Chapter 699: The Chief (This Chapter

The debt-collecting blade-user was trapped within the boundary, and Li Li Banfeng charged forward with his shadow.

He didn't know why such a formidable blade cultivator had appeared in Huangtu Town, or why this place was so important.

But one thing Li Li Banfeng knew clearly: as long as there was even a sliver of chance today, he couldn't let the debt-collecting blade-user take over this inn.

If this blade-user, who served the Sage, seized the inn, he might seize Huangtu Town.

If the Sage seized Huangtu Town, this place would become the next Jianren Gang!

Li Li Banfeng knew this blade cultivator's combat strength surpassed his own, but within the boundary, Li Li Banfeng activated Gao Zhen Wu You—he was the master of this boundary, and every technique he wielded held the advantage.

The debt-collecting blade-user was constrained at every turn; by his own estimation, his techniques' power was reduced to thirty percent, his mobility to fifty percent, and his energy expenditure doubled compared to normal.

He wasn't panicked—fighting a residence cultivator at his own doorstep was a cost he had to pay, and the debt-collecting blade-user knew it well.

Li Li Banfeng relied on his travel cultivator speed, dragging his shadow into combat with the blade-user, yet even with such a massive advantage, he still couldn't bring down this debt-collecting blade-user.

His speed wasn't slower than Li Li Banfeng's; in every exchange, whether attacking first or defending, after a brief stalemate, he always managed to strike first.

His combat techniques weren't fewer than Li Li Banfeng's—blade cultivators could fight at range or close quarters, and could handle multiple opponents; the debt-collecting blade-user's techniques could simultaneously target Li Li Banfeng's true body while battling Li Banfeng Bing.

In combat experience, the two couldn't be compared—the debt-collecting blade-user was far superior; he saw clearly when Li Li Banfeng wanted to strike, when he wanted to use techniques.

The most dangerous thing was his basket of knives—Li Banfeng Bing wielded a sickle and fought his bone-removing knife for a long time, receiving over a dozen punctures, his body riddled with holes.

That sickle wasn't any less formidable; one blade fought both Li Banfeng Zi and Li Banfeng Chou to a standstill, and that was only because Li Banfeng Zi's residence cultivator foundation was strong enough to endure it.

Most infuriating was that cleaver, stuck to the debt-collecting blade-user's body, capable of both offense and defense; Li Li Banfeng had tried closing in several times,

only to be driven back each time by that cleaver.

Li Banfeng Yi watched from the side, unable to help shaking his head—Old Jia's tactics were clearly wrong.

Did he think that within the boundary, relying on residence cultivator advantages, he could brawl with a blade cultivator?

What are blade cultivators for?

They're masters of close combat—even wu cultivators struggle to gain the upper hand; how could you possibly fight him like this without suffering losses?

Li Banfeng Yi seized his chance and kicked out, shattering Wan Xiao Chuan.

The debt-collecting blade-user had already noticed Li Banfeng Yi; as soon as he raised his foot, he knew the technique was coming, and he dodged it with a slight sidestep.

Li Li Banfeng, facing away from Li Banfeng Yi, couldn't avoid it—his clothes tore apart, his back drenched in blood.

Li Banfeng Yi let out a dry laugh: "That's not what I meant."

Li Li Banfeng turned, gritting his teeth: "You'll pay for this!"

Taking advantage of Li Li Banfeng's injury, the debt-collecting blade-user slashed down a cluster of shadows, about to reach the boundary's edge.

Once he broke free of the boundary, he had countless ways to kill Li Li Banfeng.

Several tables came before him, blocking his path—the debt-collecting blade-user knew this was the travel cultivator technique Duan Jing Kai Lu.

How could broken wooden tables in the inn possibly stop him? He swung his arm and slashed down—the table swiftly dodged, then returned to its position, continuing to block his way.

The debt-collecting blade-user froze—how could the inn's tables be so sentient?

Was this another residence cultivator technique?

