Chapter 198: What is a Sequence

“Arrest?” The black-clad girl laughed. But the moment her laughter rang out, voices echoed simultaneously from countless corners within Port 176.

“By order of the Judiciary!”As the voices resounded, figures surged out from every corner. Thousands of them instantly sealed off the entirety of Port 176.

“A mere group of Qi Condensation cultivators, trying to seal me off? I’ll kill a few for you to see first!”Killing intent flashed in the black-clad girl’s eyes. Her Life Flame ignited instantly, three bursts of overwhelming fire appearing at once. Her speed exploded, and she soared into the air, heading straight for the surging Disciples of the Demon Hunting Division.

Xu Qing watched with a cold gaze. He raised his identity token and spoke calmly.“Xu Qing, Deputy Head of the Demon Hunting Division, requests the sect’s grand array to impose a flight restriction over Port 176, preventing non-sect cultivators from flying in this area!”

As Xu Qing’s words landed, a bell chimed from all directions. As its resonance echoed, the power of the Seven Blood Eyes array erupted, instantly covering the area. The black-clad girl, flying in mid-air, changed her expression.Her body was slammed by an invisible, powerful suppression that enveloped her completely, forcefully pinning her to the ground. She couldn’t take flight in the slightest, and even her internal Life Flames flickered precariously under this suppression.

“How dare you!” Although the girl was suppressed, the murderous intent in her eyes did not diminish; it intensified. Her entire being was consumed by raging fury.

Xu Qing wasn’t lying. The reason the girl had been so arrogant before, with no one intervening, was due to the strict order and regulations within the Seven Blood Eyes. Transgressions were rare; only if a lower division was unable to handle a situation and chose to report it would a higher division get involved.The entire Seven Blood Eyes operated under this rule system, with only occasional exceptions.

“Outside sect disciples are forbidden from igniting two flames in this area!”Xu Qing stared coldly at the utterly furious girl. He didn’t need to exert much effort; with the authority of the Demon Hunting Division and his status as a sequence member, he wielded a power akin to rule-making within the Seven Blood Eyes.His cautious approach was also because Xu Qing keenly sensed many eyes observing the scene from all directions, and he didn’t want to expose some of his secrets by acting too overtly this time.

The moment his words resonated, the Seven Blood Eyes grand array rumbled, and an invisible force enveloped the area once more. The black-clad girl’s expression drastically changed as, with the array’s roar, her third Life Flame instantly extinguished.As for her second Life Flame, it too was forcefully extinguished in an instant!Only one Life Flame remained burning. This level of suppression caused a backlash for the black-clad girl, making her spurt blood. Yet, veins pulsed on her forehead, and her eyes burned with shocking killing intent.Her entire body seemed to bristle as she struggled frantically.

But in the next instant, Xu Qing moved. His shadow obscured the Life Lantern. With his two Life Flames in their mystical radiance state, his speed was astonishing. He vanished through the air, reappearing before the girl, and delivered a slap.With a thud, the girl spat out a mouthful of blood. Her right cheek swelled up, and she expelled many teeth. Her body was sent crashing directly into a nearby building.

Xu Qing took a step, his speed so rapid that he appeared before the girl in a blink, about to stomp.A flash of light enveloped the girl’s body. A pendant hanging on her chest glowed, forming a protective barrier around her. With a thud, Xu Qing’s stomping right foot was blocked.Taking advantage of the momentary obstruction, the girl rapidly crawled away, her face contorted with ferocity and madness in her eyes. She ripped off the pendant with a ruthless expression.

“Outside sect disciples are forbidden from using any magical artifacts or treasures in this area!”Xu Qing spoke calmly, and the array descended once more.Amidst thunderous roars, the girl’s protective light instantly shattered. Blood spilled from her, and disheveled, she let out a desperate, unwilling shriek, glaring fixedly at Xu Qing.

“If you have the guts, fight me fair and square!”“Foolish.” Xu Qing swayed, instantly appearing before the black-clad girl. Another slap landed, sending the girl flying once more, many of her teeth shattered. The moment she landed, she suddenly pulled out a jade slip and fiercely crushed it, instantly releasing a teleportation force.

“Outside sect disciples are forbidden from teleporting in this area.” Xu Qing spoke calmly.The Seven Blood Eyes array descended again, destroying all traces of teleportation. The black-clad girl’s eyes showed anger and humiliation. Just as she was about to speak, Xu Qing was already in front of her, delivering another slap.With a thud, the black-clad girl spewed blood. Her body went limp, but her expression remained ferocious, her fury incredibly intense. It seemed she would not yield an inch, even if she died.

Xu Qing gave the girl a meaningful look. Although his principle was to eliminate anything that threatened his life, he was not a fool.Doing such a thing in front of so many people, thereby inviting immense trouble and danger upon himself, was not adherence to a principle; it was foolishness.

Therefore, Xu Qing reined in his killing intent. He raised his right hand and, amidst the girl’s fury, slammed it directly onto her head. With a thud, the girl spewed blood once more, her sole remaining Life Flame extinguished, and she immediately fell into a severely injured unconscious state from Xu Qing’s blow.Her injuries were comparable to those of the disciples she had previously beaten into unconsciousness.

After doing all this, Xu Qing stood still, grabbed the girl’s hair, and turned to speak calmly.“Apply the sealing rings!”

Instantly, dozens of Demon Hunting Division disciples rapidly arrived from behind him. Each of them showed reverence as they looked at Xu Qing. Upon approaching, they quickly took out bracelet-like objects and fastened them onto the girl’s arms.

