Chapter 497

Ye Qingshan, the mountain named after Ye Ye Songqiao, is also a famed mountain of Pulu Province.

In Pulu Province, because every region was strictly controlled by boundaries, most commoners had no chance to travel in their lifetime and had no concept of scenic attractions.

Even so, Ye Qingshan remained very famous. He He Yuxiu came to Ye Ye Songqiao several times, proposing to ascend Ye Qingshan, but Li Li Banfeng was too busy and never got around to it.

This time, Li Li Banfeng went up the mountain. Early in the morning, he followed Sun Sun Tiecheng up Ye Qingshan.

Ye Qingshan had steep terrain, lush vegetation, and countless scenic views.

But its greatest beauty lay in the clouds and mist.

High mountains and great rivers often shrouded in clouds and mist were not rare, but Ye Qingshan was special—its clouds and mist seemed born from within the mountain, cascading down the peaks like waterfalls, creating a realm of illusion and reality that formed the most captivating mountain scenery in Pulu Province.

Indeed, it was enchanting. Because the mist was so thick, many tourists had gotten lost in the mountains. Sun Sun Tiecheng wandered through the forest for half a day, scratching his head: "I picked a great spot to bury the deed, something no one else could find—but now I can't find it either."

Li Li Banfeng bit his lip and chuckled twice.

Sun Sun Tiecheng snapped: "What are you laughing at? Just tell me—is the spot good or not?"

Li Li Banfeng nodded: "Good."

Sun Sun Tiecheng sighed: "Good doesn't matter now—I can't find the place anyway. Let's pick another."

He pulled out two deeds and said to Li Li Banfeng: "First, sprinkle blood on the deeds."

The front of the deed still bore the familiar words: A hundred li of land, this as proof.

On the back were two lines:

First line: Li Yi acquired Ye Ye Songqiao.

Second line: Land area: twenty-six thousand three hundred and thirty square li.

Over twenty thousand square li?

Li Li Banfeng exclaimed: "Is Ye Ye Songqiao this big?"

Sun Sun Tiecheng grinned sheepishly: "Of course it's big—would I let you get cheated? Ye Ye Songqiao is special. Many areas are invisible under normal circumstances. I bet plenty will come to seize it."

The deeds bore no other text—someone had erased it.

Li Li Banfeng sprinkled blood on both deeds.

Sun Sun Tiecheng nodded: "Bury it right here!"

He picked up a branch, dug a shallow hole, and buried the deeds.

Li Li Banfeng frowned: "Burying it here—isn't that too hasty? I see paths through this forest—people must walk here often. Won't someone dig it up right away?"

Sun Sun Tiecheng was confident: "No one will find it. I've left a magic array here—ordinary people can't even see this spot."

An He Yuxiu had a magic array?

Li Li Banfeng watched intently as Sun Sun Tiecheng stuck the branch into the ground where he'd buried the deeds and said seriously: "The array is complete!"

"Isn't your array a bit… plain?" Li Li Banfeng couldn't think of a better word.

Sun Sun Tiecheng smiled calmly: "I've never liked flashy things. Our Daoist arrays value practicality. Don't be fooled by this mere branch—since the moment I planted it, no one around here can see it anymore…"

A child ran over to the branch, unbuttoned his pants, and prepared to urinate.

This was likely a universal trait among boys—whenever they saw a stick stuck in the ground, they felt compelled to piss on it and knock it over.

"Go urinate over there!" Sun Sun Tiecheng shooed the child away, then stuck another branch beside the first. "Now no one will see it. From now on, you have a new name: Li Yi. You're my senior disciple—Li Yi. It makes perfect sense."

Sun Sun Tiecheng used the technique of emphatic assertion clearly—he wanted Li Li Banfeng to remember this name.

Li Li Banfeng countered with ironclad proof: "I have a name: Li Yi. Brother Sun is my witness—Li Yi is me."

They descended the mountain. Li Li Banfeng walked fast; Sun Sun Tiecheng wasn't slow either.

On the road, Sun Sun Tiecheng suddenly stopped, staring at a bookstore by the roadside.

"This bookstore… why does it look familiar…" Sun Sun Tiecheng stared at Lu's Bookhouse for a long while.

