Floating clouds drifted far across the sky’s edge, undisturbed and serene. The mountain path, solemn and ordered, followed its own rules.

Bathed in the impartial sunlight, a figure in purple robes, upright and imposing, ascended the steps, his spine straight as the sword at his back. Between heaven and earth, he possessed a unique grace. The mountain wind, brushing his robes, seemed almost submissive, like a wisp of cloud and mist. It suddenly surged away, striking the ritual stones flanking the mountain path like upright guards. A crisp, solemn resonance echoed forth:

“Wei!” “Wei!” “Wei!”

These intimidating stones, maintaining the dignity and prestige of Heaven’s Punishment Cliff, did not diminish this individual in the slightest. Instead, the echoes harmonized with his footsteps, as if bolstering his presence. He moved forward, toward the higher ground. With ten thousand *li* of rivers and mountains stretching before him, where could he not go?

Beneath the law stele, which seemed to hold up the heavens, stood an extraordinary woman. Judging solely by her features, her appearance might not be considered outstanding. But she possessed a temperament unlike any other. The law crown she wore could not be more serene than her eyes. The ritual robe adorning her could not be more majestic than her person. She was serious, transcending the mundane and charming, offering no flattery to the myriad beings. She was unique, observing the human world and practicing the principles she perceived, like the ritual stones, like the mountain wind. To describe her with worldly aesthetics would be far too vulgar; her beauty lay beyond such conventional views.

At this moment, she welcomed the approaching figure. Facing the arriving noble guest, she performed a proper and precise ritual. “Martial An Marquis, you have journeyed far across the land of Rectangle Earth Palace. Zhuo Qingru respectfully awaits.”

Great Qi’s Martial An Marquis, Jiang Wang, unfurled his broad sleeves and cupped his hands in return. “So it is Miss Zhuo. I had the fortune to read your writings previously and gained a divine understanding. To meet your true face today is truly a blessing, and your grace far surpasses my imagination!”

Today, he wore a crown of flowing light and clear shadow jade, and a robe embroidered with ten thousand *li* of mountains and rivers and nine *lin*. Compared to his usual composure and serenity, there was an added noble air of fame and power.

Zhuo Qingru completed the ritual with a serious, almost rigid, demeanor. She looked intently at Jiang Wang. “Perhaps I can imagine how ugly Zhuo someone is in the Martial An Marquis’s imagination.” Beneath her ceremonial headdress, her black hair hung like strings across her forehead. A light breeze brushed past, creating awkward, zither-like sounds.

It was rare for Jiang Wang to utter words of beauty to a strange woman; his every word was carefully considered. But Zhuo Qingru’s reaction clearly did not fit into any of his assumptions. *If it were a sword fight, that would be good; I could certainly predict her every move.*

“The scenery at Heaven’s Punishment Cliff is truly magnificent.” Jiang Wang gazed at the distant sea horizon for a moment before turning back, as if nothing had happened, and restarting the conversation. “I have troubled Miss Zhuo to wait.”

Zhuo Qingru watched him quietly for a while, and finally, the person before her eyes aligned with the rumored Martial An Marquis of the Qi kingdom. She spoke. “Martial An Marquis, you personally ventured into danger, pursuing and killing the Wusheng Teach Ancestor for ten thousand *li*, eliminating a great evil for the world. Your virtue is immense. Qingru has only stood here for a short while; how can it be called a ‘trouble’?”

“The matter of killing Zhang Linchuan was not Jiang Wang’s merit alone; I dare not claim it solely. If the Three Punishment Palaces had not proclaimed it to the world, turning the Wusheng Teach into street rats, how could Zhang Linchuan have been forced into such a desperate situation?” As Jiang Wang spoke, he took a thin booklet from his storage box and presented it with both hands. “My good friend, Lin Youxie, was harmed by Zhang Linchuan, leaving a lifelong regret. I thought for a long time and believe this inheritance should be passed into the hands of those more capable of utilizing it, allowing it to play a greater role. She had already decided to study with the Three Punishment Officials before her passing. Unfortunately, this matter must begin with Lin Youxie and end with her.”

Zhuo Qingru received the thin booklet, noting the two characters written on the cover: Youxie. Opening the cover, a line of small words appeared at the bottom of the title page: *Co-authored by Lin Kuang and Wu Lie, inherited by Lin Youxie, respectfully recorded by Jiang Wang.*

The words of this military merit marquis lord were not particularly beautiful, but they held great substance, and the brushstrokes were abrupt and serious. She could almost feel how this young king and marquis, whose fame spread across the world, had sat upright at a desk, stroke by stroke, recording this book.

