Zhen City was bustling with excitement as chefs from all over prepared for the first round of the preliminary cooking contest.
The competition was divided into four regions—north, east, south, and west—each lavishly and luxuriously appointed.
Players provided a variety of ingredients for the competitors, who brought their own tools. The judges consisted of ordinary people from all walks of life in Zhen City and high-ranking members from the Justice League. The rules were fair and simple.
The Players minted an exclusive currency for the cooking competition: Deficiency Coins. Each judge was given ten coins to purchase dishes prepared by the contestants.
In the given period, the contestant who collected the most Deficiency Coins would be declared the winner.
Simply put, this was a competition where both fairness and luck played a role. It was not merely about who cooked the dish first or whose dish smelled better; it also tested the dish's aesthetic appeal, the chef's marketing skills, and even their personal appearance.
In addition to the judges, the cooking competition also had spectator seating.
Spectators could buy tickets to enter and watch the chefs cook, or place bets on which chef would advance. Wherever the Justice League went, they brought joy to the people. This had become an ironclad rule.
For the people of the Immortal World, they were just looking for a good show. They didn't care whether it was Lin Bai fighting Great Vehicle Practitioners in the sky or holding a flamboyant cooking competition in the city.
The only ones whose tastes had been spoiled were the livestream viewers. Accustomed to Lin Bai's spectacular grand events, they were not interested in a cooking competition involving ordinary people. Watching ordinary people flip ingredients in a wok was less appealing than watching a culinary movie!
Even though the Players of the Justice League worked hard to make the event fancy, elegant, and interesting, the viewer numbers were still low. Therefore, it was foreseeable that advertisers who invested in this cooking competition were destined to lose their money.
The meager audience numbers made Silver and other top members of the Beggar Gang increasingly anxious.
They realized that without Lin Bai, they were unable to transform web traffic into actual profits. Or rather, they simply didn't have the traffic to begin with.
With the entry of more Players and financial groups, the game's plot kept changing, and its operational mode was subtly transforming as well.
Xin Shang, He Qin, and others gathered to discuss how to leverage their current advantages to increase their strength. They boldly set their sights on patent rights, hoping to strengthen themselves by collecting Cultivation Techniques from other Sects.
They began to have frequent contact with the Sky-Descended People, learning the Players' ways of thinking and ideals, and trying to understand the operational models of Justice Weekly and Heavenly Review.
The Players' words served as a reminder to them.
The enemies of the Justice League were very strong. If they did not improve, they would inevitably become a burden to Lin Bai, or mere cannon fodder. They had to prove their worth.
More and more people began to focus on comprehending the Laws. Normal cultivation progress was too slow; only comprehending the Laws could rapidly enhance their strength.
The most popular Laws were the Way of Incompleteness and the Love Principle.
Now, in the Justice League's camp, cultivators could be seen everywhere, embracing an incomplete object, carefully contemplating it.
Cultivators from both the Spirit Artifact Pavilion and the Treasures Refining Pavilion consciously incorporated the concept of "incompleteness" into their Magic Treasures and tools, seeking the harmonious blend of imperfection and beauty, hoping to attain enlightenment through it.
The female cultivators from Hundred Flower Valley and Wash Flower Valley became the most popular.
People from other Sects all wanted to practice the Great Path of Love with a female cultivator. The mature-minded cultivators were more favored by the female cultivators than the Players. The female cultivators were not foolish; they knew that the Players were capricious and would likely only use them, incapable of developing genuine affection. However, cultivators from within the Alliance, in pursuit of the Love Principle, would wholeheartedly devote themselves to these women.
Even if they ultimately failed to comprehend the Law of Love, the material benefits and adoration they received from their male pursuers were ample compensation.
The most crucial point was that female cultivators were numerous, while male cultivators were few. Even ordinary female cultivators from Hundred Flower Valley could become Dao companions with cultivators of far superior cultivation levels. This had been impossible before.
