Chapter 209: Pro Ro Three Division

The fourth-level traveling cultivation technique allows for unimpeded movement.

The key to this technique is to see nothing in one's eyes, feel no hindrance in one's heart, and focus one's intent entirely on unimpeded movement.

The principles aren't difficult; the challenge lies in speed and decisiveness.

Immediately after using the Cuibu technique, the fourth-level technique must be activated, or it will not succeed.

How fast is 'immediately'?

Li Banfeng went to an open area outside Xiaoyao Dock and found an abandoned workshop.

The workshop had three rooms, with dividing walls that were very thin, just one layer of bricks, a little over ten centimeters thick.

Li Banfeng first tried the technique.

After Cuibu, nothing in his eyes, no hindrance in his heart, focusing his intent...

Li Banfeng crashed into the wall.

He tried again.

The wall shook a bit, and Li Banfeng felt a little dizzy.

The Cuibu technique activated extremely fast, leaving Li Banfeng too little time to perform the fourth-level technique.

He continued to practice.

Who invented this awful technique? Does it really have to be used right after Cuibu?

An hour later, the technique was half-successful.

What does 'half-successful' mean?

Because Li Banfeng's lower body passed through, but his upper body remained outside the wall.

So this is what it feels like to be stuck in a wall.

What intense pressure! This feels completely different from the Loudspeaker.

Tang Dao, it's up to you.

"My Lord, demolishing walls isn't really my forte."

"I am the master, you are the subordinate. You constantly call me 'My Lord,' yet you won't even break down a wall. Where then is your loyalty?"

After some internal conflict, Tang Dao made a choice that benefited Li Banfeng.

There was no other way. When Li Banfeng left Fool's City, he hadn't bothered to bring any magic artifacts, and no one knew he had learned the Fool's Cultivation technique.

After the ceremony, Ma Wu saw off the guests and was about to find Li Qi to celebrate when Xiao Chuanzi reported, "Seventh Master demolished the workshop. I don't know why."

Ma Wu quickly went to check, seeing Li Banfeng covered in dust, still standing next to the demolished workshop.

"Seventh, what happened to you?"

"This workshop was an eyesore," Li Banfeng said, unable to find a better excuse. "We're here to do great things. Aren't you planning to expand Xiaoyao Dock? Let's get to it."

Ma Wu looked at the shattered walls and rubble, a wave of surprise rising in his heart.

Seventh is truly impatient.

But he's right; to get things done, you need some boldness.

But now there's not enough money in the accounts, and business in Lanyang Village and Zhengjing Village needs to be expedited.

This technique is not easy to practice; it's not only physically demanding but also hard on walls.

Li Banfeng wandered around Greenwater City but couldn't find a suitable place, so he went to the outskirts and bought a plot of abandoned residential buildings to practice slowly.

He Jiaqing sat half-upright in his hospital bed, contemplating his next move.

He thought for a long time but couldn't come up with a solution.

"Ma Wu's disposition has actually changed. Does he really not want to return to the Ma family?"

Ling Miaoying replied, "Ma Wu's disposition might not have changed. I suspect he's influenced by your friend. In New Land, they have a ten-li plot; in the distant suburbs, they have Lanyang Village; and now in Greenwater City, they have Xiaoyao Dock.

If this situation continues, Puluo Province will gain another major force. On the surface, it will be called the 'Little Ma Family,' but in reality, it will be the Li family."

He Jiaqing sighed with a laugh, "Banfeng isn't crazy at all. Let's not provoke him yet; let's observe the situation. He's been in Puluo Province for less than a year. There will always be things he doesn't understand and times when he makes mistakes in judgment."

It took three days, but Li Banfeng completely mastered the Unimpeded Movement technique. To be fair, while the technique has a certain degree of difficulty, it's still much easier than 'Stepping Through Myriad Rivers'.

Back at Xiaoyao Dock, Li Banfeng found a private room to rest in. Ma Wu suddenly entered, saying, "Seventh, I finally found you! I have good news."

"What good news?"

"The Lu family introduced a Border Guard official to Xiaoyao Dock, who discussed a business deal with us. As long as we pay a monthly fee from now on, we'll have trade rights in the Middle Thirds."

