CHAPTER 171: 171 LIN BAI’S PLAN AGAINST THE ENEMY

"This arrogant brat, is he treating us like ripe persimmons to squeeze at will?" Xin Shang, the Sect Leader of the Blood Shadow Sect, looked at the handbill in his hand and sneered.

"He has the capital to be arrogant." Ge Feiyun, the Sect Master of the Magic Spirit Sect, chuckled, her tongue gliding over her lips as her captivating eyes swept across the crowd. "Among those present, who could take down the Return to Dragon View single-handedly? Such a feat, I’m afraid, could only be achieved by true celestial prodigies."

"Just a posturing clown!" Zhao Tulong of the Blood Separation Sect twirled his wine glass. "Throughout history, countless prodigies have perished prematurely. Only those who survive can truly be called prodigies..."

"When Heaven is arrogant, it rains; when man is arrogant, disaster strikes. He’s just a fool, oblivious to his imminent doom!" Pei Yanzong from the Waning Sun Gate sneered, a flame igniting at his fingertips and turning the handbill in his hands to ash. "The Qian City Cup? He exterminated the Return to Dragon View. Which Righteous Sect wouldn’t fear becoming the second Return to Dragon View and wish to use our hands to eliminate him? Why would they aid him? It’ll be a blessing if they don’t secretly try to trip him up. He’s unwelcome by both righteous and evil paths, yet he prances about so cheerfully, haha!"

"We cannot underestimate him," Shen Kuang of the Mysterious Darkness Cult said, surveying the crowd. "Considering Lin Bai’s actions since he entered the world, he has been meticulous and calculated, with virtually no defeats. How could such a person be easy to deal with? If we were to stumble and fail, it would only benefit those Righteous Sects. Although they won’t assist Lin Bai, if we are defeated, they won’t show us any mercy in their eagerness to curry favor with him."

"Brother Shen, you worry too much," Xin Shang laughed. "Even a goshawk uses its full strength to hunt a rabbit. Having dominated for so long, how could we not understand this principle? With the heaven-descended man having revealed Lin Bai’s capabilities to us, we already know all his trump cards. What is there to fear?"

"Exactly! We are not fools like Dao Xu, who, unclear about Lin Bai’s methods, set up a formation for a direct confrontation. We’re the Evil Door, after all!" Ge Feiyun laughed. "Even if Lin Bai has Nascent Soul cultivation, even if his Power of Laws is bizarre, we have five Nascent Soul cultivators on our side and have laid numerous traps. If he, one person, faces five and still manages to escape, then no one in the world can suppress him, and we might as well surrender our sects..."

The group exchanged knowing smiles.

Xin Shang coughed and asked, "What do you all think? Is Lin Bai’s so-called Cultivation of Rules a deception, or is there truth to it? The method of cultivating Rules is unheard of, even stranger than demonic arts."

"I don’t believe it," Shen Kuang said.

"I don’t believe it either," Ge Feiyun said, shaking her head with a smile.

"If, after Lin Bai is killed, people from the Righteous Door appear to avenge him and continue to spread the Cultivation of Rules, then I’ll believe it." Pei Yanzong scoffed and shook his head. "I don’t believe that a hidden sect capable of nurturing a prodigy like Lin Bai could remain unknown for ten thousand years. I’d rather believe Lin Bai is a pawn cultivated by the Seven Orthodox Sects, specifically to oppose our Magic Gate, using the opportunity of this heaven-descended event. The Righteous Door, from beginning to end, has been nothing more than a facade..."

...

"Dao Xu, are the ranks behind us orderly?"

"Don’t think that just because you’re silent, I don’t know you’re still angry."

"How about I connect you with Ge Feiyun of the Magic Spirit Sect? Then both you and your disciple can fall for people from the Magic Gate."

"You cultivated ascetically for hundreds of years, only to become my puppet in the end. Life is indeed fickle, isn’t it?"

...

Constantly provoked by Lin Bai.

Dao Xu had plunged into deep despair, his face dark as he kept silent.

But under the effect of the Arrow of Resistance, even if Lin Bai were to say something like, "The sun is so round today," he would be filled with pent-up rage.

Dao Xu didn’t know what was going on, but he was sure it was Lin Bai’s trickery.

Unable to control his emotions, restless throughout the journey, Dao Xu looked at the disciples beside Lin Bai who had been turned into puppets yet remained oblivious, and actually found himself envying them.

It would be so good to be a mindless puppet!

...

[Anger from Dao Xu; +1+1+1]

[Resentment from Jiang Yuru, He Qin, Guo Yuan, Tang Lanling...; +1+1+1]

[Joy from Dragon Breath, Lonely Old Man, Crispy Rice...; +1+1+1]

After the news of the Qian City Cup spread, various emotions in Lin Bai’s mind became active once more.

There were positive and negative ones, fully validating the truth that life is meant to be eventful.

The Spirit Fruits were now densely packed, too many to count.

Since the victory over the Return to Dragon View, negative emotions from the Beggar Gang disciples had been few. Accumulating bit by bit, the Temperament Fruits had also grown to over a dozen.

