Chapter 692: Hold On!

Li Li Banfeng was breathed upon by the statue and collapsed to the ground.

He turned to look at the statue.

The statue smiled at him.

Xiang Xiang Hongying was paralyzed with fear, terrified the statue would strike again—Li Li Banfeng was now utterly defenseless.

After a long wait, the statue did not move again; Li Li Banfeng staggered out through the heavy iron door and returned to the stairwell.

His condition was terrible—his legs trembled, his body went numb; he tried to step left but extended his right leg instead, rolling all the way down the stairs.

A group of shadows rolled down with him, lying motionless at the stair landing.

Li Li Banfeng's hand fumbled beside his pant pocket, as if trying to return to Leaving Suishenju.

Xiang Xiang Hongying watched the scene displayed by the Fifth Chamber girl and murmured, "Not now—hurry and go somewhere else."

Xiang Xiang Hongying grabbed Hong Did Did Honglian and demanded, "Wretched woman, explain clearly—what is the origin of that statue?"

Hong Did Did Honglian broke free from Xiang Xiang Hongying's grip: "What origin? Can't you see? It's a statue of a Heavenly Person." Xiang Xiang Hongying snapped: "Why would a statue render Qi Lang this way? Is it a spiritual object?"

Hong Did Did Honglian had no answer; she hadn't expected the statue to appear suddenly: "Forget this for now—"

"Go guard the door. If Li Qi comes back, you must persuade him to leave."

Xiang Xiang Hongying flew into rage: "Why persuade him to leave? Qi Lang is injured—can't you see? What's wrong with him returning home to heal?"

Hong Did Did Honglian cursed: "You shrew—I'm trying to protect him. He can't leave the key here—it'll be picked up!"

"By whom?"

"Never mind who—go guard the door now!"

Xiang Xiang Hongying went to the door; Hong Did Did Honglian remained tense, watching the scene.

After struggling on the floor for a long while, Li Li Banfeng rose.

He pulled out the key, made the motion to unlock, then suddenly shuddered—the key fell to the ground.

Danger.

As he picked up the key again, Li Li Banfeng regained some clarity.

He couldn't leave the key here.

For three full years with Leaving Suishenju, before every entry, Li Li Banfeng always hid the key somewhere safe—this stairwell was too sinister, there was no safe place at all.

He still had to return to the office.

He tucked the key away and climbed upward.

A group of Li Banfeng Yi supported each other, staggered up to the sixteenth floor, exited the stairwell, swayed step by step, and headed toward their office.

Mijian suddenly stepped out of the office, startled to see Li Li Banfeng.

Li Li Banfeng was startled too; he leaned against the wall to steady himself, and all the Li Banfeng Yi pressed flat against walls and floor—fast enough to avoid exposure.

"Li Ju, you haven't left yet?"

Li Li Banfeng nodded: "Yes. You haven't either?"

"I still have some work pending—I haven't had time to handle it yet." Mijian had been caring for Zhong Er for a while, and her backlog was indeed heavy.

But these tasks weren't urgent—it was past midnight; she had no reason to work this late.

Li Li Banfeng said: "Do only the useful ones. Set aside the rest. Go home and rest."

Mijian nodded: "Thank you, Li Ju. Are you going home? I'll drive you."

Li Li Banfeng waved her off: "Go attend to your work."

Mijian went to the restroom; Li Li Banfeng staggered back to his office, hid the key, and returned to Leaving Suishenju with the group of shadows.

Inside the door, Li Li Banfeng nearly fell; Xiang Xiang Hongying caught him and laid him on the bed.

"Qi Lang, what happened? Poisoned? Or hit by a technique?"

"It's nothing—we're not afraid of anything!" Li Li Banfeng waved his hand; as long as Gao Zhen Wu You was active, he feared nothing.

He lay on the bed, adjusted his breathing, sensed the unique state within his home, and activated the Gao Zhen Wu You technique.

After about ten minutes, Li Li Banfeng smiled faintly and sat up.

Less than ten seconds later, he lay back down.

This is bizarre!

The Gao Zhen Wu You technique didn't work!

He used the technique twice—no effect at all; his body felt entirely foreign,

every joint seemed dislocated.

Xiang Xiang Hongying glared at Hong Did Did Honglian and roared: "What spell has Qi Lang been struck by?"

