The First Immortal of Destiny

What Shen Mo had employed was the Soul Searching Spell, recorded in the Divine Soul Contemplation Scripture.

Most soul-related cultivation methods included various techniques for utilizing soul power, such as Soul Search, Bind Soul, Imperial Soul, Destruct Soul, Nurturing Soul, Calling Soul, and other such spells!

Currently, Shen Mo’s Essence, Qi, and Spirit were harmoniously integrated. To some extent, his power of chaotic Yuan could be regarded as a combination of his original True Yuan Mana, strength of Qi and blood, and soul power.

However, this type of Mana was far more formidable than any single power, and even more miraculous!

With his cultivation level, when he performed a Soul Search on Qi Gathering Realm (Class II) disciples, his power was overwhelming. Even if they resisted fiercely, Shen Mo’s soul would not suffer the slightest damage.

Conversely, if these disciples resisted and used magic or soul power to confront the Soul Search, they would be crushed into a bloody pulp, like mortals trying to stop a charge of heavily armored cavalry. Therefore, Shen Mo had previously ordered them to relax their minds and souls, lest their own souls be scattered!

Facing a Soul Search by a Divine Bridge Immortal Master, these disciples knew what was good for them and dared not harbor the slightest thought of resistance.

Driven by Mana, Shen Mo quickly began to scan the soul memories of the disciples from the two branches.

The results of the Soul Search were consistent with the Enforcement Hall’s prior investigation!

The accusations from the Green Cloud Peak disciples were false. When the search team discovered the Xuanyin Soul Nurturing Spring in the ”Mountain Stream” river, the Marine Race disciples from Ascending Lake had not detected in advance that a Class III River Demon was at the river bottom.

The inference that they ”harbored ill intentions and secretly harmed fellow disciples” was even more baseless!

The Ascending Lake disciples were injured but not killed purely because they were of the Marine Race and proficient in Water-type Spells. Under the attack of the Class III River Demon, they handled the attacks with greater ease than the other disciples.

「...」

Shen Mo took out a blank jade slip. He swiped his finger across it, engraving the information obtained from the Soul Search. Then, he handed it to Yuan Heming, just as he had with the previous jade slip. Yuan Heming would pass it on after reading.

After Yuan Heming, Ming Cang, and Situ Huo—the three Deputy Sect Masters—along with Chen Mengze, Ming Yu, Guo Xun, and the others had all read the two jade slips, the atmosphere in the Longevity Hall suddenly grew solemn.

Everyone’s gaze, filled with varied expressions, fell upon Shen Mo, awaiting his final decision.

Shen Mo, however, looked at Guo Xun and said calmly, ”Hall Master Guo, why are you still looking at me?”

”Implementing clear punishments and reprimanding misconduct is the responsibility of the Enforcement Hall. Which sect rules these involved disciples have violated, and what punishment they should receive... Hall Master Guo, you likely already have a plan in mind.”

”Don’t be constrained by any concerns. Adjudicate according to the sect’s rules and regulations, and announce it to everyone!”

Guo Xun’s mouth twitched. He was inwardly lamenting his predicament, but he still immediately walked to the center of the main hall, cupped his hands, and bowed, ”I will humbly follow the Sect Master’s decree.”

Then, he turned to face the disciples from the two branches, who looked terrified and were silent with fear, and loudly read out the punishments drafted by the Enforcement Hall.

”Ninety percent of the blame and error lay with the Green Cloud Peak disciples.”

”First.”

”They were eager to claim credit and, disregarding the broader situation, insisted on snatching the river-entry task from the Ascending Lake disciples, intending to earn more sect rewards and merits.”

”This also led to heavy casualties for the entire team and the missed opportunity to collect the ’Xuanyin Soul Nurturing Spring’.”

”Had the Ascending Lake disciples, members of the Marine Race, been allowed to enter the river, their innate talent for aquatic environments and proficiency in Water-type cultivation methods might have enabled them to smoothly retrieve the Xuanyin Soul Nurturing Spring. They might even have detected something amiss immediately upon entering the river and alerted everyone early, and the team’s casualties might not have been so severe.”

”Of course, to blame the deaths of those dozen or so disciples entirely on the Green Cloud Peak disciples would be somewhat unfair.”

