360: Returning from Southern Xinjiang

On the ice wall of the Hanyue Valley Underground Palace, a water mirror reflected the ancient road leading from the Southern Border to the Central Plains.

Yang Guo, carrying his mysterious iron sword, walked at the front, with Duan Yu protecting over a dozen children close behind. On both sides of the procession were Luowang Assassinss from the “Earth” group.

Everyone's expression was solemn—just half an hour ago, they had repelled the third wave of interceptors. The bodies left behind all bore the wolf-shaped brand unique to the Third Prince's mansion.

"Young Lord, the interceptors' martial arts styles are becoming increasingly varied, with both the sinister Moves of the Blood Shadow Cult and the military combat techniques of the Black Armored Army.

Clearly, the Third Prince's remaining forces are launching a desperate counterattack." Zhao Gao's voice came from the shadows, the ink on the scroll in his hand still damp. "The latest report: thirty li ahead at 'Luofeng Slope'.

Over a thousand people are ambushed there. The leader is the Third Prince's personal attendant, 'Ghost Face,' an Early Earthly Immortal Realm practitioner, skilled in the 'Netherworld Claw.' It's said he once tore a Peak Heaven-Human Realm Martial Artist apart with his bare hands."

Jun Xiaoyao tapped his fingertip lightly on the ice table. On the ancient road map spread out on the table, Luofeng Slope was circled in red, with the annotation: "Cliffs on both sides, only the central mountain path is passable, easy to defend, difficult to attack." He looked up at the water mirror, where Qiao Feng's figure was rushing through the dust. The palm winds of the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms sent stones by the roadside flying, and he was now less than ten li from the team.

[Character Panel: Qiao Feng]

[From: demi-gods and semi-devils World]

[Realm: Earthly Immortal Early-Stage]

[Martial Skills: Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms (Perfection), Dog Beating Staff Technique (Major Achievement), Dragon Capturing Skill (Transcendent)]

[Current Status: Reinforcing]

[Special Status: Battle Intent Soaring (20% combat power bonus against royal rebels)]

[Loyalty: 90%]

"Qiao Feng's timing is perfect." Jun Xiaoyao pushed the map to Zhao Gao. "Have Luowang's 'Heaven' group preemptively occupy the cliffs on both sides of Luofeng Slope, and use 'Armor-Piercing Crossbows' to blockade the heights. When Qiao Feng engages Ghost Face, cut off their retreat."

"Yes." As Zhao Gao took his leave, Yang Guo suddenly stopped in the water mirror, pointing his mysterious iron sword at the path ahead: "Killing Intent."

Before Luofeng Slope, over a thousand Men in Black had already blocked the mountain path. The leader wore a bronze ghost mask, and his ten fingernails gleamed with a dark light; it was indeed Ghost Face. He watched the approaching team and let out a sinister cackle: "Yang Guo, Duan Yu, leave those brats behind, and I can let you die a quick death."

Yang Guo slammed his mysterious iron sword heavily onto the ground, and the sword hummed: "The Third Prince is already a stray dog; do you still want to die for him?"

"Die for him?" Ghost Face removed his mask, revealing a face covered in scars. "The Third Prince promised me that if this succeeds, he would make me Prince of Zhennan. The heart's blood of these brats will just help me break through to the Middle Stage of Land Immortal Realm!" He twisted his claws, and black Qi condensed on his Netherworld Claws, directly pouncing on the children at the very front.

Seeing this, Duan Yu unleashed the Six Meridians Divine Sword, and the "Shang Yang Sword" shot out with a sharp wind, forcing its way towards Ghost Face's back. Ghost Face, however, did not turn around, instead tearing apart the Sword Qi with a backhand claw, continuing his charge with undiminished momentum.

"Your opponent is me!" Yang Guo swept his mysterious iron sword horizontally, and the sword wind formed a wall, forcing Ghost Face to parry with his claws. With a crisp clang, Ghost Face was shaken back three steps, looking at the heavy sword in Yang Guo's hand, a hint of apprehension flashed in his eyes: "The mysterious iron sword truly lives up to its reputation."

Just then, a long roar came from the end of the mountain path. Qiao Feng's figure rushed forth like thunder, his Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms' "Soaring Dragon in the Sky" carrying immense power, aimed directly at Ghost Face's chest: "Harming children, everyone has the right to kill him!"