These tables bore Li Li Banfeng's most skilled technique: Jia Zhen Zi Shu.

The debt-collecting blade-user had indeed thought of Jia Zhen Zi Shu; at first he found it illogical—this technique shouldn't be used so quickly.

But then he reconsidered: Li Li Banfeng could activate a residence cultivator boundary here, proving this place was extremely close to his home, perhaps even his own residence; these tables and chairs were likely his furniture,

He had misjudged.

Li Li Banfeng activated Jia Zhen Zi Shu so quickly for two main reasons: first, he mastered the technique exceptionally well; second, these tables and chairs hated the debt-collecting blade-user—during their fight, over half the furniture in the inn had been shattered by him.

Even infused with Jia Zhen Zi Shu's sentience, these tables couldn't hold the debt-collecting blade-user—but thanks to this brief delay, Li Banfeng Zi threw himself at the blade-user, and a swarm of shadows dragged and pulled him back.

The losses were severe—the debt-collecting blade-user was covered in blades from head to toe, and the shadows were badly wounded.

Li Banfeng Yi seized the opportunity and vanished from the debt-collecting blade-user's line of sight, turning to watch his figure.

Wait—where did the debt-collecting blade-user go?

The debt-collecting blade-user's silhouette still darted through the inn, but his speed was too fast for Li Banfeng Yi to lock onto.

Li Banfeng Yi turned to Li Li Banfeng, wanting to discuss tactics.

Li Li Banfeng, fully focused on fighting the debt-collecting blade-user, shuddered violently—Li Banfeng Yi quickly averted his gaze; if Li Li Banfeng got hit by Zou Ma Zouma Guanhua, their feud would be serious.

Techniques were indeed hard to deploy, but as long as they remained within the boundary, the advantage was Li Li Banfeng's; under the shadow swarm's assault, the debt-collecting blade-user had taken many wounds, some exposing bone.

The wounds weren't critical—the real problem facing the debt-collecting blade-user was that the opponent's shadows were growing more numerous.

"Is this residence cultivator technique Xing Ying Xiang Diao?" the debt-collecting blade-user asked mid-combat.

Li Banfeng Yi answered for Li Li Banfeng: "Not a residence cultivator technique—it's a shadow cultivator technique, called Xing Ying Xiang Sui!"

As he spoke, Li Banfeng Yi twisted his body, curled his limbs, and slipped underground, beginning to ambush the debt-collecting blade-user's shadow.

After observing this long, Li Banfeng Yi realized the debt-collecting blade-user's movement had almost no flaws—but he neglected his own shadow entirely.

This was normal—no one pays much attention to their shadow in battle—but for Li Banfeng Yi, it was an opening.

The debt-collecting blade-user noticed shadows moving along the ground and immediately pulled away from Li Banfeng Yi; he responded to shadow cultivator techniques, but his response was crude.

He evaded Li Banfeng Yi—but moved closer to Li Banfeng Chou and Li Banfeng Yin.

Li Li Banfeng swapped positions with Li Banfeng Chou; residence cultivators have a natural talent for being overlooked—on the fourth level of Yun Shang, a residence cultivator blended among shadows, and the debt-collecting blade-user failed to notice him at first.

By the time he spotted Li Li Banfeng, it was too late—Li Li Banfeng hooked his shoulder with the sickle, while Li Banfeng Yi on the ground seized control of the debt-collecting blade-user's shadow.

The debt-collecting blade-user tried to struggle, but Li Li Banfeng gave him no chance; Li Li Banfeng and Li Banfeng Yi crossed paths, and with a sharp crack,

they snapped his arm bone.

The debt-collecting blade-user twisted his shoulder, trying to wrench his arm free—Tang Dao struck swiftly, slicing along his shoulder and severing his right arm.

The debt-collecting blade-user shuddered violently—he was badly wounded now.

The situation was dire—he needed to break free from Li Li Banfeng; his left hand swung the cleaver, severing Li Banfeng Yi,

breaking the Xing Ying Xiang Sui technique; from his severed right arm, a stiletto sprouted, slashing through Li Banfeng Bing as it charged.