The Heavenly Person was Hong Did Did Honglian's master—if she claimed ignorance, no one would believe her.

But if she revealed the truth, she'd miss a golden opportunity.

Watching Li Li Banfeng's condition, if she delayed too long, he might not survive.

After much hesitation, Hong Did Did Honglian unfurled her petals.

Within the lotus heart lay a single lotus seed; she wrapped it in a lotus leaf and fed it into Li Li Banfeng's mouth.

Xiang Xiang Hongying remained uneasy: "What did you give him?"

"Xiao Xuan Yun Pill."

Jiu'er gasped: "His body is so weak—why give him such a potent elixir?"

Xiang Xiang Hongying snapped: "You wicked woman—you've got no good intentions!"

Hong Did Did Honglian jabbed the lotus leaf against Xiang Xiang Hongying's face: "I'm too lazy to explain to a bunch of fools. Go find Zhao Xiaowan!"

Saying this was hard—once Zhao Xiaowan returned, Hong Did Did Honglian's plans would stall.

But if Zhao Xiaowan didn't return, Li Li Banfeng might not survive the night.

Xiang Xiang Hongying said: "This is Waizhou—Xiao Wan isn't here."

Hong Did Did Honglian replied: "Even if she's not here, you must find a way to bring her. I'll warn you once: Qi Lang's qi is so excessive his body is about to burst. He needs Zhao Xiaowan to assist his advancement and disperse the excess qi."

"Excess qi—" Xiang Xiang Hongying didn't fully grasp the concept; after a moment's thought, she said, "So if we raise his cultivation base, the qi will disperse, right?

Then why not take him to Lv Xiu and push him straight to Yun Shang? That should solve it!"

Hong Did Did Honglian shook her head: "Lv Xiu won't work—the advancement is too abrupt. His body is too weak to endure Lv Xiu's ascent. Yu Yu Zhaixiu's progression is gentler—he might still endure it."

Jiu Niang looked at Xiang Xiang Hongying: "Aren't you also Qi Lang's Zhai Ling? As a Zhai Ling, you should be able to assist his Yu Yu Zhaixiu advancement."

Xiang Xiang Hongying lowered her head: "I don't understand Yu Yu Zhaixiu matters—I know a bit about ground-level affairs, but not cloud-level ones."

Hong Did Did Honglian sighed: "You know nothing—you're too dependent on Zhao Xiaowan. Assisting Yu Yu Zhaixiu advancement is basic for a Zhai Ling—you can't even do this."

(

Xiang Xiang Hongying asked: "Then what should we do? How do we find Xiao Wan?"

Hong Did Did Honglian had no answer: "I don't know how—you remember Qiuqiu City has a station."

"Yes, there's a station! Old Master repaired the station!" Xiang Xiang Hongying leaned close to Li Li Banfeng's ear and whispered softly: "Qi Lang, don't sleep yet—ask Old Master if he can take you to Qiuqiu City. Once at the station, we'll find a way to locate Xiao Wan."

Li Li Banfeng said nothing; he shook his head slightly.

"Qi Lang, why are you shaking your head?"

Li Li Banfeng offered no explanation—this plan wouldn't work.

Going to the station was useless.

The green-flower child's bowl was given to Niangzi—if Niangzi didn't open the door, Li Li Banfeng couldn't enter the lab.

He needed to contact Niangzi first, get her to open the door, before they could reunite.

But if Niangzi was in the Dark Dimension, and the phone wouldn't connect, how could he reach her?

Xiang Xiang Hongying thought again and came up with another idea: "Qi Lang, picture Qiuqiu City—picture its appearance—and we'll arrive there."

Leaving Suishenju followed Li Li Banfeng's thoughts—this was a possible solution.

Li Li Banfeng still shook his head—this plan wouldn't work either.

Xiang Xiang Hongying grew frantic: "You madman, why keep shaking your head?"

The Wine Gourd understood Li Li Banfeng's dilemma: "Sister Ying, you never go out—you don't know the constraints. Old Master can follow Old Qi's thoughts, but once we reach Qiuqiu City, how do we find our Lady?"

Xiang Xiang Hongying said: "Let Qi Lang go out and look!"

"But if Old Qi leaves, how will he get back?"

"Let him use the key to open the door and return!"

"The key isn't in Qiuqiu City—it's still in Waizhou!"

