284: The prefect was executed.

The summoning array in the Hanyue Valley Underground Palace was still glowing faintly, its spiritual energy gauge stuck at 85%, and pale golden runes flowed slowly along the grooves on the floor like a dormant golden dragon.

Jun Xiaoyao leaned back on the Profound Ice Throne, his fingertips tapping the armrest unconsciously as he divided the water mirror into four sections.

The top left displayed the mission perspective of the Marshal of the Unruly, the top right showed the movements of the Jinyiwei reported back by Huang Rong, the bottom left contained Feng Qingyang's martial arts notes, and the bottom right was the deployment schedule for the Luowang Assassins.

"Young Lord, the Marshal of the Unruly has sent word that Wang Xian, the Prefect of Qingzhou, has been executed."

Zhao Gao's voice broke the silence of the underground palace; he held a brocade box containing a bronze seal engraved with "Seal of the Qingzhou Prefect."

"As you instructed, the scene was staged as a vendetta between noble families, and the murder weapon was marked with the crest of the Li family from the west of the city—the Li family and the Wang family have long-standing grievances, so this matter will never be traced back to The Net."

Jun Xiaoyao shifted his gaze to the top-left section of the water mirror.

In the image, the Marshal of the Unruly was vaulting over the back wall of the Prefect's mansion, the hem of his black robe stained with traces of blood, and the lantern he carried swaying gently in the night breeze.

The study behind him was ablaze with a raging fire that lit up half the sky, and one could faintly hear the gasps and cries from within the mansion—this was a "scene" deliberately left behind by the Marshal of the Unruly to cover up the traces of the true assassination.

[Task Three Completion Notification: Assassinate Qingzhou Prefect Wang Xian]

[Reward Issued: Qingzhou Salt and Iron Monopoly Rights (Half a Year), currently activated; 100,000 taels of silver can be automatically obtained each month]

[The Net Reputation +500, Beyond Heaven Influence +300, Current Influence: 12300]

"Hand over the salt and iron monopoly rights to Zhao Gao to manage."

Jun Xiaoyao spoke indifferently, and the organizational chart of the "Salt and Iron Bureau" immediately popped up in the bottom-right section of the water mirror.

Zhao Gao's name was automatically marked in the "Superintendent" column, "Deploy ten Luowang Assassins to be responsible for the transport and protection of salt and iron, with their salaries paid from the monopoly proceeds."

"Yes, Young Lord."

Zhao Gao bowed in acknowledgment, took out his ledger, and began to record: "Ten assassins, each with a monthly salary of fifty taels of silver, totaling five hundred taels... The salt and iron warehouse needs repairs and reinforcement, estimated to cost three thousand taels..."

At this moment, the top-right section of the water mirror suddenly flickered.

Huang Rong was crouching on a hillside outside Qingzhou City, using a twig to draw the deployment map of the Jinyiwei on the ground.

"Young Lord, the vanguard of the Jinyiwei has arrived, about fifty men, all at the Innate Realm Late Stage, and the leader is a Centurion at the Grandmaster Realm Early Stage, currently surrounding a tea stall at the city gate to inquire about news of The Net."

She circled a red dot with the twig, "Here, they have set up a secret sentry to keep an eye on suspicious people entering and leaving the city."

Jun Xiaoyao tapped his finger on the water mirror, and a panel immediately popped up beside Huang Rong:

[Character: Huang Rong]

[Status: Infiltration, has grasped the movements of the Jinyiwei vanguard]

[Current Available Tasks: 1. Eliminate Secret Sentry (Difficulty: ★★★, Reward: Jinyiwei Deployment Map) 2. Mislead Jinyiwei (Difficulty: ★★★☆, Reward: Beyond Heaven Concealment +10)]

"Select 2."

Jun Xiaoyao said, "Make them think that the core stronghold of The Net is in the slums of the north city."

"Received!"

Huang Rong's eyes lit up, and she immediately tore a corner of her skirt, smeared it with some mud, and walked quickly towards the tea stall—she was going to play the role of an "escaped slave" being hunted by The Net to divert the Jinyiwei's attention to the north city.

