Chapter 801: The Leader of the Hand-and-Foot Alliance

Li Banfeng arrived on the clouds, set fire beside the bungalow, and brought back the peddler to tell him about the Great Totem.

“The Great Totem is seven percent repaired?” the peddler still didn’t believe it, “Aren’t these things impossible to fix?”

Li Banfeng didn’t know the reference: “Why is the Great Totem impossible to fix?”

“A friend from Wanshengzhou told me—those friends are very reliable,” the peddler sat down in the courtyard and drew a circle on the ground. “This is the Great Totem. You’ve seen it on your Land Seal, right?”

Li Banfeng nodded: “I’ve seen it. In some foreign studies on boundary theories and equipment, I’ve seen something similar.”

The peddler picked up a twig and pointed at the circle: “The outer ring absorbs; the inner ring transforms.”

“The Great Totem’s mechanism is simple—it can draw in energy and convert it into other forms. You understand that, right?”

Li Banfeng shook his head: “I definitely don’t understand.”

The peddler said, “Aren’t you a college graduate?”

Li Banfeng said, “What you’re describing doesn’t sound like a totem—it sounds like a machine.”

“Calling it a machine isn’t wrong,” the peddler offered Li Banfeng’s most familiar example: “Think of the Land Seal’s function—it draws in the qi of the land. That’s exactly what the outer ring of the Great Totem does.”

Li Banfeng felt the peddler was mistaken: “I’m not talking about the Great Totem on the Land Seal—I’m talking about the huge thing in Neizhou, something like the Great Furnace.”

“Same thing,” the peddler said, not mistaken. “The shape of the Great Totem on the Land Seal is identical to the one in Neizhou. Same shape, same resonance—the Land Seal draws power from the Great Totem. The Land Seal exists because of the Great Totem. If the Great Totem in Neizhou is gone, the Land Seal becomes useless.”

With this explanation, Li Banfeng understood even less.

“No technique, no craftsmanship, no external state science—yet it still produces resonance?”

The peddler nodded: “As long as the shape matches the Great Totem, it resonates with it. That’s why only Neizhou can make Land Seals.”

Li Banfeng was completely baffled—he felt the peddler was speaking without logic today: “Why can only Neizhou make Land Seals? Why can’t we just carve a metal disc into a circle and call it a Land Seal?”

The peddler shook his head: “Can’t be carved.”

“What’s so hard about carving a circle?”

“It’s not a perfect circle,” the peddler pointed to his drawing. “The distance from the edge to the center isn’t perfectly equal.”

Li Banfeng thought carefully: “You mean an ellipse? That’s easy—just calculate the eccentricity.”

The peddler said: “Can’t be calculated. I’ve had many calculation cultivators try, and Wu Xiu have measured it repeatedly.

The proportions, width, and depth can’t be determined. Every replica made has been useless.”

Li Banfeng was a graduate of the Science College—he couldn’t fathom who had designed such an abstract circle: “Who made this thing?”

“Wanshengzhou and Shangguo made it together.”

“They actually collaborated?”

The peddler sighed: “All for profit, all for gain. Wanshengzhou is divided among warlords—some have good relations with Puluozhou, others have formed alliances with Shangguo.

They spent years crafting this thing, but as soon as it reached Shangguo, it was destroyed.”

Li Banfeng asked: “Who destroyed it?”

“I did!” the peddler stood up. “If it had remained intact, Puluozhou would’ve been swallowed by Shangguo long ago.

I investigated in Wanshengzhou—the Great Totem can’t be remade or repaired, because neither Neizhou nor Wanshengzhou has the conditions to recreate it. How could it possibly be repaired to seven percent? Is your source reliable?”

Li Banfeng said: “Based on what Yu Nan and Yuan Youshuang described, the information is reliable.”

The peddler bit his cigarette but didn’t smoke or extinguish it—he was tense.

“Do you know where the Great Totem is?”

“I don’t know,” Li Banfeng shook his head. “You destroyed it—didn’t you know its location?”

The peddler spat out smoke: “The Great Totem was in Chaoge. After I destroyed it, Shangguo moved it to a new location—I don’t know where. I’ve searched for years and found nothing.”

“Let’s investigate together,” he said. “Use every method we have. If we can’t find it, Puluozhou is in danger!”

Where should they start?

The most critical clue still lay with Yuan Youshuang.

Li Banfeng went to Tiemenbao and invited Song Qianhun to Xiaoyao Wu .

