A dazzling golden light tore through the clouds and shot straight toward Golden Ao Island.
Within that golden light lurked a vast, majestic, irresistible will.
It was the will of the Heavenly Court.
The golden light stopped above the Martial Arts Arena, transforming into a golden decree that slowly unfurled.
A solemn, resounding voice echoed throughout Golden Ao Island.
"By decree of the Supreme Sovereign of the Golden Que, the Naturally Wonderful and Ever-Present Perfect Jade Emperor."
"Imperial Edict: The Interception Sect is hereby commanded to swiftly dispatch capable disciples to the East Sea Coast and assist the Heavenly Court in exterminating the Demon Dragon causing unrest. There shall be no mistakes!"
Once the decree had been read, the Martial Arts Arena fell silent.
Daoist Duobao furrowed his brow, then flew into a rage. "Haotian is merely a commander without an army. How dare he use the words 'Imperial Edict' upon disciples of a Sage? This decree may appear to be an order from the Heavenly Court, but behind it, those few Sages must have had a hand in fanning the flames..."
Every word of Emperor Haotian's decree was like a law of Heaven, carrying unquestionable majesty as it reverberated over Golden Ao Island.
When the final word, "mistakes," fell, the golden decree hung in the air, releasing the vast providence of the Heavenly Court and crushing the breath from the tens of thousands of disciples present.
"Hmph."
With a snort, Duobao dispersed the pressure completely.
The fervent atmosphere in the Martial Arts Arena, which had just been stirred by Wang Youcai's Dog Hole Survival Method, instantly froze.
Deathly silence.
Just like the moment before one's primordial spirit was completely ground away within the Cycle Mirror.
Everyone's gaze unconsciously shifted from the decree to the Dao Protector standing atop the platform, whose figure was far from imposing.
Fear seized their throats once again.
They had only just clawed their way out of a hundred deaths and come to understand the preciousness of the word "living."
Yet in the blink of an eye, another death warrant had arrived.
Exterminate the Demon Dragon?
How was that any different from taking a stroll through the Ten Ultimate Arrays?
"This is going too far!"
An angry roar burst forth like thunder from clear skies, shattering the deathly silence.
Daoist Duobao's beard and hair bristled as he took a step forward. The overwhelming aura of a Grand Unity Golden Immortal surged into the sky, striking directly at the golden decree above.
Fire blazed in his eyes as he stared fixedly at the decree, his voice icy.
"Haotian was merely a boy attendant under the Dao Ancestor. He only ascended to the imperial throne by luck, yet he dares use the words 'Imperial Edict' against the Interception Sect?"
"This decree, the Interception Sect will not accept!"
Daoist Duobao had voiced the thoughts of many Inner Sect Disciples.
The Interception Sect was a Sage's sacred ground, where Myriad Immortals Paying Homage had gathered. When had they ever suffered such humiliation?
Yet few answered his call.
More disciples, especially the Outer Sect Disciples who had just experienced countless deaths, showed no anger on their pale faces. Instead, they were utterly terrified.
"Senior Brother Duobao... you must not!"
"This is a decree of the Heavenly Court. Behind it... behind it stands the Dao Ancestor!"
"To defy the decree is to become enemies with the Heavenly Court. The karmic consequences are far too great!"
Their Dao hearts had been utterly crushed by the Cycle Mirror and remolded into the shape of "seeking fortune and avoiding disaster."
To them, any words or actions that might spark conflict were no different from voluntarily entering the Blood Dissolving Array.
Seeing the fearful expressions on the disciples below, Daoist Duobao felt his chest tighten, and an inexplicable fire burned even hotter within him.
Since when had disciples of the Interception Sect become so timid and hesitant?
Zhao Gongming also frowned deeply. He stepped forward, held back the impulsive Duobao, then cast an inquiring gaze toward Chen Changsheng.
The eyes of the entire Martial Arts Arena focused on one person again.
