Chen Changsheng raised a hand and pointed from afar.
"Junior Brother Shen Gongbao."
His voice was not loud, yet it was like an invisible sledgehammer, striking precisely at the back of the crowd.
The Daoist whose name had been called stiffened abruptly, and the expression on his face froze at once.
"I believe there is no one more suited to this than you."
The crowd parted like receding tides, retreating neatly to either side.
A lone figure was suddenly exposed beneath the focused gazes of tens of thousands.
The Daoist wore a Bagua robe and sported a small goatee. His eyes darted about restlessly, and he had originally intended to shrink farther back amid the chaos.
But now, it was as though he had been struck by an immobilization spell, unable to move at all.
It was none other than Shen Gongbao.
The color drained from his face at a visible rate, leaving him as pale as the jade walls within the Calamity Aversion Department's main hall.
It was over.
That was the only thought in Shen Gongbao's mind.
His legs went weak, and he nearly collapsed to the ground. Forcing himself to walk out of the crowd, he dropped to his knees before Chen Changsheng with a thud, tears and snot streaming down his face.
"Dao Protector, spare my life!"
"This disciple's cultivation is meager, his Dao practice shallow, and his courage is even smaller than the tip of a needle! I usually take detours when I see a mosquito. How could I possibly shoulder such an important duty?"
As he spoke, he wiped at tears that did not exist with his sleeve, his voice filled with utter misery.
"This... this Observer assignment is truly beyond me! Please choose someone wiser and more capable, Dao Protector! Please choose someone else!"
Seeing him weeping so pitifully, the surrounding disciples wore varied expressions.
Some showed disdain.
"Look at how spineless he is."
But more of them revealed a trace of sympathy in their eyes, along with relief.
"Ah, Senior Brother Shen is unlucky. How did he end up catching the Dao Protector's eye?"
"Shh! Keep your voice down! Going to the East Sea Coast is no different from going to one's death. Good thing it isn't me."
Though these discussions were quiet, every word reached Shen Gongbao's ears, making him cry even harder.
On the elevated platform, Zhao Gongming and Daoist Duobao were equally puzzled.
They truly could not see what was exceptional about this wretched and cowardly-looking Shen Gongbao that made the Dao Protector value him so highly.
Chen Changsheng ignored the crowd's murmurs.
He knew that in his early years, Shen Gongbao had sought to join the Chan Sect out of admiration, but Primordial Heavenly Venerate had rejected him due to his origins—or perhaps his unruly temperament—and judged him to be "crooked of heart and incapable of attaining true fruition."
After suffering that severe blow, he had eventually joined the Interception Sect, which accepted all without discrimination. Yet because of Yuanshi's evaluation, he had likewise been secretly looked down upon within the Interception Sect, remaining a marginalized Registered Disciple.
As a result, he harbored an exceptionally deep resentment toward the Chan Sect, especially Primordial Heavenly Venerate.
Chen Changsheng had chosen him precisely because of that, as well as his intense desire to prove himself.
The unspoken meaning behind Chen Changsheng's promise was: "The Chan Sect rejected you because they were blind. Here with me, you can achieve accomplishments beyond anything they could imagine."
He slowly descended from the platform and stopped before Shen Gongbao, but did not tell him to rise.
He merely looked at him calmly and spoke slowly.
"Junior Brother Shen, do you think I sent you to the East Sea to fight?"
Shen Gongbao froze. Even his crying weakened by half as he raised his head blankly.
"Is... is that not the case?"
"Of course not."
Chen Changsheng shook his head, a gentle smile appearing on his face.
"Our Interception Sect is now strong in troops and rich in talent. There are countless senior brothers capable of fighting. If we truly wanted to take action, it would not be your turn."
He paused, then changed the subject.
"The reason I chose you is because I saw a certain... unique talent within you."
Shen Gongbao became even more confused.
A unique talent?
What talent did I have?
How did I not know about it?
Chen Changsheng's voice was full of temptation.
"Junior Brother Shen, do you know that you possess an innate affinity? No matter who you meet, you can always strike up a conversation. Your eloquence is comparable even to an Innate Spiritual Treasure. You can turn conflict into peace and make even stubborn stones nod in agreement."
"This mission is called 'Observer,' but in truth, it is 'Diplomat.'"
"We do not need you to fight, nor do we need you to risk your life. What we need is someone eloquent, capable of gathering intelligence, and able to laugh and converse with the enemy commander amid an army of ten thousand."
"And throughout the entire Interception Sect, no one but you is suited for this!"
Shen Gongbao was left completely stunned by those words.
I... I was that impressive?
He subconsciously stroked his goatee, and a trace of bewilderment flickered in his eyes.
