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

Chapter 472: Chapter 473: The Presence on the Other Side of the Altar

The voice was somewhat cold and carried a hint of displeasure as it asked.

Li Xiaobai’s spirits lifted, his eyes gleaming as he looked toward the space passage.

Here it comes!

That being had spoken!

The voice sounded young, as if it came from a youngster, but this alone wasn’t enough to determine the other party’s identity.

Liuren nodded toward the raggedy beggar, signaling that he could begin speaking.

“What business do you have with me that you’ve been silent all this time?”

The person at the other end of the passage sounded somewhat puzzled and couldn’t help but ask aloud.

“Cough cough, senior, the raggedy beggar is City Lord Mei’s confidant. City Lord Mei has been severely injured and is temporarily replaced by the raggedy beggar for communication.”

The raggedy beggar cleared his throat and spoke slowly.

The cultivator on the other side of the passage fell silent, apparently pondering something.

Li Xiaobai was somewhat nervous, not because of concerns for his safety, but mainly because the altar was their only link to the Upper Realm at this moment. If the other party noticed anything amiss and chose to ignore them, they would be completely helpless.

“If you are a confidant, why hasn’t Mei Changqing mentioned you before?”

“To answer the lord, the raggedy beggar seldom appears in public, always hiding in the shadows. The matters of City Lord Mei have always been managed jointly by Wang Guan and the raggedy beggar.”

The raggedy beggar remained calm and composed, his demeanor undisturbed. Li Xiaobai couldn’t help but silently give a thumbs up; the senior was indeed a powerhouse, with unparalleled acting skills.

“By whom was Mei Changqing injured?”

After a long while, the person on the other end spoke slowly, his voice deep and neutral, revealing neither joy nor anger.

“To answer the lord, it was the work of the Second Leader of the Aolai Country from the Eastern Sea.”

The raggedy beggar continued.

“It turns out to be her, after the Semi-Saint, Mei Changqing’s defeat is no surprise.”

The voice spoke unhurriedly, revealing a hidden secret as soon as it spoke.

Liuren’s ears involuntarily perked up, listening to the implication that the other party was aware of the affairs of the ancestors of Aolai Country. It seemed that their own ancestor had a decent life in the Upper Realm, at least a somewhat notable reputation.

The Semi-Saint’s realm was unknown to everyone, but it was surely formidable.

The raggedy beggar, however, keenly sensed something amiss and continued to inquire, “Does the lord know this person?”

“Back in the day, Mei Changqing had already informed me about everything concerning the Lower Realm, and we communicated well. Don’t worry about anything, just speak plainly,” the person said in an indifferent tone.

“May I ask the lord what kind of realm the Semi-Saint is? Do we have a chance of reaching it like our kinds?”

The raggedy beggar’s eyes flickered with an unusual look as he still asked respectfully.

“Hehe, the Semi-Saint, what kind of existence is that? Those who can create their own small worlds, who can determine life and death with a glance, who can break the secrets of heaven with a word. Whether you lowly ants can even ascend to the Upper Realm is a question, so don’t be overly ambitious,” the voice said with unconcealed derision.

“I see, we’ve been presumptuous. What should we do next? I ask for the lord’s guidance.”

The old beggar’s eyes deepened with suspicion as he slowly asked.

“What are your cultivation levels?”

The man inquired.

“Reporting to the great one, the old beggar has just entered the Third Layer of the Great Mahayana Realm; in this world, I am considered a top-tier powerhouse,” the old beggar said, his tone veering on the frivolous, his demeanor smugly self-satisfied.

“Do as Mei Changqing does; do not contact each other during this period. Once the Immortal Spirit Qi is deployed, you will reactivate this altar. At that time, this seat will reward you handsomely, enough to let you roam this world unchallenged,” the man said with a sigh of relief, his tone momentarily relaxed, but then, as if suddenly realizing something, he immediately reverted to his stern demeanor.

“Thank you for your gracious gift, my lord! However, there is another matter, our City Lord is severely injured, and he wishes to ask for a cultivation technique from you to contribute his strength in the future struggle for Immortal Spirit Qi,” the old beggar replied solemnly, respectfully.

“Enough with the pretense. This seat is aware that you insects have always harbored tests against this seat. Today, I shall fulfill his request. Once you return, tell him to abandon those petty schemes. He may be a strong figure in the Immortal Spirit Continent, but elsewhere, he is nothing,” the voice declared.

“This seat will transmit to you an incantation that can initially mobilize the Immortal Spirit Qi within your body, but I will only transmit the first chapter. The subsequent techniques will be granted to you after the Immortal Spirit Qi is released,” the voice stated.

“Listen closely, ‘In utter silence, the heart rhythm steady, seek not the external dust, let not the inner step linger…’”

All present, except for Li Xiaobai, were engrossed, listening intently to the incantation.

After the incantation was finished, the voice disappeared; the huge vortex in the void gradually shrank and finally vanished, leaving the room calm once again.

Li Xiaobai flipped his wrist and collected the altar into his bag.

At this moment, everyone in the room had their eyes closed, the aura about them flickering in and out of perception. The old beggar’s aura was particularly notable; he had amassed a surplus of Immortal Spirit Qi in his body and only required a catalyst to break through the spatial barrier and ascend to the Upper Realm.

A strong sense of danger emanated from his Dantian, startling the surrounding people and beasts awake from their rapt state. Something was off about the old beggar’s aura; he was on the verge of a breakthrough.

Liuren’s eyes twinkled as she realized the abundance of foundation the old beggar had within him; nobody understood it better than she did. The cultivation technique had worked, allowing him to successfully mobilize his internal cultivation level.

Should he break through at this point, he might ascend to the Upper Realm instantly.

It was at this moment that the old beggar suddenly opened his eyes, shooting out two beams of golden light. Not a physical substance, but merely the glow of his eyes, they nonetheless pierced through the room and soared into the sky.

“Damn, I should’ve brought a Huazi with me,” the old beggar cursed under his breath. To him, trading a drop of Golden Dragon bone broth for a technique to control Immortal Spirit Qi wasn’t a bad deal.

However, the Immortal Spirit Qi accumulated within him was quite substantial. Combined with the fact that he had not used his cultivation level in decades, the operation felt unfamiliar. It would take some time before he could fully master it.

“Congratulations to Daoist Tianwu, it seems you are the first among us to touch that particular realm,” Liuren said with a genuine smile gracing her lips.

After a hundred years of competition, only she and the old beggar stood out, an isolating example of greatness. Despite being frequently tricked by peers, the mutual admiration between heroes had never diminished.

Even a competitor could be a friend.

“Hehe, soon enough, just need some more time. From now on, follow the old beggar, and I’ll have your backs!” the old beggar guffawed, waving his hand grandly. The domineering aura that had enveloped him for years dissipated without a trace, replaced by the smug look of a petty man whose smarmy air seemed to lessen rather than increase.

Li Xiaobai was speechless, “Aren’t you supposed to be a top-notch expert? Can’t you at least act the part?”