The words of Xiao Yu, Ancestor of the Valley of Thousand Souls, and Wen Ba, Ancestor of Sky Demon Mountain, temporarily stabilized the morale of their forces, which Lin Bai had disrupted. However, a clear distinction remained between those who bore the burden of the Milky Way and those who did not. A rift had formed. Could it be healed so easily?
"Fellow cultivators," Wen Ba of Sky Demon Mountain addressed the Great Cheng cultivators present, his voice booming, "our current strategy must be to strike Lin Bai like a bolt from the blue, giving him no chance to catch his breath. The brat's Laws are bizarre. The longer we delay, the more variables will arise."
"Brother Wen speaks the truth," the crowd echoed, continuing to exert pressure on Lin Bai.
"It's disgusting," Ye Song began, watching the allied forces regroup in the distance and leisurely sharing his thoughts. "The downside of this Law is that it doesn't harm anyone, not unless they're like Forget and Zhou Zhu—forcibly matched by your Law of Love and willing to die for each other. Otherwise, ordinary love merely makes a person feel slightly uncomfortable, like having a ring of water around them. Aside from a little awkwardness, it doesn't have much impact on daily life. In fact, it even makes fetching water more convenient. Master, if you don't kill them, they will never truly feel pain, and your situation will only become more perilous."
"Are you threatening me?" Lin Bai asked, glancing at the Milky Way on Ye Song.
"I'm stating facts," Ye Song chuckled, then looked at Lin Bai with an awkward expression. "Master, I'm not like them. I truly want to comprehend the Laws. It makes no difference to me whether I carry this Milky Way or not."
"What are you doing?" Lin Bai asked.
"What do you mean, 'what am I doing'?" Ye Song was baffled by Lin Bai's abrupt question.
"The disciples of the Justice League have low cultivation; it's understandable if they don't help. But you, a dignified Great Cheng cultivator, are you just going to stand by and watch?" Lin Bai said. "Ye Song, Heaven values life. As the Alliance Hierarch of the Justice League, I must cultivate a radiant and noble image and cannot act rashly. Since you wish to be my disciple, you should take the initiative to do the dirty work!"
What makes you think you have a glamorous image? Ye Song thought with a bitter smile. "Master, you overestimate me. There are seven Great Cheng cultivators opposing us. The Milky Way and the Separation of Love can only serve as distractions; they don't diminish their strength at all. Sending me out there is sending me to my death. I'm the Justice League's only Great Cheng cultivator to maintain appearances. Surely you wouldn't toss me out as cannon fodder?"
Lin Bai shot him a disdainful look. "In a one-on-one fight, if your opponent is already under some form of control, can you beat them to the brink of death?"
"That should be no problem," Ye Song replied.
"'Should be'? So you're not entirely confident!" Lin Bai looked at Ye Song, shook his head, and then suddenly asked, "Which one is the Purple-Robed Ancestor?"
"The one in purple robes with a long beard," Ye Song pointed towards the Heavenly Sword Sect, startled. "What are you planning?"
"The Justice League never fights a battle it's not sure of winning. If you're not confident, I'll find you a helper," Lin Bai said, looking at Ye Song. "Song, you just said that my Laws don't let them feel pain, which means your cultivation of the Laws is still not firm enough. As your master, I'll help you strengthen your conviction in cultivating the Laws…"
When did I ever say I wasn't confident? Ye Song glanced at Lin Bai but didn't refute. The Heavenly Review had ranked him third. Although he didn't agree with this ranking, the thought of charging out to face seven Great Cheng cultivators still made him apprehensive. He wasn't afraid of injury; he feared Lin Bai, that unprincipled fellow, would stab him in the back. After all, his reasons for joining the Justice League were somewhat flimsy. Although Lin Bai verbally expressed trust, he was constantly wary of him. Saving Lin Bai at a critical moment would be a better way to earn his genuine trust.
"Purple-Robed Ancestor, have you ever considered cultivating the Great Path of Love?" Lin Bai called out towards the Heavenly Sword Sect, ignoring Ye Song.
His words sent a shiver down the spines of all Great Cheng cultivators present. Having witnessed the cautionary tales of Zhou Zhu and Monk Forget, none of them wanted to be inexplicably bound in matrimony by Lin Bai.
