Chapter 190

Late at night, Li Li Banfeng familiarized himself with the terrain in the canyon.

The terrain advantage was not small. The ten-mile canyon was over a zhang wide, with nine twists and eight turns, and everywhere there were thick vines. Running at full speed from start to finish, Li Li Banfeng took just over two minutes.

He was a third-layer traveling cultivator and still took that long to run it. If the opponent only sent ordinary cultivators, as long as their level wasn't too high, it would be very difficult for them to walk out of the canyon within ten minutes.

In that case, would it be enough for me to hold it for ten minutes?

But what if the local deity came personally?

Thinking of the speed of that ghost fire, it came as soon as it was mentioned, arriving in the blink of an eye. Crossing the ten-mile canyon wouldn't even take a minute.

Could every local deity turn into ghost fire?

Even if Qiu Qiu Luoye might not turn into ghost fire, what if the other side had similar strange beings like traveling cultivators?

Li Li Banfeng paced slowly in the canyon, carefully observing every position.

Walking to a bend, Tang Dao spoke: "Master, this is an excellent place for an ambush."

Tang Dao had fought in wars and was the only magic treasure with military experience.

Li Li Banfeng made a mark at this position and continued to travel through the canyon. After making over twenty marks, Li Li Banfeng and Tang Dao selected the best from the good and found three locations among them.

All twenty marks were useful, especially these three, which were the keys to the ambush.

Walking to the mouth of the canyon near Luoyeping, Li Li Banfeng saw the scattered offering table on the ground and the dense fog in the distance.

"Brother Li Qi, don't go any further. If you go any further, you'll be on Qiu Qiu Luoye's territory. You signed a contract with me, so you count as my man.

The battle hasn't started yet, so you can't enter Qiu Qiu Luoye's territory. If you cross the border by one step and enter that fog, you'll lose your life." Shui Shui Yongquan floated to Li Qi's side; this time he came in human form.

Li Li Banfeng stared at the fog for a moment. It was very thick, but he could vaguely see some human figures.

Shui Shui Yongquan looked at the offering table on the ground and said to Li Li Banfeng: "This was left by that group of land-reclaimers. A full three times, all chosen at the mouth of the canyon.

Once could be considered a coincidence, twice could also be considered a coincidence, but how do you count three times? This is someone stirring up trouble."

Li Li Banfeng had no heart to listen to his analysis of the situation; he continued to familiarize himself with the terrain.

Shui Shui Yongquan exclaimed: "Brother Li Qi, you are truly attentive, but where did Brother Ma Wu go? Please don't tell me he isn't coming."

"He's coming. I've already agreed with him; he's only responsible for fighting, and the matter of troop deployment is left to me." Li Li Banfeng gave a perfunctory explanation.

Shui Shui Yongquan smiled: "Troop deployment? There's no need for that.

When local deities fight, do you think it's a clash of large armies? There aren't so many formalities here.

When it's time to fight, everyone acts immediately. If you delay for a moment, people's hearts will scatter.

People who fight you are all looking to earn cultivation base. If you want to fight, don't have any misgivings. Whoever is fast and whoever is ruthless will win!"

Li Li Banfeng frowned: "Isn't this just a rabble?"

"What do you think? Qiu Qiu Luoye's subordinates are all a rabble!"

This deviated from what Li Li Banfeng had thought.

He was still counting on reading a manifesto and negotiating for a while before the battle to delay some time.

Meeting and fighting immediately made things difficult to handle.

The tactics had to be changed.

Shui Shui Yongquan sighed: "You are the one who signed the contract, and whether or not you find Ma Wu is your business. Young man, I'll only give you one piece of advice: having one more helper on the battlefield means one more life for yourself.

Even if you just get someone to help you hold the gate, one more person means one more bit of strength. I'm talking about serious business; it won't be that easy for you alone to hold the Water-Falling Gate."

Li Li Banfeng looked at the cliffs on both sides: "The Water-Falling Gate can only hold for three minutes. Relying solely on the Water-Falling Gate won't work either."