Leaving Suishenju followed Li Li Banfeng's consciousness, but the key remained in the office, unmoving—once Li Li Banfeng stepped out, he couldn't return.

Xiang Xiang Hongying had no solution; only now did she realize the many restrictions between Li Li Banfeng and the Little Train.

Now the Little Train was in slumber; under these rigid conditions, these restrictions were insurmountable.

Jiu Niang said: "If we can find Zhao Xiaowan, Old Qi will be saved—even if he can't return home for now, Zhao Xiaowan will surely find a way."

Hong Did Did Honglian said: "That won't work—Yu Yu Zhaixiu advancement must occur within the residence."

Meaning: even if Li Qi found Zhao Xiaowan, he must return home quickly.

Xiang Xiang Hongying gritted her teeth: "Then here's what we do—I'll go out, take the key, run straight to Qiuqiu City to find Xiao Wan—I'm fast! I'll make it in time!"

The Wine Gourd asked: "Sister Ying, do you know the way?"

Xiang Xiang Hongying shook her head: "No, but it doesn't matter—you guide me. You've always followed Old Qi everywhere, haven't you?"

"Sister Ying, once you leave this room, you won't hear my voice."

Xiang Xiang Hongying froze: "Why is that?"

"Because you don't understand the Technique of Perceiving Spiritual Sound—and—"

Ninth Lady said: "And you're not exactly clever—you don't know how to communicate with magic treasures."

Xiang Xiang Hongying frowned: "Who says I don't? I've spoken to every magic treasure I've ever used. I can hear the gourd talking inside the house—why can't I hear it outside?"

Ninth Lady said: "That's the old master's doing—even when he's asleep, the restriction still holds."

Tang Dao asked from the side: "Are the other restrictions still active?"

Xiang Xiang Hongying realized a serious problem. She walked to the door and tugged at the door.

The door wouldn't open. She couldn't get out.

Even if the Sui Shen Ju had fallen asleep, it still imposed strict limits on its household members—no household spirit could leave the room without the old master's permission.

Xiang Xiang Hongying glared at Hong Did Did Honglian: "Why is your master trying to kill Seventh Lang?"

Hong Did Did Honglian said: "How would I know what she's thinking? Can you blame me for that?"

"Then who else should we blame? If Seventh Lang dies, I'll come for your master's life!"

The two began to argue, when the glove shouted: "Stop quarreling—Master's condition is wrong."

Li Li Banfeng, who had been lying still, suddenly began convulsing violently on the bed.

Hong Did Did Honglian gently brushed Li Li Banfeng's body with a lotus leaf: "He's absorbed more human qi than I estimated. He won't last long."

Xiang Xiang Hongying said: "How long exactly? Give me a number."

"About an hour."

"An hour?" The whole family froze.

Where could they find Zhao Zhao Xiaowan in an hour?

Xiang Xiang Hongying cried: "What good is an hour?"

Hong Did Did Honglian said: "An hour is already his fortune. If I hadn't just given him the Xiao Xuan Yun Pill, he'd be dead already!"

Ninth Lady's voice trembled: "Ah Qi, rely on luck. Picture the laboratory in your mind—try to find Zhao Zhao Xiaowan. If you do, pull her back before the door closes."

Xiang Xiang Hongying shook her head: "That door shuts too fast. If you miss it, we're all done."

Ninth Lady said: "Then what else can we do? Let Ah Qi wait here to die?"

Xiang Xiang Hongying shouted: "Old Master, let me out! Seventh Lang can't hold on!"

The Sui Shen Ju gave no reply.

In desperation, Li Li Banfeng gritted his teeth, sat up, drenched in sweat.

He gritted his teeth, leaned on a group of Li Banfeng Yi, gripped Tang Dao, and staggered to the door.

Xiang Xiang Hongying rushed forward and hugged Li Li Banfeng: "Seventh Lang, where are you going?"

Li Li Banfeng turned and smiled: "Don't worry—I'll be back soon."

In the office, Li Li Banfeng took out his phone and asked Old Luo to transfer him to his wife.

If he could get through, using Yi Bie Wan Li would take him straight to her side.

If his wife wasn't in the laboratory, he could reach her.

But what were the odds she wasn't in the laboratory at this hour?

This seemingly low probability determined Li Li Banfeng's life or death.

After a short while, Old Luo connected successfully—his wife was indeed not in the laboratory!

Li Li Banfeng rejoiced—this was the bond between husband and wife!

