Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo'

Chapter 865 - 509: Gu Cultivators in the Textile Factory (Part 2)

Under circumstances where the cultivation level is similar, the Technique of Halting the Clouds with Sound succeeds in deflecting the Passing Glance three out of ten times. Four times, it can’t completely deflect it, and the Sound Cultivator would be injured hard. Three times, it can’t deflect it at all, resisting the technique forcibly, one might end up dead,

That girl Hong Ying is stubborn. If she fails once, she’ll definitely strike again. If twice doesn’t work, she’ll try thrice. Back when they sparred, Little Servant couldn’t outmatch her, and could only disable her eyes.

Husband, you can gamble with this Sound Cultivator. If your stamina is sufficient, use Passing Glance several times in succession, as long as it hits once, it could claim the life of this Sound Cultivator."

Li Banfeng noted it down while explaining: "Wife, your husband doesn’t know how to do Passing Glance."

The Phonograph said: "This Little Servant knows that."

"All the Traveling Cultivation Techniques I use were borrowed from Hong Ying."

"Little Servant trusts Husband."

After Li Banfeng noted down these two techniques, the Phonograph continued: "Besides these two methods, the Bluffing Technique is also a technique Husband must guard against."

"The Bluffing Technique is also a technique?"

"It is a technique. This technique can create an illusionary realm with sound. If you fail to recognize it in panic, it could plunge Husband into danger.

Furthermore, there’s the Technique of Echoing Sounds. If the Sound Cultivator has helpers, this technique must be cautiously guarded against. Once Husband is injured by the helpers, the Sound Cultivator will use the Technique of Echoing Sounds to amplify the helpers’ techniques, making Husband’s injuries even worse."

Having noted down all four techniques, the Phonograph pondered: "The Sound Cultivator’s other techniques don’t restrain Husband. That Sound Cultivator wouldn’t easily use them against Husband. There’s no need to worry,

but since the opponent is Above the Clouds, if Husband wishes to win, caution is paramount. Little Servant will craft a couple more records for Husband, just in case."

...

As the Phonograph crafted records, Li Banfeng was contemplating strategies.

The Gloves came to Li Banfeng’s side and with a whirring sound, spat out a pile of cash.

Li Banfeng was taken aback: "Where did this money come from?"

"Boss, while you were fighting them, I seized the opportunity to take it. Afraid they might discover it, I also stuffed some stones into the box."

Li Banfeng organized the cash. Given its enormous amount, counting it all was not feasible at the moment, so he rewarded it to the Gloves.

The Gloves were very joyful, yet a bit puzzled after accepting the money: "Boss, those two people you fought today had quite high cultivation levels. Would people at their level really personally act over money matters?"

Li Banfeng couldn’t figure it out either. That black-clad Food Cultivator’s motives were hard to understand, while Chu Zikai was clearly there to make business deals for profit, no matter what other reasons there might be, he truly valued money.

Putting cultivation aside, he was once a sensational artist. Could he really lack money so much?

...

The following morning, Li Banfeng went to the Dark Star Bureau and gave Dumpling a call, asking her to gather information about the artist Chu Zikai.

Dumpling brought the information over and immediately reported an important piece of news to Li Banfeng: "Seventh Master, our captain is in trouble."

"What kind of trouble?"

"Yesterday, you didn’t come to work, and there was yet another incident at the textile factory. Centipedes suddenly appeared in the plant, and Director Shen worried they were alien creatures, so he had Captain Chen lead a team to clean up. With such matters, Captain Chen encountered an accident."

Li Banfeng put down the information in his hands and asked: "What do you mean by accident?"

Dumpling explained: "It’s just that this issue is quite unusual. Such a simple task shouldn’t be beyond Captain Chen’s abilities. I don’t believe he couldn’t handle it. There’s definitely a misunderstanding here."

Li Banfeng laughed.

Dumpling’s visit wasn’t just to gossip with Li Banfeng; she intended to speak in favor of Captain Chen.

Li Banfeng straightened up and said: "First, clarify the main issue. Where did Old Chen fail?"

Dumpling recounted the events of the situation.

Chen Changrui led his team to the textile factory. First, he had the Fire Cultivator work with the Alcohol Cultivator and Water Cultivator to wash the area, then the Cold Cultivator joined with the Water Cultivator for a second wash. Afterward, Chen Changrui employed the Peeping Cultivation Technique to locate any remaining centipedes, then directed the Public Security Team for targeted elimination.

After hearing this, Li Banfeng nodded repeatedly, the entire operation was clear and concise. Seemed like there was no issue, so where did the problem arise?

It was with the final step.

After the two washings, Chen Changrui sensed a portion of live centipedes in Workshop Three and led his team there for a cleanup.

However, upon reaching Workshop Three, they found no centipedes.

Chen Changrui reactivated his technique and sensed centipedes appearing in Workshop Six.

On the way to Workshop Six, when passing by Workshop Five, hundreds of centipedes suddenly emerged. Two Public Security Team members were caught off guard and bitten by centipedes, poisoned, and currently still in the hospital for rescue.

According to the Dark Star Bureau’s records, Chen Changrui is a Seventh Layer Peeping Cultivator. If he were tracking a highly concealed cultivator or spiritual object, some level of deviation could be acceptable.

But this time he was tracking a group of centipedes, creatures with very limited spiritual wisdom. A mistake of such a basic level is hard to comprehend.

Moreover, there wasn’t just one mistake. Centipedes appeared in Workshop Five, but Chen Changrui heard Workshop Three. This mistake is slightly absurd.

No centipedes were found in Workshop Three, and Chen Changrui mistook it for Workshop Six. This was the second mistake.

On the route to Workshop Six, passing Workshop Five, he visually failed to notice the centipedes in Workshop Five, causing injury to the team members. That was the third mistake.

These three mistakes combined reflect an absurdity concerning Chen Changrui’s Taoist Sect and status.