"Okay, if they don't obey, then we will imprison them first." Dao Xu looked at Lin Bai, his tone unusually gentle. "Use this as an excuse to keep Xiao Bai, and deal with the rest gradually..."

He trailed off mid-sentence, abruptly falling silent.

Damn! Why did I expose my true intentions again?

Dao Xu looked at Lin Bai, his embarrassment intensifying.

Lin Bai seemed not to hear his latter words. He gave Dao Xu a brief smile and nodded, "I understand."

That smile made Dao Xu understand Lin Bai's intentions. Elated, he glanced over the disciples of Return to Dragon View and declared loudly, "You've heard Lin Bai's words. Everyone will follow them accordingly. If anybody makes any achievement on my behalf, there will be rewards. Likewise, if anyone dares to cause trouble, don't blame me for being rude..."

With the persuasion of the Truth-telling Technique, Dao Xu's disposition began to resemble that of a determined and dogmatic villain.

The other Taoists of Return to Dragon View, their faces reflecting despair, had given up resistance entirely. Dao Xu was adamant about protecting Lin Bai, rendering their resistance pointless.

To Golden Core practitioners, Nascent Soul practitioners were an overwhelming existence. Fortunately, Dao Xu still possessed some sense of reason and had no real intention of harming them.

However, the prospect of their destiny being in the hands of this demon Lin Bai was simply unbearable!

"Senior Brother Dao Xu, he's a man, for heaven's sake!" Daojing cried out in anguish, unwilling to accept.

In the Immortal World, there exists the Charm Technique.

Yet, in most instances, the Charm Technique is a special skill used by species such as the Fox Demon, Snake Demon, or Flower Demon.

Occasionally, human beings also practice the Charm Technique, but more often than not, it is women who do.

Moreover, when they use the Charm Technique, they target the opposite sex.

Who would even think of doing it Lin Bai's way, with no inhibitions, using the Charm Technique on an old man?

Didn't he feel a sense of disgrace?

"I know, and I don't mind." Dao Xu replied arrogantly.

Behind him, Lin Bai's expression was so grim it seemed water could drip from it; he was truly repulsed by this cunning scheme. He did not want these intrigues to involve him again.

Lady Hua Xi, Lin Bai's guard, saw the clarity in Lin Bai's eyes, and then at the bewitched Dao Xu. Her hands trembled unconsciously. She felt no injustice in her defeat, for she feared that in a potential future conflict between the Mysterious Darkness Cult and Lin Bai, they would be unable to take down this cunning boy.

"Dao Xu, it seems my safety rests in your hands." Lin Bai squinted at Dao Xu's back, feigning weakness.

"Rest assured," Dao Xu laughed heartily.

"I want to become the deputy leader of Return to Dragon View," Lin Bai continued.

"Alright." Dao Xu agreed quickly. He looked at a pale-faced Qing Yu. "But all major decisions will still be made by Qing Yu."

In Lin Bai's mind, the disapproval of the Taoists of Return to Dragon View had reached its peak!

At the corner of his mouth, a slight smirk appeared. He asked quietly, "Dao Xu, would you like to be with me forever?"

"Naturally." Affected by the Cupid Arrow, Dao Xu answered instantly, without hesitation, while looking at Lin Bai.

"I want to spend forever with you, too," Lin Bai grinned. "Dao Xu, just now, you said that you were willing to do anything for me. Is that true?"

"Of course." Dao Xu's old face was wreathed in smiles; there was nothing more joyful than knowing the one you love also loves you back.

"Close your eyes, and I'll give you a surprise, is that okay?" Lin Bai looked at Dao Xu, slightly lowering his head. "Promise me, and you can do whatever you want. We can be together forever, okay?"

"Sure!" Dao Xu laughed heartily and promptly closed his eyes.

He had gauged Lin Bai's cultivation level at a glance. His own Nascent Soul cultivation made him confident Lin Bai wouldn't harm him. One-sided infatuation was the most terrifying thing, enough to cloud his reason.

