CHAPTER 368: EVERY WORLD IS DIFFERENT.

All arrogance stems from ignorance.

Lin Bai led Garnett back and forth through the Magpie Bridge, giving him a tour of the real world, the Immortal World, and the spiritual energy-rich Fairy World.

Garnett saw the gaming pods players used to enter the game world. He witnessed modern machines, brought from the real world via the Magpie Bridge, constructing massive infrastructure in the Immortal World. He beheld a spectacular Heavenly Tribulation and the strange tribulation-crossing method of the Phoenix Seeking Phoenix Group. He also saw Qingmu, the Sea of Blood, and the Valley of Thousand Souls, and personally experienced the dense spiritual energy of the Fairy World.

Garnett’s mind was reeling from the immense shock. His thoughts went blank, as if he had lost the ability to think, and he could only repeat one sentence: "So this is what the world truly looks like..."

"Bishop, do you now understand why I came to your world?" Lin Bai stood beside him, his figure as tall and straight as a towering pine.

Two butterflies perched on his shoulders, their wings occasionally fluttering. This journey around the worlds had also brought them an immense shock.

Looking at the dispirited Garnett, Lin Bai continued, "I have never considered you an enemy. I have always been sparing no effort to save every world..."

"Saving?" Lin Bai’s methods and style flashed through Garnett’s mind, and he blurted out, "I’m afraid you’re doing this for your own power and desires!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, his face changed dramatically. "Mr. Lin, this is what I meant to say..."

His voice cut off abruptly. He clenched his jaw, preventing himself from uttering another sound.

The two butterflies on Lin Bai’s shoulders stopped fluttering their wings. Their compound eyes, made of countless tiny lenses, stared at Garnett, seemingly puzzled as to why he would provoke Lin Bai at such a moment.

"Don’t be nervous. It’s just a minor spell. Apart from making people tell the truth, it has no other side effects. I call it the Truth-telling Technique." Lin Bai snapped his fingers, smiling at Garnett. "Guessing while speaking wastes a lot of energy. Dropping the pretense saves time. Bishop Garnett, you’ll get used to it!"

To hell with ’getting used to it’! This is an evil mind-control technique...

Garnett cursed Lin Bai inwardly. He reflexively wanted to praise Lin Bai’s spell to curry favor, but as soon as he opened his mouth, he blurted out, "You’re truly a despicable person..."

Looking at Garnett’s colorless face and sensing his fear, Lin Bai said indifferently, "Don’t be afraid. Many people say that about me."

Not receiving any punishment, Garnett took a deep breath to steady his emotions. "Mr. Lin, you cannot succeed. Even divine spirits cannot control people’s hearts, let alone you, trying to control three worlds! These worlds are filled with all sorts of people. Some may be unwilling to relinquish their power, and others may not want to confront the game company. You are imposing your ideas upon the world, which is essentially no different from what the game company does, except you’ve cloaked yourself in the noble guise of saving the world."

After bravely voicing his true thoughts, Garnett’s courage returned, and he met Lin Bai’s gaze unflinchingly.

Lin Bai sighed, "You’re right. Great individuals are often misunderstood by some. Bishop, there’s an old saying: ’Distance tests a horse’s strength, and time reveals a person’s heart.’ Time will prove everything."

"In fact, your self-proclaimed world-saving is unnecessary! The players invading our world were already being brought under control by us. When they first appeared, our world’s sages devised strategies against them. They do indeed possess Undying Bodies, but their weaknesses are equally apparent. Each time they die, they become weaker. If we persistently eliminate them, they become no different from ordinary people, no matter how many arrive." Garnett was filled with righteous indignation. "However, your appearance disrupted all our plans..."

"Bishop Garnett, you are too naive." Lin Bai shook his head. "I forgot to mention, among the new batch of players, many ’lucky accounts’ have appeared. They possess numerous special Skills and advance far more rapidly than ordinary players. The game company aims to provide its players with an enjoyable experience; it won’t idly stand by and watch you suppress them."

"Even so, we can handle it ourselves," Garnett insisted.

Lin Bai stared at Garnett, pondered for a moment, then said, "But I don’t want you to handle it yourselves."

"..." Garnett’s eyes widened in disbelief.

[Resentment from Garnett +1+1+1...]

"You are an indispensable part of my plan. If you are unwilling to help me, I don’t mind assisting the game company in accelerating your world’s destruction, only to step in later to clean up the mess. I imagine the outcome would be much the same," Lin Bai stated, his tone casual as if discussing something insignificant.

"Evil Spirit!" Garnett’s chest heaved, and he seethed with uncontrollable rage.

"Bishop Garnett, why is it that you can accept the game company trampling and destroying your world, yet you cannot tolerate me?" Lin Bai chuckled. "Is it because I’m more approachable? If so, I can certainly change..."

