Chapter 225: The Game Leader

Regardless.

Where there is a project, there is money.

Now is the time to compete for favor with the Beggar Sect, and the enthusiasm of Huangye Lang and the others has been thoroughly stirred up.

Furthermore.

Customizing rankings for the game world gives them a marvelous feeling of creating history.

"Alliance Leader, what should we call our publication?" Huangye Lang asked, casting a provocative glance at Bai Yin.

"Heavenly Dao Review." Lin Bai said a name without even thinking.

He had considered something like "Forbes," but while that name might work on Earth, in this damned otherworld, he was likely the only one who would get the reference.

Thinking about it carefully, he hadn't thought about returning to Earth for a long time.

It turns out time really does dilute everything.

"..." The natives collectively had black lines on their faces.

"Alliance Leader, isn't this name a bit too grand?" He Qin suggested cautiously, "How about we follow the 'Justice Weekly' and call it 'Justice Review' instead?"

"I am a man who wants to become the Heavenly Dao; this name is just right, implying that our rankings are as authoritative as the Heavenly Dao itself." Lin Bai waved his hand, "Calling it 'Justice Review' makes it seem like we are ranking ourselves, which feels small-minded."

As if you weren't the one who made it!

He Qin retreated sheepishly, feeling that he shouldn't have said that; how could someone as arrogant as Lin Bai ever listen to his advice? Heavenly Dao, ha!

"Setting up the printing department in a bustling downtown area is more convenient, but the Justice Alliance is precarious and may set out on an expedition at any time. In urgent times, we must act with expediency; let the editorial and printing departments simply be at the Chaoyuan Sword Sect!" Lin Bai looked at Huangye Lang and the others and said, "With the people from the Spirit Tool Pavilion here, there is no shortage of skilled craftsmen; you can have them help you refine some paper."

As he spoke.

Lin Bai took out two digital cameras and two Reporter IDs, handing them to Huangye Lang, "Arrange these tools as you see fit. This world is vast, and travel is not very convenient. For the first issue of Heavenly Dao Review, try to focus on the interior of the Justice Alliance. Have Sect Leader He and the others cooperate with your interviews and do more preparatory work. Of course, you are Heavenly Descended, perhaps you have special channels for information. If possible, collect more material to make the first issue of the review exciting, and strive to make 'Heavenly Dao Review' a hit."

Huangye Lang took the two digital cameras and Reporter IDs from Lin Bai's hands and took full responsibility: "Alliance Leader, just leave 'Heavenly Dao Review' to us. We guarantee we will handle it beautifully. If we don't do it well, feel free to replace us..."

"If you don't do it well, I will naturally replace you. The Justice Alliance only needs useful people, not those who eat for free." Lin Bai glanced at him and then turned to He Qin, "Sect Leader He, the Sword Immortal's speed is fast. Once the finished product is out, you are responsible for the distribution of the periodical. In the future, I will apply to my sect for more printing presses to build distribution branches in every city, striving to ensure that every new issue of the periodical can be delivered to the readers' hands as soon as it is released. News demands timeliness; public opinion can only be controlled by us..."

The players received their orders and went off to get busy.

Busy and willing.

It must be said.

Competition makes people happy.

With the sudden establishment of "Heavenly Dao Review," the "Xianxia First Paparazzo" felt a crisis immediately.

The editorial team players led by him quickly held an emergency meeting to discuss how to start with the content and maintain the leading position of "Justice Weekly."

In the Real World, if "Heavenly Dao Review" were doing rankings, they would definitely rely on their monopoly to follow the trend and do it first, but Lin Bai had just disciplined them. Several hundred players had deleted their accounts and started over, miserably leveling up in the newbie village and performing the most basic commercial terminal layout work.

Although they received compensation from the Beggar Sect, their status had fallen from the sky into a pit, and who knew when they would be able to climb out!

After all.

In a few days, another large group of players would enter the game.

The new players might have studied countless guides, just waiting to show their power in the game. With more talent, who would care about those losers who had been knocked into the dust?

"Boss, the fourth issue just came out. Shopkeeper Lin didn't ask us to put out a fifth issue, and we don't have any content!" "Cat Playing with a Pen" twirled the charcoal pencil in their hand.

"No need to wait for Shopkeeper Lin. We must exert our subjective initiative." "Xianxia First Paparazzo" pondered for a moment and said, "The purpose of 'Justice Weekly' is to promote the laws. Isn't Shopkeeper Lin going to hold the Tiancan Cultural Festival? We will start from the Incomplete Dao and build momentum for the Tiancan Cultural Festival. Then, analyze the world situation and make the expansion of the Justice Alliance our main attack direction, undermining the confidence of surrounding sects from the side..."

Meanwhile.

Huangye Lang quickly assembled the editorial department for "Heavenly Dao Review." Determined to compete with "Justice Weekly," they did not want the first issue to only review the interior of the alliance.

The information about the Justice Alliance had already been exposed by "Justice Weekly," so continuing to reheat leftovers was meaningless.

