319: The saint surrendered

On the stone table in the Hanyue Valley Underground Palace, a yellowed animal hide map was spread out, depicting the outline of the Wanfa Holy Land Main Altar—seventy-two palaces built into the mountainside.

Surrounding the central "Wanfa Hall," the map was densely marked with runic Formation eyes; this was the defense map offered by Liu Ruyan.

Jun Xiaoyao tapped lightly on the location of the "Wanfa Hall." The water mirror lit up in response. In the image, a woman in white robes was kneeling in the main hall of The Net's stronghold, her black hair hanging down and covering half her face. It was none other than Liu Ruyan, the Saintess of the Wanfa Holy Land.

[Character Panel: Liu Ruyan]

[Realm: Late Heaven-Man Realm]

[Martial Skill: Thousand Silk Draw (Perfection), Corrosive Charm (Major Achievement)]

[Status: Frightened]

[Loyalty: ???]

"Young Lord, Liu Ruyan has kept her promise and brought the defense map and the troop deployment for the Main Altar," Fragrant Bat said, standing beside Liu Ruyan and waving his folding fan. "She also mentioned that the forbidden book detailing Li Changfeng's Cultivation of the 'Spirit Devouring Great Law' is hidden in the underground secret chamber of the Wanfa Hall."

Jun Xiaoyao observed Liu Ruyan through the water mirror. Although her head was bowed, her fingertips trembled slightly inside her sleeve, clearly indicating that she was not truly pledging allegiance. "Have her explain why Li Changfeng is Cultivating the Spirit Devouring Great Law."

Fragrant Bat relayed the message. Liu Ruyan's body trembled, and she whispered, "My... my father said that only by devouring enough spiritual energy can he Breakthrough to the Late Terrestrial Immortal Realm and control the Heaven-Burning Earth-Extinguishing Formation..."

"Devouring spiritual energy?" Jun Xiaoyao's eyes darkened slightly. This Spirit Devouring Great Law was identical to the Blood Shadow Demonic Art of the Blood Shadow Cult, both requiring the sacrifice of living beings. "Did she say where this spiritual energy comes from?"

"She said..." Fragrant Bat paused. "It is the Souls collected from the towns destroyed by the Heaven-Burning Earth-Extinguishing Formation."

In front of the water mirror, Jun Xiaoyao's fingertips suddenly tightened, pressing a shallow mark into the black iron chair's surface. "Very good." His voice was icy. "Have the Shadow Group keep a close watch on her. If she makes any suspicious moves, execute her without question."

"Yes." Fragrant Bat responded, gently waving his fan, signaling his subordinates to take Liu Ruyan away for supervision.

At this moment, the summoning array in the center of the Underground Palace suddenly glowed faintly. The spiritual energy of the Formation eye had increased to 75% due to obtaining the defense map, and a new list of summonable characters appeared on the light screen.

[Summonable Character: Murong Bo]

[Origin: The world of demi-gods and semi-devils]

[Realm: Early Earthly Immortal Realm]

[Martial Skill: Shifting Stars (Perfection), Canhe Finger (Major Achievement)]

[Specialty: Stealth, Formation Breaking]

[Summoning Cost: 65% Spiritual Energy]

"Murong Bo..." Jun Xiaoyao murmured. This former remnant of the Yan Kingdom was skilled in stealth and Formations, perfectly suited to cooperate with The Net in infiltrating the Wanfa Holy Land Main Altar. He tapped the light screen with his fingertip: "Summon."

The Formation eye erupted with dim purple light, and runes swirled like bats. The figure of an old man in a gray robe slowly materialized. His face was sinister, his eyes sharp as an eagle's. He cupped his hands and bowed to Jun Xiaoyao, his voice low: "Murong Bo greets the Young Lord."

