Chapter 190: Autumn Leaves (Two Chapters Combined)

Deep night, Li Banfeng familiarized himself with the terrain in the gorge.

The terrain offered considerable advantage: a ten-li gorge, more than a zhang wide, winding and twisting, everywhere thick vines; sprinting full speed from one end to the other, Li Banfeng took two minutes and change.

He was a Level Three Traveling Cultivator, yet still needed this long—if the other side sent only ordinary cultivators, and their levels weren't too high, they couldn't cross the gorge in ten minutes.

So, does that mean I only need to hold for ten minutes?

But what if the Earth Lord himself comes?

Think of how fast Ghost Fire moves—appears in an instant, vanishes in a blink; it could cross the ten-li gorge in less than a minute.

Can every Earth Lord turn into Ghost Fire?

Even if Qiuluoye might not turn into Ghost Fire, what if the enemy has similar Traveling Cultivators?

Li Banfeng slowly paced through the gorge, carefully observing every spot.

At a bend, Tang Dao spoke: "Lord, this is an excellent spot for an ambush."

Tang Dao had fought in battles—he was the only magic treasure with military experience.

Li Banfeng marked this spot, continued walking through the gorge, and made over twenty marks; together with Tang Dao, he selected the three best locations.

All twenty marks had value, especially these three—they were critical for ambushes.

Near the gorge's entrance to Luoyeping, Li Banfeng saw scattered altar tables on the ground and dense fog in the distance.

"Brother Li Qi, don't go any further—if you step ahead, you'll enter Qiuluoye's territory. You've sworn a pact with me, so you're my man, 【16】 and though war hasn't begun yet, you can't cross into Qiuluoye's land. Step one pace into that fog, and you're dead." Shuoyongquan drifted to Li Qi's side, this time in human form.

The war hasn't started yet; you can't enter Qiuluoye's territory. Step across the border into that mist, and you'll die.

Li Banfeng stared at the fog for a moment—it was thick, yet faint human shadows were visible within.

Shuoyongquan looked at the altar tables on the ground and said to Li Banfeng: "These are what the pioneer group left behind—three times in a row, they chose the gorge's entrance. 【19】 Once might be coincidence, twice might still be luck—but three times? Someone's stirring trouble."

Once might be luck, twice might be luck, but what about three times? This is someone stirring trouble.

Li Banfeng had no interest in his analysis—he kept studying the terrain.

Shuoyongquan sighed: "Brother Li Qi, you're truly serious—but where's Ma Wu? Don't tell me he's not coming."

"He's coming. I made arrangements—he handles only the fighting; tactics and troop deployment are my job." Li Banfeng gave a vague reply.

Shuoyongquan chuckled: "Tactics and troop deployment? No need for that. 【24】 Earth Lords don't fight like armies—there's none of that formality here. 【25】 When battle starts, everyone attacks at once; delay a moment, and morale crumbles. 【26】 They fight you to gain cultivation—they don't hold back. Whoever strikes faster, strikes harder, wins!"

When the Earth God fights, do you think it's an army clash? There's no such formality here.

When it's time to fight, everyone acts at once; delay a moment, and morale crumbles.

When they fight you, they're all after cultivation base. If you want to fight, don't hold back—whichever side moves faster and strikes harder wins!

Li Banfeng frowned: "That's just a rabble."

"What did you expect? Qiuluoye's men are all rabble!"

This differed from Li Banfeng's expectations.

He'd hoped to recite a proclamation before battle, negotiate, and buy time.

Now, fighting starts immediately—it'll be harder to manage.

Tactics must change.

Shuoyongquan sighed: "You're the one who swore the pact; whether you find Ma Wu is your concern. Young man, I'll warn you once: on the battlefield, an extra ally means an extra chance at life. 【34】 Even if someone just holds the gate, one more person adds strength. I'm speaking seriously—you can't hold off Shuiluomen alone."

Even if you get someone to hold the gate for you, an extra person means extra strength. I'm speaking seriously—you can't possibly hold off Shuiluo Gate alone.

Li Banfeng looked at the steep cliffs on both sides: "Shuiluomen can hold for three minutes, but that alone won't be enough."

Shuoyongquan clicked his tongue. Some things he didn't want to say—but Li Banfeng had already signed the pact; even if he spoke, Li Banfeng couldn't retract. After careful thought, he decided to give a warning: 【37】 "If Qiuluoye himself charges into the gorge, only Shuiluomen can stop him."

If Qiuluoye himself charges into the valley, only Shuiluo Gate might be able to stop him.

Li Banfeng frowned: "Will he come himself?"

"Hard to say."

"Only Shuiluomen?"

