298: Disguise and Investigation

The morning dew in the Hanyue Valley Underground Palace dripped through the stone crevices, splashing into tiny droplets within the halo of the bronze lamp.

Jun Xiaoyao twirled a piece of bamboo slip between his fingertips, containing fragments of Xuan Zhen's confession regarding the Netherworld Cult—'Every third of the month, at the third quarter of the Zi hour, the exchange will take place at the ruined temple west of the city.'

He placed the bamboo slip before the water mirror, and the surface immediately displayed a map of the west side of Qingzhou City. The location of the ruined temple was circled in cinnabar, with seven suspicious residences marked around it.

"Is there any news from Star Plucker?"

Jun Xiaoyao's voice was casual, but his gaze fell upon the most secluded residence on the map. The courtyard wall was over three zhang high, and bronze bells hung from the eaves—clearly a setup to guard against stealth experts.

Zhao Gao held the newly organized ledger, his fingertip tracing over the words "Netherworld Cult." "Replying to Young Lord, Star Plucker has disguised himself as Wang Qinian and followed the Wanfa branch leader to the pharmacy. The branch leader indeed prepared the medicine according to the list in the letter, but added an extra ingredient: 'Soul-Severing Grass'—mixed into the muscle-softening powder, it can shatter one's Meridians."

Jun Xiaoyao raised an eyebrow. "He's even more ruthless than Xuan Zhen."

He tapped the light screen with his fingertip, bringing up the real-time feed of Star Plucker—

Inside the pharmacy, "Wang Qinian" was bending over to inspect the medicinal herbs. His fingers brushed across the Soul-Severing Grass seemingly at random, while a silver needle hidden under his fingernail quietly picked up some herb dust.

The Wanfa branch leader stood to the side, his eyes sinister. "Lord Wang, is this batch of medicine really to be sent to the ruined temple outside the city? Elder Xuan Zhen just had an accident, I think we should still..."

"Does the branch leader not trust me?" "Wang Qinian" straightened up, stroked his beard, and sneered, imitating Wang Qinian's tone. "This batch of medicine is for 'that side.' If the time is missed, let alone you and me, even the Main Altar cannot bear the consequences."

He shook the jade pendant in his hand. "This token should count, right?"

Seeing the skull pattern on the jade pendant, the branch leader immediately suppressed his doubts and bowed. "I dare not. It's just that, according to the rules, the 'Three Questions' must be verified during the exchange. Does Lord Wang know them?"

"Wang Qinian's" eyes flashed with cunning, but his face remained calm. "Naturally, I know them—'The Netherworld path, blood flowers bloom, arrive at the third watch, an old friend comes,' right?"

The branch leader's expression changed slightly, clearly not expecting "Wang Qinian" to know the secret code. He quickly waved his hand. "It is I who was overthinking. I will arrange for the Disciples to deliver the medicine immediately."

Outside the screen, Jun Xiaoyao tapped his finger on the desk. This secret code had been squeezed out of Xuan Zhen's confession last night; he hadn't expected it to actually be useful.

He looked towards the summoning array. The spiritual light at the core had become a bit more intense, clearly the spiritual power feedback brought about by the increase in Star Plucker's loyalty after completing the initial task.

[System Prompt: Star Plucker's loyalty has increased to 90%, unlocking skill: Voice Mimicry (Minor Achievement)]

"Have the Marshal of the Unruly take the 'Kill' squad to ambush at the ruined temple," Jun Xiaoyao said. "Leave survivors, especially the Wanfa Disciples delivering the medicine. Ask them who 'that side' really is."

Just as Zhao Gao was about to respond, the water mirror suddenly fluctuated violently, and the scene switched to the Marshal of the Unruly—

Amidst the ruined walls of the temple, the Marshal of the Unruly was crouching on a crossbeam. The copper bowl of his pipe reflected the scene below: five Men in Black were whispering around a stone table. The leader wore a bronze mask and was toying with a skull ring, which was the mark of the Netherworld Cult.

"Why hasn't the person from the Wanfa Holy Land come yet?" The masked person's voice was hoarse, like sandpaper rubbing against wood. "The Cult Leader said this batch of medicine must be used by the night of the full moon."

