The golden light dissipated.
The Jade Slip hung in the air.
The entire Golden Ao Island seemed to have had all sound sucked away, plunging into absolute silence.
On the desk forged from Buzhou Mountain Divine Iron, every word of Dao Ancestor Hongjun's handwritten annotation flowed with the supreme divine essence of the Heavenly Dao. Like stars, they scorched the eyes of every immortal present.
Chen Changsheng was appointed "Flow Official," responsible for organizing the processes of the Three Realms.
All disciples of the Sages should understand that this was part of the Heavenly Dao's operation. They should conduct themselves accordingly.
Daoist Duobao remained bowed, completely motionless, as though he had turned into a stone statue.
Zhao Gongming's mouth hung open, yet he could not make a sound. His primordial spirit had nearly stopped functioning under the overwhelming shock.
Even Sect Leader Tongtian, the fearless Sage of the Interception Sect, had frozen atop the Jade Palace.
The knuckles of the hand gripping Qingping Sword had turned white.
For the first time, his unruly eyes revealed a bewilderment akin to, Who am I? Where am I?
They had won?
This was no longer a matter of victory or defeat.
This was... forcibly prying open a crack in the underlying logic of the Heavenly Dao's operation, then stuffing in an entirely new code called "Process."
And the one responsible for conducting the final review of that code and clicking "run" was Dao Ancestor Hongjun himself!
"Gulp."
Someone swallowed with difficulty.
That nearly imperceptible sound, like a stone dropped into a tranquil lake, instantly set off the entire Golden Ao Island.
"Dao Protector... no! Lord Immortal Official!"
"Lord Immortal Official is mighty!"
"Appointed personally by the Dao Ancestor! Our Interception Sect... our Interception Sect is going to govern the order of the Heavenly Dao!"
A tidal wave of wild joy and worship erupted like a volcano that had been building pressure for hundreds of millions of years.
The tens of thousands of Interception Sect disciples could no longer contain their excitement. Looking half-mad, they fell to their knees and offered their most devout kowtows to the slender figure still standing with his hands at his sides.
In their eyes, Chen Changsheng was no longer the junior uncle who needed support.
He was the spokesman of the Heavenly Dao!
He was... a living rule walking upon the Primordial Land!
"Haha... hahahahaha!"
Atop the Jade Palace, Sect Leader Tongtian finally recovered from the immense shock.
He threw back his head and laughed, his laughter brimming with endless exhilaration and pride, shaking the entire East Sea into turmoil.
"Good! What a Flow Official!"
"What a part of the Heavenly Dao's operation!"
He took a single step, instantly appearing beside Chen Changsheng.
He looked at the Jade Slip reviewed by the Dao Ancestor, sensing the aura upon it that shared the same origin as the Heavenly Dao. All concern vanished from his gaze, leaving only boundless admiration.
He patted Chen Changsheng on the shoulder, his voice ringing out loud and clear.
"Wuwei! From this day onward, your 'Process' shall be the... fundamental Great Dao of our Interception Sect!"
Yet Chen Changsheng merely bowed slightly to him in calm reply.
"Master, this is not the merit of this disciple alone, nor is it the way of the Interception Sect alone."
"This is the will of Heaven."
He spoke lightly, but his words sent Sect Leader Tongtian's heart and mind reeling once more.
What a declaration: this was the will of Heaven!
Neither arrogant nor impetuous, and unwilling to claim Heaven's merit for himself.
This disciple of his possessed a Dao heart more steadfast and a vision grander than those of the vast majority of living beings in the Primordial World!
At that moment, a series of cold mechanical notifications exploded within Chen Changsheng's Sea of Consciousness like the Milky Way pouring down from the Ninth Heavens.
