307: Dragon-Slaying Shadow

In the Hanyue Valley Underground Palace, the bronze lamps flickered with a ghostly light. Jun Xiaoyao held the transaction details brought back by Fragrant Bat between his fingertips; the words "Blood Shadow Cult orders one thousand catties of bone-corroding powder" on the paper were infused with spiritual power, causing it to tremble slightly.

He looked up at the water mirror. In the image, Marshal of the Unruly was crouching on the ridge of the Black Wind Stockade. The copper bowl of his smoking pipe reflected the moving shadows below—the Blood Shadow Cult's transport team was advancing along the canyon. The leader was draped in a black robe, his figure hunched, yet he exuded a heart-stopping Aura.

[Character: Blood Fiend] [Status: Escorting raw materials for bone-corroding powder] [Escort: Fifty Blood Crow Guards (Grandmaster Realm), one guardian Elder (Initial Heaven Human Realm)]

"Marshal of the Unruly can make his move now," Jun Xiaoyao said to Zhao Gao. "Have the 'Kill' squad flank from the side. Leave Blood Fiend alive; I need to know the specific movements of Blood Butcher."

Just as Zhao Gao was about to send the message, the water mirror suddenly fluctuated violently. In the image, Blood Fiend suddenly looked up, red light shooting from his eyes beneath the black robe, and he vanished from the spot out of thin air! The next instant, Marshal of the Unruly on the ridge suddenly turned sideways, his smoking pipe sweeping horizontally, colliding with a claw shadow and sparking flames.

"Yuan Tiangang? You actually dare to come here to die!" Blood Fiend's voice was hoarse like a broken gong. His bone-corroding claw, carrying a black wind, clawed toward Marshal of the Unruly's face. "The Cult Leader said long ago that The Net's lackeys should be cleaned up!"

Marshal of the Unruly sneered, his smoking pipe spinning like a whirlwind, blocking all the claw shadows. "Just based on you?" The Unruly behind him moved simultaneously, chains flying out like spirit snakes, instantly entangling a dozen Blood Crow Guards.

Before the water mirror, Jun Xiaoyao watched the battle, tapping his fingertips on the summoning array. The spiritual power of the array's core rose to 45% because the Blood Shadow Cult's movements were clear. Qiao Feng's name on the light screen became increasingly distinct—summoning him now would be just in time to provide support.

"Summon Qiao Feng."

The array's core suddenly erupted with golden radiance, runes surging like raging waves. A figure dressed in a black robe, with a composed Aura, stepped out of the light. He cupped his hands, his voice like thunder: "Qiao Feng of the Khitan, greets the Young Lord!"

[Character Panel: Qiao Feng] [Origin: "demi-gods and semi-devils" world] [Realm: Peak Grandmaster Realm] [Martial Skill: Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms (Perfection), Dragon Capturing Skill (Perfection), Taizu Long Fist (Perfection)] [Loyalty: 88%] [Current Status: Battle Intent surging]

Jun Xiaoyao pointed to Blood Fiend in the water mirror. "Gang Leader Qiao, the Blood Shadow Cult is harming the Martial Forest, and this villain is helping the evildoer. Are you willing to take action to suppress him?"

Qiao Feng's gaze was like lightning, sweeping across The Unruly being slaughtered by the Blood Crow Guards in the image, his tiger eyes widening. "Such demons deserve to be executed by everyone!"

"Good." Jun Xiaoyao tapped his fingertip on the teleportation array coordinates. "Black Wind Stockade canyon, go support quickly."

Qiao Feng responded and stepped into the Grand Void Teleportation Array. A flash of golden light passed, and his figure had vanished from the underground palace.

Inside the Black Wind Stockade canyon, the battle was in full swing. Marshal of the Unruly was fighting two opponents at once; his left hand used the smoking pipe to entangle Blood Fiend, while his right hand used Huayang Needles to force back the guardian Elder, but he was gradually falling into a disadvantage—Blood Fiend's bone-corroding claw was tainted with deadly poison, and black spots were already appearing on the smoking pipe.

"Old thing, can't hold on anymore, right?" Blood Fiend laughed wildly, his claw wind becoming increasingly fierce. "When your poison flares up, I'll grind your bones into powder for the Cult Leader to Cultivate his technique!"

Just at this moment, a violent shout rang out like a thunderclap on flat ground: "Demon, do not be rampant!"

