Ten Thousand Ways To Eliminate Players

"I bet Deng Cancan is too ashamed to log in now, right?" Bitter Melon Vine said.

"It's not that he's too ashamed; he doesn't dare to log in. He publicly insulted Lin Bai. Do you think Xu Longyun and the others would let him off? Just now, the look in Xu Longyun's eyes was murderous," Silver said.

"Why on earth did he lash out at Lin Bai like that?" Mountain Tiger asked.

"Think about his entire experience," Wilderness Wolf said sympathetically. "He started by impersonating Lin Bai and was then tormented by him relentlessly. He finally saw a glimmer of hope, but Lin Bai casually stripped him of that hope and any glory he had. Anyone in his shoes would find it unbearable!"

"He probably deleted his account and started over! Just like Lone Nobleman, he's likely blacklisted Lin Bai forever," Silver said.

"Old Lone has the knack for stirring up trouble, but what does this guy have? You're giving him too much credit," I'm Not an Alt Account scoffed. "If he had half of Old Lone's brains, riding the coattails of being Lin Bai's disciple, he would've been famous and successful by now. Why would he still be so obscure? Even Lao Mi is more ruthless than him…"

"True," Silver laughed. "From Lone Nobleman to Dumbelldore, Lin, the Storekeeper, doesn't care about Players at all!"

"In Lin, the Storekeeper's mind, he's always seen Players as a catastrophe," I'm Not an Alt Account said. "Even if he verbally insists on wanting Heavenly Beings to integrate into this world, deep down, he still wants to drive the Players out. It's just like what the Ninth Ancestor of the Righteous Door is doing—addressing the problem of Heavenly Beings at its very root."

"Besides, we don't have much that's worth his concern," Wilderness Wolf said. "Aside from *Justice Weekly* and *Heavenly Review*, we're dispensable in the Justice League, easily replaceable at any time."

With that single sentence, the Players collectively fell into silence.

"Our levels are too low," Dragon Breath said.

"Perhaps Lin, the Storekeeper's Way of the Mentor wasn't intended for Players in the first place; Dumbelldore was just an accident. After all, Players already cultivate very quickly. The Way of the Mentor is meant to bridge the cultivation gap between NPCs and Players, preventing an imbalance when Player levels rise," Crazy Man said. "That Way of Belief, the one that boosts combat power, seems specifically designed for Players, though."

"Belief implies loyalty, and loyalty grants a combat power bonus," Wilderness Wolf said. "The Way of Belief seems more like a method to differentiate factions. Essentially, once you join the Justice League, betrayal is not an option."

"Currently, Lin Bai's Support Group is mostly female Players. They're just cheerleading and chanting slogans. Even if their combat power increases by ten percent, so what?" Bitter Melon Vine said.

"Don't underestimate female fans. To support their idol, they can unleash even greater combat power," Silver said. "Moreover, Lin Bai's various Daos of Cultivation Law can all be advanced. It's a ten percent increase now, but who knows how much it will be in the future?"

"I want to join the Support Group!" Dragon Breath said.

"They'd have to let you in first," Bitter Melon Vine said, glancing sideways at the excited representatives of the Support Group with a somewhat wicked smile.

...

An additional ten percent increase in combat power wasn't too bad!

A Mahayana Realm cultivator with an extra ten percent combat power would be enough to crush most comparable opponents.

The many natives within the hall felt their hearts stir once more.

"Alliance Hierarch, what are the requirements for the Way of Belief?" Xiao Yu asked.

"Fellow Daoist Xiao, the requirements for the Way of Belief are quite steep," Lin Bai said with an embarrassed laugh, pointing at a few Heavenly Beings in the Support Group. "At the very least, one must be like them: madly adoring and infatuated with me, believing that everything I do is right. Even if I do something wrong, they must be able to find a suitable justification for my actions..."

