283: Received a reward

Jun Xiaoyao sat on the mystic ice throne in the Hanyue Valley Underground Palace, lightly tapping the armrest with his fingertip. The water mirror before him was divided into three columns.

They displayed The Net's assassination mission list, the status panel of Beyond Heaven's core members, and the continental power distribution map, respectively.

A slight energy fluctuation came from the depths of the underground palace. The summoning array was accumulating the spiritual power needed for the next summoning. Pale blue runes flowed across the ground, like a group of dormant spiritual snakes.

"Young Lord, The Net recently received three high-value bounties." Zhao Gao's voice came from the shadows. He bowed and handed over a black leather ledger, the cover of which was embroidered with the words "The Net" in gold thread.

"First is the head of the Imperial Dynasty's Minister of Rites Assistant, priced at fifty thousand taels of gold, required within seven days; second is retrieving the Heart-Eroding Secret Record from the Western Regions Demonic Cult, with a reward of three 'spirit condensing pills'; third is assassinating the Prefect of Qingzhou, where the client specifically requested the Marshal of the Unruly to personally take action."

Jun Xiaoyao glanced over the ledger, and detailed annotations for the three missions immediately popped up on the left side of the water mirror:

[Mission One: Assassinate the Imperial Dynasty's Minister of Rites Assistant]

Target Information: Li Song, Minister of Rites Assistant, Innate Realm Late Stage, proficient in the Book of Rites Sword Technique, guarded by three Grandmaster Realm experts.

Mission Difficulty: ★★★★

Reward: Fifty thousand taels of gold (Can be exchanged for Beyond Heaven Construction Materials ×1000)

[Mission Two: Retrieve the Heart-Eroding Secret Record]

Target Information: The secret record is currently held by the Saintess of the Western Regions Demonic Cult. The Saintess is at the Peak Grandmaster Realm and specializes in poison and charm techniques.

Mission Difficulty: ★★★★☆

Reward: spirit condensing pill ×3 (Can increase the spiritual power recovery speed of the summoning array by 20%)

[Mission Three: Assassinate the Prefect of Qingzhou]

Target Information: Wang Xian, Prefect of Qingzhou, Acquired Realm Peak. He offended local aristocratic families by strictly investigating the black market, but is secretly colluding with the Demonic Path.

Mission Difficulty: ★★★

Reward: Half a year of Qingzhou salt and iron monopoly rights (Can earn one hundred thousand taels of silver per month)

"Have the Marshal of the Unruly take Mission Three." Jun Xiaoyao's voice was flat. The Marshal of the Unruly's status panel immediately lit up in the water mirror—

[Character: Marshal of the Unruly (Yuan Tiangang)]

[Origin: Great Tang Unruly World]

[Realm: Early Stage Grandmaster Realm]

[Martial Skill: Tiangang Art (Perfection), Huayang Needle Technique (Major Achievement), Soul-Binding Rope (Perfection)]

[Loyalty: 99%]

[Current Status: Standby, can execute missions at any time]

Zhao Gao acknowledged and recorded the order, then added: "News from the Western Regions indicates that the Demonic Cult Saintess will be holding a 'Blood Moon Sacrifice' at the Black Wind Stockade soon, and the Heart-Eroding Secret Record will be displayed as a Magical Artifact for the ceremony.

If we accept Mission Two, we must act on the night of the ceremony. Demonic Cult experts will be gathered there, requiring at least two Grandmaster Realm practitioners for cooperation."

Jun Xiaoyao tapped the summoning array with his fingertip. The pale blue runes suddenly brightened, and the spiritual power gauge jumped from "75%" to "100%." "Activate summoning," he said lightly.

The runes on the ground burst into dazzling white light, and spiritual power surged toward the array center, forming a rotating pillar of light.

The faint sound of clashing weapons could be heard from within the light pillar. Immediately, a figure clad in white slowly materialized, a long sword slung across his back. With a cold and aloof face, it was none other than Feng Qingyang from "the smiling, proud wanderer."

[Summoning Successful]

[Character: Feng Qingyang]

[Origin: Jin Yong Wuxia World]

[Realm: Mid-Stage Grandmaster Realm]

[Martial Skill: Nine Swords of Dugu (Perfection) — Breaks all martial arts under heaven, grows stronger when facing stronger opponents; Zixia Divine Skill (Major Achievement) — Internal energy is profound and long-lasting]

[Loyalty: 98%]

[Initial Status: Awakening, 10% awareness of the current world]

The white-robed elder opened his eyes, scanning the underground palace before finally resting his gaze on Jun Xiaoyao. He cupped his hands and said, "This old man, Feng Qingyang, greets the Young Lord."

His voice was calm but carried the weight of experience, like an ancient sword hidden in its sheath—unassuming, yet concealing sharp edges.

"Old Feng, are you willing to take action to retrieve the Heart-Eroding Secret Record?" Jun Xiaoyao asked.

Feng Qingyang stroked his beard and chuckled softly: "Nine Swords of Dugu, it's a good chance to test the measure of the Demonic Path's martial arts in this world."

