Chapter 296: Chapter 297: Never Bully an Honest Person
Translator: 549690339
“`
Li Xiaobai spoke honestly and straightforwardly, with a naive look on his face.
“Li Dabai? Do you know Li Xiaobai?”
The guard glanced at Li Xiaobai, a flicker of scorn and disdain flashing in his eyes.
“Never met him, I’m from a village, just arrived in Central City today.”
Li Xiaobai shook his head repeatedly, appearing as someone who had not seen much of the world; seeing this made the guard even more dismissive.
“What brings you to Central City?”
“I’m here to participate in the Three Sects’ competition, to become a hero, to win glory for our village!”
Li Xiaobai’s eyes showed determination as he spoke out loud, drawing a wave of contempt from the surrounding cultivators.
The guard was actually amused and handed the register to Li Xiaobai.
“Register here, may your hero dreams come true.”
Li Xiaobai carelessly wrote ‘Li Xiaobai is amazing’ in bold characters on it, and said with a grateful expression, “Thank you, sir. I will certainly live up to your expectations and take first place in the Array Formation Sect’s competition, to win glory for our village!”
“Off you go, off you go.”
The guard, impatient, waved his hand indifferently, gesturing for Li Xiaobai to pass.
The crowd continued to surge forward. To the bystanders, this was just another routine inspection, nothing noteworthy.
However, the head guard in charge felt something was amiss.
“This man is called Li Dabai, differing from Li Xiaobai by only one character. Could there be some deceit involved?” the leader asked.
“Rest assured, my lord, I have already inquired with the brothers at the South Gate. That Li Xiaobai’s method of sneaking into the city was very simple: he pretended to be an enemy of Li Xiaobai and then claimed he could easily beat him, thus gaining the guards’ trust and slipping through the check.”
“But now with the lord here, I believe that youngster wouldn’t dare to come and go through the city gates so freely.”
The guard said with a smile.
“Hmm, good job, quite thorough. You’ll get a reward later.”
The leader said.
“Thank you, my lord!”
…
Qi Sect, in front of the mountain gate.
Li Xiaobai plodded along with a bitter look on his face, his misfortune dissuading the disciples from any desire to question him, as no true prodigy would ever look as dispirited as he did.
Once he put on the Human Skin Mask, not only was his appearance no longer outstanding, but his aura also began to emit a vibe of decadence, not fitting at all with the prodigy who had created an uproar in the Three Sects.
The competition at the Array Formation Sect was unlike that of the other two sects.
The Array Formation Sect was famous for its Formations, and the competition involved testing the cultivators’ understanding of Formations. There were various ways to pass through a Formation: one could locate its weak points and break it, or one could find the Gate of Life and pass through.
There were a total of ten Formations, with the first three being Maze Formations, the middle three being Trap Formations, and the next three Slaughter Formations. As for the last Formation, no one knew its nature; no one had ever successfully reached that point, and aside from the Sect Master of the Array Formation Sect, no one knew what kind of Formation it was.
The trials of the Formation did not follow any particular order; cultivators who had arrived earlier were already inside attempting to solve them.
Within the foremost Maze Formation, countless figures were busy, seemingly searching for the key to the formation and a way to break it.
These were the cultivators whose understanding of Formations was mediocre at best, unable to solve even the first Formation.
There were also many cultivators outside giving pointers, as though they were appraising the Formations while exchanging methods to safely navigate them.
“`
Looking around, Li Xiaobai spotted many old acquaintances—the Three Sects’ Sect Masters, and numerous Elders were all gathered here. Clearly, they were keeping an eye on Array Formation Sect, to prevent any unexpected counterattacks from them.
It had to be said, their judgment was very accurate, yet even with their knowledge, they could not guard against his Human Skin Mask.
With the mask on, nobody would recognize him. Today, having achieved his goal three times over, he was determined to make the entire Central Province remember the name Li Xiaobai.
Amidst his thoughts, a voice reached him.
“You there, yes, you, come over for a moment.”
Li Xiaobai followed the sound and saw a young lady, with another woman standing beside her, who seemed to have a somewhat unfriendly look.
“What business might you fellow cultivators have?”
Li Xiaobai reverted to his honest and awkward demeanor and said with slight trepidation, eliciting even more disdain from the eyes of the young ladies.
“You look like you’re here to participate in the Qi Sect’s grand competition. My sister and I have already found the critical points of the first two Formations, but we need a third person to break them. Are you interested in joining us?”
The leading young lady said.
Li Xiaobai was a bit surprised; one could team up to break a Formation? Then whose ranking should it be counted for, in the end?
His first reaction was that these two young ladies wanted to trap him. He couldn’t help it; along the way, he had been tricked too often, and such a straightforward invitation seemed like a trap no matter how he looked at it.
“That means you’ll profit. Looking at your dumb and silly appearance, you probably can’t even get through the first Illusion Array, can you? Just do as we say obediently, and we guarantee you’ll make it through the first two Formations.”