Shuoyongquan pondered a moment: "Besides Shuiluomen, there are some special techniques. Qiuluoye isn't bright—but any Dao school that disrupts the mind can restrain him. Joy Cultivation is one such type."

He still wanted Ma Wu to fight.

Li Banfeng didn't think of Ma Wu—he asked Shuoyongquan: "Does Virtue Cultivation count as a mind-disrupting Dao school?"

Shuoyongquan nodded: "Yes."

"Dream Cultivation?"

"Yes too. If you can find allies in Virtue and Dream Cultivation, you can buy more time." Shuoyongquan crossed the gorge and returned to his territory.

Changji guessed right—Shuoyongquan hadn't bet all his chips on Li Qi; he kept a backup.

The wild boar was also pacing near the gorge's entrance, seeking ambush positions.

The centipede mother and daughter had chosen their spots and were still arguing.

"Mom, have some dignity! We're here for serious business—stop fixating on that Ma fellow."

"Pah! Who gave you the nerve to meddle in my affairs?" The centipede mother kept glancing into the gorge, hoping to see Ma Wu again.

Shuoyongquan snorted: "If you two want to guard the gorge, I won't stop you."

The centipede mother wriggled her body: "Oh dear, Master Shui, we're not capable of that. Once inside the gorge, there's only one path—we'd be trapped with no escape."

Shuoyongquan knew they weren't capable—these were all scattered riffraff; their job was to hold the gorge entrance and delay the enemy after Li Qi died.

At Baizúkū, the strange creatures there were the true fighting force.

Their levels varied, but they were utterly loyal to Shuoyongquan!

A hawk flew in and whispered into Shuoyongquan's ear: "Qiuluoye has guards on both paths—equal forces on each side."

Shuoyongquan sneered: "I knew he'd do this—see a person, charge; see none, split forces. His wooden head only knows this wooden tactic. 【59】 Go to the gorge side and make noise—don't overdo it, just make Qiuluoye send more men there."

Go to the other side of the gorge and make a show of force—don't overdo it, just make Qiuluoye send more men there.

…

Li Banfeng stepped out of the gorge and, using the thread-earring's sense, found the wild boar hidden in the tall grass.

"Old Boar, I need to talk to you."

The wild boar didn't move—he thought he was well-hidden, that Li Banfeng couldn't see him.

"Old Boar, I see you."

The wild boar still didn't move, silently scoffing: Don't fall for his bluff—he can't see me.

"I have something good for you." Li Banfeng pulled out a Xuan Chi Pill.

Old Boar smelled the pill's fragrance and stood up from the grass: "What do you want me to do? I won't guard the gorge with you."

"I'm not asking you to guard the gorge. I just want you to help me move stones—bigger the better."

The centipede daughter dangled half her body from under a tree: "Move stones for pills? How many do you need?"

Li Banfeng smiled: "That depends on how strong you are. After stones, you'll move wood too."

The centipede mother shook her antennae: "You want us to set traps, don't you? We're good at that—but the pills can't be shortchanged."

"Don't worry, you'll get your share. Who else can set traps?"

Two bears, six deer, three centipedes, and a python all emerged from the grass and trees, staring at Li Banfeng.

…

The next day, Li Banfeng stayed inside his portable dwelling during daylight and continued using pills to hire people at the mountain stream entrance to set traps at night.

The third day, Li Banfeng painted inside his portable dwelling.

Huh~ huh~

Changji's breathing still continued.

The pendulum pressed against Li Banfeng's wrist, helping him paint.

Tang Dao sharpened his blade on a whetstone.

The wine gourd clicked his lips: "I'd really like a sip."

The old teapot chuckled: "If you want to drink, come have tea. Wine's out—save it. You'll drink it tomorrow."

The earring sniffled: "Master, I'm scared."

The pendulum spat: "Wretched girl—if you're scared, don't leave. Wait for Madam Er to turn you into medicine."

The earring began to cry.

The judge's brush snorted: "What time is it?"

Three words!

The judge's brush was paying attention now.

Li Banfeng looked at the calendar hanging on the wall.

The calendar—a relic still used in Puluo Prefecture.

You could call it a New Year painting, or a wall calendar—a single painting with dates and solar terms beneath.

Li Banfeng's calendar was over a meter tall, depicting a graceful woman seated in the center.

Hearing Li Banfeng's question, the beauty quickly raised a clock face: "Sir, it's three-thirty."

From now on, time would be measured by the calendar's clock face—watches were too inaccurate.

…

Xiao Chuan entered Ma Wu's wooden hut: "Master Wu, I just went to Master Qi's plot—he's not there."

Ma Wu opened his pocket watch—it was four a. .

