Chapter 778: He ascended

Li Li Banfeng took the *Tianyi City* to the port of Xiaodu.

Boluo sensed something: "Brother Brother Qiye, there are a few people on the pier with unusual backgrounds. We shouldn't dock easily."

Basuan used the eyes of *Tianyi City* to locate these individuals: "This positioning is quite ingenious. North, south, east, and west—

passing ships cannot escape the eyes of these few people.

These people help unload cargo one moment and pick up people the next. They look like they're looking for work on the pier, but in reality, they are all secret agents (spies)."

*Tianyi City* circled Xiaodu and discovered there were quite a few secret agents.

This wasn't because Tie Tie Baisheng and his men weren't trying their best to defend; every day, hundreds of *Liren* defected to Xiaodu through various channels, so it was inevitable that the good and the bad would be intermingled.

Li Li Banfeng chose a spot in the sea ten miles away from Xiaodu where there were no ships, left *Tianyi City*, and flew all the way toward Xiaodu.

Boluo piloted *Tianyi City* to follow behind. Everything was fine at first, but after Li Li Banfeng flew past the pier and reached the airspace above the factories, a worker at a shipyard seemed to have spotted Li Li Banfeng's figure.

The worker looked up at the sky and watched for quite a while.

Boluo punched his fist: "Brother Brother Qiye is too careless!"

Basuan asked about the situation, but didn't think Li Li Banfeng was being careless: "If he could dodge so many secret agents at the port, how could he have left traces above the factory? I suspect Brother Brother Qiye did it on purpose."

Boluo thought for a moment: "He intentionally wants others to know his whereabouts?"

Basuan took a piece of white paper, drew a diagram, and performed a probability calculation: "Lan Qiao Yi has been too quiet lately. I suspect Brother Brother Qiye wants to find some trouble for him."

Boluo thought for a moment: "Will he strike at Brother Brother Qiye in the dark?"

"Very likely!" Basuan calculated the result, "Judging by the probability, there's an eighty percent chance."

Boluo held the diagram and looked at it for a long time: "What kind of algorithm is this? How come I've never seen it before?"

Basuan held the diagram and explained it carefully to Boluo: "We've spent too much time on the small train, and some things have become outdated. I learned this from a mathematics book from the Outer Provinces—"

Li Li Banfeng arrived in the Imperial City. The sunflowers were covered in divine statues. He collected the statues, took one out, placed it on top of his head, and absorbed the human Qi within it.

Actually, he could have taken the human Qi away and absorbed it slowly in a safer place.

But at this moment, he just wanted to stay in Xiaodu to see if Lord Lan Qiao would come to visit him.

Since he was just waiting, Li Li Banfeng took out *Floating Clouds Asking at the Post* and read while collecting human Qi.

"Li Qi went to Xiaodu again?" Lan Qiao Yi furrowed his brows, threw the brush in his hand onto the desk, and the official documents he had just approved

were stained black by a large patch of ink.

Nian Nian Shangyou was a bit worried. Lan Qiao Yi usually cared most about official documents, and now that he had lost his temper like this, these documents would definitely have to be recopied by Nian Nian Shangyou.

With so many documents stained with ink, when would he finish copying them?

Lan Qiao Yi looked at Nian Nian Shangyou with a dark face: "How many memorials from Xiaodu have been received this month?"

Nian Nian Shangyou calculated: "Over eighty."

This was no exaggeration. *Liren* from all over were fleeing to Xiaodu, and almost all the nobles had suffered losses. The Cabinet received six or seven memorials related to Xiaodu every day. After half a month, there really were over eighty.

The nobles hated Xiaodu, and they hated Prince Prince Pingyuan even more. In another month, the *Dangkou* Battalion would set out on an expedition. Lan Qiao Yi didn't want to cause trouble, but Li Qi had to go to Xiaodu at this very time. This was like driving a nail into his eye.

Lan Qiao Yi said: "If only we knew this news, it would be fine. I'm just afraid the news will spread."

Nian Nian Shangyou said: "This is a secret letter sent from *Xiao City*. Before it was presented to you, no one had seen it."

Lan Qiao Yi shook his head: "I'm worried that Li Qi wants to spread the news on purpose. We are at a critical juncture right now, and I'm afraid he's here to stir up trouble."

After a long silence, Nian Nian Shangyou looked at Lan Qiao Yi: "My lord, why don't we just keep him in Xiaodu for good?"

Lan Qiao Yi picked up the brush and wiped the handle. Ink flowed onto his hand, staining his palm pitch black.

