Chapter 26: Reporting to the Enforcement Hall

The next morning, Xiao Yifeng packed his belongings into a Storage Bag hanging conspicuously at his waist. In reality, his true wealth remained hidden within the Storage Ring suspended around his neck, tucked beneath his robes.

He mounted the flying artifact gifted by Xiang Tiange and soared toward the Enforcement Hall.

The Enforcement Hall lay within the domain of the Qiankun Hall, the most powerful of the sect’s branches. Its core personnel were disciples of Qiankun Hall, all answering to the Hall Master, the Perfected One Guangwei.

Guangwei was a titan at the late Mahayana stage, second in authority only to the Sect Master himself. He held the power of law and discipline, known for being upright, unyielding, and terrifyingly strict. His shadow loomed large over the sect.

After navigating several aerial checkpoints and flying for quite some time, Xiao Yifeng finally spotted the sprawling complex.

It was a city within a sect.

Knowing that flight was prohibited in this restricted airspace, Xiao Yifeng descended early and proceeded on foot.

A massive stone archway towered ahead, inscribed with the bold calligraphy: Enforcement Hall. Beyond it lay a vast plaza connecting a series of two- and three-story palaces. The architecture was imposing, radiating a cold, bureaucratic majesty.

Crowds of disciples moved briskly through the plaza. Most wore the distinctive blue-and-white robes of the Enforcement Team, their expressions serious, their steps hurried.

Xiao Yifeng approached the stone gate. Two guards immediately crossed their spears.

“Halt!” one shouted. “Identify yourself. What business do you have here?”

Xiao Yifeng retrieved his identity token and handed it over with both hands.

“Greetings, Senior Brothers. I am Xiao Yifeng of Wuya Hall, currently at the seventh layer of Qi Condensation. Due to personal matters, I missed the initial draft. I am here to report for duty.”

The guards scrutinized the token, checking the spiritual imprint. After confirming its authenticity, they exchanged a glance and lowered their weapons.

“Go in,” the guard said, pointing inside. “Find Elder Ma. He is presiding over the Eastern Side Hall.”

“Thank you, Senior Brothers.”

Xiao Yifeng entered the main hall. It was cavernous, filled with rows of antique wooden desks. Scores of disciples in administrative uniforms bustled about, exchanging mission scrolls and consulting archives. It felt less like a cultivation sect and more like a busy government ministry.

After asking for directions, Xiao Yifeng found his target in a corner of the hall.

Elder Ma sat behind a desk, a nameplate reading Ma Wenlong displayed in front of him. He was a man of ordinary appearance with dark, weathered skin, but his eyes were sharp and piercing, like those of a hunting eagle. He was currently engrossed in a jade ledger.

Xiao Yifeng stepped forward and bowed deeply.

“Wuya Hall’s Xiao Yifeng pays his respects to Elder Ma. Here is my identity token. Due to health reasons, this disciple was unable to attend the induction ceremony. Now that I have recovered, I have come to report.”

Elder Ma didn’t look up immediately. He finished reading a line in the ledger before taking Xiao Yifeng’s token. He scanned it, then cross-referenced it with his jade book.

Finally, he nodded.

“En. I am aware of your situation,” Elder Ma said, his voice dry. “You missed the opening ceremony, so listen carefully. I will speak the ugly truth first.”

He looked up, his eagle eyes locking onto Xiao Yifeng.

“You may be a True Disciple, but in my Enforcement Hall, that title means nothing. Here, we look only at capability and results. Once you step into that uniform, you are no different from the lowest laborer disciple. You will receive no special privileges. Is that clear?”

“Disciple understands!” Xiao Yifeng replied firmly.

Elder Ma nodded, seemingly satisfied with the lack of arrogance.

“Let me see… You are assigned to Group Yi-Hai. Your Team Leader is Tang Pei. You’ve arrived just in time for the shift rotation. For the next three months, your group is assigned to patrol the upper reaches of the Wentian River. Shifts are three hours daily.”