"You... you cannot do this..." Sweat beaded on Garnett’s forehead, an involuntary smile plastered on his face. In that moment, he lost all composure, completely devoid of the dignity expected of a Red Robed Bishop.

"That depends on your performance," Lin Bai stated. "You’ve seen the world’s true nature with your own eyes, and you understand my intentions. Whether your world faces peace or war now rests on your eloquence."

"Mr. Lin, you overestimate me! I am merely a humble bishop of Free City, hardly in a position to influence the decisions of my superiors," Garnett pleaded urgently. "Even if I could sway the Holy Light Church, there are still monarchs on the continent, the Sun God Church, nefarious black Wizards, Mage guilds, Druids, Elves, and even Abyss creatures!

"They haven’t witnessed your power. How could a few words from me convince them to lay down their arms and submit to you? Furthermore, there are the true divine spirits residing in the realms above us; they would never permit their followers to serve another."

"True divine spirits, eh?" Lin Bai mused.

"Of course, they are true divine spirits! They were born coeval with heaven and earth, their divine power is boundless, and your Divine Skills may not affect them! Your act of poaching their followers makes you their enemy; they will not let you off easily!" As if finding new resolve, Garnett’s voice grew progressively louder.

[The War God is the most powerful divine spirit in the world. Conquer these false gods and spread the War God’s fame throughout all realms. Reward: Law of Heaven and Earth.]

Damn! This reward? Is it like Sun Wukong’s ability to grow to immense heights? Even though Lin Bai’s mind had been tempered to a state of profound calmness, this new reward still shook him. The Seventy-two Transformations were mostly for self-preservation, but this Law of Heaven and Earth was a true combat ability! Possessing such a Divine Skill, one could overturn mountains and seas with a mere gesture... However, just like the Immortal Soul, obtaining it required conquering the divine spirits of the Continent of Gods and Demons. This reward wouldn’t be easy to get. The System seems to be rushing to shower him with incredible rewards; perhaps it anticipates that his current endeavors will ultimately lead to a confrontation with that so-called game company!

After calming himself, Lin Bai asked, "Bishop, do the divine spirits of your world descend from the heavens?"

"You mean the Divine Realm?" Garnett countered.

"I have a limited understanding of your world’s structure," Lin Bai admitted.

"They do descend. However, the divine spirits spend most of their time in slumber. Those who walk the mortal realm are typically their servants or offspring," Garnett explained. "Occasionally, divine spirits will transport mortals to their divine kingdoms and bestow upon them a Divine Body."

As expected, Lin Bai mused, each world’s configuration is unique. Dealing with beings like the celestials, confined to the Fairy World, is relatively straightforward. However, a host of unrestricted divine spirits freely roaming the world presents a far greater challenge. You never know when they might suddenly appear and stir up trouble... Hastily unlocking the map to the Continent of Gods and Demons—was it a blessing or a curse? Still, the Continent of Gods and Demons and the Fairy World are not aligned. If I could incite the divine spirits of the Continent of Gods and Demons to clash with the Heavenly Kings who govern the laws of the Fairy World, that would be ideal... Surely, both sides wouldn’t unite against me!

"So, the divine spirits spend most of their time asleep?" Lin Bai inquired.

"Correct. However, the Pope can awaken them through rituals," Garnett responded. "Therefore, your proposal for everyone in this world to obey your commands is simply unfeasible."

"I understand. Just follow my arrangements," Lin Bai said with a dismissive snort. "The divine spirits you so faithfully trust may not be my match. After all, I can traverse many worlds, while your world’s divine spirits have been confined to their own realm for ages, never venturing out—much like frogs in a well, able to see only the patch of sky above them. Even if they possess some divine power, it is likely limited. If they disagree with my plan, I will persuade them personally..."

"..." Garnett fell silent. Though he was loath to admit it, Lin Bai spoke the truth. If their divine spirits possessed the ability to traverse worlds, they would have long since gone to the players’ world to stop them.

Having quelled Garnett’s proud demeanor, Lin Bai said, "So be it. I will send you back. Prepare a comprehensive dossier on all the divine spirits of your world for me. I hope to collaborate with them to jointly resist the game company."

"Understood." Garnett nodded dejectedly. Then, remembering the Truth-telling Technique, he asked anxiously, "Mr. Lin, could you please remove the Truth-telling Technique? Not everyone in this world appreciates hearing the unvarnished truth!"

"It will wear off on its own after a day," Lin Bai glanced at him with a smile. "In the meantime, you could try not speaking..."

Lin Bai returned to the Continent of Gods and Demons with the dispirited Garnett.

The Holy Light Church’s legions had been defeated, and Free City was once again open to players.

Free City was a stone metropolis built into the side of a mountain, its landscape dominated by grey, drab buildings. Castles crowned the highest points of the city.

