Chapter 21

"Why can't it produce a Zhai Ling?"

"Because there's no foundation," the peddler explained. "If a residence wants to produce a Zhai Ling, it needs to take root in one place and absorb spiritual energy.

This residence is erratic; wherever the key goes, it follows, so naturally, it can't take root."

"Without a Zhai Ling, can it still be used for cultivation?"

The peddler pinched his chin: "Reaching a higher level is definitely not possible, but entering the path is no problem, and maintaining daily basic cultivation is also no problem, as long as you are willing to recognize this residence."

"I am willing to recognize it?" Li Banfeng was puzzled.

"Yes, as long as you treat this residence as your home, you can be considered to have recognized it, but remember, recognizing a residence must come from the heart."

Treat this as a home?

That's a bit difficult!

Li Banfeng found it hard to understand the condition of this residence: "Invisible, untouchable, and can move—what kind of existence is this residence?"

"Didn't I say it follows the key? Wherever the key is, it is, but I don't know how it moves specifically.

This is a shelter built by a Lv Xiu master himself. Later, because his cultivation became deeper and deeper, that master didn't need this thing anymore, so he sold it to me.

If you think it's suitable, I'll give this residence to you. Although there is no Zhai Ling and you can't reach a higher level in Yu Yu Zhaixiu, living in the residence every day at least keeps you on the right path of cultivation, and you won't be in danger of losing your life for the time being."

Li Banfeng asked: "In other words, I can focus on cultivating Lv Xiu, and Yu Yu Zhaixiu only needs to maintain the status quo?"

"Of course not," the peddler shook his head. "For dual cultivation, the difference in levels cannot exceed three layers.

Without a Zhai Ling, your Yu Yu Zhaixiu can't reach a higher level, which means it's not even at the first layer. If Lv Xiu reaches the first layer, the situation is still okay, but if it reaches the second layer, Yu Yu Zhaixiu will backfire.

If Lv Xiu reaches the third layer, Yu Yu Zhaixiu will endanger your life. If Lv Xiu reaches the fourth layer and Yu Yu Zhaixiu hasn't reached the first layer, the practitioner will surely die. Remember, the difference between the two must never exceed three layers."

Li Banfeng pinched his chin: "In this way, the contradiction between Yu Yu Zhaixiu and Lv Xiu still hasn't been resolved."

"How should I put this?" The peddler smiled. "You are from the Outer Provinces; you should have seen cars, right?"

Li Banfeng nodded: "I have."

"If a car hits someone and kills them, do you have to pay compensation?"

"That's natural."

"After paying compensation, can the dead person come back to life?"

"Certainly not."

"Since they can't come back to life, why pay compensation?"

Li Banfeng was stumped by the question.

The peddler smiled: "This is the principle. If you do something wrong, you must provide corresponding compensation.

You dual-cultivated two incompatible paths; there is my negligence in this matter, so I naturally have to give you equivalent compensation.

This is my rule, a reasonable rule. I gave you compensation, reasonable compensation.

But whether this compensation can save your life depends on your own fortune. Two paths, you choose one: either build the residence in a dangerous place, or take this mobile residence. You choose one."

Two paths, seemingly both can solve the problem, but in reality, neither can solve the problem.

Li Banfeng first considered the first path: "If I cultivate a Zhai Ling in a residence in a dangerous place, can I move if I don't want this residence anymore?"

No one wants to live in a dangerous place for a lifetime.

The peddler nodded: "Yu Yu Zhaixiu practitioners can change residences, but the Zhai Ling must be properly disposed of.

If the Zhai Ling is abandoned, it will become an evil spirit. It will lure others to live in the residence; as long as they live in the residence for one night, they will become prisoners of the Zhai Ling.

Unless someone comes to replace the imprisoned person, the Zhai Ling will imprison that person until death, and then the Zhai Ling will continue to harm people.

The more people the Zhai Ling harms, the higher its magic power. If it cultivates a means to leave the residence, the Zhai Ling will surely seek revenge on its master.

Many Yu Yu Zhaixiu practitioners have died at the hands of Zhai Ling. Changing residences must be handled with caution; it's best to find another Yu Yu Zhaixiu practitioner to take over the old residence, and you must obtain the Zhai Ling's consent."

The difficulty of this matter is huge!

Where can I find someone to take over?

Yu Yu Zhaixiu practitioners all squat at home, so they are not easy to find. Even if they are found, they may not be willing to accept it; they have their own Zhai Ling, so why would they accept a residence in a dangerous place?