At the moment Dao Xu closed his eyes, a Gold Card flew out of Lin Bai's hand, a golden light engulfing its form.

"Master!" Qing Yu was startled. Barely uttering a word, Lin Bai flicked his hand, and Qing Yu was drawn back into the Card.

"Abbot, don't!" A Taoist, who had escaped from Qian City and returned, saw the glowing Card envelop Dao Xu and instinctively shouted.

But it was too late.

The Gold Card had a base success rate of thirty percent, but with Lin Bai's incredibly high Luck Value, the actual chance of sealing far exceeded fifty percent.

Most critically, Dao Xu, clouded by passion, completely lacked resistance. The moment the light engulfed him, he was drawn in, and his consciousness was sealed.

The success notification rang.

Lin Bai obtained 10 Blank Cards, 5 Silver Edge Cards, and three rare Gold Edge Cards.

"[System Notification]: You are quite lucky. You have successfully sealed a Nascent Soul practitioner and become a true Card Master. A Card Master alone is an army. Try to assemble a ten-man formation with your Cards and practice commanding them during team combat. Reward: 10 Blank Cards."

The Card System issued a new task, and the rewards returned to the usual one-time use Cards.

The priority, however, was dealing with matters of Return to Dragon View.

Lin Bai momentarily ignored the new task.

Building a ten-man formation was easy, but Lin Bai had just a few reusable Cards in his possession — three Silver Edge Cards and one Gold Card.

The rest were single-use Cards, which he felt was not worth using just to complete a task.

I'll complete this task during the next battle.

"What did you do to Senior Brother?" Daojing asked with apparent fear.

Lin Bai snapped his fingers and released Qing Yu and Dao Xu from the Card.

Glancing at the dazed Dao Xu, Qing Yu began to tear up, muttering, "Master, it's all my fault."

"As you see, I turned him into a Puppet." Lin Bai snapped his fingers, imitating Dao Xu, and held out his hand. Above the heads of all the Taoists of Return to Dragon View, golden Talisman Inscriptions gradually formed. The faint image of a fire dragon began to appear amidst the inscriptions, gradually gaining substantiality.

"Fire Dragon Symbol!" Daojing was shocked. "How do you know Senior Brother's Fire Dragon Symbol?"

"Because I am a genius and can learn any Martial Arts technique after observing it only once." Lin Bai smirked confidently before he flashed above the multitude of Taoists from Return to Dragon View. He looked down and released his Nascent Soul's formidable power. "I don't mind revealing to you that my cultivation level has already reached that of a Nascent Soul practitioner. The reason I toyed with Dao Xu earlier was merely to conserve some energy. Would I dare to challenge Return to Dragon View all by myself without total confidence?"

The crowd was in an uproar.

"Impossible!" exclaimed Lady Hua Xi.

If he were a Nascent Soul practitioner, during the recruitment fair in Qian City, there would be no need to rely on the People from heaven when fighting us. He could have suppressed us with a wave of his hand.

Yet everything Lin Bai displayed presently led her to believe that he was indeed a Nascent Soul practitioner. That was unmistakably the might of a Nascent Soul.

What exactly is Lin Bai's true strength? Lady Hua Xi was baffled.

She was not the only one puzzled.

Dragon Breath and the others were equally perplexed; Lin Bai's power surged dramatically with each fight.

This is totally illogical!

On the live broadcast screen, the barrage of comments exploded again!

"I thought Dao Xu was lusting after Lin Bai's body, but it turns out Lin Bai was the one craving Dao Xu's body."

"The hard facts tell us that when men are out and about, they need to protect themselves."

"Not only women will deceive you, men will too."

"Lust can lead to danger."

"One day, when Dao Xu recovers his senses, will he feel ashamed for what he's done today?"

"Not only did he lose face, but he also lost his freedom."

