370: Sword God Appears

On the ice table in the Hanyue Valley Underground Palace, a gold-stamped secret order lay flat, bearing the Nine-Dragon Imperial Seal of the Imperial Dynasty.

Jun Xiaoyao's fingertips hovered over the clause 'Beyond Heaven must hand over 50% of the mine's profits to the Imperial Dynasty.' His gaze pierced through the ice mist and landed on the water mirror, where the Second Prince was whispering with several old ministers, a hint of smugness hidden in his smile.

"Young Lord, using Qin Zhao's alleged collusion with the enemy as a pretext, the Second Prince is strongly advocating in the imperial court to 'reclaim the mining rights in the Western Regions,' claiming it is a necessary measure to 'stabilize the border.'"

Zhao Gao's voice came from the shadows. The file in his hand recorded the reactions of all parties in the capital. "The First Prince opposed it, but was suppressed by the Empress Dowager on the grounds of 'not understanding military affairs.'"

Jun Xiaoyao pushed the secret order aside; the freezing cold made the edges of the paper slightly brittle. "Fifty percent of the profits? He certainly dares to ask."

The image in the water mirror suddenly switched. A spy from the First Prince's mansion was climbing over a wall, clutching a ledger in his arms. The cover of the ledger was stamped with the words "Second Prince's collusion with the Southern Border chieftains."

"It seems the First Prince wants to use our hands to topple the Second Prince." Jun Xiaoyao tapped his fingertip on the phantom image of the ledger. "Have The Net's 'Shadow' unit provide support and deliver the ledger to Lord Bao without a signature."

"Yes." As Zhao Gao turned to leave, a dark shadow suddenly burst into the water mirror, kneeling on one knee before the Second Prince. "Your Highness, Beyond Heaven shows no movement. Should we proceed with the original plan and let the people from 'Sword Tomb' make a move?"

The Second Prince toyed with a jade pendant, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes. "Tell Jian Chi that as long as he can destroy the black iron mother lode in the Hanyue iron mine, I will grant him the title of 'Nation-Protecting Sword Master' and send him ten sword-casting slaves."

The dark shadow departed with the order. Jun Xiaoyao's gaze fell on the summoning array in the center of the underground palace. Due to the resource integration from the Western Regions Alliance, the spiritual power at the array's core had risen to 98%. As the runes circulated, the sounds of Dragon roars and sword hums seemed to intertwine, clearly sensing the aura of a top-tier Sword Cultivator.

[System Prompt: Detected threat of a Peak Land Immortal Realm Sword Cultivator, triggering "Sword God" summoning.]

[Summonable Character: Never Seeking Defeat]

[From: "the return of the condor heroes", "the smiling, proud wanderer", and other derivative worlds]

[Realm: Peak Land Immortal Realm (half a foot stepped into Shattering the Void)]

[Martial Skill: Nine Swords of Dugu (breaks all martial arts in the world), Xuantie Sword Technique (unmatched in strength and ferocity), Realm of No Sword (controlling swords with Qi)]

[Specialty: Divine Sword Dao, can see through the flaws of any sword technique, absolute suppression of Sword Cultivators]

[Summoning Cost: 98% Spiritual Power]

Jun Xiaoyao's fingertip fell, and the summoning array suddenly erupted with brilliant golden light. The runes swirled like thousands of Sword Qi, forming a pillar of light that reached the heavens. A figure slowly walked out from the pillar, dressed in coarse linen clothes, with a rusty mysterious iron sword tucked at his waist. His face was ordinary, but his eyes were as vast as an abyss, as if they contained ancient sword principles.

Never Seeking Defeat nodded slightly towards Jun Xiaoyao, his voice flat yet carrying an air of contempt for the world. "Are you the one who summoned me, Your Excellency?"

[Character Panel: Never Seeking Defeat]

[Status: Clear Sword Heart]

[Special Ability: Sword Breaking Style (70% evasion rate against Sword Cultivator attacks), Sword Domain (within a radius of ten miles, all swords are under his control)]

[Loyalty: 85%]

[Current Thought: The Sword Dao of this world is barren; perhaps I can find a worthy opponent.]

"Jian Chi from Sword Tomb is about to attack the Hanyue iron mine." Jun Xiaoyao pointed to the water mirror. "His 'Heaven-Burial Sword' has slaughtered three sects and five schools. Would Your Excellency be willing to make a move?"

Never Seeking Defeat drew his mysterious iron sword. The moment the rust peeled off, the sword hum shook the underground palace, sending ice shards flying. "I haven't met an opponent in thirty years; let him try." His figure flickered, and he stepped into the summoning array, leaving only one sentence behind: "Within three days, I will bring back his sword."

In the water mirror, deep within the tunnels of the Hanyue iron mine, the black iron mother lode suddenly trembled violently. Jian Chi, wearing a tattered sword robe and holding a pitch-black giant sword, was prying at the mother lode with his sword tip. "Beyond Heaven? Just a bunch of cowards hiding their heads and showing their tails. Do they deserve to possess such a divine Ore?"

Every time his Heaven-Burial Sword fell, large swaths of Ore shattered, and the miners fled in terror. Yue Fei's Yue Family Spear Formation arrived to intercept, but the spear shadows, like Dragons, were scattered by a single strike of Jian Chi's sword. More than ten spearmen were sent flying by the Sword Qi, coughing up blood.