The other young lady spoke with an air of impatience.
“Sister Tian Hui, let’s find someone else, shall we? This guy looks like such a loser; he might mess things up for us!”
“Little sister!”
The leading woman scolded, then turned to Li Xiaobai with an apologetic face, “My little sister is blunt but means no harm. You needn’t take it to heart. If you have plans of your own, we won’t bother you.”
“It’s nothing. Given the chance to win without effort, I would naturally be most willing. My name is Li Dabai. How may I address you young ladies?”
Li Xiaobai chuckled.
“Heh, who’s going to tell you their names? Focus on the task, and don’t ask what you shouldn’t!”
The young lady was still hostile in her tone.
“My name is Tian Hui, and this is Wanying. We apologize for any rudeness, and we hope you can forgive us.”
Tian Hui said, and the truth was she wasn’t optimistic about Li Xiaobai. However, since there was no one else around, she had no choice but to rely on him.
“That’s fine, lead the way,”
Li Xiaobai said indifferently.
“Tsk, quit pretending; you look like such a washout!”
Wanying’s eyes flashed with contempt. They were native Disciples of the Array Formation Sect, hailing from a prestigious background. Some country bumpkin dared to posture in front of them—if it weren’t for the need for a third person’s help, she would have already taught him a lesson.
Tian Hui said nothing and led the way at the front. She had the key to the Gate of Life of the Formation, and the path she took perfectly avoided the illusions within the Formation.
Li Xiaobai observed the surroundings with some amazement—it was his first time encountering an Illusion Array. The area was shrouded in gray fog, with occasional shadowy figures flitting by; anyone who touched it would be trapped in an Illusionary Realm.
However, the path Tian Hui chose avoided all the gray fog and did not fall into an Illusionary Realm.
Li Xiaobai couldn’t help but admire, “Truly skilled, taking the optimal path and avoiding any contact with the illusions. The Array Formation Sect’s grand competition indeed has hidden talents.”
“A bumpkin is just a bumpkin. Our Sister Tian Hui is an Inner Sect Disciple of Array Formation Sect and has participated in the grand competition three times. She’s very familiar with these initial Formations, and this time, she’s sure to score a good ranking!”
“You bumpkin, just follow closely and don’t wander off. The Formation can be very dangerous!”
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Chapter 295: Chapter 296: Three Goals, My Name is Li Dabai
Translator: 549690339
Li Xiaobai turned around in surprise, and the person behind him was none other than his Second Senior Sister Ye Wushuang.
It was she who had usurped the first place in the Elixir Sect’s grand competition. He had not expected to be found so quickly.
“Second Senior Sister, long time no see, I’ve missed you dearly!”
Li Xiaobai said, his eyes brimming with tears and his face filled with excitement.
“Such sweet talk, you must have said the same to our sixth junior brother before you played him like a fiddle. He’s probably fuming with murderous rage by now.”
Ye Wushuang said with a smile that was not quite a smile.
“Not at all, our sixth senior brother walked away with a hefty fortune. Bearing a bit of pressure is only right and just. I believe, with his skills, he’s sure to turn misfortune into a blessing.”
Li Xiaobai said with an embarrassed expression. It seemed that Liu Jinshui’s influence was significant, as even Second Senior Sister was aware of what had happened.
“That’s not how our sixth junior brother sees it. He’s said that if he survives this ordeal, he plans to stick with you to the end.”
Ye Wushuang handed Li Xiaobai a letter she had taken from her chest. It was a hurried message from Liu Jinshui on the run, asking her to deliver it to Li Xiaobai. Liu Jinshui could no longer stay in Central Province, but he was certain Li Xiaobai would come here to participate in the Three Sects’ grand competition.
Li Xiaobai accepted the envelope, which was inscribed with “For Little Junior Brother’s Eyes Only.”
Opening it, he read the content carefully, and his expression became rather vivid.
“Little Junior Brother, I must say you’re quite something. Back then when we teamed up to ambush cultivators in the Divine Beast Mountain Range, you were still a fledgling. I never imagined that in just a few months, you’d even play your senior brother. But I don’t blame you; in our line of work, there is no such thing as fraternal affection. Once I shake off those pursuing me, I’ll come find you and play a proper game to see how much you’ve progressed in these days.”
“Make sure you have the tuition ready. Your senior brother’s services come at a steep price.”
Though the letter from Liu Jinshui contained no curse words, the resentment seeping through was enough to make even Li Xiaobai shiver.
This time it appeared he had bitten off more than he could chew. Their sixth senior brother was caught in endless pursuit; no one knew how many resources he truly possessed, and as the rumors grew, so did the number of envious cultivators.
However, between the lines, it was not difficult to see that the other party was confident. Shaking off those pursuers should not be a problem, and upon meeting again, they would likely end up outwitting each other.
