[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-lord-of-the-proles":3,"chapter-lord-of-the-proles-lord-of-the-proles-chapter-209":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Lord of the Proles",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2290507,4478,"Chapter 209: Traveling Cultivator Level Four: Unimpeded Passage","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-209",209,"\u003Cp>“Yu Shu, I’ve said my piece—please go back home.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Zhihe sat in the accounting room, as steady as Mount Tai: “Junyang, no matter how powerful you are outside, this household has its own rules—you’re not qualified to kick me out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Wu said nothing more and left the accounting room, heading for the private booth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng was drinking in the private booth; Ma Wu sat down beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not leaving?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Wu nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng poured himself another cup: “You deliver the invitations to all the families—the opening is still three days from now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Wu left; Li Banfeng lowered his hat, entered the accounting room, and locked the door behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Zhihe startled: “Who are you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng replied: “The owner of Xiaoyao Wu .”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Zhihe stood up: “This is the Ma family’s business—who are you? Where’s Junyang? Tell him to come see me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng stepped close to Yu Zhihe and asked: “How old are you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Zhihe stepped back two paces: “What are you planning to do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng smiled: “You’ve lived this long, enjoyed plenty of fortune—still so foolish? In my view, your funeral can be kept simple.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Wu delivered invitations to all the major families; the Ma family received one too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Chunting stared at the invitation, his hands trembling with rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Junjiang hurried to massage his father’s shoulders and back; once his father calmed slightly, Ma Chunting shouted: “Go! Tell Old Yu to seal off Xiaoyao Wu ’s accounting room—don’t let that beast take a single coin out. Let’s see how he opens!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Junjiang sent men to Xiaoyao Wu ; they returned only by nightfall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why did it take so long?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, Young Master—we went to Xiaoyao Wu  but couldn’t find Master Yu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Chunting frowned: “That old bastard’s slipped off again—go to his house and bring him here!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, we went to Master Yu’s home—his family said he never returned.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then where the hell could he have gone? Off to a brothel? That bastard…” Ma Chunting froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After years of surviving in the martial world, he felt a bad omen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That beast, that beast…” Ma Chunting’s hands began trembling again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Junjiang rushed forward to massage his father’s shoulders and back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He—he wouldn’t dare—he couldn’t possibly….” Ma Chunting guessed the truth but couldn’t believe it: “Take men to Xiaoyao Wu  and demand him. If you can’t find Old Yu, smash the place to pieces.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Junjiang was about to leave when Ma Chunting called him back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Four couldn’t go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Yu went—and vanished without a trace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Old Four goes, will he come back?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though old, Ma Chunting wasn’t senile—he realized his youngest son was no longer the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How did he become like this? How dare he? That beast—who taught him this…?” Ma Chunting made Ma Junjiang sit back down and fell silent for a long while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Father, let me go ask—maybe there’s some misunderstanding.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Chunting shook his head: “No need to ask. Go to all the major families and tell them—if you still respect Old Ma’s face, don’t show up at Xiaoyao Wu ’s opening day.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Er was humiliated at Bailu Men—this beast still hasn’t learned his lesson, dares to play dirty on his own father—I’ll make him lose every copper, leave him with nowhere to beg!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hou Zi Qiu received the invitation—and then news from the Ma family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan Shan was troubled: “Uncle Qiu, for Xiaoyao Wu ’s opening—do we go or not?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hou Zi Qiu smiled: “What do you think?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan Hai said: “I say we go. Brother Wu helped our family with the phonograph incident.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan Shan was more cautious: “But this is the Ma family’s internal matter—we shouldn’t get involved.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both looked to Qiu Zhiheng—this decision rested with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qiu Zhiheng set down the invitation, lit a cigarette, and asked the brothers: “If you ignore Ma Wu—would you still go?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The brothers exchanged glances, unsure of Hou Zi Qiu’s meaning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Ma Wu was removed from the equation, the matter seemed trivial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qiu Zhiheng smoked, watching the brothers: “Ma Chunting is truly old—he treats the Ma family like the Lu family. The Lu family could ignore Chu Er—does he think the Ma family can ignore Ma Wu? Does the Lu family need to ask him whether to show up?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The brothers smiled at each other—they understood Qiu Zhiheng’s meaning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three days later, Li Banfeng swallowed two pills, waited for the poison to fully dissolve, stepped out of the private booth, and entered the grand dance hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His legs twitched with the urge to run; Li Banfeng calculated the time—it was nearly due.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t just because he’d taken so many pills—he’d faced great dangers lately: Haishiling, Baimang Valley, Fool’s City—each step forward had multiplied his cultivation base.