Journey to the head

It is already March, spring is in full bloom, flowers are blooming, grass is growing and birds are flying. Life is budding and lively in the forests of Biluo Peak.

However, the Punishment Bureau, located halfway up the mountain and consisting of a large area of ​​white stone courtyards and pavilions, remains solemn, dignified, cold, and silent.

Even though many disciples came and went, they all hurriedly buried their heads, their expressions serious, their lips pursed, and they moved with utmost care.

The Punishment Division used to be the most feared place, but recently it has become the subject of heated debate among the disciples.

"Uncle Li, you've returned from your mission? Please read this petition. If you find it reasonable, please sign your name to add to our strength."

On a mountain path, Xiang Qian, a seventh-generation disciple, stopped a sixth-generation master and handed him a thick stack of petitions.

"Xiang Qian, what is this?"

Uncle Li was taken aback, but seeing that it was Xiang Qian, he took it from his hand.

He knew that Xiang Qian was highly regarded by the Yunshan leadership and was already considered the leader of the seventh generation of disciples. He was certain that Xiang Qian's future achievements would surpass his own, so he dared not act like a senior.

Xiang Qian said loudly, "It is my petition, which fully explains the advantages and disadvantages, appeals to reason and emotion, and I hope that the Elders Council will give it careful consideration and reduce the punishment for Sect Leader Lin!"

Behind him, more than a dozen fellow disciples also spoke up in support, startling the birds in the forest into taking flight.

Uncle Li's eyes widened. Even though he had only recently returned to the sect, he already knew about the major event that had shaken the Yunshan Sect.

Vice Sect Leader Lin Le suffered a qi deviation and attempted to flee the sect, but was intercepted by the Golden Core cultivators of the Yunshan Sect. In the ensuing chaos, Sect Leader Lin, controlled by his inner demons, accidentally killed Cui Linglong, the steward of the Internal Affairs Department's Spirit Medicine Hall.

All the disciples of the Yunshan Sect were discussing what to do now and how to handle this matter.
Both Sect Leader Lin and Deacon Cui are distinguished fifth-generation disciples of the Yunshan Sect. Sect Leader Lin goes without saying, but Deacon Cui followed her father in the past, laying the foundation for the Yunshan Sect's cultivation of spiritual herbs. Now, she has surpassed her father and taken full control of the Yunshan Spiritual Herb Hall, making the spiritual herb industry one of the pillar industries of the Yunshan Sect.

Uncle Li also commented on this matter, but unexpectedly, Xiang Qian actually wrote a petition and even asked his fellow disciples to sign it before submitting it to the elders' meeting!
He squeezed it in his hand, then unfolded it again, and was even more shocked. The main text of the petition was only three pages long, but the following hundred pages were already filled with densely packed names, arranged in the order of fifth, sixth, and seventh generation disciples, estimating that there were already three or four thousand people!
That's almost a third of the total number of disciples at Yunshan Sect, that kid Xiang Qian...

A fellow disciple behind Xiang Qian said proudly, "Uncle-Master Li, this is what the people want. Everyone agrees with Senior Brother Xiang's petition. Please sign your name as well."

Uncle Li then turned his gaze back to the main text and read it carefully once more.

In the book, Xiang Qian listed Lin Le's outstanding contributions to the Yunshan Sect, and pointed out that Lin Le was possessed by a demon and completely unable to control himself, which led to the accidental killing, which was an unintentional mistake.

The sect leader previously advocated for leniency and understanding, and we should show compassion. Besides, the deceased is gone, and no amount of punishment can bring them back. It would be better to let Lin Le atone for his mistakes through meritorious service. Moreover, how could the vast Yunshan sect function without Lin Le, the deputy sect leader and head of the Transmission of Skills Department and the Intelligence Department?

The book also expresses regret and deep condolences for Cui Linglong, and suggests erecting a monument and writing a biography for her to be remembered for generations to come, etc.

After a long silence, Uncle Li handed the petition back.

Xiang Qian was somewhat surprised: "Uncle-Master Li?"