[Character Panel: Murong Bo]

[Status: Enduring]

[Loyalty: 78%]

[Current Thought: If I can help the Young Lord succeed, perhaps I can restore Great Yan]

Jun Xiaoyao pointed to the animal hide map. "The Formations of the Wanfa Holy Land are somewhat similar to the mechanisms in the Yan Kingdom Ancient Tomb. Take the Shadow Group and infiltrate the Main Altar. Focus on investigating the underground secret chamber of the Wanfa Hall and make sure to retrieve the forbidden book of the Spirit Devouring Great Law."

A flash of brilliance crossed Murong Bo's eyes. Shifting Stars was best at breaking Formations, and this task was exactly what he desired. "Your subordinate will certainly not fail in this mission." He took the defense map, turned, and stepped into the teleportation array. "I will return with the forbidden book within three days."

Watching Murong Bo's figure disappear, Jun Xiaoyao looked back at the water mirror. In the image, Duan Yu was lurking in the mountain forest outside the Wanfa Holy Land, his Six Meridians Divine Sword ready, watching the patrolling Disciples.

"Duan Yu," Jun Xiaoyao ordered via the message talisman. "Murong Bo will infiltrate from the east side, Sunset Glow Valley. You go to the west side, Wangyue Cliff, to draw attention. There's no need to engage in prolonged fighting; just create chaos."

Duan Yu responded, activating the Subtle Steps of the Rippling Waves. His figure swept toward Wangyue Cliff like a gentle breeze. His fingertips continuously shot out Sword Qi, severing the signal tower on the cliff edge. Flames shot into the sky, successfully attracting a large number of Wanfa Disciples.

Meanwhile, in Sunset Glow Valley.

Murong Bo led three Shadow Group assassins, using the cover of night to sneak into the valley. He lightly traced the rock wall with his fingertip. The spiritual energy of Shifting Stars activated the runes, and the previously flashing Formation eyes slowly dimmed. "Follow me closely, step where I step."

The three passed through the defensive Formation like ghosts and quickly reached the rear of the Wanfa Hall. Murong Bo pulled a small magnet from his sleeve and placed it on the stone wall. The sound of the mechanism turning was as soft as a bug's chirp, and a hidden door slowly opened.

"Two of you stay down and guard the entrance," Murong Bo whispered, entering the secret chamber alone.

A strong smell of blood permeated the secret chamber. The stone walls were carved with strange runes, and on the stone platform in the center lay an ancient book with a black cover—it was the Spirit Devouring Great Law. Just as Murong Bo reached out to grab it, the stone platform suddenly glowed red, and a figure stepped out from the shadows. It was Xuan Chen, the Law Enforcement Elder of the Wanfa Holy Land.

[Character Panel: Xuan Chen]

[Realm: Peak Heaven-Human Realm]

[Martial Skill: myriad laws Palm (Perfection)]

[Status: Enraged]

"Old thief Murong! How dare you trespass into my Holy Land's secret chamber!" Xuan Chen roared, attacking with both palms. The palm wind carried myriad laws runes, aiming straight for Murong Bo's face.

Murong Bo remained calm, activating Shifting Stars with full force. Xuan Chen's palm wind was forcefully rebounded, smashing into the stone wall and sending debris flying. "You think you can stop me?" His figure flickered. Having secured the ancient book, he immediately turned to retreat.

Xuan Chen, however, lunged forward like a madman, willing to burn his spiritual energy to hold him back. "Protector Li! Quickly send a message to the Cult Master!"

Urgent footsteps sounded in the distance. Murong Bo knew he couldn't stay long. He fiercely shot out the Canhe Finger, striking Xuan Chen's Dantian. Xuan Chen screamed as his spiritual energy scattered. Murong Bo seized the opportunity, rushed out of the secret chamber, met up with the assassins at the entrance, and quickly retreated.

In front of the water mirror, Jun Xiaoyao watched Murong Bo disappear into the night with the ancient book. He instructed Zhao Gao, "Have him return directly to the Underground Palace, no need to take a detour."