"Everyone, we can't hesitate any longer! Kill Lin Bai swiftly!"
"If we're forcibly matched by Lin Bai, we might as well cultivate the Love Principle! But we must kill Lin Bai to remove the Milky Way..."
"Ye Song, why haven't you acted? What are you waiting for? Do you intend to be Lin Bai's lackey?"
The numerous Great Cheng cultivators spurred each other on, wasting no time in pressing their assault.
The giant skull suddenly accelerated. Streaks of black qi sprayed from its mouth like meteors trailing long tails, smashing into Zhen City's defensive array with thunderous roars. The Monsters reared by Sky Demon Mountain furiously battered the defensive array, trying to find a breach to enter Zhen City and begin a massacre.
The Purple-Robed Ancestor unleashed a sword strike. His Sword Intent, like a tornado, slammed into Zhen City's walls. Even through the defensive array, the cultivators of The Northern Army behind it were rattled to the point of vomiting blood. The Purple-Robed Ancestor's expression remained calm; unlike the other Great Cheng cultivators, he showed no panic, his eyes even holding a hint of anticipation. After all, he was obsessed with the Way of Laws but was incapable of truly loving someone himself. He had already decided to use Lin Bai to comprehend the Great Path of Love. His cooperation in the attack was merely to pressure Lin Bai into acting sooner!
For the Purple-Robed Ancestor, the ideal outcome was to be bound by a thread of fate by Lin Bai, and then, with the others' help, slay him. Then, he would exclusively possess the Love Principle and eventually become a Cupid. Forget and Zhou Zhu had merely been threatened by Lin Bai's Milky Way, allowing him to exploit them. The Purple-Robed Ancestor believed himself to be more vigilant and capable of maintaining his rationality.
Hollow Realm cultivators seized the chance to approach Zhen City. Lacking the strength of Great Cheng cultivators, they couldn't attack from dozens of miles away; they needed to get closer to maximize their combat effectiveness. The cultivators already bound by Lin Bai's Milky Way hesitated slightly. Everything about these Laws is speculation. What if Lin Bai died, but the Milky Way still persisted?
"Alliance Hierarch Lin," a cultivator from The Northern Army appeared beside Lin Bai, "the Marshal instructed me to inform you that Zhen City's defenses can withstand such a ferocious assault for two hours at most."
"It won't take two hours," Lin Bai glanced at him and sent a mental message to the Six-Tailed Fox. "Hu Qing, I'll have to trouble you a bit."
Hu Qing was taken aback, not quite understanding. The next moment, his gaze involuntarily shifted towards the Heavenly Sword Sect. His eyes could only see the Purple-Robed Ancestor, who was commanding a spiritual sword tornado. Love forcibly bound by a red thread is intense, fervent, and utterly disarming. Yet, the person involved accepts it as perfectly natural.
The Matchmaker System's new task was to hype interspecies romance, and Lin Bai and his Little White Fox were one such CP. But he didn't intend to continue hyping himself. Xu Longyun and Jiang Qingqin had already introduced imperfections to his Love Principle. If he kept adding such complications, his Great Path of Love would become impossible to perfect.
"Purple-Robed Ancestor, look who is beside me!" After the red thread connected them, Lin Bai boldly pushed Hu Qing forward. "Help me slay the other Great Cheng cultivators, and I shall grant him to you for a reunion. How about it?"
"Ziyi!" Hu Qing gazed at the Purple-Robed Ancestor, calling his name with deep affection.
"Who are you?" The moment the Purple-Robed Ancestor saw Hu Qing, his heart trembled violently. The colors of heaven and earth seemed to fade, leaving only Hu Qing vibrant and vivid. It was the feeling of love at first sight.
"He is Hu Qing, the lover I have chosen for you," Lin Bai said, safely within the protective array, leisurely observing the storm raging outside. "Join my Justice League, and you two can be reunited as husband and wife. Otherwise..." He paused, then extended his hand, and Hu Qing vanished back into a Card.
The instant Hu Qing disappeared, the Purple-Robed Ancestor's heart felt as if it had been gouged out. The storm of Sword Intent he commanded dissipated into nothing. He reached out a hand, crying, "No!"