Song Qianhun was a cultivation prodigy, with the famed physician Kang Zhenchang under him—he should be able to find a way to restore Yuan Youshuang.

Seeing Song Qianhun, Yuan Youshuang grew extremely tense—the instinctive fear of a spirit toward a demonic cultivator.

Song Qianhun recognized Yuan Youshuang—over a decade ago, Yuan Youshuang had visited him as a junior disciple.

After probing his soul, Song Qianhun called Li Banfeng outside and said alone: “Yuan Youshuang’s condition is difficult. His soul is extremely fragmented—he’s used the Soul-Searing and Spirit-Transferring Technique.”

Li Banfeng had never heard of this technique. Song Qianhun explained: “After reaching Yunshang, demonic cultivators can learn the Soul-Searing and Spirit-Transferring Technique—a last-resort survival method.

Even then, you don’t truly save your life—you only preserve a sliver of hope before total annihilation.

The key is to shatter your own soul and your spirit servants’ souls, then reassemble them.

How well they reassemble depends on your cultivation base, the number of spirit servants, and your luck.

Yuan Youshuang’s cultivation isn’t low, and his luck is decent, but he had too few spirit servants—only about a hundred around him at the time.

As a result, his reassembled soul is severely limited, which is why he remembers so little.”

Li Banfeng didn’t know much about demonic cultivators: “Is a hundred spirit servants few?”

Song Qianhun smiled modestly: “It depends on who you compare to. Compared to me, it’s definitely few.”

Li Banfeng asked: “Can’t we fix it later? Can you reassemble his soul again?”

Song Qianhun thought: “You’d have to ask Gui Jianchou—he’s the expert. I don’t know the essentials of the Soul-Searing and Spirit-Transferring Technique.”

Li Banfeng froze: “Brother Song, you don’t know how to use this technique?”

Song Qianhun said: “Techniques at Yunshang are precious. I think the Soul-Searing and Spirit-Transferring Technique is useless.

The cost is too high, it can’t be refined normally, and when you finally use it, it’s better to just end it quickly. What’s the point of living like Yuan Youshuang?”

Li Banfeng went to Yuren City and fetched Gui Jianchou. Gui Jianchou looked at Yuan Youshuang and shook his head repeatedly: “His condition can’t be fixed. His soul is torn like a rag. If you shatter it again, it won’t be sewable. Just let it heal slowly.”

Song Qianhun felt Gui Jianchou wasn’t telling the truth: “Senior brother, is it truly impossible to fix, or are you just unwilling to help?”

Gui Jianchou glared at Song Qianhun: “This is Old Seven’s matter—do you think I’d hold back? Do you think I’m afraid Sun Tiecheng will rip out my heart? The Soul-Searing and Spirit-Transferring Technique is out of the question. Help me nurture his soul instead!”

Song Qianhun and Gui Jianchou used the Soul-Nurturing Technique to repair Yuan Youshuang’s soul, but Li Banfeng couldn’t wait indefinitely.

The Great Totem was already seven percent repaired—wait a few more days, and it might be fully restored.

Besides Yuan Youshuang, who else could Li Banfeng turn to?

Back home, Li Banfeng found Tong Lianhua: “You’ve seen the Great Totem—do you know where it is?”

Tong Lianhua swayed her lotus leaves: “I saw it once in Chaoge, but by then it was already destroyed.”

Li Banfeng asked: “Have you never investigated the Great Totem since then?”

“I did, but Puluozhou’s information is closed—I found nothing.”

Li Banfeng cursed: “Puluozhou’s information is closed because of you!”

Tong Lianhua’s leaves trembled. She snorted: “That’s nonsense. Puluozhou’s customs are what they are—what does that have to do with a herbalist like me?”

Zhao Xiao stood nearby and reminded her: “Lady Tian, if you investigated the Great Totem, surely you must have looked into Yu Nan’s case too?”

Tong Lianhua feigned surprise: “Is that true? Bring Yu Nan here—I’ll ask her.”

Li Banfeng suddenly realized!

The last time he visited Yu Nan, she was playing mahjong and had drawn a “one bamboo.” She said she’d discovered a female disciple reborn twice.

How could this be such a coincidence?

Just as Li Banfeng came to see her, she made this crucial discovery.

Yu Nan was subtly hinting to Li Banfeng—there was more to this matter.

His wife was right: in investigation, Yu Nan was top-tier. Lady Tian wouldn’t leave such a skilled person idle—she must know about the Great Totem.

This woman was too calculating—she never said anything outright.

