Chapter 215: The Unreal World

The sound traveled from far to near, arriving right before them in the blink of an eye.

Several golden talismans, covering the sky and blotting out the sun, descended toward the direction of the Evil Five Sects, accompanied by an overwhelming might.

It seized the hearts and minds of all.

"Li Zhenren!" He Qin exclaimed in shock.

"Spirit Transformation!" Wan Qifeng said.

"Lin Bai is finished, hahahaha!" Ma Changcheng said.

The cultivators of the Evil Five Sects had their expressions change abruptly, and in a panic, they descended at high speed to hide on the ground.

They could still resist if they united against a Nascent Soul cultivator.

But a Spirit Transformation realm expert could communicate with the Spirit Qi of heaven and earth for their own use, which was a crushing existence for them.

The players on the Hundred Flower Shuttle and the blood boat couldn't help but hold their breath, their eyes filled with horror.

Is this the Spirit Transformation realm?

Are these the immortals and gods?

The special effects are too flashy!

Compared to these effects, Shopkeeper Lin's Moon Chase is too pathetic!

Why didn't the officials make this scene into a game promotional trailer?

This kind of might is what truly matches people's imagination of a xianxia world!

Shopkeeper Lin's Love Separation is simply trash compared to this; it's an eyesore!

As expected, Shopkeeper Lin ruined the game...

Li Zhenren?

The culprit who trapped Lao Song's family and triggered all these disasters?

Looking at the golden talismans that occupied almost his entire field of vision, Lin Bai immediately recalled his left hand and issued a defensive command to all his Puppets.

This was his first time facing the Spirit Transformation realm; even with the combined cultivation of Pei Yanzong and Daoxu, he could not achieve this feat of launching talismans from several miles away at his current stage.

Using modern weapons as an analogy, if a Yuan Ying True Person's attack range is a submachine gun, the Spirit Transformation realm is roughly equivalent to a mortar.

I can hit you, but you can't hit me.

This is the reason why Spirit Transformation crushes Nascent Soul.

A forced suppression of attack range.

Such a long attack range even counters Lin Bai's Moon Chase...

It's damn annoying!

Seeing the Cupid's Bow in Lin Bai's hand aiming at his own master five or six miles away, Daoxu Zhenren was terrified and hurriedly said, "Lin Bai, I beg you, don't tie me and my master together..."

"Li Zhenren, your beautiful lover is here; can you bear to destroy the flower with a ruthless hand?"

Lin Bai ignored Daoxu, instead using a Red Thread to tie Li Zhenren and the muddled Pei Yanzong beside him together, before channeling his full Spiritual Power and shouting loudly.

Li Zhenren was several miles away, and Lin Bai felt the range of the Love Arrow might not be enough; he also couldn't guarantee who Li Zhenren would see.

Moreover.

Looking at the speed of the incoming golden talismans, Lin Bai suspected that the talismans would hit him before the Love Arrow could even be fired.

By comparison, Old Man Yue's Red Thread was more reliable, ignoring distance and binding instantly.

In a critical moment, if not used now, when?

"Master, don't come over!" Daoxu Zhenren roared in terror, his eyes splitting.

The next second.

The kitchen knife in Lin Bai's hand was placed against Pei Yanzong's neck.

Immediately following.

A scene that left everyone dumbfounded occurred.

"Despicable!"

A furious rebuke!

Li Zhenren suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, forcibly burning his Spiritual Power to exceed the speed of the talismans he had personally launched with a speed akin to Teleportation.

Then.

With lightning speed, he performed Void Talisman Drawing, pushing out several talismans in reverse to collide with the ones he had previously launched.

Bang!

The talismans collided with each other.

A huge sound erupted.

The shockwave spread outward from the point of impact.

The players watching the excitement on the Hundred Flower Shuttle were blown over and sent tumbling.

The trees in the mountains and forests looked as if they had been shelled; branches were broken, roots were snapped, and the once lush forest was now a complete mess...

Li Zhenren, caught in the center of the explosion, suffered the greatest impact and spat out another mouthful of blood; his Daoist robe was shredded, hanging on him in tatters like a Beggar's outfit.

What is going on?

In the sky and on the ground, inside and outside the game, whether they were players, cultivators, or spectators, everyone was stunned by this sudden turn of events.

There was silence between heaven and earth.

Even the bullet comments on the Beggar Sect disciples' live stream screen were briefly cleared at this moment.

……

"What is Li Zhenren doing?" Ma Changcheng widened his eyes.

"Can even a Transformation Realm cultivator not escape the Love Arrow?" Guan Pengfei asked in astonishment.

"Has Li Zhenren been struck by an arrow?" Wan Qifeng frowned deeply.

