387: Traitor in the Spot

On the ice altar in the Hanyue Valley Underground Palace, the portrait sent back by Fragrant Bat glowed faintly.

Jun Xiaoyao's fingertip pressed on the familiar scar in the portrait—located on the left brow bone, it was a sword wound left three years ago when traitors were purged.

"Lin Xiao..." He softly uttered the name, and the profound iron wine cup on the ice altar suddenly shattered. "Leaving you alive back then has truly nurtured a disaster."

Zhao Gao held Lin Xiao's dossier, his voice extremely low: "Young Lord, Lin Xiao was in charge of The Net's 'Poison' group back then. When he defected, he took seven of our secret poisonous medicines. Shadow Pavilion was able to quickly establish itself in the black market thanks to these poisons."

In the water mirror, in the secret chamber of the Shadow Pavilion's main altar, Lin Xiao was caressing the scar on his brow bone in front of a bronze mirror. The mirror reflected the eerie summoning array behind him—the array core was embedded with seven skulls, refined from the poisons stolen that year.

"Jun Xiaoyao, did you not expect this?" Lin Xiao sneered at the mirror. "What you have in Beyond Heaven, my Shadow Pavilion also has, and even... stronger!" He clapped his hands, and two Martial Artists dressed in animal skins walked in, their aura having reached the Late Heaven-Man Realm.

[Shadow Pavilion Summoned Characters: Golden Wheel Monk (the return of the condor heroes), Jiumozhi (demi-gods and semi-devils)]

[Realm: Both are Late Heaven-Man Realm]

[Special Mark: Suffers backlash from the skull Formation, combat power is unstable]

Jun Xiaoyao looked at the black Qi flowing around the two figures in the water mirror, a cold glint flashing in his eyes: "Using evil arts to forcibly raise one's Realm, how impatient." He tapped his fingertip on the summoning array, and the spiritual power of the array core, triggered by old grievances, had risen to 96%.

Summoning activated, grievances settled.

[System Prompt: Detected traitor and evil art threat, triggering a "Demon-Suppressing Type" summon]

[Summonable Character: Zhang Sanfeng]

[From: the heaven sword and dragon saber world]

[Realm: Land Immortal Realm Peak]

[Martial Skills: Tai Chi Fist (Transcendent), Tai Chi Sword (Perfection), Pure Yang Limitless Art (can purify evil entities)]

[Specialties: Demon Suppression (80% inhibitory effect against evil art attacks), Enlightenment (can break the backlash of forcibly enhanced Realms)]

[Summon Consumption: Spiritual Power 95%]

The summoning array burst forth with a soft white light, runes intertwining like flowing water. Zhang Sanfeng, dressed in a Daoist robe and holding a whisk, materialized in the light. His hair and beard were white, but his eyes were clear as a child's. He bowed to Jun Xiaoyao: "This old Daoist Zhang Sanfeng greets Young Lord."

[Character Panel: Zhang Sanfeng]

[Status: Deduction]

[Special Abilities: Tai Chi Harmony (can neutralize any fierce attack), Pure Yang Power (deals double damage to evil cultivators)]

[Loyalty: 90%]

[Current Thought: That skull array has too much resentment, it needs to be purified with Pure Yang Skill]

"Lin Xiao used an evil array to summon Martial Artists. I ask Daoist Priest to break the array." Jun Xiaoyao pointed to the secret chamber in the water mirror. "No need to leave anyone alive."

Zhang Sanfeng lightly swept his whisk: "Young Lord, rest assured, such evil arts will only bring disaster to the Jianghu." His figure flickered, and he had already stepped into the teleportation array. When he appeared outside the Shadow Pavilion's main altar, he happened to encounter Golden Wheel Monk leading his Disciples on patrol.

"Where did this old Daoist come from? How dare you trespass on Shadow Pavilion territory!" Golden Wheel Monk brandished his golden wheel and smashed it over, the wheel's shadow carrying black Qi, clearly already corroded by the evil array.

Zhang Sanfeng did not dodge. His Tai Chi Fist used softness to overcome hardness, and with a gentle pull of his palm wind, the golden wheel actually turned direction and smashed towards the Monk himself. "Evil creature, your mind has been deluded by evil arts." He flicked a wisp of Pure Yang True Qi from his fingertip, striking the Monk's glabella. The black Qi immediately dissipated, and the Monk screamed, falling to the ground, his breath cut off.

The Net Surrounds, Old Debts and New Accounts

Zhao Gao was adjusting The Net's deployment in front of the sand table. Seeing Jun Xiaoyao look over, he immediately explained: "The 'Heaven and Earth Net' Formation has been set up as Young Lord instructed—"

"The outer layer is Marshal of the Unruly leading the 'Profound' group to seal off the four streets around the Shadow Pavilion's main altar, using the Tiangang Art to set up a wall of fire, not letting a single person escape." On the sand table, red lines representing the wall of fire tightly encircled the Shadow Pavilion's main altar.

"The middle layer is Yue Fei's spearman Formation, five thousand men forming a 'Dragon Locking Array,' with spear tips pointing outwards, specifically to deal with Martial Artists breaking out." In the middle of the sand table, red spearman markers were arranged in a circle, with 'Armor Breaking' marked where the spear tips pointed.

"The inner layer is handed to Zhan Zhao and Ye Gucheng. The two will cooperate to clear out the Shadow Pavilion's core members, and Daoist Priest Zhang Sanfeng will be responsible for breaking the array." In the center of the sand table, blue and white markers (Zhan Zhao, Ye Gucheng) surrounded the skull array marker, with a yellow token representing Zhang Sanfeng inserted nearby.

Jun Xiaoyao's fingertip tapped a residence outside the sand table: "Lin Xiao's family is hidden here?"