Li Banfeng set out to find Yu Nan. He didn’t rush to Hulucun—he first went to Xiao Ye’s furniture shop and bought some furniture. These weren’t for his portable residence, so no customization was needed—just buy ready-made pieces.

His wife and Jiu’er bought another batch of household items. Only then did Li Banfeng use the Linked Chamber Technique to arrive at Yu Nan’s house in Hulucun.

At the house, Li Banfeng summoned a group of shadows and began furnishing each room.

The old woman on the third floor liked antiques, so Li Banfeng placed a red sandalwood screen with seasonal flowers and birds in her room.

The woman next door liked fashion, so Li Banfeng gifted her a black walnut and glass dressing table.

The little girl downstairs was the family’s princess, so Li Banfeng bought her a Western dollhouse and a set of premium dolls from Inglishi.

The middle-aged man living in the iron house on the first floor guarded the gate diligently—simple, upright, and honest. Li Banfeng gave him five hundred silver dollars.

After furnishing all ten rooms, Li Banfeng entered Yu Nan’s chamber and asked directly: “Sister, do you know where the Great Totem is?”

Yu Nan opened her mouth to speak—when suddenly, the floorboards, ceiling beams, and partitions all creaked together.

Dozens of eyes fixed on Yu Nan, as if seeing through her skin to her organs.

Every house was warning Yu Nan: don’t lie to the master.

“Brother, if I say I don’t know, will they eat me alive?”

Li Banfeng shook his head: “Sister, I won’t pressure you. Just tell me the truth.”

Yu Nan looked around, then turned to Li Banfeng, her expression serious: “If I say I might know—do you believe me?”

As soon as she spoke, voices of reprimand echoed around:

“What do you mean ‘might know’? That’s just a lie!”

“The master treats us so well—how can she not appreciate it?”

“She deserves to suffer this time!”

Yu Nan broke into cold sweat. Normally, a few lies were fine—but today, the house was serious: “Brother, if they really go after me, I’ll suffer. Houses have too many ways to punish spirit dwellers.”

“But if I tell you what I just said is true—will you believe me?”

Li Banfeng nodded: “I believe you.”

Yu Nan nodded: “Then I’ll tell you everything. Lady Tian sent me to investigate the Great Totem—I did, and I’ve been investigating ever since.”

But I was first trapped in the Dark Star Bureau, then in Gourd Village—I can’t even get out the door, and there are things I can’t investigate, so I need someone to look into them for me.

Li Banfeng naturally understood this: “You mean the Blood Brotherhood.”

Ayu nodded: “If they found anything, I might learn about it.”

“Why ‘might’? If they found it, wouldn’t they tell you?”

Ayu stared silently at Li Banfeng; the surrounding accusations kept coming: “Still hiding things!”

“The host is asking you a question—why won’t you answer?”

Ayu whispered: “Young brother, must you force your sister to speak so bluntly? The Blood Brotherhood’s leader is the Heavenly Maiden—that’s true—but that leader hasn’t shown her face in many years.”

The Heavenly Maiden’s control over the Blood Brotherhood wasn’t as firm as Li Banfeng had imagined.

If Li Banfeng wanted to learn the true whereabouts of the Great Totem, he still had to investigate through the Blood Brotherhood.

Li Banfeng knew many people in the Blood Brotherhood—who was the best person to ask?

“Sister, who in the Blood Brotherhood do you think is trustworthy?”

“Trustworthy?” Ayu laughed. “If you’re looking for someone trustworthy, you shouldn’t go to the Blood Brotherhood at all.”

Look around and see if you can find even one person in the Blood Brotherhood you can trust—finding one who won’t betray you is already luck.”

Li Banfeng was pondering the same question.

Who in the Blood Brotherhood can guarantee they won’t betray me?

After leaving Gourd Village, Li Banfeng called Song Laoshi; mobile phones from outside the province couldn’t make calls in Pulu Province—except Song Laoshi’s number.

“I have an urgent matter—I need to meet you,” Li Banfeng said only that, set the time and place, then hung up.

Song Shu felt a little nervous about meeting Li Banfeng.

She suspected he might have changed his mind and wanted to join the Blood Brotherhood—but then she realized this guess was overly optimistic.

According to the information she had, Li Banfeng had taken control of the railway, abolished the travel permit system in Pulu Province, and rumors said he had infiltrated the Shang Kingdom, inflicting heavy damage.

In Song Shu’s view, Li Banfeng’s achievements in Pulu Province already surpassed the entire Blood Brotherhood—he had no reason to join them.

