Chapter 102

Chapter 102

While the Chenxing Empire’s reputation plummeted, another figure gained significant attention on the Extraordinary Forum, receiving a flood of exaggerated praise. This figure was none other than the “Flower Speaker.”

Leiyin’s description of his savior was filled with an endless stream of flattery. He spoke of redemption in times of despair, light descending in the darkest hour, and an unnamed deity who bestowed hope and blessings upon the desperate in exchange for their misfortunes. His praise knew no bounds, pouring forth without pause.

Most importantly, many believed him.

Previously, there had been rumors about the Flower Speaker on the Extraordinary Forum. Many knew of this mysterious extraordinary being, but few had actually encountered him. Those who hadn’t met him couldn’t fathom the feelings of those who praised him so fervently on the forum, often dismissing their words as exaggerated, false, or fanatical, as if they had been brainwashed by a cult.

However, this time, the events surrounding Leiyin had captured global attention. His firsthand account of being rescued from hell by the “Flower Speaker” naturally brought fame to this figure worldwide.

Leiyin’s emotional retelling of his experiences – the despair in the laboratory and the sudden hope upon meeting the Flower Speaker – was deeply moving. It was easy for others to empathize with his story. As a result, developing an admiration for this “deity” who saved the suffering from despair and misfortune became a natural progression.

While others were busy condemning the Chenxing Empire in Leiyin’s thread, he was feverishly posting new threads praising the Flower Speaker, voluntarily attracting followers for Him.

His actions left other Shadow Council members perplexed.

The Extraordinary Forum itself originated from the Shadow Council. Apart from the elusive Council President, the other two administrators were core members of the Shadow Council, or rather two of the Four Pillars. Below the administrators, those responsible for various forum tasks were carefully selected members absolutely loyal to the Shadow Council.

Most of these members knew that Leiyin had become part of the Shadow Council, though they were unaware of his status as one of the Four Pillars. Many assumed he was just a newly recruited ordinary member.

Now, instead of trying to recruit for the Shadow Council, this newly inducted member was neglecting his duties and lavishly praising another extraordinary being on the Shadow Council’s “territory.” He had effectively cultivated a group of fans for the “Flower Speaker,” seemingly poaching potential members from right under their noses.

After all, as the Shadow Council’s domain, every user on the Extraordinary Forum was a potential future recruit for them.

Leiyin’s actions were seen as stealing from their own, unmistakably treasonous behavior. He was promptly reported.

Thus, shortly after logging onto the Extraordinary Forum, Tian Yin received multiple reports from her subordinates about a certain individual poaching from the Shadow Council for someone else.

She immediately let out a cold laugh.

If she remembered correctly, hadn’t she recently reminded someone to remain loyal to the Council President? Well, well, it seemed he had forgotten her words as soon as she’d uttered them.

Was there any reason to keep such a person around?

Eliminate him! Right now!

She furiously clicked on the forum thread link in the report, already scheming how to deal with this despicable traitor and the one behind him who dared to offend the Council President. Her thoughts had progressed to considering whether to have them captured and cooked, fried, boiled, or eaten alive when she suddenly froze upon seeing the person mentioned in the post.

“Flower Speaker?”

This unexpected name stirred her memory.

Wasn’t it because of his blessing that she had been fortunate enough to catch the Council President’s eye and had the opportunity to join the Shadow Council?

“Hmph, I’ll let it slide this time,” Tian Yin withdrew her hand that was about to order the elimination of the supposed traitor. She initially intended to ignore it, but seeing the lines of exaggerated praise and the various comments expressing admiration for the Flower Speaker in response to the flattery, she couldn’t help feeling annoyed.

If it weren’t for the Council President taking him in, this guy would have been a stray dog by now. Even his chance for revenge against the Chenxing Empire was entirely thanks to the Council President’s help. How could he only remember to thank the Flower Speaker and not the Council President?

“... Damn it!”

