I Don't Want to Get Hurt, So I'll Max Out My Defense-Chapter 1025 - 1026: Poaching from Under Your Nose

Chapter 1025: Chapter 1026: Poaching from Under Your Nose

HuaZi entered his mouth, and smoke swirled around.

Blood Soul couldn’t help but shiver, but his body was immobilized, unable to move.

The scent of HuaZi drifted into his nostrils, and his frenzied yet hollow eyes gradually calmed down.

“This…”

“This is the Buddhist Pagoda…”

“That’s right, this old man was captured by those bald donkeys!”

...

Blood Soul’s eyes became somewhat confused as HuaZi helped him break free from the state of being spiritually converted by the Power of Faith.

His expression changed drastically upon seeing Li Xiaobai.

“It’s you, you little beast!”

“Not only did you cause this old man to be suppressed by the bald donkeys, but you also had the nerve to come back. How did you manage that, tell me!”

Blood Soul shouted fiercely.

“Elder, it seems that you haven’t realized your predicament. You have now become a prisoner at my feet. If you behave, perhaps I can save you in the future and restore your freedom. Otherwise, you might as well spend your life here in the Buddhist Pagoda chanting with the monks.”

Li Xiaobai spoke indifferently.

“You!”

“What do you want to do? As long as you can get this old man out, I am willing to do anything. After getting out, this old man can make sure my Sect Disciples won’t trouble you!”

Blood Soul’s face twisted violently several times before he chose to compromise.

The Power of Faith of the Buddhist Sect was too terrifying; he couldn’t withstand it. If this Li Xiaobai could really take him out, he wouldn’t mind collaborating with him.

“Don’t be in a hurry. I want you to do nothing but stay here quietly. I came today only to test something.”

Li Xiaobai said lightly, flipping his wrist to take out a handful of HuaZi and lighting them. He scattered them among the crowd, and within a few breaths, a dense layer of white smoke filled the first level of the Buddhist Pagoda.

The scent of HuaZi spread throughout the entire level, causing all who smelled it to tremble.

Seeing this, Li Xiaobai sheathed his sword and stood with his hands behind his back, quietly waiting for the result.

The number of cultivators on this first level was not small. Being the level with the largest crowd, it accommodated thousands of people, all of whom were reserves for the Buddhist Sect.

“Cough cough!”

“Cough cough!”

“What’s happening to me?”

“Why is my mind so foggy?”

HuaZi started to take effect, and the cultivators began to wake up one after another. They had been in the Buddhist Pagoda for a long time, deeply eroded by the Power of Faith. Unlike Blood Demon, they needed much more HuaZi. Li Xiaobai threw out thousands of them before their eyes started to clear.

At the same time, numbers began to dance on the System panel.

[Host: Li Xiaobai.]

[…]

[Achievement mission: Reverse Enlightenment (0.01%).]

[There are many cultivators within the Buddhist Sect who have been spiritually converted by the Power of Faith. Liberate them to restore their free thought.]

The progress bar for the achievement mission of Reverse Enlightenment moved slightly. Although it was just a sliver, it proved that Li Xiaobai’s method was correct. As long as he used HuaZi to bring the cultivators out of the state of being spiritually converted by the Power of Faith, it was a success.

To fill the progress bar, he feared he would need to traverse the entire Western Continent. It would be more convenient and efficient to think of ways to open a few stores within the territory of the Buddhist Sect in the future.

“I remember now; I was captured and brought here, inside the Buddha Country, in prison!”

“I am as well. I was coaxed in by a monk, and before knowing it, I’ve been dazed here for three years!”

“It’s the Buddhist Sect’s doing, all of it. The monks deceived me; the Buddhist Sect led me astray!”

“That’s nothing! I came to visit my parents in the Western Continent and was suddenly captured by a high monk. I’ve been in this Buddhist Pagoda for ten years. My mother already had a full head of silver hair, and now, reflecting on it, ants could have raced for ten years!”

The cultivators greedily breathed in the aroma of HuaZi, their eyes clearer than ever. Their minds gradually emerged from confusion as they recalled their past experiences, filled with righteous indignation.

The Buddhist Sect had captured them and converted them with the Power of Faith; they had been held for many years, some even for more than a decade, their prime years slipping away.

Among them, many of the cultivators were once geniuses of their own families, lured here by Buddhist Sect monks while traveling in the Western Continent and never having left since.

To think there was a day they could see the sky again!

“Which elder saved us? Can you lead us out?”

“If we can get out, we must express our deep gratitude!”

Some cultivators shouted loudly.

“Ladies and gentlemen, there’s no need to be so agitated. My visit today was merely to test the effectiveness of this HuaZi. Now it seems that this item is extremely effective; just one can make a cultivator who has been converted wake up from the erosion of the Power of Faith. It has infinite uses.”

