51: Chapter 51: The Inspector's Job Interview in Zhongzhou, and the "007" Blessing

Morning in the Cloud Break Mountain Range; the sunlight was so bright it was a bit piercing.

This was mainly thanks to the Ghost Valley—now officially branded as "tianhe no. 1 Solar Power Station"—and its hundreds of massive reflective mirrors.

As well as the group of Shadow Sect assassins who, deeply moved by the "Public Security Administration Punishment Law," were now shirtless and sweating profusely as they frantically scrubbed the mirror surfaces.

"You there! Move your hands faster! Can't you see the sun has moved? The light-focusing angle is off by zero point five degrees!"

The former Shadow Sect Vice Branch Master, Residual Shadow, now wearing a red armband and holding a tin megaphone, was conducting a cold and heartless performance review on his former colleagues.

"Whoever dares to slack off will have their sunscreen quota for today canceled immediately!"

Right above this bustling scene of labor reform, the sky split open without any warning.

This time, there was no Lightning Tribulation and no dark clouds.

A dazzling golden path, accompanied by bursts of ethereal immortal music, paved its way down from the crack, landing precisely on the main peak square of the Heavenly River Sword Sect.

Upon the golden light, a middle-aged man wearing a white-gold dharma robe and a high crown inlaid with jade, holding a "Sky-Patrolling Token," stepped through the air with an arrogant expression.

With every step he took, a golden lotus condensed from the power of laws bloomed beneath his feet.

A terrifying Aura that transcended Void Refining and had already touched the threshold of "Dao Integration" pressed down in all directions like liquid silver.

Special Envoy of the Central State Immortal Alliance, Inspector of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion—Former Inspector of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion.

"Hmph, as expected, it is a land of evil."

Former Inspector of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion looked down at everything below.

He saw the assassins laboring to scrub the mirrors, he saw Phantom hanging on the square like a street lamp, and he even saw the massive banner that read "Sincere Recruitment for Central State General Agent."

These absurd scenes caused the Killing Intent in his eyes to grow increasingly thick.

"Recklessly altering the Heavenly Dao, mocking the rules, and turning the Cultivation World into a foul mess!"

"Today, this seat shall represent the Immortal Alliance and perform a 'Great Cleansing' of this place!"

Former Inspector of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion let out a cold snort and raised the Sky-Patrolling Token high, its light shining brilliantly.

"Heavenly River Sword Sect, heed my command! All involved personnel, kneel and submit immediately! Otherwise—"

"Ding-dong!"

A crisp, pleasant, and even somewhat playful electronic notification sound abruptly interrupted his majestic declaration.

Former Inspector of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion was stunned.

Before he could react, the solemn and dignified "Golden Path" beneath his feet suddenly began... sliding backward.

It had turned into a massive, shimmering... escalator.

And it was going down.

"Eh? Wait... what is this thing?!"

Former Inspector of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion's body swayed violently, nearly causing him to fall.

He tried to fly into the air, only to discover in horror that the surrounding spatial rules were locked by an even more powerful force, forcibly pinning his feet to the escalator, leaving him with no choice but to descend at a constant speed.

[Welcome to the Heavenly River Sword Sect Service Hall.]

[One distinguished guest detected.]

[Identity Identification: Job seeker from Central State (Suspected).]

[Please line up for a number and wait for your interview.]

A sickeningly sweet mechanical female voice echoed gently across the entire area.

Former Inspector of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion watched helplessly as this damned escalator delivered him all the way to the entrance of the square.

There was no Mountain Protection Grand Array as he had imagined, nor were there any murderous Sword Cultivators.

There was only a newly built, minimalist... glass revolving door.

Next to the revolving door was a security booth.

Inside the booth, the once world-shaking Old Ancestor of the Blood River (in pickle jar form) was wearing a crooked security hat, clutching a rubber baton, and glaring at him with a serious expression.

"Halt!"

Old Ancestor of the Blood River tapped the glass of the booth with his baton, "Clang, clang, clang."

"Do you have an appointment? Do you have an ID badge? Is your health code green?"

Former Inspector of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion: "???"

As the dignified Immortal Alliance Inspector, patrolling on behalf of Heaven to cleanse a Lower Realm region, when did he ever need something like an appointment?

"Presumptuous!"

Former Inspector of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion was furious. The Sky-Patrolling Token in his hand erupted with a beam of light capable of tearing through mountains and rivers, shooting straight toward the security booth.

"I am the Inspector of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion! I'll see who dares to stop me!"

However.

The moment that world-destroying beam touched the glass revolving door, it only caused a negligible ripple to spread across the glass surface.

Then, like a water droplet absorbed by a sponge, it vanished without a trace instantly.

Immediately after, an LED screen above the glass door lit up, scrolling a line of eye-catching red characters:

[Warning: Violent entry attempt detected.]

