Chapter 195: A Great Uproar

"Master, what are you thinking about?" Noticing that Lin Bai's hand, which had been stroking her head, had stopped, the little fox raised her head in confusion.

"I'm thinking about when to go to Jiamu City to bring your mother and siblings over." Lin Bai smiled. Players were all ungrateful wolves who couldn't be tamed; while holding the rice bowl he gave them, they were always thinking about smashing his pot. He had to find some truly loyal followers for himself.

Cards were, after all, too few.

Characters sealed by cards, if their consciousness was not restored, were just mindless Puppets.

If their consciousness was restored, they might even turn against him. It was fine to have them fight for their lives, but to have them sincerely help him do things was as difficult as ascending to heaven.

And although the system was powerful, it had no way to let him create clones.

The members of the Justice Alliance had deep misunderstandings about him; he didn't know when they would finally understand his good intentions.

Therefore.

The Hu Clan, whose intimacy was constantly increasing, became the best choice.

"Okay, when are we going?" The little fox immediately became excited.

Transformation Pill, Concentration Fruit...

She had the most confidence in Lin Bai and couldn't wait to bring all her clansmen to Lin Bai's side to enjoy Lin Bai's benefits together!

It was just like that saying Master mentioned: when one person attains the Dao, their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven!

"When we set out on the expedition, we'll pass by Jiamu City and bring your mother and the others along on the way." Lin Bai smiled and stroked the little fox's head, asking softly, "Xiaobai, your mother is a three-tailed fox; she must know ones of a higher rank, right?"

The little fox shook her head dejectedly and said, "Master, I am still young. Mother usually doesn't tell me about the affairs of the Demon Race. When you meet Mother, you can ask her yourself."

That night.

The players of the Beggar Sect were busy; some were doing Pill Refinement, some were doing Weapon Refinement, some were writing articles in the game, and some were contacting advertisers offline...

Each performed their own duties, spending the most fulfilling night in the game.

City Lord's Mansion.

The clinking of cups and laughter continued until dawn.

Zhao Wenshi, who was responsible for managing the entire City Lord's Mansion, had a very ugly expression on his face for the entire night.

He even found an excuse to drive all the players who were cultivating in Wenfeng Pavilion out of the City Lord's Mansion...

Lin Bai was not idle either. He spent money to have the Beggar Sect call up all the chefs in Qian City, competed with them in culinary arts overnight, successfully mastered the Eight Great Cuisines, and became the most famous chef in Qian City.

Of course.

Having mastered the Eight Great Cuisines, the current Lin Bai had become a true chef even without cheating. He was proficient in all methods of frying, stir-frying, deep-frying, and braising; basically, no dish could stump him.

At dawn.

Amidst the heartfelt admiration of the many chefs in Qian City.

The Chef God System released a new task: 【You have become an excellent chef, but making ordinary dishes will limit your horizons. On the road to conquering higher levels, you must challenge the preparation of rare ingredients. Collect ten types of rare ingredients; Reward: The food you make will glow.】

Seeing the new task reward, Lin Bai was quite disappointed.

Of the four systems that appeared at the beginning, the other three had already played a huge role. Only the Chef God System, up until now, had all its rewards related to cooking.

After clearing the Eight Great Cuisines, Lin Bai had thought the system would reward something different!

But... what the hell is food that glows?

Is it helpful for combat?

Glowing food is still food; it can't be used as a flashbang. Even taking a step back, even if it could be used as a flashbang, could he really cook a dish for the enemy on the battlefield?

Conquer the enemy's heart by first conquering the enemy's stomach?

Simply ridiculous!

Perhaps it was time to give up on the Chef God System!

Lin Bai sighed silently. It seemed that just because it appeared early didn't mean it was a powerful system...

The next day.

After the tireless players were busy all night.

The second issue of "Justice Weekly" appeared on the streets of Qian City on time and quickly triggered a scramble by the people.

The great battle outside Qian City, voluntary Weapon Refinement, the usually aloof cultivators frequently appearing in Qian City, the Gancheng Cup, and the gossip and unofficial history of the Cultivation World made the commoners' interest in the Cultivation World reach an unprecedented peak.

