Chapter 719: Meeting Too Late

At dawn, the Leisure Dock was silent. The guests had dispersed, the dancers had returned, and the artists were all sound asleep.

The Peddler entered Li Li Banfeng's room through the window. Li Li Banfeng was waiting in the room.

"I intended to help you collect the seeds, but I encountered an emergency, so you'll have to collect them yourself," the Peddler gave Li Li Banfeng a map, a box of cooling oil, and seven bags of Soul-Returning Soup, "Apply the cooling oil to your eyes, and you'll be able to see where the sunflowers are. Everything is clearly written on the map; you'll definitely be able to find them."

Li Li Banfeng collected the map and medicine bags and asked, "What emergency did you encounter?"

The Peddler looked at Li Li Banfeng's condition, "Don't worry about this for now. Deal with your own affairs first."

Li Li Banfeng looked at the map, "So many places?"

"Didn't I say so? There are many people who remember you."

Li Li Banfeng also saw two place names not on the map, only text descriptions, "There are some in these places too?"

"Yes! These two places are quite critical. You must go."

Li Li Banfeng was still confused, "Who did you ask to plant sunflowers in these places?"

"There are my secret agents in those places. From today on, you must drink one dose of Soul-Returning Soup a day." The Peddler didn't say much more and left in a hurry.

One dose a day meant Li Li Banfeng's condition was even more dangerous.

Li Li Banfeng took the map and began searching for sunflowers everywhere.

The sunflower in Blue Poplar Village produced a statue of a man in black hacking people with a saber. The folk customs here were still simple and honest, and their impression of Li Qi hadn't changed.

Righteous Village had one and a half statues; one had grown up, and the other was still lacking a bit. It was a man in black shooting people with a gun.

Li Li Banfeng was very dissatisfied. He had spent so much effort managing Righteous Village, and this was the only image he left behind?

Snake Bridge Village had eight statues.

Every time Li Li Banfeng saved three-headed people, he settled them in Snake Bridge Village. There were still more than ten thousand people living in Snake Bridge Village now.

The human energy here was actually higher than Dao Ghost Ridge?

The statue in Snake Bridge Village was very interesting: a man in black, wearing a top hat, was driving a train.

The human energy in Seven Autumn City also mostly came from three-headed people, but the statue was obviously different from Snake Bridge Village. Li Li Banfeng stood in front of a wooden house, seemingly guarding it.

Although there were fewer than three thousand three-headed people living in Seven Autumn City, Li Li Banfeng collected five statues from Seven Autumn City. Green Smoke City had one and a half statues; the image was Li Li Banfeng holding a child.

Sleepless Town had one statue; the image was Li Li Banfeng holding a pillow. Ever since Li Li Banfeng became the Land-Head God Wang Wang Zimian here, people could sleep properly.

Sea-Eat Ridge collected six statues. Before the temple fair, the human energy of Seventh Old Master was limited. Five statues came from the Seventh Old Master Temples in various villages, and one came from the second ridge. The first ridge only had half a statue, which hadn't grown up yet.

The statues in Santoucha were more scattered, but the quantity was astonishing. Li Li Banfeng collected a total of sixteen statues.

These statues had different forms, but most had three heads. The three-headed people were hoping for Li Qi to go and save them, but they didn't know what Li Qi looked like.

Among them was one very special statue: Li Li Banfeng holding a basket and dancing.

This statue came from Baiji Commandery. The Peddler had collected the statue in advance and hid it on a desert island in the underground city of the Sea Market.

Seeing this statue, Li Li Banfeng felt a bit ashamed. The little things he did for the Bai Sun were nothing compared to what the Bai Sun had paid.

And there were Yellow Earth Bridge, Hundred Flower Manor, Soda Kiln—there were indeed quite a few places that remembered Li Qi.

Li Li Banfeng collected the statues from various places one by one. After eating the human energy, he roughly estimated the quantity of human energy.

Ninety-five percent or ninety-seven percent?

Or was it enough?

Li Li Banfeng couldn't grasp the specific number, but he felt it should be enough, yet it seemed to be lacking just a little bit.

Returning to the personal space, Li Li Banfeng discussed the promotion with the Lady.

