321: Salt Road Poisoning Scheme

On the water mirror in the Hanyue Valley Underground Palace, the scene of the Jiangnan salt route shimmered with an eerie green light.

In the Li Family's largest salt warehouse in Suzhou, hundreds of bags of refined salt were piled high like hills, yet no one dared to approach—the surface of each salt bag was coated with a fine layer of white frost, emitting a pungent, strange odor; this was the "Bone Rotting Powder" concocted by The Net's "Poison" division.

Jun Xiaoyao traced the edge of the water mirror with his fingertip, zooming in. He could clearly see the Li Family guards outside the warehouse clutching their mouths and noses, vomiting. Even the steward at the Innate Realm had a blue-purple complexion, clearly having been poisoned.

[Event: The Li Family's salt business on the Jiangnan salt route has been attacked by "Bone Rotting Powder." All refined salt is ruined, with losses equivalent to eight hundred thousand taels of silver.]

[Executor: "Poison Hand" Qian Qi, Leader of the "Poison" division (Grandmaster Realm Middle Stage)]

[Aftermath: The Suzhou Prefect has sealed off the salt warehouse; the Li Family has dispatched an Elder at the Heavenly Human Realm to investigate.]

"The effect is quite good." Jun Xiaoyao withdrew his gaze and tossed a poison-coated silver needle back into the brocade box. "Tell Qian Qi to withdraw into the shadows; don't let the Li Family find any leads."

Zhao Gao stepped out from the shadows, bowing as he handed over a secret report: "Young Lord, Xuanji Pavilion has indeed made a move."

"They have dispatched their 'Xuan' rank Venerable, 'Iron-Faced Judge' Cui Ming, along with thirty experts at the Heavenly Human Realm. They have arrived in Luoyang, claiming they want to avenge their messenger."

[Character Panel: Cui Ming]

[Origin: Xuanji Pavilion]

[Realm: Early Earthly Immortal Realm]

[Martial Skill: Judge's Pen (Perfection), Soul Locking Hand (Major Achievement)]

[Trait: Ruthless and vicious; once annihilated three major families in a single night.]

Jun Xiaoyao raised an eyebrow. "Early Earthly Immortal Realm? They are certainly willing to pay a high price."

He looked toward the summoning array. The spiritual energy at the array's core had risen to 65% due to the success on the Jiangnan salt route, and a new list of summonable characters appeared on the light screen.

[Summonable Character: Invincible East]

[Origin: World of "the smiling, proud wanderer"]

[Realm: Early Earthly Immortal Realm]

[Martial Skill: Sunflower Manual (Perfection), Embroidery Needle (Major Achievement)]

[Specialty: Extremely fast speed, skilled in stealth and assassination.]

[Summoning Cost: 60% Spiritual Energy]

"Invincible East..." Jun Xiaoyao's fingertip paused on the name.

The speed of the Sunflower Manual perfectly countered the rigid ferocity of the Judge's Pen, making it the best choice to deal with Cui Ming.

He did not hesitate and injected spiritual energy into the summoning array. The array's core suddenly erupted with an eerie red light, and the runes fluttered like butterfly wings.

Within the red light, a figure dressed in red slowly materialized.

With a stunningly beautiful appearance, holding an Embroidery Needle, and with silk threads wrapped around its fingertips, it was none other than Invincible East.

When Invincible East looked at Jun Xiaoyao, a trace of surprise flashed in its eyes, and it immediately bowed in salute. Its voice was androgynous: "Invincible East greets the Young Lord."

[Character Panel: Invincible East]

[Status: Calm]

[Loyalty: 80%]

[Current Thought: This person's aura is unfathomable; perhaps I can rely on them.]

Jun Xiaoyao pointed at the portrait of Cui Ming in the water mirror. "The Iron-Faced Judge of Xuanji Pavilion is causing trouble in Luoyang. Go meet him, and there is no need to hold back."

The Embroidery Needle at the tip of Invincible East's finger trembled slightly, the tip flashing with a cold glint. "The Judge's Pen? It has been a long time since I've seen that."

Invincible East turned and stepped into the teleportation array. "Rest assured, Young Lord. Within three days, I will bring back their head."

The light of the teleportation array extinguished, and Jun Xiaoyao looked back at the water mirror.

In the scene, the "Assembly of Sages Tower" in Luoyang City was surrounded by people from Xuanji Pavilion. Cui Ming sat in the center of the main hall with a bronze basin in front of him, in which three incense sticks were inserted—according to Jianghu rules, if The Net did not appear before the incense burned out, they would massacre the Luoyang stronghold of The Net.

"Quite the showman." Jun Xiaoyao sneered and said into the message talisman, "Fu Hongxue, go to the Assembly of Sages Tower to 'visit.' Wait until Invincible East arrives before making a move."

Luoyang, Assembly of Sages Tower.

When Fu Hongxue pushed open the door and entered, Cui Ming was using his Judge's Pen to pick up a piece of braised pork. Seeing him enter, he didn't even lift his eyelids. "People from The Net? You have more guts than I thought."

