"You are really so noisy." Dylan King lifted her skirt and hid beside Paul Evans and The Harris Heir, clearly displeased with Adam Harris's words. "Just look at yourself, really, which other Holy Son talks as much as you do?"

Adam Harris took a deep breath.

He had never seen a Saintess like Dylan King.

In their seven-person team, there were three women: one was Grace Turner, a famously cold beauty; another was a kind-hearted Buddhist girl who rarely spoke; only Dylan King was lively and mischievous, exactly like a girl her age should be. Usually, everyone was more tolerant of her, treating her like a younger sister.

Paul Evans hurried to smooth things over: "Actually, this isn't so bad. Before we left, my master said that if there are any truly repentant candidates, we might as well bring a couple more down. These years, the Judgment Platform opens, but you all never say a word. Every time, I just perfunctorily pick one, and some people have quite a few complaints about it."

Dylan King widened her eyes in surprise and asked, "How could anyone think we pick too few? Do they have a problem with it?"

Paul Evans gave a wry smile and said, "Exactly. Some people think that since we have this Judgment Platform, giving people a chance to turn over a new leaf, why keep up this pretense? If we really don't want to pick anyone, we might as well abolish the whole thing, instead of giving people hope for a new life only to dash it."

After hearing this, Dylan King immediately sneered, "Well, that's just it—when disaster hasn't fallen on their own heads, there's always someone with too much time on their hands, actually speaking up for those people."

"The rules of the Judgment Platform were set by the Fusang Tree itself; we can't change them, let alone abolish them." After comforting Dylan King, Paul Evans continued, "I only kept quiet earlier because I saw Adam brought one down. Otherwise, I would have brought another myself."

"In the past, I was always the one worrying about how to arrange them. Today, I'll let you all have a headache for a change."

Paul Evans's words were just meant to defuse the situation, but unexpectedly, someone actually picked up on it. Jason Morgan smiled apologetically at Paul Evans: "If that young man is of no great use to Kunlun, could you let me have him?"

"Who?" Paul Evans was taken aback.

"The young man you named just now, his name is..." Jason Morgan thought for a moment, then spoke hesitantly, "Sean Sullivan."

"Why? What do you want him for?" Paul Evans asked curiously, feeling that everyone was acting a bit strange today.

The brocade-clad maidservant behind Jason Morgan stepped forward at the right moment and explained, "To be honest, Young Master, my lady has reached a bottleneck in her cultivation and needs a talented young man burdened with blood debts as a guide. If she can help him let go of his hatred, her cultivation will be considered complete."

"I see." Paul Evans nodded. "Since the Buddhist girl has spoken, how could I refuse? You can take him back to the Northern Wastes."

Jason Morgan expressed her gratitude.

The group of seven walked on, four talking in front, three silent in the back, each lost in their own thoughts. The atmosphere was as cold as ice.

They passed a fork in the road, and up ahead, the voices of Dylan King, Adam Harris, and the others grew louder again. Grace Turner seemed to finally reach her limit. She furrowed her brows and said, "I have something to do, so I can't stay. I'll be leaving now."

"Leaving already?" Dylan King pointed at the competition stage shrouded by the mountains, her tone much friendlier than when she teased Adam Harris: "Aren't you going to see how strong the disciples of Xihe are these days?"

When she restrained her expression and tone, she truly looked like a naive and charming girl raised in a sheltered home. Grace Turner couldn't put on a cold face toward such a girl. After a brief pause, she said stiffly, "Last year, I didn't take a single mission."

This time, not only Dylan King, but also Paul Evans and the others perked up and looked over in surprise.

"Not even one?" Paul Evans asked in astonishment, as if he couldn't believe it.

Grace Turner nodded, her beautiful face cold: "I completed one before coming here."

The others immediately showed expressions of sympathy, some obvious, some subtle.

Paul Evans said, "If you've only completed one, then... there's no need to rush."

As inheritors of the Holy Lands, the Book of Destiny assigned them tasks every year. They would then randomly draw four tasks, and had to report back every year and a half.

Those who completed their tasks could choose any handy treasure from the five Holy Lands; those who failed would be named in public and fined a huge sum.

Now, with only three months left before the task deadline, Grace Turner had only taken one mission. If she drew a difficult one next, it would be almost impossible to finish.

They had been dealing with the Book of Destiny since childhood; every year was like this. Lazy the first year, then scrambling to finish everything in the last six months.

Grace Turner pressed her lips together and replied concisely, "I'll give it a try."

In her previous life, she was unlucky and drew a tough mission, which took her almost two months to complete.

Circumstances always change, but given another chance, Grace Turner would not neglect what needed to be done.

"Actually, I still have two unfinished myself." Paul Evans smiled a bit sheepishly. "Last year, Kunlun was recruiting new disciples, so I was too busy to take care of these."

"Alright, then let's part ways here."

Grace Turner nodded, not dragging things out at all. She turned and left so decisively that Paul Evans couldn't help but click his tongue. "I've never been able to figure out this princess of Yedu's temper."