Chapter 220: 宅修 Five-Level Skill

Ma Dingfu couldn't explain Zhou Anju's background clearly?

"Are you being insincere?" Li Banfeng cut his face again.

Ma Dingfu gasped, "I truly don't know. Ever since I came to Flying Eagle Mountain, Zhou Anju has been the master of Iron Gate Fortress. I even heard he led people to attack Flying Eagle Mountain; he was our sworn enemy. Then one day, our chief summoned me back to the mountain and told me to go to Iron Gate Fortress. Only then did I learn that Zhou Anju was our chief's friend. He said Master Zhou was an extraordinary person, with unfathomable cultivation and cunning. He told me to follow Master Zhou from then on, and to do whatever Master Zhou asked."

"Did Master Zhou tell you to sleep with his wife?"

Ma Dingfu explained, "According to our chief, Master Zhou is an omnipotent man, and I have always greatly respected him. When I arrived at Iron Gate Fortress, he made me his follower. He publicly declared me a House Cultivator and even provided me with a residence. Initially, he relied on me heavily and even discussed confidential matters with me. But then, things changed after he had a dispute with Yu Hequan from the fortress."

"How did they change?"

"Yu Hequan was a second-level House Cultivator. He had just arrived at the fortress, and being young and hot-headed, he spoke disrespectfully to the master. The master didn't bother to argue with him, but he pushed his luck. While talking to the master, he shoved him. Whether intentionally or not, the shove was forceful enough that the master stumbled back half a step and almost fell. At that moment, I was the only one near the master, and there was no one else around. The master simply laughed it off. But once we returned to the residence, Master Zhou ordered me to kill Yu Hequan."

The group of House Cultivators listened, their eyes burning with rage. Many of them recognized Yu Hequan. The young man had died not long after arriving at the fortress. They had no particular affection for Yu Hequan, nor even much of an impression of him. But they remembered that the master had claimed Yu Hequan was killed by bandits after leaving the fortress without permission! So Yu Hequan had died by Ma Dingfu's hand!

How much blood was truly on Ma Dingfu's hands? How many House Cultivators had died at the hands of Zhou Anju and Ma Dingfu? Those two beasts!

Some spat at Ma Dingfu, while others cursed loudly.

Li Banfeng told everyone to calm down. He still had urgent questions to ask: "How did you kill Yu Hequan?" Killing a House Cultivator in their own residence was extremely difficult; even with one level higher cultivation, success was hard to achieve.

Ma Dingfu said, "Master Zhou told me he knew Yu Hequan's true intentions. Speaking so disrespectfully was actually an attempt to show off and gain the master's trust. He told me to trick Yu Hequan, saying the master had a task for him to handle outside the fortress. Yu Hequan fell for it. As soon as he left the fortress, he walked into my ambush. I decapitated him instantly, then reported back to the fortress that he had been killed by bandits. At first, I didn't understand. Yu Hequan was quite loyal; though he lacked manners, with proper guidance, he could have been useful. Why did he have to be killed?

"But unexpectedly, after I killed him, Master Zhou became distant. He stopped discussing confidential matters with me. I initially thought it was because Yu Hequan shouldn't have been killed, that Master Zhou regretted it and was angry with me. After many days, I finally understood the real reason. It wasn't about Yu Hequan; it was about that stumble. Yu Hequan wasn't a high-level cultivator, yet he could make Master Zhou stumble. This made Master Zhou's cultivation level unclear; it didn't seem as unfathomable as he claimed. Yu Hequan was dead, and no one knew about this incident except me. Sometimes I even wondered if, one day, I killed Master Zhou, his position as master would then be mine. I only ever thought about it, never let it slip. But I estimated he must have discovered my thoughts."

No need to estimate; he definitely discovered it. As a swindler with almost no cultivation, who managed Iron Gate Fortress for decades, no thought could be hidden from him.

Ma Dingfu looked up at Li Banfeng: "Good sir, you killed Master Zhou and dethroned me. From now on, you are the master of Iron Gate Fortress. I, Ma Dingfu, will obey your every command, facing any danger, even death!"

Li Banfeng chuckled, "Are you taking them for fools, or me? You expect me to spare your life just because you say you'll go through fire and water for me?"

"Good sir, what do you want me to do? Anything, as long as you spare my life!"

