Not Only the Outer Sect, the Inner Sect Must Also Be Investigated

Silence fell before the hall for a moment.

Someone raised their head.

Then quickly lowered it again.

Many people had wanted to ask that question.

They simply had not dared to.

The older disciple continued, "This disciple is not speaking for Long-Ears."

"Long-Ears deserved to die."

"Ma Yuan deserved to die as well."

"The Jade Emptiness Talisman Letter and the Western Sect Golden Letter deserve even more scrutiny."

He paused.

His voice dropped lower.

"But Outer Sect disciples travel abroad and must deal with many immortal sects, independent cultivators, and cultivation grounds."

"If a single invitation or a token of gratitude can become a crime."

"Then in the future, can Outer Sect disciples meet no one at all?"

"Listen to no one?"

"Accept nothing from anyone?"

"If that is the case."

"Then after cleansing the sect, what will remain of the Outer Sect?"

Those were weighty words.

Yet they held no malice.

Holy Mother Guiling did not rebuke him.

Holy Mother Jinling did not draw her sword either.

Quite a few Outer Sect disciples before the hall had a flicker in their eyes.

This was exactly what they feared.

Long-Ears was guilty.

They accepted that.

Ma Yuan deserved death.

They accepted that too.

But if the cleansing went on until every Outer Sect disciple feared for themselves.

How much life would remain on Golden Turtle Island?

Zhao Xuan looked at the older disciple.

"Are you finished?"

The older disciple lowered his head.

"This disciple is finished."

Zhao Xuan said, "A good question."

Everyone before the hall was stunned.

That older disciple was stunned as well.

Zhao Xuan looked toward the talisman letters and invitations on the table.

"Cleansing the sect."

"Cleanses the path."

"Not human relations."

The Outer Sect disciples held their breath.

Zhao Xuan said, "If others invite you to hear the Dao."

"That is allowed."

"If you save someone and they thank you."

"That is allowed."

"Dealings between immortal sects."

"Independent cultivators seeking an audience."

"Traveling through the Primordial World."

"All of that is allowed."

His voice gradually turned cold.

"But there are three things."

"That are not allowed."

"Using the Jie Sect's name to trade for personal gain."

"Accepting benefits from outsiders and speaking for outsiders."

"When leaving yourself a way out, putting the Jie Sect on the bargaining table."

As those three sentences fell.

The Outer Sect disciples all lowered their heads.

Zhao Xuan looked at them.

"These three rules."

"Whoever violates them."

"Will become the next Long-Ears."

The older Outer Sect disciple swallowed.

"This disciple understands."

All the Outer Sect disciples behind him understood as well.

Senior Disciple Brother did not intend to cut off all their paths.

He wanted them to see clearly which paths could not be taken.

And which paths, once taken, would demand the Jie Sect's life as payment.

Zhao Xuan looked toward the Clear Gate Register.

"From today onward."

"Golden Turtle Island shall establish three Clear Gate Regulations."

The Clear Gate Register unfolded.

A vermilion brush rose into the air.

Everyone looked up at it.

Zhao Xuan said, "First."

"Normal Dao lectures, banquets, and exchanges with fellow cultivators are not forbidden."

"But if any other sect, immortal sect, Heavenly Court, Dragon Clan, Western Sect, sends private letters or private requests asking you to pass on the Jie Sect's internal affairs, investigate disciples' whereabouts,"

"Or inquire about the sect's deployment orders."

"You must register it within three days."

"If it happens again afterward, it must be reported to the Clear Gate Register."

The vermilion brush descended.

The first rule was established.

"Second."

"Anyone who accepts benefits from outsiders, speaks for outsiders, or uses the Jie Sect's name to trade for personal gain."

"For lesser offenses, their cultivation will be crippled and they will be expelled."

"For grave offenses, their bodies will be slain and their names erased."

The second rule was established.

The atmosphere before the hall grew even colder.

Zhao Xuan continued, "Third."

"Anyone who trades the Jie Sect's loyalty, teachings, whereabouts, or the trust of their master's line for a path outside."

"Will be judged as a traitor to the sect."

The vermilion brush descended.

The third rule was established.

The Clear Gate Register trembled lightly.

The three sect rules were set within the register.

There was no grand phenomenon.

Yet it was as though three blades had been hung above Golden Turtle Island.

The older Outer Sect disciple kowtowed heavily.

"This disciple accepts the sect rules."

The Outer Sect disciples all lowered their heads.

"This disciple accepts the sect rules."

Their voices were uneven.

Yet they were heavy.

Daoist Duobao stood at the front of the crowd.

From beginning to end, he had not spoken.

Only after the three sect rules were finalized.

Did he slowly step forward.

Everyone looked at him.

Daoist Duobao raised a hand.

A thick jade tome flew from his sleeve.

It landed before the table.

The jade tome was very old.

It recorded the names, requests, dealings, and mediations of countless Outer Sect disciples.

Many of the entries had been written by Duobao himself.

Holy Mother Guiling was taken aback.

"Senior Disciple Brother?"

Daoist Duobao did not look at her.

He looked at Zhao Xuan.

"For all these years, I have managed many matters of the Outer Sect."

"I have passed along many messages."

"I have permitted many favors."

"I have also suppressed many so-called greater interests."

His voice was very low.

Yet everyone before the hall heard him clearly.

"For Long-Ears to weave that web."

"I bear responsibility for failing to notice."

"For the Outer Sect to value favors above rules."

"I bear responsibility for indulging it."

Daoist Duobao raised his hand.

Another jade seal fell.

It was the personal transmission seal he normally used to mediate Outer Sect affairs.