His severed arm on the ground transformed into three broadswords—one cleaved Li Banfeng Zi, the other two slashed toward Li Li Banfeng.

These two blades were too fast, too cunning—Li Li Banfeng couldn't dodge; the projector flashed suddenly, using the Withering Technique to absorb one broadsword.

The pendulum leapt out, using a mind cultivator technique to force the other broadsword to change direction.

One broadsword remained—then vanished.

The debt-collecting blade-user frowned—where did that blade go?

The glove leapt behind Li Li Banfeng, jiggled a few times, and subdued the broadsword.

"Excellent magic treasure!" the debt-collecting blade-user praised.

In an instant, Li Banfeng Yi, Li Banfeng Bing, and Li Banfeng Zi each split into two, standing silently and staring at the debt-collecting blade-user.

The debt-collecting blade-user smiled: "Young man, how lucky you are—you can dual-cultivate residence and travel here, and you even possess Tian He Technique—

someone like you should have achieved great accomplishments, but you've picked the wrong enemy. You think having Tian He Technique makes you untouchable? Let me show you how I dismantle it."

Li Li Banfeng had no patience to listen—he charged forward with his shadows again.

The debt-collecting blade-user parried while pulling out a razor, swiftly shaving his entire head clean.

He flung his hair into the room—one strand pierced Li Banfeng Bing's body, severing one of his arms.

"No good!" Li Banfeng Bing cried out—then a shower of hairs pierced his body, cutting him into scattered fragments.

Li Li Banfeng attacked with six shadows, but the hairs spun around them like a gale—Li Banfeng Ding and Li Banfeng Chou couldn't dodge in time, their bodies sliced to pieces.

Li Li Banfeng let out a long howl, using his wife's voice cultivation technique to emit a piercing shriek.

The debt-collecting blade-user was momentarily distracted, his reaction slowed—Li Li Banfeng seized the chance to strike, but a strand of hair struck first, slipping into Li Li Banfeng's clothing.

Li Banfeng Zi instantly swapped places with Li Li Banfeng—in an instant, Li Banfeng Zi's body was cut into several segments.

Li Li Banfeng had barely regained his footing when he saw shadow after shadow sliced into fragments; when all the hairs fell to the ground, only Li Banfeng Zi and Li Banfeng Yi could barely reform—the rest were completely destroyed.

A flood of consciousness flooded Li Li Banfeng's mind, all sending the same signal: these shadows couldn't recover in the short term.

The debt-collecting blade-user simply brute-forced his way through, using blade cultivator techniques to slash relentlessly, and dismantled Li Li Banfeng's Tian He Technique outright.

Worse still, Li Li Banfeng had been sustaining Xing Ying Xiang Diao, Gao Zhen Wu You, Zhan Tu Kai Jiang, and Guan Men Bi Hu—all at once, his energy drain was enormous, and he was barely holding on.

Weak Li Banfeng Zi whispered low: "When the hairs fall, he can't pull them back. Confucius said—he's reached his limit."

Li Banfeng Zi was right—the debt-collecting blade-user was exhausted; he couldn't maintain the technique on his hairs, and he didn't want to keep fighting Li Li Banfeng within the boundary—he knew residence cultivators recovered quickly here; the longer they stalled, the more he'd lose.

Yet he still couldn't escape the boundary—tables, chairs, plates, bowls fused into a wall; the battered Li Banfeng Yi blocked him with Duan Jing Kai Lu.

The debt-collecting blade-user turned to Li Li Banfeng: "Do you know who I am? I'm offering you a chance to live—you can't see it?"

Li Li Banfeng walked toward the debt-collecting blade-user with a smile: "You just promised to She me a knife—where's the knife?"

"So you really want a knife?" The debt-collecting blade-user slashed Li Li Banfeng, hoping to exploit his dodge and break out of the boundary.

