302: Extraterrestrial visitors

Deep within the Hanyue Valley Underground Palace, Jun Xiaoyao twirled a newly forged mysterious iron token between his fingers. The front of the token was engraved with the four ancient seal script characters: "The Net: Heaven-Grade."

The back featured complex star map patterns. This was the new Rank token recently standardized by Shangguan Jinhong, three times heavier than the old bronze token, and chillingly cold to the touch.

"Young Lord, the newly manufactured tokens are divided into four Ranks: Heaven-Grade mysterious iron, Earth-Grade fine steel, Profound-Grade bronze, and Yellow-Grade ironwood." Zhao Gao stood bowing at the foot of the steps, holding a box of tokens, his voice extremely low. "The Marshal of the Unruly has recovered all the old tokens; except for seventeen people in the 'Yellow' Rank who have yet to swap, the rest have been replaced."

Jun Xiaoyao did not raise his head, his gaze fixed on the water mirror. The mirror reflected the training grounds of The Net's Main Altar, where Shangguan Jinhong was personally instructing the Heaven-Grade Assassins in their moves. The Dragon Phoenix Rings in his hands flew like lightning, each collision shattering the bluestones bordering the field, causing the surrounding assassins to hold their breath in concentration.

[Character Panel: Shangguan Jinhong]

[From: The world of sentimental swordsman, ruthless sword]

[Realm: Initial Heaven Human Realm]

[Martial Skill: Dragon Phoenix Rings (Perfection), Money Dart (Major Achievement)]

[Loyalty: 83%]

[Current Status: Instructing Luowang Assassins]

"Have him engrave the essentials of the Qi-Breaking Style into diagrams and distribute them to all teams." Jun Xiaoyao tossed the mysterious iron token back into the box. "Also, notify Phoenix of the Miao People that he will lead the operation on the fifteenth. Shangguan Jinhong is to stay behind and reorganize the Hall of Punishment."

"Young Lord, the Wanfa Holy Land Treasure Pavilion is guarded by a Late Master Realm Protector. Although Senior Phoenix of the Miao People is a Great Grandmaster Realm expert, I fear..."

"He needs a tough battle to establish his authority." Jun Xiaoyao interrupted him, tapping his finger on the map spread across the desk. "There is an iron mine west of Wanfa Holy Land, near Sunset Glow Valley, whose quality rivals profound iron. Send the 'Profound' Rank team to investigate. If any aristocratic families or Sects are involved, clear the area immediately."

Zhao Gao quickly wrote this down and handed over a scroll: "This is the mission list just delivered by the black market. The top entry offers one hundred thousand taels of gold for the head of 'Poison Immortal' Li Mochou."

Jun Xiaoyao opened the scroll, and Li Mochou's data immediately appeared on the water mirror:

[Character Panel: Li Mochou]

[From: The world of the return of the condor heroes]

[Realm: Late Grandmaster Realm]

[Martial Skill: Five Poisons Divine Palm (Major Achievement), Ice Soul Silver Needles (Perfection)]

[Current Action: Occupying Black Wind Stockade, enslaving three hundred commoners to refine poison]

"Poison Immortal?" Jun Xiaoyao tapped the desk with his finger. "Her 'Five Poisons Secret Record' is said to contain methods to cure all strange poisons in the world. Have Xuan-Team Three lead the mission and capture her alive."

"Capture her alive?" Zhao Gao looked troubled. "Li Mochou's poisons are too potent; The Net might suffer significant losses..."

"Deduct the losses from the bounty." Jun Xiaoyao closed the scroll. "Tell them that if they bring her back alive, they will receive an extra reward of three Minor Return Pills."

Zhao Gao dared not argue further and bowed before retreating. Once Jun Xiaoyao was alone in the underground palace, he raised his hand to activate the summoning array. The spiritual energy in the array core had recovered to 60% due to the cleanup of internal spies and the initiation of new missions. A new name flashed across the light screen:

[Summonable Character: Zhang Sanfeng]

[From: The world of the heaven sword and dragon saber]

[Realm: Early Earthly Immortal Realm]

[Martial Skill: Tai Chi Fist (Perfection), Tai Chi Sword (Perfection), Nine Yang Divine Art (Major Achievement)]

[Summon Consumption: 100% Spiritual Energy]

[Estimated Loyalty: 90%]

Jun Xiaoyao's eyes flickered. The Land Immortal Realm—this was the highest Realm he could currently summon. However, 100% spiritual energy consumption meant he wouldn't be able to summon anyone for at least half a month, and the operation against Wanfa Holy Land was imminent... "Summon." He did not hesitate.

The array core suddenly burst forth with blinding white light. Countless runes swirled and gathered like swimming fish, forming a gigantic Tai Chi phantom. Within the phantom, a figure clad in a Daoist robe, with the hair of a crane and the face of a child, slowly materialized. As his whisk lightly swept, the surrounding spiritual energy instantly returned to peace.

"This poor Daoist, Zhang Sanfeng, greets the Young Lord." The old man bowed, his voice gentle yet carrying an undeniable pressure.

[Character Panel: Zhang Sanfeng]

[From: The world of the heaven sword and dragon saber]

[Realm: Early Earthly Immortal Realm]

[Martial Skill: Tai Chi Fist (Perfection), Tai Chi Sword (Perfection), Nine Yang Divine Art (Major Achievement)]

[Loyalty: 91%]

[Current Status: Stable]

Jun Xiaoyao rose and returned the courtesy: "Daoist Zhang, your willingness to join my Beyond Heaven brings great honor to this humble place."

