To take, one must first give. By paving the way with the Spirit Fruit, Lin Bai quickly achieved his desired outcome. The matter of Body Snatching was temporarily concealed. Apart from a small fraction of the higher-ups, most players still regarded Lin Bai as Sky Falcon. The consortium's order to fully cooperate with Sky Falcon was successfully implemented. When the players united from top to bottom, the strength they wielded was not to be underestimated. Lin Si Bai immediately felt the satisfying sensation of a well-oiled machine working seamlessly at his command. After the consortiums acquired the Spirit Fruit, the chairmen of the major ones each consumed one. They were astonished by the effects, which further intensified their desire for longevity. They intended to obtain more benefits from Lin Bai, but ultimately, they feared his lawless nature and what he might do to them. They didn't even dare to meet him face-to-face, hoping instead for a deeper entanglement of interests with him, from which they could reap greater rewards. Under their arrangements, Zheng Tong, Lin Bai's host body, was moved out of the communal apartment. The consortium provided Zheng Tong with imperial living conditions. He was given whatever he desired in terms of women and wealth, all to appease Lin Bai. Of course, it also served to control Lin Bai more effectively; allowing Zheng Tong to live in an apartment full of their employees would have made control far more challenging. No one dared to trust Lin Bai completely, so they had to make preparations for both contingencies. They didn't consume all the Spirit Fruits, keeping two for analysis and research, attempting to cultivate them in the real world. At the same time, the consortium was also rigorously conducting in-depth research on Lin Bai's skills, searching for a way to counter him... Of course, the consortium had few objections to cooperating with Lin Bai in unifying the Fairy World. Players needed to expand their territories and cultivate their own forces within the game world. Under Lin Bai's cover, their development proceeded more smoothly. No matter how capable Lin Bai was, he couldn't possibly monitor over 300,000 players simultaneously, which gave them opportunities for covert actions. Upon confirming that it was a real world, the consortium's higher-ups abandoned the idea that the game company would use the plot to help Lin Bai survive the Heavenly Tribulation. In reality, anything could happen, so Lin Bai's original body might genuinely perish in the Heavenly Tribulation... There was an information asymmetry between the two sides. However, the players still tried their utmost to keep the situation within their sphere of control. This was an all-encompassing game of power. Lin Bai's Support Group, having separated from the Blood Sect, arrived outside the Holy Extreme Sect. Seeing Lin Bai bombarded by tens of thousands of lightning strikes within the Heavenly Tribulation, the players in the Support Group felt their hearts ache. Each of them wished they could rush into the tribulation cloud and accompany their idol through it. Fortunately, they retained some rationality, understanding that rushing in meant certain death. Otherwise, if 8,000 members of the Support Group charged into the Heavenly Tribulation, its power would undoubtedly double, leaving Lin Bai utterly despairing. However, the Support Group members didn't stand idly by. They voluntarily guarded the area outside the Heavenly Tribulation, holding up numerous signs: "Go Lin Bai!", "Lin Bai, we'll support you forever!", trying to capture his attention. "Master, don't let that crowd in!" Qing Yun, barely withstanding the tribulation even while nourished by the Spring Breeze Turns Into Rain Technique, had no spare attention. Seeing the thousands of Support Group members outside, she was horrified and quickly cried out, "If they get in, we're truly finished!" "Alright, I'll go persuade them." Lin Bai knew that impulsive fans were unpredictable. He promptly cast a Magpie Bridge, taking himself to the edge of the Heavenly Tribulation. "Alliance Hierarch, you're finally here!" A group of players spotted Lin Bai and enthusiastically swarmed him, chattering away. "Your Divided God Body Snatching failed! Sky Falcon is using your name to seize power for themselves..." "The contingency plan you left is gone; we need to find another way!" "The Players around you are traitors! They're live-streaming all your information and haven't told you the real news from outside." A crowd of people scrambled to report the situation to Lin Bai. Xu Longyun, Ye Song, and the others' expressions changed instantly. After 'Madness Without Battle' logged back in, he obediently confessed his mistakes to Lin Bai and had been kneeling as punishment. Of the four players, only 'Rational Cat' had followed to livestream and eavesdrop. Upon hearing the Support Group members' words, he cursed under his breath and quickly defended himself, "Master, don't listen to their nonsense! Our loyalty to you is as clear as day. Access to outside news has indeed been blocked." "You liar! Do you dare swear an oath?" Lady of L retorted. "I saw your livestream last time; you revealed the Alliance Hierarch's plans to outsiders! Alliance Hierarch, these disciples of yours are no good. Now that we're here, we can bring you the most up-to-date information from the outside. Kill them all!" Tuohai and the others glared fiercely at 'Rational Cat'. Under the Heavenly Tribulation, their hatred for traitors was profound. Hearing that Lin Si Bai's Body Snatching had failed, extinguishing their hope of survival, made their resentment even more intense. "Master, it's not what you think..." 