Arch Templar Saphira, the current leader of the Templars, places the scroll on the table and looks at the woman.
Despite Arch Templar Saphira's humble origins, she exudes elegance comparable to the fairies of powerful Sects.
Her unblemished, smooth skin glistens like crystal in the sunlight. Her waist-length black hair is silky and adorned with moonlit hair ornaments.
Her pale blue Cheongsam dress had a slit that reached the side of her upper thigh, providing just enough coverage.
Her appearance captivated not only the hearts of ordinary people but also those of cultivators who rarely took an interest in non-cultivators.
"Excellent work, Arch Savant Li. Make sure to monitor Templar Topp from a safe distance. How is the urgent research progressing? Have we determined the location yet?"
Arch Savant Li shakes her head. "All the devices designed to locate objects, spiritual qi, and individuals appear to be currently ineffective. We attempted multiple methods, but none of them successfully and accurately identified any points on the simulated map of the Silica Continent."
Templar Saphira pondered, "If we request a new simulated device for the Silica Continent, can we locate it?"
Savant Li replied, "No, the problem does not lie on the device. Rather we need a fresh sample for the device to pinpoint the location of its origin on the map."
The challenge was how to obtain a sample if their device couldn't locate its origin. They also needed to harness that specific Spiritual Qi.
Would they have to trouble the Grand Maester to obtain the specific Spiritual Qi needed for a fresh sample? Grand Maester was the only person in the Tower capable of doing so, as he was responsible for creating the devices.
Although he didn't disclose it, the Templars suspected that the crystal embedded in the devices was powered by Spiritual Qi.
Arch Templar Saphira asked after sighing, "Any good news?"
Arch Savant Li replied with a smile, "Yes, while one of the Savants under my supervision was consolidating the flawed device for disposal, the needle in the compass started moving."
Templar Saphira recognized the device as one she had approved for disposal, as it was defective and not pointing to anything on the map.
"Can you explain why this is considered good news?" asked Templar Saphira.
"Because when Savant investigated the direction of the pin, it pointed to the group of disciples from Sky Heaven Piercing Sect who were temporarily detained for their safety," replied Savant Li.
Savant Li then took an object out of her pocket and handed it to Templar Saphira.
It was a circular metal device the size of a child's hand, with two arms connected by a hinge and a small crimson crystal emitting pale light. One arm had a pointed end, while the other had something attached to it, allowing for movement and adjustment.
"Why isn't it moving now?" she asked, confused.
"We believe that the distance of the disciples from the Sky Heaven Piercing Sect affects the compass's usability. We wanted to ask for your approval to have the disciples near the simulated map, but since the upcoming assembly concerns me…"
Arch Templar Saphira frowned. With a serious gaze, she asked, "Are you afraid that they will lose potency as a subject if they are questioned later?"
Templar Saphira was in a dilemma.
"Alright, the dense fluctuation of Spiritual Qi that happened a couple of months ago took precedence over anything else for the Grand Maester. If we need to prolong the assembly and hearing just to preserve the sample we have, let's do it."
Templar Saphira picked up her half-black shoulder cape from the coat rack stand.
"I don't need to remind you that we don't use live test subjects for our devices. That's one of the reasons you were recruited in the first place. The Tower is committed to safeguarding people and cultivators, and we won't back down on that."
"Of course, if the simulated map of the Silica continent doesn't work, we will ask for their blood as a sample," said Savant Li.
Templar Saphira felt the sincerity in her words.
She donned her half-black shoulder cape and ordered the release of the detainees from the detention function hall, instructing that they be treated nicely.
She then left for the Templar's assembly, followed by two Tier 1 Knights.
At the end of the hallway, she saw a Tier 1 Knight blocking a Savant, who appeared to be struggling for air. When the Savant noticed her, she tried to dash away, but the Tier 1 Knight's swift movements outmatched her.
She approached them and nodded to the Tier 1 Knight before turning to the Savant. "What is a Savant doing in the Templum, especially in Templar's Ta?" she asked in a condescending tone.
It was unusual for a Savant to be able to bypass the Tier 1 Knights stationed inside the Templum Tower and use the lift to Templar's Ta.
She was not forbidden to enter the Templum Tower, but being able to take the lift to the Templar's Ta is quite an accomplishment.
The Savant bowed her head and greeted her politely. "I apologize for my rude behavior and didn't beg your pardon on coming here. I am one of Arch Savant's Li direct head researchers. I was looking for her but was told she was here so I came here. There was an emergency outside the outer garden."
Arch Templar Saphira instructed her to wait outside the Templum Tower for Arch Savant Li and not to use the lift to come up again. The Savant apologized once more and agreed to wait outside.
"Understood! I apologize again!"
Arch Templar Saphira ignored the Savant and headed for the sophisticated lift.
However, she noticed something in the Savant's hand and inquired about it. The Savant confirmed that it was related to the emergency and handed it over.
Saphira opened the parchment and a bright something, clumsily cut, fell out.
She asked a Tier 1 Knight to pick it up and after examining it, instructed the Tier 1 Knight to accompany the Savant outside her office and call out for Arch Savant Li.
Saphira then entered the lift.
The sophisticated small room she entered could smoothly lift ten people up or down, powered by a crimson crystal that could be replaced once a month. While inside, she looked at the parchment with only three words written on it and frowned. "Just what is happening?"
After getting off the lift, she walked down a hallway adorned with red brocade embroidery.
At the end of the hallway, there are impressive 12-foot-tall antique wooden doors.
