The Dragon King Was Stunned: Checking Household Registration at the Crystal Palace?

East Sea Dragon Palace.

Within the crystal grand hall, treasures gleamed with flowing light, and the waters lay still without a ripple.

The East Sea Dragon King, Ao Guang, sat high upon a throne carved from Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Jade, his eyes closed in repose.

Below, the Turtle Prime Minister was methodically reporting on the recent affairs of the East Sea, from the division of the Demon Race's water veins to the list of tributes for the Heavenly Court—everything seemed orderly and unchanging for eternity.

Just then, a Shrimp Soldier stumbled and scrambled into the hall, his shell scraping against the floor with a grating noise, shattering the ancient stillness completely.

"Your... Your Majesty! Something terrible has happened!"

Ao Guang slowly opened his eyes, a hint of displeasure flickering in those golden dragon pupils.

"What's the panic? Has the sky fallen?"

"It's... it's even more absurd than the sky falling!"

The Shrimp Soldier trembled, raising both hands high to present a jade slip shimmering with faint, mysterious light.

"Someone... someone from Golden Ao Island has come!"

"Golden Ao Island?"

Ao Guang's brow furrowed slightly, a trace of doubt stirring in his heart.

Just a few days ago, the Turtle Prime Minister had gone to Golden Ao Island, queued for an entire day, and hadn't even met that mysterious Dao Protector, only bringing back a pile of baffling rules and regulations.

Why would they send someone here today?

"Present it."

He spoke calmly.

The Turtle Prime Minister hurried forward, took the jade slip, and carefully offered it before the Dragon King.

Ao Guang accepted the jade slip and probed it with his divine sense.

The next moment, his majestic dragon countenance froze, expression solidifying.

Within the grand hall, the air itself seemed to thicken from the Dragon King's silence.

The assembled aquatic ministers below all held their breath, trembling, unsure of what had happened.

A long while passed.

Ao Guang slowly raised his head, his gaze sweeping over those below, and spoke in a dry voice.

"The Jie Sect's Calamity Aversion Department, by decree of the Dao Ancestor, has established the 'Three Realms Population Census Office.'"

He paused, as if digesting this preposterous statement.

"Tomorrow, they will send a Working Group to our East Sea Dragon Palace to guide and assist our clan in... completing the first household registration for the Dragon Clan."

As his voice fell.

The entire crystal grand hall fell into a deathly silence.

All the Shrimp Soldiers, Crab Generals, fish spirits, and clam monsters stood as if struck by a paralysis spell, their faces filled with bewilderment and shock.

Household?

Registration?

What kind of ancient forbidden curse was this?

"This is outrageous!"

A thunderous roar exploded like a water mine.

A heavily armored Crab General, wielding a trident, stepped forward from the ranks, his shell flushed crimson with rage.

"Our Dragon Clan are the overlords of the Primordial World, ruling the four seas! How can we tolerate these Jie Sect disciples coming to act recklessly! Your Majesty, this general requests permission to spear that messenger out!"

"No!"

The Turtle Prime Minister hurried forward, his seasoned face heavy with gravity.

"Your Majesty, generals, that official letter bears not only the Jie Sect's great seal but, more crucially... it mentions the Dao Ancestor's decree!"

Dao Ancestor!

Those two words, like two Primordial Divine Mountains, instantly pressed down on the hearts of all the aquatic clan.

The Crab General's fury, as if doused by a bucket of Nine Nether Cold Spring, was extinguished in an instant.

Ao Guang's face darkened, nearly dripping with gloom.

He knew full well the gravity of the situation.

This was no longer a dispute between the Jie Sect and the Dragon Palace.

This was an irresistible will from the Purple Firmament Palace!

But...

Household registration?

He, the dignified East Sea Dragon King, a great power with a name in the Primordial World, was supposed to register his name, age, and address alongside a bunch of juniors?

This was even more humiliating than when the Demon Race had come knocking during the Lich-Demon War!

"Pass my royal decree!"

Ao Guang's voice was icy and imperious.

"Tomorrow, assemble the Dragon Palace's three thousand aquatic troops and array them before the Crystal Palace!"

"We shall see exactly how the Jie Sect's 'Working Group' intends to guide our Dragon Clan's affairs!"

The next day, at dawn.

Outside the Crystal Palace, three thousand aquatic troops stood armed to the teeth, murderous intent thick in the water.

Heavy halberds and sharp blades gleamed with a frigid cold light under the refraction of the waves.

A grim, heavy atmosphere stirred the seawater for ten thousand li into surging undercurrents.

Ao Guang sat high on his throne above the palace gate, flanked by a host of dragon sons, dragon grandsons, and aquatic generals.

He was using this display to send a clear message to the Jie Sect's envoy.

This was the East Sea Dragon Palace!

His territory!

Even with a decree from the Dao Ancestor, they would have to follow the Dragon Clan's rules!

In this tense, sword-drawn atmosphere.

A group of figures appeared on the distant sea horizon.

No immortal light swirled around them. No auspicious colors trailed behind.

Three hundred Jie Sect disciples, clad in uniform gray Daoist robes, marched in neat ranks, treading across the water at a steady, unhurried pace.

They carried no magic treasures, no weapons.

Each one held a thick stack of blank jade slips in their arms, with an ordinary jade pen tucked under their armpit.

Their expressions were calm, solemn, even carrying a hint of... procedural indifference.

