CHAPTER 370: 370 REBEL PLAYERS

Lin Bai looked at the lucky account Players who had been recruited into the Guiding Pool. Their loyalty rates were less than thirty percent.

It did make sense when I thought about it.

The gaming company launched these lucky accounts, clearly aiming to oppose him. How could they possibly choose his fans?

A loyalty rate of less than thirty percent basically meant they were just passersby, the type who could betray or backstab at any moment...

Ultimately, most Players were innately rebellious. They were like knives in the hands of the gaming company, aimed at cutting down disruptors like him who caused chaos in other people’s games.

Lin Bai secretly speculated that the gaming company hadn’t targeted him directly probably because they were constrained by the manipulators of the myriad of random Systems he possessed.

After all, judging by their effects, the Skills rewarded by the System were simply heaven-defying. Unlike the lucky accounts, these Skills were granted at maximum Level, requiring no cultivation whatsoever...

First, suppress their growth.

Second, turn them from the enemy’s weapons into his own.

Third, continue completing missions to enhance his own abilities.

Fourth, accelerate his efforts to control the overall world situation.

Lin Bai quickly formulated a counter-strategy.

Currently, he had too many enemies. Relying solely on himself and his fan Disciples was not enough.

Forming alliances and playing enemies against each other was necessary. There was no need to throw away the bowl for fear of choking, to push away the lucky Players merely because he worried about their growth.

If he could actually kill them, that would be one thing.

But since he couldn’t, why needlessly create enemies for himself?

Besides, Lin Bai had always been adept at turning enemies into friends...

No matter how despicable Cao Cao was, he had true friends. No matter how virtuous Liu Bei was, he had archenemies.

Once, with the System’s help, the whole world had been against him. Yet now, hadn’t he gathered so many young companions around him who relied on and trusted him?

"Don’t worry, I’ve got everything under control," Lin Bai said, giving Xu Longyun a reassuring look through a telepathic message.

Xu Longyun’s anxious heart instantly calmed. This was the confidence Lin Bai had instilled in her over a long time.

She had once worried about Zhen City, and later about Taiyi Country, but Lin Bai had guided her through every crisis unscathed.

In all the world, there was no man more trustworthy than Lin Bai.

"Welcome, everyone, to the Justice League. I have familiarized myself with your Skills. I must say, your special abilities are exceptionally powerful. However, individual strength alone does not constitute true power. Even a newly-born Celestial in the Fairy World is comparable to someone in the Crossing Tribulation Realm of the Lower Realm. Compared to them, you are still too weak. I hope you can find ways to cooperate, to synergize your strengths. Only then can you truly shine in the coming battles against the Celestials and make a name for yourselves throughout the Three Realms."

Lin Bai approached the crowd of lucky account Players, a broad smile on his face as he delivered his welcoming speech. "What the Justice League needs most is talent. The war against the Celestials is imminent. If you have any needs, feel free to voice them. The league will do its utmost to provide you with full support. Don’t hold back; do whatever you deem necessary. I admire anyone with true capabilities. For whoever makes outstanding contributions, I am prepared to make an exception and accept them as my Disciple, bestowing upon them the Power of Laws..."

A stir went through the crowd.

"He’s just selling us a dream!"

"Lin Bai knows Players too well. Only a truly confident BOSS would dare let us grow like this!"

"You’ve got it wrong. Others might lack confidence, but Lin Bai has suppressed the entire world. He simply doesn’t see us as a threat!"

"His Power of Laws certainly is tempting..."

"Tempting my ass! The Ruler is tempting too, sure, but become his Disciple and you’ll be under its control. Whoever wants that can go for it. I won’t."

"Neither will I. I joined the Justice League for Lin Bai’s resources. Once we’re strong enough, only an idiot would charge into battle for Lin Bai. Isn’t it better to enjoy ourselves freely in the game world?"

"Exactly. Lin Bai has always been set against the gaming company. Without the gaming company, our special accounts will be gone. Are we supposed to go back to living ordinary lives? I’ve finally seen a glimmer of hope; there’s no way I’m going back to those tough old days."

"Bro, you’ve hit the nail on the head. It’s those arrogant big shots who should be worried about the gaming company. We, who have benefited from it, should be the ones supporting it."

"Right! As long as the gaming company stands, who cares if it’s a game world or the real world? We’ll be the new elite!"

"Lin Bai still thinks he can fool us like we’re his fans. Little does he know, we are his ultimate enemies!"

"Lin Bai can access the real world. Have you ever considered this: if he can’t eliminate us in the game, what if he directly attacks our physical bodies in the gaming capsules? What then?"

"He’d have to be able to damage the gaming capsule first! You don’t know how tough those things are. I have inside information: the consortium tried everything but couldn’t damage a gaming capsule in the slightest. Plus, they’re filled with nutrient solution, so it’s fine even if we don’t eat or drink. Lin Bai can’t possibly crack the gaming company’s black technology."

