Chapter 839: The Gift of Life

Eighteen Wheels and Li Banfeng feared the same thing: “Old Seven, I originally split my body and soul in two because I loved traveling cultivation too much and hated industrial cultivation, using nothing but a trick of little face.”

Later, for various reasons, half my body and half my soul were trapped in the Great Furnace, half my soul was trapped in Dream Qian Tower, and half my body remained in Waizhou.”

But splitting a person isn’t that simple; first, the person must truly wish to split themselves, and it requires the hard skill of Little Face.”

I trust Little Face’s character—he would never serve Neizhou—I simply can’t imagine why another Qiao Yi has appeared.”

Could these two Qiao Yis also be creations of the Great Totem?”

How many secrets of the Great Totem remain undiscovered?”

Its potential seems limitless.”

It’s now confirmed: the Qiao Yi in Tushi is real, and Tushi currently has vast numbers of Totem troops.”

The Great Totem functions like a factory, efficiently producing massive combat power for Shangguo.”

“Brother, have you heard of the Xuanyuan Path?”

Old Train thought a moment: “Probably similar to the Xuanyuan Realm.”

No wonder the Peddler said he only half-understood—it shares similarities with the Xuanyuan Realm, but it’s certainly not the same thing.”

“Brother, let’s go find Tou Youlu and use Quji Bixiong together to see if we can locate the entrance to the Xuanyuan Path.”

Old Train pondered: “If we’re talking about the strongest traveling cultivator, Tou Youlu is indeed the one—but if we’re talking about the strongest Quji Bixiong—”

There was a name he didn’t want to mention; he found it unlucky.”

Li Banfeng understood Old Train’s meaning—he went to find Che Wushang and explained the situation.”

“Big Brother Che, I plan to circle the border between Tushi and Renshi to see if there’s an entrance to the Xuanyuan Path.”

With Che Wushang, this would be easy; the border between Tushi and Renshi isn’t long, and with our speed, we could make a round trip in no time.”

Che Wushang lit a cigarette and kept shaking his head: “Old Seven, you’re thinking about this wrong.”

Li Banfeng said: “You think there’s no path between Tushi and Renshi?”

Che Wushang shook his head: “A path might exist, but why assume the entrance to the Xuanyuan Path lies at the border?”

Li Banfeng sat stunned for a while, realizing his thinking had gone astray.”

The road from Neizhou to Jianren Gang exits at Shengxian Peak—not at the border.”

The road from Shengxian Peak to Qunying Mountain exits at Wulao Valley—not at the border.”

Che Wushang added: “You’re not looking for a path from Tushi to Renshi—you’re looking for a path from Tushi to the outside. As long as there’s a way out, they can bypass the Sky Maiden’s boundary.”

Li Banfeng rubbed his forehead; now the search area had expanded enormously.”

Che Wushang said: “This won’t be easy. Let’s not trouble my master or our ancestral master. Just follow me—we’ll go wherever we end up.”

Li Banfeng followed Che Wushang, walking back and forth for dozens of miles within Renshi.”

“Big Brother Che, we’re searching for a path from Tushi to the outside, yet you keep circling Renshi—what can you possibly find?”

Che Wushang said: “Brother, don’t rush. If we’re talking about avoiding misfortune, Tushi is full of danger—the enemy’s there, how could it not be perilous? We’d find nothing useful going there.”

To find this entrance, we must seek fortune. The underground city is in ruins—where could fortune still exist? But oddly enough, Renshi does have such places—shouldn’t we go take a look?”

Li Banfeng followed the driver through Renshi, didn’t find the Xuanyuan Path’s entrance, but found a person.”

Che Wushang told Li Banfeng: “This person is undoubtedly crucial, but some things I’d better not hear—fortune and misfortune shift; judge for yourself.”

With that, Che Wushang left.”

The man across from him approached and greeted Li Banfeng: “Seventh Master, sorry to disturb you.”

Li Banfeng bowed: “Master Lu, you came looking for me? Then Moxiang Shop must be safe now.”

Master Lu thought a moment, took a deep breath: “Not entirely safe—but I have urgent business that requires your counsel.”

After receiving Li Banfeng’s message, Master Lu had gone to Qunying Mountain and fought fiercely against the Totem troops.”

After the battle ended, Master Lu didn’t join them at Santou Cha—he returned to Moxiang Shop.”

The matter had seemed settled—but Master Lu couldn’t settle it with himself.”

He had come to Santou Cha anyway, yet hesitated whether to seek out Li Qi.”

Now that Li Qi stood before him, he no longer hesitated.”