Has Old Qi left already?

That can't be.

He should've told me if he was leaving.

Zuo Wugang said from the side: "Fifth Master, I've never seen the Land God fight, but I know this is a matter of life and death. Seventh Master is already gone—you should set out too."

Ma Wu walked to the door and saw Yanzi, Xianxian, and Qiaocui all ready.

"Little Brother, when do we leave?"

Ma Wu frowned deeply.

Has Old Seven really left?

…

At exactly 4: 0 a. ., Tang Dao approached Li Banfeng, bowed low, and said: "The jade tally departs the phoenix gate, iron steeds encircle the dragon city!

Lord, it's time to march!"

Li Banfeng looked at Tang Dao and thought he looked like a General today.

"Can I cut one more stroke?"

"Three strokes still, but each one takes an enemy's head!"

"Good."

Li Banfeng first gathered all his magic treasures, stepped outside, and arranged the key positions.

At 4: 5, he returned to the Portable Dwelling and unfurled all three hundred and three paintings.

Three were hand-drawn; three hundred were printed.

Until 4: 0, Li Banfeng pierced his fingertip and began sprinkling blood onto the paper slips.

After sprinkling the blood, Li Banfeng approached the phonograph.

He filled the oil tank to the brim, then stared at the phonograph for a while.

A speck of dust sat on the record tray; Li Banfeng carefully wiped it away.

"Wait for me to return."

Li Banfeng pulled his hat low, took all the paper ladies, and stepped out of the Portable Dwelling.

Huh~

The phonograph's wheezing still lingered.

…

At 4: 5, the paper ladies took their positions.

Without any action, the printed paper ladies could last fifteen minutes.

At 4: 8, the mist thinned slightly; hidden among the vines, Li Banfeng faintly glimpsed the enemy army's figures.

These past two days, Shui Yongquan had been creating noise near the gorge, and Qiu Luoye, to ensure safety, stationed sixty percent of his forces near Bai Man Valley.

He held overall superiority; there was no reason to hold ground. Today, he came personally to the valley mouth to fight.

Li Banfeng hid among the vines, watching silently.

In his understanding, the name Qiu Luoye suited creatures like butterflies.

Or perhaps a flickering, elusive ghost flame.

But Qiu Luoye, this Land God, did not appear as a ghost flame—he revealed his true form.

Four limbs on the ground, over five meters tall, a large head, a long snout, round ears, no neck.

It was an elephant.

Why call an elephant "Fallen Leaf"?

Oo~ Hum!

At five o'clock, the horn sounded again—the Land God attacked!

Qiu Luoye prepared to lead his troops into the gorge to fight Shui Yongquan.

His tactic was simple: if Shui Yongquan was inside the gorge, they would clash directly; if his forces were insufficient, he'd reinforce from near the cave.

If Shui Yongquan launched a surprise attack from the cave, he'd lead troops to support the cave.

Just as Qiu Luoye was about to order the charge, through the hazy mist in the gorge, the vines trembled—as if a vast army was approaching.

Shui Yongquan's forces outnumbered Qiu Luoye's prediction.

Qiu Luoye ordered: "All troops, wait for my command. Wait until they exit the gorge before attacking."

At 5: 1, the enemy did not emerge.

Dry branches and fallen leaves whirled in the gorge; the enemy seemed to be gathering at the gorge's mouth.

Qiu Luoye barked: "Prepare to attack!"

At 5: 2, dust rose in the gorge, but Qiu Luoye still gave no order to advance—he couldn't tell how many enemies lay within.

A scorpion crept close and whispered: "They seem more numerous than us—send more troops."

A fox beside him shook its head: "Don't act rashly—wait and watch."

At 5: 3, the gorge fell suddenly silent.

The fox told Qiu Luoye: "Master, there's trickery here—the enemy must be ambushing."

Why had all movement stopped?

Qiu Luoye couldn't understand.

The truth was simple: the paper ladies Li Banfeng made could only last three minutes under physical exertion.

Shaking vines, throwing leaves, kicking up dust—all these tasks drained energy.

This was the tactic the Lady taught him: don't waste too much bait, but make the noise huge—make the enemy want to fight, yet dare not!

Neither attacking nor holding back, Qiu Luoye hesitated—when a pheasant suddenly took flight: "I'll go in first and scout."

According to the Lady's tactic, any flying enemy must be shot down immediately—to blind the enemy's eyes.

But Li Banfeng lacked the power; this pheasant had third-layer cultivation and flew too high—he couldn't reach her, so he stayed hidden among the vines and watched.

The pheasant circled once, then returned: "Master, I saw no enemy in the gorge."

