292: Jade Token Draws the South Wind

The summoning array deep within the underground palace emitted a faint blue glow. Jun Xiaoyao's fingertip hovered three inches above the Array Core. The profound iron token was placed in the center of the array, and the spiritual energy in the Dragon pattern groove slowly flowed along the rune lines.

Jiang Jing squatted beside him, holding the ledger, the beads of his abacus rattling loudly: "Young Lord, according to the news from the Secret Agent Division, we will raid the Myriad Dharma Branch tomorrow at the Hour of Si. Our Luowang Assassinss must withdraw to the periphery of Black Wind Ridge beforehand. They must avoid being accidentally injured by the Imperial Army while also monitoring the movements of the Branch Master—if he escapes, the subsequent clues for the 'Soul-Stabilizing Warm Jade' will be broken."

"Have Zhao Gao deploy thirty 'Shadow' Group assassins, dressed in Imperial Army uniforms, to blend in with the Secret Agent Division team." Jun Xiaoyao's voice was calm, his gaze fixed on the light screen of the summoning array, which was displaying a new list of summonable characters. "How is Marshal of the Unruly doing?"

"Marshal of the Unruly is deploying defenses with The Unruly at Qingzhou Wharf," Jiang Jing flipped a page of the ledger. "He said that among the military supplies smuggled by the Myriad Dharma Branch, a batch of 'Qi-Breaking Crossbows' were privately manufactured by the Prince of Zhennan of Nanfeng City. This is the perfect opportunity to follow the vine to the melon and obtain evidence of the Prince of Zhennan's collusion with the Holy Land."

The profound iron token in the Array Core suddenly trembled, and the list on the light screen refreshed rapidly. A name popped up at the very top—

[Summonable Character: Li Xunhuan]

[Origin: Little Lis Flying Dagger World]

[Realm: Early Stage Grandmaster Realm]

[Martial Skill: Little Lis Flying Dagger (Never Misses), Flying Dagger Asks of Love (Mental Interference Martial Skill)]

[Loyalty: 85% (Requires completion of the 'Retrieve golden silk armor' mission to increase)]

[Summoning Cost: 10% Spiritual Energy Reserve of the profound iron token]

Jun Xiaoyao tapped the three characters "Li Xunhuan." The blue light of the summoning array suddenly intensified, and the runes spiraled as if coming alive. A figure gradually materialized in the center—dressed in a loose green robe, holding a Wine Gourd, with a Flying Dagger about an inch long tucked into his waist, it was Li Xunhuan. As soon as he stood firm, he coughed twice. Wine dripped from his fingers onto the profound iron token, and the Dragon pattern seemed to come alive, emitting a soft chime.

"Your Excellency is the Young Master of Tianwaitian?" Li Xunhuan's voice carried three parts intoxication and seven parts weariness. His gaze swept around the underground palace before finally settling on Jun Xiaoyao. "I heard you can locate the whereabouts of the golden silk armor?"

"Finding it is not difficult," Jun Xiaoyao signaled Jiang Jing to hand over a Map. "Thirty miles outside Qingzhou City is Jueqing Valley. At the bottom of the Cold Pond in the valley is an Iron Prison, and the golden silk armor is inside the stone wall of the prison. However, that prison is sealed by the former dynasty's Soul Locking Formation, and the arrowhead of a 'Qi-Breaking Crossbow' is needed to pry open the Array Core."

A sharp glint flashed in Li Xunhuan's eyes: "Marshal of the Unruly's men just happen to have this Crossbow Arrow?"

"Not only do they have it," Zhao Gao's voice came through the water mirror. He was standing in the back alley of the Branch, watching the Secret Agent Division personnel making marks on the wall. "There are twelve pieces hidden in the Myriad Dharma Branch's Warehouse. We can 'borrow' them tonight."

The water mirror scene switched. Marshal of the Unruly, wearing a Bamboo Hat, stood on a Cargo Box at the wharf. Behind him, The Unruly were loading a batch of military supplies disguised as tea onto a boat. He tapped the Cargo Box with his fingertip: "Young Lord, the Branch Master's Trusted Subordinate secretly left the city just now, heading towards Nanfeng City. Should we intercept him?"

Jun Xiaoyao looked at Li Xunhuan: "Brother Li, if you are willing to make a move, it's a good chance to test your Flying Dagger?"

Li Xunhuan took a drink of wine, and the Flying Dagger at his waist moved slightly: "Within Thirty Paces, it Never Misses."

In the water mirror, the Trusted Subordinate rode his Fast Horse to the dense forest outside the city, then suddenly pulled the reins—a Man in Green Robe stood beneath a tree ahead, toying with a Flying Dagger in his hand. "Who are you?" The Trusted Subordinate drew his saber and slashed, but saw a flash of silver light. The Flying Dagger flew past his wrist and embedded itself in the tree trunk behind him. A Slip of Paper was wrapped around the tail of the dagger.

