Chapter 226: The True Public Enemy of the World

Players and NPCs mingled together; some conducted interviews, others learned skills, and everyone was busy, seizing the time to arrange their respective affairs.

Lin Bai quieted down for the time being.

However, he was not idle; instead, he gathered the Weapon Refinement masters of the Spirit Tool Pavilion, collected the rare materials in their hands, and combined them with their advanced Weapon Refinement theories to forge a kitchen knife with explosive attributes for himself: sharp, blood-sucking, electricity-storing, Spirit Qi-extending, sturdy...

The new task of the Craftsman God System required Lin Bai to forge a weapon for a prestigious person and have this weapon recognized by the world.

Lin Bai thought it over and felt that he was the most prestigious person in the Justice Alliance.

After all.

Under the promotion of *Justice Weekly*, his reputation was already at its zenith, and the system did not stipulate that he could not forge a weapon for himself.

With the Chef God System, a kitchen knife should be a weapon tailored for him.

Although he rarely used weapons in combat, it should not be difficult to gain the world's recognition.

At worst, he could add an entry about the Way of Cooking to his profile in the promotions of *Justice Weekly* and *Heavenly Dao Review*; recognition did not necessarily require fighting and killing. The world was not peaceful now, but there were always stable times.

When that time came, he would host a super cooking competition and let the kitchen knife shine brilliantly along with him.

Lin Bai had considered using culinary arts in combat.

After all.

He had watched *New Dragon Gate Inn* and was deeply impressed by Diao Buyu, who used a kitchen knife to strip the legs of Cao Shaoqin down to white bone.

Nowadays, his knife skills were not inferior to Diao Buyu's; all he lacked was a means to immobilize his enemies.

The enemies he faced were far more powerful than Cao Shaoqin, and furthermore, they could all fly and burrow, basically never giving him a chance to get close.

The Cutting Pulse Technique rewarded by the Peerless Divine Doctor System could immobilize enemies, but it could only bully those of lower realms.

Using a kitchen knife to process those inferior to himself, aside from leaving behind a reputation for being cruel and evil, was of no benefit.

If he was going to fight, he would fight experts.

The skill rewarded by the Chef God System that made food glow had an effect far more awesome than Xiang Yu setting up a giant cauldron to cook Liu Bang's father.

Turning an enemy into a dish on the battlefield, while perverted, would definitely be able to carry forward the Way of Cooking and shock the masses...

Once word spread.

Who would still dare to provoke him?

Trading a notorious reputation for a lifetime of peace—worth it!

After forging the kitchen knife, Lin Bai held the little fox and strolled among the players, collecting more information.

When talking to NPCs, players would retain a lot of useful information; many people liked this sense of superiority that came from playing others in the palm of their hands—the superiority caused by information asymmetry was the easiest thing to satisfy people.

Lin Bai did not have this obstacle; the players' private chats could always bring him more surprises, letting him understand the dynamics of the outside world.

Carefully calculated, being able to hear the players' private chats was his true trump card.

After all.

Players who were always thinking about taking down bosses and controlling everything were too unfriendly to NPCs.

Fortunately, as the strength he displayed grew stronger, the players' discussions about taking him down became fewer and fewer.

Their topics were more focused on the analysis of the general social trend and their own Positioning in the game...

Unlike the high-level members of the Beggar Sect who were kidnapped by advertisers and turned the game into a commercial activity.

Most players entered this world truly to play the game; receiving a salary from the Beggar Sect was just to add a bit of joy to the game.

The media war, the countermeasures of various sects around Qian City, the Beast Taming Studio that turned back halfway, the improvement of the players' status...

After walking a circle, Lin Bai learned many trends about the outside world.

These were all within his expectations.

The growth of the Justice Alliance eroded the interests of the surrounding sects.

And this effect of disorderly chaos was also what he wanted to see.

Although he had a tendency to become a public enemy of the world, he had disrupted the rhythm of the players' growth and also stirred up the balanced distribution of power in the indigenous world...

Chaos!

Only then would it be beneficial to his growth and development.

After all.

Whether NPCs or indigenous people, they all had to deal with all kinds of troubles in the chaotic situation.

