316: Chapter 317 Why did they come?

At the same time.

Lingxiao Sect, Law Enforcement Hall.

This towering complex of palaces was situated in the western part of the core area of the Lingxiao Sect, constructed entirely of dark cyan boulders, solemn and dignified, exuding an inviolable majesty.

The palace was shrouded year-round in a faint layer of Restriction spiritual light, ethereal and indistinct, yet it compelled every Cultivator who approached to involuntarily restrain their mind and not dare to act presumptuously.

The Law Enforcement Hall, as the name implies, was the place where the Lingxiao Sect administered laws and punished Disciples who violated the rules.

Within the Sect, regardless of whether you were a True Disciple or an ordinary Outer Sect Disciple, and no matter how high your cultivation or how deep your background, once you violated the Sect rules and were taken into the Law Enforcement Hall, you had no privileges whatsoever.

This was the most impartial place in the Lingxiao Sect, and also the place that inspired the most fear.

However, even the most impartial place could not avoid the ways of the world.

At this moment, inside a side hall of the Law Enforcement Hall.

The hall was furnished simply, with a few black wooden tables and chairs, several landscape paintings hanging on the walls, and a censer burning calming sandalwood in the corner, with curling blue smoke that was refreshing to the heart and spirit.

An elderly man wearing gray Daoist robes with white hair and beard was sitting in the guest seat, holding a cup of spiritual tea, his expression leisurely.

This person was none other than Outer Sect Elder Meng Tiande of the Lingxiao Sect.

He possessed False Core cultivation and was very senior among the Outer Sect Elders of the Lingxiao Sect; although he held no real power, he had many students and extensive connections, and his words carried considerable weight within the Sect.

Sitting opposite him was a middle-aged man with a square Face and shrewd, capable eyes, wearing the black deacon robe unique to the Law Enforcement Hall with a token at his waist; he was Law Enforcement Hall Deacon Li Su.

He was at the Late Foundation Establishment Stage, had served in the Law Enforcement Hall for many years, handled matters efficiently, and was deeply trusted by his superiors.

"Elder Meng, rest assured. Once we in the Law Enforcement Hall have verified this matter, we will handle it impartially and punish it severely," Li Su said, putting down his teacup with a serious expression and a tone of gravity. "If that Ye Changge has truly committed an offense, we will never show the slightest leniency."

Outer Sect Elder Meng Tiande revealed a faint smile upon hearing this.

He stroked his white beard and spoke unhurriedly: "Deacon Li can rest assured. What I have said is certainly based on evidence; I would not falsely accuse others for no reason."

As he spoke, he took a jade slip from his sleeve, placed it gently on the table, and pushed it toward Li Su.

"This is the evidence I have collected over these days. Although it is not conclusive, it is sufficient to open a case for investigation."

Li Su took the jade slip, probed it with his Divine Sense, and browsed through it roughly. His brows furrowed slightly, then smoothed out again.

The information recorded in the jade slip was not complex—Ye Changge, the Old Ancestor of the Ye Family of Longmai Mountain, had risen too quickly and was suspected of practicing a Demonic Technique or possessing a rare treasure; his methods when expanding his influence in White Bird Market and the surrounding regions were forceful, and he had frequently clashed with surrounding forces; the income from his businesses far exceeded that of an ordinary Foundation Establishment Family, and he was suspected of being involved in prohibited transactions...

Of course, the most important thing was the matter of him seizing the Li Family's Spiritual Land two or three years ago.

These "pieces of evidence" could be considered neither light nor heavy.

If one were to be serious, each point could be explained away and did not count as a major crime.

But if one intended to investigate, each point could become a reason to pursue the matter.

In the Cultivation World, a Cultivator from a fallen Family rising abruptly, succeeding in Foundation Establishment, and establishing a branch Family within a few short years—such a feat would be considered "abnormal" anywhere. And "abnormality" itself, in the eyes of some, was the greatest sin.

