Ten Thousand Ways To Eliminate Players

At dusk, Lin Bai naturally adopted an old man's tone, spouting phrases like, "This old man has crossed more bridges than you've walked roads," "This old man has eaten more salt than you've eaten rice," and "This old man isn't dead yet."

Having mimicked the tones of children and women before, imitating an old man was second nature to him.

Those around him were no longer surprised. Compared to the flirtatious female voice he once used, his impersonation of an elderly man was far more tolerable and didn't hinder communication.

…

Xu Longyun, having reverted to her true self, was much more vibrant than when she was the City Lord.

However, unlike Jiang Qingqin, Xu Longyun was ultimately a career-oriented woman. On her very first day, she perceived that Lin Bai's lax management of the Justice League was unsustainable for long-term development.

With Lin Bai's consent, she took charge of all the miscellaneous affairs of the Justice League.

She implemented sweeping reforms in the management of resources and personnel for the sects, the advancement of the Beggar Gang's various industries, their financial status, and other related matters.

She coordinated the various secret manuals and Dan Fangs collected under patent law. She also sought Players proficient in technomancy to create an initial plan for patent licensing fees. The aim was to establish a reasonable and substantiated system, ensuring that the Alliance Army would not be in disarray when they went out to collect these fees.

She drew Players from the Beggar Gang and the Alliance Army to form an Intelligence Department, specifically responsible for gathering intelligence from various locations.

Furthermore, she selected Golden Core Masters from the various sects to establish the Inspectorate, tasked with supervising and managing any misconduct by the Players.

This series of reforms caused the freedom-loving Players to complain bitterly.

Xu Longyun's involvement meant they could no longer dispose of the Beggar Gang's wealth as they pleased.

They knew the Beggar Gang's riches stemmed from the advertising fees they had earned and the money they had personally recharged into the game. Xu Longyun's intervention felt like losing control over their own funds. Consequently, the Players grumbled incessantly but dared not voice their anger openly.

Lin Bai had just revealed his formidable power, and his fame was at its zenith. With more new Players about to join, rebelling at this juncture would be tantamount to severing their own prospects.

However, the Players devised a countermeasure. After some discussion, several leaders decided to reduce their recharge amounts, letting the in-game currency circulate only within the game. They reasoned that once the Beggar Gang's industrialization process stalled due to a lack of funds, control over its finances would naturally revert to them.

Unlike the Players, Xu Longyun's radical reorganization of the Justice League invigorated individuals like Xin Shang, who all actively cooperated with her.

Lin Bai was powerful, but his tenure as Alliance Hierarch seemed more like a game to him, acting impulsively and erratically. This left those who were compelled to follow him feeling deeply insecure.

What if Lin Bai suddenly decides to quit one day? Where would we go?

The establishment of various rules, though restricting their actions, signified that the Justice League was gradually getting on track.

Once it was on a stable path, even if Lin Bai were to step down, the established rules and order would provide them with a sense of belonging.

Moreover, Xu Longyun had connections to Duke Zhenguo, was Lin Bai's disciple, and might even become his Dao companion in the future.

Everyone felt at ease with Xu Longyun managing the Justice League.

Upon Xu Longyun's arrival, all members of the Justice League unanimously agreed that she was the one who should be cultivating the Way of Love with Lin Bai. They considered Jiang Qingqin merely a decorative piece, unworthy of him. For their own benefit, they didn't even mind helping Xu Longyun curry favor with Lin Bai, going as far as to play matchmaker.

The Little White Fox was naive. Even though Lin Bai had promised her the future position of King of the Demon Country, her days were consumed with thoughts of how to please him.

When Lin Bai tasked her with overseeing the Demon Beasts partitioned from the Beast Control Sect, she managed them. However, her duties were largely perfunctory; as long as both parties were willing, anyone wishing to form a contract with a Demon Beast merely had to report to her, making it a simple formality.

Witnessing Xu Longyun's methods, the Little White Fox had an epiphany and discovered a new purpose. After consulting Xu Longyun, she gathered numerous powerful demons. Modeling it after the Taiyi Country's bureaucracy, she established a political affairs hall, three provinces, and six ministries. She selected high-cultivation members from various Monster Races to form the first leadership of the Demon Country, overseeing all its affairs.

To promote the Demon Country, the Little White Fox, through Players, published an announcement in Justice Weekly declaring its establishment. She called upon more displaced Monsters to join the Demon's Country and strive together for its future. The article, based on Lin Bai's principle of equality for all beings, was written with great passion and flair. Regardless of whether it could genuinely attract fellow Monster Race members, she certainly made a grand gesture.

Lin Bai had always lacked his own people to manage the enterprises he had created.

He had initially planned to elevate the Fox Demons close to him to help manage his surrounding ventures. Unfortunately, Little White Fox's development was too slow; she alone could not keep the various factions within the Justice League in check, and the Hu He family was also not up to the task.