If you're going to do it, do it big.

Therefore.

After a wave of investment attraction, Huangye Lang mobilized the players in the Alliance Army, using money to pave the way, and began collecting information on various sects outside Qian City through the forums.

The movements of the Beggar Sect and the Justice Alliance Army were too big, naturally unable to be hidden from other players in the game. "Justice Weekly" was worried about Lin Bai's punishment and dared not follow the trend.

They were not afraid.

Without the high-tech provided by Lin Bai, they would just make primitive newspapers.

As long as the content was explosive and attractive enough, that was enough. Once sales were up, advertisers would naturally follow.

Even if there were no advertisers from the real world, earning money from local natives was not bad.

After all, playing games also has costs.

The sects in the Xianxia World saw the influence of "Justice Weekly" and witnessed the power of public opinion, so they also urgently needed players to produce a newspaper to compete.

The public opinion field of the Cultivation World could not be allowed to be dominated by Lin Bai's Justice Alliance alone.

One still had to seize the high ground of public opinion; even if they ran a newspaper, if they didn't use it to promote their own sect, using it specifically to smear Lin Bai and his Justice Alliance would also work!

Therefore.

"Xianxia Fashion," "Artifact Refining and Life," "Cultivation World," "Xianxia Chronicle," "Playboy," "War," "National Geographic," and so on—all kinds of magazines sprang up like bamboo shoots after rain, quickly appearing all over the world.

It was dazzling.

Players might not be good at content editing, but taking the theories of various well-known magazines from the real world, giving them a makeover, and replacing them with content from the Xianxia World was enough for them to get their first pot of gold from the NPCs.

Under Lin Bai's guidance, the Xianxia World quickly moved toward a stage of chaos and disorder.

The speed of change caught many natives off guard; they hadn't even figured out what was going on before they were forced to learn from others and follow the trend.

These magazines included those focusing on academics, those focusing on content, those promoting gossip, and even those pushing the boundaries...

These various chaotic phenomena made the veterans of the Cultivation World deeply detest them, and they were disgusted to the extreme with Lin Bai, the originator of it all.

The Seven Orthodox Sects and the Demonic Five Sects did not wait for the Chaoyuan Sword Sect to come seeking help; realizing the danger Lin Bai posed through *Justice Weekly*, they finally made up their minds and sent people to eliminate this black sheep first.

……

【Second media company achieved; Reward: 10 Reporter IDs (already issued)】

【The influence of the first publication you created has reached the national level (completed); Reward: 5 printing presses and their peripheral equipment (already issued)】

【Have the influence of the second publication you created reach the national level; Reward: 5 follow-type Yinxing Sheluoji】

……

The moment the editorial department of *Heavenly Dao Review* was successfully created, a notification that the task was completed reached Lin Bai's mind.

Immediately after.

The Media System issued two new tasks; to be precise, one task was automatically completed, and a new one was issued.

Consequently.

Lin Bai possessed more Reporter IDs and printing presses, laying the equipment foundation for his media companies to blossom everywhere in the future.

The new task was to have the influence of *Heavenly Dao Review* reach the national level; with players helping, Lin Bai felt it shouldn't be difficult.

After all.

He himself was a big star in the game, with countless eyes watching his every move; the publications he issued, even if full of nonsense, could create astonishing sales—this was the effect of fame.

As for the follow-type Yinxing Sheluoji rewarded by the task, Lin Bai didn't think much of them; he cared more about the magazine's public opinion influence and dissemination capabilities.

……

"Sect Leader, when will you use the Separation Arrow to sever the relationship between me and Pei Yanzong?" After the crowd dispersed, Daoxu Zhenren blocked Lin Bai's path, his Spirit somewhat agitated, "You promised me."

"Daodao, you make me very sad by doing this." The gaze Pei Yanzong fixed on Daoxu was full of tenderness and affection, "I know you don't love me, but feelings can be cultivated. Although I have Li Zhenren, my love for you remains pure and flawless. You have also witnessed the power of the Love Dao; give me a chance, and give yourself a chance."

"Get lost." Daoxu glared at Pei Yanzong, "I, your father, will never cultivate the Love Dao with a man." Saying this, he looked at Lin Bai again, "Sect Leader, you also promised me that you would have me and Ge Feiyun cultivate the Love Dao together, but you haven't done that either. You must complete one of these two things today, otherwise... otherwise... I will continue to cause trouble for you on the battlefield in the future, and I will join forces with Pei Yanzong; if you disgust me, I will disgust you too..."

After stammering for a long time, Daoxu Zhenren finally came up with a very miserable reason.

He discovered that he truly could not do anything to Lin Bai.

This made him feel deeply desperate, feeling that life had lost all meaning.

Pei Yanzong echoed from the side: "Daodao, whatever you say, I will do, as long as you don't leave me."

Hu He looked at the two with curiosity, wanting to laugh but feeling embarrassed to do so.

