259: Secret Letter from the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion

Beside the Cold Jade Throne in the underground palace, the crystal panel was playing the cleanup of Black Wind Stockade in real-time: Fu Hongxue tossed the unconscious Fentian Palace leader to the men of The Net.

Marshal of the Unruly led his subordinates to inventory the medicinal herb storehouse, while the death soldiers whose Internal Skills had been crippled were chained together, dragged toward the prisoner carriages like livestock.

Zhao Gao stood beside the panel, holding the newly compiled inventory list, and reported in a low voice.

"Young Lord, the medicinal herbs intercepted this time are enough for our Medicinal Pill workshop to use for three months. There is also an extra batch of 'Blazing Fire Grass', which is perfect for refining the Ice-Cold Pill that counters the Fentian Palm."

Jun Xiaoyao tapped his fingertips on the armrest, his gaze falling on Fu Hongxue's figure—he was wiping the blade with a cloth, and the moonlight flowed down the spine of the blade.

It illuminated his profile, making it look cold and hard. On the panel, Fu Hongxue's loyalty remained stable at 92%, and the progress bar for the "Exclusive Mission" beside it had jumped to 15%.

"Have the people at the Medicinal Pill workshop work overnight," Jun Xiaoyao said indifferently. "Refine more Ice-Cold Pills and prepare three for each member of The Net."

Just as Zhao Gao agreed, the panel suddenly popped up a red notification: [Detected unknown spiritual energy fluctuation, Source: Back mountain of Black Wind Stockade].

Immediately after, an emergency message from Marshal of the Unruly popped up, his voice breathless: "Young Lord, a secret chamber was discovered deep in the karst cave! Inside is a stone tablet covered in runes. After touching it, an old man in Daoist robes appeared, claiming to be from the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, saying he wants to see you!"

Jun Xiaoyao raised an eyebrow. The Heavenly Secret Pavilion? That was the most mysterious intelligence organization on the continent, never interfering in power struggles and only profiting from selling intelligence. It was said that they could even unearth the secret affairs of the royal family. For them to come to him voluntarily was quite interesting.

"Have Fu Hongxue accompany him here." Jun Xiaoyao stood up and walked to the summoning array. The light at the array's core was softer than before, as if brewing a new summoning. "Tell that old man, if he wants to see me, he must bring a 'greeting gift'."

Half an hour later, Fu Hongxue led a white-bearded old Daoist into the underground palace. The old Daoist wore a faded Daoist robe and leaned on a peach wood staff. When he saw Jun Xiaoyao, his eyes lit up, and he stroked his beard and smiled.

"The Young Master of Tianwaitian is truly extraordinary. This poor Daoist is Qingxu, ordered by the Pavilion Master to deliver a 'gift'." He took out a Jade Slip from his sleeve and handed it over. "This is the layout of the Fentian Palace headquarters, including the secret passages where they hide medicinal herbs and the flaws in their protective mountain Formation. Is this enough as a greeting gift?"

Jun Xiaoyao let Zhao Gao take the Jade Slip. The panel immediately scanned and parsed it, popping up a line of text: [Fentian Palace headquarters layout (98% completeness), including the core coordinates of the Level 3 protective mountain Formation "Li Fire Formation"].

"Not bad." Jun Xiaoyao nodded. "Speak, what does the Heavenly Secret Pavilion want?"

Daoist Master Qingxu smiled even more happily: "The Pavilion Master said that he only wants to make a deal with the Young Lord—we provide intelligence, you take action, and after taking down Fentian Palace, just give us 30% of the medicinal herbs." He paused and added, "Of course, there are other 'businesses' later, for example... the Snow Wolf Clan in the Northern Territory has been snatching our trade routes recently. Is the Young Lord interested?"

Jun Xiaoyao did not answer directly, but looked at the summoning array: "As it happens, I am missing someone who understands Formation. If Daoist Master doesn't mind, why not stay?"

Daoist Master Qingxu was stunned, then laughed loudly: "Is the Young Lord trying to 'force me to stay'? However, this poor Daoist is not as easy to talk to as Guard Fu."

He pointed to the sword at Fu Hongxue's waist. "However, if the Young Lord can summon a Formation Master more capable than this poor Daoist, then I will concede."

As soon as he finished speaking, the summoning array suddenly lit up with cyan light, softer than the previous light, yet exuding an ancient aura. A man in green slowly walked out of the light, holding a whisk, with a string of copper coins hanging from his waist. It was none other than Zhuge Yuwo from "Shushan".

