The Dao Ancestor himself... was going to fill out the form personally!
Chen Changsheng's words were like thunder from a clear sky, like a divine light that split heaven and earth, instantly cleaving apart the boundless terror that had been weighing on Tongtian, Daoist Duobao, and Zhao Gongming's hearts heavily enough to crush even Sages.
The three men's expressions froze at that instant, becoming three ancient statues that would never melt.
They looked at the matter-of-fact expression on Chen Changsheng's face, even bearing a trace of gratified delight as though a client had finally caught on.
Then they looked at the Purple-Gold Jade Slip floating quietly in his hand, which had just been returned from the Purple Firmament Palace.
Upon the Jade Slip, the character "Hong?" still radiated supreme heavenly might powerful enough to make their souls tremble.
Yet now, under Chen Changsheng's interpretation, that heavenly might seemed to have... taken on a different flavor.
"Junior... Junior Brother..."
Daoist Duobao's voice was dry, as though it had been scoured by the chaos Gale Wind for countless eons.
"You... you're saying... the Dao Ancestor wasn't... questioning us?"
"Of course not."
Chen Changsheng looked utterly certain. He held the Jade Slip in his palm as though displaying a rare treasure.
"Senior Brother, look. If the Dao Ancestor had been enraged, he would have sent down Purple Firmament divine lightning, heavenly punishment, a Killing Tribulation sufficient to make a Sage fall."
"If he had ignored us, this Jade Slip would have sunk without a trace, and we would not have received the slightest response."
"But he returned it, and even added a question mark."
Chen Changsheng pointed at that "?", wisdom gleaming in his eyes as he began his solemn nonsense.
"What did that mean?"
"It meant that the Dao Ancestor was interested in our Process! He approved of it!"
"But after all, this was his first encounter with our advanced philosophy of handling affairs. It was only natural that he would find a communication tool as epoch-making as a form unfamiliar, perhaps even not know where to begin."
"So, by returning the Jade Slip and adding a question mark, he was actually conveying a message to us in an exceptionally tactful and emotionally intelligent manner."
Chen Changsheng paused and stressed his next words.
"'I... do not understand this form of yours. Send someone knowledgeable to teach me!'"
Sect Leader Tongtian: "..."
Daoist Duobao: "..."
Zhao Gongming: "..."
The three great figures of the Interception Sect felt their worldview being repeatedly reshaped by a Supreme Great Dao known as "Chen Changsheng."
So... it could be interpreted like that?
"Therefore, not only must we not retreat, we must show twelve parts professionalism and enthusiasm to serve the Dao Ancestor, the most distinguished and important potential client since the Calamity Aversion Department was established!"
Chen Changsheng's words carried an unquestionable, stirring force.
He swept his gaze around the area, his expression solemn as he issued his orders.
"Senior Brother Duobao!"
"This disciple is here!"
Daoist Duobao jolted and instinctively bowed in response.
"Immediately relay my order to Siling: set up a 'Dao Ancestor Form-Filling Exclusive Seat' before Golden Ao Island's mountain gate!"
"The desk must be forged from Buzhou Mountain Divine Iron, to demonstrate stability."
"The prayer mat must be woven from ten-thousand-year Sea-Subduing Divine Coral presented as tribute by the East Sea Dragon Clan, to demonstrate reverence."
"Brush, ink, paper, inkstone... no, there is no need for brush and ink."
Chen Changsheng shook his head and raised the Jade Slip.
"The Dao Ancestor has already mailed us the brush!"
At those words, the three men were shaken once more.
They abruptly turned to look at the Green Bamboo Brush suspended in midair, and their expressions changed instantly.
So... that was what the brush meant?!
"Senior Brother Zhao Gongming!"
"Here!"
"Immediately mobilize every disciple of our sect proficient in formations. Around the exclusive seat, deploy the Ten Thousand Immortals Auspicious Array! Once activated, three thousand streams of purple qi must rise, eight hundred golden lotuses must cover the ground, immortal music must sound on its own, and exotic fragrances must fill the air!"
"You must create an atmosphere that is professional, grand, and provides an outstanding user experience!"
"This disciple... accepts the order!"
Zhao Gongming was fired up as well. Being able to take part in an event unprecedented since antiquity felt more thrilling than winning a great battle between Sages.
As Chen Changsheng gave order after order.
The entirety of Golden Ao Island, a massive war machine armed to the teeth with "Process," began operating at high speed once again in an utterly inconceivable manner.
Countless disciples flew out of their cave dwellings, confusion on their faces, yet their actions were incomparably swift.
Some carried Divine Iron, some transported coral, some set up formations...
That place of grim slaughter, once enough to make even Sages retreat, was transformed within less than half an hour into an open-air office more ceremonious than a Sage's sermon and more luxurious than the Heavenly Emperor marrying off a daughter.
When the desk forged from an entire block of Buzhou Mountain Divine Iron and inscribed with the rune patterns of the Three Thousand Great Daos was firmly placed at the center of the mountain gate.
Every Interception Sect disciple held their breath.
