Sage of Humanity

In the elegant courtyard, nearly twenty True Lake Realm cultivators were engaged in a fierce battle. Tables, pavilions were shattered, and food and drinks were strewn all over, creating a chaotic scene.

Shen Manzi was frantically trying to mediate, but at this moment, who could listen? Everyone was treating her words like the wind, solely focused on fighting their opponents.

The commotion here naturally alarmed many cultivators in the front hall, who rushed to watch.

Such scenes were rarely seen in Haotian City, and they all found it astonishing, watching with great interest.

"Madam Boss, what should we do?" asked a servant from Hundred Fragrance House.

The hem of Shen Manzi's skirt fluttered as she silently kicked a Team A-5 member who had stumbled in front of her back into the fray, sighing quietly, "Report to the Justice Department."

She couldn't stop it but couldn't just watch the situation worsen. After all, this happened on her turf. Currently, these two groups were somewhat restrained, with only Lu Ye and that Level 9 young man occasionally using spirit force, while the others showed no traces of using spirit force. But if the fight continued like this, no one could guarantee how the situation would develop.

If someone accidentally ended up dead, the participants in the fight, without exception, would all face severe consequences.

Just as Shen Manzi's words fell, a mighty pressure from a Divine Sea Realm strong cultivator suddenly rose from a place in Haotian City, swiftly heading over.

Someone watching the scene had already reported to the Justice Department.

The pressure was formidable, rising from the Justice Department's hall, taking just a few seconds to reach the skies over Hundred Fragrance House, revealing a figure—it was Qian Wudang.

At the same time, from various places in Haotian City, strands of Mental Consciousness spread out and converged here, clearly startled by Qian Wudang, curious about what had happened, using their Mental Consciousness to investigate the situation.

After noticing the dispute here, the Divine Sea Realm cultivators stationed in various locations were all taken aback, never expecting such a thing to happen within Haotian City. However, this was ultimately an internal matter of the Justice Department, so these Divine Sea Realm cultivators had no intention of showing themselves, waiting for Qian Wudang to handle it on his own.

Looking down from above, Qian Wudang's face twitched slightly, a stern shout: "Stop all of you!"

As he spoke, his aura expanded violently, and an invisible hefty weight descended from the sky.

The many cultivators who had come to watch, hovering in mid-air, fell like dumplings, exclaiming in surprise.

They were only affected by the aftermath, but those fighting in the elegant courtyard were truly targeted, each feeling as if a mountain was pressing down, short of breath.

The chaotic scene was frozen still.

Warlord Geng's face was bruised, maintaining a defensive posture; he was the strongest in Team A-3 and a physique cultivator, thus surrounded and attacked by several people.

Xiao Ruyun lay on the ground, his legs locking around an opponent's waist, his hands clutching the other's face, thumbs pressing against the opponent's eye sockets, appearing ready to gouge out eyes, while the opponent grimaced in pain.

Kang Yuanqiao, usually a steady character, was at this moment riding on an opponent's neck, hands clasped, poised to punch.

Shangguan Qiu was the one being beaten... no way around it, magic cultivators have relatively weaker physique and truly don't gain any advantage in such brawls, his eyebrow arch was cracked, blood trickling down his cheeks.

Xiao Xinghe was in tattered garments, two opponents beside him watching him like tigers, clearly having suffered losses.

Lin Yinxiu and Muk Zheng faced off a few yards away with three female cultivators on the opposing side, the women all disheveled, panting heavily, no doubt having exchanged blows for some time...

As for Lu Ye, he was riding on top of the Level 9 young man, who was defensively covering his head before Qian Wudang's arrival, bracing for Lu Ye's torrential attacks.

Then there was Amber... with its massive bloody mouth open, holding a cultivator's head, leaving only the body exposed outside. At first glance, Amber seemed to be eating someone, creating a horrifying scene.

Qian Wudang glanced around, focusing for a moment on Lin Yinxiu's side, seeing Lin Yinxiu's disheveled appearance, heart aching almost to the point of breathlessness.

While beside him, Yinxiu, although mischievous at times, never acted in such a disgraceful manner. She had only followed Lu Yiye for a few days? How did she end up fighting like a shrew?

How unseemly!

Anger surged within him, intensifying the aura in the field, causing the crowd to hold their breath.

After a good moment, Qian Wudang coldly shouted, "Stand properly, all of you!"

With his command, the many cultivators in the elegant courtyard, without exception, released their opponents, straightening themselves up, except for Amber, who innocently spat out its opponent, transformed into a cat-size, stealthily snuck to the side.

The cultivator spat out by it was covered in saliva, his face showing an expression of utter despair.

"Team captains, step forward!" Qian Wudang shouted again.

Warlord Geng and Lu Ye stepped forward proudly.

On the other side, the Level 9 young man and another person also stepped forward.

