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

Chapter 553: 554
Hearing the rough and hurried breathing behind him, Situ Guixiong instantly judged that this person’s stamina was being drained more rapidly than his, and his condition was not as good as his own. With an extra push, he could still maintain the lead!

Observing Situ Guixiong, who suddenly exerted force and scrambled up the steps in front of him, a hint of mockery flashed in Li Xiaobai’s eyes, as he maintained a look of unbearable pain.

He huffed and puffed, persistently climbing up the steps.

Seeing this, Situ Guixiong pushed even harder, no longer adjusting his body to restore Spiritual Power. Using both hands and feet, he quickly ascended two more steps, reaching the thirty-third step.

His legs gave out and he sat cross-legged on the ground, popping two Elixirs into his mouth, beginning to recover his depleted strength and losses.

In his view, with a three-step height gap between them, it was impossible for the other party to easily catch up.

But his heart suddenly trembled when he saw the unfamiliar cultivator below bellow in rage and forcefully leap up a step.

Charging up while muttering to himself.

“I can’t lose, I’m the hope of our village, how can I fall here!”

“Brother, I admire your strength, but in this competition, I’m definitely the better one!”

“I want to bring back the honor of being the number one youth of Aolai Country to my village, to make the old village chief truly happy!”

Li Xiaobai let out a long howl to the sky, hands and feet in coordination, slowly but firmly climbing upwards once more.

Seeing this, Situ Guixiong did not dare to linger any longer, nor did he sit to refine the residual power of the Elixirs within his Dantian. Similarly using both hands and feet, he started climbing upwards without stopping.

The other party’s words made him realize that this person had come with conviction. Although he seemed like a bumpkin, Situ Guixiong knew well that those honest people who were stubborn to a fault were often the most difficult to deal with, because they had immense perseverance and willpower.

Seeing Situ Guixiong continuing to climb in panic above, Li Xiaobai followed at a leisurely pace, feeling quite pleased with himself.

The cultivators below were staring in astonishment. Those involved lose clarity, while the bystanders see everything. Situ Guixiong couldn’t figure out what was happening, but they had a clear view from beginning to end.

The unknown figure posed as a great talent, casually approached Situ Guixiong from behind, then suddenly knelt down, feigning a painful appearance of exhaustion, and put on a chase scene with Situ Guixiong.

Their motives were still unclear, but from the looks of it, they were definitely up to something, targeting Situ Guixiong!

Who would have thought that this unimpressive-looking guy could be so scheming, playing rather dirty tricks? However, they did not dare to speak up and warn him, as this newcomer did not seem like an easy person to mess with.

Long Xue below was also confused by the scene. Why didn’t the cultivator just climb up normally? Why suddenly start performing?

Could it be that the other party thought that simply climbing stairs wasn’t challenging enough, so he wanted to add a bit of flair to it?

Indeed, that could be a possibility. It is said that the real big shots and peerless geniuses all have their little quirks; Li Xiaobai must be one of them.

Half an hour later, on the fourth floor, by the staircase.

Situ Guixiong and Li Xiaobai kept chasing each other, now far ahead of the other cultivators. At this moment, Situ Guixiong was at the fiftieth step, and never in his wildest dreams had he imagined that the newcomer would have such incredible willpower, having chased him all the way to the forty-ninth step.

At this moment, all the Spiritual Power in his body was completely drained, without any conflict left. He was relying solely on his Physical Strength to hold on until now.

It had been a long time since he had experienced such an exhilarating urgency, as if he was back in his youth when he practiced alone, determinedly working his way out from among the many geniuses of his clan.

The process was tough, but enjoyable, and the outcome had been satisfying. He believed that this time, it would be the same!

As Situ Guixiong thought to himself, his blood unconsciously surged with excitement. A true man, should indeed revel in such competition!

Moreover, reaching this point, I believe the opponent’s condition can’t be much better, he’s probably also just forcibly sustaining himself with the Flesh Mountain. Just hold on for a little longer, and the victor will be decided!

Just as he was about to climb again, he suddenly heard the person behind him speak up abruptly, roaring in a low voice.

“When I was twelve, my cultivation level was wasted. I fell from the peak of the Qi Cultivation Stage to the third level, and I endured scorn. But, with my extraordinary willpower, I rose up again within my clan, stepping over each and every one of the brothers that had oppressed me!”

“Since then, I’ve understood a principle. This is an era where the victor is king, and in the world of cultivation, the process isn’t questioned, only the result matters!”

“In this grand competition, no matter what methods I use, I must surpass Young Master Situ!”

“This cup here is the tea Lady Long graced me with earlier, I couldn’t bear to drink it, but I never thought it would come into play here. This tea is infused with a Thousand-Year Snow Lotus, its effects are far beyond what elixirs can compare to. Young Master Situ, I’m sorry!”

Li Xiaobai flipped his wrist, taking out a small tea cup, and spoke with a ferocious expression.

Situ Guixiong’s face changed abruptly, he obviously understood what the other party was talking about, and he knew very well the effect of this tea. If the opponent drank this tea, his Spiritual Power would recover greatly in a moment, and he certainly would not be able to surpass him anymore.

He must not allow it!

“My brother’s story, I also deeply empathize with. Have you not heard that in the Cultivation World, everything is based on resources? If my brother is willing to let me have this cup of tea, I am willing to buy it at a high price!”

Situ Guixiong said.

Li Xiaobai chuckled inwardly, the timing was right, the fish was taking the bait.

“A high price?”

“How high could it be?”

Looking at Li Xiaobai’s seemingly naive demeanor, Situ Guixiong suddenly laughed: “I wouldn’t let you suffer a loss, brother. This tea is made by soaking a Thousand-Year Snow Lotus. The auction outside earlier quoted at least tens of thousands of top-grade Spirit Stones.”

“I offer fifty thousand top-grade Spirit Stones. How about that?”

“Rubbish talk. Are you just buying my tea? You are buying the honor of being the foremost among Aolai Country’s younger generation. Whoever drinks this cup of tea becomes the foremost. And now you’re telling me, you’ll only give fifty thousand top-grade Spirit Stones?”

“Are you taking me for a fool?”

Upon hearing this Li Xiaobai was suddenly enraged, and he made a gesture as if he was about to drink the tea in his hand.

“Wait!”

Situ Guixiong hurriedly spoke, stopping Li Xiaobai’s action. What the other person said was true, with the help of this tea, he would definitely be able to reach a higher level. At that time, among the younger generation, he would also have more supporters.

After that, as long as he put on a decent performance in the competition, his position in Aolai Country would surely become even more secure.

“I wasn’t thinking clearly just then. Alright, how about this: I offer one hundred thousand top-grade Spirit Stones. This amount is not small.”

“I come from a humble place, and I’ve been frightened of poverty.”

“So?”

Situ Guixiong frowned slightly and said.

“You’ve got to raise the price!”