Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo'

Chapter 919 - 521: Ancestral Master, Just Give In! (Part 4)

Li Banfeng solemnly agreed, and at ten o’clock, he received a call from Teacher Song. He took a feather duster out of his trench coat.

Cui Tiq was startled: "Why are you hiding such a thing in your clothes? Just push me..."

Li Banfeng swung the feather duster roundly, striking Cui Tiq on the back.

Knife Ghost Ridge is so far, if the force isn’t enough, it might not send him through.

Smack!

This time, he hit hard enough, and Cui Tiq cried out in pain, as both of them took off into the air simultaneously.

Cui Tiq flew very far, the speed of the flight was so fast that the surrounding scenery was completely blurred.

Once he landed, Cui Tiq rubbed his back, and without time to think, he immediately mobilized the lesion in his body, causing his body to swell until he turned into the form of a Knife Labor Ghost.

The situation at Knife Ghost Ridge was very tense.

A large number of Knife Labor Ghosts were moving towards the mid-mountain, judging from their gait, they were heading to battle.

"Drooh! Drooh! Drooh-drooh-drooh!" A Knife Labor Ghost came up to Cui Tiq, waving its arm that resembled a chunk of meat, signaling Cui Tiq not to be afraid and to move forward bravely!

"Drooh-yah-yah! Drooh! Drooh!" Cui Tiq also waved an arm, indicating he was not afraid and was ready to fight to the end.

He followed a group of Knife Labor Ghosts to the mid-mountain and saw the Greenwater Beggar, severely injured, battling fiercely with a group of Knife Labor Ghosts.

The boils on his body had disappeared, the Greenwater Beggar looked quite clean, which meant his lesions were nearly exhausted.

Underneath his clothes, a lot of weapons were still hidden, and he was using martial cultivator techniques to fight the Knife Labor Ghosts.

Cui Tiq was lurking among the Knife Labor Ghosts, wanting very much to advise the Ancestral Master.

Master, why not just give in?

Why go through this?

The Saint, with the entire Sage Peak, can’t resist this group of Knife Labor Ghosts, how much longer can you hold out? Why not willingly become a happy Knife Labor Ghost?

The Greenwater Beggar was visibly exhausted when Wan Jinxian led another group of Knife Labor Ghosts in a charge against him.

This was the second time.

Wan Jinxian had previously led a batch of Knife Labor Ghosts in a charge, all of whom perished. Another batch followed Wan Jinxian into battle.

Wan Jinxian held significant status among the Knife Labor Ghosts and bore deep resentment towards the Greenwater Beggar.

Where did that resentment stem from, from Wan Jinxian’s memories?

Had Wan Jinxian retained memories of the past?

Cui Tiq found there were many aspects of the Knife Labor Ghosts that needed research, and he also needed to pay close attention to Wan Jinxian. If memories could indeed be retained, Wan Jinxian likely did not have a favorable impression of Cui Tiq.

...

Li Banfeng flew into Teacher Song’s house, a place he had visited during university and was not unfamiliar with.

Seeing Li Banfeng, Teacher Song showed no surprise. When he asked her to make the call, she had already thought of the Thousand Mile In A Step Technique.

She first checked Li Banfeng’s wounds, confirming he was not seriously hurt, before asking about last night’s events.

Li Banfeng said, "I was deceived. Someone told me to deal with a Bagworm Moth, but I ended up encountering the Greenwater Beggar. Teacher, do you know who tricked me?"

After a brief hesitation, Teacher Song replied, "This matter is beyond the scope of the Dark Star Bureau."

Li Banfeng nodded slightly and did not pursue the question further, aware that Teacher Song had her difficulties.

Teacher Song advised, "The situation is very complex now, and the Balancer’s position is quite precarious. I suggest you return to Puluo State to avoid the storm."

"I will consider it carefully, but please, Teacher, do not disclose our meeting today."

Teacher Song handed over her research and lectures on Dark Energy to Li Banfeng: "I don’t know if these will still be useful to you."

"They will be useful; they are very precious. Thank you, Teacher." Li Banfeng bowed to Teacher Song.

Teacher Song instructed, "Our phone calls won’t be monitored. If you encounter difficulties, you must seek me out. I will definitely help you."

After leaving Teacher Song’s house, Li Banfeng went to Flower Lake Park.

He indeed needed to go to Puluo State, but not to seek refuge.

The Inner State was about to wage war with the Outside Provinces, and Li Banfeng had to understand the causes and consequences of this war.

Crossing New Land, he rushed all the way to the Soda Kiln, to the location Ma Wu mentioned, where Li Banfeng met Miss Luo Lijun.

