Ten Thousand Ways To Eliminate Players

There's a way for the cat, and a way for the mouse.

The Cultivators of both the righteous and deviant paths each devised their own strategies to deal with the turmoil brought about by "Heavenly Review." The Sects behind them fervently engaged in public opinion wars to increase their influence among the populace. As these wars escalated, the mysterious veil over the lofty Cultivators was lifted, and their once single-minded dedication to cultivation was shattered amidst the turmoil. However, while the public debate raged, no Sect dared to touch upon the reviews themselves. Lin Bai, an outsider, could offer commentary, but if their official publications engaged in reviews, it would only invite conflict. In this chaotic era, such actions offered them no benefit.

The Justice League and the Seven Righteous Sects were at war, and the Players had finally found the fun in the game.

Lin Bai broke the rules. This elevated them from objects of suspicion to highly sought-after assets, meaning they no longer had to upgrade step-by-step from the Novice Village. High-level Cultivators at realms such as the Divinity Transformation Realm and the Hollow Realm, previously beyond reach, sprang up like bamboo shoots after a spring rain. They replaced the original low-level NPCs and directly intervened in the Players' cultivation. Players in charge of publications made fortunes from advertising fees; Combat Players cultivated by their Sects received personal guidance from masters, consumed free Pill Medicines, and saw their levels skyrocket as if on a rocket; Players from the Moon Spirit Sect, on the other hand, ventured further and further down the path of freeloading...

Before the arrival of the fifth wave of Players, those already in the game received their own set of benefits.

The first four batches of Players, totaling more than a hundred thousand, were divided among the Seven Righteous Sects, the Five Demonic Sects, and their subordinate Sects. After subtracting those who entered officialdom and those who played casually, each Sect didn't actually receive that many people. Among the Players, those who had truly lost out were the usurped "Lonely Old Man" and those like "Greg," whom Lin Bai had killed repeatedly in the first wave, forcing them to delete their accounts. Their promising gaming prospects had been inexplicably ruined.

"Lonely Old Man's" claim that Lin Bai's Skills could affect the real world briefly appeared on the forums but failed to make even a ripple. No one believed that in-game Skills could genuinely impact reality. To most Players, being affected by Lin Bai's Divine Skills merely meant the server temporarily revoked their control over their in-game bodies. This was considered a standard game mechanic, nothing to make a fuss about. After all, their in-game bodies weren't their own, and they could log out normally. Injuries or temporary loss of control were inconsequential.

「Zhen City」

The preparations for the culinary competition were in full swing. Venue arrangements, various advertising banners, the opening ceremony, competition rules... Players were adept at handling these matters, so Lin Bai didn't need to worry at all. After Lin Bai announced the reward of accepting the second-place winner as his Disciple, everyone—be they civilian chefs, Cultivators from Sects, or Players—was eager to register for the culinary competition. Civilian participants were one thing; those who weren't chefs would feel too embarrassed to join. However, the Cultivators in the Sects and the Players cared little for such reservations. Each one desperately studied culinary arts, determined to participate.

What if they were chosen? This was an opportunity to ascend to heaven in one step.

Lin Bai was being hunted by both righteous and deviant paths, appearing to be in a precarious situation, possibly on the verge of collapse at any moment. But he was a genuine messenger of the law, possessed the strength of the Mahayana Realm, and, notably, was the Alliance Hierarch of the Justice League. As the saying goes, fortune is sought amidst danger. To become a Disciple of such an important figure, even just following him around for a few years would be worth it, not to mention the many people with ulterior motives hoping to get close to Lin Bai this way. Moreover, there was another possibility: what if the Justice League grew significantly stronger? This could be a chance to reach the sky in one step!

Lin Bai's senior Disciple, Dumbelldore, watched the culinary contest suddenly heat up. He inexplicably recalled his days practicing knife skills at the Chef's Divine Food Stall in Jiamucheng and felt a pang of regret, as if he had missed a significant opportunity. But now, it was too late to pick up culinary arts again. Knife skills weren't something one could master in a short time; besides, Lin Bai might not be willing to teach him anymore. Luckily, being Lin Bai's Disciple meant Dumbelldore cultivated fifty percent faster than others. This status and its inherent benefits were enough for him. Moreover, borrowing Lin Bai's prestige, he had used his status as the senior Disciple to swindle a considerable amount of Pill Medicines from Medicine King Valley. He had leveled up as quickly as possible, charging into the Golden Core Realm. He was now capable of flying and estimated he could break into the Divinity Transformation Realm in about ten to fifteen days. He had also acquired many Magic Treasures from the Tool Refining Sect and even contracted a Golden Core Stage Demon Beast from Little White Fox. These hidden benefits were certainly enough for him to feel smug about. Now, he could proudly beat his chest and declare that among the Players around Lin Bai, his level and strength were the highest.

