I Don't Want to Get Hurt, So I'll Max Out My Defense-Chapter 1042 - 1043: The Show Begins

Chapter 1042: Chapter 1043: The Show Begins

“Boom! Boom! Boom!”

Above the sea, thunder roared and explosions followed one after another, shaking the cultivators on the ship to the core, their scalp tingling with fear.

Below the sea surface, clumps of mud drew energy from the water, compressing and expanding uncontrollably until the wildly unstable power reached its critical point and burst open. At the epicenter of the ship, the sea within hundreds of meters was nearly flipped upside down.

The Cui Ming Fish were a school, not every one of them exceptionally combative. More than half were only at the Human Immortal Realm cultivation level, a few at the Earth Immortal Realm, and only a handful of leaders at the Heavenly Immortal Realm. Subjected to such relentless bombardment, terrifying waves surged tumultuously, briefly lifting the ship into the air. Countless yellow fish corpses were blasted skyward, falling onto the deck like raindrops.

At the same time, the blood-red Sin Value above Li Xiaobai’s head materialized for the first time since boarding the ship.

“Sin Value: Five million!”

“Five million in Sin Value!”

“A great villain!”

“That young man is actually a killing god!”

“How many experts did he have to kill to accumulate such Sin Value?”

The cultivators were once again shaken, finding the value above Li Xiaobai’s head more terrifying and shocking than the thousands of Cui Ming Fish. This was undoubtedly a great villain, with a Sin Value comparable to the slaughter of a city, sending uncontrollable shivers through everyone’s hearts.

“Young Master Li, what is your cultivation level that you’ve accumulated a Sin Value of five million in the Heavenly Immortal Realm?”

Uncle Huo couldn’t help but ask, while the others wore expressions as if they had seen a ghost. Such a value was heaven-defying, marking someone who would be immediately wanted anywhere else. This was only possible at sea—had it been in the Southern Continent, by the next morning this guy would have been in the Enforcement Team’s prison.

“Look at you all, acting as though you’ve never seen the world. Is five million that much?”

“Who’s going to deal with these Cui Ming Fish now?”

Li Xiaobai glanced at them, speaking nonchalantly as he picked up a “shit-yellow button” from the deck. Indeed, it was a fish, perfectly round and as clear as a lake, with a character for ‘urge’ inscribed on its back, exuding a chilling murderous intent.

Upon prying its mouth open, rows of small steel teeth with gleaming cold light were revealed, their sharpness no less than that of divine weapons.

This must be the Cui Ming Fish’s main method of attack, relentlessly harassing and tearing at their target until it collapsed.

“Roar!”

As his words had just faded, a sharp roar pierced the heavens and a huge shadow burst forth from the water, leaping at the bow of the ship. Li Xiaobai caught a glimpse of a giant shit-yellow button flashing past, like a streak of yellow lightning.

Although the power of the Star of Earthly Explosion was formidable and had caused large-scale casualties, the sheer number of fish was overwhelming, and the two waves that had been blown apart were not enough to significantly weaken the school. Cui Ming Fish began constantly jumping out of the water around the ship, gnawing at the hull, intent on sinking it.

“That’s a Heavenly Immortal Realm Cui Ming Fish! There’s one at the bow!”

A well-informed cultivator recognized the origins of the adversary.

“There’s also one at the stern!”

“And one by the hull!”

“This is a massive Cui Ming Fish colony, with no less than four Heavenly Immortal Realm Fish Kings leading the charge. We are doomed!”

The cultivators’ faces were filled with despair. They had simply been sailing the sea honestly; how had they stirred up such a hornet’s nest and attracted the assault of so many Demonic Beasts?

“Four Heavenly Immortal Realm Fish Kings, and perhaps even more lurking in the deep waters!”

“In light of this… with Young Master Li taking action, we wouldn’t dare to flaunt our minor skills before you. We shall await your successful outcome,” Uncle Han said, his pupils contracting as he spoke very politely to Li Xiaobai. Indeed, as he had said earlier, facing more than three was essentially a death sentence, for the number of Fish Kings represented the strength of the school. With four Fish Kings, there were likely at least four thousand Cui Ming Fish lurking around the ship, and even if a Semi-Saint arrived, it would take considerable effort to slay them.

