Ten Thousand Ways To Eliminate Players

"What's the truth behind the Righteous and Evil Alliance Killing Order? Who incurred the wrath of the universal public enemy, Lin Bai?"

"With fear spreading, the joint action of the Righteous Seven Sects and the Magic Five Gates raises a critical question: does this nascent civilization still have a path to ascend?"

"Ordinary citizens are not merely livestock to be bred by the Cultivation World!"

"Does allowing common people to enjoy the benefits of cultivators equate to an unforgivable sin?"

"In the confrontation between the new Laws and the old hegemonic cultivation powers, where do you stand?"

"What forms the true cornerstone of societal development—the common people or the Cultivators?"

...

Justice Weekly released its fifth issue punctually. Its articles dissected the irrationality of the Righteous and Evil Alliance Killing Order from various angles, vehemently condemning the tyranny of the Righteous Seven Sects and the Magic Five Gates. The incisive accusations struck at the hearts of the people, stripping away the hypocritical facades of the Righteous Seven Sects and the Magic Five Sects, exposing their shameless deeds.

The editorial office of Justice Weekly was located in Qian City. The Immortal Realm's First Papparazzi was naturally aware of the recent upheavals within the Beggar Gang, but his objective remained singular: to establish Justice Weekly as the foremost media outlet in the Immortal World.

Therefore, he cared little about who became the Gang Leader of the Beggar Gang, so long as it didn't impede his operations.

He even harbored ambitions of detaching Justice Weekly from the Beggar Gang to operate it independently. That way, all revenue from the periodical would be his alone, with no need to share profits. However, he didn't dare make such a move.

After all, once their efforts were fully dedicated to media, the editorial staff would have no time to advance their cultivation levels. If he were to separate and run it independently, he wouldn't be able to protect it. It was far better to maintain the current stability and focus solely on their media work.

The Immortal Realm's First Papparazzi had originally planned the fifth issue to center on the "Way of Incompleteness," aiming to compete with Heavenly Review. However, the abrupt emergence of the Righteous and Evil Alliance Killing Order presented an unforeseen opportunity for ascendancy.

Consequently, he immediately scrapped the original manuscripts and rallied all his editors to work through the night, producing a special feature dedicated to the Wen and Evil Decree.

Why bother manufacturing a hot topic when a genuine one, far more captivating, falls right into your lap!

Moreover, tackling such a contentious subject gave the Immortal Realm's First Papparazzi a taste of true journalism—critiquing current affairs, shaping national discourse, and the exhilarating thrill of dancing on the precipice of life and death.

Heavenly Review was defined by its gossip content; from any perspective, it couldn't possibly steal his thunder.

This round, victory is assured...

As for the Righteous Seven Sects' ban on Justice Weekly, the Immortal Realm's First Papparazzi dismissed it. Suppressing public dissent is more difficult than damming a mighty river.

As long as Players existed, as long as the inhabitants of the Cultivation World remained interested in Lin Bai, Justice Weekly could not be silenced...

「At the same time.」

Heavenly Review also launched its first issue.

Wild Wolf introduced Heavenly Review's mission, opening with a critique of the Righteous Seven Sects and the Magic Five Sects.

"How much of the Heavenly Dao Sect's esteemed leadership, the head of the Righteous Seven Sects, is mere pretense?"

"Why has the Heavenly Sword Sect been relegated to second place for ten thousand years? What critical element is their world-renowned, number one offensive sword technique lacking?"

"If righteousness is to prevail over evil, how will the Holy Extreme Sect, the foremost power of the Magic Gate, vindicate its name?"

"In what manner does the lowest-ranking Moon Spirit Sect truly regard its female Cultivators?"

...

Over a dozen articles meticulously analyzed the lofty and revered sects from diverse perspectives.

The headlines were undeniably eye-catching.

Ostensibly reviews, the content was rife with provocations designed to sow discord.

The Heavenly Dao Sect's top position was unmerited;

Hadn't the Heavenly Sword Sect felt aggrieved being second for ten thousand years?