"Tell the Prince of Zhennan that Beyond Heaven has recorded Qingzhou's debt." Li Xunhuan's voice dispersed with the wind. By the time the Trusted Subordinate reacted, the person had vanished into the woods. He tremblingly pulled out the Flying Dagger. The Handwriting on the Slip of Paper was clearly Jun Xiaoyao's, and his face instantly turned ashen.

At this moment, the light screen of the summoning array flickered again, and another name appeared—

[Summonable Character: Qiao Feng]

[Origin: demi-gods and semi-devils World]

[Realm: Middle Celestial Realm]

[Martial Skill: Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms (Unrivaled Vigor), Dragon Capturing Skill (Object Manipulation)]

[Loyalty: 90% (Requires Joint Array Breaking to increase)]

[Summoning Cost: 30% Spiritual Energy Reserve of the profound iron token]

"Qiao Feng?" Jun Xiaoyao raised an eyebrow. "We just happen to need someone who can break an array." Just as he was about to select, Li Xunhuan suddenly said, "Gang Leader Qiao's palm power can shatter the Ice Layer of the Cold Pond. With him here, the Iron Prison at the bottom of the Cold Pond will be trivial."

The light of the summoning array turned crimson, and the runes swirled like enraged Dragons. Qiao Feng's figure solidified in the red light. The Dragon pattern on the profound iron token resonated with him, emitting a Dragon Roar. "Your Excellency is the Young Master of Tianwaitian?" Qiao Feng clasped his fists, his voice booming like a great bell. "I heard Jueqing Valley has an evil Soul Locking Formation. I am willing to go and break the array."

"Gang Leader Qiao, you arrived at the perfect time," Jun Xiaoyao pushed the Map of the Cold Pond toward him. "The Gate of Life of the Soul Locking Formation is on the east side of the pond bottom. It requires three strikes of the Dragon-Subduing Palm power, with an interval of One Incense Stick between each. Brother Li's Flying Dagger can cooperate by disrupting the Array Core."

Jiang Jing suddenly interjected: "Young Lord, the Secret Agent Division just sent news that the Myriad Dharma Branch Master tried to take the Genuine Scroll of the 'poison scripture supplement' and escape during the chaos, but he was intercepted by our 'Shadow' Group. He is currently trapped in the Branch's Pill Refining Room."

In the water mirror, the Branch Master was surrounded by ten Luowang Assassinss beside the Pill Furnace, holding a Porcelain Bottle: "Let me go! If this bottle of 'heart-corroding powder' spills, no one will survive!"

"He's bluffing," Jiang Jing flipped through the Medicinal Herb Manual. "The heart-corroding powder only volatilizes upon contact with fire. I already had someone extinguish the fire in the Pill Furnace."

Qiao Feng stepped forward. Using the Dragon Capturing Skill, he sucked the Porcelain Bottle through the air, and it flew "whoosh" into his hand: "Do you dare pull such a Trick in front of the Young Lord?"

The Branch Master collapsed to the ground. Zhao Gao stepped forward and searched him, pulling out a Blue-Covered Booklet, which was indeed the Genuine Scroll of the poison scripture supplement. It also recorded the Prince of Zhennan's Military Supply Orders, dated conspicuously for the previous month—matching the smuggling records held by the Secret Agent Division.

"The evidence is complete." Jun Xiaoyao lightly tapped his finger. In the water mirror, the Secret Agent Division personnel had already begun ramming the Branch's Main Gate. "Have The Net withdraw. Now, we watch the show."

Li Xunhuan looked at the remaining spiritual energy in the summoning array: "Who does the Young Lord plan to save the spiritual energy to summon?"

"We'll talk about that when we get to Nanfeng City," Jun Xiaoyao stood up. The profound iron token rose from the Array Core and fell into his hand. "Tonight, we first go to Jueqing Valley to retrieve the golden silk armor. Gang Leader Qiao, Brother Li, are you willing to come along?"

Qiao Feng laughed loudly: "It is exactly what I desire!"

Li Xunhuan finished the wine in his gourd: "Where there is excitement, how can I be absent."

Jiang Jing quickly followed: "Young Lord, wait for me. I need to bring the ledger. The value of the golden silk armor must be recorded..."

The Stone Gate of the underground palace slowly opened. The night wind blew into the passage, bringing with it the chill from the direction of Jueqing Valley.

Jun Xiaoyao glanced back at the chaotic scene in the water mirror where the Secret Agent Division was rushing into the Branch. A faint smile curled his lips—the move in Qingzhou was stable. Next, it was Nanfeng City's turn.