Ghost Face hadn't expected reinforcements. In a hurry, he crossed his claws to form a shield, taking the full force of the palm. With a 'crack,' his claw bones were shattered by the palm force, and he spat blood as he flew backward, crashing into the cliff face.

"Land Immortal Realm?" Ghost Face was both shocked and enraged, looking at the Qi emanating from Qiao Feng. "You are Qiao Feng?"

"Indeed." Qiao Feng clenched his fists, his knuckles white. "The Third Prince harbors such evil as you; he deserves to be executed!"

Ghost Face knew he couldn't escape today and roared at the Men in Black behind him: "Charge! Kill one child, and you'll be rewarded with a hundred taels of gold!"

Over a thousand Men in Black swarmed forward like a tide, sword glints and blade shadows interweaving into a net on the mountain path. Yang Guo wielded his mysterious iron sword impenetrably, protecting the children on the left; Duan Yu moved with Subtle Steps of the Rippling Waves, his Six Meridians Divine Sword targeting the Men in Black's weaknesses; the Luowang Assassinss formed a battle formation, blocking the assault from the right.

Qiao Feng, meanwhile, focused solely on Ghost Face, unleashing a continuous barrage of Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms. Palm shadows swirled like golden dragons, trapping Ghost Face in the center. Though Ghost Face's Netherworld Claws were sinister, they were suppressed by Qiao Feng's fierce palm force, gradually putting him at a disadvantage. Desperate to escape, a black mist suddenly burst from his claws, containing countless tiny poisonous needles—his ultimate secret technique, the "Netherworld Soul Severing Needles."

Qiao Feng was already prepared. His Protective Aura erupted, shaking off all the poisonous needles. "Dragon Capturing Skill!" He made a pulling motion with his left hand, and a suction force appeared out of thin air, forcibly dragging Ghost Face back just as he was about to vanish into the black mist.

"Die!" Qiao Feng's right palm struck Ghost Face's chest, and the supreme Yang power of the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms surged in. Ghost Face screamed, his Meridians shattered, and he dissolved into a pool of black blood.

Having dealt with Ghost Face, Qiao Feng turned and joined the fray. His Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms swept out, and the Men in Black fell like cut wheat. Seeing this, Luowang's "Heaven" group on the cliff immediately activated their Armor-Piercing Crossbows. The crossbow bolts, whistling through the air, shot towards the Men in Black's retreat path, pinning all those who tried to escape to the mountain road.

Half an hour later, there were no standing Men in Black left on the mountain path. Yang Guo looked at the ground strewn with corpses and cupped his fist to Qiao Feng, saying, "Many thanks for your assistance, Brother Qiao."

Qiao Feng waved his hand, his gaze falling on the still-frightened children, a hint of softness in his eyes: "This place is not suitable for a long stay. Let's leave Luofeng Slope as soon as possible."

Before the water mirror, Jun Xiaoyao watched the team resume their journey and said to Zhao Gao, "Dispose of Ghost Face's body cleanly; leave no trace. Also, have Zhan Zhao cooperate with Lord Bao to eradicate the Third Prince's remaining forces in the capital, leaving no one alive."

"Yes." Zhao Gao handed over another secret report. "News from the capital says the Second Prince has taken control of the Black Armored Army and sent an envoy with a secret letter, stating his willingness to cooperate with our Beyond Heaven and share the profits of the Northern Border iron mine, only asking that we not interfere in his struggle for the throne with the First Prince."

Jun Xiaoyao picked up the secret letter. The paper was specially made sprinkled gold stationery, stamped with the Second Prince's private seal. He read it for a moment, then tossed the letter back onto the table: "Cooperation is possible, sharing profits is also possible, but he wants us to stay out of it?"

"Young Lord means..."

"The Northern Border iron mine is our Foundation; no one can lay claim to it." Jun Xiaoyao drew a circle on the Northern Border's location on the map with his fingertip. "Tell the Second Prince that if he wants to cooperate, he must agree to three conditions: first, the Black Armored Army withdraws from the three Northern Border prefectures; second, he pays our Beyond Heaven one hundred thousand jin of refined iron annually; and third, he helps us investigate whether the Blood Shadow Cult has any other royal family members backing them."

Zhao Gao bowed and replied, "Your subordinate will see to it immediately."