The Holy Extreme Sect, as the leading power of the Magic Gate, shamefully kowtowed to the Heavenly Dao Sect's commands, inherently diminishing their stature; even after another ten thousand years, they would never surpass the Heavenly Dao Sect;

The female Cultivators of the Moon Spirit Sect were depicted by Heavenly Review as courtesans, treated as commodities, who had secured their place among the Righteous Seven Sects solely through their looks...

...

Each article spared no effort in its humiliation, seemingly designed to provoke the Cultivators from the critiqued sects into immediate, furious disputes to re-establish their rankings and prove their worth.

Wild Wolf also ingeniously concluded the issue with a prize-winning quiz: Which sect will be the next to fall to Lin Bai ( )?

...

The Players paid no heed to any bans; they reveled in the unfolding drama, eagerly anticipating even greater chaos in the world. Besides, there were advertising fees to be earned from distribution.

Distributors everywhere worked through the night typesetting and printing. Both periodicals were launched simultaneously across all regions, reaching readers' hands at the earliest opportunity and swiftly igniting a massive uproar across all strata of society.

...

「In a tavern.」

A Scholar, perusing Justice Weekly, slammed his hand on the table and cursed vehemently, "Utterly shameless! I once believed Cultivators to be noble beings, pure of heart and detached from worldly desires. To think they too engage in such vulgar and despicable acts, no different from common folk!"

"Indeed!" someone beside him concurred. "The Justice League merely sought to allow us commoners to also partake in the conveniences of cultivation, yet for this, they face utter annihilation. They truly do blot out the sky with one hand, tolerating no challenge to their authority! Well said that civilization should serve the majority, not be the exclusive privilege of a select few."

"What good will it do? Can you actually fight those high-and-mighty Cultivators for the sake of the Justice League? They soar through the heavens; a single breath from them could likely turn you to ash," another patron scoffed. "I hold little hope for Lin Bai and his Justice League."

"You can't say that; you have no inkling of what Cultivators have done for this world!" From a corner, a disheveled old Taoist slurred, shaking his wine gourd. "Were it not for the Righteous Seven Sects and Magic Five Sects keeping each other in check for ten thousand years, establishing manifold rules—given the inherent nature of Magic Gate Cultivators, they would have likely unleashed carnage upon the mortal realm, resulting in untold devastation. You wouldn't be living such peaceful lives now. Had the Cultivation World not curtailed the expansion of the Monster Race, great monsters would have emerged from the forests and mountains, devouring humans indiscriminately. Who among you could have stopped them?"

"You old Taoist, always defending Cultivators. Could you be one of them?" The Scholar slapped the table, glaring at the old Taoist, and retorted, "Even if they have made contributions, what wrong has the Justice League committed to warrant such relentless opposition? Are we common mortals forbidden from consuming Pill Medicine?"

The old Taoist, taken aback, shook his head. "Alchemists are scarce, and Pill Medicine is exceedingly difficult to concoct. How could it possibly be popularized? That's just wishful thinking!"

The Scholar argued, "If we make no attempt to find a solution, the problem will never be resolved. Why is Lin Bai's Justice League audacious enough to speak out and act? Why are the Righteous Seven Sects so fearful of the Justice League's rise? Old Taoist, it is only because the Justice League has not yet reached you. If they came, I would be the first to join them, even as a mere foot soldier cheering them on! I am determined to resist this unjust world! From this moment forth, I shall cultivate the Way of Laws. Should Lin Bai fall, I will take up his banner and continue the Justice League's struggle against the Righteous Seven Sects!"

The old Taoist, his eyes bleary, glanced at him and sighed, choosing not to argue further.

It's impossible to make these commoners understand such principles.

In his view, the Way of Laws that Lin Bai promulgated was truly heretical and demonic. Its dissemination would undoubtedly jeopardize the well-being of countless nations and their people.