Qian Wudang laughed in extreme anger, hands clasped behind him, nodding slightly, "Warlord Geng, Lu Yiye, Zhou Kui, Zhang Cheng, you four captains did well, didn't you? Leading your members to fight in a crowd here!"

Standing beside Warlord Geng, Lu Ye's expression slightly shifted.

Warlord Geng stood tall and replied solemnly, "My lord, you've misunderstood. We were merely gathered here to drink, and as the wine kicked in, my brothers engaged in a little sparring. We didn't intend to cause such a commotion to alarm you. We apologize and ask for your understanding, my lord."

Lu Ye, Zhou Kui, and Zhang Cheng nodded in agreement, all speaking in unison, "Just sparring, only sparring!"

No matter the fight just now, our attitude must be consistent at this moment.

"Do you take me for a blind fool? Sparring?" Qian Wudang fumed. "Is this how you spar? Look at how much you've broken, look at the injuries on yourselves, and you still dare tell me it's sparring!"

Warlord Geng shrank his neck, weakly saying, "That's the truth..."

Qian Wudang glared at him, causing Warlord Geng to immediately shut his mouth.

Understanding that this incident has blown out of proportion, having drawn the attention of many Divine Sea Realm cultivators, Qian Wudang, even if intending to downplay it, couldn't do so.

"Being members of the Law Enforcement Hall, you indulge in drunken disorder here, inciting brawls, knowing the law and still breaking it. Warlord Geng, tell me, what punishment should be meted out?" Qian Wudang questioned sternly.

Warlord Geng stiffened his neck, "I will go to the punishment rack and accept my penalty. However, the cause of today's matter lies with me alone. I appeal to your mercy, my lord, that all responsibilities fall upon me alone."

"You want to shoulder it all alone?" Qian Wudang glared angrily at him, "You don't have that capability! All who participated today, head to the punishment rack; captains will receive ten lashes each, others five lashes each — a minor punishment to serve as a warning. If any dare repeat it, there will be no leniency."

The declaration made all cultivators in the elegant courtyard shiver.

Lu Ye couldn't help but grimace; having tasted the Reversed Dragon Spike, he knew its pain.

"Hurry, get going!" Qian Wudang shouted furiously, feeling angrier than ever in his life, for such a disgraceful act in his Law Enforcement Hall, especially under the observation of numerous Divine Sea Realm cultivators, demands an appropriate explanation.

This punishment was the best solution he could offer.

Upon his command, everyone leapt and sped towards the punishment rack, their earlier fervent battle spirit long vanished, heads hung low, especially the female cultivators who looked pale.

The might of the Reversed Dragon Spike, even if not personally experienced, was rumored enough that with five lashes, one couldn't be sure if they could endure it.

"What are you looking at? Scatter quickly!" Qian Wudang turned his gaze towards the cultivators enjoying the spectacle and shouted, feeling infuriated by everyone today. With a wave of his sleeve, he headed towards the punishment rack too.

At the entrance of the punishment rack, the guarding cultivator smiled widely at the imposing procession of Law Enforcement Hall members coming his way.

Although Hundred Fragrance House wasn't nearby, Qian Wudang's loud reprimands echoed throughout Haotian City, making those stationed here aware of the incident despite their location.

Feeling they've witnessed something new, never seeing so many rushing together for punishment.

Like a welcoming host, he enthusiastically led the group inside, with Qian Wudang also heading in.

Descending into the depths, the chilling and dark environment added a sense of sneaky foreboding. Thinking of the punishment awaiting made their bodies cold.

"Feeling regret now? What were you doing earlier?" Qian Wudang, having reached the front, snorted coldly.

No one replied.

Soon, they arrived at the punishment area. Old One-eye, responsible for punishment was drinking, sensing Qian Wudang's presence, he stood to greet him, then glanced at the large group behind Qian Wudang in amazement, "Lord Department Chief, is this..."

"They've committed errors and are here for punishment!" Qian Wudang turned back, looking regretfully at everyone as those who met his gaze lowered their heads.

"So many." Old One-eye was a bit surprised, "This old man is going to have a hard day."

He said this as he leisurely walked to the place the Reversed Dragon Spike was stored, retrieving it with a crack that sounded like thunder.

The strike felt as if it landed on everyone, causing many to shiver.

"Who among you four will go first?" Qian Wudang's gaze fell upon Lu Ye and the others standing at the front, standing to the side, ready to oversee the punishment personally.

Lu Ye turned to signal Warlord Geng, who grasped the meaning, and both took a step back simultaneously.

Zhang Cheng quickly caught on and retreated.

From the back, someone snorted with laughter, easing the solemn tension a bit.

Leaving Zhou Kui standing alone, belatedly comprehending, "You all..."

"Well done!" Qian Wudang commended coldly, "Then Zhou Kui, you start first!"

"My lord, I was not..."

"Enough nonsense!" Qian Wudang reached out, grabbed Zhou Kui, and tossed him against the punishment rack, "Stretch your neck for a knife, shrink it for a knife too; the sooner it's over, the better!"