Chapter 190: Cultivation Enters the Public

The Beggar Sect separated the living quarters of Xin Shang and the others, but the several Evil Sect leaders were completely terrified by Lin Bai; once they left the Beggar Sect, they remained inseparable, doing everything together.

Lin Bai simply could not find an opportunity.

Actually.

Using players for Luring the Tiger off the Mountain was not impossible. But doing so would appear too deliberate; these fellows were currently in a state of nervous agitation, and at the slightest sign of trouble, the Justice Alliance he had painstakingly built up would likely collapse.

"This is too much. Everyone is already an ally; can't we have a little trust in each other?" Lin Bai complained gloomily.

"..." Daoxu was speechless for a moment. Trust! Do you not know what you are trying to do?

Daojing and Daokong felt their faces burning; they did not know how Lin Bai could say such things with such righteous indignation. Did he truly not know what shame was?

Daojing awkwardly advised: "Sect Leader, why not let it go? There is no rush, and things have finally settled down. I don't know how many eyes are watching our Justice Sect; it is not advisable to create more complications."

Daokong chimed in: "It would be better to calm your heart and practice 'Words Become Law'."

Lin Bai was too much of a troublemaker, and these Daoists were all a bit afraid. Unlike the people of the Evil Five Sects, Huilong Temple had been ravaged by Lin Bai until it was in a sorry state, and it could almost be said that they were tied to him. They were also worried that Lin Bai would mess things up and then just walk away, leaving a mess for them to clean up.

Examining the task in his mind, Lin Bai found a breakthrough in an instant and smiled: "I was indeed too impatient in my actions. After all, they were enemies half a day ago; it is only right to give them some room to ease the tension. However, if we just wait, the rift will always be there. Let us take the initiative to do something!"

"Do what?" Daojing's heart trembled violently.

"I am also capable of forging; let's go help them upgrade their weapons!" Lin Bai said with great interest. "Helping them raise the level of their weapons and Dharma Treasures by a notch might just save their lives in battle."

He had not done a Craftsman God System task in a long time; the task currently in progress was the Path to Fame—to have ten thousand people acknowledge his Weapon Refinement level.

Designing a set of Dharma Treasures himself might be difficult for Lin Bai, but with the Blacksmith Six-Piece Set, raising the level of Dharma Treasures was as easy as turning over his hand.

"Weapon Refinement?" Daokong was a bit dazed; he could not keep up with Lin Bai's train of thought at all. Practicing 'Words Become Law' would be normal, but at this critical juncture, what the hell was helping people refine weapons?

"Yes, Weapon Refinement. Daokong, do you know why, for so many years, the Justice Sect has had countless talented people, yet the ancestors chose to entrust the heavy responsibility of spreading the laws to me?" Lin Bai looked at Daokong and asked.

Who asked you if you could refine weapons?

I don't understand why you want to refine weapons!

Can't we be normal for once?

Daokong had a belly full of complaints he wanted to vent, but when the words reached his lips, he did not know what to say!

"Because I am an all-rounder; I learn whatever I try, and there is nothing in this world that can stump me." Lin Bai said smugly, as if he did not see Daokong's twisted face. "Notify the Justice Sect; the warriors setting out on the expedition are all eligible to enjoy this benefit. We cannot favor one over the other; we must never shortchange our own people at any time."

He paused for a moment and continued: "Daojing, have the Beggar Sect handle the publicity. Just say that the Justice Alliance's Weapon Refinement Master, Lin Bai, is voluntarily upgrading weapon quality for everyone. Each person only has one chance, and if a weapon is damaged during the upgrade, I, Lin, will compensate for it. We do this for no other reason than to build a bond of goodwill and have them sincerely say a good word about my Weapon Refinement level."

Daojing and Daokong looked at each other, both seeing the helplessness in the other's eyes. You really don't stop for a single moment! Is this Weapon Refinement? You are challenging their bottom line!

However.

They did not object to anything.

Compared to Lin Bai's other methods, Weapon Refinement was considered mild.

After all, whether they wanted to refine weapons or not, the initiative lay with the other party...

