267: Black Market Storm

Deep within the underground palace, a ghostly blue spiritual light flowed over the crystal panel, reflecting on Jun Xiaoyao's indifferent profile.

On the panel, the [Luowang Recent Mission List] was refreshing line by line. One mission marked in red was particularly eye-catching: 'Secret Order of the Qingzhou Black Market Chamber of Commerce President: Intercept the medicine merchant from Lingnan and seize the thousand-year snow lotus they are carrying.'

Jun Xiaoyao tapped his fingertip on the four characters 'thousand-year snow lotus,' and the panel immediately popped up detailed annotations.

[thousand-year snow lotus, born in extremely cold lands, can help those in the Grandmaster Realm achieve a Breakthrough to the Grandmaster Realm, market value one million taels of gold, currently being escorted by the Young Master of Lingnan's 'Hundred Herbs Hall,' will arrive at the Qingzhou black market in three days.]

'One million taels of gold,' he curved his lips, his gaze sweeping over the [Summoning Energy Value: 80%] in the bottom right corner of the panel, 'Enough for The Net to add three more Grandmaster Realm assassins.'

I. summoning array, The Appearance of the Medicine Saint

'Start summoning.' Jun Xiaoyao ordered softly.

The summoning array in the center of the underground palace lit up in response. Pale golden runes flowed like water, gradually converging into a phantom. Unlike the fierce and mighty appearance of Guan Yu, this figure was surrounded by a bitter medicinal fragrance. After the phantom solidified, it revealed an old man wearing coarse cloth robes and carrying a medicine basket. His face was lean and refined, his eyes were bright and piercing, and he was holding a freshly picked medicinal herb.

[Summoning Successful]

[Character: Sun Simiao]

[From: Sui-Tang Wuxia World]

[Realm: Grandmaster Realm Early Stage (Medical skills are divine, combat power is weak, only Grandmaster Realm Middle Stage)]

[Martial Skill Cultivation Technique: 1. 'Thousand Gold Prescriptions' (Perfection) — An all-encompassing medical classic, capable of bringing the dead back to life, with meticulous deduction of poison arts and pharmacology. 2. Golden Needle Salvation (Major Achievement) — Performed with golden needles, it can heal wounds and also seal a person's Meridians, catching them off guard. 3. Clearing Heart Technique (Perfection) — Internal Qi is peaceful and long-lasting, capable of resisting mental shocks, and even more adept at identifying medicinal properties and deducing Pill Formula.]

[Loyalty: 90%]

'Old man Sun Simiao, greets the Young Lord.' Sun Simiao stroked his beard and bowed. The herbs in the medicine basket swayed with his movement, emitting a refreshing fragrance.

Jun Xiaoyao looked at the information on the panel, a trace of satisfaction flashing in his eyes. Although his combat power was insufficient, his Grandmaster Realm medical skills were enough to support the logistics of Beyond Heaven — Luowang Assassins were often injured, and having Sun Simiao was equivalent to having an extra life-saving talisman. More importantly, no one was more skilled than this Medicine Saint in identifying the properties of the thousand-year snow lotus and its subsequent use.

'Elder Sun, in three days, a thousand-year snow lotus will enter Qingzhou,' Jun Xiaoyao traced his fingertip across the panel, 'I want it to fall into Beyond Heaven without damage. This matter requires your assistance.'

Sun Simiao stroked his beard and smiled: 'Young Lord, rest assured, distinguishing the authenticity of the snow lotus and suppressing its cold backlash is something this old man can do. However...' He paused, 'As far as this old man knows, Lingnan's Hundred Herbs Hall has long been colluding with the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect of Qingzhou. I fear there are poison masters from the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect accompanying the Young Master.'

II. Zhao Gao Offers a Plan, A Chain of Poisonous Plots

'Ten Thousand Poisons Sect?' Jun Xiaoyao raised his eyebrows, and the panel immediately brought up relevant information: [Ten Thousand Poisons Sect, entrenched in the Miasma Valley in southwest Qingzhou, skilled in using poison. The Sect Leader 'Poison Hand Guanyin' has reached the Late Grandmaster Realm, and the 'Five Poison Envoys' under her command are all at the Peak Grandmaster Realm.]

Zhao Gao, who was standing by, stepped forward and bowed: 'Young Lord, although the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect is fierce, only the Young Master is escorting the snow lotus this time. There are at most two poison masters accompanying him, and they may not be the Five Poison Envoys. Your subordinate has a plan to borrow the power of the black market to make them kill each other.'

Jun Xiaoyao signaled him to continue.

'The Qingzhou black market chamber of commerce is ostensibly controlled by the President, but in reality, various forces are intertwined,' a flash of ruthlessness passed through Zhao Gao's eyes, 'The President has long coveted the snow lotus but dared not act rashly due to the relationship between Hundred Herbs Hall and the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect. We can anonymously spread the news that Hundred Herbs Hall has long been secretly in contact with the 'Iron Blood Alliance,' intending to use this transaction to annex the black market's medicinal herb business. Then, slightly modify the news and leak it to the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect — say that Hundred Herbs Hall wants to use the snow lotus to curry favor with the Iron Blood Alliance in exchange for secrets to deal with the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect.'

The Iron Blood Alliance is another force in Qingzhou that has long had a grudge with the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect. In this way, the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect will inevitably become suspicious of the Hundred Herbs Hall Young Master, and the black market chamber of commerce will also attack Hundred Herbs Hall out of fear of the Iron Blood Alliance. The Net only needs to sit back and reap the benefits.

'Feasible.' Jun Xiaoyao nodded, 'Have the Marshal of the Unruly take ten assassins skilled in disguise to mix into the black market chamber of commerce and secretly add fuel to the fire. Elder Sun, you need to prepare two types of medicinal powders — one that can temporarily seal the poison sacs of poison masters, and one that can forge the aura of the snow lotus to lead away the pursuers.'