Li Xiaobai stood with his hands behind his back and spoke loudly.

HuaZi was indeed effective; in the future, when dealing with monks of the Buddhist Sect, it would surely be a Magic Treasure for certain victory.

“HuaZi?”

“So this burning item is called HuaZi. Thank you, elder, for saving our lives. We have no way to repay you, but if there is an opportunity to get out, we must serve you as loyal as dogs and horses!”

The cultivators looked at the piles of burning HuaZi on the ground with fervent eyes, their breathing quickening.

There was actually a treasure in the world that could relieve the Power of Faith. If they could obtain it, they would no longer have to worry about being converted in the future.

“We’ve been away from home for decades, only wishing to return to our hometown even if it means we die, to be buried in our native soil, to return to our roots. Please, elder, fulfill this wish!”

The cultivators kneeled down in unison, shouting loudly.

So many years had passed, and there had never been news of someone able to break the Buddhist Sect’s Power of Faith. And now, this mysterious young man had miraculously liberated the entire first level. It seems that during their absence, a remarkable master had appeared in the Central Origin Realm.

“My visit today was not for rescue, but as long as you obey and are willing to cooperate with me, it is not impossible to find another opportunity to take you out of the Western Continent in the future.”

Li Xiaobai spoke lightly.

“What, you just agreed to take me with you, you can’t break your word!”

Blood Soul’s expression changed abruptly, grabbing Li Xiaobai’s lapel and berating him.

“Take you with me?”

“Then get captured and returned to the Buddhist Sect again?”

“Without complete preparation, who would dare to rashly leave this Buddhist Pagoda?”

“I can take you away, but not now. After so many years of enduring, we can wait a little longer.”

Li Xiaobai fiddled with the longsword in his hand, speaking in an indifferent tone.

Fear flickered in the eyes of Blood Soul; it hadn’t been long since they last met, yet the youth before him had grown into a powerful being of the Heavenly Immortal Realm, an equal to him in strength. His potential and talent were truly chilling.

“Young Master speaks truly, as long as you can lead us out, we will do anything you ask!”

The cultivators suppressed the agitation in their hearts and spoke with sincerity.

“I have a plan, which is to liberate the entire Buddhist Pagoda and take all the cultivators within out. For this, I need to make arrangements in the outside world, and you all need to quietly wait here, not making any rash moves that might startle the enemy.”

“I will leave each of you with a hundred packs of Huazi. Use them sparingly, they should last you for a while. In these days, if any Buddhist monks come to question you, you know what to say, right?”

Li Xiaobai said softly, the room falling deathly quiet as each person’s eyes burned with a fervent light—the thirst for freedom.

“Understood, we’re not that foolish, thank you for granting us this favor, Young Master!”

“We have yet to ask for Young Master’s honored name!”

The cultivators asked eagerly.

“My name is Li Xiaobai, Peak Master of the Second Peak of the Sword Sect of the Eastern Continent. If you regain your freedom one day and have a place to go, then leave on your own. If you have nowhere to go, you can come to the Sword Sect and seek refuge with me at the Second Peak.”

“We have made a good connection today; if you see Sword Sect disciples in danger in the future, I don’t ask your family’s forces to help, just that you stand by and do nothing.”

Li Xiaobai spoke slowly. The number of these cultivators was large, and most of those taken into the Pagoda by the Buddhist Sect were either talented individuals with exceptional abilities or longstanding powerful figures steeped in sin, or they were the pride of major family forces.

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They all had one thing in common: they had the support of family forces behind them, and before being confined in the Buddhist Pagoda, they held no low positions within their respective forces.

Most crucially, although they were indoctrinated early on, having spent years in the Pagoda immersed in the intense Power of Faith and Immortal Yuan Power, their cultivation levels had surpassed their initial states, making them truly powerful figures.

For such potential stocks, giving them a chance at life was a favor that, in return, they wouldn’t easily betray or kick someone while they were down.

“So, it’s Young Master Li!”

“Young Master Li, rest assured, we are not the sort that would bite the hand that feeds. We understand the concept very well that a drop of kindness should be repaid with a spring of favor; your kindness, we shall never forget!”

The cultivators immediately prostrated themselves, showing not the slightest pretense.

Having been indoctrinated for many years wasn’t entirely bad; at the very least, in this short period, they had studied the Buddhist scriptures daily, gaining insight into the respect for elders and order, which to a scholar meant they were now cultured and knew what to do and what not to do.

Now that they had come to their senses, the memories from the time of their indoctrination hadn’t disappeared; the scriptures and canons were deeply etched in their minds. They genuinely wanted to express gratitude.

“Elder, do you see? This is the right attitude when seeking help. Even as disciples of the Blood Demon Sect, no one is above others. To put it plainly, the Buddhist Sect doesn’t seem to hold the Blood Demon Sect in any regard anymore.”