Two paths, the first path can cultivate a Zhai Ling, which is beneficial for the long term.

The second path can only solve the current problem and is not a long-term plan.

Weighing the pros and cons, Li Banfeng chose the second path.

The reason is very simple: he doesn't have the capital for a long-term plan right now.

Since getting on the train, Li Banfeng has encountered too many situations that subverted his cognition; if it weren't for his extremely good luck, he probably wouldn't have survived until now.

This is just the daily life of Yaowanggou; if he really went to a dangerous place, he probably wouldn't even survive a day, let alone dreaming of getting a Zhai Ling in half a year. He would probably have become a soul of injustice by then, serving as nourishment for someone else's Zhai Ling.

The matter was settled, and the peddler handed the brass key to Li Banfeng on the spot.

Li Banfeng tried it several times and confirmed it was correct; the transaction was thus reached.

"Compensating and earning, we are even. This business is a loss for me, but I care about my reputation. Since you've accepted my things, you can't go out and ruin my reputation. Do you agree?"

Li Banfeng nodded: "I agree."

"Then this matter is settled. Do you have any relatives in Yaowanggou?"

Li Banfeng frowned: "Why ask this?"

The peddler shrugged: "There was a person before who was a Huo Xiu, but he regretted it and wanted to change his path, so he changed to Shui Xiu.

He was fine on the first day, but on the second day, he turned into ashes."

Li Banfeng's cheeks trembled: "What do you mean by this?"

"It means you might not survive. Long-term matters aren't my concern, but if you don't even survive tonight, I can exchange this compensation for your relatives." The peddler is indeed a person who values reputation.

Li Banfeng shook his head: "I have no relatives."

This is the truth; whether in Yaowanggou or elsewhere, Li Banfeng has no relatives.

"Then I can't be blamed. Anyway, I've given you the residence, and the rest depends on your own fortune." The peddler smacked his lips and warned,

"Remember, sleep in the residence for one night; if you feel strength surging in your body, it proves you have truly recognized the residence, and your cultivation will be able to fit with this residence. The first hurdle is considered passed.

In the residence, Yu Yu Zhaixiu's combat power is the strongest, far exceeding ordinary people; after leaving the residence, combat power will slowly decline, and after returning to the residence, it will quickly recover. This is the urgency of Yu Yu Zhaixiu.

Lv Xiu has the most advantage in the wilderness; the more dangerous the terrain, the stronger the combat power. If trapped in a room, Lv Xiu is in danger of losing their life at any time. This is the urgency of Lv Xiu.

Stay in the residence for at least two hours every day, and walk at least twenty li; this is the foundation of daily cultivation. Once the foundation is achieved, there will be a response. If you don't finish the foundation, you will suffer a backlash; Qiao Yuesheng is an example.

If you really encounter difficulties, you must return home at least once a day, and find a way to walk three to five li. If you can't even do this, you can only wait to die suddenly.

Living in a dangerous place for one night can reach the first layer, and pleasing the Zhai Ling can also reach the first layer. Once you reach a level, there will also be a response. Remember, remember."

The peddler tied the straw mat wrapping the corpse to the cabinet and pushed the cart away.

Li Banfeng asked: "Do you have a power bank?"

"Power bank? I don't have that," the peddler shook his head. "I don't have anything that uses electricity."

Li Banfeng looked at the pitch-black wilderness and thought about the things he had seen along the way, asking: "Is there electricity in this place?"

"Electricity?" The peddler didn't know how to answer for a moment. "Some families use electricity, but electricity is not connected.

Electricity is very difficult to transmit over long distances in Puluo Province; in the words of your Outer Provinces, it's called high line loss.

That power bank you mentioned should be used for mobile phones. In Puluo Province, it's best to use mobile phones less.

This place shouldn't have signals to begin with; the signals you receive don't necessarily come from anywhere, which might attract disasters that shouldn't come, and might also attract people who shouldn't come.

Especially Kui Xiu, they like to use mobile phones as hooks in the Outer Provinces."

"What is a hook?"

"It's a hook for fishing; the 'Shunfeng Er' (clairaudient) of Kui Xiu is often hung on mobile phones." The peddler didn't explain further and waved at Li Banfeng.

"This business is considered done. Although there were some small changes, my signboard won't change, and my sincerity won't change. Walk slowly, guest; please take care of my business next time."

PS: Three chapters today, another one at twelve o'clock. My dear readers, give Yumian Shala all your monthly tickets!

(End of chapter)