"What are 'Middle Thirds' trade rights?"

"The Middle Thirds of Puluo Province, of course!"

Li Banfeng really wanted to find an encyclopedia to read thoroughly; there were simply too many terms in Puluo Province.

"What does 'Middle Thirds' mean?"

Ma Wu explained, "The Middle Thirds are the most normal and most populous regions in Puluo Province. Greenwater City, Medicine King Gully, Qingliu Dock, Huangtu Bridge, Blackrock Slope... large and small, eighty-one regions in total. These are called the Middle Thirds regions."

Li Banfeng asked, "What about Haichi Ridge?"

Ma Wu shook his head. "Haichi Ridge isn't in the Middle Thirds regions. That area isn't normal. You haven't stayed in Haichi Ridge, so you might not be clear on the situation. If you stay there for too long, you'll want to eat every three hours."

Of course I've been there; you just don't know it. You were too busy enjoying yourself with Feng Daiku back then.

Ma Wu continued, "Haichi Ridge, Kudai Gully, Zhentou City, Baijuan County, Wumian Town... including San Tou Cha. These places are all called the Front Thirds because their regions are special.

We haven't yet secured business in the Front Thirds. If we interact more with the Border Guard officials in the future, we'll probably have a chance then."

Front Thirds, Middle Thirds.

"What about the rest of the land?"

"There's also the Rear Thirds," Ma Wu continued to explain. "Jianren Ridge, Iron Gate Fortress, Moxiang Shop, Wuqin Village... these places are called the Rear Thirds."

"Are they also special because of their regions?"

Ma Wu shook his head, saying, "These places aren't special because of their regions, but because of their people. Business there is generally difficult. You'll understand once you've had more contact with them."

Front Thirds, Middle Thirds, Rear Thirds – that makes nine parts in total.

What about the remaining one part?

Ma Wu said, "There's one part left, called the Unknown Land."

"Unnamed? Is it because it has no name?"

"Not that it has no name, but because it's hard to explain. Bitter Greens Village is one such example."

Li Banfeng thought for a moment, then shook his head, saying, "Bitter Greens Village can be explained clearly. I've heard people say that it's extremely desolate, it's the territory of ascetic cultivators, and everyone who goes there suffers."

Actually, he hadn't just heard it from others; Li Banfeng had experienced it firsthand.

Ma Wu nodded, saying, "The facts are clear, but the place itself is hard to explain. There are routes to Bitter Greens Village from all over Puluo Province, but no one can clearly say exactly where Bitter Greens Village is.

If you don't believe me, go buy a map; not a single one shows the location of Bitter Greens Village. Someone once stayed in Bitter Greens Village for a while just to draw a map, but couldn't even determine its size.

Someone even flew over Bitter Greens Village in a hot air balloon to observe it, but the hot air balloon never returned."

Li Banfeng agreed with this point. He had run all over Bitter Greens Village but hadn't found its borders.

However, Old Yao's map marked the location of Bitter Greens Village. Although it was just a single point, it was enough to show how valuable that map was.

Ma Wu continued, "We won't go to the Unknown Land. There's no business to be done there anyway."

"How can you say there's no business to be done? Can't Bitter Greens Village conduct business?"

Ma Wu shook his head, saying, "What business would there be? They only occasionally buy some grain; they don't buy anything else. Where can't you buy grain? It's not worth going to that place for such little business.

Now that we've secured trade rights in the Middle Thirds, we can sell many things elsewhere. This time, I'm optimistic about Blackrock Slope. It's rich in stone materials, and anything related to stone materials finds a market there.

However, this market has been monopolized by the Lu family for years, so it's not easy to get a foothold there."

Li Banfeng furrowed his brow. "Going to Blackrock Slope to do business, would that be undermining the Lu family?"

"Yes, it would, but Monkey Qiu explicitly asked me to do it."

"Monkey Qiu explicitly asked you to undermine the Lu family?" Li Banfeng was confused.

"All the business in Blackrock Slope is controlled by Lu Maoxian. He procures stone materials and tools, and sells grain and rare treasures. With trade both ways, the profits are very substantial. Uncle Qiu wants us to get involved and put some pressure on Lu Maoxian.

