Fa Hua spoke with certainty, then added,
"Acting on my own, I sent word to the Sect and also transmitted a message to Jian Lu Zūnshàng of the Heavenly Sword Sect."
Liao Kong and Liao Chen, who knew well the connection between Fa Hua and Jian Lu Zūnshàng, did not blame him.
"The Buddhist Sect's cultivation methods are the bane of all evil cultivators. Yet these fiends dared commit such atrocities in our territory, using mortal souls and flesh for cultivation, even reaching the Nascent Soul stage. This cannot be mere coincidence!"
Liao Kong and Liao Chen chanted a Buddha's name. They did not speak further, but it was clear they agreed with Fa Hua's judgment.
"Master, please show great compassion and guide the souls of our loved ones to peace!"
"We beg you, Master, have mercy."
"Please, Master..."
By the time the three had finished speaking, they had already returned to Qingyi Town, which had been under the evil cultivators' control. The few townsfolk who had survived immediately dropped to their knees upon seeing the three masters, pleading for them to perform rites to release the dead.
"Amitabha. My Buddha is merciful and guides all living beings. We will perform a rite to send the departed into the cycle of rebirth."
The three performed a ceremony, guiding the souls of mortals that had not been devoured by the evil cultivators into reincarnation. They also took in several orphans who had lost their families, bringing them back to the Buddhist Sect.
Afterward, they continued their search for disciples within their jurisdiction while investigating the evil cultivators' whereabouts.
Mortal Realm under the Heavenly Sword Sect's jurisdiction
This time, the Operations Hall's team was led by Meng Zhonglun. He commanded eight subordinates, all at late Golden Core stage. The moment they crossed the barrier, the thinness of spiritual energy made them uncomfortable.
Meng Zhonglun's amber eyes swept the surroundings. His brow furrowed. It seemed Zūnshàng's prediction had been completely correct—he could clearly see thin, black, gauzy streams of energy flowing in the air.
"By order of the Law Enforcement Hall: investigate whether evil cultivators are hiding in the mortal realm. From now on, the squad will spread out to search for signs of evil cultivators. Report immediately via Ink Jade if you find anything. Do not act on your own. The Sect's eradication squad will enter the mortal realm shortly after."
"Yes, Captain."
Meng Zhonglun unfolded a map of the mortal realm, assigning each person a search area. The eight accepted their orders and immediately flew off toward their assigned directions.
Meng Zhonglun himself headed for the imperial capital, the most densely populated area and the seat of royal authority—exactly the kind of place evil cultivators favored.
Another squad from the Intelligence Hall crossed the barrier soon after Meng Zhonglun's team dispersed. Their mission covered a wider range, including territories of other sects. Their movements were swift.
"Alright, we're few in number, but our task is the heaviest. Scatter to the territories of each sect. First, contact our hidden agents and find out if anything major has happened in the mortal realm recently. Then gather intelligence in all sects' territories except the Buddhist Sect. Any disturbance, no matter how small, must be reported to the Intelligence Hall at once."
"Yes, Captain."
The team accepted the order and vanished beyond the barrier.
Heavenly Sword Sect – Law Enforcement Hall
That day, Jian Dan had been stopped by Jian Chong, and the two spent half the night discussing the Sect's resource allocation and reserves. By the time Jian Dan returned to the Law Enforcement Hall, it was already midday.
Liu Li had been following at her side, learning much along the way. On their return to the hall, she asked,
"Zūnshàng, the Sect has further increased resources for low-level disciples, and even opened two independent trial spaces where they can exchange points for entry. Won't that overstrain the trial spaces?"
"We have more than just those two trial spaces. Their opening is meant to help low-level cultivators grow quickly. Within two hundred years, the Sect must cultivate at least one new batch of Nascent Soul cultivators."
Liu Li's mouth dropped open. Zūnshàng truly dared to set lofty goals.
"Zūnshàng, these two spaces can be entered by Foundation Establishment cultivators. Advancing from Foundation Establishment to Nascent Soul within two hundred years is... quite difficult."
By now, Jian Dan's flight had descended onto Enforcement Peak.
Jian Dan smiled faintly at Liu Li's words. "You're talking about all low-level cultivators in the Sect, and yes, that would be difficult. I'm talking about a batch. This opening of the Foundation Establishment trial space is also a test. Through the trials, we can select those with potential and direct more resources their way."
"Understood, Zūnshàng. I was thinking too narrowly before."
"The Foundation Establishment trial space will remain open for ten years, then be closed to let it recover. After that, we'll open the Golden Core trial space. As for Nascent Soul and above, they can fight on the arena."
Liu Li chuckled softly. Zūnshàng was nothing if not decisive—straight to the arena.
"Your question reminds me—later I'll have Yu Yuanhai change the annual tasks for high-level cultivators to include defending the arena. Divine Transformation, Divine Soul, Void Refinement, Unity—they'll all take at least one turn. It's another way to contribute to the Sect."
Liu Li's eyes lit up. That meant she could both challenge and accept challenges herself.
Jian Wu entered the hall just in time to hear Jian Dan's last words. His gaze flickered, then he returned to normal and reported, "Zūnshàng, Wu Siyuan has taken a blue mission token and has come to see you."
"Quick to act. Let him in, I have instructions for him."
"Yes."
Wu Siyuan stepped into the hall and saluted deeply. "Wu Siyuan greets Zūnshàng!"
"You've advanced to Void Refinement? Congratulations!"
When he entered, Jian Dan could sense his cultivation had stabilized at the early Void Refinement stage. Clearly, he had only recently emerged from seclusion.
"Thanks to Zūnshàng's blessings. After participating in the Sect competition and fighting evil cultivators twice, my cultivation loosened. Then, with several Zūnshàng advancing to Unity, I benefited from their good fortune and broke through in one stroke."
"Still, it's because your foundation was solid that you could advance so smoothly."
Wu Siyuan smiled modestly. "Zūnshàng, after advancing, I went to the Affairs Hall to replace my identity sword token. I saw the newly posted blue mission and accepted it immediately."
"Good. I called you here for a reason. Ten squads will enter the mortal realm. While eliminating evil cultivators, they will also recruit disciples. Your blue mission is a covert one—protect our disciples in secret, and keep an eye out for blood sacs in the mortal realm."
At that, all three in the hall looked up at her in surprise.
"No need to be so shocked. The evil cultivators' five blood sacs in the cultivation realm have been destroyed. How many do they have left? Those things are sinister, able to move on their own. If they sense danger here, they may slip into the mortal realm. That's why I issued the blue mission."
"Understood, Zūnshàng."
"I'll have Zheng Rong prepare a compilation of all blood sac reports during your seclusion. Study it well, and when you strike, make it swift. Don't give them the chance to escape."
"Yes, Zūnshàng."
"Jian Wu, is Zheng Rong still not back?"
Jian Wu sent a transmission talisman and soon received a reply. "Zūnshàng, Zheng Rong is still gathering reports from the Intelligence Hall. He'll bring the blood sac file over shortly."
Jian Dan nodded, exchanged a few more words with Wu Siyuan, and a moment later Wei Zhengrong hurried into the hall.