Jie Sect's Operational Procedures, Dragon Clan's Collective Rectification

For a brief moment, Shen Gongbao's mind went blank.

He stared at the Third Prince of the East Sea, whose eyes were bloodshot, a trace of blood still hanging at the corner of his mouth, yet who looked at him with the eager, pleading gaze of a schoolboy seeking guidance. An overwhelming sense of absurdity nearly made him think he was still trapped in a nightmare within the Myriad Tribulations Samsara Mirror.

A template?

The Dao Protector hadn't given him one!

The Dao Protector had only taught him how to hand over the form, not how to tutor the other party in filling it out!

"This..."

Cold sweat instantly beaded on Shen Gongbao's forehead again.

He felt like a mortal wielding a sword from a bygone dynasty—he'd barely managed to bluff his enemy, only for that enemy to insist on discussing the sword's forging technique.

Who the hell would know that!

Yet, an arrow once shot cannot turn back.

Right now, he represented the face of the Jie Sect's Calamity Aversion Department, the unfathomable scheme of the Dao Protector.

He couldn't flinch.

Shen Gongbao took a deep breath, forcibly swallowed the words "I don't know either" that were on the tip of his tongue, and put on an expression of profound mystery. He stroked his goatee, soaked by seawater, and spoke in a tone of gratified approval, as if to say, "You've finally hit the nail on the head."

"Third Prince, the fact that you've asked this question shows you've grasped the essence of our entire process."

Ao Bing's eyes indeed brightened a fraction.

"The essence lies in two words: 'quantification.'"

Shen Gongbao launched into what he did best—speaking utter nonsense with the utmost seriousness.

"What we call dignity is invisible and intangible, which is highly inconvenient for our cost accounting and risk management."

"So we need to turn it into concrete indicators that can be measured and evaluated."

Seeing Ao Bing's bewildered expression, he quickly gave an example.

"For instance, your side could set a standard like: 'All Jie Sect disciples must retreat three li upon seeing any member of the East Sea Clan.' Or another indicator: 'For all Heavenly Court appointments involving the Aquatic Clan within the next century, at least one candidate must be from the Dragon Clan.'"

"List these indicators, and we'll take them back to tally up. We'll see what price it takes to achieve them, then compare it to the price we're willing to pay. If the gap isn't too wide... then isn't there room for negotiation?"

Shen Gongbao's words completely opened a new world for everyone in the Crystal Palace.

The Turtle Prime Minister, who had been silent all along, suddenly flashed a brilliant light from his murky old eyes.

He slapped his thigh hard.

"Brilliant!"

"Your Highness, this is a peerless open scheme! He's... he's teaching us how to set our terms!"

His old face flushed with excitement as he urged Ao Bing urgently.

"Your Highness, stop fighting! We'll fill it out! We'll fill it out right now! We'll write down every grievance our Dragon Clan has suffered over these million years!"

Ao Bing's body jolted violently.

He looked at Shen Gongbao, then at the jade slip in his hand.

So... that was the meaning?

So this Investigation Form wasn't an insult, but a... list of demands?

The Jie Sect actually wanted to resolve disputes this way?

A surge of complex emotions—a mix of gratitude, absurdity, and a hint of admiration—welled up in Ao Bing's heart.

He had misunderstood the Jie Sect.

He had misunderstood the Dao Protector, whom he had never met.

A master!

This was the true bearing of a master!

Subdue the enemy without fighting, kill without a blade, break the heart through process!

"Good!"

Ao Bing nodded heavily, the violent aura on his face swept away, replaced by an unprecedented solemnity.

He turned to the petrified Aquatic Clan generals behind him and issued the most unbelievable command of his dragon life.

"Pass my order!"

"All generals and commanders, convene on the spot! Hold the East Sea Dragon Clan's... um, Special Form-Filling Meeting!"

"Today, we discuss no war matters, only... form-filling!"

And so, within the East Sea's Crystal Palace, the most bizarre scene since the Creation of Heaven and Earth unfolded.

The once murderous hall transformed into a massive conference room.

Ao Bing personally presided, with the Turtle Prime Minister serving as chief recorder, while Shen Gongbao was honored as a guest of honor, seated beside Ao Bing as the "Special Invited Process Consultant."

"First item: military assessment."

Ao Bing looked at the jade slip, his brow tightly furrowed.

"Our East Sea's armored warriors are said to number a million. But those fit for battle are only three hundred thousand. Primordial Unity Golden Immortals... counting this prince and a few uncles, we have five total. Golden Immortals... thirty-seven. This number... should we inflate it a bit?"

He cast a questioning glance at Shen Gongbao.

Shen Gongbao's heart skipped a beat, thinking to himself, How would I know?

But outwardly, he remained composed, clearing his throat lightly.

"Third Prince, I personally suggest sticking to the facts."

"Our Risk Assessment Model is extremely precise. Any false data could lead to miscalculations and erroneous conclusions. If... the system misjudges your strength as Quasi-Saint level and automatically triggers the 'Sage Personal Arrival' contingency, the consequences..."