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two hours remained until the opening ceremony; the band, singers, and dancers were ready; Ma Wu was nervous—no guests had arrived yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old Seven, are we going to be ignored too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let them ignore us—it doesn’t matter. We’ll celebrate ourselves!” To stand tall in Lüshui City, today’s opening was non-negotiable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One hour remained—Qiu Zhiheng arrived; the two Lu brothers arrived; Lady Duan Shaohong came with them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Wu relaxed slightly and hurried to escort the Lu family to the honored seats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon after the Lu family arrived, the Chu family came too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Er’s eldest son, Chu Huaijun, arrived with his family and took their place among the VIPs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Er remained at Kucai Zhuang; Yang Yanzheng delivered a gift on her behalf.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>San Ying Men arrived; Qing Yun Hui arrived; Bai Hua Men arrived too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>VIPs trickled in, all following the Lu family’s lead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fifteen minutes before the ceremony, He Yuxiu arrived: “Junyang, your Uncle Haiqin wanted to come himself, but business detained him—he asked me to apologize.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Wu hurriedly escorted He Yuxiu to the VIP seat: “Auntie Xiu, you flatter me—just you showing up today has me over the moon!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guests seated, ceremony began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qiu Zhiheng glanced at a corner of the dance floor and raised his cup.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng raised his cup too; both drank it dry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reporters’ flashbulbs never stopped; Ma Wu’s cup never stopped either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All eyes were fixed on the Lu family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was dignity—and intimidation. Today, for the first time, Li Banfeng truly understood the Lu family’s weight in Pulu Province.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Will I ever have such weight one day?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of it now felt distant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But one thing before him must be seized immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Singers Jiang Mengting and Xu Qiulan took turns performing; the ceremony reached its climax.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng slipped quietly to Yang Yanzheng’s side and whispered: “Senior Yang, could you please come to the private booth?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yanzheng recognized Li Qi and asked no questions—he followed him to the booth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beautiful music played in the booth, clear and pure, with not a single distortion—as if a singer were performing live.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be fair, Ma Wu’s phonograph was high-end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They chatted briefly, drank two cups of wine, then Li Banfeng brought up the matter: “I asked you here to seek your guidance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother, no need for formalities—speak plainly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m of the same path as you—a Traveling Cultivator. I’d like to ask about your techniques.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yanzheng knew Li Banfeng was a Traveling Cultivator and asked curiously: “Brother Li Qi, have you reached Level Two?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know Level Two techniques.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yanzheng blinked: “Then you’re asking about Level Three?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng paused, then said: “I know Level Three techniques too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yanzheng studied Li Banfeng closely—the wide-brimmed hat hid his face, and a thick beard covered his cheeks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, he couldn’t guess Li Banfeng’s age—but in his impression, this man shouldn’t have Level Four cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng smiled: “Senior, you misunderstand—I’ve only just reached Level Two. I want to learn more technique knowledge to prepare for future cultivation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was true—he’d only just reached Level Two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yanzheng shook his head and laughed: “You’re preparing too early—you just reached Level Two and you’re asking about Level Four techniques?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Learning more never hurts.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yanzheng shook his head: “That breaks the rules.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng lifted his cup: “I’m sincerely seeking your guidance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yanzheng hesitated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Li Qi was close to Ma Wu, he rarely spoke to others—always carried an indescribable coldness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today’s initiative was rare—but technique knowledge couldn’t be casually revealed; that was a cultivator’s rule.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if I don’t tell him, someone else will eventually—would it be worth angering Li Qi over this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Second Miss once said—in Lanyang Village, the real authority was Li Qi; angering Li Qi meant angering Ma Wu—and the Second Miss’s relationship with Li Qi was unusual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he’s only just reached Level Two—why ask about Level Four techniques? It makes no sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is he really at the second level?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given how sincere he seems, it must be true…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After agonizing for a long while, Yang Yanzheng felt a headache, a severe one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Forget it; it’s not worth the effort over something this minor. He just reached the second level—might as well tell him the technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Li Qi, our sect’s fourth-level technique is called Unimpeded Passage. Put simply, you can think of it as wall-walking.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, Yang Yanzheng demonstrated: he stood beside the left wall near the door, pushed off with his left foot, used the Step of the Small Pace, and in a flash, vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A scream came from the next room—not a woman’s scream, but a young man’s cry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the cry came He Yuxiu’s scolding: “Old bastard Yang, what are you wandering around for?