Qingxu Temple, Law Enforcement Hall main hall. This place was more solemn than the side hall, space more open. On iron walls were carved densely the sect's disciplinary articles, each character like iron painting and silver hooks, exuding undeniable majesty. The hall center's floor was paved with dark-colored stones.
Walking upon them, one could faintly feel a heavy force suppressing the heart and spirit. Liu Yun sat high on the main iron seat at the hall's end. Her deep cyan elder robes made her already cold face even more stern. Before her wide desk was no pile of documents, only a sheathed heavy sword called the "Iron Rule," and three differently colored jade slips.
Her gaze lowered, looking at those three jade slips, fingertips unconsciously rubbing the cold sword sheath. The entire hall was silent enough to hear a needle drop. Only the faint sound of her fingertips against metal, like a death knell, drummed on the hearts of the two rows of law enforcement disciples standing below. These disciples wore unified black combat attire, standard swords at their waists, each aura refined and sharp, eyes keen.
Yet now they did not dare even breathe deeply, gazes reverently focused on the main seat. "Bring the prisoners." Liu Yun finally spoke. Her voice was not loud, yet clearly spread to every corner, carrying icy decisiveness. The hall doors opened with a boom. Four disciples escorted three bound cultivators in.
These three: two wearing Qingxu Temple inner disciple robes, expressions panicked, faces deathly pale. The other was dressed as a rogue cultivator, eyes darting, carrying a trace of luck and resistance. "Report!" A law enforcement disciple stepped forward, voice booming: "Prisoners Li Si and Wang Wu, both inner disciples of our sect's Pill Hall. Prisoner Zhao Liu, owner of a shop in the market below.
Upon investigation, Li Si and Wang Wu, using their positions, from last autumn until now, cumulatively stole seventeen batches of intermediate spirit herbs from the sect, sold through Zhao Liu's hands, profits exceeding five thousand spirit stones, evidence conclusive!" When the report fell, the hall atmosphere thickened. Stealing sect resources, especially in post-war resource scarcity, this crime was extremely serious. The rogue cultivator Zhao Liu thrust out his neck: "Elder Liu, please investigate! I only normally purchased spirit herbs and do not know their origins!
They said they were from personal expeditions; how would I dare question more?" The two inner disciples knelt with a thud, tears and mucus flowing: "Elder Liu, spare our lives! Disciple was momentarily confused, possessed by greed! It is just that cultivation required too many resources, the sect allocation was not enough, so I took this shortcut! Please, considering disciples' past diligence, show mercy!" Liu Yun raised her eyes.
Her gaze was like two ice picks, slowly sweeping across the three. She did not acknowledge Zhao Liu's evasion, was not moved by the disciples' pleading. She merely picked up the first jade slip, spiritual sense scanning. "Li Si, entered inner sect three years ago, assigned to Pill Hall. Last year's assessment, evaluation 'above average.'" Her voice flatly read information, then turned sharp as a blade: "However, according to investigation, from last year until now, your consumption records at a certain establishment reached thirty-one times, purchasing a spirit-containing jade pendant worth eight hundred spirit stones.
This is what you call 'cultivation resources not enough'?" Li Si shuddered all over, face instantly ash-gray. Liu Yun picked up the second jade slip: "Wang Wu, same cohort entering inner sect, same group as Li Si. Parents both ordinary people from northwest border. Last year his hometown suffered demon beast raids; the sect specially approved three hundred spirit stones compensation, helping him settle." Her gaze was like lightning, shooting toward Wang Wu: "You used stolen sect spirit herb profits to settle your just-lost-home parents?
This is your 'filial piety'?" Wang Wu was struck like by thunder, collapsing to the ground, unable to speak further. Finally, Liu Yun's gaze fell on Zhao Liu, picking up the third jade slip: "Zhao Liu, shop owner, Qi Refining ninth stage rogue cultivator. Upon investigation, you had threewasbright fund exchanges with an external force connected to the destroyed Shadow Snake Pavilion, totaling two thousand spirit stones. Purchasing stolen goods, colluding with demonic remnants, what do you have to say?" Zhao Liu's luck instantly collapsed into complete fear.
His lips trembled yet could not utter any sound. The hall was dead silent except for those three's heavy, desperate breathing. Liu Yun, merely using information in three jade slips, tore their lies and disguises to shreds, exposing their baseness before the light of day. Liu Yun slowly stood, picking up the "Iron Rule" heavy sword.
The sword remained sheathed, yet its heavy imposing manner made the hall air seem to freeze. "Qingxu Temple discipline, Chapter Three, Article Seven: Those who steal sect resources while in positions of trust, depending on severity, abolish cultivation, expel from sect! Chapter Eight, Article Two: Those who collude with external enemies, harming sect interests, death without mercy!" Her voice was like eternal cold ice, without a trace of emotion, pronouncing final judgment. "Prisoners Li Si and Wang Wu, crimes proven, amounts huge, impact terrible, according to law, abolish cultivation, erase related memories, permanently expel from Qingxu Temple!" Her gaze turned to the ashen-faced two, without the slightest waver: "Law enforcement disciples, carry out execution!" "No!" Li Si and Wang Wu let out desperate screams, but were immediately pressed down by disciples behind them.
The two disciples' faces expressionless, activating special techniques, directly shattering their dantian qi sea, simultaneously erasing memories of core sect techniques and recent experiences with secret methods. As the two screamed, cultivation was lost, eyes becoming vacant. They were dragged from the hall like mud. Liu Yun's gaze finally fell on the collapsed Zhao Liu.
"Prisoner Zhao Liu, colluding with demonic remnants, crime unforgivable. According to law, execution!" The "Iron Rule" heavy sword still had not left its sheath, yet Liu Yun merely gripped the sword hilt, pressing down empty. An intangible yet heavy-as-mountain force crashed down, precisely landing on Zhao Liu. He did not even have time for a scream.
His entire person, like a watermelon smashed by a giant hammer, instantly exploded into blood mist. Even his soul was completely annihilated under that terrifying force! Blood mist spread, then was quickly purified and dissipated by hall formations. Only a striking dark red puddle remained on the ground and faint fishy scent in the air.
The entire process was crisp and decisive, without the slightest hesitation. Liu Yun throughout never changed her expression, as if merely disposing of some insignificant clutter. She sat back down, gaze sweeping disciples below who were terrified into silence, voice recovering usual coldness yet carrying undeniable authority: "Transmit orders: post these three criminals' crimes and punishments for the entire sect to see, as warning. From today, the Law Enforcement Hall increases internal patrol strength.
Anyone violating sect rules, regardless of identity, regardless of merit, severely punished without mercy!" "We obey Elder's decree!" The law enforcement disciples responded in unison, voices carrying deep respect and solemn fear. News quickly spread, like a biting cold wind, instantly sweeping through Qingxu Temple. All disciples, new or senior, after hearing details of Li Si and Wang Wu's abolition and expulsion, Zhao Liu's on-the-spot execution, could not help but feel a chill rise from their hearts. That usually cold, little-speaking Third Sister, now Law Enforcement Elder Liu Yun, her iron hand and ruthlessness deeply branded in everyone's hearts.
No one dared feel lucky again. Unhealthy trends arising from resource issues within the sect were instantly suppressed and swept clean by this thunderous method. Post-war slightly restless order, under this iron-and-blood judgment, rapidly stabilized. Liu Yun, in her own way, like the most solid cornerstone, guarded Qingxu Temple's internal clarity and stability.
Her "Iron Rule" measured not only crime but the sect's survival and development bottom line.