These doors exude unique murals, reminiscent of the time during the First Catastrophe.
The rustic red finish is adorned with powerful ancient beast imagery in the iron hardware, making these doors intimidating.
The Tier 1 Knights guarding the door inserted their gauntlet into the arm-sized hole in the wall, causing the massive wooden doors to slowly creak open for the Highest Templar Saphira.
She was greeted by a circular, spacious hall with a concrete ceiling supported by elaborate, slender fluted columns adorned with ornate capitals.
The hall was adorned with statues and paintings of the founding and past Templars.
In the center, there was a plain empty throne at the top of the steps.
Below the steps, there was a round table with five seats.
The four templars were already seated, each wearing a different color of Tang Suit and Cheongsam Dresses, but they all had the same black half-shoulder capes.
The four templars stood up and bowed their heads as Arch Templar Saphira entered.
"Greetings to Arch Templar Saphira."
She nodded in acknowledgment and gracefully made her way to her slightly elevated seat, across from the four templars and the lonely throne. Her two Tier 1 Knights were stationed just behind her seat.
Highest Templar Saphira glanced at her companions. To her left was Templar Topp, wearing his usual benign smile.
Templar Topp currently serves as the Head of Diplomacy, overseeing the establishment of relations with sects, clans, and kingdoms.
Beside him stood Templar Allirea, who, like Saphira, possessed undeniable beauty and charm. However, while Saphira exuded natural authority, Allirea seemed to downplay her high status in the Tower.
Ever since she was revered as a Templar, she has always kept her distance from others, which made Saphira both wary and intrigued by her.
Templar Allirea, dressed in a smoky black Cheongsam Dress with thigh-high slits, locked eyes with Saphira.
Templar Allirea currently serves as the Head of Internal Affairs, overseeing the management of Spires Tower, and Order Tower, except the functions of Templum.
On her right side seated Templar Feld, a brawny, strong, and silent member of the Templars.
He exudes a predatory aura and seldom speaks during assembly, choosing to listen instead.
Unlike the other Templars, he eschews the traditional Tang suit in favor of a quilted jacket under chainmail. This is because he was once a powerful captain of cavalry in a neighboring kingdom that has since fallen to beast attacks.
Who could stop him when the Grand Maester allowed him to do as he pleased in exchange for becoming a Templar?
Templar Feld is the Head of the Knight Order, overseeing all matters related to knights and security.
Next to Templar Feld is Templar Apate who always glinted deceit in his eyes. Unlike Templar Feld, Templar Apate is tall and skinny.
Templar Apate is the current Head of Intelligence and Information Gathering.
Arch Templar Saphira had a strong dislike for Templar Apate but recognized his value. Despite this, she was determined to remove him.
"Shall we wait for the Grand Maester before we begin?" asked Templar Topp.
"No, the Grand Maester is occupied," replied Arch Templar Saphira.
"Another assembly without the esteemed Grand Maester!" interjected Templar Apate.
Enraged, Highest Templar Saphira slammed her hand on the table. "Watch your words! I will have you removed from this assembly!" she threatened.
Templar Apate laughed and said, "You misunderstand me. I simply wish to see him once before I am replaced by another Templar."
Templar Saphira ignored him and began the assembly.
"As you may be aware, two influential sects were recently destroyed: the Three Head Snake and the Sky Heaven Piercing Sect. Both were targeted by the Snake Devouring Sect in pursuit of an Earth Grade Spirit Stone Mine."
Templar Topp suggests that a thorough investigation should be conducted before condemning the Snake Devouring Sect. "Before we rush to judgment, I suggest conducting a thorough investigation to ensure we have all the facts."
"After the initial investigation, it was found that hundreds of innocent people and thousands of cultivators were killed. Our reconnaissance knight described it as a massacre, and the evidence has been sent to your private residence. What more evidence do you want?" Templar Saphira stated firmly. "But let's hear from the Grand Elder of Snake Devouring Sect first before we decide how to proceed."
Templar Topp nodded to the Tier 1 Knight behind his seat, who promptly went to fetch Grand Elder Gu from outside the Templar's Ta.
The assembly reconvened when Grand Elder Gu entered the hall.
"What is your response to the destruction of two Sects?"
Grand Elder Gu took a deep breath and carefully prepared to defend the innocence of his Sect.
Present. March 26, 1152. Wednesday. Meanwhile,
Outside the remote Dungeon on Mount Apo, the crops were nowhere to be seen and although deserted with people, the atmosphere was tense and heavy.
Startled wild birds flew in all directions as trees suddenly moved.
A cultivator from a certain Sect appeared from the dense forest and ran toward the Dungeon with all his might.
He turned around to see more cultivators with the same insignia on their Hanfu running away in fear.
Some even took to the sky to escape. But they all headed in one direction - towards the door of what seemed to be the abyss.
The fleeing group shouted like a war cry as they passed the field and stopped at the dark opening of the structure.
They hesitated to enter, torn between the uncertain situation ahead and the certain death behind.
All the cultivators came to a halt. The shouting ceased, leaving an eerie silence. The tension in the air grew with each passing second. Suddenly, an elderly man emerged from the dense forest, gasping for air.
His appearance prompted the cultivators gathering in front of a structure to cower in fear and enter the door of the abyss.
Inside, Akira is positioned at the front of the first floor of the dungeon, where the darkness is impenetrable. However, he can see clearly thanks to the system.
As other cultivators arrive, they quickly take their designated positions.
Akira muttered to himself, "So they did come, after all."