Whether it was love or freedom that swayed her, Lady Hua Xi ultimately agreed to Lin Bai's terms.

Under Lady Hua Xi's expectant gaze, Lin Bai fed Qing Yu an Enlightenment Pill.

Qing Yu regained consciousness. He did not need an explanation from Lady Hua Xi. He had always been aware, observing from outside the Card. Although he had been senseless, the moment his memory returned, everything he had seen and heard flooded back to him with crystal clarity.

Qing Yu didn't even launch an attack on Lin Bai. He just glared at him angrily before immediately embracing Lady Hua Xi, the two of them clinging to each other like long-lost lovers. The passion erupting between them was so fervent it seemed they might meld into one in the next instant.

Several players simultaneously gulped, their anticipation for the Righteous Door growing. Lin, the Storekeeper, was displaying ever-increasing capabilities; if he claimed not to have a Sect backing him, not even a ghost would believe it.

After a tender moment with Lady Hua Xi, Qing Yu reluctantly distanced himself, though their hands remained clasped. He looked at Lin Bai, his gaze icy. "Lin Bai, I understand your intentions. If Xiao Xi has agreed to you teaching the Beggar Gang disciples Taoist law and Martial Arts, then I will naturally follow her wishes. But before that, I have one question: how do you plan to deal with the Return to Dragon View?"

"Don't worry, I'm not a bloodthirsty person. If they behave, I'll let them live, and we can all happily embrace a new life together. If they don't, I'll beat them until they do," Lin Bai said, smirking at Qing Yu. "Xiao Yu, what do you think of my approach?"

Xiao Yu? Qing Yu's mouth twitched. Looking at Lin Bai, he knew a conflict with the Return to Dragon View was now inevitable.

After a moment's contemplation, he said, "When you deal with the Return to Dragon View, may I abstain from fighting?"

Lin Bai looked at Qing Yu curiously. "If you don't fight, aren't you afraid more will die? Can you just close your eyes and pretend nothing is happening?"

The single statement struck Qing Yu's Achilles' heel precisely, leaving him stunned.

Lady Hua Xi, feeling his pain as her own, gently held his arm, offering comfort.

"Xiao Yu, for the sake of the Return to Dragon View, you should lead by example. Urge your sect disciples to lay down their weapons and not fight me. As the acting head of the Return to Dragon View, you should have that kind of influence," Lin Bai looked at Qing Yu, instructing earnestly.

"If I do that, I'll be despised by everyone in the Return to Dragon View," Qing Yu's face turned deathly pale.

"What's a little criticism if it means sparing your fellow cultivators from suffering?" Lin Bai asked, his face beaming with a saintly glow. "I've never cared about reputation. In the future, everyone will understand my actions without needing an explanation. Time will prove everything; I have always firmly believed that."

You're a scoundrel to begin with; what reputation do you even have? And where does this confidence of yours come from? Time may prove everything, but will you even live to see that day?

Daoist Qingyu looked at Lin Bai and chose silence; he could find no rebuttal, nor did he care to offer one. Lin Bai's words had backed him into a corner. Anything he said or did outside the path Lin Bai had laid out would be wrong.

"It's settled then, a happy decision." Lin Bai clapped his hands and laughed, his gaze sweeping over the two of them. "You two share a tender moment. Later, Xiao Yu, tell me about the Return to Dragon View's specific defensive arrangements. For the sake of your everlasting love, I won't restore Daoist Chief Qingshan's consciousness."

"..." Qing Yu was stunned.

Lady Hua Xi recalled how Qing Shan had slandered her and fiercely protected Qing Yu. She viciously pinched the soft flesh at Qing Yu's waist and said resentfully, "Xiao Yu, I never realized your junior brother was so deeply in love with you! Shouldn't you explain why the head disciple of the grand Return to Dragon View fancies his own junior brother? Tell me honestly, who fell for whom first, you or him?"

Daoist Qingyu's face was a mask of bitterness as he hastily explained, "Xiao Xi, don't make such baseless guesses. If it weren't for this battle, I would never have known Junior Brother Qing Shan harbored such deep feelings for me. From beginning to end, my heart has only ever held you, Xiao Xi. There's no question of who was first or second..."

