Chapter 344: Break the Array!

Li Banfeng wrote the contract, every stroke clear and precise, detailing principal and interest without ambiguity.

He borrowed money for the gloves—he must write it down clearly, and he must repay it.

The Gloves said beside him: "Master, you're insulting me. I just said 'borrow' as a joke—what's mine is yours, take it and use it!"

Li Banfeng shook his head: "What's yours is yours; what's borrowed must be repaid."

After the contract was finalized, Li Banfeng moved all his silver dollars and gold into his bedroom that night and summoned Feng Chongli and Feng Xincheng.

Seeing the room full of silver dollars, Feng Xincheng was stunned.

He couldn't fathom where so much money came from—if he were Feng Chongli, he wouldn't dare do this business.

But he wasn't Feng Chongli.

Feng Chongli stared at the silver dollars for a moment, his expression grave, then said to Li Banfeng: "You're still short three hundred and fifty-two dollars."

Li Banfeng didn't hesitate—he immediately reached for his wallet.

Why was he so quick?

Because Li Banfeng and the Gloves had calculated it together—they really were short by over three hundred dollars.

No wonder he's a high-level Business Cultivator—he's so sensitive to money.

Feng Chongli took the banknotes and said to Li Banfeng: "Master Li, please wait here a moment."

Not long after, Feng Chongli returned to the room, holding a pair of yellow rosewood rectangular boxes, which he handed to Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng opened the boxes—each contained a single iron ruler.

The iron rulers' luster was dull, with signs of wear here and there, even some rust.

Feng the Shopkeeper couldn't detect anything unusual and dared not speak—he truly didn't understand why these iron rulers were so valuable.

Li Banfeng feigned a long inspection, then nodded: "Master Feng, please wait a moment."

He couldn't tell if they were real or fake—he'd never seen an iron ruler before.

Leaving the room, he rented another room downstairs, entered the Ling's Residence, and first asked the Gloves: "Do you think these are genuine?"

The Gloves stood straight: "Master, what kind of question is that? I've never seen an iron ruler—I have no idea if they're real or fake."

Li Banfeng nodded: "True—you've never seen one. Then who has?"

The Gloves pressed his thumb and middle finger together, waving his index finger: "In my opinion, since these are items from our residence, we should ask the residence itself."

Li Banfeng agreed: "But our residence has so many rooms—where should we ask?"

The Gloves maintained a steady stance, thought for a moment, then answered: "When we stole oil from this residence originally, we stored it in the Third Chamber—I think the Third Chamber still holds strong spiritual energy."

Li Banfeng agreed—it made sense. He took the iron rulers to the Third Chamber and looked at the Gloves: "The residence doesn't always respond to me—how should I ask it?"

The Gloves controlled his trembling body, thought a moment, then replied: "Since these are the residence's items, why not place them on the ground and see how the residence handles them?"

"Makes sense."

Li Banfeng placed the pair of iron rulers on the floor of the Third Chamber.

After a while, the iron rulers slowly melted, sinking into the ground and vanishing.

Huh-huh! Huh-huh! Huh-huh!

Wooo!

A whistle blew, and all the rooms trembled.

The Ling's Residence was thrilled.

Li Banfeng had obtained the real item.

He put on the Gloves and returned to the inn.

Feng Chongli and Feng Xincheng were waiting in the room; seeing Li Banfeng hadn't brought back the iron rulers, Feng Chongli was displeased.

"Master Li, our business isn't finished yet."

Li Banfeng said: "The business is done—I verified the items are genuine, you counted the money, not a single coin missing, payment and goods settled—we're done."

Li Banfeng turned to leave; Feng Chongli said: "Wait. We still need a contract—once the goods and money are exchanged, these iron rulers have nothing to do with me anymore; any future loss or damage is not my responsibility."

"Fine!" Li Banfeng agreed. "Eighty thousand silver dollars, paid in cash—you counted them yourself. Whether there's more or less later, it's none of my concern."

Feng Chongli nodded: "This transaction is witnessed by Feng Xincheng. No matter the reason, neither of us shall harm the witness's life!"

So there was such a rule.

No wonder Tu Shumei didn't kill Lü Yue three to silence him.

Lü Yue three, Tu Shumei's accountant, was corrupt and loose-lipped—technically, Tu Shumei shouldn't have kept him alive.

But according to Feng Chongli's rule, a witness known to both parties was required; Tu Shumei didn't know this rule, and the only suitable person nearby was Lü Yue three, so he became the witness—and thus couldn't be killed.

What if Tu Shumei ignored Feng Chongli's rule and killed Lü Yue three anyway?

That would depend on the strength of both sides.

Tu Shumei's cultivation was high—nearing Level Eight. What about Feng Chongli's cultivation?

