Chapter 189: Xuanqing Flower

With the elixir poison neutralized, Li Li Banfeng circled the New Land a few times.

There was no trace of strange monsters nearby; they had surely all gone to the Local Deity to prepare for battle.

Having earned enough cultivation for the day, Li Li Banfeng returned to his Portable Residence.

*Hoo—chichi, hoo—chichi, *

The phonograph's wheezing was strange.

"My lady, are you awake?"

*Hoo—hoo, *

"My lady, what is wrong with you?"

*Zzz—lala, *

A harsh, grating sound came through, leaving a long scratch on the record.

"My lady!" Li Li Banfeng touched the phonograph; the front cabinet was scorching hot, while the back cabinet was cold as ice.

*Zzz—lala, *

The phonograph wanted to speak, but could not.

What had happened?

Li Li Banfeng looked around; the Tang Dao, pendulum, earrings, wine gourd, and teapot had all been placed in the fifth room by Li Li Banfeng. Only the Judge's Brush remained.

Li Li Banfeng picked up the Judge's Brush and questioned it for a long time, only to get two words: "Don't know."

This fellow hadn't woken up yet.

In his panic, he suddenly heard the songstress flower standing by the wall speak: "Sir, just now the First Lady and Second Lady had a quarrel. I don't know what method the Second Lady used, but the First Lady suddenly couldn't speak."

"Quarreled?" Li Li Banfeng entered the outer room, his eyes fixed on the Did Honglian.

The Did Honglian showed no response; she was also staring at Li Li Banfeng.

What does this madman want to do?

Does he really think I harmed that wicked woman?

Li Li Banfeng moved the Did Honglian to the main room, facing the phonograph.

The songstress flower said from the side: "I don't know what happened either. The First Lady has been arguing with the Second Lady recently, and this isn't the first time..."

The Did Honglian's petals trembled, her heart burning with anger.

This slut, she really knows how to wag her tongue.

I should have refined her into a magic treasure long ago, but because of the Xiao Xuan Yun Pill incident, some trouble arose, allowing this slut to live until now.

The Did Honglian really wanted to take in the songstress flower, but she couldn't do that now.

If she took her in, it would be equivalent to admitting she had hurt the phonograph.

The previous Xiao Xuan Yun Pill incident had already made Li Li Banfeng suspicious. If she took the blame for the phonograph incident as well, she feared Li Li Banfeng would never let her out.

Li Li Banfeng looked at the songstress flower, turned his head, and focused his gaze back on the Did Honglian.

After a long silence, Li Li Banfeng said one sentence:

"A-Did Did Honglian, take that flower in."

The songstress flower wailed: "Sir, everything I said is the truth!"

The lotus flower slowly bloomed, a whirlwind stirred within its heart, and it took the songstress flower into the lotus heart.

The songstress flower cried and wailed all the way, but Li Li Banfeng showed not the slightest softness.

Having spent so much time together, Li Li Banfeng knew a thing or two about the lotus flower's schemes and methods.

If it really were the lotus flower that hurt the phonograph, she wouldn't have left the songstress flower as a witness.

The reason the songstress flower framed the lotus flower was to save her own life; she knew the lotus flower might refine her into a magic treasure at any moment.

After dealing with the songstress flower, Li Li Banfeng went to the fifth room and brought over the wine gourd.

The wine gourd looked at the phonograph for a long time and asked: "Big sister, where does it hurt?"

*Zzz—zzz, *

The phonograph couldn't speak; clouds of steam constantly swirled around Li Li Banfeng.

The wine gourd couldn't tell, so Li Li Banfeng brought over the teapot.

The teapot was knowledgeable; perhaps it knew something.

After looking for a long time, the teapot responded: "I have never seen such a thing. Perhaps this thing made by the foreigners has gone wrong."

The thing made by foreigners referred to the steam phonograph itself.

Could it be a mechanical failure?

Li Li Banfeng checked it carefully; he usually oiled the machine, tightened the screws, and occasionally replaced small parts. Li Li Banfeng knew the phonograph's structure well and saw no mechanical problems.

*Hoo—hoo, *

The phonograph's wheezing grew lower, but the clouds of steam continued to linger around Li Li Banfeng.

What on earth was wrong?

Li Li Banfeng was at a loss.

*Hoo—hoo—*

The steam seemed to be getting colder.

"What is going on? Is it running out of fuel?"

