358: The Sword God's Arrival

Deep within the Hanyue Valley Underground Palace, three secret reports were spread out on an ice-jade desk. Jun Xiaoyao pinched the one on the far right with his fingertips; the edges of the parchment were still stained with undried blood.

Drawn on the report with cinnabar was a topographical map of the Hundred Thousand Mountains in the Southern Frontier. The 'Myriad Gu Cave,' where the Five Poisons Sect's main altar was located, was circled in scarlet. A line of small notes was written next to it: 'Blue Phoenix has taken the three cave masters into the Miao Frontier Forbidden Ground, seemingly in search of the heart-eroding gu mother. Seven days ago, they detained over a hundred young boys and girls, suspected to be for refining purposes.'

'Young boys and girls?' Jun Xiaoyao placed the report back on the desk. The ice-jade surface reflected his indifferent brows and eyes. 'The Five Poisons Sect's conduct is becoming increasingly devoid of a bottom line.'

Zhao Gao emerged from the shadows and bowed, presenting a bronze tray containing three Jade Slips. 'Young Master, these are the investigation results transmitted by The Net's 'Xuan' character group from the periphery of the Myriad Gu Cave.'

'Blue Phoenix's 'Golden Snake Gu' has been practiced to the seventh level, capable of devouring a person's heart from a distance. The three cave masters beneath her are all at the Initial Heaven Human Realm, skilled in using strange poisons like the 'Child-Mother Centipede' and 'Rotten Bone Toad.' Seven villages near the Miao Frontier have already been exterminated for resisting.'

Jun Xiaoyao picked up the Jade Slip on the far left. The moment his spiritual power was injected, lines of dense text appeared on it—this was the movement of the Five Poisons Sect over the past six months.

Three months ago, they snatched the 'Heavenly Craft Secret Record' from the Lingnan Mo Clan; at the beginning of April, they bloodbathed the Xiangxi Corpse Driving Sect; in mid-May, they traded secretly with the Western Region's 'Blood Shadow Cult'... Every single item revealed an ambition for expansion.

'What do they want the heart-eroding gu mother for?' Jun Xiaoyao tapped his fingertip lightly on the word 'Forbidden.' 'This gu mother is said to be able to control ten thousand gu, but if one wants to activate it, it requires the essence and blood of ten thousand people as a primer. Does Blue Phoenix dare to risk universal condemnation?'

Zhao Gao lowered his head and said, 'According to reports from secret agents, the Blood Shadow Cult promised to help the Five Poisons Sect unify the Southern Frontier, on the condition that they use the gu mother to control the 'Ice Plains Wolf Clan' in the Northern Territory. Both sides seem to have the intention of joining forces.'

Jun Xiaoyao raised an eyebrow. The Ice Plains Wolf Clan had one hundred thousand followers, and their Clan Chief, the 'Azure Wolf King,' was an Earthly Immortal Early-Stage expert. If controlled by the gu mother, the Northern Territory would surely fall into chaos.

And behind the Blood Shadow Cult, there had always been the shadow of Imperial Dynasty power. This game of chess was more complex than imagined.

'Is there any news from Duan Yu?'

'Young Master Duan sent back a message talisman yesterday, saying he has infiltrated the 'Snake Coil Mountain' on the outskirts of the Myriad Gu Cave and is trying to make contact with the imprisoned young boys and girls. However, the Five Poisons Sect has laid out a 'Thousand Snake Array.' Although his Subtle Steps of the Rippling Waves can avoid the snake swarm, it is difficult to get close to the core area.' As Zhao Gao spoke, he unfolded a water mirror. The mirror reflected Duan Yu's figure—he was hiding in a huge banyan tree, watching the dense venomous snakes below flicking their tongues. His brows were tightly locked, and the folding fan in his hand was gripped until it turned white.

[Character Panel: Duan Yu]

[Status: Cautious]

[Current Situation: Outside Snake Coil Mountain, three miles from the prison area]

[Martial Skill Status: Subtle Steps of the Rippling Waves (continuously operating), Six Meridians Divine Sword (gathering power)]

[Loyalty: 82%]

Jun Xiaoyao watched Duan Yu's slightly embarrassed appearance in the water mirror and said indifferently, 'His Six Meridians Divine Sword is enough to break the array, but he still lacks the experience to deal with gu poison.' He stood up and walked to the summoning array in the center of the underground palace. The spiritual power in the array's eye had accumulated to 95% due to the recent annexation of the Xuantian Sect's resources, and the runes were glowing with a fluorescent white light as they flowed.

