Law Enforcement Peak, Punishment Hall
Jian Po had just seen off Senior Sister Jian Ning, who had come to deliver a message. Returning to the Punishment Hall, she lounged sideways on a grand armchair to the side of the main hall and smiled at the Unity-stage male cultivator seated at the head.
"Master, this is the first extermination order the Punishment Hall has received in nearly five hundred years. That Jian Lu Zūnshàng is certainly making her mark as the new head. Trying to establish her authority, is she?"
The man at the head wore a robe patterned with cloud and ink landscapes. His features bore a three-tenths resemblance to Jian Po's—both striking enough to steal the breath of onlookers—yet Jian Xing Zūnshàng's masculine face carried a more restrained elegance, his deep voice rich with magnetic calm.
"The Fu family should have been dealt with long ago. But back then, because they were founding contributors to the sect and because Tian Yun Zhēnzhūn's fate shifted along with the sect's fortunes, Jian Jun chose to swallow her anger. Who would have thought Jian Lu would finally deliver the blow."
Jian Po's eyes lifted at the corners, a smile tugging at her lips as she leaned forward.
"So there's such history behind this? Master, tell me more."
"You hadn't yet joined the Punishment Department at that time. We discovered that the Fu family had been embezzling sect resources, recruiting cultivators under the Heavenly Sword Sect's name, and secretly trafficking furnaces."
At that, a flash of anger passed through Jian Po's eyes, but she didn't interrupt.
"Jian Jun risked delivering her findings to the Law Enforcement Hall. Back then, she wasn't in charge yet. After the hall master discussed it with the sect master, they took a roundabout strike—toppling the Fu family's affiliated Bian clan and forcing the Fus to return part of the stolen assets."
"From then on, the Fus resented Jian Jun deeply, stirring trouble for her repeatedly. Fortunately, her own master shielded her through the worst of it, and she herself proved capable—advancing to Void Refinement and taking control of the Law Enforcement Hall. Only then did the Fu family quiet down."
"From Master's tone, you seem to support Jian Lu Zūnshàng's approach."
"Jian Po, remember this: if you hesitate when a decision must be made, you invite chaos. Jian Jun had her concerns back then, but Jian Lu? Because Jian Wan and Jian Yu each tried to trip her up, disrupt her missions, and even push her forward as a scapegoat, she went straight to the Fu estate and struck. If it were you—would you dare?"
"She had the Law Enforcement Hall's backing," Jian Po countered.
"Yes, she borrowed that strength—but she was also the one at the front, the one who averted a disaster in Tianshu City."
"Her Requiem to pacify the evil souls is already in the library for anyone to study. If you had such an opportunity in your grasp, would you simply hand it away?"
"I would not," Jian Po answered without hesitation.
"Exactly. That's why she sits as acting hall master of the Law Enforcement Hall, and why she will almost certainly claim that seat for good."
"Master, you praise others so freely. Your disciple isn't lacking either."
Jian Xing Zūnshàng's lips curved in a smile, and it was as if the entire hall brightened.
"I'm simply reminding you—she's already head of the War Hall. There will be many times when your Punishment Hall will need to work with her. Learn what you can. My disciple, of course, is no less than any other."
At those words, Jian Po's smile softened. She rose and bowed.
"Your disciple understands. I will act with greater caution from now on, keeping the bigger picture in mind. We can't let anyone look down on our Punishment Hall."
"Good. Keep to your word. I've been waiting for Jian Jun to return so I can pass the position to you. Handle matters well in the meantime, and give me more chances to praise you."
"Yes, Master."
Tracking Hall
The Tracking Hall master, face hidden under a black hooded cloak, received Jian Sheng's order and summoned a Nascent Soul cultivator to assign the task. The cultivator clasped his hands toward the man at the head.
"Hall Master, please assign Zhang Xuefeng to assist me in tracing the targets. His tracking arts complement mine, and this time we're following two teams. I fear I can't cover both alone."
"Approved."
The Nascent Soul cultivator took the order, grabbed Zhang Xuefeng, and departed Heavenly Sword Sect at once, using a teleportation array to reach Yaoguang City ahead of the others.
Tianzheng Peak
Ever since Tao Chengfeng, under the name Jian Gui, had fought beside the Zūnzhǔ against demon cultivators, he had been in seclusion. Using the Undying Elixir gifted by Jian Lu, he mended his injuries, reforged his meridians, and even had his bones coated in a layer of golden liquid. The results left him deeply impressed—such was the difference when the Zūnzhǔ took action.
After the elixir's effects faded, he was fortunate to encounter the spiritual rain from the simultaneous breakthroughs of three Zūnzhǔs. The rain, coupled with a thread of golden merit light, pushed his already-loosened cultivation straight into late Divine Transformation.
After consolidating his realm and familiarizing himself with his new strength, Jian Gui emerged from seclusion—only to immediately receive a blue mission token from the Law Enforcement Hall. Reading it, he headed straight for Jian Lu Zūnshàng's peak.
Tianjian Peak, Affairs Hall
Jian Dan, with Yue Liang perched on her shoulder, left the Law Enforcement Hall and flew directly to the Affairs Hall.
Yu Yuanhai was still on duty. Looking up, he saw Jian Lu Zūnshàng standing before his desk and quickly rose to salute.
"Greetings, Jian Lu Zūnshàng!"
Jian Dan raised a hand, a wisp of spiritual power lifting him upright. She smiled. "Manager Yu, still on duty today?"
"Yes. I've taken on a hundred-year assignment."
Jian Dan nodded in understanding and passed him the purple sword token at her waist.
"I advanced to Unity and have been busy since. Today I'm here with Yue Liang to receive the Zhēnzhūn reward and to exchange my identity token."
Yu Yuanhai accepted the sword token respectfully. Everyone in the sect knew of her advancement. It was said the other two were still in seclusion consolidating their realms, while the woman before him had already emerged.
"Please wait a moment, Zūnshàng. I'll update your information and fetch your offerings."
"No rush. I'd like to claim the reward first. Yue Liang has been assigned a sect mission."
Yu Yuanhai blinked. "Zūnshàng, you mean…?"
"I want to find her a defensive artifact, but I don't know what would suit her. Better to let her pick something herself from the Treasure Pavilion. Whatever she obtains will be hers. Is that acceptable?"
Yue Liang immediately hopped from Jian Dan's shoulder to the desk, pawing at the sword token around her neck. The meaning was clear: I'm a member of Heavenly Sword Sect too.
Yu Yuanhai's mouth twitched. With the Zūnshàng's words, what else could he do? The records would show Jian Lu Zūnshàng received the reward—details were secondary.
"Understood. I'll take Yue Liang to the Treasure Pavilion at once."
"Thank you."
With permission granted, Yue Liang leapt to Yu Yuanhai's shoulder, bowed toward Jian Dan, and headed to the rear hall.
Jian Dan, unhurried, sat by the desk and drew out a blank jade slip, drafting a list of names to recruit more helpers for the Law Enforcement Hall.
A faint squeaking came from near her boots. A palm-sized white mouse was darting around her feet, tail flicking as it tried to climb her boots—but no matter how it tried, it couldn't get close.
Jian Dan glanced at it once. The little mouse froze, hunching down before resuming its circling when her gaze shifted away.
"Bai Bai! Where are you? Why are you running off?"
A crisp boy's voice rang out. A fourteen-year-old youth entered the hall, a small entourage following him inside. His sharp eyes spotted the white mouse immediately, and he jogged straight toward Jian Dan.