Chapter 354: Lvxiu Seventh-Layer Technique

Luo Zhengnan organized his thoughts, traced a rough line of inquiry, and went to find Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng was drinking with Ma Wu; seeing Luo Zhengnan, Ma Wu felt no awkwardness, but Luo Zhengnan did.

He was a man of the world, untroubled by Jianghu folk, and most importantly, Luo Zhengnan was someone Li Banfeng had brought along—no matter his origins in the Jiangxiang Bang, he was utterly reliable.

"Brother Luo, have a drink. Last night's affair—you deserve the top credit."

Luo Zhengnan froze: "What affair last night?"

Li Banfeng lowered his voice: "The affair on his bed."

Luo Zhengnan had heard of Ma Junyang's reputation.

How could what happened on his bed count as my top credit?

Luo Zhengnan grew tense, keeping his distance from Ma Wu, and said to Li Banfeng: "Seventh Master, I've clarified a few things…"

Mid-sentence, Luo Zhengnan glanced toward the private room's door.

Through the door, they heard the sound of sweeping.

Ma Wu pointed upstairs, signaling Li Banfeng and Luo Zhengnan to exit through the hidden door and move elsewhere to speak.

He opened the main door of the private room, called in the sweeper, and ordered him to clean thoroughly.

"Clean it well," Ma Wu handed the sweeper a Huan Kingdom banknote, watching him closely, "Important guests are coming soon—give it your best."

The sweeper was anxious—he'd seen Li Qi bring a stranger back to Xiaoyao Wu, but he didn't recognize the man and didn't know whether to report to Wan Jinxian.

Now he couldn't find Li Qi, and Ma Wu was watching him—he could only grip his broom and sweep obediently.

…

Upstairs, Luo Zhengnan laid out the entire trail for Li Banfeng: "Seventh Master, you've heard of the Saint at Jianren Gang, right?"

"I've heard of him," Li Banfeng said, without mentioning he'd been to Jianren Gang.

"Do you know his identity?"

Li Banfeng shook his head.

"Just now I overheard He Jiaqing and that woman speaking—the Saint appears to be an emperor."

Li Banfeng froze: "Which dynasty's emperor?"

Luo Zhengnan shook his head: "I can't say for sure. Honestly, I've investigated the Saint for a long time—he's deeply tied to the Jiangxiang Bang."

"You mean human trafficking?" Li Banfeng knew of this, "Those who can sell people to Jianren Gang must have special connections."

"No connections needed!" Luo Zhengnan waved his hand. "Every hall of the Jiangxiang Bang does this—it's their livelihood. Many halls' territories are poor, and they survive solely on this."

"Jianren Gang pays well; if you're lucky, you can even get an elixir from the Saint himself. Because I have rules—Yao Wang Tang forbids human trafficking—I've got plenty of brothers complaining about this."

"If you'd been to Jianren Gang, you'd know what it's like—I'd rather stay in Kucaizhuang than set foot there."

"Life there is unbearable. People spend the whole year struggling just to survive, with no time for marriage or children. Jianren Gang's population declines yearly, sustained entirely by the Jiangxiang Bang's support."

Li Banfeng thought of Xiao Zhenggong: "So the Jiangxiang Bang's boss must also have ties to this Saint."

"There must be ties. From my investigation, it's precisely through the Saint's connections that Xiao Zhenggong became the Balancer."

Li Banfeng froze: "What's a Balancer?"

"Someone with a special status between Waizhou and Puluozhou—I haven't yet figured out what makes him special."

The Saint is an emperor.

Xiao Zhenggong is the Balancer.

The Saint is now recruiting He Jiaqing—will He Jiaqing ally with the Saint?

He may not have a choice.

…

Back at Suishenju, Li Banfeng's face was grim as he approached Hong Ying.

"Come with me!" Li Banfeng snapped. Hong Ying followed obediently.

Chang Ji blinked, asking the others: "What did Hong Ying do wrong? Why is Master so angry?"

Meng De said from the wall: "Hong Niang has always had a bad temper. The Master must have endured her too long—he's finally going to enforce family discipline."

Chang Ji laughed: "A good beating would do her good—she's long needed her arrogance broken."

Then she hesitated: "But can Master even beat her?"

Meng De said: "With the Lady here, Hong Niang wouldn't dare lift a hand."

…

They reached the Seventh Chamber. Li Banfeng moved Honglian out, then said solemnly: "How have I treated you?"

Hong Ying lowered her head: "Seventh Master has treated me well."

"Lin Dexing's flesh still has one piece left—Glove hid it for you. I know. Eat it."

Hong Ying shook her head: "I won't eat that. Seventh Master promised me you wouldn't force me."

"My wife ate it. Won't you?"

"I won't eat it!" Hong Ying stubbornly refused.

Li Banfeng sighed: "Fine. Set this aside for now. I've encountered a Lvxiu rival—ninth-layer cultivation. Before I fight him, I must know his techniques. The first six layers I already know—tell me the seventh, eighth, and ninth."

Asking layer by layer is too tedious.

Especially high-layer techniques—few know them, and even fewer will reveal them.

This is the chance to get them all out.

Li Banfeng knew he was greedy, but he believed he could control himself—he wouldn't learn techniques beyond his layer.

He wouldn't likely learn beyond his layer.

At most, he'd study the mechanics of high-layer techniques, practice them occasionally—this probably, likely, didn't count as learning beyond his layer.

"Seventh Master, you want to know Lvxiu techniques?" Hong Ying hesitated.

"Come. Find my wife. Eat Lin Dexing's flesh in front of her."

"No! I'll tell you—the seventh-layer Lvxiu technique is called Yi Yi Gu Xing."

