The Beggar Gang was teeming with talent.

Upon receiving Lin Bai's new assignment, the Immortal Realm's First Papparazzi immediately found a professional photographer to take illustrations for "The Extraordinary Tales of Immortality: The Legend of Qing and Hua."

For the best photographic effects, the Players utilized Disciples from various sects such as Return to Dragon View, Waning Sun Gate, and Mysterious Darkness Cult, staging classic scenes like pursuits and bloody encounters.

The Players, hailing from the real world, had seen plenty of TV dramas. They knew what kind of composition would be aesthetically pleasing and could easily research it offline if unsure.

The group was having a blast.

Speculations about Lin Bai circulated only among the higher-ups of the Beggar Gang. Most Players didn't harbor such ambitions; they were content as long as they could have fun in the game and earn some money.

The native Cultivators, often dozens or even hundreds of years old, were exasperated by the antics of these Descended People but dared not voice their anger. After all, Lin Bai was keeping a predatory eye on them! Besides, they were, nominally at least, members of the Justice League and had an obligation to contribute to the league's promotion.

"Sect Leaders, look at how happy those disciples are!" Lin Bai, along with Xin Shang and the others, observed the photoshoot from a distance, commenting cheerfully.

Happy, my ass!

Xin Shang and the others grumbled internally. If it weren't for you, this fiend, standing here, those Descended People would have been dealt with long ago.

But in Lin Bai's presence, they naturally didn't dare to speak their true thoughts. With "Justice Weekly" gradually gaining traction, and on the eve of a brewing storm, no one wanted to offend this madman Lin Bai over such trivial matters.

Xin Shang smiled and said, "As a member of the Justice League, it's our duty to contribute to the promotion of the Cultivation of Rules."

"Right." Lin Bai, already treating the sect leaders as his own, said earnestly, "We should hold more activities like this in the future. It can strengthen the cohesion among the league's members. Look, Return to Dragon View and Blood Shadow Sect are getting along so harmoniously, having so much fun, just like one big family!"

Family, my ass!

"Sect Leader Lin, which sect should we attack first?" Xin Shang forcefully changed the subject. "The longer we delay, the more disadvantageous it will be for us once word gets out."

"Not attack, invite them to join the Justice League," Lin Bai corrected him seriously.

"Alright." Xin Shang's eye twitched. He asked again, "Which sect should we persuade to surrender first then?"

"Let's wait a bit longer." Lin Bai smiled. "The Morning Yuan Sword Sect, Spirit Artifact Pavilion, and Medicine King Valley have gone to the Seven Orthodox Sects for reinforcements. Hundred Flower Valley intends to feign surrender to stall for time. We'll move when Hundred Flower Valley arrives."

"..." The sect leaders were all stunned.

"Sect Leader Lin, how did you learn of their plans?" Ge Feiyun asked.

"The Descended People can communicate with each other. They told me," Lin Bai said casually. "At the previous recruitment fair, my Beggar Gang planted many moles in their sects."

Damn it!

A chill ran down the spines of Xin Shang and the others.

Good heavens!

He started scheming back at the recruitment fair? How incredibly deep his machinations run!

Dao Xu, who had been released earlier, stood behind Lin Bai with a somber face, continuously reading the descriptions of himself in "Justice Weekly." He occasionally glared at the dazed Pei Yanzong beside him, but most of his attention was on Lin Bai. Hearing Lin Bai's words, he instantly understood why Return to Dragon View had suffered such a crushing defeat. When Qing Yu led the elite of Dragon View to assassinate Lin Bai, they too must have been lured by the Descended People. Lin Bai was fully aware of everyone's movements; it would have been a miracle if they had won!

Damn Descended People! Not a single one of them could be trusted!

"Sect Leader Lin, you keep saying the Descended People will bring catastrophe, yet they seem to trust you quite a bit!" Shen Kuang scoffed.

"That is merely my Personal Charm at work." Lin Bai laughed heartily, meeting the crowd's disdainful gazes. "The Descended People are fickle; they follow whoever benefits them. You cannot control them. According to your previous plan to disperse them among various sects, a backlash would be inevitable. When they incite conflict between the sects, that would be the catastrophe. But now, by establishing the Justice League, I've taken their path, leaving them with no alternative. In doing so, I have invisibly neutralized the impending disaster."

