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

Chapter 802: Chapter 803: Polar Reversal
 

One hundred and eighty steps!

One hundred and ninety steps!

Senior Brother Huo’s expression had completely changed, as this distance was already his limit. Moving further would likely cause him serious injury, yet Li Xiaobai seemed still full of vigor, showing no signs of fatigue. The difference in their abilities was clear.

“Damn, this guy really is a genius!”

“To reach on his first climb of Sword Peak what many disciples take years to achieve, how did he manage that?”

“With such a disciple in the Sword Sect, it must have already caught the attention of many Elders. Senior Brother Huo seems to have really hit a snag today.”

“Right, if he really gets valued by an Elder and taken as a disciple, that would be a rapid rise to fame. Junior Brother Huo is in for some bad luck!”

“How can there be such a large gap between people?”

“Alas, don’t talk about it. Some things, if you’re not born with them, you’ll never have them in this lifetime, like innate talent. It’s fate!”

The cultivators watched Li Xiaobai move steadily forward, their looks gradually turning into awe. Many of them could now easily reach this point, but they had spent a year or even years to get to this level.

Compared to Li Xiaobai, they seemed too mediocre and even clumsy.

“Hmm?”

“Senior Brother Huo, why aren’t you moving?”

“Seeing you all sweating profusely, could it be that you have reached your limits?”

Li Xiaobai turned to look at the few people behind him and said cheerfully.

“Haha, Junior Brother’s talent is extraordinary, and I admire that. However, we need to have a clear agreement upfront; always leave room for maneuver so we can meet on good terms in the future. We both know what happened today, so how about we just let it go? I admit my fault.”

“I concede defeat, from now on, I will never make things difficult for Junior Brother within the sect!”

Senior Brother Huo’s chubby cheeks trembled as he spoke with a forced smile, a hint of wariness flickering deep in his eyes. In the sect, he was just a mediocre cultivator. Seeing the performance and talent of this newcomer, who was far superior to him, continuing to fight would just be futile.

“How can that be?”

“You, Senior Brothers, have taken the trouble to accompany your Junior Brother through these trials. Naturally, I should also lend a hand. As long as Senior Brother Huo is willing to offer some compensation, I can take you deeper into the trials. Don’t just mention a mere one hundred and ninety steps; even two hundred and ninety or three hundred and ninety steps would not be an issue!”

“Think about it, staying low-key within the sect for many years and then suddenly rising to prominence, overcoming challenges—it will definitely catch the attention of many Elders. If it’s possible to gain the favor of one or two Elders and be taken under their wing, then your future in the sect would indeed be soaring to great heights!”

Li Xiaobai said with a smile.

“Damn…”

“Junior Brother, you can’t be playing like this…”

Senior Brother Huo was utterly frustrated, mentally cursing at Li Xiaobai. This guy was sly and smart, using Senior Brother Huo’s own words against him.

He had thought this newcomer was a straightforward and honest person, but now it seemed he was no good either. Intentionally entering Sword Peak with him, luring him to his limit, and then turning around to demand a protection fee—this move was so slick it made his scalp tingle.

Could it be that this guy was also playing the same game?

First, leading them into deep territory, then withdrawing protection and conveniently collecting another round of protection fees?

“Cough, cough, thanks for your kind intentions Junior Brother, but your Senior Brother still has some self-awareness. One should not seek vain glory but should cultivate diligently on solid ground. What’s mine will eventually be mine, and what’s not shouldn’t be forcefully sought.”

Senior Brother Huo’s forehead vein throbbed as he barely restrained his anger and spoke.

“Don’t be polite, Senior Brother, this is what I should do.”

“Really, you shouldn’t.”

“If that’s the case, then Junior Brother can only return the same way with Senior Brother, after all, we can’t too much disrespect Senior Brother’s face, can we?”

Li Xiaobai’s face still wore a smile, his tone very gentle, but to the ears of Senior Brother Huo and the others, it sounded like the whisper of a demon.

Going back with them?

Wasn’t that clearly telling them, if you don’t pay the protection fee, we won’t make it easy for you!

The Sword Intent of one hundred and ninety steps made him sweat profusely all over his body, his spirits taut, not daring to slack in the slightest. If Li Xiaobai used any tricks in secret at this moment, he could be severely injured in an instant, and it was even possible to be killed outright.

The methods originally prepared to deal with Li Xiaobai were now returned to him unchanged by the opponent.

Damn it, all the shoots on the mountain have been snatched by you!

For a moment, he felt like he was riding a tiger, difficult to dismount.

“Senior Brother Huo, you didn’t hesitate at all when you ambushed me just now, why are you hesitating now?”

“Honestly pay the protection fee and follow Junior Brother, or else Junior Brother can’t guarantee your lives!”

“Considering that we are all fellow disciples, 300,000 Lower Grade Immortal Stones per person isn’t too much, right?”

The smile on Li Xiaobai’s face disappeared, revealing a chilling set of white teeth as he said indifferently.

“It’s not too much!”

“Senior Brother has given it!”

Senior Brother Huo gritted his teeth and said, choosing the Immortal Stones decisively over his life.

The several of them handed over their Storage Bags, each neatly packed with 300,000 Lower Grade Immortal Stones.

The quantity of Lower Grade Immortal Stones in this wave directly broke a million.

“Thanks, Senior Brother Huo, let’s continue on our way.”

“Junior Brother, don’t be too excessive. The resources just now are enough for your huge expenses later. In the future, we are still fellow disciples; we need to leave some way out for each other!”

Senior Brother Huo’s expression became colder and colder, thinking that after taking the money, he still wanted to continue extorting him. This guy was also a greedy person!

“Alright, each person gives another 300,000 Lower Grade Immortal Stones, and I’ll let you go.”

Li Xiaobai said faintly.

“Darn it!”

“I, Huo the Third, may not be very talented, but over the years in the Sword Sect, I’ve also accumulated quite a few connections. Kid, if you still want to make a stand in the Sword Sect, you better know your place!”

“You know Chen Yuan, the grandson of the Outer Sect Elder, right? That’s my big brother, and I’m under his protection. Let’s consider today’s matter over for his sake, and let’s still be good brothers in the future, how about that?”

The expression on Huo the Third’s face was horribly grim as he brought up Chen Yuan.

The grandson of the Outer Sect Elder, inherently well-posed, was bound to be a cut above in the future, his status and identity far beyond what these cultivators without any background or support could compare to.

“Senior Brother, if you are unwilling to pay the money, then I can only kill you and then pick it up beside your corpse.”

Li Xiaobai’s wrist turned, and a longsword appeared in his hand as he said in a chilling tone.

This fool really thought bringing up Chen Yuan like that would help him negotiate terms, not knowing that he was already tied up by him.

“Very well, in many years I have not seen such a proud junior, I hope you can still survive intact in the Sword Sect in the future!”

“Pay up!”