In the bottom-left section of the water mirror, Feng Qingyang put down "Continental Martial Arts Examination" and traced a sword mark on the tabletop with his fingertip.

"Young Lord, although the martial arts of this continent are diverse, they are quite interesting."

His voice carried a hint of interest, "The so-called 'Heavenly Human Realm' has an Internal Energy circulation that is somewhat similar to the Ultimate Yang Qi of the Zixia Divine Skill, only it focuses more on resonance with heaven and earth."

He paused, picked up a wolf-hair brush, and drew a sword manual on the paper, "I am considering that the 'Qi-Breaking Form' of the Nine Swords of Dugu could be slightly modified, which might be able to cope with the pressure of the Heavenly Human Realm."

[Feng Qingyang Status Update: Has comprehended a variant of the "Qi-Breaking Form," attack and defense against Heavenly Human Realm increased by 15%]

Jun Xiaoyao nodded slightly, his gaze shifting to the summoning array.

After the salt and iron monopoly rights were activated, the spiritual energy gauge rose by another 5%, reaching 90%.

"Still 10% short."

He whispered, and a list of resources currently exchangeable for spiritual energy popped up on the left side of the water mirror:

1. 50,000 taels of gold (can be exchanged for 5% spiritual energy)

2. 1 spirit condensing pill (can be exchanged for 3% spiritual energy)

3. 50 of The Net's currently idle assassins (can be exchanged for 8% spiritual energy, requires pausing some assassination missions)

"Use the gold and the spirit condensing pill."

Jun Xiaoyao ordered.

Zhao Gao immediately took out 50,000 taels of gold and one spirit condensing pill from his Storage Pouch, and according to the requirements of the summoning array, melted the gold into liquid and poured it into the array eye, then crushed the spirit condensing pill into powder and sprinkled it on top.

"Hum—"

The summoning array instantly erupted with blinding golden light, and the spiritual energy gauge jumped sharply to 100%.

The runes spun wildly, forming a huge golden vortex.

Bursts of dragon roars and tiger howls emanated from the vortex, and a pressure far exceeding before spread from the array, causing the glass windows at the top of the underground palace to vibrate and hum.

"This aura..."

A trace of surprise flashed in Feng Qingyang's eyes, "At least Heavenly Human Realm."

In the center of the vortex, a figure clad in a dragon-patterned black robe slowly condensed.

He held a primitive long sword, his face was cold and stern, and his body was surrounded by faint Dragon Qi; just by standing there, he made the air in the entire underground palace seem to freeze.

[Summoning Successful]

[Character: Zhang Sanfeng]

[From: Jin Yong Wuxia World]

[Realm: Middle Celestial Realm]

[Martial Skill: Tai Chi Sword (Perfection), Tai Chi Fist (Perfection), Nine Yang Divine Art (Perfection)—can draw upon the Origin Qi of heaven and earth for one's own use, unparalleled defense, skilled in overcoming hardness with softness]

[Loyalty: 99%]

[Initial Status: Fully adapted to the current world, can participate in battle directly]

Zhang Sanfeng opened his eyes, his gaze landing on Jun Xiaoyao, and he bowed slightly: "Old Daoist Zhang Sanfeng, greets the Young Lord."

His voice was calm but carried a sense of vicissitudes that came from insight into the world, as if he had already seen through the disputes of this world.

Jun Xiaoyao looked at the information on the panel and tapped his finger lightly on the armrest.

In the water mirror, Huang Rong had already successfully misled the Jinyiwei, and those Innate Realm assassins were leading the Centurion toward the slums in the north city; the Marshal of the Unruly had returned to The Net headquarters and was counting the spoils of this mission—100,000 taels of silver privately hidden by Wang Xian and a batch of martial arts Secret Manuals; Feng Qingyang walked to Zhang Sanfeng's side, and the two smiled at each other, as if they had known each other for a long time.

"Zhang Sanfeng."

Jun Xiaoyao spoke, "Three days from now, a Jinyiwei Chiliarch will lead the Tiqi to arrive in Qingzhou; are you willing to take action?"

