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

Chapter 1040: Chapter 1041: No Need for Oars, Relying Entirely on the Waves
 

“One hundred thousand top-grade Immortal Stones?”

“It’s not too much, a reasonable price. Since Young Master Li has spoken, my Icy Frost Sect is not the type to repay kindness with enmity. One hundred thousand, I’ll hand them over willingly. Please be sure to visit our sect when you reach the Southern Continent.”

“Uncle Han, send the payment!”

Han Buzhu calmed his emotions and said, realizing the other party hadn’t made an excessively greedy demand had indeed been a relief.

One hundred thousand top-grade Immortal Stones was but a drop in the ocean to a young master of a Great Sect like him. It seemed that although the man before him was a prodigy, he wasn’t rolling in riches!

“If you had said so earlier… this price is fairly just. Our young master always makes good connections while traveling, and since you’ve made this request, one hundred thousand top-grade Immortal Stones will be handed over willingly!”

Uncle Han’s heart lightened, and he promptly took out a Storage Bag and tossed it to Li Xiaobai.

“The Icy Frost Sect truly lives up to its reputation as an esteemed sect, indeed very straightforward. However, it seems there has been a misunderstanding regarding my words.”

“What I meant was, one hundred thousand top-grade Immortal Stones per person. Presently, including the two of you, there are twelve Icy Frost Sect members here, so you should pay a total of one million two hundred thousand top-grade Immortal Stones. Subtracting the one hundred thousand that Uncle Han has given, that leaves one million one hundred thousand still owed.”

Li Xiaobai scanned the Storage Bag and said with a smile.

“This…”

“One hundred thousand per person?”

“One million two hundred thousand?”

Han Buzhu’s smile stiffened on his face. Having to bring out one million two hundred thousand top-grade Immortal Stones was painful even for him, and the sudden shift from one hundred thousand to one million two hundred thousand caught him completely off guard, leaving him at a loss for words.

“Yes, everyone contributes.”

Li Xiaobai nodded.

“Take out your Immortal Stones yourselves, and then seek reimbursement from the sect later.”

Han Buzhu turned and spoke to the group of improvised retainers behind him.

“This…”

These newly joined cultivators hesitated, willing to freeload but unprepared for the sudden charge—where was the prior warning for this expense? Was there also a price to pay for joining the group to ambush Li Xiaobai?

Moreover, it was one hundred thousand top-grade Immortal Stones each, which was painful to consider.

“What are you hesitant about? If you pay the protection fee, next time you’re attacked, I can guarantee your safety. Otherwise, I won’t be concerned about you next time.”

Li Xiaobai watched his reluctant retainers and spoke indifferently.

These guys were all so indecisive. They wanted to kill him, naturally, they had to pay up some interest first.

“Here!”

“One hundred thousand top-grade Immortal Stones, please verify!”

Upon hearing his words, the retainers each fished out their Storage Bags and threw them towards Li Xiaobai.

After all, this was only a temporary deposit with him. Once they dealt with this young man, whatever they had swallowed would be demanded back with interest.

Han Buzhu and his servant thought the same. Once Li Xiaobai set foot on the Southern Continent and entered their Icy Frost Sect domain, everything would be at their disposal.

“Everyone here has potential, I believe you will accomplish much on Ice Dragon Island.”

Li Xiaobai accepted the Immortal Stones cheerfully. Compared to ten billion in resources, this mere one million was nothing, but it was nice pocket money.

“Borrowing your auspicious words.”

The old and young forced a smile, letting the young man have his moment of pride. Isolated and helpless at sea wasn’t the place to turn on him. As soon as the ship reached the Southern Continent, it would be their world.

By then, they’d capture Li Xiaobai and squeeze him for every possible resource, leaving him dry!

Watching the transaction between the few, the people from the Huo Family were struck with awe. In just a few minutes, Li Xiaobai had managed to amass one million two hundred thousand top-grade Immortal Stones, an outrageously lucrative deal. Just a few words and the Icy Frost Sect had handed over such a quantity of Immortal Stones so readily, turning a profit faster than doing actual business!

They knew that one of the Huo Family’s branches made about two million top-grade Immortal Stones in monthly sales, and after deducting costs, the net profit was probably just between eight hundred thousand and a little over one million. This young man had earned a month’s worth of a shop’s profits in a few minutes, an eye-opening experience indeed.

The most crucial thing was that they hadn’t fully grasped the operations within!

“Young Master Li’s cultivation level is unfathomably profound, we admire him greatly!”