The commoners dared not run to the encampments of the Evil Five Sects to disturb the lives of the cultivators, so "Justice Weekly" became their only window to understand the Cultivation World.

And the new issue of "Justice Weekly" certainly did not disappoint them.

Using Lin Bai's founding of the Justice Alliance as an introduction, the weekly magazine peeled back the layers to recount the struggle between the orthodox and evil Dao methods that had divided them for thousands of years, and showed them in detail what the true Cultivation World was.

It dissected how the Seven Orthodox Sects had severed the Cultivation World from the common people and hindered social progress with their selfishness, finally leading to the Justice Alliance's new argument: "Combining immortal cultivation with people's livelihood, and having Dao methods serve the people's livelihood"...

"So the Cultivation World is like this."

"Winners are kings and losers are bandits, just like in the human world. I thought immortals were all aloof and didn't eat human food!"

"It would be fine if they didn't eat human food, but didn't you see what the article said? Cultivators enjoy more precious resources but have never made a single contribution to the common people. Moreover, they draw a large number of good talents from the common people to cultivate immortality. If these talents went to be officials or fight wars, how much contribution could they make to the country! Once they go to cultivate immortality, besides fattening themselves, it is of no benefit to us. The Justice Alliance is right; cultivators are just a group of aloof, selfish vampires. Bah!"

"The Justice Alliance is more grounded. Doing Weapon Refinement for the common people, Master Lin is the one who truly does practical things!"

"The Justice Alliance also plans to set up Pill Refinement workshops among the people to completely bring down the price of medicinal pills. Letting commoners taste Immortal Pills just like cultivators, and no longer having pills for treating illnesses and injuries be the exclusive privilege of aloof cultivators—if this is done, it will be a true benefit to the people!"

"I think this point is even better: letting the immortals who do Weapon Refinement stop researching those weapons for killing and instead research Dharma Treasures for paving roads and building bridges..."

"The Justice Alliance is even going to open a cultivation academy! Letting cultivation no longer be the privilege of a few, and letting ordinary people experience the joy of cultivation. Even if they can't fly or burrow into the ground, they can still strengthen their bodies and be free from all diseases..."

"If you get sick, go to the pharmacy and buy an Immortal Pill. When you go out, you no longer need to take a carriage; you can sit on an immortal's Magic Tool and fly thousands of miles in an instant... Do you think that one day, the world will really become what the Justice Alliance says? Just thinking about it feels wonderful!"

"I'm afraid it's very difficult. Although we don't know how formidable the Seven Orthodox Sects are, they won't just watch the Justice Alliance rise. After all, everything the Justice Alliance is doing is damaging their interests; Sect Leader Lin is effectively rebelling."

"But the Justice Alliance follows the will of the people! The Taiyi Kingdom should support it, right? Didn't the City Lord also join the Justice Alliance?"

"Better not hold too much hope. Compared to the Seven Orthodox Sects, the Justice Alliance is too weak. This isn't something that can be accomplished just by relying on a burst of hot-blooded passion."

"Shopkeeper Lin's dream is good, but we ordinary commoners can't provide any help at all in this kind of war!"

"Did you see the back? Are you drawing conclusions so easily?"

"What's at the back?"

"Laws! Sect Leader Lin of the Justice Alliance is promoting the cultivation of Laws. It is said that everyone can cultivate Laws. Once successful, one can become a god on the spot. According to the methods above, ordinary people can also cultivate. Perhaps this is where Shopkeeper Lin's confidence lies..."

After a rustling sound of flipping pages.

"Damn, what is this stuff?"

"If two people truly love each other, it's possible to comprehend the Great Dao? That's a lie, right!?"

"Throughout history, there have been so many moving love legends, why have we never heard of anyone being able to comprehend the Dao from them..."

"It doesn't look like a lie. Look at this Incomplete Dao. Do you still remember the Incomplete exhibition held by the Beggar Sect? And the things that flowed out from the Beggar Sect—not a single one was intact. Look at the cover of *Justice Weekly*; the character for 'Justice' is also missing a stroke. If there wasn't a special meaning, why would they do that? It is said that Jiamu City, the entire city, has become a Remnant City..."

