Chapter 718: Sunflower

Sea-Eat Ridge, Third Ridge, Pancake Village.

Niu Niu Fuzhi took his family to the temple to offer incense to Seventh Old Master, and each took their tools to work in the fields.

They didn't know that two people were standing behind the statue: one was the Land-Head God Pan Pan Dehai, who knew the concealment technique, so ordinary people couldn't see him.

One was Li Qi; no one could notice him.

There was also an invisible sunflower growing behind the statue. On the flower disk, a sunflower seed had grown into a small statue, standing quietly on the flower disk, bending the flower stalk.

Pan Pan Dehai gently picked the small statue from the flower disk. There was one less seed on the flower disk.

He held the statue and told Li Qi to change places to talk. The two left the Seventh Old Master Temple and arrived at Pan Pan Dehai's residence. Pan Pan Dehai handed the small statue to Li Li Banfeng.

Li Li Banfeng took the statue, placed it on his head to test it, and pure human energy entered his body under Li Li Banfeng's control.

The thing was real, but the method was a bit bizarre. Li Li Banfeng truly didn't expect that the statue used to collect human energy was a sunflower seed.

"Old Pan, you actually know how to use Farming Cultivator techniques?"

Pan Pan Dehai smiled, "After cultivating for so many years, it's impossible to only study one technique. I've also dabbled in the techniques of other Dao Sects."

"The cultivation of this type of sunflower does have some mechanisms of Farming Cultivators, but the most critical method still comes from Virtue Cultivators."

Pan Pan Dehai took a bag of sunflower seeds and gave a serious explanation, "These sunflower seeds were specially cultivated by me using the Virtue Cultivator technique 'Spring Breeze Turns to Rain.' The essence of 'Spring Breeze Turns to Rain' lies in education and edification."

"Under the repeated edification of the Virtue Cultivator technique, these sunflower seeds gained some spirituality. After being cultivated into sunflowers, they learned the Virtue Cultivator technique 'Humble and Open-Minded'."

"Sunflowers with the 'Humble and Open-Minded' technique can absorb human energy in the shrine. The more human energy, the faster the sunflower grows. After absorbing enough human energy, it will produce such sunflower seeds."

Hearing this, Li Li Banfeng wasn't happy, "What did you say at the beginning? You said you guaranteed you could teach me this method and guaranteed you could teach me. Now you tell me this is a Virtue Cultivator technique. How do you expect me to learn it?"

Pan Pan Dehai adjusted his round-framed glasses, shook his folding fan, and said slowly, "Brother Li Qi, don't be impatient. Old man, I have long had a countermeasure."

"The best policy: you join my Virtue Cultivator Dao Sect, and I will pass on the 'Spring Breeze Turns to Rain' technique to you."

"Nonsense!" Li Li Banfeng shouted angrily, "What kind of cultivation base am I at? How could I possibly cultivate another Dao Sect?"

Pan Pan Dehai shook his head, "Ordinary Dao Sects cannot be cultivated concurrently, but my Dao Sect is not of the ordinary kind. As the saying goes,"

"The foundation of all things begins with virtue; the rise and fall of all things originate from virtue. Virtue is the foundation of all Dao Sects in the world!"

Li Li Banfeng brewed for a moment, preparing to... Pan Pan Dehai.

Pan Pan Dehai continued, "Brother Li Qi, I have already understood the origin of all Dao Sects in the world, and now I have learned a secret method that can allow you to cultivate Virtue Cultivators concurrently without being backlashed by other Dao Sects."

Li Li Banfeng looked at Pan Pan Dehai quietly. He said some things that must be translated using special methods.

The so-called understanding of the origin of all Dao Sects should be proof that he had learned the techniques of some other Dao Sects.

The secret method he mentioned should be a trick of Virtue Cultivators that could break the boundaries between cultivation bases, thereby avoiding backlash.