Li Li Banfeng sat in the Imperial City, earnestly flipping through *Floating Clouds Asking at the Post*. Inside, it wrote an interesting story:

"I intended to go to the other side of the big mountain to take a look. They all said there was a village on the other side of the mountain, and there were many beautiful young ladies in the village.

Those young ladies were beautiful and kind-hearted. If one of them took a liking to me, she might be willing to be my wife. I walked on the mountain for several days, but I didn't expect this mountain to be so big.

I seem to be lost. I seem to have circled this forest several times. Crossing the mountain is really too exhausting. Can anyone help me?"

The person who wrote the book was the Patriarch of Traveling Cultivators. The Patriarch of Traveling Cultivators actually got lost in the mountains and circled the forest several times!

Li Li Banfeng laughed: "If a person like this can be a Patriarch, it's only a matter of time before I found a sect!"

*Whoosh~*

The great hall burned down by the Fire-Cage Colt had never been rebuilt. A cold wind blew over the ruins, and Li Li Banfeng couldn't help but shiver.

It's coming!

Lan Qiao Yi, you still couldn't help yourself.

Nian Nian Shangyou had prepared a team of assassins, just waiting for Lan Qiao Yi's order.

Lan Qiao Yi rubbed the brush in his hand until the tip was bald, but the order still wasn't given.

Nian Nian Shangyou didn't dare to urge him and could only wait on the side. After waiting for two hours, Lan Qiao Yi suddenly asked: "Do you have a ten-percent certainty of killing Li Qi?"

This question stumped Nian Nian Shangyou: "My lord, in this world, no one dares to say ten percent. Killing Li Qi isn't that easy. You've dealt with him so many times; I really can't say how much of a chance of winning there is."

Lan Qiao Yi put the brush aside and silently looked at Nian Nian Shangyou.

Seeing that the situation wasn't right, Nian Nian Shangyou hurriedly added two sentences: "My lord, even if it doesn't work out, there's no harm. Even if we just injure him, first, it can shock Li Qi; second, it can shock the powerful clans in *Xiao City*; third, it can give all parties an explanation. It's a hundred benefits and no harm."

"There is harm, and the harm is great!" Lan Qiao Yi walked to the water basin and washed the ink off his hands. "Regardless of whether we can kill Li Qi or not, *Puluo Continent* will be stirred up. When the time comes, everyone will be preparing for war, which will be unfavorable for the great army."

After making so many preparations, Lan Qiao Yi now said he didn't want to cause a stir. Nian Nian Shangyou couldn't help but add another sentence: "My lord,

if Li Qi keeps staying in Xiaodu and doesn't leave, I'm afraid our Great Shang will also be stirred up."

Lan Qiao Yi wiped his hands dry and reorganized the documents: "We can find a way to quell the turmoil in Great Shang, but no one can quell the turmoil in *Puluo Continent*. If they really start making trouble, even the Peddler won't be able to quell it."

Nian Nian Shangyou thought about it carefully, and it was indeed the truth.

Lan Qiao Yi handed the documents to Nian Nian Shangyou: "Tell the spies and scouts to pay more attention to the movements in *Xiao City*, but keep the secrets strictly.

Send the approved documents to the various departments, and recopy the documents stained with ink."

Li Li Banfeng had absorbed enough human Qi in the Imperial City, and the danger he had originally sensed had actually disappeared.

Lan Qiao Yi isn't making a move?

If he doesn't make a move, Li Li Banfeng can't wait here for him forever.

He has to go back to promote. First, he'll raise his Residential Cultivation to the fifth layer, then learn the *Mysterious Light Punishing Evil* technique. Once he reaches *Dingye City*, the heavenly light scanning will definitely come in handy.

He couldn't store any more human Qi in his body, but more than half of the divine statues remained.

He does not make a move, and Li Li Banfeng cannot wait for him here forever.

Li Li Banfeng returned to *Gourd Village*, handed the divine statues to Banfengzi, gave him the key, and let him wait in a house on the first floor.

This house was very exquisite, with cream-colored plaster walls painted with emerald green grapevines, oak door panels inlaid with gold edges, and a glass round window on the door.

Pushing open the door, the room was paved with clean, new-looking wooden floors. There was a small bed with white curtains, a desk by the bed, and a dressing table.

The room was too clean, and Banfengzi was a bit embarrassed to go in.

A little girl's voice came from the room: "Brother, come in!"

Banfengzi carefully entered the room and stood motionless by the wall near the door.

"Brother, sit here." A chair was pushed in front of Banfengzi by an invisible force.

Banfengzi shook his head and said: "I am covered in dust and dirt, so I won't sit."

