96: Secret Report from the Luowang

Jun Xiaoyao sat on the rosewood chair in the Tianwaitian Headquarters, lightly tapping the armrest with his fingertips. Candlelight flickered in the hall, reflecting off his handsome yet indifferent profile. Behind him, a massive map of the Jianghu hung on the stone wall, marked with vermilion indicating the strongholds of various factions. The location of Jueqing Valley was circled with a conspicuous red ring.

"Young Lord, The Net has sent back a secret report." Zhao Gao appeared silently at the hall entrance, his dark brocade robe making his complexion look even more sinister. He held a wooden box with dark patterns. "The siege of Jueqing Valley by the Seven Major Factions is actually a cover for the Dark Holy Cult. Their true target is the altar in the valley, and they plan to unite with the Blood Shadow Cult for a Blood Sacrifice in three days."

Jun Xiaoyao slightly raised his eyelids, his gaze falling upon Jueqing Valley on the map. "A Blood Sacrifice? That's quite an undertaking." He signaled Zhao Gao to open the wooden box. Inside, lined with black velvet, lay half of a broken jade pendant. Complex runes were carved onto the pendant, and dark red bloodstains clung to its edge.

"This was brought back by Full of Towers from a Dark Holy Cult stronghold. According to his identification, the runes on the jade pendant share the same origin as the Protective Formation of the Jueqing Valley altar; it seems to be the key to opening the altar." Zhao Gao whispered, "Enhanced Fu Hongxue has already rushed to Jueqing Valley to deliver the message, but..."

"It's just that the Cult Master of the Blood Shadow Cult, Xue Wushang, is rumored to have already achieved a Breakthrough to the Land Immortal Realm. Ordinary Heavenly Human Realm experts are no match for him." Jun Xiaoyao took the jade pendant, his fingertip brushing the cool jade surface. "For the Dark Holy Cult to be able to hire him, they must have promised substantial benefits."

Zhao Gao bowed and said, "The Net has discovered that Xue Wushang desires the 'Blood Soul Crystal' beneath the altar. That item can help him Break through to the Void Shattering Realm."

"Blood Soul Crystal..." Jun Xiaoyao paused his fingertip, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes. "Legend says it was formed from the heart blood of an Ancient Blood God, truly a supreme treasure for Cultivating Evil Art." He tossed the jade pendant back into the wooden box. "It seems I have to wade into this muddy water, whether I want to or not."

Zhao Gao looked up, "Does Young Lord mean...?"

"Inform the Marshal of the Unruly to bring three hundred Unruly elites and accompany me to Jueqing Valley." Jun Xiaoyao stood up, his dark robe sweeping the ground, raising a slight breeze. "Although the Blood Soul Crystal is valuable, if it falls into Xue Wushang's hands, it will only lead to endless trouble. What's more..." He looked at a marking next to Jueqing Valley on the map, "The 'cold marrow jade' that Beyond Heaven needs is hidden there, and it cannot be destroyed by the Blood Sacrifice."

A flash of understanding crossed Zhao Gao's eyes—the Young Lord was never one to stick up for others; this move was ultimately for the resources of Beyond Heaven. He bowed and replied, "This subordinate will go arrange it immediately."

Three days later, outside Jueqing Valley.

Li Qianhun's forces had been attacking for two days. Although the valley walls were severely damaged, Qiao Feng and the others desperately resisted, preventing them from breaching the defenses for the time being. In the afternoon, a black wind suddenly swept up on the horizon, carrying a strong scent of blood. The forces of the Blood Shadow Cult had arrived.

Leading them was a man in red, with an eerie face and a faint, ever-present smile on his lips—it was Xue Wushang. Behind him followed a hundred Blood Guards, all possessing cold Auras, clearly experts above the Grandmaster Realm.

"Gongsun Zhi, hand over the altar, and this seat can spare everyone in Jueqing Valley." Xue Wushang's voice was airy, yet carried an undeniable pressure. The Disciples on the valley wall felt their Qi and blood surge, finding it difficult to hold their weapons.

Qiao Feng roared in anger, unleashing the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms with full force. The golden palm print shot straight toward Xue Wushang. "Demon, don't be so arrogant!"

Xue Wushang chuckled softly, flicking out a thread of blood from his fingertip, easily shredding the palm print. "Peak Heavenly Human Realm? A decent sacrifice." His figure flickered, instantly appearing below the valley wall, striking a palm toward Qiao Feng's chest.

Just then, a streak of black light sliced down like lightning, forcing Xue Wushang to retract his palm to block. With a crisp "ding," Enhanced Fu Hongxue's Black Blade collided with Xue Wushang's palm wind, stirring up a sky full of blood mist.