Uncle Li sighed, "I'm sorry, Xiang Qian, I don't agree with your point of view, so I can't sign for you." Before Xiang Qian could speak, his fellow disciples behind him were already quite surprised.

"Why not, Uncle Li? You used to work in the intelligence department, shouldn't you be supporting Sect Leader Lin even more?"

Uncle Li shook his head: "In terms of work, I support Sect Leader Lin, and you could even say I endorse him. You're right, I used to work under him, and I know Sect Leader Lin's abilities and how important he is to Yunshan better than you do."

"However, you may not know that nearly a hundred years ago, I followed Sect Leader Lin to support the Danxia Sect in Ningzhou and fought a prefecture-level war. In that battle, True Person Chiyu of the Danxia Sect obtained the title of Spirit Lord, but also exposed his past crime of killing fellow disciples."

"In the end, Akabane Spirit Lord committed suicide to uphold justice, defending his upright and honorable heart with his life, and also upholding the dignity of the sect's rules."

The young disciples were all terrified and fell silent for a moment. Then they listened as Uncle Li continued.

"This matter has greatly affected us all. The rules and regulations of the sect are the cornerstone of the sect, and I believe they should not be arbitrarily changed."

Xiang Qian said urgently, "Uncle-Master Li, these two matters are not the same. Sect Leader Lin was acting against his will. Does Uncle-Master Li think that Sect Leader Lin should be severely punished?"

Uncle Li shook his head again: "It's not a severe punishment. There are rules for manslaughter, and it should be carried out impartially according to the sect rules."

"If you feel that the punishment for manslaughter in the sect rules is too severe, then you should express your opinion on the sect rules and ask the elders to consider it, so that the legal provisions may be amended in the future. Instead of simply targeting Sect Leader Lin personally to apply for a lighter punishment."

Xiang Qian took a deep breath: "Uncle-Master Li, perhaps you misunderstood me. It is still deliberation what crime Sect Leader Lin should be charged with. Perhaps he could be charged with 'murder under duress,' which would at least result in his acquittal."

"Moreover, even if it is determined to be manslaughter, the sect rules also stipulate that the punishment for manslaughter should be determined at the discretion of the authorities."

"That's why we petitioned the elders, hoping they would see the will of the people and give us a lenient sentence."

Uncle Li sighed, but did not respond directly. He gazed at the solemn white dome of the Punishment Department not far away: "Sect Leader Lin successfully transcended his tribulation and attained the rank of Spirit Lord. But Uncle Cui's soul has vanished and no longer exists in this world."

“I understand that you young people are hot-blooded. But I’m afraid the one who is most upset right now is Sect Leader Lin himself.”

High white stone gates and iron walls, deep courtyards divided into small rooms where Yunshan disciples who had committed offenses were imprisoned and awaited trial.

Outside a separate room, two disciples stood ramrod straight, their faces anxious as they frequently glanced at the iron door, eager to know how the conversation inside was going. Unfortunately, the continuous deployment of multiple magical formations had completely blocked out any sound.

"Brother Le, Senior Uncle Wang said that we can't even gather half of the elders right now, so the elders' council will have to wait until the sect leader returns," Wu Yan said in a low voice.

She knelt beside Lin Le. The stone chamber was cold and silent, without even a futon. There was only a small window through which one could glimpse the sky outside.

“Uncle-Master Wang certainly wouldn’t dare to make that decision.” Lin Le closed his eyes. “However, I confess my guilt and accept punishment, and the circumstances are clear, so there’s no need to elaborate.”

“I was controlled by my inner demons and lost myself. It was not intentional and should be punished as manslaughter. According to Article 8, Paragraph 4 of Chapter 3 of the Yunshan Criminal Law, those who negligently cause the death of a fellow disciple shall be convicted based on the degree of negligence, the actual consequences caused, and the remorse shown by the negligent person.”

"Those who commit minor offenses will be dismissed from their posts and ranks, and imprisoned for a term starting at fifty years, which may be extended depending on the circumstances. They will also be fined, whipped, and forced to do hard labor. During their imprisonment, Yunshan disciples will be deprived of all their rights."

