Chapter 314: Pulling Down the Mountain Lord (This Chapter

The impostor posing as Xiao Die arrived beside the image of Feng Quweng.

The projector was tense; the other party was a high-level Xi Xiu, and any delay could expose the ruse.

Meng Yuchun was furious, longing to tear Xiao Zhao fu apart limb from limb.

Li Banfeng remained calm; the next ten seconds were critical.

Xiao Zhao fu looked at "Feng Quweng" and said: "Did you hear that? I've got it done."

"Feng Quweng" suddenly swept his hand, slashing Xiao Zhao fu's face at incredible speed.

Xiao Zhao fu clutched his cheek and gasped: "Old bastard, you're playing dirty!"

Feng Quweng's expression twisted with malice as he raised his hand to strike again.

Xiao Zhao fu shouted: "You dare? I haven't collected your offering!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, Xiao Zhao fu turned and ran.

He feared Feng Quweng might chase him—he wasn't even sure if he'd collected Feng Quweng's offering. This was not a gamble he could afford.

You old dog, Feng Quweng—I came to you in good faith, and you tried to kill me to claim the reward alone.

Since you're unrighteous, don't blame me for being unfaithful. I'll say you consorted with Meng Yuchun—see if you can clear your name.

As he ran, Xiao Zhao fu stumbled, his vision growing blurry.

What a ruthless old thief—he poisoned his weapon.

What weapon did he even use?

Fortunately, he didn't chase me. It seems I truly didn't collect his offering—he can't demand payment, and he can't outrun me.

Xiao Zhao fu forced himself to run all the way out of Meng Yuchun's territory.

…

Li Banfeng shut off the projector. Meng Yuchun anxiously said: "You shouldn't have let him escape—he knows where I live!"

Li Banfeng's expression was calm: "This was never something that could be hidden."

Meng Yuchun growled: "Yes, it's my fault—I shouldn't have told those three women where my house was."

Li Banfeng shook his head: "Even if you hadn't told them, it wouldn't have stayed hidden. You're the Earth God here—you can't move your territory, and your house can't be relocated. If someone's watching you, finding your residence is inevitable."

Meng Yuchun sighed: "It seems the contract can't be saved anymore. I can't hold onto this miserable patch of land."

"What do you mean 'can't hold onto it'? Kill the ones watching you, and you'll hold onto it."

Meng Yuchun said helplessly: "I still don't know who's watching me."

"You'll know soon. Let's return to the cave."

"Xiao Die was ruined by this bastard—she's probably dead." At this, Meng Yuchun clenched her teeth.

"Not necessarily dead," Li Banfeng shook his head. "At her age, she understands everything and nothing at once. This situation is hard to judge."

Meng Yuchun froze: "What do you mean? Isn't Xiao Zhao fu a woman?"

Li Banfeng smiled, saying nothing more.

Back in the cave, Meng Yuchun hurried to return to her house to replenish her strength: "I'll light up the boundary markers. If anyone dares enter, I'll crush them to dust."

"A hundred li of territory—how long can you sustain it?"

"I should last through the night."

"What about tomorrow night?"

"Rest one day, then guard again tomorrow night!"

"Can you guard for your whole life? Didn't I tell you this is useless?" Li Banfeng took the projector and began recording inside the cave.

…

Xiao Zhao fu staggered to the base of a cliff, bowing and kowtowing for a long time until a green flame appeared above.

Xiao Zhao fu gasped: "I found Meng Yuchun's residence—Feng Quweng is conspiring with her and wants to kill me!"

The ghost flame circled briefly, then emitted a deep voice: "Lead the way. Mobilize the troops."

So soon?

I can't wait—Feng Quweng and Meng Yuchun's collusion has been exposed. Meng Yuchun could strike at any moment.

Xiao Zhao fu said: "I'm poisoned—I can't walk."

The ghost flame circled again, then dropped a pill.

Xiao Zhao fu picked up the pill, swallowed it, and his body rapidly recovered.

…

In the cave, Li Banfeng held the Female Yue and carefully observed its changes.

This was the first time using this spirit object—he didn't know what effect it would have.

By two in the morning, the Female Yue began to warm, then grew hot.

This meant a lover had arrived.

Xiao Zhao fu had reached the vicinity of the cave and pointed to a nearby ghost flame: "Meng Yuchun lives in that cave."

The ghost flame was accompanied by twenty-six strange beings, ranging from levels four to six, with two level-seven wandering monsters.

The ghost flame ordered: "Lure Meng Yuchun out. I'll handle the rest."

The words carried great authority—as if he alone bore the entire burden.

The real reason: he knew Meng Yuchun was a Zhai Xiu and didn't want to fight her inside her residence.