"Fu Hongxue?" Xue Wushang raised an eyebrow. "I didn't expect to run into you here."

Enhanced Fu Hongxue remained silent, standing with his blade, his eyes cold as ice. Full of Towers had somehow appeared beside Qiao Feng, gently waving his folding fan. "Cult Master Xue, why aren't you staying properly in your Blood Shadow Cult? Running wild in Jueqing Valley—aren't you afraid of getting burned?"

Xue Wushang's smile grew more sinister. "Full of Towers? I heard your nose is sharper than a dog's. Then smell this: isn't the air in Jueqing Valley already permeated with the scent of despair?" He flipped his hand, and a blood-red token flew out, embedding itself in the ground. "Blood Sacrifice Grand Formation, activate!"

In an instant, several blood-red fissures cracked open in the ground, and dark red mist surged out, enveloping the entire Jueqing Valley. The Disciples in the valley immediately felt dizzy, and the circulation of their cultivation power became sluggish.

"Crap! This mist can corrode Internal Energy!" Gongsun Zhi exclaimed, hastily activating the Formation within the valley. A golden light barrier rose, temporarily blocking the spread of the mist.

Seeing this, Xue Wushang was about to strengthen the Formation's power when he heard the sound of hooves in the distance. Hundreds of black-clad riders approached through the mist. The leader, wearing a dark robe and a jade belt, was Jun Xiaoyao. Behind him followed the Marshal of the Unruly, his silver armor shimmering coldly in the mist, and three hundred Unruly formed a neat square Formation, their Aura murderous.

"People from Beyond Heaven?" A trace of surprise flashed in Xue Wushang's eyes, then he laughed. "Young Master Jun, why aren't you staying properly in your Beyond Heaven? What are you doing in this poor mountain ditch?"

Jun Xiaoyao reined in his horse, his gaze sweeping over the valley shrouded in blood mist, finally settling on Xue Wushang. "Cult Master Xue, stealing things on my Beyond Heaven's territory—you clearly don't respect me."

Xue Wushang was stunned. "Your territory?"

"The cold marrow jade beneath the altar was marked by Beyond Heaven three months ago." Jun Xiaoyao's tone was calm, as if stating the most ordinary fact. "If Cult Master Xue wants the Blood Soul Crystal, why not find another place, lest we damage our harmony."

Hearing this, Xue Wushang burst into laughter. "Based on you? You think you can make this seat abandon the Blood Soul Crystal?" The blood Qi around him surged dramatically, and the pressure of the Land Immortal Realm rushed toward Jun Xiaoyao like a tsunami. "Today, I will let you know that Beyond Heaven is not qualified to criticize this seat!"

Before Jun Xiaoyao could act, the Marshal of the Unruly had already ridden forward. With a sweep of the whisk in his hand, silver threads rolled out like a waterfall, forcefully blocking the pressure. "Xue Wushang, after so many years, your vision hasn't improved."

"Marshal of the Unruly?" Xue Wushang squinted. "Back then, you and I were on the same level, but now that this seat is a Land Immortal, you still dare to stop me?"

"You'll know if you try." The Marshal of the Unruly swept his whisk again, the silver threads transforming into thousands of sharp blades, stabbing straight toward Xue Wushang's face. Xue Wushang snorted coldly, his palms flying. The blood-red palm shadows collided with the silver blades, shaking the surrounding blood mist until it dispersed slightly.

Qiao Feng and the others on the valley wall watched in alarm—was this the strength of the Land Immortal Realm? Just the aftershocks caused their Qi and blood to churn.

Jun Xiaoyao glanced at the battle circle and said to Zhao Gao, "Have The Unruly go break the Blood Sacrifice Grand Formation. The Net should have marked the location of the cold marrow jade, right?"

"It's marked, three zhang east of the altar." Zhao Gao handed over a parchment scroll. "However, the Grand Formation is connected to the altar, and breaking the Formation might damage the altar's Foundation."

"No matter." Jun Xiaoyao dismounted, taking the parchment scroll. "If Gongsun Zhi dares to object, tell him to come debate with my Beyond Heaven."

At this moment, Enhanced Fu Hongxue had already charged into the Blood Guard Formation. His Black Blade flashed, every strike precisely hitting a weak point of a Blood Guard. In moments, dozens of people fell. Full of Towers protected the injured Disciples, gently tapping his folding fan, always neutralizing the Blood Guards' sneak attacks at the critical moment.

Jun Xiaoyao passed through the battle circle, heading straight for the altar. People from the Blood Shadow Cult tried to stop him along the way, but they were sent flying by the Qi force he casually unleashed—although he rarely made a move, his cultivation had long since reached the Peak Heavenly Human Realm, and ordinary Grandmasters couldn't even get close to him.