'Rational Cat' stammered, defending himself nervously under Lin Bai's gaze. He feared Lin Bai would pull out his Ruler and strike him again. They had no desire to endure the unique sting of the Ruler a second time. Yet, for the sake of the consortium's information, they couldn't afford to die and log out. Lin Bai's Body Snatching had spurred the consortium's upper echelons to seek immortality, and the sects of the Immortal World no longer trusted players. Interests diverged, and information was no longer as open or transparent as before. Each tier of players received different, often manipulated, information. They only knew what the higher-ups wanted them to know. "The Body Snatching was successful," Lin Bai stated, looking at the chattering Supporting Group. "Alliance Hierarch, you should trust us; we saw everything with our own eyes!" Madam L said anxiously. "Fans never betray their idols..." 'Rational Cat' secretly sighed in relief. Fortunately, arrogant people aren't entirely useless. "Alliance Hierarch," many fans chimed in unison. "Even if it wasn't successful, it doesn't matter. I still have you all." The anxious fans' chattering and private messages gave Lin Bai a headache. So, he split off another Divided God, sent it out of the tribulation cloud, and appeared before his fans to reassure them. "One Qi Becomes Three Purities isn't limited to a single manifestation. If Three White dies, I can simply create another. As long as a Three White exists, it won't matter even if Four White's Body Snatching encounters problems." Lin Bai didn't mind showing the outsiders that if he could perform Body Snatching once, he could do it a second time. He needed to use facts to deter any ill intentions from the outsiders. Tuohai and the others sighed in relief simultaneously. He sent out another Divided God; their romantic efforts weren't in vain... "Alliance Hierarch, this newly manifested senior—is he Three White or Five White?" Lady of L asked, looking excitedly at the new Divided God. The new Divided God tilted his head, looked at the many fans, and waved. "I'd prefer you call me Five White." "Greetings, Senior Five White!" the fans chirped, bowing to Five White. "Alliance Hierarch, a Divided God operating alone is inconvenient. Let Senior Five White possess my body! I swear I won't resist," Lady of L suddenly exclaimed, her face flushing strangely as she glanced from Lin Bai to Lin Wu Bai. "I'm prettier than them..." A throng of fans began clamoring. Lin Wu Bai looked identical to Lin Bai. To be possessed by him, to merge with him—it was the ultimate honor for a fan. "You, then," Lin Bai said, glancing at Lady of L and nodding in agreement. A Divine Soul Avatar was too fragile; a host body made things more convenient. After Zheng Tong's cover was blown, Lin Bai also needed a backup plan for emergencies. "Thank you, Alliance Hierarch!" Lady of L was overjoyed, nodding repeatedly. The next second, Lin Wu Bai entered her body. Then, Lady of L fell into the same dazed, unconscious state as Sky Falcon had, and a moment later, she vanished from everyone's sight. Jin Kai, watching the live broadcast, felt his expression change instantly. "He's a complete madman! Invading so blatantly? Does he thrive on chaos?!" Just as he finished speaking, the mobile phone on his desk began to ring frantically. The chairman's voice came through, tinged with exhaustion, "Little Jin, there's definitely a connection between Lin Si Bai and Lin Bai. He knows everything. Lin Bai Body Snatching Lady of L is a warning to us. We need to improve Zheng Tong's treatment. Inform President Yuan and the others to agree to all his requests..." "Yes," Jin Zong acknowledged with a reluctant nod. After a pause, the chairman instructed, "Mobilize all resources. Find Lady of L's real-world identity..." Mobilize all resources to find Lady of L's real-world identity. Not only did Xinlong Group issue this order, but Fengda, Jing Ke, and other consortiums did as well. Any of Lin Bai's avatars held immense strategic value; whoever secured one would possess it... Xinlong Group could not be allowed to monopolize the Spirit Fruit. ... Fınd the newest release on 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡⁂𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢⁂𝘯𝘦𝘵 Having diverted some of his attention to communicate with the real-world Lady of L, Lin Bai turned to his many disappointed fans and smiled. "Don't be sad. Everyone has a role to play. Body Snatching might not be suitable for you; there are other tasks." "Alliance Hierarch, we all understand. You don't need to apologize," Madam L said. "Once Senior Five White completes the Body Snatching, let him lead us to conquer new territories too! We can't let that impostor get ahead. We've made good progress in our cultivation recently and possess considerable combat strength." "Fighting isn't your task. What I need you to do is even more important," Lin Bai said, looking at his vibrant fan club. "Please give your instructions, Alliance Hierarch," all the players chorused. "I need a team to position themselves near the edge of the tribulation cloud. Use the Phoenix Seeks Phoenix technique to help protect the male members of the Justice League inside!" Lin Bai instructed. "This will require you to remain constantly outside the tribulation cloud, which could become very monotonous. I hope you can find individuals who can endure such tedium..." "Alliance Hierarch, don't worry, we can do it!" Before he even finished speaking, many