"…" Everyone simultaneously looked towards the Support Group. They saw the clothes adorned with Lin Bai's cartoon image, the Lin Bai dolls tied to their braids, and recalled their frenzied screams and chants on the battlefield—frequently yelling "Lin Bai, Lin Bai, I love you!" and "Bai God, Bai God, you're the best!" An involuntary shiver ran down their spines; they definitely couldn't do that.

The conditions were too demanding.

"Alliance Hierarch, is there still a chance to become your disciple?" Xiao Yu asked, unwilling to give up.

"Naturally. When my Way of the Mentor improves, anyone will have the chance to become my disciple."

Lin Bai paid no mind to the expelled Dumbelldore.

Accepting him as a disciple back then was merely to complete a task for the Good Mentor System.

Now that his strength had soared to the Mahayana Realm, he had long since dismissed the meager Spiritual Power Dumbelldore provided. Even if Ye Song's merit value wasn't sufficient, the one percent of Spiritual Power Ye Song contributed was still more significant than Dumbelldore's fifteen percent.

Moreover, Dumbelldore truly had no outstanding qualities, not a single aspect worth nurturing.

"Master, are there any special requirements for cultivating the Way of the Mentor?" Ye Song asked, glancing at Ye Lan.

The moment Lin Bai acknowledged him as a disciple, Ye Song felt the circulation speed of his Spiritual Power drastically increase. Having experienced such an immediate benefit, he instantly thought of his lover and disciple…

Nesting dolls!

Lin Bai glanced at him and said, "That's for you to figure out. When I decided I wanted to cultivate the Way of the Mentor, the corresponding Divine Skills naturally emerged. If you were to ask me to teach you the Way of the Mentor, I genuinely wouldn't know how to articulate it. As for the Way of Belief, however, you all can try it. Maintain your unique characteristics and Charm, make more people unconsciously become infatuated with you, and you should be able to cultivate the Way of Belief..."

...

The Justice League's post-war meeting unknowingly veered off-topic, turning into a discussion about Laws.

Meanwhile, the impact of the Zhen City battle was far greater than Lin Bai had imagined.

Especially after the meeting's contents were disseminated through *Justice Weekly* and Player-generated content, it quickly triggered a massive earthquake among the common people and in the Cultivation World.

The Seven Righteous Sects and Five Demon Sects, having mobilized in full force, had to halt their advance and reconvene to discuss how to deal with the Justice League.

Lin Bai's growth rate was too fast.

The ability of the Dao of Cultivation Law to facilitate combat against higher-level opponents also drew the serious attention of all Sects.

They had no choice but to convene a new urgent meeting through the Players.

...

"That brat is audacious! We lost more than ten Mahayana Realm cultivators, and he still dares to demand compensation from us! Who gave him the nerve?" Yi Wuji, the Sect Master of the Tool Refining Sect, roared furiously, completely disregarding whether his emotions could be conveyed through the Heavenly Beings.

"Sect Master Yi, please quell your thunderous rage. Things have come to this; we must quickly devise a strategy to deal with Lin Bai," a Player named 'Spiritual Artifact' said, flawlessly mimicking Ancient Sorrow, the Sect Master of the Pill and Spirit Sect.

At that moment, eleven Players were standing before Yi Wuji, representing eleven Sect Masters. They logged on and off, relaying messages back and forth, bustling with activity and clearly enjoying their roles.

After numerous collaborations, both natives and Players had adapted to this novel method of communication.

The corporation's entry standardized the behavior of the Players, eradicating the vile habit of altering message content. To maintain long-term relations with NPCs, earning their trust was paramount.

Tampering with message content was a base act easily exposed, not worth the risk.

And the Players acting as messengers were regarded as confidants by the Sect members, often receiving more cultivation resources and Cultivation Techniques. They themselves were unwilling to lose these positions.

"So what if he possesses Mahayana Realm cultivation? No matter how capable he is, can he withstand the combined might of our twelve Sects? Even including him, the Justice League only has nine Mahayana Realm cultivators. Would Ye Song and the others who surrendered dare to resist once they know we've arrived?" said Qu Chaoan, Sect Master of the Blood Sect.

