The disciples of the Beggar Gang were keeping a tight lip about their next move but, nevertheless, they were still live-streaming. After all, they had multiple ad contracts to fulfill, and their sponsors demanded exposure.

This was also why top-tier members of the Beggar Gang, like 'Lonely Old Man,' were keen on stirring the pot.

By starting their live-stream early, they were merely building anticipation.

And if they could maintain the suspense of their plan, they would undoubtedly draw quite a crowd for the Beggar Gang tomorrow.

In the real world, there was still no announcement for the release of the fifth batch of pioneer licenses for 'Immortal World,' yet the game continued to maintain staggering popularity.

The ability to substitute sleep and maintain a clear mind and memory within the game was more than enough to drive most people crazy.

Ever since the game opened, its popularity had spread across all fields.

The forums were filled with numerous posts analyzing the game world.

Many researchers began accusing the gaming company of wasting such advanced technology on a video game. They argued that if this were used in scientific research, it could massively boost the progress of global technology and benefit all of humanity.

Then there were the conspiracy theorists.

They suspected that the real world might be on the verge of experiencing a cataclysmic disaster. Eventually, everyone might have to live on servers as game characters to ensure the continuation of civilization...

Surprisingly, quite a number of people supported these conspiracy theories.

After all, a similarly advanced game, 'Land of Gods and Demons,' had been launched in the West. It seemed as if a game was drawing all of humanity into it...

And so it was.

People from all walks of life were urging the gaming company to launch a full-scale open beta test. Some even organized protests in the real world.

Yet, the gaming company paid no heed and continued to do as they pleased. They completely ignored the public outcry on the forums.

Nevertheless, none of this affected the popularity of 'Immortal World.'

Even the most mundane live-streams from casual players drew large audiences.

Some watched them as if they were movies, others used them to analyze the game's structure, while still others prepared game strategies...

Among all the live-streams, the Beggar Gang's was the most intriguing.

After all, the Beggar Gang was the largest in scale, and they seemed to have tapped into the main storyline of the Righteous Door.

Advertisers hoped the Beggar Gang could drive traffic to their products.

Lin Bai's supporters wanted to see his skills in the game.

The conspiracy theorists hoped the Beggar Gang could establish a safe haven for humanity within the game in advance...

Those against the Beggar Gang were hoping Lin Bai would take a big fall...

In conclusion, everyone was excited about the Beggar Gang's next move.

"Their current setup is just like when they fought Lin Bai. It's likely either the Return to Dragon View or people from the Evil Door coming to attack."

"There's absolutely no news on the forums. The disciples of the Beggar Gang sure can keep quiet!"

"With money, you could keep quiet as well."

"It feels like the Beggar Gang members are the ones actually playing the game. Everyone else's progression is just too slow."

"It's Lin, the Storekeeper, who's really playing the game; the other players in the Beggar Gang are just his pawns."

"When were players ever not tools? In any game, players always take tasks from NPCs, complete them for rewards—finding cats, dogs, or daughters, mining ore, or gathering herbs. Players will do anything. In a real-world equivalent, players would be the best workhands."

"The Beggar Gang shouldn't be this aggressive. They're inflaming the conflict between players and NPCs, making it infinitely harder for people who join the game later. Why can't they develop slowly and steadily?"

"With Lin Bai around, it's impossible for the Beggar Gang to progress steadily. I actually wish the Beggar Gang could truly fight for and secure a territory for players."

"That's impossible, unless the Righteous Door can truly dominate the world with its sect's power alone. Otherwise, Lin Bai's current actions are a death wish. The stronger the Beggar Gang becomes, the fiercer the NPCs' pushback will be. After all, they're not regular game NPCs. It's like an alien invasion; even if we temporarily compromise due to curiosity or other reasons, in the end, for our own interests, we would find ways to expel or even exterminate them."

"In the context of the game world, players are indeed like malignant tumors."

