Chapter 807: The Road to Yindu

Lu Xiaolan opened her eyes and saw two beautiful women sitting in a dim, narrow room.

One woman was applying rouge, the other was combing her hair.

Both turned their heads to look at Lu Xiaolan, who immediately shut her eyes and feigned death.

Are all these people Li Qi’s helpers?

Where is this room? Could it be a hidden compartment on the special train? Lu Xiaolan didn’t remember any hidden compartments on the Lu family’s private train.

Though her eyes were closed, she was still using her Kuixiu technique to scan the surroundings, searching for Hao Lian.

Where did he go?

Dead? Or did he escape?

Lu Xiaolan thought Hao Lianshen had a better chance of escaping—he was stronger than her, and if Li Qi hadn’t struck first, the outcome might have been uncertain.

Because of this fool Hao Lianshen misjudging Li Qi’s strength, she now faced this situation; Lu Xiaolan cursed inwardly, but had no idea how to escape.

Li Qi and Zhao Xiaowan entered the Suishenju and sat before Lu Xiaolan.

Seeing Lu Xiaolan motionless, Li Banfeng said: “I think she’s dead.”

Zhao Xiaowan sighed: “Such a fine girl, dead like this—Yingying, take Lu’s body to the furnace and refine it into an elixir.”

Hong Ying was still pondering which furnace—there was the tea stove, the warming stove, the grill—but no elixir furnace.

Isn’t elixir-refining done with the Copper Lotus? Should I move it over?

Hong Ying was about to carry the Red Lotus when Lu Xiaolan suddenly woke up: “Banfeng, I was wrong—spare my life!”

The wife froze—few called Li Qi “Li Banfeng”: “Husband, is this an old acquaintance of yours?”

Lu Xiaolan’s appearance had changed greatly, but her voice was nearly identical; her plea had no disguise. Li Banfeng told his wife: “This is Lu Xiaolan, the fiancée of Ma Junyang and He Jiaqing.”

Hong Ying stared in surprise: “Did you three used to live together? How many businesses did you run?”

The wife slapped Hong Ying, then turned to Lu Xiaolan: “Did the Great Totem replace your body?”

Lu Xiaolan nodded: “I’ve had my body replaced twice—once while alive, once after death.”

The projector asked: “Why replace your body while alive?”

Lu Xiaolan looked at Li Banfeng: “Some things you should know—because of misunderstandings, I had no place left in Pulu Province. I wanted to flee to Waizhou, but your influence there is too great—you’d never let me stay.

With no choice, I turned to Neizhou, but as a Pulu native with no merit or seniority, I had no footing there either. I relied on Lu family elders to secure a position under Yu Zhuo.”

Li Banfeng nodded—this was true; Lu Mao had indeed recommended Lu Xiaolan to Yu Zhuo.

“What was Yu Zhuo’s purpose in sending you to Pulu Province?”

Lu Xiaolan said: “Master Yu wanted to draw you out to discuss state affairs.”

She dared not say she was sent to kill Li Banfeng—Prince Pingyuan and the Grand Secretary discussing state matters was perfectly reasonable; if Li Banfeng believed her, he might spare her life.

Li Banfeng looked at Zhao Xiaowan: “Hear that? This is a messenger sent by Master Yu—he has urgent business with me!”

Zhao Xiaowan felt a pang of guilt: “Sister, why didn’t you say so sooner? We’re all family—if we’d known you were sent by Master Yu, we’d never have gone this far.”

The couple’s sudden shift in attitude left Lu Xiaolan stunned.

Had they already been in contact with Yu Zhuo?

Then why did Yu Zhuo want Li Qi dead?

What hidden truth lies here?

Zhao Xiaowan said: “Yingying, bring a chair. Jiu’er, help Lu’s young lady sit down.”

The chair was brought, but Jiu’er couldn’t lift Lu Xiaolan: “Sister, this woman is too badly injured—don’t move her.”

