The Profound Divine Way of Shenzhou, and the Plundering Venerable Who Takes All

"Esteemed visitor from another world, may I inquire about the purpose of your visit to our realm?"

The Heavenly Dao of Shenzhou was almost pitifully compliant.

It didn't even attempt to resist. The moment it sensed the aura emanating from the fifteen Chaos-Colored Pearls, it immediately backed down.

While a single pearl only possessed the strength of a True Immortal—something it could easily suppress given its rank—fifteen together created a qualitative transformation. Even if it could win, the victory would be pyrrhic!

So, negotiation was the only option. After all, the other party didn’t seem particularly hostile. At worst, it would just mean ceding some resources or paying reparations. What did it matter? It could afford it!

"Hmm—"

One of the Chaos-Colored Pearls shattered, and Chen Yi's avatar materialized.

He calmly gazed at the heavens and declared, "What I want can wait. First, explain why you’ve allowed the incense deities below to grow corrupt, exploiting the masses. Can you not control them, or do you simply not care?"

The Heavenly Dao of Shenzhou froze.

Wait, how is this any of your business?

You’re overstepping.

What right does an outsider, a demon from beyond, have to lecture me?

Just because you’re strong, you think everyone should obey you?

Hmph! If I don’t like what someone says, I won’t give them face!

"Esteemed visitor, first, allow me to express my gratitude for your concern and feedback regarding the Shenzhou World. We have always strictly adhered to regulations and procedures in our operations, maintaining an open and prudent attitude toward all opinions and suggestions. We have a mature and comprehensive system in place..."

The Heavenly Dao of Shenzhou had a slight duality—privately cursing up a storm, yet outwardly exuding utmost respect, delivering an excessively formal, bureaucratic, and utterly meaningless response...

Chen Yi was left utterly baffled, his lips twitching in irritation. Without hesitation, he summoned a massive obsidian halberd and leveled it forward, growling, "Get to the point!"

Swiftly—

The Heavenly Dao immediately clarified: "Water that’s too clear has no fish. If governance is too strict, they won’t work diligently. So, I let them operate freely—I only care about results."

"If you’re too lazy to manage them, just say so. There’s no shame in admitting it!" Chen Yi cut straight to the heart of the matter. "The Shenzhou World has hit a bottleneck, hasn’t it? The incense deity system has grown bloated and unwieldy, and you’ve given up trying to fix it."

The Heavenly Dao fell silent for a moment before sighing faintly. "You’re right. The incense system developed too rapidly, and at the time, we lacked the foresight to anticipate today’s predicament."

Chen Yi waved a hand dismissively. "Enough excuses. Tell me—how long has it been since you last paid attention to the lowest strata of life? They are the foundation of this towering edifice. No matter how dazzling the spires may be, if the base crumbles, everything collapses!"

Yet the Heavenly Dao refused to answer directly, even countering: "Esteemed guest, your insight is remarkable. If I may guess, you seek the operational principles of the incense system for reference, yes? I would be delighted to provide them!"

Chen Yi shook his head slightly. "Touched a nerve, didn’t I? Can’t keep up the act anymore?"

The Heavenly Dao remained silent, eager only to be rid of this nuisance. It hastily replicated the foundational laws of the incense system and prepared to hand them over.

For an entity as deeply rooted as itself, this was a trivial task—even somewhat relieving.

After stagnating at this bottleneck for so long, its accumulated Heavenly Dao essence had overflowed. Shedding a fraction actually lightened the burden.

In a lesser world, however, partitioning Heavenly Dao laws would trigger catastrophic upheaval, bringing ruin to all living things!

"In such a hurry to see me leave?" Chen Yi understood the Heavenly Dao’s reluctance to air its dirty laundry, but having come this far, he wasn’t about to leave empty-handed.

"You—come with me and observe. Then, based on the inspectors’ findings, revise these foundational laws. Whether you implement them is your choice, but the copy I take must be corrected. Oh, and throw in a few First-Rank Heavenly Deities as well."

With that, Chen Yi descended through the clouds, streaking toward the earth below.

What else could the Heavenly Dao do?

This guy was extorting it shamelessly! Not only did he demand revisions to the flawed incense system (while refusing to do the work himself), but he also had the audacity to ask for multiple First-Rank Heavenly Deities?

The Shenzhou World had only nurtured thirteen First-Rank deities in all its millennia of existence—and he casually demanded "a few"?

Just how many is "a few"?

Hmph. A beggar collecting debts, a bandit plundering loot. Fine! If it takes wealth to avert disaster, so be it!

Truly, the Shenzhou World’s reserves were staggeringly abundant. Though it couldn’t ascend to a higher rank, among True Immortal-level realms, it had no equal!

Even the once-glorious Heavenly Dao of Qingyun paled in comparison!

This gave the Heavenly Dao of Shenzhou immense confidence—if it didn’t want a fight, it could simply pay its way out.

It had resources to spare!

Jiangbei Prefecture, Bureau of Investigation.

The Judgment Hall was packed with figures—emissaries from the main temples of every prefecture, even envoys from the Celestial Palace, had gathered for this trial.

Outside, in the plaza, countless lowborn souls knelt with tear-filled eyes, their gazes fixed on the live projection above the hall.

The chief speaker, Gu Yuan—clad in the robes of a Sixth-Rank Investigation Officer—cleared his throat and began.

"Dear citizens of Jiangbei, and all you useless emissaries from other regions—greetings!"

"I’m delighted you could attend this trial despite your busy schedules. However, the condescending attitudes of certain divine envoys displease me. So, later, you’ll all be treated to a taste of steel. None of you are leaving."

Gu Yuan maintained a perfectly bureaucratic tone while delivering outrageously provocative words.

The emissaries from other regions immediately bristled—

But the moment they bared their teeth, Ye Wuchen, leader of the Jiangbei Inspection Team (currently lounging in the victim’s seat with his legs crossed), let out a cold snort.

Instantly—

A crushing pressure engulfed the hall. The emissaries’ defiance evaporated, their expressions shifting to awkward smiles, their eyes suddenly clear.

Oh! So it’s a First-Rank Heavenly Deity playing games?

Carry on, then!

"Glad we’re all in agreement. After this adjourns, nobody leaves!"

Gu Yuan delivered this spine-chilling statement with bureaucratic poise before adopting a plastic official smile.

"Now, I declare the trial of the Hanxi Mountain Deity, Third-Rank Celestial Official Taiji Immortal Elder, officially open. I am Gu Yuan, Sixth-Rank Officer of the Jiangbei Bureau of Investigation, serving as spokesperson for this proceeding."

"Our Jiangbei Inspection Team Leader, Ye Wuchen, was abducted by the Black Bear Spirit, deity of Lingyuan River, who attempted to murder him to intimidate our investigation!"

"So I must ask—how did a mere mountain deity of its rank dare to kidnap our leader?"

"Who gave it the courage?"

"This warrants deeper investigation!"

"And what did we find? That Taiji Immortal Elder, behind the scenes, provided extensive support!"

"Installing a non-aquatic Black Bear Spirit as a river deity, embezzling incense offerings, oppressing the masses—blatant violations of celestial law! Such audacity!"

"Now, let us hear from the former Hanxi Mountain Deity, Third-Rank Celestial Official, founder of the Hanxi Gang in Jiangbei Prefecture—Taiji Immortal Elder—as he shares his... motivations."