“Seventh Master, could we find a place to talk?”

Li Banfeng knew Renshi well—he found a factory. Due to the war, it had halted production but wasn’t abandoned or used to house refugees; the gate was locked, the yard empty. The two sat beside a machine tool to talk.”

Master Lu pulled a brocade box from his robe and handed it to Li Banfeng: “Seventh Master, please hold this for me for now.”

Li Banfeng opened the box—inside lay the Imperial Seal.”

He wasn’t surprised; he’d heard rumors the Seal was in the possession of the Eight Dou Ink Master.”

But Li Banfeng wouldn’t turn against Master Lu over rumors, and moreover, the Seal was Master Lu’s own hard-won possession—he had no right to seize it.”

He hadn’t expected Master Lu to voluntarily bring the Seal:”

Note:”

I carried the Seal around Shengxian Peak and found two paths.”

According to the Seal’s guidance, one path leads to Neizhou, the other to Qunying Mountain—the Seal can open this path, and the soldiers Qiao Yi led must have come through it.”

I sealed this path with the Seal—he can reopen it with his own Seal. Seventh Master, if you can think of another way, please block this path—otherwise, Wuyou Ping and Qunying Mountain will suffer again.”

Li Banfeng nodded slightly; this must be reported to the Sky Maiden—she must encircle Shengxian Peak with boundaries.”

Master Lu marked on the map the paths from Shengxian Peak to Qunying Mountain and Neizhou, and handed Li Banfeng the Seal’s usage instructions as well.”

Having finished his instructions, Master Lu bowed to Li Banfeng and turned to leave.”

Li Banfeng called out: “When this is over, I’ll deliver the Seal to the Bookhouse.”

Master Lu shook his head: “I can’t take it back.”

Li Banfeng insisted: “It’s yours. To offer it now is a favor—not only must the object be returned, the favor must be repaid.”

Master Lu adjusted his scarf, exhaled a puff of breath, and rubbed his hands: “If one day I meet the Peddler again, perhaps I should sit quietly and talk with him properly.”

I’ve always wanted to establish a new order for Puluozhou—but I’ve realized the world’s other orders won’t allow someone like me to exist.”

Perhaps there is no true order—only when enough people follow it does it become order.”

Perhaps this is the newest order—the one he pushed forward in his cart.”

Perhaps this was the newest order—the order he had pushed out with his cart.

Carrying the Seal, Li Banfeng cautiously circled Tushi.”

All civilian homes in Tushi had been converted into barracks; the carts once used to haul earth now transported soldiers.”

Ships continued arriving from Haishi, steadily reinforcing Tushi—the situation at Santou Cha grew increasingly dire.”

Li Banfeng moved through the enemy camp—a place of extreme peril; for him, leaving Tushi as quickly as possible was the path to fortune.”

He circled Tushi twice; the Seal glowed twice.”

Each glow confirmed the discovery of a path out of Tushi.”

One path lay in a well by the roadside.”

The other lay in an abandoned house long deserted.”

A crack ran along the house’s wall; when near it, the Seal emitted bright light.”

Both paths existed—but where they led, whether the enemy could detect them, whether they were passable—Li Banfeng didn’t know.”

But Li Banfeng knew how to block them—he took out paper and ink and drafted a notice: this path is of critical importance; from today forward, for the next month, no one is permitted to pass.”

Li Banfeng finished the notice, stamped it with the Seal, and, following Master Lu’s instructions, tossed it into the well and shoved it into the crack—both paths were sealed.”

But Master Lu had tested this: sealed paths could be reopened with the Seal.”

The paths couldn’t be sealed yet—not yet, or they’d alert the enemy. Li Banfeng slipped silently out of Tushi and returned to Renshi.”

Inside his personal space, Zhao Xiao and Fifth Lady were marking boundaries on the map; according to their plan, they’d drawn six boundaries around Tushi—beyond the outermost ring, the remaining five formed four horizontal and one vertical line, dividing Tushi into ten zones.”

This battlefield had been jointly designed by two famed generals, considering nearly every angle.”

The ten zones made it easy to defeat the enemy piecemeal—even if one zone had a path to the outside, enemy forces in other zones would still have nowhere to flee.”

Li Banfeng reviewed the map and thought the plan excellent.”

But the Sky Maiden was displeased.”

She stared at the map: “Are you drawing flowers here? Do you think this is so easy??”

Fifth Lady gazed at her with innocent eyes: “All boundaries in Puluozhou were created by you—you’re powerful, I deeply revere you—how hard could this be for you?”

