359: Broken Soul Cliff

On the ice table in the Hanyue Valley Underground Palace, a map of the Northern Territory lay spread out. The location of Soul Severing Cliff was outlined in vermilion, showing a menacing contour. Below the cliff was marked: “Blood Shadow Cult Headquarters, riddled with mechanisms.

Blood Fiend is permanently stationed.” Jun Xiaoyao's fingertip hovered above the three characters “Blood Fiend,” his gaze as deep as a cold pool.

“Zhao Gao, how long ago did West Gate Blows Snow depart?” His voice drifted through the icy mist, carrying a hint of casualness, as if inquiring about a trivial matter.

From the shadows, Zhao Gao stepped out, bowing. The marker on the copper clepsydra in his hand stopped at “one and a half days.” “Reporting, Young Lord, Mr. Ximen has entered the vicinity of Soul Severing Cliff. The Net's ‘Heaven’ Group sent back a message that the ‘Bone-Corroding Miasma’ beneath the cliff is thicker than anticipated; even spirit doves cannot penetrate it.”

Jun Xiaoyao looked up, and the water mirror immediately reflected the scene of Soul Severing Cliff. The cliff face was like it had been sliced by a knife and split by an axe, plunging straight into the clouds. Dark green miasma permeated the space between the cliffs. When the miasma touched the rocks, it emitted a sizzling, corrosive sound.

Clusters of black buildings were vaguely visible at the bottom of the cliff—this was the Blood Shadow Cult Headquarters. The Cultists patrolling outside the altar were all dressed in black robes, their faces covered by skull masks, moving silently like phantoms.

“Blood Fiend's 'Blood Shadow Divine Art' has been cultivated to the ninth level. He can merge into the miasma and kill people invisibly. Inside the altar, there are also twelve 'Blood Guards,' all in the Late Heavenly Human Realm. They are skilled at using the 'Blood Shadow Dart,' which is poisoned with the 'Seven-Day Soul Dissipation Powder.' Those hit will suffer total bodily decay and die,” Zhao Gao added. The edges of the scroll in his hand were blackened from being soaked with a miasma sample.

Jun Xiaoyao tapped lightly on the ice table with his fingertip. A white shadow suddenly flashed in the water mirror. West Gate Blows Snow, dressed in white robes whiter than snow, appeared atop the cliff. A faint cold Qi enveloped his body, freezing the approaching miasma into ice beads. The “Chuixue” sword in his hand pointed diagonally down the cliff. The Sword Qi condensed at the tip of the sword actually tore a path through the miasma.

[Character Panel: West Gate Blows Snow]

[From: The legend of lu xiaofeng World]

[Realm: Middle Stage Land Immortal]

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

[Current Status: Miasma Breaking]

[Special Status: Clear Sword Heart (Perception of evil Aura increased by 30%)]

[Loyalty: 88%]

“That saves quite a bit of trouble.” Jun Xiaoyao watched West Gate Blows Snow's calm figure breaking through the miasma in the screen and instructed Zhao Gao, “Have the ‘Heaven’ Group provide support on the periphery. They don't need to intervene. Ximen Chuixue's Sword requires sufficient space.”

“Understood.”

At the bottom of Soul Severing Cliff, the Blood Shadow Cult Headquarters.

Blood Fiend was sitting on a White Bone Throne, toying with a blood-colored token in his hand. The token was engraved with the four characters “Third Prince's token.” Below the altar, the twelve Blood Guards knelt on one knee, their bodies under the black robes emitting a strong smell of blood.

“West Gate Blows Snow has entered the miasma zone. Are you sure the arrangements are complete?” Blood Fiend's voice was hoarse like a broken gong, and the eyes beneath his mask flickered with sinister light.

The Blood Guard on the left stepped forward: “Rest assured, Cult Master, the Nine-Bend Bewitching Soul Array has been activated. The Array Core is in the center of the Blood Pool. As long as he steps through the Altar Gate, he will be entangled by countless Blood Shadows, exhausting his Internal Energy until death.”

Blood Fiend sneered, “West Gate Blows Snow's sword is fast, but even the fastest sword cannot sever endless Blood Shadows. Once we kill him, we will take his sword and present it to the Third Prince. The military authority of the Northern Territory will then be ours, the Blood Shadow Cult's!”

Before he finished speaking, a shrill scream suddenly came from outside the altar. The black robe of a patrolling Cultist billowed without wind, and then he instantly turned into a sky full of blood mist. From the blood mist, a snow-white longsword broke through. The cold Qi emanating from the sword condensed the surrounding miasma into frost.

“He's here.” Blood Fiend suddenly stood up, and the White Bone Throne instantly turned to dust. “Activate the Grand Array!”

Following his command, the Blood Pools surrounding the Headquarters suddenly boiled. Dark red blood flowed along the channels, forming a Blood-Colored Light Screen at the Altar Gate. West Gate Blows Snow approached, treading on his sword. When the tip of his sword touched the light screen, the screen was actually sliced open by the Sword Qi, creating a crack.