Li Li Banfeng hurriedly added fuel to the phonograph, and the stylus suddenly slid into Li Li Banfeng's palm, sliding slowly along the lines of his palm.

She wanted to leave a mark on Li Li Banfeng's palm; she was afraid Li Li Banfeng would forget her.

But she was afraid of hurting Li Li Banfeng, so the needle tip couldn't bear to pierce Li Li Banfeng's skin.

As it moved, the needle tip stopped.

My lady...

Li Li Banfeng turned his face to look at the Did Honglian: "Is it because of that elixir? Is it?"

The Did Honglian looked at Li Li Banfeng, looked into his eyes.

He He Jiaqing once said that Li Li Banfeng wouldn't cry; if you saw him crying, it must be an act.

Why were his eyes red?

An act?

*Zzz—lala, *

The phonograph suddenly made some sounds.

The Did Honglian suddenly felt a bit worried.

She wasn't worried about Li Li Banfeng; Li Li Banfeng couldn't do anything to her.

She was worried that the phonograph would use its last bit of strength to perish together with her.

The Did Honglian had guessed correctly.

That was indeed the phonograph's thought; she couldn't let the Did Honglian harm Li Li Banfeng.

The lotus flower suddenly bloomed, and a piece of white paper flew into the lotus heart.

In the blink of an eye, the white paper turned into a lotus seed.

Li Li Banfeng peeled the lotus seed, and two slips of paper burst out.

The first slip read: A weak body cannot withstand tonics.

The second slip read: One stalk of Xuanqing Flower.

Xuanqing Flower?

What was a Xuanqing Flower?

Li Li Banfeng asked the wine gourd, but the wine gourd hadn't heard of it.

The old teapot had some impression: "The Xuanqing Flower is a medicinal herb. I've only seen it once in all the years I've lived. I've forgotten what its medicinal effect is, but I remember this herb is extremely precious.

It's hard to find, hard to pick, and cannot be stored for long. After being picked, it wilts in less than a day. Once a Xuanqing Flower wilts, it loses its medicinal properties."

Less than a day.

Where could he find this medicinal material?

The pharmacy certainly wouldn't sell it.

Go find Ma Wu!

Li Li Banfeng first moved the copper lotus flower to the fifth room; under the current circumstances, he wouldn't allow anyone near the phonograph.

Running to Ma Wu's plot, Ma Wu was cultivating, and Yanzi was crying out.

"Brother Lang, I've caught two cheap sluts for you, so please spare me this once. You can do whatever you want to those two cheap sluts until they die; don't feel sorry for them, feel sorry for me instead!"

Cultivation was at a critical juncture, and Li Li Banfeng interrupted him: "Old Five, do you know about the Xuanqing Flower?"

Ma Wu nodded: "I've seen it in books, but the books didn't record its medicinal effects."

"Where can I buy it?"

"Buy?" Ma Wu shook his head, "That's a legendary medicinal herb. It can't even be stored for a day; it's something you encounter by chance, not something you can seek."

Ma Wu couldn't find a clue either.

Who else could he find?

The Peddler?

Who knew where the Peddler was?

Granny Ku?

Would it be too late to run to Bitter Vegetable Village?

A day's journey should be enough, but he had been banished by Granny Ku; he couldn't get into Bitter Vegetable Village.

Find Yao Lao?

Medicine King Valley was too far, and the road wasn't easy to travel.

Who else was there?

Shui Shui Yongquan!

Local Deity Shui Shui Yongquan; he seemed to be the only one he could count on.

Li Li Banfeng returned to his plot, set up offerings and incense candles, and before long, a green fire appeared above the offering table.

"You have special techniques, so talking to you isn't a waste of effort. I don't need to take human form. Brother Li Qi, are you looking to build a career?"

"Senior, first let me ask you one thing: have you heard of the Xuanqing Flower?"

"Hehehe~" Shui Shui Yongquan laughed, "You asked the right person. I know where there is a Xuanqing Flower."

"This matter is of great importance; don't lie to me."

"Why would I lie to you? The Xuanqing Flower is a divine medicine for treating physical weakness; it can replenish the soul.

But this medicine cannot be eaten directly. A fresh flower, without the slightest wilting, must be refined with secret techniques for thirty years before it can be taken."

The efficacy was correct.

But refining for thirty years—how could his lady wait that long?

The Did Honglian must have a way; otherwise, she wouldn't have given this prescription.

