The old man sealed within the card was released, and Lin Bai's cultivation in the Hollow Realm increased by one level. Nurous soul-controlling and soul-refining techniques from the Valley of Thousand Souls flooded his mind.
Simultaneously, the sky, bright only monts ago, was abruptly blanketed by dense, dark clouds, as if night had fallen prematurely.
To the northwest of Zhen City, a colossal skull composed of Yin spirits materialized in the sky. The skull, wreathed in dark mist, emitted an intimidating aura. Beside it, grotesquely shaped monsters danced wildly.
Behind the Giant Skull, nearly a hundred cultivators remained barely visible. They scattered, using the skull and dark mist for cover, and swiftly advanced towards Zhen City.
Everyone was well aware of Lin Bai's Rush Moon. Cultivators preparing to fight him wouldn't dare to cluster together. The weakest among them were still in the Hollow Realm—powerful enough to dominate a region anywhere. They weren't afraid of solo combat.
The Valley of Thousand Souls and Sky Demon Mountain had sounded the clarion call for attack.
To the southeast, a dense mass of Demon Beasts appeared—Flying Dragons, Goshawks, Fierce Tigers, and Black Bears, all in their true, massive forms, an endless horde at first glance.
The Heavenly Sword Sect held the east, sword qi crisscrossing the sky. The Holy Extre Sect was due west. The Tool Refining Sect and the Pill and Spirit Sect were in the southwest, while the Moon Spirit Sect, Buddha Spirit Sect, and Heavenly Dao Sect were stationed to the north.
After crossing the Magpie Bridge, the Poison Sect and Blood Sect diverted directly to the capital, Kyoto, of the Taiyi Country.
The Seven Orthodox Sects and the Five Devil Sects had resolved to corner Lin Bai and his Justice League completely.
The ten sects tacitly surrounded Zhen City, advancing step by step.
The weakest front was the Holy Extre Sect in the west—after all, their leading ancestor had betrayed them. Second was the Moon Spirit Sect's position; Fairy Cen Qing was not skilled in combat, and the leading ancestors of the Buddha Spirit Sect and Heavenly Dao Sect had gone off hand-in-hand, presumably to discuss matters of love.
Therefore, their advance was the slowest, ceding the main battlefield to the Valley of Thousand Souls, Sky Demon Mountain, and the Beast Taming Sect. These sects, adept at overwhelming opponents with numbers, could afford to disregard losses.
To call it a siege wasn't entirely accurate. After all, Lin Bai possessed the Magpie Bridge and could retreat from Zhen City at any mont.
The Seven Orthodox Sects and the Five Devil Sects aid to establish an overwhelming dominance—an atmosphere where, under such imnse power, no lesser factions could dare to make a move.
Lin Bai and his Justice League had flourished primarily due to his string of victories and the propaganda spread by *Justice Weekly*. If Lin Bai were defeated and disgraced, public support for the Justice League would plumt.
In the eyes of the Seven Orthodox Sects and the Five Devil Sects, common people were accustod to submission and wouldn't cause significant unrest. Moreover, they could replicate the Justice League's initiatives—setting up shops and publishing periodicals for positive publicity.
It wouldn't take long for Lin Bai and his Justice League to beco re dust in the annals of history.
...
"The special effects are insane!" Silver exclaid, swallowing hard. "I can't believe I'm witnessing a movie-quality scene in a ga! After this battle, other gas are finished."
"They've been finished for a while now," Mad Man retorted, his gaze fixed on the Valley of Thousand Souls. "These are the top-tier spells in this ga world! Even if we brought all the technology from the real world here, I'm afraid it wouldn't stand a chance against them. Players still have a long way to go to gain real influence in this ga world!"
"'Pure technology definitely can't win, but don't forget, our cultivation aptitude is also heaven-defying. When players reach Mahayana Realm cultivation and bring over real-world technology, combining it with the ga's artifact refining techniques, we'll be able to crush the ga's NPCs,' Bitter lon Vine declared. 'Immortality, rapid leveling, and no bottlenecks—these are our advantages.'"
"'My fear is that we'll be suppressed before we can reach higher levels,' Mountain Tiger countered. 'Storekeeper Lin's Justice League has developed rapidly, but they're still facing suppression from the stronger Seven Orthodox Sects and Five Devil Sects. If the Justice League can't hold on, can the players' forces manage it?'"
"How do you know Storekeeper Lin can't withstand it?" Dumbelldore asked.
"I'm not saying Storekeeper Lin can't cope; I'm talking about the Justice League itself," Mountain Tiger clarified, gesturing towards the Justice League Army with his chin. "A single sneak attack wiped out a tenth of their mbers. How many more such attacks can the Justice League, in its current state, endure? Joining the Justice League is practically a death sentence. Who would surrender in the future? Even if they did, they'd probably try to escape!"
...
"[Launched a larger-scale war (Completed); Reward: Strength Doubled (Distributed)]"
"[War God: Hundred Battles, Hundred Victories - Win the current war; Reward: Speed Doubled]"
DING.
A new notification chid in Lin Bai's mind.
The mont the war began, the War God System mission automatically completed.