Fu Hongxue did not speak; he walked straight to the opposite side and sat down, his right hand resting on the hilt of his blade the entire time.

The Xuanji Pavilion experts outside the building wanted to attack, but Cui Ming stopped them with a look. "Let him sit. Let's see if the remnants of The Net in this building have the courage to come out."

When the incense stick burned out, a faint "chi" sound suddenly came from the rafters of the Assembly of Sages Tower.

The figure of Invincible East drifted down like a red leaf, the Embroidery Needle pointing directly at the center of Cui Ming's eyebrows. "Your opponent is me."

Cui Ming had been prepared; he swung the Judge's Pen horizontally, the tip carrying a fierce wind as it collided with the Embroidery Needle.

With a crisp "ding" sound, both retreated three steps. Cui Ming looked at the tiny nick on the tip of his pen, a trace of gravity flashing in his eyes. "Sunflower Manual?"

"You have a good eye." Invincible East flicked its fingertips repeatedly, and dozens of Embroidery Needles shot out like a rainstorm at extremely tricky angles.

Cui Ming's Judge's Pen danced into a blur of black shadows, yet it was still grazed by two silver needles that tore its sleeve, and black-purple bloodstains immediately appeared on its arm.

"Poisonous!" Cui Ming was shocked and furious. He struck towards Invincible East's face with his Soul Locking Hand, infused with spiritual energy.

Invincible East's figure flickered, moving behind him like a ghost, the Embroidery Needle pressing against his back. "Do you still want to fight?"

Cui Ming froze in place, feeling the prick of the needle at his back, and finally gritted his teeth. "Retreat!"

The people from Xuanji Pavilion retreated like a receding tide, but Invincible East did not pursue, only saying to Fu Hongxue, "Tell the Young Lord that Cui Ming won't get far. I am going to pursue him."

Fu Hongxue nodded, watching Invincible East's figure disappear at the alley entrance, then turned and said into the message talisman, "Young Lord, Invincible East has won and is currently hunting down Cui Ming."

In front of the water mirror, Jun Xiaoyao nodded with satisfaction. "Tell them no need to pursue. Keep Cui Ming alive so that Xuanji Pavilion learns of the power of Beyond Heaven."

He turned to Zhao Gao. "Any movement from the Li Family?"

Zhao Gao handed over a secret report. "Li Changfeng has dispatched his legitimate son, Li Tianyu, with five hundred guards to Jiangnan, saying they want to rebuild the salt warehouse. They have also hired people from the 'Five Elements Sect' to help detoxify the area."

[Character Panel: Li Tianyu]

[Realm: Late Grandmaster Realm]

[Martial Skill: Blazing Fire Palm (Major Achievement)]

[Trait: Arrogant and conceited; once killed three Luowang Assassins.]

"The Five Elements Sect?" Jun Xiaoyao chuckled. "Their 'Five Elements Detoxification Technique' has some merit, but unfortunately..."

He said into the message talisman, "Huang Rong, take the 'Medicine' division to Jiangnan. 'Give' the people from the Five Elements Sect some new poison, and let them know that the poison of The Net is not so easily undone."

Huang Rong's voice came from the message talisman, "Don't worry, Young Lord. I guarantee that after they finish 'detoxifying,' even their own mothers won't recognize them."

After arranging all of this, Jun Xiaoyao looked at the summoning array.

Although the remaining 5% of spiritual energy was small, it was slowly increasing because Invincible East had repelled Cui Ming.

He knew that Xuanji Pavilion and the Li Family would never give up, but this was exactly what he wanted—only through constant conflict could he seize the opportunity to expand the influence of The Net and plunder more resources.

At this moment, the message talisman lit up again; it was a message from Murong Bo sent from the Wanfa Holy Land: [I have found the complete version of the Spirit Devouring Great Law. In Li Changfeng's cultivation chamber, there are over a dozen imprisoned spiritual Cultivators, who seem to be 'Cauldrons' used to help him Breakthrough his Realm.]

Jun Xiaoyao's eyes darkened slightly. "Tell him to continue lurking. When the time is ripe, we will wipe them all out at once."

The Underground Palace returned to silence. Jun Xiaoyao leaned back on the black iron chair, watching the scene of the Jiangnan salt warehouse in the water mirror.

The poisonous fog of the Bone Rotting Powder had not yet dissipated, and the figure of Li Tianyu had already appeared outside the salt warehouse, roaring at his subordinates.

He knew that this battle over resources had only just begun.

The night wind of Hanyue Valley passed through the Underground Palace, carrying the salty, fishy smell of Jiangnan and the bloody scent of Luoyang, weaving into a unique atmosphere.

Jun Xiaoyao's fingertips tapped lightly on the summoning array, waiting for the opportunity for the next summoning.

Whether it was Xuanji Pavilion, the Li Family, or other forces hidden in the shadows, as long as they blocked the path of Beyond Heaven, they would eventually be devoured by The Net.

The era belonging to Beyond Heaven was coming step by step.