Ten Thousand Ways To Eliminate Players

Zhou Zhu's escaping technique was somewhat like Flash, but ultimately, it was not Flash.

However, even Flash couldn't outpace light and thought.

Within Lin Bai's field of vision, Zhou Zhu couldn't avoid his Mind Reading Technique.

Lin Bai's mental strength was sufficient. He activated the defensive function of the Chaos Jade and, in front of everyone, demonstrated extreme micro-control against the approaching Zhou Zhu.

The Ninth Ancestor began.

Every time Zhou Zhu appeared, an incredibly vulgar, highly offensive, and explosive image would invariably appear in his mind. Either the Ninth Ancestor was defecating on his neck; or he was stripped of his clothes while the Ninth Ancestor pulled his nostrils and raised a horsewhip behind him; or he was bridled by the Ninth Ancestor, who stepped on his head and forced him to drink from a cattle trough...

Time was pressing. There was no time to craft any elaborate language; all Lin Bai could do was take many static comic images he had seen on Earth that quickly fired up men, replace the heads, and rapidly send them out.

While disturbing Zhou Zhu's thoughts, Lin Bai simultaneously unleashed the entire Six-Piece Blacksmith set, barraging him with it.

Soon, Lin Bai discovered that the Six-Piece Blacksmith set could no longer hit Zhou Zhu. Lin Bai's Mind Reading Technique could keep up with Zhou Zhu's speed, but the Six-Piece Blacksmith set could not.

So, he changed his strategy. He took out a handful of Silver Cards from his robes and, the instant Zhou Zhu appeared, he activated a card character, sticking it right next to him.

Then, he quickly used the Rush Moon Skill.

Rush Moon would activate immediately as long as the conditions were met, regardless of whether the opponent was using an escape technique.

Qing Yu deployed, point-blank!

WHOOSH!

Someone suddenly appeared beside him. Before Zhou Zhu could react, his escape technique was interrupted. His entire body changed direction, striking an alluring Rush Moon pose as he flew towards the sky.

During the Rush Moon process, no Spells could be used.

Thus, the Six-Piece Blacksmith set came into play: the hammer, pincers, Bellows, Anvil, and so on, rained down on him in succession.

Caught off guard, Zhou Zhu thoroughly "enjoyed" the same treatment the Cangming Sword Immortal had once received. Following his jade hairpin and Daoist robe, the jade pendant and protective belt at his waist were swiftly destroyed.

A Great Cheng expert was truly a Great Cheng expert. Zhou Zhu quickly realized he had been hit by Lin Bai's Separation of Love. He rapidly activated his Cultivation Level, and with a WHOOSH, shot up like a Soaring Monkey, swiftly reaching the apex of the Rush Moon.

Then, he used his escape technique to Flash down again and continued charging towards Lin Bai.

His Magic Treasures were destroyed, he was being tormented by the Ninth Ancestor in his mind, and he was being toyed with by Lin Bai in reality. If he couldn't kill Lin Bai and instead turned to flee, there would be no place left for him in this world...

Regret? It was too late for regret.

At this point, rankings were no longer important to Zhou Zhu. He represented not only his own honor but also the honor of the Heavenly Dao Sect...

Seeing Zhou Zhu stubbornly charging forward, Lin Bai repeated his tactic.

Flower Stream, point-blank! Rush Moon! Then smash him with the Six-Piece Blacksmith set. Qing Shan, point-blank! Rush Moon again...

Consequently, Zhou Zhu's originally impressive trajectory became like that of an agile flea: flash, ascend to the heavens; flash, ascend to the heavens again.

His perfectly good escape technique was rendered completely unrecognizable by Lin Bai's interference...

Ye Song's Adam's apple bobbed. He wanted to laugh but couldn't. A creepy feeling washed over him, and he couldn't help but swallow, thankful that his own plan was more cautious and sound. Otherwise, he would have been the one suffering this tragic scene. TSK TSK! Utterly miserable!

"A Great Cheng expert?"

"Should be. His ascension speed is much faster than the Cangming Sword Immortal's, and he can Flash too."

"But against Lin, the Storekeeper, he seems just as powerless to fight back. Not much different from those Divinity Transformation Realm cultivators before..."

