CHAPTER 119: 119 LIN BAI PROPOSES A PLAN

The Chosen One is a versatile concept.

In every era—be it modern, ancient, intergalactic, or mythical cultivation settings—trendsetters emerge to either end disputes or lead the world’s development.

Setting aside their personal efforts, from an ordinary person’s perspective, these individuals are fate’s protagonists, enveloped in a halo of luck, seemingly beyond reach.

In a world invaded by Heavenly Descendants, proposing the idea of the Chosen One undeniably strikes a chord with the native people. It gives direction to these lost NPCs who cannot see their future.

Of course, it also resonated with the players’ brainwaves, giving them a new understanding of the game’s plot and a deeper sense of anticipation.

...

I am probably one of the Chosen Ones Shopkeeper Lin spoke of.

Crispy Rice, Dumbelldore, Sticky Rice, Lonely Old Man, Crazy Man, Artifact Master, and other players simultaneously had the same thought.

Well, in the game world, aside from casual players, about half of the remaining players would probably think they are the main characters.

...

"Heavenly Descendants?" Daoist Qingming’s gaze swept across the courtyard full of players, and he snorted. "Does that mean Chosen Ones could emerge from any sect?"

"Yes! With the rise of numerous heroes, everyone has a chance," Lin Bai chuckled. "Not just in the sects; it’s also possible they could appear among official ranks."

"Since the Righteous Door possesses the art of deduction, could Shopkeeper Lin tell us who among the Seven Righteous Sects might be Chosen Ones?" Peng Ze asked. "Would it be those extraordinary geniuses?"

"I asked my master the same question, but he told me that the secrets of Heaven must not be revealed. Revealing too much can easily lead to heavenly punishment," Lin Bai sighed lightly. "Moreover, fate is fickle; even heavenly mechanisms can be disrupted. Who can truly understand destiny? It’s merely a matter of taking things one step at a time. My master told me that the arrival of the Heavenly Descendants would trigger a catastrophe, but I still don’t even know what this catastrophe is."

"At first, I thought the Heavenly Descendants were a calamity," Lin Bai said, looking around at the players. "But after interacting with them for a while, I found them easy to get along with. I’m happy when I’m with them. With proper guidance, they can become a part of this world..."

How could he not be happy? So many people fawning over him, showering him with gifts, and stuffing money into his hands! Who wouldn’t be happy in his shoes? You’re having more fun than us!

The players collectively cursed Lin Bai, the shameless Shopkeeper, that damned plot NPC!

"Shopkeeper Lin compared the Chosen Ones to the heroes of troubled times, meaning that Chosen Ones can also fall!" Zhao Yi, completely forgetting the awkwardness of his isolation, asked coldly.

What an idiot! Isn’t it better to strive for harmony? It’s always the skilled swimmers who drown and the stubborn ones who get beaten to death. With your personality, you’ll be overwhelmed by players sooner or later...

Glancing at Zhao Yi, Lin Bai ignored him and turned back to Daoist Qingming. "Daoist, the concept of the Chosen One is ultimately a matter of fate. If we speak of fate, then everyone is but a puppet under the Heavenly Dao. However, we cultivators inherently strive to defy the heavens. I believe more strongly that my destiny is my own to control, not determined by Heaven. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have grown so close to the Heavenly Descendants."

"A fine saying, ’My destiny is my own, not determined by Heaven.’" Sun Lie, who had been mostly silent, suddenly had a spark in his eyes and clapped his hands. "Shopkeeper Lin, it’s only now that I find you somewhat agreeable."

"I don’t deserve your praise, Brother Sun," Lin Bai smiled and cupped his fists in a salute. "I know why you esteemed brothers have come here. It’s undoubtedly about the Heavenly Descendants being abducted by the Evil Door. Truthfully, there’s no need to worry. There are countless Heavenly Descendants. Just today, thousands more arrived in the Base City. How many can the Evil Door truly abduct?"

"Shopkeeper Lin, you’re mistaken," Peng Ze said. "Heavenly Descendants have all their meridians open. A single day of their cultivation often equals months or even years of an ordinary person’s effort. The Evil Sect’s current large-scale capture of Heavenly Descendants is a bid to gain an advantage. Fall one step behind, and one will continue to fall further behind. And Heavenly Descendants only appear in the Base City, which is under the control of the Seven Righteous Sects..."