Selectively forgetting that the Shadow Council President didn’t want to expose himself publicly, which was why Leiyin had omitted mentioning him, Tian Yin massaged her temples and suddenly had a good idea.

She acted on her thought immediately, swiftly sending Leiyin a message. Her previously gloomy face once again broke into a smile.

......

Not long after, Bai Yi, enjoying his vacation at home, casually opened the Extraordinary Forum. After browsing the public external forum accessible to everyone, he clicked into the internal forum specifically created for the Shadow Council. Instantly, he was bombarded with a flood of posts.

[Another day of showering the Council President with praise...]

[I’ve never seen anyone as brilliant and mighty as our Council President...]

[Counting down the Council President’s top decisions, part three...]

Compared to the young Taoist’s ethereal aura, this one was dressed in fine silks and jade, like a wealthy young master. Yet, he carried an air of having long left the mundane world. Although similar in age, his appearance fell far short of the other man’s.

Looking at the young Taoist who had fallen silent, seemingly thinking of how to quibble, this ethereal yet richly dressed youth shook his head and sighed. However, his words were far from polite.

He looked around and loudly addressed the onlookers. “Everyone, see clearly, he’s not some divine master or fortune-teller, he’s just a charlatan! He’s been deceiving you all for so long with his tricks, and today, I, Su Huaijia, will expose his fraud in public!”

Amidst the crowd’s jeering, Su Huaijia stepped forward, his gaze fixed on the young Taoist before him.

“— Do you dare to accept the challenge?”

Time seemed to freeze at that moment.

No, the entire world seemed to be solidified by some magical force, with all people ceasing to move.

The loading of the instance was complete. A virtual panel, invisible to others, appeared in mid-air.

As the basic panel appeared, Bai Yi, who had been floating like a ghost, slowly descended.

Bai Yi opened his eyes in his new vessel.

Simultaneously, twisted and blurred words appeared in this frozen world, forming a narration.

[This world has immortals, gods, demons, and monsters.]

[They can move mountains and fill seas, capable of anything.]

[Mortal dynasties suffer from the invasion of demons and monsters, developing under the protection of myriad gods and immortals. Taoist temples and Buddhist monasteries flourish.]

[Some travel thousands of miles to seek masters and learn the Dao, some return after their studies to slay demons and monsters, receiving imperial titles. Some demons and monsters wreak havoc in the countryside disguised as humans, while some transcendent beings hide in the mortal world to play with the lives of common people.]

[— But none of this concerns you.]

[You are but an ordinary person among the masses, a commoner among commoners, with no earth-shattering mysterious background, nor any miraculous stroke of luck.]

[You are just an ordinary small Taoist.]

[Your only skill for making a living is the traditional charlatan technique of smooth-talking, honed from traveling far and wide with your fraudulent master since childhood, able to say the right things to both humans and ghosts.]

[With good self-awareness, you’ve always developed your trade in backward, remote small counties, never going to places where you might encounter true masters, nor taking on tasks clearly beyond your abilities.]

[This has allowed you to maintain your charlatan business and continue to earn a living by your wits even after your master’s death.]

[Now, your charlatan career is facing a severe crisis.]

[In this backward, remote small county, a disciple who has returned from studying at a distant immortal sect has appeared!]

[Even though his aptitude is mediocre and he hasn’t been taught true methods, appearing as a mere novice in the eyes of real immortal masters, he’s still capable of seeing through your pretentious act at a glance.]

[Faced with his public questioning, you’re left speechless.]

[The greatest crisis has arrived! Your reputation is on the verge of collapse, your image as a profound and mysterious divine master in the eyes of the county residents is about to be destroyed, and your livelihood is hanging by a thread... You’ve reached the most dangerous and crucial moment of your life!]

The blurry text in mid-air kept changing, and this narration, in Bai Yi’s eyes, became increasingly impassioned, as if a synchronized voiceover was sounding in his ears.

[— Make your choice!]

[Will you lie down and accept the mockery, or will you rise up and fight back?]

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