On the East Sea Coast, azure waves stretched as far as the eye could see.
A streak of light cut across the sky, but as it neared the sea, it became hesitant, stopping and starting.
Riding a cloud, Shen Gongbao felt a chill run through his entire body.
He wore the "Invisibility Immortal Robe" personally bestowed by the Dao Protector. In theory, as long as he did not reveal himself, even a Grand Unity Golden Immortal would find it difficult to notice him.
But he was still afraid.
The robe was as thin as cicada wings. Wearing it felt like wearing nothing at all, offering him not the slightest sense of security.
His right hand tightly gripped the thick stack of "Ten Thousand Mile Earth Escape Talismans" hidden in his sleeve. These ten golden Jade Talismans were the only reason he dared leave Golden Ao Island.
Whenever he thought of Dao Protector Chen Changsheng's calm, unruffled face, Shen Gongbao could not help shivering.
Chief Elder.
A status equal to the core of the inner sect.
Those eight words echoed in his mind like a curse, overwhelming even his fear of the dragon's den and tiger's lair ahead.
Fortune was sought amid danger.
The greater the waves, the bigger the fish.
He would do it!
Gritting his teeth and stamping his foot, Shen Gongbao concealed every trace of his aura. Like an invisible speck of dust, he silently plunged toward the deep sea.
The East Sea Crystal Palace.
The atmosphere was heavy as iron.
The patrolling Yakshas, shrimp soldiers wielding halberds, and Crab Generals brandishing giant pincers numbered more than ten times their usual force, sealing off the entire Crystal Palace so tightly that not even water could pass through.
Inside the great hall, killing intent soared to the heavens.
Ao Bing, third son of East Sea Dragon King Ao Guang, sat in the seat of honor, his face dark as water.
Clad in silver armor, one hand resting on his Dragon Spear, he released the formidable aura of a Grand Unity Golden Immortal without restraint, making even the seawater throughout the hall seem ready to freeze solid.
Below him, the dragon princes and descendants, along with the Aquatic Clan's generals, all stood in gleaming armor, their expressions grim and murderous.
"Report!"
A shrimp soldier tumbled and crawled into the hall.
"Reporting to the Third Prince! Outside... outside is a Daoist claiming to be an Interception Sect disciple. He says he has come under the Dao Protector's name to request an audience!"
"The Interception Sect?"
Ao Bing abruptly rose to his feet, a cold gleam flashing through his draconic eyes.
"Hmph, the Heavenly Court's lackeys. They came quickly enough!"
His voice was icy, filled with bone-deep killing intent.
"Let him in. I want to see what sort of figure the Interception Sect has sent to die in my East Sea!"
Before long, Shen Gongbao was "escorted" into the hall by two towering Crab Generals.
The moment he crossed the threshold, he felt a mountain-like pressure descend upon him, making his bones creak as he nearly fell to his knees on the spot.
Looking around, he saw rows upon rows of armored soldiers, with blades and spears standing like a forest.
More than a hundred hostile gazes fell upon him all at once, like tangible blades.
Every single gaze was filled with undisguised murderous intent.
Shen Gongbao's legs had already begun trembling beyond his control.
He forcibly squeezed out a smile uglier than crying and cupped his hands toward Ao Bing on the throne.
"This humble Daoist, Shen Gongbao, greets—"
"Shut up!"
Ao Bing's furious roar exploded like thunder, cutting him off.
"An Interception Sect disciple, what arrogance!"
He walked down from the platform one step at a time. With every step, the floor of the hall trembled slightly, and Shen Gongbao's heart sank a little further.
"The Heavenly Court has issued an edict ordering your Interception Sect to suppress my East Sea Dragon Clan. What, they sent a thing like you?"
Ao Bing stopped before Shen Gongbao. His tall frame cast a shadow that completely enveloped him.
Lowering his head, he spoke almost directly into Shen Gongbao's ear, each word deliberate.
"Speak. Why have you come? To deliver a declaration of war, or... to scout out a burial ground for your Interception Sect's myriad immortals?"
Cold killing intent, mixed with the fishy saltiness of seawater, rushed straight to Shen Gongbao's scalp.
He could clearly feel that if he said even one wrong word, he would be torn to pieces the next instant.
The Earth-Escaping Talismans in his sleeve had already been soaked through with cold sweat.
Run now!
The thought spread like wild grass, instantly occupying his entire mind.
But just as he was about to crush a Jade Talisman, the Dao Protector's calm face and his promise of "Chief Elder" appeared before him once more.
And there was also the "Life-Preserving True Word" in that Jade Slip.
