Heavenly Court Edict? Fill Out the Risk Assessment Form First!

A dazzling golden light tore through the clouds, heading straight for Golden Ao Island.

Within that golden light was wrapped a vast, majestic, and irresistible will—the will of the Heavenly Court.

The golden light halted above the Martial Arts Arena, transforming into a scroll of golden decree that slowly unfurled.

A voice, majestic and resounding, echoed across the entire Golden Ao Island: "By the Imperial Edict of the Most High, Supreme, Self-Existent, Wondrous, and True Jade Emperor of the Golden Palace."

"Edict: The disciples of the Jie Sect are to swiftly dispatch capable members to the shores of the East Sea to assist the Heavenly Court in exterminating the rampaging Demon Dragon. No delays shall be tolerated!"

As the decree finished reading, the Martial Arts Arena fell into utter silence.

Daoist Duobao frowned slightly, then erupted in fury: "Haotian is nothing but a commander with no army, yet he dares to use the term 'Imperial Edict' toward a Sage's disciples? This decree may appear to be the Heavenly Court's will, but behind it, I suspect no shortage of Sages are fanning the flames..."

Every word of Emperor Haotian's decree carried the weight of celestial law, an unquestionable majesty reverberating above Golden Ao Island.

When the final word, "tolerated," fell, the golden decree hung in the air, releasing the vast fortune of the Heavenly Court, pressing down on the tens of thousands of disciples present until they could barely breathe.

"Hmph."

With a light snort, Duobao dispersed all that Pressure.

On the Martial Arts Arena, the fervent atmosphere that had just been ignited by Wang Youcai's "Dog Hole Survival Method" instantly froze.

Dead silence.

Like the moment before a Primordial Spirit was utterly annihilated within the Cycle Mirror.

Everyone's gaze instinctively shifted from the decree to the figure on the high platform—the Dao Protector, whose stature was far from imposing.

Fear once again gripped their throats.

They had only just struggled free from a hundred cycles of death, only just grasped the preciousness of the word "alive."

And now, in the blink of an eye, another death warrant arrived.

Exterminating the Demon Dragon?

What difference was there between those four words and "take a stroll through the Ten Ultimate Arrays"?

"This is too much!"

A furious roar, like a thunderclap from clear skies, shattered the dead silence.

Daoist Duobao's beard and hair bristled as he took a step forward. The fierce aura of a Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal surged skyward, directly challenging the golden decree in the heavens.

Flames of rage burned in his eyes as he stared fixedly at the edict, his voice icy: "Haotian is merely an attendant of the Dao Ancestor, who ascended to the throne by luck. How dare he use the term 'Imperial Edict' toward my Jie Sect?"

"This decree—my Jie Sect refuses to accept it!"

Daoist Duobao's words voiced the sentiments of many Inner Sect Disciples.

The Jie Sect was a Sage's dojo, where myriad immortals paid homage. When had they ever endured such humiliation!

Yet, those who responded were few.

More disciples, especially the Outer Sect Disciples who had just experienced countless deaths, showed not anger but ashen faces.

"Senior Brother Duobao... you must not!"

"This is a Heavenly Court decree, and behind it... behind it stands the Dao Ancestor!"

"Defying the decree means opposing the Heavenly Court. The karma would be too great!"

Their Dao hearts had been utterly crushed by the Cycle Mirror and reshaped into a form that sought "avoiding misfortune and courting good fortune."

Any action that might provoke conflict seemed to them no different from willingly walking into the Blood Dissolving Array.

Seeing the fearful expressions of the disciples below, Daoist Duobao's chest tightened, and a nameless rage burned even fiercer.

When had the disciples of his Jie Sect ever been so timid and hesitant!

Zhao Gongming also frowned deeply. He stepped forward, pulling back the impulsive Duobao, then cast a questioning glance at Chen Changsheng.

The gaze of the entire Martial Arts Arena once again focused on a single person.

Chen Changsheng did not look at the furious Duobao, nor did he pay attention to the terrified disciples below.