Now, if his wife answered the phone, then called back, Li Li Banfeng could find someone to use Yi Bie Wan Li once,

and fly directly to her side with the key.

But he waited a long time—his wife never answered.

Was she not hearing it? Or something else?

Had his wife met with misfortune?

Li Li Banfeng hung up the phone. As he thought, his palm suddenly went numb—the phone slipped to the floor.

The phone slid across the carpet to the door. Li Li Banfeng tried to pick it up, struggled to stand, but collapsed back onto the chair before taking a single step.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Someone knocked on the door.

Li Li Banfeng called out: "Come in!"

Mi Mi Jian pushed the door open.

Li Li Banfeng asked: "Why haven't you left yet?"

Mi Mi Jian said: "I was just about to leave. I wanted to ask if you need a car, Master Li."

Li Li Banfeng stared at Mi Mi Jian for a moment: "Didn't I just say no?"

Mi Mi Jian nodded: "Then I'll go now."

"Stop!" Li Li Banfeng called out. "Are you on duty today?"

Mi Mi Jian spoke haltingly: "Yes, well, no—I'm just here finishing some work."

"Who's on duty today?"

Mi Mi Jian said: "Hai Tang Guo."

"Call Hai Tang Guo here."

Mi Mi Jian bit her lip: "Hai Tang… she's hungry. She went out to eat. She asked me to cover for her." Li Li Banfeng said: "You're covering for her? And you still planned to drive me home?"

Mi Mi Jian lowered her head: "I didn't think it through. I'll go back to the duty room right away."

When he'd met her earlier, she hadn't come from the duty room.

Li Li Banfeng said: "You sent Hai Tang Guo away, then came back to check when I'd leave—what are you trying to do?"

"I—I didn't—"

"Tell the truth!"

Mi Mi Jian's voice trembled: "Master Li, I… I want to go to the archives."

"Why?"

Mi Mi Jian confessed: "Two days ago, I saw a list of documents—it said the archives had a special medicinal formula that might cure Zhong Er. I wanted to try it. I never meant to hide it from you, but I—"

"Don't go!" Li Li Banfeng glared at Mi Mi Jian. "If you set foot in there, I'll break your legs. You and Zhong Er can be a pair of cripples. Do you understand?"

"But I—"

"I'll heal Zhong Er's legs. Go home now. Don't go near the stairs. Don't go near the archives. Do you hear me?"

Mi Mi Jian nodded.

She noticed a strange object on the floor—seemed to be a landline handset.

Li Li Banfeng said: "Give me that."

Mi Mi Jian handed him the phone.

Li Li Banfeng waved his hand: "Bring Hai Tang Guo back. Let her resume duty. You go home now."

Mi Mi Jian left. Li Li Banfeng called his wife again—she still didn't answer.

My beloved wife, why won't you answer?

Li Li Banfeng felt his bones shift again.

If he couldn't reach his wife, what else could he do?

Was this how it ended?

Li Li Banfeng returned to the Sui Shen Ju, lay on the bed, closed his eyes, and meditated.

Xiang Xiang Hongying asked anxiously: "Seventh Lang, did you find Xiao Wan?"

Li Li Banfeng signaled her to be silent.

He needed to focus—use his consciousness to guide the Sui Shen Ju to a place.

That place was far away. Could the Sui Shen Ju find it?

"Ah Qi, we've got eight full tracks—routes, directions. As long as we don't meet a strong enemy, we'll find it!"

Old Master—is that you? Aren't you asleep? Can you speak while asleep? Am I hallucinating?

"Ah Qi, hold on. We've held on through so much—this time, we'll hold on too."

Over forty minutes passed. Li Li Banfeng lay motionless.

Xiang Xiang Hongying's lips turned white with fear.

Ninth Lady clenched her fists, silent.

The glove checked Li Li Banfeng's breath—he was still alive.

"Master… Master…" the glove trembled.

Boom!

Li Li Banfeng felt the Sui Shen Ju shudder.

He rose from the bed, leaned on a group of Li Banfeng Yi, and staggered out the door again.

Li Banfeng Yi piled up beneath his feet, clinging to him. One man, one shadow, stumbled down the street until they reached a fork. Li Li Banfeng collapsed onto the ground with a thud.

His mind grew dim. He heard Li Banfeng Yi speaking: "Old Jia, hold on!"

