Daoist Duobao froze where he stood.
He felt as though his primordial spirit, along with his Dao heart that had been tempered through countless Yuanhuies and long since become as indestructible as diamond, had shattered into hundreds of millions of fragments at Chen Changsheng's casual words: "Fill this out."
Send an Official Letter to the Purple Cloud Palace?
Ask the Dao Ancestor to fill out a form?
This was no longer merely audacious.
This was wanting to drag the entire Interception Sect to be buried alongside the Heavenly Dao because there were not enough spots on the Investiture of the Gods!
His mouth opened slightly, his Adam's apple bobbing, yet no sound came out.
Instinctively, he turned a pleading gaze toward his sole support—his master.
Yet Sect Leader Tongtian's expression was more solemn than ever.
He did not look at Duobao. Instead, he stared fixedly at Chen Changsheng, as if he wished to see through this disciple he had only just personally accepted, from the inside out, from primordial spirit to Dao Fruit.
"Wuwei."
For the first time, Sect Leader Tongtian's voice carried a trace of difficulty.
With a wave of his hand, he set down a barrier that isolated all laws, enveloping the three of them.
"That is not Yuanshi."
"That is the Dao Ancestor."
The implication was obvious.
Your tricks against the Chan Sect were nothing but a joke before Hongjun, who had merged with the Heavenly Dao.
"This disciple understands."
Chen Changsheng gave Sect Leader Tongtian a deep bow. There was not the slightest panic on his face, only the absolute calm of one who established processes.
"Master, precisely because that is the Dao Ancestor, this disciple must do this."
He raised his head, his gaze clear and his logic terrifyingly precise.
"May I ask, Master, what is the core principle behind the rules established by our Interception Sect's Calamity Aversion Department?"
Sect Leader Tongtian paused, then answered instinctively.
"It is... process?"
"It is 'rules are greater than power.'"
Chen Changsheng corrected him. His voice was not loud, but every word struck with force.
"The reason we could make the Chan Sect suffer was not because we were stronger than them, but because we dragged them into the 'rules' established by us. Within those rules, their power was restricted at every turn."
"Today, the Dao Ancestor's decree is a danger to our sect, but it is also an opportunity!"
A nearly fanatical light flickered in his eyes.
"If we answer the summons and go at once, we will effectively be acknowledging that the Dao Ancestor's will can override our sect's rules."
"Then everything we have done today will become a castle in the air. In the future, any existence stronger than us will be able to disregard our process and suppress us directly with power. The Calamity Aversion Department will become a mere empty shell."
"On the other hand..."
Chen Changsheng paused, and his voice carried a deadly temptation.
"If we can make the Dao Ancestor—the embodiment of the Heavenly Dao and the source of order—follow our process... even if only formally."
"Then it will be equivalent to announcing to the entire Primordial World that our Interception Sect's Process Dao has received the Heavenly Dao's recognition!"
"At that time, process will no longer be merely the Interception Sect's own claim."
"It will become the Primordial World's new iron law!"
Sect Leader Tongtian's mind shook violently at those words.
Looking at Chen Changsheng before him, he felt for the first time that he might still have underestimated this disciple.
What a mad conception!
And what meticulous logic!
He had forcefully turned the Dao Ancestor's summons from a crisis into an ultimate opportunity... to secure a brand endorsement for the Process Dao throughout the entire Primordial World!
"B-but what if the Dao Ancestor becomes enraged..."
Zhao Gongming, who had been listening with his heart pounding, could not help asking softly.
"He will not."
Chen Changsheng shook his head with certainty.
"The Dao Ancestor's decree only said to 'elaborate on this Dao,' not to 'come and answer for your crimes.' This proves that, in his eyes, this new thing called 'process' has aroused his interest. It may even offer him some inspiration in maintaining the operation of the Heavenly Dao."
"We are not prisoners awaiting punishment."
"We are the service provider holding the core technology, waiting for the final client's favor."
"So we must demonstrate the professionalism of a service provider!"
Chen Changsheng's words completely shattered the last trace of hesitation in Sect Leader Tongtian's heart.
Looking at this disciple who kept spouting strange terms like "client" and "service provider," he suddenly threw back his head and laughed.
"Good! What a service provider!"
"Today, your master will go mad with you once!"
The unruliness returned to his eyes.
"If anything happens, your master will bear it all!"
The barrier dispersed.
Chen Changsheng looked once more at Daoist Duobao, who had already gone utterly blank.
"Senior Brother Duobao, we can begin."
Daoist Duobao took a deep breath, like a condemned prisoner about to walk to the execution ground.
With trembling hands, he brought out a blank Purple Gold Jade Slip.