"The arrow on Lin Bai's bowstring was never shot from start to finish." He Qin's gaze was exceptionally profound; he shook his head and gave a self-deprecating laugh. "I should have known. How could someone who dares to stir up the world like this reveal all his abilities to the public? And how could he only have a mere Nascent Soul cultivation? Two Sect Leaders, we have lost!"

……

"Is this guy out here to be funny?" A barrage comment drifted by, immediately igniting the passion of the onlookers.

"And here I had high hopes for him; turns out he's just a silver-plated pewter spearhead—looks good but useless."

"Shopkeeper Lin is an invincible man."

"Shopkeeper Lin is the Game Company's own son; the cheats the officials gave him are too big."

"I don't understand the principle behind this. Lin Bai didn't even shoot the Love Bow in his hand?"

"Remember Qingyu and Huaxi? Back then, Lin Bai didn't have the Love Bow either, yet with a casual remark, he connected their marriage, and they are still inseparable to this day."

"It must be 'Words Follow the Law'!"

"There is no other explanation besides 'Words Follow the Law'."

"The unsolvable Shopkeeper Lin."

"There should be restrictions. If I remember correctly, Shopkeeper Lin has only used 'Words Follow the Law' twice in total; the rest of the time he had to rely on the Love Bow..."

"Do you still want to deal with Shopkeeper Lin?"

"Otherwise what? Let Lin Bai grow wildly and have all us players work for him?"

"Li Zhenren is in the Transformation Realm and was taken down by Lin Bai in one move. Players have been in the game for two months and haven't even reached Golden Core. Not to mention Shopkeeper Lin's nearly unsolvable Skills, just the Puppets he controls now could sweep through a large area. You tell me how to fight?"

"There is only one possibility: Lin Bai is a late-game BOSS, not something players at this stage can covet. Moreover, I don't believe there are unsolvable Skills in the game. The reason we think the Skill is unsolvable is that we haven't found the right method. Maybe it's positioning, maybe it's elemental counter-attributes. Try a few more times and you'll find a way. In other games, the officials wouldn't let you succeed on the first try when pushing a big BOSS."

"Right, Shopkeeper Lin's Love Bow might be useful against NPCs, but this kind of Spirit-type Skill cannot possibly work on players."

"The bodies in the game are controlled by the officials. If the officials can't control your thoughts, can't they coordinate with the Skill effect to temporarily take over your body? Just like the cutscenes in other games, you watch your game character talk, but you can't exert any control over him..."

"There's no point in discussing this now. What we should do more is go to the official forum and protest. Not to mention whether Shopkeeper Lin is a late-game BOSS, don't you think the plot is advancing too fast? Li Zhenren of the Transformation Realm can trigger Skills from kilometers away; it's still unsolvable when players encounter him!"

"You hit the nail on the head. The BOSS corresponding to players at this stage should be low-level Disciples of cultivation sects. A BOSS with Golden Core cultivation is most appropriate. Using low-level Disciples to grind levels and relying on Skills and techniques to overthrow a Golden Core-level BOSS is what makes sense. It was already unreasonable for Shopkeeper Lin to forcibly fight a Nascent Soul before, and now he's brought out a Transformation Realm one. It's like putting an elephant in front of an ant as an opponent; it's absurd."

"That's right, the Western 'Shenmo Dalu' didn't have such cross-level BOSSes."

"Except for Qian City, no other place has appeared with a Transformation Realm BOSS..."

"With 'Justice Weekly', it won't be long before the big BOSS comes out. There's no need to doubt this; Shopkeeper Lin has this ability. After all, the persona he defined for himself is Jiusheng..."

"To hell with Jiusheng! If such a Jiusheng appeared in our world, I'd have to kill him first."

"Regardless, let's go protest first!"

"Exactly, exactly. Last time we protested, they gave out a wave of accounts. If we protest a few more times, the Game Company might soften up and open public testing. No matter how you view Lin Bai, I personally think the current game plot is quite exciting; you can't guess how it will develop next at all."

"Count me in, count me in!"

"Troubled times produce heroes. Shopkeeper Lin single-handedly created these troubled times; the rest depends on which of the players is the hero who can save the world from fire and water."

"Who is the real Jiusheng, the players or Lin Bai?"

"The winner takes all."

……

"Despicable, what kind of skill is it to threaten an old man with the innocent?" Li Zhenren wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and looked at Lin Bai with anger, occasionally glancing at Pei Yanzong with a look of anxiety.

"What a sin!" Daoxu looked at his master's expression and understood what had happened. He closed his eyes in despair. "Master, it is this Disciple's fault."