Lin Bai smiled and released Hu Qing again. A smile returned to the Purple-Robed Ancestor's face. Any thought of slaying Lin Bai was flung to the nine heavens. At that moment, his heart held only Hu Qing.
Watching the Purple-Robed Ancestor's rapidly shifting expressions, Ye Song felt a chill crawl up his spine. In that instant, he began to have some doubts about Lin Bai's claim of being the reincarnation of Emperor Zidewei. Abusing the Laws in such a manner, could he truly be an Emperor?
"Brother Ziyi, don't fall for Lin Bai's trick!" Wen Ba shouted anxiously, seeing the Purple-Robed Ancestor ensnared. "Hu Qing is Lin Bai's puppet; you two are doomed to have no future together!"
Elder Qiu of the Beast Taming Sect gulped, staring at his former pet, now the Purple-Robed Ancestor's lover. He murmured, "Lin Bai's Love Principle is terrifying; it's impossible to guard against."
"Shut up! Don't you dare curse my love for Xiaoqing!" the Purple-Robed Ancestor barked angrily. "Xiaoqing is my opportunity to achieve the Love Principle!"
"..." Wen Ba was speechless.
"Brother Ziyi, Hu Qing is controlled by Lin Bai and has lost his freedom," Xiao Yu, much shrewder than Wen Ba, interjected, attempting to persuade the Purple-Robed Ancestor indirectly. "We must slay Lin Bai to rescue Hu Qing from his dire straits. Only then can you two be together blissfully."
The Purple-Robed Ancestor paused, looked at Lin Bai, then at Hu Qing, and raised his longsword. "Lin Bai, let Hu Qing go, and I can withdraw from this battle..."
Lin Bai glanced at the Purple-Robed Ancestor and suddenly said, "Slaying Hu Qing will sever the marriage bond. Brother Xiao, Brother Wen, why not try slaying Hu Qing to help the Purple-Robed Ancestor break free?" With that, he pushed Hu Qing out of the defensive array.
Hu Qing looked back at Lin Bai, then turned a gentle, smiling gaze upon the seemingly crazed Purple-Robed Ancestor. "Ziyi, if my death can grant you freedom, I am willing to die for you. I don't want you to suffer and struggle because of me." The power of love is mighty indeed; Hu Qing's devotion to this love overwhelmed the fox-type affinity within the Pet System.
A perfect opportunity! Xiao Yu's eyes lit up. He commanded the Skull Head; black qi swirling around it, sent resentful souls crashing towards Hu Qing. These malevolent souls, ancient beyond knowing, cackled as they sought to burrow into Hu Qing's orifices. Once Hu Qing dies, the Purple-Robed Ancestor will surely unleash his wrath on Lin Bai...
"Brat, you dare!" The Purple-Robed Ancestor, seemingly crazed, unleashed his full Cultivation Level, transforming into a streak of light that shot towards Hu Qing. But it was clearly too late.
Yet, in the next instant, a Magpie Bridge suddenly materialized between the Purple-Robed Ancestor and Hu Qing. The sword light that was the Purple-Robed Ancestor traversed time and space, instantly arriving before Hu Qing. He raised his hand, and several beams of Sword Intent flew out, shredding the approaching malevolent souls. Then, he threw an arm around Hu Qing's shoulders. "Don't do anything foolish again! If you die, how could I live on alone?"
"..." Ye Song was speechless.
"..." The cultivators of The Northern Army all stood there, dumbfounded. They were born for war, yet they were unwilling to be manipulated into pointless conflicts. Therefore, every member of The Northern Army who had come to Zhen City harbored resentment towards Lin Bai. But from the start of the war until now, Lin Bai had orchestrated the entire battlefield. His array of bewildering tactics left them dazzled and awestruck, to the point where they hadn't even had a chance to act. They had never known war could be fought this way. The descriptions of Lin Bai in the Justice Weekly were starkly different from witnessing his methods firsthand. Traditional Techniques seemed utterly ineffective against such Laws...
Of course, all this was predicated on Zhen City's defensive array; otherwise, Lin Bai would have likely been torn to shreds by the enraged Mahayana cultivators long ago! Speaking of which, they did help in their way.
"Brother Ziyi, so you do stand with the Justice League after all," Lin Bai said with a gratified smile, casually provoking the Purple-Robed Ancestor. Before the Purple-Robed Ancestor could react, Hu Qing transformed back into a Card and returned to Lin Bai's hand.
