The Collapse of Authority

Taishang Laojun's "Soul-Startling Pill" had the effect of dropping a depth charge into a calm lake, creating ripples far beyond Lin Fan's imagination.

On the Black Tiger Gang's side, Zhao Black Tiger was thrown into immense shock and conflict upon learning that A Biao and his men had bizarrely failed and collectively suffered mental breakdowns (secretly controlled by the authorities). Greed made him crave the miraculous pill, while fear made him wary of the mysterious power Lin Fan represented. He temporarily suppressed the urge to contact Lin Fan again, ordering his subordinates to pull back and observe, while simultaneously using all his connections to probe the authorities' stance on the incident and gather more information about the "mysterious tenants." However, the levels he could access were far from the core, yielding only vague warnings of "highly classified" and "extremely dangerous," which made him even more hesitant to act rashly.

On the official level, the shockwaves caused by the "Soul-Startling Pill" incident were seismic.

Chen Jing's detailed report, along with the state of the six thugs in the special medical facility—alternating between madness and fear, their mental worlds utterly collapsed, with modern medical methods (including psychological intervention and medication) proving largely ineffective—landed on the desks of those truly in power. The report's description of a faint yet direct "energy fluctuation" that acted upon the mental plane, triggering deep-seated fearful illusions, and the analysis of Taishang Laojun's nonchalant attitude, made these seasoned figures feel an unprecedented pressure and... a hint of bewilderment.

This had completely surpassed the scope of "special abilities" or "unknown technology," resembling a power akin to "authority" that touched upon the fundamental rules of the world. How should they interact with it? Should they try to control it, cooperate with it, or... destroy it? Any choice carried immense risk and uncertainty.

After several days of urgent high-level consultations, a preliminary consensus was finally reached: their strategy must change until the other party's bottom line and intentions were fully understood. Hardline tactics carried uncontrollable risks, while continued simple long-distance surveillance yielded no breakthrough progress. Thus, a new directive was issued to Chen Jing: attempt limited, cautious, unofficial formal contact to establish preliminary communication channels, assess the other party's attitude towards the authorities and the current social order, and, if possible, obtain more information about their abilities, origins, and needs. The primary principle: avoid conflict, maintain restraint, and show goodwill.

Chen Jing received the order and took a deep breath. She knew the most difficult moments might be upon them. She carefully selected her team members, including necessary security and technical support personnel, and specifically brought along a top domestic psychologist and a foreign affairs expert skilled in negotiation and communication. She opted for a low-key approach, traveling in two ordinary black sedans, arriving at Lin Fan's residential complex on a sunny morning.

This time, she brought no nerve-wracking detection equipment, nor did she notify the property management. She simply walked up the familiar stairs with a few core members, her expression serious yet cautious.

Meanwhile, in the rented apartment, Lin Fan had just finished his morning cultivation and was preparing breakfast. His spiritual senses were now sharp, and he had a faint premonition the moment Chen Jing and her group stepped into the building's entrance.

"Seniors, they're here again," Lin Fan said, looking at Tong Tian and Nüwa, a barely perceptible tension in his voice. Despite having weathered several storms, an official visit carried entirely different weight.

Tong Tian remained with his eyes closed, as if he hadn't heard, but the aura around him was as placid as an ancient well, unfathomably deep.

Nüwa paused the brush she was using to imbue a newly sculpted orchid with spiritual energy, looked up towards the door, her eyes clear and serene.

Taishang Laojun chuckled, setting down the herbs he was holding. "What must come, will come. Young friend, go answer the door and act according to the situation."

Lin Fan steadied himself and walked to the door. Almost simultaneously, a steady, restrained knock sounded from outside, followed by Chen Jing's clear, calm voice: "Mr. Lin Fan, hello. I am Chen Jing, and I would like to communicate some matters with you and your friends. Would this be a convenient time?"

Lin Fan took a deep breath and opened the door.

Outside, Chen Jing stood at the forefront. Today, she wore a proper business suit, her expression serious yet polite, her gaze sharp but devoid of hostility. Behind her stood two men and one woman, all with extraordinary bearing and calm gazes, clearly not ordinary people. Further down the staircase, several men in plain clothes stood guard vigilantly.

"Miss Chen," Lin Fan nodded, stepping aside. "Please come in."

Chen Jing gave a slight nod and entered the room with her three core members. The moment she stepped inside, the familiar, heart-refreshing serene atmosphere and the air's unusually high concentration of negative ions startled her once again. Her gaze quickly swept across the room: the lifelike clay figures on the windowsill, the paintings on the wall imbued with Dao rhythm, the ancient-looking Taishang Laojun in the corner with his profound aura, the man in ancient attire with long hair sitting like a pine tree, exuding immense pressure even with his eyes closed (Tong Tian), and the woman with an ethereal, gentle aura who was painting (Nüwa). Everything matched the information in her hands, but experiencing it firsthand, the sense of difference originating from their life levels and essential souls was even more profound.

