I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, So I’ll Max Out My Defense

Spiritual runes flowed, and a golden talisman materialized, enveloping the two of them.

“Senior, this place is a bit nauseating. Can we relocate?”

Li Xiaobai flicked off the mucus on his hands with a look of disgust.

“Young friend, you may not know this, but we are situated among the Flesh Mountains. This bloody aura can mask our scent. Moreover, the beggar has already inscribed the Celestial Deception Array Patterns that have completely concealed our presence from the outside world,”

the beggar explained slowly as he too wiped the mucus from his face.

He felt repulsed by the substance as well but had no choice. The cultivators who made it this far were all highly instinctive; a slight mishap could result in discovery.

The Formation had cloaked their aura, and the Flesh Mountains underwent no change, remaining still as if hibernating in their spots.

Witnessing this, Li Xiaobai understood that along his journey, nearly all the Flesh Mountains had ignored his presence. It must have been because the beggar had inscribed numerous formation patterns outside, concealing his aura, which is why the Flesh Mountains detected nothing.

This was indeed a worthwhile artifact, similar Formations were available in the marketplace, and could be redeemed later. This was surely a Divine Artifact for spying on enemy movements.

“Got it, someone is coming over!”

Li Xiaobai whispered lowly, his attention fully focused on the cultivator approaching on the road ahead.

With a flash in the void, a figure emerged slowly, taking not large steps, but nonetheless covering more than ten meters at a time, reaching the summit in just a few strides.

The cultivator wore a white robe, his face was a picture of refined elegance, and he casually fanned himself with a feather fan, exuding a scholarly grace.

Li Xiaobai recognized him; it was none other than Mei Changqing, the City Lord of the First Battlefront, with whom he had a brief encounter before.

Turning his head toward the beggar, Li Xiaobai noticed the elderly man seemed quite stirred up, apparently recognizing Mei Changqing as well.

At the mountain summit.

Mei Changqing arrived alone at the altar, surveying his surroundings. He felt something off about the environment. Although he detected no signs of life from other beings, there was a nagging sensation of being watched.

The Internal Cultivation Technique within his Dantian circulated, his formidable presence sweeping in all directions, causing the grass and trees to wither, yet nothing was amiss.

Mei Changqing turned his head back, refocusing his attention on the altar.

“Damn it, that was close. This guy is quite cautious!”

The beggar cursed under his breath, at his wit’s end with Mei Changqing. Had he been confident in defeating him, he would have liked to launch an attack there and then.

However, thinking about that peculiar Immortal Spirit Qi, he abandoned the idea.

“Senior, if he is so cautious, the secrets within that altar must be earth-shattering!”

Li Xiaobai also felt somewhat relieved, thankful for the beggar’s meticulous preparations. Not only did they use the Flesh Mountain to cover their bodily scent, but they also used a Formation to contain their aura. If not for that, they would have been exposed just then.

“Indeed, the beggar wants to see just which realm this altar is connected to—it definitely warrants a thorough investigation!”

The beggar nodded in agreement with the plan as the Five-colored Altar was Mei Changqing’s trump card. If he could unravel its purpose, perhaps he could glean another wave of Immortal Spirit Qi.

In front of the altar.

Mei Changqing took out a small bottle, from which he dropped a drop of emerald dew onto the altar.

In an instant, the altar radiated in golden brilliance, and in the void, a vast Spiritual Power Vortex appeared, with lightning crackling within, its form obscured from view.

Mei Changqing stood with his hands clasped behind his back, waiting quietly beside it.

A moment later, the Spiritual Power Vortex expanded once more, reaching a height of over ten meters, with pitch darkness within and nothing visible.

“What do you summon me for?”

In the vortex, a cold voice emerged, devoid of worldly grime.

“I’ve discovered that Elder Tianwu has escaped.”

Mei Changqing gently fanned himself, speaking slowly.

“Can’t you even keep an eye on an old dead man? Are you really one of the top experts of the Earth Spirit Realm?”

The voice sounded again, with a trace of undulation that was quickly concealed.

“The Immortal Spirit Qi he has accumulated inside his body is too vast. If not for his inability to control it adeptly, he would have ascended to the Upper Realm long ago. His escape is hardly a surprise.”

Mei Changqing stated indifferently.

“Hehe, there’s no need to worry about that. Without the cultivation techniques of my Central Origin Realm, he will never master the use of Immortal Spirit Qi in his lifetime. You just need to act according to our plan.”

“You called upon me for such a trivial matter?”

The voice from within the vortex said blandly.

“I want Immortal Spirit Qi. Only by reaching the realm of a Half-step Human Immortal can I truly proceed with the plan,” Mei Changqing explained.

“You’re too greedy. Immortal Spirit Qi needs to be fought for by yourselves, and it’s not something I can give you,” the voice stated.

“But last time, you did give me an immense amount of Immortal Spirit Qi, it’s just that I couldn’t restore it after using it up,” Mei Changqing continued.

“What I gave you last time was the Immortal Spirit Qi from within me, merely a one-time use tool. If you want to truly possess such power, you must seize it yourself!”

“Enough. Don’t bother me with such petty matters again. Remember the time for the next activation of the altar.”

“Rest assured, as soon as we descend upon this world, you will be duly rewarded,” the voice in the void grew fainter, and the Spiritual Power Vortex swiftly shrunk until it finally vanished.

The light dissipated, and the Five-colored Altar returned to normal.

Mei Changqing stood in place, his eyes shaded with a layer of dark intent, lost in thought.

Suddenly, he turned, took a step, and his figure instantly disappeared within the mountain range.

Peace returned to the mountains, and Li Xiaobai stared intently at the altar on the mountain cliff, feeling that it was remarkably significant.

“Senior, did you see that? A Spiritual Power Vortex appeared above the altar!” Li Xiaobai said.

“I saw, I’m not blind. That must be a spatial passage; it’s just not fully activated. The person inside can talk, but they can’t come through directly.”

“But even getting to this stage requires a massive hoard of resources. Mei Changqing did it by just dropping a liquid. Whatever’s inside that little bottle must be an extremely rare treasure!” said the raggedy old man, his eyes glittering with keen interest. He always had the sharpest sense for treasures.

After taking another sip of his cherished drink, he laid a hand on Li Xiaobai’s shoulder, and in an instant, they returned to the top of the mountain cliff.

Looking at the altar before him, Li Xiaobai couldn’t contain his eagerness. He took out a top-quality Spirit Stone and placed it on the altar, but it elicited not the slightest response.

“The energy embedded in the Spirit Stone is too scarce and not pure enough. Ordinary treasures cannot awaken this altar. Young Master Li, don’t hide your capabilities any longer. It’s time to open up your treasury!” the old beggar said seriously.