Ayi once said that Foolish Cultivators and Nightmare Cultivators belonged to a special category of Dao Sects and generally wouldn't conflict with other Dao Sects. Virtue Cultivators were likely in this special category too, just needing some tricks during the cultivation process.

But this wasn't the point.

Li Li Banfeng directly refused Pan Pan Dehai, "I won't learn Virtue Cultivators."

No matter how tempting the conditions Pan Pan Dehai offered, Li Li Banfeng couldn't possibly join the Virtue Cultivators.

He remembered Did Did Honglian Daba's warning: never cultivate a Dao Sect you hate. This Dao Sect of Virtue Cultivators could definitely make him go crazy within a day.

Pan Pan Dehai sighed long and said, "Since the best policy is not followed, there is a middle policy. I have a magic treasure that is very good at the 'Spring Breeze Turns to Rain' technique. I can give it to you now to help you cast the spell."

This was indeed a good method, but Li Li Banfeng thought for a long time before asking, "Is there a worst policy?"

Pan Pan Dehai frowned, "What's wrong with the middle policy?"

Li Li Banfeng laughed honestly, "I came here to learn skills from you; how could I be embarrassed to accept your magic treasure!"

Pan Pan Dehai was very magnanimous, "There are few people of virtue in the world. You and I should be considered models among them. As the saying goes, heroes cherish each other, and our intentions are compatible. A mere magic treasure, why mention it?"

Li Li Banfeng waved his hands repeatedly, "It's enough to have you as a model of a person of virtue. Just tell me the worst policy."

He didn't want to accept Pan Pan Dehai's magic treasure. No one could say what Pan Pan Dehai would put in the magic treasure. If he gave it to Did Honglian to re-refine, and the magic treasure couldn't be used after refining, who could he reason with?

Pan Pan Dehai was helpless and could only say the worst policy, "You can also come to me to take sunflower seeds and plant them yourself. As long as there is no mishap here, you can take the sunflower seeds as you please."

What if he had a mishap?

Li Li Banfeng weighed it again and again and came up with an idea, "I have a soulmate who is a fellow disciple of Pan Lao. You pass the technique to her, and let her help me make sunflower seeds."

Pan Pan Dehai was in a dilemma, "I have studied all my life to gain this secret method; how can I pass it on easily?"

"Rest assured, it will absolutely not be passed on. It's only for me to use. Let's sign a contract."

The next day, Li Li Banfeng brought Meng De over and let her learn the technique from Old Pan.

Old Pan pushed back and forth, unwilling to teach. Li Li Banfeng sank his face, "Worry-Forget Lady originally didn't trust you. This time, forming an alliance with you is entirely for my sake. If I don't give this face, the alliance won't be formed."

While speaking, Li Li Banfeng's legs shook violently, and his body shook with them.

Pan Pan Dehai asked with concern, "Brother Li Qi, did you catch a cold?"

Li Li Banfeng waved his hand, "I'm angry at you. Just tell me, do you agree to this matter or not?"

Pan Pan Dehai was reasonable and taught Meng De for ten full days.

Meng De's talent for Virtue Cultivators was quite good, and she learned diligently. In ten days, she learned the method and cultivated the first batch of sunflower seeds.

Li Li Banfeng took the sunflower seeds to Dao Dao Guiling and planted one in the shrine.

Just after planting, Li Li Banfeng was a bit worried. Dao Dao Guiling ghosts had average vision, but once the sunflower grew up,

it was impossible for them not to see it, and they would definitely pull it out as a weed.

Pan Pan Dehai had the concealment technique, so others couldn't see the sunflowers he planted. If he asked him to teach it, would he be willing to teach it for free?

He probably wouldn't be willing to teach it for free. If he raised other conditions, Li Li Banfeng wouldn't be able to handle it.

Were there any other methods?

Yes!

The "Confusing Flowers and Blinding Eyes" formation!

Sun Sun Tiecheng once used the "Confusing Flowers and Blinding Eyes" formation to help Li Li Banfeng hide the contract, and Li Li Banfeng had also learned this method from Ninth Lady.

