Chapter 137: Breaking the Deadlock with Force

"Hahaha, a sight for sore eyes."

"So what if NPCs are intelligent? Players are fundamentally uncontrollable."

"Whoever makes them unhappy, they make that person unhappy."

"Once the players start showing off, there won't be any room left for Shopkeeper Lin."

"Shopkeeper Lin's halo will eventually be replaced by the players."

"The Beggar Sect is getting too cocky."

"Congratulations to the Beggar Sect for successfully becoming public enemy number one. This time, those sects have been backed into a corner; it'll be hard for them not to be enemies with Lin Bai."

"This is what a game is! Can you even call them players if they don't stir up trouble?"

"If Shopkeeper Lin can survive this crisis, I'll truly admire him. I'd even pay money to join the Beggar Sect and look around."

The people of the Beggar Sect were a bit bewildered!

What is going on?

They just used a clever method to push out some disciples, so how did Shopkeeper Lin become a public enemy again?

Recruiting all the players into the Beggar Sect will offend all the NPCs;

Distributing the players evenly will offend the players;

Damn it.

Playing a game is so hard!

"Lao Gu, what do we do?" Lao Mi's expression was somewhat ugly.

"What else can we do? Just let it be." Gugao Laoren snorted, "This was bound to happen sooner or later. Too many people are jealous of the Beggar Sect. As long as they don't attack immediately, we have a chance. After all, they aren't of one mind, and we have Jiamu City, a novice village, as our base. If Lin Bai doesn't fall and we are given time to grow, we have a chance to counter-kill. This is actually a good thing for us; it can force Lin Bai to teach us more things..."

"I'm afraid they might do something to Lin Bai now," Lao Mi said worriedly. "Two fists are no match for four hands. If those NPCs are incited, we will be completely isolated from both the righteous and evil factions."

"I'm most afraid that Shopkeeper Lin will actually be beaten to death by them!" Bitter Melon Vine said. "Back then, it was a struggle for Shopkeeper Lin to fight one Golden Core True Person, and now, there are at least ten Golden Core True Persons!"

"Besides, if the Beggar Sect can't control the scene this time, it will be hard to plan future activities." Fengzinan frowned and looked at Gelige, who was stirring up trouble, his eyes filled with undisguised disgust.

What kind of big shot?

Anyone who tries to manipulate public opinion against Lin Bai deserves to die...

"Tell the Beggar Sect people to get their weapons ready," Gugao Laoren said. "I have a feeling that a fight is going to break out soon. Shopkeeper Lin isn't the type to swallow his anger."

"Master, these people are so annoying." Xiaobai looked at everyone in the venue, her voice somewhat cold.

She had been staying by Lin Bai's side the whole time and had witnessed how they fawned over Lin Bai before the recruitment fair even started. She hadn't expected that in the blink of an eye, these people would sell Lin Bai out.

How shameless!

"They are indeed annoying enough." Lin Bai nodded indifferently.

The current situation was actually within his expectations. Everyone had no real friendship to begin with; they were brothers when needed, but if a brother could be traded for Heavenly Descended, they could naturally be kicked to the side.

It was nothing more than them no longer needing to extract benefits from him.

As for the subsequent recruitment fair, it didn't matter if the Beggar Sect was there or not; they could organize it themselves. If they managed to finish him off, they might even be able to get more players.

When it came down to it, it was because his strength wasn't enough, and his interests weren't deeply enough intertwined with the various sects...

However.

At this moment, the major sects were actually still providing him with Positive Emotion, which was enough to prove that this group of guys didn't have much hatred for him. He was happy to harvest a wave first...

Lin Bai looked around the entire recruitment fair.

Most of the players bypassed the Beggar Sect and went to sign up for the sects they liked.

Long queues had formed in front of most sect registration points, and even the City Lord's Mansion's recruitment point had people signing up. Everyone had different goals for entering the game; not everyone liked leveling up and fighting Lin Bai.

There were also some life-skill players who just wanted to enjoy life in the other world.

It couldn't be ruled out that some people entered the game to become officials...

Only the Blood Shadow Sect and Huilong Temple were exceptions.