“Sure, a protection fee of a hundred thousand top-grade Immortal Stones per person. Once you pay up, I’ll take care of it for you.”

Li Xiaobai rubbed his fingers together as he looked at the group from the Icy Frost Sect.

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“But didn’t we just pay?”

Uncle Han was taken aback and said with some puzzlement.

“What you paid before was for dealing with the Sea Dragon Horse. Now that you’ve encountered the Cui Ming Fish, naturally, you have to pay again.”

Li Xiaobai said with a faint smile.

Seeing that the Cui Ming Fish were at the Heavenly Immortal Realm, he was reassured. No matter how many came from the Heavenly Immortal Realm, they were just easy pickings, regardless of the number.

“You’re really going for the throat!”

“Do we have to give you one hundred and twenty thousand top-grade Immortal Stones every time we encounter a Demonic Beast in these waters?”

Han Buzhu spoke up sternly, “The Icy Frost Sect treats you with great respect, even repeatedly inviting Young Master Li to our Icy Frost Sect as a guest. Why do you have to make things difficult for us at every turn?”

Because your Icy Frost Sect always likes to stir up trouble!

Li Xiaobai thought to himself, scornfully. If the Icy Frost Sect were like the Huo Family, living in harmony without causing any problems, focusing on making money, doing business, and getting wealthy without any ulterior motives, he naturally wouldn’t squeeze them dry. However, this Han Buzhu and his servant clearly weren’t up to any good, inviting him as a guest to the Icy Frost Sect? It was clearly a scheme to lure him onto their turf!

And this bunch of temporary followers were obviously assassins in disguise, how could he just ignore that?

Before you make a move against me, I will drain all the resources from you, leaving not a single drop!

“This is just a simple transaction. If I don’t act, all of you could either die or get injured. What’s wrong with spending a mere hundred thousand top-grade Immortal Stones to save your lives? Isn’t this deal worth it?”

Li Xiaobai said indifferently.

“Of course, it’s totally worth it! A hundred thousand top-grade Immortal Stones for my life, my Huo Family is eternally grateful. Here are one hundred and twenty thousand top-grade Immortal Stones. Please count them, Young Master Li.”

Uncle Huo, who stood beside him, took out a Storage Bag without hesitation and threw it to Li Xiaobai. For them, this was an excellent opportunity to curry favor.

He had already realized that this young man loved nothing but money. As long as they appealed to his greed with money paving the way, was there any fear that they wouldn’t be able to befriend him?

And with the Huo Family setting the example, the Icy Frost Sect had to dig deep into their resources as well.

“Uncle Huo really gets it, doesn’t he? A hundred times stronger than those prestigious sects that only know how to spout big words?”

Li Xiaobai gleefully accepted the Storage Bag, giving it a brief scan before pocketing it. In just a short while, another one hundred and twenty thousand had lined his pockets.

Uncle Han was furious. He hesitantly looked at Buzhu and said, “Young Master, maybe we should…”

Before he could finish his sentence, another angry shout came: “This is too much! What do you take my Icy Frost Sect for?”

“Our Young Master’s willingness to associate with you, even offering you a million top-grade Immortal Stones, is a sign of respect. You should take the face given to you. If you refuse the face offered, do you believe that my Icy Frost Sect couldn’t kill you within minutes?”

The one speaking was one of the temporary followers. At this moment, his eyes were wide open, suddenly erupting in a barrage of scolding towards Li Xiaobai. Uncle Huo was stunned; Uncle Han was dumbfounded. When had these temporary workers become so loyal to the sect?

Had they taken the wrong medication?

“So you’re saying you’re unwilling to pay the protection fee?”

Li Xiaobai narrowed his eyes, knowing that these temporary workers from the Icy Frost Sect were about to put on a show. This school of fish was most likely lured by them, with the aim of creating confusion to take him down.

Their acting skills were pitifully poor, miles apart from a professional beggar’s.

The group of temporary workers revealed cold smiles and said fiercely, “We, of the Icy Frost Sect, would rather jump down and be eaten by the fish than accept your protection!”