Xiuxian: Start with the medicine boy

Followed by.

Xuanming Half-Venerable raised his sleeve and wiped the cold sweat that had appeared on his forehead without him noticing.

His face still bore the pallor of someone who had survived a calamity, and a sense of relief.

however,
The moment he lowered his sleeve, a barely perceptible glint of something unusual flashed in the depths of his eyes!

He then regained his composure as the deputy head of the Surveillance Hall.

He dared not linger; with a single step, he appeared dozens of feet away.

With a few steps, his figure disappeared among the towering palaces and pillars.

Inside the main hall, silence returned.

Cheng Buzheng sat alone on the high throne, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest, his gaze fixed on the palace gate, lost in thought.

"I only hope that you... will take good care of yourself."

He muttered to himself, his voice barely audible.

Not long!
Outside this magnificent and solemn council hall...

The spiritual energy between heaven and earth seemed to pause slightly.

Last moment!
Several figures were still hundreds of steps away, seemingly moving slowly, but in reality, they were shrinking the distance to an inch. The moment their figures solidified in the field of vision, they had already crossed a vast distance.

The next instant, the strong wind subsided, and seven figures with vast and powerful auras stood steadily before the white jade steps of the main hall.

The aura of a semi-saint spread out from his body, causing the surrounding grass and trees to bend slightly, and even the air seemed to be solidified, exuding a terrifying power.

Until this moment...
Only when the light and shadow outside the hall became completely clear could the lineup of these seven powerful figures be discerned.

Each and every one of them possessed an air of otherworldly grace or a cold, imposing presence, their bodies radiating Daoist energy. They were all powerful figures, half-saints, who held considerable authority within the Cultivator Association.

The leader was none other than Qu Changfeng, the Half-Venerable of the Ten Thousand Immortals Sect.
He was dressed in a blue robe that fluttered in the wind, his face was calm, and his eyes were like a bottomless pit. Just by standing there, he exuded an aura of authority without anger.

Behind him stood the Kunyue Sect's Illusion Moon Half-Venerable, dressed in a plain dress, with a faint hazy look in his eyes, his aura gentle yet concealing sharpness.
The half-venerable Tian Shuzi of the Beidou Sect had a face as handsome as jade, wore a Daoist robe with star patterns, and was surrounded by starlight.

The Cold Phoenix Half-Venerable, dressed in a fiery red dress, possessed icy phoenix eyes and exuded a chilling aura of killing intent...

The remaining few were all established half-saint level experts from their respective sects.
Each one of them is enough to intimidate a region.

Yes,

These seven half-saints were none other than the hall masters and deputy hall masters of the Enforcement Hall of the Cultivator Association, and they had all been summoned here today.

Then,

Without the slightest hesitation, Qu Banzun, the Hall Master of the Enforcement Hall, raised his finger and gently touched the light screen in front of the hall's entrance...

A wisp of pure magical power shot out from the fingertip and landed on the seemingly thin but actually heavily restricted array light screen.

The next moment, the light barrier trembled slightly, rippling outwards in faint waves.
Like a stone thrown into water, it spreads layer by layer.

Just as the ripples were beginning to subside,

An ancient, dark-colored gate slowly appeared in the center of the light screen, with intricate patterns carved on it, faintly connecting to the main hall.

at the same time,

A detached yet familiar voice emanated from within the light screen, each word clearly reaching the ears of every half-saint:

"Enter!"

Hearing this,

The hall masters and deputy hall masters of the Enforcement Hall dared not be negligent in the slightest.

They immediately exchanged a glance, their eyes both revealing a hint of unease and doubt.
Then, with a light touch of their toes, they stepped onto the white jade steps and filed into the portal that led directly into the main hall.

The moment I stepped through the door...

A multitude of conflicting thoughts churned within their minds, rising and falling in waves:

"This time, the president actually had Fellow Daoist Xuanming, the deputy hall master of the Surveillance Hall, personally summon us, and also called in the hall master and deputy hall master of the Enforcement Hall. Could it be that something serious has happened?"

"When the Half-Venerable Xuanming came to deliver the message just now, his expression was extremely gloomy."
When we pressed him for the reason, he refused to reveal a single word, only telling us to come quickly, as this matter was definitely not simple!

"Could it be that my Enforcement Hall made a mistake in handling affairs recently, which angered the Guild Master?"

"wrong!
During this period, the Enforcement Hall has been operating smoothly and without incident, except for some minor disputes. Even those small troubles have been handled properly and without any mistakes.

Why would the president go to such lengths, summoning all of us half-respected figures, for such a trivial matter?

"If it wasn't a mistake in handling the matter, then why?"

Could it be that the guild leader feels that our Enforcement Hall has been slacking off lately and wants to summon us for a reprimand?
Even so, there's no need to make such a fuss.
The probability is extremely low!

"Then why is that...?"

