Chapter 57: The Black Ice台

A net of heaven and earth, pervasive and inescapable. To more than nine-tenths of the people across the various states, the existence of Zhao, known as the Web, remained unknown; yet to the truly powerful figures wielding authority throughout the nations, the very name resounded like thunder.

Tracing its origins back through the annals of history, the organization of the Web had expanded progressively alongside the growing might of the State of Qin. A century ago, during the reign of Duke Xiao of Qin, as the effects of the legalist reforms became manifest and external wars grew increasingly frequent, the Black Ice Terrace was established.

Affiliated directly with the royal house of Great Qin, the primary mission of the Black Ice Terrace was to scout military intelligence from the six rival states, preparing the ground for wars of annexation and expansion. During this period, illustrious generals of Qin such as Bai Shan and the Chancellor Zhang Zi implemented simple yet effective reforms within the institution.

By the era of King Zhaoxiang of Qin, the formidable power of the Black Ice Terrace had become fully apparent, forged into a sharp blade in the hands of the King of Qin. Following decades of further development, it had gradually embedded itself deep within the territories of the neighboring states, thus laying the foundation for Qin's successive victories in subsequent external conflicts.

However, during the reigns of King Xiaowen of Qin and King Zhuangxiang of Qin, as the merchant Lü Buwei seized the reins of power in Qin, the authority over this razor-sharp blade fell into his hands.

Moreover, being immensely wealthy himself, he spared no expense in recruiting wandering swordsmen, ruthless desperadoes, and assassins from all over the world to integrate into the Black Ice Terrace. Out of this emerged the Web, structured into eight distinct ranks: Heavenly Kill, Earthly Ruin, Phantom, Spirit, Ghoulish, Monstrous, Pixie, and Sprite, thereby establishing the true Web.

Of all this, Zhou Qing was naturally well aware. Speaking of Lü Buwei, the Marquis of Wenxin, Zhou Qing actually held a deep sense of admiration for him. Rising from a humble merchant to become the current Prime Minister of Great Qin, wielding authority that cast a shadow over all the Xia states, was a feat not easily accomplished by ordinary mortals.

As the Prime Minister of Great Qin, surrounded by numerous retainers and guests, the existence of the Web was entirely necessary for safeguarding his own person. Holding the Eagle Sword and clad in a pale azure robe, he rode the wind, his spiritual perception keenly awakening as he stepped out of the Qin palace, instantly sensing the presence of various Web assassins.

The closer he drew to Lü Buwei's residence, the greater the number of Web assassins he encountered, and the more powerful their auras became. Wealth could indeed move the gods, a truth clearly illustrated here. Unfortunately, numerous as the assassins were, most lingered only at the realm of Primordial Innate, and not a single master of the Divine Transformation and Mysterious Spirit boundary had been detected so far.

The slaughter of Daoist disciples was a debt that must be settled!

Compared to Zhou Qing's velocity, the city of Xianyang was not truly vast. Emerging from the vicinity of the Xianyang Palace in the eastern district, internal vital energy surged as he stepped into the void. Although he could not yet match the peerless marvel of Liezi who rode the wind for three days without pause, borrowing the force of the void's currents was well within his capability.

On a moonless and windy night, just right for killing, his figure remained devoid of mystical light, allowing the moonlight to wash over him while leaving no phantom shadow lingering upon the ground. With exquisite arts following his heart, light and darkness rotated as he entered the western district of Xianyang City, where the mansions of Qin's senior ministers and government offices were located.

"The Lü Estate!"

Looking down from the high void and observing the flow of qi, although the hour was nearing the Zi period, across the vast expanse of the western district, numerous locations remained brightly lit, filled with the sounds of singing and dancing.

For the objective he sought, Zhou Qing's method was simple: wherever the aura of the Web assassins was strongest, that place naturally held his target. Nearing the western district, the tiers of the individual Web assassins had already reached the peak of the Primordial Innate boundary.

