Civilian use?
Watching Lin Bai explain the functions of the Magpie Bridge to everyone, Xu Longyun looked up at Lin Bai and sighed to herself; her recent warning about potential dangers seemed to have been in vain.
"Brilliant! Such Divine Skills can solve the Justice League's predicament of being unable to hold their territory. Whoever dares violate our borders will be driven away immediately," laughed Zhao Tulong.
"Exactly! With the Magpie Bridge, we can hit whoever we want, grab their resources, and escape," Shen Kuang, also a radical, added. "Later, as the Alliance Hierarch uses the Arrow of Love to capture more puppets, eliminating the Seven Righteous Sects and Five Demon Sects will be within reach. By stationing lovers in various places, the Magpie Bridge can maximize our guerrilla warfare strategy."
"Alliance Hierarch, we should attack," said Ma Changcheng. "Since we've been besieged by those of the Great cheng realm, everyone has been pessimistic about the Justice League's future. It's been a while since a new member joined. But now, with the Magpie Bridge, the Justice League can recruit new members and make collecting patent fees much more convenient."
The members of the Justice League grew excited, all clamoring to use the Magpie Bridge to stir up trouble.
Unlike Xu Longyun, they had full confidence in Lin Bai.
What is civilian use? Such powerful skills should naturally be used for war. The more people the Justice League has bound to their cause, the safer they are.
Listening to everyone's arrogant words, Xu Longyun's frown deepened. She couldn't help but scold, "Sect Leaders, have you ever considered how you'll respond if, by provoking them with the Magpie Bridge, the Seven Righteous Sects and Five Demon Sects unite to wipe out the Justice League? Are you expecting the Alliance Hierarch to rush around putting out fires and protect all of you single-handedly?"
With just one sentence, she suppressed all the belligerence in the room.
Ge Feiyun glanced at Xu Longyun and protested softly, "Commandery Princess, now with the arrival of the Skyfallers, there are hardly any secrets left in the world. The Magpie Bridge's existence couldn't have been hidden from the moment it appeared. Even if we use it for civilian purposes, the Seven Righteous Sects and Five Demon Sects will still attack us. They won't allow the Magpie Bridge to exist."
"…" Xu Longyun was momentarily stunned, then subconsciously glanced at the players in the conference hall.
The players were whispering among themselves, discussing the changes the Magpie Bridge would bring to the world and the countermeasures of the consortium's players.
Seeing Xu Longyun look their way, [Silver] quickly explained, "Commandery Princess, we know our limits. We won't spread confidential matters. After all, we are also members of the Justice League."
"However, we also believe that war should be the priority," [Mad Man] smiled. "Transporting troops irrespective of distance can catch everyone completely off guard. Speed is paramount in war, after all. Moreover, the Justice League is already considered a public enemy. If we don't adopt a do-or-die stance, our situation will only worsen."
"Old Crazy is right. We should use the Magpie Bridge to compel Taiyi Country to ally with us," [Wilderness Wolf] said, "rather than waiting for the situation to stabilize before negotiating with others."
"If they don't help us in our time of crisis, what use are they to us once we've stabilized?" [No.1 Sword Immortal] said. "Once we've dealt with the Seven Righteous Sects, the Alliance Hierarch could become emperor directly. Who would care about a tiny country like Taiyi?"
The players were in agreement.
The consortium's strategy was clear: drag out the conflict between the Justice League and the Seven Righteous Sects into the late game. But by then, the Justice League players would definitely suffer, as they lacked the financial resources to compete with the consortium. Therefore, they had to ensure the Justice League gained early advantages. It was more beneficial for the Justice League players if the Alliance attacked early on, conquering more territories and sects.
"Do you even know what you're talking about?" Xu Longyun interrupted the players, scolding, "The Justice League currently lacks the strength to be a public enemy…"
Cough! Lin Bai coughed, interrupting the noisy crowd, and said, "Everyone has made valid points. However, I believe that no matter what, the Justice League must not cultivate an image of hegemony. Since we've declared that cultivation should enter the common folk's daily lives, then it must do so.
"Establishing a network with the Magpie Bridge can facilitate a more timely flow of goods. Then, merchants will no longer worry about their goods being robbed en route, and the freshness of their products can be ensured. Common people will no longer have to stay in one place their entire lives; with money and leisure, they can travel and see the world. This is a good thing for the country and its people, and we must do it.
"The Heavenly Path Journal accuses me of promoting the Way of Rules for personal gain. We can use the Magpie Bridge to refute their slander and show the world who the truly selfish ones are.
