Ten Thousand Ways To Eliminate Players

The war reparations from the Orthodox Seven Sects and the Demon Five Sects would take at least half a month to arrive. Their given reason was that the volume of supplies was too large, requiring time to gather and transport them.

On the very day the Orthodox Seven Sects and Lin Bai reached an agreement, Chi Lian and Song Yaoqing, who were supposed to be handed over to the Justice League as war criminals, chose to defect. The Poison Sect and the Blood Sect notified Lin Bai that a Descender had leaked the information, allowing them to escape. Then, the two sects nonchalantly issued wanted posters, casually requesting the Justice League's assistance in capturing the traitors. They declared that whoever apprehended the pair would undoubtedly hand them over to the Justice League for punishment.

Both reasons were utterly absurd. However, neither Lin Bai nor Xu Longyun took these claims too seriously. Xu Longyun didn't want to strain relations further. Besides, most people were accustomed to matters taking tens of days, or even several months, to resolve.

With the current rapid pace of change, things shift daily. Who knows when I might personally go and seize resources? Whether they deliver them or not is irrelevant. Lin Bai thought. He rarely relied on his subordinates for battles anyway.

Over the next few days, Lin Bai dedicated most of his time to deploying the Magpie Bridge network. After all, activating a Magpie Bridge between lovers required his personal intervention. Fortunately, since the Magpie Bridge connected various cities and allowed for instantaneous travel between them, it didn't consume much of his time.

During this period, Lin Bai returned to the headquarters of the Righteous Door, the former Return to Dragon View, for a brief inspection. He found that the mountain gate hadn't changed much; the Disciples were still present after the Poison Sect's members had retreated. Even the Herbal Medicine he had planted remained largely the same. He tended to them by catching pests, weeding, and applying the Spring Breeze Turns Into Rain Technique in a quick sequence before departing from the Righteous Door again.

The Righteous Door headquarters was merely a dilapidated mountain gate, one he himself didn't particularly care for. It's unlikely enemies will bother attacking it in the future. Trying to use it to accumulate virtue... probably won't be as easy as using my elder brother to accumulate Qi Yun.

When the Magpie Bridge network extended to Jiamucheng, Lin Bai made a point to visit Jimmy Navada's family, who had been confined to the Chef's Divine Food Stall. Following the Justice League's victory, the Chef's Divine Food Stall had reopened, its operations taken over from the Luo Family by Disciples from the Beggar Gang. No one dared to voice any objections.

`Justice Weekly` was a popular publication, and a diverse crowd frequented the Chef's Divine Food Stall. Most visitors came hoping to observe Lin Bai's place of origin, seeking to comprehend the Way of Incompleteness.

Little A Piao's family, of course, knew that the youth who once swindled and deceived had now become an eminent figure far beyond their reach. Their former troubles had vanished, and Lin Bai's promise to them had actually been fulfilled. It all felt like a dream. They had believed they would never see Lin Bai again in their lifetimes, so his sudden appearance before them was a complete shock.

Upon seeing Lin Bai, Little A Piao was overjoyed. Jimmy Navada and his wife were immensely grateful, declaring their willingness to serve Lin Bai faithfully.

Naturally, Lin Bai had no need for the three A Piaos as laborers. The existence of the Spiritual World Gap was no longer a secret among the Players. He didn't expect the three A Piaos, who lacked any cultivation, to be able to guard the Chef's Divine Food Stall. So, to complete his act of kindness, he waved his hand and lifted the restriction on their small shop, restoring their freedom.

However, this world offered no concept of reincarnation. Having suddenly regained their freedom, Little A Piao's family found themselves adrift, unsure of where to go. Consequently, they requested Lin Bai's permission to remain at the Chef's Divine Food Stall and serve their benefactor. Lin Bai didn't insist. He left them the soul-nourishing cultivation method from the Valley of Thousand Souls and allowed them to stay at the Chef's Divine Food Stall, continuing their roles as mascots.