"Inciting the masses and manipulating public opinion—this is the Way of the Great Devil! It's no exaggeration to call him unforgivable. If this man is not eliminated, the world will be in peril."

The old Taoist tilted his head back and drained a mouthful of wine. In the next instant, he had vanished from the tavern.

...

「Qinglong City.」

Within an unassuming sword hall, two young men robed in white were engaged in a game of chess.

"Senior Brother, what are your thoughts?" asked the one holding the black pieces, casually placing one on the board, his mind clearly elsewhere.

"I'm watching while sitting," the Senior Brother replied, lounging informally on the couch, engrossed in a copy of "Justice Weekly." With a flick of his finger, a chess piece landed on the board. He clicked his tongue, his eyes full of admiration. "This Lin Bai, stirring up such a storm across the land—he's the true prodigy!"

"Senior Brother, must you be so excited? He's our enemy, you know!" the Junior Brother protested, a frown etching his face. "Besides, his Heavenly Descendants are calling our Sword Sect the 'perpetual number two.' Aren't you even a little angry?"

"Angry? Why should I be? Are they wrong?" the Senior Brother scoffed. "In all the prodigy tournaments over the years, how many times have we actually beaten the Heavenly Dao Sect?"

"That's only because the competition rules restricted our abilities! In a true life-or-death battle, how many of those wretched Taoists from the Heavenly Dao Sect would actually be our match?" the Junior Brother retorted indignantly.

"And do you know why we can't have those life-or-death battles?" The Senior Brother set down "Justice Weekly," shaking his head with a smile. "Because the rules are set by the Heavenly Dao Sect! And why are the rules set by the Heavenly Dao Sect? Because we're the 'perpetual number two'! We've been clamoring to become the top sect among the Righteous Seven Sects for millennia, yet we haven't taken a single concrete step. A young man barely out of his teens shows more initiative. Is it really unfair to be called the 'perpetual number two'?"

The Junior Brother was left speechless.

The Senior Brother put down his "Justice Weekly" and glanced at the chessboard. "Junior Brother, you've lost. Your mind is not calm."

"I..." The Junior Brother opened his mouth, then gritted his teeth. "Senior Brother, I want to go to Qian City and kill Lin Bai."

"Then go!" The Senior Brother stood up. "I'll take you to witness Lin Bai's Way of Laws firsthand. The Righteous Door has introduced so many fascinating laws. I wonder if they have a Swordsmanship Regulation. I believe they must; otherwise, he wouldn't utter such audacious words as 'to cleave the sun, moon, and stars with a single strike.'"

"Senior Brother, I can't help but feel you're boosting Lin Bai's prestige while undermining our own," the Junior Brother said, still unconvinced. "He's merely at the Divinity Transformation Stage. Perhaps by the time we arrive, he'll already have been killed by someone else."

"Junior Brother, care to make a wager with me?" the Senior Brother asked.

"What sort of wager?" the Junior Brother asked.

"Let's wager that Lin Bai can survive for over a year under the Wen and Evil Decree, completely unscathed," the Senior Brother said.

"Impossible!" the Junior Brother retorted. "He's not a True Immortal who has undergone Tribulation. I've already studied his profile. Those so-called laws of his are just unorthodox tricks, utterly lacking in true destructive power. He probably couldn't even withstand a single sword strike from me!"

"So, are you taking the bet or not?" the Senior Brother asked with a smile.

"I'll take it!" the Junior Brother declared.

"Excellent! If I win, upon our return to the Heavenly Sword Sect, you'll sneak into Little Junior Sister's room and fetch her bellyband for me," the Senior Brother grinned. "If you win, I'll be the one to get it. How about that?"

The Junior Brother gave his Senior Brother a long, searching look, then suddenly chuckled. "Alright, it's a deal. Once I reach Qian City, I'll challenge Lin Bai. I'll cut him down with a single sword strike from afar. Just make sure you don't renege on our bet then!"

...