"It just shows that Lin, the Storekeeper's Power of Laws is more overwhelming. Even Great Cheng experts can't resist it."

"It's different. Great Cheng experts are braver. If an ordinary person were tormented like this by Lin, the Storekeeper, they'd have fled long ago. He's still stubbornly charging forward; he must have a trump card."

"Besides, Lin, the Storekeeper doesn't dare to rush forward and engage him at close quarters like he did with the Cangming Sword Immortal."

"Have you noticed? Before Lin, the Storekeeper uses Separation of Love, he always sends a Puppet to Zhou Zhu's side."

"Noticed that ages ago. Previously, whenever Lin, the Storekeeper used Separation of Love, someone would always be left behind at his original spot."

"Meaning, this Skill can't be used against a single individual..."

"Separation of Love? The name itself tells you. 'Separation' implies at least two people. How can one person be separated?"

"Perhaps that's the Skill's weakness. If targets aren't together, Lin, the Storekeeper's Separation of Love can't be activated."

"What kind of loophole is that? Zhou Zhu is still alone. Lin, the Storekeeper can still deploy a Puppet close to him and send him flying."

"Sure, Zhou Zhu is one person. But what if many people attacked Lin, the Storekeeper from different directions? Lin, the Storekeeper doesn't have that many Puppets. Even if he had enough, could he divide his attention to deploy them against dozens of people simultaneously with such micro-control?"

"Indeed, no Skill is unbeatable. The battles between NPCs are probably the game officials demonstrating the Skills to us, boosting our confidence."

"Arrow of Love, Separation of Love... Gradually, ways to counter all of Lin, the Storekeeper's Skills will be found."

"The scary part is that Lin, the Storekeeper might pull out a new Skill at any moment. Have you all forgotten the Skill that destroyed a hundred-li radius of forest with a single shout?"

"We're just trying to get by following Lin, the Storekeeper. The Players who actually oppose him are the ones who should be worried..."

He Qin and the others exchanged glances, a bitter taste in their mouths. So, separating was the way to counter Separation of Love? How had they not seen such a simple method back then! But on second thought, it was fortunate they hadn't discovered it. If they had angered Lin Bai, a casual shout from him could have wiped out their entire Sect. They certainly wouldn't be here now, watching Lin Bai toy with a Great Cheng expert. Thinking this, everyone felt a sense of relief. Stupidity had its advantages; not discovering it had been for the best.

Zhou Zhu, hopping like a flea, bounded in from the distance and into everyone's sight. Everyone present cast a sympathetic gaze upon him.

Previously, Lin Bai's large-scale battles had all taken place in the wilderness. The world had only learned about the combat through side-accounts in the Justice Weekly, relying on imagination to picture the scenes.

But this time, the battlefield was in Zhen City. The common folk could see the battlefield outside just by looking up. Laymen watch for the excitement.

The commoners couldn't sense the aura-lock from tens of li away, nor could they discern the intricacies of Zhou Zhu's Flash, or the mystery behind his rapid ascent during the Rush Moon process...

All they knew was that compared to the imposing Lin Bai, who hadn't moved an inch from his spot from start to finish, the Great Cheng expert Zhou Zhu, who had arrived with such great fanfare to challenge him, now looked like a clown. He had no dignity left, utterly failing to live up to the description given of him in the Heavenly Review...

"Meeting him is worse than just hearing his name. So this is all a Great Cheng expert amounts to."

"The rumors were greatly exaggerated."

"No wonder they were replaced by the Justice League!"

"And to think I yearned for cultivation for so many years! How pitiful!"

"Master Zhou Zhu is ranked second, yet he's in such a sorry state against Lin Bai. The other Great Cheng experts are probably even worse. The Heavenly Review gave them too much credit."

"I reckon that Master Forgetless is also a fraud..."

Due to Zhou Zhu's pathetic performance, the reputation of other Great Cheng experts plummeted, to the point where even ordinary commoners looked down on them.

Hearing the unbridled comments from within the city, Ye Song felt a headache coming on and sighed helplessly.

This is troubling. If the remaining Great Cheng experts can't defeat Lin Bai decisively and effortlessly, I'm afraid the reputation of the Great Cheng realm will never be restored.

