Yes! Except for NPCs, no one wanted Lin Bai to live a life of ease. Players needed fresh and exciting stories because that meant fame, sponsorship, more game resources, and a faster rate of leveling up. Where was the thrill in quietly leveling up compared to battling monsters?

The System didn't want Lin Bai to relax either; otherwise, it wouldn't have launched so many fame-oriented quests. Lin Bai himself didn't want to take it easy.

Aside from completing the tasks he had planned earlier in an orderly manner, in the past two or three days, his power hadn't increased much, and even the income from background emotions had slowed down significantly. This was clearly not the result Lin Bai wanted. The battlefield that suited Lin Bai had never been in the mountains and fields.

Hence, stability and peace were the most detestable things; they hindered rapid social progress.

「The Side Hall.」

All the higher-ups of the Righteous Door had been summoned here. Lin Bai took the main seat. Next to him sat Dao Xu and Daojing, the most senior in hierarchy. Below them sat Qing Yu, Qing Meng, Qing Lin, Qing Zheng, and the stewards of other crucial departments. At the very end were Player representatives such as Dragon Breath, Crazy Man, Silver, I'm Not an Alt Account, Great Loe the Golden Immortal, Dumbelldore, and others.

Since Crispy Rice was the Beggar Gang Leader and Lonely Old Man handled the external affairs of the Beggar Gang, they were unable to join the Righteous Door. Daily leveling up would have delayed many things, so they had returned to Qian City with Jiang Qingqin and the others on that same day.

Those who remained in the Righteous Door were Players keen on leveling up, commonly known as fighters.

"...That's basically how things stand. As everyone knows, the Beggar Gang is my Righteous Gang, and the heaven-chosen people are the crux of our future plan for the world. Every heaven-chosen person is a treasure. Now, the Five Evil Doors have disregarded the rules of the pugilistic world and forcefully detained our heaven-chosen people, trying to force me to submit. To put it lightly, they are cutting off the roots of the Righteous Door. To put it egregiously, the Evil Door is bullying us, the righteous faction, acting as if we have no one!" Lin Bai sat in the main seat, his expression pained. "What do you think," he asked, "can we swallow this insult?"

Dao Xu and the others were cultivating Spoken Law Follows, which made speaking inconvenient. They had to carefully deliberate even simple words to resolve the issue appropriately. Ever since they began cultivating Spoken Law Follows, the Taoists of Return to Dragon View had become much more composed. They had learned to think thrice before speaking.

Unlike the quiet Taoists, the Players, who seemed to fear only that the world *wouldn't* descend into chaos, excitedly slapped the table. "Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

"Damn it!"

"They're bullying us! If we don't teach them a lesson, they won't know what Lin, the Storekeeper, is capable of!"

...

The sudden outburst from the Players left the Taoists of Return to Dragon View somewhat at a loss.

When did new disciples dare to be so audacious?

They feared Lin Bai, but did that mean these newcomers had no fear of them, the elders?

Daojing frowned and slammed the table, intending to scold them. However, remembering the Spoken Law Follows he was cultivating, he paused. After clearing his throat a few times, he said, "The best state of life is one of peace and calm. The best way to achieve happiness is to let go."

Ugh! The air suddenly fell quiet.

Lin Bai looked at Daojing with a peculiar expression, subconsciously stroking Little Fox's head. Alright, I suppose I haven't really done anything humane, have I? When the people of this world learn the truth, they'll surely hate me to death! But it's not entirely my fault. The System made the first move. The quests it issued were clearly designed to throw this world into chaos. I'm merely the executor...

...

"As NPCs, Lin, the Storekeeper, can mess things up without causing any discomfort. But when the old Taoist uses an angry expression to say such gentle words, why does that feel so discordant?"

"He's not as handsome as Lin, the Storekeeper!"

"Lin, the Storekeeper's emotional control is better than his. Even when Lin, the Storekeeper, is killing, he's always smiling when he gives warmth..."

"Yeah, by comparison, Lin, the Storekeeper, is scary. He seems more like a Player, not an NPC."

...