[According to Article 3 of the "Company Security Regulations," this behavior is judged as an "Eager-to-Perform Interviewee."]

[Solution: Green channel opened. Transferring you directly to the Boss's Office.]

Whoosh—

An irresistible and massive suction force suddenly pulled him.

Former Inspector of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion felt the scenery before him distort and stretch as he was "swallowed" whole by that bizarre glass door.

...

When the feeling of dizziness vanished.

Former Inspector of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion found himself standing in a spacious, bright, yet eerily oppressive room.

The four walls were covered in floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, filled with books radiating an ominous and chaotic Aura.

In the center of the room, behind a massive blackwood desk, a young man sat with his back turned, resting in an exceptionally comfortable leather executive chair, seemingly flipping through something.

"Are you that 'Administrator'?"

Former Inspector of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion forcibly stabilized his Dao Heart, his spiritual energy surging as his Killing Intent locked onto the back of the figure ahead. "Playing tricks! Today I..."

"Don't speak yet."

The young man didn't even turn his head; he simply raised a hand casually to interrupt him.

"I'm looking at your resume."

"Resume? What resume?! I am here to kill you!" Former Inspector of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion laughed out of sheer rage.

"Oh? Kill me?"

The young man finally turned around.

It was indeed Li Mo.

He wore a pair of gold-rimmed glasses (transformed from "Thick Black Theory"), and what he held in his hand was not a document, but a book titled "On How to Communicate Effectively with a Psychotic Boss."

Li Mo pushed up his glasses, his gaze penetrating the lenses as if inspecting a piece of merchandise awaiting appraisal, looking Former Inspector of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion up and down.

"You say you're here to kill me."

"But in my view, that's just a... well, a rather aggressive way of introducing yourself."

"After all, many talented people have eccentric personalities. I can understand that."

Li Mo closed the book and tossed it onto the desk with a soft "thud."

That sound, however, was like a heavy hammer slamming ruthlessly against Former Inspector of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion's Divine Soul.

"Sit."

Li Mo pointed to the solitary small stool across from the desk.

"This seat will not sit! I will..."

"I said, sit."

Li Mo's voice suddenly became low, and a hint of an Aura as dark as the abyss flashed deep within his pupils.

[Rule Manifestation: Workplace Suppression.]

[Setting: In front of a superior, subordinates have no right to speak while standing.]

Thud.

Former Inspector of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion's knees instantly buckled. His body lost all control as he actually stepped forward and sat down properly on that small stool, like a puppet on strings.

His hands even instinctively rested on his knees, his posture resembling a primary school student waiting for a lecture from a teacher.

"This... what kind of sorcery is this?!"

A massive wave of shock surged within Former Inspector of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion.

His cultivation was still there, his spiritual energy was still there, yet this Physical Body simply wouldn't obey him!

It was as if a rule from a higher dimension had forcibly defined his current identity—a lowly job seeker.

"Don't be nervous, Mr. Sima."

Li Mo opened a blank notebook and picked up a pen, preparing to record with great solemnity.

"Our Tianhe Group... oh, no, Heavenly River Sword Sect, is a very inclusive corporate platform."

"I've taken a look at your background information."

"Central State Heavenly Secret Pavilion, Inspector. Specialized skills: finding fault, nitpicking, writing reports, and using authority to suppress dissent."

Li Mo looked up, revealing what could be called a warm smile.

"Professional. Very relevant."

"We just happen to be lacking a 'Director of the Discipline Inspection Committee' here."

Former Inspector of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion gritted his teeth, desperately mobilizing his Divine Soul energy to break through this invisible restraint: "Utter nonsense! I am here on behalf of the Immortal Alliance to judge you! You heretic! You are in league with the Abyss..."

"That is exactly your core competitiveness!"

Li Mo snapped his fingers, completely ignoring the protest.

"You see, you also know that our composition here is complex, and the employees must be difficult to manage, right?"

"Those Tentacle Monsters, the Shadow Sect assassins, and that group of Confucian Scholars who have read themselves stupid—every one of them is a troublemaker."

"Therefore, we need someone like you—impartial, cold-blooded, and possessing powerful combat strength—to maintain discipline for me."

"I won't do it! I am an Inspector! I have a position in the Immortal Alliance!" Former Inspector of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion roared through his teeth.

"A position?"

Li Mo smiled.

He slowly took a gold-embossed contract from a drawer.

"How many Spirit Stones does the Heavenly Secret Pavilion give you in a year? I'll give you double."

"And..."

Li Mo leaned forward slightly, his eyes so dark they seemed bottomless, as if he were looking through Former Inspector of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion's Soul.

"Here, you can legally 'judge' those true monsters."

"Furthermore... if you perform exceptionally well, I can authorize you to read this book."