[Summoning Successful] [Character: Zhuge Yuwo (from the world of "Shushan War Chronicles")] [Realm: Late Heaven-Man Realm] [Martial Skill/Cultivation Technique: 1. Shushan Formation Compendium (Perfection) — Proficient in various offensive and defensive Formations, capable of instantly analyzing the Formation eye. 2. Sword Control Technique (Major Achievement) — Capable of controlling seven Flying Swords simultaneously, integrating offense and defense. 3. Taiqing Profound Art (Major Achievement) — Orthodox Daoist Internal Skill, endless and continuous.] [Loyalty: 85%]

Zhuge Yuwo cupped his hands at Jun Xiaoyao: "Subordinate Zhuge Yuwo, greets the Young Lord."

Daoist Master Qingxu's eyes went straight, and he muttered: "To be able to summon someone from Shushan... Young Lord, this ability, this poor Daoist is convinced! Fine, this poor Daoist will stay! But you must give me a quiet room to deduce Formations, otherwise, this poor Daoist will not work."

Jun Xiaoyao's mouth curved slightly: "No problem. Zhao Gao, arrange a quiet room with star charts for Daoist Master Qingxu."

As Zhao Gao responded, the panel suddenly popped up a notification: [Triggered side quest: Raze the Fentian Palace headquarters], [Reward: Unlock summoning pool "Xianxia Pool", can summon characters from the Xianxia world].

Daoist Master Qingxu leaned over to look at the panel and clicked his tongue: "My goodness, this reward is generous! Young Lord, when do we make a move? This poor Daoist can help Guard Fu analyze the flaws of the Li Fire Formation right now!"

Fu Hongxue finished wiping his sword and looked up: "Anytime."

Jun Xiaoyao looked at the time on the panel: "Three days later at the Hour of the Rat, the Li Fire Formation's defense will be at its weakest. Mr. Zhuge, please work with Daoist Master Qingxu to deduce a plan to break the Formation; Guard Fu, take fifty elites from The Net and coordinate with Marshal of the Unruly's men to provide support on the perimeter; Zhao Gao, transfer twenty boxes of Ice-Cold Pills here, with ten for each person."

"Yes!" everyone responded in unison.

Daoist Master Qingxu was still excitedly pulling Zhuge Yuwo to discuss Formations, Fu Hongxue had already turned to prepare his weapons, and Zhao Gao was busy deploying personnel. The underground palace gradually became lively, and the light of the summoning array had not yet completely dissipated, as if foreshadowing the arrival of the next summoning.

Jun Xiaoyao leaned back against the Cold Jade Throne, watching the busy crowd before him, tapping his fingertips on the panel to mark the "Raze Fentian Palace" mission as "Pending". On the panel, the reputation value of "Beyond Heaven" was slowly rising, like a quietly flowing river that would eventually converge into an ocean.

Zhao Gao suddenly remembered something and leaned over: "Young Lord, during the inventory just now, it was discovered that the people of Fentian Palace hid a batch of 'bone-corroding powder'. A single touch will corrode the Meridians. Should we have the Medicinal Pill workshop refine some antidote?"

Jun Xiaoyao nodded: "Let Mr. Zhuge look at the formula; his Taiqing Profound Art can neutralize this kind of poison. By the way, bring the Fentian Palace leader up; I want to ask him something personally."

Soon, the tightly bound leader was dragged in. When he saw Zhuge Yuwo, he struggled and roared: "How can people from Shushan help you! You will die a horrible death!"

Zhuge Yuwo swept his whisk, and a clear Qi landed on him; the leader's voice immediately went mute.

Jun Xiaoyao looked at him, his tone indifferent: "Speak, who is backing Fentian Palace."

The leader stared with wide eyes and said nothing. Fu Hongxue suddenly drew his blade, the gleam of the blade grazing his neck and bringing up a string of blood droplets.

"It's... it's the Snow Wolf Clan of the Northern Territory! They provided us with bone-corroding powder, made us snatch medicinal herbs, and weaken your influence so they could smoothly occupy the trade routes!"

The leader was finally afraid and blurted out everything while trembling: "The Young Lord of the Snow Wolf Clan will come to the Central Territory next month, and will bring a group of experts..."

Jun Xiaoyao raised an eyebrow and looked at Daoist Master Qingxu: "It seems that our 'business' with the Snow Wolf Clan will have to be brought forward."

Daoist Master Qingxu's eyes lit up: "This poor Daoist will go and investigate the intelligence on the Snow Wolf Clan right now! I guarantee it will be even more detailed than that of Fentian Palace!"

The lights of the underground palace reflected the figures of the crowd, some discussing Formations, some checking weapons, and some recording intelligence.

Everyone was performing their duties, operating like precision gears meshing together. Jun Xiaoyao watched all of this.

His fingertips tapped lightly on the Cold Jade armrest, and the three characters "Beyond Heaven" on the crystal panel shone with a steady light under the lamp, as if saying: The story that belongs to them has only just begun.