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

Chapter 1030: Chapter 1031: Getting on the Ship
 

On the road, only a streak of golden light could be seen galloping across the Eastern Continent. Nowadays, the name of Li Xiaobai from the Sword Sect was known to everyone there. With a Saint Realm powerhouse presiding and ten Semi-Saints vying to vanquish the Blade Sect, this genius who led the Sword Sect to prosperity and dominance over the continent was on the verge of becoming a legend.

Among the several regions of the Central Origin Realm, only the Eastern Continent was relatively backward. The only Saint Realm powerhouse was Beichen Feng of the Confucian Path, who never went out and about.

There was no large Teleportation Formation here, so Li Xiaobai planned to travel to the coastal areas and board a ship to the Southern Continent, just as he had done initially when heading to the Western Continent.

Upon reaching the other end of the Eastern Continent, on the edge of the land,

Li Xiaobai saw the vast and boundless sea. This side of the sea was markedly different from the sea route to the Buddha Nation of the Western Continent.

The sea surrounding Salvation Island, which leads to the Western Continent, was calm, with hardly a ripple on the surface. This was because the high monks of the Buddhist Sect had once carried out a grand cleansing between the two continents, and with the Salvation Boat inscribed with sacred texts accompanying them, the Sea Beasts in the vicinity dared not approach.

With the Six-Eared Macaque also deterring any troublemakers on the small island, under normal circumstances, no Sea Beast foolish enough to stir trouble in these waters existed.

But the sea area leading to the Southern Continent was different; there were no Salvation Boats leading the way or formidable Half-Saint Strong Experts like the Six-Eared Macaque to pacify and control the sea. Thus, the Sea Beasts lurking beneath the sea surface were naturally restless.

With countless ships passing through this sea area daily, many cultivators would fall prey to the Sea Beasts, becoming meals in their bellies. By contrast, crossing to the Western Continent might have its pitfalls, but at least it was safe.

“Do not miss out, freshly harvested inner cores of Sea Clan Demonic Beasts are available, first-come, first-served!”

“Young Master, boarding a ship? We offer extra services for a tip.”

“A fleet of merchant ships heading to the Southern Continent is recruiting protector cultivators, starting from the Earth Immortal Realm, no upper limit!”

“Any cultivators looking to join a group journeying to the Southern Continent?”

The coastal area was also overcrowded, swarming with people. Cultivators set up stalls to trade various goods, truly embodying the saying “live by the sea, thrive by the sea.” Those cultivators who lived by the sea made their profits by trading Sea Beasts’ materials.

Li Xiaobai roamed nearby, looking for a ship. Most of the ships here seemed to be part of merchant fleets, gathered in groups, with several vessels setting out together, which could ensure safety to a certain extent.

Each merchant fleet’s ship had its own flag for identification. Encounters with Sea Beasts attacking were common, and it was safer to set out in groups.

“Young man, looking to cross the sea?”

“What should I call you?”

Seeing Li Xiaobai looking around, a cultivator took the initiative to come over and start a conversation.

He was an older man with tufts of goatee, wearing a square cloth over his shoulder, his bright eyes giving off a shrewd appearance.

“My name is Li Xiaobai. Elder, may I ask for your name, and do you have a ship?”

Li Xiaobai nodded and spoke.

“Hehe, just call me Old Goat. I have been ferrying cultivators to and fro this sea for over ten years now, with plenty of experience. That over there is my ship. Young Master Li can go and inquire; in these waters, my ship is the sturdiest, even Sea Beasts of the Human Immortal Realm can’t breach it, so there’s no need to worry about safety.”

“Of course, the cost will naturally be much higher than other ships. But given Young Master’s attire, you don’t seem to be someone short on money. If you don’t mind, you might as well sit for a while at the teahouse until we have enough people to set sail.”

The old man said with a chuckling smile.