Zhao Xiaowan lowered her head, gazing tenderly at Lu Xiaolan: “Sister, just lie there for now. You haven’t explained yet—why did you go to the Great Totem to replace your body while alive?”

Lu Xiaolan sighed: “I don’t have Banfeng’s fortune. I struggled desperately on the path of Kuixiu, but back then I was only at Earth Skin Level Five.”

That level was useless under Master Yu—if I spent my life unnoticed, I couldn’t accept it. So I took a desperate risk and went to the Great Totem to replace my body and boost my cultivation.”

Li Banfeng recalled the events at Xiaoyao Wu —Ma Wu was already at Cloud Level, with Yuan Youshang aiding him,

yet they nearly perished at Lu Xiaolan’s hands.

Though Yuan Youshang had been weakened by a magic treasure, Lu Xiaolan’s combat power then was truly formidable.

“How much did your cultivation increase the first time you went to the Great Totem?”

Lu Xiaolan said: “From Earth Skin Level Five to Cloud Level Three.”

Li Banfeng was astonished: “Just looking at the Great Totem earned you that much cultivation? This Great Totem is absurd!”

Lu Xiaolan said: “It’s not entirely unfair—of ten thousand who go to the Great Totem, one surviving is luck. How much cultivation they gain varies. Master Yu has a senior Earth Skin Level Eight expert who went once, survived, but dropped to Earth Skin Level Three.”

Li Banfeng blinked at Zhao Xiaowan.

Zhao Xiaowan’s expression turned grave; fragments of memory surfaced.

“Sister, you gained such high cultivation—why aren’t you satisfied? Why return to Pulu Province?”

Lu Xiaolan sighed: “Whether I’m satisfied isn’t mine to decide. Yu Zhuo secretly arranged for me to be recommended to Nian Shangyou.

Nian Shangyou is Qiao Yi’s subordinate; following Qiao Yi’s orders, I was sent to Xiaoyao Wu as a spy.

Later, I received orders from Nian Shangyou to kill Ma Junyang—I was forced to act. From start to finish, I had no choice. Banfeng, I never meant to oppose you.”

As she spoke, Lu Xiaolan wept softly.

Zhao Xiaowan looked tenderly: “Sister, don’t cry—it breaks my heart. I heard what happened at Xiaoyao Wu —but why did you return to the Great Totem after death? Did you know the way?”

This was the key point!

Lu Xiaolan had seen the Great Totem twice—she should know the way.

After a few seconds’ hesitation, Lu Xiaolan told the truth: “The Great Totem is in Yindu.”

Li Banfeng asked: “How do you get to Yindu?”

Lu Xiaolan dared not hide: “I’ve never traveled from Pulu to Yindu, but I know the route from Chage to Yindu.”

Li Banfeng felt something was off: “You died at Xiaoyao Wu —who rescued your soul?”

“Private detective, Dabo Yins.” She didn’t hesitate—named Spider Bin directly.

Li Banfeng asked: “Did he take you to the Great Totem?”

Lu Xiaolan shook her head: “After rescuing me, he abandoned me. As a cultivated soul, I was drawn directly to the Great Furnace.”

Lu Mao had taught me the Wind-Avoidance Rule of the Great Furnace—I used its winds to escape Chage, flying all the way to the Great Totem.”

Clearly, Lu Mao truly cared for his granddaughter—he taught her real techniques, the Wind-Avoidance Rule even the Eighteen Wheels never mastered.

Lu Xiaolan described it aloud; the projector constructed the image beside her.

“In the Nine-City, four palaces stand in the east, west, south, and north. The Lotus Heart of the Great Furnace rotates among them, absorbing souls from each direction—so gales never cease within the Nine-City.

When the Lotus Heart shifts from east to south, standing at the center of the corridor between the Eastern Palace and Southern Palace, neither living nor dead soul is drawn in—instead, a gale blows you away from Chage.”