“Because they have a certain confidence, even if your whereabouts are revealed and the Blood Demon Sect learns about it, they likely won’t come to the rescue.”

Li Xiaobai turned to the old man Blood Soul with a faint smile and subtly stirred more hatred against the Buddhist Sect. This old man was an Elder in the Blood Demon Sect, and returning him there to fan the flames and intensify the conflict would put significant pressure on the Buddhist Sect.

“Hmph!”

“I know, there’s no need for further words. Once this is settled, I will manage my Sect Disciples well and not oppose you.”

Blood Soul uttered a cold snort.

This is indeed the truth: the young man’s cultivation is advancing at an incredible speed, unnaturally fast. In the future, our Sect Disciples must be cautious, lest they provoke this master and suffer collateral damage.

“If that’s the case, then let’s distribute the Huazi. Each person gets one hundred packets. Conserve them and smoke sparingly; with your current cultivation levels, holding on for a month or two shouldn’t be a problem. But if anyone gets greedy and smokes a few extra, leading to an inability to fend off the invasion of the Power of Faith and is reverse-enlightened again, I will not take responsibility!” Li Xiaobai said indifferently.

One hundred packets was the precise amount he allocated for distribution. It wasn’t too much nor too little; just enough to give these cultivators a sense of urgency while enjoying the effects of Huazi.

“Thank you, Young Master, for saving our lives!” The cultivators received the Huazi, treasuring them like precious gems in their bags. A Magic Treasure capable of withstanding the erosion of the Power of Faith was indeed a rare treasure to them, akin to timely assistance.

The crowd bowed and paid their respects again to express their gratitude.

“No worries, just make sure the Buddhist Sect doesn’t catch any flaws. I’ll come back after some days,” Li Xiaobai remarked before stepping onto his golden chariot and drifting away.

He repeated the same actions on the second and third levels: First, he ignited one thousand sticks of Huazi in the center of the crowd. Once everyone came to their senses, he began to educate them. Like the cultivators on the first level, those on the upper two levels accepted Li Xiaobai’s requests readily, without hesitation.

Anyone who had been trapped in the darkness of the Buddhist Pagoda for nearly ten years, upon learning the truth, would crumble. They had finally obtained a chance to escape and regain their freedom, and they did not want to miss this opportunity.

As long as they could get out, they would comply with whatever Li Xiaobai said, without any resistance or questioning. They had every reason to trust a mysterious young man who had found a way to counteract the Power of Faith.

“We will follow Young Master Li’s commands and arrangements!” the cultivators said in unison.

“Good,” Li Xiaobai nodded in satisfaction. In fact, he had wanted to profit handsomely from this action. But suddenly, he recalled that Liu Jinshui and Ergouzi had already plundered the cultivators inside this Buddhist Pagoda when he first returned to the Immortal Spirit Continent from the Five-colored Altar.

Now they were as poor as church mice, without a single drop to squeeze dry. It couldn’t be helped.

He considered it an act of charity. Making connections could possibly earn him some friends willing to help out in his future endeavors.

Li Xiaobai decided not to disturb the fourth level for the time being. Half-Saint Realm cultivators were beyond his ability to influence, but he could return to try his luck after his cultivation had grown much stronger.

Returning to the fifth level, he expertly inserted several top-quality Immortal Stones into the large crack. As soon as the Immortal Stones made contact with the smooth surface of the Five-colored Altar, a lightning vortex suddenly appeared, floating out into the small room.

Below Li Xiaobai’s feet, his golden chariot manifested and sped into the passage, disappearing without a trace in the blink of an eye.

A few breaths later, the passageway closed, and calm returned to the inside of the Buddhist Pagoda. Everything went back to normal, but on the lower three levels, each cultivator discreetly placed a stick of Huazi under their tongue, just in case.

Meanwhile, in Buddha Country, inside Great Thunderclap Temple.

In the Abbot’s main hall, several monks who were playing chess suddenly froze, their brows creasing slightly.

Looking at them, Monk Wuyuzi narrowed his eyes slightly and asked, “Amitabha. Have you brothers sensed something?”

The monk named Wuyan replied, “It seems like the strength of the Power of Faith in Buddha Country has weakened slightly all of a sudden. Perhaps some Buddhist disciples have perished?”

Another elder monk shook his head and said, “That’s not right. The weakening of the Power of Faith was palpable, not just a matter of one or two disciples dying. At least a thousand must have perished. With the recent exposure of our new rites by that scoundrel Li Xiaobai, attracting the attention and surrounding attacks of various powers was only a matter of time. We should send someone to check if there have been cultivators who have forcibly entered our Buddhist Pure Land and started a great slaughter.”

Wuyuzi nodded in agreement: “Good!”