The Beggar Sect disciples acted quickly. Outsiders didn't know, but the players knew that Shopkeeper Lin was quite skilled at Weapon Refinement, and since it was free this time, it would be a waste not to take advantage of it.

In a short while, signs and banners were erected on the plaza outside the Evil Five Sects' encampment.

"Exclusively supported by Red Sun Soap Powder"

"The Justice Alliance launches the 'Cultivation Enters the Public, I Do Practical Things for the People' voluntary Weapon Refinement activity"

"Justice Alliance Leader, Weapon Refinement Master Lin Bai, personally wields the hammer"

"Master-level service, first-class technology"

Regardless of whether Lin Bai charged a fee or not, the Beggar Sect's advertisements were put up regardless.

They had long since established a specialized advertising department just to deal with the various projects and activities Lin Bai would hold whenever he had a whim.

Watching the Beggar Sect disciples conduct publicity within the encampment.

Several Evil Sect leaders felt a headache coming on.

"Voluntary Weapon Refinement? What is Lin Bai trying to do now?" Xin Shang looked at the tattered banners on the plaza, feeling exhausted.

"Let him mess around!" Shen Kuang said. "The more joyfully he jumps, the more miserably he will die in the future. We four will maintain our offensive and defensive alliance and simply not give him a chance."

"What about the disciples under our command?" Ge Feiyun asked.

"Let them take some scrap metal to support our Alliance Leader," Zhao Tulong sneered. "It can be considered giving him some face."

"Right, we cannot give him an excuse to fly into a rage," Shen Kuang nodded, still feeling lingering fear. "Lin Bai's thoughts are unfathomable; no matter what he does, I feel like he is plotting against us!"

"Could he be practicing some kind of law again?" Ge Feiyun hesitated and asked.

"Law, my foot. Laws are the foundation that governs the operation of heaven and earth; how could it be such a childish way of cultivation?" Zhao Tulong scoffed. "He might be able to fool others, but he can't fool me, old Zhao."

"Then how do you explain Lin Bai's cultivation?" Ge Feiyun said. "From the time he appeared until now, his cultivation has risen step by step. If it weren't for the laws, how could he cultivate so quickly?"

"Among the masses, there are always one or two heaven-favored children beloved by the heavens, whose cultivation speed is beyond our reach," Zhao Tulong said. "Don't dwell on those things; getting through this period and finding an opportunity to break away from Lin Bai's side is the right path..."

As the few were talking.

Seeing a Beggar Sect disciple walking toward them, the four leaders stopped their conversation.

That Beggar Sect disciple smiled at them, raised the camera in his hand, and aimed the lens at them: "Carry on!"

The several leaders had not yet reacted.

【The Number One Paparazzi of the Cultivation World】 had already pressed the camera's shutter.

Click!

The flash went off.

The several leaders were terrified. With lightning speed, they rushed to the side of 【The Number One Paparazzi of the Cultivation World】, four hands simultaneously pressed against his head, as if they could kill him on the spot the next moment.

"Thief, what are you doing?" Zhao Tulong's face was full of rage, his tone mixed with a trace of panic; they had been frightened by Lin Bai and had long since become birds startled by the mere twang of a bowstring.

Xin Shang and the others had ashen faces; before they understood what was going on, they did not dare to act rashly. What if this was a trap Lin Bai had set for them?

"Do not panic, Sect Leaders." The 【Xianxia First Paparazzi】 reflexively raised the camera in his hands and hurriedly explained, "I was just taking a photo of you all, it's harmless!"

"What is a photo?" Xin Shang asked with a dark face.

"It's just recording your images through pictures." The 【Xianxia First Paparazzi】 gave an awkward smile, pulled up the photo he had just taken, and showed it to them. "Look, it's like this. Just now, I saw you all standing there, looking so spirited, and I couldn't help myself..."

"Soul-snatching?" Ge Feiyun looked at himself on the screen, panicked, his eyes turning red instantly. "Thief, and you still say you aren't trying to harm us!"

"Did Lin Bai send you?" Xin Shang snatched the camera away, his gaze cold and sharp.

