326: Corpse Gu Array

Deep within the Hanyue Valley Underground Palace, Jun Xiaoyao reclined on a black iron chair crafted in the shape of a coiled dragon, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the black jade embedded in the armrests.

The night pearls at the top of the underground palace emitted a soft halo, shrouding him in a hazy shadow, making his expression difficult to discern.

The water mirror floating before him was divided into nine sections, reflecting the movements across the continent in real-time. One section remained fixed on Yanmen Pass in the Northern Territory—the figure of Never Seeking Defeat stood atop the beacon tower as straight as a sculpture.

The sword marks left by a withered branch on the cliff face gleamed coldly under the moonlight, and the traces of the scattered barbarian scouts had not yet been covered by the wind and sand.

"Young Lord," Zhao Gao's voice came from the shadows. He bowed, holding a dark gold ledger, his footsteps as light as a cat's. "The Net's monthly mission settlement is complete. We have taken on thirty-seven assassination missions with a completion rate of one hundred percent."

"This includes seventeen members of noble families, nine Sect traitors, and eleven Imperial Dynasty spies. The seized gold, silver, and valuables amount to 3.72 million taels of silver, which have now been deposited. Additionally, three iron mines and two horse farms are willing to submit and seek protection from Beyond Heaven."

Jun Xiaoyao's gaze remained unmoved, falling onto another section of the water mirror—in the misty rain of the Jiangnan water towns, the Marshal of the Unruly and several members of The Unruly were auditing the newly acquired salt fields.

The Marshal of the Unruly still wore his bamboo hat, with salt grains clinging to the hem of his gray robes. The clattering of his abacus, set against the backdrop of black-awning boats and oil-paper umbrellas, created a strangely harmonious scene.

"Assign the iron mines to the Ministry of Works and have Ouyezi lead the construction," Jun Xiaoyao's voice was flat and waveless, like a stone dropped into the depths of the underground palace, the echoes carrying a chill. "Incorporate the horse farms into Liangzhou and have Yue Fei coordinate them. Tell those powers seeking protection to pay the thirty percent tribute according to the rules; The Net can guarantee their safety for three months."

"Understood." Zhao Gao opened the ledger, his pen tip gliding across the parchment, leaving behind pitch-black script. "There is one more matter: the Imperial Dynasty's Shadow Guards have been secretly investigating the background of The Net recently, and we have already lost three dark agents."

In the water mirror, a red dot representing a Shadow Guard stronghold was approaching a contact point The Net had set up in the Imperial City—the Drunken Immortal Tower in the south of the city.

The storyteller in the tower was speaking animatedly about the "Never Seeking Defeat Breaks the City with One Sword" play. Under the table, a member of The Unruly was stuffing a secret letter into a wine jar.

Jun Xiaoyao paused his fingertips on the black jade, and the water mirror switched to the study of the Shadow Guard commander.

A middle-aged man in a python-patterned brocade robe was frowning at a map. On the map, over twenty locations marked as The Net had been circled in cinnabar.

"Shadow Guards?" A cold sneer curled the corner of Jun Xiaoyao's mouth. "Let the Marshal of the Unruly handle it."

"The Marshal of the Unruly has already set up the Corpse Gu Array, just waiting for them to walk into the trap," Zhao Gao added. "Additionally, the spiritual power of the summoning array is full, and a high-level summoning can be performed."

Jun Xiaoyao looked up at the summoning array in the center of the underground palace. The spiritual light at the array's eye flowed like a river, weaving into a complex web of runes; it had only become fully charged after absorbing the spiritual power dissipated during the destruction of Duke Zhenguos Residence. He pondered for a moment and tapped his fingers on the armrest: "Summon."

Zhao Gao retreated to the edge of the array and dripped three drops of heart blood into the eye of the array. The moment the dark red blood beads merged into the spiritual light, the entire summoning array suddenly erupted with blinding golden radiance. The runes moved as if they had come to life, projecting a flowing star map onto the ceiling of the underground palace.

The void in the center of the array twisted, as if torn open by an invisible hand. From the crack came the crisp sound of weapons clashing, along with a faint scent of alcohol.

"Ha! What a place!"

A hearty laugh pierced the void, followed by the sound of a wine gourd shaking. A figure in green robes stumbled out of the crack. As soon as his feet touched the ground, he staggered, and the wine gourd in his hand banged against the black iron chair. The spilled liquor spread on the black jade, emitting wisps of white smoke—the alcohol was shockingly strong.

