369: Tai Chi Finger

The pillars of the Quicksand City Alliance Hall were carved with the totems of various Western Region nations, but last night, The Net's hidden sentries quietly carved Beyond Heaven's Cloud Pattern Markings onto them.

Morning light shone through the painted window lattices, casting spots of light onto the red-carpeted floor, where three hundred and sixty seats were arranged according to the strength of the respective powers.

The main seat at the very top was empty, draped with black brocade, and only a single Cloud Pattern token was placed upon it—that was Jun Xiaoyao's position, yet no one dared to sit there.

"Immortal Master Zhang, Mr. Hua, please come this way." The Marshal of the Unruly, dressed in black, stood on the left side of the hall entrance, his gaze sweeping over the various forces entering. Zhang Sanfeng lightly waved his whisk and walked in alongside Full of Towers; their seemingly casual positions perfectly shielded the main seat in the center.

The first to cause trouble was Frost of the Clouds, the Young Sect Master of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect. Dressed in white, with a long sword slung across her back, she stopped in the center of the hall, her sword tip scraping sparks across the floor: "Beyond Heaven's Young Lord doesn't even dare to show his face. Is he afraid of us?"

Full of Towers suddenly turned his head and whispered to Zhang Sanfeng, "In the third row behind her, there are three people whose Qi is disordered, and their knuckles gripping their sword hilts are white. They are targeting the main seat."

Zhang Sanfeng nodded slightly, and the Pure Yang Limitless Art quietly circulated, spreading a gentle yet irresistible surge of Internal Qi. The three assassins hidden in the crowd felt a numbness in their wrists, finding themselves barely able to grip their sword hilts, and their faces instantly turned pale.

"Young Sect Master, please calm down." The Marshal of the Unruly stepped forward, his voice coming through the mask with a metallic texture. "Although my Young Lord is not present, everything in this hall is within his grasp."

As soon as he finished speaking, Black Fiend walked into the hall with One-Eye. The aura of three thousand Fierce Bandits, though contained, caused the representatives of the surrounding minor forces to retreat. Black Fiend glanced at Frost of the Clouds and sneered, "A little girl from the Ten Thousand Swords Sect dares to question Beyond Heaven? Who was it last night that Mr. Ximen's sword flicked their stirrup off? And you still dare to clamor here?"

Frost of the Clouds' face flushed red—she had indeed sent a Disciple to test West Gate Blows Snow, but the result was the opponent slicing off her Sword Tassel with a single strike, leaving the message: "If you cause trouble again, I will dismantle the Ten Thousand Swords Sect's Mountain Gate."

Just then, General Who Guards the Nation Qin Zhao led the Imperial Guards into the hall, their black armor gleaming coldly in the morning light. He ignored the arguing crowd, walked straight to the VIP Seat beside the main position, and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty has commanded that the Western Region must prioritize peace. Whoever dares to use force at the alliance meeting is an enemy of the Imperial Dynasty."

These words seemed fair, but subtly placed Beyond Heaven in opposition to the Imperial Dynasty. Full of Towers frowned slightly and said to Zhang Sanfeng, "His Deputy General is secretly sending signals. The Imperial Guards outside the hall are moving, seemingly preparing to surround the hall."

Zhang Sanfeng lightly waved his whisk, and the Internal Qi spread along the pillars, completely enveloping the aura of the Imperial Guards outside the hall. The soldiers felt as if they had fallen into a swamp, their steps slowing by half a beat. The Deputy General sending the message found that he couldn't pull out the Signal Arrow at all.

"General Qin is truly imposing." A seductive voice rang out. Mei'er, the Sect Master of the Joyful Union Sect, walked in, swaying her waist. The female Disciples accompanying her had eyes that constantly shifted, causing many leaders of minor forces to stare blankly. Mei'er walked up to Qin Zhao, her fingertip seemingly accidentally tracing his armor: "The General said to prioritize peace, so why doesn't this Little Sister accompany the General for a drink to discuss 'cooperation'?"

Her voice carried a strange rhythm. Several Personal Guards beside Qin Zhao immediately showed signs of infatuation, even wanting to step forward to support her. Full of Towers lightly tapped his Jade Flute against his palm, and a clear, resonant Sound Wave spread out, like cold water poured over their heads, instantly sobering the infatuated men.

"Witch, how dare you be presumptuous!" Qin Zhao suddenly slammed the table and stood up, his black armor clanking. "This is the Alliance Hall, not your Courtesan House!"

Mei'er covered her lips and chuckled, but a hint of ruthlessness flashed in her eyes: "General, why the anger? Little Sister just wants to ask why the Remnants of the Blood Shadow Cult were hiding in the General's Grain and Fodder Camp last night?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire hall was shocked. Qin Zhao's expression changed drastically: "Nonsense! This General was ordered by decree to suppress bandits, how could I associate with an Evil Cult?"

"Oh? Then why did The Net's people find this in the Grain and Fodder Camp?" The Marshal of the Unruly suddenly raised his hand, and a Blood Shadow Cult token was thrown onto the ground. The character "Qin" carved on the token was clearly visible.

Qin Zhao's Deputy General immediately drew his saber: "How dare you slander the General!"

As the saber gleam appeared, it was blocked by a gentle Internal Qi. Zhang Sanfeng slowly walked out, resting his whisk on the back of the Deputy General's saber: "Young man, impulse is the devil." With what seemed like a light press, the Fine Steel Long Saber was bent into an arc. The Deputy General's Hukou split open, and he stumbled backward.