Shui Shui Yongquan smacked his lips. There were some things he didn't want to say, but Li Li Banfeng had already signed the contract, so even if he said it, Li Li Banfeng couldn't go back on his word. After careful consideration, he decided to give Li Li Banfeng a reminder:

"If Qiu Qiu Luoye charges into the canyon personally, I'm afraid only the Water-Falling Gate can block him."

Li Li Banfeng frowned: "Will he come personally?"

"Hard to say."

"Can I only use the Water-Falling Gate?"

Shui Shui Yongquan pondered for a long time and said: "Besides the Water-Falling Gate, there are some special techniques. Qiu Qiu Luoye's brain isn't very useful, but any sect that can disturb people's minds can restrain him. Joyful Cultivation is one such category."

He still wanted Ma Wu to go into battle.

Li Li Banfeng didn't think about Ma Wu and asked Shui Shui Yongquan: "Does Virtue Cultivation count as a sect that disturbs people's minds?"

Shui Shui Yongquan nodded: "It counts."

"What about Dream Cultivation?"

"That also counts. If you can find helpers from Virtue Cultivation and Dream Cultivation, you can also delay for a while longer." Shui Shui Yongquan crossed the canyon and returned to his own territory.

The record player had guessed correctly; Shui Shui Yongquan hadn't bet all his chips on Li Qi; he had left himself a backup plan.

The wild boar was also wandering near the mouth of the canyon, looking for an ambush position.

The house centipede mother and daughter had already chosen their position and were still arguing at this moment.

"Mother, can you have some shame? We came here to do serious business; stop always thinking about that kid surnamed Ma."

"Bah! Who gave you the nerve to manage your mother's affairs?" The house centipede mother looked into the canyon from time to time; she hoped to see Ma Wu one more time.

Shui Shui Yongquan snorted coldly: "If you two want to guard the canyon, I won't stop you."

The house centipede mother shook her body and said: "Oh, Master Shui, we don't have that ability. Once you enter the canyon, there's only one path; if you get surrounded, there's nowhere to escape."

Shui Shui Yongquan knew they didn't have the ability. These were all scattered soldiers and defeated generals; their task was to guard the mouth of the canyon and continue to delay the enemy troops after Li Qi fell in battle.

Arriving at the Centipede Cave, the strange beings here were the main force of the battle.

Their levels were uneven, but they were loyal to Shui Shui Yongquan!

A male eagle flew over and said in Shui Shui Yongquan's ear: "Qiu Qiu Luoye has defenses on both roads, and the troop strength on both sides is equal."

Shui Shui Yongquan sneered: "I knew he would do this. He charges when he sees people and splits his troops to guard when he doesn't. That elm-wood brain of his only knows how to use this elm-wood tactic.

You go to the canyon side and make some noise, but don't overdo it; let Qiu Qiu Luoye send more troops to the canyon side."

Li Li Banfeng walked out of the canyon and, sensing through the Thread-Pulling Earring, found the wild boar hiding in the weeds.

"Old Boar, I have something to discuss with you."

The wild boar didn't move; he thought he was hiding very well and Li Li Banfeng couldn't see him.

"Old Boar, I see you."

The wild boar still didn't move, sneering in his heart: Don't listen to him trying to trick me; he can't see me at all.

"I have good stuff for you." Li Li Banfeng took out a Profound Red Pill.

The old boar smelled the fragrance of the elixir and stood up from the weeds: "What do you want me to do? I won't guard the canyon with you."

"I'm not asking you to guard the canyon; I just want you to help me move some stones, the bigger the better."

The house centipede daughter hung half her body down from the tree: "Moving stones gets elixirs? How many do you want to move?"

Li Li Banfeng smiled: "That depends on how much strength you have. After moving the stones, you'll have to move wood."

The house centipede mother shook the tentacles on her head: "You want us to help you make traps, right? We mother and daughter are really good at this, but the elixirs can't be less for us."