"Don't, don't drop it." The 【Xianxia First Paparazzi】 never expected such a cliché situation to fall upon his own head. Looking at the camera in Xin Shang's hand, which could be crushed at any moment, his face turned pale with distress. "It's not soul-snatching, this is just an ordinary camera, it functions the same as a painter. If you swipe forward, there are even photos of Lin Bai! Yes, yes, just swipe your finger back and forth, swipe gently, don't use force, this thing is very precious. If it breaks, Shopkeeper Lin won't spare me..."

Xin Shang subconsciously swiped the screen.

Sure enough.

On the screen, scenes of the volunteer weapon refinement outside appeared one after another, including shots of the venue being set up, the onlookers, Beggar Sect Disciples, and also Lin Bai and the Taoist from Huilong Temple...

This was a bit awkward!

Xin Shang quietly withdrew the palm he had pressed against the 【Xianxia First Paparazzi】 and returned the camera to him: "Apologies, our eyes were clumsy and we did not recognize such a Dharma Treasure. Please do not take it to heart."

Zhao Tulong and the others also withdrew their palms one by one.

The 【Xianxia First Paparazzi】 looked at the sect leaders with pity and sighed: "If Shopkeeper Lin really wanted to deal with you, he wouldn't send a weakling like me!" Looking at the awkward evil sect leaders, he decided to help Lin Bai save some face and said insincerely, "Sect Leaders, there is no need to be so guarded against Shopkeeper Lin; he has always been good to his own people."

Shen Kuang scoffed and asked coldly: "What did Shopkeeper Lin send you here for?"

"An interview." The 【Xianxia First Paparazzi】 puffed out his chest. "Sect Leaders, let's reintroduce ourselves. I am the newly appointed Editor-in-Chief of Justice Weekly—the Uncrowned King. Shopkeeper Lin previously said he wanted to do a special issue for the Justice Alliance, and incidentally, clear the names of you Sect Leaders. This time, I am here specifically to understand the situation from all of you."

Before entering the game, he never thought he would start a media career inside it; he only thought about moving news and earning some heat. Who knew he would end up with the position of Editor-in-Chief, rising to the top in one step? Calling himself a paparazzi was a bit damaging to his image, so he simply gave himself the pseudonym of Uncrowned King to keep up appearances.

"Clear our names?" Shen Kuang's face darkened instantly, and he hummed, "Are you sure you won't make things up again?"

"Sect Leader Shen, Justice Weekly will be distributed to the world in the future. To win the trust of the people, we must use facts as our standard; naturally, we will not make things up again." The 【First Paparazzi】 smiled. "During the first issue, I was imprisoned by you, and a group of unprofessional people ruined the reputations of you Sect Leaders. I will make a special note in this issue to help you turn your image around."

"How will you interview us?" Xin Shang asked vigilantly.

"I will ask some questions, and you will answer truthfully." The 【First Paparazzi】 said, "If you are unwilling to answer, you can skip them; I will not force you."

"You don't need to have any concerns; this is a good thing. You Sect Leaders are smart people and surely can see the influence of Justice Weekly. The Heavenly Descended are Undying and Indestructible; even if Shopkeeper Lin falls one day, Justice Weekly will continue to run. The rules of the world have changed, and you cannot look at problems with old eyes. Fighting and killing is ultimately inferior. Public opinion can kill without a blade, yet every word pierces the heart; done well, it is comparable to a Divine Artifact."

"Now, we are already ahead of everyone else. In the future, after the circulation of Justice Weekly grows, your fame will also rise with the tide. Not only will it be good for your own prestige, but you can also use this momentum to reverse the image of the Evil Five Sects among the people and officials, breaking through the smear campaigns the Righteous Seven Sects have waged against you for thousands or tens of thousands of years. Even if Shopkeeper Lin falls one day, you will have something to say when facing the accusations of the Demonic Five Sects. Why not do it?"

These words went straight to the hearts of the few; they had personally experienced the pain of being slandered.

"You keep saying Shopkeeper Lin will fall; aren't you afraid he will find out and blame you?" Ge Feiyun asked with a frown.

