310: Shangguan Jin Hong

Deep within the Hanyue Valley Underground Palace, Jun Xiaoyao tapped his fingertips against the black iron desk, his gaze fixed on the light screen floating before him. The screen listed the recent mission list of The Net in dense detail.

Among them, tasks like "Qingzhou Iron Mine Guard," "Jiangnan Salt Route Patrol," and "Western Region Trade Route Obstacle Clearing" were all marked with bright red "Completed" stamps. Only the "Blood-Colored Purgatory Perimeter Reconnaissance" at the very bottom still glowed with an eye-catching yellow light.

"Zhao Gao."

In the shadows, a grey-robed figure slid out silently, bowing his head: "Young Lord."

"Why has the reconnaissance progress for the Blood-Colored Purgatory stalled for three days?" Jun Xiaoyao's voice was calm and waveless, yet carried undeniable pressure. "What happened with the Marshal of the Unruly?"

Zhao Gao hurriedly called up the message talisman record, his fingertips trembling slightly: "Replying to Young Lord, the 'Shadow' group led by the Marshal of the Unruly encountered the 'Blood Crow Guards' of the Blood Shadow Cult on the perimeter of the purgatory. The opponent used 'bone-corroding powder,' and three Luowang Assassins were hit; they are currently healing in the side courtyard. Fearing that he might alert the enemy, the Marshal of the Unruly withdrew for the time being."

Jun Xiaoyao's fingertips paused, and the bronze lamp on the desk flickered gently, casting a deep hue in his eyes: "'bone-corroding powder'? The Blood Shadow Cult is certainly willing to pay the price." He raised his hand and tapped on the light screen. "Transfer Li Xunhuan to support him. Tell him that at any cost, he must obtain the defense map of the Blood-Colored Purgatory within three days."

"Yes!" Zhao Gao was about to withdraw when he was called back by Jun Xiaoyao.

"Wait." Jun Xiaoyao looked at a small mark in the corner of the light screen. "Let Zhou Zhiruo go to Jiangnan and take over the salt route business. The Caobang has been restless lately; let her go and 'discipline' them."

When Zhao Gao looked up, a trace of surprise flashed in his eyes—Zhou Zhiruo's "Nine Yin Bone Claw" was always ruthless, making it perfectly suited for dealing with those troublemakers in the Caobang. He bowed and replied: "This subordinate will send the message immediately."

After Zhao Gao withdrew, Jun Xiaoyao stood up and walked to the summoning array. The spiritual energy in the array's core had accumulated to 75%. In the pale purple halo, a new list of summonable characters floated, and the name at the very top made the corners of his mouth curl up slightly.

[Summonable Character: Shangguan Jinhong]

[From: "sentimental swordsman, ruthless sword" World]

[Realm: Mid-stage Grandmaster]

[Martial Skill: Dragon Phoenix Rings (Perfection), Wedding Dress Divine Technique (Minor Achievement)]

[Loyalty: 70%]

[Summoning Cost: 50% Spiritual Energy]

"Dragon Phoenix Rings, huh..." Jun Xiaoyao brushed his fingertips over the array core. "It fits the style of The Net quite well." He did not hesitate at all, injecting spiritual energy into the summoning array, and the pale purple halo surged violently, forming a rotating pillar of light.

Within the pillar of light, a middle-aged man in brocade robes slowly condensed into form. He had a dignified appearance, holding a golden ring in each hand, the rings flowing with a cold luster—it was none other than the Money Gang leader, Shangguan Jinhong. As he landed, his gaze swept across the underground palace like a falcon, finally settling on Jun Xiaoyao. When he cupped his hands to salute, his voice was as steady as a bell: "Shangguan Jinhong, greets the Young Lord."

Jun Xiaoyao pointed to the Blood-Colored Purgatory on the light screen: "Do you know your mission?"

Shangguan Jinhong glanced at the light screen, his Dragon Phoenix Rings clashing gently in his palm, emitting a crisp sound: "Blood Shadow Cult? It is said that their 'Blood Shadow Great Technique' can devour spiritual energy; it is worth meeting them."

"It's more than that." Jun Xiaoyao called up a file. "They have been purchasing 'lihun grass' on the black market recently, seemingly refining some kind of forbidden drug. Go and investigate clearly, and by the way..." He paused, a flash of cold light appearing in his eyes, "burn their herb garden."

A cold smile tugged at the corners of Shangguan Jinhong's mouth: "Burn the herb garden? The Young Lord truly understands me." He turned and walked towards the teleportation array. "Within three days, I will bring back news."

Watching Shangguan Jinhong's figure disappear into the teleportation array, Jun Xiaoyao sat back down at the desk. On the light screen, Li Xunhuan had arrived at the perimeter of the Blood-Colored Purgatory and was meeting up with the Marshal of the Unruly. In the water mirror, Li Xunhuan was dressed in a blue shirt, mingling among the refugees. The Flying Dagger at his fingertips seemed to be played with casually, but in reality, it had long since locked onto the Blood Crow Guards in the dark.