The sixth senior brother’s maneuvers were quite clever; a slight misstep could very well lead to one’s downfall. But no matter, Li Xiaobai’s defensive power was about to reach a major milestone. Once he broke through to the next stage, he would fear no traps.
“Sixth Senior Brother is truly a man of character. When we meet again, I will be sure to comfort him. But I didn’t expect to meet you here, Senior Sister. Such fate. Where might the other senior brothers and sisters be?”
Li Xiaobai pocketed the letter and asked cheerfully.
“The brothers and sisters have all gone to seek their own fortunes. It seems that our sixth junior brother has fled to the Southern Sea, and your third senior brother appears to have some grievances with the Kingdom of Women, so our eldest senior sister has gone to assist him. The fourth and fifth have gone to an old and influential power for cultivation.”
“There is something going on with me, so I wanted to come to the Elixir Sect to confirm it, but now it’s become impossible.”
Ye Wushuang said slowly, knowing her defense of Li Xiaobai had been too obvious and that making an appearance in the Elixir Sect now would likely lead to trouble.
“What’s wrong with you, Senior Sister? Perhaps I can be of some help.”
Li Xiaobai offered.
“Actually, it’s not just me with a problem. It’s likely all seven of us brothers and sisters share it. I’m sure you’ve also noticed that the pace of our senior brothers and sisters’ strength growth is too rapid, simpler than eating or drinking.”
Ye Wushuang sighed.
Li Xiaobai: ???
Does that sound like something a person would say?
What kind of question is that, are you showing off some fancy moves?
Seeming to notice Li Xiaobai’s confusion, Ye Wushuang said indifferently, “Little junior brother, do you think it’s a good thing that your cultivation speed is unbelievably fast? You’ve gone from a mere mortal to tough enough to go toe to toe with a cultivator in the Tribulation Crossing Stage in just a few months.”
“As for your senior sister, she soared from the Golden Core Stage to the Tribulation Crossing Stage in just a few months as well. Such a rate of cultivation is absurdly fast. Ordinary people who learn about this would only feel envious, but you and I are different. The troubles that come with such top-tier talent may only be something that geniuses like us can truly understand.”
“It’s too fast. This cultivation is as simple as breathing. Junior Brother Lin Yin feels there must be something wrong with it, so several of us have spread out to explore in all corners of the world.”
“You should also be more careful in your daily life, junior brother.”
“I will be careful,” the junior brother replied.
Li Xiaobai was speechless; his Second Senior Sister came just to show off. So what if you have high talent; why show off like this?
But then again, his senior brothers and sisters were indeed a bit terrifying. He was advancing steadily only because he had the System, while those six senior brothers and sisters were capable of keeping up with his pace, which probably meant they all had some significant secrets.
As for those troubles that supposedly only geniuses have, in Li Xiaobai’s view, that was utter nonsense. How many people would kill for the chance to advance quickly? Who would worry about their cultivation speed being too fast?
“I’ve been nervous and afraid all day, and have become quite thin. You should take care of your health, junior brother,” Ye Wushuang said.
Ye Wushuang touched her lower abdomen, tracing out an enticing curve.
Upon hearing this, Li Xiaobai’s eyes swept over the peaks on Ye Wushuang’s chest and he couldn’t help swallowing his saliva, “Junior brother actually thinks that senior sister’s health is just fine, still firm and strong!”
“Bang!”
A tremendous force struck, and Li Xiaobai was slammed into the ground head-first, leaving only his legs flailing wildly above the surface.
“If you’re in trouble and can’t handle it, just shout for help, and your senior sister will come to clean up the mess,” she said.
A breeze blew by, and the cool voice gradually faded.
“Senior sister is so domineering!”
Li Xiaobai murmured to himself, wriggling his body in the dirt, pulling himself out.
Looking around and seeing no one, Li Xiaobai knew that Second Senior Sister was hiding within Central City, and would certainly come to his aid if he encountered danger.
2
Second Senior Sister was good, unlike the sixth senior brother who always thought about how to scheme against him whenever they met, planning everything out so clearly.
After straightening out his clothes and grabbing the continuously humming Ji Wuqing, he walked towards the city gate again, chest out and head high.
“As the saying goes, ‘Third time’s the charm,’ I, Li Xiaobai, am back, let’s go!”
This time, Li Xiaobai approached the western gate, which was the territory of the Array Formation Sect. The number of cultivator guards at the gate had increased from a few to dozens, suggesting that the Array Formation Sect had taken precautions and anticipated that he might attack them again.
But that didn’t matter, he had the Human Skin Mask. His appearance and temperament had changed drastically; there was no way he could be recognized.
He walked slowly into the line, appearing to be an honest and simple figure.
Half an hour later, a guard came over for a routine inspection.
“What is your surname and name?”
“Greetings, officer, I’m called Li Dabai.”