Perhaps it was because he had spent a long time with Ma Wu, or perhaps it was because he had seen Ge Junma and the Centipede Workshop, in front of this large River Snail Girl, Li Banfeng behaved very naturally.

"Miss Luo, can I meet that gatekeeper?"

"What do you want to see him for?" Luo Lijun’s tone was icy, "Do you still want to mock him?"

Ma Wu frowned and said, "Are you dissatisfied!"

Luo Lijun lowered her head, squirming to the side of the pool, gently tapping the water with her antennae.

Before long, a complete skeleton of a crucian carp floated up.

This skeleton could move, could even bite, and its movement technique was quite agile.

Li Banfeng observed for a moment using the Golden Gaze Autumn Hair Technique and found the crucian carp’s bones had no vitality, it was indeed dead, yet a faint green light emanated between the bones.

If there’s green light, it proves the soul is still present, this fish was completely dead, the soul not leaving clearly indicated some Taoist Sect technique had been used.

"Is this a Nightmare Cultivation Technique?" Li Banfeng asked.

Luo Lijun said, "You underestimate people too much, if it were just a simple possession by the dead soul, how could I not distinguish it?"

Possession by the Dead Soul is the basic method of Nightmare Cultivation, identifying it is indeed not difficult.

But if it’s not a Nightmare Cultivation Technique, then what kind of technique is it?

Seeing Li Banfeng not speaking, Ma Wu explained from the side, "At first, I also thought it was a Nightmare Cultivation Technique, but the ghost servants of the Nightmare Cultivators all know they are already dead, this fish always believes itself to be alive, this doesn’t seem to be an act."

Always believing to be alive...

This made Li Banfeng think of a place.

Fool’s City.

All the residents in Fool’s City believe they are still alive.

Could this be a Foolish Cultivation method?

As far as Li Banfeng knew, the Outside Provinces did not have Foolish Cultivation methods.

Could it be this wasn’t done by the Outside Provinces?

There are no living Foolish Cultivators, Sun Tiecheng only accepted two outer disciples, one was me, the other one I killed.

Judging by this, is it Sun Tiecheng who did it?

What is his purpose in doing this?

Luo Lijun asked Li Banfeng, "I heard from Ma Junyang that you are the Balancer of the Outside Provinces, if you want to be a lobbyist for the Outside Provinces, I advise you not to waste your breath, don’t expect to resolve this war with just a few words."

Li Banfeng shook his head and said, "I’m not thinking of resolving this war, you and the Outside Provinces can fight however you want, but not in Puluo State."

Luo Lijun said, "Ma Junyang also discussed this matter with me, I can only try my best to persuade my kin to minimize the destruction in Puluo State."

Li Banfeng shook his head and said, "I’m not here to discuss with you, I’m notifying you that you cannot wage war in Puluo State, I don’t care what your kin think, but if they dare appear in Puluo State, they will have to pay with their lives."

Luo Lijun’s antennae trembled slightly, "The war between us and the Outside Provinces is unavoidable, Puluo State is situated in the middle of both our territories, the confrontation can only occur in Puluo State."

Li Banfeng said, "Not necessarily, right? Doesn’t the Inner State have other channels to engage with the Outside Provinces? You better get things straight."

Luo Lijun didn’t understand the meaning of Li Banfeng’s words, and Li Banfeng didn’t offer more explanation.

A new land had emerged in the Outside Provinces, the appearance of creatures like the Centipede Workshop proved that the Inner State and the Outside Provinces had already come into contact, if they want to wage war, they can surely find another place.

"Purebred Inner State people, if they appear in Puluo State, you know the consequences," Li Banfeng glanced at the factory, then continued, "This factory is at the boundary of the two lands, if you operate within the factory, it can be overlooked, but once you step out of this factory, you must be prepared to pay with your life."

The River Snail Shell trembled for a moment, Luo Lijun got angry, "Are you talking to the Inner State people like this?"

Li Banfeng nodded and said, "I’ve always spoken like this, you and your kin better learn to adapt."

Feng Daiku added from the side, "I’m also leaving my words here, if the Inner State people appear in the Soda Kiln, I’ll kill each and every one I see."

There was a special implication in these words, was there some special connection between the Soda Kiln and Feng Daiku?

Luo Lijun moved to the side of the pool, "I will convey your thoughts to my kin."

With that said, she jumped into the pool.

Feng Daiku said to Li Banfeng, "Young Master Li, I also have something I want to discuss with you, I want to take over the Soda Kiln and become its Local Deity."

Li Banfeng was momentarily stunned, "Does this need to be discussed with me?"

PS: In Miss Feng’s eyes, Li Qi seems to hold a somewhat unusual position.