Starting as the heir of a marquis's mansion, I gained access to a summoning system.

Skynet's Western Headquarters - A Hidden Valley

It took the gray-clad men sent by the Netherworld King three days to find the valley where the Heavenly Net's western headquarters was located.

"The messenger of the Netherworld Dharma King of the White Lotus Sect requests an audience with the Commander." The gray-clad man stood at the entrance of the valley, holding up the White Lotus Commander.

A moment later, a man in black emerged from the valley, his face cold and his voice hoarse: "The Commander is waiting for you."

The man in gray was led into a large hall deep in the valley.

Seated in the center of the hall was a man in his fifties, with a gaunt face but an astonishingly bright pair of eyes. He wore a long black robe embroidered with a dark golden spider—the symbol of the Skynet.

Yin Wuxie, the "Dark Spider" Commander of the Heavenly Net, is a Grandmaster at the sixth level.

"The Netherworld King's men?" Yin Wuxie asked, his voice sharp and resonant. "What is it?"

The man in gray bowed: "Commander, the Dharma King wishes to request that the Heavenly Net execute someone."

"Who?"

"Dongfang Weiwo is the second son of the Weeping Blood Marquis, Dongfang Wudi. He currently serves as the commander of the Chengfu Division in Pingyang County."

Yin Wuxie's previously nonchalant gaze suddenly sharpened.

He didn't answer immediately, but slowly leaned back in his chair, his fingertips lightly tapping the armrest, making a dull sound.

"The son of Dongfang Wudi?" he repeated, his tone becoming playful.

The man in gray looked at him nervously.

Yin Wuxie suddenly laughed, but the laughter was as cold as a knife scraping bone: "Do you know who Dongfang Wudi is?"

The man in gray was taken aback.

Yin Wuxie didn't need his reply, and continued speaking to himself. His voice wasn't loud, but every word seemed to be driven into his bones:

"The Xuan Tian Dynasty is openly the number one power in the world. A Grandmaster at the peak of the ninth level."

He stood up, hands behind his back, his gaunt shadow stretching long in the candlelight:

"The Four Kings of the White Lotus Sect sound impressive, but in front of Dongfang Wudi, they are nothing more than slightly larger ants. He doesn't need a second move to kill."

Cold sweat beaded on the forehead of the man in gray.

Yin Wuxie turned to look at him, her strikingly bright eyes filled with a hint of mockery:

"Your Dharma King doesn't dare to take action himself, so he comes to Tianwang? He's afraid of death, but aren't the people of Tianwang afraid of death?"

The man in gray, forcing a smile, said, "The Dharma King said the price is negotiable..."

"Price?" Yin Wuxie interrupted him, her voice suddenly rising. "You think this is about money?"

He walked to the center of the hall, his tone carrying an almost cold clarity:

"The Dongfang family has a history of ten thousand years and is the head of the four major families in the imperial city. The Weeping Blood Marquis's Mansion and the Dongfang Clan of the Imperial City—two mountains weigh down there, their foundations unfathomable."

Who dares to go to the capital and harm the Dongfang family? Who dares to go to the Weeping Blood Marquis's residence and harm the Dongfang family's bloodline?

He turned his head and stared at the man in gray:

"Your Dharma King sent you here to die, and you actually came. Did he tell you that Dongfang Wudi only has two sons? The eldest son, Dongfang Lingyun, is the eldest son of the Dongfang family, a Grandmaster, and rarely leaves the imperial city. The second son, Dongfang Weiwo, although only at the Innate Realm, is Dongfang Wudi's own flesh and blood!"

Yin Wuxie's voice grew colder and colder:

The man in gray was deathly pale and speechless.

Yin Wuxie was silent for a moment, then suddenly sat down again, his tone returning to calm: "However... since we're here, this business isn't out of the question."

He held up one finger: "Five million taels of gold, plus ten White Lotus Heavenly Pills. Half the gold and five pills will be paid upfront."

The man in gray stared wide-eyed: "Five...five million taels of gold? Ten White Lotus Heavenly Pills?!"

His voice was trembling.

The White Lotus Heavenly Pill is the White Lotus Sect's most prized elixir—it allows even a Grandmaster to break through a minor realm! The White Lotus Sect uses all its resources, taking ten years to refine just five pills. Ten pills represent the entirety of the White Lotus Sect's resources accumulated over twenty years.

Yin Wuxie said indifferently, "You think it's too expensive? Then please leave. Your Dharma King can do it himself and save those five million taels and ten Heavenly Pills. You might even have enough to buy a good coffin."

He was about to wave goodbye when he said that.

"Wait!" The man in gray gritted his teeth. "Sir, this price... the Dharma King..."

"He will."

Yin Wuxie interrupted him, her tone leaving no room for argument.