He didn't finish, but the implication was clear.

Ao Bing and the assembled generals all shuddered in unison.

"Prime Minister, write it down! Use the real numbers!"

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"Yes!"

"Second item: Innate Spiritual Treasures."

A burly Octopus General spoke in a muffled voice.

"Your Highness, in our clan's treasury, there is a low-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure left by the former king, the 'Water Splitting Thorn.' But..."

"But what?"

"But that treasure hasn't been maintained for a million years and has lost much of its spirit. When we took it out a few days ago, it wasn't even as good as a Houtian Spiritual Treasure..."

Ao Bing's face darkened.

The Turtle Prime Minister quickly picked up his brush and added a small line of notes.

(Note: Dilapidated from age, unstable performance, recommended for discounted valuation.)

Shen Gongbao watched from the side, his eyes twitching.

He felt less like he was spying on military intelligence and more like he was helping a company on the verge of bankruptcy conduct an asset inventory.

The hardest part was the KPI Assessment item.

For the specific quantitative standards of "Defend East Sea Dignity," the entire Dragon Clan high-level erupted into fierce debate.

"I think we should demand a public apology from the Jie Sect!"

"What use is an apology? We need tangible benefits! I demand that the fishing rights within thirty thousand li of Golden Ao Island belong to us!"

"Too small-minded! We should demand patrol rights over the entire East Sea! Even the Heavenly Court can't interfere!"

Just as the form-filling meeting was about to devolve into infighting.

The Turtle Prime Minister finally put his foot down.

"Everyone, stop arguing!"

"Just write this: After this battle, ensure the Dragon Clan ranks among the top ten of the Hundred Clans of the Primordial World and maintains that position for at least one Yuanhui. That is dignity!"

The entire hall fell into dead silence.

All the Dragon Clan members stared at the Turtle Prime Minister as if he were a god.

Ao Bing even grabbed the Turtle Prime Minister's claw with excitement.

"Prime Minister, you are truly a great talent of our clan!"

A full three Shichen.

When the last question was filled in, Ao Bing handed the jade slip—bearing the heart and wisdom of the entire Dragon Clan—back to Shen Gongbao with both hands.

His hands were trembling.

His eyes were clearer than ever before.

He felt as though he had undergone a profound baptism.

Fighting and killing—too low-class.

Using processes, rules, and data to solve problems—that was the true path!

Shen Gongbao solemnly took the jade slip, carefully placed it into a special jade box, and sealed it with a strip.

He bowed deeply to Ao Bing.

"Third Prince, fellow Daoists, you have worked hard."

"This humble Daoist will now rush back to Golden Ao Island to submit this report for review by the Calamity Aversion Department."

"According to procedure, the review cycle is roughly seven to fifteen working days. During this time, we ask that you remain restrained and await good news."

He finished speaking and turned to leave.

"Daoist, please wait a moment!"

Ao Bing suddenly spoke.

Shen Gongbao's body stiffened, and he nearly pulled out his Earth-Escaping Talisman again.

But he saw Ao Bing step forward quickly, take a Dragon Scale from his bosom, and hand it over.

"This is this prince's token of faith. If you ever come to the East Sea in the future, with this token, you may enter the Crystal Palace directly. My Dragon Clan will treat you as an honored guest."

He looked at Shen Gongbao, his gaze sincere.

"Today, you have opened a new door for my clan. Ao Bing has learned much."

Shen Gongbao took the Dragon Scale in a daze, his mind still buzzing.

He muddle-headedly took his leave, muddle-headedly left the Crystal Palace, and only when he burst out of the sea surface, struck by the warm sunlight, did he suddenly snap awake.

He looked down at the token in his hand, then felt the heavy "Investigation Report" in his arms.

An unprecedented surge of pride shot straight to the heavens.

I, Shen Gongbao, without shedding a drop of blood, turned swords into plowshares, and with nothing but my silver tongue, made the East Sea Dragon Clan bow their heads in submission!

This sky-high merit—the position of Chief Elder is as good as mine!

At the same time, on Golden Ao Island, at the Calamity Aversion Department.

Chen Changsheng was resting with his eyes closed.

Before him, on the "Mission Assessment Wall," the four characters "East Sea Dragon Slaying" still radiated an ominous red light.

Suddenly.

In his mind, the system's cold chime sounded.

[Ding!]

[Detected that the host has successfully introduced the concepts of "Procedure" and "Risk Assessment" into a cross-racial conflict in the Primordial Era for the first time, pioneering a new model of "nonviolent non-cooperation" for dispute resolution, exerting a profound and immeasurable influence on the future course of civilization in the Primordial Era.]

[This is an act of defying fate and changing destiny. Heavenly Dao Merit descends!]

[Reward: Ten thousand years of cultivation!]

[Reward: Acquired Merit Supreme Treasure, General Principles of Primordial Era Procedures first draft!]

Chen Changsheng slowly opened his eyes.

A smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

It worked.