"The thousand-year foundation of Huilong Temple is ruined in the hands of you, a rebellious Disciple; naturally, it is your fault." Li Zhenren glared at Daoxu. "After I kill Lin Bai, I will strike you down, you rebellious Disciple."

"……" A bitter smile crossed Daoxu's lips. Kill Lin Bai? You are controlled by others and don't even know it; I'm afraid it won't be long before you are also a lackey under Lin Bai's sect.

Li Zhenren pretended not to care about Pei Yanzong, looked up at the black-clad masked person running towards the moon, and couldn't help but snort: "Where are Daokong and Daojing? Where are the Disciples of Huilong Temple?"

"Master." Daokong and Daojing flew out from the team behind one after another; their complexions were not good.

Daokong looked at Lin Bai, hesitated for a moment, and cupped his hands: "Sect Leader, my master is of advanced age and cultivation is not easy. Please show some face for my master."

"Daokong, who are you calling Sect Leader?" Li Zhenren's nose was almost crooked with anger. "How did I end up with a few disappointing Disciples like you? The others are one thing, but you are my direct Disciples. How could you easily hand over Huilong Temple? Even if you died in battle, it wouldn't be a waste of your time cultivating with me! Disciples of Huilong Temple, step out immediately, use your divine abilities, and follow me to kill Lin Bai..."

Not a single Cultivator from Huilong Temple moved; instead, they cast pitying gazes at their grandmaster.

"Please, Sect Leader, spare our grandmaster."

I don't know who shouted, but it quickly triggered the resonance of the Taoist priests of Huilong Temple. The remaining people seemed to have woken up and bowed to Lin Bai in a ragged manner.

"Please, Sect Leader, spare our grandmaster."

"We are willing to persuade our grandmaster to join the Justice Sect."

……

"You?" Li Zhenren was stunned; he subconsciously covered his chest.

At this moment.

His blood surged to his heart, and his injuries seemed to have worsened by a few points.

Xin Shang and the others felt a mix of emotions. Logically, they should have been happy that Huilong Temple, which had fought with them for hundreds of years, had fallen to this point, but at this moment, no one could be happy; instead, there was a sense of sorrow like a rabbit mourning the death of a fox.

"Once this matter is over, send a message to our sect's ancestors and tell them not to provoke Lin Bai!" Zhao Tulong muttered.

Xin Shang and the others subconsciously nodded in agreement.

"Master, do not make futile resistance." Daojing said sorrowfully, "Haven't you noticed? You have already been hit by a trick!"

"Nonsense," Li Zhenren said angrily.

"Don't you find it strange that you would rather be injured than stop your own attack?" Daojing asked.

"……" Li Zhenren paused, glanced at Pei Yanzong, who was still being restrained by Lin Bai, and remained stubborn. "This old man just doesn't want to hurt the innocent."

"Is Pei Yanzong innocent?" Daokong risked it all. "Do you know who he is? He is the Sect Leader of the Canyang Sect, our mortal enemy. Is it normal for you to suffer a backlash for his sake?"

The disciples of the Canyang Sect looked at each other in dismay, watching Lin Bai, who wore a smile while holding a kitchen knife to Pei Yanzong's neck; the group sighed at their own inferiority, thinking that guy was the true demonic heretic!

"So what if you are the Canyang Sect Leader?" Li Zhenren's hidden agenda was exposed, so he simply gave up all pretense, "Being held hostage by Lin Bai makes one a hostage; I cannot bear to watch such shameless behavior. Not only will I save you all, but I will also dismantle this so-called Justice Alliance, and return peace to the world..."

Lin Bai looked up at the sky.

The moon-chasing had long since stopped.

The people of the Chaoyuan Sword Sect alliance were slowly creeping downward.

Seeing Lin Bai look up.

A group of men in black immediately stopped in their tracks.

He Qin tore off the face mask he was wearing and shouted loudly: "Alliance Leader, do not act yet; we have been subdued by the Alliance Leader's Law Power, and this time we are here to join the Justice Alliance."

His smile was as humble as it could possibly be.

When the Transformation Realm Li Zhenren was willing to harm himself rather than hurt Lin Bai, this group finally cast aside their so-called dignity and made the correct choice.

"Alliance Leader, the Spirit Tool Pavilion is willing to join the Justice Alliance and contribute light and heat to the alliance's cause." Wan Qifeng also tore off his mask; he was shrewder than He Qin and even used the official language promoted by the Justice Alliance, "The Spirit Tool Pavilion is willing to provide compensation for the expenses of this expedition by the alliance."

Old fox!

He Qin and Ma Changcheng glared at this shameless guy at the same time.

Wan Qifeng did not care at all.

Ma Changcheng sighed and cupped his hands, saying: "Medicine King Valley is also willing to provide war reparations."

