Three days after the Empress's training plan was finalized, the impromptu journey began.
Shen Zhao, Su Yunying, and Ding Buer borrowed a Flying Spirit Vulture from Lu Zhantian and immediately set off towards the Eastern Region, to the headquarters of the Public Arbitration Council.
After more than a month, the three of them finally arrived at the Public Arbitration Council headquarters, half a month later than scheduled.
As soon as they dismounted the flying spirit beast, Ding Buer immediately rushed to a corner and started vomiting.
"This is a disaster!" Ding Buer's eyes were bloodshot, and he roared at Shen Zhao, full of resentment, "I'm only at the fourth rank of the Body Tempering Realm!
For a whole month, eating, drinking, and relieving myself all on this flying spirit beast, how could you be so cruel to an old man like me?"
Shen Zhao and Su Yunying ignored Ding Buer's angry shouts. Instead, they were shocked by the scene before them at the Public Arbitration Council headquarters.
They saw that the plaque on the mountain gate was half-fallen, the writing on the plaque hanging above was unclear, and, most importantly, it was suspended vertically in the air, swaying slightly in the wind, as if it would fall at any moment.
Besides, there was trash everywhere on the mountain path, and even the areas that caught sunlight were hung with clotheslines. The clothes on the lines looked worn and tattered.
Not far away, a few figures, neither human nor ghost, were chasing a rolling log with broken knives, seemingly trying to chop firewood.
This scene left even the well-traveled Shen Zhao bewildered, as if he'd stumbled into the Beggars' Sect.
This isn't right.
Although he'd had nothing to do with the Public Arbitration Council, the continent's defunct order-keeping organization, in his previous life, it was, after all, an ancient sect with a history of ten thousand years. Even if it was in decline, it shouldn't be like this, right?
He must have come to the wrong place.
Shen Zhao and Su Yunying exchanged glances, the same thought occurring to them simultaneously. Then, they both turned their gazes towards Ding Buer.
"Don't look at me! This is my first time here too!"
"Damn it, did you bring us to the wrong place?"
"Impossible, absolutely impossible! This should be the place!"
Feeling the unfriendly gazes of the other two, Ding Buer hastily began to defend himself.
"How could I have known that the prestigious Public Arbitration Council would have fallen to such a state? If I had known, I wouldn't have come. How about it, Young Master Shen, should we go back? Judging by the situation here, there's really no future. Let's find another way."
"You've been drinking the northwest wind for over a month, and you want to leave just like that? Don't forget who helped you advance to Body Tempering Realm fourth rank! Lead the way!"
Shen Zhao kicked Ding Buer in the rear, striding towards the interior of the Public Arbitration Council.
"Halt! Who are you? Do you know where you are?"
As soon as they arrived in front of a courtyard with half a wall collapsed, Shen Zhao and his group were stopped by a woman covered in patches, her face caked with dust, clearly having not bathed in at least a few months.
Ding Buer stepped forward and asked, "May I ask, is this the headquarters of the Public Arbitration Council?"
"Indeed. What brings you here?"
"It's like this, we heard the Public Arbitration Council is recruiting Enforcement God Officers, and we've come to apply. Could you perhaps take us to see your head?"
"You're here to apply to be God Officers? Are you sure?"
"Why would we lie? Could you please pass the word?"
"No need. Since you're here to apply, follow me."
After saying this, the girl picked up a tattered sack from the ground, hoisted it onto her shoulder, and walked into the courtyard.
Upon entering the courtyard, they saw over a dozen Public Arbitration Council disciples in ragged clothes, gathered around a bonfire, stirring food in an iron pot suspended over the flames.
The pot was steaming, filled with some wild vegetables and rice porridge.
Seeing Shen Zhao and his group, the few people there immediately lit up, their faces showing a flattering expression, as if they wanted to rush over.
But upon seeing the girl's sharp gaze, they could only timidly return to the campfire.
Su Yunying saw this and carefully tugged at Shen Zhao's sleeve: "Boss, isn't this a bit too much? Did we accidentally stumble into a beggars' den?"
Shen Zhao pondered, "Based on my experience, this place might be worse than a beggars' den! I bet the rats have already been eaten here."
The three of them soon followed the girl into the hall. The hall was piled with scrap metal. Upon closer inspection, there were pots, bowls, pans, and broken swords and knives, you name it. It was a complete junkyard.
The girl sat down at a table and then said to the three of them, "I am the chairman. Are you really planning to apply for the position of Enforcement God Officer in the Public Arbitration Council?"
The three of them were shocked.
Ding Buer immediately spoke, "You're the chairperson? Isn't the chairperson of the Public Arbitration Council Senior Si Chuan?"
"Chairperson Si passed away three years ago due to the exhaustion of her lifespan. I am her adopted daughter, Si Yu."
"What? Passed away?"
Ding Buer sighed, then said, "Chairperson Si, please accept my condolences. We apologize for the disturbance. We'll take our leave."
He didn't want to stay in this impoverished place for even a minute, and he regretted his loose tongue that came up with such a terrible idea.
However, just as he turned, Shen Zhao grabbed him.
"Chairperson Si, right? I'm Shen Zhao. I have a few questions I'd like to ask. Would it be convenient to answer?"
