353: Wolf Clan Knocks on the Gate

On the ice table in the Hanyue Valley Underground Palace, a map of the Northern Territory was spread out. The 'Wild Wolf Valley' outlined with a wolf-hair brush was repeatedly circled in cinnabar, with a small note beside it: "Wolf Tribe Royal Court, 100,000 cavalry, leader 'Azure Wolf King', Early Earthly Immortal Realm."

Jun Xiaoyao's fingertip hovered above the map, his gaze fixed on the 'Duan Yun Pass' between the Hanyue Valley iron mine and Wild Wolf Valley. That was the only formidable pass in the Northern Territory, its walls forged from profound iron mixed with bluestone, towering a thousand ren, and had always been a barrier against foreign tribes.

Now, an urgent report arrived from the Duan Yun Pass general—the Azure Wolf King had led three thousand vanguards to the pass, challenging them daily and vowing to break through the pass and seize the iron mine within three days.

"Young Lord, Lin Wu, the general guarding Duan Yun Pass, is only a Mid-Stage Grandmaster Realm, and his five thousand garrison soldiers are mostly Innate Realm. I'm afraid they won't last three days."

Zhao Gao's voice came from the shadows, the corner of the secret letter in his hand wrinkled from being soaked in snow water. "The Azure Wolf King's 'Mountain Splitting Claw' has reached Transcendent, said to be able to tear through a Heavenly Human Realm's protective Protective Aura. General Lin's 'Iron Wall Skill' might not be able to withstand it."

Jun Xiaoyao looked up, and the water mirror immediately reflected the Azure Wolf King's figure. The man was clad in animal skins, with fangs exposed, and a pair of wolf eyes gleamed green in the snow.

He stood below the pass, roaring in wolf language. Each roar carried a sonic attack, causing the defending soldiers on the pass wall to bleed from their ears and noses.

"Where is Yue Fei?" Jun Xiaoyao asked.

"General Yue has led five hundred assassins from The Net's 'Earth' group to the rear camp of Duan Yun Pass and is currently setting up the 'Yue Family Spear Formation'." Zhao Gao brought up a real-time image. On the open ground of Duan Yun Pass's rear camp, Yue Fei, clad in bright silver armor and holding the Li Quan Spear, was directing the assassins to change Formations. Five hundred long spears stood like a forest, their tips pointing diagonally at the sky, with faint Dragon Qi swirling—that was the 'Hidden Dragon Stance' of the Yue Family Spear Formation.

[Character Panel: Yue Fei]

[Origin: the complete story of yue fei World]

[Realm: Middle Celestial Realm]

[Martial Skill: Li Quan Spear (Perfection), Yue Family Spear Formation (Transcendent), Loyalty to the Nation (Passive: 50% combat power bonus against foreign tribes)]

[Current Status: Battle Ready]

[Loyalty: 95%]

Jun Xiaoyao looked at Yue Fei's steady figure in the image and nodded slightly. The Yue Family Spear Formation was best at defense; it had once used this Formation to severely defeat Wanyan Zongwang's ten thousand strong army at Zhuxian Town. Now, it was perfectly suited for defending Duan Yun Pass.

At this moment, a world-shaking roar suddenly came from the water mirror. The Azure Wolf King personally attacked, pressing his claws on the pass wall. The profound iron wall was actually scratched with five deep claw marks, shattered stones flew, and the defending soldiers screamed repeatedly.

"Jun Xiaoyao!" The Azure Wolf King's roar, carrying a savage Aura, came through the water mirror. "Quickly hand over the iron mine, and this King can spare your Beyond Heaven! Otherwise, on the day the pass is broken, not even a chicken or dog will be left!"

Jun Xiaoyao tapped his fingertip lightly on the ice table and said to Zhao Gao, "Have Yue Fei activate the first array core."

In the rear camp of Duan Yun Pass, Yue Fei received the message, slammed his Li Quan Spear into the ground, the spear shaft sinking three feet into the snow: "Sons of Yue family, form the 'Coiling Dragon Stance'!"

Five hundred assassins responded in unison. As their long spears rotated, spear shadows intertwined to form a giant Dragon phantom, coiling and rushing towards the pass wall. The Azure Wolf King, just about to strike again, saw the giant Dragon phantom lunging, a hint of apprehension flashed in his eyes, and he abruptly leaped back several zhang, avoiding the spear Formation's edge.

"A bit interesting." The Azure Wolf King licked the shattered stones on his claw tip, a bloodthirsty glint flashing in his wolf eyes. "It seems Beyond Heaven intends to go head-to-head with this King." He waved his hand, and the wolf tribe warriors behind him suddenly raised dozens of trebuchets, their stone projectiles wrapped in burning oil.

"Fire!" With the Azure Wolf King's command, the burning stone projectiles rained down like meteors onto the pass wall. The arrow towers on the wall were instantly ignited, and flames shot into the sky.