Li Li Banfeng checked his pocket watch—it was eight in the morning. The store was still closed, the door locked.

Sun Sun Tiecheng walked to the door and said to the lock: "Do you know who I am?"

The lock wobbled for a moment, as if verifying Sun Sun Tiecheng's identity.

Sun Sun Tiecheng asked again: "Seeing me, why aren't you opening?"

The lock hesitated no longer and immediately unlocked the door.

This technique worked even on locks!

Inside the bookstore, there were several shelves—but they were completely empty, not a single book.

Sun Sun Tiecheng stepped outside and glanced: "That's odd. The sign's been taken down, they're about to open, yet not a single book on the shelves? How's this supposed to look like a business?"

"Old Yi, go buy me some books—fill all these shelves. Good books, new books. Don't bring me a pile of trash to fool me."

Li Li Banfeng said: "Brother Sun, do you know Master Lu? This is his business. Isn't it inappropriate for us to run a shop here?"

Sun Sun Tiecheng chuckled: "I don't know Master Lu, but I know Master Zhou well. This place smells of ink—it must be his. Go buy the books. I'm helping him run his business—it's no harm."

Li Li Banfeng had people buy thousands of books and filled the store. Sun Sun Tiecheng said: "Go cultivate. Get to the Clouds as fast as you can."

The Clouds weren't far at all. Li Li Banfeng returned to his personal quarters, hugged the phonograph, and said: "My dear wife, I've acquired another territory."

The phonograph showed no surprise: "Oh, husband, you've killed several land gods already—gaining another territory is only natural."

"This time it's real land. A high cultivator changed the deed of Ye Ye Songqiao to read 'Li Yi,' sprinkled my blood on it, and buried it on Ye Qingshan."

Hong Ying gasped: "Which high cultivator is so generous?"

The phonograph slapped Hong Ying's peach: "Why so many questions?"

If Li Li Banfeng wanted to speak, he'd name the high cultivator directly. Since he didn't, the phonograph never asked—this was their unspoken understanding.

"Husband, do you wish to ascend to the Clouds from Ye Ye Songqiao, or from your own territory?"

Li Li Banfeng said: "Can I keep both territories?"

"Of course you want both—but it depends on where you ascend. If you choose your own territory, you'll keep the name Li Li Furong—you recognize that. But if you choose Ye Ye Songqiao, you'll take the name Li Yi—do you recognize that name?"

Li Li Banfeng nodded: "I recognize this name too."

"How many deeds does Ye Ye Songqiao have?"

"Two."

The phonograph pondered: "Then ascending from Ye Ye Songqiao is safer. At least the Inner State won't interfere. Even if something goes wrong in Ye Ye Songqiao, you can retreat to our own territory as backup—there's a station there, and Old Master can return in an instant."

"Husband, if you ascend from Ye Ye Songqiao, you must become thoroughly familiar with the territory. Do you remember Qiu Qiu Luoye's Three Trials?"

Jumping ten levels to ascend directly to the Clouds will loosen your soul. The condition will be just like Qiu Qiu Luoye's. To stabilize your soul, you must rely on your territory as a foundation—the more familiar you are with the land, the steadier your soul becomes."

"You still have time. In these days, not only must you walk the territory thoroughly, but you should also learn its customs."

"Real land differs from new land. To command the people's qi, you must first master its local customs."

Li Li Banfeng nodded: "Wife, I'll follow your instructions. But I'm only at the eighth level now—still a bit far from the Clouds."

Chit-chit~

The phonograph laughed: "My dear husband, don't worry about your cultivation level. I'll pick a suitable day and naturally send you to the ninth level. In these two days, take some Jin Jin Yuandan—but don't overdo it. You know the right dosage."

The phonograph was reminding Li Li Banfeng: the Traveling Cultivator had already reached the ninth level. Taking more pills would help him approach the tenth.

Speaking of pills, Li Li Banfeng remembered the sedan bearers—he wondered how far along their alchemy had come.

At the Ninth Chamber, Did Honglian gave him a definite answer: "The pills are still being refined. We'll likely get two Xiao Xuan Yun Dan."

Previously, seven had been stored. Now two more were refined, plus one given by Zheng Zheng Siyi—ten Xiao Xuan Yun Dan total.

