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

Chapter 1072: Chapter 1073: Feeling Like Meeting a Colleague

“It really is fate, my sisters and I were also planning to find Senior Sister Su. We can share a joyful drink when we meet.”

Bai Hehua smiled.

“That would be splendid, but I must wonder, how can your Senior Sister Su, a mere woman, join in the excitement of this martial arts competition for marriage? Even if she wins, she can’t actually take the bride away, can she?”

Li Xiaobai asked.

In fact, he was indeed puzzled. It was understandable for men to come to the island to compete in the arena, but for women to participate in a marriage contest was baffling. What were female cultivators expecting to achieve from it?

Could it be some peculiar fancy?

“Young Master is uninformed. Since Ice Dragon Island dares to hold such a grand arena for the marriage contest, it indicates that the real champion has already been selected internally. No matter how many prodigies come or how monstrous their talents, the ultimate winner will always be just one predetermined person.”

“Our participation in this competition is merely for exchanging skills and seeing the difference between ourselves and the heroes of the world. Such occasions are rare in normal times.”

Bai Hehua explained, although there were many talented youths on the island, ninety-nine percent of them never thought about achieving the final victory. Everyone had gathered here with different purposes – to socialize, expand their networks, to challenge others in martial arts to prove themselves, seek opportunities to be recognized and recruited by powerful forces, or like the Huo Family, to expand business contacts in a venue filled with experts.

If there were any cultivator truly coming for the disciple of the Island Master of Ice Dragon Island, intending to win the competition and claim the beauty, they would be either foolish or stupid.

Li Xiaobai nodded, realizing that the young talents were treating Ice Dragon Island as a social venue.

“So that’s how it is. Do you know who this disciple of the Island Master is? Has there been any word?”

“None whatsoever. The Island Master is extremely protective of this disciple, revealing not the slightest information. However, in three days, she will host a grand banquet at the Seven-tier Seven-star White Jade Tower under the moonlight, inviting heroes from all over the world. This is to foster relations with various sects and make friends before the competition, making it the perfect time to catch sight of this Immortal.”

Bai Hehua said.

With so many powerful sects and skilled individuals gathered here, Ice Dragon Island also saw it as an opportunity. By seizing this rare chance to build good relations with various great sects, it was all beneficial and no harm for Ice Dragon Island.

“In three days at the White Jade Tower, a grand banquet will be held; thank you, Immortal, for the information. I have noted it.”

Li Xiaobai nodded. He liked crowded places, as they were good for gathering information and, if convenient, he could also opportunistically pocket a few small items.

Lifting the carriage curtain, he surveyed the outside scene. The carriage wasn’t slow, and in just a few moments of conversation, they had already arrived at the entrance to the island. A huge, fierce dragon head loomed over the entrance, seemingly scrutinizing every cultivator who passed.

He saw many young men curiously inspecting the enormous dragon head, but in the next second, their legs gave out, and they fell to the ground, faces filled with terror as if facing a great horror.

The eyes of the dragon head statue seemed alive, flashing with ferocity and intimidating power. Those of insufficient cultivation who met its gaze were frightened out of their wits.

“Master, this dragon head has been meticulously carved by generations of our clan using millennium-old ice that never melts. But the eyes alone are made from True Dragon Eyes, thus possessing such intimidating power.”

An old goat beside him seemed to have noticed Li Xiaobai’s confusion and began to explain.

“The eyes of this statue are made from dragon eyes?”

The youngest among the four women of Bai Hehua, Bai Hexi, widened her eyes and pulled the carriage curtain aside to look at the massive, crimson eyes.

“Sister, those eyes are really terrifying; merely staring seems to be enough to be drawn into them!”

Bai Hexi paled after a mere glance and quickly let the curtain fall.

Li Xiaobai glanced at the women, all of whom were extraordinary. They were able to lock eyes with the dragon’s gaze and remain unharmed; clearly, their cultivation levels were not those of ordinary cultivators.