Daoist Qingming coughed lightly, interrupting Peng Ze. "The reason we don’t dare to openly recruit people from the Base City is that we fear causing panic within the Evil Sect, which could lead them to fight to the bitter end. The Evil Sect has always been suppressed by the Seven Righteous Sects. If they get a taste of the benefits Heavenly Descendants offer, there’s no telling if they won’t take desperate measures, even directly seizing the Base City. If war breaks out again between the Righteous and Evil Factions, it would be a disaster for the common people."

They want everything, yet they’re afraid of everything. Such cowards! What players want is factional conflict!

Lin Bai scoffed internally, then smiled and said, "Daoist, you worry too much. Heavenly Descendants are naturally free-spirited. Even if they join the Evil Sect, I doubt they’d be easily controlled. Take the Heavenly Descendants in the Beggar Gang, for example. Even if I were to hand them over to you, could you truly integrate them into your respective sects?"

"Impossible. No one can force our will," Crispy Rice stated. "Shopkeeper Lin, we already expressed our stance to the Immortals just now."

"See?" Lin Bai smiled. "Heavenly Descendants are unattached in this world, naturally carefree and independent. The more you try to coerce them, the more likely you are to provoke their rebellious instincts. Don’t mind that the Evil Sect has captured some. If there are Heavenly Descendants unwilling to join the Evil Door, even if they learn their skills, they might wreak havoc within those sects—perhaps even kill their masters and destroy their ancestral foundations."

"Exactly, exactly," the players chimed in.

"That’s not necessarily true," Zhao Yi interjected. "The people of the Evil Sect aren’t fools. They can identify the unwilling ones and simply send them away."

"Is that so?" Lin Bai smiled and looked at the players beside him. "Old Bai, Old Jing, Old Gu, how about the three of you leave the Beggar Gang and go undercover in the Morning Yuan Sword Sect?"

"We wouldn’t dare disobey your command," the three players replied with grins.

"..." Zhao Yi’s expression changed drastically.

"Brother Zhao, congratulations to the Morning Yuan Sword Sect for gaining three Heavenly Descendants," Lin Bai said, cupping his fists towards Zhao Yi. "You can take them with you later."

[Anger from Zhao Yi: +1+1+1]

"Is this the outcome you gentlemen desired?" Lin Bai glanced contemptuously at Zhao Yi and shook his head. "Suppose I play along with your ruse. I pretend to be defeated by you and send disciples of the Beggar Gang into your sects. When they return after completing their training, they will still be elites of my Beggar Gang. What will you do then?"

Daoist Qingming and the others fell silent in unison.

"This is why I haven’t joined the Supervisory Immortal Office to this day," Lin Bai smiled. "A melon plucked too early isn’t sweet. Currently, the conflict between you and the Heavenly Descendants stems from mutual misunderstanding. Add to that the interference from the Evil Sect, and you have the current dilemma."

"Does Shopkeeper Lin have a solution?" Daoist Qingming asked.

"Yes," Lin Bai nodded, looking at them. "First, allow the Evil Sect to establish a presence in Qian City, just like you, and set up recruitment points..."

"Impossible!" Zhao Yi interrupted before Lin Bai could finish. "The Righteous and Evil Factions are irreconcilable enemies! If we let them into Qian City, wouldn’t that be an admission of our inferiority?"

"Do you have a better idea, Brother Zhao?" Lin Bai asked, smiling at Zhao Yi.

"I..." Zhao Yi stammered, at a loss for words.

"Junior Brother Zhao, why don’t we let Shopkeeper Lin finish?" Daoist Qingming said, glancing back at Zhao Yi, his tone clearly tinged with displeasure.

Zhao Yi, his face ashen, glared at Lin Bai and said no more.

Lin Bai smiled and cupped his fists towards Daoist Qingming. "Second, open the road between the Base City and Qian City to make it easier for Heavenly Descendants to travel between the two. After all, the number of Heavenly Descendants is increasing. With dangerous beasts and bandits along the way, you can’t expect the Seven Righteous Sects to escort them all the time."

"The skills Heavenly Descendants learn in the Base City probably won’t be of much use once they enter your sects anyway. Opening the path between the Base City and Qian City can save time for both sides," he paused. "Allowing the Evil Door to establish a presence in Qian City would remove their need to intercept people en route and could also mitigate the conflict between the Righteous and Evil Factions. Without escorts, the Evil Door wouldn’t suspect the Righteous Faction of an ’inside job’."