...

Wherever Lin Bai went, `Justice Weekly` provided real-time reports on his activities, consistently portraying him as someone who shared in the joys of the common people. This fostered the impression among the Orthodox Seven Sects that Lin Bai had genuinely settled down and was focused on managing the Justice League. Consequently, they too settled down.

...

Meanwhile, Xu Longyun dispatched experts from the Alliance, all at the Hollow Realm or higher, via the Magpie Bridge. They traveled throughout Taiyi Country to visit the sects previously affiliated with or abandoned by the Orthodox Seven Sects and the Demon Five Sects, inviting them to join the Justice League.

Previously, when the Orthodox Seven Sects and Demon Five Sects held sway, these smaller sects feared being coerced by Lin Bai into joining the Justice League with no way out. They lived in constant trepidation, doing their utmost to distance themselves from the Justice League. Now, however, both the Orthodox Seven Sects and the Demon Five Sects had acknowledged Taiyi Country as Justice League territory, effectively making these smaller sects abandoned pawns. Moreover, Lin Bai had demonstrated his formidable strength to the world. Their resistance instantly became meaningless. Thus, they pragmatically chose to adapt, joining the Justice League en masse and cheering for Lin Bai.

...

Concurrently, as if by prior agreement, the Orthodox Seven Sects and the Demon Five Sects began holding successive press conferences to announce a series of new external policies. These included policies beneficial to the populace, diplomatic initiatives, and updates on the recent activities of various sects, among other things. The Color printer previously stolen by the Blood Sect was now put to use. Publications like `Heavenly Path Journey`, `Sword Sect`, `Vessel as Heaven`, `Saintly Periodical`, and `Buddha's Sayings` were issued in rapid succession. Daozi, Heart of Sword, Demon's Son, Buddha's Son, and other previously unassuming prodigies from their respective sects all graced the covers of their own weekly publications. They became the official faces of their sects, aggressively diverting readership from `Justice Weekly`.

...

News heard one moment became outdated the next. It was as if the entire world had stepped into a new era overnight, inundated by a relentless flood of information. One moment, the Rules were said to have no threshold and be easy to cultivate; the next, the Rules were decried as misleading the nation and its people, with immersion in them leading to irreparable disaster. Then there were claims that Lin Bai intended to focus solely on cultivating the Heavenly Dao and forbade any promotion of himself as Cupid. Conversely, other stories told of people building temples for Lin Bai, finding true love shortly after worshipping there, and subsequently being chosen by Lin Bai as Magpie Bridge Guardians, thereby earning fortunes. With professionals now involved in the escalating war of public opinion, all sorts of news circulated wildly, leaving people dazzled and utterly confused about what to believe.

...

"Master, Descenders are stirring up trouble, and the situation is spiraling out of control," Xu Longyun said when she found Lin Bai, a large stack of publications in her arms. "If we let them continue to confuse the public, it won't just hamper the promotion of the Path of Rules; Justice League members will be disadvantaged everywhere outside Taiyi Country and won't even be able to guarantee their own safety!"

"How are things with the Cupid affair?" Lin Bai asked without looking up. He was currently with Zuo Lan from the Tool Refining Sect, crafting a Bound Immortal Rope.

Lately, aside from establishing the Magpie Bridge network, Lin Bai had spent most of his time in the Artifact Refining Department. Only two strands of the Red String given by the Matchmaker remained. The restrictive power of the Milky Way wasn't a major concern for those at the Great Cheng Realm. Currently, the ability to Bind the Immortal was what could most enhance his combat prowess. If the Bound Immortal Rope could be made more durable, preventing a Great Cheng Realm expert from breaking free quickly, then combined with his nearby fighters and Cards, he could easily turn an opponent into his Puppet.