The Lady's two singing needles were together, circling around. Obviously, she had no certainty, "Husband, Little Slave has never experienced promotion to Cloud Four. This time, it's the Traveling Cultivator who is promoting. Perhaps we should ask Xue Yingying about Traveling Cultivator matters."

Xiang Xiang Hongying was dressing in front of the mirror, sweat sliding down her cheeks continuously.

The Record Player grabbed the board and said, "Haven't you smeared enough? Husband is about to promote, didn't you hear?"

Xiang Xiang Hongying wiped her sweat, "I haven't experienced Cloud Four either. I'm afraid I don't understand it either."

"The more critical the moment, the less you can be counted on!" The Record Player called Ninth Lady over, "Jiu'er, you have seen Cloud Sect techniques; you should know how to promote to Cloud Four."

Ninth Lady was also in a dilemma, "I have seen Cloud Sect techniques, but I haven't learned them. Moreover, this time it should not be necessary to use Cloud Sect techniques."

Xiang Xiang Hongying asked, "Why wouldn't it be necessary? If we don't know that, can we not promote to Cloud Four?"

Ninth Lady said, "The physique of Cloud Three cannot hold the human energy of Cloud Four. Using Cloud Sect techniques is to store excess human energy. Now Ah Qi is already Cloud Four, and he can hold the human energy, so Cloud Sect techniques are no longer needed, so—"

The Record Player said, "So what?"

Ninth Lady lowered her head, looking a bit ashamed, "So I can't help either."

Li Li Banfeng looked around the house and turned to look at the Lady, "Then I can only go find Jiang Ling'er."

The Record Player rubbed against Li Li Banfeng with her speaker, "Husband—then go!"

"Lady, wait for Husband in the main room first. You might need to help later."

"Little Slave will listen to Husband."

The Record Player sent Li Li Banfeng to the door and looked back at the room full of people.

Xiang Xiang Hongying continued to dress, applying lipstick over and over again.

Jiu'er stepped forward to help Xiang Xiang Hongying comb her hair. The braid was combed, then undone, and after undoing it, she combed the braid again.

No one else dared to speak, only the Tang Dao spoke.

"The Marshal can hold a boat in her stomach. It's just that the Master went out to find a woman outside; thinking about it, it's not a big deal."

Xiang Xiang Hongying and Jiu'er both looked at the Record Player.

The Record Player shouted angrily, "Why look at me? Isn't it because you are all useless? If there was one useful one, would it be cheap for the one outside!"

Li Li Banfeng went to the Jade Emerald Building. Jiang Ling'er was doing needlework. She looked up at Li Li Banfeng and asked, "What's the matter?"

Li Li Banfeng said calmly, "Can't I come to see you if there's nothing?"

Jiang Ling'er lowered her head and continued her embroidery, "Speak if you have something to say."

She was just that straightforward. Li Li Banfeng could only tell the truth, "I'm going to promote again."

Jiang Ling'er was stunned, "Didn't you just promote to Cloud Four? How are you promoting again?"

Li Li Banfeng said, "You know, I have two businesses open. One promotes, and the other definitely has to keep up."

While speaking, Li Li Banfeng's legs kept shaking.

Jiang Ling'er looked at Li Li Banfeng's legs, "Your other business is Traveling Cultivator. I don't know much about Traveling Cultivators. It's best to have a Traveling Cultivator come to help."

She agreed!

Li Li Banfeng truly didn't expect Jiang Ling'er to agree so readily!

Li Li Banfeng nodded, "That's easy to say."

Jiang Ling'er thought for a while and said, "Residential and Traveling are mutually exclusive. I don't know how you walked to today. Does anyone know the technique of reconciliation between them?"

"Yes!" Li Li Banfeng had great confidence in this. When he went from Land-Skin to Cloud, Residential and Traveling were promoted at the same time. The Lady definitely knew how to reconcile them.

Jiang Ling'er asked again, "Do you have Mysterious Essence Pills on hand?"

"Yes!" He never lacked Mysterious Essence Pills.

Jiang Ling'er nodded, "Then take action."

M

She was so straightforward, but it filled Li Li Banfeng's heart with guilt.

