"Brother Gu Dao, what do you think?" Zuo Lan asked. "Lin Bai is demonstrating his power to us!"
"Such an arrogant youngster," Gu Yi scoffed.
"He is indeed arrogant, but he has the capital to be so," Zuo Lan glanced at Gu Yi and said. "I just want to ask, Brother Gu Dao, will we attend Lin Bai's Cooking Contest or not?"
"We won't." Gu Yi patted a pile of *Justice Weekly* beside him. "In Jiamucheng, Lin Bai was targeted by someone who descended from Heaven, but he turned them into a subordinate. He organized a recruitment event in Zhen City with various sects. Lin Bai stole the show there, turning the other sects into his puppets or subjugating them. The Morning Yuan Sword Sect attacked him but was subdued. He attacked the Beast Control Sect, and it too was subdued by him.
This fellow is ambitious and unrestrained, using a facade of purity as cover. This cooking contest is just a smokescreen. If we go, who knows what excuse he might find to turn on us and plot against us? Since that's the case, why should we go?"
Zuo Lan was stunned for a moment, then said with an embarrassed smile, "Brother Gu Dao, you seem to understand Lin Bai quite well."
"These days, I've been studying every detail of Lin Bai's life since he entered the world. My research on him almost rivals what my father knows," Gu Yi said. "Throughout history, those who have caused chaos in the world possessed not even a tenth of Lin Bai's talent. He may seem crazed, but his actions are meticulous and strategically planned. Since entering the world, he has never suffered a loss at anyone's hands. He is the number one Evil Spirit. Now that we are his enemies, we cannot be too careful. Until we find a way to counter his Way of Love, I absolutely will not confront him."
"If we don't attend, won't that give him more ammunition?" Zuo Lan asked.
"Brother Zuo Lan, when you're Lin Bai's enemy, any concern for face will be ruthlessly exploited by him," Gu Yi laughed. "That brat posted a poll in the *Tao of Heaven Review*, asking the world who among us ten should be paired with whom. Isn't that a provocation?"
"Brother Gu, I mean, if we don't attend, won't he use it as an excuse to lash out?" Zuo Lan asked. "Previously, outside the Beast Control Sect, he used the pretext of rescuing the Monster Race to bring the sect under his control. Give him any pretext, and he'll find a reason to wage war..."
Gu Yi, who had been speaking animatedly, suddenly fell silent. After a long pause, he said, "That rogue is indeed capable of such a thing. In that case, let's send a few disciples to represent us at the Cooking Contest. That should placate him. If he attacks our disciples, the Justice League will lose its moral high ground."
"Brother Gu Dao, do we need to concern ourselves with moral high ground when dealing with him?" Zuo Lan asked, the corner of his mouth twitching.
"What else can we do?" Gu Yi suddenly exploded with anger. "Forget and Zhou Zhu cultivated for hundreds of years! Even if they had some conflicts, it was no great harm. Now, Lin Bai has broadcasted their affairs to everyone, making them the laughingstock of the world! They don't even dare return to their Sect, hiding like rats.
The thought of two old men, hundreds of years old, being lovey-dovey, with one even wanting to become a woman, makes me sick to my stomach! Are we supposed to go over there and let Lin Bai pair us up?
Those bastards from the Five Demon Sects claim to be lawless, but when they face Lin Bai, each one cowers faster than the last! They've utterly wasted the 'Evil Door' designation! I spit! What the world needs now is someone to step up and kill Lin Bai..."
Zuo Lan opened his mouth but was speechless for a long time.
Lin Bai's Way of Love was a uniquely potent weapon. While not fatal, being targeted by it was enough to change the course of one's entire life.
At their level, they were just one step from undergoing their Tribulation and ascending. Who would be willing to sacrifice themselves for the world?
Gu Yi's approach was, in fact, perhaps the best solution.
「Pill and Spirit Sect.」
Fairy Cen Qing gazed towards Zhen City, silent for a long while. Suddenly, she turned to Phoenix in Flight and asked, "Disciple, do you wish to cultivate the Great Path of Love with me?"
Phoenix in Flight was taken aback, then overjoyed, nodding repeatedly. "Master, only the Way of Love can counter the Way of Love!"
Cen Qing smiled. "Lin Bai once said that the Way of Love requires absolute focus and the willingness to sacrifice one's life for another. Can you do that?"
Phoenix in Flight replied, "Naturally."
"Good. Later, have your Senior Sister Ava Blake take you to Zhen City for the Cooking Contest," Cen Qing said. "Ava Blake will represent me to observe the contest. You must find a way to infiltrate the Beggar Gang, become Lin Bai's disciple, and uncover the true secrets of the Laws from him. When you succeed, I will cultivate the Way of Love with you."
DAMN!
Phoenix in Flight was stunned, cursing inwardly. If I could become Lin Bai's disciple, why would I need to mooch off you, you rich hag?
But after a moment's thought, Phoenix in Flight agreed. "Master, for love, I am willing to go through fire and water. However, becoming Lin Bai's disciple and distinguishing myself among the many people of Heaven is as difficult as ascending to the heavens. To make a stunning debut, I will need your full support, Master."
"Of course," Cen Qing nodded. "Senior Sister Ava Blake has Pill Medicines and Cultivation Techniques. Just tell her what you need. As long as you achieve results, I will naturally not be stingy."
「Yimucheng.」
Ancestor Chi Lian of the Poison Sect and Song Yaoqing, a Great Cheng realm expert from the Blood Sect, sat facing each other.
