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

Chapter 474: 475

The borderlands were thoroughly pacified, with Liuren’s deterrent presence, no one dared to stir up trouble anymore.

These past few days within the Holy City have been peaceful.

Unlike the old beggar, Liuren was not one to sit still—perhaps it was the violent streak in his bones that caused mischief, for every few days he would venture deep into the borderlands to seek the ill aura of the strongest Flesh Mountain, often battling until the sky cracked and the earth shook.

The bathhouse combined with Huazi’s product easily allowed strength to soar to new heights, and any epiphany would surely be followed by a trip to the borderlands to test against the Flesh Mountain.

In recent days, there have been no cultivators guarding the four battlefields at the borderlands. The methods of the Vice Leader of the Eastern Sea were too powerful, a single death there could wipe out an entire group of Flesh Mountains.

There would be no Flesh Mountain invasions on the battlefields for a short while, and even if occasionally some Flesh Mountains crossed the border, Liuren’s frequent trips to the borderlands ensured they would be wiped out swiftly.

Recently, the four city castles have been overflowing with people, as Li Xiaobai had Teleportation Formations built at several major strongholds on the borderlands to transport goods, resolving all four City Lords from the need to have resource monopolies managed by the Holy City.

Tangneng First-class and quality stores have occupied more than half the territory of the borderlands’ cities. In comparison with these shops, even taverns, tea houses, and brothels are no longer as profitable.

Above each city, smoke curls upwards and steam rises in billows, presenting a scene of flourishing prosperity.

However, the elders were clearly not content to be outdone. After clearing the borderlands, they chose not to leave immediately but to enter the Holy City instead, seeking an opportunity to curry favor with Liuren and gain some benefits.

But once they truly entered the city, they promptly put these thoughts out of their minds.

For they were shocked to discover that the shops in the city could actually increase their cultivation level, and the item known as Huazi could even enhance their perception, something they couldn’t achieve even with countless Heaven and Earth Treasures.

Something they had struggled with before was now easily accomplished within these shops!

The cultivators of the borderlands seemed to take it for granted, and the Qi Sect Elder had only heard of such treasures in Li Xiaobai’s possession and had not taken it seriously before, but now their hearts were overwhelmed with shock.

Merely immersing themselves for a moment, they felt a slight increase in Spiritual Power within their bodies. This increase might seem insignificant, but at their advanced stage of cultivation, every small advancement was brought about with great difficulty and required a tremendous amount of resources—it was nearly impossible to increase their cultivation level without them.

Yet, the bathhouse had managed to enhance their cultivation in just a few breaths’ time. Had they not repeatedly confirmed that there were no abnormalities around them, they would have suspected they had entered an Illusionary Realm!

“Qi old man, I’m not mistaken in my senses, am I? This bathhouse really can enhance one’s cultivation level!”

An elder couldn’t help but voice his questions—the effects were simply too powerful. He would believe if this were said to be a Spiritual Spring formed in some extremely dangerous location, but now it manifested before them as a bathhouse, it made them feel an unreal sensation.

“Hmm, I also feel like I’m living in a dream, but the Array old man has already tested it. This place truly is a bathhouse with no special environment, everything we’re experiencing is real!”

The Qi Sect Elder also couldn’t hide the shock in his eyes as he spoke slowly.

The Array Formation Sect Elder was also nodding repeatedly.

“Whose outstanding feat is this? Such a grand gesture—what is it for?”

The elders furrowed their brows, lost in thought, discovering that even without cultivating, the Spiritual Power in their bodies would slowly increase. The existence of such things on the Immortal Spirit Continent was surprising.

“This is Young Master Li’s shop. The entire borderlands are full of such shops, there’s nothing to be shocked about, this is how the Cultivation World should normally be,”

said a younger cultivator offhandedly. Who hasn’t been a bumpkin at some point? When he first arrived, he was just like that too.

“Young Master Li, which Young Master Li?”

Upon hearing this, a group of ancient ancestors grew even more curious.

“Naturally, it’s Li Xiaobai, who else could it be? You guys can’t possibly have not heard of Young Master Li’s name, can you?”

The young cultivator frowned, not knowing about the bathhouse might be understandable, but not knowing Li Xiaobai was inexcusable. If they didn’t even know about Li Xiaobai, what were they doing at the frontier?

“It was actually that kid’s doing!”

“Hmph, I knew it, that child is no ordinary person; he must have secrets unknown to others!”

“What difference does it make if you know? With the Vice Leader of the Eastern Sea here, do you even think of laying a finger on him?”

The faces of the group of ancient ancestors changed unpredictably. As ancestors of their clans, they saw deeper and further than ordinary cultivators. If this shop could be utilized by their sects, within a hundred years, they would definitely be able to cultivate a large batch of top-notch experts.

Ascending to the Upper Realm wouldn’t be impossible.

This thing that should have been treasured was now being scattered throughout the city by Li Xiaobai, turning it into something common. This was somewhat unbearable for them. In their eyes, such Heaven and Earth Treasures should be used by the most elite disciples.

These cultivators soaking in it were simply wasting a heavenly gift!

To this, the surrounding cultivators could only look at these ancient ancestors with the eyes one uses to look at bumpkins.

They were cultivators from the frontier who didn’t even recognize what the ancestors looked like. Seeing such backwardness, each and every one of them showed a mocking smile.

“Great, here comes another bunch of bumpkins, who don’t even know what a bathhouse is. Do you really know how to cultivate?”

“Alas, don’t say that. Not everyone has the chance to experience such treatment as we do. They must come from some small place, so it’s normal that they don’t know about Tangneng First-class and good shops.”

“Hehe, look at those old guys. They’re probably past their prime for cultivation, and they’re all so old-fashioned. They went into the pools and didn’t even take off their clothes; are they soaking in a bath or soaking their clothes?”

“Shh, keep it down, they are our seniors after all. Let’s be a bit more respectful. Having this group of old folks as a contrast makes our physiques stand out even more, doesn’t it?”

“Exactly, exactly, the path of cultivation is all about standing out among peers!”

The cultivators whispered among themselves with teasing looks in their eyes, treating the group of ancient ancestors as a joke.

The complexions of the ancient ancestors turned terrifyingly dark. They were powerhouses standing at the pinnacle of the Immortal Spirit Continent, predators at the top of the food chain, and now these juniors were questioning their ability to cultivate?

They knew how to cultivate too well, having practiced for hundreds of years and seized Immortal Spirit Qi; every step they took had been solid. And yet now they were being doubted by a bunch of juniors.

However, this was the Holy City, the place where the Vice Leader of the Eastern Sea resided. Even if they were fuming inside, they dared not show it.

The ancestor from Qi Sect found it hard to bear and, with a somber face, asked, “You immersing yourselves in baths for cultivation, whiling away the time; have you ever thought about the frontier battlefield being possibly breached by the Flesh Mountain at any moment?”

“We cultivators are devoted to contributing to the human race. Which is more important: the safety on the battlefield, or improving our cultivation levels here?”