330: Heavenly Alliance

Deep within the Hanyue Valley Underground Palace, ghostly blue spirit flames flickered in the stone wall niches, casting a long, slender shadow of Jun Xiaoyao.

Between his fingertips, he held three pitch-black tokens.

The character "Luo" on the tokens was a dark, blood-like red; these were the special-grade assassination orders of The Net.

On the stone desk, the files Zhao Gao had just laid out gave off a musty, aged scent, recording three newly accepted black market missions, the ink slightly grey from the passage of time.

"Young Lord, these three orders are all from the Western Regions, and each pays over five million taels."

Zhao Gao stood bowing, his voice lowered even further than the crackling of the spirit flames.

"The first is to assassinate Wei Sha, an Elder of the Flowing Sand Sect. This man has practiced the 'Bone-Melting Palm' and is at the Late Stage Great Grandmaster Realm."

"The second is to seize the 'cold iron token' hidden in the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion; the holder is a commander of the 'Iron Guard Battalion' under the Northern Border King, who is at the Initial Heaven Human Realm."

"The third is to escort a Northern Desert merchant caravan through Black Wind Ridge, requiring us to deal with ambushes from the Howling Moon wolf pack and the Black Wind Stockade; the caravan hides..."

"No need for details," Jun Xiaoyao interrupted, tapping the tokens on the stone desk with his fingertips, creating a dull echo. "Have you investigated the employers' backgrounds?"

"Reporting to the Young Lord, Wei Sha has a grudge against the Flowing Sand Sect Master; the employer is likely the Deputy Sect Master who wishes to seize power."

"The cold iron token concerns the mining rights for the Northern Border iron mines. The employer is anonymous, but the spiritual energy signature points to the Southern Chu Imperial Family."

"The merchant caravan's employer is the largest salt merchant in the Northern Desert; it is said that the carriage hides a 'pledge of allegiance' for the Black Wind Stockade, though the specific contents remain unclear."

Zhao Gao handed over a water mirror, where three blurred figures appeared—the spiritual projections of the mission targets.

Jun Xiaoyao trailed his fingertips over the tokens, his gaze falling on the summoning array in the center of the stone desk.

After the battle in Qingzhou, the spiritual energy value of the array's core had risen to 85%, and the pale golden runes flowed like swimming fish, reflecting a profound depth in his eyes.

"Activate the summoning."

As his words fell, the summoning array suddenly lit up, runes bursting like starlight and condensing into three phantom figures in the air.

The System panel then appeared beside the water mirror:

[Summonable Character One: Fu Hongxue]

[Origin: 'Border Town Prodigal' world]

[Realm: Late Stage Great Grandmaster]

[Martial Skill: Drawing Blade Technique (Perfection), Divine Blade Slash (Major Achievement)]

[Specialty: Instant Kill, Tracking, natural resistance to poisons]

[Summoning Cost: 60% Spiritual Energy]

[Summonable Character Two: Zhan Zhao]

[Origin: 'three heroes and five gallants' world]

[Realm: Initial Heaven Human Realm]

[Martial Skill: Southern Hero Sword Technique (Perfection), Lightness Skill Treading Snow Without a Trace (Major Achievement)]

[Specialty: Guarding, Investigation, skilled at dealing with organized military enemies]

[Summoning Cost: 70% Spiritual Energy]

[Summonable Character Three: Stone Guanyin]

[Origin: 'Legend of Fragrant Bat' world]

[Realm: Middle Celestial Realm]

[Martial Skill: Heavenly Martial Divine Scripture (Major Achievement), Phantom Demon Movement Technique (Perfection)]

[Specialty: Disguise, Poison Use, skilled at infiltration and intelligence gathering]

[Summoning Cost: 75% Spiritual Energy]

Jun Xiaoyao's fingertip paused on the name "Fu Hongxue."

Assassinating Wei Sha required the ruthlessness of cutting through tangled hemp with a sharp blade; Fu Hongxue's Drawing Blade Technique was precisely the Sharp Weapon for an instant kill.