As the assembled Half-Saints of the Enforcement Hall were filled with a multitude of thoughts and doubts...
Their steps did not falter, and in just a few breaths they had entered the main hall.

Upon entering the main hall, atop a high throne, sat a majestic figure—

It was Cheng Buzheng, the president of the Cultivator Association.

His aura was restrained, seemingly ordinary, yet as deep and unfathomable as the ocean, inspiring awe in those who beheld him.

See it!

The group of half-venerables from the Enforcement Hall grew even more worried. They quickly suppressed all distracting thoughts and forced themselves to bow respectfully.

The voices were uniform and echoed in the spacious hall:

"We pay our respects to the Chairman!"

"Greetings, President!"

Each bow was uttered with utmost respect, yet in the hearts of every half-venerable one, a heavy stone seemed to hang, growing ever heavier.

The president remained silent, sitting upright on his throne. This silence was more unsettling than a direct question.

Cheng Buzheng, seated on the throne, slowly swept his gaze over the seven half-saints below, offering no response but simply raising his hand and flicking it lightly.

A streak of light shot out from his sleeve, breaking the silence of the hall and landing in the void in front of the group of half-saints.

As the light faded, a jade slip, pure white and engraved with simple Daoist patterns, floated there all alone.

Then,

From the high platform came Cheng Buzheng's indifferent and calm voice, each word clear and distinct:
"Take a look at this jade slip first before you speak."

Upon hearing this, Qu Changfeng and the others dared not delay and immediately activated their vast divine senses, which surged into the floating jade slip like a tide.

The moment their divine senses touched the jade slip, countless images and information unfolded in their minds like a revolving lantern.
These are detailed records of the malicious destruction of spiritual veins in various places.

From the location and extent of damage of the spiritual vein to the identity and whereabouts of the cultivators involved, everything was meticulously documented.

After a while,

With their divine senses withdrawn, Qu Banzun and the other six Banzun breathed a sigh of relief, their hearts finally settling down.

Especially Qu Changfeng, the Hall Master of the Enforcement Hall, after reading through the entire contents of the jade slip, a barely perceptible hint of joy flashed in his eyes—

Among those cultivators who damaged the spiritual veins, there were a few direct descendants of top immortal sects.

But most of them are core disciples of top-tier demonic sects.
For cultivators of the immortal path, this action is actually a good thing.

My mind has calmed down a bit!

Qu Changfeng stepped forward, emerging from the crowd, and bowed respectfully before the throne on the high platform. His expression instantly returned to solemnity.
The deep, powerful voice echoed through the hall:
"This matter must not be let off lightly; it must be severely punished!"
Otherwise, the Spirit Vein Protection Order established by the Cultivator Association will inevitably become a dead letter, and the Association's authority will be completely destroyed!

With this remark,
The remaining few half-saints from immortal sects nodded without hesitation and immediately echoed in deep voices:
"I second that!"

"I second that! Severe punishment is warranted!"

Meanwhile, the other two half-saints from demonic sects felt a fleeting sense of resentment and frustration.

Dealing with this matter would be tantamount to directly reducing the influence and voice of demonic cultivators within the cultivator association.

However, they dared not show it on their faces. After a slight hesitation, they had no choice but to bite the bullet and agree.

"Your subordinate also agrees!"

Such behavior is blatant disregard for the rules of the Cultivator's Association and must be dealt with seriously to uphold the Association's authority!

"I agree with Lord Qu's words!"

Having said that,

The two were unwilling, but they knew that the guild leader had brought this matter to the forefront, summoning all the half-saints of the Enforcement Hall to witness it...

Even without uttering a single word, their attitude was already extremely clear—

There is absolutely no room for compromise on this matter.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have made such a high-profile public announcement.

It's clear they're determined to investigate thoroughly.

Inside the main hall, the assembled Half-Saints of the Enforcement Hall were each lost in their own thoughts, their minds churning...
Cheng Buzheng, standing atop the platform, finally spoke slowly, his voice still indifferent, yet carrying an undeniable resolve:
"Since you all agree, there is no need to discuss this matter further. We shall proceed in accordance with the prohibitions of the Cultivator Association."

Having said that,

He paused slightly, his gaze sweeping over the crowd below the steps once more, before continuing:

"By the way, I have already handed this matter over to the Oversight Hall, with Vice Hall Master Xuanming leading the investigation into the internal corruption within the Cultivator Association in these incidents."
Your Enforcement Hall only needs to provide assistance from the sidelines.

"As for the cultivators and sects involved in the incident, they will be handed over to the [Conquest Hall] for further handling."

As the words faded to the end,
Cheng Buzheng's gaze seemed to linger for a moment on each of the half-saints' faces, his tone calm yet meaningful:
"I hope you will not disappoint my expectations."

Having finished speaking,
He lightly waved his sleeve and said calmly:

"Okay, please step back."

"Yes!"

"Subordinates resign!"

