Thirty thousand li off the eastern shore lies the vast azure ocean and the Carefree Isle.
Originally, Carefree Isle wasn't very large, spanning only about a hundred li in length and width. But who could argue, given that it was designated by the Ziwei Celestial Court as one of six special advanced cultivation trial zones? The second most challenging comprehensive trial, the Retrospection Secret Realm, was situated here.
Furthermore, due to certain historical reasons, Carefree Isle enjoyed special autonomous rights, reporting directly to the Ziwei Celestial Court, with local authorities having no power to intervene!
Funding and resources were approved directly by the Celestial Court, leading to Carefree Isle's current extreme prosperity. Its territory had expanded to three thousand li, now housing a celestial vein. Its fortune soared, and immortal energy was dense, with over a million cultivators passing through daily!
It even enjoyed the reputation: 'Free Carefree Isle, a shortcut every day.'
However, when power lacks oversight, many hidden problems gradually spiral out of control.
Resources strictly regulated in other regions could be freely traded here. A single prohibited Blood Skull Pill could even sell for five hundred thousand top-grade spirit stones, despite its production cost being merely five hundred top-grade spirit stones—a thousand-fold markup, yet supply still couldn't meet demand!
One might ask, wouldn't the local City God and Earth God crack down on such severe price gouging?
In reality, when the local City God and Earth God themselves were beneficiaries, they tended to turn a blind eye to such relatively minor issues.
A violation of regulations wasn't necessarily a breach of law, and a breach of law wasn't necessarily a crime. The severity of the problem lay in adjudication, where there was significant room for flexible interpretation—an advantage brought by autonomy. As long as the Ziwei Celestial Court didn't inquire, it wasn't a major problem!
Enjoying the influx of massive resource circulation and seeing fortune rise daily counted as merit!
How could the local City God and Earth God possibly clamp down?
Should they severely crack down on these practices, causing the local fortune to plummet, only to be criticized in the year-end evaluation by the Basic Divine Office Academy for dereliction of duty and inaction?
Obviously impossible!
"Old Huo, the winds from above have shifted recently. Shouldn't we follow the directives and start rectifying?"
Within the grand and magnificent City God Temple at the center of Carefree Isle, Luo Wutian, the former 1002nd generation sect master of the Carefree Sect who transitioned to a incense deity, now serving as the second-rank City God of Carefree Isle, spoke with a grave expression.
Across from him was Huo Hai, the former 1001st generation sect master of the Carefree Sect turned incense deity, now the second-rank Earth God of Carefree Isle.
In response to Luo Wutian's question, Huo Hai did not reply immediately. Instead, he lightly tapped the spirit-jade immortal stone table, lost in thought.
The resolute attitude he once possessed, daring to argue with Tribulation Transcendence experts for the sake of his sect's livelihood, was long gone. Now, his eyes were filled with a thirst for advancement.
After all, for a second-rank Earth God to be promoted to first-rank, enter the Celestial Court's Central Mortal Realm Basic Divine Office Ministry, receive a sixth-rank Celestial Official position, and enjoy baptism by heavenly aura... was exceedingly difficult.
How many second-rank incense deities were there in the entire world?
Thirteen thousand five hundred and eighty!
And each year, only ten slots were available to enter the Celestial Court's Central Mortal Realm Basic Divine Office Ministry!
Even though he held an extra advantage being directly under the Celestial Court and was viewed favorably due to the outstanding contributions of Ancestor Lingxiu...
Rules were rules. If he failed the assessment, even with Ancestor Lingxiu's influence, he couldn't enter!
But standing out among over ten thousand second-rank incense deities and being rated as 'Outstanding'—how incredibly difficult was that?
Originally, he had intended to diligently work on people's welfare to boost fortune, but the result was being rated as 'Average' year after year, even 'Mediocre'!
Meanwhile, other incense deities from regions with far worse geographical locations, ecological conditions, and policy support managed to surpass him through borderline methods and enter the Ministry ahead of him!