Elder Ma waved his hand, and a pile of equipment materialized on the desk.

“Your group is currently resting in Room Yi-Hai on the second floor. Go straight there. Here is your identity token, your standard-issue duty weapon, a patrol flying artifact, and your uniform. Find a changing room and get dressed before you report in.”

“Thank you, Elder.”

Xiao Yifeng gathered his gear and withdrew.

He found a secluded changing room and donned the uniform. The blue-and-white robe was a Low Grade Magical Artifact, durable and resistant to dust. He strapped the standard High Grade Magical Artifact sword to his waist and hung the heavy Enforcement Token beside it.

Looking in the mirror, he looked indistinguishable from the thousands of other enforcers outside.

He ascended to the second floor. A long corridor stretched out, lined with doors bearing wooden plaques. Laughter and chatter drifted from the rooms—this was clearly the lounge area.

He scanned the plaques until he found Yi-Hai.

The door was wide open. Inside, five disciples—three men and two women—were lounging around a table, chatting idly.

When Xiao Yifeng walked in, the conversation died instantly. Five pairs of eyes turned to scrutinize him.

Xiao Yifeng clasped his fists. “Greetings, fellow sect members. I am Xiao Yifeng from Wuya Hall. Apologies for my late arrival—I was recovering from an illness. Elder Ma has ordered me to report to this unit. May I ask which of you is Team Leader Tang Pei?”

A tall young man with a dark complexion stood up from the head of the table. A broad, enthusiastic smile stretched across his face.

“Oh? So you are the famous True Disciple of Wuya Hall, Xiao Yifeng? I’ve heard your name thunder in my ears! I thought you weren’t coming at all!”

He walked over and patted Xiao Yifeng on the shoulder. “I am Tang Pei, the captain of Group Yi-Hai. Since you’re here, take a seat! Let me introduce the crew.”

He gestured to a shorter man beside him who had prominent buck teeth.

“This is Li Lifang, our Vice-Captain.”

Li Lifang didn’t stand up. He had a pair of shifty, rat-like eyes and eyebrows that looked perpetually pinched in a scheme. He glanced at Xiao Yifeng, let out a scoff, and smirked.

“Captain, why bother?” Li Lifang sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “He’s a high-and-mighty True Disciple. He surely looks down on trash like us. Isn’t that right, Zhu Ming?”

Beside him, a chubby, simple-looking youth gave an awkward, naive smile, not knowing how to respond.

Xiao Yifeng’s expression didn’t change. He smiled politely. “Senior Brother Li jokes. I have no such intentions.”

Tang Pei chuckled, smoothing over the tension without reprimanding his deputy. He continued the introductions, pointing out the others.

Xiao Yifeng quickly assessed the dynamic.

Like all enforcement squads, this was a six-man cell: one Captain, one Vice-Captain, and four members. The members were a mix of servant disciples, ordinary disciples, and the occasional drafted True Disciple.

The Captains, however, were almost always ordinary or servant disciples who had reached the Grand Perfection of Qi Condensation.

The reason was simple economics.

The sect offered a reward for serving as a Captain for ten years: one Grade 3 Foundation Establishment Pill.

To a True Disciple, a Grade 3 pill was garbage. It only guaranteed a Human Path Foundation Establishment—the lowest tier, meant for those with no hope of reaching higher realms. No self-respecting genius would waste a decade for such a meager prize.

But for ordinary disciples with no backing and poor talent, that pill was a lifeline, a golden ticket to the Foundation Establishment stage.

Thus, the leadership roles were filled by those desperate enough to grind for ten years, while the “elite” True Disciples were merely passing through to fulfill their mandatory service.

Tang Pei seemed welcoming, his smile wide and voice loud. But as Xiao Yifeng met his gaze, he sensed a coldness lurking behind the warmth.