The Sky Maiden wasn’t swayed: “How many years did it take me to create those boundaries? Can you think these many boundaries can be made in a day or two?”

Zhao Xiao considered removing one boundary, but after careful thought, felt each was vital.”

The Sky Maiden looked at Li Banfeng: “Don’t rush to make boundaries—I’ll discuss further with them. First, go speak with them and ask if they’re willing to fight this battle.”

“No need to ask, right?” Li Banfeng was confident: “They endured the hardships of Wuyou Ping and Qunying Mountain—now only Santou Cha remains—what’s left they can’t fight?”

The Sky Maiden shook her head: “On them, change is constant.”

Li Banfeng gathered the group to discuss battle plans—he called only a few core members, fearing a traitor might leak information.”

Before everyone arrived, He Yuxiu pulled Li Banfeng aside alone to tell him something.”

“Seventh Brother, I need to go handle something.”

With battle imminent, He Yuxiu was leaving—this would hurt morale.”

“Xiu’er, what’s happened?”

He Yuxiu didn’t beat around the bush—she spoke plainly: “Jiaqing fought day and night against Neizhou to hold the thirteen territories—he’s nearly killed himself.”

I know you and Jiaqing have grievances, but he’s my nephew—no one else will help him. If I don’t save him, he’ll die.”

Under these circumstances, He Yuxiu couldn’t be pressured—Li Banfeng quickly found the driver to send her back.”

When most had arrived, before Li Banfeng could speak of battle, Huan Wuchang offered advice: “Old Seven, since the Sky Maiden has appeared, have her draw a boundary to encircle both Tushi and Haishi—block Neizhou from entering, and the battle’s over.”

When everyone had nearly arrived, before Li Banfeng could mention the battle, Huan Wuchang offered him a suggestion: “Old Seven, since the Sky Maiden has appeared, have her draw a boundary to enclose both the Earth Market and the Sea Market, keeping Huineizhou out—that would end the war.”

Li Banfeng stared for a long moment: “You mean you’re giving up Tushi and Haishi?”

Huan Wuchang sighed: “What use would they be? There’s plenty of land in Puluozhou—this little bit doesn’t matter.”

Li Banfeng asked Huan Wuchang: “Can you explain the reason behind this?”

Huan Wuchang glanced at Ku PoPo; Ku PoPo said: “Nephew, I’ll speak plainly today. The battle has dragged on this long—half of Kucaizhuang’s Ku Xiu have fallen, four-tenths of Huan Wuchang’s cultivators are dead. Ask the ancestral masters and sect masters of other Dao sects—how many of their people have died?”

Just now, I visited every faction. San Yingmen’s casualties have long exceeded half; Baihuamen has few fighters left. No one can even count how many the Four Great Families lost. If we keep fighting like this, we’ll exhaust every last resource.”

Qin Xiaopang waved his hand: “Our faction’s affairs don’t need outsiders to meddle in.”

Ku PoPo said: “I don’t care to meddle! But our Dao sects can’t keep fighting!”

Ma Wu looked at Li Qi; the losses among the families were indeed heavy. Ai lowered her head in silence—Hulucun had suffered greatly too. If it were just about taking down the Quenching Camp, Ai wouldn’t blink, she’d follow Li Banfeng into battle. But now she’d learned the enemy had fifty thousand totem troops—she no longer wanted to fight.

Xu Han rose silently: “Combat and eagle warfare are never easy. Holding San Tou Cha is my duty—I shouldn’t have burdened you all.”

You’ve come to see San Tou Cha—I’m deeply grateful. Thank you all!”

With that, Xu Han bowed and walked away, that stubborn old man.

Ku PoPo nodded: “Good. Old Xu has his own strength—we don’t need to help him. Let’s go too!”

Shi Ba Lun stepped forward to Quanzu ; Lian Budabu joined in Quanzu ; the more they Quanzu , the angrier Ku PoPo became.

Li Banfeng saw clearly: Ku PoPo was using her anger as an excuse to leave outright—to abandon the whole mess. Kucaizhuang’s losses this time were truly heavy.

If Ku PoPo leaves, the Handshake Alliance will all leave. Then those ancestral masters and sect masters who never got along with Huo Lang will leave too.

If this continues, morale will shatter.

“Elders!” Li Banfeng rose and said, “Please stay at San Tou Cha a few more days. You don’t need to fight yet—but at least hold the ground in Puluozhou.”

Ku PoPo nodded: “Fine. We’ll hold the ground for you. If the enemy breaks out of the underground city, we won’t hesitate to strike back. But if they stop inside the underground city, this war should end.”

