The atmosphere in the main hall of the Xuanmen Bureau's headquarters felt heavier than usual today.

The Director sat at the head seat, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the armrest.

"Ethan Lu," Director Honry Ho's voice broke the silence. He slid across a bamboo tube wrapped in layer upon layer of oilcloth. "This was intercepted by the East Sea branch this morning — a coded letter from the remnants of the Baizhen Pavilion."

I stepped forward and took the tube. It was cold to the touch, the oilcloth still carrying the briny reek of seawater. I carefully unwrapped it to find a yellowed scroll of beast hide covered in densely packed runes written in a dark violet ink. Had my mid-Foundation-Establishment spiritual energy not been shielding me, I would have felt the icy, malevolent aura seeping from those runes.

"System, scan the letter's contents," I recited silently in my mind.

Ding! Heterodox-cultivator encryption runes detected. Decrypting… 10%… 30%… 70%… Decryption complete! The System Elder's voice carried a note of gravity. "Letter contents: 'Victor Jin is regrouping at Black Reef Island. One hundred Blood Coral Hearts are needed to consolidate the foundation of the Fiend Pill. If they are not gathered within half a month, there is danger of a backlash from the overseas Heterodox Cultivator Alliance.' Sender is marked as 'Left Envoy of Black Reef Island.'"

My brow furrowed. Black Reef Island — a lawless stretch of sea beyond the East Sea, claimed by no nation, perpetually infested with heterodox cultivation factions from across the world. Its environment was brutal, its formation arrays thick and treacherous; it was a no-man's-land in every sense of the word. Victor Jin had actually fled there, and was already gathering Blood Coral Hearts to refine Fiend Pills. I had seen Blood Coral Hearts in the System Shop before — a primary ingredient for high-grade pills, saturated with powerful yin-cold energy. Prolonged consumption would reduce a person to nothing more than a puppet of the heterodox path.

"Blood Coral Hearts…" Director Honry Ho let out a slow breath. "A hundred Blood Coral Hearts — enough to refine the 'Fiend Blood Pill,' a pill that can send a Core-Formation heterodox cultivator's power surging. Victor Jin means to entrench himself overseas before making his comeback."

I nodded, my gaze falling once more to the beast-hide letter. Beyond the main text, the edges bore what appeared to be casual decorative patterns. I had thought nothing of them at first, but now, under the System's scan, a faint and unusual fluctuation of spiritual energy emanated from them.

"System, analyse the edge markings."

Ding! Spatial-coordinate encryption patterns detected. Parsing… Parse successful! The combined markings form a simplified map indicating a location on Black Reef Island called 'Treasure Cove,' with a special marker pointing toward a particular reef within the cove. The System Elder's voice suddenly sharpened. "Rookie, look at that marker carefully! Its pattern shares the same origin as the meteorite fragment in your possession!"

My heart lurched. I leaned in and looked closely. Sure enough — though the marker's lines were sparse, the core sword-shaped motif was identical to the runes on my meteorite chopping board and on the sword-tip fragment I had retrieved from the Collection Vault. Could it be that the third fragment — the hilt — was actually on Black Reef Island?

"Director," I suppressed my agitation and handed the letter back. "The contents of the letter are now clear. But more importantly, the edge markings appear to point toward a clue regarding an ancient relic. It may have nothing to do with Victor Jin's Fiend Pill refining — he may have another motive entirely."

Director Honry Ho took the letter and studied it for a long moment. A glint of understanding crossed his eyes. "An ancient relic? No wonder Victor Jin has gone to such lengths. The heterodox cultivation forces on Black Reef Island are deeply entrenched and tangled together. Going alone would be far too dangerous."

He paused, then drew from his sleeve a jet-black command token. The character for "Xuan" was inscribed upon it in crimson gold, the four sacred beasts rendered around it with lifelike precision. The token sat dense and solid in the hand, and the moment it made contact, a torrent of vast spiritual energy surged through my meridians, sending a tremor through my mid-Foundation-Establishment cultivation.

"This is the Xuanmen Troop-Mobilization Token," Director Honry Ho said gravely. "Bearing this token, you may temporarily conscript up to ten registered Foundation-Establishment cultivators anywhere within the East Sea's jurisdiction. Victor Jin intends to refine the Fiend Blood Pill, which means Black Reef Island will be heavily fortified in the coming days. You will need assistance."

I gripped the Mobilization Token, a tangle of emotions rising in my chest. Mere months ago, I had been nothing but a rogue cultivator hunted by the Baizhen Pavilion like a stray dog. Now I held the Xuanmen Troop-Mobilization Token in my hand, authorized to command Foundation-Establishment cultivators. The contrast felt like a dream — yet it was utterly, undeniably real.

"Thank you, Director!" I clasped my hands in salute. "I will not fail this trust. I will investigate the whereabouts of the Blood Coral Hearts, and if there truly is a lead on an ancient relic, I will do everything in my power to retrieve it. I will not allow it to fall into the hands of the heterodox cultivators."

"Go," Director Honry Ho said with a wave of his hand. "Remember — above all else, keep yourself safe. Black Reef Island is nothing like the mainland. The overseas heterodox cultivators are ruthless and cunning. Do not take them lightly."

Leaving the Bureau's headquarters, I immediately used the Mobilization Token to contact the East Sea branch. In less than half a day, ten Foundation-Establishment cultivators — dressed in different styles, their spiritual auras each distinct — had assembled on a secluded stretch of beach at Luoxia Cove. Some were rogue cultivators; others belonged to minor sects. The looks they turned on me held curiosity, appraisal, and — in one or two gazes — a faint, barely concealed contempt.

"I am Ethan Lu, special envoy of the Demon-Demon Demon Suppression Bureau." I stood atop a reef, the Mobilization Token in hand, doing my best to keep my voice steady and composed. "I have summoned you all here to travel to Black Reef Island, investigate the movements of the Baizhen Pavilion remnants, and prevent them from gathering the Blood Coral Hearts."

End of Chapter 72: The Xuanmen Bureau's Mobilization Order