The essentials of the technique were a bit complicated: choose the right direction, use the right depth and strength, tear open an unknown gap, and release unknown power from the gap to confuse others' vision.

Li Li Banfeng took two branches and stuck them where the sunflower seeds were planted.

After sticking them, Li Li Banfeng looked for a while, and the two branches were clearly visible.

This was a formation he had set up himself, so naturally, it couldn't fool himself.

Who could he find to test it?

Cui Cui Tike definitely wasn't suitable, and Dao Dao Guiling ghosts wouldn't work either. Li Li Banfeng returned to the personal space and used the "Connecting the Bridal Chamber" technique to swap Ninth Lady out.

Ninth Lady looked at the two branches on the ground and asked Li Li Banfeng, "Are you going to use 'Hundred Steps Paces Zongheng'?"

Li Li Banfeng sniffed. Ninth Lady saw the branches at a glance, proving the formation didn't work.

Seeing Li Li Banfeng's awkward expression, Hua Jiuer guessed roughly.

"So you wanted to use the 'Confusing Flowers and Blinding Eyes' formation. This formation is hard to learn. Big Sister will help you set it up first." Hua Jiuer was truly considerate; she set up the formation for Li Li Banfeng and hid the sunflower.

Li Li Banfeng was full of gratitude, "Hua Jiuer, you rarely come out usually. I'll take you for a walk around."

Hua Jiuer was happy in her heart, took Li Li Banfeng's arm, and walked out of the shrine.

Looking at the Dao Dao Guiling ghosts all over the mountains and plains, Hua Jiuer smiled and said, "I just remembered one thing. The weather has been humid these days, and Xiang Xiang Hongying has a rash all over her body. I promised to apply medicine for her. Let's go home."

"Xiang Xiang Hongying can get a rash too?" Li Li Banfeng didn't expect this.

"Yes, her flesh and blood are different from ours. That's what she grew herself, much stronger than us puppets. So, you should send me home." Hua Jiuer grabbed Li Li Banfeng's arm tightly, her voice becoming more and more gentle.

Li Li Banfeng said, "Applying medicine isn't urgent. Let's walk around the mountain a bit more."

A roar came, and the Dao Dao Guiling ghosts were preparing to start the ritual.

Hua Jiuer was silent for a moment, then suddenly looked at Li Li Banfeng and roared, "I want to go home!"

Li Li Banfeng quickly sent Ninth Lady back.

Ninth Lady had seen the world and had fought with Dan Chengjun and Shu Wanjuan. Could Dao Dao Guiling ghosts scare her like this?

Moreover, the Dao Dao Guiling ghosts in Ninth Lady's cognition were still stuck in her own memory. The current Dao Dao Guiling ghosts had been strengthened beyond what was in her memory.

If Dao Dao Guiling ghosts walked out of the Cheap Person Ridge, what would be the consequences?

Li Li Banfeng looked at Cui Cui Tike's cave and watched for a long time before leaving.

The sunflower seeds for absorbing human energy were made, but Li Li Banfeng sat at home, his body still shaking uncontrollably.

The Lady could see this was a cultivation base backlash, but she hadn't expected the backlash to be so severe.

"Husband, if we absorb human energy from Dao Dao Guiling, how long will it take to save enough for Cloud Four?"

Li Li Banfeng thought about it, but couldn't estimate it for a moment, "It should be quite fast, right?"

Xiang Xiang Hongying asked, "Adding your own territories, it should be enough in a month, right?"

Li Li Banfeng didn't speak. A month was definitely not enough.

Xiang Xiang Hongying asked again, "Then half a year?"

The Record Player signaled Xiang Xiang Hongying not to speak anymore. Looking at Li Li Banfeng's current state, she wasn't sure if Li Li Banfeng could hold on for half a year.