A Men in Black beside him chimed in: "I heard Xuan Zhen had his cultivation crippled by an old Daoist priest. The Wanfa branch must be in chaos. Should we..."

"Idiots!" The masked person slammed the table, and the stone table cracked in response. "The Wanfa Holy Land is still useful, we cannot act against them! Once we get the medicine, proceed as originally planned—it's time for someone else to sit in the position of the Prefect of Qingzhou."

The Marshal of the Unruly on the crossbeam narrowed his eyes and quietly pulled out three copper coin darts. Behind him, the assassins of the "Kill" squad had already drawn their crossbows. The arrowheads were quenched with the "Soul-Bewitching Powder" newly concocted by the Hundred Herbs Elder—colorless and odorless, yet it could instantly cause anyone below the Grandmaster Realm to lose consciousness.

Just then, footsteps came from outside the ruined temple; the Wanfa Disciples delivering the medicine had arrived. The Marshal of the Unruly was just about to signal to attack when he saw the masked person suddenly stand up and bow towards the entrance. "I did not know Daoist Zhang was gracing us with his presence. Please forgive my lack of a proper welcome."

The Marshal of the Unruly felt a tightening in his chest and leaned forward to look—in the morning light, Zhang Sanfeng was walking slowly into the ruined temple, leaning on a bamboo staff. His Daoist robe fluttered in the wind, and he appeared to be strolling leisurely, yet a faint, intangible pressure swirled around him, causing the five Men in Black brought by the masked person to turn pale, their circulation of spiritual power becoming sluggish.

"This old Daoist is just passing by," Zhang Sanfeng said, his gaze sweeping over the medicinal herbs on the stone table. He tapped his bamboo staff near the Soul-Severing Grass. "This thing causes great harm; keeping it is a root of disaster."

Before his voice had even faded, the force raised by the bamboo staff had already shredded the herbs into powder, which scattered with the wind. The masked person's expression changed drastically, and he slammed his hand onto the signal flare at his waist. "Attack!"

Five dark shadows lunged at Zhang Sanfeng simultaneously, their palm winds carrying a thick stench of blood—clearly, they had cultivated evil techniques. Zhang Sanfeng, however, was unhurried. He tapped his bamboo staff lightly on the ground, and his Taiji Qi transformed into an invisible barrier. As the Men in Black lunged close, they felt all their force being dissipated, and their bodies staggered uncontrollably.

"Ignorant of life and death." Zhang Sanfeng swept his bamboo staff horizontally; it appeared slow, yet it sealed off all escape routes. With several muffled thuds, the five Men in Black were sent flying, crashing against the temple walls with the sound of breaking bones. Not a single one of them could withstand a single blow from him.

Seeing this, the masked person turned and tried to flee, but was intercepted by the Marshal of the Unruly, who leapt down from the crossbeam, his pipe pointing directly at his throat. "Stay."

"You are... the Marshal of the Unruly?" The masked person recognized his attire, a trace of terror flashing in his eyes. "Someone from Beyond Heaven?"

The Marshal of the Unruly chuckled. "Only realizing it now? Too late." He flipped his wrist, and his pipe pressed against the other's chest. "Speak, how many people does the Netherworld Cult have hidden in Qingzhou? Who is your Cult Leader?"

The masked person was just about to grit his teeth when his whole body suddenly went limp—Zhang Sanfeng had arrived behind him at some point, tapping his fingertip gently on his Jianjing acupoint. "This old Daoist's 'Taiji Force Dissipation' will prevent you from moving your True Qi for half an hour," the old Daoist said calmly. "Coupled with The Net's 'Soul-Searching Technique,' how long do you think you can hold out?"

The masked person turned pale and collapsed to the ground. The Marshal of the Unruly signaled to the "Kill" squad, and the assassins immediately stepped forward to tie him up while cleaning up the traces at the scene.

Before the water mirror, Jun Xiaoyao watched this scene, his fingertip tracing the residence with the bronze bells on the light screen. "Have Star Plucker investigate here and see if it's the lair of the Netherworld Cult."

[System Command: Star Plucker, investigate the bell residence west of the city, draw an internal defense map, and obtain records of Netherworld Cult activities.]