"Lin Bai, are these despicable tricks the only thing your Righteous Door is capable of?" Zhou Zhu roared hysterically, his eyes practically splitting with rage.

Since being humiliated by Master Forgetless at the Celestial Talent Competition, this was the second time he had been tortured to the brink of a mental collapse.

A distance of over fifty li, which he could have covered in an instant with his escape technique, took him a full half-cup-of-tea's time due to the interference from the Ninth Ancestor and Lin Bai. He still hadn't reached Lin Bai, making a fool of himself the entire way, launched into the sky dozens of times...

This was a far cry from the plan he had envisioned: to use thunderous methods, annihilate Lin Bai in one fell swoop, and clear his own name.

"Master Zhou, this is the Great Path of Love. You are simply not skilled enough," Lin Bai said calmly. Practice makes perfect; after dozens of repetitions, he could now speak while simultaneously swapping Cards and sending Zhou Zhu into Rush Moon.

"I'm not skilled enough? If your Righteous Door's Ninth Ancestor wasn't doing all sorts of vile things in my mind, how could I, this old master, have ended up in such a state?" Zhou Zhu roared in grief and indignation, already in the Rush Moon posture.

He had cultivated diligently for hundreds of years and experienced countless trials in the mortal realm. What kind of scene hadn't he witnessed?

But the Ninth Ancestor had practically performed an entire repertoire of tricks in his mind. Those inconceivable postures and actions were enough to make even depraved heretics who preyed on women concede inferiority.

If he hadn't been the target of the Ninth Ancestor's torment, Zhou Zhu would have applauded such creative "performances."

"Master Zhou, that's rich coming from you. The righteous and demonic paths dispatched twelve Great Cheng experts to bully a junior like me, and you're saying my ancestor isn't allowed to lend a hand?" Lin Bai scoffed, then implanted another image into Zhou Zhu's mind: the Ninth Ancestor as a tentacled monster, binding him.

All the vulgarities occurred within Zhou Zhu's mind, so the Righteous Door's image wouldn't be tarnished.

Presumably, Zhou Zhu wouldn't tell the world what the Righteous Door's Ninth Ancestor had done to him in his mind...

"Bullshit! You call that lending a hand?" Zhou Zhu was so furious his lungs ached. "Don't you know what kind of degenerate your Righteous Door's Ninth Ancestor is?"

"Zhou Zhu, I address you respectfully only because you are a Great Cheng expert. If you want to fight, then fight! But if you insult my Ninth Ancestor, then today, this will be a battle to the death!" Lin Bai feigned anger, simultaneously implanting an image of Master Zhou hanging upside down on a grapevine into his mind, and declared righteously.

"A battle to the death, you say? Fine! Come on, then! If you have the guts, let's fight properly, without using the Power of Laws!" Zhou Zhu retorted angrily.

"I cultivate the Laws. Why shouldn't I use them?" Lin Bai chuckled lightly, changing the subject. "Master Zhou, I know you were defeated by Master Forgetless and harbor deep resentment towards him, eager to prove yourself..."

"That's right! I want to prove I'm stronger than him! What is he, anyway? By what right does he overshadow me?" Zhou Zhu roared. But as soon as the words left his mouth, he realized something was wrong. He had intended to say that killing Lin Bai was for the sake of world righteousness, but instead, his true thoughts had spilled out. His expression changed drastically. "Lin Bai, what did you do to me?"

"I used Separation of Love on you, nothing more. When you get closer, I'll use the Arrow of Love." Lin Bai casually brandished the nocked Bow of Love in his hand. "Everyone knows that one who is struck by the Arrow of Love will fall for the first person they see. Since you didn't bring a partner, Master, you can later choose someone you find agreeable among my Puppets. I'll help you become a married couple and cultivate the Way of Love together..."

"Screw you, Lin Bai, you despicable, shameless villain! If you dare use the Arrow of Love on me, I'll tear you limb from limb!" Zhou Zhu snarled. "A Great Cheng expert can fight even with closed eyes! If I'm truly hit by the Arrow of Love, I'll destroy my own eyes before I let you have your way!"

