Chapter 323: Setting a Flag

Lin Bai led the Justice Alliance on their journey across the Magpie Bridge.

Building a Magpie Bridge requires Couple Cards; Lin Bai has a limited number of Couple Cards in his possession, so naturally, he would not hand the cards over to his Spirit Soul clones.

Moreover, the Spirit Soul clones do not need to carry many people; using the Skill Flash is sufficient.

Aside from the short distance, Flash has no restrictions, and by skipping the steps of placing and collecting cards, traveling alone is even faster than the Magpie Bridge.

Lin Bai's Spirit Soul clones are no different from the natives of this world.

Traveling at night is no problem, but once the sky brightens and the sun just begins to peek out, the two Spirit Soul clones weaken at a speed visible to the naked eye.

It is even faster than the speed at which a snowman melts when it sees the sun; at this rate, the clones would perish by noon at the latest.

Lin Bai promptly directed the Spirit Soul clones to flee into the shadows, thus avoiding the tragic fate of the Spirit Soul dying before its mission could be accomplished.

At this moment.

Lin Bai finally understood.

The reason why the Negative Emotion from the outside world did not increase much when the Spirit Soul clones sent out the lightning tribulation: without the protection of a physical body, the Spirit Soul is too fragile, and the cultivators simply do not take the Spirit Soul clones seriously.

No wonder that although the Cultivation World clearly has methods for Soul Possession and rebirth, one never hears of any cultivator willing to put their mind into Soul Possession and rebirth.

Turning pale at the mention of a Spirit Soul leaving the body is the norm for most cultivators.

Back then.

Xiao Yu of Wanhun Valley launched an attack outside Zhen City and even pre-emptively created dark clouds suitable for the survival of vengeful spirits. Lin Bai's Spirit Soul has no Spiritual Power, and he could not even manipulate a Magic Tool to create a survival environment suitable for himself; he could only travel at night, which invisibly lengthened the time the Spirit Soul clones spent on the road.

Lin Bai withdrew his focus from the Spirit Soul clones.

Whether they are traveling or hiding under the shade of a tree, there is not even anyone to talk to; it is actually quite monotonous, and it does not require him to expend much mental energy.

Perhaps finding two bodies for the clones would be the only way to maximize their utility.

It would not matter if the possession failed; in any case, for Lin Bai, creating clones basically does not result in much of a loss.

……

The seventh day.

Through the news sent by the players, Ancestor Yuan Qing reported that the Taiyi Kingdom's cooking competition was nearing its end, and the runner-up had been selected.

Lin Bai took out his kitchenware, found some ingredients on the Green Wood, and casually made a dish.

The Taiyi Kingdom's cooking competition announced him as the champion.

Many hands make light work; the Chef God System's task was completed with ease, and Lin Bai obtained a new Skill—Dazzling: when cooking, it will attract everyone's gaze.

On top of the Green Wood, Lin Bai experimented with the new Skill.

Just as the Skill description stated, when he began to cook, no matter what the people around him were doing, they would be forced to turn their heads to watch him cook, and even Qing Yun, who was resisting the Tribulation Cloud in the sky, was no exception.

This is a strong crowd-control Skill.

The moment Qing Yun turned her head to watch him cook, caught off guard, a bolt of lightning struck her; Lin Bai nearly caused a major disaster and hurriedly stopped cooking, which finally released Qing Yun's gaze.

Even so, he still harvested a series of Negative Emotion from Qing Yun.

A super strong crowd-control Skill, similar to Provocation, yet not as good as Provocation, was Lin Bai's evaluation of the new Skill.

A bit of a white elephant!

However.

When the Chef God System gave the new task, Lin Bai immediately changed his view on Dazzling.

The new task is as follows: 【Host a world-class cooking competition and obtain the title of Food God in the competition; Reward: Absolute Suppression (when you cook, you possess absolute control over the ingredients)】

The task was about what he expected, but the requirement was for Food God, not champion.

But the reward also exceeded Lin Bai's expectations.