At the request of our many readers, we now offer ad-free VIP membership.
Click to view.
It seemed... it actually made a little sense.
He really was quite good at talking.
Seeing that the time was right, Chen Changsheng gave Daoist Duobao a meaningful glance.
Daoist Duobao understood immediately and stepped forward, declaring loudly.
"What the Dao Protector said is absolutely right!"
With a sweep of his sleeve, two treasure-radiant magical items floated before Shen Gongbao.
They were the same models as the two High-grade Houtian Spiritual Treasures that had just been awarded to Wang Youcai.
"This is the Invisibility Immortal Robe. Once worn, even a Grand Unity Golden Immortal will find it difficult to trace you!"
"This is the Ten Thousand Mile Earth Escape Talisman. Crush one, and you can instantly escape ten thousand miles. It is the ultimate treasure for fleeing with your life! There are ten of them here; take them as travel funds!"
Daoist Duobao was brimming with boldness as he directly tossed out a thick stack.
Shen Gongbao's eyes immediately went wide.
He stared fixedly at the cicada-wing-thin immortal robe, then looked at the thick stack of jade talismans flickering with earthy yellow radiance. His throat bobbed uncontrollably.
Was this... really an assignment?
This was clearly a sightseeing trip!
Wearing an invisibility robe and carrying teleportation talismans, all he had to do was chat and ask a few questions?
The risk... did not seem... all that high?
Chen Changsheng's voice rang out once more like a devil's whisper.
"Junior Brother Shen, on this trip, you may speak but not fight. You have only one task: return alive."
"So long as you bring back accurate intelligence regarding that East Sea Demon Dragon and complete this Risk Assessment Report."
He pointed toward the main hall of the Calamity Aversion Department.
"You will be the foremost contributor to our Calamity Aversion Department!"
"When the time comes, I will personally request credit for you from Master and promote you to Chief Elder of our External Intelligence Division, with status equal to the core inner sect!"
If the magical items earlier had merely tempted Shen Gongbao.
Then the words "Chief Elder" were like a bolt of heavenly lightning, striking fiercely into his heart.
He was an unremarkable outer sect disciple, despised by everyone. When had he ever imagined that one day he could become part of the Interception Sect's core upper ranks?
Risk?
To hell with risk!
Before such enormous temptation, that tiny and insignificant danger to his life had long been cast beyond the clouds.
Shen Gongbao's back straightened at once.
The sorrowful expression on his face vanished completely, replaced by unprecedented vigor and confidence.
He abruptly rose from the ground and gave Chen Changsheng a deep bow, his voice ringing with strength.
"Since the Dao Protector places such trust in me, this disciple Shen Gongbao will not refuse even death a thousand times over!"
"That mere East Sea Demon Dragon is nothing but a rabble of chickens and dogs! Once this disciple goes there, I will uncover every detail of his ancestry for eighteen generations, clear as day!"
The one-hundred-and-eighty-degree change in attitude left the surrounding disciples dumbfounded.
A moment ago, he had been crying and wailing. The next, he was brimming with heroic spirit.
This... this was far too fast, wasn't it?
When everyone looked at Chen Changsheng again, their eyes held nothing but deep awe.
With just a few words, he had made a man greedy for life and fearful of death voluntarily ask to be sent into danger.
The Dao Protector's methods were truly unfathomable!
Chen Changsheng nodded in satisfaction.
He took out a blank Jade Slip from his robe and handed it to Shen Gongbao.
"Very good. This is the protective treasure I grant you."
Shen Gongbao accepted it in flattered surprise and sent his divine sense inside, only to discover that it was completely empty. He could not help but freeze.
"Dao Protector, this..."
"I will inscribe within it a supreme true word. Remember: whether you encounter the Dragon King or Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals, your first sentence must be to recite this true word."
Chen Changsheng's expression turned solemn.
"This true word can ensure your life remains safe."
Upon hearing this, Shen Gongbao immediately became reverent. He clutched the Jade Slip tightly in his hand, as though he were clutching his own life.
"This disciple will obey your decree!"
He stored the immortal robe and magical items away, saluted Chen Changsheng and the senior brothers, then turned into a streak of light and flew toward the East Sea in high spirits.
Watching his disappearing figure, Zhao Gongming came over and asked in a low voice, his face full of curiosity.
"Dao Protector, what Life-Preserving True Word did you leave for him in that Jade Slip?"
Chen Changsheng smiled faintly, his expression unfathomable.
"A very simple sentence."
He paused, then spoke each word distinctly.
"Fellow Daoist, please stay. This is the Process of our Interception Sect. Please... fill out this Risk Assessment Survey Form first."
Before you continue