Li Su pondered for a moment, then looked up at Outer Sect Elder Meng Tiande, a flash of complexity in his eyes.

He naturally understood the intention of this Elder Meng.

Although the Law Enforcement Hall represented the laws and majesty of the Lingxiao Sect, as the saying went, wherever there was society, there were human relationships.

Although the Law Enforcement Hall claimed to be impartial, that only applied to ordinary Disciples. When facing figures at the level of a Sect Elder, one still had to give the appropriate Face.

Especially for an Elder like Outer Sect Elder Meng Tiande, who had deep seniority and Disciples everywhere; although he only had False Core cultivation, he had operated within the Sect for many years, and his connections and relationships were so extensive that even some Core Formation True Persons had to give him some Face.

Although Li Su was a Deacon of the Law Enforcement Hall, he did not want to offend such a person for no reason.

Moreover, Outer Sect Elder Meng Tiande had not come to make a baseless accusation, but had indeed produced some "evidence." Although this evidence could not withstand deep scrutiny, it was at least passable on the surface.

"Elder Meng, rest assured." Li Su put away the jade slip, his tone becoming a few degrees more polite than before. "I will personally inquire into this matter. If that Ye Changge truly has a problem, we will definitely get to the bottom of it."

Faced with such an ambiguous matter, since he, an Elder of the Lingxiao Sect, had spoken, the investigation process would naturally be a bit stricter.

Likewise, the Law Enforcement Hall was willing to give the other party some Face; after all, the subject of the investigation was only a Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivator, which would not be too much trouble.

Upon hearing this, the smile on Outer Sect Elder Meng Tiande's Face deepened. He picked up his teacup, took a light sip, and said leisurely: "With Deacon Li's word, I can rest assured."

At the same time.

At the highest point of the Law Enforcement Hall, a towering palace stood there.

This hall was constructed entirely of white jade, with carved beams and painted rafters, and a magnificent Aura. Embedded in the roof was a pearl the size of a fist, emitting a soft spiritual light that shrouded the entire palace in a gentle halo.

This was the exclusive palace of the Law Enforcement Hall Master—the Heavenly Punishment Hall.

Inside the hall, a woman was sitting upright behind a desk, holding a jade slip in her hand, her brows slightly furrowed, her expression focused.

She wore a deep purple palace dress, the fabric luxurious and well-tailored, outlining a mature, voluptuous, and graceful figure. Her jet-black hair was pinned up high, revealing a fair, long, swan-like neck, with a few strands of hair falling by her cheeks, adding a touch of lazy charm.

Her skin was like congealed fat and white jade, her facial features exquisitely perfect. Between her brows lay both the amorous feelings of a mature woman and the dignified bearing of someone in a high position.

Especially those eyes, deep and bright, with the corners slightly upturned; as she looked around, flowing light shimmered, captivating the soul.

She was none other than the Core Formation True Person of the Lingxiao Sect, the Law Enforcement Hall Master—Meng Qingcheng.

At this moment, she was reviewing a mountain of files.

The affairs of the Law Enforcement Hall were complex; every day there were a large number of cases involving violations of Sect rules that needed to be handled, from fights between Outer Sect Disciples to private duels between Inner Sect Disciples, from market disputes to Family conflicts—everything, big or small, had to pass through her eyes.

Although Meng Qingcheng was a Core Formation True Person, she was not the type of Cultivator who remained aloof and unconcerned with worldly affairs. She had always been hands-on, attending to everything personally, and had managed the Law Enforcement Hall in an orderly fashion, deeply trusted by the Sect Master.

Just at this moment—

A jade pendant worn on her chest suddenly trembled slightly, and then emitted a dazzling seven-colored light!

The light was brilliant and eye-catching, circulating within the hall and illuminating the entire room.

Meng Qingcheng's movements paused.

She looked down at the jade pendant on her chest, a flash of surprise in her eyes.