"Immortal Master Zhang!" Qin Zhao recognized Zhang Sanfeng, and his expression grew even uglier. "You are a Pillar of the Martial Forest, how could you endorse Beyond Heaven?"

"This humble Daoist only endorses justice." Zhang Sanfeng's gaze swept across the entire hall. "The Blood Shadow Cult harms the populace. Whoever aligns with them is an enemy of the world, regardless of whether they belong to the Imperial Dynasty or a Sect."

His voice was not loud, but it resonated like a Great Bell, causing the hall's pillars to hum. The representatives of the forces who had been observing now lowered their heads—Zhang Sanfeng's attitude was Beyond Heaven's confidence.

Frost of the Clouds looked at the blood shadow token on the ground and suddenly stepped forward: "The Ten Thousand Swords Sect is willing to assist Beyond Heaven in thoroughly investigating this matter! If General Qin truly colluded with an evil cult, I, Frost of the Clouds, will be the first to object!" She was merely trimming her sails, seeking to ease relations with Beyond Heaven.

Black Fiend also chimed in with a muffled voice: "Black Wind Stockade is also willing to merge into The Net! Whoever the hell colludes with the enemy, I'll chop him down!"

Qin Zhao looked at the scene of being abandoned by everyone, veins throbbing on his forehead, yet he dared not act out—Zhang Sanfeng's Land Immortal Realm pressure was like a shadow, and West Gate Blows Snow's Sword Intent was locked onto the back of his heart. If he dared to make a move, he would surely die.

Just then, Full of Towers suddenly cocked his ear and said to the Marshal of the Unruly, "There are ten extremely strong auras approaching outside the hall. They are moving very fast, and their target is the main seat."

The corner of the Marshal of the Unruly's mouth curled into a cold sneer beneath his mask: "They finally arrived."

Before the words finished, the roof of the hall was suddenly smashed open. Ten black figures swooped down like bats, their Curved Sabers gleaming green, clearly coated in Potent Poison, heading straight for the empty main seat—they actually intended to destroy the Cloud Pattern token and break Beyond Heaven's momentum!

"You don't know what's good for you."

A cold voice came from outside the hall. A white shadow flashed, and West Gate Blows Snow was already standing in front of the main seat. The moment the Lone Goose Sword was unsheathed, ten saber glares shattered simultaneously!

Blood splattered. The ten assassins were decapitated before they could even scream. West Gate Blows Snow returned his sword to its sheath, his white clothes unstained by a single drop of blood, as if he had merely flicked away a speck of dust.

Qin Zhao watched this scene, his face finally turning ashen—the ultimate Killing Move he had arranged was actually broken by the opponent's single sword strike.

Zhang Sanfeng walked up to him and lightly tapped his shoulder with the whisk: "General Qin, please come with this humble Daoist to Kaifeng Prefecture. Lord Bao should be very happy to review this case."

Qin Zhao's legs went soft, and he collapsed onto the ground. The Marshal of the Unruly waved his hand, and Luowang Assassinss immediately stepped forward and escorted him and the Deputy General away.

Mei'er watched the escorted Qin Zhao, a hint of dread flashing in her eyes. She bowed gracefully to the Marshal of the Unruly: "The Joyful Union Sect is willing to submit to Beyond Heaven, offering thirty percent of our Medicinal Pills annually, only asking for the Young Lord's protection."

Black Fiend also quickly expressed his stance: "Black Wind Stockade is willing to merge into The Net! Three thousand Brothers are at your disposal!"

Frost of the Clouds gritted her teeth and placed the Mountain Suppressing Sword Array Diagram on the table: "This is the Ten Thousand Swords Sect's Sect Guarding Treasure. We wish to present it to the Young Lord, only asking to share the Western Region's Iron Ore Resources with Beyond Heaven."

Full of Towers lightly tapped his Jade Flute and said to the Marshal of the Unruly, "Their heartbeats are steady. They are genuinely submitting."

The Marshal of the Unruly picked up the diagram and said to everyone, "The Young Lord has commanded: those who sincerely cooperate will share resources; those who feign compliance will meet the same end as the Blood Shadow Cult." He pointed to the Cloud Pattern token on the main seat. "From today onward, Beyond Heaven dictates the affairs of the Western Region."

The sunlight outside the hall shone perfectly on the token. As the cloud patterns shifted, a faint Sound of a Dragon's Roar seemed to drift over. Zhang Sanfeng watched this scene and smiled at Full of Towers: "This Young Lord is more resourceful than we imagined."

Full of Towers smiled slightly, held his Jade Flute horizontally, and blew. The clear, resonant flute music drifted out of the hall, intertwining with the Wind and Sand of the Western Region, as if announcing the arrival of a new era.

In the Hanyue Valley Underground Palace, Jun Xiaoyao looked at everything in the water mirror and said to Zhao Gao, "Send a copy of the evidence of Qin Zhao's collusion with the Blood Shadow Cult to Lord Bao, and another copy to the Second Prince. Let them 'handle' it properly."

"Yes." Zhao Gao paused, then continued, "The Spiritual Power of the summoning array has increased to 95% due to the subjugation of the Western Region forces. Should we proceed with a new summon?"

Jun Xiaoyao looked at the Runes circulating in the array, his gaze profound: "Wait, there's a bigger fish to catch."

He knew that the Western Region was only the beginning, and the true tests from the Imperial Dynasty and the Holy Land were only just unfolding.

And within Beyond Heaven's summoning array, an even more powerful figure was waiting for the right time to emerge.