「Wash Flower Valley.」

Seated in the Sect Leader's position was a girl who appeared to be no more than sixteen or seventeen. Her almond-shaped eyes were wide with indignation. With a light flick of her finger, both "Heavenly Review" and "Justice Weekly" disintegrated into dust in her hand. She gritted her teeth, "That audacious brat! How dare he shame our Moon Spirit Sect like this!"

"Prodigy Luo is right, that Lin Bai is truly detestable. But with you gracing Wash Flower Valley, Luo Tianjiao, Lin Bai will certainly meet his end here and never return alive," the Valley Master of Wash Flower Valley said, forcing a smile and choosing her words carefully.

After news of the incident at the Morning Yuan Sword Sect reached them, the people of Wash Flower Valley had been living in constant fear, terrified that Lin Bai might attack them at any moment.

Who could have predicted that the Wen and Evil Decree would suddenly be issued? Even so, it didn't mean they dared to provoke Lin Bai. However, on the very day the decree was announced, Luo Xue, the prodigy from the Moon Spirit Sect, arrived at their doorstep, seeking their assistance to take down Lin Bai.

The Righteous Seven Sects were known for their abundance of prodigies. Anyone hailed as a 'prodigy' was an exceptional talent, and challenging those at higher cultivation levels was a common feat for them.

Once Luo Xue arrived, all the Cultivators in Wash Flower Valley seemed to have been given a calming draught; their hearts, previously fraught with anxiety, were thoroughly set at ease. They wished they could march out immediately to crusade against Lin Bai.

The rewards for the Wen and Evil Decree were generous. Even if they couldn't claim the grand prize, merely assisting would be enough for Wash Flower Valley to advance significantly.

Luo Xue's eyes scanned the surroundings. "That's right. Gather all the Nascent Soul Cultivators in Wash Flower Valley. To prevent any unexpected complications from delays, we'll set out immediately to find Lin Bai. I was training in Zhen City, which is closest to his last known location. If someone else gets to him first, this golden opportunity will be wasted. As long as I'm the first to kill Lin Bai, let's see if those Heavenly Descendants still dare to rank us so arbitrarily! I'll make sure the ones writing 'Heavenly Review' are taught a harsh lesson and then force them to rectify the Moon Spirit Sect's reputation!"

"Prodigy Luo, Lin Bai's methods are mysterious and unpredictable. Isn't it too risky to bring only Nascent Soul experts?" the Valley Master of Wash Flower Valley asked hesitantly.

"Do you doubt my strength?" Luo Xue shot them a sharp glance. "If I didn't require you to divert Lin Bai's attention, these Nascent Soul Cultivators would be nothing but a hindrance. Stop wasting time with questions and do as I say! You sects clearly don't understand what a true prodigy is capable of!"

...

Similar scenes unfolded in various sects. Whether in Zhen City, Kun City, or other surrounding territories, the sects were no longer thinking about defense. Instead, they were all plotting the quickest way to eliminate Lin Bai.

To them, "Justice Weekly" and "Heavenly Review" were merely sensationalist rags. Apart from having some minor influence on the common populace, they were utterly useless.

All the Cultivators coveted the rewards promised by the Wen and Evil Decree.

Though Lin Bai himself saw no value in it.

But it couldn't be denied that the rewards for the Wen and Evil Decree were incredibly tempting for ordinary Cultivators; it was a chance to ascend to the heavens in a single bound.

Not to mention anything else, just the prospect of becoming a personal Disciple of a Sect Leader from one of the Righteous Seven Sects was enough to make anyone take the gamble.

Fortune favors the bold.

What if Lin Bai fell into their hands?

On the surface, he's just a Transforming Spirit Stage Monk!

It had only been a little over two months since the Players entered the game, and the real chaos had only begun in the last few days. Most native Cultivators had yet to adapt from their traditional combat methods.

They disdained psychological warfare and battles of public opinion, refusing to play such games. No one cared about the views of mere mortals. They were far more inclined to rely on their own strength to swiftly and decisively eliminate Lin Bai and his Justice League...