"Rest assured, it won't be less. Who else knows how to make traps?"

Two bears, six deer, three centipedes, and a python all crawled out from the grass and trees and looked at Li Li Banfeng.

The next day, Li Li Banfeng stayed in his Leaving Suishenju during the day and didn't come out, and at night he continued to use elixirs to ask the people at the mountain stream mouth to help set up traps.

On the third day, Li Li Banfeng painted in his Leaving Suishenju.

Whoosh~ Whoosh~

The sound of the record player's breathing was still there.

The pendulum stuck to the back of Li Li Banfeng's hand, coloring together with Li Li Banfeng.

Tang Dao was grinding back and forth on the whetstone.

The wine gourd smacked its lips and said: "I really want to take a sip."

The old teapot smiled: "If you want to drink, come over for tea. You can't drink wine; save it, you'll have to wait until tomorrow to drink."

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

The pendulum spat and said: "Cheap slut, if you're scared, don't go out. Wait for the Second Lady to refine you."

The earring cried out loud.

The Judge's Brush hummed and said: "What time is it?"

Three words!

The Judge's Brush was also paying attention.

Li Li Banfeng looked at the calendar hanging on the wall.

"Little Brother Lang, I caught two cheap sluts for you, just spare me this once. You can do whatever you want to those two sluts, don't feel sorry for them, feel sorry for me!"

You could call it a New Year picture, or you could call it a wall calendar. A painting hung on the wall, and below the picture were dates and solar terms.

This calendar of Li Li Banfeng's was over a meter high, with a beautiful woman sitting upright in the middle of the picture.

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

Next, he had to rely on the watch face on the calendar to keep time, because the pocket watch wasn't accurate enough.

Xiao Xiao Chuanzi entered Ma Wu's wooden house: "Fifth Master, I just went to Seventh Master's territory, and Seventh Master isn't there."

Ma Wu opened his pocket watch; it was four o'clock in the morning.

Old Seven has already left?

That can't be!

If he were to leave, he should have notified me.

Zuo Zuo Wugang said from the side: "Fifth Master, I haven't seen local deities fight, but I know this is a matter of life and death. Seventh Master has already left, so you should also set off."

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

"Brother Lang, when are we leaving?"

Ma Wu's brows were tightly locked.

Did Old Seven really leave?

It wasn't until four-thirty in the morning that Tang Dao came before Li Li Banfeng, bowed, and saluted: "The tooth-tally resigns from the Phoenix Palace, iron cavalry circles the Dragon City!

Master, it's time to set out!"

Li Li Banfeng looked at Tang Dao and felt that he looked like a general today.

"Can you cut one more time?"

"Three cuts are still three cuts, but every cut takes the enemy's head!"

"Good."

Li Li Banfeng first took all his magic treasures, went out for a trip, and set up the key positions.

At four-forty-five, he returned to the Leaving Suishenju again and unfolded all three hundred and three paintings.

Three were painted, and three hundred were printed.

Until four-fifty, Li Li Banfeng pricked his fingertip and began to sprinkle blood on the paper slips.

After sprinkling the blood, Li Li Banfeng came to the front of the record player.

He first filled the fuel tank, then stared at the record player for a while.

There was a speck of dust on the record tray, and Li Li Banfeng carefully wiped the dust away.

"Wait for me to come back."

Li Li Banfeng lowered the brim of his hat, took all the paper beauties, and walked out of the Leaving Suishenju.

Whoosh~

The sound of the record player's breathing was still there.

At four-fifty-five, the paper beauties were all in their positions.

In a situation where they did nothing, the printed paper beauties could last for fifteen minutes.

At four-fifty-eight, the fog dissipated slightly, and Li Li Banfeng, hiding among the vines, vaguely saw the figures of the enemy troops.

For the past two days, Shui Shui Yongquan had been constantly making noise near the canyon. To be safe, Qiu Qiu Luoye had deployed sixty percent of his troops near the Hundred-Vine Valley.