At the Clouds, the Xiao Xuan Yun Dan would play a crucial role.

Li Li Banfeng still handed all the Xiao Xuan Yun Dan to his wife for safekeeping. The phonograph examined Zheng Zheng Siyi's pill: "This one's inferior quality. I'll hold onto it for you for now—only use it if we truly run out."

…

At Lu's Bookhouse, Sun Sun Tiecheng stayed from dawn until dusk. Many customers came, but Master Lu never appeared.

Sun Sun Tiecheng wasn't worried. He sat behind the counter, took money at the listed price, gave discounts for bulk purchases, and ran the business cheerfully.

As dusk fell, Sun Sun Tiecheng chuckled: "That old thief Zhou Zhou Badou must have fled. Will anyone else come?"

He waited over an hour. Then a wisp of yin energy drifted in through the door.

Two ghost servants.

"You've come just in time—come sit with me," Sun Sun Tiecheng called them over and chatted casually: "Tough journey? Had dinner yet? When did you arrive in Ye Ye Songqiao…?"

Not long after, the two ghost servants left the bookstore, drifted down two streets, and approached the Smiling Ghost King Gui Gui Jianchou, whispering: "Zhou Badou the Ink Master is in his bookstore."

Gui Gui Jianchou smiled: "Zhou Zhou Badou came? He's interested in Ye Ye Songqiao too? Who does he plan to gift it to?"

The two ghost servants remained silent. This was not a question they could answer.

Gui Gui Jianchou entered the bookstore with a group of ghost servants and saw Zhou Zhou Wencheng, the Ink Master, organizing the shelves.

Gui Gui Jianchou bowed: "Brother Zhou, you arrived first."

Zhou Zhou Wencheng didn't turn around: "You came too."

Gui Gui Jianchou smiled: "You know my nature—I prefer harmony to profit. We won't quarrel. If you truly want this land, I'll yield it to you. If we can negotiate, name your price."

Zhou Zhou Wencheng snorted: "What price? What are you trying to do? With your current cultivation, you dare come here to seize land? That clearly breaks the rules. Aren't you afraid the Peddler will punish you?"

Gui Gui Jianchou said: "How is this seizing land? If the land god were alive, my interference would be seizing. But the land god is dead—I'm merely taking over, helping the Peddler guard the land. Isn't Old Xu guarding Yaowang Gou too? I'm doing the same thing—doing a good deed."

Zhou Zhou Wencheng wiped the shelves: "Don't give me that noble talk. If you take Ye Ye Songqiao, who are you giving it to?"

Gui Gui Jianchou said: "That's none of your concern. I'll say it again—if we can't negotiate, I'll leave immediately. If we can, name your price for Ye Ye Songqiao."

Zhou Zhou Wencheng thought for a moment: "I don't know how much Ye Ye Songqiao is worth. Do you remember how much Yiren City was worth?"

Gui Gui Jianchou was startled, staring at Zhou Zhou Wencheng for a moment.

Is this Zhou Zhou Wencheng?

He looks similar—but somehow not quite right.

Trouble!

Illusory resemblance!

This is a Fool's Technique!

Gui Gui Jianchou rose and walked toward the door.

"Zhou Zhou Wencheng" said: "That place looks like a door, but it isn't a door."

Gui Gui Jianchou didn't walk out; he turned and dashed toward the window.

"Zhou Zhou Wencheng" said: "That place looks like a window, but it isn't a window."

Gui Gui Jianchou still didn't walk out; he etherealized his form, trying to pass through the wall.

This was a last resort; passing through walls wasn't difficult for Gui Gui Jianchou, but beyond the wall lay unknown territory—he couldn't say what he'd find.

After passing through a wall, Gui Gui Jianchou found himself still inside the bookstore; "Zhou Zhou Wencheng" was still tidying the bookshelves.

"Zhou Zhou Wencheng" slowly turned around, looked at Gui Gui Jianchou, and smiled.

This wasn't "Zhou Zhou Wencheng"—this was Sun Sun Tiecheng.

Sun Sun Tiecheng hadn't used disguise art, hadn't even changed his clothes, yet Gui Gui Jianchou had mistaken him; if Sun Sun Tiecheng hadn't mentioned Fool's City, Gui Gui Jianchou still wouldn't have uncovered his technique.

