Chapter 198: New Land, Old Soil

The heavy rain poured down, extinguishing the large fire in the warehouse.

The warehouse suffered significant damage.

Li Banfeng looked at Zuo Wugang's injuries. Zuo Wugang waved his hand and said, "It's nothing serious; I have a way to remove the poison. But if those rascals from Iron Sheep Mountain come again tonight, I'm afraid I won't be able to hold them off."

"You don't need to hold them off. With me here, the local deity will look after us. You just mentioned Iron Sheep Mountain; what's their background?"

"They are mountain bandits from the Old Land. Their chief is Rong Yeguang. I heard he was a six-level body cultivator before. I wouldn't dare say what level he is now, given that even a rascal like Du Shuping has reached six levels."

"Six levels? And they're bandits?" Li Banfeng didn't quite understand. With six levels of cultivation, couldn't they do something better?

"The Old Land is different. It's a good place to get rich."

"What exactly is the Old Land?"

"How should I explain this? It's not much different from the New Land, I guess. In short, it's a sparsely populated area where you can make money, but the methods are different from the New Land; it's just that..."

Zuo Wugang's ability to express himself was limited, and he was poisoned, so he couldn't hold on much longer.

Li Banfeng told him to go back and rest first. He then went to the edge of the New Land, dragged the half-dead Wang Qi and Du Shuping, and entered the Portable Residence.

"Oh, husband, you've finally returned with the groceries!" The phonograph was very excited, with tears of emotion streaming from its horn.

"What groceries?" Du Shuping looked at the phonograph in surprise. He didn't know where he was, nor the origin of this phonograph.

"Don't worry about the groceries," Li Banfeng reassured Du Shuping. "First, tell me, who sent you to cause trouble on my territory?"

Before Du Shuping could speak, Wang Qi spoke first: "Young brother, you are a virtuous person. You're asking us about this, and by rights, we shouldn't say anything.

"But since we've fallen into your hands, we also want a way out. If we tell you the truth, will you let us go?"

Li Banfeng sat upright before them and said gravely, "That depends on whether you are sincere."

Wang Qi nodded sincerely and began to explain their background: "We are brave men from Iron Sheep Mountain. We were ordered by our chief, Rong Yeguang, to come here and partner with the grand scout from the newly joined group to raid your territory."

Li Banfeng kicked Wang Qi. "Don't speak in code."

He had indeed learned some slang from Yu Nan, but Wang Qi's slang was too dense, and Li Banfeng couldn't understand it.

The phonograph couldn't wait any longer: "'Joining a group' means partnering up, 'raiding a territory' means robbing, and a 'scout' is someone specifically for intelligence gathering. Husband, if there's anything you don't understand, your little servant can translate it for you. Hurry up and ask."

The mistress was anxious.

Tears streamed down her face in her haste.

Li Banfeng asked again, "Who is your grand scout?"

Having been kicked, Wang Qi didn't dare to speak easily.

Du Shuping saw that Li Banfeng didn't understand the slang and tried to explain in a straightforward manner: "The fallen young lady of the Lu family, Lu Xiaolan."

Lu Xiaolan became a bandit?

This was unexpected for Li Banfeng.

"I have no grudge against your chief. Why did you target us?"

Wang Qi shook his head and said, "I don't know about that. We just follow the chief's orders. Whatever he tells us to do, we do."

"That 'grand scout' of yours, Lu Xiaolan, planted an inside agent on my territory. Do you know who it is?"

"We don't know that. And we shouldn't ask. Whenever the grand scout tells us to act, that's when we raid."

"Where is your Iron Sheep Mountain located?"

"In the Old Land."

"What kind of place is the Old Land?"

"Like the New Land, it's a place without light."

The phonograph urged, "Husband, the New Land and the Old Land are different. Your little servant will explain it to you slowly later. Keep asking your questions for now."

Li Banfeng then asked, "How far is Iron Sheep Mountain from here?"

"That depends on whether you know the way. If you can't find the way, it's thousands of miles away. If you know the way, it's just a day's journey. Young brother, as long as you give us two a way out, I will draw this path for you."

As expected of a six-level literary cultivator, Du Shuping was very skilled at negotiation.

Li Banfeng didn't fall for his trick. He stopped asking about the path; if he kept asking, the other party would surely keep him entangled endlessly. He asked about the situation at Iron Sheep Mountain: "How many people are in your mountain stronghold?"