Jiang Qingqin was lost in thought, absorbing the experience of the Love Dao from Pei Yanzong's attitude toward Daoxu; she had not been hit by a Love Arrow and had always felt that something was missing between her and Lin Bai...

Several little foxes jumped around regardless, excitedly playing at role-playing, recreating the daily life of Daoxu and Pei Yanzong.

……

"Daodao, don't leave me."

"Get lost, go find your Li Zhenren."

"You still say you aren't jealous..."

"If you come any closer to me, believe it or not, I'll kill you!"

……

Lin Bai looked at the two: "Daoxu, you better think this through. Once the Separation Arrow hits Pei Yanzong, he will be incomparably disgusted by you, just as you are disgusted by me; it will not change according to his will."

"I'd be happy to!" Daoxu was stunned for a moment, then instantly understood the reason why he couldn't stand all of Lin Bai's actions. He looked at Lin Bai, then at Pei Yanzong, and sighed in despair, "Living like I am now, what does it matter if I am hated by ghosts and men? I am nothing but a walking corpse."

"Daodao, I can feel the bitterness in your heart. Try to accept me; I can bring you happiness. Don't make me disgusted by you." Pei Yanzong seized every opportunity to launch an offensive against Daoxu; he even wanted to grab Daoxu's hand to comfort him.

"I understand." Lin Bai looked at Daoxu and said, "Daoxu, if you want to get rid of all this, then do your utmost to help me succeed! Once I cultivate the Heavenly Dao, your status as a Puppet will be automatically lifted, and you will regain your freedom. Even if I don't cultivate the Heavenly Dao, if you cooperate with me to capture higher-level Puppets, like substitutes such as Li Zhenren, I promise to keep you inside a card at all times, letting you stay far away from this world of strife, until I cultivate the Heavenly Dao or until I die. How about it?"

"Master, I won't let you die."

Several voices rang out in unison; it was Jiang Qingqin, Hu He, and the others. They had the deepest bonds with Lin Bai and were the type who could give their lives for him, so naturally, they couldn't bear to hear Lin Bai talk about dying.

"Is this true?" Daoxu asked.

"True." Lin Bai said, "I never lie to people."

"I'll believe you for now." Daoxu looked at Lin Bai and said, "Your strategy for defeating enemies is nothing more than the Love Arrow; just let those people fall in love with me. I will persuade them for you and make them your Puppets."

"It's a deal." Lin Bai couldn't help but smile.

"It's a deal." Daoxu was forced to reveal a smile, his gaze becoming increasingly desolate.

Right.

This life where even his smiles were not under his own control—it would be better to go back into the card and just pretend he was dead!

"Alliance Leader, I also promise to serve you with all my heart and strength; can you help Li Zhenren recover his sanity?" Pei Yanzong pleaded, "The greatest love is letting go. Although Daodao's determination makes my heart ache, I have decided to fulfill his wish, but after he leaves, I won't even have anyone to talk to."

"..." Lin Bai hesitated.

The power of the Moon Elder Red Thread was too great; Qingyu and Huaxi were lovey-dovey, clinging to each other whenever they got the chance, but they were a man and a woman, and they were pleasing to the eye, so it was at most just annoying to single people.

But if Pei Yanzong and Li Zhenren were also lovey-dovey like Qingyu and the other, he was afraid he would be so disgusted he wouldn't be able to eat.

His greatest bodyguard at the moment was Li Zhenren, and he couldn't take him back into a card.

"Give me a chance." Pei Yanzong said, "If I cultivate the Love Dao, I will be of greater help to you."

"I have a premonition that the Justice Alliance will have a large-scale war next. After this war, I will decide whether to restore Li Zhenren's freedom based on your performance." Lin Bai thought for a moment and said.

"Good." Pei Yanzong looked at the muddled Li Zhenren and nodded solemnly.

……

They found a deserted place.

A Resistance Arrow shot into Pei Yanzong's chest.

Pei Yanzong frowned, his originally tender and affectionate gaze turning cold in an instant: "Daoxu, I never thought you were such a lowlife who plays with feelings. To think that I, the dignified Sect Leader of the Canyang Sect, would actually like a lowlife like you—it truly blinded my dog eyes..."

Daoxu was dumbfounded, followed immediately by wild joy.

Swoosh!

A card flew out.

Pei Yanzong was retracted back into the card.

Lin Bai tucked the card into his sleeve: "Satisfied this time?"

"Many thanks, Sect Leader." Daoxu looked at Lin Bai strangely, hesitated for a moment, and asked, "Must your Love Arrow and Separation Arrow ensure that both parties look directly at each other?"

"After being struck by the arrow, the person they fall in love with or come to loathe is the first person they see." Lin Bai looked at Daoxu and blinked his eyes, "You will keep this a secret, right?"

"No wonder? Its flaw is actually so powerful." Recalling his desolate past, a tear slid from the corner of Daoxu's eye; he wanted to laugh but could not, and in the end, it turned into a helpless sigh, "Lin Bai, although I loathe you, I am also a person who keeps his word, and I will fulfill my promise."

(End of this chapter)