Hua Jiuer shook her head slightly at the Record Player from the side. Some things couldn't be said clearly now. Cultivation base backlash feared worry the most. The deeper the worry, the fiercer the backlash.

But how could Li Li Banfeng not worry? In his current state, he didn't know how long he could persist,

nor did he know in what year or month he would save enough human energy.

The Record Player thought of an idea, "Husband, you don't just have human energy on Dao Dao Guiling; your reputation in Green Water City isn't small either. Find a place to plant some sunflower seeds and try."

Reminded by the Lady, Li Li Banfeng suddenly realized.

He went to the Leisure Dock and planted a sunflower beside the stage, which Ninth Lady covered with the "Confusing Flowers and Blinding Eyes" formation.

People in Green Water City all knew that the Leisure Dock was Li Qi and Ma Wu's territory. The human energy that could be collected here probably wouldn't be much less than Dao Dao Guiling.

Besides the Leisure Dock, what other places were there?

Late at night, Li Li Banfeng went to Tiemenbao and planted a sunflower in the fort.

The next day, Li Li Banfeng went to Black Stone Slope again and planted a sunflower around the newspaper office.

On Black Stone Slope, the reputation of "Night Fragrance" was very big, and Night Boss's reputation was also very big. Should he plant a few more?

Li Li Banfeng looked back at the newspaper office. The newspaper office transformed from a factory didn't change much. Some editors were still rushing to write drafts for tomorrow's morning paper, and there were photographers in the workshop taking photos for next month's magazine.

Li Li Banfeng liked the newspaper office very much and should come to stay for a few days more often.

It had been so long since he came back, and he didn't know if they still remembered Night Boss.

There were hundreds or thousands of seeds on the sunflower disk. Planting one was enough.

Li Li Banfeng walked to the door, and Li Li Banfeng tripped, nearly falling on the road.

His two feet began to stop listening to him.

Besides Tiemenbao and Black Stone Slope, what other places could collect human energy?

Li Li Banfeng ran to the Inner Continent. Not to mention other places, in the Dark Star Bureau, there were still many people who would think of Director Li. Li Li Banfeng planted a sunflower in his office. When Ninth Lady helped Li Li Banfeng set up the formation, she found that Li Li Banfeng's complexion wasn't very good.

"Seventh Brother, if you're tired, rest for a while. Let's think of other ways."

"Not tired. I'm used to running. This doesn't count as anything." Sending Ninth Lady back to the personal space, Li Li Banfeng felt his legs go soft.

What other places could he go?

There were quite a few people in Seven Autumn City who remembered Li Qi, and there was Righteous Village, and—

And Green Smoke City. I don't know if those children still remember.

Li Li Banfeng went to Green Smoke City, preparing to plant a sunflower in a warehouse beside the station. Before he could dig the pit, Li Li Banfeng's legs turned, and he fell beside the warehouse, knocking over a pile of cargo boxes, unable to crawl up for a long time.

Ordinary people wouldn't notice Li Li Banfeng, but these cargo boxes fell, attracting the warehouse keeper.

The warehouse keeper looked at Li Li Banfeng and shouted, "What are you doing?"

"Nothing. I just came to see if my goods had arrived." Li Li Banfeng supported the boxes all over the floor and stood up with difficulty.

The warehouse keeper waved his hand, "Go look elsewhere. Your goods definitely aren't here."

"I remember they were here."

"It's impossible for them to be here. Hurry up and leave. This warehouse doesn't store things."

"Since it's a warehouse, why doesn't it store things?"

The warehouse keeper was impatient, "Is this your first time in Green Smoke City? You don't even know about this warehouse?"

Li Li Banfeng shook his head, "What's special about this warehouse?"

"This is the territory of our Benefactor!" When saying the two words "Benefactor," the warehouse keeper raised his voice, "Our Benefactor was in this place, saved the children of our Green Smoke City, and saved our flesh and blood!"

Li Li Banfeng was stunned for a long time, "You all know about this?"

