison, but it will take two hours."

"Then cure them." Jun Xiaoyao looked into the valley, "Where is West Gate Blows Snow?"

"He went in half an hour ago." The Marshal of the Unruly pointed towards the depths of Soul Severing Ravine, "Just now, I heard sword cries from inside; they should have engaged in battle."

Jun Xiaoyao walked to the valley entrance, where a sword was plunged into a stone, its blade covered in frost—it was Ximen Chuixue's Sword sheath. He knew this was West Gate Blows Snow's signal that he had drawn his sword, meaning there were no living targets left to spare.

Sure enough, in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, West Gate Blows Snow emerged, holding a bloody head. The head still bore a sinister grin; it was Bone Fiend. He tossed the head to the ground, and a drop of blood from his sword tip fell, instantly freezing into ice.

"It's done." West Gate Blows Snow's voice was devoid of any emotion.

Jun Xiaoyao looked at the head, then at the Ying Squad assassins in the tent who were gradually regaining consciousness, and said to the Marshal of the Unruly: "Hang Bone Fiend's corpse at the entrance of Soul Severing Ravine, and erect a sign next to it—'Those who provoke Beyond Heaven shall suffer this fate.'"

The Marshal of the Unruly acknowledged and left. West Gate Blows Snow sheathed his sword and walked to Jun Xiaoyao's side: "I brought the half-scroll array diagram from Bone Fiend's body."

Jun Xiaoyao took the yellowed fragment, which was covered with bizarre bone patterns, precisely the Myriad Bone Spirit Devouring Array. He casually handed it to Zhao Gao: "Keep it safe, it might be useful."

At this moment, Little Dragon Girl also emerged from the tent, wiping black blood from her fingertips: "Everyone has been rescued, but they need a month of recuperation."

Jun Xiaoyao nodded, then turned and boarded the beast carriage: "Return to Hanyue Valley."

As the beast carriage started, Jun Xiaoyao looked back at Soul Severing Ravine, which would soon become a Forbidden Ground in the Western Regions.

And the name 'Beyond Heaven' would, with Bone Fiend's death, truly enter the sight of various major forces for the first time.

He didn't care about good or bad reputation, only about who held resources and who dared to touch his resources.

The Net was his blade, and these summoned individuals were his edge. All he had to do was sit behind the scenes and watch this blade cut through all the thorns in its path.

The system panel lit up before him, with West Gate Blows Snow's name added, and 'Loyalty: 90' marked next to it.

Jun Xiaoyao's lips curved slightly. He still had 8000 Summon Points left. Next time, he should summon Zhan Zhao—with a Southern Hero skilled in guarding, the defense of the underground palace would be more secure.

Outside the carriage window, the morning sun pierced through the clouds, dyeing Soul Severing Ravine a bloody red, while in the direction of Hanyue Valley.

A new force was quietly gathering, awaiting the next command from the Young Master of Beyond Heaven.