Beside them sat a player named [A Brave Man].
He was only a level-one novice, but seated between two Great Cheng realm experts, he appeared calm and composed, showing no sign of stage fright.
"Esteemed Ancestors, dealing with Lin Bai is actually very easy." [A Brave Man] held his teacup, took a light sip of hot tea, and continued, "Just ignore him and steadily dismantle his support structure. Since Lin Bai entered the world, everything he has done—be it forming the Justice League or controlling public opinion—has been to strengthen his own forces.
And he has been very successful.
For a long time, both the Seven Righteous Sects and the Five Demonic Sects have targeted Lin Bai himself. This idea isn't wrong: kill Lin Bai, and it's all over; his Justice League won't amount to anything.
Lin Bai cleverly exploited this, drawing all the fire to himself. This made you overlook the seemingly insignificant Beggar Gang and the members of the Justice League. It was you, wave after wave, who served as easy fodder, allowing Lin Bai to bolster his reputation while simultaneously strengthening his Justice League. The two complemented each other, ultimately creating the Lin Bai of today."
"Continue," Ancestor Chi Lian said.
"Lin Bai holding the Cooking Contest in Zhen City still follows his old pattern: placing himself at the dazzling center of the stage, compelling your attention, and forcing all Great Vehicle Practitioners to respond," [A Brave Man] said. "The Jing Ke, Fengda, Xinlong, and other consortiums want to expand during these chaotic times. Naturally, they don't want the Justice League wiped out by you so quickly, so they've been advocating delaying tactics.
But have you considered this? Lin Bai rose to prominence in just over two months and can already handle two Great Cheng realm experts with his Way of Love. If you continue with delaying tactics, in a few more months, Lin Bai will likely be able to handle even those at the Transcendance Tribulation Stage.
At that point, the Justice League, the Seven Righteous Sects, the Five Demonic Sects, and the consortiums will form four major powers, endlessly fighting each other, with no one able to gain the upper hand. That surely isn't the outcome you wish to see, is it?"
Chi Lian and Song Yaoqing exchanged a look.
Ancestor Chi Lian said, "Indeed, it is not."
[A Brave Man] waved his hand. "Therefore, to deal with Lin Bai, you must break from his rhythm and strike his vulnerabilities directly. Systematically eliminate the Beggar Gang, the Justice League Army, and the Lin Bai Support Group. Although the people of Heaven are immortal, they still suffer losses. If they die too many times, they will naturally stop aiding Lin Bai.
Lin Bai cannot be everywhere at once. If we mobilize cultivators to strike proactively, he won't have time to rescue them all. Without the people of Heaven, Lin Bai's propaganda network will collapse on its own. As for Justice League members like the Morning Yuan Sword Sect and Medicine King Valley, it's fine to leave them for Lin Bai. Their low-level cultivators are already set in their ways; they won't be a help to Lin Bai and will instead become a burden. Strip the people of Heaven away from Lin Bai, and he will be at your mercy, no longer a threat."
"You certainly seem to understand Lin Bai's strategies well," Song Yaoqing chuckled.
"The people of Heaven have their own information channels. I disapprove of Lin Bai's methods, so I researched him extensively before descending," [A Brave Man] said. "Esteemed Ancestors, in my opinion, ignore Lin Bai's Cooking Contest. We should strike Qian City directly and wipe out the Beggar Gang members stationed there. The *Justice Weekly* editorial office is in Qian City, and Lin Bai's color printer is there. If we control that printer, our *Toxin Path* and *Blood Gazette* will have superior printing, and their readership will inevitably soar. By being the first to take down the Beggar Gang and publicizing it, the status of the Poison Sect and Blood Sect will also rise dramatically."
"That would also mean completely offending Lin Bai and drawing all his hostility towards us," Ancestor Chi Lian said.
"If the Esteemed Ancestors are unwilling to confront Lin Bai directly, you can use his own methods against him: play cat and mouse, retreating when he advances, harassing when he retreats. Keep Lin Bai constantly on the run, and eventually, he will be worn down," [A Brave Man] smiled. "Moreover, if we set an example, the Heavenly Dao Sect, Pill and Spirit Sect, Tool Refining Sect, and other sects whose interests have been harmed by the Justice League will surely not sit idly by. In fact, we already have natural allies."
"But we see no benefit in this for us," Song Yaoqing said with a smile.
"Fame itself is the benefit," [A Brave Man] said. "Esteemed Ancestors, hasn't Lin Bai shaking the world in just two short months been inspiration enough for you? With the descent of the people of Heaven, the world is no longer as it was. Causing a stir and gaining fame is everything now. With proper planning, overturning the current sect rankings is not impossible."
"Kid, according to your plan, the consortiums' schemes will also be disrupted. As far as I know, in your world, the consortiums wield absolute power. Aren't you afraid of their retaliation?" Ancestor Chi Lian looked at [A Brave Man] and asked.
"Chaos is dawning; everyone must rely on their own abilities. In our world, no matter how powerful the consortiums are, new forces always emerge to become new consortiums," [A Brave Man] said. "Besides, this world is new to the consortiums as well; they can't yet control everything here."
"Hahaha! Talented and courageous—truly the disposition of a Demon's Son!" Ancestor Chi Lian looked at [A Brave Man] with admiration and asked, "Are you willing to become my disciple?"
"I would be honored." [A Brave Man] glanced at Song Yaoqing beside him and, without a moment's hesitation, agreed.