The players from the Morning Yuan Sword Sect, such as No.1 Sword Immortal, were unable to obtain any information from the disciples of the Beggar Gang.

Compared to the tightly-knit disciples of the Beggar Gang, they were at a disadvantage. If they recklessly tried to probe the Gang's internal affairs, the most probable result would be being killed on the spot by the Gang's disciples.

In the game, killing someone wasn't such a big deal. Moreover, if they were killed by the Gang's disciples while Tong Cha was away, they didn't think Zhao Yi would dare to avenge them.

But such a large-scale operation by the Beggar Gang was bound to create a huge scene.

No.1 Sword Immortal contacted Wild Wolf and informed him about the situation.

However, the Morning Yuan Sword Sect also didn't know what exactly was going on. The Beggar Gang moved too fast; most sects simply couldn't keep up with their pace.

Wild Wolf, however, did give them an idea: don't bother with what the Beggar Gang is doing; just follow them and join the spectacle.

They're advertising, so you advertise with them too. If you don't have your own audience, why not piggyback on theirs?

The NPCs from the Morning Yuan Sword Sect needed to adapt to this new mode of combat. Otherwise, these NPCs would continue to dither and discuss strategies, wasting time and allowing the Beggar Gang to expand further, squeezing their operational space. They needed to realize the severity of the problem.

This was a wake-up call for No.1 Sword Immortal and the others. They didn't bother consulting Zhao Yi; they all logged off as quickly as possible to contact advertising companies. After all, the players in the Novice Village near Qian City had been completely overshadowed by the Beggar Gang, and they hadn't yet tasted the sweet rewards of advertising fees!

Speaking of which, the players who had taken the fertilizer ads, for instance, were essentially riding the Beggar Gang's coattails. And they had succeeded, proving that this approach was viable.

To draw more players into this, No.1 Sword Immortal and Lord split up. Before logging off to negotiate with advertising merchants, they contacted players from the Spirit Artifact Pavilion, Medicine King Valley, and Hundred Flower Valley to share this brilliant plan.

There was money for everyone to make.

The Beggar Gang couldn't be so tyrannical as to monopolize all the profits, letting others not even have a sip of the soup while they feasted on the meat, could they?

That would incur public outrage.

Zhao Yi, Peng Ze, and Sun Lie all sensed that something major was about to happen. After much deliberation, they mustered their courage and, filled with trepidation, went to the Beggar Gang together to try and get some information from Lin Bai.

Lin Bai's ferocity during the battle at the recruitment fair was deeply etched in their minds. None of them had the nerve to cause trouble for the Beggar Gang anymore, unlike their previous visit.

This time, they approached with utmost humility.

Sun Lie bowed respectfully to Lin Bai and asked, "Shopkeeper Lin, do you know why the Beggar Gang is deploying in large numbers outside the city? Are the people from the Evil Door coming to attack?"

Lin Bai glanced at them and shook his head. "No."

"Shopkeeper Lin, if anything were to happen, you can tell us," Peng Ze said with a smile. "After the battle at the recruitment fair, our sects and the Beggar Gang are practically in the same boat now. We should support each other..."

"Yes," Zhao Yi chimed in. "If the Evil Sect comes to attack, we can help."

"First, it's not the Evil Sect coming to attack. Second, you're all too weak; I don't see you as worthy." Lin Bai spoke his mind, carefully choosing his words to maximize his 'truth quota' with these weaklings. Guo Yuan would tolerate his behavior, and he wasn't afraid of offending these rookies to death.

[Resentment from Zhao Yi, Peng Ze, and Sun Lie; +1+1+]

"Brother Lin, even if we are weak, we still have our Sects backing us up..." Sun Lie's mouth twitched. He suppressed his anger and said.

"It's too late." Lin Bai shook his head, glanced at him, and said, "Moreover, your Sects won't truly help me; they might even kick me while I'm down. In this world, I can only trust myself."

