328: A visitor from outer space probes the truth.

Fine droplets of water seeped from the Profound Iron Dome of the Hanyue Valley Underground Palace, condensed from the moisture carried by the Western Regions' sandstorms meeting the cold.

Jun Xiaoyao held a “spirit communication stone,” which he had just acquired from the Black Market, between his fingers. The spiritual light flowing across the stone’s surface reflected in his pupils, mirroring the golden light from the Western Regions battlefield visible in the water mirror.

“Zhao Gao,” he said carelessly, without lifting his head, “How is The Net’s ‘Spider Web’ deployed across the Central Plains?”

Zhao Gao stepped out of the shadows, holding a parchment map marked with dense red dots in cinnabar—these were the Hidden Posts The Net had established in various prefectures and counties. “Reporting, Young Lord. Deployment has been completed in seventeen prefectures, excluding the three streets near the Imperial City. Yesterday, we received three new missions, all targeting the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower in Qingzhou.”

The spirit communication stone on Jun Xiaoyao's fingertip suddenly brightened. The water mirror switched views, showing the gilded signboard of the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower in Qingzhou shining brightly under the sun. The Tower Master was Iron Abacus Qian Tong, who was at the Innate Realm, and was rumored to possess a rubbing of half of the book of wumu. “Whose orders?”

“First, the Salt Gang of Jiangnan is offering three million taels for Qian Tong’s left hand; second, the Prefect of Qingzhou wants to use The Net to investigate his corruption ledgers; and third...” Zhao Gao paused, “The Mysterious Person offered ‘star marrow’ as a deposit, requesting the key to the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower’s underground secret room.”

“star marrow?” Jun Xiaoyao raised an eyebrow. That was a rare item that could only be refined by those who Cultivated to the Heavenly Human Realm, and it was a hundred times more valuable than gold. He looked at the summoning array. After the battle in the Western Regions, although Shi Potian repelled Master of Profundity, he had depleted thirty percent of his Spiritual Power. The Array Core was currently charged to 68%, and pale purple runes were outlining new silhouettes.

[Summonable Character: West Gate Blows Snow]

[Origin: The legend of lu xiaofeng World]

[Realm: Peak Grandmaster Realm]

[Martial Skill: Flying Immortal from Beyond the Heavens (Perfection), Clear Sword Heart (Transcendent)]

[Specialty: One-Sword Throat-Sealing, skilled in assassination and stealth]

[Summon Cost: Spiritual Power 55%]

[Summonable Character: Qiao Feng]

[Origin: The demi-gods and semi-devils World]

[Realm: Initial Heaven Human Realm]

[Martial Skill: Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms (Perfection), Dragon Capturing Skill (Major Achievement)]

[Specialty: Commanding Thousands of Troops, intimidating minor villains]

[Summon Cost: Spiritual Power 60%]

[Summonable Character: Duan Yu]

[Origin: The demi-gods and semi-devils World]

[Realm: Late Grandmaster Realm]

[Martial Skill: Six Meridians Divine Sword (Minor Achievement), Subtle Steps of the Rippling Waves (Perfection)]

[Specialty: Eerie movement technique, skilled in cracking mechanisms]

[Summon Cost: Spiritual Power 45%]

Jun Xiaoyao lightly tapped the name “West Gate Blows Snow” with his fingertip. The summoning array suddenly burst forth with fierce Sword Intent, runes shattering like ice shards. A white-robed figure materialized in the cold light—his face stern, sword-like eyebrows extending to his temples, and an antique longsword hanging at his waist. It was West Gate Blows Snow.

“West Gate Blows Snow greets the Young Lord.” His voice was clear, sharp, and cold, like the clash of sword blades.

[Character Panel: West Gate Blows Snow]

[Status: Clear Sword Heart]

[Loyalty: 85%]

[Current Thought: The Spiritual Qi here is thin, yet there is an aura worthy of a battle.]

Jun Xiaoyao tossed him a token carved with a Spider Web Pattern: “Take this token to Qingzhou and accept the orders from the Salt Gang and the Mysterious Person. First, retrieve the key, then sever Qian Tong’s left hand. Let the Prefect investigate the ledgers himself.”

West Gate Blows Snow caught the token and lightly stroked his sword sheath: “When should I act?”

