Half a month passed.
Yi Yang sat cross-legged on a prayer mat in the Pacification Guard barracks, drew the last thread of true astral force back into his qi sea, and let out a long breath of stale air.
Light slipped through the window cracks and fell across his face. It was the afternoon sun.
He rose and stretched his limbs, his bones making a series of fine cracks as he flexed his fingers. This half-month of secluded cultivation had yielded considerable results. His progress in Meridian-Invasion, the second level of Profound Intent Calamity-Extinguishing Finger, had passed twenty thousand, and he had successfully gained initial mastery of Cloud-Leaping Crane.
Yi Yang changed into the ink-gray regulation uniform of a Pacification Guard Commander and pushed the door open.
On the drill ground, Xu Min was leading a squad of Pacification Guards through laps. Seeing Yi Yang emerge, he hurried over.
"My lord, you're finally out of seclusion."
Xu Min wiped the sweat from his forehead and lowered his voice. What he said brought Yi Yang to a halt.
"The Chief Inspector has issued a summons. All officers in charge at the True Astral Realm or above must assemble in the meeting hall within an hour."
Yi Yang's brows drew together at this, and he asked:
"When did this happen?"
"Just now. Someone from Judgment Hall delivered the message."
"I was just about to knock on your door."
Yi Yang asked no further questions and strode toward the meeting hall.
On the way, he reviewed the news he had missed during the past half-month.
The subsequent reckoning with the Wu Family was nearly finished. The remaining family members had been imprisoned to await trial, and the confiscated assets had been cataloged. The aftermath of dismantling the Nine Evil Sect's century-old stronghold was