Sun Simiao took out two small jade bottles from his medicine basket: 'Young Lord, rest assured, 'Poison-Locking Powder' and 'Snow Lotus Fragrance' are ready. The Poison-Locking Powder dissolves upon contact with Qi and can seal the hidden poison source in a person's Meridians for half an hour; the Snow Lotus Fragrance can simulate the cold aura of the thousand-year snow lotus for three hours.'

III. Marshal of the Unruly Lays Out the Plan, The Net's Secret Move

The Qingzhou black market was located in an abandoned kiln factory outside the city walls. After nightfall, lanterns swayed like ghost fires, and the sounds of hawking, swearing, and the clashing of weapons intertwined into a piece of Chaos. The Marshal of the Unruly disguised himself as a lame medicine peddler, leaning on a cane, walking through the crowd. The ten assassins behind him turned into gamblers, bartenders, and prostitutes, scattering into every corner of the kiln factory.

'Have you heard? That kid from Hundred Herbs Hall came this time not only with the snow lotus but also with a covenant with the Iron Blood Alliance!' A 'bartender' said seemingly unintentionally while pouring wine for the guards of the black market chamber of commerce.

The guard's eyes tightened, and he asked calmly: 'Oh? Isn't the Iron Blood Alliance at odds with the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect? Does Hundred Herbs Hall dare to wade into this muddy water?'

'Heh, people die for wealth!' The bartender lowered his voice, 'I heard the Iron Blood Alliance promised that as long as Hundred Herbs Hall helps them get the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect's secret recipe for poison, they will help Hundred Herbs Hall monopolize the Qingzhou medicinal herb market!'

The news spread like it had wings, and within half an hour, it had spread throughout the black market. Upon hearing this, the chamber of commerce president gathered his confidants overnight, sharpening their knives; while the poison masters of the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect who were secretly protecting the Young Master also quietly crushed the Gu in their hands, sending a message back to the sect.

At the third watch, the motorcade of the Hundred Herbs Hall Young Master arrived at the black market entrance. The Young Master was a young man in his early twenties, wearing brocade robes and a jade pendant at his waist, scanning the surroundings vigilantly. Behind him were two old men in black, their auras sinister; they were the poison masters of the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect.

'Young Master, this place is dangerous. Why don't the two of us go in and scout first?' whispered the poison master on the left.

The Young Master was about to nod when he suddenly caught a glimpse of a 'gambler' sneering at him near a gambling table not far away — the killing intent in that smile made his heart tighten.

'No need,' he forced himself to remain calm, 'According to the original plan, go directly to the chamber of commerce for the transaction.'

IV. Sudden Melee, The Snow Lotus Changes Hands

Just as the motorcade entered the depths of the kiln factory, pungent poison liquid was suddenly poured down from both sides, accompanied by the roar of the black market chamber of commerce guards: 'Hundred Herbs Hall colluded with the Iron Blood Alliance, intending to cause trouble, take them down!'

The two poison masters reacted very quickly, pushing their palms together, and the poison mist filled the air, instantly knocking down more than a dozen guards. But the chamber of commerce president had long been prepared, taking out a specially made gas mask and commanding his men to besiege: 'Don't let them run away with the snow lotus!'

In the Chaos, the Young Master was quietly approached by a 'prostitute' (Luowang Assassin), who pressed a short blade against his waist: 'Cooperate if you don't want to die.'

The Young Master froze all over, watching helplessly as the assassin swapped the snow lotus in his arms with a brocade box containing stones, and sprinkled some powder on him — it was exactly Sun Simiao's 'Snow Lotus Fragrance.'

At this time, the poison masters of the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect were already red-eyed with killing intent. They believed the Young Master had betrayed them, and they attacked without mercy. Poison needles and poison smoke were all unleashed, actually fighting with the chamber of commerce guards. The Young Master took the opportunity to break free and fled out of the kiln factory with the empty brocade box, while the pursuers behind him were led away by the 'Snow Lotus Fragrance,' chasing like crazy.

And the Marshal of the Unruly had already brought the real thousand-year snow lotus and met up with Sun Simiao at the back door of the black market.

'Young Lord, the mission is accomplished.' The Marshal of the Unruly presented the snow lotus. The moment the brocade box was opened, cold air overflowed, and a crystal-clear snow lotus lay quietly inside.

Sun Simiao stepped forward, his fingertips lightly touching the petals, and nodded: 'It is genuine, and the medicinal properties are intact.'

V. New Scenery in the Underground Palace, Strength Increases Again

On the crystal panel, the prompt [Mission Complete: Obtain thousand-year snow lotus] flickered with golden light, and the [Summoning Energy Value] instantly jumped to 100%. Jun Xiaoyao handed the snow lotus to Sun Simiao: 'Elder Sun, use it to refine the Breakthrough pill, prioritize supplying it to the Grandmaster Realm assassins in The Net.'

Sun Simiao took the snow lotus, a trace of admiration flashing in his eyes: 'Such a spiritual object can at least help three Grandmaster Realm cultivators break through to the Grandmaster Realm. Young Lord, please wait a moment, this old man will go to the pill room to refine it.'

Watching Sun Simiao's departing back, Jun Xiaoyao's gaze fell on the newly unlocked [Summoning Authority: Peak Grandmaster Realm] on the panel. Who would be the next summon? Would it be Lu Bu, who could sweep through thousands of troops, or Kongming, whose wisdom was close to that of a demon?

The wind outside the underground palace seemed to be getting stronger. But Jun Xiaoyao knew that as Beyond Heaven's wings gradually matured, those gazes hidden in the dark would soon focus on it.

And he had long been prepared.