Shen Gongbao steeled his heart, shut his eyes, and nearly exhausted all his strength as he threw back his head and howled.
"Fellow Daoist, please stay your step!"
The cry was sharp and mournful, filled with the resolve of a man smashing his boats behind him.
The entire hall fell silent.
All the Aquatic Clan generals, including Ao Bing, who had been about to strike, froze.
They had seen people beg for mercy. They had seen people refuse to yield. But they had never seen anyone open with a shout like that.
What kind of move was this?
In that brief, deathly silence, Shen Gongbao moved with lightning speed, pulling the blank Jade Slip from his robes along with a Wolf-Hair Brush he had somehow produced. His hands shook as he raised them high.
Facing the stunned Ao Bing, he recited in a near-sobbing tone the supreme words that would be recorded in the history of the Primordial World.
"This... this is the Interception Sect's work process. Please... fill out this Risk Assessment Survey Form first!"
Time seemed to stop.
Space seemed to solidify as well.
Inside the hall, a falling needle could have been heard.
The ferocious grin on Ao Bing's face froze at the corner of his mouth.
Behind him, the murderous dragon princes and descendants all widened their eyes as though they had seen a jellyfish climb a tree.
One Crab General failed to hold his Giant Pincer Broadsword properly. It crashed to the floor with a clang, producing a piercing noise.
But no one paid it any attention.
Everyone stared fixedly at Shen Gongbao—or rather, at the utterly ordinary Jade Slip in his hands.
Risk... assessment... survey form?
What was that supposed to be?
Ao Bing stood stunned for a full ten breaths before slowly blinking, as if confirming whether he had misheard.
Looking at the Leopard Spirit before him, sobbing and trembling like a fallen leaf in the wind, his mind went completely blank.
This was not how the script was supposed to go.
Following the normal process, he should have already crushed this Jie Sect Messenger's head, then hung his primordial spirit outside the Crystal Palace gates to show his contempt for the Heavenly Court and the Interception Sect.
But now...
He was being asked to fill out a... form?
"What... did you say?"
Ao Bing's voice was dry and hoarse, filled with disbelief.
When Shen Gongbao realized that he was somehow still alive after shouting, a wild joy at having survived the calamity surged through his heart.
The Dao Protector had not deceived him!
This true word really could preserve his life!
His courage instantly grew by thirty percent, and he quietly straightened his back a little.
"Ahem."
He cleared his throat, doing his best to make his voice sound more professional.
"Third Prince, please do not misunderstand. This humble Daoist has not come to provoke you. I am here under the orders of the Interception Sect's Dao Protector to conduct pre-battle... ah, pre-conflict intelligence confirmation."
"Our sect's Calamity Aversion Department believes that any violent act that has not undergone sufficient assessment is an extreme disrespect to life. It is also unprofessional and irrational."
"To avoid unnecessary casualties and property losses, and to make this conflict... more standardized and process-oriented, we require your cooperation in completing this survey."
The more smoothly Shen Gongbao spoke, the more he began to feel that the Dao Protector's theory was simply the Supreme Great Dao.
Ao Bing's mind had completely crashed.
Hearing unfamiliar terms such as "intelligence confirmation," "violent act," "standardization," and "process-oriented," he only felt that his dragon brain was no longer enough.
A Turtle Prime Minister behind him could not help muttering quietly.
"Your Highness, did the Interception Sect... send an idiot?"
Ao Bing ignored him.
He stared intently at Shen Gongbao, trying to find even the slightest trace of mockery on his face.
Yet Shen Gongbao's expression was so sincere, so... utterly matter-of-fact.
As though filling out a form before fighting was the most natural thing in heaven and earth.
An unprecedented sense of absurdity swept through Ao Bing's body.
The towering fury in his heart was like a blaze doused by a basin of ice water—no, by an entire East Sea of ice water.
He even... felt a trace of curiosity.
He wanted to see what kind of nonsense was written in this so-called survey form.
Ao Bing slowly stretched out his hand and snatched the Jade Slip from Shen Gongbao.
With a slight release of his magical power, a Light Screen projected from the Jade Slip, and lines of clear text appeared in midair.
[Interception Sect Calamity Aversion Department · Special Task (East Sea Conflict) · Risk Assessment Survey Form (Dragon Clan Version)] [First: Basic Information Confirmation (Please mark √ after the appropriate option)] [1. What is the nature of your side's operation this time?] [A. Uprising B. Rebellion C. Military Exercise D. Team-Building Activity E. Other ____]
Before you continue