Even now, he still believed he had countless ways to kill Li Li Banfeng—but fighting within the boundary was the worst choice.

Unexpectedly, Li Li Banfeng didn't dodge—he took the slash head-on, and at the same time, he swung Tang Dao back at the debt-collecting blade-user.

Li Li Banfeng knew clearly: the moment the debt-collecting blade-user stepped out of the boundary, he'd almost certainly die,

with no chance to retreat to his personal residence.

The debt-collecting blade-user staggered backward, barely keeping his balance, then turned and slashed Li Li Banfeng again.

Li Li Banfeng still didn't dodge—he swung the sickle back.

They traded blows, slashing at each other relentlessly.

After a few moments, the debt-collecting blade-user sensed something was wrong.

He realized he'd fallen into irrational madness.

This was a residence cultivator's domain—the residence cultivator recovered faster; this reckless exchange of blows would never favor him.

The debt-collecting blade-user barely dodged Li Li Banfeng's slash, snatched up the cleaver with his left hand, and swung to kill him.

Puff!

The Shedaoren 's left arm from shoulder to rib fell to the ground in one piece.

This wasn't from a slash—he felt someone had torn off a large chunk of him.

"What technique is this?" the Shedaoren stared blankly at Li Li Banfeng.

"Five Horses Tear Apart—have you heard of it?" Li Li Banfeng's eyes were bloodshot, grinning at the Shedaoren.

The Shedaoren 's wound exposed his internal organs, from which sprouted over a dozen knives of varying lengths.

The cost is immense, but I have no choice.

The Shedaoren didn't know Li Li Banfeng's origins, but he knew he had to kill this madman quickly—his methods were too numerous; the longer this dragged on, the worse it would be for him.

Li Li Banfeng intended to wear him down until he couldn't hold out, then drag him into the mansion.

The tactic was crystal clear, and Li Li Banfeng executed it perfectly; next, he planned to borrow some combat power from the deep courtyard—whether it was Niangzi or Xiang Hongying, every bit of added strength increased his odds.

Li Li Banfeng was ready to continue fighting with his sickle and Tang Dao when a chill swept over him, nearly making the sickle drop.

"Fuck, where'd this cultivation houseman come from? He scraped me with his boundary!" A two-meter-tall bald giant entered the inn; as he crossed the boundary, it felt like he'd stepped on a nail.

It hurt—but only for an instant.

Judging from his crossing the boundary, this man's physicality was no weaker than the Shedaoren 's.

The Shedaoren looked at the giant: "Why are you only here now?"

The giant chuckled: "The deal wasn't settled—how could I come? Am I supposed to play with you for free?"

You?

Do they have others?

The giant and the Shedaoren both turned to look at Li Li Banfeng.

Li Li Banfeng looked bewildered.

How do we fight now?

Victory was out of the question.

The chance of escape seemed gone too.

Li Banfeng Yi whispered in Li Li Banfeng's ear: "Old Jia, I'll hold them both with Li Banfeng Zi—you run for the Leaving Leaving Suishenju at all costs. You must get back."

"What are you going to use to hold them?"

"Don't worry how we hold them. Don't think about retrieving us, don't worry about hiding the key—just find a way to survive and get back."

"If I go back, what happens to you?"

Li Banfeng Zi said: "Confucius said: don't worry about what happens to us. You live, and avenge us."

As soon as the words ended, Li Banfeng Yi charged the giant, Li Banfeng Zi charged the Shedaoren.

The giant waved his hand; the moment he touched Li Banfeng Yi, Li Banfeng Yi flew backward.

Li Banfeng Zi had barely reached the Shedaoren when the giant kicked him into the wall.

Li Banfeng Yi, mid-air, strained to lock his gaze on the giant.

The giant had been hit by Li Banfeng Yi's "Horse-Gazing Flower," but suffered little damage—only a bruise on his face.

"Still kinda hurts," the giant wiped his face, then moved to grab Li Li Banfeng.

