Time seemed frozen into the coldest black ice in the depths of the East Sea.
Space, too, seemed solidified into that wooden sign reading [Queue Waiting Area], awkward and glaring.
Guangchengzi and the eleven Golden Immortals behind him hung in midair like twelve statues struck by an immobilization spell.
Their gazes passed over the "dying" Chen Changsheng, passed over Daoist Duobao barely restraining his fury, and landed squarely on the corner.
On that crooked line formed by red ropes.
Within the line, the Shrimp Soldiers nervously drew in their feelers, while the Crab Generals uneasily rubbed their enormous pincers together.
At the very front stood the Turtle Prime Minister of the East Sea. This ancient minister, who had lived for who knew how many tens of thousands of years, was trembling as he held up a jade plaque.
Three bold characters flashed faintly with spiritual light upon it.
[No. 108].
Seemingly sensing Guangchengzi's gaze, cold enough to freeze a primordial spirit, the Turtle Prime Minister slowly—extremely slowly—turned his head.
When he saw the grim faces of the Chan Sect Twelve Golden Immortals, a flicker of terror first crossed his cloudy old eyes, followed by profound sympathy for fellow sufferers.
He even nodded politely at Guangchengzi in greeting.
That nod was like an invisible sledgehammer, shattering the last shred of hope in Guangchengzi's heart.
Chi Jingzi's mouth fell slightly open, but no sound came out.
Even a crack appeared on True Master Yuding's normally impassive face.
What had they come here for?
To carry out Heaven's punishment!
To demand an accounting!
Yet the scene before them was like an absurd nightmare taken to the extreme.
They, the lofty Chan Sect Twelve Golden Immortals and direct disciples of Saint Primordial, were supposed to queue with a bunch of Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals?
And stand behind No. 108 as No. 109?
"Cough... cough cough..."
Just then, Chen Changsheng began coughing violently again, as if he were about to cough out his lungs.
Supported by a disciple, he trembled as he took a step forward and spoke to Guangchengzi in a compassionate tone.
"Senior Brother Guangchengzi, I know this is somewhat... difficult for you to accept."
"But rules are rules."
He pointed to the long line, his voice quiet yet clear enough for everyone to hear.
"In our Interception Sect, all living beings are equal. Whether one is an envoy of the Dragon Clan or an honored guest of the Chan Sect, once they arrive, they are all guests. First come, first served; matters are handled in order. That is true order, and it is also the 'Procedural Justice' advocated by our Dao Protector."
"Your Chan Sect values rules and order above all else. I trust you understand our sect's good intentions even better than we do?"
Those words were like soft knives dipped in poison, piercing precisely into Guangchengzi's heart.
That was right.
The Chan Sect valued rules above all else.
But their rules were about hierarchy and the supremacy of the strong!
The Interception Sect's rules, meanwhile, were... queue up, take a number, first come, first served?
The difference between those two sets of rules was as vast as Heaven and earth!
Yet Chen Changsheng had wrapped that crooked nonsense in the guise of "order" and "fairness," leaving them unable to refute it at all!
If they refuted him, they would be admitting that the Chan Sect did not value fairness and only respected power.
If they did not refute him, they would have to hold their noses and stand alongside Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals!
"Fine... what a fine 'all living beings are equal'!"
Guangchengzi laughed in extreme anger, and the space around him twisted slightly under the violent turbulence of his emotions.
"What fine Procedural Justice!"
He stared fixedly at Chen Changsheng, his gaze seeming ready to swallow him whole.
At last, he understood.
Today's battle had long ceased to be a contest of cultivation.
The Interception Sect intended to overturn, from its very foundations, the legacy the Chan Sect took such pride in!
They meant to kill the man and break his heart besides!
"Senior Brother, since you are here, just do as the Dao Protector says."
An Interception Sect disciple muttered softly in the back. His voice was not loud, yet it was just enough for everyone to hear.
"Look at the Dragon Clan. Aren't they queuing properly too? Could it be that our Chan Sect senior brothers do not even have this much composure?"
That heart-piercing remark became the final straw that broke the camel's back.
Guangchengzi abruptly closed his eyes. When he opened them again, all rage and killing intent had vanished.
In their place was a deathly calm.
He slowly descended and landed before the gates of Golden Ao Island.
He did not look at Chen Changsheng again, nor did he acknowledge the registration form he had thrown onto the ground.
He merely turned to the eleven junior brothers who had descended behind him and spoke in a tone devoid of emotion.
"Queue."
That single word weighed as heavily as ten thousand mountains.
Chi Jingzi and the others shuddered, their faces full of disbelief.
"Senior Brother!"
"You cannot!"
"If word of this gets out, where will the Chan Sect's dignity be?!"
"Silence!"
Guangchengzi's low shout cut off all their objections.
