?


    Getting the original copy of a cultivation art required authorization from the president of the Order, and the Chief Librarian. Either that or the approval from the three vice presidents, and seven members of the spirit council, after which he would also need to sign a soul contract with a timed duration.


    These measures were employed only when one wanted to take the original copy of the cultivation art out of the Main Library where they were stored. But if one wanted to read them there, the only thing required was for them to have clearance ess to the level in which they were stored. They didn''t require anybody''s permission.


    These measures were employed to preserve the integrity of those copies since there were treasures and artifacts in the library that were put in ce to ensure it.


    Cultivators could imbue their will, in the original arts hand-crafted by them, and they could hide other things in there too. As long as they were preserved, one always had an opportunity to discover them.


    A gold-grade alchemy form had once been found hidden within the texts of a top tier orange grade cultivation art, a cultivation art that appeared to be a red grade but it had a trigger and conditions to it, which when met, transformed the art into a blue grade art, a booklet containing a cultivation art that ended up gaining spiritual awareness.


    Cases like these have been observed within the Main Library at the institute which was why the Order was very strict towards lending out of original copies.


    After receiving the two copies, the portals leading to where the Judicial Committee members were, the Vice President, and the Chief Justice, immediately close up after they wished them well.


    Yang Qing and the rest would act immediately after the report containing all the guilty members was provided by the Judicial Review Committee. In the meantime as they waited they all went to the administration hall, in the deployment department and filled out the required scrolls along with getting marked by the saint-grade artifact, the Spirit Calling Bell, which worked simr to a soulmp, except in addition to notifying their status to the higher-ups, it also safeguarded their souls and had a teleportation ability attached to that protection


    After they had finished with the administration hall, they all went their own ways to prepare themselves for what was toe.


    Yang Qing sighed as he made his way out of the court building and walked in the direction of the Thousand vors Restaurant.


    Despite being one of his favorite spots in the whole area, he had a hesitant and conflicted expression as he went there. His steps were slow, and a few times it seemed like he wanted to turn back. He didn''t seem like he wanted to go there.


    As he walked into the restaurant, Cai Ying was there to greet him like always, but he was surprised when he received a lethargic and absent-minded nod from Yang Qing.


    Yang Qing ordered a few dishes with the same absent-minded expression and left, making his way to his abode, leaving a confused Cai Ying behind, along with other staff members who were used to a boisterous Yang Qing, every time he walked in and left. The silent, slow-walking Yang Qing was new to them.


    A few minutester Yang Qing was in front of the entrance to his abode. He stood there for a couple of minutes before he let out a defeated sigh.


    "It has to be done.." He muttered as he walked in, dreading every step he took toward his courtyard.


    At the seats outside there were two people there. One was Zheng Hu and the other was Ma Yuan whose legs kept nervously tapping the ground over and over.


    ...


    The core region of the Ice Emerald Sect,


    "It seems there were intruders in here..."


    "How?!.. I have been manning the array over the past month, and I haven''t detected anything, and I didn''t ck off either. Senior sister Mei can attest to that sect master.."


    "I''m not doubting you Zhn. I didn''t detect anything either. I was only just informed..."


    Sevendies of different ages, each with breathtaking beauty and matching cold temperament were seated in lotus positions beneath a 50-meter Wisteria tree that had pink purple radiance floating around it with faint mist being produced from its body. It had blue-ck crystalline leaves, that added further mor to the tree.


    The sevendies all had pure white robes and white jade milk smooth skin.


    "Was it her?" one of thedies cautiously asked directing the question to ady who looked to be in her fifties and had smoothly flowing white hair and light blue eyes. She seemed to be the center of the group.


    "It was.." thedy answered.


    "For someone to be able to prate our defenses with none of us being able to detect it, even you sect master, that means they''re pretty skilled in formations and powerful at that too..."


    "Could it have been the ancestor of the Twin River Empire.." anotherdy chimed in.


    "He is the only one strong enough to sneak right under our noses, and with his rtionship with those lunar bug bastards, we know he has been eyeing our art..mmph, just because he is at the sixth stage, he thinks he can act as he pleases..." a murderous intent shed in the eyes of one of thedies as she said this. There was a small mole under her eye


    "It''s not him...There were two intruders... One was at the second stage and the other was at the third stage.." answered thedy in light blue eyes.


    The atmosphere turned grim withplicated and wary looks being exchanged all around.


    "You''re sure?" asked thedy with the mole under her left eye.


    "It''s why I have gathered you all here. The situation this time may not be as simple. Two pce realm cultivators of unknown origins, who are just in the early stages of the pce realm just like us, were able to sneak past our formation and avoid the detection of seven pce realm experts..


    Their origins are definitely not simple and as for their motives, it''s still too early to tell, but we need to be prudent.."


    "Why didn''t the elder act?"


    "She is at a critical juncture and can''t spare the attention. We need to stop all activities outside and the sect needs to be on high alert.


    I''ve already sent Fu Ning, Luo Jingfei, and Ma Song out to quickly bring back those outside, while we will join Zhao Shan in ensuring there are no intruders in the sect...


    I will remain here to watch over the tree and the elder, while the rest of you handle the sect. Make sure you''re alert and in constantmunication, that is all..." thedy with blue eyes said as she dispersed them.


    "Yaozu, stay behind.." she added, addressing a 30-year-olddy with smooth white hair and the only person from the group who wasn''t a pce stage cultivator, but she didn''t seem to be far off from it.