312: Blood Slaughter

The bronze lamps in the Hanyue Valley Underground Palace flickered, illuminating a profound iron token spinning between Jun Xiaoyao's fingertips.

The three characters "Beyond Heaven" on the token glowed coldly, forming a stark contrast with the cinnabar seal on the Imperial City Bureau's secret letter on the table.

The words "Blood Shadow Cult Tribute List" on the secret letter were permeated with spiritual power, causing the ink to slightly blur, revealing a hidden line of small characters below – "Prince of Zhenbei privately hoarded three thousand catties of lihun grass."

"Prince of Zhenbei..." Jun Xiaoyao murmured the name, tapping the light screen with his fingertip, and the Prince of Zhenbei's profile immediately appeared.

[Character Panel: Prince of Zhenbei, Tuoba Lie]

[Origin: Imperial Clan of the Great Yan Imperial Dynasty]

[Realm: Middle Celestial Realm]

[Martial Skills: Mountain-Splitting Palm (Major Achievement), Profound Armor Art (Perfection)]

[Influence: Controls the military power of the three northern provinces, secretly trades with the Blood Shadow Cult]

[Relationship with Beyond Heaven: Once rejected Beyond Heaven's invitation for iron ore cooperation]

"He sure knows how to exploit loopholes." Jun Xiaoyao sneered. "While collecting the court's salary, he acts as a patron for the Blood Shadow Cult. Does he think that because the northern region is remote, he can deceive everyone?"

He looked up at Zhao Gao, who was holding a secret report sent back by The Net's informant within the Imperial City Bureau, his expression solemn: "Young Lord, the Imperial City Bureau Commander has, as per Murong Fu's request, handed over the documents related to contacting the Blood Shadow Cult, but there seems to be unusual activity from the Prince of Zhenbei's side... the Northern Army has been frequently mobilized recently."

"Unusual activity?" Jun Xiaoyao's fingertip traced the map of the northern region. "They're probably afraid we'll find the whereabouts of the lihun grass." He called out to the empty air, "Qiao Feng."

A golden light flashed, and Qiao Feng strode into the underground palace, cupping his fists in salute: "What are your orders, Young Lord?"

"Take the 'Earth' group to the northern region," Jun Xiaoyao pointed to the Prince of Zhenbeis Estate on the light screen, "Find out the hiding place of the lihun grass. If there is any resistance, kill them without mercy."

Qiao Feng's tiger eyes widened: "Such traitors who collude with the enemy are a scourge if left alive!" He turned and stepped into the teleportation array. A golden light flashed, and he disappeared from the underground palace.

Watching Qiao Feng leave, Jun Xiaoyao brought up another water mirror. In the image, Shangguan Jinhong stood before the ruins of the Blood Shadow Cult's herb garden, sparks still clinging to his Dragon Phoenix Rings. Several trembling herb farmers knelt beside him, one old man stammering: "The Left Protector transported all the remaining lihun grass to the northern region, saying it was for... for a certain prince to refine medicine."

Shangguan Jinhong's Dragon Phoenix Rings clanged, his voice chilling: "Which prince?"

"It's... it's Prince of Zhenbei Tuoba Lie!"

Before the water mirror, Jun Xiaoyao's lips curved slightly. With the two pieces of information confirming each other, the Prince of Zhenbei's crimes were substantiated. He said to Zhao Gao: "Have Murong Fu go to the Imperial City Bureau again and 'deliver' the evidence of the Prince of Zhenbei's dealings with the Blood Shadow Cult to their Commander. While you're at it, 'remind' them that the court should clean house."

After Zhao Gao acknowledged the order and withdrew, the summoning array in the center of the underground palace suddenly lit up. The spiritual power of the array's core, having locked onto the Prince of Zhenbei, increased to 80%. A new list of summonable characters appeared on the light screen, and the name at the top made Jun Xiaoyao's eyes stir.

[Summonable Character: Sweeping Monk]

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

[Realm: Mid-stage Terrestrial Immortal Realm]

[Martial Skills: Seventy-Two Ultimate Skills of Shaolin (Perfection), Indestructible Vajra Divine Art (Perfection), Three-Foot Qi Wall (Perfection)]

[Summoning Cost: 80% Spiritual Power]

[Estimated Loyalty: 90%]

"Mid-stage Terrestrial Immortal Realm..." Jun Xiaoyao's fingertip paused on the name. Although the Prince of Zhenbei was only a Middle Celestial Realm expert, there were three Celestial Realm generals in the Northern Army. If they were truly pushed, there would inevitably be losses. Summoning the Sweeping Monk would be just enough to control the situation.

"Summon."

The array's core suddenly erupted with a gentle golden light. Runes converged like flowing water, forming the figure of an ancient monk in a monastic robe. The old monk held a broom, his face as calm as an ancient well. He put his palms together in a respectful greeting to Jun Xiaoyao, his voice peaceful yet carrying an unquestionable authority: "This old monk greets the Young Lord."

[Character Panel: Sweeping Monk]

[Status: Stable]

[Loyalty: 92%]

[Current Thought: This young man possesses an Aura of peace, perhaps worthy of protection]

Jun Xiaoyao rose and returned the salute: "It is truly a blessing that Great Master is willing to join Beyond Heaven." He pointed to the northern region map in the water mirror, "There is a vassal king in the northern region colluding with evil cults, disrupting the imperial court. I ask Great Master to suppress them and prevent the flames of war from spreading to the common people."

