Esteemed Guest? Please Queue at the Regular Window for a Number!

Time seemed frozen into the deepest, coldest black ice of the East Sea.

Space, too, appeared congealed into that wooden sign reading "Waiting Area," awkward and glaring.

Guangchengzi and the eleven Golden Immortals behind him hung suspended in midair, like twelve statues struck by a petrification spell.

Their gazes, passing over the "dying" Chen Changsheng and the barely restrained fury of Daoist Duobao, locked straight onto that corner.

That crooked queue cordoned off by red rope.

In the queue, Shrimp Soldiers nervously tucked in their whiskers, while Crab Generals restlessly rubbed their massive pincers.

At the front of the line, the East Sea Turtle Prime Minister, an old minister who had lived for who knows how many tens of thousands of years, was tremblingly holding up a jade token.

On the token, three flamboyant characters shimmered with faint magical light.

[Number 108].

As if sensing Guangchengzi's gaze, cold enough to freeze a Primordial Spirit, the Turtle Prime Minister slowly, ever so slowly, turned his head.

When he saw the ashen faces of the Chan Sect's Twelve Golden Immortals, a flicker of terror first passed through his murky old eyes, then surged forth a deep sympathy, as if recognizing a fellow sufferer.

He even nodded quite politely at Guangchengzi, a gesture of greeting.

That nod was like an invisible heavy hammer, smashing the last shred of hope in Guangchengzi's heart.

Chi Jingzi's mouth opened slightly, but no sound came out.

Even True Master Yuding, whose face was usually as calm as an ancient well, showed a crack in his composure.

What had they come to do?

To execute Heaven's punishment!

To demand accountability!

But the scene before them was like a nightmare of absurdity.

Were they, the Chan Sect's Twelve Golden Immortals, personal disciples of Saint Primordial, supposed to queue up with Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals?

And be number 109?

"Cough... cough, cough..."

Just then, Chen Changsheng broke into another violent fit of coughing, as if he might expel his very lungs.

Supported by his disciple, he staggered forward a step and spoke to Guangchengzi in a tone of pity and compassion.

"Brother Guangchengzi, I know this is... hard for you to accept."

"But rules are rules."

He pointed at the long queue, his voice soft yet clear in everyone's ears.

"In my Jie Sect, all beings are equal. Whether a Dragon Clan envoy or an honored guest from the Chan Sect, once you arrive, you are a guest. First come, first served, handled in order—this is true order, the 'Procedural Justice' advocated by my sect's Dao Protector."

"Brothers of the Chan Sect value rules and order above all. Surely you can understand this painstaking effort of ours?"

These words were like soft daggers dipped in poison, precisely stabbing into Guangchengzi's heart.

Indeed.

The Chan Sect valued rules above all.

But their rules were about hierarchy and the strong ruling the weak!

And the Jie Sect's rules were... taking a number and queuing up?

These two sets of rules were as different as heaven and earth!

Yet Chen Changsheng had wrapped this twisted logic in the cloak of "order" and "fairness," leaving them no room to refute!

If they refuted, they admitted the Chan Sect cared nothing for fairness, only power.

If they didn't refute, they had to hold their noses and stand with Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals!

"Fine... fine, 'all beings are equal'!"

Guangchengzi laughed in fury, the space around him warping slightly from the violent turmoil of his emotions.

"Fine, 'Procedural Justice'!"

He stared at Chen Changsheng, his gaze as if he wanted to devour him alive.

He finally understood.

Today's battle was no longer a contest of magical power.

The Jie Sect was aiming to uproot the very Dao tradition the Chan Sect prided itself on!

Killing the body, and killing the spirit!

"Brother, since you're here, just follow the Dao Protector's rules."

A Jie Sect disciple muttered from the back, his voice soft but just loud enough for all to hear.

"Look, even the Dragon Clan is queuing up nicely. Surely our Chan Sect brothers aren't lacking in that kind of grace?"

This heart-piercing remark was the final straw that broke the camel's back.

Guangchengzi abruptly shut his eyes. When he opened them again, all the fury and murderous intent within them had vanished.

What replaced it was a deathly stillness.

He slowly descended, landing before the mountain gate of Golden Ao Island.

He did not look at Chen Changsheng again, nor did he acknowledge the registration form he had thrown to the ground.

Instead, he turned to face the eleven junior brothers who had also landed behind him, and spoke in a tone utterly devoid of emotion.

"Line up."

One word, heavy as a mountain.

Chi Jingzi and the others shuddered, disbelief written all over their faces.

"Elder Brother!"

"You cannot!"

"If this gets out, where will the Chan Sect's dignity stand?!"

"Silence!"

Guangchengzi's low shout cut off all protests.

His gaze swept over them, his voice icy.