The definition of ingredients is too broad!

This is the true strong crowd-control ability; combined with Flash, it is simply invincible……

"Tell Ancestor Yuan Qing that the transnational cooking competition must be planned and completed within seven days. My culinary skills are already invincible under heaven; I don't need the champion title, I want to become the Food God." Qing Yun could still hold on alone for more than ten days; Lin Bai calculated the time and turned to instruct the player who was handling the live stream.

【Happiness Without Reservation】 nodded, and after a moment, said: "Alliance Leader, Ancestor Yuan Qing has agreed. The compensation supplies promised by the Righteous Seven Sects and the Demonic Five Sects have already been transported to a location 120 li north of the Green Wood; please go and inspect them, Alliance Leader."

As soon as the words fell.

A "ding" sounded in Lin Bai's mind, and the Super Sect Leader System sent a notification that the task was completed.

【... Recovering what belongs to oneself, restoring the dignity of the Righteous Sect Leader (Completed); Reward: 500 Merit (Issued)】

【Convene a sect assembly in the name of the Righteous Sect, invite all other sects to participate, and successfully be elected as the Martial Arts Alliance Leader; Reward: Nine Cauldrons (Merit Dharma Treasure, suppresses Luck)】

……

Convene a sect assembly? Not even a ghost would come, right?

As expected of the Super Sect Leader System; being the leader of a Justice Alliance is already not enough to satisfy the system's appetite. This is definitely trying to push him to the position of ruler of the world!

However.

Once he survives the lightning tribulation, he will be the undisputed number one in the world; what would he need this ghost system for!

Lin Bai muttered to himself in Belly-Defamation, then put the Sect Leader System's task aside and said to 【Happiness Without Reservation】: "Mm, I know."

【Happiness Without Reservation】 looked at the live stream comments: "Alliance Leader, Ancestor Yuan Qing agreed, but he said that a world-class cooking competition might not be completed within seven days; not to mention anything else, there isn't enough time."

"Not enough time?" Lin Bai frowned slightly, "Tell them to prepare more couples; my junior brother Lin Sanbai will go and help them set up the Magpie Bridge. I can grant them three extra days; it must be completed within ten days."

A moment later.

【Happiness Without Reservation】 said: "Ancestor Yuan Qing has agreed. He said he will send Heavenly Descended to wait for Junior Uncle Sanbai in Zhen City to assist him in building the Magpie Bridge."

"Even afraid of a Spirit Soul clone; this guy really only has this much ambition." Lin Bai curled his lips in disdain.

……

After setting up the Magpie Bridge, taking advantage of the lull in the lightning tribulation, Lin Bai led the people of the Justice Alliance to rush out of the Tribulation Cloud and arrived at the storage point for the compensation supplies, retrieving all of them.

No one was guarding the supplies at all; they must have been placed there long ago, and Lin Bai was only notified after the people had left.

In the time it took to retrieve the supplies, the Tribulation Cloud gathered again above Lin Bai's head, and the speed was so fast that it barely gave him a chance to catch his breath.

Lin Bai is now a jinx; not a single native is willing to be dragged into the lightning tribulation by him, and everyone is cautious and careful not to cross paths with him at all.

……

The compensation from the twelve sects can hardly be called anything but generous.

Every low-level Cultivator trapped within the lightning tribulation was allocated a large batch of supplies, and these jubilant fellows quickly threw themselves into a new round of cultivation.

Everything has a process of adaptation; after hearing the sound of thunder enough, one gradually becomes accustomed to it.

These supplies are of little help to those in the Great Vehicle Realm and Tribulation Transcendence Realm.

The only things useful to them are Lin Bai's Spirit Fruit and Temperament Fruit, but these two fruits are only eligible to be enjoyed by Lin Bai's Disciples.

The Spirit Soul clones are still on the way, and the most pressing matter at present remains the lightning tribulation.

