[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-lord-of-the-proles":3,"chapter-lord-of-the-proles-lord-of-the-proles-chapter-823":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Lord of the Proles",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2291121,4478,"Chapter 823: Gǔ and Dú Are Inseparable","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-823",823,"\u003Cp>Yang Xiangjun poured out a small bottle of potion; insects across an entire mountain frantically scrambled to feed, and those that touched the liquid instantly stiffened and died—within minutes, not a single Xuyuan silkworm remained on the earthen mound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two of them walked through all eight silkworm-rearing sites in succession, wiping out every last Xuyuan silkworm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the final rearing site, not on the cliff but in a mountain ravine, the Xuyuan silkworms here were clearly larger than those on the cliff—these insects were nearly mature, ready for delivery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But no matter how large the Xuyuan silkworms, they could not withstand Wuwang Ash; after one bottle of potion, only a pile of husks remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng wanted to know the origin of the Xuyuan silkworms: “Let’s destroy their nest completely—cut the grass and root out the source.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Xiangjun shook her head: “You can’t eradicate this. This is Xuyuan land—Xuyuan silkworms are born of heaven and earth; you can never kill them all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll leave you plenty of poisoned bait to ensure this place can never rear Xuyuan silkworms again. But if they move them elsewhere, no one can stop them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng picked up a Xuyuan silkworm husk: “How long does it take for one to grow this big?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>1\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Xiangjun glanced at its length—the silkworm was over a foot long: “In the wild, Xuyuan silkworms could never grow this large; with the special cultivation methods of the Poison Cultivators, it would take at least a year.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A year isn’t short, but it isn’t long either—leaving this alone, Li Banfeng couldn’t possibly rest easy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two left the silkworm-rearing tower; Li Banfeng found several corner towers nearby—larger than the others, but crudely built with poor materials and abysmal hygiene. Based on his experience in Xiaodu,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>this was where the Liren lived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng paced around the corner towers, muttering to himself: “Gǔ and dú are one family—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Xiangjun stepped closer, listened carefully, and asked: “What did you just say is one family?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng said: “I said gǔ and dú are one family. Do you think that makes sense?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Xiangjun paused: “What sense is that? I told you—medicine cultivators and poison cultivators are one family; gǔ cultivators have nothing to do with poison cultivators.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re too narrow-minded!” Li Banfeng held a different view on the relationships between the Dao schools: “Medicine and poison cultivators have diverged completely, but gǔ and poison cultivators are growing increasingly similar.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Xiangjun waved her fan, shaking her head: “Gǔ and poison cultivators have nothing in common. Gǔ techniques and true poison arts are entirely different—gǔ focuses on control, poison on killing. These two Dao schools have never been similar—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He explained so earnestly, but Li Banfeng didn’t hear a word—he kept muttering around the corner towers: “Gǔ and dú are inseparable; kill enemies together!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Xiangjun stepped forward and blocked Li Qi: “What are you babbling about? What does this have to do with our Dao schools? Finish the job and leave!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng wasn’t ready to leave: “Why rush? I still need to check if the insects are all dead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He walked through each silkworm-rearing tower again, confirmed every insect was dead, then circled the Liren’s corner towers twice more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he circled, he kept muttering; Yang Xiangjun paid little attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Liren were all asleep—they couldn’t hear Li Qi’s words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Yang Xiangjun didn’t realize: the sleeping Liren could hear every word, because Li Banfeng had been holding Meng De all along.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having followed Li Banfeng for years, Meng De had never been neglected—she feasted and drank well. When Meng Qian was present, Meng De had no chance to act.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when Meng Qian was gone, Meng De had countless tricks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was repeating Li Banfeng’s words in their dreams—but in the dreams, the speaker wasn’t Li Banfeng; it was Poison Cultivator Ancestor Yang Xiangjun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In everyone’s dreams, Yang Xiangjun repeated: “Gǔ and dú are inseparable; kill enemies together!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside her, eight people—four men and four women—each held a flag, waving and shouting: “Follow Poison Cultivator Ancestor and kill the enemy!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These eight served to make dreamers remember the Poison Cultivator Ancestor’s clothing and appearance; in the dreams, some gǔ cultivators clenched their fists, others retreated, and some stared blankly, as if not listening at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng had no time to persuade them—he left the dream behind and took Meng De to the Liren’s next residence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time he’d walked through all the Liren’s corner towers, it was 4:30—the Liren should be waking up for work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Xiangjun urged: “We should leave. You’ve repeated it so many times—if they dare to rise, it’s their fortune; if they don’t, they deserve what’s coming.