His tactic: lure Meng Yuchun out, let these strange beings tie her down, then enter the residence, eliminate the Zhai Spirit, and seize the contract.

At that point, Meng Yuchun would be utterly broken—killing or capturing her would be effortless.

The strange beings received the order and slipped into the cave.

Xiao Zhao fu led the way, pointing to the cave entrance and waving to the others.

They understood, moving silently toward the entrance.

The Female Yue trembled uncontrollably, as if seeing her beloved, breathless and agitated.

Li Banfeng quietly opened his Personal Dwelling.

A man with bat-like wings flew into the cave first.

He entered—and never came out.

There was no Meng Yuchun in this cave—only Li Banfeng.

Had Xiao Zhao fu mistaken the location?

Yes—he had indeed mistaken the location.

This cave was not Meng Yuchun's residence. It was a cave Li Banfeng had carved using the Broken Path Opening Technique.

The projector was now projecting from the highest point of the cave, having completely altered its layout.

Xiao Zhao fu sensed something was off, but the general location was correct.

Besides, the bat had already entered. Better not to voice uncertainty.

Li Banfeng seized the bat-man, using his forward momentum to hurl him straight into the Personal Dwelling.

Is this man the mastermind?

It seems there's more than one.

After the bat-man, a serpent slithered up. Li Banfeng grabbed it and threw it into the Personal Dwelling.

After the serpent came a stag beetle—this insect was dangerous: fast, brutal, its pincers nearly clamped onto Li Banfeng.

Tang Dao appeared to assist, pinning the beetle and shoving it into the Personal Dwelling.

Li Banfeng said: "With battle looming, you can't stay a moment longer?"

"My lord, I'm busy—I'll come help you later."

He truly was busy—every inch of the Personal Dwelling was in chaos.

"Evil woman, finished eating yet? We're all waiting!"

"First pin down that beetle—the bat isn't even finished!"

"You're so picky—you insist on eating them alive!"

Two more centipedes, each over ten meters long, arrived. Li Banfeng called out: "Line up! Maintain order!"

After the centipedes came a bamboo stalk.

Is this bamboo—or a bamboo insect?

Never mind—let my wife decide. Next one.

Xiang Hongying shouted from inside: "Evil woman, eat faster! The room's full!"

Twenty-five strange beings entered; eighteen had gone in—none had come out.

A wandering monster covered in vines said to Xiao Zhao fu: "Are you sure you got the right place?"

Xiao Zhao fu shook his head frantically: "The place is right—it's definitely here!"

He couldn't admit it—not under any circumstances!

Another wandering monster, dressed like a cook, whispered: "We've walked into an ambush."

Two of the monsters were hired—they sensed trouble and turned around without hesitation, fleeing.

Their flight triggered the others to follow. The group surged toward the cave entrance—but it was too late.

Meng Yuchun was still waiting inside her residence.

Now she stepped out, leapt down the cliff, and clenched her fists.

A halo of light rose at the cave entrance. The cook in front immediately halted.

Behind him, a rooster couldn't stop in time and crashed into the halo—leaving not a single feather behind.

The strange beings fell into panic, but then Meng Yuchun slowly emerged from the cave, her expression fierce: "Who sent you here?"

The vine-covered yu-guai answered: "It—it was Ba Shan Zhu…"

There was no point resisting now.

Meng Yuchun roared: "Who is Ba Shan Zhu?"

How could she answer that?

Ba Shan Zhu was her neighbor, the local earth god next door—she didn't even know who that was.

Meng Yuchun truly didn't know; since becoming an earth god, she had never left her own territory.

At this moment, Ba Shan Zhu stood on the hillside, waiting for news from the cave.

The chef yu-guai pulled out a pair of iron shovels and struck them together twice with a clang.

The vine monster stared in shock at the chef—those two clangs meant they had succeeded.

Was this really a success?

It seemed so.

At least they had lured Meng Yuchun out of her house.

Hearing the clang of the shovels, Ba Shan Zhu floated forward and entered the cave.

She had planned to slip into Meng Yuchun's house during the chaos inside the cave, kill the house spirit first, then dig up the contract.

But after floating only a short distance through the rugged cave, Ba Shan Zhu saw a halo of light ahead and realized something was wrong.

Ba Shan Zhu turned to flee, but Meng Yuchun screamed—and another halo of light erupted near the cave entrance.

Ten meters beyond the entrance, another halo rose.

One after another, halos layered upon halos.

House Cultivation Technique: Close the Door and Shut the Windows!

Ba Shan Zhu was trapped.

"Filth, why did you betray me?" Meng Yuchun spat at Ba Shan Zhu; countless dewdrops flew in all directions within the cave.