【Resentment from Ma Changcheng, He Qin, and Wan Qifeng; +1 +1 +1】

【Anger from Li Zhenren; +1 +1 +1】

Sensing the emotions of the people in the background, Lin Bai asked: "Three sect leaders who are like lost lambs, have you truly repented and turned over a new leaf like the prodigal son?"

"Alliance Leader, we have been subdued by your invincible strength, which is like the sun, and our admiration for you is as endless as a flowing river. Our hearts for joining the alliance are truer than gold and purer than a newborn babe; this heart can be verified, comparable to the sun and moon."

With Wan Qifeng leading the way, He Qin also went all out; it was just a contest of who was more shameless, as if he didn't know how to do it.

As long as the green hills remain, one need not worry about firewood; the reinforcements from the seven righteous sects were at most in the Transformation Realm, and coming would be a waste, so it was better to find a way out for himself early, lest he end up in the same plight as Li Zhenren.

Xin Shang and the others cast looks of disdain at He Qin, though the disdain was vaguely tinged with a trace of admiration; if they had been this discerning about right and wrong back then, they would have become Lin Bai's confidants long ago!

"Since that is the case, you should stay quietly to the side like quails and watch how I subdue Li Zhenren, who is as arrogant as a little rooster!"

Lin Bai said with a smile.

At the moment he revealed his smile.

Daoxu, Daojing, Daokong, Pei Yanzong, as well as the angry Li Zhenren and so on, all revealed the same smile in unison.

The sudden smile startled He Qin and the others.

Everyone smiled when he smiled.

Surely flattery shouldn't be this intense!

What is wrong with them?

It's too creepy!

Li Zhenren, it's one thing for others to smile.

You've been compared to a little rooster by him, why the hell are you smiling?

At this moment.

It felt as if the world were no longer real.

You are the little rooster!

Your whole family is little roosters!

Li Zhenren wore a smile, his whole body trembling: "You brat, you go too far. No one has ever dared to humiliate this old man like this!"

Lin Bai retracted his smile.

Li Zhenren immediately returned to his normal expression of anger.

Lin Bai smiled again.

Li Zhenren's angry roar immediately carried a smile...

Several times over.

It was as if Li Zhenren were performing facial expressions for Lin Bai; it couldn't have been more awkward.

Everyone watching Li Zhenren was stunned; the Taoists of Huilong Temple could not bear to look at their own grandmaster, who was red-faced, and lowered their heads.

If you, old man, have no ability, why are you forcing your way into this mess!

It really is a disgrace to the ancestors.

It would be quite good if Huilong Temple were removed from the name,

Pfft!

The little white fox, who had also been forced to smile several times, finally couldn't hold it in and let out a most sincere laugh; Master's wicked sense of humor is truly quite strong!

"You brat, stop using evil arts to tease this old Daoist." Li Zhenren finally discovered the anomaly and could no longer hold back; he pointed his fingers like a sword, and a sword wind headed straight for the center of Lin Bai's brow. He was concerned for Pei Yanzong and wanted to kill Lin Bai as quickly as possible to save his beloved.

The moment the sword wind was released.

Pei Yanzong tilted his head, blocking it perfectly in front of Lin Bai's head.

Whoosh!

Li Zhenren channeled his power again and reached out to intercept the sword wind he had just fired; under the influence of the Red Thread, he would rather be injured himself than hurt his lover.

The sharp sword wind pierced through his left palm, dripping with blood.

But Li Zhenren ignored his own injury, looking at Lin Bai with a flash of determination in his eyes.

He appeared as if by Teleportation, suddenly appearing on Lin Bai's left side, flicked his finger to knock away the kitchen knife Lin Bai held to Pei Yanzong's neck, and then reached out to pull, actually snatching Pei Yanzong away from in front of Lin Bai.

Lin Bai's agility of sixty was unexpectedly unable to react in time, and none of the card Puppets he had issued guard commands to were able to react either; all they could manage was a slight sway of their bodies.

However.

Li Zhenren was not having an easy time either; the near-Teleportation Flash placed a considerable burden on his body, and after snatching Pei Yanzong, he spat out another mouthful of fresh blood, his face pale as paper.

Enduring the intense pain in his body, Li Zhenren laughed wildly: "Lin Bai, now that you have lost your hostage, I would like to see who else can protect you? Not cultivating oneself, heterodox paths are ultimately unable to stand on the stage..."

Before his voice had even faded.

Pei Yanzong, who was in his arms, suddenly disappeared.

The next instant.

He appeared once again in front of Lin Bai, as if everything had never happened at all.

Li Zhenren's laughter came to an abrupt halt.

(End of this chapter)