"Forgive our intrusion," Chen Jing tried to keep her tone as peaceful as possible. She looked at Lin Fan, then her gaze swept over the three Sages. "Mr. Lin Fan, and three... seniors. On behalf of the relevant departments, I hope to have an open and candid communication with you all regarding some recent events."

She didn't specify the department, but the words "relevant departments" clearly indicated their official background.

Lin Fan didn't speak, instead looking at Taishang Laojun. He knew that a conversation at this level was beyond his ability to lead.

Taishang Laojun stroked his beard and smiled, looking at Chen Jing with a peaceful gaze. "Guardians of this realm's order, feel free to ask any questions you may have."

His demeanor was natural and casual, as if chatting with a junior, showing no nervousness in the face of official power.

Chen Jing's heart settled. The fact that they were willing to communicate was a good start. She carefully chose her words and began, "First, regarding the reckless actions of Professor Sun Zhengyi and others a few days ago, and the illegal intrusion last night, I, on behalf of... express our apologies. Our work had oversights, and we apologize for the trouble caused."

She first expressed goodwill while observing their reactions.

Laojun chuckled, "The ignorant are fearless. Minor disturbances are like a breeze passing by; we have not taken them to heart." His words were spoken lightly, yet Chen Jing felt a chill. They didn't care about the so-called "experts" or the thugs; this transcendence stemmed from absolute strength.

Chen Jing smoothly transitioned to the main topic: "Thank you for your magnanimity, Senior. We have noticed that you... are not ordinary people, and the abilities you have displayed far exceed the general understanding of current society. We are here hoping to understand you better, such as your origins, your purpose in this realm, and... whether we can find a way to coexist peacefully, or even achieve mutual benefit and win-win outcomes in the future?"

Her questions were direct, yet left ample room for maneuver.

This time, before Laojun could answer, Tong Tian, who had remained silent with his eyes closed, slowly opened them.

The moment he opened his eyes, Chen Jing and the three experts behind her instantly felt the surrounding air solidify! An indescribable, cold, and vast will descended upon the entire room like an invisible mountain! It wasn't directed at them, merely a natural emanation of their presence, yet it made their souls tremble and their breaths catch! The psychologist even instinctively took half a step back, his face drained of color.

Tong Tian's indifferent gaze swept over Chen Jing, like a deity looking down upon mortals. His voice was calm and unwavering, yet carried a coldness that pointed directly to the origin of rules:

"Where we come from, and what has that to do with this realm? The master of this place allows us to temporarily reside here, which is reason enough. As for our purpose... to recover, and to leave. If this realm's Heavenly Dao is incomplete and its rules suppress us, then we can only remain."

His words were even more direct than before, clarifying that they were "outsiders," their goal was "recovery" and "departure," and the reason for staying was the realm's "incomplete Heavenly Dao" and "suppressive rules." These words struck Chen Jing and her group like thunder! This almost confirmed their most crucial speculation—they were truly "visitors from another world," and their power level involved concepts like "Heavenly Dao" and "rules," which existed only in philosophical and fantastical concepts!

Chen Jing forcibly suppressed the storm in her heart, striving to maintain her composure. "Senior, what you said about 'incomplete Heavenly Dao' and 'suppressive rules,' could you elaborate?"

A barely perceptible mocking curve flickered at the corner of Tong Tian's lips. He didn't answer directly but retorted, "Do you know why this realm's spiritual energy is depleted, why all laws are silent? Why sentient beings are ignorant and struggle to glimpse the true Way? It is not due to insufficient aptitude, but because this world has tied its own hands, severed the path to the extraordinary, leaving only one... the so-called 'science,' a rugged and difficult path with an eventual end."

His words struck Chen Jing and the expert with a physics background like heavy hammers!

"Spiritual energy depleted," "all laws silent," "severed the path to the extraordinary," "science is a rugged path"... these words fundamentally negated the entire worldview and cognitive system constructed by modern science! If what they said was true, then humanity's proud technological civilization, in their eyes, might truly be just a "rugged path" leading to a dead end?

The physics expert's face flushed red, and he couldn't help but retort, his tone filled with the agitation of academic authority being challenged: "Sir! I must respectfully disagree with your viewpoint! Science is the most powerful tool for humanity to understand and transform the world! It has brought leaps in productivity, extended lifespans, and advanced civilization! How can you call it a 'rugged path'?!"

Tong Tian turned his gaze towards him. Those eyes were profound, as if containing the ultimate principles of cosmic creation and destruction, instantly cooling the physicist's agitation, leaving only a chilling sense of being completely seen through.

"Tool?" Tong Tian's tone remained indifferent. "Has your science ever touched the origin of life? Has it ever reversed the river of time? Has it ever transcended the confines of this realm to roam beyond the sea of stars? It is merely making minor repairs and explorations within the cage demarcated by this realm's Heavenly Dao. You cling to material appearances and ignore the essence of spirit, like blind men touching an elephant, never seeing the true face of the Great Way in your lifetime."