Gui Gui Jianchou tried to tunnel underground; he etherealized his form, drilling into the earth and then emerging—only to find himself still in the bookstore.

Sun Sun Tiecheng laughed: "Now do you understand what it means to be cornered? I'll let you savor this place properly!"

…

Li Li Banfeng was strolling along Suiqing Road; he couldn't walk too fast—it was the busiest stretch of Ye Ye Songqiao, and he needed to memorize every detail.

A woman walked toward him, about twenty-seven or twenty-eight, dressed in a jade-blue qipao with straight buttons, holding an oil-paper umbrella with a white face and bamboo ribs painted with flowers; her long hair was coiled low, two strands hanging softly by her cheeks, her face smooth and full, features delicate, her figure petite and graceful—passersby turned to stare.

The woman drew near, her almond-shaped eyes fixed on Li Li Banfeng for a moment, then asked: "Sir, is there an inn nearby?"

"Right around the corner," Li Li Banfeng said, pointing behind him, then walked on without stopping.

It was late at night—no sun, no rain—why was she holding an umbrella?

There were plenty of people on the street—how did she notice me?

Li Li Banfeng stayed alert and slipped into a side alley.

He silently leapt onto the rooftops, watching silently as the woman went.

The woman swayed her waist, strolling slowly to the corner, where a man in a long robe, slicked-back hair, slightly bald, twirled two walnuts in his hands and greeted her.

Through his thread-earring, Li Li Banfeng overheard their conversation.

"Miss Mu, what brings you here?"

"Zhang Zhang Gunli, I should ask you the same—what are you doing here? Have you also set your sights on Ye Ye Songqiao?"

"I don't have the nerve. At my current cultivation, coming here to seize territory? That's blatantly breaking the rules."

"What's seizing? The Earth God of Ye Ye Songqiao is dead—this is taking over by the rules. Even if the Peddler were here, I'd argue this point with him. Want to join me in taking control of Ye Ye Songqiao? There's plenty to gain—you won't be shortchanged."

"I'm not interested. I'm here to do business, Miss Mu. I've got top-tier combat power—care to borrow some and try it?"

"No thanks. Your interest rates are too high."

"Interest can be negotiated. Borrow a little—you won't lose out. A new bookstore just opened in town; if you lack the strength, don't try to force your way in."

"Zhou Zhou Badou came too? Perfect—I'll go see him."

"Miss Mu, if you won't borrow, I'm leaving. The people in that bookstore aren't easy to deal with." Zhang Zhang Gunli twirled his walnuts and vanished into the night.

Mu Yuejuan turned back, hesitating.

She wasn't hesitating about borrowing combat power—dealing with Loan Cultivators required caution; if you could avoid it, you should.

She was hesitating whether to stay in Ye Ye Songqiao.

After standing by the street for over a minute, Mu Yuejuan turned and entered an alley.

Seeing no one around, she hung a landscape painting on the wall.

She stepped into the painting, sat on the boat within, and began rowing away.

As the boat vanished from the painting's surface, the scroll burst into flames and turned to ash in an instant.

Mu Yuejuan rowed swiftly across the lake, sensing that Zhang Zhang Gunli's claim about the bookstore's occupants might not be Zhou Zhou Badou.

…

In Yao Lao's courtyard at Yao Wang Gou.

Xu Lao held Yao Lao's mouth as Lan Qiao Lan Qiao Wuzui poured a half-jin of yellow liquor into him.

After drinking over a jin, Yao Lao coughed twice—every drop was swallowed—but he didn't wake.

Lan Qiao Lan Qiao Wuzui put down the wine jar and shook his head: "No more today. This isn't something fixed overnight. Tomorrow I'll brew a new formula—maybe it'll help."

Xu Lao nodded: "You've worked hard. I heard the Earth God of Ye Ye Songqiao died—don't you want to go see?"

Lan Qiao Lan Qiao Wuzui smiled: "My cultivation's long past the Clouds. What do I need with territory?"

"Give it as a gift, then. Even to your disciple."