He looked up at Zhao Gao. "Wei Sha practices his 'Bone-Melting Palm' in the back mountain of the Flowing Sand Sect late every Wednesday night; that is when his defenses are weakest."

"Understood. I have already had The Net's secret agents keep a close watch. There are three poisonous miasma zones in the back mountain, which will perfectly conceal his movements." Zhao Gao responded, placing a token engraved with the character "Sha" on the left.

Then, Jun Xiaoyao's gaze shifted to "Zhan Zhao."

The Northern Border King's Iron Guard Battalion had strict military discipline; ordinary assassins would find it hard to break through. Zhan Zhao had once served in the Kaifeng Prefecture and was familiar with military Formations, making him perfect for guarding and treasure seizing.

"The cold iron token is hidden on the third underground level of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion. The Iron Guard Battalion has set up a 'Seven Star Formation'; Zhan Zhao's Treading Snow Without a Trace can break the Formation's core."

"Subordinate has already prepared the mechanism map of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion. The black ice wall on the third underground level needs to be blown open with special gunpowder; Master Zhan Zhao's sword technique can protect the gunpowder fuse from being extinguished by the cold." Zhao Gao then placed the token engraved with the character "Ling" on the right.

Finally, he looked at "Stone Guanyin."

The "pledge of allegiance" of the Northern Desert merchant caravan likely involved secret transactions. Stone Guanyin's Disguise Technique could allow her to blend into the caravan, and her Phantom Demon Movement Technique could protect the people and goods amidst the wolf packs and chaotic battles.

"The Black Wind Stockade Master is lecherous; Stone Guanyin can disguise herself as a merchant caravan dancer and seize the pledge of allegiance when the opportunity arises."

Zhao Gao placed the third token, engraved with the character "Shang," in the center. The three tokens were arranged in a triangular Formation, faintly resonating with the runes of the summoning array.

"Young Lord, shall all three missions be initiated simultaneously?"

"Three days from now, we strike simultaneously."

Jun Xiaoyao stood up, walked to the ice cabinet deep in the underground palace, and took out three crystalline "spirit condensing pills"—these were refined from the silk of Northern Border ice silkworms mixed with star marrow, capable of instantly restoring 30% of spiritual energy, prepared specifically for high-intensity missions.

"Have the 'Ying' group of The Net assist; once it is done, give them half of the pills."

"Subordinate understands." Zhao Gao took the pills and handed over a secret report.

"The Marshal of the Unruly sent word; The Unruly's secret agents within the Southern Chu Imperial Family have discovered that they want the cold iron token to open a smuggling route for iron ore with the Western Regions. If this succeeds, it will affect our iron supply in the Northern Border."

Jun Xiaoyao's eyes darkened slightly.

Beyond Heaven had three iron mines in the Northern Border; it was precisely because of the stable output of iron that The Net's weapon supply far exceeded other assassination organizations.

"After Zhan Zhao retrieves the cold iron token, he does not need to hand it over to the employer; bring it directly back to Hanyue Valley."

"And as for the Southern Chu Imperial Family..."

"Give them a replica," Jun Xiaoyao said indifferently. "With Stone Guanyin's Disguise Technique, forging a token is not difficult."

After Zhao Gao bowed and withdrew, Jun Xiaoyao looked back at the summoning array and injected spiritual energy with his fingertips.

The first to light up was the phantom of Fu Hongxue, dressed in black like ink, the scabbard at his waist gleaming with cold light. The moment his figure solidified, a piercing Killing Intent swept through the underground palace. He knelt on one knee, his voice hoarse like sandpaper:

"Fu Hongxue, greets the Young Lord."

Jun Xiaoyao tossed the token engraved with the character "Sha" to him: "Flowing Sand Sect, Wei Sha, late night three days from now."

Fu Hongxue caught the token and flicked his fingertip lightly against the scabbard; the blade gave a soft chime, signifying his acceptance.

