Zhao Gongming pondered for a moment, a trace of killing intent flashing through his eyes.
"Reporting to the Dao Protector! There are three suspicious points in this matter! First, the Dragon Clan is one of the major races of the Primordial World. Though it has long lost its ancient glory, a starving camel is still bigger than a horse; its strength is far beyond that of ordinary demons. If the Heavenly Court truly wished to wipe them out, why not send Heavenly Soldiers and generals instead of specifically naming our Interception Sect?"
"Second, the East Sea is Interception Sect territory. If the Dragon Clan causes trouble here, our sect will lose face. This is clearly an open scheme, forcing us to act."
"Third, and most importantly, the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation is approaching. The Chan Sect and Western Sect would love nothing more than for Interception Sect disciples to become entangled in karma and die outside. This edict may appear to come from the Heavenly Court, but behind it, those Sages surely had a hand in fanning the flames!"
Zhao Gongming's analysis was thorough and well-organized.
The surrounding disciples nodded repeatedly. Their reverence for the Heavenly Court was swiftly replaced by anger toward the Chan Sect.
Chen Changsheng nodded in satisfaction and picked up his brush, writing several lines upon the jade wall.
[Potential Risk One: The target's strength is unknown; it is suspected to possess Daluo-level combat power] [Potential Risk Two: The mission is an open scheme intended to deplete our sect's fortune] [Potential Risk Three: Other Sage lineages are suspected of making arrangements behind the scenes; Quasi-Saint or even Sage-level threats may be involved]
After writing these three points, he looked toward a thin, shifty-eyed disciple in the hall.
"Wang Youcai."
"This disciple is here!"
Wang Youcai stepped forward excitedly. Having successfully survived within the Cycle Mirror, his standing among the outer sect had risen considerably.
Chen Changsheng saw that he had quite an aptitude for the Dao of Survival and wanted to hear his thoughts.
"In your view, if you received this mission, how would you respond?"
Wang Youcai shrank his neck and answered without hesitation.
"Reporting to the Dao Protector! This disciple... this disciple would run at once! I'd run as far as possible! The East Sea is so vast, and there are so many Dragon Kings—who knows which dragon it is? What if I found the wrong one and got eaten as a snack? The mission details are unclear, the risk is too high, and I wouldn't accept it even if beaten to death!"
Chen Changsheng gave him an approving glance and added another line to the jade wall.
[Potential Risk Four: Mission information is vague and the target is unclear, making misjudgment highly likely]
He set down his brush and swept his gaze across the hall.
"Does anyone have anything else to add?"
The disciples began discussing it animatedly, and before long, all kinds of bizarre risks were brought up.
"Dao Protector! The East Sea is damp. What if our magical treasures rust?"
"And what if dragon meat is sour or sweet? What if it's poisonous and gives us stomach trouble, affecting our combat strength?"
"What if that Demon Dragon is female and rather beautiful, and some disciples have unstable Dao hearts and get bewitched?"
Without changing expression, Chen Changsheng sifted through these seemingly absurd suggestions one by one, extracting the core risks and recording them.
Shortly afterward, the enormous jade wall was densely covered with dozens of potential risks.
Looking at the shocking assessment results, all the disciples drew in sharp breaths.
Who would have thought that behind a seemingly simple "slay the Demon Dragon" mission lay so many deadly traps?
By their former temperament, they would have been fired up long ago, swords in hand as they charged out.
Thinking about it now, that would not have been courage. It would have been stupidity.
Chen Changsheng looked over the assessment results, then solemnly turned to face the crowd.
"According to the Calamity Aversion Department's preliminary assessment, the 'East Sea Dragon Slaying' mission contains dozens of fatal risks. Any one of them could cause severe casualties among our sect's disciples."
He picked up a massive seal that had been prepared long ago, forged from Ten-Thousand Year Profound Iron, and raised it high.
Four blood-red characters had been carved upon the seal.
