Chapter 144: Selecting the Plot

Among the four major families, the Ma family was fondest of acquiring land and clearing the most new territories. Ma Wu had also observed land clearing processes, gaining some experience.

However, observation was one thing; Ma Wu had never personally experienced land clearing. Given his family's wealth, there was no need for him to take such risks, as these tasks were always handled by hired, professional land clearers.

Even now, Ma Wu was unwilling to take risks. He preferred to have Zuo Wugang take two subordinates to clear the land.

But Li Banfeng disagreed.

This new land, besides being beneficial for cultivation, also served as a refuge for Li Banfeng and Ma Wu. Li Banfeng did not want Zuo Wugang to know its location until he had fully earned their trust.

Zhen Jincheng and Cao Zhida were also in the same boat; neither could accompany them.

Seeing Li Banfeng's resolute stance, Ma Wu had no choice but to agree.

In truth, land clearing was largely a matter of luck. Ma Wu's assessment of high risk came from his family's experiences, yet there had been extreme cases where even a first-tier cultivator successfully cleared land single-handedly.

Moreover, if danger arose, they could at most abandon the clearing, retaining a chance to escape. The only consequence was that no further clearing could be done within a hundred-mile radius.

“In Puluo State, to my knowledge, the most experienced land clearer is private detective Daboyens,” Ma Wu said. “He once helped my family prepare offerings; I still remember some of the types and quantities. These items are easy to acquire, but we must first choose a suitable location.”

Li Banfeng had two options: the wasteland between Hulu Gully and Tiewire River, or the wasteland between Little Yellow Spring and Orange Orchard.

They ultimately chose the wasteland between Little Yellow Spring and Orange Orchard.

This location offered easy food replenishment; Ma Wu was aware that the oranges in the orchard were edible.

From Li Banfeng's perspective, his relationship with the orchard owner was good, which could provide support in critical moments.

Once the location was chosen, the remaining issue was Ma Wu's cultivation.

Bringing women was out of the question, as Ma Wu had already stated that the previous Golden Yuan Pills would last him for some time.

Li Banfeng also gave Ma Wu seven Xuan Chi Pills, which could help Ma Wu endure for more days if anything unexpected happened.

With all supplies prepared, Ma Wu chose a pair of spiritual shoes with thick, deeply textured soles that could nearly double his usual speed, and then set off with Li Banfeng.

Before their departure, Ma Wu entrusted Lanyang Village to Xiao Chuanzi and Zuo Wugang.

Daily affairs were to be handled by Xiao Chuanzi, while special situations were to be managed by Zuo Wugang.

Xiao Chuanzi expressed some concern: “Master Wu, I barely know a few characters. How can you ask me to manage the business? Won’t that be a joke?”

“That’s no joke,” Ma Wu said, full of confidence in Xiao Chuanzi. “It’s almost the end of the year, and hunters are celebrating the New Year at home, so business is already slow. Besides, you’ve learned a lot by accompanying me on purchases and deliveries. It’s time for you to practice your skills.”

Ma Wu truly trusted Xiao Chuanzi, but he had some reservations about Zuo Wugang.

Through their interactions over the past few days, Ma Wu had found Zuo Wugang to be a good subordinate. Whenever trouble arose in the village, Zuo Wugang would immediately resolve the situation at Ma Wu's command.

However, if Ma Wu didn't give a command, things could get complicated, as Zuo Wugang wasn't very good at making decisions.

As they reached the village entrance, Li Banfeng saw Xiao Genzi collecting golden liquid.

The weather was freezing, making the golden liquid difficult to find. Xiao Genzi, carrying two buckets, was drenched in sweat as he searched everywhere.

Li Banfeng quietly asked, “Has he advanced a level?”

Ma Wu nodded. “He told me yesterday that he felt he had advanced a level. Cultivation often involves such sensations, so it's likely correct.”

“Even if he’s advanced one level, one bucket should be enough,” Li Banfeng countered. “Only second-level cultivators carry two buckets, didn’t the peddler himself say so?”

