395: Summoning the Divine Eagle

On the ice desk in the Hanyue Valley Underground Palace, the sample of Qingming Jade Mine shimmered with a ghostly blue luster.

Ouyezi roasted the ore chunk with Kunwu Divine Fire. Where the flames licked, the jade ore actually melted into a liquid, condensing into the rough shape of a short sword within the mold.

"Young Lord," he wiped the sweat from his forehead, "the Spiritual Qi contained in this jade ore far exceeds expectations. If mixed with netherworld cold iron, it can forge a divine weapon capable of severing the Protective Aura of a Land Immortal."

Jun Xiaoyao traced his fingertip over the jade ore sample. Suddenly, a disturbance appeared in the water mirror—the remaining Disciples of Fentian Palace, having united with the Blood Shadow Cult, were assembling in the direction of the Qingming Jade Mine. The leader of the Blood Shadow Cult held a blood-colored long whip, and within the whip's shadow carried the pressure of the Land Immortal Realm.

"They have some capability after all." Jun Xiaoyao said indifferently, turning his gaze to the summoning array. Due to the nourishment of the Spiritual Qi from the jade ore, the spiritual power in the array had risen to 96%. As the runes circulated, the phantom of a giant bird emerged, its wings almost covering the entire underground palace when unfurled.

Summoning initiated, Divine Condor descends.

[System Prompt: Threat to the ore vein detected, triggering 'Guardian' type summoning]

[Summonable Character: Divine Condor]

[Origin: World of 'the return of the condor heroes']

[Realm: Early Earthly Immortal Realm (Spirit Beast form)]

[Abilities: Pecking (can break metal and stone), Wing Sweep (area attack, overturning military formations), Telepathy (can understand human speech, identify hostility)]

[Specialties: Ore Vein Guardian (automatically initiates attacks on enemies approaching the ore vein), Companion (can establish a contract with a designated person, share vision)]

[Summoning Consumption: 93% Spiritual Power]

The summoning array erupted with golden-brown light. The ground shook violently as a giant condor with a wingspan of three zhang rushed out from the light. When its twin claws landed, the jade ore sample on the ice desk automatically flew toward its beak. The Divine Condor lowered its head to peck gently, swallowing the jade ore, and then bowed to Jun Xiaoyao. Its screech caused ice shavings to fall from the ceiling of the underground palace.

[Character Panel: Divine Condor]

[Status: Master acknowledged]

[Special Mark: Contract established with Ouyezi (when Ouyezi is forging swords, the Divine Condor can provide companion flames)]

[Loyalty: 95%]

[Current Thought: Hostility in the direction of the ore vein, requesting deployment]

"The Qingming Jade Mine is left to you." Jun Xiaoyao pointed to the entrance of the ore vein in the water mirror, "Except for the people from Beyond Heaven, those who approach... kill without mercy."

The Divine Condor let out a sharp cry and soared into the sky with a flap of its wings, crashing through the Restriction on the ceiling of the underground palace, turning into a streak of golden-brown light as it flew toward the jade mine.

The scene in the water mirror changed, reflecting the entrance of the jade mine. The Blood Shadow Cult leader was directing his Disciples to set up a barrier when he suddenly heard a sharp screech from the sky. Looking up, he saw only a shadow enveloping him—the Divine Condor's giant claws descended like iron hooks, instantly tearing the barrier apart. Several Blood Shadow Cult Disciples were snatched into the high sky before being dropped heavily to the ground.

"Where did this beast come from!" The Blood Shadow Cult leader swung his long whip in anger, and the blood-colored whip shadow entangled the Divine Condor's neck. The Divine Condor didn't care at all; with a fierce flap of its wings, the powerful airflow blew the leader away, slamming him into the rock wall of the mine tunnel and causing him to spit out a mouthful of blood.

The Net deployed, pincer attack.

Zhao Gao was adjusting the deployment in front of the sand table. Seeing Jun Xiaoyao look over, he immediately explained: "As the Young Lord commanded, the 'Twin Wing Formation' has been set up—"

"The left wing is led by Ye Gucheng with the 'Sword' group, lying in ambush in the canyon on the east side of the ore vein, using the Flying Immortal from Beyond the Heavens Sword Qi to block the retreat." On the sand table, next to the white marker representing Ye Gucheng, was labeled "Sword Qi Range: Three Li".

