Chapter 323: 323 Divine Soul Possession
Moving nocturnally, Lin Sanbai and Lin Si Bai finally arrived outside the Blood Sect.
Activating the Sea of Blood required a vast amount of Spirit Stones to power the formation, a process with enormous consumption.
To conserve resources, the Blood Sect’s blood qi currently only covered the Sect’s immediate vicinity. Outside the Sect, the area was a wreck; trees destroyed by Sonic attacks still lay strewn about, toppled in all directions.
Under the hazy moonlight, Lin Bai clearly saw many players flying in and out above the Blood Sect. Their bodies were wreathed in blood qi, most of them having cultivated the Blood Sect’s Cultivation Techniques.
At this time, numerous balloons floated outside the Sect, and beneath them hung vertical banners covered in writing.
...
"Xinke Motors Welcomes Martial Uncle Three White and Martial Uncle Four White Back to the Blood Sect!"
"JingDa Technology Welcomes Martial Uncle Three White and Martial Uncle Four White Back!"
"The Beggar Gang Welcomes Martial Uncle Three White and Martial Uncle Four White Back..."
...
Floating above the Blood Sect were fleets of Blood Boats, Hundred Flowers Shuttles, Sword Boats, and more.
Various banners also hung from these flying contraptions, all advertisements for different brands.
Reflected by these colorful banners, the entire Blood Sect looked as if the players had meticulously prepared a grand welcoming venue for Lin Bai.
Looking at the scene before him, Lin Sanbai asked, "Fourth Junior Brother, what do you think?"
Inside the Heavenly Tribulation, there were only four players. Aside from cultivation, they spent most of their time interacting with their livestream audience, discussing trivial topics. Even so, Lin Bai still managed to glean the general situation of the outside world from their private chats.
After all, the four members of Hold Nothing Back in Happiness were also the only channel for the outside world to learn about Lin Bai, making them extraordinarily important. The conglomerate’s leadership had promised them many benefits to win them over, occasionally sharing news about developments in the outside world.
Moreover, the System had also notified him that his enterprises were being encroached upon. Lin Bai didn’t believe the conglomerate’s players would genuinely welcome his return.
"Offering unsolicited help usually means they’re up to no good or planning to rob you. It’s most likely a treacherous feast!" Lin Si Bai murmured to himself.
"Well said. You wait here; I’ll go scout things out!" Lin Sanbai said, laughing.
Before Four White could respond, Lin Sanbai Flashed repeatedly, already inside the Blood Sect.
Even with the full support of the Seven Righteous Sects and Five Demonic Sects, plus the Blood Sect’s resources, players who had desperately grinded their Levels had only reached the Divinity Transformation Realm; they were no match for Lin Sanbai, who Flashed into the Sect.
Seeing Lin Bai suddenly appear, all the players burst into an uproar.
"He’s here."
"Are the sentries outside good for nothing?"
"How did he suddenly get in?"
"Just one of him?"
"Should we attack?"
...
Lin Sanbai had just come to a stop when a cacophony of private chat messages flooded his senses. Before he could speak, the players suddenly scattered with a WHOOSH.
Then, purple light flared from all directions.
Lin Bai’s vision suddenly blurred. He considered Flashing out but stopped at the last moment. I need to find out what these players are up to.
His vision soon faded completely, but the voices in his ears never ceased:
"It worked!"
"A Divine Soul has almost zero resistance to ultraviolet and infrared radiation."
"High-voltage electrical arcs can also efficiently melt a Divine Soul..."
"Striking first was the right move; we shouldn’t have given Lin Bai a chance to react."
"He’s gone! Too bad he didn’t drop any loot."
"You can’t do this!"
...
A short while later, Lin Bai lost Lin Sanbai’s five senses.
On the Qingmu, Lin Bai’s eyes snapped open. He muttered to himself, "Ultraviolet rays, infrared rays... these guys are truly decisive. Their secrecy was impeccable. Still, a Divine Soul really is fragile."