The little girl didn't seem to understand: "What is covered in dust and dirt?"

Banfengzi explained: "It means covered in dust, which will dirty the chair."

The little girl laughed: "It doesn't matter. A sister came upstairs, and she's very diligent. If the room gets dirty, I'll just have her clean it."

"Pah!" Ayu spat upstairs, "This girl just needs discipline. In the future, all these chores will have to be handed over to her—"

"Sister! I'm ready!"

"Ready for what!" Ayu was startled and hurriedly carried the Heavenly Lady on her back.

Her ears hadn't fully recovered, and she hadn't noticed Li Li Banfeng suddenly appearing in the wooden house on the second floor.

Li Li Banfeng said: "The human Qi is about enough. I can promote to the fifth layer."

Ayu stared at Li Li Banfeng and sized him up: "It shouldn't be enough. If you had the human Qi to promote to the fifth layer, I'm afraid you wouldn't be able to stand and talk."

Li Li Banfeng laughed: "I stored some human Qi downstairs. It won't be too late to take it out and use it when I reach a certain point in the promotion."

"You're quite thoughtful." Ayu looked downstairs through a crack in the floor.

"What are you doing!" the little girl downstairs suddenly shouted. Ayu hurriedly put down the Heavenly Lady she was carrying.

This was the rule the house set for Ayu. Usually, when cleaning, she could go to any house.

But the Heavenly Lady couldn't follow her and could only stay in this wooden house.

Ayu said to Li Li Banfeng: "To promote to the fifth layer above the clouds, logically, you should leave half of your body on the clouds to store the human Qi for you, and then piece your body back together when you reach the critical point of promotion."

Li Li Banfeng thought about his process of promoting to the fourth layer above the clouds; he just took a few snips: "Do I have to take my body apart?"

Ayu laughed: "You don't have to be afraid. Splitting into two on the clouds won't cause too much damage to your body. Everyone else promotes this way."

Li Li Banfeng shook his head: "I didn't promote this way. I'm not splitting!"

Ayu sighed: "Fine. Since you have other means, I won't force you. But I'll tell you this: during the promotion process, the human Qi must keep up. If you get stuck halfway and the human Qi isn't enough, your life might be in danger."

Li Li Banfeng thought for a moment: "My body is full of human Qi. If I add another fold, it should be enough, right?"

Ayu nodded: "That would definitely be enough!"

"Then let's do it!" Li Li Banfeng took out a pair of scissors and handed them to Ayu.

Ayu looked at the scissors and said: "What is this for?"

Li Li Banfeng was stunned: "Don't you use this?"

"What would I use this for?" Ayu put the scissors aside, "You lie down on the bed first."

Li Li Banfeng felt that the situation wasn't right: "Sister, I think I'll promote another day."

Saying he would promote another day was actually because he wanted to find another place to promote.

Ayu sighed: "It seems you don't trust me. Seeing you holding scissors just now, I remembered some *Clothing Cultivation* methods. The promotion methods of that sect are too fierce and require breaking skin and flesh.

If you use such methods to promote to the fifth layer above the clouds, even if you succeed, your body will be weak. Even if Ayu takes you to *Dingye City*, you won't be able to do anything about the *Dangkou* Battalion."

These words were indeed not wrong.

Li Li Banfeng asked Ayu: "How long will it take to recover if I promote here?"

Ayu smiled: "After the promotion, one hour is enough."

Li Li Banfeng repeated this sentence in his mind and didn't sense any danger.

He lay flat on the bed. Ayu's fingertips touched Li Li Banfeng's forehead and slid down little by little from the center of his brows to his collarbone.

Sliding all the way to his chest, Ayu looked around.

Banfengzi and Banfengyin, along with a group of shadows from the Earthly Branch system, stood in the middle of the room.

The gloves stayed by the pillow, the *Tang Dao* stood by the bed, *Mengde* hung on the wall, the Judge's Pen lay on the bed with Li Li Banfeng, and the projector floated in mid-air, lighting up the lens.

Upstairs and downstairs, neighbors to the left and right, including the old man in the wooden house, were all watching Ayu.

"What is the meaning of this?" Ayu was unhappy, "Little brother, do you trust your sister or not?"

Li Li Banfeng said with a serious face: "How could I not trust you? This is a promotion to the fifth layer above the clouds. Such a rare scene, I definitely have to let everyone come out to broaden their horizons."

"Then let them all watch." Ayu poked Li Li Banfeng in the heart with a finger.

Li Li Banfeng didn't feel any pain.

Ayu pinched Li Li Banfeng's wrist lightly again.