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Yuxiu kicked Yang Yanzheng out with one foot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yanzheng brushed the dust off his clothes, returned to Li Banfeng’s private room, and said calmly: “Brother Li Qi, this technique must be used with caution. Before passing through a wall, you should always know what’s on the other side.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng asked: “Can the fourth-level technique only pass through walls?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not just walls. I once heard an elder say that at a high enough cultivation level, you can even pass through mountains. But at the fourth level, you can penetrate at most three feet of obstruction.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And once the technique is activated, there’s no turning back—if the obstruction exceeds three feet, you’ll be trapped inside and unable to escape. That’s the most dangerous part of the technique; never act rashly before using it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I noticed you used the Step of the Small Pace before activating the technique.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yanzheng nodded: “To use Unimpeded Passage, you must first use Step of the Small Pace. That’s the rule. After performing the Step of the Small Pace, you must instantly achieve a state where nothing is visible to your eyes and nothing obstructs your mind—focus your intent entirely on unimpeded passage, or the technique will fail. Even the slightest hesitation will cause failure. Let me demonstrate again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, Yang Yanzheng moved to the right wall beside the door and passed through it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another cry rang out—still the young man’s voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old bastard Yang, what are you doing here again?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Old Man Yang, what are you here for again?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yanzheng was kicked out again by He Yuxiu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back in the private room, Yang Yanzheng sat in silence for a long while, unable to make sense of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The left wall connected to He Yuxiu’s private room, and He Yuxiu was inside doing something with a young man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The right wall also connected to He Yuxiu’s private room, and He Yuxiu was still inside doing something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How many He Yuxius are there?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While puzzling over this, Yang Yanzheng noticed Li Banfeng was gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone opened the door to the private room. Yang Yanzheng looked up—it was He Yuxiu again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Yuxiu gazed at Yang Yanzheng with a sultry look: “Old Yang, why don’t you go over there later? Are you getting hungry?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, no, I wouldn’t dare…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you’re hungry, just say so—I’ll accommodate you.” He Yuxiu sat down beside Yang Yanzheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Miss, I—I’m not worthy of you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To say he wasn’t tempted was false; Yang Yanzheng had admired He Yuxiu since his youth, and still did now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Worthy or not?” He Yuxiu touched Yang Yanzheng’s cheek. “We’re both past our prime. Aren’t you afraid you’ll miss your chance for good?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I…” Yang Yanzheng looked up at He Yuxiu. No matter her age, she still looked breathtakingly beautiful to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The singing in the private room grew even more enchanting; Yang Yanzheng’s blood pressure kept rising.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t notice that there was no record on the phonograph.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The real singer was the calendar hanging behind the curtain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The real singer was the calendar hidden behind the curtain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a shudder, Yang Yanzheng woke up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng beside him said: “Senior Yang, how did you fall asleep?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yanzheng looked around—he didn’t see He Yuxiu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it just a dream?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lately, I’ve probably just been tired.” Yang Yanzheng wiped sweat from his forehead, feeling an inexplicable sense of regret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why did such a perfect dream have to end?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most of it was already forgotten—this might have been the only time in his life…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng said: “I asked you here because I have something to ask you. We’re from the same sect—I’d like to inquire about techniques.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yanzheng smiled: “Brother Li Qi, you’ve reached the second level?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I just reached the second level. I don’t even know what our sect’s second-level technique is.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our sect’s second-level technique is called Step of the Small Pace…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Our sect’s second-level technique is called Silent Step...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Ma family mansion, Ma Chunting gnashed his teeth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He received word that all the prominent families of Green Water City had gone to Xiaoyao Wu  for the banquet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You disobedient brat, you beast! No matter how much you beg me, you’ll never set foot in this house again!” Ma Chunting smashed his teacup, slapped Ma Junjiang across the face, and stormed off to his bedroom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You disobedient brat, you beast! No matter how much you beg me, you’ll never set foot in this house again!\" Ma Chunting smashed his teacup, slapped Ma Junjiang across the face, and went to lie down in his bedroom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2373,"2026-06-20T03:43:16.386Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","a163a0b587b9473994689602e290290a0ca2bd65d68ac8ac91829ad21eb61a86","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-210","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-208",863,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flord-of-the-proles-cover.jpg"]