Soldiers patrolled the streets, their eyes fixed primarily on the players with a mixture of vigilance and revulsion. It was impossible for them not to feel disgust.

The streets of Free City teemed with players.

Compared to the brazen players, the tattered-clothed native inhabitants seemed as pitiful as lambs among wolves, hugging the walls as they walked and daring not to speak loudly.

The Continent of Gods and Demons resembled medieval Europe, characterized by rigid social hierarchies, filth, and squalor. It was a stark contrast to the immaculately maintained cities of the Immortal World. No trace of advanced civilization was apparent.

Yet, the players seemed to have quickly acclimated to this environment, enthusiastically discussing how to leverage Lin Bai’s reputation to conquer this world.

When Lin Bai appeared, they erupted in cheers, waving their arms frantically towards the sky.

"Master, I don’t like it here. It’s too squalid," Jiang Qingqin said in a low voice, trailing behind Lin Bai as she gazed down at the city below.

Throughout their journey, she had been Lin Bai’s little attendant. However, without a translator, she hadn’t understood a single word of Lin Bai’s conversation with Garnett.

While the wilderness had been tolerable, upon entering the city, even from high in the sky, she could smell peculiar odors. The initial thrill of interdimensional travel was swiftly supplanted by revulsion.

"I don’t like it either, but we need to turn them into our allies. Every world has its strengths, doesn’t it?" Lin Bai turned to her. "I will instruct the players to transform this place into a beautiful and habitable world."

As he spoke, a Magpie Bridge materialized beneath Jiang Qingqin’s feet, extending to the feet of his Body of the War God.

The group stepped onto the Magpie Bridge to rendezvous with the others.

Previously, a Magpie Bridge could only connect one pair of lovers. However, since Lin Bai had acquired the Soul Split ability, each of his Divided Gods was considered an extension of his main self, greatly simplifying the process of connecting via Magpie Bridges.

「At this moment.」

Everyone was gathered in the City Lord’s manor in Free City.

The City Lord, an Earl named Sandley, was a nobleman of the Kingdom of Thorns Flowers, over fifty years of age. Compared to the squalor of the city, the nobleman’s residence was significantly cleaner.

The Chairman and the City Lord were engaged in an animated discussion about inter-world trade and mutual cooperation, the scene resembling a formal diplomatic meeting.

Lin Bai’s Body of the War God had been present throughout, listening to their conversation without offering any opinions.

Cheng Xunyun remained silent, his expression cold. The Eastern Continent was already collaborating with the Immortal World, and he knew the Western Continent’s representatives would never permit them to also get involved with the Continent of Gods and Demons, so he refrained from futile efforts.

Moreover, the Body of the War God and John—currently subjected to Body Snatching by Lin Liu Bai—were like two surveillance monitors, precluding any discussion of confidential matters in their presence.

Furthermore, Earl Sandley had only agreed to negotiate after his defeat; he remained internally wary and resistant, unwilling to truly open up to them.

Both parties were merely sizing each other up and probing for information.

Unlike the Eastern Continent, the Continent of Gods and Demons was not under Lin Bai’s control, making cooperation between two entirely unfamiliar worlds a difficult prospect.

When Lin Bai and the Bishop returned, everyone rose to greet them.

After the introductions and formalities, Lin Bai, having no interest in conversing with underlings, said directly, "Director Cheng, Chairman, it’s time for us to return."

"Alliance Hierarch, shouldn’t you settle matters here before departing?" the Chairman asked anxiously. He had hoped to connect the two worlds via the Magpie Bridge, leveraging Lin Bai’s aid for The United States’ rapid development. With Lin Bai leaving, what was he to do?

"Chairman, don’t play dumb with me. An Earl cannot make decisions for two worlds. I only negotiate with those who have true authority," Lin Bai glanced at him and said, "I’ve already conveyed everything to Bishop Garnett. The remaining issues will require time to mature."

He paused, then continued, "Chairman, I will help you establish a few more Magpie Bridges. If you cannot wait, you can begin addressing some preliminary matters yourselves. My primary focus must be on the Immortal World. Lin Liu Bai, who is Body Snatching John and possesses a portion of my abilities, will assist you when necessary..."

Cheng Xunyun’s eyes flashed with surprise as he looked at Lin Bai. This is a move to use the Western Continent to stir up trouble!

Bishop Garnett shivered involuntarily.

Earl Sandley’s expression turned grim.

The Chairman swallowed nervously. "Can we resolve matters using our own methods?"

"Of course." Lin Bai’s gaze swept over everyone in the reception hall, and he nodded affirmatively. Then, using a voice transmission only the Chairman could hear, he added, "You can flex your muscles a bit. Gather as much information about this world as possible—the more, the better..."