A surge of power instantly flooded his body, making his muscles feel as if they had swelled significantly. Lin Bai unconsciously clenched his fists. All his strength originated from the Card System's sharing function; the only power that was truly his own was the Inner Strength granted by the Incomplete System. He had never undergone the rigorous body tempering essential for ordinary cultivators and warriors.
This ti, the doubled strength also brought physical enhancent, causing Lin Bai to feel his spirit and Inner Strength fuse seamlessly with his body. He felt invigorated and much more comfortable.
The sensation was like adding a few counterweights to one side of an unbalanced, top-heavy scale, bringing it into equilibrium.
...
Zhen City's defensive array activated, and The Northern Army imdiately took their positions.
They were surrounded by enemies.
The least nervous among them was Ye Song. He sidled up to Lin Bai and asked, "Master, who do we hit first?"
Lin Bai ignored him, raised his voice, and addressed the Justice League Army, "Everyone, I am to bla for the Justice League's recent losses. In the upcoming war, if your cultivation level isn't high enough, you won't be of much use. Going out will only result in unnecessary casualties. It would be better for you to remain in the city. Cooperate with the Descended Ones—the players—and use *Justice Weekly* to broadcast the battle's progress in real-ti. This war is crucial for the Justice League's survival. I swear to you all that after this battle, no one will dare to provoke the Justice League lightly again!"
"We obey the Alliance Hierarch's command!" the crowd responded in unison.
Lin Bai then turned to Duke Zhenguo and said, "May I trouble Your Grace to act as you see fit."
Duke Zhenguo glanced at him. "The Northern Army will only defend for six hours. Once the Spirit Stones are depleted, we will retreat via the Magpie Bridge. We will not make needless sacrifices."
"Naturally. Perhaps it won't even take six hours," Lin Bai replied with a smile, nodding to Duke Zhenguo. He then turned to Ye Song. "Ye Song, let's go."
As he spoke, Lin Bai activated his personal stealth recording drone and, accompanied by his contingent of puppets, flew towards the city wall.
"Are we attacking the Valley of Thousand Souls and Sky Demon Mountain first?" Ye Song asked, trailing behind Lin Bai.
"We'll attack them all together," Lin Bai stated.
During their brief exchange, he had already cast the Milky Way upon all the cultivators outside the city.
The Milky Way imdiately affects those who are in love.
Previously, Lin Bai's combat prowess was so formidable that the Dao of Cultivation Law had beco deeply ingrained in people's minds. Many cultivators secretly pursued this path, with the Great Path of Love being the simplest and thus a popular choice. Later, when Lin Bai mastered the Milky Way, those cultivating the Path of Love began to forsake it, fearing his control.
But unless one killed their beloved, such deeply invested emotions couldn't simply be retracted. Moreover, the Milky Way's definition of "love" was quite broad.
The Milky Way was cast generously.
Around Zhen City, at least a fifth of the cultivators found themselves ensnared by water rings, just like Ye Song. Lin Bai had set a controversial precedent, demonstrating with his Red Thread of Fate and Arrow of Love that n could beco Dao companions, and that love could even blossom between master and disciple.
Consequently, many cultivators, too lazy to search for love in the conventional world, after discussing it with familiar martial brothers, would pair up to cultivate the Love Principle together. After all, it was easier to develop feelings for a martial brother one had known for centuries than for a stranger. Not everyone was fortunate enough to have an understanding junior martial sister.
...
Those whose lovers weren't present were rely encumbered by a small, ordinary water ring.
The real trouble arose from love within the sa sect. The mont the water ring manifested, it would expand, forcefully pushing the two individuals in opposite directions.
The Pill and Spirit Sect and the Beast Taming Sect were the hardest-hit areas.
The Pill and Spirit Sect, composed entirely of female cultivators, was a pri choice for many sects seeking Dao companions. Female cultivators were easily moved by the Love Principle. Even without the players' persuasions, many had secretly found partners to cultivate the Love Principle. When the Milky Way descended, nearly two-thirds of them were ensnared by water rings. So were even violently pushed away from their sect's formation by the surging power of the Milky Way.
However, female cultivators practicing the Love Principle with players weren't significantly affected. Their relationships were often based more on mutual exploitation, and even the System didn't recognize these bonds as true love.
So, as the Milky Way spread, those players who often cloyingly addressed their "dear masters" watched as one water ring after another materialized. Seeing the NPC masters or senior martial sisters they had deceived for resources and affection also unaffected, the awkwardness was palpable.
...
The Moon Spirit Sect fared relatively well, but the Beast Taming Sect faced a catastrophe. They cultivated vast numbers of Demon Beasts, often forcing emotional bonds between them even if none naturally existed. This, combined with natural attractions between Demon Beasts and the inevitable feelings that developed between Beast Tars and their lifelong companion beasts, created a volatile mix.
Furthermore, the Beast Taming Sect mbers had never imagined the Milky Way could affect Demon Beasts, so they had taken no precautions.
The mont the Milky Way struck, their formidable legion of Demon Beasts was almost instantly shattered by the surging currents. Individual beasts were flung far apart, unable to regroup.
