Yang Qing couldn't help but sigh in envy when he saw in just under three hours, they were already within earshot distance of the territory of the Order's headquarters. Were they to use Ellie, it would have taken them close to six and that was with Ellie expending herself without pause as if she was flying for dear life.

Of course, if she broke through to the palace realm it would be a different case, but for now, she couldn't match the speeds of the flying ferry or its comfort either. It had multiple cultivation and meditation chambers fitted with all sorts of arrays and natural treasures to aid in the endeavor, there were refining chambers for those interested. It wasn't filled with monarch-grade ingredients, but anything below that would be found there in plentiful supply ranging from spiritual metals and ores to spiritual herbs and the like.

Every passenger had their own rooms that was fitted with their own meditation and training chamber and there was also a common room that was split into a library and a recreation room where the passengers could gather and enjoy each other's company if they so wished to.

For the latter part of their journey, Yang Qing had been hanging out with Su Jinjing and Bolin in the recreation room as they shared some of the meals Shi Hai had made for them to have during the trip and enough to even share back home. Luo Meili was in her room meditating and cultivating, trying to take advantage of the effects of the wine Yang Qing shared and the insights she had gained into her path in the Dao. She decided to use the short interlude to deepen her understanding of it.

As for Haishi and Ellie, the latter had goaded the former into a flying competition with Ellie promising to use one wing, and restricting her cultivation base to the first stage of the core formation realm. The wager for the competition was their assigned meals. Haishi in her naivety thought she stood a chance and as a growing glutton herself, she felt this was the best opportunity to increase the amount she had.

Her misjudgment of Ellie's capabilities aside, she wasn't completely gullible as she had Yang Qing serve as a witness and officiator to the bet, which Yang Qing readily agreed to for a price of course. He would receive a bit of the winnings for his efforts which both parties readily agreed to.Haishi had severely underestimated the abilities of a cloud-swallowing kite, a spirit beast touted to have the closest speed to a golden roc. Yang Qing at the fifth stage of the core formation realm could never beat Ellie in speed when she was at the first stage. There was no way Haishi would be able to do that either, even with Ellie flying with one wing. Her loss was destined, and Yang Qing allowed it in part for her growth. The humbling experience brought by the loss would do her some good in the long run in the overestimation of her abilities and the underestimation of others. She would lose her meal and Ellie would mock her endlessly and repeatedly for it, but in the end, if the experience sticks by her, it could very well help her keep her life when the moment came.

Everything went as Yang Qing expected, with her loss as she lost pitifully at that. She cut a sorry look as she tried to have Yang Qing help her but Yang Qing turned a deaf ear to it as he paid careful attention to Ellie to make sure she wouldn't short him on the deal. Knowing her, there was a chance she would eat it at all even at the risk of a beating. Luckily this time, she was much more honorable, though she did try to short him a few pieces of meat, which Yang Qing decided to be magnanimous for once and let it slide. He was already in a chipper mood, with the headquarters already in sight.

...

"We are back..." he said when the black medallion tower came into full view. Every time he left, whether it was for evaluations or even personal errands, every time he came back, the tower that gave him nightmares every time he was here would suddenly transform into a supportive and comforting pillar, reminding him that he was safe.

Yang Qing let out a sigh of relief as he offered a bow of gratitude toward the Silver Eagle members on the flying ferry for transporting them back safely and for their dutiful services during the trip over. Silver Eagles were a detachment within the Gold Eagle guards that handled the security and maintenance of flying ferries. Though they were a lesser version of the Gold Eagles, they were skilled in what they did, and the trip over had been relaxing and enjoyable thanks to them.

After they alighted, the administrator who had handled his handover bid them goodbye and about a minute later, Yang Qing and the rest went their separate ways. Luo Meili went to her abode to continue delving into her dao, and Su Jinjing went to her abode to rest a bit before cultivating. Yang Qing could tell she was slightly uneasy about it. Everyone else seemed to be making rapid progress aiming for the palace realm, while she was still at the 11th stage of the core formation realm, and though she felt the barrier of the 12th stage was already loose enough for her to make a smooth breakthrough, it was the after that worried her. She still hadn't sensed the traces of her path.

"Jinjing, don't be down, there's no hurry with it, and with things like these, there is no use forcing it. Haste makes waste. Just do as you have been doing, it will come to you. The more natural it is, the easier it will be.." said Yang Qing to the downcast inquisitor.

"Thanks, Qing.." she said trying to put on a brave front as she smiled, however, as she walked away, she cut a desolate image.

Yang Qing couldn't help but sigh when he saw this but a moment later he cheered himself up as he said,

"Her time will come.."

Su Jinjing may not have had the monstrous talent as Yang Qing, Yi Jie, or Feng Xin, nor did she have a powerful natural physique like Luo Meili, or a tenacious and relentless spirit like Zheng Hu, but she did have her unique strengths with her powerful soul and insightful mind being some of them. Given enough time, she was sure to find her path to the palace realm, it was just a matter of time.

Yang Qing instructed Haishi and Bolin to head to the beast tamer hall who would help them refine the wine that was still in their system as for Ellie, he let her do as she pleased. She had the token to his abode and the abodes of the rest of his team, she would decide whether she wanted to go there or to the beast tamer hall.

As for him, he decided to head to his office to arrange his thoughts and plans for the next month while he was still free. He still intended to follow up on the investigation he had been conducting, following all the clues he had gathered so far, and the Judicial Review Committee and Special Inquisitor Xiang He had promised to provide him with the relevant information to help him in that regard.

He also had the Perpetual Cerulean Weaver's wisdom to a lifeline art to practice, and also try and see if the auspicious wood grove tree had the means to help Meifeng increase the operational distance of her clone, which was among a slew of other things that were on his to-do list.

He couldn't help but smile wryly at the mountain of things on his plate.

"I can't believe I thought when I reached the palace realm things would be easier. Did old man Lei curse me back for all the cursing I've done over the years.."thought Yang Qing as he held his chin in deep contemplation at the entrance hallway of the black medallion tower.

However, he was pulled from his thoughts by a voice that always made his body shake instinctively every time he heard it.

"Seems like you're back, Yang Qing."