His gaze swept over them, his voice icy.
"Today, I want to see just how unyielding the Interception Sect's rules truly are!"
He said no more. Striding forward, he headed directly toward the line cordoned off by red ropes.
He would play along.
He would personally experience this absurd process, find its flaws from within, and then tear it apart completely in the most righteous and aboveboard manner possible!
Seeing Guangchengzi approach, the Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals in line were scared out of their wits. A commotion broke out as they instinctively retreated to either side, opening up a path.
Expressionless, Guangchengzi was about to walk straight to the front of the line.
However, at that moment.
A figure stepped in front of him.
It was an Interception Sect Outer Sect Disciple who looked somewhat frail, with cultivation only in the True Immortal Realm.
He was Wang Youcai, the very man who had become the first to survive in the Myriad Tribulations Samsara Mirror by relying on a "dog hole."
At that moment, he had been entrusted with the important duty of "queue order attendant."
He held a thick volume made of golden-threaded jade pages, wearing a professional yet somewhat nervous smile.
He gave Guangchengzi a deep bow.
"This... this senior uncle, please wait."
Wang Youcai's voice trembled with nerves, but he still gathered his courage, opened the book in his hands, pointed to a clause within, and read it word by word.
"According to Chapter Three, Article Nineteen of the <Golden Ao Island Visitor Queue Management Regulations>: all visitors, regardless of status or position, must join the queue from the back. Cutting in line, making disturbances, and... using cultivation pressure to intimidate other people in line are strictly prohibited."
He swallowed and continued reading.
"For first-time offenders, they will be asked to return to the back of the line. For repeat offenders... their eligibility to conduct business that day will be revoked."
At that moment, the entire world seemed to fall silent.
Everyone's gaze focused on that insignificant Outer Sect Disciple.
A True Immortal had stopped a Grand Unity Golden Immortal.
He had no magical treasure and no Divine Ability.
His only weapon was... a book of regulations.
Guangchengzi stopped walking.
He lowered his head and looked at the Interception Sect disciple blocking his path, who did not even dare meet his eyes.
An incomparably cold killing intent spread from Guangchengzi like a tangible freezing current.
Wang Youcai's body instantly stiffened, his face turning deathly pale as bead-sized drops of cold sweat rolled down from his temples.
He felt as if his primordial spirit were about to be frozen by that terrifying pressure.
Yet he did not retreat.
Because behind him stood the Dao Protector, and behind the Dao Protector stood the entire Interception Sect.
He clutched the Management Regulations tightly, as though it were not a book, but his life.
Just as Guangchengzi was about to raise his hand.
That weak voice rang out again at precisely the right moment.
"Ah, Wang Youcai, do not be disrespectful to our honored guests."
Supported by a disciple, Chen Changsheng slowly walked over.
He first gave Guangchengzi an apologetic smile, then put on a stern expression and rebuked Wang Youcai.
"Can't you see that Senior Brother Guangchengzi and the others have urgent business? How can you make honored guests queue?"
Guangchengzi sneered inwardly.
At least you know what is good for you!
However, Chen Changsheng's next words froze the sneer on his face once more.
"What poor judgment. Why aren't you hurrying over there to open an 'Express VIP Window' for the senior brothers?"
Chen Changsheng pointed to the other side of the square.
"Remember, make it fast! The Chan Sect senior brothers' time is precious. Not a moment can be delayed!"
"Yes!"
As if granted amnesty, Wang Youcai immediately led several disciples running to the other side. In a flurry, they moved over a jade table and two immortal chairs, then hung up a brand-new wooden sign.
[Express VIP Window]
After finishing all that, Wang Youcai gave Guangchengzi an even brighter smile.
"Senior Uncle, this way, please!"
Guangchengzi gave Chen Changsheng a deep look. Without a word, he turned and walked toward that so-called "express window."
Chi Jingzi and the others hurried after him, all quietly relieved.
At least... they did not have to queue.
Guangchengzi sat imposingly before the jade table and slammed the Heaven-Turning Seal heavily onto it with a dull thud.
He raised his eyes to look at Wang Youcai, who was smiling broadly across the table, and spoke in a voice as cold as ice that had endured ten thousand years.
"Now, can we discuss the Interception Sect's contempt for the Heavenly Court's decree?"
Wang Youcai's smile grew even more professional.
From his robes, he slowly took out a stack of brand-new blank Jade Slips... three times thicker than the Management Regulations from before.
He respectfully pushed the thick stack of Jade Slips before Guangchengzi.
"Of course, Senior Uncle."
"However, before formally entering the matter for discussion, according to our sect's <Major External Conflict Negotiation Management Measures>..."
"Please first fill out this Inter-Sect Dispute Resolution Application Form, this Armed Conflict Risk Intent Statement, and these seven supplementary appendices..."
Before you continue