The newcomer raised his hand to wipe his face, revealing a handsome face with a touch of rebelliousness. His sword-like eyebrows were slanted, and his eyes held drunkenness, yet they concealed a sharpness that saw through everything. A long sword hung at his waist; the scabbard was old, yet a faint dragon's roar could be heard from within.

[Character Panel: Linghu Chong]

[From: "the smiling, proud wanderer" World]

[Realm: Late Grandmaster Realm]

[Martial Skill: Nine Swords of Dugu (Minor Achievement), Star Absorbing Great Technique (Major Achievement), Muscle Tendon Changing Classic (Entry Level)]

[Specialty: Sword moves are agile and break formations; skilled in drinking; can see through enemy flaws while intoxicated]

[Loyalty: 70%]

[Current Thought: This Young Lord looks cold, but he's more pleasing to the eye than Yue Buqun. It's just that the underground palace is too stuffy. Is there any good wine?]

Linghu Chong hiccuped, his gaze sweeping across the underground palace before finally landing on Jun Xiaoyao. He cupped his hands and laughed, "I am Linghu Chong, greetings to the Young Lord. I wonder if there is any fine wine here? The smell of alcohol from that crack just now wasn't as strong as this 'Burning Knife' in my arms."

Jun Xiaoyao did not answer. He merely raised his hand, and the water mirror immediately displayed the scene of the Liangzhou horse farm—Yue Fei was leading the cavalry in a charge drill. Amidst the swirling dust, the figure of Linghu Chong flickered in and out, obviously a scenario pre-simulated by the System.

"Go to Liangzhou," Jun Xiaoyao said indifferently. "Yue Fei needs a deputy; go and help him."

Linghu Chong's eyes lit up. Upon hearing the word "Liangzhou", he seemed to smell the strong liquor of the grasslands: "That is exactly what I wish! But..." He shook his wine gourd. "There must be enough wine at the horse farm."

"The Unruly have a wine cellar in Liangzhou." Jun Xiaoyao pointed his finger, and the teleportation array beside the summoning array lit up with white light. "Go."

Linghu Chong laughed heartily, grabbed his wine gourd, and leaped into the teleportation array. A flash of white light passed, and his figure disappeared without a trace. In the water mirror, in the scene of the Liangzhou horse farm, Yue Fei was pulling on the reins, looking at the suddenly appearing green-robed swordsman. His brow furrowed slightly, then transformed into realization—another helper sent by the Young Lord.

Zhao Gao timely handed over another dossier: "Young Lord, the Third Prince has sent someone with a secret letter, hoping to cooperate with Beyond Heaven to jointly topple the Crown Prince."

The water mirror switched. In the Third Prince's residence, a man with a feminine face was sneering at the secret letter. The candlelight danced in his eyes, reflecting the light of calculation. On the tray beside him lay a night pearl the size of a pigeon egg, clearly a token of sincerity prepared for "Beyond Heaven".

"Cooperate?" Jun Xiaoyao sneered. "Is he worthy?"

In the water mirror, the Crown Prince's figure appeared in another section—he was in a secret discussion with the Shadow Guard commander, and portraits of The Net's members were laid out on the table. Clearly, the internal strife of the Imperial Dynasty had already dragged Beyond Heaven into it.

"Let The Net accept the Third Prince's mission," Jun Xiaoyao said suddenly. He pointed his finger at the water mirror, and the image of the Third Prince's residence was magnified. "Assassinate the Crown Prince's strategist. The fee is five million taels, in cash."

Zhao Gao was stunned, then immediately understood: "Does the Young Lord intend to sit back and reap the rewards?"

"The more fiercely they fight, the less anyone will notice us." Jun Xiaoyao's gaze fell on the corner of the water mirror, which displayed the remaining spiritual power of the summoning array. "Notify Ouyezi to refine the iron ore into black iron as soon as possible. I want to forge a batch of new weapons."

"Understood." Zhao Gao noted the order and added, "There is one more thing. An aura of the Void Shattering Realm has appeared in the Western Regions, suspected to be the remnants of the ancient Sect, the 'Tongtian Sect'."

The last section of the water mirror switched to the Western Regions desert. Amidst the vast yellow sand, a figure in a black robe stood on a sand dune. The spiritual power fluctuations around him were somewhat similar to Never Seeking Defeat, only colder. He held a broken stele in his hand, with the word "Tongtian" carved on it.