In the meantime, Lin Bai ate a few Temperament Fruits, asking Little White Fox each time if there were any changes.

Little White Fox, aside from spouting pleasantries, couldn’t actually explain any discernible change.

Lin Bai simply stopped eating them. Perhaps the effect of the Temperament Fruits is limited; eating more doesn’t help. Wouldn’t it be better to save them and see if I can use them to research a new Dan Fang or something?

Lin Bai was overconfident. He never considered that it was highly abnormal for those to whom he had personally preached the Cultivation of Rules—especially Daojing and Dao Kong, who had cultivated alongside Dao Xu for hundreds of years—to believe his words so unquestionably and be swayed into becoming loyal lackeys after just a few sentences.

In a way, Lin Bai’s temperament was already subtly influencing everyone around him, making them involuntarily trust and believe in him.

Throughout history.

Almost all greatly successful individuals possessed an intangible quality, a kind of charisma that influenced those around them, making them willingly strive alongside.

The Temperament Fruit, in essence, had forcefully enhanced this aspect of Lin Bai’s temperament...

...

Lin Bai felt somewhat smug.

Over two months ago.

He had been just a lonely transmigrator.

Now, he possessed a sect of his own, a Righteous Gang as protector, and a myriad of peculiar abilities...

Of course, there were also countless enemies.

All of this made Lin Bai feel as if he were dreaming.

Before, he wouldn’t have even dared to dream of it.

Indeed, a life with cheats is the most satisfying!

...

While continuing to farm the Great Language System tasks using Dao Xu, Lin Bai multitasked, taking stock of his abilities.

The enemies this time were particularly strong. Success would put his "career" in this game onto the fast track.

Therefore, he must approach this mission with extreme caution.

After all, he had consolidated all the system tasks. They were now interconnected; one misstep and everything could collapse.

...

The Blacksmith Six-Piece Set, seven of Cupid’s Arrows of Love, nine Arrows of Resistance, Pan Jinlian’s Bamboo Pole, three Gold Edge Cards, eight Silver Edge Cards, and over twenty ordinary Blank Cards...

His enemies, on the other hand, had at least five Nascent Soul experts and an unknown number of Golden Core experts.

Theoretically, Lin Bai’s current resources were insufficient to defeat the Five Evil Doors.

After all, he only had three Gold Edge Cards capable of sealing Nascent Soul experts. Even if used with perfect efficiency, two Nascent Soul experts would remain unsealed.

Unless he was willing to go all out and use Cupid’s Arrows of Love to make all the opposing experts fall in love with him.

But having personally experienced Dao Xu’s unsettlingly intense infatuation, Lin Bai felt he couldn’t handle the affections of five Nascent Soul experts simultaneously.

Those struck by an Arrow of Love were capable of anything. If they created a few public spectacles, his Idol System fanbase would likely plummet...

Moreover, what if the members of the Five Evil Doors didn’t see *him* first?

Too many variables.

This needs careful planning.

If only I could separate them and take them down individually.

...

Of course.

There was another way to increase his chances of winning.

That was to achieve a breakthrough right before the battle by forcing two reputable individuals into a relationship, thereby completing the Matchmaker System’s CP task.

If successful, he would gain five new matchmaker red threads, significantly boosting his chances of victory.

...

Reputable people?

Lin Bai subconsciously glanced at Dao Xu beside him, mentally searching for suitable partners and pondering the likelihood of successfully pairing him without a matchmaker red thread.

Suddenly, Lin Bai paused.

Does Dao Xu even have a reputation?

Perhaps, in the outer circles of Qian City’s Cultivation World, he has some minor recognition.

But among ordinary folk, who the hell knows Dao Xu?

The Cultivation World is too detached from the lives of ordinary people. Back then, Luo Congwen couldn’t even find a path to Cultivation; how could these cultivators possibly be famous among the common populace?

In the Cultivation World, these Nascent Soul experts often go into seclusion for years, even decades. Their renown is likely confined to their own sects...

Time dilutes all things. Within the Return to Dragon View, Dao Xu’s fame might not even surpass that of Qing Yu, who manages its affairs.

So, their reputations aren’t significant enough!

I can’t risk it!

Reputation...

Lin Bai frowned in thought.

A moment later, two reputable individuals from Qian City instinctively came to his mind.

City Lord Guo Yuan and Crispy Rice, the Gang Leader of the Beggar Gang.

Guo Yuan was the City Lord; his reputation was self-evident.

As for Crispy Rice, he was the Beggar Gang Leader personally appointed by Lin Bai. While carrying out system tasks where he was the "lead supporting character," his reputation had soared.

Many scions of wealthy families sought to join the Beggar Gang through Crispy Rice and Lonely Old Man, making Gang Leader Crispy Rice a household name within the Beggar Gang.

Perhaps I can make something happen with them.

Cupid’s Arrows should work on NPCs, right?

But would this offend Guo Yuan?

It’ll be fine as long as they don’t discover I’m the one pulling the strings.

People in love have tunnel vision. Look at Qing Yu and Lady Hua Xi—they still believe their love is genuine!

I personally propped up my big brother Crispy Rice to where he is now. He can’t just freeload off me; it’s time for him to contribute!