'System, summon.'

[System Prompt: Host's request detected, randomly matching Wuxia world character... Match successful!]

[Character Information Loading...]

[Name: Yang Guo]

[From: the return of the condor heroes world]

[Realm: Earthly Immortal Early-Stage]

[Martial Skill: Aran Xiao Hun Palm (Perfection), Xuantie Sword Technique (Major Achievement), Nine Yin Manual (incomplete)]

[Specialty: Proficient in Mystical Arts of Wondrous Gates and Hidden Staves, has natural resistance to poisons (Condor blood can repel a hundred poisons), extremely rich combat experience]

[Loyalty: 75%]

[Summoning Cost: 90% Spiritual Power]

As the prompt sound faded, the summoning array suddenly erupted with blinding golden light. The runes rose like flames, and faintly, the cry of a divine condor echoed in the array. When the light dissipated, a figure dressed in a black robe stood quietly. His left arm was empty, and his right hand held a pitch-black heavy sword; it was Yang Guo. His eyes were as sharp as an eagle's as he scanned the surroundings of the underground palace, finally landing on Jun Xiaoyao, and he nodded slightly: 'Is Your Excellency the one who summoned Yang?'

Jun Xiaoyao pointed his finger, and the topographical map of the Myriad Gu Cave appeared in the water mirror: 'Brother Yang, the Southern Frontier's Five Poisons Sect is refining the gu mother with young boys and girls. The Northern Territory is in danger of great chaos. I need you to lend Duan Yu a hand.'

Yang Guo's gaze fell on the children imprisoned in the water mirror, and a fierce look flashed in his single eye: 'Such evil arts deserve to be punished by everyone.' He weighed the black iron heavy sword in his hand, 'When do we depart?'

'Immediately.' Jun Xiaoyao handed him a message talisman, 'This talisman can contact Duan Yu. The Thousand Snake Array of Snake Coil Mountain needs to be broken with Brother Yang's mysterious iron sword.'

Yang Guo took the talisman paper and turned to step into the teleportation array. Before his figure disappeared, he gently tapped the mysterious iron sword on the ground, actually carving a shallow mark into the hard ice-jade floor.

Snake Coil Mountain, outside the Thousand Snake Array.

Duan Yu was worrying about how to break through the snake swarm when he suddenly heard a muffled thud of a heavy object landing behind him. He turned back to see a one-armed man standing under a tree carrying a giant sword. The cold air on the mysterious iron sword caused the surrounding snake swarm to retreat one after another.

'Who are you?'

'Yang Guo.' Yang Guo was concise and to the point, raising the message talisman in his hand, 'Young Master Jun sent me to assist you.' He looked at the surging snake swarm below, his brows slightly wrinkled, 'Leave these little things to me.'

Before the words fell, Yang Guo swung the mysterious iron sword violently. As the sword wind whistled, a majestic force swept out. Strangely, the sword wind did not hurt the snake swarm but carried a kind of pressure that caused the venomous creatures to fear instinctively—it was the aura of the divine condor's essence and blood, which he had been infected with after staying with the divine condor for many years. The snake swarm was struck as if by lightning, curling up into a ball one after another, actually giving way to a path.

Duan Yu was dumbfounded: 'Brother Yang has good methods!'

Yang Guo smiled faintly: 'Go save the people quickly, I will cover the rear.'

The two split up. Duan Yu used Subtle Steps of the Rippling Waves and rushed straight to the prison area along the path, while Yang Guo guarded the entrance, dancing the mysterious iron sword so tightly that not a drop of water could leak through. No matter how the snake swarm hissed, they could not get half a step closer.

Prison area, inside a stone prison covered with poisonous vines.