Seconds ticked by. The shadow lifted Li Li Banfeng to his feet.

Li Li Banfeng kept walking, until he reached a mansion. Guards blocked his path: "Who are you?"

Li Li Banfeng looked up: "Prince of Prince Pingyuan."

The guards were startled and rushed inside to announce him.

This was the Marquis's mansion of Wu Bian City. In the past, Li Li Banfeng would have stormed in—but today, he had no strength left.

Not long after, Luo Luo Shaojun burst out of the mansion: "Seventh Brother, you're back! Seventh Brother, what's wrong with you?"

Li Li Banfeng was about to collapse, and Luo Luo Shaojun hurried to support him.

Li Li Banfeng struggled to speak: "Go to Yucui Tower."

Luo Luo Shaojun quickly helped Li Li Banfeng to Yucui Tower: "Seventh Brother, this place is dangerous—be extremely careful."

"Wait outside," Li Li Banfeng said, stepping into the tower. Before he could climb the stairs, a wave of malice struck him, and he fell to the ground again.

A woman's voice appeared at his ear: "You finally remembered to come back?"

Li Li Banfeng smiled: "I came back in such a rush, I didn't bring you a gift."

"Leave your life here—that'll be gift enough," said a blue-robed figure gliding past him. "How did you get this badly hurt?"

"I'm not injured—I've absorbed too much human qi," Li Li Banfeng said, lying on the stairs, too weak to rise.

The stair steps slowly shifted upward, carrying Li Li Banfeng to the second floor.

Jiang Linger cradled Li Li Banfeng and gently laid him on the bed.

"Can you save me?" Li Li Banfeng asked.

"Don't move," Jiang Linger said, carefully feeling his pulse.

After a moment, she asked: "To survive, you must ascend—burn off the human qi. But your body is too weak; even an ascent might fail. Are you willing to risk it?"

"Risk it!" Li Li Banfeng nodded.

Jiang Linger asked again: "What level is your Yu Yu Zhaixiu at?"

"Cloud's Third Level. You must tell me the truth."

Jiang Linger continued: "You have two paths. One is to ascend to Star Level. But your body holds too much human qi—even if you succeed, you won't burn it all off. You'll need years of rest at home. Star Level has no tiers—you can slowly drain the qi over time."

This girl didn't seem sharp, but she knew a lot.

Li Li Banfeng asked: "What's the other path?"

"The other path is to ascend to Cloud's Fourth Level."

Li Li Banfeng opened his eyes and smiled at Jiang Linger: "That one's better."

Jiang Linger didn't smile—she seemed incapable of smiling. "Ascending to Cloud's Fourth Level requires far more human qi than Star Level—it would nearly exhaust all the qi in your body."

"But to ascend to Cloud's Fourth Level, you must release all the human qi inside you at once. Your body can't withstand it."

Li Li Banfeng said: "Is it because I'm too weak now?"

"Not because you're weak—no third-level cultivator in the world can withstand it. By the numbers: a Cloud's Third Level cultivator can endure ten thousand human qi. Ascending to Cloud's Fourth Level requires releasing eighteen thousand at once. Eighteen thousand human qi released all at once would shatter a cultivator's body. That's why Cloud's Fourth Level is so rare."

"From the mechanics of ascent, this path is impossible—unless you know Yunmen Technique, which can disperse part of the human qi outside your body, connected to you but not within you."

Li Li Banfeng nodded repeatedly: "I know Yunmen Technique—but my clouds aren't here."

"Where are your clouds?"

"Qiuqiu City."

"What is Qiuqiu City?"

"A city in Pulu Province."

"There's no time," Jiang Linger said, a hint of helplessness in her eyes. She had little familiarity with Pulu Province, but she knew it lay far away.

"There's time!" The Judge's Pen trembled at Li Li Banfeng's waist. "Make another cloud!"

Li Li Banfeng looked at Jiang Linger: "Can you help me make a cloud?"

Jiang Linger nodded slightly: "If quality doesn't matter, I can make one. But can you send it up to the sky?"

Li Li Banfeng said nothing—he felt he couldn't fly anymore.

"I can!" said the Judge's Pen. "Let's go!"

PS: Thank you, Grand Patron Jingyu Jingyu, for your encouragement and support on the first day of the New Year!

The year 2025 has arrived, dear readers—let's charge forward together!