However, he hadn't let Lin Bai know about any of this. Dumbelldore decided to wait until he broke through to the Divinity Transformation Realm to give Lin Bai a surprise. Maybe Lin Bai would be so pleased that he might reward him with some hidden Skills or something...

The Sky Dragon Sword Sect, Wind Spirit Observatory, Treasures Refining Pavilion, Ghost Spirit Sect, and Blood Knife Door, along with the fifth batch of Players, all arrived on the second day. These Sects, ostensibly there to surrender, readily joined the Justice League. They contributed their Sect's unique techniques to the Patent Department, thereby pledging their allegiance. Xu Longyun had them settled outside Zhen City, using original members of the Justice League to keep them in check. Xu Longyun was not as magnanimous as Lin Bai; she didn't trust the newly joined Sects and feared they might cause trouble behind her back. The unstable foundation of the Justice League was causing her immense stress.

Xu Longyun was unaware that Lin Bai's various psychologically devastating tactics had already sown seeds of terror in the hearts of the surrounding Sect Leaders and Disciples. As long as nothing happened to Lin Bai, no one would dare to rebel—at least not these Sects, which barely had any Nascent Soul experts. Were they afraid of the Justice League? No, they were only afraid of one person: Lin Bai himself.

Luo Xue, a prodigy from the Moon Spirit Sect, had her eardrums ruptured by Lin Bai's roar and was terrified to her core. She hadn't been sealed as a Puppet or brainwashed by Lin Bai, yet she remained utterly devoted to him. Medicine King Valley had all sorts of healing Pill Medicines, so her hearing had long since recovered. Lin Bai didn't pay her much attention, and Luo Xue had many opportunities to escape, but after much thought, she chose not to. She even volunteered, using her own strength, to assist Xu Longyun in managing the new Sects. Luo Xue couldn't withstand a single round against Lin Bai, but she was a genuine Divinity Transformation Realm expert. Excluding Lin Bai's Puppets, she was the undisputed top master in the Justice League.

Xu Longyun was very satisfied with this assistant. The only thing that bothered her was that Luo Xue would unconsciously blush, her eyes shimmering with affection—a clear sign of deep infatuation—whenever she saw Lin Bai. However, having witnessed countless mind games among women in the Prince Zhen Guo's House, Xu Longyun found Luo Xue's timid advances, all desire but no courage, hardly worth her notice. Xu Longyun was merely uncomfortable, not truly concerned. She had no one else reliable to assist her; she certainly couldn't rely on that little flirt, Jiang Qingqin!

Moreover, according to Xu Longyun's observations, the so-called "Great Path of Love" between Lin Bai and Jiang Qingqin was nothing like the inseparable, gold-strong bond proclaimed by Justice Weekly. It seemed more like a one-sided affair—Jiang Qingqin constantly lavishing attention on him, while Lin Bai offered no response. If Lin Bai was so lukewarm even to his nominal lover, what chance did someone like Luo Xue, practically a stranger, have? This was both a good and a bad thing. Lin Bai's apparent disinterest in women left Xu Longyun feeling like she had no way to approach him. As the dignified Commandery Princess of Duke Zhenguo, she couldn't possibly force herself upon him, could she? That would be utterly beneath her. The only thing Xu Longyun felt she could do was rely on her own capabilities to gradually diminish the influence of other women over Lin Bai, ultimately making herself indispensable to him. This was an open and aboveboard strategy, a dignified plan worthy of one aiming to be the foremost woman in his life... As long as Lin Bai didn't truly achieve the Heavenly Dao, she was confident she could eventually reach her goal.

Xu Longyun suspected that Lin Bai's so-called Heavenly Dao was likely a fabrication. The Righteous Door had probably fed him an illusory dream, intending to use him to sow chaos in the Cultivation World and quell the disasters brought by the Players. Facts had proven Lin Bai possessed this capability. What Xu Longyun needed to do was to be there for him when he learned the truth, to support him and prevent him from having a mental breakdown or even falling into madness. Xu Longyun knew how devastating it was for someone's lifelong belief to be shattered. For a proud man like Lin Bai, if his faith truly crumbled, he would either destroy himself or destroy the world. Neither outcome was one Xu Longyun wished to see. She was even prepared to help Lin Bai confront the Righteous Door...