For the names Lin Kuang and Wu Lie, Zhuo Qingru held great respect. Their contributions to the art of criminal name technique had long been public knowledge within the Three Punishment Officials.

At this moment, she carefully and seriously opened the book. She had only intended to glance at it to make a rough judgment of its value, but with this look, she became completely immersed. For a long time, she closed the volume, speechless. Legalism, as a prominent school of thought in the present age, was gaining increasing importance with the vigorous development of the state system and the surging progress of the human path.

As an important part of legalism, the criminal name technique had evolved into a quite broad and complex study. Nine categories and eighteen sections, encompassing observation, listening, smelling, sensing, concealing, searching, hooking, and illuminating, totaling five classics, seven codes, and countless secret techniques. It could be said that predecessors had almost exhausted the wonders of criminal name technique in every era. But with the continuous development of the cultivation world and the constant innovation of various dao techniques, more possibilities would necessarily arise in the evolution of the era.

And it was very clear that this “Youxie” had grasped this contemporary possibility! Born in Rectangle Earth Palace, a high disciple of the great legalist master Hao Bingyi, what kind of vision did Zhuo Qingru possess? She was completely stunned. This secret book, passed down by the Lin family, had the qualification to become another classic work in the path of criminal name technique!

For ordinary cultivators, it offered no value in terms of combat or cultivation. For legalist disciples specializing in criminal name technique, it was a priceless treasure. And for those victims who had lived and died in long-standing hatred, unable to find the truth, how could it be measured by the word “value”?

Zhuo Qingru took a step back, holding a proper and correct ritual. “I wish to represent the Three Punishment Officials and thank the Marquis Lord for presenting this book. Rivers and mountains do not change, and jade has its quality; it will certainly become a classic of criminal name technique.”

Jiang Wang turned his body to the side, not accepting the ritual, and said quite seriously, “Jiang Wang has not a single word of merit; I dare not receive thanks. If the Three Punishment Palaces wish to thank, then thank the author of this book, Elder Lin Kuang, the one who supplemented this book, Elder Wu Lie, and the one who inherited this book, Lin Youxie.” He looked at Zhuo Qingru. “I have copied this corpse examination book word for word twice. One copy is left at the Capital Patrol Inspection Office, and the other is the one in your hand. I respectfully represent Lin Youxie and present it to the Three Punishment Palaces. I hope that the world’s evildoers will all be bound by Heaven’s net and the rope of law.”

Zhuo Qingru suddenly understood why the rumored Jiang Wang, who cared little for pomp, had come here in such luxurious robes today. It was precisely for this moment, for this solemn sentence. This book was named “Youxie.” It meant both “the corpse has evil, therefore examine it” and “to think upon evil.” Thousands of future legalist disciples, those who read this classic of criminal name technique, must all remember that there was once a constable named Lin Youxie in this world. She upheld justice with a public heart, patrolled against lawlessness, and lived her life seriously in the human world.

“This book will surely be passed down, and this name will surely not change,” Zhuo Qingru promised seriously.

Jiang Wang merely unfurled his great sleeves. “In that case, my heart can be at peace. I shall take my leave.”

Zhuo Qingru said in surprise, “This book is of great importance; does the Marquis Lord feel so assured entrusting it to me without any oversight?”

Jiang Wang said, “In the past, Jiang someone’s innocence was verified by the Three Punishment Palaces. This time, the evil deeds of the Wusheng Teach were also verified by the Three Punishment Palaces. Jiang Wang completely trusts the rules of the Three Punishment Palaces and also trusts Miss Zhuo’s respect for the legal code.”

Holding the thin booklet in her hand, Zhuo Qingru spoke again. “The scenery on Heaven’s Punishment Cliff is unique; does the Martial An Marquis have no mind to appreciate it? Since ancient times, no matter what kind of heroes have come to this legalist holy land, none have been completely without curiosity about it. After all, how many years has this world seen wind and rain? It always stands, always upholding the rules of the present world. The so-called ‘Rule Heaven, Rectangle Earth, Punish People.'”