Lan Qiao Lan Qiao Wuzui sighed: "I'm just a drunkard. I won't meddle in such affairs. Getting Yao Xin healed is already one honest deed. Old Xu, you go check it out—I'll keep watch over Yao Wang Gou for you."

Xu Lao shook his head: "I'm even less eager to get involved. I'm a farmer. Every time I meddle in these things, it's the farmers who suffer."

"How's your disciple doing? I mean that prodigy."

"You mean Zhang Wanlong?" Xu Lao didn't know how to judge. "You're right—he's a farming prodigy. But his temperament isn't like a farmer's at all."

…

Late at night, Li Li Banfeng listened to Xiao Ye Ci recount stories of Ye Ye Songqiao. Beyond heroic legends, Xiao Ye Ci told him countless local customs—each night, an hour's tale, for a full half-month, never repeating.

Today Li Li Banfeng was especially attentive; Xiao Ye Ci spoke until the small hours, growing drowsy herself—but Li Li Banfeng remained wide awake.

Xiao Ye Ci rubbed her eyes: "Sir, can we continue tomorrow?"

Li Li Banfeng shook his head: "Tomorrow won't do—I'm leaving."

"Where to?"

"To the New Lands, to take a look."

Xiao Ye Ci said: "I want to go too."

"Not yet. Wait until I've scouted the way—I'll bring you."

"When will you return?"

"Soon. In a few days."

"Then can I tell you one more story tonight?" Hearing Li Qi was leaving, Xiao Ye Ci felt reluctant.

Li Qi rose: "Rest now. I'll pick up where we left off when I return."

He wasn't going to the New Lands—he was returning to Leaving Suishenju.

After half a month of walking Ye Ye Songqiao, Li Li Banfeng had memorized every alley, learned countless customs from Xiao Ye Ci—the time for his advancement had come.

Back at Leaving Suishenju, his wife had laid out the bed, prepared everything.

"Husband, how many Jin Jin Yuandan have you taken this time?"

"Twenty-five." Li Li Banfeng dared not take more—another few and his Traveler cultivation might leap ten levels.

"The timing's right. Come, my dear husband, lie in my arms."

Amid swirling steam, Li Li Banfeng lay back, feeling his eyelids grow heavy.

As he closed his eyes, just before slipping into sleep, the phonograph lowered its horn and sucked Li Li Banfeng into its mouth.

His advancement had come too fast—this entire process had been grueling, but his wife's care eased every wave of pain with skillful means.

An hour later, the phonograph placed Li Li Banfeng on the bed, wiped the sweat from his brow with a handkerchief, and softly sang "The Song of the Four Seasons":

"Summer comes, willow threads grow long, expanding land in every direction, bold young men with lofty dreams, adding another wife for my husband!"

Li Li Banfeng sat up, embracing the phonograph: "My dear wife, what technique is 'Lofty Ambition'?"

"My dear husband, 'Lofty Ambition' isn't a technique—the technique is 'Expand the Land.' Whether you learn it or not doesn't matter much."

Li Li Banfeng frowned: "It's a ninth-level technique—why wouldn't I learn it? Is it too hard?"

"Ninth-level House Cultivator techniques aren't hard—they're similar in principle to the fifth-level 'Grand Courtyard' technique. The 'Grand Courtyard' technique channels the House Spirit's power beyond the dwelling; 'Expand the Land' channels the dwelling's power outward."

"At eighth level, House Cultivators learn 'Close the Gates and Shut the Doors'—boundaries appear around the house, capable of harming enemies."

"At ninth level, with 'Expand the Land,' not only do the boundaries harm enemies, but any House Cultivator within the boundary becomes vastly stronger."

"The deeper the house's roots and the longer it stands, the wider the boundary grows—and the stronger the House Cultivator becomes within it, nearly as powerful as inside the house itself."

"I once knew a ninth-level House Cultivator who moved into a small courtyard. Through 'Expand the Land,' he steadily expanded his territory—over three years, he turned it into a city. Within that city, no matter where he stood, his power matched his home—nearly unbeatable."

Li Li Banfeng said: "Such a powerful technique—I must learn it."

"You can't, husband. Our Leaving Suishenju has no roots—it follows you everywhere, never settling in one place. How can you expand territory?"

Leaving Suishenju trembled slightly—Grandpa was displeased; that remark clearly blamed him.