"Sect Master Qu is correct. Lin Bai's growth is too rapid. If we don't eliminate this hidden danger promptly and allow him to continue growing, it won't be long before the Seven Righteous Sects and Five Demon Sects cease to exist," the Holy Master of the Holy Extreme Sect commented gravely. "In just three short months, he went from an ordinary martial artist to possessing Mahayana Realm cultivation. Such speed is unprecedented."

"It's merely external power," countered the Demon Master of Sky Demon Mountain. "He turns Golden Core cultivators into puppets, and he possesses Golden Core Realm cultivation. He turns Divinity Transformation cultivators into puppets, and he possesses Divinity Transformation Realm cultivation. He turns Mahayana Realm cultivators into puppets, and he then possesses Divinity Transformation Realm cultivation. None of his cultivation comes from himself. Once we break his Puppet Techniques, even if he has mastered many Laws, I fear he won't be able to harm any of us."

"The Holy Master is right. Reviewing all of Lin Bai's battles, his Dao of Cultivation Law has never directly harmed anyone. His strongest attack to date doesn't seem to be a Law, but more like a sonic technique. He used that sonic technique once and was never seen using it again. It must have significant restrictions, or perhaps he himself cannot withstand its toll," said the Frost Cold Sword Saint from the Heavenly Sword Sect.

"Lin Bai claims he wishes to cultivate the Heavenly Dao. Perhaps the Cultivation Rules do not allow him to commit more slaughter," said Great Chan Master Hui Guang of the Buddha Spirit Sect.

"The so-called Bind the Immortal, Rush Moon, Milky Way, and other Laws seem powerful but aren't lethal; there's always a way to counter them. The only thing that can truly harm us is his technique of Forcing Matrimonial Bonds. That technique is insidious and difficult to guard against. Once he links someone with a matrimonial bond, even their thoughts can be altered. It is truly the nemesis of cultivators like us," said Qiu Shuichen, Sect Master of the Pill and Spirit Sect.

"Sect Master Qiu speaks the truth. Being bound in matrimony with an outsider isn't frightening; what's frightening is being bound with Lin Bai's puppets. One would unconsciously protect the puppets' safety, thereby being manipulated by Lin Bai. It's utterly disgusting. He has used this move at least three times," Poison Sect's Sect Master, Nightfall, said.

"Ultimately, we still need to completely eliminate his puppets," the Frost Cold Sword Saint of the Heavenly Sword Sect stated.

"With the Magpie Bridge, capturing Lin Bai has already become very difficult," the Sect Master of the Heavenly Dao Sect, who had been silent until now, said. "Otherwise, he wouldn't be so audacious as to use Sects to threaten us. You all know his 'harass when the enemy retreats, then strike their home base' tactic. If he manages to destroy our foundations, what face would the Seven Righteous Sects have left?"

"Ancestor Yan Qing, your words are mistaken," the Holy Master of the Holy Extreme Sect said. "Our Sects have operated for tens of thousands of years. Even if all Mahayana Realm cultivators are deployed, there are still Transcendence Tribulation Stage Ancestors presiding within our Sects. If the Ancestors are angered, they will act, even at the cost of drawing the Heavenly Tribulation upon themselves. How many Lin Bais could withstand that? Ancestor Yan Qing, don't tell me you've truly been intimidated by Lin Bai and don't even dare to make a move!"

"Holy Master, then tell me, how do we counter Lin Bai's Magpie Bridge?" Ancestor Yan Qing of the Heavenly Dao Sect retorted. "With the Magpie Bridge in play, how confident are you all of eliminating all the puppets in Lin Bai's hands in a single strike? Lin Bai has been undefeated since he entered the world. How do you know he's merely bluffing? In the Hollow Realm, he could turn Mahayana Realm cultivators into puppets. If he were to replicate this method within our Sects and turn Transcendence Tribulation Stage Ancestors into puppets, what then?"