The Players were audaciously discussing Daojing via private chat. Daojing couldn't hear the private chat, but he could read their expressions. His old face instantly flushed crimson, and he slumped back into his seat in resignation.

It seems that cultivating the Power of Laws isn't for ordinary people, Daojing thought. It demands too much willpower. If Qing Feng hadn't confirmed that Lin Bai had indeed acted this erratically in Jiamucheng, causing a city-wide sensation, I would have thought this whole cultivation method was a hoax Lin Bai made up to fool us. It's utterly humiliating!

Glancing at Daojing, Lin Bai's eyes flashed with a hint of apology. He kindly suggested, "Elder Daojing, cultivating Spoken Law Follows requires exceptionally high emotional control. No matter what happens, even if you become enraged, you must maintain a calm mind to succeed. I personally suggest you carry a charcoal stick and a small board. That way, anything inconvenient to say can be written down promptly."

Daojing and the others' eyes immediately lit up.

Indeed, the Sect Leader is far more experienced!

Daojing hastily bowed to Lin Bai in gratitude. He contemplated for a moment before saying, "Sect Leader, your wisdom is as dazzling as the stars, always bringing new enlightenment!"

Having been subjugated by one man and provoked by a group of heaven-chosen people, Daojing and the others, who already felt their own aptitude was lacking, were now dead set on pursuing the path of laws. Humiliation, too, can ignite one's fighting spirit.

...

Qing Yu's mouth twitched involuntarily. He muttered, "What is all this nonsense!"

"When writing is inconvenient, you can also prepare some simple wooden tablets to carry. Write short phrases on them like 'Hello,' 'Get lost,' or 'Don't disturb my meal' for communication," Lin Bai added with a smile.

What does it mean to establish rules? What does it mean to influence trends? Through relentless repetition and widespread dissemination, one can turn falsehood into truth. When enough people believe it, the lie becomes reality. By then, I will be the authority, the originator...

Daojing understood and gestured to the young Taoist attendant behind him. The young Taoist nodded. "Master, your eyes are full of wisdom. Every blink conveys a different meaning."

Everyone had dreams. The cultivation of laws put everyone on an equal footing; who would be willing to fall behind?

What if one could ascend to the heavens in a single step? It was just a matter of saying a few pleasant words; it cost nothing... Today, you are my master, but tomorrow, I might be the God of Rules, someone you can no longer reach...

...

Daojing and the others hadn't yet had time to rejoice at discovering this 'knack' for cultivating Spoken Law Follows.

Lin Bai slammed the table dramatically, pulling the topic back. "Exactly! We can't let them get away with this! A sect must have cohesion; we cannot abandon anyone."

He looked at Dumbelldore and nodded. "Just as I said in Jiamucheng, anyone who joins the Righteous Door, no matter how poor their aptitude or how terrible their character, cannot be expelled by their master.

Today, I will repeat this, and everyone must remember it: no matter how perilous the situation, even if we are down to the last person, we must not abandon our martial brothers and sisters. Only then will the Righteous Door grow ever stronger!"

Daojing and the others stared at Lin Bai in amazement. He just changes the subject without any transition, doesn't he?

Qing Yu looked at Lin Bai, his thoughts profound. He had cultivated at Return to Dragon View since youth and had been taught by his master to consider the sect his home and to protect its disciples. Yet, he had never heard words so passionate and inspiring.

Later, when he became Sect Leader, he had prioritized stability, constantly weighing pros and cons, and had rarely considered protecting every single individual!

If every disciple of Return to Dragon View had been instilled with such ideals upon joining... Then, perhaps they wouldn't have lost the battle Outer Qian City! Lin Bai taking charge of Return to Dragon View... it might not be a bad thing after all.

...

"Lin, the Storekeeper, is really passionate!"

"Even though he's just an NPC, I don't know why, but hearing this really touches me. What if I can't bring myself to kill him in the future?"

"I always feel a bit guilty for taking advantage of Lin, the Storekeeper. When we eventually abandon Lin Bai, I wonder how he'll feel. Why does he have to be an NPC? If he were a Player, with such strong Personal Charm, he'd definitely have countless followers!"

"All that sincerity wasted! Sometimes I think Players are the worst. We probably shouldn't even be in this world."