He indeed neutralized the disaster, but now his Righteous Door has become the sole dominant power!

Xin Shang and the others exchanged glances. It was just as they suspected: the Righteous Door was indeed planning to use the Descended People to carve out a share from the Seven Orthodox Sects and the Five Demonic Sects!

"Sect Leader Lin, you don't seem concerned about them bringing reinforcements from the Seven Orthodox Sects!" Xin Shang subtly probed Lin Bai's strength.

"We were bound to reach this stage eventually." Lin Bai sighed. "I bear the responsibility of spreading the Cultivation of Rules. If I don't display my own strength, the world will likely not believe that such an absurd cultivation method is indeed the true path of the Cultivation of Rules.

Sect Leaders, since joining the Righteous Door, none of you have practiced the Cultivation of Rules, nor have you taught it to your disciples, have you? Even powerful individuals like yourselves still harbor doubts about the Cultivation of Rules, let alone the ignorant masses. My constant challenging of strong opponents, and defeating them, is precisely my way of demonstrating the path of the Cultivation of Rules to you all!"

"..." Xin Shang and the others were taken aback. Looking at the resolute Lin Bai, a common doubt arose in their minds: Could the path of the Cultivation of Rules actually be real?

The photographer took Qing Yu and Flower Stream for the illustration photoshoot, while the Players in the editorial department, known for their exceptional literary talents, organized the story based on Lin Bai's dictation.

Everyone worked together, dividing the tasks.

The efficiency was remarkably high.

That evening, the printing of "The Extraordinary Tales of Immortality: The Legend of Qing and Hua" began in full swing.

「On this day.」

The Beggar Gang Players negotiated deals for numerous shops and began renovations.

The Players responsible for Alchemy and Artifact Refining worked overtime, producing Pill Medicine and various utensils for daily life. They were simultaneously increasing their skill proficiency and stocking up inventory for the shops, step by step implementing the grand plan of bringing cultivation to the common people.

The Players were happy to do so. After all, in previous games, setting up stalls to sell goods had always been one of their methods for generating income. The official game-to-real-money exchange rate was 1:100. Even though the Beggar Gang's advertising revenue was high, topping up game currency with real-world money was always a losing proposition. However, earning money from the game world and then reinvesting it constituted sustainable development.

What's more, Lin Bai had also opened up naming rights for Pill Medicine. They could independently brand their Pill Medicine with names like "Centuries-Old Qingyu Hall Fasting Pill," "Minsheng Hall Revitalizing Pill," or "Jiangyao No. 4 Cold Spirit Constitution Building Elixir." Real-world pharmaceutical companies were delighted to have their names resonate within the game world.

Although adding real-world company names as prefixes seemed incongruous, who cared as long as it made money?

After returning from Return to Dragon View to Qian City, every Player had their own tasks. Everyone was bustling with activity, as if, at that moment, the game had truly found its footing.

Lonely Old Man and Crazy Man spent most of their time observing Crispy Rice.

In matters of Beggar Gang decision-making, Crispy Rice behaved as usual. However, whenever the City Lord's name was mentioned, he would involuntarily blush, stutter, and try to change the subject.

Moreover, over the course of a single day, Crispy Rice, using all sorts of excuses, managed to get away from Sticky Rice and sneak off to the City Lord's mansion three or four times. Each visit to the City Lord's mansion was brief, lasting only about fifteen to thirty minutes, but he would emerge with a flushed face and in high spirits, walking with a bounce in his step, as if invigorated by love.

Considering Crispy Rice's various behaviors, Crazy Man and Lonely Old Man confirmed their suspicions.

Lonely Old Man discreetly warned him a couple of times, but Crispy Rice saw no issue with his actions. Instead, he believed they were envious that he had obtained a high-level Puppet, and nearly argued with them because of it.

To verify whether death could nullify the effects of the Staff of Love, they even ambushed Crispy Rice. However, after Crispy Rice revived, he was still just as devoted to the City Lord.

A chill ran down the spines of Lonely Old Man and Crazy Man, further solidifying their determination to eliminate Lin Bai as soon as possible.