Damaging Public Property, Please Pay the Fine First!

That thick stack of jade slips lay quietly on the jade table before Guangchengzi.

Each volume exuded the fresh scent of ink, along with a bizarre aura called "procedure" that could suffocate even a Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal.

Wang Youcai's smile was humble yet professional, like the shrewdest accountant in a mortal capital city.

"Uncle-Master, don't rush."

"These forms may seem numerous, but they're all for clarifying the facts, defining both parties' rights and responsibilities, and avoiding unnecessary disputes later."

"Look, this first one, the 'Inter-Sect Dispute Resolution Application Form,' is mainly for our Calamity Aversion Department to formally establish the case..."

Wang Youcai's words droned on in his ears.

But Guangchengzi couldn't take in a single word.

His gaze was fixed on that stack of jade slips, and deep in his eyes burned a fury hot enough to incinerate the heavens and boil the seas.

He recalled his master Primordial Heavenly Venerate's teachings.

Disciples of the Chan Sect should follow heaven's will, bear the celestial mandate, wield boundless divine power, walk the righteous path, and sweep away all demons and monsters.

But now?

He, the foremost disciple of the Chan Sect, a Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal, wielding the Heaven-Turning Seal, executing heaven's punishment on behalf of the Dao—was being blocked by a mere True Immortal junior at a table, told to fill out forms.

And even fill out an "Armed Conflict Risk Intent Statement"!

This was trampling the supreme righteousness of his Chan Sect into the ground, repeatedly desecrating it in the most absurd and humiliating way!

"Enough."

Guangchengzi's voice was terrifyingly low.

He slowly raised his eyes to look at Wang Youcai, and in that gaze there was no longer a trace of emotion—only pure, cold will to destroy.

"Scram."

That single word was like a chill wind from the Nine Abysses.

The smile on Wang Youcai's face froze instantly.

He felt an irresistible, terrifying Pressure bearing down on him, his Primordial Spirit stinging, his Dao heart on the verge of shattering, and his entire body uncontrollably flew backward.

"Bam!"

He crashed heavily to the ground, the copy of "Management Regulations" in his hand scattering everywhere.

"Senior Brother!"

"Wang Youcai!"

The surrounding Jie Sect disciples cried out in alarm and rushed forward to help him up.

The atmosphere in the entire square instantly dropped to freezing point.

"Guangchengzi!"

Daoist Duobao roared, stepping forward, unleashing his Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal aura without reservation.

"How dare you injure my disciple on my Golden Ao Island?!"

Zhao Gongming, without a word, already had twenty-four Sea-Calming Divine Pearls suspended above his head, radiating boundless light, ready to strike at any moment.

Yet Guangchengzi didn't even glance at them.

His gaze passed through everyone and landed on Chen Changsheng, who was being supported by disciples, his face growing paler.

He knew that this man was the instigator of all this!

If he didn't break this so-called "rule" today, his Chan Sect would become a laughingstock for all eternity in the Primordial World!

"Rules?"

Guangchengzi slowly stood up, a sinister sneer curling at the corner of his mouth.

"In the Primordial World, fists are the rules!"

"Magical treasures are the logic!"

The moment his words fell, he suddenly raised his hand—not to attack anyone.

But toward the jade table before him, toward that thick stack of forms, he viciously slammed his palm down!

He would destroy it all!

He would use the most direct, most violent method to tell the Jie Sect, tell all beings of the Primordial World!

Before absolute power, any procedure, any rule, is a joke!

This palm strike contained the boundless divine power of a Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal, enough to shatter an ancient divine mountain!

Space shattered inch by inch beneath the palm, revealing pitch-black chaos.

But just as his hand was about to land—

That ordinary-looking jade table, and that harmless stack of jade slips on it, simultaneously lit up with a layer of profound array runes!

Hummm--!

A low, muffled hum.

The entire Golden Ao Island, along with the Mountain Protection Array that enveloped it, trembled slightly.