Uncle Huo clasped his fist in a salute, and from the stature of the other party alone, he roughly understood why the Buddhist Sect had issued such a hefty bounty.

“Young Master Li’s divine power is unparalleled in this world, on behalf of all the cultivators on board, I salute you, Young Master, and thank you for saving our lives!”

The old goat, leading the lone Earth Immortal Realm Ship Guard remaining, said with utmost respect and deference.

“Thank you for your generosity, Young Master!”

Behind him, a group of cultivators bowed in unison, saluting and offering their respects. Who could have thought that not long after the ship had set sail, they would encounter a terrifying Demonic Beast of such a level? What was even more unexpected was that there was not just one major powerhouse on board. They had originally thought that the old man using the Icy Frost Cultivation Technique was already an unparalleled great being, but to their surprise, the seemingly inexperienced young man was the true master, who had dispatched the Demonic Beast in just one encounter.

If these powerhouses hadn’t been aboard today, they likely would have all perished.

“It was a mere trifle, hardly worth mentioning, just a small effort on my part. If we are to give thanks, let us thank the young master of the Icy Frost Sect instead; it was he who spent Immortal Stones to request my action in ensuring the safety of the ship.”

“Young Master Han, do you feel the Immortal Stones were well spent?”

Li Xiaobai turned to Han Buzhu with a teasing smile.

“Worth it!”

“To preserve the lives of all cultivators on board and to see so many lovely and dear smiles, no matter how many Immortal Stones I spent, I would find it worthwhile. In fact, I was even thinking of adding another zero!”

Han Buzhu, smirking through gritted teeth, spoke. Li Xiaobai had tricked him out of his Immortal Stones and was now publicly inquiring about his feelings—an act as gentle as prawns with a pig’s heart. But, nevertheless, it presented an opportunity to publicize a positive image of the Icy Frost Sect, and he was not in a position to express his distress, swallowing it like a mute tasting bitter coptis.

“It turns out that it was the young master of the Icy Frost Sect; my apologies for any disrespect!”

“I’ve heard of the Icy Frost Sect, esteemed as a Great Sect of the Southern Continent, yet condescending to travel on the same ship as us ordinary cultivators, I am amazed and delighted!”

“Disciples of such prestigious sects indeed have noble characters; facing danger, they still think of the welfare of others—a scope and perspective not commonly possessed by average cultivators!”

“Indeed, indeed…”

Hearing Han Buzhu’s words, the cultivators became even more excited and eager. That the young master from such a renowned Sect would protect ordinary people like them seemed unbelievable.

Is this the insight and magnanimity of a genius from a Great Sect? Love it, love it!

“You all flatter me too much. My Icy Frost Sect has always prioritized safety above all else. If any of you find life hard on the Southern Continent in the future, feel free to come and take our Sect’s examination. If you pass the trials, you may become a Sect Disciple, and there are many benefits to be had.”

Han Buzhu seized the moment to make a bit of an advertisement, which balanced out his mood significantly. Having parted with one million and two hundred thousand top-grade Immortal Stones was not in vain; after today, there should be a number of cultivators on the ship with a favorable impression of the Icy Frost Sect.

Observing the cultivators among them, the majority were young, presumably disciples from various powers heading to Ice Dragon Island. This inadvertently pulled in a wave of good will for them, which was entirely beneficial for the future development of their Sect with no downsides.

“Old goat, why aren’t you at the helm? Why is the ship moving on its own without wind?”

“Could it be driven by some sort of Formation?”

Li Xiaobai looked towards the old goat and inquired, noticing there was no one at the ship’s helm and that all cultivators had gathered around him. Yet, the speed of the ship was still extraordinarily fast, arousing his astonishment.

“Young Master might not know this, but on the open sea, sometimes it’s not entirely about steering the ship. In my lifetime of navigating the seas, I only helm the ship when we set sail. From that point onwards, we don’t rely on oars but on the waves alone.”

“Old horses know the way; this all comes down to experience.”

The old goat chuckled, having traveled the same route for over a decade, memorizing where specific currents and Demonic Beasts would appear. The encounter with the Sea Dragon Horse today was purely unexpected.

“But without wind, there are no waves. Look at the sea; there is not a breath of wind, so where do these waves come from?”

Li Xiaobai continued to question.

“This…”

At those words, the old goat also became startled, gazing out at the distant sea, serene and quiet, without a ripple on its surface—except around their ship, where waves surged as if something underground was carrying the ship forward.

But in just a moment’s time, the old goat’s complexion turned pale, as if struck by lightning.

“I’ll be damned…”

“There are more Demonic Beasts!”