”The River Demon lurking at the river bottom possessed a late-stage Class III Cultivation Realm. Even if the Ascending Lake disciples had entered the river, it wouldn’t necessarily have guaranteed a better outcome.”

”However, the dire consequences had already occurred, and time could not be reversed to replay the events.”

”Therefore.”

”If they had acted according to procedure, even if the casualties had still been as tragic, it would have been considered an unavoidable calamity, with no one at fault.”

”But the Green Cloud Peak disciples, in their eagerness to claim credit, disregarded the procedures long established by the sect. Once they acted, if nothing had gone wrong, no one would have investigated further. But since something did go wrong, they could only be considered unfortunate!”

”Second.”

”Without any factual basis, and without promptly reporting to the Enforcement cultivators, they fabricated accusations based on flimsy, unscrutinized clues, falsely accusing the Ascending Lake disciples of secretly harming fellow sect members.”

”They used this to provoke a dispute, coming to blows with the Ascending Lake disciples, which ultimately led to Peak Master-level figures engaging in conflict, causing a detrimental impact within the sect.”

”Based on these two points, the Enforcement Hall has decided on the following punishments.”

”The seven individuals are stripped of their status as Green Cloud Peak disciples and will no longer enjoy the benefits and treatment afforded to Elite Disciples.”

”Additionally, these seven Qi Gathering Realm disciples will be exiled to the various mining veins of Five Dragon Mountain to serve as miners for ten years. Only after this ten-year period is completed may they return to the Inner Door to continue their cultivation.”

”Most Spirit Stone and spirit gold mining veins are filled with dense Iron Qi, Gold Qi, Miasma, Demonic Qi, and other forms of Turbid Qi.”

”For Qi Gathering Realm cultivators, a temporary stay to carry out a mission is manageable. However, if one were to stay for eight or ten years, their cultivation would inevitably be delayed. Moreover, Turbid Qi would infiltrate their bodies, causing their Mana to become impure and afflicting them with various illnesses. This is true even in the Immortal Realm, which is not much better than the Red Flame Zone in this regard!”

”Such punishment, while not directly taking their lives, has undoubtedly ruined their promising futures.”

”At the same time, it also squeezes their remaining value to the utmost, to compensate for the cultivation resources the sect invested in them!”

”As for those dozen or so Ascending Lake disciples, although their fighting with the Green Cloud Peak disciples was somewhat justifiable, sect rules strictly prohibit private altercations.”

”Each person is fined ten Sect Merit Points and two hundred Lower Grade Spirit Stones.”

”If their Spirit Stones or Merit Points are insufficient, the equivalent value will be deducted from their magic artifacts, Elixirs, or talismans, or they will have to perform labor to compensate!”

”Agreed!” Shen Mo stated.

Once the golden words were spoken, it was an Immortal Master’s decree.

In the next instant, the seven Green Cloud Peak disciples turned deathly pale and collapsed to the ground.

The dozen or so Ascending Lake disciples, however, touched their heads to the ground, kowtowing repeatedly. When they rose, their eyes still reflected the relief of having vented their Evil Qi and a sense of joyful deliverance!

”Brother, your judgment is brilliant...” Ming Yu, at his side, said with a beaming smile.

Nearby, a hint of surprise appeared in Chen Mengze’s eyes, but she said nothing. However, her expression clearly betrayed her disappointment and bewilderment.

Yuan Heming, on the other hand, frowned and discreetly sent a voice transmission: ”Junior Brother Shen, isn’t this punishment for the Green Cloud Peak disciples a bit too severe? Spending ten years mining ore in the veins... I’m afraid they’ll likely never be able to open their Spirit Sea in this lifetime!”

”Too severe? I think it’s rather lenient!” Shen Mo replied via voice transmission.

It was as he had said before: he could tolerate various disagreements, conflicts, and disputes within the sect. After all, including the outer disciples, the Red Flame Sect Members numbered over a million. To expect everyone to be as close-knit as if he himself could instantly ascend to the True Immortal Realm was simply impossible!

However, he would absolutely not allow internal strife to disrupt the sect’s normal operations, affect the collection of spiritual items and resources, and consequently, impact his own cultivation.