Jiang Ling'er continued her needlework, seemingly not intending to blame Li Li Banfeng.

After walking a few miles, Li Li Banfeng truly could not break free, and in desperation, he thought of revealing part of the truth.

But before he could speak, he suddenly heard someone say by his ear: "What are you doing? You're quite old, pulling on a young man and not letting go—aren't you ashamed?"

Upon hearing this voice, Li Li Banfeng set his heart at ease.

Granny Ku turned her head to look; a man was squatting honestly behind the two of them with his arms folded.

Granny Ku narrowed her eyes slightly, a cold light appearing in them: "Sun Sun Tiecheng, what are you doing here at my place?"

Sun Sun Tiecheng raised his head and said: "You captured my brother, so didn't I come to you to ask for him?"

Granny Ku widened her eyes, pointed at Li Li Banfeng, and said: "This is your brother?"

Sun Sun Tiecheng nodded and said: "That's right, what about it?"

Granny Ku looked at Li Li Banfeng and laughed: "You really have good fortune. Come, my dear nephew, come and see your brother!"

Li Li Banfeng shouted at Sun Sun Tiecheng: "Big Brother, save me!"

Sun Sun Tiecheng spat at Granny Ku: "Where did you get this 'nephew' from? You old shameless woman, hurry up and release my brother!"

Granny Ku shook her head and said: "He is your brother, but he is also my nephew. I have urgent matters to discuss with him; I truly cannot let him leave today."

"If he doesn't leave, I'm not leaving either." Sun Sun Tiecheng kept squatting on the ground, looking at Granny Ku before him.

He didn't even think about standing up.

Granny Ku frowned slightly and said: "Old Sun, you aren't what you were back then. You're just a living dead man now.

This is my territory; do you really think I'll tolerate you running wild?"

Sun Sun Tiecheng still wore a smile: "They say I have a rotten life. I'm a man who doesn't even have a life left, so what if I run wild? If you don't release my brother today, I'll turn Bitter Vegetable Manor upside down—do you believe me?"

Half an hour later, Sun Sun Tiecheng left Bitter Vegetable Manor with Li Li Banfeng.

Li Li Banfeng lowered his voice and asked: "Brother, how did you come?"

"Why didn't you tell me when you had trouble, kid?" Sun Sun Tiecheng complained. "If the Peddler hadn't found me, I wouldn't have known you were in trouble. These are sunflower seeds from Fool's City; take them first."

Fool's City only produced one divine statue. Li Li Banfeng was the City Lord's junior brother and had fought to the death to defend the city, driving away Laughing Thousand Hands. By rights, his popularity should have been higher.

But Fool's City had no living people, and the quality of the popularity was clearly much worse than elsewhere.

Li Li Banfeng accepted the divine statue, and Sun Sun Tiecheng took out a Land Seal and handed it to Li Li Banfeng: "This is the popularity from the territory of Fool's City. There isn't much popularity in the Old Earth, but having accumulated it for so many years, it should still be of some use."

The popularity in the Land Seal was purely accumulated from the population; it wasn't considered refined, but it had no specific direction, so anyone could absorb it.

Li Li Banfeng placed the Land Seal on his head, and popularity gushed out; Li Li Banfeng couldn't control it even if he wanted to.

After a long while, the popularity was absorbed dry. Li Li Banfeng made a rough calculation; accumulated, it should be about seventy percent.

Sun Sun Tiecheng had handed over all the popularity Fool's City had accumulated over so many years to Li Li Banfeng.

Li Li Banfeng didn't know how to thank him. Sun Sun Tiecheng waved his hand and said: "You are the only living cultivator in our sect. Everything in Fool's City belongs to you. That technique you used on Granny Ku just now—that was 'Speaking of Bitterness,' right?"

"This is a technique I realized myself. Do you think it looks like 'Speaking of Bitterness'?" Li Li Banfeng wanted to brush the matter aside.

Sun Sun Tiecheng shook his head and said: "Learned is learned. I'm not asking who you learned it from, but you haven't grasped the essentials of this technique."

'Speaking of Bitterness' was taught by Hua Jiuer, and it really was lacking something.

Li Li Banfeng humbly asked for advice: "I trouble you to give me more guidance, Brother. Where is the key to the essentials of this technique?"