"Lin, the Storekeeper, is too despicable, preying on a several-hundred-year-old elder's affections! Is a twilight romance easy to come by?"

"I will never believe in love again."

"Lin, the Storekeeper's strength skyrockets in leaps and bounds. This is too much of a game bug!"

"It's the Cards. The Cards are not Lin Bai's summoned creatures. When he seals an opponent, he also absorbs their strength and Skills."

"Exactly! When Daoist Qingming first came to pick a fight with the Beggar Gang, Lin Bai was so high-profile. If he really had his current strength back then, he wouldn't have been so destitute."

"Doesn't that mean Lin Bai will grow stronger with each fight?"

"It's confirmed! Lin Bai is the final boss. He is constantly enriching his Skills and strength. By the time the Players grow, he will already have countless Skills. Ironically, he grew up right under the Players' noses..."

"Yes, Lin Bai's actions are typical of a villain: heartless, ruthless, unscrupulous, and causing trouble everywhere. If such a person doesn't turn evil in the future, not even a ghost would believe it."

"To defeat him, you have to take him out while he's still weak."

"After absorbing Dao Xu, he is no longer weak. Back in Jiamucheng, the best opportunity was when the Lonely Old Man led Players to besiege him. Unfortunately, the Players back then were too weak."

"What's there to be afraid of? In any game, which major boss isn't powerful? That's what makes it challenging!"

"Wrong, this is a strategy game; you shouldn't be thinking about challenging the BOSS. The best way to deal with bosses like Lin, the Storekeeper, in the early stages is to collaborate with NPCs. Reveal Lin Bai's skills and let NPCs deal with NPCs. Players laying low and developing is the true path to victory…"

"I'm not a bloodthirsty person. Now you have two choices: submit willingly, or be subjugated by me."

The Fire Dragon Symbol formed in the sky, with three fire dragons spiraling around it. Lin Bai stood there with his hands behind his back, feeling the power of a Nascent Soul practitioner, as an unprecedented confidence surged within him.

At this moment, Lin Bai felt for the first time that he had some ability to protect himself in this world.

"Dream on! Even if I die, I will never choose to submit to a despicable person like you," a Taoist said defiantly, craning his neck.

"I like stubborn ones like you." Lin Bai smiled. "So, do you want to experience what Dao Xu felt? First falling in love with me, then being sealed inside a Card, ultimately to be used by me. Compared to leaving unstable elements like you with freedom at Return to Dragon View, I prefer obedient fighters like Dao Xu, sealed in my Cards and listening to my commands!"

"..." The Taoist's face changed dramatically. He looked at Lin Bai with sorrow and anger, his whole body trembling. "Shameless!"

"Shameless? How?" Lin Bai sneered. "I was minding my own business in Qian City, managing my Beggar Gang. Who was it that provoked me again and again, ultimately pushing me to this point?

"I come from the Righteous Door and have always advocated for peace.

"Back in Jiamucheng, Daoist Priest Qingfeng came to my doorstep unprovoked. I defeated him yet still chose to step back and even gave him a ten percent share of my shop.

"But what did you do?

"When I entered Qian City, we had just concluded friendly talks, and then your Daoist Qingming launched a sneak attack. After I counter-killed him, Qing Yu then brought over a hundred Golden Core cultivators to kill me. What wrong did I commit to deserve such a massive mobilization to eliminate me? If not for my own abilities, I would have probably been reduced to dust and ashes by you long ago! So, am I the shameless one, or are you?"

"It was clearly you who first seized our Return to Dragon View's Spiritual World Gap!" Daoist Priest Qingfeng, cowering in a corner, summoned his courage to retort.

"'I seized your Spiritual World Gap'? Qingfeng, let me ask you: Did I not buy the land deed? Did I not build the shop? Everything is mine, so how can you claim I seized your Spiritual World Gap?" Lin Bai chuckled. "Besides, I already made a concession, agreeing to jointly develop it with you when the Spiritual World Gap opened. Instead, it was you, you treacherous backstabber, who turned around and bit me, ultimately leading to this current situation between myself and Return to Dragon View. Don't you feel any guilt?"

