Chapter Seven: The Power of the Golden Badge Enforcement

As soon as the voice from the air faded, four or five hundred cultivators around them needed barely a moment to discern the situation—within the blink of an eye, two or three hundred had already scattered and flown away.

Su Yizhao’s expression tightened slightly.

For over a decade, he had been carrying out missions for the Hall of Enforcement, seldom interacting with members of the Main Sect. He hadn’t imagined that even a random envoy from the Main Sect could wield such overwhelming authority.

A peal of laughter rang out from the airship above. “Ha! So many fearless fools in this backwater. I thought Su Yizhao was an exception, but it seems there are plenty more like him here!”

Su Yizhao’s eyes flickered; his right hand’s five fingers subtly tensed.

The rule for disciples of the Hall of Enforcement was to keep a low profile unless duty called, to hide among the crowd whenever possible.

But now that he had been singled out by name, there was no choice but to let strength speak for itself.

Even a clay Buddha can feel wrath—how much more so someone who has long battled on the edge of life and death?

Suddenly, he felt a cool touch on the back of his hand—Li Xiyue had placed her hand atop his.

He turned his head and caught her giving him a meaningful glance. Then, with a surge of mystical energy, she called out loudly, “The Gold Medallion Enforcer, Su Yizhao, is present! Why haven’t you all cleared the way?”

Her voice rang out, causing a commotion among the scattered cultivators around the mine. All eyes turned their way.

Su Yizhao could only give a wry smile.

If he still wore his gold medallion at his waist, he could have displayed it; doubtless it would have been enough to intimidate some of the more scheming cultivators.

But now the medallion had been returned to the hall master—how was he to prove himself?

He had just opened his mouth to speak when he saw terror flash in the remaining cultivators’ eyes. In an instant, they leaped into the air and fled.

Within a single breath, the area was cleared.

Three figures dropped from the sky, their gazes fixed intently on him.

Su Yizhao acted as if he hadn’t seen them, feigning confusion as he stared at Li Xiyue’s delicate face.

Li Xiyue let out a soft laugh. “Brother Yizhao, do you think the reputation of the Gold Medallion Enforcer rests solely on the medallion? There are five cities near Gritstone City; if a cultivator doesn’t have your likeness memorized, who would dare make a living here?”

Su Yizhao was speechless.

He had tried to keep a low profile, but the fame of the Gold Medallion Enforcer’s disciples was simply too great. It was only natural that his portrait had been widely circulated.

“Ignorant, truly ignorant people!”

At that moment, Liu Qinwu spoke coldly.

Su Yizhao turned and was confronted by a sullen, ashen face.

Liu Qinwu glared at him, gritting his teeth. “Country bumpkin cultivators—what do you know of the Main Sect’s might, or the prestige of the Liu family? Just a bunch of ignorant rural fools!”

“Hey! Xiyue, how did you get here before us?” The woman in the white dress suddenly realized something and asked in surprise.

Li Xiyue’s lips twitched as she struggled to suppress a laugh. “We know a shortcut! Hehe!”

She couldn’t help but laugh aloud.

The white-dressed woman believed her and hurried over to stand at her side. “Where is the shortcut?”

The woman in yellow couldn’t stand it any longer. “Sister Mu, how can there be a shortcut in the air? We all flew straight here!”

Liu Qinwu immediately understood what had happened—his face flushing red and pale by turns, yet he couldn’t find words to retort.

Knowing it was unwise to offend too deeply, Li Xiyue changed the subject. “Brother Yizhao, this is Hall Master Mu’s daughter, Mu Qingqing, and this is Elder Huang’s daughter, Huang Rong’er. Consider this an official introduction.”

Su Yizhao smiled politely, cupping his fists. “Su Yizhao greets you both!”

The daughter of the Alchemy Hall’s master and the daughter of the Alchemy Hall’s second elder—both were figures who could walk anywhere with their heads held high in the Xuanqi Sect.

It was said that the three talented women of the Alchemy Hall could enter the Main Sect without any examination. He hadn’t expected such gifted individuals apart from Li Xiyue herself.

No wonder the Main Sect had sent envoys to fetch them personally.

“The Gold Medallion Enforcer’s reputation is truly well deserved!” Mu Qingqing had clearly witnessed the earlier scene and was visibly impressed.

Those cultivators who had not retreated at the envoy’s command were generally unruly and defiant.

But at the sound of the Gold Medallion Enforcer’s name, they had immediately fled; that spoke volumes about his reputation.