Even though Lan Nuotian and Qingling Daozhang shouted with all their might, there were hardly any players queuing at their registration points.

Having fought against him, the reputations of both sects were already ruined...

Lan Nuotian's face was very dark. He glanced at Lin Bai in the venue and frowned slightly: "Xiaojin, our conditions are generous enough, why is no one coming to sign up?"

Golden-Haired Lion secretly glanced at Qian Jinzu beside him and gave a bitter smile: "Back then, the incident where Senior Brother Qian and the others intercepted the Beggar Sect and were defeated by Lin Bai alone had already spread among the Heavenly Descended. At that time, the image of the several senior brothers was too pathetic. Without reversing this image, I'm afraid no one is willing to join our Blood Shadow Sect."

Qian Jinzu's face turned red instantly.

That battle was indeed too embarrassing. He hadn't expected that all the Heavenly Descended would know about it. He rolled his eyes at Golden-Haired Lion—are you Heavenly Descended all such blabbermouths, saying everything out loud!

Lan Nuotian glared at Qian Jinzu and the others.

Qian Jinzu said sheepishly: "Master, you can't blame us; Lin Bai's combat power is too high."

Lan Nuotian snorted: "What's going on with Huilong Temple?"

Golden-Haired Lion said: "Daoist Qingling's junior brother, Qingming, was also finished off by Lin Bai."

"Golden Core." Lan Nuotian was stunned for a moment.

"Yes." Golden-Haired Lion looked at Lin Bai, "Daoist Qingming didn't even last three rounds against Lin Bai; he was finished off by Lin Bai with a Palm Thunder and sealed into a card."

As the only player in the Blood Shadow Sect, Golden-Haired Lion naturally hoped for more companions in the sect, which would be beneficial for future sect wars.

Moreover.

The Blood Shadow Sect had been nailed to the pillar of shame by Lin Bai. Being the only one in this sect, he actually felt quite embarrassed.

Therefore, he naturally hoped that his NPC master could finish off Lin Bai and let the Blood Shadow Sect hold its head high for once.

So.

He disclosed Lin Bai's information as much as possible.

"Even a Golden Core can be taken down, so you can't blame us." Qian Jinzu's expression changed, and he defended himself sheepishly.

"..."

Lan Nuotian glared at him irritably, glanced at Lin Bai in the arena, and then looked over at Qingling Daozhang, as if wanting to know how Huilong Temple would break the deadlock.

Since Lin Bai could take down a Golden Core True Person in single combat, relying on himself was clearly not quite enough; at this moment, he hoped most of all that Huilong Temple would make the first move.

Clearing his throat, Lan Nuotian said to Golden-Haired Lion, "Xiaojin, since you Heavenly Descended have connections with one another, in the future, you can tell your master about important intelligence in advance, so that your master can be prepared and not be as passive as I am now."

"Can intelligence be exchanged for rewards?" Lan Nuotian hadn't made a move right away, and Golden-Haired Lion felt inexplicably disappointed in him, asking lazily.

Lan Nuotian was taken aback: "If the news is useful to the sect, naturally it can."

"Then that's no problem." Golden-Haired Lion smiled, "However, Master, don't count too much on intelligence between the Heavenly Descended. Sometimes, if someone is unwilling to make important information public, there's no way for us to know it either. The Heavenly Descended are not a monolith; there are conflicts of interest among us."

"Hmm." Lan Nuotian breathed a sigh of relief; it was better that there were conflicts of interest—he was only afraid that they were a monolith!

Ever since the Heavenly Descended appeared, the old rules were likely no longer very practical; it was time to try to re-adapt to a new way of playing.

Lin Bai had perhaps walked ahead of everyone else.

Now it seemed he also had a rhythm of playing things a bit too far.

At this moment.

Players from Yimu City also poured into the venue.

Watching them quickly walk toward the registration desks of other sects, Golden-Haired Lion couldn't help but feel a bit anxious, and throwing caution to the wind, he said: "Master, I have a piece of news right now that I want to sell to you."

They were fine back at the sect, but once they came out, damn it, there were no rules at all!