[Nine Deaths, One Life]
Under the gaze of tens of thousands, Chen Changsheng activated his magic power and heavily stamped the great seal onto the jade wall's assessment results!
A muffled boom rang out like a great bell, striking every heart.
Upon the jade wall, those four bloody characters emitted an ominous red glow that made people's eyes ache.
"I announce!"
Chen Changsheng's voice echoed throughout the entire hall.
"The risk level of this mission is assessed as—"
"The highest level!"
"According to the iron laws of the Interception Sect Calamity Aversion Department, no disciple is permitted to participate in such a mission!"
As his words fell, the hall first became utterly silent before erupting in thunderous cheers.
"Long live the Dao Protector!"
"Long live the Calamity Aversion Department!"
"We won't have to go die anymore!"
They were so excited that tears filled their eyes, as though they had been granted new life.
However, after his excitement passed, Daoist Duobao calmed down.
He walked to Chen Changsheng's side and asked in a low voice.
"Dao Protector, the assessment has been completed, but how should we answer the Heavenly Court?"
That was right.
They had merely discussed this among themselves behind closed doors, but the Heavenly Court's imperial edict was still there.
Everyone's eyes gathered on Chen Changsheng once more.
A profound smile appeared on Chen Changsheng's face.
"Answer them? Simple."
He walked outside the hall and raised his voice toward the golden imperial edict still gleaming in the sky.
"Reporting to the Jade Emperor, the 'East Sea Dragon Slaying' mission entrusted by your court has been accepted by the Interception Sect Calamity Aversion Department."
"Following assessment, this mission carries excessive risk and insufficient information. Our sect is temporarily unable to dispatch combat personnel."
"However, as a gesture of sincerity, our sect has decided to first send an Observer to the East Sea Coast for preliminary reconnaissance and intelligence gathering."
"Once the Risk Assessment Report has been improved, our sect will make a further decision."
After speaking, he gave the imperial edict a slight cupped-fist salute.
"This is the Interception Sect's Process for handling matters. We hope the Jade Emperor... understands."
The golden imperial edict paused slightly in midair, as if even it had been baffled by this unprecedented maneuver.
A moment later, golden light flashed, and the imperial edict transformed into a streak of light before vanishing beyond the horizon.
It left.
Just like that, it left!
On the Martial Arts Arena, tens of thousands of disciples looked at the vanished imperial edict, then at the calm and composed Chen Changsheng. Their mouths fell open as though they had been turned to stone.
That worked too?
The Heavenly Court's Imperial Edict had been sent back just like that by a "Process"?
After a long while, Zhao Gongming finally swallowed with difficulty and walked to Chen Changsheng's side, his voice dry.
"Dao Protector... th-this is over?"
"Not yet."
Chen Changsheng shook his head.
"Didn't we say we would send an Observer?"
Only then did everyone react.
Right, they still had to send someone.
But who would go?
The Observer position sounded safe, but it was still a trip into a dragon's lair and tiger's den. One wrong move, and death would still await.
Everyone's eyes began drifting through the crowd. No one wanted to be the first to step forward.
Chen Changsheng swept his gaze around the hall, taking in every expression.
His eyes passed over Daoist Duobao, over Zhao Gongming, and over those Inner Sect Disciples who were eager to try yet inwardly fearful.
In the end, his gaze settled upon a Daoist at the rear of the crowd, who was quietly shrinking back and trying to hide himself.
The Daoist wore a Bagua robe and sported a small goatee. His eyes darted around, making him appear shrewd and... wretched.
The corners of Chen Changsheng's lips rose slightly.
"This matter cannot be handled by anyone lacking great wisdom and eloquence."
His voice silenced everyone.
"We need a junior brother who will not fight, but only observe, and go have a chat with the East Sea Dragon Clan..."
He raised his hand and pointed into the distance.
"Junior Brother Shen Gongbao."
The Daoist whose name had been called stiffened violently, and the expression on his face instantly froze.
"This humble Daoist believes no one is more suitable than you."
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