"Yes," Zhao Gao nodded, "His wife and son are both there. It's said that he defected because his son contracted a strange illness and needed Beyond Heaven's 'nine revolutions soul returning pill.'"

In the water mirror, Lin Xiao's wife was weeping, holding her sickly son. Half a bowl of medicinal soup was on the table, and the son coughed continuously after taking a sip. Jun Xiaoyao looked at this scene and nodded to Zhao Gao: "Have Blue Phoenix send a 'nine revolutions soul returning pill' over, don't let the child die."

[Character Panel: Blue Phoenix]

[From: "the smiling, proud wanderer" world]

[Realm: Mid-stage Grandmaster]

[Current Status: Delivering medicine]

[Special Mark: Gu-Eating Ants have already cleared the toxins from the medicinal soup]

Blue Phoenix, disguised as a physician, handed the Medicinal Pill to Lin Xiao's wife: "This medicine can cure your son's illness. One pill daily, and he will improve in three days." She left the medicine bottle. As she turned to leave, the Gu-Eating Ants had silently crawled throughout the residence, clearing all the poisonous powders hidden by Shadow Pavilion.

Secret Chamber Array Broken, Final Showdown

In the Shadow Pavilion's secret chamber, Lin Xiao was frantically activating the skull array. Jiumozhi sat cross-legged within the array, black Qi surging around him, his Realm temporarily boosted to Early Earthly Immortal Realm: "Jun Xiaoyao's people are coming in soon, use my 'Flame Blade' to kill our way out!"

Before he finished speaking, the secret chamber door was

"Impossible!" Lin Xiao watched the Formation fail, drew the poisonous blade from his waist, and lunged at Zhang Sanfeng, "I'll kill you!"

Zhang Sanfeng sidestepped, and with a gentle flick of his Tai Chi Sword, the poisonous blade flew out of Lin Xiao's hand and impaled itself on the wall. "Foolish child, turn back and reach the shore."

Lin Xiao, however, lunged like a madman and was struck in the chest by Zhang Sanfeng's palm, flying backward to hit the stone wall. He coughed up blood, looking at Jun Xiaoyao's phantom (water mirror projection) walking in, his eyes filled with venom: "If my son dies, I won't let you go even as a ghost!"

"Your son didn't die." Jun Xiaoyao's voice came through the water mirror, and the scene switched to the residence. Blue Phoenix was feeding the child medicine, and the child's cough had significantly reduced. "When you defected, I didn't kill your family, out of consideration for your past contributions to Beyond Heaven."

Lin Xiao was stunned, then let out a bitter laugh: "So... you knew all along..."

Zhang Sanfeng shook his head and sighed, sweeping his whisk again. The Pure Yang True Qi completely purified the resentment of the skull array. Jiumozhi, losing the array's enhancement, his Realm plummeted back to Initial Heaven Human Realm, and was pierced through the throat by Ye Gucheng's sword, who had arrived.

Dust Settles, New Game Begins

The wall of fire around the Shadow Pavilion's main altar gradually extinguished. Luowang Assassinss were clearing the battlefield, and Yue Fei's spearman Formation had begun to withdraw. The common people on the streets watched from afar, no one daring to approach—they only knew that overnight, the arrogant Shadow Pavilion had vanished, replaced by Beyond Heaven's cloud-patterned flag.

In the water mirror, Lin Xiao was escorted out of the secret chamber by Zhan Zhao. Passing by the residence, he saw his wife holding their improved son at the doorway. Tears immediately streamed down his face, and he knelt before Jun Xiaoyao's phantom: "This subordinate... knows his mistake."

Jun Xiaoyao looked at this scene and nodded to Zhao Gao: "Cripple his martial arts, and send his family to farm in the Western Regions, never to step into the Central Plains again."

Zhao Gao accepted the order and left. The spiritual power of the summoning array, due to the successful breaking of the array, had risen to 98%. As the runes flowed, a figure holding a chessboard appeared.

[System Prompt: Detected a reshuffle of Jianghu forces, triggering a "Strategy Type" summon]

[Summonable Character: Fan Zeng]

[From: Legends related to "Chu-Han Contention"]

[Realm: Grandmaster Peak]

[Martial Skill: Chessboard Array (Transcendent, can set up a chessboard to trap enemies)]

[Specialties: Strategy (90% success rate in formulating long-term development plans), Discernment (unique insight in discovering talent)]

[Summon Consumption: Spiritual Power 93%]

Fan Zeng's figure materialized in the light, holding a bronze chessboard, and cupped his hands to Jun Xiaoyao: "This old man Fan Zeng greets Young Lord."

Jun Xiaoyao looked at the new summoned character's panel, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes: "Shadow Pavilion has been eliminated. Next, it's time to integrate the black market resources. I'll leave this matter to you."

The Hanyue Valley Underground Palace returned to silence. In the water mirror, Beyond Heaven's cloud-patterned flag rose over the Shadow Pavilion's main altar. Sunlight shone on the flag, and as the cloud patterns flowed, it was as if an invisible grand net was covering the entire Jianghu. Jun Xiaoyao knew that with the traitors purged and the black market integrated, Beyond Heaven's next step would be to bare its fangs at those high and mighty Holy Land Sects.

Meanwhile, Lin Xiao's family's carriage, heading west, had already driven out of the city gates. Outside the window, the medicine bottle left by Blue Phoenix shimmered in the sunlight—this was Jun Xiaoyao's rule: grievances are grievances, but innocent people should not be implicated. However, this mercy was only extended as long as it did not affect Beyond Heaven's interests.

In the summoning array, spiritual power was still slowly recovering, and the next summon was already brewing. Beyond Heaven's game of chess was steadily moving towards its endgame, and the winds and clouds of the continent were just beginning to stir.