“West Gate Blows Snow, your sword is indeed sharp.” Blood Fiend's voice came from the blood mist. Countless Blood Shadows suddenly surged out from inside the altar. Sharp claws extended from the shadows, rushing toward West Gate Blows Snow with a fishy wind.

West Gate Blows Snow remained expressionless. The Chuixue Sword traced a Sword Flower, and Sword Qi swept out like a blizzard. Wherever it passed, the Blood Shadows completely dissipated, and the crack on the light screen grew larger and larger.

“Twelve Blood Guards, form the array!” Blood Fiend roared. Twelve black shadows rushed out like phantoms. The Blood Shadow Darts in their hands made whistling sounds as they formed a poisonous net, covering the Major Acupuncture Points around West Gate Blows Snow.

West Gate Blows Snow's figure flickered, and he was already three zhang away, yet his sword momentum did not diminish at all. “Flying Immortal from Beyond the Heavens” was executed to its extreme, and the sword light poured out like the Milky Way, colliding with the twelve black shadows. The Blood Shadow Darts were sent flying by the Sword Qi. The Blood Guards' black robes fluttered, revealing the festering skin underneath—they actually maintained their cultivation by consuming human blood.

“Evil heretics.” West Gate Blows Snow frowned slightly. The cold Qi on his sword intensified. Every sword stroke contained the Power of Purification. When the Blood Guards were swept by the Sword Qi, their festering wounds immediately froze into ice. They screamed and turned into ice sculptures.

Seeing this, a trace of horror flashed in Blood Fiend's eyes. He fiercely bit the tip of his tongue, spraying a mouthful of Essence Blood toward the Blood Pool: “Blood Shadow Devours Heaven!”

The blood in the Blood Pool surged suddenly, condensing into a Blood Shadow Demon God, ten zhang tall. The Demon God held a Blood-Colored Giant Axe, whose blade carried an Aura of world destruction as it chopped toward West Gate Blows Snow.

West Gate Blows Snow looked up at the sky, raising the Chuixue Sword over his head. The light on the sword grew brighter and brighter, as if intending to illuminate the entire bottom of Soul Severing Cliff. “My sword cuts down Demon Gods.”

“Flying Immortal from Beyond the Heavens—”

The sword light shot into the sky. The moment it collided with the Blood-Colored Giant Axe, heaven and earth seemed to fall silent. Immediately afterward, an earth-shattering boom sounded. The Blood Shadow Demon God was split in half by the sword light. The blood splattered onto the ground, emitting a sizzling, corrosive sound. Blood Fiend was sent flying by the force, crashing into the White Bone Altar. His mask shattered, revealing a face covered in Blood Patterns.

“Impossible... How could your sword...” Blood Fiend looked at West Gate Blows Snow in disbelief. His Blood Shadow Divine Art was actually purified by the Sword Qi, leaving not a trace.

West Gate Blows Snow did not reply. He simply walked toward him step by step, the tip of his sword dragging on the ground, carving a deep groove. The blood on both sides of the groove was frozen solid.

“The Third Prince won't let you go... Beyond Heaven can't protect you either...” Blood Fiend roared frantically, pulling out a Black Communication Talisman from his robes, about to crush it to send a message.

West Gate Blows Snow's sword was faster.

Sword light flashed. The talisman and Blood Fiend's head fell to the ground simultaneously. Black blood spurted out, but it condensed into ice upon contact with the lingering Sword Light. The twelve Blood Guards had long been completely slain. Only West Gate Blows Snow's snow-white figure remained in the entire Headquarters, forming a stark contrast with the ground covered in frozen blood.

In front of the water mirror, Jun Xiaoyao watched the scene and told Zhao Gao, “Take Blood Fiend's Head and hang it on the city gates of the Three Northern Territory Prefectures. Then send that ‘Third Prince's token’ to the Censorate, letting them ‘accidentally’ discover it.”

“Understood.” Zhao Gao paused, then added, “The Third Prince has enormous influence in the Capital, controlling the Capital Garrison. His ‘Black Armor Army’ are all above the Grandmaster Realm. The Censorate might be afraid...”

“Then make it so they ‘have no choice but’ to discover it.” Jun Xiaoyao interrupted him, writing the characters “Lord Bao” on the ice table with his fingertip. “Have The Net's ‘Shadow’ Group make a trip to Kaifeng Prefecture and ‘deliver’ the evidence of the Blood Shadow Cult's collusion with the Third Prince to Lord Bao's desk.”

A flash of realization crossed Zhao Gao's eyes: “Young Lord is wise. Lord Bao is impartial and incorruptible. As long as the evidence is solid, even a Prince cannot escape justice.”

Jun Xiaoyao did not respond. His gaze turned toward the summoning array in the center of the underground palace. The Spiritual Power of the Array Core had risen to 90% due to the resource recovery from the Blood Shadow Cult Headquarters. As the Runes circulated, a Blade Shadow spontaneously appeared.