Zuo Lan was a grandmaster from the Tool Refining Sect. The artifact refining theories and techniques Lin Bai had acquired from the System couldn't compare to Zuo Lan's expertise. However, Lin Bai's knowledge of Human Engineering and Material Science, along with his Eye of the Broken, allowed him to offer incisive advice on the Magic Artifacts Zuo Lan crafted. Zuo Lan made no comment on Lin Bai's personal artifact refining skills, but he was astounded by Lin Bai's insight. Since Lin Bai consistently pointed out the flaws in his work, Zuo Lan's own skills had improved by leaps and bounds. The Bound Immortal Ropes he crafted these days were increasingly durable, and also fire and water-resistant. Even a Great Cheng Realm expert would need at least ten breaths to break free. Ten breaths—theoretically, if the opponent's Body Protection Treasure was already destroyed, this was enough time for Lin Bai to turn them into his Puppet. For someone at the Hollow Realm, breaking such a rope would take at least half an incense stick's worth of time.

...

Glancing at the purple-robed old ancestor and the Void Cultivator suspended in mid-air, struggling against the Bound Immortal Rope, Xu Longyun's face flushed slightly as she said, "Both `Justice Weekly` and Taiyi Country have strongly advised the public against promoting Cupid's Path or building temples for you, Master. They've even dispatched military forces to demolish existing temples. However, the effect has been counterproductive. The rewards for Magpie Bridge Guardians are too enticing; people simply can't be stopped from worshipping you. The more temples are banned, the more are built..."

Lin Bai frowned slightly. "More and more, you say?"

"Yes, and it's also related to the meddling of the Orthodox Seven Sects," Xu Longyun continued. "They're encouraging the establishment of more temples dedicated to Cupid, hoping more couples will become Magpie Bridge Guardians in countries like Taichu and Taihao. Due to the various rules imposed by the Orthodox Seven Sects, we cannot interfere in matters outside Taiyi Country. The world bustles, all for gain. As long as the Magpie Bridge network exists, there's no stopping them from building temples for you, Master. Furthermore, rumors claim that praying for marriage in your temples is incredibly effective. Many are now saying that you, Master, are the true Cupid descended to the mortal realm."

Lin Bai was inwardly delighted, yet his frown deepened. He sighed heavily. "I once believed the tribulations of achieving the Heavenly Dao would only stem from external pressures. I never imagined more would arise from within myself. If this hidden danger of Cupid's Path isn't resolved promptly, attaining the Heavenly Dao might become impossible!"

Zuo Lan's ears twitched slightly, but he continued to focus on his artifact refining without comment. The other Tool Refining Sect Cultivators involved in the process all perked up their ears, while the Players began to whisper among themselves, discussing their opinions on the current situation.

"Master, the Heavenly Dao offers no Divine Skill rewards, and we don't know when it can be achieved. Why not cultivate Cupid's Path first to enhance your Divine Skills? You could use the Divine Skills from Cupid's Path to unify the Cultivation World, and then switch back to cultivating the Heavenly Dao," Xu Longyun suggested.

"I'm afraid that if I inadvertently complete the cultivation of Cupid's Path, there'll be no turning back," Lin Bai said, shaking his head with a wry smile. "No one knows what one ultimately becomes after cultivating into a God of Rules. What if I perfect Cupid's Path, ascend and transcend? Who would be left to deal with the subsequent catastrophe?"

"Ascend and transcend?" Xu Longyun was startled. "Do you mean ascend to the Fairy World?"

"I don't know," Lin Bai replied. "The Path of Rules is the embodiment of the world's will. It should be superior to the Fairy World, shouldn't it?"

Xu Longyun was rendered speechless.

"Let's put this aside. If we can't control it, we'll let it be for now. Let nature take its course," Lin Bai sighed. "Is there anything else?"