His speed wasn't fast; Li Li Banfeng dodged aside, ready to counterattack—when the Shedaoren 's cleaver slashed toward him. The sickle blocked it, and a blade pressed against Li Li Banfeng's throat.

The Shedaoren clapped his hands—he intended to control the knives to sever Li Li Banfeng's head.

Tang Dao pushed the cleaver aside; the chopping knife slashed toward Li Li Banfeng's chest.

Li Li Banfeng dodged the chopping knife—then sudden agony struck his skull: the giant's palm clamped onto his head.

This was their tactic: Li Li Banfeng had been forced into the giant's grasp by the Shedaoren.

The giant grinned: "I have a technique called Pulling the Radish. You grip the head, twist left, then right—and you pull the whole thing off. Haven't used it in ages—I'd like to try."

The Shedaoren urged: "Stop talking, kill him now!"

The giant frowned at the Shedaoren: "I saved you—speak to me with more respect. Look closely at his clothes—he might be someone important. If we capture him alive, His Majesty will reward us."

The Shedaoren snarled: "No time! Do your damn job!"

"Won't delay the job," the giant turned to Li Li Banfeng: "Are you Li Qi?"

Li Li Banfeng stayed silent, gripped the giant's wrist, and pulled with all his strength—he used "Heart Longing for Home," trying to drag the giant into the mansion.

No use.

Couldn't move him.

The giant's strength was too great; Li Li Banfeng couldn't budge him.

The glove leapt out, trying to steal the giant's tendons.

If he could sever those tendons, Li Li Banfeng might still escape.

But the giant's tendons were too tightly coiled—the glove tugged twice, failed to pull.

The giant swept his hand—the glove was flung far away, landing on the ground.

The Judge's Pen stabbed at the giant's wrist; the Shedaoren spotted it, and the bone-removing dagger and two curved blades surrounded the Pen, clashing with it.

The wine gourd and old teapot both leapt out—one splashed wine, the other sprayed tea, drenching the giant's face.

The giant wiped his face; neither tea nor wine had any effect on him.

Tang Dao slashed three times but couldn't leave its sheath; the sickle kept hacking at the giant but left no mark.

Li Banfeng Zi tried to swap places with Li Li Banfeng—tried twice, failed.

Li Li Banfeng's stamina was exhausted; Li Banfeng Zi was barely holding on.

The projector rose behind Li Li Banfeng, flashing blinding light—making the giant blink.

The glove struggled up, leapt, and jabbed the giant's eye.

Blood streamed from the giant's left eye.

He punched the glove away: "Where the hell do all these trinkets come from? I'm bored with you. One last time—are you Li Qi?"

Li Li Banfeng remained silent.

The Shedaoren prepared to strike: "I told you—don't waste time. If you delay the mission, you'll answer for it."

The giant blocked him: "You can't move. He's my capture. This credit isn't yours to steal."

The Shedaoren snarled: "Then just cut off his head and identify him later!"

The giant nodded: "Fine. A head's worth something too."

Li Li Banfeng kept struggling—but couldn't break free.

The magic treasures fought desperately—but none could save Li Li Banfeng.

Anything that came near the giant was instantly flung away.

If Old Man were still conscious, still flexible—how much better it would be.

The giant began twisting his wrist—he was about to wrench off Li Li Banfeng's head—when his strength suddenly drained.

"Pulling the Radish—is it left first, or right? I can't remember."

Hearing this voice, the Shedaoren trembled all over.

He looked up—the peddler, drenched in blood, crouched on the giant's shoulder.

The giant's voice shook: "We're comrades—we swore to part amicably. You promised."

"Yes, I promised," the peddler nodded. "But I also said—if you joined Neizhou, never set foot in Like Puluozhou again. You haven't forgotten that, have you?"

"I was just passing through—I'm leaving right now!" The giant released Li Li Banfeng and grabbed for the peddler.

He seized the peddler by the neck, trying to tear him off—but couldn't move him.

"Leaving right now?" The peddler smiled. "Too late."