A golden palm wind like an angry dragon leaving the sea struck directly at Blood Fiend's back! Qiao Feng arrived stepping on the air. The "Soaring Dragon in the Sky" from the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms, carrying an incomparably fierce Qi, actually shattered Blood Fiend's black robe, revealing his body covered in blood veins underneath.

"Another one here to die!" Blood Fiend turned around, both claws striking out. The black poison collided with the palm wind, emitting a sizzling, strange sound. Qiao Feng did not dodge or evade; his left hand used the Dragon Capturing Skill to grab from a distance, actually forcing Blood Fiend's claw strength to shift, while his right hand followed up with "Dragon Seen in the Field," striking squarely on Blood Fiend's chest.

"Pfft—" Blood Fiend spat out a mouthful of black blood and flew backward, crashing into the rock wall. His eyes were full of shock. "What kind of Martial Skill is this?"

Qiao Feng landed firmly, saying in a deep voice: "The Martial Skill to take your dog life!" He moved his feet, his palm wind continuous and unending. Every move carried a fierce power that destroyed evil and annihilated demons; this was precisely the characteristic of the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms that specifically countered sinister evil.

Before the water mirror, Jun Xiaoyao watched Blood Fiend being beaten until he had no power to fight back and said to Zhao Gao: "Tell Qiao Feng to leave him one breath, and ask for the cultivation method of the 'Blood Shadow Demonic Art'."

The message talisman had just been sent when a sudden, drastic change occurred in the image! A long howl came from the depths of the canyon, the sound waves causing rocks to tumble down. A blood-red figure came stepping through the air, surrounded by thick blood mist. Wherever it passed, the vegetation instantly withered.

[Character: Blood Butcher] [Realm: Early Earthly Immortal Realm] [Status: Enraged] [Martial Skill: Blood Shadow Demonic Art (Exploding)]

"Who dares to hurt my son?!" Blood Butcher's voice was like a great bell, and the blood mist transformed into a giant claw, grabbing towards Qiao Feng, actually tearing a hole through the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms wind!

Qiao Feng's expression was grave. He pressed his palms together, circulating his True Qi to the limit. "Well come!" He did not retreat but advanced instead. "Vast Dragon Regrets" was poised and ready, a golden dragon over a zhang long condensing before his palms, colliding with the giant blood mist claw with a thunderous crash.

"Boom—" The air waves swept through the canyon, and The Unruly and Blood Crow Guards were all sent flying by the shockwave. Qiao Feng was forced back three steps, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth; Blood Butcher, however, remained motionless, a sneer appearing within the blood mist: "Peak Grandmaster Realm? Barely enough to fill the gaps in my teeth!"

Before the water mirror, Jun Xiaoyao's eyes darkened slightly. The Aura of the Land Immortal Realm was truly terrifying; Qiao Feng's full-strength attack could only barely contend with it. He looked at Zhang Sanfeng: "Daoist, shall we strike now?"

Zhang Sanfeng lightly raised his whisk, a soft white light emerging around him: "Wait a little longer, let's see the details of this Blood Shadow Demonic Art."

In the canyon, Blood Butcher pressed forward step by step, the blood mist transforming into countless small claws, covering Qiao Feng like a rainstorm. Qiao Feng unleashed the Dragon Capturing Skill, gathering broken stones from the surroundings in front of him to form a stone wall for defense, but it was smashed to pieces by the claw shadows.

"Gang Leader Qiao, do not panic!" A white figure arrived through the air. West Gate Blows Snow's long sword, carrying the fire of upright yang, slashed open a gap in the blood mist. "I have come to assist you!"

"And this old Daoist too!" Zhang Sanfeng's voice came from the clouds. The supreme yang spiritual power of the Nine Yang Divine Art showered down like a scorching sun, and the blood mist dissipated upon contact.

The three great experts surrounded him. Blood Butcher finally put away his contempt. The blood mist surged, actually condensing into nine blood-colored skulls: "Since you are seeking death, then go on the road together!"

The skulls emitted shrill shrieks, carrying a bizarre Aura that devoured spiritual power, attacking the three simultaneously. Qiao Feng resisted with palm strength, West Gate Blows Snow burned with flames, and Zhang Sanfeng purified with Nine Yang. For a moment, they were evenly matched.

