CHAPTER 366: 366 LORD OF THE THREE REALMS

The players in the cave were still stunned at the appearance of the Magpie Bridge beneath John’s feet. The next moment, Lin Bai and the others had arrived in the Continent of Gods and Demons via the Magpie Bridge.

...

"Lin Bai?"

"Gods, he’s really here."

"I see the Speaker of the Congress too."

"Guys, if I launched a Cross Cut right now and took out these foolish congress officials, would The United States truly regain its freedom?"

...

Lin Bai heard the private chatter of the players in the Continent of Gods and Demons and couldn’t help glancing at the US officials, who were full of curiosity on their first time in the game.

It had to be said, the officials of the Western Continent were truly unpopular!

Stepping into the Continent of Gods and Demons with his own body, a message of mission completion appeared in Lin Bai’s mind: [Open a new land Chapter (completed); Reward: Map (issued)].

As the reward was released, four Maps appeared in Lin Bai’s mind. The Maps looked like small windows displayed on the game interface, lit up in places he had passed but still shrouded in fog in places he had not yet set foot.

Only Pine Stone City and the nearby Black Stone Mountain Range were highlighted in the Fairy World; the Mortal World’s Map was the vastest, with almost the entire territory revealed, except for remote areas. After all, the Divided God had traversed nearly every city to construct the Magpie Bridges. Some densely forested mountainous areas, where he had hidden flying heads, were also indirectly mapped. As for the real world, the Map of the Eastern Continent, where Magpie Bridges were constructed, was illuminated, while only a small portion of the Western Continent was lit. The Map of the Continent of Gods and Demons was completely shrouded in fog, with only the small patch of land where he stood illuminated...

Lin Bai tried to zoom in and out of the Map. On the lit portions, he could clearly see the bricks on the streets, though there were no living creatures.

Next, the Divided God should have some work to do. Lin Bai had a touch of obsessive-compulsiveness; now that he had a Map in his mind, he couldn’t allow any areas to remain unlit. Besides, the Map would certainly have other uses in the future; it had to be treated as a serious matter.

Subsequently, the Great Heavenly Sovereign System issued a new task: [Conquer the current land and include it in your ruling territory; Reward: Oracle (you can project your consciousness into the mind of any living being you have marked)].

A long-range version of Mind Reading Ability? Lin Bai muttered. This was a terrifying skill. The previous marking reward didn’t have a limit on the number of people; theoretically, he could mark everyone. Projecting consciousness onto all marked beings—that would truly be an Oracle! It had to be said, every task reward from the System was enticing!

...

While Lin Bai was studying the task reward, others were also sizing up this new world; many were stepping into the game world for the first time. Players from the Immortal World were chatting with players from the Continent of Gods and Demons in a clumsy Western Continent tongue, each demonstrating their Skills to the other. Wind Control and Flight techniques, Spells from the Immortal World, and magic—it was a dazzling display.

The Spiritual Energy of the Continent of Gods and Demons took on a different form, more suitable for magic and an energy type called Fighting Spirits. The Spiritual Energy needed by players from the Immortal World was still present. Although thin, both players and natives could absorb it, making the situation better than in the real world. However, if the two sides were to fight here, the players from the Immortal World, who recovered Spiritual Energy more slowly, would certainly be suppressed.

The native NPCs from the Justice League couldn’t understand the players’ conversations and had to ask Cheng Xunyun to serve as their translator. Cheng Xunyun was originally Lin Bai’s dedicated translator, but Lin Bai had suddenly become proficient in the Western Continent’s language and no longer needed him. Cheng Xunyun didn’t mind liaising with the natives of the Justice League to build some rapport. Maintaining good relations with everyone is a necessary skill for a diplomat.

The Priest named Archbishop Arthur was reporting the current situation to General Johnson, with the Body of the War God listening intently nearby.

At this moment, they were in a place called Red Wolf Valley, a temporarily established outpost. There were roughly 20,000 players. Fifty li away was a city called Free City, and they were battling the Holy Light Sect’s Third Knight Corps and the City Guard Army of Free City.

The clearing operation had begun in the past couple of days. The players’ Levels were not too high compared to the natives, and the various Sects of the Continent of Gods and Demons had not mobilized more troops. The knights and city guards from Free City were outnumbered by the players, but they were well-equipped and proficient in battle formations. The players, possessing the Undying Body and privately developed gunpowder weapons, were managing to hold their own in battle, not yet at a disadvantage. The two sides had been at a standoff for two days.

However, the Holy Light Sect’s Third Priest Corps was already en route with reinforcements. This Priest Corps was led by a Four-winged Angel. Once they arrived, the players, whose Levels were being constantly depleted, would absolutely not be able to hold on...

...

John also entered the game via a Magpie Bridge. Looking at his game avatar, now controlled by Lin Bai, his eyes flickered with curiosity.