"Alright, we'll talk in private later," Li Banfeng said, turning to the House Cultivators. "Don't just stand there. Search the fortress. See if there are any more of Zhou Anju's or Ma Dingfu's subordinates. Root them out and deal with them. Tell everyone in the residence to come out. Give Zhou Anju's wives and servants some money for resettlement and tell them to get out. They are forbidden from ever setting foot in Iron Gate Fortress again. Do not go to the east annex building. Do you know where east is? Once you've cleared out the people, immediately leave the residence. Then go to the main gate and check if it's securely closed. Next, go up the hillside and search. There's a platform on the cliff. See if there's an ambush there. From now on, people must be stationed on that platform. You'll take turns guarding it. When I say 'platform,' do you understand? Do you know the way? Chao! Bring me the roster. Send a wave of people up there now. Don't wait for Flying Eagle Mountain to attack before the fortress is ready!"

Everyone dispersed to carry out the orders. Earlier, they had wanted to beat this "peddler" to death, but today, for some reason, they simply obeyed him.

Li Banfeng picked up Ma Dingfu, found a secluded corner, and entered his Portable Dwelling.

"Oh, husband, you've returned with the groceries. What's the quality of this batch?"

"A third-level Body Cultivator! Good stuff!"

"Third-level," the madam sighed, "We'll make do with it."

Li Banfeng said, surprised, "My dear madam, your taste has become too refined. A third-level cultivator, and you say 'make do'?"

The madam laughed, "It's fine for me. Those previous few 'white lambs' were also passable. But that slut Honglian hasn't had any meat for days."

Li Banfeng placed Ma Dingfu in front of the gramophone. Ma Dingfu was terrified, his soul nearly leaving his body.

The gramophone chuckled, "Oh, husband, this little slave will not stand on ceremony."

"Hold on, madam, let me ask him a few more questions."

Ma Dingfu cried out, "Good sir, I'll answer whatever you ask, just spare my life! I know where Zhou Anju hid all his money, and where he hid his magical artifacts. I even know about his wives – which ones are good in bed, and which ones are pretty. I know everything!"

"Since you know everything, tell me one thing at a time, and be clear about it."

Ma Dingfu recounted everything he knew in detail. But when Li Banfeng asked about Old He, Ma Dingfu couldn't answer. He didn't know much about Old He. He only knew Old He was a House Cultivator who usually lived in the east annex building, and no one was allowed inside that building. Li Banfeng knew a House Spirit resided in that building, but Ma Dingfu had no idea about the House Spirit's true nature. Since he didn't know, there was no need to pressure him further.

"Madam, dinner!"

Ma Dingfu shrieked, "I told you everything I know! Why are you still going to kill me?"

"You still owe me five hundred yuan."

"I paid it back..."

Li Banfeng shook his head, "Five hundred yuan with compound interest? How could a few words repay that?"

After finishing her meal, the madam handed the corpse to Honglian, then turned to Li Banfeng and asked, "Husband, what is the origin of the House Spirit you mentioned earlier? Why does it concern you so much?"

Li Banfeng recounted his encounter with Old He. The madam, however, didn't find it particularly surprising. "Some House Spirits are like that; they never allow their House Cultivator to leave their sight. The House Cultivator named Old He likely signed a contract beforehand, which led to his tragic death at the House Spirit's hands."

"Sight?" Li Banfeng didn't quite understand. "Old He's residence is in the east annex building, so the House Spirit should be inside that building. What is the actual range of 'sight' you're referring to, madam? Does it count as within sight just because the House Spirit can see it?"

"Not at all. The 'sight' this little slave speaks of isn't seen with eyes; it's the extent of the House Spirit's power."

Li Banfeng was even more confused: "A House Spirit's power can extend beyond its residence?"

"Yes. A House Spirit's power extending beyond its residence usually occurs in two situations. First, when the House Spirit is extremely strong and the House Cultivator is extremely weak, the Cultivator cannot restrict the Spirit, allowing it to reach outwards. That wretch, Hanxue, was in this very situation during her life. Her House Cultivator was only first-level, while she possessed six levels of cultivation. Hanxue's power could extend beyond the residence. In such cases, extending power outwards requires two additional conditions: first, the residence's tacit consent, and second, external assistance."

Luo Yuni was the original owner of that residence. She had spent so much time with it and even died within its walls. Given that bond, the residence must have tacitly approved Luo Yuni's actions.

"But what about external assistance?" Li Banfeng asked the pendulum directly.

The pendulum replied, its voice hazy, "I completely don't remember anything the madam just said."

She had had her soul extracted, leaving only her spirit. It was normal for her not to remember.

The madam, however, knew the reason: "The 'external assistance' refers to those vengeful spirits. While not particularly fresh, this little slave has had her fill."

The vengeful spirits hanging from the tree. So that's what "external assistance" meant.