In summary, the advent of the Love Principle had increased the happiness of every female cultivator exponentially.
Although Alliance Leader Lin enjoyed forcefully promoting the Great Path of Love by pairing up old men, most sensible people still preferred unions between men and women. After all, Lin Bai's own Dao companion wasn't a man!
Lin Bai used Spoken Law Follows to create the Heavenly River Divine Skill. All those who practiced the Love Principle would be controlled by the Milky Way.
This flaw was enough to discourage outsiders from practicing the Love Principle.
But people within the Alliance would have no such concerns.
After all, Lin, the Storekeeper, would never use his Milky Way on his own people. If they practiced the Love Principle, it could be interpreted as submitting a pledge of allegiance to the Alliance Leader. Furthermore, the Milky Way could be used to verify if their love for each other was genuine.
In short, the Justice League was flourishing, with every member contributing to the Alliance in their own unique way.
[Love must endure hardships. You have created challenges for your couples and made their stories widely circulated (completed); reward: Magpie Bridge (Delivered)]
[As a Matchmaker, you have created many couples, but your own reputation is not prominent. Establish more couples, promote your own fame, let the world believe in love, and spontaneously recognize you as Cupid; Reward: Bondage (Appropriate activities between lovers can increase affection, this is the technique of Love Bind, Cupid has a responsibility to popularize this skill)]
The new issue of Justice Weekly was published, making more people aware of the events outside Zhen City. Along with the shock at the power of the Love Principle, Zhou Zhu and Forget's love story also spread far and wide.
With the completion of the Matchmaker System's task, Lin Bai acquired the Skill, Magpie Bridge. Meanwhile, the Matchmaker System also issued him a new task—Fame.
This new task plunged Lin Bai into deep thought.
All along, he had been publicly professing his ambition to become Heavenly Dao. But the Matchmaker System's new task wanted him to become Cupid.
These two are conflicting.
The new task aligned with him promoting the Love Principle, but he couldn't become both Heavenly Dao and Cupid, could he?
If he practiced both the Love Principle and Heavenly Dao concurrently, it could potentially unravel the Way of Law doctrine he had long championed.
After all, I was the one who said that the Way of Law can only correspond to one person...
But Bondage... it looked truly enticing!
In Lin Bai's understanding, there seemed to be only one type of Bondage associated with love—one that was truly potent and possessed a strong visual impact.
Considering the System's impressive rewards, Lin Bai felt that Bondage could definitely be used as a restraining technique on the battlefield—its deterrent effect would certainly be substantial.
After all, the damage caused by the Milky Way seemed inadequate.
His fight with Zhou Zhu had already been publicized, yet the task from the Super Villain System had not registered as complete, proving his intimidating presence wasn't yet sufficient.
The Little White Fox was managing her Demon's Country, seizing every opportunity to cultivate. Lin Bai and Zhou Zhu's battle had greatly spurred her, making her realize that if she didn't improve herself, the gap between her and her master would only grow wider.
After all, she didn't even know how to fly yet.
Only Jiang Qingqin was relatively free. After arranging the affairs of the Supporting Group, she wasn't required to constantly oversee matters.
While Lin Bai was pondering how to perfectly balance the Love Principle and Heavenly Dao, Jiang Qingqin furtively approached him. Upon entering, she even closed the door behind her.
Watching Jiang Qingqin's peculiar behavior, Lin Bai asked, "What's up?"
Jiang Qingqin came to Lin Bai, blinked, and mustered the courage to ask, "Master, you said that the inheritance of civilization lies in procreation. Is that true?"
Lin Bai raised his eyebrows and said in a strange tone, "Mmm."
"I have always been unable to comprehend the Love Principle," Jiang Qingqin looked at Lin Bai and said timidly, "Master, I want to try the way of procreation with you to see if it can help me understand the Power of Rules of the Love Principle. I don't want to watch every battle from the sidelines; I want to fight with you..."