[Ding! It has been detected that the host's actions have fundamentally affected the operation of the Heavenly Dao, successfully embedding the concept of 'Process' into the underlying logic of the Primordial World!] [Epic achievement 'Heavenly Dao Certification' attained!] [Your actions have drawn the ultimate attention of the Heavenly Dao. Your Dao has been acknowledged as an effective supplement to the Heavenly Dao's operation!] [The system is undergoing adaptive evolution...] [10%... 50%... 99%...] [Evolution complete!] [Dao of Survival System Version 4.0—'Heavenly Dao Order'—is now officially online!] [New core module unlocked: 'Three Realms Affairs' system!] [The new identity 'Flow Official' has been deeply bound to the system!] [Based on your new identity and new module, you have obtained the following permissions:] [1. Heavenly Dao Authorization: All 'Processes' established by you will, in theory, receive the empowerment and recognition of the Heavenly Dao.] [2. Information Retrieval: You may submit information retrieval requests to the 'Three Realms Affairs' system to investigate the basic information and Karmic Cause and Effect of all living beings within the Three Realms, below the level of Sage. (Note: Each inquiry will consume Merit.)] [3. Process Publication: Through this system, you may issue 'Process Edicts' carrying a certain degree of Heavenly Dao coercive force to the Three Realms. (Note: The edict's coercive force and range of influence depend on the Merit and personal fortune you invest.)] [Epic achievement rewards are being calculated...] [Reward One: Thirty million portions of Great Dao Merit!] [Reward Two: Cultivation increased to... Early Grand Unity Golden Immortal!] [Reward Three: Acquired innate spiritual treasure 'Heavenly Mandate Document' (Grade: ???)]
A vast, boundless stream of Mysterious Yellow Merit Qi descended from the Ninth Heavens, ignoring every obstacle and pouring entirely into Chen Changsheng's body.
His aura began soaring at a terrifying rate!
Golden Immortal perfection!
Early Taiyi Golden Immortal!
Mid Taiyi Golden Immortal!
Taiyi Golden Immortal peak!
Just one step away from severing his good corpse and entering the realm of Quasi-Saint!
Yet at the very instant his cultivation was about to break through that bottleneck, Chen Changsheng forcibly suppressed it with the Great Freedom Head-Shrinking Technique, ultimately stabilizing it at the Early Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm.
His aura withdrew, returning to simplicity.
From the outside, he still looked like that frail scholar with such a weak aura that a gust of wind might knock him over.
At the same time, an ancient tome, neither gold nor jade and formed from countless Great Dao Runes, silently appeared within his Sea of Consciousness. It slowly opened and closed, as though recording the entire past and future of all beings in the Three Realms.
The Heavenly Mandate Document!
Feeling the surging power within his body and the immense amount of new information in his mind, Chen Changsheng slowly opened his eyes.
His gaze swept over the Interception Sect members still immersed in wild joy, then over his master Tongtian's gratified expression.
Finally, it settled upon the "survey questionnaire" that had already been enshrined as a sacred object.
He knew that the celebration was only temporary.
The Dao Ancestor had given him a title and supreme authority over the processes of the Three Realms.
But how to truly implement that authority, step by step.
That was the real test.
He stepped forward and respectfully bowed to the Jade Slip personally approved by the Dao Ancestor.
Then, he carefully put it away.
He turned to face Daoist Duobao and Zhao Gongming, whose faces had long since flushed red with excitement.
His expression returned to its businesslike calm.
"Senior Brother Duobao, Senior Brother Zhao Gongming."
"Your disciples are here!"
The two hurriedly bowed, their attitudes even more respectful than when facing Sect Leader Tongtian.
"Starting today, our Interception Sect's Calamity Aversion Department will establish the 'Three Realms Process Standardization Management Committee.'"
Chen Changsheng's voice was not loud, yet it reached every ear with clarity, gradually quieting the boiling cheers.
Everyone pricked up their ears. They knew that Lord Immortal Official's first edict was coming!
"For now, I will personally serve as the committee chairman."
"Senior Brother Duobao shall serve as the first vice chairman, overseeing the drafting of internal regulations and process supervision."
"Senior Brother Zhao Gongming shall serve as the second vice chairman, overseeing external process promotion and data collection."
"This disciple... shall obey Lord Immortal Official's decree!"
The two answered in unison, feeling an unprecedented sense of mission settle upon their shoulders.
Chen Changsheng nodded, his gaze sweeping across the tens of thousands of fervent eyes below.
He slowly spoke. Empowered by the Heavenly Dao, his voice clearly spread across the whole of Golden Ao Island and even passed through the grand formation, echoing over the East Sea.
"I am Wuwei of the Interception Sect, Chen Changsheng."
"Today, by Dao Ancestor Hongjun's decree, I have been appointed 'Flow Official,' responsible for organizing the processes of the Three Realms."
"I now issue the Immortal Official's First Edict."
Everyone held their breath.
They heard that calm voice continue.
"The committee's first project is very simple."
"Starting today, the first... comprehensive census shall be conducted throughout the Three Realms."
"From the Emperor Lords of the Heavenly Court to the Blood Mosquitoes of the Nine Netherworlds, all beings possessing intelligence must be registered."
"Once the census is complete, every living being will receive a unique... 'Primordial Census Jade Slip.'"
Before you continue