He felt the name Li Xiaobai sounded vaguely familiar but couldn’t immediately recall where he had heard it. Cultivators who labored on the sea all year round were not up-to-date with the internal conflicts of the Eastern Continent; any news they got was typically through the passengers on the ships.

Li Xiaobai followed the direction of Old Goat’s pointing finger and indeed saw a large ship near the shore. Already, many cultivators were standing at the bow looking out to the sea; the old man certainly knew how to pick his clientele, choosing those of distinguished bearing, clearly the kind not lacking in funds, otherwise, they wouldn’t have the leisure to enjoy the ocean scenery.

Everyone here is well-versed in social niceties, willing to board any ship, and wouldn’t haggle over a small amount of Immortal Stones. Naturally, they would accept an invitation to board straight away.

“How many Immortal Stones does one trip to the Southern Continent cost?”

Li Xiaobai asked.

“One hundred top-grade Immortal Stones.”

The old man said cheerfully.

“You do know how to do business. As far as I’m aware, other shipowners ask for only ten top-grade Immortal Stones, yet yours costs a whole ninety more. Is your ship made of gold?”

Li Xiaobai inquired with interest. It wasn’t that he couldn’t afford the price, but he wanted to understand why this ship’s fare was so much more expensive than others.

He had no intention of being a sucker for no reason.

“Young Master Li, you must also know that there are many Sea Clan Demonic Beasts rampant in these waters, and shipwrecks and loss of life are common occurrences. Therefore, a new profession has emerged at sea, the Ship Guards!”

The old goat explained with a pained expression.

“Ship Guards?”

Li Xiaobai looked somewhat puzzled; it was the first time he had heard this term, and it sounded fresh to him.

“It seems that Young Master Li is boarding a ship here for the first time and is not familiar with the ins and outs of maritime affairs. The Ship Guards are actually the ship’s protectors, specifically hired to fend off Sea Beasts’ attacks.”

“Generally speaking, each ship will have at least ten Ship Guards at the Human Immortal Realm to fend off Sea Beasts, which is the standard configuration for most ships. The ships that charge only ten top-grade Immortal Stones for a trip that the young master mentioned just now have this configuration.”

“But my ship is a bit different. I have invited two Earth Immortal Realm experts to preside over it, ensuring smooth sailing all the way. This is why I say this ship is the safest. With two Earth Immortal Realm cultivators as protection, unless we’re incredibly unlucky and encounter a real Demonic Beast at sea, any danger can be resolved.”

The old goat said with full confidence, Pride swelled within him as he spoke of the two Earth Immortal Realm experts on board.

Those two were merely Human Immortal Realm guards on his ship initially, but due to some fortuitous encounters at sea, they consumed Heaven and Earth Treasures and advanced to the Earth Immortal Realm. Out of gratitude for the old goat’s years of cultivation, they had stayed, becoming the ship’s strongest support and the old goat’s Money Tree.

Without the two Earth Immortal Realm experts, he wouldn’t dare to quote such a high price.

“Can following Earth Immortal Realm cultivators really guarantee absolute safety?”

“What if we encounter a Heavenly Immortal Realm Demonic Beast?”

Li Xiaobai furrowed his brow slightly, knowing the power of the Sea Clan was formidable, and it seemed that mere Earth Immortal Realm strength might not even be enough to fill the gaps between their teeth.

“Young master, you misunderstand. Naturally, there is a sea route to the Southern Continent, which is the culmination of countless predecessors’ experiences. It runs into the fewest and weakest Sea Clan Demonic Beasts—mostly at the Human Immortal Realm, with occasional Earth Immortal Realm encounters. As for Heavenly Immortal Realm Sea Beasts, they won’t actively attack small-time cultivators like us.”

The old goat answered with a laugh, evidently not his first time addressing such a question.

“I see, I was overthinking it.”

Li Xiaobai nodded, understanding the intent; following a set course would avoid most Sea Clan Demonic Beasts.

“Young man, what do you think? Ready to come aboard?” the old goat asked.

“Board the ship, let’s go!”