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

“All Elders, heed my command. Proceed to Central City immediately, find Li Xiaobai, and take initiative. Direct soul searching, no mercy is needed!”

Zhong Daoquan’s face was terribly gloomy as he spoke in a cold voice.

“Yes!”

The same scenario was unfolding in the Qi Sect and the Array Formation Sect.

As soon as the Sect Masters of these two sects returned, they eagerly gathered the core members of their sects and began passing on the method of concocting Huazi. Upon learning that the effects of Huazi were significant even for Great Crossing Realm Sect Masters, everyone became extremely excited, seeing it as a precious treasure.

Once mass-produced, it would surely enable the Sect Disciples and Elders to rapidly enhance their strength. Everyone paid utmost attention to the Sect Masters’ demonstrations, and some Elders even took out small notebooks to record key moments.

The Sect Masters of both sects were confident that they had perfectly replicated Li Xiaobai’s actions—without the slightest error.

However, when the finished product of Huazi appeared, ignited, and they took a small puff, their expressions changed.

The feeling of cleansing the internal organs that they imagined did not come. Instead, a pungent smoke that made them choke was inhaled into their lungs, making all the Elders cough continuously without feeling a single hair worth of benefit.

At that moment, a strong tremor suddenly emanated from the peaks of the Qi Sect and Array Formation Sect in Central City, kicking up dust and debris.

“Damn it, we’ve been duped!”

…

Meanwhile, outside of Central City, Li Xiaobai was squatting in a patch of grass holding Ji Wuqing, making a diligent effort to recover from his injuries.

There were numerous elixirs in his System that could heal the dying and mend broken bones, and with his current wealth, he could easily afford them.

Carelessly taking out a handful of Heavenly Fragrance Life-extending Pills, he tossed them into his mouth to chew. If someone else were to witness this scene, their jaws would surely drop. The Heavenly Fragrance Life-extending Pill was worth a fortune, yet Li Xiaobai was popping them like jelly beans.

If someone knowledgeable saw this, they would undoubtedly curse him for his reckless squandering of resources.

“Cackle, lad, I’m almost dead. Hurry and use an elixir to save me!”

Ji Wuqing rolled to the side, speaking weakly.

Li Xiaobai glanced at it, “Well, congratulations then, you can become stronger again. Don’t worry, after you die, I’ll bury you in a hole and hide you away. It’s absolutely safe.”

“Cackle, lad, you dare to just watch me die!”

Ji Wuqing burst out in anger, pecking viciously at Li Xiaobai.

Li Xiaobai casually tossed out a discarded Poison Pill, which Ji Wuqing ate with great satisfaction.

“Cackle, what kind of elixir is this? Why don’t I feel anything?”

Ji Wuqing stared at Li Xiaobai suspiciously.

“Heavenly Fragrance Life-extending Pill. You have a Phoenix embodiment; elixirs are ineffective on you.”

Li Xiaobai spoke with an unblushing face and a steady heart. This damn bird didn’t need medication at all, just constantly daydreaming of wasting his Spirit Stones—truly detestable.

“Cackle, I’m starting to feel pain in my stomach. Lad, you definitely didn’t give me anything good!”

Ji Wuqing rolled on the grass.

“Have you ever consumed any high-grade elixirs before?”

“No!”

“That’s the reason. You’re a Phoenix embodiment, naturally immune to recovery elixirs. The pain in your stomach is due to the reaction between your bloodline and the elixir; it’s only temporary. It will pass once you excrete it out later.”

Li Xiaobai spoke slowly.

“Cackle, so it is. Indeed, I am a Phoenix embodiment. I almost forgot that mere mortals’ elixirs cannot be consumed.”

Ji Wuqing gravely nodded, agreeing with Li Xiaobai’s explanation.

“However, that Ergouzi really annoys me. Even though he was captured, he’s now faring better than me. If there’s a chance, I really want to teach him a lesson!”

“Ergouzi is indeed getting too inflated. Once we get to the border, we’ll find a chance to teach him how to be a dog again.”

