Seven days later, the autumn breeze was crisp.

Liou Yuan traveled swiftly under the stars and moon, finally returning to Five Extremes Mountain at noon on the seventh day.

Without having time to wash off the dust from his journey, the first thing he did upon returning to the sect was to head straight to the Disciplinary Hall of the Fifth Peak.

The registration for matters regarding apprehension is still handled by Lao Xiuyuan, one of the top ten experts of the Outer Sect.

Liou Yuan didn’t know what mistake he had made to be assigned to such a dull job, and he certainly didn’t dare to ask him about it.

After greeting Lao Xiuyuan and entering the Wind Chasing Division, he efficiently took Ji Jie’s head out of his storage bag, along with the wanted poster of Ji Jie, and handed it over to Lao Xiuyuan, who had been dozing off at the registration desk moments before.

This is the basic process for settling bounty rewards.

Lao Xiuyuan, who was responsible for registration, also had to verify the identity of the person apprehended.

"Thank you, Mr. Lao." Liou Yuan greeted Lao Xiuyuan with a friendly smile, handing over the necessary items for the bounty task and didn’t forget to give the Disciplinary Hall Token to Lao Xiuyuan as well. He hurriedly thanked him, saying, "Mr. Lao, this token has been a great help to me."

Lao Xiuyuan discreetly tucked the Disciplinary Hall token into his sleeve, without responding to Liou Yuan’s words.

Instead, he lifted his heavy eyelids and looked at Ji Jie’s head placed in front of him on the registration desk.

With just one glance, he confirmed the identity and said approvingly, "Not bad, it is Ji Jie."

"Ji Jie’s ability ranked among the late-stage Qi Cultivation disciples in my Five Extremes Mountain."

"Mr. Liou at the Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer could take him down, proving your strength is among the top in the Outer Sect of Five Extremes Mountain."

Though speaking, Lao Xiuyuan’s hands never stopped moving, flipping through the records filled with countless evil individuals to help Liou Yuan register for this bounty.

Busy with official duties, Lao Xiuyuan didn’t raise his head and casually asked, "Why did Mr. Liou return alone, what happened to the guy who accompanied you last time to pick up the bounty task, is he dead?"

Lao Xiuyuan didn’t even bother to ask Pan Yang’s name, replacing it with "that guy."

His inquiry about Pan Yang’s life and death was in a nonchalant manner.

Lao Xiuyuan asked lightly, but Liou Yuan knew he couldn’t give a careless answer.

Immediately, he adopted a serious expression and in a somber tone, repeated to Lao Xiuyuan what he had told Mr. Li before.

He said that while investigating Ji Jie’s whereabouts, he and Pan Yang misjudged the timing and were blocked by Evil Star.

He managed to escape back to Lingjun County, while Pan Yang’s fate remained unknown.

After explaining, Liou Yuan looked at Lao Xiuyuan, waiting for his response.

Lao Xiuyuan remained indifferent, not even lifting his eyes, and added lightly, "If his fate is unknown, he’s as good as dead."

"Once the three-month period for the apprehension task ends, if Pan Yang hasn’t returned, I’ll directly report his death."

"Every year, Outer Sect disciples dying during outside missions are handled like this, Mr. Liou need not pay much attention."

Lao Xiuyuan never doubted Liou Yuan, or rather, he simply didn’t care about the life or death of a nameless Outer Sect disciple.

Every year, dozens of disciples from the Disciplinary Hall die during apprehension tasks, let alone other Outer Sect disciples.

"Just that simple?" Liou Yuan was stunned for a moment, having thought he’d have to undergo inquiry from the Disciplinary Hall regarding this matter.

After all, it concerned the life of an Outer Sect disciple.

"Of course, it’s not that simple. Our Five Extremes Mountain fiercely protects its own, if he died by the hands of an evil person, then the evil must pay with his life."

"However, since Pan Yang’s death occurred in the realms ruled by Evil Star, not by murder, are you expecting us from the Disciplinary Hall to scour Lingjun County for Star Evil over an Outer Sect disciple?"

Lao Xiuyuan’s lips curved slightly as he said, "Of course, that’s only if he truly died at the hands of Star Evil."

Lao Xiuyuan’s words were laden with implied meaning.

Liou Yuan pretended not to understand, echoing, "The three-month period has yet to end, I believe Mr. Pan’s fate will be favorable."

"I couldn’t care less whether he lives or dies, as long as you’re alive." Lao Xiuyuan completed the registration, took Liou Yuan’s token, and attributed the twenty points reward for apprehending Ji Jie to Liou Yuan’s account.

"I’ve gone ahead and given you all the merit points, if Pan Yang returns alive, you can arrange the distribution yourselves."

With twenty merit points credited, Liou Yuan’s merit points reached three hundred, currently at three hundred and thirteen.

Of course, this merit point reward for apprehending evil is negligible compared to Liou Yuan’s real gains.

Liou Yuan kept a composed face as he retrieved his token from Lao Xiuyuan’s hand.

At the same time, Liou Yuan watched Lao Xiuyuan take out a Jade Ruyi from his sleeve, and lightly tap it on Ji Jie’s head.

Poof.

Under the tapping of the Jade Ruyi, Ji Jie’s head turned into ash.

Encased in spiritual power by Lao Xiuyuan, it was stored into a black jade bottle, sealed with a label, marking the end of Ji Jie’s task.

Lao Xiuyuan observed Liou Yuan, who hadn’t left yet, jesting, "Mr. Liou has more matters? Do you wish to pick up another apprehension task?"

"Mr. Lao, you mock me; I almost lost my life over Ji Jie, I dare not take another bounty task recklessly." Liou Yuan laughed awkwardly.