Seeing this, Yue Fei pointed his spear tip to the sky: "Change to 'Soaring Dragon Stance'!"

Five hundred long spears suddenly pointed downwards, their tips emitting vigorous Qi that intertwined into a giant net, blocking most of the burning stone projectiles outside the pass wall. A few stray projectiles hit the wall but were blocked by the defending soldiers' shields, causing no major damage.

Before the water mirror, Jun Xiaoyao observed the power of the Yue Family Spear Formation and said to Zhao Gao, "The wolf tribe's trebuchets are just a test. Their real killing move should be the Azure Wolf King's personal guards, the 'Wolf Fang Guards'."

No sooner had he spoken than a troop of black-clad riders suddenly charged out from the wolf tribe's Formation. The riders wore wolf helmets, wielded wolf-tooth clubs, and rode mutated 'Snow Wolf Beasts'. Their speed was like lightning, and in a flash, they reached the base of the pass wall. The leading rider was burly, with human heads hanging from his wolf-tooth club. He was none other than the Azure Wolf King's younger brother, the 'Black Wolf King', an Initial Heaven Human Realm expert.

"Break the Formation!" The Black Wolf King roared, his wolf-tooth club smashing into the battlements of the pass wall with a sound of tearing wind. The profound iron battlements were actually smashed, creating a gap.

Yue Fei's eyes narrowed, and his Li Quan Spear pointed at the Black Wolf King: "First team, advance!"

A spear Formation composed of a hundred assassins charged out like a sharp arrow. Their long spears clashed, emitting a Dragon's roar, and the vigorous Qi condensed at their spear tips formed a fire Dragon, rushing directly at the Black Wolf King. The Black Wolf King had not expected the spear Formation to be so fierce. In his haste, he raised his wolf-tooth club to block, but the fire Dragon numbed his tiger's mouth, forcing him and his beast to retreat several zhang.

"Quite capable." A ruthless glint flashed in the Black Wolf King's eyes. He pulled out a black bone whistle from his bosom and blew it. The whistle sound was sharp and piercing. Suddenly, dozens of giant pythons, their bodies covered in black scales, burrowed out of the snow beneath the pass wall. These were the 'Iron-Devouring Pythons' bred by the wolf tribe, specialized in gnawing through profound iron.

"Minor tricks." Yue Fei snorted coldly, tapping his spear tip on the ground. The spear Formation suddenly changed, forming a rotating vortex that sucked the Iron-Devouring Pythons into it. Amidst flashing spear shadows, the giant pythons were cut into several segments, and black blood splattered on the snow, emitting sizzling corrosive sounds.

Seeing this, the Black Wolf King roared in rage and personally led the Wolf Fang Guards in a charge. Yue Fei remained calm, directing the spear Formation to advance in layers, sometimes as indestructible as an iron wall, other times as sharp as a blade, striking at vital points. Although the Wolf Fang Guards were fierce, they were unable to break through the spear Formation's blockade, and instead, over a hundred of them were slain, leaving corpses strewn across the snowy ground.

The Azure Wolf King watched this scene from the rear of the Formation, a solemn glint flashing in his wolf eyes. He hadn't expected Beyond Heaven to possess such a powerful Formation. It seemed he had to get serious. He slowly raised his right claw, and a black Protective Aura condensed at its tip—the full power strike of the Mountain Splitting Claw.

"Yue Fei, take this!" The Azure Wolf King's roar echoed through heaven and earth. His figure shot towards the pass wall like an arrow released from a bowstring, his right claw carrying the momentum to tear space, aiming directly for Yue Fei's glabella.

Before the water mirror, Jun Xiaoyao's eyes flickered. Although the Azure Wolf King was an Early Earthly Immortal Realm, with the wolf tribe's innate Divine Ability, his combat power was comparable to a Middle Stage. Yue Fei, despite being a Middle Celestial Realm, might find it difficult to withstand this blow. He looked at the summoning array in the center of the underground palace. The spiritual energy of the array core, nourished by the iron mine's spiritual energy, had risen to 85%. Amidst the swirling runes, a Saber shadow actually appeared.

[System Prompt: Detected a full-power strike from a Land Immortal Realm, triggering a rescue-type summon.]

[Summonable Character: Fu Hongxue]

[Origin: Bright Moon Blade of the Horizon World]

[Realm: Late Heaven-Man Realm]

[Martial Skill: Extinction Cross Saber (Perfection), Horizon Saber Intent (Major Achievement)]

[Specialty: Fast saber breaks myriad laws, excels at counter-killing in desperate situations, natural suppression of foreign tribes]

[Summon Cost: 80% spiritual energy]

Jun Xiaoyao's fingertip descended, and the summoning array suddenly erupted with crimson light. Runes intertwined like Saber light, and a black-clad, lame figure condensed within the light. Fu Hongxue held his black saber, its scabbard dragging across the icy ground with a grating sound. His gaze was as cold as ice, and as soon as he stood firm, he looked at the Azure Wolf King in the water mirror, his grip on the saber tightening slightly.

