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

Chapter 566: Chapter 567 I Want to be the Richest Man
“So it seems, everything has just been a setup?”

“Do these powerful families, now at their zenith, actually all have the possibility of being destroyed at any moment?”

“No wonder Junior Brother has been so ostentatious, Third Steward, by doing this, you’re treating him as a pawn.”

Upon hearing this, everyone’s expression darkened. They were well aware of the Third Steward’s plan, where Li Xiaobai, as a catalyst for a series of disputes, was bound to face hostility from various clans.

If he could rely on his own strength to turn danger into safety and successfully escape trouble, the three Stewards of Aolai Country would naturally continue to befriend him; but should he accidentally fall into the enemy’s hands, he might instantly become a discarded pawn of the Third Steward.

This was entrusting one’s fate into the hands of others, akin to playing with fire.

They had not expected that these elders standing at the pinnacle of the Cultivation World would have such dirty hearts, using an outsider to stir up trouble with the intention of uprooting all the ambitious noble families in Aolai Country. Such a plan, they mused, was either terribly vicious or exceedingly bold.

Not something any ordinary person could conceive.

“Fortune comes with risks; Junior Brother is going to make a big move to fill Aolai Country with Tangneng First-class shops!”

“I want to be the wealthiest!”

Li Xiaobai stated with determination, unable to refuse the demands of the Third Steward. Since that was the case, he would use this opportunity to maximize his own interests and grab as many benefits as possible.

“Right, if we do it, we do it the biggest. Wipe out those family industries!”

“Junior Brother, can I invest? I don’t need much, just a mere three to five million supreme-grade Spirit Stones a month,” said Liu Jinshui, agreeing wholeheartedly, his eyes gleaming with mirth.

“Senior Brother, the risks involved are great. It’s enough for me alone to bear; you needn’t trouble yourself,”

Li Xiaobai sneered. This fatty couldn’t stop thinking about shearing his fleece; it was utterly detestable.

“Junior Brother, the name of the shops needs publicity. We can walk the streets, spreading the word about the bathhouses and Huazi’s reputation, letting all the cultivators in Aolai Country know of their existence. On the other hand, it could also help you draw the attention of the various clan families. What do you think?”

Ye Wushuang spoke softly. They came here to help Li Xiaobai through difficulties and naturally would not stand by doing nothing.

Li Xiaobai understood this and nodded in agreement.

If someone helped him create momentum, telling the clans that he was the mastermind behind the scenes, it would soon attract the covetousness of many families, and the big fish would take the bait before long.

“Then, I’ll count on you, Senior Brothers and Sisters.”

…

That night, after seeing off his seniors, Li Xiaobai soaked in the bathhouse, contemplating his next moves.

With a flick of the wrist, he took out an issue of the Immortal Spirit Daily, inserted the Spirit Stone, and summoned Elder Tianji to write up some news, regardless of how trivial it might be.

In the void, the Primordial Spirit Projection of Elder Tianji shone with brightness, his old face filled with delight.

“Young Master Li, finally willing to summon this old man, do you perhaps have some big news?”

Elder Tianji inquired. The development of the remote regions had given him a lot of confidence. Now, the Immortal Spirit Daily had truly reached a level where everyone knew of it, with sales far ahead of any competitors.

“Aolai Country is about to see three ancient clans and many prominent families engage in an unusual trade war. Do you think, Elder, that this would count as big news?”

Li Xiaobai said with a sly smile.

“Big news, absolutely big news!”

“And it’s the gossip that everyone enjoys hearing about most. Young Master Li, I must say, you always manage to bring me surprises!”

Elder Tianji’s smile was so wide that his mouth seemed unable to close. Usually, it was not easy for him to find something sensational, but Li Xiaobai seemed to encounter them effortlessly, truly a lucky star for him!

“It involves the Eastern Sea, which is a focal point of interest for many—guaranteed to keep the topic hot.”

“The sales of Immortal Spirit Daily have already hit the ceiling. The next step is not about increasing sales but finding ways to secure our current achievements. And of course, the best way to do that is keeping the topic hot.”

“Just release a few more high-heat topics in a row, and the cultivators will definitely keep buying and subscribing non-stop.”

Li Xiaobai replied with a light smile, his pen moving swiftly like a dragon or snake, drafting several articles in quick succession.

Aside from the trade war, he also wrote about the Sea Clan’s ancestral remains theft scandal. If they were going to cause a stir, it had to be a big one. This matter concerned the Sea Clans’ face, and publishing it so openly would surely incite the ire of the Sea Clan cultivators.

It might even exacerbate the conflict between the sea and the land, which is what the third in charge hoped to see.

“Shocking, the Eastern Sea trade war about to erupt, implicating dozens of prestigious families, with the higher-ups collectively silent. What’s the story behind all this?”

“The theft of the Dragon Maiden’s personal clothing, inside the Linglong Pagoda, the Great Thief publicly stole more than a hundred pieces of a well-known female cultivator’s personal clothing. What does this imply? Is it a twist of human nature, or a fall in morality?”

“Theft of the Sea Clan ancestors’ remains causes an uproar among the Sea Clan’s mighty ones—they vow to blood wash the human race soon!”

“Young Master Li, are these all true?”

Elder Tianji was taken aback by what he read, but after carefully reviewing the information, his expression involuntarily turned a bit pale, with his hands holding the papers trembling slightly.

Even he was chilled by the news recorded here.

The theft of the Sea Clans’ ancestral remains was a deed done by cultivators on the Mainland, especially during the grand meeting in Aolai Country. If the great god from beneath the sea becomes enraged, it could indeed bring calamity upon the human race.

Particularly now, with the imminent release of the Immortal Spirit Qi, if the other side latches onto this as a pretext, they could make a big deal of it and even use the opportunity to eliminate one or two human powerhouses to diminish the competition for the Immoral Spirit Qi.

“Of course, it is true. However, I cannot predict how the Sea Clan will react, but as you well know, Elder, one should always prepare for the worst-case scenario, right?”

Li Xiaobai chuckled.

“What you say is very true. As journalists, our job is to present the many possibilities of an incident to the people so that they can be prepared in advance. You have indeed thought ahead, Young Master Li.”

Elder Tianji paused for a moment, then showed a look of deep agreement.

Indeed, they were not deliberately exaggerating the facts to catch people’s attention but alerting the world to always maintain vigilance.

These were all part of his duties.

“Since that is the case, let’s publish them. Front page, headline, make sure every cultivator in Aolai Country gets a copy.”

Li Xiaobai said with a smile.

“Rest assured, Young Master Li. By tomorrow morning, these major events will be known to everyone on the Immortal Spirit Continent.”

Elder Tianji declared confidently and then vanished into the void.

With the support of the Immortal Spirit Daily, Liangpin Shop and Tangneng First-class entered the sight of Aolai Country’s cultivators in no time, and the days of making money were coming!