Then, Zhan Zhao's phantom descended as a beam of golden light. He was dressed in a clean green robe, the sword "Juque" at his waist vibrating slightly. He cupped his hands in salute, his voice resonant like a bell:

"Zhan Zhao, is willing to serve the Young Lord."

"Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, cold iron token, protect yourself." Jun Xiaoyao handed over the token with the character "Ling," along with the mechanism map of the black ice wall.

Zhan Zhao took them, his fingertips quickly scanning the diagram, and nodded: "The Formation core of the Seven Star Formation is in the northwest; this subordinate has noted it."

Finally, the figure of Stone Guanyin appeared amidst pink mist, her face covered by a light veil, her eyes carrying a lazy charm, but she restrained her smile when she saw Jun Xiaoyao, bowing in salute:

"Stone Guanyin, greets the Young Lord."

"Northern Desert merchant caravan, pledge of allegiance, don't play too loosely." Jun Xiaoyao tossed the token with the character "Shang" to her, his tone carrying a trace of imperceptible warning.

Stone Guanyin caught the token and kissed it lightly with her fingertips, her eyes alluring: "Rest assured, Young Lord, this servant knows the gravity of the situation."

The three figures stepped into the teleportation array one after another. When the light faded, only the sound of the flickering spirit flames remained in the underground palace.

Jun Xiaoyao walked to the water mirror, where three scenes had already switched: the poisonous miasma of the Flowing Sand Sect's back mountain surged under the moonlight, the black ice wall of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion reflected cold light, the Northern Desert merchant caravan was driving camels across the Gobi, and the silhouette of Black Wind Ridge lay in the distance like a dormant giant beast.

He tapped his fingertip lightly on the water mirror, and a map of The Net's influence distribution appeared—red marks had already covered the Western Regions, the Northern Border, and the Northern Desert, with only the major Sects in the Central Plains heartland left untouched.

But Jun Xiaoyao was not in a hurry; just like the threads of The Net, they appeared loose, but in reality, every single one was firmly grasped in his hands.

At this moment, Zhao Gao returned, his expression somewhat grave: "Young Lord, the Marshal of the Unruly says that the 'Heavenly Dao Alliance' in the Central Plains has recently been investigating the background of The Net. The Alliance Master, Zhang Sanfeng, has already sent Disciples down the mountain, seemingly having sensed our transaction with the Southern Chu Imperial Family."

Jun Xiaoyao raised an eyebrow slightly.

Zhang Sanfeng, an old monster at the Land Immortal Realm; if targeted by him, it would indeed be troublesome.

But he immediately sneered, his fingertip tracing over the residual spiritual energy of the summoning array: "Perfect. The next summoning slot should be the turn of someone capable of dealing with such an old monster."

The spiritual energy of the array's core had 10% left, not enough to summon a top-tier expert, but enough to leave behind a "lure."

Jun Xiaoyao injected a trace of his essence blood, and the runes suddenly lit up in a blood-red color, condensing into the character "Dao" in the air—this was an "invitation" for Zhang Sanfeng, and also a declaration from Beyond Heaven.

"Have The Unruly release news that The Net has accepted an order regarding the 'tai chi diagram,' and the employer is the Tantric Sect of the Western Regions," Jun Xiaoyao said indifferently. "Zhang Sanfeng is the most protective of his own; the Tantric Sect and Wudang have long had a rift, so he will certainly come to investigate in person."

A flash of realization crossed Zhao Gao's eyes: "Is the Young Lord trying to lure him into the trap?"

"Not luring him, but inviting him to be a guest," Jun Xiaoyao looked at the slowly rotating "Dao" character in the water mirror. "For Beyond Heaven to establish a foothold in the Central Plains, we must let these old antiques know who the rule-maker is."

The light of the spirit flames flickered on his face, reflecting a cold arc at the corner of his mouth.

The three missions were just an appetizer; the real chess game had only just begun to unfold in the heartland of the Central Plains.

The threads of The Net had already quietly extended, waiting only for the time to be ripe to catch all covetous parties in one fell swoop.