Ma Wu replied, “Xiao Genzi said carrying an extra bucket allows him to accumulate more vitality.”

Li Banfeng praised him repeatedly: “This child shows great promise.”

Because they were with Ma Wu, their journey was slower, but their thorough preparations meant they encountered almost no obstacles in Hulu Gully.

Red Mud Ridge was also manageable. Li Banfeng had traveled it once before and found a largely safe route; relying on a traveler-cultivator's memory for directions, he successfully led Ma Wu through the swamp.

Tiewire River presented a challenge, as Ma Wu had no flying artifacts.

Li Banfeng did; he had the Judge's Brush given to him by the two ruffians.

Using the Judge's Brush, Li Banfeng drew a circle on the spot, and he and Ma Wu waited inside it for the brush to respond.

After waiting for over half an hour, the tip of the Judge's Brush trembled slightly.

For ordinary people, this would be considered a response. However, Li Banfeng possessed the skill of discerning spiritual sounds; he could not only see the tip tremble but also hear the Judge's Brush speak.

“Where to?”

Just two words, spoken so softly they were barely discernible without close listening.

Was this the magical artifact of the Sloth Cultivators?

Li Banfeng pointed the brush tip towards the opposite bank, and the Judge's Brush fell silent again.

After another half an hour, the tip of the Judge's Brush trembled once more: “Stand firm.”

Still just two words.

They waited for a while longer, then a patch of dust slowly rose from the ground beneath their feet, lifting Li Banfeng and Ma Wu into the air.

How high did they fly?

Less than two feet.

They flew almost skimming the ground.

The entire Tiewire River was infested with Tiewire worms.

They coiled and writhed beneath their feet, one by one.

Ma Wu’s hair stood on end. “Brother Li, is this artifact of yours reliable? We absolutely cannot fall; if we do, it’s over.”

Li Banfeng dared not claim the Judge's Brush was reliable. They slowly drifted to the opposite bank, and despite the bitter cold, both were drenched in sweat.

Still shaken, Ma Wu asked, “Which sect does this artifact belong to?”

Li Banfeng was about to bring it up. “Brother Ma, do you know about the Sloth Cultivation sect?”

Ma Wu nodded. “I do. This sect is unique; the essence of their cultivation lies in the word ‘sloth.’ They have three maxims they often recite.”

“What are the three?”

“First, if you can lie down, don’t sit. Second, if you can sit, don’t stand. Third, if you can stand, don’t walk!”

Li Banfeng paused for a moment, put away the Judge's Brush, and after long thought, asked, “Can this sect fight?”

“It’s hard to say if they can fight, or if they can’t fight…” Ma Wu struggled to describe them. “Sloth Cultivators are rare. I saw one once when I was fifteen.

That was back in Haichi Ridge. A Sloth Cultivator was supposed to fight a Food Cultivator to the death. They agreed on a meeting place, but the Sloth Cultivator was an hour late, which infuriated the Food Cultivator, who cursed loudly.

When they were finally ready to fight, the Sloth Cultivator kept staring at the Food Cultivator, yawning incessantly.”

“And then what happened?”

“The Sloth Cultivator said he didn’t want to fight anymore, and the Food Cultivator started yawning along, his eyes barely staying open. After a few curses, he also said he wouldn’t fight. They both went off to find a place to sleep, and that was the end of it.”

Li Banfeng stopped walking and turned to look at Ma Wu. “You wealthy people call *that* fighting to the death?”

“I didn’t say it; *they* said they were going to fight to the death.”

Such a sect actually exists in this world!

Li Banfeng knew the way, and Ma Wu, though struggling, followed him for six full days until they reached Little Yellow Spring.

Ma Wu's shoes did increase his speed, but as a Joy Cultivator, his body was too weak, requiring ample rest each day.

Li Banfeng was not in a hurry. He set up two tents, and they each rested. He consumed a Golden Yuan Pill daily, which also required time for recovery, and he returned to his portable residence to spend each night.