"The Magpie Bridge can serve not only civilian livelihoods but can also be opened to Cultivation Sects, accelerating the rate of exchange between them. If we do this, and the Seven Righteous Sects still insist on sabotage, not only will we not stand for it, but I fear the common people of the world won't either. Justice resides in the hearts of the people. When that time comes, if we use the Magpie Bridge to defend against our enemies, no one will be able to say a word against it."
"The Alliance Hierarch is wise!" He Qin and the others declared in unison.
"However, the Magpie Bridge must not be misused," Lin Bai continued. "The Justice League needs to function, and the Way of Rules needs to be promoted. All of this requires funds. We need to establish usage fees for the Magpie Bridge. Charges for passage, transporting goods, and for cultivation practitioners must all be explicitly laid out in advance. After all, both ends of a Magpie Bridge must be operated by people in love. Only when these individuals experience its benefits will people be more motivated to comprehend the Way of Rules.
"Later, Xiao Yun and the Skyfallers can discuss the specific fees. Xiao Yun, contact Duke Zhenguo and have Taiyi Country assign personnel to help supervise the Magpie Bridge's usage. This is an unprecedented opportunity. Logistics and transportation alone are enough to make a country rapidly prosper; Duke Zhenguo will surely recognize this." Lin Bai smiled, then added, "The Way of Rules is taken from the people and used for the people. Neither the Justice League nor the Way of Rules should be demonized."
"Yes." Since Lin Bai had made his decision, Xu Longyun naturally wouldn't object. Lin Bai proactively disclosed the details of the Magpie Bridge's usage, aiming to root it among the common people; perhaps this too was a strategy.
"Silver, Sect Leader He, later you two will count how many pairs of lovers cultivating the Way of Rules are within the Alliance. The first batch of Bridge Protectors will be selected from within the Alliance. The Magpie Bridge Guardians are very likely to be assassinated by the Seven Righteous Sects and the Five Demon Sects. Abruptly using ordinary people to manage the Magpie Bridge could cause panic." Lin Bai thought for a moment, then looked at Xu Longyun. "Xiao Yun, how do you usually contact Duke Zhenguo?"
"We usually don't," Xu Longyun replied, glancing at Lin Bai. "Currently, the quickest method is still through the Skyfallers. However, I possess the Linglong Pearl, which can teleport me directly back to Prince Zhen Guo's house in case of danger."
Lin Bai pondered for a moment, then said, "How about this: leave the matter of Magpie Bridge fees for the Skyfallers to determine. You return to Prince Zhen Guo's house for now. I'll use a Magpie Bridge to follow shortly. The Magpie Bridge is a matter of great importance; it will show more sincerity if I negotiate with Duke Zhenguo personally."
Xu Longyun was slightly taken aback. She gave Lin Bai an odd look but nodded. "Okay!"
Just as Lin Bai was about to ask if anyone had anything to add, a message suddenly popped up in his mind: [Big Brother has suffered unprecedented heavy losses. Please provide support in a timely manner. Reward: 100 Qi Yun]
Lin Bai's expression changed. What the hell was going on? Another crisis?
「At this moment.」
A player named [Big Dragon] burst into the meeting hall. Without even greeting [Silver] and the others, he rushed to Lin Bai and said breathlessly, "Alliance Hierarch, something terrible has happened! The Beggar Gang disciples stationed in Qian City and Jiamucheng were attacked by the Poison Sect and Blood Sect! All Beggar Gang disciples were wiped out in an instant. Anyone who logs in is immediately killed. We've completely lost contact with Qian City and Jiamucheng, and the color printer for Justice Weekly has also fallen into their hands!"
The situation was critical. In his haste, Big Dragon unintentionally used player-specific jargon like 'log in'. However, with the Beggar Gang's headquarters overrun, no one paid much attention to such minor slips of the tongue.
The meeting hall instantly erupted into an uproar.
"This is outrageous!"
"How dare they?"
"Alliance Hierarch, dispatch the troops! If we don't teach them a harsh lesson, the Justice League will forever remain passive!"
The crowd was incensed. [Silver] and the other players' expressions also changed.
"Finally, NPCs have started attacking players," [Silver] said worriedly. "Once this starts, life will become difficult for all Justice League players."
"That's right. Player levels are too low; even if they launch sneak attacks, we can't defend against them," [Mad Man] said. "If they're determined to target us, even Lin, the Storekeeper, can't protect us all."
"I didn't expect this day to come so soon," [Dragon Breath] said. "The Five Demon Sects have finally wised up. As long as they're determined to eliminate the Justice League's players, we won't get advertisements or be able to level up. The players around Lin, the Storekeeper, will scatter. Without anyone to promote Justice Weekly and the Tao of Heaven Review, we'll lose our public voice, and the Justice League will effectively be crippled."