"What happened?" Xu Longyun asked.
"Three White is dead," Lin Bai said.
"Who did it?" Xu Longyun asked, surprised.
"The skyfallen ones from the Blood Sect," Lin Bai snorted. "They probably don’t want me to return and retake control of the Justice League..."
"What about Four White?" Xu Longyun’s face darkened as she asked. She didn’t know the specifics and mistakenly believed Silver and the others had betrayed Lin Bai.
No one likes betrayal, especially when the skyfallen ones of the Justice League had benefited so much from Lin Bai.
"He’s gone to avenge Three White," Lin Bai said nonchalantly. "Don’t worry, focus on your cultivation. Three White was caught off guard, but Four White won’t be..."
"Don’t let him go! A Divine Soul is inherently fragile. It would be terrible if he died too. If it comes to it, you could have Four White convert to Yin cultivation as well," Xu Longyun said, glancing at Lin Erbai, who was cultivating on his own.
She had long guessed that the loss of a Divine Soul wouldn’t significantly impact Lin Bai, but Xu Longyun instinctively didn’t want the Divided God, who looked identical to Lin Bai, to perish.
"He’s already gone," Lin Bai laughed. "Their personalities are like mine; they don’t let a grudge last overnight."
Saying this, Lin Bai shifted a large part of his focus to Lin Si Bai.
Three White’s death was just that; he still needed to use Four White for an experiment.
「Outside the Blood Sect.」
Lin Si Bai concealed his form and used Flash to circle around to the Blood Sect’s rear courtyard. He could no longer enter from the front.
Those balloons, and the advertising banners hanging beneath the Blood Boats and Hundred Flowers Shuttles, now pulsed with purple or blue light. They were essentially strips of ultraviolet and infrared lights, interspersed with crackling electrical arcs.
The entire Blood Sect had clearly been turned into a massive trap targeting Divine Souls by the players.
The players’ practical skills were indeed formidable; they had set up such a grand trap in just a few days.
Indeed, they cannot be allowed to grow stronger!
...
Lin Sanbai’s death plunged the Blood Sect’s main square into a chaotic brawl.
A fierce conflict erupted between the Support Group and the conglomerate members. He Qin and other low-Realm Cultivators who had remained behind, assisting the Support Group, became enraged upon witnessing the players’ ambush on Lin Sanbai and clashed with them.
However, the players were numerous and had rapidly increased their Levels by consuming vast quantities of Pill Medicine. Furthermore, they had long prepared various contingency plans against the Blood Sect’s Cultivators.
Caught unprepared by the well-prepared players, the natives were instantly at a disadvantage. Many low-Realm individuals perished on the spot under the players’ siege...
...
The natives who rely on me and the fans who admire me are my true people!
Lin Si Bai bypassed the ultraviolet-drenched area. With a mental command and a battle cry, he activated Rush Moon. All affected players struck the same pose and shot into the sky.
...
"Lin Bai’s other Divided God is nearby! Everyone, remain calm! Players in hiding, activate Far Infrared Diffuse Mode!"
"The Divine Soul can’t use abilities! Sonic attacks will cause friendly fire on the native NPCs below! Everyone, activate the Ultraviolet Light Bands on your bodies to prevent Lin Bai from getting close!"
...
A series of commands were relayed in an orderly fashion through player private chats.
Except for the Lin Bai Support Group and the natives, the ascending players transformed into small, rising lanterns, their bodies emitting purple or blue light.
Meanwhile, in the Hall of the Blood Sect, giant, cannon-like light bulbs mounted on the four surrounding walls lit up.
The bulbs glowed with color.
However, both infrared and ultraviolet are invisible light. Even with Lin Bai’s extraordinary vision, he couldn’t see the diffused rays.
Lin Bai instantly Flashed high into the air, positioning himself directly above Luo Xue, using her body to shield himself from the harmful light.