“During flight, both living and dead souls ride the wind southeastward. As long as you don’t deviate, you’ll surely reach Yindu.”

Watching the projector’s image, Li Banfeng said: “So Yindu is always southeast of Chage—even without the wind, sailing directly southeast would get you there.”

Lu Xiaolan shook her head: “I can’t say—I never tried.”

Li Banfeng looked up: “Have you tried?”

Hong Ying startled: “Who are you talking to?”

Zhao Xiaowan exhaled a puff of steam: “Guest, stop lurking on the ceiling—come down and have some tea.”

Hong Ying sensed danger, jabbed her spear at the ceiling—Hao Lianshen cried out and fell to the floor.

Upon entering, Hao Lianshen used illusion art to hide himself in the room; his Dao foundation was decent—he could fool Hong Ying and Jiu’er if he stayed still.

But this was Li Banfeng’s house—Li Banfeng himself had brought him here. He couldn’t deceive Li Banfeng on the train, let alone inside the Suishenju.

A silver coin fell from Hao Lianshen’s pocket. Li Banfeng picked it up, frowned: “A man like you, a chief? Are there truly no capable illusion cultivators left? What’s your name?”

Hao Lianshen sneered: “I’m Hao Lianshen. Ask around my Dao sect—twenty years ago, my status in Pulu Province—ask if I deserve the title of chief.”

“Li Qi, I lost this fight, but I refuse to accept it. I trusted Yu Zhuo’s intel—I had no idea your cultivation level. I mistook you for an Earth Skin cultivator.

I lost foolishly, you won by luck. Two experts fighting like this—

won’t it become a joke?”

Li Banfeng nodded: “If it spreads, it will indeed become a joke.”

“Husband is right—this must never be spoken of!” Zhao Xiaowan exhaled steam, scorching Hao Lianshen half-dead.

Hao Lianshen shouted: “Li Qi, you’re famed in Pulu Province—everywhere you go, people call you a noble hero.

Now we know each other’s secrets—if you truly have courage, let’s fight fairly. Victory doesn’t matter—I just want fairness!”

“Fine!” Li Banfeng agreed, stepped forward, and kicked Hao Lianshen square in the face. “That kick was fair—do you feel it’s fair now?”

Hao Lianshen spat blood: “I meant we should fight when the time is right—that’s fair...”

Thud!

Li Banfeng kicked him again: “Fair now?”

Hao Lianshen hesitated, then nodded: “Fair enough.”

Li Banfeng asked: “Have you seen the Great Totem?”

Hao Lianshen nodded: “I’ve followed Master Yu for over a decade—I once traveled with him to Yindu. The Great Totem I can conjure with illusion art is because I’ve seen it with my own eyes.”

Zhao Xiaowan nodded: “Husband, the Great Totem he conjured is identical to the real one.”

As she spoke, the wife had already told Li Banfeng she had seen the true Great Totem.

Hao Lianshen continued: “To reach Yindu, you must depart from Chage—no sea route. You must ride the wind, and travel purely southeast.”

Li Banfeng asked: “What do you mean by ‘purely southeast’?”

Jiu’er explained: “It’s a place beyond naming—a purely southeast direction, neither leaning east nor south,

exactly midway between them.

When forming arrays, if you find such a pure direction, the array’s power greatly increases.”

If Yin Du lies due southeast of Chaoge, then traveling to Yin Du by boat is definitely not advisable, for the sea is vast and storms change frequently, making direction hard to control.

Must one depart from Chaoge to reach Yin Du?

Does the peddler take this route?

If one had a fixed-disk map, could that reduce some restrictions?

Hao Lian Shen could offer no further valuable clues regarding Yin Du’s location, but he did give a vivid example concerning the Great Totem’s properties.

“To enhance my combat power, I once underwent a Great Totem transformation, after which my combat power dropped to sixty percent of its former level.”