The dewdrops struck the strange beings, spraying blood—low-tier ones were pierced like sieves and died instantly.

Higher-tier ones dodged and parried, but still suffered wounds.

Water Cultivation Technique?

Is Meng Yuchun a high-level Water Xiu?

The chef yu-guai quickly realized: Meng Yuchun wasn't a Water Xiu—her house spirit was. This was the House Cultivation Technique: Deep Courtyard.

He pulled out two ladles to shield his body and cowered in the corner, not daring to move.

Water droplets passed through Ba Shan Zhu, forcing her to shed her ghost-flame form and reveal her true body.

Meng Yuchun studied Ba Shan Zhu—this appearance surprised her.

Named Ba Shan Zhu, she should be a burly man capable of uprooting mountains.

But before her stood an old woman, leaning on a cane, white-haired and hunched.

Her face was wrinkled, covered in blotches of all colors—she looked like she had little time left.

"Why did you betray me?" Meng Yuchun demanded sharply.

Ba Shan Zhu said nothing; she jabbed her cane into the ground, and every rock in the cave flew upward, hurtling toward Meng Yuchun.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The rocks shattered on impact, kicking up dust that obscured Meng Yuchun's figure.

When the dust cleared, Meng Yuchun wiped stone fragments from her body and stared at Ba Shan Zhu, unharmed.

House Cultivation Technique: Benevolent Heart.

Ba Shan Zhu tried to retreat, but the halos behind her crept closer.

Meng Yuchun spat again—before Ba Shan Zhu rose a water giant over ten meters tall, slowly advancing.

Li Banfeng listened to the commotion inside the cave, deducing the battle outside.

This level of combat was clearly beyond his ability to intervene.

I should return to my portable dwelling.

But if I return now and leave the key in this cave, it doesn't seem safe.

If Meng Yuchun wins, everything's fine.

If Meng Yuchun loses, I'll have to find a way out myself.

He decided to observe further—the noise outside grew louder, and the thread earrings on his ears trembled violently.

"Master, come back quickly—I'm scared."

"Scared is fine, but don't piss yourself. If you pee on my ear, I won't forgive you!"

After more than ten exchanges, Ba Shan Zhu leaned on her cane, covered in wounds.

Though old, Ba Shan Zhu might not have lost if she fought Meng Yuchun elsewhere.

But this was Meng Yuchun's territory, and so close to her house—House Cultivators held a massive advantage at their own doorstep.

Now she couldn't flee, couldn't win—was there any way out?

Should she negotiate with Meng Yuchun?

Negotiation was impossible. While she still had strength, she'd make one last gamble!

Ba Shan Zhu turned to Xi Zhao Fu.

The blood-splattered Xi Zhao Fu glanced at the cliff wall.

It was a signal to Ba Shan Zhu: Meng Yuchun's house was on the cliff wall—he could do no more.

Ba Shan Zhu calculated her remaining strength.

To smash through the first barrier, she'd expend three-tenths of her power.

After breaking into the house, killing the house spirit would consume the remaining seven-tenths—assuming the house spirit was far weaker than Meng Yuchun.

With her last breath, she'd find the contract and threaten Meng Yuchun with it.

After running through the entire plan, her chance of success was negligible.

To gamble or not?

Li Banfeng listened inside the cave—the outside had suddenly grown quieter.

Silence wasn't a good sign—both sides might be preparing deadly strikes.

He opened the door to his portable dwelling. Inside, chaos reigned: magic treasures frantically fought over food, while Hong Ying frantically urged the phonograph to eat faster.

The phonograph, full, beat drums and sang in a sweet voice: "Oh my, why so many?"

On the battlefield, Ba Shan Zhu made her decision and charged straight into the halos.

She had no choice.

One halo lay ahead.

Seven halos crept behind her.

If washed by all seven halos, Ba Shan Zhu had no chance of survival.

The halo sliced across the old woman's body, peeling off a layer of skin!

Her charge startled Meng Yuchun—this old woman truly had no fear of death.

No fear of death? Good—I'll grant it!

Meng Yuchun was about to strike, but saw the old woman wasn't coming for her—she charged straight toward the cave on the cliff wall.

No!

Li Qi!

That was the cave where Li Qi was.

Li Banfeng stepped inside and had just tossed the key out when a blood-soaked mass slammed into him.

Thud!

The impact hurled Li Banfeng against the wall.

Ba Shan Zhu scanned the room, searching for the house spirit.

Hong Ying heard the noise and asked: "What's that?"

Li Banfeng struggled to his feet, gasping: "Yeah… what is that?"

All the magic treasures fell silent.

Niangzi burped and said: "Oh, husband, you're really going to get fat this time."

PS: Niangzi got fat—more machine oil needed!

(End of Chapter)