Luo Xue was a prodigy of the Moon Spirit Sect; among the members who remained, her Cultivation Level was the highest.
Affected by Rush Moon, her ascent speed was also the fastest, far surpassing everyone else. She was the most conspicuous target.
Although Lin Bai moved quickly, he wasn’t faster than light.
In that brief instant, his Divine Soul Avatar weakened noticeably.
It had to be said, the players’ infrared weapons were incredibly powerful.
"Alliance Hierarch," Luo Xue, noticing Lin Bai above her, was taken aback and showed a remorseful expression. "Your subordinate was incompetent and failed to detect the skyfallen ones’ conspiracy, resulting in damage to Your Excellency’s avatar. Please forgive me, Alliance Hierarch!"
Below Luo Xue were He Qin, Xin Shang, and others. This group, flying upwards, all saw Lin Bai and vied to apologize to him.
"It has nothing to do with you," Lin Bai said. "Shortly, I will continuously use Separation of Love on the skyfallen ones. Luo Xue, shield me from the light. The rest of you, find a way to rip the light bands off them."
"As you command, Alliance Hierarch!" He Qin and the others responded in unison.
In a short while, those affected by Separation of Love had flown to the highest point.
The players were stratified by Level.
Targeting the highest-Level group of players, Lin Bai used Rush Moon a second time.
Lin Bai continued to hide behind Luo Xue.
Meanwhile, He Qin and the others lunged at the players, tearing off the light bands wrapped around them with utmost speed.
"Sect Leader He, Lin Bai is under the Heavenly Tribulation; there’s no way he can come out. His Divine Soul Avatar is incredibly fragile. Are you truly going to remain obstinate?" a player persuaded.
"Once Lin Bai dies, the Seven Righteous Sects and Five Demonic Sects will undoubtedly move against the Justice League. Only by cooperating can we preserve the Justice League," Sky Falcon said.
He was a high-ranking member of the Xinda Group, in charge of the combat division. As a director, he had the most resources and was among the first players to reach the Divinity Transformation Realm, boasting the highest combat power among them. He glanced disdainfully at He Qin. "A Divine Soul has no Spiritual Power. How can it continue to protect you?"
"Killing us is useless," Ray Electrical said. "We don’t fear death. The Seven Righteous Sects no longer have a place for you. After Lin Bai dies, only we can protect you..."
"Throw the light bands you’re holding at Lin Bai! It won’t take long for him to dissipate," Sky Falcon said.
The players continued to try and persuade He Qin and the others while secretly discussing countermeasures.
"Noisy!" Lin Si Bai, using a skill that doubled his decibel output, suddenly roared. Seeing that He Qin and the others had ripped the light bands off a group of airborne players, he Flashed, lunged at Sky Falcon, and decisively activated the Body Snatching technique.
Indeed, this was Lin Bai’s idea.
Possessing natives isn’t very interesting. I should try to possess a player! Failure only means losing one Divine Soul Avatar, but if I succeed, it’ll be a massive win. I’d have both a player’s identity and an NPC’s...
Lin Si Bai’s figure pounced onto Sky Falcon, vanishing in a flash.
The loquacious Sky Falcon abruptly fell into a stupor. He maintained his flying posture, but his speed drastically decreased.
"Divine Soul Possession!" players and natives exclaimed simultaneously.
"Sect Leader He, eliminate the surrounding skyfallen ones! Protect the Alliance Hierarch while he completes the possession!" Luo Xue immediately responded.
Rush Moon hadn’t stopped due to Lin Sanbai’s disappearance. The players desperately pushed their Cultivation Levels to fly higher, but they couldn’t shake off He Qin and the others.
He Qin and his group swiftly and efficiently eliminated the players flying alongside Sky Falcon, kicking them out of the game.
Then, they formed a protective circle around Sky Falcon, waiting for his Rush Moon-induced ascent to reach its peak.
