I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, So I’ll Max Out My Defense - Chapter 407:

Chapter 407: Chapter 408 Selling Out Teammates
Lord Xiong and the Dry Flame Saint Child, along with their attendants, roamed incessantly within the city walls. Since they were already in the Holy City, they thought they might as well take a look around the city to see how much it had changed.

They had no idea until they saw it and were taken aback.

Along the way, they saw steaming smoke billowing from building after building—over a dozen in succession?

Moreover, there were continuous exclamations of surprise, cries of joy, even. Lord Xiong recognized several voices, belonging to the cultivators of the third battlefield.

What kind of magic could it be that made their subordinates cry out in astonishment again and again? Could this Tangneng First-class have some magical ability, just like the notable shops?

However, they did not have the chance to try it for themselves at the moment, as Li Xiaobai and the others were waiting inside the City Lord’s Mansion. They thought they might as well note it down discreetly for now and save the experience for later.

A few minutes later, within the City Lord’s Mansion, Lord Xiong and his companions were staring blankly.

The scene before them was even more shocking than what they had witnessed in the Holy City—a major hall had been completely transformed into a gargantuan bathhouse.

Li Xiaobai and Yang Guang, along with the others, were leisurely soaking inside at that moment.

Looking around the great hall, where was there even a hint of solemn dignity? Not to mention the Council Hall; even the simulated maps that Yang Guang had always valued most were now nowhere to be seen.

Everyone seemed to have adopted a carefree attitude, as if unconcerned with the trivial matters at the border anymore.

“This…”

“City Lord Yang, have you all given in to reality?”

“I understand that the Flesh Mountains are rapidly reviving everywhere, making things difficult to handle. But you can’t just give up on yourselves. There should always be hope in life. As long as we hold hope in our hearts, our human race will not be defeated!”

“The more critical the situation, the more we should unite!”

Lord Xiong said with a bewildered face, unable to make any sense of what was happening inside the Holy City.

“Er… Lord Xiong, you’ve misunderstood. This City Lord is full of confidence in our border cultivators. I believe it won’t be long before even the revived Flesh Mountains will be unable to break through our border blockade,” Yang Guang said somewhat awkwardly, as it had always been him who encouraged the other city lords. He didn’t expect that today Lord Xiong would take his usual role.

However, it did make sense. Given the current appearance of his people, it was indeed easy to be misunderstood.

“Oh? Full of confidence? Is it because of Huazi? I have heard that Huazi was a contribution from Young Master Li. I wonder if I might have the chance to sample it?”

Elder Ji, who was nearby, paid no attention to the exchange between Yang Guang and Lord Xiong. For him, what happened at the border did not matter. As long as the Dry Flame Saint Child could gain substantial benefits, that was enough.

“In our Holy City, there are many reputable shops that have been established, which I believe you’ve seen upon entering the city. Those are the places where Huazi is sold. If you wish to sample it, you may purchase it there,” Li Xiaobai said with a chuckle, giving Ergouzi a sidelong glance.

Ergouzi immediately understood and switched from a doggy paddle to a normal bathing posture. It knew the main event was coming. The Dry Flame Saint Child was within reach, and by eliminating him and absorbing the Bloodline Power within his body, its strength and potential would reach a new level.

“Cough cough, Young Master Li, the main reason for our visit was to personally thank Lord Cai for dispatching troops to help clear out the Flesh Mountains on the third battlefield. We have all witnessed the potency of Huazi firsthand—truly magical. If possible, might we also introduce these fine shops to the third battlefield?”

Xiong Da spoke plainly.

“Hehe, building a shop is impossible, but constructing a Teleportation Formation in the Third Battlefield to allow Lord Xiong’s cultivators to travel to and from the Holy City at will is not difficult to achieve. However, this all depends on the City Lord’s performance from now on.”

Li Xiaobai said lightly, his meaning clear—if he had already fallen out with the Dry Flame Saint Child, then it would be better to speak frankly, to avoid leaving room for future underhanded cooperation between the two parties.

Xiong Da naturally understood this logic too. After witnessing the changes in the Holy City, his heart was completely relieved of any burden. Compared to a Saint Child from the Fire Qilin Cave, it was far more important to enhance the strength of the cultivators on the battlefield.

“Young Master Li, I know your identity is no simple matter, but my Fire Qilin Cave has also stood on the Immortal Spirit Continent for over a thousand years. The depth of our foundation, I believe, will also interest you.”

“I’m not one for beating around the bush. My Fire Qilin Cave desires the manufacturing method of Huazi from you. If you are willing to hand over this technique, the Saint Child and I can guarantee that the Fire Qilin Cave can meet any of your demands!”

Elder Ji, who had been quietly observing, suddenly spoke out. This was the purpose of his visit. It is better to teach a man to fish than to give him a fish. Simply buying Huazi meant that the initiative was still in the hands of others. Only by mastering the manufacturing method could his Fire Qilin Cave truly produce and sell on its own!

“City Lord Yang had already asked about this matter before. In fact, the method for making Huazi is not a secret, it’s just that some parts of the process are somewhat troublesome. Even if I told Elder Ji, I’m afraid it would be of no use,” Li Xiaobai shook his head and said.

“Oh? What kind of troublesome steps, Young Master? The Fire Qilin Cave also has an Elixir Master skilled in Alchemy. I believe we can certainly unravel its mysteries,” Elder Ji asked eagerly, his eyes lighting up.

“The most important part of the process is that only Huazi made by my hands will possess its remarkable effects,” Li Xiaobai said slowly.

At his words, the grand hall suddenly fell into a tense silence.

Elder Ji narrowed his eyes slightly and said word by word, “Young Master Li, are you mocking me?”

The Dry Flame Saint Child sensed that something was amiss and hurriedly said, “If Young Master is worried about money, there’s no need. If you feel uncertain, I, as the saint heir, can swear on my Dao heart!”

He hadn’t forgotten the terror of being dominated by that pitch-black flame that very night, something that had completely destroyed the Bloodline Power within his body.

Elder Ji dared to be so bold largely because of the reputation of the Fire Qilin Cave. But if they truly enraged the other party, they would not care what forces stood behind them.

In the Cultivation World, strength was still the ultimate authority, and at this moment, they were the weaker party.

“Hehe, it seems you haven’t realized that from the moment you stepped into this grand hall, your lives were already under my control. Do you still have the right to bargain with me?” Li Xiaobai’s eyes flashed with a cold light as he spoke in a deep voice.

“What do you mean by this, Young Master?” Elder Ji felt a thump in his heart, instinctively sensing that something bad was about to happen. Surely the other party wouldn’t disregard the Fire Qilin Cave and directly kill them here in this hall?

It was at this point that Xiong Da suddenly went down on one knee and said loudly, “The Third Battlefield has been subdued, as per Young Master’s instructions. The Dry Flame Saint Child has been brought here. How should he be dealt with?”