248: Hidden currents surge in the holy land

The dusk of Qingzhou City was like a piece of velvet soaked in ink, slowly covering the upturned eaves.

Jun Xiaoyao sat on the star-gazing platform of the Hanyue Valley Underground Palace, his fingertips twisting a bronze token just searched from Zhou Kui's study; the three characters 'Zhenbei Army' on the token had been rubbed until they shone.

Zhao Gao knelt silently at the foot of the steps and presented a secret report: 'Young Lord, Adjutant Chen has taken over the defense of the Qingzhou army. Following General Li's method, he presented the 'evidence' of Captain Wang's secret collusion with the Myriad Bone Grotto to the City Lord of Qingzhou. That old fox truly went with the flow and threw Captain Wang into the heavenly prison.'

Jun Xiaoyao did not look up, his gaze falling in the direction of the City Lord of Qingzhou's mansion in the distance—it was brightly lit, clearly counting the assets of Captain Wang overnight.

'What about Deputy General Zhang?'

'According to the plan, he 'caught' a cold and is bedridden. His confidants in the army have been replaced by General Li under the guise of 'investigating spies'.'

Zhao Gao paused and added, 'Iron Abacus from the Hundred Herbs Hall sent this year's first batch of dividends and attached a gift list, saying it was to honor General Li.'

'What about Li Shimin?'

'He is at the martial arts arena teaching the new recruits of The Net how to practice the Black Armor Formation, saying he wants to pick fifty with good foundations to form a unit of 'Black Armor Elite Soldiers'.'

Jun Xiaoyao flicked his fingertips, and the bronze token fell in front of Zhao Gao: 'Give this to Adjutant Chen and tell him to mobilize three hundred elite soldiers in three days to surround the branch of the Myriad Bone Grotto in Qingzhou.'

'Yes.' Zhao Gao picked up the token and was about to withdraw when he was called back by Jun Xiaoyao.

'Let Linghu Chong go with them.' Jun Xiaoyao's voice was flat, 'The branch leader of the Myriad Bone Grotto is said to have practiced the 'Bone-Melting Palm'; don't let Adjutant Chen lose his men.'

I. Anomalies of the summoning array

At the third watch, the summoning array deep in the underground palace suddenly lit up with a ghostly blue light, more intense than any time before.

When Jun Xiaoyao stepped down the stone stairs, an air vortex a zhang high had already curled up in the array, and the sound of sword humming faintly pierced through the clouds.

As the light gradually faded, a figure in green robes stood in the array, with an ancient long sword hanging from his waist, his face thin and refined, but his eyes were like cold stars—it was Feng Qingyang from 'the smiling, proud wanderer'.

[Summoning Successful] [Character: Feng Qingyang] [From: Jin Yong Wuxia World] [Realm: Late Stage Great Grandmaster] [Martial Skill Cultivation Technique: 1. Nine Swords of Dugu (Perfection) — Break all martial arts in the world, no moves win over moves 2. Zixia Divine Skill (Major Achievement) — Inner strength is mellow and endless 3. Qi Cultivation Formula (Perfection) — Calm the mind and spirit, perceive opportunities in advance] [Loyalty: 85%]

'This old man has slept for too long, making the Young Lord wait for a long time.' When Feng Qingyang bowed, his sleeves fluttered, and the airflow he brought caused the surrounding candle flames to tilt in unison.

Jun Xiaoyao nodded slightly: 'It saves a lot of trouble that Elder Feng is willing to come.'

He pointed to the map on the wall, 'The main altar of the Myriad Bone Grotto is in Quicksand City in the Western Regions; it is said that the protective mountain array there is difficult to break even for those in the Heavenly Human Realm. Is Elder Feng interested?'

Feng Qingyang's gaze swept across the map, his fingertips pointing at the location of Quicksand City: 'No matter how strong the Formation is, there are gaps. The Nine Swords of Dugu is meant to break 'stagnation'.'

II. The Destruction of the Myriad Bone Grotto Branch

Thirty miles outside Qingzhou City, Black Wind Ridge.

The branch of the Myriad Bone Grotto was hidden in the belly of the mountain, the cave entrance disguised as a hunter's hut, but it was actually set up with triple mechanisms.

When Adjutant Chen arrived with three hundred elite soldiers, Linghu Chong had already sneaked in one step ahead—he stepped on the 'Wind-Following Steps' taught by Feng Qingyang, avoiding the secret sentries like a ghost, and used the Nine Swords of Dugu to snap the trigger behind the door.

