361: Wuhou's Extraordinary Formation

On the ice desk in the Hanyue Valley Underground Palace, a detailed map of the mineral vein was spread out. The branches of the Hanyue iron ore in the Northern Territory spread like a spider web, with the words 'black iron mother lode' marked in the deepest part.

Beside it lay a mysterious iron token, engraved with the cloud pattern mark of Beyond Heaven.

Jun Xiaoyao rubbed the edge of the token with his fingertips, his gaze falling onto the water mirror—three men in Daoist robes were disguised as miners, wandering around the perimeter of the mineral vein, with jade pendants at their waists faintly emitting a Zixia luster.

"Zhao Gao, have you found out the origins of these three?" His voice came through the ice mist, carrying a touch of coldness, as if it could freeze the air.

In the shadows, Zhao Gao bowed and handed over a scroll of portraits; the three people in the portraits were identical to the infiltrators in the water mirror.

"Replying to Young Lord, they are Inner Sect Disciples of the 'Zixia Holy Land'. The leader, Wang Daoming, is in the Peak Heaven-Human Realm and specializes in the 'Zixia Divine Skill'. The other two are in the Late Stage Grandmaster Realm, specializing in tracking and concealment techniques. They have been lurking on the outskirts of the mineral vein for three days, seemingly probing for the specific location of the black iron mother lode."

Jun Xiaoyao placed the mysterious iron token back on the desk. The token made a crisp sound as it collided with the ice desk: "The Zixia Holy Land's 'treasure of the sect', the Zixia Sword, requires quenching with the black iron mother lode. They haven't been coveting the Hanyue iron ore for just a day or two."

He looked up at the water mirror. Wang Daoming was tapping the rock wall with his fingertips, seemingly judging the direction of the mineral vein. "It seems they think that because we are entangled with the Imperial Court, we have no time to look north, so they want to take advantage of the situation."

Zhao Gao added: "The Great Elder of the Zixia Holy Land, Daoist Master Ziyang, is in the Late Stage Land Immortal Realm. It is said he has been in seclusion for ten years. If he takes action, I fear General Yue's spear Formation might..."

"Not necessarily." Jun Xiaoyao interrupted him and looked at the summoning array in the center of the underground palace.

The spiritual energy in the Formation eye had risen to 95% due to the continuous nourishment of the black iron mother lode. The runes flowed with a faint cyan glow, and an Eight Trigrams pattern could be vaguely seen rotating within the array. "Let Kongming's Eight Trigrams Formation be activated ahead of schedule; it's a perfect time to test its power."

[Character Panel: Kongming]

[Origin: World of 'romance of the three kingdoms']

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

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

[Current Status: Setting up Formation]

[Special Effect: When the Formation is running, it suppresses the intruder's spiritual energy by 30%]

[Loyalty: 87%]

In the water mirror, Kongming was standing on a high platform at the entrance of the mineral vein, holding seven Formation Flags, inserting them into the ground one by one according to the positions of Qian, Kun, Zhen, Xun, Kan, Li, Gen, and Dui.

The moment the Formation Flags landed, pale golden patterns appeared on the ground around the mineral vein, resonating with the magnetic field of the black iron mother lode, forming an invisible energy net.

"General Yue," Kongming bowed to Yue Fei beside him, "The Eight Trigrams Formation has been set with three layers of Restrictions. The first layer, 'Mist Barrier', can confuse the mind; the second layer, 'Inverted Gate', can swap positions; the third layer, 'Death Position', hides the Zhuge Repeating Crossbows. If Wang Daoming dares to go deep, he will definitely not return."

Yue Fei cupped his hands: "Thank you, Mr. Kongming. My Yue Family Spear Formation has already deployed defenses outside the Formation, and I will definitely not let any idlers approach."

Before the water mirror, Jun Xiaoyao watched this scene and said to Zhao Gao: "The Zixia Holy Land won't just send three stewards. Have The Net's 'Shadow' group keep a close eye on the Holy Land's mountain gate and see what they do next."

"Yes."

Deep in the mineral vein, Wang Daoming and the other two had avoided the outer guards and stepped into the range of the Eight Trigrams Formation. Only a few steps in, thick fog suddenly rose, reducing visibility to less than three feet, and phantom sounds filled their ears, as if countless miners were crying for help.

"Not good, it's a Formation!" The steward on the left changed color, circulating his internal energy to rush through the fog, only to find that his spiritual energy circulation was significantly sluggish.