"Marshal of the Unruly," Li Xunhuan said in a low voice, "There are three behind the old locust tree on the left, and two by the giant rock on the right; all of them are carrying bone-corroding powder."

The Marshal of the Unruly leaned against the broken wall, his bamboo hat pressed very low: "How do you intend to act?"

Li Xunhuan chuckled, his wrist flicking slightly, and three Flying Daggers flew out simultaneously, their angles as tricky as ghosts. Only three muffled groans were heard, and the Blood Crow Guards behind the old locust tree had fallen silently. He raised his chin at the Marshal of the Unruly: "Leave the rest to you?"

A hint of appreciation flashed in the eyes of the Marshal of the Unruly, and his figure darted out like a ghost. The chain gun in his hand moved like a spirit snake emerging from a cave, instantly entangling the two by the giant rock. The sound of the gun tip slicing through their throats was as light as the wind. When he retracted the gun, he said coldly: "Follow me, the defense map is on the Blood Shadow Cult's Left Protector."

Meanwhile, at the Caobang headquarters in Jiangnan.

Zhou Zhiruo stood at the bow of the boat in white, looking at the Caobang Disciples holding machetes on the pier, her face expressionless. The Caobang leader was a burly man with a face full of flesh, who slapped the table and cursed: "Where did this woman come from, daring to manage the affairs of the Caobang? If you know what's good for you, get lost quickly!"

Zhou Zhiruo did not speak, her figure suddenly leaving an afterimage where she stood. The next second, the Caobang leader clutched his shoulder and screamed. The table of eight immortals behind him had been clawed with five holes by the Nine Yin Bone Claw. Amidst the flying wood chips, Zhou Zhiruo's voice was as cold as ice: "Dare to withhold salt ships again, and next time, it will be your bones that are shattered."

Seeing this, the Caobang Disciples grabbed their weapons and were about to rush up, but were swept by Zhou Zhiruo's gaze. The ruthlessness in that gaze made even the most ferocious men unable to help but retreat. Her fingertips held a token, which was the "Beyond Heaven" waist token given by Jun Xiaoyao: "From today on, the salt route belongs to The Net. Every month's tribute money shall be handed over to Zhao Gao according to the rules."

Looking at the claw marks on his shoulder that were deep enough to reach the bone, the Caobang leader dared not say a single word of refusal, and scrambling, he replied: "Yes! Yes! We will hand it over right away!"

In front of the water mirror, Jun Xiaoyao looked at Zhou Zhiruo's clean and decisive methods and nodded with satisfaction. At this moment, the summoning array suddenly lit up with a faint light; it was the news sent by Shangguan Jinhong.

[The Blood Shadow Cult's herb garden has been destroyed, the lihun grass sample has been brought back, and the defense map is on the Left Protector, but he has already fled into the core area of the purgatory. Additionally, I discovered that the Blood Shadow Cult is colluding with the Imperial City Bureau; evidence is attached.]

Jun Xiaoyao clicked on the attachment, which contained copies of several secret letters, the handwriting indeed bearing the unique cinnabar seal of the Imperial City Bureau. He tapped his fingers on the desk and suddenly called out into the void: "Murong Fu."

A green light flashed, and Murong Fu appeared in the underground palace: "What are the Young Lord's orders?"

"You take a trip to the Imperial City Bureau." Jun Xiaoyao pushed the secret letter to him. "Tell their commander, either hand over the inside man of the Blood Shadow Cult, or... I don't mind letting 'Gusu Murong' re-emerge in Jianghu to play with them."

When Murong Fu saw the secret letter, a sharp light flashed in his eyes—this was a good opportunity for him to revitalize the Murong family's reputation. He took the secret letter and said loudly: "This subordinate will definitely not fail the mission!"

After everyone dispersed, the underground palace returned to silence. Jun Xiaoyao watched the constantly jumping resource values on the light screen: Iron Mine +3000 jin, Salt Permits +500, new Luowang Assassins +20... A faint smile finally appeared on the corners of his mouth.

He walked to the observation deck at the highest point of the underground palace. The wind in Hanyue Valley carried a bone-chilling cold, yet it could not blow away the ambition in his eyes. In the distance, the sound of explosions could be vaguely heard from the direction of the Blood-Colored Purgatory; that was Shangguan Jinhong finishing up. Further away, the Caobang in Jiangnan was counting the tribute money, the trade route in the Western Region was unobstructed, and the spies of the Imperial City Bureau were anxiously waiting for Murong Fu's "visit."

"Beyond Heaven..." Jun Xiaoyao whispered to himself, his fingertips brushing across the void, as if caressing this continent that was about to be brought under his control, "Soon, everyone will know this name."

The spiritual energy of the summoning array was still growing slowly, and the next summonable name had already faintly emerged. Jun Xiaoyao knew that the chess game belonging to him had just entered the middle game.

And those chess pieces standing in front of Beyond Heaven were destined only to become ashes within The Net.