Chen Changsheng did not look at the enraged Duobao, nor did he pay attention to the panicked disciples below.
He merely raised his head and calmly watched the decree radiating supreme majesty, as though admiring a work of art.
Only after a long while did he slowly speak. His voice was not loud, yet everyone heard it clearly.
"Senior Brother Duobao, please calm down."
He paused, sweeping his gaze across the crowd before continuing.
"The Heavenly Court represents the hub through which the Heavenly Dao operates. Naturally, its decree must be accepted."
The instant those words fell, the faces of the tens of thousands of disciples below turned several shades whiter.
It was over.
Even the Dao Protector intended to yield.
It seemed they could not avoid this journey to the East Sea.
Quite a few weak Outer Sect Disciples had already begun to tremble, grim images of being torn into pieces by the Dragon Clan involuntarily surfacing in their minds.
Daoist Duobao was both anxious and furious.
"Dao Protector! You..."
"However."
Chen Changsheng raised a hand, cutting off Duobao's words.
A hint of amusement appeared on his face.
"The decree must be accepted, but we cannot send people just like that."
He slowly walked to the edge of the platform, looking down at the despairing faces below as he spoke aloud.
"Everyone, do you still remember the first directive established by the Calamity Aversion Department?"
The crowd was stunned.
One disciple answered instinctively.
"Golden Ao Island... shall be sealed for a thousand years. No disciple may leave the island without authorization..."
"Correct."
Chen Changsheng nodded.
"Then do you remember the second?"
He asked again.
This time, all the disciples fell silent.
Chen Changsheng smiled faintly and spoke for them.
"Before any disciple leaves the mountain to carry out a mission, they must report to the Calamity Aversion Department for a risk assessment. Any mission assessed as 'certain death' is strictly prohibited!"
His voice rang with conviction.
"This rule was personally established by Master's decree. Even an edict from the Heavenly Court falls under it!"
As his words fell, the entire hall first went quiet, then erupted into an uproar.
"That's right! There's still that rule!"
"Every mission has to be assessed first! The Heavenly Court is no exception!"
"The Dao Protector is wise! Why didn't I think of that?"
Hope instantly reignited in the despairing disciples' eyes.
Like drowning men clutching at straws, they stared fixedly at Chen Changsheng, waiting for his next move.
Chen Changsheng turned to the astonished Daoist Duobao and calmly said,
"Senior Brother Duobao, sorry for the trouble, but please 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 decree," but "Mission Request Form."
Daoist Duobao stood stunned for a long moment. Then an unprecedented gleam burst from his eyes. Looking at Chen Changsheng, he showed, for the first time, a smile from the depths of his heart, mixed with admiration and fervor.
"Yes, Dao Protector!"
Accepting the order, he swept his sleeve and used his magic power to roll up the golden decree, then strode toward the Calamity Aversion Department hall, which had only been completed the day before.
"All disciples, follow me!"
Chen Changsheng gave the command.
Tens of thousands of disciples surged after Daoist Duobao like a vast tide, heading toward that stone hall that seemed so solid and secure.
Inside the Calamity Aversion Department hall.
At its center stood an enormous jade wall a hundred feet tall, known as the Mission Assessment Wall.
Daoist Duobao placed the golden decree before the jade wall, and the words on it immediately projected clearly onto the wall.
[Mission Name: East Sea Dragon Slaying] [Issuer: Supreme Sovereign of the Golden Que, the Naturally Wonderful and Ever-Present Perfect Jade Emperor] [Mission Objective: Exterminate the Demon Dragon causing unrest in the East Sea] [Mission Location: East Sea Coast]
Chen Changsheng slowly walked before the jade wall and picked up a specially made cinnabar brush.
"Senior Brother Zhao."
He called without turning around.
"Here!"
Zhao Gongming immediately stepped forward.
"In your view, is there anything suspicious behind this mission?"
Before you continue