Over a hundred children were locked in a dozen iron cages, all sallow and thin, their eyes full of fear. In the center of the stone prison, a woman in colorful clothes was holding a bronze tripod, from which green mist was rising; it was the Five Poisons Sect leader, Blue Phoenix. Standing beside her were the three cave masters, who were pouring a viscous purple liquid into the tripod. As the liquid dripped onto the ground, it actually corroded with a sizzling sound.

'Sect Leader, in another three hours, the heart-eroding gu mother will be initially formed. By then, we only need to throw these young boys and girls into the tripod, and the gu mother will recognize its master.' The cave master on the left flattered.

Blue Phoenix stroked the patterns on the edge of the tripod, a cold smile curling at the corner of her mouth: 'Once the Azure Wolf King is controlled, the ice and snow of the Northern Territory will be used by my Five Poisons Sect. By then, not to mention the Southern Frontier, the entire Jianghu will have to obey my orders!'

Just at this moment, a scream suddenly came from outside the stone prison, followed by the crisp sound of metal breaking. Blue Phoenix's expression changed suddenly: 'What is going on?'

Before the words fell, a brilliant Sword Qi broke through the wall and went straight for the bronze tripod! It was the 'Shaoze Sword' from Duan Yu's Six Meridians Divine Sword!

'Presumptuous!' Blue Phoenix's figure flickered, and she swung her snake staff. The golden snake opened its mouth to bite the Sword Qi, but it was cut into two by the Sword Qi. She was shocked and angry as she looked at the hole in the wall, only to see Duan Yu holding a child, followed by a dozen rescued children.

'It's you little thief again!' Blue Phoenix recognized Duan Yu. Last time on the outskirts of Snake Coil Mountain, it was he who ruined her good deed. She formed seals with both hands, and the poison sac at her waist suddenly burst, with countless tiny gu insects rushing toward Duan Yu like a black cloud.

Duan Yu hurriedly used Subtle Steps of the Rippling Waves to dodge, while counterattacking with the 'Zhongchong Sword.' Although the Sword Qi could kill some of the gu insects, it could not stop the endless swarm of insects. Just as he was about to be surrounded by the gu insects, a black shadow suddenly jumped in from the hole, and the mysterious iron sword swept out. The sword wind was like a wall, shaking all the gu insects into powder.

'Yang Guo?!' Blue Phoenix looked at the person who arrived, and her face turned pale instantly. She had seen records in an ancient book that this one-armed sword god's mysterious iron sword contained the energy of supreme yang, which was the nemesis of all gu.

Yang Guo didn't bother to talk nonsense with her and pointed the mysterious iron sword directly at the bronze tripod: 'How can I, Yang, allow you to do such harmful things?'

'You're courting death!' Blue Phoenix knew that things could not end well today, so she shouted sharply at the three cave masters, 'Stop him!'

The three cave masters attacked at the same time. One released the Child-Mother Centipede, one drove the Rotten Bone Toad, and one blew out poison needles. The three-pronged attack came to suppress him. Yang Guo was unhurried, drawing an arc in front of him with the mysterious iron sword. He executed the 'Heavy Sword No Sharp Edge' from the 'Xuantie Sword Technique' to the extreme. The centipedes were shattered by the sword wind, the toads turned into pus upon hitting the ground, and the poison needles were twisted into powder by the Sword Qi.

'Aran Xiao Hun Palm!' Yang Guo pushed his left palm into the void, and a tragic yet majestic palm force appeared out of thin air, hitting the chest of the cave master who was charging in the front. The cave master screamed and flew backward, hitting the stone wall of the prison and vomiting black blood before dying—his heart meridian had been shattered by the palm force.

The other two cave masters were scared out of their wits and turned to run, but were blocked by Duan Yu's 'Six Meridians Divine Sword.' The Sword Qi pierced through their shoulders and pinned them to the wall, unable to move.

Seeing this, a flash of ruthlessness crossed Blue Phoenix's eyes. She suddenly bit her tongue and sprayed a mouthful of essence blood into the bronze tripod. The green mist in the tripod suddenly surged, and a pitch-black, scorpion-like gu insect crawled out from the mist; it was the heart-eroding gu mother!

'Since you are courting death, let the gu mother taste the Sword God's flavor!' Blue Phoenix pointed her fingertip at Yang Guo. The gu mother let out a shrill hiss and turned into a black shadow, pouncing over.

