‘Now that i've crippled the son of the Head of the Punishment department, I’m probably going to die… There has to be a way out of this.’

Rats scurrying around in the crevices and corners of the cell echoed.

Li Jian calmed himself and began meditating.

Outside the detention building, two Elders dashed towards the entrance, one of which who was wielding a jade battle axe.

“Head Elder, he’s being held inside one of the holding cells.”

“This bastard actually crippled my son. MY SON!”

“What he has done is unforgivable. He is an enemy of the sect.”

“Bring him to me.”

“As you wish.”

The Elder made his way towards Li Jian’s cell immediately. When the Elder arrived, Li Jian looked up and knew that today would truly be his last.

“Come with me. Head Elder will determine your punishment.”

Standing up, Li Jian walked out of the cell and began following the Elder.

Li Jian walked through the midnight-green colored hallway and stairs as if he was headed towards his own execution. The two came to a stop in front of a large wooden double door with a drawing of a jade green dragon. The head of the dragon ran down the middle, splitting into two when opened.

Opening the door, the Elder shoved Li Jian forward.

“I’ve brought him, Head Elder Lu. This is him.”

Elder Lu didn’t speak nor make a sound. He simply stared at Li Jian with a sinister look.

After half a minute, Elder Lu walked closer to Li Jian.

Looking down at the young boy, Elder Lu released some of his pressure.

The pressure being released from a cultivator in the Spirit realm came crashing down on Li Jian causing him to almost pass out.

“You crippled my son. Do you know what this means? It means your life as a martial artist will end today.”

Li Jian tried to withstand the pressure, but could not fight back with his low cultivation.

Elder Lu saw Li Jian struggling to break free and his eyes slightly twitched.

“So you’ve got some fight still in you even in these circumstances. Very well then, I will lessen the cruelty of your punishment. You may think you’ve spared my son by allowing him to live, but the life of a mortal after living in the martial world is far worse than death. So I shall bless you with death.”

Elder Lu prepared to strike Li Jian by raising his right arm and igniting it with flames.

“Say your last words.”

Elder Lu removed his pressure allowing Li Jian to relax.

Li Jian began breathing more rapidly as he tried to catch his breath.

After a few seconds, Li Jian stood up tall and looked directly at Elder Lu.

“I’ll cripple you too, just like I did with Lu Bao.”

“BASTARD!”

The flames on Elder Lu’s arm blazed more fiercely as he attacked.

Li Jian gathered all of his spiritual energy into his fist.

The small white crystal began glowing slightly.

“Head Elder, wait!"

“WHAT!”

The jade battle axe wielding Elder interrupted Elder Lu just before Elder Lu’s hand had reached the side of Li Jian’s neck.

The Elder had a face full of terror as he lifted up a certain object.

In one hand he was holding up Li Jian’s bag, and in the other was a jade medallion.

When Elder Lu saw this medallion, his eyes nearly bulged out of his sockets and his whole body began shaking.

“W-Where… d-did you get this?”

“I have no reason to answer you.”

“You answer me, or I’ll kill you.”

“Weren’t you going to kill me anyways?”

At that moment, a loud bang swung open the doors to Elder Lu’s room.

Entering the room was a voluptuous woman.

“Princess Bai! What are you doing here?!”

“P-Princess!”

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‘Why’s Princess Bai here?’

“I’m here to take Li Jian away from you before you end up killing him.”

“I was just carrying out his punishment! He crippled my son!”

“He will most definitely be punished for his actions, however, I will still listen to his side of the story before judgement, as you should too Elder Lu.”

“Yes, of course.”

Elder Lu bowed his head, afraid of angering Princess Bai.

“Little Jian, I heard Lu Bao attacked you while out on a mission previously. Is that correct?”

‘How the hell did she know?’

“Yes, he and some other disciples followed my group and attacked us in the Veiled Mist Forest. He then proceeded to attack me within the Jade Moon Trial with three other 5th level disciples while I was still in the 4th level. I acted in self-defense and defeated the four. I carried out Lu Bao’s punishment for his actions by taking away his cultivation.”

Hearing Li Jian’s last words, Elder Lu nearly exploded out in anger and hatred.

‘I will kill this bastard no matter what.’

“From your story, it looks like Lu Bao is clearly at fault. I will speak on behalf of my father and void any punishment regarding Lu Bao’s actions of attacking you twice. However, for crippling Lu Bao, your punishment is that you cannot join the inner sect until next week.”

Princess Bai smiled playfully and then turned towards the Elders with an annoyed look.

“As that is what my father says, you will have no say in the matter. I suggest you forget about the matter.”

“My son…”

“There may be a chance Lu Bao can be able to cultivate if he works hard, but the chances are astronomically low.”

When hearing this, Elder Lu’s spirits soared.

“Thank you Princess Bai! Thank you!”

Elder Lu kowtowed repeatedly.