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng shook his head: “We can’t leave yet—the exit from Zhougu Xu hasn’t opened.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Xiangjun blinked: “Is that a thing? Does the exit open only at certain times?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng said: “Then go yourself if you don’t believe me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Xiangjun couldn’t go alone—she didn’t know how to leave Zhougu Xu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng said: “We wait until five. When they start work, we’ll check for any surviving insects. If there are none, we leave immediately.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Xiangjun looked at the ravine ahead and the forest behind: “Let’s hide in the forest—it offers better cover.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng thought it unnecessary: “You’re a Dao Ancestor—don’t you have invisibility techniques? Do you really need cover before these cultivators?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Xiangjun dared not be arrogant: “These are all spell cultivators—if we catch a Yangjie, we’ll suffer dearly later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Didn’t you drink Wuwang Ash? It should protect you from Yangjie.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Xiangjun shook her head: “Only high-level spell techniques use Xuyuan silkworms. Low-level ones may use other insects—Wuwang does nothing to those. I’d need to switch potions.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then switch! You’re a Poison Cultivator Ancestor—how could you lack medicine?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I won’t risk it! This is the spell cultivators’ nest—hundreds of them attacking at once, hundreds of Yangjie surging toward me—if I run out of medicine, I’m dead.” Yang Xiangjun glanced at the magazine in Li Banfeng’s hand: “I’ll hide inside this book.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng opened the third page of the magazine and sealed Yang Xiangjun inside. He didn’t go to the forest—he stood quietly beside the ravine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At five, several spell cultivator women woke first, whips in hand, entering the corner towers and beating the sleeping Liren awake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How much longer do you plan to sleep? Even pigs don’t sleep this long! Get up!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I give you two minutes—if you’re not up, you’ll be fed to the insects!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No whip, no movement—you’re truly beasts!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Liren were still trapped in Meng De’s dream—seeing Poison Cultivator Ancestor swinging fists and shouting. Most had watched or avoided before, but now, awakened, some clenched their fists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several gǔ cultivators exchanged glances—the dream had felt so real; they wanted to tell each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But wake-up time was too tight—no chance to chat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group stumbled out of the towers, heading to work. Li Banfeng summoned the projector and created a vision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Poison Cultivator Ancestor Yang Xiangjun stood outside the tower, shouting loudly: “Gǔ and dú are inseparable; kill enemies together!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind her, four men and four women waved flags.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before her, hundreds of spell cultivators cast spells at the projected image.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spell cultivators reacted quickly—this sudden Ancestor, no matter his origin, had to be struck down first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng seized the moment they attacked, and with Zhao Xiao and Wan Zhiwan on either side, charged into the spell cultivators’ formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most spell cultivators hadn’t reacted yet—only two dark shadows darted past them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One older spell cultivator with combat experience shouted: “Cast spells around yourselves—protect yourselves—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before she finished, Tang Dao drew, and one slash severed her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two others nearby, elderly and high-ranking, tried to reorganize—their heads were cut off by Tang Dao in a single stroke each.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With no leaders, the spell cultivators hesitated, unsure where to strike. Li Banfeng seized the chaos and kicked—Treading Through Ten Thousand Rivers—and a wave of spell cultivators collapsed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Niangzi whispered repeatedly among the crowd: “Gǔ and dú are inseparable; kill enemies together; follow Poison Cultivator Ancestor!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voice shook souls—many near Zhao Xiao wan were instantly stunned to death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One spell cultivator studied the Poison Cultivator Ancestor’s appearance and listened to her voice—she sensed the image and sound came from different places.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was an illusion!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She shouted: “Don’t attack! Defend!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was correct—the enemy’s true position was unclear. Defending and waiting for reinforcements was the best strategy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You others—don’t stand idle!” she turned and shouted to the gǔ cultivators: “Prepare your gǔ insects! I’m talking to you—can’t you hear?