Senior Brother Guangchengzi.
Chen Changsheng's slightly weak voice drifted softly before the mountain gate of Golden Ao Island.
"Senior Brother, do you happen to have an appointment?"
"An appointment?"
These two words struck Guangchengzi and the eleven Golden Immortals behind him like bolts of thunder from another world.
For a moment, the expressions on their faces went blank.
It was a pure bewilderment that came from the depths of their souls.
What was an appointment?
When had such a thing ever existed in the Primordial World?
When the strong came knocking, the weak either knelt to welcome them or died! When disciples of a Sage arrived, if the mountain gate remained shut, it was a death wish!
That was the rule! An unshakable truth that had stood beneath the Heavenly Dao for countless years!
Yet now, this pale-faced Interception Sect disciple, who looked as though he might breathe his last at any moment, was asking whether they had... an appointment?
"You... what did you say?"
Chi Jingzi, the most hot-tempered among them, was the first to recover. He almost thought he had misheard and instinctively asked again.
The apology on Chen Changsheng's face deepened.
With the tolerant gaze one might give to a country relative, he patiently began explaining.
"Senior Brother Chi Jingzi, an appointment is an important measure introduced by our sect's Calamity Aversion Department to optimize visitors' experiences and reasonably allocate reception resources."
As he spoke, he accepted another Jade Slip from a disciple beside him. It shimmered with flowing light and was, astonishingly, a high-grade Dharma artifact.
Chen Changsheng lightly released a thread of mana, and a Light Screen projected outward.
On the Light Screen was a packed schedule.
"Please take a look, Senior Brother."
Chen Changsheng pointed at the Light Screen, his tone as gentle as if he were introducing the scenery of his own cultivation ground.
"Our sect is currently quite busy, with fellow Daoists from all sides arriving every day without end. To prevent scheduling conflicts and ensure every honored guest receives the highest standard of reception, we have implemented this Visitor Appointment System."
"As long as you use a Communication Jade Talisman to confirm the time of your visit, number of visitors, and topic of discussion with our Department of External Relations Risk Assessment in advance, you can generate a unique Reception Serial Number."
"When the time comes, Senior Brothers need only enter using that number and enjoy the full range of VIP services provided by our sect, including but not limited to recuperative experiences in the Ten Ultimate Hot Spring Array, Enlightenment Tea personally brewed by Senior Sister Three Xiāo, and One-on-One Risk Avoidance Consultation personally hosted by our sect's Dao Protector."
With every sentence Chen Changsheng spoke, the faces of the Chan Sect immortals grew uglier.
Listening to unfamiliar terms like "optimize the experience," "allocate resources," "serial number," and "one-on-one consultation," they felt even their primordial spirits begin to ache faintly.
What the hell was all this?
Was the Interception Sect truly a Sage's cultivation ground, or some mortal merchant marketplace?!
A disciple of the Interception Sect quietly muttered to a fellow disciple behind them.
"The Dao Protector's methods are truly unfathomable! We never realized our sect's operations had become this busy!"
Another disciple wore a face full of admiration.
"What do you know? This is called 'preparing for a rainy day'! Didn't you see the expressions on those Chan Sect people? They were clearly shocked by our Interception Sect's advanced management methods!"
Though these discussions were quiet, they clearly reached the ears of the Twelve Golden Immortals, making them feel like monkeys being watched.
Guangchengzi stared fixedly at Chen Changsheng, trying to find even the slightest hint of mockery on that sincere face.
But he failed again.
Chen Changsheng's gaze was so open and honest, so... professional.
It was as though he was not humiliating a Grand Unity Golden Immortal, but conscientiously introducing product features to a client who did not understand the situation.
"Enough idle talk."
Chen Changsheng put away the Light Screen and smiled faintly at Guangchengzi.
"May I ask whether Senior Brother made the appointment in a personal capacity or in the name of Jade Void Palace? State your name or serial number, and I'll have the disciples look it up for you."
As he spoke, he beckoned behind him.
At once, two disciples carried over a massive abacus made from the shell of a ten-thousand-year-old mystic turtle.
Every bead on the abacus gleamed with rune-light, exuding an ancient yet profound aura.
"This is our sect's latest development, the Heavenly Secrets Appointment Verification System. It can connect with the Heavenly Dao and update in real time. It will never make a mistake."
Chen Changsheng introduced it with a proud expression.
Guangchengzi looked at the enormous turtle-shell abacus, then at Chen Changsheng's calm and composed face.
The fury in his chest had already reached an unprecedented peak.
He could not endure it any longer!
Not even for another moment!
"Enough!"