Li Mo flipped his palm.

A book radiating an ancient, vast, and even slightly Heavenly Dao Origin Aura appeared out of thin air in his hand.

On the cover of the book, several large characters were written—

"Heavenly Dao Loophole Repair Guide (Beta Version)."

Former Inspector of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion's pupils contracted to pinpoints in that instant!

As a core member of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, his life's pursuit was to peer into the secrets of heaven, mend the Heavenly Dao, and maintain order!

And the Aura radiating from this book... was actually purer and closer to the Origin than any celestial scripture or secret tome he had ever seen!

"Is... is this real?" Former Inspector of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion's voice trembled violently with excitement.

"Of course. I wrote it."

Li Mo stated a fact in a flat tone.

"As long as you join us, this book will be your employee pre-job training manual."

"But, if you refuse..."

Li Mo raised a finger and pointed out the window at the "Phantom" street lamp that was diligently glowing.

"See that light bulb hanging in the sky?"

"We just happen to be missing a backup power source."

"You are at half-step Dao Integration with abundant energy; you should be brighter than her. I estimate you could stay lit for about five hundred years."

A threat!

This was an undisguised, naked threat!

On one side was the truth of the Great Dao he had pursued all his life.

On the other side was being hung in the sky as a humanoid light bulb for five hundred years.

Cold sweat rolled down from Former Inspector of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion's temples.

His Dao Heart was struggling frantically, and his pride was shattering inch by inch.

Before this gold-rimmed-glasses-wearing, seemingly refined young man, he felt like a plucked lamb placed on a chopping block.

After a long time.

Former Inspector of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion raised his head with difficulty, his Adam's apple bobbing.

"I... I have one question."

"Are... room and board really included?"

The playful arc of Li Mo's lips instantly blossomed into a brilliant smile.

"Of course."

"Not only are room and board included, but you also get the '007' blessing as a bonus."

"Our corporate culture here is: as long as you don't work yourself to death, work yourself half to death."

"Welcome to the Tianhe Psychotic... ah, no, the Tianhe Family."

...

Fifteen minutes later.

On the square.

The Sword Cultivators who were originally standing by, ready to face the wrath of Central State, collectively petrified.

They watched in astonishment as that Inspector who had charged in so aggressively walked out of the main peak hall with a calm expression.

Not only that.

On his left arm, there was now a bright red armband with two large, flamboyant characters written on it—[Discipline Committee].

In his hand was no longer that majestic Sky-Patrolling Token, but an "Employee Manual" that no one had ever seen before.

"What are you looking at! All of you, disperse!"

Former Inspector of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion kept a stiff face and roared at the onlookers.

"You there! Fix your clothes! Improper attire, five points deducted! You, the one feeding the Tentacle Monster, you're not wearing gloves! That doesn't meet hygiene standards! Ten points deducted!"

"And you from the Shadow Sect! The glass isn't bright enough! It's covered in fingerprints! Re-scrub it!"

"From today onward, this seat officially assumes the post of Director of the Discipline Committee, responsible for the discipline of the entire sect! If anyone dares to violate the manual's regulations, this seat will let them know exactly what the 'methods of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion' are!"

Everyone looked at each other in silence, and finally, they all turned their gazes toward the second floor.

At the second-floor window, Li Mo was holding a cup of hot tea, facing the sunlight, hiding his achievement and fame.

"Tsk, as expected of a professional."

"The speed at which he entered the role is much faster than Gu Canghai."

"Cousin..."

Behind him, Chu Linger's eyes were filled with admiration, mixed with a hint of fear.

"You really... hoodwinked that Central State Inspector until he was crippled?"

"What do you mean hoodwinked?"

Li Mo took a sip of tea, his gaze penetrating the clouds and looking toward the more distant horizon.

"This is called high-end talent recruitment."

"After all, the next script involves opening up a 'cross-server battlefield' between the Abyss and Central State."

"Without a few capable 'Involution Kings' to manage things for me, I, the Administrator, would be very tired."

Just then.

A blood-red warning suddenly jumped out on Li Mo's System panel.

[Warning!]

[Due to the host forcibly recruiting the "Heavenly Dao Inspector," a dual Karma backlash from the Central State Immortal Alliance and the Endless Abyss has been triggered.]

[The next wave of the "Grave Tide" is rapidly assembling.]

[Target Change: This time... they are not here to invade, but to "snatch people."]

[The Abyss forces are determined to take back their "Creator" (which is you).]

[The Central State Immortal Alliance is determined to take back their "Inspector."]

[An unprecedented two-way Shura field is about to begin.]

Looking at this prompt, Li Mo didn't show the slightest panic; instead, he excitedly rubbed his hands together.

"Snatch people?"

"Good."

"Then let me see whether your heads are harder, or the threshold of my Scripture Pavilion is tougher."