"Sixty-six people. Don't underestimate them just because there aren't many; all of them have cultivation.

"Young brother, in the underworld, it's all one path. No matter which line you operate on, everyone on the path is brothers.

"Today, our brothers have fallen into your hands, and we accept our fate. We've told you everything we know. You shouldn't go back on your word; give us a way out."

"There is a way out. You two will first have dinner with my mistress. After dinner, you can be on your way."

"Dinner? Where is the dinner?" Du Shuping looked bewildered.

The mistress laughed, "You *are* the dinner!"

Two phonograph needles pierced into Du Shuping and Wang Qi's brains. The two men glared at Li Banfeng with fury, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.

Half an hour later, the mistress finished her meal.

Li Banfeng dragged the bodies to Red Lotus's vicinity. "Eat."

Red Lotus sighed inwardly: *Eating leftovers, and still having to put up with your expressions.*

But she didn't dare say more. A six-level cultivator and a five-level cultivator were indeed rare ingredients. Her petals and leaves spread out, and Red Lotus absorbed the two cultivators into her lotus heart.

Li Banfeng asked the phonograph, "What exactly is the Old Land?"

"When the New Land gains sufficient popularity, it becomes a Proper Land. When a Proper Land loses its popularity, it turns into an Old Land."

Li Banfeng was stunned for a long time.

"The New Land can only become a Proper Land if its popularity thrives? Isn't it supposed to become a Proper Land simply after cultivation?"

"Far from it, far from it! Cultivation merely means seeing daylight. For a hundred-mile area to be completely bathed in daylight, and for ten thousand people to reside there permanently, that's what's truly called achieving fruition—that's a Proper Land..."

The mistress explained in detail: Under a local deity, the entire hundred-mile territory under their jurisdiction must be successfully cultivated, and it must be ensured that there are over ten thousand permanent residents in the area. Only then is it considered a Proper Land.

Is it that complicated?

Wasn't Lanyang Village an exception?

Li Banfeng's understanding was different: "Lanyang Village has always been encroached upon by various powerful families, but they've continued to cultivate the New Land. The territory hasn't shrunk; its area is roughly the same as before."

"It's different, different, husband! Husband, if you go to the part of Lanyang Village near the New Land and take a look, are there people living there?"

"There are people living there, but not many. There are no houses there, only some makeshift shelters. Reportedly, it's because strange creatures from the New Land often come out to harm people, so most people don't dare to live there."

"That's exactly the point! Those areas are not considered Proper Lands. They are only New Lands that have been cultivated.

"In a true Proper Land, strange creatures from the New Land cannot enter. Otherwise, it's considered invading the territory of a Proper Land, and the local deities of the Proper Land would not spare them."

Local deities of a Proper Land?

"Is Green Blossom considered a local deity of a Proper Land?"

"Yes, husband. The local deities of a Proper Land are of a higher level than those of the New Land.

"However, if a Proper Land lacks popularity for a long time, it will turn into an Old Land. And the local deities of an Old Land will drop in level, becoming not much different from those of the New Land."

With popularity, the local deity's level would rise.

Without popularity, the local deity's level would fall.

No wonder Autumn Elephant cared so much about cultivators.

It concerned their level advancement.

No wonder local deities didn't allow one person to cultivate too much New Land; otherwise, one person would occupy all the territory, and it would be impossible to meet the standard of ten thousand permanent residents.

But this also gave Li Banfeng a reminder: in the future, he couldn't let the various powerful families freely extend their influence in Lanyang Village.

The newly cultivated lands were not Proper Lands, and this concerned Lanyang Village's future survival.

"But since population determines the local deity's level, why is there still an examination during cultivation? Wouldn't more cultivators mean more popularity?"

"Oh, husband, that's not how it works! Even if there are many cultivators, there might not necessarily be many people on the land.

"If an incapable person goes to cultivate, at most they'll bring their family. It's hard to find food in the New Land, and there are strange creatures harassing them. After a few years, unable to make a living, they move away, and this land becomes desolate.

"But because the cultivation was successful, the owner is still there, yet new people cannot re-cultivate it. Wouldn't the local deity suffer a great loss?

"To cultivate, one must have true ability, be skilled at management, and be able to fight. Only such people can potentially transform the New Land into a Proper Land, and only then will they be accepted by the local deity."