The fox asked: "Not a single enemy?"

The pheasant replied cautiously: "I didn't see any. Bai Man Valley is full of vines—I can't see clearly. They might be hiding."

Of course she couldn't see—Li Banfeng's paper ladies had all turned to shredded paper by now. Li Banfeng was a fourth-layer Dwelling Cultivator; she overlooked him entirely.

Qiu Luoye grew more anxious, unsure whether to storm the gorge. The fox advised waiting; the pheasant reminded him: "Master, if there's no enemy, charge now—our men won't wait any longer!"

These monsters weren't an army. As Shui Yongquan said, Qiu Luoye's men were rabble.

They followed the Land God into battle only to gain cultivation. They gathered together to finish quickly—no one wanted to waste time here. If they waited longer, morale would collapse.

In his agitation, Qiu Luoye summoned a horse-headed man: "Take your men and go in first to scout."

The horse-headed man didn't want to go—he didn't know what lay inside the gorge.

Qiu Luoye nodded: "I'll credit you with the first kill!"

The horse-headed man agreed—first kill meant double cultivation.

Twenty horse-headed men charged into the gorge.

Were these horse-headed men strong?

No.

All were second-layer.

But they ran astonishingly fast—not slower than second-layer Travel Cultivators.

In under a minute, they covered over three li. According to the Lady's tactic, such men were to be ignored—never chase them.

But Li Banfeng couldn't ignore them. By his agreement with Shui Yongquan, if even one enemy broke out of the gorge, Li Banfeng lost.

The horse-headed men saw no enemy along the way. Their leader snorted: "All bluff!"

He stretched his neck, preparing to let out three long calls to report to Qiu Luoye.

Li Banfeng manipulated the pendulum, severing the vines on the cliffside—massive boulders roared downward.

These traps had been set for Li Banfeng by Boar, Centipede, and others.

Three horse-headed men were crushed beneath the rocks. The leader let out three calls—two long, one short—signaling an ambush.

The leader and his men kept sprinting forward, covering another li before the falling rocks ceased.

It wasn't that Li Banfeng lacked rocks—it was that the pendulum simply couldn't keep up with these horse-headed men.

"Just minor tricks!" the horse-headed man was about to call again when a strong smell of alcohol hit his nose.

Where did the alcohol come from?

The horse-headed man realized danger—he shouted: "Run—"

He'd barely spoken those two words when Tang Dao suddenly appeared and slashed off the horse-headed leader's head.

This was Li Banfeng's first ambush point—Tang Dao had been waiting here all along.

The leader dead, the other horse-headed men didn't know whether to advance or retreat.

Keep scouting? Or turn back?

While they hesitated, Li Banfeng struck a match, ignited the alcohol mist, and sprinted to higher ground upwind.

Flames erupted—the alcohol mist clung to the horse-headed men like a living thing.

The horse-headed men caught fire one after another. Without their leader, they panicked—some fled back, only to be crushed by falling boulders from the pendulum.

Others pressed forward, trapped in the blazing alcohol mist.

One jin of alcohol was too limited—it was already half gone. Li Banfeng sealed the wine gourd, saving the remaining half.

When the flames died, three horse-headed men remained alive: one charged toward the gorge's end; two dodged falling rocks and turned back.

The ones turning back—ignore them.

The one charging forward—must not be allowed to escape.

Li Banfeng sprinted forward, caught up to the Horse-Headed One, took a single step behind him, and swung his scythe, piercing through the Horse-Headed One's skull.

The first round—survived!

Li Banfeng opened his pocket watch: 5: 8.

Survived eight minutes!

I'll bluff once more in a moment, drain him three more minutes.

Though there's little wine left in the wine gourd, Li Banfeng has set many traps—he can still hold for three more minutes.

Rely on Waterfall Gate to hold for three more minutes.

Even the enemy needs time to march. Look at that giant, Qiuluoye—make him move slower, drag it out three more minutes, and won't that be enough time?

Wuuu~

A trumpet-like roar!

Li Banfeng froze.

Qiuluoye gave Li Banfeng no chance to bluff—he charged in himself.

Is he really that reckless?

Doesn't he fear my ambushes?

Qiuluoye truly wasn't afraid.

After hearing the Horse-Headed One's description, he was even less afraid.

"Throw rocks! Set fire! Summon Water Gushing Spring! Do you think I'm some fool? Can't you show me real skill?!"

Li Banfeng heard footsteps but hadn't yet seen Qiuluoye's form.

But now he understood why this local deity was called Qiuluoye.

With every step this elephant took, withered leaves from the vines fell like rain.

PS: The blood battle begins.

(End of Chapter)