After saying that, her face turned beet red. After all, for her to propose such a thing was deeply embarrassing. Lin Bai should have been the one to initiate it!
Again?
Lin Bai looked at Jiang Qingqin, caught between laughter and tears, "Qingqin, let's discuss this after we resolve the current crisis of the Justice League and settle down. I can't be distracted, and you shouldn't be either. If you want to fight with me, it would be better to focus on your cultivation and improve your cultivation."
He casually grabbed a few Spirit Fruits and handed them over. "The Way of the Mentor can increase your cultivation speed by fifty percent. Eat more Spirit Condensing Fruits, strengthen your Divine Soul, and your cultivation will progress even faster. When the cooking contest is over, I will find a way to catch a Mahayana cultivator from the Pill and Spirit Sect to refine pills for us, helping you elevate your cultivation levels..."
Jiang Qingqin's eyes visibly dimmed. She lightly bit her lip and insisted, "Master, can I try the Milky Way?"
"Hmm?" Lin Bai hesitated.
Although the System had confirmed that he and Jiang Qingqin were a 'couple', he knew very well that he had little affection for Jiang Qingqin, certainly less than he felt for Xu Longyun.
"The Milky Way can separate people in love. I want to determine if there is any love between Master and me. Do I still have the possibility of cultivating the Love Principle?" As Jiang Qingqin looked at Lin Bai, her eyes gradually reddened and her voice grew softer. "The Ninth Ancestor told me that love is sacrifice and tolerance, and that I shouldn't fight for love. But I can't do it at all. I can't even be sure if you love me or not. Master, can you give me some hope, or let me give up?"
Sigh! What a sin! Lin Bai reached out, gently touched Jiang Qingqin's face, and nodded slightly. With a wave of his hand, he cast the Milky Way Skill on her.
Forget it. My 'couple' status with Jiang Qingqin is System-certified. Hopefully, the System won't contradict itself. If the Milky Way really doesn't work, it would be good to let Jiang Qingqin give up...
A river materialized out of thin air.
In an instant, Lin Bai was pushed away by the Milky Way.
Jiang Qingqin's eyes instantly brightened. She looked at Lin Bai and excitedly took a step forward.
The Milky Way surged again, continuing to push Lin Bai back.
Before long, the river water had filled the entire room.
As expected. The System didn't contradict itself. Lin Bai breathed a sigh of relief, canceled the Milky Way, and looked helplessly at the joyfully beaming Jiang Qingqin, "Are you satisfied now?"
"I'm satisfied." The fact that the Milky Way could push Lin Bai away made Jiang Qingqin come alive. She nodded joyfully. "Master, from now on, whatever you say goes. I will not act on my own accord anymore, nor will I interfere with any of your decisions. I will strive to follow the Ninth Ancestor's advice and not fight for love."
"Mmm." Lin Bai nodded, but his mind was on something else. He and Xu Longyun are also a System-certified 'couple'. Does that mean the Milky Way could also separate him and Xu Longyun? If the Milky Way Skill could work on him, then the Magpie Bridge must also be effective.
He looked at Jiang Qingqin and said, "Qingqin, go outside for a while."
"Where to?" Jiang Qingqin asked.
"Anywhere, just some distance away from me," Lin Bai instructed. "I have newly comprehended some Divine Skills; I want to verify them."
"The Divine Skill of the Love Principle?" Jiang Qingqin's eyes brightened even more.
"Yes." Lin Bai nodded.
"Okay." Jiang Qingqin turned around without hesitation and flew towards the door.
In Lin Bai's eyes, the speed of a Golden Core Monk was already quite slow.
Nevertheless, in a short time, Jiang Qingqin had flown more than a mile away. She stood suspended in the air, gazing at Lin Bai from afar.
Lin Bai nodded at her and activated the Magpie Bridge Skill.
In an instant, countless magpies flapped their wings, forming a bridge between them. The bridge, spanning over a mile, was a magnificent spectacle.