Those crimson eyes indeed seemed somewhat eerie, but the System automatically blocked all mental-type burdens, so he couldn’t perceive that sort of immense terror.

“The ladies are correct,” one elder said respectfully. “On Ice Dragon Island, only the eyes of the divine dragon statue are real. It is said that over a thousand years ago, a powerful individual from Ice Dragon Island gouged out his eyes on his deathbed and placed them in the sect to ward off the minor thieves.”

“Subsequent generations of the clan continued to improve this statue of the divine dragon, and they placed these eyes into the sockets of the dragon’s head. To look into them without breaking down, one needs at least the cultivation of the Heavenly Immortal Realm. Hence, the first advice Sect Disciples usually receive on Ice Dragon Island is not to look at it disrespectfully!”

Old Goat stated this with reverence, having noticed Baihe Xi’s composure earlier. Undoubtedly, all four women, including the youngest immortal, were unaffected by the gaze; they must all be high-level experts of the Heavenly Immortal Realm.

Hundred Flowers Sect truly lived up to its reputation as a Super Sect, for the four disciples it casually encountered all possessed such high realms.

“This island enjoys a pleasant, spring-like environment all year round, unlike the cold appearance it gives from the outside.”

Li Xiaobai appreciated the scenery along the way, speaking softly. From the sea, the entire island was covered in a white layer of ice and snow, making it seem entirely a world of gleaming white snow; surprisingly, upon entering, it turned into a whole new world.

The same birdsong and flowers’ fragrance, vibrant colors, yet each building’s roof accumulated a thick layer of frost and snow, and the ground was filled with ice, yet oddly enough, many bizarrely shaped plants broke through the ice, thriving robustly.

This was the unique vegetation of Ice Dragon Island, unseen elsewhere.

“Our ancestors chose this island as a base, naturally not at random. As a place for a great power to establish itself, this island’s resources far exceed our imaginations.”

Bai Hehua nodded. It was also her first time on the island, and the scenery was very comforting. Although frosty, it appeared tender and beautifully adorned, exceptionally enchanting.

“Esteemed guests, we have arrived!”

The carriage traveled back and forth across the icy plains and after an unknowable amount of time, stopped in front of an ancient pavilion. The young driver called out, “Please step inside, and rest a few days at Lingxue Pavilion. In three days, the Island Master will send out a Hero’s Invitation, inviting the knowledgeable on the island to meet over wine and words!”

“You have all worked hard.”

Bai Hehua led the women out of the carriage, and again handed several premium Immortal Stones to the young man, saying, “This journey was very comfortable for us sisters, consider this a reward, and buy yourself some nice clothes with it.”

“Thank you for the generous reward!”

The young man’s face showed gratitude as he bowed ceremoniously.

Li Xiaobai and Old Beggar alighted and saw this scene, unsure what to make of it. These charming women were really too sympathetic; this guy was probably making a hefty sum already, and they were still spending money on him—was it that they felt they hadn’t been cheated enough or what?

Casting a glance at the young man, Li Xiaobai forcefully suppressed the urge to rob him, and followed the women into Lingxue Pavilion.

Watching the group disappear, the young driver finally stood up slowly, unable to stop himself from sighing with relief.

“Big brother, this trip we’ve brought six people for Lingxue Pavilion, at least six hundred premium Immortal Stones in share, not to mention these people all belong to wealthy and prestigious backgrounds—our future commissions are promising, we’re going to make a fortune!”

The few young followers behind him spoke with joy evident on their faces.

“Yes, we’re about to strike it rich, but we shouldn’t linger here long—let’s come back tomorrow to settle accounts with the manager!”

The lead young man mounted his horse, not showing too much joy but rather, his mood seemed quite heavy.

That oddly looking young man who glanced at him just now gave him the disturbing feeling of encountering a peer; those green-glowing eyes clearly had the intent of robbing them, which was rather frightening. For safety, they better come back tomorrow secretly to retrieve the Immortal Stones.