"That's right! They are the Heavenly Descended, after all!"

"Maybe that's how the Laws are cultivated. Don't think that the Love Dao is so easy to cultivate. Look at the few examples listed at the back. Daoist Qingyu and Huaxi Furen were one orthodox and one demonic; they met by chance during a trial and fell in love at first sight, but were troubled by their hostile identities and couldn't be together. He was even willing to give up his status as the acting temple master of Huilong Temple for Huaxi Furen and sacrifice himself to become a Puppet protector for Sect Leader Lin. What kind of Spirit is this? If it were you, could you do it?"

"And this one, Pei Yanzong of the Canyang Sect, in order to comprehend the Love Dao, was willing to go to his death even knowing his lover was deceiving him. What kind of sentiment is this?"

"I can understand other things, but those two are men!"

"That is precisely the most precious part. Look at the summary at the back of the periodical: 'I ask the world, what is love, that it makes one pledge their life?' I ask everyone present: who is willing to break through the eyes of worldly taboos for a vague and ethereal Love Dao, and give up everything—freedom, life, and even the future?"

"..." The people who were discussing noisily suddenly fell silent.

"Most people can't do it, so the few special examples Sect Leader Lin cited were not to let you learn by following them, but to persuade most people to give up. To let everyone not waste their lives on these meaningless things."

"But what about the City Lord and the Chief Beggar?"

"A union of the strong, perhaps! The City Lord's will is firm; I'm afraid he already obtained the cultivation method for the Love Dao from Sect Leader Lin's own mouth. He should be exploring it..."

"It still feels a bit disgusting; I can't do it."

"Aren't there the examples of Sect Leader Lin and Jiang Xianzi? Why do you keep staring at those alternative ones?"

"I..."

"I thought cultivating to become an immortal was hard enough, but I didn't expect the Laws to be even harder. Thousands of troops crossing a single-log bridge—it's harder than taking the imperial examination, damn it. It seems it's best to just be an ordinary commoner. I hope that one day I can enjoy the world promised by the Justice Alliance!"

The voices of people discussing *Justice Weekly* were everywhere in the streets and alleys.

Scholars and literati, peddlers and pawns, merchants and nobles...

Everyone was expressing their own views, pondering the future development, and seeing if they could profit from it.

There was no help for it.

The melon that the Justice Alliance smashed out was too big, especially at the critical node of the Heavenly Descended arriving in the world; the natives of the Xianxia World had to consider their own future.

Although the turmoil of these days had not yet affected them, everyone knew that the world had become different from before.

The Justice Alliance seemed to have pointed out a direction for them.

"I knew Lin Bai couldn't be trusted. To hell with 'seeking truth from facts.' It's just adding oil and vinegar, distorting the facts at will." Xin Shang looked at the new issue of *Justice Weekly* and was furious. "When did we agree with Lin Bai's philosophy and voluntarily join the Justice Alliance? And drawing a line with the Demonic Five Sects? He is cutting off our retreat."

"Sect Leader Xin, saying these things is meaningless." Ge Feiyun said, "*Justice Weekly* belongs to Lin Bai; it would be abnormal if he didn't cut off our retreat."

"This time is actually not bad. He took the 'evil demon' label off us and turned it into a dispute over orthodoxy." Shen Kuang said, "If *Justice Weekly* puts out a few more issues, I reckon we could be completely whitewashed among the common people."

"What's the use of being whitewashed? If this matter spreads, neither the Demonic Five Sects nor the Seven Orthodox Sects will spare us." Xin Shang roared with red eyes, "Lin Bai stirred up the overall situation of the world with one hand; he isn't even afraid of choking himself to death."

"To tell the truth, if Lin Bai acted cautiously, I would really worry that the Justice Alliance wouldn't last long. But by making such a big scene, I actually feel confident." Zhao Tulong looked at the *Justice Weekly* in his hand and suddenly laughed. "One ring linked to another; while Lin Bai cut off our retreat, he didn't intend to leave a retreat for himself either!"

"You mean..." Xin Shang raised his head to look at Zhao Tulong, his eyes widening subconsciously.