The warehouse keeper was also stunned, "How could we not know? Those were our children, and the children said it themselves!"

Li Li Banfeng looked back at the warehouse and then at the warehouse keeper, "You all still remember this?"

"Remember! Who could forget the Benefactor?" The warehouse keeper pointed at Li Li Banfeng, "Hurry up and leave! This place cannot be moved. This is the treasure land of Green Smoke City. You're lucky to have met me. I won't argue with you in the middle of the night. If the other warehouse keepers come, see if they don't clean you up!"

The warehouse keeper was also very scared. He didn't know the background of this person and just wanted to drive Li Li Banfeng away.

Li Li Banfeng stumbled a few steps and turned back to ask, "You all really remember?"

"Remember! Who could forget the Benefactor? Hurry up and get out!"

Li Li Banfeng walked out of the warehouse and sat on the side of the road.

The air in Green Smoke City always had a faint smell of smoke. Li Li Banfeng looked at the gray street and whispered in his mouth, "There are still people who remember, still remember—."

"There are quite a few people who remember you. A sunflower should be planted in Green Smoke City." The Peddler put his carrying pole on the side of the road, took a bowl from the pole, poured a bowl of fruit juice, and handed it to Li Li Banfeng.

Li Li Banfeng sat on the side of the road and drank it down in one gulp.

After drinking this hot bowl, he felt he had some strength again.

Looking at the Peddler's carrying pole, Li Li Banfeng said, "The cargo truck isn't fixed yet?"

"If it were fixed, would I still need to carry this?" The Peddler found five medicine bags from the carrying pole and handed them to Li Li Banfeng.

Li Li Banfeng looked at the medicine bags, "What medicine is this?"

"Soul-Returning Soup. Drink one bag every three days. It can last for half a month. Those sunflower seeds were given to you by Pan Pan Dehai, right?"

"

Li Li Banfeng nodded.

"Give them to me."

Li Li Banfeng handed the seeds to the Peddler.

The Peddler took out one and buried it on the side of the road, "There are many people here who remember the Benefactor. The sunflower here will sprout soon."

He dipped some snowflake cream, smeared it where the sunflower seeds were planted, and hid the sunflower.

"There are many other places that remember you," the Peddler carried the bag of sunflower seeds and said to Li Li Banfeng, "I'll go plant the sunflower seeds for you. After you finish drinking the Soul-Returning Soup, wait for me in Green Water City."

Li Li Banfeng looked at the medicine bags in his hand, "Need to drink Soul-Returning Soup?"

The Peddler nodded, "If you don't drink it, you'll lose your life. The conflict between Residential and Traveling is too big. I didn't take it to heart when I saw you were fine before,"

"I didn't expect the backlash to be so fierce when it broke out."

Li Li Banfeng put away the medicine bags and looked up at the Peddler, "Why can you always find me?"

The Peddler glanced behind Li Li Banfeng, "Before, it was because I didn't trust you."

Li Li Banfeng said, "And later?"

The Peddler shouldered the carrying pole, "Later, I didn't want to find you, but I had to. Otherwise, I'd just be waiting for you to burn my house."

Li Li Banfeng stood up, "Owed you such a big favor, how should I repay it?"

The Peddler shook his head, "This favor isn't big. Sending a few people to run errands is enough. You will definitely survive this disaster; it's all earned by yourself."

Returning to the personal space, Li Li Banfeng handed the medicine bags to the Record Player, "Lady, boil a dose of medicine for me to eat first. This is the Soul-Returning Soup given by the Peddler."

Hearing "Soul-Returning Soup," the Lady's heart sank. The Peddler giving this thing proved that Husband's state was quite worrying. She hurriedly took the tools to boil the medicine.

Did Honglian came to the side of the medicine silently, smelling the scent, and trembled slightly at the lotus edge.

Hu-wei~

A cloud of steam circled around Did Honglian, and the lotus edge immediately shrank back.