He simply raised his head and calmly gazed at the decree radiating supreme majesty, as if admiring a work of art.

After a long pause, he finally spoke slowly, his voice soft yet clearly reaching every ear.

"Senior Brother Duobao, calm your anger."

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the crowd, then continued.

"The Heavenly Court represents the pivot of the Heavenly Dao's operation. Naturally, the decree must be accepted."

At these words, the faces of the tens of thousands of disciples below instantly turned three shades paler.

It's over.

Even the Dao Protector is going to compromise.

It seems this trip to the East Sea can't be avoided after all.

Many of the weaker Outer Sect Disciples had already begun trembling, their minds involuntarily conjuring the miserable scene of being torn apart by the Dragon Clan.

Daoist Duobao was even more anxious and furious.

"Dao Protector! You—"

"But."

Chen Changsheng raised a hand, cutting off Duobao's words.

A faint, amused smile appeared on his face.

"The decree must be accepted, but the people cannot be dispatched like this."

He walked slowly to the edge of the high platform, looked down at the sea of despairing faces below, and spoke in a clear voice.

"Everyone, do you still remember the first decree of our Calamity Aversion Department?"

The crowd was taken aback.

A disciple answered instinctively.

"Golden Ao Island... sealed for a thousand years, all disciples are forbidden from leaving the mountain without permission..."

"Correct."

Chen Changsheng nodded.

"Then the second decree—do you remember it?"

He asked again.

This time, all the disciples fell silent.

Chen Changsheng smiled faintly and spoke for them.

"Before any disciple descends the mountain to carry out a mission, they must report to the Calamity Aversion Department, which will conduct a risk assessment. Any mission rated as 'Certain Death' is strictly prohibited!"

His voice rang out with conviction.

"This decree was personally established by the Master's edict. Even a mandate from the Heavenly Court falls under this rule!"

As his words fell, the entire assembly first went silent, then erupted into a massive uproar.

"That's right! There's this rule too!"

"Every mission must be assessed first! Even the Heavenly Court's is no exception!"

"The Dao Protector is wise! Why didn't I think of that!"

The desperate disciples' eyes instantly reignited with a glimmer of hope.

They clung to it like a lifeline, staring fixedly at Chen Changsheng, waiting for his next move.

Chen Changsheng turned to the stunned Daoist Duobao and said calmly.

"Senior Brother Duobao, I'll trouble you to deliver this 'Mission Request Form' to the Calamity Aversion Department."

He pointed at the decree in the sky, choosing his words with great care.

Not "Heavenly Court Mandate," but "Mission Request Form."

Daoist Duobao was stunned for a long moment, then a gleam of unprecedented brilliance flashed in his eyes. He looked at Chen Changsheng, and for the first time, a genuine smile—mingled with admiration and fervor—appeared on his face.

"Yes! Dao Protector!"

Accepting the order, he waved his sleeve, wrapped the golden decree in his magical power, and strode briskly toward the Calamity Aversion Department hall, which had only been completed the day before.

"All disciples, follow me!"

Chen Changsheng gave the order.

Tens of thousands of disciples surged forward like a tidal wave, following Daoist Duobao as they flooded into the stone hall, which exuded a sense of solidity and security.

Inside the Calamity Aversion Department hall.

At the very center stood a massive jade tablet ten zhang high, named the "Mission Assessment Wall."

Daoist Duobao placed the golden decree before the jade tablet, and the text on the decree was immediately projected clearly onto the wall.

[Mission Name: East Sea Dragon Slaying] [Issuer: Haotian Golden Que Supreme Unsurpassed Natural Wondrous Miro Profound Ultimate Jade Emperor] [Mission Objective: Eliminate the Demon Dragon causing chaos in the East Sea] [Mission Location: East Sea Coast]

Chen Changsheng walked slowly to the jade tablet, picked up a special cinnabar brush.

"Senior Brother Zhao."

He called out without turning his head.

"Here!"

Zhao Gongming immediately stepped forward.

"In your opinion, is there anything suspicious behind this mission?"