"Senior, where can I find a Xuanqing Flower?"

"Why should I tell you?"

"Do you really know?"

"I know. Let me ask you again: why should I tell you?"

"What do you want?"

Shui Shui Yongquan laughed: "I want my territory. I want to defeat Qiu Qiu Luoye. If you can help me guard a vital traffic route, I can help you pick one."

A piece of white paper flew in front of Li Li Banfeng, and the Local Deity continued: "If you don't believe me, I can draw up a contract, draw up a contract with a covenant paper."

"Is a covenant paper effective against you?"

"Hehehe, hard to say. It depends on whether you dare to gamble. If you're a coward, there's nothing I can do. In any case, there's no reason for me to help you for nothing.

Let's make the stakes clear: as long as you can help me guard a vital route, I'll help you get a Xuanqing Flower.

Do you dare to fight this battle?"

He couldn't fight.

He couldn't trust him.

This was not a fair trade.

If Li Li Banfeng cheated the Local Deity, Li Li Banfeng would surely die.

If the Local Deity cheated Li Li Banfeng, what could Li Li Banfeng do to the Local Deity?

He couldn't fight.

He would lose his life.

Think of another way!

He could surely think of another way.

Think again...

Li Li Banfeng was silent for a moment, looked at Shui Shui Yongquan, and said: "Fight."

There was no better way.

"Straightforward!" Shui Shui Yongquan was very happy, "Do you choose Hundred Vine Valley or Hundred Foot Cave?"

Li Li Banfeng sneered: "I choose Hundred Foot Cave. Do you agree?"

A valley and a cave were different. If Shui Shui Yongquan launched a surprise attack in the valley, he would surely be discovered by Qiu Qiu Luoye.

"Uh," Shui Shui Yongquan was embarrassed, "Little Brother, I advise you to choose Hundred Vine Valley; the terrain there isn't so complicated..."

"I'm not afraid of complicated terrain; I choose Hundred Foot Cave!"

Shui Shui Yongquan sighed; he realized Li Li Banfeng had likely seen through his tactics.

"Little Brother, Hundred Foot Cave is already being guarded by someone. Let's discuss this: you choose Hundred Vine Valley, and I'll add more stakes."

"Since we can discuss it," Li Li Banfeng nodded, "give me a hundred men."

Shui Shui Yongquan smiled bitterly: "There are only a hundred or so people willing to fight for me. I can't give you men, but I'll give you a spiritual object."

"What kind of spiritual object?"

*Clang! *

Two gates, over three meters high, along with the door frame, landed in front of Li Li Banfeng.

"What's the use of this?"

"This is the Water-Falling Gate. Stick it in the ground, pour two *jin* of water on it, and this spiritual object will take root, forming a barrier that blocks the entire valley and stops the enemy army."

"As long as I put this spiritual object in the valley, I can completely stop the enemy army?"

Then the matter was simple.

"Hmph!" Shui Shui Yongquan sneered, "If there were such an easy-to-use thing, would I need you to guard the valley?

The Water-Falling Gate can only hold for three minutes; after three minutes, it will wither and need three days of rest before it can be used a second time.

Moreover, it's not a magic treasure; it has no intelligence and cannot fight on its own. You have to guard it together with it."

Li Li Banfeng looked at the two large door panels: "How do I guard it together with it?"

"Hold the gate. As long as someone is holding the gate, it can hold. If you leave the door panels, the gate will open quickly. If the two door panels open by three feet, the barrier will shatter.

If you can win this battle, I'll give you a Xuanqing Flower, a fresh one, and I'll also give you the ten-mile territory! I'll also give you the Water-Falling Gate. Let's draw up the contract now. What do you think?"

"Don't talk nonsense!" Li Li Banfeng shook his head, "I can't win this battle at all. You want to use me as bait to drag down Qiu Qiu Luoye so you can attack his rear."

The matter was laid bare. The ghost fire flickered twice, and the tone carried admiration: "Good ability. Since you've seen through it, I won't hide it. If you can hold for one hour, this battle will count as your victory."

"One hour is impossible; twenty minutes at most."

"Twenty minutes is too short."

"That's all the ability I have."

The ghost fire hovered for a long time and agreed: "Fine. If you run away within twenty minutes, you die!"

Li Li Banfeng nodded: "If I hold for twenty minutes and you break your word, you die.

Even if the covenant paper can't kill you, I will kill you!"