Xu Longyun rallied her spirits. "The Heavenly Dao Sect is imitating the Justice League's strategies, using public opinion to influence people's perception of the Path of Rules. The Daozi of the Heavenly Dao Sect claims he nearly suffered a cultivation deviation while practicing Spoken Law Follows, only surviving the ordeal due to his innate Divine Skill. He asserts that if ordinary people rashly attempt to cultivate the Heavenly Dao Laws, they are highly likely to go insane... `Heavenly Path Journey` also lists numerous alleged cases of insanity resulting from the Cultivation of Rules. I don't know if these are true or fabricated. But as the saying goes, a lie told often enough becomes the truth. Many people have already been swayed and now want to resist the Path of Rules. The influence of `Justice Weekly` has been curtailed. If this continues, I fear we might lose the battle for public opinion outside Taiyi Country. I suspect the Orthodox Seven Sects and the Demon Five Sects intend to use this to diminish the influence of the Path of Rules and ultimately corner the Justice League."

Limited? Lin Bai subconsciously glanced at the Players engaged in artifact refining and quickly understood. The Magpie Bridge network hadn't yet extended beyond Taiyi Country. The dissemination of `Justice Weekly` relied entirely on Players conveying its content through live streams and forums, which was then replicated in other countries. Now, with the involvement of powerful financial groups and a massive influx of capital, they had not only overwhelmed the Advertisement Alliance established by the Beggar Gang but had also swayed the local populace. Consequently, the impact of `Justice Weekly` was confined to areas covered by the Magpie Bridge.

The Beggar Gang's financial strength was no match for these financial groups. Moreover, due to their initial high-profile antics, they weren't particularly popular among the Players. Coupled with Lin Bai's recent low profile, advertisers had stopped investing in the Beggar Gang. As a result, the Beggar Gang's finances were currently strained, and they were almost entirely reliant on their past earnings to stay afloat. Fortunately, the revenue from the Magpie Bridge was sufficient for them to live comfortably within the game, and most Players were preoccupied with leveling up, so there hadn't been any large-scale defections.

However, after demonstrating their capabilities to the Orthodox Seven Sects, these financial groups had secured numerous Cultivation Techniques and benefits for their affiliated Players. Consequently, these Players' Levels were rising rapidly, quickly closing the gap with the Beggar Gang. Furthermore, their numbers were vast; it wouldn't be long before they surpassed the Beggar Gang in terms of member count. If a large-scale battle between Player factions were to occur, the Beggar Gang would likely be annihilated.

Ultimately, the Justice League's resources were still too scarce. The support from Taiyi Country was a mere drop in the bucket, as Taiyi Country prioritized its own interests and wouldn't assist the Justice League unconditionally.

...

Financial groups? Public opinion is being constrained! Lin Bai sank into deep thought. As expected, give the Players an inch, and they'll take a mile! These guys are too shrewd. One person against two worlds... it's truly exhausting. There's never a moment to catch my breath...

"How many Index of Restraining Immortals have we crafted?" Lin Bai refocused his thoughts and asked Zuo Lan.

"Approximately five hundred," Zuo Lan replied. "Materials and time are limited. We can't produce more, nor can we make them any stronger."

"And those of a slightly lower grade?" Lin Bai inquired.

"We have about three thousand that can restrain a Hollow Realm expert for five breaths," Zuo Lan stated. He hesitated for a moment before asking, "Alliance Hierarch, are you planning to take action against the Orthodox Seven Sects?"

"Their reparations still haven't arrived!" Lin Bai sighed. "I need to press them. Moreover, I must fulfill the Magpie Bridge orders for Taichu and Taihao. Those two countries are currently controlled by the Orthodox Seven Sects, so having more Index of Restraining Immortals will be useful for self-defense. Chi Lian and Song Yaoqing, those two war criminals, are still at large. Relying on the Poison Sect and the Blood Sect, it's unlikely we'll capture them. We must take action ourselves. Otherwise, if they manage to evade punishment through such delays, the world might start to look down on our Justice League. The principle 'Those who offend our League shall be pursued and punished, no matter how distant' is not mere rhetoric."

"I will issue a news announcement," Xu Longyun said, glancing at Lin Bai, "informing the Orthodox Seven Sects of your itinerary, Master, and requesting their cooperation."