"Lin, the Storekeeper, is really effective! Dragon Breath mentioned wanting to learn Skills, and he solved it immediately. What a capable leader!"

"The Beggar Gang's sole weakness has been addressed. Next, the Beggar Gang will conquer the other sects."

"An era dominated by the Beggar Gang is upon us!"

"That's only because I haven't entered the game yet. If I did, I'd definitely pick the Novice Village furthest from Jiamucheng, develop quietly, and eventually rise to the throne over the corpses of Beggar Gang disciples."

No one cared for the NPCs' public displays of affection; the players were always more interested in Lin, the Storekeeper's, personal abilities.

「After a brief rest.」

Lin Bai and the others resumed their journey. Their destination was the Return to Dragon View. Daoist Qingyu's spirits were somewhat low.

Nevertheless, he still took the Levitation Talisman from Lin Bai. As Lin Bai said, he had no choice; he couldn't even end his own life. From beginning to end, Qingyu had never agreed to help Lin Bai deal with the Return to Dragon View.

Daoist Qingyu possessed his own pride: he would rather die standing than live kneeling. It was one thing when he was without consciousness, but now that he had regained it, even if he wasn't in control of his own body, he wanted to use his own strength to help more disciples of the Return to Dragon View, to resist Lin Bai and preserve the Sect's reputation.

Although Lin Bai spoke with great righteousness, Qingyu understood the terrifying nature of the Seven Righteous Sects far better. Following Lin Bai was a dead end; only by resisting him might they find a sliver of hope.

It was just a shame about the love he had fought so hard to find!

Qingyu looked at Lady Hua Xi nestled against him, a hint of apology flashed in his eyes, and the hand on her shoulder instinctively tightened.

Lady Hua Xi gazed back at her lover, her eyes full of tender affection. Life seldom offers such a devoted lover; no time could be more blissful than this.

What was a little lost freedom compared to being with her beloved?

「To earn Lin Bai's trust.」

Qingyu detailed everything about the Return to Dragon View.

The Return to Dragon View was a branch separated from the Heavenly Dao Sect, with a history of over two thousand years. Its original founder was Daoist Shouquan, who had perished after failing his Tribulation.

Currently, the most senior member of the Return to Dragon View was Master Li, the one who discovered the Spiritual World Gap. He was said to have reached the Realm of Soul Transformation. Nevertheless, he spent most of his time traveling the mortal world, tempering his heart through worldly experiences. He had long since stopped caring about the View's internal affairs. His last appearance was to inform the Return to Dragon View about the Spiritual World Gap in Jiamucheng, after which he vanished without a trace.

At present, the leader of the Return to Dragon View was Perfected Dao Xu, who possessed Nascent Soul Cultivation. About one-third of the Qing-generation disciples in the Return to Dragon View were his. Their Cultivation levels varied; the strongest were Daoist Qingyu, at the Golden Core Peak, and his junior brother, Qing Shan. The remaining disciples had studied under Daojing and Dao Kong. While their aptitude was less than Dao Xu's, they too had reached Golden Core Peak.

When Qingyu led the Return to Dragon View Daoists to battle, the three Dao-generation masters were in seclusion and unaware of external events. In reality, Qingyu had managed the Return to Dragon View for thirty years, and most decisions were his, including sending Qing Feng to Jiamucheng to guard the Spiritual World Gap.

Thus, the Return to Dragon View's current top combat strength consisted of the three Dao-generation Perfected Ones, along with over a hundred Golden Core cultivators. The remaining ordinary disciples were essentially cannon fodder before Lin Bai.

Lin Bai had been concerned about a Mountain-Protection Formation. One did exist, but it was merely a simple Blinding Array designed to prevent ordinary people from trespassing. Anyone with Golden Core Cultivation could see through it at a glance. The Arrays in this world were not highly developed, mostly serving as auxiliary skills for Sects. Arrays were difficult to learn and master, requiring immense effort. Therefore, most cultivators preferred to enhance their own strength, rather than apply Divided God to delve into Arrays that offered little help in combat.

To conceal his own supposed invincibility, Lin Bai didn't inquire too deeply about the combat strength of various Realms. However, he had easily dispatched someone at Golden Core Peak Cultivation. With Cupid's arrow, Lin Bai felt that taking down the Return to Dragon View wouldn't be a problem. So, his mind was much more at ease.