"How is it used?"

"It must be paired with the first-layer technique. The first-layer technique is the foundation—all techniques rely on it."

"Zou Ma Guan Hua corresponds to Pingdi Sheng Feng—you must move fast. Yi Yi Gu Xing corresponds to Qu Ji Bi Xiong—you must walk backward."

Li Banfeng was confused: "Walk backward? Do you mean walk toward danger?"

Hong Ying nodded her spearhead: "Exactly. When you use Yi Yi Gu Xing, the more dangerous the place, the more your combat power surges."

Li Banfeng thought a moment: "If there's a ninth-layer cultivator ahead, I charge straight at him—isn't that suicide?"

Hong Ying paused, then asked: "What do you mean 'charge straight'? You're not a Lvxiu."

"That's right—I'm not a Lvxiu," Li Banfeng said calmly. "I'm just imagining myself as one."

Hong Ying replied: "That's logical. If you were a seventh-layer Lvxiu facing a ninth-layer, and you used Yi Yi Gu Xing, you'd charge forward."

"Of course, victory is slim—but if escape is impossible, Yi Yi Gu Xing is an option. After activating it, your combat power nears eighth-layer; if the situation is dire, it might even surpass eighth-layer, giving you a chance against a ninth-layer."

It was a technique that gambled with one's life.

Li Banfeng said: "So a seventh-layer Lvxiu in despair might always be ready to fight to the death."

Hong Ying shook her spearhead: "Not exactly—this…"

At the crucial point, she hesitated again.

All cultivators guard their techniques, especially high-layer ones.

Li Banfeng sighed: "Fine. Go eat the meat."

"Seventh Master~ please spare me~"

Hong Ying didn't know how to coo like his wife—her pleading sounded stiff to Li Banfeng.

He wouldn't soften. If she didn't explain clearly, he wouldn't forgive her.

Hong Ying reluctantly revealed the key: "You cannot use the seventh-layer technique when severely wounded. It demands extreme physical integrity—damage to the body blocks its use."

You can't wait until you're wounded to use it—you must decide to fight to the death from the start.

This technique tests a person's resolve.

"What's the core principle?"

"Courage—the courage to walk into danger. Seventh Master, if your rival is reckless, fearless, and charges straight at you, be careful—he may have activated the seventh-layer technique. If he's at the ninth layer, his combat power might surge beyond the tenth layer. Avoid his sharp edge—don't meet him head-on."

He may have already activated seven layers of technique; if he's at the ninth layer, his combat power likely surged beyond the tenth layer—absolutely avoid his sharp edge, do not engage him head-on.

Li Banfeng asked: "What about the eighth-layer technique?"

Hong Ying rubbed her hands, about to answer—when Chang Ji shouted from outside: "Master! What's that smell? There's meat stored in the Third Chamber!"

Hongying rubbed her hands, about to answer, when suddenly the phonograph outside shouted, "Hey, Master, what's that smell? How is there still a piece of meat in this third chamber!"

Hong Ying gripped Li Banfeng's hand, her palm slick with sweat.

The magic treasures couldn't hold back—Tang Dao spoke first: "The meat was hidden by Glove. The Third Chamber stinks so badly I won't even sleep there."

The Lady turned to Glove: "You didn't eat the meat, so you hid it?"

"I ate it! I really did! This piece isn't mine!" Glove protested. "It's Hong Niang's—I was told to hide it!"

In truth, Li Banfeng had ordered this—but Glove absolutely couldn't betray the Master now.

Hong Ying panicked. Chang Ji shouted: "Wretch! Come out!"

Hong Ying trembled out. No matter how deep her hatred for Chang Ji, she was truly terrified now.

Li Banfeng soothed: "My lady, this meat has been sitting too long—it smells strong. Hong Ying can't stomach it. Give it to Honglian."

Honglian dripped dew all over herself, wanting to spit at Li Banfeng—but held back.

Red Lotus was covered in dew, and though she wanted to spit at Li Banfeng, she held back.

The phonograph didn't hold it against Hong Ying: "Since my husband pleaded for you, I'll spare you this time. Husband, your servant has been overcompensated these past two days and needs a few days' rest; after resting, I'll take you up to the seventh level."

"Husband, have you asked anyone about the seventh-level techniques of Zhaixiu?"

Li Banfeng shook his head: "Why ask? Let my wife guide me!"

"Oh, husband, I knew you'd trust your servant most—don't you dare go asking around. Learning techniques across levels is a grave taboo; it could cost lives."

Li Banfeng waved his hand: "I'd never do something like that."

"Oh, husband, you're too impulsive—I'm truly worried for you. Remember: on the seventh level, we learn only seventh-level skills. Don't let your mind wander elsewhere."

"Mm." Li Banfeng replied and left Suishenju.

Hong Ying stood beside the phonograph.

The phonograph asked: "What were you just doing with my husband?"

Hong Ying answered hastily: "I did nothing! We're completely innocent!"

"Innocent, my ass!" the phonograph snarled. "If it weren't for my husband, I'd have beaten you to death long ago, you worthless bitch!"

Hong Ying snorted coldly but remained standing stiffly beside the phonograph.

The phonograph turned to Honglian: "And you, you worthless bitch—wasn't this batch of elixirs refined too long?"

…

Two days later, Luo Zhengnan received another message: "The Sage's disciple is named Zhong Huaien; he arranged to meet He Jiaqing. He Jiaqing sent that woman to the meeting—tomorrow night at seven, at Hetang Tea House."

Li Banfeng smiled: "They really mean to cooperate. Let's go see what's going on."

PS: Dear readers, all monthly votes go to Shala!

(End of Chapter)