While Qingyun is still able to shelter them from the wind and rain above, Lin Bai explained the principle of the Faraday Cage to Zuo Lan and pulled over all the Great Vehicle Realm and Tribulation Transcendence Realm experts to build a large cage capable of withstanding at least one hundred million volts with him……

The thunderstorm is becoming increasingly dense, and the lightning arcs falling from the sky are each as thick as a water bucket.

Lin Bai suspects that an ordinary Faraday Cage cannot withstand such high voltage at all, so he requested that the Faraday Cage Zuo Lan builds have as high conductivity as possible; even if it can only last for one day before being punctured, it is still better than sitting and waiting for death—anyway, they are idle anyway……

……

"The Justice Gate is indeed a technology sect; the principle of the Faraday Cage is almost exactly the same as the Maxwell theory of our world."

"Hand-crafting an equipotential body requires too much for Weapon Refinement. Moreover, looking at the scale of the lightning, the voltage is at least over one hundred million volts; I fear his so-called Faraday Cage will be punctured in an instant. Instead of making this piece of junk, he might as well find a way to improve his Laws!"

"Even Maxwell theory has been used; I fear Lin Bai is truly unable to escape his fate this time."

"Lin Bai's Laws need to rely on external forces; even holding a cooking competition requires going through the Seven Righteous Sects. At this time, even if he wants to improve, it will be of no avail. Haven't you seen that in the live broadcast screen, Shopkeeper Lin is in a daze most of the time? This lightning tribulation might really be his curtain call."

"Perhaps the officials will still give him a cheat; after all, in the previous days, he has always been the protagonist, forcefully leading the rhythm of the world."

"It is precisely because the rhythm was led by him that the world became a mess. In the few days he hasn't been around, how peaceful the world has been. Perhaps the game officials saw this point, which is why they used special means to erase him, this NPC who ruins things, and correct the plot. Lin Bai's mission of spreading the Laws has already been completed; it is equivalent to a plot-kill."

"But his Magpie Bridge hasn't been finished yet."

"Didn't he split off two Spirit Souls to help set up the Magpie Bridge? One Qi Transforms into Three Purities is a divine ability he suddenly comprehended; it should be the officials patching a loophole, finding an excuse for him to complete his unfinished mission."

"What about his fan group? Are they just going to ignore them?"

"Lin Bai's existence has already seriously affected the game balance; even without considering the fan group, he must be killed, otherwise what the hell are we still playing!"

"You are talking nonsense; Shopkeeper Lin will definitely be able to safely pass the lightning tribulation. The day he emerges from the lightning tribulation will be the death date of you heretics."

"Praying for Shopkeeper Lin."

"Praying for Shopkeeper Lin +1"

"Shopkeeper Lin, hold on; we are waiting for your return at the Blood Sect."

"Brother Lin, don't blame us for not having a primary selection for so many days. The sisters have worked together these days at the Blood Sect to make nine hundred and ninety-nine prayer lamps for you, and we just released them into the sky. If the Heavens have eyes, they will definitely see our intentions."

"Brother Lin, hold on; the sisters have already gone to the forum to protest. Those hateful guys from the game officials, how could they bear to strike you with lightning for over eighty days?"

"I really want to enter the lightning tribulation and share the joys and sorrows with you!"

"Brother Lin, you must hold on; the Support Group is trying every possible way to save you. We are always your firm backing."

"Praying for Brother."

"Praying for Brother."

……

On the players' live broadcast screen, a group of people were originally discussing the Faraday Cage normally.

As a result.

In the blink of an eye, the barrage was flooded by the fans of the Lin Bai Support Group.

The screen was entirely filled with barrages of "Praying for Shopkeeper Lin" and "Praying for Brother," blocking the normal communication barrages so that nothing could be seen at all.

The madness of Lin Bai's fan group immediately intensified the normal players' disgust for Lin Bai.

Consequently.

Lin Bai's Negative Emotion Value skyrocketed.

From the private chats of a few players, Lin Bai knew what his fans had done, but he didn't take it to heart.