Shui Shui Yongquan laughed loudly: "What big words! I believe you!"

The covenant paper was prepared in an instant. Shui Shui Yongquan dripped two drops of dew and said to Li Li Banfeng: "Your turn, press your handprint!"

Li Li Banfeng bit his finger and pressed his handprint.

The ghost fire circled: "Brother Li Qi, you've already drawn up the contract. Three days from now, at five in the morning, the battle begins. You must fight for your life on the battlefield.

Within twenty minutes, things flying in the sky don't count; as long as the enemy army walking on the ground doesn't rush out of the canyon, it counts as you holding it.

Also, let me remind you one more thing: you must find Brother Ma Wu to help. He has three bagworm moths under his command; perhaps they can hold for a while, otherwise you won't be able to hold for even a minute."

Li Li Banfeng came to Ma Wu's plot, took two knives of white paper and two buckets of ink, then returned to his own plot and began printing paintings.

He printed three hundred sheets in total, then Li Li Banfeng stopped.

There was still paper and ink left, but Li Li Banfeng didn't have that much blood.

Besides the printed paintings, he had to draw a few more.

Li Li Banfeng called the pendulum and instructed it to paint.

*Hoo—hoo, *

The phonograph had lost consciousness, but the wheezing remained.

Li Li Banfeng looked at the flame in the fuel tank and added half a bucket of fuel for his lady.

That evening, Li Li Banfeng came to Ma Wu's plot, ready to discuss the battle with Ma Wu.

Ma Wu didn't know yet; he had his men pack up the gold and silver valuables on the plot and had those without cultivation leave immediately.

For the next two days, only Ma Wu, Zuo Seeing Seeing Zuo Wugang, Cao Cao Zhida, Zhen Zhen Jincheng, Xiao Xiao Chuanzi, Xiao Xiao Genzi, and the three bagworm moth ladies would remain on the plot.

According to Li Li Banfeng's calculations, the three bagworm moth ladies should be able to hold for three minutes.

Zuo Seeing Seeing Zuo Wugang could hold for one minute.

The others added together might be able to hold for one minute.

The Water-Falling Gate could hold for three minutes.

The remaining twelve minutes would be left to Li Li Banfeng himself.

The canyon was very long; these twenty minutes weren't all about fighting for his life. There was also the time for the other side to walk. The canyon was ten miles long; even if the enemy walked forward unimpeded, it would probably take ten minutes.

Calculating this way, as long as there were no traveling cultivators on the other side, it wasn't entirely without hope.

Besides this, there was another problem: after this battle, how many people would be left alive?

Ma Wu didn't know he was going to fight a battle; he was still thinking about guarding the land.

"Old Seven, I'll have Yanzi go over to help you guard the plot in a while, and Old Zuo will be on your side too. You can't go crazy. Once the battle starts, if you find Shui Shui Yongquan is losing, we must retreat immediately; we can't just guard the plot and not let go."

"Yes, yes..." Li Li Banfeng was a bit distracted.

Ma Wu frowned: "This is a matter of life and death; you have to be careful."

"I'm paying attention, I'm paying attention..."

Ma Wu was still worried: "How about this, let Cao Cao Zhida go over there too; this kid is sharp..."

Li Li Banfeng looked at Ma Wu carefully.

He had given all his best men to him.

Was he not afraid of death himself?

Li Li Banfeng shook his head and said: "Old Wu, no one needs to go. I can handle it alone."

Ma Wu frowned and said: "Why are you still joking? This is war!"

"I'm not joking. I run faster than you all; having more people would actually be a burden."

Ma Wu thought about it, and it was indeed true. Li Li Banfeng was a traveling cultivator and could run very fast.

"Old Seven, I'm just afraid that you..."

"You don't need to worry. When it's time to run, I definitely won't hesitate," Li Li Banfeng stood up and urged, "The fight starts at five o'clock in the morning three days from now. If it's five-thirty and I haven't come to find you, it means I've run away first, so you should run for your life immediately."

"Five o'clock?" Ma Wu frowned, "They're only fighting for half an hour?"

"Half an hour is not short. The canyon isn't far from our territory. Once the enemy troops charge over, it'll be too late if you want to run."

Li Li Banfeng left Ma Wu's territory.

He didn't mention the matter of the battle.

The tactics had to change.

This was his own business; he couldn't implicate them.

PS: How will Li Li Banfeng hold this position for twenty minutes alone?

(End of chapter)