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

Chapter 538: Chapter 539: Linglong Pagoda
However, what Li Xiaobai was thinking about was another matter entirely. With so many treasures like the Luminous Pearls, if all were thrown into the Hellfire, should it not be enough to allow it to advance?

It must be said, places where geniuses gather are never short of good items.

Leaving them here to gather dust truly seems a bit wasteful.

“Young Master Li, these Mermaid’s Essences from the Eastern Sea contain a vast amount of Spiritual Power within each particle, allowing any common person who obtains one to use it for cultivation, and their speed must certainly improve leaps and bounds.”

“It is said that these Luminous Pearls are the condensed essence of life formed from the bodies of powerful beings of the Sea Clan after death, similar to the Buddha’s Relics formed after the death of high monks of the Buddhist Sect.”

“However for us, they are nothing more than slightly larger Spirit Stones.”

Nangong Wan noticed that Li Xiaobai’s eyes were constantly fixed on the Luminous Pearls around him and said softly.

“So that’s how it is, truly remarkable treasures indeed. With such resources at her disposal, the cultivation level of that little miss from the Eastern Sea must also be rather extraordinary.”

Li Xiaobai nodded his head, restrained the greedy look in his eyes, and said with a faint smile.

Following the crowd, Li Xiaobai noticed that the fat man in white, who had been ahead earlier, had at some point blended into the group, his eyes never leaving the Eastern Sea Luminous Pearls, saliva all but drooling from his mouth.

In the room, there were more than a few who coveted the Mermaid’s Essences of the Eastern Sea and had the gall to take action. After this tea party, the little Dragon Maiden would likely suffer considerable losses.

Li Xiaobai silently mourned for the little Dragon Maiden for a while.

…

Upon entering the tower, which had a total of seven floors, the space on each floor was incredibly vast.

In the central courtyard, a high platform stood with a woman in luxurious dress sitting atop it, her face veiled by light gauze, her eyes shimmering, akin to deep blue gems, and a mysterious blue aura radiated from her.

She was Chunxiu Tower’s Oiran, the granddaughter of the Old Dragon King of the Eastern Sea, Long Xue.

As soon as he entered the tower, Li Xiaobai felt an immense weight bear down on his body, as if a tremendous force was continuously pressing down on him.

The System panel began to show fluctuating attribute values.

[Attribute Points +1000…]

[Attribute Points +1000…]

[Attribute Points +1000…]

“What’s this…”

Li Xiaobai was somewhat puzzled. The rest of the people in the hall also had slightly solemn expressions, tensing their bodies for a moment before slightly relaxing. Clearly, they all felt this immense pressure as well.

“Young Master Li need not be alarmed, this is a prohibition within the Linglong Pagoda. Everyone who enters the pagoda will bear tremendous pressure, and Lady Long is no exception,” said Beichen Shixi with a light smile, already accustomed to this pressure.

“This Linglong Pagoda is in fact a replica, designed for the purpose of tempering the bodies of cultivators. Within it, one must endure the pressure while cultivating, which can push one’s potential to the maximum, not only solidifying the foundation but also accelerating the pace of cultivation.”

“For us, the offspring of families lacking the aura of slaughter, it can be said to be a holy land for cultivation. If one wishes to enter and hone oneself, this time of year is the only opportunity,” Dongfang Mingyue said from the side, explaining the origins of the Linglong Pagoda.

“It is said that within the Dragon Palace of the Eastern Sea, there stands an even more terrifying Linglong Pagoda, specifically designed to imprison Sea Beasts and prisoners. The pressure inside is enough to shake a transcendent, fully accomplished cultivator to death, and even cultivators at the Mahayana Realm who inadvertently enter will find it difficult to escape.”

“I see, that’s enlightening.”

Li Xiaobai nodded repeatedly. These Sea Clan cultivators really knew how to play, having constructed such a pagoda to increase the pressure on cultivators.

The growth in Attribute Points by thousands, providing damage that almost rivals that of Nascent Soul or even Divinity Transformation Stage cultivators, was merely ticklish for him, but for these geniuses who still lingered in the Divinity Transformation and Tribulation Crossing Stages, it posed just the right amount of pressure.

“This tower has a total of seven levels; I wonder what exists on the higher floors?” Li Xiaobai looked up at the spire of the tower with curiosity.

“Young Master is unaware, but with each level ascending in this Linglong Pagoda, the pressure the cultivators endure increases greatly. There is a climbing segment during the tea party, where cultivators mutually testify to their learnings. Even I can only reach the fourth level and find it difficult to break through to the higher floors. The seventh level happens to be Lady Long’s boudoir,” Beichen Shixi spoke, yearning for that seventh floor.

“It’s not surprising that Long Xue has grown up in such an environment since she was young and lives on the seventh floor. If Young Master Li were to climb, reaching the top would surely be as easy as flipping one’s hand,” Nangong Wan said from the side, her expression somewhat unpleasant. The people around her spoke with admiration and praise for Long Xue, causing some discomfort in her heart.

“Hehe, these Sea Clan cultivators really are extraordinary.”

Li Xiaobai chuckled, feeling somewhat astonished. Even geniuses of Transcendance Tribulation Stage could only reach the fourth level, so what kind of pressure must the seventh level hold?

Should he stay within it for a long period, wouldn’t his Attribute Points skyrocket?

The most surprising thing was that Long Xue actually lived on the seventh level, does that not mean her cultivation strength surpassed other geniuses of the same realm by a large margin?

Worthy of being the granddaughter of a Half-step Human Immortal, she truly was a genius.

“Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats. It seems we have an unusually large number of young talents today, and aside from cultivators from the Eastern Sea, there are even exceptional heroes from afar willing to grace us with their presence. I am tremendously flattered,” said a woman in an azure dress from the high platform, her light laughter resonating, her gaze shifting and landing on Li Xiaobai standing behind the crowd. Her voice was soft and boneless, causing the hearts of many male cultivators to flutter.

But they quickly came to their senses, their eyes clearly holding a trace of caution and guard against Li Xiaobai.

Having just arrived and already favored by the Dragon Maiden, he’s a formidable rival!

Li Xiaobai felt startled in his heart, had he been targeted by others just after arriving?

This Xiao Longnvu, who rarely ventured out, actually knew of his existence; it seemed someone had informed her.

The tea party was held on the first floor, catering to most cultivators whose skills were not refined. The seats on both sides of the high platform were filled with people, but the middle was empty,

Li Xiaobai intended to take his seat along with Beichen Shixi, but soon realized that the cultivators on both sides were clearly divided into different factions, mutually antagonistic. Where one sat at this time was especially important; it was about taking sides.

Beichen Shixi and his companions represented the Great Family Head lineage led by the three ancient families, while the other side seated the faction led by the Situ Family, representing the third Great Family Head lineage, both sides clearly in rivalry.

Goodness, the big shots hadn’t even started their battle, but the cultivators below had already been sorted into factions.

However, it seemed that Xiao Longnvu did not mind and had grown accustomed to it.

Li Xiaobai was in a bit of a dilemma; it seemed that no matter where he sat, it would bring significant trouble. But at that moment, a hearty laugh came from behind him:

“Oh my, the cultivators from Aolai Country are quite fierce, aren’t they? It’s best to just sit in the middle honestly, in the first row, the guest of honor’s seat. The fat one likes it, haha!”