If it were not chaotic, everyone would be able to free up their hands and deal with him step by step!

Letting the entire game head toward a chaotic and unpredictable direction was probably the goal that the provider of the system behind it wanted to achieve!

The next day.

Lin Bai was pondering whether to start a new round of Great Language System task cultivation.

After all.

Everything that needed to be arranged had been arranged; even if he went out to demand patent licensing fees, he wouldn't be able to reach them in a day or two, and having one more Skill meant one more chance to save his life.

But before he could decide how to cultivate, he saw He Qin rushing over with several players including Bai Yin and Deng Li Buduo.

He Qin's expression was serious, while the few players were beaming with joy, appearing exceptionally excited.

"What's wrong?" Lin Bai asked.

"Alliance Leader, we just received news that the Seven Righteous Sects and Five Demonic Gates have issued a Righteous and Evil Joint Execution Order against you," He Qin said anxiously.

Pei Yanzong had been looking at Li Zhenren with affection, but upon hearing the words "Righteous and Evil Joint Execution Order," his face changed instantly.

"What kind of thing is that?" Lin Bai was confused.

At this time, Xin Shang and others arrived one after another, each with one or more players by their side, and everyone's complexion was extremely ugly.

"Are you all here for the Zhengxie Zhushaling as well?" Lin Bai scanned the crowd.

"The Alliance Leader has heard of it too!" Zhao Tulong said, his brows tightly furrowed and his expression filled with worry. "I fear the Justice Alliance is doomed this time."

The players were whispering among themselves.

"This is insane!" 【Jiang Bu Jiangjiu】 said, beaming with excitement. "Being hunted by both the Righteous and Evil Paths—the plot is exploding!"

"I didn't expect the Seven Righteous Sects and the Demonic Five Sects to enter the fray personally. Shopkeeper Lin really has a lot of pull. The game has only been running for two months, and it already feels like the late-game stage. I finally understand what the officials meant when they said there was no plot in the game!" 【Baiyin】 sighed with emotion. "The late-game bosses are ignoring the rules of the pugilistic world to strike at a rising star, crushing him with a cross-level power gap. Even TV dramas don't play out like this!"

"At this point, who would still dare to say that Shopkeeper Lin is the illegitimate child of the officials?" 【Bitter Melon Vine】 said.

"Being hunted by the entire world is the proper protagonist template, okay?" 【I Am Not A Small Account】 retorted. "The forums are already in an uproar. So many people are clamoring for an open beta; no one wants to miss this super-sized plot event!"

The players' private chats were scattered and disjointed. Lin Bai only caught the gist of it. He looked at He Qin and asked, "What is going on? Tell me the details."

"The Zhengxie Zhushaling is issued against those who have committed heinous crimes." He Qin looked at Lin Bai, his throat feeling a bit dry, and he subconsciously swallowed a mouthful of saliva. "The Seven Righteous Sects and the Demonic Five Sects are like fire and water. Since their founding, there have been a few demonic figures who were tolerated by neither the righteous nor the evil factions. But when those people were hunted, it was merely the spontaneous action of the sects. It is the first time that an order has been issued jointly by the Seven Righteous Sects and the Demonic Five Sects to kill someone like the Alliance Leader."

"The first time? That's too petty! What bad things have I done to be considered heinous? I haven't even killed that many people, okay! Is there something wrong with dedicating myself to promoting the Law of Cultivation? Is there something wrong with letting the path of cultivation benefit the people?" Lin Bai said with a sheepish smile. "They really are so overbearing that they won't allow any new force to emerge. Sure enough, the Justice Alliance's approach is correct. If the Cultivation World continues to be ruled by these old fossils, the path of cultivation will reach its end."

He Qin and the others were stunned. Is this the attitude one should have toward the Zhengxie Zhushaling?

"Alliance Leader, aren't you worried at all?" Xin Shang asked. "That is the Zhengxie Zhushaling!"

"Will worrying make them take back the Zhengxie Zhushaling?" Lin Bai glanced at him. "When soldiers come, block them with generals; when water comes, cover it with earth. Strike once to avoid a hundred strikes. Once they realize they can't kill me, the Zhengxie Zhushaling will become a mere formality."