"Killing Dongfang Wudi's son is like cutting a knife into the Dongfang family's dragon scales. After this cut, Dongfang Wudi will be furious, the dynasty will be shaken, and the price that Tianwang will have to pay will be far greater than that. Five million taels of gold and ten White Lotus Heavenly Pills are exchanged for Dongfang Wudi being distracted, for the barbarians to benefit in the northern border, and for the wishful thinking of those big shots in your headquarters. This is a deal that your Dharma King won't lose out on."

His voice was as cold as iron: "Either pay up and provide the pills, or leave. If your Dharma King wants to use the Heavenly Net as a weapon, he'd better show enough sincerity."

The man in gray gritted his teeth and said, "I will go back and report to the Dharma King."

Yin Wuxie nodded and said to the man in black beside him, "See the guest out."

After the gray-clad man withdrew, the black-clad man turned back and whispered, "Commander, ten White Lotus Heavenly Pills... the Netherworld Dharma King may not have that many. The White Lotus Heavenly Pills are all at the main altar; he can't make that decision."

Yin Wuxie closed his eyes to rest, his voice as calm as if he were talking about something trivial:

"He'll find a way. He doesn't dare to act on his own, but he has to carry out orders from above. The White Lotus Sect headquarters wants to use the barbarians to restrain the imperial court, the barbarians need Dongfang Wudi to distract them on the battlefield, and there are also those forces behind the scenes—they want to test the reaction of the Xuan Tian Dynasty and the strength of the Dongfang family, but no one dares to step forward on their own. The Netherworld Dharma King is a pawn they've thrown out."

He opened his eyes, a cold smile playing on his lips:

"Chess pieces have no right to bargain. Five million taels of gold and ten White Lotus Heavenly Pills—he has to take them whether he wants to or not."

The man in black asked again, "If he brings it, will we really send Bloodhand?"

Yin Wuxie remained silent for a long time.

"Send," he finally said, his voice lowering, "but tell Bloodhand that he only has one chance. If he misses, flee immediately and do not linger. If things become unbearable, abandon the mission and save yourself."

"clear."

Yin Wuxie gazed at the deep night sky over the valley outside the main hall, a barely perceptible hint of apprehension flashing in his eyes.

Killing Dongfang Wudi's son is a huge gamble. Five million taels of gold plus ten White Lotus Heavenly Pills are priceless, but what's truly important is never the money or the pills.

Rather, it was the people behind the Skynet who were testing the Xuantian Dynasty, and the Dongfang family was the most steadfast supporter of the Xuantian Dynasty.

When the Netherworld King received the report from the man in gray, his face turned completely black.

"Five million taels of gold? Ten White Lotus Heavenly Pills?"

His voice was as if squeezed out from between his teeth, each word filled with boundless rage. He slammed his hand down, shattering the stone table beside him, sending shards of stone flying everywhere.

"Why didn't he just rob it?!"

The man in gray knelt on the ground, not daring to lift his head.

The Netherworld Dharma King's chest heaved violently, his face ashen. Five million taels of gold was one thing, but what was the White Lotus Heavenly Pill? It was the White Lotus Sect's most precious pill, made with the combined strength of the entire sect and the rarest spiritual herbs in the world, taking ten years to refine just five of them! Every single one was recorded, and the main altar was keeping a close watch on it. Let alone ten, he couldn't even make a decision on one.

But Yin Wuxie's words were already out there—he had to take it whether he wanted to or not.

He paced back and forth like a caged wild beast. When he stopped, a fierce glint flashed in his eyes: "That old fox Yin Wuxie... he knows I have no choice."

The White Lotus Sect headquarters wanted to use the barbarians to restrain the imperial court, the barbarians needed Dongfang Wudi to distract them in the north, and there were also those forces hiding behind the scenes—everyone was waiting for the Dongfang family to show a weakness. He was the pawn pushed to the forefront. If he didn't do it, the big shots at headquarters would replace him, and he would become a discarded pawn.

The only fate of a discarded pawn is death.

The Netherworld Dharma King remained silent for a long time before finally gritting his teeth and saying, "Go and report back to Yin Wuxie. Five million taels of gold, ten White Lotus Heavenly Pills... I agree. But the pills need to be transferred from the main altar, which will take time. Pay five million taels of gold and five Heavenly Pills first; the remaining five will be paid after the matter is settled."

The man in gray hesitated, then said, "Your Majesty, what about the main altar..."

"I'll talk to the main altar!" the Netherworld Dharma King roared. "I've already poured my life savings into this. If they can't even afford this much, then let them come and kill Dongfang Wudi's son themselves!"

He took a deep breath, his eyes showing determination:

"Tell Yin Wuxie that the full payment will be delivered within seven days. Make sure he takes Dongfang Weiwo's head by the deadline."