Lan Nuotian's old face darkened, and he almost couldn't resist slapping his disciple to death. His eye twitched: "Speak. I grant you seven days of cultivation in the Blood Pool."

"Many thanks, Master." Golden-Haired Lion cupped his fists in a show of respect before looking at Lin Bai and saying slowly, "Find a way to take down Lin Bai in the coolest way possible; this is the only way to salvage the sect's reputation. I don't know when the next batch of Heavenly Descended will be able to enter. One step slow, every step slow; if we can't snatch the Heavenly Descended this time, the Blood Shadow Sect will likely be erased from the Jianghu."

"..." Lan Nuotian was suddenly stunned. He looked at Lin Bai, who was holding a fox and surrounded by a group of Heavenly Descended, and said calmly, "Xiaojin, go to Huilong Temple and inform Qingling Daozhang of this news. Later, when I make my move, I need him to cooperate. If successful, I will reward you with the Yinxue Sword."

"Yes."

Golden-Haired Lion responded, excitedly diving into the crowd and rushing toward the direction of Huilong Temple, saying as he walked that sure enough, only by not following the rules could one reap the greatest benefits.

This trip was a massive profit!

Lin Bai was chatting idly with his fans.

But his focus had been on Gelige, Golden-Haired Lion, and Living Under the Crotch.

After all, these guys were the planners of this conspiracy, the players who had made it onto his blacklist...

When Golden-Haired Lion's resentment suddenly turned into excitement, and he saw him break away from the Blood Shadow Sect's stall and run toward Huilong Temple.

Lin Bai knew the opportunity had arrived.

Interests are built on the foundation of strength; if he didn't show off his skills, these sects would likely join forces to execute him to curry favor with the players.

Strike first to gain the advantage!

When one's life is threatened, who gives a damn about Jianghu morality...

Of course.

First, he had to let these stupid NPCs know what principles were, and what the uncontrollability of players meant...

If they didn't play by his rules, then everyone would go down together.

"Xiaobai, prepare for battle." Lin Bai gave a light instruction to the little white fox and channeled his Internal Energy, "Lao Mi, remove the requirements for joining the sect; from now on, the Beggar Sect accepts people unconditionally."

His voice was like Thunder Shock.

It quickly spread throughout the entire recruitment fair.

Lao Mi reacted quickly, immediately removing the recruitment requirements from behind the registration desk.

The players' movements suddenly froze.

"That's awesome!"

The first to respond were Lin Bai's fans; they cheered and rushed to the Beggar Sect registration point, eagerly signing up one by one.

The players who had just entered looked at the Beggar Sect, then at the other sects, hesitating; if the Beggar Sect had started recruiting earlier, they might have gone in.

But now, Lin Bai had become a public enemy; was it suicide to go to the Beggar Sect now?

Private chat messages rose again:

"Shopkeeper Lin has compromised!"

"Are we still going to the Beggar Sect?"

"Wait and see; if Shopkeeper Lin can't hold out, the Beggar Sect is finished."

"Let's see how things go first."

The players who had been registering at various sect points quickly withdrew from the lines and joined the ranks of the onlookers.

The leaders of the various sects saw this situation, their expressions changing involuntarily. Looking at Lin Bai again, their gazes became much more cautious; although the players hadn't immediately gone to sign up for the Beggar Sect, their hesitation already indicated their attitude...

Was this the pulling power of the Beggar Sect?

Lin Bai chuckled, pulled the card of Qingming Daozhang from his pocket, and flicked it in front of him.

A ray of light flashed.

Qingming Daozhang appeared before everyone, completely unscathed, once again attracting everyone's attention.

In Lin Bai's mind, the Card System quickly displayed the image of Qingming, with three options: Battle, Guard, and Retreat, with the word "one-time" following the name.

At the same time, Lin Bai shared the Golden Core cultivation of Qingming Daozhang, as well as the various Skills he had learned.

At this moment.

Lin Bai's strength was unprecedentedly powerful.

He gently patted the little white fox, and the little white fox understood, beginning to recite a tongue twister.

Wind Riding!

Lin Bai flew up out of thin air; it was no longer the half-baked Morning Flight, but genuine Wind Riding.