Li Li Banfeng felt a bit sour and bitter, but it wasn't uncomfortable.

Ayu massaged Li Li Banfeng's body back and forth and explained to Li Li Banfeng from time to time: "The promotion method of *Peering Cultivation* lies in finding the critical points of the physique and guiding the human Qi to circulate within the physique. It is much gentler than the *Clothing Cultivation* method of cutting through skin and flesh."

After two hours, Ayu massaged Li Li Banfeng's knees: "Little brother, if it hurts, tell your sister. We don't have to endure it. The human Qi has already been guided for ninety percent. You need to replenish another twenty percent and connect the human Qi."

Before the words fell, Li Li Banfeng on the bed suddenly turned black.

Ayu was startled and pinched Banfengzi's face: "Where did Li Qi go?"

Banfengzi lay on the bed and said: "He'll be here in a moment."

Li Li Banfeng used the *Heavenly Union* technique to swap places with Banfengzi and went downstairs to absorb human Qi.

Ayu's method was indeed gentle. Li Li Banfeng didn't feel anything uncomfortable. He absorbed twenty percent of the human Qi and swapped back to the bed.

Ayu praised: "Little brother, your *Shadows Hanging in Mourning* technique is truly masterful."

Li Li Banfeng didn't stand on ceremony: "Sister, I learn techniques very quickly. If you teach me new techniques in a moment, I'll be able to learn them in the blink of an eye."

+

"Don't be anxious. Let's promote first. Little brother, turn over."

Zhao Zhao Xiaowan, wearing a black trench coat with her long hair tied up, stood in front of the storage locker door of the campus supermarket.

Passersby, regardless of gender, would always look at this woman twice when passing by Zhao Zhao Xiaowan. She was simply too beautiful.

Zhao Zhao Xiaowan whistled, but the sound seemed to come from afar, and the pedestrians' attention was diverted.

After observing the storage locker for a long time, Zhao Zhao Xiaowan saw the trick: "Old man, this isn't just a technique. We need to let the second room come out and take a look."

"This matter isn't urgent. It's enough to see the general idea. Let the second room study it another day. We should be going to *Gourd Village* soon. I'm a bit worried about Old Seven."

Zhao Zhao Xiaowan held Li Li Banfeng's jade pendant and studied it for several hours.

When Li Li Banfeng handed the jade pendant to Zhao Zhao Xiaowan, he instructed her that as long as she had it in her hand, she could find *Gourd Village*.

Who would have thought that this jade pendant recognized its master and wouldn't cooperate with Zhao Zhao Xiaowan at all.

Returning to the *Follow-the-Body Residence*, Zhao Zhao Xiaowan brought tools and used several techniques, but the jade pendant still didn't respond.

In her frustration, Zhao Zhao Xiaowan touched the Did Honglian on the grill: "Little worm, this stone is even more stubborn than you."

Did Honglian sighed: "Is it roasted enough? I'm already cooked."

Xiang Xiang Hongying added two pieces of firewood: "Do you know pain now? You still haven't explained clearly what Zhao Zhao Xiaowan asked you. What exactly is your relationship with the Heavenly Lady?"

Did Honglian opened its lotus leaves and rubbed its base: "How many times do I have to say this? I was made by the Heavenly Lady. I have a master-servant relationship with her. Is that not clear enough?"

Zhao Zhao Xiaowan poured some oil on the fire, and the flames engulfed Did Honglian's entire body: "Little worm, warm your body some more. I think you're still not roasted through."

While speaking, Zhao Zhao Xiaowan turned her head to look at the fifth room: "Are you cold? Why don't you come down and roast by the fire?"

The girl in the fifth room had tears in her eyes, bit her lip, and shook her head in fear.

She looked at the jade pendant in Zhao Zhao Xiaowan's hand and said: "Madam, I have done some research on jade, perhaps I can help you."

The fifth room wasn't lying. She helped Zhao Zhao Xiaowan figure out the jade pendant's habits bit by bit, and with good food and drink, plus threats and inducements, she finally persuaded the jade pendant.

Before going out, Zhao Zhao Xiaowan touched Did Honglian: "Little worm, you should learn from the fifth girl. If you were this sensible,

you wouldn't have to suffer so much."

Xiang Xiang Hongying carried the oil pot and sat beside Did Honglian: "Zhao Zhao Xiaowan, go do your business. I'll have a good chat with Did Honglian."

Zhao Zhao Xiaowan opened the entrance to *Gourd Village*. Ayu received Zhao Zhao Xiaowan into the village, and Ayu took Zhao Zhao Xiaowan to the clouds.