His overall strength was superior, so there was no reason to hold back. Today, when the battle started, he came to the mouth of the canyon personally.

Li Li Banfeng hid in the vines and observed quietly.

According to his understanding, the name Qiu Qiu Luoye was very suitable for creatures like butterflies.

Or perhaps a flickering ghost fire.

But this local deity, Qiu Qiu Luoye, did not appear in the form of ghost fire; he revealed his true self.

Four limbs on the ground, over five meters tall, big head, long nose, round ears, no neck.

This was an elephant.

An elephant, why call it Falling Leaf?

Woo~ Hum!

At five o'clock, the horn sounded again, and the local deities started the war!

Qiu Qiu Luoye prepared to lead his men to charge into the canyon to fight Shui Shui Yongquan.

His tactics were very simple: if Shui Shui Yongquan was in the canyon, both sides would fight directly; if the troop strength wasn't enough, he would mobilize troops from near the cave.

If Shui Shui Yongquan launched a surprise attack from the cave, he would lead his troops over to support the cave.

Qiu Qiu Luoye was just about to order the charge when, in the canyon, amidst the hazy fog, the vines trembled, as if thousands of troops and horses were about to arrive.

Shui Shui Yongquan's troop strength was greater than Qiu Qiu Luoye had predicted.

Qiu Qiu Luoye ordered: "The whole army awaits my command; wait until they come out of the canyon before fighting."

At five-zero-one, the enemy troops didn't come out.

In the canyon, withered branches and broken leaves danced, and the enemy troops seemed to be gathering strength at the mouth of the canyon.

Qiu Qiu Luoye shouted: "Prepare to attack!"

At five-zero-two, dust flew in the canyon. Qiu Qiu Luoye had not yet given the order to attack; he couldn't be sure how many enemy troops were in the canyon.

A scorpion walked to the front and lowered his voice: "They seem to have more people than us; let's mobilize some more troops."

A fox shook his head from the side: "Do not act rashly; let's observe the situation a bit more."

At five-zero-three, the canyon suddenly became silent.

The fox said to Qiu Qiu Luoye: "Master, there is a mystery here; the enemy must have an ambush."

Why was there suddenly no movement?

Qiu Qiu Luoye couldn't understand it either.

Actually, the reason was very simple: the paper beauties Li Li Banfeng made could only last for three minutes when doing physical labor.

Shaking vines, throwing leaves, and raising sand were all quite physically demanding.

This was the tactic the Lady had taught him: you don't need to scatter too much bait, but the momentum must be great, making the enemy want to fight but not quite dare to!

Attacking wasn't right, and not attacking wasn't right either. Qiu Qiu Luoye was hesitating when a pheasant soared into the sky: "I'll go in first to scout the situation."

According to the tactics the Lady taught, if you encounter something that can fly, you must shoot it down immediately; this is to blind the enemy's eyes.

But Li Li Banfeng didn't have that strength. This pheasant had third-layer cultivation and flew very high; Li Li Banfeng couldn't reach her and could only squat in the vines and watch.

The pheasant circled once and flew back: "Master, I didn't see any enemy troops in the canyon."

The fox asked: "Not a single enemy troop?"

The pheasant answered cautiously: "I said I didn't see them. The Hundred-Vine Valley is full of vines, so I can't see clearly; perhaps they are hiding."

Of course she couldn't see them. The paper beauties Li Li Banfeng made had now all turned into shredded paper. Li Li Banfeng was a fourth-layer residential cultivator, and he was ignored by her.

Qiu Qiu Luoye became more anxious, not knowing whether he should storm the canyon. The fox suggested he continue to observe, and the pheasant reminded him: "Master, if there are no enemy troops, we should just charge over directly; the brothers don't want to wait!"

This group of strange beings was not an army. Just as Shui Shui Yongquan said, Qiu Qiu Luoye's subordinates were all a rabble.

They followed the local deity out to fight all to earn cultivation base. They gathered together to finish the fight early; no one wanted to waste time here. If they dragged it out, people's hearts would scatter.