"The Magpie Bridge has come at just the right time," [Bitter Melon Vine] said, glancing furtively at Lin Bai. "This time, Lin, the Storekeeper, will have to fight whether he wants to or not. NPCs attacking players doesn't result in significant losses for the NPCs themselves. But once they start assassinating NPCs like He Qin, each death is a permanent loss. The Justice League could truly crumble then. There are still clever people among the NPCs. This game is truly realistic; NPCs even have internal conflicts. They won't just stand by and watch Lin Bai achieve sole dominance."
"I wonder how the consortium will respond? If the Justice League is gone, it will be incredibly difficult for players to develop further…"
What the players could comprehend, He Qin and the others naturally could as well.
The Poison Sect and Blood Sect attacked the Justice League's Skyfallers; they themselves could be next.
It doesn't matter much if Skyfallers die once or twice, but they, the NPCs, only have one life! Zhen City's defenses under the Justice League are almost nonexistent. Once the Seven Righteous Sects and the Five Demon Sects decide to infiltrate, killing them would be as easy as slaughtering chickens. This applies whether they were in the Great cheng realm or even the Divinity Transformation Realm...
Panic spread in an instant. Everyone in the meeting hall looked at Lin Bai, waiting for him to make a decision.
Lin Bai heard the players' private discussions and couldn't help but fall silent.
No wonder the system issued such a warning. The Poison Sect and Blood Sect chose to attack players by corpse camping, effectively preventing them from logging in by repeatedly killing them. To continue playing, players would only have one option: leave the Beggar Gang and join other sects. If the Beggar Gang is destroyed, Big Brother's enterprise will naturally collapse. Moreover, this incident doesn't just affect the Beggar Gang in Qian City. If this isn't handled properly, other sects might emulate them, and even the players in Zhen City won't be safe. He hadn't expected that even after tormenting Forget the Zen Master and Zhou Zhu so severely, they still weren't intimidated. It seemed his methods had been too lenient... But he lacked the strength to confront the Great cheng realm directly! He needed someone at the Hollow Realm to act as a conduit to seal a Great cheng realm expert with his Gold Card...
"Alliance Hierarch, the Poison Sect and Blood Sect are outrageously bullying us! Please make a decision soon," Ma Changcheng's voice roused Lin Bai.
In the meeting hall, more than half of the local leaders who had pledged allegiance were in a state of extreme anxiety. This was especially true for the Sect Leaders from factions like the Wind Spirit Observatory and Sky Dragon Sword Sect, who had joined more recently. They had barely tasted the benefits of joining the Justice League before encountering a life-or-death crisis. They all looked as ashen-faced as if their own fathers had died.
"We proceed according to the original plan," Lin Bai said after a moment's thought, his gaze sweeping over the assembly. "Select the lovers and prepare the Magpie Bridge. Wilderness Wolf, your Tao of Heaven Review editorial team will temporarily take over Justice Weekly. Publicize the matter of the Magpie Bridge far and wide. Oh, and make it clear in the publication that the Poison Sect and Blood Sect attacked without declaring war, using their strength to bully the weak, and assaulted my Beggar Gang disciples. Consequently, the Magpie Bridge will be permanently denied to them."
"Yes!" [Wilderness Wolf] acknowledged.
"Alliance Hierarch, are we merely going to issue such a toothless warning?" Xin Shang asked.
"What else?" Lin Bai glanced at him and said coldly. "It took us seven days to rush from Morning Yuan Sword Sect to Zhen City. It would take another seven days to return to Qian City. By then, it'll be too late for anything. While the Justice League strives for goodwill, we are not to be trifled with by just anyone. First, find those who are in love and secretly dispatch them to various places. Then, set up the Magpie Bridge. With it, we will be able to advance or retreat, and none of them will escape."
Lin Bai's composure infected the others, and the noisy meeting hall once again settled into calm.
"Get the Justice League's intelligence department moving. Don't miss any movements from the Righteous Qi Sect or the Five Demon Sects," Lin Bai continued to instruct. "We can't manage the outlying towns for now. Zhen City is our main base, and we cannot afford to lose it."
"Yes!" everyone responded in unison.
Lin Bai looked at Wan Qifeng of the Spirit Artifact Pavilion and Sun Tong of the Treasures Refining Pavilion, then tossed the Blacksmith's Six-Piece Set before them.
Wan Qifeng and Sun Tong were puzzled.