But Lu Maoxian is no pushover. I plan to take Old Zuo and Ah Qin to Blackrock Slope first to scout the market. If Lu Maoxian acts ruthlessly, we really wouldn't dare to act rashly."

"Ah Qin? Can she leave New Land?"

"She can't leave," Ma Wu said, also troubled by the matter. "I plan to discuss it with Autumn Elephant to see if Ah Qin's contract can be relaxed a bit."

Li Banfeng waved a hand, saying, "Autumn Elephant is that easy to negotiate with? He's someone who gets agitated over trivial matters. Why would you provoke him?

Besides, there's a boundary between New Land and True Land. Ah Qin is an anomaly; even if Autumn Elephant agrees, Ah Qin cannot simply enter True Land."

Ma Wu said, "I found a book. It records something. It seems there's a way..."

"Don't be ridiculous! Even if there's a way, it's not a method we can use."

My wife said that anomalies cannot casually enter True Land; otherwise, they will anger the local land deity.

The local land deities of True Land are not to be trifled with. Bringing Ah Qin to Lanyang Village might just attract Green Flower.

"Besides, if you leave, what will happen to Xiaoyao Dock?"

Ma Wu smacked his lips, saying, "This matter will have to depend on you, Seventh. Please help me manage things for now..."

"How would I know how to manage this?"

"Actually, it's not difficult. There are tricks to it..."

"Even with tricks, it won't work!" The key issue wasn't Xiaoyao Dock; it was that Li Banfeng didn't want to stay in Greenwater City any longer.

The incident in Fool's City had taught him a lesson. His reputation in Greenwater City was growing; people knew him in New Land, Old Land, and True Land alike. It was time to move on.

"I'll go to Blackrock Slope. No need for backup; I can go alone."

Ma Wu shook his head repeatedly, "This is utter nonsense! You going to Blackrock Slope alone—isn't that risking your life?"

Li Banfeng shook his head. "Old Five, you're not thinking clearly about this. We're going to scout the way, not to fight a war.

If it were a war, we'd need to bring more people. But if it's scouting, I'm perfect alone; I can quietly gather information."

Ma Wu thought for a long time, then shook his head, saying, "No, you definitely can't go alone."

Li Banfeng lit a cigarette, saying, "Just listen to me; this matter is settled. Can you get me a travel permit for Blackrock Slope?"

"That's easy to get. We're different now; a travel permit is just a word away."

"Can you get me a travel permit for an outer province?"

Ma Wu paused, looking at Li Banfeng, and asked, "Seventh, are you still thinking about returning to an outer province?"

"No, nothing, just asking," Li Banfeng said, holding his cigarette. "It's not the right time yet. We'll talk about it later if there's an opportunity."

He Jiaqing received a message from Ling Miaoying. "Ma Wu got a travel permit to go to Blackrock Slope?" he asked after a moment of thought. "How many people is he taking?"

"Based on the information I've received, he only bought one train ticket."

"One train ticket, Ma Wu going to Blackrock Slope alone? Is he seeking death?" He Jiaqing shook his head. "The person going is probably not him. It's my friend. He likes to operate alone. What time is the train?"

"Tomorrow night."

"Are you confident you can capture him alive on the train?"

"If he boards a real train, I'm not confident. If he boards my train, I'm eighty percent confident. The remaining twenty percent depends on your friend's cultivation level."

He Jiaqing calculated carefully, "Although he possesses that item, he started cultivating too late. I estimate his cultivation won't exceed the third level."

"Then it's easy. As long as he doesn't know the fourth-level technique, I am one hundred percent confident I can capture him alive."

He Jiaqing was somewhat worried, "Can we wait until he reaches Blackrock Slope before acting? The situation in Greenwater City is too complex; I'm afraid of unforeseen complications."

"I'm not familiar with Blackrock Slope, and making all the necessary preparations would be difficult. If the arrangements aren't thorough, things might go wrong."

"Then let's do it at Greenwater City Station!"

"What if Ma Wu goes to see him off?"

"Kill him! Ma Wu doesn't need to be captured alive."