Chapter 53: Tribunal

"A fanatical and evil organization that worships destruction. Wherever they appear, they will definitely bring disaster and bad omens."

"Is it that serious?"

"You haven't met them. Although the members of the Dusk Society are extremely few, every single one of them is a lunatic." Recalling the situation where he was played like a fiddle by Plum Blossom 8, the cold glint in Han Meng's eyes grew even more intense.

"So the incidents in District Three, as well as District Five and Six this time, were also their doing?" Chen Ling began to subtly probe.

"...That shouldn't be it." Han Meng shook his head. "They cannot actively summon the Gray Realm to descend; that is the method of the Scarlet Heaven Cult..."

"Then what disasters and bad omens have they brought to the Aurora Domain?"

Chen Ling tried his best to make his tone seem purely foolish... so as not to let Han Meng feel he was probing for more information about the Dusk Society. But Han Meng, clever as he was, still caught that trace of anomaly.

He stared at Chen Ling for a long time, not answering his question, but instead said seriously:

"Chen Ling, it is best you do not develop any curiosity toward this organization, much less have any form of contact with them... They are extremely dangerous and excel at brainwashing. You only need to know that once you encounter a member of the Dusk Society, stay as far away from them as possible, understand?"

Seeing that Han Meng had already spoken to this extent, Chen Ling couldn't press further and calmly nodded.

"In short, the casualties in District Five and District Six are extremely heavy. According to incomplete statistics, more than three thousand people have already lost their lives in this disaster. Coupled with the annihilation of the Law Enforcers, these two great districts are practically ruined... Even if Aurora City urgently deploys Law Enforcers to fill the vacancies, there is still a shortage of manpower."

"So they advanced the opening time of the Ancient Vault of the Military Path, wanting to quickly replenish their blood?"

"Exactly."

Three years after becoming a full-fledged Law Enforcer, one gets an opportunity to enter the Ancient Vault of the Military Path, with a chance to be chosen by a Divine Path and become a Law Enforcer... Opening the Ancient Vault early means they can obtain a new batch of Law Enforcers in a short time, even if they are only First-Tier.

"This time, the Law Enforcers dispatched from the Seven Great Districts, plus those sent from within Aurora City, total seventy people... You need to take a boat across the frozen sea to reach the very edge of the Aurora Domain, where the Ancient Vault of the Military Path is located.

At the same time, three Law Enforcers from Aurora City will lead the team and be responsible for protecting your safety."

"What is it like inside the Ancient Vault of the Military Path?"

"The Ancient Vault of the Military Path is very large, but the area given to you for trials only occupies a small part. You will know the specifics when you get there."

Han Meng glanced at the time and said indifferently:

"It's getting late. Rest early and store up more stamina...

Also, if you encounter some... matters in the Ancient Vault, don't be too timid. You are a Law Enforcer of our District Three. Even if you poke some hornet's nest, I will back you up...

Don't lose face for our District Three."

Hearing this, Chen Ling froze for a moment. Before he could ask anything, Han Meng turned and left.

Chen Ling carefully pondered Han Meng's last sentence just now; it seemed to be hinting at something? Perhaps... this was the real purpose of his special visit today?

Chen Ling thought for a moment, then shook his head, turned to lie on the bed, and his consciousness gradually sank into a dream.

...

"Damn it... can't you let me have a good dream?"

Chen Ling opened his eyes, saw the spotlight overhead, and sighed in his heart.

After that dream last night, Chen Ling almost thought he might not need to 'report' to the Theater every night and could sleep peacefully... He didn't expect to be back after all.

Chen Ling climbed up from the Stage, walked straight to the screen, and clicked the treasure chest button in the corner.

After completing the first act last time, there was still one designated character Gacha Draw opportunity he hadn't used. Now that he was about to set off for the Ancient Vault of the Military Path, having one more skill for self-defense was always good.

As rousing music played, Chen Ling turned and walked to the table. Countless playing cards fluttered in the air, eventually landing neatly face down on the table.

"Please write the name of the character you wish to draw on the paper."

A line of small text appeared on the paper.

Chen Ling picked up the white paper, hesitated for a moment, and finally wrote two words:

Han Meng.

Since it was a designated character, Chen Ling naturally had to choose the one with the highest upper limit. Around him, there were only two Divine Path Possessors: Chu Muyun and Han Meng. Compared to the Path of the Physician, the Way of the Soldier God was definitely more adept at combat... at least that was what he thought.

Not to mention, Chen Ling already had the Slaughter Dance. Adding another Way of the Soldier God skill should make for a more suitable combination... If possible, Chen Ling even wanted to replicate an entire Judgment path.

If so, would he be considered a dual cultivator of the Path of the Actor and the Way of the Soldier God?

As the words Han Meng appeared on the paper, the numerous playing cards on the table all vanished, leaving only twelve cards spread out in a line. These were all the skills Han Meng possessed, and among them, one card was gray and unselectable.

As far as Chen Ling knew, Han Meng was a Four-Stripe Law Enforcer, which corresponded to the Fourth Order of the Way of the Soldier God...

Among these twelve playing cards, only four were blue Divine Path skill cards. The rest should be ordinary skills like 'cooking' or 'tracking'. As for the unselectable one, it should be the Slaughter Dance that Chen Ling already possessed.

A three-in-eleven probability, huh... No, the screen said there would be a boost based on the total Audience Expectation Value from the previous act.

Chen Ling rubbed his hands together, hesitated for a moment, and finally selected one of the cards.

"Skill: 【Tribunal】"

"Affiliation: Way of the Soldier God, 【Judgment】 Path, Fourth Order;"

"Character: Han Meng."

It's here!

Seeing this skill, the image of Han Meng fighting the red paper monster that day, collapsing its body with three shots, instantly surfaced in Chen Ling's mind.

If nothing unexpected happened, this was one of the core skills of the 【Judgment】 path.

As Chen Ling absorbed the card, all the information regarding this skill instantly flooded his mind. Unlike the Slaughter Dance, this was a Domain-type skill that would consume the user's Spiritual Power when activated...

Speaking of which, whether it was Formless or Secret Pupil, Chen Ling didn't bear any burden when using them. But using the Slaughter Dance for just a dozen seconds would leave him entirely exhausted.

'First to Third Tier skills are released based on physical fitness, while those above Fourth Order consume Spiritual Power?' Chen Ling thought thoughtfully.

He wondered if his current First-Tier Spiritual Power could support him using the 【Tribunal】 even once?