Complementing their unique lethal techniques, when engaged in combat against peers, the destructive power of these assassins was truly formidable. Dozens of breaths later, amidst the continuous sounds of feasting and merrymaking echoing in his ears, Zhou Qing's figure descended from the sky. Sweeping the area with a glance from the corner of his eye, he murmured softly to himself.

"There are only three assassins at the Divine Transformation level?"

His formidable spiritual perception expanded, shrouding the mansion of the Marquis of Wenxin, Lü Buwei, which spanned several miles. Without hesitation, having located his targets, he took a single step forward and vanished from his spot.

With a single thought, the Descent of Heaven and Earth Turning Pale arrived, instantly enveloping a Divine Transformation-level Web assassin who was a thousand meters away. Although the assassin's aura was not weak, it fell far short of his own.

Under the influence of Heaven and Earth Turning Pale, all creation fell into extinction and nothingness; all externalized primordial energy and sound vanished, as if the external void had frozen completely. The drifting dark clouds halted, and the seductive music lingering in the ear was abruptly cut short.

The colorful world instantly receded from him. All of this happened in the flash of an instant. Drifting forward gracefully, holding his longsword, he executed a direct slash. A faint line of blood manifested, and the aura of life instantly extinguished. With a single-handed twist, a surging force burst forth from the void.

With raw power, he crushed the Divine Transformation-level assassin into pulp, leaving an intensely rich, lingering scent of blood. Following this, a pale azure palm print burst forth, obliterating the remnants. Under the moonlight, only scattered spots of crimson blood remained.

"You are the first!"

A martial artist at the Divine Transformation and Mysterious Spirit boundary was entirely comparable to the leaders of the various schools of philosophy. Some sects barely possessed even Primordial Innate masters. With his current cultivation at the Great Perfection of Divine Transformation, eradicating a Heavenly-grade assassin at the Divine Transformation level was effortless.

Possessing three thousand retainers, feasting day and night, absorbing the sayings of the hundred schools to establish the doctrine of the Miscellaneous School, they had previously dispatched men when the King of Qin and others sought palace protectors and swordsmen. Later, however, those men had departed for reasons unknown.

The Eagle Sword rested in his hand, its surface shimmering with a faint Daoist azure luster. Beneath the cold, silvery moon, Zhou Qing did not halt his movements. He stepped through the void and departed to seek out the second Divine Transformation-level Web assassin.

Ten breaths later, under the absolute seal of Heaven and Earth Turning Pale, all thoughts turned to void. No matter how the Divine Transformation-level assassin struggled, he could ultimately not alter his fate.

Twenty breaths later, within an area spanning several thousand meters, all three Divine Transformation-level assassins he had perceived were completely slain. Yet, this was merely a beginning.

If he wished for Zongquan and Zongqiong to act with greater safety in the future, Zhou Qing felt that this time, he had to inflict profound pain upon the Web and crush its core foundation. Short of this, they would never truly learn their lesson.

"With my Mysterious Spirit and Innate innocence, reach the utmost of emptiness and guard steadfastly in stillness!"

This was a cultivation method from the Dao Scripture, named *Quiet Emptiness*, blending the marvels of *Central Emptiness*. His spiritual perception returned to the dawn of the Innate state, expanding to its absolute limit in a manner akin to searching souls through myriad thoughts. Within a flash, supported by profound calculation, the area of several thousand meters expanded to encompass tens of thousands of meters.

Murmuring softly, his eyes flashing with the brilliance of a blazing sun, within a single breath, every single master inside the mansion of Marquis Wenxin was brought under his control, barring any whose cultivation surpassed his own.

Yet, based on what he knew of Lü Buwei's capabilities, he lacked the power to recruit masters of that exalted tier—much like the leader of the Yin-Yang School, whom even King Ying Zheng did not command directly, relying instead solely on his two chief protectors to shoulder all responsibilities.

"Zongquan once mentioned that a certain individual was severely injured by the sword qi sealed within the Eagle Sword. It seems it must be him. To survive a direct strike from sword qi wielding eighty percent of my strength without dying—his cultivation can truly be considered formidable even within the Divine Transformation realm!"