He was Feng Xincheng's older brother, yet looked younger than Feng Xincheng—if he hadn't altered his appearance like Tu Shumei, then Feng Chongli had extended his lifespan—he must have reached Cloud Above.

If Tu Shumei had only wanted to silence Lü Yue three, he wouldn't have dared offend Feng Chongli—that's why Lü Yue three lived.

But why didn't Feng Chongli tell others about this rule?

Impossible to deduce. Li Banfeng didn't care—he wrote the contract, all three pressed their fingerprints, and the deal was sealed.

Li Banfeng couldn't stay a moment longer—he immediately took Feng the Shopkeeper, bought tickets for that night's train, and returned to Yaowang Gou.

Feng Chongli pulled out a money bag from his robe and began stuffing silver dollars into it.

How many silver dollars could one bag hold?

There were hundreds of thousands of them, plus a whole crate of gold.

Yet Feng Chongli's bag could actually hold them all.

An hour later, all the money was packed. Feng Chongli returned to his room, slept through the night, and at dawn, headed straight for the train station.

Halfway there, someone called out behind him: "Stop! Where are you going?"

Feng Chongli turned and saw a rickshaw driver chasing him with his carriage.

"Oh! You're back!" Feng Chongli quickly greeted him.

"Of course I'm back! Didn't we agree to wait until tonight? Why did you leave early?"

"Sorry, my business is finished."

The driver froze: "Finished? What does that mean?"

"That item—I've already sold it."

"To whom?"

"I can't tell you."

Clang!

The driver threw his rickshaw on the ground: "Are you messing with me? We agreed—I went to raise the money! I brought you a full million silver dollars!"

Feng Chongli smiled: "I can't help it. You didn't pay a deposit or sign a contract. This customer came with cash—I had to do business with him."

The driver's brow furrowed: "Are you mocking me?"

Feng Chongli's smile vanished: "Where did you get that idea? I'm a merchant—this is the rule. You came too late."

They stared at each other for a long while. The driver picked up his rickshaw: "I'll remember this grudge."

Feng Chongli said: "Why ruin the harmony? You still have big plans here—we'll need to deal again in the future."

"Also, don't keep throwing this carriage—it holds something vital. If you break it, where will you find another?"

…

At Yaowang Gou, Feng the Shopkeeper returned to the general store. Li Banfeng hid the key and entered the Ling's Residence, staring at the bag of blood-stained soil before him, clearing his mind, and just watching.

Blood stained his eyes, blood filled his mind—Li Banfeng sought the next bloodstain.

The next bloodstain's shape would surely differ, its environment different too—perhaps wildly so. Could he even find it?

Two more railway tracks had appeared—it was up to the Ling's Residence now!

After several minutes, a whistle sounded beside his ear.

Li Banfeng picked up his shovel to leave when his wife called: "Husband, wait a moment!"

A cloud of steam wrapped the soil; two needles danced up and down.

Minutes later, his wife separated all the blood-soaked soil, returning the clean earth to the bag.

"Beloved husband, after digging out the bloodstains, refill the hole—don't let the Grim Reaper suspect anything!"

"Wife, you think of everything!" Li Banfeng heaved the bag of soil onto his shoulder.

The phonograph added: "Sister Blood, help your husband disguise this—hundreds of blood spots—the Grim Reaper won't inspect too closely. Mix new soil with old—make it look natural!"

Sister Blood Pendulum replied: "Don't worry, Madam!"

"Two Blades, prop the door open—don't let the main gate close until your master returns!"

Tang Dao shouted: "Aye, sir!"

"Husband, Two Blades won't hold long—hurry back!"

Two Blades truly couldn't hold—the Ling's Residence recognized only Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng had one foot outside the door, one inside, frantically digging.

Over ten minutes later, Li Banfeng returned, carrying a bag of blood-stained soil.

"Find the next one!"

…

At Qiu's Pharmacy, Luo Zhengnan and his men prepared—they were going to gamble today, attempting to extract a Death Cultivator from Yaowang Valley.

Qiu Zhiheng was selecting a person in the pharmacy—someone with low cultivation and mediocre skill, to prevent escape en route.

After much deliberation, no one was identified, and Qiu Zhiheng broke into a sweat.

Luo Zhengnan stepped forward to investigate: "Master Qiu, what's going on?"

"Master Luo, we captured thirteen Wu Xiu—how come there are fourteen people here?"

"What are you talking about, Master Qiu? There are barely a few people—can't you even count?"

Luo Zhengnan counted again—and was stunned when he finished.

Really fourteen?

"Master Qiu, this isn't something to joke about!"

"It's no joke—it's genuinely one extra!"