When crossing Little Yellow Spring, Li Banfeng was extremely cautious, explaining the rules to Ma Wu in detail.

When they actually walked onto the small path, Ma Wu was terrified, his hair standing on end. Li Banfeng, however, walked calmly with his feather duster, the wind consistently blowing south, indicating safety.

The hundred-mile journey took over five hours. Overwhelmed by fear and exhaustion, Ma Wu lay on the ground in the wasteland, unable to get up for a long time.

After resting for two hours, they continued their journey and chose the land-clearing site beside a pine forest, over thirty miles from the Orange Orchard.

Being near the pine forest would help with finding building materials; if they built a wooden house, they wouldn't lack timber, at least.

Being relatively close to the Orange Orchard facilitated food supplies, but it couldn't be too close. Li Banfeng didn't want to offend the orchard owner, nor did he want hunters visiting the orchard to notice this new land.

Ma Wu took a small table from his pack and began to calculate the position for the offering table.

This was a crucial step that Ma Wu had to perform personally.

A local earth deity governed the land within a hundred-mile radius; their territories were interconnected but their boundaries were invisible.

If the offering table was placed incorrectly, on the boundary between two earth deities' territories, it would attract the attention of both, leading to unforeseen trouble that Ma Wu couldn't even imagine.

Ma Wu had accompanied his father several times when choosing land plots and understood the key principles.

He picked up a piece of soil, tested its texture, then moved ten paces to the left, picked up another piece, and kneaded it carefully in his hand.

After sampling dozens of spots in this manner, Ma Wu had a rough idea.

“Brother Li, these spots of soil are soft and sticky, suggesting they belong to the same earth deity. Let's choose this area for our plot,” Ma Wu said.

Li Banfeng nodded, and together with Ma Wu, set up the offering table and offerings, then lit the incense and candles.

The quantity of offerings was based on Ma Wu's previous observations; the Ma family had only used one pot of fine aged wine when clearing a one-mile radius of new land. Ma Wu prepared the offerings exactly as usual, not daring to add or subtract even the slightest amount.

Ma Wu took out the deed, reading it aloud. This type of deed had only one fixed version, whose content was a plea to the deities for permission to establish a residence in this location.

The deed burned to ashes, and shortly after, a whirlwind swept them away.

Li Banfeng used his Golden Eye Autumn Glance skill to look around, wanting to see the true nature of the earth deity Ma Wu had mentioned.

After a moment, he suddenly saw a ball of greenish-blue flame hovering around the offering table. The wine pot swayed twice, and the wine inside quickly drained.

Ma Wu smiled. “Brother Li, it’s done.”

Li Banfeng did not smile.

The earth deity was a spirit of the deceased?

Soon after, a blurred halo appeared on the ground in the distance. Ma Wu told Li Banfeng, “Brother Li, look closely; this is the boundary of the land plot. The deity has responded to our contract. Brother Li, it’s your turn to spill blood.”

The person who spilled blood on the land would become its owner.

They had discussed it before setting off: the first newly cleared land would belong to Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng took out a short knife, cut his palm, and sprinkled his blood onto the ground beneath his feet.

“Brother Li, the contract is complete,” Ma Wu declared. “Tomorrow at this time, the land clearing officially begins. We can guard this land ourselves or ask others for help, but once clearing starts, no one can step outside the boundary. As long as we hold out for three days, this land will be ours!”

Li Banfeng pondered for a moment. “Did you just say no one can step outside the boundary?”

“Yes, not a single person. Land clearing requires trustworthy individuals. The number of people doesn’t matter, but they must be reliable. If you gather a hundred people to clear land, and even one steps outside the boundary, the clearing is considered a failure. This is what I meant when I said having too many people can sometimes be troublesome.”

“As long as I don’t step outside the boundary, I’ll be fine…” Li Banfeng found a loophole in the rules.

If I enter my portable residence and don’t come out, would that not count as stepping outside the boundary?

If I sleep for three days in my portable residence, wouldn't that count as a successful land clearing?

As he thought about it, Li Banfeng suddenly smiled.