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Originally, Guangchengzi had it all planned out beautifully.

The Jie Sect refusing the Heavenly Court's decree was an act of grave disrespect.

Their Chan Sect followed Heaven's will, executing Heaven's punishment—Legitimate and Justified!

Today, he would make Golden Ao Island run with rivers of blood, letting those wet-born, egg-hatched creatures know what Heaven's might and orthodoxy truly meant!

Yet.

He saw that banner—a thousand zhang long, dazzling and eye-catching, blazing red.

[Warmly Welcome the Direct Disciples of Uncle-Master Yuanshi from the Jade Void Palace on Kunlun Mountain to Golden Ao Island for Inspection and Guidance!]

Every character was driven by magical power, gleaming with golden light, as if afraid someone might miss it.

And so, the group was utterly dumbfounded.

What was going on?

They had come to demand answers!

To execute Heaven's punishment!

Inspection and guidance?

Had the Jie Sect gone mad?!

"Elder Brother, this..."

Even Chi Jingzi, the most hot-tempered of them, was momentarily stunned. His hand, gripping the Yin Yang Mirror, didn't know whether to raise it or not.

Guangchengzi said nothing.

His face shifted between green and white. The vast fury that had been building in his chest to its peak now felt like it had charged into a cotton field—nowhere to exert its force, suffocating him to the point of vomiting blood.

Just as the twelve of them hung in the air, caught between advancing and retreating, Golden Ao Island's mountain gate slowly swung open.

Ethereal celestial music, accompanied by rich fragrance, drifted out.

Daoist Duobao, the Senior Disciple Brother of the Jie Sect, walked out side by side with Zhao Gongming. Both wore spring-like expressions, their smiles warm and genial.

Behind them, a dense crowd of several hundred Jie Sect disciples followed, all clad in brand-new Welcoming Daoist Robes, holding fruit platters and celestial wine, their faces beaming with hospitable smiles.

In fact, the other deeply powerful direct disciples of the Jie Sect—Holy Mother Jin Ling, Holy Mother Gui Ling, San Xiao, and the rest—didn't even show themselves.

Was this confidence, or simply not deigning to acknowledge them?

"Ah! Honored guests at our door, we failed to welcome you from afar—forgive us, forgive us!"

Daoist Duobao cupped his hands and bowed from a distance, his voice booming, as warm as if he were meeting a long-lost brother.

Zhao Gongming also laughed heartily.

"Fellow elder brothers have traveled far—it's been a hard journey! Please, quickly enter the island for tea!"

This sight left the Twelve Golden Immortals completely stunned.

They had imagined countless possibilities.

The Jie Sect disciples putting up Stubborn Resistance.

Sect Leader Tongtian stepping in personally.

Even Golden Ao Island sealing its gates and refusing to fight.

But they had never imagined this.

The other side... seemed to be preparing for a grand banquet.

Guangchengzi took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the absurd feeling rising in his heart. He channeled his magical power, his voice rolling like thunder across the East Sea.

"Duobao! Zhao Gongming!"

"Your Jie Sect defies Heaven's laws and refuses the Jade Emperor's decree—do you know your crime?!"

His voice was harsh and severe, trying to drag this bizarre atmosphere back onto the track of a "trial."

Yet Daoist Duobao acted as if he hadn't heard the accusation in his words. His smile only grew brighter.

"Elder Brother Guangchengzi jokes."

"The Heavenly Court's 'Mission Request Form'—our sect's Calamity Aversion Department has already accepted it."

He pulled a Jade Slip from his sleeve and waved it at Guangchengzi from afar.

"Look, this is our just-completed <Preliminary Risk Assessment Report on the East Sea Conflict Incident>. We were about to send someone to the Heavenly Court and the Jade Void Palace to report to Uncle-Master and the Jade Emperor. Who knew you elder brothers would come yourselves? This is... exactly what we were hoping for!"

"Come, come, come, fellow elder brothers—the wind is strong out here. Let's talk inside, inside!"

Daoist Duobao stepped forward warmly, actually reaching out to take Guangchengzi's hand and lead him into the island.