At this moment, the summoning array in the center of the underground palace suddenly glowed faintly. The spiritual power in the array's core had risen to 85% due to the resource recovery from Luofeng Slope, and as the runes flowed, the shadow of a zither actually appeared.

[System Notification: Detected potential ally negotiation requirement, triggering wisdom-type summoning.]

[Summonable Character: Kongming]

[From: romance of the three kingdoms World]

[Realm: Peak Grandmaster Realm (Martial Dao), Crouching Dragon (Wisdom)]

[Martial Skills: Eight Trigrams Formation (Transcendent), Seven Star Life-Extending Lamp (Secret Art)]

[Specialization: Proficient in strategic negotiation, skilled in setting up grand schemes, capable of discerning opponents' weaknesses from subtle details]

[Summon Cost: 80% spiritual power]

Jun Xiaoyao tapped his fingertip on the name "Kongming." The summoning array suddenly erupted in a blue light, runes swirling like an Eight Trigrams Formation, and a figure holding a feather fan condensed in the light. Kongming, clad in a simple Daoist robe, had an elegant face and eyes that held a sharp insight into human nature. He cupped his hands and bowed to Jun Xiaoyao: "Liang greets the Young Lord."

[Character Panel: Kongming]

[Status: Standby]

[Special Skill: Debating with Scholars (50% increase in negotiation success rate)]

[Loyalty: 85%]

[Current Thought: The Second Prince's ambition is not small; cooperation requires a three-tenths reserve.]

"Mr. Kongming," Jun Xiaoyao pointed to the Second Prince's envoy in the water mirror, "The Second Prince wants to cooperate with us, but he harbors ulterior motives. You go to the capital and negotiate with his envoy. You must make him agree to our conditions, and at the same time, probe his true intentions."

Kongming gently fanned himself with his feather fan, his smile gentle yet subtly sharp: "Young Lord, rest assured, Liang will not fail his mission. If the Second Prince is deceitful, Liang will surely expose his true colors." He turned and stepped into the teleportation array. When his figure appeared outside the Second Prince's mansion, he already held a list of Beyond Heaven's conditions.

In the water mirror, the Second Prince's envoy looked at the terms on the list, his face alternating between green and white: "These conditions are too harsh; Your Highness will never agree!"

Kongming lightly tapped the table with his feather fan: "Harsh? If the Northern Border iron mine falls into the First Prince's hands, does the Second Prince think he still has a chance of winning? Our Young Lord said, these are not conditions, but a transaction." He paused, a sharp glint in his eyes. "Moreover, Liang also knows some inside information about the 'Black Armored Army Mutiny,' which I'm sure the Censorate would be very interested in."

The envoy's face changed dramatically. The Black Armored Army mutiny was secretly planned by the Second Prince to weaken the Third Prince's forces. If this matter were exposed, even a prince could not bear the responsibility. He looked at Kongming, who appeared confident and composed, knowing that the other party had already done their homework. He gritted his teeth and said, "I... I need to consult His Highness."

Kongming smiled slightly: "Liang will await your news at the Post station, with a three-day limit."

Before the water mirror, Jun Xiaoyao watched this scene and said to Zhao Gao, "With Mr. Kongming taking action, the Second Prince will surely agree." He looked at the spiritual power slowly rising in the summoning array, his eyes profound.

The Second Prince's cooperation was merely a temporary measure. The struggle for the throne would undoubtedly intensify, and what Beyond Heaven needed to do was to remain aloof in this conflict, firmly grasping the Northern Border iron mine. Kongming's arrival could not only handle negotiations but his Eight Trigrams Formation could also fortify the iron mine, killing two birds with one stone.

The sunlight outside Hanyue Valley shone through the ice window, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

Jun Xiaoyao picked up the Northern Border map on the table, tapping his fingertip gently on the location of the iron mine. There, Yue Fei's Yue Family Spear Formation had been reinforced, and Fu Hongxue's black blade patrolled day and night, sufficient to deal with any threat.

The summoning array's spiritual power had recovered to 90%, and as the runes flickered, it seemed to be anticipating the next summoning.

Jun Xiaoyao knew that Beyond Heaven's game of chess was gradually moving into the mid-game, and every Move made

had to be precise and ruthless to remain invincible in this treacherous Jianghu and court struggle.

The next target should be those Holy Lands secretly lurking.