The crowd dispersed. Chu Er came to Li Banfeng’s side: “Seventh Brother, no matter how many are left in the Chu family, one word from you—we’ll fight Inner State to the end!”

Lu Chunying nodded: “The Lu family is the same—even if I’m the last one standing, I’ll fight to the end.”

Ma Wu rose: “Seventh, don’t worry. I’ll find more hands—we brothers don’t back down.”

Qin Xiaopang said: “Seventh Brother, none of my men are cowards. Fight as you please.”

Ai said: “Hulucun has no cowards either—but can we even win this war?”

“We can win!” Li Banfeng smiled. “Go back and rest with your people.”

Lian Budabu stepped close to Li Banfeng: “Seventh, I heard from Old Train about the two Qiao Yi incidents. This has nothing to do with me—I’d never serve Inner State.”

Li Banfeng nodded: “I trust you.”

Lian Budabu nodded too: “But I don’t trust Da Lian Budabu.”

Li Banfeng and Lian Budabu locked eyes: “Does Da Lian Budabu have consciousness?”

Lian Budabu lowered his voice: “It didn’t before. Now I can’t say for sure. The Great Totem is too sinister.”

“Where is Da Lian Budabu?”

“At the border of Wanshengzhou, Inner State, and Puluozhou,” Lian Budabu’s face showed faint fear. “I can never go there again—I’d never come out. Even Huo Lang barely escaped.”

But if I don’t go… I’m truly afraid—”

Li Banfeng glanced around, then whispered to Lian Budabu: “If Da Lian Budabu really did this, could Qiao Yi split into two, then into four?”

Lian Budabu’s fear intensified: “I dare not say. Logically, it shouldn’t be possible—but now with the Great Totem involved, I dare not say anything!”

Li Banfeng dared not imagine it either—could Qiao Yi split infinitely?

For an instant, Li Banfeng felt dozens of Qiao Yi swirling before his eyes.

“Brother, don’t tell anyone about this. If anyone asks about Qiao Yi, say you know nothing.”

He couldn’t let the elder masters seize this as leverage—they’d make Lian Budabu the public enemy of Puluozhou.

Outside the hall, Li Banfeng saw a group of familiar faces.

Meng Yuchun scolded Wu Yongchao: “I can’t stand people who talk nonsense. You said you knew the way—and yet you can’t find anything!”

Wu Yongchao bowed his head: “I studied the map several times. I know how to reach the underground city—it’s just that this place is impossible to find!”

Meng Yuchun gave Wu Yongchao a withering look: “You can’t even tell east from west—what’s the point of studying maps? If it weren’t for Miss Jiang guiding us, we’d still be wandering around with you!”

Jiang Mengting had come too.

Li Banfeng looked over the group and revealed his form.

Wu Yongchao cried out excitedly: “Baozhu!”

Li Banfeng asked: “How did you get here?”

Wu Yongchao said: “The Earth God told us someone had invaded Puluozhou. He said any man with guts should follow the Baozhu into battle. We talked it over with the mansion—and came the same day with our mansion spirits.”

It was true: as soon as they heard of the war, they’d set out immediately. They’d only arrived now because they didn’t know the way.

At first, they couldn’t even find the train station.

Li Banfeng glanced around: over eighty percent of Tiemenbao’s people had come—some carried bowls, others basins, some carried tables, one even dragged a bed.

The mansion spirits looked wildly different. Li Banfeng said: “You left—what about the mansions? Who ever heard of a mansion cultivator wandering everywhere?”

Wu Yongchao replied: “We made arrangements with the mansions. The Baozhu has saved us. We’re following him into battle—and the mansions agreed.”

Meng Yuchun smiled: “I made the same deal, Seventh. Are the two girls who healed me still around?”

Jiu’er, hiding in the shadows, laughed: “She remembers us!”

Zhao Xiao narrowed her eyes at Jiu’er: “What are you laughing at? Is it a good thing she remembers you? Don’t you remember how she was pawing at you that day?”

Li Banfeng looked at Jiang Mengting and smiled: “You came too.”

Jiang Mengting blushed, lowering her head: “I raised some money and gathered a batch of grain. The Jiang family is just starting out—we’re not wealthy. I just thought—”

Li Banfeng nodded repeatedly—he understood her heart.

Ma Wu smiled beside him. Chu Er praised: “This girl hasn’t brought you shame.”

Niangzi sighed: “Miss Jiang is a good person—but her rouge smell is unpleasant.”

Hong Ying said: “It’s not unpleasant. I think it smells just like Seventh’s.”

Jiu’er looked at Hong Ying: “Your family’s wooden boards are all broken—don’t you feel pain?”

