I, the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon, am being kept by the state.

Beijing, the Emperor's Private Club.

Normally, this is a den of iniquity where the most powerful and wealthy drink and make decisions about the life or death of a listed company.

But today, the atmosphere is as oppressive as a dormant volcano about to erupt.

"Snapped!"

A six-figure Yixing teapot was smashed to the ground, shattering into pieces.

What does "not qualified enough" even mean?!

Zhao Tiancheng, president of the Beijing Chamber of Commerce, tugged at his tie, his face flushed and neck red as he roared into the phone.

"I donated 300 million yuan to the Red Cross last year! I built 100 Hope Primary Schools in western China! And I can't even get a spot as a 'representative of entrepreneurs'?"

On the other end of the phone was an assistant, whose voice sounded tired and businesslike.

"Mr. Zhao, it's not about the money. Director Chen said that this time they're not only looking at donations, but also investigating your 'rags-to-riches' story. Your first pot of gold... cough cough, there's a bit of dust on the file, it won't pass the review."

"Can't pass censorship? Then I'll just pay to buy it! One hundred million per sheet! No, two hundred million!"

"Mr. Zhao, you are insulting the Dragon God and harming me. I'm hanging up."

"Beep—beep—"

Zhao Tiancheng stared blankly at his phone before slumping down onto the leather sofa.

Several other tycoons, also worth billions, looked ashen-faced.

Just yesterday, the selection details for the first batch of specially invited guests to "Guanlongtai" were released.

It's not about who has more money or who has a higher official position.

That old fox Chen Dong actually set up a "Contribution Evaluation Committee".

They even introduced big data AI to dig up the details of everyone's ancestors for eighteen generations.

Those who evade taxes, engage in fraud or deception, lead dissolute private lives, or have a tendency to transfer assets overseas... will all be eliminated.

This is practically a "moral purge" targeting high society.

"Damn it, having money has become a cardinal sin?"

A real estate tycoon next to me, cigar in hand, trembled as he muttered, "If only I hadn't gone through those pointless, unfinished projects back then... those were real dragons! If only I could have gotten even a sliver of a claw, or perhaps even reversed my aging process like Wilson..."

The thought of Wilson's face, now resembling that of someone thirty again, made everyone's breathing heavy.

That's not a dragon, that's fate!

……

At the foot of Yufeng Mountain, the temporary command post.

Zhao Wenjin looked at the thick stack of names in his hand, his brows furrowing into a deep frown.

"It's all in chaos, complete chaos."

He threw the list on the table and rubbed his throbbing temples.

"That morning, when I didn't answer the phone, they started pulling strings everywhere. Some even brought up my old man's bodyguard from back then."

Chen Dong held his teacup, watching the busy construction team outside the window.

"It's human nature. They used to believe in Buddhism and Taoism because those were clay figures that couldn't speak, so they could worship them however they wanted. Now that the true God is on the mountain and can even grant immortality, who wouldn't go crazy?"

"The key issue is that these standards are too difficult to set."

Chen Dong pointed to a line on the list, "Look at this one, a top domestic biologist, a recipient of the State's highest science and technology award. Logically, shouldn't we give him a vote? But his wife and children are in the US, and he publicly stated 'science knows no borders' in his early years. Should we give him a vote or not?"

"Look at this one, a rural teacher in a remote mountain area, who has been teaching for forty years and has developed a host of health problems from overwork."

"But he doesn't have much social influence. If we give him a vote, won't people say we're just putting on a show?"

The two looked at each other and saw the helplessness in each other's eyes.

Using worldly standards to measure the threshold of God will always result in a wrong measurement.

"Perhaps we can ask Lord Dragon Lord."

Wang Yijun, who had been silent the whole time, suddenly spoke up.

"Won't asking Lord Dragon about everything make him think we're incompetent?"

Chen Dong frowned and tapped his fingers on the table.

They are high-ranking officials in the Dragon Kingdom, in charge of the country's lifeline, yet they can't even finalize a list.

"But how can we select candidates without consulting the Dragon Lord?"

Wang Yijun shrugged. "We can't just close our eyes and pick blindly, can we?"

"This is indeed a question you should ask Mr. Li."

Chen Dong put down his teacup and glanced at the people present.

"I just can't ask directly."

Zhao Wenjin looked up. "Old Chen, what you mean is..."

"We have our own calculation methods and our own screening criteria."

Chen Dong stood up and walked to the window. "But those who are rejected, especially the powerful and influential, will not accept it."

"Therefore, we need the title of Dragon Lord to shut them up."

Zhao Wenjin's eyes lit up, and he immediately understood what Chen Dong meant.

This is not about shifting the blame to Li Chen, but rather about leveraging his authority.

Those powerful and influential people who are used to being domineering will not listen to human words, but they dare not disobey the word of God.

"Wonderful!"

Zhao Wenjin slapped his thigh. "When the time comes, if anyone causes trouble, just say that this is a rule set by Mr. Li."

"They dare to act unruly towards us, but would they dare to act unruly towards the Dragon God?"

Zhao Wenjin nodded, "This method is feasible."

"However, we need to inform Mr. Li beforehand, so that he doesn't feel like we're using him as a shield."

"That's natural."

Chen Dong turned around. "Let's go, let's go now."