"Absolutely right. Even if the gaming capsules could be hacked, who cares if our real-world bodies are destroyed? Worst case, we live in the game forever. An Undying Body sounds pretty awesome, doesn’t it?"

"Many Players haven’t realized it yet and still see Lin Bai as a benefactor. But one day, all Players will understand: as long as we retain our Player status, we are the masters of the game world."

"Damn, I never understood this before and even saw the gaming company as the enemy! You guys have suddenly enlightened me. Say, should we form a secret alliance, develop our strength in the shadows, and then, once Lin Bai has stabilized the Three Realms, overthrow him and claim the world for ourselves?"

From the moment Lin Bai began his speech, the Players’ private chats had been incessant.

Listening to this, Lin Bai was speechless. He could now confirm that the Players with lucky accounts weren’t handpicked by the gaming company.

Unbelievable! They’re really running with this; they even have a plan!

When had he ever told the Players he intended to oppose the gaming company? The Justice League’s proclaimed slogan had always been one of cooperation and mutual benefit...

Regarding dealing with the gaming company, he had discussed it with Xu Longyun and Duke Zhenguo. However, they were severely harassed by Players and would never reveal such matters to them.

He had also spoken with high-ranking officials in the real world. They were already panicking about the gaming company’s influence on their world, and Players significantly impacted their interests. They wouldn’t be foolish enough to publicize any plans to confront the gaming company.

And his own actions, like building the Magpie Bridge between the real world and the Immortal World, were aimed at fostering friendly cooperation between the two worlds...

Yet now, these Players were suddenly proclaiming his intent to fight the gaming company...

Sigh!

Lin Bai sighed dejectedly. With such thoughts implanted by the gaming company, these Players were impossible to recruit. To protect their own interests, they were bound to cause trouble...

But for now, the System clearly had the upper hand. Shamelessly eavesdropping on the enemy’s secret plots felt incredibly satisfying!

After inquiring about their needs, Lin Bai hastily concluded his address. These Players, conspiring so openly, were too low-Level and not worth the effort of specifically dealing with them.

The most crucial point was that Lin Bai currently had no one else to deploy. If he didn’t use the Players to stir up trouble in the Fairy World, was he supposed to send the natives of the Lower Realm, who only had one life each, to charge into deadly battles?

Those undergoing Tribulation wouldn’t succeed until at least tomorrow, and Lin Bai wasn’t needed on the Continent of Gods and Demons for now.

Lin Bai’s original plan had been to conspire with Nan Lingtian against his teacher to increase his own strength. With Teleportation Portals connecting the cities in the Fairy World, a single day should have been enough for him to gain a Level.

But now, he had changed his mind. He decided to make a trip to the real world first.

Those rebellious Players had reminded him.

The gaming company’s foundation lay in the gaming capsules, the medium through which Players entered the game. He had consistently overlooked this critical aspect.

Lin Bai felt it necessary to investigate the gaming capsules first. At the very least, he needed to understand them so that if he couldn’t deal with the Players directly, he could pull the rug out from under them.

Tossing the two butterflies from the Continent of Gods and Demons to the [Far Vision Eagle], instructing it to teach them Monster Race Cultivation Techniques in the language of the Western Continent, Lin Bai returned directly to the real world.

"...It appears out of nowhere, requires no energy source, and with our current technology, we are completely unable to decipher it."

When Cheng Xunyun heard Lin Bai wanted to research the gaming capsules, he gave a look that clearly said, ’You finally thought of it.’ Nevertheless, he immediately led Lin Bai to a gaming capsule and presented their previous research findings. "If it’s moved, it will vanish overnight and reappear beside the account owner.

We’ve extracted the nutrient fluid from inside for research. The substances in that nutrient fluid don’t match anything known on our planet. Furthermore, if removed from the gaming capsule for ten minutes, they vanish without a trace..."

Truly magical!

Lin Bai circled the gaming capsule, his palm gliding over its surface. It was cool to the touch, with a metallic texture.

This was his first time examining a gaming capsule from the outside.

A vast amount of knowledge on Material Science had been instilled into Lin Bai’s mind by the God of Craftsmen System. Yet, just as Cheng Xunyun had said, he couldn’t discern the gaming capsule’s material at all. Even advanced Artifact Refining theory offered no way to analyze it.

Moreover, Lin Bai’s Eye of the Broken couldn’t detect a single weakness on the gaming capsule.

In his eyes, the gaming capsule was a perfect object.

At this moment, a Player lay inside the gaming capsule, engrossed in their game.

From the outside, one could clearly see the person submerged in nutrient fluid, as still as a corpse, but the rise and fall of their chest and occasional nerve twitches confirmed they were alive.

Normally, when someone approached a gaming capsule from the outside, the Player inside would receive a warning and could choose whether or not to log off.

But this Player seemed accustomed to being studied; despite any warnings, they didn’t exit the game.

BANG!