After all, they were wild Monsters who had never systematically studied politics. Lacking martial power, they were no match for the cunning Players internally, nor could they command the respect of the sect leaders externally.

Out of necessity, Lin Bai had to separate the Demon Beasts from the Beast Control Sect and entrust them to Little White Fox to manage jointly. Concurrently, employing a mix of strategies, he used Players to govern Players and bound the natives with formidable strength and benefits, barely maintaining the Justice League's equilibrium.

But he knew that, sooner or later, the Justice League would still face problems.

His trusted aides were developing too slowly.

Unexpectedly, Xu Longyun presented him with a pleasant surprise.

Indeed, professional matters should be left to professionals.

If I had known this earlier, I would have bound Xu Longyun to my warship back in Jiamucheng.

Xu Longyun is a true lieutenant!

…

"Master, am I really useless?" Jiang Qingqin, feeling suppressed and disheartened, found Lin Bai and asked gloomily.

"Don't belittle yourself. Everyone has their own value. You're still young, and the future holds plenty of opportunities." Lin Bai glanced at Jiang Qingqin, his voice aged. "This old man, with one foot in the grave, isn't giving up yet. What are you worried about? Who in life doesn't stumble a few times or face setbacks? Calm down, endure it, and you'll be fine. The world, after all, belongs to you young people…"

"…" Although she knew Lin Bai was practicing Spoken Law Follows, Jiang Qingqin couldn't help but say, "Master, you are not old at all."

"Child, don't try to comfort me. One can't defy old age. When the weather changes, these old arms and legs ache all over. I'm too old for this, no fight left in me. Sigh! Ah, it's good to be young like you!" Lin Bai looked at Jiang Qingqin, his gaze affectionate, as if she were his own granddaughter.

"Master, why don't I have a child for you?" Jiang Qingqin looked at Lin Bai and blurted out.

PFFT!

Lin Bai sprayed out all the tea he had just sipped.

What the heck?

Does she feel her position is threatened and wants to play the 'mother gaining privilege through her son' card?

Good grief!

This is like a palace drama!

"I'm not as capable as Xiao Yun in administration, nor do I have the Monster Race to command. After much thought, all I can do is help you have a child, to ensure the Justice League has a successor." Jiang Qingqin looked at Lin Bai and said earnestly, "You are destined to become the Heavenly Dao, and your cultivation progress is so rapid. If, one day, you suddenly achieve the Heavenly Dao and become without thought or feeling, what will happen to the Justice League? It can't be left to outsiders, can it? To take a step back, the Seven Righteous Sects are eyeing us covetously. If, and I'm just saying if, you were to perish, leaving a bloodline for the Lin family would at least ensure your lineage continues…"

Since when do cultivators care about lineage!

This girl has gone mad!

Lin Bai was speechless for a moment. Looking at Jiang Qingqin, he shook his head and sighed, "You have a point, but I'm getting on in years. Even if I have the will, I no longer have the strength!"

"…" Jiang Qingqin looked suspiciously at Lin Bai's crotch and unconsciously reached her hand towards it.

COUGH!

Lin Bai waved her hand away and chided, "Getting fresh with your master, what is this behavior? Are you bullying me because I'm old?"

"Master, it's fine if I don't have a child. Just assign me some tasks." Jiang Qingqin, realizing her rashness, blushed faintly. A smile touched her lips as she bit her lip lightly and pleaded, "I can't be outdone by Xu Longyun."

"Alas!" Lin Bai sighed again. Looking at Jiang Qingqin, he said, "After a lifetime of toil, I thought I could finally enjoy some peace, but now I have to worry about the children's future. What a life! Tomorrow, a large number of Players will descend, and among them will be a group who adore me. You are to organize these people under the name 'Lin Bai Support Group' and form a third legion of Players, distinct from the Beggar Gang and the Alliance Army. You'll be in charge of their training!"

"Just in charge of a group of Players?" Jiang Qingqin was clearly dissatisfied with the assignment.

"Do not underestimate these Players. Unlike the Beggar Gang, these individuals are truly loyal to me and will never betray us. In the future, they will be the absolute mainstay of the Justice League." Lin Bai explained, then, feigning fatigue, waved his hand, his eyelids drooping. "I'm tired. You may leave."

Previously, Lin Bai hadn't paid much attention to the Super Idol System.

After all, he wasn't a celebrity in his past life, and most of his fans were female Players who didn't seem to take the game very seriously.

But unexpectedly receiving the Primary Idol Aura, and with the new mission's reward being Idol Charm—which would make fans instinctively protect their idol's image—Lin Bai was reminded of the terrifying combat power of fan support groups for popular celebrities on Earth. Even though his fans were mostly female Players, with a little guidance, it wasn't entirely inconceivable that they would charge into battle for him.

The Primary Idol Aura could increase fans' combat power by ten percent, and there were also the Intermediate Idol Halo and Advanced Idol Halo…

The most crucial point was that Player fans could step outside this world and fight for him on the forums. Perhaps he could even influence the real world through his fans.