Unless the Spirit Soul clones could directly contact the fans.

Otherwise, relying on these few insincere players, his wishes could not be conveyed to the fans' ears at all, let alone utilizing their combat power.

When all is said and done, what Beggar Sect, what Justice Alliance; only the fans are his true own people!

It is a pity.

Their levels are all too low.

……

Thus, another five days passed.

The Faraday Cage meant to carry ten thousand people still hadn't finished being refined, yet the lightning tribulation became increasingly fierce; sheet lightning, column lightning, ball lightning, and all sorts of other lightning struck down at Qingyun one after another.

No longer giving Qingyun a chance to rest.

Qingyun could no longer spare the effort to speak, focusing all her mind on dealing with the lightning tribulation.

Looking at the increasingly fierce lightning tribulation in the sky, the bad premonition in Lin Bai's heart grew stronger; developing at this rate, he suspects that Qingyun cannot hold on for twenty days at all.

"Brother Lin, we can survive this lightning tribulation, right?" Not knowing when, Xu Longyun and Jiang Qingqin were both standing by Lin Bai's side; Xu Longyun looked at Lin Bai's profile, her tone gentle.

"Of course, it's been so many days, and not a single lightning tribulation has fallen; the rest naturally won't be a problem." Lin Bai took one in each hand and pulled them close, whispering comfort, "From the time I had memories, Master told me that I am the man who will become the Heavenly Dao in the future, so I cannot die young here."

The little white fox and her siblings were originally playing with the dazed Lin Erbai; seeing Xu Longyun and Jiang Qingqin both go to find Lin Bai, she immediately transformed into her white fox original form, leaped twice, and darted into Lin Bai's arms, declaring her sovereignty over Lin Bai.

"Mm, I believe you." Xu Longyun smiled faintly, looked at Qingyun in the sky, and said, "Junior Sister Qingyun is protecting our safety so diligently; if it is possible not to turn her into a Puppet, then don't turn her into a Puppet."

"Alright, I will try my best." Lin Bai raised his head and looked at Qingyun, who was blocking most of the lightning like a god of thunder in the sky, nodded, and said, "How could I be willing to turn her into a Puppet? But if she cannot hold on, only by borrowing her power can I protect more people, and also allow her to continue to live!"

"Master, no need to listen to her; if I should be made into a Puppet, then make me into a Puppet; I am willing." In the sky, Qingyun's voice came down, "I want to live; only by living do I have the qualifications to grow into a Divine Tree."

Lin Bai smiled, looked at Xu Longyun, and said: "Xiaoyun, your Junior Sister Qingyun is much more rational than you!"

Xu Longyun cooperatively squeezed out a smile and said: "I am not as good as her." Her head leaned gently on Lin Bai's shoulder, and she said softly, "Brother Lin, if there is a chance, live on; don't worry about me, and don't turn me into a Butterfly. Being able to be with you for these days, I am already very happy."

Jiang Qingqin looked at Xu Longyun with envy, subconsciously wanting to let go of Lin Bai's hand, but before she could, she was gripped tightly by Lin Bai again.

"What kind of defeatist talk is that?" Lin Bai opened his arms and pulled both of them into an embrace, "I say the lightning tribulation can be overcome, then it will certainly be overcome. Once we pass this lightning tribulation, I am going to hold a grand wedding for you both!"

"Really?" Jiang Qingqin's eyes lit up.

"Of course." Lin Bai nodded solemnly, the tasks of the Yuelao System and the Super Sect Leader System flashing through his mind, and said, "An absolutely unforgettable super wedding, the kind where the sect leaders of the Seven Righteous Sects and the Demonic Five Sects must all come to present gifts..."

Lin Bai spoke with high spirits; Xu Longyun's eyes held a smile, but she sighed silently in her heart, bitterness spreading—Lin Bai had even made a promise like a wedding, so she feared this lightning tribulation truly could not be overcome!

However, to be able to hear Lin Bai's promise of a wedding before dying, this life was worth it!

(End of this chapter)