291: Fragrant Stealing Order

The residual energy of the summoning array in the Hanyue Valley Underground Palace had not yet dissipated, making Fragrant Bat's white figure appear even more handsome amidst the glow of the runes.

He twirled his folding fan on his fingertips, his gaze fixed on the image of the abandoned post station in the water mirror, where the Black Armored Soldiers had just buried a box and were pressing the ground down with three massive stones, their movements as cautious as if they were concealing some earth-shattering secret.

"The profound iron token is buried three zhang deep, pressed down by thousand-jin boulders, and three zhang around it is set up with the 'Treading Snow Startling Swan Formation'—this Formation is specifically designed to guard against movement technique experts; stepping on it will trigger repeating crossbows." Fragrant Bat lightly tapped his palm with his folding fan, his smile unwavering. "But for me, this little trouble is like the tea dregs you find while drinking tea."

Jiang Jing fiddled with his black jade abacus, the clatter of the beads crisp: "Marquis Chu, according to the post station's defenses, you would need at least an incense stick's worth of time to break the Formation and retrieve the token, while the patrol cycle of the Heavenly Human Realm secret guards is half an incense stick..."

"So, we need to borrow some 'East Wind'." Fragrant Bat looked at Hundred Herbs Elder, who was counting poisons in the water mirror. "Can I borrow Hundred Herbs Elder's 'Drunken Bee Powder'?"

The water mirror screen switched. Hundred Herbs Elder was using tweezers to pick up a poisonous bee. Hearing the request, he didn't even lift his head. "Take it. This powder can make the bee swarm go crazy, which will be perfect for distracting the secret guards." He took out a porcelain bottle from his medicine box. "Remember to return the empty bottle; this one is from the Former Dynasty Imperial Kiln."

Fragrant Bat took the porcelain bottle and cupped his hands toward Jun Xiaoyao. "Young Lord, please wait. In half an hour, the profound iron token will certainly arrive." After saying this, his figure flashed, drifting out of the Underground Palace like a white cloud, his silhouette stepping on water and casting a long afterimage in the moonlight.

Jun Xiaoyao's gaze shifted to the other side of the water mirror, where Zhao Gao was sitting behind a black wooden table at The Net's Main Altar. Opposite him sat a Black Robed Emissary—the negotiation representative sent by Wanfa Holy Land. The emissary pushed over a brocade box. "Steward Zhao, these are three scrolls of The Heart Sutra of Ten Thousand Dharmas Incomplete Manual, recording the secret methods for Breakthrough from the Innate Realm to the Grandmaster Realm. Is this enough to show the sincerity of our Holy Land?"

Zhao Gao opened the brocade box, and the water mirror immediately scanned the content of the Incomplete Manual: [The Heart Sutra of Ten Thousand Dharmas Incomplete Manual, three scrolls, including 'Qi Gathering Art,' 'Spirit Refining Chapter,' and 'Body Tempering Scroll,' can increase the Cultivation speed of those below the Grandmaster Realm by 20%]. He looked up and sneered, "Does Your Excellency the Emissary think Beyond Heaven is easy to fool? This Incomplete Manual lacks the most crucial 'Realm Breaking Chapter' and is less than three-tenths of the complete work. How dare you use this to exchange for the life-returning pill antidote formula?"

The emissary's expression changed slightly. "Steward Zhao, those words are biased. The complete version of the Sutra is only available at the Main Altar. The fact that the Qingzhou Branch can produce these three scrolls is already the limit..."

"Either add two scrolls of the poison scripture supplement, or have your Branch Master come to negotiate personally." Zhao Gao closed the brocade box, his tone brooking no argument. "Otherwise, the discussion is off." He pressed a mechanism under the table, and ten Luowang Assassinss appeared from the shadows. The aura of the Grandmaster Realm caused the emissary's breathing to hitch.

Sweat beaded on the emissary's forehead. After hesitating for a moment, he gritted his teeth and said, "We can provide the poison scripture supplement, but only one scroll! This is the Branch Master's bottom line!"

Zhao Gao looked at the water mirror, and Jun Xiaoyao lightly tapped his finger—agreement. He immediately said, "Deal. But the caravan guards at Black Wind Ridge must withdraw. I want to see the territory handover documents within three days."