The two walked to the door of the house. Suddenly, a middle-aged man's voice came to Zhao Zhao Xiaowan's ears: "The *Residential Cultivator* is promoting. Idlers are not allowed to disturb!"

"Idlers?" Zhao Zhao Xiaowan smiled, "Do you know who I am?"

This man came from a tin house on the first floor. He recognized Zhao Zhao Xiaowan: "You are the *Residential Cultivator*'s woman. You've been here with the *Residential Cultivator* before."

"Since you recognize me, how dare you stop me?"

The tin house refused to yield: "You are not in charge here!"

Zhao Zhao Xiaowan was very annoyed. Although Ayu didn't hear the conversation between the two clearly, she could guess the general idea: "Zhao Zhao Xiaowan, the technique of this house is special. We can't use force."

Zhao Zhao Xiaowan suppressed her anger and nodded: "Fine, let's wait here. This madman is really something, he had to run outside to promote."

Ayu lowered her voice: "Zhao Zhao Xiaowan, are you also Old Seven's *House Spirit*?"

What do you mean "also"?

Who came first?

Zhao Zhao Xiaowan was about to speak, but felt that this question was hard to answer. Right now, Zhao Zhao Xiaowan really wasn't Li Li Banfeng's *House Spirit*.

Ayu asked again: "Can you help him promote?"

Zhao Zhao Xiaowan lowered her head and didn't speak. She didn't know the *Yunmen* technique. As for the promotion after the third layer of clouds, Zhao Zhao Xiaowan indeed didn't know what to do.

That blockhead Xiang Xiang Hongying was even less reliable.

After waiting for an hour, suddenly someone said: "Come in, it's done."

Ayu and Zhao Zhao Xiaowan entered the room and saw Li Li Banfeng lying on the bed with Ayu sitting beside him.

Zhao Zhao Xiaowan's face was blue and purple, and she suddenly spat out a loudspeaker from her mouth.

Ayu watched in a daze: "So this is the big loudspeaker. No wonder Old Seven likes it so much. Who wouldn't like it?"

Ayu covered her ears and said: "Zhao Zhao Xiaowan, my injuries haven't healed yet. Don't bully people too much! I'm helping your man promote.

You can't return kindness with enmity!"

Zhao Zhao Xiaowan swallowed the loudspeaker back, walked to the bed, and took Li Li Banfeng into her arms: "My precious husband, you've suffered."

Li Li Banfeng shook his head: "Not suffering at all. Ayu is indeed powerful. She pressed and massaged, and it passed. That technique—"

*Whoosh! *

A puff of steam scalded Li Li Banfeng's face red.

"Husband, you really have suffered."

Li Li Banfeng nodded: "Suffered!"

"Husband, did you really promote?"

Ayu said on the side: "Promoted. Wait another half hour and you'll be able to walk. One hour and you'll be fully recovered."

For such a high-level promotion, to recover so quickly, Zhao Zhao Xiaowan was truly a bit surprised.

Ayu didn't boast. Half an hour later, Li Li Banfeng was indeed able to walk.

One hour later, his body was restored to its original state.

Even Li Li Banfeng himself couldn't believe it.

A-Yu truly did not boast; half an hour later, Li Li Banfeng was indeed able to walk.

An hour later, his body recovered as it was before.

Even Li Li Banfeng himself could not believe it.

"Big sister, have I really reached the fifth layer of the clouds?"

A-Yu shrugged her eyebrows: "If you don't believe it, go out and take a spin."

"Alright!" Li Li Banfeng left the room, and in the blink of an eye, he returned.

A-Yu asked him: "Isn't it much faster!"

"Fast!" Li Li Banfeng nodded vigorously, "Much faster than before!"

Zhao Zhao Xiaowan was stunned: "Really much faster?"

A-Yi asked Zhao Zhao Xiaowan: "Isn't it the faster the better?"

A-Yu rubbed her waist and back: "Pity me for being so hardworking, and you all don't even say a word of thanks."

Li Li Banfeng was about to thank her, when he suddenly asked: "Which sect did I ascend to?"

A-Yu blinked her eyes: "Traveling Cultivator, ah."

A-Yi nodded on the side: "So fast, it must be Traveling Cultivator!"

"So it's Traveling Cultivator!" Li Li Banfeng laughed heartily, laughed for quite a while, then asked A-Yu, "Do you know the Traveling Cultivator's fall?"

A-Yu shook her head: "I don't know about that one."

Li Li Banfeng put on his top hat again, lowered the brim, and cold light appeared in his eyes: "Do you want me to?"

PS: Actually, ascending to Traveling Cultivator is not necessarily a bad thing.