A few Sect Leaders and Luo Xue, now escorting Sky Falcon, rushed directly out of the Blood Sect and disappeared into the mountain forest at top speed.
...
The conglomerate’s upper echelons urgently convened, started a livestream, and contacted players scattered across various locations.
Black Sheep reported the situation: "...Our trap eliminated the first Divine Soul Avatar. The second one ambushed us, using Separation of Love on everyone... During the ascent, Lin Bai suddenly possessed Shocking Sky Falcon. Later, Luo Xue broke through our lines with Shocking Sky Falcon. That’s pretty much what happened."
"Players can be possessed?"
"What does possession mean? An NPC controls a player, gains their abilities, while the player is effectively dead, watching their own account but unable to operate it?"
"Maybe Lin Bai lost to Shocking Sky Falcon and was absorbed by him!"
"What was Shocking Sky Falcon’s reaction at that moment?" The Bright Sun asked.
"The instant he was possessed, it was like he disconnected, losing all autonomy," Ray Electrical said. "Then I was killed. Shocking Sky Falcon wasn’t at the Resurrection Point."
"Can we contact him?" Far Vision Eagle asked.
"His account icon is colored, indicating he’s not disconnected, but he hasn’t replied to any messages," Black Sheep said.
"Let’s wait!" Far Vision Eagle said. "In a normal Divine Soul Possession, the possessing soul must fight the original soul for control of the body. The original soul has the home-field advantage. Even if the possession succeeds, the possessing soul will be damaged.
But we’re not from this world; no one knows what happens when a player is possessed. It’s probably not a major issue. Wait for Shocking Sky Falcon to contact you. Luo Xue and her group couldn’t have gone far. Send people to find them!"
"Lin Bai’s Divine Soul suddenly returned, and now the Support Group and the natives within the Blood Sect have turned against us. How should we handle this?" Silver asked.
"Try to persuade the natives. As for the Lin Bai Support Group, see if they can be bought. If not, cut off their resources and force them to delete their accounts," Far Vision Eagle said. "We worked hard to secure this foothold; we can’t let them ruin it."
"What if forcing them to delete their accounts makes them go to the Seven Righteous Sects and cause trouble for us?" Deepdiving Fish asked.
"Don’t worry. Those people are branded as Lin Bai’s followers. They’ll stick out like fireflies wherever they go; no NPC will take them in," Wind Rider laughed. "No need to bother with them. The fact that Lin Bai’s Divine Soul risked possessing a player proves he’s at his wit’s end and most likely can’t escape the Heavenly Tribulation.
You all acted decisively today. The priority now is to increase our strength. With Lin Bai dead, our enemies are the Seven Righteous Sects. Ultraviolet and infrared light easily annihilated Lin Bai’s Divine Soul, proving that technological weapons can counter Cultivators. Infrared weaponry can be developed further; we should aim to create something that can remotely counter the Valley of Thousand Souls..."
...
When Lin Si Bai entered Sky Falcon’s body, Lin Bai temporarily lost his perspective.
But unlike when Three White dissipated and the perspective vanished entirely, Lin Si Bai’s view was pitch black—the kind of darkness where you can’t see your hand in front of your face...
But soon, a ray of light appeared, illuminating Lin Bai’s vision.
He snapped his eyes open. Rippling water spread before him. The previous ethereal sensation of being a Divine Soul was gone, replaced by the feeling of having a real body. However, this current body also felt submerged in water.
Confused, Lin Si Bai sat up.
The water surface parted.
The lid above him opened with a sound.
Before his eyes was a modern room, fully equipped with fluorescent lights, a desk, a laptop, and so on.
At this moment, Lin Si Bai was sitting in a gaming capsule filled with liquid.
GULP!
Lin Si Bai swallowed hard, looked down at the unfamiliar body, and suddenly froze. He stammered, Did I just f***ing possess the player’s actual body outside the game? This joke has gone too far!