Could a dwelling spirit truly grow so powerful that even a local spirit couldn't hold it back? Would such a thing really happen?
There was no need to doubt it; the wife was proof enough.
If the wife were let loose, an ordinary local spirit truly wouldn't stand a chance against her.
Yet the question remained: why were Youtao and Xiaofeng so convinced that Li Banfeng could stop this dwelling spirit named Axia?
A local spirit's combat power was at least at the first tier above the clouds, whereas Li Banfeng's cultivation was still on the ground-crust. Was Xiaofeng's divination really reliable?
"Do you two absolutely have to clear land here?"
Youtao looked ashamed. "Brother Baisha, I know I have no right to ask this of you, but we don't know anyone or anything around here, and I couldn't find anyone to help. We only want a plot one li across. We've set out offerings for days and burned several covenant deeds, but the local spirit has never answered us. We don't know why, and we only ask that you point us in the right direction."
Offerings, covenant deeds—the entire process was completely sound. The only problem was that the local spirit hadn't been home.
Now the local spirit was home. Should he grant their request or not?
"I'll go ask an expert," Li Banfeng brushed them off vaguely, then found a secluded spot and slipped into the Portable Abode.
"Wife, someone wants to reclaim wasteland on my territory. How should I handle this?"
"Don't fret, Husband." The wife retrieved adzes, chisels, axes, and saws from the front cabinet, brought out two pieces of lumber, and let her two needles dance like flashes of lightning. In an instant, she had fashioned a small wooden stool.
"Husband, have a seat."
Li Banfeng sat on the little stool, wondering what she meant by this.
Was she showing off her carpentry skills?
"Husband, you are a local spirit. People coming to reclaim land is actually a good thing. Looking far ahead, once you advance to above the clouds, every bit of human presence on your domain becomes cultivation power. Looking closer to home, when someone succeeds in land reclamation, Heavenly Light falls upon the territory. Obtaining Heavenly Light is equivalent to gaining Dao affinity, and accumulating more Dao affinity will be of immense benefit to your future cultivation."
Heavenly Light?
Dao affinity?
Li Banfeng was surprised. "Wife, I was bathed in Heavenly Light when I first arrived in Puluo Province, and that Heavenly Light did indeed accumulate Dao affinity. But surely that's not the same as Heavenly Light in the newlands?"
No sooner had he spoken than Red Lotus, far off in Room Eight, shivered.
*Whoosh—*
The wife chuckled. "The Heavenly Light Husband was bathed in back then was likely caused by that slut Red Lotus. People call it proper-land Heavenly Light. Everyone claims proper-land Heavenly Light and newland Heavenly Light are different, but that is actually a misconception. Their sources differ, but their nature is the same—proper-land Heavenly Light is merely more violent than newland Heavenly Light. Proper-land Heavenly Light is like a thunderbolt; struck by it, an ordinary mortal would soon perish. Newland Heavenly Light is like sweet rain, drifting gently down. Mortals cannot partake of it, and they cannot even perceive it."
Li Banfeng blinked in surprise. "If you can't partake of it, isn't it useless?"
"Mortals cannot use it, but Husband's domain can. When Heavenly Light falls upon the earth like sweet rain, it combines with the unique earthly qi of the newland to transform into rare flowers and exotic herbs. When refined, these rare plants become potent medicine for accumulating Dao affinity. If Husband needs Dao affinity, you can consume these fine medicines yourself."
Li Banfeng shook his head. "I was already bathed in Heavenly Light once; I shouldn't be lacking in Dao affinity."
"Ordinarily speaking, being bathed in Heavenly Light once provides enough Dao affinity for Husband to cultivate all the way above the clouds. But others run a single business, whereas Husband has opened two storefronts. Accumulating more Dao affinity is always good."
Li Banfeng wiped his sweat. "Wife, what do you mean by opening two storefronts? I don't quite follow."
"This humble servant means that Husband is supporting two dwelling spirits. Hong Ying, isn't that right?"
"Who asked him to support me?" Hong Ying lowered her spearhead in bashfulness. Her figure had grown increasingly voluptuous of late, and her previous clothes barely fit her anymore.
Li Banfeng gave a dry laugh and didn't dare chime in.
The gramophone continued, "Even if Husband doesn't need Dao affinity, hunters will come to gather these rare plants in due course. When more hunters arrive, your domain's fame will grow, which in turn will attract more land reclaimers. When their reclamation succeeds, it will summon more Heavenly Light, and the human presence on Husband's territory will flourish more and more."
This was a complete virtuous cycle.
Hearing this, Li Banfeng grew even more delighted.
However, the wife also offered a word of caution: "Once wasteland is reclaimed, a landlord is recognized, and changing that person later is by no means easy. A plot one li across isn't small either. Husband must assess the reclaimers carefully, and the necessary trials must not be spared. You must never let your own land be ruined. If the landlord lacks the ability to manage the land, causing a plot to fall desolate from neglect, it will become difficult for the entire domain to turn into proper land in the future."