"Today, I want to see for myself just how unyielding the Jie Sect's rules truly are."

Without another word, he stepped forward and walked straight toward the queue marked by red ropes.

He would play along.

He would experience this absurd process firsthand, then find its flaws from within, and tear it apart in the most dignified, aboveboard manner possible.

As Guangchengzi approached, the Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals in the queue were terrified out of their wits. A commotion rippled through them as they instinctively scrambled aside, clearing a path.

Guangchengzi's face was expressionless as he prepared to walk directly to the front of the line.

But at that moment.

A figure blocked his way.

It was a somewhat frail-looking Outer Sect Disciple of the Jie Sect, his cultivation no higher than the True Immortal Realm.

This was Wang Youcai, the very one who had first survived the Myriad Tribulations Samsara Mirror by crawling through a "dog hole."

Now, he had been entrusted with the heavy responsibility of "queue order maintenance."

In his hands, he held a thick book bound with golden threads and jade pages, a professional yet slightly nervous smile on his face.

He bowed deeply to Guangchengzi.

"This... this Senior Uncle, please hold."

Wang Youcai's voice trembled with tension, but he mustered his courage, flipped open the book, pointed at a clause, and read aloud word by word.

"According to Chapter Three, Article Nineteen of the <Management Regulations for Visiting Guests at Golden Ao Island>: All visitors, regardless of status or identity, must queue from the end of the line. Cutting in line, making noise, and... using magical power to intimidate other queuers are strictly prohibited."

He swallowed hard and continued.

"First-time violators will be asked to return to the end of the line. Repeat violators... will have their eligibility for service revoked for the day."

In that moment, the entire world seemed to fall silent.

Everyone's gaze focused on this insignificant Outer Sect Disciple.

A True Immortal had blocked a Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal.

He held no magical treasure, no Divine Ability.

His only weapon was... a book of rules.

Guangchengzi's steps halted.

He looked down at the Jie Sect disciple before him, who dared not even meet his eyes.

A killing intent, cold to the extreme, radiated from him like a tangible chill.

Wang Youcai's body froze instantly. His face turned pale, and beads of cold sweat rolled down his forehead.

He felt as if his Primordial Spirit was about to be frozen solid by the terrifying Pressure.

But he did not retreat.

Because behind him stood the Dao Protector, and the entire Jie Sect.

He clutched the Management Regulations tightly, as if it were not a book, but his very life.

Just as Guangchengzi was about to raise his hand.

That weak voice rang out once more, perfectly timed.

"Hey, Wang Youcai, don't be rude to our honored guest."

Chen Changsheng, supported by a disciple, ambled over slowly.

He first offered Guangchengzi an apologetic smile, then put on a stern face and scolded Wang Youcai.

"Can't you see that Senior Brother Guangchengzi and the others have important matters to attend to? How can you make honored guests wait in line?"

Guangchengzi sneered inwardly upon hearing this.

At least you know your place!

But Chen Changsheng's next words made the sneer on his face freeze once more.

"Really lacking in perception. Why don't you hurry over there and open an 'Express VIP Window' for the senior brothers?"

Chen Changsheng pointed to the other side of the square.

"Remember, be quick! The Chan Sect senior brothers' time is precious—not a single moment can be wasted!"

"Yes!"

Wang Youcai, as if granted a reprieve, immediately led a few disciples and flew over to the other side, frantically setting up a jade table and two immortal chairs, then hanging up a brand-new wooden sign.

[Express VIP Window]

After finishing all this, Wang Youcai turned to Guangchengzi with an even brighter smile.

"Senior Uncle, this way, please!"

Guangchengzi gave Chen Changsheng a deep look, said nothing, turned around, and walked toward the so-called "Express Window."

Chi Jingzi and the others quickly followed, all breathing a sigh of relief.

At least... we don't have to queue.

Guangchengzi sat down at the jade table with an imposing air, slamming the Heaven-Turning Seal heavily onto the table with a dull "thud."

He lifted his eyes to look at Wang Youcai, who was all smiles across the table, and his voice was like ten-thousand-year-old ice.

"Now, can we talk about how your Jie Sect has defied the decrees of the Heavenly Court?"

The smile on Wang Youcai's face grew even more professional.

He slowly and deliberately took out from his bosom a stack of brand-new blank Jade Slips—three times thicker than that previous copy of the Management Regulations.

He respectfully pushed this thick stack of Jade Slips in front of Guangchengzi.

"Of course we can, Senior Uncle."

"But before we formally enter the agenda, according to the provisions of our sect's Major External Conflict Negotiation Management Measures..."

"I'll need you to first fill out this Inter-Sect Dispute Resolution Application Form, this Armed Conflict Risk Intent Statement, and these seven supplementary appendices..."