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gǔ cultivators behind her seemed not to hear—they stared blankly at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spell cultivator raised her whip to strike—but before it reached the air, she clutched her chest, screamed, and vomited a pool of thick fluid, filled with rice-grain-sized insects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone had already used gǔ technique on her—and not just one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gǔ cultivators had been using gǔ techniques on the spell cultivators—they were to kill with Poison Cultivator Ancestor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did they recognize Poison Cultivator Ancestor?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No. But it didn’t matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They hadn’t lived human lives. Once, spell and gǔ cultivators called each other sisters—yet after the spell cultivators gained power,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>they struck with such cruelty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, under spell cultivator torment, the gǔ cultivators lived worse than beasts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If someone could lead them to a path of survival, whether they recognized him or not didn’t matter—whether there was reason didn’t matter. Besides, the Poison Cultivator Ancestor’s reason was perfect: gǔ and dú are inseparable!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many gǔ cultivators had already torn into the spell cultivators. Li Banfeng swung his sickle, severing limbs one by one. In moments of brutal fighting, the spell cultivators suffered heavy losses and retreated. Zhao Xiao wan shouted in a hoarse voice: “Don’t pursue the fleeing enemy—follow me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The projector shifted its projection—showing the Gǔ Cultivator Ancestor’s image leading them toward the next silkworm-rearing tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These gǔ cultivators had just discovered their Xuyuan silkworms were all dead—no idea how to explain. According to the spell cultivators’ rules, killing an entire brood meant all of them would pay with their lives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In panic, they heard chaos outside—gǔ cultivators shouting, rushing to the tower’s base.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gǔ and dú are inseparable; kill enemies together!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dream was real!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gǔ cultivators looked at the dead insects, then at the panicked spell cultivators, then at the bloody battle below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, they knew exactly who to strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sisters, follow Poison Cultivator Ancestor and fight!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gǔ cultivators burst from the rooms and clashed with spell cultivators on the corridors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The village erupted in chaos—all gǔ cultivators wanted to follow Poison Cultivator Ancestor—but the Ancestor had a flaw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a projected image—it could shout and strike, but it couldn’t release poison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it couldn’t release poison, how was it Poison Cultivator Ancestor? This would soon expose the deception.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng took out the magazine and released the real Poison Cultivator Ancestor, Yang Xiangjun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The projector shut off the image. Yang Xiangjun stared at the chaos before her, listening to the shouts around her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She turned to Li Banfeng: “You madman—what are you trying to do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng pointed at the crowd: “They’re following you to kill the enemy!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You go crazy here yourself!” Yang Xiangjun turned and ran. Zhao Xiao changed his voice to a woman’s and shouted: “Follow the Ancestor, keep charging!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Xiangjun concealed himself with a cloud of poison mist, making it impossible for the spell cultivators behind him to see him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng used the Night Walk with Torch technique to illuminate Yang Xiangjun!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Xiangjun was exposed—he had to fight, or he’d be surrounded by the spell cultivators.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Yang Xiangjun fighting desperately, the Poison Cultivators’ blood boiled; the brilliant light emanating from their Ancestor’s body boosted everyone’s combat power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Zhao Xiao commanding the battle and Li Banfeng and Yang Xiangjun providing support, though the Poison Cultivators were at a disadvantage in weaponry, they fought all day and seized half the village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At night, the Poison Cultivators found rice wine in the village, each took a bowl, and offered it to their Poison Ancestor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Xiangjun drank a bellyful of rice wine and said to Li Banfeng: “You dragged me into this—what’s in it for you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng explained: “This isn’t dragging you down. I’m building you a merit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Xiangjun laughed: “Brother, who are you talking to? What merit do I need? I only believe in getting paid for work.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even if Qiao Yi made me a king or marquis, I wouldn’t care!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng said: “Merit granted by others is meaningless, but uniting the Poison Cultivators and poison cultivators into one family—that’s merit you earned yourself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Xiangjun glanced around, lowered his voice: “Don’t talk nonsense. The Poison Cultivators and poison cultivators operate on fundamentally different principles—they can’t be merged!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng sighed: “All Dao sects have different principles. Some are even opposites—yet they still force themselves together.