Zhang Sanfeng stroked his beard and chuckled: "This old Daoist has not exercised his bones for a long time; I will take this opportunity to see how the Heavenly Human Realm of this continent differs."

He turned his wrist slightly, and a gentle yet irresistible force of Qi spread out; the runes on the floor of the underground palace actually rose and fell slowly with his movements, "Tai Chi gives birth to the Two Modes, the Two Modes give birth to the Four Symbols... Let them have thousands of troops and horses, this old Daoist alone is enough."

[Zhang Sanfeng Mission Assignment: Intercept the Jinyiwei Chiliarch (Initial Heaven Human Realm) and three hundred Tiqi]

[Task Difficulty: ★★★★☆]

[Task Reward: Beyond Heaven Influence +2000, Imperial Dynasty Apprehension +50, Unlock "Holy Land" level faction evaluation qualification]

Zhao Gao looked at the mission information on the panel and couldn't help but click his tongue: "Young Lord, with True Man Zhang taking action, I'm afraid these Jinyiwei are going to take a big fall!"

Jun Xiaoyao did not reply, his gaze shifting to the large group of Tiqi slowly approaching Qingzhou City in the water mirror.

The leading Chiliarch was clad in silver armor, wearing an embroidered spring saber at his waist, and radiating the pressure of the Initial Heaven Human Realm, urging his horse forward.

And the three hundred Tiqi behind him were all at the Innate Realm Peak, with bright armor and a forest of blades and spears, looking like the elite among elites.

"Huang Rong, have her withdraw."

Jun Xiaoyao said, "There is no need to keep watch anymore."

"Received!"

Huang Rong's voice came from the message talisman; she had just shaken off the Jinyiwei's line of sight and was sitting on a large tree, gnawing on a wild fruit.

"As it happens, I discovered something interesting—the 'Black Wind Gang' in the west of the city seems to want to take the opportunity to annex The Net's territory; should I deal with them while I'm at it?"

The information on the Black Wind Gang immediately popped up on the right side of the water mirror:

[Black Wind Gang: A local Gang in Qingzhou, the Gang leader is at the Grandmaster Realm Late Stage, with twenty Innate Realm experts under his command, controlling the casinos and brothels in the west of the city, and has recently repeatedly provoked The Net's assassination missions]

Jun Xiaoyao looked at the panel of the Marshal of the Unruly, who was currently in an idle state, his Realm at the Grandmaster Realm Early Stage, and his Tiangang Art at Perfection was enough to crush the Grandmaster Realm.

"Let the Marshal of the Unruly go."

He said indifferently, "Clean it up, and leave no traces."

[New Task for the Marshal of the Unruly: Annihilate the Black Wind Gang]

[Task Difficulty: ★★★☆]

[Task Reward: Control of the west city territory, 30,000 taels of silver, 50 expansion slots for The Net assassins]

The underground palace quieted down again, leaving only the humming of the summoning array's aftermath.

Zhang Sanfeng stood by the window with his hands behind his back, looking toward the direction of Qingzhou City, with Tai Chi force appearing and disappearing in his palm; Feng Qingyang was modifying the sword manual, occasionally discussing it with Zhang Sanfeng; Zhao Gao was busy calculating the accounts of the salt and iron monopoly, the abacus clicking loudly.

Jun Xiaoyao picked up his teacup, watching the movements of the various forces in the water mirror, and a subtle curve appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Beyond Heaven had its first Heavenly Human Realm expert, the influence of The Net was constantly expanding in Qingzhou, and the threat of the Jinyiwei would also be easily resolved—this game of chess was unfolding step by step in a direction favorable to him.

And the spiritual energy of the summoning array did not return to zero after Zhang Sanfeng appeared, but instead left a trace of golden aura.

Zhao Gao said that this was the "nourishment" of the summoning array by the Heavenly Human Realm powerhouse; the next summoning might bring in an even more powerful character.

The night grew deeper.

The lights of Qingzhou City were scattered like broken gold sprinkled on black cloth, while the light of the Hanyue Valley Underground Palace was brighter than any lamp—that was the signal of Beyond Heaven's rise, and also the first complete layout that Jun Xiaoyao had set on this continent.