"General Zhao, what are you doing? I'm boiling medicine; can't I even watch?"

"Do you want to watch, or do you want to drink? The Peddler's unique secret medicine, has it made you greedy?"

The steam rolled around Did Honglian, and Did Honglian retreated to the distance sensibly.

One dose of soup medicine after another was drunk. In the blink of an eye, half a month was almost up. With the Soul-Returning Soup maintaining him, Li Li Banfeng's condition was acceptable.

He went to Dao Dao Guiling first, arrived behind the shrine, and found the sunflower.

There were rituals in the shrine every day, and five small statues had formed on the sunflower.

The image of the statue was basically consistent with the statue built by the Dao Dao Guiling ghosts: a man wearing a suit,

wearing a top hat, standing straight. Because the hat brim was too low, the man's face was almost invisible.

This was the Dao Dao Guiling ghosts' impression of Li Qi.

The Dao Dao Guiling ghosts held rituals every day, and their faith in Li Li Banfeng was also very pious, but this quantity still surprised Li Li Banfeng.

Absorbing the human energy on the statues one by one, Li Li Banfeng thought of a question.

There were many Seventh Old Master Temples on the three ridges. During the New Year, every village had temple fairs. The quantity of human energy shouldn't be small, but Pan Pan Dehai only gave Li Li Banfeng two statues.

Old Pan still hid quite a few. I'll find time to chat with him another day.

That night, Li Li Banfeng went to Tiemenbao.

The number of Residential Cultivators in Tiemenbao was limited, and he couldn't count on them to hold rituals. Li Li Banfeng didn't hold much hope.

But after finding the sunflower and looking, there were actually three statues on the flower disk.

The image of the statue was different from Dao Dao Guiling. He was wearing armor, holding a long saber, standing majestically.

This was the memory of the Fort Master in Tiemenbao. The Fort Master was like a door god to them.

But this quantity made Li Li Banfeng unable to understand. The number of Residential Cultivators was far from being comparable to Dao Dao Guiling ghosts. How could three small statues be formed in such a short time?

The mechanism of human energy formation still had differences from Li Li Banfeng's understanding.

The next day, Li Li Banfeng went to Black Stone Slope. There were two statues on the sunflower in the newspaper office. One had grown up, and the other's outline wasn't clear yet, so it couldn't be picked yet.

The grown statue was wearing a tailcoat, wearing a top hat, smoking a pipe, and holding a stack of newspapers in his hand.

This was consistent with the image of the newspaper office boss.

Tomorrow was the appointed day. Li Li Banfeng returned to Green Water City and first checked the sunflower beside the stage at the Leisure Dock.

There were four statues on the flower disk!

It had to be admitted that Green Water City had always been the main source of human energy.

The statues here were a bit special: wearing a long dress, long hair, one hand slightly lifting the skirt, one hand on the chest, seemingly bowing.

Li Li Banfeng stared at the statue for a long time and asked the Lady, "Is this me?"

The Lady also looked for a long time, "It doesn't seem to be Husband."

Li Li Banfeng placed the statue on his head and tested it for a while. He could feel the human energy surging, but he couldn't absorb any of it.

This human energy wasn't for him. Looking carefully at the face of the statue, Li Li Banfeng soberly realized a problem: this was Jiang Jiang Mengting's human energy.

Most people who came to the Leisure Dock to listen to songs were here for Jiang Jiang Mengting.

There were a few statues that hadn't grown up. Judging from the images, they should all be singers at the Leisure Dock. Most people wouldn't think of Li Qi when listening to songs.

Li Li Banfeng put the statue aside and sat quietly on the bed. His two legs shook violently, making the bed creak.

The Record Player sighed lightly, "Husband, the day has arrived. Go wait for the Peddler."

While speaking, she looked at Did Honglian.

PS: If the Peddler doesn't get things done, I'll have to gamble again and go to the Dark Star Bureau to find the Heavenly Lady's statue. ===== CHAPTER 719 =====