“Those who commit serious offenses may have their cultivation abolished, be expelled from the sect, or even be sentenced to death.”

"The specific punishment shall be proposed by the Penal Division and decided by the Council of Elders."

Wu Yan remained silent for a long time before slowly saying, "Brother Le, I heard that many disciples in the sect are petitioning together, hoping for a lenient sentence for you."

Lin Le shook his head: "Go and tell them that there's no need for this. I have realized my true intentions and will naturally follow my nature to accept the Elders' judgment. They must not gather together to influence the Elders' decision with so-called public opinion."

"I am grateful for your efforts on my behalf, but who will do the same for Junior Sister Cui?" Wu Yan leaned against Lin Le's shoulder, her hands twisting together, her mind in turmoil. As the sect leader's eldest disciple, she should uphold justice, and even to avoid suspicion, she shouldn't have come to see Lin Le at this time.

But Lin Le is, after all, her husband.

"Brother Le, if it were up to you, what punishment would you deem fit?"

It took her a long time to gradually sort out her thoughts. She knew that perhaps Lin Le's own judgment was the most important factor in convicting him.

Lin Le's voice was very calm: "Yanmei, my true intention is the 'Way of Gathering the Masses,' or rather, 'The Supremacy of the Collective.'"

"Everyone is a member of a collective and should play their role fully in a suitable position through a well-designed system, uniting and integrating their individual interests to maximize the collective good."

"The measure of an individual's value lies in their contribution to the collective."

"The collective is always above the individual. In times of crisis, the individual can be sacrificed for the benefit of the collective, or the individual's value can be used to weigh the trade-offs."

"In order to safeguard the collective interests and supreme authority, we must strictly enforce the collective's rules and regulations, which are the rules and regulations of our sect."

"Conversely, decision-makers need to revise rules and regulations in a timely manner based on the actual situation to ensure that such systems can safeguard the supremacy of the collective."

"I believe that the current Criminal Law is able to protect the interests of the Yunshan Sect to the greatest extent, and there is no need to revise it. So all I need to do is give me a fair trial in accordance with the Criminal Law."

"Judging from the degree of my fault, the consequences, and my remorse, I should be sentenced to imprisonment, but my crime does not warrant the abolition of my cultivation, expulsion from my sect, or death."

“After being punished, I will sincerely repent and dedicate myself to doing my best to atone for my sins by creating the greatest value for Yunshan.”

Wu Yan stared at him intently, then breathed a sigh of relief.

Yes, Brother Le has realized his true intentions and will naturally act accordingly.

At least his crimes were different from those of Akabane Reijun, and did not warrant the death penalty.

[The Way of Gathering the Masses] Based on this principle, if Brother Le were to take charge of the Danxia Sect, how would he judge Lord Chiyu?

Regardless of the circumstances, Akabane Reijun will act according to his own principles of "righteousness and honor," and will ultimately choose to commit suicide.

She took a breath, gathered her scattered thoughts, and said, "Brother Le, your true nature is indeed very different from Master's."

“Yes, my ‘Gathering the Crowd’ and the sect leader’s ‘Uniting the Crowd’ are only one word apart, but in reality, they are vastly different.” Lin Le sighed with emotion, “Even if they lead to the same goal, they are ultimately on different paths.”

"Perhaps in the future, the sect leader and I will have some disagreements because of this."

Wu Yan tensed up immediately. Just as she was about to say something, the magic circle was activated.

A disciple came to report: "Elder Wu, Sect Leader Lin, distinguished guests have arrived at Biluo Peak. Sect Leader Wang said that he would like Elder Wu to also come forward to receive them."

As the sun sets and the moon rises, a time of leisure in itself, the main hall is filled with solemnity.

A majestic and awe-inspiring Nascent Soul cultivator stood in the hall without taking a seat. Behind him were several Nascent Soul cultivators. The elders of the Yunshan Sect who were at home, Wang Yu, Wu Yan, Su Yan, and Wang Ruoyu, had all gathered there.