“What caused the reduction in combat power?”

Hao Lian Shen thought for a moment: “From my perception, the Great Totem mixed into my physique certain elements incompatible with my Dao path—not only did my combat power weaken, but my physical form weakened as well.”

Li Banfeng formed a tentative hypothesis regarding the Great Totem’s mechanism.

Dark energy is chaotic; after ingesting the Rumen powder, one organizes the dark energy in a specific sequence—that is the process of cultivation.

The Great Totem likely forcibly mixes different types of dark energy; if their sequences are identical or similar, they mutually reinforce each other, boosting both cultivation base and combat power—Lu Xiaolan is a clear example.

If the sequences are opposite, they cancel each other out, severely weakening combat power—Hao Lian Shen is such a case.

What if the sequences are neither identical nor opposite, but entirely unrelated?

The dark energy would revert from order to chaos, equivalent to being exposed to heavenly light—waiting only for explosion.

Order is accidental; chaos is inevitable. Among ten thousand, only one survives—the rest all explode.

Thus, the Great Totem is not on the same level as the Great Furnace; the Great Furnace creates with purpose, while the Great Totem merely haphazardly fuses.

Li Banfeng grew increasingly convinced that the peddler should not risk himself for the Great Totem.

Hao Lian Shen said: “Seventh Master, we’ve become acquainted through conflict. If you still wish to learn more about the Great Totem, I can introduce you to several colleagues who can help you uncover the truth.”

Li Banfeng sighed: “It’s better to resolve enmity than to deepen it. Wife, take this Chief to the inner room and have him share a simple meal with our family.”

Zhao Xiao nodded: “Husband is right. Though he’s a Chief, with only sixty percent combat power left, a simple meal is all he deserves.”

Hao Lian Shen said: “Seventh Master is straightforward. If Hao’s combat power hadn’t declined, would you still invite Hao to a feast?”

Li Banfeng thought for a moment: “A feast? Not quite—but a proper home meal on a good day? Chief, come to the table.”

“After this meal, you’re one of us.”

Hao Lian Shen bowed: “Seventh Master is magnanimous. Should Hao ever be of service, just speak!”

The wife led Hao Lian Shen into the inner room; Hong Ying followed to help set the table. Lu Xiaolan’s face turned pale: “Banfeng, is it really just a meal?”

Li Banfeng nodded: “Yes, just a meal. Don’t rush. You’ll join later. I have a question for you: when did you learn that He Jiaqing held the Crimson Lotus?”

Lu Xiaolan: “My fourth year of university.”

“So late? Did you notice something unusual about He Jiaqing’s cultivation?”

Lu Xiaolan glanced secretly at Li Banfeng. She wasn’t sure which questions were genuine and which were tests. Since it concerned He Jiaqing, she spoke plainly: “I didn’t notice any abnormality in his cultivation. I just saw him chatting online with a woman. She claimed to be his gaming partner. I grew jealous, so I installed a spy on his computer. Later, from the woman, I learned He Jiaqing had obtained the Xuan Sheng Crimson Lotus.”

She said he was a gaming teammate, and I was jealous at the time, so I planted a hook on the computer; later, I learned from the woman that He Jiaqing had obtained the Xuan Sheng Honglian.

Lu Xiaolan recalled carefully: “Most of the time I couldn’t see her face, only heard her voice. A few times I saw her clothes—jeans, little leather skirts, nothing respectable. I saw her face once, but barely clearly—she wore heavy makeup, had red bangs, and kept chewing bubble gum.”

Lu Xiaolan carefully recalled: “I rarely saw the woman’s face, only heard her voice; a few times I saw her clothes—jeans and short leather skirts, nothing like a respectable woman.”

He Jiaqing had contact with Yuan Miaoping—and it began after he obtained the Xuan Sheng Crimson Lotus. They communicated frequently.

Yuan Miaoping had lied before. That was expected.