Qin Xiaopang said: “Seventh Brother, heroes from all over are coming here. We’ve got plenty of hands. Without those old bastards, we can still fight!”

Li Banfeng nodded repeatedly, told Ma Wu to settle everyone in, then went to find Zuo Wugang to check on Qiu Zhiheng’s condition.

Qiu Zhiheng remained unconscious; Zhu Zi stood beside him watching.

Cao Ye kept wiping her tears: “I’m useless—I can only buy medicine for Brother Qiu. I can’t do anything else!”

You Tao, still injured, comforted her: “Sister, you’re already strong. Without you, Sister might not have made it back.”

Li Banfeng whispered to Zhong Er: “How strong is the Wu Zui Army?”

Zhong Er learned quickly. In these days at San Tou Cha, he’d picked up much insight—but with so many people around, he couldn’t speak plainly.

Li Banfeng took him to another room. Zhong Er said: “Master Li, before, the Wu Zui Army was enough to maintain order and deal with thugs. But in real battle, they’re not even a fraction as capable as the Dangkou Army.”

Liao Zihui, trying to prove himself, keeps demanding equipment from Waizhou. More gear won’t help—the Wu Zui Army on the battlefield is just cannon fodder.”

Li Banfeng sat on a chair, rubbing his temples.

It wasn’t just the Wu Zui Army that was being sent to die.

This was a war even ancestral masters and sect masters couldn’t withstand. How many more must be thrown into the grinder?

Should I, as Second Aunt said, just give up Tushi and Haishi?

Li Banfeng shook his head alone—those two places couldn’t be abandoned.

Without Tushi, San Tou Cha would lose its food supply.

Haishi was the foundation of Tushi’s survival—Tushi depended on Haishi to trade for soil.

Moreover, Inner State had a route through Haishi. If we didn’t block it, Inner State would keep reinforcing the underground city—and San Tou Cha would fall eventually.

How should this war be fought?

Zhao Lanmeng entered the room and glanced at Zhong Er.

Zhong Er understood and left first.

Zhao Lanmeng sat beside Li Banfeng: “Yesterday, I went to Meng Qianlou to gather news about Inner State. I happened to meet a friend who wants to see you.”

Li Banfeng looked up: “Which friend?”

Zhao Lanmeng pointed to the bed beside him.

Li Banfeng understood—he was a friend from a dream.

Without permission, Zhao Lanmeng wouldn’t force Li Qi into a dream. When Li Banfeng lay down, Zhao Lanmeng activated his technique.

Li Banfeng entered the dream. Before him appeared a cave. A blond man in a tailcoat stood over a cast-iron pot, boiling noodles.

He ladled out a bowl and handed it to Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng sat, holding the bowl, glancing at Xiao De beside him, then at Cui Ti on the other side of the pot. He asked: “Are you certain this is food suitable for me?”

Cui Ti examined the broth carefully, then looked at Li Banfeng: “The food is safe. We’re friends—you can speak more directly.”

Li Banfeng asked bluntly: “Are you still alive?”

“Alive,” Cui Ti nodded. “In a very special state of life. Thanks to this state, I’ve made many new discoveries in life research.”

Of course, these findings remain theoretical so far—many lack experimental support. So I need your help.”

Li Banfeng lifted his hat brim, politely watching Cui Ti: “You’re asking me to be your test subject?”

Cui Ti shook his head: “The word ‘help’ is inappropriate. My research here builds on my real-world findings—and my real-world findings were completed jointly by both of us.”

So the theoretical part is my responsibility. The experimental part should be yours.”

Li Banfeng frowned: “Friend, don’t drag me into this anymore. I’m facing countless complex situations—you know Puluozhou’s position is perilous.”

Cui Ti’s expression turned grave: “The problem before you now is precisely what you must face. When I say our findings are joint, I’m not joking. If you understand scientific research, you know: theoretical research and practical application are rarely done by the same group. If you refuse to apply our findings, someone else will—and that’s theft.”

Li Banfeng tensed instantly: “What do you mean by that?”

Cui Ti ladled a bowl of noodle broth for Xiao De, then turned to Li Banfeng and said, “Under this unusual life pattern, I’ve been frequently entering others’ dreams lately—including Qiao Yi’s.

I’ve found he has a natural talent for studying life. If he stole our research, you know how great a threat that would be to the Prolo Society. And if the Dao Laogui entered the Great Totem, can you guess the consequences?

So we must act before he does.”

PS: Thank you to our patron Bu Alin, for your trust and support of The Lord of Prolo!