67: The only way to survive is the sect's forbidden area

“Work in lieu of tax.”

These four words pried open a tiny crack.

The golden data stream that had once frozen in Lu Yuan’s eyes began to surge and calculate wildly once more.

He showed no relief at having escaped disaster.

There wasn't even a hint of emotional fluctuation.

He merely raised his head, facing that invisible yet majestic will, and asked his first question.

“Specifics.”

Auditor’s light projection did not answer immediately.

The silence, composed of supreme rules, was itself a form of scrutiny, a final test of the Heart-Nature of a low-tier seat holder.

After a few breaths, the automated voice sounded again.

“The fundamental basis of ‘The Federal Reserve’ is the total value of Karma across the entire Universe sector.”

“Your actions are purely zero-sum, even negative-sum, bringing no positive growth to the total value of the Universe. Instead, by disrupting order, you have created ‘value losses’ that require The Federal Reserve to expend its Origin to repair.”

“Therefore, you must pay taxes.”

“However, The Federal Reserve also encourages seat holders to actively repair ‘non-performing assets’ within their governed worlds, bringing abandoned, forgotten, or negative-value assets back into the positive value range.”

“This behavior is called ‘value creation’.”

Auditor’s light projection waved a hand gently.

The light screen before Lu Yuan shifted, displaying a panoramic 3D map of Qingyun Sect.

On the map, most areas were green, representing health.

Only a vast area deep within the back mountain was shrouded in a dense, dark red, signifying danger and decay.

That was the Forbidden Ground, a place every Sect Master of Qingyun Sect throughout history had been tight-lipped about.

“Asset: Qingyun Sect’s back mountain, abandoned realm-protecting Formation.”

A new data stream appeared next to the map.

“Assessment Report: This Formation is a relic from the ancient era, with 99.8% damage, completely dysfunctional, and continuously causing negative impacts on the surrounding environment due to its chaotic spatial structure and Spiritual Qi storms.”

“The Federal Reserve Asset Rating: Negative 230 million karma points.”

A shocking negative value.

The existence of this ruin was itself a massive debt black hole, losing value every day.

“Task Content: Within three months, restore the structural integrity of this grand Formation to above 10%.”

“Task Reward: The ‘value increment’ created by the repair will be fully credited to your account to offset taxes. According to projections, completing the minimum repair standard will earn you approximately 90 million karma points in value increment.”

“Enough to pay all your taxes, with a substantial surplus.”

“Task Penalty: If you fail, your seat account will be immediately liquidated, with no second chance.”

Lu Yuan silently looked at the task content.

A profit of 90 million karma points.

This was a tremendous temptation, enough to make him leap from the brink of bankruptcy to immense wealth.

But behind it lay the almost impossible task of repairing an ancient grand Formation.

He didn't hesitate.

“I accept.”

Between death and a thorny path to survival, he would always choose the latter.

“Very good.”

Auditor’s light projection flickered slightly, as if confirming a program.

Her figure, composed of pure light, began to thin and slowly dissipate.

But before she completely vanished, a golden, mechanical-looking eye was left suspended in the air of the Immortal Cave.

The eye had no pupil, only concentric rotating golden halos, coldly staring at Lu Yuan and also at the entire Qingyun Sect.

A voice sounded directly in Lu Yuan’s Divine Soul.

“This is the ‘Eye of Audit’; it will supervise and evaluate your repair progress throughout.”

“Good luck, seat holder.”

Auditor’s aura completely disappeared.

But before leaving, another message entered the depths of Lu Yuan’s consciousness.

“If you can exceed the task requirements, The Federal Reserve will have additional rewards.”

“For example… a ticket to the ‘Rookie Tournament’.”

Within the Immortal Cave, complete calm was restored.

The golden Eye of Audit silently announced the start of the countdown.

Lu Yuan stood up, without a moment’s delay, and walked straight out of the Immortal Cave.

He found Han Yuexi.

When Han Yuexi finished listening to Lu Yuan’s brief explanation of “The Federal Reserve” and “work in lieu of tax,” even her perpetually icy face showed an uncontrollable shock.

She remained silent for a long time before uttering a few words.

“I will go with you.”

The two said nothing, their figures transforming into streaks of light, heading directly for the Forbidden Ground in Qingyun Sect’s back mountain, a place no one had ever set foot in.

The closer they got, the harsher the surrounding environment became.

The air was filled with the burnt smell of ionized Spiritual Qi, and space was riddled with tiny, visible black cracks.

Violent Spiritual Qi turbulence, sometimes like bone-scraping gales, sometimes like scorching lava, raged erratically through the mountains and forests.

Any Cultivator below the Foundation Establishment Stage who entered this place would be torn to shreds in less than ten breaths.

The two finally stopped at the deepest part of the Forbidden Ground.

Here was a giant, meteor-crater-like sinkhole.

The bottom of the sinkhole was covered with countless broken stone pillars and fractured metal components, vaguely outlining a Formation so vast it was unimaginable.

And in the very center of the sinkhole, stood a broken stone tablet a hundred zhang tall.

The tablet was covered with ancient runes, long weathered and unidentifiable.

A desolate and deathly aura from the previous era emanated from the stone tablet.

Lu Yuan slowly stepped forward, ignoring Han Yuexi’s vigilant gaze, and reached out his hand, gently pressing it against the cold surface of the stone tablet.

There was no energy impact.

Nor was there any Divine Soul fluctuation.

But upon contact, an incredibly familiar sensation flowed from his fingertips throughout his entire body.

It was a cold, absolutely rational logic that analyzed all things into data…

An Origin aura identical to the Great Dao Options Exchange in his mind.