Indeed, he hadn’t left because he had business; seeing Lao Xiuyuan had a past acquaintance with his elder brother, he wasn’t formal, asking cheerily, "May I inquire something from Mr. Lao?"

"Go ahead, since I’m free." Lao Xiuyuan leaned back against the master’s chair, found a comfortable position to lie down, and listened quietly to Liou Yuan’s question.

"Hey, honestly Mr. Lao, I’ve long been longing for the Disciplinary Hall." Liou Yuan masked his earnest expression with a tone full of anticipation, "I wonder, how can one join the Disciplinary Hall?"

The power of the Disciplinary Hall is immense. If Liou Yuan can join the Disciplinary Hall, he will find many conveniences when traveling outside.

Moreover, he wants to transfer Gong Linqing back to the Five Extremes Mountain, and only as a disciple of the Disciplinary Hall can he accomplish this.

Thus, joining the Disciplinary Hall has been part of Liou Yuan’s plan since he arrived in Jiuli State.

"The Disciplinary Hall is not a good place." Lao Xiuyuan gave Liou Yuan a deep look, and although he himself was associated with the Disciplinary Hall, his words carried not a shred of respect for this office.

"Don’t be fooled by the glamorous appearances of the Disciplinary Hall disciples; once you join, no matter which department you’re in—be it the Precepts Department, the Criminal Law Department, or the Prison guard—every year you’re required to undertake arrest missions mandatorily. Each year about ten percent of Disciplinary Hall disciples die outside during these missions."

"That’s one out of ten disciples dying each year outside."

"Especially for the Law Enforcement Team, the death rate each year is nearly twenty percent."

"The responsibility is immense, which is why the power is great."

At this point, Lao Xiuyuan questioned Liou Yuan, "Knowing all this, do you still wish to join the Disciplinary Hall?"

Lao Xiuyuan didn’t need to say aloud what Liou Yuan already understood well in his heart.

Even dealing with a Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer like Ji Jie was so difficult, yet the Law Enforcement Team disciples deal daily with villains of Ji Jie’s level.

Among them are not only Qi Cultivation Eighth or Ninth Layer villains, but even those of the Foundation Establishment level.

No matter how skilled they are, death is inevitable.

"And precisely because of this, the status of the Disciplinary Hall is so high within the Five Extremes Mountain."

"Only outside the sect does one have the power to mobilize hidden operatives all across."

Reflecting on this silently, Liou Yuan did not forget to respond to Lao Xiuyuan.

"I am well aware, Mr. Lao, please guide me on the right path."

Lao Xiuyuan has said all that needs to be said. Seeing Liou Yuan’s firm determination, he was not the type to persuade further, and with a smirk, he said, "The first standard: Your cultivation realm should reach Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer."

"Second standard: Within a year, capture two major criminals wanted by the Disciplinary Hall."

"Meet these requirements, and come directly to me. I will introduce you to the Disciplinary Hall."

"Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer," Liou Yuan nodded thoughtfully.

Given his current qualifications, he is absolutely hopeful of reaching Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer within a year. Achieving this standard is not difficult.

The only tough part is the challenge of capturing two major criminals within a year.

Fortunately, Liou Yuan has already accomplished half of it; he only needs to arrest one more villain within the year.

"First break through to Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer, then hunt for a villain to slay."

Calculating internally, Liou Yuan nodded emphatically and proceeded to give a respectful bow to Lao Xiuyuan, about to take his leave.

Unexpectedly, Lao Xiuyuan stopped him.

"Hold on."

"I’ve received the latest intelligence that Outer Sect training will begin before the next autumn. The sect stipulates all disciples above Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer and below Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer must participate in this training."

"Counting the time, it’s less than a year away."

"Liou Junior Brother, you still need to prepare more."

The information about Outer Sect training circulated from the Inner Sect while Liou Yuan was out on arrest missions.

As a Disciplinary Hall disciple, Lao Xiuyuan was informed among the first batch. Seeing Liou Yuan return, he specifically told him, as a form of care.

"Is Outer Sect training about to begin?" Liou Yuan furrowed his brow.

Outer Sect training is considered a significant event at the Five Extremes Mountain.

It takes place every three years and is regarded as a form of tempering for the disciples under the sect.

In past rules, only disciples who have been in the sect for three years or more were required to mandatorily undertake the Outer Sect training.

Calculating carefully, Liou Yuan has only been in the Five Extremes Mountain for a little over a year, barely two years altogether.

"Why has the rule suddenly changed this year?" Liou Yuan murmured, his expression still calm.

Although the rules have changed, with Liou Yuan’s current capabilities, completing the Outer Sect training doesn’t seem overly difficult.

Per previous years’ Outer Sect training intensity, generally, disciples at Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer have about a fifty percent chance of passing.

Liou Yuan has the record of defeating three Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer opponents, making his success in Outer Sect training almost certain.

The only variable is those Qi Cultivation Eighth and Ninth Layer disciples from the Outer Sect.

It’s been heard that during Outer Sect training, conflicts between fellow disciples are not rare.

Though it rarely leads to fatalities, being injured by fellow disciples means being unable to continue with the training.

Liou Yuan can currently fight against Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer, but has difficulty against the Eighth Layer, which makes him somewhat apprehensive.

"In fact, passing the Outer Sect training earlier doesn’t bode ill for you, Liou Junior Brother."

"Disciples who pass the Outer Sect training not only receive rewards from the sect, but also see their status within the sect elevated, allowing them to choose crucial sect roles, thus allowing them to come into contact with outer sect power."

Lao Xiuyuan detailed the benefits of passing the Outer Sect training.