"If he turned Transcendence Tribulation Stage Ancestors into puppets, it would actually be a good thing for us," said Octavio, the Sect Master of the Beast Taming Sect. "Once he reaches the Transcendence Tribulation Stage, any move he makes will trigger the Heavenly Tribulation. Wouldn't the Justice League then be at our mercy?"

"If a Transcendence Tribulation Stage Ancestor were willing to sacrifice themselves, to drag Lin Bai into the Heavenly Tribulation without fear of death, then no matter how great his abilities, it would all be over," said Lu Wei, Valley Master of the Valley of Thousand Souls. "Throughout history, no cultivator caught in a Heavenly Tribulation has ever survived. Even with his Magpie Bridge, he cannot escape being targeted by the Tribulation Lightning."

"Valley Master Lu's suggestion is indeed a viable method," the Sect Master of the Holy Extreme Sect chuckled. "However, to eliminate a mere youth in his twenties, we would need to sacrifice a Transcendence Tribulation Stage Ancestor. If word of this got out, what face would the Seven Righteous Sects and Five Demon Sects have left to continue their legacies? I'm afraid at that point, wouldn't everyone want to cultivate the Dao of Cultivation Law? If a few more fiends like Lin Bai appear in the world, are we to deplete our Transcendence Tribulation Stage Ancestors one by one? What about when we ourselves reach the Transcendence Tribulation Stage one day?"

Everyone fell into silence.

After a while, Qu Chaoan of the Blood Sect finally said, "This won't work, and that won't work. Are we to just stand by and watch Lin Bai gradually consume our resources, grow into a behemoth, and then annex us one by one?"

Ancestor Yan Qing of the Heavenly Dao Sect said, "Perhaps Laws don't truly exist in this world; everything is merely Lin Bai's means of strengthening himself. These so-called Laws are more like the Way of Evil Spirits. We should find a way to appease Lin Bai, then gradually shift the public's perception of him and their views on the Dao of Cultivation Law. With a slow and steady approach, we might be able to halt his growth."

The Sect Master of the Poison Sect sneered. "Ancestor Yan Qing, what a fine strategy! I just heard it from Chi Lian, and you've already proposed it."

Ancestor Yan Qing said, "With Heavenly Beings, there are no longer any secrets in the world. Sect Master Nightfall, you needn't be so concerned. However, Sect Master Nightfall, possessing such an excellent plan to deal with Lin Bai, why did you keep it hidden and not discuss it with everyone? In our several confrontations with Lin Bai, the Seven Righteous Sects and Five Demon Sects suffered setbacks precisely because we were mutually suspicious and acted independently. If we don't learn from this, we are courting disaster."

"Appease? How do we appease?" the Sect Master of the Poison Sect roared angrily. "Should we agree to his conditions, offer him war reparations, and hand over Chi Lian of my Poison Sect and Song Yaoqing of the Blood Sect to Lin Bai as an apology? Can't you see that Lin Bai intends to use this opportunity to stall for time, to spread his Magpie Bridge network across the world?"

"For the sake of the world, sacrificing Chi Lian and Song Yaoqing wouldn't be entirely unjustifiable," the Sect Master of the Heavenly Sword Sect said. "After all, they were the ones who instigated this turmoil. Using them to temporarily placate Lin Bai is fitting."

"Ancestor Yan Qing, you also know that there are no secrets among the Heavenly Beings. By openly stating your methods for dealing with Lin Bai here, aren't you worried his words will reach his ears?" Qu Chaoan of the Blood Sect said coldly.

"Even if I don't say it, would Lin Bai not know?" Ancestor Yan Qing of the Heavenly Dao Sect said. "Why did Lin Bai make the Justice League's affairs public? Wouldn't it be better for him to keep them secret? The Justice League is his domain; if he wanted to hide things, it would be far easier for him than for us. Yet, he still made it public. This is enough to prove that he, too, is willing to compromise! As things stand, chaos has already erupted. Giving both sides a chance to breathe would be beneficial for everyone."