"[Obscure Star: 30,000 fans; Reward: Faith Points +50, Idol Charm (Issued)]"

"[Third-rate Star: 100,000 hardcore fans; Reward: Faith Points +300, Intermediate Idol Halo (When with fans, their combat power increases by 30%)]"

The moment the Player rewards were tallied, the Super Idol System's mission completed instantly. Nearly a tenth of the 200,000 new Players were his fans, a fact that made Lin Bai quite excited. As expected, the Players did approve of his actions. But then Lin Bai considered that his fans might not only be Players; perhaps there were natives among them too. After all, with the pervasive propaganda of Justice Weekly, anyone assimilated by his ideas could potentially become a fan. It was just that Players, knowing this was a game, were more likely to engage in fan behavior. That's why they constituted the majority of his fanbase, and their arrival had triggered the rapid completion of the System's task. Even by a conservative estimate, if 10,000 of the 200,000 new Players were his fans, this combat power, if utilized well, would be terrifyingly effective. However, the Idol System demanded an ever-increasing number of fans. Relying solely on Players likely wouldn't be enough; he still needed to vigorously cultivate fans among the native population...

The Players descended from the starting cities. The existing Novice Villages, plus newly opened ones, meant that with 200,000 Players, each starting city would receive around two to three thousand new arrivals. This number was quite frightening; the Novice Villages simply couldn't accommodate them. However, unlike before, Lin Bai had broken the rules. The Sects, having received news in advance, didn't wait for the Players to grow but instead stationed themselves directly at the Novice Villages to snatch up recruits. Almost the moment the new Players descended, they were divided up by the various Sects, loaded into various means of transport, and taken back to the nearest Sect. There, they were provided with Pill Medicines and Cultivation Techniques for leveling up, while simultaneously being subjected to various forms of indoctrination to instill loyalty to their respective Sects. The Players were thrilled to skip the Novice Village and start cultivating immediately, gratefully accepting the benefits offered by the Sects.

Many Players in this batch had been recruited by consortiums in advance; the moment they entered the game, they became salaried employees. The large consortiums had learned from Mountain Deer's mistakes and did not plan to pursue an economic route from the outset. In the Immortal World, without a solid foundation of strength, any developed economy would be nothing but a mirage. It was better to have employees level up and enhance their abilities from the very beginning. Eventually, their combined forces could be used for conquest and territorial expansion, perhaps even to develop their own nation. By leveraging employees to develop in-game economies, coordinating efforts both inside and outside the game, they could achieve a win-win situation in terms of publicity and profit. They didn't care about the slight delay; the chaotic world Lin Bai had created already gave them a significant advantage.

Of course, not all Players were willing to work for the consortiums. But even for leisure-type Players, hoping for a better recreational experience in this world, surviving without a set of skills would be difficult. Who knew, they could be peacefully fishing one moment and be obliterated by someone's ultimate move the next. Just like when Lin Bai unleashed his shockwave that obliterated everything within a hundred-mile radius, would he have checked for innocent civilians beforehand?

Lin Bai was too controlling. That's why most consortiums chose to embed their employees within the Beggar Gang and the Justice League, rather than directly initiating cooperation talks with him. This conclusion was reached after the consortiums' think tanks comprehensively analyzed all of Lin Bai's past interactions with Players. Following Lin Bai might offer temporary advantages, but in the long term, the consortiums would inevitably lose their autonomy, becoming mere vassals to Lin Bai with no hope of ever regaining control. Just like the members of the Justice League and the Beggar Gang, willingly or unwillingly, they were now bound to protect the interests of the Justice League and Lin Bai. Lin Bai had a knack for making people beholden to him. The major consortiums were unwilling to accept such a fate. They much preferred to secretly build their own strength while the Seven Righteous Sects and the Justice League vied for dominance, aiming to eventually control the world and be the fisherman who profits from the conflict. In the early stages, the consortiums believed they should act as the hidden hand manipulating events from behind the scenes, rather than being the soldiers charging into the fray.

Players who chose to descend near Zhen City were typically one of three types: shortsighted individuals focused only on immediate gains; gamblers betting on the future prospects of the Righteous Door and the Justice League; or simply die-hard Lin Bai fans, who cared little for the game itself as long as they could be near him...

So, when Xin Shang and others brought the Players who had landed in the surrounding starting cities back to Zhen City, the majority were female. The moment the banner of the Jiang Qingqin Support Group was raised, Players flocked to it. In a short time, a Lin Bai Support Group Army numbering as many as 8,000 was formed. In terms of numbers and scale, it quickly surpassed the Alliance Army of the Beggar Gang and Wilderness Wolf. Jiang Qingqin was in absolute awe of Lin Bai's god-like ability to predict events.

Watching the Support Group Army form so quickly, Xu Longyun frowned. She felt that the situation, which she had worked so hard to stabilize, was once again slipping from her control. This massive Support Group was almost entirely composed of female Players, and Lin Bai had even organized them into an army! What was he trying to do? Was this man truly not driven by lust?