All the half-venerables of the Enforcement Hall bowed respectfully, clasping their hands in greeting.
Then they turned around and steadily withdrew from the council hall.

Only after leaving the main hall, far from the area shrouded in the guild leader's oppressive aura, and stepping onto the long road outside the palace...

The group of semi-saints finally breathed a sigh of relief and slowed their pace.
They began to whisper among themselves.

His tone was full of doubt.

"Palace Master Qu, what do you think is the deeper meaning behind the president's arrangement?"

One of the half-saints spoke first, his voice extremely low.

Kun Yue Sect's Half-Venerable Illusion Moon also frowned, echoing with a face full of confusion:
"Indeed, according to the rules and regulations of the Cultivator Association, such law enforcement matters involving the internal affairs of the Cultivator Association have always fallen within the jurisdiction of our Law Enforcement Hall."
Why is it that this time, Fellow Daoist Xuanming from the Oversight Hall is leading a thorough internal investigation?

“If this continues, won’t the authority of my Enforcement Hall be gradually eroded by the Supervision Hall?”
This is no small matter!

With this remark,
Several half-saints all wore worried expressions, except for Tian Shuzi, a half-saint from the Beidou Sect, who shook his head slightly and spoke slowly.
The voice carried a hint of insight:

"That's a bad word."

"If I'm not mistaken, then Xuanming Half-Venerable must have made a mistake in his previous work, which displeased the guild leader. That's why the guild leader deliberately pushed him out to be the one to stick his neck out."

Think about it, this incident of the destruction of the spiritual vein has far-reaching implications.
This includes many semi-saint level experts who are on the same level as us.
If my Enforcement Hall were to personally oversee this and investigate it thoroughly...
In the end, we will inevitably have to break ties with these like-minded people and become their sworn enemies.

While we are not afraid of these people, making too many enemies is certainly not a good thing for the Hall of Law Enforcement.

"But if we let Fellow Daoist Xuanming take the lead in supervising the operation, it would be tantamount to letting him shield us from this wave of attacks."

At that time, those sects and powerful figures who were punished, even if they harbor resentment, will only hate Fellow Daoist Xuanming the most.

Although my Enforcement Hall provides assistance from the sidelines, it will not be held responsible for any resentment.
Wouldn't this be a win-win situation?

After hearing this, all the semi-saints suddenly understood, and the doubts and worries in their eyes disappeared, replaced by clear understanding.

"I see!
No wonder Fellow Daoist Xuanming looked so grim when he sent the message earlier.
Anyone would feel uncomfortable being pushed to be the scapegoat!

"That's right, now I understand everything."

"The president's move was truly brilliant, both giving a warning to Xuanming Half-Venerable and protecting our Enforcement Hall!"

Upon hearing this, Qu Changfeng smiled faintly and waved his hand, saying:

"Alright, now that you understand the key points, there's no need to say anything more."

"Let's go!
"Let's go find Fellow Daoist Xuanming now, lest he get impatient and hurt himself, thus delaying the task assigned by the Guild Master."

"That makes sense!"

"go!"

The group of semi-saints exchanged smiles, their last trace of doubt vanishing.

He immediately took off like the wind, heading towards the Hall of Surveillance.

quickly!

Their figures disappeared at the far end of the corridor.

An hour later.

The daylight was bright, and the sky was clear and blue.

Tingtao Immortal City, a medium-sized immortal city standing on the coast of the East China Sea and famous for its day and night waves, is as bustling and prosperous as ever.

The market was bustling with people, and the eaves of the buildings shimmered with light.
The city's protective array glowed with a soft light, shutting out the roar of the surging waves and the salty, damp air, leaving only a peaceful and serene scene within the city.

suddenly!

Several streaks of light, each a different color, shot into the sky without warning from the cultivators' association's headquarters in the core area of ​​the immortal city, piercing the heavens.
It then sped off towards a certain location in the city at an extremely high speed.

Where the streak of light passed...

It produced a faint yet clear sound as it cut through the air.

They completely ignored the explicit "no flying" rule in the immortal city.

This scene,
It instantly attracted the attention of countless cultivators below.

Along a street that sells low-level talismans...

A boy of about seven or eight years old was standing on tiptoe, looking at the glittering talismans on the stall.

He was born with a robust and chubby face, and his big, dark eyes were exceptionally bright.

Seeing the streak of light flying across the sky, he exclaimed in surprise, "Eh!" and tugged at the hem of the robe of an old man with white hair and beard, dressed in a simple gray robe.

"Grandpa! Grandpa!"

Look! There are people flying in the sky!

The boy pointed to the sky and asked in a clear, bright voice,
"Didn't you say that no one in the Immortal City, except for those exceptionally powerful seniors, can fly around freely?"

How dare they?

The old man looked up, his cloudy eyes reflecting the rapidly receding streaks of light. Far from being surprised or angry, his face showed no sign of shock or anger.
Instead, it revealed a deep sense of awe and longing.

...(End of this chapter)