Pondering the entire process of the cycle, Li Banfeng suddenly had a question.
"Wife, what if this rain-like Heavenly Light were to shine upon proper land?"
The gramophone fell silent. Li Banfeng felt his question was rather absurd as well—how could Heavenly Light from the newlands ever appear on proper land?
From before the mirror, Hong Ying turned her face around and said, "Brother Seven, there really is such a place."
"Slut, hold your tongue!" the gramophone snapped. Hong Ying turned her face back and said no more.
"Husband, it's not that this servant wishes to keep things from you. It's just that you are impulsive by nature, and I fear you would take reckless risks again."
Li Banfeng puffed out his chest. "I listen to you very well, Wife."
"Since Husband is willing to listen, I shall say a few more words. If sweet-rain Heavenly Light falls upon proper land, it harmonizes with the qi of the proper land. What it generates then is not Dao affinity, but cultivation power."
Cultivation power!
Li Banfeng was stunned for a moment, and a location sprang to mind.
Bitter Mist Mountain!
The snake-spot chrysanthemums on Bitter Mist Mountain could be refined into snake-spot pills, and snake-spot pills could be traded for cultivation power!
Following the thought of Bitter Mist Mountain, Li Banfeng recalled the ancestor of Gold Cultivation, Xu Han.
Old Xu had once said that Yaowanggou held a special place, which was Bitter Mist Mountain.
It was precisely because of Bitter Mist Mountain's special nature that the Inner States had designs on Yaowanggou.
"Wife, is Bitter Mist Mountain one such special place?"
The gramophone hesitated a moment before saying, "Since Husband has guessed it, this servant won't hide it any longer. Bitter Mist Mountain is indeed a special place within proper land. Year after year, it is steeped in Heavenly Light, and the rare plants that bloom there can boost cultivation power. I know Husband has been to Bitter Mist Mountain, and I know you picked snake-spot chrysanthemums there. The few blossoms Husband gathered back then were negligible on Bitter Mist Mountain. But Husband, you must promise this servant never to return there lightly. You have not yet witnessed its true dangers."
Li Banfeng gave the wife his word, then changed the subject: "Now that land reclaimers have come to my territory, and since this is a good thing, how should I respond?"
"That presents a bit of a challenge. Husband's status is insufficient, so you must borrow external power. Hong Ying, lend Husband some majesty. Erdao, whip up some murderous aura for Husband. Judge's brush, carry Husband into the air; he needs a clear view of the plot one li across."
Hong Ying and the Tang dao agreed readily. The judge's brush gave a snort. "Me?"
The gramophone said, "If not you, who else?"
"You said fly?" The judge's brush uttered three words.
The gramophone chuckled. "You understand everything else, so I won't waste words. Shadow play machine, set the scene on the land in a moment and make sure the reclaimers don't see Husband's true appearance. Husband, once the aura is fully prepared, elevating your status will still require some real skill. When the judge's brush lifts you into the air, activate the Sprawling Compound technique as fiercely as you can, and this servant will naturally assist you. Husband must remember: only by truly believing you possess cultivation above the clouds can you illuminate the plot's boundary. There must not be the slightest doubt in your heart. This is the hardest part, so you may need to try several times. Once the plot is lit, consume the offerings immediately and forge a covenant with the reclaimers. Whether they reclaim the land themselves or hire others must be agreed upon beforehand. After one day, the trials will begin, and we will devise a plan together then. If it doesn't work this time, no matter—there will be plenty of chances in the future. Husband, by no means lose your resolve!"
Li Banfeng committed the wife's advice to memory, borrowed majesty from Hong Ying, and took the Tang dao, judge's brush, and projector with him out of the Portable Abode.
He first chose a spot at the edge of the forest, where the view was open and clear, making it easy to discern the plot's boundaries. A plot one li across—not an inch more could be given.
Then he found a tree, adjusted the angle, and set up the projector.
Afterward, he walked over to the tent. Xiaofeng hung her head, hiding behind Youtao, while Youtao looked eagerly at Li Banfeng.
Li Banfeng asked first, "Do you intend to reclaim the land yourselves, or hire people to do it?"
On Meng Yuchun's territory, several people who had successfully reclaimed land were managing their plots; all of them had experience.
From behind, Xiaofeng shook her head. "We'll reclaim it ourselves. Aside from fetching a little water from their place, we can't have any contact with the people on that land."
Why was she so hostile toward Meng Yuchun's territory?
Li Banfeng had Youtao move the offering table to the edge of the forest, told them to burn the covenant deed, and instructed them to prepare all the offerings.