...

DAMN IT!

Listening to the private whispers of his companions, Dumbelldore silently cursed. You lot probably have no idea what kind of person Lin, the Storekeeper, truly is! Personal Charm? Not abandoning anyone? Just moments ago, he was scheming to kick me out of the Sect, and now he's using me as an example! You're worried you won't be able to bring yourselves to harm Lin Bai? He'll sell you all out, and you won't even know it!

Dragon Breath shared Dumbelldore's sentiment. Ever since Lin Bai had swindled him early in the game, he refused to believe a single word Lin Bai uttered.

Daojing and the others also fell silent. Deep down, they were unwilling to lay down their lives for Lin Bai and even found his words dubious. But at this moment, they couldn't very well refute their new Sect Leader.

"The Five Evil Doors choosing to provoke us now is pure bullying. They're taking advantage of my youth and the fact that the Righteous Door is newly established and its foundation is unstable." Lin Bai sneered. "Therefore, not only must we fight this battle, but we must also win it beautifully! We will make this battle the one that establishes the Righteous Door! From now on, whether they are disciples of the Righteous Door or the Beggar Gang, when they roam the pugilistic world, no one will dare to provoke them as long as they announce the name of the Righteous Door!"

"Well said!" Great Loe the Golden Immortal stood up. "Lin, the Storekeeper, how do we fight? We'll support you!"

"Qing Yu, how many Golden Core Monks from Return to Dragon View can be mobilized for battle?" Lin Bai gestured downwards, indicating for Great Loe to sit, then turned to Qing Yu beside him and asked.

Qing Yu looked at Lin Bai and sighed. "Sect Leader, during the last battle Outer Qian City, nearly thirty Golden Core Monks died at your hands. There are still about one hundred and forty Golden Core Monks left in the sect. If we must go to battle, around eighty can be mobilized. We need to keep some personnel within the sect to maintain normal operations and guard against sneak attacks."

"Eighty, hmm?" Lin Bai nodded in satisfaction. "That's enough."

Qing Yu's expression changed slightly. After a moment's hesitation, he summoned his courage and said, "Sect Leader, since the Five Evil Doors dare to issue a challenge in Qian City, they must be fully prepared. Even if you possess Nascent Soul cultivation, and even with my master, I fear we are no match for an alliance of the Five Evil Doors. I believe we need to consider this from a long-term perspective. After all, the heaven-chosen people are undying and indestructible..."

"Being undying and indestructible is not a reason to sacrifice them. This time, I *could* sacrifice them because they are undying and indestructible. Next time, I *could* sacrifice you because your aptitude is inferior to that of the heaven-chosen people. If this continues, will the Righteous Door even exist anymore?" Lin Bai cut Qing Yu off without hesitation. He turned, looked at him, and said, "Qing Yu, considering you were the former Sect Leader of Return to Dragon View and are unfamiliar with the rules of the Righteous Door, I'll forgive you this time. But if you say such things again, I will seal Lady Hua Xi into a Card permanently, ensuring you two never meet again."

[Resentment from Qing Yu: +1+1+1]

[Resentment from Lady Hua Xi: +1+1+1]

[Joy from Great Loe the Golden Immortal, I'm Not an Alt Account, Iron-Headed Immortal: +1+1+1]

...

Saying the most righteous-sounding words while doing the most despicable things—that's Lin Bai for you. Qing Yu shook his head, sighed, and grasped Lady Hua Xi's hand beside him, not daring to say more.

"Qing Yu's concerns are valid." Lin Bai looked at Daojing and the others. "You were previously from Return to Dragon View and only joined the Righteous Door a few days ago. Many of you still resent me. You're surely unwilling to take such enormous risks to save a group of strangers, especially since those being rescued are undying and indestructible. If it were me, I wouldn't be willing either."

Daojing and the others looked at Lin Bai in surprise. The Players were also taken aback.

Lin Bai scanned the crowd and chuckled. "You don't need to worry about that at all. I'm only bringing you along to make a show of force. To be honest, I don't think much of your Taoist law and Martial Arts skills."