The Sweeping Monk's gaze swept over the map, seeing the marked lihun grass hiding spots and the Northern Army's defenses. He sighed softly: "Amitabha, though a monk does not kill, protecting the Righteous Path is an inescapable responsibility."

"Thank you, Great Master." Jun Xiaoyao set the teleportation coordinates near the Mountain God Temple by the Prince of Zhenbeis Estate. "There's no need to take action proactively. If the Northern Army dares to defy the imperial decree, it won't be too late to suppress them then."

The Sweeping Monk nodded, his figure stepping into the teleportation array. A golden light flashed, and he disappeared from the underground palace.

At the same time, in the Prince of Zhenbeis Estate in the northern region.

Tuoba Lie was sitting in his study, looking at the lihun grass before him, his face full of triumph. The Blood Shadow Cult had promised that as long as he gathered five thousand catties of lihun grass, they could refine a realm-breaking pill for him, helping him break through to the Late Heaven-Man Realm. By then, let alone a mere Beyond Heaven, even the imperial court would be powerless against him.

"Your Highness, it's bad!" His confidant burst in frantically. "The Net's people have broken in! Qiao Feng, leading a group of Men in Black, has already breached the outer courtyard's defenses!"

Tuoba Lie's expression changed drastically. He slammed the table and stood up: "A bunch of assassins dare to be so presumptuous? Issue my order, have Generals Zhang, Li, and Zhao lead their men to encircle and annihilate them, regardless of whether they live or die!"

As the confidant ran out after receiving the order, the study door was suddenly kicked open. Qiao Feng, holding a long spear, followed by twelve 'Earth' group assassins, exuded a tiger-like Aura: "Tuoba Lie, surrender now!"

Tuoba Lie sneered: "Qiao Feng? Just a Peak Grandmaster Realm expert, yet you dare to act so presumptuously before this king?" He activated his Profound Armor Art, a yellowish-brown glow appearing around him, and his Mountain-Splitting Palm struck towards Qiao Feng with a strong wind.

Qiao Feng did not dodge or evade, meeting him head-on with "Dragon Seen in the Field" of the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms. When their palms met, Tuoba Lie was shaken back three steps, his arm numb, his face filled with shock: "How can your palm force be so strong?"

"Enough to deal with you!" Qiao Feng pressed forward, his spear shadow like a Dragon, each move aimed at Tuoba Lie's vital points. The 'Earth' group assassins, meanwhile, engaged in a fierce battle with the arriving guards of the Prince's Estate. Amidst the flashing blades and swords, screams rose and fell.

Half an hour later, urgent hoofbeats sounded outside the Prince's Estate. The three Celestial Realm generals of the Northern Army arrived with their personal guards and, seeing the chaos within the estate, roared as they joined the battle.

"Protect the Prince!"

With the combined assault of the three Celestial Realm experts, Qiao Feng gradually fell into a disadvantage. He retracted his spear, about to gather strength to unleash his Dragon Capturing Skill, when a golden light descended from the sky, landing in the center of the battlefield.

The Sweeping Monk, holding his broom, gently swept it. The attacks of the three generals were like mud oxen entering the sea, blocked three feet away by an invisible Qi wall. His voice was peaceful yet carried immense power: "Amitabha, the sea of suffering is boundless, turn back and you shall reach the shore."

The three generals were terrified—their attacks couldn't even touch the old monk's robe! What kind of Realm was this?

Tuoba Lie was even more scared, his Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering. He turned to flee but was knocked to the ground by Qiao Feng's spear and firmly pinned.

"He's captured." Qiao Feng cupped his fists to the Sweeping Monk, "Thank you for your assistance, Great Master."

The Sweeping Monk put his palms together and said, "There is no need for such courtesy, Benefactor. This old monk merely came to protect the common people."

Before the water mirror, Jun Xiaoyao watched as the Prince of Zhenbei was captured and the lihun grass was fully confiscated. He said to Zhao Gao: "Have The Net's 'Punishment' group take over. Interrogate him according to the rules and extract all evidence of his collusion with the Blood Shadow Cult and the Imperial City Bureau."

Just as Zhao Gao was about to respond, the water mirror suddenly lit up with an urgent report. In the image, Blood Butcher, the leader of the Blood Shadow Cult, was leading his remaining forces towards the northern region. Judging by their direction, they intended to seize back the lihun grass amidst the chaos!

[Character Panel: Blood Butcher]

[Realm: Early Earthly Immortal Realm (Injuries not yet healed)]

[Status: Enraged]

[Companions: Fifty remnants of the Blood Crow Guards, two Celestial Realm Elders]

Jun Xiaoyao's eyes darkened. Blood Butcher was desperate. He looked at the Sweeping Monk's location on the light screen; he was in the northern region, less than a hundred miles from Blood Butcher.

"Send a message to the Sweeping Monk," Jun Xiaoyao ordered, "Blood Butcher is attacking, show no mercy."

Outside the underground palace, the wind from Hanyue Valley carried the chill of the northern region, yet it could not disperse the increasingly intense Battle Intent deep within the palace. The Net's sharp edge had penetrated deep into the northern region, and the name of Beyond Heaven, though not yet spread across the world, had already etched a deep mark in the hearts of vassal kings and evil cults.

Jun Xiaoyao watched the Sweeping Monk's figure confronting Blood Butcher in the water mirror, tapping lightly on the summoning array. The clash of Land Immortals might make this game of chess even more interesting.

And those forces hidden in the shadows would eventually understand that what Beyond Heaven wanted was never just resources, but also the order of this world.