The Shedaoren charged the peddler; Li Li Banfeng seized him from behind, and they grappled.

The peddler and the giant wrestled, their bones cracking.

After a long stalemate, the peddler clasped the giant's head, twisted left, then right—and wrenched it clean off the neck.

The Shedaoren sprouted blades across his body, aiming to pierce Li Li Banfeng.

The peddler stepped close to the Shedaoren, raised his hand, and gripped his head.

No one knew what technique he used—the Shedaoren froze in place.

Li Li Banfeng smiled, standing before the Shedaoren.

The Shedaoren shouted: "You two against one—what kind of heroes are you?!"

Li Li Banfeng laughed: "When the two of you were beating me alone, why didn't you say that?"

The Shedaoren thought, then shouted: "I never went for your life! I saw you were young—I held back! I let you win!"

"Did you?" Li Li Banfeng nodded. "I saw you were old—I let you win too. I'll fight you with one hand—I'll kill you with one hand!"

The Shedaoren tried to argue—Li Li Banfeng swung the sickle and severed his head.

Two heads lay on the ground; both men panted for a long while.

Li Li Banfeng helped Li Banfeng Zi up and pulled him close.

He walked to the corner, picked up the glove, and tucked it into his robe.

He gathered each magic treasure, then tried to recall Li Banfeng Yi.

He tried several times—his body swayed.

He couldn't summon him. Li Banfeng Yi gave no response.

The peddler made a "leave" gesture toward his shadow; his shadow walked out, and soon returned, supporting Li Banfeng Yi.

Li Li Banfeng retrieved Li Banfeng Yi, retrieved Li Banfeng Zi, opened the Leaving Leaving Suishenju, and brought back all the shattered tables, chairs, and benches from the inn.

The peddler asked: "You're taking this too?"

Li Li Banfeng nodded: "This is my family's treasure; it's fought enemies with me."

After moving the tables and chairs, Li Li Banfeng sat on the ground, removed his hat, and wiped the blood from his head.

The hat had been crushed by the giant, and Li Li Banfeng felt his own skull had been crushed too.

The peddler pulled out two rolled cigarettes, gave one to Li Li Banfeng, and kept the other for himself.

Li Li Banfeng pulled out a lighter, lit the peddler's cigarette, then lit his own.

The two sat in silence, each taking a puff.

Li Li Banfeng glanced at the peddler: "Where did you go?"

The peddler spat out smoke: "We fought a battle. They had more men."

Li Li Banfeng asked: "Did you win?"

The peddler nodded: "We won."

Li Li Banfeng asked again: "Did you make money?"

The peddler thought a moment: "Didn't lose anything."

Both took another puff and laughed.

After laughing for a long while, Li Li Banfeng asked: "Who are these two men?"

The peddler pointed at the giant: "This is the leader of the Strength Cultivators."

A sect leader — a status beyond reach.

Escaping death from his hands was an honor — but Li Li Banfeng still didn't believe it: "Really a leader?"

The peddler rummaged through the giant's body, found a silver dollar. On the front were two characters: Strength Cultivators; on the back, two more: Leader.

"I made this silver dollar myself. The Strength Cultivators' leader made only three. He took one by force." The peddler slipped the coin into his pocket, then pulled out another silver dollar.

"This one's mine too. I'm giving it to you." The peddler handed the coin to Li Li Banfeng.

Li Li Banfeng examined the coin: on the front, it read Home Cultivators; on the back, Leader.

He held the coin, looking at the peddler.

The peddler gave Li Li Banfeng a slight nod.

Li Li Banfeng held the coin in his hand for a long while, then slipped it into his pocket.

"And who's that? The Blade Cultivators' leader?" Li Li Banfeng pointed to the knife-dealer.

The peddler thought a moment: "He is indeed the Blade Cultivators' leader, but he doesn't often use that title."

"Even a leader doesn't use it?" Li Li Banfeng said. "Then what title does he use?"

The peddler said: "Founder of the Blade Cultivators."