Seeing Qingming appear suddenly, Daoist Qingling's pupils shrank abruptly, and he exclaimed, "Junior Brother, you are still alive."

Daoist Qingming stood where he was, his expression dazed, as if he had not figured out the situation around him.

It was the little white fox's first time facing such a situation; it made a mistake just two sentences into the tongue twister, looked at Lin Bai apologetically, and slowed down its speed.

"That's right, he is still alive." Lin Bai looked toward the direction of Huilong Temple and said loudly, "Daoist Qingling, that day you sent Qingming to assassinate me for no reason, and today, the fact that your Huilong Temple cannot recruit a Heavenly Descended is my doing. I originally intended to leave you some face, but since you are locked in a life-or-death struggle with me, I will make a complete end of it with you. Come, I will give you a chance to kill me..."

【Golden-Haired Lion】 had just run to the front of the Huilong Temple booth, and seeing Lin Bai suddenly change his strategy, he was actually stunned there for a moment.

"The opportunity has come." Gelige's heart surged, and he said quickly to Huaxi Furen before him, "Master, we have already offended Lin Bai by going back on our word; we might as well strike now and eliminate him. The Profound Underworld Sect will be the biggest winner..."

Huaxi Furen turned her head to look at Gelige, neither moving nor speaking.

Right and wrong are incompatible.

At this moment.

Lin Bai was actively engaging in Provocation against Huilong Temple; what would it look like if she went up there?

Besides.

She also hadn't seen clearly what method Lin Bai had used to release Daoist Qingming...

"Senior Brother, let's strike together and kill Lin Bai first." Lin Bai gave the order to guard to Daoist Qingming, and as he turned around, he used Ventriloquism; he hadn't obtained the ventriloquism skill yet.

But this did not prevent him from using Ventriloquism to fool people in this chaotic venue...

Seeing the unscathed Qingming, Daoist Qingling was overjoyed; he had no confidence in dealing with Lin Bai alone.

But Lin Bai was actually stupid enough to release Daoist Qingming, so the opportunity had arrived.

In his haste, he didn't distinguish whether it was his own junior brother's voice, nor did he see that Qingming had rushed into the sky without launching an attack at all, but instead leaped up: "Junior Brother, I have come to assist you."

Attack!

Lin Bai quickly switched the order.

Daoist Qingming turned abruptly, his horsetail whisk raised, and he swung a "Three Flowers Covering the Crown" strike toward Daoist Qingling in the sky.

"Junior Brother!"

The sudden attack left Daoist Qingling stunned.

The next second.

The little fox's spell was completed.

Lin Bai raised a hand, and a Palm Thunder descended from the sky; the startled Daoist Qingling didn't even have time to put up a defense before he was struck on the top of his head by the Palm Thunder.

He fell into the dust.

Daoist Qingming's strike with the horsetail whisk swept across the venue, hitting nothing but air.

Hiss!

In the recruitment venue, there was a collective sound of gasping.

All the NPCs were stunned; no one had expected that Lin Bai's strength would be so powerful, and that Daoist Qingling hadn't even lasted a single move under his hand.

He could release a Palm Thunder that could kill a Golden Core just like that? Did he not need to mobilize Spirit Qi, and did he not need a spell?

Furthermore.

What the hell was up with Daoist Qingming?

Why would he listen to Lin Bai's arrangements?

Releasing Daoist Qingming could only be used once; Lin Bai certainly wouldn't end the battle so quickly. Ignoring the notification in his mind that the mission was complete, he quickly aimed at Lan Nuotian: "Daoist, go kill Lan Nuotian."

Taking down Daoist Qingling was not enough to establish his prestige; it was best to finish off another one, and the Blood Shadow Sect, which had no one to love or care for it, was a good choice.

While other NPCs were providing him with Positive Emotion, this guy had been providing Negative Emotion; it wouldn't be unjust if he died.

Today.

Lin Bai was going to display his own might and truly make an appearance in this world, so that when these people wanted to deal with him, they would first weigh their own strength and consider whether it was worth it to fight him.

Anyway, he had many systems, and no matter how he did it, he would profit...

(End of this chapter)