'Attack!' At Adjutant Chen's order, the Black Armor Elite Soldiers lifted the battering ram and hit the cave door. Amidst the splashing wood chips, angry cursing came from inside the branch.

The branch leader was a short, fat old man, his hands were cyan-black, which was exactly the 'White Bone Elder' who practiced the Bone-Melting Palm.

Seeing the cave entrance broken, he gave a strange laugh and pushed out both palms. The soldiers in the front row screamed and fell down, their armor melting like mud.

'Your opponent is me.' Linghu Chong's voice came from the top of the cave, and the long sword slashed down like a silk ribbon.

The White Bone Elder crossed his palms to block, but felt the palm power directed to the side as soon as it touched the sword body, and his chest was suddenly wide open.

He rushed back, but was closely pressed by Linghu Chong, whose sword moves were continuous, and not a single move was repeated.

'Nine Swords of Dugu? Who are you?' The White Bone Elder was shocked and angry.

'The person who will take your life.' Linghu Chong's sword edge turned sharply, and the 'Palm-Breaking Style' pierced the opponent's wrist.

The White Bone Elder screamed, his left hand severed at the wrist, and cyan-black blood splashed on the stone wall, sizzling.

The Black Armor Elite Soldiers outside the cave had already controlled the situation. Adjutant Chen asked people to bring firewood, lit it, and fanned smoke into the cave.

Half an hour later, the belly of Black Wind Ridge was completely quiet, leaving only the smell of charred material and scattered white bones.

'Report! Three boxes of Bone-Erosion Pill Formulas were found, and a secret letter written to the main altar!' A personal soldier ran over holding a black wooden box. The letter paper in the box was yellowed, and the handwriting was twisted like a snake: 'The Qingzhou branch must immediately send one hundred young boys and girls to help the altar master Cultivate the 'Blood Soul Great Method'...'

Adjutant Chen's face changed drastically. Linghu Chong glanced at the letter paper, his sword eyebrows slightly furrowed: 'Such evil skills are a scourge if left behind.'

III. Peering from the Holy Land

When the news of the destruction of the Myriad Bone Grotto branch reached the Xuantian Holy Land, Sect Head Mysterious Mechanism Master was discussing matters with several Elders.

The white-bearded Elder sitting below stroked his beard and said: 'That 'Beyond Heaven' acts quite decisively; it took only a month to clear the evil grotto in Qingzhou. Should we...'

'No need.' Mysterious Mechanism Master interrupted him, his fingertips tapping on the jade table, 'The Luowang Assassins sneaked into our Scripture Pavilion last night and were injured by the scripture-protecting Formation, but they only took away a copy of 'Basic Sword Techniques'. This is a test.'

Another gray-robed Elder sneered: 'A group of rats hiding their heads and showing their tails, do they really think the Holy Land is easy to bully? My subordinates are willing to lead the Law Enforcement team to meet them!'

'Why the rush.' Mysterious Mechanism Master picked up his teacup, his gaze deep, 'I heard they recruited someone named Li Shimin who can actually train the Black Armor Formation quite well. Let the eyes and ears in Qingzhou watch closely and see what this Young Lord of 'Beyond Heaven' wants to do.'

At this time in Hanyue Valley, Jun Xiaoyao was watching Feng Qingyang deduce the Formation of Quicksand City on the sand table.

Feng Qingyang drew a diagonal line with his scabbard: 'This is the Formation eye, guarded by three Great Grandmasters. Breaking in by force will definitely cause losses. But every day at noon, when the sun shines obliquely, the defense in the southeast corner will weaken by thirty percent.'

'Can Linghu Chong's Nine Swords of Dugu break it?'

'He is still lacking some heat,' Feng Qingyang said, 'This old man can guide him in three moves; whether it succeeds or not depends on his Comprehension Ability.'

Jun Xiaoyao nodded and turned to tell Zhao Gao: 'Ask Iron Abacus to prepare fifty carts of medicinal materials and send them to the 'Medicine God Mountain' in the Western Regions, saying that Beyond Heaven wants to exchange them for 'Sand-Avoiding Beads'.'

'Medicine God Mountain?' Zhao Gao was stunned, 'That is a neutral force that never gets involved in Jianghu disputes...'

'Their young leader has a strange illness that can only be cured by the 'Blood Lotus' of the Myriad Bone Grotto,' Jun Xiaoyao said lightly, 'Tell Iron Abacus that we can help them get the Blood Lotus.'