"Master Qiu, these people have been under your watch—how can you not know which one is extra?"

Qiu Zhiheng stared in shock for a long while—he truly couldn't tell.

He recognized all fourteen of them!

Luo Zhengnan shouted: "Bring the roster! Check them one by one!"

Before the roster could be brought, an old man suddenly smiled faintly.

Luo Zhengnan lowered his voice: "Who's that old man?"

Qiu Zhiheng froze—he couldn't recall the man's name.

"Go!" Qiu Zhiheng lunged forward in an instant, slapping the old man on the shoulder—the man's veins bulged.

His blood surged upward; his vessels seemed ready to burst.

But the old man remained calm, even praising: "Powerful Huan Xiu—eighth layer, right?"

As soon as he spoke, Qiu Zhiheng slipped underfoot and crashed hard to the ground.

A few days ago, hail damaged some roof tiles; water pooled in the gaps between floor tiles, invisible—until Qiu Zhiheng stepped right on it.

How could it be so coincidental?

The whole room was full of Wu Xiu—how could it not be?

The old man ignored Qiu Zhiheng, casually shoving one Wu Xiu—who stumbled, crashed into a pillar, and died instantly.

The impact was brutal; roof tiles fell, crushing two more Wu Xiu.

As the old man prepared to strike again, he suddenly felt a numbness spread over his body—he turned to see Luo Zhengnan's fingers sparking, the sparks striking his skin.

The old man was astonished: "A cultivator like you is rare in Pulu Province—what sect are you from? Electric Xiu? Does such a sect even exist in Pulu Province?"

Qiu Zhiheng attacked again—the old man leapt upward, smashing through the roof.

Roof tiles rained down; the Wu Xiu scattered in panic.

The falling tiles, sharp ends down, struck every Wu Xiu squarely on the head.

How coincidental. How cruel. How damned.

Of the remaining eleven Wu Xiu, not one survived—all crushed by roof tiles.

This was the power of the Sangmen Star.

Qiu Zhiheng was drenched in blood, but his Zhongshan suit was a magic treasure—it absorbed the fatal blows for him.

Luo Zhengnan dodged the falling tiles but was drenched by the roof's pooled water—he immediately convulsed, electrocuted by his own touch.

The old man stood atop the roof, looking down at them: "You bastards wasted me so many days—you should've died long ago. Wait for me—I'll deal with you later!"

The old man vanished. Luo Zhengnan sensed a change in the room.

He put on a pair of glasses, sparked his fingers to charge them.

He saw a sea of dead souls drifting out of the room, following the old man.

He tried to stop them—but couldn't.

Whoever kills a Wu Xiu, their soul clings to them—that's the nature of Wu Xiu.

Everything happened too fast; Luo Zhengnan stared in disbelief.

Qiu Zhiheng snapped to: "Sangmen Array!"

Thick gloom spread everywhere—even non-cultivators like Bai Gaozi could sense the anomaly in Yaowang Gou.

With thirteen Wu Xiu dead, the Sangmen Array would unleash unimaginable disaster.

Qiu Zhiheng staggered to his feet, pulled out a yellow paper, and burned it instantly to send word to Yao Lao.

The Sangmen Star would surely go after Yao Lao—if Yao Lao killed him, there might still be a chance.

But Luo Zhengnan kept shaking his head—he understood the Sangmen Array better: "Killing the Sangmen Star won't help—even if the arranger dies, the Sangmen Array won't stop."

"It's over. Yaowang Gou is gone."

Qiu Zhiheng stood stunned for a long moment, then bolted out of the pharmacy: "We must break the Sangmen Array now!"

"How?" Luo Zhengnan was lost.

The Sangmen Array had over a hundred blood-sprinkling points—how do you break it?

…

Li Banfeng returned to Suishenju, covered in mud, utterly exhausted.

He'd dug up 170 blood stains—his back ached so badly he couldn't straighten.

Changji sifted through the mud, estimated, and said: "Master, dig three more spots at most—the array will surely be broken!"

"Good! Wife, give me more strength!"

Boom! Boom!

Changji beat the war drum—the thunderous rhythm made Li Banfeng forget his fatigue.

Ooooh~

Amid the drumbeat, even the steam whistle sounded louder than before!

Li Banfeng stepped out of Suishenju again.

Xiang Hongying couldn't believe it: "He really broke the Sangmen Array?"

"Hey, you bitch, this is my husband!" Changji's voice rang loud.

"Don't think this is your husband's achievement—if not for this house, he couldn't have done it!"

"I'm telling you, bitch—in a few days, even without this house, he'll do it—this is my husband!" Changji's voice rang even louder.

PS: Charge ahead, Banfeng! Shatter the Sangmen Array!

(End of Chapter)