Lin Bai didn't continue with the Great Language System's boasting tasks. At their current pace, they would reach the Return to Dragon View by morning. They would most likely be plunged into battle immediately, making further boasting tasks not worth the effort.

Indeed, the Great Language System tasks were best suited for periods of calm. Attempting them during important matters would only cause delays.

Lin Bai didn't undertake any boasting tasks. However, Dragon Breath and the others didn't let the opportunity pass, especially when they learned that almost all players who had entered the game had begun practicing Spoken Law Follows. They dared not slack off! Whether it was Palm Thunder or One Word Matching Skills, the effects were incredibly cool! Even a one-in-ten-thousand chance was worth gambling on.

Consequently, Lin Bai's journey was not dull. Several players vied to flatter him. Lin, the Storekeeper, finally enjoyed the pleasant sensation of being fawned over.

From Dragon Breath and the others, Lin Bai learned that Spoken Law Follows had spread among the players. Then, he suddenly realized a terrifying problem.

It seemed that before the players could wreak havoc on the world, he had already managed to mess it up himself...

However, in Lin Bai's view, this was a good thing.

Wasn't it better for them to waste vast amounts of time learning the perpetually fruitless Spoken Law Follows than to learn Taoist laws and martial skills that would allow them to grow stronger rapidly?

At that moment, Lin Bai felt truly magnanimous. He had successfully hindered the players' leveling progress, buying time for both the world and himself.

「Dawn pierced the sky.」

Daylight painted the east. Lin Bai and his party finally arrived at the Return to Dragon View.

As Daoist Qingyu had said, the Blinding Array outside the Return to Dragon View was ineffective against Golden Core cultivators. Sharing Daoist Qingyu's Cultivation Level, he effortlessly took in the entire panorama of the Return to Dragon View.

The Return to Dragon View was built atop a mountain nearly three thousand meters high, characterized by precipitous peaks and sheer cliffs. Enveloped by a sea of clouds, it drifted in and out of sight, resembling a celestial paradise. It looked even more like a place where cultivators should reside than Qian City. Below the mountainside lay a dense jungle; such treacherous terrain was almost inaccessible to mortals. The so-called Blinding Array seemed more like a way for the Return to Dragon View to show off.

As for Spiritual Energy... truth be told, Lin Bai, who never cultivated, couldn't sense it at all.

If not for the Sect Leader System and Peerless Divine Doctor System tasks, he would never have chosen to establish a Sect in such a desolate, sparsely populated place.

The closer they drew to the Sect, the more anxious Daoist Qingyu became. His extreme emotional fluctuations were clearly transmitted to Lin Bai's mind.

Lin Bai, sensing his turmoil, shook his head. Before Qingyu could speak, Lin Bai gathered his Inner Strength and, using Vocal Techniques, perfectly mimicked Qingyu's voice: "Master, fellow disciples, it is I, Qingyu! Cease your pointless resistance! You are no match for Lin, the Storekeeper of the Righteous Door! Lay down your weapons and surrender! The Return to Dragon View has no future! Only under the leadership of the wise and brilliant Lin, the Storekeeper, can we possibly become a sect that surpasses the Seven Righteous Sects…"

"..." The moment Lin Bai spoke, Daoist Qingyu was dumbfounded. Only after Lin Bai finished did he recover, staring incredulously at Lin Bai, his chest heaving. "Lin, the Storekeeper, you?"

"Xiao Yu, didn't we agree on this?" Lin Bai smiled faintly. "I felt your eloquence might be lacking, so I decided to speak for you." Saying this, he once again adopted Qingyu's tone and declared loudly, "Anyone who disobeys, Shopkeeper Lin won't even need to act; I will personally deal with you!"

"Traitor! Had you died in battle, it would have been an honor for our Return to Dragon View! I never expected I was so blind as to take in a coward like you, one who clings to life and fears death!" a resonant voice boomed from within the Return to Dragon View, like rolling thunder shaking the heavens. "Today, I, your Master, will personally engage you. Let's see how you, this traitor, will handle me! Disciples of Return to Dragon View, form ranks, prepare for battle!"