Yang Guo's eyes narrowed, and the mysterious iron sword erupted with unprecedented light: 'Brother Condor's blood is just the thing to restrain your evil object!' He slashed down with his sword, and a faint golden light appeared on the sword body. It was the supreme yang power combined from the divine condor's essence blood and his Internal Energy.

'Sizzle—' The gu mother was hit by the sword light and let out a shrill scream, instantly turning into ashes. The bronze tripod was also split in two by the Sword Qi, and the green mist dissipated, revealing the Blood Shadow Cult totem carved at the bottom of the tripod.

Seeing the gu mother destroyed, Blue Phoenix's heart was shaken violently, and she spat out a mouthful of blood. Knowing that the situation was gone, she turned to escape through the secret passage, but was blocked by Yang Guo's mysterious iron sword.

'Stay.' Yang Guo's voice had no temperature. The heavy sword fell, cutting off Blue Phoenix's snake staff. Duan Yu took the opportunity to seal her acupuncture points, leaving her unable to move.

Outside the stone prison, Yang Guo looked at the rescued children, and a rare trace of softness appeared in his single eye. Duan Yu stepped forward and cupped his hands: 'Many thanks to Brother Yang for your help. If you hadn't arrived in time, I'm afraid...'

Yang Guo waved his hand: 'It was just a small effort. These children need to be sent away from the Southern Frontier as soon as possible. I'm afraid the remnants of the Five Poisons Sect and the people of the Blood Shadow Cult will come soon.'

Hanyue Valley Underground Palace.

Jun Xiaoyao watched the scene in the water mirror where Blue Phoenix was captured and the children were saved, his fingertips tapping lightly on the ice desk. Zhao Gao stepped forward at the right time: 'Young Master, the Blood Shadow Cult's secret line in the Southern Frontier has been uprooted by The Net. Blue Phoenix confessed that the Blood Shadow Cult leader, 'Blood Fiend,' is colluding with the Imperial Dynasty's Third Prince, intending to use the chaos of the gu mother to shake the Northern Territory's border defense.'

Jun Xiaoyao picked up another Jade Slip. On it was the news sent by legend of lu xiaofeng—he had already found out that Blood Fiend's hiding place was at 'Soul Severing Cliff.'

'It seems it's time to ask another friend to make a move.' Jun Xiaoyao walked to the summoning array. Although the spiritual power in the array's eye had been consumed by summoning Yang Guo, there was still 40% left, enough to summon a suitable candidate.

[System Prompt: Host's request detected, randomly matching... Match successful!]

[Character: West Gate Blows Snow]

[From: legend of lu xiaofeng world]

[Realm: Earthly Immortal Middle Stage]

[Martial Skill: Flying Immortal from Beyond the Heavens (Perfection), Blowing Snow Sword Technique (Perfection)]

[Specialty: Wherever the sword is drawn, blood must be seen; skilled in beheading martial arts experts]

[Summoning Cost: 35% Spiritual Power]

The fluorescent white light lit up again, and West Gate Blows Snow's figure, with white clothes better than snow, appeared in the array. The 'Blowing Snow' sword in his hand glowed with a biting cold light.

'Soul Severing Cliff, Blood Fiend.' Jun Xiaoyao handed the Jade Slip to him, 'Bring me his head.'

West Gate Blows Snow took the Jade Slip without even looking at it, turned, and stepped into the teleportation array. Leaving only a cold sentence: 'Within three days, I will bring it back.'

In the water mirror, West Gate Blows Snow's figure disappeared into the light of the teleportation array.

Jun Xiaoyao looked at the spiritual power slowly recovering in the array's eye, a faint, imperceptible arc curling at the corner of his mouth. Blood Shadow Cult, Imperial Dynasty Third Prince... Since they dared to touch the Northern Territory resources that he, Beyond Heaven, valued, they would have to pay the price.

Outside the underground palace, the wind and snow in Hanyue Valley gradually stopped. Sunlight penetrated through the ice-carved window lattice, casting mottled light and shadows on the ground. The chess game belonging to Beyond Heaven had only just begun.