“Little Jian, let’s get going.”

Li Jian nodded before leaving with Princess Bai.

When the two exited the building, Li Jian looked at Princess Bai.

“Is it true Lu Bao will be able to cultivate still?”

“No. That was just a lie. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have let you leave so easily. Be careful though, there’s no telling what he’ll do behind the shadows.”

“Thank you Princess.”

“Didn’t I tell you to not call me that, Little Jian!”

Princess Bai pouted before laughing cheerfully.

“I apologize, Elder Sister Bai.”

“And quit being so formal around me!”

“Haha sorry… By the way, where are we going?”

“Your new home of course!”

“My new home? What do you mean?”

“You’ve entered the 5th level of the Mortal realm already, so you’re now qualified to enter the inner sect.”

“But you said I had to wait a week?”

“You won’t be receiving any of the benefits of the inner sect, but you can at least acclimate yourself to the new area!”

Li Jian looked at Princess Bai in utter shock. She had given Elder Lu false hope and then proceeded to twist her own words to help Li Jian.

‘Why is she helping me so much? Is it because of my unique affinity?’

With Li Jian deep in thought, Princess Bai exhaled and then stopped on the road.

“What’s wrong, Elder Sister Bai?”

“There’s also another matter that I need to talk about… Where did you get that jade medallion?”

“This medallion? An old man gave it to me just before I entered Jade Moon City.”

“Do you know his name?”

“I call him Senior Ling. I don’t know his full name.”

When Princess Bai heard the word Ling, her eyebrows scrunched.

“Then I guess this matter is settled.”

“Wait, what is this medallion? Isn’t it just an entry medallion?”

Princess Bai looked at Li Jian as if he was joking.

“Hahaha, you thought this was an entry medallion? Well, I guess it can be used as one too, but no it is not an entry medallion. This is a unique medallion, recognized by all of the citizens of the city and sect. Only the Patriarch and his elder brother have the power to bestow these medallions to others.”

“The Patriarch’s elder brother?”

“Yep, my Uncle, one of the twin Jade Dragons of the Jade Moon Sect.”

Taken aback, Li Jian had newfound respect for the old man who saved his life and had bestowed a jade medallion to him.

‘He not only saved my life, but had planned for me to live in the city and sect with no troubles…’

“Anyways, if you have anything back in the outer sect you can go retrieve them before we head into the inner sect.”

“Everything I own is on me, but before we leave I want to know why you’re helping me so much. You prevented Lu Bao and I from fighting back at the mission board. You also know that he had attacked me in the Veiled Mist Forest. And now you’ve saved me from Elder Lu.”

Princess Bai took a moment before answering Li Jian. She sized Li Jian yet again, looking at this mature 12 year old child.

“I was asked by my father to look after you ever since we parted after your affinity test. I’ve tried to stay out of your way and observe from afar, but the circumstances were too much this time. Don’t get used to it Li Jian. The moment you enter the inner sect, I will not be protecting you as I have been. Regardless of how special your affinity is, you must rely on your own strength.”

“I’ve always been planning on using my own strength, Elder Sister.”

“You ought to smile more Little Jian. You’re much too young to behave like an adult.”

The Princess and Li Jian passed through the outer sect and moved deeper into the sect.

Disciples saw the two walking side by side and questioned who this youth was to be able to walk with the beauty, Princess Bai.

It didn’t take long for the news about Li Jian’s feats to reach the whole sect.

“Did you hear?! Li Jian defeated Lu Bao and three 5th level disciples! And not only that, Li Jian was only a 4th level!”

“Yeah I know! He even crippled Lu Bao!”

“Elder Xin took Li Jian away to the detention building. Elder Lu will probably kill him!”

“My friends saw Li Jian walking with Princess Bai earlier. They even said he’s in the 5th level now!”

The sect was in an uproar as this news had shocked many.

Princess Bai stopped in front of a grand courtyard and turned towards Li Jian.

“Welcome to your new home, Inner Sect Disciple Li Jian! Congratulations!”

“Thank you Elder Sister Bai.”

Li Jian bowed respectfully and walked into the courtyard.

The space was open and large with a beautiful garden and pond.

The building itself was large, like the ones he had seen when he was being escorted by Elder Luo. The beautiful white marble and the jade complemented each other too well.

In another part of the sect, Patriarch Shui stood in his room looking out the window.

“He’s in the 5th level of the Mortal realm now. He was only in the 2nd level a little over a month ago… His growth is astonishing, isn’t it?”

“His spatial affinity is very rare. If he grows too strong, it might endanger the sect.”

Patriarch Shui was speaking with the same old man from the library he had been talking to.

“I know.”

Knocking on the doors before getting too impatient, Princess Bai walked in.

“Father, I’ve brought Li Jian to the inner sect and have shown him to his home.”

“Good! Anything else Bai’er?”

“Apparently, Uncle Ling is back.”