"The right wing is the Marshal of the Unruly and The Unruly, who have set up the Tiangang Art formation on the plains on the west side of the ore vein, using Huayang Needles to interfere with the opponent's operation of Spiritual Qi." On the west side of the sand table, dense small flags were inserted around the golden marker (Marshal of the Unruly), representing the landing points of the Huayang Needles.

"The central ore vein is guarded by the Divine Condor, and Ouyezi is supporting with the newly forged 'mountain-splitting axe'. The blade is infused with Qingming Jade, specifically designed to break the Blood Evasion Technique of the Blood Shadow Cult." In the center of the sand table, the golden-brown marker (Divine Condor) was adjacent to the black marker (Ouyezi), with a model of a mini battle axe placed next to it.

Jun Xiaoyao pointed his fingertip at a valley outside the sand table: "The Blood Shadow Cult's lair is here?"

"Yes," Zhao Gao nodded, "Their Blood Pool is hidden deep in the valley. The cultivation of the Blood Shadow Cult Disciples relies on the nourishment of the Blood Pool. If the Blood Pool can be destroyed, their combat power will plummet by 30%."

In the water mirror, the Blood Shadow Cult leader was dodging the Divine Condor's attacks in a sorry state, roaring at the remaining Disciples of the Fentian Palace: "Quickly use the Blood Evasion Technique to return to the cult and bring reinforcements! I will hold off this feathered beast!"

Divine Condor guards the mine, axe breaks the Blood Evasion.

At the entrance of the Qingming Jade Mine, the Divine Condor's wing sweep was like a gale passing through, and the corpses of the Blood Shadow Cult Disciples piled up like a mountain. When Ouyezi arrived carrying the mountain-splitting axe, he happened to see the Blood Shadow Cult leader turn into a ray of blood light, attempting to escape into the depths of the mine tunnel.

"Where are you running!" Ouyezi swung the mountain-splitting axe. The Qingming Jade on the blade shone with blue light in the sunlight, precisely hacking onto the blood light. With a "sizzle" sound, the blood light was actually split by the axe blade, and the leader's true body fell to the ground, with a wound deep enough to see bone appearing on his chest.

"This axe..." The leader looked at the mountain-splitting axe in horror, "It can actually restrain my Blood Evasion Technique!"

Ouyezi sneered: "Qingming Jade is specifically for breaking evil evasion techniques. You scum of the Blood Shadow Cult have run into your nemesis." He exchanged a glance with the Divine Condor. The Divine Condor immediately understood, flapping its wings to surround the leader in the center, while Ouyezi swung the axe and pressed forward step by step.

In front of the water mirror, Jun Xiaoyao watched this scene and nodded to Zhao Gao: "Let Ye Gucheng go to the Blood Shadow Cult's lair and destroy the Blood Pool."

Ye Gucheng's voice came from the message talisman: "My subordinate is already on the perimeter of the Blood Pool, requesting instructions."

"No need to show mercy." Jun Xiaoyao said.

The scene in the water mirror switched to the Blood Shadow Cult valley. Ye Gucheng's Flying Immortal from Beyond the Heavens Sword Qi fell like a waterfall, and the barrier above the Blood Pool shattered instantly. As the Sword Qi entered the water, the blood-colored pool water actually began to boil, and the skulls at the bottom of the pool shattered inch by inch in the Sword Qi—the evil power accumulated by the Blood Shadow Cult over generations turned into nothingness at this moment.

Holy Land intervenes, initial hostility shown.

Just as the Blood Shadow Cult was collapsing, three figures suddenly appeared in the water mirror, standing in the air, with the emblem of "Xuantian Sect" embroidered on their robes. The leading Elder of Xuantian Sect said coldly: "Beyond Heaven's actions are a bit too overbearing. The Qingming Jade Mine is a treasure of heaven and earth, how can it be monopolized?"

The Divine Condor let out a cry of warning toward the three, and as it spread its wings, Ouyezi had already held the mountain-splitting axe horizontally in front of him: "Xuantian Sect wants to intervene?"

The Elder snorted coldly and produced a bronze mirror. Where the mirror light shone, the Divine Condor's feathers actually showed scorch marks: "This ore vein is close to my Xuantian Sect's territory and should be taken over by us. If you are sensible, hand over the ore vein, otherwise..."