Is he trying to persuade me to leave the Blood Brotherhood?

Song Shu was troubled and didn’t know how to decide.

They agreed to meet at Black Rock Hill; only after meeting did Song Shu realize she had overthought everything.

Li Banfeng only wanted to know the whereabouts of the Great Totem.

Song Shu hesitated slightly—within her knowledge, the Great Totem’s location was the Blood Brotherhood’s most important secret.

But after less than a minute of hesitation, she told the truth.

“The Blood Brotherhood does know something about the Great Totem, but most people only have fragmented information.”

“What I know is that the Great Totem has modified some people and sent them to Pulu Province to carry out special missions.”

“They are extremely powerful and Bushoutongdaohejiexiandexianzhi —after being modified by the Great Totem, their appearances change drastically, making it nearly impossible to uncover their true identities.”

Li Banfeng knew this well—Lu Xiaolan was proof.

But what Li Banfeng cared about most wasn’t this.

“Song Laoshi, do you know where the Great Totem is?”

Song Shu shook her head: “I don’t know who’s in charge of investigating the Great Totem’s location, but I know one person holds complete information about it—I’ve reported my progress to him before.”

“Who is he?”

“I don’t know his exact identity, but I know he lives in Bitter Cabbage Village—I always go there to report.”

Li Banfeng stood up: “I’ll ask Old Lady Ku.”

Song Shu stopped him: “You can’t go to Fu Xing—if she finds out you’re looking for that man, she won’t let you enter Bitter Cabbage Village.”

“It involves too many secrets of Bitter Cabbage Village.”

“You must find a way to get her out of Bitter Cabbage Village first, then enter—otherwise, you’ll never meet him.”

Song Shu drew Li Banfeng a map.

Li Banfeng tucked the map away and found Chu Er.

“You want me to get Old Lady Ku out of Bitter Cabbage Village?” Chu Er looked pained. “Seventh Brother, you’re overestimating me.”

Li Banfeng realized—he was indeed asking too much of Chu Er.

Just storm into Bitter Cabbage Village—explain if you can, fight Old Lady Ku if you can’t.

Just as Li Banfeng was about to leave, Chu Er stopped him: “Seventh Brother, you’re really going to Bitter Cabbage Village for something urgent?”

“Life-or-death emergency!”

“I believe you!” Chu Er looked up. “You go into Bitter Cabbage Village tonight at ten—must be out before dawn, okay?”

Li Banfeng was stunned: “You really have a way?”

Chu Er nodded: “Only tonight.”

“What way?”

“Old Lady Ku has a secret technique to pass on to me—I’ve always been afraid of the pain and refused to learn. Tonight I’ll contact her and say I’m ready to learn—she’ll come to me.”

Hearing this, Li Banfeng grew uneasy: “What secret technique is she teaching you?”

Chu Er shook his head: “You can’t ask—it’s my Daoist secret. Don’t worry—Old Lady Ku won’t suspect me.”

Li Banfeng warned: “If she suspects you, tell her the truth. If she won’t spare you, contact me immediately—I’ll come speak to her.”

That night, Li Banfeng went to wait outside Bitter Cabbage Village.

At eight o’clock, Chu Er sat in her bedroom in the Chu family mansion and took out two boxes of Jin Yuandan.

Some were given to her by Li Qi, some by Chu Shaoqiang, and others she had gathered herself.

She counted out sixty pills and placed them on the table, then added one bitter cabbage beside them.

After hesitating, Chu Er took a deep breath, divided the sixty pills into five portions, and swallowed them all with a pot of tea.

When she reached the fifth portion, Chu Er clutched the bitter cabbage and collapsed to the floor.

Over an hour passed—Old Lady Ku burst into Chu Er’s room, saw the pills still in her mouth, glanced at the pill boxes on the table, and frowned: “You fool—how many did you take?”

Chu Er was barely breathing, unable to speak. Old Lady Ku’s face turned icy: “You’re killing yourself—why call me?”

Li Banfeng, holding the map, entered Bitter Cabbage Village.

Not much had changed—after ten, not a single light could be seen.

Li Banfeng had once turned Bitter Cabbage Village into Joyful Village—but now, stepping into this place, he sensed not a trace of life.

Following the map deeper into the village, only endless wasteland lay ahead, dry yellow earth beneath his feet, the air thick with a suffocating bitterness.

Li Banfeng truly didn’t want to stay here—he moved at top speed for nearly an hour before the scenery began to shift.

