327: Western Regions Broken Stele

This was the highest token of authority for The Net's Heaven Group, just delivered by Zhao Gao—the Heaven Group had been lurking in the Western Regions desert for seven days and had finally sent back the first secret report on the remnants of the Tongtian Cult.

In the center of the water mirror, the figure of the Man in Black Robe stood on a sand dune. The broken stele was illuminated by the moonlight, and the characters "Tongtian" on it were seeping dark red liquid, which slid down the surface of the stele like drops of blood.

The secret agents of the Heaven Group hid behind the gravel, their breathing almost synchronized with the wind and sand, and the images transmitted back had slight tremors.

"Young Lord," Zhao Gao's voice was extremely low, "The text on the broken stele, deciphered by Mr. Ouyang, is an ancient 'Blood Sacrifice Text'. The general meaning is that it requires one hundred thousand living souls as a guide to reopen the Tongtian Cult's 'Demon Suppressing Tower'."

Jun Xiaoyao traced his fingertip over the profound iron token, and the water mirror switched to the population distribution map of the Western Regions. The three towns near the broken stele had been marked in red, with a total population of just over one hundred thousand. "Demon Suppressing Tower?"

He recalled the records in the files—that was a Forbidden Ground where the Tongtian Cult suppressed exotic treasures. Legend had it that the tower contained the "Tongtian Stone" that could allow one to instantly Breakthrough to the Void Shattering Realm.

"Interesting." Jun Xiaoyao raised the corner of his mouth, "If the Tongtian Stone really exists, it will save a lot of trouble." He looked at the summoning array. The spiritual power at the center of the array had risen to 85% due to the annihilation of the Shadow Guards and the tribute from the Third Prince. Pale golden runes coiled like snakes, revealing a new summoning list.

[Summonable Character: Xu Zhu]

[From: "demi-gods and semi-devils" World]

[Realm: Middle Celestial Realm]

[Martial Skill: Minor Formless Art (Perfection), Tianshan Six Yang Palms (Major Achievement)]

[Specialty: Master of Healing, profound Internal Energy can suppress evil arts]

[Summoning Cost: 60% Spiritual Power]

[Summonable Character: Shi Potian]

[From: "Knight's Journey" World]

[Realm: Early Earthly Immortal Realm]

[Martial Skill: Tai Xuan Jing (Perfection), Arhat Demon-Subduing Skill (Major Achievement)]

[Specialty: Innate Divine Power, has special sensitivity to exotic treasures]

[Summoning Cost: 80% Spiritual Power]

[Summonable Character: Little Dragon Girl]

[From: "the return of the condor heroes" World]

[Realm: Peak Grandmaster Realm]

[Martial Skill: Jade Maiden Heart Sutra (Perfection), Qinggong (Transcendent)]

[Specialty: Stealth and reconnaissance, skilled at breaking mechanisms]

[Summoning Cost: 50% Spiritual Power]

Jun Xiaoyao tapped his fingertip on "Shi Potian's" name: "Send him to the Western Regions to first locate the Demon Suppressing Tower."

The summoning array suddenly erupted with dazzling white light, and the runes surged toward the center like a tide. In the light, the figure of a young man wearing coarse hemp clothes slowly condensed. His face was honest, and his hands were awkwardly clasped behind his back; it was indeed Shi Potian. When he saw Jun Xiaoyao, his eyes lit up, and he revealed a simple, honest smile: "Shi Potian greets the Young Lord. The sand here... is much softer than on the Knight's Island."

[Character Panel: Shi Potian]

[Status: Naive]

[Loyalty: 95%]

[Current Thought: The Young Lord looks very powerful, much better than Bei Haishi.]

Jun Xiaoyao threw the profound iron token to him: "Take this and go to the Western Regions to find the Heaven Group. They will take you to find a stone that can glow."

Shi Potian took the profound iron token and clenched it tightly in his palm: "A glowing stone? Like the gems in the Laba porridge?"

"Brighter than that." Jun Xiaoyao pointed to the teleportation array, "Go, and use this to contact me once you find it." He handed over a message talisman.

Shi Potian nodded vigorously, turned, and stepped into the teleportation array. With a flash of white light, he disappeared from the underground palace. The water mirror view switched. In the Western Regions desert, the Heaven Group leader "Ying" was lying in a sand pit. Seeing the suddenly appearing Shi Potian, a trace of surprise flashed in her eyes, and she immediately bowed to salute: "Subordinate greets Mr. Shi."

