BXBX NOVEL Chapter 425: 426: Big News
“That’s not true at all. Young people need to work hard and also need encouragement. Old Song, there is no need to be so modest. I greatly admire your cultivation level—I can count on one hand the number of people who can withstand a single move from me, and you are one of them.”
“This business with Mei Changqing is ultimately a domestic affair of the frontier, and it ought to be resolved internally by the frontier itself. As an outsider, it is not entirely appropriate for an old beggar like me to intervene rashly.”
The old beggar shook his head and delivered his words with reason and evidence.
When Li Xiaobai saw Song Que’s face turn green again, it was clear he was furious. Not only had the old beggar found a perfect excuse related to domestic affairs, but he had also taken the opportunity to belittle Song Que, bringing their animosity to a peak.
If it weren’t for the fact that they were in the Holy City, Song Que might have drawn his sword right then and there.
Yang Guang was completely befuddled, unsure why these two had suddenly started deferring to each other—hadn’t they just been ready to fight?
Is the world of the powerful so fickle and volatile?
“Ahem, there’s no need for either of you to take action. I have my own decision in mind—you all just wait for the news with peace of mind.”
“However, before that, I would ask the two of you to stay and guard the Holy City. With so many shops around, it might attract the covetous eyes of certain people. It’s not impossible for someone to try and plunder forcefully, so we need the two of you to hold the fort.”
Li Xiaobai halted the conversation of the two elders and said.
He knew that neither of them could take down Mei Changqing. The old beggar had been trapped by Mei Changqing on the frontier, and Song Que had a hand cut off by him, greatly damaging his strength. In either case, they had no chance of victory.
But in truth, they weren’t even needed. He had already selected the vital force for the first battle of the siege, needing only to lift his pen to have them strike from thousands of miles away into the frontier.
“Oh?”
“Could it be that Young Master Li intends to take action personally?”
His eyes lit up, full of anticipation, he looked at Li Xiaobai and asked.
“Of course not. Our current principle is to develop discreetly, to amaze with a single brilliant feat. For the City Lord’s side, naturally there will be other formidable people dealing with it. When the time comes, we just need to take advantage of the situation.”
Li Xiaobai said indifferently.
“Then we’ll leave it to Young Master Li.”
“Woof, don’t worry about any problems, this kid can handle it. Don’t delay Lord Ergouzi’s bath time; you may leave swiftly!”
Ergouzi was incredibly puffed up, looking at Li Xiaobai with impatience in his eyes, and spoke quite dismissively.
A few breaths later, accompanied by a wretched yelp, Ergouzi rotated 360 degrees in the air, face down, and hit the ground.
“Giggle, serves you right, dead dog!”
Ji Wuqing shouted gleefully, resulting in more chaos inside the bathhouse.
“Does the young master know where the channel opened by the altar actually leads? Could it be the Upper Realm?”
Jiang Yi asked, instinctively picking up on a key piece of information. If there was a way to open a channel to the Upper Realm, there would be no need for them to desperately struggle for shreds of Immortal Spirit Qi in order to break through the void.
“I’m not sure about that. We can only know where it leads by capturing Mei Changqing. However, one thing is certain: the world on the other side of the altar also possesses the existence of Immortal Spirit Qi.”
Li Xiaobai stated.
“I see. It seems that to unravel the secret, the key lies with Mei Changqing. If Young Master Li needs support, just say the word. Fire Qilin Cave can send reinforcements at any time.”
Jiang Yi spoke slowly, offering goodwill, and indeed wanting to join the team that would capture Mei Changqing, seeing this as an opportunity for Fire Qilin Cave to get a piece of the action.
He was also helpless. Previously, he had already dropped numerous hints to Ergouzi, but that damned dog did nothing but attract hatred and didn’t utter any useful words, showing no ideological awareness of contributing to Fire Qilin Cave. With no other choice, he had to speak up himself.
“Thank you for your kindness, Elder Jiang. I deeply appreciate the offer and won’t hesitate to ask for help if needed,”
Li Xiaobai said with a grin.
“That is very good.”
Jiang Yi chuckled dryly twice and said no more.
The atmosphere inside the hall grew somber; everything that needed to be said had been spoken. The two seniors seemed to have no intention of speaking further, and no one dared to act out of turn.
The old beggar and Song Que soaked in the bathhouse, glaring at each other and continuously channeling their qi. Yang Guang and the others looked on with dumbfounded faces, not even daring to breathe too loudly around the two seniors.
“Everyone enjoy your bath. There is no need to worry about the border affairs; I will take care of them,”
Li Xiaobai shook his head with a sigh and turned to leave.
The grudges between the two old men were deep; it would be better to let them solve their own issues. There could be no physical conflicts within the Holy City, so no major problems should arise.
Returning to his room,
Li Xiaobai couldn’t wait to take out the Immortal Spirit Daily, place a Spirit Stone, and summon Elder Tianji.
“Young friend, we meet again. It seems our encounters have been rather frequent lately, haven’t they?”
Elder Tianji squinted his eyes suspiciously at Li Xiaobai, who a few days earlier had attempted to freeload. If he intended to freeload again, Elder Tianji would disappear on the spot.
“Hehe, isn’t it because the Immortal Spirit Daily has just started to gain footing in the borderlands? We need to quickly dominate the market while the iron is hot. I also want to contribute to the newspaper,”
Li Xiaobai said with a smirking smile.
“So that’s the case. Thanks to you, my young friend, indeed, many cultivators here in the borderlands have begun purchasing the Immortal Spirit Daily proactively. I believe it won’t be long before we can stabilize our presence in this market,”
Elder Tianji said with a smile on his face, as long as Spirit Stones were not discussed, everything was negotiable.
“This time, I have brought a few reports. Please, senior, feature them on the front page as the main news.”
Li Xiaobai said with a faint smile. In the Immortal Spirit Continent, Elder Tianji’s Immortal Spirit Daily had no competitors—a monopoly. Capturing the market in the borderlands was just a matter of time.
Moreover, with Elder Tianji himself being the publisher, most cultivators wouldn’t dare to compete.
“Is it news from the borderlands again?”
Elder Tianji’s eyes brightened as he asked.
“Not this time. We are preparing for some big news. These reports are just prep work, aimed at cultivators across the Mainland, not yet to be released in the borderlands.”
Li Xiaobai said cheerily.
He began writing fervently, ink dancing on the paper. Elder Tianji leaned in, his face full of curiosity as he read the words on the page. He was eager to learn what this so-called big news was about.
But when he read the contents, his expression suddenly changed.
“Young friend, you dare to scheme against that madman!”
“If this is discovered, I won’t be able to protect you!”
“No matter. Is the news big enough?”
Li Xiaobai stopped writing and looked at Elder Tianji.
“It’s big, incredibly big—enough to attract the attention of the entire Mainland. Rest assured, Young Master Li, if you write it, I dare to publish it. It will be on the front page tomorrow!”
“No, I’ll work overtime to print it right now. It goes out today!”