"..." Sun Lie frowned slightly. Lin Bai's state seems a bit off today, like he's swallowed gunpowder, speaking so bluntly without regard for anyone's feelings. It's too out of character! Is it pre-battle pressure?

The three looked at each other.

Peng Ze cupped his fists again. "Since Shopkeeper Lin doesn't need our help, we should take our leave."

"Since you're already here and you want to find out what's going on, and I happen to be looking for someone to talk to, why don't we share some drinks and chat? As they say, 'the more one talks, the more one might slip up.' Perhaps I'll accidentally leak some inside information about tomorrow to you!"

The Beggar Gang disciples were either deployed in the mountains or working overtime in the Refiner's Workshop, refining Pill Medicine and forging weapons.

Lin Bai couldn't find anyone to talk to. Worried he wouldn't meet his quota of truthful statements for the day, he had to target these rookies.

Lin Bai's strange behavior made them uneasy.

They didn't understand Lin Bai's intentions.

They exchanged puzzled glances. Zhao Yi wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and said, "Perhaps another time... The men from heaven are still at the encampment, and there are many matters to attend to..."

Lin Bai cut him off. A hammer suddenly materialized in his palm as he threatened them matter-of-factly, "You can't beat me."

Zhao Yi and the others were stunned. Looking at Lin Bai, who had abruptly turned hostile, their regret was palpable.

[Fear from Zhao Yi, Peng Ze, and Sun Lie; +1+1+1]

"Xiao Bai, go to the Pill Refinery and fetch some wine and dishes. I'll share them with these three." Lin Bai flipped his hand, stowing the hammer, and pointed to the pavilion in the courtyard. "Please."

He chose his words carefully. For the sake of authenticity, he even omitted the hypocritical address of 'Brother.'

"Please."

The three of them exchanged glances, bitter smiles on their faces, and reluctantly followed Lin Bai to the pavilion.

The Little White Fox went off to have the people in the Alchemy Room prepare wine and dishes.

Lin Bai sat down on a stone bench first. "Sit, don't be so formal. Show some of the courage you had when you all came to cause trouble for the Beggar Gang the other day."

"Brother Lin, I, Zhao, was wrong that day. I apologize to you." Zhao Yi's expression changed drastically as he bowed to Lin Bai in apology.

Sun Lie and Peng Ze also thought Lin Bai was about to settle old scores, so they quickly followed suit with apologies. They regretted coming to the Beggar Gang to inquire about the situation to the high heavens.

"I don't blame you," Lin Bai smiled. "If you hadn't come looking for trouble that day, the Beggar Gang wouldn't have grown this much in such a short time."

"Yes, yes." Sun Lie and the others, providing Lin Bai with negative emotions, sat down sporadically around the table.

"Actually, you're a step too late. The City Lord was here just a moment ago, also asking what the Beggar Gang was planning. I told him the truth." Lin Bai glanced at the three of them, rambling on, "If you hadn't come to the Beggar Gang and had gone directly to the City Lord's Mansion, you might have found out already."

[Panic from Zhao Yi, Peng Ze, and Sun Lie; +1+1+1]

"Don't be afraid. Relax. I just want you to keep me company and chat." Lin Bai shook his head. "I'll only strike you down if you harbor malicious intent towards me."

Zhao Yi and the others' hearts skipped a beat. Having just sat down, they jumped up again, hastily explaining, "Shopkeeper Lin, we really just came to understand the Beggar Gang's situation. We truly have no ill intentions."

"Sit." Lin Bai gestured with his hand again. "You're Zhao Yi, from the Morning Yuan Sword Sect. You have a senior brother named Tong Cha. He gave me a Wind-breaking Sword that day..."

"Yes," Zhao Yi said, trembling.

"You're Sun Lie, from the Spirit Artifact Pavilion." Lin Bai turned to Sun Lie, smiled faintly, and pointed to the scattered remains of a rockery. "That rockery over there was shattered by me with a single move, 'Suddenly, It's Coming,' when I was testing its power..."