Before he finished speaking, the voice of the Marshal of the Unruly suddenly came from the water mirror: "Otherwise what?" The Marshal of the Unruly arrived from the direction of the plains with five hundred The Unruly. The golden light of the Tiangang Art collided with the mirror light of the Xuantian Sect, stirring up ripples of Spiritual Qi in the sky, "If the Xuantian Sect wants to snatch it by force, ask the iron chain in my hand first if it agrees!"

Jun Xiaoyao watched the tense scene in the water mirror and tapped his fingertips gently on the ice desk: "The Xuantian Sect is becoming increasingly restless." He nodded to Zhao Gao, "Have Wang Chongyang get ready. It is time to go meet their Sect Master."

Blood Pool destroyed, remnants beheaded.

When Ye Gucheng returned to the ore vein, he was holding the head of the Blood Shadow Cult leader in his hand. He threw the head in front of the Xuantian Sect Elder: "The Blood Shadow Cult has been exterminated, the remnants of the Fentian Palace have all been removed. If the Xuantian Sect wants to follow in their footsteps, you might as well try."

The Elder looked at the congealed blood on the head and then at the Divine Condor circling in the sky, a trace of dread flashing in his eyes. He snorted coldly: "My Xuantian Sect will remember today's events!" After speaking, he turned and left with his Disciples. Before leaving, the remaining light of the bronze mirror swept across the depths of the ore vein, clearly not giving up on coveting it.

Ouyezi walked to Ye Gucheng's side and pointed to the depths of the mine tunnel: "Just now, it was detected that there is even purer Qingming Jade deep in the ore vein, but it is sealed by a layer of ten-thousand-year black ice."

The Divine Condor suddenly lowered its head and pecked Ouyezi's shoulder gently, then flapped its wings and flew toward the depths of the mine tunnel. A moment later, it brought out a piece of jade ore covered in black ice—it was exactly the pure jade core that Ouyezi mentioned.

"This Divine Condor can actually perceive the location of the jade ore." Ouyezi was overjoyed. When he took the jade core, a wisp of pale golden flame sprayed from the Divine Condor's beak, instantly melting the black ice, "Companion flames! The Young Lord was right. With it here, my efficiency in forging swords can be increased by at least 30%!"

Strategy discussed in the underground palace, undercurrents of the Holy Land.

In the Hanyue Valley Underground Palace, Jun Xiaoyao looked at the pure jade core sample sent back by Ouyezi and nodded to Zhao Gao: "Let the 'Dark' Hall send more manpower to expand the mining range. In addition, the Divine Condor's companion flames cannot be wasted. Have Ouyezi start forging the 'Qingming Sword' to equip the 'Heaven' group of The Net."

Zhao Gao bowed in agreement, then suddenly pointed to the corner of the water mirror: "Young Lord, look at the direction of the Xuantian Sect!"

In the water mirror, a black pillar of light suddenly rose within the Xuantian Sect's mountain gate. In the pillar of light, countless wronged souls could be vaguely seen struggling—Wang Chongyang's voice came from the message talisman: "Young Lord, the Xuantian Sect is cultivating evil arts, using the souls of living people to feed the 'soul devouring banner'. If this banner is completed, I am afraid it can suppress the spiritual power of the Land Immortal Realm!"

A trace of coldness flashed in Jun Xiaoyao's eyes: "soul devouring banner? That is somewhat interesting." He looked at the summoning array. Due to the nourishment of the jade core, the spiritual power in the array had risen back to 90%, "It seems it is time to summon someone who can restrain evil arts."

The runes of the summoning array lit up again. This time, a figure holding Buddhist beads emerged, surrounded by Buddha light, forming a stark contrast with the black Qi of the Xuantian Sect.

Outside the underground palace, the screeching of the Divine Condor and the forging sounds of Ouyezi were intertwined. The Spiritual Qi of the Qingming Jade Mine flowed along the ore vein toward Hanyue Valley, nourishing the summoning array while also signaling that a greater storm was coming.

Jun Xiaoyao knew that the Xuantian Sect's soul devouring banner was just the beginning. The filth hidden under the halo of the Holy Land would eventually be exposed in The Net of Beyond Heaven.