"John, how did you enter the game? Who’s controlling your game character?" a Priest named Light of the Angel asked, surprised to see him.

"My dear, it’s Lin Bai. He used Body Snatching to take over my avatar," John shrugged, looked at his lover, and winked. "Jenny, I must say, seeing you with my real body, you’re still very charming!"

"John, will he always share an avatar with you?" Jenny asked curiously, looking at John’s Holy Knight avatar and biting her lip slightly. Her focus was clearly not on the same wavelength as John’s.

"I guess so!" John suddenly realized the potential awkwardness for a couple. He glanced awkwardly at Lin Bai, as if seeking a definitive answer.

But Lin Bai had no time for such trivialities. Having sorted out the System rewards, he called everyone outside the cave. In the wide area at the cave’s mouth, Lin Bai activated Magpie Bridges for the Justice League members he had brought. Magpie Bridges fanned out, some connecting to the Mortal World, others to the Fairy World. To occupy a territory, one naturally had to be able to hold it. With the Magpie Bridges, they could advance or retreat as needed. The Magpie Bridges arched across the sky like rainbows, eventually vanishing into the clouds. The grand and beautiful sight immediately startled everyone on the battlefield.

...

"Magpie Bridge, it’s the Magpie Bridge..."

"Lin Bai has come to the Continent of Gods and Demons! We’re saved!"

"I really hope Lin Bai can turn the Continent of Gods and Demons upside down, just like he did in the Immortal World!"

"I want to join his Justice League!"

"We’re going to counterattack Free City and let those foolish NPCs experience the power of the Law!"

...

Many players, upon seeing the Magpie Bridges, immediately abandoned their ongoing battles. Shouting Lin Bai’s name, they flew towards the location where the bridges originated. Their enemies also instinctively stopped fighting. Mages in various colored robes and knights on Flying Dragons took to the sky, attempting to touch the Magpie Bridges and examine their composition...

[Joy from scissorhands Jack, the Magician, the Angry Mailman...; +1+1+1]

[Fear from Garnett, Carl, Timothy...; +1+1+1+1]

...

As the Magpie Bridges ascended, a rapid surge of emotions exploded in Lin Bai’s mind. The battlefield quieted temporarily, only the distant shouts and cries of the players hanging in the air.

"Alliance Hierarch, can you build a Magpie Bridge for us to the real world?" the Speaker of the Congress asked, growing anxious upon seeing several bridges rise into the sky. After all, the current Magpie Bridge connecting to the Western Continent was based on Lin Bai himself; if Lin Bai left, the bridge would disappear, which would be very inconvenient.

"Alliance Hierarch, one Magpie Bridge isn’t enough for us," Joseph said. "The players in the Continent of Gods and Demons are in a tough situation. We need to transport modern weapons to conquer the continent."

Cheng Xunyun glanced at Joseph and snorted at his words. The people from the Western Continent are too barbaric, he thought. This is clearly the prelude to colonization. If modern weapons of mass destruction enter the Continent of Gods and Demons, it will lead to a war of annihilation between players and natives. There will be no room for de-escalation until one side completely conquers the other. Furthermore, the Continent of Gods and Demons has various miraculous forms of magic; weapons of mass destruction might not necessarily harm them but would most likely affect the civilians of this other world. Although Lin Bai is domineering, he has never harmed civilians. He wants to be the lord of the Three Realms, so he absolutely wouldn’t want to bear infamy on behalf of the Western Continent.

"Wait a moment. Let me first secure a foothold," Lin Bai said, looking up at the Mages in the sky before vanishing from among the crowd.

The next second, he had already appeared high in the sky, followed by the Body of the War God. He had recalled Nan Lingtian into a Card. Lin Bai now manifested his Golden Realm, while the Body of the War God was at the Bronze realm. If these two Realms were to make a move in the Mortal World of the Immortal World, it would trigger a Heavenly Tribulation.

It was unknown if the Continent of Gods and Demons also had the concept of a Heavenly Tribulation. However, a world shouldn’t allow forces to exist that exceed its own capacity to bear. Lin Bai didn’t want to challenge the rules of the Continent of Gods and Demons. Too many people were present. If a Heavenly Tribulation was truly triggered, his current cultivation level meant he wouldn’t fear being harmed by it, but he couldn’t afford the delay... However, a high Realm naturally came with a powerful aura, sufficient to intimidate those weaker than them.

Looking at Lin Bai and the Body of the War God opposite them, the NPCs from the Continent of Gods and Demons floating in the sky felt a suffocating pressure. The Flying Dragon beneath the Holy Knight retracted its claws into its abdomen, lowered its head towards Lin Bai, and emitted whimpering sounds of submission, daring not to make any move.

The red-robed Mage beside the knight suppressed his inner trepidation and saluted Lin Bai. "Honored one, I am Garnett, a red-robed Mage from the Holy Light Sect. May I ask where you hail from? Has our war disturbed you? If so, please allow me to offer the deepest apologies on behalf of the Holy Light Sect."