A vast, boundless power, as if fused with the entire island and the whole East Sea, surged upward from the jade table!

Guangchengzi's palm struck the thin layer of light screen, but it felt as if he had hit a piece of Chaos Divine Iron!

A terrifying rebound force surged back along his arm!

Guangchengzi let out a muffled grunt, and his body uncontrollably retreated half a step.

The ground beneath his feet cracked inch by inch!

The entire square fell into dead silence.

Everyone stared at the scene, dumbfounded.

The smug smiles on Chi Jingzi and the others froze at the corners of their mouths.

The movements of Daoist Duobao and Zhao Gongming, who were about to strike, also halted mid-air.

No one had expected that this small table was actually... a top-tier array treasure connected to the Island Protection Array!

Guangchengzi looked at his slightly numb palm, then at the jade table, which was completely unharmed, not even a speck of dust on it. His mind buzzed, going blank.

He had lost.

He had used his most proud power to challenge the other party's "rules."

As a result, he couldn't even budge the table that embodied those "rules."

This was even more humiliating than losing a direct magical duel!

Yet, the true humiliation had only just begun.

In that instant when his palm missed and the entire square fell silent.

The jade table he had attacked shimmered with flowing light.

A red light screen automatically rose from the tabletop, floating in mid-air.

On the light screen, a line of golden characters, formed by condensed mana and as large as a bucket, slowly appeared, clearly visible to everyone.

[Warning: Detected visitor Guangchengzi intentionally damaging Golden Ao Island public property (Express VIP Window Desk No. 01). Behavior is egregious, nature is severe.]

[In accordance with Article 72 of the <Golden Ao Island Public Property Management Regulations>, the following penalty is hereby imposed.]

[Penalty decision as follows:]

[1. Order the party, Guangchengzi, to immediately cease the infringing act.]

[2. Impose a fine: one top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, or equivalent Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures.]

[3. Until the fine is paid in full, suspend all eligibility for conducting business on the island.]

[Final interpretation rights belong to the Calamity Aversion Department of the Jie Sect.]

Those lines of golden characters hung blatantly in mid-air.

Like an astronomical fine.

More like a resounding slap, viciously and repeatedly striking Guangchengzi, striking the faces of all the Chan Sect Golden Immortals.

"Pfft—"

Chi Jingzi could no longer hold back.

He didn't spit blood.

He choked on his breath, rolled his eyes back, and fell straight backward, caught by True Master Yuding beside him, who pinched his philtrum for a long time before he slowly came to.

He would rather spit blood!

He would rather fight three hundred rounds with the Jie Sect and have his soul obliterated!

Than accept this absurd scene that shattered his Dao heart!

Damaging public property?

A fine?

And demanding a top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure as the fine?!

This... this Jie Sect, have they gone mad with poverty?!

How dare they?!

How dare they issue such a... ticket to a personal disciple of a Sage, the senior disciple of the Chan Sect?!

Guangchengzi's body began to tremble violently.

It wasn't anger or humiliation.

But an unprecedented, bone-deep... bewilderment.

He realized that the worldview he had operated on for billions of years—the law of the jungle, the strong ruling the weak—was crumbling inch by inch on this island, in the face of this unheard-of procedure.

He wanted to fight, but couldn't even beat a table.

He wanted to reason, but couldn't argue past the other side's rules.

Advancing was impossible.

Retreating was impossible.

He felt like an ant that had wandered onto a chessboard, every step landing precisely in a trap his opponent had long since laid.

And the one who had orchestrated all of this was now being supported by his disciples, walking over slowly.

Chen Changsheng looked at the red penalty Light Screen and nodded with satisfaction.

Then, he turned his gaze to Guangchengzi, whose face was ashen, and revealed an infinitely warm, infinitely sincere smile.

He clasped his hands toward Guangchengzi and, in a tone that was businesslike yet carried a hint of concern, spoke slowly.

"Elder Brother Guangchengzi."

"Look at how this has turned out."

"Card or cash?"