SIGH. Ye Song sighed again. Zhou Zhu's mind is in turmoil. How could he blurt out his thoughts during a battle? His composure has completely shattered!

"Master Zhou is indeed no match for Master Forgetless," Lin Bai's voice boomed, loud enough to cover all of Zhen City. "Master Forgetless has already let go of his grudges, but the hatred in your heart still lingers. The Heavenly Review ranking you second wasn't wronging you in the slightest!"

"Nonsense! That old dog is a treacherous villain! He has lost to me several times; how could he possibly let it go?" Zhou Zhu had wanted to say he never took the Heavenly Review seriously, but he blurted out the truth again. His eyelid twitched violently as he roared, "Ninth Ancestor, you despicable wretch! Get out of my Sea of Consciousness! Stop befuddling my mind with your wicked arts!"

"So, after the Celestial Talent Competition, Master Forgetless lost to you again?" Lin Bai asked, his tone gossipy.

The Old Man of the Moon's quest required him to turn two enemies into a couple. The fire ignited by the Heavenly Review clearly wasn't burning fiercely enough; Lin Bai felt it safer to add more fuel.

Under the influence of the Truth-telling Technique, sowing discord between two people was exceedingly easy.

"Naturally," Zhou Zhu said. "Back in the Hollow Realm, I challenged him to a duel. He lost to me within thirty rounds. If he hadn't knelt and begged for mercy, how could I have vented the anger from the humiliation he subjected me to back then?"

Since he was already in such a wretched state, Zhou Zhu decided to throw caution to the wind. By now, he couldn't even tell if his words were being influenced by the Ninth Ancestor or not.

His only thought was that he couldn't let that hypocritical Master Forgetless continue to appear before the world with such a lofty image. Otherwise, if word of this incident spread, and Lin Bai fanned the flames with a few remarks, it would only make Master Forgetless seem even more superior.

"Then he must hate you immensely?" Lin Bai asked with a smile.

"It'd be strange if he didn't hate me," Zhou Zhu said. "Master Forgetless is, fundamentally, a treacherous villain."

"Is that your true assessment of him, Master?" Lin Bai asked again.

"Naturally," Zhou Zhu affirmed.

"Do you dare to swear that what you've said is absolutely true?" Lin Bai coaxed. "If it is, then the Heavenly Review's description of Master Forgetless might need some revision."

"Don't you know whether my words are true or not? Your Ninth Ancestor has influenced my mind, making me speak nothing but my true thoughts, and now you want me to swear an oath? Is there any point?" Zhou Zhu raged.

Ye Song's heart tightened. The Righteous Door's Ninth Ancestor can actually reach directly into people's minds? Then my plan to infiltrate the Righteous Door needs serious reconsideration.

"The Ninth Ancestor's Divine Skills are becoming increasingly profound," Lin Bai sighed, watching the approaching Zhou Zhu. "Master Zhou, you must have realized by now that with the Ninth Ancestor assisting me, you are destined to lose. Not only are your Magic Treasures destroyed, but you've also been hopping around like a clown in front of everyone, utterly losing face."

"If you get hit by the Arrow of Love later, you might even have to destroy your own eyes. You're already in such a miserable state. Why not calm down, recount a few more past events, and drag that villain Master Forgetless down with you? If more facts are known, the Heavenly Review can also re-evaluate your rankings. The world shouldn't be deceived by false histories..."

Zhou Zhu pondered for a moment. "Excellent."

Lin Bai cupped his fist towards Zhou Zhu. "Please speak, Master Zhou. This Lin is all ears."

The people of Zhen City instinctively pricked up their ears.

Zhou Zhu paused again for a moment, then asked, "If you want me to speak, will you stop using Separation of Love?"

Lin Bai shook his head decisively. "No. Currently, Master Zhou, you are still my enemy. Every enemy is a treasure to me; through you, I will demonstrate the power of the Way of Laws to the world. The reason I'm giving you this chance, Master, is merely to offer you an opportunity to vent the hostility in your heart! Otherwise, fighting me is too frustrating. If you were to suffer a Qi deviation and fall into a demonic path, it would make my Righteous Door seem overly aggressive..."