Jun Xiaoyao's eyes darkened slightly. The Void Shattering Realm was the highest known Realm on the continent. Although Never Seeking Defeat had touched upon it, he had not yet fully stabilized it. If the remnants of the Tongtian Sect emerged, it would likely break the current balance of power.

"Let the 'Heaven' Group of The Net investigate," Jun Xiaoyao said slowly. "Do not alert the other party; just find out their purpose."

"The Heaven Group is currently tracking the trail of the Xuanji Pavilion..."

"Have them pause," Jun Xiaoyao interrupted him. "The threat of the Tongtian Sect is greater."

Zhao Gao dared not say more and hurriedly modified the order. At this moment, the scene of Yanmen Pass in the water mirror suddenly fluctuated—the withered branch in Never Seeking Defeat's hand pointed toward the sky.

An invisible Sword Qi cut through the night sky, slicing a poisoned crossbow bolt aimed at the beacon tower into dust. The barbarian's probe was clearly more than just scouts.

"Senior Never Seeking Defeat over there..." Zhao Gao was somewhat worried.

"It is fine," Jun Xiaoyao looked at the still-upright figure of Never Seeking Defeat in the water mirror. "What he must protect is not just Yanmen Pass."

As soon as the words fell, in the water mirror, Never Seeking Defeat moved. He did not rush toward the barbarian camp, but turned around, his withered branch pointing toward the south—there, the Shadow Guard scouts were trying to bypass the beacon tower and sneak into the Central Plains.

The Sword Qi was like silk, silently sweeping past. The scouts did not even notice the abnormality before they fell to the ground, their spiritual power dissipated.

Linghu Chong was already drinking strong liquor with Yue Fei at the Liangzhou horse farm, the wine spilling onto his armor, splashing into heroic laughter.

The Corpse Gu Array set up by the Marshal of the Unruly at the Drunken Immortal Tower had been triggered. The Shadow Guards turned into pus amidst screams, and no one realized it was The Net that had made the move.

The Third Prince's five million taels of silver had been transferred to the secret vault of Beyond Heaven through the black market. The mission to assassinate the Crown Prince's strategist was accepted by the "Earth" Group of The Net.

The Man in Black Robe in the Western Regions was still studying the broken stele, completely unaware that the dark agents of the Heaven Group were already lurking behind the sand dune.

Jun Xiaoyao leaned back on the black iron chair, watching the movements of all parties playing out simultaneously in the nine-section water mirror. The black jade at his fingertips gradually returned to its icy state.

Zhao Gao retreated into the shadows, counting the newly stored wealth. The sound of the ledger pages turning became the only background noise in the underground palace.

The halo of the night pearls flowed, reflecting in Jun Xiaoyao's young yet deep eyes. There were no ripples there, only a silent cold pool—just like this Hanyue Valley Underground Palace, seemingly calm, but actually surging with undercurrents. Every ripple affected the winds and clouds of the continent.

He knew that the rise of Beyond Heaven had only just begun. The Net was his claws and fangs, the summoned experts were his sharp blades, and he himself only needed to sit deep in this underground palace, watching the chess pieces on the water mirror fall into place step by step.

Whether it was the strife of the Imperial Dynasty or the remnants of the Sect, any obstacle blocking the expansion path of Beyond Heaven would eventually be crushed.

At this moment, the spiritual light of the summoning array began to condense again, faster than the last time—clearly the spiritual feedback from this mission settlement.

Jun Xiaoyao glanced at it, not paying it much mind. His gaze returned to the water mirror, landing on the solitary, lofty figure at Yanmen Pass—Never Seeking Defeat's withered branch brushed across the cliff wall again. This time, the sword marks were deeper, vaguely forming the three characters "Beyond Heaven".

The wind and sand swept past, covering the sword marks slightly, but at another spot, they were deepened by new sword marks. It was as if it were declaring that an indelible new mark had already been made on this land.

Outside the underground palace, the night was thick, and the dawn belonging to Beyond Heaven was already brewing.

The threads of The Net were silently entangling every corner of the continent, waiting only for Jun Xiaoyao's command to tighten suddenly and strangle the throats of all resistance.

And this Young Lord, who always hid behind the scenes, only needed to sit in the Hanyue Valley, quietly watching the winds and clouds change.