Li Banfeng stared at the gramophone for a moment and asked, "Madam, when I first met you, your cultivation was so high, and I didn't even have one level. Given such a huge disparity between us, did you never think of extending your power outside the residence?"

"Hmph!" The madam was displeased. "What kind of person do you take me for, husband? Without your permission, this little slave wouldn't even step outside the inner gate!"

"That's my good madam!" Li Banfeng was deeply moved and embraced her affectionately for a long time.

The Copper Lotus wanted to spit at the gramophone. *Wicked woman, you did want to get out then! But would this residence have allowed it?*

The gramophone continued, "The second situation is when a House Cultivator uses a fifth-level technique, 'Deep Dwelling, Grand Estate.' Once a House Cultivator reaches the fifth level and masters this technique, they can bring a portion of the House Spirit's power from within the residence into the courtyard. The 'courtyard' this little slave refers to is not merely the space within the courtyard walls, but the entire area where the House Spirit's power can extend. The higher a House Cultivator's level, the greater their rapport with the House Spirit, and the more familiar they are with the surrounding environment of the residence, the more power they can bring out. That Old He you fought, he brought out quite a bit of power. Perhaps he had cultivation of six levels or higher, or perhaps it was because he was extremely familiar with the residence."

That matches! This must be Old He's technique! He was indeed extremely familiar with the residence. He extended the House Spirit's power to the entire residence. No wonder I struggled so much in that fight. And that was only a portion of its power. If I had entered the annex building and directly confronted the complete House Spirit, I probably would have lost my life long ago!

The gramophone sighed, "Old He used every means to lure you into the residence, intending to use the House Spirit to harm you. Closing the doors and letting the House Spirit kill is a common, sordid technique among House Cultivators."

Li Banfeng gave a dry laugh, "Actually, it's not *that* sordid."

The madam continued, "Furthermore, we can see clues about his House Spirit from the techniques used. When you were in that building, first there were stairs, then they vanished, and a door suddenly appeared at the end of the corridor. This should be the 'Severing Paths, Opening Ways' technique. When you entered the courtyard, rubble flew everywhere. That must be the 'Treading Through Myriad Streams' technique. Old He's House Spirit must be a high-level Roaming Cultivator!"

A Roaming Cultivator!

Li Banfeng was startled, then asked, "Madam, what kind of technique is that 'Severing Paths, Opening Ways' you just mentioned?"

The madam was silent for a moment, then said, "Husband, why are you so interested in Roaming Cultivator techniques? Roaming Cultivators are all evil; they should all be killed!"

Li Banfeng straightened his expression and said, "Madam, I share your hatred for our enemies. To know oneself and one's enemy is to be invincible in a hundred battles!"

"With those words, husband, this little slave has ninety percent certainty of victory! Husband, are you brave?"

Li Banfeng straightened his back and said, "Yes!"

"Do you dare to lure that House Spirit out?"

Li Banfeng puffed out his chest and said, "No!"

"Don't be afraid, husband. This little slave has a foolproof plan!"

Ling Miaoying took a deep breath, opened a wooden box, pulled out a telephone with no cord, and dialed a number. The call connected quickly. He Jiaqing's voice came from the other end: "What is it?" He had been sleeping and was woken up, so he wasn't in a good mood.

"Jiaqing, it's like this: the 'hook' at Iron Gate Fortress broke."

"When did it break?"

"It must have been... these past few days..." Ling Miaoying couldn't give an exact time because he hadn't been monitoring the hook recently.

He Jiaqing was silent for a moment, then suddenly roared, "Do you have any idea how important that hook is? Do you know how important that soul is?"

Ling Miaoying did not reply. This hook was previously controlled by Ling Miaowen. Ling Miaoying genuinely knew little about the hidden implications behind it.

He Jiaqing's temper calmed slightly: "I can't blame you for this. I suspect Zhou Anju, that old swindler, discovered the hook. Don't touch him for now. I'll find an opportunity to 'knock him around' a bit, then you can reattach the hook."

The two disconnected. Ling Miaoying was covered in sweat, wondering if he would have to report everything to He Jiaqing from now on.

He Jiaqing rubbed his forehead. Recent events were giving him a headache.

"Damn, that really hurt." Luo Zhengnan, the head of the Medicine King Hall, a branch of the Jiangxiang Gang, pulled an antenna from his head. "So that soul was in Iron Gate Fortress," Luo Zhengnan smiled. "I'll have to tell the gang leader about this. This soul is worth no less than Honglian. Shouldn't this make me a vice-leader?"