The evening of the closing ceremony was chaotic as the champions celebrated their win, the other contestants lamented losing, the other guests were enjoying their last day, and the citizens were partying before things returned to normal the next day. The battles had created friendships and rivalries, and the leadership from each continent took advantage of the event to make each other's acquaintance.
For the unlucky guards and emergency service personnel, they could only watch as the island was alive with the celebration of the guests. They also wanted to be a part of it, but they had to keep a constant vigil for illegal activities and sudden breakthroughs. While it was possible to have Quanliyuan use the grand array to keep everything in check, Huoran had never tried to do things this way. It would have been a waste of a department of law enforcement, and he would rather have everyone contribute instead of having everything resting on his shoulders. That being said, Huoran had Quanliyuan keep watch because if he did not, some things would slip through the cracks.
The next morning saw a flurry of activity as the guests who were due to return were quickly getting ready. There were quite a few flying ships and giant flying mounts that were privately owned, and those groups did not have to hurry. But for everyone else, if they wanted to get home, they would have to catch a boat from the Golden Peony company or Merchant Chen. Scores of cultivators flooded through the exits as they left Market Square to board one of the thre huge modern flying ships, or the equally as large but more traditional flying ship. It was an interesting contrast as the renovation of Merchant Chen's ship had changed it from the pirate ship it was to the transport vessel it had became. Chen Zhi was so happy with it, he was already making plans to send the other ships in the fleet to the island immediately to get the same renovation.
The first to leave was Grand Lord Merchant Shen, with his ship leading a convey of private vessels back to the Nanying continent. They had regularly sent artisans to Sun & Moon island in the beginning, and were now receiving instructions over the Interarray, that most of the things on the island were not as critical as they used to be. Their continent has been transforming quickly over the years due to the assistance from Sun & Moon island.
Grand Lord Merchant Kang was next as he headed north with the beastkin. The beastkin had enjoyed their time on the island, but in the end decided to use their best assets to maintain their way of life. Since the beastkin cultivated very differently from humans, their continent was very rich in resources. Instead of changing the way they lived, they felt it was better to just buy what they needed, but only through trusted sources. It did not mean that everything would stay the same either. The council of elder beastkin would regularly send younglings to the island to train, and send their farmers to improve their farming and rearing techniques. There was also the issue of the new continents, and they were keenly interested in sending their own with the explorer ships to meet these far 'relatives' of theirs as well.
Grand Lord Merchant Gong and Merchant Chen lead the last convoy back to the Wu continent. This continent was facing upheaval due to Wei Huoran's trip throughout the land as he invited more residents to the island. The organizations on the continent were desperately trying to secure anyone left as they were doing their best to catch up. The artisans of the Wu continent were given priority of the QR Pods, to allow them to quickly begin upgrading their own homes while the disciples were sent en mass to the island to cultivate. Reports of conflict in between the orthodox and unorthodox communities were highlighted as the unorthodox members suddenly found themselves at a disadvantage of strength and resources.
Wei Huoran was going through his morning routine when he received a message from assistant Su.
"Boss Wei, your presence is requested at the Law Enforcement department", Su informed him, "It is not an emergency, but it does require your attention."
"Sure, I will make my way there", Huoran affirmed, "Please adjust my schedule accordingly."
Huoran made his way to the Law Enforcement Department, and greeted those who met him at the front door.
"Please follow us, Boss Wei", a enforce welcomed him, "The ministers are already here, and we were proceeding with the questioning while we waited."
"Please lead the way", Huoran replied, and the two made their way through the building. It did not take long for Huoran to be guided to a room with a large glass window. The two ministers stood when he entered, and bowed.
"No need", he slightly bowed in return, "So, what is she here for?"
On the other side of the glass was a woman in a set of Law Enforcer robes, and the prisoner. She was probably very beautiful in the past, but something seemed wrong that Huoran immediately. She had a certain wildness in her eyes, and appeared as she had indulged in something dangerous.
Minister Zel was the first to answer, "She has not committed any crimes, but when she tried to register, the formation reacted. It suppressed her immediately, and would not disengage with her being placed in a secure location. Here is her file."
"Thank you", Huoran said as he took jade slip into his hand and placed it against his forehead. After quickly reading the contents, he confirmed that the information was identical to what Quanliyuan had told him as well, she was an unorthodox cultivator.
Unorthodox or 'Demonic' cultivators were people who engaged in methods in practices that harmed others or themselves for rapid rises in power. There were some practices that could be considered orthodox or unorthodox based on the way it was used, for instance, dual cultivation.
Dual cultivation in orthodox practices were methods that had two people perform various levels of intimate and cooperative activities that would achieve balance between both cultivators. When done correctly, it could achieve a higher level of cultivation than traditional practices. But it also was not used very often because of compatibility, the levels between the two, and how proficient they could perform the method. For most people, it was simple easier to follow your own path.
Dual cultivation done by unorthodox sects was not true cultivation as it usually involved a male cultivator taking primordial yin from virgin woman or a female cultivator taking primordial yang from men. Only one person would profit from the exchange, while the other would become weaker until they no longer could be used to cultivate.