Zhao Gao suddenly realized and bowed to withdraw.

Feng Qingyang looked at Jun Xiaoyao's back, a flash of surprise in his eyes—this Young Lord is so young, yet his layout is so far-reaching; he is much more transparent than the Sect Heads of the Five Mountains Sword Sect back then.

IV. The Edge of the Black Armor Elite Soldiers

On the martial arts arena, Li Shimin was personally demonstrating the method of changing the Black Armor Formation.

Fifty Luowang Assassins wearing special black iron armor changed Formations following his command flag, sometimes like an iron wall, sometimes like a sharp knife breaking through the Formation.

Linghu Chong stood aside holding his sword, looking at the gaps between the Formation changes, thoughtful.

'See anything?' Li Shimin threw him a command flag, 'This Formation emphasizes 'offense within defense', but there are too many gaps. Try to see how to break it with the Nine Swords of Dugu.'

Linghu Chong took the command flag, pondered for a moment, and suddenly waved the flag to point at the Formation eye: 'Here, this is the flaw.'

Li Shimin raised his eyebrows: 'Oh? I'd like to hear the details.'

'The Formation moves with the command; the command flag is in the central army, which seems to be the most stable, but it is actually the 'stagnation point' of the entire Formation,' Linghu Chong said, 'Just like the wrist when drawing a sword, as long as you move it, the whole Formation will be in chaos.'

Li Shimin laughed: 'Interesting! Elder Feng didn't teach you in vain.'

He turned to the assassins and said, 'Hear that? In the future, when practicing the Formation, increase the defense of the central army by another thirty percent!'

At this time, a Luowang Assassin ran over in a hurry and handed over a secret report: 'Young Lord, the Law Enforcement Elder of the Xuantian Holy Land has brought people and camped outside Qingzhou City.'

Li Shimin took the secret report, his brows slightly furrowed: 'They came quite quickly.'

Linghu Chong said: 'Do you want me to go and meet them?'

'No need.' Li Shimin shook his head, 'Let Adjutant Chen go to entertain them, and say that we are clearing out the remnants of the Myriad Bone Grotto and have no time to deal with foreign affairs for now.'

He looked in the direction of Hanyue Valley, 'Since the Young Lord let us practice the Formation, he must have a plan.'

V. Under the Undercurrent

The night in Hanyue Valley is always colder than elsewhere.

Jun Xiaoyao stood on the star-gazing platform, looking at the lights in the direction of Qingzhou, where the camp of the Xuantian Holy Land was.

Feng Qingyang stood behind him at some point, playing with a pebble in his hand: 'The people from the Holy Land came because they are afraid you will snatch the territory in the Western Regions.'

'If they want it, let them take it,' Jun Xiaoyao's tone was flat, 'What I want is the main altar of the Myriad Bone Grotto.'

'I have seen most of the Formation in Quicksand City. Give Linghu Chong another half month, and breaking the Formation will not be difficult,' Feng Qingyang said, 'It's just that the altar master Mo Tianxing is said to have stepped into the Land Immortal Realm with half a step, which is not easy to deal with.'

Jun Xiaoyao took a jade pendant from his sleeve, with the words 'Hidden Dragon' engraved on it: 'The day the Black Armor Elite Soldiers of Li Shimin are formed will be the death date of Mo Tianxing.'

He rubbed the jade pendant with his fingertips, 'By the way, keep the people of The Net watching Iron Abacus, and don't let him have private contact with the Holy Land.'

Feng Qingyang looked at his side face and suddenly said: 'Does the Young Lord know that the protective mountain array of the Xuantian Holy Land was also laid by me back then?'

Jun Xiaoyao turned around, a flash of surprise in his eyes.

'That Formation has a backdoor, hidden under the 'Wordless Stele' in the Scripture Pavilion.'

Feng Qingyang smiled, 'But I didn't say I would help you break the Holy Land's Formation.'

Jun Xiaoyao's mouth curved slightly: 'I didn't say I would move against the Xuantian Holy Land either.'

He looked at the starry sky, 'After the Myriad Bone Grotto is destroyed, there will be plenty of time to play slowly.'

The night deepened, and the summoning array in Hanyue Valley lit up with a faint light again, as if new strong people were about to descend.

And in the camp outside Qingzhou City, Mysterious Mechanism Master was meditating on the secret report—the paper read: 'Beyond Heaven has summoned Feng Qingyang.'