Beast Tars who had developed genuine affection for their beasts had their "true feelings" exposed on the spot by the Milky Way. Facing the bewildered and judgntal stares of their martial brothers, they were overco with sha and mortification, wishing the earth would swallow them whole. So relationships could be tolerated in private, but beca scandalous when brought into the open.
After all, the concept of the "beast-eared lady" was Lin Bai's popular creation. The Demon Beasts of the Beast Taming Sect, however, were predominantly bred for combat...
...
A single, chaotic cast of the Milky Way instantly disrupted the offensive rhythm of the ten major sects.
Those ensnared by the Milky Way descended into chaos. Even the rapidly approaching Giant Skull, ford of Yin spirits, seed montarily stunned, its massive jaw hanging open, forgetting to close.
On the city walls, the soldiers of The Northern Army, braced for a bloody battle, were left dumbfounded and frozen in place by this sudden turn of events.
Ye Song's eyes widened as he finally understood what Lin Bai ant by "attack them all together." He asked in shock, "Lin Bai, doesn't casting this Milky Way consu your Spiritual Power?"
"The Dao of the Law resides in the heart; what need is there for Spiritual Power?" Lin Bai surveyed the chaos he had wrought with satisfaction. Whenever he saw two cultivators or Demon Beasts pushed close together by the Milky Way, he would unleash a Rush Moon attack upon them.
Think you can avoid Rush Moon by staying far apart? What a joke!
With the Milky Way swirling around their waists, trailing curtains of water, the cultivators struck by Rush Moon cut an unexpectedly graceful, if dood, figure.
[Resentnt from Sun Peng, Huang Yaozu, Huo Hao... 1 1 1 1...]
[Joy from He Qin, Wan Qifeng, Ma Changcheng, Xin Shang... 1 1 1 1...]
The Emotion Values on the two emotion trees in Lin Bai's mind began to scroll rapidly again. These values transford into nutrients, nurturing the Spirit Fruits and Temperant Fruits, causing them to bloom and bear fruit in countless numbers.
Sure enough, having multiple systems ans every action yields benefits.
"Brothers ensnared by the Milky Way, in this entire world, only I can free you! Ye Song, the ancestor of the Holy Extre Sect, was trapped by my Milky Way and has already submitted to the Justice League. If you wish to regain your freedom and your love, why not step aside and watch the show? Is that agreeable?" Lin Bai used a skill to double his decibel level, his voice clearly reaching everyone's ears. "Otherwise, if you injure or kill , you'll have to live with the Milky Way for the rest of your lives!"
[Resentnt from Ye Song; 1 1 1...]
Ye Song looked at Lin Bai and said plaintively, "Master, can we please not ntion ?"
"It's rely a temporary asure," Lin Bai glanced at him with a smile. "Don't be so sensitive."
In the direction of the Holy Extre Sect.
Ye Lan, her face ashen, glanced down at the Milky Way coiled around her waist. Then, she looked at Ye Song standing beside Lin Bai, similarly ensnared. An inexplicable blush flickered across her deathly pale features before she snorted. So, I really did fall for it!
"Senior Sister Ye, both you and Master Ye Song are caught by the Milky Way... Could it be that you two...?" a disciple from the Holy Extre Sect asked, their eyes wide with astonishnt as their gaze shifted between Ye Lan and Ye Song.
"What's with that look? Isn't your Senior Sister allowed to find love?" Ye Lan glared at the disciple and said frostily, "I'm going to surrender to the Justice League. Are you coming or not?"
"..." The disciples of the Holy Extre Sect were speechless.
...
Ignoring Ye Song, Lin Bai continued to shout, "And those of you not caught by the Milky Way, don't celebrate too soon. The human heart is treacherous. Your comrades ensnared by the Milky Way might just decide to stab you in the back..."
His words plunged the enemy ranks once again into chaos.
Cultivators, both those ensnared by the Milky Way and those who were not, cursed Lin Bai in unison before consciously splitting into two distinct groups.
It had to be said, Lin Bai was right. Once separated by the Milky Way, the ntalities and interests of the two groups had already subtly diverged.
Ye Song was speechless. In that instant, he suddenly felt that the supposed calamity threatening the Ziwei Star was a complete joke. Even without him, the Dharma Protector, Lin Bai could still thoroughly outmaneuver this crowd. With just one move, Lin Bai had already fractured the allied forces into two mutually suspicious factions.
Too insidious!
Duke Zhenguo's mouth twitched involuntarily. He glanced subconsciously at Xu Longyun, finally understanding her unwavering devotion to Lin Bai. While his own daughter was intelligent, Lin Bai was on another level—a true anomaly, a prodigy bordering on the monstrous.
"Don't fall for Lin Bai's divisive tactics!" At this mont, a resonant voice bood out. "The Law of Love is cultivated by people. If Lin Bai can cultivate it, so can others! There must be a way to counteract it!"
"The Law originates from Lin Bai. Killing him might dispel it completely!" another sinister voice interjected. "And even if it can't be removed, carrying the Milky Way isn't a fatal blow. But if you defect to the Righteous Door because of this, we will hunt you down to the ends of the earth! Don't bring about your own ruin!"
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