Li Xiaobai agreed wholeheartedly. That damn dog was getting too full of itself, always trying to butcher people upon meeting them, and the fact that it was followed by a Great Crossing Realm Expert was a bit terrifying; his cultivation level was absolutely above that of the Three Sects’ Sect Masters.

Anyone who could spar with the Head of Treasure Pavilion was definitely a ruthless person, no doubt about it.

“Hehe, kid, how do you plan to take your revenge this time? Having been bullied like this, you can’t just let it go!”

A cold glint shot from Ji Wuqing’s eyes as he asked.

“A hermit has his own ingenious plans.”

Li Xiaobai said indifferently with his hands clasped behind his back. The feud had been established, and leaving just like that wasn’t his style. Although he wasn’t yet capable of confronting these behemoths, he could still find ways to annoy them.

With a flick of his wrist, he took out a Human Skin Mask from his Space Ring.

This Human Skin Mask was something he had exchanged for back in Ancient Moon City. To keep his identity hidden, he had bought this mask, capable of perfect disguise, changing everything from personality to appearance and temperament drastically.

So far, aside from the old beggar, no one else had been able to see through it.

Daily, he had the chance to reset his face and thus could change his image and temperament anew.

Putting on the Human Skin Mask, Li Xiaobai flashed a slight smile: “I, Ye Liangchen, am back!”

“Hehe, kid, that skin on your face is nice. Get one for your lordship as well!”

Excitement sparkled in Ji Wuqing’s eyes as he cackled.

“This is a Human Skin Mask. You’re just a chicken. No matter how you reshape your face, you’ll remain a chicken. It’s a sheer waste on you. Just follow me closely.”

Li Xiaobai stated flatly.

“Hehe, you’re the chicken; your whole family are chickens!”

Ji Wuqing wanted to peck Li Xiaobai in anger, but he was in too much pain to do so and gave up on the idea. Li Xiaobai thought he might as well throw a discarded Poison Pill at this damn chicken every day, so it wouldn’t have the time to pester him.

“Hehe, let’s go. Second bloom, the Three Sects probably can’t imagine that I, Li Xiaobai, would make a comeback!”

…

Half an hour later.

Outside the South Gate of Tianfeng City, a long line was neatly arranged.

Li Xiaobai, along with Ji Wuqing, mixed into the crowd quietly and listened to the conversations of the surrounding cultivators.

This South Gate led to Qi Sect’s territory, and all the cultivators here were preparing to participate in the Qi Sect’s grand competition. Li Xiaobai saw many familiar faces—Qi Sect’s Saint Heir, Artifact God Xian, and even Yao Chenzi, whom he had met before at Elixir Sect, were all in the line.

However, with the Human Skin Mask on, nobody could recognize him.

“Brother, have you heard? A cultivator wreaked havoc during the Elixir Sect’s competition. It’s said that it caused all the alchemists in the great hall to blow up their pills, with only Elder Yao holding on desperately!”

Someone patted Li Xiaobai on the shoulder and said.

“Really? Who was bold enough to do such a thing?”

Li Xiaobai feigned surprise.

“They say his name is Li Xiaobai, a recent rising star. He’s forcefully ascended all the way up and deliberately caused trouble at the Three Sects’ competition, making Elder Yao’s elixirs drop a grade. Now the Three Sects are offering a big reward for his capture!”

“If we could capture him, we could secure a position for ourselves within the Three Sects, and we might even get our hands on high-grade secret techniques!”

The cultivator remarked.

Upon hearing this, Li Xiaobai’s expression turned stern, and he spoke with murderous intent: “Indeed, we cultivators hold justice above all. When we see injustice, we must roar out, and take action when it’s due. If I encounter this scoundrel, I will certainly act with a swift blade, decapitating him!”

“Brother, such noble sentiments! I am Wang Xiaoming. May I have the honor of knowing your distinguished name?”

“Pleasure to speak with you, I am Liangchen Ye!”