[System Prompt: A transaction has been reached with the Wanfa Holy Land Qingzhou Branch. Obtained three scrolls of The Heart Sutra of Ten Thousand Dharmas Incomplete Manual and one scroll of the poison scripture supplement. Paid the basic formula for the life-returning pill antidote (excluding core medicinal ingredients)]

The emissary left in a hurry with the formula. Zhao Gao bowed toward the water mirror. "Young Lord, they will certainly use the Incomplete Manual to impersonate the complete version. Should we..."

"No need." Jun Xiaoyao said indifferently, "These three scrolls of the Incomplete Manual are enough for The Net's assassins to achieve a Grandmaster Realm Breakthrough. As for the complete version, it will fall into our hands sooner or later." He looked at the summoning array; the airflow Fragrant Bat generated when he left had brightened the runes in the Formation slightly. "Keep a close eye on the emissary and see who he sends a message to after he returns."

The water mirror screen switched. Fragrant Bat had already reached the outside of the abandoned post station. He scattered the Drunken Bee Powder toward a nearby beehive. Instantly, thousands of poisonous bees buzzed up and swarmed toward the direction of the secret guards' patrol. The secret guards were caught off guard and swung their swords to slash them, and the area around the post station immediately descended into chaos.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Fragrant Bat deployed his Treading Snow Without a Trace movement technique, lightly tapping the nodes of the mechanism array with his toes—the stone slabs that could trigger the crossbows were useless beneath his feet. He took out a special small shovel, quickly dug open the ground, and with a gentle push using his Fragrance of the Sea of Blood palm technique, the boulder rolled aside, revealing the wooden box underneath.

"profound iron token, here I come." Fragrant Bat pried open the box. Inside, sure enough, lay a palm-sized mysterious iron token, inscribed with the words "Mobilizing Troops" on the front, and the Imperial Dynasty's Dragon pattern mark on the back. As soon as he picked up the token, he suddenly frowned and retreated quickly—a flare was hidden at the bottom of the box, emitting sparks!

"A bit interesting." Fragrant Bat waved his folding fan, the resulting wind extinguishing the sparks. At the same time, he threw a Copper Coin Dart (obtained from Marshal of the Unruly) toward a distant treetop. The Copper Coin Dart hit a hidden listener, emitting a crackling electrical sound.

Three Heavenly Human Realm secret guards heard the commotion, abandoned the poisonous bees, and rushed back. The leader roared, "Fragrant Bat! How dare you steal an Imperial Dynasty token?"

Fragrant Bat tucked the profound iron token into his robe, extending Treading Snow Without a Trace to its limit. "Why wouldn't I dare?" His figure weaved through the treetops, the secret guards' palm winds always missing him by half an inch. Just as he was about to escape the post station area, he suddenly turned around, his folding fan tracing an arc. The soft strength of the Fragrance of the Sea of Blood palm technique neutralized the force of the secret guards' pursuit, and he used the recoil to leap several zhang away, disappearing into the night.

[System Prompt: Obtained Imperial Dynasty Secret Treasure: profound iron token. Can mobilize one thousand Qingzhou garrison troops (valid for three months)]

Half an hour later, Fragrant Bat reappeared in the Underground Palace. He placed the profound iron token on the jade table in front of Jun Xiaoyao. His white robes had a few specks of grass, but his smile was evident. "Young Lord, please look. There is a mystery hidden within the Dragon pattern of this token. The groove on the back can fit another half of a token—it seems the Imperial Dynasty has another 'Mobilizing Generals token'."

Jun Xiaoyao ran his finger over the token's groove, and the water mirror automatically generated an analysis diagram: [The profound iron token is a Mother-Son token. The Mother token is in the Imperial Dynasty Ministry of War. There are three Son tokens in total. This is the Qingzhou Son token. Combining it with the Mother token can mobilize one hundred thousand Imperial Guards].

Jiang Jing's abacus beads clicked. "Young Lord, with this token, our salt and iron transport in Qingzhou will be safe! Before, we had to send twenty assassins as guards, but now, just showing the token means the garrison troops must obediently escort us, saving two thousand taels of silver every month!"