Zhang Sanfeng stroked his beard and smiled: "This poor Daoist has been stuck at the Ascension Realm for a hundred years. Hearing that the Young Lord can gather experts from all heavens, perhaps I can glimpse the Opportunity for Shattering the Void, and thus I am willing to try."

"Rest assured, Daoist Zhang, Beyond Heaven never disappoints those who contribute." Jun Xiaoyao pointed to Li Mochou's information in the water mirror. "I have a matter I wish to entrust to you right now. I wonder if Daoist Zhang is willing to take action?"

Zhang Sanfeng glanced at the water mirror, his brow slightly furrowed. "Harming people with poison goes against the harmony of nature. Although this poor Daoist is not skilled in killing, subduing this fiend is a duty I cannot shirk."

"There is no need to take her life; just seize her 'Five Poisons Secret Record' and cripple her poison cultivation." Jun Xiaoyao added. "I also ask Daoist Zhang to rescue the commoners at Black Wind Stockade while you are at it."

"The Young Lord is merciful." Zhang Sanfeng flicked his whisk, and his figure faded beside the array core, leaving only the lingering sound: "I shall report back the result within three days."

The summoning array dimmed as its spiritual energy was depleted, but Jun Xiaoyao didn't care in the slightest. The combat power of a Land Immortal Realm expert was worth half of The Net; this expenditure was well worth it.

The next morning, Zhao Gao rushed in to report: "Young Lord, Wanfa Holy Land sent someone to deliver a challenge letter, claiming that our cleanup of their spies within The Net is a provocation to the Holy Land's authority. They demand we hand over Shangguan Jinhong within three days, or they will flatten Hanyue Valley."

In the water mirror, the vermilion seal on the challenge letter was clearly the "Soul Suppressing Seal," the treasure of Wanfa Holy Land. The spiritual energy fluctuation of the person who affixed the seal indicated they were at the Middle Celestial Realm.

Jun Xiaoyao picked up the challenge letter, and with a slight exertion of force from his fingertips, the paper turned into flying ash. "Have Phoenix of the Miao People move ahead of schedule. He will 'visit' Wanfa Holy Land tonight."

"Tonight?" Zhao Gao exclaimed in surprise. "But the preparations haven't..."

"No need for preparations." Jun Xiaoyao looked at Zhang Sanfeng, who was meditating in the water mirror. "Tell Phoenix of the Miao People to just charge in. If anything goes wrong, I will handle it."

As night fell, the Wanfa Holy Land Main Altar was brightly lit. The Mountain Protecting Great Formation, "Myriad Buddhas Worshiping the Origin," lit up. Within the golden light, countless phantom Buddha images were faintly visible—this was the defensive Formation the Holy Land was so proud of.

Phoenix of the Miao People, accompanied by twelve Earth-Grade Assassins, lay in wait outside the mountain gate. The Miao Blade at his waist hummed, clearly impatient. Suddenly, the golden light within the Formation shook violently, as if struck by immense force, and cracks actually appeared in the phantom Buddha images.

"It's Daoist Zhang!" an assassin whispered.

A white figure walked into the Formation as if strolling through a courtyard. Zhang Sanfeng lightly swept his whisk, and the golden light receded like a tide. The phantom Buddha images shattered inch by inch within the Tai Chi Vigorous Qi. The Holy Land Elders were terrified, hurriedly unleashing their Magic Treasures to attack, but Zhang Sanfeng merely flicked his sleeve, sending them all rebounding back.

"Allow me to borrow your esteemed location." Zhang Sanfeng's voice echoed throughout the mountains. His palm strike landed on the stone door of the Treasure Pavilion; though seemingly gentle, the stone door silently turned into fine dust.

Seeing this, Phoenix of the Miao People immediately led his men into the Holy Land, controlling the key routes according to the predetermined plan. He headed straight for the Hall of Punishment, where many Martial Forest experts imprisoned by the Holy Land were held—among them, there might be usable talents.

Half an hour later, Zhang Sanfeng returned holding the "Five Poisons Secret Record" and several of the Holy Land's ultimate manuals, followed by Li Mochou, who was pale-faced after her poison cultivation had been crippled. Phoenix of the Miao People also brought back seventeen prisoners who were willing to submit, including two Great Grandmaster Realm experts.

In front of the water mirror, Jun Xiaoyao looked at the classics submitted by Zhang Sanfeng and then scanned the information of the newly submitted prisoners, a slight smile curving his lips. The challenge letter from Wanfa Holy Land had unexpectedly turned into an Opportunity delivered right to his door.

"Zhao Gao," he suddenly spoke, "send a message to the black market. Say that The Net has taken on Wanfa Holy Land's 'business.' Whoever offers the highest price can buy the heads of their Elders."

Zhao Gao's heart tightened, and he bowed in acknowledgment. He knew the Young Lord intended to completely disrupt the situation and make Wanfa Holy Land the target of public criticism.

At this moment, Zhang Sanfeng suddenly said, "Young Lord, this poor Daoist discovered something in Wanfa Holy Land that might be useful to you." He produced a dark gold Jade Slip. "This is a fragmented diagram of a 'Spatial Teleportation Array.' If completed, it could transport Luowang Assassinss across domains."

Jun Xiaoyao took the Jade Slip and, after injecting spiritual energy, indeed saw the incomplete Formation pattern. He looked up at the dimmed summoning array, a hint of expectation flashing in his eyes—who would be summoned next time?

The night in Hanyue Valley remained quiet, but the Jianghu was already turbulent due to this sudden raid.

The name of The Net, following the disgrace of Wanfa Holy Land, truly resounded across the continent for the first time. Meanwhile, Beyond Heaven, hidden behind the scenes, was quietly weaving its own web, utilizing this turbulent wave.