The phonograph quickly added: "If Grandpa were willing to adapt, perhaps this technique could still be used someday. Husband, don't rush—ninth-level techniques aren't mandatory. Even if you don't learn it, it won't block your advancement."

"Rest at home for two days, build up your fortune. In three days, we'll surge straight to the Clouds."

Li Li Banfeng rested solidly for three days at home, playing glass beads, spinning tops, and picture cards with Grandpa.

To be honest, Grandpa loved to play—but he was terrible.

Li Li Banfeng always let him win; Grandpa grew bored and asked the gloves to join.

The gloves could play glass beads too. After two hours, they won over a hundred beads from Grandpa. Enraged, Grandpa grabbed a broom and chased them from Room One to Room Ten.

"Give me back that white bead!"

The gloves refused: "Nope, I won't give it back. If you can't lose, don't play!"

His fortune was nearly full—Li Li Banfeng prepared to advance to the Clouds.

This advancement was difficult. First, he had to elevate his Traveler realm—not by himself alone—he needed Xiang Xiang Hongying's aid.

Xiang Xiang Hongying first lent him the technique "Travel a Thousand Mountains."

Li Li Banfeng already knew "Travel a Thousand Mountains"—why borrow it from Xiang Xiang Hongying?

Because his own technique wasn't refined enough.

Hong Ying instructed: "Qi Lang, start thinking now—think of every place you've been, never let your thoughts stop."

Li Li Banfeng closed his eyes, and layer upon layer of images kept rising in his mind.

He had been to many places in Waizhou, but his memories of them were hazy.

His memories of Like Puluozhou were crystal clear: from Yaowang Gou to Lüshui City, from Haichi Ling to Heishipō, from Zhengjing Village to Qiuqi City, from Kucai Zhuang to Dao Gui Ling—every detail stood out vividly.

When he thought of Dao Gui Ling, Hong Ying warned: "Don't dwell on too dangerous a place—too rapid an advancement might destabilize your soul."

Li Li Banfeng brought his thoughts back to Qishui Yao; after a while, they drifted to Qingyan City. As his mind raced onward, he thought of Mengqian Lou—Hong Ying warned again: "Qi Lang, change places—this one's still too dangerous."

She didn't know where his thoughts had gone, but she saw his legs twisting and warping—that was a sign of too-rapid advancement.

His thoughts rose and fell, speeding up and slowing down; he had never experienced this before, and could only struggle forward under Hong Ying's guidance.

For a full day, Li Li Banfeng never paused his thoughts. He felt his entire brain heavy and dull, the images before his eyes blurred, on the verge of collapse—when Hong Ying cried: "It should be enough!"

Bam!

Chang Ji struck Hong Ying with a paddle: "What do you mean 'should be enough'? Has it succeeded or not?"

Hong Ying's body trembled, flustered.

Li Li Banfeng's entire body turned deathly pale, his sinews and bones limp; Hong Ying couldn't say what state this was.

She felt it might have succeeded, but wasn't certain.

"I think it succeeded!" the old man spoke up.

Chang Ji gritted her teeth: "Whether it succeeded or not, we have to gamble. Husband, hold on—I'm coming."

Huh-chi!

Li Li Banfeng, on the verge of losing consciousness, was sucked once more into the trumpet's mouth.

In his extreme weakness, Li Li Banfeng had to endure another advancement.

This was a cross-layer advancement.

All conditions were in place: the Leaving Suishenju had amassed enough fortune for Li Li Banfeng, created the ideal environment for advancement, and now his wife and Hong Ying—both experts—took turns aiding him.

With everything done this thoroughly, why was advancement still so difficult?

Exhausted beyond measure, Li Li Banfeng nearly fainted inside the trumpet's mouth.

Chang Ji cried: "My precious husband, don't sleep—don't you dare sleep! If you sleep, you'll never wake up!"

Li Li Banfeng closed his eyes, feeling his wife's voice drifting farther away.

As everything in this world slowly faded, Li Li Banfeng heard his wife's song:

"A thousand calls, ten thousand cries—I call for my beloved, my lord suffers, my heart breaks. Our love runs deep, our souls entwined—we'll stay together, forever, on the clouds."

(End of Chapter)