The scene switched; Star Plucker had already left the Wanfa branch and was now transformed into a gray pigeon landing on the wall of the bell residence. He carefully avoided the bells, flicked a steel wire as thin as a hair from his fingertip, hooked it onto the eaves, and silently slid into the courtyard.

The courtyard was planted with many exotic flowers and herbs, but they all emitted a faint, fishy stench—clearly watered with the essence and blood of living people. Shadows were cast on the window paper of the main room, and one could vaguely see someone flipping through files. On the desk sat a skull incense burner with swirling blue smoke, completely different from the sandalwood of the Wanfa Holy Land.

Star Plucker held his breath and performed "Empty Hand." With a flick of his finger from a distance, the files on the desk slid silently to the door. He quickly flipped through them, his pupils shrinking—they contained records of transactions between the Netherworld Cult and the Wanfa Holy Land Main Altar, featuring the entry: "Provide 100 jin of Heart-Eroding Grass in exchange for an Incomplete Manual of the Wanfa Heart Scripture"!

"So the raw materials for the Third Prince's Body-Burning Powder came from here." Star Plucker muttered to himself, stuffing the files into his robes. He then took out his charcoal pencil and quickly drew a defense map on parchment. The map marked twelve hidden sentries and three mechanical traps, with a blood-colored Formation drawn at the entrance of the innermost secret chamber—clearly an important location.

Just as he was about to leave, the door of the main room suddenly opened, and an old man in a black robe walked out. His face was withered, but his eyes were frighteningly bright. "Since Your Excellency has come, why not come in for a cup of tea?" The old man's voice was flat, yet carried an unquestionable pressure—he was clearly at the Late Heaven-Man Realm!

Star Plucker felt a jolt in his heart, knowing he had been discovered. He made a prompt decision, his figure flickering into a wisp of blue smoke as he dashed towards the courtyard wall. The old man snorted coldly and struck out with both palms. His black robe rustled, and the palm wind carried the scent of corpse rot—he had clearly cultivated the Netherworld Cult's evil technique, "Rotten Bone Palm."

"Want to leave?"

The palm wind sealed off all escape routes. Just as Star Plucker was about to be struck, he suddenly pulled a porcelain bottle from his robes and threw it backward at the old man. The bottle shattered, and the powder inside turned into white mist upon contact with the air. It was the "Shape-Shifting Powder" developed by the Hundred Herbs Elder, which could temporarily disrupt the aura of a disguised person.

Fearing it might be poisonous, the old man subconsciously took half a step back. Star Plucker took the opportunity to leap onto the wall, his figure changing again as he transformed into a crow, flapping away into the sky, leaving behind only the words: "Old thing, I'll play with you again next time!"

Watching the direction the crow disappeared, the old man's face turned livid. He barked into the air: "Notify the Main Altar, people from Beyond Heaven are watching us!"

Deep in the Underground Palace, Jun Xiaoyao looked at the defense map and transaction records transmitted back by Star Plucker, his fingertip lingering for a moment on the words "Incomplete Manual of the Wanfa Heart Scripture."

So the Wanfa Holy Land Main Altar had long been colluding with the Netherworld Cult; the Qingzhou branch was merely a pawn.

"Zhao Gao," Jun Xiaoyao lifted his eyes, his gaze cold. "Have The Net prepare; it's time to send a 'big gift' to the Wanfa Holy Land and the Netherworld Cult."

Looking at the newly added [Netherworld Cult Clue: Main Altar located at Black Wind Stockade in the Northern Desert, Cult Leader suspected to be at the Peak Heaven-Human Realm] in the ledger, Zhao Gao felt his palms sweating.

He knew that the Young Lord meant that he was going to take action against both of these major powers simultaneously.

The spiritual light of the summoning array reached its peak at this moment; a new summoning was about to begin.

Jun Xiaoyao gazed at the rotating runes in the array, a cold arc curling at the corner of his mouth—whether it be the Wanfa Holy Land or the Netherworld Cult, anyone who dared to block Beyond Heaven would have to pay the price. It was time to completely stir up the waters of Qingzhou.