Shi Potian handed the profound iron token to her: "The Young Lord asked me to find a glowing stone."

Ying took the profound iron token, her gaze sharpening—the Heaven Group token meant that this person had the authority to mobilize the Heaven Group. She immediately said: "Subordinate has detected abnormal spiritual energy thirty miles northwest of the broken stele, suspected to be the entrance to the Demon Suppressing Tower."

Watching the backs of the two departing in the water mirror, Jun Xiaoyao said to Zhao Gao: "Have Xu Zhu follow up, in case the Blood Sacrifice Text has any treacherous arts that could harm people."

The summoning array lit up again, this time with a soft cyan light. Xu Zhu's figure condensed in the Buddha's light. He pressed his palms together and bowed: "Little monk Xu Zhu greets the Young Lord."

[Character Panel: Xu Zhu]

[Status: Pious]

[Loyalty: 90%]

[Current Thought: The wind and sand of the Western Regions cannot blow away the Buddha's heart.]

"Go to the Western Regions to assist Shi Potian. If anyone is struck by evil arts, use the Tianshan Six Yang Palms to cure them," Jun Xiaoyao said calmly.

Xu Zhu nodded: "Amitabha, saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda." When he turned and stepped into the teleportation array, he did not forget to bring his medicine chest.

At this moment, another section of the water mirror lit up. The Third Prince's secret envoy was meeting with The Unruly at the Drunken Immortal Tower. The envoy placed a brocade box on the table, which contained five million taels of silver in exchange notes, as well as the detailed whereabouts of the Crown Prince's strategist—this person would be having a secret talk with the Vice Minister of Personnel at the "Yanyu Pavilion" tonight.

"The Earth Group has already set up the 'Fishing Net Array' at Yanyu Pavilion," Zhao Gao reported, "We are just waiting for the target to enter the trap."

In the water mirror, the Earth Group leader "Sha" was leading three killers, setting up threads on the rafters of Yanyu Pavilion. The threads were soaked in anesthetic; just touching them would paralyze the Meridians. It was the "Heavenly Net" improved by Little Dragon Girl.

Jun Xiaoyao looked at the setup in the image and suddenly noticed the attendant of the Vice Minister of Personnel—the person's walking posture was seven-tenths similar to that of the Shadow Guards commander, and the jade pendant at his waist was engraved with the dragon pattern exclusively for the Imperial Dynasty.

"Wait." Jun Xiaoyao tapped his fingertip on the water mirror, "Tell the Earth Group to pause; that Vice Minister of Personnel has a problem."

Zhao Gao quickly sent a message. In the water mirror, Sha had just received the message when he saw the attendant of the Vice Minister of Personnel suddenly raise his hand, and three poison needles shot out from his sleeve, aiming straight at the rafters!

"Ambush!" Sha gave a low shout, swung his blade to cut the poison needles, and simultaneously signaled the killers to retreat. The Yanyu Pavilion was immediately in chaos. The Crown Prince's strategist and the Vice Minister of Personnel had disappeared, leaving only smoke bombs all over the floor.

"It really was a trap." Jun Xiaoyao sneered, "The Third Prince wants to use a borrowed knife to kill, to make The Net and the Crown Prince completely tear their faces apart."

In the water mirror, the Third Prince was drinking in his mansion. Hearing the secret agent's report, a smug smile curled at the corners of his mouth: "Jun Xiaoyao, oh Jun Xiaoyao, you are ultimately still too naive."

"Young Lord, should we..." Zhao Gao made a throat-slitting gesture.

"No need." Jun Xiaoyao shook his head, "Let him jump around for a few more days." He looked at the water mirror of the Western Regions. Shi Potian and Ying had found the entrance to the Demon Suppressing Tower—it was a stone gate buried in yellow sand, with the same Blood Sacrifice Text engraved on the door as on the broken stele.

Shi Potian reached out and pressed his hand on the stone gate. The Tai Xuan Jing automatically circulated, and the stone gate actually vibrated slightly, with a faint golden light shining through the cracks. "Inside... something is calling me," Shi Potian muttered.

A flash of shock crossed Ying's eyes: "Mr. Shi can actually trigger the aura of the Demon Suppressing Tower?"

"Tell him to try pushing it open," Jun Xiaoyao said to the message talisman.