He casually pointed to a sparrow flying outside the window. "Do you know the structure of this sparrow's soul? Where does its life-force come from? How does it interact with the energy of heaven and earth? Can your science explain it all?"

He then pointed to the painting of "Mount Buzhou" Nüwa had painted on the table. "The Dao rhythm in this painting can calm the spirit and gather spiritual energy. Can your instruments analyze even a fraction of it?"

The physicist opened his mouth, wanting to retort, but found himself speechless. Modern science indeed could not explain the structure of the soul or life-force, nor could it analyze the mysterious "Dao rhythm" in the painting that caused instruments to malfunction. The edifice of science he had always believed in seemed to tremble and crack under a few casual questions.

Another expert, a diplomat, attempted to ease the atmosphere, asking cautiously, "Then, in Senior's view, what is the 'Great Way'? And how should we... pursue this 'Great Way'?"

This time, Nüwa put down her brush, and her ethereal, gentle voice rang out, like a clear spring flowing, soothing the somewhat stagnant atmosphere in the room:

"The Great Way has no name; it nourishes all things. All beings have their Way. The blooming and withering of plants is a Way, the rotation of the sun and moon is a Way, and the goodness in people's hearts is also a Way. It is not about abandoning your 'science,' but about knowing its limitations and understanding its fundamentals. If technology can harmonize with nature and align with the human heart, it is also a path of the Way. However, if one only seeks to take, disrupt balance, and obscure spirituality, they stray from the Way and will ultimately bear the consequences."

Her words were filled with inclusivity and wisdom, not completely negating science, but pointing out its proper direction and limitations. This put Chen Jing and the others somewhat at ease; at least they were not entirely hostile towards modern civilization.

However, Taishang Laojun's next words pushed the psychologist, who had been trying to understand everything through the existing scientific paradigm, to the brink of collapse.

Laojun looked at the pale-faced psychologist, chuckled, and suddenly asked, "Doctor, you use scales to measure the heart and theories to analyze dreams. Have you ever measured what the 'I' in 'I think, therefore I am' truly is? Have you ever analyzed the origin of the interweaving of good and evil and the sprouting of karma within a single thought?"

This seemingly simple question struck at the core unsolved mysteries of psychology and even philosophy as a whole—the origin of consciousness and the substance of free will.

The psychologist's entire body trembled as if struck by lightning. All the theories and models he had dedicated his life to studying seemed so pale and powerless in the face of such a fundamental question! He tried to explain it with brain science and neurotransmitters, but immediately realized that those only described the material basis, failing to touch the core of the most mysterious "subjective experience" of "consciousness" itself! What exactly is that "I"?

"I... we..." His lips quivered, his eyes unfocused. His years of academic faith and cognitive system were utterly shattered in this moment by a single, casually posed question from Laojun! He staggered, bracing himself against the wall to avoid collapsing, only able to mumble unconsciously, "Don't know... I don't know..."

Seeing her subordinate expert in such a distraught state, Chen Jing felt a surge of powerlessness. The experts she had brought, authorities in their respective fields of modern science, were so easily defeated by a few seemingly casual questions that struck at the very root of the matter! This wasn't just a gap in knowledge; it was an absolute crushing of cognitive dimensions and life levels!

The so-called "authorities" crumbled before the true "Dao" and "Reason."

An eerie silence fell upon the room. Only the faint city noise from outside and the psychologist's heavy, chaotic breaths could be heard.

Chen Jing knew that it would be difficult to make any more substantial progress today. The other party's attitude was already clear: they were merely staying temporarily, their goal was to leave, they held no malice towards this world but lacked interest in it, and they viewed the modern scientific system with a condescending gaze.

She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down, and bowed slightly to Taishang Laojun and Nüwa. "Thank you both, seniors, for your guidance. We apologize for the intrusion today and will take our leave. Regarding your stay in this world, if you require anything, or... if there's anything we can assist with, please contact us through Mr. Lin Fan. We hope to at least maintain an open channel of communication."

She handed her encrypted contact information to Lin Fan.

Taishang Laojun nodded slightly. "Alright."

Nüwa also nodded gently.

Chen Jing said no more, signaling two assistants who were still in a stable condition to help the nearly mentally collapsed psychologist. The group, maintaining silence, slowly withdrew from the room.

The door closed, separating two worlds.

Lin Fan watched the heavy, almost panicked figures of Chen Jing and her team as they departed. He then looked at the still calm three Sages inside the room, his heart filled with emotion. He knew that from this day forward, the official attitude towards them would likely undergo a fundamental shift. Whether it was for better or worse remained to be seen.

And the "collapse of authority" had not only happened to that psychologist but also to all the official personnel who had witnessed this conversation. They would have to start re-examining this world and their own positions within it.

The storm had not ended; it had merely changed into a more profound and unpredictable form, quietly brewing. And Lin Fan, this ordinary young man, had been swept into the vortex at the center of this world-altering cognitive revolution.