Lu Xiaolan thought Li Banfeng still harbored resentment over this: “Banfeng, I never meant to harm He Jiaqing. I truly wanted to live with him. But my mother and others heard about the Xuan Sheng Crimson Lotus and forced me to act against him. I never meant to harm you either. Back at the He family manor, I only wanted you to stay inside for a while while I found help—then I’d rescue you immediately.”

“During four years of university, I never harmed you, Banfeng—why won’t you believe me?”

“I believe you. It’s all in the past.” Li Banfeng rose. “Let’s have a meal together. After this meal, all grudges are settled.”

Jiu’er led Lu Xiaolan to the second room. The wife was waiting inside: “Lu Miss, I’ve heard from my husband that you greatly desire the Crimson Lotus. Today, I’ll fulfill your wish. Take it.”

The wife handed Lu Xiaolan the bronze lotus.

Lu Xiaolan didn’t understand Zhao Xiao’s intent. The bronze lotus lay before her, yet she dared not reach for it.

“Don’t you want it?” The wife didn’t press. She placed the bronze lotus aside and stepped close to Lu Xiaolan.

Jiu'er took Lu Xiaolan to the second wing, where the lady was waiting in the room: “Miss Lu, my husband told me you greatly wished to obtain the Xuan Sheng Honglian. Today, I shall grant you this wish—take it.”

Lu Xiaolan understood: this was a death sentence.

She shoved Jiu’er aside, trying to rush back to the main room and fight Li Banfeng—but the door to the main room wouldn’t open.

She rushed into the third room, but found its layout nearly identical to the second, save for minor differences.

When she reached the fourth room, Lu Xiaolan despaired: its layout was the same.

This reminded her of being trapped in the He family manor—she realized she couldn’t escape.

When she reached the fifth room, it was far livelier than the others.

Lu Xiaolan saw the dining table, the family eating, and the food on it.

Hao Lian Shen lying on the table revealed her own fate.

Zhao Xiao comforted her: “Lu Miss, really don’t you want to embrace the Crimson Lotus?”

Lu Xiaolan lunged forward, still trying to fight Zhao Xiao—but Hong Ying kicked her to the ground.

Zhao Xiao sighed: “It’s fine. If you don’t want to embrace her, she’ll embrace you soon.”

Watching Zhao Xiao approach, Lu Xiaolan didn’t know where to run.

She muttered frantically: “Impossible. My mother said Li Banfeng’s life is worth less than a cockroach—he’s just dust, not even a real person—how could he—”

Intense pain silenced her. Zhao Xiao slowly drained Lu Xiaolan’s soul.

Jiu’er wiped tears beside her. Hong Ying frowned: “Why are you crying? Isn’t this enemy of Seventh Master?”

“Precisely because she’s an enemy do I cry!” Jiu’er sniffled. “I fear she won’t die cleanly.”

A few specks of dust fell in the room. Lu Xiaolan’s residual soul was swept clean.

Hong Ying looked disgusted: “We’re eating! You’ve filled the room with dust—find a cloth and cover the dishes.”

Among the scattered dust, a peculiar scent lingered.

The wife used her Hundred Flavors Linglong technique to sniff it, then warned everyone: “During the meal, try to retain as much blood as possible—hand it over to the Pendulum. It’s useful.”

Hong Ying was puzzled: “What use could this bitch’s blood possibly have?”

The wife sniffed the blood again: “It carries a technique—Master Shengxiu’s technique.”

Li Banfeng exited the Personal Chamber and entered another carriage car, waking Lu Chunying and Xiao Yeci, who were asleep.

“No need to go to San Tou Cha. You may return home.”

Xiao Yeci looked astonished: “Where are my two enemies?”

Li Banfeng said: “I sent them away. The grudge is ended.”

Xiao Yeci still couldn’t believe it: “Which enemies exactly?”