"Just wait here and see if the local spirit responds today. If there is no response, try again tomorrow morning."
The projector had already set up the illusion scene. Li Banfeng found a secluded spot and took out the judge's brush.
"Fly," Li Banfeng commanded. He waited about ten minutes, but nothing happened.
"Fly already?"
"Wait a bit."
Li Banfeng was helpless; communicating with the judge's brush truly called for patience.
Another ten-odd minutes passed before the judge's brush yawned and carried Li Banfeng into the air.
Mid-air, Li Banfeng had an unobstructed view of the one-li plot.
He activated the Sprawling Compound technique and heard the war drums sent by his wife.
The drumming was rapid and resounding. Li Banfeng's fighting spirit soared, and his combat power surged.
The Tang dao darted and danced around him, conjuring a thick, suffocating murderous aura.
Youtao clutched Xiaofeng tightly. Under the projector's effect, she could not see Li Banfeng in the air, and beneath the layered majesty and murderous intent, heartfelt terror gripped the two of them.
At this moment, Li Banfeng felt like an invincible general; a single roar felt as though it could turn back ten thousand troops.
Journey cultivators possessed an innate talent for measuring distances. Maintaining his majesty, Li Banfeng fixed his gaze on the perimeter of the one-li plot.
Ten-odd minutes passed, but the border didn't light up.
The judge's brush asked five words: "Can you actually do it?"
Li Banfeng took a deep breath and pushed Sprawling Compound even harder.
The gramophone continuously lent power, its booming drums interspersed with chants whose every verse set Li Banfeng's blood boiling: *"Before Dangyang Bridge a mighty roar, broke the bridge and turned back the river's flow! His fourth brother, Zilong, general of Changshan, a peerless hero whose fame crowns the nine provinces, rescued Adou at Changban Slope, striking terror into Cao Cao's host!"*
"Waaaaagh!" Li Banfeng roared and continued to glare at the boundaries of the plot.
When the aria finished, the border still didn't light up.
"Alas!" The judge's brush sighed deeply, utterly exhausted.
It carried Li Banfeng swiftly into the heights, startling him so that his pupils contracted.
After hovering for a moment, the judge's brush suddenly took Li Banfeng and went into a nosedive toward the ground.
What was it doing?
Under any other circumstances, Li Banfeng's first thought would be to escape.
But today he could not flee; the judge's brush was helping him.
Even knowing that slamming into the ground would cause fatal or catastrophic injury, Li Banfeng still plunged forward with the judge's brush.
This was using the Headstrong Course technique to forcibly elevate Li Banfeng's tier.
Fifty meters from the ground, Li Banfeng felt his cultivation approaching the eighth tier.
With less than thirty meters to go, Li Banfeng's cultivation crossed beyond the eighth tier.
On the ground, Youtao and Xiaofeng were blinded by the gale, having no idea where the wind came from.
Less than twenty meters from the ground, Li Banfeng stared fixedly at the boundary line. Majesty and murderous aura layered upon each other, and the wife's singing rang repeatedly in his ears; even the judge's brush felt Li Banfeng's status had reached the mark, yet the boundary still failed to illuminate.
The judge's brush instantly decelerated, carrying Li Banfeng back up into mid-air.
"Your mind wavered," the judge's brush sighed, having spotted the crux of the problem.
Elevating status was just that difficult; if Li Banfeng harbored even a shred of doubt in his heart, his status could not rise.
Yet Li Banfeng lacked cultivation above the clouds; expecting him to be completely free of doubt was simply impossible.
Just as the judge's brush was about to set Li Banfeng down, it heard him speaking:
"You are the local spirit."
"Who says so? How could my cultivation be that high?"
"Forget cultivation—you hold the covenant deed."
"That covenant deed was swindled."
"Never mind how it came to you; you are the local spirit."
"You're using Incontrovertible Words, aren't you?"
"Never mind what technique I'm using; you are the local spirit, and the covenant deed proves it."
...
Two minutes later, Li Banfeng gripped the judge's brush and swept his gaze across his domain once more.
The judge's brush felt an unprecedented aura emanating from Li Banfeng.
"It worked!" The judge's brush chuckled and carried Li Banfeng a little higher to ensure he had a clear view of the one-li territory.
The perimeter of the plot slowly lit up.
Youtao was ecstatic. "Feng'er, we succeeded!"
Xiaofeng nodded vigorously. "Yes, we did!"
Li Banfeng burst into hearty laughter. "Bwahaha! I am the local spirit! I'm going to eat the offerings!"
The judge's brush was also delighted. "I'll take you."
"No need! I'm the local spirit—I can fly! Bwahahahaha!" Li Banfeng let go of the judge's brush.
"Fly?" The judge's brush pondered for a moment. "Wait, he can't!"
Flapping his arms, Banfeng went "flying" straight down.
Chapter 372