Leading them was none other than Zhao Gongming, head of the Jie Sect's External Affairs Hall.

He looked at the three thousand troops bristling with killing intent, at the East Sea Dragon King sitting high on his throne with a grim face.

Not a single ripple crossed his features.

Before setting out, Junior Brother Wuwei had repeatedly instructed him.

"Remember, Senior Brother. We're not going to fight, and we're not going to negotiate."

"We're going... to work."

"No matter what formation they put up or what attitude they take, you only need to remember four words."

"Follow the procedure."

At this moment, Zhao Gongming held those four words firmly in his heart.

He led his three hundred disciples, under the frigid gaze of the three thousand troops, straight to the gate of the Crystal Palace.

He stopped, meeting Ao Guang's eyes from the throne with a calm gaze.

The entire scene fell so silent that the sound of bubbles popping could be heard.

Ao Guang did not speak.

He was waiting for the other side to speak first, to show a crack.

But Zhao Gongming did not speak either.

He simply waved a hand lightly behind him.

A disciple immediately stepped forward, pulling from his robe a pre-written jade slip that shimmered with faint golden light.

Zhao Gongming took the jade slip and gently urged his magic power.

The jade slip blazed with light, projecting lines of text imbued with the divine rhythm of the Heavenly Dao, suspended clearly before every aquatic clansman.

[Notice Regarding the Initiation of Household Registration Information Collection in the East Sea Dragon Clan]

[By decree of Dao Ancestor Hongjun of Purple Firmament Palace, under the overall leadership of Flow Official Chen Changsheng, the Three Realms Population Census Office hereby decides...]

The cold, emotionless official language echoed like a heavenly decree in the ears of every living being.

All the words Ao Guang had prepared about Dragon Clan dignity and the rules of the Four Seas were instantly choked back.

He could oppose the Jie Sect. He could oppose Zhao Gongming.

But how could he oppose a notice that began with the words "By decree of Dao Ancestor Hongjun of Purple Firmament Palace"?

"Zhao... Fellow Daoist Zhao Gongming."

Ao Guang forced himself to speak, trying to maintain his dignity as Dragon King.

"Our Dragon Clan has recorded its bloodline inheritance since the Creation of Heaven and Earth. There is no need for..."

Before he could finish his words.

Zhao Gongming nodded to another disciple beside him.

That disciple immediately stepped forward and handed over a new jade slip.

"Your Majesty the Dragon King."

Zhao Gongming's voice was as steady as ten-thousand-year-old profound ice.

"The Immortal Official foresaw this doubt of yours long ago."

"This is the 'Supplementary Explanation and Preferential Policy for the Registration of Ancient Primordial World Races, Version 1.2.'"

"It clearly stipulates that ancient races like the Dragon Clan, with their long heritage, may enjoy priority processing when registering their household registration, and additionally receive two honorary identifiers: 'Ancient Bloodline' and 'Lord of the Four Seas.'"

"Please, Your Majesty, review it first. If there are no objections, you may... sign and confirm here."

As he spoke, that disciple actually placed a confirmation letter requiring a "signature" before Ao Guang.

Ao Guang stared at the confirmation letter, feeling an unprecedented sense of absurdity rushing straight to the crown of his head.

He felt he was not confronting a great power of the Jie Sect.

He was fighting a monster he could not understand at all, one named "Process."

And this monster was impervious to reason, impenetrable to force.

It did not fight you, did not argue with you.

It merely used one form after another, one regulation after another, to dissolve all your resistance, all your dignity, into nothingness.

Behind him, the hot-tempered Crab General was already watching with his mouth agape.

As for the Turtle Prime Minister, upon seeing that "Supplementary Explanation," a glimmer of understanding flashed in his eyes, and he gave Ao Guang an almost imperceptible shake of his head.

Ao Guang understood.

Resistance was futile.

He took a deep breath, a breath that seemed to drain the water from the Four Seas.

He slowly rose from his throne and waved his hand.

The three thousand murderous aquatic soldiers retreated like a receding tide.

"Enough."

Ao Guang's voice carried a bone-deep weariness.

"Then... let it be as the Immortal Official wishes."

A smile finally appeared on Zhao Gongming's face—a procedural smile, the kind that comes from smoothly advancing a task.

He nodded to the disciples behind him.

"Working Group, enter."

Three hundred disciples marched in neat steps into the main hall of the Crystal Palace.

They did not look at the shimmering corals, nor at the priceless pearls.

Swiftly, they set up rows of simple desks made of profound ice on both sides of the hall, spread out jade slips, and took out jade pens.

In a mere moment, the entire majestic, awe-inspiring Crystal Palace had been transformed into... a temporary service hall.

Ao Guang sat back down on his throne, powerless, watching this absurd scene.

One disciple of the Jie Sect, who looked the most shrewd and capable, walked to the foot of his throne and bowed respectfully.

"Your Majesty the Dragon King, the census work now begins."

"Please cooperate."

Ao Guang nodded woodenly.

That disciple cleared his throat, opened the jade slip in his hand, and asked the first question—one destined to be recorded in the annals of the Primordial World.

"Name: Ao Guang."

"Gender: Male."

"Race: Five-Clawed Golden Dragon."

"Current Residence: Crystal Palace, East Sea."

"Next, please answer your... Political Stance?"

Ao Guang jerked his head up, his golden dragon eyes filled with utter bewilderment.