Golden Ao Island, temporary Audit Department station.
Holy Mother Jin Ling's fingertip hovered above a Jade Slip for a long time without descending.
Before her, Jade Slips were piled like mountains.
Every single one was a perfect work of art.
The formatting was immaculate, the Process clear, and the Project Cost accounting precise to twelve decimal places.
"Project Name: Report on True Person Huanglong's Water Diversion and Irrigation Project in the Mountain Ravines of Xiqi's Eastern Suburbs."
"Project Cost: Three hundred and sixty wisps of magic power consumed, equivalent to 0.007 Merit. One cup of 'Clear Heart Spring Water,' procured from Kunlun Mountain public resources; its cost has already been amortized, with 0.001 Merit charged for this instance."
"Project Benefits: Irrigated three mu of mortal farmland, with an expected increase of one hundred and twenty jin of grain. Social contribution assessment: KPI plus 0.1."
Holy Mother Jin Ling closed her eyes.
The Audit Department cultivators behind her all looked pale, their eyes vacant.
They were not tired.
They were numb.
Since the Audit Department had entered Xiqi, the Chan Sect's "retaliation" had come swiftly and thoroughly.
They no longer submitted those grand plans that could be picked apart for flaws.
Instead, they submitted endless, trivial, yet utterly flawless "micro-project reports."
Drinking a cup of water required a report.
Walking a hundred steps required an application.
Today, True Person Huanglong had caught a rabbit, yet he first had to submit an <Application for a Humanitarian Aid Project to Improve the Meals of Xiqi Soldiers>, complete with an assessment of the rabbit's fair market value and an accounting of the energy costs consumed during cooking.
The Audit Department was about to be drowned.
"Senior Sister."
A disciple spoke in a dry voice.
"The Chan Sect has submitted another three thousand new applications.