A heaven-shaking roar erupted from Guangchengzi's mouth.
Terrifying sound waves, mixed with the supreme pressure of a peak Grand Unity Golden Immortal, formed a tangible shockwave that swept toward Chen Changsheng!
He had finally torn away all pretense!
He would make these Interception Sect disciples, who knew neither heaven nor earth, understand that before absolute power, every trick was futile!
However, just as the sound waves were about to reach Chen Changsheng—
Daoist Duobao and Zhao Gongming stepped forward at the same time. Dazzling treasure-light bloomed around them, and a treasure mirror and twenty-four divine pearls instantly formed an impregnable barrier, blocking the sound waves completely.
Yet Chen Changsheng reacted even faster than they did.
The instant the sound waves erupted, his body swayed. His face turned pale as paper, and he seemed to have all strength drained from him as he limply fell backward, caught in a flurry by the disciples behind him.
"Puh—"
A mouthful of bright red blood sprayed from his lips, drawing a tragic arc through the air.
He clutched his chest, his breath weak, and looked at Guangchengzi with eyes full of disappointment and heartache.
"Senior Brother... how... how could you do this?"
His voice was so weak that it seemed it might break off at any moment.
"I was merely... following the Process... yet you... you would strike so heavily at a patient... suffering from a grave illness...?"
"Is this... the majesty of the Chan Sect?"
This string of questions struck Guangchengzi's heart like divine lightning from the nine heavens.
The towering rage that had just erupted within him was instantly doused by more than half.
He looked at Chen Changsheng's "miserable" state, then at the gazes of the surrounding Interception Sect disciples, which had shifted from shock to fury and then to disdain.
Guangchengzi's mind buzzed, turning completely blank.
I... when did I strike him?
I only shouted!
I did not even touch a single hair on his head!
How had he vomited blood?!
A scam!
This was blatant fraud!
Yet he had no way to explain himself!
Because to outsiders, it looked exactly as though Guangchengzi had brazenly attacked a "patient" with unstable breath using the might of a Grand Unity Golden Immortal and severely injured him!
If word got out, would the Chan Sect's foremost disciple have any face left?
"Guangchengzi!"
Daoist Duobao was also utterly enraged. Pointing at Guangchengzi's nose, he shouted sharply.
"You have gone too far! You injured our sect's Dao Protector. After today, the Interception Sect and the Chan Sect will fight to the death!"
Zhao Gongming directly raised the twenty-four Sea-Calming Divine Pearls above his head, his killing intent soaring to the heavens.
"Fight!"
On Golden Ao Island, tens of thousands of disciples roared in unison. Powerful auras shot skyward one after another, and the Island Protection Array instantly began operating at full force!
At this moment, the situation was completely reversed.
The Chan Sect's lofty righteousness of "carrying out punishment on behalf of Heaven" vanished completely after Chen Changsheng's mouthful of blood.
They had become vicious guests who bullied others through power and preyed upon the weak!
Guangchengzi's hands began trembling uncontrollably.
It was not from fear, but from an unprecedented sense of grievance and rage.
He felt as though he had fallen into an invisible net. No matter how he struggled, he would only sink deeper.
Just as swords were drawn and battle was about to erupt—
That "dying" Chen Changsheng was helped up again by the disciples, trembling as he rose to his feet.
He waved his hand, stopping the furious Daoist Duobao and Zhao Gongming.
"Forget it... forget it..."
He spoke weakly.
"Senior Brother Guangchengzi... must have acted without intending harm."
He looked at Guangchengzi's iron-blue face and forced out a "magnanimous" smile.
"Since Senior Brother has no appointment and is in such a hurry to 'provide guidance,' our sect cannot neglect proper courtesy."
Chen Changsheng paused, took a deep breath as though exhausting all his strength, and pointed toward the other side beside the mountain gate.
"The VIP Passage cannot be used today."
"However, Senior Brother may go over to the 'Ordinary Visitor Passage' and queue up to get a number."
The Chan Sect immortals subconsciously followed the direction of his finger.
In the corner of the plaza beside the mountain gate, a long passage separated by red ropes had somehow already been set up.
At the end of the passage stood a sign reading: [Queueing Waiting Area].
Within that passage, the Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals sent by the East Sea Dragon Clan were standing in a crooked line.
At the front, the Turtle Prime Minister held a numbered plaque high in his hand.
Written clearly upon it was—[Number 108].
Chen Changsheng looked at Guangchengzi's utterly bloodless face and revealed a warm smile that nevertheless made the other man feel as though he had fallen into an icy abyss.
"Senior Brother, this way, please."
Before you continue