Lin Bai simply made up stories.
He had no need to worry about the consequences.
The players were bold enough to defy heaven, brimming with curiosity and eager to explore the game world. They could stir up trouble even when nothing was happening. Expecting them to meekly beg for food was impossible.
If they really went looking for demonic beasts on Western Mountain because of this, finding them would prove their ability; failing to find them would merely mean their destined opportunity had yet to arrive.
Lin Bai had nothing to lose. He might even learn some basic information about monsters from them.
Within an hour,
the players arrived one after another, more or less in order of level.
At this stage, all they had learned were the fundamentals.
The depth of their cultivation depended only on how long they had spent grinding.
Without high-level internal arts to widen the gap, naturally, those who had entered the game earlier had deeper cultivation.
"Shopkeeper Lin, this isn't fair," [Chop Wood No. 1] said. "This selection method clearly favors those who entered the ga... those with deeper cultivation. Running a gang takes more than martial strength. It also takes brains and personal prestige. Besides, Crazy and the others have to serve as Shadow Guards at the City Lord's Residence. They simply don't have the time or energy to participate in gang affairs..."
[Crazy Guy] and the other Shadow Guards glared at him.
[Lone Elder] remained silent, as though none of this had anything to do with him.
The isolated [Lao Mi] and [Jing Mi] looked at the players, then at Lin Bai, feeling guilty and afraid they might lose the gang leader position.
Both had learned the City Lord's Residence's Basic Martial Arts, but they had left early to work as