"Sect Leaders, used together, the Blacksmith's Six-Piece Set can increase the Artifact Refining success rate by sixty percent. For the next few days, do nothing else. Focus solely on Artifact Refining in Zhen City. Strive to upgrade all renowned Magic Treasures within the Justice League by several levels. The Poison Sect and Blood Sect have set a precedent, and others might follow. If the intrinsic strength of our Alliance members is lacking, we must then rely on external enhancements."
An increase in Artifact Refining success rate by sixty percent?
Lin Bai's description of the Blacksmith's Six-Piece Set startled Wan Qifeng and Sun Tong. At their level of skill, a sixty percent increase was almost as good as a ninety percent one.
Using such a Divine Artifact merely to destroy others' Magic Treasures on the battlefield is an outrageous waste!
However, now was not the time to complain about Lin Bai. Wan Qifeng and Sun Tong cupped their fists in unison and said, "Your subordinates accept this order!"
After a moment's thought, Lin Bai produced the Eight Diagrams Alchemy Furnace, a system reward, and looked towards Ma Changcheng of Medicine King Valley, saying, "Sect Leader Ma, I'm not very proficient in the art of pill medicine. This alchemy furnace can improve the quality of pill medicines by ten percent. It's not as impressive as the Blacksmith's Six-Piece Set, but please make do with it for now!"
GULP!
Ma Changcheng swallowed hard, his gaze fixed on the Eight Diagrams Furnace burning with fervor. It's not an improvement to the success rate by ten percent, but an improvement to the *quality* by ten percent! How could you disparage such a Divine Artifact? Do you even understand alchemy?!
Ma Changcheng suppressed his excitement and said to Lin Bai, "Alliance Hierarch, I will dedicate all my efforts in the coming days to refining more and higher-quality pill medicines."
Giving items to NPCs instead of players... Lin, the Storekeeper, is really something else, [Silver] thought, practically drooling with envy at the divine artifacts Lin Bai had distributed.
Who can blame him when we players aren't strong enough? [Mad Man] thought. Lin, the Storekeeper, has so many good things! We need to cultivate diligently and not let these locals snatch all the items!
[Wilderness Wolf] swallowed, looking at Lin Bai, wanting to speak but hesitating. Lin Bai had promised him a Transformation Pill once the Tao of Heaven Review was well-established, but it hadn't materialized yet! He wondered if he should press Lin Bai for it soon.
"Alliance Hierarch, what about Crispy Rice and the others?" [Silver] asked.
"If they can endure it, let them wait in your world for a few days. If not, let them surrender to the Blood Sect and Poison Sect," Lin Bai said. "However, once they surrender to the Poison Sect and Blood Sect, they cannot return empty-handed. Each person must bring something back from other sects; the Beggar Gang has no need for useless members."
"Yes," [Silver] acknowledged, then turned and whispered to the nearby players, "Crispy Rice and the others are done for. Now all NPCs know that players can exchange information. Even if they truly defect to the Blood Sect and Poison Sect, they won't be trusted. There's a very high chance they'll be killed. It will take Lin, the Storekeeper, at least ten days to prepare the Magpie Bridge. No one can endure not logging in for ten days…"
Lin Bai overheard [Silver]'s private chat but felt helpless. Although [Crispy Rice] represented Qi Yun for him.
But without being able to extend a Magpie Bridge to them, he couldn't rescue [Crispy Rice] even if he wanted to. He couldn't just abandon everything in Zhen City and lead a large force to challenge the Poison and Blood Sects, could he? If [Crispy Rice] truly couldn't hold out, he might have to find a new 'Big Brother'. He hoped the Chief Supporting Role System had an option to change the designated 'Big Brother'! The only question was, if he changed his 'Big Brother', would the accumulated Qi Yun remain?
"Master, what about the cooking competition? Are we still holding it?" Xu Longyun sidled up to Lin Bai and asked softly.
"Yes, the cooking competition cannot be abandoned midway," Lin Bai glanced at Xu Longyun and said with certainty.
"Are we still going to Prince Zhen Guo's house?" Xu Longyun asked again, her face flushing slightly as she spoke. Lin Bai going to Prince Zhen Guo's house... It gave her the peculiar feeling of a daughter bringing her groom-to-be home to meet the family.
"Of course, we are. The Poison Sect and Blood Sect are minor issues. The Magpie Bridge is the future of the Justice League; the sooner it's established, the better," Lin Bai said, his eyes suddenly lighting up.
He had suddenly thought of a way to save [Crispy Rice]—deterrence! Prince Zhen Guo's house was tens of thousands of miles from Zhen City. If such an enormous, long Magpie Bridge was established all the way there, it might just scare off the Blood and Poison Sects in Qian City. Then, Beggar Gang players like [Crispy Rice], currently stuck in Qian City, could naturally log back in and resume their activities.