317: Competition for medicinal herbs in the Central Plains

The bronze lamp in the Hanyue Valley Underground Palace flickered with a dim light. Jun Xiaoyao twirled a blood-red bead between his fingers. Faint black Qi lingered around the bead, which was precisely the Blood Fiend Bead seized from the Blood Shadow Cult's main altar.

This bead contained rich Yin fiend power, which could be used to Cultivate Evil Art or as a primer for certain poisonous pills, making it quite valuable.

"Young Master, Mei Chaofeng has sent back word that the remnants of the Blood Shadow Cult in Black Wind Ridge have been cleared. The leader, 'Blood Hand' Iron Abacus, has been captured alive and is on his way back." Zhao Gao emerged from the shadows, handing over a battle report.

Jun Xiaoyao placed the Blood Fiend Bead back into a brocade box and looked up at the water mirror. In the image, the Black Wind Ridge stronghold was engulfed in a raging fire. Mei Chaofeng's figure moved like a phantom through the sea of flames, her Nine Yin White Bone Claws tearing through the last line of defense and pinning a strong man with a severed arm under her foot—it was Blood Hand Iron Abacus.

[Character: Iron Abacus]

[Realm: Middle Stage Grandmaster Realm]

[Martial Skill: Blood Hand Art (Major Achievement)]

[Crimes: Once massacred civilians in three counties of Qingzhou and refined Blood Fiend Beads]

"Quite clean and efficient," Jun Xiaoyao commented. "Have Mei Chaofeng throw him into the 'Purgatory Tower' and use his Blood Fiend Art to feed the Blood Fiend Beads. See if we can purify usable spiritual energy from it."

"Yes," Zhao Gao responded, then handed over another scroll. "People from the Central Plains Medicinal Materials Guild sent word that 'Hundred Herbs Hall' has allied with the Seven Great Sects, intending to monopolize this year's winter medicinal herb acquisition, especially 'thousand-year snow lotus' and 'Ice Crystal Grass.' Their offer is 30% higher than last year."

Jun Xiaoyao opened the scroll, his gaze pausing on the words "Hundred Herbs Hall." Behind this Hundred Herbs Hall was the Central Plains' foremost aristocratic family, the 'Li Family.' The family head, Li Changfeng, was an Early Earthly Immortal Realm expert and had always been overbearing. Last year, he even tried to snatch The Net's medicinal herb business in the Western Regions.

"Monopolize?" Jun Xiaoyao chuckled lightly, tapping the water mirror with his fingertip. The scene switched to Luoyang Medicinal Market, the largest medicinal material market in the Central Plains. Hundreds of herb farmers were gathered around Hundred Herbs Hall's collection point, their faces full of anxiety, but no one dared to step forward to trade. Several guards dressed in Li Family attire held staffs, roughly pushing away any herb farmers who tried to trade with other medicinal shops.

"The Li Family is quite overbearing," Jun Xiaoyao's eyes grew cold. "Have Guo Jing take the 'Earth' group to Luoyang. Tell Hundred Herbs Hall, do they dare to touch the medicinal materials that Beyond Heaven wants?"

"Young Master, the Li Family is, after all, the Central Plains' foremost aristocratic family, and the family head Li Changfeng is even a Land Immortal Realm expert..." Zhao Gao expressed some concern.

"What of the Land Immortal Realm?" Jun Xiaoyao interrupted him, lightly tapping the summoning array with his fingertip. "Perfect, I also want to see how hard the bones of a Land Immortal Realm expert are."

At this moment, the spiritual energy of the summoning array had risen to 63% due to the great victory at Black Wind Ridge. A new list of summonable characters appeared on the light screen, and the name at the top made a flicker of interest cross Jun Xiaoyao's eyes.

[Summonable Character: Zhang Sanfeng]

[From: "the heaven sword and dragon saber" world]

[Realm: Mid-stage Terrestrial Immortal Realm]

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

[Summoning Cost: 60% spiritual energy]

[Estimated Loyalty: 90%]

"Zhang Sanfeng..." Jun Xiaoyao murmured. The strength of this Sect Ancestral Master was beyond doubt, and Tai Chi Fist, with its ability to overcome hardness with softness, would perfectly counter the Li Family's fierce Cultivation Technique. He didn't hesitate for a moment, injecting spiritual energy into the summoning array. The array's core instantly erupted with a soft white light, and runes converged like flowing water.

Within the white light, an old man in a Daoist robe with a youthful face and white hair slowly materialized. He held a whisk, his face serene, and bowed to Jun Xiaoyao, his voice gentle yet carrying the rhythm of the Great Dao: "Old Daoist Zhang Sanfeng greets Young Master."

[Character Panel: Zhang Sanfeng]

[Status: Stable]

[Loyalty: 92%]

[Current Thought: This child possesses great Luck; perhaps he can protect all living beings.]

Jun Xiaoyao rose and returned the bow: "It is truly fortunate that Daoist Priest is willing to join Beyond Heaven." He pointed to the Luoyang Medicinal Market in the water mirror, "The Central Plains Li Family is bullying others by relying on their power, monopolizing the medicinal material business, forcing the herb farmers into a desperate situation. I ask Daoist Priest to intervene and uphold justice."

Zhang Sanfeng's gaze swept over the beaten herb farmers in the image, and he sighed softly: "A cultivator should protect all living beings. How can this old Daoist sit by and do nothing in the face of such tyrannical acts?"

"Thank you, Daoist Priest." Jun Xiaoyao set the teleportation coordinates to the Sect's separate courtyard outside Luoyang City. "There's no need to harm anyone, just let the Li Family know that no one can touch those Beyond Heaven intends to protect."