Ahead rose a mountain, with a few scattered trees on its slope.

When he had first come to Bitter Cabbage Village, Li Banfeng thought he’d explored every corner—but he’d never seen this mountain before.

Bitter Cabbage Village was larger than he’d imagined.

After crossing the mountain, he walked another half-hour across the wasteland—and before him appeared an unexpected sight.

Cars, asphalt roads, utility poles…

Had he reached outside the province?

Li Banfeng walked to a car, touched the thick dust on its hood, and looked at the spiderwebs inside.

This car hadn’t been moved in a long time.

Not far ahead stood a refrigerator, completely empty—not even a drop of water visible. It had two wheels underneath—likely used for selling cold drinks.

Nearby was a small shop, its shelves utterly bare.

Beside the shop stood a phone booth—something rare even outside the province.

Further ahead, Li Banfeng saw a restaurant—empty inside, with one person sitting at the door.

He wore a black jacket, jeans, a leather shoe on his left foot, and a sneaker on his right.

He had gray curly hair—once black, now covered in dust.

A cold wind blew—he looked up at Li Banfeng. Li Banfeng used Jin Qing Qiuhao to scan him—confirmed he was still alive.

“Where is this?”

“Bitter Cabbage Village.”

“Where are you from?”

“Chunshen City.”

“Why are you here?”

“To suffer.”

He lowered his head, unwilling to speak further.

Song Qianhun had once said there were Bitter Cabbage Villages outside the province—Li Banfeng hadn’t believed it until now.

Following the map further, Li Banfeng reached an apartment building.

This was the map’s end—he had arrived.

But which floor? Which apartment?

Fortunately, the building was short—only six floors, three units per floor. Li Banfeng climbed the stairs floor by floor until the sixth, paused at the stairwell, turned right, and stopped before apartment 603.

He knocked.

All other apartments in the building were empty—only this one was an exception.

After waiting, no one answered. Li Banfeng had his glove open the door.

“Master, be careful,” the glove said, unnerved by the place.

Li Banfeng pushed open the door—the living room reeked of old furniture.

The living room was small; to the left were a bathroom and a bedroom, to the right another bedroom and the kitchen.

Li Banfeng pulled a feather duster from his sleeve, brushed off the dust, and sat on the sofa.

Directly opposite the sofa was an old television, its casing large, the screen bulging outward.

Above the television hung a picture frame, filled with many photos, mostly black-and-white, with a few in color.

The men and women in the photos, Li Banfeng did not recognize any of them; the photos carried the typical style of the 1980s.

They all wore nearly identical smiles, gazing at the same angle, their eyes shimmering with the same light.

Li Banfeng was not unfamiliar with this; Old Lady Wu at the orphanage had a similar frame, filled with just such photos.

He sat on the sofa for a moment, then suddenly spoke: “I’ve traveled so far—shouldn’t you come out and see me?”

The photos in the frame blurred; the people in them turned their eyes together, looking down at Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng glanced up at the frame; the people in the photos immediately averted their gaze.

Li Banfeng stared at them a moment longer; the figures gradually vanished, leaving only the backdrop of the photos.

A cup appeared on the coffee table, steaming tea inside.

Li Banfeng did not touch the cup; he looked toward the recliner beside the sofa.

“Oh dear, oh dear,” the recliner moved, slowly revealing a man.

The man looked over fifty, his face thin, features well-proportioned, wearing a white jacket with front buttons and black trousers.

He looked at Li Banfeng and pointed to the coffee table: “Have some tea.”

Li Banfeng did not look at the table; he looked at the man and asked: “Where’s the tea?”

The man smiled; the cup on the coffee table vanished.

More accurately, there had never been a cup on the coffee table—the previous cup and tea were illusions.

He now held a cup of tea in his hand and offered it to Li Banfeng, who took it and sipped.

The man asked: “How is the taste?”

Li Banfeng savored it carefully: “It’s good tea.”

The man asked: “Why did you come looking for me? Have we ever met?”

Li Banfeng said: “You’ve seen me; I haven’t seen you—but I recognize your voice.”

The man feigned surprise: “Is that so?”

Li Banfeng cleared his throat and changed his voice: “Manager Wang, have another cup! Just one!”

The man laughed: “No wonder Old Ku always speaks of you—you’re truly an unusual young man.”

Li Banfeng set down the cup and bowed with clasped fists: “Master Huan Wuchang, I deeply thank you for your two previous guidances.”

PS: Huan Wuchang appeared twice—once in Chapter 535 and once in Chapter 647.