Wang Daoming said in a deep voice: "What are you panicking about? It's just some petty tricks." He circulated the Zixia Divine Skill, red mist rising from his palms, attempting to disperse the fog. But the mist seemed to have a life of its own; after being scattered, it quickly gathered again, even carrying a faint burning sensation—that was the 'Li Fire Mist' formed by the Eight Trigrams Formation drawing on the earth's fire spiritual energy.

The three groped their way forward in the fog. The road under their feet suddenly became steep; even though it was flat ground, it felt like they were climbing a slope. Wang Daoming knew something was wrong and shouted: "Hold your breath and focus your mind, follow my footprints!" He stepped in the Seven Star pattern, trying to find the Formation eye, unaware that he had already been influenced by the 'Inverted Gate' and was walking towards the 'Death Position'.

"Swish, swish, swish—"

Dozens of crossbow arrows suddenly shot out from the thick fog, the arrowheads gleaming with cold light, precisely targeting the vital acupoints of the three men. Wang Daoming reacted quickly, pushing out both palms, red mist protecting his whole body, knocking the arrows away. But the other two stewards were not so lucky; one was hit in the shoulder, the barbs on the arrow instantly locking his Meridians; the other couldn't dodge in time and was hit in the knee, falling to the ground with a scream.

"Retreat!" Wang Daoming knew they had fallen into a trap and, unwilling to continue the fight, picked up the two injured men and tried to return the way they came. But the moment he turned around, the scene before his eyes changed—the original entrance to the mine tunnel had turned into a smooth rock wall, and from the mist behind him, the sound of gold and iron horses faintly emerged.

"Yue Family Spear Formation, reporting to Mr. Kongming!"

With a sharp shout, Yue Fei's figure walked out of the fog, followed by five hundred Luowang Assassins holding spears, the spear tips pointing directly at Wang Daoming. The 'Coiling Dragon Stance' of the Yue Family Spear Formation unfolded, the spear shadows interweaving into a giant dragon phantom, surrounding Wang Daoming.

Wang Daoming was both shocked and angry: "Yue Fei? Aren't you defending against the Wolf Race in the Northern Territory? Why are you here?"

Yue Fei snorted coldly: "The Hanyue iron ore is the Foundation of our Beyond Heaven, how can you people be presumptuous? Wang Daoming, surrender, or I might leave your corpse intact!"

"Arrogant!" Wang Daoming pushed the injured stewards toward the spear Formation, while he himself shot into the sky through the gap. The Zixia Divine Skill was pushed to the limit, the red mist spreading out like a cloak, actually wanting to force his way through the spear Formation.

"Change to 'Dragon Locking Stance'!" Yue Fei slammed his long spear onto the ground, and five hundred spears instantly crossed into a net, sealing off Wang Daoming's path. The Dragon Qi contained in the spear net collided with Wang Daoming's red mist, making a sizzling sound, and the red mist was actually suppressed by the Dragon Qi and kept shrinking.

Wang Daoming was terrified; he hadn't expected the power of the Yue Family Spear Formation to be so strong. Just as he was distracted, Kongming's voice came from outside the Formation: "Wang Daoming, look at what this is."

Wang Daoming looked towards the sound, only to see Kongming holding a water mirror, which reflected the scene of the Zixia Holy Land—three Luowang Assassins were sneaking into the Holy Land's Scripture Pavilion, rummaging through the Secret Manuals recording the Zixia Divine Skill.

"How dare you!" Wang Daoming's eyes were about to split; the Scripture Pavilion was the Foundation of the Holy Land. If the Secret Manuals were stolen, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"Why not?" Kongming gently waved his feather fan, "You trespassed into our Beyond Heaven mineral vein, you should have expected this consequence. Either surrender, or watch your sect's divine skill spread throughout the Jianghu; you choose one."

Wang Daoming looked at the increasingly chaotic Scripture Pavilion in the water mirror, and then at the pressing spear Formation around him. Finally, he gritted his teeth and dispersed the Zixia Divine Skill: "I admit defeat, but you must promise not to touch our Holy Land's Scripture Pavilion!"

Yue Fei stepped forward and sealed his vital acupoints: "Rest assured, although we in Beyond Heaven do not like trouble, we also disdain doing petty, underhanded things."

Before the water mirror, Jun Xiaoyao watched Wang Daoming being taken away and said to Zhao Gao: "Lock him in the Hanyue dungeon and make the Zixia Holy Land bring something to exchange for him—say we want ten catties of 'Soul Condensing Jade Marrow', not a single ounce less."