fans responded in unison, "We are willing to do anything for the Alliance Hierarch!" "Excellent. Select suitable individuals, position them close to the tribulation cloud, and form a line!" Lin Bai ordered. His Supporting Group consisted mostly of female players. After their arrival... He had devised this method: as long as those outside weren't drawn into the tribulation cloud and maintained the Phoenix Seeks Phoenix effect within it, the lightning would be harmless to those protected. Removing the male cultivators would ease Qing Yun's burden and significantly reduce the scale needed for the Faraday Cage... With a massive Phoenix Seeks Phoenix Group like Cen Qing's, which involved 10,000 people at once, there was a risk of performers straying outside the tribulation cloud's effective range during their displays. However, the Supporting Group had 8,000 members. If the male cultivators inside were distributed among them, each supporter wouldn't need to cover many. They could carefully control the distance, ensuring the supporter remained outside the tribulation cloud while the performer they protected stayed within. The most crucial point was that these fan club members weren't afraid of death. If engulfed by the Heavenly Tribulation, they would, at worst, lose one level. For their idol, they probably wouldn't mind such a setback. As for any players who might be swept into the Heavenly Tribulation and die—those performing Phoenix Seeks Phoenix would naturally be struck down by lightning. But what Heavenly Tribulation is without casualties? Besides, hadn't Lin Bai already prepared the Metamorphosis Butterfly package for them? They probably wouldn't have any complaints either. Thus, under Lin Bai's direction, Within the Heavenly Tribulation, an unprecedented spectacle unfolded. Members of the Supporting Group formed a long line just outside the tribulation cloud. Inside it, numerous male cultivators, regardless of age, faced the supporters and performed various talents amidst the lightning. When bolts struck them, at most a shower of sparks would erupt, but they suffered no actual harm. Under the protection of Phoenix Seeks Phoenix, the trembling hearts of the numerous male cultivators settled back into their chests. As long as they could survive, they wouldn't mind performing for dozens of days. At this rate, perhaps even if Lin Bai, at the tribulation cloud's center, perished, they themselves might not necessarily die... The Alliance Hierarch truly cares for us! In that moment, Lin Bai won the hearts of all the male cultivators. Waves of positive emotions continuously washed over the Temperament Fruit Tree, ceaselessly, without a moment's pause. 「Atop the Qingmu Tree.」 Only a few female cultivators, along with those in the Great cheng and Crossing Tribulation Realms, remained. Suddenly, all grew quiet. Freed from protecting over 10,000 ordinary cultivators, Qing Yun's pressure lessened considerably. While still confronting the Heavenly Tribulation, she descended from the sky and said excitedly, "Master, you always have a solution! I was actually thinking of finding a chance to let a few lightning bolts through, to gradually eliminate those burdens. With just us few disciples remaining, our chances of surviving the Heavenly Tribulation would have been higher. Who knew that before I could act, you'd find an even better countermeasure, Master! It's a shame I'm not a woman; otherwise, enduring this Heavenly Tribulation this way would be almost guaranteed…" Upon hearing this, Tuohai and the others' expressions changed. So her claims of not being able to last three days were false! Her real plan was to sacrifice those lower-level cultivators. Weren't they also burdens in a Heavenly Tribulation of this magnitude? However, Qing Yun's intimidating presence was too strong; they didn't dare show any reaction, only managing awkward, silent smiles. "Qing Yun, these methods suit them, but not us," Lin Bai smiled. "The tribulation cloud has a center. If you, our main offensive power, were to move to the edge, I fear the cloud would quickly envelop the Supporting Group members. What would become of Phoenix Seeks Phoenix then?" "That's true," Qing Yun laughed. "Regardless, with the Spring Breeze Turns Into Rain Technique and the Phoenix Seeks Phoenix Group, we can hold out for a while longer. Maybe we genuinely have a chance to pass this accursed Heavenly Tribulation." "Master, you could actually use Phoenix Seeks Phoenix to protect yourself too," Xu Longyun gently reminded, glancing towards the performing group at the edge of the tribulation cloud. Believe it or not, if I were to perform, those fans would accept my 'courtship' in an instant. Lin Bai shook his head, surveyed the remaining female cultivators and disciples, and said, "Everyone, Phoenix Seeks Phoenix is merely a stopgap measure. Someone must still confront the Heavenly Tribulation directly. I will stand with you until the very end. The Justice League will not abandon anyone." Hu He, who had been mostly quiet, suddenly stepped forward, blushing as she said softly to Lin Bai, "Master, if you don't trust those Players, you can seal me into a Card, send me outside the Heavenly Tribulation, and then use Phoenix Seeks Phoenix on me. As long as you live and achieve the Heavenly Dao, you can resurrect all of us with a single word. We would have no complaints…" Little White Fox's eyes lit up. "Yes! Mother's suggestion is another way!" [Your disciple is willing to sacrifice herself, respecting her master and protecting the Dao. Her virtue value has increased. Spiritual Power Feedback: 70%.]