"..." Sun Lie was dumbfounded and restless, increasingly baffled by what game Lin Bai was playing.

Lin Bai was a ruthless man; to complete a task, he could sweet-talk a fox all night. He couldn't care less about their reactions!

Moreover, he had already figured out the secret to telling the truth:

First, narrate events that have already occurred. Second, keep asking questions. Third, spout meaningless nonsense.

This way, he could ensure that every sentence he spoke was factually correct.

"The moonlight is beautiful tonight!" Lin Bai looked at Sun Lie, smiling as he asked, "How many years have you cultivated?"

"Over twenty years, I suppose!" Sun Lie answered awkwardly.

"Where was your home before you began cultivating?"

...

"How many people are in your family?"

...

"Is your father's surname also Sun?"

...

"Are they all still alive? It's alright. If you encounter a question you don't like, you don't have to answer..."

...

"Zhao Yi, how many people are in your family?"

...

An endless stream of negative emotions surged from Sun Lie and the other two.

Lin Bai's questioning felt like a threat, yet also like an interrogation...

They wanted to leave but didn't dare; they wanted to fight back but didn't dare.

One moment Lin Bai would have a hammer in his hand, the next he'd be fiddling with a few cards. They didn't dare remain silent as Lin Bai had suggested.

After an hour, blood vessels had begun to show in the three men's eyes. Their usually steadfast Dao hearts were showing signs of crumbling...

They could only carefully pick the questions they could answer. For questions they truly couldn't answer, they would fabricate lies to get by.

Originally, the three thought this was a foolproof plan.

However, to their dismay, Lin Bai would circle back and ask the same questions again.

This was unbearable!

Under such intense pressure, who could remember exactly what they had answered earlier?

No.

Lin Bai remembered.

A simple, "No, that's not what you said earlier," from him plunged the three into an abyss of despair.

So much so that by the latter half of the night, the three, on the verge of mental collapse, had become completely compliant, answering any question asked.

Discovering this, Lin Bai, who was solely focused on his truth-telling task, was overjoyed. He swiftly changed his line of questioning, "Peng Ze, does your Medicine King Valley truly possess Three Thousand Golden Cores?"

"No more, no less?" Peng Ze mumbled, his mind muddled.

"Is your father's surname Peng?"

"My surname is indeed Peng. My father is Peng Duan, nicknamed Er Gou. He's seventy-three this year. It's the absolute truth, I couldn't be more honest."

"What is the Dan Fang for the Constitution Building Elixir?" Lin Bai's questioning suddenly shifted.

"Eight taels of hundred-year-old ginseng, three jin of raw Rehmannia, three taels of hundred-year-old astragalus, half a tael of safflower..." Peng Ze was halfway through when he suddenly snapped back to his senses, his face flushing with anger. "Lin Bai, you..."

BOOM!

An Anvil weighing over a thousand jin dropped from three meters high out of thin air, landing with a deafening crash.

Dust billowed everywhere.

Peng Ze was petrified.

Lin Bai calmly retrieved the stone anvil base. "Old Peng, you've already said half of it. Go on, tell me the rest. Otherwise, I really will kill you..."

The Peerless Divine Doctor System was most lacking in Dan Fangs. He had to try and trick one out of them if he could; opportunities like this were rare. Too many debts, and you stop feeling the pinch; too many lice, and you stop worrying about them!

Lin Bai no longer cared about offending people!

After clashing with the Return to Dragon View, the chances of these other sects befriending him were practically nil...

The Little White Fox watched Zhao Yi, Peng Ze, and Sun Lie with pity. Memories of Lin Bai whispering sweet nothings to her all night flooded her mind, causing her little face to blush. A wave of relief washed over her...

Thankfully, the sweet nothings her master had whispered that night were just him practicing his Spoken Law Follows ability. If he had been practicing with such boring and aggressive nonsense like today, she probably would have been forced to speak long ago, and then driven mad.