"So, if the population on a Proper Land falls below ten thousand, it becomes an Old Land? And if an Old Land gains ten thousand people, it becomes a Proper Land again?"

The phonograph laughed.

"Husband, if a hundred-mile area has exactly ten thousand people, and one person leaves today, the Proper Land becomes an Old Land; and one person arrives tomorrow, the Old Land becomes a Proper Land again. Wouldn't the local deity be harassed to death?

"Ten thousand is a major threshold. Once it surpasses ten thousand, it's considered a Proper Land. However, for a hundred-mile area, it only becomes an Old Land if the population drops below one hundred."

Less than one hundred...

Li Banfeng suddenly remembered a place.

"Bitter Greens Village definitely spans more than a hundred miles, but that place doesn't even have a hundred people. Is it considered an Old Land?"

"Bitter Greens Village, Bitter Granny's territory. Bitter Granny, who was she again? She's not a local deity, so what is she? Bitter Greens Village, Bitter Granny, hee hee hee..."

Oh no, the mistress is going crazy!

"Let's not talk about Bitter Greens Village, no Bitter Greens Village. Let's talk about something else. Mistress, is there anything else you'd like to eat? I'll go out and buy groceries..."

Even though the mistress nearly died after consuming the Mysterious Essence Pill, after recovering, her condition had improved significantly compared to before.

Yet even so, Bitter Granny should not be mentioned casually.

What kind of person was Bitter Granny exactly?

While the mistress's mental state was still stable, Li Banfeng coaxed her to sleep.

Leaving the Portable Residence, Li Banfeng went to his own territory.

He set up an offering table and invited Shui Yongquan. "The matter has been investigated; it was done by those cultivators. Their leader is Lu Xiaolan, the grand scout from Iron Sheep Mountain."

"Iron Sheep Mountain, a bandit lair in the Old Land," Shui Yongquan stroked his beard. "I'll first tell Autumn Elephant about this and make him understand the reasoning behind it. If anyone from his territory dares to cause trouble here again, from now on, we'll kill every one we see, without mercy."

"There's one more thing I need to trouble you with, Shopkeeper Shui. How do I get to Iron Sheep Mountain?"

Shui Yongquan was startled. "Brother Li Qi, what are you trying to do? Are you planning to attack their stronghold?"

"Can't I attack their stronghold? They were the ones who struck first."

Shui Yongquan motioned for Li Banfeng to calm down. "What did you do to offend Iron Sheep Mountain?"

"I never offended Iron Sheep Mountain. I only learned their name today."

"First, figure out the full story and reasons behind this, then we'll talk about these bandits."

"Can't I investigate while fighting?"

Shui Yongquan didn't know how to reply. "Brother Li Qi, those are bandits! They are renowned bandits of the underworld! They're not just street thugs. Let's deal with the immediate situation first!"

"Is there a difference between bandits and thugs?"

"What do you think?" Shui Yongquan left in a huff.

Li Banfeng's expression was blank.

Is there a big difference?

Even if there is a difference, they've attacked my home; can't I fight back?

However, Shui Yongquan had a point; the immediate matters did need to be handled.

First, the inside agent needed to be found.

Then, Lu Xiaolan and her group needed to be dealt with.

He Jiaqing lay in the infirmary bed, staring at the ceiling, his eyes a bit unfocused.

"The Three Heroes of Iron Sheep just died like that? My brother is quite ruthless! I underestimated him before. He even outmaneuvered me!"

Someone responded nearby: "This matter requires an explanation. How should I explain it to Rong Yeguang?"

"Explain what? Just give him some money as compensation."

"Iron Sheep Mountain isn't short on money."

"If they're not short on money, then don't give any; we'll save it! And tell Rong Yeguang, if he wants to clear his name, he'll have to pay the price!"

The other person sighed, then asked, "Are you still listening to the broadcast?"

"Yes, I am. If there's any news of him, play it for me. My brother is no ordinary man. I'm starting to miss him more and more.

"Also, don't enter their territory for now. But the supply routes still need to be blocked for them.

"If Ma Wu keeps delivering goods with the *Suo'e* every day, let him. As soon as he lets his guard down for a day, rob his goods. Let's see how long he can last.

"Remind our people to be extremely cautious when speaking with Lu Xiaolan. She's very suspicious. Don't let her figure out our identities."