【Admiration from Kugua Teng, Baiyin, Wo Bushi Xiaohao, Deng Li Buduo...; +1 +1 +1】

"As expected of Shopkeeper Lin, this is the kind of heroic spirit that doesn't put the people of the world in his eyes!" 【Baiyin】 exclaimed in admiration.

"By the way. What is the specific method of executing the Zhengxie Zhushaling?" Lin Bai asked.

*So you didn't know anything at all. No wonder you're so calm, * the sect leaders thought to themselves.

He Qin sighed helplessly: "All cultivators of the Righteous and Evil Paths must participate in the hunt for the Alliance Leader. They are not allowed to hide him or provide him with supplies. Anyone who provides help to the Alliance Leader will be considered a joint target for the hunt."

"So, you are all my accomplices then!" Lin Bai looked at He Qin and the others and asked with a smile.

He Qin and the others forced a smile and nodded bitterly.

Shen Kuang said: "Unless we can prove that we were coerced and immediately announce our severance from the Justice Alliance."

"Will you do that?" Lin Bai narrowed his eyes and asked.

"Naturally not. They don't know the Alliance Leader's strength, but we have experienced it personally." Ma Changcheng was the first to state his position, saying indignantly, "Besides, the so-called Zhengxie Zhushaling was issued without any justification. Isn't it just because the Justice Alliance touched their interests? The Seven Righteous Sects and the Demonic Five Sects have controlled the Cultivation World for tens of thousands of years; can they not allow others to get ahead?"

"Valley Master Ma is right. Once you join the Justice Alliance, you are a member of the Justice Alliance for life." Wan Qifeng said sternly, "Law Cultivation is the trend of the times; they cannot stop it."

"Alliance Leader, rest assured, we will not withdraw from the Justice Alliance." Ge Feiyun said.

The others also expressed their positions one after another.

A local official is no match for the person in charge right in front of you. The god of death is right here; who knows how much time it would take for the Seven Righteous Sects to kill Lin Bai?

If you offend Lin Bai, he could turn you into a Puppet in a matter of minutes.

If it were you, wouldn't you be afraid?

"Your choice will not be wrong." Lin Bai smiled at everyone. "The Law of Cultivation requires this kind of unwavering conviction. It is not without reason that the Justice Sect pushed me out to undergo the tribulation. As the saying goes, when one person attains the Dao, their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven. When I achieve success in my cultivation, even if you haven't mastered the laws, a single word from me will allow you to attain the Dao and become immortals. I don't know how much cultivation time that will save you."

【Resentment from He Qin, Ma Changcheng, Wan Qifeng, Xin Shang...; +1 +1 +1】

Although they didn't believe the big picture Lin Bai was painting, the sect leaders still thanked Lin Bai in unison: "Thank you, Alliance Leader."

"Empty words are not proof." Lin Bai opened his hands, and more than a dozen Spirit Fruits appeared out of thin air in his palms. "These are fruits for Spirit Refining. Take one each! We have plenty of such heavenly treasures in the Justice Sect. As long as you serve the Justice Alliance sincerely, such heavenly treasures will not be lacking for you."

Ten thousand sweet words are not as good as a benefit one can see with their own eyes.

A single thread cannot make a cord, and a single tree cannot make a forest. Since he has become a true enemy of the world, he must gather like-minded partners around him.

Otherwise, he would likely be staging a desperate escape every single day.

After the publication of *Justice Weekly*, the Negative Emotion has been in a state of overflow. Lin Bai has more Spirit Fruits than he can eat; taking some out as bait is not a loss.

The little white fox subconsciously swallowed a mouthful of saliva. It looked at Lin Bai leisurely; he had finally exposed it!

Smelling the rich fragrance emitted by the Spirit Fruits, He Qin and the other sect leaders were stunned for a moment. They were people who knew their goods, and after just a moment, they all popped the Spirit Fruits into their mouths.

Afterward, everyone's eyes suddenly lit up.

The effect of the Spirit Fruit was immediate.