…

Apart from Lin Bai, everyone else, both inside and outside the game, was extremely busy. Large financial conglomerates like Xinlong, Jing Ke, and Fengda were conducting final training for their Players before they entered the server. They meticulously planned their strategies for after entering the game, striving to enable their Players to integrate into the world seamlessly upon arrival.

This was to avoid being like the Deer Mountain Group, who, after so long in the game, were still constrained.

The Deer Mountain Group's failure had already proven that concentrating all Players in the same Novice Village was detrimental to a group's development. Dispersing members to various locations, conversely, made it easier to expand their influence.

Courting Lin Bai and negotiating cooperation with the Justice League were listed as top priorities by these major financial groups.

…

After Wild Wolf collected sufficient material, the second issue of Heavenly Review, evaluating twelve Mahayana Realm experts, was finally published.

As Lin Bai had instructed, Wild Wolf spent a considerable sum hiring Players to gather information on these Mahayana Realm ancestors. As a result, they actually found a pair bound by a love-hate relationship.

Zhou Zhu, the team leader from the Heavenly Dao Sect, and the Forgetful Monk from the Buddha Spirit Sect.

Among the twelve Mahayana Realm experts, only they were prodigies from the same era. Moreover, in the prodigy ranking competition of the Seven Righteous Sects, the two were the team leaders of their respective sects.

In that prodigy competition, Zhou Zhu had secured first place, while the Buddha Spirit Sect's Forgetful Monk took second. It was rumored that due to some underhanded dealings during the competition, the prodigies were dissatisfied with the rankings and caused a private uproar.

As a result, the first-place Zhou Zhu was actually defeated by the second-place Forgetful Monk. The leading prodigy of the Heavenly Dao Sect was so affected by the Buddhist's aura that he nearly converted to Buddhism on the spot.

Had their respective masters not intervened, that year's prodigy competition would have become a laughingstock.

After that, the two became fierce rivals, engaging in a cultivation race.

No sooner had Zhou Zhu broken through to the Divinity Transformation Realm and entered the Void Realm, than Forgetful Monk broke through the Arhat Realm and entered the Guan Xin Realm. Then, no sooner had Forgetful Monk broken through the Anatta Realm, than Zhou Zhu stepped into Great cheng.

In every minor stage of each realm, it was always one of them achieving a breakthrough shortly after the other. Furthermore, after each breakthrough, they would deliberately send disciples to inform their rival.

Over the years, the disciples they trained had become a spectacle in the prodigy competitions. Whenever they encountered each other, they would fight relentlessly, each striving to uphold their master's honor. This had become a peculiar highlight of the competitions.

This time, when the major sects dispatched Mahayana Realm experts to eliminate Lin Bai, the Heavenly Dao Sect had not initially assigned Zhou Zhu. However, upon hearing that the Buddha Spirit Sect was sending the Forgetful Monk, Zhou Zhu insisted on seeing the Heavenly Dao Sect's Sect Leader. He had himself substituted for Daoist Hongyun, who was originally slated for the mission, and even vowed to capture Lin Bai before the Forgetful Monk could.

…

Such a pair of frenemies naturally became Wild Wolf's prime focus.

Therefore, in Heavenly Review, based on their personalities, the Buddhist cultivator Forgetful Monk was predictably ranked first, while the more impetuous Zhou Zhu was ranked second.

In the analysis of these two, Wild Wolf, with considerable malice, dissected their strengths. The article emphasized the reasons for this ranking:

First: Although Zhou Zhu won first place under the rules of the prodigy competition, he was privately defeated by the Forgetful Monk. He lost the first round, so to speak, because battlefields don't have rules.

Second: Zhou Zhu lacked fortitude. If it were any other Great cheng cultivator, their thoughts would have long been on how to break through their realm and undergo tribulation. Yet, when Zhou Zhu heard his old rival was being dispatched, he insisted on competing with the Forgetful Monk, even to the point of replacing someone else. Such a temperament meant that even if his cultivation was slightly superior to the Forgetful Monk's, he was destined to be outmatched in actual combat.

…

Following their rankings:

Ye Song, the old demon of the Holy Extreme Sect, was listed third.

The Purple-Robed Elder of the Heavenly Sword Sect was listed fourth.

…

Cen Qing, the fairy of the Moon Spirit Sect, was listed twelfth.

In reality, the others weren't spared either. Heavenly Review, while ostensibly analyzing everyone's strength, was actually using the article to sow discord:

The old demon of the Holy Extreme Sect and the Purple-Robed Elder of the Heavenly Sword Sect were of comparable strength; his ranking as third was because Heavenly Review needed to save face for the Five Demonic Sects.

The Beast Taming Sect could have originally ranked fifth. However, with the establishment of the Demon Country, their Demon Beasts could rebel at any time. Former combat partners might become liabilities, so they could only be ranked second to last.

The Moon Spirit Sect deserved its rank. Relying on beauty to bewitch others, they possessed almost no combat strength; their twelfth-place ranking was undisputed.