After Zhao Gao acknowledged the order and withdrew, the water mirror screen switched to the Li family in the Central Plains. Li Changfeng was sitting in his study, his face ashen as he read the message relayed by his spies. On the table in front of him lay an ultimatum from Beyond Heaven—he was ordered to hand over half of the Hundred Herbs Hall's assets within three days, or they would besiege the city.

"This is going too far!" Li Changfeng slammed his palm down, shattering the corner of the table. "Does Jun Xiaoyao really think he can do whatever he wants just because Zhang Sanfeng is backing him?"

He spoke coldly to his subordinate: "Pass on my order: have the experts from the various branch halls rush back to the main residence, and then go invite people from the Xuanji Pavilion. I refuse to believe that this Beyond Heaven can really dominate everything!"

In front of the water mirror, Jun Xiaoyao took in the entire scene, a cold smile curling on his lips. The Xuanji Pavilion was the most mysterious intelligence organization on the continent, rumored to be backed by old monsters in the Void Shattering Realm. It was quite interesting that Li Changfeng asked them for help.

"Zhao Gao," Jun Xiaoyao said indifferently, "Investigate the background of the Xuanji Pavilion and see what their relationship is with the Li family."

"Yes." Zhao Gao was about to withdraw when Jun Xiaoyao stopped him again.

"Wait." Jun Xiaoyao pointed to the summoning array. "How much spiritual energy is left in the Formation eye?"

"Reporting to Young Lord, 75% minus the 65% consumed by summoning Murong Bo leaves 10%."

"10%..." Jun Xiaoyao pondered for a moment. "Keep it for now. Once Murong Bo brings back the Spirit Devouring Great Law, it might increase again."

At this moment, the message talisman lit up. It was a message from Xu Zhu in the medical room: "Young Lord, the Luowang Assassinss' injuries have been stabilized, but three of them were struck by the Wanfa Holy Land's 'Heart-Corroding Curse.' This monk's Tianshan Six Yang Palms can only suppress it, not eradicate it."

Jun Xiaoyao's eyes darkened slightly. The Heart-Corroding Curse was a forbidden technique of the Wanfa Holy Land; those afflicted would suffer unbearable pain every full moon night, eventually dying when their spiritual energy exploded. "Have Huang Rong make a trip to the Luoyang Medicine Market to find the 'Poison Doctor' Hu Qingniu. Tell him that Beyond Heaven will trade three thousand-year snow lotus for his 'Curse-Breaking Pill'."

"Yes."

Silence returned to the Underground Palace. Jun Xiaoyao leaned back in the black iron chair, observing the night view of the Wanfa Holy Land Main Altar in the water mirror. Murong Bo was already on his way back with the ancient book, Duan Yu was still tying up the enemy at Wangyue Cliff, and Liu Ruyan was being closely monitored by The Net... Everything was proceeding according to plan.

He picked up the rubbing of the Spirit Devouring Great Law, his fingertip tracing the eight characters: "Devour living Souls to attain eternal life." A cold light flashed in his eyes. Li Changfeng wanted to Breakthrough his Realm using this, unaware that he had long stepped onto the Demonic Path. Such a power, if left unchecked, would only harm the common people—but more importantly, they were blocking the path of Beyond Heaven.

The wind of Hanyue Valley passed through the gaps of the Underground Palace, carrying the scent of blood from the Wanfa Holy Land, and a sense of impending storm. Jun Xiaoyao knew that the decisive battle with the Wanfa Holy Land was not far off, and the intervention of the Xuanji Pavilion would only make this struggle more exciting.

He looked at the summoning array. Although 10% spiritual energy was little, it was like a seed, waiting for the right moment to take root, sprout, and grow into a towering tree capable of shaking the continent.

And all he had to do was wait patiently, allowing The Net to weave its threads tighter and the Foundation of Beyond Heaven to sink deeper.