Sect Leader Tongtian stood atop the Jade Palace, watching the absurd yet solemn scene below, while the corner of his mouth twitched uncontrollably.
He suddenly felt that Yuanshi's defeat... had not seemed so undeserved after all.
Just then.
Chen Changsheng took a deep breath, held the "Dao Ancestor Exclusive Version 2.0 Survey Form," and walked step by step toward the Divine Iron desk.
He did not sit down.
Instead, he respectfully laid the Jade Slip flat in the very center of the desk.
Then he bowed from afar toward the Green Bamboo Brush floating in midair.
"Respectfully invite the Dao Ancestor to write."
After doing all that, he retreated to one side, stood with his hands lowered, and waited quietly.
At that moment, time seemed to come to a standstill once more.
One breath.
Ten breaths.
A hundred breaths.
Nothing happened.
The brush still floated quietly in the air.
The form still lay there quietly.
Some of the lower-cultivation disciples had already begun sweating coldly.
Even Zhao Gongming, who had been full of confidence moments ago, began to feel uneasy.
Dao Protector... he wasn't really going to mess this up, was he?
Sect Leader Tongtian's brows furrowed tightly once more.
Yet Chen Changsheng remained calm.
His back was ramrod straight.
There was not the slightest wavering in his eyes.
He was gambling.
Gambling that Hongjun, as the incarnation of the Heavenly Dao, possessed an extraordinary interest in novel things such as "order" and "rules."
He was also gambling that this supreme existence possessed a breadth of mind worthy of his station.
Finally.
Just as the oppressive atmosphere was about to reach its peak.
A sudden change occurred!
The unremarkable Green Bamboo Brush floating in midair trembled lightly without warning.
Buzz—!
A soft hum seemed to come from the origin of the Great Dao itself.
Daoist Duobao clenched his fists tightly.
Zhao Gongming instinctively retreated half a step.
Sect Leader Tongtian's pupils suddenly constricted.
Under tens of thousands of stunned, fervent, and disbelieving gazes.
The brush moved.
It did not erupt with any earthshaking aura. It merely seemed to be grasped by an invisible hand and drifted lightly down onto the Divine Iron desk.
Its tip hovered over the survey form.
It did not dip in ink, nor did it need to.
As the brush tip trembled faintly, strands of dark yellow radiance condensed from pure Heavenly Dao laws began gathering at its point.
Then.
It descended.
The first question.
[Regarding the core driving force behind this "Elucidate Dao" project, what is your primary demand?]
The brush tip paused slightly above the four options.
Then, without hesitation, it drew a smooth circle containing supreme Dao Charm around the final option.
[D. All of the above.]
The second question.
[Regarding the potential effects brought about by the "Process Dao," which aspect concerns you most?]
The brush swept across the form and once again chose the final option.
[D. Who possesses the final right of interpretation over the Process.]
The third question.
[If this project succeeds, what do you believe is the most reasonable method of distributing its results?]
Without the slightest hesitation.
The brush tip once again precisely circled the option that made even Sect Leader Tongtian feel suffocated.
[D. Master, just give whatever you see fit.]
When the final circle was completed.
The entirety of Golden Ao Island fell into dead silence.
Everyone stared at the three circled "D"s on the Light Screen, feeling their understanding of reality completely overturned at that moment.
The Dao Ancestor...
Had actually filled it out!
And he had filled it out so... down-to-earthly?!
Sect Leader Tongtian stared at the words "Master, just give whatever you see fit," the corner of his eye twitching wildly.
He suddenly felt that there seemed to be some incomprehensible tacit understanding between his little disciple and the Dao Ancestor... one that transcended generations.
Yet the matter was not over.
Just when everyone thought everything had been settled.
After filling in all the multiple-choice questions, the brush moved upward again, arriving at the [User Experience and Feedback] section at the bottom of the form.
It paused above the four options once more.
In the end, it lightly placed a checkmark beside the first option.
[A. Extremely clear and easy to understand at a glance.]
Having done all that, the Green Bamboo Brush flashed with light and was about to dissolve into nothingness, returning to chaos.
But in the instant before it vanished.
It abruptly stopped.
The brush turned, returning to the main body of the survey form!
Before everyone's horrified eyes.
The power of Heavenly Dao laws gathered wildly at the brush tip, transforming into resplendent golden light.
Ignoring every format and option, it wrote in sweeping strokes across the blank portion of the Jade Slip, completing a line of vigorous, domineering instructions filled with supreme authority in one fluid motion.
The golden light faded.
That line of words clearly entered everyone's view.
[This Dao touches the foundation of order. It may enter the Heavenly Dao; observe its evolution.]
[Chen Changsheng is appointed 'Process Immortal Official,' responsible for organizing the processes of the Three Realms.]
[All under the Sages must understand that this is one link in the operation of the Heavenly Dao. Conduct yourselves accordingly.]
Only after writing that final line did the Green Bamboo Brush's radiance disperse completely, vanishing without a trace. All that remained was the "reviewed" Jade Slip lying quietly upon the desk, radiating supreme golden light that made even Sages cast sidelong glances, and the Interception Sect Immortals standing petrified throughout the grounds.
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