"Mid-stage Terrestrial Immortal Realm?" Jian Chi sneered, his Heaven-Burial Sword tracing a black arc, striking directly at Yue Fei's heart. "General Yue's spear is not bad, but it's a pity it's held in the hands of a Mortal."

Just then, a flat voice rang out: "Your sword is too ugly."

Never Seeking Defeat appeared at the end of the tunnel, no one knew when. His mysterious iron sword pointed diagonally at the ground, the rust completely gone, revealing a warm, jade-colored blade. Jian Chi's Heaven-Burial Sword trembled violently before him, as if it had encountered its nemesis.

"Who are you?" Jian Chi was shocked and furious; the Sword Intent of his Heaven-Burial Sword was being suppressed by the opponent to the point where it could not fully erupt.

"Never Seeking Defeat."

Before the words faded, Never Seeking Defeat had already closed in. His mysterious iron sword thrust out seemingly slowly, yet it precisely struck the flaw in the Heaven-Burial Sword. Jian Chi felt a surge of clever force; his giant sword involuntarily tilted, leaving his chest exposed.

"Impossible!" Jian Chi roared, swinging his sword to save himself. The Heaven-Burial Sword stirred up a sky full of sword shadows, unleashing the "Seven Styles of Heaven-Burial" he had learned his entire life, each style carrying an aura of world-destroying power.

Never Seeking Defeat did not dodge or avoid. His mysterious iron sword wove through the sword shadows as if strolling in a courtyard. His Nine Swords of Dugu never left the flaws of the Heaven-Burial Sword; Jian Chi's Sword Qi was dissolved as soon as it condensed. In less than ten moves, he already had seven sword wounds on his body, all in non-lethal areas; he was clearly being toyed with.

"Sword Breaking Style."

Never Seeking Defeat said softly. The mysterious iron sword suddenly accelerated, passing through the sword shadows like a stream of light, precisely knocking the Heaven-Burial Sword away. Jian Chi stood frozen on the spot, looking at his empty hands, his eyes full of despair—the Sword Dao he was so proud of was vulnerable before his opponent.

"I will take your sword for you." Never Seeking Defeat picked up the Heaven-Burial Sword and squeezed it casually; the pitch-black giant sword was crushed into an iron ball. "Go back and tell the Second Prince, Beyond Heaven is not something he can touch."

Jian Chi left in a daze, and Yue Fei stepped forward and cupped his hands: "Many thanks, Senior, for your help."

Never Seeking Defeat glanced at the black iron mother lode and tapped the Ore lightly with his mysterious iron sword. The cracks on the mother lode slowly healed. "This Ore contains sword charm; it is indeed a good material." His figure flickered and disappeared into the depths of the mine, clearly having taken an interest in this vein.

In front of the water mirror, Jun Xiaoyao watched this scene and said to the returning Zhao Gao: "The Second Prince should know fear now."

Zhao Gao handed over the latest secret report: "News from the capital: Lord Bao has already taken the ledger sent by the First Prince and impeached the Second Prince in the imperial court. Although the Empress Dowager wanted to shield him, she was suppressed by the joint memorial of the Censorate and couldn't lift her head."

In the water mirror, the Second Prince was escorted out of the Golden Throne Hall by the Imperial Guards. Before leaving, he roared at the sky: "Jun Xiaoyao! I will not let you off!"

Jun Xiaoyao said indifferently: "He has no chance." He looked at the summoning array. Although the spiritual power at the array's core was exhausted due to the summoning of Never Seeking Defeat, there was a bit more sword charm in the circulating runes, clearly influenced by Never Seeking Defeat.

"By the way," Zhao Gao added, "the night-luminous jade mine in the Western Regions has started production. Cheng Lingsu says that using night-luminous jade combined with mysterious iron, one can forge a 'Cold Jade Sword,' which is far sharper than ordinary iron."

Jun Xiaoyao picked up a sample of the night-luminous jade. The jade was warm and moist, emitting a faint blue glow under the light. "Let the people at the sword-casting workshop try. If it succeeds, equip every member of The Net's 'Heaven' unit with one."

"Yes."

The underground palace returned to silence, with only the water mirror still playing the chaotic situation in the capital. The First Prince seized the opportunity to consolidate the Second Prince's forces. Undercurrents surged in the court, clearly wanting to strike while the iron was hot and consolidate his position as the Crown Prince.

Jun Xiaoyao watched the First Prince's hypocritical smile and said to Zhao Gao: "Remind Lord Bao not to let the First Prince get too complacent; find him something to do."

Zhao Gao smiled knowingly: "This subordinate understands. I will say that the grain and grass in the Northern Territory have been deducted again and let him investigate."

Jun Xiaoyao nodded slightly and cast his gaze back to the summoning array.

Although the spiritual power was exhausted, he knew that as the influence of Beyond Heaven continued to expand, the enemies he encountered would only become stronger, and the appearance of Never Seeking Defeat was just the beginning.

The wind and snow outside Hanyue Valley gradually subsided. Sunlight pierced through the clouds, shining on the location of the black iron mother lode. Faint sword hums emerged, interweaving with the tremors of the mine, as if composing a war song belonging to Beyond Heaven.

The chess game belonging to Jun Xiaoyao was still continuing. And every move was steadily progressing in the direction he wanted.