In his anxiety, Qiu Qiu Luoye called over a horse-headed man: "You take your subordinates and go in to scout the path first."

The horse-headed man didn't really want to go; he also didn't know what the situation in the canyon was.

Qiu Qiu Luoye nodded: "I'll count it as your first merit!"

The horse-headed man agreed; the first merit could give double the cultivation base.

Twenty horse-headed men charged into the canyon.

Was the cultivation of this group of horse-headed men high?

Not high.

They were all at the second layer.

But they ran extremely fast, not inferior to second-layer traveling cultivators.

In less than a minute, they had run over three miles. According to the Lady's tactics, you don't need to worry about this type of person; you absolutely must not chase and fight them.

But Li Li Banfeng couldn't ignore them. According to his agreement with Shui Shui Yongquan, as long as one person charged out of the canyon, it would count as Li Li Banfeng losing.

A group of horse-headed men didn't see any enemy troops along the way, and the horse-headed leader snorted coldly: "It's all just bluffing!"

He stretched his neck, preparing to neigh three times to report to Qiu Qiu Luoye.

Li Li Banfeng controlled the pendulum, cut the vines on the cliff, and huge stones roared down.

This was a mechanism set up for Li Li Banfeng by the wild boar, the house centipede, and others.

Three horse-headed men were crushed under the huge stones. The horse-headed leader neighed three times, two long and one short, meaning there was an ambush in the canyon.

The leader continued to run wildly forward with his subordinates, running another mile or so, and when they reached a corner of the canyon, the mountain stones stopped falling.

It wasn't that the mountain stones Li Li Banfeng prepared weren't enough; it was that the pendulum simply couldn't catch up with this group of horse-headed men.

"Just small tricks!" The horse-headed man was about to neigh again when he suddenly smelled a pungent scent of wine.

Where did the scent of wine come from?

The horse-headed man realized something was wrong and shouted: "Run quickly..."

Just as he said these two words, Tang Dao suddenly appeared and cut off the horse-headed leader's head with one strike.

This was the first ambush point Li Li Banfeng chose; Tang Dao had been waiting here the whole time.

The horse-headed leader was dead, and the remaining horse-headed men didn't know where to run.

Should they continue to scout the path, or run back?

While they were hesitating, Li Li Banfeng struck a match, ignited the wine mist, and quickly ran to the upwind area.

The flames erupted, and the wine mist seemed to have life, sticking to the horse-headed men.

The horse-headed men caught fire one after another. Without their leader, they fell into panic. Some ran back and were greeted by mountain stones from the pendulum.

Some walked forward and were trapped in the flames of the wine mist.

One jin of wine was too limited; in the blink of an eye, more than half was used. The wine gourd closed its mouth and saved the remaining small half.

When the flames disappeared, three horse-headed men were still alive. One horse-headed man charged toward the end of the canyon, and two horse-headed men dodged the falling stones and turned back along the original path.

He didn't care about the ones who turned back.

"I'll be careful, I'll be careful..."

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

Li Li Banfeng looked at Ma Wu carefully.

He gave all his good men to me.

Is he not afraid of death himself?

Li Li Banfeng shook his head: "Old Five, no one needs to go; I can do it alone."

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

"I'm not joking; I run faster than you all. If there are too many people, it's a burden."

Ma Wu thought about it, and it was indeed true; Li Li Banfeng was a traveling cultivator and did run 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 gave a final instruction, "Three days from now, at five in the morning, the battle begins. If it's five-thirty and I haven't come to find you, it means I ran first; you hurry up and run."

"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 plot; by the time the enemy army rushes over, it'll be too late for you to run."

Li Li Banfeng left Ma Wu's plot.

He didn't mention the battle.

The tactics had to change.

This is my own business; I can't implicate them.

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

(End of chapter)

But he knew why this local deity was called Qiu Qiu Luoye.

Every step this elephant took, the withered leaves on the vines fell like raindrops.

PS: The bloody battle begins.

(End of chapter)