"The key lies in..." Sun Sun Tiecheng smeared Li Li Banfeng's face with medicinal powder.

Li Li Banfeng had originally been on guard; at Gourd Village, he had just been smeared by Ayi once.

But even with his guard up, he was still smeared across the face by Sun Sun Tiecheng.

Ayi was right; the medicinal powder of the Nightmare Cultivators was very painful. He didn't know what method Sun Sun Tiecheng had used to muddle through in the past.

After the pain passed, Li Li Banfeng asked: "Did I grasp the essentials this time?"

"Got it," Sun Sun Tiecheng nodded. "A technique or two doesn't matter; you must be more mindful of the backlash from cultivation. The Peddler said there is popularity elsewhere. If you can gather enough popularity, that's best. If you can't, remember to come to Fool's City to find me; I still have ways."

Judging from Sun Sun Tiecheng's expression, the method he spoke of was a last resort.

Before leaving, Sun Sun Tiecheng gave Li Li Banfeng a piece of advice: "The Peddler is a fair man, and doing business with him isn't wrong, but you must keep your guard up. Being too fair isn't necessarily a good thing."

After parting with Sun Sun Tiecheng, Li Li Banfeng went to the Soda Kiln. Ma Wu and Luo Luo Shaojun were already waiting in the factory. Li Li Banfeng had set the time beforehand; today he was to head to Boundless City.

On the map provided by the Peddler, there were two places that could not be marked with specific locations: one was Bitter Vegetable Manor, and the other was Boundless City.

Li Li Banfeng also hadn't expected the Peddler to plant sunflowers in Boundless City.

He didn't hold much hope for Boundless City; even if there were twenty divine statues there, it wouldn't be enough to provide him with the remaining twenty percent of popularity.

Li Li Banfeng's only hope was to use some special means to forcibly complete the promotion under conditions of insufficient popularity.

And this only hope could only be pinned on Jiang Linger.

Following Luo Luo Shaojun into Boundless City, because his body was weak, Li Li Banfeng choked on quite a bit of water.

Walking on the street, Li Li Banfeng tried his best to hide his limping gait, but even Luo Luo Shaojun noticed something was wrong: "Seventh Brother, are your shoes not fitting?"

"The shoes fit; I'm just a bit tired from walking." Li Li Banfeng looked up and saw a flat-roofed house with white walls ahead.

Li Li Banfeng recognized this place; it was a coal yard. In Boundless City, this was a restaurant, and many commoners came here to eat.

Li Li Banfeng saw an octopus crawl into the coal yard.

Behind the octopus, Li Li Banfeng saw two worms follow it inside.

When he first saw this coal yard, Li Li Banfeng had met the slave Xi; at that time, he was peering into the coal yard.

Luo Luo Shaojun had said that the coal in the coal yard was very coarse and inferior; only commoners were willing to eat this kind of food, and even the scholars rarely came.

But even for a restaurant like this, it would absolutely never allow slaves to enter.

Li Li Banfeng turned his head to look at Luo Luo Shaojun and asked: "They can go in now?"

Luo Luo Shaojun nodded and said: "They can now. They couldn't before, but Seventh Brother said to abolish the slave system. Sister Su Lijun didn't dare to start, fearing the ministers under her would rebel.

Later, I discussed it with my sister, and we simply borrowed the name of Prince Prince Pingyuan to issue a decree, collecting the slave contracts of the entire city and burning them all.

Although the contracts were destroyed, the families were still unwilling to let the slaves go. I gathered the slaves of the Hou Jue's Mansion and told them about staying or leaving; those willing to stay and work in the Hou Jue's Mansion would all be paid wages in the future, and those unwilling to stay would be given some silver to find their own way.

The Hou Jue's Mansion set an example and used this to coerce the ministers. The ministers obeyed the decree, and the scholars and commoners naturally had no courage to resist. Since then, Boundless City has abolished the slave system."

Li Li Banfeng praised repeatedly: "Well done. This must be rewarded properly. Whatever you want, as long as it's something I can do, just say it."