At this moment, the scene at the Myriad Dharma Branch of Wanfa Holy Land in the water mirror showed movement. After the emissary returned, he immediately reported the transaction to the Branch Master. The Branch Master was furious upon hearing it and smashed his teacup on the ground. "Trash! Three scrolls of the Incomplete Manual for a fake formula? The core medicinal ingredients for the life-returning pill antidote are only available in Jueqing Valley. The formula he gave us cannot be refined at all!"

The emissary trembled and said, "Branch Master, please calm your anger. That Zhao Gao said... he said if we don't cooperate, they will expose our arms smuggling to the Imperial Dynasty..."

The Branch Master's face was ashen. After a moment of silence, he said, "We can give up Black Wind Ridge, but we must set up an ambush during the handover to lure The Net's people there and wipe them out! Also, send a message to the Main Altar saying that Beyond Heaven intends to encroach upon Qingzhou and request the dispatch of a Heavenly Human Realm Elder for support!"

Zhao Gao, watching in front of the water mirror, gritted his teeth. "As expected, they had ill intentions! Young Lord, should we strike first to gain the advantage?"

Jun Xiaoyao looked at Fragrant Bat. "Marshal Xiang, would you be willing to make another trip?"

Fragrant Bat lightly shook his folding fan. "Does the Young Lord want me to take the Branch Master's head, or..."

"Replace the message he sends to the Main Altar." Jun Xiaoyao tapped a few words onto the water mirror with his fingertip. "Say that everything is peaceful in Qingzhou and no support is needed, and attach a fake agreement stating that 'Beyond Heaven is willing to cooperate with the Holy Land in developing Black Wind Ridge'."

"That's easy." Fragrant Bat took the fake agreement, and his figure disappeared again. "I guarantee the Branch Master won't know how he died even after his death."

Jiang Jing touched his black jade abacus and suddenly said, "Young Lord, I calculated that tomorrow, the Wanfa Holy Land Main Altar will send an emissary to Qingzhou, not for support, but to investigate the Branch Master's arms smuggling—the account books we previously gave to the Secret Agent Division have taken effect!"

Sure enough, the movements of the Imperial Dynasty Secret Agent Division popped up in the water mirror: [Tomorrow at Sishi (9 AM - 11 AM), the Secret Agent Division will join forces with the Imperial Guards to raid the Wanfa Holy Land Qingzhou Branch. Charges: Smuggling arms and colluding with a prince].

Jun Xiaoyao's lips curled slightly. "Have The Net's assassins avoid the Branch's vicinity tomorrow. We'll just watch the show." He looked at the summoning array. Nourished by the Soul Power from the profound iron token, the runes in the Formation had stabilized at 90% spiritual energy. "Once the matter in Qingzhou is settled, it's time to head south."

The water mirror automatically switched to the map of Nanfeng City, which marked several locations of Heaven And Earth Treasure and faction distribution: [Nanfeng City, a major town in the southern part of the Imperial Dynasty, rich in 'Warm Jade.' The controller is Prince of Zhennan (Middle Celestial Realm), who has close ties with the Wanfa Holy Land Main Altar].

When Fragrant Bat returned to report, he happened to hear this and immediately said, "There are many treasures hidden in the 'Gold-Spending Den' of Nanfeng City. It is said that the Prince of Zhennan possesses a piece of 'Soul Stabilizing Warm Jade,' which can nourish the Divine Soul and is even more valuable than soul nurturing jade..."

Jiang Jing rapidly worked his abacus. "Soul Stabilizing Warm Jade is priceless. If we can acquire it, the spiritual energy reserve speed of the summoning array can be increased by 50%!"

Jun Xiaoyao did not speak, merely tapping the marker for Nanfeng City with his fingertip. The night wind of the Underground Palace blew through, carrying the shouts from The Net's assassins training in the distance. The runes of the summoning array flickered slightly in the wind, as if portending the arrival of the next storm.

Zhao Gao looked at the newly added entry on the account book: [Strategic Resource: profound iron token x1], and then glanced at the Myriad Dharma Branch in the water mirror, which was about to be raided. He felt his blood boil—following the Young Lord, the resources of this world would sooner or later become the possessions of Beyond Heaven.