"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."
with countless casualties. As a top-tier gamer, Liu Xuan volunteered to join the fight, intending to dominate with his skills, but instead he obtained the hidden class: [Pacifist]. Unable to attack. Unable to use active skills. Fortunately, with each level gained, he acquired a new passive skill. And so, armed with a body full of passives, Liu Xuan slaughtered his way through the battlefield of ten thousand races! [You attacked Liu Xuan] [You gained the debuffs: 'Poison', 'Fear', 'Burning', 'Bleeding', 'Freeze', 'Silence', etc.] [Your attack speed has been reduced by 99%] [Your armor and magic resistance have been reduced by 99%] Warriors of the Ten Thousand Races: How the hell am I supposed to fight this?!
grated, and just when he finally managed to get into an elite academy, he discovered that he actually had a system, and the way to earn rewards was extremely ridiculous. So for the sake of rewards, he had no choice but to start acting ridiculous as well. Su Cheng: "It's nothing but system quests after all." But later, what confused Su Cheng was that while he was already quite ridiculous, he never expected those serious characters to gradually become ridiculous too. And the way they looked at him became increasingly strange... (This synopsis doesn't do it justice, please read the full story)
ine. During your journey, you save an abandoned baby girl and become her elder brother】 【You rely on each other, becoming each other's support】 【At the end of the simulation, you shield the now-grown girl with your life, sacrificing yourself to block numerous demonic cultivators. You die, and the light in the girl's eyes fades】 …… 【Second Simulation: You are transported to a world where steam and magic coexist】 【You immerse yourself in the study of magic, obsessed with its research. One day, while out, you encounter a half-blooded demon girl wandering the streets. You take her in as your student】 【You teach the demoness what it means to be human, show her the beauty of the world, and nurture her into a miracle that surpasses even the gods】 【At the end of the simulation, you die of old age in front of the nearly immortal demoness due to your mortal lifespan】 …… One simulation after another, one encounter after another. Xu Xi suddenly felt something was off: "Wait, you said you're coming to the real world to find me?"
ive and Ruthless] Before his transmigration, Ye Xuan was playing a game called "Severing Emotions to Attain the Dao." The game's core wasn't about leveling up by fighting monsters, but about conquering various "bad women" with wicked personalities and cold, fickle natures. There was only one method to conquer them: stay unwaveringly by their side, then die at a critical moment, driving them to madness after losing the protagonist. The higher their level of regret, the higher the player's score. To dominate the server, Ye Xuan conquered all the bad women. In the early stages, he showered them with boundless tenderness, only to choose to sacrifice himself for them later, making them weep bitterly and drown in regret. Among them were: Xia Lengyue, the unfaithful immortal wife who chased after powerful men and discarded her husband like trash. Ye Qingcheng, the Demonic Venerable of the Joyous Union Sect, who appeared pure and innocent but was, in reality, promiscuous. Wu Lingxiao, the Empress of the Great Xia Dynasty, who lusted after men and loved maintaining a harem. Bai Qiangu of the Endless Demonic Sect: a bloodthirsty mass murderer. However, when the protagonist transmigrated into the game world, he made a horrifying discovery. Eight hundred years had already passed. The bad women he had conquered had now each become deities and revered ancestors. Faced with the endless stream of toxic women coming for him, Ye Xuan could only rely on his god-tier acting skills to carve a path of survival through this world of treacherous women.