"Go to Duan Yun Pass and help Yue Fei." Jun Xiaoyao ordered.

Fu Hongxue said nothing, merely turned and stepped into the teleportation array. Above Duan Yun Pass, the Azure Wolf King's Mountain Splitting Claw was less than three feet from Yue Fei. Yue Fei raised his spear to block, and the moment spear and claw met, a huge force surged through, sending Yue Fei back three steps, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

Just as the Azure Wolf King was about to press his advantage, a black Saber light, like lightning, struck. The Saber Qi was fierce, forcing him to retract his Mountain Splitting Claw and hastily leap back to dodge.

"Who?!" The Azure Wolf King looked at Fu Hongxue, who had suddenly appeared on the pass wall, his eyes filled with apprehension. The Aura emanating from that black saber was too chilling, instinctively filling him with fear.

Fu Hongxue did not answer, merely slowly drew his saber. The moment the black saber left its sheath, Saber Qi shot into the sky, actually splitting the clouds above in half. His saber was fast, so fast that its trajectory was invisible. One only saw a black shadow flash by, and a gash suddenly appeared on the Azure Wolf King's chest fur, blood gushing out.

"You seek death!" The Azure Wolf King was both shocked and enraged. His claws struck out simultaneously, claw shadows filling the sky, surrounding Fu Hongxue.

However, Fu Hongxue did not retreat but advanced. The Extinction Cross Saber unfolded, and Saber light enveloped the Azure Wolf King like a net.

Every saber strike contained Horizon Saber Intent. Seemingly chaotic, each move precisely targeted the wolf tribe's vital points—though their Physical Body was formidable, their armpits, throats, and other areas were more vulnerable than humans'. Fu Hongxue's saber precisely attacked these spots.

The two fiercely battled on the pass wall, the shockwaves generated by their colliding energies shaking the snow off the wall, sending it flying everywhere. Yue Fei took the opportunity to reorganize the spear Formation. The five hundred long spears once again formed the Coiling Dragon Stance, firmly blocking the Wolf Fang Guards below the pass.

Before the water mirror, Jun Xiaoyao watched Fu Hongxue suppress the Azure Wolf King and said to Zhao Gao, "Have the 'Heaven' group cut off the wolf tribe's retreat and burn their provisions."

Zhao Gao bowed in response: "Yes. The leader of the 'Heaven' group has already infiltrated Wild Wolf Valley with twenty men and is expected to succeed by dawn tomorrow."

At this point, the battle at Duan Yun Pass was nearing its end. Fu Hongxue's black saber slashed across the Azure Wolf King's left shoulder. The Azure Wolf King cried out in pain, knowing that the tide had turned, and roared an order to retreat: "Retreat! Fall back to Wild Wolf Valley!"

The wolf tribe cavalry retreated like a tide, and thunderous cheers erupted on the pass wall. Yue Fei walked to Fu Hongxue's side, looked at his lame figure, and cupped his fists, saying, "Many thanks, Brother Fu, for your assistance."

Fu Hongxue sheathed his saber and said indifferently, "Young Lord's command." With that, he turned and walked towards the rear camp, the sound of his black saber dragging on the ground forming a peculiar harmony with the cheers on the pass wall.

Before the water mirror, Jun Xiaoyao watched the retreating wolf tribe and said to Zhao Gao, "The Azure Wolf King will not give up easily. Have Yue Fei reinforce the spear Formation, and send Ye Gucheng to guard Duan Yun Pass."

Zhao Gao took his leave, and the underground palace returned to silence. Jun Xiaoyao looked at the spiritual energy slowly recovering in the summoning array, his eyes deep. The wolf tribe was just the beginning. As Beyond Heaven's iron mine became increasingly important, more and more covetous eyes would appear.

But he was not worried. With Yue Fei's spear Formation guarding the pass, Fu Hongxue's swift saber defeating enemies, and Ye Gucheng's Flying Immortal from Beyond the Heavens, the stability of the Northern Territory could at least be maintained.

Outside Hanyue Valley, snow began to fall again, landing on the pass walls of Duan Yun Pass, covering the bloodstains, but unable to conceal the deterrence of Beyond Heaven.

Jun Xiaoyao looked at the falling snowflakes outside the window, his fingertip writing the words "Western Regions" on the ice table—the Xuantian Sect there seemed to have new movements.

The spiritual energy of the summoning array had recovered to 85%, and the flickering runes seemed to be anticipating the next summon.

Jun Xiaoyao knew that the journey belonging to Beyond Heaven was far from over. Every resistance against foreign enemies, every struggle for resources, was accumulating strength for the rise of Beyond Heaven.

And what he had to do was to sit deep within this underground palace, strategizing, and making the name of Beyond Heaven resound in every corner of this continent.