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

Chapter 515: Chapter 516: Call It the Li Family Starting Today
Jets of ink-like flames surged, and within a breath, the Zhang Family Patriarch turned to ash, vanishing without a trace.

The pleas for mercy in the arena came to an abrupt halt, every person’s pupils quivering violently, their Primordial Spirits trembling. The being they had revered like a deity was now silently incinerated before their eyes.

What kind of flames were these?

Even a cultivator at the Transcendance Tribulation Stage had no power to resist!

“Young Master Li, have you come here to annihilate us today?”

“If that’s the case, you’re nothing more than a cold-blooded killing machine, no different from my Zhang family, right?”

The Great Elder’s face was pale as he made a last-ditch struggle. Li Xiaobai’s strength far exceeded his imagination. Probably only a powerful member from the Situ Household could suppress him now.

“You’re right, rest assured, I will spare your life.”

Li Xiaobai casually took out a bottle of Elixirs and poured it into the Great Elder’s mouth without explanation.

Then he singled out a few cultivators who had been particularly troublesome before; black flames surged and they were instantly consumed. Their cultivation levels were too weak, not even allowing the Hellfire to spread an initial meter farther.

“Li Xiaobai, I won’t let you off even as a ghost!”

“I will be waiting for you in Hell!”

Zhang Xu and another with ferocious looks in their eyes, and faces twisted in rage, roared in unwillingness, but in the next second, they disintegrated into ash within the pitch-black flames.

“A bunch of scoundrels in sheep’s clothing, not worth mourning over their deaths!”

“Well done, Young Master Li!”

“I’ve long been displeased with these youngsters, causing trouble all day long and leaving the family to clean up after them.”

“They provoked someone they shouldn’t have today; this is their retribution!”

“Young Master Li is noble; I support you!”

The remaining high-ranking Elders sensed the way the wind was blowing and immediately started to brown-nose. Li Xiaobai was killing with a purpose, targeting the few cultivators who had shown extreme activity previously, giving them a glimpse of hope for survival.

“You’ve crippled my cultivation; you might as well have killed me with a single sword strike!”

Despair and emptiness filled the Great Elder’s eyes, his face ashen.

Decades of arduous cultivation had been washed away, gone with the flow.

How was he to stand his ground in the future?

In the Cultivation World, where strength is revered, losing his cultivation meant he would likely struggle to take even a single step. Not to mention, within his own family, there were no shortage of those with grudges against him.

“I am not by nature cruel and vicious, unlike the former Patriarch of the Zhang Family.”

Li Xiaobai sheathed his sword and released his control over the crowd. The incident with the Zhang Family was just the spark of a series of disputes, requiring someone to spread word to the outside world, drawing hatred towards himself.

The Great Elder was the perfect candidate for the task.

“From now on, this estate will bear the name of Li, how does that sound to all of you?”

Li Xiaobai spoke indifferently, hands clasped behind his back.

“Good!”

“I’ve long been disgusted by the Zhang Family’s conduct. A change today is like starting anew, exactly in line with what I have in mind!”

“Indeed, ‘Li Family’ sounds much more pleasant to the ears than ‘Zhang Family’!”

“The Zhang Family? What Zhang Family? Have we not always been the Lis around here?”

“Yes, yes, yes, I must have been confused. Elder Li is right in the reminder!”

The group of Elders quickly changed allegiances, not only changing the family name but even changing their own surnames.

Watching the behavior of these high-ranking members, Li Xiaobai was slack-jawed and dumbfounded. Damn it, they were too good at playing to the gallery, ready to change their last name in a second just to stay alive. The thickness of their skin was truly astounding.

Actually, it wasn’t entirely their fault; the appearance of Hellfire was just too terrifying. In an instant, it could burn a living person to nothingness. That horrific and eerie sight had sparked a primal urge to survive in everyone’s hearts.

“Since that’s the case, today I will spare your lives. What happens in the future will depend on your performance!”

Li Xiaobai’s eyes shimmered as he spoke coldly.

“Of course, sir. Rest assured, we will definitely support you wholeheartedly from now on and make the Li Family the strongest clan!”

The group of Elders nodded and bowed, utterly self-abasing.

“Now I want to bring the members of the Zong Family into the Li Family to settle them down. Who is willing to go through the trouble?”

Li Xiaobai said with a smile.

“I’ll go, I am well acquainted with the Patriarch of the Zong Family!”

“Enough with the nonsense, get out of the way. I’m the one who has the best relationship with the Zong Family!”

“Heh, you probably don’t know this, but when Zong Hu had his full moon celebration, I personally gifted him a Magic Treasure. If we’re talking good relations, no one tops me!”

“You old coot…”

Before the words had finished echoing, a group of Elders squabbled noisily, their faces red with exertion, and all flew out of the mansion together. In the blink of an eye, they vanished without a trace.

Li Xiaobai was speechless inside. These people were really afraid of death, no doubt about it—a bunch of slippery old hands. The old Family Head had just been slaughtered, and they were immediately cozying up to the new Family Head, as slick as could be.

“Alright, you all go back to your own homes and do as you please. Just remember from now on, what the members of the Zong Family say goes—that’s the same as if I’m saying it. Got it?”

Li Xiaobai swept his gaze over the remaining disciples around him and said.

“Understood. From now on, we follow only the Zong Family. There will be no Zhang Family in Aolai Country anymore!”

The group of cultivators responded in unison, without hesitation. It was a joke to object; the strongest person in the family had just been killed in an instant, and the Elders had submitted on the spot—how could they dare to disobey?

The young cultivator before them was like a demon—if he was angered, people would die.

At the back of the crowd, the Great Elder with his hunched figure watched Li Xiaobai’s departing back, his eyes filled with bitterness and resentment. Turning around, he headed out of the mansion; he needed to report to the Situ Household. At this juncture, only the great mountain of the Situ Household could help him.

“Someone, prepare a horse for me!”

The Great Elder demanded coldly, still exuding a superior air. However, this time, the only response he received was scornful mockery.

“For a piece of trash like you, an old fool, to tell us to prepare a horse?”

“Get lost, the Li Family doesn’t need trash!”

The young cultivator at the door looked disdainfully and spoke indifferently.

“Good, I will remember you,” said the Great Elder, his face turning ashen as he stared at the disciple for a moment, then suddenly he laughed ominously and without turning his head, walked away.

…

At the same time.

In the Zong Mansion, the bathhouse was still steaming hot, with steam churning in the air.

However, the pool was completely empty. Following the incident with the Zhang Family, no cultivator dared to come here for a bath anymore. While the temptation of enhanced cultivation was strong, their lives were even more precious.

At that moment, a few members of the Zong Family were like ants on a hot pan, anxiously pacing around the bathhouse.

They had learned from Zong Ya’s mouth that Li Xiaobai had been taken away by the Zhang Family Patriarch. The Zhang Family was a true dragon’s lair and tiger’s den—a place of no return. If Li Xiaobai had met with misfortune, the Zong Family lacked the power to withstand any aggressors.

Watching the family members hustling, Zong Ya couldn’t help but try to reassure them:

“Don’t worry, Uncle Zong, that guy always looks so smug and confident. He should be fine, right?”