Jiang Wang pursed his lips, only saying, “My intent has been fully expressed; I will not disturb further.” Saying so, he cupped his hands, turned, and walked down the platform steps. His visit to Heaven’s Punishment Cliff, in his splendid robes, ascending the steps and stopping at the law stele – he did not see any of the three law palaces, only Zhuo Qingru, one of the high legalist disciples. It was solely to deliver a “Youxie.”

In a prison cage cast from rune steel pillars, an old man sat cross-legged, wearing a single eye patch. Around him, light shadows of lightning chains were entwined. His white hair swirled aimlessly in the air. Suddenly, he opened the one eye that was intact. His eyes held a certain inexplicable pride. His voice penetrated the four cages: “That boy surnamed Jiang, has he finally remembered to come see me?”

A voice, carved and chiseled like a knife, replied, “The Martial An Marquis of the Qi kingdom did indeed come to Heaven’s Punishment Cliff.” Accompanying the voice, outside the prison cage, appeared a male figure in a law robe, appearing to be middle-aged. His features gave a very strong impression. Most striking was the white lightning mark on his brow; divine light contained within added several points of majesty to him. At the same time as he appeared, the light shadows of the lightning chains in the prison cage receded, and the single-eyed old man’s white hair, swirling in the air, also fell back into place.

“Cough.” The single-eyed old man smoothed his hair and said with great pomposity, “Let that boy wait two hours before talking. I, Yu Beidou, am not so easy to see.”

Ju Yuan, a contemporary True Person born in Rule Heaven Palace, merely glanced at the old fellow in the prison cage and did not speak.

“Not that I’m putting on airs, mind you,” Yu Beidou explained seriously. “In our line of work, you need to have ups and downs, a bit of back and forth. You understand? Sometimes if you’re too easy to talk to, people won’t believe you.”

“Don’t ‘our line of work’,” Ju Yuan said. “How can disciples of legalism associate with fate masters?”

“The Great Dao of the world, different paths lead to the same goal, True Person Ju, you cannot comprehend this,” Yu Beidou sighed profoundly, then said, “Open the iron law cage and allow me to tidy myself. Otherwise, my little friend Jiang will see it and feel sad.”

“He has already left.”

“Yes, this child is heavy with emotion and righteousness, so he has come… what?”

“I said,” Ju Yuan repeated, “The Martial An Marquis of the Qi kingdom, Jiang Wang, did indeed come to Heaven’s Punishment Cliff, but he only brought his friend’s relic and spoke a few words with Zhuo Qingru, the true transmission of Rectangle Earth Palace, before immediately leaving again.”

“Didn’t ask about me? Is it that the people of their Rectangle Earth Palace don’t know I’m in Rule Heaven Palace? It’s understandable that you want to keep the matter of suppressing the blood demon secret, but Jiang Wang isn’t an outsider. He and I are of the same heart, young and old, we fought side by side in Broken Soul Gorge…”

“He didn’t ask about you,” Ju Yuan interrupted directly. Ju Yuan was not someone who would joke. Thus, Yu Beidou fell silent.

For a long time, he spoke again. “Come, open the iron law cage.”

“Uh, no one has come to see you again, why still open it?” Ju Yuan asked.

Yu Beidou, rolling up his sleeves as he stood, said expressionlessly, “I want to beat that dead grandson to death.”

On the way back to the Qi kingdom, Jiang Wang always felt like he had forgotten something, but no matter how he tried, he couldn’t recall it. It wasn’t until he saw the Hell No Door Qin Guang King, who suddenly appeared in his carriage, that he suddenly realized: he had forgotten about a debt he owed.

To pursue and kill Zhang Linchuan for the world, crushing his bones and scattering his ashes, completely eradicating him, he had promised heavy rewards and used a lot of connections. Fortunately, Zhang Linchuan’s head was personally severed by him, and Wang Changji, with whom he cooperated, didn’t require payment for his labor. Unfortunately, Zhang Linchuan had a full six vice bodies… Although it wasn’t to the extent of paying twenty thousand yuan stones for each vice body severed, he couldn’t offer too little either. A clear price tag was fine, the most difficult was the debt of human favor.

Thankfully, Qin Guang King was very considerate. He didn’t want Jiang someone to owe human favor, so he blocked him outside Heaven’s Punishment Cliff and, without a word, jumped into the carriage compartment and immediately presented an account book. The account book was thrust into Jiang Wang’s face: “This is the account for the previous actions of Hell No Door. Please, Great Qi’s Marquis Lord, take a look.”