Shi Potian took a deep breath and exerted force with both arms. His innate Divine Power combined with the Tai Xuan Jing. The stone gate made a "creaking" sound and slowly opened a crack. Golden light poured out from the crack, blinding the two of them. Vaguely, one could see black gas swirling inside the tower—that was the suppressed Devilish Qi.

"Beware of Devilish Qi erosion," Jun Xiaoyao reminded.

Ying immediately took out a gas mask and put it on, but Shi Potian was completely unaware, instead reaching out to touch the golden light: "So warm..."

Just at this moment, the laughter of the Man in Black Robe came from afar: "Finally, someone has opened the tower gate for me!"

In the water mirror, the Man in Black Robe arrived with dozens of Cultists, all looking fanatical, holding pottery jars filled with blood in their hands—evidently about to begin the blood sacrifice.

[Character Panel: Tong Xuanzi]

[Realm: Void Shattering Realm Early Stage]

[Martial Skill: Blood Nerve Skill (Perfection)]

[Identity: Last Sect Master of Tongtian Cult, has slaughtered three cities to Breakthrough to this Realm]

"It's Tong Xuanzi!" Ying's expression changed drastically, "Subordinate is no match; please send reinforcements, Young Lord!"

Jun Xiaoyao looked at the summoning array; the remaining 5% spiritual power was clearly not enough to summon an expert. He pondered for a moment and said to the message talisman: "Tell Shi Potian to guard the stone gate; Xu Zhu will be there soon."

In the water mirror of the Western Regions, Tong Xuanzi had arrived nearby. The Blood Nerve Skill circulated, and his palms, carrying a thick smell of blood, slapped towards Shi Potian: "Boy, get out of my way!"

Shi Potian did not dodge or avoid. The Arhat Demon-Subduing Skill automatically protected his body, and he took the palm strike head-on. Tong Xuanzi was shaken back three steps, surprised and angry: "Tai Xuan Jing? Are you from the Knight's Island?"

Shi Potian shook his head: "I am from Beyond Heaven."

"Beyond Heaven?" Tong Xuanzi grinned viciously, "Perfect, I'll use your living soul to sacrifice to the tower!" The Cultists behind him raised their pottery jars, about to splash the blood onto the stone gate.

At the critical moment, a flash of cyan light passed. Xu Zhu's figure landed beside Shi Potian. He struck out with the Tianshan Six Yang Palms, the palm wind carrying a cold aura that froze the pottery jars: "Benefactor, turn back before it's too late."

Tong Xuanzi looked at Xu Zhu, greed flashing in his eyes: "Tianshan Six Yang Palms? Just the thing to complete my Blood Nerve Skill!"

Both sides were on edge, and a great battle was about to break out. In front of the water mirror, Jun Xiaoyao said to Zhao Gao: "Send a message to Senior Never Seeking Defeat, ask him to make a trip to the Western Regions."

"Senior Never Seeking Defeat is currently in seclusion to stabilize his Realm..."

"Tell him there is a Void Shattering Realm opponent," Jun Xiaoyao interrupted.

Zhao Gao dared not delay and immediately sent the message. A moment later, the message talisman lit up with only two words: "Coming now."

Jun Xiaoyao looked at the golden light behind the stone gate in the water mirror; that should be the Tongtian Stone. Tong Xuanzi wanted to snatch it, the Third Prince wanted to scheme, the Shadow Guards wanted to investigate... All parties were gathering in the Western Regions. Perfect, a one-time resolution.

The wind and sand of Hanyue Valley passed through the cracks of the underground palace, carrying the bloody scent of the Western Regions. Jun Xiaoyao leaned back in the black iron chair, watching the slowly increasing spiritual power of the summoning array, a cold arc curling at the corner of his mouth. The secret of the Demon Suppressing Tower, the power of the Tongtian Stone, would soon belong to Beyond Heaven. And those who attempted to touch it would eventually become dust under the swords of Shi Potian and Never Seeking Defeat.

In the water mirror, Tong Xuanzi's blood palm had been struck out again. The golden light of Shi Potian's Tai Xuan Jing and the cold aura of Xu Zhu's Tianshan Six Yang Palms intertwined, erupting with dazzling light in the desert.

In the distance, an invisible Sword Intent was piercing through the air. Where it passed, the wind and sand stood still—Never Seeking Defeat had arrived.