[Shame from Dao Kong, Daojing...: +1+1+1]

"As you all know, I cultivate the Power of Laws." Lin Bai smiled. "I told you before that I have Nascent Soul level cultivation, but that was just a general statement. Even I don't know exactly which Realm the Power of Laws corresponds to. As my comprehension deepens, my cultivation is constantly growing. So, nominally, everyone will be fighting together. But in reality, this confrontation with the Five Evil Doors will be my personal battle, just like when I single-handedly took on Return to Dragon View."

The expressions of Daojing and the others changed again. Lin Bai's words were even harder to swallow than the prospect of facing the Five Evil Doors. They felt utterly looked down upon!

"Cultivating the Power of Laws requires not only unwavering determination and a pure heart but also a fearless spirit to confront all powerful enemies directly." Lin Bai's gaze swept over the faces of Daojing and the others, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Do you know why I openly shared the cultivation method for Spoken Law Follows, yet never worry that you might surpass me?"

Daojing and the others were stunned.

"Under the Heavenly Dao, all are but ants. Throughout history, countless heroes have been reduced to a handful of dust, while the heavens remain supreme. Whom has it ever feared?" Lin Bai chuckled, a hint of disdain in his voice. "All of you harbor petty schemes and calculations in your hearts. As long as such thoughts remain, you will forever be confined within the scope of mortals. Comprehending the Power of Laws? Easier said than done!"

Daojing and the others were dumbfounded. The Players, however, were astounded.

"HOLY CRAP! Lin, the Storekeeper, wants to become Heaven? Since when was this a thing?"

"This is explosive news!"

"What a mind-blowing plot! I thought Lin, the Storekeeper, was just a storyline NPC, but it turns out he's this incredibly arrogant NPC!"

"It's confirmed this time! Lin, the Storekeeper, is the final BOSS! He wants to become the Heavenly Dao, and Players are destined to oppose the heavens!"

"I never imagined the endgame would be a battle against the heavens! This is too thrilling!"

...

Daojing looked at Lin Bai, decisively halting his long-practiced cultivation of Spoken Law Follows. He said resentfully, "Sect Leader Lin, is your heart truly devoid of emotion and desire? Have you never had selfish calculations? If you were truly like the heavens, why bother saving those heaven-chosen people? Letting them fend for themselves, that would be truly treating them as ants..."

"The cultivation of Spoken Law Follows is a step-by-step process; my Realm isn't high enough yet." Lin Bai glanced at him and shook his head. "It's normal to have selfish desires. But I dare to confront my own selfishness. Do you?"

"..." Daojing was stunned. After a long moment, fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. He shook his head, a look of bewilderment on his face, and said with difficulty, "I... I cannot do it."

"If you cannot, don't force yourself. Besides the Heavenly Dao, we also have the Great Path of Love." Lin Bai smiled comfortingly. "After we deal with the Five Evil Doors, we'll need to merge with other Sects like Hundred Flower Valley. Hundred Flower Valley has many female Cultivators. Elder, you can try the Love Principle then."

"..." Daojing hadn't expected to hear such words from Lin Bai. He looked up at him suddenly.

Lin Bai smiled, nodded gently, and said softly, "Face your own heart directly."

Daojing's gaze was filled with struggle. A moment later, his eyes became resolute.

Looking at Lin Bai, Daojing slowly exhaled, as if he had undergone a complete transformation. He stood up and performed a solemn bow to Lin Bai. "Thank you, Sect Leader, for dispelling my doubts. Wretched Daojing has cultivated for many years, yet only today do I understand the true meaning of the Path! The Righteous Door truly lives up to its name. From this moment on, Daojing is Sect Leader Lin's loyal dog, to be commanded at your will, without complaint!"

Qing Yu was lost in thought. Dao Kong was lost in thought.

Lady Hua Xi stared at Lin Bai in terror, her hands hidden in her sleeves trembling uncontrollably. She hadn't comprehended the Power of Laws, yet it was as if she saw a terrifying Devil's Head looking down upon the world from behind Lin Bai.

Perhaps the root of this chaotic era isn't the heaven-chosen people, but this fanatic before me who presumes to become the Heavenly Dao.