What was he supposed to do?
What else could he do?
As the Celestial Court's rules grew increasingly comprehensive and assessment standards stricter, if he didn't seize this final opportunity to enter the Ministry in one go, future heavenly ascensions would make it nearly impossible to get in later!
Sometimes, falling just one step short meant the difference between a puddle and an ocean!
So, he stopped playing by the book.
Starting three years ago, he used certain means to transfer the previous City God and supported his fellow sect member Luo Wutian to take the position, ensuring unified agreement.
Subsequently, they relaxed their stance. Law enforcement standards were no longer strict. They no longer relied solely on the Retrospection Secret Realm to attract visitors. Instead, leveraging their unique autonomous advantages, they created a favorable and secure trading environment, gradually attracting cultivators to settle, drawing in massive resource circulation, and stimulating fortune growth...
Now, three years later, Carefree Isle's fortune had increased more than tenfold compared to three years ago. Amidst extreme prosperity, it also drove development in surrounding areas, radiating influence along the eastern coast, bringing blessings to hundreds of millions of ordinary beings!
With such monumental achievements, he was determined to secure a spot in this year's Ministry selection.
But why?
Why now, of all times?!
The higher-ups suddenly issued new regulations, demanding all regions audit the gap between actual production value and circulating fortune. Any market value exceeding the actual value by over fifty percent must be severely cracked down!
On Carefree Isle alone, a single Blood Skull Pill costing five hundred top-grade spirit stones to produce sold for five hundred thousand—a thousand-fold markup, severely exceeding the limit!
According to the new regulations, this fell squarely within the scope of mandatory crackdown and audit.
But if they cracked down and audited, what would happen to Carefree Isle's currently soaring fortune?
What would happen to the hundreds of millions of beings along the eastern coast who had benefited from this prosperity?
What would happen to his spot in the Ministry?
"Drip... drip... drip..."
The grains of time-sand fell one by one within the City God Temple.
Huo Hai tapped the table all night, finally deciding to resist the investigation by the Celestial Court's Supervision Bureau!
He suddenly raised his voice and called out, "Old Luo!"
Luo Wutian, who had been handling official duties beside him, looked up. "Finally made a decision?"
Huo Hai gave a slight nod and said solemnly, "Strictly speaking, we didn't permit the high-price transactions. They were all voluntary trades. That doesn't count as violating regulations, at most it's negligence in our oversight!"
Luo Wutian understood his meaning perfectly. After a moment of contemplation, he slowly said, "Do you think we can hide it from the Supervision Bureau's investigation?"
Huo Hai suddenly clenched his fist. "As long as we can hold out for these final two and a half months, once you and I enter the Basic Divine Office Ministry, the responsibility can't be pinned on us anymore!"
Hearing this, Luo Wutian fell silent.
Huo Hai's meaning was clear: as long as they covered things up and no scandal erupted during their tenure, the mess would be left for the next Earth God and City God to handle!
After all, many operated this way—departing in splendid attire, leaving behind a heap of troubles.
But the problem was, Carefree Isle was his home. He had contributed to the Carefree Sect's current glory!
If they really did that, they might ascend, but what would become of Carefree Isle? What about their relatives and friends?
Once the scandal broke, the preferential conditions of the special trial zone would undoubtedly be revoked!
Would their fellow islanders have to swallow this bitter pill on their behalf?
Huo Hai, oh Huo Hai, how have you become like this?
Carefree Isle is not only my home, but yours too!
How can you sacrifice the interests of your homeland for your own future?
"Do you really think we can cover it up? It seems the higher-ups are serious this time. The investigation is intense, led personally by Supervision Star Lord Xiao Chunan. Are we truly confident?"
People are like that. Before reaching the summit, they always yearn for the view from the heights, even if it means risking a fatal fall. Thus, after a long silence, Luo Wutian still could not bring himself to abandon the nearly attainable position of a Sixth-Rank Heavenly Official. In the end, he steeled his heart and decided to gamble alongside Huo Hai.
