Inner Court

Biodata

Admission and Cultivation

Background and History

The Inner Court receives Outer Court disciples who have reached the Qi Sea realm. Upon admission, disciples exchange their identity tokens at the Internal Affairs Hall, receive living quarters, and are introduced to the court's facilities by senior disciples such as Hao Yuan. 13

Its disciples are expected to cultivate the more demanding Qi Sea and Life Spring techniques while acquiring resources through sect missions. The danger of descending the mountain is a constant concern, as missions may involve Shadow Demons or evil spirits far stronger than their stated threat level. 13 15

The court is politically divided among numerous small societies that compete for missions, contribution points, and promising recruits. Yu Xiu's entry attracted recruitment attempts from the Skylark Society, Jade Excellence Society, Flying Smoke Society, and other groups. 15 16

Fang Jiming, once the leader of the Wind Image Society and one of the Inner Court's strongest disciples, used his position and associates to plot against Yu Xiu. Fang Jiming and eight other Inner Court disciples later died in Lushui Town; the Inner Court Law Enforcement Hall officially concluded that they had been killed by a Shadow Demon. 23 26 37

Facilities

Internal Affairs Hall

The Internal Affairs Hall handles identity-token exchanges, residence assignments, spiritual-item exchanges, contribution points, cultivation resources, and sect missions. Its mission area is highly competitive, with disciples and societies competing to claim valuable assignments. 13 15

Library Pavilion

The Inner Court Library Pavilion contains Qi Sea realm cultivation methods, sword arts, movement techniques, breath-concealment arts, Turtle Breathing, Sound Transmission, and other minor arts unavailable in the Outer Court. 14

Qi Sea sword manuals may contain twenty chapters corresponding to the realm's nine levels, making them considerably more time-consuming to cultivate than earlier techniques. 13

• Pavilion Elder Liao Jianshu oversees the pavilion. 14 18
• Liao Jianshu offered Yu Xiu broad access to the pavilion in exchange for assistance with an unspecified favor. 19

Sword Severed Cliff

Sword Severed Cliff is a smooth, grassless cliff said to have been split by Main Sect true disciple Qi Wendao three hundred years earlier. The residual Sword Intent has endured ever since. 13

• Inner Court disciples visit the cliff to sense its remaining Sword Intent. 13
• A gifted cultivator is said to have formed a Sword Heart there through comprehension of Qi Wendao's intent. 13
• Hao Yuan states that the site has no access restrictions for Inner Court disciples. 13

Administration and Discipline

The Inner Court is overseen by elders, deacons, and the Inner Court Law Enforcement Hall. The Elder in charge of techniques advises newly admitted disciples to prioritize cautious cultivation over reckless mission-taking. 13

The Law Enforcement Hall investigates disciplinary cases involving Inner Court disciples. Su Wenjin, its Hall Master, summoned Yu Xiu over the deaths of Fang Jiming and eight others, ordered him to guard the Earth-Fire Abyss for a month, and later formalized the case's conclusion. 30 31 37

• Ordinary offenders are not permitted to enter the Law Enforcement Hall's main hall. 30
• The court can assign investigative or law-enforcement missions as part of a disciple's promotion path. 26 37
• Inner Court disciples may be punished by assignment to the Earth-Fire Abyss, where they can collect Earth Fire Essence or contemplate the Abyss-Suppressing Sword's intent. 31 32

Societies and Factions

• Skylark Society — A small Inner Court society founded by Main Sect disciple Ji Bai. It has connections to the Main Sect, Life Spring experts, and mission teams led by senior members. 15
• Jade Excellence Society — A society founded by Main Sect disciple Qi Feng, with a history of more than a century and Main Sect connections. 15
• Wind Image Society — Fang Jiming's former society; it later declared that it had stripped him of his Inner Court presidency. 23 40
• Flying Smoke Society — The society associated with Zhao Zheng and Qin Shu; it later distanced itself from them over their collusion with Fang Jiming. 16 40
• Zhiyan Society — Du Xin's society, which later disavowed him and apologized to Yu Xiu. 39 40

Notable Events

• Five disciples—Yu Xiu, Liu Qingchuan, Shan Yu, Zhao Hong, and Xu Rou—entered the Inner Court together after reaching the Qi Sea realm. 13
• Yu Xiu cultivated from the Qi Sea and Life Spring stages into the Four Great Passes in roughly two months, drawing the attention of Inner Court authorities and Main Sect figures. 26 31 33
• The deaths of Fang Jiming and eight other Inner Court disciples triggered a Law Enforcement Hall investigation. 26 30
• The Wind Image, Flying Smoke, and Zhiyan Societies each offered Yu Xiu 1,000 contribution points to apologize and distance themselves from their implicated members. 40
• Yu Xiu's rapid promotion process and Dragon-Slaying Peak affiliation caused other peak deacons to dispute his future placement at Bright Sword Hall. 41 42 43