The Blacksmith’s Hammer appeared in Lin Bai’s hand, and he smashed it onto the gaming capsule’s door without hesitation.

Sparks flew everywhere.

A small white mark appeared on the capsule door, but the Player inside remained completely unaffected; the nutrient fluid didn’t even ripple.

Seeing the white mark made by the Blacksmith’s Hammer, the scientists accompanying Cheng Xunyun stared, their eyes wide.

They weren’t looking at the gaming capsule, but directly at the Blacksmith’s Hammer, their fervent gazes almost hot enough to melt it.

Everyone who followed the game knew about Lin Bai’s Blacksmith Six-Piece Set. It was one thing for these items to display incredible power within the game, but for them to do so in reality was somewhat inconceivable.

"Alliance Hierarch Lin, what material is your hammer made of?" a scientist in a white robe couldn’t help but ask.

"Iron," Lin Bai replied casually, his gaze still fixed on the white mark on the gaming capsule.

The Blacksmith’s Hammer was indeed made of iron. No inscriptions or formations were visible on it. At his current level, Lin Bai couldn’t comprehend the principle by which it destroyed Magic Artifacts.

This was also the first time he had encountered an object that the Blacksmith’s Hammer could not destroy.

Right before his eyes, the white mark left by the Blacksmith’s Hammer was visibly repairing itself. In the blink of an eye, the gaming capsule was restored to its original state.

"Alliance Hierarch Lin, your hammer is currently the only object capable of damaging the gaming capsule! Could you possibly leave it with us for study? If we can uncover the hammer’s secrets, we might be able to analyze the gaming capsule!" the scientist in the white robe said eagerly.

"You haven’t even studied otherworldy Artifact Refining theory. How could you possibly decipher this hammer?" Lin Bai retorted dismissively without turning his head. He raised the hammer again and began to strike the gaming capsule with the ferocity of a storm.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

Lin Bai’s hands moved with incredible speed, the piercing sounds blurring into a continuous line in an instant.

Cheng Xunyun watched from the side, his heart pounding. It was a good thing Lin Bai was hammering a gaming capsule; if that had been a person, they would have been beaten to a pulp in less than ten seconds!

One minute later, Lin Bai’s afterimages solidified, revealing the gaming capsule he had been enveloping.

The gaming capsule was densely covered with white marks.

Soon, those white marks began to disappear, one after another.

After about a minute, the gaming capsule had fully repaired itself, perfectly intact. The Player inside hadn’t even opened his eyes...

"Alliance Hierarch, you could try focusing your strikes on a single point," Cheng Xunyun suggested.

"It’s no use." Lin Bai shook his head, pointing to a white mark on the capsule door. "I’ve struck this exact spot at least three hundred times. Besides, the Blacksmith’s Hammer doesn’t destroy artifacts through brute force. Theoretically, an item should be damaged the moment the hammer touches it. I struck it repeatedly to stack the probability of its effect activating..."

As Lin Bai spoke, a chill crept into his heart.

These gaming capsules are too absurd! If I ever truly have to oppose the gaming company and they use armor made of this material, I won’t be able to break through their defenses!

Bondage!

Lin Bai activated Bondage on the person inside the gaming capsule. The usually infallible Red String met an obstacle this time; it was blocked outside the gaming capsule, unable to penetrate.

Lin Bai sighed, retracting the Red String. He glanced at the Player inside the gaming capsule and, not giving up, targeted the Player’s belt with Bondage.

The nutrient fluid churned. The Player’s belt flew off on its own, binding him with his hands behind his back in a suspension. The Player, previously immersed in the game, snapped awake and began to struggle frantically within the gaming capsule.

Cheng Xunyun and the scientists were gobsmacked.

Lin Bai’s eyes lit up. So, mind-based Skills can be used. In that case...

Lin Bai used Provoke on the Player inside the gaming capsule: "Not convinced? Come out and fight me! If you don’t come out, you’re nothing but a spineless coward..."

"..." Cheng Xunyun.

The next moment, the Player, having lost all reason, kicked open the gaming capsule and roared furiously at Lin Bai.

Lin Bai reached out, plucked him from the gaming capsule, and with a hint of a smile, tore off the belt binding him and canceled the Provoke. "Friend, when I used Bind the Immortal on you, were you forcibly logged out? Tell me exactly what happened..."

The Player hesitated for a moment, looking at Lin Bai, then at the gaming capsule, before saying, "Just now, I was browsing shops in the game. Warning sounds kept going off, but I ignored them. Then, suddenly, a warning prompt appeared before my eyes, stating that my physical body was sustaining damage and asking if I wanted to log out. In my panic, I chose to exit the game..."

"So, you could have chosen not to log out?" Lin Bai’s heart skipped a beat, but his expression remained impassive.

"I suppose so, but who wouldn’t choose to log out when their body is being harmed, right?" The Player frowned, his voice tinged with grievance. "It’s a basic human instinct..."