Just a moment later, the girl awoke, abruptly opening her eyes and letting out a low growl. The sealing rings on her arms shattered instantly.The girl let out a frantic laugh.“Xu Qing, I’ll remember you! No one has ever dared to disrespect me like this, you’re the first!” As soon as she finished speaking, Xu Qing walked towards her expressionlessly and delivered another slap.With a thud, the girl’s head hit the ground, and she truly lost consciousness.

“Apply ten sealing rings to her,” Xu Qing spoke calmly.

These rings were specially designed by the Demon Hunting Division for Foundation Establishment cultivators from outside sects. Two could suppress one flame, preventing it from emitting any power. Ten would be more than enough to seal the power of three flames.For example, when Night Owl was captured by the former Head of the Demon Hunting Division, these very rings were used on him.

Soon, the unconscious black-clad girl was fitted with ten rings.“Send her to the Arcane Department for suppression. She is not to be released without my personal order!” Xu Qing’s expression was calm. After his words, more Demon Hunting Division disciples arrived, lifting the girl to carry her away.

Just then, a sound of piercing the air came from the distant sky. The voice preceded the figure, echoing through the area.“Junior Brother Xu Qing, could this matter be handled with leniency?”

Xu Qing looked up. The tall figure of the Second Highness rapidly arrived in the sky. She still bore traces of having broken through restrictions, clearly having been confined earlier, which prevented her from stopping the black-clad girl’s arrival.“Greetings, Second Highness.” Xu Qing clasped his fists and looked at Huang Yan, who was not far away.Huang Yan looked at the Second Highness and spoke in a deep voice. “Senior Sister, Xu Qing was helping me.”The Second Highness seemed about to speak but hesitated. She looked at Huang Yan, then at the black-clad girl being carried away, and paused.

“Junior Brother Xu Qing, if she dies, even the Ancestor will find it difficult.” These words carried no threat, but rather concern and information.“She violated sect regulations, but fortunately, she didn’t kill anyone, so her crime isn’t punishable by death. However, imprisonment is still required; that is sect rule,” Xu Qing said softly.

The Second Highness nodded upon hearing this.“As long as she doesn’t die, that’s fine. I’m a bit annoyed with her too. Thank you for today, Junior Brother Xu Qing.” After speaking, she looked at Huang Yan, her gaze gradually softening, and walked towards him.Xu Qing watched the two of them, then withdrew his gaze and stood silently, waiting.As for the injured, they had all been settled. Soon, Huang Yan also clasped his fists and left, and silence fell upon the area.

While waiting, Xu Qing’s eyes showed contemplation. This time, he had acted partly to help Huang Yan, and also because the black-clad girl had provoked him. Additionally, he wanted to see to what extent his safety would be guaranteed within the Seven Blood Eyes, given his status as a sequence member.

Not long after, a figure descended from the sky. It was an old man in a blue Taoist robe, radiating an extremely powerful Golden Core cultivation fluctuation. As he arrived, a sense of oppressive power spread in all directions.Xu Qing lowered his head, clasped his fists, and bowed. “Greetings, Elder.”Xu Qing didn’t know the newcomer, but within the Seven Blood Eyes, anyone dressed in such a Taoist robe and possessing such immense power was undoubtedly one of the Elders.

The old man stood in mid-air, observing Xu Qing for a few moments, a hint of admiration in his eyes. Then he spoke.“Xu Qing, Sixth Master asked me to inquire, how do you intend to handle this matter?”

“Can I kill her?” Xu Qing asked.“No. Although that girl is arrogant, her crime isn’t punishable by death. Besides, her grandmother has a good personal relationship with the Ancestor.”

Xu Qing nodded.“According to sect rules, her cultivation should be abolished, and she should be imprisoned in the Candle Bone Cave for three years.”The Sixth Peak Elder smiled upon hearing this. He naturally saw Xu Qing’s intention and knew that the girl had been the provocateur. If Xu Qing hadn’t been a sequence member, the Elder wouldn’t have been so amiable.But entering the sequence meant being a future prospect and a seed of the Seven Blood Eyes. Such individuals should not be lightly insulted, especially since the Ancestor was clearly pleased with their actions now.Furthermore, as an image disciple, being provoked by an outsider within his own sect was something he personally disliked. So, he shook his head.“You handle it as you see fit, but abolishing her cultivation is out of the question.”

After speaking, the Golden Core Elder turned and departed.Xu Qing clasped his fists in respectful farewell. Once the Elder had completely left, he turned and walked towards the berth, simultaneously analyzing the pros and cons of his actions this time.The disadvantages were limited to incurring the black-clad girl’s hatred and the trouble from her background.However, the benefits were considerable. Aside from Huang Yan’s gratitude, the most significant gain was Xu Qing’s discovery of the value of his sequence status within the Seven Blood Eyes.

“Currently, it seems the Seven Blood Eyes has an extremely high tolerance and benevolence towards sequence members.”Xu Qing recalled his experiences since entering the Seven Blood Eyes, deep in thought. He remembered what Zhang Yunshi, the Seventh Peak’s guide, had told him.Zhang Yunshi had said that disciples below the mountain were like ‘gu-worms’ (a term for intense competition/cultivation), while those on the mountain were like ‘free-range’ cultivators.Looking at it now, Zhang Yunshi, limited by his status, hadn’t known about the sequence. In Xu Qing’s current judgment, sequence members were akin to the true core of the Seven Blood Eyes.

“Therefore, as long as I don’t commit treason or similar acts, I am safe within the Seven Blood Eyes,” Xu Qing mused. He also understood the downside of being a sequence member: his bond with the Seven Blood Eyes had become extremely deep.This wasn’t an emotional bond, but one of identity, and more importantly, of external perception.