"I am Lin Bai, from the faraway Immortal World, the Ruler of Laws proclaimed by those players, the Alliance Hierarch of the Justice League. I wish to speak with those who hold authority in your world," Lin Bai said calmly, looking down at the Knight Corps on the battlefield below.

The ground troops included knights in heavy armor on horseback holding long spears, archers with longbows, Mages in enchanted robes, and Priests in white robes... Golden or white halos swirled at the knights’ feet, likely enhancement spells bestowed upon them by the Mages. The Mages, in turn, hid behind transparent shields, wands in hand, chanting incantations to launch attacks.

On the battlefield, the corpses of many slain players had not yet disappeared, strewn about in various places. Some were cut down by blades, others impaled by earthen spikes erupting from the ground, some burned to death by flames, others struck by lightning... Looking down from the sky, the entire battlefield resembled a giant meat grinder, an unusually brutal scene.

It was a rare sight, of course, from Lin Bai’s perspective. In the worlds he had interfered with, players hadn’t really experienced one or two proper wars. In terms of game participation, players in the Immortal World were clearly not having as visceral an experience as those in the Continent of Gods and Demons. Without Lin Bai, this current situation was likely the norm for interactions between players and NPCs.

...

「On the other side of the battlefield.」

The players from the Western Continent watched the Knight Corps, now intimidated by Lin Bai, their faces beaming with excitement.

The player commander, [Great white shark], shouted, "Alliance Hierarch Lin, these foolish natives don’t believe in the power of the Laws! Please teach them a lesson! We are willing to join the Justice League and fight the game company!"

"Alliance Hierarch Lin, please help us reclaim our lost property! These natives have gone too far!" another player cried out.

...

Lin Bai ignored the noisy players. After setting his sights on the Fairy World, he had lost interest in dealing with those he considered his inferiors. It’s no glory for an adult to bully a child.

The red-robed Mage Garnett also heard the players’ shouts. Though his expression soured, he swallowed his anger and said courteously, "Honorable Mr. Lin, I will convey your intentions to our Sect Leader, but this may take some time..."

"Garnett, you can truthfully report my capabilities to your Sect Leader and all other powerful individuals you can contact," Lin Bai said with a faint smile. "The Magpie Bridges are still in the sky. If they wish to challenge me, I can return at any time. They have only one chance. If they lose, I will become the ruler of this world."

"..." A smile unconsciously touched Garnett’s lips, but before he could speak, an absurd scene unfolded on the battlefield.

The well-trained knights of the Knight Corps suddenly dropped their weapons, turned their horses, and rushed towards the Priests at the rear of their formation. As if driven mad, they began showcasing a variety of talents: some sang, some danced, and others performed acrobatics with their warhorses...

On the battlefield, shrieks and cries of disbelief erupted everywhere. No one knew what was happening. Why were they acting like this?

Garnett’s face turned pale. "Mr. Lin... what’s happening to them?"

"This is one of the laws I control—Phoenix Seeks Phoenix. I can compel anyone to court another at any time," Lin Bai said with a smile. "If you’ve paid attention to those players’ publications, you should know this is one of the Divine Skills I cultivate from the Law of Love. I possess even stronger Divine Skills, but I am merciful and do not wish to cause excessive slaughter in this world, so I will not demonstrate them all. If you wish to understand the laws in more detail, you can ask the players over there..."

Seeing the Knight Corps that had oppressed them being tormented by Lin Bai like clowns, the players from the Western Continent were instantly thrilled, and a chorus of whistles erupted. Some of the more audacious players even used the Flight technique to get closer to the Phoenix Seeking Phoenix Group, observing them—or rather, live-streaming them—from up close.

After Lin Bai used Phoenix Seeks Phoenix, the Emotion Value in his interface began to rise continuously.

The Western Continent audience and Eastern Continent inhabitants spoke different languages. Previously, even though Lin Bai was the absolute superstar of the Immortal World game, their attention had primarily been focused on the World of Gods and Demons. It wasn’t until Lin Bai entered the real world that they had gathered extensive information about him and studied it in detail. But reading information could never be as thrilling as watching a live broadcast...

Before Lin Bai’s arrival, the players had been continuously retreating under the pursuit of the Knight Corps. Many new players, who had just obtained their game accounts, were being killed by the natives to the point they couldn’t play properly. They desperately needed a hero to save them. The handsome and dashing Lin Bai, who had changed the tide of war in the blink of an eye, was undoubtedly their hero. Moreover, Lin Bai spoke with a familiar accent that made them feel a sense of kinship. This quickly led them to accept Lin Bai and consider him one of their own. After all, Lin Bai hailed from another world, not the Eastern Continent; such a powerful figure could be claimed by anyone.