Unfortunately, their vision was still too narrow. They could discern the situation in their own corner of the world, but failed to grasp the grand scheme of the overarching trend.
This operation was the will of the Tribulation-Subduing Venerable One. It would not be swayed by any individual's will. All stubborn elements who dared to resist the inevitable tide would be solemnly and thoroughly purged.
transmigrates into the role of a villainous rich second-generation kid in an urban fantasy novel, and gets bound to a god-tier choice system. Right at the start, he catches the female lead stealing exam papers! This triggers the villain's choice options! [Choice 1: Pretend you didn't see anything] [Choice 2: Loudly call her out, drawing everyone's attention] [Choice 3: ...] And thus, a twisted villain is born. To avoid getting killed by the protagonist, he has no choice but to take down all the protagonists first. Jiang Che: Nobody understands being twisted better than me!
ions, keeping it grounded and realistic】 After quitting his job, office worker Su Yang accidentally binds with the "Enjoy Life System." As the name suggests, simply by indulging in life's pleasures, he can earn random rewards from the system—no need to spend money on beautiful women or grovel before anyone. Just enjoy, and the money follows, making it all about effortless fun. The system comes with a scanning feature, allowing him to establish a favorability bond with women rated 85 points or above. Every 20-point increase in favorability unlocks additional rewards. After suffering through over twenty years of hardship, Su Yang trembles with excitement, his dull eyes suddenly gleaming with newfound hope. "Enjoy life? How hard could that be?"
e, Immortal Body, Transmigration, System, Progression Fantasy, Academy Setting, Third-Person Perspective. Alternate Title: Transmigrating into a High Martial World and Reading Live Comments. Bad news: I transmigrated. This is a terrifying high-martial world, and my original, pathetically weak body fell into a coma and never woke up. Good news: I got a Popularity Points system upon arrival. I can see live comments and even create an unkillable alternate identity. Starting out, the alternate identity has all stats at 1. The system tells me that to grow stronger, I must participate in the plot, gain popularity points to allocate stats and grow stronger, and ultimately awaken my original body. And so, carrying my original body on my back, I officially entered Huaqing Academy, where the story's protagonist resides. From that moment on, Chen Guan kicked the original plot to pieces. Live Comments: [Doesn't anyone find this mysterious coffin guy creepy? He can summon indescribable grey misty hands.] [Is this guy a hero or a villain? What kind of onion became a spirit?] [By the way, does anyone know who's in the coffin? Shouldn't the debt for saving his life be repaid by now?] [According to unofficial histories, the person in the coffin was Chen Guan's first love. Their love was once passionate and earth-shattering, but they were separated by life and death due to worldly circumstances. What a star-crossed pair.] ... Years later, the world knew of a demon god born from a coffin, shrouded in grey mist, impossible to gaze upon directly. His foremost divine emissary often wielded a scythe, reaping lives like the god of death. As war approached, facing former friends and a boundless sea of enemies, Chen Guan merely raised his scythe. "Would you like to dance as well?"
he colors of other people’s emotions. Light red meant anxiety. Gray meant exhaustion. Orange meant excitement. Yellow... meant repression. At the same time, he could gain unlimited control over one of those colors. Pale cyan: relaxation. Using this ability, he started offering “two-yuan hugs,” spending an afternoon exchanging emotional-color experiences with others. Then came his final female customer of the day— a girl whose emotional color was pure black... —— A week later, Xu Chuan had become skilled at using pale cyan—Relaxation—treating it like a bottle of menthol balm whenever he needed it. That was when he discovered he had unlocked another unlimited emotional color: Purple, the color of fear. So these emotional colors refresh every week? Fine, I take it back—I’ll never call you useless again... —— Much later, after Xu Chuan had accumulated countless emotional abilities, one night, he suddenly found himself inside someone else’s dream. There, he could use the emotional colors he possessed to paint. And in her dream, he painted her a shower of pink shooting stars, spreading across the depths of the night sky...