Guangchengzi instinctively stepped back half a pace, avoiding his hand, feeling goosebumps rise all over his body.

What in the world was the Jie Sect up to!

Just then, he suddenly sensed something wrong.

The protective grand formation of Golden Ao Island had truly changed.

The Ten Ultimate Arrays, once brimming with deadly killing intent, now held not a trace of Sha Qi.

The Golden Light Array had transformed into ten thousand rays of multicolored light, a thousand auspicious beams, like a celebration.

What drifted from the Blood Dissolving Array was no longer soul-corroding black sand, but a sandalwood fragrance that soothed the heart and mind.

Even the Red Water Array, seen from afar, had genuinely become a steaming hot spring, its edges adorned with artificial rockeries and strange stones, wreathed in immortal mist.

A bone-deep chill suddenly rose from the depths of Guangchengzi's heart.

This frightened him more than if they had directly arrayed their forces and fought a real battle.

The Jie Sect was no longer the Jie Sect he knew.

"Elder Brother, say no more!"

Chi Jingzi could no longer hold back. He stepped forward and barked.

"We have come today to enact Heaven's punishment! Not to drink tea and Discuss Dao with you! Hand over the instigator at once and follow us back to Jade Void Palace to confess your crimes!"

The moment he finished speaking.

A smiling Outer Sect Disciple approached, carrying a jade tray.

"This elder brother, you've been talking all the way here—are you thirsty?"

"Come, try some of Golden Ao Island's specialty, Hundred Flower Immortal Brew. Moisten your throat."

Chi Jingzi: "..."

His raised hand froze once more.

Seeing that he wouldn't take it, the disciple warmly offered another item from the tray.

It was an exquisitely crafted Jade Slip.

"If you're not thirsty, elder brother, you can first take a look at this Golden Ao Island Visitor Guide and Jie Sect Affairs Processing Introduction. It details our sect's latest reform achievements, as well as... the reception procedures for external guests."

Chi Jingzi stared at the disciple's utterly sincere smile, feeling a lump stuck in his chest that could neither rise nor fall.

How could he fight?

Strike at a smiling man who offered you tea and water?

If word got out, would the Chan Sect Golden Immortals have any face left?

Guangchengzi finally understood.

The Jie Sect was using a method he had never seen, never even imagined, to dissolve their fury and dismantle their will to fight.

Striking at the heart!

This was an open scheme!

He stared fixedly at Daoist Duobao, speaking word by word.

"Duobao, put away these tricks of yours!"

"If you don't give us an explanation today, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

As he spoke, the Heaven-Turning Seal in his hand began to radiate a destructive light.

The smile on Daoist Duobao's face finally faded a fraction.

He sighed, his expression turning serious.

"Elder Brother Guangchengzi, it seems you still have some misunderstandings about our sect's reforms."

He turned sideways, revealing a massive stone stele that had been erected not long ago behind the mountain gate.

On the stele, four characters were carved in a bold, flowing script.

[Handle Affairs According to Regulations]

"Elder Brother, look."

Daoist Duobao pointed at the stele, speaking earnestly.

"Ever since our sect's Dao Protector established the rules, every matter on Golden Ao Island, from top to bottom, has procedures to follow and regulations to abide by."

"Your visit today, in name 'executing punishment,' is in fact an 'inspection,' and we welcome it. However, please also abide by Golden Ao Island's 'Visitor Management Regulations.'"

With that, he took a folder made of rosewood and a jade brush carved from ten-thousand-year-old ink jade from a disciple standing nearby.

Under the utterly incredulous gazes of the Chan Sect Twelve Golden Immortals.

Daoist Duobao opened the folder, revealing a brand-new sheet of paper inside, exuding the scent of ink.

At the very top of the paper was a line of large characters.

[Golden Ao Island Visitor Registration Form]

Daoist Duobao respectfully presented the registration form and jade brush before Guangchengzi.

His face bore an impeccable, businesslike smile, and in a gentle yet unquestionable tone, he slowly said.

"Elder Brother Guangchengzi, according to procedure."

"Please... sign in here first, and state the purpose of your visit."