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

Chapter 374: 375: A Family Should Be Complete and United

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Holy City, within the City Lord’s Mansion.

The four city lords had gathered early, and Yang Guang welcomed them with a smiling face, warmly ushering the party from Fire Qilin Cave into the great hall. His demeanor suggested that he was completely unaware of the incident that had just occurred at the city gates.

Everyone was well aware of the situation at the city gates. Although the frontier was not a monolith, with ceaseless overt and covert struggles, if outsiders interfered with the intent to flex their muscles, they would surely unite against them.

This was an understanding shared equally by the four city lords and everyone in the Holy City.

They welcomed reinforcements with open arms, but if anyone came to throw their weight around and strut about, they would eliminate them, no exceptions, Fire Qilin Cave included.

Elder Wang, with a stern face, led his party at a measured pace into the hall, the four grand palanquins carried in just as unhurriedly.

Li Xiaobai followed them in and his gaze quickly found Yang Chen and Ling Feng seated among the attendees. These two were top geniuses, qualified to represent the younger generation at this meeting.

He nodded at them, and as fellow sect brothers, they understood each other’s intentions instantly. Seeing Li Xiaobai in this manner, Yang Chen and Ling Feng immediately grasped that their junior sect brother was about to stir up trouble.

The two exchanged glances and nodded subtly, ready to act accordingly when the opportunity arose.

“Hehe, the presence of Fire Qilin Cave’s reinforcements in our Holy City is indeed an honor. I believe that with the help of each Saint Heir, our frontier will become as impregnable as a fortress!”

Yang Guang rose to welcome them, his face brimming with smiles.

Yet the other city lords in the hall had no intention of greeting the guests, their eyes narrowing slightly as they examined the grand palanquins in the hall.

Mere Saint Heirs, just outstanding juniors, yet they didn’t even deign to show their faces in front of these peak powerhouses, which was extremely irritating to them.

Especially Cai Kunxu and Xiong Da, unlike Li Xiaobai, they clearly perceived that the Saint Heirs inside the palanquins were at most at the Transcendence Tribulation Stage, and not even the high-ranking ones at that – merely existences they could manipulate at will.

Considering these weaklings dared to put on airs in front of them, they sneered inwardly, thinking of Li Xiaobai’s plan. They would allow these Saint Heirs a brief moment of self-importance; soon enough, they would learn of the dangers of the frontier.

The atmosphere was a bit chilly, and the faces of the four Protectors were also somewhat displeased. It seemed that in the entire hall, only the weakest one was greeting them, with no acknowledgment from the Great Crossing Realm Experts.

However, Elder Wang was equally careful not to neglect his duties. With Sky Blade Song Que as a precedent, he was unsure of the city lords’ strength within the hall.

He too expressed warm enthusiasm with a smile.

“Mm, indeed, it is our duty. We have primarily come to relieve the pressure of the Flesh Mountain on the frontier. As is well known, the Flesh Mountain is resurging on a large scale, ready to erupt and strike at any moment. At such a time, as an old and top-tier force of the Mainland, Fire Qilin Cave has an inescapable responsibility to provide support!”

“Furthermore, we are here to temper our Saint Heirs. If they manage to grow through the battles, upon their return, we elders will certainly commend the valiant comrades of the frontier!”

Elder Wang laughed heartily, appearing to be in high spirits as he chatted with Yang Guang.

Li Xiaobai felt speechless inside. Old Wang had said quite the right thing; they had plainly come to usurp their host’s position and stage their competition, all the while heaping praise upon themselves.

Inescapable responsibility?

The great virtue of a hero is to serve one’s country and people?

If it weren’t for being brutally beaten by Sky Blade Song Que just now, would you be saying these things?

“Indeed, each Saint Heir of Fire Qilin Cave is a dragon among men. I am sure they will accomplish great things on the frontier.”

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“Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats.”

Yang Guang invited everyone to sit with his usual cheerful demeanor. A banquet had already been set up in the hall, and the arrangements were quite meticulous.

All those present were old foxes, savvy to the core. Everyone understood what the Wang-surnamed elder was implying. Outwardly, there were just pleasantries exchanged, but subtly the topic of the various clans of Central Province had been brought up.

Speaking of going back to Central Province to claim credit for the borderland achievements seemed like polite conversation, but it actually carried an underlying threat. Fire Qilin Cave had the backing of the Central Province clans; to move against them meant not only facing the wrath of Fire Qilin Cave but also considering the feelings of the clans’ elders.

This Wang-surnamed Protector had just faced a setback at the city gates and now, seeing the high-level officials of the borderlands, wanted to secure more rights for the Saint Heirs.

After all, concerning the struggle for supremacy in Fire Qilin, the more power their own Saint Heir held in the borderlands, the more freely they could move, and the better their chances of victory in this trial would be.

The other three Protectors felt some dissatisfaction, cursing Elder Wang silently for being shameless, having been preempted upon just entering the city. It seemed like the borderlands might now give priority to Saint Child Huo Yun’s interest.

“It has been a long time since we have all gathered together like this. It reminds me of a saying from my master before he passed: ‘In life, the most important thing is for the family to be together, united and complete!'”

“Today, the four City Lords and several exceptional young cultivators have all come together again, a truly rare occasion. I’d like to propose a toast to all of you!”

Yang Guang picked up a cup of wine and drained it in one gulp.

The others reciprocated with smiles and also finished their drinks in one go.

Li Xiaobai looked around at the two City Lords he hadn’t met before. The one seated in the main seat appeared to be a young man who seemed very refined and showed a calm demeanor that suggested he was detached from worldly affairs, not taking anything to heart.

The one sitting next to him was a middle-aged man with a cold face and sharp eyes, not bothering to hide his edge, obviously not someone to mess with.

Judging from their auras, the young-looking man should be Mei Changqing, and the middle-aged one should be Wang Guan.

It was unclear how Mei Changqing maintained himself, but he looked surprisingly youthful and well-preserved.

The Protectors took their seats, and the other cultivators who had carried the sedans stood by their sides, waiting respectfully.

“It is an honor for this old man to meet the four City Lords who guard the borderlands, the top experts of the Mainland.”

Not wanting to be outdone, the Jiang-surnamed elder spoke up immediately, hoping to engage in conversation with the City Lords.

“Hmm, just Mahayana Realm cultivators, we are not worthy of the name of the top experts.”

Cai Kunxu gave the Jiang-surnamed elder a glance and spoke indifferently. As soon as he opened his mouth, he took a subtly sarcastic tone. Normally, he wouldn’t dare to be this arrogant, but with Mei Changqing and Wang Guan seated beside him and a unified front being presented against Fire Qilin Cave, he had no fear. He was responsible for causing trouble today; after all, there was someone bigger behind him to handle it.

At these words, the Jiang-surnamed elder turned a bright shade of pale, not expecting such arrogance and disrespect from a City Lord.

“Woof, just at the Mahayana Realm level, indeed not considered a top expert. Only someone like Lord Ergouzi, a supreme being, is truly deserving of the name of invincible!”

From the sedan, the shrill voice of Ergouzi rang out, oozing with mockery.

Hearing this, Cai Kunxu smirked sardonically and said, “Hehe, then you’re very impressive…”

Ergouzi: ???