Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo'

Chapter 869 - 510: Life in the Inner State (Part 2)

He manipulated over a dozen streams of steam, approaching Li Banfeng from the left and right. One stream was about to sweep across his neck, another across his ribs, and yet another was aimed at his knees.

Using the Carefree Technique again would be challenging because there was too much to redirect.

But without the Carefree Technique, there were other ways.

Li Banfeng chose to withstand it using the Benevolent and Righteous Technique.

The steam swept over Li Banfeng several times; his skin flushed slightly red, but there were no other changes.

The "Centipede Workshop" was a bit surprised; this was not the response expected from a Traveling Cultivator.

He readjusted the steam ray’s position, and Li Banfeng had already charged next to the workshop.

Sensing trouble, the "Centipede Workshop" immediately sealed all doors and windows.

Li Banfeng activated the Short Step and directly used the Unimpeded Technique to squeeze into the workshop.

He thought that inside the workshop would be the "centipede’s" internal organs, but he was wrong. It was indeed a workshop driven by steam, commonly found in Puluo State, but not often seen in the Outside Provinces.

Li Banfeng was familiar with factories. He first looked up at the roof, where a silver-white steam pipeline stretched. It had pressure gauges, shut-off valves, check valves, and drainage pipes attached to it.

Pipes of varying thickness branched off from the main steam pipeline, connecting the central steam chamber, cylinders, and pistons.

This silver-white pipe was the main steam pipeline, equivalent to the "Centipede Workshop’s" main artery.

Li Banfeng swung the Tang Sword, stabbing a hole into the main steam pipeline.

The Tang Sword shouted: "Beheading with Every Blow... This seems like an intestine."

Boom rumble rumble~

The workshop shook violently, high-temperature steam spewed out, chasing Li Banfeng, and the temperature inside the workshop suddenly rose, the pistons in operation gradually slowed down, emitting sharp whistles.

"Does it hurt?" Li Banfeng dodged the erupting high-pressure steam and turned back to see that the cut on the main steam pipeline was gone, leaving only a not quite large scar.

Had the wound healed?

This pipeline wasn’t flesh but had life!

The forms of life in the Inner State were becoming more abstract.

Li Banfeng aimed at the pipeline and kicked out with the Trample Over Thousands of Rivers.

Hundreds of holes appeared on the main steam pipeline, causing the agonized Centipede Workshop to roll on the spot, steam leaking everywhere, continuing to pursue Li Banfeng.

After Li Banfeng evaded the steam, the wounds on the pipeline healed again.

This thing’s regenerative ability was too strong!

Inside the workshop, the steam rays moved back and forth. Due to spatial restrictions, Li Banfeng had limited chances to dodge; he couldn’t frequently use the Benevolent and Righteous Technique, and he wasn’t skilled in the Carefree Technique, so he relied on the Short Step to evade.

This centipede was too troublesome.

Moreover, this centipede was a Gu Cultivator. Up till now, it hadn’t used Gu Art yet; its combat power might have only been half-engaged.

He couldn’t delay; he needed to settle this quickly.

Li Banfeng pondered for a moment and pulled out the Judge’s Pen from his waist, stabbing it into the main steam pipeline.

The Judge’s Pen hesitated for a moment, then shouted: "Hot!"

The high-temperature steam turned the Judge’s Pen entirely red; it was about to curse Li Banfeng when it saw him aiming his nose at the pipeline to stab it again.

"No!" The Judge’s Pen got scorched again, but without needing any instruction from Li Banfeng, it knew what to do.

The two wounds it pierced didn’t heal.

The pipeline was afflicted with the Lazy Cultivation Technique, and the steam became sluggish, not eager to heal.

Li Banfeng grabbed the sickle and cut several mouths on the main steam pipeline, leading a large amount of steam to leak, causing the pressure to drop, with all pistons ceasing to work. This was equivalent to breaking the Centipede Workshop’s backbone, rendering this centipede paralyzed.

Taking advantage of the workshop’s inability to move, Li Banfeng went to the core part of the steam workshop, the boiler.

The fire in the boiler was blazing, and there was a conveyor belt next to it feeding coal to the boiler.

This conveyor belt was mysterious; Li Banfeng didn’t know where its power source was, nor did he see where the transported coal came from.

He slashed the conveyor belt, cutting off the fuel supply to the boiler.

Then he poured some tea into the boiler, causing the flames inside to gradually dim.

Huff! Huff!

The steam pipeline emitted sharp noises, reminiscent of the workshop wailing.

If the Big Toad was Ge Junma’s body, was this workshop really the body of the Inner State person?

If the workshop was his body, extinguishing the boiler would mean extinguishing his life?

The flames in the boiler were tough, soaking in the tea for a long time without being exstinguished.

Li Banfeng wasn’t anxious; he could sense the workshop making subtle movements, like a dying man struggling powerless.

"I almost feel pity for you," Li Banfeng rubbed the teapot and sighed, "Tell me, are you really an Inner State person? If you tell the truth, I’ll spare your life."

The workshop remained silent.

Li Banfeng nodded: "Alright then, I’ll keep you soaking."

The remaining fire in the boiler dwindled away, yet the workshop didn’t speak, its trembling and twitching were even more pronounced than before.

Ban Feng’s principle wouldn’t change: clues might break, but he could find them again. An enemy’s life was unique; cherishing life was Li Banfeng’s consistent choice.

He could perceive the workshop’s life energy was weakening; he used the Golden Gaze Autumn Hair Technique, scanning the workshop, waiting for the emergence of soul-like entities.

This couldn’t be blurred; Sun Tiecheng had taught Li Banfeng that when people from the Inner State came, if their souls weren’t thoroughly cleaned, there was always the possibility of resurrection.