“Three days from now, at midnight, during the Shift Change at the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower.” Jun Xiaoyao pointed to the water mirror, “Qian Tong’s guards include three Grandmasters. You only need to bring ten people from The Net’s Earth Group.”

West Gate Blows Snow nodded, turned, and stepped into the Teleportation Array, his white robes vanishing in the Blue Light. Zhao Gao timely added, “Poison Scorpion, the Leader of the Earth Group, is already on standby in Qingzhou. He is skilled in using poison and can assist Mr. Ximen.”

Jun Xiaoyao offered no comment, turning his gaze to another section of the water mirror. In the image, Xu Zhu was using Tianshan Six Yang Palms to heal Shi Potian, whose right arm was corroded by Master of Profundity’s Blood Nerve Skill, showing a faint purplish-black hue. Although Never Seeking Defeat’s Sword Intent had repelled Master of Profundity, it failed to keep him. The Stone Door of the Demon Suppressing Pagoda had closed again, leaving only the residual Golden Light in Shi Potian’s palm.

“Can Xu Zhu’s medical skills suppress the Blood Poison?”

“Reporting, Young Lord. Xu Zhu sent a message saying that the Blood Nerve Skill is exceptionally overbearing and requires seven days to clear. Mr. Shi is temporarily unable to use martial arts.” Zhao Gao handed over a message talisman, which bore Xu Zhu’s Spiritual Power Imprint.

Jun Xiaoyao rubbed the spirit communication stone, its spiritual light flickering: “Have Senior Never Seeking Defeat guard outside the Demon Suppressing Pagoda; Master of Profundity is bound to return. Also, investigate the Mysterious Person’s background. To use star marrow as a deposit, they must have a significant origin.”

“Yes. The Net’s Heaven Group has found that the Mysterious Person uses the codename ‘Shadow’ in the Black Market. They always wear a Bronze Mask during transactions, and the star marrow offered bears the ‘Xuan’ character Brand, suggesting a possible connection to the Xuan Character Camp in the Imperial City.”

“Xuan Character Camp?” Jun Xiaoyao recalled that they were the Imperial Dynasty’s direct Secret Guards, reporting directly to the Crown Prince. The Third Prince had just set a trap, and now the Crown Prince sent someone after the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower. This game of chess is getting more interesting.

The summoning array runes brightened further, and the Array Core’s Spiritual Power rose to 70%. A new figure appeared in the pale golden light—dressed in Coarse Cloth Monk Robes and holding an Iron Bowl, it was Duan Yu. Seeing Jun Xiaoyao, he quickly pressed his palms together in greeting, a hint of shyness on his face: “This Humble Monk, Duan Yu, greets the Young Lord.”

[Character Panel: Duan Yu]

[Realm: Late Grandmaster Realm]

[Martial Skill: Six Meridians Divine Sword (Minor Achievement), Subtle Steps of the Rippling Waves (Perfection)]

[Loyalty: 80%]

[Current Thought: The aura on this Young Lord is much gentler than Murong Fu’s.]

“Go to Qingzhou to meet West Gate Blows Snow.” Jun Xiaoyao tossed him a message talisman. “The Ten Thousand Treasures Tower’s Mechanism Array was set up by a Master Craftsman from the Previous Dynasty; use Subtle Steps of the Rippling Waves to break it. If you encounter members of the Xuan Character Camp, do not engage in combat, just note down the characteristics of their movement techniques.”

Duan Yu took the Talisman Paper, his fingertip moving slightly, the Six Meridians Divine Sword’s Qi Force almost accidentally triggering the runes. He quickly restrained his Internal Energy: “Yes, this Humble Monk understands.” He lightly stepped, entering the Teleportation Array with flowing grace, appearing even more elegant than West Gate Blows Snow’s movement technique.

Zhao Gao looked at the outline of the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower in Qingzhou reflected in the water mirror and couldn’t help but say, “Young Lord, won’t taking on two missions simultaneously alert the enemy?”

Jun Xiaoyao tossed the spirit communication stone into the air. The Spirit Stone refracted a seven-colored halo against the Dome: “The ledgers in Qian Tong’s hands involve corruption concerning the Salt Tax in Jiangnan. The Salt Gang wants his hand because they fear he will expose their private smuggling activities;

The Xuan Character Camp wants the secret room key, most likely for the book of wumu. By retrieving the key and severing his hand, we neither offend the two parties nor fail to acquire the star marrow. Why wouldn't we do it?”