"This?" Ma Changcheng's breathing was a bit rapid, and he said with a shocked expression, "This kind of fruit for Spirit Refining doesn't even need to be purified? It has no toxicity at all, and the effect is even better than pills? And it doesn't even need to be refined?"

Lin Bai smiled, flicked his palm, and another dozen or so Spirit Fruits appeared. He casually stuffed one into his mouth, stuffed another into the little fox's mouth, and threw the remaining few to Hu He.

The little foxes chirped and scrambled for them.

【Shock from He Qin, Wan Qifeng, Xin Shang...; +1 +1 +1】

Looking at Lin Bai's demeanor, everyone's faces were filled with undisguised shock.

A heavenly treasure for Spirit Refining is an incredible wonder even in the Seven Righteous Sects. Lin Bai actually took them out so casually, and by the handful, and even used them to feed foxes...

What a waste of heavenly treasures!

The eyes of He Qin and the others turned red instantly.

Lin Bai proved the strength of the Justice Sect to them with his actual actions!

One must refine the Spirit Soul during the Transformation Realm to resist the Yang Thunder during Tribulation Transcendence. The more refined the Spirit Soul, the higher the chance of success. Even if the tribulation fails, the Spirit Soul can still be cultivated into a Yin Spirit, or be reincarnated, or perform Soul Possession to continue cultivation...

It can be said.

These fruits are equivalent to an extra life for those in the Transformation Realm!

With these Concentration Fruits, if they were supplied openly, recruiting people in the Transformation Realm to risk their lives would be incredibly easy...

Seeing Jiang Qingqin's pitiful little look, Lin Bai took out a few more fruits and gave them to her.

Jiang Qingqin beamed with joy.

Watching Jiang Qingqin stuff the Spirit Fruits into her mouth one after another, He Qin and the others felt their throats roll. They were jealous to the point of madness. Good heavens, is she eating melon seeds?!

At this moment, everyone wished they could let Lin Bai shoot them with a Love Arrow and become his lover!

……

"Alliance Leader, can we have a taste?" Baiyin licked the corner of his mouth and asked with a fawning smile; a fruit that could instantly silence several sect leaders had to be a good thing!

What if it was also useful for players?

"Your cultivation realms are too low; eating it now would be useless," Lin Bai said after glancing at them. "However, if you perform some meritorious service for the Justice Alliance, I can reward you with a few."

"Alliance Leader, can we also receive these fruits as a reward if we perform meritorious service?" He Qin asked with reddened eyes; in just a short while, his voice had turned hoarse.

"Of course," Lin Bai said with a smile as he looked around at the crowd. "Otherwise, why would I take them out for you to eat? I may not understand the Cultivation World, but I am not stupid; naturally, I know the preciousness of the Concentration Fruit. But I cultivate the Fazhe Zhidao and treat others with a Pure Heart; I am most sincere and never treat my own people unfairly."

"Many thanks, Alliance Leader. We will surely swear to defend the Justice Alliance to the death." Xin Shang and the others cupped their fists in unison to thank Lin Bai. The smiles brought out by Lin Bai this time were from the heart; not rushing to hug such a thick thigh would be simply foolish.

"Alright, now that you have confidence, let's continue discussing the matter of the Righteous and Evil Execution Order!" Lin Bai smiled. "With such a big commotion, it can't just be about mobilizing some people to hunt me down, right?"

"It forbids countries from providing you with assistance," Xin Shang said, speaking first. "When necessary, any Cultivator of any country is obligated to participate in the encirclement and killing of you."

"The laws of the Basic City no longer apply to the Alliance Leader," Ge Feiyun said. "Anyone can hunt down the Alliance Leader in the Basic City, and there is no liability for accidentally harming civilians."

"The Patent Law of the Justice Alliance is deemed invalid," Shen Kuang said.

"The Fazhe Zhidao promoted by the Alliance Leader is deemed heresy, and no one is permitted to practice it," Chu Wushuang said.

"Whoever kills the Alliance Leader can obtain the status of a personal Disciple of the sect leaders of the Seven Righteous Sects," He Qin said, "as well as Dharma Treasures, Spirit Pills, and countless Spirit Stone rewards..."

(End of this chapter)