This Jade Slip, which could withstand the full-force strike of a Grand Unity Golden Immortal, felt as heavy as hundreds of millions of tons in his hands.
"Raise your head."
Chen Changsheng's voice was calm and clear.
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"To the Dao Ancestor's Office of the Purple Cloud Palace."
Duobao's hand trembled, and he nearly crushed the Jade Slip.
"Main text: Regarding the 'Process Dao Special Elaboration Cooperation' proposal submitted by your party, our sect's Calamity Aversion Department has received it."
"Following preliminary internal discussions within our department, we believe this project possesses a high degree of strategic foresight and cooperative value. In principle, our party agrees."
"However, as Dao elaboration is a matter of great importance, to ensure the smooth advancement of the project and avoid unnecessary karmic disputes later, a dedicated team must first be established to conduct a feasibility assessment, define the project scope, and clarify the rights and responsibilities of both parties."
"Therefore, attached is one copy of the <Preliminary Requirements Survey Form for Cross-Faction Strategic Cooperation Projects>."
"Please... complete it and return it at your earliest convenience."
"Signed, Department of External Relations Risk Assessment, Calamity Aversion Department, Interception Sect."
Every word was like a thunderclap of the Heavenly Dao, striking Daoist Duobao's heart.
He felt that he was not drafting an Official Letter.
He was writing a declaration of war... one capable of overturning the entire Primordial World!
Once the Official Letter was complete, there was still the attachment.
[Preliminary Requirements Survey Form for Cross-Faction Strategic Cooperation Projects (Purple Cloud Palace Exclusive Edition)] [Project Initiator: Hongjun] [Core Project Objective (please select): A. Improve Heavenly Dao order B. Optimize Tribulation management C. Personal research interest D. Eliminate heresy] [Expected Project Outcomes (KPI): ...] [Project Budget (will Merit or supreme treasures be provided?): ...] [Project Contact Person: ...] [Remarks: To ensure communication efficiency, it is recommended that the contact person's cultivation be no lower than that of a Heavenly Dao Saint.]
When Daoist Duobao used great divine power to imprint the final character onto the Jade Slip, his entire body went limp, as though he had just experienced a battle between Sages.
"Send it."
Chen Changsheng issued the final command.
A disciple from the Calamity Aversion Department's newly established "Mailroom" stepped forward, pale-faced and weak-kneed.
He held that Purple Gold Jade Slip as though he were carrying his own urn of ashes.
Under the deathly silent gaze of tens of thousands of Interception Sect disciples, he came before an altar specifically constructed to connect with the Thirty-Three Heavens beyond.
He gently placed the Jade Slip into the groove at the altar's center.
As divine power surged, the Official Letter transformed into a streak of light, ignored the barriers of space, and instantly vanished into the depths of chaos.
After doing all this, the disciple's legs gave out, and he collapsed directly onto the ground.
The entire Golden Ao Island was so silent that a falling needle could be heard.
Everyone held their breath, awaiting the coming wrath of thunder that could destroy everything.
One hour.
Two hours.
One day.
Two days.
Three days.
Nothing happened.
No Sage's fury came. No heavenly punishment descended.
The direction of the Purple Cloud Palace remained deathly silent.
Yet this silence was more suffocating than any thunder.
The entire Interception Sect was shrouded in an unprecedentedly oppressive atmosphere.
Even the most restless disciples stayed obediently within their cave abodes, not daring to make the slightest sound.
Sect Leader Tongtian had not closed his eyes for three days and three nights.
He stood at the peak of the Jade Palace, gazing into that expanse of chaos. The Qingping Sword in his hand sometimes hummed, sometimes fell silent.
Just as everyone's hearts were in their throats, about to be crushed by the boundless silence.
On the morning of the fourth day.
The chaos above Golden Ao Island descended once more.
The supreme pressure froze the primordial spirits of every Interception Sect disciple.
It had come!
Yet this time, there was no decree and no voice.
Only a streak of light descended from the chaos, neither fast nor slow, and stopped precisely before Chen Changsheng.
The radiance faded.
What was revealed was the very Purple Gold Jade Slip they had sent out three days ago.
Sect Leader Tongtian's heart sank sharply.
It had been returned!
The Dao Ancestor had refused!
Yet Chen Changsheng merely extended his hand calmly and took the Jade Slip.
The Jade Slip appeared unchanged.
But when his divine sense swept over it.
His pupils suddenly contracted.
On the survey form, above the line in the [Project Initiator] field.
At some unknown point, an ancient, vigorous character containing the true meaning of the Supreme Great Dao had appeared.
Beside that character was a tiny symbol condensed from the power of Heavenly Dao laws.
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