"The professional ethics of a media person are to pursue and report the truth, not to invert black and white, not to bow to power, to remain neutral, to be impartial, not to take things out of context, and to ensure the accuracy of every report."

The eyes of the 【Xianxia First Paparazzi】 seemed to shine. "I am only responsible for the truth and for Justice Weekly, not for Shopkeeper Lin. He may fall; it is a fact that could potentially happen, so there is nothing that cannot be said. The first issue was a mess caused by a group of people, but rest assured, the moment I became Editor-in-Chief, all such chaos ceased to exist. I guarantee it with my reputation."

"Sect Leaders, if there are no questions, why don't we start this interview? Justice Weekly needs to be published before the expedition so that we can maintain the freshness and heat of the topic. We must hurry."

"Alright!"

The few evil sect leaders looked at each other and nodded blankly. Having cultivated for hundreds of years, they suddenly felt they could not keep up with the times.

Everything Lin Bai and the Heavenly Descended did was beyond their expectations.

Perhaps Lin Bai was right; sticking to the old ways would only lead to being eliminated by the times. It was time to make a change.

Perhaps the matter of the laws was truly real...

"... Before finding Master Lin, register here first, then go over there to queue. Master Lin has limited energy; one person can only have one item upgraded or crafted. Please consider it carefully. Swords, kitchen knives, sickles, hoes—all are fine. Anything produced by Master Lin is a boutique; there is only one chance."

At the volunteer weapon refinement site, the Beggar Sect Disciples held simple megaphones to maintain order. "Whether you are a Cultivator or an ordinary citizen, do not disrupt the order. Volunteer means no fees, and we will compensate you if we break it, but if the upgrade is successful, you must sincerely praise Master Lin..."

Watching the Beggar Sect Disciples sign up enthusiastically and run to find Lin Bai to upgrade their swords and knives.

The Cultivators were watching from the sidelines, their faces still carrying a bit of impatience and disdain.

"To cultivate to this point, there's really no one else like him. The Righteous Seven Sects spent tens of thousands of years separating the immortal from the mortal, and this time, they have been dragged into the dust by Sect Leader Lin with one hand." The Taoist from Huilong Temple shook his head and sighed, "I don't know where Shopkeeper Lin will lead us in the end; I suddenly don't feel optimistic about the future of the Justice Sect."

"Grandstanding." The Xueli Sect Disciple looked at Lin Bai with grief and indignation. "How could we be defeated by such a person? Heaven has no eyes!"

Heating to red, forging, quenching...

Done in one go.

The kitchen knife's grade increased by one.

With the bonus of the Blacksmith Five-Piece Set plus Lin Bai's Luck, as long as he wanted, the advancement of the weapon could reach one hundred percent.

Lin Bai skillfully chipped a notch on the back of the kitchen knife, carved his exclusive mark "Bai" in a dragon-and-phoenix-like script, and casually slashed the kitchen knife toward the iron ingot next to him.

*Chi! *

The iron ingot was easily sliced into two pieces.

Lin Bai smiled and handed the successfully upgraded kitchen knife to the Beggar Sect Disciple in front of him: "Success!"

"Shopkeeper Lin, you are worthy of being a Weapon Refinement Master. If you claim to be second in craftsmanship, no one in the world dares to claim first." The Beggar Sect Disciple put away the kitchen knife, excitedly offered compliments to Lin Bai, and incidentally provided him with a wave of Positive Emotion.

The onlookers cheered, and one by one, they flew home to get their kitchen knives or ran to weapon shops to buy weapons. They couldn't understand Magic Tools, but they could understand cutting iron like mud. Who wouldn't want a family heirloom sword, especially when the processing was free? It was just a matter of saying a few nice words...

"Just a coincidence." The watching Cultivators scoffed.

But as the second and third weapons were successfully forged one after another.

Especially when Qingyu's Fulong Sword was also successfully upgraded in grade by Lin Bai, everyone could no longer stand still. They all lined up in a long queue in front of Lin Bai's stall. Only a fool would pass up a bargain; where else could one find a Weapon Refinement Master capable of upgrading the grade of a weapon?

(End of chapter)