Being praised by Li Li Banfeng like this, Luo Luo Shaojun felt a bit embarrassed: "Seventh Brother, I don't want any reward. I'll listen to whatever you say.

I know you don't like the people of the Shang Kingdom, but I treat you as family. In the future, just don't despise me, your little sister."

"With such a good little sister, how could I bear to despise you?" Li Li Banfeng walked forward, and suddenly his feet had some strength.

He saw worms buying groceries in the grocery store; they were all broken and dilapidated pots, bowls, and basins.

He saw worms buying wine in the tavern; they were buying the cheapest water-wine.

He saw worms looking for work; although they were all rough jobs, they clearly wrote the wages on the sign.

They were living their lives.

They were people, and they were living like people.

Li Li Banfeng walked all the way to the Hou Jue's Mansion, feeling more strength with every step. Just as he reached the main gate, Luo Luo Yanjun came out to greet him.

"Seventh Brother, you've finally come."

Li Li Banfeng looked at Luo Yanjun and then turned to look at Luo Shaojun.

Luo Luo Shaojun was also surprised: "Sister, when did you arrive?"

She had waited for Li Qi on the shore for two days; during this time, she really didn't know Luo Luo Yanjun had arrived in Boundless City.

Luo Luo Yanjun ignored Luo Shaojun, leaned close to Li Li Banfeng's ear, and said softly: "Seventh Brother, a friend from Zhaoge wants to see you."

"Which friend from Zhaoge?" Luo Luo Shaojun's tone was full of vigilance; she knew Li Qi's condition wasn't very good.

Luo Luo Yanjun still ignored Luo Shaojun; she only looked at Li Li Banfeng.

Li Li Banfeng knew Luo Luo Yanjun would take the initiative to find him, but he hadn't expected her to come so quickly, and so coincidentally.

"Where is that friend? I trouble you to lead the way." Li Li Banfeng followed Luo Luo Yanjun to the East Courtyard. At this time, no matter how difficult it was, his spine had to be straight, and his steps had to be steady.

When they reached the entrance of the East Courtyard, Luo Luo Shaojun wanted to follow, but was stopped by Luo Yanjun: "Let's not go, sister. Rest assured, I will absolutely not harm Seventh Brother."

Li Li Banfeng saw a man in the hall of the East Courtyard with thin eyebrows, round glasses, and a very wide nose bridge that took up most of his face. The most distinctive feature was his mustache.

There were two whiskers on the upper lip and six on the lower lip, each one the length and thickness of a mung bean sprout.

This should be a fish.

That fish-man bowed first: "Nian Nian Shangyou, Scholar of the Hongwen Pavilion, greets Prince Prince Pingyuan."

Nian Nian Shangyou—judging by the name, he really was a perch.

"What do you want with me?" Li Li Banfeng was in no mood to exchange pleasantries with him; being able to stand steadily and talk to him was already no easy feat.

Nian Nian Shangyou bowed again: "Your Highness is a straightforward person, and this subordinate dares not beat around the bush. This subordinate has come here for an important matter concerning my master."

"Since it's your master's business, why didn't he come himself?"

"My master is a member of the imperial clan and cannot travel easily."

"So it's royalty," Li Li Banfeng feigned surprise. "What business is there that royalty can't handle, that you have to come find me?"

Nian Nian Shangyou said slowly: "The royal bloodline has three branches from one root; the three branches grow together, but their ambitions differ.

The pine is vigorous and upright, the bamboo is humble and open-minded, and the plum is proud against the snow. Although each has its own ambition, it is difficult to conspire together!"

Upon hearing this, Li Li Banfeng nodded repeatedly: "Don't speak foreign languages."

Nian Nian Shangyou smiled: "Your Highness is a person of temperament, so this subordinate will speak more directly. My master wants to change from three branches sharing one root to each enjoying its own branch."

Li Li Banfeng said: "What does 'each enjoying its own branch' mean? Explain it more clearly."

Nian Nian Shangyou felt he had already spoken clearly enough, but Li Li Banfeng was pressing him, so he could only speak even more plainly: "It means turning the three-headed person into three people."

Li Li Banfeng suddenly realized: "So that's what 'each enjoying its own branch' means, but I can't do this."