[System Notification: Internal Royal Conflict detected, triggering Balance-Type Summon.]

[Summonable Character: Zhan Zhao]

[From: three heroes and five gallants World]

[Realm: Peak Heavenly Human Realm]

[Martial Skill: Zhanlu Sword Technique (Perfection), Sleeve Arrow (Major Achievement), Lightness Skill (Treading Snow Without a Trace, Perfection)]

[Specialty: Skilled at Maneuvering in Official Yamen, Righteous Swordplay capable of restraining Yin Evil Martial Skills, highly knowledgeable about Royal Secrets]

[Summon Cost: Spiritual Power 80%]

Jun Xiaoyao's fingertip descended. The summoning array suddenly burst forth with golden light, and Runes rolled like flowing clouds. A figure dressed in Official Robes condensed within the light. Zhan Zhao held the zhanlu sword, a Kaifeng Prefecture token hanging from his waist. His face was handsome, his eyes righteous. He cupped his hands and bowed to Jun Xiaoyao: “I, Zhan, greet the Young Lord.”

[Character Panel: Zhan Zhao]

[Status: Standby]

[Special Authority: Can mobilize some Kaifeng Prefecture Yamen Runners]

[Loyalty: 85%]

[Current Thought: Royal conflict is the most perilous; one must proceed cautiously]

“Guard Zhan,” Jun Xiaoyao pointed his finger toward the Third Prince's Residence in the water mirror. “The Third Prince harbors the Blood Shadow Cult, intending to seize the Northern Territory Military Authority and endanger Beyond Heaven's iron mine interests. Go to Kaifeng Prefecture and assist Lord Bao in thoroughly investigating this matter. Remember, the evidence must be presented ‘openly and honestly’ in the Imperial Court.”

A sharp look flashed in Zhan Zhao's eyes: “A Prince colluding with an evil cult is treasonous. I, Zhan, will certainly handle this properly.” He turned and stepped into the Teleportation Array. When his figure appeared in front of the Kaifeng Prefecture Yamen, he already held a Transaction Ledger detailing the transactions between the Blood Shadow Cult and the Third Prince—it was what The Net's 'Heaven' Group had searched out from the bottom of Soul Severing Cliff.

In the water mirror, Lord Bao's face was ashen as he looked at the records in the ledger. He slammed the Gavel in his hand: “How outrageous! Pass on my order: seal the Third Prince's residence, and wait for me to present this to His Majesty!”

Jun Xiaoyao watched this scene and told Zhao Gao, “After the Third Prince falls, the Northern Territory Military Authority will fall into the hands of the Second Prince. Have The Net's ‘Earth’ Group contact the Second Prince's Advisors. They don't need to reveal their identity, just let him know that Beyond Heaven desires stability in the Northern Territory.”

“Understood.” Zhao Gao handed over another Secret Report. “Additionally, news has arrived from Southern Xinjiang: Yang Guo and Duan Yu have cleared out the Remnants of the Five Poisons Sect and are escorting the rescued Boys and Girls back to the Central Plains. However, they have been intercepted along the way by unknown forces. The attackers are vicious and seem unwilling to let the children return alive.”

Jun Xiaoyao looked up, and the water mirror immediately showed the figures of the interceptors. These people were dressed in black, their Martial Arts Methods were strange, and their Moves were all lethal. They were somewhat similar to the Blood Shadow Cult's Moves, but appeared even more sinister.

“It seems the Third Prince still has Backup Plans.” Jun Xiaoyao heavily tapped the ice table with his fingertip, and the Runes of the summoning array lit up again. “Transfer Qiao Feng to Southern Xinjiang. Let him see just how hard the bones of these Jumping Clowns are.”

“Understood.”

Silence returned to the underground palace. Only Qiao Feng's figure was seen speeding toward Southern Xinjiang in the water mirror. The Palm Wind of the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms tore through the air, sending all the interceptors flying. Jun Xiaoyao watched the Spiritual Power slowly recovering in the summoning array, his gaze deep.

The Third Prince's downfall was only the beginning. The royal conflict was bound to affect the Jianghu. What Beyond Heaven needed to do was establish a firm footing in this conflict and firmly hold resources vital to its interests, such as the Northern Territory iron mine and Southern Xinjiang Medicinal Herbs.

The wind and snow outside Hanyue Valley fell once more, covering the footprints atop the cliff, yet unable to conceal the growing sharpness of Beyond Heaven.

Jun Xiaoyao picked up the Northern Territory Map on the table and lightly drew a circle over the location of the Iron Mine with his fingertip. This circle would continuously expand over time until it covered every corner of this continent.

The Spiritual Power of the summoning array had recovered to 85%. As the Runes flickered, it seemed to be anticipating the next summon.

Jun Xiaoyao knew that Beyond Heaven's game of chess had only just entered the Middlegame, and his task was to place every piece correctly until the final victory.