"Yes." Zhao Gao paused and added, "There is movement from the direction of the Zixia Holy Land's mountain gate. Daoist Master Ziyang has finished his seclusion and is summoning the Elders for a meeting. I fear there will be a big move."

Jun Xiaoyao raised his eyes, and the water mirror immediately reflected the image of Daoist Master Ziyang. The old man was dressed in purple robes, with white hair and a youthful face, sitting on the main seat of the Holy Land's main hall, rubbing a Jade Slip in his hand, his eyes gloomy: "Beyond Heaven is too deceptive! Pass on my order: summon all Inner Sect Disciples. In three days, we will march to Hanyue Valley. I want to meet that Young Master of Tianwaitian myself!"

Jun Xiaoyao watched the anger of Daoist Master Ziyang in the picture and said to Zhao Gao: "It seems he thinks there isn't enough trouble." He looked at the summoning array. The spiritual energy in the Formation eye had risen to 90% due to the capture of Wang Daoming. As the runes flowed, a sword shadow actually emerged.

[System Prompt: Threat of Late Stage Land Immortal Realm detected, triggering offensive summoning.]

[Summonable Character: Zhang Sanfeng]

[Origin: World of 'the heaven sword and dragon saber']

[Realm: Late Stage Land Immortal Realm]

[Martial Skill: Tai Chi Fist (Perfection), Tai Chi Sword (Perfection), Nine Yang Divine Art (Perfection)]

[Specialty: Grandmaster of internal boxing, specializes in using softness to overcome hardness, can neutralize any fierce offensive, has a deep understanding of Formations]

[Summoning Cost: 95% Spiritual Energy]

Jun Xiaoyao's fingertips fell, and the summoning array suddenly erupted with dazzling white light. The runes rotated like a tai chi diagram, and a figure in Daoist robes holding a whisk condensed in the light. Zhang Sanfeng had white hair and a youthful face, his gaze as gentle as ancient jade, and he bowed to Jun Xiaoyao: "Little Daoist Zhang Sanfeng, greets Young Lord."

[Character Panel: Zhang Sanfeng]

[Status: Meditation]

[Special Ability: Innate Protective Aura (Automatically protects internal energy, can reflect 30% of attacks)]

[Loyalty: 85%]

[Current Thought: This Formation's spiritual energy is pure; it is indeed a good place for enlightenment.]

"True Man Zhang," Jun Xiaoyao pointed to Daoist Master Ziyang in the water mirror, "The Zixia Holy Land wants to seize my mineral vein and will be at our gates in three days. I ask for your help, True Man."

Zhang Sanfeng smiled slightly and waved his whisk: "Young Lord, rest assured. That little doll Ziyang's Zixia Divine Skill was actually guided by me when he first entered the sect. If he dares to come, this old Daoist will teach him what 'Dao' is again." He turned and stepped into the teleportation array. When his figure appeared on the Wangxue Cliff outside Hanyue Valley, a tai chi diagram had already been laid out under his feet, echoing the Eight Trigrams Formation of the mineral vein.

Before the water mirror, Jun Xiaoyao watched Zhang Sanfeng's calm figure and said to Zhao Gao: "In three days, let Daoist Master Ziyang know that Beyond Heaven is not someone who can be provoked."

"Yes."

The underground palace returned to silence, with only the runes of the summoning array still slowly flowing. Jun Xiaoyao looked at Hanyue Valley outside the window; the snow-capped peaks were shining with golden light in the sunset, echoing the pale golden patterns of the Eight Trigrams Formation. He knew that the attack by the Zixia Holy Land was just the beginning. As the influence of Beyond Heaven grew, more and more people would covet the mineral vein.

But he was not worried. With Kongming's strange Formation, Yue Fei's spear Formation, and Zhang Sanfeng's Tai Chi skills, it was enough to deal with any challenge.

And all he had to do was sit deep in this underground palace, watching every move, until all those who coveted it became abandoned pieces on the chessboard.

The spiritual energy of the summoning array had begun to slowly recover, and as the runes flickered, it seemed to be looking forward to the great battle in three days.

Jun Xiaoyao picked up the mysterious iron token on the desk and pressed it heavily on the mineral vein distribution map, leaving a clear mark.

This Hanyue iron ore was the cornerstone of Beyond Heaven's rise; no one would be allowed to take it away.