"The Justice Sect very likely truly exists." Zhao Tulong nodded. "Lin Bai is the one they pushed out to take advantage of the Heavenly Descended arriving in the world to stir up the overall situation of the world step by step, and finally win in the chaos and decide the outcome in one move."

"Then the Laws?" Ge Feiyun asked.

"Ten to nine, they are used to confuse the eyes of the world; even dealing with the Heavenly Descended is just an excuse. How could a group of reclusive people have such noble sentiments? If they had such noble sentiments, there wouldn't be Lin Bai's evil style of doing things." Zhao Tulong said affirmatively, "The Justice Sect just wants to take this opportunity to get a share of the pie from the existing order."

"What do we do?" Ge Feiyun asked.

"The moment we met Lin Bai, we already had no way back." Zhao Tulong gave a bitter smile. "Either believe in him completely, or be passively pushed along by him, or like Pei Yanzong, be made into a Puppet by him. I believe Lin Bai is capable of it..."

The few of them fell into silence at the same time.

A moment later.

Xin Shang said bitterly: "Sect Leader Zhao, how can you be sure that Lin Bai won't make us into Puppets?"

"We can only gamble." Zhao Tulong said, "Gamble that Lin Bai needs subordinates; after all, Puppets aren't as convenient as living people. Don't forget Daoxu; after his sanity was restored by him, he was everywhere tearing down his stage and acting against him. Let's gamble; if we can succeed, the Justice Sect surely won't treat us unfairly!"

"Crazy, Lin Bai must be crazy. How does he dare to whitewash the Demon Sect?" With players around, Tang Lanling knew the content of *Justice Weekly* at the first moment, and she was incredibly frantic. "Dao Method is orthodox if used for good, and evil if used for evil. What kind of bullshit is that? What exactly does he want to do? Does he want to provoke a new round of war between the orthodox and the demonic?"

"Valley Master, are we still acting according to the original plan?" Jiang Yuru asked. Having delayed for one night, they had assembled some Golden Core Cultivators of the Hundred Flowers Valley, intending to go undercover in the Justice Alliance. Who knew that just as they were about to set off, they encountered the matter of *Justice Weekly*.

Behind her.

Jiang Qingqin's face was red, and she had been thinking about the Love Dao in her mind. She didn't expect Lin Bai to actually publish their story as well, using it as an example of the Love Dao. This was enough to prove that Lin Bai's love for her was true; it was amazing!

"Act according to the original plan." A trace of struggle flashed in Tang Lanling's eyes, and she said, "This issue of *Justice Weekly* can be completely regarded as Lin Bai's declaration of war on the Cultivation World. With his personality, he won't honestly wait to be beaten; he will definitely expand frantically before the Seven Orthodox Sects react. We must go and drag him down."

"Lao Mi, how is the effect of the Love Stick? Why did you stay in the City Lord's Mansion for a whole night?" Seeing 【Lao Mi】 return, 【Gugao Laoren】 and other players quickly gathered around.

"Superb." 【Lao Mi】 subconsciously pursed the corners of her mouth, looked around at everyone, and smiled. "From now on, the City Lord can be considered one of our own."

Looking at 【Lao Mi】's sweet and shy smile, 【Gugao Laoren】 examined 【Lao Mi】's somewhat disheveled clothes and frowned: "Why didn't you turn on the live stream? What did you talk about with the City Lord that took a whole night?"

"Exactly. You didn't even log off last night." 【Gengmi】 looked at 【Lao Mi】 resentfully and said aggrievedly, "I sent you many messages, and you didn't reply to a single one. I went to the City Lord's Mansion to find you, and they wouldn't let me in..."

Lao Mi looked at Gengmi, a trace of inexplicable panic flashing in his eyes, and said, "It's nothing, just drinking and chatting with the City Lord to cultivate our relationship. The City Lord has been struck by the Love Stick and is already completely infatuated with me, just like how True Person Daoxu was toward Lin Bai outside Huilong Temple back then. It's simply an obsession; I could even mobilize the City Guard through the City Lord to directly besiege Lin Bai, and he wouldn't even hesitate..."

(End of chapter)