The Purple-Robed Ancestor froze, then glared at Lin Bai with a furious smile, shouting through the protective shield, "Give him back to me!"
"Over there," Lin Bai gestured with his hand towards the Skull Head, which was already pressing close to Zhen City. Hu Qing's figure materialized within the Skull Head's maw, surrounded by frenzied malevolent souls eager to devour him.
The next moment, the Magpie Bridge reappeared beneath the Purple-Robed Ancestor's feet. Worried for Hu Qing's safety, he had no time to vent his anger at Lin Bai. He stepped onto the Magpie Bridge and once again arrived at Hu Qing's side. The Skull Head formed of malevolent souls was immense. The Purple-Robed Ancestor and Hu Qing, standing within it, looked like two ants in a giant elephant's mouth, utterly insignificant. However, a Great Cheng cultivator's combat power was unrelated to size. Fearful that the malevolent souls would harm Hu Qing, the Purple-Robed Ancestor roared. His longsword flashed, unleashing his tempestuous Sword Intent. Countless tiny swords formed of Spiritual Energy swept through the Skull Head like a gale scattering autumn leaves, savagely slaughtering the ubiquitous malevolent souls within. In the blink of an eye, he tore a massive opening in the Skull Head of malevolent souls.
The malevolent souls' assault on the defensive array ceased abruptly, significantly reducing the pressure on the Zhen City Defense Array.
"Old fiend Ziyi, are you insane? I wasn't even attacking Hu Qing! If you lay a hand on my malevolent souls again, don't blame me for getting nasty!" Xiao Yu's heart bled as he watched his malevolent souls being decimated by the storm of Sword Intent. He roared, his eyes bloodshot.
Hearing this, the Purple-Robed Ancestor immediately retracted his Sword Intent. He was bewildered by love, but his rational mind was still intact. He knew Lin Bai was the true culprit behind all this. He still remembered his initial plan: after obtaining his fated love through Lin Bai, he would slay him and then fully cultivate the Love Principle... However, the partner Lin Bai had fated for him was his own puppet, something the Purple-Robed Ancestor hadn't anticipated. He had once believed he could control love, yet he never imagined he would truly risk life and limb for his beloved. Is this what love is?
"You think you can just stop fighting when you want to?" Lin Bai chuckled, and Hu Qing was once again retracted. The next moment, he sent Hu Qing to Xiao Yu's side. Then, Lin Bai ordered Hu Qing to attack, simultaneously sending the Purple-Robed Ancestor over via the Magpie Bridge.
Hu Qing's cultivation was only at the Hollow Realm, and he wasn't skilled in combat. Worried Xiao Yu might kill Hu Qing in a single blow, the moment Hu Qing got close, Lin Bai used Bondage on Xiao Yu, designating Xiao Yu's own belt as the binding rope. Hands bound behind the back, arms straight.
Before Xiao Yu could react, his own belt had deftly bound him. His hands were involuntarily pulled behind his back, arms straight and palms out. The belt then rapidly wrapped around his torso and shoulders, hoisting him into the air in an instant.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Xiao Yu, a Great Cheng Ancestor, was trussed up like a work of art. As he was bound, the giant Skull Head he controlled stalled in mid-air. The now leaderless malevolent souls froze, forgetting to attack. The Bondage technique proved its astonishing efficacy on its very first use.
At that moment, the air itself seemed to freeze. Every gaze was fixed on Xiao Yu, suspended in the air.
Ye Song's pupils contracted sharply. "This... this is…"
Everyone now understood what Lin Bai's hastily refined rope was for!
Duke Zhenguo's face turned exceedingly grim as he watched Xiao Yu's bizarre, suspended posture, as if recalling something unpleasant...
"Law of Love—Bind the Immortal!" Lin Bai's voice echoed across the battlefield.
Among everyone present, only Lin Bai and Hu Qing remained clear-headed. Hu Qing's orders were to attack, so he paid no heed to Xiao Yu's predicament, striking out with his palm towards the crown of Xiao Yu's head. Simultaneously, Lin Bai's six-piece Blacksmith set launched its attack. The six-piece set materialized from thin air, CLANGING AND BANGING against Xiao Yu, who was still reeling in shock...