Just as he spoke, a Dark Figure suddenly intruded into the water mirror. The person was hunched over, holding a Cane, and was meeting a Masked Person in the Back Alley behind the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower. The Wooden Box handed over by the Masked Person clearly bore the same “Xuan” character imprint as the Mysterious Person.

“That’s Qian Tong’s Accountant,” Zhao Gao observed sharply. “The Wooden Box in his hand is exactly the right size for the ledgers.”

Jun Xiaoyao’s lips curved slightly: “It seems the drama in Qingzhou is livelier than expected. Have West Gate Blows Snow ‘retrieve’ a copy of the ledgers while he’s there. Perhaps we can sell it to the Salt Gang and make another profit.”

At this moment, a disturbance came from the Western Regions water mirror. Never Seeking Defeat’s Sword Intent suddenly surged. An Azure-Robed Figure stood before the Demon Suppressing Pagoda—it was him, having emerged from Seclusion. Master of Profundity returned with his Cultists. Under the activation of the Blood Nerve Skill, blood rain actually began to fall from the sky, and dozens of Cultists held up Earthenware Jars, attempting to forcibly perform a Blood Sacrifice on the stone door.

Although Shi Potian was not fully recovered, he still blocked the door. The Golden Light of the Tai Xuan Scripture clashed with the Blood Rain, making sizzling sounds. Xu Zhu’s Six Yang Palms emitted chilling cold, freezing the three Cultists in the front row, but Master of Profundity sent him flying with a palm strike, causing him to cough up Fresh Blood.

“Senior Never Seeking Defeat has acted!” Zhao Gao gasped.

In the water mirror, Never Seeking Defeat did not draw his sword. He simply joined his fingers like a sword and lightly sliced at the Blood Rain. An invisible Sword Qi tore through the Blood Rain, aiming straight for Master of Profundity’s glabella. Master of Profundity hastily used the Blood Nerve Skill to defend, but the Sword Qi sent him staggering backward, tearing a rip in the Blood-Colored Robe on his chest.

“Land Immortal Realm!” Master of Profundity cried out in shock and fear, “You are Never Seeking Defeat?”

Never Seeking Defeat remained silent, and the Sword Qi struck again. This time, Master of Profundity dared not meet it head-on. He turned and transformed into a streak of Bloody Light, fleeing. Seeing this, the Cultists scattered and ran, but were knocked down one by one by Shi Potian’s Arhat Demon-Subduing Skill.

“It seems the Western Regions are temporarily stable.” Jun Xiaoyao caught the falling spirit communication stone, its spiritual light stabilizing. “Have Xu Zhu continue the healing, and Shi Potian guard the stone door. We will make further plans once we get news of the Heaven-Connecting Stone.”

Zhao Gao bowed in assent, just about to withdraw, but Jun Xiaoyao stopped him: “Let me see The Net’s Assassin Roster.”

The roster unfolded, with dense names annotated with their specialized Martial Skills and prices.

Jun Xiaoyao flipped to one page and stopped at the name “Ghost Hand”—this person specialized in Disguise, was once the Jianghu’s number one Divine Thief, and after being subdued by The Net, specialized in Infiltration tasks.

“Have him infiltrate the Imperial City and investigate the Xuan Character Camp’s background.” Jun Xiaoyao tapped the name “Ghost Hand” with his fingertip. “Tell the Third Prince that if he wants to know the Crown Prince’s moves, he must exchange ten pieces of star marrow for the information.”

Zhao Gao’s pupils contracted slightly. Was the Young Lord planning to stir up trouble simultaneously in the three pools of Qingzhou, the Western Regions, and the Imperial City? He dared not ask more and quickly recorded the instructions.

The water droplets in the underground palace dripped down the Dome, hitting the spirit communication stone with a clear sound, as if playing a prelude to the coming storm.

Jun Xiaoyao watched West Gate Blows Snow infiltrating Qingzhou in the water mirror, and Duan Yu’s Subtle Steps of the Rippling Waves flashing across the Eaves of the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower. A faint smile curved his lips.

The Net of Beyond Heaven was only just beginning to tighten, and the turmoil of this Continent was merely a stone in his palm, to be thrown wherever he pleased.