Nian Nian Shangyou laughed: "Your Highness is being too modest. If there hadn't been definite news beforehand, this subordinate wouldn't have dared to disturb Your Highness."

Li Li Banfeng asked: "What news did you receive?"

Nian Nian Shangyou did not answer: "Let's not mention the trivial details for now. Since it's rare to see Your Highness today, why not talk about the price first?"

Li Li Banfeng said: "Go ahead, I'm listening."

Nian Nian Shangyou learned from his previous lesson and tried to keep his words as plain as possible: "My master has prepared three types of prices for Your Highness to consider.

The first price is weapons; my master can first send Your Highness a first-class weapon as a deposit, and after the matter is accomplished, send Your Highness another first-class weapon as a reward."

Li Li Banfeng said expressionlessly: "Continue."

Nian Nian Shangyou continued: "The second price is territory; my master can give Your Highness twenty pieces of new land. If Your Highness thinks it's too little, the price can be discussed further."

Li Li Banfeng laughed: "This is a bit interesting. What about the third?"

Nian Nian Shangyou said: "The third price is popularity. After the matter is accomplished, Your Highness can go to Zhaoge to cultivate for a year.

During that time, there will be a large amount of popularity for Your Highness to use."

Li Li Banfeng frowned slightly: "I have to go to Zhaoge to cultivate? Doesn't that make me a Land Deity under their appointment?"

Nian Nian Shangyou said: "Your Highness misunderstands. Zhaoge has a technique to gather popularity, but popularity cannot be taken away from Zhaoge, so it can only be used in Zhaoge.

Moreover, Your Highness is a Prince of the Great Shang; returning to Zhaoge to cultivate is only natural."

"The prices you mentioned are all good, but I truly cannot handle this matter." Li Li Banfeng slowly stood up, trying to keep his body steady.

Nian Nian Shangyou bowed again; he was very confident about this business: "This subordinate will stay in Boundless City for a few days. It won't be too late to give an answer after Your Highness has weighed it carefully."

Li Li Banfeng left the East Courtyard and walked step by step toward the back garden. The sunflower he was looking for was in the back garden.

One sunflower was of no help; he needed more popularity.

But asking him to go to the Inner Prefecture to cultivate—that, he could not do.

He knew very well what would happen if he went to the Inner Prefecture. If he really went to cultivate for a year, his spine would be broken.

Not just Li Qi's spine, but the spines of the Fortress Master, the Benefactor, Seventh Master, Boss Ye, Director Li, and the Blade-Labor God of War—all of them would be broken.

Luo Luo Shaojun followed behind Li Qi. Seeing Li Qi's cold expression, she hurriedly stepped forward and asked: "Seventh Brother, what's wrong?"

Li Li Banfeng did not answer and just kept walking forward.

Luo Luo Yanjun was also following behind. She suspected the price hadn't been agreed upon.

If it wasn't agreed upon, they could continue to talk, but this opportunity had to be seized; it concerned whether the Luo family could make a comeback.

Li Li Banfeng applied cooling oil to his eyes, walked half a circle in the back garden, and suddenly stopped his steps.

He saw a sunflower.

The flower head of that sunflower hung very low, and divine statues were hanging on the flower heart—many divine statues.

The divine statues were wearing royal blue brocade robes, with gold-thread spider-pattern belts around their waists and jade-inlaid gold crowns on their heads. This should be the image of a Prince from his imagination.

Whose imagination did this come from?

How many divine statues were there in total?

Thirty? Fifty? More than fifty?

How could there be so many?

Did he see wrong?

Li Li Banfeng asked Luo Luo Shaojun: "How many slaves are there in Boundless City?"

Luo Luo Shaojun thought carefully: "There are hundreds of thousands; I can't remember the exact number."

Li Li Banfeng's spine straightened even more.

He turned his face to look at Luo Luo Yanjun: "Tell Nian Nian Shangyou that this matter can be discussed, but I must set the price. Tell him to wait for my news."

PS: Dear readers, Happy New Year's Eve! Yumian Shala bows deeply and wishes all dear readers a Happy New Year and may everything go as you wish!

In the new year, Yumian Shala will continue to move forward with all dear readers. On the road to happiness, let's all make a fortune together!