As Huoran looked over the file, he saw that this woman seemed to practice an unorthodox blood method that involved absorbing the blood essence of other humans.
"Another failure of those who lack the patience to cultivate", Huoran said out loud.
"What do you mean?", Minister Xia asked.
"Cultivation through blood itself is a valid method", Huoran said to the surprise of everyone else in the room, "Beasts kill others for food, and are able to ascend to godhood. It beasts can do it, it is not strange for man to as well. Please let your enforcers know that I will enter now."
The ministers nodded as Huoran approached the door before he opened and entered it.
"Please excuse me", Huoran bowed to the enforcers in the room, "Can you allow me to speak with our guests for a few minutes?"
The two men stood up before leaving through the door Huoran and entered.
"According to our evaluation, you are the Venerable Hong Lian", Huoran stated, "This says here that your follow a defective unorthodox cultivation method that was derived from the 'Crimson Lotus' method."
"How dare you call the Crimson Lotus defective!", Hong Lian frowned, "Who are you anyways, young man? Why should I answer your questions?"
"Pardon me, you are right", Huoran paused, "I am the Venerable Wei Huoran, disciple of the master of this island. I said that your cultivation is defective, not that the Crimson Lotus was. You must have sacrificed countless lives to make it to your current level, which deviates from the true method. I will tell you who I am, I am the one who decides if it is better to rid the world of you, and allow the Qi and essence you have to return to the world."
Hong Lian did not seem to worried about the interrogation, and continued to sit calmly in her chair.
"Boy, I applaud your courage", Hong Lian laughed, "It is commendable that you reached this realm at such an age, an makes this old woman question what I have been doing this whole time. But do not forget that old monsters like me can leave here anytime, and you can only blame yourself for the carnage my exit will cause."
Huoran raised his hand as if giving a peace sign, but then mimicked a pair a scissors as he closed the two fingers together. He had seen the trails of several blood red threads that connected to Hong Lian from a distant location, and assumed it was an escape method setup by her. As he put his hand down, the threads were dissipating, and Hong Lian had a look on her face of horror and confusion.
"Now that your way home has been removed, I hope you can realize the situation you are in", Huoran calmly said, "Perhaps you forgot who my master is, but I will correct your ignorance."
Hong Lian, with her escape plan foiled and her realm suppressed, began to wail as reality crashed against her world. Formations glowed as they activated to protect everyone from a possible surprise attack. Huoran stood up, and went back to the first room.
"What do you think, Daoist Wei?", Zel inquired as the latter entered.
"Well, I'm sure you could have handled this without my decision", Huoran remarked, "The damage and corruption from a lifetime of using a defective cultivation method is not easy to deal with. It's not impossible to cure, but is it worth the time and resources to do so?"
"In my experience", Zel interjected, "Even if you could solve the problems with their cultivation, there is still the issue of the many lives they have extinguished over the years."
"Agreed, I trust master's array formation", Huoran declared, "Considering the damage done herself by cultivating this method, and the lives she reaped over the years, it seems prudent to detain her in one of our maximum security cells. Sortie a crew to send a team down to the Wu continent to investigate Hong Lian. Use our resources to look for other cultivators like her as well, investigate and apprehend, and rehabilitate those who have not fallen into the unorthodox ways."
Huoran bid farewell to the ministers as he still needed to return home to familiarize himself with marriage ceremony.
The next few days passed by as the island had a makeover. Sun city was bathed in reds, and Moon city was dressed in blues as the upcoming event was just around the corner.
Heng Xing had just finished checking his storage ring to ensure he had packed everything he needed for the mission he was assigned to. He locked his door to his apartment and took a taxi to the harbor where he met some of his fellow enforcers in front of the naval station.
"Daoist Heng Xing", a man said as he approached the front door, "How are you this fine morning?"
Heng Xing returned the greeting while laughing, "Jin Cheng, if I had known you were on this mission, I would have tried to get assigned to guard duty instead. Who is leading this mission this time?"
"It must be Captain Zhuo, she is the only ship captain I saw today so far", Jin Cheng responded.
"Well, let's hurry inside before we are late for the mission briefing", Heng Xing urged the other man.
The two went inside, and quickly made their way to the mission briefing room, greeted the others who had already arrived, and was chatting when Captain Zhuo entered. Everyone stood and saluted as the captain walked to the center podium.
"At ease", Zhuo ordered as she saluted back, "Let us quickly get to work, and start the brief. Recently due to unknown reasons, unorthodox sects have increased their activities on the Nanying and Wu continents. We are the first to deploy, and our mission is to work with local sects of the Wu to hunt these individuals and evaluate whether they can be rehabilitated or captured for judgement. We must interview victims and witnesses, and collect evidence. Are their anymore questions?"
A few members of the audience asked some questions before everyone was satisfied.
"Since everything has been covered, it is time to board the ship and launch", Zhuo said.
All the enforcers stood at attention and saluted again, before leaving the room and heading to the docks. Soon, everyone was boarded and Captain Zhuo had already received clearance, so the frigate rose into the air and flew towards the Wu continent.