Guizang: Even Breathing Is a Sin

One day,

An unparalleled powerhouse strode through the boundless cosmos, the sun and moon resting in his left hand, a divine weapon in his right, and a black hole beneath his feet. Amid countless wondrous phenomena, he preached aloud: "Man follows Earth, Earth follows Heaven, Heaven follows the Dao, and the Dao follows me."

So, living beings as numerous as the grains of sand in the Ganges prostrated themselves like lambs, using every last bit of their strength to chant his praises.

Just then,

A man dressed in white appeared out of nowhere, smiling as he said, "Fellow Daoist, please pay the air tax."

The unparalleled powerhouse was utterly baffled. Was this ant here to make a joke?

When the man in white saw that he wasn't responding, he flew into a rage. "Those who don't pay taxes are guilty just for breathing!"

Then,

The air shifted. The spiritual energy that was the source of all magical powers vanished, while nitrogen, helium, hydrogen sulfide, and other gases increased…

This novel and its characters are entirely fictional. Any resemblance to real people or events is purely coincidental. Do not imitate.