"Master, I didn't say those things!" Qingyu cried out in desperate defense. "It was Lin Bai! He's mimicking my voice!"

A Puppet that regained its senses truly wasn't as endearing! No wonder the Card System, after sealing them, erased their consciousness and turned them into mere fighting machines that only obeyed orders...

Lin Bai glanced at Daoist Qingyu, issued the command for him to attack the Sect gate, and continued in his mimicked voice: "Master, weren't you the one who asked me to bring Shopkeeper Lin here? Before you went into seclusion, you told me that you were an Undercover agent of the Righteous Door hidden within the Return to Dragon View, all for the day you could return to the Righteous Door and overthrow the high and mighty Heavenly Dao Sect…"

"Lin Bai, shut up! Master, it wasn't me! It's all Lin Bai, sowing discord!" Qingyu, in grief and indignation, raised his Hidden Dragon Sword and fiercely unleashed a massive sword qi at the Return to Dragon View's main gate.

CRASH!

The main gate of the Return to Dragon View collapsed, revealing the Huilong Observant Daoists arranged in neat formations on the plaza behind it.

At the forefront of the Daoists stood three elderly men with white hair and beards. The one in the lead, clad in a gray Taoist robe, let his gaze sweep past Qingyu to Lin Bai in the sky. Slowly, he raised his hand and said coldly, "You mewling brat! Do you truly believe that by controlling my foolish disciple, you can cause the Return to Dragon View to crumble? Today, I shall show you the true power of a Nascent Soul!"

In truth, he didn't need to say a word. Lin Bai had already personally experienced the difference between a Nascent Soul and a Golden Core. To Lin Bai, a Golden Core cultivator was merely someone with a bit more Spiritual Energy, capable of flight, and able to use some powerful Skills.

But Perfected Dao Xu merely stood there, and an awe-inspiring pressure that shook Lin Bai's very soul radiated from him. It instilled in Lin Bai the profound certainty that he was no match for Dao Xu; to engage would mean certain death. Lin Bai possessed several centuries of Inner Strength and shared the Cultivation Levels of Qingyu and Lady Hua Xi, yet even he felt this way before a Nascent Soul Perfected One. What hope then for the Little White Fox, who had virtually no cultivation? She shivered in Lin Bai's embrace, unable to utter a word, let alone recite any tongue twisters.

So this is a Nascent Soul Perfected One?

Lin Bai frowned slightly. If it came down to a true contest of strength, my will would have broken the instant I saw Dao Xu, and I'd probably have turned tail and fled!

But now? As Perfected Dao Xu's gaze locked onto him, Lin Bai decisively nocked an arrow and swiftly shot the Cupid's arrow at him.

At this moment, Lin Bai was the sole focus of Dao Xu's attention. Could there be a better opportunity?

"Insignificant skills!"

Perfected Dao Xu squinted, clearly unconcerned by the tiny arrow. With a downward wave of his hand, a massive, golden Talisman Inscription, formed of Spiritual Energy, began to materialize above Lin Bai's head. Within the Talisman Inscription, three fire dragons coiled and danced, seemingly poised to surge forth and incinerate Lin Bai the moment it fully formed.

The eyes of many Huilong Observant Daoists already gleamed with delight. The Little White Fox trembled, burying her head in Lin Bai's robes, not daring to look at the Talisman Inscription above.

But in the next second, Cupid's arrow reached Perfected Dao Xu. He flicked his fingers, releasing a burst of Spiritual Energy, yet failed to deflect the arrow. The small arrow swiftly buried itself in his chest.

Subsequently, Perfected Dao Xu's frigid gaze upon Lin Bai suddenly softened. Immediately after, his body jolted, his expression changing drastically. He hastily waved his hand, dispersing the nearly formed Talisman Inscription in the sky.

Before the astonished eyes of the Daoists, Perfected Dao Xu shot into the sky, reaching Lin Bai in a few flashes. He urgently gripped Lin Bai's shoulders, his large hands patting all over Lin Bai's body as if searching for injuries, babbling incoherently, "Bai, are you alright? I didn't hurt you just now, did I? Heavens, what was I doing? Why would I attack you..."