Inside the underground palace, Jun Xiaoyao looked at the prompt on the light screen—"Blood Shadow Demonic Art fears supreme yang spiritual power +30%"—and said to Yellow Pharmacist: "Can we use the Grand Void Teleportation Array to transport the 'Li Fire Array' Formation Plate over?"

Yellow Pharmacist was adjusting the teleportation array and nodded upon hearing this: "It is possible! But it requires someone to guide the array core..."

"I will go!" Guo Jing's voice rang out. He walked out from the side hall, his hands clenched tightly. "The Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms can trigger the Formation Plate's spiritual power; this Junior is willing to go!"

Jun Xiaoyao nodded: "Be careful."

Guo Jing stepped into the teleportation array. A flash of light passed, and he had appeared at the edge of the canyon. He took out the Formation Plate, and the moment his Internal Energy was injected, the Formation Plate erupted with raging flames, echoing with West Gate Blows Snow's fire of upright yang, forming a sea of fire.

"Now is the time!" Zhang Sanfeng let out a long howl, pushing his Nine Yang Divine Art to the limit. The white light and the sea of fire intertwined, forming a massive beam of light that shot directly at Blood Butcher!

Blood Butcher was enveloped by the beam of light, emitting shrill screams. The blood mist churned violently, actually dissipating continuously. He looked at Qiao Feng and the others with resentment, his figure turning into a streak of blood-red light and fleeing toward the Western Regions: "Beyond Heaven! I will remember this! This grudge will surely be avenged!"

Qiao Feng wanted to pursue, but was stopped by Zhang Sanfeng: "Do not pursue a desperate foe. He is already heavily injured and cannot stir up any trouble in the short term."

Before the water mirror, Jun Xiaoyao watched the direction of Blood Butcher's escape, his fingertip circling a red dot on the map of the Western Regions—that was where the "Blood-Colored Purgatory," the main altar of the Blood Shadow Cult, was located.

"Let him go for today," Jun Xiaoyao said. "Zhao Gao, have The Net's 'Shadow' squad keep a close watch on the Blood-Colored Purgatory and figure out their mountain-protecting array."

Zhao Gao accepted the order and withdrew. The figures of Qiao Feng and the others had returned to the underground palace via the teleportation array. Qiao Feng cupped his hands to ask for punishment: "Young Lord, I failed to capture Blood Butcher; please punish me."

"It is fine," Jun Xiaoyao shook his head. "To be able to heavily injure him is already a great merit." He looked at everyone. "Although Blood Butcher escaped, the raw materials for the bone-corroding powder have been intercepted, and Blood Fiend has been captured. In this round, we have won."

Yellow Pharmacist stroked his beard and laughed: "After this battle, the name of The Net will likely spread throughout Jianghu—if even the Blood Shadow Cult Leader can be beaten away, which faction would still dare to provoke us easily?"

Jun Xiaoyao did not respond, his gaze falling back to the summoning array. The spiritual power of the array's core had surged to 60% due to the heavy injury inflicted on Blood Butcher. A new list of summonable characters appeared on the light screen, and one of the names made his eyes flicker slightly—

[Summonable Character: Sweeping Monk] [Origin: "demi-gods and semi-devils" world] [Realm: Mid-stage Terrestrial Immortal Realm] [Martial Skill: Seventy-Two Ultimate Skills of Shaolin (Perfection), Vajra Indestructible Divine Art (Perfection)] [Summoning Cost: 80% spiritual power]

Mid-stage Terrestrial Immortal Realm! Jun Xiaoyao's fingertip paused on the name for a moment, but in the end, he suppressed the urge to summon.

Blood Butcher was already heavily injured; the urgent priority was to digest the spoils of this battle, rather than rashly consuming spiritual power.

Outside the underground palace, the night wind of Hanyue Valley swept past, carrying the smell of blood, but it could not disperse the increasingly heavy Battle Intent in the air. The sharp edge of The Net had been revealed; although the name of Beyond Heaven had not yet spread throughout Jianghu, it had already left a significant mark in the secret files of various major factions.

Jun Xiaoyao looked at Blood Fiend being escorted back in the water mirror, a cold arc curling at the corner of his mouth. The debt of the Blood Shadow Cult had only just begun to be settled. And those factions hidden in the shadows would eventually understand what a stupid decision it was to provoke Beyond Heaven.