“My sect leader and several fellow disciples received much care from the Hai family on the Immortal Fall Islands. Without the Hai family’s help, I’m afraid it would have been difficult for them to enter the Dragon Palace.” Wang Yu bowed. “Thank you, Commander Wei.”

That was Hai Yiwei, whose primordial spirit had reached its peak!

Wang Yu and the others only then learned that the Hai family had already pledged allegiance to Taiyi Paradise and moved the entire clan to Yuheng. The Five Turbid True Lord had also borrowed the power of a Hai family member at the Void Refinement stage and was currently investigating the whereabouts of the Second Heavenly Lord and the Thirty-Second Heavenly Lord in Qingzhou.

But why did Hai Shuangyao's father, the rather famous Hai Yiwei, Wei Shuai, come straight to my Yunshan Sect's Biluo Peak?
“My master has mentioned General Wei’s name to me before.” Wu Yan forced a smile and said, “It is a great honor to meet you today. Perhaps in a few days we will hear the good news that General Wei has achieved the Void Refinement stage.”

"Westbrook—"

"Let's skip the pleasantries." Hai Yiwei suddenly waved his hand, his brows furrowed, and said in a deep voice, "I came to Yunshan Sect to apologize."

Yunshan and the others felt a chill in their hearts, and their expressions changed slightly.

"My Yao Yao's best friend, Jiang Bai Tao, has gone missing."

Wu Yan's eyes widened suddenly, and Wang Ruoyu beside her felt her spiritual pressure suddenly become disordered.

"Commander Wei, please explain in detail!" Wang Yu took a deep breath, but the anxiety in his heart was hard to suppress.

Hai Yiwei then explained the whole situation. At that time, they left Jade Pot Island and headed to the Great Ocean Abyss, but Jiang Baitao wanted to relax on her own and told the Hai family cultivators not to follow her, and then she disappeared.

When Hai Yiwei returned and heard the news, he was shocked and immediately set out to search with all his might. However, the Dragon Clan and the Sea Clan launched a massive attack in an instant!

The Hai Family Cave Heaven, the Hai Family Territory, and its subordinate islands have been besieged and attacked by the Dragon Clan and the Sea Clan who have crossed the void to refine their Void Realm. The Dragon Clan army is also advancing at an overwhelming speed, launching a full-scale invasion of the Immortal Fall Islands!
In a life-or-death situation, how could they possibly find the time to search for Jiang Baitao?
"Six pillars of immortals perished, three of whom were at the Dao Integration stage, and forty-two were at the Void Refinement stage. Including my two Void Refinement ancestors, all of them have died in the Immortal Realm of Lord Daohai. How can they possibly resist the invasion of the Dragon Clan?"

Hai Yiwei's expression was extremely grave.

"These mudfish are very cunning; their primary target is the Six Pillars of Immortal Demise!"

"The Tian Shi Yuan Dou Palace was completely destroyed, the Xuan Hai Sect suffered heavy damage and fled to the Tian Quan Continent, the Mi family was wiped out, and the Yu Lou Sect was also completely wiped out."

"Only with the support of Tianxuan Continent and the secret support of Taiyi Paradise, the Hai family was able to relocate to Yuheng for refuge. Otherwise, the Hai family would have followed in the footsteps of the Mi family."

"The Dragon Clan is very powerful, and they launched a decisive attack right from the start. Neither Tianxuan nor Taiyi Paradise was prepared for a direct confrontation, nor did they have the spare capacity to rescue more sects. We can hardly even protect ourselves."

“At that time, everyone was fighting to the death. My great-grandfather Jiaming was seriously injured and on the verge of death. The cave was also severely damaged. There were only a hundred of our clansmen left. It was indeed impossible to find Jiang Baitao.”

"The Dragon Clan has now basically occupied the Immortal Fall Islands. If Bai Tao were still on the island, I'm afraid..."

Then Wang Ruoyu suddenly stood up, strode to Wang Yu, and knelt down.

"Senior Uncle Wang, I need to go save Junior Uncle!" (End of Chapter)