Li Banfeng glanced at Lu Chunying: “Your sister’s.”

“My sister—” Lu Chunying knew who it was. “That bitch—if we hadn’t saved her, she’d have starved to death in the He family manor!”

Li Banfeng looked at Xiao Yeci: “I told you not to seek her out.”

Xiao Yeci looked regretful: “It’s all my fault for not listening to my benefactor. Will Lu Bianlan come back again?”

Li Banfeng nodded: “She won’t come back.”

Xiao Yeci exhaled deeply: “Then I’m relieved. Let’s go home, child.”

Lu Chunying thought for a moment, then said to Xiao Yeci: “Mother, let’s not return to Lüshuicheng yet. Let’s go to San Tou Cha—I want to earn more cultivation.”

Li Banfeng was pleased. This child had ambition.

He rose to leave, when Lu Chunying added: “If only there were a way to reach Clouds in a single day…”

Li Banfeng turned back suddenly, lifting his hat brim to look at Lu Chunying.

Lu Chunying trembled: “Seventh Brother, I was just speaking randomly—”

Li Banfeng continued staring at Lu Chunying: “Don’t speak casually. Never even think it. Before your Ninth Layer, if anyone tells you they’ll take you to the Clouds in a day, they’re deceiving you. Remember?”

Lu Chunying was drenched in cold sweat. After Li Banfeng left, she couldn’t sleep.

Xiao Yeci comforted her: “Child, don’t fear. Our benefactor is right! We must obey him—he sent Lu Bianlan away. Now we owe him a great debt!”

Lu Chunying shook her head: “What do you mean ‘sent away’? Mother, you didn’t understand. Lu Bianlan is gone—Seventh Brother sent her to the Yellow Springs.”

“Yellow Springs?” Xiao Yeci shuddered. “My heavens! Lu Bianlan is dead?”

A group of spirit constables marched along a rugged mountain path toward the summit.

At the summit, a massive circular ring stood upon a flat stone pedestal, slowly rotating.

From afar, the ring gleamed brilliantly, flawless. But up close, it was scarred, pitted, and battered.

Yu Zhuo, the new Chief Minister, stood on the second-tier staircase, carried up the mountain by dozens of servants. Once ten thousand spirit constables gathered,

Yu Zhuo ordered them all to pass through the ring.

Subordinates wielding first-grade weapons with demonic cultivation traits drove the spirit constables toward the ring.

Passing through the ring was an event of vanishingly low probability. Most spirit constables dissolved into dust the moment they neared it. Of ten thousand, only one reached the other side.

Yu Zhuo was not entirely satisfied with the result, but the two other heads on his shoulders seemed optimistic.

On the mountaintop, a massive ring stood upright on a flat stone pedestal, slowly spinning and dripping blood.

From afar, the ring gleamed brilliantly, flawless and perfect; but if examined closely, its surface was mottled and scarred.

Yu Zhuo, the new Chief Minister, stood on the second-level staircase, carried up the mountain by dozens of servants, until ten thousand alert spirits had gathered.

Yu Zhuo ordered all the alert spirits to pass through the ring.

The Kàng people, controlling first-class weapons imbued with demonic cultivation traits, drove the alert spirits toward the ring.

Passing through the ring was an event of extreme probability—most alert spirits turned to dust the instant they neared it; of ten thousand, only one ultimately reached the other side.

Yu Zhuo was not entirely satisfied with this result, but the two other heads on his shoulders seemed optimistic.

The left head, named Lian Xian, said: “Over ten thousand police spirits are waiting below the mountain.”

The right head, named He Shun, said: “The Great Furnace is ruined; all police spirits must eventually come to the Great Totem.”

Yu Zhuo sighed deeply: “One in ten thousand emerges—yet who knows what quality this one has.”

The peddler glanced over and shook his head: “I think this one’s quality isn’t good.”

PS: Peddler, do you think the Great Totem is seven-tenths repaired?