At this moment, an alert suddenly popped up on the right side of the water mirror: [Imperial Dynasty Secret Agents have infiltrated Qingzhou and are investigating The Net's stronghold].

In the image, two men dressed in brocade robes were loitering around the pawn shop established by The Net in the south of the city, wearing Imperial Dynasty-exclusive Dragon-Patterned tokens at their waists.

"The Marshal of the Unruly is still preparing for Mission Three, and Old Feng just arrived. Who should handle the Secret Agents?" Zhao Gao asked.

Jun Xiaoyao looked at the summoning array. The spiritual power gauge had dropped to "30%" after Feng Qingyang appeared, but it was enough for one more low-level summoning. "Summon one more person."

The runes lit up again, the light much softer this time. A figure in a light green dress appeared, holding a slender sword. It was Huang Rong from the legend of the condor heroes.

[Summoning Successful]

[Character: Huang Rong]

[Origin: Jin Yong Wuxia World]

[Realm: Late Master Realm]

[Martial Skill: Dog Beating Staff Technique (Perfection), Nine Yin Manual (Major Achievement), Disguise Technique (Perfection)]

[Loyalty: 97%]

[Initial Status: Basic information mastered, can execute missions immediately]

"This little girl, Huang Rong, greets the Young Lord." Huang Rong blinked, her smile cunning. "Leave those Secret Agents to me. I guarantee they'll return without success and without leaving any trace."

Jun Xiaoyao nodded. Huang Rong immediately pulled a few items from her bosom: a handkerchief laced with sleeping medicine, two different masks, and a small bottle of specialized "muscle-softening powder."

"Half an hour, Young Lord, just wait for the good news." After she finished speaking, her figure blurred, and she had already changed into coarse cloth clothing and her appearance into that of an honest farm girl, stepping lightly out of the underground palace.

In the water mirror, Huang Rong quickly caught up to the two Secret Agents, pretending to ask for directions. Before they knew it, she covered their faces with the medicated handkerchief. In just a moment, both men collapsed onto the ground.

Huang Rong skillfully searched their bodies for the tokens and secret letters. She then dragged the two men into a secluded alley, used the Disguise Technique to change them into the appearance of beggars, and finally popped a pill into their mouths—the Worry-Forgetting Powder, which causes temporary amnesia.

"Done!" Huang Rong's voice came through the message talisman, laced with a triumphant smile. "The secret letter says the Imperial Dynasty suspects The Net is connected to Beyond Heaven and is planning to send the Embroidered Uniform Guard to encircle and suppress us."

Jun Xiaoyao looked at the contents of the secret letter. The water mirror automatically highlighted the key information: [In three days, the Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander (Initial Heaven Human Realm) will lead three hundred Cavalry Guards to Qingzhou].

His fingertip paused on the words "Heavenly Human Realm." Currently, Beyond Heaven lacked Heavenly Human Realm combat power. Although Feng Qingyang was at the Mid-Stage Grandmaster Realm, there was still a gap when facing the Heavenly Human Realm.

"Accelerate the spiritual power accumulation of the summoning array," Jun Xiaoyao ordered. "Exchange the bounty from Mission One for spiritual power, and take out two spirit condensing pills to inject into the summoning array."

Zhao Gao immediately complied. In the water mirror, the summoning array's spiritual power gauge rapidly soared, jumping from 30% to 80%. The pale blue runes were tinged with a golden glow.

"Young Lord, should we continue summoning?"

Jun Xiaoyao shook his head: "Wait for the mission feedback from the Marshal of the Unruly and Huang Rong. Also, let Feng Qingyang familiarize himself with the martial arts system of the current world. We might need him for the Embroidered Uniform Guard in three days."

The underground palace fell silent again, save for the soft flow of the runes. On the left side of the water mirror, the Marshal of the Unruly had changed into night clothes, a specialized copper bell hanging from his waist, preparing to infiltrate the Prefect of Qingzhou's mansion;

On the right, Huang Rong was taking the two amnesiac Secret Agents to a ruined temple outside the city, even "kindly" leaving them some broken silver, making them believe they had been robbed; in the middle column, Feng Qingyang was flipping through the Treatise on Continental Martial Arts handed over by Zhao Gao, his brow slightly furrowed, seemingly deep in thought.

Jun Xiaoyao picked up the clear tea on the table, his gaze falling on the "Beyond Heaven Power Value" in the corner of the water mirror—the current value was "12000," still 8000 short of the threshold for a Prefecture-Level Power.

But he knew that the Embroidered Uniform Guard's encirclement in three days was the real test. If they could withstand this assault, Beyond Heaven could truly establish a foothold in Qingzhou, and The Net could completely replace the local underground forces, becoming the sharpest blade in his hand.

As night deepened, the moonlight from Hanyue Valley shone through the glazed window in the ceiling of the underground palace, casting dappled light and shadow beside the mystic ice throne.

Jun Xiaoyao gently blew on the tea foam. In the water mirror, the Marshal of the Unruly had successfully infiltrated the Prefect's mansion and was avoiding the patrolling guards, making his way toward the study.

Mission Three was about to be completed. And the spiritual power of the summoning array was slowly increasing, not far from the next summoning.