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If principles are opposite, how can you merge them?” Yang Xiangjun didn’t want to listen to Li Banfeng’s nonsense. “I know—you won’t let me leave. But I’m telling you, I don’t want this muddy water either. Tomorrow I’ll hide somewhere—you’ll never find me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng stroked his chin, staring at Yang Xiangjun: “Brother Yang, I’ve marked you. If you insist on pushing things to the extreme, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Xiangjun sneered: “What kind of mark could a traveling cultivator make? You think a single lie can scare me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng gave Yang Xiangjun a thumbs-up: “Bold. How about we make a bet?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Xiangjun laughed twice scornfully, then felt a pang of grievance: “Why are you making things hard for me? You just want to stir up trouble in the Spell-Cultivation Wasteland. Can’t you find anyone else?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng stood, looking at the weary sentries and many Poison Cultivators already asleep: “I’ve looked. There’s no one better suited than you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You can suppress Hen Wuyou. You know her inside out. You have a grudge against her. Only you can lead this chaos.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Xiangjun flicked his hair with his middle and ring fingers, raised his eyebrows, and looked at Li Banfeng: “Li Qi, I’ll be honest—I don’t hold grudges. Whoever pays more, I work for.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tomorrow, if Hen Wuyou offers me money, I’ll surrender and help her raise bugs!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng froze: “Wasn’t Hen Wuyou the one who hired you for this raid on Lao Lu?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How would she hire me?” Yang Xiangjun chuckled bitterly. “She runs from me. She’s hated me her whole life. I was hired by Qiao Yi.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qiao Yi?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This move was baffling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng asked Yang Xiangjun: “Does Qiao Yi know you have Wuwang Ash?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Xiangjun thought: “He probably knows. He’s that meticulous—he’d have investigated this in advance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He knows you have Wuwang Ash—and still sends you to me?” This was the most confusing move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wuwang Silkworms are hard to kill. Yang Xiangjun has the means to kill them. Qiao Yi sent him to Moxiang Shop—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>effectively handing Li Banfeng a knife.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Li Banfeng and Qiao Yi are close, Qiao Yi wouldn’t be this thoughtful, would he?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng asked Yang Xiangjun: “Do you know where Hen Wuyou is?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course,” Yang Xiangjun pursed his lips, gave Li Banfeng a coquettish glance. “Hen Wuyou is in Moxiang Shop. The Blood Fang Monster is Hen Wuyou. You really think I came to Moxiang Shop blind?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng was even more confused: “If you know all this, Qiao Yi shouldn’t have sent you to Moxiang Shop at all. If you fall into my hands, how much damage will you cause him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Xiangjun sneered: “That’s a low blow. Who’d think I’d get captured by you? Li Qi, be honest—can you beat me in a one-on-one fight?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng pulled an iron rod from his book. Yang Xiangjun waved his hands: “I was just using a metaphor! Qiao Yi never expected me to be captured alive. He sent me to Moxiang Shop mainly to contain Hen Wuyou.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is Hen Wuyou disobedient?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hen Wuyou’s temperament is like Shan Chengjun’s. Who in the world can control her?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The logic sounded plausible, but Li Banfeng still sensed something off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To contain Hen Wuyou, why choose Yang Xiangjun?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hen Wuyou is a rebellious subordinate. Yang Xiangjun is pure mercenary. Li Banfeng didn’t believe Yang Xiangjun was more reliable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Qi, can you let me go?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng shook his head: “I don’t want to harm you. I’m trying to help you. You’re a sect Ancestor—still working as a mercenary at your age? Don’t you feel ashamed?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Xiangjun rolled his eyes: “I don’t feel ashamed. Isn’t living just living?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>3\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng pointed at the group of Poison Cultivators: “Now their Ancestor is gone, their patron is gone. Lead them to carve out a realm—wouldn’t that be a legend?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What legend? When their lives improve, will they even remember me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Xiangjun stood, brushed snow off his clothes, gazed at the sea of Poison Cultivators, his eyes deep: “The deal’s already made. I’ll agree to lead these Poison Cultivators through chaos—but you must agree to three things.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Say them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m here to fight for you. You must supply food, drink, and gear. I won’t work for free. I’ll make a list of my pay—real gold and silver, no less.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng nodded: “I agree.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Second: battles depend on resources. The Inner State isn’t poor. If I can’t win, guarantee I can retreat safely.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng nodded again: “I agree.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Third: let these Poison Cultivators sleep two more hours, then evacuate the village in batches.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng didn’t understand: “We just took half the village—why leave?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If I truly wanted to fight, I could take the whole village. But we can’t hold it,” Yang Xiangjun picked up a stick and sketched the village layout on the ground. “Look at the terrain, grain distribution, roads inside and out—all disadvantageous for defense.