"Cleansing the sect."

"If only the Outer Sect is investigated."

"It is not enough."

The hall suddenly fell silent.

Daoist Duobao looked at Zhao Xuan.

He said each word distinctly, "Investigate me first."

As those three words fell.

Everyone was stunned.

Holy Mother Guiling opened her mouth.

But no words came out.

Holy Mother Wudang raised her eyes, a slight tremor in her gaze.

Even Holy Mother Jinling's hand around her sword paused.

Daoist Duobao lowered his head.

"If I am without fault."

"Then investigate the Outer Sect."

"If I am at fault."

"Deal with me according to the sect regulations."

Deathly silence filled the hall.

Zhao Xuan looked at Daoist Duobao.

For a long time, he said nothing.

Daoist Duobao did not avert his gaze.

His expression was grim.

Yet he was steadier than he had ever been before.

In the past, he had always spoken of considering the bigger picture.

Today, for the first time, he had placed himself within that bigger picture as well.

Zhao Xuan finally spoke.

"Have you thought this through?"

Daoist Duobao said, "I have."

Zhao Xuan said, "Once the Clear Gate Register is opened,"

"Not even direct disciples will be exempt."

Daoist Duobao nodded.

"I know."

Zhao Xuan looked at him.

"If it is found that you passed along words you should not have passed along,"

"Granted favors you should not have granted,"

"Protected people you should not have protected,"

"I will not spare you any dignity."

Daoist Duobao fell silent for a breath.

Then he bent and bowed.

"Please investigate me, Senior Disciple Brother."

The Outer Sect disciples before the hall suddenly had red-rimmed eyes.

This blade was not falling upon the Outer Sect alone.

Even direct disciples stood beneath its edge.

This time, Golden Turtle Island was cutting out its own old disease.

Zhao Xuan raised his hand.

The Clear Gate Register turned to a fresh page.

The vermilion brush hovered.

Everyone lowered their breathing.

Zhao Xuan said, "Record it."

The vermilion brush fell.

[Direct disciple Daoist Duobao.]

[Submit the old records of dealings with the Outer Sect.]

[Submit the direct disciples' Mediation Seal.]

[Voluntarily requests investigation.]

The final four words were written.

Voluntarily requests investigation.

It was as if something invisible pressed down upon the hall.

Daoist Duobao slowly closed his eyes.

He had no regrets.

Zhao Xuan looked at that page.

His voice was very soft.

"From this day onward,"

"Clear Gate will make no distinction between close and distant."

"It will only distinguish whether the accounts are clear."

As those words fell.

A soft sigh came from deep within Biyou Palace.

It was not anger.

Nor was it disappointment.

All the Jie Sect disciples raised their heads at once.

The next moment.

A strand of Shangqing Sword Intent descended from within the palace.

It did not oppress anyone.

It did not kill anyone.

It merely settled upon the Clear Gate Register.

The Clear Gate Register trembled softly.

The three Clear Gate Regulations.

The page on which Duobao had voluntarily requested investigation.

All were fixed in place by the Shangqing Sword Intent.

Master Tongtian's voice came from deep within Biyou Palace.

"Approved."

One word.

The entire Golden Turtle Island fell silent.

Approved.

Their master had approved it.

Direct disciples would be investigated.

Outer Sect disciples would be entered into the register.

The Clear Gate Regulations had been established.

Zhao Xuan bowed.

"This disciple accepts the order."

All the Jie Sect disciples before the hall bowed as well.

"This disciple accepts the order."

Amid those solemn voices.

An Outer Sect disciple suddenly crawled out from the crowd on his knees.

His face was deathly pale.

He held up a black talisman-letter with both hands.

There was no Yuqing Immortal Light upon it.

Nor was there any Buddhist light from the Western Sect.

There was only an extremely faint trace of a Heavenly Court Divine Pattern.

His entire body shook violently.

"Senior Disciple Brother."

"This disciple... also has a letter."

Every gaze in the hall instantly fell upon his hands.

The disciple's voice trembled.

"Three years ago,"

"Someone asked this disciple to deliver a message."

"They said that if the Heavenly Court needed Jie Sect disciples to be entered into its register in the future,"

"They would be willing to grant this disciple the position of a proper Water Department deity."

Holy Mother Guiling's expression changed drastically.

Holy Mother Jinling's sword abruptly left its sheath.

Daoist Duobao also jerked his head up.

The Heavenly Court.

A letter from Jade Emptiness.

An invitation from the Western Sect.

And now.

Even a divine position from the Heavenly Court had arrived.

Zhao Xuan looked at the black talisman-letter.

There was no surprise in his eyes.

Only coldness.

He extended his hand.

The talisman-letter flew into his palm.

The Clear Gate Register opened.

Zhao Xuan said, "Record it."

The vermilion brush fell.

[Heavenly Court Private Register.]

[Promises an Outer Sect member of the Jie Sect a proper Water Department deity position.]

[Not reported to the Jie Sect.]

[Privately delivered to a sect member.]

Deathly silence filled the hall.

Jade Emptiness offered the Pure Serenity Body.

The Western Sect offered a Lotus Throne.

The Heavenly Court offered a divine position.

Three paths.

Three prices.

All of them had reached into Golden Turtle Island.

Zhao Xuan raised his eyes toward the Nine Heavens.

His voice was calm.

"Three days for that account with Jade Emptiness."

"Three days for that account with the Western Sect."

"And this account with the Heavenly Court."

"Three days as well."

He lowered his head and looked at the newly written words in the Clear Gate Register.

"The Investiture of the Gods has yet to begin."

"Those buying lives have already all arrived."