In the secret chamber beneath the altar, three Elders of the Dark Holy Cult were attempting to decipher the Protective Formation. Suddenly, the ground shook, and the Formation runes flickered violently. "What's going on?" As the leading Elder turned his head, he saw a dark figure appear at the entrance of the secret chamber.

"Beyond Heaven is handling business. Miscellaneous people, scram." Jun Xiaoyao's tone was indifferent. He flicked out three strands of Finger Wind from his fingertips, striking the pressure points of the three Elders. The three fell to the ground instantly, their eyes filled with terror—they hadn't even seen how the opponent had struck!

Jun Xiaoyao ignored them and walked straight to the corner of the secret chamber, where the ground emitted a faint white light. He took out a Jade Talisman and pressed it into the center of the white light. The ground slowly cracked open, revealing a piece of white jade half the height of a man. Ice-crystal-like patterns flowed within the jade—it was the cold marrow jade.

"It is here, indeed." Jun Xiaoyao reached out and pressed his hand onto the cold marrow jade. The cold Qi from the jade surged into his body through his fingertips, causing him to squint comfortably—this cold marrow jade could nourish the Divine Soul, greatly benefiting a Breakthrough to the Void Shattering Realm.

Just then, a loud bang came from outside, and Xue Wushang's roar penetrated the secret chamber. "Jun Xiaoyao! How dare you ruin this seat's plan!"

Jun Xiaoyao put away the cold marrow jade, brushed the dust off his sleeve, and slowly walked out of the secret chamber. Xue Wushang had already broken free from the Marshal of the Unruly's entanglement, his body radiating blood Qi like fire, clearly enraged to the extreme.

"Cult Master Xue, why be angry?" Jun Xiaoyao placed the cold marrow jade into his Storage Ring. "Take the Blood Soul Crystal if you want it. As long as you don't damage my things, Beyond Heaven will not interfere in your affairs."

Xue Wushang stared intensely at him. "Do you think this seat will trust you?"

"Whether you believe it is up to you." Jun Xiaoyao turned around. "Marshal of the Unruly, retreat."

Upon hearing the order, the Marshal of the Unruly withdrew his whisk and, along with the three hundred Unruly, quickly gathered behind Jun Xiaoyao. Xue Wushang watched their retreating figures, a hint of hesitation flashing in his eyes—although he was arrogant, he knew that Beyond Heaven's Foundation was unfathomable, and there was no need to fall out with Jun Xiaoyao over the Blood Soul Crystal.

"Cult Master, the Blood Soul Crystal..." the Elder beside him asked cautiously.

Xue Wushang snorted coldly. "Take it and leave! Don't stay here any longer!"

On the valley wall, Qiao Feng watched the forces of Beyond Heaven disappear into the mist, his brows tightly furrowed. "Who was that person? He actually managed to make Xue Wushang back down?"

Full of Towers gently waved his folding fan. "Young Master of Beyond Heaven, Jun Xiaoyao. Rumors in the Jianghu say he never takes action, yet I didn't expect him to possess such strength." He looked at Enhanced Fu Hongxue. "Brother Fu, do you know this person's background?"

Enhanced Fu Hongxue sheathed his blade, his eyes complex. "I only know that he established Beyond Heaven ten years ago, and The Net and The Unruly are both his factions. As for him personally... no one has ever seen him truly fight."

At this moment, Gongsun Zhi walked forward, gazing in the direction Beyond Heaven had departed. He murmured, "cold marrow jade... so that's what he came for." He turned to the others. "Gentlemen, thank you for your help today. However, after this battle, Jueqing Valley will likely have to close its gates for recuperation."

Qiao Feng nodded. "We also need to report back to our Sects quickly. This matter... is likely far from over."

As Jun Xiaoyao traveled back to Beyond Heaven with the cold marrow jade, Zhao Gao whispered, "Young Lord, Xue Wushang obtained the Blood Soul Crystal. His strength is bound to increase, and he might become a hidden danger in the future."

Jun Xiaoyao leaned back in the carriage, playing with the half-jade pendant in his fingertips. "A hidden danger? Then let him be a useful hidden danger." A faint smile curled his lips. "Send people to monitor the Blood Shadow Cult. If he can help Beyond Heaven eliminate a few rivals, keeping him around is fine."

Zhao Gao bowed in affirmation, but inwardly sighed—the Young Lord's schemes truly surpassed everyone else's. This Jianghu, it seemed, was about to be thrown into complete chaos because of this cold marrow jade.