The appearance of the Magpie Bridge immediately drew the attention of countless people.
Lin Bai stepped onto the Magpie Bridge. Just as he was about to proceed along it, in the very next instant, he found himself before Jiang Qingqin.
Jiang Qingqin, at this time, had also reached the middle of the Magpie Bridge.
The two of them stood on the Magpie Bridge, facing each other, like a perfect couple.
Jiang Qingqin looked at Lin Bai standing opposite her and then at the fluttering magpies under her feet. She exclaimed in delighted surprise, "Master, what kind of Divine Skill is this? I hardly moved, and I'm already in the middle of the bridge. It's so amazing."
"Magpie Bridge. Once you step on the Magpie Bridge, no matter how far apart lovers are, they can reach each other." Lin Bai bent down to catch a lively magpie under his feet but caught nothing. The fluttering magpies were not physical, more like illusions. And that was to be expected. How could real magpies carry two adults?
"Only lovers can reach each other?" Jiang Qingqin's eyes shimmered, her entire being seemingly about to melt. Although she hadn't comprehended this Divine Skill herself, she had received too many wonderful surprises today.
"Yes," Lin Bai nodded with a smile. He looked under the bridge. Some Players were tentatively trying to walk onto the Magpie Bridge, but they couldn't step onto it no matter how they tried.
An escape Divine Skill!
The Magpie Bridge was faster than Xu Longyun's Thousand Miles Talisman.
The only drawback was its 'lovers only' restriction, which was too limiting.
"Qingqin, stand steady. I'm about to retract the Magpie Bridge," Lin Bai said. Looking in the direction of the Cooking Competition, he suddenly asked, "The Ninth Ancestor told you that love requires tolerance, right?"
"Yes." Jiang Qingqin nodded, though she didn't understand why he asked.
"I want to verify whether the Magpie Bridge can connect to Xu Longyun. Don't mind, alright?" Lin Bai said. "You've seen the function of the Magpie Bridge. In a fight, it can be used to save lives."
Multiple lovers, multiple paths?
Jiang Qingqin froze. Remembering the earlier test with the Milky Way, she reluctantly nodded. Simultaneously, she tried to convince herself: Be tolerant. Perhaps the Magpie Bridge won't even be able to connect to Xu Longyun.
But the next moment, Jiang Qingqin was disappointed.
A new Magpie Bridge appeared under Lin Bai's feet, spanning more than three miles and extending directly into the Cooking Competition venue. This long Magpie Bridge was even grander than the one she had just been on.
So there really is something illicit between them! Jiang Qingqin's gaze instantly turned mournful. She sighed inwardly. The Ninth Ancestor probably foresaw this, hence the advice to be tolerant!
She tried to step on the Magpie Bridge leading to Xu Longyun, but her foot passed through the illusory magpies. She was not eligible to step on the bridge between Lin Bai and Xu Longyun.
As soon as the first Magpie Bridge appeared, Xu Longyun had seen it. Seeing Lin Bai and Jiang Qingqin standing on the bridge, she felt a pang of jealousy and discomfort.
The sudden appearance of the Magpie Bridge in front of her left Xu Longyun stunned. Before she could react, Lin Bai was already there. However, she still didn't give him a pleasant look. First, he was being affectionate with Jiang Qingqin on the bridge, and now he remembers me? What does he take me for? How will people perceive me?
Sure enough, if one party didn't move, the two wouldn't meet in the middle of the bridge. An escape and travel Divine Technique!
Having verified the Magpie Bridge's function, Lin Bai was ecstatic. However, noticing Xu Longyun's sullen expression, he smiled and sent a voice transmission: "Xiao Yun, 'My passion as gentle as water, our sweet union like a dream, I hesitate as I cross the Magpie Bridge. If our love lasts for an eternity, why must we be together day and night?' Do you remember this poem? The Magpie Bridge is the Divine Skill I comprehended from it..."