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Xiangjun spoke of military strategy with crystal clarity: “If you don’t believe me, ask that woman who knows how to fight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng feigned ignorance: “Which woman?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who else?” Yang Xiangjun snorted. “The woman who makes the whole world envious. If I had her voice and figure—even if I looked worse—I’d gladly trade.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, Yang Xiangjun pulled out two vials of powder: “One is Wuwang Ash—specifically for purging high-level calamity. The other is Wuwang Dust. Take both together, and your calamity will vanish completely.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng shook his head: “I’ve taken precautions—no one has planted calamity on me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Precautions mean nothing. Spell cultivators aren’t strong fighters—they strike through stealth. A ground cultivator’s glare could plant calamity on you. Can you guard against that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng looked at Wuwang Ash—he definitely wouldn’t take it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at Wuwang Dust: “If I take this, I won’t feel guilty, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>1\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Same thing. Both will make you regret being born male.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So I can’t take either?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You can’t—but she can,” Yang Xiangjun rolled his eyes again, tidied his makeup, and went to rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng returned to his portable dwelling and gave both Wuwang Ash and Wuwang Dust to his wife: “My dear, these are the poison Ancestor’s gifts—can purge calamity.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xiao opened the Golden Qingqiu Mirror and scanned her body. Over twenty calamities were visible to her alone—since these spell cultivators’ techniques weren’t as refined as Hen Wuyou’s, none escaped her sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let me count carefully—don’t miss any.” She counted precisely: twenty-six calamities total. Seven were planted by Wuwang Silkworms; the rest by ordinary insects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She weighed the numbers, took a bit of Wuwang Ash, then some Wuwang Dust. Within five minutes, all calamities reappeared on her skin—and froze in place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These calamities were poisoned. They tried to flee the toxin—but couldn’t pierce her flesh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng plucked each calamity off her skin one by one: “This is a grasshopper. This is a cabbage worm. This is a wild herb.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can a wild herb be used to plant a calamity?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing twenty-six calamities, Li Banfeng removed twenty-seven—the Wuwang Silkworm calamity was one extra.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xiao beamed: “Husband, this calamity planted by Hen Wuyou was also killed!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good,” Li Banfeng nodded repeatedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xiao held up Wuwang Ash to Hongying: “Yingying, this medicine works wonders—your calamities can be cleared too!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hongying was overjoyed. Li Banfeng’s expression was dull.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xiao asked: “Husband, aren’t you happy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Happy! Very happy!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng was indeed happy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Qiao Yi’s actions still confused him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why send Yang Xiangjun to dismantle Hen Wuyou’s position?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just because she was disobedient?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nian Shangyou presented a letter to Qiao Yi: “Lord, the Blood Fang Monster is furious at Yang Xiangjun and demands an explanation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The letter didn’t explain why the Blood Fang Monster was angry—it was crude, vulgar, written purely to vent emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In another secret letter, Qiao Yi already knew about the Spell-Cultivation Wasteland incident. The Blood Fang Monster’s nest had been attacked—her fury was understandable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qiao Yi set the letter aside. Seeing Nian Shangyou hesitate, he smiled: “You have something to say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nian Shangyou ventured: “The Blood Fang Monster is your subordinate—she’s one of us. Yang Xiangjun is a mercenary—he sells his blade to whoever pays. Using him to stab one of our own in the heart—isn’t that inappropriate?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qiao Yi shook his head slightly: “Shangyou, I’m not the one stabbing her. Li Banfeng is. There are two knives. If I don’t hand him this one, he’ll grab the other. And that other knife—I can never give him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This left Nian Shangyou utterly baffled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qiao Yi gestured for Nian Shangyou to come closer: “Take a team to Bozhou. Wait for my order.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing “Bozhou,” Nian Shangyou tensed: “Lord, are you planning to act against the Imperial Envoy—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qiao Yi nodded: “It’s time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Typos corrected. Thank you, dear readers, for helping catch errors.\u003C\u002Fp>",3647,"2026-06-20T03:43:18.603Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","07d4021ea178b4eb5fbfba6ec977c8e5607169f23f610a99e870df3b80325775","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-824","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-822",863,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flord-of-the-proles-cover.jpg"]