"I…" Daoist Priest Qingfeng opened his mouth to speak but was forcefully cut off by Lin Bai.

"You what? These fellow disciples of yours, if they don't surrender, they will either be killed by Dao Xu, killed by Qing Yu, or sealed by me. This is all your fault! You instigated the war between the Righteous Door and the Heavenly Dao Sect. Can you bear this responsibility?" Lin Bai mercilessly shifted all the blame onto him.

"…" Qingfeng was stunned.

"Qingfeng, I once thought you were merely incompetent, but I didn't realize you were also muddle-headed." Lin Bai looked at Qingfeng with pity. "Have you ever considered that if you hadn't left Jiamucheng, none of this would have happened? Perhaps in a few years, you would have already become a wealthy man."

Qingfeng's face instantly turned extremely unsightly.

"Even if Qingfeng acted as he did, it was to prevent our Return to Dragon View's Spiritual World Gap from being seized by you!" Daojing interjected coldly. "Compared to you, he is the hero of Return to Dragon View."

"Hero? That 'hero' not only caused you to lose the Spiritual World Gap, but now Return to Dragon View itself is almost gone." Lin Bai sneered. "Are you pleased? Happy? I ask you, was it worth it?"

Was it worth it? Daojing looked up at Lin Bai, then at the dazed Dao Xu beside him. He wanted to say something but swallowed his words. He had cultivated for hundreds of years and was on the brink of breaking his Golden Core to form a Nascent Soul. He truly didn't want to die so wretchedly!

It really didn't seem worth it!

"I used underhanded means to take down Dao Xu, and I know you are not convinced in your hearts. But have you ever considered what would have happened if the ones who came were from the Five Demonic Sects?" Lin Bai shook his head and sighed. "You should be glad it was me you encountered. My methods might seem evil to you, but my heart is righteous. After defeating you, I am still willing to recruit you. Otherwise, given what you've done, if it were anyone else, dying eight hundred times over wouldn't be enough!"

Lin Bai sighed deeply, looking at the Taoists below with pity. "One must learn to be flexible! The world isn't simply black and white! Qingfeng, look at your disciple. The moment he saw the situation was unfavorable, he immediately turned around and joined the Beggar Gang. In the future, he can still live successfully. That is the kind of clear-headed adaptability a cultivator should have!

"Look at yourselves. You want to fight but don't dare; you want to surrender but don't dare. Isn't living like this exhausting?

"Even if you chose to submit temporarily, you could wait until I'm not paying attention. Then, you could run off to the Heavenly Dao Sect to report me, or find your wandering Li Zhenren to come and deal with me. Isn't that better than throwing away your lives for nothing?

"With the descent of the People from heaven, if you still cling to your old ways of doing things, even if you hadn't met me today, the foundation of Return to Dragon View would not have been preserved in the future.

"'As long as the green hills remain, there will be no lack of firewood.'

"Submit!

"You've fallen to this state entirely because you lack a qualified Sect Leader. From now on, let me lead you. I will teach you how to build a true sect, how to develop and strengthen a sect, and how to establish yourselves in this chaotic era. Give yourselves a chance, and give Return to Dragon View a chance. Let time prove who is right and who is wrong…"

This works too?

The Taoists of Return to Dragon View were once again stunned.

What on earth is this guy trying to do? Teach them how to feign compliance while harboring dissent?

Is he really so audacious, so fearless?

"Qing Yu, take Dragon Breath and a few others down." After his impassioned speech had stirred the emotions of the numerous Taoists, Lin Bai no longer paid them any mind, who were still in a daze. He naturally issued his command, "Find some people to rebuild the toppled mountain gate and erect the signboard of my Righteous Door. From this moment on, this place is the mountain gate of my Righteous Door."