"If you're planning to join the Public Arbitration Council, then I will naturally answer. Otherwise, I'm afraid I can't violate the rules."
Ding Buer heard this and said with a look of disdain, "Like this, and you're still sticking to these stupid rules?"
He then said to Shen Zhao, "Alright, let's go, Shen-ye. This time, old Ding admits defeat. Let's go back to Qingyang City and run our boxing gym. We'll rethink the cultivation plan later."
Shen Zhao ignored his complaints and continued to speak to Si Yu, "Since I said I would apply for the Enforcement Officer position, I naturally won't go back on my word. But you have to at least tell me about the current situation of the Public Arbitration Council, right? How did it become so desolate?"
Little master, there's more to this chapter; please click the next page to continue reading. It gets even more exciting!
Si Yu sighed softly and said, "My master has been addicted to wine and women for years and neglected his cultivation. He also didn't care about managing the council. The members of the Public Arbitration Council have long since lost their sense of unity.
In fact, hundreds of years ago, the Public Arbitration Council could no longer deter the major sects, not even the lesser sects. Let alone those imperial dynasties and immortal sects?
Because of this, the Public Arbitration Council has become a laughingstock on the Immortal Martial Continent. No sect gives us any face.
Furthermore, the Public Arbitration Council no longer has any Qi Gathering Realm experts to hold it down, so it can't control anyone. Over time, the sect disciples found no future here and left to seek their own fortunes.
Before my master's time was up, the Public Arbitration Council had fallen to this state. Every day, we rely on scavenging scraps of metal or providing false testimony for those families and sects to exchange for some meager food."
"After Master died, the Public Arbitration Council lost its last shred of authority. No one respects them anymore. Moreover, because the Public Arbitration Council had previously offended many major sects by upholding justice,
they've taken the opportunity to suppress the Council. Now, it's just as you see it. After hearing all this, do you still intend to join the Public Arbitration Council?"
The three of them nodded upon hearing this. According to Si Chuan's personality, even with a thousand years of experience, he would eventually run out of steam, and even the Trisolarans would go bankrupt and run away.
Before Shen Zhao could speak, Su Yunying spoke up, "If that's the case, why don't you think about revitalizing the Public Arbitration Council? Even if times are tough, you shouldn't forget the Council's original intentions.
After all, the moral standards of the Immortal Martial Continent are declining. The constant infighting between sects is all because of the Public Arbitration Council's failure to fulfill its duties."
Si Yu chuckled self-deprecatingly, "That's easy for you to say, not forgetting the original intention. But what can I do in the face of reality?
I'm only at the Qi Condensation Realm, Fifth Grade. What can I do on the Immortal Martial Continent, where strong individuals are everywhere? You've seen it; we're even having trouble eating now.
How can we have the energy to maintain order on the Immortal Martial Continent?"
Su Yunying remained silent; what Si Yu said was indeed the truth.
She understood that in this cruel world, without strength, one had no voice. Having been bullied since childhood, Su Yunying knew this all too well.
"Less talk!"
Shen Zhao interrupted their conversation.
"Next question: what are the requirements to join the Public Arbitration Council?"
Si Yu was taken aback: "Are you really going to join the Public Arbitration Council? Let me warn you first, the Public Arbitration Council currently cannot provide you with any resources to improve your cultivation."
"We'll talk about resources later. First, tell us the requirements."
Ding Buer, hearing this, said with dissatisfaction, "What requirements are there to talk about? Look at this godforsaken place, does she even have the face to mention requirements? Even dogs hate this place."
Shen Zhao: "Will you shut the hell up? No one would know you're an idiot if you just kept your mouth closed."
Ding Buer immediately shut up, but squatted by the door in a huff, sulking, "Fine, you're the boss. I'll listen to you, okay?"
Si Yu said, "To join the Public Arbitration Council, you must prove your strength.
The Fuxi Abyss, which opens once every ten years, will be opening again in half a month. As long as you can retrieve a Mysterious-Grade Spirit Artifact or a Yellow-Grade cultivation technique or higher from the Fuxi Abyss,
then you can officially become an Enforcement God Officer of the Public Arbitration Council."
Shen Zhao was silent for a moment. "If I'm not mistaken, this time the Fuxi Abyss will open within the Guhe Sect's territory, right? What about the Pass Token?"
Si Yu's expression immediately became troubled upon hearing this. "I'm sorry, the Guhe Sect hasn't sent any Pass Tokens. You'll have to figure out how to get one yourselves."
"Oh, come on, this is the first time I've heard of this. We even have to figure out the Pass Tokens ourselves?" Ding Buer immediately grumbled, "They're treating us like tools! Miss, can't you be a little more considerate? There's a reason why your Public Arbitration Council is in such a state."
"I'm sorry, I..."
"Alright, can you write a letter of recommendation in the name of the Public Arbitration Council, so I can take it to the Guhe Sect?"
"Well, it's not that I can't. I'm just worried the Guhe Sect won't give the Public Arbitration Council any face."
"Don't worry about that. Just write the letter for me. I'll handle the rest. I'm definitely getting that position as the Public Arbitration Council's Chief Executive Elder."
"Okay! Fine."
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