Zhang Sanfeng nodded, stepped into the teleportation array, and with a flash of white light, disappeared into the underground palace.

Meanwhile, at the Luoyang Medicinal Market.

The Hundred Herbs Hall steward was directing guards to drive away herb farmers. A limping old herb farmer, holding a bundle of Ice Crystal Grass, cried and pleaded, "Please, be kind, buy mine! My grandson needs it to save his life!"

The steward kicked the old herb farmer down, scattering the Ice Crystal Grass everywhere. "Old man, I told you we only buy Hundred Herbs Hall's designated goods. Even if your grass rots in the ground, don't even think about selling it to others!"

Just then, a gentle voice rang out: "Trade should be voluntary, why be so overbearing?"

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice, only to see Zhang Sanfeng standing in the center of the medicinal market at some unknown point. With a gentle sweep of his whisk, he gathered the scattered Ice Crystal Grass back into the old herb farmer's arms. The steward was furious at this sight: "Where did this wild Daoist come from, daring to meddle in Hundred Herbs Hall's affairs? Beat him!"

The guards rushed forward with their staffs, but were repelled by an invisible Qi wall around Zhang Sanfeng, each falling flat on their backs. The steward's face turned ashen. He pulled out a signal flare from his waist, intending to fire it, but a golden light shot through his wrist—Guo Jing arrived with the 'Earth' group, his iron bow pointing directly at the steward's throat.

"Is Hundred Herbs Hall's rule to oppress the common people?" Guo Jing's voice boomed like a great bell, making the steward's eardrums ache.

Seeing this, the herb farmers rushed forward, clamoring to accuse Hundred Herbs Hall of its wicked deeds. Zhang Sanfeng gently waved his whisk, his voice echoing throughout the medicinal market: "From today onward, Beyond Heaven will take over the Luoyang Medicinal Market. All medicinal materials will be purchased at market price, and anyone found oppressing herb farmers will be executed!"

No sooner had he spoken than a burst of horse hooves was heard in the distance. Li Shaoyang, the eldest Young Master of the Li Family, arrived with a hundred guards. Seeing the chaos in the medicinal market, he roared, "Where did these madmen come from, daring to ruin my Li Family's affairs?"

Li Shaoyang was a Late Grandmaster Realm expert. The longsword in his hand carried fierce Sword Qi, aimed directly at Zhang Sanfeng. Zhang Sanfeng, however, remained unhurried, slowly pushing out with Tai Chi Fist. It seemed slow, but it contained a clever force-deflecting technique, easily diverting the Sword Qi.

"Young man, don't be so hot-headed," Zhang Sanfeng's voice carried a smile. His whisk wrapped around Li Shaoyang's longsword, and with a gentle pull, the longsword flew out of his hand.

Li Shaoyang was both shocked and enraged, attacking bare-handed, but Zhang Sanfeng casually pointed a finger, striking his acupoint and freezing him in place. Seeing this, the hundred guards drew their blades and tried to advance, but were stopped by Guo Jing's iron bow. The arrowheads gleamed coldly, intimidating them into immobility.

"Go back and tell your father," Zhang Sanfeng's voice entered Li Shaoyang's ears, "if he dares to interfere with the medicinal materials Beyond Heaven wants again, don't blame this old Daoist for being impolite."

In front of the water mirror, Jun Xiaoyao watched this scene and said to Zhao Gao: "Have The Net's medicinal shops immediately set up in the Luoyang Medicinal Market, purchasing all medicinal materials at market price, especially thousand-year snow lotus and Ice Crystal Grass, with a 10% price increase."

"Yes," Zhao Gao acknowledged, then handed over a secret report. "Yang Guo sent back word that all the sulfur from Wanfa Holy Land has been transported to Soul Severing Cliff. It seems they are constructing some kind of fortifications, and the guards are unusually strict."

Jun Xiaoyao's eyes darkened slightly. Soul Severing Cliff's terrain was treacherous and difficult to attack. Wanfa Holy Land stockpiling sulfur there was definitely not a good sign. He looked at the summoning array; the remaining spiritual energy was 3%, temporarily preventing him from summoning new characters. He could only have Yang Guo continue to monitor for now.

At this moment, the message talisman in the underground palace lit up. It was Mei Chaofeng, returning with Iron Abacus. Iron Abacus was bound to a torture rack with chains, his face full of fear. Seeing Jun Xiaoyao, he immediately begged for mercy: "Young Master, spare my life! I know the Blood Shadow Cult's treasure location, I'll tell you everything!"

Jun Xiaoyao looked at him, his eyes cold: "Too late." He said to Mei Chaofeng, "Take him away and purify the Blood Fiend Beads as planned."

Mei Chaofeng acknowledged the order and dragged Iron Abacus away towards the torture chamber. The underground palace returned to silence. Jun Xiaoyao leaned back in the black iron chair, watching the herb farmers in the Luoyang Medicinal Market cheering, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Beyond Heaven never actively seeks trouble, but whoever dares to cross their bottom line will face a thunderous counterattack. The Li Family is like this, and so is Wanfa Holy Land.

He looked at the summoning array; the spiritual energy in its core was slowly increasing, and the next summoning was not far off. With Zhang Sanfeng's addition, Beyond Heaven finally had the power to directly contend with Land Immortal Realm experts. The balance of power in the Central Plains was also due for a change.

The night wind of Hanyue Valley passed through the cracks in the underground palace, carrying the scent of medicinal herbs from the Luoyang Medicinal Market, and also a hint of Beyond Heaven's majesty.

Jun Xiaoyao knew that his chess game was steadily moving towards the mid-game, and those once arrogant forces would eventually bow down and submit under the shroud of The Net.