Jiang Wang tried to ignore it. But Yin Guan was also very persistent. After a confrontation for a while, Jiang Wang grumbled discontentedly, saying things like “I didn’t invite you all,” and so on. In Yin Guan’s eyes, a dangerous green light flickered, and he said sinisterly, “Is Great Qi’s Marquis Lord implying he doesn’t want to acknowledge his own public reward?”

Acknowledge, he still had to acknowledge. After all, Qingya Academy, contacted by Chong Xuan Sheng, hadn’t caught that Yu Liangfu. If Yin Guan hadn’t made a move, that vice body of Zhang Linchuan’s really would have escaped.

“How much money?” Jiang Wang asked.

Yin Guan lifted his chin. “Look for yourself.”

“Just tell me a number; we’ve known each other for so many years, can’t I trust you?” Jiang Wang said, picking up the account book and looking carefully. As he looked, he frowned. “Why are there so many appearance fees for killing an Outer Building realm vice body? One, two, three… Did all nine Interval Luos dispatch?”

Yin Guan said very seriously, “That Yu Liangfu was only Outer Building realm in name, but he was actually very dangerous. You don’t know the means of a true god. We chased him for tens of thousands of *li*, finally engaging in a great battle at the Long River, fighting until the sky was dark and the earth was dark, without sun or moon, overturning rivers and seas…”

“Did you alarm the Long River Dragon Palace?” Jiang Wang said coldly. “My fight with Zhang Linchuan’s main body didn’t cause such a commotion.”

“Cough, no, not that. In the end, we at Hell No Door were still very capable and subdued Yu Liangfu in a timely manner, not allowing him to stir up bigger waves.”

Jiang Wang’s gaze slanted from the account book. “How come I don’t see King Ka City on this list? According to your style, you should have dispatched all members to earn appearance fees, right?”

“If he were here, he would also appear,” Yin Guan said seriously. “After all, the style of our Hell No Door is to go all out and succeed. Dealing with a contemporary true god is very adventurous.”

“He’s already in the newly fallen realm, only a mere god, and only an Outer Building realm vice body,” Jiang Wang emphasized.

Yin Guan said, “But you cannot deny, he was very difficult to deal with. You see, that bookworm from Qingya Academy, wasn’t he also very powerful? Did you catch him or not?”

Jiang Wang admitted that Yin Guan’s words had a certain logic. So he said directly, “I have no money.”

Yin Guan’s eyes instantly widened. “A dignified marquis with a real seal from an overlord country, you say you have no money? Your annual salary alone isn’t small, right?!” He reached out to touch Jiang Wang’s storage ring. “Your salary?”

Jiang Wang slapped his hand away. “Before, the Emperor made me recite books. If I couldn’t recite them, he’d deduct my salary. This year’s is already deducted clean, and there’s not much left of next year’s either.”

Yin Guan looked suspicious. “You can’t even recite a book properly?”

“He made me recite ‘The Sea of Shi Dao Zao’.”

Yin Guan slapped his thigh. “This Jiang Shu is too stingy! Isn’t he just trying every possible way to take things from you?”

Jiang Wang glanced at him. “Show some respect to our His Majesty.”

Yin Guan spoke again. “Then what about your other businesses? Don’t think you can fool me; you and that fat one partner to run a chamber of commerce that earns quite a bit every year.”

“The chamber of commerce is under Chong Xuan Sheng’s management; it’s constantly expanding and investing. The readily available money I can mobilize is not much. The yuan stones from previous rewards have all been mortgaged in bits and pieces.” Jiang Wang raised his right arm. “The expenditure for the reward related to the Wusheng Teach was a large sum. Plus, healing this arm also cost quite a bit.”

Yin Guan was momentarily speechless. “We dispatched nine Interval Luos!”

“I really don’t have much money right now,” Jiang Wang could only say good words. “Give me some time.”

“At least give me a little,” Yin Guan also looked at him. “Who owes an Interval Luo’s account? How would that sound?”

Jiang Wang simply took out his own storage box and opened it. “Look, it’s not that I don’t want to give you, but I only have these ten-odd yuan stones in my hand. These are still from when I went out this time and took them from a friend. You wouldn’t even look at this little money, would you?”

Yin Guan reached out and took all thirteen yuan stones.

“No money is fine too,” he smoothly put away the account book. “I’ll remember the rest for you and deduct it from your salary next time.”