Su Yizhao replied calmly, “It’s simply that they do not know the Main Sect’s name.”

“Too late!”

As soon as Su Yizhao finished speaking, Liu Qinwu’s cold voice cut in.

Feeling puzzled, Su Yizhao turned to look.

Liu Qinwu’s face was still clouded with anger as he ground out, “If you had kept up your aloof act, I might have thought better of you. But it turns out you’re just another petty man eager to curry favor with me. Ha! But it’s too late now!”

Su Yizhao was at a loss for words.

He gave a helpless laugh. “Envoy Liu, you think too much. Just do your job as an envoy.”

“You...!”

“Liu Qinwu, what are you angry about this time?”

“Haha, Brother Guiming, it seems he’s crossed paths with some clueless cultivators!”

Su Yizhao looked up to see two airships approaching from the east and north.

As the words faded, five figures descended from the sky, landing four or five yards away.

Liu Qinwu, his face still stern, cupped his hands in greeting. “So it’s friends Huang Guiming and Mu Renxing. As fellow Main Sect envoys, do you find it amusing to mock me?”

“Fair enough. Well, if a few ignorant fools need to be dealt with, pick a time and finish them off. What’s there to get upset about? Let’s hurry and get inside the mine!”

As Huang Guiming spoke, his gaze swept the group and lingered on Su Yizhao’s face.

Su Yizhao’s expression remained calm, his heart unmoved.

These two were both early-stage Fourth-Mystic cultivators, young and highly accomplished.

Over the years, with his mid-stage Third-Mystic cultivation, he had only ever managed to kill peak Third-Mystic cultivators. In theory, he should have been cautious in the presence of Fourth-Mystic experts.

But now, his cultivation had reached the fifth level of the Fourth-Mystic stage—how could he fear them?

Thus, he remained motionless, utterly composed both inside and out.

A disciple of the Hall of Enforcement remains still until action is required—and when he moves, the world is overturned and lives are taken. This is the iron law of the Hall of Enforcement.

“Ladies, come with us and you’re guaranteed to benefit!” Mu Renxing’s gaze roamed unabashedly over the three women, his eyes gleaming.

The three women were clearly repulsed; Mu Qingqing said angrily, “Show some respect, fellow cultivator!”

Seeing the situation deteriorate, Liu Qinwu quickly interjected, “Mu, let’s talk as we walk. The Liu, Huang, and Mu families all hold crucial positions in the Main Sect!”

Mu Renxing snorted through his nose and muttered, “Ingrates!” Without another word, he turned and flew toward the mine.

The two young male cultivators who had come with him followed close behind.

Huang Guiming gave a light chuckle and, with another companion, entered the mine as well.

“Shall we go?” Li Xiyue asked softly, her gaze suggesting she would follow Su Yizhao’s lead.

Su Yizhao glanced into the pitch-black mine, thinking of the meager handful of mystic stones left in his storage pouch. “Since we’re here, we might as well take a look.”

“Alright! I’ll follow you!” Li Xiyue agreed without hesitation.

Su Yizhao led the way into the mine with her at his side.

Mu Qingqing and Huang Rong’er followed close behind.

In the span of a moment, the entire mining area was deserted, leaving Liu Qinwu alone atop the hill.

He snorted coldly, and with a flicker, vanished into the mine.

Upon entering, Su Yizhao activated his mystical energy, allowing him to see up to five yards ahead. His familiarity with the mine’s interior was likely unmatched—even by the most seasoned miners.

Years ago, in pursuit of a fugitive, he had lain in ambush within a mine for a year, memorizing every detail of its structure.

That mission had nearly cost him his life.

In the end, it was his intimate knowledge of the mine that allowed him to complete the task.

All mines, aside from differing locations, shared roughly the same structure.

Even though he had just entered, Su Yizhao could immediately discern the layout and direction of this mine.

For instance, he knew that the vertical shaft ahead contained no mystic stones. Only after descending another ten or so yards would one find a sparse vein.

At the outset, the mystic stone veins ran straight down in a line.

Only after plunging forty to fifty yards underground would one encounter large deposits, typically arranged in elliptical clusters.

For reasons unknown, all mystic stone mines followed this pattern, with rare exceptions.

Amid the faint glow from scattered mystic stones, Su Yizhao finally set foot on solid ground.

Five yards ahead stood four cultivators.

At the forefront were Huang Guiming and Mu Renxing.

At that moment, all four pairs of eyes were fixed on him and Li Xiyue.